Surf's Up
Disciplines
Screenwriting
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Surf’s Up is an animated comedy about a small-town penguin from Shiverpool, Antarctica named Cody Maverick. The story follows Cody as he travels to Pen Gu Island to compete in the “Big Z Memorial,” a surfing competition named after his lifelong idol. Through a twist of events, Cody befriends the very man he idolized and everything Big Z knows about surfing. He goes on to choose family and friendship over victory, validating the true meaning behind surfing. The documentary style, the references to modern media, the humor between characters, and the story itself all combine to make a great film, far beyond its current recognition. The film is shot in a documentary style in order to promote viewers’ connection to the atmosphere and story. The penguins have their own version of our “ESPN” and televise the events on it. The characters create and build on great relationships with one another, making their interactions memorable and enjoyable. Lastly, the story itself is the typical underdog story, one few viewers can detest. Because of these features within Surf’s Up, the movie transcended its placement as a children’s movie and became a great film for any audience.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anna Weinstein
Surf's Up
Surf’s Up is an animated comedy about a small-town penguin from Shiverpool, Antarctica named Cody Maverick. The story follows Cody as he travels to Pen Gu Island to compete in the “Big Z Memorial,” a surfing competition named after his lifelong idol. Through a twist of events, Cody befriends the very man he idolized and everything Big Z knows about surfing. He goes on to choose family and friendship over victory, validating the true meaning behind surfing. The documentary style, the references to modern media, the humor between characters, and the story itself all combine to make a great film, far beyond its current recognition. The film is shot in a documentary style in order to promote viewers’ connection to the atmosphere and story. The penguins have their own version of our “ESPN” and televise the events on it. The characters create and build on great relationships with one another, making their interactions memorable and enjoyable. Lastly, the story itself is the typical underdog story, one few viewers can detest. Because of these features within Surf’s Up, the movie transcended its placement as a children’s movie and became a great film for any audience.