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Werewolves in popular culture

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Adventures Into Darkness, a Golden Age comics series that ran for 10 issues from August 1952-1954

This is a list of fiction and media of all kinds of media featuring werewolves, lycanthropy and shape-shifting.

Literature

This section includes novels and short stories.

The Were-Wolf by Housman

Children and young adult fiction

Manga/Anime

  • Flirtatious newspaper editor Ginei Morioka of the comedy/fantasy series Rosario + Vampire is a werewolf, although he spends most of his time in human form. Since the series takes place in a high school for supernatural and mythical creatures, he is quite open about his lycanthropy and does not consider it a problem. He is one of the strongest creatures at the school, even when the moon is waning.
  • Hyper Police bounty hunters Batanen and Tommy(Tomy) Fujioka are werewolves and cousins in this series.
  • In Crescent Moon, the character Akira Yamabuki is a happy-go-lucky werewolf who is also an excellent chef. Unlike the usual werewolves of modern lore, his transformational state is not induced by a full moon. He himself can choose when to induce the transformation.
  • Lycanthropes are frequently featured in Fred Perry's Manga Gold Digger. They vary in species, from were-wolves to were-cheetahs. As well as basic animal and human forms, they can also change at will to a third 'hybrid' form, in which they retain their animal coloring and strength, but also basic human shape.
  • Jean Jacquemonde from Spriggan has lycanthrope roots in his DNA. His estranged father, Rick Bordeau, is the carrier of the lycanthrope gene in his family. Later on, Jean's DNA is acquired by Trident as part of their biological weapons program.
  • The Captain, a member of the Millennium organization in Kouta Hirano's manga Hellsing is a natural werewolf, possibly the last of his kind; and, ironically, a member of the German Werwolf.
  • The criminal Megil the Pharmacist uses a lycanthropazine drug to transform himself into a werewolf in the Battle Angel Alita manga.
  • Sirius, from Ookami ga Kuru is a werewolf, who works for a company called K.I.R.C.H.E.
  • Wolf Guy - Ookami no Monshou written by Tabata Yoshiaki (based on the older manga Wolf Guy) is centered around a werewolf named Akira who becomes involved with a school-teacher at his recently transferred to school.
  • In the anime and manga Dragon Ball the competitor fighting against Muten Roshi in the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai is a werewolf.
  • In Negima!: Magister Negi Magi, Kotaro is a half werewolf.
  • In the anime and manga Soul Eater, there is a character named Free who is a werewolf that steals a witch's eye in order to gain magic abilities.
  • In manga/anime Digimon, the ultimate form of Gabumon (digimon partner of Ishida Yamato) is WereGarurumon which is a werewolf-like digimon.
  • In the anime and manga Zombie-Loan a werewolf name Lyca features who acts very much like an animal, although later learning how to speak under the guidance of Shimotsuki Kuze.
  • In the manga/anime, Akazukin Cha Cha, one of the two male protagonists is Riiya, a teenage werewolf who can turn into a white puppy at will.
  • In the anime, Renkin 3-kyū Magical? Pokān, one of the 4 magical princesses is Liru, a werewolf, who turns into a yellow puppy upon seeing anything round-shaped.
  • In the manga/anime, Dance in the Vampire Bund, the male protagonist is Akira Kaburagi Regendorf, a half-Russian/half-Japanese teenage werewolf, who is the bodyguard and love interest of the vampire queen, Mina Tepes.
  • In the Spice and Wolf franchise, the titular wolf is Holo, a harvest goddess who can shapeshift between the form of a giant wolf and a teenage girl with wolf ears and a wolf tail.

Films

Music

Music videos

TV movies and mini-series

Television series

  • The Munsters (1964) Eddie Munster is a werewolf.
  • Dark Shadows (1968) Featured Quentin Collins and Chris Jennings as werewolves. During the 1897 time-travel storyline, it was revealed that Quentin and all his male descendants had the curse of the wolf. It was explained that Chris and all the Jennings siblings were actually Quentin's great-grandchildren and therefore the males were cursed to become werewolves.
  • Groovie Goolies, Wolfie, part of the main cast with Frankie and Drac. (1970)
  • The Hilarious House of Frightenstein (1971) Billy Van portrayed amongst his many characters the Wolfman, a rock and roll-loving disc jockey for Castle Frightenstein's EECH radio station. He was based on the character Wolfman Jack and loved to dance against a psychedelic background in silhouette.
  • Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) features a werewolf in Episode 5 of its first and only season.
  • Monster Squad (the T.V. show), the werewolf wax statue that comes to life. (1976)
  • Fangface , the alternate form of Sherman "Fangs" Fangsworth. (1978)
  • The Drak Pack, Howler, one of the title characters. (1980)
  • Teen Wolf (1986), animated show based on the film.
  • Werewolf, Eric Cord, who transforms into the title character. (1987)
  • Gravedale High, nerdy werewolf Reggie Moonshroud. (1990)
  • She-Wolf of London (1990–1991), called Love and Curses for the last six episodes.
  • The Animaniacs episode 'Moon Over Minerva' featured Wilford Wolf who is a werewolf.
  • Gargoyles (TV series)(1994-1996) Fox is turned into a Werewolf by the Eye Of Odin in "Eye of The Beholder". And Wolf is Turned into a wolf Mutate midway into the series.
  • Goosebumps (TV series) (1995-1998) Episodes that feature werewolves: "Werewolf Of Fever Swamp",and "Werewolf Skin".
  • The Nightmare Room (2001-2002) Episodes that feature werewolves:"Full Moon Halloween"
  • Monster Force (1994), features a wolfman as one of protagonists fighting against the evil Creatures of the Night, as well as an evil werewolf fighting alongside the Creatures.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) features a likable young werewolf, Daniel "Oz" Osbourne, who often assisted Buffy in fighting evil while in human form, and had himself locked in a cage during the full moon. During one of Oz's wolf phases, which takes place the night before, during and the night after the full moon, he copulated with a werewolf female. This werewolf was Veruca, a lead singer in a band called "Shy". Veruca was able to retain the memories of her experiences during her transformation and tried to convince Oz to embrace his werewolf persona rather than contain it. Veruca sought out Willow, intending to kill her, and would have if not for Oz, who (as a werewolf) fought and killed Veruca. Oz later returned with the power to resist the werewolf transformation, except under extreme emotional stress. The spin-off, Angel, established that there are other breeds of werewolves, similar to dogs.
See also: Werewolf (Buffyverse)
  • Wilderness (1996)
  • Darkstalkers (1997), features the werewolf character Jon Talbain.
  • Big Wolf on Campus (1999) is a TV series about a teenager called Thomas "Tommy" P. Dawkins who was bitten during a camping trip by a werewolf. After subsequently turning into a werewolf himself, he regularly fights against an array of enemies in order to keep his neighborhood safe.
  • Wolf Lake (2001) is a TV series about a town mostly inhabited by wolves who have taken human form.
  • Power Rangers: Wild Force (2002), features a Duke Org (named Zen-Aku) who is based on a werewolf, and his human self Merrick Baliton became the Lunar Wolf Ranger.
  • Wolf's Rain is an anime that features wolves who can assume human form (or appear to do so) as the main heroes.
  • Magipoka is an anime that features Liru, a female werewolf who is one of the four protagonists in a series also involving a witch, a vampire, and an updated version of Frankenstein's monster. wide array of supernatural beings, including werewolves.
  • Atomic Betty halloween episode 'Werewolves on Zeebot' features werewolves with The Chameleon on the planet Zeebot.
  • Being Human (2008–present) At the start of the first series George Sands, one of the main characters, is a werewolf. At the start of the second series it is revealed that, while in the process of a transformation, George scratched his girlfriend Nina and she becomes a werewolf too. As the program progresses we are introduced to more werewolves as stand alone characters.
  • Kamen Rider Kiva (2008) features Garulu, the last of a werewolf-like race called the Wolfen, who assumes a human form named Jiro.
  • Lobo (2008) and its sequel Imortal which became a werewolf-vampire political thriller series (2010–2011)
  • Demons (2009) ITV fantasy series, the werewolves are referred to as Lazy Boys and all seem to wear hooded jackets.
  • Sanctuary (2008-2011) – The character of Henry Foss is a werewolf or HAP (Hyper-Accelerated Protean). In the third season, it is revealed that there is a surviving clan of lycans in England.
  • Werewolves: The Dark Survivors
  • Lost Tapes Episodes: "Skinwalker", "Werewolf", "Beast Of Bray Road"
  • R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series Episodes that feature Werewolves:"Nightmare Inn"
  • Supernatural (2005–present) - Sam and Dean Winchester confront werewolves in the episodes Heart, Bitten, Sharp Teeth, Bloodlines and Paper Moon.
  • True Blood (2008–present) – Werewolves are first mentioned in the first season and appear in the third. Unlike most myths, werewolves in True Blood are simply shapeshifters with the ability to transform into wolves at will although they are forced to change on nights of the full moon. It appears that werewolves are in control when in wolf form. Main character Alcide Herveaux (Joe Manganiello) is a werewolf.
  • The Vampire Diaries (2009–present) - The male members of the Lockwood family are cursed to turn into werewolves if someone dies by their hand.
  • In Final Fantasy: Unlimited, a werewolf is a form taken by Lou Lupus.
  • Werewolves were featured in an episode of the Animal Planet TV series Lost Tapes.
  • In the 2011 Teen Wolf series reboot of the film, unpopular high school teen, Scott McCall wanders into the woods and is bitten by a werewolf. Through this incident, he discovers he has enhanced strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and senses far greater than that of a standard human. Consequently, he must keep this new life a secret from his peers, with the exception of his best friend, Stiles.
  • In Rosario + Vampire (2008), Ginei Morioka is a werewolf.
  • In the Dan Vs. episode "Dan Vs. The Wolf-Man", Dan seeks revenge on a werewolf that keyed his car.
  • In Once Upon a Time, a twist is made to the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, in which the character of Red is in fact, the werewolf. Her red cloak, which has magical properties, prevents her from turning every full moon.
  • In Monster High (internet cartoon series) are Clawdeen, Clawd and Howleen the children of The Werewolf.
  • Grimm One of the Wesen species (human-animal hybrid beings that are based on creatures seen in Grimms' fairy tales) featured are the Blutbaden, wolf Wesen that have a werewolf-like appearance as their true forms. The supporting character Monroe is a Blutbad.
  • Wolfblood (2012–present) The lead protagonist, Maddy Smith is a wolfblood, a human capable of shapeshifting into a wolf and possesses powerful lupine senses. She is able to take this form at will, but must transform during the full moon. Other wolfbloods include Maddy's parents and her friend Rhydian.
  • Hemlock Grove (2013–present) One of the main characters is a gypsy werewolf, and the plot revolves around he and his friend trying to find and stop a rogue werewolf, called a Vargulf, from killing people.[7]
  • The Originals (2013–Present) A spin-off from The Vampire Diaries that focuses on the Original Vampires getting dragged into a supernatural war in New Orleans between vampires, werewolves and witches.
  • The Ultimate Spider-Man episode "The Howling Commandos", features Jack Russell aka Werewolf by Night.
  • Penny Dreadful (2014–Present) Ethan Chandler, an American gunslinger, is revealed to be a werewolf. Unlike werewolves in traditional fiction he appears to be able to control his transformations.
  • Bitten (TV series) (2014 – present)

Games

  • In Ninja Gaiden 2, the Greater Fiend Volf and his underlings are werewolves.
  • L. Lee Cerny and Bradley K. McDevitt, Night Life (Stellar Games, 1990) has three editions to date, a few supplements.
  • Mark Rein-Hagen, Werewolf: The Apocalypse (White Wolf, Inc., 1992) has two editions, innumerable supplements, and a short story collection (When Will You Rage?, edited by Stewart Wieck). Players roleplay various werewolf characters who work on behalf of Gaia against the destructive supernatural spirit named Wyrm, who represents the forces of destructive industrialization and pollution. Werewolves are born out of a union of werewolf and either human or wolf. They can change between 5 different shapes that range from human over monstrous-anthropomorphic states to lupine. In lupine shape they can be accepted by a wolf pack.
  • In Operation Darkness, two characters can transform into werewolves.
  • Werewolf: The Forsaken is a werewolf game created by White Wolf Studios as a successor to Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Some concepts are similar, but the plot is much different. Although the werewolves played by the players are still (usually) the heroes, they no longer face the encroach of the Wyrm and now act more as secret defenders of the mortal world from encroaching spirits, and are often besieged by entirely different werewolf tribes called The Pure.
  • Mike Tinney and Stewart Wieck, Rage (White Wolf, Inc., 1995). The card game inspired a couple of novels from White Wolf: Breathe Deeply by Don Bassingthwaite and The Silver Crown by Bill Bridges. Rage was based upon the tabletop RPG Werewolf: The Apocalypse.
  • The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery, released by Sierra On-Line in 1995, is an adventure game which has the lead character, Gabriel Knight, investigating murders around Munich, Germany, that are purported to be the work of a werewolf.
  • Werewolf: The Last Warrior (1990) by Data East was a side-scrolling NES game in which the main character is a werewolf with blades for arms.
  • Killer Instinct, a Rare arcade fighting game, features a werewolf called Sabrewulf.
  • Darkstalkers features a werewolf called Jon Talbain (also known as Gallon).
  • The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall allows the player to become a werewolf or wereboar. Lycanthropy was initially absent from Daggerfall's sequel, Morrowind, but was a central plot point of Morrowind's second expansion pack, Bloodmoon. Lycanthropy is also an option in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
  • Discworld Noir features a protagonist who becomes a werewolf partway through the game.
  • In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Link transforms into a wolf in some parts of the game, when he enters the mysterious Twilight Realm. The transformation is involuntary, but unlike true lycanthropy, he retains his will and intellectual capacity. Halfway through the game the player gains the option to change Link into his wolf form and back again at will.
  • In the Nintendo DS game, Tales of the Tempest, a werewolf race, the Lycanth, named after the word "Lycanthropy" are apparently persecuted by a powerful theocracy.
  • Golden Sun: The Lost Age for the Game Boy Advance features a village of werewolves who are able to channel Wind Psynergy (Jupiter). The village is called Garoh. Also, across the world map are many enemies who resemble werewolves.
  • Yugo Ogami, one of the playable characters in the Bloody Roar fighting series is a werewolf. In fact, the entire cast of fighters have various beast forms.
  • Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen uses the concept of the werewolf as an interest fighting unit, whose power increases dramatically during a 'night phase'.
  • One of the main characters, Kevin is an unfortunate half-werewolf in Seiken Densetsu 3.
  • In Konami's 1993 arcade game, Metamorphic Force, one of the main characters, Claude, can transform into a white werewolf.
  • In Konami's 2000 roleplaying game, Suikoden II, a recruitable character, Bob, has the ability to turn into a werewolf for three rounds.
  • In Konami's 2009 visual novel Ōkami Kakushi and the anime based on it, many of the citizens of the village of Jōga are werewolves, though they do not transform into monsters. They become affected by the full moon and pass their curse on by kissing their victims rather than biting them.
  • In Dungeons and Dragons, lycanthropy is an acquired character template.
  • The Druid character class in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction can learn to become a Werewolf.
  • In Sly 3 Honor Among Thieves there is a werewolf roaming its territory constantly in Episode 3 flights of fancy, it can be taken control of by The Guru. Bentley often refers to it as Lupos Gigantormus for a name.
  • In The Sims 2 Pets expansion pack, Sims can become a werewolves.
  • In The Sims 3: Supernatural expansion pack, Sims can become a werewolf, either by Bottled Curse of the Lycan, Werewolf Curse from a werewolf, or Create a Sim option.
  • In Lionhead's The Movies, werewolves can be featured as characters in your movies.
  • In the 2008 multi-platform game, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic unwillingly gains a new persona known as "Sonic the Werehog". Sonic slows down, but in return, gains incredible strength and the ability to stretch his arms, a possible throwback to one of Sega's previous games, Ristar.
  • In Darkstone, a mage may learn the Lychantropy talent.
  • In Silverfall, a character focused on nature magic may acquire the ability to turn into a werewolf.
  • In Star Ocean: First Departure, the character T'nique Arcana transforms into a werewolf at the beginning of every battle. He changes whenever he gets excited.
  • In Defense of the Ancients and Dota 2, one of the playable hero characters is Banehallow, who is commonly referred to in-game as 'Lycan'.
  • In World of Warcraft the player fights werewolf-like monsters called Worgen in the Shadowfang Keep dungeon. Also, in the third expansion, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Worgen are a playable race, being able to switch from human and werewolf forms.
  • In the game League of Legends, the character Warwick drank a dangerous elixir to transform himself into a werewolf.
  • In the game Dragon Age: Origins werewolves are harassing the Dalish Elves. The player can choose to end their curse or use them in the final battle instead of the elves.
  • In the MMOFPS WolfTeam the players have the ability to turn into werewolves.
  • In Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django, one of the creatures Django can turn into is a werewolf; as a werewolf, he can gain health by biting an enemy.
  • In Final Fantasy V, werewolves are a race.
  • In Final Fantasy VI, a werewolf called "Lone Wolf" who was in Final Fantasy V, appears in Narshe.
  • In Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness, Cornell and Ortega are werewolves, Cornell appears again in Castlevania Judgment.
  • In Altered Beast, the player can turn into a werewolf on Level 1 and a golden werewolf on Level 5.
  • In Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4, the player can play as Remus Lupin, who can transform into his werewolf form.
  • Fang, one of the playable characters in Lost_Vikings 2: Norse_by_Norsewest, calls himself a werewolf.
  • In BlazBlue, there is a werewolf butler named Valkenhayn R. Hellsing, whose astral heat shows his full werewolf form and his attacks showcase a large wolf beast form.
  • Weird Wars Series of role playing games with wartime settings and incorporating supernatural and horror elements including werewolves.
  • In RuneScape werewolves are a race found in Morytania.
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king Features Werewolves as as summoned creature for Angmar
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and it expansion packs
  • The Witcher Video game series has several werewolves.

Comics

  • Tales from the Crypt (comics)- Stories that Feature Werewolves:"Curse Of The Full Moon!", "By The Fright Of The Silvery Moon!", "Concerto For Violin And Werewolf",and "Upon Reflection".
  • The Haunt of Fear- Stories that feature Werewolves:"The Secret".
  • The Vault of Horror- Stories that Feature Werewolves:"Werewolf","Werewolf Concerto", and "The Beast of the Full Moon!"
  • Creepy- Stories that Feature Werewolves:"Pursuit of The Vampire!", "Wardrobe of Monsters!", "Creepy's Loathsome Lore:Werewolves", "Howling Success!", "Curse of The Full Moon!","Revenge Of The Beast!", "Duel of the Monsters!".
  • Adventures Into Darkness- Stories that feature Werewolves:
  • House of Mystery- Stories That Feature Werewolves:
  • Werewolf By Night - Under the light of a full moon, Jack Russell would transform into the Werewolf: a ferocious monster who would prowl the area searching for victims. He would hunt down and maim or kill evildoers as he encountered them, although he would often attack others when threatened or panicked.
  • Fables - Private investigator and shapeshifter Bigby Wolf (formerly known in the Homeland as the Big Bad Wolf) is called in to investigate crimes and bring the responsible parties to justice.
  • Robert Demos is the less-than-intelligent werewolf lacky of Dan Sethos in Darkness Within.
  • The Astounding Wolf-Man - The title character, Wolf-Man, uses his "curse" to fight crime, but finds more than he bargained for...
  • High Moon - a werewolf western about an unchanging man in a changing time.
  • Weird War Tales and Weird Western Tales Anthology comic series with supernatural elements, many stories with werewolves and similar creatures.
  • Bug-a-Booo - The character Wolfgang is a werewolf friend of the titular protagonist.
  • Beasts of Burden-"A Dog and His Boy" features a werewolf

References

  1. ^ Greenwood Press 2007, ISBN 0313337810 (pp. 653-668)
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Brian J. The Essential Guide to Werewolf Literature, p.242. Popular Press, 2003. ISBN 0879728604
  3. ^ a b c Stefan Dziemianowicz,
    • "The Werewolf" in Icons of Horror and the Supernatural, edited by S.T. Joshi.Greenwood Press 2007, ISBN 0313337810 (pp. 653-668).
  4. ^ Douglas E. Winter, "Writers of Today" in Sullivan
  5. ^ a b Hawthorne, Rachel (August 25, 2009). "Dark of the Moon". harperteen.com. Retrieved December 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) Cite error: The named reference "dmoon" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ "A More Human Twist on the Werewolf Legend". Dreadcentral.com. 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  7. ^ Hemlock Grove (TV series)
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