''Khan Kluay'' (; ) is a 2006 Thai animated

adventure film The adventure film is a broad genre of film. Some early genre studies found it no different than the Western film or argued that adventure could encompass all Hollywood genres. Commonality was found among historians Brian Taves and Ian Cameron in ...

set in

Ayutthaya Ayutthaya, Ayudhya, or Ayuthia may refer to: * Ayutthaya Kingdom, a Thai kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767 ** Ayutthaya Historical Park, the ruins of the old capital city of the Ayutthaya Kingdom * Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province (locall ...

-era Siam about a Thai elephant who wanders away from his mother and becomes the

war elephant A war elephant is an elephant that is Animal training, trained and guided by humans for combat purposes. Historically, the war elephant's main use was to charge (warfare), charge the enemy, break their ranks, and instill terror and fear. Elep ...

for King

Naresuan Naresuan (1555/1556 – 25 April 1605), commonly known as Naresuan the Great, or Sanphet II was the 18th Monarchy of Thailand, king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and 2nd monarch of the List of monarchs of Thailand#Sukhothai dynasty (1569–1629), S ...

. It is based on the story ''Chao Phraya Prap Hongsawadee '' by Ariya Jintapanichkarn. The film took three years to make, and was released on May 18, 2006, in Thailand. In 2007, the film was released as ''The Blue Elephant'' in the United States on September 2, and as ''

Jumbo Jumbo (December 25, 1860 – September 15, 1885), also known as Jumbo the Elephant and Jumbo the Circus Elephant, was a 19th-century male African bush elephant born in Sudan. Jumbo was exported to Jardin des Plantes, a zoo in Paris, and then tr ...

'' in India in December 25. ''Khan Kluay'' is directed by Kompin Kemgumnird, an animator who had worked on

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

films such as '' Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' and ''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, a feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer. Creat ...

'' and

Blue Sky Studios Blue Sky Studios, Inc. was an American visual effects and computer animation animation studio, studio, which was active from 1987 to 2021. It was based in Greenwich, Connecticut, and was founded on February 22, 1987, by Chris Wedge, Michael F ...

' ''

Ice Age An ice age is a long period of reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Earth's climate alternates between ice ages, and g ...

''. Produced by Kantana Animation, it was the first Thai 3D animated feature film and the first Thai animated feature film released since ''

The Adventure of Sudsakorn ''The Adventure of Sudsakorn'' (; , also ''The Adventure of Sud Sakorn'', ''Sudsakhorn Adventure'', or ''Soodsakorn'') is a 1979 Thai animation, animated fantasy film. The only Traditional animation, cel-animated feature film ever made in Thailan ...

'', a 1979 cel-animated film by Payut Ngaokrachang. The film's sequel, '' Khan Kluay 2'', is about Khan Kluay's two elephant children, another attack by the Hanthawaddy, and the choice between living with his wife or fighting the Burmese. An animated television series, ''The Adventures of Khan Kluay'', was produced by Kantana Animation Studio and broadcast on

BBTV Channel 7 Channel 7 HD, formerly known as Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited Channel 7 () is a Thailand and Bangkok's first commercial broadcasting, commercial free-to-air television network that was launched on 27 November 1967 as Thail ...

Plot

In the 1500s, an

elephant Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant ('' Loxodonta africana''), the African forest elephant (''L. cyclotis''), and the Asian elephant ('' Elephas maximus ...

named Saeng Da gave birth to a calf, whom she names Khan Kluay. Phupa, Khan Kluay's father, is a

of the

army. As a young calf, Khan Kluay befriends a

columbidae Columbidae is a bird Family (biology), family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the Order (biology), order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with small heads, relatively short necks and slender bills that in ...

named Jitrit. As the two roam around the jungle, Khan Kluay meets Chaba Kaew, a pink elephant who lived with humans since her birth. That night, Khan Kluay tells Saeng Da about Phupa, and he sets off the look for him, but he gets in trouble, and he encounters Nguang Deang, the elephant of the Hanthawaddy army who killed Phupa. The evil elephant pushed the calf out of his palace, which led Jitrit to prophesize that Khan Kluay that he will become the war elephant to fight Nguang Deang's army. Khan Kluay suddenly gets into deadly situations and grows up. As the Ayutthaya army prepares to take over, Khan Kluay and Jitrit find themselves held captive in the logs, where the former saves his mother. However, Mingyi Swa, Nguang Deang's human companion, destroys the army and take over Ayutthaya. Meanwhile, Khan Kluay befriends King

. Later, Nguang Deang and his army arrive, and begin their attack. Naresuan leads the army to attack. As the Ayutthaya army battled the Hanthawaddy army, Nguang Deang fights Khan Kluay attracting Mingyi Swa and Naresuan to a sword duel. A ember sets the battlefield on fire and, in a final duel, Naresuan defeats Mingyi Swa and he dies along with Nguang Deang. The battle won, and Khan Kluay is crowned as an royal elephant. He lives with Chaba Kaew, and everything changed as a life.

Characters

* Khan Kluay - ก้านกล้วย: The title character and the main protagonist, was born in the wild. His mission is to find his father name is "Phupa", who is evidently dead and

cremated Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

. After he's King Naresuan's royal

his name is "Chaophraya Chaiyanuphap", and after he won of Elephant Battle his name is "Chao Phraya Prab Hongsawadee". * King Naresuan the Great - สมเด็จพระนเรศวรมหาราช: The King of

and the first human Khan Kluay befriends. * Chaba Kaew - ชบาแก้ว: Is a pink elephant with a flower on her left ear. She is Khan Kluay's wife. She lives with humans since she birth. * Nguang Deang - งวงแดง: The main

antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...

Elephant, Crown Prince Mingyi Swa's royal elephant, and the most powerful elephant of Hanthawaddy army. He killed Phupa, Khan Kluay's father. In the

elephant duel Elephant duels were a historical martial practice where opposing army leaders engaged each other on the battlefield in single combat on the back of war elephants. They are documented in historical records from Southeast Asia, mainly in present-da ...

he fight with Khan Kluay and dies in the battle. * Crown Prince Mingyi Swa - พระมหาอุปราชามังกะยอชวา: The secondary antagonist of the film. He is the

crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...

of Toongoo dynasty, son of King Nanda Bayin. In the Elephant Battle he fight with King Naresuan and dies in the battle. * Phupa - ภูผา: The most powerful of war elephants of

army, and Khan Kluay's father. He dies in the war because he fight with Nguang Deang. * Saeng Da - แสงดา: The kind elephant, Phupa's wife and Khan Kluay's mother. * Bun Rueng - บุญเรือง: The strong elephant, after he is royal elephant of Prince Ekathotsarot his name is "Chaophraya Prap Traichak". * Sing Khorn - สิงขร: King Mahintrathirat's royal elephant and Phupa's friends. * Nual - นวล: The old elephant, she is Phupa's mother and Khan Kluay's grandmother. * Phatchaniang - พัชเนียง: Evil elephant of Hanthawaddy army and Bun Rueng's enemies. * Prince Ekathotsarot - สมเด็จพระเอกาทศรถ: King Naresuan's youngerbrother. * Letwe Tathmu - ลักไวทำมู: The bad general of Hanthawaddy army.

Voice cast

* Anyarit Pitakkul as Khan Kluay (young) * Nawarat Techarathanaprasert as Chaba Kaew (child) * Phoori Hiranyapruk as older Khan Kluay * Warattaya Nilkuha (Jui) as older Chaba Kaew * Pongsak Hiranyapruk as Jitrit, a

pigeon Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with small heads, relatively short necks and slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. ...

* Nanthana Bunlong as Saeng-daa * Suthep Po-ngam as Mahout * Channarong Khuntee-tao as Burmese general * Klos Utthaseri as Mingyi Swa * Juree Ohsiri * Koti Aramboy

US English dub

* Thomas Starkley as Khan Kluay (young) * Jeremy Redleaf as Khan Kluay (old) * Miranda Cosgrove as Kon Suay *

Martin Short Martin Hayter Short (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian and American comedian, actor, and writer. Short is known as an energetic comedian who gained prominence for his roles in sketch comedy. He has also acted in numerous films and television ...

as Jai * Amy Carlson as Nuan, Cha, Cow *

Carl Reiner Carl Reiner (March 20, 1922 – June 29, 2020) was an American actor, author, comedian, director and screenwriter whose career spanned seven decades. He was the List of awards and nominations received by Carl Reiner, recipient of many awards and ...

as Tian * Kate Simses as Sang Da * Troy Baker as Marong, Young Prince Naresuan, Minchit Sra * Richard Epcar as King Narusean, Ajan, Officer * Cindy Robinson as Matriarch Elephant, Dela

Hindi voice actors

Akshay Kumar Akshay Hari Om Bhatia (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia; 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (), is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as "Khiladi Kumar", through his career span ...

as Jayveer "Jumbo" the elephant/Himself (narrator) ** Ashar Shaikh as Baby Jayveer "Jumbo" *

Lara Dutta Lara Dutta Bhupathi ( Dutta; born 16 April 1978) is an Indian actress. She won the Miss Universe 2000, and has since predominantly worked in Hindi films and series. Dutta is a recipient of a Filmfare Awards, Filmfare Award and established hers ...

as Sonia ** Vaishnavi Shetty as Baby Sonia * Rajpal Yadav as Dildar Yadav * Dimple Kapadia as Devi * Amar Babaria as Rajkumar Vikramaditya * Asrani as Senapati * Gulshan Grover as Bakhtavar

Production

''Khan Kluay'' was directed by Kompin Kemgumnird, an animator who had worked on the

films ''

The Lion King ''The Lion King'' is a 1994 American animated musical coming-of-age drama film directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, produced by Don Hahn, and written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. Produced by Walt Disney ...

'', '' Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' and''

'', and

' ''

''. Produced by Kantana Animation, it was the first Thai 3-D animated feature film and the first animated Thai feature since Payut Ngaokrachang's cel-animated ''

'' (1979). ''Khan Kluay'' took three years to produce.

Releases

''Khan Kluay'' was released in Thailand on May 18, 2006, and the film was shown to an audience of

Asian elephant The Asian elephant (''Elephas maximus''), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living ''Elephas'' species. It is the largest living land animal in Asia and the second largest living Elephantidae, elephantid in the world. It is char ...

s and their mahouts in an outdoor screening in

Ayutthaya Province Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, or locally and simply Ayutthaya (historically Juthia or Judia), is one of the central provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ang Thong, Lopburi, Saraburi, Pathum Than ...

on June 6 of that year. It was released in September 2008 on DVD in the United States as ''The Blue Elephant.'' The Indian production Percept Picture Company bought the rights to the film and released a Hindi-language version, ''Jumbo'', on December 25, 2008; Indian actor

voiced the main character, Jumbo.

United States

The film was released in the US on September 2, 2008, by

The Weinstein Company The Weinstein Company, LLC (usually credited or abbreviated as TWC) was an American independent film production and distribution company, which was founded in New York City by Bob and Harvey Weinstein on March 10, 2005. TWC was one of the larg ...

and The Jim Henson Company as ''The Blue Elephant''. Like other foreign animated films which have been dubbed into English (such as '' My Neighbor Totoro'' and ''

Kiki's Delivery Service is a 1989 Japanese Anime, animated fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on Eiko Kadono's 1985 novel ''Kiki's Delivery Service (novel), Kiki's Delivery Service''. Animated by Studio Ghibli, the film stars Minami ...

''), it was released

direct-to-video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strat ...

. The film was re-dubbed with celebrity voices, including

, Miranda Cosgrove and

. Some scenes were deleted for the US version, and character names were changed.

India

The film released in India on December 25, 2008, as ''

'' by Percept Picture Company. It was re-dubbed with a cast which included

and Rajpal Yadav.

Festivals and awards

* 2006 Thailand National Film Association AwardsThai Film Awards this year
, ThaiCinema.org, 2007-02-28. **Best picture **Best script **Best score **Best sound recording * 2006 Golden Doll Awards ** Best score ** Best sound recording * 2006 Bangkok Critics Assembly ** Best score * 2006 Starpics Awards ** Best score * 2006 Star Entertainment Awards ** Best picture ** Best score * 2006 Animadrid, International Animation Festival,

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

** Best Feature Film * 2007 Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children * 2007 Golden Elephant International Children's Film Festival ** Opening film

Sequel and television series

A 2009 film sequel, '' Khan Kluay 2'', was a

box-office bomb A box-office bomb is a film that is unprofitable or considered highly unsuccessful during its theatrical run. Although any film for which the combined production budget, marketing, and distribution costs exceed the revenue after release has te ...

. An animated television series, ''The Adventures of Khan Kluay'', was produced by Kantana Animation Studio and is broadcast on

in Thailand. ''Khan Kluay'' featured in animations broadcast in 2016 as the lead-in to '' Thailand Move Forward'', a government-information program which all television stations in Thailand are required to broadcast at 6 pm.recorded livestream feed
of Nation TV on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

References

External links

*
Review at ThaiCinema.org
{{Suphannahong National Film Award for Best Picture 2006 films 2006 computer-animated films 2000s children's animated films Thai animated films Thai children's films Animated films about elephants Thai-language films The Weinstein Company films The Weinstein Company animated films Films set in the 16th century Best Picture Suphannahong National Film Award winners Thai national heritage films Sahamongkol Film International films Animated films set in Asia 2000s Thai films