Herb is a unicorn, Santa's bodyguard, the narrator, and host in the Disney live-action movie, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.
Background[]
Herb the Unicorn is a very loyal, obedient, and trustworthy creature. As Santa Claus' bodyguard, he has to make sure that the jolly toymaker is not bothered while working. Herb has taken an oath to stick by Santa's side from here on in. Though he may not have gotten along well with other unicorns, Herb gets along just fine with other Immortals. With his magic horn, even the Awgwas don't stand a chance against this mythical horse. Herb also does a great job at telling the story of Santa Claus. And how does he know? Because he was there.
Herb is a white unicorn with brown eyes. His mane, tail, and beard are silver and he has gold hooves as well as a gold horn.
Appearance[]
In the movie, Herb and the other Immortals watch Santa Claus leave with his little helpers on Christmas Eve, then the Immortals leave except Herb who stands guard in front of Santa's house, as always, and introduces himself as well explains a little about Santa before he tells the story.
In the story, Herb tries to fit in with other unicorns, but can't; so he leaves them and comes to the Forest of Burzee where the Immortals welcome him among them. He assists them in their work and listens to Ak's stories. When Ak finds a baby boy and orders Shiegra to take care of him, Herb comes by asking if he can help, and the Master Woodsman allows him to assist Shiegra in protecting the child. As soon as Necile hears about the baby boy and sneaks him away, Herb and Shiegra are furious when they find out and give chase. When Ak allows Necile to keep the boy, who she names Claus, he also allows Herb to keep protecting the infant who is under full-time protection of the Master Woodsman.
By the time Claus is all grown up and is about to travel the world with Ak, he says goodbye to Herb. When the time comes for Claus to find a home of his own, he is given little helpers by the Immortals to assist him and Herb vows to keep being his bodyguard as he leaves with him. In the Laughing Valley of Hohaho, Herb and the little helpers assist Claus in fetching wood to build a house until they rest for the night, though unicorns hardly ever sleep.
The next day, after Claus' house is built (thanks to the Immortals sent by Ak), the kind man and his little helpers move in while Herb prefers to stand guard outside the front door. When Claus leaves to meet his fellow mortals in person, Herb and the little helpers stay behind to guard the house. During the winter, Herb tells Claus to come out and see Jack Frost. During the snowstorm, Claus and his little helpers stay inside, but Herb isn't bothered by the cold since unicorns can withstand any kind of weather.
After Claus makes his first toy, Herb calls him telling that someone out in the snow needs help. Later, as Claus begins making many different kinds of toys with help from the Immortals, Herb poses for a model of a toy unicorn and a regular toy horse, both of which the real unicorn is very pleased. Herb even says goodbye to Shiegra as she is about ready to die after Claus makes a toy like her. Later, the unicorn sees Mayrie and her brother coming to Claus' house as he informs to toymaker, then he hides behind the house to stay out of sight since Immortals aren't allowed to make physical contact with most mortals.
Soon, Herb informs Claus about Bessie Blithesome who comes to the Valley, the Mayrie again, and finally the New Baron Braun who come to the Valley to see Claus as the unicorn, Nuter the Ryl, Peter Knook, Wisk the Fairy, and Kilter stay out of sight. When Claus is trying to make a new toy for Bessie, Herb brings the toymaker a message from Lulea the queen of the Fairies. The moment Claus receives a threat from the Awgwas, Herb and the little helpers inform him about the terrible creatures.
That night, as Claus is asleep and the Awgwas come to strike, Herb tries to keep them out, but they just knock him out. When Claus tells the Immortals about the Awgwas who refuse to leave him alone, Herb helps the Immortals in fighting the wicked creatures. The unicorn blasts the Black Demons with his horn turning them all into rainbows. After the battle, Herb, Peter, Wisk, and Nuter return to Claus and Kilter telling them the good news.
As soon as it's winter again, the snow has gotten deeper and Herb helps Claus out of the snow with his horn. However, unicorns have certain issues about anyone riding them; so Claus uses a reindeer drawn sleigh to deliver his toys. The next morning, Herb is there when Will Knook is angry at Claus about being late and the Prince of the Knooks lets it happen again on three conditions, to which Claus agrees. Ten days later on Christmas Eve, Herb promises to watch over the valley until Santa returns and calls goodbye with the other Immortals as the toymaker sets out in his new reindeer-drawn sleigh.
After fifteen mortal years of delivering toys, Santa is exhausted and about ready to die as everyone fears it. While Peter, Kilter, Wisk, and Nuter stay with the toymaker, Herb rushes to inform Ak who decides to have a Council of Immortals so they can decide on Mr. Claus living forever or not. The unicorn announces the Immortals and listens to the Council. Once the Immortals have all voted yes, Herb takes them back to Santa's house just in time with the Mantle of Immortality to keep the Spirit of Death from taking Mr. Claus.
The next day, Santa is with Herb and his little helpers as he thanks his friends for making him one of them. Herb is also seen staring through the window of Santa's house as the toymaker informs his little helpers about stoves replacing chimneys and the helpers telling him that they can fit through any tight space, so Santa agrees to take them with him every year, much to Herb's pleasure since he can't stand the toymaker giving up.
In the end, Herb finishes the story by saying, "So that, my friends, is the whole story of Santa Claus. Maybe he'll come to your house and bring you a present." As soon as he sees Santa, the reindeer, and the helpers coming back from their toy deliveries, the unicorn says goodbye to the viewers and wishes them a merry Christmas as he and the other Immortals welcome Santa back.
Video Game[]
Herb appears in the video game as a playable character. His abilities are to kick, stamp, and use his magic horn. Only he can defeat the Black Demons.
Trivia[]
- Although there were unicorns in the Universal movie, Herb did not appear in the original book; which is why he explains that he is usually left out of the story, though he doesn't mind.
- Herb is based off of the Last Unicorn, Speiltoe from Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, and Donkey from Shrek.
- It doesn't say who defeated the Black Demons in the book; but in the Disney movie, Herb will defeat them.