Killer whales in popular culture

Killer whales have appeared in several movies and many documentaries.[1]

Creatures by the name of "orca" or "orc" have appeared throughout the history of Western literature. In Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem Orlando Furioso, the orca (sometimes translated orc) was a sea-monster from whom the damsel Angelica was rescued by Orlando. This killer whale-like sea monster also appears in Michael Drayton's epic poem Polyolbion and in John Milton's Paradise Lost.

The animal was known to Herman Melville, who nonetheless already had his antagonist in the sperm whale in his work Moby-Dick, and it was not until the 1970s that it was seen as a monster.[2]

As late as the 1970s, killer whales were at times depicted negatively in fiction as ravenous predators whose behavior caused heroes to interfere to help a prey animal escape. The poorly received film Orca features the story of a male killer whale going on what appears to be a vengeful rampage after his pregnant mate is killed by humans; yet at the same time, the film shows the killer whale having the intelligence needed both for vengeance and at the film's end, seemingly for forgiveness.[2] In contrast, the 1974 Walt Disney produced motion picture The Island at the Top of the World portrayed killer whales as bloodthirsty hunters of the protagonists in one particularly brutal scene. In Jaws (1975), the name of the boat used to hunt the great white shark is the Orca, given the killer whale's status as a known predator of the shark. However, in the sequel Jaws 2, the shark's first victim is a killer whale, which was probably intended more as a Hollywood joke than an accurate portrayal of the eating habits of great white sharks. In Kamandi DC Comics Kamandi Vol 1 22/23,Kamandi is found by Ben Boxer and his two companions, and all of them learn of a fantastic society of dolphins in which humans are trained as "squires". But all is endangered by the attack of the Red Baron.In the next issue Kamandi and company go after the Red Baron, who has already killed Inspector Zeel's squire Ahab.The Red Baron's master is a talking Killer Whale.https://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Kamandi_Vol_1_22


In recent years, increased research and the animal's popularity in public venues has brought about a dramatic rehabilitation of the killer whale's image, much as the North American wolf's image has been changed. It is now widely seen as a respected predator posing little or no threat to humans. The Free Willy films (1993, 1995, 1997, 2010) present killer whales as victims of captivity, oil spills and poaching, and were influential in changing public attitudes to captive marine mammals. Following the success of the first of these, Free Willy, the movie's captive star Keiko was returned to the coast of his native Iceland.[3]

The Japanese anime series Damekko Doubutsu features a killer whale in a humorous and ironic context: unable to swim without a flotation device. The 2006 Australian animated children's film Happy Feet portrayed two male killer whales as both powerful and intelligent playful predators and also as victims of human-caused ecological disruptions in a heavily polluted hunting ground. One of the killer whales sports massive propeller scars on its back and shies away in fear from a large fishing vessel. The killer whale's behaviour was dramatically exaggerated, yet based on genuine behaviours such as spyhopping, iceberg tipping and kicking and tossing of prey.

The 1995 film The Pebble and the Penguin, the 1984 film Samson and Sally and the 2006 film Happy Feet both also featured killer whales as antagonists.

In Eight Below a killer whale carcass which was found by Max and the other dogs was guarded by a leopard seal.

Blackfish is a 2013 American documentary film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. It concerns Tilikum, an orca held by SeaWorld and the controversy over captive killer whales. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013, and was picked up by Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films for wider release. It was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary.[4]

A popular Internet video shows a killer whale appearing to jump on a group of kayakers. The event shown is a fake used in an advertisement for a sports drink.[5][6]

The Whale is a 2011 documentary film directed by Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, it tells the story of Luna, a killer whale (orca) living in Nootka Sound, Canada, who was separated from his pod at a young age.[7]

Killer Whales: Wolves of the Sea - BBC Documentary - Sir David Attenborough Published on Jul 20, 2015

Killer Whales: Wolves of the Sea, Journeys With Wildlife, BBC - Documentary

Throughout every ocean on earth. killer whales are the masters of the sea. Like wolves on land, these fearsome predators often hunt in packs.

English-speaking scientists most often use the term "killer whale", although the term "orca" is increasingly used. Killer whale advocates point out it has a long heritage. Indeed, the genus name Orcinus means "of the kingdom of the dead".

Killer whales are apex predators, meaning that they themselves have no natural predators. They are sometimes called the wolves of the sea, because they hunt in groups like wolf packs. Killer whales hunt varied prey including fish, cephalopods, mammals, sea birds and sea turtles. However, different populations or species tend to specialize and some can have a dramatic impact on certain prey species. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRWl77tK7Bg

The 2013 video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies features a performing killer whale being tried in court. The killer whale, which is referred to mostly as an orca, is defended by the titular character Phoenix Wright on the charge of killing its owner. In the second trial day the killer whale is cross-examined via telecast, although her testimony consists completely of whale noises. She is eventually proven innocent of all killings. Interesting, the episode seems to have the message that just because killer whales can't talk it doesn't mean they don't have feelings and a right to be heard as an undertone.

Killer Whale Attack ( Documentary ) Published on Jul 21, 2016

The killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and dolphins. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves, and even adult whales. Killer whales are apex predators, as there is no animal which preys on them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAaHUg0wSzo

References

  1. ↑ Day, Trevor (2007). Whalewatcher: a global guide to watching whales, dolphins and porpoises in the wild. Struik. p. 89. ISBN 1-77007-514-3. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  2. 1 2 Joseph Andriano (1999). Immortal monster: the mythological evolution of the fantastic beast in modern fiction and film. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 28–32. ISBN 0-313-30667-2. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  3. ↑ William F. Perrin; Bernd G. Würsig; J. G. M. Thewissen (2009). Encyclopedia of marine mammals. Academic Press. p. 908. ISBN 0-12-373553-X. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  4. ↑ Blackfish (film)
  5. ↑ "Grommo", Re: Killer Whale Lands On Kayak: Proof It's fake, YouTube, November 20, 2007. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  6. ↑ "Kayak Attack." Snopes.com. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  7. ↑ The Whale (2011 film)

"Documentary in 2014". BAFTA.org. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved February 27, 2017.

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