The Amigos (Happy Feet)
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| Happy Feet character | |
|---|---|
| The Amigos | |
 |
|
| The 5 Adélie Amigos with Mumble. Left to right: Néstor, Lombardo, Rinaldo, Mumble, Raul, and Ramón | |
| Species | Adélie Penguins |
| Voiced by | Carlos Alazraqui (Néstor), Lombardo Boyar (Raul), Jeff Garcia (Rinaldo), Johnny Sanchez III (Lombardo), Robin Williams (Ramón) |
| Sex | Male |
| Heartsong | N/A |
| Mate | N/A |
The Amigos are a group of five fictional adélie penguins in the 2006 animated film Happy Feet. They acted collectively as the comic relief of the film, as well as providing running commentary à la a Greek chorus.
Contents |
[edit] Happy Feet story
[edit] Meeting Mumble
In Happy Feet, Mumble, the film's protagonist, met the amigos during his escape from a tenacious leopard seal, immediately after he landed safe on the solid ice. The seal was awkward and slow out of the water, and the amigos confidently taunted him, knowing they could easily escape the seal's reach. Mumble was charmed by the adélies' laid-back demeanors and sharp senses of humor. The amigos took amicably to Mumble, and loved his adept skills at dancing, knowing it would also be a great way to impress the chicas in their colony, Adélie Land.
[edit] Adélie Land
The five bachelors are misfits in their community, being smaller than the average male adélie, and unwilling to build pebble nests to attract mates. They find strength and camaraderie in each other, though, and they become loyal friends with their new emperor visitor. The six penguins have an "alien encounter" with a human excavator, and Mumble wants to know more. Ramón refers Mumble to Lovelace, the colony's "guru" who will answer any question for the price of a pebble. Lovelace proves less than helpful for Mumble, however, and he is still left with many unanswered questions.
[edit] Into the Unknown
When the amigos learn of Mumble's inability to sing, they come up with a plan to help him "perform" for his friend, Gloria. Ramón sings a Spanish rendition of "My Way" behind Mumble while Mumble lip syncs the words. Gloria sees through the ruse quickly, however. When Mumble harmonizes with Gloria by dancing instead, he, the amigos, Gloria, and nearly the entire Emperor Nation follow suit. Their fun is cut short by the colony elder, Noah, who blames Mumble's "happy feet" for the recent famine. Mumble has supposedly displeased their deity, the Great 'Guin, with his "pagan ways," and he is exiled from the community. Staunchly loyal to their good friend, the amigos leave with him, with Néstor singing a mournful rendition of "Leader of the Pack" in tribute to Mumble.
Returning to Lovelace for answers, the six penguins discover him nearly choking to death from his "sacred talisman" - a six pack plastic yoke caught around his neck. Lovelace directs them to the Forbidden Shore, and all seven penguins undergo a harsh and difficult journey to venture there, braving Antarctic winds and orca attacks to do so. When they come upon a fleet of huge trawlers, Lovelace and the amigos advise to turn back. Mumble instead requests they return to Emperor Nation, while he goes on alone, swimming after the trawlers to find answers.
[edit] Mumble's Return
The amigos have no idea if their friend is still alive after months pass, but they maintain his legacy after his departure, and live under the care of Mumble's mother, Norma Jean. When Mumble returns to the colony, the amigos are overjoyed. Knowing of the aliens already, they implicitly agree with Mumble when he advises the colony to dance in order to send a message to the aliens when they pinpoint Mumble's location and follow it to the colony. Subsequently, when the aliens land, everyone dances. In short order, the fish return in droves, the balance is restored, and Mumble is regarded as a hero. The loyal amigos choose to remain with their friend in the emperor colony.
[edit] Personalities
The amigos may be short in stature, but they are passionate, fiery, and full of attitude. They are fiercely loyal to Mumble, and have incredible faith in him; following him through myriad dangers to the ends of their known world.
[edit] Ramón
Ramón (Robin Williams) is the unofficial leader of the amigos, and is distinguished by his orange crest and stout stature. He is the shortest of the group, but indisputably has the biggest ego. In one sequence of the film, Ramón helps Mumble "perform" for Gloria by singing a Spanish rendition of "My Way" behind him, while Mumble lip syncs. Williams performed the majority of the song himself, though the vocal flourish at the song's beginning is performed by Dan Navarro.
Ramón demonstrates exemplary machismo, thinking highly of himself and his relationship with females, even when in truth, he has never had one. He appears to be acrophobic; twice in the film, the other amigos jump off a cliff with little hesitation, but Ramón lingers for a few seconds, on the second occasion having even to trick himself into jumping.
[edit] Néstor
Néstor (Carlos Alazraqui) is the tallest of the amigos, and sports a large crest of feathers resembling that of a northern cardinal. "Gifted with a beautiful voice, Néstor could bring tears to anyone's eyes as he sings of Mumble's sad exile from his homeland." [1] Alazraqui is the only actor in the film who did not sing his character's part; Dan Navarro performed Néstor's slow, sad rendition of "Leader of the Pack."
Néstor is the most solemn and insightful of the amigos. He can sense a character's intrinsic nature, and knows when things should be left unsaid. He deems Mumble an "accidentally cool" character shortly after the latter stumbles and falls from a ledge while dancing. He is the first to understand why Mumble drove Gloria away from joining the group on their journey. Néstor's cool composition balances out Ramón's flamboyancy and impulsiveness. Néstor, unlike Ramón, is willing to do a front flip on the first cliff they jump off with Mumble. He and Raul are brothers.
[edit] Raul
Raul (Lombardo Boyar) is second only to Ramón in outspokenness. He can be distinguished from the other amigos by the lack of a feather crest, as well as a white spot on his back where a patch of feathers are missing. "Raul is the rap star of the gang, breaking into his hip-hop rhymes to get the welcome attention of the chicas."[2] During Gloria's performance of "Boogie Wonderland," Raul raps a bridge in Spanish. He is the only amigo other than Ramón who is mentioned by name in the film. He appears to be Ramón's closest friend within the amigos, although that friendship does not go far enough that Raul willingly lets Ramón hug him. He and Néstor are brothers.
[edit] Rinaldo
Rinaldo (Jeff Garcia) can be distinguished by his flat black crest. He is "a crazy thrill-seeker and the first to body surf after Mumble down the steep mountainside. He will follow his friends through any danger, though even he gets cold feet at the thought of visiting the Forbidden Shore."[3]
Rinaldo is the most pessimistic of the group, ready to point out the negativity of a situation. His sense of humor is a tone darker, and sharper, than the other four adélies. He is nevertheless sensitive to Mumble's situation, and travels as loyally along as the rest of the amigos. However, after the elephant seals give a warning about the aliens, Mumble gives the Amigos a look that implies they can return home if they want to, and Rinaldo appears to want to do just that.
[edit] Lombardo
Lombardo (Johnny Sanchez III) "is impressed with Mumble's dancing and thinks that his moves must have the penguin ladies drooling at his feet."[4] Lombardo can be distinguished by a black, wispy crest of feathers on his head. Quick to recognize a good thing when he sees it, Lombardo deems Mumble's talented dancing skills incredibly unique. He is also just as quick to condemn Mumble's "singing" as anything but.
[edit] Music
- Raul's Spanish rap bridge was written for use within the film. It English translation[5] goes as follows:
I am Raul/Penguin most cool//Latino of course and 100% Spanish!
My brothers (What?)//They call me crazy!//One girl light me up like a flame!
The party!//Dance, dance a lot, little girl!//My heart has dynamite!
BOOM! (Exactly!)//I step up to the plate//Will you let me be your "daddy" penguin?
- Contrary to popular belief, Ramón's version of "My Way" is not "A Mi Manera," recorded by the Gipsy Kings. New lyrics were written for Ramón's solo in the film. The English translation of these lyrics[6] is as follows:
I know, it was finished//Our love//Divine
My friends, to them I declared//I will tell them//That I am sure
What is a man//Without nothing more//Than a gentleman//With tears
I should say! (He should say!)//I should shout! (He should shout!)//I should feel! (He should feel!)//In the truth! (In the truth!)
I fought, I won!//I stood out!//I did it my way!
[edit] Mistakes
When Rinaldo says of Lovelace, "Do you think he went to a better place?" and Lombardo replies "Probably," they are speaking in each other's voices.
[edit] References
- ^ Dakin, Glenn (September 25, 2006). Happy Feet: The Essential Guide. DK Publishing. ISBN 0756622425.
- ^ Dakin, Glenn (September 25, 2006). Happy Feet: The Essential Guide. DK Publishing. ISBN 0756622425.
- ^ Dakin, Glenn (September 25, 2006). Happy Feet: The Essential Guide. DK Publishing. ISBN 0756622425.
- ^ Dakin, Glenn (September 25, 2006). Happy Feet: The Essential Guide. DK Publishing. ISBN 0756622425.
- ^ Happy Feet album - "Boogie Wonderland". Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
- ^ "My Way" lyrics: Happy Feet OST. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
