Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (film)

Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver refers to several film adaptations of the popular German children's book series Jim Knopf by Michael Ende. This entry primarily concerns the 2018 and 2020 live-action film adaptations.

2018 Film: Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer)

This German fantasy film, directed by Dennis Gansel, is the first live-action adaptation of Ende's first Jim Knopf book. It tells the story of Jim Button, a young boy of unknown origin who was mysteriously delivered to the island of Morrowland. As he grows up, Morrowland becomes too crowded, forcing King Alfons the Quarter-to-Twelfth to declare that Luke the Engine Driver's beloved locomotive, Emma, must be decommissioned. Jim and Luke embark on a perilous journey to find out where Jim came from and save Emma from destruction. The film stars Solomon Gordon as Jim Button and Henning Baum as Luke the Engine Driver.

2020 Film: Jim Button and the Wild 13 (Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13)

This sequel, also directed by Dennis Gansel, continues the adventures of Jim and Luke. Having saved Princess Li Si from the Dragonland and discovered his own origins, Jim and Luke face new challenges, including the notorious pirate gang known as the Wild 13. The film retains the original cast with Solomon Gordon and Henning Baum reprising their roles. It further expands on the characters and fantastical elements introduced in the first film, adapting elements from the second Jim Knopf book.

Both films are known for their elaborate visual effects, set design, and costuming, aiming to bring the imaginative world of Michael Ende's books to life. They have been released theatrically in Germany and other European countries, and have also been made available for streaming. While generally aimed at a family audience, reception to the films has been mixed, with some praising the visual spectacle and others criticizing the adaptation's fidelity to the source material.