Memphis is one of the two overarching protagonists (alongside Norma Jean) of the 2006 film Happy Feet and a minor character of its 2011 sequel Happy Feet Two. He is Norma Jean's husband, Mumble's father, Gloria's father-in-law, Erik's grandfather, and Maurice's best friend. His heart-song is "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.
He is voiced by Hugh Jackman who also voiced Roddy St. James in Flushed Away. Bunnymund in Rise of the Guardians and Sir Lionel Frost in Missing Link, and also portrayed Wolverine in the X-Men films, his MCU counterpart in Deadpool & Wolverine, Gabriel Van Helsing in the 2004 film of the same name, Charlie Kenton in Real Steel, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Keller Dover in Prisoners and P. T. Barnum in The Greastest Showman.
Biography[]
Happy Feet[]
Memphis is first seen from nowhere when he is singing his heart-song "Heartbreak Hotel". After mating, he and Norma Jean had an egg. When the females went to find food, the males were in charge of watching over the eggs and protecting them from the harsh wind storm approaching. Lonely and cold, the only thing to help Memphis get past the storm was to think of his wife and dancing. However, this caused him to drop the egg, sending it tumbling in the snow. He quickly retrieved it, hoping nothing happened.
After the winter, Memphis was worried when his egg did not hatch when the other penguins' were. His best friend, Maurice, came by with his daughter, Gloria, to see what happened. Gloria taps on the egg and hears a response from inside. Two feet suddenly break from the egg and as they begin to walk off down a snow bank, Gloria playfully addresses the egg as "Mr. Mumble" thus naming him when he hatches.
Memphis was not supportive of Mumble's dancing capabilities, saying that it "just ain't penguin". What concerned Memphis even more, was the way he oddly moved the feet and the fact that he could not sing, and therefore had no heart-song. Memphis even resorted to picking the Elders over his family when things got rough with the food shortage.
After Mumble grows up, Memphis is later seen when Noah decides to banish Mumble. Memphis tries to convince his to change his ways so he wouldn't be banished, but Mumble couldn't change himself, as he is who he is. Then, Memphis couldn't do anything instead of accepting his son's banishment. This led Memphis into a state of depression.
After Mumble returned from the zoo, he asked his dad to dance so he would regain his joy. Memphis initially hesitated, but after he tried, he ended up liking the dance. After that, Memphis completely supported Mumble's dancing and joins into group dancing willingly. He joined his son in dancing for the humans, and contributed to the return of the fish.
In the end, Memphis is seen dancing with Norma Jean and all the other Emperor Penguins.
Happy Feet Two[]
Memphis makes a brief cameo alongside Norma Jean informing Noah that there is no way out the Doomberg. However, they later gets free along with all the other penguins.
Personality[]
Due to his son Mumble being different, Memphis was very embarrassed which led him to have somewhat of a prejudice towards his own son. He tried to stifle it, shushing Mumble or stopping him from dancing around others. He tried to live like a normal penguin, and wanted the same to his Mumble, saying that his kind of dancing isn't what a normal penguin do. Memphis was also embarrassed by the fact that Mumble lacks a heart-song. He insisted in making Mumble have strong muscles in his throat to enable him to sing, and he did not wanted Mumble to being different. Memphis even resorted picking the Elders over his family when things got rough with the food shortage. The reason for his prejudice is because he thought Mumble's differences were the fact that he dropped Mumble out when he was an egg.
However, Memphis has a good heart, and he only wanted the safety and the well-being of his son. Memphis even went to a state of depression after Mumble's banishment, even stating to Mumble when he returns that he doesn't possesses music in his soul. He was also a dedicated and caring father, who only wants to be with his family. After he accidentally dropped Mumble out, he quickly went to retrieve it, and hopped nothing happened.
Memphis can also be somewhat lonely (so much that his heart-song is "Heartbreak Hotel"). After Norma Jean went with the other females to fishing season, the only Memphis was able to think of was his wife, which even led him to distraction, making his egg drops out. Similarly, Memphis possesses a enormous love for his wife, Norma Jean, that he did not wanted to upset her, hiding from her the fact that he dropped Mumble out as an egg. He only revealed it to her during Noah's attempt to banish Mumble. Despite his love for her, Memphis and Norma Jean had their moments arguments, as seen when Norma Jean stated that he would like if Mumble was different, Memphis coldly responded that Mumble would not be different, showing somewhat of selfishness from Memphis' part. However, Memphis still loved his wife and son more than everything.
Memphis also had a high degree of respect towards Noah (probably because his the leader of the emperor penguins, a occupation superior to Memphis). His respect in seen at Mumble's graduation, when Norma Jean disrespected Noah from stopping Mumble from graduating, Memphis angrily said her name, in an intention to make her respect. His respect is also shown when Noah banished Mumble, and Memphis argued with Mumble to change his way, respecting Noah's opinion about dance more than his own son's likes.
Despite this, Memphis would always support his son. When Viola stated Mumble could never meet a mate if he didn't have a heart-song, Memphis desperately asked Viola if they could do something to Mumble. Also, when Norma Jean asked Memphis to dance with son, Memphis willingly tried it, ending up liking the dance. After that, he lost all his prejudice towards Mumble's dance and selflessly danced with him after the humans arrived in a helicopter, even stating "It's better you start dancing now!", and the two started dancing together.
Memphis was also a bit of xenophobic, as seen when he said Mumble to waive his new friends, Ramón, Nestor, Lombardo, Rinaldo and Raul, as Memphis thought of them as abnormal due to them liking his dancing. However, this could also be because at Mumble's graduation, he warned his son to not talk to strangers, and that was exactly what he did after his leopard seal chase (talked to five Adélie penguins he did not know yet).
Memphis also seems to possesses a sense of right and wrong. This can be seen when he bluntly told Mumble he wouldn't go anywhere until he finishes school. However, this can be strained due to his will of making Mumble normal, as seen when he wanted him to change or he would be banished, not understanding that Mumble was who he was.
Appearance[]
Memphis looks like every other Emperor Penguin. He has somewhat broader shoulders, and—when dancing—can be differentiated by his Elvis Presley-like dance moves. He also sings like his heart-song's writer, with a deep voice. He waddles with confidence.
Relationships[]
Norma Jean[]
Coming soon!
Mumble[]
Coming soon!
Maurice[]
Coming soon!
Noah the Elder[]
Coming soon!
Gloria[]
Coming soon!
Ramón, Nestor, Lombardo, Rinaldo and Raul[]
Coming soon!
Quotes[]
| “ | Memphis: What you doing there, boy? Mumble: I'm happy, Pa. Memphis: What you doing with your feet? Mumble: They're happy too. Memphis: I wouldn't do that around folks, son. Memphis: Why not? Memphis: Well, it just ain't penguin, okay? Mumble: Okay. Memphis: Yeah. Hey, come on over here. Get under here. Get warm. Watch the beak. Watch the beak... Beak! The beak. Okay, good boy. |
„ |
| ~ Memphis telling his son not to dance. |
| “ | Memphis: So when you see your mama... Mumble: I stand perfectly still. Memphis: You got it. Mumble: But how will i know which one's my mama? Memphis: Oh, you'll know. She's got a wiggle in her walk and a giggle in her talk. And when she sings, it darn near breaks your heart. |
„ |
| ~ Memphis describing to Mumble what his mom is like. |
| “ | Mumble: Hey, you know what? I can leave school. I can go to work. The three of us. Memphis: Whoa, little fella. You ain't going nowhere till you got yourself and education. You get them singing muscles big and strong, you got that? Mumble: I'll try, Pa. Memphis: You bet you will. The word "triumph" starts with "try", and it ends with...? Mumble: "Umph". Memphis: That's right. A great big "umph". I'm goign fishing. |
„ |
| ~ Memphis motivating his son to study. |
Trivia[]
- He is named after the Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis lived.
- In the draft, Memphis is called Wishful.
- He is voiced by Hugh Jackman who is best known for his portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men film series. Jackman did an Elvis Presley impersonation for both the speaking and singing parts.
- He is voiced by Christopher Corey Smith in the video game. Smith also voiced Spandam in One Piece and Wayzz in Miraculous Ladybug.
- In the Japanese dub from the movie, he is voiced by Masaki Terasoma.
Gallery[]
Images[]
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