In the Game of Thrones TV series, the White Walkers were created by the Children of the Forest , who transformed a captured First Man into the first White Walker as a weapon in their war against the First Men.

On-Screen Origin

  • In the show, Leaf and other Children of the Forest bind a human to a weirwood tree and push a dragonglass dagger into his chest, turning him into the Night King, the first White Walker.
  • This creation happens during the Dawn Age, when the Children are losing their war against the invading First Men and resort to magic to defend themselves.

In-Universe Explanation

  • The Children intend the White Walkers to be living weapons to protect their sacred forests and themselves from human destruction.
  • The plan backfires, and the White Walkers eventually become an uncontrollable existential threat, forcing humans and Children to later oppose them together in the legendary Battle for the Dawn.

Books vs. Show

  • In the novels (A Song of Ice and Fire), the exact origin of the Others (book name for White Walkers) has not been definitively revealed, and their creation remains mysterious and debated among fans.
  • The “Children created them” origin is therefore specific to the HBO series and not yet confirmed canon for the books, where hints and theories point in several possible directions.

TL;DR: The White Walkers in the Game of Thrones TV show were created by the Children of the Forest, who magically transformed a First Man into the Night King during their ancient war with humanity.