History Main / UnusualAnimalAlliance

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'': (The page image.) A large group of all sorts of different animals make a pact and they form friendships. They even have an 'oath of mutual protection' in which they promise not to hurt each other and take care of each other when needed. The trope is {{Lampshaded}} by the snake, Adder, who wonders how the predators are supposed to survive if they can't eat their prey.

Compare to MultiAnimalTeam for other multi-species animal gatherings.

Sometimes WoodlandCreatures or other animals are in deep trouble. Their home has been destroyed and/or they want to build a stronger and better one. Sometimes they have to because HumansAreTheRealMonsters, but it can also be because Mother Nature screws them. Such an alliance can lead to CarnivoreConfusion because they are herbivores and carnivores working together, which can lead to problems within the group.

* Lampshaded in ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'' when the kingdom is suffering from the mismanagement of [[TheCaligula Duke Felmet]] and some WoodlandCreatures (including rabbits, deer, foxes and wolves) show up on Granny Weatherwax's doorstep. She says this:

* In ''Disney/{{Dinosaur}}'', Aladar, an ''Iguanodon'', is [[RaisedByWolves raised by lemurs]], who stay with him even when he meets his species. Aladar and his adopted family then join a herd (led by ''Iguanodon'' Kron) consisting of other ''Iguanodon'', ''Parasaurolophus'', ''Pachyrhinosaurus'', ''Styracosaurus'', ''Microceratus'', ''Stygimiloch'', and ''Struthiomimus''. Aladar then falls in with the herd's elders, a ''Brachiosaurus'', a ''Styracosaurus'' and an ''Ankylosaurus''. This large multi-species herd predates Aladar's birth, showing that the species are not together just because they're all going to the same place, but suggesting that the dinosaurs of this film always formed a multi-species herd.

* ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'': The main trio consists of a mammoth, a ground sloth and a sabre-toothed cat, who get together to return a human baby to his parents, but become TrueCompanions along the way. They are joined by other mammoths, sloths, opossums and a weasel in the sequels.

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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/farthing_wood_animals.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Yup. These guys do not intend to eat each other.]]

Sometimes WoodlandCreatures or other animals are in deep trouble. Their home has been destroyed and/or they want to build a stronger and better one. Sometimes they have to because HumansAreTheRealMonsters, but it can also be because Mother Nature screws them. Such an alliance can lead to CarnivoreConfusion because they are herbivores and carnivores working together, which can lead to problems within the group.

Sometimes an group of animals just belong to a group because it's normal, like a wolf pack or a deer herd. That is '''not''' this trope.

A piece of media fits this trope if it has the following:

* Animals from different species (often [[EnemyMine otherwise enemies]]) working together, promising each other to help accomplish goals (in order to survive).
* They try to build a home, sometimes far away.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters (sometimes)
* A lot of problems lie in their path, which could lead to the death of (several) characters.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'': The main trio consists of a mammoth, a ground sloth and a sabre-toothed cat, who get together to return a human baby to his parents, but become TrueCompanions along the way. They are joined by other mammoths, sloths, opossums and a weasel in the sequels.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'', the team consists of a baby ''Apatosaurus'', ''Triceratops'', ''Stegosaurus'', ''Saurolophus'' and ''Pteranodon'', who team up to find their lost families. The narrator [[LampshadeHanging points out]] that the world 'has never seen a herd like this before'. They are joined by a ''Tyrannosaurus'' and an ''Oviraptor'' as the series goes on.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'': A lion, a zebra, a giraffe and a hippo, occasionally assisted by penguins, chimpanzees and lemurs.
** Initially subverted for Marty and Alex; they were raised together in a zoo and don't know any better. At the end of the movie, this trope is in full force for them.
* In ''Disney/{{Dinosaur}}'', Aladar, an ''Iguanodon'', is [[RaisedByWolves raised by lemurs]], who stay with him even when he meets his species. Aladar and his adopted family then join a herd (led by ''Iguanodon'' Kron) consisting of other ''Iguanodon'', ''Parasaurolophus'', ''Pachyrhinosaurus'', ''Styracosaurus'', ''Microceratus'', ''Stygimiloch'', and ''Struthiomimus''. Aladar then falls in with the herd's elders, a ''Brachiosaurus'', a ''Styracosaurus'' and an ''Ankylosaurus''. This large multi-species herd predates Aladar's birth, showing that the species are not together just because they're all going to the same place, but suggesting that the dinosaurs of this film always formed a multi-species herd.
* ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'':
** Sharks attempt such an alliance with fish and have support meetings to stop eating fish, complete with the mantra: "Fish are friends, not food!".
** The Tank Gang, who are fish, are friends with a pelican, who lampshades it when he mentions that he ''does'' eat fish, but ''not these'' fish since they are his friends.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/WatershipDown'', the rabbits enlist the aid of field mice and -- more significantly -- the seagull Kehaar to protect their warren.
* ''Literature/AnimalFarm'': At least, at first, various farm animals team up to defeat humans. Then they are usurped by a pig with dictatorical tendencies, assisted by dogs.
* The Wise and Royal Beasts in the ''Literature/FirekeeperSaga'' have done this on occasion. But when not necessary they follow Survival of the Fittest like any other creatures.
* Lampshaded in ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'' when the kingdom is suffering from the mismanagement of [[TheCaligula Duke Felmet]] and some WoodlandCreatures (including rabbits, deer, foxes and wolves) show up on Granny Weatherwax's doorstep. She says this:
-->All I know is, whenever this...[[BuffySpeak whatever it is]] wears off, some of you little buggers are going to want to run really quickly.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'': (The page image.) A large group of all sorts of different animals make a pact and they form friendships. They even have an 'oath of mutual protection' in which they promise not to hurt each other and take care of each other when needed. The trope is {{Lampshaded}} by the snake, Adder, who wonders how the predators are supposed to survive if they can't eat their prey.
-->'''Badger:''' Remember the oath! We must stand together and fight!
[[/folder]]
----

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'': (The page image.) A large group of all sorts of different animals make a pact and they form friendships. They even have an 'oath of mutual protection' in which they promise not to hurt each other and take care of each other when needed. The trope is {{Lampshaded}} by the snake, who wonders how the predators are supposed to survive if they can't eat their prey.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'': (The page image.) A large group of all sorts of different animals make a pact and they form friendships. They even have a 'oath of mutual protection' in which they promise not to hurt each each other and take care of each other when needed. The trope is {{Lampshaded}} by the snake, who wonders how the predators are supposed to survive if they can't eat their prey.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'', the team consists of a baby apatosaurus, triceratops, stegosaurus, hadrosaur and pterosaur, who team up to find their lost families. The narrator [[LampshadeHanging points out]] that the world 'has never seen a herd like this before'.

** Sharks attempt such an alliance with fish, and have support meetings complete with the mantra:
--->"Fish are friends, not food!"
** Somewhat more successful is the Tank Gang's alliance with a pelican.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'', there are multiple examples. They even have a 'oath of mutual protection' in which they promise not to hurt each each other and take care of each other when needed. The trope is {{Lampshaded}} by the Snake, who wonders how the predators are supposed to survive if they can't eat their prey.

!!Examples

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

[[AC:FilmAnimated]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'':

---> Fish are friends, not food!

[[AC:Literature]]

* The Wise and Royal Beasts in the ''{{Firekeeper}}'' series have done this on occasion. But when not necessary they follow Survival of the Fittest like any other creatures.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

--> '''Badger''': Remember the oath! We must stand together and fight!

* ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' plays with this. The makers of the film said that they wanted the main characters to be natural enemies. So yes a friendship between a rabbit and a fox is unusual. Thing is, it should not be unusual because the animals are civilised and anthropomorphic and for predators eating their fellow citizens is out of the question. It is unusual because of negative stereotypes which the film studies, that have more to do with what their primitive ancestors (real animals) did.

* In ''WesternAnimation/PeaceOnEarth'', they make their alliance after humanity wiped itself out.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Animals_of_farthing.jpg]]]]

* In ''WatershipDown'', the rabbits enlist the aid of field mice and -- more significantly -- the seagull Kehaar to protect their warren.

--> '''Badger''': 'Remember the oath! We must stand together and fight!'

** Initially subverted for Marty and Alex: they were raised together in a zoo and don't know any better. At the end of the movie, this trope is in full force for them.

* Animals from different species (often [[EnemyMine otherwise enemies]]) working together, promising each other to accomplish goals (in order to survive).

* ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' plays with this. The makers of the film said that they wanted the main characters to be natural enemies. So yes a friendship between a rabbit and a fox is unusual. Thing is, it should not be unusual because the animals are civilised and anthropomorphic and for predators eating their fellow citizens is out of the question. It is unusual because of negative stereotypes which the film studies , that have more to do with what their primitive ancestors (real animals) did.

* ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' plays with this. The makers of the film said that they wanted the main characters to be natural enemies. So yes a friendship between a rabbit and a fox is unusual. Thing is, it should not be unusual because the animals are civilised and anthropomorphic and for predators eating their fellow citizens is out of the question. So yes, it is unusual because of negative stereotypes which the film studies , that have more to do with what their primitive ancestors (real animals) did.

* ''Disney/Zootopia'' plays with this. The makers of the film said that they wanted the main characters to be natural enemies. So yes a friendship between a rabbit and a fox is unusual. Thing is, it should not be unusual because the animals are civilised and anthropomorphic and for predators eating their fellow citizens is out of the question. So yes, it is unusual because of negative stereotypes which the film studies , that have more to do with what their primitive ancestors (real animals) did.

* In ''TheLandBeforeTime'', the team consists of a baby apatosaurus, triceratops, stegosaurus, hadrosaur and pterosaur, who team up to find their lost families. The narrator [[LampshadeHanging points out]] that the world 'has never seen a herd like this before'.

Sometimes animals are in deep trouble. Their home has been destroyed and/or they want to build a stronger and better one. Sometimes they have to because HumansAreTheRealMonsters, but it can also be because Mother Nature screws them. Such an alliance can lead to CarnivoreConfusion because they are herbivores and carnivores working together, which can lead to problems within the group.

Often the animals will be WoodlandCreatures.

* In ''Disney/{{Dinosaur}}'', an iguanodon is [[RaisedByWolves raised by lemurs]], who stay with him even when he meets his species.