"101 Dalmatians", "Air Bud", "Beethoven" and "The Mask". What do these movies have in common? Well, they all feature cute, energetic canines! However, the spotlight for this feature shines on the big burly Great Dane who has captured our hearts (or scared the hell out of us) on the silver screen.

The Great Dane, save for its huge physique, is actually a gentle, goofy type of dog. Dubbed as the 'gentle giant', the Great Dane is easy to work with in movies, thus appearing in many films throughout the years, even in silent films dating back to 1917! From cameo appearances, the Great Dane has slowly taken over the main role in movies like Marmaduke and Scooby Doo.

DANNY "101 Dalmatians" (1996) One of the earliest Great Danes to appear in an animated feature film. "101 Dalmatians" might focus on Dalmatians, but you do need help when escaping the clutches of evil Cruella de Vil right? Danny, who is the closest link to Pongo and Perdita's location, helps out in spreading the news when 15 Dalmatian puppies are kidnapped! BRUTUS "The Ugly Dachshund" (1966) What do you get when you have a Great Dane in your house, along with several Dachshund puppies? Brutus would be the very first Great Dane that has a main role in a feature film! In this movie, Brutus is adopted into a family that had just welcomed a few Dachshund puppies to the household. Unfortunately, as a puppy itself, Brutus thinks that he is a Dachshund rather than a Great Dane! Oh gosh, what would happen then?

ASTRO "Jetsons: The Movie" (1990) Mickey Mouse might have Pluto as his pet dog, as well as Brian in "Family Guy", but Astro is the Great Dane who has one of the earliest talking parts in a TV series! Besides having the same talking pattern as Scooby Doo ("I ruv roo, Reorge"), Astro also gets into trouble every time a cat crosses his path! The Jetsons is immortalised in the 1990s feature film "Jetsons: The Movie", where he is voiced by Don Messick, the very same person that voices Scooby-Doo from 1969 to 1985.   SCOOBY-DOO "Scooby-Doo" (2002)   His actual name is Scoobert Doo. But when you mention Scooby Doo, everyone knows that lovable 'Rooby-Rooby-Roo'! Originally a TV series, Scooby Doo captured the hearts of every kid in the world with his funny antics, quirky chuckle, and his best friend Shaggy! In 2002, he is immortalised in the movie "Scooby-Doo" as well as a sequel "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" (2004).

MARMADUKE "Marmaduke" (2010)   Marmaduke started as a comic strip in a daily newspaper. In 1980, the Great Dane's humorous antics was incorporated in an animated series called "Heathcliff", who is also based on a comic strip character. Marmaduke's unusual characteristics as a dog often result in rib-tickling consequences. As a Great Dane who is the center of the Winslow family, there will always be trouble brewing in the household!