Rabbit Academy: Movie Review

Director: Ute von Münchow-Pohl

Skewing younger rather than a more universal kids' tale, this relatively short animated fare is perhaps an exercise in endurance for an older audience.

It's the story of city rabbit Max, who's one of the first ever city rabbits asked to join the Master Rabbits at Rabbit Academy. But ahead of Easter, Max inadvertently annoys Rabbit Academy reject Leo, who plots to bring disrepute on the rabbits of the academy whose job it is to protect the hens and ensure the eggs get where they need to be for Easter.

Add into this, the fact that a group of foxes want to steal the eggs (and help themselves to rabbit as well) and Max has his work cut out. As if that wasn't enough, Max needs to also learn a lesson or two about teamwork to progress...

Rabbit Academy is a bit of a scramble to find some coherence throughout.

Younger kids may like the somewhat basic animation, the fact there's a song within 10 minutes of starting, and the fact that it doesn't go on forever. But without any colour palette to stand out, or really any memorable characters or moments, this teaming up of enemies-becoming-friends-to-defeat-a-common-enemy really is nothing special to write home about for the Easter holidays.

It could be that von Münchow-Pohl is trying to play it basic, and hit some simple bases (which in fairness he does), but Rabbit Academy never really aspires to do more than what it says on the tin - and it's disappointing.

Its simplicity may be its strength, but it is also its weakness - younger kids will adore it and its cutesy edges, but anyone over the age of 7, may be wondering what eggs-actly the fuss is about.