Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald - 19 Easter Eggs & References Explained

14. The Kelpie

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes Of Grindelwald Underwater
Warner Bros.

J.K. Rowling makes no bones about the fact that much of her lore is drawn from real history and mythology, and that's certainly true when it comes to the Wizarding World's various creatures and beasts.

Though the sea-faring, horse-like beast known as the Kelpie has been mentioned in Potter lore many times before, this is the first time it's ever been realised on-screen, seen residing in Newt's (Eddie Redmayne) apartment basement as he takes a dip and rides the creature.

Amusingly enough, the Kelpie is actually inspired by the Scottish legend of the same name, a shape-shifting water spirit which typically resembles a horse and is sometimes believed to eat children who venture too close to it.

Clearly Rowling's version of the legend is a spiritual reinvention at best, but it's still a pretty neat source of inspiration all the same.

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