The tale begins with the mortal world indelibly stained with crime and corruption. God (voiced by Rob Van Paulus) is disgusted with the unfortunate plight of innocent people and decides to render judgment in the form of a catastrophic flood to cover and drown all the wickedness that mankind has created. His faithful angel (voiced by Andrio Chavarro) pleads with Him to give humanity one more chance and shows Him the life of a righteous man, Noah, who has taken pity upon a defenseless slave and used all of his money to free him. God consents and chooses only Noah to take his family and two of every species of animal to forge a New World of peace and harmony.
The story is filled with entertaining talking animals and people as Noah prepares for this monumental voyage. The Ark is built according to God's instructions which causes Noah to cut down his beloved forest to create an enormous vessel with a cargo hold, cabins for each set of animals, five towers exclusively for birds, higher floors for Noah and his family, plus a fishing area and deck.
Noah summons the animals to join the ship and they comply, except the mythical ones: big-foot, the unicorn and dragon, who skeptically watch the boarding as the first drop of rain begins to fall. Confusion begins when the herbivores become suspicious of the carnivores, but soon a manipulating tiger named Dagnino (voiced by Wayne LeGette) encourages all to respect one another in this new adventure. But the sly Dagnino secretly has visions of becoming the animal leader and eventually eating the herbivores.
Animals aren't the only ones stirring up trouble. Two corrupt con-artists who have stealthily gained entrance aboard the Ark, Farfan (voiced by James Keller) and Esther (voiced by Amy London), are stowed-away as disguised "Grasswhopper" animals to circumvent Dagnino and his bloodthirsty coharts. Meanwhile, the King of the jungle, Sabu (voiced by Oscar Cheda), has allowed his son Xiro (voiced by James Keller) to take the voyage and settle his kingdom in the New World. Kairel (voiced by Chloe Dolandis), who eventually becomes the Prince's partner, steers him in the proper direction to take his rightful position as King of the animals. Of course, there's disturbance as Dagnino plans strategies to gain the royal position.
Dagnino continues to plot against Xiro using the Prince's weakness for vanity and the opposite sex against him. He sends the seductress Bruma (voiced by Heidi Harris) as a temptation. But Kairel is vigilant in trying to keep Xiro responsible and securing a peaceful leadership for both humans and animals. There is much conflict aboard the Ark, as Noah falls into the boughs of the ship and is thought dead, while his sons, Shem (voiced by Oscar Cheda), Ham (voiced by Brandom Morris) and Jafet (voiced by Andrio Chavarro) fight over the ship's control. True to God and Noah, the ever-faithful Naama (voiced by Kay Brady), Noah's wife, prays unceasingly for God's intervention and solution. Emotions flare when Farfan and Esther cook up a poisonous lunch, God responds to family prayers, the Ark has a wayward journey, Xiro is framed for murder, family rebellion and mutiny is considered, a fight to reclaim the kingdom occurs, and a Divine decision opens a pathway to the New World.
Noah's Ark is about sin, corruption and disobedience; God's judgment; and the salvation of Noah's family, who is chosen to begin a New World after God's punishment of mankind, the Flood, has subsided and man and animals learn to live together with respect and harmony. In conclusion, God sends His merciful gift -- the Rainbow -- as a promise that the world will never again be destroyed by flood.
Noah's Ark is a delightful film for the family. Though it has not yet been rated, it does contain mild language and some cartoon violence that might be considered before viewing by younger children. There is brilliant color, playful characters, suspense, violence, love, and a world of festivity and hilarity. This movie is entertaining and shows that though there are struggles and difficulty in following righteousness, God's way is to live with cooperation, consideration, respect and love for one another.
