Patton Oswalt
Self
Overview
In a picturesque South African town, an eclectic group of endangered penguins flock together to find mates, raise families and mix with the locals.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Jun 16, 2021
Cast
Reviews
3 min readThe Unlikely Comedy of Survival
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t expecting to laugh. Not at a nature documentary about endangered penguins, anyway. But Penguin Town isn’t your typical wildlife series, and Patton Oswalt’s narration is the first clue that this isn’t going to be a somber march through ecological doom.
Within the first five minutes, he’s already comparing a penguin’s waddle to “a drunk uncle at a wedding,” and I’m hooked. The show’s gamble—blending conservation messaging with the kind of anthropomorphic humor usually reserved for animated films—could have backfired. Instead, it lands somewhere between March of the Penguins and The Office, a strange but effective hybrid that makes you care about these birds precisely because it refuses to treat them like saints.
The setting is Simon’s Town, South Africa, a coastal village where African penguins—one of the most endangered penguin species in the world—have set up an improbable urban colony. The series follows a handful of these birds as they navigate the absurdities of survival: dodging cars, squabbling over real estate, and, most crucially, trying to find love in a shrinking habitat. The penguins are given names like “Rocket” and “Boulder,” and their personalities are exaggerated just enough to make them feel like characters in a workplace sitcom.
(One particularly dramatic penguin, dubbed “The Couple,” spends an entire episode failing to conceive, a storyline that Oswalt narrates with the gravitas of a Maury episode.) It’s silly, yes, but the humor never undercuts the stakes. If anything, it makes the conservation message more palatable, especially for younger viewers. After all, it’s easier to root for a penguin when you’re laughing at its misfortunes.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.5/10
"A charming and heartwarming documentary series that delights with its adorable penguin stars and engaging narration."
Viewers appreciate the lighthearted and feel-good nature of the series, which follows the daily lives of African penguins in Simon's Town, South Africa. Patton Oswalt’s narration is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, adding humor and warmth to the storytelling. latestnetflix.com's view is that however, some note the series lacks depth in exploring broader ecological or conservation issues, focusing more on entertainment than education.
What viewers praise
- Adorable penguin stars The penguins are universally loved for their charming and entertaining antics, making the series a delightful watch.
- Engaging narration Patton Oswalt’s narration is praised for its humor and warmth, enhancing the storytelling.
- Feel-good tone The series is described as uplifting and heartwarming, perfect for light and enjoyable viewing.
- Family-friendly Suitable for all ages, making it a great choice for family viewing.
Common complaints
- Lacks depth Some viewers feel the series could have delved deeper into ecological or conservation topics rather than focusing solely on entertainment.
- Repetitive content A few note that the series occasionally feels repetitive, with similar storylines across episodes.
- Limited scope The focus on a small group of penguins may leave some wanting broader coverage of the species or their habitat.
Recommended for
Animal lovers Family-friendly entertainment seekers Lighthearted documentary fans Patton Oswalt fans Feel-good series enthusiasts
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe crew went vegan so the sardines would last
Cayley Christos compared the Simon's Town shoot to a dating show. "It became very clear very quickly that this was like watching a reality show like 'Love Island' or 'Big Brother,'" the Red Rock Films field producer told the Associated Press. Netflix dropped the eight-part series on 16 June 2021. Patton Oswalt narrates and is listed as an executive producer. He said he took the gig after watching unfinished cuts. latestnetflix.com's view is that "I jumped at the chance because I watched a lot of the raw footage and I was just kind of bowled over how enchanting and sweet it was."
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Red Rock started with about 80 nests on Boulders Beach, then 50 pairs watched around the clock, then a final five storylines. Nest cams, drones, waterproof cameras, special tripods, and an antigravity rig did the work. The 30-person crew ate only plants for eight months. They wanted the sardines left for the birds. African penguins, still nicknamed jackass penguins for the bray, have walked into Simon's Town gardens since the early 1980s after boat traffic pushed them off nearby islands. They arrive in November and stay about six months. Christos cited estimates that 2 percent of the population from a century ago is left, and that the species may have about a decade. "Living among people isn't easy. It's not the best place for them. They really should be on an island, but they have no choice." ,
Oswalt treats the colony like a sitcom. Joel Keller at Decider clocked veteran pair the Bougainvilleas, newlywed Culverts, and scrawny Junior, a first-year bird who cannot finish his molt. Keller guessed Oswalt punched up the jokes, including a Billy Idol riff about a "black-and-white wedding." The AP piece tags a middle-aged couple as "the poster penguins for monogamy" and a crew of pests as the Car Park Gang. Oswalt said, "You really do kind of latch on to some of these personalities. You follow all these little stories and you're rooting for these guys." Christos knew the nicknames would annoy purists. "I know people don't love anthropomorphizing all the time, but it's hard not to do when they so clearly have these personalities. And so we didn't really have a choice but to make it really personal." ,
Reviewers split on whether the jokes help the birds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2X-1Ui3G48
Richard Roeper at the Chicago Sun-Times called it a featherweight documentary and liked the voice. Stuart Heritage at The Guardian called it tremendous comfort food and praised the lack of violence. India Bourke at the New Statesman said the series lightly mocks an endangered species for entertainment. Red Rock later listed three Emmy wins and a Wildscreen Panda Award on its project page. The British Board of Film Classification issued a Parental Guidance certificate. The official trailer still sells traffic jams, garden nests, and Oswalt's wisecracks. Netflix kept the limited run on the US catalog. , ,
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.