J.++Pop+Culture+Werewolves+-+Animation,+Teen+Lit,+Video+Games


 * J. Werewolves in Pop Culture – Animation, Teen Lit, and Gaming **
 * 1) Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer / Cheyenne M. (A3)
 * 2) **Worgen – World of Warcraft /**Jessica M. (A3)
 * 3) **//The Curse of the Were-Rabbit// (2005) /**Forest S. (B1)
 * 4) **“Thriller****– Michael Jackson video /** Zahra A. (A3)
 * 5) **//Beauty & the Beast// – Disney /**Jules C. (A1)
 * 6) **Remus Lupin – Harry Potter series /**Ashleigh M.O. (B1)
 * 7) **Fenrir Greyback – Harry Potter series /** Tim D. (A3)
 * 8) **The Grim - Harry Potter series / Caroline P. (B1) **
 * 9) **Yu-gi-oh! Werewolf cards/**Sam L.P. (A1)
 * 10) **“Curse of DarKastle” Busch Gardens /** Jordan M. (B1)

Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer / Cheyenne M. (A3)

Before twilight was published, werewolves did not exist within the Saga. “When I wrote the second half of twilight first, there was no Jacob character. He started to exist about the point where I kind of hit a bit of a wall: I could not make Edward say the words "I'm a vampire"… I had picked Forks already as the story’s location and that’s when I discovered that there was a little reservation of Quileute Indians on the coastline… and they have the wolf legend” (Meyer 19). It’s safe to say that majority of the werewolf ideas within her books are based on the legends and tales by the Quileute Indians in La Push, Washington. In the Twilight Saga, there are two types of creatures referred to as werewolves: The Children of the Moon and the Quileute Wolves. “The Children of the Moon are creatures similar to the traditional werewolves of myth. They phase, or change form, in response to the cycles of the moon. In werewolf form, they do not entirely resemble actual wolves: Their forelegs are more powerful than their hind legs, and they still have usable hands with opposable thumbs. In addition, their stance is more upright, making their movement apelike, rather than entirely canine” (Meyer 300). Quileute werewolves are actually shape-shifters that take the form of a wolf. They consider themselves protectors of their human tribes. They also view vampires as their natural enemies and a threat to themselves and all humans. Quileute tribe members believe that those who possess a direct bloodline from the first shape-shifter, Taha Aki, inherit the ability to shape-shift. Many generations ago, Taha Aki was the first shape-shifter of Quileute tribe and the leader of the Spirit Warriors. Conflict between a former spirit warrior named Utlapa allowed Taha Aki to eventually enter a wolf’s body to save his tribe from Utlapa’s evil plans. “Taha Aki was able to share the body of a wolf whenever he wished. He became to be known as "Taha Aki the Great Wolf" and "Taha Aki the Spirit Man” (Taha Aki). Any Quileute tribe member with direct blood lines to Taha Aki has the potential to transform or shape-shift into a wolf. The descendents are born with an extra chromosome that will not go in affect unless the smell of a vampire triggers their first transformation. The overall transformation or phase takes only a second. When the transformation occurs, one will experience “dramatic mood swings and brief, sudden episodes of nearly uncontrollable rage” (Meyer 304). Their appearance is very similar to normal wolves but several times larger with bigger body masses. “An average Quileute werewolf would stand at about the height of a horse...” (Meyer 304). Their sight is about ten times sharper than a human and they possess a heightened sense of smell that allows them to catch a vampire’s scent. “In general, this scent is uncomfortable to the point of pain...” (Meyer 306). Quileute werewolves also possess telepathic abilities that are only accessible in werewolf form and with those within the pack. They share a group mind that allows all members to feel and hear each other’s thoughts and feelings. This allows them to work perfectly together as a team and to have an advantage against any enemies they face. “Quileute werewolves heal very quickly, in both human and wolf form. Minor injuries heal in as little as a few seconds. More serious injuries, like broken bones, typically repair themselves in a matter of days” (Meyer 307). Once a werewolf shape shifts for the first time, it slows his or her ability to age, therefore making one immortal, but once the phasing stops; they will slowly continue to age and eventually die. The werewolf legends of the Quileute tribe differ in their own unique distinctive way but also share a few similarities with the traditional werewolves. Overall, these particular werewolves in the Twilight Saga are somewhat original to the legends of the Quileute Indians.

Worgen - World of Warcraft / Jessica M. (A3)

Among the many features introduced with the most recent World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm, is the addition of a new playable race to the Alliance faction known as the Worgen. Classes made available to the race include death knight, druid, hunter, mage, priest, rogue, warlock, and warrior (“Worgen”). The Worgen have a number of unique racial traits. Aberration, for example, boosts their resistance to potentially harmful nature and shadow spells, and darkflight increases movement speed by nearly fifty percent for ten seconds (“Worgen”). Gamers who choose to create such a character begin as a human solider fighting in a civil war, and are transformed into a half-human half-worg hybrid after being bitten by an infected comrade (“Races of World of Warcraft”). The starting quests explain the lore of the race. These feral creatures, led by King Genn Greymane, are victims of a druidic curse that has swept throughout their home city of Gilneas (“Worgen”). Those afflicted by the curse are transformed into “bestial humanoids enslaved by their own primal instincts,” and yet they have the ability to alter their physical form at any time out of combat (“Races of World of Warcraft”). This videogame version of a werewolf shares some resemblance to that of the ancient wives tales, but many conventional concepts have been embellished to provide gamers with a fun, unique recreation of a terrifying myth.

Prince Adam is the human that was turned into the Beast in the story The Beauty and the Beast. Prince Adam lived in a castle with many of his servants and then one day a witch disguised as a beggar lady came to his door and asked if she could stay the night in his castle in exchange for a rose. (Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont) When Adam refused, he was transformed into a beast and all of his servants were transformed into miscellaneous objects. The only way Adam could turn back into a prince was to find true love before the rose petals fell off of his rose. If Adam's rose had all its petals fall off before he could find true love his time would expire on Earth. (Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont) When Adam was turned into the Beast he had the appearance of a wolf by being covered in fur and having the same body structure a wolf does. His teeth are similar to a wolves because of how long and sharp they are and he also has a growl similar to a wolf's. (Disney) He still had the ability to talk even being transformed into the Beast and could still walk like a human but had wolf-like qualities. (Disney)
 * //Beauty & the Beast - Disney / Jules C. (A1)// **

**The Grim – Harry Potter Series / Caroline P. (B1)**

In //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban//, Harry Potter first sees the Grim in the tight gap between the garage and the fence on Magnolia Crescent Street at night (Rowling 33). When he uses magic to light up the area, he sees something large, with broad, glowing eyes (Rowling 33). Harry describes it as a gigantic black dog (Rowling 34). In Flourish and Blotts, Harry sees a copy of //Death Omens: What to do When You Know the Worst is Coming// on display (Rowling 54). He is engrossed with the front cover of the book showing a black dog as great as a bear, with shinning eyes (Rowling 54). In Divinations class, Harry and Ron Weasley are partnered up to read each other’s tea leaves (Rowling 104). Ron incorrectly describes Harry’s tea leaves which leads to Professor Trelawney reading it (Rowling 106). She sees the falcon which symbolizes a deadly enemy, the club which represents an attack, and the skull which means danger is in his path (Rowling 106). Professor Trelawney sees something else but is hesitant to say it (Rowling 107). She confesses that Harry has the Grim (Rowling 107). The Grim is an enormous, spectral dog that haunts churchyards (Rowling 107). It is an omen of death (Rowling 107). Near the Whomping Willow, Harry, Ron, and Hermione Granger see an enormous, pale-eyed, coal-black dog (Rowling 334). When the dog attacked Harry, he describes that it has hot breath and inch-long teeth (Rowling 334). We later find out that the dog is actually an Animagi, wizards who can transform at will into animals (Rowling 338). The Animagi was Sirius Black (Rowling 339). When Professor Trelawney describes the Grim as a spectral dog that haunts churchyards, this comes from the Church Grim from European folklore (Witch). The Church Grim is when you bury a sacrificial animal alive beside the establishment stone (Church Grim Definition). When you sacrifice a dog, it serves as a guardian and is protected from the Devil and demons (Church Grim Definition). It can be seen as a sign of death (Church Grim Definition).

**“Thriller” – Michael Jackson Video / Zahra A. (A3)**

Michael Jackson’s //Thriller// was a 14-minute short film released in 1983 that forever revolutionized the music video industry. The unforgettable choreography, the creative concept, and the impeccable production made it one of the most popular videos of its time. The video opens with a scene in which Jackson and his on-screen girlfriend, are walking through the woods, and he starts to explain to her how he is ‘different’ from other guys (Werewolves.com). As the full moon begins to rise, Jackson begins to painfully transform into a werewolf right before his girlfriend’s eyes. He starts to grow large, sharp teeth, fur on his face and hands, and long massive claws. He then portrays the various characteristics of a typical werewolf, such as howling at the moon, running with great speed, and showing signs of exceptional strength. After deciding he wanted to make a music video featuring a werewolf, Michael Jackson went to “John Landis, who wrote and directed another classic werewolf movie, //An American Werewolf in London//” (Werewolves.com). Creating such a remarkable opening scene was not a simple task to achieve in the 1980s. It took the hard work of director Landis as well as makeup and special effects artist Rick Baker, to accomplish making the werewolf scene as well as the entire video, truly exciting (Wikipedia). The process of turning Michael Jackson into a werewolf “included taking a full facial cast, affixing inflatable foam latex balloons to his face, and applying extensive makeup, false teeth, and gigantic yellow contacts”(Perkins). Whether it was the timeless visual pairing of music and dance, or the incorporation of supernatural creatures, Michael Jackson’s //Thriller// became one of the most popular music videos of all time.

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) / Forest S. (B1)

=== After a hectic night-time chase and a series of clues, Wallace and Gromit come to the theory that Hutch is the Were-Rabbit. Wallace is overjoyed however, because this technically means he has already captured the beast, and goes to tell the good news to Lady Tottington. Gromit instead discovers that the Were-Rabbit is, in fact, Wallace, after discovered a pile of munched vegetables in his bed, suffering from the effects of the accident with the Mind Manipulation-O-Matic having caused him and Hutch to each take on aspects of the other; Hutch has gained Wallace's entire personality (right down to his liking for cheese) and even displays Wallace's knack for inventions and regularly repeats some of Wallace's old phrases. Gromit follows Wallace, retrieves him before he can transform, and when driving home, Victor corners Wallace during the night, jealous of Lady Tottington's growing fondness for him because of his humane practice of pest control. But then Wallace falls into the path of moonlight and transforms during the transformation, Wallace starts to grow huge, ripping his clothes. Though, ironically, Wallace looses all his clothes except his bow-tie, Victor, having identified the Were-Rabbit, gets the idea to get rid of his rival to win Tottington's heart, and goes to Reverend Clement Hedges and gains access to "24-carrot" gold bullets – supposedly, the only things capable of killing a Were-Rabbit. (wallace and gromit) ===

Remus Lupin – Harry Potter Series/ Ashleigh M.O. (B1)

Remus John Lupin is a reoccurring character in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. He first appeared in the third novel //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,// as the school’s new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He also made appearances in the fifth, sixth, and seventh books in the series [//Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,// and //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows// respectively] and met his demise in the latter. When Lupin was a baby he was bitten by a werewolf by the name of Fenrir Greyback (see below). With this bite the baby was then to transform into a werewolf, every month, by the full moon. This made his life difficult especially when he was accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Every month, when the full moon approached, Remus would escape to a local abandoned house (he is the reason that said house became called the Shrieking Shack by Hogwarts students as well as villagers in Hogsmeade, a rumor encouraged by the school’s headmaster) through a passage way underneath the school’s Whomping Willow. Lupin’s friends at school soon became curious as to where their friend went every month, when they found out, they became Animagi (the ability of one to turn into an animal) so that they could help their friend through his difficult time. Remus said that they helped him to stay in his human mind, and they even ran around town every now and again (“Remus Lupin”). Remus and his friends, Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew, became the Marauders with this each of these characters gained a nickname based upon their Animagus or (in Lupin’s case) lycanthropy, their nicknames were Moony, Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail respectively. As Lupin became older he found a lot of prejudice against him in the workforce based upon his condition. After he got out of school he began working for the Order of the Phoenix, and briefly spied amongst other werewolves to try and convince them to join the side of the Order of the Phoenix (“Remus Lupin”). His next job as a professor at Hogwarts was given to Remus by the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, and his condition was kept a secret so that neither students nor parents would be frightened of the new professor. In order to help keep his transformations calm and under control and keep him with a human state of mind, Lupin would take a wolfsbane potion in the days leading up to the full moon. By the end of the year everyone knew of his lycanthropy and he resigned from his position as a professor. Later in the series Remus Lupin married Nymphadora Tonks, and they had a baby boy by the name of Ted (nicknamed Teddy). Remus expressed his concern for his child, “And the child-the child…my kind don’t usually breed! It will be like me, I am convinced of it! How can I forgive myself when I knowingly risked passing on my own condition to an innocent child?! And if, by some miracle, it is not like me, then it will be better off, a hundred times so, without a father of whom it should always be ashamed!” (Rowling 213). It is implied that Ted Lupin does not carry on his father’s disease. Remus Lupin was killed in the Battle at Hogwarts in //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,// by a killing curse shot by one of the Death Eaters (Rowling 661), his wife Tonks was also killed in the battle. Remus Lupin showed the signs of what one may call the classic werewolf disease, he was only a wolf by the full moon and otherwise relatively normal.

[]
 * Fenrir Greyback – Harry Potter series / Tim D. (A3) **
 * Fenrir Greyback amongst many fictional characters was in fact a werewolf. Fenrir was concieved in the mind of writer J.K Rowling, the widely known author of the "Harry Potter" series. Although most believe that werewolves remain consistantly similar between different series and fictional works, Greyback is quite different. Greyback wasn't a very established character but it was quickly noted of his evil status. He was a savage and ferocious creature that was feared all throughought the magical and wizarding world. He was a different kind of werewolf, he made it his mission to bite and turn as many people into werewolves as he possibly could (Rowling). He wasn't directly affiliated with the Deatheaters but he led his fellow wolves in supporting Lord Voldemort's stride toward evil takeover of both the magical and muggle world. Greyback was different and especially savage because he would attack not only in his werewolf form but also in his normal non-werewolf form. He also would target young children over adults in his attempt to turn as much of the world as he could into werewolves (Rowling). He fought alongside the rest of the Deatheaters in the battle at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was in fact defeated by students of the school. Greyback was regarded as "perhaps, the most savage werewolf alive today" by Mr. Remus Lupin (a fellow werewolf that was first bitten by Greyback).**

"Yu-gi-oh!" **Werewolf cards** / Sam L.P. (A1) ( [])

YU-GI-OH is a TCG ( Trading Card Game) series that is very popular in North America in Japan. In the card game the "Duelists" (players) make a deck of Monster, Spell, and Trap cards to battle against the opposing player. Moster cards are very diverse in their array of creatures housing everything from Dragons, to Sea Creatures to of course, Werewolves. "Most werewolf cards are Beast cards, which are often overlooked for cards associated with magic" (Yugioh Wikia) But as a whole most werewolf cards are very flexible for use in tournament decks. There are also subtypes that a werewolf card can be such as "Werewolf Zombie" which is a zombie/beast card. (YuGiOh Wikia) Unfortunately there are very few werewolf themed cards in the total collection of YuGiOh cards which has prompted fans to create their own werewolf card such as "Lunar Werewolf" (Pictured Above), which has a massive attack stat of 3000, or "Call of the Moon", which lets you summon any beast type monster to the playing field. (Yugiohcardmaker.net) As time goes on the fan demand for werewolf cards will continue to go and prompt Konamil to issue more werewolf themed cards for lycanthropes everywhere! “Curse of DarKastle” Busch Gardens / Jordan M. (B1)

“Long ago in the deepest heart of the black forest, a young prince lived, unloved and neglected in a dark castle. Like the ghostly horrors that always grow in secret shadows, Prince Ludwig grew to be a troubled child. Soon, even the kindest of servants avoided his evil gaze. One dark winter's night, as Ludwig wandered the lonely, frozen grounds of the palace, an old woman appeared. Outraged at this intrusion, Ludwig howled in fury! There, in her place, stood a snarling wolf. As her yellow eyes bored into Ludwig's, she revealed his dark destiny: Wicked ruler of a corrupt kingdom. Guided by the wolf, Ludwig set out to take the throne. His parents tried to put an end to his ruthless ambitions, but they mysteriously vanished.

Mad little Ludwig became King, and transformed the castle into an impenetrable fortress with secret passageways to terrify his guests. Soon, the treasury was empty. Ludwig's advisers tried to overthrow him, but he just laughed and threw a lavish winter festival in their honor. That night, mad Ludwig took his guests on a tour of his castle, in a fleet of golden sleighs. No one knows what really happened, but they say the walls echoed with terror... The next morning, the sleighs were found in their stalls, but no one ever found Ludwig or his party guests, and to this day, the castle remains frozen in time.” (The Curse)

Curse of DarKastle, described as “a high-tech new dark ride,” made its first appearance in the Oktoberfest section of Germany in Busch Gardens Williamsburg on the fifteenth of December in 2004. (Curse) Its official debut, however, took place on the thirtieth of April in 2005. (Curse) The three-dimensional adventure takes unsuspecting riders through the many areas of an enormous castle that according to the legend is “frozen in time.” (Rides) After a suspense building two-minute pre-show, the ride begins. (Curse) Filled with sudden turns, believable special effects, and detailed architecture, the four minute ride is sure to evoke some horror-filled screams. The story begins as a young and troubled Prince Ludwig being neglected a child. Like many other lonely children, he grew to be very anti-social and angry. He becomes King, and everybody who crosses him seems to be disappearing, even his own parents. Once king, the evil Ludwig “transformed the castle into an impenetrable fortress with secret passageways to terrify his guests.” (The Curse) The ride is a chase from one end of the castle to the forest outside of the castle walls where King Ludwig has no power.

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