History Main / PolarPenguins

Penguins are the most iconic animals from Antarctica. Since they're among the few large organisms that can survive its year-round sub-zero temperatures, they're a visual shorthand for places with cold climates in fiction, even if they're [[MisplacedWildlife not native to said place]]. You won't find penguins in Alaska or Siberia for example, and please don't get us started on [[PolarBearsAndPenguins imaginary Arctic penguins and their polar bear friends]]. This association with snow and ice, as well as their [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter generally cute and rotund physiques]], may also be why they are [[DreamingOfAWhiteChristmas fairly common staples in Christmas media]], despite otherwise having no connection with the holiday.

Penguins are the most iconic animals from Antarctica. Since they're among the few large organisms that can survive its year-round sub-zero temperatures, they're a visual shorthand for places with cold climates in fiction, even if they're [[MisplacedWildlife not native to said place]]. You won't find penguins in Alaska or Siberia for example, and please don't get us started on [[PolarBearsAndPenguins imaginary Arctic penguins and their polar bear friends]]. This association with snow and ice may also be why they are [[DreamingOfAWhiteChristmas fairly common staples in Christmas media]], despite otherwise having no connection with the holiday.

Penguins are the most iconic animals from Antarctica. Since they're among the few large organisms that can survive its year-round sub-zero temperatures, they're a visual shorthand for places with cold climates in fiction, even if they're [[MisplacedWildlife not native to said place]]. You won't find penguins in Alaska or Siberia for example, and please don't get us started on [[PolarBearsAndPenguins imaginary Arctic penguins and their polar bear friends]]. This association to snow and ice may also be why they are [[DreamingOfAWhiteChristmas fairly common staples in Christmas media]], despite otherwise having no connection with the holiday.

Penguins are the most iconic animals from Antarctica. Since they're among the few large organisms that can survive its year-round sub-zero temperatures, they're a visual shorthand for places with cold climates in fiction, even if they're [[MisplacedWildlife not native to said place]]. You won't find penguins in Alaska or Siberia for example, and please don't get us started on [[PolarBearsAndPenguins imaginary Arctic penguins and their polar bear friends]]. This association to snow and ice may also be why they are [[DreamingOfAWhiteChristmas fairly common staples in Christmas media]].

Penguins are the most iconic animals from Antarctica. Since they're among the few large organisms that can survive its year-round sub-zero temperatures, they're a visual shorthand for places with cold climates in fiction, even if they're [[MisplacedWildlife not native to said place]]. You won't find penguins in Alaska or Siberia for example, and please don't get us started on [[PolarBearsAndPenguins imaginary Arctic penguins and their polar bear friends]].

* ''LetsPlay/NewLifeSMP'': The Penguin origin, held by Jimmy in his third life, has an affinity for the cold and their abilities are affected by the climate the player is in. They can flop onto their bellies and slide around in cold biomes, and are weaker and slower in warm biomes and require 4-8 levels of the Fire Protection enchantment to function well there. They are also set aflame in [[FireAndBrimstoneHell the Nether]] and [[WeakToFire take double fire-based damage]] unless they have high enough levels of Fire Protection, and are slower in non-cold biomes and require the Frost Walker enchantment to maintain their walking speed.

Penguins are the most iconic animals from Antarctica. Since they're among the few large organisms that can survive its year-round sub-zero temperatures, they're a visual shorthand for places with cold climates in fiction, even if they're [[MisplacedWildlife not native to said place]]. You won't find penguins in the Yukon or Siberia for example, and please don't get us started on [[PolarBearsAndPenguins imaginary Arctic penguins and their polar bear friends]].

* ''VideoGame/SubnauticaBelowZero'' takes place in a polar region of Planet 4546B. It includes "penglings", penguin-like animals that serve as the game's MascotMook.

* The ''Toys/iDog'' toy iCy is a penguin and is named after ice.

* The teaser trailer for ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' begins with Bowser invading the penguins' kingdom, which features a giant castle made of ice. The penguins try (and fail) to attack the Koopa Troop with snowballs.

* ''VideoGame/{{Coryoon}}'': Penguins are minor enemies in the Arctic sea level, and attacks Coryoon on sight.

* Pengulls only appear in ''VideoGame/DontStarve'' during Winter season, and were added at the same time it was added. They create nests surrounded by ice.

[[folder:Animation]]
* ''Animation/HappyHeroes'' villain Penguin Monster, whose [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin name speaks for itself]], has [[BreathWeapon ice breath powers]].
* ''Animation/PororoTheLittlePenguin'': Pororo and Petty are penguins and where they live, there's always a sheet of snow. They also typically wear gloves ([[CostumeEvolution at least later on in the series]]).

** ''VideoGame/MarioParty5'': In the minigame Pushy Penguins, the players are standing on an artic coast, and then a multitude of penguins (including big ones) approaches. The objective is to avoid being dragged into the cold water by the incoming penguins, which becomes increasingly difficult as more of them approach. The last player remaining wins, though more than one can win if they survive after 30 seconds.

* The reveal trailer for ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' begins with Bowser invading the penguin's kingdom, which features a giant castle made of ice. The penguins try (and fail) to attack the Koopa Troop with snowballs.

* ''VideoGame/VivaPinata: Trouble in Pradise'' has the Pengum, which only found in the Piñarctic, and you'll need some snow in your garden to make them residents.

This is TruthInTelevision, but RealityIsUnrealistic. Only two species of penguins live solely in Antarctica (though a few more live on sub-Antarctic islands), and the others can be found on the coastlines of Chile and Argentina, South Africa, Oceania, or even as far north as the Galapagos Islands. However, although there are a lot of tropical species of penguins, they need to live in places with cold waters (e.g. the Humboldt Current in western South America, bringing frigid waters from Antarctica). Research indicates this being a consequence of wing-propelled birds failing to catch fish in water temperatures above 15º, and indeed the Arctic counterparts to penguins, auks, seldom live in warm waters either.

See also MammothsMeanIceAge and SnowySabretooths, and compare PenguinsAreDucks for other penguin inaccuracies.