Dog Man (film)
A spin-off superhero comedy from DreamWorks Animation.
Dog Man is a 2025 American animated superhero comedy from DreamWorks Animation, based on Dav Pilkey's graphic novel series. It serves as a spin-off to *Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie* (2017). Peter Hastings wrote and directed the film, and also provided the vocal effects for the title character. The voice cast includes Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Lucas Hopkins Calderon, and Ricky Gervais. The story follows Dog Man as he protects Ohkay City from Petey, a villainous cat who accidentally creates an infant clone of himself. Later, Petey teams up with Dog Man and the others to stop Flippy the Fish, a cybernetic butterflyfish with telekinetic powers.
DreamWorks announced the adaptation in December 2020, with Hastings attached to write and direct after his work on *The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants* (2018–2020). Karen Foster became a producer in January 2024, and the cast was revealed that September. The film premiered at the 2025 Festival de l'Alpe d'Huez in France on January 15, 2025, and was released in the United States on January 31 by Universal Pictures. It earned generally positive reviews. A sequel is in development.
The plot begins with Petey terrorizing Ohkay City. During one scheme, Officer Knight and his dog Greg are injured in an explosion: Knight dies from a head wound, and Greg's body is fatally injured. Surgeons transplant Greg's head onto Knight's body, creating Dog Man. Dog Man becomes a popular hero but is taken off the Petey case by the mayor, leaving him lonely and depressed. He moves into a doghouse with only a tennis ball as a memento.
Petey clones himself, but the result is a harmless newborn kitten he names Li'l Petey. After Li'l Petey interferes with a plan to resurrect the evil fish Flippy, Petey abandons him. Dog Man finds and adopts Li'l Petey, and they bond. Petey later feels guilty after seeing a picture book Li'l Petey made of them as a family. He retrieves Li'l Petey using his mech, 80-HD, and reveals that his own father abandoned him. Li'l Petey brings Petey's father, Grampa, to the lair, but Grampa only berates Petey.
Meanwhile, Flippy is accidentally resurrected at a Living Spray factory, which also brings the factory to life. Reprogrammed to destroy do-gooders, Flippy targets Dog Man and his friends before kidnapping Li'l Petey.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Peter Hastings
- Based On
- Dog Man · Dav Pilkey
- Producer
- Karen Foster
- Starring
- Pete Davidson / Lil Rel Howery / Isla Fisher / Lucas Hopkins Calderon / Ricky Gervais
- Editing
- Hoppy Hopkins
- Music
- Tom Howe
- Cinematography
- Scott Cullen
- Studio
- DreamWorks Animation
- Distributor
- Universal Pictures
- Released
- 15 January 2025 · Festival de l'Alpe d'Huez · 2025 · 01 · 31 · United States
- Runtime
- 89 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film's plot begins with Officer Knight and his dog Greg chasing the villainous cat Petey, leading to an explosion that kills Knight and fatally injures Greg. Surgeons transplant Greg's head onto Knight's body, creating Dog Man. Dog Man becomes a beloved hero but is taken off the Petey case by the mayor, leading to loneliness. Petey clones himself, creating Li'l Petey, a kind-hearted kitten. After abandoning Li'l Petey, Dog Man adopts him. Petey later resurrects Flippy the Fish, who turns against them. Petey teams up with Dog Man and Li'l Petey to fight Flippy, and Li'l Petey redeems Flippy by showing him a comic book. Petey is pardoned and shares custody of Li'l Petey with Dog Man.
Reader's Guide
Dog Man represents a significant expansion of the Captain Underpants universe into a feature film, continuing DreamWorks Animation's adaptation of Dav Pilkey's works. The film's production involved a combination of traditional and computer animation, handled by Jellyfish Pictures, and was approved by Pilkey on the condition that Hastings direct. With a budget of $40 million, it grossed $146.1 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews. The film's marketing campaign included a trailer that accumulated 102 million views on YouTube. A sequel is in development, indicating the franchise's ongoing commercial viability and cultural impact among children's entertainment.
Did You Know?
- Peter Hastings provides vocal effects for Dog Man, who does not speak in the film.
- The film's animation was handled by Jellyfish Pictures, not by Mikros Image or Technicolor Animation Productions.
- A sequel to the film is in development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dog Man (2025 film)?
Dog Man is a 2025 animated superhero comedy produced by DreamWorks Animation and released by Universal Pictures. It adapts Dav Pilkey's graphic novel series and functions as a spin-off to the 2017 Captain Underpants movie.
What is Dog Man's role in the story?
Dog Man acts as the heroic guardian of Ohkay City, defending the community from threats. His primary conflict centers on Petey, a villainous cat who accidentally generates an infant clone of himself.
Who directed Dog Man (2025) and who voices the cast?
Peter Hastings wrote, directed, and performed the vocal effects for the title character. The voice cast includes Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Lucas Hopkins Calderon, and Ricky Gervais.
Why is Dog Man (2025) notable in the superhero comedy space?
It extends the Captain Underpants cinematic universe by giving Dav Pilkey's dog-hero a standalone animated feature. The $40 million production also represents DreamWorks Animation's foray into the superhero comedy genre.
More in American superhero comedy films 1-24
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