Happy Feet

In the frozen landscape of Antarctica, a peculiar penguin named Mumble was born to Norma and Erik. Unlike his fellow Emperor Penguins, Mumble found it extremely difficult to sing, the traditional method by which penguins find their soul mates. While Mumble's parents encouraged him to practice, the young penguin struggled to produce even the most basic of penguin sounds. Despite his lack of singing talent, Mumble's passion for movement and rhythm could not be ignored. Instead of singing, he would often watch the humans who had stumbled upon their icy home and tap dance to the music of their lip-syncing performers. Enchanted by this unique form of expression, Mumble practiced day and night, eventually developing incredible tap dancing skills that left the colony bewildered. As the seasons passed, the Emperor Penguins began their annual ritual of choosing a mate through the unique song each pair sang together to the other. This ritual, where males try to impress females by showcasing their most spectacular vocal prowess, is crucial to the penguins' social hierarchy. Those who fail to sing the perfect melody would eventually be left to roam alone, an outcast in the colony. As the time for mating approached, Mumble's parents began to worry about their son's future, fearing that his inability to sing would isolate him from the rest of the colony. They urged Mumble to get help from the elderly and wise Elder, who listened to the frightened parents but politely declined to assist. It was then, that an argument between the parents and the father to Mumble follows his inner heart; letting him truly discover his path. Meanwhile, a fierce hunting-gathering ritual, where the penguins, particularly the alpha penguin, Memphis lead the way is being chased over the colonies to show their prowess. They must make it back to the colony, complete mating rituals, save precious food supplies for winter, and establish successful new families before the changing of the seasons. Feeling increasingly ostracized, Mumble began to rebel against his parents' expectations. He found solace in his tap dancing and began to secretly perform his routines in the colony's outskirts, often sneaking away to be seen by the females, which are actually fascinated by Mumble's dance moves. But these solo sessions would not go unnoticed; Memphis, envious of Mumble's captivating performance caught a glimpse of this, which only amplifies his disdain for Mumble. Before long, word of Mumble's secret tap dancing reached the colony. Many were shocked and perplexed by this unusual new talent, but Memphis, infuriated by the idea of this outcast gaining the attention of the females, threatened to ostracize Mumble. Afraid of losing all hope, Mumble began to question his place within the colony, but he refused to conform. In a heartfelt monolog, Mumble realizes he truly doesn't need the respect of Memphis, because what really matters is the respect of those that matter most, and the friendship and support he receives is exactly that. Emperor Penguins discover the penguin elder who teaches Mumble that individuality shouldn't be a bad thing and that even what seems like an aberration at one point in the past has been shown to be an addition of what's at the center. They all encourage him, in a rare defiance without the elders being present, they want him to find his one and true mate.