The Animorphs || Character Bios :: Cassie

Cassie:
The Peacemaker

Cassie, before she became an Animorph, was basically an environmentalist. She would always help out at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, a.k.a. "Cassie's barn" and gained a love for animals and nature. For this reason, she is known as the best morpher: she is more conscious of the animal itself, and is able to create an almost aesthetic effect while morphing, which is actually an art form on the Andalite homeworld.

Cassie is good with animals, to the extent that she's almost a little awkward around humans. In fact, Karen, or should we say Aftran (of #19 fame) "caught" her because she said she wasn't used to taking care of humans. When talking, she often seems to state the obvious, like "Look, it's a U.F.O.!" yet she's actually the most perceptive. She's an expert at analyzing people, and is usually the first to figure out something, like when Ax was telling everyone where the Yeerks got their technology from -- before he'd even completed the sentence, she was going "Oh, my God, I can't believe it!" She often uses this perception to manipulate people or predict their actions in order to form strategies. Although it was never really stated, it seems that it was Cassie who predicted and countered the desperate actions of the Yeerk in #6, Cassie who developed the detailed scheme to trap David, and Cassie who set up the Animorphs strategically at the cabin Jake's family was staying at when they knew that Jake himself might have to attack Tom. Especially when Jake's not in play, she's responsible for the Animorphs' strategic actions.

She is also known for being very compassionate to her enemies. She always feels bad when she has to injure or kill an enemy, even if it is "just a Yeerk," or if she has to ruin or destroy a human or Hork-Bajir life. She was torn apart by her ruthless killing of a Hork-Bajir at a certain Sharing mission. Unknown to her at the time, so was another Controller, Aftran, whose brother she had just killed. She followed Cassie home and discovered that she was not an Andalite at all, but a human girl. Eventually, they ended up in the woods, depending on each other for survival. In this time Cassie gained some remarkable insights to the enemies she had already fought for a long time -- maybe months -- which she had never imagined before. In the end they made a deal, and in the end, both trapped themselves in helpless situations, all for peace and the freedom of one human girl.

Later, involving Aftran again, Cassie had to get involved with the Yeerk Peace Movement which Aftran herself had formed, actually becoming a Yeerk and going into the Yeerk pool in a way she or none of the other Animorphs had ever gone before. She managed to save Aftran from interrogation and death, but she clearly suffered from some emotional impact, seeing all the tortued human-Controllers' hosts and the virtual hell the enemy had constructed for their slaves as well as themselves.

In a following incident, when the Animorphs have to quantum leap through time to avoid Visser Four's alternate history, Cassie also undergoes a lot of tension. Even though she preserves her perceptive, moral outlook, it almost seems as if she is becoming more reckless, doing much more dangerous things and even thrilling in being able to perform war tactics without fear of being killed. She also had a glimpse of who she could have easily been -- a hypocritical follower of evil, whose faint moralizing never once interfered with her owning and ordering slaves. And while all the Animorphs committed deeds that they regretted, it was all erased by the Time Matrix -- except for John Barryman. Cassie was responsible for his death, and she, unlike the others, can never tell herself that she didn't really do it after all. John Barryman and all he had been, was, or could have been, was deleted forever.

Character Quirks:
Cassie has always been big on morals. Whenever the Animorphs do anything even slightly questionable, she pops some big ethical questions, "Is this right?" This ranges from acquiring the DNA of sentient species (and even almost intelligent enough to be sentient species) to just plain killing. And although it can get on people's nerves -- Animorphs and fans alike -- in a war that involves DNA morphing and body-snatching, I really wouldn't want to see what would eventually happen with a moralizer like Cassie gone.

"Cassie, the killer with a conscience. Kill 'em then cry over 'em. That's our Cassie.'"

-- the Drode

Enemy Opinions:
Of all the Animorphs, Cassie exposes herself to the enemy the least. The only mission I can think of where she just went on there and tried to kick butt was #29. And that was more like a save the person who might spill our secret and also happens to be my friend mission. So at the current time, the enemy doesn't have much of an opinion of her. She was able to "convert" Aftran, (though she was having second thoughts in the first place, but it took Cassie to bring them out) which definitely means something. And without her insight, the Animorphs would be, if not dead, with an increased number of losses.

Relationship to the Group:
Cassie is just an undeniably nice person. Except for the Iskoort, she literally never met a person she just hated --- we have yet to see her get truly angry at anyone. She was even nice and optimistic about David, though she also turned out to be his undoing. This undoing, her ability to analyze and manipulate people, has often been a valuable asset to the Animorphs, and saved them a hundred times.

Jake:
These two are very sweet; they've been crushing since before #1. They were kind of coy about it for a long time, but in #26, she was so happy to see him alive she just rushed toward them and, next thing you know, they're kissing. She can usually tell how Jake's feeling, and tries to comfort him when he's feeling burdened or blaming himself for something. These two seem destined to stay together for life.

Rachel:
Despite being total opposites, Rachel and Cassie are best friends. They disagree about many things, but Rachel has become more thoughtful and considerate of ethical things since Cassie has had her issues, and in #19, she actually convinced her to go shopping. She's always willing to help Rachel out, and always manages to get around Rachel's pride that won't let her admit when she's afraid or weak.

Tobias:
Tobias and Cassie are actually pretty good friends. Especially when he has to talk about something that Ax couldn't relate to, yet it's too personal to tell Rachel about. She's very understanding of him, since she loves all animals and, as Rachel says "just sees humans as another type of animal," isn't bothered by his avian form.

Marco:
Marco is the only person that Cassie might be considered at odds with. He is a little bothered by her obsessing with morality, because, as Jake says, "It just doesn't take him that long to get from A to Z," and often sends some sharp remarks in Cassie's direction. She is more quiet and not quite as witty as the others, but she is sometimes seen calmly giving a response that shuts him up for the moment.

Ax:
Ax and Cassie also get along quite well. She is just fine with him being an alien and everything, because you see, he's just another animal too -- except one from another planet. She genuinely admires his extensive knowledge, though she know just the thing to say to boost his Andalite pride. She often helps him get through "human things" that Tobias can't relate to anymore and thus, can't help him.

Fan Opinion:
Many people have a neutral opinion of Cassie. She's a neat person, and always sweet, but she's not very tough, the quality that most people admire in Rachel, and they often get annoyed at her over-moralizing and always asking if something is right or not.

TV Cassie:
Cassie in AniTV isn't that much like Cassie in the books. Sure she's black, but . . . Well, I'll give it to Nadia: she does have this calm, meek quality when portraying Cassie that does fit in with her character, but without her remarkable perception of people, her inner pain over killing others, and the sweet, caring attitude that defines Cassie. She's mostly pushed into the background (which is too bad, because Nadia Nascimento is actually a very good actress). And instead of wearing poop-covered overalls, she has clothes which many people say are more stylish than Brooke's, and while Rachel should be leading, it's often Cassie who takes that role.

Personal Bias:
I happen to like Cassie a lot, with her being part of my upper triad of fave characters. I like her, not only because of the neat, thought-provoking issues she poses, but also just because she's an interesting person. I know I say that a lot, but isn't that the driving power of Animorphs, the fascinating people and the conflicts within them?

Latest Character Development:

Lately, though, Cassie seems to have been moving into the background. It could be because of the narration, the focus that is more on the main characters and less on her, or it could be that she is somewhat withdrawing herself. Lately, she's undergone several things which would be harsh on anyone, but especially someone emotional and sensitive like Cassie. So she's been hardening slightly, acting as if it dosn't affect her as much as it used to -- like when she was pracically devasted by the carnage in #9. As someone once said, it's sad that a person such as Cassie should have to harden because of war. Maybe she'll cope with it and it will help her mature... or maybe ot will scar her forever. We can only wait to find out.