The real dog behind Superman’s superdog: How James Gunn’s rescue pup became Krypto

In James Gunn's Superman, the superhero's furry best friend, Krypto, is immensely loved by everyone. But did you know that, in fact, James Gunn's rescue pup Ozu has an imperative role in the making of the character?

In the helmer's social media posts as well as in a conversation with NYTimes, James Gunn has talked about how his own dog Ozu was modeled for the creation of the CGI Krypto, something that Ozu did not particularly enjoy much. Tons of 3D images of Ozu were clicked, which were later used in the development of the computer-generated superpup on screen.

Let us find out more about what role Ozu played in materializing the character of Krypto in Superman, as well as the pupper's story.

How did James Gunn's pup Ozu help in the making of Krypto in Superman?

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As revealed in an interview with NYTimes and also in the helmer's social media posts, James Gunn spoke in detail about how his own pet dog Ozu became a huge part of the creation of Krypto in Superman. But first, let us dive deep into the history of Ozu and how he entered Gunn's life.

It dates back to three years from now, when Gunn was in the early stages of the film's process. That is when a tattered rescue puppy, Ozu, walked into the life of the helmer. Not only did Ozu gravely impact the filmmaker's life, but also his creative pursuits.

The name of the doggo is taken from the late legendary Japanese filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu. When Ozu the pup was taken in by Gunn, he was an eight-month-old volatile and distressed puppy who would damage every little item around him. In fact, he was terrified of humans.

As revealed in his tweet, Ozu was not familiar with humans and had lived with 60 other dogs. As a result, Ozu ended up damaging many items in James Gunn's household, items ranging from shoes to a computer worth up to a whopping $10,000.

That is when Gunn was struck with a groundbreaking idea that has created history, as revealed in his interview with NYTimes.

James Gunn's 'Eureka!' moment happened upon observing the catastrophic actions of Ozu. These incidents prompted him to think about what could happen if Ozu were endowed with the boon of superpowers.

“It was where the movie came together for me,” says Gunn in an interview with the outlet.

But later in the interview, Gunn mentions how Ozu had instantly become friends with his pet cat. It is shown in tons of videos of the furry buddies playing that have been documented by their enthusiastic human parents.

Gunn's Superman, as we all know, has challenged the ways in which we perceive the iconic superhero. But it does not limit itself to only the superhero, because even Krypto's characterization, as per the vision of the helmer, receives quite a bit of attention in the film. In fact, this is the first time we have seen Krypto in a live-action feature film. And this time, it is not only the heroes who wear capes; dogs do too.

Gunn's Krypto, much like his own Ozu, does not adhere to obedience and discipline. This Krypto, despite his unwavering loyalty and love for his human best friend, makes a mess around and does not necessarily 'behave' all the time. And that is what makes this little canine not always a 'good' boy. And since he is not like that, Krypto's portrayal is more believable in Gunn's imagination.

But Ozu's role in creating Krypto goes way beyond the characterization. Ozu is actually the best boy, despite his bad boy behavior, as he had posed as a model for the making of the CGI images of Krypto. Even though Ozu did not particularly enjoy the process, he still cooperated, and hence, Krypto was created.

In the NYTimes interview, Gunn mentions:

“He has to stand on this table and then there’s a globe of cameras all the way around him. They take pictures and we kind of move him around a little bit and it gets every angle of him.”

However, some physical attributes are different in both the dogs, as Krypto's body is bigger than that of Ozu. Also, their color changes, as Krypto is white and Ozu has a gray fur coat. In the parts where the CGI version was not used, Jolene the dog actor was brought on board to act out the scenes. And the star pup did a great job as well!

Gunn wanted Krypto's personality and behavioral attributes to be authentically replicated on screen. The helmer also further highlights Superman's relationship with Krypto, as he states:

“He is such a compassionate person or, you know, Superman, that he’s worried about the dog being scared,”

Adding:

“That’s the thing that upsets him: The dog is scared. And we’ve only seen the dog give him grief. I think it’s really important that Superman is tuned into his own sense of compassion in that way.”

As per reports in The Wrap, it is revealed that after watching Gunn's Krypto in Superman, there has been a surge of interest in dog adoption among the masses. So the inclusion of Krypto in the film has not only benefited the DC franchise, but also paved the path for a hopeful future for animals as well.

The adorable Superdog came into existence in the year 1955, in DC's Adventure Comics. In the earlier screen appearances of the pup, we see Krypto in films and series such as:

Krypto the Superdog (2005–2006)
Titans (2018–2019)
DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
Superman and Lois (2021–2024, Fourth Season)

To all the fans of Krypto who are dying to watch him on screen again, we have good news for you! In the upcoming film about Kara Zor-El in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Krypto will be back to dazzle the screens!