Little Giants

Little Giants

Year: 1994

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Duwayne Dunham

FamilyComedyCrude humor and satireInspiring sports underdog storiesTeen school antics and laughter

When Danny O’Shea’s daughter is cut from the pee‑wee football team because she’s a girl, he gathers other kids who were also rejected and forms his own squad. As they train, they aim to surprise the elite team coached by Danny’s brother, a former professional player, proving that determination can level the playing field.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Little Giants (1994)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Little Giants (1994). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Mid-1990s

The action unfolds in a mid-1990s American setting, a period when youth sports were fueled by neighborhood mentorship and local pride rather than national media. The era emphasizes direct coaching, schoolyard rivalries, and community celebrations around a single championship game.

Location

Urbania, Ohio

Urbania is a tight-knit Ohio town where pee-wee football defines community life. Local identity centers on the rivalry between the Pee-Wee Cowboys and the Little Giants under a banner of 'one town, one team.' The town rallies around its kids and, in a symbolic moment, the water tower becomes a testament to communal pride and reconciliation after the big game.

🏙️ Small Town 🏈 Football Culture 🗺️ Ohio

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:41

Main Characters – Little Giants (1994)

Meet the key characters of Little Giants (1994), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Becky 'Icebox' O'Shea (Shawna Waldron)

Becky is a determined kid who fights to join the Pee-Wee Cowboys, challenging the gender barrier when she is cut for being a girl. She later suits up for the Little Giants, makes a forced fumble, and helps turn the game around. Her return to the field proves she can contribute and refuses to be sidelined by stereotypes.

💪 Resilient 👧 Female athlete 🏈 Team player

Danny O'Shea (Rick Moranis)

Danny volunteers to coach the Little Giants to show Urbania that there is another O'Shea capable of winning. He uses heartfelt motivation, clever strategies, and inclusive leadership to unite a diverse group of kids.

🤝 Mentor 🏈 Coach 👨‍👦 Family

Kevin O'Shea (Ed O'Neill)

Kevin is the town's Heisman-like star and a big-hearted rival to Danny. His ego and swagger define the Cowboys' dominance, but the rivalry softens as the brothers' shared history and love for Urbania reveal a deeper bond.

🏈 Rival 😎 Ego 🏅 Star

Junior Floyd (Devon Sawa)

Junior is the Giants' strong-armed quarterback and a key playmaker. He becomes the main target of the opposing team’s brutality, but his talent and leadership help drive the late-game comeback.

🏈 QB 👦 Rising star 🎯 Target

Patty Floyd (Susanna Thompson)

Patty is Junior's mother and Danny's childhood crush who supports the team's effort and acts as a confidant for Danny and Junior's goals. Her presence reinforces the family-centered dynamics at Urbania's football culture.

👩 Mother 💖 Romance 🤝 Support

Spike Hammersmith (Sam Horrigan)

Spike is the new star who initially refuses to play on a team with a girl and is recruited via deception. He later injures Junior and faces the consequences when Kevin demands accountability before switching sides.

🏈 Star 😡 Rival 🤥 Deception

Mike Hammersmith (Brian Haley)

Spike's father, who pushes aggression in the hopes of winning, orders Spike to take out Junior, and learns a hard lesson when Kevin confronts the misconduct.

👨 Father ⚖️ Discipline

Orville (Harry J. Fleer)

An old-timer who fuels the rivalry and serves as a nostalgic voice, reminding Urbania of past glories and the town's enduring love of football.

🧓 Mentor 🎭 Nostalgia

Wilbur (Dabbs Greer)

The other seasoned observer who shares the town’s passion for the game and encourages the players to keep pushing toward victory.

🧓 Mentor 🏈 Classic

Rashid Hanon (Troy Simmons)

A new star who joins Urbania and enters the competitive mix, contributing to the evolving dynamic between the Giants and Cowboys.

🏈 New Talent 🚦 Rival

Rudy Zolteck (Michael Zwiener)

One of the players cut during tryouts, whose absence underscores the story's theme of overlooked talent and the push for broader opportunity.

🏈 Teammate 💪 Underdog

Tad Simpson (Danny Pritchett)

A fellow kid who earns a place in the Giants’ story and adds to the ensemble of supportive teammates.

👦 Teammate 🏈 Rookie

Marcus (Marcus Toji)

Another Little Giant who contributes to the team’s spirit and effort, showcasing the breadth of the kids who come together for the playoff.

👦 Teammate 🏈 Player

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:41

Major Themes – Little Giants (1994)

Explore the central themes of Little Giants (1994), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏈 Underdog

A small-town pee-wee team defies expectations, showing that grit and teamwork can overcome talent gaps. The Giants' comeback and the final touchdown epitomize the classic underdog arc. The town's faith in its young players becomes the backbone of the story.

♀️ Gender Barrier

Becky Icebox is cut from the team for being a girl, challenging gender norms in youth sports. Her persistence, aided by Danny's coaching, reframes merit as the true driver of selection. The plot demonstrates that girls can contribute decisively on the football field.

🤝 Teamwork

Two O'Shea brothers coach rival teams, and through collaboration the kids learn to work beyond personal grievances. The story highlights leadership, mentorship, and the power of group effort over individual glory. Unity across generations becomes the route to victory.

🏟️ Community Pride

Football is the town's social heartbeat, rallying residents through highs and lows. The community backs the Little Giants in the playoff, and the water-tower renaming marks a shared triumph. The film frames sport as a collective cultural achievement.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:41

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Little Giants Summary

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Little Giants Summary

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Little Giants Timeline

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