J.R. MacReady

Animorphs is an English language science fiction series of young adult books written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic. Five humans and one alien obtain the ability to morph into any animal they touch; they name themselves "Animorphs", a portmanteau of "animal morphers". Using their ability, they battle a secret alien infiltration of Earth. It is told in first person, with a different narrator in every book. Applegate cycles through the six protagonists, telling their story of the secret war through each of their perspectives. By using this, she explores many of the dark aspects of the human condition. Horror, war, dehumanization, sanity, morality, innocence, leadership, and growing up are core motifs of the series.

Published between June 1996 and May 2001, the series consisted of 54 books and includes ten companion books, including eight that fit into the series' continuity (the Animorphs Chronicles and Megamorphs books) and two that are gamebooks not fitting into the continuity (the Alternamorphs books). The characters grow up throughout the series, struggling to cope with the horrors of war, the acts which they commit, and the compromises and retreats they must make to win the war (and sometimes, even just to survive). The series allows the reader to observe the human condition as these six "normal" children are forced by their new, deadly circumstances to face the darkest, and also the brightest, parts of themselves. The series was originally conceived as a three-part series called The Changelings, in which Jake is named Matt, and his little brother Joseph takes the place of Cassie.

Development

In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Applegate talked about the source of inspiration for the Animorphs series: "I grew up loving animals and lived with the usual suburban menagerie of dogs, cats and gerbils," she said, "I really wanted to find a way to get kids into the heads of various species and decided that a science-fiction premise was the way to do this." Originally, the series was named "The Changelings". Applegate tried to accurately depict the various animals, and did research such as visiting "a raptor center where they rehabilitate injured birds". "When Tobias becomes a hawk, I want the reader to see the world as a hawk might see it - to soar on the warm breezes and hurtle toward the ground to make a kill," she said.

To develop the characters for Animorphs, K. A. Applegate would go through teenage magazines such as YM and Seventeen (both of which are referenced in the books when describing Rachel), cutting out pictures and piecing them together to get an idea of what sort of kids the Animorphs would look like. K. A. Applegate has stated in an interview online that many of the names for her alien creatures, races, and locations are actually scrambled names of local street signs or companies that she happens to notice. For instance, the word nothlit was derived from the hotel name Hilton. According to the Anibase, K. A. Applegate did not make up the titles for the Animorphs books: it was up to the Scholastic editors to create the titles for the books based on the outlines provided by the author, having to select a word that not only fit the book's storyline, but sounded good with the characteristic "The" preface.

One of the author's favorite books, The Lord of the Rings, lent several words and images to Animorphs: the elvish word for Orc, "yrch", became Yeerk; the flaming red Eye of Sauron inspired the Crayak, and Ax's middle name, "Esgarrouth", is the name of a town in the book. The human name of Ax's brother, Elfangor, is Alan Fangor and his last name is in reference to the Fangor region or Fangorn Forest. Also there was a minor reference to Gondor, in the form of a fictional company named "Gondor Industries" in the 14th book. (It may also be significant that Visser Three's host is named Alloran, a rough homonym of Gandalf's Valinorean name "Olórin", and that one of the minor alien races is called "the Five", which is also a term used in The Lord of the Rings for the Istari.)

The series has seen a few mentions in popular culture including a parody called the "Vegemorphs" on PBS's Arthur and a brief mention by popular internet comic book reviewer Linkara.

Publication
Each book in the series revolved around a given event during the war waged between the Animorphs and the invading Yeerks, the first book detailing how the Animorphs came to have their power. Within a year and a half after the first book was published, the series had close to ten million copies in print, with Scholastic claiming a "stronger initial sell-in," than any of its other series up to that time. The series debut was proceeded by a large marketing campaign which included posters on buildings, giveaway items in bookstores, and ads on Nickelodeon TV.


American editions
In the United States, the books were most popular as A5-sized paperback volumes, and were usually between 150 and 200 pages long, divided into just under thirty chapters.

The front covers featured images of the narrating Animorph undergoing the various stages of one of the morphs from the story, with a few exceptions (noted in each book's article). Behind the morphing character were images of clouds and skies, which became more colorful and elaborate as the series progressed. All the covers of the regular series books had a small cutout over part of the full morph's anatomy, revealing a computer-generated illustration on the first page, which was printed on glossy paper. The illustration shared the image of the full morph with the front cover, but placed within an environment from the story. The book spines repeated the narrating character's face from the front cover, and the spine color changed with every new episode, resulting in a very colorful collection when viewed from any angle. A small excerpt from one of the book's chapters was printed on the inside of every front cover.

As of the eighth book, The Alien, the Animorphs logo, the author's name, and the book's title were printed in glossy, metallic-look ink, rather than the flat colors that had been used for the first seven books. In addition, the author's name and book title were surrounded by solid black rectangles. The majority of the books in the series were printed only in "metallic-ink editions". All further reprintings of the first seven books had this treatment applied to them as well.

The books in the series' final arc, beginning with the 45th book, The Revelation had yet another treatment applied to the cover, a variation on the new metallic style; the change affected only the main 'Animorphs' logo: instead of consisting of white letters superimposed on a metallic, colored background, the last ten books featured a logo with colored letters over a dark grey background, in contrast with the white logo background from the series' "opening arc". The final book, #54 The Beginning had a unique cover style, with the logo consisting of a glowing outline. Every book featured an introduction to the series on the back cover, in the voice of one of the Animorphs.

We can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky, and we've got to be careful. Really careful. So we don't trust anyone. Because if they find us... well, we just won't let them find us. The thing you should know is that everyone is in really big trouble. Yeah. Even you.

As of book 51, The Absolute, the introduction read as follows:

Here's the deal these days: They know exactly who we are. They know exactly where we live. We've got a few secrets left, and we're gonna use them. But just know that the end is coming. And we don't know how much longer we can do this. How much longer can we fight.

What about you? Where will you be when it ends? Think about it. Think hard. Because the countdown has already begun...

In addition to this text, each book also carried an introduction, or teaser of sorts, to its own storyline. Another interesting feature of the books was a flipbook composed of the bottom right-hand corners of all of the book's pages. A step of the cover morph was printed on each page, less than an inch tall, in black-and-white. When the pages were flipped from front to back, the narrating Animorph could be seen morphing into the animal.


International editions
The Animorphs series was printed in over twenty languages and other English-language markets, and the books in those countries sometimes had different designs, layouts, cover quotes, and even different cover morphs, as is the case for the fifth book, The Predator, whose UK edition showed Marco morphing into a lobster, in contrast to the American edition's gorilla morph. Japanese-language covers were hand-drawn; The Invasion showed Jake morphing into his dog Homer, a morph that was featured on the cover of The Threat in the American editions. Gallimard Jeunesse is the French publisher and Tammi is the Finnish publisher. The German publisher, Ravensburger, has also published some of the volumes as audio plays.


Characters
The names given here are the ones used throughout the majority of the series; in the last few books, some character's full names are revealed, and some change rank within their military hierarchy, hence changing name.


Animorphs
Jake
Rachel
Tobias
Cassie
Marco
Ax (also known as "Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill")

Relationships among the characters

Jake
Jake and Marco:
Jake and Marco are described as being best friends since early childhood. While the two rarely display deep emotion for each other, in each of their narrations a special emphasis is placed on the loyalty of their friendship, and the bond the two share. Marco often acts as a direct counterpoint and relief to Jake's burdens of responsibility. During the series, their friendship is put to the test various times, specifically in books 30 and 31 when both question whether or not the other has the ability to preserve the group's secrecy when one of their family members is in jeopardy.
Jake and Cassie:
A romantic relationship between Jake and Cassie develops slowly throughout the series, and the two finally kiss in book 26, prompting Rachel to say that "it was about time". By the time of #34, they've kissed several more times off-page; in this book Cassie acknowledges the love they have for each other, though neither of them have verbally articulated it. Towards the end of the series, Jake loses trust in Cassie and their relationship deteriorates rapidly as the war takes its toll on Jake - however, they reconcile in the last stages of the war, even as Jake is constructing his final plan. In #53, they tell each other that they love each other, and Jake proposes to Cassie; however, she declines, instead consenting to marry him "a year after all of this is over". She had by then guessed that Jake had been changed too much by the war. After Rachel and Tom's deaths, she realizes that her suspicions were correct, and that Jake is irrevocably changed: he is too torn up by guilt about the deaths he caused to have a relationship with anyone, let alone a romantic bond with Cassie. After the war, Jake and Cassie lose touch and she moves on to another man.
Jake and Rachel:
Despite being cousins, Jake and Rachel maintain one of the weakest relationships among the characters. Jake often wonders about Rachel's bloodthirsty nature, while the darker side of Rachel's mind wonders what would happen should she ever challenge Jake's leadership. In The Return, Rachel is haunted by Jake's words: "I think there is something dark, deep down inside you."
Jake and Tobias:
As book #1 opens, Tobias and Jake are only vaguely acquainted: before the books began, Jake saved Tobias from a group of bullies, and Tobias latched on to Jake due to this act of kindness. For the vast majority of the series, Tobias staunchly believes in Jake's leadership and rarely if ever questions his decisions. This drastically changes by the end of the final battle and Tobias never truly forgives Jake for his actions.
Jake and Ax:
The relationship between Ax and his "Prince" is one of the more comedic relationships of the series. There is often respectful banter between the two, and in battle Jake trusts Ax's ability over all others. As the series progresses Ax begins to view Jake not only as a commander, but as a true friend. Jake's favorite battle morph is a Siberian tiger.

Marco
Marco and Cassie:
Marco and Cassie have very little interaction during the series. In #5 Marco says " Cassie is the one who is least like me. If I'm comedy, she's poetry. Cassie describes Marco as "cute" but not her type. Book 24 is a rare exception to this, as they are with each other for most of the book. They are the main opposing forces when it comes to debates of morality, with Marco advocating the "necessary evil" and Cassie acting as a constant moral voice. At the end of the series, there is a deep caring between the two, Cassie describes them as the only two "real survivors" of the war, since they both have prospered since its termination and stayed mentally and emotionally strong.
Marco and Rachel: Despite the occasional flirting between Marco and Rachel in the beginning of the series, their relationship never grows beyond bouts of playful insults (though in an alternate reality Rachel does agree to date Marco). Marco often ridicules Rachel's bloodthirsty nature, while Rachel is constantly annoyed with Marco's joking and whining. Nevertheless, they often find themselves on the same side of large issues, since both care more about the practicality of their actions than any moral concerns.
Marco and Tobias:
In the early part of the series, Marco and Tobias find themselves on opposite sides of the spectrum. Marco teases Tobias's dweeby nature, while Tobias is annoyed by Marco's slacker attitude. As the series progresses, a playful banter begins between the two, and Tobias and Marco often find themselves pulling the other out of hot water, such as when Marco follows his mother to her office and Tobias helps him, or when Marco joins Tobias to meet his own mother.
Marco and Ax:
Marco initially dislikes Ax, but as time goes on the two become very close friends. When Marco sacrifices his life as a student, he takes up residence at Ax's scoop, and their mutual intelligence and skill with computers lead to bonding between the two. Marco's favorite battle morph is a gorilla.

Cassie
Cassie and Rachel: Cassie and Rachel begin the series as best friends and continue to be so until the guerilla warfare becomes open war. However, tension develops between them over the course of the series: Cassie is increasingly wary of Rachel's dark nature, and Rachel in turn becomes impatient with Cassie's morality.
Cassie and Tobias:
Cassie and Tobias have very little one-on-one time. During most of the voting, the two stand by each other, being that both are guided by a strong moral compass. In #4, the two have dreams of the sea. Otherwise, their relationship is limited.
Cassie and Ax:
Up until the later portion of the series, Ax and Cassie interact very little as well. When Ax meets a female Andalite who leaves him, Cassie provides him with a shoulder to cry on. Though Ax briefly feels strong hatred for Cassie, he quickly finds he has a strong bond with her as he does with the other Animorphs. Cassie's favorite battle morph is a wolf.

Rachel
Rachel and Tobias:
Rachel and Tobias have the most obvious romance of the series. While Cassie and Jake often state their attraction in their narrations, Rachel and Tobias openly act on their feelings. Both are very willing to scrap the mission in order to save the other, and whenever one is in danger the other becomes violent. Tobias and Rachel first kiss in book #33, The Illusion. Tobias' torture incurs blind rage within Rachel and her death drives Tobias into depression and isolation.
Rachel and Ax:
Rachel and Ax very rarely interact. In Rachel's narrative, she seems to have an indifferent opinion towards Ax, save for valuing his ability in a fight. In Ax's narrative he often worries about Rachel's thirst for blood, and later in the series, openly shows his feelings on the matter. Rachel's favorite battle morphs are grizzly bear and African elephant.

Tobias
Tobias' Parents: Tobias did not know either of his parents. Tobias was raised by an alcoholic uncle and a separate apathetic aunt. Neither was too concerned with him. When Tobias became a nothlit neither noticed his absence, as they each thought he was staying with the other. His mother Loren, who was thought to have abandoned him, is discovered later to have suffered an accident that caused amnesia and blindness. She is found later and is still living very close to Tobias. She was being watched by the Yeerks so the Animorphs rescued her by giving her the morphing ability to escape, which simultaneously repaired her sight.
Tobias and Ax:
Similarly to Marco and Jake, Tobias and Ax are best friends, or shorms, an Andalite term meaning best friend. Translated literally, shorm means "tail blade": the expression is that a shorm is someone who you would trust to put their tail blade to your throat. Additionally, Ax is Tobias' uncle: Elfangor, Ax's brother, fathered Tobias while in human morph. The two of them become closer after they find out that they are uncle and nephew. It takes Ax's capture to shake Tobias out of his depression from losing Rachel. Tobias's favorite battle morph is a red-tailed hawk which is the morph he is trapped in now, though he sometimes uses a Hork-Bajir morph in battle. Tobias was often misunderstood, in his relationships and in his own perception of himself.

Secondary characters
Aldrea-Iskillion-Falan
Alloran-Semitur-Corrass
Arbron
Auxiliary Animorphs
Crayak
David
Drode
Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul
Ellimist
Erek King
Toby Hamee
Visser One
Visser Three
Jara Hamee
Ket Halpak
Tom Berenson
Hedrick Chapman

Minor characters
Andalites
Hork-Bajir
Humans
Ketrans
Yeerks
Other minor characters

Character ages
Throughout the publication of the series, there was some dispute about the exact ages of the Animorphs at the time they received the ability to morph. However, with the help of various hints in the course of the series, many fans guessed their ages to be approximately 13-14 (with 13 being the more likely) at the start. For example, at the beginning of the first book, The Invasion, Jake mentions having tried out for his junior high basketball team and not making the team; this puts Jake, Cassie, Marco, Rachel, and Tobias, at the very least, around the age of 11-14 as junior high (or middle school) in the United States is generally grade 6-8.

However, as Marco describes them as "idiot teenagers with a death wish" in the first book, it's very likely that some or most of them are older than 12. This is also supported in book two, The Visitor, when Rachel looks at a photo "taken a couple of years ago" of her and Melissa Chapman, taken on Melissa's "twelfth birthday, or some birthday". Although Rachel cannot remember what birthday it was, this supports the idea that the Animorphs are 13 or 14. And in #41: The Familiar, Jake wakes up one morning as a 25-year-old, and in the preview for that book in the previous one, it says he sleeps for a decade, suggesting his age was 15 before his journey into the future.

The publication of book #53 offered a definite answer to the question of age. Jake says outright at the start of chapter 2 in #53 that he is 16, started the war when he was 13, and has been fighting the war for over three years. Marco also states in chapter 8 of book #54 that Jake is sixteen. The other characters' ages are never explicitly confirmed. Throughout the course of book #54, 2 or 3 more years passed. They are either 19 or 20 years old in the end, depending on how long they had been in space just before the series' conclusion.


Animorphs (also known under the promotional title AniTV and the working title The Changelings) is a 26-episode television adaptation made by Nickelodeon of the Scholastic book series of the same name. The series was broadcast from September 1998 to March 2000 in the United States and Canada. The episodes lasted about 30 minutes (including commercials), had stereo sound, and closed captions.



Videos
As of 2003, Nickelodeon has released four videos, collecting episodes from the series:

Part 1: The Invasion Begins
Part 2: Nowhere to Run
Part 3: The Enemy Among Us
Part 4: The Legacy Survives

Serenachan

OMG I SO loved this series! I read all the books and I still have them
My favourite was Jake and I adored Jake/Cassie... I'm in denial and I pretend they ended up together

Drunk On You

OMG! I loved these books!

I remember the one book, I can't remember what it was called but it was something like the Andalite Chronicles. I read that over and over.

goodbreakingbad

Please add me.

I always wished I could morph into an animal, a black panther [my favorite], to be exact.

J.R. MacReady

You've all been added .

Drunk On You

I found some of these books when I was unpacking all my stuff!

varjak-golightly

WOW! Thorough OP Add me please, I loved the books (not so much the television series (which is weird for me!) ) I shipped Jake/Cassie and was in love with Tobias...pity about the whole hawk thing

J.R. MacReady

That's awesome. My sibblings and I have a bunch of the books (plus their duplicates) from various Library Book sales. We were never able to get them all, unfortunately and are still hunting for the rest of the issues.

Thank you, you've been added! I don't think I was much of a fan of the TV Show myself either; I always thought they actors they chose were miscasts (or I was just too used to looking at the various kids they used on the book covers). I shipped Tobias/Rachel so much =D.

Drunk On You

I only have a few. My favorite one is the prequel, I think it's called The Andalite Chronicles.

Sunnyolaf

I loved these books so much when I was younger. I don't think I ever finished all of them though.

varjak-golightly

How many were there, I didn't finish them either, I can't remember where I finished.

J.R. MacReady

There were a total of 54 Books for the main series and ten companion books (or side stories). So that's about 64 Books in all, I think?

varjak-golightly

Wow, I would never have gotten through that many! Did you finish them JR?

J.R. MacReady

Maybe twenty of 'em before my interest drifted off someplace else. Afterward, I had a hard time finding the books in the library.

varjak-golightly

Good job on the 20 - I borrowed I don't know how many off of a friend back in primary school, I only owned 1 and 2 and randomly 26 (it had Tobias as a rabbit on the cover ) But I didn't understand it when I read it, so I must have stopped a while before then!