Peter Sauder Movies

This sequel to 1989's Babar: The Movie tells more animated tales in the life of the famous elephant from the popular children's books of Jean deBrunhoff and Laurent deBrunhoff. Babar is a young elephant living happily in the jungle until his mother is murdered by hunters. Distraught, Babar wanders aimlessly until he finds himself in the city, where his unfamiliarity with human lifestyles causes no small number of problems. But an older woman who's grown fond of Babar offers to show him the ropes, helping him learn to live among people until his friends arrive to take him back home. This production from Canada's Nelvana cartoon studio is highlighted by excellent animation and a fine musical score. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The cuddly pastel-colored Care Bears are back for a third feature film with their friend Grumpy. This time around, they have persuaded Alice to return with them to Wonderland. There, she must pretend to be a princess who has been kidnapped by the Evil Wizard. While many of the characters from Wonderland (such as the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat) make appearances, so do characters from the Grimm fairy-tales, The Wizard of Oz, and many more fables. After being thoroughly treated to the ministrations of the loving bears, a little girl finds some much-needed self-esteem. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In a film designed to bring smiles to the post-toddler set on up to perhaps their seven-year-old siblings, this animated story by Arna Selznick (only the third woman in cinematic history to direct a full-length animated feature) is about the popular Care Bears. These loving creatures inhabit a realm in the clouds called Care-A-Lot, and their purpose in life is to get the humans down below to share their good feelings with each other. They watch over human children with large telescopes and help those children who need help. The Care Bears have their work cut out for them, because Nicolas, a lonely magician's assistant, is about to fall under the evil influence of a bad spirit who lives in an ancient magic book -- it seems Nicolas will do just about anything for friends. Aside from Nicolas, Kim (Cree Summer) and Jason (Sunny Besen Thracher) are in trouble because they are starting not to trust people after suffering many disappointments. Mickey Rooney is the voice of Mr. Cherrywood, the owner of an orphanage. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi