History Main / MascotVillain

Many series have their own Mascot, ({{Series Mascot}}s, In Universe mascots or otherwise). Sometimes that mascot is one of the ones responsible for all the bad things happening (or at best is a neutral force that still causes things to go wrong for the heroes more often than not.) Though it's not necessary, the mascot can still fall into the RidiculouslyCuteCritter or SmallAnnoyingCreature tropes just to make things extra twisted. Whether they are {{Big Bad}}s, {{Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain}}s or just the humble MascotMook is not needed, what distinct this from the other tropes is that the SeriesMascot is evil.

** Subverted with Bebe/Charlotte in ''[[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion Rebellion]]''. Homura suspects that Bebe is the witch in whose barrier the entire film takes place--until Homura discovers that [[spoiler:she is the witch herself]].

* The mascot of not just the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' but ''Creator/Atlus'' is Jack Frost, who looks cute and friendly but will try to kill you most of the time.

* Slimer from ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' is a partial example. He starts off as a StarterVillain in the first movie, but by the time he became a true mascot in the animated adaptations he became the TeamPet and sidekick. A more fitting (in and out of universe) example is the [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever Stay-Puff Marshmallow]], or rather, Gozer the Gozerian, who took the form of the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man in a bid to start TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
* ''Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. Hannibal Lecter is notably closer to this than VillainBasedFranchise. While definitely the series' mascot and quite evil, he could only be considered a flat-out villain in the film ''Hannibal'', and instead usually acts as an adviser to help catch other villains.

* The ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}s'' are mutant leeches that [[TheHero Samus Aran]] usually has to exterminate on a regular basis. They are also {{Mascot Mook}}s.

* Slimer from ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' is a partial example. He starts off as a StarterVillain in the first movie, but by the time he became a true mascot in the animated adaptations he became the TeamPet and sidekick. A more fitting (in and out of universe) example is the [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever Stay-Puff Marshmallow]], or rather, Gozer the Gozerian, who took the form of the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man in a bid to start TheEndOftheWorldAsWeKnowIt.

* King mogeko from VideoGame/MogekoCastle was 'adopted' as a mascot for the GagDub WebVideo/TheWithVoicesProject.

[[folder: Video Games]]

* The titular character of ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'', like the other animatronics in the game, is trying to kill you because it's malfunctioning. [[spoiler: This is technically a subversion since a hidden MiniGame in the sequel reveals that he's Good All Along. It just mistakes the night shift guards as the one who murdered the kids.]] He's also an InUniverse example because he is also the mascot of the abandoned SuckECheeses that serves as the setting.

* Another case where TheDragon is the mascot in question is found in [[spoiler: ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', with Airy. Until the reveal, a player might wonder why she of all people is on the cover.]]

* The Creeper from ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' is so iconic to the game it may as well be the game's mascot. Creepers are hostile monsters that try to "creep" onto you just so that it can light the TNT within its body and explode within your face.

* Monokuma from ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' also falls into the RidiculouslyCuteCritter category (though less so than the above-mentioned Kyubey, thanks to his more sinister two-faced design motif.) He's even voiced by ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'s'' most notable voice actor (for a Western analog, imagine a teddy bear with the voice of [[LooneyTunes Bugs Bunny]] or MickeyMouse constantly trolling you, emotionally and psychologically torturing and blackmailing you, and egging you on to kill people.)

* Monokuma from ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' also falls into the RidiculouslyCuteCritter category (though less so than the above-mentioned Kyubey, thanks to his more sinister two-faced design motif.) He's even voiced by ''{{Doraemon}}'s'' most notable voice actor (for a Western analog, imagine a teddy bear with the voice of [[LooneyTunes Bugs Bunny]] or MickeyMouse constantly trolling you, emotionally and psychologically torturing and blackmailing you, and egging you on to kill people.)

* Another case where TheDragon is the mascot in question is found in [[spoiler: ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', with Airy, with the player (hopefully) unaware of it until the penny drops.]]

* Airy from ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' is a cute little fairy who serves Agnés and her group in awaking the crystals. However she exhibits suspicious behavior and a lack of care for anyone who is not the Wind Vestal. There is also the fact that [[TheFairFolk Fairies of lore tend to be alien tricksters at best]] [[spoiler: She is actually TheDragon to [[BigBad Ouroboros]], and is using Agnés and the crystals to link multiple parallel worlds together so that Ouroboros can destroy them. [[WasItAllALie Agnés dosn't take this betrayal well.]] On top of that before the boss fight with her in the Dark Aurora she [[KickTheDog pretends that she was Brainwashed all along and then gloats about Agnés actually buying that]]]]

* [[spoiler:Subverted]] with Rena from ''VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi''. [[spoiler:She's presented as evil in early arcs and can be CuteButPsycho when needed but is overall a good girl, and most of her antagonistic traits are misunderstandings. ]]

[[/folder]]

NoRealLifeExamplesPlease. Calling people Villains is a no-no. There is no way RL people can be a mascot of a work anyway

NoRealLifeExamplesPlease. Calling people Villains is a no-no. There is no way RL people can be mascot anyway

* Evil Otto from ''VideoGame/{{Berzerk}}'' could possibly count, being the most recognizable character in the game. Though with a non-existent plot, combined with the fact that only one Otto appears on-screen at a time, it's hard to tell if Otto is this or a MascotMook.

* Trogdor could also count, as he's depicted as the main villain of ''VideoGame/PeasantsQuest''.

* The Devil in ''VideoGame/DevilWorld'', to the point of representing the game as an assist trophy in ''SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.

* ''Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. Hannibal Lecter is a notable aversion to the horror movie villain aspect of this trope. While definitely the series' mascot and quite evil, he could only be considered a flat-out villain in the film ''Hannibal'', and instead usually acts as an adviser to help catch other villains.