MCU fans think Rocket’s animal friends are the real stars of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Peter and Gamora’s reunion, a rescue mission, a truly hideous villain, Rocket’s heartbreaking origin story and a whole lot more. But amidst all this, a couple of unlikely stars have emerged: the High Evolutionary’s adorable animal experiments.
We won’t go into too many details, but in short, Rocket befriended a number of fellow labs prior to his time with the Guardians of the Galaxy. These are Lylla, a cute otter voiced by MCU vet Linda Cardellini; Teefs, a goofy but lovable walrus voiced by Asim Chaudhry; and Floor, an excited rabbit voiced by Mikaela Hoover.
And in the Short time Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was in theaters, fans have already fallen in love with the little boys — and the fan art has already started pouring in.
The eternally beautiful sky ~ #GuardianOfTheGalaxyVol3
Tears flowed for Rocket Lylla Teefs and Floor. 🥲🥲🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/O5RVRMnfB3— Shine水彩Illustrator (@Shinewaterc) May 7, 2023
Just pulled off my favorite bouquet #GardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 🥹❤️
Teefs. Floor. Lyla. Rocket. pic.twitter.com/VzkfrGplIE
— Stephanie Davis (@StephDogMom) May 6, 2023
“One day I will build great machines that fly, and me and my friends will fly together in the eternally beautiful sky…Lylla and Teefs and Floor and I, Rocket” 🦝🚀#fan art #digital art #RocketGG #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 #SPOILER pic.twitter.com/tT0Z0yLV7A
— Tuan Huynh (@doraemonbasil) May 6, 2023
It’s really good to have friends.#GotGVol3 pic.twitter.com/6inruSOiUP
— Dagger-6 Art 🪶Comms Open (@dagger6art) May 5, 2023
But given the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, fans are also absolutely devastated by the tragic fates of Rocket’s furry friends. As if there weren’t enough friends to cry during the latest MCU, the High Evolutionary experiments gang offers another big one.
“Lylla, Teefs, Floor and I… Rocket.”
😭😭😭😭#GotGVol3 pic.twitter.com/fohcglUCSj
— It’s joy 🎲 | SAW GUARDIANS VOL. 3 (@JoyceAsakuraS2) May 4, 2023
me as soon as I start thinking too much about Teefs, Floor and Lylla #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 pic.twitter.com/ZYI9XaTIdR
— becky 🌙 (@bxcondream) May 3, 2023
How I will sleep tonight thinking of Lylla, Floor and Teefs: pic.twitter.com/uO8hIqjg5n
— Adam Brogan (@Legohead101) May 6, 2023
I would die for Lylla, Teefs, Floor and Little Rocket. #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 pic.twitter.com/Af7KUcyITU
— Charms (@kukisncreem) May 6, 2023
I’m thinking of Lylla, Floor, Teefs and Rocket pic.twitter.com/3LGIEMdkKD
— Kendall Roy’s assistant (@ultrashaila) May 7, 2023
Rocket, Lylla, Boden and Teefspic.twitter.com/4X11TI39Kx
— Melon Lord 🕸️ (@scarletsilverr) May 6, 2023
Of course, writer/director James Gunn also got into the conversation. Even before the film debuted, he shared a few very cute test footage from Baby Rocket and Floorand on opening day, he posted a selfie while wearing a t-shirt that read “Lylla & Rocket & Floor and Teefs.”
Today is the day! #GuardiansoftheGalaxyVol3 starts in cinemas! At the end of the day, this is a film about joy and compassion and learning to see beyond the edge of our own world and have empathy for all living things. Rocket’s journey is my own and I’m so happy he helped me… pic.twitter.com/TRtYxLNY0W
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) May 5, 2023
And given our limited time with the gang, fans obviously have questions about the characters, which Gunn has answered here and there. He even declared a favorite (aside from Rocket): Floor.
Floor.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) May 7, 2023
It opens for her to eat. It is attached to her face and has a speaker that she speaks to.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) May 8, 2023
One of the reasons they’ve become so popular might be the “vivid and speculative” visual effects work that goes into bringing them to life like IGN’s said Joshua Yehl in his 8/10 rating from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
“The portrayal of young Rocket and his animal friends is superb – a perfect blend of cartoonism and realism, with more wide sad eyes than one can bear,” he wrote.
Really big sad eyes. We’re still a bit cloudy over here.
If you want to delve Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and deeper into spoiler territory, check out our interview with Cosmo voice actor Maria Bakalova And our breakdown of why the little things in Vol. 3 are so important.
Alex Stedman is IGN’s Senior News Editor, overseeing entertainment coverage. When she’s not writing or editing, she can be found reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
