List of Characters in Surf's Up

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This is a list of Characters from the movie Surf's Up (2007) presented by a name or official material.

[edit] Main Characters

[edit] Cody Maverick

Cody Maverick
Surf's Up character

Species:	Rockhopper Penguin
Age:	17
Feathers/Fur:	Black and white, yellow eyebrows.
Eyes:	Brown
Voiced by:	Shia LaBeouf
Origin:	Shiverpool, Antarctica

"Cody's me bro, let me be me. When's that gonna start?"

Cody is a Rockhopper Penguin from the town of Shiverpool in Antarctica. He is a surfer with massive dreams of leaving behind his home and family behind in the town of Shiverpool and going off to compete in the Big Z Memorial Surf Off. In the town of Shiverpool, Cody feels trapped he feels everyone including his brother Glen Maverick and his mother Edna Maverick is judging him, particularly Glen who constantly bullies Cody and looks down on him as if he is a lesser being. When the talent scout Mikey Abromowitz appears from the Big Z memorial surf off talent search he becomes excited. Cody fails to impress Mikey at first, Cody’s determination though pays off as Cody chases after the whale that will take him away from his home and away to follow his dreams.

Cody meets Chicken Joe on his way to Pen Gu island and bonds with him on a deep level. He then meets Lani Aliikai who he instantly falls in love with. Cody then has a brush with local champion Tank Evans, Cody doesn’t approve of him throwing stones at the Big Z memorial shrine. He gets into a bit of an argument with Tank which then leads to Cody taking on Tank. Cody suffers a massive wipeout while in a surf contest with Tank Evans, almost losing his life in the process, luckily for him Lani was at hand to save him from being killed.

Lani takes him to see Geek an old washed up surfer, who does nothing but sit around all day, because Cody is not in a good way. Eventually Cody gets better. Geek and Cody begin to get to know each other. Geek is happy to help Cody out and offers to help him make a surfboard for him. This starts all sorts of disasters with Cody rolling the log away that Geek was going to use to make the surfboard with. Geek and Cody get themselves into a pickle when they begin chasing after the log. After all the commotion, Cody manages to find a beach.

Down on the beach Cody finds an old board shack, he becomes excited when he finds out it is Big Z’s old place. Then he uncovers Geek’s secret, that Geek is in actual fact Big Z. Cody becomes excited by this dilemma.

Cody tries to get Geek to help him out with his surfing, but he is not that interested, instead Geek gets Cody to make his own surfboard, but gets a bit moody with Geek. He then bumps into Lani, he reveals to Lani that Geek is Big Z - which Lani already knows. Lani becomes excited when he tells her that he managed to get Big Z down to the beach.

Lani takes Cody on a wild knuckle ride through the lava tubes, after which Cody and Lani bond with each other and goes and tells Cody and Big Z to work things out, so Cody goes and makes his surfboard. Geek is happy with the surfboard and begins training with Cody.

Cody now feels enlightened with the fact that he has been shown what it really is to be a surfer. Cody makes the mistake though of asking Geek to go watch him ride in the contest because it just isn’t for happening. Cody and Geek have a small disagreement, but Cody ends up throwing his Big Z necklace into the ocean.

Cody goes and takes part in the Big Z memorial surf off and goes head to head with Tank and Chicken Joe in the finals. Cody and Chicken Joe look as though they are going to get the better of Tank, but Tank pushes Cody into the dangerous boneyards, both Tank and Cody get into trouble. Luckily for Cody Big Z comes back and saves Cody’s life.

In the end Cody and Geek (Big Z) end up as good friends. He has learnt from Big Z that winning isn’t everything and that the most important thing about surfing is to have fun and that a winners attitude is not always a good thing.

[edit] Ezekiel ‘Big Z’ Topanga/Geek

Big Z/Geek
Surf's Up character


Species:	Emperor Penguin
Feathers/Fur	Black and white
Eyes	Brown
Voiced by:	Jeff Bridges
Location	Pen Gu Island

As Big Z

"Everyone looked up to him, respected him, loved him."

Big Z was often viewed as the legendary surfer, an individual that became synonymous with surfing itself. Big Z was a confident surfer, who loved surfing deeply, and was referred to as a "Soul Surfer." His talent with surfing allowed him to even read the waves, knowing when each swell would start and would crash. Once discovered by Reggie Belefonte and taken under his wing, Z's career in surfing took off, appearing in Reggie's films (Z is for Zurfing) and other marketing. Reggie was easily banking in on his surfing wonder. Z very quickly fell to the trap of the fame and praise from friends and peers alike. He had begun to believe that winning was everything, any failure, he felt, would be far too shameful. In his final contest against the then up-and-comer Tank Evans, he appeared to have had a major wipe-out in Pen Gu's dangerous Boneyards, leaving only his wrecked surfboard pieces drifting ashore.

To his fans, friends, and onlookers alike, Big Z was dead. A memorial using his destroyed surfboard, a Z slash between the pieces, was erected in his memory.

As The Geek

"Don't touch my stuff, man!"

Geek is a secretive inhabitant of Pen Gu Island, seemingly nothing more than a hermit living in the jungles. Geek is depicted as overweight, unwashed, slightly scatterbrained and unkempt, his home appearing in much the same manner. At the same time, he is also intelligent, very deep with his thoughts, and quite in tune with his surroundings. In the film, he is introduced to an older Cody through Lani after Cody is injured during his face-off with Tank Evans. Though reluctant and cranky, he agrees to help the young surfer on Lani's behalf. Throughout the film he is also shown an almost addicted fondness to clams, often pleading leaving individuals to "bring me some more clams!" Geek is also shown as having an aptitude for playing the ukelele.

A series of events leads to the revelation that Geek is indeed Big Z, a little older and out of the loop, but still the same surfing wonder that he'd always been.

[edit] Lani Aliikai

Lani Aliikai
Surf's Up character

Species:	Gentoo Penguin
Age:	17
Feathers/Fur:	Black and white
Eyes:	Blue
Voiced by:	Zooey Deschanel
Location	Pen Gu Island

"It's the surfer out there having the most fun."

Lani is the Pen Gu lifeguard and watches over all of the surfers for the Big Z memorial Surf Off, and she catches Cody’s eye. She is always carrying around a sea squid. Lani is always hindered by Arnold the young budding surfer who is always getting himself into trouble out at sea. Lani saves Cody’s life when he takes on Tank Evan’s and somehow manages to carry his unconscious body all the way to Geeks place. Lani later on takes Cody to the lava tubes for a white knuckle ride and also tells Cody that she is Big Z’s niece. She also persuades Cody to go make thing up with Big Z. In the end Cody and Lani end up together.

[edit] Chicken Joe

Chicken Joe
Surf's Up character

Species:	Chicken
Feathers/Fur:	Light Golden Brown
Eyes:	Blue
Voiced by:	Jon Heder
Location	Sheboygan, Wisconsin

"A lot of people thought I was crazy, but I'm used to that"

Chicken Joe is the first person that Cody meets when he gets on the Whale to Pen Gu island. He is a very mellow character, often popularly compared to a stoner, nothing angers him, everything is good. Cody and Chicken Joe get on very well with each other. Joe becomes a little upset though when he realises that Cody has gone missing and goes off in a wild search for him. He encounters, the Pen Guans which he believes are trying to treat him as a king when actually they are planning to eat him. He encounters them twice, but when chicken Joe gives the penguins a squid on a stick they take to him and begin following him around. When he finds Cody, Cody is caught in a trap, but of course, Chicken Joe tells the Penguans to let him go. Chicken Joe couldn’t be happier to see Cody.

In the end Cody sacrifices winning the competition for Joe and Chicken Joe ends up winning the contest, as Cody has learnt that winning isn't everything so isn't too upset and its what friends do for everything of course Joe is completely oblivious that he won the surf contest and seems surprised when Rob Machado asks him how it feels to have won.

[edit] Supporting Characters

[edit] Tank Evans

Tank Evans
Surf's Up character

Species:	King Penguin
Feathers/Fur	Tattooed, White, Red, Yellow and Black.
Eyes	(Left) Blue, (Right) Red
Voiced by:	Diedrich Bader
Location	Pen Gu Island

"I like being the center of attention, because it's really, where I should be."

Tank ‘The Shredder’ Evans is the nine time defending champion to the Big Z memorial surf off. Winning is everything to Tank and there is no such thing as losing to him. He gets a shock when Cody stands up to him. But of course Tank will not go down without a fight, especially when Tank is challenged to take on Cody. Tank wins the surf off and is full of it as usual. He describes all of his trophies as ladies and names them all in the following order. Jill, Amy, Suzie, Brianna, Shaniqua, Helga, Miss Kitty, Jeannie (who he dreams of), Theresa (his "dirty girl") and Lia (which he hasn't won yet and has saved a spot for). Tank also asks "What's up with the hair" to Rob Machados penguin alter ego.

In the Big Z Memorial Surf Off at the end, Tank forces Cody into the Boneyards where everyone believes Big Z lost his life, where Tank is also very lucky to get out alive. Of course Tank doesn’t take too well to being beaten to Chicken Joe and Cody and tries to claim the trophy for himself, but he can’t even beat the kids teasing him for it, one of the kids drop the trophy and breaks it.

[edit] Reggie Belafonte

Reggie Belafonte
Surf's Up character

Species:	Sea Otter
Feathers/Fur:	Brown
Eyes:	Brown
Voiced by:	James Woods
Location	Pen Gu Island

"That was spectacular!"

Reggie is the famous surf promoter who is in the surf business for the money, he doesn’t care for the welfare of his surfers unless of course they are the winners. When Cody wipes out he just walks away from the situation and asks if Tank is the one who is okay. When he sees that Cody is a good surfer, he is all over him and he lets poor Mikey do all of his dirty work for him. Of course in the end Reggie is dumped by all of the surfers as Big Z makes his comeback and then sacks Mikey, but Mikey couldn’t care less.

In his introduction he names himself "the dream maker" and is seen with Big Z in numerous photos, he shows some emotion for Big Z, but whether this is an act or not is debatable, he is also seen being pampered and looking down on less fortunate workers of his greedy operation and sees the Big Z memorial surf off as a massive money spinner for him.

[edit] Mikey Abromowitz

Mikey Abromowitz
Surf's Up character

Species:	Wader
Feathers/Fur	Brown and White
Eyes	Brown
Voiced by:	Mario Cantone
Location	Pen Gu Island

"I can't imagine a better day."

Mikey is the Talent scout who is sent everywhere all over the world to go and look for the penguins who take part in all of the surf contests. Mikey is not a happy person and is on the verge of breaking because "the stress is killing him" with all of the scouting about that he does. Mikey finds Cody but isn’t too keen on taking him to Pen Gu Island with him. Mikey shows that he has a bit of sympathy and welfare for surfers compared to Reggie, but he is always being pushed by him. Eventually Mikey gets fired from his job, but Mikey couldn’t care less because he will be much happier than what he is.

[edit] Glen Maverick

Glen Maverick
Surf's Up character

Species:	Rockhopper Penguin
Feathers/Fur:	Black and White, Yellow Eyebrows
Eyes:	Green
Voiced by:	Brian Posehn
Location	Shiverpool, Antarctica

"Gotta run away from responsibilities and life."

Glen is Cody’s older brother. He is very abusive towards Cody, whether it be throwing snowballs at him when he is giving an interview to the camera crew at the beginning of the movie and saying nasty things to him. He also takes Cody's food away from him and eats it. He annoys Cody in front of the camera when the family is about to give an interview. He also believes that winning is everything and if Cody comes in second place that he is still a loser. Glen is seen to be the man of the house back in Shiverpool and believes that Cody is not pulling his weight like Glen is. Glen spends most of his time hatching eggs. He is also seen at the scene after the end credits, tossing camera equipment out of the house and telling the camera crew to get out of the house.

[edit] Edna Maverick

Edna Maverick
Surf's Up character

Species:	Rockhopper Penguin
Feathers/Fur:	Black and White, Yellow Eyebrows
Eyes:	Green
Voiced by:	Dana Belbin
Location	Shiverpool, Antarctica

"Cody, just be careful of those big waves."

Edna is Cody’s mother who is not pleased with Cody’s dreams, but she sticks it out to keep Cody happy. But when Cody goes away to follow his dreams she changes her mind and becomes proud of him. Edna also reveals that Cody’s dad died, when he was eaten by an enormous whale while holding a fish. Just before the credits, Edna tells Glen her views on winning, regardless to say Glen is not pleased. After the end credits, she apologizes to the camera crew about Glen's actions.

[edit] Bob Maverick

Bob Maverick
Surf's Up character

Species:	Rockhopper Penguin
Feathers/Fur:	Black and White, Yellow Eyebrows
Eyes:	Brown
Location	Shiverpool, Antarctica

Bob Maverick is Cody’s deceased father, not much is known about him except the fact he was eaten by a killer whale. Cody was too young to remember Bob as he was killed when Cody was at a very young age.

[edit] Other Characters

[edit] Arnold

Arnold, Smudge and Kate
Surf's Up characters

Species:	Emperor Penguin's
Feathers/Fur	Black and White
Eyes	Smudge and Kate - Brown, Arnold - Blue
Location	Pen Gu Island

"Little guys rule!"

Arnold is a young but mischievous little emperor penguin. He is always getting himself into trouble out at sea intentionally so that he can spend some more time with Lani the lifeguard. He is also seen giving an interview with Kate and Smudge.

[edit] Kate

"It’s not so important to me, friends are better than anything in the world."

Kate is one of the young penguins who give interviews to the camera crew, she is the most outspoken of the three.

[edit] Smudge

"He's a dirty trashcan full of poop"

Smudge is the least outspoken of the three kids and only has one line in the movie.

[edit] Rory Nubbins

Rory Nubbins
Surf's Up character

Species:	Rockhopper Penguin
Location	Bells Beach, Australia

Rory Nubbins is the Australian surfer that Mikey brings to Pen Gu island. When Mikey first tells Rory that he has been selected for the competition, he gives him a noogie, which Mikey is not too pleased about. He is seen as a friend of Cody Maverick.

[edit] Tatsuhi Kobayashi

Tatsuhi Kobayashi
Surf's Up character

Species:	Emperor Penguin
Location	Kugenuma, Japan

Tatsuhi is the Japanese surfer that Mikey brings to Pen Gu Island, when he first meets Mikey he jabs Mikey’s head with his beak. He is also seen as a friend of Cody Maverick.

[edit] Rob Machado

Rob Machado
Surf's Up character

Species:	Adelie Penguin
Voiced By	Himself

Rob Machado is one of the TV personalities who appears for SPEN sports. He is voiced by the professional surfer of the same name. He is seen in the movie giving an interview to Cody and Chicken Joe.

[edit] Kelly Slater

Kelly Slater
Surf's Up character

Species:	Chinstrap Penguin
Voiced By	Himself

Kelly Slater is one of the TV personalities who appears for SPEN sports. He is voiced by the professional surfer of the same name

[edit] Sal Masekela

Sal Masekela
Surf's Up character
Species:	Sea Lion
Voiced By	Himself

Sal Masekela is the SPEN sport voiceover, he is never seen in the film but can be seen in the Surf's Up video game, he is a sea otter and is voiced by the professional surfer of the same name.

[edit] Ivan

"Stepped on me? Stepped on me? Are you kiddin'? This guy was dancin' on me!"

Ivan
Surf's Up character

Species:	Sea Urchin
Location:	Pen Gu Island
Voiced by:	Matthew W. Taylor

Ivan is the fire urchin that Cody steps on. When asked by the interviewers under the seas, he describes all the limbs that he has broken.