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Curated by: Al Whittaker (71 videos)
Humans should be one of the weakest species in fantasy. Elves live longer. Dwarves are better craftsmen. Orcs are usually stronger. Dragons are dragons. And humans usually get… a normal lifespan, average senses, no claws, no magic birthright, and a worrying dependence on paperwork. So why do humans keep taking over fantasy worlds? Middle-earth eventually becomes the world of Men. In The Witcher, humans arrive late and still end up ruling most of the Continent. In Dragon Age, human kingdoms dominate much of Thedas. Across fantasy, humans often become the default empire-builders, settlers, conquerors, merchants, diplomats, and political center of the world. “Humans are adaptable” is the usual explanation. But what does that actually mean? In this video, I break down why humans dominate so many fantasy settings — not because the average human is secretly better than an elf, dwarf, or orc, but because human societies are often built to grow, copy, reorganize, absorb knowledge, and keep functioning after individual humans are gone. We look at: – why short lifespans can become a pressure to build institutions – why elves often lose through fertility, culture, or withdrawal – how humans preserve knowledge through books, schools, guilds, laws, and archives – why human kingdoms can copy magic, technology, and military systems from older peoples – how fantasy empires absorb specialists from other species – why roads, trade, language, religion, and law can matter more than winning one battle – and why humans are terrifying because they can lose without the whole system stopping Sources / Footage: Sources / Footage: Delicious in Dungeon / Dungeon Meshi (2024) © Ryoko Kui / KADOKAWA / Delicious in Dungeon Partners Re:ZERO − Starting Life in Another World (2016–) © Tappei Nagatsuki / KADOKAWA / Re:ZERO Partners Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (2023–) © Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe / Shogakukan / Frieren Project The Witcher (2019–) © Netflix / Platige Image / Hivemind The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) © New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. Pictures The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) © New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. Pictures The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) © New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. Pictures The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) © New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. Pictures Attack on Titan (2013–2023) © Hajime Isayama / Kodansha / Wit Studio / MAPPA Naruto Shippuden (2007–2017) © Masashi Kishimoto / Shueisha / TV Tokyo / Pierrot Warcraft (2016) © Universal Pictures / Legendary Pictures / Blizzard Entertainment Clannad (2007–2008) © Key / Kyoto Animation / Clannad Production Committee Jujutsu Kaisen (2020–) © Gege Akutami / Shueisha / MAPPA Warhammer animation footage © Games Workshop Black Clover (2017–2021) © Yūki Tabata / Shueisha / TV Tokyo / Pierrot Dr. Stone (2019–) © Riichiro Inagaki, Boichi / Shueisha / TMS Entertainment Vinland Saga (2019–2023) © Makoto Yukimura / Kodansha / Wit Studio / MAPPA Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (2021–) © Rifujin na Magonote / KADOKAWA / Studio Bind Bleach (2004–2012) © Tite Kubo / Shueisha / TV Tokyo / Pierrot All clips used for commentary, critique, and educational analysis. #fantasy , #worldbuilding , #fantasyanalysis , #fantasyworld , #fantasywriting , #lore , #media #videoessay Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. This video and the pictures and clips used are critiques covered under this “fair use”. I did not create the movies, shows, games or media shown. If you wish to fully access the media, please buy a legal copy online or in stores.