WHO WILL BE THE NEXT STAR?

Lights. Camera. Action!

Many know of the famous Free Willy and just recently Blackfish. But orcas have been swimming on the big screen since 1966. Some movies you probably didn’t even take notice.

1966- Namu, the Killer Whale

Namu, The Killer Whale, the very first film (known of), featuring an orca. The movie stars Robert Lansing and Lee Meriwether, where a scientist forms a friendship with an unlikely underwater friend.

1975-Jaws

Jaws, probably one of the most famous films about a Great White Shark. But did you ever notice that Captain Quint’s famous ship was named Orca??

1993- Free Willy

This resonates with the millennial generation a little more, because who didn’t want to be on top of those rocks with Jesse reaching out for Willy?

Warner Bros. then released 3 other installments.

1995- Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

1997- Free Willy 3: The Rescue

2010- Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove

1994- The Little Mermaid (TV Series)

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THIS SHOW? After The Little Mermaid’s (1989) popularity, Disney adapted a series for Ariel and her Under the Sea friends- a prequel before meeting Eric. Ariel meets an orca named, Spot, who she secretly adopted and raised at King Triton’s palace.

2003-Brother Bear

A young Inuit hunter kills a bear; he then magically goes on an adventure of a lifetime in the paw-steps of A BEAR. However, did you catch the opening scene during Great Spirits, where Kenai takes a little dip with a pod of orcas? I wonder if Disney looked into the native legends of orcas like I did? IN THIS POST?

DID U KNOW? Phil Collins re-recorded Great Spirits. Collins also recorded the full Tarzan soundtrack in English, German, Spanish, Italian AND French. He also voiced of Lucky the Vulture, in The Jungle Book 2.

2006-Happy Feet

One of the most climaxing scenes in Mumble’s journey is when a pair of hungry killer whales hunt the traveling penguin crew. Warner Brothers killed this scene with incredible realism of how orcas actually hunt their prey.

2012-Rust and Bone

“Put in charge of his young son, Alain leaves Belgium for Antibes to live with his sister and her husband as a family. Alain's bond with Stephanie, a killer whale trainer, grows deeper after Stephanie suffers a horrible accident.” ~IMDb

2013- Blackfish

Blackfish is an aggressive documentary revealing behind the scenes footage and insight on SeaWorld’s performers of both humans and whales. The documentary dives deeper into the death of Dawn Brancheau, trainer killed by male whale, Tilikum.

The only actual animal on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are three dogs: Strongheart, Rin Tin Tin and of course Lassie. Kermit the Frog has had a Star since 2012. PICTURE THIS- Next Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: Shamu or Willy OR Tilikum.