Gloria's belief in herself is tested when she auditions for "Swan Lake" and gets rejected because she's a hippo. With some help from her friends, she learns that she doesn't need someone else to decide she's a prima hipporina—she already is.

The gang plans to celebrate Melman's birthday at an outer space exhibit featuring a cool space-rover vehicle. But when Gloria becomes obsessed with a handheld game, she misses out on special moments with her friends and learns the value of living in the present.