TOP FIVE MOST RENOWN ANIMAL PROTAGONISTS

Sometimes, a movie doesn't need a high-profile or an A-liste actor to make it commercially successful. Sometimes, all they need is a smart and witty animal to star their show and make it a big hit. We have seen a lot of Animal-related movies and most of them make us laugh and be inspired at the same time. So today, allow me to list down five of the most renown animal protagonists in movies. This entry, by the way , is listed subjectively and they are ranked based on the shows that I have already watched. Hope you enjoy it!

TOP FIVE MOST RENOWN ANIMAL PROTAGONISTS

TOP 5 MOST RENOWN ANIMAL PROTAGONIST
"THE CHIPMUNKS"
(ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS)

Chipmunks originally started as an animated singing group. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks : Alvin, Simon and Theodore. One of their greatest hits as a singing group is the famous Christmas song known as the Chipmunks Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) and in fact it won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. It was 1959 when the characters were adapted into their very first comic book and then their first Tv series entitled "The Alvin Show" (1961-62). It took two decades when they were once featured in another animated tv series known as the Alvin and the Chipmunk which run for seven years (1983 -1990) but what exactly took them back to the spotlight is their CGI Animated/Live action film series (2007-2010). In fact, a new installment is currently in production. Of course, aside from the Chipmunks, The Chippettes also deserve a credit. 

TOP 4 MOST RENOWN ANIMAL PROTAGONIST
"STUART LITTLE"
(STUART LITTLE)

Here comes another CGI Animated/Live action rodent who truly deserves a spot in this list. Stuart Little is generally a character based on the novel of the same name.  Stuart is basically an adopted son of Mr and Mrs Little and technically the younger brother of George (they are humans). Stuart is a friendly, innocent, shy, quiet, outgoing, well-mannered, brave, fun-loving, energetic, playful little mouse who is not afraid to be himself. He is very adventurous which place him sometimes in danger.  The film was well accepted by the critics and grew up to three major installments excluding an animated series. The character and the film was also adapted in different media franchises including video games. Other animal protagonists who deserves this spot includes Paulie (a parrot).

TOP 3 MOST RENOWN ANIMAL PROTAGONIST
"WILLY"
(FREE WILLY)

Willy is a male orca whale notably portrayed by Keiko The whale. The film Free Willy is well accepted by the critics and is undeniably commercially successful film series. It grew up to three different film series and one reboot. It was also adapted in an animated series. The first film in particular has become very iconic especially its famous climax which has been spoofed several times in popular culture. Due to its popularity, Warner Brothers put so much effort to find Keiko a better home and eventually led to the establishment of Free Willy-Keiko Foundation. Keiko , however, died in pneumonia but his character is indeed a legacy. Other characters who deserves a credit includes Flipper (flipper) who is also a whale.

TOP 2 MOST RENOWN ANIMAL PROTAGONIST
"BABE"
(BABE)

Babe is more than just a commercially successful film but also a multiawarded film. Basically, it tells a story of a pig who wants to become a sheepdog. It has received considerable acclaim from critics: it was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, winning Best Visual Effects. It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film. The film also end up with another commercially successful sequel. Babe is indeed a very iconic pig in history!

THE MOST RENOWN ANIMAL PROTAGONIST
"LASSIE"
(LASSIE)

Dogs are probably the most used animal protagonists in the movie but only few of them left a mark. Lassie is probably the most iconic of them all. Lassie is generally a collie dog who rescues two half-brothers who are lost and dying in the snow. It is very interesting to mention that Lassie first featured in an 1859 story and adapted into a novel-length in 1940 and then later into film in 1943. Since then, Lassie became a stage name. In 1954, the long-running, Emmy winning television series Lassie debuted, and, over the next 19 years, a succession of Pal(the dog who orginally played Lassie)'s descendants appeared on the series. The "Lassie" character has appeared in radio, television, film, toys, comic books, animated series, juvenile novels, and other media. Pal's descendants continue to play Lassie today. After the series ends in 1973, a second series was made (1980's) and then a Canadian Production launched another Lassie-inspired series. In 2005, a remake of the original Lassie Come Home movie was produced in the United Kingdom. Lassie continues to make personal appearances as well as marketing a line of pet food and a current pet care TV show, Lassie's Pet Vet on PBS stations in the United States. Oh and on top of that, Lassie is one of the few animals who received a star in Hollywood walk of fame. 

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Other notable animals who deserves a credit includes Beethoven (Beethoven), Marley (Marley and Me), Hachiko (Hachi), and more. 

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