Animation Source Forums

I agree with JC here - what's wrong with someone having different dreams and goals throughout their lives? I know I have many different dreams myself, so I guess I understand your confusion, xStarfirex.

However from what I've learned through observing real-life, JC is right. Both of the sequels show us (the viewers) a new side of Balto that wasn't even present in the first - Balto as a father. Remember, life can easily change when a new life (or in this case, six) enters into your daily world, and this is shown in both WQ and WoC.

We see a side of him showing love and protection for them as pups, and his worry for Aleu since he knows that she's too wild-looking and too much of a free-spirit to ever be adopted by a human throughout WQ, all while dealing with lack of sleep and confusion about these dreams that his mother is always sending him. His first and main concern is for his daughter, and I suppose every father wants only what they believe is best for their little princess, right? (I'm a girl, so that's something I can only observe . . . Bah.)

In WoC, Balto is much older (it is over three years since the events of the original film, mind you) and his children are all seeking their fortune as mature dogs, and of course, his affection this time around is towards Kodi, the apparent runt of the litter who wasn't that fast or as strong as Aleu and the rest of his siblings when they were still growing up as puppies. Balto has pride for his son and wants him to succeed in everything that he does on a sled team, but knows that like everything in the world, times are starting to change . . . and he knows this from life experience. Even when the challenge between the mail dogs and the plane is set up, Balto knows that he can't run as fast as the plane can fly but in the end, he's willing to try his best, not expecting the events that await at the finish line. By that time, he bravely tells Kodi the truth that their lives will not be so secure just because they won, and although he willingly goes off to search for the missing pilot, he knows that he's doing the right thing - it's what he's always wanted to do . . . helping people despite what breeding he is.

And of course, Balto's dream to fly . . . well, I'm not sure why he's so fascinated by Duke's plane, but perhaps it's just something he's learned to become interested in since the time of his heroic deeds. However, I see nothing wrong with that - Balto is a wild spirit himself, although he may not always show it as much when he's around his children. (Like with Aleu in WQ - he's not much of a leader with wolves only because he's way out of his comfort zone. Aleu, however, was meant out there, so her leadership qualities are similar to her father's but different, because she knew that the needs of all were more important than those of just herself (or Balto's, when it came to his daughter's safety) . . .)

So yeah, it's plain normal for one to have many dreams. The first movie allowed Balto to break that barrier that was always holding him back from achieving his original goal of becoming a sled-dog (a lead dog, to be exact), while also adding his growing affections for Jenna and willingness to make Steele realize that the dying children were more important than just being a strong, popular lead dog. Thanks to the achievements of him fulfilling his main goals, it led the way to these new ones that the sequels added into his life.

- Juuchan17

No prob. I feel like I understand both your reasons as well as xStarfirex's, so this wasn't really much of a problem. Balto is just personified through the films, giving him that sense of human quality about him.

He's not just a hero - once he becomes a father, he just learns to deal with the same difficulties as other fathers do with their children. (Especially since he vaguely remembers his own father . . . and Boris is like "the father he never had," what else does he have to work with here?) Sure, he'll make mistakes - heroes aren't perfect, you know and even fathers learn through trying. That's how life is, and since this is his first go at fatherhood, Balto isn't going to be the best at it.

He protects his daughter only because he cares - Balto doesn't want Aleu to feel the same pain and hurt that he felt all those years ago while he was growing up, that's all . . . he just waited until it was almost too late to tell Aleu the truth about his breeding and what it made her become.

He means well to worry about his son because he knows that things will always change, whether we want them to or not - Balto didn't want to break Kodi's dreams when he said that the time of the future will come; he said those things because he knew that the pilot didn't mean any harm to them . . . he learned that from experience. Kodi just was young and followed the crowd of the ones he called his friends instead of believing his father's words of wisdom, but of course, we all know that in the end, Kodi realizes (thanks mostly in part for Jenna's scolding words) that Balto was right all along.

This is one of the reasons why I love these films. The animals have such human qualities about them, making them relatable to viewers and almost a reflection of ourselves. They have flaws and strengths, different life-stories, and even have a strange mix of best friends that they can always rely on for help or comfort. Wonderful stuff.

I hope this helps you understand things, xStarfirex!

- Juuchan17

Yes, Balto changed as a father - we know that.

I think he was a tad too overprotective to be realistic in WQ. I think he did run after Aleu because he knew she was being a bit foolish running away on a whim, but gee... Aleu had to always be saved by him and the only time she made a stand was when she explained about the ice bridge. Otherwise Balto dominated the scene... although that was probably Universal trying to fit Balto in somehow with the plot

Balto in WoC, though - he was okay. No real complaints there.

It's all because he becomes father now, moreover, maybe after Aleu went off, he really wanted to take care his children. I mean he don't want they vanish from his mind.

I have to say that his principles are the same and that hes just redirecting them to other situations.

I think that when you have a dream, and you make true your dream you don´t have to stop you have to keep dreaming, and found another one i think Balto did.

There's no point to this topic,the author's account was deleted.