Animals United: “What Does Animals United Teach Kids About Stewarship, Nature, and God”

Animals United is a heart-warming animated movie that goes far beyond simple comedy. It is rich with Biblical themes and cleverly exposes human flaws with sarcasm, making the film highly engaging—a quality we will explore further.

So in this post, we explore what Animals United teaches kids about stewardship, nature and God, and why its message is especially relevant for both children and adults. 

The story is set in the Okavango Delta in Africa, where all the animals in the kingdom live peacefully together. Socrates, the lazy lion who enjoys lazing about, is a close friend of Billy the meerkat.

A major life-threatening problem affects the entire animal kingdom: there is no water, and they are unsure how to obtain it. 

As Winifred, the old tortoise, says, "Water is not just water, it is the lifeblood of our ancestors." 

Tension rises between Biggi the rhino and Chino the Cape buffalo over a tiny pool of water. Billy, with his cheerful personality, steps in to calm the situation while also trying to draw water from the same small pool to feed his family.

The animals grow desperate, and Angie the elephant suggests consulting the oracle to find out where or how to obtain water. The oracle, played by Bongo the maroon leaf monkey, deceives them in exchange for bananas and gives them false hope.

Eventually, curiosity and courage led Billy to discover the truth behind the drought: it was not caused by nature but by humans. 

What Is The Main Message of the Movie? 

At its core, Animal United highlights the contrast between the natural world and human behaviour. 

Animals depend on nature to live, as it was in the beginning of creation, whereas humans are shown as careless, destructive and driven by selfish ambition. 

The movie uses humour and exaggeration to expose human flaws, which is a serious problem. When the latter misuses creation, the consequences affect every living being. 

What Does Animals United Teach Kids About Stewardship, Nature, and God

One of the powerful lessons taught in Animals United is stewardship. Animals suffer because of selfish human beings:

• Build a luxury resort and block their water supply
• Pollute the environment 
• Act without thinking of the consequences

Scenes are captured to highlight this; for instance, world leaders hold endless meetings every year on climate change but do little to change their behaviour. 

A ship spills oil into the ocean due to human carelessness, and individuals casually disrespect nature. These moments show children that neglecting the environment has real consequences.

Even though the movie exaggerates human flaws, it reflects reality. We often take from the earth without giving back.

Biblical Reflection on Stewardship and Creation

The message in Animals United reflects the Bible's truth, echoed by Winifred the tortoise:

“For Man is a thief who comes in the night and takes what he wants from the land. He is like a snake that eats its own tail to survive. But the Earth does not belong to Man; he is only a tiny part of it. Man did not weave the fabric of life; he is but a thread within it, for we all share the same breath. What Man doesn’t realise is that what he does to the land, he ultimately does to himself. When the land is finally destroyed, and the animals are either driven out or killed, Man will rule over the Earth alone. Then, lost and forlorn, he too will be wiped from the face of the Earth.”

She also reminds us of Psalm 24: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 

Nothing belongs to us; that’s why we leave everything behind when we die.

The Bible also warns us about destruction through selfishness. Just as the Scripture describes the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, the movie portrays how human actions can bring harm rather than life. 

A Simple Way to Understand Stewardship

I often compare our time on Earth to being members of a gym. When we pay a monthly subscription, we are free to use all the equipment available - but that does not mean we take everything with us when we leave. We naturally understand that the equipment does not belong to us; it is there for everyone to use, and when we are done, we leave it as we found it. 

In the same way, the earth and all its resources should be seen. We work, set up businesses, and acquire material possessions, but we must understand that we are only managing them for a time. One day, we will all leave this Earth. With that in mind, our attitude towards what we own should change. We are not owners, but stewards - just as Psalm 24:1 reminds us: The earth is the Lord's and everything in it.

Is Animals United a Good Movie For Kids

Yes, but with guidance.

Animals United is suitable for children, especially when watched with parents, because it opens the door to important conversations about:

• caring for the environment 
• Responsibility
• the consequences of human actions

This movie is not just for entertainment, but it is also a teaching opportunity.

Final Thoughts

Animals United is more than an animated film. It is a mirror reflection of human behaviour and a reminder of our responsibility toward creation. 

It teaches children - and adults - that:

• The Earth is not ours to exploit
• Our actions affect others 
• We are accountable for how we treat what God has made

In a simple yet powerful way, the movie calls us back to a truth we often forget:

👉What we do to the earth we ultimately do to ourselves. 

You can watch a trailer below

Atlantis: The Return of The Team

The story opens with several familiar faces from the original expedition returning: Vinny the demolition expert, Audrey the mechanic, Mole the geologist, Dr Sweet the medical officer, Cookie the cook, Mrs Packard the radio operator, and Preston Whitmore, the elderly explorer. They arrive in Atlantis to warn that strange forces are causing trouble on the surface.

The team sets out on three different adventures, travelling to Norway, the American Southwest, and the cold Nordic mountains. Each journey brings a new threat that appears to be linked to Atlantean legends.

1. “The Kraken” – Norway’s Sea Monster

The story’s first big adventure takes the group to Norway’s coast, where a huge sea monster called the Kraken is sinking freighters. At first, the team thinks it could be another ancient Atlantean war machine, similar to the Leviathan from the first film.

After their ship is attacked, the group lands in a foggy village on a cliff. The magistrate, Edgar Volgud, appears oddly ageless and mysterious. The villagers act distant and avoid sunlight. Soon, the team learns that Volgud made a deal with the Kraken: the monster protects the village and keeps Volgud alive in exchange for food and goods taken from passing ships, but this comes at the cost of the villagers’ freedom and happiness.

In a confrontation inside a hidden cave lair, the team fights both the Kraken and its hypnotic influence over the villagers. Eventually, they disable the creature by destroying part of its lair, freeing the villagers from its hold and restoring sunlight — symbolising liberation from fear and stagnation.

2. “Spirit of the West” – Desert Mysteries in the American Southwest

After leaving Norway, the team travels to the deserts of the American Southwest, where they find coyote spirits stirring up trouble. They discover that a prospector named Sam McKeane was attacked by these spirits after he found a strange Atlantean artefact. The team follows the trail to an antiques store owned by Ashtin Carnaby, who has been selling unusual relics with mysterious origins.

Their search takes them deep into the desert, where they find the ruins of an Atlantean colony buried under the sand. This discovery shows that Atlantis once had outposts around the world before it fell thousands of years ago.

Carnaby’s greed in looting the site angers the spirits who live there. As a result, the spirits turn Carnaby into one of their own, showing that disrespecting sacred history can have serious consequences.

During this journey, Kida learns more about her role as queen and begins to wonder whether Atlantis should remain hidden or reconnect with the world above. This question becomes more important as the film goes on.

3. “Spear of Destiny” – Norse Mythology and Ragnarok

The last part of the story happens in the cold Nordic mountains. Whitmore’s old rival, Erik Hellstrom, has gone mad after losing his fortune and now thinks he is Odin, the Norse god. Hellstrom steals a powerful artefact from Whitmore called the Spear of Destiny (Gungnir), which turns out to be from Atlantis.

Hellstrom, believing he is Odin, thinks Milo is Loki and Kida is his legendary daughter, Brunhild. He wants to start Ragnarok, the Norse apocalypse, by using the spear to release huge elemental monsters into the world.

During an epic battle, Hellstrom calls forth a fire beast and an ice monster. Vinny and the team work together, using explosives to distract or defeat the monsters, giving Kida a chance to get the spear back. Instead of using its power for destruction, Kida proves that ancient artefacts can help people when used wisely.

Kida’s Transformation & Atlantis Revealed

During these three missions, Kida grows and changes a lot. She struggles with her father’s belief that the Heart of Atlantis should stay hidden. As she faces myths, spirits, and ancient traditions, she comes to see that Atlantis’s gifts are meant to be shared with others.

At the story’s climax, she joins the Heart Crystal with the Spear of Destiny, and Atlantis rises from under the ocean. For the first time in over 8,000 years, people around the world, including fishermen, see the city above the waves. This moment marks a new era of openness and discovery. Whitmore says this event brings in “a better world for all.”