Gnorbu

Gnorbu Facts

Pronounced: NOR-boo

Plural: Gnorbu

Discovered: 6th January 2006

Species Day: 6th January

Native Land: Neopia Central

The Gnorbu is a long-haired Neopet and a quadruped, meaning it walks on four legs. It is notable for its very long, flowing mane and its large floppy ears. Unlike some Neopets with large manes (such as the Wocky) it does not have a bushy tail; the tail of the Gnorbu is smaller and more tassel-like. It is a medium-sized Neopet.

Gnorbu can be found all over Neopia. Their thick, long coats can become heavy if left to grow too long, and are traditionally clipped once a year, in the Month of Sleeping. They are cheerful Neopets with a great sense of humour, but they also care about the feelings of others and will never upset a friend just for the sake of a joke. Their physical strength and speed are not very remarkable, although, like all pets, they can become good Battledomers with sufficient training. Instead, Gnorbu are known for their patience, kindness and ability to see the funny side of even the most difficult situations. They are humble Neopets who don't show much arrogance.

The Gnorbu is a relatively recent addition to Neopia, having been introduced on the 6th day of Sleeping, Year Eight (known to non-Neopians as January 6th 2006). However, this was by no means its first introduction into the hearts and minds of Neopians. The concept art for this pet had appeared some nine months earlier, on April Fools' Day of Year Seven, as a joke that was never intended to be used. At this point, it was supposedly called the Lamameeah.

Lamameeah

However, for once in Neopian history players proved themselves surprisingly open to creative new ideas. Owners all over the world demanded that something be done with some of the interesting designs they had seen on April Fools' Day. While some, like the Calabat, were used as new Petpets, life imitated fiction in the case of the Lamameeah and it was redrawn as a proper Neopet. There were several changes between the fake concept art and the real thing, not all of which pleased fans; the fluffy mane was made much more prominent, while the tail was shrunk. The ears were also made more floppy-looking, and the eyes were emphasised. All these changes can still be seen in the current design of the Gnorbu, which has barely been redrawn at all since that day.

Old Gnorbu

Gnorbu Trivia

On the first-ever annual Gnorbu Shearing Day, owners all over Neopia woke up to find that their pets were indeed completely bald! This mischievous bit of image-switching by TNT startled quite a lot of people, but luckily Gnorbu hair grows very fast and all was back to normal the following day.

Sheared Gnorbu

A Few Famous Gnorbu

Captain Tuan is the leading sailor aboard the famous flying ship, the Cyodrake's Gaze. He is firm but fair to his crew, and tries to make sure every voyage runs smoothly.
Igneot is an enigmatic Moltaran with mystical powers. It's rumoured he can foretell whether something is going to happen or would be a good idea.
A Gnorbu princess is the youngest daughter of the Emperor of Shenkuu. Like her sister Lunara, she is still looking for her role in life, and dreams of becoming a mighty warrior. The game Shenkuu Warrior tracks one of her training efforts.
Also in Shenkuu, an unnamed Gnorbu elder is the keeper of the Lunar Temple, one of the country's most sacred institutions. He has spent many years watching the patterns of nature, and is very intuitive; he knows almost instinctively when things are out of balance. He sometimes shares his wisdom with pupils, including the young adventurer Clara Chatham.
Vandebart Biggsby runs the apple-bobbing stall in the Haunted Woods. While apparently a fun-loving eccentric, it would seem he is not unwilling to help the more sinister locals with their plans.