What is this film?
Happy Feet.
Directed by the man behind Babe and Mad Max, this winner of Best Animated Feature at the Oscars centers around a young penguin named Mumble, living in a world of penguins who know only one thing: singing. He, however, dances to a different tune. His singing voice is atrocious and tapping his toes is all he knows. His exclusion from his kind escalates so far to him being blamed for the fish famine, so he sets out to set the record straight and, perhaps, finally show them that what makes him different is what makes him special.
What's so great about this film?
Quite honestly...everything.
No aspect of this film is just good. They are all fantastic. And it's hard to find a flaw beyond something minor. Don't believe me? Let's take a look.
Animation
The animation is absolutely stunning. More than eight years later, it still stuns and surpasses even some modern day animation. The characters are very realistic but with enough cartoonish flare to keep the film a fun one that doesn't appear too serious.
Making snow look interesting can be difficult for an animator, but the studio behind Happy Feet undoubtedly pulled it off. The snow is beautiful and every last detail is meticulously animated. The scenery is so incredibly appealing and doesn't simply limit itself to the main setting of Emperor Land. Each location has its subtle difference, from the pebble covered Adelie Land to the murky "land beyond the Elephant seals."
The movement of the characters is also incredibly appealing to watch. Not only are the dancing scenes some of the most enjoyable animated sequences I've ever seen, but the action sequences, such as the leopard seal chase, the killer whale encounter, and sliding down the ice, are incredibly exciting to watch and keep the pace of the film up.
Story
The idea of singing and dancing penguins may sound absurd at first, but give it time and it will catch on. The basis may be obscure, but the producers work with it in a way that it plays out very nicely. Singing is what penguins do to attract a mate. Each penguin must find their own song. A teacher helps young penguins find theirs, and a stricter teacher helps the penguins who aren't as able. They follow this norm as it is what The Great Guin has ordered them to do and they will obey him. Mumble does not, though not by choice. This theme of music leads to Happy Feet being a fun jukebox musical that leads you to feel that every song is where and when it should be. At the time, penguins weren't often the protagonists of animated films. Madagascar was the only CGI film with significant penguins, and they weren't even the main characters. This adds a splash of originality to the film, and, as stated before, the penguins lend themselves to exciting sequences and beautiful scenery.
Beneath the fun premise lies an equally as important message that spoke to me as a young child and still speaks to me now: embrace your differences and don't listen to what others say about them. They're what make you you. This message may be less than original, but it is still just as crucial for today's children to know. This was one of the few films growing up that I truly felt spoke to me and that I truly felt I learned from. I was able to be proud of who I was thanks to it and am still able to do so now.
The story is very heavy when looked at closely. There is no doubt about Noah and the elders having a religion surrounding the Great Guin and their feeling of disgrace towards Mumble could be seen as having deeper implications if one wishes to look upon it in that way. There is also the notion of Mumble being the way he was because his egg was dropped as a child. Technically speaking, Mumble suffered from a birth defect. Mumble is disabled, and he suffers from the exclusion and teasing that many people dealing with such things often receive. This movie empowers those people and reminds them to stand up against adversity and show the world that the way you were born is something you can't change and thus shouldn't be something you would want to change.
Score
Happy Feet has one of the best animated soundtracks I have ever heard. I truly listen to it more than I listen to anything else, even three years after getting it. It's beautiful and can range from subtle to intense. It makes an already epic film even more epic. It comes as no surprise that it was composed by John Powell, who just so happens to be behind my two other favorite animated films, Bolt and How To Train Your Dragon, which also have fantastic soundtracks. I highly recommend you give it a listen, especially the track The Alien Ships.
Characters
Mumble is more than likely my favorite animated character ever. He follows his heart no matter where it leads him, and while he is strong and persistent, he is still a realistic character. He's incredibly awkward and will occasionally become self-conscious about his special skill, but at the end of the day, he knows that what he has is his and he wouldn't want it any other way. No matter what happens to him, he continues to press forward, as he (much like myself) won't take no for an answer. He's lovable, fun-loving, and cleverly designed. He truly steals the show.
It's also hard not to love the comic relief characters, two of which Robin Williams lends the voice to. Not only is their witty, off-kilter humor a blast for all audiences, but they help carry the story along well. Ramon and the amigos are friends to Mumble when he has no others and are his source of respect for his talent. Lovelace is even more crucial to the plot, as he helps lead Mumble to the antagonist, of whom he was a previous victim of circumstance.
The rest of the cast is composed of a variety of different penguins who are all enjoyable in their own ways, but these guys are the main highlights of the film.
Any flaws?
Anything that weakens this movie is incredibly minor and can only be seen upon incredibly deep analyzation. If I had to point anything out, however...
- I've never been a fan of the trope where a parent suddenly gains respect for their child once he or she does something to save their community. However, I see it as less abrupt in this film than it is in most. Like Stoick in How To Train Your Dragon, Memphis is not happy to exile his son but feels he has to. He is completely broken once he does so and Mumble helps him see the light once again.
- One part of the film that was always unclear to me was when Mumble was trying to get Gloria to leave. The way he says it seems fake, as if he's trying to find some way to convince her to go back simply to protect her. I've never been sure if that's true or if he is genuinely trying to tell her off. This isn't really a flaw, this is just a point of personal conclusion.
- One can argue that the finale of the film is a bit embellished. People don't go quite that insane over talented animals and the notion of them abandoning all marine harvesting in the area so quickly is doubtful. However, it isn't that they're thinking, "they can dance, so we have to let them live!", the footage of them dancing simply seems to remind them that they need better care than they're receiving. It also appears that the debate surrounding the issue lasts for a decent amount of time, enough for the delegates to truly think it through.
Over all, the positives of this film surpass those of any other in my opinion and the flaws are small enough to be overlooked, especially considering how greatly the pros outweigh the cons. This truly is the greatest animated film I have ever seen and I will love it until the day that I die. Anyone who has not seen it yet truly, truly needs to. It is nothing less than an under-appreciated masterpiece.
