Penguin Town Waddles Its Way to Netflix

A new series tracks the fascinating adventures of penguins in and around a South African town

Back in 2006, March of the Penguins won the Oscar for Best Documentary, and this eight-part docuseries covers similar ground. Set in a picturesque South African town, it follows an eclectic group of endangered penguins as they flock together to find mates, raise their families and mix with the locals, as more than 1,000 penguin couples will emerge and engage in their complex mating rituals.

“Forget ice and snow, this rowdy colony of African penguins are hitting the sun-drenched beaches and breaking all the rules,” declares Netflix’s synopsis. “Every summer, these tuxedoed birds vie for prime real estate on the sandy shores of Simon’s Town, south of Cape Town, and stir things up. While humans apply sunblock and wax their surfboards, these endangered little guys, who have adapted to heat and can travel long distances, are causing traffic jams in the streets and bringing mayhem to this tropical paradise. Their mission: find a mate, make babies and not go extinct!”

Viewers are promised no shortage of “boisterous shenanigans” from the various penguins, who’ve been given nicknames such as the Car Park Gang and Mr. & Mrs C., the latter described as “newlyweds.” If it all sounds a bit more on the wacky side than March of the Penguins, the humourous aspects are amped up thanks to narration from comedian extraordinaire Patton Oswalt.

Penguin Town debuts Wednesday, June 16th on Netflix