Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. As such, spoilers will be present within the article. |
- "From Red Caps they moved on to Kappas, creepy water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds."
- — The Third year Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum, including Kappas.[src]
The Kappa is a Japanese water demon that feeds on human blood.[1] They are known for strangling humans that invade their shallow ponds.[2]
History
The New York Ghost reported that a Kappa washed up on the Western Seaboard in 1926.[3] A Kappa was an attraction of the Circus Arcanus.[4] In 1927, one was present during the circus' tour in Paris, France. Its presence was later detected by Newton Scamander using the Tracking spell when the Magizoologist was trying to locate Porpentina Goldstein.[5]
In 1993, Professor Remus Lupin introduced his third year Defence Against the Dark Arts class to Kappas, which was the third creature they studied.[2] When covering the class for Professor Lupin, Professor Severus Snape incorrectly stated that a Kappa is a red haired imp-like creature.[6]
In the next school year, Bartemius Crouch Junior disguised as Alastor Moody briefly mentioned Kappas on the list Professor Lupin left him of creatures the class, fourth years at that time, had already studied.[7]
Description
Kappas feed on the blood of humans, strangling anyone unlucky enough to wade into their ponds or rivers.[1]
One can protect themselves from, and appease a Kappa by throwing a cucumber inscribed with that person's name; however, if they can trick it into bowing, the water in its head will spill out, weakening it.[1]
They live in shallow water, mainly in Japan.[1] When substituting for Professor Lupin in 1993, Professor Snape incorrectly asserted that they were commonly found in Mongolia.[6]
The Kappa resembles a scale-covered monkey with webbed hands and a water-filled depression atop its head.[1] The water in this hollow is the source of the beast's strength.[1]
Behind the scenes
- In Japan, some cucumber dishes such as cucumber sushi rolls (kappa-maki; Japanese: かっぱ巻き) and cucumber pickles (kappa-zuke; Japanese: かっぱ漬け) are named after the creature Kappa. This ties in with the Japanese urban legend that a Kappa can be appeased by a gift of a cucumber.
- Concept art of the Kappa was created by Mark Dubeau for the film inspired by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. However, the beast was never developed further for the film.[8]
- A Kappa eventually appears in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, though the design looks quite different from Dubeau's concept art.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Mentioned only)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (Concept art only)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Pottermore
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8 (Flight of the Fat Lady) - "After boggarts, they studied Red Caps, nasty little goblinlike creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed: in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had got lost. From Red Caps they moved on to kappas, creepy water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds."
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (see this image)
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (see this image)
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (see this image)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 9 (Grim Defeat) - "“Very poorly explained ... That is incorrect, the kappa is more commonly found in Mongolia. ... Professor Lupin gave this eight out of ten? I wouldn’t have given it three. ...”"
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14 (The Unforgivable Curses) - "Seems you’ve had a pretty thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures — you’ve covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, is that right?”"
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Concept Art from Mark Dubeau
Magical creatures by classification | |
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X | Flobberworm · Horklump |
XX | Augurey · Bowtruckle · Chizpurfle · Clabbert · Diricawl · Fairy · Ghoul · Gnome · Grindylow · Imp · Jobberknoll · Mooncalf · Porlock · Puffskein · Ramora · Winged horse |
XXX | Ashwinder · Billywig · Bundimun · Crup · Doxy · Dugbog · Fire crab · Fwooper · Glumbumble · Hippocampus · Hippogriff · Hodag · Jarvey · Knarl · Kneazle · Leprechaun · Lobalug · Mackled Malaclaw · Moke · Murtlap · Niffler · Nogtail · Pixie · Plimpy · Pogrebin · Red Cap · Salamander · Sea serpent · Shrake · Streeler · Winged horse |
XXXX | Centaur · Demiguise · Erkling · Erumpent · Golden Snidget · Graphorn · Griffin · Hidebehind · Kappa · Kelpie · Merperson · Occamy · Phoenix · Re'em · Runespoor · Snallygaster · Sphinx · Tebo · Thestral · Thunderbird · Troll · Unicorn · Winged horse · Yeti |
XXXXX | Acromantula · Basilisk · Chimaera · Dragon · Horned Serpent · Lethifold · Manticore · Nundu · Quintaped · Wampus cat · Werewolf |