Top 10 Characters Who Can Communicate With Animals

Made of sugar, spice and everything nice, the Powerpuff Girls are a team of super-powered girls in the eponymous TV series. The “sugar” aspect of the trio is Bubbles, who is a sweet, sensitive, and unassumingly powerful heroine. One of her main abilities is the understanding of animals, which she can use to her advantage when fighting a multitude of deranged, disturbing, and sometimes androgynous villains. Bubbles calls upon animals for help in certain situations, and can also persuade bad ones from attacking, like the dinosaur bent on destroying Townsville. Bubbles is proof that nonviolent resistance can work in cartoons.

Though not as legendary as Godzilla’s Showa period that began in 1950s, the Hesei period of the ‘80s and ‘90s gave us such classics as “Godzilla vs. Mothra” and “Godzilla vs. Biollante,” both of which contain a legendary female character. Miki Saegusa is a psychic who develops a bond with Godzilla, as she’s able to communicate telepathically with the giant monster. On several occasions, she even dictates the actions of the monster through her psychic control. Starring in six Godzilla movies, Miki is credited with the most appearances of any human character in Kaiju filmography – and it’s easy to see why.

#8: Ant-Man Marvel Comics franchise (1962-)

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For over half a century, Ant-Man was a fixture in the Marvel comic book universe. The first person to bear the Ant-Man moniker was Hank Pym, a scientist who created a shrinking serum that made him ant-sized. Pym also constructed a helmet that could access the brain of real ants, thus forming a telepathic bond between him and his arthropod namesakes – and even some other types of insects. With these powers, Pym became a formidable superhero, and even a founding member of the Avengers team. In 2015, Paul Rudd would play Scott Lang, the second Ant-Man, in the self-titled film, which garnered critical acclaim and launched the superhero into mainstream consciousness.

#7: Aquaman DC Comics franchise (1941-)

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Aquaman made a literal splash during the golden age of DC Comics. His backstory is complicated, and his personas are varied, but his ocean-derived superpowers remain constant. His best-known power, however, is his telepathic communication with sea life. Aquaman can manipulate underwater animals from dolphins to sharks and sea turtles, and use them for his heroic exploits. Aquaman’s fishy ability has appeared in thousands of comics, dozens of TV shows and movies. Because his powers are limited to the ocean (though he’s sometimes been shown to affect beings that live upon the sea), Aquaman has often been the subject of parody for his apparent helplessness on land. But if you’re an underwater criminal, look out!

#6: Harry Potter “Harry Potter” franchise (1997-)

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Through the failed killing curse, part of Voldemort was transferred to Harry. One of consequences of this is Harry’s ability to talk to snakes, using the normally inherited language of Parseltongue. Though he’d unknowingly used this power as a young boy, it was during a duel with Draco Malfoy that his Parseltongue was revealed to a group of his fellow Hogwarts students. Because snake talk is a trait of dark wizards, this skill contributes to Harry’s status as an outcast – even though he doesn’t actually use his power for evil. More a curse than a blessing in some ways, this is another obstacle for Harry to face on his way to fulfilling the famed prophecy.

Tarzan, the ape-man, was born in the stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs over a hundred years ago. As a British child orphaned and marooned on the African coast, Tarzan was adopted by apes, which imbued him with the language and knowledge of the turbulent jungle. He became the archetypal wild man: swinging from vines in a loin cloth, yelling his distinct call, and rescuing Jane, his damsel in distress, from human and nonhuman adversaries. Having been the subject of hundreds of books and movies, and living in perpetuity through generations of emulation, Tarzan remains among the world’s most famous fictional characters.

#4: Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Thornberry “The Wild Thornberrys” (1998-2004)

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As the younger child of two eccentric filmmakers, Eliza Thornberry had a hard time standing out... until she became an animal-talking deity. After saving a trapped shaman, who had taken the form of a warthog, Eliza was granted the power to communicate with all animals that she and her wildlife documentarian family came across. The only catch, however, was that she could tell no human about her ability, lest it be taken away. This left Eliza to secretly aid her dysfunctional family through five seasons of backcountry tribulation. However, her thoughtful personality and one of a kind ability made Eliza one of the most appealing protagonists in Nickelodeon’s history.

#3: Mowgli “The Jungle Book” franchise (1894-)

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Mowgli’s story is as old as the book that told it: “The Jungle Book” that is. Since Rudyard Kipling penned this short story collection that makes up one of the most beloved children’s books of all time, Mowgli has evolved through the cultivation of all forms of media. The child, raised by animals and gifted with their language, made his seminal appearance in Disney’s 1967 film, where the musical format touched the pulse of popular culture. He emerged as an even more compelling central character in Disney’s live-action remake decades later. This will not be the last rendition, of course, as “The Jungle Book” is timeless, and Mowgli’s torch will burn with the sun.

#2: Ace Ventura “Ace Ventura” franchise (1994-)

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In the 1990s, Ace Ventura was a vessel for Jim Carrey’s comedic talents. The character, who brought new meaning to the term ‘eccentric,’ is a private detective hired to solve animal-related mysteries as ridiculous as his personality. Ace has a sixth sense for animals, which includes communication with many different species. In fact, he can query and sometimes enlist them to help solve cases, which makes Ace the perfect—albeit probably the only—pet detective. Through multiple movies, and even an animated series, Ace Ventura wowed children and adults alike with his bizarre and hilarious antics, making the character one of the most recognizable in the comedic zeitgeist. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Kronk Pepikrankenitz “The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000) - Ma-Ti “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” (1990-96) - Maya “Power Rangers Lost Galaxy” (1999)

#1: Doctor Dolittle “Doctor Dolittle” franchise (1920-)

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No character that can talk to animals is more well-known than Doctor Dolittle. He’s a veterinarian and naturalist that can speak and understand all animal languages, making him a proverbial shepherd of his non-human brethren. Through many incarnations — from Hugh Lofting’s storybooks to the big screen renditions by Rex Harrison and Eddie Murphy — the good doctor has stayed consistent in his unbiased and benevolent treatment of animals. Being one of the first characters to have this ability, Doctor Dolittle set the standard not only for talking to animals, but also for fantastic stories, and led generations of children on wonderful journeys with imaginative language. Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite zoolingual character? For more animal-friendly top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.