April and the Extraordinary World 2016

In a world where the course of history had taken an unforeseen turn, Napoleon III’s untimely demise in a devastating building explosion led to the Franco-Prussian War being narrowly averted by his shrewd son’s diplomatic prowess. As the years ticked by, a peculiar phenomenon unfolded: one by one, the world’s most brilliant scientists vanished into thin air, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and stalling technological advancements in their wake. The consequences were catastrophic - pollution ran rampant, choking the very fabric of existence.

Seventy years on from this strange era, April Franklin, great-granddaughter of the illustrious scientist Gustave Franklin, found herself doggedly pursuing her family’s groundbreaking research into a serum for eternal life. Despite their valiant efforts, their only notable success to date was the astonishing ability of April’s faithful feline companion, Darwin, to converse in human tongues. Meanwhile, Inspector Gaspar Pizoni, an officious and inept pursuer of knowledge, hoped to hijack their work for military applications, driven by the promise of wartime glory.

As April delved deeper into her family’s archives, she stumbled upon a long-forgotten revelation - her parents had cracked the code to the ever-lasting life serum years prior and cleverly concealed the findings within a cherished snowglobe. This epiphany was swiftly followed by a harrowing encounter with a noxious black cloud that seemed to be tracking her every move. April found herself in the unlikely company of Julius, a small-time crook hired by Pizoni to trail her, when they were both whisked away to safety by Julius’ accomplice.

The trajectory of events took an unexpected turn as April deciphered the cryptic message from her father, leading her to reunite with her grandfather, Prosper “Pops” Franklin - a man who had spent the preceding decade in hiding from Pizoni’s relentless pursuit. With Julius reluctantly turning Pops over to the authorities, the venerable scientist was spirited away to Fort-la-Latte’s government weapons research facility, where he encountered an enigmatic group of scientists studying a mysterious device recently salvaged from the ocean floor. This marvel of engineering proved to be an electrically powered airplane, its secrets waiting to be unlocked.

As Pops struggled to comprehend the magnitude of this discovery, Julius returned to April just as a band of cybernetic soldiers launched a brazen attack on her family’s humble abode. With the house possessing an uncanny ability to transform into a mobile bunker, April, Julius, and Darwin embarked upon a perilous journey to Fort La-Latte, seeking refuge from the chaos that had engulfed their lives.

As April, Julius, and Darwin flee on Pops’ refurbished plane, they unwittingly bring along Pizoni, who has stowed away without their knowledge. The trio’s escape is marked by a chance discovery: a film that reveals the astonishing truth behind humanity’s struggles. It transpires that the scientists, kidnapped by two intelligent komodo dragons, Rodrigue and Chimène, have been forced to collaborate on an ambitious project in an underground jungle ecosystem beneath Paris. This eerie realm is home to the scientists, working alongside the lizards’ offspring, as they strive to create a self-sustaining environment. The reptilian duo, having harnessed the kidnapped experts, has been secretly manipulating events from afar.

As their remote control hijacks the plane, Pizoni seizes the opportunity to bring it down in the heart of the jungle, where the group reunites with April’s mother, Annette. She divulges the komodo dragons’ ultimate objective: launching a rocket loaded with vegetation imbued with the serum, designed to terraform other planets and escape humanity’s wars, pollution, and violence. Pops and Pizoni are captured and imprisoned, only to be reunited with April’s father, Paul, who has been incarcerated for his defiance against the project.

April’s group orchestrates a blackout that sets free the captives, including Paul. As chaos ensues, Pizoni attempts to escape while Pops and Paul endeavor to locate their loved ones. The stage is set for a showdown at the rocket’s launch, where Julius covertly substitutes April’s serum with plain water before handing it over to Rodrigue. Unbeknownst to Julius, Rodrigue has rigged the rocket to explode, wiping out humanity, allowing him to take control of the world. In a desperate bid to stop the impending catastrophe, Julius fatally shoots Rodrigue, but not before Chimène is brutally killed by her treacherous partner.

In the aftermath, April uses her serum to extinguish the vegetation on the rocket, thereby fulfilling Chimène’s original plan, while Darwin redirects the rocket into space. The Franklins, Julius, and the freed scientists join Pizoni in their escape to the surface, bearing witness as the rocket explodes in the vast expanse of space.

Pizoni is hailed as a hero and becomes the head of Emperor Napoleon V’s security service, securing his position as a key figure in the new world order. With the scientists finally free, technological advancements surge forward at an unprecedented rate. April continues her quest to perfect the serum, though ultimately fails to find a way to render it safe for human consumption. The moon is finally reached in 2001, where astronauts stumble upon the remarkable discovery of Darwin’s enduring life.

As Julius breaks the news to his elderly wife, April, their story concludes on a poignant note, as humanity begins its ascent towards a new era of cooperation and understanding.