Jungle Beat
Dialogue-free comedy celebrating warmth, kindness, and the joy of friendship.
The Jungle Beat world revolves around Munki and Trunk, two best friends whose home is the big and twisty tree in the jungle. The show celebrates warmth and kindness through dialogue-free physical comedy and heartwarming stories.
By the Numbers
- Africa’s biggest animated franchise
- Broadcast in over 180 countries
- 13 Million YouTube subscribers
- 7 Billion lifetime YouTube views
- 8 Seasons of TV series
- 2 Feature films
Awards
- Best Animation — African Eye Animation Festival (2003)
- Marble Z Award for Best Film (Children’s Jury) — Zagreb Animation Festival (2003)
- Audience Award — Anima Mundi International Animation Festival, São Paulo (2003)
- Main Prize — Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children (2006)
- Camerio Audience Award — Carrousel International du Film de Rimouski, Canada (2006)
- Best Series for Children — South African Film and Television Awards (2007)
- Best Animated Short — National Film Board of Canada Award, Freeze Frame Festival (2007)
- JICA Enfants Award — Annecy International Animated Film Festival (2008)
- Best Animation — LG “Life’s Good” Film Festival, Toronto (2008)
- Two Platinum Awards — American Pixel Academy (2011)
- Official Selection — Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (2004, 2013)
- Official Selection — St. Louis International Film Festival (2014)
Series History
Origins (2003)
The first episode of Jungle Beat, “Always Take the Weather with You,” was produced in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2003. Initially created as a VFX test for fur and weather effects, the five-minute short was an unexpected success, winning “Best Animation” at the African Eye Animation Festival and the Audience Award at Anima Mundi in São Paulo. This pilot established the format: standalone, dialogue-free episodes following different animals through quirky predicaments.
Season 1 (2003–2005)
Season 1 comprised 13 episodes, each a self-contained 5-minute short featuring a different animal navigating a bizarre situation through physical comedy. In a playful creative choice, every episode was named after a famous song, from “Always Take the Weather with You” to “Born to Be Wild” to “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” These standalone shorts established Jungle Beat’s unique voice and began building an international audience through festival screenings.
Seasons 2–3 (2005–2014)
The format continued with more standalone animal adventures. From the firefly who’s afraid of the dark to the giraffe who bumps his head on the moon, each episode followed a different creature through slapstick predicaments. The series was broadcast across South Africa and secured international distribution deals, reaching audiences in over 180 countries.
Seasons 4–7: Munki and Trunk (2016–2020)
The series evolved into a more character-driven format, centering on the friendship between Munki (a crafty monkey) and Trunk (a caring elephant). This era produced 52 episodes of 7 minutes each, with longer runtimes allowing for richer storytelling while maintaining the dialogue-free format.
In 2017, Aardman’s Rights and Brand Development division partnered with Sunrise for global television distribution, premiering the series at MIPCOM Junior. The Aardman partnership brought Jungle Beat to television audiences worldwide, targeting kids aged 4–7 with the same physical comedy and heartwarming stories.
Season 8 (2021)
The latest season, set before the events of Jungle Beat: The Movie, follows Munki and Trunk as they deal with the return of The Explorers, who have brought an extremely cute puppy with them.
The Explorers (Spin-off)
The Explorers (2015) is a spin-off series following four enthusiastic but hapless explorers (Mirabelle, Simon, Dexter and Rita) on their mission of discovery. Their enthusiasm far outweighs their ability. They’re more like four small children in a playground than pioneering adventurers. The stories are packed with classic physical comedy, with simple situations that spiral into side-splitting silliness.
- Format: 13 episodes (YouTube exclusive)
- Watch on YouTube