The Pebble and the Penguin

G

Released Apr 11, 1995

1 hr. 14 min.

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

List

31%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this animated tale set in the South Pole, bashful, awkward penguin Hubie (Martin Short) pines for the beautiful Marina (Annie Golden), but the bullying Drake (Tim Curry) also has an eye on her. When Hubie finds an impressive pebble to present to Marina, Drake causes Hubie to get caught in a fishing net and sent off far from his native beach. With the help of his energetic new friend, Rocko (James Belushi), Hubie sets off on a treacherous trip back home to win the heart of his beloved.

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sarah e

One of the best movies of my childhood

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/24

Full Review

Jack O

The Pebble and the Penguin is one of the first Don Bluth movies I've ever seen, that is to say when I was a kid I'm in love with it already and I remember finding it to be awesome and I love the songs. And after 5 years ago I realise that something has gone off here. Okay, let me get to this: I still love this movie to death but now it's the time to get to the technical's here. Whilst I was watching it I just realise that the animation is sloppy. I mean, there's no way that I see animation can be crap as this! I mean, *look at it!* It's completely cheap looking from bottom and to the top even the backgrounds from behind can be cheap looking as this! No, no, no! Take The Swan Princess for example, it could get better on widescreen without them. Now with the sloppy animation out of the way, now let's get to something that is impressive. Before I saw the animation, I recognize the voices who starred in this animated flick. Martin Short is the voice of Hubie who is a clumsy and shy penguin who loves Marina. James Belushi voices Rocko who is a miserable penguin who is friends with Hubie and wants to fly. I checked out some of his films such as Red Heat, The Principal, About Last Night and K-9. And then you have Tim Curry as Drake, an evil penguin who wants to marry Marina and want her to be his wife. So that's all the technical's here. So now I'll get to everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING about The Pebble and the Penguin. I really, really love all scenes in the film despite crappy animation and the killer whale chase is gotta be one of the best chase sequences I've ever seen. When I was a kid, it is awesome. I really enjoyed the songs and one of them is by Barry Manilow. I love the opening song where all the penguins have to fall in love with each other by finding a pebble and giving them to them to show that they care and fall in love. However, I prefer the song from the end credits which is sung by Barry Manilow and Sheena Easton. Heeeeeeey, there's a song that Hubie sung about he's got himself a friend and the funniest part about it is that Nostalgia Critic screaming his head off complaining about it. "Oh, god, no, NO NO no, not another one!" "Hey, Rocko! I guess this means we've put our differences on ice?" "Alright, I'll take that joke, I'll even laugh at it - ha ha ha! - but please, NOT ANOTHER ONE!" (Screaming) "Please, no more! I'm done! I'm done with these f**king songs, there're like a bajillion of them in this movie! Can you just SAY things? Can you just speak for one minute?!" Not to mention that he made me laugh when he's reviewing A Troll in Central Park. Oh, I haven't forgot about Hubie making a funny noise which made me laugh as a kid. So, for a Don Bluth fan, why is this forgotten? Well, like I said, the animation is crap, it's unfinished, a generic story and the studio of Don Bluth is bankrupt before this film is released. Yeah, I can see the problem but what can I say? It's not that bad. I mean, like a couple of years back I realise that A Troll in Central Park is a massive ginormous bomb and that is really upsetting. However The Pebble and the Penguin did much better but still a bomb, not as bad as Troll but still a box office bomb. But whatever, it is what it is, the last film from the Don Bluth company and I enjoyed every second of this despite sloppy animation. I actually enjoyed the song which Tim Curry sings "Don't Make Me Laugh" and it is catchy but when he sings "Don't Make Me Laugh" this movie did make me laugh.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

Full Review

Ethan M

Grew up watching this movie and still love it. The music is great and I love the story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/15/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 14 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Featuring music written and sung by Barry Manilow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/23

Full Review

Bria L

It was mediocre at first, the more i watched, the more i got into it. An underrated don bluth film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/04/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 14 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Featuring music written by Barry Manilow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Don Bluth

Director

Gary Goldman

Director

Martin Short

Hubie

Annie Golden

Marina

Tim Curry

Drake

Kendall Cunningham

Timmy

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USA Today

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Louis Black

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

What bothered me most about The Pebble and the Penguin... was something that annoys me in a lot of children's animated features: color-coding.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Mat Brunet

AniMat's Review (YouTube)

I think it’s safe to say that this is not among Don Bluth’s greatest achievements. And yet, I’d also say that he’s done far worse than this film.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Richard Schertzer

ScreenAnarchy

The cast is whimsical and the animation is gorgeous for this splashy Don Bluth film.

Jun 30, 2023

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

The animation of the blue-green ice world of Hubie's home is quite impressive. Penguin is more a family movie than just a kiddie movie.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 22, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this animated tale set in the South Pole, bashful, awkward penguin Hubie (Martin Short) pines for the beautiful Marina (Annie Golden), but the bullying Drake (Tim Curry) also has an eye on her. When Hubie finds an impressive pebble to present to Marina, Drake causes Hubie to get caught in a fishing net and sent off far from his native beach. With the help of his energetic new friend, Rocko (James Belushi), Hubie sets off on a treacherous trip back home to win the heart of his beloved.

Director: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
Screenwriter: Rachel Koretsky, Steven Whitestone
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 11, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.9M

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