Chimpanzee (film)

Chimpanzee (film)
source
Name	Chimpanzee
Director	Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield
Producer	Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield, Don Hahn
Narrator	Tim Allen
Music	Nicholas Hooper
Cinematography	Martyn Colbeck, Bill Wallauer
Editing	Andy Netley
Studio	Disneynature
Distributor	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Runtime	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Chimpanzee (film). *Chimpanzee* is a 2012 American nature documentary film produced by Disneynature that follows the life of a young chimpanzee named Oscar in the Ivory Coast's Taï National Park. Directed by veteran wildlife filmmakers Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the film chronicles Oscar's journey of survival after he is orphaned, culminating in an unexpected adoption. Narrated by Tim Allen, the film blends dramatic natural history storytelling with stunning cinematography of the West African rainforest.

Plot

The narrative centers on a young chimpanzee named Oscar, who is part of a large community led by the dominant male, Freddy, in the dense forests of Taï National Park. The film depicts Oscar learning essential skills from his attentive mother and the daily life of the troop as they forage for nuts and fruit using primitive tools. Their territory is threatened by a rival group of chimpanzees led by a male named Scar, leading to a dramatic confrontation. After Oscar's mother is lost during a conflict with Scar's gang, the orphaned Oscar is initially shunned by the troop until Freddy defies chimpanzee conventions by adopting and caring for him, ensuring his survival.

Production

The production was a major undertaking for Disneynature, the documentary arm of The Walt Disney Company, known for films like *Earth* and African Cats. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, who previously collaborated on *Planet Earth* and *The Blue Planet*, spent over three years filming in the remote Taï National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cinematography team, including Martyn Colbeck and Bill Wallauer, utilized state-of-the-art equipment to capture intimate behavioral details, often in challenging low-light forest conditions. The filmmakers worked closely with renowned primatologists like Christophe Boesch of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology to ensure scientific accuracy in depicting chimpanzee culture and tool use.

Release

*Chimpanzee* was released theatrically in North America on April 20, 2012, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, coinciding with Earth Day. The film's premiere was held at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. As part of its "See *Chimpanzee*, Save Chimpanzees" initiative, Disneynature partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute and the World Wildlife Fund, pledging donations for tickets sold during its opening week to support chimpanzee conservation efforts in Africa. The film was later released on Blu-ray and DVD in August 2012.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating based on collected reviews, with praise often directed at its cinematography and the compelling story of Oscar and Freddy. However, some critics, including those from The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter, found the anthropomorphic narration by Tim Allen and the heavily structured narrative to be overly manipulative and distracting from the natural footage. Commercially, the film grossed over $35 million worldwide against its production budget. It was not a major awards contender but is noted within the genre of nature documentaries like March of the Penguins and Winged Migration.

Soundtrack

The film's musical score was composed by Nicholas Hooper, known for his work on *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* and the BBC series *Land of the Tiger*. The soundtrack features an orchestral blend that emphasizes the majesty and tension of the rainforest environment, aiming to underscore the emotional arc of Oscar's story. The album was released by Walt Disney Records, with the main theme designed to be evocative and family-friendly, aligning with the tonal style of other Disneynature scores such as those for *Oceans*.

Category:2012 films Category:American documentary films Category:Disneynature films Category:Films about chimpanzees Category:Films set in Ivory Coast