Mort is known for his obsession with King Julien’s feet. He is often seen hugging or nuzzling Julien’s feet, much to the king’s annoyance. This has led many fans of the Madagascar franchise to wonder – does Mort have deeper feelings for King Julien? Is his foot fixation a sign of a secret crush?
Mort’s devotion to King Julien
Mort displays an extreme devotion to King Julien that goes beyond just an interest in his feet. He is Julien’s most loyal subject, even when the king treats him poorly. Some examples of Mort’s dedication include:
- Following Julien wherever he goes and obeying his every command
- Risking his own safety for Julien without hesitation
- Crying and becoming despondent when separated from the king
- Tuning out the rest of the world when hugging Julien’s feet
This behavior resembles classic signs of an intense crush. Mort focuses all of his attention on Julien, puts him on a pedestal, and depends heavily on physical affection from him. It goes beyond regular subject/monarch relations and into deeper emotional territory.
Does Julien reciprocate Mort’s feelings?
King Julien has a complicated relationship with Mort. On the surface, he finds Mort annoying and is constantly pushing him away from his feet. However, some subtle hints suggest Julien may care about Mort more than he lets on:
- He knows Mort is very sensitive and gullible, so he is protective of Mort around deceitful characters like the Foosa.
- Despite complaining about Mort, he rarely makes much effort to keep Mort away permanently.
- He seems to tolerate and occasionally even enjoy Mort’s company when he is in a good mood.
Julien likely sees Mort as a genuine friend, albeit an exasperating one at times. While Julien’s feelings are harder to decipher, he does not seem to reciprocate the romantic connotations of Mort’s obsession.
Moments that suggest a crush
Certain sweet moments between Mort and King Julien do suggest Mort harbors a deeper crush:
- In Madagascar 3, Mort gazes longingly at Julien and floats up into the air, implying he is “lovestruck.”
- When Julien is leaving forever in the Penguins of Madagascar episode “Gone in a Flash,” Mort cries and desperately clings to his feet.
- Mort drew a picture of himself kissing Julien’s feet in “Misfortune Cookie.”
These instances show Mort cares a great deal about Julien. However, Julien either does not pick up on or pretends not to notice Mort’s feelings.
Mort’s obsession explained
So how did Mort develop his obsession with Julien’s feet? Some possible explanations include:
- Imprinting – Mort may have imprinted on Julien as a parental figure when he was young, leading to an over-attachment.
- Hero worship – Mort sees Julien as a commanding, charismatic hero and is captivated by his confident persona.
- Lanka in rainforests – Since mouse lemurs like Mort live solitary lives in the wild, Mort may crave the physical intimacy and belonging Julien represents.
Regardless of its origins, Mort’s fixation remains innocent. He does not seem to understand romance or sexual attraction. The foot massages simply make him feel safe and loved in a parental/platonic way.
Conclusion
In the end, Mort most likely does not have a true secret crush on King Julien. His obsession stems from feelings of admiration, missing affection, and finding security in Julien’s leadership. Julien tolerates and even looks out for Mort but does not return deeper romantic feelings. Their relationship walks a fine line between friendship, familial care, and dysfunction. However, above all it seems clear Mort just wants to feel wanted – even if that means smothering Julien’s feet with unrelenting, slightly unsettling love.