A Wish for Wings That Work (TV 1991)

Opus the Penguin struggles to achieve his seemingly impossible dream to be able to fly.

Director:

Skip Jones

Writers:

Berkeley Breathed, Berkeley Breathed (book)

Stars:

Michael Bell, Joe Alaskey, John Byner

Cast

Cast overview:
Michael Bell	...	Opus (voice)
Joe Alaskey	...	Truffles / The Ducks (voice)
John Byner	...	Bill the Cat (voice)
Tress MacNeille	...	The Chicken (voice)
Andrew Hill Newman	...	Santa (voice)
Robin Williams	...	The Kiwi (voice) (as Sudy Nim)
Alexaundria Simmons	...	Ronald-Ann (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Santa Claus (voice)

Storyline

Opus the Penguin, amoung his other problems, always felt inadequate by his being "aerodynamicly impaired". Together, with Bill the Cat he tries doggedly to overcome that weakness, all without success. It is only on Christmas Eve that Opus learns what worth his natural abilities are.

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Plot Keywords:

penguin | christmas | cat | satire | based on comic | 

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1991 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Television, Universal Cartoon Studios, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the production of Hook, executive producer Steven Spielberg decided to utilize lead actors Robin Williams (The Kiwi) and Dustin Hoffman (The Cockroach) to record (in what little time he had) their voice-over work in a small studio. This is why both A-list stars were available for this animated special. It is also the reason why the quality of their voice recordings isn't as clear as the rest of the cast.

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Goofs

The cockpit window in the Lost Horizon dream doesn't match the cockpit window that's inside Opus's cockpit.

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Quotes

Truffles: You would not see ME trying to fly.
Opus: I hope not. You're a pig.
Truffles: Rhinocerous.
Opus: Pig.
Truffles: Rhinocerous.
Opus: Pig. P-O-R-K. You know, the other white meat?

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, we see Truffles yelling up at Opus "Don't get cocky up there!" before Opus' prothstetic buttocks falls on him.

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Connections

Spoofs A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

User Reviews

Simply hilarious but also tender and joyous

Having never been all that enthralled with Bloom County, I watched this with some doubt-for all of about two minutes and then I was hooked. What I saw was at one and the same time funny and heart-wrenching. There are a few running gags (watch the carolers particularly) and there is a very effective use of visual imagery on the fringes. Like with Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, invariably when I watch this again, I see some little bit I've missed. Very effective use of music to set the appropriate mood throughout. And the ending is perfect! Highest Recommendation.