Andalite
Encyclopedia
The Andalites are a fictional alien race
of grazers in the Scholastic book series
(and television adaptation of the same name
) Animorphs
.
Andalites resemble centaur
s of Greek mythology
, with a lower body similar to a horse
and a torso
similar to a human. The two arms on their upper bodies are relatively weak by human standards, and end with seven-fingered hands. Andalites are incredibly agile on their four hooved legs. Their entire bodies are covered in fur, the males blue and tan in color while the females have been depicted as being purple.
The head of an Andalite has a pair of almond
-shaped eyes, as well as a second pair of "stalk-eyes" mounted on two thick stalks that rise from the top of their heads, giving them a 360-degree range of vision. The main eyes are glittery green or gold in color. Their sense of sight is similar to that of humans, with the stalk eyes capable of seeing a slightly wider spectrum of light wavelengths.
A notable facial feature is the lack of a mouth. Andalites feed by crushing grass
beneath their hooves, absorbing the nutrients from the plants, and communicate by means of thought-speech, a kind of telepathy
. In the place where a human nose would be located, Andalites possess three vertical slits, allowing them to breathe. They have two heart
s, giving them physical speed and endurance beyond what a human can achieve. An Andalite's normal body temperature (in Fahrenheit) is 91.3 degrees.
Andalites also possess an organ in the back of their head called the Tria gland. The Tria gland keeps disease organisms away from the rest of the body. More specifically, the Tria gland is in the back of the head, even with the bottom of the ears, in the dead center. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
needed his removed due to inflammation in book #29, The Sickness
.
Andalites evolved as prey animals, but possess a formidable defense in the form of the single, scythe
-shaped blade at the end of their long tails. The female tail blade is noticeably smaller than that of the male, and more similar to a scalpel
than a blade. The bladed tail is long enough to reach well in front of the Andalite, allowing them to strike quickly and deeply at an opponent. A common Andalite battle technique is to turn the blade flat against their target at the last possible instant, delivering a blow that renders the opponent unconscious rather than fatally cutting them.
The Andalite tail is also an important part of their culture, and is frequently referenced in poetry and rituals. For example, the word shorm comes from the Andalite word for 'tail-blade', and is used to describe a fellow Andalite who could be trusted to place his tail-blade at one's own throat without feeling threatened; essentially, a best friend
s and snail
s when stepped on. They were originally herd animals, and are accustomed to living on open plains. Because of this, claustrophobia
is a deeply ingrained trait in Andalites, and they loathe enclosed spaces.
It is noted that Andalites are a watchful species and can go for days without sleeping. When they do sleep it is usually standing up and with one stalk eye open.
At some point in their development, the Andalites began a transition away from being herd animals, and formed small groups, similar to families. Soon, families joined together, forming small communities. As society advanced, the communities grew closer and closer in proximity until they had developed dense urban environments. Eventually, the Andalites moved away from this pattern of society, favoring separation of the communities into small, family based 'scoops.' This has resulted in a sort of agricultural, farmer society despite the advanced technology the Andalites have developed, including faster-than-light travel and the ability to morph. The Andalite homeworld does maintain three spaceports that retain the urban model of development.
series. The number of suns in the Andalite star system
is never specified, but the stars are always referred to in the plural
sense. On one occasion, Ax said that the Andalite homeworld once orbited two different stars millions of years in the past before one of them went nova, the shock wave having unspecified results on the planet's orbit. The Andalite homeworld has four moon
s, at least two of which are visible from the planet's surface at any given time. The planet's sky is colored red and gold. In The Predator, Ax
specifies that the Andalite homeworld is 82 light-years away from Earth.
While the Andalite homeworld does not boast the sheer number and variety of organisms that Earth does, there are many interesting plant and animal species. The Kafit bird, for example, is one of only three bird species indigenous to the Andalite homeworld. It is a predatory bird, with three pairs of wing
s and a long, sharp beak
. It uses its spear
-like beak and speed to spear its prey. Although this behavior is frowned upon, Andalite arisths often morph into Kafit birds for amusement.
Andalite plant life is quite remarkable with grasses in shades of green, blue, and even red. Some species of old growth tree on the planet appear to have a vague intelligence and can use very limited telepathy
, though this is usually limited to acknowledgment of another's presence and a return and recognition of basic emotion
s; it is extremely rare and difficult for a tree on the Andalite homeworld to form even a single thought-speech word, as it purportedly can take days for the few who can. An Andalite will form a special bond with a certain tree, which becomes the Andalite's Garibah ('Guide Tree').
Andalite starship
technology has developed a wide variety of vessels, including their standard Tail-fighter starfighter
, a small, elongated craft equipped with twin, stubby wings tipped by engines, and a Shredder particle weapon slung over the top of the crew cabin on the end of an extension fashioned to mimic the raised Andalite tail. The vast Dome Ships are the primary battleships of the Andalite space fleet, transporting starfighters and Andalite warriors to war zones. The ship is shaped like a long rod, with engine pods at one end, and a massive, clear dome covering a circular platform centered on the other end. This 'dome' portion sustains an entire ecosphere
in its interior, complete with atmosphere, grass, and water, designed to sustain Andalites while they travel through space. Andalites describe it as "taking a piece of their world with them wherever they go", much to the chagrin of the Yeerk
Empire. The ship's hangar bays can host a full complement of fighters, and a single Dome Ship usually arrives at a battle with an occasional deployment of a second, and rarely accompanied by a third. The Dome Ship shredders are rumored to be powerful enough to destroy a moon the size of Earth's. Dome Ships are slow to maneuver, and the dome portion must be temporarily de-coupled from the rest of the ship in order for all its shredders to be turned towards a target, and even then the ship is slow to turn its guns onto its targets. This weakness was exploited by Visser Three
, enabling his Blade Ship to destroy the Dome Ship GalaxyTree in Earth orbit.
One of the more recently developed and most advanced Andalite technologies is their morphing technology
. This allows Andalites to transform into any being whose DNA
pattern can be absorbed through touch, for up to two hours at a time. This provides an effective weapon against the Yeerks, allowing them to transform into dangerous creatures in battle, and spy and infiltrate Yeerk facilities and organizations. Surpassing the two-hour time limit carries the penalty of leaving the Andalite trapped in the morph permanently, his own DNA lost. This is called a becoming a nothlit. Tobias became a nothlit in the first book, The Invasion. The morphing technology is closely guarded, and no non-Andalite had ever possessed the ability besides Visser Three (who had an Andalite host body) and the five human Animorphs, who were given the technology by Prince Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul
using an Escafil device
. Later on, this technology is stolen from the Animorphs by the Yeerks, after the Animorphs increase their numbers substantially, and while they attempt to recruit still more potentials.
Fission
and fusion
is not apparently used by Andalites extensively, since it has been stated that they use it in children's toys.
In their natural state, the Yeerks are blind, defenseless slug
s that are, however, capable of entering the brain
s of other species, interfacing with their host's mind, and then controlling the creature. When the Andalites arrived, the Yeerks had already taken a clumsy, weak race known as the Gedd
s as their hosts. Despite this, most of them never became aware of anything beyond the small, natural pools of their homeworld. Seerow felt sorry for the Yeerks, and taught them the technology they needed to travel beyond their world, and showed them the stars. He built them portable Kandronas, devices mimicking the rays of the Yeerk sun, allowing them to leave the confines of their world.
In return for Seerow's aid, the Yeerks betrayed the Andalites, attacking their outpost and slaughtering the minimal guarding force (who had been instructed by Seerow not to fire on any Gedds), and stole the Andalite fighters that were on the ground, escaping into space, but not before circling around to the far side of the planet to bring their fellow Yeerks aboard. Then, the Andalite ships, loaded with numerous pools full of Yeerks, left the homeworld, aiming to conquer the galaxy with the technology that Seerow had given them.
Ever since, the Andalites have fought against the Yeerks, trying to prevent them from taking over more innocent worlds. The Yeerks have already taken over numerous species, including the cannibalistic Taxxons, who voluntarily submitted to the Yeerks, and their ironically herbivorous shock-troops, the Hork-Bajir
. These species were, however, slow to reproduce and insufficient for the massive number of Yeerks that needed hosts. There have also been many failures like the Hawjawbrans, who couldn't be infested because their brain is spread out throughout their body; the Yeerk's eventual goal was to fully infest Class 4 and Class 5 races (Andalites and humans, respectively), which would give them the troops they needed to take over more worlds and expand their empire. Their ultimate prize would be the Andalites, for whom the Yeerks had developed a deep hatred, despite the species' initial kindness towards them.
The Andalites are also enemies of the Kelbrid. The two species have a strict treaty
, whereby neither can enter the other's space; the exact history of their relations is mysterious, however, especially considering neither side actually knows anything about the other, including what they look like.
, and an atrocious attitude towards the disabled, whom they label vecols and treat as outcasts.
Although males and females have a higher societal equality in Andalite society than they did in Earth's past, gender role
s are nevertheless strictly defined, with males strongly encouraged to enter the Andalite military, while the females remain in civilian, vocational roles, specializing themselves in arts and pure sciences. Andalite recreation includes a sport called driftball, as well as tail-fighting for sport.
Working down the chain of command
from the Electorate are the Princes, the basic, personal leadership role. Every warrior must have a prince, and is expected to report only to that one Prince. A Prince will have one or more arisths, or cadets, under him. According to Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
, in Andalite culture, every individual is supposed to be subordinate to another, with the Electorate in turn being chosen by the people. Even military matters are controlled by the public, as warriors can present a "challenge" to any action a superior wishes to make, which would result in a trial where the people decide the outcome. However, during the war with the Yeerks, the Electorate became increasingly deaf and blind to the war, and independent Princes began to take direct control of the entire war effort. Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corass attempted to wipe out the entire Hork-Bajir
race in order to eliminate the Yeerk's main troops with a quantum virus, and the Andalite military had been ready to obliterate the human population through a 'Quarantine' that would have wiped out almost the entire human population in order to starve the Yeerk empire of hosts.
The Andalite civilian government is rarely referred to, if it even exists; it is known that the military is run by the Andalite High Command, the members of whom are called "Great Leaders." A "Council" is also mentioned, but it is unclear if this is military or not.
The Andalite culture is very self-centered on the fact that Andalite themselves are the best race in the universe because of their technologies. Due to the law of Seerow's kindness, Andalites are not allowed to give other species their technologies. They are also very proud and will condemn anyone (even their own people) if any disgraced acts are committed. The best known taboo status Andalite was war prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass
during his infestation by Visser Three. Alloran was the only Andalite-controller in existence and deemed him the title of "The Abomination".
It must be noted that the vast majority of the Andalites encountered over the course of the series are from the military, and once the war ends, Marco notes that Andalite civilian tourists are much less arrogant and irritable than their military counterparts.
. The first name is the given name. When Ax
gives his parents' names in The Alien
, it is revealed that his father's second name is "Sirinial", the same as Elfangor's, while his mother's second name is "Esgarrouth", Ax's own second name; this implies that the second name is a sort of family name. The purpose of the third name is unknown.
It is notable that many Andalites seem to share names, even when they are not related; for example, an Andalite not related to Ax had the third name "Esgarrouth", and so forth. It is possible that names are also not restricted by gender, as "Estrid" as been seen as the first name of a female Andalite and as the second name of a male.
"Ax" is a shortened form of the name Aximili; this shortening is not Andalite in origin, but was devised by the human Animorphs, who found "Aximili" too hard to pronounce. Ax's father calls him "Aximili-kala" as a pet name; the meaning of this unknown.
In The Ellimist Chronicles
, when the Ellimist
visits the primitive ancestors of modern Andalites, names were apparently limited to terms such as Tree, Water, or Star. As a result, many Andalites had the same name.
Morning Ritual
Evening Ritual
Ritual of Death
gives the Andalite date). Andalite years are in ten 'periods' or months, and are given like this: 7544.2. One Andalite year is equal to 84 Earth months, or about 8½ Yeerk
cycles; as a result, K.A. Applegate has stated that Ax
is only three or four Andalite years old, though this is equivalent to the ages of the other Animorphs.
Andalites have a natural internal clock, and know exactly when 2 hours have passed - as reflected by their morphing technology.
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
of grazers in the Scholastic book series
Book series
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher....
(and television adaptation of the same name
Animorphs (TV series)
Animorphs 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...
) Animorphs
Animorphs
Animorphs is an English language science fiction series of young adult books written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic. Five humans, Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias, and one alien, Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill , obtain the ability to morph into any animal they touch. They name...
.
Biology
The Andalites are fictional aliens from the book series and TV series Animorphs.Andalites resemble centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
s of Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, with a lower body similar to a horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
and a torso
Torso
Trunk or torso is an anatomical term for the central part of the many animal bodies from which extend the neck and limbs. The trunk includes the thorax and abdomen.-Major organs:...
similar to a human. The two arms on their upper bodies are relatively weak by human standards, and end with seven-fingered hands. Andalites are incredibly agile on their four hooved legs. Their entire bodies are covered in fur, the males blue and tan in color while the females have been depicted as being purple.
The head of an Andalite has a pair of almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
-shaped eyes, as well as a second pair of "stalk-eyes" mounted on two thick stalks that rise from the top of their heads, giving them a 360-degree range of vision. The main eyes are glittery green or gold in color. Their sense of sight is similar to that of humans, with the stalk eyes capable of seeing a slightly wider spectrum of light wavelengths.
A notable facial feature is the lack of a mouth. Andalites feed by crushing grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
beneath their hooves, absorbing the nutrients from the plants, and communicate by means of thought-speech, a kind of telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
. In the place where a human nose would be located, Andalites possess three vertical slits, allowing them to breathe. They have two heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
s, giving them physical speed and endurance beyond what a human can achieve. An Andalite's normal body temperature (in Fahrenheit) is 91.3 degrees.
Andalites also possess an organ in the back of their head called the Tria gland. The Tria gland keeps disease organisms away from the rest of the body. More specifically, the Tria gland is in the back of the head, even with the bottom of the ears, in the dead center. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
needed his removed due to inflammation in book #29, The Sickness
The Sickness (Animorphs)
The Sickness is the twenty-ninth book in the Animorphs series, authored by K.A. Applegate. It is known to have been ghostwritten by Melinda Metz. It is narrated by Cassie.-Plot summary:...
.
Andalites evolved as prey animals, but possess a formidable defense in the form of the single, scythe
Scythe
A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass, or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. The Grim Reaper is often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe...
-shaped blade at the end of their long tails. The female tail blade is noticeably smaller than that of the male, and more similar to a scalpel
Scalpel
A scalpel, or lancet, is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, and various arts and crafts . Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. Re-usable scalpels can have attached, resharpenable blades or, more commonly, non-attached, replaceable...
than a blade. The bladed tail is long enough to reach well in front of the Andalite, allowing them to strike quickly and deeply at an opponent. A common Andalite battle technique is to turn the blade flat against their target at the last possible instant, delivering a blow that renders the opponent unconscious rather than fatally cutting them.
The Andalite tail is also an important part of their culture, and is frequently referenced in poetry and rituals. For example, the word shorm comes from the Andalite word for 'tail-blade', and is used to describe a fellow Andalite who could be trusted to place his tail-blade at one's own throat without feeling threatened; essentially, a best friend
Behavior and Evolution
Andalites are grazers, but are capable of accidentally absorbing small animals, such as wormWorm
The term worm refers to an obsolete taxon used by Carolus Linnaeus and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck for all non-arthropod invertebrate animals, and stems from the Old English word wyrm. Currently it is used to describe many different distantly-related animals that typically have a long cylindrical...
s and snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s when stepped on. They were originally herd animals, and are accustomed to living on open plains. Because of this, claustrophobia
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms...
is a deeply ingrained trait in Andalites, and they loathe enclosed spaces.
It is noted that Andalites are a watchful species and can go for days without sleeping. When they do sleep it is usually standing up and with one stalk eye open.
At some point in their development, the Andalites began a transition away from being herd animals, and formed small groups, similar to families. Soon, families joined together, forming small communities. As society advanced, the communities grew closer and closer in proximity until they had developed dense urban environments. Eventually, the Andalites moved away from this pattern of society, favoring separation of the communities into small, family based 'scoops.' This has resulted in a sort of agricultural, farmer society despite the advanced technology the Andalites have developed, including faster-than-light travel and the ability to morph. The Andalite homeworld does maintain three spaceports that retain the urban model of development.
Homeworld
The Andalite homeworld is vaguely described in various books in the AnimorphsAnimorphs
Animorphs is an English language science fiction series of young adult books written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic. Five humans, Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias, and one alien, Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill , obtain the ability to morph into any animal they touch. They name...
series. The number of suns in the Andalite star system
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...
is never specified, but the stars are always referred to in the plural
Plural
In linguistics, plurality or [a] plural is a concept of quantity representing a value of more-than-one. Typically applied to nouns, a plural word or marker is used to distinguish a value other than the default quantity of a noun, which is typically one...
sense. On one occasion, Ax said that the Andalite homeworld once orbited two different stars millions of years in the past before one of them went nova, the shock wave having unspecified results on the planet's orbit. The Andalite homeworld has four moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
s, at least two of which are visible from the planet's surface at any given time. The planet's sky is colored red and gold. In The Predator, Ax
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
specifies that the Andalite homeworld is 82 light-years away from Earth.
While the Andalite homeworld does not boast the sheer number and variety of organisms that Earth does, there are many interesting plant and animal species. The Kafit bird, for example, is one of only three bird species indigenous to the Andalite homeworld. It is a predatory bird, with three pairs of wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
s and a long, sharp beak
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
. It uses its spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
-like beak and speed to spear its prey. Although this behavior is frowned upon, Andalite arisths often morph into Kafit birds for amusement.
Andalite plant life is quite remarkable with grasses in shades of green, blue, and even red. Some species of old growth tree on the planet appear to have a vague intelligence and can use very limited telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
, though this is usually limited to acknowledgment of another's presence and a return and recognition of basic emotion
Emotion
Emotion is a complex psychophysiological experience of an individual's state of mind as interacting with biochemical and environmental influences. In humans, emotion fundamentally involves "physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience." Emotion is associated with mood,...
s; it is extremely rare and difficult for a tree on the Andalite homeworld to form even a single thought-speech word, as it purportedly can take days for the few who can. An Andalite will form a special bond with a certain tree, which becomes the Andalite's Garibah ('Guide Tree').
Technology
The Andalites are very scientifically oriented race, and boast a vast knowledge of the universe and highly advanced technology. A notable development is Zero-Space technology, which allows Andalite vessels equipped with "Z-space" engines to enter the region of Zero or Z-space, described as an entirely blank, void, white space, where real-space limitations on faster-than-light travel do not exist. Z-space transponder technology also takes advantage of this 'dimension' by shortening the travel time of messages through space, an advanced form of radio communication.Andalite starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
technology has developed a wide variety of vessels, including their standard Tail-fighter starfighter
Starfighter
"Starfighter" is a science fiction term used to describe small, fast, usually one-manned craft designed for armed combat .The appearance and use of fictional starfighters is often modeled on fighter aircraft, with little regard for the actual physics of spaceflight...
, a small, elongated craft equipped with twin, stubby wings tipped by engines, and a Shredder particle weapon slung over the top of the crew cabin on the end of an extension fashioned to mimic the raised Andalite tail. The vast Dome Ships are the primary battleships of the Andalite space fleet, transporting starfighters and Andalite warriors to war zones. The ship is shaped like a long rod, with engine pods at one end, and a massive, clear dome covering a circular platform centered on the other end. This 'dome' portion sustains an entire ecosphere
Ecosphere
Ecosphere has several different meanings:* In ecology the term ecosphere can refer to the Earth's spheres, a planetary ecosystem consisting of the atmosphere, the geosphere , the hydrosphere, and the biosphere....
in its interior, complete with atmosphere, grass, and water, designed to sustain Andalites while they travel through space. Andalites describe it as "taking a piece of their world with them wherever they go", much to the chagrin of the Yeerk
Yeerk
Yeerks are a fictional extraterrestrial species from the book and television series "Animorphs" written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic.-Biology:...
Empire. The ship's hangar bays can host a full complement of fighters, and a single Dome Ship usually arrives at a battle with an occasional deployment of a second, and rarely accompanied by a third. The Dome Ship shredders are rumored to be powerful enough to destroy a moon the size of Earth's. Dome Ships are slow to maneuver, and the dome portion must be temporarily de-coupled from the rest of the ship in order for all its shredders to be turned towards a target, and even then the ship is slow to turn its guns onto its targets. This weakness was exploited by Visser Three
Visser Three
Visser Three, born as Esplin 9466 Primary and later known as Visser One, is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the sci-fi book series Animorphs, written by K.A. Applegate. He is the leader of the Yeerk forces on Earth, having inherited the planet from Edriss 562, who was Visser One at...
, enabling his Blade Ship to destroy the Dome Ship GalaxyTree in Earth orbit.
One of the more recently developed and most advanced Andalite technologies is their morphing technology
Escafil device
The Escafil device is a fictional technological apparatus from K.A. Applegate's popular children's book series Animorphs. It is the proper name for the "Andalite morphing cube", a device that when operated gives the user the ability to 'acquire' a copy of DNA patterns from any animal that physical...
. This allows Andalites to transform into any being whose DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
pattern can be absorbed through touch, for up to two hours at a time. This provides an effective weapon against the Yeerks, allowing them to transform into dangerous creatures in battle, and spy and infiltrate Yeerk facilities and organizations. Surpassing the two-hour time limit carries the penalty of leaving the Andalite trapped in the morph permanently, his own DNA lost. This is called a becoming a nothlit. Tobias became a nothlit in the first book, The Invasion. The morphing technology is closely guarded, and no non-Andalite had ever possessed the ability besides Visser Three (who had an Andalite host body) and the five human Animorphs, who were given the technology by Prince Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul
Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul
Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul is a character in K. A. Applegate's book series Animorphs. He is of an alien race known as the Andalites. His adventures are highlighted in the book called The Andalite Chronicles, which takes place before the main Animorphs series.Elfangor is an Andalite war-prince, who...
using an Escafil device
Escafil device
The Escafil device is a fictional technological apparatus from K.A. Applegate's popular children's book series Animorphs. It is the proper name for the "Andalite morphing cube", a device that when operated gives the user the ability to 'acquire' a copy of DNA patterns from any animal that physical...
. Later on, this technology is stolen from the Animorphs by the Yeerks, after the Animorphs increase their numbers substantially, and while they attempt to recruit still more potentials.
Fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
and fusion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
is not apparently used by Andalites extensively, since it has been stated that they use it in children's toys.
Interspecies Relations
Andalites have varied relations with many different species outside their planet. They are generally known to be a helpful, friendly race, spreading enlightenment and aid wherever possible. However, an example that mars their reputation and simultaneously jades many Andalites to their own culture as well as that of outside species, is Seerow's Kindness, named after Prince Seerow, one of the first Andalites to be stationed on the homeworld of a newly discovered species, the Yeerks.In their natural state, the Yeerks are blind, defenseless slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s that are, however, capable of entering the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
s of other species, interfacing with their host's mind, and then controlling the creature. When the Andalites arrived, the Yeerks had already taken a clumsy, weak race known as the Gedd
Gedd
Gedds are a species of aliens in the Animorphs book series. They evolved on the same planet as the Yeerks. The Gedds are a primate-like species, with terrible vision and bad motor skills. They served as the first hosts for the parasitic Yeerks....
s as their hosts. Despite this, most of them never became aware of anything beyond the small, natural pools of their homeworld. Seerow felt sorry for the Yeerks, and taught them the technology they needed to travel beyond their world, and showed them the stars. He built them portable Kandronas, devices mimicking the rays of the Yeerk sun, allowing them to leave the confines of their world.
In return for Seerow's aid, the Yeerks betrayed the Andalites, attacking their outpost and slaughtering the minimal guarding force (who had been instructed by Seerow not to fire on any Gedds), and stole the Andalite fighters that were on the ground, escaping into space, but not before circling around to the far side of the planet to bring their fellow Yeerks aboard. Then, the Andalite ships, loaded with numerous pools full of Yeerks, left the homeworld, aiming to conquer the galaxy with the technology that Seerow had given them.
Ever since, the Andalites have fought against the Yeerks, trying to prevent them from taking over more innocent worlds. The Yeerks have already taken over numerous species, including the cannibalistic Taxxons, who voluntarily submitted to the Yeerks, and their ironically herbivorous shock-troops, the Hork-Bajir
Hork-Bajir
The Hork-Bajir are a race of aliens in the Animorphs novels.The Hork-Bajir are fictional aliens that are usually about seven feet tall. They are a dark shade of green and have three-toed theropod feet. Their necks are long and they have a mouth that resembles a falcon's beak with teeth. Their legs...
. These species were, however, slow to reproduce and insufficient for the massive number of Yeerks that needed hosts. There have also been many failures like the Hawjawbrans, who couldn't be infested because their brain is spread out throughout their body; the Yeerk's eventual goal was to fully infest Class 4 and Class 5 races (Andalites and humans, respectively), which would give them the troops they needed to take over more worlds and expand their empire. Their ultimate prize would be the Andalites, for whom the Yeerks had developed a deep hatred, despite the species' initial kindness towards them.
The Andalites are also enemies of the Kelbrid. The two species have a strict treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
, whereby neither can enter the other's space; the exact history of their relations is mysterious, however, especially considering neither side actually knows anything about the other, including what they look like.
Culture and Government
The Andalite government, headed by the Electorate, functions on pillars of honor, respect, pride in culture as well as self. However, these noble characteristics are accompanied by others that seem surprisingly backwards in the eyes of species they consider evolutionarily inferior: arrogance, inflexibility, sexismSexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
, and an atrocious attitude towards the disabled, whom they label vecols and treat as outcasts.
Although males and females have a higher societal equality in Andalite society than they did in Earth's past, gender role
Gender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
s are nevertheless strictly defined, with males strongly encouraged to enter the Andalite military, while the females remain in civilian, vocational roles, specializing themselves in arts and pure sciences. Andalite recreation includes a sport called driftball, as well as tail-fighting for sport.
Working down the chain of command
Chain of Command
Chain of Command may refer to:* Chain of command, in a military context, the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed* "Chain of Command" , the fifth episode of the first season of Beast Wars...
from the Electorate are the Princes, the basic, personal leadership role. Every warrior must have a prince, and is expected to report only to that one Prince. A Prince will have one or more arisths, or cadets, under him. According to Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
, in Andalite culture, every individual is supposed to be subordinate to another, with the Electorate in turn being chosen by the people. Even military matters are controlled by the public, as warriors can present a "challenge" to any action a superior wishes to make, which would result in a trial where the people decide the outcome. However, during the war with the Yeerks, the Electorate became increasingly deaf and blind to the war, and independent Princes began to take direct control of the entire war effort. Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corass attempted to wipe out the entire Hork-Bajir
Hork-Bajir
The Hork-Bajir are a race of aliens in the Animorphs novels.The Hork-Bajir are fictional aliens that are usually about seven feet tall. They are a dark shade of green and have three-toed theropod feet. Their necks are long and they have a mouth that resembles a falcon's beak with teeth. Their legs...
race in order to eliminate the Yeerk's main troops with a quantum virus, and the Andalite military had been ready to obliterate the human population through a 'Quarantine' that would have wiped out almost the entire human population in order to starve the Yeerk empire of hosts.
The Andalite civilian government is rarely referred to, if it even exists; it is known that the military is run by the Andalite High Command, the members of whom are called "Great Leaders." A "Council" is also mentioned, but it is unclear if this is military or not.
The Andalite culture is very self-centered on the fact that Andalite themselves are the best race in the universe because of their technologies. Due to the law of Seerow's kindness, Andalites are not allowed to give other species their technologies. They are also very proud and will condemn anyone (even their own people) if any disgraced acts are committed. The best known taboo status Andalite was war prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass
Alloran-Semitur-Corrass
Alloran-Semitur-Corrass is a fictional character in the Animorphs series by K. A. Applegate. He is the host body of Visser Three, a high-ranking Yeerk and the primary antagonist of the series.-Character history:...
during his infestation by Visser Three. Alloran was the only Andalite-controller in existence and deemed him the title of "The Abomination".
It must be noted that the vast majority of the Andalites encountered over the course of the series are from the military, and once the war ends, Marco notes that Andalite civilian tourists are much less arrogant and irritable than their military counterparts.
Naming
Andalite names are three words long and hyphenated; for example, Elfangor-Sirinial-ShamtulElfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul
Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul is a character in K. A. Applegate's book series Animorphs. He is of an alien race known as the Andalites. His adventures are highlighted in the book called The Andalite Chronicles, which takes place before the main Animorphs series.Elfangor is an Andalite war-prince, who...
. The first name is the given name. When Ax
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
gives his parents' names in The Alien
The Alien (Animorphs)
The Alien is the eighth book in the Animorphs series, written by K. A. Applegate. It is the first book narrated by Ax.-Plot:...
, it is revealed that his father's second name is "Sirinial", the same as Elfangor's, while his mother's second name is "Esgarrouth", Ax's own second name; this implies that the second name is a sort of family name. The purpose of the third name is unknown.
It is notable that many Andalites seem to share names, even when they are not related; for example, an Andalite not related to Ax had the third name "Esgarrouth", and so forth. It is possible that names are also not restricted by gender, as "Estrid" as been seen as the first name of a female Andalite and as the second name of a male.
"Ax" is a shortened form of the name Aximili; this shortening is not Andalite in origin, but was devised by the human Animorphs, who found "Aximili" too hard to pronounce. Ax's father calls him "Aximili-kala" as a pet name; the meaning of this unknown.
In The Ellimist Chronicles
The Ellimist Chronicles
The Ellimist Chronicles is a children's science-fiction novel, a companion book to the Animorphs series written by K. A. Applegate. It tells the backstory of the Ellimist, a god-like being from the story...
, when the Ellimist
Ellimist
The Ellimist is a fictional character from the science fiction novel series Animorphs.The Ellimist is an almost god-like being, displaying many reality warping powers, though it is stated several times that while he appears to be, he is not omnipotent. By standard values, the Ellimist is a force of...
visits the primitive ancestors of modern Andalites, names were apparently limited to terms such as Tree, Water, or Star. As a result, many Andalites had the same name.
Rituals
Rituals are very important to the Andalites. They have small rituals, which mostly involve reciting prayer-like words, at certain events. There is a morning ritual, a ritual for children, a ritual for dying in battle, and a ritual for avenging one who has died.Morning Ritual
Evening Ritual
Ritual of Death
- I am the servant of the people. I am the servant of my prince. I am the servant of honor. My life is not my own, when the people have need of it. My life is given for the people, for my prince, and for my honor.
Time
Andalites use a different calendar than humans, although it still is in years (The Hork-Bajir ChroniclesThe Hork-Bajir Chronicles
The Hork-Bajir Chronicles is the second companion book to the Animorphs series, written by K. A. Applegate. With respect to continuity within the series, it takes place before book #23, The Pretender, although the events told in the story occur between the time of The Ellimist Chronicles and The...
gives the Andalite date). Andalite years are in ten 'periods' or months, and are given like this: 7544.2. One Andalite year is equal to 84 Earth months, or about 8½ Yeerk
Yeerk
Yeerks are a fictional extraterrestrial species from the book and television series "Animorphs" written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic.-Biology:...
cycles; as a result, K.A. Applegate has stated that Ax
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
is only three or four Andalite years old, though this is equivalent to the ages of the other Animorphs.
Andalites have a natural internal clock, and know exactly when 2 hours have passed - as reflected by their morphing technology.