Disney’s Flora & Ulysses gives us a pretty unconventional superhero: a squirrel who gains powers after a run-in with a vacuum cleaner.
(There’s an origin story you don’t hear every day.)
And on top of taking an unexpected approach to the superhero genre, the movie is jam-packed with pop culture easter eggs. Here’s some to look out for, from Marvel to DuckTales to Buffy!
Superhero Easter Eggs
Obviously, Flora & Ulysses is packed with superhero references and easter eggs. Flora herself is a huge comic book fan, and the film’s intro spotlights quite a few recognizable Marvel comics heroes. (That MCU acquisition is letting Disney drop Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and more right out the gate.)
There are quite a few obvious homages to well-known Marvel heroes. Flora and the comic book store clerk get into an argument about who Spider-Man could beat in a fight. You can spot plenty of your favorite heroes tucked into the pages of Flora’s comic collection. Plus, at one point she quotes Robert Downey Jr. himself, telling her dad “I love you 3000.”
But be on the lookout for more subtle nods too. Flora’s house is full of little superhero references, from her books and toys to the decor on the walls. Look out for Mysterio and the ventriloquist dummy next to the TV for starters.
DuckTales Easter Eggs
Flora & Ulysses is a bit of a modern DuckTales reunion, with Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz, Bobby Moynihan, and Kate Micucci all appearing in the film and voicing characters on the TV show.
“After a while, we realized that the best goldmine in all of television is DuckTales and we must bring everybody from there onto the movie,” joked director Lena Khan. “Everybody from that show is fantastic.”
As a tribute to the series, Flora & Ulysses drops several DuckTales easter eggs. Right at the beginning of the movie, you can catch Moynihan’s comic book clerk reading a DuckTales comic. And later, you can spot actual ducks in the animal control office – wearing collars the color of Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s shirts.
And Even More Pop Culture References
Jack and Rose from Titanic feature prominently in Flora & Ulysses. You can spot a crowd playing Dungeons & Dragons at the comic book shop. Flora’s friend William sports Daredevil glasses. Really, the movie pulls from pop culture everywhere. Some of the references are obvious, but even more are tucked away in the background, just waiting to be discovered. Check the wall decor and bookshelves for classic Disney references, tributes to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and more.
Flora & Ulysses premieres on Disney+ February 19.
