A list of characters who appear in Migration.
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The Mallard Family
Shared Tropes
- Animal Nemesis: They - especially Mack and Pam - end up becoming this to the Chef.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other:
- Pam begins the movie exasperated with Mack's overprotectiveness, but she still shows him affection occasionally, and as the movie goes on the spark gradually comes back into their relationship, and not only do they end up dancing with each other on a couple of occasions, it even helps save their lives, as their synchronized dancing allows them to partially lift their cage so they can free the other birds.
- Gwen is an Annoying Younger Sibling to Dax, embarrassing him in front of Kim at the beginning and end of the movie. But later, in the movie's Darkest Hour after all the ducks except Dax and Gwen have been captured by the chef, Gwen insists on giving her brother a big hug to comfort him.
- When Dax and Gwen are seemingly being attacked by Erin; Dax hides Gwen in his wings, showing that he sometimes doesn't see his little sister as a nuisance.
- Good Parents: Mack and Pam are fully committed to nurturing Dax and Gwen and seeing that their needs are attended to.
- Happily Married: Despite their contrasting personalities (or one could argue because of them), Pam and Mack’s devotion to each other is as clear as it is tenacious. They enjoy being together and openly show affection through gestures such as touching beaks, hugging, and snuggling. Near the beginning of the film, Pam plants a cute kiss on Mack’s cheek. They also engage in romantic dances three times during the movie, proving to be quite skilled at shaking their tail feathers in tandem too.
- Like Father, Unlike Son: The overly-cautious worrywart Mack couldn't be more different than the bold, adventurous Dax.
- Species Surname: A family of mallards called the Mallards.
Mack
- Voiced by: Kumail Nanjiani
- Anger Born of Worry: Mack explodes at Dax over his interference in an attempt to rescue the flock of domesticated ducks despite the boy's success, entirely due to him losing several flight feathers and coming a second or so away from being killed in the process.
- Animal Jingoism: He appears to harbor this toward pigeons, referring to Chump's flock as "trashy vermin" while trying to get them away from Uncle Dan.
- Big Ol' Eyebrows: He has prominent eyebrows, much like his voice actor.
- Character Development: Mack begins the movie fearful and overprotective, but gradually becomes braver as the movie goes on, and when the usually optimistic Pam gives up when they're captured in a helicopter, this time Mack has to reassure her that being courageous will save the day. And at the very end of the movie, Mack even intentionally seeks another adventure by agreeing to help some penguins get back to the South Pole.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Pam calls him out for being rude to Kim's flock, he initially she was referring to Kim's "Have a nice pond" statement, and claims that was due to "bad parenting".
- Everything Trying to Kill You: He often paints the world outside the pond as this in his bedtime stories to Dax and Gwen.
- My Beloved Smother: Mack is a male version, being extremely overprotective of his children.
- Papa Wolf: When Mack sees Dax pinned down by the Chef, he furiously leaps to defend his son.
- Scare 'Em Straight: Mack often tells his kids bedtime stories about how leaving the pond will get them killed.
- Was Too Hard on Him: After yelling at Dax for disobeying him, Mack sees how hurt his son is, and is quick to regret his words.
Pam
- Voiced by: Elizabeth Banks
- Action Mom:
- Pam comes up with the idea of the Mallards' multi-country flight, and often pushes her family members to overcome their fears.(to Mack) "I don't want to miss out on life because you're afraid to leave this pond!"
- Mack is caught off guard by the fiery courage Pam exhibited when negotiating with Chump on how to split a delicious sandwich between them and her pigeon gang.(nudges Pam) "I didn't know you could be so tough."
(Pam draws very close to Mack, staring him down in an intimidating fashion) "Really, Mack?" lowers her voice "You didn't know that?"
(She then softens her expression and gives him a heartwarming smile.)
- Pam comes up with the idea of the Mallards' multi-country flight, and often pushes her family members to overcome their fears.
- Attack the Injury: Pam bites the Chef on his nose, which Mack had broken earlier.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Pam's desire to see the world takes the family into incidents she never expected, from a potty emergency with her child to getting stuck in a metropolis and being pursued by a chef.
- Despair Event Horizon: Pam loses all hope when she and Mack were captured by the Chef with the other ducks (and Delroy), realizing that Mack was right about staying at Moosehead Pond to begin with. It is until Mack raises her spirits and gives the confidence to not give up, even on him.
- Undying Loyalty: Pam to Mack, exemplified during the helicopter scene where they're trapped in the cage and being watched by the Chef. Pam grows despondent after their failed attempt to push the cage out of the cockpit. Realizing they can't escape, she loses hope, lamenting their separation from their children. She suddenly regrets the decision to leave Moosehead Pond to begin with. Mack attempts to rekindle her spirits by stating she isn't acting like herself, as she was always the brave and adventurous one. He reminds her of her true nature and strong will with this powerful statement: "You never give up on anything. You haven't even given up on me."
Dax
- Voiced by: Casper Jennings
- Big Brother Instinct: As much as Dax is annoyed by Gwen, he's quick to protect her when danger is near.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Dax gives his Mack a short version when Mack initially refuses to help Delroy because getting the key from the Chef will be dangerous:
- Dax: Just because you're afraid of everything doesn't mean I have to be!
- Clip Its Wings: Near the climax, Dax's primary feathers get damaged by the chef. This renders him unable to fly save for some slight fluttering. Fortunately, as mentioned above, he figures out a way around this, and his feathers are shown growing back at the end of the film.
- "Eureka!" Moment: He has this when Gwen sadly blows her nose on Delroy’s feathers, giving him the idea to use them to repair his wings.
- Meet Cute: At the beginning of the film, when the Mallards are introduced to a new family of ducks, Dax meets a female duck named Kim, and they hit it off, although Gwen embarrasses Dax by loudly broadcasting that Dax likes Kim. At the end of the movie, after the Mallards have reached Jamaica, Dax finally gets to dance together with Kim.
- No One Gets Left Behind: Dax refuses to leave Delroy locked in a cage and insists on saving him, and when he realizes that the domesticated ducks are being led into a trap, he risks his own life to warn them.
- Talking in Your Sleep: When Dax and Kim reunite, Gwen spoils the moment by claiming to Kim that Dax kept saying her name in his sleep.
- Would Hit a Girl: Dax is quick to try and slap Gwen with his wings after she annoys him too much.
Gwen
- Voiced by: Tresi Gazal
- Affectionate Nickname: Pam sometimes calls her "Gwennie".
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Does this twice in the movie to ask Uncle Dan if he could come with her and her family, with a very long "please" to the point of overexertion with her eyes looking away from each other. Dax, Mack and the penguins near the end do the same with her when she does this again near the end.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: She has a habit of getting on Dax's nerves.
- Big Brother Worship: Downplayed; despite constantly getting on each others' nerves, there are signs that Gwen does actually look up to Dax, with a handful of scenes showing her emulating his actions for herself.
- Break the Cutie: She goes through this after Mack, Pam, Delroy, Uncle Dan and the ducks all get caught by the Chef, becoming tearfully despondent thinking they would all, as well as Dax and herself, will be cooked.
- Cooldown Hug: Gwen attempts to give Dax one. Dax is... less than receptive.Gwen: You look mad...you need a hug! (opens her wings)
Dax: No, Gwen, I don't need a hug. (Gwen proceeds anyway, but he holds her back with his foot) No! I said no hug!
Gwen: Don't fight it! It'll make you feel better!
(she manages to hug him)
Dax: Can you let go now?
Gwen: Do you feel better?
Dax: No.
Gwen: (hugs him tighter) Then it hasn't kicked in yet. - Copycat Mockery: Gwen mockingly repeats Dax when he welcomes Kim to the pond.
- Flying Flightless Bird: Gwen is fully capable of flight despite being a duckling. Later in the film, the domestic ducks are shown fully capable of flying on a long distance trip to Jamaica, despite domesticated ducks mostly having their flight ability cut down to a few feet off the ground.
- Improperly Paranoid: She starts out as this, due to Mack's bedtime stories. She initially believes Kim's flock are a bunch of "psycho killers".
- I'm Taking Him Home with Me!: The final scene shows Gwen trying to convince Pam to let her take a crocodile she named "Toothpick" back home with them.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: Gwen uses a very exaggerated version to convince Uncle Dan to join the migration, in a Fish Eyes fashion. She, Dax, the penguins and Mack do the same at the very end when he refuses to go to the South Pole just to bring some penguins home.
- Shipper on Deck: Gwen is one for Dax and Kim; when Kim's flock departs from the pond, Gwen tells the despondent Dax, "I'm so sorry you can't have babies with her."
Uncle Dan
- Voiced by: Danny DeVito
- Big Eater: Uncle Dan will leap at anything edible.
- Grumpy Old Man: Uncle Dan is the oldest of the family, and holds a deeply negative world view.
- Irony: While stuck on a crane, Uncle Dan admits that he doesn't like heights.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Uncle Dan is a grumpy old duck, but he is genuinely fond of Gwen.
Others
Kim
- Voiced by: Isabela Merced
- Bait-and-Switch: Dax calls Gwen (who is trying to drag him away from Kim's flock) a "feathery wart" at the same time as he bumps into Kim. Kim initially acts like she thinks Dax insulted her... but quickly assures him that she's just kidding.
- Puppy Love: Implied to be the case with her and Dax. Kim is quick to invite Dax and his family to join her flock on their migration. She hugs him when they reunite in Jamaica, and they even salsa dance together.
- Satellite Love Interest: She doesn't have much of a personality or character other than being a girl Dax has a crush on.
Erin and Harry
- Voiced by: Carol Kane (Erin)
- Black Comedy: Erin messes with Mack by going back-and-forth on whether or not she wants to eat Dax and Gwen.
- Feathered Fiend: Erin the heron and her husband Harry is presented at first as Affably Evil and slightly deranged. They are implied to be about to eat the Mallards, even giving them a "bed" of an old skillet. This is subverted, however; the skillet was to protect them from a catfish in their flooded home, which almost eats Dax and Gwen until it is caught by Erin, who is shown to be really friendly, if somewhat odd.
- Retired Badass: Erin claims that Harry was quite the predator in his youth. But in the present, he simply spends his days sitting and staring into space.
- The Speechless: Harry doesn't speak, instead simply groaning.
Chump
- Voiced by: Awkwafina
- Animal Jingoism: Chump initially shows disdain toward the Mallards, resenting the fact that ducks are often fed by humans.
- Berserk Button: Her own name is this, oddly enough, as she gets angry whenever Mack addresses her as such.
- Gale-Force Sound: When Chump first makes her presence known, she yells loud enough to create a powerful gust of wind.
- Handicapped Badass: Chump is missing a foot, but is also the tough-as-nails leader of her flock.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Chump may be hostile to the Mallards at first, but she is more than willing to help both them and Delroy. She even sees off the Mallards with a heartfelt "I love you".
- Made of Iron: Gets run over by two buses and a motorized scooter in less than ten seconds, all Played for Laughs. She's completely ok afterwards.
- Mathematician's Answer: When one scene has the Mallards wonder what Duck à l'Orange is, Chump tells them "It's you, with l'Orange on top".
- Mister Big: Chump is the smallest pigeon in her flock, but also their unquestioned leader.
- Unfortunate Names: Whenever Mack addresses her by name, she quickly gets angry.
Delroy
- Voiced by: Keegan-Michael Key
- I Just Want to Be Free: He's spent years trapped in a cage too small for him, and longs to return to Jamaica.
- Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: Has this when rebelling against the Chef with Uncle Dan and the other ducks by pelting fruits and vegetables at him, and just before shooting a squash at the Chef with Uncle Dan’s help.Delroy: Eat this.
The Chef
A chef who caged Delroy, and targets the Mallards.
- Animal Motifs: Both his jacket and private chopper have tiger symbols.
- Bad Boss: In his introductory scene, the Chef tastes one of his subordinates' dishes (as in, a tiny drop of the sauce), and flings it against the wall. From the terror his subordinates show, this isn't the first time.
- Big Bad: Serves as the main antagonist of the film, as he's trying to capture the Mallard family to turn them into Duck a l'Orange.
- Evil Chef: The Chef is an arrogant, vindictive jerkass who bullies his subordinates for not meeting his standards, is dismissive towards his suppliers, neglects his illegally obtained pet macaw and spends the second half of the film hunting down the Mallards for slighting his pride.
- Expy: He's very much like Captain Ahab.
- No Name Given: The Evil Chef's name is never said onscreen, though since the viewpoint characters are birds, it's quite justified.
- Rich Bastard: He's rich enough to own a personalised helicopter - and is an arrogant, vindictive jerkass who bullies his subordinates, is dismissive towards his suppliers (who treat him with politeness), neglects his illegally-obtained pet macaw.
- The Speechless: He never speaks, only yelling, growling and snarling as he chases the Mallards.
- Super-Persistent Predator: The Chef, considering the effort and resources he puts into reclaiming a particular flock of ducks rather than buying some more, is very much this. It's all-but stated that he's motivated by personal revenge against the Mallards.
- Uncertain Doom: He is last seen tangled up in his own net, and dangling out of his now pilotless helicopter. Whether he survived this experience or not is up in the air.
- Villainy-Free Villain: Downplayed - whilst it could be argued he is simply doing his job, he is guilty of animal neglect (keeping Delroy in a barren cage that is way too small for him) and is all-but-stated to have obtained Delroy illegally, making him party to animal trafficking. He is also a Jerkass to those around him, bullying his subordinates (who are all clearly terrified of him) for not meeting his standards, being dismissive to Earl and Mae (the farmers who provide him with domesticated ducks) who treat him politely and more or less tormenting the Mallard family when he has them in his grasp, including pinning Dax when trying to capture him.
GooGoo
- Voiced by: David Mitchell
- Accessory-Wearing Cartoon Animal: He wears a vest.
- New-Age Retro Hippie: He has shades of this; his debut scene has him leading his flock in a yoga session.
- Sheep in Sheep's Clothing: He's introduced in a somewhat sinister light. Nope - he's actually a nice, if kooky guy and is horrified when he realises the truth.
