Frankie is a character from the 2020 Disney+ original film The One and Only Ivan.
Background[]
Frankie is a neurotic sea lion (occasionally and erroneously referred to as a seal) who is one of the stars of the Big Top Mall. During his act, he would often balance a ball on his nose (an enrichment that pinnipeds use as toys at zoos, aquariums, or circuses) in which every time he performs on stage, his act would always be perfect when Frankie performs without dropping the ball. Compared to most animals living in their enclosures, Frankie lives in an enclosure whose tank is filled with water, making him unique amongst the other animals at the circus.
Role in the film[]
After Henrietta performs her act, Frankie is introduced at the beginning of the film where he becomes the next animal to appear on stage where he balances a ball on his nose without dropping it, impressing the audience, followed by Murphy being next. Later when Ruby the Baby Elephant becomes a new addition to the circus, Bob approaches Frankie who is practicing balancing his ball telling him that there is a new animal coming.
Frankie then notices Ruby's arrival from the Handley Brothers Circus to the Big Top Mall, alongside the other animals. He then questions Henrietta telling her if there is an animal replacing him, which the latter replies to him that he cannot be replaced, telling him that he has a unique talent. He then talks to Thelma who is on the basketball hoop seen on Frankie's tank, telling her that Ruby is the cutest elephant. The following night, Frankie sadly sits alone in his tank pushing his ball into the water as he mourns Stella's death, along with the other animals and the rest of the Big Top staff.
Furthermore, Frankie follows Ivan and the other animals as part of Ivan's plan to escape into the wild only to find out that the doors at the entrance to the Big Top Mall are locked, unable to escape. However, thanks to Ivan's strength, he breaks through the doors seeing trees from a distance, causing the other animals to escape. As the animals escape, Henrietta tells Frankie to keep up, telling him to hurry before the police arrives to bring the animals back to their enclosures. Frankie follows alongside the other animals into the "forest", followed by Ivan getting Murphy out of the road to safety just as the other animals temporarily enjoy their freedom in the woods, only to find out that this "forest" is an intersection. Mack brings all the escaped animals back into their enclosures.
The next day, Frankie realizes that the ball he usually plays with is still there and not misplaced, happy to have his ball back. The following day after the audience became impressed of Ivan's masterpiece, protesters arrive at the Big Top Mall, demanding all the animals to be free; Frankie, Henrietta, Murphy, and Thelma are taken away from the circus to be sent to a better home, followed by Ivan and Ruby being relocated at Zoo Atlanta.
Trivia[]
- Although Frankie is occasionally referred to as a seal despite being a sea lion, seals and sea lions and real life are completely different species in real life; sea lions have large flippers, and have visible ear flaps while seals have small flippers and lack visible ear flaps.
- Frankie's voice actor, Mike White, is the screenwriter for The One and Only Ivan.
- Coincidentally, Mike White also made a cameo portraying an incidental driver who notices Ivan and the animals escaping into the intersection.
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