Ghost

Ghost
Ghosts (from left to right: Klemper, Dora (top), Skulker, Lunch Lady Ghost (background), Ember, Box Ghost (top), Sidney Poindexter, Fright Knight, Vlad Plasmius)
General information
Homeworld	Ghost Zone
Status	Active
Production information
First episode	"Mystery Meat"
Last episode	"Phantom Planet"

A ghost is a supernatural creature in Danny Phantom. Ghosts are spiritual beings from an alternate dimension known as the Ghost Zone.

History

Many ghosts introduced in the first season appear to be the disembodied spirits of dead humans or other Earth creatures. Maddie once defined them as an "odd manifestation of ectoplasmic energy and post-human consciousness." This was supported by several ghosts' backstories, such as Desiree and Sidney Poindexter, which detail their lives as humans before becoming ghosts.

However, ghosts introduced in the second season onward became less human and more otherworldly in backstory and appearance. Creator Butch Hartman eventually stated that ghosts were in fact otherworldly monsters and creatures that came from the Ghost Zone, with no connection to human spirits. The explanation for ghosts with human backstories or appearance is that they want to be human, so they create these backstories for themselves. It's possible that ghosts were originally considered spirits of the dead but there was later an attempt to retcon ghosts to be monsters from another dimension.

Another possible explanation for this discrepancy is that ghosts could be divided up into two or more subspecies. With the ones in the first season being genuine spirits of deceased people i.e., Sydney, Desiree, Ember etc. While the ones that were introduced later on are more like forces of nature and, or abstract concepts taken physical form and were likely never human to begin with i.e., Clockwork, Undergrowth, Nocturn etc. Half-ghosts such as Danny and Vlad could possibly be seen as a third subspecies.

Appearance

Ghosts' bodies typically take on an anthropomorphic figure. Ghosts typically have pale blue or green skin and emit a distinct white aura around their bodies.

Some ghosts appear very similar to humans in appearance and behavior (Ember McLain, Youngblood, Walker). Some only vaguely resemble humans (Undergrowth, Vortex, Nocturn).

Most are not humanoid at all, taking the form of shapeless blobs (Skulker, Bertrand), anthropomorphic animals (Wulf, the Vulture Ghosts), or monsters (the Ectopuses).

Personality

Ghosts' names have many different origins. Some ghosts retain their names from when they were alive (Sidney Poindexter), some have common human names or nicknames (Walker, Johnny, Kitty), and some choose their own names (Youngblood). Some are named after their powers or characteristics (Ember, Fright Knight, Undergrowth), and some are merely named after literal descriptions of who they are or what they do (Box Ghost, Lunch Lady Ghost).

Many ghosts have strong obsessions likely passed down from their previous lives, which often lead them to their chaotic and destructive behaviors. For example, the Lunch Lady Ghost is excessively conservative about the cafeteria menu, Spectra is obsessed with her appearance, Walker is extremely strict with his rules, and Klemper has a compulsion to make friends. Ghosts' powers are usually related to these obsessions.

It should also be noted that most ghosts are not inherently evil, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. While many ghosts do tend to run amok in the human world, it is often due to their obsessions spiraling beyond their control that cause trouble rather than out of any genuine malice on the ghosts' part.

Characteristics

Main article: Ghost powers

All ghosts possess supernatural powers such as the ability to walk through walls, disappear, and fly. Ghost bodies are unaffected by gravity, so many ghosts have some degree of superhuman strength. Many ghosts possess other powers such as possession and ghost rays.

It is unknown if ghosts are immortal like their counterparts in real-world folklore; Walker once said that he is an "executioner," which has led to much debate among fans. However, it appears that ghosts are capable of aging somewhat, such as the case of Dark Danny, who was an older version of Danny Phantom's ghost-half. Ghosts are even capable of having children together, as made evident by Box Lunch, daughter of the Box Ghost and the Lunch Lady.

However, despite their powers all full ghosts are vulnerable to ghost weaknesses such as Anti-Ghost weapons, Ecto-ranium, and Blood Blossoms. Another weakness is while in their natural state, they cannot interact with real world objects as shown in the episode "Prisoners of Love", Walker could not interact with Danny due to the fact that in the Ghost Zone, humans are considered "ghosts", as they are shown capable of passively phasing through everything despite not knowing they could do so.

Acording to the graphic novel, A Glitch in Time, all ghost are a physical manifestation of human emotions. Desiree fed on happiness from granting wishes. Ember McLain fed on the attention from her fans. Penelope Spectra fed on teen insecurities. Ghosts can't exist forever or they can but they'll lose whatever humanity gave them an identity. That's why some ghosts are more human and others are less human.

However, this is up for debate since the book has yet to be confirmed canon and Butch Hartman had no involvement in the story.

Half-ghosts

Main article: Half-ghost

A half-ghost is a human whose DNA is infused with ectoplasm. These humans possess many of the powers and abilities that ghosts do. Danny Phantom, the protagonist, is well known to be a half-ghost.

See also

• List of ghosts

Gallery

Style guide for generic ghosts