History Expy / WesternAnimation

* Speaking of ''Gargoyles'', there was an epic twist on this trope in the show: Fans ''hated'' Preston Vogel for seeming too much like a less fleshed-out version of Owen Burnett, who showed up first. They were both stoic, glasses-wearing assistants to some of the most powerful men on Earth, with the main difference being Vogel's darker hair. Then it turned out that Owen had entirely modeled himself on Vogel, trying to "out-Vogel" him [[spoiler: because Owen was secretly Puck the fey all along]], making ''him'' the real InUniverse expy.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot: 'Rob Renzetti freely admitted the series was based on Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer, and XJ-9 is a pretty clear expy of early (circa season 1) Buffy Summers. Likewise, Brad is pretty obviously Xander, and the Crust Cousins are Cordelia Chase and Harmony Kendall before they were declawed.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobo: 'Rob Renzetti freely admitted the series was based on Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer, and XJ-9 is a pretty clear expy of early (circa season 1) Buffy Summers. Likewise, Brad is pretty obviously Xander, and the Crust Cousins are Cordelia Chase and Harmony Kendall before they were declawed.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': Many of the contestants are based on/parodies of characters from high school movies and other movies about teenagers, which makes sense since the series parodies teenage stereotypes. Harold is a parody of Film/NapoleonDynamite while Leshawna is Lafawnduh from the same film; Courtney is [[Film/{{Election}} Tracy Flick]]; Heather and Lindsay are respectively meant to be Regina George and Karen Smith from ''Film/MeanGirls''; and Bridgette is based on Film/{{Gidget}}. Likewise, B is a black version of [[Film/TheViewAskewniverse Silent Bob]], Dawn is a spoof of [[Literature/HarryPotter Luna Lovegood]], Manitoba Smith is an Australian Film/IndianaJones, Max is meant to be [[Film/AustinPowers Dr. Evil]], and and Shawn is an obvious parody of Film/ShaunOfTheDead.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' has continues the trend from its parent series. Dwayne is based on [[Film/NationalLampoonsVacation Clark Griswold]]; Mary is one of [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Amy Farah Fowler]]; Taylor and Kelly are [[Film/MeanGirls Regina George and her mother]]; Rock and Spud are metalhead versions of [[Film/TheViewAskewniverse Jay and Silent Bob]]; police cadets Sanders and [=MacArthur=] are Creator/MelissaMcCarthy and Creator/SandraBullock's characters from ''Film/TheHeat''; and stepbrothers Chet and Lorenzo are based on [[Film/StepBrothers Brennan Huff and Dale Doback]]. Also, Kitty's design is similar to Lizbeth from ''WesternAnimation/CaptainFlamingo'', albeit with hair ties, a bluish black skirt, and white socks with brown boots.

* The Franchise/{{DCAU}} contains many examples.
** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'':
*** Most of Terry's RoguesGallery is made up of Expies of Spider-Man villains, including Stalker (Kraven the Hunter), Shriek (Shocker [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme of Shriek]], an obscure Spidey villain with similar soundwave-based powers), and Spellbinder (Mysterio, [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme an obscure Silver Age Batman villain]], who is also a Mysterio Expy himself). And let's not forget Inque (Venom, and alien symbiotes in general). [[note]]Just try watching her introductory scene and not get a Venom symbiote vibe. The animators had fun lampshading this one, as her debut episode has [[http://imgur.com/a/6mhSx a scene depicting her with two white spots on her face]] (she has a single one the rest of the time) that make her look remarkably like Spider-Man in his symbiote costume. And just after that scene, she makes a symbiote-esque claw, forms and throws spikes that look identical to Carnage's (except black), and turns her arms into spiky bladed weapons, reminiscent of Carnage. Then her second appearance had her wrapping herself around another person like the symbiote, and making a Venom-like tongue. In a number of issues from the tie in comic (which was written by one of the show's writers), she even displays the symbiotes' ability to take control of people's bodies by wrapping themselves around them! Lastly, her weaknesses are based on the symbiotes' weakness (fire), except that they're the opposite (contact with water, and getting frozen).[[/note]]
*** Kobra, despite being based on an organization from the comics, was made an expy of Cobra-La from ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'' in the show. Its leader, original character Zander, is an expy of Serpentor.
*** Which is even more amusing, as GI Joe and Cobra were themselves expies of Marvel's SHIELD and Hydra. Hasbro asked Marvel to make backstories for their GI Joe toys, and Marvel basically pulled a rejected comic about the son of Nick Fury out of the trash can and changed the names.
*** Kai-Ro is an expy of Kairo from ''The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure''.
*** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'' introduces Dee Dee, evil acrobatic twins based on Nightwing foes Double Dare.
** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'':
*** Summer Gleeson is a stand-in for Vicki Vale, and even has her red hair and her career as a reporter.
*** Josiah Wormwood of "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE31TheCapeAndCowlConspiracy The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy]]" is essentially a prototype Riddler for the show—a deathtrap specialist who uses riddles in his crimes and has an obsession with knowing secrets and matching wits. A few episodes later, the legit Riddler made his debut.
*** A rather blatant one of Johnny Cochrane (the attorney who helped get O.J. Simpson acquitted of murder charges) shows up as one of the Joker's lawyers in "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE7JokersMillions Joker's Millions]]" He turns up again in "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE12OverTheEdge Over the Edge]]".
*** While Calendar Girl has additional gimmicks, she is obviously a GenderFlip and stand-in for Calendar Man.
*** "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE13MeanSeasons Mean Seasons]]" also features the GWB network, which even has a WB-style water tower. Also, Donna Day, one of Calendar Girl's victims, is an Expy of fashion editor Carrie Donovan.
*** Grant Walker could be described as "Evil Walt Disney."
*** Mary "Baby Doll" Dahl from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' is a reference to 'Baby' Jane from ''Film/WhateverHappenedToBabyJane''. Both are FormerChildStar blonde women who wear ringlets and are obsessed with reliving their childhoods. Baby Doll however has a medical disorder that meant she [[NotAllowedToGrowUp couldn't]] [[OlderThanTheyLook age]] while Jane physically grew up however [[AgeInappropriateDress dressed youthfully]].
*** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMysteryOfTheBatwoman'' does not use Kathy Kane, the original Batwoman from the comics, and instead introduces the idea of Batwoman being a CollectiveIdentity used by three different {{Canon Foreigner}}s. The closest analogue is Kathy Duquesne, who like Kane, ends up in a romantic relationship with Bruce Wayne.
** ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League/Justice League Unlimited]]'':
*** Hro Talak is not quite [[Comicbook/{{Hawkman}} Katar Hol]], but his name is an anagram and he was also given a past relationship with Hawkgirl.
*** Galatea is not exactly ComicBook/PowerGirl, but she wears a similar costume, which one scene made identical with the addition of a red "towel" hanging over her shoulder, and shares the background of "not exactly Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, but close."
*** See also Comicbook/DoctorFate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of ComicBook/TheDefenders. Fate himself stands in for Comicbook/DoctorStrange, Aquaman for [[Comicbook/SubMariner Namor]] and Solomon Grundy for [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk the Hulk]]. When Hawkgirl joins forces with them against [[EldritchAbomination Ichthultu]], she could be seen as ''very'' loosely equivalent to Nighthawk or Valkryie. Amazo also takes the place of Comicbook/SilverSurfer, who was the final member of the original Defenders.
*** In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Ichthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones, and Ichthultu himself is based on [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Cthulhu]].
*** The Justice Lords from "A Better World" were heavily inspired by ''Comicbook/TheAuthority'', which the producers had begun to read between seasons one and two, and one idea they had was to see what the world would be like if the League ever tried to emulate their tactics.
*** When Brainthor summons up robot versions of the Justice Lords to distract the League, he has to create a new one for Flash (since Flash of that universe died before they became the Lords). The costume he gives Flash is identical to the costume of famed Flash Villain Professor Zoom, The Reverse-Flash.
*** The giant turtle that attacks Japan in "Chaos at the Earth's Core" is an expy of Film/{{Gamera}}, as well as being a MythologyGag to Comicbook/JimmyOlsen's comic book.
*** Ace is one to [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Tamara]]. Both are young girls with black hair and powerful psychic abilities and were use by shady organization and are also associated with a Batman.
*** The Justice Guild of America was a very thinly-veiled Expy of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, with Green Guardsman standing in for the original Green Lantern, the Streak for the Flash, Catman for Comicbook/{{Wildcat}} and Black Siren for Comicbook/BlackCanary. The exception was Tom Turbine, who was instead based on Dynamo of the Comicbook/ThunderAgents. The group's TagalongKid, Ray Thompson, was based on comic writer Roy Thomas, who is known for his love of Golden Age superheroes. Their two-part story arc was an adaptation of the first JLA/JSA team-up story [[RecycledINSPACE set in an Adam West-style]] WorldOfHam. This was done mostly because DC wouldn't allow them to use the actual JSA as was planned, thinking that a story presenting the JSA in the goofy (and slightly racist and sexist) style that that episode did would shine badly on the recently relaunched JSA comic series. It worked out well for the producers, though, as they were able to use some of the JSA the characters legitimately in ''Justice League Unlimited''.
*** The villains of the episode were themselves Expies of The Wizard ("Sir Swami"), Icicle ("Doctor Blizzard"), Sportsmaster ("Sportsman"), and The Fiddler ("Music Master").
*** The beginning of the episode had the League fighting a giant robot that looked just like an [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelion]] with the serial numbers filed off.
*** Wade Eiling becomes an Expy of [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk the Hulk]] by using the Captain Nazi serum. He's more articulate but possibly even more dangerous due to being a PrinciplesZealot.
*** Similarly, the Ultimen are expies of the ''{{WesternAnimation/Superfriends}}'' original characters, the Wonder Twins, Black Vulcan, Apache Chief and Samurai.
*** The entire episode was a homage to Super Friends; the Ultimen base on top of the skyscraper looking like the Hall of Justice, Long Shadow's cell ringtone being the old theme, even how they only used Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman as the hero team in the episode.
*** There was also Aresia and Tsukuri, who were [[AdaptationalVillainy evil versions of]] [[ComicBook/InfinityInc Fury]] and ComicBook/{{Katana}}.
*** There's also Devil Ray, who is basically Black Manta with a name change. His rivalry with ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} is never mentioned (due in part to the rights for the character being held up by the WB's plan for a ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' style show focusing on him), instead being matched up against Wonder Woman for most of his appearances.
*** Solomon Grundy gains quit a bit of ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk's characterization.
*** The Annihilator from "Hawk and Dove" is suspiciously similar to the Destroyer from the ''[[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' comics, being a nearly-indestructible suit of sentient armor forged by a god. Even the name is similar.
** ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''
*** Jax-Ur bears little resemblance to his comic book counterpart, drawing more inspiration from General Zod.
*** Angela Chen, Lois' chief rival, is basically an [[RaceLift Asian]] version of Cat Grant from the comics.

* The Grump of ''Westernanimation/HereComesTheGrump'' is an expy of another Creator/FrizFreleng character, [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Yosemite Sam]]. His [[TheAllegedSteed dragon]] is an expy of the dragon from the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "Knighty Knight Bugs".

* "WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot": 'Rob Renzetti freely admitted the series was based on Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer, and XJ-9 is a pretty clear expy of early (circa season 1) Buffy Summers. Likewise, Brad is pretty obviously Xander, and the Crust Cousins are Cordelia Chase and Harmony Kendall before they were declawed.

* Sussie from ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball sure has a lot in common with [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Ralph Wiggum]]:

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'':
** Larry sure has a lot of similarities to Skips from ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'':
*** Both are TheStoic.
*** Both display a lot of wisdom and insight.
*** Both are people that the protagonist(s) of the story goes to for advice.[[note]]Clarence is only ever actually shown going to Larry for advice in "The Boxcurse Children", but in said episode, he mentions that he can always count on Larry to give him advice.[[/note]]
*** Both live under a pseudonym.[[note]]Skips' real name is [[spoiler:Walks]] and Larry's real name is [[spoiler:Clarence]][[/note]]
*** [[spoiler:Larry may even be immortal like Skips, as he appears in the episode "Pilot Expansion", which takes place 70+ years in the future, looking exactly the same as he does in the present]].
** The show borrowed many characters from ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' (Clarence = Darwin, Jeff = Anais, Sumo = Gumball, Mary = Nicole, Chad = Richard, to name a few).
*** Most notably, Joshua (the ButtMonkey who receives a NewJobAsThePlotDemands) and Gilben ([[HeWhoMustNotBeHeard the silent kid]] [[BewareTheQuietOnes who's disturbingly powerful]]) were lifted from Larry and William respectively.
** Appearance-wise, Sandy is an OBVIOUS expy of Kendra Krinklesac from ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow''.
** Mr. Reese is a pretty blatant expy of Mr. Lancer from ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''. They even share a similar appearance (overweight, bald, middle-aged) and narrative arc (they both start as no-nonsense SadistTeacher characters [[HiddenDepths before revealing that they have a childlike side]] and [[TookALevelInDumbass becoming increasingly bumbling]].
** Sumo is this to Beavis from ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'', being a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} {{Keet}} who loves to wreak havoc and has a raspy, nasal voice and an AmbiguousDisorder.
** Belson is one to Edward from ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'': They're both PerpetualFrowner characters who bully the protagonist, although the protagonist sees this bullying as a way of showing affection.
** Ms. Baker would be identical to Edna Krabappel from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' if the latter were a full-on NiceGirl rather than a JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
** Percy is one to Jimmy from ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', being a KiddieKid who is afraid of everything, [[ProneToTears and cries at the drop of a hat]], [[BewareTheNiceOnes but also has somewhat of a dark side]].
** Breehn could be considered the SpearCounterpart of Connie Souphanousinphone from ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', being a soft-spoken and extremely good-natured overachiever whose wealthy parents [[RichBitch are rude and nasty]].

** Professor Paradox is a blatant {{Expy}} of the [[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor]]. University professors are normally Doctorate holders and a paradox is a type of contradicting statement(s).

* ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingSecretWarriors'': The comic book version of ''Comicbook/SpiderGwen'' exists in an alternate universe where it was Gwen Stacy, not her nerdy best friend Peter Parker, who was bitten by the radioactive spider. Since the ''Marvel Rising'' cartoon takes place in the mainstream Marvel Universe (where Peter Parker is presumably already Spider-Man), Gwen's nerdy best friend is a CanonForeigner named Kevin, who serves the same basic role. He even looks very similar to Peter [[spoiler: and gets killed off like him too]].

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' took the entire family archetype from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' and transferred it near Washington D.C., as well as replaced the dog and baby with a goldfish and alien. However, the characters do distance themselves from the ''Family Guy cast'' more than ''The Cleveland Show''. Stan, is less of CloudCuckooLander than Peter, and more of a chronic AxCrazy. Francine is TheDitz, rather than the [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]], and the ButtMonkey staff is handed to Klaus rather than Hayley.
** [[TroubledSympatheticBigot Stan]], [[CloudCuckooLander Francine]], and [[SoapboxSadie Hayley]] have less in common with [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Homer, Marge, and Lisa]] than they do with [[Series/AllInTheFamily Archie, Edith, and Maude]].
** ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'' borrowed most of its characters from other Creator/SethMacFarlane shows and then turned them black (Rallo = Black Stewie, Cleveland Jr. = Black Chris, and Roberta = Black Hayley to name a few). Similarly Cleveland himself begun as a more soft spoken ExtremeDoormat, but was actually evolved into the same abrasive BumblingDad archetype as Peter and Stan when he gained his own spin off. Seth's team seem to follow the same character dynamic to a tee for each show. And of course, while the basic character roles may be recycled, their actual personalities are wildly different. Most notably, Rallo is overprotective of his mother instead of insanely matricidal. Nor is he a stereotypical homosexual. Peter and Brian themselves are based on the main characters characters of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=021PPpmwX98 this old short]] Seth made for ''The WesternAnimation/WhatACartoonShow''.
*** Auntie Momma is an ''OBVIOUS'' expy of Creator/TylerPerry's Medea.
*** When the show was cancelled and the cast migrated to ''Family Guy'', Stewie immediately dismissed Rallo as a ''[[WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks Boondocks]]'' wannabe.

*** Tarantulas is the [[ComicBook/TheTransformers smarter Starscream of the comics]], biding his time for grander schemes.

* ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' is created by ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' alumni, and fans have noticed similarities with both the character designs and personalities. Lance in particular [[FanNickname is often referred to as]] "Space Sokka."

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': Many of the contestants are based on/parodies of characters from high school movies and other movies about teenagers, which makes sense since the series parodies teenage stereotypes. Harold is a parody of Film/NapoleonDynamite while Leshawna is Lafawnduh from the same film; Courtney is [[Film/{{Election}} Tracy Flick]]; Heather and Lindsay are respectively meant to be Regina George and Karen Smith from ''Film/MeanGirls''; and Bridgette is based on Film/{{Gidget}}. Likewise, B is a black version of [[Film/TheViewAskewniverse Silent Bob]], Dawn is a spoof of [[Literature/HarryPotter Luna Lovegood]], Max is meant to be [[Film/AustinPowers Dr. Evil]], and and Shawn is an obvious parody of Film/ShaunOfTheDead.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' has continues the trend from its parent series. Dwayne is based on [[Film/NationalLampoonsVacation Clark Griswold]]; Mary is one of [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Amy Farah Fowler]]; Taylor and Kelly are [[Film/MeanGirls Regina George and her mother]]; Rock and Spud are metalhead versions of [[Film/TheViewAskewniverse Jay and Silent Bob]]; police cadets Sanders and [=MacArthur=] are Creator/MelissaMcCarthy and Creator/SandraBullock's characters from ''Film/TheHeat''; and stepbrothers Chet and Lorenzo are based on [[Film/StepBrothers Brennan Huff and Dale Doback]. Also, Kitty's design is similar to Lizbeth from ''WesternAnimation/CaptainFlamingo'', albeit with hair ties, a bluish black skirt, and white socks with brown boots.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' has continues the trend from its parent series. Dwayne is based on [[Film/NationalLampoonsVacation Clark Griswold]]; Mary is one of [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Amy Farah Fowler]]; Taylor and Kelly are [[Film/MeanGirls Regina George and her mother]]; Rock and Spud are metalhead versions of [[Film/TheViewAskewniverse Jay and Silent Bob]]; police cadets Sanders and [=MacArthur=] are Creator/MelissaMcCarthy and Creator/SandraBullock's characters from ''Film/TheHeat''; and stepbrothers Chet and Lorenzo are based on [[Film/StepBrothers Brennan Huff and Dale Doback]].

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':

* While somewhat lost in imitation due to the WeirdAlEffect, many of ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' characters borrowed heavily from earlier stars as much as the above Creator/HannaBarbera examples. Foghorn Leghorn and Pepe Le Pew being two notorious examples.

** The fifth season premiere's villain, Starlight Glimmer, is one to another Gen 4 character, [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Sunset Shimmer]] in that they are [[ShadowArchetype Shadow Archetypes]] to Twilight Sparkle as powerful unicorns with the same ThemeNaming. [[spoiler: Both are redeemed and become disciples to Twilight. The major difference is that Sunset is from the Equestria Girls movie line, which the writers have avoided mentioning in the show. ]]