Superman proves James Gunn’s superpower is his love for animals

Over the years, Gunn has turned animals into emotional powerhouses in his stories. They’re not comic relief or background fluff, they are vital characters, often mirroring the emotional heart of the narrative. From space raccoons and telepathic dogs to misunderstood rats and vulnerable squirrels, Gunn’s animal characters are unforgettable –– they make his stories feel more humane.

Gunn-iverse runs on emotion, and animals are the conduits

Gunn’s storytelling has always gravitated toward misfits, outsiders, and the unloved. And in that world, animals often become poignant symbols of innocence, resilience, and unspoken trauma. Take Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, one of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) most gut-wrenching chapters to date. At its core, that movie is about Rocket Raccoon, his origin, his suffering, and the cruelty inflicted on him in the name of “scientific progress.” When Rocket and the other lab animals finally break free from their cages in the High Evolutionary’s lair, it’s much more than a rescue scene; it’s a moment of moral clarity, the kind that punches you right in the heart, especially if you’ve ever loved an animal.

Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The reason that scene hits so hard is because Gunn isn’t manipulating. He’s expressing something he truly believes in: the value of all life, not just the “superpowered” kind.

In The Suicide Squad (2021), Gunn gave us Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) and her rat companion, Sebastian, easily the film’s most surprising emotional anchor. Despite a story stuffed with explosions, grotesque monsters, and a giant alien starfish, it’s the bond between Ratcatcher and Sebastian that tugs at your soul. When Sebastian curls up next to a grieving character or offers a tiny leaf to Bloodsport (Idris Alba) as a gesture of love, it is almost embarrassingly moving. Gunn even used real trained rats for the film, and by all accounts, treated them like royalty on set.

Sebastian isn’t just there for cute gags. He’s a reminder that in Gunn’s world, kindness and connection don’t have to be loud or dramatic, they can come from the smallest creatures. In a team of killers, Sebastian was the one character who never had blood on his hands.

Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, along with Sebastian in The Suicide Squad

Paws, claws, and Kryptonian cause

In Superman (2025), Gunn continues this theme of animal empathy, and not just through Krypto, but in the details that might be easy to miss. One such moment features Superman rescuing a squirrel amid the chaos in Metropolis. It’s a deliberate, clearly framed act of compassion that speaks volumes about the kind of hero this version of Superman is. For him, no life is too small to matter.

Later in the film, as Lex Luthor’s rampage tears through the city and Metropolis faces evacuation, there’s a poignant shot of an elderly woman clutching a box holding her pet turtle. There are no dramatic lines, no music swell, just a deeply human moment that lands. In a film filled with spectacle, scenes like these ground the story and make Gunn’s version of Superman feels superior.

That’s Gunn at his best –– layering high-concept sci-fi with small, human moments that make you care not just about what happens, but to whom.

What makes Gunn’s use of animals so effective isn’t just their presence, it’s the meaning he assigns to them. Rocket, for instance, is more than a genetically-altered raccoon; he embodies deep emotional scars and resilience in the face of cruelty. Sebastian the rat becomes a symbol of pure, non-judgmental love in a world full of violent anti-heroes. Krypto, Cosmo, and even the blink-and-you-miss-it squirrel or turtle in Superman all bring an emotional softness that grounds the spectacle around them. These animals aren’t decorative, they are storytelling devices, catalysts for character growth, and reminders of the emotional stakes at play.

Krypto in Superman

In Gunn’s world, the smallest creatures often carry the heaviest emotional weight, subtly reminding us that kindness, empathy, and connection aren’t just superpowers, they’re what make us human. Gunn reminds us of the power of care. His movies are fun, wild, and loud, but they’re also tender. He taps into something universal –– the kind of love that transcends species.

So yes, if you leave the theatre thinking about adopting a dog, hugging your cat, or maybe even buying a box for your turtle, well, that’s exactly the point.