Parents' Guide to

FernGully: The Last Rainforest

Movie G 1992 75 minutes
FernGully: The Last Rainforest Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Nell Minow , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Family favorite features strong environmental message.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

  • FernGully: The Last Rainforest Movie: Scene #1
  • FernGully: The Last Rainforest Movie: Scene #2
  • FernGully: The Last Rainforest Movie: Scene #3

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 15 parent reviews

Emmk
Emmk Adult
May 7, 2017
age 8+

Too scary for sensitive children

My five-and-a-half-year-old wants me to say she was "500% scared" after watching this movie. She cannot be left alone in a room in our house and must have someone holding her. To be fair, she gets scared very easily and has also been frightened in the fairly recent past of episodes of Sofia the First and My Little Pony. It might be ok for a child who doesn't tend to get scared, but the monster, Hexus, was too much for her.
Margert-jerry
Margert-jerry Adult
December 28, 2014
age 7+

I thought the movie had a good message, but it was definitely on the scary side. The "toxic love" song, and the first song the sad bat sang would probably be very scary for a young child. Other then the scariness I didn't dislike it, but my roommate said he really hates it. I'm not sure why, but he's pretty passionate about how much he dislikes it. On the other hand another friend of mine seems to love it, and makes me and my roommate watch it with him on occasion despite being an adult. So I guess it just depends on who's watching it, I'm sure for most childern it would be good, as long as they are not scared very easily. the ending part was pretty intense. There was also some romantic parts but not really bad or anything.
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In FERNGULLY: THE LAST RAINFOREST, an evil and destructive spirit named Hexxus (voice of Tim Curry) is imprisoned in a tree by Magi, the leader of the fairies, who believes that all humans have been destroyed. Many years later, as Magi is teaching Crysta, her apprentice (voice of Samantha Mathis), they find that the humans have returned, and are cutting down all the trees. Crysta shrinks one of the humans, a young man named Zak, to save him from being hit by a falling tree, and teaches him about the importance of preserving the forest.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15 ):
Kids say (15 ):

This movie features an all-star cast and some top-notch animation. Highlights of FernGully: The Last Rainforest include Robin Williams voicing the aptly named "Batty Koda" and gravel-voiced rapper Ton Loc as a Goanna lizard singing "If I'm Goanna Eat Somebody, It Might as Well Be You."

There are some very scary moments, and the magic characters may distract kids from the lesson about environmental conservation, but it does provide a good opportunity for discussions that may help increase sensitivity to environmental concerns.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Ferngully: The Last Rainforest illustrates the importance of conserving the Earth's natural resources, and research the role that trees, and other plants, play in the environment.

  • How do you feel about movies that have a strong message? Does it distract from or enhance the entertainment value?

  • Can you imagine this movie as a live-action film? Who would play the various roles?

  • How do the characters in Ferngully: The Last Rainforest demonstrate compassion, curiosity, and courage? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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