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Werewolves

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It'll be like nothing you've ever felt before... the pine needles underfoot, the air rushing over your fur, your brothers and sisters at your side. Your mind won't want to believe it. It will tell you a wolf is invading your body, trying to take over. And if you believe that, for even a moment, you'll black out, and lose control. Like you have every other night you've turned. But if you give into the wolf, you'll realize the truth. You are the wolf.

—Anita to Red Riding Hood src

Werewolves, also known as children of the moon,[1] are a species featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. They are native to the Enchanted Forest, and first appear in the first episode of the first season of Once Upon a Time.

Werewolves are based on the wolf from the fairytale of "Little Red Riding Hood," and are an allusion to Tod and the other foxes from the novel The Fox and the Hound, and Tod and the rest of the foxes from the Disney film adaptation of the novel. The species is also based on the creature of the same name from European mythology.[2]

Biology

Werewolves are humans who uncontrollably shapeshift into a wolf during full moon. The clothes on their body are transformed as well, and reappear when they return to human form. If the werewolf hasn't learned to control the transformation, they turn into wild, bloodthirsty beasts who kill and devour anyone who crosses their path, even the people they love. After transforming back into human form, the werewolf does not remember what happened. However, if the person learns how to master control of themselves while in wolf form, they remain in control of their actions, and will remember everything. ("Red-Handed," "Child of the Moon," "In the Name of the Brother")

Werewolves are immensely strong, and their only known weakness is their vulnerability to silver. Silver and witchcraft are the only known ways to kill them. They are also very strong and fast in human form, which Ruby demonstrated when she rescued Dr. Whale from committing suicide. They have enhanced smell and hearing, even in human form, and are able to track down a person simply by following their scent. Werewolves are able to communicate telepathically whilst in wolf form. According to the Huntsman, they are emotional creatures. ("Red-Handed," "The Crocodile," "In the Name of the Brother," "Shadow of the Queen")

A person becomes a werewolf if they are bitten and turned by another werewolf. The curse is passed down to their offspring; Red Riding Hood inherited it from her mother Anita, who inherited the curse from her own mother and father. The shapeshifting seems to begin during puberty, as Red was thirteen when she started turning into a wolf. ("Red-Handed")

It seems that the ability to shapeshift into a werewolf is lost over time; this happened to Granny when she grew older. However, their smell and hearing are still enhanced and marks that they have from being bitten by another werewolf can still affect them whenever there is a full moon. ("Red-Handed," "Child of the Moon")

Due to their dual nature, werewolves are good at reading the body language and behavior of dogs, as Ruby demonstrates when Pongo is upset because of what happened to his owner. Similarly, dogs can sense the dual nature of werewolves when they're in human form, as Toto demonstrates when he barks at Ruby because she is part wolf. ("The Cricket Game," "Ruby Slippers")

History

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Before First Curse


After First Curse


After Third Curse


After Sixth Curse


Known Werewolves

Trivia

Fairytales and Folklore

  • In European mythology, werewolves are men who turn into a wolf at night when the full moon is up and devour animals, people or corpses. They return to human form by day. Some are capable of shapeshifting at will, while others do so involuntarily, either because the condition is hereditary or because they were bitten by another werewolf.[2] On Once Upon a Time, both men and women can become werewolves. They are known to devour both animals and people, but not corpses. Some, like Anita and Red Riding Hood, inherited the condition from their parent, while others, such as Granny, were bitten. They automatically turn into a wolf when the full moon is up and cannot shapeshift at will; however, Red possesses an enchanted cloak which keeps her from shifting during the full moon. ("Red-Handed," "Child of the Moon" et al.)
  • In folklore, a bullet cast from silver is one of the few weapons that can kill a werewolf. On Once Upon a Time, werewolves are immune to any weapon except silver while in wolf form. However, unike traditional folklore, they can also be killed by magic. ("Red-Handed," "Shadow of the Queen")

Props Notes

Costume Notes

Appearances

Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.

References

  1. ↑ "Child of the Moon," Once Upon a Time, ABC.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Werewolf. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on November 21, 2021. “werewolf, in European folklore, a man who turns into a wolf at night and devours animals, people, or corpses but returns to human form by day. Some werewolves change shape at will; others, in whom the condition is hereditary or acquired by having been bitten by a werewolf, change shape involuntarily, under the influence of a full moon.”
  3. ↑ "Red-Handed". Once Upon a Time. ABC.
  4. ↑ File:104ItsFine.png
  5. ↑ File:115IDontKnow.png
  6. ↑ File:207AnitaIsPleased.png
  7. ↑ Giant Chunky Biker Pendant Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Cloud Fenrir Wolf Necklace. Amazon. Retrieved on February 14, 2021.
  8. ↑ File:509SorryAboutThat.png
    File:509Costume1.jpg
  9. ↑ File:109BrotherAndSisterFlipped.png (flipped image)
    File:109BrotherAndSister.png (original image)
  10. ↑ File:113TakesDownPage.png
  11. ↑ File:117EmmaPondering.png
  12. ↑ File:218OpeningStorybook.png
  13. ↑ File:310TheGoldenBird2.png
  14. ↑ File:422ChangeRealityFlipped.png (flipped image)
    File:422ChangeReality.png (original image)
  15. ↑ File:621BookPage4.png
  16. ↑ File:721ApprenticeVision6Flipped.png (flipped image)
    File:721ApprenticeVision6.png (original image)
  17. ↑ File:518RubySlippersPage.png
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