Happy Feet
Short description
Happy Feet is set among emperor penguins in Antarctica, where every penguin finds a mate by singing a unique heart song. Mumble, the son of Memphis and Norma Jean, is born unable to carry a tune, but he has an extraordinary gift for tap dancing. His difference sets him apart from the colony and eventually leads to his expulsion, and he must find his own way in the wider world with the help of new friends, including a group of penguins who appreciate his dancing. At the same time, he hopes to win the affection of Gloria, his childhood friend and the finest singer around.
George Miller directed and co-wrote the film with John Collee and Judy Morris, and he also produced it with Doug Mitchell and Bill Miller. It was the eighth of the thirteen features he has directed, arriving between Babe: Pig in the City and Happy Feet Two. The voice cast includes Elijah Wood as Mumble, Robin Williams as Ramon and Lovelace, Brittany Murphy as Gloria, Hugh Jackman as Memphis, Nicole Kidman as Norma Jean and Hugo Weaving as Noah. The production involved 92 credited cast members and 306 credited crew.
Made on a budget of about 100 million USD, the film took roughly 384 million USD worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.4/10 from around 213,000 votes, while on TMDB it has 6.2/10 from about 5,600 votes. A critics' rating of 7/10 from 169 reviews places it above both audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film was shot almost entirely using motion capture technology: all the dances and facial expressions of the characters were generated from the initial movements of professional dancers, as well as the actors who voiced the characters.
- Mumble, voiced by Elijah Wood, has a black spot on his neck in the shape of a bow tie. It was added to make him look more like he's wearing a white tuxedo. Furthermore, the character is more reminiscent of Fred Astaire (1899-1987), and his appearance is a reference to the expression "penguin suit," which means tuxedo.
- Mumble’s parents are named Norma-Jean and Memphis. These are references to Marilyn Monroe (Norma-Jeane Baker) and Elvis Presley (who was also popularly known as “The Boy from Memphis”). The fact that Memphis sings an Elvis song in the cartoon also serves as a hint.
- Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams (1951-2014), and Nicole Kidman sing for their characters themselves.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
