Kaena - The Prophecy (2003)

Originally a computer-generated, animated feature presented in 3-D, the French-American Kaena: The Prophecy still looks eye-poppingly spectacular in a regular, two-dimensional format. The post-apocalyptic tale concerns an adventurous young woman, Kaena (voiced in English by Kirsten Dunst), who is a member of a race--one of many--that inhabit an enormous tree called the Axis, rising 100 miles from Earth's surface. While her people's leader, Opaz (Richard Harris), insists his tribe's sole purpose is collecting sap and honoring the gods who provide sustenance, Kaena is more interested in exploring. Signs that the Axis might be dying sends Kaena on a mission to find out why; along the way she encounters a slavemaster race, the Selenites, and their vicious queen (Anjelica Huston). Fantastic to look at, Kaena: The Prophecy is graphically dense, constantly moving, and truly inventive when it comes to designing creatures that appear equal parts vegetable and animal. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

Kaena fun for the soul

the CG is truly beautiful in this fun, and exciting cartoon, i was surprised by some of the more adult themes (not sex, or swearing of coarse but the more subtle things) that were in this show, as i think all will be, and highly entertained, a real good movie for all ages.

Vex April 11, 2008

kaena do not miss this dvd.

i'll keep this review short.
the film started production back in 1999-2002 using 3dsmax 3 and combustion and was a french/canada production.
the visuals on the whole are stunning and on occasion are as good and better than what pixar were creating back then that's saying a lot for off the shelf software and stunning 3d artists using it.

if your after a good story..your well served here also the voice acting is top banana as well.

one for your collection and for sure you'll re watch it so you'll want to own it not rent it.

also doesn't use your typical hollywood traits which is nice to see.

great film overall. April 10, 2007

This movie is "God" to CG enthusiasts

It's like one of the better "Heavy Metal" magazine stories fully animated with CG but done so well the artist's work is not diminished. And, it was done with 1/10-1/100th the resources anyone else would have used. They actually used mostly public domain software, writing new scripts as they went along.

These guys are awesome. Like I said, though the film has high themes of skepticism against religions (certainly dogmatic ignorance) it is "God" to CG stuff. Even though I've seen it, I just bought a copy.

I'm getting Z-Brush with my tax return and I want to watch and watch this for a standard of 'excellence' to strive for with every project.

Now, for those who have other hobbys than creating animation renders and digital art through their computers, I still reccomend this film. As far as a sci-fi fantasy goes, it is very good, bordering on excellent. This movie is almost "Fully realized" and so unlike other CG's it won't become 'dated' as increased computer capabilities make what was hard become easy. And, really, if one wanted to do it live action with an unlimited budget (can you say "Waterworld", boys and girls, I knew you could;-) it wouldn't be any better.

I'd even say it was a good movie to let a kid in their early teens see. ("Things to come" is the best) Don't let the 'heavy metal' thing scare you, it's not 'dirty' and sure the main character is hot, but that element is made to appreciate beauty, not porn. Of course, I'm for reading kids "Grimm's Fairy Tales" and trashing the Disney ones also. February 17, 2007

A rare, challenging work of animation! Obviously not American

Scepticism and religion collide head-on in this fantastic, perceptive computer-animated fantasy, a France-Canada co-production.

Originally shown in France in 3-D (and apparently initiated as a video game), the film pulls no punches in advocating science and reason over empty spiritualism in an age of unquestioning belief in things that cannot be proven or seen. It's staggering that such an approach can be taken in an animated feature aimed as much at young kids as it is at adults. One imagines such a film could only be made in a country that knows what sacrifices must be made in order to achieve any kind of true enlightenment. It's doubtful any American animators could have produced a project so willing to confront very importtant issues in a fantasy milieu.

The film is set in an otherworldly forest structure called Axis in which a human tribe virtually lives to harvest the sap of the trees to appease their Gods. Only one, an adventurous 17-year-old girl named Kaena (voiced by Kirsten Dunst/Cecile De France), dares to defy ancestral tradition (which is largely comprised of work and worship) to seek the truth when the gods declare their anger at the decreasing returns of the harvest and start threatening destruction. She knows something's not right, and eventually finds evidence (with the help of some creepy-cute evolved worms) that these Gods are nothing more than a malevolent but superior liquid race called Selenites (who themselves are being used by an even higher power), yet the tribal High Priest, who has unwittingly turned everyone into peons working for this much more sinister force, believes that every ill that befalls the tribe is a punishment from the gods and that only prayer will provided the answers.

There's a crucial scene about 46 minutes into the film where the high priest is seen despairing for answers (which, of course, are not forthcoming, and never have been) and then, with little sense of responsibility, turns around and lies to a questioning villager that God has given him good news: they've passed the final test in a series and are now free to join their maker in a mindless group suicide. Thus, Kaena's struggle to learn the truth - and what lies beyond the clouds that surround Axis - suddenly has a deadline if she's to save her people from literally destroying themselves over their beliefs.

The CG design work in this film is stunning and quite unlike anything undertaken in either the U.S. or Asia to date, although FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN could be considered a close artistic cousin; the visual and aural effect is quite enveloping within the first few minutes. The human characters are slightly exaggerated (along the lines of, say, King Farquahd (?) in Shrek, but far less intentionally comical) and the lead character exudes a vibrant sexuality (check out that chamois bikini get-up on the package) unseen in American animated characters beyond the grotesque amazonian vixens of the HEAVY METAL films. It should come as no surprise that the film lists legendary comic book writer Alexandro Jodorowski as a consultant (if I recall correctly).

The production design, from the lush brown palatte of Axis to the slick, blue-black interiors of Vechanoy, the sentient spaceship that once housed the forerunners of the human tribesmen, is stunningly "realistic" and must have been a pip in 3-D.

Despite the elaborate trappings (and an occasionally tricky plot structure), at its core KAENA: THE PROPHECY is rather daring indictment of organized religion and its continued inability to definitively answer the Really Big Questions, as well as mankind's continued tendency to need answers to such quandaries (hey, it's all in the film, folks!). It's a colourful reminder that we're often better off thinking for ourselves. As such, fundamentalists might want to consider keeping this away from their young ones, who might clamor for it at the local Best Buy, but animation fans and freethinkers will find much to absorb. May 22, 2006

Good First Attempt: Gripping, Visually Amazing, and Decent Plot

Being the very first French CGI movie I have ever seen, I bought it knowing I should not have any expectations and to keep my mind open. After watching the movie, I felt refreshed and bored at the same time.

Focusing on a scientific plot, the world of Axis is the center for the story. Following the main character Kaena, the story envelops the themes of false truths, standing for what you believe in, and enveloping a free future. Obviously being used many times before, I thought this would be another modern repeat of eastern world views. I was actually very surprised by the story.

Featuring the voices of Kirsten Dunst (Kaena), Keith David (Sap People), Richard Harris (Opaz), and Angelica Huston (The Queen), the voice emsamble delivers it very nicely. The emotions were definitley apparent but I could not help but think the voice acting of Kirsten Dunst was forced. There were times where it seemed she struggled to present Kaena's character and keep her voice in check.

Out of all the ensamble, Keith David's voice stands above all. Being a veteren voice actor from such cartoon series as Gargoyles, Keith David's exquisite voice brings the enemies to life in a fashion hard to master. You cannot help but hate the creatures presented in the movie because his voice acting is so good.

The animation of this movie was absolutley astonishing. It is of no question that a lot of work and time went into making this movie. Someone's heart and soul went into itty bitty details and it works. Graphically, I give it a standing ovation.

All in all, I would recommend this title to DVD/anime collectors. It is a nice addition and it does play the part for occassional viewings. If a sequel does show itself, I will buy it. "Kaena: The Prophecy" delivers a nice popcorn movie feel while somehow leaving you wanting more. March 20, 2006

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