History Main / MeatPuppet

-->- '''Jov Leonov,''' ''VideoGame/PsiOpsTheMindgateConspiracy''

Not to be confused with [[PeoplePuppets People Puppets]] - or [[Music/MeatPuppets a certain rock band from Phoenix]] - a Meat Puppet is a biological and (usually) living [[BodyAndHost Host]] that has been taken control over by a PuppeteerParasite, [[BodySnatcher Body Snatcher]] or similar character, be it through science or occultic sorcery. The attempt to control a potential Meat Puppet in such a manner either results in [[PeoplePuppets Body Control]], [[MindControl Mind Control]] or [[DemonicPossession Demonic Possession]]. Compare to EmptyShell.

* BigDumbBody - A meat puppet that holds little intelligence, but is desirable for its physical prowess and durability.
* LivingBodysuit - when a host is chosen as a disguise for reasons of secrecy and espionage.
* WetwareBody - a biological body possessed by a computer.
* WillingChanneler - a Host who "wants" to be controlled, or at least isn't against having his/her body used by someone (or something) else.

[[folder:Tabletop RPG]]

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]
* The avatar Na'vi bodies in ''Film/{{Avatar}}''
* In ''Film/StarshipTroopers2HeroOfTheFederation'', [[PuppeteerParasite Control Bugs]] take over an entire outpost of [[RedshirtArmy Mobile Infantry]] soldiers and pit them against the main characters.
* Done rather disturbingly by [[spoiler:TheDevil]] in ''Film/TheDarkSideOfTheMoon'' to the crew of a space ship.

* The ancillaries from ''Literature/AncillaryJustice''. They're typically made using dissidents from conquered worlds, and act as ground soldiers and tools controlled by a ship's AI. Most people call them [[FateWorseThanDeath corpse soldiers]].

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Tabletop RPG]]

* ''VideoGame/PsiOpsTheMindgateConspiracy'' refers to mind controlled soldiers (under the terrorist group: The Movement) as Meat Puppets, and is the trope namer in this case.
* ''VideoGame/PainKiller'' also contains a character who uses mind control to manipulate potential enemy hosts, (and sometimes including allies).

* ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'': [[spoiler:Yomiel can possess and manipulate living creatures the way Sissel manipulates inanimate objects. Aside from his cat the hosts are either unknowing or unwilling, but he can also possess the EmptyShell of his own corpse.]]
* This is the implied case with Millennia from ''[[VideoGame/{{Deception}} Kagero: Deception II]]''. She never speaks in cutscenes aside from nodding or shaking her head, but exactly ''how much'' control the Timemoids are exhibiting over her is [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation up to the player]] via {{Dialogue Tree}}s.

* The zombie virus in ''VideoGame/DeadSpace''

* In Chapter Two of ''Literature/{{Antlers Colorado}}, [[spoiler:Austin is possessed and used as a vessel by an evil entity that has been bound to a lake for centuries. There's a chapter from Lake-Austin's point of view where it's obvious that the lake has no idea what the limitations of a human body are, or just doesn't care.]]

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'': '''[[VillainOverride ASSUMING]] [[DemonicPossession DIRECT]] [[BossInMooksClothing CONTROL]]'''

* Done rather disturbingly by [[spoiler: TheDevil]] in ''Film/TheDarkSideOfTheMoon'' to the crew of a space ship.
%%* ''Film/BeingJohnMalkovich'': John Malkovich

* In ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', [[spoiler: after defeating [[BigBad Cackletta]], her defeated spirit takes over the beaten-up body of Bowser and becomes... Bowletta.]]

* ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'': [[spoiler: Yomiel can possess and manipulate living creatures the way Sissel manipulates inanimate objects. Aside from his cat the hosts are either unknowing or unwilling, but he can also possess the EmptyShell of his own corpse.]]

* ''VideoGame/MeatPuppet'': Yes, there is a game whose title is the same as this trope, and the game mostly follows the description at the top. Lotos/Lotus Abstraction answered a personal ad that said about "nocturnal missions". She is being controlled by The Puppet Master/Martinet. She is required to make {{Asshole Victim}}s out of six leaders of the most profitable corporations (also known as ambassadors), and do this in one night, or else the suit that was put on her against her will will self-destruct and kill her! This is what Martinet is trying to accomplish: [[spoiler: The Puppet Master wants to use Lotos to reassemble the fractured genetic key to universal entropy and shut down the universe. That would make Lotos accomplice to the biggest murder of all time a prospect that displeases her greatly. She'd rather save the world instead]]. You can find out more [[http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/previews/meatpuppet.htm here]].

The purpose of a Meat Puppet is usually to act as a tool for the controller, ranging from basic slaves to intricately placed spies, sometimes also being used as a "Seeing Eye Dog" if the controller can remotely view through the puppet's senses. Generally, a Meat Puppet is a [[FacelessGoons Faceless Goon]], used as a [[HumanShield Meat Shield]] or simply becomes a brainwashed {{Mook|s}} that's expendable to a villain or antihero in control of it.

An entirely alternate meaning refers to TheInternet and NewMedia culture in social media: an online "entourage" or crowd of [[YesMan Yes People]] surrounding a particular Internet user and/or a "personal army" of Internet users recruited to attack or defend someone in a FlameWar or flare of InternetBackdraft, or to [[TheShill promote them or their product.]] This is connected to AstroTurf except that AstroTurf is usually for a politician, product, company, or one side in a war or conflict, whereas a Meat Puppet can appear anywhere (and are often ''why'' a debate escalates to Flame War, Internet Backdraft, or appearing on Fandom Wank levels). These are usually called Meat Puppet as opposed to SockPuppet, because they *are* actually separate people, unlike a Sock Puppet, which is a different user identity (or collection of them) created by the same person. That said, good luck in telling them apart, especially in [[{{GIFT}} places that allow anonymity and don't ban proxies]].

* The [[FaceHugger Krana]] in ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}'' can control a being once attached to his or her face. If they possess a [[LittlePeople Matoran]], it's a straight example of the trope, since Matoran lapse into unconciousness when separated from their MaskOfPower. However, if they possess a Toa, there will be a struggle for control between Krana and host. IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight ensues.

The purpose of a Meat Puppet is usually to act as a tool for the controller, ranging from basic slaves to intricately placed spies, sometimes also being used as a "Seeing Eye Dog" if the controller can remotely view through the puppet's senses. Generally, a Meat Puppet is a [[FacelessGoons Faceless Goon]], used as a [[HumanShield Meat Shield]] or simply becomes a brainwashed {{Mook}} that's expendable to a villain or antihero in control of it.

An entirely alternate meaning refers to TheInternet and NewMedia culture in social media: an online "entourage" or crowd of [[YesMan Yes People]] surrounding a particular internet user and/or a "personal army" of internet users recruited to attack or defend someone in a FlameWar or flare of InternetBackdraft, or to [[TheShill promote them or their product.]] This is connected to AstroTurf except that AstroTurf is usually for a politician, product,company, or one side in a war or conflict, while a Meat Puppet can appear anywhere (and are often ''why'' a debate escalates to FlameWar, InternetBackdraft, or appearing on Fandom Wank levels.) These are usually called Meat Puppet as opposed to SockPuppet, because they *are* actually separate people, unlike a SockPuppet, which is a different user identity (or collection of them) created by the same person. That said, good luck in telling them apart - especially in [[{{GIFT}} places that allow anonymity and don't ban proxies]].

[[folder:Film]]

* [[Film/BeingJohnMalkovich John Malkovich]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Fite}}'', [[spoiler:the Mutali turns out to be just puppets of Skerry.]]
* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'' gives us the unnerving possibility of this being the ultimate fate of victims of ThePlague that resulted in the current AfterTheEnd setting the characters find themselves in. Be they Beast (animal-based victims), Troll (human-based victims) or Giant (combo-platter critters). As if facing becoming a BodyOfBodies and/or MeatMoss BodyHorror wasn't enough, you could be trapped and watching yourself attack others for ''[[AndIMustScream decades]]''.
[[/folder]]

* In ''Webcomic/{{Fite}}'', [[spoiler:the Mutali turns out to be just puppets of Skerry.]]
* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'' gives us the unnerving possibility of this being the ultimate fate of victims of ThePlague that resulted in the current AfterTheEnd setting the characters find themselves in. Be they Beast (animal-based victims), Troll (human-based victims) or Giant (combo-platter critters). As if facing becoming a BodyOfBodies and/or MeatMoss BodyHorror wasn't enough, you could be trapped and watching yourself attack others for ''[[AndIMustScream decades]]''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Geist}}'' surrounds itself in having the player possess hosts both biological and machine to affect the living world and defeat [[TheBigBad The Big Bad]]. There's even a minigame devouted to Ghosts vs Hosts.

* Any controller in ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}''

* Any controller in ''{{Literature/Animorphs}}''
* George R.R. Martin had a short story (can't recall the title) in which the corpses of executed criminals were implanted with control chips and sold as industrial equipment. They were only good for certain types of work, because they were somewhat clumsy and required human operators. Much of the plot revolved around the practical and financial issues facing the corpse-driver protagonists.

* In ''MatrixReloaded'' and ''MatrixRevolutions'', Agent Smith overwrites Bane inside the Matrix and uses his body to escape into the real world.

* Done rather disturbingly by [[spoiler: TheDevil]] in Film/TheDarkSideOfTheMoon to the crew of a space ship.
* [[BeingJohnMalkovich John Malkovich]]

* The [[FaceHugger Krana]] in ''{{Bionicle}}'' can control a being once attached to his or her face. If they possess a [[LittlePeople Matoran]], it's a straight example of the trope, since Matoran lapse into unconciousness when separated from their MaskOfPower. However, if they possess a Toa, there will be a struggle for control between Krana and host. IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight ensues.

* ''PainKiller'' also contains a character who uses mind control to manipulate potential enemy hosts, (and sometimes including allies).

* The Flood parasites of ''{{Halo}}'' insert their tendrils into the nervous systems of their host subjects. Afterwards, they control and mutate the host in the same way that headcrabs do.

* This is the implied case with Millennia from ''[[{{Deception}} Kagero: Deception II]]''. She never speaks in cutscenes aside from nodding or shaking her head, but exactly ''how much'' control the Timemoids are exhibiting over her is [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation up to the player]] via {{Dialogue Tree}}s.

* In ''{{Fite}}'', [[spoiler:the Mutali turns out to be just puppets of Skerry.]]
* ''StandStillStaySilent'' gives us the unnerving possibility of this being the ultimate fate of victims of ThePlague that resulted in the current AfterTheEnd setting the characters find themselves in. Be they Beast (animal-based victims), Troll (human-based victims) or Giant (combo-platter critters). As if facing becoming a BodyOfBodies and/or MeatMoss BodyHorror wasn't enough, you could be trapped and watching yourself attack others for ''[[AndIMustScream decades]]''.

* ''StandStillStaySilent'' gives us the unnerving possibility of this being the ultimate fate of victims of ThePlague that resulted in the current AfterTheEnd setting the characters find themselves in. Be they Beast (animal-based victims), Troll (human-based victims) or Giant (combo-platter critters). As if facing becoming a BodyOfBodies and/or MeatMoss BodyHorror wasn't enough, you could be trapped and watching yourself attack others for ''[[AndIMustScream decades]]''.

* In the [[AdaptionDecay much-maligned]] sequel to the film adaptation of ''Film/StarshipTroopers'', [[PuppeteerParasite Control Bugs]] take over an entire outpost of [[RedshirtArmy Mobile Infantry]] soldiers and pit them against the main characters.

An entirely alternate meaning refers to TheInternet and NewMedia culture in social media: an online "entourage" or crowd of [[YesMan Yes People]] surrounding a particular internet user and/or a "personal army" of internet users recruited to attack or defend someone in a FlameWar or flare of InternetBackdraft, or to [[TheShill promote them or their product.]] This is connected to AstroTurf except that AstroTurf is usually for a politician or product or company, while a Meat Puppet can appear anywhere (and are often ''why'' a debate escalates to FlameWar, InternetBackdraft, or appearing on Fandom Wank levels.) These are usually called Meat Puppet as opposed to SockPuppet, because they *are* actually separate people, unlike a SockPuppet, which is a different user identity (or collection of them) created by the same person. That said, good luck in telling them apart - especially in [[{{GIFT}} places that allow anonymity and don't ban proxies]].

* ''GhostTrick'': [[spoiler: Yomiel can possess and manipulate living creatures the way Sissel manipulates inanimate objects. Aside from his cat the hosts are either unknowing or unwilling, but he can also possess the EmptyShell of his own corpse.]]