The Penguin's New Groove (ペンギンと皇帝のグルーヴ in Japan and Le Pingouin et le Mimétisme in Canada) is a Japanese-Canadian animated film released on November 29, 2004, by Shochiku in Japan and Paramount Pictures in Canada, which was dubbed by Ocean Productions in Vancouver. It was made to cash-in on the popularity of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, which was released later that year.
An international dubbing version was released on March 24, 2006, and was dubbed by international dubbing studios: Álamo in São Paulo, SDI Media in Finland, and Etcétera Group in Caracas. Animation production was split between Mook Animation in Inagi, Tokyo, and Tatsunoko Production in Musashino, Tokyo. The film features the remastered animation style of Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost. And it was directed by the directors of Beauty and the Beast, Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost, The Emperor's New Groove, and Dennis the Menace: Cruise Control, and produced by the producers of Recess: School's Out.
The Penguin's New Groove was released on YouTube on December 4, 2008, and it was re-released on DVD and Blu-ray on May 27, 2014. It was also re-released via video on demand and on Paramount+ on March 4, 2021, for a new release. And it was released on VHS and DVD on May 13, 2006, exclusively in Canada.
Film synopsis:
Believing it to be a sign, the Inventor's Daughter, Nita, and her male seal named Sydney consult Inno Fullstand, the wisest and brainy shaman of the tribes who based on Tanana from Brother Bear. By communicating with the Spirits, where Koda pursues a polar bear in revenge for a fight and takes care of the penguin named Nori. In the course of the wonderful adventure that follows, Inno grants Nita the ability to communicate with Koda and the real wild dog named Kenai, an American Eskimo. They both go to Coney Island to meet up with Nita and Sydney to defend themselves against a despotic emperor and also help Papyrus, his brother, Sans, his friend, Frisk, and his annoying dog from the new member of the Royal Guard.
Voice cast:
- Matthew Lillard as Koda
- Carlo Bonomi as Nori and Sydney
- Paige O'Hara as Nita
- Whoopi Goldberg as Inno Fullstand
- David Cross as Papyrus
- David Bowie as Sans
- Pamela Adlon as Frisk
- Scott Innes as Annoying Dog
- Diane Keaton as Frisk
- David Hasselhoff as the Emperor
- Lee Tockar as Two-Headed Turkey
- Frank Welker as Kenai
- C. Ernst Harth as Joshua
- Richard Newman as Mr. Jay
- Tabitha St. Germain as Abby Harper
- Carlos Alazraqui as Beau
- Scott McNeil as the Royal Guard
- Shia LaBeouf as the Seagulls
