Hugo the Hippo (20th Century Fox, 1975)

Because I like hippos so much, I wanted to like this movie, but I found it enormously disappointing, mainly because of the insipid musical numbers and bizarre digressions. The only part I enjoyed was the musical sequence "H-I-P-P-O-P-O-T-A-M-U-S."

Some notable credits: Burl Ives was the narrator, Paul Lynde provided the voice of Abu Khan (the villain), and the songs were performed by Marie and Jimmy Osmond.

This series followed the worldwide travels of the eccentric English doctor who could talk to the animals. In the episode "High-Flying Hippo," Dolittle and his crew employed a hot-air balloon to rescue a hippo who was trapped on an inaccessible ledge.

Kimba was a noble white lion who ruled over a peaceful jungle kingdom in Africa. It seemed, however, that someone or something was always threatening the peace and security of the jungle, and it was up to Kimba to protect his home and friends. Threats included human hunters, other animals (such as the evil lion Claw), and the forces of nature.

The hippos usually served as background characters, but a few episodes featured them in lead roles. In one story, a strange hippo shows up and--through sheer bluster and braggadocio--usurps control of the local hippo herd. Later, the stranger is accused of murder, and Kimba (a staunch supporter of justice) takes it upon himself to find the evidence which will vindicate him.

Peter Potamus was a purple hippopotamus who dressed like a jungle explorer and talked like comedian Joe E. Brown. Peter and his sidekick, a helpful monkey called So-So, traveled around the world--and through time--in a sailing ship outfitted with a hot-air balloon in place of sails. Peter didn't have any super powers per se, but he did have a secret weapon: the Hippo Hurricane Holler. In times of trouble, he could produce a hurricane-force blast of wind which would literally blow away any would-be foes.

By the way, if you understand Portuguese, you might enjoy the Peter Potamus Page from Portugal. (Try saying THAT three times fast.)

This series follows the manic adventures of the Warner siblings Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, a trio of 1930s cartoon characters locked up in the Warner Bros. Studio water tower shortly after their creation and only recently rereleased upon an unsuspecting world. The show also includes several component series, such as "Rita and Runt," "Goodfeathers," and "Slappy Squirrel."

One of the component series, "Hip Hippos," follows the travels of Flavio and Marita, a pair of trendy hippos who want to run with the jet set. The only thing standing in their way is Geena Embryo, a misguided naturalist who believes the hippos to be simple, innocent creatures who require her protection.

This series borrowed many of the main characters from Disney's The Jungle Book (1967), anthropomorphized them a bit, and placed them in a new setting with original characters. Baloo the Bear, for example, was transformed into a happy-go-lucky cargo pilot who lived and worked on the tropical island city of Cape Suzette. Two hippo characters worth mentioning are Howard Huge, an eccentric billionaire, and Plane Jane, a friendly rival pilot.