Hoot is a character who appears in Spooky Buddies. He is a great horned owl and one of Warwick's loyal henchmen, the other being the Halloween Hound.
Background
75 years ago, Hoot served as one of Warwick's henchmen. Warwick and the Halloween Hound had struck an agreement to rule the world together. Hoot had doubts about Warwick's plan, but Warwick refused to listen to Hoot and insulted the owl. However, after four of the puppies already had their souls taken, Pip bit Warwick's hand and attempted to escape. As Pip's soul was about to be consumed, the sun began to rise and expelled the Halloween Hound back to the netherworld. Cornered by the sheriff, Warwick jumped in the mirror to the netherworld alongside the Halloween Hound, much to Hoot's shock and dismay.
Role in the film
75 years have passed, and after two boys went into the old manor and approached the mirror, Warwick and the Halloween Hound both escaped back into the real world. Hoot notices and informs Warwick, who uses a potion to turn the boys into rats. Warwick and the Halloween Hound then set out to Fernfield to find the stuff that was needed to complete the ritual: his spellbook, his staff, and five puppies who share the same blood. Although Hoot was relieved to see Warwick safe, he continued to act mean towards the owl and told him to go find the spellbook.
While many kids were out trick-or-treating, Hoot notices Billy who had the staff in his possession, to which he later flies back to the manor to inform Warwick. After the Halloween Hound captures the five Buddies, he imprisons them inside the manor. Warwick then tells Hoot to guard the cage containing the Buddies, threatening him that if he failed, he would turn the owl into a feather duster.
Shortly after, Pip enters Warwick's manor, where he and the Buddies manage to reason with Hoot and tell him that he can reform. Hoot agrees and releases the Buddies, but then the Halloween Hound sees that Hoot betrayed them, so he turns the owl into stone, leaving Hoot helpless. Pip and the Buddies get trapped, but Pip bravely informs the Halloween Hound that he sucked his siblings' souls 75 years ago. The Halloween Hound turns Pip into stone as well, but Skip and Rodney's rat forms help them all escape.
In the end, the sun rose and all who had been turned into stone were back to normal with their souls in place, including Zelda, Deputy Sniffer, Pip, and his siblings, as well as Hoot himself. He later flies out of the manor and perches on a nearby tree branch, where he presumably lives the rest of his now-peaceful life as a wise owl.
Appearance
Hoot is a large Great Horned Owl with bright golden eyes.
Personality
Hoot is kind and gentle soul at heart. While his master Warwick the warlock often said rude things towards the owl; such as "Moronic Bird-Brain", Hoot has learned to tolerate his master's harsh manners, and remained faithfully loyal to him even after spending the last 75 years alone. When Pip convinced Hoot to turn against his master Warwick, Hoot bravely defended Pip and the Buddies from the Halloween Hound, showing no fear whatsoever upon being turned to stone. Once Warwick and the Halloween Hound were finally defeated and gone forever, Hoot was grateful to be free from his former master, happy that he could finally now live the rest of his life as a wise owl.
Gallery
Trivia
- Hoot is the only antagonist to reform in the film, though it is unclear how he became Warwick's henchman.
- During the 75 years, Hoot did not age whatsoever, nor did Warwick, the Halloween Hound, Pip, and his siblings implying that Hoot is immortal.
- In real life, Great Horned Owls could actually live up to 12 to 15 years in the wild, though this can vary, and some individuals have lived up to 28 years.
