History AdaptationalBadass / WesternAnimation

* While badass in every incarnation, ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''' version of the titular team deserves a special mention. While [[AdaptationalWimp less experienced than some of their other incarnations]], they also possess actual superpowers thanks to their mystic weapons that allow them to perform feats that their counterparts could only dream of. You're probably not going to see any other version of Leonardo redirecting enemy attacks [[ThinkingUpPortals by spamming portals]] or Michelangelo ''hurling a giant tanker'' for instance. Also, with the exception of the 2003 series where Leonardo was able to defeat Splinter during some rage-fueled sparring in the later fourth season, most versions of the Ninja Turtles are shown to be outclassed by Splinter to varying degrees in fights. In ''Rise'', after undergoing some serious training, the Turtles are able to take down Splinter during a practice session ''towards the end of just the first season alone''. It's especially apparent compared to [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 the predecessor series]], whose versions of the turtles are somewhat infamous for [[AdaptationalWimp constantly receiving humiliating beatings]].

* While badass in every incarnation, ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''' version of the titular team deserves a special mention. While [[AdaptationalWimp less experienced than some of their other versions]], they also possess actual superpowers thanks to their mystic weapons that allow them to perform feats that their counterparts could only dream of. You're probably not going to see any other version of Leonardo redirecting enemy attacks [[ThinkingUpPortals by spamming portals]] or Michelangelo ''hurling a giant tanker'' for instance. Also, with the exception of the 2003 series where Leonardo was able to defeat Splinter during some rage-fueled sparring in the later fourth season, most versions of the Ninja Turtles are shown to be outclassed by Splinter to varying degrees in fights. In ''Rise'', after undergoing some serious training, the Turtles are able to take down Splinter during a practice session ''towards the end of just the first season alone''. It's especially apparent compared to [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 the predecessor series]], whose versions of the turtles are somewhat infamous for [[AdaptationalWimp constantly receiving humiliating beatings]].

** Count Vertigo, instead of being a guy who makes people dizzy, is a power-hungry despot trying to kill the queen of his country who's more of TheChessmaster than anything else. His superpowers are more an afterthought.

*** Arcee, who in her G1 cartoon incarnation is presented as just TheChick, here is presented as a badass ActionGirl.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheWackyAdventuresOfRonaldMcdonald'': Birdie the Early Bird comes off as more impressive than her depiction in the standard Advertising/McDonaldland advertisements, as her well-documented tendecy to have difficulty landing properly after flying isn't brought up and she is shown to take karate lessons in "Visitors from Outer Space", her skill being to the extent that she is easily able to take out her teacher and the rest of the class.

* ''WesternAnimation/XMenThAnimatedSeries'':

* ''WesternAnimation/XMen'':

** Aphrodite Goddess of Love, Dionysus God of Wine and Demeter Goddess of Harvest - traditionally non-combative Gods - are shown fighting and kicking ass alongside the rest of Pantheon.
** The Giants get this as well, in the ancient myths they are strong and enemies of the Gods but are still much less mighty than the Titans. In the show the Giants are almost indestructible and Zeus has to convince two of them to join his side to just to defeat the others. One giant in particular Porphyrion, is best known [[MarsNeedsWomen for trying to rape Hera]] and getting killed with a simple arrow courtesy of Heracles. In the show Porphyrion overpowers both Zeus and Hera [[spoiler: and even survives Zeus’s TakingYouWithMe self-destruction]]. It’s likely the showrunners [[CompositeCharacter combined]] Porphyrion with another monster Typhon who did give Zeus a genuine fight and had snakes on his shoulders similar to the Porphyrion seen in ''Blood of Zeus''.

* Thing from ''WesternAnimation/FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe_cdXm2uUI is so goddamn strong]] the laws of physics mean '''nothing''' to him.

** Goddess Hera gets this. In Myth/ClassicalMythology she’s much more of a schemer than a fighter using tricks (both physical [[MindRape and mental]]) and traps to hurt those she despises -- mainly the women her husband Zeus ([[DoubleStandardRapeDivineOnMortal unwillingly]]) got pregnant with his SemiDivine children. Famously one of said children, Heracles had to step in [[SaveTheVillain and save Hera]] from Porphyrion, earning her gratitude. In ''Blood of Zeus'', conversely, Hera is incredibly powerful, and even Zeus, Poseidon, and other gods fear her wrath, and rightly so as in the FinalBattle she can equal Zeus in a battle with MindOverMatter powers and nearly kills him with a stab to the neck.

** Goddess Hera gets this. In Myth/ClassicalMythology she’s much more of a schemer than a fighter using tricks (both physical [[MindRape and mental]]) and traps to hurt those she despises -- mainly the women her husband Zeus ([[DoubleStandardRapeDivineOnMortal unwillingly]]) got pregnant with his SemiDivine children. Famously one of said children, Hercules, had to step in [[SaveTheVillain and save Hera]] from Porphyrion, earning her gratitude. In ''Blood of Zeus'', conversely, Hera is incredibly powerful, and even Zeus, Poseidon, and other gods fear her wrath, and rightly so as in the FinalBattle she can equal Zeus in a battle with MindOverMatter powers and nearly kills him with a stab to the neck.

** The Giants get this as well, in the ancient myths they are strong and enemies of the Gods but are still much less mighty than the Titans. In the show the Giants are almost indestructible and Zeus has to convince two of them to join his side to just to defeat the others. One giant in particular Porphyrion, is best known [[MarsNeedsWomen for trying to rape Hera]] and getting killed with a simple arrow courtesy of Hercules. In the show Porphyrion overpowers both Zeus and Hera [[spoiler: and even survives Zeus’s TakingYouWithMe self-destruction]]. It’s likely the showrunners [[CompositeCharacter combined]] Porphyrion with another monster Typhon who did give Zeus a genuine fight and had snakes on his shoulders similar to the Porphyrion seen in ''Blood of Zeus''.

** Goddess Hera gets this. In Myth/ClassicalMythology she’s much more of a schemer than a fighter using tricks (both physical [[MindRape and mental]]) and traps to hurt those she despises -- mainly the women her husband Zeus ([[DoubleStandardRapeDivineOnMortal unwilling]]) got pregnant with his SemiDivine children. Famously one of said children Hercules had to step in [[SaveTheVillain and save Hera]] from Porphyrion, earning her gratitude. In ''Blood of Zeus'' conversely Hera is incredibly powerful, even Zeus, Poseidon and other gods fear her wrath and righty so as in the FinalBattle she can equal Zeus in a battle with MindOverMatter powers and nearly kills him with a stab to the neck.
** Ares the God of War once again gets this, in classic myths he’s depicted as a DirtyCoward and BoisterousWeakling who got his ass beat on a regular basis (mainly due to his unpopularity among ancient Greeks). In ''Blood of Zeus'' Ares is a stoically badass God who overpowers his brothers Hermes and Apollo in a two on one fight ''twice'', almost killing Apollo in a later fight.
** Hermes the Messenger God despite his SuperSpeed rarely engaged in physical confrontations in the myths and when he did fight he mainly used [[TricksterGod tricks]] like putting the 100-eyed monster Argus to asleep before taking out his eyes. In ''Blood of Zeus'' he’s more akin to ComicBook/TheFlash as he fights with his speed and can even make tornadoes by clapping his hands.
** Aphrodite Goddess of Love, Dionysus God of Wine and Demeter Goddess of Harvest traditionally non-combative Gods are shown fighting and kicking ass alongside the rest of Pantheon.

** ComicBook/KlarionTheWitchBoy also gets in this boat as well. Yes he's taken over Etrigan in ''WesternAnimation/TheNewBatmanAdventures'' and was Dr. Fate's arch nemesis in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', but here? He's able to overpower three of the most powerful mages of DC (Zatanna, Constantine and DR. FATE) and temporarily GET the Helmet of Fate!

* Gmork in ''Literature/TheNeverendingStory'' and [[Film/TheNeverendingStory it's film adapatation]] was, whilst a fearsome monster, ultimately just a brute. In ''WesternAnimation/TheNeverendingStoryTheAnimatedAdventuresOfBastianBalthazarBux'', he is the DimensionLord of the Nothing; the sapient manifestation of its endless hunger.

** [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] with Shadow Weaver. In the original series, as Light Spinner, she was a mediocre sorceress who sold out Mystacor to the Horde in exchange for greater magical power. Here, she was Castaspella's predecessor as leader of Mystacor, meaning that she was already quite powerful, but sold out her people anyway.

** ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'':
*** Doctor Robotnik. In the original games, he was a silly and childish, yet competent and effective MadScientist. Here he's a downright scary DiabolicalMastermind.
** ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'':
*** Shadow. He's already a strong character in the original games, being about evenly matched with Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles. Here however... He chains Chaos Spears and Chaos Blasts together, not even bothering to wait more than a few seconds between attacks, is still just as fast, uses TeleportSpam even ''more'' than his original self (without any Chaos Emeralds), and does a variant of the move he does in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' to take out an army of Mephiles clones -- Only this time, he doesn't even need to remove his [[PowerLimiter Inhibitor rings]]. He's easily able to fight Sonic, Tails and Knuckles at the same time.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''

* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'':
** Mumm-Ra of ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011''. His original '80s incarnation has nostalgic charm, but was incredibly inept given his power level. He's ''never'' proactive in his weak ShapeshifterDefaultForm, playing OrcusOnHisThrone. His [[OneWingedAngel Ever-Living form]] alternately has a WeaksauceWeakness to his own reflection or suffers from VillainDecay. 2011 Mumm-Ra's first acts onscreen, as a frail SquishyWizard, are to use his MasterOfIllusion powers to commit full-blown ''regicide'', [[BadassBoast boast]] of how nightmarish he is, make a BigEntrance ''WreathedInFlames'', spout a PreAsskickingOneLiner and promptly ''[[OneHitKill slaughter]]'' nearly the full complement of the dead monarch's PraetorianGuard with a KamehameHadouken. ''That's '''without''' powering up.'' When he ''does'' assume his Ever-Living form, it's even more powerful than in the original, and on top of the raw power he gains [[BatOutOfHell wings allowing him to fly]] and [[{{BFS}} a freaking huge sword]] and shield. He uses this form with the same dangerous competence that was seen in his initial appearance, and it's a desperate struggle by the entire team of heroes just to ''survive''.

* ''WesternAnimation/MegaMan'':

** ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan''

*** In the comics, Arcade was pretty much synonymous with failure, especially in the aftermath of [[ComicBook/AvengersArena Avengers Arena]]. In this show, however, he's [[{{Technopath}} a mutant with the ability to control anything electronic]], engineers a series of simulations that would have likely ''killed'' Wolverine and Captain America if [[SpannerInTheWorks Spidey wasn't around]], and was literally [[NearVillainVictory ONE digit away]] from cracking the launch codes and starting WorldWarIII. '''For the hell of it'''. Wow.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/WabbitALooneyTunesProduction New Looney Tunes]]'': Sniffles the Mouse has a [[BatmanParody Batman-esque]] AlterEgo in this show called [=DarkBat=], which gives him fighting skills, {{Flight}}, SuperStrength and even a [[BadassBaritone deeper voice]].

** In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', this happens to pretty much ''everypony'' sharing their name with a previous-gen pony. [[LightningBruiser Rainbow Dash]] and [[BadassNormal Applejack]] are near-unrecognizable compared to [[TheFashionista G3 Rainbow Dash]] and [[TheKlutz G1 Applejack]] -- the former goes from basically having [[TheFashionista FIM Rarity's exact personality, dahling,]] to being much more athletic and competitive, and does things like demolishing an old barn by flying into it at SuperSpeed causing a ''rainbow-colored mushroom cloud'', while the latter goes from having a whole song about how she's a silly pony, to pretty much becoming TheBigGuy of the series, being a tomboyish cowgirl. Sweet Apple Acres' apple harvesting method is basically "Applejack kicks the tree so hard that all the apples fall at once while everyone else runs around with buckets." Pinkie Pie goes from being vaguely similar to her G4 self, but very bland (like most G3 characters) to being awesome. Rarity goes from a naive child to a competent and experienced fashion designer who is not much for action but can still kick some flank when the situation calls for it. G3 Fluttershy was a photographer (her name is a pun on "shutterfly"), and G4 Fluttershy may be a ShrinkingViolet, but she has proven capable of feats like shaming [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]] into submission, overpowering a [[BasiliskAndCockatrice cockatrice's]] EvilEye, ''while it was turning her to stone'', standing up to a MadGod and eventually befriending him, and [[BewareTheNiceOnes flying into a rage like you wouldn't believe]].

** In the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 original cartoon]], the Rat King is a man who had a connection with rats with speaking to them, but he usually left the fighting to his partner Leatherhead and was quite cowardly. In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'', he gains PsychicPowers and becomes a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds as Dr. Victor Falco, being able to easily telegraph the Turtles' moves in combat and having a mind link to the rats, manipulating Splinter on a much higher level than he did in the 1987 cartoon. It forces the Turtles to "fight without thinking" on their first encounter (something difficult for resident SmartGuy Donatello).

%% This page's examples section is sorted alphabetically. It would be lovely if you'd maintain this, thanks!

** Goddess Hera gets this. In Myth/ClassicalMythology she’s much more of a schemer than a fighter using tricks (both physical [[MindRape and mental]]) and traps to hurt those she despises — mainly the women her husband Zeus ([[DoubleStandardRapeDivineOnMortal unwilling]]) got pregnant with his SemiDivine children. Famously one of said children Hercules had to step in [[SaveTheVillain and save Hera]] from Porphyrion, earning her gratitude. In ''Blood of Zeus'' conversely Hera is incredibly powerful, even Zeus, Poseidon and other gods fear her wrath and righty so as in the FinalBattle she can equal Zeus in a battle with MindOverMatter powers and nearly kills him with a stab to the neck.

** Isaac gets a good dose of this in the show. In ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCurseOfDarkness'' he's a despicable SmugSnake who relies on trickery and his Forgemaster powers and gets his ass handed to him by Hector who's always been better than him. In the show on the other hand Isaac is a OneManArmy with his knife [[MultiMeleeMaster and other weapons]], easily more powerful than Hector (who's largely a NonActionGuy in this version) and takes down [[BodyOfBodies Legion]] all by himself. [[spoiler: In Season 4 he defeats the aforementioned Carmilla and brings down her empire with only minor difficulty.]]

** Donald Duck himself -- while still very much a ButtMonkey like in the classic cartoons-- borrows far more from his comic counterpart who is an iron-willed {{Determinator}} of the highest order. Webby even refers to him without a hint of irony as "[[RetiredBadass one of the most daring adventurers of all time]]", a reputation that he more than lives up to.
** Also on the villains side: previous versions of Magica De Spell were originally reliant on magical artifacts to cover the fact that her own magic was rather weak. This version is Scrooge's ArchEnemy, and has ''incredibly'' powerful [[CastingAShadow shadow magic]] that warranted Scrooge [[SealedEvilInACan sealing her away]] fifteen years ago. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] when the Season One finale reveals she ''still'' relies on magical artifacts for her power: once Donald breaks her magic staff, she's reduced to much the same level of power she had in past versions]].

** In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', this happens to pretty much ''everypony'' sharing their name with a previous-gen pony. [[LightningBruiser Rainbow Dash]] and [[BadassNormal Applejack]] are near-unrecognizable compared to [[TheFashionista G3 Rainbow Dash]] and [[TheKlutz G1 Applejack]] - the former goes from basically having [[TheFashionista FIM Rarity's exact personality, dahling,]] to being much more athletic and competitive, and does things like demolishing an old barn by flying into it at SuperSpeed causing a ''rainbow-colored mushroom cloud'', while the latter goes from having a whole song about how she's a silly pony, to pretty much becoming TheBigGuy of the series, being a tomboyish cowgirl. Sweet Apple Acres' apple harvesting method is basically "Applejack kicks the tree so hard that all the apples fall at once while everyone else runs around with buckets." Pinkie Pie goes from being vaguely similar to her G4 self, but very bland (like most G3 characters) to being awesome. Rarity goes from a naive child to a competent and experienced fashion designer who is not much for action but can still kick some flank when the situation calls for it. G3 Fluttershy was a photographer (her name is a pun on "shutterfly"), and G4 Fluttershy may be a ShrinkingViolet, but she has proven capable of feats like shaming [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]] into submission, overpowering a [[BasiliskAndCockatrice cockatrice's]] EvilEye, ''while it was turning her to stone'', standing up to a MadGod and eventually befriending him, and [[BewareTheNiceOnes flying into a rage like you wouldn't believe]].
** The original Tirac was no pushover by a long shot, in the original VileVillainSaccharineShow, but his main threat was being the wielder of the [[ArtifactOfDoom Rainbow of Darkness]] and having an army whom he mutated with it at his command. [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E25TwilightsKingdomPart1 Lord]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 Tirek]]? He has no army nor Rainbow of Darkness, and is still such a massive threat that sending ''Discord'' after him is considered [[GodzillaThreshold the best means of defeating him]]. Somewhat played with, though -- he starts out far weaker than Tirac due to his imprisonment, and Discord was sent out because his abilities let him sense Tirek's magic and track him down effortlessly. It's only after he drains enough ponies that he becomes a real threat. But once he gets going, there's no stopping him - he is able to duel Twilight Sparkle (who is wielding the power of '''four''' [[PhysicalGod alicorns]]) to a standstill, and that's not even the highest power level he reaches in the episode. Celestia has all but stated that Tirek could potentially become virtually unbeatable in Equestria.

** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooLegendofThePhantosaur'' gloriously gives Shaggy Rogers this treatment as thanks to [[HypnoFool hypnotism]] he gets NervesOfSteel leading to the LovableCoward becoming so badass [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI31tqN-_Eg he curb stomps an entire biker gang]], races the biker leader and fights the titular supernatural T-Rex. This depiction of Shaggy helped transform him into a MemeticBadass on the internet.

*** The Sandman took the ability to add the sand around him to himself to its logical conclusion. You know why that island you're on isn't on any map but SHIELD's, with a "seriously don't go there, for reals" warning? [[spoiler:Every single bit of soil on the island ''is him'', making it a GeniusLoci that ''doesn't like you.'']] Taking the smallest bit of him - oh, like the dirt on your clothes after you ''think'' you're done fighting him - back to the mainland would be ''bad.'' Using no powers he doesn't have in other continuities, just being smarter about how he used them and having a reason to be ''really'' pissed, it was ''very'' nearly "arrivederci, North America."

* ''Everyone'' in Genndy Tartakovsky's ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'' got a huge boost to their power level and competence. The most spectacular cases being General Grievous and Mace Windu. The former went from a SmugSnake whose [[HeroKiller Jedi killer]] status is [[InformedAbility never lived up to on screen]] to a bona fide {{no nonsense nemesis}} that, on more than one occasion, took on ''several jedi at once'' and won, while the latter -- already one of the most badass jedi ever -- is seen slaughtering a droid army with his ''bare hands''. Indeed, the spectacular destruction committed by the cast is so at odds with most ''Star Wars'' "canon" that it's a widely accepted {{Wild Mass Guess|ing}} the series is in-universe propaganda.

** Killer Moth. In the comics, he's the most ineffectual of the {{Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain}}s with a completely ridiculous costume that looks like it was put together by a colorblind six-year-old. Here, he's a half-man, half-moth hybrid with an army of genetically modified bugs at his command.

*** This series's version of Megatron is this writ large - he went from being able to just barely match Optimus in combat to being able to outclass a team of Autobots plus Optimus put together (with an arm missing). He's also much less willing to retreat, and usually wins (or at least concludes the episode on favorable terms) whenever he heads out personally. If that wasn't enough, he's also [[GeniusBruiser quite intelligent.]]

** This show took the incredibly lame and gimmicky Sportsmaster and turned him into a BadassNormal mercenary who has a keen enough eye to spot Miss Martian while [[VisibleInvisibility she's invisible]] and [[ImprobableAimingSkills throw a javelin that would have impaled her if she hadn't moved at the last second]]. [[CrazyPrepared Even then it still exploded and sent her flying]]. And in season two, Sportsmaster shows that he can hold his own against Black Manta and ''Deathstroke''.

** The BigBad of season 2, the Reach are vastly more powerful than their comics counterparts. In the comics they are a weak military force using subterfuge and trickery to take Earth in a century, with an enforcer who could be beaten by a single hero. Here they are a full fleet of warships, and the Black Beetle took out Mongol in single combat. And according to Impulse's future, it only takes them a couple decades to conquer Earth.

** [[ALoadOfBull The Minotaur]] in the games is just a mild pain to deal with at 92 HP, but in the show the Minotaur has the ability to grow in size and briefly gives Trevor a hard time.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':

* ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes''
** The cartoon upgrades Ron-Karr, who in [[ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} the comics]] merely has the power to [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway make himself flat]]. In the cartoon he's a [[ShapeShifting Shape Shifter]] and EvilCounterpart to Chameleon Boy (until [[spoiler:his HeelFaceTurn]]).

** In the comics, Shrinking Ray regularly [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway bemoaned the uselessness of his shrinking ability]]. Here, [[GenderFlip Rae]] gets to demonstrate [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower just how useful shrinking can be]] from her introduction by taking down a larger and stronger opponent by attacking their brain, and later on using it to put a villain in a ''very'' tight chokehold.

%% *** Played straight with the tiny squirrel, rabbit, and walrus Sonic freed from the games, known here as [[ActionGirl Princess Sally]] [[BadassNormal Acorn]], [[{{Cyborg}} Bunnie]] [[RubberMan Rabbot]], and [[StoutStrength Rotor]].