History Series / Benji

* ChildrenInTow: It takes a bit of a learning curve for both Benji and the orphaned cubs, but Benji eventually teaches the cubs to follow him when needed.
* ClimbingClimax: Since the mother cougar seems to regard Benji as highly [[MisterMuffykins irritating]] and retreats with her cub every time she notices him. Benji eventually resorts to [[spoiler: manipulating her to go to the meadow at the top of the cliff by blocking off certain other pathways]], then takes a drastic shortcut and carries the cubs up the cliff one by one in order to meet her at the top and finally get her to see the orphaned cubs he's been trying the whole movie to make her notice.

* KickTheDog: To show how nasty the kidnappers are, one of them viciously kicks a small white poodle. You don't see the dog actually being being kicked, this being a family film, but the action is pretty obvious.

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Like most baby animals, the cougar cubs are plain adorable.

* SuperPersistentPredator: After their initial encounter the wolf seems to become oddly obsessed with stalking and trying to kill Benji.

* ClimbingClimax: Since the mother cougar seems to see Benji as a SmallAnnoyingCreature and retreats with her cub every time she notices him. Benji eventually resorts to [[spoiler: manipulating her to go to the meadow at the top of the cliff by blocking off certain other pathways]], then takes a drastic shortcut and carries the cubs up the cliff one by one in order to meet her at the top and finally get her to see the orphaned cubs he's been trying the whole movie to make her notice.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: Benji has to do this in all the movies.

* ClimbSlipHangClimb: Pretty much Benji when he's climbing and descending the cliff, especially the first and last time. Also when he almost accidentally runs off a different cliff earlier in the film and has to pull himself back up.

* PapaWolf: In Benji the Hunted, Benji becomes very protective of the orphaned cougar cubs.

* SavageWolves: One in Benji The Hunted that acts as the main antagonist, at first only going after Benji, but eventually the cubs as well.

* ChaseScene: The Benji films are fond of these, justified in that Benji isn't a big dog and is often up against much larger animal, or armed human, opponents, and couldn't realistically fight back and win, and running is usually the only other option. Also Benji is a gentle animal by nature and only uses any kind of attack as a final resort (usually to protect/save someone else in danger)

* ChaseScene: The Benji films are fond of these, justified in that Benji isn't a big dog and is often up against much larger animal, or armed human, opponents, and couldn't realistically fight back and win, and running usually being the only other option. Also Benji is a gentle animal by nature and only uses any kind of attack as a final resort (usually to protect/save someone else in danger)

* ChaseScene: The Benji films are fond of these, justified in that Benji isn't a big dog and is often up against much larger animal, or armed human, opponents, and couldn't realistically fight back and win. Also Benji is a gentle animal by nature and only uses any kind of attack as a final resort (usually to protect/save someone else in danger)

* HeroicPetStory: Amongst other things, Benji has rescued two children from kidnappers, escaped from and evaded a spy/thief/murderer out to get him for a formula a scientist tattooed onto him, and in the same film eventually rescued Cindy (the girl from the first film) a second time by knocking the gun out of the gunman's hands, and in Benji The Hunted rescued some orphaned mountain lion cubs, protected them from a bear and a wolf, and after much effort got them adopted by another mother mountain lion.

* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: Disclaimer at the ed of all the Benji films

* ChaseScene: The Benji films are fond of these, justified in that Benji isn't a particularly large dog and is often up against much larger animal, or armed human, opponents, and couldn't realistically fight back and win. Also Benji is a gentle animal by nature and only uses any kind of attack as a final resort (usually to protect/save someone else in danger)

* HeroicPetStory: Amongst other things, Benji has rescued two children from kidnappers, escaped from and evaded a spy/thief/murderer out to get him for a formula a scientist tattooed onto him, and in the same film eventually rescued Cindy (the girl from the first film) a second time by knocking the gun out of the gunman's hands, and rescued some orphaned mountain lion cubs, protected them from a bear and a wolf, and after much effort got them adopted by another mother mountain lion.

The fourth and current Benji is female and is unrelated to the previous Benjis. She was adopted from the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport after being picked up on the streets of Pass Christian after being abandoned. She began filming her first movie a year and a half later. ''Benji Off the Leash'' was released in 2004.

The fourth and current Benji is female and is unrelated to the previous Benjis as she was adopted from the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport after being picked up on the streets of Pass Christian after being abandoned. She began filming her first movie a year and a half later. ''Benji Off the Leash'' was released in 2004.

The fourth and current Benji is female, and is unrelated to the previous Benjis, as she was adopted from the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport after being picked up on the streets of Pass Christian, having been abandoned. She began filming her first movie a year and a half later. ''Benji Off the Leash'' was released in 2004.

''Benji'' is the name of a fictional dog who has been the focus of a series of movies from 1974 through the 2000s. It is also the title of the first film in the Benji series. While there is only ever one Benji at a time, there have been four dogs to play Benji, the first was Higgins who is best probably known for having played the character "Dog" on the 1960s television series "Petticoat Junction" and also starring in the 1974 movie "Benji." He was trained and owned by Frank Inn, while Joe Camp is the creator and director of the films.

Higgins was originally a rescue dog adopted from the Burbank Animal Shelter by trainer Frank Inn, and according to him was the smartest dog he had ever trained. In 1971 Higgins, starred in "Mooch Goes to Hollywood." As a senior dog (aged 11) he was then retired from acting but in 1974 starred in his final and greatest role, the loveable mutt in Joe Camp's family film, "Benji."

The second dog to play Benji was Higgins' daughter, Benjean. She starred in three movies (For The Love of Benji, Benji The Hunted, and Oh Heavenly Dog), four television specials (Benji's Very Own Christmas Story, Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland, Benji At Work, and The Phenomenon of Benji), and a TV series (Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince).

The dog photographed on the cover of Joe Camp's book Benji & Me, was the third Benji and he was distantly related to Higgins and Benjean but never starred in any films.

The fourth, and current Benji is female, and is unrelated to the previous Benji's as she was adopted from the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport after being picked up on the streets of Pass Christian, having been abandoned. She began filming her first movie a year and a half later. Benji Off the Leash was released in 2004

* AmplifiedAnimalAptitude: Benji is very intelligent and seems able to fully understand human speech, think logically and problem solve his way out of difficult/dangerous situations, and trick and outsmart pursuers both human and animal.
* HeroicDog: Benji usually ends up saving or bringing comfort to someone. The original Benji is also something of a RealLife example for shelter animals, dogs in particular, The American Humane Association reported that because the original Benji was rescued from an animal shelter, more than 1,000,000 dogs were subsequently adopted from shelters across the country as the character became popular. The current Benji was also adopted from a shelter in hopes of inspiring even more adoptions.
* HeroicPetStory: Amongst other things Benji has rescued two children from kidnappers, escaped from and evaded a spy/thief/murderer out to get him for a formula a scientist tattooed onto him, and in the same film eventually rescued Cindy (the girl from the first film) a second time by knocking the gun out of the gunman's hands, and rescued some orphaned mountain lion cubs, protected them from a bear and a wolf, and after much effort got them adopted by another mother mountain lion.
* ReactionShot: Plenty, because the stories are mostly shown rather than told and emotion usually shown through the Benji's facial expression and reaction to events, greatly helped by the fact that Higgins and Benjean possibly have the most expressive/emotive eyes of any dog.

The American Humane Association reported that because the original Benji was rescued from an animal shelter, more than 1,000,000 dogs were subsequently adopted from shelters across the country. The current Benji was also adopted from a shelter in hopes of insipiring even more adoptions.

Benji was also the second animal ever to be inducted into the Animal Actors Hall of Fame ( {{Lassie}} was the first).

* HeroicDog: Benji usually ends up saving or bringing comfort to someone. The original Benji is also something of a RealLife example for shelter animals, dogs in particular, as his film appearances helped improve the image of mixed-breed dogs: their adoption rates at animal shelters shot upwards after his character became popular in the 1970s.

AmplifiedAnimalAptitude: Benji is very intelligent and seems able to fully understand human speech, think logically and problem solve his way out of difficult/dangerous situations, and trick and outsmart pursuers both human and animal.
HeroicDog: Benji usually ends up saving or bringing comfort to someone. The original Benji is also something of a RealLife example for shelter animals, dogs in particular, as his film appearances helped improve the image of mixed-breed dogs: their adoption rates at animal shelters shot upwards after his character became popular in the 1970s.
HeroicPetStory: Amongst other things Benji has rescued two children from kidnappers, escaped from and evaded a spy/thief/murderer out to get him for a formula a scientist tattooed onto him, and in the same film eventually rescued Cindy (the girl from the first film) a second time by knocking the gun out of the gunman's hands, and rescued some orphaned mountain lion cubs, protected them from a bear and a wolf, and after much effort got them adopted by another mother mountain lion.
ReactionShot: Plenty, because the stories are mostly shown rather than told and emotion usually shown through the Benji's facial expression and reaction to events, greatly helped by the fact that Higgins and Benjean possibly have the most expressive/emotive eyes of any dog.

Benji was also the second animal ever to be inducted into the Animal Actors Hall of Fame (Lassie was first).