Pet trappers have taken the family of a young macaw who must partner with humans to save them and awaken the Spirit of the Rain to quench the fires that would consume his home.

SYNOPSIS:

Chico is all blue feathers and fluff. He waits for his first flying lesson from Dad, who never arrives. He’s been taken by pet trappers. Chico vows to find him. Morning. Chico edges onto a branch, flaps his wings, and flips upside down under the branch, disturbing a cranky sloth and ‘flight instructor’ who swats him off the branch. Now flying, Chico flies to the gossip spot, the clay cliffs, where he crashes into Amor, a flirtatious female who wants a boyfriend to “knock her over with a feather.” Amor takes Chico to meet her human who raised her. Chico freaks out at seeing Amor’s gangly native guardian, Yako. Enemy! But Yako is the last descendant of the Guardian tribe who were enslaved during the conquest. He’s dealing with Carmen, an entitled bureaucrat who would turn the rainforest into a tourist trap. She wears the twin of the golden amulet worn by Guardian priests that was handed down to Yako. Carmen’s family enslaved Yako’s ancestors.

Chico explains that the flock is being taken by demons. Yako understands, but Carmen hears squawks. She’s intrigued. Yako, Chico, and Amor devise a plan to find and free everyone. Carmen joins wearing native dress. She looks ridiculous. Chico gathers recruits, two pygmy marmoset guides and Weaver, a huge Goliath Bird-Eater spider, who is promised a big meal. Then Amor is captured right in front of Chico. He feels crushed, but continues and finds Amor, Mom & Dad, and others in cages. Two trappers have gone to burn Chico’s Island, to drive the remaining flock into flying nets. One trapper remains. Chico and crew drive the trapper into Weaver’s web as Weaver’s dinner. Everyone is freed.

On return to the island, it’s already ablaze. As the trappers planned, the flock takes flight. Now, only the Spirit of the Rain can quench the flames, but only a prayer from a Guardian can call the Spirit. Yako, the last Guardian, flies an ultralight directly into the flying net, sinking with it into the river. The flock is saved. The island still burns. Carmen sees Yako crash. Chico sees the golden glint of Carmen’s Guardian amulet. Another Guardian! Chico implores her to become the new Guardian. Carmen touches the amulet and understands Chico’s plea. Carmen remembers her grandfather’s last words, to absolve her family. She speaks her own heartfelt Guardian prayer. Chico leads the flock in an upward spiral, chanting Carmen’s prayer. Thunder rolls. The tropical rains quench the flames. Yako survives, amazed at Carmen’s transformation. Chico, Amor and the rest of the flock look to a future where the ancient power and partnership with the New Guardians is reborn.

SPIRIT OF THE RAIN