IMAX SuperPower Dogs Pulls at Your Heartstrings – Out in Theaters Now

Calling all dog lovers! Join an immersive IMAX^® adventure to experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs. Narrated by dog-lover, Chris Evans, this inspiring true story, our best friends are also real-life superheroes. The film takes us on a journey around the globe to meet remarkable dogs who save lives and discover the powerful bond they share with their human partners. If you love dogs, you are going to love this film. The dogs and their handlers definitely pull at your heart strings and makes you want to go home to hug or your dog. Man’s best friend is given his due with this gorgeous IMAX film.

We meet Halo, a rookie puppy training to join one of the most elite disaster response teams in America. The runt in a litter of ten Dutch Shepherd brothers and sisters, Halo showed some promise as a working dog soon after her birth. In January 2016, Fire Captain ‘Cat’ Labrada of Miami Dade County, Florida flew to Detroit and chose her as her new partner. Over the next two years, Halo and Cat forge a remarkable bond as they train at facilities in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee, including one of the most challenging sites in the country, Disaster City, before eventually deciding to take the ultimate test: the Federal Emergency Management Association’s Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) and Certification Exam (CE) in New York.

Henry, an avalanche rescue expert in the mountains of British Columbia. Together, Henry and his Handler/Trainer Ian Bunbury, are a Senior Avalanche Rescue Dog Team working as volunteers with the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association. Henry is the third Border Collie that Ian has trained for Avalanche Search and Rescue. Ian believes that Henry’s strong herding instincts combined with the Border Collies’ legendary work ethic, their natural smarts and physical soundness make for a great canine working partner. I was fascinated to learn that these rescue dogs can sniff up to 15 feet of snow to help uncover avalanche victims! They talk about this in the the film, how they are able to detect humans much faster than we are due to this ability.

Reef, a four-year old Newfoundland lifeguard with the Italian coastguard, who adores the lakes and sea around her home near Milan, Italy. Her partner is Commandante Ferruccio Pilenga, founder of the Scuela Italiana di Cani Salvataggio (Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs), and a huge advocate for the Newfoundland as a working water dog.

Ricochet, a Californian surf legend helping people with special needs. An internet sensation, Ricochet is a 10-year old Golden Retriever and one of America’s most beloved therapy dogs. In 2009, Ricochet made an independent decision to jump on a surfboard with a boy who is quadriplegic. Since then, she has surfed with hundreds of individuals, and became the only SURFice dog® on the planet who provides canine assisted surfing to empower and improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities.

And the Bloodhound brothers, Tipper & Tony, who are leading the fight to save endangered species in Africa. Twin Bloodhound brothers, Tipper and Tony have spent their lives protecting the residents of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, particularly endangered rhinos and threatened elephants. They are expert trackers, with the most precise nose of any dog and can follow a scent for miles.

As we discover the incredible abilities of dogs and the astonishing science behind their superpowers, we’ll never look at our best friends the same way again! I had a chance to see these superpower dogs up close at the premiere held at The California Science Center last weekend. Most of the stars came to the premiere and a few extras like Molly, the Fire Safety Dog, the official ambassador of the film also walked the red carpet. You can see our interview with her and her handler, Dana, here.

You can read more about the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation Dana created in honor of Molly and Sparkles that helps keep children safe from fire by teaching them life-saving skills.