Willy (Free Willy)

Willy
Background information
Feature films	Free Willy Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home Free Willy 3: The Rescue Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove
Television programs	Free Willy
Vocals	Keiko Paul Haddad
Characteristics
Personality	Friendly, loyal, playful, brave, intelligent
Physical appearance	Slender black orca, white belly, eye patches and dorsal fin
Behavior	Social, curious, protective, adventurous
Alignment	Good
Nationality	American
Goal	To be free and reunited with his family
Home	The Pacific Ocean
Relatives	Littlespot (brother) Luna (sister) Catspaw (mother) Nikki (mate) Max (son)
Allies	Jesse Greenwood (best friend), Randolph Johnson, Rae Lindley, Elvis Greenwood, Nadine, Lucille, Max Wesley, Kirra Cooper, Gus Grisby
Enemies	Dial, Wade, John Milner, Dr. Blake, Annie Greenwood (formerly), Glen Greenwood (formerly), Dwight Mercer (formerly), Perry (formerly), Captain Drake, John Wesley, Bindi, Manly Dan
Likes	Jesse, his family, freedom, fish, playing with his sonar, swimming, jumping, performing tricks
Dislikes	Being captured, separated from his family, mistreated, oil spills, hunters, poachers, nets, explosions, danger
Natural Abilities	Swimming, jumping, echolocation, communication, intelligence, strength
Weapons	His teeth, tail, and body
Fate	Lives happily in the wild with his family and friends

Willy is a killer whale (a type of cetacean) and the titular deuteragonist of the successful film franchise: "Free Willy". He used to live in an amusement park until being released back to the wild by his best friend Jesse Greenwood. Willy is played by Keiko in the first film. In the last two official sequels, an animatronic orca was used to portray Willy.

Role in the film

Free Willy

Willy is a young orca who was captured by whalers and sold to Northwest Adventure Park, where he is mistreated and isolated from other animals. He meets Jesse, a rebellious orphan who is assigned to clean up his tank as a punishment. Jesse discovers that Willy has a talent for music and teaches him some tricks. They develop a strong bond and become friends. However, Jesse learns that the park's owner, Dial, plans to kill Willy and collect the insurance money. Jesse decides to help Willy escape and return to his pod, with the help of Randolph, Rae, and Glen. They manage to sneak Willy out of the park and transport him to a marina, where they face Dial and his henchmen. Jesse encourages Willy to jump over a rock wall and reunite with his family, who are waiting for him. Willy succeeds and bids farewell to Jesse, who is adopted by the Greenwoods.

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

Two years later, Willy is living happily with his pod, which includes his mother Catspaw, his brother Littlespot, and his sister Luna. He occasionally visits Jesse, who is now living with the Greenwoods and has a new half-brother, Elvis. Jesse and Willy are reunited during a camping trip in the San Juan Islands, where they also meet Nadine, a girl who likes Jesse, and Lucille, a researcher who studies Willy's pod. However, their vacation is interrupted by an oil spill that threatens the whales' lives. Willy and Luna are separated from their pod and trapped in a cove, where they are also targeted by an illegal whaler, John Milner. Jesse and his friends work together to save Willy and Luna, and also help clean up the oil spill. They manage to free Willy and Luna, and expose Milner's crimes. Willy and Luna rejoin their pod, and Jesse promises to always be Willy's friend.

Free Willy 3: The Rescue

Four years later, Willy is now a mature orca and has a mate, Nicky, and a son, Max. He still keeps in touch with Jesse, who is now working with Randolph at an orca research center. Jesse tracks down Willy's pod and discovers that they are being hunted by a group of illegal whalers, led by John Wesley. One of the whalers is Max, a young boy who is unaware of his father's true intentions. Max befriends Jesse and learns about Willy and his family. He also develops a bond with Willy's son, who he names Max as well. Jesse and Max try to stop the whalers from killing the whales, and also convince Max's father to change his ways. They succeed in saving Willy and his pod, and also persuade Wesley to join the conservation efforts. Willy and his family swim away, while Jesse and Max remain friends.

Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove

This film is a reboot of the franchise, featuring a different Willy and a different human protagonist. Willy is a baby orca who is stranded in a lagoon near a rundown seaside amusement park in South Africa, owned by Gus Grisby. He is discovered by Kirra Cooper, Gus's granddaughter who is visiting him for the summer. Kirra names the orca Willy and becomes his caretaker, with the help of a local boy, Bindi. She also learns that Willy belongs to a pod that is led by a legendary orca named Manly Dan. However, Gus plans to exploit Willy as a tourist attraction, and also faces pressure from a rival park owner, Captain Drake, who wants to buy Willy. Kirra decides to help Willy escape and reunite with his pod, with the support of Bindi and her father, who arrives from Australia. They manage to sneak Willy out of the park and transport him to the ocean, where they encounter Drake and his men. Kirra encourages Willy to find his family, who are waiting for him. Willy succeeds and joins his pod, while Kirra and her father return to Australia.

v - e - d

Media Films: | | | TV series: Characters Humans: Jesse Greenwood • Annie Greenwood • Glen Greenwood • Elvis Greenwood • Randolph Johnson • Dial • Dwight Mercer • Gwenie • Wade • Perry • Nadine • John Milner • Dr. Kate Haley • Bill Wilcox • Commander Blake • Captain Nilson • Helmsman Kelly • Max Wesley • Mary Wesley • John Wesley • Drew Halbert • Kirra Cooper • Dr. Sam Cooper • Gus Grisby • Sifiso • Mansa • Rolf Woods Sea creatures: Willy • Littlespot • Luna • Einstein • Lucille Objects Transports Locations