Peter is a ten-year-old orphan living in a tiny attic apartment in the perpetually cold city of Baltese. He trains under his stern guardian to become a soldier like his deceased father, eating meager rations of moldy bread and small fish. He is a sensitive boy who begins to question his grim reality after a fortuneteller insists his lost sister is still alive. His quest to find her requires him to evaluate what he truly values in life.

Vilna Lutz is an elderly, one-footed former soldier who fought alongside Peter's father. He serves as Peter's guardian, enforcing military drills in their dark attic apartment. He suffers from frequent fevers during which he hallucinates the sounds of war, and he stubbornly hides the truth about Peter's family history.

Leo is a small policeman with a very large mustache who lives in the apartment directly below Peter. Unlike most citizens of Baltese, he maintains a strong sense of wonder and constantly asks philosophical questions about the world. He is highly imaginative and believes that impossible things can happen.

Adele is a six-year-old girl who has lived her entire life in a dim orphanage after her mother died in childbirth. She is gentle and empathetic, holding onto a steadfast belief that an elephant will eventually arrive to guide her to her true home.

The Countess Quintet is a wealthy, entitled noblewoman who views the elephant's magical arrival as a threat to her own social dominance. To regain the attention of the city's elite, she purchases the animal and installs it in her grand ballroom, locking out the common citizens of Baltese.

The Magician is an elderly performer of failing reputation who desperately wants to execute one piece of real magic. His powerful spell accidentally brings an elephant crashing through the opera house roof, an act that lands him in a dark prison cell where he reflects on his extreme loneliness and pride.

Conjured from her warm, sunny homeland by a magic spell, the Elephant is a majestic animal deeply traumatized by her sudden transportation to cold, gloomy Baltese. Chained in a ballroom, she silently repeats her true name to herself to maintain a connection to her lost family.

Gloria is Leo Matienne's practical and affectionate wife. While she shares her husband's gentle nature, she approaches life with more resignation, particularly regarding their inability to have children. She readily provides warmth, maternal care, and hot food to Peter.

Sister Marie serves as the Sister of the Door at the Orphanage of the Sisters of Perpetual Light. She is a kind, patient nun who believes in leaving the door unlocked for anyone seeking entry. She provides comfort to Adele and encourages the young girl's persistent dreams.

Madam LaVaughn is a noblewoman whose legs are crushed by the falling elephant. Confined to a wheelchair and consumed by her trauma, she visits the imprisoned Magician daily to engage in repetitive, unyielding conversations about the accident.

Hans Ickman is Madam LaVaughn's long-serving manservant and adviser. He quietly observes the pointless bickering between his employer and the Magician, carrying his own quiet sorrow over forgotten childhood memories of his family and a small white dog.

Bartok is a small former stone carver who suffers from a crooked spine after falling from a cathedral. The near-fatal accident left him with a habit of laughing incessantly at everything. He works in the Countess's ballroom, keeping the captive elephant's area clean.

Thomas is a local beggar who lacks memories of his past or last name but possesses a unique gift for turning everyday conversations into beautiful songs. He wanders the cold streets of Baltese with his dog.

Iddo is a large black dog who acts as Thomas's loyal companion. Formerly a military messenger dog, he suffered a head injury during the war that left him blind, but he still hopes to deliver one final, important message.

Lisette is an older orphan girl living at the Sisters of Perpetual Light. Hardened by her circumstances, she frequently mocks Adele's persistent belief that an elephant will come to rescue her.