(Relative) Silence is Golden

Words by Casey Hynes.

Words can be powerful. Connective. String them cleverly together like pearls on a chain and you can inspire and empower thousands.

But, the same can be said for not saying a word. We all know actions speak louder, and that actions can overcome barriers such as language or intelligence. This can be seen, in my opinion, in some of our favourite media, and our favourite characters found within it. Writers can create the most beautiful soliloquies for their characters to speak, but sometimes this just does not capture our attention. Sometimes, our focus is pinpointed towards the character that speaks through their movements and gestures.

So, for this article, I’m going to rank some of my top characters in television or film that have some of the greatest impact on audiences without having to speak, or who barely utter a word in a language understood by humans.

The original (and best) Tick Tock.

Number 10: Tick Tock the Crocodile, Peter Pan

He’s on our side. He’s one of the boys. He just wants to eat a crooked man, and I say we let him. At one point in Peter Pan, he makes a ‘drat’ splashing motion (you know the one) on top of the surface of the water. It used to make me laugh so hard when I was small, and I’m not entirely sure why. He’s the best character in this entire film (Tinkerbell stans can fight me).

A lil squishy boi.

Number 9: Mochi, Waffles and Mochi

My morality will be eternally tormented by the fact that I look at this cute little anthropomorphic mochi ice-cream and simultaneously think ‘I will love it for the rest of my life’ and ‘I want to eat it right now’. 

Maybe he’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline

Number 8: Cousin Itt, The Addams Family

I’ve never really looked at a mop of hair and gone ‘what a sexy bastard’, but I’m not Margaret Alford - the wife of the ick-inducing lawyer in the Addams Family who gets the hots for this furball. I have, however, looked at a mop of hair (that communicates using ‘mimblewimbles’) and thought, what a great character.

One rug to rule them all.

Number 7: The Magic Carpet, Aladdin

What a mad lad. This patterned boi meets with a random fella, his monkey and, subsequently, his large blue magic companion and manages to hold his own without speaking a word, because he’s, you know, a carpet (that doesn’t exist within the world of Beauty and the Beast). Respect.

A jelly with eyes. What a concept!

Number 6: Morph, Treasure Planet

Treasure Planet was one of my favourite films growing up. So much so, my Dad (hi Dad) brought me to the temporary Treasure Planetarium which was held at Madame Tussaud’s in London back in the day. Morph, a plasmic goopy living ball, is one of the most dependable and loveable characters in the film, simply for being the cutest fucking thing going - Jim Hawkins is a close second though, obviously.

Perry of Platypus fame.

Number 5: Perry the Platypus, Phineas and Ferb

Is Perry the Platypus the most intelligent character in the Disney Cinematic Universe? Yes. Enough said.

RAWWWWWGGGGRGRGRGRBRBRBRBRBRBRB!

Number 4: Chewbacca, Star Wars

I wish I was half as communicative through the use of guttural chest yelling as Chewbacca is. If I had to swap my Dad for anyone (which I would never do obvs, love you Dad xoxo), it would be for Chewbacca.

Baby Groot, or as Moira Rose refers to him, Bébé Groot.

Number 3: Groot, Marvel Cinematic Universe

Groot’s entire dialogue in every single film in which he appears consists of only three words: I Am Groot. This does not prevent Groot from being one of the funniest and cheekiest little bitches audiences have ever seen. Groot is truly on some king shit. Genius.

Smile and wave boys, smile and wave.

Number 2: Pingu, Pingu

Pingu is one of the many memorable characters of the childhoods of many, including myself. Sassy and sweet in equal parts, Pingu has an incredible ability to connect with children of all nations - including BTS’ Kim Taehyung, as evidenced by this video - due to the show’s lack of any verbal language other than the language of ‘Noot’. A penguin of the people, for all people.

My lord and saviour.

Number 1: Gromit, Wallace and Gromit

Gromit is an icon. The icon. A master of the craft of communicating emotion (mainly Wallace-related disapproval) with facial gestures alone. Gromit is the perfect example of a character shown to be fully fleshed out without relying on words that are spoken. God tier!

I would kill for him.

Number ∞: Wall-E, Wall-E

Wall-E is one of the most heartwarming and awe-inspiring characters to be found in cinema. This little grubby robot inspires devotion in so many others, both on-screen and off-screen, and all while speaking only two words - his name and ‘Eva’. I know that this technically, probably, breaks the rules I had already established at the start of this article, but I will fight anyone to the death who challenges me on this. Anyone.