The arrival of the Balrog was one of the signature moments of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Director Peter Jackson drew upon his background in horror films to deliver an entrance that broke all manner of conventions. It began with light and a low growl, as well as the sudden retreat of the army of goblins that had previously threatened to overwhelm the Fellowship. Gandalf’s open fear of the Balrog sells the notion as well as any of the special effects, as he admonishes his friends to run for their lives. Jackson teased the monster out for a few more minutes before finally revealing it: a black demonic horror spouting flame and ash.

The fear is well-justified: the creature ultimately claims Gandalf and deprives the Fellowship of their leader. But it also features a subtle bit of visual trickery that has proven surprisingly controversial. The Fellowship of the Ring took care not to confirm the presence of wings on the creature, something the earlier 1978 version had no problems doing. What are the differences between the two, and why are they important for any reason beyond artistic license? The answers are surprising.

Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings Gave the Balrog Wings & Flight

Ralph Bakshi’s animated version of the first two-thirds of The Lord of the Rings trilogy had an advantage that live-action movies of the time didn’t. It could credibly bring any monster to life in its medium without having to rely on the protean special effects of the time. The Balrog merited special attention, and the wings served as an excellent visual means of conveying what the director wanted.

Unlike the live-action version, where the Balrog’s arrival frightened away the goblins threatening the Fellowship, Bakshi’s monster appears amid a horde of orcs. He’s also smaller than the one in the live-action version, and while his leonine head and flaming sword distinguish him from the orcs surrounding him, it’s still comparatively easy to confuse the two. So, Bakshi provided giant batlike wings, which not only distinguished the monster from the exponentially less dangerous orcs around him but also provided a proper entrance as he leaps into the air to fly ahead of the orcs and begin his confrontation with Gandalf.

Can Balrogs Actually Fly in The Lord of the Rings?

It’s a striking image and makes a good entrance for the monster: something Jackson successfully topped in his version. But the presence or absence of wings on the Balrog is actually a topic of some debate among Tolkien fans. While the earlier artist took some dramatic license in his rendition of Tolkien’s beast, Jackson was far more evasive about whether the creature had wings. His version of the Balrog appears wreathed in smoke, which sometimes lends to the suggestion of wings extending from its back. They never demonstrably appear, however, and unlike Bakshi’s version, Jackson’s Balrog never takes flight.

Jackson cleaves closer to Tolkien than his predecessor did. The novel version of The Fellowship of the Ring describes the Balrog as possessing a “shadow about it, reaching out like two vast wings.” Later it “drew itself up to a great height, and its wings spread from wall to wall.” Tolkien fans have debated the veracity of the statement, with one side claiming that it definitely possesses wings and the other arguing that Tolkien was simply using evocative language to covey the creature’s image.

Whatever the reason, Jackson designed his Balrog around the description: suggesting without stating outright and keeping the vagueness of Tolkien’s language intact. Bakshi took a different direction. While his version doesn’t stay as close to the test, it’s an apt demonstration of how two artists can convey the same idea in vastly different terms. His Balrog remains frightening, and the wings provide some distinction, something that helps it hold up against Jackon’s splashier and more artfully realized version.