Moon-Watcher is a character in the 1968 Science Fiction film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. He was a prehistoric hominid that lived 3.000.000 million years before the evens of the story. He led his own small group of man-apes that came into contact with the mysterious monolith, which caused a spark in his intelligence that led him to create the first tool. He is the direct posthumous instigator to all human civilization that would be created in the future.
Appearance[]
Moon-Watcher is a prehistoric man-ape, specifically an Australopithecus afarensis, and as such, he has typical ape-like features such as a black fur-covered body, a hunched posture, and facial makeup that has features of early human ancestors, such as an upwards nose and a harsh protruding frontal Bossing.
He was around 152 cm in height. (5 feet)
Personality[]
Being of an early hominid species, Moon-Watcher initially lacked individual personality, as his mind was primarily focused on survival, including finding food, shelter, and protection from predators. This was mainly initiated by the harsh environment Moon-Watcher and all the man-apes had to survive in, causing their brains to being geared in a instinctual type of way that lacked many of the cognitive and social complexities that underpin personality.
Moon-Watcher’s general cognitive abilities are forever changed during his meeting with the monolith. It kickstarted a mental spark where he got increased intelligence and rational abilities. Therefore, leading to his discovery of the use of tools.
From an individual basis, Moon-Watcher had, even before his meeting with monolith already distinct personality trait, which was that of an aggressive leader. And his eventual improved intelligence only helped grow that trait further, as the first thing he did with his tool was kill the main rival of his tribe.
Moon-Watcher’s more animalistic character serves as a symbol of early human evolution and the transition from a primitive state to a more advanced and intelligent species. His actions mark a significant turning point in the beginning of human development.
Story[]
Moon-Watcher was born somewhere in the African continent around 3.000.000 years ago, during the Miocene Epoch period. He was raised in a pack of Australopithecus afarensis where he learned since birth how to survive his harsh environment.