The character sheet for the 1988 film Willow and its namesake 2022 sequel series.
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Protagonists
Introduced in the 1988 film
Willow
Willow Ufgood
"You need a warrior for a job like this. I'm a nobody."
Played by: Warwick Davis
Voiced by: Juan Alfonso Carralero (Latin American Spanish, 1988 film), Kei Tomiyama (Japanese, home video dub, 1988 film), Yūji Mitsuya (Japanese, TBS dub, 1988 film)
The titular hero. He started off as a young Nelwyn farmer and aspiring sorcerer who would play a critical role in protecting baby Elora Danan from the evil queen Bavmorda, despite being a bit reluctant at the call of adventure at first.
- Action Survivor: He has no training in warfare or true magic, but he manages to triumph.
- Adaptational Badass: The video games make him much more adept with fighting, to take down bosses and monsters all on his own...
- The Apprentice: He does end up learning magic... although he uses the trial and error method. Emphasis on 'error'.
- Badass Boast: He delivers a nice one to the Big Bad's face, claiming to be an even better spellcaster than she is. Invoked as part of his plan to trick her.
- Badass Normal: He becomes one by the end of the film, winning the day without magic mastery, and rarer still without even much fighting prowesses to his belt. Just his brain, his daring, and a tremendous amount of pluck.
- Chekhov's Skill: His disappearing pig trick in the film.
- The Chosen One: Played with. Cherlindrea tells him that he is chosen. To watch over the actual Chosen One Elora but still. With everything said and done, it's him who saves the day.
- The Chosen Zero: Fin Raziel has this opinion of him at first as he keeps botching spells. She gradually warms up to him though.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: More of a magician who manages to miscast spells till the end of the film.
- Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?: Faced with the evil queen who just defeated the Big Good and utterly powerless, and what does he do? Calls her a stupid hag to her face and proceeds with a Badass Boast and an Indy Ploy that ends up saving the day.
- Fake Wizardry: He's not exactly the greatest sorcerer, but he is a talented Stage Magician. His disappearing pig trick ends up saving Elora Danan and winning the Final Battle.
- Averted in the Sequel Series; he has since become a true powerful sorcerer and has also since acceded to the position of High Aldwin of the Nelwyns.
- Farm Boy: More like a farm man... with a wife and kids.
- Fire-Forged Friends: With Madmartigan and the others.
- Good Parents: To his children as well as to Elora.
- Guile Hero: In the end, it wasn't a mighty army or a sorcerous throwdown with Fin Raziel that undid Bavmorda... it was Willow's sheer audacity in pulling off a simple mundane sleight-of-hand "magic trick" upon a mighty sorceress at the apex of her power, fooling Bavmorda and making her lose her cool right in the middle of her whole banishment ritual and making it trigger on her instead of Elora.
- Happily Married: One of the things that stand out with Willow's status as he becomes a hero. He already has a family at the start of the film.
- The Hero: Willow follows a fairly classic 'peasant hero' pattern.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: In the 2022 series, he still sees himself as a "mediocre" sorcerer and an "aging talentless hack" as his victory against Bavmorda was merely luck and stage magic rather than actual magical skill.
- Home Sweet Home: Willow gains a hero's welcome when he returns to his village and runs straight into his family's waiting arms.
- Humble Hero: As compared to Madmartigan, despite having some high expectations for himself.
- Inept Mage: At the beginning, though he shows potential. He's more competent in the 2022 series but still only sees himself as "mediocre."
- Little People / Hobbits: Nelwyn rarely reach four feet in height.
- Magnetic Hero: Everyone starts off dismissive of him, but Willow's humbleness, kindness and devotion to Elora Danan eventually wins them over.
- Nerves of Steel: Despite being visibly and understandably scared by the ordeals he faces, he remains level-headed. Faced with The Dreaded Hero Killer General Kael, and he still readies himself for a hopeless battle. Faced with the even worse Big Bad Queen Bavmorda, he brazenly refuses to obey her and insults her.
- Nice Guy: Compared to most of the cast. He remains unfailingly sweet and good-natured towards most, despite enduring much crap from those who become his allies.
- Oh, Crap!: When he finds himself face-to-face with General Kael. He still tries to fight despite knowing he is in for a Curb-Stomp Battle.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Willow's son Ranon has long since run away from home by the sequel and is all but stated to be dead, which still haunts Willow to this day.
- Papa Wolf: He's already this towards Mims and Ranon, but Willow comes to care deeply for Elora, and his desire to protect her from harm is what eventually brings him to courageously stand up to Queen Bavmorda herself.
- Protagonist Title: Both the film and series are titled after their main protagonist — him.
- Spanner in the Works: Despite starting as an Inept Mage, his knowledge of magic enables him to resist Bavmorda's Forced Transformation curse with Fin Raziel's guidance. In addition, turning her back to normal starts swinging the tide in the heroes' favour.
- Stage Magician: He performs stage magic at the festival in the beginning of the movie. He later uses his skills to trick Bavmorda.
- Took a Level in Badass: Going from a simple farmer to outwitting the Big Bad.
- Unlikely Hero: Everyone keeps reminding him that he is not suited to the task, but in the end he proves them all wrong.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: He's very afraid of trolls.
Madmartigan
Madmartigan
"Give me a sword, I'll win this war for you."
Played by: Val Kilmer
Voiced by: Richard Darbois (European French), Javier Pontón (Latin American Spanish), Takashi Taniguchi (Japanese), Jack Kilmer (English, 2022 series)
A boastful swordsman who ends up helping Willow on his quest.
- All There in the Manual: The novelization and source materials explain that he was once a knight of Galadoorn along with his then Best Friend Airk.
- And I'm the Queen of Sheba: His initial response to Willow's claim that Elora is actually a princess is pretty dismissive, to say the least.Madmartigan: Really? And you're a great sorcerer. And I'm the King of Cashmere.
- Anti-Hero: He's a selfish jerk looking out for number one, but he eventually fights for the right cause.
- Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: Though we soon learn his skills actually match his bravado.
- Attractive Bent-Gender: Even when Disguised in Drag, one man finds him attractive until he was revealed to be "Not a Woman?!"
- Badass Boast: Several ones.
- "I am the greatest swordsman that ever lived."
- The picture quote also does nicely.
- Badass Normal: A masterful fighter able to destroy the Eborsisk and kill General Kael, despite being the least magical member of the group.
- Barbarian Long Hair: He has long dark hair, longer than any of the film's female characters, with a few Braids of Barbarism woven in there for good measure.
- Big Ego, Hidden Depths: Not only is his constant bragging justified, but he proves less selfish and cynical than first meets the eye.
- Butt-Monkey: For most of the film.
- The Casanova: Often flirts till he settles down with Sorsha.
- Character Development: Madmartigan goes from a cynical, disillusioned rogue, to the brave and noble knight he used to be.
- Cloudcuckoolander: He has an odd imagination at times.Madmartigan: (to Elora) Did you see what he did?! He stole our blackroot! (kisses her forehead) I'll get some more, don't worry about it...
- Cool Helmet: Finds one in the armories of Tir Asleen, and uses it from that point on.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He's self-centered and roguish, but deadly in a fight.
- The Cynic: Before Character Development kicks in.
- Dark and Troubled Past: He's first encountered locked up in a crow's cage to rot like a criminal. Airk isn't surprised he's ended up there, calling him a thief later. We never find out exactly what happened.
- Defeating the Undefeatable: Ends up slaying General Kael, the only warrior to match his skills, and physically stronger to boot.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Under the influence of love powder Sorsha proves most distracting. Though he was also taken aback the first time they met too.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Starts bullying Willow and calling him "peck", but goes to proudly announcing himself as his servant.
- Human Snowball: During their escape from the mountaintop camp, Madmartigan falls off their shield-cum-bobsled and ends up encased in a tumbling mass of snow.
- It's Personal with the Dragon: At the end, after Kael kills Airk.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Lecherous, bragging and irresponsible, but deep down a caring ally.
- The Lancer: To Willow.
- Leitmotif: A heroic-sounding one
. James Horner based parts of it on Robert Schumann's 3rd Symphony "Rhenish". - Loveable Rogue: When not being a jerk.
- Master Swordsman: He boasts that he is the "greatest swordsman that ever lived". When he finally gets his hands on a blade, Madmartigan doesn't disappoint.Willow: "You are great!"
- Miles Gloriosus: Subverted. Madmartigan is a braggart and a loudmouth for the first half of the film. Then he finds a sword, and we find out that his skills are more than enough to back up his talk.
- Mr. Fanservice: When shirtless.
- Noble Male, Roguish Male: The Roguish to Airk. Airk is dedicated to the downfall of Nockmaar, Madmartigan needs to find his cause.
- Noodle Incident: He had a falling out with Airk sometime back, the details of which are not given. There's also whatever he did to get thrown into that cage in the first place.Airk: Madmartigan. I still serve Galladoorn. You serve no one. Remember? Sit in your coffin and rot.
- Not in This for Your Revolution: At first, but it changes eventually.
- One-Man Army: As the forces of Bavmorda found out, much to their dismay.
- Parental Substitute: To Elora, at the end.
- Put on a Bus: He is so far absent in the sequel series, but his exact fate is left ambiguous so the possibility of him returning in a future season remains an option.
- Shirtless Scene: At one point.
- Warrior Poet: He waxes poetically about Sorsha under the influence of a love powder.
- We Used to Be Friends: Once best friends with Airk, but their relationship soured after he grew cynical and became a rogue. They rekindle their friendship after joining forces.
- With Friends Like These...: With Airk.
- Undying Loyalty: Willow earns his.Madmartigan: "I serve the Nelwyn, Airk."
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Regains this dynamic with Airk.
- World's Best Warrior: He really is the best swordsman around. Only The Dreaded General Kael is a match for him.
Fin Raziel
Fin Raziel
"Then the prophecy is true. The princess has been born. Take me to her."
Played by: Patricia Hayes
Voiced by: Guadalupe Romero (Latin American Spanish), Hisako Kyoda (Japanese)
An aging sorceress who was turned into a possum by Bavmorda.
- A Fate Worse Than Death: Exiled to a small island after being turned into a small animal. It seems for added cruelty she still had the lifespan of a human and thus lived as an animal for decades longer than naturally possible. Though Raziel says it could have been worse.
- All There in the Manual: The novelization describes in details her youth, her rivalry with Bavmorda starting during their tutelage under Cherlindrea herself, her courting of the Prince of Tir Asleen, whom Bavmorda stole with sorcery to get the throne. Suffice to say Bavmorda has been pretty much ruining her life from day one.
- The Archmage: The most powerful benevolent sorceress in the world, more than a match for Bavmorda herself even in old age.
- Big Good: Still a bit petty with Bavmorda, quite understandably so, but she is still the mightiest force on the good guys' side.
- Combat Pragmatist: She will resort to Good Old Fisticuffs in the middle of a magic duel if given the opportunity.
- Cool Old Lady: As she turns out to be. Her dialogue implies she had been trapped in an animal form for longer than she remembered.
- Foil: Fin and Bavmorda where both apprenticed to the Fairy Queen Cherlindrea, and courted The Wise Prince. Yet, Fin is a noble and selfless Benevolent Mage Ruler in the making, while her rival is a cruel and power-hungry Sorcerous Overlord.
- Forced Transformation: Throughout the film, mostly by Willow's mistakes; she gets turned into a crow and a goat, for example. In fact, it was one of the first times that type of morphing special effect had been used in a film.
- Good Is Not Nice: While Fin Raziel is the closest thing to a Big Good in this film, she also seems to relish the chance to throw down with her old rival Bavmorda a... little bit more than is strictly healthy.
- I Was Quite a Looker: She assumed she'd still be a beautiful young woman once she turned back to her original form, but a long time has passed.
- It's Personal: Bavmorda not only stole her fiancé, but forced her to waste her youth and most of her life under the form of a possum. As such, it is no surprise why she takes so much delight in her chance for revenge against her old rival.
- Kill It with Ice: She casts a powerful ice spell to freeze Bavmorda solid, but the evil queen No Sells it.
- Light Is Good: She dresses in white to counter Bavmorda's black.
- Meaningful Name: Fin Raziel is named after the hero from Irish Mythology who gained supernatural knowledge, and the Female Archangel of Mysteries, whose name means "Secrets of God", which she reveals to the chosen ones. All indicates someone highly wise and learned.
- Mind over Matter: She displays very powerful telekinesis, violently flinging Bavmorda through the air.
- Never Mess with Granny: As Bavmorda finds out.
- Not So Above It All: She got a bit too much enjoyment in flinging Bavmorda about with Cherlindrea's wand.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: A wise, caring, benevolent and powerful sorceress.
- Wizard Duel: Has an epic one against Bavmorda during the Final Battle, which degenerates into a vicious brawl. She loses due to her foe being younger and fitter.
Elora
Elora Danan / Dove / Brünhilde
Played by: Ruth and Kate Greenfield (film), Ellie Bamber (series)
A baby girl who was prophesised to bring about the downfall of Bavmorda and become the Empress of Tir Asleen. Twenty years later, she is a kitchen maid whose true identity remains a secret, and she joins the quest to save Prince Airk.
- The Apprentice: Elora becomes Willow's apprentice in the art of sorcery.
- Baby Talk: For a really, really obvious reason.
- Badass Adorable: She becomes this in the series after she's grown as a young adult. The more she comes into her power the more awesome she gets, but the awkwardness of the girl who a while ago was just the Muffin Girl does not stop coming through.
- Birthmark of Destiny: On the inside of her lower right bicep.
- Born-Again Immortality: It is stated that if she died, she would just be reincarnated elsewhere a while later. This is why Bavmorda wants her captured alive; Bavmorda plans to use a particular ritual to seal or banish the girl's soul, preventing her rebirth.
- The Chosen One: Just not in the usual way.
- Damsel in Distress: Elora gets kidnapped by Ballantine. She escapes briefly, but is recaptured. She's rescued later by the others.
- Dissonant Serenity: Despite being an Evil-Detecting Baby, Elora is remarkably unfrazzled by perilous situations such as high speed cart chase or sliding down an icy slope, and can even be seen giggling and yawning.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": As a young woman, she likes being called her nickname Dove, not Elora or Brünhilde (as she'd gotten renamed to).
- Embarrassing First Name: Upon growing up, she's known as Dove, and had been renamed Brünhilde. She's not fond of being called this or Elora. Willow agrees with disliking Brünhilde.
- Evil-Detecting Baby: Elora Danan seems unusually canny for an infant.
- Flat "What": Dove's reaction to Willow telling her she's actually Elora Danan.
- Green Thumb: The very first spell Willow teaches Elora is one to make a plant grow from the ground. She succeeds finally after much struggle, but doesn't see it since she's been kidnapped then.
- Hidden Backup Prince: Elora Danan, who's the True Empress, is hidden under an alias to protect her, without her even knowing of her status at first.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Due to a vision Willow had that she would be killed and leave the world in ruins when the forces of evil took over, the series reveals Sorsha determined she would hide Elora Danan as a simple servant in her castle, Brünhilde (nicknamed Dove), who at first has no idea about this.
- Living MacGuffin: The prophecy of her birth goads Bavmorda into abducting every pregnant woman she can; once born, she's secretly smuggled out of Nockmaar Castle, winds up drifting down a river clear to Willow's farm, and leads directly to the rest of the plot. She's abducted and rescued repeatedly.
- The Load: Again, for a really, really obvious reason. Less so in the series once she comes to understanding magic.
- Loving a Shadow: No matter how many times she's asked about it, Elora can't explain the love she claims to have for Airk, a guy that she seems to know very little actually about. The indication is that she was just taken by his charm and royal title.
- Meaningful Name: "Elora" means "ray of sunlight" in Hebrew. Fittingly, she's prophesised to bring about the end of Bavmorda's reign of darkness and terror. And she's adorable, to boot! "Danan" is Hebrew for "Under God's Rule", but it could also be in reference to the Tuatha Dé Dannan of Irish mythology.
- Moses in the Bulrushes: How she ends up found by Willow's children.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: When grown up she's called "Dove" usually, a nickname she likes, at her own wish.
- Parental Abandonment: Her mother was murdered shortly after she's born, while her father wasn't even mentioned.
- Power Dyes Your Hair: She was born with bright red hair but as Dove, it's now blonde. Once she unlocks her magic, her hair is once more red.
- Prophecy Twist: 'It has been prophesied that the birth of this child will cause the downfall of the wicked queen Bavmorda.' Bavmorda interpreted this in the most obvious way - that Elora would become capable of overthrowing her when she grew up. Ultimately she is not the agent of Bavmorda's destruction but the catalyst: it's the people protecting Elora that lead Bavmorda to destroy herself. However, the Disney+ series untwists it with the reveal that despite what happened in the movie, Elora is still very much The Chosen One and destined to become a powerful sorceress for the forces of good.
- Save This Person, Save the World: She is the key to defeating Bavmorda. In her own way.
- Supreme Chef: Elora grew up working as a maid in the royal kitchens and easily charmed Prince Airk with her delicious, buttery muffins. Later on, when she runs off to join the search for Airk, she earns her place in Kit's adventuring party by whipping up an amazing possum stew out of whatever she was able to scrounge up in the forest.
- Try to Fit That on a Business Card: In the series Willow reveals that she has an impressive string of titles:Willow: You are Elora Danan. Last Blood of Kymeria, future Empress, High Priestess, Semprum Sorceress of the Nine Realms, and the world's last, best hope against the evil coming to destroy us all.
Cherlindrea
Cherlindrea
"All creatures of good heart need your help, Willow. The choice is yours."
Played by: Maria Holvöe
A powerful entity and ruler of the fairy forest.
- Enigmatic Empowering Entity: She gives Willow her magic wand.
- Fairy Godmother: Although she doesn't directly help Willow with magic, she provides him some crucial information and gives him her wand to bring to Fin Raziel.
- Greater-Scope Paragon: Even more powerful and influential than Big Good Fin Raziel, whom she taught magic to. She is of the non-action variety, but her help and advice prove vital for the success of the quest.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: She's blonde and seems to be made of purity and goodness.
- Light Is Good: She's an ethereal being appearing in a halo of light, and she seeks to bring an end to Bavmorda's reign of evil.
- Magic Wand: She owns one, infused with her vast power, whom she gives to Willow and which serves as a very potent magic booster crictical to dispell the Big Bad's curses.
- Ms. Exposition: Tells Willow about Elora Danan's name and fate, and directs him to Fin Raziel.
Rool and Franjean
Rool and Franjean
"That way!"
Played by: Kevin Pollak (Rool) and Rick Overton (Franjean)
Voiced by: Enrique Garduza [Rool] and Helgar Pedrini [Franjean] (Latin American Spanish), Takashi Taguchi [Rool] and Hiroya Ishimaru [Franjean] (Japanese), Vincent Violette (Rool, European French)
A duo of Brownies who also serve as comic reliefs in Willow's journey.
- Anime Hair: Franjean.
- Big Damn Heroes: They bring the cavalry to Tir Asleen.
- The Ditz: Rool.
- Jerkass / Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Franjean.
- Lilliputians: Being computerized to be smaller than the rest of the cast.
- Lilliputian Warriors: As Brownies. They trap Willow and Meegosh in a pit, then tie them up a la Gulliver's Travels before presenting them to Cherlindrea.
- Mr. Exposition: Rool tells some of the story of Fin Raziel to Willow before being told to shut up by Franjean.
- Nemean Skinning: Rool, with a mouse skin.
- Plucky Comic Relief: Both, but mostly Rool.
- Put on a Bus: Franjean moved south some time between the movie and the show due to heartbreak over losing his wife to his best friend.
- Those Two Guys: Never seen apart in the movie. Averted in the series, where only Rool makes a return appearance and explains he had a falling out with Franjean.
- Two-Timing with the Bestie: Between the movie and the 2022 show, Franjean's wife left him for Rool.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With each other and Madmartigan.
- Wacky Wayside Tribe: Unlike most, they actually serve a purpose in the plot, being guides for Willow and Madmartigan.
Airk
Airk Thaughbaer
"I always knew you'd end up in a crows cage."
Played by: Gavan O'Herlihy
Voiced by: Jorge Garcia (Latin American Spanish), Kinryū Arimoto (Japanese)
The general in charge of the Galladoorn army. He had a past acquaintence with Madmartigan, but while Airk served Galladoorn, Madmartigan refused to serve anyone.
- Badass Cape: Wears a nice-looking one.
- Big Damn Heroes/The Cavalry: Arrives with his army to aid Madmartigan at Tir Asleen.
- Cool Helmet: Airk and his army wear what look like ancient Greek helmets.
- Cool Sword: He has a patta, a type of Indian sword that is essentially a sword blade attached to a gauntlet.◊ Also counts as Blade Below the Shoulder.
- Dead Guy Junior: Madmartigan and Sorcha named their son after him.
- Four-Star Badass: A very powerful fighter serving as a general of the Galladoorn armies.
- Good Is Not Nice: He's good, but just barely lenient enough to tolerate Madmartigan's antics, and he's not immune to saying "Peck" (derogative slang term for Willow's people).
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Stabbed to death with his own knife by General Kael.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Stabbed to death by General Kael during the Final Battle.
- Ironic Echo: "Win this war for me."
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: It's implied that Madmartigan and himself fell out over the former's refusal to take an active role against Bavmorda in favor of looking out for himself. However Airk's been fighting a lost cause against Bavmorda's forces for some time and is clearly one of the good guys. He does also seem to regard Madmartigan as an old friend throughout and the two quickly set aside any differences when Madmartigan takes an active role in the war.
- Noble Male, Roguish Male: He's the noble one to Madmartigan's Roguish Male, as he already has a cause. Madmartigan needs to find one.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: Calls Willow "Peck", a derogative term for Nelwyns.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: He gives one to Madmartigan over the fact he only looks out for himself. When it later becomes clear he's actually looking out for Willow and Elora, rather than personal survival, Airk is notably impressed. Though he still thinks he's mad.Airk: "Madmartigan, I still serve Galladoorn. You serve no one. Remember?"
- The Remnant: Airk is introduced leading the remaining soldiers of a kingdom (which has been conquered by Bavmorda) in a last ditch battle. Many scenes later, it’s revealed that he lost that battle and has gone into hiding with his last few dozen soldiers before Willow recruits them to help fight Bavmorda in the climax.
- Sacrificial Lion: To give Madmartigan the resolve to kill Kael.
- Supporting Leader: To Madmartigan and Willow.
- We Used to Be Friends: Once best friends with Madmartigan during the latter's knighthood. He now holds him in contempt for turning rogue, but they reconcile after witnessing his Character Development.
- You Got Guts: He thinks Madmartigan and Willow are insane for thinking they'll succeed where armies have failed, but clearly admires their courage.
Introduced in the 2022 series
Kit
Princess Kit Tanthalos
Played by: Ruby Cruz
The daughter of Sorsha and Madmartigan, and the one minute-younger fraternal twin sister of Prince Airk.
- Action Girl: Not as much as Jade, but she can handle herself with a sword.
- Ancestral Weapon:
- Sorsha bestowed her trademark serrated-back saber with a spiked handguard from her Nockmar soldiering days to Kit before sending her on her quest.
- Kit later finds Madmartigan's sword and begins using that instead.
- Boyish Short Hair: She has hers cut short in keeping with her tomboy style and love for Jade, another woman.
- Break the Haughty: Kit is something of a Spoiled Brat. Everything she goes through during the quest knocks her down a peg or two, culminating in an Anguished Declaration of Love to Jade.
- Butch Lesbian: She's a short-haired tomboy who has a masculine clothing style and showed no desire to marry Prince Graydon, training to swordfight with her female "best friend" Jade. It's soon made clear they're in love.
- Deadpan Snarker: In most cases, her reactions to danger are either cockiness or sarcasm, even getting bored when the trolls of Skellin consider torturing her for Elora's whereabouts. It's another thing she picked up from her parents.
- Gender-Blender Name: Hers is often used as a nickname for both male and female names (e.g. Christopher or Katherine).
- Hates Wearing Dresses: She's never seen in a dress except when insisted on by Sorsha when they're meeting with the Galadorn dignitaries. While she's wearing it Kit looks very uncomfortable and quite out of place. She only wears boyish attire otherwise, fitting with her hairstyle and blunt, rebellious personality (plus her sexuality, as we soon learn).
- I Am X, Son of Y: A Running Gag is made of her habit of introducing herself by her full name, where she's from, and who her mother is, something that is not healthy beyond the barrier. Notably, after finding out that Jade was kidnapped from the Bone Reavers as a young child, something Sorsha would've known about and/or ordered, she stops using her mother's name in her introduction.
- It's All About Me: Kit has a self-centeredness akin to her father before he found his reason for being. Downplayed slightly, because she raises some valid complaints, but ultimately upheld because she handles them in a bratty manner. She's not that gracious about her Love Interest Jade getting to live her dream of becoming a knight, and it doesn't occur to her that Graydon may not be any more interested in their arranged marriage than she is. It's so much about her in her own eyes that she, at times, completely dismisses the wellbeing of her allies, examples being when she's about to perform a stunt that may injure or kill her brother until she's stopped, verbally supports leaving Boorman to his potential death when they need all the help they can get and screams at Elora about how her father placed said girl prophesied to save the world over her.
- Jerkass: Oh so very much. Kit can be pretty obnoxious at times, simply rude or even callously indifferent to others' wellbeing.
- Like Parent, Like Spouse: A love interest version towards Jade, who much like Sorsha is a skilled warrior with very distinctive red hair.
- Rebellious Princess: Kit is a tomboy who is unhappy with her arranged marriage to Prince Graydon and uninterested in the traditional ladylike things expected of her. She gets ready to run away, and then goes off on a quest when her brother's kidnapped.
- Royal Brat: Kit has shades of this. She's a princess who's often rude and even callous to others. While she does have some legitimate complaints about her mother wanting her to marry a man Kit doesn't love (most likely it's impossible for her to) or change her masculine personal style, she's pretty selfish even so due to her upbringing, often showing very low regard for others (who aren't Jade, at least) since in spite of those chafing restrictions she'd had an easy life before, being royalty. Despite the few demands she'd put on her, Kit's royal mother Sorsha largely indulged her, and left her plenty of room to become a rebellious young woman.
- Shared Family Quirks: Like her father, Kit is a gifted swordfighter (who's attracted to a red-haired swordswoman like he was), and has some issues truly caring about things greater than herself.
- Sibling Seniority Squabble: At one point Airk refers to himself as Kit's "big brother". Kit immediately bristles at the thought, pointing out that he's only older than her by about a minute.
- Tomboy Princess: Kit, in a nutshell. She has Boyish Short Hair, a distaste for dresses, wears quite boyish clothing, is better at swordsmanship than social graces and also has a very irreverent attitude to everything around her.
- Ungrateful Bastard: No matter what he does, Kit is openly disdainful towards Boorman to the point of asking their captors if they would kill him, giving no reasoning other than, in her words, 'He's just the worst'.
Airk
Prince Airk Tanthalos
Played by: Dempsey Bryk
The son of Sorsha and Madmartigan, and the one minute-older fraternal twin brother of Kit.
- The Casanova: Like his father before him, Airk is a ladies' man with a long string of lovers and a reputation as an unreliable fop. Despite this, he forms a genuine attachment to Dove.
- Dead Guy Junior: Airk, son of Madmartigan and Sorsha, is named after Madmartigan's friend Airk, who'd died in the war with Bavmorda in the film.
- Distressed Dude: The plot of season 1 is set in motion by his abduction.
- The Dragon: Following his corruption by The Crone.
- Dragon Ascendant: Continues to be a threat (albeit briefly) after the death of The Crone.
- Shared Family Quirks: Like his father, Airk is a charismatic womanizer (who falls for a woman whose natural hair color is shown as red too).
Jade
Jade Claymore
Played by: Erin Kellyman
A knight-in-training and Kit's love interest who joins in the quest to save Prince Airk.
- Action Girl: A skilled swordfighter and she also knows how to throw shuriken.
- Cool Sword: Her adoptive father Ballantine presents her with a guardless, straight-bladed longsword that has a particularly long hilt and incredibly sturdy scabbard. In the next episode, we find out this is so the hilt can be inserted into the scabbard to turn the weapon into a sort of greatsword/spear fusion, with the longer hilt's leverage granting her greater power with her strikes.
- Deceptive Legacy: Jade had been told her whole family was killed by the Bone Reavers except for her. It turns out she's actually a Bone Reaver by birth, with a long-lost older sister she never knew. She was raised to hate the Bone Reavers as a result of this, and thus (unknowingly) her only living family.
- Dual Wielding: While fighting Ballantine, Jade wields two swords at once for a time. She does it skillfully, holding her own against him doing so.
- Fiery Redhead: Inverted. She's the only redhead of the group until Elora grows out her natural strawberry-blonde hair, but she's rational and grounded.
- Happily Adopted: Jade was adopted, raised and trained by Ballantine. Prior to him being possessed and corrupted, it seems they have a loving father-daughter relationship. Before he dies from her mercy stroke, Ballantine tells Jade how much raising her meant, along with his pride in her. Jade is heartbroken after having killed him, even if it was to spare him pain.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: She's one of only two living children of General Kael, as she learns after meeting the other, her older sister Scorpia. Before being told she had no idea he had been her birth father.
- Parental Abandonment: Jade not only had to kill Ballantine, her adopted father, but had lost her birth father and mother before (however, they were different people than she'd been told during her early life).
- Patricide: Poor Jade has to not only fight Ballantine, her adopted father, but then euthanize him at his request because he's so gravely wounded by the Gale's possession of him, crying afterward over his body.
- Punny Name: Her last name is "Claymore", a type of long-bladed, two-handed greatsword. She herself uses a a regular length sword which can be fashioned into a longer two-handed weapon similar to a claymore.
- The Smurfette Principle: Discussed as we learn in "The Gales" that Jade has been admitted to be trained as a knight by the Knights of Galladorn. This is the first time they have ever accepted a female trainee in their ranks-they had made a special exception for Jade, establishing that she must be quite good.
- Willfully Weak: It turns out that Jade was holding back during her sparring matches with Kit, training with her on Sorsha's orders.
- Youthful Freckles: Jade has brown freckles all over her face which serve as a mark of her youth.
Graydon
Prince Graydon Hastur
Played by: Tony Revolori
The Prince of Galladoorn.
- The Bard: Good with languages, writes stories, plays music (and eventually learns to use magic through his flute). The perfect guidebook Bard.
- Book Smart: He has the most formal education of the party. He's well-versed in languages and science. This gives him an edge when he discovers his magical potential.
- Covered with Scars: There is a large mass of scars on Graydon's chest, the result of some kind of treatment he had as a child. It may have had something to do with the apparent Demonic Possession he suffered when he killed his brother.
- Cunning Linguist: Knows several languages and helps Elora pronounce her spells. It also helps him master magic itself when he discovers the potential in himself.
- Endearingly Dorky: A sweet, soft-spoken, and scholarly young man whose gentle and listening personality enables him to make friends easily with Elora - and whose non-intimidating and at times spacey, socially stilted demeanor lend to frequent comic relief.
- Magic Music: Eventually learns to channel magic through his flute.
- Non-Action Guy: Prince Graydon has little to no combat ability, to the point where he stayed out of the fighting during the raid on Tir Asleen and had to be badgered into joining the quest. However, his education gives him a skill set his companions lack, and when he gets past his shyness, he's able to give Dove an effective pep-talk. Not to mention that by the end of Season One, he's demonstrated he has it in him to be a powerful mage.
Boorman
Thraxus Boorman
Played by: Amar Chadha-Patel
An imprisoned self-proclaimed treasure hunter and swordsman who is offered freedom by Queen Sorsha if he joins the quest to save Prince Airk. He claims to have a history with Madmartigan.
- Ambiguously Bi: He is consistently depicted as definitely attracted to women, but in the first season finale, when he, Jade, and Graydon find themselves facing almost-certain death, he proposes a quick makeout session before they're all killed, if anyone's interested. There are no takers.
- BFS: Boorman wields a massive sword which he's got to use two-handed.
- Deadpan Snarker: The most jocular member of the group. Depending on the circumstances, he's usually the one next to Kit dispensing sarcasm.
- Drama Queen: When telling the story of the Kymerian Cuirass, he embellishes it rather than getting to the point, much to Kit's annoyance. He also refuses to test the Kymerian Cuirass until he gets a good, climactic moment.
- Expy: In many ways to Madmartigan; both are rogues who got themselves in trouble with the law and are frowned upon by most people, but simultaniously skilled swordsmen who fight on the side of the protagonists. Like Madmartigan, he is imprisoned for his crimes when we first see him, but is set free to help the heroes on their quest.
- Last-Name Basis: Everyone calls him "Boorman".
- Lovable Coward: He's a skilled fighter, but has a tendency to take the path of least resistance and stay out of harm's way unless he's sure he's urgently needed. First evident in Episode 3, where Kit calls to him telling him she's been surrounded by wererats while she's guarding the well he's searching for the Lux Arcana in… and he responds by telling her that in that case, it's a bad time to pull him up.
- Lovable Rogue: A promiscuous adventurer with a criminal past but who is ultimately friendly and loyal to his companions.
- Meaningful Name: A boor is an uncouth person. Boorman, while not an unapproachable or ill-meaning guy, is a rogue who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty for convenience's sake, has an openly hedonistic streak, and tends to choose flippancy before conventional politeness or engaging with others on their own levels. When he's telling Kit the legend of the Cuirass, she suggests that "bore man" is appropriate as well.
Silas
Silas
Played by: Graham Hughes
A Nelwyn and Willow's best friend.
- Decoy Leader: Claims to be Willow when the party first reaches the Nelwyn village.
- Dual Wielding: Fights with a pair of knives.
- Fatal Family Photo: He carves a wooden dog figurine he intends to give to his daughter when he gets home. That's when you know he's doomed.
- Hot-Blooded: Impatience is one of his flaws. When Willow gets frustrated with Elora, Silas lectures him on patience while acknowledging it's a bit hypocritical. He taunts enemies twice his size and even threatens to cut Boorman during an argument.
- Sacrificial Lion: A skilled warrior who's introduced in episode 1 and dies at the Slaughtered Lamb in episode 4.
Evil Forces
Introduced in the 1988 film
Bavmorda
Queen Bavmorda
"This child will have no power over me!"
Played by: Jean Marsh
Voiced by: Caritina González (Latin American Spanish), Kazue Takahashi (Japanese)
The evil ruler of Nockmaar, a powerful dark magic practitioner, and the mother of Sorsha.
- Abusive Parents: To Sorsha, in the verbal and psychological sense.
- All There in the Manual: The novelization explains her youth and rise to power.
- Ambition Is Evil: Wants to Take Over the World, and is only a hair's breadth away from succeeding with her armies alone.
- Arch-Enemy: Bavmorda and Fin Raziel have hated each other pretty much from day one. Fin has a looooooong list of grievances to present her, but Bavmorda dismisses her as an inconvenience.
- The Archmage: She is an exceptionally powerful and skilled sorceress, easily the mightiest human magic user of the story.
- Bad Habits: She looks like a nun with a crown.
- Big Bad: Bavmorda and the armies she commands hold an iron grip over the lands. The only hope of stopping her is a child prophesied to destroy her.
- Black Cloak: To counter Raziel's white outfit.
- Charm Person: She mesmerized the prince into marrying her so she could get the throne.
- Child Prodigy: According to the novelization, she displayed incredible potential for magic even before being born, and was able to fly before she could walk.
- Classic Villain: Being ambitious and arrogant, the latter of which results in her downfall.
- Cold Ham: Very hammy but all in control.
- Cool Crown: She wears one as a queen, designed to look like thorny vines.
- Crystal Prison: She cursed the entire population of Tir Asleen with this, paralyzed but conscious in green crystal.
- Dark Is Evil: Wears a Black Cloak.
- Deader than Dead: Her final fate, with her soul being obliterated.
- The Dreaded: At first until he gathers up his courage, Willow is petrified to face her.
- Et Tu, Brute?: Bavmorda looks genuinely shocked and stricken after Sorsha, her daughter, switches sides to join the good guys, earlier dismissing the idea she would ever do this, seeing her loyalty as beyond question.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: It's subtle but Bavmorda not only trusts her daughter above all others in her service, but is genuinely upset by Sorsha's treachery despite having been warned of the possibility. Even after Sorsha turns against her, Bavmorda still seems proud of Sorsha when she sees her defeat a group of armed men with no trouble. Although that bit of maternal pride only goes so far, and it certainly doesn't stop Bavmorda from attempting to kill Sorsha herself mere moments later.
- Evil Brit: She's played by the very British Jean Marsh and is very evil.
- Evil Counterpart: The Big Bad to Fin Raziel as the Big Good.
- Evil Is Hammy: More than a little hammy.
- Evil Laugh: Laughs evilly too, with a cackle more subdued than most examples of the trope, but still plenty creepy.
- Evil Matriarch: Only a bit less evil as a mother as she is as a queen.
- Evil Sorcerer: A rare female example. And a frighteningly powerful one at that, able to effortlessly curse entire cities, valleys and armies. She used her magic to become queen.
- Forced Transformation: Her favourite way of dealing with foes, just ask poor Fin Raziel. She can effortlessly inflict this to an entire army in a single spell.
- Game Face: By the climax, the time and power required for the ritual is clearly taking its toll on Bavmorda: she doesn't seem to have slept for days, which makes her look older and more wizened, and the deep circles beneath her eyes make her look like something out of The Nun.
- Good Witch Versus Bad Witch: The evil witch facing the Cool Old Lady Fin Raziel.
- God Save Us from the Queen!: A sorceress queen and the Big Bad.
- Hoist by Her Own Petard: She ends up the accidental victim of her own banishment ritual.
- Human Popsicle: Thought her Forced Transformation was bad? She has worse in stock. Bavmorda had sealed her husband and his entire capitol inside glass for many years to seize his throne for herself.
- Karmic Death: Suffering the fate she intended for little Elora.
- Lady of Black Magic: An extremely powerful sorceress and a regal, imposing queen.
- Mind over Matter: She displays very powerful telekinesis, easily levitating people, conjuring things in her hand or sealing doors at a distance.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Bavmorda doesn't sound nice.
- No-Sell: She counters Fin Razel's powerful freezing spell, and later easily shrugs off the effects of the magical petrifying acorn Willow throws at her.
- Obviously Evil: A hammy queen who wears a Black Cloak... yeah.
- One-Man Army: One Woman Army: Gather hundreds of soldiers to face her, and once she's done laughing, you can consider a career change as a pig farmer... Provided her spell spared you, that is.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Certainly isn't above using the Fantastic Slur "Peck" at Willow.
- A Pupil of Mine Until He Turned to Evil: Both Bavmorda and Fin Raziel studied magic under the fairy queen Cherlindrea's tutelage until, if the 2022 series is to be believed, Bavmorda was taken by the Crone.
- Rank Scales with Asskicking: The Big Bad and the single deadliest enemy of the heroes, thanks in no small part to her status as The Archmage.
- Self-Disposing Villain: All she needed was a little push, like, say, a diminutive Guile Hero tricking her into thinking Elora was beyond her reach with a simple sleight-of-hand trick. From there, the already fatigued and exhausted Bavmorda completely lost her cool, stumbled through and disrupted her banishment ritual setup, and ended up triggering the banishment meant for Elora on her instead.
- Sorcerous Overlord: Again, a female example, but one of the most powerful found in a movie.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: According to Willow, Bavmorda was much like Dove/Elora when she was young: bright, curious, and full of promise. Then she was abducted and indoctrinated by the Crone, twisting her into doing evil.
- The Usurper: The novelization explained that she used Mind Control on the prince to have him marry her, and once she was queen and had established her power base, she sealed the king and his entire capitol city in suspended animation, killing his parents while she was at it.
- Villainous Breakdown: Rendered incredulous, enraged and frantic by Willow's trick. In the process of her dumbstruck rage, she stumbles through the banishment ritual setup, spilling alchemical fluids, triggering the banishment on her instead of Elora."Impossible!"
- Would Hurt a Child: She spends the entirety of the film trying to capture and kill the infant Elora Danan. And attempting to destroy the soul of the baby in the process.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: "Thank you for marrying me and granting me a pathway to the throne ô prince. Now suffer my curse pleasant dreams."
Sorsha
Sorsha Tanthalos
"What are you staring at?"
Played by: Joanne Whalley
Voiced by: Gladys Parra (Latin American Spanish), Gara Takashima (Japanese)
The warrior daughter of Bavmorda tasked with finding Elora Danan.
- Action Girl: Sorsha is a skilled female warrior, fighting quite well with her sword. At first she's a Dark Action Girl before pulling a Heel–Face Turn, defecting from her evil mother to the good guys' side.
- Big Damn Kiss: Mid-battle at Tir Asleen with Madmartigan.
- Co-Dragons: Sorsha is one of her mother's two lieutenants, with General Kael being the other one. When her mother orders him to have his forces aid her in the hunt for Willow and co., she's miffed and says she doesn't need it, implying a rivalry, at least on her part (Kael doesn't appear ambitious that way).
- Cool Sword: A curved sword with wicked serrations on the back end and distinct hand guard spikes on the hilt. It even has a hidden blade in the pommel. She bequeaths it to her daughter Kit when her party sets out after Airk's abductors.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Sorsha wears black clothing and armor, but she isn't irredeemably ruthless despite her service to the Big Bad and eventually has a Heel–Face Turn.
- Desperately Craves Affection: She grew up under a cold and abusive mother. Madmartigan is the first to show Sorsha genuine, unconditional affection and she's genuinely angry and disappointed when she finds out he was under the influence of a love potion.
- Distracted by the Sexy: More than a little taken with Madmartigan when he's spouting poetry under the influence of the love potion. She's even more enamored with his bravery and prowess in battle at Tir Asleen. It ultimately proves the final straw for any resistance she had left.
- The Dragon: Sorsha's a lieutenant to her mother. Until her Heel–Face Turn, that is.
- Fiery Redhead: A redheaded, fiery warrior.
- Heel–Face Turn: Through The Power of Love. The novelization and Marvel Comics' adaptation include the bonus that while in Tir Asleen she unexpectedly finds the cursed form of her long-lost father, the king of Tir Asleen... and suddenly, magical blocks Bavmorda placed on her daughter's memory melt away. Scenes were actually filmed including her backstory but sadly they got cut. The lost scenes can now be seen on Blu-Ray.
- The High Queen: In the 2022 Sequel Series, she is ruling queen of Tir Asleen. Backstory not clearly indicated in the theatrical release states that Bavmorda magically seduced the prince of Tir Asleen in her bid for power, and their daughter Sorsha is thus Tir Asleen royalty, apparently heir to her throne. As queen she is a beautiful, good ruler, but also flawed by keeping secrets from her children and Elora (also pushing her daughter Kit to be more feminine like her, which goes against Kit's desires, along with her unwanted arranged marriage).
- Informed Ability: She's shown with a quiver on her back but is never shown using a bow.
- Lady of War: She is a badass warrior. Later in life, as a queen, she retrieves her trademark back-edge-serrated curved sword from a secret armory in her bedchambers when the Gales attack Tir Asleen. In both cases, especially the latter, she has an elegant feminine look while fighting.
- Love Redeems: Falling in love with Madmartigan is what prompts her Heel–Face Turn.
- Mommy's Little Villain: Initially, she's a loyal lieutenant to her evil sorceress mother.
- Parental Abandonment: It's not made clear what became of Sorsha's father onscreen, though some deleted scenes and the novelization establish that he was the king of Tir Asleen, who her mother had turned to stone along with his court so she could usurp his throne. Her mother Bavmorda also dies at the end.
- Parental Substitute: To Elora, at the end. Sorsha adopts her.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: The Novelization mentions that Sorsha took after her gentle father as a child and cried in fright at Bavmorda's dark deeds before being "bent" by her mother into a hardened warrior in an Evil Army.
- "Well Done, Daughter!" Girl: It's shown early on that all Sorsha really wants is to please her mother. At least until her Heel–Face Turn.
- Women Prefer Strong Men: An element of this regarding her attraction to Madmartigan is how impressed she's shown to be with his fighting prowess.
Kael
General Kael
"Destroy the beast! Find the baby!"
Played by: Pat Roach
Voiced by: Guillermo Romano (Latin American Spanish), Yosuke Naka (Japanese)
The ruthless commander in chief of Bavmorda's army.
- Back from the Dead: Jade faces down a phantom of him in the series.
- Badass Cape: A powerful and strong warrior who wears a black cape.
- Beard of Evil: Though it's usually covered by his helm.
- Body Horror: He appears to have a sort of deformity that results in him having a sloping, Neanderthalic brow.
- Cool Helmet: A skull shaped one.
- Cool Sword: Uses one to attack. It looks like a cross between a rapier and a longsword, with long spiked quillions.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: We only see him approaching Willow and reappear holding Elora, but he dished one out to Willow offscreen.
- Dark Is Evil: Wears dark clothes, a bad guy and rides a black horse.
- Determinator: So, so much. Kael approaches everything with a single-minded tenacity, be it cutting through an army to return to Bavmorda with Elora or trying to kill Madmardigan while having a sword shoved through him.
- Disney Villain Death: After suffering a Rasputinian Death.
- The Dragon: To Bavmorda.
- Co-Dragons: With Sorsha.
- The Dreaded: When he comes to capture Elora, his appearance results in an Oh, Crap! for Willow.
- Four-Star Badass: As a general of Bavmorda's armies.
- Hero Killer: As Bavmorda's top general, his reputation in-story speaks for itself, and everyone fears his utter ruthlessness and his prowess in personal combat. He earns his reputation on screen when he kills Airk in the final battle.
- Implacable Man: The man does not stop. See Rasputinian Death for what it takes to kill him.
- No Indoor Voice: Almost all of Kael's lines sound like he's shouting. Just watch this video for reference.
- Obviously Evil: Seriously, look at him. The skull shaped helmet, the pitch black armor, the spikes...practically everything about him screams that he's evil.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: His forces took out half of the Galadoorn army (which is itself a Badass Army) offscreen.
- One-Man Army: At one point he was leaving a ruined castle when an army appears to attack him. He only has a few men with him. What does he do? Charge straight at the army and hack his way through. He didn't stay for long and just cut himself a path because he was carrying precious cargo, but the fact that an army couldn't kill him still stands.
- Pre-Asskicking One-Liner/Prepare to Die: As he goes to fight Airk, he just shouts, "Now you die!"
- Rasputinian Death: Madmartigan smashes his skull-mask, and Kael chases Madmartigan up a flight of stairs. Madmartigan stabs him in the chest and leaves the blade there; Kael responds by punching Madmartigan in the face and trying to strangle him. Madmartigan slashes at Kael's belly with another sword, then when he gets that punched out of his hand, he punches the blade he left in Kael's chest earlier. Kael finally does react to that, and Madmartigan pulls Kael down to impale him on his own sword; even then Kael is still alive, and it's only the fall from the bridge which finally kills him.
- Really Gets Around: The Disney+ series reveals he fathered at least 15 children, including Jade. However, her half-sister Scorpia says that as far as she knows, she and Jade are the only ones still alive.
- Scarily Competent Tracker: Manages to find which way Willow, Elora and Madmartigan are heading just by looking at the ground for horse tracks.Kael: This way!
- Skeletons in the Coat Closet/Skull for a Helmet: The front of his helmet is a skull. In the series, this is an indicator that he was originally a Bone Reaver.
- Spikes of Villainy: He has a few on his armor, mainly on his Shoulders of Doom. His horse also wears a headdress that resembles ram's horns.
- Take That, Critics!: Named after film critic Pauline Kael.
- The Unfettered: Utterly unfazed by the sudden appearance of an enemy army or even a rampaging two-headed dragon. He just gets on with the task at hand.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Finds the Eborsisk to be this when compared to the capture of the baby.
Death Dogs
Bavmorda's Death Dogs
Wooly beasts used by the forces of Nockmaar for tracking and for attack. They are first used to track down and kill the midwife that snuck away with Elora. One of them is next seen wreaking havoc in the Nelwyn village, searching for Elora until Vohnkar kills him. They are later seen in a few other instances running with mounted Nockmaar soldiers.
- Hellhounds: They look like a hellish mix of rodent and dog.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Death Dogs. Not that you'll get very far once you start running...
- Right Hand Attack Dogs: They are Bavmorda's troops' attack dogs.
- Scarily Competent Trackers: They relentlessly track Elora.
- They Have the Scent!: Much to Ethna the Midwife's horror. Once she hears them howling in the distance, she knows her time is short.
Introduced in the 2022 series
The Crone
The Crone
Click here to see her as Princess Lili
Played by: Jane Carr (Crone form voice), Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (as Princess Lili), Chus Lucas, Annabel Canavan (physical performance, stunt work)
A mysterious powerful witch who originally taught Bavmorda dark magic and turned her to the side of evil.
- Big Bad: Of the Disney+ series.
- The Corruptor: Willow relates that she indoctrinated Bavmorda long ago into her cult, turning her evil. In the climax of season 1, she also corrupts Airk, but he overcomes it.
- Damsel in Distress: Is posing as one when Airk meets her for the first time.
- A Form You Are Comfortable With: The Crone reverts back to her teenage form to lure Airk to her side. Just him, though.
- The Ghost: She is frequently mentioned in the series, but till the penultimate episode of season 1 she made no on screen appearance.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Of the original movie, since it was she who made Bavmorda into the evil Sorcerous Overlord the heroes needed to overthrow.
- Religion of Evil: In charge of one, the Order of the Wyrm.
- Shout-Out: When we meet her, she resembles Supreme Leader Snoke.
- Utopia Justifies the Means: Believes that releasing the Wyrm will create a perfect world.
The Gales
The Gales (The Lich, the Scourge, the Doom, and the Dag)
Played by: Vitas Le Bas (the Lich), Joonas Suotamo (the Scourge), Daniel Naprous (the Doom), Claudia Hughes (the Dag)
Four monstrous creatures that serve the Crone.
- Co-Dragons: Four fighters who serve the Crone.
- Demonic Possession: The Lich does this to Ballantine and almost does it to Graydon.
- Harping on About Harpies: The Dag can transform into a harpy-like form and fly.
- Implacable Man: According to Willow, the Crone won't let them rest until they capture Elora and kill the others.
- Spikes of Villainy: The Scourge wears a spiked cage over his head.
The Nelwyn Village
Nelwyns in general
The race of dwarfish people Willow belongs to.
- Hobbits: They were basically George Lucas' answer to J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbits, if less cultured, not running around barefoot and having the proportions of humans with dwarfism.
- Little People: A race of short-sized people, played by dwarf actors and actresses.
High Aldwin
High Aldwin
"Forget all you know, or think you know"
Played by: Billy Barty
Voiced by: Roberto Alexander (Latin American Spanish), Mahito Tsujimura (Japanese)
The spiritual guide of Willow's village, High Aldwin seeks to take on a new apprentice. Whilst no one officially passes his test, he takes a keen interest in Willow and believes he has the potential to be a great sorcerer.
- Cool Old Guy: A cool and old spiritual guide.
- Don't Think, Feel: Tells Willow to trust in himself and listen to his own heart before he's about to embark on his adventure.
- It May Help You on Your Quest: Aldwin gives Willow magical acorns that turn anything they're thrown at to stone.
- The Mentor: He is this to Willow and his village.
- Eccentric Mentor: Invoked, as his eccentricities make it easier for him to convince the other Nelwyn that his guidance is him channeling higher powers.
- Phony Psychic: Played with. He's very much capable of genuine magic but he also favors using superstition to manipulate positive outcomes. In this case he "uses" the bones to prevent a frightened mob handing the child over to Bavmorda and comes to the logical conclusion the child is important and must be safely taken to her own kind. He reveals to Willow that it's all a show and in reality bases his decision on Willow's desire to protect Elora.High Aldwin: "The bones tell me nothing."
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Uses his influence to help Willow protect Elora and also puts Burglekutt in his place with some clever manipulation.
- Robe and Wizard Hat: Wears them.
- Wizard Beard: Sports one.
Burglekutt
Burglekutt
"You're no sorcerer Ufgood. You're a clown."
Played by: Mark Northover
Voiced by: Jesús Brock (Latin American Spanish), Yu Shimaka (Japanese)
The Nelwyn village's resident bully. Willow is apparently in debt to him, a fact he feels necessary to lord over Willow at every opportunity.
- The Bully: He enjoys being a jerk towards Willow.
- Dirty Coward: For all his bravado Burglekutt is not a courageous Nelwyn.
- Fat Bastard: He's pretty fat (by human dwarf standards), and a massive jerk.
- Hypocrite: Demands their best warrior Vohnkar not go with Willow on his quest because they need him to stay and protect the village. That is until High Aldwin declares the bones have named Burglekutt leader of the expedition. Vohnkar's suddenly on the card again.Burglekutt: No - not Vohnkar! He's the best warrior in the village, we need him here. Vohnkar - step back!High Aldwin: All this expedition needs is a leader. And according to the bones, that leader is... you, Burglekutt!Burglekutt: VOHNKAR!!!
- Jerkass: While not a villain, he's quite a big jerk.
- Karmic Butt-Monkey: He repeatedly gets some comeuppance for his bullying of Willow, with Elora throwing up on him, being forced to lead the mission to accompany Elora to human territories, and last but not least the bird Willow summoned upon his return shitting right on his face.
- Loan Shark: Willow borrowed money from him, and he threatens to evict Willow from his farm if he doesn't honor his debt.
- Not Bad: Burglekutt is actually noticeably impressed by Willow's disappearing pig trick, making it the closest thing he has to a Pet the Dog moment. Of course when the trick quickly goes sour, he returns to his default jerkassery.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Abandons Willow at the crossroads when he grows tired of waiting for a suitable person to give the child too.
- Smug Snake: He thinks highly of himself while he clearly shouldn't.
Vohnkar
Vohnkar
Played by: Phil Fondacaro
Voiced by: Enrique Garduza (Latin American Spanish), Shigezo Sasaoka (Japanese)
The most experienced warrior of the village, he's the one who slays the hound of Bavmorda that was wreaking havoc in the village in search for Elora. He is the second Nelwyn to volunteer for Willow's quest.
- Hero of Another Story: The Novelization reveals that several years ago, Vohnkar went on a years' long adventure to see the splendor of Tir Asleen. He repeatedly clashed with Bavmorda's Mooks during that time and abandoned his quest upon realizing that people like him were needed to protect his home from Nockmaar.
- Not So Above It All: Can barely contain his laughter when Elora vomits on Burglekutt.
- Opt Out: Goes back to the village shortly after the quest started on Burglekutt's orders.
Meegosh
Meegosh
"I'll go with him."
Played by: David J. Steinberg
Voiced by: Yosuke Akimoto (Japanese)
Willow's best friend. He is the first to volunteer to accompany him on his quest.
- Annoying Arrows: When attacked alongside Willow by Brownies they're assaulted by a barrage of small but still painful arrows. Though it turns out the annoying arrows are just to drive them towards a trap.
- Best Friend: He's Willow's best friend among the Nelwyns.
- Friendship Moment: Meegosh stepping forward to go with Willow despite not being the bravest of Nelwyns is greeted with a respectful nod from Willow.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: He's Willow's best friend in the village. Also he's the first to volunteer to accompany him on his mission to take Elora to her own people and the last person from the village to leave his side. note
- Home Sweet Home: When the duo believe they've completed their task they muse over the heroes' welcome they'll receive upon their triumphant return. During the finale Meegosh is among the first to warmly greet Willow upon his heroic return.
- Nice Guy: Despite his Opt Out.
- Opt Out: Once their mission goes from delivering a child to her own kind and escalates to saving the world, Meegosh journeys home. Though initially he expected Willow to do the same but quickly realises his friend's adventure is just getting started.
- You Can Turn Back: And does so.
Kaiya
Kaiya Ufgood
Played by: Julie Peters
Voiced by: Patricia Pontón (Latin American Spanish), Kumiko Takizawa (Japanese)
Willow's wife. She is a loving mother and enthusiastic in caring for Elora.
- Good Parents: She seems a good mother from what little we see. And she was fully willing to care for a mysterious baby from a different race.
- Happily Married: To Willow.
- House Wife: Works as this.
- The Lost Lenore: As of the 2022 sequel series, she has apparently passed away, leading to Ranon running away in grief and contributing to Willow's fears that he can't keep his loved ones safe.
- Memento MacGuffin: She gives Willow a braid of her hair before he leaves their village. Willow treats it as both a good luck charm and a source of strength later in his journey.
- Nice Girl: She is pretty nice.
- Parental Substitute: To Elora, briefly.
Ranon and Mims
Ranon and Mims Ufgood
Played by: Mark Van de Brake and Dawn Downing (movie), Annabelle Davis (Mims, series)
Voiced by: Gladys Parra and Rocío Robledo (Latin American Spanish), Ai Orikasa and Chie Kojiro (Japanese)
Willow's children.
- A Boy, a Girl, and a Baby Family: With the momentary addition of Elora.
- Cheerful Child: Mims.
- Child Mage: Mims, in the novelisation, is implied to have an innate talent for magic that surpasses her father's, at one point early on repaying Burglekutt's bullying by inflicting pain on him via a short rhyming chant.
- Constantly Curious: They're very curious about the mysterious baby and 'daikinis' (humans).
- The Runaway: In the 2022 sequel series, this is how Ranon's absence is explained- his mother Kaiya passed away sometime between the movie and series, and Ranon blamed Willow for not saving her, since he was off on a quest at the time, leading Ranon to leave home in anger.
Others
Introduced in the 1988 film
The Midwife
Ethna the Midwife
Played by: Zulema Dene
A midwife who helped Elora's mother giving birth to her daughter. She escaped with the baby before Queen Bavmorda could find her.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: She is torn apart by a pair of Bavmorda's vicious hounds.
- Do Not Go Gentle: Though she didn't stand any chance her last act was to fight off the Death Dogs, buying Elora precious seconds to escape.
- The Greatest Story Never Told: The midwife that risked her own life for a mother she didn't know. Smuggled her child away moments before Bavmorda arrived to kill her. Spent months evading capture and raising the child as her own in the wilderness by herself. And finally made the ultimate sacrifice to give Elora just the slightest chance at surviving. Yet it's unlikely her story will ever be known. Though this may be ultimately averted in the long run with Sorsha's Heel–Face Turn; the midwife's actions could become common knowledge.
- Heroic Bystander: A simple midwife who heroically saved Elora Danan's life.
- Heroic Sacrifice: She's the only reason Elora ever reached Willow and she paid with her life.
- Hero of Another Story: And of The Greatest Story Never Told no less! She managed to escape Bavmorda with Elora and to survive in the wilderness by herself for a while, before a Death Dog eventually finds her, leaving her just enough time to put Elora on a basket in the river to give her a slight chance of surviving. Her actions still manage to save Elora's life.
- Spanner in the Works: Bavmorda went to the extreme lengths of having every newborn child checked for a birthmark. She could not have anticipated a lowly midwife would risk everything for a perfect stranger and her child.
- What You Are in the Dark: She had no personal reason to help Elora's mother other than it was the right thing to do. And she did so despite the risks.
Llug
Llug
"NOT A WOMAN?!"
Played by: Ron Tarr
A man whose wife has an affair with Madmartigan.
- All Men Are Perverts: "Wanna breed?"
- Beard of Barbarism: A pretty barbaric man with a beard.
- The Berserker: Even after he's struck the wrong person when trying to hit Madmartigan, Llug continues to beat the soldier anyway.
- Berserk Button: Apparently it's finding out someone he's been hitting on isn't a woman. Or that his wife is cheating on him. Or maybe even both.
- The Big Guy: Pretty big.
- Dumb Muscle: Strong but dumb.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: From angry killer, to horny slimeball, back to murderous rage in an instant.
- Hypocrite: He goes from ready to kill any man near his wife to trying to have sex with her "cousin", whilst his wife's standing right beside him.
- Stout Strength: He shows it in a fight.
- Unsettling Gender-Reveal: Played for laughs with cousin "Hilda" when Llug discovers "she" wasn't a woman after all.Madmartigan: "Gentlemen. Meet Llug."
- Unstoppable Rage: He is The Berserker.
Introduced in the 2022 series
Ballantine
Commander Ballantine
Played by: Ralph Ineson
A knight of Tir Asleen, commander of the Pacalcade, and Jade Claymore's adoptive father.
- Ambiguous Situation: It's revealed that Jade is a Bone Reaver who was kidnapped from her people as a child by Tir Asleen and taught to hate them. It's unclear if Ballantine was involved in this or if he even knew about it.
- Baritone of Strength: Courtesy of Ralph Ineson. When The Lich speaks through him, it gets so deep it's practically underground.
- Calling Parents by Their Name: Jade only ever calls him "Ballantine".
- Demonic Possession: Gets infected by the Lich during the attack where Airk is taken.
- Implacable Man: Pursues the party after being posessed by the Lich.
- Mercy Kill: He begs Jade to kill him to release him from his posession.
- Parental Substitute: He was Jade's adoptive father.
Scorpia
Her Sublime Eminence Mistress Magnificus Venoma Scorpia
Played by: Adwoa Aboah
The leader of the Bone Reavers of the Wildwood.
- Black Boss Lady: She is the leader of the Bone Reavers and played by a biracial actress.
- Long-Lost Relative: She is the long-lost sister of Jade, who was kidnapped from the Bone Reavers as a child. They are both children of General Kael.
- Try to Fit That on a Business Card: Her full name and title is Her Sublime Eminence Mistress Magnificus Venoma Scorpia.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Boorman, who lived with the Bone Reavers for a time.
Jørgen Kase
Jørgen Kase
Played by: Simon Armstrong
An older knight of Tir Asleen.
- Forgotten Fallen Friend: He's killed in the first episode and never mentioned again. The main characters even party with the Bone Reaver tribe that killed him.
- Honorary Uncle: He's known Airk and Kit since they were born.
- More Senior Subordinate: He's older than Ballantine. He says Ballantine isn't suitable to go on the quest to save Airk due to his responsibilities as a commander and goes in his place.
- Really Gets Around: Implied. He says Airk is the closest thing he'll ever have to a son...that he's aware of.
- Sacrificial Lamb: Introduced and killed in the first episode.
- The World's Expert (on Getting Killed): He's the most experienced member of the party leaving Tir Asleen but dies shortly after they leave the barrier.
King Hastur
King Zivian Hastur
Played by: Derek Horsham
King of Galladoorn and father of Graydon.
- Abusive Parents: Blames Graydon for the death of his older son Dermot even though Graydon was possessed by an unknown entity. He later pressures Graydon into going on the quest to save Airk as it would be disgraceful for his wife-to-be Kit to go without him.
- Villainous Legacy: Willow says that the "Hastur" name was not especially illustrious. It's unclear what he meant but it's later revealed that Galladoorn once practiced slavery.
Ganush
Ganush
Played by: Amalia Vitale
A Brownie and daughter of Rool.
- Basement-Dweller: She lives with her father, who berates her about getting a job.
- Starving Artist: She is skilled in decoupage though it hasn't gotten her enough success to leave her father's home.
Toth
Lori Toth
Played by: Charlie Rawes
A Bone Reaver.
- Gender-Blender Name: His first name is Lori, which he's insecure about.
- Nice Guy: He might be a deadly Bone Reaver warrior but he gets along well with the heroes after they realize Jade is Scorpia's sister. He seeks out Elora's help with making stew and gives Graydon a shave.
- Number Two: To Scorpia.
- Skeletons in the Coat Closet: Like all Bone Reavers, he wears a skull as a mask.
Allagash
Allagash
Played by: Christian Slater
A former Knight of Galladoorn and friend of Madmartigan.
- Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: He introduces himself as "Chloe Allagash's brave little man".
- Eyepatch of Power: Is introduced wearing a bandage over his eye but it's revealed to be fake.
- Giftedly Bad: His true passion is songwriting though his songs are terrible.
- Lovable Rogue: A brothel patron, deserter, and treasure hunter who's allied with the good guys.
Creatures
Fairies
The Fairies
Small, forest-dwelling creatures ruled by Cherlindrea.
- Fairy Sexy: The ones we see are all naked and beautiful. One kisses Willow.
- Fantastic Medicinal Bodily Product: Supplementary materials state that they regularly shed and regrow their wings. Their wings can be made into various magical substances, including Dust of Broken Hearts.
- One-Gender Race: All onscreen fairies are women.
- The Voiceless: They do not speak but it's stated in supplementary materials that they have a language.
- Winged Humanoid: They're small human-looking creatures with wings.
Trolls
The Trolls
A species of smelly, vicious apelike brutes who inhabit Tir Asleen since Bavmorda has cursed the place. Willow is notably afraid of them.
- All Trolls Are Different: They are ape-like creatures.
- Beneath the Earth: The Trolls in the Disney+ series live in a huge complex of mines.
- Smarter Than You Look: They look like primitive brutes, and the movie implies that is just what they are, but the Disney+ series reveals they actually have human-level intelligence.
- Suddenly Voiced: The Trolls seen in the movie only "talk" in roars and grunts, but the Disney+ series reveals that at least some of them are perfectly capable of speech (and not even Hulk Speak but actually full sentences).
- Wall Crawl: They can crawl walls.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Willow has a particular distaste for them.
- Wild Hair: They are pretty hairy.
The Eborsisk
The Eborsisk
After a botched spell during the battle at Tir Asleen, Willow accidentally turns one of the trolls into a two-headed mass of flesh with Raziel's wand. He then kicks it in the moat of Tir Asleen, only for it to grow giant in a matter of seconds, much to the surprise of both Madmartigan and Kael's army.
- All There in the Manual:
- Never referred to as "the Eborsisk" in the movie, the name only shows up in additional material.
- Additionally, it's revealed to be a previously existing species in the world that went extinct rather than something Willow unintentionally created from nothing. Though Willow's creation is naturally carnivorous with sharp teeth while specimens of ancient skeletons had blunt teeth for eating plants. Justified as it's an already unnatural freak of nature born from the naturally carnivorous troll via sorcery, so the stark differences are justified.
- Annoying Arrows: Kael's army riddles it with arrows. But the only result seems to be angering it.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: Especially since the Eborsisk is more eldritch than a normal dragon.
- Body Horror:
- When Willow botches his spell and touches the troll with his wand, the troll's skin turns it inside out and it ends up a horrible mass of flesh with two heads sticking out. Willow is horrified and disgusted and promptly kicks it in the moat, then it grows into a giant two-headed monster.
- Even in its completed form, it's horrific, while initially appearing to be a two-headed and two-legged monster, but its toy and full body design reveal that it has a set of six legs that are disproportionately smaller and stubbier than the front-legs.
- Even its carnivorous traits are biologically abnormal as the species was said to be herbivorous, which has its own justification being born from a naturally carnivorous troll from a botched spell, and therefore not a real Eborsisk in the first place.
- Breath Weapon: It can spew fire.
- Carnivore Confusion: Justified as it was born from a naturally carnivorous troll from a botched spell, making naturally different from the real species that were said to be herbivorous.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the film, it died when Madmartigan's sword caused one of its heads to explode. In the arcade game, it continued to attack after Willow made one of its heads explode until Willow blows the other head up.
- Draconic Abomination:
- A repellent, hideously twisted draconic thing, born from a botched spell.
- The revelation of additional materials on the film highlight this trait more as Eborsisks were actually herbivorous with blunt teeth and a real preexisting species that went extinct in ages past, compared to the sharp-teethed example we see in the film, which demonstrates what an aberrant freak of nature it is even to its own species rather being a singular entity Willow unintentionally willed to existence. Justified as the specimen we do see was born from a naturally carnivorous troll. However, the end of the series' first season shows a number of Eborsisks similar to the one in the film among the Wyrm's forces.
- Flaying Alive: The first part of the spell Willow uses on the troll turns it inside out, leading to a fleshy egg-shaped lump that starts to grow gnawing heads. Willow upon seeing the creature, kicks it away out of disgust of its sight.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: Once a random, normal troll until Willow accidentally turned it into a fire-breathing abomination leading to a three sided battle - Madmartigan trying to kill it and save Elora, Kael wanting its death as well as killing the baby and the Eborsisk just trying to kill and eat anybody in its way.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Madmartigan impales one of the monster's heads with his sword. It then blows its own head off trying to breathe fire, and the other head dies pretty much instantly.
- Monstrous Cannibalism: It snacks on the remaining trolls without a second thought, despite having originally been one itself. (Then again, ordinary trolls may be cannibals for all we know.)
- One-Winged Angel: The Eborsisk used to be a troll until Willow botched a spell on it.
- Our Dragons Are Different: Dinosaur-like body, no wings and a big tumor on both heads.
- Real After All: Supplementary materials reveal that Eborsisks are in fact a real and long extinct species rather than something Willow came up with by accident. Though, unlike the one seen in the movie, the species was actually herbivorous rather being inherently carnivorous, making that specimen freakish even by the species' nature. Justified as it was born from a naturally carnivorous troll and through sorcery.
- Rent-a-Zilla: Started out as a troll (which in this setting is an apelike brute the size of a human), then abruptly became a gargantuan two-headed monstrosity thanks to Willow's bungled spell.
- Take That, Critics!: "Eborsisk" is named for movie reviewers Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel.
- Two Beings, One Body: Despite being once a one-headed troll, it has two heads after Willow botches a spell on it.
- Uniqueness Decay: In the movie, the Eborsisk seemed to be uniquely created from Willow botching a spell on a troll. The end of the series' first season would reveal a number of Eborsisks among the Wyrm's legions.
- Your Head A-Splode: What happens to the head that was impaled by Madmartigan's sword, resulting in the death of the monster. In the arcade game, Willow had to make both its heads explode before it goes down.
