What are these creatures? Who are these characters? A guide to ‘Fantastic Beasts’
Meet the creatures
Bowtruckle
This tiny, twig-like insect eater, Newt Scamander’s favorite, can blend into foliage and pick locks.
Nundu
This leopard-like mammal from East Africa may be the most dangerous creature alive, due to its toxic breath.
The Swooping Evil
This cross between a reptile and butterfly has been known to suck out brains.
The Niffler
This little, furry, platypus-like troublemaker loves to pocket anything that glitters.
Erumpent
The largest of Newt’s menagerie inadvertently leaves a path of destruction in its wake.
Graphorn
The hide of this multi-horned mountain dweller is tougher than a dragon’s and repels most spells.
Thunderbird
This mythic Arizona native creates storms when it flaps its multiple wings.
Demiguise
This rare, silver-haired primate can turn invisible, so its pelt is sought for invisibility cloaks.
Meet the characters
Newt Scamander
(Eddie Redmayne)
A magizoologist who comes to New York with a suitcase full of dangerous creatures to try to persuade his fellow wizards to appreciate them as he does.
When trouble hits, Newt teams up with these three …
Porpentina (Tina) Goldstein
(Katherine Waterston)
Demoted to a menial desk job, this witch is trying to regain her position as a Ministry investigator.
Queenie Goldstein
(Alison Sudol)
Tina’s younger sister, a free-spirited mind reader.
Jacob Kowalski
(Dan Fogler)
A No-Maj (that’s American for Muggle) baker who inadvertently messes up Newt’s plans and then figures he’d better help him.
They try to fend off …
Percival Graves
(Colin Farrell)
The powerful, enigmatic director of magical security for the Magical Congress of the United States of America — MACUSA (say it “ma-KOO-sa”).
Meanwhile, a fanatical group of No-Majs is trying to hunt down witches and wizards:
Mary Lou Barebone
(Samantha Morton)
This No-Maj leads the New Salem Philanthropic Society, an anti-magic group set upon rooting out wizards and witches.
Credence Barebone
(Ezra Miller)
Mary Lou’s troubled adopted son, who may be a wizard himself.
Sharon Hoffmann: 816-234-4457, @Sharonakc
This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 12:14 PM with the headline "What are these creatures? Who are these characters? A guide to ‘Fantastic Beasts’."