Arlo the Alligator Boy (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ansel gave Arlo up to protect him from the challenges of being different. Like Arlo, Ansel is half-bird, not half-alligator as Arlo believed. Knowing that their unique identities would face societal rejection and difficulties, Ansel made the painful decision to abandon Arlo in hopes that he would have a safer, more accepted life elsewhere.

• abandonment
• Ansel
• father
• protection
• origins

Ansel denied being Arlo's father because he was ashamed of having abandoned him and feared the emotional confrontation. When Arlo approached him in New York City, Ansel's initial reaction was to push him away rather than admit the painful truth of his past decision.

• denial
• shame
• confrontation
• New York

Ansel suggested Arlo change his appearance because he had spent years hiding his own half-bird identity to become a successful entrepreneur in mainstream society. Ansel's advice reflected his own flawed approach to dealing with prejudice, he believed conforming would protect Arlo from rejection.

• appearance
• conformity
• acceptance
• society

Ansel is half-bird, not human-alligator like Arlo. This reveal at the Met Gala explains why he could recognize Arlo as his son despite their different appearances. Their shared trait is being different from mainstream society, not their physical species.

• Ansel
• half-bird
• identity
• reveal
• species

Ruff and Stucky are alligator hunters who pursued Arlo after a passerby spotted him and reported his location. They attempted to capture Arlo using a fearsome creature called 'the Beast,' treating him as a prize catch due to his unusual alligator-like appearance.

• hunters
• Ruff
• Stucky
• Beast
• capture

Edmée waited until Arlo was fifteen, the age when he was old enough to handle the truth about his origins and make his own decisions about seeking his biological father. By then, Arlo had developed the maturity and courage to embark on such a significant journey.

• Edmée
• wristband
• birthday
• origins
• adoption

Arlo chose to stay with his friends because they had supported him unconditionally throughout his journey and taught him that being different is what makes someone special. While he forgave Ansel and welcomed him into his life, Arlo valued the found family that accepted him for who he truly was.

• friends
• choice
• belonging
• acceptance
• found family

The movie doesn't explicitly explain how baby Arlo survived the sewage drain and ocean currents, but he was ultimately swept into a swamp where he was found and adopted by Edmée. The narrative focuses on his survival and rescue rather than the specific mechanics of his journey.

• baby
• sewage
• ocean
• survival
• Edmée

During the chaos of Arlo's infiltration at the Met Gala, Ansel rescued Arlo from Ruff and Stucky's capture and publicly revealed that he was Arlo's father. In the emotional moment, Ansel explained he had given Arlo up to protect him and begged for forgiveness, allowing them to begin rebuilding their relationship.

• Met Gala
• revelation
• rescue
• forgiveness
• father

Ansel allowed Arlo and his friends to revitalize the seashore area of New York City in its original, natural splendor. This decision symbolized his acceptance of Arlo's values and vision, representing a new beginning where Arlo's unique perspective was embraced rather than suppressed.

• seashore
• revitalization
• acceptance
• new beginning
• city

Bertie rescued Arlo from the hunters and decided to accompany him to New York City because she saw herself in Arlo, someone who felt like an outsider. Their shared experience of being different created an immediate bond, and Bertie became his loyal companion throughout the journey.

• Bertie
• friendship
• rescue
• companionship
• outsider

The Beast was a fearsome creature employed by Ruff and Stucky to capture Arlo. While the movie doesn't provide extensive details about the Beast's origins, it serves as the hunters' primary weapon in their attempt to trap Arlo during their pursuit.

• Beast
• hunters
• Ruff
• Stucky
• creature