Water Spirits

**Water spirits** are creatures that resemble amorphous, watery globules. Water spirits can sometimes be seen poking above the waves, but they prefer to spend most of their time deep below the surface. They appear in the graphic novels, animated series, and Hilda Tie-In Series.

## Information

### Appearance

Water Spirits have a body that is entirely composed of water or a water-like substance. Aside from their glowing eyes, eyebrows, and sometimes a mouth, they have no other features. They can however shape-shift their body into various forms.

Despite being made of water, they can make their body dense enough for other creatures to ride on without falling through. They can also shape their bodies into a bubble that others can ride inside when going under water.

In the Tie-In Novels, Water Spirits are able to speak the human tongue, as seen in "Hilda and the Hidden People", and "Hilda and the Great Parade" and "Hilda and the Ghost Ship". In the graphic novels and animated series, they are never heard talking, but in "The Beast of Cauldron Island" it is revealed they have their own language, which Wood Man also speaks.

According to "Hilda's Book of Beasts and Spirits", Water Spirits come in two sub-categories: sea spirits, and river spirits. The only real difference between the two however is their size; the sea-spirits are larger. The largerst water spirits can reach hundreds of feet in height.

### Behaviour

Water spirits are gentle creatures, considered to be among the most friendly of magical beings. They spend most of their time gliding through the deepest depths, but sometimes poke their heads above the water. They are naturally curious.

They can be summoned by blowing on a conch shell (the novelization reveals that this mimicks the call of a female water spirit), and can be persuaded to give humans or animals a ride across water. Alfur, Hilda and Frida do so in "The Lost Clan" to reach the island of the Lindworm, and again in "The Beast of Cauldron Island".

There are stories of water spirits luring sailors to their deaths with otherwordly music, but there is no evidence of these tales being true. Most likely, the sailors where attracted by the spirits choir practice, and unwisely accepted an invitation from the spirits to have dinner in their underwater homes.

The earliest citizens of Trolberg tried to train water spirits to help carry goods along the river to the harbor. But while the spirits were willing to cooperate, they had a tendency to take the "scenic route", thus taking days to commplete a journey that should take only a few minutes.

## Members

### Graphic Novels

A water spirit has a cameo in "Hildafolk". Here, Hilda calls the creature a Sea Spirit, and assumes he must be lost since he is swimming in a fjort. Another water spirit is briefly seen in "Hilda and the Stone Forest", during a compilation of Hilda's various adventures.

### Animated series

In "The Hidden People", a water spirit makes a cameo apperance.

Two different water spirits play important roles in the episodes "Chapter 7: The Lost Clan" and "Chapter 7: The Beast of Cauldron Island" respectively. In Season 2, several water spirits are seen as cameos.

### Novelization

The water spirits from "Chapter 7: The Lost Clan" and "Chapter 7: The Beast of Cauldron Island" appear in the books "Hilda and the Great Parade" and "Hilda and the Ghost Ship".

In the tie-in novel "Hilda and the Hidden People", Hilda encounters two Water Spirits in the Caves of Kismet, and must answer their riddle in order to proceed.

## Gallery

Sea Spirit in Hildafolk.A Water Spirit seen in the Season 1 opening sequenceA water spirit helps HildaHilda and Frida meet a water spiritA water spirit shapeshifts stairsHilda and Frida ride a water spiritWater spirit forms a slide.A water spirit in "Hilda and the Stone Forest"The Water Spirits seen in the Caves of KismetHilda and Frida riding a water spirit, "Hilda and the Great Parade".Hilda and Frida riding inside a water spirit.Water Spirit in "Hilda and the Ghost Ship"Concept art.
1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hilda's World: A guide to Trolberg, the wilderness, and beyond, page 58
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hilda's Book of Beasts and Spirits