# Tad, the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet

Tad, the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet (Spanish: Tadeo Jones 3. La tabla esmeralda), released in the UK and US as Tad the Lost Explorer and the Curse of the Mummy, and in Australia as Tad the Explorer: The Mummy Adventure is a 2022 Spanish animated comedy film directed by Enrique Gato and written by Josep Gatell and Manuel Burque. It is a follow-up to Tad, the Lost Explorer and Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas.

## Plot

Clumsy archaeologist Tadeo ('Tad') breaks a sarcophagus and sets on a spell endangering his friends, and so they embark on an adventure that takes them to places such as Mexico, Paris, and Chicago.

## Voice cast
### Spanish track

* Óscar Barberán as Tadeo Jones
* Michelle Jenner as Sara Lavrof
* Luis Posada as Momia
* José Corbacho as Ryu
* Alexandra Jiménez as Victoria
* Cecilia Suárez as Agente Ramírez
* Tito Valverde as Agente Pickle
* Ana Esther Alborg as Ra Amon Ah
* Manuel Burque as Martín

### English

* Trevor White as Tad Stones
* Alex Kelly as Sara
* Joseph Balderrama as Mummy

## Production

The film is a Telecinco Cinema, Lightbox Animation Studios, Ikiru Films, Anangu Grup and La Tadeopelícula AIE production, and it had the participation of Mediaset España, Movistar Plus+, and Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group. It was written by Josep Gatell and Manuel Burque. Produced by Dabruk, the film's main theme ("Si tú me llamas") was performed by Omar Montes and Belinda. The film had a reported budget of €11 million.

## Release

Distributed worldwide by Paramount Pictures, the film opened in French theatres on 24 August 2022. It was then theatrically released in Spain on 26 August 2022. It became the highest-grossing film of the weekend at the Spanish box office, also having, up to that point in the year, both the 2nd-largest opening weekend for any animated film (after Minions: The Rise of Gru) and the 2nd-largest opening weekend for any Spanish film (after Father There Is Only One 3). It opened in the UK and Ireland on 9 September 2022 and it opened in the US and Canada on 4 November 2022 under the title Tad the Lost Explorer and the Curse of the Mummy, also distributed by Paramount.

## Reception

Rubén Romero Santos of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars writing that "the planning of the constant action scenes is remarkable, a technical prodigy that places Spanish animation at the forefront".
Beatriz Martínez of El Periódico de Catalunya rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, assessing that it manages to reach "a greater degree of virtuosity" [than the previous two films], with its plot being "better articulated, its structure is more agile, it is more adventurous, funnier and has better ideas".
María Bescós of HobbyConsolas rated the film 60 out of 100 points ("acceptable"), deeming it to be an improvement from the previous installments of the saga, while still citing the "predictable" plot, the "simplistic" humor, and some additional work to do with the animation as negative points.
Javier Ocaña of El País found the film to be "the most refined [out of the three installments]", with the portrayal of Tadeo being the most surprising element, otherwise highlighting the "outstanding dubbing work throughout the three films [delivered] by Óscar Barberán, [featuring] a beautiful voice full of nuances in tone".
Mike McCahill of The Guardian rated the film 3 out of 5 stars underscoring how "[it] is never more than inessential screen filler, but agreeably jolly with it – partly as it does have some idea of how to fill a screen".

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2023 | 15th Gaudí Awards | Best Animated Film | Best Animated Film | Won |
| 2023 | 15th Gaudí Awards | Best Visual Effects | David Blanco | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Animated Film | Best Animated Film | Won |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Animated Film | Best Animated Film | Nominated |