Original film | I ♡ Arlo
- Awesome Art: The musical scenes have some surprisingly fluid animation.
- Awesome Music: Has its own page.
- Big-Lipped Alligator Momentnote : The cow and cat making out.
- Ensemble Dark Horse: Alia has been getting a lot of attention, mostly due to her hilarious Drives Like Crazy personality, endearing design, and the fact that she's voiced by Haley Tju (for context, the voice of Marcy from Amphibia, who, herself is THAT show's Ensemble Dark Horse, if not its Breakout Character). The folks at Netflix seemed to have noticed, as it has been confirmed that she will get the chance to sing in the series.
- Genius Bonus: The spilling water from the pipes in the sewer Arlo is carried through during the BSoD Song are the same colors that would normally be found on a bisexual flag.
- Harsher in Hindsight:
- Arlo leaving the swamp becomes this in the Season 1 finale of the show; when he left, this angered a creature called the Bog Lady who claimed to be his friend and gave him everything he wanted his whole life. Thus, she casts a spell on the swamp which turns it into a dark vineyard and begins carrying out a plot to lure Arlo to her so she can get him to stay forever.
- Also in "More More More", Arlo says, "If I had a lot of friends, I would never think of goin' away." Becomes more poignant with the Bog Lady, who reveals she did not want Arlo to leave at all.
- He Really Can Act:
- Many were impressed with the voice-acting/singing ability of Mary Lambert as Bertie.
- BIG TIME for Michael J. Woodard as Arlo, given his love for music and singing, helped that he's voiced by a singer himself. Even his frequent use of Melismatic Vocals takes the cake.
- Ansel is also voiced by Vincent Rodriguez III, a professional singer and dancer. The latter aforementioned skill is best shown in the "Better Life" number.
- LGBT Fanbase: The film has garnered such a Fanbase for featuring several characters who are queer-coded such as Furlecia, as well as Family of Choice being a prominent theme that's particularly popular with queer audiences. The movie also has several voice actors who are of the LGBT community (Mary Lambert in particular, being a lesbian) and one of scenes focuses on the Met Gala, which is a popular event for LGBT people.
- One True Pairing: In terms of canon characters, Arlo and Alia (oftentimes referred to as Arlia).
- Signature Scene:
- The "Beyond These Walls" and "Follow Me Home" sequences, especially the latter.
- The montage of Arlo and his crew exploring New York City.
- Arlo and the gang restoring Seaside by the Seashore in the end.
- The final scene with Arlo and Bertie on the beach.
- Signature Song: "Beyond These Walls", sung by Arlo about his desire to see New York, can be considered the movie's main theme. Also "Follow Me Home", which can be seen as a theme for Bertie.
- Spoiled by the Format: Arlo spends a long journey from the swamp to New York City and finally reunites with Ansel while there is still about a half hour left in the movie. You know there's a lot more to come once that happens, especially Ansel rudely turning Arlo away from him and something really big about him which he's hiding.
- Trans Audience Interpretation: Ansel's resentment towards his true form, paranoia at being found out, and desire to fit in with others is interpreted as him being a trans man by some fans.
- Ugly Cute: Arlo. Despite being a half-alligator half human hybrid, he looks adorable.
