Wilbur (The Rescuers)

This article is about the character Wilbur from The Rescuers Down Under. For other characters, see Wilbur.

Wilbur
Background information
Feature films	The Rescuers Down Under
Shows	House of Mouse
Animators	Nik Ranieri James Baxter Aaron Blaise Geefwee Boedoe
Voice	John Candy
Inspiration	Wilbur Wright
Character information
Other names	Mr. Wilbur Mr. Albatross
Occupation	Albatross airliner
Home	New York City
Likes	Singing, dancing, listening to music, doing cannonballs, women, fun, the idea of childrens' freedom to do as they please
Dislikes	Back pain, hospitals, vaccinations, surgeries, sitting on Marahute's eggs, snowstorms, the idea of children getting abducted or confined
Family information
Other relatives	Orville (brother)

Wilbur is a supporting character of Disney's 1990 feature film The Rescuers Down Under. He is the brother of Orville from the first film.

Appearances

The Rescuers Down Under

In the movie, when Bernard and Miss Bianca go to find Orville to get a flight to Australia to rescue Cody who has been kidnapped by Percival C. McLeach, they realize Orville no longer runs the Albatross Airlines. Instead, his brother Wilbur has taken over. Bernard and Bianca find Wilbur dancing to some rather loud music that Bernard has to stop in order to get Wilbur's attention. When Wilbur meets Miss Bianca he tells her that Orville told him all about her. Bernard asks Wilbur to give them a flight that night, but Wilbur refuses because of the snowstorm outside. However, when they inform him that a kidnapped child is at stake, Wilbur quickly changes his mind and decides to fly them to Australia after all. His takeoff is so fast and clumsy it causes a car accident below on the streets. On the way, they make connections with an airliner plane also en route to Australia and stow away in the plane's cargo holder. When the plane arrives at Sydney, Wilbur flies the mice out to a little outback airport where a kangaroo mouse named Jake works.

When Wilbur radios into Jake about landing, Jake tells Wilbur to turn around and land somewhere because the runway isn't big enough for a bird his size. Wilbur refuses this and decides to try and land on the runway anyway. When Wilbur lands, Jake helps Bernard and Bianca off the bird. Wilbur throws his back out and Jake helps get Wilbur to get to a mouse-run hospital, where Bernard, Bianca, and Jake tell Wilbur they'll come back for him as soon as they find Cody. At the hospital, the doctor has Wilbur undergo several odd operations, including shooting a rifle loaded with tranquilizers at him. The next morning, the nurse mice put Wilbur's head in a vice and are preparing to use a chainsaw, which they refer to as the "epidermal tissue disruptor", on him, causing Wilbur to panic. He tries to escape but the Nurse Mice pull him back inside and he lies flat on his back on top of the doctor. Wilbur feels his back is now locked in place and he exits, flying off to find Bernard, Bianca, and Jake. While flying Wilbur notices some female birds and asks them if they've seen any mice wandering down there, but the birds ignore him and fly off. Soon, Wilbur arrives where Bernard is hiding Marahute's eggs. Bernard orders him to sit on Marahute's eggs to keep them warm while he goes to rescue Cody, Bianca, Jake, and Marahute from the evil poacher, Percival C. McLeach.

At the end of the film, although only heard, Wilbur is still sitting on the eggs and calling for Bernard and Bianca, but just as he is about to fly away, the eggs hatch and Wilbur finds out that one of Marahute's babies is cute, and when he was cooing, the eaglet bites him, causing Wilbur to scream in pain as the credits to the movie roll.

House of Mouse

Wilbur made a few cameo appearances in the episode "Dining Goofy". It should also be noted that this show actually marked the only time both Albatross brothers were actually seen together.

Trivia

• Since The Rescuers Down Under was the only sequel in the series, it's unknown what happens to Wilbur after the babies hatch at the end of the film. It's possible he became the new mate of Marahute since she lost her first mate, but this is doubtful since Wilbur and his brother Orville are both based on the Wright Brothers, who in real life never married or had children. Hopefully, Bernard and Bianca, who were seen at the end of the movie riding Marahute, eventually remembered Wilbur and returned to him so he could take them back to New York City, but the rest afterward remains unknown.
  • Storyboards for an unused extension to the film's ending (seen in the book Paper Dreams: The Art & Artists of Disney Storyboards), in which Bernard and Bianca ride off on Wilbur after their wedding, suggest that they evidently did return to him.
• Like his brother, Orville, Wilbur is named after Wilbur Wright of the Wright brothers.
• Although Wilbur and Orville look alike (since they're brothers), you can tell the difference between the looks of the two albatross brothers by the scarf color; Wilbur's scarf is aqua-colored, while Orville's scarf is lavender-colored.
• Interestingly, his main catchphrase, 'Cowabunga!' is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' main catchphrase as well.
• Just before he jumps off the plane when they reach Sydney, Australia, he utters "Tie your kangaroos down, sports fans". This could have likely been a reference to hit song "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" by former Australian pop star and convicted sex offender, Rolf Harris.
• Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, and Jim Belushi were considered for the role of Wilbur.

v - e - d

Media The Rescuers (Soundtrack/Video) • The Rescuers Down Under (Soundtrack/Video) • House of Mouse • The Lost Chords: The Rescuers Disney Parks Parades: Disney's Party Express Minnie's Tiara of Dreams Fireworks: Wondrous Journeys Characters The Rescuers: Bernard • Miss Bianca • Chairmouse • Rufus • Penny • Madame Medusa • Mr. Snoops • Orville • Brutus and Nero • Ellie Mae • Luke • Evinrude • Swamp Folk The Rescuers Down Under: Jake • Cody • Cody's Mother • Faloo • Marahute • Percival C. McLeach • Joanna • Sparky • Wilbur • Dr. Mouse • Frank • Krebbs • Red • Baitmouse • Crocodiles Deleted characters: • Louis • Cruella De Vil Objects Penny's Teddy Bear • Devil's Eye • McLeach's Bushwacker Locations New Orleans • Devil's Bayou • New York City • Morningside Orphanage • Medusa's Pawn Shop • The Cave of Devil's Bayou • Australia • Abandoned Opal Mine • Rescue Aid Society • Colorado Songs The Journey • Rescue Aid Society • Tomorrow Is Another Day • Someone's Waiting for You • For Penny's a Jolly Good Fellow