Free Willy is a media franchise from Warner Bros that started with the 1993 film Free Willy that went on to become a sleeper hit at the box office. The original series primarily follows an orphan named Jesse who befriends a killer whale named Willy and eventually develops a strong connection. While trying to juggle his newly found life, he and Willy are challenged with overcoming or defeating various hazards to the ocean or Willy himself including corporate greed, hunters, poachers and oil disasters.