The emperor penguins have been spared extinction only temporarily.
Happy Feet took its cues on penguin behavior, pre-Mumbles, from March of the Penguins — both the French and the English editions. But anyone who's seen March of the Penguins knows that there are good reasons for the old traditions.
Don't worry, this isn't a "Shaggy Dog" Story (of either kind). Mumbles's actions help the food supply, not just of emperor penguins, but of every non-human species that eats fish or the ingredients of "fun food." The whole ecosystem had suffered; the whole ecosystem will be repaired in part. It's just that the Law of Unintended Consequences is inescapable.
The film is a metaphor for losing faith in a religion. Mostly.
The film is a coming out story.
Unfortunately, Executive Meddling prevented the true ending from ever seeing the light of film projectors.
The true ending that got cut involved alien abduction and resources being drained from the Earth in a Combine like plot.
That would have Unfortunate Implications for either gays or closets.
The film is a metaphor for mental disabilities.
Hey, Mumbles was dropped as an egg!
Since it is a Hollywood film, the metaphor is the usual Hollywood version, just on a grander scale. The mentally disabled, because of their disability, are pure in heart. And because they are pure in heart, they can do great things... yes, they can even save the world!
- It could easily be read as a metaphor for Aspergers Syndrome. Mumbles seems to be wired differently from the other emperor penguins, and he excels at a skill that they find strange. His father is also 'a little bit weird' (autistic-spectrum disorders are believed to be partially hereditary). Eventually, he learns to bond with others by having their different skills work together.
- Following on that statement, this statement made the most 'exact' sense to me (sabrinadiamond)... It also may be a metaphor for going out of the closet.
- This explanation makes the most sense. The penguins make a big deal about how he hatched. After Mumble was taken to Mrs. Astrakhan, Mumble's mom says, "So he's a little different—I've always kinda liked different." Humans with Asperger's are called "A little different."
- Mumble isn't gay - he actively tells Gloria he'd like to have an egg with her sometime. The Adelie Amigos, despite being wacky, aren't gay; you see them hitting on the ladies quite a few times. Lovelace definitely isn't gay. But Mumble does demonstrate Autistic qualities, and other penguins demonstrate the current reactions to the Autistic:
- His parents send him to a special teacher only to find that, while she does bring out his talent, it's not the talent they or she wanted.
- The regular penguins aren't all cruel, but at one point when Mumble is trying to sing, one shouts out "You're spoiling it for everybody!" while another yells "Take a flying leap!"
- Prior to their dance, even Gloria is gently condescending towards him. "It's you just...you listen, you know?"
The sequel's aliens will be actual aliens
Okay, so we don't see any aliens in the sequel. But if we did, then they would.
Or maybe they'll be in ''Happy Feet III.''
Eric has problems with the cognitive distortion catastrophizing.
Given how he overreacts over everything (to a ridiculous extreme), that would explain a lot.
Erik is adopted.
Mumble looks like he never fully matures, which might mean he was sterile. Maybe Erik's birth parents died while he was still an egg, and Mumble and Gloria chose to raise him since they couldn't have a chick of their own.
Seymour is a widower.
Atticus's mother is never seen or mentioned, and may have died while feeding at sea. It would go a long way towards explaining why Seymour is so protective of his son.
FAQs
Sex, Romance & Nudity. Sexy talk and suggestive behavior throughout is open to interpretation -- it may seem racy to an adult but will go over most kids' heads. Strong focus on penguins finding a mate, with associated implications of them finding one another sexually attractive.
Is Happy Feet about autism? ›
It could easily be read as a metaphor for Aspergers Syndrome. Mumbles seems to be wired differently from the other emperor penguins, and he excels at a skill that they find strange. His father is also 'a little bit weird' (autistic-spectrum disorders are believed to be partially hereditary).
What is the name of the penguin in Happy Feet? ›
Mumble (Elijah Wood), a young emperor penguin, lives in Antarctica. Like others of his kind, he needs to be able to sing to attract a mate, but he has a terrible voice. Instead, Mumble must express himself, and lure a female through his amazing talent for tap-dancing.
Is Happy Feet ok for 4 year olds? ›
Children under five could be scared or disturbed by one particularly dramatic, eerie and foreboding scene. In this scene, the penguins are huddled together during a bad storm.
Are the people in Happy Feet real or CGI? ›
Though primarily a computer-animated film, the film does incorporate motion capture of live action humans in certain scenes. Composer John Powell composed the score while the film features more than 10 songs from famous artists, mostly to fit with the mood of the scene or character.
What is the main message of Happy Feet? ›
Happy Feet is an excellent film for those wishing to understand or promote inclusion in schools and the wider community. The film features gifts vs deficit thinking, exclusion and inclusion processes. Outgroups and attitudes to difference and different behaviour are well explored.
What disability does mumble have in Happy Feet? ›
Mumble is the one and only penguin in his colony who can't sing, though he can, in a sense, with his "Happy Feet." When Mumble is dancing, three spots around his ankle are occasionally visible, however, these spots disappear at different parts of the movie.
What is Happy Feet body language? ›
Happy Feet (Confidence/Excitement)
Happy feet are when a person's feet suddenly begin bouncing and wiggling up and down. They signal high confidence. You can read happy feet without seeing their legs directly by watching how a person's shirt and shoulders move.
Why is mumble in Happy Feet different? ›
In Happy Feet Two, Mumble regains his baby feathers. The reason for this is most likely to keep his trademark look. His difference in appearance from other Emperor Penguins (along with his inability to sing) may be interpreted as birth defects since he was dropped as an egg.
Why can't Mumble sing? ›
During surviving the storm, Memphis drops the egg on accident which makes Mumble different to the others not able to sing like the other penguins to find true love but can dance which other penguins said was not a real penguin. Mumble was excluded from graduation parties because he couldn't sing.
This film is only 15 years old - but I honestly can't think there was a time in history this film made sense. I've said 14+ but honestly I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. If you're young it's weird. If you're older, it's got nothing for you either.
What was the predator in Happy Feet? ›
Rojas the Leopard Seal is a minor antagonist in the 2006 movie Happy Feet. He is a large ferocious leopard seal that attempts to kill and eat Mumble. He was voiced by Roger Rose. In the film, he ambushes the main character, Mumble after he was kicked out of the graduation party, in the hopes of a meal.
What happens to Lovelace in Happy Feet? ›
Mumble and the Amigos return to Lovelace, only to find him being choked by the plastic rings. Lovelace confesses they were snagged on him while swimming off the forbidden shores, beyond the land of the elephant seals. Not long into their journey, Gloria encounters them, wishing to become Mumble's mate.
Are Mumbles' parents in Happy Feet 2? ›
Adding to the film's flaws, Mumble's parents (played by Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman) have completely disappeared. And the character of Gloria feels substantially different since Brittany Murphy, the original voice actress, died.
Is there anything bad in Happy Feet? ›
There's no supernatural or inhuman beast that wrongfully usurps human power. Instead, “Happy Feet” strips the audience of its humanity by forcing viewers into Mumble's mind and body, so much so that when humans do appear in the zoo scene at the end of the film, they seem voyeuristic, unnatural, even alien.
Is Happy Feet 2 for kids? ›
Like the original, the sequel features a strong environmental message and also encourages parents to let their children believe in possibilities and follow their passions. Kids will also learn the importance of helping others and how every individual can make a huge impact.
Does Mumble from Happy Feet have a disability? ›
Mumble is a male emperor penguin, who develops ADHD due to being dropped in freezing temperatures at a young age. This weakness affected him throughout the whole movie, started at brith to adulthood.
What age is ice age appropriate for? ›
Under 7s may find the conflict between characters a little too intense and some of the film's themes rather disturbing - animals that seek revenge via eating a baby; death of family members.
