| Balto III: Wings of Change | |
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DVD release cover |
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| Directed by | Phil Weinstein |
| Produced by | Phil Weinstein David W. King |
| Written by | Cliff Ruby Elana Lesser |
| Starring | Sean Astin Jodi Benson Keith Carradine Bill Fagerbakke Charles Fleischer Charity James Maurice LaMarche Kathy Najimy David Paymer Kevin Schon Jean Smart Carl Weathers Josh Shada |
| Music by | Adam Berry |
| Release date(s) | September 30, 2004 |
Balto III: Wings of Change is a 2004 straight-to-video sequel to Universal Studios' 2002 animated film Balto II: Wolf Quest.
Balto's son Kodi (voiced by Sean Astin) works for the US Mail. Kodi loves his job and his new friends, - Dusty (voiced by Charity James), Kirby (voiced by Carl Weathers) and Ralph (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke). Balto (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is intrigued by the new bush plane that has arrived in Nome. He wishes to fly, just like the plane. When the pilot Duke (voiced by Keith Carradine) offers to take the place of the mail-dogs, Kodi and his friends are worried that they might lose their jobs. They have a resentment against the pilot. Meanwhile, Boris (voiced by Charles Fleischer) falls for a female goose named Stella (voiced by Jean Smart). She asks him to fly with her, but Boris is afraid of heights. He waits until the last moment before he eventually lies to her, claiming that he's suffering from numerous injuries that prevent him from flying.
A race is organized between the dog-sled team and the bush plane. Kodi wants his father to lead his team. Balto is not so sure, but after a little convincing from Jenna (voiced by Jodi Benson), he accepts the offer. Not long afterwards, Duke discovers Balto exploring his plane. The two become friends, for Duke knows about how Balto saved the children. The next day, the race is about to begin. Boris boasts to Balto about how he's lied to Stella, unaware that she's right behind him. She becomes very angry and manages to get him stuck in one of the mail bags, which is hoisted onto the plane. The race begins. The destination is to the town of White Mountain and back. At first, the plane easily overtakes the dogs. But on the way back, the plane mysteriously disappears. The dog team wins the race, and Kodi is confident that his job is secure. But Balto still doubts it, much to his son's dismay.
When the plane still hasn't arrived yet, Balto suspects that something has gone wrong. He sets out to rescue Duke, but Kodi refuses to help, saying that Duke is the enemy because he tried to take away Kodi's job. After Balto leaves, Jenna is surprised and angry that Kodi had not gone to help — that he valued his job over a human life. She scolds him, and Kodi realizes that it is his duty to help his father. On the way, Balto meets up with Stella, who says that Boris was on the plane too. Stella is angry with Boris, but realizes that she is missing Boris, and admits that she was the one who chased him into the mailbag. With the help of Stella, and the polar bears Muk and Luk (voiced by Kevin Schon), Balto locates the site of the crash, but not before encountering two angry moose (both voiced by Maurice LaMarche). Boris is quickly found, and Stella and the polar bears head for home. Balto stays behind. He finds Duke (whose leg is broken) and tries to haul him back to Nome on a sheet of metal.
But on the way back, an ice bridge that Balto is crossing breaks under his feet. Balto and Duke are about to fall into a canyon, but Kodi and his friends arrive just in time to save them both. The dogs help bring Duke back to Nome and Balto is praised as a hero, once again. Stella eventually forgives Boris, and Duke builds a new plane called "Balto Flyer" which Balto flies in with Duke.
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