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

Santa: I see no penguins here whose wings merely sputter. Tonight it was courage that flew yours beyond others. Time to fly, son.

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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 Dances with Wolves (1990)

User Reviews

When you're tired of the same hum-drum holiday special.

I remembered when I was seven, I picked out a video at the rental store that was different and funny...When I was halfway through the tape, I was rolling on the floor laughing my butt off...It was funny because it featured a hero with a dream (Opus), which was ironic that he wishes to fly because he is a penguin.

Anyway...This movie is one of the greatest of off-beat holiday specials...You'll have to see for yourself...