#Collaborative post
Everyone loves a movie with a cute little creature in it – whether it be a dog, cat, bird, or aquatic animal, there’s something for everyone, and these films are most of the time either feel-good or a real tear-jerker. Movies that feature animals are also very time-consuming to produce and require highly skilled animals that have either been trained for numerous hours or are very obedient in nature. Nonetheless, they are always a real treat to watch and are suitable for the entire family when no one can decide on a movie. Films with animals have also brought some major blockbusters to the front line – Free Willy, Hachiko, and Eight Below, to name a few, are some of the most heartwarming and iconic movies and have left audiences in awe (and in tears) for the most part. That said, here are some of the most Iconic Animals that have featured in some pretty amazing and must-watch films and TV-Shows.
Photo by Jan Kopřiva from Pexels
Stella from Modern Family
One of the most Iconic Sitcoms ever made goes by the name of Modern Family. This hilariously funny and very relatable family features characters that make you go, “Hey, I know someone who’s like that!”. In this highly successful TV-Show, though, stars a much-loved french bulldog by the name of “Stella” who is the Father/Grandfather Jay’s pride and joy. Many scenes throughout the episodes show Stella and Jay in all their comedic love, which makes it impossible not to fall in love with the adorable Frenchie instantly. Her real name is Brigitte, born in 2010, which makes her a healthy 11 years old this year – she also won the award for “Best Dog in a Television Series” at the Golden Collar Awards back in 2012.
Cotton’s Parrot in Pirates of the Caribbean
One of the most underrated animal characters in movies, Cotton’s Parrot, made audiences laugh in the Caribbean films’ Pirates with his wit and snarky comments. The Parrot was his owner Cotton’s mouthpiece, so to speak, who didn’t have a tongue to talk with. Jack Sparrow, who always had a love-hate relationship with the Parrot, had short dialogues with each other in the films that were hilarious, to say the least. The Parrot was played by blue-and-gold macaws named Chip and Salsa and was delightful to watch – offering a humoristic edge to the films that no human could ever accomplish. Cotton’s Parrot made appearances on The Curse of The Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, as well as On Stranger Tides.
Mrs. Norris from Harry Potter
Mrs. Norris was played by a beautiful brown colored cat and was the pet of the caretaker of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mr. Argus Filch. Mr. Filch was a peculiar character and was said to have a strong connection with Mrs. Norris, who alerted him when any of the students were misbehaving or up to no good. In the iconic battle in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Voldemort and Harry had their long-awaited face-off. While everyone else had the ultimate battle between good and evil, it has been said that Mrs. Norris was put away for safety and survived the war – none of it was shown in the film itself. Although the cat featured as Mrs. Norris played in one of the most popular Movie Series of all time, she is only one in a very long line of The Most Famous Cats From Films that have graced our screens.
Hachiko in Hachi – A Dog’s Tale
One of the most tear-jerking stories ever told on the big screen, Hachiko’s story is one of utter loyalty and devotion. Based on a true story, Hachiko was a Japanese Akita dog who loved his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, unconditionally. Hidesaburō was a professor at the University of Tokyo and commuted via train every day to and from the University – Hachiko, ever loyal, would walk with his owner to the train station every single day and wait there patiently for his arrival. One day, following a heart-attack, Hidesaburō sadly passed away and never returned to the station where Hachi was waiting. For nine years following his owner’s death, Hachi went to the train station every day and waited for his owner, hoping he would one day return. On the 8th of March 1935, Hachi sadly passed away, and a statue after his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station in remembrance of the touching tale of Hachiko.
These are just some of the most iconic animals and their acting careers, bringing joy and sincerity to films and TV-shows across the globe. One thing is certain – without these animals, the respective productions would have been lesser for it!