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Andy Beast is a 2012-introduced and cartoon-only character from Monster High Escape From Skull Shores. Andy is a beast monster who transforms based on anger or irritation.
Portrayers[]
- English: Andy is voiced by George Newbern in Escape from Skull Shores.
Character[]
Background[]
Andy first appears in his beast form in the movie Monster High: Escape from Skull Shores. He is summoned by Barnaby Farnum's 'party' with Frankie Stein being used as bait to attract him. He instantly recognizes Frankie and takes her away from the party back to his hideaway home. He returns to normal and introduces himself to Frankie before revealing he was the beast from last night. Andy then guides Frankie around the island and explains his history of growing up as the only monster in a normie town, going from place to place but always chased out due to his more beastly form. His parents had planned for Andy to be sent far away, but Andy was caught in the storm and shipwrecked onto the island. He tries to adjust thinking he wouldn't be able to be agitated to transform, Andy makes a home in Skull Shores but stays far away from the Tiki Village who fear him and triggers him to transform. Andy also explains he had met a normie scientist, who Frankie greatly resembles of, and was able to be calm around her. Hence the statues of the island he makes to keep himself calm.
During the tour, Frankie then makes the offer of Andy coming back to Monster High, but Andy instantly rejects the idea of being surrounded by other monsters. Andy leads Frankie back to her friends but hid to avoid being ambushed by Farnum. When sleazy normie ambushes the ghouls and threatens Frankie, Andy is triggered and transforms to fight Farnum. However due to Frankie being held captive, Andy transforms back to surrender while revealing to the others of his real form. Before Farnum can take him away, Gil comes to the rescue to deal with Farnum and Andy goes with the group to Monster High.
Spring break ends and as the students return to class, Andy is fearful of him being triggered but finds himself being greatly welcomes among his fellow 'fears' (peers) at Monster High. He gets through his first day well until a surprise assembly is held by Headmistress Bloodgood by a mysterious guest who turns out to be Farnum in disguise. Farnum edges Andy enough to transform him into his beast form. Andy runs rampage, climbing on top of Monster High with Frankie. Caught in a crossroads, Andy is torn between leaving Monster High and going with Farnum or staying at Monster High for a better life. He was about to choose the first to avoid hurting the school but was persuaded by Frankie and inspired by Kipling to stay. With spring break extended, the school goes back to Skull Shores and Andy is happy and more confident around other monsters now.
Personality[]
Due to a youth filled with disappointments and rejections, Andy has had trouble trusting others and may appear shy and ill-mannered. He also lives in constant fear of his beast side being unleashed, which he thinks makes him a danger to others. Since befriending the Monster High students, he has began to gain confidence, but it's still a way to go before he'll have dealt with his insecurities.
Andy presumably is from around the 18th century and has been living alone on Skull Shores since that time. As a result, he is unfamiliar with modern day technology, and is easily freaked out by it.
Appearance[]
As he normally looks, Andy possesses yellow irises, light purple skin, and dark purple hair. His ears are pointy and resemble a deer's. He also has white miniature antlers and sports a dark purple goatee.
As beast, Andy is some ten times his usual size, has dark purple skin, and is covered in fur. He sports a full beard. His irises are orange, while the rest of his eyes is yellow. His antlers are huge and purple.
Classic Monster[]
Andy doesn't seem to be based on one particular classic monster, but incorporates elements of several different ones.
Andy's role in his debut TV special is heavily based on King Kong (originally Kong), the titular character from the 1933 movie King Kong, who resides on the island known as Skull Island. King Kong is a giant ape that terrorizes the natives of Skull Island, but falls for the charms of a woman visiting the island, Ann Darrow. She comes to both fear the creature and sympathize with him, but neither does the creature good. King Kong is eventually captured and brought to New York, where he is put on display. Frustrated by severe maltreatment, King Kong breaks free and grabs Ann. With her in one hand, he climbs the Empire State Building to escape the crowds. At the top, he makes sure Ann remains safe, but he himself is killed by the gunfire from a squadron of military airplanes.
In Japan, King Kong was reimagined in 1962 as a kaiju.
Andy also shares a few characteristics with the Beast from the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, though most come from the fact that the stories of King Kong and the Beast are already thematically similar. Nonetheless, Andy's change from handsome young man to ferocious beast is unique to the latter story. Also, the scene with Andy stuffing his mouth full in the Creepateria, appears inspired by Disney's 1991 movie adaption of the fairy tale.
Andy's design has a forest theme, due to his combined elvish appearance and deer-themed looks. Particularly in his beast form, Andy resembles European forest men such as the Green Man, and the wild man. He also resembles a Chort (the son of Chernobog) found in many Slavic folk tales due to his horned appearance, his transformation from handsome to ferocious, as well as his propensity to kidnap when transformed.
The transformation Andy undergoes due to stress and other negativity invokes the main trait of the Marvel superhero, Hulk. Like him, Andy's clothes tear apart during the change, but his pants magically fit both sizes.
Lastly, Andy's character takes from the freaks, deformed humans who were put on display in freak shows in Europe starting the early 17th century. Andy's unique ability to change into a beast, and perhaps his entire monster identity, is probably the result of a mutation he was born with, which makes him different from his kin.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Andy's background is hinted at through several things Andy said, but it isn't clear-cut. He says that he "grew up as the only monster in a normie town", suggesting but not confirming his family consists of humans. Considering that Andy's last name is Beast, the suggestion becomes more that his parents are monsters too and that Andy is an only child, therefore being the only monster growing up in his town. Andy does explicitly state that his particular ability to change as a consequence of negative emotions is unique to him.
The way Andy's parents felt or feel about him isn't clear either. Andy says that the family moved several times to find a suitable environment for their son, where he wouldn't be made an outcast. But he also says that when they couldn't find one, they sent him far away.
Friends[]
Andy's closest friend is an explorer who visited Skull Shores around the start of the 20th century. She was the first person he met outside his family that was not afraid of him and with whom he felt at ease. When she left, Andy created several statues of her to help him remember her and the feeling of acceptance.
At the start of the 21st century, Andy met Frankie Stein, who looked and acted a great deal like his 20th century friend. Andy and Frankie befriended each other quickly.
Andy may share a friendship with Kipling, who like him is a freak and whom at the same time as Andy learned that this didn't make him less of a person.
Romance[]
Andy isn't romantically involved with anyone and has yet to show any interest to anyone as of yet. It's unknown if his feelings for the normie scientist or Frankie is considered only friendship or a crush.
Timeline[]
- April 09, 2012: Teaser screenshots of Andy in both forms are released on Facebook.
- April 13, 2012: Andy Beast makes his 3D cartoon debut in "Escape from Skull Shores".
Notes[]
- Andy's first name may be taken from Andy Serkis, a motion capture actor who did the movement for King Kong in the 2005 remake of the 1933 movie.