See them walking on all fours across your screens. Your head turns as they eat and bleat, they’re so cute. Goats on film!
What has horizontal pupils, can scale mountain cliffs as if gravity doesn’t exist, can have no horns or eight horns, and are very intelligent and curious? If you guessed goats, you are correct (don’t go feeling too proud though, the answer was in the headline after all).
If you weren’t aware, according to Chinese zodiac, 2015 is the year of the goat! Well, technically it’s the sheep, but goat and ram fall under that. Whether coincidence or not, goats are making many appearances in our favorite programs this year. Enough cats and dogs, it’s about time the real star animals get some recognition on screen!
Goats have been in big blockbusters as early as 1993, and have consistently shown up in other hit movies and television shows since, culminating in at least three appearances in November alone. The television and film industries are recognizing that goats really do make everything better, so here are some goats on film and television that really made a mark.
‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
The poor goat in Jurassic Park doesn’t stand a chance. It’s clear the goat is toast (or rather, it’s goast?) the moment it appears on screen. But it isn’t without necessity.
Without Goast, there wouldn’t be one of the most suspenseful and riveting scenes in film history. Without Goast, how can the T-rex make such a grand entrance? Without Goast, the T-rex might try harder to eat the kids, and succeed! As unfortunate as it is, Goast must be sacrificed for the greater good, and that greater good is good entertainment.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ (2005)’
The first faun on this list is Narnia‘s Mr. Tumnus. For many of us, it was our first introduction to James McAvoy, and it’s possible you shamefully wondered why you felt attracted to a goat (even if he’s only half goat).
Rather than dwell on the possible bestiality implications though, what’s really important is that Mr. Tumnus is a wonderful creature-person, and is very kind to little Lucy. He gives goats a good name, despite his deceit to Lucy and almost treachery. It is, after all, almost treachery. He can’t bring himself to actually kidnap Lucy because he feels terrible at the thought, which makes him all the more endearing.
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
An altogether different kind of faun, Pan is possibly one of the most memorable goats. The giant horns, high forehead, milky eyes, and sinister gait are hardly forgettable.
Despite being fairly neutral in the grand scheme of the film (as in, not villainous), it’s hard not to be scared or uncomfortable by him. Everything about Pan screams danger, even if he never actually harms Ofelia. This is certainly a goat of the not-cuddly variety.
‘Stardust’ (2007)
One of the funniest goat related moments on screen is brought to you by Stardust. The witch Lamia needs transport quickly, but she doesn’t use her powers to conjure up a horse or a magic broom. Lamia stumbles upon a goat and his boy, and after turning the boy into a goat, she leashes both goats to a cart and has them pull her along like a horse-drawn carriage (dignity not included).
She later turns both goats into humans. It’s great for the boy (well maybe not so great, because he’s then turned into a woman, though he doesn’t seem displeased about it), but not great for the goat. Poor Billy the Goat makes for quite an awkward human.
‘Community’ (2010)
Abed wants to have a college experience like in the movies, and one of the college clichés is to steal another school’s mascot. City College is Greendale’s rival school, and their mascot is, you guessed it, a goat named Billy. Yet another Billy the goat. This white, majestic goat even gets to sit in on one of the group’s study sessions, in Pierce’s place. Perhaps some viewers even wish Billy would permanently replace Pierce…
Unfortunately though, despite fitting in quite well with the group (Britta so isn’t funny, right?), they need an escape goat, and Billy has to return to City College.
Taylor Swift ‘Mean’ (2011)
Even Taylor Swift got in on the goat action! Wait, let’s rephrase that. Even Taylor Swift uses goats! Nope, not much better. There is a goat in a Taylor Swift music video! There we go.
Goat Swift makes a brief but important appearance in the 35 second mark of the Mean music video. In case it isn’t clear enough that Taylor starts from humble farm beginnings before ‘living in a big old city,’ Goat Swift has a moment to shine. Because obviously nothing screams ‘farm’ more clearly than a goat. It can only be assumed that Goat Swift is not given more screen time because he would have outshone Taylor. Goat Swift need not worry though, viewers know just how talented he is.
Related: Wild goat named Voldemort chases a boy up a tree
‘Harry Potter’ (2011)
Even Harry Potter can’t resist a great goat. The film may not put much emphasis on it, but the book fills in the details nicely. Aberforth Dumbledore has a real fondness for goats. He’s said to look like a goat. His patronus is a goat. It’s also known that he magically tampered with a goat at least once. But no more need be said on that topic.
What it comes down to is this: We can all thank Aberforth for allowing us to see that little bleating cutie pie before the Harry Potter series ended.
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.