History Main / ResourcefulRodent

* ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}'': Invoked as the nerd clique has an association with rats; Algie and Bucky have pet rats called "Sniffy" and "George", the gang has a collective fear of rats as shown by the mission "Rats in the Library", the group is willing to run away from a fight, use underhanded tactics, are regarded as "Sneaky bastards" by Gary Smith, and the Nerds use homemade firearms that are made from various scraps around the school. They also made an alternate route to the abandoned observatory to avoid jocks, like how rats would avoid predators by taking alternate routes and staying out of sight. The Bullworth academy crest also has a rat as part of the design, likely referencing the nerds.

* ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}: Invoked as the nerd clique has an association with rats; Algie and Bucky have pet rats called "Sniffy" and "George", the gang has a collective fear of rats as shown by the mission "Rats in the Library", the group is willing to run away from a fight, use underhanded tactics, are regarded as "Sneaky bastards" by Gary Smith, and the Nerds use homemade firearms that are made from various scraps around the school. They also made an alternate route to the abandoned observatory to avoid jocks, like how rats would avoid predators by taking alternate routes and staying out of sight. The Bullworth academy crest also has a rat as part of the design, likely referencing the nerds.

Mice, rats, and other rodents are usually seen as timid and cowardly animals who avoid danger by running from it. These rodents though are not cowards and are [[ImprovisationalIngenuity smart enough to use their cunning and high intellect to escape from danger]] and [[DavidVersusGoliath defeat their enemies]]. Often using their [[GadgeteerGenius inventions to survive]] and using [[ImprobableWeaponUser whatever they can find]] to [[ImprovisedWeapon defend themselves from others]].

Mice, rats, and other rodents are usually seen as timid and cowardly animals who avoid danger by running from it. These rodents though are not cowards and are [[ImprovisationalIngenuity smart enough to use their cunning and high intellect to escape from danger]] and [[DavidVersusGoliath defeat their enemies]].

The Resourceful Rodent can fit any definition; a warrior who strategically fights his or her enemies, TheEngineer who [[ScavengedPunk invents and rebuilds items from junk]], and the rogue who uses their resourcefulness to evade enemies and outwit them. Resourceful Rodents are not strictly anthropomorphic; a trained rodent, an intelligent rodent, and even an entire group of rodents who create strategies and hunting tactics to take on larger prey can fit here as well.

It may overlap with MouseWorld, which often involves rodent characters repurposing human objects as tools. It may also overlap with ScavengedPunk (and therefore averting ScavengersAreScum) since it can involve rodent characters using materials scavenged or stolen from humans. May or may not be TheLabRat (literally), which does the forensics and other researches.

* The [[RatMen Rattevir]] of ''TabletopGame/TheChroniclesOfAeres'' are a highly intelligent race who, unlike the other [[BeastMan Wilderkind]], have abandoned the simple life of forest-folk to integrate into humanity's cities. They are regarded as some the world's greatest apothecaries, scribes and researches, and are particularly well-known for their skill at {{alchemy}}.

* Anyone who has ever struggled in vain to prevent squirrels from raiding their birdfeeders will know how devious and innovative such rodents can be, when there's a barrier between them and food. Some people even build whole obstacle courses to test the squirrels' ability to navigate them.

* Anyone who has ever struggled in vain to prevent squirrels from raiding their birdfeeders will know how devious and innovative such rodents can be, when there's an obstacle between them and food.

* Anyone who has ever struggled in vain to prevent squirrels from raiding their birdfeeders will know how devious and innovative such rodents can be, when there's an obstacle to get past to reach food.

* ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'': Werner Werman fights by using a tank that's been made from various household junk (a tin can, rubber bands, and wood) and he was able to turn a bottlecap into a buzz saw.

Mice, rats, and other rodents are usually seen as timid and cowardly animals who avoid danger by running from it. These rodents though are not cowards and are smart enough to use their cunning and high intellect to escape from danger and defeat their enemies.

The Resourceful Rodent can fit any definition; a warrior who strategically fights his or her enemies, TheEngineer who invents and rebuilds items from junk, and the rogue who uses their resourcefulness to evade enemies and outwit them. Resourceful Rodents are not strictly anthropomorphic; a trained rodent, an intelligent rodent, and even an entire group of rodents who create strategies and hunting tactics to take on larger prey can fit here as well.

It can go with ImprobableWeaponUser, ImprovisationalIngenuity, MacGyvering, and ScavengedPunk since the animal can display ingenuity by repurposing junk as tools, weapons, transportation, or inventions. It also goes with GuileHero and TheTrickster since the rodent in question has to defeat [[DavidVersusGoliath larger enemies who are vastly stronger than them]].

* In ''[[Creator/JanuszZajdel Cylinder van Troffa]]'', rats (lots of rats) live alongside the earthlings, using the tech like food dispensers and the underground. Generally, the rats seem about as intelligent as the ones in ''Literature/{{Neverwhere}}'' - no speech, but they cooperate pushing buttons and covering sensors, and give the protagonist looks of disdain (or so he thinks). It appears that they inherit the Earth, but die out soon after humans, because they can't fend for themselves anymore and the machines break down.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': In ''Literature/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents'', the rats have human-level intelligence and can use tools. With a cat and a boy, they run a con that involves recreating [[Literature/ThePiedPiperOfHamelin The Pied Piper of Hamelin]] to make money. The rats are smart enough to form a dedicated "bomb disposal squad" that scouts ahead and deactivates rat traps.

* ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'': Subverted; Nick and Fetcher are a pair of merchants and smugglers who take whatever they can get so they can sell them as tools for the chickens. They use a toffee tin as a suitcase and they offer a shuttlecock as a veil, a thimble as a cup, and a sink plug as a pendant. However, the pair aren't that smart because they couldn't tell the difference between a hen and a rooster (they believed Rocky when he told them he could lay his own eggs). [[spoiler They are instrumental in the chickens' escape because they steal the necessary tools from the farmers by disguising themselves as garden gnomes.]]

See also IntelligentGerbil, NiceMice, PricklyPorcupine, ScrewballSquirrel and YouDirtyRat. If the rats are half-human, then it's RatMen. RodentsOfUnusualSize may apply if the animal fits the criteria for the resourceful rodent.

!!Examples

[[folder:Film - Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'': Subverted, Nick and Fetcher are a pair of merchants and smugglers who take whatever they can get so they can sell them as tools for the chickens. They use a toffee tin as a suitcase and they offer a shuttlecock as a veil, a thimble as a cup, and a sink plug as a pendant. However, the pair aren't that smart because they couldn't tell the difference between a hen and a rooster (they believed Rocky when he told them he could lay his own eggs). [[spoiler: They were instrumental in the chickens' escape because they stole the necessary tools from the farmers by disguising themselves as garden gnomes.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH'': The rats of NIMH are able to read as a result of the experiments scientists conducted on them. They also know how to work technology.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'': Rémy is able to cook in a haute cuisine restaurant undetected by controlling a chef via pulling the hairs on his head. He also has an exceptional eye for ingredients, which is evident when he improves a soup using seemingly random ingredients scattered around the kitchen.

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Valiant}}'': the French resistance is composed of two mice who use match sticks as incendiary weapons.

* ''Literature/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents'': The rats have human-level intelligence and can use tools. With a cat and a boy, they run a con that involves recreating [[Literature/ThePiedPiperOfHamelin The Pied Piper of Hamelin]] to make money. The rats are smart enough to form a dedicated "bomb disposal squad" that scouts ahead and deactivates rat traps.

[[folder:Mythology]]
* ''Main/EasternZodiac''

* Radio/TheHitchHikersGuideToTheGalaxy: In the story, Planet Earth is in reality one enormous super-computer dedicated to working out The Answer to Life, The Universe and Everything. Its keepers are hyper-intelligent white mice, who not only tend the computer, they run incredibly subtle and elegant psychological experiments on their human, err, "lab-rats".

* ''[[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Warhammer]]'': The Skaven are rat men living in Underground Cities and able to make devices such as the [[GatlingGood Ratling]] and technological devices using warpstone such as tools and power generation. The only reason why they haven't taken over the world yet is [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder because they are infamously treacherous]].

* ''VideoGame/APlagueTaleInnocence'': At first, the man-eating rats in the game seem disorganized and chaotic, and are physically unable to enter the light, which is your main defence strategy. As their influence grows, they develop strategies to counter this, using their own bodies in formations and directed attacks to bust through the light and extinguish fires.

* ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'': Gadget Hackwrench is the [[TheSmartGuy the smartest member of the team]] as she's created all of the Rangers' vehicles and weapons out of garbage. The most notable example is the Ranger plane, which is a small dirigible made out of a bottle of bleach, a balloon, and plungers as landing gear.
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'': Gadget Hackwrench makes an appearance and is given an origin story. She was experimented on and she received a procedure that enhanced her intelligence and she surprised the scientists by using tools. She used tools to make her own clothes, and she made the Ranger plane for her and her friends to use in order to escape the facility.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpeedyGonzales'': Speedy Gonzales is the fastest mouse in all of Mexico who outsmarts and humiliates his vastly stronger enemies to help his friends and outrun his enemies. It's the reason why he's so idolised Mexico, he's a smooth-talking hero who always outsmarts others and always wins at the end of the story.

* Invoked by [=UFC=] fighter Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson, a former UFC Flyweight Champion known for his quick strikes and elusive movement. He's also quite small, standing at a height of 5 foot 3 inches.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fanfic]]

It may overlap with MouseWorld, which often involves rodent characters repurposing human objects as tools. It may also overlap with ScavengedPunk since it can involve rodent characters using materials scavenged or stolen from humans. May or may not be TleLabRat (literally), which does the forensics and other researches.

Mice, rats, and rodents are usually seen as timid and cowardly animals who avoid danger by running from it. These rodents though are not cowards and are smart enough to use their cunning and high intellect to escape from danger and defeat their enemies.

It may overlap with MouseWorld, which often involves rodent characters repurposing human objects as tools. It may also overlap with ScavengedPunk since it can involve rodent characters using materials scavenged or stolen from humans.

The Resourceful Rodent can fit any definition; a warrior who strategically fights his or her enemies, TheEngineer who invents and rebuilds items from junk, and the rogue who uses their resourcefulness to evade enemies and outwit them. The rodents do not have to be anthropomorphic, entire groups of rodents who create strategies and hunting tactics to take on larger prey can fit here as well.

The Resourceful Rodent can fit any definition; a warrior who strategically fights his or her enemies, TheEngineer who invents and rebuilds items from junk, and the rogue who uses their resourcefulness to evade enemies and outwit them.

It can go with ImprobableWeaponUser, ImprovisationalIngenuity, MacGyvering, and ScavengedPunk since the animal can display ingenuity by repurposing junk as tools, weapons, transportation, or inventions. It also goes with GuileHero and TheTrickster since the rodent in question has to defeat [[DavidVersusGoliath larger enemies who are vastly stronger than them]]. Similarly, entire groups of rodents who create strategies and hunting tactics to take on larger prey may fit here as well.

It can go with ImprobableWeaponUser, ImprovisationalIngenuity, MacGyvering, and ScavengedPunk since the animal can display ingenuity by repurposing junk as tools, weapons, transportation, or inventions. It also goes with GuileHero and TheTrickster since the rodent in question has to defeat [[DavidVersusGoliath larger enemies who are vastly stronger than them]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'': Rémy is able to cook in a haute cuisine restaurant undetected by controlling a chef via pulling the hairs on the chef's head.

* ''Film/StuartLittle'': Since Stuart is the average size of a mouse he has to use toys as everyday items. He has to wear clothes from toys and use toy vehicles as transportation. In the sequel, he rebuilds a toy airplane with trash to fly it home.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'': Timothy the Mouse is the deuteragonist of the film who helps Dumbo in the circus. He gets Dumbo in the circus by planting ideas in the ringmaster's head while the latter is sleeping and he convinces Dumbo that he can fly with a magic feather (a normal feather that Timothy had plucked from a nearby bird).
* ''WesternAnimation/FlushedAway'': The sewer population is composed of rats who have used junk to build their city, their transportation, and their equipment.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'': Rémy is able to cook in a haute cuisine restaurant undetected by controlling a chef via pulling the hairs on the chef's head.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Valiant}}'': the French resistance is composed of two mice who use match sticks as incendiary weapons.

[[AC:Fanfic]]

[[AC:Film - Animated]]

[[AC:Film - Live Action]]

[[AC:Literature]]

* ''Literature/TheTaleOfDespereaux'': Despereaux uses a sewing needle as a sword and the rodent civilisation often uses junk and trash as objects, clothes, etc.

[[AC:Mythology]]

[[AC:Radio]]

[[AC:Tabletop Games]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'': Gadget Hackwrench makes an appearance and is given an origin story. She was experimented on and she received a proceedure that enhanced her intelligence and she surprised the scientists by using tools. She used tools to make her own clothes, and she made the Ranger plane for her and her friends to use in order to escape the facility.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'': Timothy the Mouse is the deutagonist of the film who helps Dumbo in the circus. He gets Dumbo in the circus by planting ideas in the ringmaster's head while the latter is sleeping and he convinces Dumbo that he can fly with a magic feather (a normal feather that Timothy had plucked from a nearby bird).

[[AC:Real Life]]
* In this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIc-Eeh7IUY&ab_channel=SWNS video]], a mouse has shown organisation skills by putting tools back in a box.

* Pack rats are known to be resourceful creatures as they are known to build nests from plant materials and debris. They are also known to steal from humans and "trade" for items that they find more interesting.