Animal: 184

Big Top Scooby-Doo! (2012) is an animated comedy mystery film and the eighteenth installment in the Scooby-Doo direct-to-video series. While in Atlantic City, a werewolf breaks into a jewelry store and steals a ruby necklace, causing an alarm to sound. As the creature flees, it encounters a security guard and two policemen who try to apprehend it but fail. The werewolf seeks refuge in the nearby circus grounds, where Scooby-Doo and his friends are vacationing. Excited by the arrival of the Brancusi Circus, Fred leads the gang to check it out. However, they discover that it is closed until tomorrow but decide to explore when they find an unlocked door. Inside, ...

Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon (2013) is an American animated superhero comedy film and the nineteenth installment in the direct-to-video series. The gang, accompanied by Scooby and Shaggy, head to the ‘Mega Mondo Pop! Comic ConApalooza’ in southern California, where they plan to participate in a costume competition as their beloved comic book heroes, Blue Falcon and Dynomutt. Fred is particularly excited to catch the new, grittier version of Blue Falcon on screen, produced by Jennifer Severin and starring Brad Adams. While at the convention center, they cross paths with Hank Prince, owner of the local comic book store that Shaggy frequents, and his ...

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire (2012) is a hilarious horror musical that was released straight to DVD. It is the seventeenth film in the popular Scooby-Doo series. After a long time solving mysteries, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby decide it’s time for a much-needed vacation. They travel to Petit Chauve Sourie Ville, a small town in Louisiana that is famous for its vampire festival called ‘Vampire Palooza’. The gang meets Lita Rutland, the organizing committee’s head who tells them about the financial struggles they are facing due to low tourism numbers. Their host for the trip is Vincent Van Helsing – an author and ...

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012) is a comedy film from DreamWorks Animation SKG and PDI/DreamWorks, distributed by Paramount Pictures. The penguins and chimpanzees take off for Monte Carlo in a modified airplane. However, when they fail to return, Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice, and Mort decide to track them down and bring them back to their home at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. They eventually locate them at the Monte Carlo Casino, but things quickly escalate as an argument erupts between Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria. In the chaos that follows, the animals manage to escape from Captain Chantel DuBois of Monaco’s ...

Life of Pi (2012), an adventure-drama film directed and produced by Ang Lee and written by David Magee, shares the story of Pi Patel. In Canada, a writer is told that Pi would make a compelling subject for a book. Pi recounts his experiences to the writer: being named after the famous French swimming pool Piscine Molitor Patel by his father and adopting the nickname ‘Pi’ during his secondary schooling in Pondicherry as a means of avoiding bullying. Growing up in a Hindu household, Pi becomes interested in Christianity and Islam at the age of 12, ultimately ...

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016), an American animated TV comedy spin off from DreamWorks’s Kung Fu Panda films, serves as a link between the first and second films. It follows Po’s journey to becoming a successful Dragon Warrior. According to series creator Peter Hastings, the later series can be compared to a lengthy 3-D version of one of our episodes. Originally slated to air on Nickelodeon in 2010, it was rescheduled for 2011. The series premiered with a special preview on September 19, 2011 and became regular programming on November 7th. Three seasons were created until the ...

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011) is an animated short film from DreamWorks Animation. In the middle of the night, Master Po leads his fellow masters Tigress and Mantis on a secret mission to break into the new Masters’ Council exhibit in honor of Thundering Rhino, Ox, and Croc. Although Tigress and Mantis are initially frustrated with Po’s deception, he captures their attention with the intriguing tale of how these three masters first crossed paths. Long ago in Jinzhou, a city where Kung Fu was dominated by street fighting, Rhino, Ox and Croc were up-and-coming pit fighters who caught the eye of Grand Master Oogway. Recognizing their skill and ...

The animated martial arts comedy, Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), was produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The rulers of Gongmen City, known as the peacocks, first created fireworks for peaceful purposes. However, their son, Lord Shen, discovered that gunpowder used in firecrackers could also be used as a weapon. Concerned about Shen’s fixation on this destructive potential, his parents consulted a soothsayer who predicted that his actions would ultimately be thwarted by a ‘warrior of black and white’. Upon hearing this prophecy, Shen concluded that the warrior would be a panda and ordered his wolf army to eradicate all ...

Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (2011) is a direct-to-video film based on the classic cartoon. During an investigation, Shaggy’s fear disorder causes him to react excessively, leading to the disbanding of Mystery Inc. To help him relax, the gang takes him to a calming spa resort in La Serena. There, they meet the owner, Mr. Hubley, and Scooby-Doo has a frightening encounter with a dinosaur which he chooses not to share with Shaggy. Later on, they encounter Professor Svankmajer and her student Winsor, who are conducting a paleontological dig nearby. Soon after, they encounter what appears to be a gigantic ghostly dinosaur. When Shaggy becomes unable to move ...

We Bought a Zoo (2011) is a biographical family comedy-drama film loosely based on the 2008 memoir of the same name by Benjamin Mee, directed and co-written by Cameron Crowe. Following the loss of his wife Katherine seven months prior, Benjamin is struggling to cope with grief alongside his children, 14-year-old Dylan and 7-year-old Rosie. As Dylan is expelled from school, Benjamin realizes that their current living situation only serves as a constant reminder of Katherine’s absence and decides it’s time for a fresh start. After touring numerous homes with ...

The American fantasy comedy film Zookeeper (2011), directed by Frank Coraci, tells the story of Griffin Keyes, a dedicated head zookeeper at Franklin Park Zoo. Despite his love for the animals under his care, Griffin’s heart is broken when his girlfriend Stephanie turns down his proposal due to his job. Five years later, during an engagement party for his brother Dave, Griffin panics upon seeing Stephanie on the guest list. Dave suggests that Griffin leave the zoo and work with him at the car dealership to win back Stephanie. However, the animals hold a meeting and decide to help their beloved zookeeper find a way ...

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), an American science fiction action film, follows pharmaceutical chemist Will Rodman in San Francisco as he tests the virus-based drug ALZ-112 on chimpanzees at biotechnology company Gen-Sys. His goal is to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Their test subject, a chimp named Bright Eyes, shows remarkable intelligence after being given the drug. Her newfound intelligence leads her to escape her cage during Will’s presentation and ultimately be killed. Will’s boss, Steven Jacobs, ends the project and orders all chimps to be euthanized. However, Robert Franklin, Will’s assistant, reveals that Bright Eyes had ...

George Miller directed, produced and co-wrote the 2011 animated jukebox musical comedy film, Happy Feet Two (2011). Erik, son of Mumble and Gloria, struggles to keep up with his fellow Emperor-Land penguins on the dance floor. Along with his friends Bo and Atticus, he follows Ramón, leader of the Amigos and one of Mumble’s pals, to Adélie-Land. This snowy land is now under the rule of Sven, a flying penguin who is not all he seems. Sven had previously convinced the humans to spare him by showing off his impressive flight skills before joining forces with Lovelace (formerly known as ‘Guru’). Lovelace ...

Rio (2011), an American animated musical adventure comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation, follows the story of Blu – an orphaned male Spix’s macaw hatchling who was illegally brought to Moose Lake, Minnesota. After being discovered by Linda Gunderson, Blu becomes her beloved pet for fifteen years despite his inability to fly and constant teasing from Canada geese. However, when ornithologist Túlio Monteiro invites them to Rio de Janeiro to mate with the last female of their species, Linda and Blu embark on a wild journey. There, Blu meets Jewel – a strong-willed macaw who dreams of returning to the wild. But things take a turn ...

In the animated Western comedy Rango (2011), directed by Gore Verbinski and written by John Logan, a theatrically-minded pet chameleon finds himself stranded in the Mojave Desert of Nevada when his owners’ car accidentally loses his terrarium. Seeking refuge, he meets a nine-banded armadillo named Roadkill, who is on a quest for the ‘Spirit of the West’ and tells him about a town called Dirt where water mysteriously appears every Wednesday. With no other options, the chameleon sets out into the desert but not before narrowly escaping being preyed upon by ...

War Horse (2011) is a drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis. It is adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s book of the same title and its stage version from 2007. In 1912, a bay Irish Hunter is born in Devon, England. At an auction, farmer Ted Narracott outbids his landlord Lyons for the colt Joey. His wife Rose is not pleased as they need a working horse for ploughing, not an Irish Hunter. Their son Albert and his friend ...

Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010) is a delightful animated Christmas special from DreamWorks Animation, directed by Tim Johnson. Po, the lovable panda and Dragon Warrior, is faced with a major challenge when Master Shifu tasks him with organizing the prestigious Winter Feast at the Jade Palace. Despite his enthusiasm for the event, Po longs to spend the holiday with his father Mr. Ping. In an effort to have him cater the feast, Po turns down top chefs from all over China. However, Mr. Ping believes Po is more concerned with his role as the Dragon Warrior and decides to stay at his restaurant to feed those without a place to ...

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010–2013) is an American animated show and the eleventh incarnation of the famous Scooby-Doo franchise by Hanna-Barbera. Unlike its predecessors, this series does not air on Saturday mornings. It follows the adventures of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Shaggy Rogers and their beloved dog, Scooby-Doo. This group of teenage detectives reside in Crystal Cove, a small town that prides itself on being the ‘Most Hauntedest Place on Earth’. The town’s reputation for ghostly sightings and mysterious disappearances has made it a popular tourist destination. However, this does not sit well with the adults ...

The direct-to-DVD animated comedy horror-mystery, Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare (2010), is the fifteenth installment in the Scooby-Doo series. This time, Scooby-Doo and the gang are heading to Fred’s old summer camp, Camp Little Moose, to work as counselors for the season. However, upon arrival, they find only Burt, the head counselor, and John Knudsen, the local forest ranger. The camp appears deserted due to rumors of a legendary figure called the Woodsman scaring away all the kids. Burt is ready to close down the camp until Fred persuades him to keep it open while they investigate. As night falls, the Woodsman resurfaces and demands that everyone ...

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010) is a 2010 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film directed by Zack Snyder. Soren, a young barn owl, resides in Tyto Forest with his family, where he enjoys listening to his father’s tales of the ‘Guardians of Ga’Hoole’ – noble owls who battled against the malevolent Pure Ones. However, Soren’s older brother Kludd grows envious when they are taught how to fly and pushes him off a branch, causing them both to plummet to the ground. They are then taken captive by Jatt and Jutt, minions of the Pure Ones, and transported to St. ...