Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Older kids will love drama, characters in chimp docu.
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Chimp Empire
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
CHIMP EMPIRE begins with a compelling question: "Who are we?" These words linger in the lush air of the forest of Ngogo, Uganda as narrator Mahershala Ali floats another philosophical thought: Maybe we look to stories about other worlds because ours is too close to see. Tribes of chimpanzees in places like Ngogo aren't too distant from the human species in their genetics (sharing "98%" of DNA with humans), or their behavior. Certainly their quest for survival and dominance feels very human. In this nature documentary, the saga of two neighboring chimp tribes vie for border dominance even as internal conflicts threaten to topple the leaders from inside their group. Which tribe will be triumphant? The one that has an irrepressible leader? Or the one that allows for expertise among members the group?
Is It Any Good?
Richly produced and thoughtfully scripted, the sights and sounds of this nature documentary take it to feature-film heights. Is Chimp Empire meant to rival box-office blockbusters like Avatar or lushly told family sagas like Dune? Families will want to find out, huddled together by the light of the screen in their homes. It's the wildlife documentary at the top of its game.
Sweet outsiders like the chimp named Gus, and vicious leaders like Jackson have become actual characters by virtue of the fact that they have been observed so thoroughly for so long. A series which attests to the intricacies of natural societies from which we humans descend, this incredible production does nature's creation justice.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teamwork in Chimp Empire. How does the Central tribe's hierarchy work differently than the Western tribe? Is teamwork more effective in one tribe than another?
Communication among chimps is not only characterized by the sounds that they make, but how and with whom they groom one another. How does body language help humans communicate?
Male chimps can act out and be aggressive when they are trying to show their dominance. What are the consequences of these outbursts?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 19, 2023
- Cast: Mahershala Ali
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Science and Nature , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Communication , Courage , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: April 19, 2023
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