Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
Synopsis
Documentary telling the extraordinary story of Koko, the only 'talking' gorilla in the world, and her lifelong relationship with Penny Patterson. Project Koko started as a PhD project to teach sign language to a baby gorilla, but as Koko began to communicate with Penny, an intense bond formed between them. Penny has now been with Koko for over 40 years and claims Koko can reveal fresh insights into the workings of an animal's mind. Koko's unique life with Penny has been filmed every step of the way. Over 2,000 hours of footage chart the most dramatic moments - Penny's battle to keep Koko from being taken back to the zoo in which she was born, Penny's clash with academic critics who doubted her claims and the image of Koko mourning the death of her kitten.
Top Cast
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Bertie Carvel
Narrator (voice)
Koko
Self
Penny Patterson
Self
Dale Djerassi
Self
Lisa Schuster
Self
Ann Southcombe
Self
Mitzi Phillips
Self
Robin Williams
Self (archive footage)
Leonardo DiCaprio
Self (archive footage)
Peter Gabriel
Self (archive footage)
Isabella Rossellini
Self (archive footage)
William Shatner
Self (archive footage)
Sting
Self (archive footage)
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jonathan Taylor
- Original Title
- Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 58m
- Production Studios
- BBC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jonathan Taylor
Department Leadership Roster
Jonathan Taylor
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People about?
Documentary telling the extraordinary story of Koko, the only 'talking' gorilla in the world, and her lifelong relationship with Penny Patterson. Project Koko started as a PhD project to teach sign language to a baby gorilla, but as Koko began to communicate with Penny, an intense bond formed between them. Penny has now been with Koko for over 40 years and claims Koko can reveal fresh insights into the workings of an animal's mind. Koko's unique life with Penny has been filmed every step of the way. Over 2,000 hours of footage chart the most dramatic moments - Penny's battle to keep Koko from being taken back to the zoo in which she was born, Penny's clash with academic critics who doubted her claims and the image of Koko mourning the death of her kitten.
Who directed Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People?
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People was directed by Jonathan Taylor.
Who stars in Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People?
The principal cast of Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People includes Bertie Carvel, Koko, Penny Patterson, Dale Djerassi, Lisa Schuster.
When was Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People released and how long is it?
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People was released in 2016 with a total runtime of 58m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People?
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).