Paddles (June 17, 1994)

 Paddles is a heartwarming family film set in the summer of 1970, centred around the unlikely friendship between a young boy named Timmy Rogers and a stranded baby paddlesnout dolo named Paddles. The film follows Timmy's efforts to rescue Paddles, nurse her back to health, and ultimately set her free into the ocean. The idea for “Paddles” originated from a novel written by acclaimed author James Anderson, who was inspired by his own childhood experiences with marine life. Anderson's novel gained widespread popularity, capturing the imaginations of readers with its endearing characters and captivating storyline. In 1994, the film adaptation of "Paddles” was produced by Oceanic Studios, with director Steven Jennings at the helm. The studio faced challenges in bringing the story to life, particularly in finding the perfect dolo actors to portray Paddles at different stages of her life. Ultimately, two dolo actors were cast for the role of “Paddles”: Minerva, a wild adult female paddlesnout dolo, and Tafiti, a dolo pup. Both dolos underwent extensive training to perform the necessary behaviours for the film, including swimming, interacting with human actors, and executing specific stunts. Shortly after the production of the film, both Minerva and Tafiti had passed away due to their "extensive training".