History Main / Hobbits

* ''TabletopGame/Munchkin'' has Halflings, but they look like cartoonish versions of Tolkien's Hobbits. It's the designated ProudMerchantRace, with the ability to increase item cards' value when selling them (which makes it easier for them to "buy" extra levels). They are also better at running away compared to other races.

Nevertheless, the term hobbit is trademarked. It is common for non-Tolkien works to come up with a [[WritingAroundTrademarks different name]] for their hobbit-like race because the holders of the trademark, "Middle-earth Enterprises" (formerly "Tolkien Enterprises" and actually a division of The Saul Zaentz Company, who bought certain merchandising rights in 1976) are notoriously litigious about them[[note]]The story of the legal situation of the word "hobbit" and Tolkien gaming is too long to go into here. The short, relevant version is that Zaentz' company owned the rights to produce and oversee merchandise, but not "printed, literary material", based on Tolkien's works. This was back in the days when "merchandise" was thought to mean maybe a calendar or a mug, not the vast swathes of licensed merchandise seen nowadays. After the original edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (or ''OD&D'') used "hobbit", Zaentz pursued legal action, partly to create a legal precedent that [=TTRPGs=] fell under his purview as "merchandise", despite theoretically being "printed, literary material" which fell under the Tolkien Estate's jurisdiction. This was one of many things that led to protracted legal conflict with Christopher Tolkien and the literary estate for the next thirty years. Middle-earth Enterprises came in for particular criticism in 2011, when they tried to sue a British pub for being called The Hobbit.[[/note]]. Halfling serves as the trademark-free default (despite, ironically, also being coined by Tolkien).

"Hobbits" are a subtrope of the LittlePeople popularized by Creator/JRRTolkien and now frequently found in a StandardFantasySetting. While ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' has defined the modern interpretation of [[StandardFantasyRaces most of the races]] in fantasy fiction, hobbits are unique in the sense that they were nearly completely Tolkien's own creation. They were adopted to other fantasy worlds via the general influence of Tolkien's works on the StandardFantasySetting and particularly via ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', which [[NotUsingTheZWord called them]] "Halflings".[[note]] After being sued by Tolkien Enterprises for calling them hobbits -- see more below.[[/note]] Their oddly specific traits tend to include very high magic resistance, good luck, ability to move about unnoticed (though not invisible) and good sling, slingshot and rock-throwing abilities. Tolkien's original Hobbits were known for their tough, extremely hairy feet, which led to them [[PrefersGoingBarefoot not requiring or enjoying footwear]] -- this is not necessarily carried over to later versions.

Nevertheless, the term hobbit is trademarked. It is common for non-Tolkien works to come up with a [[WritingAroundTrademarks different name]] for their hobbit-like race because the holders of the trademark, "Middle-earth Enterprises" (formerly "Tolkien Enterprises" and actually a division of The Saul Zaentz Company, who bought certain merchandising rights in 1976) are notoriously litigious about them[[note]]The story of the legal situation of the word "hobbit" and Tolkien gaming is too long to go into here. The short, relevant version is that Zaentz' company owned the rights to produce and oversee merchandise, but not "printed, literary material", based on Tolkien's works. This was back in the days when "merchandise" was thought to mean maybe a calendar or a mug, not the vast swathes of licensed merchandise seen nowadays. After the original edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (or OD&D) used "hobbit", Zaentz pursued legal action, partly to create a legal precedent that [=TTRPGs=] fell under his purview as "merchandise", despite theoretically being "printed, literary material" which fell under the Tolkien Estate's jurisdiction. This was one of many things that led to protracted legal conflict with Christopher Tolkien and the literary estate for the next thirty years. Middle-earth Enterprises came in for particular criticism in 2011, when they tried to sue a British pub for being called The Hobbit.[[/note]]. Halfling serves as the trademark-free default (despite, ironically, also being coined by Tolkien).

If the Hobbit/Halfling is a member of TheTeam (and you will find them either there or as a walk-on character, not a central protagonist) then expect him to act as TheSneakyGuy, (more specifically, the Thief from the FighterMageThief trio, or a [[Literature/TheHobbit "burglar"]] in the {{Trope Maker|s}}) He will also periodically overcome his [[TheSoCalledCoward apparently fearful nature]] and [[LetsGetDangerous get dangerous]], with a resulting JustForFun/SuperWeight of 1, edging towards 2 in some cases. Character development usually revolves around them learning WaifFu, becoming less naive, (simply because their native environment usually isn't dangerous at all, but the world outside it is) and [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] in general terms.

As mentioned under the examples from ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' below, much like how [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] have seen a re-interpretation as a more noble, if savage, warrior race, more recent fantasy works inspired by D&D have also been keen to reinterpret hobbits. They tend to be less overweight, more often resembling small elves. They tend to be more actively badass, adventurous, often nomadic in nature compared to their very sedentary, pastoral original interpretations. To the point where this interpretation of hobbits and halflings tends to be the most common one encountered in modern times.

[[folder:The Trope Namers - Tolkien's Hobbits]]
* ''Literature/TolkiensLegendarium'': The trope name comes from the race of small people who act as surrogates for middle-class Englishmen in the works of Creator/JRRTolkien (just in case you've been skimming through the page thus far or ignoring the films). Hobbits were originally created for ''Literature/TheHobbit'' only; in the early drafts they were even more like modern humans (Bilbo owns a clock, and all the hobbits have "normal" surnames and given names even in ''[=LotR=]''). Frodo's friends occasionally grumble how Hobbits are left out of most legendary stories they've heard, which some fans have taken as a reference to how difficult it might have been for Tolkien to bring them in line with a larger epic fantasy.\\\

Hobbits within the Tolkien mythology are also curiously resistant to the effects of TheCorruption caused by Sauron's powers, with them being able to survive and bounce back from the Black Breath or significantly delay the effects of the cursed Morgul blade. The most famous of the One Ring: Hobbits were the only ones capable of handling it without being completely ensnared by its power, though they aren't immune to its effects; for example, Sméagol/Gollum was consumed by the One Ring's power when he found it, and at the climax of ''The Return Of The King'' the One Ring is able to prevent Frodo from throwing it into Mount Doom. Not to underrate their resistance, however, as only three beings to possess the One Ring EVER voluntarily gave it up; two were Hobbits, and one was Tom Bombadil, who was ... ''[[GreatGazoo something]]'' that was somehow immune to the Ring's effects.\\\
The immunity of the Hobbits was due to their upbringing causing most of them to think small and only reach for what was close at hand. This relative lack of ambition (compared to the other sentient races) meant that the One Ring didn't have a lot to tempt them with -- Sam saw himself making the entire realm into his garden, which even he thought was too far out. Of course, there were exceptions and in the end Frodo may have been vulnerable due to a less sheltered upbringing from his uncle Bilbo's influence. Bilbo himself had rather benign inclinations even after feeling the Ring's influence.\\\
Another aspect of Tolkien's Hobbits that is not often reflected in their many {{Expy}} races is that Hobbits are actually ''not'' an entirely separate species but a distinct off-shoot of Men (humans). That is, different "races" in Middle-earth each have a distinct mythological origin (Elves, Men, Dwarves, etc.), and Hobbits are a subgroup of Men who just branched off and got really short. Everyone including the Hobbits then forgot their own origins, and they came to think of Hobbits as a distinct "race" separate from "the Big Folk", but they're mistaken.
** It's also worth noting that "Hobbit" is not what the Hobbits call themselves. Tolkien's FramingDevice is that he translated the stories from an ancient manuscript called the Red Book of Westmarch, and part of that was [[{{Woolseyism}} changing some names to make it more palatable to a contemporary audience]]. In their native Westron, Hobbits call themselves ''kudugin'' (singular ''kuduk''), which derives from ''kûd-dûkan'', meaning "hole-builder". In Old English hole-builder is ''holbytla'', which became hobbit.
** Another point of trivia - though many works use "halfling" as a trademark-free substitute for hobbit, it was actually also a Tolkien coinage. Specifically, the hobbits were dubbed "halflings" by the Dúnedain of Arnor, who averaged about 6'4", or two ''rangar'' in their Númenórean units. Hobbits (specifically the Harfoots, the first hobbits they met) averaged about 3'2", or one ''ranga'', and so were exactly half as tall as the Dúnedain.

* ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'': Half-feet look like human children with bigger ears (Chilchuck, a half-foot in the main party, looks around 10 years old, but is actually 28 and thus middle-aged[[note]]A fact most clearly illustrated in a sequence where the characters all magically switch species, and as a "tallman" Chilchuck looks about 50 (the drastic difference of which disturbs the other party members).[[/note]]). Their physical and magical skills are weak, but they possess sharper senses, allowing them to detect dangers and traps earlier. They're also [[ShortLivedOrganism the shortest-lived race]] in the series' setting, with their average lifespan being only about fifty years (although centenarians are possible), subverting the usual "humans are the shortest lived race" trope. [[FantasticRacism They tend to be discriminated against and belittled]] due to their child-like appearance, leading them to be frequently mistaken for youngsters, as well as the stereotype they are shifty thieves who use their innocent appearance to mislead others. Where the word "half-foot" came from is unclear, but two origins are suggested; one, that a group of half-foots got caught stealing and each had one foot lopped off as punishment, and two, because their feet are half the length of tallmen feet (the "standard" human race in the setting). Chilchuck doesn't like either idea, the former because it plays upon the discriminatory idea that half-foots are untrustworthy, and the latter because it suggests half-foots are "half" of another race (they have their own name for their race, but it apparently sounds very similar to a really offensive word in the CommonTongue). Dwarfs tend to be considered very attractive by half-foots, due to them basically resembling extremely muscular and manly half-foots.

[[folder:Card Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''
** When designing the ''Lorwyn'' block, a fairytale setting that focuses heavily on the [[PlanetOfHats races and jobs of creatures]], the design team didn't feel quite ready to make a card that [[OurHumansAreDifferent cared about the "Human" type]]. Their solution? The kithkin, who are — take a guess — short, quick villager-types. They are a bit more [[BuffySpeak fighty]] than the standard model, but this is ''Magic: The Gathering'' we are talking about, non-fighty groups [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail don't get cards printed]]. (For the sake of originality they threw in a dash of [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarf]] as well. The actual dwarves of Lorwyn are called Duergars.) Kithkin actually originated a decade earlier in ''Legends'' with the card Amrou Kithkin... which in development was named "Hobbit".
** ''Magic'' also has two kithkin cultures which diverge from the standard Hobbit theme: The kithkin of Amrou on the world of Dominaria are close-knit nomads in a [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic wasteland]] (at least, in ''Time Spiral''; as noted above Amrou Kithkin was originally ''the'' Hobbit Classic), while those of Shadowmoor (a sort of [[BizarroUniverse Bizarro-Lorwyn]]) are [[TorchesAndPitchforks violently xenophobic]] [[HiddenElfVillage castle-dwellers]] with unnaturally large, blank eyes and a HiveMind.
[[/folder]]

* ''ComicBook/LilIPut'' ([[PunnyName Lil and Put]]): The two titular hobbit-like characters are vagabonds, conman and tricksters. Their race however is called "Maloludy" (literally "little people" or "Not much people", which is [[MultipleReferencePun play on Polish word for "gigants" -- "Wielkoludy", as well "youngsters" -- "Malolaty"]])
* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'': "Pip the Troll", who does not actually have features of a troll, but those of a hobbit: smoker, bare feet, slacker, enjoys good life and fun, etc.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheHobbit'' is notable for being the first major film adaptation of Tolkien's works and the first film to codify the trope. The depiction of the film is quite accurate to the book, if somewhat stylized visually due to essencially being an early example of anime.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Actually hobbits/halflings/etc. don't appear as such but, according to ''The Discworld Atlas'', the Foggy Islands (FantasyCounterpartCulture New Zealand) are rumoured to be home to "a small, pipe-smoking people with hairy feet", in allusion to the the Tolkien movies having been shot in New Zealand.

* ''Literature/GoblinSlayer'': Given that the setting is a bog-standard Japanese D&D placeholder setting, it of course has a halfling race with SerialNumbersFiledOff; here they are apparently named "Rheas" and are [[FantasticRacism often stereotyped as rogue-types and thieves.]] One particular specimen even goes so far as to be [[spoiler:a clear GrimDark CaptainErsatz of Bilbo Baggins, all the way down to being known as "Burglar" and having a magic ring that makes him invisible. He's the one who nurses the child Goblin Slayer back to health and subjects him to TrainingFromHell for five years, and he wears the [[GenuineHumanHide skin of a goblin's face]] as a mask.]]

* ''Literature/TheSundering'' by Jacqueline Carey, which is explicitly modeled on ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', has the Yarru-yami. The Yarru-yami, in contrast to Tolkien's hobbits, are dark-skinned and inhabit a desert. The two who go on a quest are portrayed as rather naive.

* ''Literature/TheWarGods'' plays up the thieving, cowardly image for its version of Halflings. Except the Marfang Islander halflings who are brilliant sailors and brave to what the other races consider reckless insanity. They've all got small horns on their foreheads as well to set them apart physically.
%%* ''Literature/TheWitcher'' plays halflings entirely straight, with a helping of BewareTheNiceOnes.

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* ''Literature/FightingFantasy'': Hobbits turns up in ''Literature/CreatureOfHavoc''. In a series of over 60 books, this is the sole installment featuring Hobbits. Unfortunately for them, they happen to be the titular monster's favorite food.
[[/folder]]

* ''Series/KamenRiderKiva'': One of the Twelve Demon Races is the Hobbits[[note]]yes, they're explicitly called "Hobbits"[[/note]], a race of Lilliputian beings (about 10 centimeters tall) who hate conflict and actually [[TheQuisling knuckled under to the]] [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Fangire]], becoming servants and informants. They're [[AllThereInTheManual only detailed in official side information]] and never show up in the series proper, presumably because they didn't want a visit from Tolkien's lawyers.

%%* ''Series/Willow2022'': Nelwyns.
%%Zero-context example.

** Hobbits debuted as a playable race in the first iterations of [=D&D=] in the 1970s, ported 1-for-1 from Tolkien's works. Naturally, Tolkien Enterprises (the independent company in charge of licensed materials, no association with Christoper Tolkien) waved its lawyers at Creator/{{TSR}} and the name was quickly changed to the unlicensed "Halflings". Despite this, early halflings were transparently based on Tolkien's works. The race was heavily associated with skills in thievery and the use of thrown weapons, and was soon even divided into subraces based on Tolkien's three hobbit ethnicities; Hairfoots, Stouts, and Tallfellows -- the first two names were even literal translations of Tolkien's Harfoots and Stoors, while the third is clearly meant to sound like Tolkien's Fallohides. The [=BECMI=] halfling race-class functioned as a kind of proto-ranger, being largely a fighter with an adeptness at throwing stones and some heightened stealth skills in wilderness settings. In [=AD&D=], halflings were overwhelmingly associated with the Thief class, but could also be Fighters and Clerics, but no other classes.
** Starting with TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition, halflings got a major overhaul and became much less Tolkienesque; in the process becoming more adventurous and less innocent; the default subrace became the ''lightfoots'', who were portrayed not as jovial homebodies but tricksy nomads. Over time they have physically become "sexier" and less hobbitlike, to the point that some now see them as [[OurElvesAreDifferent short elves]]. The "cuter", more provincial traits of the "old" halflings were mostly given to the [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes]], who were described as living in cozy burrow-towns. TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition would partially walk this back, maintaining the Lightfoot name, but bringing back a focus on the older, more hobbit-like lore. 5e artwork also has a more clearly "hobbitesque" aesthetic.
*** Part of the shift away from their hobbit roots was the decreasing of SquareRaceRoundClass pigeonholing them into the Thief class. In 4th and 5th edition in particular, it's possible to effortlessly play halflings as {{Pintsize Powerhouse}}s, when they were traditionally terrible at any direct martial class.
** ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'' has a particularly dark spin on halflings. The millennia-long campaign of genocide led by Rajaat that devastated the ecology of Athas has irrevocably [[BreakTheCutie broken]] the Halfling race, turning them from laid-back, ale-loving riverfolk to violent, xenophobic cannibals that will happily kill and eat anyone who trespasses on the few remaining forests and jungles. Ironically, they were also the earliest rulers of Athas, being the dominant race of the "Blue Age" when most of the planet was ocean.
** ''TabletopGame/{{Greyhawk}}'' largely set the standard for halfings as hobbits with the SerialNumbersFiledOff; they were quiet, unassuming, comfort-loving homebodies divided into three subraces; Hairfoots (the "pure" halfling), Stouts (who were suspected of having dwarf blood and were hardier, with an affinity for mining) and the Tallfellows (associated with elves, taller, longer-lived, and keener senses). Some [=AD&D=] {{sourcebook}}s would even offer mechanics for playing halflings with mixed ancestry. It did introduce the biggest distinction between D&D halflings and their hobbit ancestors by creating their racial pantheon, which centers around a benevolent divine matriarch called Yondalla and a racial hero named Littleman.

** ''TabletopGame/{{Spelljammer}}'' introduced the most obscure of the halfling subraces in the form of the Furchins; Stone Age tribals native to an [[SingleBiomePlanet ice-world]] called Falakyr, who appeared in an adventure in "The Legend of Spelljammer" boxed set, but whose lore was largely defined by "The Complete Book of Gnomes & Halflings" {{sourcebook}}. The race hasn't reappeared officially since [=AD&D=] 2nd edition, but the 3rd editioon sourcebook "Frostburn" does contain a "Tundra Halfling" race which seem to be a SpiritualSuccessor.

%%** ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'' features savage, jungle-dwelling cannibal halflings -- about as far from Tolkien's hobbits as you can get. [[AssPull Not to mention genetically engineering near universal mutation of every creature.]] Creating magic based on either killing the world, or killing people en-masse. Actively orchestrating the extinction of any other sentient race. And doing all this to fix the problem of having brutally screwed the world up in the first place. Except not really. It was mostly the work of Rajaat, who was himself the [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch sole evil member]] of a race of mystical caretakers of the world (not halflings). He did intend for halflings (Athas's first sentients) to be the sole surviving humanoid species, but they themselves had no idea, and his main pawns were [[HumansAreBastards humans]]. The only thing halflings had to do with is about a third of the mutation bit, which gave rise to other intelligent beings after a major SNAFU that destroyed [[{{Precursors}} their first civilization]].%%Rewrite. This example spends so much wordcount contradicting itself that it's difficult to tell what the reader is supposed to get out of it.

* ''VideoGame/AncientDomainsOfMystery'': Hurthlings are short, stealthy, good archers, and have Cooking skill for free. Also they, like Tolkienesque ones, dislike footwear -- mechanically, they move faster without boots of any kind.
* ''VideoGame/AgeOfWonders'': The Halflings [[EthicalHedonist value happiness above all]], but, as its definition varies by individual, they include selfless priests, eccentric pranksters and [[LovableRogue roguish adventurers]]. They mark the HiddenDepths box when they join Keepers en masse, not for gain, revenge or even necessity, but simply a place in songs and a chance to do a good deed.

* ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyVBeyondTheMyth:'' The Brouni are very similar to hobbits, being a naturally short race who are in tune with nature and whose stats lean more towards being {{Support Party Member}}s than frontline fighters. Unlike most examples, they were also once a ProudMerchantRace, as the Brouni shopkeeper Syrik mentions that every male Brouni used to be expected to become a merchant, but they're more open-minded about such things in the present day.
* ''VideoGame/EverQuest'': Halflings are a playable race. They're cribbed almost directly from Tolkien, down to the furry feet, big appetite and big bellies[[note]](the alternate "SOGA" models in [=EQ2=] are slim however)[[/note]]. Before statflation reached the point that starting stats became irrelevant, Halflings were best suited to playing agility based classes such as rogues and rangers.

** In ''II'' they're connected to the wasteland-associated Wizards.
** In ''III''[='s=]'' Armageddon's Blade'' expansion, they're unaligned, but the story has them waging a guerrilla war against the devil invaders that had taken over and turned their homeland of Eeofol into a volcanic waste. Halflings are arguably the strongest tier 1 creature, with great stats and a ranged attack. Their only downside is, being neutral, their weekly growth rate can't be increased so they tend to fall behind town creatures in the mid to lategame.

** In ''IV'' they are back with the Wizards in the Academy faction. They're given the ability to deal extra damage to high-level creatures, referencing DavidVsGoliath.
%%** ''VideoGame/IvaliceAlliance'': Moogles count. Curiously, although moogles do have several rogue-ish classes, Moogle Knights are among the hardest hitting fighters in the Tactics Advance games.%%How do they "count"?
%%** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the Lalafell, who are an {{expy}} of the Tarutaru. Though, race has no mechanical effect in ''XIV''.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': The Kokiri live hundreds of years but never mature past childhood. They are able to live comfortably and innocently in their EnchantedForest because of their steward, the Deku Tree, and are further guided by {{Fairy Companion}}s. While Link himself is not a Kokiri, his upbringing among them makes him temperamentally closer to them than to Hylians, though like the Bagginses from the TropeNamer, he was considered the odd one out among them even before the revelation that he wasn't one of them.

* ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity'': The orlans blend the Tolkien/D&D hobbit with [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes]]. They're short humanoids with two-toned skin and large, hairy ears (or hair all over in the "wild" orlan's case). They've been victimized and enslaved repeatedly by other cultures they've come in contact with and have either progressively retreated deeper into the wilds or resorted to guerrilla warfare, which is probably a MythologyGag to [[https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/503720-the-real-war-does-not-resemble-the-legendary-war-in?auto_login_attempted=true Tolkien's statement]] that hobbits would have faced that fate had the ring been used to fight Sauron. None of orlans the player recruits fit the "hobbit" stereotype, either -- the first game's Hiravias is a wandering LovableSexManiac druid, while both orlans recruitable in the second, Serafen and Mirke, are {{pirate}}s who [[DressedToPlunder dress]], [[TalkLikeAPirate talk]], and [[SirSwearsALot swear]] the part.

* ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' had the Bobbit race as more or less a direct {{Expy}} of Tolkien's creation, with an aptitude for classes which required Wisdom. [[spoiler:They were wiped out during the cataclysm that followed Exodus' defeat.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''[[Webcomic/Alfie2010 Alfie (2010)]]'': Alfie's people are technically called Havlin. Other races refer to them as halflings as a FantasticSlur.

* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'': There's a side called "Hobbit™". It's unknown what type of units it has, or if Tolkien Enterprises will be undeterred by the TradeSnark and press charges.

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Belkar's race is 'halfling' but he does not fit any of the above character traits (sneaky, innocent, jolly etc) and is instead a HeroicComedicSociopath and [[TokenEvilTeammate the only evil protagonist]]. He still uses Halfling racial abilities to his advantage such as jumping around or throwing objects (daggers).

** He does maintain a few traditional traits -- he's is a gourmet chef though and can identify ingredients by scent, as well as people too somehow; he just considers cooking for other humanoids to be a waste of time and ingredients. He also maintains the ability to throw rocks, as evidenced by [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0745.html this episode]], when he causes an angry mob to flee in terror the moment he picks up a small pebble.
** He also actually uses the word "hobbit" on rare occasions, and his usage indicates that it's the halfling version of NWordPrivileges (e.g., "Hobbit, please!")

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''LetsPlay/{{Mahu}}'': In "Frozen Flame" prince Arius fights halfling rogues during his quest to bring order to the colonies.
* ''Literature/TalesOfMU'': Hobbits and gnomes are the same race, "halfling" is a slur. Culturally, they're divided into shirelanders, who live in gentrified holes in the ground, and the more fun-loving riverfolk.
[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'': In one episode, Dexter, [=Dee Dee=] and three other guys are playing a CaptainErsatz of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', and [=Dee Dee=] gives Dexter a character named "Hodo the Furry-Footed Burrower", who actually [[FastTunnelling digs tunnels]] à la WesternAnimation/BugsBunny. And his only "weapon" is his deadly... [[InstrumentOfMurder mandolin]]?

* ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'': Half-feet look like human children with bigger ears (Chilchuck, a half-foot in the main party, looks around 10 years old, but is actually 28 and thus middle-aged[[note]]A fact most clearly illustrated in a sequence where the characters all magically switch species, and as a "tallman" Chilchuck looks about 50 (the drastic difference of which disturbs the other party members).[[/note]]). Their physical and magical skills are weak, but they possess sharper senses, allowing them to detect dangers and traps earlier. They also only live to be about fifty (although centenarians are possible), subverting the usual "humans are the shortest lived race" trope. [[FantasticRacism They tend to be discriminated against and belittled]] due to their child-like appearance, leading them to be frequently mistaken for youngsters, as well as the stereotype they are shifty thieves who use their innocent appearance to mislead others. Where the word "half-foot" came from is unclear, but two origins are suggested; one, that a group of half-foots got caught stealing and each had one foot lopped off as punishment, and two, because their feet are half the length of tallmen feet (the "standard" human race in the setting). Chilchuck doesn't like either idea, the former because it plays upon the discriminatory idea that half-foots are untrustworthy, and the latter because it suggests half-foots are "half" of another race (they have their own name for their race, but it apparently sounds very similar to a really offensive word in the CommonTongue). Dwarfs tend to be considered very attractive by half-foots, due to them basically resembling extremely muscular and manly half-foots.

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': The [[HumanSubspecies Abhuman]] strain called the Ratlings fit the bill as Space Hobbits. They don't get much play in the lore or game, possibly due to Games Workshop viewing many of the setting's RecycledInSpace fantasy elements as something of an OldShame. Mostly, Ratlings serve in the Imperial Guard as cooks, quartermasters, and snipers, and in keeping with 40K's grimdark tendencies they're greedy, thieving, fornicating little bastards. In ''TabletopGame/OnlyWar'' they get a bit more spotlight, being playable in their sniper role.
* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'':

* ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'': Half-feet look like human children with bigger ears (Chilchuck, a half-foot in the main party, looks around 10 years old, but is actually 28 and thus middle-aged[[note]]A fact most clearly illustrated in a sequence where the characters all magically switch species, and as a "tallman" Chilchuck looks about 50 (the drastic difference of which disturbs the other party members).[[/note]]). Their physical and magical skills are weak, but they possess sharper senses, allowing them to detect dangers and traps earlier. They also only live to be about fifty (although centenarians are possible), subverting the usual "humans are the shortest lived race" trope. [[FantasticRacism They tend to be discriminated against and belittled]] due to their child-like appearance, leading them to be frequently mistaken for youngsters, as well as the stereotype they are shifty thieves who use their innocent appearance to mislead others. Where the word "half-foot" came from is unclear, but two origins are suggested; one, that a group of half-foots got caught stealing and each had one foot lopped off as punishment, and two, because their feet are half the length of tallmen feet (the "standard" human race in the setting). Chilchuck doesn't like either idea, the former because it plays upon the discriminatory idea that half-foots are untrustworthy, and the latter because it suggests half-foots are "half" of another race (they have their own name for their race, but it apparently sounds very similar to a really offensive word in the CommonTongue).

* ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'': Half-feet look like human children with bigger ears (Chilchuck, a half-foot in the main party, looks around 10 years old, but is actually 29 and thus middle-aged[[note]]A fact most clearly illustrated in a sequence where the characters all magically switch species, and as a "tallman" Chilchuck looks at least 40 (the drastic difference of which disturbs the other party members).[[/note]]). Their physical and magical skills are weak, but they possess sharper senses, allowing them to detect dangers and traps earlier. They also only live to be about fifty (although centenarians are possible), subverting the usual "humans are the shortest lived race" trope. They tend to be discriminated against and belittled due to their child-like appearance, leading them to be frequently mistaken for youngsters, as well as the stereotype they are shifty thieves. Where the word "half-foot" came from is unclear, but two origins are suggested; one, that a group of half-foots got caught stealing and each had one foot lopped off as punishment, and two, because their feet are half the length of tallmen feet (the "standard" human race in the setting). Chilchuck doesn't like either idea, the former because it plays upon the discriminatory idea that half-foots are untrustworthy, and the latter because it suggests half-foots are "half" of another race (they have their own name for their race, but it apparently sounds very similar to a really offensive word in the CommonTongue).

* ''Webcomic/{{Alfie}}'': Alfie's people are technically called Havlin. Other races refer to them as halflings as a FantasticSlur.

If the Hobbit/Halfling is a member of TheTeam (and you will find them either there or as a walk-on character, not a central protagonist) then expect him to act as TheSneakyGuy, (more specifically, the Thief from the FighterMageThief trio, or a [[Literature/TheHobbit "burglar"]] in the {{Trope Maker|s}}) He will also periodically overcome his [[TheSoCalledCoward apparently fearful nature]] and [[LetsGetDangerous get dangerous]], with a resulting SuperWeight of 1, edging towards 2 in some cases. Character development usually revolves around them learning WaifFu, becoming less naive, (simply because their native environment usually isn't dangerous at all, but the world outside it is) and [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] in general terms.

* ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'': Half-feet look like human children with bigger ears (Chilchuck, a half-foot in the main party, looks around 10 years old, but is actually 29 and thus middle-aged[[note]]A fact most clearly illustrated in a sequence where the characters all magically switch species, and as a "tallman" Chilchuck looks at least 40.[[/note]]). They're weak in combat, but they possess sharper senses, allowing them to detect dangers and traps earlier. They also only live to be about fifty, subverting the usual "humans are the shortest lived race" trope.

** The ''VideoGame/HornOfTheAbyss'' GameMod for the third game moves Halflings to the CattlePunk Factory town, and outfits them with grenades instead of slings. This is a callback to ''Heroes II'', since Factory is situated in Wasteland terrain.

->''Hobbits have been living and farming in the four Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years. Quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk. Middle-Earth being, after all, full of strange creatures beyond count. Hobbits must seem of little importance, being neither renowned as great warriors, nor counted amongst the very wise. In fact, it has been remarked by some that Hobbits' only real passion is for food -- a rather unfair observation, as we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales and the smoking of pipe-weed. But where our hearts truly lie is in peace, and quiet, and good tilled earth. For all Hobbits share a love of things that grow.''

If the Hobbit/Halfling is a member of TheTeam (and you will find them either there or as a walk-on character, not a central protagonist) then expect him to act as TheSneakyGuy, (more specifically, the Thief from the FighterMageThief trio, or a [[Literature/TheHobbit "burglar"]] in the TropeMaker) He will also periodically overcome his [[TheSoCalledCoward apparently fearful nature]] and [[LetsGetDangerous get dangerous]], with a resulting SuperWeight of 1, edging towards 2 in some cases. Character development usually revolves around them learning WaifFu, becoming less naive, (simply because their native environment usually isn't dangerous at all, but the world outside it is) and [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] in general terms.

->''Hobbits have been living and farming in the four Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years. Quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk. Middle-Earth being, after all, full of strange creatures beyond count. Hobbits must seem of little importance, being neither renowned as great warriors, nor counted amongst the very wise. In fact, it has been remarked by some that Hobbits’ only real passion is for food - a rather unfair observation, as we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales and the smoking of pipe-weed. But where our hearts truly lie is in peace, and quiet, and good tilled earth. For all Hobbits share a love of things that grow.''

* ''Franchise/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'': The Prums are modelled after the Hobbits and were originally called such. As the former WebSerialNovel gets a publishing deal, the race was renamed after "parum," the Latin word for "small", to avoid the wrath of the Creator/JRRTolkien estate. Prums have normal human builds, but tend to have youthful appearances.