History Characters / TheDarkCrystal

** [[Characters/TheDarkCrystalTheChamberlain The Chamberlain]]

Since there is little indicated about the canonicity of the follow-up or prequel works in books and comics, tropes pertaining to them can be added provided they don't contradict the 1982 film and the Netflix series.

Character page for ''Film/TheDarkCrystal'' and ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance''.

* [[Characters/TheDarkCrystalMainCharacters Main Characters]]

*
[[Characters/TheDarkCrystalMainCharacters Main Characters]]

Since there is little indicated about the canonicity of the follow-up or prequel works in books and comics such as ''The Power of the Dark Crystal'', tropes pertaining to them can be added provided they don't contradict the 1982 film and the Netflix series.

Since there is little indicated about the canonicity of the follow-up works in books and comics such as ''The Power of the Dark Crystal'', tropes pertaining to them can be added provided they don't contradict the 1982 film and the Netflix series.

* [[Characters/TheDarkCrystalGelflings Gelfling]]

* [[Characters/TheDarkCrystalGelflings Gelflings]]

Since there is little indicated about the canonicity of the follow-up works in books and comics such as ''The Power of the Dark Crystal'', tropes pertaining to them can be added provided they don't contradict the film and series.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thedarkcrystalcharacters.jpg]]

Character sheet for ''Film/TheDarkCrystal'' and ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance''.

Individual names of the Mystics and Skeksis come from the [[AllThereInTheManual novelization]].

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%% Zero Context Examples are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
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Character sheet for the ''Film/TheDarkCrystal''.

!The [=UrSkeks=]

[[folder:In General]]
!![=UrSkeks=]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Urskeks_4178.jpg]]

->'''Voiced by:''' Joseph O'Conor

A race of creatures not native to Thra and born of the Crystal before it was shattered. They were noble beings shining with an inner light, however, in attempting to perfect themselves, they instead tore themselves apart to become two distinct races, the urRu/Mystics and the Skeksis.
----
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: At the end of the film, they ascend to the skies after being combined.
* EtherealChoir: They start chanting upon being restored to their former selves.
* FusionDance: The surviving urRu and Skeksis are rejoined into their original Urskek forms at the end.
* LightEmUp: They constantly emit light.
* LightIsGood: Overall, they were noble and wise beings until they foolishly shattered the Crystal. Jen restores them to their former selves and the first and last thing they do before they AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence is to [[spoiler:resurrect Kira.]]
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: They are angelic creatures and EnergyBeings.
[[/folder]]

!Other characters

[[folder:Aughra]]
!!Aughra
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Aughra_photo_541.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Frank Oz, Kiran Shah, Mike Edmonds (1982)
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Billie Whitelaw (1982), Donna Kimball (''Age of Resistance'')

Aughra is the very essence of the world of Thra itself. An old hermit woman with a gorilla-like face who lives in a brain-shaped observatory atop a mountain, Aughra is wise and experienced enough to know the joy of the world before the takeover by the Skeksis.
----
* AmbiguousGender: The character is meant to be a combination of male and female genders, but still sounds like a bossy old battleaxe of a grandmother and has visible breasts.
* AncientKeeper: She's been the keeper of the lost shard of the Crystal for quite a long time.
* ClusterFBomb: A G-rated example is the scene where Aughra shouts fantastic profanity at the Skeksis.
-->'''Aughra''': Moldy mildew, mother of mouthmuck, dangle and strangle and death![[note]]"Oh, how ''crude''!"[[/note]]
%%* CoolOldLady
* DarkIsNotEvil: She may look like a menacing hermit with a gorilla-like face, but she is one of the good guys.
-->'''Aughra''': Are you afraid of me? Afraid I'm going to EAT YOU? HMM?
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: She has no fear of the Skeksis, and when questioned on why she has the balls[[note]]literally, according to WordOfGod[[/note]] to treat them with disrespect, she retorts that their time is coming, so she's unafraid of them.
* EccentricMentor: She has a funny way of speaking, but is a wise woman.
* EyeScream: She can remove her own eyeball at will and use it like a remote camera. While it doesn't hurt her, it certainly is weird.
** In the backstory, she lost her other eye and came to be how she looks in the film when she laid on the ground to watch the Great Conjunction. A beam of intense light struck her eye, destroying it and burning her badly. She considers it a worthwhile trade.
* GoodIsNotNice: She can be rude to anyone she meets, but she does mean well.
* TheHermit: She lives alone in her observatory/laboratory.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: While she may be a jerk, she is a very good person at heart.
* KidnappedScientist: She gets kidnapped by the Garthims after they raid her home, although they don't do it because the Skeksis have any need of her science, it's just that the Garthim are mindless mooks who mistook her for a Gelfling.
* Really700YearsOld: As the ExpandedUniverse clarifies, she's in fact almost ''three thousand years old'', having lived through the first two Great Conjunctions and seen all the eras of the Urskeks, Skeksis and Mystics (and all the terror, bloodshed and sorrow) firsthand. By the end of the movie, she's lived through the third Great Conjunction and has officially hit the 3000 mark.
* SolitarySorceress: Lives by herself in a mountain cave.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fizzgig]]
!!Fizzgig
[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6672-4397_2079.gif]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Dave Goelz
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Percy Edwards

Kira's furry pet.
----
* AllAnimalsAreDogs: He barks like a dog.
* CuteButCacophonic: Speaks in very loud bass shrieks.
* HairTriggerTemper: Is quick to get angry over the slightest things.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He may act like a jerk, but does care for his owner Kira.
%%* KillerRabbit
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily: We get a full view of all his teeth when he roars.
* NestedMouths: Has extra rows of teeth at the back of his mouth.
* UndyingLoyalty: Even performs a HeroicSacrifice to try to save Jen.
* VolumetricMouth: Has a mouth as big as his body when fully yelling.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Podlings]]
!!Podlings/Pod People
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Podlings_6023.jpg]]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Miki Iveria, Patrick Monckton, Sue Wheatherby and Barry Dennen

A race of small, kindly and simple people with potato-shaped heads. They build their tools out of gourds and wood. They have the ability to communicate with animals and live in relative peace. The Podlings were kind enough to adopt Kira after her parents were killed in the Skeksis attack on their people. Their only fear is being captured by the Garthim and taken into slavery.
----
* ActualPacifist: They are peaceful little people who don't know how to fight.
* EarthyBarefootCharacter: They don't wear any footwear. Kira is the same as them, having been raised with them.
* EmptyShell: Once their life essence is drained by the Skeksis.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: They live in harmony with nature and communicate with animals. They taught the latter to Kira.
* {{Hobbits}}: Probably the closest race the ''Dark Crystal'' universe has to them.
* LifeOfTheParty: They love to throw a party, drink and and dance.
* {{Nice Guy}}s: They are quite cheerful and nice people. Nice enough to throw a party to welcome Jen.
* SlaveRace: Many of them were taken into slavery by the Skeksis.
* TooHappyToLive: They're throwing a great party with SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic in honor of the reunion of the last two Gelflings... then [[BallroomBlitz the Garthim burst through the wall]].
[[/folder]]

[[foldercontrol]]
!The Skeksis

!!The Skeksis
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark-crystal-skeksis_2907.jpg]]

The Skeksis are vulture-like humanoids who took control of Thra after a tumultuous conflict with the Mystics. Both species spawned from the [=UrSkeks=] during the burning light emitted from the Crystal during the last Great Conjunction. When prophecies revealed that the Skeksis' tyranny would end when the missing shard of the Dark Crystal is one day found and restored by the Gelfling people, they took the Gelfling tribe by force. With the help of their Garthim warriors they managed to kill all but two survivors, Jen and Kira.

* AgeWithoutYouth: A major plot point, as they capture Gelflings and Podlings to temporally reverse the aging process because they get uglier with age unlike the Mystics.
* AlienBlood: They bleed purplish-red blood, as evident by [=SkekTek=]'s transparent tubes in place of veins which show his blood circulation, and when Jen cuts [=SkekSil=]'s hand with the shard.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Unlike their Mystics counterparts, they live lavishly and dominate everyone through their self-imposed royalty.
* BigBad: A BigBadEnsemble of sorts, but the true one would be [=SkekUng=] via AuthorityEqualsAssKicking and [=SkekSil=] being TheHeavy.
* TheCaligula: Initially [[AllThereInTheManual much more affable in the past]], they eventually descend into selfish and genocidal behavior as time passed.
* CastOfSnowflakes: Unlike their counterparts the Mystics, the Skeksis each have a unique wardrobe and shaped skull to identify which individual is which.
* CoolSword: The Duelling swords for trial by stone, are huge shiny sabres ornately decorated.
* CreepyLongFingers: All of them have long fingers.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: As close as one gets in this series.
* DyingRace: There's ten at the time of the film [[AllThereInTheManual when there was originally eighteen]] [[note]]technically, sixteen, since two were killed indirectly when the Skeksis killed two Mystics [[spoiler:due to the fact that they still have a PsychicLink]].[[/note]]
* EmbodimentOfVice: Creator/JimHenson said that in the development of the Skeksis, the creators drew inspiration from the SevenDeadlySins.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: They might be decadent, genocidal tyrants, but they abhor profanity.
-->'''Aughra''': Mouldy mildew, mother of mouthmuck, dangle and strangle and death!
-->'''Ornamentalist''': Oh! How crude.
-->'''Ritual Master''': Watch your tongue, harridan! We are lords of the Crystal!
* EvilCounterpartRace: To the Mystics.
* EvilIsHammy: [=SkekUng=] being the most prominent.
* EvilMakesYouUgly: The crueler they got, the uglier they aged.
* EvilOldFolks: They are [[Really700YearsOld 1000 years old]] as well as genocidal hedonists.
* FeatheredFiend: Technically not feathered, but they look like humanoid birds of prey.
* ImmortalitySeeker: They seek eternal life via life extensions by extracting Podling and Gelfling energy. Apparently, the Dark Crystal's final Great Conjunction would've made them immortal had it not been restored.
* InterserviceRivalry: All of them. Especially with Ung and Sil.
* ItsAllAboutMe: They live to live beautifully, eternally and satisfy their hedonism.
* IWasQuiteALooker: In their youth, they were slender, vibrantly colored, and partial to wielding ornate fan-like devices.
* JabbaTableManners: Except for the Ornamentalist, their table manners (or lack thereof) are simply disgusting. Some of the things they eat aren't dead yet.
* LeanAndMean: They are very scrawny.
* LongLived: Via life extension.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: They share this trait with the Mystics, but thankfully theirs are atrophied.
* NonActionBigBad[=s=]: The Garthims do all the dirty work for them.
* ObviouslyEvil: [[AllThereInTheManual Not in the beginning]], but by the time of the film, they all are.
* PsychicLink: They are linked with the Mystics. If a Skeksis is injured or dies, his Mystic alter-ego feels pain or dies.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Concept artist Creator/BrianFroud claims the Skeksis are made to look "part reptile, part predatory bird, part [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon"]].
* SinisterSchnoz: Technically beaks. An exception is the Gourmet, whose beak is much less prominent.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Easily the most memorable characters of the film and steal the spotlight from everyone.
* ToothyBird: All of them sport teeth in their mouths.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Skeksis consider Roast Nebrie to be a great delicacy, often slaughtering the animal for their daily banquets.
* YouDontLookLikeYou: In the prequel [[spoiler:they first defused from the Mystics]], they lack [[CastOfSnowflakes the unique faces]] of the ones we know of the film for some reason.

[[folder:The Emperor]]
!![=SkekSo=] the Emperor
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Emperor-SkekSo-730762_9921.JPG]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Creator/JimHenson (1982)
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Jerry Nelson (1982), Creator/JasonIsaacs (''Age of Resistance'')

The dying ruler of the Skeksis.

* {{Determinator}}: Will not let anyone touch his scepter till he is dead.
-->'''Emperor''': MINE! Ehh-ehh Mine! Not! I-I-I-I am still Em... Pe... Ror... I... ''(dies)''
* BigBad: Will likely be this in the Age of Resistance.
* DueToTheDead: His ashes are given a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k501YF4vbz0 funeral]] in a DeletedScene.
* TheEmperor: The first one till his death.
* EvilCounterpart: To urSu the Mystic Master.
* EvilOverlord: For about 1000 years he was this. Now he's dying.
* MadeOfEvil: There's a reason he crumbles like a dry and rotten piece of wood eaten by termites.
* NoBodyLeftBehind: Crumbles into dust when he dies.
* {{Synchronization}}: When he dies, [=UrSu=] dies with him.

[[folder:The Garthim Master / the General / the New Emperor]]
!![=SkekUng=] the Garthim Master / the General / the New Emperor
[[quoteright:257:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-dark-crystal_7719.jpg]]

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Michael Kilgarriff

The strongest and most brutal of the Skeksis, he is the master of the Garthims. He competes against the Chamberlain for the throne and wins the Trial by Stone, becoming the new Emperor.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Physically the strongest of the Skeksis.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: How he gained the authority by beating his rival as well as the other Skeksis not wanting to fight him.
* BigBad: He is the main antagonist of the film, via being leader of the Skeksis.
%%* TheBigGuy: Served as this as the physically strongest of the Skeksis, though technically the second largest after [=SkekZok=].
* TheDragon: Is the most dangerous (and seemingly loyal) servant to the emperor, with his brute strength and command over the Garthim [[spoiler: eventually becoming a DragonAscendant]].
* TheEmperor: The second one [[spoiler:till the re-merger]].
* EvilCounterpart: To urIm the Mystic Healer.
* EvilOverlord: Gains this title after winning the Trial by Stone.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Has a deep growling voice, courtesy of Michael Kilgarriff.
* GutturalGrowler: He speaks with a very raspy voice.
* HairTriggerTemper: He's very quick to anger.
* IWantThemAlive: To regain his youth via the Chamber of Life.
* LargeHam: By far the hammiest Skeksis.
-->''Trial by STOOONE!''
-->''Garthim! ATTAAACK!''
%%* {{Phlegmings}}: At times.
* RatedMforManly: Becomes emperor by slicing a big rock with sword, commands giant crab monsters,[[SuperStrength the strongest of the Skeksis]], EvilSoundsDeep, the most aggressive and violent.
* TheRival: He rivals the Chamberlain for the throne after the Emperor's death.
* TheStarscream: Not openly until the death of the Emperor.
* VillainousBreakdown: He is prone to losing his temper whenever his plans fail.

[[folder:The Chamberlain]]
!![=SkekSil=] the Chamberlain
[[quoteright:247:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iGdYy6w8nsOsl_850.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Creator/FrankOz
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Barry Dennen (1982), Creator/SimonPegg (''Age of Resistance'')

The chief Secretary and second in line to the throne. After the death of the Emperor, his greed for power led to a challenge by the Garthim Master, when he decided to crown himself the new self-appointed emperor. Without hesitation, [=SkekUng=] confronted him and issued the challenge for supremacy. The Chamberlain responded by declaring the challenge be a Trial by Stone. After the duel, the Chamberlain was outcasted as punishment for losing to the new emperor.

* BlatantLies: Since he was planning to use Jen and Kira to regain his status.
* EvilAllAlong: [[DevilInPlainSight Then again, looking as vile and smug as he is]], it's not hard to understand why.
* EvilChancellor: Technically, the Chamberlain, but has the same attitude.
* EvilCounterpart: To urSol the Mystic Chanter.
* TheExile: For a majority of the film, he is exiled by the Skeksis after being defeated by [=SkekUng=]. At least until he regains his position by bringing Kira to the castle.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Tries to act as a peacemaker with Jen and Kira, but once the former stabs him; he caves him in a fit of rage.
* TheHeavy: While [=SkekUng=] led the Skeksis, SkekSil's actions towards Jen and Kira makes him more of a personal antagonist since he's not confined in the castle.
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: For a given value of sympathetic, before he manages to capture Kira.
* ManipulativeBastard: Not successful in manipulating, but his actions arguably get him what he wants.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: He starts out as an IneffectualSympatheticVillain but does eventually capture Kira.
* RichesToRags: And back to riches once he takes Kira to restore his honor.
* TheRival: He is the Garthim Master's rival for the throne after the Death of the Emperor.
* SissyVillain: Not as much as [=SkekEkt=], but his constant whimpers surely don't help.
* SmugSnake: Thinks he's both strong and clever enough to rule, his interactions with [=SkekUng=] and the Gelflings show him otherwise.
* TheStarscream: After the death of the Emperor, his open greed for power leads to a challenge by the Garthim Master.
** He tries to take the scepter from the Emperor while he is on his death thralls. [[DefiantToTheEnd Needless to say, the latter didn't like that]].
* VerbalTic: Those ungodly whimpers.
* VillainsNeverLie: In his attempts to lure Jen and Kira to the castle, he explains that the Skeksis fear Gelflings as creatures who will harm them. Though this is actually very true, he says it in the least trustworthy manner possible and the Gelflings wind up bolting.
* VillainousRescue: He stops the Garthim from capturing Jen and Kira during the attack on the podling village, allowing the 2 Gelflings to escape. However, that is purely because he wants to gain their trust so he can personaly bring them to the castle.
* YouNoTakeCandle: He slips into this when talking to the Gelflings. This is apparently due to TranslationConvention; according to the novelization he only barely speaks the Gelfling language.

[[folder:The Scientist]]
!![=SkekTek=] the Scientist
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark_crystal_scientist_1113.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Steve Whitmire
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Steve Whitmire (1982), Creator/MarkHamill (''Age of Resistance'')

He is responsible for draining the Essence of the captured Gelflings and Podlings deep inside his laboratory known as The Chamber of Life.
----
* AnArmAndALeg: [[AllThereInTheManual It is mentioned in the backup material that he amputated his own arm and leg in order to replace them with mechanical constructs.]] Not just that, but he also performed all kinds of experiments on himself, like [[BodyHorror replacing his eye with a cybernetic implant and one of his jugular veins with a transparent tube, in order to study his own blood circulation.]]
* AxCrazy: Zig-zagged with MadScientist trope; A self-mutilating freak who relishes in experimenting on and torturing other lifeforms.
* DisneyVillainDeath: [[spoiler:Pushed down into the fiery chamber, leading to his counterpart's death]].
* EvilCounterpart: To urTih the Mystic Alchemist.
* EvilGenius: Of the Skeksis, and the creator of many of their devices.
* GlassEye: He has one to replace his lost one.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:[[TheDogBitesBack He was pushed into the pit by the animals he imprisoned and experimented on]]]].
%%* MadDoctor: And one as quick to operate on himself as his unlucky patients.
%%* MadScientist: A Skeksis scientist? What else could he be.
* RedRightHand: Has a mechanical eye.
%%* TortureTechnician: Relishes in the agony he causes others.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Gourmand]]
!![=SkekAyuk=] the Gourmand
[[quoteright:248:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi15_1290.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Louise Gold
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Thick Wilson (1982), Harvey Fierstein (''Age of Resistance'')

The Skeksis court's Gourmand. He likes sweet liquors and hot spices, and he boasts to have a different menu for every feast. He's in charge of the Castle kitchens.
----
* BigEater: He is a glutton who loves to eat.
* EvilCounterpart: To urAmaj the Mystic Cook.
* FatAndSkinny: Frequently seen with the Ornamentalist.
%%* FatBastard
%%* FatIdiot
%%* SimpletonVoice
* VillainousGlutton: One of the BigBadEnsemble as well as a big eater.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Ornamentalist]]
!![=SkekEkt=] the Ornamentalist
[[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi20_7545.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Brian Muehl
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Brian Muehl

The most feminine of the Skeksis by far, he is frequently seen to be screaming dramatically and being [[CampGay very flamboyant]]. He is in charge of the castle's decorations.
----
%%* AmbiguousGender
* EvilCounterpart: To urUtt the Mystic Weaver.
* FatAndSkinny: Frequently seen with the fat Gourmand, with whom he seems to share a love of food.
%%* {{Narcissist}}
%%* SissyVillain
%%* WickedCultured
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Slave Master]]
!![=SkekNa=] the Slave Master
[[quoteright:229:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Skeksis_Slavemaster_7487.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Mike Quinn
!!!'''Voiced by:''' David Buck

He is in charge of the Skeksis' slaves, and chooses promising specimens for the Choir, claiming to have an ear for music. [=SkekNa=] is recognizable by his eyepatch around his right eye and a hook which replaces his left hand.
----
* EvilCounterpart: To urNol the Mystic Herbalist.
%%* EyepatchOfPower
* EyeScream: Sometime before the film began, he lost vision in his right eye.
%%* HookHand
* RedRightHand: He has a hook on his left hand and an eyepatch on his right.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Ritual Master/High Priest]]
!![=SkekZok=] the Ritual Master / the High Priest
[[quoteright:260:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi13_1542.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Creator/JimHenson
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Jerry Nelson

The court Ritual Master (also referred to as the High Priest) of the Skeksis. He leads the Skeksis in their various rituals and practice such as The Ceremony of the Sun, and he sees their laws as absolute and inflexible.
----
* AxCrazy: He kills Kira in a fit of anger due to his overzealous obsession to kill the Gelflings.
* TheDragon: He serves as [=SkekUng=]'s second-in-command, although it's not by choice.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Tries to stop [=SkekSil=] the Chamberlain from grabbing [=SkekSo=] the Emperor's scepter before he's even dead.
* EvilCounterpart: To urZah the Mystic Ritual Guardian.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Arguably the deepest voiced Skeksis, because he doesn't growl like [=SkekUng=].
* HighPriest: He is responsible for leading the Skeksis in rituals and practices.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: His actions causes the downfall of the empire, through killing Kira, giving Jen the resolve to heal the Crystal.
* KnifeNut: Is Sometimes seen with his unsheathed dagger.
* KnightTemplar: [=SkekZok=] views that the Gelflings should die [[spoiler:when he finally does kill one, it ends up being the thing to undo their entire existence]].
* LawfulStupid: He's obsessed in following the Skeksis' rules to the letter. For example, he gets disappointed when [=SkekUng=] decides to utilize Kira before executing her, instead of killing her there and then.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: If he hadn't decided to kill Kira, Jen would've probably not had the necessary anger to inject the shard back into the Crystal.
* TheResenter: He deeply resents [=SkekUng=] once the latter becomes TheEmperor.
* TheStarscream: [=SkekZok=] conspires with [=SkekShod=] to overthrow [=SkekUng=], but it doesn't work out.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Scroll Keeper]]
!![=SkekOk=] the Scroll Keeper
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi19_7246.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Bob Payne
!!!'''Voiced by:''' John Baddeley

He is the shortest of all the Skeksis, something that the other Skeksis laugh at. However he keeps rewriting his accounts in order to please his shifting allies, which causes the truth to be soon lost. He always arrives late to the meetings and usually falls asleep during them.
----
* EvilCounterpart: To urAc the Mystic Scribe.
%%* HighClassGlass
%%* SeniorSleepCycle
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Treasurer]]
!! [=SkekShod=] the Treasurer
[[quoteright:273:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi17_1748.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Tim Rose
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Charles Collingwood

The Skeksis Treasurer, counts gifts. Nobody dared to approach him without some offering. Because his greed was so great and his speech so limited, the only way he got his way was extravagant bribery.
----
%%* EvilCounterpart: To urYod the Mystic Numerologist.
%%* TheUnintelligible
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Garthim]]
!!Garthim
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_lrkz4xmOAt1qg3jyco1_400_5674.jpg]]

The loyal soldiers of the Skeksis. They appear to be Golem-like creatures that are animated through the power of the Dark Crystal. When the dark power of the Crystal was healed the Garthim fell apart to reveal nothing but hollow shells. They were probably created by the Skeksis themselves after the shattering of the Crystal to serve and protect them. They were used to genocide the Gelflings.
----
* TheBrute: They act as the brute force of the Skeksis.
* EmptyShell: At the end of the film, they disintegrate into shells.
* GiantEnemyCrab: They look like giant crabs.
* {{Golem}}: Are essentially animated armor via the Dark Crystal.
* MechanicalMonster: From the Gelflings and Podlings' perspective.
* MechaMooks: To the Skeksis.
[[/folder]]

!The [=UrSkeks=]

[[folder:In General]]
!![=UrSkeks=]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Urskeks_4178.jpg]]

->'''Voiced by:''' Joseph O'Conor

A race of creatures not native to Thra and born of the Crystal before it was shattered. They were noble beings shining with an inner light, however, in attempting to perfect themselves, they instead tore themselves apart to become two distinct races, the urRu/Mystics and the Skeksis.
----
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: At the end of the film, they ascend to the skies after being combined.
* EtherealChoir: They start chanting upon being restored to their former selves.
* FusionDance: The surviving urRu and Skeksis are rejoined into their original Urskek forms at the end.
* LightEmUp: They constantly emit light.
* LightIsGood: Overall, they were noble and wise beings until they foolishly shattered the Crystal. Jen restores them to their former selves and the first and last thing they do before they AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence is to [[spoiler:resurrect Kira.]]
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: They are angelic creatures and EnergyBeings.
[[/folder]]

!Other characters

[[folder:Aughra]]
!!Aughra
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Aughra_photo_541.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Frank Oz, Kiran Shah, Mike Edmonds (1982)
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Billie Whitelaw (1982), Donna Kimball (''Age of Resistance'')

Aughra is the very essence of the world of Thra itself. An old hermit woman with a gorilla-like face who lives in a brain-shaped observatory atop a mountain, Aughra is wise and experienced enough to know the joy of the world before the takeover by the Skeksis.
----
* AmbiguousGender: The character is meant to be a combination of male and female genders, but still sounds like a bossy old battleaxe of a grandmother and has visible breasts.
* AncientKeeper: She's been the keeper of the lost shard of the Crystal for quite a long time.
* ClusterFBomb: A G-rated example is the scene where Aughra shouts fantastic profanity at the Skeksis.
-->'''Aughra''': Moldy mildew, mother of mouthmuck, dangle and strangle and death![[note]]"Oh, how ''crude''!"[[/note]]
%%* CoolOldLady
* DarkIsNotEvil: She may look like a menacing hermit with a gorilla-like face, but she is one of the good guys.
-->'''Aughra''': Are you afraid of me? Afraid I'm going to EAT YOU? HMM?
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: She has no fear of the Skeksis, and when questioned on why she has the balls[[note]]literally, according to WordOfGod[[/note]] to treat them with disrespect, she retorts that their time is coming, so she's unafraid of them.
* EccentricMentor: She has a funny way of speaking, but is a wise woman.
* EyeScream: She can remove her own eyeball at will and use it like a remote camera. While it doesn't hurt her, it certainly is weird.
** In the backstory, she lost her other eye and came to be how she looks in the film when she laid on the ground to watch the Great Conjunction. A beam of intense light struck her eye, destroying it and burning her badly. She considers it a worthwhile trade.
* GoodIsNotNice: She can be rude to anyone she meets, but she does mean well.
* TheHermit: She lives alone in her observatory/laboratory.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: While she may be a jerk, she is a very good person at heart.
* KidnappedScientist: She gets kidnapped by the Garthims after they raid her home, although they don't do it because the Skeksis have any need of her science, it's just that the Garthim are mindless mooks who mistook her for a Gelfling.
* Really700YearsOld: As the ExpandedUniverse clarifies, she's in fact almost ''three thousand years old'', having lived through the first two Great Conjunctions and seen all the eras of the Urskeks, Skeksis and Mystics (and all the terror, bloodshed and sorrow) firsthand. By the end of the movie, she's lived through the third Great Conjunction and has officially hit the 3000 mark.
* SolitarySorceress: Lives by herself in a mountain cave.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fizzgig]]
!!Fizzgig
[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6672-4397_2079.gif]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Dave Goelz
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Percy Edwards

Kira's furry pet.
----
* AllAnimalsAreDogs: He barks like a dog.
* CuteButCacophonic: Speaks in very loud bass shrieks.
* HairTriggerTemper: Is quick to get angry over the slightest things.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He may act like a jerk, but does care for his owner Kira.
%%* KillerRabbit
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily: We get a full view of all his teeth when he roars.
* NestedMouths: Has extra rows of teeth at the back of his mouth.
* UndyingLoyalty: Even performs a HeroicSacrifice to try to save Jen.
* VolumetricMouth: Has a mouth as big as his body when fully yelling.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Podlings]]
!!Podlings/Pod People
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Podlings_6023.jpg]]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Miki Iveria, Patrick Monckton, Sue Wheatherby and Barry Dennen

A race of small, kindly and simple people with potato-shaped heads. They build their tools out of gourds and wood. They have the ability to communicate with animals and live in relative peace. The Podlings were kind enough to adopt Kira after her parents were killed in the Skeksis attack on their people. Their only fear is being captured by the Garthim and taken into slavery.
----
* ActualPacifist: They are peaceful little people who don't know how to fight.
* EarthyBarefootCharacter: They don't wear any footwear. Kira is the same as them, having been raised with them.
* EmptyShell: Once their life essence is drained by the Skeksis.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: They live in harmony with nature and communicate with animals. They taught the latter to Kira.
* {{Hobbits}}: Probably the closest race the ''Dark Crystal'' universe has to them.
* LifeOfTheParty: They love to throw a party, drink and and dance.
* {{Nice Guy}}s: They are quite cheerful and nice people. Nice enough to throw a party to welcome Jen.
* SlaveRace: Many of them were taken into slavery by the Skeksis.
* TooHappyToLive: They're throwing a great party with SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic in honor of the reunion of the last two Gelflings... then [[BallroomBlitz the Garthim burst through the wall]].
[[/folder]]

[[foldercontrol]]

!The Gelflings

!!Gelflings

Once a great elven-like race, Gelflings had created large cities over the world of Thra and had mastered many aspects of magic, including the ability of prophecy. They opposed the Skeksis, who exterminated them when a prophecy revealed a Gelfling would repair the Crystal and put an end to their reign.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: They have good looks and are the main protagonists.
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: Female Gelflings have fairy wings; males don't.
* TheDreaded: To the Skeksis, The Gelflings are nothing more than monsters that want to kill them.
* DyingRace: Thanks to the Skeksis' genocide, only Jen and Kira are known to have survived.
* MostWritersAreHuman: As Jen and Kira are the protagonists and thus the characters the audience is most meant to emphasize with, the Gelflings are by far the most human-like of Thra's exotic races.
* {{Telepathy}}: Two Gelflings can read each other's mind by physical contact (like touching their hands.)

[[folder:Jen]]
!! Jen
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dark_Crystal_Jen_9108.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Creator/JimHenson, Kiran Shah
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Stephen Garlick

A Gelfling orphan who was saved from the genocide and raised by the wisest of the Mystics.

* TheChosenOne: The Mystics prophesize that Jen is the one who will heal the crystal.
* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: Since his parents were killed by the Skeksis, he was raised as an orphan.
* HappilyAdopted: After his clan was killed, the Mystics raised him.
%%* IncorruptiblePurePureness
* LastOfHisKind: What he thought until he met Kira.
* MagicalFlutist: He can use magic by playing his flute.
%%* MessianicArchetype
* OhCrap: He is utterly shocked when [[spoiler:[=SkekZok=] kills Kira]].
* ParentalAbandonment: His parents were killed by the Skeksis.
* TheProtagonist: He's the main focal character in ''The Dark Crystal''.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: In the novelization, he hates the color black, as it reminds him of the Garthim.

[[folder:Kira]]
!! Kira
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dark_Crystal_Kira_8444.png]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Kathryn Mullen, Kiran Shah
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Lisa Maxwell

A Gelfling orphan who was raised by the Podlings.

* BadassAdorable: She's adorable and very resourceful, not to mention her command over animals as taught by the Podlings.
%%* TheBeastmaster
* BookDumb: She never learned to read.
* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: Like Jen, she was also raised as an orphan when her parents were killed.
* DisneyDeath: At the end of the film, [[spoiler:she is seemingly killed by [=SkekZok=], only to be revived after Jen restores the crystal]].
* DoesNotLikeShoes: It's hard to tell from the film, but according to TheMerch (in the form of her 2001 and 2016 action figures), she goes barefoot. Also confirmed by [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kira_with_jim_henson.jpg this photo]] of Creator/JimHenson posing with the Kira puppet. Probably overlaps with EarthyBarefootCharacter, since she was raised by the Podlings.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: She lives in harmony with nature, communicates with animals and cares about them.
* HeroicAlbino: Kira seems to have this look going on. Even her name, which means light in a few different languages.
* TheLancer: She becomes Jen's close companion.
* LastOfHerKind: What she thought until she met Jen.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: [[spoiler:Like all female Gelflings, she's got fairy wings.]]
* RaisedByWolves: She was raised by the Podlings but grew up in the wilderness.
* WomanInWhite: She wears a white uniform.

!The urRu/Mystics

[[folder:In General]]
!!The urRu / The Mystics
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/PDVD_811_6205.jpg]]

The urRu, also known as the Mystics, are peaceful crouching, bipedal creatures with 4 fully-functional arms and long necks covered with a mane of hair, ending in a triangular head with an extremely wrinkled face. They have long tails that drag on the ground, and only stand up to their full height at the Great Conjunction. According to the novelization, urRu means: "The old and wise ones." They are actually spawn of the [=UrSkeks=] species and lost control of Thra in a tumultuous conflict with the Skeksis who also spawned from [=UrSkeks=] during the burning light emitted from the Crystal during the last Great Conjunction.

* ActualPacifist: They have all the virtue [[spoiler:of the [=UrSkeks=]]], but none of the assertiveness.
* AgeWithoutYouth: Though they still age more gracefully than the Skeksis.
* AlienBlood: They seem to bleed black blood.
* BigGood: They are this to Jen, and essentially the plot.
* CallToAdventure: When it's time for Jen to start his adventure, they call him with an EtherealChoir which echoes as far as the jungle where Jen is playing his double flute.
* CoolOldGuy: They are wise individuals who have existed for years.
* DyingRace: There's about ten [[spoiler:eight by the end of the film]], [[AllThereInTheManual when there were originally eighteen]]. [[note]]Technically, sixteen, since two were immediately killed [[spoiler:after the separation]] when the Skeksis killed two Mystics in curiosity [[spoiler:due to the fact that they still have a PsychicLink]] leading to the deaths of two Skeksis respectively.[[/note]]
* EmbodimentOfVirtue: They are peaceful and gentle to a fault.
* ExtremeDoormat: Due to their benevolent nature, they can't take action, since action is a negative force.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler: More like face merging with dignity. When the crystal is repaired, the skeksis freaks out while the mystics readily merges with them.]]
* GentleGiant: The biggest characters in the movie (save for the Garthims), as well as the nicest.
* TheHermit: Compared to the Skeksis' lavish lifestyle, they live much more humbly and more isolated from the rest of the world.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Nonviolent, humble and gentle to a fault, which is why they send Jen who is more assertive than they are.
* IWasQuiteALooker: When they first [[spoiler:divided from the [=UrSkeks=],]] they were lean and agile.
* LongLived: Due to their connection to the Skeksis [[spoiler:via original form, the [=UrSkeks=]]], they have lived long lives, thanks to the former's extended life technologies.
* LongNeck: All of them, likely to support their bodies.
* MultiArmedMultitasking: They share multiple arms with the Skeksis, but theirs are much more noticeable and useful.
* NoBodyLeftBehind: They die more gracefully then the Skeksis, vanishing from existence while the Skeksis crumble like rotten wood.
* OnlySixFaces: Double subverted. Compared to the Skeksis who all have unique traits, the Mystics are harder to tell apart unless you look very closely at their faces and clothes. Could be related to their lack of assertiveness - they just don't care enough to distinguish themselves, while the aggressive Skesis treasure their individuality and took pains to set themselves apart from one another.
* PsychicLink: They are linked with the Skeksis. If a Skeksis is injured or dies, his Mystic alter-ego feels pain or dies [[spoiler:because they were originally the same being]]. It's also the reason why they're able to pacify the Garthims upon entering the castle.
* TheQuietOne: Only two Mystics have any dialogue beyond a single phrase, but by nature they don't talk at all.
* TheStoic: They have calm and serious demeanors.

[[folder:The Master]]
!![=UrSu=] the Master
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ursu_the_master_211.png]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Brian Muehl
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Brian Muehl

The wisest of the Mystics and their chief, who saved Jen and educated him. Before he died, he commissioned Jen for his quest, showing him what the shard of crystal looked like and where to find it -- at Aughra's observatory.

* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Since he was an [=UrSkek=], he is largely responsible for everything going wrong]].
* BigGood: He serves as the Mystics' leader before he died.
* DeathbedConfession: His last words lead Jen to the plot, just before he dies.
* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekSo=].
* LastRequest: Jen must fix the crystal.
* TheMentor: He mentored Jen ever since the latter was a child.
* MentorOccupationalHazard: He dies due to old age.
* NoBodyLeftBehind: After [=UrSu=] dies, he disappears in sparkles.
* OldMaster: He taught Jen since he was a young boy.
* ParentalSubstitute: He adopted Jen after his parents were killed.

[[folder:The Healer]]
!![=UrIm=] the Healer
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/urim_the_healer_771.png]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Dave Greenaway, Richard Slaughter

[=Urlm=] is the Mystics' Healer and counterpart to the Garthim Master. [=UrIm=] could still perceive the corona of the [=UrSkeks=] flowing in the Mystics, though the Great Division had unbalanced it. urIm sought to restore this balance by using amulets, baths and acupuncture. With his right hands, he made patterns in the air to restore the fires of the soul, with his left hands he made patterns in water to reduce them. He neglected all music, save for that of the death trance.

* ActualPacifist: The technically appointed leader of the Mystics after the leader's death, he does not engage in conflict like the rest of his brethren, but by his nature as a healer, he especially does not do so.
* BigGood: Technically he does, via connection to the current BigBad, the Garthim Master.
* BrilliantButLazy: He neglects all the musical activities of the Mystics save that of death rites and later on their final journey, rarely joining in the music rituals.
* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekUng=].
* {{Irony}}: While he himself is a pacifist, his counterpart is a BloodKnight with a HairTriggerTemper.
* TheMedic: Using acupuncture and bathes to heal his companions.

[[folder:The Chanter]]
!![=UrSol=] the Chanter
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ursol_the_chanter_3620.png]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Simon Williamson

[=UrSol=] is the Chanter and the counterpart of [=SkekSil=] the Skeksis Chamberlain. He is the one with the topknot and green coat. Although he has the job of chanter, it is urZah who leads the Mystics in the chants in the movie.

In the novelization, he taught Jen music, but Jen couldn't sing like a Mystic.

* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekSil=].
* PsychicLink: When Jen stabs the Chamberlain, urSol's hand also bleeds.

[[folder:The Ritual Guardian]]
!![=UrZah=] the Ritual Guardian
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/urzah_the_ritual_guardian_1138.png]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Brian Muehl
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Sean Barrett

[=UrZah=] is the Mystic ritual guardian, and the Mystic counterpart of [=SkekZok=] the Skeksis ritual master. He would make the sand paintings of prophecy for the Mystics by pouring out the colored sands while the others chanted. urZah would comb and brush the sands of amethyst, opal, agate, onyx, and chalcedony to build the forms of spiral energy. He speaks more freely than the other urRu, but mostly in riddles. Deep meditation leaves spirals in all his body, not just in his face. He is the first Mystic seen in the movie. He also leads the chants throughout the movie and leads the Mystics out of the Valley of when it is time to return to the castle.

* BigGood: Shares this with the technical leader, [=UrIm=] the Healer, being the one with the most assertiveness in the group.
* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekZok=].
* TheFace: He gets the most dialogue of the Mystics, second to urSu.
%%* HighPriest

[[folder:The Alchemist]]
!![=UrTih=] the Alchemist
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/urtih_the_alchemist_2151.png]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Toby Philpott

[=UrTih=] was the Mystic Alchemist, and counterpart to [=SkekTek=] the Skeksis Scientist. He wore a bandana, and his right front arm and leg were artificial limbs of wood. He was forever lost in his alchemical experiments, constantly seeking to change the forms of substances. He approached his work with humility, as he knew that he could never create anything that was nature's work. [=urTih=] ultimately never managed to merge with his Skeksis counterpart, having suffered an untimely death when [=SkekTek=] fell to his fiery death in the Chamber of Life.

* ArtificialLimbs: Has them in the same place as [=SkekTek=].
* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekTek=].
* KilledOffForReal: When [=SkekTek=] dies, [=UrTih=], as the other half of their shared [=UrSkek=] soul, dies as well.
* NoBodyLeftBehind: He spontaneously combusts when his Skeksis counterpart falls into the pit beneath the Dark Crystal.

[[folder:The Herbalist]]
!![=UrNol=] the Herbalist
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/urnol_the_herbalist_1634.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Swee Lim

He is the Mystic Herbalist, and counterpart to [=SkekNa=] the Skeksis Slave Master. He was distinguished by his eye patch and splintered finger. He was a close friend of urAmaj the Cook, and the two of them would attend to the greater and lesser balances of the bodies and spirits of their companions. His medicinal herbs, which he grew in his own gardens, were taken in between meals. Birds' feathers and the mosses and lichens that grew on the Standing Stones were also used in his concoctions.

* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekNa=].

[[folder:The Cook]]
!![=UrAmaj=] the Cook
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uramaj_the_cook_4402.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Hugh Spight

[=UrAmaj=] was the Mystics' Cook, and counterpart to [=SkekAyuk=] the Skeksis Gourmand. He was a close friend of [=UrNol the Herbalist=], and the two of them would attend to the greater and lesser balances of the bodies and spirits of their companions. He approached his work slowly, blending the flavours and textures of various food till the desired soothing properties were attained. [=UrAmaj'=]s meals however was disliked by Jen, as he was unable to cook Gelfling food.

* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekAyuk=], where the latter cooks for his companions, the latter who [[VillainousGlutton would only have it prepared only to eat it himself]].
* OneNoteCook: As Jen notes, he is unable to cook Gelfling.
* SupremeChef: He does this by blending the flavours and textures of various food till the desired soothing properties were attained to feed his companions.

[[folder:The Scribe]]
!![=UrAc=] the Scribe
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/urac_the_scribe_3465.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Hus Levant

[=UrAc=] was the urRu's Scribe, and counterpart to [=SkekOk=] the Scroll Keeper. Aside from composing the urRu's prayers and carving their Prayer Sticks, urAc incorporated the thoughts of his comrades on unwound cloth spirals, a process the urRu called "writing in rays of sunlight." He wound particularly deep thoughts into spirals.

* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekOk=].

[[folder:The Numerologist]]
!![=UrYod=] the Numerologist
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uryod_the_numerologist_552.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Robbie Barnett

[=UrYod=] the Numerologist kept track of time with moving strings of stones. Before the Urskeks' division, he aided Aughra with the Observatory. He is the Mystic counterpart of [=SkekShod=] the Skeksis Treasurer.

* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekShod=].

[[folder:The Weaver]]
!![=UrUtt=] the Weaver
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/urutt_the_weaver_6414.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Jean Pierre Amiel

[=UrUtt=] the Weaver created the blanket coats wore by the Mystics. Every coat was a record of the wearer's thoughts and fate. He used a system of knotted threads to make them, not using scissors to cut the fabric. In the film, he is seen playing the harp at urSu's funeral. He is the Mystic counterpart to [=SkekEkt=] the Skeksis Ornamentalist.

* HarpOfFemininity: In addition to his weaving talents, he plays a harp, which serves as the {{Leitmotif}} of the Mystics as a whole.
* GoodCounterpart: To [=SkekEkt=].

!The Skeksis

[[folder:In General]]
!!The Skeksis
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark-crystal-skeksis_2907.jpg]]

The Skeksis are vulture-like humanoids who took control of Thra after a tumultuous conflict with the Mystics. Both species spawned from the [=UrSkeks=] during the burning light emitted from the Crystal during the last Great Conjunction. When prophecies revealed that the Skeksis' tyranny would end when the missing shard of the Dark Crystal is one day found and restored by the Gelfling people, they took the Gelfling tribe by force. With the help of their Garthim warriors they managed to kill all but two survivors, Jen and Kira.

* AgeWithoutYouth: A major plot point, as they capture Gelflings and Podlings to temporally reverse the aging process because they get uglier with age unlike the Mystics.
* AlienBlood: They bleed purplish-red blood, as evident by [=SkekTek=]'s transparent tubes in place of veins which show his blood circulation, and when Jen cuts [=SkekSil=]'s hand with the shard.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Unlike their Mystics counterparts, they live lavishly and dominate everyone through their self-imposed royalty.
* BigBad: A BigBadEnsemble of sorts, but the true one would be [=SkekUng=] via AuthorityEqualsAssKicking and [=SkekSil=] being TheHeavy.
* TheCaligula: Initially [[AllThereInTheManual much more affable in the past]], they eventually descend into selfish and genocidal behavior as time passed.
* CastOfSnowflakes: Unlike their counterparts the Mystics, the Skeksis each have a unique wardrobe and shaped skull to identify which individual is which.
* CoolSword: The Duelling swords for trial by stone, are huge shiny sabres ornately decorated.
* CreepyLongFingers: All of them have long fingers.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: As close as one gets in this series.
* DyingRace: There's ten at the time of the film [[AllThereInTheManual when there was originally eighteen]] [[note]]technically, sixteen, since two were killed indirectly when the Skeksis killed two Mystics [[spoiler:due to the fact that they still have a PsychicLink]].[[/note]]
* EmbodimentOfVice: Creator/JimHenson said that in the development of the Skeksis, the creators drew inspiration from the SevenDeadlySins.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: They might be decadent, genocidal tyrants, but they abhor profanity.
-->'''Aughra''': Mouldy mildew, mother of mouthmuck, dangle and strangle and death!
-->'''Ornamentalist''': Oh! How crude.
-->'''Ritual Master''': Watch your tongue, harridan! We are lords of the Crystal!
* EvilCounterpartRace: To the Mystics.
* EvilIsHammy: [=SkekUng=] being the most prominent.
* EvilMakesYouUgly: The crueler they got, the uglier they aged.
* EvilOldFolks: They are [[Really700YearsOld 1000 years old]] as well as genocidal hedonists.
* FeatheredFiend: Technically not feathered, but they look like humanoid birds of prey.
* ImmortalitySeeker: They seek eternal life via life extensions by extracting Podling and Gelfling energy. Apparently, the Dark Crystal's final Great Conjunction would've made them immortal had it not been restored.
* InterserviceRivalry: All of them. Especially with Ung and Sil.
* ItsAllAboutMe: They live to live beautifully, eternally and satisfy their hedonism.
* IWasQuiteALooker: In their youth, they were slender, vibrantly colored, and partial to wielding ornate fan-like devices.
* JabbaTableManners: Except for the Ornamentalist, their table manners (or lack thereof) are simply disgusting. Some of the things they eat aren't dead yet.
* LeanAndMean: They are very scrawny.
* LongLived: Via life extension.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: They share this trait with the Mystics, but thankfully theirs are atrophied.
* NonActionBigBad[=s=]: The Garthims do all the dirty work for them.
* ObviouslyEvil: [[AllThereInTheManual Not in the beginning]], but by the time of the film, they all are.
* PsychicLink: They are linked with the Mystics. If a Skeksis is injured or dies, his Mystic alter-ego feels pain or dies.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Concept artist Creator/BrianFroud claims the Skeksis are made to look "part reptile, part predatory bird, part [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon"]].
* SinisterSchnoz: Technically beaks. An exception is the Gourmet, whose beak is much less prominent.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Easily the most memorable characters of the film and steal the spotlight from everyone.
* ToothyBird: All of them sport teeth in their mouths.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Skeksis consider Roast Nebrie to be a great delicacy, often slaughtering the animal for their daily banquets.
* YouDontLookLikeYou: In the prequel [[spoiler:they first defused from the Mystics]], they lack [[CastOfSnowflakes the unique faces]] of the ones we know of the film for some reason.

[[folder:The Emperor]]
!![=SkekSo=] the Emperor
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Emperor-SkekSo-730762_9921.JPG]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Creator/JimHenson (1982)
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Jerry Nelson (1982), Creator/JasonIsaacs (''Age of Resistance'')

The dying ruler of the Skeksis.

* {{Determinator}}: Will not let anyone touch his scepter till he is dead.
-->'''Emperor''': MINE! Ehh-ehh Mine! Not! I-I-I-I am still Em... Pe... Ror... I... ''(dies)''
* BigBad: Will likely be this in the Age of Resistance.
* DueToTheDead: His ashes are given a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k501YF4vbz0 funeral]] in a DeletedScene.
* TheEmperor: The first one till his death.
* EvilCounterpart: To urSu the Mystic Master.
* EvilOverlord: For about 1000 years he was this. Now he's dying.
* MadeOfEvil: There's a reason he crumbles like a dry and rotten piece of wood eaten by termites.
* NoBodyLeftBehind: Crumbles into dust when he dies.
* {{Synchronization}}: When he dies, [=UrSu=] dies with him.

[[folder:The Garthim Master / the General / the New Emperor]]
!![=SkekUng=] the Garthim Master / the General / the New Emperor
[[quoteright:257:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-dark-crystal_7719.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Dave Goelz
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Michael Kilgarriff

The strongest and most brutal of the Skeksis, he is the master of the Garthims. He competes against the Chamberlain for the throne and wins the Trial by Stone, becoming the new Emperor.
----
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Physically the strongest of the Skeksis.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: How he gained the authority by beating his rival as well as the other Skeksis not wanting to fight him.
* BigBad: He is the main antagonist of the film, via being leader of the Skeksis.
%%* TheBigGuy: Served as this as the physically strongest of the Skeksis, though technically the second largest after [=SkekZok=].
* TheDragon: Is the most dangerous (and seemingly loyal) servant to the emperor, with his brute strength and command over the Garthim [[spoiler: eventually becoming a DragonAscendant]].
* TheEmperor: The second one [[spoiler:till the re-merger]].
* EvilCounterpart: To urIm the Mystic Healer.
* EvilOverlord: Gains this title after winning the Trial by Stone.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Has a deep growling voice, courtesy of Michael Kilgarriff.
* GutturalGrowler: He speaks with a very raspy voice.
* HairTriggerTemper: He's very quick to anger.
* IWantThemAlive: To regain his youth via the Chamber of Life.
* LargeHam: By far the hammiest Skeksis.
-->''Trial by STOOONE!''
-->''Garthim! ATTAAACK!''
%%* {{Phlegmings}}: At times.
* RatedMforManly: Becomes emperor by slicing a big rock with sword, commands giant crab monsters,[[SuperStrength the strongest of the Skeksis]], EvilSoundsDeep, the most aggressive and violent.
* TheRival: He rivals the Chamberlain for the throne after the Emperor's death.
* TheStarscream: Not openly until the death of the Emperor.
* VillainousBreakdown: He is prone to losing his temper whenever his plans fail.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Chamberlain]]
!![=SkekSil=] the Chamberlain
[[quoteright:247:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iGdYy6w8nsOsl_850.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Creator/FrankOz
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Barry Dennen (1982), Creator/SimonPegg (''Age of Resistance'')

The chief Secretary and second in line to the throne. After the death of the Emperor, his greed for power led to a challenge by the Garthim Master, when he decided to crown himself the new self-appointed emperor. Without hesitation, [=SkekUng=] confronted him and issued the challenge for supremacy. The Chamberlain responded by declaring the challenge be a Trial by Stone. After the duel, the Chamberlain was outcasted as punishment for losing to the new emperor.
----
* BlatantLies: Since he was planning to use Jen and Kira to regain his status.
* EvilAllAlong: [[DevilInPlainSight Then again, looking as vile and smug as he is]], it's not hard to understand why.
* EvilChancellor: Technically, the Chamberlain, but has the same attitude.
* EvilCounterpart: To urSol the Mystic Chanter.
* TheExile: For a majority of the film, he is exiled by the Skeksis after being defeated by [=SkekUng=]. At least until he regains his position by bringing Kira to the castle.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Tries to act as a peacemaker with Jen and Kira, but once the former stabs him; he caves him in a fit of rage.
* TheHeavy: While [=SkekUng=] led the Skeksis, SkekSil's actions towards Jen and Kira makes him more of a personal antagonist since he's not confined in the castle.
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: For a given value of sympathetic, before he manages to capture Kira.
* ManipulativeBastard: Not successful in manipulating, but his actions arguably get him what he wants.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: He starts out as an IneffectualSympatheticVillain but does eventually capture Kira.
* RichesToRags: And back to riches once he takes Kira to restore his honor.
* TheRival: He is the Garthim Master's rival for the throne after the Death of the Emperor.
* SissyVillain: Not as much as [=SkekEkt=], but his constant whimpers surely don't help.
* SmugSnake: Thinks he's both strong and clever enough to rule, his interactions with [=SkekUng=] and the Gelflings show him otherwise.
* TheStarscream: After the death of the Emperor, his open greed for power leads to a challenge by the Garthim Master.
** He tries to take the scepter from the Emperor while he is on his death thralls. [[DefiantToTheEnd Needless to say, the latter didn't like that]].
* VerbalTic: Those ungodly whimpers.
* VillainsNeverLie: In his attempts to lure Jen and Kira to the castle, he explains that the Skeksis fear Gelflings as creatures who will harm them. Though this is actually very true, he says it in the least trustworthy manner possible and the Gelflings wind up bolting.
* VillainousRescue: He stops the Garthim from capturing Jen and Kira during the attack on the podling village, allowing the 2 Gelflings to escape. However, that is purely because he wants to gain their trust so he can personaly bring them to the castle.
* YouNoTakeCandle: He slips into this when talking to the Gelflings. This is apparently due to TranslationConvention; according to the novelization he only barely speaks the Gelfling language.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Scientist]]
!![=SkekTek=] the Scientist
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark_crystal_scientist_1113.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Steve Whitmire
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Steve Whitmire (1982), Creator/MarkHamill (''Age of Resistance'')

He is responsible for draining the Essence of the captured Gelflings and Podlings deep inside his laboratory known as The Chamber of Life.
----
* AnArmAndALeg: [[AllThereInTheManual It is mentioned in the backup material that he amputated his own arm and leg in order to replace them with mechanical constructs.]] Not just that, but he also performed all kinds of experiments on himself, like [[BodyHorror replacing his eye with a cybernetic implant and one of his jugular veins with a transparent tube, in order to study his own blood circulation.]]
* AxCrazy: Zig-zagged with MadScientist trope; A self-mutilating freak who relishes in experimenting on and torturing other lifeforms.
* DisneyVillainDeath: [[spoiler:Pushed down into the fiery chamber, leading to his counterpart's death]].
* EvilCounterpart: To urTih the Mystic Alchemist.
* EvilGenius: Of the Skeksis, and the creator of many of their devices.
* GlassEye: He has one to replace his lost one.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:[[TheDogBitesBack He was pushed into the pit by the animals he imprisoned and experimented on]]]].
%%* MadDoctor: And one as quick to operate on himself as his unlucky patients.
%%* MadScientist: A Skeksis scientist? What else could he be.
* RedRightHand: Has a mechanical eye.
%%* TortureTechnician: Relishes in the agony he causes others.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Gourmand]]
!![=SkekAyuk=] the Gourmand
[[quoteright:248:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi15_1290.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Louise Gold
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Thick Wilson (1982), Harvey Fierstein (''Age of Resistance'')

The Skeksis court's Gourmand. He likes sweet liquors and hot spices, and he boasts to have a different menu for every feast. He's in charge of the Castle kitchens.
----
* BigEater: He is a glutton who loves to eat.
* EvilCounterpart: To urAmaj the Mystic Cook.
* FatAndSkinny: Frequently seen with the Ornamentalist.
%%* FatBastard
%%* FatIdiot
%%* SimpletonVoice
* VillainousGlutton: One of the BigBadEnsemble as well as a big eater.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Ornamentalist]]
!![=SkekEkt=] the Ornamentalist
[[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi20_7545.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Brian Muehl
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Brian Muehl

The most feminine of the Skeksis by far, he is frequently seen to be screaming dramatically and being [[CampGay very flamboyant]]. He is in charge of the castle's decorations.
----
%%* AmbiguousGender
* EvilCounterpart: To urUtt the Mystic Weaver.
* FatAndSkinny: Frequently seen with the fat Gourmand, with whom he seems to share a love of food.
%%* {{Narcissist}}
%%* SissyVillain
%%* WickedCultured
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Slave Master]]
!![=SkekNa=] the Slave Master
[[quoteright:229:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Skeksis_Slavemaster_7487.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Mike Quinn
!!!'''Voiced by:''' David Buck

He is in charge of the Skeksis' slaves, and chooses promising specimens for the Choir, claiming to have an ear for music. [=SkekNa=] is recognizable by his eyepatch around his right eye and a hook which replaces his left hand.
----
* EvilCounterpart: To urNol the Mystic Herbalist.
%%* EyepatchOfPower
* EyeScream: Sometime before the film began, he lost vision in his right eye.
%%* HookHand
* RedRightHand: He has a hook on his left hand and an eyepatch on his right.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Ritual Master/High Priest]]
!![=SkekZok=] the Ritual Master / the High Priest
[[quoteright:260:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi13_1542.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Creator/JimHenson
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Jerry Nelson

The court Ritual Master (also referred to as the High Priest) of the Skeksis. He leads the Skeksis in their various rituals and practice such as The Ceremony of the Sun, and he sees their laws as absolute and inflexible.
----
* AxCrazy: He kills Kira in a fit of anger due to his overzealous obsession to kill the Gelflings.
* TheDragon: He serves as [=SkekUng=]'s second-in-command, although it's not by choice.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Tries to stop [=SkekSil=] the Chamberlain from grabbing [=SkekSo=] the Emperor's scepter before he's even dead.
* EvilCounterpart: To urZah the Mystic Ritual Guardian.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Arguably the deepest voiced Skeksis, because he doesn't growl like [=SkekUng=].
* HighPriest: He is responsible for leading the Skeksis in rituals and practices.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: His actions causes the downfall of the empire, through killing Kira, giving Jen the resolve to heal the Crystal.
* KnifeNut: Is Sometimes seen with his unsheathed dagger.
* KnightTemplar: [=SkekZok=] views that the Gelflings should die [[spoiler:when he finally does kill one, it ends up being the thing to undo their entire existence]].
* LawfulStupid: He's obsessed in following the Skeksis' rules to the letter. For example, he gets disappointed when [=SkekUng=] decides to utilize Kira before executing her, instead of killing her there and then.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: If he hadn't decided to kill Kira, Jen would've probably not had the necessary anger to inject the shard back into the Crystal.
* TheResenter: He deeply resents [=SkekUng=] once the latter becomes TheEmperor.
* TheStarscream: [=SkekZok=] conspires with [=SkekShod=] to overthrow [=SkekUng=], but it doesn't work out.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Scroll Keeper]]
!![=SkekOk=] the Scroll Keeper
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi19_7246.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Bob Payne
!!!'''Voiced by:''' John Baddeley

He is the shortest of all the Skeksis, something that the other Skeksis laugh at. However he keeps rewriting his accounts in order to please his shifting allies, which causes the truth to be soon lost. He always arrives late to the meetings and usually falls asleep during them.
----
* EvilCounterpart: To urAc the Mystic Scribe.
%%* HighClassGlass
%%* SeniorSleepCycle
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Treasurer]]
!! [=SkekShod=] the Treasurer
[[quoteright:273:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skeksi17_1748.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Tim Rose
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Charles Collingwood

The Skeksis Treasurer, counts gifts. Nobody dared to approach him without some offering. Because his greed was so great and his speech so limited, the only way he got his way was extravagant bribery.
----
%%* EvilCounterpart: To urYod the Mystic Numerologist.
%%* TheUnintelligible
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Garthim]]
!!Garthim
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_lrkz4xmOAt1qg3jyco1_400_5674.jpg]]

The loyal soldiers of the Skeksis. They appear to be Golem-like creatures that are animated through the power of the Dark Crystal. When the dark power of the Crystal was healed the Garthim fell apart to reveal nothing but hollow shells. They were probably created by the Skeksis themselves after the shattering of the Crystal to serve and protect them. They were used to genocide the Gelflings.
----
* TheBrute: They act as the brute force of the Skeksis.
* EmptyShell: At the end of the film, they disintegrate into shells.
* GiantEnemyCrab: They look like giant crabs.
* {{Golem}}: Are essentially animated armor via the Dark Crystal.
* MechanicalMonster: From the Gelflings and Podlings' perspective.
* MechaMooks: To the Skeksis.
[[/folder]]

!The [=UrSkeks=]

[[folder:In General]]
!![=UrSkeks=]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Urskeks_4178.jpg]]

->'''Voiced by:''' Joseph O'Conor

A race of creatures not native to Thra and born of the Crystal before it was shattered. They were noble beings shining with an inner light, however, in attempting to perfect themselves, they instead tore themselves apart to become two distinct races, the urRu/Mystics and the Skeksis.
----
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: At the end of the film, they ascend to the skies after being combined.
* EtherealChoir: They start chanting upon being restored to their former selves.
* FusionDance: The surviving urRu and Skeksis are rejoined into their original Urskek forms at the end.
* LightEmUp: They constantly emit light.
* LightIsGood: Overall, they were noble and wise beings until they foolishly shattered the Crystal. Jen restores them to their former selves and the first and last thing they do before they AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence is to [[spoiler:resurrect Kira.]]
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: They are angelic creatures and EnergyBeings.
[[/folder]]

!Other characters

[[folder:Aughra]]
!!Aughra
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Aughra_photo_541.jpg]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Frank Oz, Kiran Shah, Mike Edmonds (1982)
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Billie Whitelaw (1982), Donna Kimball (''Age of Resistance'')

Aughra is the very essence of the world of Thra itself. An old hermit woman with a gorilla-like face who lives in a brain-shaped observatory atop a mountain, Aughra is wise and experienced enough to know the joy of the world before the takeover by the Skeksis.
----
* AmbiguousGender: The character is meant to be a combination of male and female genders, but still sounds like a bossy old battleaxe of a grandmother and has visible breasts.
* AncientKeeper: She's been the keeper of the lost shard of the Crystal for quite a long time.
* ClusterFBomb: A G-rated example is the scene where Aughra shouts fantastic profanity at the Skeksis.
-->'''Aughra''': Moldy mildew, mother of mouthmuck, dangle and strangle and death![[note]]"Oh, how ''crude''!"[[/note]]
%%* CoolOldLady
* DarkIsNotEvil: She may look like a menacing hermit with a gorilla-like face, but she is one of the good guys.
-->'''Aughra''': Are you afraid of me? Afraid I'm going to EAT YOU? HMM?
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: She has no fear of the Skeksis, and when questioned on why she has the balls[[note]]literally, according to WordOfGod[[/note]] to treat them with disrespect, she retorts that their time is coming, so she's unafraid of them.
* EccentricMentor: She has a funny way of speaking, but is a wise woman.
* EyeScream: She can remove her own eyeball at will and use it like a remote camera. While it doesn't hurt her, it certainly is weird.
** In the backstory, she lost her other eye and came to be how she looks in the film when she laid on the ground to watch the Great Conjunction. A beam of intense light struck her eye, destroying it and burning her badly. She considers it a worthwhile trade.
* GoodIsNotNice: She can be rude to anyone she meets, but she does mean well.
* TheHermit: She lives alone in her observatory/laboratory.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: While she may be a jerk, she is a very good person at heart.
* KidnappedScientist: She gets kidnapped by the Garthims after they raid her home, although they don't do it because the Skeksis have any need of her science, it's just that the Garthim are mindless mooks who mistook her for a Gelfling.
* Really700YearsOld: As the ExpandedUniverse clarifies, she's in fact almost ''three thousand years old'', having lived through the first two Great Conjunctions and seen all the eras of the Urskeks, Skeksis and Mystics (and all the terror, bloodshed and sorrow) firsthand. By the end of the movie, she's lived through the third Great Conjunction and has officially hit the 3000 mark.
* SolitarySorceress: Lives by herself in a mountain cave.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fizzgig]]
!!Fizzgig
[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6672-4397_2079.gif]]
!!!'''Performed by:''' Dave Goelz
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Percy Edwards

Kira's furry pet.
----
* AllAnimalsAreDogs: He barks like a dog.
* CuteButCacophonic: Speaks in very loud bass shrieks.
* HairTriggerTemper: Is quick to get angry over the slightest things.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He may act like a jerk, but does care for his owner Kira.
%%* KillerRabbit
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily: We get a full view of all his teeth when he roars.
* NestedMouths: Has extra rows of teeth at the back of his mouth.
* UndyingLoyalty: Even performs a HeroicSacrifice to try to save Jen.
* VolumetricMouth: Has a mouth as big as his body when fully yelling.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Podlings]]
!!Podlings/Pod People
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Podlings_6023.jpg]]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Miki Iveria, Patrick Monckton, Sue Wheatherby and Barry Dennen

A race of small, kindly and simple people with potato-shaped heads. They build their tools out of gourds and wood. They have the ability to communicate with animals and live in relative peace. The Podlings were kind enough to adopt Kira after her parents were killed in the Skeksis attack on their people. Their only fear is being captured by the Garthim and taken into slavery.
----
* ActualPacifist: They are peaceful little people who don't know how to fight.
* EarthyBarefootCharacter: They don't wear any footwear. Kira is the same as them, having been raised with them.
* EmptyShell: Once their life essence is drained by the Skeksis.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: They live in harmony with nature and communicate with animals. They taught the latter to Kira.
* {{Hobbits}}: Probably the closest race the ''Dark Crystal'' universe has to them.
* LifeOfTheParty: They love to throw a party, drink and and dance.
* {{Nice Guy}}s: They are quite cheerful and nice people. Nice enough to throw a party to welcome Jen.
* SlaveRace: Many of them were taken into slavery by the Skeksis.
* TooHappyToLive: They're throwing a great party with SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic in honor of the reunion of the last two Gelflings... then [[BallroomBlitz the Garthim burst through the wall]].
[[/folder]]

->'''Performed by:''' Creator/JimHenson, Kiran Shah
->'''Voiced by:''' Stephen Garlick

->'''Performed by:''' Kathryn Mullen, Kiran Shah
->'''Voiced by:''' Lisa Maxwell

->'''Performed and voiced by:''' Brian Muehl

->'''Performed by:''' Dave Greenaway, Richard Slaughter

->'''Performed by:''' Simon Williamson

->'''Performed by:''' Brian Muehl
->'''Voiced by:''' Sean Barrett

->'''Performed by:''' Toby Philpott

->'''Performed by:''' Swee Lim

->'''Performed by:''' Hugh Spight

->'''Performed by:''' Hus Levant

->'''Performed by:''' Robbie Barnett

->'''Performed by:''' Jean Pierre Amiel

->'''Performed by:''' Jim Henson
->'''Voiced by:''' Jerry Nelson

->'''Performed by:''' Dave Goelz
->'''Voiced by:''' Michael Kilgarriff

->'''Performed by:''' Frank Oz
->'''Voiced by:''' Barry Dennen

->'''Performed and voiced by:''' Steve Whitmire

->'''Performed by:''' Louise Gold
->'''Voiced by:''' Thick Wilson

->'''Performed and voiced by:''' Brian Muehl

->'''Performed by:''' Mike Quinn
->'''Voiced by:''' David Buck

->'''Performed by:''' Jim Henson
->'''Voiced by:''' Jerry Nelson

->'''Performed by:''' Bob Payne
->'''Voiced by:''' John Baddeley

->'''Performed by:''' Tim Rose
->'''Voiced by:''' Charles Collingwood

!! Aughra

->'''Performed by:''' Frank Oz, Kiran Shah, Mike Edmonds
->'''Voiced by:''' Billie Whitelaw (1982), Donna Kimball (''Age of Resistance'')

She is the very essence of the world of Thra itself. An old hermit woman with a gorilla-like face who lives in a brain-shaped observatory atop a mountain, Aughra is wise and experienced enough to know the joy of the world before the takeover by the Skeksis.

!! Fizzgig

->'''Performed by:''' Dave Goelz
->'''Voiced by:''' Percy Edwards

->'''Voiced by:''' Miki Iveria, Patrick Monckton, Sue Wheatherby and Barry Dennen