In Behnood Nekooe’s Extinction: Animals Unite, a boy’s simple act of courage turns into a race to protect an entire wilderness from destruction. What begins with one endangered tiger soon grows into a larger fight over the fate of the forest itself.
Mohsen (Rómulo Bernal) is a young boy obsessed with superheroes, always imagining himself as the kind of hero who charges into danger and saves the day. During a family outing near the forest, Mohsen discovers an endangered tiger being hunted by ruthless men. Instead of running away, Mohsen steps in—much to his father’s dismay—and helps the animal escape, beginning a dangerous journey deeper into the wilderness as the boy and tiger form a bond built on trust and survival.
As Mohsen hides the tiger, often called Tiggy, from the hunter pursuing him, the adventure grows beyond a single rescue. The forest becomes both a refuge and a battleground, filled with animals under threat from humans invading their homes. At the same time, his father dismisses Mohsen’s actions as mere superhero fantasy. He can’t talk to animals, and he needs to return to reality.
Mohsen soon learns of a larger plan centered on the “Heart of the Forest,” a powerful force whose capture would bring devastation to the entire wilderness. With the hunter closing in, Mohsen joins forces with Tiggy and the other animals of the forest for a final stand. The boy who once played at being a superhero is forced to become one for real, leading the animals in a fight to protect their home before it is destroyed forever.
“What begins with one endangered tiger soon grows into a larger fight over the fate of the forest itself.”
Extinction: Animals Unite is very much a children’s movie. There is not a whole lot here for adults, and that’s fine. It delivers a positive message for kids. At the center is Mohsen, a boy who dreams of being a superhero and saving animals, and honestly, that is a pretty admirable place to start. The filmmakers tap into that childhood fantasy of wanting to do good. I think my issue is that I want the story to be about Mohsen learning a valuable lesson that helps him grow toward maturity. It’s all a matter of personal preference. The reality is that the tension between imagination and responsibility shapes the story.
What makes the movie work is its sense of compassion. Mohsen’s connection with Tiggy, the tiger, gives the adventure a focus on saving one creature now and how it can lead to saving everyone else. In other words, it’s about helping the one creature in front of you and letting that act of kindness grow from there. For younger viewers, it is an easy idea to grasp, and the cute-animal angle does much of the heavy lifting. Kids are going to lock in pretty quickly once Tiggy enters the picture.
As for the filmmaking, this is obviously not operating on Disney or Pixar money, and you can see that. But to the filmmakers’ credit, this does not feel lazy or slapped together. The animation is solid, and the character design and backgrounds are good. Honestly, better than what Pixar has been producing lately. It is a perfectly serviceable family film that hits its target, and for parents, this is the kind of safe, kid-friendly movie you can put on without worrying the wheels will come off.
In the end, Behnood Nekooe’s Extinction: Animals Unite delivers a straightforward family adventure directed right at the younger set. It’s not Disney, but it has enough heart, charm, and sincerity to win over any young animal lover.
"…Honestly, better than what Pixar has been producing lately."
