Hare (ウサギ, Usagi, lit. "rabbit") is a henchmen of Lord Cob in the film Tales from Earthsea, and lives in the castle along with Cob.

In the Studio Ghibli film Tales from Earthsea, Hare is a minor antagonist serving as the secondary henchman to Lord Cob. His appearance is distinct and reflects his role as a crude and opportunistic slave trader.

Physical Characteristics

• Facial Features: He has an unsettling, wide-eyed look with small pupils and a constant, smug grin. He is often depicted with a stubble-covered chin and a slightly weathered face.

• Build: Hare has a lean, agile build that suits his role as a pursuer and scout.

Attire and Gear

• Headgear: His most recognizable feature is his brass-colored aviator-style helmet, which has large circular goggles or openings on top.

• Clothing: He wears a deep red tunic or poncho over a lighter-colored blue under-suit. The tunic is adorned with gold or brass studs along the hem.

• Armor: He typically wears protective white gloves and simple brown boots, practical for his work in the rugged environments of Enlad and Hort Town.

In Tales from Earthsea, Hare serves as the primary field antagonist and the right-hand man to the wizard Lord Cob. His story is one of petty cruelty, cowardice, and the exploitation of the "unbalance" affecting the world.

Role as a Slave Trader

Hare is first introduced as a ruthless slave trader operating in the city of Hort Town. He and his band of mercenaries take advantage of the chaos in Earthsea to kidnap and sell people. His path crosses with the protagonist, Arren, after Arren saves a girl named Therru from Hare’s men. Later, Hare successfully captures Arren, but the boy is eventually rescued by Sparrowhawk (Ged).

The Enforcer of Lord Cob

While Hare carries himself with an air of authority in front of those he can bully, he is ultimately a pawn. He serves Lord Cob out of fear and a desire for power, carrying out the wizard's dirty work.

• The Raid on Tenar's House: Under Cob's orders, Hare leads a group to kidnap Tenar to lure Sparrowhawk into a trap at Cob's castle.

• The Pursuit: Throughout the film, Hare is the physical presence chasing the heroes, representing the mundane, human evil that flourishes when a society loses its moral compass.

His Fate

Despite his arrogance, Hare is a classic "cowardly bully." When the tide of battle turns and he no longer has the protection of Lord Cob's magic or a superior numbers advantage, his bravado vanishes.

• In the climax at Cob's castle, as the wizard's power begins to crumble and the literal and metaphorical walls close in, Hare and his men flee in terror rather than stay to fight.

• While his ultimate fate isn't explicitly shown, he is left as a disgraced fugitive in a world that is beginning to regain its balance.

Character Theme

Hare represents the decline of humanity in the film's narrative. While Lord Cob represents the fear of death, Hare represents the loss of empathy and the greed that arises when people stop believing in the "Great Balance." He is a reminder that even without dark magic, humans can be plenty monstrous on their own.