Ep 6. Episode 32 - Why Hyena Has Short Back Legs

Tinga Tinga Tales is an educational animated series that follows the African folktales, exploring how different animals have gotten their distinct characteristics. Season 2, Episode 6, titled "Why Hyena Has Short Back Legs" is a fascinating episode that delves into the story behind the hyena's short back legs.

The episode takes place in a colorful African savannah, and it begins with a group of curious animals gathering around the wise old tortoise, who has been known for sharing stories about the animal kingdom. Today, he tells the tale of Hyena - a cunning and devious animal who is always up to mischief.

The story begins when Hyena boasts about his athletic ability, claiming that he can outrun any animal in the savannah. However, his friends, the giraffes, and the zebras who had seen him run before knew better and laughed at his claim and noted that hyenas had short back legs that would make it impossible for him to run as fast as other animals.

Hyena was embarrassed by this fact, and he decided to seek out the wise old owl, who is known for his knowledge of the animal kingdom. The owl tells him the story of how hyena's back legs became short.

In the story, there was once a time when all animals had long, sleek legs that helped them run faster and more efficiently. However, Hyena, being his cunning self, got jealous of his friends' speed and decided to sneak into the spirit world to seek out new, long legs that he could use to outrun his prey.

However, instead of coming back with long and sleek legs, he ended up stealing the legs from a frog. The spirit saw what hyena did and became angry and cast a spell that turned the long legs into short and stubby legs.

Hyena, despite having short back legs, still decided to challenge other animals to a race, hoping to prove them wrong. However, every time he tried to run, his back legs would cause him to stumble, and he would fall.

He finally realized that his short back legs were a curse and decided to ask the spirit to remove it. The spirit told him that the curse would only be lifted if he could cross the dangerous river and bring a special fruit that grew on the other side.

Hyena rose to the challenge and was able to complete the task by using his wit to outsmart the dangerous creatures on the other side of the river. As a result, the spirit lifted the curse, and Hyena's legs became long and sleek.

At the end of the story, the animals learn that greed and jealousy can lead to unfavorable circumstances, and they should appreciate and make the best out of their unique traits.

This episode is not only entertaining but also educational, teaching children valuable lessons about making the best out of their unique characteristics, and not feeling the need to be like everyone else. It's a great addition to the Tinga Tinga Tales series, which reimagines African folktales in a fun and engaging way.