History Main / TheOwlKnowingOne

* A different ''Zelda'' fanfic, a novelization of ''Fanfic/BreathOfTheWild'', retains Zelda's status as a bookworm girl who loves to learn, and it expands upon Zelda's sealing power. Instead of it just being a sealing power represented by glowing gold power and Triforce imagery, [[spoiler:she wields the power of an enormous ethereal spiritual figure called the Owl. It fits perfectly with her role as Link's intelligent guide throughout the story.]]

* The tarot card for human mage characters in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' features a flying owl, to reflect both their mystical nature and the fact that they have more formal education than the other five possible backgrounds.

* Professor Hou from ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheWingedBraves'' is the leading scientist and archelogoical expert of Birdopia and the wisest of the characters. And he's an owl.

In any event, owls are usually depicted as wise and honorable and serve as {{mentors}}, teachers or [[AuthorityTropes advisors]]. Be aware, though, that they tend to share traits with the AbsentMindedProfessor and the TVGenius, so take their advice with a grain of salt. There is also a tendency for owls to act as [[ExpositionFairy narrators/storytellers]].

Compare and contrast CuteOwl (no reason an owl can't be smart and cute, and in fact that trope often portrays an owl as adorably bookish), OminousOwl (which may overlap if the owl is an EvilGenius), and UnwiseOwl (which is the antithesis of this trope). Compare to CleverCrows and BrainyPig. See also NobleBirdOfPrey, AnimalStereotypes and WoodlandCreatures.

* There's a Geico commercial that subverts. A wife asks her husband if he knows that there are some owls that aren't that wise. The scene then cuts to two owls in a tree -- another wife and husband pair, and the wife chats about a co-worker of hers, but the husband just keeps asking "Who?"
* The owl from the classic '70s animated Tootsie Pop commercial, as a subversion. Or possibly not, since he's the only one in those commercials ever willing to just say, "I don't know."

:: He's also the only one to suggest the application of the scientific method to the question. And then use that suggestion to get free candy.

* Woodsy Owl, the anti-pollution mascot.

* Inverted by Hoo Hoo from ''Animation/BoonieBears'', who is lazy and often tries to sleep while flying instead of being smart.
* ''Animation/KeremAKovetkezot'': Doctor Bubo from this Hungarian animated series is an owl with a medical doctorate, whose mannerism and looks ([[FurryBaldness balding head]], NerdGlasses) are based on this trope. [[SubvertedTrope However]], he's an AbsentMindedProfessor whose medical diagnoses are typically [[KnowNothingKnowItAll extremely flawed]], [[HilarityEnsues leading to all sorts of crazy shenanigans]].

* ''Animation/{{Vinni Pukh}}'': Just like in the [[Literature/WinnieThePooh original work]], this trope is basically subverted. But instead of being KnowNothingKnowItAll student parody, Owl in this cartoon is a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} [[GenderFlip lady]].

* Used InUniverse for ''Anime/LupinIIITheWomanCalledFujikoMine'', the Fräulein Eule uses the Owl as their symbol for the connotations of knowledge and science. As a work, however, the frequent images of [[OminousOwl Owls are a creepy]] AnimalMotif.
* In ''Anime/NegimaSecondSeason'', Yue ([[TheSmartGuy The Smart Girl]]) transforms into an owl as her suka/dud form.
* Ash's Noctowl in ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' was said to be very intelligent in the episode in which he captured it, but it wasn't really mentioned later.
* Old Man Owl from ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie'' is a fairly slick aversion; maybe he was at one point, but emphasis on the fact that he's known as ''Old Man'' Owl. The guy's senile as a head of Wensleydale and his vision is so bad even those cokebottles he wears don't do him any good.
* In ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'', BigGood Yoshimura is associated with owls. He serves as a surrogate father figure and wise leader to the other ghouls of the 20th Ward, and is well-respected for his knowledge. He doles out advice and information as need be, while guarding many significant secrets. His child, on the other hand, is [[OminousOwl the other trope]], while his right-hand man is associated with CleverCrows. And all of them are [[FlechetteStorm ukaku-users.]] Turns out that even his child is this trope as well aside from being prominently known as an OminousOwl, particularly in the sequel, which they provides one of the most critical [[TheReveal revelations]] in the series, namely the same secrets Yoshimura guarded [[spoiler: namely the origins of [[HunterOfMonsters CCG]] with the involvment of [[TheConspiracy V]], are formed by ghouls, especially jarring from the former's reputation as a ghoul investigator while the higher-ups are known to be ghouls themselves such as the Washuus. [[FromBadToWorse And this goes downhill from there...]]]]
* The owl of the Forest of Death in ''Anime/WolfsRain'' falls between straight and subversion. The wolves are creeped out by it because it doesn't have a scent (maybe it's a ghost), and its utterances don't ''seem'' to make sense. On the other hand, it turns out that they not only ''do'' make sense, but eventually lead the wolves and Cheza out of the forest to (temporary) safety.

* Sandorst from ''ComicBook/TheAutumnlandsToothAndClaw'' is a complete [[InvertedTrope inversion]]. He is short-sighted, ignorant, and a terrible judge of character. His daughter Enna is thankfully smarter and more rational.
* Otero and Liebber in ''ComicBook/{{Blacksad}}'', who are both anthropomorphic owl scientists during the cold war.
* The Owl in ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'', a crime lord known for his vast intelligence network. Sometimes he's specifically referred to as "seeing everything", which, of course, is fitting for a recurring enemy to a blind superhero.

* Owls are reoccurring minor characters in the Swedish comic ''Hälge''. They are, however, not really wiser than any other inhabitant of the forest they live in, but lean more towards being wiseasses prone to making ''really'' bad puns.

* Harvey Who, an extremely minor character from ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' series is this as a member of the Kingdom of Acorn's Secret Service. However, King Max portrayed him as a CassandraTruth sayer, ignoring his advice and leading to the downfall of his kingdom [[note]]Unless it's retconned out, Max admitted back in issue 58 or so that he and all previous kings had bonded with a magic pool called "The Source of All", essentially a counterpart of [[Franchise/StarWars The Force]], to guide their actions so he probably wasn't as skilled at the whole king thing as he thought.[[/note]]. He sees Max's son, Elias, as a worthy holder of the crown and is working to help him get it back.

* Howland Owl from ''ComicStrip/{{Pogo}}'' is actually a parody/subversion of the trope, as his idea of intelligence is [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness using big words]] and spouting LittleKnownFacts.

* In ''Fanfic/ImaginarySeas'', Minerva, Athena's last remnants and terminal, takes the form of an robotic owl that looks half-finished with half its wire frame showing.

* A different ''Zelda'' fanfic, a novelization of ''Fanfic/BreathOfTheWild'', retains Zelda's status as a bookworm girl who loves to learn, and it expands upon Zelda's sealing power. Instead of it just being a sealing power represented by glowing gold power and Triforce imagery, [[spoiler: she wields the power of an enormous ethereal spiritual figure called the Owl. It fits perfectly with her role as Link's intelligent guide throughout the story.]]

* Subverted with Friend Owl in Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'', who initially appears to be wise but turns out to be a KnowNothingKnowItAll.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'': Big Mama, who functions as a mentor figure to Tod.

* Archimedes from ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'', as per the film being an adaptation of ''The Once and Future King'' (see Literature). However, Archimedes' gruff nature from the books is played up here, to make him seem more like a cranky schoolteacher.
-->'''Archimedes:''' PINFEATHERS AND GULLYFLUFF!

* In the original version of ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|1981}}'', Athena gives Perseus Bubo, a clockwork duplicate of her own owl companion built by Hephaestus, which becomes Perseus' guide.
* The owl voiced by Creator/JennaElfman in the film ''Film/DrDolittle'' starring Creator/EddieMurphy.

* Stolas, a demon in the ''Literature/ArsGoetia''.

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': ''The Silver Chair''. The Parliament of the Owls.

* Mr. Owl the schoolteacher from ''Literature/{{Franklin}}''.
* As a story whose main characters are almost all owls, ''Literature/GuardiansOfGaHoole'' has varying degrees of this and some aversions--depending on the owl in question.

* Merlin's owl Archimedes in ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing''.
* Subverted harshly in the Creator/JamesThurber fable ''[[http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english320/Thurber-The_Owl_Who_Was_God.htm The Owl Who Was God.]]''

* [[ADogNamedDog Owl]] in ''Literature/WinnieThePooh'' stories, where he's an outright KnowNothingKnowItAll.

%%* Circuit, from ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce''.
* Referenced on the kids' game show ''Series/{{Raven}}''. After all of the remaining series 5, week 3 warriors fail to win the challenge Demon Square on day 3, the titular character can only make this comment:

* Referenced in a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch, with a commercial for Literature/TheBible reenacted with birds. The three wise men are depicted as parrots, confusing the boy reading it and upsetting his father when he claims owls would be more logical.

** Owls, of course, are the emblem of Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom. They were also apparently very common in Athens; in several languages, "Carry owls to Athens" means doing something pointless. Though the last part may be referring to Athenian ''coins'' stamped with an owl motif -- Athena being, as its name implies, Athens' patron goddess -- rather than actual birds.

* Inverted in Finnish mythology, in which owls were seen as ''stupid'' animals. While the imported image of owls as a symbol of wisdom is now the more popular one, the Finnish word "[[InherentlyFunnyWords pöllö]]" is still used to describe stupid people.

* The demon prince Stolas ([[WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss No, not that one]]) from the Ars Goetia and the Lesser Key of Solomon is said to bestow upon the conjurer knowledge of astronomy, herbs and precious stones.

* The Dutch children's show ''Series/DeFabeltjeskrant'' -- also known as ''I fablernas värld'' ("In the world of fables") in Swedish -- used an owl called Meneer de Uil (Mr the Owl, originally enough) as a narrator.
* ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood'': X the Owl from The Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
* Charlie Owl from ''Series/NewZooRevue'' wore a mortarboard, implying wisdom.
* Hoots the Owl from ''Series/SesameStreet'', who possessed the skills of saxophone playing and singing the blues.

** Giant owls, along with giant eagles à la Creator/JRRTolkien, are among the few "giant animal"-type monsters to have been sapient in all incarnations of ''D&D''. Some editions also feature normal-sized talking owls, a bird which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin; these are wise oracles of the forest that seem to be at least partially related to Fey.

* Blathers, the curator of the Museum in the ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' games. At the least, he's knowledgeable in most, if not all of the things you donate, and in the early games would [[MeaningfulName blather on]] about whatever fish, bug, or completed fossil you gave to the museum (his lectures were brought back in ''New Horizons'', but made optional). There is also his sister Celeste, who runs the observatory in ''Wild World'' and ''City Folk'' and is the authority on all things related to astronomy.
* From the ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' series, [[SecretCharacter Jeanne]] had her own version of the titular character's [[CleverCrows Crow Within]] technique called Owl Within, in which she transforms into a blood-red owl. It's very fitting for her role in the first game, as throughout the game she not only acts as Bayonetta's [[TheRival rival]], but also as her [[TheMentor mentor]], reminding Bayonetta of the techniques she's forgotten and her role as an Umbra Witch. This could double with an OminousOwl as well, since for most of the first game Jeanne acts as Bayonetta's enemy.
* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'': The series as whole sometimes features owls as enemies (including in combination with the Owl Knight), as well as pets/weapons of Maria Renard, familiars for Nathan Graves and Shanoa, and even a magical transformation for Charlotte Aulin. However, these aren't really this trope; they count more as OminousOwl. What ''does'' count here, however, is the presence of Stolas, a large, crowned owl-like creature, in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow'' and ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow''. Inspired by the ''Literature/ArsGoetia'' demon of the same name, Stolas is described in the bestiaries as "An aged, wise owl", and "A wise, old creature said to have considerable intelligence". Both enemies are late-game enemies that summon other powerful monsters, and they also have the highest [[{{Mana}} MP]] in the game -- 9,999 in ''Aria'', and 1,500 (still the most MP of any regular enemy; the next highest ones are at 999) in ''Dawn''. They drop two different soul abilities, depending on the game -- one, "God's Wisdom", is an intelligence boost; the other, "Concentration", enables you to sacrifice strength for an intelligence boost.

* The language-learning EdutainmentGame ''VideoGame/{{Duolingo}}'''s mascot is a CuteOwl named Duo, likely invoking this trope. Duo even has [[AndYourRewardIsClothes a nightgown and monocle as a reward]].

* In ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVAbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder'', Cedric the Owl was ''intended'' to help guide the player through the game and offer insightful input. In practice he just [[AnnoyingVideoGameHelper hung around annoying you]], [[DirtyCoward left when anything dangerous might happen]], made [[CaptainObvious inane observations]] ([[MemeticMutation "Graham, watch out! A]] ''[[MemeticMutation poisonous]]'' [[MemeticMutation snake!"]]) and when he said something that actually could have been a useful warning, it was always too late to avert the catastrophe. The key here is he was designed to give information; he just sucked at it. Small wonder he’s by far the most hated character in the series.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Hoothoot and its evolution Noctowl, while not exactly Psychic-type, can still learn a lot of good Psychic-type moves. The Pokedex also states that they're very intelligent -- Hoothoot's ''Platinum'' entry states that "some countries consider it to be a wise friend, versed in the world's ways," while Noctowl's Silver entry states that "When it needs to think, it rotates its head 180 degrees to sharpen its intellectual power." The second line of owl Pokémon ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'''s grass starter Rowlet has a notable aversion with its evolved form Dartrix. Dartrix is actually ''called'' a birdbrain, and is actually a BrainlessBeauty obsessed with its appearance and often bungling things and then making them worse trying to fix them.

* In ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'', the hermit witch [[CoolOldLady Cucuvea]] is popularly known as "The Owl," and has spent many centuries providing wise counsel and magical assistance to the people of Transylvania - and to you, when you finally meet her. For good measure, she's also capable of [[VoluntaryShapeshifting actually transforming into an owl]] in order to keep any eye on her enemies.
* Parodied in ''VideoGame/SimonTheSorcerer'', where Simon meets an owl in a tree labeled "Wise owl" but instead of giving useful advice the owl turns out to suffer from dementia and can't finish a single sentence.
* The Owl in ''VideoGame/SongBirdSymphony'' has a reputation as "the smartest bird in the forest", and he lives alone in a sanctuary full of books and ancient artifacts. He guides the PlayerCharacter, Birb, on a quest to learn the songs of every bird in the forest in exchange for helping him find his real family. [[spoiler: [[TreacherousAdvisor He's also]] the BigBad, and a [[VileVillainSaccharineShow shockingly heinous]] one at that. His true goal is to use the power of music to conquer the forest, and he is willing to [[FinalSolution annihilate the entire Lyrebird race]] so he alone can claim ownership of it.]]

* ''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/500820 Lil' Hoots]]'': "Oh, Old Master Owwwww-wul!"

* Mumei Nanashi of ''WebAnimation/{{Hololive}}'' is the AnthropomorphicPersonification of Civilization, and chose an owl [[AnimalMotif motif]] because of this trope. This is downplayed somewhat in that she's also [[ForgetfulJones prone to forgetting things]], often being unable to remember what she just said moments earlier, and despite being the avatar of Civilization, has forgotten most of what Humanity has ever accomplished. She does remember that she was at one point quite intelligent and not as forgetful in the past, but has had her memory weakened over the ages.

* ''ComicStrip/ThePerryBibleFellowship'' [[http://pbfcomics.com/comics/wise-shitashi/ reminds us]]: the hardest part is to find ''that'' owl.
* According to Jason Love's ''Snapshots'', [[http://www.jasonlove.com/cartoons/00136-daily-cartoons-owls.gif some owls more than the rest.]]

* Language-learning site Duolingo has a little green CuteOwl for a mascot.
* Do a Google search for "smart owl" or some variation thereof and you will find a plethora of pictures of owls in mortarboards.

* Professor Owl in the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresInMusicDuology''.
* [[SpeciesSurname Owl]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood''.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Wan Shi Tong, the knowledge spirit who runs the greatest library in the world, is a giant, black barn owl (who crosses over into OminousOwl territory when he gets mad). His name, 万知堂 ''(wànzhītáng)'' even [[MeaningfulName means]] "[[TheOmniscient He who knows 10,000 things.]]" In the SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' however, his self-imposed exile has left him [[KnowNothingKnowItAll poorly informed when it comes to human technology]] and he is easily swayed by [[EvilUncle Unalaq]].

* In the ChristmasSpecial ''Christopher the Christmas Tree'', a young owl runs away from home because he's tired of being taunted for not being as smart as the rest of his family (he can't fly or [[TalkingAnimal even talk]]). His smarter brothers are even shown wearing mortarboards, playing into this trope.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{DuckTales|2017}}'': Zan Owlson, a businesswoman possibly even more level-headed than Scrooge [=McDuck=] himself. She later gains the job of preventing Flintheart Glomgold from ruining his company with his inane schemes. After quitting from the company, she goes on to be mayor of St. Canard, where she successfully wipes the city of crime.
* In the show ''WesternAnimation/{{Franklin}}'' the titular turtle's teacher, Mr. Owl, is a Great Horned Owl.

* There was a later WesternAnimation/{{Noveltoons}} character, Ollie the Owl, whom appeared in two cartoons in TheSixties. He was a ChildProdigy, complete with oversized eyeglasses. In his first appearance, he uses a detective kit to try and outsmart and arrest a bank robber (and he succeeds), and in his second he goes on a children's quiz show and ends up answering all the tough questions correctly, to the dismay of the TV studio. (They were hoping the contestant would not be able to answer the questions so the TV studio wouldn't have to give away the prizes and lose all their money... but all Ollie really wanted was a lollipop.)

* There was an Aloysius Owl in Creator/{{Terrytoons}}' ''Possible Possum'' series. He tried to avert from Possible's more outrageous schemes.

* Although owls are large-brained birds, they seem to be at the lower end of bird intelligence based on behavioral studies of captive birds and mostly failed attempts to train them for use in falconry. Owls in the wild have been observed to make life-threatening blunders not frequently witnessed of other birds - such as failing to avoid traffic on busy roads when hunting prey. This is because owls are an example of CripplingOverspecialization. Their large brains are optimized for extremely acute audio-visual sensory processing and not much else. Thus they're highly effective hunters, but they don't have what humans interpret as "intelligence".

Compare and contrast CuteOwl (no reason an owl can't be smart and cute, and in fact that trope often portrays an owl as adorably bookish) and OminousOwl (which may overlap if the owl is an EvilGenius). Compare to CleverCrows and BrainyPig. See also NobleBirdOfPrey, AnimalStereotypes and WoodlandCreatures.

* Spoofed in ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio'', in which the Owl Doctor the Blue Fairy calls to determine wether or not Pinocchio is dead or alive is an utter KnowNothingKnowItAll contrarian to anything his slightly less dense [[CleverCrow Crow Doctor]] colleague expresses, especially when Pinocchio cries in response to the Cricket's scolding and the Crow's observation that if Pinocchio weeps it's a sign he's still alive, the Owl twists it around saying that when the dead weep, they're just being [[AfterlifeAngst displeased of dying]].

* Ash's Noctowl in ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' was said to be very intelligent in the episode in which he captured it, but it wasn't really mentioned later.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebOriginal/{{Mortasheen}}'' gives us the [[http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/bemzuul.htm Bemzuul,]] which is essentially an owl with oversized, creepy-looking eyes. While not wise per se, it is capable of telepathy, photographic memory, and even MindRape. Bonus points for having a name derived from B.E.M., the acronym for "Bug Eyed Monster."
[[/folder]]

* The UK educational film ''Film/PlaySafe'' has an owl teach a robin and the child viewers how avoid getting injured or killed by electrical equipment by well, playing safe, and being aware of the dangers of electricity.

* In ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVAbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder'', Cedric the Owl was ''intended'' to help guide the player through the game and offer insightful input. In practice he just [[AnnoyingVideoGameHelper hung around annoying you]], [[DirtyCoward left when anything dangerous might happen]], made [[CaptainObvious inane observations]] ([[MemeticMutation "Graham, watch out! A]] ''[[MemeticMutation poisonous]]'' [[MemeticMutation snake!"]]) and when he said something that actually could have been a useful warning, it was always too late to avert the catastrophe. The key here is he was designed to give information; he just sucked at it.