Top 10 Dwarfs in Anime

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We have had several articles about the magical creatures based on European mythology that can go in an anime. This time it’s the dwarves’ turn! A dwarf is pretty much like Ghimli from The Lord of The Rings. That’s right, you can expect epic adventures from all the animes we are going to review now. So let’s grab our capes and swords and let’s go for a quest!


10. Dwarves (Drifters)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Oct 7 to Dec 23, 2016

Imagine you are in a battle fighting for your life and you are wounded. The least that you expect is to find yourself in a corridor where a man in a desk shows you doors that conduct to other worlds. But this is exactly what happens to Shimazu Toyohisa, a great warrior from the battle of Sekigahara. Now, he will become a member of the Drifters, a group of elite warriors just like him.

The Dwarves live in the Orte Empire. They have passed a long time enslaved and working in the worst possible conditions (mining and factories for example). That is, of course, until Shimazu comes to save them. Once the Dwarves encounter a mousquet, they learn to replicate the technology and give a twist to their own destiny. But to find out how the story ends, you will have to watch Drifters 😉


9. Dwarves (Macademi Wasshoi! - Magician's Academy)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Oct 6 to Dec 22, 2008

Let’s go to the world of Harry Potter!... ok, sorry, wrong place. This is a magical academy that does not appear in any map. A magic apprentice called Takuto Hasegawa creates a girl called Tanarotte on one of his exams. This girl turns out to be so powerful that she is a danger for the country, although she loves Takuto to death.

So, we have our own Dobbies here. I know, this is no Hogwarts, but we have actual dwarves that repair damage in the magical academy. It is comprehensible, as magic out of control can destroy buildings easily. The dwarves also make apparitions to repair places outside, though.


8. Romilda Garde (Outbreak Company)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Oct 4 to Dec 20, 2013

Kanou Shinichi should work for Honey’s Anime. Just look how knowledgeable he is for all things related to the otaku world! That is why Shinichi has the great opportunity of traveling to a fantasy world and become a “moe” ambassador there. Just think about the possibilities with so many fantasy characters! At first everything looks like a true dream come true, but Shinichi finds out that being an ambassador has its serious and responsible side. Will he succeed on his mission? Watch Outbreak Company and enter to the world of otaku marketing with no pains and all the fun!

One of the strategies of Shinichi to diffuse otaku culture is by funding a school. This place has a principle of diversity. Thus, several creatures attend it and, among the students, we find Romilda. She comes from the Holy Eldant Empire, and the girl is quite enthusiastic about the otaku culture… which we find endearing! We have so much in common with Romilda!


7. Mortar (Gate: Jietai Kanochi Nite, Kaku Tatakaeri)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul 4 to Sep 19, 2015

You are a police officer and an otaku. One day, you encounter a mysterious gate that starts spitting out warriors and fantasy like creatures that wreak havoc in Tokyo! Three months later, you are tasked with a special escuadron to cross the gate and try to find a peaceful solution to the conflict… although we know how this type of anime goes, right? Prepare for the ride, as our protagonist Youji Itami did! 🙂

The thing with Mortar is that, although he is practically invisible in the anime, he did one important contribution. He created Rory Mercury’s halberd. Yes, that powerful and super heavy weapon our heroine always has by her side. Mortar is a legendary dwarf that laid proof of his skill across his world… and ours.


6. Wicca (One Piece)

  • Episodes: 771
  • Aired: Oct 20, 1999 to present

The adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates apparently don’t have an end. By now, we all have heard of One Piece, the legendary treasure that provoked the golden era of Pirates on this wonderful world. But Monkey and his nakamas are not like the other pirates around. They are simply into adventure and into finding the One Piece!

So, among the giant cast of characters and countries that have been featured in One Piece, we also have creatures from the fairy world. In episode 640, we arrive to Green Bit, where a certain dwarf stole Zoro’s sword. That was Wicca, a female dwarf from Tontatta kingdom! Zoro does not punish her, though, as Wicca had a sprained ankle and some valuable information to share...



5. Dirk (Tales of Symphonia)

  • Episodes: 4
  • Aired: Jun 8 to Dec 21, 2007

This is a tale of two worlds. While one lives, the other is destined to perish and vice versa. There is a way to avoid this sad fate, and that is to select a Chosen one that will go into a quest to find a way to balance both worlds. And that is exactly what Colette Brunel and her friends Lloyd Irving and Genis Sage are up to do.

Dirk is a generous dwarf who happens to have risen Lloyd. He actually aids him to find out that his mother was killed by the Desians. This became a motivation for Lloyd to follow and help Colette on her mission. Dirk might not be a main character, but through him, we can see how a good parental figure can influence us.


4. Aura Bella Fiora (Overlord)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Jul 7 to Sep 29, 2015

Overlord is overpowered with epicness. Just imagine how it will be if your favorite online RPG game comes to life. Or, to be more exact, if you are somehow absorbed into the game. That is exactly what happened to Momonga, who now has to find out if others are on his same situation and the reason for it.

Among the charismatic characters of Overlord, we have a certain twin pair. Aura is the sister of the pair, a tomboyish and skillful beast tamer and ranger. She protects the Great Tomb of Nazarick together with her brother. You will not find girls exactly as cool as Aura outside a game, so you better get to know her well while you watch Overlord.


3. Elder (Otogi Juushi Akazukin)

  • Episodes: 39
  • Aired: Jul 1, 2006 to Mar 31, 2007

There was upon a time, a powerful world where science and magic were intertwined. But God decided that was too much power in one place, thus divided the world into Elde (our world) and the magical Fandavale. But legend says there is a powerful key that might join both worlds. That kid turns out to be a boy named Souta who, protected by the Fairy Musketeers, will do what is needed to defeat the evil Cendrillon and thus save both worlds.

In episode 4 of the second season, we travel (or rather fall) to the Dwarf kingdom. This country is mainly occupied by their own businesses, being experts on mining and smithing. Their leader is the oldest and wisest of the Dwarves, who sees Souta and the Fairy Musketeers as menaces for the country’s peace. Thus, he thinks handing them over to Cendrillon would be the best. Will Souta and company convince him that their intentions are good? You will have to watch this fairy tale like anime to find out 🙂


2. Ymir (Queen's blade: Rurou no Senshi)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Apr 2 to Jun 18, 2009

Queen’s blade is pretty much like Gladiator but with female characters. A girl from a noble upbringing called Leina Vance tries her luck in a competition to become the Queen of the land. Defeat means death, although in her case, she sets up for a journey to prove herself, surrounded by a varied cast of female warriors. All the power, all the action, all the adventure and some ecchi is on the way.

Ymir is a supporting character who happens to be the Princess of the Steel Mountain. People from this place make high quality weapons and sell them to keep their economy flourishing. That is, until the market is flooded with cheap and low quality weapons. Thus, the competitive Ymir challenges Cattleya (a smith from another town) to solve this situation. This girl takes matters on her own hands, don’t you think the same?


1. Ghim (Record of Lodoss War)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Jun 30, 1990 to Nov 23, 1991

And finally… we simply could not ignore the importance of this classic OVA. The topic, as much of our epics stories, is war. A land cursed through the fighting of two Goddesses under the name of Lodoss is the scenario where a group of diverse heroes are in a quest to stop the political imbalance that the old forces of evil are always seeking to cause. Romance, battles and good old legend like storytelling will take you to a truly magical land of heroes and foes.

Of course we have a dwarf among the group of heroes! Ghim has an awesome background story, as his injures were attended once by the enchanting Leylia. They became pretty close, but the wretched forces of evil kidnapped her. Now, Ghim will do whatever it takes to recover her, even if that means not involving his friends. Hum, will that be the wisest choice?... Anyway, Ghim is one of the roundest characters we have on the list plus the one that is more similar to the european depictions of dwarfs, in both appearance and personality. He definitely deserves the first spot!


Final Thoughts

It was challenging but interesting to find dwarves in the anime world. Did you notice that they tend to be secondary or sporadic characters instead of being in the center of the plot? Also, did you notice dwarves are used as depictions of a different race but without individuality in several cases? Taking into account that they work in mines and crafts, the interpretations of a lack of dwarf protagonists can be endless, don’t you think the same? That is why we are making a little bit of justice to them with this review. But please, do share with us who is your favorite dwarf and why! Or do you know more dwarves that we could ad to the list? Comment away! See you soon!

Aura-Bella-Fiora-Overlord-dvd-401x500 Top 10 Dwarfs in Anime

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Author: Sakura_Moonprincess

Writing about anime by Moonlight. Swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the Moon.

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