History Characters / FriendshipIsMagicAnimalCompanions

->''What is life? Is it nothing more than the endless search for a cutie mark? And what is a cutie mark but a constant reminder that we're all only one bugbear attack away from oblivion? And what of the poor gator? Flank forever blank, destined to an existential swim down the river of life to... an unknowable destiny?'' *licks eyeball*

* NeverLiveItDown: His treatment of Fluttershy in "Putting Your Hoof Down" seems to have turned several fans against him, so much so they act like he treats her badly all the time - ignoring the fact that he is usually caring, and supportive towards her.

* TheScrappy: In-universe and out. He's hated by the fans for being an outright {{Jerkass}}, and in "Just for Sidekicks", it's apparent that the other animal companions don't like him either. At one point, it looked like Owlowiscious threatened to EAT Angel if he ever gets out of line.

* WhiteBunny: Duh.

* WhosOnFirst: Due to the fact that he can only say "Hoo", Spike tends to interpret it as "Who", leading to these types of conversations. Twilight also falls for it at the end of the episode.

** Even before that, there was "A Bird in the Hoof", where he tried to explain to Fluttershy that she was running late for Princess Celestia's visit to Ponyville. She didn't ''quite'' get the message, at first.

* DomesticAbuser: His treatment of Fluttershy makes him look like one in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown "Putting Your Hoof Down"]]. In that episode he demands she make him a special meal, slaps her when she refuses, and then kicks her out when its not perfect. [[LaserGuidedKarma He pays for this later...]]

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Usually what he averages out to. He's spoiled and a bit of a jerk to Fluttershy, but in the end he loves her and wants nothing more than to help her.

* {{Tsundere}}: A Type-A male example. He is often abrasive to Fluttershy but he's worse to everyone else, doesn't like being separated from her and, when she needs it, he is sweet and comforting.

* HypocriticalHeartwarming: Angel can be quite mean to Fluttershy, but he will not tolerate anyone ''else'' being mean to her. Perfectly exemplified in "Ponyville Confidential" with the DeathGlare he levels on the Cutie Mark Crusaders, as if to say "Nopony makes her cry but me!"

* IronicName: Most of his behaviour is far from angelic.

* MeaningfulName: Given the "role" he (sometimes) plays in Fluttershy's life (a conscience or "guardian angel"), his name is actually perfectly chosen.

* NonIndicativeName: He is anything ''but'' an angel.

* [[SlapSlapKiss Slap, Slap, Nuzzle]]: She literally does this to Tank in "Just for Sidekicks".
* [[SnarkyNonhumanSidekick Snarky Non-Pony Sidekick]]: To Rarity.

* EmpathyPet: Not to Pinkie, of course, but it has been speculated he's this in a by-proxy sense for Pinkie to her older sister, Maud. For a majority of the series, it seemed that Pinkie had elected to adopt such an emotionless creature either as ironic humor or as a {{Foil}} to contrast to her hyper-bubbly personality, but after the episode "Maud Pie", it makes more sense that she keeps him as a reminder of her stoic sister, who she adores more than anything in the world.

* IntelligibleUnintelligible: Played with. Gummy only blinks and bites, but Pinkie Pie acts like she can understand what he is saying. It becomes apparent that she's merely guessing. Being a fellow reptile, Spike seems to be able to communicate, but Gummy doesn't give any acknowledgement.

* TookALevelInKindness: In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E22HurricaneFluttershy "Hurricane Fluttershy"]] Angel is seen comforting Fluttershy, stroking her mane and [[spoiler:even coaching her with the rest of the critters in her training to fly faster]].

* {{Expy}}:
** ''Possibly'' of Habbit, the silent and snarky rabbit assistant of old man Moochic from G1 as both Habbit and Angel share a lot of traits.
** He's an irritable rabbit saddled with administrative duties like Herriman in ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends''.

* DisembodiedEyebrows: Or Disembodied Whiskers -- his whiskers don't actually touch his body.

* TheLancer: As shown in "A Bird In The Hoof" and "The Ticket Master", he acts like a secretary/nanny for Fluttershy in a ShoutOut to ''Literature/AlicesAdventuresInWonderland''. He also takes on the role of a coach to Fluttershy in "Hurricane Fluttershy" to help her train for the hurricane.

* [[NonHumanSidekick Non-Pony Sidekick]]: To Fluttershy.

* [[TheFriendNobodyLikes The Pet Nobody Likes]]: Even the other animal companions seem to dislike his bad attitude. Receiving a group DeathGlare from the other pets for his bratty behavior is ''one'' thing, but being able to make ''Gummy'', the emotionless alligator, join in on the DeathGlare is another thing entirely.

* TheScrappy: In-universe and out. He's hated by the fans for being an outright {{Jerkass}}, and in "Just for Sidekicks", it's apparent that the other animal companions don't like him either. At one point, it looked like Owlowiscious threatened to EAT Angel if he ever gets out of line.

* CatsHateWater: She's peeved when Rarity soaks her to make her look ill in "Sweet and Élite".

* KillerRabbit: The episode "May The Best Pet Win!" showed that even ''birds of prey'' are afraid of going against her.

* SilentSnarker: In ''Stare Master'', when Sweetie Belle says "Maybe I can be good with animals too," Opal gives her a lopsided manecut and smirks as if to say "lol, u mad?"

* TheChewToy: He goes through a lot in "Just for Sidekicks", and literally becomes this when Winona is seen chewing on him.

-> '''Debut:''' [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E22ABirdInTheHoof "A Bird in the Hoof"]]

-> Voiced by Creator/TabithaStGermain[[note]]according to [[http://efrpresents.everfree.net/2012/07/interview-tabitha-st-germain/ this interview]][[/note]]

* FragileSpeedster: He flies fast in the dragon cave but one touch from the dragon would have splattered him.
* [[NonHumanSidekick Non-Pony Sidekick]]: To Twilight Sparkle. He not only makes a good nighttime study buddy but he can also distract a fully grown dragon and live to tell the tale.

%%* OminousOwl: For Spike...initially. They are better terms after his intro.

->'''Debut:''' [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E7MayTheBestPetWin "May The Best Pet Win!"]]

In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E7MayTheBestPetWin "May The Best Pet Win!"]], Rainbow Dash seeks out a pet to have for her own by holding a contest. While initially unimpressed by a hapless tortoise that Fluttershy insists Rainbow admit as a contestant, Rainbow Dash is won over when he's the only one to stop and help her during the final contest after her wing gets pinned under a huge boulder. As a result, she's inspired to declare the tortoise whom she names "Tank" as the winner and her new pet.

* [[SecondPlaceIsForWinners Last Place Is for Winners]]: He may be the slowest in every competition but he is the most loyal to Rainbow Dash.

* WeHardlyKnewYe: He was introduced in the last scene of “Dragon Quest” and never seen again until he was PutOnABus in “Just for Sidekicks”.

* EmpathyPet: Not to Pinkie, of course, but it has been speculated he's this in a by-proxy sense for Pinkie to her older sister, Maud. For a majority of the series, it seemed that Pinkie had elected to adopt such an emotionless creature either as ironic humor or as a {{Foil}} to contrast to her hyper-bubbly personality, but after the episode "Maud Pie", it makes more sense that she keeps him as a reminder of her stoic sister, who she adore more than anything in the world.

* {{Troll}}: Messes with Fluttershy and Twilight in her debut episode just to frustrate and annoy them.

Return to the character index [[Characters/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic here]].

%% * ThePhoenix

%% * ThePrankster

%% * ToothyBird

%% * TheOwlKnowingOne

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