Be sure to join us TOMORROW (Sunday) for a livestream with ArdaCraft - who are creating a book-accurate version of Middle-earth in Minecraft! th-cam.com/video/XaHGd-DdV20/w-d-xo.html
Son, you go to your room! Dad my room is just a pit of lava! Can I get it extended to that cave of gold that we have over there? Then that would solve my bed issue. ( That's when you found out that a year ago Malgoth gave him a nice hill under the mountain to sleep but he got in a brawl with some teenage balwrocs and broke is hill when they were goofing off)
Ancalagon might be the biggest dragon Morgoth created, but Glaurung was the best dragon in Middle Earth. He was so cunning and naughty even Morgoth was quite displeased with him
I quite agree! Glaurung's sheer range - being able to be destructive and manipulative in equal measure - the scene with Turin in Nargothrond alone is chilling. The idea of the power in the gaze and voice of a dragon (combined with cunning, astute understanding of psychology, guilt-tripping, flattery, the pretence of pity and even grudging admiration for Turin's - and simple flat out lying!) Goodness knows what was passing through the minds of Finduilas and the other distraught captives. Glaurung seems to more than possess the voice of Morgoth, embodying in large measure also the latter's vengeance against Hurin's children, witnessed by Hurin through the first Dark Lord's eyes... Plus the idea of a younger, more impulsive Glaurung as the draconic equivalent of a stroppy adolescent is only made more priceless by that of Morgoth, once possessed of cosmic power before the dawn of time, later reduced to merely titanic power, before dwindling further while growing in "conventional power" inasmuch as an army including Balrogs, Orcs, assorted bestial or diabolical beings that were formerly Maiar, reaching his lowest ebb - as the somewhat peeved "parent" of Glaurung!
@@valentinkambushev4968 Flattery and lies not withstanding, I am not sure that Melkor/the Devil was ever exactly easily pleased, but the image remains hilarious, touched with schadenfreude in the midst of the often tragic events of the First Age (judging by the Silmarilion at any rate).
Ah! Aquela época durante a primeira era foi lendário, nos Anãos estávamos no nosso esplendor! E os dragões estavam em milhões! Já durante a 3 era só havia 1 !
Crazy to think that Elrond's daddy was the guy to kill not just the biggest dragon in Tolkeins works, but one of the biggest dragons in ANY fantasy universe.
i dunno the plot armor was so thick in that scene it feels like a half ass retcon or something. (the whole flying boat thing sucks imo - ill just imagine that they're really eagles instead of some non-sense crap lol)
I just thought of something; Glaurung has more diverse abilities than Ancalagon and the other winged Dragons. When he first thought up the Dragons, I believe that Morgoth wanted creatures that could cause more chaos against his foes. But, in the War of Wrath, Morgoth needed more raw and destructive power. Hence, the complete removal of abilities like Glaurung's gaze, replaced with wings and even greater size.
I would argue that Ancalagon had all the powers of Glaurung and much more, but he never had the chance (and for the most part never the need) to use them
Winged dragons have Glaurung's powers. Smaug uses them briefly in the Hobbit, IIRC (though to much less effect than Glaurung), and if Smaug had them then surely Ancalagon must have as well.
@@hugo-pg5tvTruth be told though glaurung being the far more fleshed out of all the dragons of the first age, especially more so than ancalagon. So i cant really blame folks for getting this bit mixed up. Heck...even makes a bit of sense if not for smaug and the whole dragon sickness thing flies in the face of it. Another part that i see alot is "morgoth created dragons" HE CANT CREATE, ONLY CORRUPT. Yet still.. Easy to see how that can get confused.
I've always been so impressed by the description of Ancalagon. We are impressed by dragons like Smaug and those from Game of Thrones, but imagine one so massive, its fall breaks a mountain. That would be something cool to see in a show but not sure they can/will
If you want some reference there is a dragon sleeping on a mountain in Ds3 archdragon peak. He’s almost bigger than the mountain itself. And it’s no small mountain either
The imagery of Eärendil in his hallowed ship, beaming light from the silmaril, and fighting Ancalagon is one of my favorites in all of Tolkien's work. If I could choose one battle to have a lot more detail on, then it would certainly be that one.
Weirdly that fits the dragons more then the troopers. Troopers had jump jets 70 years ago, it's not new. Giant fire breathing crocodile monsters being able to fly is a new game changer because walls won't protect from them anymore.
Nice of Morgoth to give his dragons courses in rhetoric and elocution, at least to Glaurung and Smaug. Something that, apparently, he didn't do with his balrogs.
i like to think he only had to teach one and they carried it on by teaching their young - everyone is scratching their heads about how smaug knows how to talk lol - but the ents learned how to speak and they then taught their young to speak their own language afterwards - you think a 600 year old dragon is just chilling in a cave breathing fire til dad says he can come out of his room again? lol (also the balrogs know how to use spells - which require knowledge of ancient speech so yeah)
Balrogs could speak, and did, but they're very rare and none get an entire book about them or much characterisation, aside from some pages in the silmarillion and unfinished tales. Durin's bane just doesnt speak in the film, and is scarier for it.
I am surprised by how recent the videos covering LOTR, Tolkens universe lore are. I expected most content to be decades old as YT has been around for 20 years or so. As one who has not read the books, the insight into the elaborite history of middle earth and its characters, especially those left out of the movies, is greatly appreciated.
To be fair, during the first years of TH-cam there was no content creator as we know them, it started around 2008, and it was mostly funny videos. But I agree that in the recent years we have seen a huge surge in Tolkien lore videos. (And yes, please, read the books they are incredible)
This video is amazing, I love all of it! The size of these dragons is unimaginable, thx for putting extra effort into the voice acting, one tip that I have and you could look into is voice pitch lowering/shifting(it's not very hard to do, a few buttons away), basically, you are lowering the pitch of your voice to sound even more terrifying (based on how much you are lowering it), it can be done directly in the video editing software or if not you can find free audio processing software.
I got so excited when I saw the title of your newest Tolkien Explained video. I love that you directly quote from the book "and he fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim, and they were broken in his ruin." and thus avoid the sensitive topic of the size of Ancalagon the Black, for now everyone can still interpret it the way they hear it. The deep dive into Glaurung's life really describes the development of dragons and the hidden abilities that are often overlooked and neither were shown in the movies. Great work!
All the other dragons were terrifying and all since they killed so many, but I feel like Glaurung was the most twisted since he allowed people to live if only for their lives to become tormented by his will.
I was always confused about the origin of the Dragon's. We are told by Tolkien that Morgoth can't create new beings just corrupt them like captured Elves becoming corrupted into Orcs, or fallen Maiar following Morgoth and becoming Balrogs.
I have a theory on this, but I thought it would be best for its own video. Obviously, Morgoth could have perverted some other creature (like elves to orcs). However, I think Glaurung speaking with Morgoth's voice might point to them being of his own mind, so to speak. Much like the dwarves and Aule, before Eru gives them true life. Just a theory!
@@NerdoftheRings The theory makes sense, could that also apply to Smaug in The Hobbit even though Morgoth was removed from the world, over six thousand years prior?
@@NerdoftheRings But Dwarves were immobile if Aule did not control them by his will , so when Morgoth was yeeted beyond the door of night dont you think that dragons would just slowly become powerless but still Dragons fought wars with dwarves , means they were still powerfull ?
nice voices dude =) your natural voice is rather high pitched so i thought for sure that was someone else at first. and whoever did the artwork for ancalagon is a monet of middle-earth!
Ah Ancalagon, how I wish you were around more so I could have gotten a grasp on your personality. And Glaurung is most certainly one of Tolkien's greatest villains in my humble opinion. Splendid video as always good sir! Btw, are you going to do videos on Fëanor and Gothmog the Balrog lord sometime in the future?
I like to think Earendil had lifelong ptsd from seeing the dragons torching Gondolin when he was a child. His battle with Ancalagon was also a battle with his childhood fears. Like, he is trembling a little as he flies to battle, he is remembering the Fall of Gondolin. Then he grabs his bow and thinks "no, I'm not helpless anymore."
Amazing video! Always loved the Dragons. Glaurung was such a great villain so conniving and manipulative in his ways especially with Turin and Nienor. It’s interesting that we only know Gostir by name and know nothing else except for him being one of Morgoth’s dragons. Makes me wonder why Tolkien left it as such.
@@Enerdhil most likely that’s probably what happened. It happens quite a few times that names are mentioned and then we know nothing about them at all.
The description of Vingilot appearing in the moment of greatest need and leading the great eagles of Manwe into battle, the light of the Silmaril on Earendils forehead piercing through Morgoth's darkness is my one of my favourite moments in Tolkien's work. (Alongside the Númenorian invasion of Aman, the destruction of the One Ring and the conversation between Tuor and Ulmo.)
Unbelievably good. Watching a second time. Might I say that this is best played at 1.25 speed the first time. Your pronunciation it wonderful and the art spectacular as it always is. You have become a narrator to be reckoned with!
Do y’all think that, like Glaurung and Smaug, Ancalagon could speak? Considering he’s the mightiest of all dragons, it could be a possibility If he could, he would probably have a voice that could paralyze entire armies and break the land and skies with its power.
"Come face my might, children of Eru; my scales are as the timeless void! My eyes are the mockery of the great lamps my master did tore asunder! My teeth are as all Arda would snap unmarred! My roar brings ending to all motion of the world! As I sleep, my tail encircles your nests in Eriador, while my head lays aloft in the Halls of Mandos! My wings are an eclipse of a hundred winters! My fire, is the desolation of stars! Fear be your only recourse, and take pride you meet your death beneath my shade!"
It's so fun to hear about all the massive battles, terrifying creatures, beautiful landscapes and powerful dark lords of the ages that predates the third age. It puts the war of the ring in a completly different light. Compared to the first age, Arda during the third age is more similiar to a post-apocalyptic world than anything else.
The war of wrath is almost too epic to comprehend. The skies erupting with lighting and flame with the coming of the dragons, and earendil slaying ancagalon on his flying ship from the heavens among the eagles. Chills down my spine and tears in my eyes
Amazing video as always, mate. I'd love to one day see a video about lesser known beasts/monsters like the Watcher In The Water. Always been curious about it.
Such a great video, thanks for your hard work and quality content. I have a video suggestion: the circumstances, main events around the beginning and ending of each age.
That's great video idea. Videos have been done about The War of Wrath and The War of the Last Alliance, but nothing has been done about the transitions into the next age. The Numenor videos are all independent, separated from the events of the Second Age.
"Sentient" dragons would have to come from an original creation of Iluvatar, since Sauron, like Aule and Yavanna, is incapable of creating sentient beings without Eru's help. They can be BRED. So where did the first dragons originate? What could they have been? Alligators from the south of Arda?
I like to think of them like the giant spiders, the first being a maia bounding itself to the world with a mortal form, and their children being a new race.
Glaurung is inspired by Fafnir, dragon from a Norse legend. Fafnir is actually a dwarv who transformed himself into a dragon. Just saying this to add to your confusion 😉
I personally love how incomprehensibly large ancalagon is. He is literally using MOUNTAINS to stabilize himself. Trying to even imagine that is so freaking impossible that it literally fascinates me. Could you imagine just looking up at this massive black dragon that probably would span the entire horizon. I just love the idea so much.
i live in Colorado, with big mountains right outside in my yard. I looked outbthe window while reading this and tried to picture a Dragon standing across the peaks as if they were mere stepping stones….. 😳😳
You should make some more videos about good things, it feels like most videos tend to be about morgoth and his evils, which I get is pretty much most of Tolkien’s work, but there are good stories too. I’d love to hear more about the good Valar and could we get a video on Sam? He has such a great story and actually ends up as sort of the main character when you advance through the lord of the rings books. This is an awesome channel and I love what you’re doing, keep up the good work!
This was a really interesting video to watch, thank you for providing such enjoyable recounts of Tolkien's world! Now I haven't fully read the Silmarillion yet or know the exact wording of the fight between Earendil and Ancalagon, and am told that not much is known about what really happened in the aerial battle. From what I heard, I like to think the Eagles and Earendil's shots/light/attacks eventually blinded or rendered the dragon flightless, causing it to fall from the sky and impale itself on one of the towers of Thangorodrim. Trashing about in its final, fiery breaths, the volcanoes came crumbling down as Ancalagon dies. It seems to me like a probable explanation for how such a large dragon could be slain.
I’ve often wondered this about the dragons of middle earth- there’s no known parallel creatures that Morgoth could have based them on, except perhaps the eagles of Manwe. But a thought occurred to me awhile back. Morgoth before his establishment of his bases of operations in Beleriand, was the most transient and well traveled of the Valar, except possibly for Orome. It’s conceivable to me that Morgoth in his travels, could have seen creatures that are yet unknown to many in the West, and based his dragons from those models.
@5:45 - 6:08 Did you change your voice for that part? If so, I absolutely loved it 💯 Sounds great and truly shows the heart you put into making these videos!
I don’t know if you’ve made videos already, but travels of any of the other high kings of the Noldror or and videos of the houses of the edian would be cool see🙂
Not sure if they’re accurate (probably not tbh) but I do love the art depicting Glaurung and the wingless dragons just looking like big lizards. Adds a sort of more “primordial” feel to them, like they’re still closer to whatever they may have been before Morgoth’s power made them into dragons.
This was a neat video! I've always wondered about the dragons of Middle Earth. Do we any idea how big Ancalagon actually was? I've seen depictions of him where he's literally the size of mountains and some where he's only a bit bigger than Earendil's ship. Personally, I like the idea that he's somewhere in the middle. Big enough to be incredibly threatening, but small enough that Earendil's ship doesn't look comically small.
This comment is a year late, but i have to say this. We know that ancalagon the black is a mountain sized dragon. He broke the towers of thangorodrim in his fall, which were peaks of 35000 ft. We can assume that he was smaller than them but still huge to have broken all three in his fall ( although he fell from quite a height). So i assume for him to be in the 20k - 30k ft. range, so approx. 25000 ft. long. This is based on my calculations and head canon, no true information is given on his height. The information on the towers is true tho.
So how did Morgoth “create” the dragons if he was incapable of making life? He perverted elves into orcs, even made the trolls in mockery of the ents Did he capture an innocent little snake and fill it with evil? I’m very curious about this haha
Haha. I just responded to this question a second ago, so I'll include it here... I have a theory on this, but I thought it would be best for its own video. Obviously, Morgoth could have perverted some other creature (like elves to orcs). However, I think Glaurung speaking with Morgoth's voice might point to them being of his own mind, so to speak. Much like the dwarves and Aule, before Eru gives them true life. Just a theory!
@@NerdoftheRings Once Aule turned his attention away from his creation, they fell unconscious to the ground. Doesn't Morgoth have to be in proximity to do what you think he does with dragons? Don't all the dragons have to be controlled by their puppet master simultaneously? Can Morgoth actually do that? How can Smaug use the voice of Morgoth when Morgoth is shut out if Arda? The dragons have to be sentient beings.
i can't tell you how much i enjoy your storytelling... i would listen to you read the whole LOTR series. i really really enjoyed your Smaug impressions in the Smaug video requested by your son, he's a lucky boy to have such an amazing storytelling father.
I learned so much about Glaurung, but Ancalagon is my favorite to learn about because he's the biggest of all the dragons. Way bigger than Smaug himself. I can imagine if Ancalagon left behind a descendant before the fourth age.
Love this video, have watched it a few times. I love listening to the wars including Glaurung, and especially your video showing his movements during battle etc.
"Yae I will drink thy blood gladly, that I may forget the blood of my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly..." -the most brutal response from a sword you're about to cast yourself upon.
I think if he can do a video with one of the Tolkien Language experts explaining pronunciation, it would be better. Matt can ask the questions we need to know the answers to and the expert can give us the answers.
@@simoncooper6752 His name looks familiar. Is he the guy who worked with Peter Jackson on the LotR Trilogy? Matt will likely have to pay someone like that to be on his video. Maybe Matt can get a sponsor. Or maybe David Salo will do it so he can promote sales for any books he has. I would be interested in any book out there that explains Tolkien language pronunciation.
I think that like Morgoth made dragons ,Sauron ,his servant , made the winged terrors , the fell steads of the Nine with the same process , magic or whatever .
@@principledpsychopath8461 I did some research on the topic of sentience and found that wolves were corrupted and infused with evil spirits that changed them into sentient Wargs. I guess that means if Melkor pours an evil spirit into an already existing non-sentient being and corrupts it, the finished creature becomes sentient. If that is the case, then dragons could have been made the same way, although I have no idea what Melkor started with or how Ancalagon could have grown so large.....
![The Dragons of Middle-earth [COMPILATION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YSUlfiQVuDg/mqdefault.jpg)
Be sure to join us TOMORROW (Sunday) for a livestream with ArdaCraft - who are creating a book-accurate version of Middle-earth in Minecraft!
th-cam.com/video/XaHGd-DdV20/w-d-xo.html
Oh I’ll be there no doubt. Have a nice day everyone! 😀
Do a video of the dwarves in the first age please 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Can you do a life of Celeborn video please? 🔥
Are dragons fully extinct in LOTR?
do you have link to the map you were using (beleriand)
The idea of Morgoth _grounding_ his young, disobedient dragon for two-hundred years is hilarious.
Son, you go to your room! Dad my room is just a pit of lava! Can I get it extended to that cave of gold that we have over there? Then that would solve my bed issue. ( That's when you found out that a year ago Malgoth gave him a nice hill under the mountain to sleep but he got in a brawl with some teenage balwrocs and broke is hill when they were goofing off)
Reminds me of my cat
*Worm, Glaurung was a worm.
@@PADARM,
*Shai-Hulud was a worm.
Haha “Bad dog!”
Ancalagon might be the biggest dragon Morgoth created, but Glaurung was the best dragon in Middle Earth. He was so cunning and naughty even Morgoth was quite displeased with him
That awkward moment when even the Devil himself isn't pleased with you.
I LOVE Glaurung's character. Such a great villain!!
I quite agree! Glaurung's sheer range - being able to be destructive and manipulative in equal measure - the scene with Turin in Nargothrond alone is chilling. The idea of the power in the gaze and voice of a dragon (combined with cunning, astute understanding of psychology, guilt-tripping, flattery, the pretence of pity and even grudging admiration for Turin's - and simple flat out lying!) Goodness knows what was passing through the minds of Finduilas and the other distraught captives.
Glaurung seems to more than possess the voice of Morgoth, embodying in large measure also the latter's vengeance against Hurin's children, witnessed by Hurin through the first Dark Lord's eyes...
Plus the idea of a younger, more impulsive Glaurung as the draconic equivalent of a stroppy adolescent is only made more priceless by that of Morgoth, once possessed of cosmic power before the dawn of time, later reduced to merely titanic power, before dwindling further while growing in "conventional power" inasmuch as an army including Balrogs, Orcs, assorted bestial or diabolical beings that were formerly Maiar, reaching his lowest ebb - as the somewhat peeved "parent" of Glaurung!
@@valentinkambushev4968 Flattery and lies not withstanding, I am not sure that Melkor/the Devil was ever exactly easily pleased, but the image remains hilarious, touched with schadenfreude in the midst of the often tragic events of the First Age (judging by the Silmarilion at any rate).
Bad and naughty dragons are put in the Iron Prison of Angband to atone for their crimes.
Dragon: *reveals itself early*
Morgoth: "YOU'RE GROUNDED FOR 200 YEARS!!!"
Dragon: But daaad...
The dwarves stand against Glaurung is so cool. I love the long standing rivalry between the dragons and the dwarves. Great video as always!
Thanks for watching! I do love some Dwarves v Dragons action!!
Ah! Aquela época durante a primeira era foi lendário, nos Anãos estávamos no nosso esplendor! E os dragões estavam em milhões! Já durante a 3 era só havia 1 !
@@Dwarfsaliance need a movie about it
@Aung Ramenmovies on 1st age would be beyond what we’ve seen
@@jummyranCant be done for like 10-15 reasons but im right there with you on this! Ancalagon and glaurung ON SCREEN?!?!🤯🤯🤯🤯
Crazy to think that Elrond's daddy was the guy to kill not just the biggest dragon in Tolkeins works, but one of the biggest dragons in ANY fantasy universe.
Not only any fantasy universe, maybe even bigger than modern Kaiju's like Godzilla or King Ghidorrah, or if not have similar size.
@@kotarojujo2737 way bigger then them he's over 100km big
@@kotarojujo2737 your name is messing with my head lol
@@BRG1807 than*
i dunno the plot armor was so thick in that scene it feels like a half ass retcon or something.
(the whole flying boat thing sucks imo - ill just imagine that they're really eagles instead of some non-sense crap lol)
I always get goosebumps whenever I hear ancalagon's name
I get goosebumps whenever I hear the name of any of Tolkien's dragons.
@@valentinkambushev4968 .
@@smaug9956
Just got goosebumps.🙂
Would have loved to see him in action
Cool Penguin For some reason, I always thought it was pronounced with a soft c. 🤔
And here you thought The Lord of the Rings was nuts. The Silmarillion out here with spaceships fighting mountain-sized dragons.
Earendil: What is a spaceship?
Final Fantasy origins
*Frodo looking at history books about the first age and about the flying ship*
"oh yeah....and we have to WALK to mordor eating lambas bread..."
I just thought of something;
Glaurung has more diverse abilities than Ancalagon and the other winged Dragons. When he first thought up the Dragons, I believe that Morgoth wanted creatures that could cause more chaos against his foes. But, in the War of Wrath, Morgoth needed more raw and destructive power. Hence, the complete removal of abilities like Glaurung's gaze, replaced with wings and even greater size.
I would argue that Ancalagon had all the powers of Glaurung and much more, but he never had the chance (and for the most part never the need) to use them
Winged dragons have Glaurung's powers. Smaug uses them briefly in the Hobbit, IIRC (though to much less effect than Glaurung), and if Smaug had them then surely Ancalagon must have as well.
Ancalagon 100% had everything glaurung had and more there is a reason he is called the greatest dragon in historia of middle earth.
@@hugo-pg5tvTruth be told though glaurung being the far more fleshed out of all the dragons of the first age, especially more so than ancalagon. So i cant really blame folks for getting this bit mixed up.
Heck...even makes a bit of sense if not for smaug and the whole dragon sickness thing flies in the face of it. Another part that i see alot is "morgoth created dragons" HE CANT CREATE, ONLY CORRUPT. Yet still.. Easy to see how that can get confused.
I LIKE YOU!!!
I've always been so impressed by the description of Ancalagon. We are impressed by dragons like Smaug and those from Game of Thrones, but imagine one so massive, its fall breaks a mountain. That would be something cool to see in a show but not sure they can/will
If you want some reference there is a dragon sleeping on a mountain in Ds3 archdragon peak. He’s almost bigger than the mountain itself. And it’s no small mountain either
And to imagine that this thing can fly. He is so massive that he should be able to fly in space.
@@valentinkambushev4968 but he needs air to fly
Edit: nevermind I just had a smooth brain moment
@@killahasbigrpk8711 I was just about to say that we threw away the scenes a long time ago, but you did it for me.
@Pangea06 it’s enough to make even the ainur scared
"There is only one Dragon in Bywater. And that's green!"
lololol Matt missed that one.😄😆😂🤣
You can drink your fancy ales,
You can drink them by the flagon,
But the only brew for the brave and truuuuuue,
Comes from the Green Dragon!
And he does not share beer
@@typacsk * jumps off the roof onto an eagle
Glaurung is really impressive villain. One of my most favorite villains in Tolkien's universe.
Glaurung: Here are the test results.
For Niniel, wife of Turin.
*YOU ARE THE SISTER!*
The imagery of Eärendil in his hallowed ship, beaming light from the silmaril, and fighting Ancalagon is one of my favorites in all of Tolkien's work. If I could choose one battle to have a lot more detail on, then it would certainly be that one.
agreed
And the dual between Fingolfin and morgoth
This man knows more about dragons than I do. And I'm Gandalf!
You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties, you have not wisdom.
Gandalf!?
More study, less epic sax
Ah old grey beard
Excuse me?
Love how glaurung was grounded for two hundred years
That Glaurung voice was awesome!
Thanks so much! :)
remind me of the pitlords of warcraft lol
12:42
In the words of very conflicted movie,
"Oh, they fly now!
They fly now?!....
They fly now."
Weirdly that fits the dragons more then the troopers. Troopers had jump jets 70 years ago, it's not new. Giant fire breathing crocodile monsters being able to fly is a new game changer because walls won't protect from them anymore.
@@beastwarsFTW not much protection when they can just bust open the walls with their immense bulk/ melt an entry with their flames.
Nice of Morgoth to give his dragons courses in rhetoric and elocution, at least to Glaurung and Smaug. Something that, apparently, he didn't do with his balrogs.
i like to think he only had to teach one and they carried it on by teaching their young - everyone is scratching their heads about how smaug knows how to talk lol - but the ents learned how to speak and they then taught their young to speak their own language afterwards - you think a 600 year old dragon is just chilling in a cave breathing fire til dad says he can come out of his room again? lol (also the balrogs know how to use spells - which require knowledge of ancient speech so yeah)
Balrogs spoke the dark speech
Balrogs absolutely could speak. The Balrog in Moria specifically utters a counter-curse to stop one of Gandalf's spells.
Balrogs could speak, and did, but they're very rare and none get an entire book about them or much characterisation, aside from some pages in the silmarillion and unfinished tales. Durin's bane just doesnt speak in the film, and is scarier for it.
Good guy Morgoth: If you join his army, you get free college education including courses in rhetoric and elocution!
His voice for Glaurung is highkey really good
I am surprised by how recent the videos covering LOTR, Tolkens universe lore are. I expected most content to be decades old as YT has been around for 20 years or so. As one who has not read the books, the insight into the elaborite history of middle earth and its characters, especially those left out of the movies, is greatly appreciated.
I agree, but please read the books.🙏
To be fair, during the first years of TH-cam there was no content creator as we know them, it started around 2008, and it was mostly funny videos. But I agree that in the recent years we have seen a huge surge in Tolkien lore videos. (And yes, please, read the books they are incredible)
@@Anarchouettisme
I have to confess that I have subscribed to about ten if them.🙂
youtube is only 16 years old, created in 2005
This video is amazing, I love all of it! The size of these dragons is unimaginable, thx for putting extra effort into the voice acting, one tip that I have and you could look into is voice pitch lowering/shifting(it's not very hard to do, a few buttons away), basically, you are lowering the pitch of your voice to sound even more terrifying (based on how much you are lowering it), it can be done directly in the video editing software or if not you can find free audio processing software.
I got so excited when I saw the title of your newest Tolkien Explained video. I love that you directly quote from the book "and he fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim, and they were broken in his ruin." and thus avoid the sensitive topic of the size of Ancalagon the Black, for now everyone can still interpret it the way they hear it. The deep dive into Glaurung's life really describes the development of dragons and the hidden abilities that are often overlooked and neither were shown in the movies. Great work!
All the other dragons were terrifying and all since they killed so many, but I feel like Glaurung was the most twisted since he allowed people to live if only for their lives to become tormented by his will.
Can you imagine Glaurung or Angalacon breathing? They would destroy stuff just in their normal respiratory process.
I was always confused about the origin of the Dragon's. We are told by Tolkien that Morgoth can't create new beings just corrupt them like captured Elves becoming corrupted into Orcs, or fallen Maiar following Morgoth and becoming Balrogs.
I have a theory on this, but I thought it would be best for its own video. Obviously, Morgoth could have perverted some other creature (like elves to orcs). However, I think Glaurung speaking with Morgoth's voice might point to them being of his own mind, so to speak. Much like the dwarves and Aule, before Eru gives them true life. Just a theory!
Wouldn’t Eru object to the dragons if they were created similar to the dwarves?
@@NerdoftheRings The theory makes sense, could that also apply to Smaug in The Hobbit even though Morgoth was removed from the world, over six thousand years prior?
@@NerdoftheRings But Dwarves were immobile if Aule did not control them by his will , so when Morgoth was yeeted beyond the door of night dont you think that dragons would just slowly become powerless but still Dragons fought wars with dwarves , means they were still powerfull ?
@@Knight860 probably not. Smaug was young when he took over Erebor.
So what you’re saying is that Morgoth literally grounded Glaurung for two centuries. Talk about strict parents.
nice voices dude =) your natural voice is rather high pitched so i thought for sure that was someone else at first. and whoever did the artwork for ancalagon is a monet of middle-earth!
the first age needs its own movie(you cant change my mind), wonderful video!
It needs it's own ten-season TV contract.🙂
I've always loved the dwarves especially for their craftsmanship
Ah Ancalagon, how I wish you were around more so I could have gotten a grasp on your personality. And Glaurung is most certainly one of Tolkien's greatest villains in my humble opinion. Splendid video as always good sir! Btw, are you going to do videos on Fëanor and Gothmog the Balrog lord sometime in the future?
Ancalagon would fling Godzilla to the stratosphere just by farting.
This subject is fascinating ! Wish we knew more about ancalagon but the way you talk about him is too interesting to resist the urge ti know more!
Another day, another great content! I was so eagerly waiting for you to cover the subject of dragons. Thank you so much. Great Job #Nerd of the rings!
Thanks so much!
Literally got 15 minutes of shivers listening to this! So incredibly well done!! Keep up the great work, I look forward to your content all week!!!😁
I like to think Earendil had lifelong ptsd from seeing the dragons torching Gondolin when he was a child. His battle with Ancalagon was also a battle with his childhood fears. Like, he is trembling a little as he flies to battle, he is remembering the Fall of Gondolin. Then he grabs his bow and thinks "no, I'm not helpless anymore."
Amazing video! Always loved the Dragons. Glaurung was such a great villain so conniving and manipulative in his ways especially with Turin and Nienor. It’s interesting that we only know Gostir by name and know nothing else except for him being one of Morgoth’s dragons. Makes me wonder why Tolkien left it as such.
Maybe he started a story featuring Gostir that he couldn't finish.
@@Enerdhil most likely that’s probably what happened. It happens quite a few times that names are mentioned and then we know nothing about them at all.
Another good one bud. Keep up the good work. You should do a what if and try to recreate the war of wrath. No one would be better to do that then you.
The description of Vingilot appearing in the moment of greatest need and leading the great eagles of Manwe into battle, the light of the Silmaril on Earendils forehead piercing through Morgoth's darkness is my one of my favourite moments in Tolkien's work. (Alongside the Númenorian invasion of Aman, the destruction of the One Ring and the conversation between Tuor and Ulmo.)
8:23 Please do a video about spells and oaths of Middle Earth. And their power and what it does to the different persons involved.
Forgot what great DM voices you got; respect.
Unbelievably good. Watching a second time. Might I say that this is best played at 1.25 speed the first time. Your pronunciation it wonderful and the art spectacular as it always is. You have become a narrator to be reckoned with!
I think you should do a video on the greatest mounts of middle earth (horses and other creatures)
Bill the Pony for the win 🙂
@@garytwinem5275 Indeed😂😂😂
That would be cool!
Do y’all think that, like Glaurung and Smaug, Ancalagon could speak? Considering he’s the mightiest of all dragons, it could be a possibility
If he could, he would probably have a voice that could paralyze entire armies and break the land and skies with its power.
Ancalagon spoke by grinding mountains beneath his tread.
His voice was made of earthquakes, whirlwinds, and tsunami tsunamis! Could I get a lil Ancalagon asmr pls&thx
"Come face my might, children of Eru; my scales are as the timeless void! My eyes are the mockery of the great lamps my master did tore asunder! My teeth are as all Arda would snap unmarred! My roar brings ending to all motion of the world! As I sleep, my tail encircles your nests in Eriador, while my head lays aloft in the Halls of Mandos! My wings are an eclipse of a hundred winters! My fire, is the desolation of stars! Fear be your only recourse, and take pride you meet your death beneath my shade!"
@@KingOfSciliyhe must have been a contortionist haha that's a really sick line, what's that from?
@@jacobburr3570 It's partially inspired by Smaug's description of himself in The Hobbit.
Glaurung: Emerging from Angband without the wishes of his master.
Morgoth: That's it, your grounded
Glaurung: Nooooooooooo
Weekly story telling sessions 😊, love listening to these to start off the weekend
It's so fun to hear about all the massive battles, terrifying creatures, beautiful landscapes and powerful dark lords of the ages that predates the third age. It puts the war of the ring in a completly different light. Compared to the first age, Arda during the third age is more similiar to a post-apocalyptic world than anything else.
Ah yes, Ancalagon, the personification of the meteor that hit earth all those years ago in Dragon form.
And killed dinosaurs!
The war of wrath is almost too epic to comprehend. The skies erupting with lighting and flame with the coming of the dragons, and earendil slaying ancagalon on his flying ship from the heavens among the eagles. Chills down my spine and tears in my eyes
Amazing video as always, mate. I'd love to one day see a video about lesser known beasts/monsters like the Watcher In The Water. Always been curious about it.
Such a great video, thanks for your hard work and quality content. I have a video suggestion: the circumstances, main events around the beginning and ending of each age.
That's great video idea. Videos have been done about The War of Wrath and The War of the Last Alliance, but nothing has been done about the transitions into the next age. The Numenor videos are all independent, separated from the events of the Second Age.
i love that you listed the artists and artworks shown in the video, gained a sub!
Thanks! There are some phenomenal artists in the world of Tolkien!! Welcome to the channel! 😁
These videos are going to be so helpful when it comes to the upcoming show. Can't wait!
"Sentient" dragons would have to come from an original creation of Iluvatar, since Sauron, like Aule and Yavanna, is incapable of creating sentient beings without Eru's help. They can be BRED. So where did the first dragons originate? What could they have been? Alligators from the south of Arda?
I like to think of them like the giant spiders, the first being a maia bounding itself to the world with a mortal form, and their children being a new race.
@@matthiuskoenig3378 The problem with that though is that you still need other spiders/dragons a Maia can breed with
Glaurung is inspired by Fafnir, dragon from a Norse legend. Fafnir is actually a dwarv who transformed himself into a dragon. Just saying this to add to your confusion 😉
@@Crafty_Spirit
Thanks. I appreciate it. lol
The idea of talking alligators in the universe needs to be canon.
I personally love how incomprehensibly large ancalagon is. He is literally using MOUNTAINS to stabilize himself. Trying to even imagine that is so freaking impossible that it literally fascinates me. Could you imagine just looking up at this massive black dragon that probably would span the entire horizon. I just love the idea so much.
i live in Colorado, with big mountains right outside in my yard. I looked outbthe window while reading this and tried to picture a Dragon standing across the peaks as if they were mere stepping stones….. 😳😳
Would definitely be a sight to see
I hate the idea. Artists have oversized him way too much. A dragon of that size would crush any opposing force and would be way, way too OP
I dare to say this may be one of your best works.. absolutely stunning
Thanks so much!
You should make some more videos about good things, it feels like most videos tend to be about morgoth and his evils, which I get is pretty much most of Tolkien’s work, but there are good stories too. I’d love to hear more about the good Valar and could we get a video on Sam? He has such a great story and actually ends up as sort of the main character when you advance through the lord of the rings books. This is an awesome channel and I love what you’re doing, keep up the good work!
Sam was one of Tolkien's greatest characters. The best role model for any child, especially boy.
He has made several of those videos. My favorite are the ones about Faramir.
This was a really interesting video to watch, thank you for providing such enjoyable recounts of Tolkien's world!
Now I haven't fully read the Silmarillion yet or know the exact wording of the fight between Earendil and Ancalagon, and am told that not much is known about what really happened in the aerial battle.
From what I heard, I like to think the Eagles and Earendil's shots/light/attacks eventually blinded or rendered the dragon flightless, causing it to fall from the sky and impale itself on one of the towers of Thangorodrim. Trashing about in its final, fiery breaths, the volcanoes came crumbling down as Ancalagon dies. It seems to me like a probable explanation for how such a large dragon could be slain.
Morgoth: I'm tired of playing, bring the big guns!
Thanks for the great video!
Your videos are so awesome. I’m so glad I came across your YT! Thank you for bringing Middle earth to life!
Glad you are enjoying the channel! :)
Great reads man, ur voices are great and I appreciate the dedication, really brought the dragons to life
I’ve often wondered this about the dragons of middle earth- there’s no known parallel creatures that Morgoth could have based them on, except perhaps the eagles of Manwe. But a thought occurred to me awhile back. Morgoth before his establishment of his bases of operations in Beleriand, was the most transient and well traveled of the Valar, except possibly for Orome. It’s conceivable to me that Morgoth in his travels, could have seen creatures that are yet unknown to many in the West, and based his dragons from those models.
@5:45 - 6:08 Did you change your voice for that part? If so, I absolutely loved it 💯 Sounds great and truly shows the heart you put into making these videos!
Oh man i have to read all my Tolkien books again, thanx for reminding
Haha! Better get started! :)
@@NerdoftheRings yeah, i have so many before i begin again, thanx for putting the artists names on the description, very helpful.
I don’t know if you’ve made videos already, but travels of any of the other high kings of the Noldror or and videos of the houses of the edian would be cool see🙂
Not sure if they’re accurate (probably not tbh) but I do love the art depicting Glaurung and the wingless dragons just looking like big lizards. Adds a sort of more “primordial” feel to them, like they’re still closer to whatever they may have been before Morgoth’s power made them into dragons.
Tolkien called them "worms"
Another masterpiece, thanks for creating these epic video's !
This was a neat video! I've always wondered about the dragons of Middle Earth. Do we any idea how big Ancalagon actually was? I've seen depictions of him where he's literally the size of mountains and some where he's only a bit bigger than Earendil's ship. Personally, I like the idea that he's somewhere in the middle. Big enough to be incredibly threatening, but small enough that Earendil's ship doesn't look comically small.
He broke 3 mountains and all of those mountains are way bigger than mt. Everest some say close to 1800 miles
This comment is a year late, but i have to say this.
We know that ancalagon the black is a mountain sized dragon. He broke the towers of thangorodrim in his fall, which were peaks of 35000 ft.
We can assume that he was smaller than them but still huge to have broken all three in his fall ( although he fell from quite a height). So i assume for him to be in the 20k - 30k ft. range, so approx. 25000 ft. long.
This is based on my calculations and head canon, no true information is given on his height.
The information on the towers is true tho.
I recently bought the one ring table top game. And then found this channel it is helping some much with game planning. I’ve been bingeing all week!
Glaurung is probably among my favorite Tolkien villains, so inteligent and manipulative for what is essentially just a big lizard
So how did Morgoth “create” the dragons if he was incapable of making life?
He perverted elves into orcs, even made the trolls in mockery of the ents
Did he capture an innocent little snake and fill it with evil? I’m very curious about this haha
Haha. I just responded to this question a second ago, so I'll include it here...
I have a theory on this, but I thought it would be best for its own video. Obviously, Morgoth could have perverted some other creature (like elves to orcs). However, I think Glaurung speaking with Morgoth's voice might point to them being of his own mind, so to speak. Much like the dwarves and Aule, before Eru gives them true life. Just a theory!
@@NerdoftheRings interesting!!! Ok, at least it provides some explanation! Thx!! :))
@@NerdoftheRings
Once Aule turned his attention away from his creation, they fell unconscious to the ground. Doesn't Morgoth have to be in proximity to do what you think he does with dragons? Don't all the dragons have to be controlled by their puppet master simultaneously? Can Morgoth actually do that? How can Smaug use the voice of Morgoth when Morgoth is shut out if Arda? The dragons have to be sentient beings.
Morgoth breaks off a finger and bam, dragons are born...
@@edwardness7497 😂😂😂
Man your content is amazing. Love your videos :)
Ancalagon, meaning 'absolute unit' in Sindarin.
Well, it suits him.
No, it means 'rushing jaws'' in Sindarin.
Another great video
awesome vid Matt really enjoyed
„As he speaks with the very voice of Morgoth…“
Ad: „And Granny?“
I‘m laughing so hard!😂😂
Great video as usual. So calm and powerful
i can't tell you how much i enjoy your storytelling... i would listen to you read the whole LOTR series. i really really enjoyed your Smaug impressions in the Smaug video requested by your son, he's a lucky boy to have such an amazing storytelling father.
I learned so much about Glaurung, but Ancalagon is my favorite to learn about because he's the biggest of all the dragons. Way bigger than Smaug himself. I can imagine if Ancalagon left behind a descendant before the fourth age.
Once again, so incredibly good!!!!!
This is one of the best channels on youtube!
Fantastic video, an incredibly interesting subject and history really well told and discussed. Nicely done!
Love this video, have watched it a few times. I love listening to the wars including Glaurung, and especially your video showing his movements during battle etc.
Amazing art and nice work as usual.
"Yae I will drink thy blood gladly, that I may forget the blood of my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly..."
-the most brutal response from a sword you're about to cast yourself upon.
Love the dragons! Smaug almost seems like a puppy.
WHAT
@@smaug9956 sorry Smaug.
@@timbotook6447 wow you have a cool channel
@@smaug9956 thank you, my friend.
@@timbotook6447 i agree, very cool channel. everyone should have a creative outlet like yours
Does he piece together all this lore from across Tolkien's works? This man is a blessing
"across Tolkien's work" bro you can simply find all of this lore from one book, The Silmarilion
Such a cool video. Thank you for doing this!
you are a genius creator, haven't been able to stop watching your videos for three days!!
Thank you for doing this video
Thanks for watching!
Got the silmarillion for Christmas can't wait to tuck in
That’s what Glaurung gets for playing with his food 😅
This is ridiculous amount of lore. You can have a whole movie about one dragon.
Cracking video, love your channel man!
Thanks so much! And thanks for subscribing!
Great video as always. Please could you do a Tolkien languages pronunciation guide video?
I think if he can do a video with one of the Tolkien Language experts explaining pronunciation, it would be better. Matt can ask the questions we need to know the answers to and the expert can give us the answers.
@@Enerdhil I agree, that would be better. Perhaps someone like David Salo, author of A Gateway to Sindarin.
@@simoncooper6752
His name looks familiar. Is he the guy who worked with Peter Jackson on the LotR Trilogy? Matt will likely have to pay someone like that to be on his video. Maybe Matt can get a sponsor. Or maybe David Salo will do it so he can promote sales for any books he has. I would be interested in any book out there that explains Tolkien language pronunciation.
Love your content keep up the good work 👏
I wish there could be a whole new trilogy centered on these dragons, especially Ancalagon being slain by Erendil, that sounds absolutely epic wow.
Cirdan next, please. He’s had the longest time to travel through Middle Earth!
Another Awesome video! This was awesome!!
Thanks my friend!
I love the descriptions of glaurung
I think that like Morgoth made dragons ,Sauron ,his servant , made the winged terrors , the fell steads of the Nine with the same process , magic or whatever .
Only Eru can create sentient beings. Some dragons are clearly sentient.
So does this mean that The winged terror was also sentient?
@@principledpsychopath8461
I did some research on the topic of sentience and found that wolves were corrupted and infused with evil spirits that changed them into sentient Wargs. I guess that means if Melkor pours an evil spirit into an already existing non-sentient being and corrupts it, the finished creature becomes sentient. If that is the case, then dragons could have been made the same way, although I have no idea what Melkor started with or how Ancalagon could have grown so large.....