A group of five classmates, all seventh graders, approximately 12-13 years old, from a rural town in Montana are selected to compete in a major history exhibition. It is a most unexpected but timely invitation. First prize is $25,000 dollars. Their little country school is in trouble. Their favorite teacher is about to lose her teaching position because of financial woes. The money can save the school and the teacher’s position. Everything is at stake!

GENRE: Historical Drama

VIRTUES/VALUES: Courage. Determination. Co-operation. Friendship.

SYNOPSIS: Each of the five is magnificent in a special way. PENNY, the writer. GOOGLE, the tech geek. BRITE, the brain. SAMANTHA (SAM), a girl who loves gadgets and can build anything. And ARCHIE, the artist.

Time is a challenge. By the end of the summer they must present their history project. It takes time to work out what they want to do and how to present it. And they are working against the odds in other ways. They know the panel of judges is not necessarily unbiased, perhaps favoring other schools with better financial and social credentials.

The exhibition’s theme is The Great War, The War to End All Wars. WWI.

In a long forgotten trunk in the loft of a cluttered old barn they discover the story of The Lost Battalion. A curious old man, who lets them into the barn loft at the suggestion of their history teacher, raises pigeons in the upper attic under the eaves. The old man gives them grudging access to some of his wartime memorabilia but also tells them there are forbidden areas in his barn where they cannot explore.

Searching amongst the dusty trunks and books leads Fabulous Five to a true tale, stranger than fiction, that happened in France during the Great War, the Battle of the Argonne:

“They had broken the enemy line. They were lost. 500 American soldiers. Their food was gone. They were out of ammunition and surrounded by the enemy. The radios were no good and if they didn’t get word to command they were all going to die… they had one last hope. Their lives depended on the heart and courage of a single carrier pigeon.”

That is the story the Fabulous Five decides to tell. It is the story that becomes their history project for the all important competition. The story of The Lost Battalion and the pigeon, Cher Ami, who saved their lives, plays out as an animated vision of their youthful imaginations.

At first PENNY wants to tell the story as a novel, but as the group comes together, overcoming their own prejudices and niggles, many false starts, and the destructive raids of their competitors, they work out a spectacular idea that they are sure will win.

Fabulous Five sets about to create a fantastic graphic novel—a comic book of sorts —inspired by the historical events, but told as fairy tale and fable, true life and lessons for life. And all of it comes to life as animation.

The movie unfolds as a story within a story; an animated fable within a live action adventure. As the Fabulous Five race against the clock, they tap into their talents and imaginations. The viewing audience is transported between fantasy and fiction—history and reality—live action and animation.

Adding disastrous conflict to their race against time and the need to get their facts right is the intended sabotage by the Falcons, bullies from Golden Hills Middle School, academic home of the richer kids from the other side. In the end, of course, Fabulous Five are successful in their quest, but in unexpected ways.

Source: Based on the Feature Animated Film Cher Ami.