Alert from an early age on deforestation to “save the planet”: this is the ambition of Ozi, voice of the forest, an animated feature film co-produced by Leonardo Dicaprio and whose concept aims to decline for other environmental causes.
We follow Ozi, a young orangutan raised by humans after losing her parents during the fire in her forest. Going in search of them, she uses her talents as an influencer, makes videos and masters sign language to denounce the ravages caused by the production of palm oil. “In animation, we tend to use animals for various reasons,” the film’s co-creator, Rodrigo Blaas, told AFP at the Annecy festival. “In this film, we want to give them a point of view, to show what is happening in the world through their eyes”.
Among its producers are Leonardo DiCaprio, fervent defender of the environmental cause in Hollywood, as well as his “friend” Mike Medavoy, veteran of the industry who, despite his 82 years and “324 films” on the clock, delivers his first animated film here. . “It was such an original idea” compared to the current avalanche of remakes and sequels, says the producer to justify this new experience. “And we are facing existential issues, including artificial intelligence and obviously global warming.”
Expected soon in the cinema, Ozi must allow children and their parents to engage in discussions on environmental subjects, while making them understand the power of commitment and communication to change things, according to Rodrigo Blaas. An approach that must be found in other films and other “voices” on the oceans, the sky, etc., through a franchise of “charismatic and megaphonic superheroes”, summarizes producer Adam Stanhope.
Does Ozi, a Franco-British-American 3D co-production, respect the environment in its design? “We have been working remotely during the pandemic,” replies Adam Stanhope. And “its distribution will be zero carbon in all markets where possible,” he added. “We are all looking for solutions to achieve carbon neutrality,” agrees Rodrigo Blaas. Ozi’s team further supports the work of animal welfare and conservation organizations like International Animal Rescue, pledging “a significant percentage of the film’s profits” to charitable causes.
