Happy Feet
A tap-dancing penguin searches for answers in Antarctica.
Happy Feet is a 2006 animated jukebox musical comedy film directed and produced by George Miller and written by Miller, John Collee, Judy Morris and Warren Coleman. It was the first animated film produced by Kennedy Miller and Animal Logic, an international co-production between the United States and Australia. The film follows Mumble, a tap-dancing emperor penguin who cannot sing a heartsong, as he journeys across Antarctica to discover the cause of a declining fish population.
Quick Facts
- Director
- George Miller
- Producer
- Bill Miller / George Miller / Doug Mitchell
- Writer
- George Miller / John Collee / Judy Morris / Warren Coleman
- Starring
- Elijah Wood / Robin Williams / Brittany Murphy / Hugh Jackman / Nicole Kidman / Hugo Weaving / Anthony LaPaglia / Magda Szubanski / Steve Irwin
- Music
- John Powell
- Cinematography
- David Peers
- Editing
- Christian Gazal / Margaret Sixel
- Production Companies
- Village Roadshow Pictures / Animal Logic / Kennedy Miller Productions / Kingdom Feature Productions
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. Pictures / (Worldwide) / Roadshow Films / (Australia/New Zealand)
- Released
- 17 November 2006 · United States · 2006 · 12 · 26 · Australia
- Runtime
- 108 minutes
- Country
- United States / Australia
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film's inspiration came from cinematographer Bill Grimmond, who suggested to George Miller during the shooting of The Road Warrior that he make a film set in Antarctica. Miller was also influenced by Frank Hurley's footage of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, as well as documentaries like the BBC's Life in the Freezer. The environmental message was not originally a major part of the script, but Miller noted that telling a story about Antarctica and penguins required that dimension.
Reader's Guide
Happy Feet received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its visuals, storyline, and songs. It grossed $384 million against its $100 million budget, becoming the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2006. The film earned the inaugural BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and was nominated for the Annie Award and the Saturn Award for Best Animated Feature. Its success led to a sequel, Happy Feet Two, released in 2011, and a stage musical is in development. The film's use of motion capture technology, with dance scenes performed by human dancers including Savion Glover, and its environmental themes about overfishing and the ozone hole, contributed to its cultural impact.
Did You Know?
- The tap dancing for Mumble was provided by Savion Glover, who was also co-choreographer for the dance sequences.
- A planned IMAX 3D release was cancelled due to budgetary issues.
- The character Norma Jean is named after Marilyn Monroe's birthname and is inspired by Monroe herself.
- The film was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Happy Feet?
Mumble is a young emperor penguin who cannot produce a traditional heartsong like the rest of his colony, so he expresses himself through tap dancing instead. He becomes the protagonist of the 2006 animated musical when he sets out to solve the mystery of vanishing fish stocks across Antarctica.
What are Happy Feet's powers or special role?
Mumble's defining trait is his tap-dancing ability, which serves as his alternative form of self-expression in a penguin society that values sung heartsongs. He also takes on the role of an investigator, traveling across Antarctica to find out why the fish population is collapsing.
Why is Happy Feet important in animation history?
It marked the first animated feature produced by Kennedy Miller and Animal Logic, establishing the studio's entry into the industry. The film also took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the very first BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film.
Who made Happy Feet and when did it come out?
George Miller directed and produced the film alongside writers John Collee, Judy Morris, and Warren Coleman. It hit North American theaters on November 17, 2006, and Australian screens on December 26, 2006, grossing roughly $384 million against a $100 million budget.
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