[Note: This review of "Why Don' We Ride Zebras" appeared in the Nevada City Advocate newspaper as part of a set of reviews for the 8th Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival.]
“Why Don’t We Ride Zebras” is not a perfect example of an educational film, but it’s pretty close.It’s fun. It’s clever. It’s short (12 minutes). It’s focused.It’s sound in structure and pace.It’s does a fine job of photographing an array of animals and mixes in a little cartoon silliness.It teaches its topic well.
In its title and at its heart, the film asks an interesting question.Really, why don’t we ride zebras?On its way to answering this question, you learn some new things. You receive a neat bundle of characteristics and context about animals we’ve domesticated and animals we have not.
Domesticated animals share seven characteristics.If they haven’t exhibited all seven over man’s long history of bending other species to their bidding, they don’t belong in the domesticated animals Hall of Fame.
I won’t spill the educational beans.See this film. You’ll enjoy learning the seven characteristics and the one that zebras don’t have.That one thing is “Why Don’t We Ride Zebras.”