You’ve probably watched a movie where one or more characters had a pet. A lot of them are real animals, others are fantastical. Some are ordinary, others are magical. Whatever form they take, it’s guaranteed that they provide some sort of support for their owners.
And in a few cases, you might even have thought, “I wish I had a pet like that.” You’re not alone. Who doesn’t love a cute, loyal pet that tugs at your heartstrings?
Best Fictional Pets on TV and Film
While most of them appear as dogs, animal sidekicks come in different shapes and sizes. Here are just a few of these popular pets from tv and film.
1. Gary the Snail from Spongebob Squarepants
Gary’s sort of like a cat—at least, he meows like one despite being a snail. But he’s also like a dog, playing fetch with our anthropomorphic sea sponge and doing tricks. If you don’t mind the slime, then he’s the perfect pet for those looking for low-maintenance companions.
2. Scooby-Doo from Scooby-Doo!
Scooby’s an integral part of Mystery, Inc.— a group of amateur detectives who go around solving supernatural mysteries. And though he is a scaredy cat (dog?), his loyalty always comes in clutch when the team is in a difficult spot.
3. Morph from Treasure Planet
Morph is a space blob capable of changing his form to whatever he wants. This squishy little guy brings out the best in John Silver, who, admittedly, has a lot of bad in him. Who says pirates can only have parrots as pets?
4. Pikachu from Pokemon
Pikachu is what you can only describe as an oversized, electric mouse. Able to generate massive amounts of electricity, he’s cute and cuddly until he isn’t. As Ash’s most loyal companion (and perhaps the most famous pokemon), Pikachu is an icon that multiple generations have a connection with.
5. Stitch from Lilo & Stitch
Stitch is your typical alien, killing machine. At least, he was until he managed to overcome his destructive nature and learn the true meaning of family. Now, he masquerades as a dog with a talent for impersonating Elvis.
6. Pascal from Tangled
Silent and feisty, Pascal the chameleon is Rapunzel’s one true friend. Acting as her confidant and cheerleader, he’s the driving force behind many of Rapunzel’s decisions, including leaving their prison tower.
7. Salem from Sabrina
True to a witch’s imagery, Salem is Sabrina’s pet, black cat. Only, he’s not actually a cat, but a former witch who was turned into one as punishment. Depending on what version you know him as, he’s either tried to conquer the world, jilted a powerful witch, or tried to make a mortal love him.
8. Cheddar from Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Cheddar Holt-Cozner is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi owned by Captain Holt and his husband, Kevin. Well-trained and smart, he’s regularly caught in the precinct’s usual shenanigans. A gentleman and a scoundrel, no one knows which side he’s really with, not even his owners.
9. Clifford from Clifford the Big Red Dog
The title says it all, Clifford is a red dog, who is also really, really big. Apparently, his size is because his owner, Emily Elizabeth, loves him so, so much. And who wouldn’t want a dog who’s many times more cuddly than normal? He might be a bit more expensive to take care of, though.
10. Garfield from Garfield
Garfield the cat is lazy and overweight; insatiable when it comes to coffee and lasagna; and absolutely hates Mondays. He’s an old, cranky man in cat form. And like all cats, he frequently gets himself in trouble and causes mischief to his owner, Jon, and fellow pet, Odie the dog.
11. Hedwig from Harry Potter
Hedwig can be considered as Harry Potter’s first, and most loyal friend. Gifted to him by Hagrid in his first year at Hogwarts, the snowy owl has been by his side until she perished during the Battle of the Seven Potters.
12. The Chick and the Duck from Friends
Co-owned by Chandler and Joey, the chick and the duck became their first experience in being parents. All four have had memorable experiences together, from harassing one another, getting trapped inside appliances, and the parents learning that the chick is actually a rooster.
Fictional Pets in Media
From literature to film, many stories feature characters who have animal companions. Why not? These pets are a solid way of enhancing the story without taking too much away from the setting and other characters.
A good animal companion is one that is not complex. They do have distinctive personalities and are independent to a degree but mostly, they’re there to develop their companions more than themselves. They give assistance, provide an element to interact with, and are there for other characters to demonstrate emotions.
They become the mascot of a story; a character that supports others while rarely having an arc of their own. They are loved, enjoyed, and remembered not just by their fictional owners, but also by readers.
Which fictional pet is your favorite? Share them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 15 Iconic Animals In Literature
- 12 Books About Animals That Will Bring You Closer to Nature
- 12 Children’s Books with Animal Characters
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
