Kangaroo emblems and popular culture
Encyclopedia
Kangaroo emblems and popular culture deals with how the kangaroo
has become a recognisable symbol of Australia
and the uses which have been made of the image and name of the kangaroo.
The kangaroo was considered a unique oddity when Captain Cook's
HMB Endeavour
arrived back in England in 1771 with a specimen on board. Over time it has come to symbolise Australia and Australian values.
Joseph Banks
, the naturalist on the Endeavour voyage, commissioned George Stubbs
to paint a portrait of the kangaroo specimen. When the official account of the voyage was published in 1773, it was illustrated with an engraving of Stubbs' kangaroo. From that time on, the kangaroo quickly came to symbolise the Australian continent, appearing in exhibitions, collections, art and printed works across Europe.
It took a long time for the kangaroo to achieve official recognition in Australia. Despite being a "declared noxious animal" because of its reputation for damaging crops and fences and competing with domestic animals for resources, the kangaroo finally achieved official recognition with its inclusion on Australia's coat of arms in 1908. The kangaroo is now popularly regarded as Australia’s unofficial animal emblem.
The kangaroo
has appeared on coin
s and emblem
s, been used in logo
s, architectural decoration
, the decorative arts and public art, been a mascot
and used in the naming of sport
s teams. Kangaroos also appear in books, television series, films, cartoons, games and songs.
coins.
.
It was the Federation architecture
, however, which brought native ornamentation into the mainstream, so that kangaroos began to be mass-produced as ornamentation on domestic houses in the large cities, as part of an Australiana movement and effort to create a uniquely Australian style. Examples of this decoration include the ornamental terracotta tile capping on residential roofs. Reproduction products using Kangaroos are still used today.
Kangaroo motifs have been used as a form of public art.
Notable examples include:
Shilling 1823. Another early example is the Garret salver. This item of Tasmanian
colonial silver incorporates a kangaroo, an emu and wattle branches in its design.
The kangaroo has continued to be incorporated into decorative designs by craftspeople and designers in Australia and elsewhere in the world. The Terence Lane kangaroo collection at the National Museum of Australia
consists of more than 150 objects and ephemera in a wide range of styles produced over a period of 150 years. The collection ranges from a one metre-high Doulton
ceramic kangaroo umbrella stand to small items of jewellery.
s, television
, song
s, toy
s and souvenir
s around the world.
) include the following:
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
has become a recognisable symbol of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the uses which have been made of the image and name of the kangaroo.
The kangaroo was considered a unique oddity when Captain Cook's
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
HMB Endeavour
HMS Endeavour
HMS Endeavour may refer to one of the following ships:In the Royal Navy:, a 36-gun ship purchased in 1652 and sold in 1656, a 4-gun bomb vessel purchased in 1694 and sold in 1696, a fire ship purchased in 1694 and sold in 1696, a storeship hoy purchased in 1694 and sold in 1705, a storeship...
arrived back in England in 1771 with a specimen on board. Over time it has come to symbolise Australia and Australian values.
Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
, the naturalist on the Endeavour voyage, commissioned George Stubbs
George Stubbs
George Stubbs was an English painter, best known for his paintings of horses.-Biography:Stubbs was born in Liverpool, the son of a currier and leather merchant. Information on his life up to age thirty-five is sparse, relying almost entirely on notes made by fellow artist Ozias Humphry towards the...
to paint a portrait of the kangaroo specimen. When the official account of the voyage was published in 1773, it was illustrated with an engraving of Stubbs' kangaroo. From that time on, the kangaroo quickly came to symbolise the Australian continent, appearing in exhibitions, collections, art and printed works across Europe.
It took a long time for the kangaroo to achieve official recognition in Australia. Despite being a "declared noxious animal" because of its reputation for damaging crops and fences and competing with domestic animals for resources, the kangaroo finally achieved official recognition with its inclusion on Australia's coat of arms in 1908. The kangaroo is now popularly regarded as Australia’s unofficial animal emblem.
The kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
has appeared on coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
s and emblem
Emblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
s, been used in logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
s, architectural decoration
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, the decorative arts and public art, been a mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
and used in the naming of sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s teams. Kangaroos also appear in books, television series, films, cartoons, games and songs.
Kangaroo emblems and logos
- The kangaroo and emuEmuThe Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
are bearers on the Australian Coat of Arms. It has been claimed these animals were chosen to signify a country moving 'forward' because of a common belief that neither can move backward.
- Two red kangaroos serve as bearers to the Coat of Arms of Western AustraliaCoat of arms of Western AustraliaThe Coat of arms of Western Australia is the official coat of arms of the Australian State of Western Australia. It was granted by a Royal Warrant of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dated 17 March 1969.-Description:...
.
- Australia's national airliner, QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, uses a bounding kangaroo for its logo. The kangaroo has always been part of the Qantas logo.
- Tourism AustraliaTourism AustraliaTourism Australia is a statutory authority of the Government of Australia, with responsibility for tourism marketing within Australia and internationally, as well as research and forecasting of domestic and global tourism trends...
makes use of the kangaroo in its logo to "help ensure instant recognition for Australia around the world".
- The Australian Made Australian made logoThe Australian Made and Australian Grown trade mark logos signify products whose ingredients or production mostly originate from Australia...
logo uses a golden kangaroo in a green triangle to show that a product is made or grown in Australia.
- The Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air ForceThe Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
roundelRoundelA roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...
features a bounding red kangaroo.
- Warships of the Royal Australian NavyRoyal Australian NavyThe Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
have red kangaroo symbols (based on the kangaroo on the reverse of the Australian pennyPenny (Australian)The Australian Penny was a coin of the Australian pound used in the Commonwealth of Australia prior to decimalisation in 1966. It was worth one twelfth of an Australian shilling and 1/240 of an Australian pound...
) fixed to either side of their superstructure or funnel. This originated during the Korean War: as the destroyer was repeatedly mistaken for a British warship, her executive officer had a brass 'weathervane' in the shape of a kangaroo made and mounted to the ship's mainmast.
- The kangaroo is part of the official emblem of the Royal Australian RegimentRoyal Australian RegimentThe Royal Australian Regiment is the parent regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps...
with a kangaroo in between two Lee-EnfieldLee-EnfieldThe Lee-Enfield bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle was the main firearm used by the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century...
bolt-action rifles.
- The Victorian Coat of Arms includes the upper portion of a kangaroo holding an Imperial CrownImperial State CrownThe Imperial State Crown is one of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.- Design :The Crown is of a design similar to St Edward's Crown: it includes a base of four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, above which are four half-arches surmounted by a cross. Inside is a velvet cap...
in its paws.
- The red kangaroo is the animal emblem of the Northern TerritoryNorthern TerritoryThe Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
- The kangaroo is the official emblem of Northern Territory PoliceNorthern Territory PoliceThe Northern Territory Police is the police body that has legal jurisdiction over the Northern Territory of Australia. This police service has 1302 gazetted police positions made up of 55 Senior Sergeants, 200 Sergeants, 741 Constables, 159 Auxiliaries, and 84 Aboriginal Community Police Officers...
.
- British clothing and headwear company KangolKangolKangol is a British clothing company famous for its headwear.Founded in Cleator, Cumbria, England in 1938 by Jaques Spreiregen, Kangol produced hats for workers, golfers, and especially soldiers...
, known for its berets, features a kangaroo in its logo.
Kangaroos and coins
The kangaroo has been featured on pre-decimal coins, and on decimalDecimal
The decimal numeral system has ten as its base. It is the numerical base most widely used by modern civilizations....
coins.
- The Kangaroo was featured on the Australian pre-decimal pennyCoins of the Australian poundFederation in 1901 gave the Commonwealth a constitutional power to issue coins and removed this power from the States. However, British coins continued in use until 1910, when Australian silver coins were introduced. These included florins, shillings, sixpences and threepences. They had a...
coin. - The Kangaroo was also featured on the Australian pre-decimal half-pennyCoins of the Australian poundFederation in 1901 gave the Commonwealth a constitutional power to issue coins and removed this power from the States. However, British coins continued in use until 1910, when Australian silver coins were introduced. These included florins, shillings, sixpences and threepences. They had a...
coin. - Five Kangaroos are featured on the Australian one dollar coinCoins of the Australian dollarCoins of the Australian dollar were introduced on 14 February 1966, although they did not at that time include a one-dollar coin. The dollar was equivalent in value to 10 shillings in the former currency .- Regular coinage :...
Kangaroo mascots in Australia
- The Boxing kangarooBoxing KangarooThe boxing kangaroo is a national symbol of Australia, frequently seen in popular culture. The symbol is often displayed prominently by Australian spectators at sporting events, such as at cricket, tennis and football matches, and at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. The flag is also highly...
– mascot for the Australia IIAustralia IIAustralia II is the Australian 12-metre-class challenge racing yacht that was launched in 1982 and won the 1983 America's Cup for the Royal Perth Yacht Club...
team in the 1983 America's CupAmerica's CupThe America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
. This rendition of the kangaroo has become a sporting icon, known informally as the green and gold "Sporting Kangaroo", and is highly popular with cricket crowds and international sporting events which feature Australian participation.
- Matilda, the mascotMascotThe term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
at the 1982 Commonwealth Games1982 Commonwealth GamesThe 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
held in BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, was represented by both a cartoon kangaroo and a 13-metre high (42 feet 8 inches) mechanical kangaroo (which winkWinkA wink is a facial expression made by briefly closing one eye. A wink is an informal mode of non-verbal communication usually signalling shared hidden knowledge or intent, which may also include, in some contexts, sexual attraction....
ed at the spectators during the opening and closing ceremonies). The 'medal', which was worn by both the cartoon and mechanical versions of Matilda, features the 1982 Commonwealth Games logo — a stylised representation of a kangaroo bounding (in "flight") – similar to the pose of the kangaroo featured on the pre-decimal half-penny coin.
- During the First World WarWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, pet kangaroos and toy kangaroos were a popular choice of mascot for Australian servicemen.
Architectural references
The first uses of Kangaroo ornaments as architectural expression appeared during the Victorian era. This was at first limited to the use of the coat of arms on buildings; however, kangaroos soon became used as decorative motifs on their own in some commercial buildings, particularly in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
It was the Federation architecture
Federation architecture
Federation architecture refers to the architectural style in Australia, which was prevalent from around 1890 to 1920. The period refers to the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, when the Australian colonies collectively became the Commonwealth of Australia...
, however, which brought native ornamentation into the mainstream, so that kangaroos began to be mass-produced as ornamentation on domestic houses in the large cities, as part of an Australiana movement and effort to create a uniquely Australian style. Examples of this decoration include the ornamental terracotta tile capping on residential roofs. Reproduction products using Kangaroos are still used today.
Public art and sculpture
Notable examples include:
- Victorian lamp post (1880) in front of the Royal Exhibition BuildingRoyal Exhibition BuildingThe Royal Exhibition Building is a World Heritage Site-listed building in Melbourne, Australia, completed in 1880. It is located at 9 Nicholson Street in the Carlton Gardens, flanked by Victoria, Nicholson, Carlton and Rathdowne Streets, at the north-eastern edge of the central business district...
at the Carlton Gardens in Carlton, VictoriaCarlton, VictoriaCarlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne... - Petrie Tableaux sculpture (1989). In front of Brisbane City HallBrisbane City HallBrisbane City Hall, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the seat of the Brisbane City Council. It is located adjacent to King George Square, where the rectangular City Hall has its main entrance. The City Hall also has frontages and entrances in both Ann Street and Adelaide Street...
at King George SquareKing George Square, BrisbaneKing George Square is a public square, located between Adelaide Street and Ann Street , in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Adjacent to King George Square is Brisbane City Hall...
by Stephen Walker - Perth kangaroo sculptures (1996, 1997 & 2000). St Georges TerraceSt Georges Terrace, PerthSt Georges Terrace is the main street in the city of Perth, Western Australia. It runs parallel to the Swan River and forms the major arterial road through the central business district....
, in several locations, Perth, Western AustraliaPerth, Western AustraliaPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, by Anne Neil, Joan Walsh-Smith, Charles Smith - City Roo sculptures (1999). George StreetGeorge Street, BrisbaneGeorge Street is a main street located in the Brisbane CBD in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A major thoroughfare, George Street connects to the Queensland University of Technology as well as the state Botanical Gardens, to the commercial centre of Brisbane, Queen Street and Queen Street Mall.The...
, BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
- made from scrapScrapScrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
metal by Christopher Trotter - Eastern grey kangaroo sculpture in the Brisbane City Botanic GardensBrisbane City Botanic GardensThe City Botanic Gardens is located on a point known as Gardens Point on the Brisbane River adjacent to the central business district of the city of Brisbane...
- Kangaroo and joey sculpture at Queens Park in IpswichIpswich, QueenslandIpswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
Decorative arts and design
An early depiction of a kangaroo on an item of decorative art is the Macintosh & Degraves TokenToken coin
In the study of numismatics, tokens are coin-like objects used instead of coins. The field of tokens is part of exonumia. Tokens are used in place of coins and either have a denomination shown or implied by size, color or shape...
Shilling 1823. Another early example is the Garret salver. This item of Tasmanian
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
colonial silver incorporates a kangaroo, an emu and wattle branches in its design.
The kangaroo has continued to be incorporated into decorative designs by craftspeople and designers in Australia and elsewhere in the world. The Terence Lane kangaroo collection at the National Museum of Australia
National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia was formally established by the National Museum of Australia Act 1980. The National Museum preserves and interprets Australia's social history, exploring the key issues, people and events that have shaped the nation....
consists of more than 150 objects and ephemera in a wide range of styles produced over a period of 150 years. The collection ranges from a one metre-high Doulton
Doulton
Doulton may refer to:*Royal Doulton, ceramic manufacturing company*John Doulton, potter, founder of Royal Doulton*Henry Doulton, potter and son of John Doulton*Frederick Doulton, Member of Parliament and son of John Doulton...
ceramic kangaroo umbrella stand to small items of jewellery.
Cultural references
Kangaroos are extremely well represented in filmFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s, toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s and souvenir
Souvenir
A souvenir , memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world...
s around the world.
Television and films
- Skippy the Bush KangarooSkippy the Bush KangarooSkippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series for children created by John McCallum, produced from 1966–1968, telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, in the Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.Ninety-one 30-minute...
, star of the 1960s Australian children's television series. - Kangaroo JackKangaroo JackKangaroo Jack is a 2003 American comedy film directed by David McNally, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Christopher Walken, Estella Warren and Adam Garcia...
, the title character of an American film of the same name. - A giant kangaroo is featured in the movie Welcome to Woop WoopWelcome to Woop WoopWelcome to Woop Woop is a 1997 Australian-British comedy film, directed by Stephan Elliott starring Johnathon Schaech and Rod Taylor. The film was based on the novel The Dead Heart by Douglas Kennedy...
. - The Hallmark Properties television series Zoobilee ZooZoobilee ZooZoobilee Zoo is an Emmy Award-winning children's television program featuring costumed performers dressed as animal characters. It originally aired from 1986–1987, then in syndication until 2001 on several television channels including commercial network television stations, public television...
has a character named Whazzat Kangaroo. (The Canadian actress and singer Stephanie Louise "Stevie" Vallance acts out this role.)
Songs
- Kangaroos are mentioned, or featured, in the Rolf HarrisRolf HarrisRolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
songs Tie Me Kangaroo Down, SportTie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport"Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" is a song written by Rolf Harris in 1957 which became a hit across the world in the 1960s in two different recordings . Inspired by Harry Belafonte's calypsos, it is about an Australian stockman on his deathbed...
and Six White Boomers. - Kangaroos are also mentioned in the Peter AllenPeter AllenPeter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...
song Tenterfield Saddler. - Kangaroos are also mentioned in HoldenHoldenGM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
jingle "Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars".
Books
- There is a "Sour Kangaroo" in the Dr. Seuss tale Horton Hears A Who!
- Kanga and RooRooRoo is a fictional character created in 1926 by A. A. Milne and first featured in the book Winnie-the-Pooh. He is a young kangaroo and his mother is Kanga...
are fictional mother and son kangaroos in the popular series of children's books about Winnie-the-PoohWinnie-the-PoohWinnie-the-Pooh, also called Pooh Bear, is a fictional anthropomorphic bear created by A. A. Milne. The first collection of stories about the character was the book Winnie-the-Pooh , and this was followed by The House at Pooh Corner...
. - Kidding Kangaroo in the Sweet PicklesSweet PicklesSweet Pickles is a series of 40 children's books by Ruth Lerner Perle, Jacquelyn Reinach, and Richard Hefter and published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston, having sold over 50 million copies. The books are set in the fictional town of Sweet Pickles and are about anthropomorphic animals with different...
book series by Ruth Lerner Perle, Jacquelyn Reinach and Richard Hefter. - One of the several intelligent races described in the fantasy novel ShadowkeepShadowkeepShadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
, written by Alan Dean FosterAlan Dean FosterAlan Dean Foster is an American author of fantasy and science fiction. He currently resides in Prescott, Arizona, with his wife, and is also known for his novelizations of film scripts...
, are high-bounding, fun-loving marsupials, known as "roos" and obviously meant to be intelligent kangaroos. - A kangaroo is shot and killed by ErnestErnestThe name Ernest is derived from the Germanic word ernst, parallel to the English word earnest, approximately meaning honest and trustworthy.Ernest may refer to:-People:*Ernest, Margrave of Austria...
in The Swiss Family RobinsonThe Swiss Family Robinson-History:Written by Swiss pastor Johann David Wyss and edited by his son Johann Rudolf Wyss, the novel was intended to teach his four sons about family values, good husbandry, the uses of the natural world and self-reliance...
, a bookBookA book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
written by Johann Wyss.
Cartoons
- Kanga and RooRooRoo is a fictional character created in 1926 by A. A. Milne and first featured in the book Winnie-the-Pooh. He is a young kangaroo and his mother is Kanga...
are fictional mother and son kangaroos in the popular series of cartoons about Winnie-the-PoohWinnie-the-PoohWinnie-the-Pooh, also called Pooh Bear, is a fictional anthropomorphic bear created by A. A. Milne. The first collection of stories about the character was the book Winnie-the-Pooh , and this was followed by The House at Pooh Corner...
. - A team of kangaroo basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
players feature in the FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
cartoon series Kangoo and its spin-offSpin-off (media)In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
/prequelPrequelA prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
Kangoo Juniors. - In several Looney TunesLooney TunesLooney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
/Merrie MelodiesMerrie MelodiesMerrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
cartoons, Sylvester the CatSylvester (Looney Tunes)Sylvester J. Pussycat, Sr., Sylvester the Cat or simply Sylvester, is a fictional character, a three-time Academy Award-winning anthropomorphic Tuxedo cat in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies repertory, often chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales, or Hippety Hopper...
is beaten up by Hippety HopperHippety HopperHippety Hopper is a young kangaroo cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes series of cartoons. Robert McKimson introduced Hippety Hopper in Hop, Look and Listen , which established the pattern for future Hippety Hopper cartoons....
the baby kangaroo, who always accomplishes this feat after escaping from the captivity of humans who have attempted to take him to a zooZooA zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
in assorted AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citiesCityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
, and whom Sylvester believes to be an oversized mouseMouseA mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
. - In Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the FurryTom and Jerry: The Fast and the FurryTom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry is a 2005 animated direct-to-video film starring the oscar-winning cat and mouse pair, Tom and Jerry. The subtitle is a parody of the hit Universal Studios film, The Fast and The Furious. It was released theatrically in select cites of the U.S...
, the commentators are holding a kangaroo by the leash when the racers reach AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. - In British punk style comic strips Tank GirlTank GirlTank Girl is a British comic created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. Originally drawn by Jamie Hewlett, it has also been drawn by Rufus Dayglo, Ashley Wood, and Mike McMahon.The eponymous character Tank Girl drives a tank, which is also her home...
the protagonist's boyfriend is Booga, the mutant anthro kangaroo. There are some other minor roo characters. In the US movie Tank GirlTank GirlTank Girl is a British comic created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. Originally drawn by Jamie Hewlett, it has also been drawn by Rufus Dayglo, Ashley Wood, and Mike McMahon.The eponymous character Tank Girl drives a tank, which is also her home...
, slightly based on the strips, protagonist is assisted by Rippers - mutant Kangaroo genetically engineered supersoldiers (and Booga is among them, of course). - Dot and the KangarooDot and the Kangaroo-Film adaptations:The book was adapted into a film in 1977 which featured a combination of animation and live-action. The main character, Dot, was voiced by Barbara Frawley. The film also featured Spike Milligan as the voice of Platypus. The movie featured an original soundtrack including several...
was a cartoon juxtaposed on film of the Australian bush. - In The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode Bart vs Australia, Homer and Bart try to escape from a crowd in the pouches of two kangaroos, which they ultimately can't because of the kangaroos' pouches being filled with mucus.
Advertisements
- AussieAussie (shampoo)Aussie is a women's haircare brand including shampoo and conditioner as well as other hair styling products such as hair gel, hair spray, and hair detangler. It is marketed as a product of Australia due to its inclusion certain ingredients such as kangaroo paw. Its products are often labeled with a...
hair products from Procter & GambleProcter & GambleProcter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
sports a kangaroo hopping on its label, while the magazine and television ads display an animatronic purple kangaroo in them. - Dunkaroos are a snack in the USA which used to feature a talking kangaroo in commercials and product containers.
Video games and other games
- Roo is a fighting kangaroo in the Sega Genesis video game Streets of Rage 3Streets of Rage 3Streets of Rage 3 is a side-scrolling beat 'em up released by Sega in 1994 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It is the last part of the Streets of Rage series. It was later released for the Japanese version of Sonic Gems Collection for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, and for the Wii Virtual Console...
. - Ripper Roo, a crazy kangaroo in a straitjacket villain of the video game series Crash Bandicoot.
- Sheila, a female kangaroo of the video game series Spyro the DragonSpyro the Dragon (series)Spyro the Dragon is a platform and action game series starring the video game character Spyro, which was originally published by Sony Computer Entertainment and developed by Insomniac Games for the PlayStation....
. - Roger the boxing kangaroo from the Tekken series of video games.
- In the Game Boy Color games The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of SeasonsThe Legend of Zelda: Oracle of SeasonsThe Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are two action-adventure games in The Legend of Zelda series, co-developed by Capcom and Nintendo. They were released on February 27, 2001 in Japan, May 14, 2001 in North America, and October 5, 2001 in Europe for Nintendo's Game Boy Color...
and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, there is a kangaroo by the name of Ricky which will help you in your quest. - In Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Johnny Cage turns into a Kangaroo.
- In Bomberman 3 and 5 on SNES, the animals which hatch from eggs are called rooeys and they are based on kangaroos.
Others
- Austin of The BackyardigansThe BackyardigansThe Backyardigans is a Canadian/American 3-D CGI-animated children's TV series, created by Janice Burgess. It features five animal children, who imagine that their backyard becomes an adventure place. It is a coproduction of Treehouse TV, and the Canadian animation studio Nelvana. Debuting on...
is a young Kangaroo. - In Warriors of VirtueWarriors of VirtueWarriors Of Virtue is a 1997 Chinese-American fantasy film directed by Ronny Yu. It is in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Although commercially unsuccessful and critically panned, a sequel, Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao, was made in 2002....
, the five main heroes are roos. - The PokémonPokémonis a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
Kangaskhan is based on a kangaroo with reptilian features. - In the anime and manga series RebornRebornReborn may refer to:*Reborn, a Digital Creative Agency in Sydney, Australia*Reborn!, a manga series and a character in the manga*Reborn , a novel by F...
the character Ryohei SasagawaRyohei Sasagawais a fictional character in the anime and manga series Reborn! created by Akira Amano. He has also appeared in other media from the Reborn! franchise including video games and light novels. Ryohei is portrayed as one of the series' protagonists, and is introduced as the energetic member of the...
has a kangaroo in one of his ring boxes that enables healing and advances abilities of others. - Chimera Punch, monster kangaroolike Tokyo Mew MewTokyo Mew Mew, also known as Mew Mew Power, is a Japanese shōjo manga series written by Reiko Yoshida and illustrated by Mia Ikumi. It was originally serialized in Nakayoshi from September 2000 to February 2003, and later published in seven tankōbon volumes by Kodansha from February 2001 to April 2003...
Kangaroos and sports teams
The kangaroo features prominently in sport. Australian sports teams with nicknames derived from the kangaroo (and wallabyWallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
) include the following:
Australian national teams
- The Australian national rugby league teamAustralian national rugby league teamThe Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
is nicknamed the Kangaroos. - The Australia national rugby union teamAustralia national rugby union teamThe Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
is nicknamed the Wallabies. - The Australia national association football team (men's) is nicknamed the Socceroos.
- The Australia national under-23 football teamAustralia national under-23 football teamThe Australia Olympic football team, more commonly known as the Olyroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia at association football in the Olympic Games...
plays Football at the Summer OlympicsFootball at the Summer OlympicsAssociation football, usually known simply as football or soccer, has been included in every Olympiad except 1896 and 1932 as a men's competition sport. Women's football was added to the official programme in 1996.-Early history:...
and is nicknamed Olyroos. - The Australia national under-20 football teamAustralia national under-20 football teamThe Australia national under-20 association football team, more commonly known as the Young Socceroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia in international Under 20 or youth football competitions....
is nicknamed the Young Socceroos - The Australia national under-17 football teamAustralia national under-17 football teamThe Australia national under-17 association football team, more commonly known as the Joeys, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia in international Under 17 or youth football competitions.-FIFA U-17 World Cup:...
is the Joeys
- The Australia national under-23 football team
- The Australian Women's field hockey teamHockeyroosThe Australia women's national field hockey team are Australia's national women's hockey team.Having played their first game in 1914,they are one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams, boasting three Olympic Gold...
is nicknamed the Hockeyroos. - The Australian national ice hockey teamAustralian national ice hockey teamThe Australian men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team for Australia. As of 2010 the Australian team are ranked 34th...
is nicknamed the Mighty Roos. - The Australian men's national basketball teamAustralia national basketball teamThe Australian national basketball team is the men's basketball side that represents Australia in international competitions. The team is known in Australia as the Boomers, an Australian slang term for Kangaroo. Australia is ranked 9th in the world and finished 7th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic...
is nicknamed the Boomers.
Australian domestic teams
- The North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
is nicknamed the Kangaroos. - Perth Kangaroos IFCPerth Kangaroos IFCPerth Kangaroos International Football Club is a now-defunct soccer club from Perth, Australia. Perth Kangaroos played as an overseas team in the Singapore Premier League in 1994 and won the league title...
United States
- Kasey Kangaroo is the mascot for the University of Missouri–Kansas CityUniversity of Missouri–Kansas CityThe University of Missouri–Kansas City is a public university located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is a branch of the University of Missouri System. Its main campus is in Kansas City's Rockhill neighborhood east of the Country Club Plaza...
- Zippy the kangaroo is the mascot for The University of AkronUniversity of AkronThe University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
- The kangaroo is the mascot for Austin CollegeAustin CollegeAustin College is a private liberal arts college affiliated by covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church and located in Sherman, Texas, about 60 miles North of Dallas....
in Sherman, TexasSherman, TexasSherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... - The kangaroo is the mascot for Terryville High SchoolTerryville High SchoolTerryville High School is a public high school that serves students living in Plymouth, Terryville, and Pequabuck, Connecticut. Terryville High School is located at 33 North Harwinton Avenue in Terryville, CT. Terryville High School is the only school in town to offer grades 9-12. Formerly located...
in Terryville, ConnecticutTerryville, ConnecticutTerryville is a census-designated place in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is a village of the Town of Plymouth, Connecticut. The population was 5,360, at the 2000 census. The village is named for Eli Terry Jr.,the son of the well-known clockmaker Eli Terry Sr.. Terryville is... - Lizzie (a purple and white kangaroo) is the mascot of Lake Washington High SchoolLake Washington High SchoolLake Washington High School is one of four high schools in the Lake Washington School District, with an enrollment of approximately 1076 students. It is in the Rose Hill neighborhood of Kirkland, Washington....
in Kirkland, WashingtonKirkland, WashingtonKirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state... - Stomper is the new mascot for the TNATotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
wrestling company. - The kangaroo is the mascot for State University of New York at CantonState University of New York at CantonThe State University of New York at Canton , is a public, coeducational, residential college located on a spacious campus along the banks of the Grasse River in St. Lawrence County, New York within the Town of Canton. Its northern location places SUNY Canton close to the Adirondack Mountains, the St...
in Canton (town), New YorkCanton (town), New YorkCanton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 10,334 at the 2000 census. The town contains two villages: one also named Canton, the other named Rensselaer Falls. Canton is located near the center of the county. The town is named after Canton in China. Canton is the... - The kangaroo is the mascot for Wilmington Friends SchoolWilmington Friends SchoolWilmington Friends School, the oldest existing school in Delaware, is a preschool through 12th grade Quaker school in Wilmington, Delaware. The school was founded in 1748 by members of the Wilmington Monthly Meeting of Friends ....
in Wilmington, DelawareWilmington, DelawareWilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley... - Moe the Kangaroo is the mascot for Virginia Military InstituteVirginia Military InstituteThe Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
in Lexington, VirginiaLexington, VirginiaLexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to... - Nashville Kangaroos
- State University of New York (SUNY) at Canton Kangaroos
- The kangaroo is the mascot for Killeen High School in Killeen, TexasKilleen, TexasKilleen is a city in Bell County, Texas, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921...
Other countries
- The Samoa national Australian rules football team is nicknamed the Kangaroos.
- The FC Bohemians Praha, a CzechCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
football team is nicknamed the Klokani (CzechCzech languageCzech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
for kangaroos) since their tour in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1927. - Etobicoke KangaroosEtobicoke KangaroosThe Etobicoke Kangaroos are an amateur Australian Football club based in Etobicoke, Canada. They are members of the Ontario Australian Football League....
- Vienna KangaroosVienna KangaroosThe Vienna Kangaroos are an Australian rules football club located in Vienna, Austria, and are Austria's first Australian rules football club.- History :...
Place Names
The kangaroo has inspired a number of place names in Australia. More prominent examples include:- Kangaroo Flat
- Kangaroo IslandKangaroo IslandKangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
- Kangaroo PointKangaroo PointKangaroo Point can be either:* Kangaroo Point, New South Wales - a suburb in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia* Kangaroo Point, Hornsby, New South Wales - a suburb in Hornsby Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
- Kangaroo Ground
- Kangaroo RiverKangaroo RiverThe Kangaroo River is a tributary of the Shoalhaven River in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia.The river rises within the Budderoo National Park about north-west of Illawarra Lookout. It initially flows in a north-westerly direction to Carrington Falls, where the river...
and Kangaroo Valley - Kangaroo Creek ReservoirKangaroo Creek ReservoirKangaroo Creek Reservoir is a 19,160 megalitre artificial water storage reservoir in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. It was built from 1966 to 1969, by damming the River Torrens east of Cudlee Creek. The stored water is used to maintain the Hope Valley Reservoir's level via discharge...