Top 10 Things You Missed in I Am Groot
#10: Disclaimers
Various Unlike most MCU titles, “I Am Groot” doesn’t have any juicy post-credit scenes…unless you count Baby Groot’s drawing floating in space at the end of “Magnum Opus.” To make up for the lack of extra content, the creative team behind this animated series added disclaimers in the end credits, something James Gunn is known to do. They’re meant to be funny but also turn out to be informative. The end credits for “Groot Takes a Bath” tell us the name of that mysterious multicolored creature that Groot makes into a scarf. In the disclaimer, it’s referred to as a “Gangalorian squirrel bird creature.” Details are scarce but maybe the Gangalorian will make another appearance in season 2.
#9: Alien on Board
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“Groot’s Pursuit” Baby Groot gets to star in his own spooky sci-fi thriller. Well, sort of. He gets up to investigate a strange noise aboard the Ravagers’ Quadrant. Various clues lead him to a translucent shape shifting alien called an Iwua, which is visually similar to the water tentacle in “The Abyss.” It takes the form of Baby Groot which he does not find okay. But instead of fighting, they do a dance-off, because of course they do. The Iwua may have outdanced the sentient tree he was mimicking, but it’s our miniature hero who gets the last word, or three words. In a total “Ripley versus the Xenomorph Queen” move, Baby Groot ejects the Iwua into space.
#8: Yaro Root
“Groot’s First Steps” In the first short of these mini Groot adventures, we see how he managed to break out of his pot. Next to him you can spot a familiar plant. Yes, it’s the Yaro root; the extra-terrestrial plant Nebula desperately wanted in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” Though she’s repeatedly told it’s not the right time to eat it, in the end, Nebula finally gets her hands on one. Actress Karen Gillan actually improvised this fan favorite line. Baby Groot doesn’t indulge in the food source, instead choosing to chuck the plant at the bonsai. But like Nebula, it doesn’t work out so well.
#7: Vyloos
“The Little Guy” Baby Groot isn’t the only adorable creature in this series. We get to see a few fluffy white bird-like beings with little colored mohawks. These are Vyloos, the avifauna native to the forests of the planet Berhert. They’re first seen in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” when the Milano crash-lands on that very planet, though they don’t really do anything other than chill in the trees. Unfortunately for Baby Groot, one particular Vyloo proves to be destructive. The little creatures are also featured on the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! ride at Disney California Adventure. You can see the animatronic Vyloos as part of the Collector’s collection. They’re cute but watch out: according to James Gunn, they can be quite vicious.
#6: The Grunds
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“The Little Guy” In “The Little Guy,” Baby Groot stumbles upon a civilization of miniature blue creatures. These are an alien race known as the Grunds, beings who are able to convert solar energy into concussive blasts using their antennas. The Grunds first appeared in “Giant-Size Defenders Vol 1” #3 in the 1970s. Here, they’re blue but in various comics, they’re other colors. Next to them, Baby Groot is a giant, something he enjoys a little too much. He looms over them and just his voice is disastrous to their tiny community. But in the end, he does give them sustenance albeit accidentally. The Grunds are overjoyed, some even brought to tears like the weeping grandma Grund.
#5: Tape Deck
“Groot’s First Steps” The first scene of the series opens on a sleeping Baby Groot. To the right of the frame, we can see a small stereo, an essential for the oft-dancing sapling. With no Drax in sight, he’s free to get down as much as he wants. And in another shot, we get a glimpse of the Milano’s cool tape deck. We’re assuming Quill’s “Awesome Mix Vol 2” cassette stays in heavy rotation but in this particular scene, Baby Groot is too busy unleashes his rage on a bonsai to bust out any sweet moves.
#4: Book Cover
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“Groot’s Pursuit” While out and about on the Quadrant, Baby Groot takes a minute to relax on the toilet. The book he reads is…interesting. The first image is instantly recognizable — Thanos. Then there’s a bird’s tail feather and another appearance by a Vyloo. The fourth square shows a purple banana; Baby Groot will later squash a real purple banana. The title of the book is written in Kree, and when translated, says “Dumps Happen.” Obviously this is the Kree’s version of the classic “Everyone Poops.”
#3: Family Tree
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“Magnum Opus” In the last short of “I Am Groot”, Baby Groot dabbles in arts and crafts. He collects items from around the ship, including little glowing tubes, the Anulax batteries stolen by his pal Rocket in “Vol. 2”. He also uses one of Star-Lord’s jet boots to weld all the pieces together. Totally not dangerous at all. Baby Groot’s completed “Magnum Opus” is a drawing of the “We Are Groot” moment at the end of “Guardians of the Galaxy”, when adult Groot sacrificed himself to save his new galactic family. The drawing shows all the Guardians wrapped in Groot’s large tree limbs.
#2: James Gunn Cameo
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“Groot’s Pursuit” “Guardians” writer-director James Gunn offered up his sweet dance moves through motion capture for Baby Groot way back when. But for this series, he lent his voice. When he goes to investigate a strange sound on the ship, Baby Groot grabs a smartwatch to use as a headlight. At one point, he accidentally activates the automated voices. Gunn is credited as “Wrist Watch,” so it’s unclear if he did all three voices. But the second one sounds an awful lot like him. You’d be forgiven for not catching this one.
#1: Quill’s Backpack
“Magnum Opus” Back in the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” film, we met a young, earth-bound Peter Quill. Remember his Jansport backpack? Maybe not. But it shows up again in “I Am Groot.” We know it’s his since it has the same patches and pins, including one for NASA. There’s also one of the ghosts from Pac-Man, which we already know Quill is a fan of. Baby Groot borrows Quill’s bag as he’s making his masterpiece. He takes out an issue of “Alf” #4, a Marvel comic featuring the titular furry alien. This issue is from 1988, the year Quill was abducted from Earth by Yondu.
