Dot and the Kangaroo (1977): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1977, Dot and the Kangaroo is an adventure, family and animation film directed by Yoram Gross, running about 71 minutes.

What it’s about. An Australian settler girl gets lost in the outback, but she is befriended by a kangaroo who gives her a ride in her pouch as they search for the girl's home. Aiding the pair are musically gifted koalas, platypuses, and kookaburras in this 72-minute film based on Ethel Pedley's 1899 children's book, with animated humans and animals superimposed upon a live background. Children will be touched by the relationship between the child and her marsupial protector, who has lost her own joey. But they may also be frightened by the mythical bunyip (a threatening animal-bird hybrid) or the heroines' violent confrontation with snarling dingoes. Finally, children who are used to happy endings will be mystified that the kangaroo never finds her own baby, and Dot, although returned home, sobs when separated from her beloved kangaroo. The film movingly dissolves from a weeping Dot to footage of real kangaroos bounding through the Australian bush. Ages 3 to 8. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Who’s in it. Dot and the Kangaroo stars Barbara Frawley as Dot (voice), Joan Bruce as The Kangaroo / Mother, Spike Milligan as Mr. Platypus (voice) and Ross Higgins as Willie Wagtail (voice), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Dot and the Kangaroo has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Eternal Family and Artiflix and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Dot and the Kangaroo page.

If you liked it. Fans of Dot and the Kangaroo tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception, Interstellar and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.