Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute pro-environment story that's best for little kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
After watching some of a documentary about endangered species on TV, Ben falls asleep, and goes into a dream where he and his toy stuffed dog, who has come to life, board a train. Together, they encounter different endangered animals, who try and board the train to avoid the destruction of their species and of the habitats they need to survive. They meet an elephant, a tiger, a walrus, a crane, and even a polar bear who is disguised as a snowman.
Is It Any Good?
THE ANIMAL TRAIN is a cute 30-minute story that is as imaginative as it is informative. The dream sequence, where a boy and his toy dog ride a train together, should hold the attentions of young children, and as each endangered animal is introduced, their plights are discussed in ways that are easy to understand.
It is a simple story, and while it is perhaps too simple for older viewers, The Animal Train's message of protecting endangered animals and the world in which they live should easily resonate with younger viewers, and unlike so many media productions for young kids, this will be a story that can be viewed repeatedly by parents and kids alike.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different animals in the story. What animals hopped onto the train, and what did they escape?
When the ticket-taker left the train, why was he unable to find food, water, and shelter?
In this story, Ben has a dream in which he rides a train with his toy stuffed dog, who comes to life. What kind of dreams do you have when you fall asleep at night?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 19, 2002
- Cast : George Allonby , Josie Lawrence , Phil Daniels
- Director : Jimmy T. Murakami
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 30 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 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