Welcome to the Moonlight Library’s 30 Day Animorphs Challenge!
Despite Project Animorphs in 2013, I clearly do not talk about Animorphs enough.
This particular challenge is taken from the Heck Yeah Tumblr Challenges archive on Tumblr.
Day 2: Day Two: Your favourite ‘good guy’ side character
The Ellimist
I’ll be honest, I both love, and hate, and love to hate, and hate to love the Ellimist.
It’s complicated.
To me, the Ellimist is a giant space weasel, stacking the odds in his favour but then letting it all play out. He’s tricksey and deceitful and on more than one occasion makes the Animorphs feel let down (the ‘zoo’, Tobias’ morphing power). But he also wants what is best for Earth because he thinks it’s beautiful and worth saving.
Sometimes I don’t really like him because he’s so hands-off but he did stack the odds so Cassie, Tobias, Ax and Marco were in the group. Jake and Rachel were a happy accident. I wish he could have made Elfangor’s life happier and I often wonder what the deal with Crayak was to return Elfangor to his Andalite life.
But at the same time I really like how devious he is. He’s willing to make deals with Crayak such as sacrificing Jake in Megamorphs #3, knowing that the other Animorphs would effectively be immortal and trusting Cassie and her alternate-world-unravelling powers to make everything OK again.
I really loved Megamorphs #4 and how even though everyone died the war was over in a matter of months, but that Cassie once again saved everyone by being sub-temporarily grounded. That’s the Ellimist’s doing. He knew Jake would succumb to weakness at some point, so he put Cassie in his path. No wonder they fell in love. Cassie is not only Jake’s rock, but the whole reality’s, too.
Sometimes a part of me wishes he could have saved Rachel, but I know how important her death was to the plot and how inevitable it was to the story.
I also agree with his decision to restore Tobias’ morphing power. I always knew Tobias wouldn’t want to remain human. Who would prefer a broken homelife to the freedom of being a bird? Even facing starvation as a bird has gotta be better than reinforcing the fact that no one loves him. I believe Tobias was happier as a hawk, even when he was miserable. I believe he deliberately trapped himself, even if it was sub-consciously. If he hadn’t, he’s never have established a colony of free Hork-Bajir on Earth.
Overall even though he’s an intergalactic space weasel who loves loopholes, deal making, and tricking people, I do essentially love the Ellimist. I love the world-building in his own Chronicles and absolutely adore the Ketrans. I love how he evolved and what he evolved into – the great neutral good force of the galaxy.
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About Nemo
A lover of kittens and all things sparkly, Nemo has a degree in English Literature and specialises in reviewing contemporary, paranormal, mystery/thriller, historical, sci-fi and fantasy Young Adult fiction. She is especially drawn to novels about princesses, strong female friendships, magical powers, and assassins.
shayshortt
Favourite characters don’t always have to be the most likeable or even relatable characters. However, I think “intergalactic space weasel” is probably the best description of the Ellimist ever. Following your blog gives me an incredible urge to reread this series every time you post about it.
Nemo
Thank you! I think you should re-read the series – or perhaps only a select few of the better books! I still struggle with defining who my favourite characters are a lot – I feel like they SHOULD be the most likeable or most relatable, but you’re right, it doesn’t have to work like that.