Z in Antz
The Real Animal: An ant – those horrible blighters that ruin picnics and do their best to get into your kitchen.
The Movie Animal: The most neurotic ant you’ve ever seen – which is because Z was voiced by Woody Allen himself, instantly making him a cool cucumber.
Best Quote: “I think everything must go back to the fact that I had a very anxious childhood. My mother never had time for me. You know, when you're the middle child in a family of five million, you don't get any attention. I mean, how is that possible?”
Draco in DragonHeart
The Real Animal: We use the term ‘real’ rather loosely here because (sorry) dragons don’t technically exist. What we have instead is lizards – sadly none of which have wings.
The Movie Animal: A flippin’ dragon! Not only a dragon, but one gifted with the dulcet tones of one Sean Connery.
Best Quote: “I merely chewed in self-defence, but I never swallowed.”
Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King
The Real Animal: Er, a warthog and a meerkat. The latter’s pretty en vogue right now thanks to some clever marketing campaign. The former not so much.
The Movie Animal: Gaseous, rude, cowardly, this jungle-dwelling twosome deserve each others’ company. That said, they can also be brave, hilarious and full of heart. Which is exactly why we love them.
Best Quote: Pumbaa: Hey, Timon, ever wonder what those sparkly dots are up there?
Timon: Pumbaa, I don't wonder; I know.
Pumbaa: Oh. What are they?
Timon: They're fireflies. Fireflies that, uh... got stuck up on that big bluish-black thing.
Pumbaa: Oh, gee. I always thought they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away.
Timon: Pumbaa, with you, everything's gas.
The AristoCats
The Real Animal: A small, carnivorous animal covered in fur generally known by its latin name, Felis catus. Or, y’know, ‘cat’.
The Movie Animals: “Everybody wants to be a cat!” When they’re this cool – strumming instruments and generally having a merry old time – it’s not hard to see why.
Best Quote: Thomas O'Malley: First, to make the magic begin, you wiggle your nose, and you tickle your chin. Now close your eyes, and cross your heart, and presto! - breakfast, à la carte."
Stuart Little
The Real Animal: A teeny tiny little mouse.
The Movie Animal: Stuart, who doesn’t let his diminutive stature get in the way of having great, walloping adventures.
Best Quote: “I'm so happy! I... I feel 10 inches tall!”
Pongo in 101 Dalmatians
The Real Animal: A black-and-white dog. Likes walks. Hates being left alone.
The Movie Animal: Pongo, the patriarch in a family of Dalmatians, and not adverse to going on a cracking adventure in search of his kidnapped kids. He also refers to his owner as a pet, which of course is exactly how a dog would think.
Best Quote: “It was plain to see that my old pet needed someone, but if it were left up to Roger, we'd be bachelors forever. He was married to his work writing songs. Songs about romance of all things. Something he knew absolutely nothing about.”
Camel in Road To Morocco
The Real Animal: A hissing, spitting camel that doesn’t particularly enjoy being ridden and will tell you that in no uncertain terms.
The Movie Animal: Putting in little more than a brief appearance, this movie camel doesn’t even get a name – but he does get a to-camera line that leaves us in giggles.
Best Quote: “This is the screwiest picture I was ever in.”
Chance in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
The Real Animal: An American Bulldog, typically sociably animals with just a little too much confidence, if you ask us.
The Movie Animal: Voiced by Michael J. Fox, Chance is the rascal you can’t help but love – that he gets himself into numerous scrapes is all part of his charm.
Best Quote: “Okay, okay, I'll talk! I left a gift on the carpet. I let Sassy take the rap for when I unrolled the toilet paper all over the house. I stole underwear on three occasions. Okay FOUR!”
Iorek Byrnison in The Golden Compass
The Real Animal: A polar bear, biggest and fattiest of all the bears, with a taste for seals.
The Movie Animal: The movie left a little to be desired, but there’s no faulting Iorek Byrnison, who’s a towering beast with a temper – and a love of booze. He’s also voiced by Ian McKellen…
Best Quote: “Do you wish to ride me?”
Crush in Finding Nemo
The Real Animal: A Green sea turtle, which generally sticks to the warmer waters of tropical and subtropical seas.
The Movie Animal: Crush sounds like a surfer dude, and that’s because he pretty much is a surfer dude – and one of the coolest dads ever, animal or no.
Best Quote: “Saw the whole thing, dude. First you were all like ‘whoa’, and we were like ‘whoa’, and you were like ‘whoa...’”
