Common Sense Media Review
By Common Sense Media
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bland sequel lacks original's star power; some peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue
What's the Story?
The cuddly creatures from the animated hit FernGully: The Last Rainforest return for more environmental swashbuckling in this direct-to-video sequel. In FERNGULLY 2, two poachers set fire to the rainforest and capture three baby animals who are under the care of a fairy named Crysta. Crysta's boyfriend, Pips, goes into town to rescue the babies, accompanied by a bat named Batty Koda and a group of insects called The Beetle Boys.
Is It Any Good?
This sequel was produced on a more modest scale than the original, and unfortunately lacks Robin Williams's and Tim Curry's verbal antics. Without Williams's wit and a villain whom kids love to hate, the sequel will seem bland to sophisticated older kids. However, younger kids should enjoy watching the cute rainforest dwellers thwart some greedy poachers. FernGully: The Last Rainforest offered top-notch animation and a celebrity voice-cast. This sequel is a pleasant if uninspired follow-up to that critical and commercial success. It contains some visual treats, even though the animation is comparatively simple.
Fortunately, younger kids will probably not notice the shortcomings of the cast. Instead, they'll delight in the heroic adventures of the rainforest creatures, including iguanas, kangaroos, and wombats. The movie places these animals in lush rainforest backgrounds with bright, eye-catching colors. The artwork conveys a deep appreciation of nature.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sequels. Were you inspired to watch this sequel because you enjoyed the first movie so much? Did it live up to your expectations? Why do sequels, especially cartoon sequels, so often disappoint?
These movies were based on published stories. What would be the challenges in adapting stories into film?
How does the movie convey its pro-environment message?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 17, 1998
- On DVD or streaming : March 17, 1998
- Cast : Erik Bergmann , Holly Conner , Laura Erlich
- Directors : Dave Marshall , Phil Robinson
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 75 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate