Joey is a kangaroo and one of the main protagonists from The Just So Movie.
Background[]
Joey is the sixth member of the Main Eleven since he was born and raised in the Grover zoo and is good friends with Bigmouth, Humphrey, Wrinkles, Spot, Trunksworth, Penny, Arnold, Clyde, Carl, Floyd, and Joe. His home is in the outback enclosure; and he likes to get together with his friends at the aquarium when Joe's not around. His ancestor from "The Sing-Song of Old-Man Kangaroo" made him what he is, like all other kangaroos. Joey gets his name from the fact that baby kangaroos are called joeys.
Joey is a red kangaroo with gray ears, legs and a tail. But just because he looks tough, doesn't make him unfriendly.
Appearances[]
In the movie, Joey is seen as a young kangaroo in the zoo along with his friends, having grown up ever since Joe became the head zookeeper and before Marty died. When the zoo gets run down, the kangaroo and his friends refuse to leave the zoo like the other animals. Hearing the news about Julia wanting to buy the zoo unless Joe pays his debt within two days, Joey and his friends get together trying to think of how they can save their home when Mother Nature appears, telling the Main Eleven that she will take them back in time to see their ancestors.
While the Main Eleven keep talking and Humphrey wishes for the other animals to return, the others object as Joey explains about the echidna and platypus always bragging about being the only mammals to lay eggs, the koala always sleeping, the emu always wishing to fly, the cassowary always threatening to be be alone, the wombat's shyness, and how fierce the dingo was.
While the Main Eleven is asleep at night, Mother Nature, who is true to her word, takes them back in time to see their ancestors. Joey watches his ancestor while the whole story of "The Sing-Song of Old-Man Kangaroo" being acted out, though it rather surprises him a bit. Back at the zoo, the next day, the Main Eleven explains about what happened, realizing that their ancestors made them what they are and that they can save the zoo.
When Joe (who has lost all hope) comes to feed them for the last time and explain that he's going to sell, the animals try to tell him about meeting their ancestors, but he can't understand them since animals can't speak human language.
Having lost hope the next day, Joey and his friends decide to make the best of living out in the wild (though they don't know what Julia has in mind for them), when Joe, who finally came to his senses from seeing his own ancestors last night, tells his animals friends that they can save the zoo after all. The Main Eleven gets ready as the sing, "Got to Save the Zoo".
The moment Julia arrives and Mr. Grover stands up to her refusing to sell the zoo, the landlady gets attacked by the Main Eleven. Joey kickboxes Julia to Trunksworth after she gets pounced out of Spot's tree. After Julia gets arrested, the police allow the zoo to remain open forever, and Sally quits working for the landlady, Joe thanks the Main Eleven for believing in him ever since they were young.
Joey even compliments his friends and his ancestor, knowing that things are going to get much better. After the zoo is renovated, new animals come to live in the zoo, including a new female kangaroo who Joey has a baby with.
Video Games[]
Joey appears in the Just So Game as a playable character with abilities to punch, kickbox, and long jump. He eats zoo chow to restore his health. When visiting his ancestor, he has to fight off a wedge-tailed eagle.
Trivia[]
- Joey can talk to his friends while he only clucks to humans, which is why Joe Grover can't understand him.
- Despite having Julia for an enemy, Joey is a rather nice kangaroo; however in real life, kangaroos can be sort of dangerous to human beings.