“Climate change and toilet humor”: These are the words used to title the FILMSTARTS review of “Checker Tobi and the Secret of Our Planet”, with which the popular KIKA science program “Checker Tobi” dared to make the jump to the big screen in 2019 – and immediately attracted almost 550,000 children and parents to the cinemas. An apt title for the successful format, which likes to spice up its child-friendly explanations about the formation of our planet, the sensitive ecosystem and the influence of man-made climate change with a pinch of fecal humor.
In 2023, “Checker Tobi and the Journey to the Flying Rivers”, a second screen adventure based on a similar recipe, followed, which was more than twice as successful with more than 1.3 million cinema tickets sold. In view of these successes, it is no wonder that those responsible for “Checker Tobi 3 – The Secret Ruler of the Earth” are once again relying on the proven successful formula of “climate change and toilet humor”. The result is once again a successful mix of feature film and nature documentary with spectacular images as well as an unobtrusive appeal for climate protection – and of course a fart joke or two shouldn't be missing.
Checker Tobi (Tobias Krell) is once again experiencing exciting adventures around the globe.
Once again, checker Tobi (usually charismatic: Tobias Krell) goes on a global scavenger hunt in his new film: While cleaning out the basement, he and his best friend Checker Marina (Marina Blanke) find an old video cassette on which Tobi, as an eight-year-old boy (played by Theodor Latta), takes his first steps towards a career as a checker. But the adult Tobi realizes that he can no longer remember the answer to a question that his younger self asks in the video: Who leaves the most powerful traces in the ground?
A clue from eight-year-old Tobi leads the adult Checker first to Madagascar, then to the Arctic island group of Spitsbergen and finally to Mexico, where he really wanted to go as a little boy. In doing so, he comes ever closer to the answer to the question of who leaves the most powerful traces in the earth…
Usual structure, but also as good as usual
“Checker Tobi 3” begins with Checker Tobi in the Indiana Jones look, fighting his way towards a pyramid in an adventure that gradually reveals itself as a video game level. This opening forms a narrative bracket for the film and at the same time establishes some of the themes: Tobi doesn't want to be a boring adult and finally wants to check off some of the items on his childhood wish list. Afterwards, director and screenwriter Antonia Simm, who took the director's chair after Martin Tischner (Part 1) and Johannes Honsell (Part 2), quickly switches to tried and tested narrative patterns:
Tobi comes across a puzzle and drops everything to solve it. To do this, he travels around the world and meets local people (who speak fluent German) who explain to him more about the local flora and fauna as well as the history and culture of the country. In this way he comes one step closer to solving the puzzle – which is not easy to guess even for adults.
The jagged rocks of Madagascar look incredibly impressive on the big screen.
Johannes Obermaier, who was responsible for the camera on the previous two films, once again captures Madagascar, Spitsbergen and Mexico in sometimes breathtaking images. A jungle panorama filmed from a Mayan pyramid or the ceiling of a coal mine on Spitsbergen glittering with frost is absolutely spectacular. What is most impressive, however, is the colorful diversity of Madagascar: Here, checker Tobi admires baobab trees at dawn or climbs a rugged rocky landscape with the local biologist Hanitra, which is most reminiscent of Mordor from the “Lord of the Rings” films.
In addition, Checker Tobi imparts knowledge about our planet to the audience, both young and old, such as endemic animal species (i.e. animal species that only exist in a certain area), a reforestation project in Madagascar or the creation of coal (and why burning it is so problematic for the climate). An animated sequence about the separation of Madagascar from the African continent in a plasticine look as well as the recurring interactions between Tobi and his younger self provide variety.
Checker Tobi and the Malagasy biologist Hanitra admire a chameleon.
Of course, the “Checker Tobi” classics shouldn't be missing: A fart who causes the oxygen measuring device to beep warningly in the coal mine on Svalbard caused a lot of amusement among children AND adults at the press screening. And of course Tobi forgets something important again, which leads to an amusing sleigh chase through a snowy town on Spitsbergen.
Conclusion: After air and water, “Checker Tobi 3 – The Secret Ruler of the Earth” now turns to the next element, presented in the usual charming way by Tobias Krell, with great pictures and lots of educational information for young and old. The “Checker Tobi 4”, which has already been announced for 2027, is welcome – it will be about the element of fire and, for the first time, the focus will be on Checker Marina.