Set in a world like ours but entirely inhabited by animals, Buster Moon, a dapper koala, presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. Buster is an eternal-some, might even say delusional-optimist, who loves his theater above all and will do anything to preserve it. Now faced with the crumbling of his life's ambition, he has one final chance to restore his fading jewel to its former glory by producing the world's greatest singing competition. Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) Filled with an unrelenting drive to succeed, Buster Moon is determined to save his struggling theatre despite dwindling audiences, bad reviews and accumulating debt. Well-intentioned, he does have a habit of stretching the truth, which usually widens the hole he's digging himself into. Nonetheless, he has an irresistible charm as his passion and optimism are utterly contagious. Gunter (Nick Kroll) Gunter is a boisterous dynamo and double threat singer-dancer who is partnered with Gunter to liven up her act. He feels most himself when rocking spandex dance leotards and encourages Rosita to loosen up and shed her inhibitions. Ash (Scarlett Johansson) Ash is a prickly teenage porcupine with a punk rock attitude. She auditions for the competition with

egotistical, unsupportive jerk of a boyfriend, unable to see just how much he is holding her back. In rehearsals, her rebellious nature continually puts her at odds with Buster, who envisions her as a pop star princess whereas Ash wants to write her own authentic rock songs that reflect her unique style. Mike (Seth MacFarlane) Mike is a greedy, self-centred mouse with a Napoleon complex— and who happens to be a classically trained jazz musician with a voice like Sinatra. Driven by money, power and the allure of beautiful female mice, Mike is constantly trying to be part of a crowd that doesn't want him unless, that is, he can somehow win Buster's competition.