Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild

Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild

Year: 2011

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: Korean

Director: Oh Sung-yoon

AnimationAdventureFamilyDrama

A story of love, sacrifice and courage. Based on a bestselling Korean novel that sold over a million copies, it follows Leafie, a laying hen destined for a monotonous life on a chicken farm. After she escapes, she accidentally hatches a duck egg and raises the duckling as her own, embarking on a daring journey into the wild together in search of freedom.

Bittersweet
Bittersweet ending
Moderately emotional
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild (2011)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild (2011). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Autumn

Autumn sweeps across the land, signaling change as leaves turn and migration begins. The season marks a shift from confinement to exploration, mirroring Leafie’s quest for motherhood and belonging. Weather and light shift with the coming cold, framing moments of escape, danger, and hard choices. The fall atmosphere underpins the emotional and physical journey toward the Everglades.

Location

Battery cage chicken farm, Barnyard, The Wild, Everglades

Leafie's story begins in a crowded battery cage chicken farm and its busy barnyard, an environment of confinement and forced egg production. The narrative then moves into the wild—a rugged landscape of wetlands, reeds, and predatory threats. The Everglades become the symbolic destination where her journey toward freedom and Greenie’s future unfolds. The film contrasts the claustrophobic farm with a vast natural world that tests every creature’s resilience.

🐔 Farm 🌳 Wilderness 💧 Wetlands 🗺️ Habitat

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:59

Main Characters – Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild (2011)

Meet the key characters of Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild (2011), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Leafie (Moon So-ri)

Leafie is a hopeful hen who longs to become a mother and protect a young life. After escaping the farm, she becomes a nurturing caregiver to Greenie, teaching him to swim, fly, and survive. She faces social ostracism from other birds and navigates the moral complexities of guiding a hatchling toward independence. Her resolve drives the journey and frames the film's emotional core.

🐣 Courage 🌿 Family 🐦 Motherhood

Wanderer (Choi Min-sik)

A mysterious wandering mallard who saves Leafie from One-Eye and sets her on a path. He dies protecting Leafie's future by entrusting her with guarding his egg and taking his unborn child to the Everglades. His absence and sacrifice catalyze Leafie's resolve and Greenie's growth.

🗺️ Mentor ⚖️ Sacrifice 🐦 Freedom

Greenie (Yoo Seung-ho)

A duckling who imprints on Leafie and grows under her care. He learns to swim and fly with help from Mr. Otter, Bat, and Owl, and later earns a place as the flock's guard duck. His journey embodies resilience and the search for belonging.

🪶 Growth 🏁 Belonging 🐣 Patience

One-Eye (Kim Sang-hyun)

A predatory, one-eyed weasel who hunts Greenie and challenges Wanderer. Her relentless pursuit tests Leafie's protective instincts and drives the cycle of danger that threads through the story.

🐾 Predator ⚔️ Conflict 🪤 Deceit

Rooster (Um Sang-hyun)

A barnyard rooster who initially resists Leafie joining his flock and reveals the social order of the yard. He disrupts the escape and holds a key role in the farm's politics during the crisis.

🐓 Authority 🧭 Social order

Owl / Duck Captain (Seo Seung-won)

A protective, knowledgeable figure who helps Leafie and Greenie navigate the air and water. He aids their escape and training, offering guidance when needed.

🗺️ Guide 🪶 Mentor

Bat (Hong Bum-ki)

An ally who assists in teaching Leafie and Greenie how to fly, adding a sense of cooperation among unlikely friends.

🦇 Ally 🪶 Flight training

Wanderer's Mate / Yard Hen (Kim Ji-hye)

Wanderer's mate who is killed by One-Eye, leaving Leafie with the responsibility of Greenie. She represents the fragile life in the wild and the cost of danger.

🐥 Partner 🕊️ Loss

Red Head (Sa Seong-ung)

A rival in the adult duck flock who competes with Greenie in the guard duck contest, highlighting the social hierarchy of the Everglades' waterfowl.

👑 Rival 🏆 Competition

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:59

Major Themes – Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild (2011)

Explore the central themes of Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild (2011), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Belonging

Leafie searches for a place where she can belong and raise a life of her own. After escaping the farm, she must navigate a world that doubts a hen’s capacity to be a parent. The bond she forms with Greenie drives her decisions and shapes the path toward the Everglades. The overarching message is about finding community beyond cages.

🛡️ Protection

Leafie becomes a protective guardian, shielding Greenie from predators and human threats. She teaches him essential skills—swimming, flight, and survival—within a world that often rejects their presence. Her choices blend tenderness with practicality, balancing safety with freedom. Protection threads through their relationship and the broader journey.

⚔️ Conflict

The narrative is built on threats and confrontations, notably the clash with One-Eye and the pressures of human interference. Wanderer’s absence and Leafie’s resolve force moral choices about who lives, who thrives, and why. Conflicts escalate from personal danger to the struggle for autonomy among captive animals. These confrontations test courage, loyalty, and sacrifice.

🌿 Caregiving

Motherhood is reframed as active caregiving, with Leafie guiding Greenie toward independence rather than mere biological ties. She nurtures, teaches, and ultimately makes profound sacrifices to secure his future. The film uses caregiving to explore resilience in the face of loss and betrayal. Greenie’s growth and Leafie’s selflessness anchor the emotional core of the story.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:59

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Bittersweet Tales of Found Family and Sacrifice like in Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild

Stories where love creates a new family, tested by hardship and sealed by sacrifice.Discover movies like Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild that explore the powerful theme of found family. If you enjoyed the heartfelt bond and sacrificial love between Leafie and Greenie, these similar animated adventures and family dramas will resonate with you.

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Emotional Journeys of Survival and Belonging like in Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild

Characters escape confinement to seek freedom, finding their true place in a dangerous world.Find more movies like Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild about the quest for freedom and belonging. If you liked the daring escape into the wild and the themes of survival against the odds in this Korean animated film, explore these similar adventurous and emotional stories.

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Narrative Summary

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Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core journey of seeking freedom and a place to call home. They blend the external tension of survival with the internal emotional weight of longing for connection, often set against the backdrop of a beautifully rendered but dangerous natural world.

Unlock the Full Story of Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild

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Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild Summary

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Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild Summary

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Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild Timeline

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More About Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild

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