Pyewacket

In the spirit of March Madness, here on the blog this month we will be holding the first official Familiar Madness Tournament. 16 of the all-time great familiars from literature, film, and television will face off in a single elimination tourney to decide who is the greatest of them all.

7. Pyewacket – the Siamese cat familiar to the witch played by Kim Novac in the 1958 movie Bell Book and Candle.



“Novak plays Gillian Holroyd, a Greenwich Village Witch who wants ‘something nice for Christmas,’ so Pyewacket brings her a mortal man, Shep. When Gillian cannot get through to Shep, she sends Pyewacket after him. On several occasions Shep is pursued by this cat, who always seems to find him, magically appearing on his shoulder.” (myhappylaptop)



Pyewacket is clever, obedient, and best of all, helps her witch get her man! All’s fair in love and war, even for a familiar. A cat who can help snag Jimmy Stewart can’t be too bad.

Does your pet – cat or dog – help you find love? If so, maybe you have a familiar and didn’t even know it. And since love conquers all, maybe Pyewacket can take this tourney one heart at a time.

Tomorrow: Meet a pair of evil minions sure to make anyone seasick.

Crookshanks

In the spirit of March Madness, here on the blog this month we will be holding the first official Familiar Madness Tournament. 16 of the all-time great familiars from literature, film, and television will face off in a single elimination tourney to decide who is the greatest of them all.

6. Crookshanks - the pet cat of Hermione Granger.



Hermione buys her familiar from a shop in Diagon Alley out of sympathy, as nobody wants him due to his squashed-looking face. Crookshanks is half Kneazle, an intelligent, cat-like creature who can detect when they are around untrustworthy people, explaining his higher than normal cat intelligence and stature. (Wiki)



Perhaps less well known than his familiar counterparts at Hogwarts (like Hedwig), Crookshanks possesses perhaps the most acute talent of them all. Both reflecting and complimenting the best qualities of Hermione, this magical cat is a familiar that should not be taken lightly.

If you were a wizard or witch at Hogwarts, which familiar would you want following loyally at your side: Hedwig or Crookshanks?

Tomorrow: All's fair in love and war, even for a familiar.

Pantalaimon

In the spirit of March Madness, here on the blog this month we will be holding the first official Familiar Madness Tournament. 16 of the all-time great familiars from literature, film, and television will face off in a single elimination tourney to decide who is the greatest of them all.

5. Pantalaimon – Lyra Belacqua’s shapeshifting animal companion



“Lyra's dæmon, Pantalaimon, is her dearest companion and the embodiment of her soul. In common with all dæmons of children, he can take any animal form he pleases; he first appears in the story as a dark brown moth. He changes into many forms throughout the series, ranging from a dragon to an eagle, but his favorite forms are a snow-white ermine, a moth, a wildcat, and a mouse.



His ermine form is his favorite form while sleeping, and the color of his fur depends on his mood. As a wildcat, he is described as appearing ‘lean, rugged, and harsh.’ He often becomes a mouse when he is shy or scared, and will often go into Lyra's pocket in this form. When he takes the form of a bird, he is generally noted as becoming a goldfinch, an eagle, or an owl.” (Wiki)

One word: shapeshifter. A unique talent among familiars, and a pretty versatile, awesome one at that.

If you could shapeshift into anything, what would it be? How do you think Pantalaimon will fare in the familiar showdown?

Tomorrow: We return to Hogwarts and meet a Muggle-born’s familiar.

Winged Monkeys

In the spirit of March Madness, here on the blog this month we will be holding the first official Familiar Madness Tournament. 16 of the all-time great familiars from literature, film, and television will face off in a single elimination tourney to decide who is the greatest of them all.

4. Winged Monkeys – the intelligent, winged minions to the Wicked Witch of Oz



Best known from the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” the Winged Monkeys obey commands, but do not speak. When Dorothy and her co-horts go in search of the Witch, she sees them coming, and so sends the Winged Monkeys to bring them to her. They kidnap Dorothy and dismantle the Scarecrow. (Wiki)



Unlike the first three participants in the Familiar Madness Tournament, the Winged Monkeys represent our first villainous animal companions. Ruthless and loyal, these flying primates served the Wicked Witch no matter how nefarious her plans.

Did the Winged Monkeys terrify you as a kid as much as they did me? Or did you secretly root for the bad guys?

Tomorrow: We meet a moth, a wildcat, and a mouse, all in one familiar.

Archimedes

In the spirit of March Madness, here on the blog this month we will be holding the first official Familiar Madness Tournament. 16 of the all-time great familiars from literature, film, and television will face off in a single elimination tourney to decide who is the greatest of them all.

3. Archimedes - the owl familiar of Merlin, the wizard, in T.H. White’s “The Sword in the Stone.”



It is fitting an owl was chosen by Merlin as it is viewed as a wise and noble creature. Archimedes often acted grouchy and was generally disagreeable with Merlin's plans. However, he always came through when needed. He even protected and guided Arthur when Merlin was absent.



Always a curmudgeonly companion, Archimedes offers Merlin intelligent, philosophical arguments, helping the great magician see the world differently. In the kingdom of Camelot, Archimedes soars the sky, seeing the world from his birdly vantage point, untethered by the boundaries confining humans.

So far, we have introduced you to the familiars of Harry Potter, Gandalf, and Merlin. Who do you think is the coolest wizard to be the animal companion of?

Tomorrow: Monkey see, monkey do.

Shadowfax

In the spirit of March Madness, here on the blog this month we will be holding the first official Familiar Madness Tournament. 16 of the all-time great familiars from literature, film, and television will face off in a single elimination tourney to decide who is the greatest of them all.

2. Shadowfax - the horse of Gandalf, aka "the lord of all horses"



A descendent of the greatest horses of Middle-earth, Shadowfax was capable of comprehending human speech and was said to run faster than the wind. Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. "Gandalf described Shadowfax as a horse that might have been from the earliest time of the world. No man had ever ridden him before. By day his coat was like silver, by night like unseen shade. His footsteps were light, and not even the horses of the Nine were his match for speed or stamina." (Valarguild)



That's a pretty hardcore familiar if you ask me. Powerful, brave, and beautiful. Shadowfax aided Gandalf, one of the wizard titans of literature, in battles small and great, helping seek the One Ring and save Middle-earth.

Can any familiar challenge Shadowfax in this tournament? Who gets bigger familiar points: the animal companion to a wizard or witch at Hogwarts, or one in Middle-earth? Tell us what you think.

Tomorrow: We meet another magical owl, one not named Hedwig.

Familiar Madness - Hedwig

In the spirit of March Madness, here on the blog this month we will be holding the first official Familiar Madness Tournament. 16 of the all-time great familiars from literature, film, and television will face off in a single elimination tourney to decide who is the greatest of them all.

Today, we begin counting down the 16 participants.

1. Hedwig - Harry Potter’s pet Snowy Owl and magical familiar.



A gift to Harry on his eleventh birthday, Hedwig provided Harry with message and package carriage and loyal companionship. Hedwig could deliver letters even though there was no specific address given, and she hunted mice, frogs and rats. It is implied that Hedwig can fully understand Harry, and to some extent vice versa. (Wikipedia)



Though Hedwig’s talents are simple, she is the very definition of a familiar: magical, loyal, and always on Harry’s shoulder. She was the animal companion to one of the greatest wizards in popular culture history, never failing to dutifully assist Harry no matter how dire or dangerous his task.

What do you think of Hedwig as a familiar? Would Harry have been the same wizard without her? Where do you rank Hedwig in the great pantheon of magical animal companions?

Tomorrow: We visit Middle Earth and meet the lord of all horses.