Line #106 Main/MascotVillain


1	%% Image chosen by Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1424910117091912600
2	%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
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4	[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/StarWars https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a57f222ae736867c1f3affb32f69e0b1.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:People found his lack of [[{{Pun}} face]] disturbingly iconic.]]
6
7	Many series [[SeriesMascot have their own mascot]], in-universe 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 SidekickCreatureNuisance tropes just to make things [[CuteIsEvil extra twisted]]. Whether they are {{Big Bad}}s, [[TheDragon Dragons]], {{Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain}}s or just the humble MascotMook is not needed, what distinguishes this from the other tropes is that the SeriesMascot is evil.
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9	The difference is that most cases are usually either the most iconic character of the franchise, or checks off the items in a WeaselMascot checklist, but their cuddly appearance belies a sinister nature.
10
11	As a general rule, this is extremely common with {{horror}}. Even if it doesn't simply become a VillainBasedFranchise, a horror movie franchise will usually see its villain/monster turn into its most recognizable character. For video games, the MascotHorror SubGenre is built around this trope.
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13	Related to MascotMook, when the mascot is one of the more common enemies in the game.
14
15	Due to the nature of FaceHeelTurn, EvilAllAlong, and the SeriesMascot, there will be some spoilers. See also AntagonistTitle and VillainBasedFranchise. Sometimes comes about due to fans RootingForTheEmpire.
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17	----
18	!!Examples
19
20	[[foldercontrol]]
21
22	[[folder:Advertising]]
23	* Advertising/TheNoid was the mascot of Domino's for much of the late 80s, despite technically being the antagonist of their commercials. In the commercials, The Noid would try to ruin your pizza, only to be thwarted at every turn.
24	* The Trix Rabbit is an IneffectualSympatheticVillain that tries to steal kids cereal and yogurt. He also appears on the packaging of said cereal and yogurt.
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
28	* ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'': Dung Beetle's true status as a villain is up for grabs, as whatever is causing the events of the story is left nebulous, but he still regularly taunts the characters and acts like a {{Jerkass}}.
29	* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'':
30	** [[spoiler: Kyubey starts off seeming like your average MagicalGirl RidiculouslyCuteCritter mascot, until you find out [[TotalitarianUtilitarian his true motives.]]]]
31	** Subverted with [[spoiler: [[AscendedExtra Bebe/Charlotte]]]] in ''[[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion Rebellion]]''. Homura suspects that [[spoiler: Bebe is the witch in whose barrier the entire film takes place]]--until Homura discovers that [[spoiler:[[TomatoInTheMirror she is the witch herself]]]].
32	* The Colossal Titan from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' is the most recognizable titan in the series, and well-known for literally kick-starting the events of the story [[spoiler: as well as being one of the series' titan shifters - titans that can disguise themselves as humans.]]
33	** [[spoiler: Series protagonist Eren Yeager can also qualify, as after the TimeSkip he appears to become a full-fledged VillainProtagonist bent on destroying the world through unleashing the Wall Titans and is also revealed to have instigated the Eldian Restoration Movement via a StableTimeLoop, until it gets revealed that he was pulling off a [[ZeroApprovalGambit Zero-Approval]] GenghisGambit by taking up all of the world's hatred of the Eldian race onto himself]].
34	* ''Kichikujima'': Kaoru, his father Yoshikazu, and his sister Mari serve this role for the series, appearing in the prequel series and spin-offs more than any other character.
35	* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'': Char Aznable, though making a full rotation through the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, could still count as a semi-example, and is popular enough to inspire a slew of copycats. Second to Char is Gihren Zabi, who is easily the second most popular villain after him and also an iconic character in the franchise, being the template for future despots.
36	* ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'': Itachi Uchiha is featured on tons of promotional material and merchandise for the series due to his popularity.
37	* ''Anime/ParanoiaAgent'''s Li'l Slugger/Shonen Bat, one of the two mascots of the series. [[spoiler:The other one, Maromi, ends up being the other side of the coin of the former.]]
38	* ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'' has the resident {{Mook}} monsters, Noise. They are often used for promotion and even have their own merchandise.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]
42	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
43	** Darth Vader is the single most recognizable character in the entire franchise, to the point that an entire film trilogy was made about his StartOfDarkness.
44	** It's perfectly fitting how Kylo Ren, Darth Vader's grandson, is this for the sequel trilogy starting in ''Film/TheForceAwakens''.
45	** For ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Vader’s predecessor as Darth Sidious’s apprentice, Darth Maul, to an extent. However, Maul’s direct successor, Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus did not get this treatment, at least partially due to the nature of his first appearance in series, and his [[spoiler: minimal amount of screen time in his second and last one]].
46	** Captain Phasma sometimes shares this role with Kylo Ren as well (as she was meant to be the Boba Fett to his Darth Vader), her prominence can be seen on various merchandises, despite having a minimal role in the actual movies much like Dooku.
47	** In ''Film/RogueOne'', the Imperial Death Trooper, EliteMooks among the [[MascotMook Stormtroopers]] takes this role.
48	* Slimer from ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' is a partial example. He starts off as a StarterVillain in the [[Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}} 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.
49	* ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. Franchise/HannibalLecter 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 ''Film/{{Hannibal}}'', and instead usually acts as an adviser to help catch other villains.
50	* The Sanderson sisters, in particular Winifred, are this to ''Film/HocusPocus''. They get the most advertisements and they're the ones on the cover of ''Literature/HocusPocusAndTheAllNewSequel''.
51	* The ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' series has Billy the Puppet, avatar of the Jigsaw killer. It's probably the most recognizable malevolent figure in the series, moreso than John Kramer or his apprentices (AKA the actual Jigsaw killers).
52	* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse: The popularity and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' have largely elevated ComicBook/{{Thanos}} to being the flagship villain of all of Creator/MarvelComics, similar to what ComicBook/TheJoker and ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} are to Creator/DCComics.
53	* Creator/MargaretHamilton's portrayal of the WickedWitch of the West in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' is considered to be one of the most iconic elements of the film, to the point that she has been used to represent the film over the main quartet in other media.
54	* ''Film/{{Scream}}'' has Ghostface as the mascot. What prevents it from being a full-on VillainBasedFranchise is the fact that it's a [[LegacyCharacter different killer who takes the identity]], while the cast of protagonists stay the same.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
58	* Overlapping with MascotMook, ''Franchise/DoctorWho'' has both the Cybermen and the Daleks, who have played prominent roles in the franchise ever since its inception and are among its most iconic elements.
59	* Shocker are every bit as iconic to the ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series as the Kamen Riders themselves, to the point of effectively being the TropeCodifier for {{Nebulous Evil Organisation}}s in Japanese media. The Shocker Combatmen also have their own fair amount of popularity and serve as the franchise's {{Mascot Mook}}s.
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
63	* Wrestling/KaijuBigBattel uses the helmet of its BigBad, Dr. Cube, for its logo.
64	* Wrestling/CheerleaderMelissa for most of [=ChickFight=]'s time in the UK, almost overlapping with ForeignWrestlingHeel.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
68	* Both ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' have the Chaos Gods - Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh - who are the only forces present in both settings and are pretty much the GreaterScopeVillain[=s=]. They frequently feature heavily in promotional media across multiple mediums, being to Creator/GamesWorkshop as ComicBook/{{Thanos}} and ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} are to Creator/MarvelComics and Creator/DCComics respectively.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Video Games]]
72	* The Red Knight from ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'', [[spoiler: also known as the Soul of Cinder, is the FinalBoss and the manifestation of every last unfortunate Lords of Cinder doomed to live inside an AnimatedArmor [[AndIMustScream for eternity]]. Naturally this includes [[VideoGame/DarkSoulsI Gwyn, the First Lord of Cinder]] and the [[DuelingPlayerCharacters Chosen Undead]].]] He is the figure seen on the game's cover, and was featured prominently in official merchandise... some of which incorrectly identifies him as the protagonist.
73	* Pyramid Head from ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'', though his fame has also made him a mascot for the series as a whole.
74	* Wild Dog from the ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis'' series of games practically showed up in every numbered installment (as well as the spinoff, ''Project Titan'', where his role in each and every game is to antagonize the VSSE agents just for the fun of it, even if he's not affiliated with the BigBad in any way. He even had his own {{Leitmotif}} in his boss battles each game, and there are at least two instances where the heroes from the sequels lampshades how "Wild Dog never dies".
75	* Needles Kane from ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'' skirts close to this. He's definitely a villain, but still a pawn in the game of the series' real BigBad.
76	* SelfDemonstrating/{{GLaDOS}} from ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'', though her #1 mascot status is edged out by the CompanionCube. The evil comes in the fact that she forces Chell to run around an deadly obstacle course [[IWasToldThereWouldBeCake with the promise of cake]], and that when she gets to the end, tries to kill Chell.
77	* Nemesis from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'', even being featured front and center on the game's box art.
78	* The titular ''VideoGame/{{Sinistar}}'' is the only recognizable character in a game that's otherwise occupied by generic ships, and is easily the most recognizable thing about the game thanks to being a FountainOfMemes.
79	* The Devil in ''VideoGame/DevilWorld'', to the point of representing the game as an assist trophy in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.
80	%%* 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.%%
81	* The titular ''VideoGame/IMMeen'', who's flamboyant nature outshines the rest of the cast and is the source of many a YouTubePoop.
82	* SHODAN from ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', to the point of being featured on the box art for the sequel.
83	* The ''VideoGame/{{Neptunia}}'' series has Pirachu, who In-Universe is a self-proclaimed mascot...however he looks more like the mascot of [[DigitalPiracyIsEvil piracy]] and appears as the NonHumanSidekick to either Underling or the AnthropomorphicPersonification of Piracy herself, [[BigBad Arfoire]].
84	* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'':
85	** The titular Freddy, 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 GoodAllAlong. 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.
86	** Springtrap for ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3'', who's also the game's only (real) villain. [[spoiler:He's also the GreaterScopeVillain for the rest of the franchise before and after this game.]]
87	%%* Trogdor could also count, as he's depicted as the main villain of ''VideoGame/PeasantsQuest''.%%
88	* In ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', [[spoiler:[[FairyCompanion Airy]] turns out to be the BigBad of the game. Until the reveal, a player might wonder why she of all people is on the cover]].
89	* 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. [[ArchEnemy Ridley]] is also a big contender for mascot villain status due to [[DeathIsCheap never staying dead no matter]] [[JokerImmunity how many times Samus kills him]], being a badass space dragon that commands the Space Pirates who usually serves as TheDragon to the game's main villain (or is at least [[TheHeavy a recurring foe who heavily impacts the narrative]]), having an awesome battle theme, and [[ItsPersonal having a connection with Samus in his backstory]].
90	* ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains'' has Lord Recluse, ruler of the game's setting and ArchEnemy of parent/sister game ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'''s mascot Statesman. Recluse and his organization Arachnos were created for ''Villains'', but both were added as enemies into ''Heroes'' shortly after.
91	* 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" on you and light the TNT within their bodies to explode in your face.
92	* 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.
93	* [[spoiler:Flowey the Flower]] of ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' [[spoiler:is billed as the cute and innocent type of mascot in the game's manual, but that's gets thrown out of the window when he tries to share his "[[BadLiar friendliness pellets]]"]]. Similarly to ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''’s [[spoiler:Kyubey]] and ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault''’s [[spoiler:Airy the Fairy]] above, [[spoiler:he turns out to be the BigBad]].
94	* Starting with ''VideoGame/FarCry3'', the ''Franchise/FarCry'' series has done this. With the exceptions of ''VideoGame/FarCry3BloodDragon'' and ''VideoGame/FarCryPrimal'', each game features its main antagonist front and center in the cover art and promotional material.
95	** ''VideoGame/FarCry3'' - [[RuthlessModernPirates Vaas Montenegro]]. Vaas is not the BigBad, though, just TheDragon. The actual main villain is [[AmoralAfrikaner Hoyt Volker]].
96	** ''VideoGame/FarCry4'' - [[TheGeneralissimo Pagan Min]]
97	** ''VideoGame/FarCry5'' - [[ApocalypseCult Joseph Seed and the Project at Eden's Gate]]
98	** ''VideoGame/FarCryNewDawn'' - [[DarkActionGirl Mickey and Lou]], twin leaders of [[TheApunkalypse the Highwaymen]]
99	** ''VideoGame/FarCry6'' - [[TheGeneralissimo Anton Castillo]], the dictator of [[BananaRepublic Yara]], and his son, Diego
100	* The Cacodemon from ''Videogame/{{Doom}}'', who's even the icon for [[http://doom.fandom.com the Doom Wiki]]. The Cyberdemon also counts.
101	* The entire Mishima Family from ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''. [[VillainProtagonist Heihachi]] is the only member of the family to appear in all installments of the franchise, is the ArchEnemy of his son [[BaitTheDog Kazuya]] and grandson [[TheHero Jin]], and represents the franchise in ''VideoGame/PlaystationAllStarsBattleRoyale''. Kazuya is the main ''Tekken'' character in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken'' opposite Ryu, is paired up with his son Jin in ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone2'', and represents the franchise in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. While Jin has also been used to represent the franchise as a more heroic option compared to his father and grandfather, he briefly slid into villainy in ''Tekken 6'' by taking over the Mishima Corporation and starting WorldWarIII, [[spoiler: though it turns out he was pulling a BatmanGambit to awaken Azazel and destroy it along with his cursed bloodline]].
102	* [[OurGargoylesRock The Red Arremer]] AKA Firebrand from ''VideoGame/GhostsAndGoblins'' can qualify, seeing that it has frequently appeared to represent the franchise in most crossover events alongside series protagonist Arthur, such as ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'', ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos'' (without Arthur), and ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite''.
103	* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'' has TheDragon Selvaria Bles, who has proven far more popular than the original protagonists and has made more appearances than any of them not only within the series but also in crossover games such as ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' and ''VideoGame/DengekiBunkoFightingClimax''.
104	* The ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberium'' series has its DarkMessiah BigBad Kane, who is the only character to have appeared in every game in the series. One might even argue he is this for the entire franchise as a whole, as he even makes a cameo in the Soviet ending for ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert'', [[spoiler:where he reveals [[HijackedByGanon he masterminded the whole plot]] [[PiggybackingOnHitler by manipulating Stalin and his inner circle]]]].
105	* ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'': Sarah Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, is the most recognizable character from the entire franchise and plays an important role in all the games of the series.
106	* ''VideoGame/TransformersDevastation'': The evil Decepticon combiner Devastator is featured prominently on the cover and is the game's partial namesake.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
110	* Monokuma from ''{{Franchise/Danganronpa}}'' falls into the RidiculouslyCuteCritter category (though less so than the [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica above-mentioned]] [[spoiler: Kyubey]], thanks to his more sinister TwoFaced design motif). He's even voiced by ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}''[='s=] most notable voice actor; for a Western analog, imagine a teddy bear with the voice of WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, Franchise/WinnieThePooh, or WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarePants (the German dub actually does this) constantly trolling you, emotionally and psychologically torturing and blackmailing you, and egging you on to kill people.
111	* [[spoiler:Subverted with]] Rena Ryuugu from ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'', as she's an antagonist in early arcs and quite CuteButPsycho [[spoiler:when needed, but is overall a good girl, and most of her antagonistic traits are born from misunderstandings or a HatePlague.]]
112	* For the ''VisualNovel/ShinzaBanshoSeries'', Reinhard from ''VisualNovel/DiesIrae'' has become one of the series most iconic and recognizable villains, so much so that he has become the official mascot for the series. This is probably thanks in no small part to his intricate personality and heaps of charisma.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Web Animation]]
116	* It's easy to forget that Strong Bad from ''Franchise/HomestarRunner'' is supposed to be a villain (albeit not a very good one) thanks to practically usurping the main character role from the character the site is named after.
117	* Wallet from ''WebAnimation/ObjectTerror'' is a SerialKiller who enjoys making bad jokes and threatening people that he would kill them, but he's the mascot of the show.
118	* WebAnimation/MurderDrones has the titular Disassembly Drones as the main focus, despite them being the main antagonist faction. [[spoiler:In the beginning.]]
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Web Video]]
122	* King Mogeko from ''VideoGame/MogekoCastle'' was 'adopted' as a mascot for the GagDub series WebVideo/TheWithVoicesProject.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Western Animation]]
126	* Dick Dastardly and Muttley from ''WesternAnimation/WackyRaces'', eventually getting a spinoff in the form of ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines''. The duo have gone on to be pretty much the most iconic villains in the entirety of Hanna-Barbera, being the main antagonists in crossover works such as ''Ride/TheFuntasticWorldOfHannaBarbera'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{SCOOB}}''.
127	* Though pretty SouthernBelle Penelope is the title character of Creator/HannaBarbera's ''WesternAnimation/ThePerilsOfPenelopePitstop'', she spends very little time on screen as the DamselInDistress. Her nemesis, the Hooded Claw drives the plot in every case, and he's a LargeHam to boot, which is magnified by having Creator/PaulLynde as his voice actor. Only the Ant Hill Mob gets as much screen time as the Claw, but their overall competency ranges from barely adequate to horribly hopeless.
128	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / MascotVillain