History AdaptationalBadass / WesternAnimation

** Elizabeth Bartley in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines'' is a mastermind behind World War I and the one who resurrects Dracula in her only game outing, but otherwise she's just a regular vampire and an endgame boss. Here, Erszebet Bathory is the BigBad who's so incredibly powerful that after powering up, ''nothing'' our heroes throw at her so much as ''elicit a reaction''.
** Elizabeth's minion, Drolta Tsuentes, is just an aged cultist in the same game whose only significant contribution to the plot is to revive Elizabeth who then proceeds to wreak the aforementioned havoc. Here, Drolta is a vampiric demon who outclasses the heroes until the very last episode where they finally manage to get even with her.
** Out of the four DamselInDistress in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'', only Maria has any fighting capability whatsoever. Here, Annette is a capable sorcerer and swordsfighter who can fight with conjured swords she wields or throws, and Tera is a Speaker who wields elemental magic. (Iris has yet to appear, so this trope may or may not apply to her)

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}'':

*** Wheeljack in the original cartoon he is presented as something of a MadScientist archetype, edging into GadgeteerGenius due to his tendency to invent things (and build the Dinobots). This carried over to similarly named, similarly-designed characters in both [[Film/{{Transformers}} the movies]] and ''[[WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated Animated]]'' series. ''Prime'', however, turns him into a DualWielding SamuraiCowboy with a love for mayhem and explosives, an ace pilot, and a former Wrecker to boot.

*** Breakdown. Traditionally one of the Stunticons, and a paranoid ConspiracyTheorist and DirtyCoward to boot, ''Prime'' has turned Breakdown into TheBrute of the Decepticon team. He's an independent character and a total badass who lives to DropTheHammer on unsuspecting Autobots (especially his {{Archenemy}}, [[TheBigGuy Bulkhead]]). He's also got shades of NobleDemon, an EyepatchOfPower, and a partnership with EvilGenius [[TheMedic Knock Out]] that makes him all the more dangerous.

** [[TheLeader Leonardo]] in the 2003 series is one of the most skilled, powerful, and competent incarnations of Leonardo in any media format. Even now, there aren't many other versions of Leo who can boast that they've been able to casually defeat all of their brothers at once in sparring matches and even out-fight Splinter later on. For reference, Tales of the TMNT revealed that in the future, Mirage Leo achieved enlightenment and gained a small degree of mystical powers only during his elderly years, whereas in this show, 2003 Leo unlocked his mystical potential under the Ninja Tribunal while he was still a teenager.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan''

** In the 1987 series, Raphael leaned much more into his "cool, but rude guy" personality trait, being just as much of a comic-relief character as Michaelangelo. Albeit with a more [[TheCynic cynical]], [[BreakingTheFourthWall fourth-wall-breaking]] edge. But after the release of the [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1990 first live-action movie]], which portrayed him as an emotional, overly-aggressive tough guy, almost every version of Raphael has followed that particular portrayal since. [[OlderThanTheyThink This is actually how his character was in the comics]] and the movie and the subsequent adaptations are actually TruerToTheText while the 80s cartoon version of him was more of an AdaptationalWimp AdaptationalNiceGuy.

** April has usually been a DamselInDistress in the older cartoons, only showing "badass" qualities on the sidelines. In the 2012 series, however, she's taken actual training as a Kunoichi and was able to defeat Raphael in a sparing match (Raph keeps insisting she's "almost fully trained", although that really only means she hasn't completed the course). The same goes for her ''Rise'' incarnation. While she's still untrained, she is able to fight alongside the Turtles from the get-go, and being just as capable of defeating villains on her own, [[spoiler: even landing the finishing blow on a Shredder-armor-empowered Baron Draxum]].
** In the 1987 series, Raphael leaned much more into his "cool, but rude guy" personality trait, being just as much of a comic-relief character as Michaelangelo. Albeit with a more [[TheCynic cynical]], [[BreakingTheFourthWall fourth-wall-breaking]] edge. But after the release of the [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1990 first live-action movie]], which portrayed him as an emotional, overly-aggressive tough guy, almost every version of Raphael has followed that particular portrayal since.

** Arguably, Trevor Belmont is much more badass here than he's depicted in the NES game or most Castlevania media as other Belmonts tend to outshine him. In the show aside from his whip skills being dialed up, Trevor is now also a MasterSwordsmen (equaling Alucard) and OneManArmy as he single-handedly slays a horde of monsters armed only with two ''sticks''. Season 3 takes this even further as in games Trevor of course needs the Vampire Killer whip and other weapons to kill monsters, but in the show he kills a ''Werewolf'' [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/00b859ff5d2c978fbf92a67756b8aa96/b964c190e9cd2675-0f/s500x750/0350a830f553a54fb2b27901a186c2e6d8eed89b.gifv with his bare hands]] and in the [[https://youtu.be/-43wmSEpK3c?t=61 finale]] he [[DualWielding dual wields]] his holy whips, something that cannot be done in the games. Trevor also has good [[TheLeader leadership skills]] in the show that aren't prevalent in the games. [[spoiler: In Season 4, Trevor takes on a giant-sized Death all by himself and actually manages to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu kill him]] with a GodzillaThreshold magical dagger ''and survives''... way more badass than anything Trevor did in the games.]]

** Scooby Doo in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated''. Over the course of the series he's delivered at least one PreMortemOneliner, turned his catchphrase into a BadassBoast and helped destroy an EldritchAbomination. Simply put, you mess with his friends and [[{{Determinator}} nothing can stop him]] from taking you down.

** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooLegendofThePhantosaur'' gloriously gives Shaggy Rogers this treatment as thanks to [[HypnoFool hypnotism]] he gets NervesOfSteel leading to the LovableCoward becoming so badass [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI31tqN-_Eg he curb stomps an entire biker gang]], races the biker leader and fights the titular supernatural ''T. rex''. This depiction of Shaggy helped transform him into a MemeticBadass on the internet.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Legion of Super Heroes|2006}}''

*** In the comics, Arcade was pretty much synonymous with failure, especially in the aftermath of ComicBook/AvengersArena. In this show, however, he's [[{{Technopath}} a mutant with the ability to control anything electronic]], engineers a series of simulations that would have likely ''killed'' Wolverine and Captain America if [[SpannerInTheWorks Spidey wasn't around]], and was literally [[NearVillainVictory ONE digit away]] from cracking the launch codes and starting WorldWarIII. '''For the hell of it'''. Wow.

*** ComicBook/MilesMorales's Venom Sting is no longer a FingerpokeOfDoom, but can seriously damage machinery.

*** And Shredder's threat level only seems to increase over time. The later cartoons are more serious than the 80s one, so we go from cartoon villain antics to a deadly dangerous fighter and DiabolicalMastermind who has absolutely no trouble handing the Turtles their shells in early encounters and never becomes a routine, easily beaten foe. Learning of his involvement in a situation never fails to elicit an OhCrap from Splinter. (Also, specific to the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]], he is almost supernatural in his unkillability, allowing him to show himself as badass in defeat as in victory.

*** And then there's ''[[WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Rise]]'', in which Shredder is a demonic suit of armor. While most other verions were merely proficient in combat, this Shredder has straight-up SuperStrength and is able to level buildings with the air pressure of his blows alone-- let alone when they actually connect. Not only that, but he's also an ImplacableMan who's borderline impossible to damage. Every encounter with him before the finale is a CurbStompBattle on the Turtles' end. [[spoiler:And when he regains his sapience in "E-Turtle Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", he becomes even more dangerous.]]

** In the 1987 series, Raphael leaned much more into his "cool, but rude guy" personality trait, being just as much of a comic-relief character as Michaelangelo. Albeit with a more [[TheCynic cynical]], [[BreakingTheFourthWall fourth-wall-breaking]] edge. But after the release of the [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles first live-action movie]], which portrayed him as an emotional, overly-aggressive tough guy, almost every version of Raphael has followed that particular portrayal since.

** Aquaman is fifty times more [[CatchPhrase OUTRAGEOUS]] than his typical portrayal.

** Megatron himself. [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 G1]] Megatron was TooDumbToLive when it came to Starscream, and would trust him again ten seconds after being ''shot at'' by him. "Decepticons, retreat! RETREEEEEAT!!" was practically his CatchPhrase, and the series' most diehard fans admit that he'd yell it when the going got tough ''even if he still actually had the upper hand''. Oh, and he turned into a gun that couldn't move or fire himself and was usually held by... go on, [[TheStarscream guess who]]. Since then, he's had highly badass vehicle and [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars beast]] modes, and has been freakishly powerful and/or a brilliant DiabolicalMastermind.

** April has usually been a DamselInDistress in the older cartoons, only showing "badass" qualities on the sidelines. In the 2012 version, however, she's taken actual training as a Kunoichi and was able to defeat Raphael in a sparing match (Raph keeps insisting she's "almost fully trained", although that really only means she hasn't completed the course). The same goes for her ''Rise'' incarnation. While she's still untrained, she is able to fight alongside the Turtles from the get-go, and being just as capable of defeating villains on her own, [[spoiler: even landing the finishing blow on a Shredder-armor-empowered Baron Draxum]].
** In the 80s cartoon, Raphael leaned much more into his "cool, but rude guy" personality trait, being just as much of a comic-relief character as Michaelangelo. Albeit with a more [[TheCynic cynical]], [[BreakingTheFourthWall fourth-wall-breaking]] edge. But after the release of the [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles first live-action movie]], which portrayed him as an emotional, overly-aggressive tough guy, almost every version of Raphael has followed that particular portrayal since.
** While badass in every incarnation, ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''' version of the titular team deserves a special mention. While [[AdaptationalWimp less experienced than some of their other incarnations]], they also possess actual superpowers thanks to their mystic weapons that allow them to perform feats that their other counterparts could only dream of. You're probably not going to see any other version of Leonardo redirecting enemy attacks [[ThinkingUpPortals by spamming portals]] or Michelangelo ''hurling a giant tanker'' for instance. Also, with the exceptions of the 2003 series where Leonardo was able to defeat Splinter during some rage-fueled sparring in the later fourth season and the 2012 Leonardo defeating Splinter during a couple of sparring sessions (one where Splinter was injured), most versions of the Ninja Turtles are shown to be outclassed by Splinter to varying degrees in fights. In ''Rise'', after undergoing some serious training, the Turtles are able to take down Splinter during a practice session ''towards the end of just the first season alone''. It's especially apparent compared to the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 2012 turtles]], who are somewhat infamous for [[AdaptationalWimp constantly receiving humiliating beatings]] from Splinter and virtually every other character on the show apart from the members of the Purple Dragons.

** In the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 original cartoon]], the Rat King is a man who had a connection with rats with speaking to them, but he usually left the fighting to his partner Leatherhead and was quite cowardly. In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'', he gains PsychicPowers and becomes a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds as Dr. Victor Falco, being able to easily telegraph the Turtles' moves in combat and having a mind link to the rats, manipulating Splinter on a much higher level than he did in the 1987 cartoon. It forces the Turtles to "fight without thinking" on their first encounter (something difficult for TheSmartGuy Donatello).

* ''[[WesternAnimation/WabbitALooneyTunesProduction New Looney Tunes]]'': Sniffles the Mouse has a [[BatmanParody Batman-esque]] alter-ego in this show called [=DarkBat=], which gives him fighting skills, {{Flight}}, SuperStrength and even a [[BadassBaritone deeper voice]].

** Arguably, Trevor Belmont is much more badass here than he's depicted in the NES game or most Castlevania media as other Belmonts tend to outshine him. In the show aside from his WhipItGood skills being dialed up, Trevor is now also a MasterSwordsmen (equaling Alucard) and OneManArmy as he single-handedly slays a horde of monsters armed only with two ''sticks''. Season 3 takes this even further as in games Trevor of course needs the Vampire Killer whip and other weapons to kill monsters, but in the show he kills a ''Werewolf'' [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/00b859ff5d2c978fbf92a67756b8aa96/b964c190e9cd2675-0f/s500x750/0350a830f553a54fb2b27901a186c2e6d8eed89b.gifv with his bare hands]] and in the [[https://youtu.be/-43wmSEpK3c?t=61 finale]] he [[DualWielding dual wields]] his holy whips, something that cannot be done in the games. Trevor also has good [[TheLeader leadership skills]] in the show that aren't prevalent in the games. [[spoiler: In Season 4, Trevor takes on a giant-sized Death all by himself and actually manages to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu kill him]] with a GodzillaThreshold magical dagger ''and survives''... way more badass than anything Trevor did in the games.]]

** Arguably, Trevor Belmont is much more badass here than he's depicted in the NES game or most Castlevania media as other Belmonts tend to outshine him. In the show aside from his WhipItGood skills being dialed up, Trevor is now also a MasterSwordsmen (equaling Alucard) and OneManArmy as he single-handedly slays a horde of monsters armed only with two ''sticks''. Season 3 takes this even further as in games Trevor of course needs the Vampire Killer whip and other weapons to kill monsters, but in the show he kills a ''Werewolf'' [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/00b859ff5d2c978fbf92a67756b8aa96/b964c190e9cd2675-0f/s500x750/0350a830f553a54fb2b27901a186c2e6d8eed89b.gifv with his bare hands]] and in the [[https://youtu.be/-43wmSEpK3c?t=61 finale]] he [[DualWielding dual wields]] his holy whips, something that cannot be done in the games. Trevor also has good [[TheLeader leadership skills]] in the show that aren't prevalent in the games. [[spoiler: In Season 4, Trevor takes on a giant-sized Death all by himself and actually manages to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulu kill him]] with a GodzillaThreshold magical dagger ''and survives''... way more badass than anything Trevor did in the games.]]

** And Shredder's threat level only seems to increase over time. The later cartoons are more serious than the 80s one, so we go from cartoon villain antics to a deadly dangerous fighter and DiabolicalMastermind who has absolutely no trouble handing the Turtles their shells in early encounters and never becomes a routine, easily beaten foe. Learning of his involvement in a situation never fails to elicit an OhCrap from Splinter. (Also, specific to the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]], he is almost supernatural in his unkillability, allowing him to show himself as badass in defeat as in victory.

** Wasp gets to [[TookALevelInBadass take a level in badass]] for this cartoon. In the very early comics, Janet "[[ComicBook/TheWasp Wasp]]" Van Dyne was younger and had the power to become small and shoot fairly powerful "stinger" energy blasts. In the series, she's older and makes ''Spider-Man'' level wisecracks all the way.

** The [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 2012 series]] tops even that and is his deadliest version yet. He's a virtually unstoppable OneManArmy that can easily handle the Turtles and their allies ''all at once'', absolutely unrivaled in combat against ''any'' opponent in the show other than [[BigGood Master Splinter]]. It takes multiple seasons for the Turtles to put up anything resembling a fight against this Shredder, and he [[InvincibleVillain doesn't outright lose]] a single fight until the fourth season's midseason finale.
** April has usually been a DamselInDistress in the older cartoons, only showing "badass" qualities on the sidelines. In the 2012 version, however, she's taken actual training as a Kunoichi, and most recently, was able to defeat Raphael in a sparing match. (Raph keeps insisting she's "almost fully trained", although that really only means she hasn't completed the course.) The same goes for her ''Rise'' incarnation. While she's still untrained, she is able to fight alongside the Turtles from the get-go, and being just as capable of defeating villains on her own, [[spoiler: even landing the finishing blow on a Shredder-armor-empowered Baron Draxum]].

** While badass in every incarnation, ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''' version of the titular team deserves a special mention. While [[AdaptationalWimp less experienced than some of their other incarnations]], they also possess actual superpowers thanks to their mystic weapons that allow them to perform feats that their counterparts could only dream of. You're probably not going to see any other version of Leonardo redirecting enemy attacks [[ThinkingUpPortals by spamming portals]] or Michelangelo ''hurling a giant tanker'' for instance. Also, with the exception of the 2003 series where Leonardo was able to defeat Splinter during some rage-fueled sparring in the later fourth season, most versions of the Ninja Turtles are shown to be outclassed by Splinter to varying degrees in fights. In ''Rise'', after undergoing some serious training, the Turtles are able to take down Splinter during a practice session ''towards the end of just the first season alone''. It's especially apparent compared to [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 the predecessor series]], whose versions of the turtles are somewhat infamous for [[AdaptationalWimp constantly receiving humiliating beatings]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBros'':