History TearJerker / HappyFeet

* The way Memphis thinks his son is "messed up". When he reveals Mumble was dropped as an egg, Norma Jean and the other penguins are horrified. Despite the fact that Mumble acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much that opinion hurts him by looking at his eyes or body language.

!!Meta

* ''Happy Feet'' was one of Creator/SteveIrwin's last films. He died over three months before the film was released. The home release featured a DeletedScene with Irwin in a ''different'' role, and the tone made it seem like an epitaph.
* Creator/BrittanyMurphy's premature death also casts a pall on her role.

* ''Happy Feet'' was one of Steve Irwin's last films. He died over three months before the film was released. The home release featured a DeletedScene with Irwin in a ''different'' role, and the tone made it seem like an epitaph.
* Brittney Murphy's premature death also casts a pall on her role.

** It's particularly difficult to watch for a viewer who has/had learning disabilities as a child or an adult. Many children and adults have gone through many doctors, medication, therapists, and special teachers to try and find out what's "wrong" with them. It's heartbreaking to see what's essentially an infant or toddler going through that, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong with them.
* Mumble's exile from the colony on the basis the elders blame him for their food shortage. For so long the elders and colony ostracized Mumble due to his inability to sing and choosing to dance instead as they deemed it abnormal to their "normal" way of life. (During graduation day, as Mumble went to join his peers in fishing for the first time, the elders even call him a "bad egg" who will only bring tragedy on them because he's different from them.) So when their fish suddenly begin disappearing, they decide that Mumble must be to blame as his differences have somehow angered their god "the great 'guin" and they're being punished as a result. Norma Jean and Gloria, who are heartbroken and on the verge of tears, can only give ignored protests as Mumble is forced to accept this ruling and leaves.

** When Mumble leaves, Memphis repeats the elders chant of "In the wisdoms, we trust..." to reaffirm his siding with the elders, Norma Jean gives him a betrayed type of expression as she tearfully stares at her son as he leaves in banishment. Her heartache as seeing a bigoted ruling forced onto the child she dearly loves resonates with any parent who loves their child, even in a narrow-minded community that looks down on them for being "weird", and seeing them outright banished out of prejudice.
** The Amigo's beautiful and tragic rendition of "Leader of the Pack" as they follow behind Mumble as he leaves just adds to the heartbreak of the moment even more.

** Later on, Memphis's MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment. It's implied that during the three months Mumble was gone, Memphis came to realize what a poor father he was and has come to regret all but turning his back on his son. And his guilt got to the point where he became depressed and emotionally shut down. When Mumble asks his mother and the Amigos about his dad after returning home, they gravely warn Mumble that his father isn't well. When they do reunite, Memphis has this to say to his son:

-->'''Lovelace:''' After three days, he would lose his voice. After three months, he would all but lose his mind.

* Mumble's exile from the colony on the basis the elders blame him for their food shortage. For so long the elders and colony ostracized Mumble due to his inability to sing and choosing to dance instead as they deemed it abnormal to their "normal" way of life. (During graduation day, as Mumble went to join his peers in fishing for the first time, the elders even call him a "bad egg" for simply being different from them.) So when their fish suddenly begin disappearing, they decide that Mumble must be to blame as his differences have somehow angered their god "the great 'guin" and they're being punished as a result. A heartbroken Norma Jean and Gloria can only give ignored protests as Mumble is forced to accept this ruling and leaves.
** Adding salt to the wound, Memphis refuses to defend Mumble, his own son, because he believes Mumble's quirks began with him dropping him as an egg and that him leaving will somehow fix everything.

** Later on, Memphis's MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment. It's implied that during the 3 months Mumble was gone, Memphis came to realize what a poor father he was and has come to regret all but turning his back on his son. And his guilt got to the point where he became depressed and emotionally shut down. When Mumble asks his mother and the Amigos about his dad after returning home, they gravely warn Mumble that his father isn't well. When they do reunite, Memphis has this to say to his son:

* The young girl standing by the glass at the zoo, looking in at Mumble.

* Miss Viola saying that a penguin without a heart song is "hardly a penguin at all" - ''in front of Mumble''.
* This film will have definitely struck a chord with people who had to deal with their parents not accepting who they are.
--> '''Mumble:''' Don't ask me to change, Pa... 'cause I can't.
** Later on, Memphis's MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment. It's implied that during the 3 months Mumble was gone, Memphis came to realize what a poor father he was and has come to regret all but turning his back on his son. And his guilt got to the point where he became depressed and emotionally shut down. When Mumble asks his mother and the Amigos about his dad after returning home, they gravely warn Mumble that his father isn't well. When they do reunite, Memphis has this to say to his son:
---> '''Memphis:''' There ain't been one day... not ''one day''... that I done right by you.
* The way Memphis thinks his son is "messed up". When he reveals Mumble was dropped as an egg, Norma Jean and the other penguins are horrified. Despite the fact that Mumble acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much that opinion hurts him by looking at his eyes or body language.
** It's particularly difficult to watch for a viewer who has/had learning disabilities as a child or an adult. Many children and adults have gone through many doctors, medication, therapists, and special teachers to try and find out what's "wrong" with them. It's heartbreaking to see what's essentially an infant or toddler going through that, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong with them.

* Mumble's months in the zoo. Especially since, for a minute or two, it honestly looks like [[DownerEnding the film's actually going to end there]].

** Later on, Memphis's MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment.
---> '''Memphis:''' There ain't been one day...not one day...that I done right by you.
* The way Memphis thinks his son is messed up. When he reveals Mumble was dropped when he was an egg, Norma Jean and all the other penguins are horrified. Despite the fact that Mumble acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much that opinion hurts him by looking at his eyes or body language. It's particularly difficult to see for a viewer who has/had learning disabilities as a child or an adult. Many children and adults have gone through lots of doctors, medication, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong. It's heartbreaking to see what's essentially an infant or toddler going through that, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong.
* Mumble's birth. All the other chicks are running around with their fathers, all the eggs have hatched, and his egg... is just silent. Maurice's weak assurances ("It happens sometimes"), coupled with Memphis's guilt-ridden, heartbroken expression is just... ouch. Not to mention Gloria's innocent questions and Maurice trying to stop her.
* Mumble's months in the zoo. Especially since, for a minute or two, it honestly looks like [[DownerEnding the film's going to end there]].

* The way Memphis thinks his son is messed up. When he reveals Mumble was dropped, Norma Jean and all the other penguins are horrified. Despite the fact that Mumble acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much that opinion hurts him by looking at his eyes or body language. It's particuarly difficult to see for a viewer who has/had learning disabilities as a child or an adult. Many children and adults have gone through lots of doctors, medication, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong. It's heartbreaking to see what's essentially an infant or toddler going through that, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong.

* The way Memphis thinks his son is messed up. When he reveals Mumble was dropped, Norma Jean is horrified. Despite the fact that Mumble acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much that opinion hurts him by looking at his eyes or body language. It's particuarly difficult to see for a viewer who has/had learning disabilities as a child or an adult. Many children and adults have gone through lots of doctors, medication, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong. It's heartbreaking to see what's essentially an infant or toddler going through that, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong.

* Mumble's months in the zoo. Especially since, for a minute or two, it honestly looks like [[GainaxEnding the film's going to end there]].

* ''Happy Feet'' was one of Steve Irwin's last films. He died over three months before the film was released. The home release featured a DeletedScene with Irwin in a ''different'' role, and the tone made it seem like an epitaph.

* ''Happy Feet'' was one of Steve Irwin's last films. He died over three months before the film was released.

--> '''Memphis:''' There ain't been one day...not one day...that I done right by you.

* The way Memphis thinks his son is messed up. When he reveals Mumble was dropped, Norma Jean is horrified. Despite the fact that Mumble acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much that opinion hurts him by looking at his eyes or body language. It's particuarly difficult to see for a viewer who has learning disabilities as or child or an adult. Many people have gone through lots of doctors, medication, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong. It's heartbreaking to see what's essentially an infant or toddler going through that, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong.

* The way Memphis father thinks his son is messed up. When he reveals Mumble was dropped, his mother thinks he is too. Mumble doesn't think anything is wrong with how he is. Despite the fact that he acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much that opinion hurta him. It's particuarly difficult to watch for a viewer who has or had learning disabilities and may have gone through lots of doctors, medication, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong. It's heartbreaking to see what's essentially an infant going through that, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong.

* The way Mumble's father thinks Mumble is messed up, and then when he reveals Mumble was dropped, his mother thinks he is too. Mumble doesn't think anything is wrong with himself though. Despite the fact that he acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much it's hurting him on the inside. It's particuarly difficult to watch for a viewer who has or had learning disabilities and may have gone through lots of doctor trips, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong. It's heartbreaking to see a little kid going through that kind of thing, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong with the way they are.

* The way Mumble's father thinks Mumble is messed up, and then when he reveals Mumble was dropped, his mother thinks he is too. Mumble doesn't think anything is wrong with himself though. Despite the fact that he acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much it's hurting him on the inside. It's particuarly difficult to watch for a viewer who has or had learning disabilities and may have gone through lots of doctor trips, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong. It's heartbreaking to see a little kid going through that kind of thing, especially if the kid doesn't think there's anything wrong with the way they are. After Norma Jean learns Mumble was dropped, she is horrified, but Mumble tells her that he's fine. It's easy to see the pain in his eyes, though he never mentions it aloud.

* The way Mumble's father thinks Mumble is messed up, and then when he reveals Mumble was dropped, his mother thinks he is too. Mumble doesn't think anything is wrong with himself though. Despite the fact that he acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much it's hurting him on the inside. It's particuarly difficult to watch for a viewer who has or had learning disabilities and may have gone through lots of doctor trips, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong and to try and fix it. It's heartbreaking to see a little kid going through that kind of thing.

* The way Mumble's father thinks Mumble is messed up, and then when he reveals Mumble was dropped, his mother thinks he is too. Mumble doesn't think anything is wrong with himself though. Despite the fact that he acts either stoic or happy mostly all the time, it's easy to tell how much it's hurting him on the inside. This Troper at least had learning disabilities and went through lots of doctor trips, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong and to try and fix it. It's heartbreaking to see a little kid going through that kind of thing.

* ''Happy Feet'' was one of Steve Irwin's last films, period. He died over three months before the film was released.

-->'''Mumble:''' '''''CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND?! YOU'RE TAKING OUR FISH! F! I! S!''' ''(squawking from the human perspective)''

* The way Mumble's father thinks Mumble is messed up, and then when he reveals Mumble was dropped, his mother thinks he is too, but Mumble doesn't think anything is wrong with himself. This Troper at least had learning disabilities and went through lots of doctor trips, therapists and special teachers to try and find out what was wrong and to try and fix it. It's heartbreaking to see a little kid going through that kind of thing.

* Mumble's birth. All the other chicks are running around with their fathers, all the eggs have hatched, and his egg... is just silent. Maurice's weak assurances ("It happens sometimes"), coupled with Memphis's guilt-ridden, heartbroken expression is just... ouch.

* The young girl standing by the glass at the zoo, looking in at Mumble.