On the sixth day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love said to me... Who wouldn't want a cute little furry pet with a predilection for pilfering everything glittery?
Welcome to day 6 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! Today we're analyzing the cutest and most troublesome of Newt's little beasts who gets the whole plot Rowling...
SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!
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| Niffler by Kayla Perkinson |
A Tunnel of Trouble
While the Niffler gets the most screen time, it’s one of Newt’s least dangerous creatures…aside from getting Newt arrested. Described as a “furry black cross between a mole and a duck-billed platypus” (p. 14), Newt’s Niffler wins the cute factor. He also has a predilection for pilfering everything glittery, which keeps Newt in a lot of trouble. From a beggar’s hat to a dog collar to a jewelry store, if it glitters, he wants it.
It almost seems the Niffler’s sole role in the film is to cause wild, crazy action while looking adorable. But this is JK Rowling we’re talking about.
Nifflers do have one other quality—they are great diggers and will tunnel deep within the earth in search of treasure. We know the Nazis liked to tunnel themselves, whether to find or store treasure, to create bunkers, or for other military advantages. Perhaps the Niffler will prove more useful than troublesome to Newt and Team in the coming films. Especially if Newt has a whole family of them.
However Rowling decides to utilize this cute little pest's skills, I'm sure he'll burrow into something useful before series end!
If you’d like to see an animal that may have inspired the Niffler, check out this CNN report on a newborn puggle (see here), which Rowling retweeted on November 21, 2016.
What do you think? What kind of useful "treasure" do you think Rowling's Niffler could dig up before series end?
About the Book:
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| Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts |
Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!
Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.
Discover and explore such questions as:
- Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
- Why will there be FIVE movies?
- What secret is Modesty hiding?
- Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
- And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?
S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!
