The Pebble and the Penguin
The Pebble and the Penguin

Movie spotlight

The Pebble and the Penguin

1995
Movie
74 min
English

A bashful bachelor penguin named Hubie, who's partial to a pretty female named Marina. Ancient penguin ritual dictates that males present a pebble to their intended, then mate for life. Hubie finds a spiffy stone, but before he can bestow it on Marina, dastardly rival Drake tosses him into the churning sea, and Hubie gets swept away.

Insights

IMDb5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes23%
Google Users63%
Director: Don BluthGenres: Animation, Family, Musical, Adventure, Comedy, Romance

Plot Summary

In the Antarctic, a shy penguin named Hubie dreams of winning the heart of Marina. To impress her, he must present her with a perfect pebble during the annual mating season ritual. However, his efforts are thwarted by the bullying predator, Rocko, who also desires Marina. Hubie embarks on a perilous journey, facing numerous challenges and unexpected allies, to find the ultimate pebble and prove his love.

Critical Reception

The Pebble and the Penguin received largely negative reviews from critics, who found its animation lacking and its story derivative of other Don Bluth films. While some appreciated the musical numbers and the voice performances of Martin Short and Tim Curry, the overall consensus was that it failed to reach the quality of Bluth's earlier works.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film's animation is considered dated and less impressive than Bluth's previous efforts.

  • The story is often criticized for being predictable and overly familiar.

  • The musical numbers and voice acting, particularly from Martin Short, are sometimes highlighted as minor positives.

Google audience: Google users seem to have a more favorable view than critics, with many appreciating the charming characters and heartfelt story, especially for younger audiences. However, some viewers also point out the animation's age and the film's simplistic plot.

Fun Fact

During the film's production, animator Don Bluth reportedly had a falling out with MGM over creative control, which led to significant budget cuts and a rushed production schedule.

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