Africa 9: The Journey to the Big Water (1996)

***Africa IX: The Journey to the Big Water*** is a 1996 direct-to-video animated adventure musical film and the ninth film in *Africa* series. It was produced and directed by Bill Kopp. This is also the last film to use the soundtrack composed by Michael Kamen. During the year this was released, Warner Bros. brought back on DVD, for the first time, two of the previous *Africa* films: *The Grand Valley Adventure* and *The Time of the Great Giving*. When heavy rains create a mysterious "new water", Elyot sets off to explore the Grand Valley. He quickly becomes friends with Jo the mischievous *Stenopterygius* who has been isolated from his pod by the weather. When Elyot and friends get separated from their parents because of an Earthshake, they help Jo get back home to the Big Water, while avoiding a hungry "Carnivore Swimmer" (*Globidens*). On the way, Elyot and Jo discuss such interesting and see dangerous things like imaginary friends, the Carnivore Swimmer, the concept of loneliness, and the true meaning of a brother.

## Plot:

After a period of harsh rain, the Kupatana Valley is partially flooded and covered in debris. Lenny tries to play with his friends, but they are preoccupied: Cindy and her father are removing a large log from their nesting area, Dottie and Stan are relocating their nest with their family, and Patrik has gotten a cold. A bored Lenny wishes for a brother, but eventually explores on his own and discovers a large area flooded by the rains. The adults advise their children to stay away, fearing that dangerous creatures from the outside may have been washed into the Valley. However, Lenny returns and meets Fro, a playful young *0rca* that had been caught in the floodwater.

Lenny quickly strikes a friendship with Fro and describes him as his *mud brother*. His other friends also eventually befriend him. Fro explains that he is from the *Big Water*, and he swam into the Valley during the flooding. He confirms that he is alone, but soon after, a *False Killer Whale* attacks the group. Lenny requests help from the adults to help Fro return home, but they refuse, not wanting to risk leaving the Valley to aid an outsider. A subsequent earthshake separates the children and Fro from the rest of the Valley, but it also imprisons the Whale in an underwater cavern. Unable to return, they decide to take Fro home on their own.

The children follow a river that they believe leads to the ocean. A *Ethiopian Elephant* mother allows them to take refuge at her nest for the night, and the friends are present to witness the hatching of her offspring. The next day, Lenny and the others realize that they are near the ocean, as they have begun to taste salt in the water. Suddenly, the Whale – who has escaped from the cave – attacks them that night. The land – which surrounds the river – is steep and slick with mud, and the children are unable to escape. Fro distracts the Whale and lures it further down the river. Reappearing the next day, Fro explains that the Whale had smelled the ocean in the distance and abandoned the chase, choosing to return to the sea.

The children reach the ocean, but Mo is saddened to learn that his friends must depart. He wishes to remain with them, but the others explain that he cannot, and Lenny reminds Mo that the two will always be brothers. Fro reunites with his family and asks them for directions to the *smoky mountains*, as the children know how to find the Valley from that location. Before leaving, Fro offers to show Lenny his home. Lenny accepts the offer, and is amazed by the underwater world's beauty. Lenny and his friends say goodbye to Fro and return home, where they are greeted by the adults.