Princess Zelda is the title character of the Zelda video game series, which debuted in 1986. She is often a "damsel in distress" who must be rescued by the game's protagonist, Link. At times, she takes on a more active role. She was named after the American novelist Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of the famed novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.... Read more
In the popular Halo video game series, protagonist Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 is a Spartan-II commando in the United Nations Space Command's Naval Special Warfare Command. At the present point in the game, this fictional character has over thirty years of... Read more
Peter Pan was first introduced in the novel The Little White Bird in 1902. The play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up, written by Scottish playwright J. M. Barrie, hit the world stage in 1904. Peter Pan soon became a part of modern mythology... Read more
Bugs Bunny may be one of the most recognizable cartoon characters of all time, second only to Disney's Mickey Mouse. The character was named after his animator and creator, Ben "Bugs" Hardaway. He first made it to the screen in 1938... Read more
The word "soldier" can be traced to a Latin word meaning "one having pay." Throughout history, soldiers have been individuals paid to fight in battles. Soldiers generally work for the country in which they live. There are also "soldiers for hire," called mercenaries, who are willing to fight for the highest bidder... Read more
Angels are defined as "any benevolent...spiritual being that mediates between the transcendent and temporal realms." Throughout history, various cultures have recorded such beings in their art, often endowing them with wings. Ancient examples can be seen in the Assyrian relief panel and other works displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art... Read more
Train by Darth Sidious, Darth Maul was a Sith Lord who wielded a double-bladed lightsaber. He is a Zabrak from Dathomir. The Zabrak males host a striking appearance, that of encircling facial horns and patterns... Read more
The story of Cinderella is an old one. Over 500 different versions of the story are known in Europe – there may be thousands around the world. Another was created in China during the ninth century. Another was recorded in Greece about 2,000 years ago... Read more
In Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx was a creature that had a human head and the body of a lion. In one legend, a winged Sphinx asked the riddle, “What is it that has one voice year becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?” The Sphinx would eat anyone that could not give the proper answer... Read more
The first Scooby Doo cartoon series aired in 1969, laying the groundwork for decades of television shows and movies. The title character was a talking Great Dane described as “cowardly and gluttonous but good-natured.” Scooby traveled the country with his friends Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma, looking for mysteries to solve... Read more
Wonder Woman first appeared in DC Comics in 1941. She was made of clay by Hippolyta, or alternatively the daughter of Hippolyta and Zeus. Wonder Woman was raised as an... Read more
The fairy tale of Rapunzel recounts a the captivity of a girl with long blonde hair and the prince who rescues her. Disney's Tangled (2010), on which this guide is based, is perhaps the most well-known retelling. In Tangled, however, Rapunzel herself is a princess, and she is rescued by a thief... Read more
Simba is a lion prince, the heir of the Pridelands. A childhood tragedy, however, forces him to run away from all he's ever known. It is only when his childhood friend, Nala, journeys to find him that Simba returns to right the wrongs and reclaim his kingdom... Read more
Disney's animated film Moana follows the story of a young Polynesian girl who must set sail to bring a relic to an ancient goddess and restore safety to her people... Read more
Venom is an anti-hero of the Marvel Comics universe who goes by many names. The Venom symbiote - an alien lifeform - has bonded with many characters, including Spider-Man, Deadpool, supervillain Lee Price, Army Corporal and Guardian of the Galaxy Flash Thompson, and career criminal Mac Gargan... Read more
Toothless, along with his human companion Hiccup, is the hero of the island of Berk. Toothless's species, the Night Fury, was nearly hunted to extinction by the Vikings. With each other's help, Hiccup and Toothless help the people of Berk to find peace with the... Read more
The bulldog is a short, stocky dog bred for centuries in Britain. It has a short nose and folds of skin that give it a wrinkled and frowning appearance, earning it the nickname "sourmug."... Read more
The animated cartoon Beauty and the Beast (1991) is one of the most beloved Disney fairy tales. It follows the story of a cursed prince and an adventurous young woman. The prince must... Read more
The cat has been a beloved fixture in human life since antiquity. The ancient Egyptians worshipped temple cats, even mummifying some. In other cultures, cats were used to control rodent pests... Read more
Rabbits are long-eared, ground dwelling mammals. They inhabit places such as deserts, tropical forests, and wetlands. They eat mostly grasses and herbs... Read more