Tad, the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas () is a 2017 Spanish animated adventure comedy film directed by Enrique Gato and David Alonso.“Tadeo Jones 2, el secreto del rey Midas” llegará a México el 4 de enero, 9 October 2017. (in Spanish). 20 minutos. Retrieved 13 May 2021.'Tadeo Jones 2' clip exclusivo, 10 August 2017. Fotogramas. Retrieved 13 May 2021. Produced by Ikiru Films, Telecinco Cinema, El Toro Pictures, Lightbox Entertainment and Telefónica Studios, it is the second film in the Tad Stones film series, a sequel to Tad, the Lost Explorer (2012).Hopewell, John (12 June 2017) Jordi Gasull on ‘Tadeo Jones 2,’ One of Spain’s Biggest New Animation Bets . Variety. Retrieved 13 May 2021.Bradshaw, Peter (9 February 2018) Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas review – ropey Euro animation. The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2021.

The film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 13 June 2017 and was theatrically released on 25 August 2017 in Spain by Paramount Pictures and was also released in the US on 1 December 2017, and in the UK on 9 February 2018 Hopewell, John (21 July 2014) Paramount Pictures Takes Worldwide Distribution on ‘Capture the Flag,’ ‘Tad’ Sequel . Variety. Retrieved 13 May 2021. It had a worldwide gross of $35 million against a budget of €9 million ($11.8 million) making it a box office success. Like the first film, Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas received some negative reviews from American critics, but was very well received by Spanish critics, who even considered it superior to the first film. It won Best Animated Film at the 32nd Goya Awards, 5th Platino Awards, 73rd CEC Awards and 10th Gaudí Awards.

A third installment Tad, the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet, was released in 2022, and a fourth instalment Tad and the Magic Lamp, was released in 2026.

Plot

Sometime after the events of the first film, Sara Lavrof has became an expeditioner. One day, she obtains a papyrus that proves the existence of King Midas at an underwater temple. The following day, she invites Tad Stones to an museum. Before his visit, he is reunited by the mummy, who explains that he was banished out of his home town, and he set out to Tad's home city. Tad then reluctantly lets the mummy accompany him to the museum. Upon arrival, he meets Tiffany Maze, an assistant of Professor Lavrof, who is learning a lot about Sara. Sara tells him about Midas' gold collar made up of three pieces that enable Midas' gold touch, and about the location of one of the pieces, the Red Temple of Baal.

At a gala in the museum that night, Sara tells the story of Midas; Midas defeated all of his enemies for Apollo, who gave him the collar, thus giving him the ability to turn everything into gold. However, after accidentally transforming his daughter into gold, he returned to Apollo, who forced him to set out to give three of its pieces to a god in three different palaces, thus restoring his daughter by a sacrifice for love. Suddenly, the villainous Jack Rackham and his henchmen arrive, steal the papyrus, and abduct Sara, forcing her to reveal the locations of the pieces. Tad, Tiffany, and Mummy decipher a writing about the Temple of Baal from a notebook, and realize that Jack is taking Sara to Granada.

Upon arrival, they hitch a taxi ride to Alhambra, where they are chased by some of Jack's henchmen, but they escape to the palace. There, they open an secret room leading to Baal's temple hidden under a fountain, where they enter. Inside, they acquire the first piece of the collar. Upon returning to the surface, they are cornered by Jack, who forces them to surrender the piece and the notebook in exchange for Sara. Tad reconciles with her, before the group set off to Cappadocia, Turkey.

They reach a palace, but Tad decides to enter alone. He acquires the second piece, and discovers a mountain that resembles Midas' symbol, learning that Midas built it for Apollo. However, Sara decides to destroy the pieces upon finding the final piece as she leaves to head to the mountain, while Tiffany gives the piece to Jack, deciding to join him. Realizing that he shouldn't have left her, Tad follows her to the mountain. He, Mummy, Sara, and Jack reach the interior, and Jack opens a tomb containing the last piece, before connecting all the pieces together, giving Midas' ability.

During a struggle, Jack turns Sara into gold with his powers, before Tad defeats him. Realizing that he should have destroyed the collar, Tad tearfully mourns over her. However, his love restores her, hence a sacrifice for love. Back at his home, everyone celebrates, while Tad and Sara embrace and share a kiss.

Voice cast Óscar Barberán as Tadeo "Tad" Jones Michelle Jenner as Sara Lavrof Luis Posada as Mummy Adriana Ugarte as Tiffany Maze Miguel Ángel Jenner as Jack Rackham Trevor White as Tad Stones (English version) Alex Kelly as Sara Lavrof (English version) Joseph Balderrama as Mummy/Construction Worker (English version) Gemma Whelan as Tiffany Maze/Henchwoman (English version) Ramon Tikaram as Jack Rackham (English version) Lewis MacLeod as Taxi Driver (English Version)

Production Fountain of the lions of the Alhambra of Granada, where one of the scenes takes place. Telecinco Cinema proposed a sequel to the film. The director from Valladolid Enrique Gato, responsible for the film, continues to rely on the script written by Gorka Magallón, Javier Barreira, Jordi Gasull, Ignacio del Moral, and Neil Landau.

In May 2013, during his visit to the Valladolid Book Fair, Gato took the opportunity to talk to the press about his upcoming projects. The creator of Tadeo, revealed that "the team of scriptwriters is in the pre-production phase." However, he explained that before Tadeo 2, he is preparing what will be his second feature film, Capture the Flag, which is scheduled for release in late 2014.

The film was released in Spain on August 25, 2017. David Bisbal and Tini Stoessel perform the film's single, titled "Todo es posible."

The symphonic soundtrack is composed and orchestrated by Zacarías M. de la Riva, who received a historic Goya nomination in 2013 for the music for Tad, the Lost Explorer, the first animated film to be nominated in this category. The soundtrack is by Tenerife-born composer and conductor Diego Navarro, and was performed by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. This composer was also the creator of the soundtrack for "Capture the Flag."

As of March 2018, the film has grossed €19,932,203 and has been seen by 3,231,923 viewers in Spain.name="rec1">Box Office and Spectators of Spanish Cinema in 2017Total Spanish Cinema Box Office 2018 Abroad, the film grossed €1,968,077.

Release The film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 13 June 2017 and was theatrically released on 25 August 2017 in Spain by Paramount Pictures. It was also released in the US on 1 December 2017, and in the UK on 9 February 2018. It had a worldwide gross of $35,704,046 against a budget of €9,000,000 ($10,872,270) making it a box office success.

Reception Like the first film, the sequel received mostly negative reviews from few American critics and positive reviews in Spain, though both agreeing that it is an improvement to the predecessor, particularly for its visual aspects.Tadeo Jones 2: El secreto del Rey Midas , 30 November 2016. Fotogramas. Retrieved 18 May 2021. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 33% based on 15 reviews.Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 May 2021.

The movie received controversy from Spanish lawyers, due to a scene in which the Mummy states that he was exiled from Paititi due to letting Tad go at the end of the events of the first film, but also due to having "A bad deal with [his] lawyer". Victoria Ortega, president of the General Council of Spanish Lawyers, wrote an open letter to Enrique Gato stating she understands said line was not written with bad intentions, but rather ignorance.Tadeo Jones 2, la película que ha ofendido a adbogados y técnicos de riesgos laborales September 6, 2017, ElPlural.com. Retrieved 17 November 2022.

Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Gaudí Awards 28 January 2018 Best Animated Film David Alonso and Enrique Gato CEC Awards 29 January 2018 Best Animated Film David Alonso and Enrique Gato Goya Awards 3 February 2018 Best Animated Film David Alonso and Enrique Gato Platino Awards 29 April 2018 Best Animated Film Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas

References

External links