The Lorax arrives with a bright, sometimes cheeky message about caring for the world. The film stars Zac Efron as Ted, Taylor Swift as Audrey, and Danny DeVito voices the Lorax. It opened in theaters across the United States and Canada, introducing audiences to a city built on plastic and progress while inviting them to pause and think about the consequences of their choices.
What could brighten a gray day better than stepping into the world Dr. Seuss created? The Lorax follows a young boy named Ted, who lives in a fully manufactured town. His crush, Audrey, longs for a real tree, and Ted sets out on a quest to find one hoping to win her attention. Along the road he meets the Once-ler, a craftsman whose unbridled use of resources helped drive the forest to collapse, and he encounters the Lorax, the cantankerous yet loving guardian who urges the city to consider its impact on the natural world.
Based on the beloved Dr. Seuss picture book, the story centers on Ted, a twelve-year-old resident of an artificial city called Thneed-Ville. To win his crush’s heart, Ted ventures beyond the glittering skyline in search of a true forest. Along the way he discovers the consequences of unchecked demand, the character of the Once-ler, and the steadfast protector who speaks for the trees.
Before the film premiered, fans anticipations ran high as people asked how the Seuss tale would translate to the screen. The Lorax blends humor, song, and a clear environmental voice that resonates with families and viewers of all ages.
Here are ten fun facts about The Lorax that many fans might not know, offering glimpses into the book, the production, and the artistry behind the movie.
1. The movie was filmed in France.
2. A fourth grade class from Brookline, Massachusetts pressed to feature the environmental message on the film site.
3. Dr Seuss’s The Lorax, the book the film adapts, was published in 1972.
4. Dr Seuss’s real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel.
5. Seuss reportedly wrote most of The Lorax in a single afternoon, inspired by elephants while on vacation in East Africa.
6. Ted is named after Dr. Seuss, whose given name was Theodor, and Audrey is named after his wife, Audrey Geisel, who worked on the film. Neither character exists in the original book.
7. In the book, the Once-ler is a faceless green figure; in the film, he appears as a regular human being.
8. Danny DeVito also provided the Lorax voice for the Spanish, Italian, Russian and German versions, despite not speaking those languages.
9. Zac Efron admitted that voicing Ted and delivering unusual lines sometimes felt silly because the gestures needed were large and the dialogue quirky.
10. The film includes subtle nods to another popular animated hit, with playful minion-like details waiting to be spotted by attentive viewers.