History Main / LeanAndMean

Sometimes used for an explanation, where the villain is nasty and vicious ''because'' she's so hungry. Very common among fashion-oriented shows to explain why the size 0 model is so cranky. Another explanation may be that the villain is hopped up on some sort of PsychoSerum that ravages their body as well as their mind. This is more common among ''recreational'' [[DrugsAreBad "junkies"]] (like some of the more hostile CrazyHomelessPeople, for example) than among villains who take PsychoSerum as a martial performance enhancer (in which case the drug is likely to make them brawnier, not skinnier).

Sometimes used for an explanation, where the villain is nasty and vicious ''because'' she's so hungry. Very common among fashion-oriented shows to explain why the size 0 model is so cranky. Another explanation may be that the villain is hopped up on some sort of PsychoSerum that ravages their body as well as their mind. This is more common among ''recreational'' [[DrugsAreBad "junkies"]] (like some of the more hostile CrazyHomelessPeople, for example) than among villains who take PsychoSerum as a martial performance enhancer (in which case the drug is likely to make them muscular instead of gaunt).

Sometimes used for an explanation, where the villain is nasty and vicious ''because'' she's so hungry. Very common among fashion-oriented shows to explain why the size 0 model is so cranky.

Also they can be the Thin in the BigThinShortTrio when being an evil group to contrast with the fuller member and the squat member.

* Envy from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', more so in [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]]. Incredibly slim and muscular with a form fitting body suit that really extenuates the slim physique. And "mean" rarely defines someone as it does him/her/it.

* In ''Animation/GuardianFairyMichel'', Boogy is the thinnest of the Black Hammer Gang besides Salome, and is her second-in-command.

* [[BrokenAce Zane]] [[TookaLevelinJerkass Truesdale]] from season 2 of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' post FreakOut. He looks very underfed, but has some minor muscle tone.

* ''ComicBook/MesmoDelivery'': Sangrecco, a people smuggler/hitman/demon? In his spare time he's an ElvisImpersonator presumably of the king's earlier period.

* Mordath from ''ComicBook/{{Sojourn}}'', after he came back from the death. Before that, he was more of a {{Hunk}}, which just accentuates what he lost from his once self.

** ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Frollo, the villain and antagonist, is thin; contrasting with good guys Quasimodo and Phoebus, who are muscular to the point of being bulky.

* Grimmel in ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragonTheHiddenWorld'' is tall, slender, pale and black robed.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'': CausticCritic Anton Ego is thin for someone who eats for a living. As he explains, "If I don't love it, I don't ''swallow''."

** Creator/PeterCushing as Grand Moff Tarkin. Especially interesting because, despite his amazingly VillainousCheekbones he was PlayingAgainstType after a career of playing Franchise/SherlockHolmes and [[{{Dracula}} Dr. Van Helsing]].
** Kylo Ren from the sequel trilogy. Unlike the massive Darth Vader, Kylo Ren is tall, but has a lean, fairly average build.

* Loki in ''Film/{{Thor}}'', as consistent with the comicbook basis above. Creator/TomHiddleston even said [[InvokedTrope he was precisely going for this look]].

** Granny Weatherwax, a manipulative GoodIsNotNice character in the same vein, is also tall, thin and wears black, though her slimness is not quite emphasized as much. It's more obvious contrasted with her fellow witch and lifelong friend, the short, plump, amicable Nanny Ogg.

* In Creator/PeterDavid's book ''[[Literature/KnightLifeSeries Knight Life]]'', Morgan le Fay has grown obese without the presence of [[KingArthur Arthur]] or Merlin. But when Arthur suddenly appears in present day and decides to run for Mayor of New York, she not only becomes evil, but thin again.

* ''Literature/ShipBreaker'': Most crew are pretty lean, but [[TheHeavy Richard Lopez]], ArchnemesisDad and CombatSadomasochist adds a naturally whippy build and an [[DrugsAreBad addict's]] decaying physique, for a truly ravaged appearance.

* In his appearance in ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', the Dark Jedi Jerec is described as being painfully gaunt and on the verge of emaciation. In his later appearances, like the ''VideoGame/DarkForcesSaga'', he's got more weight and muscle, perhaps because he knew he'd have to rely on the Force less and fight more, and bulked up.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Marvel was the tallest of the Careers, at 6'3.

* Bo-Ra in the South Korean television series ''Answer Me'' (1988), who is perhaps the most cold-hearted character on the show, maintains a stick-thin body especially in her legs. Episode 5 shows that Bo-Ra can go without food for long periods of time. Contrast with Choi Moo-sung, who is the only overweight recurring character on the show yet is also the kindest and most altruistic character.

* Punk rockers, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, were generally rail-thin and extremely angry. A lot of the leanness was simply the result of not making enough money to feed themselves. Henry Rollins was noted as an anomaly in the punk world for his weight-lifter's physique.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Evolve}}'', the Gorgon combines an insectoid anatomy with a vaguely humanoid one, resulting in an unnerving example of this trope.

* Both Mitsuhide and Mitsunari from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' are AxCrazy {{White Hair Black Heart}}s who are also tall and almost skeletal in appearance. In Mitsunari's case it's because he's too busy angsting to eat, while Mitsuhide is probably just that evil.

* The Spy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is incredibly impolite (he has [[IBangedYourMom banged the Scout's mom]] and loves to boast and troll the Scout about it, which could make you feel sorry for the biggest {{Jerkass}} in the game that Scout undeniably is) and very tall and slender, which his [[BadassInANiceSuit badass-in-a-nice-suit]] attire makes even more noticable. Furthermore, also alongside Scout and Sniper, he's the most prone to calling the Heavy "fatty" and "morbidly obese".

* [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos The Slender Man]], [[http://www.mythicalcreaturesguide.com/page/Slender+Man a tall, spidery phantom]] who originated from the Website/SomethingAwful forums. Normally showing up in photographs, but has recently showed up in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmhfn3mgWUI video format]] as well.

* The ''[[WesternAnimation/HulkVs Hulk vs. Wolverine]]'' version of SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}, which has lead some people to [[FanNickname call him]] "Skinnypool".

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': In her first few appearances, Peridot wore a set of limb-enhancers. Though she's actually about the same size and shape as Steven, her limb-enhancers triple the length of her limbs and double her height. This gave her a [[GeekPhysiques thin, gangly look]] [[BrainsAndBrawn to contrast]] [[TheBrute Jasper's Amazonian figure]].

** Of course, Rusty is also bone thin, and is an [[{{Jerkass}} amoral]], [[TheAlcoholic pill popping, alcoholic]], [[JerkAss mean spirited]], [[VillainProtagonist horrible excuse for a father and human being]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': The Master of the Dammed is a very tall [[DemBones living skeleton]] who rules over a very evil realm called [[DarkWorld the Unworld.]]

* [[OverarchingVillain Oswald Cobblepot]] in ''Series/{{Gotham}}''. This incarnation is rail thin in contrast to the {{Fat Bastard}} he's usually portrayed as in the comics, as part of AdaptationalAttractiveness. This being an origin story, this may not be so forever; he does have a love of booze, which could suggest that he will get fatter down the seasons.

* At 7'7, Wrestling/TheGiantGonzalez was legitimately taller than Wrestling/AndreTheGiant, and his lack of fat reinforced just ''how'' tall he really was.

[[/folder]]

* ''Franchis/HannibalLecter'': The good doctor may prize courtesy but knows the right BerserkButton to push and is a serial killer. He is described as sleek with wiry strength, his nimble build combined with his great strength makes him extremely effective at kills.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'': CausticCritic Anton Ego is thin for someone who eats for a living. As he explains, "If I don't love it, I don't ''swallow''."
* Franklin Bean in ''WesternAnimation/FantasticMrFox'' is just as thin as in the book, for the same reason.

* [[spoiler:The Other Mother's true form]] in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}''.
* Tzekel-Kan, the evil High Priest in ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'', highlighting his asceticism and religious devotion beside the comfortably worldy (and obese) Chief Tannabok.
* From ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', we have Lord Shen, an albino peacock who is the movie's BigBad.

* Zigzag from ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler''.
* Mrs. Tweedy from ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'' is tall, thin, and quite ruthless, unlike her short, portly HenpeckedHusband.

* ''Film/IsleOfDogs'': The only true villain in the film is stick-thin and at least a head taller than everyone else.

* ''Franchie/StarWars'':

* In ''Film/PansLabyrinth'': the Pale Man, a nightmarish creator, is also extremely thin, sitting in front of a magnificent feast without eating any of it.
* ''Film/HomeAlone'': Inverted in the first two movies, where short, round Harry is clearly the more malevolent half of the Wet Bandit Gang. Tall, skinny Marv, by contrast, borders on IneffectualSympatheticVillain much of the time.
* In the first ''Film/{{Hellraiser}}'' film, all Cenobites are rather slender, except [[FatBastard Butterball]], of course.
* Loki in ''Film/{{Thor}}'', as consistent with the comicbook basis above. Creator/TomHiddleston even said [[InvokedTrope he was precisely going for this look]].

* ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'': Freddy Krueger is notably lean, particularly compared to other slasher villains.
* ''Film/InTheLoop'': Malcolm Tucker. Commented on by a portly American general, who says he looks like a "squeezed dick."

* ''Film/IsleOfDogs'': The only true villain in the film is stick-thin and at least a head taller than everyone else.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/TheThickOfIt'': Malcolm Tucker keeps his weight down by [[GirlyRun running everywhere]], being permanently stressed out, and living on [[ForgetsToEat a diet consisting mainly of coffee]]. Policy adviser Olly Reader likens him to "a thin white Mugabe".
** Malcolm's actor Creator/PeterCapaldi went on to play the broody, often-cynical Twelfth Doctor in ''Series/DoctorWho'', whose angular outfits emphasize his round head and skinny body to the point that companion Clara calls him a "stick insect" at one point. Of course, this is a subversion -- frosty and intimidating as he is to most of the people he meets, he is still the Doctor and at hearts is a CreepyGood AntiHero.
* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'': Controlling, self-centered RichBitch Maris Crane was such an extreme example of this that [[TheGhost there wasn't an actress thin enough to actually portray her.]]
* [[SerialKiller Sylar/Gabriel Gray]] from ''Series/{{Heroes}}''. In spite of being a BigEater, he's rather thin and wiry.
* [[BigBad Heckyl/Snide]] from ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge''. He's taller and thinner than the majority of the villains in the show and is by far the most dangerous.
* [[OverarchingVillain Oswald Cobblepot]] in ''Series/{{Gotham}}''. This incarnation is rail thin in contrast to the {{Fat Bastard}} he's usually portrayed as in the comics, as part of AdaptationalAttractiveness. This being an origin story, this may not be so forever; he does have a love of booze, which could suggest that he will get fatter down the seasons.
* Sheldon Cooper in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' is quite thin and Penny has mentioned she considers Sheldon to be skinny. Sheldon has even tried to become thinner in "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification" to maximize his lifespan so that he can see anticipated technological innovations pop up in the future.
* Bo-Ra in the South Korean television series Answer Me 1988 who is perhaps the most cold-hearted character on the show maintains a stick-thin body especially in her legs. Episode 5 shows that Bo-Ra can go without food for long periods of time. Contrast with Choi Moo-sung, who is the only overweight recurring character on the show yet is also the kindest and most altruistic character.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]

** For a start, there's the Splicers, who are just as violently deranged as they were in the previous installment. However, unlike their counterparts from the first game, who still looked formidable enough despite all the deformities and ruined clothing, these guys are ''seriously'' emaciated. In particular, Baby Jane looks as though you could count her ribs from a distance, whilst the Crawlers cross the line into outright NoodlePeople due to their [[BodyHorror unique condition]].

* ''VideoGame/Bioshock2 features quite a few examples of these - unsurprising, given Rapture's population has been eating things they find in garbage cans for the last ten years by this stage.

** Then there's the Big Sisters, who are all unusually tall and willowy on top of being brutal enforcers of the Rapture Family. It's eventually revealed that they're actually former Little Sisters who've gone through puberty, meaning they're the victims of an ADAM-fueled growth spurt... though the fact that they spent most of their childhoods eating nothing but ADAM and pep bars didn't help much.

* Ryder in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''.

* ''Manga/DeathNote'' has Amane Misa. She appears as TheDitz to most people, despite being rather clever herself and she ''is'' [[spoiler: the Second Kira]], though her low weight and lean figure can also be explained due to her job as a model. Light is also very thin as shown in "How to Read" and says he specifically lost weight due to stress when he took on his "duty".

-->'''Ragdoll''': I weight seventy three pounds.

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]

* [[spoiler: The Other Mother's true form]] in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}''.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Voldemort is often described as being tall and thin, with long, thin fingers. Snape is often described as thin, perhaps to invoke this trope, even though he is not ''evil'' per se. It's more implicit in the first five books, but definitely true of Draco Malfoy in [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince Book 6]] [[spoiler: when he starts to visibly lose weight as a result of the stress of his assassination mission.]]

* ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine'': [[BigBad 3D Bendy]] is a lot taller and skinnier than his original cartoon design. You can even see his ribs and his spine. It doesn't stop him from being the fastest, strongest thing in the studio. In fact, in Chapter 4, unless the player takes certain actions to skip the cut-scene, Henry witnesses [[spoiler: [[VillainousRescue Bendy running in to fight the Projectionist]], which ends quickly when he rips the other monster's head off. Afterward, the vault door that locked Henry in is all bent-up and looks like it's been forced open.]]

* The very tall and thin Darkspawn Emissaries of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' and ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' - especially [[spoiler: BigBad Corypheus.]]

* [[KnightTemplar Count Veger]] from the ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' series is tall and skinny. And [[spoiler: responsible for ruining Jak's life.]]

* The Green Goblin/[[spoiler: Norman Osborn]] and Vulture from WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan

** The above-mentioned Ridley makes an appearance in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. This leaves him with a massive hitbox (he towers over most other fighters even in his PrimalStance), but only somewhat above-average weight, making him a GlassCannon.

** Zig-zagged with Teslyn, a scrawny, dour member of the [[MagicalSociety Aes Sedai]]'s [[DoesNotLikeMen man-hating]] Red Ajah. She comes across as fairly unpleasant, to Mat in particular, but ultimately proves to be one of the more morally grounded and open-minded Aes Sedai he knows. After coming to terms with her trauma from [[spoiler:being briefly MadeASlave]], she sincerely thanks Mat for [[IOweYouMyLife saving her life]] and says that he can always count on her help.
** A particularly zealous member of the ChurchMilitant organization Children of the Light is frequently described as gaunt.

* Brother Blood in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''
* Mandark in ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''.
* The Monarch in ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers''.
** Subverted with Dr. Orpheus, who is tall and thin (and otherwise looks like a stereotypical necromancer) but is actually one of the ''nicest'' characters.
** Of course, Rusty is also bone thin, and is an [[{{Jerkass}} amoral]], [[TheAlcoholic pill popping, alcoholic]], [[JerkAss mean spirited]], [[VillainProtagonist horrible excuse for a father and human being]]
* The Green Goblin/[[spoiler: Norman Osborn]] and Vulture from WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan
* Lean and Mean works for robots, too. Just ask Starscream of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated''.
** Later Wasp(inator), to some degree.
** Oil Slick is probably the best example.
** You can also add Shockwave to the list.
** Starscream, Soundwave, and Airachnid of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' also qualify.
* The title character from ''WesternAnimation/DanVs''.

* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' has Eustace and [[CatsAreMean Katz]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': Ren Hoek is very thin and he has a short temper.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Mr. Burns is an ''excellent'' example. Sideshow Bob and the Blue-Haired Lawyer as well.
* ''Franchise/{{Bratz}}'': Burdine and the Tweevils.
* Lawson from ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}''.
* Lars from ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower''.
* Terrence from ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends''.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo'' features an evil (and creepy) museum curator who's quite thin.
* Butch from ''WesternAnimation/MrBogus''.
* General Grievous from the 2004 Clone Wars shorts. The cyborg general is lanky, but makes up for it with his intimidating height, agility, and brutality, and is capable of holding his own and even slaughtering a few Jedi like they were nothing.
* Brad from ''WesternAnimation/KickButtowskiSuburbanDaredevil''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' had the rawboned DarkMessiah Unalaq in Book 2 and the [[PintSizedPowerhouse deceptively frail-looking]] DarkActionGirl Ming-Hua in Book 3.
* Helga Pataki in ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold''. She's a bully and has a very scrawny build.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Pretty, the group's AlphaBitch, is the thinnest of the cast.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series: Waluigi, like Wario, is meant to be a grotesque exaggeration of one of the Mario Bros., and thus has spindly proportions to make him more sinister.

* Psycho Mantis in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid''. {{Justified|Trope}} in that he's a [[PsychicPowers psychic]] who floats using [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]] rather than walking, causing his muscles to wither away to nothing.
* [[KnightTemplar Count Veger]] from the ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' series is tall and skinny. And [[spoiler: responsible for ruining Jak's life.]]
* ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHeroes'': Arguably, the [[PuttingOnTheReich Nationals]]. Granted, it's [[GrayAndGrayMorality Not exactly clear who started the war]], but looking like the Nazis probably goes a long way in deciding which side they are.
* Ryder in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''.
* The Spy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is incredibly impolite (he has [[IBangedYourMom banged the Scout's mom]] and loves to boast and troll the Scout about it, which could make you feel sorry for the biggest {{Jerkass}} in the game that Scout undeniably is) and very tall and slender, which his [[BadassInANiceSuit badass-in-a-nice-suit]] attire makes even more noticable. Furthermore, also alongside Scout and Sniper, he's the most prone to calling the Heavy "fatty" and "morbidly obese".
** The Administrator, when she appears in the supplemental materials, is very thin, and seems to be totally amoral and have no emotions other than anger.
* Both Mitsuhide and Mitsunari from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' are AxCrazy {{White Hair Black Heart}}s who are also tall and almost skeletal in appearance. In Mitsunari's case it's because he's too busy angsting to eat, while Mitsuhide is probably just that evil.
* The [[EliteMooks liquid armour troopers]] from ''VideoGame/{{Syndicate}}'' (2012) are very lanky. It's particularly obvious when they spawn next to normal mooks.
* ''VideoGame/BattleRealms'': The entire faction of the Lotus clan. Everyone is tall, skinny, and gangly, this is because of the paths their clan follow, in which they have to endure painful rituals which cause their bodies to rot in order to master death.

* Validar of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening''. {{Evil sorcerer}}, {{cult}} [[BigBad leader]], [[NoodlePeople noodle person]].
* The Thin Men in ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' are quite lean, and in Classic and Impossible difficulties, they are notorious for their Rookie body count.
* Baron Flynt from ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' and Handsome Jack from ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}''.

* The Postal Dude from ''VideoGame/{{Postal}}'' and ''Postal 2''. In Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend, he's shown to have a very thin face with [[VillainousCheekbones prominent cheekbones]]. He contrasts with his wife "The Bitch" who's a huge bitch, both [[UngratefulBastard figuratively]] and [[FatBastard literally]]!
* In ''VideoGame/{{Evolve}}'', the Gorgon combines an insectoid anatomy with a vaguely humanoid one, resulting in an unnerving example of this trope.
* [[CuteMonsterGirl Pheromosa]] one of the [[LovecraftLite Ultra Beasts]] from ''{{Franchise/Pokemon}}''. It can be described as having a borderline stick-figured body. And despite it being 5'11" tall, Pheromosa only weighs 55.1 lbs.
* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, Hungers are a type of [[OurDemonsAreDifferent lesser Daedra]] with long, thin humanoid frames with very little mass. Hungers are very similar in appearance to the "alien-style" {{Chupacabra}}, complete with claws, spikes, and a "sucker" mouth.
* The very tall and thin Darkspawn Emissaries of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' and ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' - especially [[spoiler: BigBad Corypheus.]]
* Säid of the ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' may be more of an anti-hero than an outright villain, but he's undoubtedly [[LackOfEmpathy callous]], [[{{Jerkass}} acerbic]], [[CorruptCorporateExecutive exploitative]], and quite amazingly [[{{Greed}} greedy]]. Plus, because he's an ancient Egyptian {{Mummy}}, he's horribly emaciated from the embalming process.

* [[KnightTemplar Count Veger]] from the ''Franchise/JakAndDaxter'' series is tall and skinny. And [[spoiler: responsible for ruining Jak's life.]]