Animated films featuring Egyptians mummies mostly turn out to be haunting. Brave kids bear it all, while the weaker ones scream in fright. The newly released animated film, Mummies has a different effect as it connects ancient Egypt with the modern world, and is an out-and-out family film.

An English language Spanish computer-animated flick, it features three mummies who travel to the modern world from an underground secret city, hidden in ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians are aware of the modern world, that is why our ‘heroes’ come over to recover the wedding ring, Tuth, a former charioteer was going to give the ancient Royal family ring to Princess Nefer on their wedding day, something on which they did not agree upon.

The problem arises when the ring is stolen by an archaeologist Lord Barnaby from the present world. The trio of Princess, Charioteer, and his younger brother (accompanied by a pet crocodile) embark on a hilarious journey in the new world and the confusion follows. They mistook a camera for a weapon, a car for a chariot, and a Ferris wheel for a Stargate.

Nefer is portrayed as an independent girl who has no interest in settling down. She is a beautiful princess whose aim is to become a singer rather than a ruler. Tuth, on the other hand, was a champion, who after an accident, got freaked out.

The character you can easily relate to is the eight-year-old Sekhem, the adventurous, boomerang-carrying brother of Tuth.

The trio manages to overcome all their problems with excellent teamwork. Tuth supported Nefer in achieving her dreams while Nefer helped Tuth to become the champion he was. The antagonist, Lord Carnaby, is always in search of a living mummy, but her mother, a.k.a Mommy, would always cross his path whenever he was about to go for the kill.

It marks director Juan Jesús García Galocha’s first outing as the director. He had been around for a while and was in charge of films such as Tad, the Lost Explorer, and The Secret of King Midas (2017).

Ancient Egyptian civilisation has been depicted well, keeping in mind the young minds. The detail with which the chariot races and the Pharaoh were depicted deserves full applause for the animators. Boomerang did exist in ancient Egypt as a sport and pet crocodiles were in fashion as well, in ancient times.

The moral of the story is that no matter where you are, teamwork is the key to overcoming fear and that you can overcome all hurdles that are there in achieving your dreams if you trust your close ones.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 3rd, 2023