Audiences loved the story of three unlikely heroes having to return a lost baby to its “herd” in 2002’s successful animated film, Ice Age. The subsequent sequels have managed to still be entertaining, but most agree that they do not quite connect on an emotional level like the original. Once the fourth film arrived, Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), the story got a little outlandish, with our main characters, Manny (Ray Romano), Sid (John Leguizamo), and Diego (Denis Leary), captured by “pirates” on an iceberg ship.

The most recent installment, Ice Age: Collision Course (2016), the fifth film, went even more outlandish with Scrat somehow flying into space in a flying saucer and setting off a cataclysmic that sends asteroids toward Earth. Either audiences were done with Ice Age after the fourth film, or this premise was just too over the top because, unfortunately, the film bombed at the box office July of last year with mostly negative reviews.

It’s difficult to say what is believable or unbelievable in a franchise of talking animals from the Ice Age. In Collision Course’s defense, asteroids themselves coming toward Earth really is not that farfetched for this series, considering how dinosaurs themselves were wiped out by the asteroids (and they were already featured in the third film).

But admittedly, there is a line in what is believable or not believable, even in a fictitious film. The fourth Ice Age was on the edge of that line, but Collision Course took a gigantic leap over it. The fact that Scrat manages to fly into space in a flying saucer in the first place is especially head-scratching, and, if we can’t believe the inciting incident of a movie, how can we hope to believe the rest of the film? We can suspend our disbelief for the sake of talking prehistoric animals, but there is a limit to how much you expect your audience to accept and believe.

Something that made the beginning film so great was the human element. While none of the humans really got to speak much, so much of the heart of that film came from the characters connecting with the little lost child. So much of the humor came from their interactions and comedic or harrowing situations. We related to this little child in this cold, ancient world, but have not seen humans in the series since; let’s steer Ice Age away from the science fiction fantastical and pull it back to its roots by seeing the return of the humans, especially the little boy from the first film. Bringing him back as a teenager or adult to his Ice Age family would be a very fun and emotional adventure and wrap up the Ice Age saga on a high note.

With the advanced technology, humans have really improved since 2002, as films like Toy Story 3 (2010) have shown us. Ice Age 6 would not only pay tribute and be a throwback to the original film, but it would also feel like a fresh addition to a film franchise that could use a boost or enigmatic twist. It would most certainly play on the nostalgia for audiences who grew up with the first film. And a little-known fact to bring to the table is the baby’s name: Roshan. There are so many story elements you could draw from that! The trailers alone would spark fan curiosity, and, if you give it a little weight like the upcoming Cars 3 (2017) looks to contain, it will necessarily remind audiences why we still love Ice Age.

Ice Age 6 could be great, and it needs to happen to redeem the series and give it a satisfying and heartfelt salute with its already lovable and endearing characters, and this is the way to do it.

What would be a good title? I’m thinking: Ice Age: Roshan’s Return.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below. Do you wanna see a sixth Ice Age, and, if so, what should it be about?