In 2007’s “Surf’s Up,” the lifeguard who rescues Cody after he injures his foot is Lani. She is a young rockhopper penguin who works as a lifeguard at Pen Gu Island’s beach and becomes one of Cody Maverick’s closest allies.
Lani is voiced by Zooey Deschanel, while Cody is voiced by Shia LaBeouf. The film follows Cody, an ambitious young penguin surfer, as he enters a major surfing competition inspired by the real-world popularity of professional surfing documentaries.
Lani is more than a rescue character. She is compassionate, practical, and willing to challenge Cody’s reckless competitive attitude. Her relationship with him also gives the story a romantic subplot and helps Cody understand that surfing is not only about winning.
A common mix-up is confusing Lani with Big Z, the legendary surfer who mentors Cody. Big Z influences Cody’s development as an athlete, but Lani is the lifeguard who treats and rescues him after his foot injury.