History Characters / RunningManAnimatedSeries

[[caption-width-right:350:Looks like [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda Tigress]] founds a new rival]]

* [[spoiler: TheMole: Gai was acquainted by Charming Gold himself. His codename is "Man X".]]

* BreakTheCutie: Witnessing his friend's [[spoilers: deaths, especially Lonky's, made him wish what he saw was a dream. This causes Popo to use his Time Card at the cost of his age when Ulcus is about to kill him and Liu]].

* BareYourMidriff: Her suit doesn't cover her skin much in the middle.

* SpyCatsuit: No pun intended; but her attire consisted of a black top that [[BareYourMidriff exposes the middle part of her body]], cycling that has her scanner attached to it, and black thigh-high boots.

* ArmorPiercingSlap: He received this from his supposedly dead [[spoiler: sister]]. This rendered him temporarily immobile for a few seconds from the shock. Even his teammates were surprised by that.

* MainliningTheMonster: In order for the [[spoiler: Running Man team to lose the game and keep the Soul Tree to himself, he released the D.V 7. The said team who were once the champions of the different tribes got brainwashed by Dr. Mala and his Amplifier drug]].

He is the show's leader as he possesses intelligence when winning a game whether if it's a team or a solo game as well as creating inventions from the pieces he could find. Liu also has a [[CompanionCube robot companion]] named 'Mr. Suitcase' (from the Cartoon Network English Dub) that stores his weapon, the Drill-Gun.

* TenMinuteRetirement: It took one episode to get him back after his encounter with [[spoiler: Sean]].

* AttackItsWeakPoint: With the help from [[spoiler: Sean and Makhan]], he is able to destroy the core that [[spoiler: powered Charming Gold's robot that is located from its midsection]].

* AudibleGleam: His glasses has this sound from the first two trailers.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He's the leader, TheSmartGuy, and knows how to use long ranged weapons.

* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Most of his plans were illustrated as this. This also shows in Team Change that his field vision before shooting [[spoiler: Pala's cane]] becomes a ''reticle''.

* AwfulTruth: He knows what happened to the Bug Tribe's champion because he is [[spoiler: the champion's ''younger brother''. His older sister died from an explosion that causes him to become her replacement even though he is the tribe's second place]]. The look on his face when confessing it shows that he's still grieving. This worsens when it revealed that [[spoiler: she's actually alive]].

* BadassFamily: He and Sean are the second place and champion of their tribe.

** He used a laser gun to distract Miyo and Kuga (because of their feline traits)
** Used gravity to his Bounce Takjji's advantage
** Tagged Kuga out while the rest were distracted, while taking the 'advice' from Lonky and Popo
** Lead his teammates to victory by working together, the enemy team's weakness

* BerserkButton: While he does had some moments, the [[spoiler: destruction of Mr. Suitcase made him shoot D.V 1 in rage until her face was shown]].

* [[BigBrotherWorship Big Sister Worship]]: Both he and Sean got along, the younger was happy when she created Mr. Suitcase.

* BlackAndGrayMorality: There are times where he lied or just (politely) discarded a team member even though he's a good guy. This bites him when [[spoiler: Pala betrayed Liu and teams up with Popo and Lonky over a tripped wire]].

* BreakTheMotivationalSpeaker: He joined the game because of his sister, and then he bonded with the rest of the characters. But when Liu [[spoiler: saw her alive, he was broken that he became distant and quiet. Popo and the others had to be the ones in bring him back to his optimistic self]].

A 16-year old trained warrior tiger who punches everything he sees in order to win. Kuga wanted to test his own power by joining the competition. While his tough exterior makes him intimidating towards his opponents in the game, he's really a gentle giant.

* BareFistedMonk: He is much skilled in close ranged combat and can use his Super Paw to increase its power.

* BigBrotherInstinct: The other Running Man competitor, Liu, considered his friends as a family including Kuga. Kuga is convinced [[spoiler: to save Gai when Liu said this]] and he is often partnered up with the latter. When Kuga didn't let his anger get the best of him against [[spoiler: D.V 2]], Liu ran and actually hugged Kuga (even though he wanted to shake Liu off). Evidenced by the other scenes with these two, this could mean that Liu looked up to him as a brother.

* CharacterDevelopment: Kuga appears to be a player who has a belief that there is only one winner in the game. And while he's still clever, he doesn't have a clear strategic plan that he and Liu sometimes clashed. However, his fight with [[spoiler: the Kuphaman]] makes him open up to Liu and cooperates to his plan.

* DumbMuscle: Though he's not that stupid, he relies more in going physical instead of making a plan to win. [[spoiler: Dr. Mala mocked him with this, which the D.V 7 member got taken out in the match as payback]].

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: From the teaser trailer itself, it shows that Kuga pushed the others away and was able to rip Liu's tag. Then lands on his feet and made a pose while confetti and camera flashes in the scene...only to have his tag taken out by Lonky. The same thing happened in the first episode when he plugs Lonky's flag without any awareness that his flag got switched.

* IWillOnlySlowYouDown: Played for laughs in the [[spoiler: Pyramid Pursuit Game]] when he told Gai to proceed without him [[spoiler: after failing to get across the pit]]. The laughs part was when Kuga thought the shredder pit is stopped completely, only to see that it's working again.

* TheLancer: Kuga is the most feared competitor like his human counterpart. However, Kuga cared more for winning alone and doesn't interact with the others at first. His fighting style is mostly based on martial arts and 'hitting things harder' as opposed to Liu's careful planning.

* LimitBreak: He knew that his opponent, [[ThePsychoRangers D.V 2]], used a move called ''The Super Paw''. An attack that increases the power of the shockwave by opening the user's palms and blasts it towards the target,[[spoiler: this is known for making a four-toed paw print like crater]].

* ShockwaveStomp: More like 'Shockwave Punch'. Kuga's true ability is to make shockwaves from his palms, he uses it to make his attack stronger as well as destroying barriers.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: To Lonky in the Bell Hunter game. Here's an explanation; [[spoiler: because of the fear of getting tagged out, Lonky offers himself to Kuga in getting the other members to trust him so Kuga and tag them out as well as getting the additional marbles from them. However, Kuga knows and tagged Lonky out. Mostly because Kuga wants to be the sole winner and not some traitor who took the easy way out]].

The 15-year old so-called 'Giraf Prince' who is currently on the 49th rank of his own tribe. Therefore, he competes in order to become king. Similar to his Expy, Lonky has the tendency to become allies with his teammates only to [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder backstab]] them in return.

Lonky has the ability to stretch his arms and neck. In which, he and the others can use the RubberMan limbs to either restrain an opponent or grab hard to reach objects.

* BigBrotherInstinct: He saved Popo in the Zone Battle, only for him to [[spoiler: get his tag taken off by D.V 4]]. And in the finale, he became the one who took care of Popo right [[spoiler: after the later turned into a baby from his magic]].

* CharacterDevelopment: Lonky betrays his competitors in order to win a match. Lonky then learns his lesson in [[spoiler: the Pyramid Pursuit game]] when he's teamed up with Popo and Pala in which they seek to survive after getting injured from the obstacles. Gai's HeroicSacrifice has given Lonky in showing gratitude to his fellow competitors. It's shown that he is willing to fight for them even if he still has the RoyalBrat attitude in [[spoiler: the Zone Battle when he saved Popo]].

* InnocentlyInsensitive: His way of talking can sometimes tick the characters, mostly by Kuga.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He's marked as a traitor by some of the members, but he still has some hints when he cared for someone's well being. One of his moments was when [[spoiler: Liu collapsed after he succumbs the gas he and Miyo inhaled from the last obstacle the two crossed]].

* ManipulativeBastard: Lonky first makes himself an ally especially when making a deal to his 'teammate'. But afterward, he discards them. It adds to the insult that he acts all positive while monologues about teamwork.

* SatchelSwitcheroo: While being subdued by Kuga, Lonky switched the flags. This made Kuga plugging Lonky's flag without knowing.

16 years old. She was chosen from the Nyanya tribe to compete in the Running Man championship and the only female contender. With the physique based on a cat, Miyo is applicable in stealth and agility with grace. She is equipped with a grappling hook, a scanner on her belt buckle, and a flash drive used for hacking. Her attire is identical for someone who belonged to a spy agency, which is justified as she entered only for a mission given by her superiors.

* CombatStilettos: She wears boots that reaches to her thighs, and there are heels at the bottom that are possibly three inches. Despite that, she can still run and fight without any difficulty.

* DefrostingIceQueen: At the beginning of the show, Miyo is distant towards her teammates because she's too focused on her mission. But she warms up with the help of Gai [[spoiler: who saved him from his brainwashing in return]].

* DifficultButAwesome: Miyo's primary power is to dive into her targets memory. However, doing so will lead her to be vulnerable towards her opponents [[note]]not only she is standing still while scanning memories, the target might escape and use her motionless state as an advantage to take her out.[[/note]] So she has to have someone to cover her while performing this.

* ExoticEyeDesigns: Miyo's eyes, whenever she's about to enter someone's memory, resembled an alchemy circle with three to four layers of them and four more smaller circles placed outside of the bigger circle.

* GrapplingHookPistol: Grappling hook ''pen'', which is her primary weapon. The pen may be small in size and it fits to her BodyPocket, but it's long enough in [[spoiler: reaching Charming Gold's tower]].

** In a rather inverted and ironic way, Ji Hyo attacks Jung Kook by pulling his hair in the original series. An in the animation, Miyo scanned Kuga's memories from behind in the Bell Hunter Game. The irony part was when she didn't bother to fight Kuga in the next episodes because of this.

* PressurePoint: When reaching a person's memory, Miyo curls her hands into a fist and started applying pressure to the person's back. Once there's enough force, magical symbols started to form on her eyes. This proceeds with the camera zoom as she literally dives into the person's memory.

* ShipTease: Miyo is Ji Hyo's Expy. Which means she's also in love with Gary's AnimalMotif at some point.

* SpyCatsuit: No pun intended; but her attire consisted of a black top that [[BareYourMidriff exposes her middle part of her body]], a cycling that has her scanner attached to it, and black thigh high boots.

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Of the kid-friendly kind. Even though she wears a two piece SpyCatsuit, her private parts were not exposed.

The 15-year old Peng tribe resident who wanted to do anything to win the competition [[GoldFever just to get fame and fortune]]. Throughout the show, he is mostly seen with Lonky. They do have the same interests, but they sometimes clash when things didn't come as well as planned. Whenever he got caught in a dilemma unintentionally, Popo's eyes became large and it sparkles in hopes of not getting tagged out in a match.

He has a belief when it comes to fortunes and Popo's tarot cards are based on the elements such as fire, lightning, and ice. There are times where they worked and there are times where it doesn't.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Popo's tarot cards have different power whenever he conjures an element. But every time he uses it, the tarot cards either falls or the energy wasn't enough as an attack or a defense move. His small stature is also a disadvantage because the other members run faster than him in the Opening Game.
** And even if he was able to do it right, [[spoiler: his age went backwards until he becomes a baby]].

* HeroicSacrifice: In the [[spoiler: final episode. Popo used his Time card to go back to where Pala is about to insert the fake artifact. As a result, he aged backwards into a baby. He did grows up in the second season]].

* HitMeDammit: In the Team Change Battle, he begged Miyo and Gai to be in their team. He did the same thing to Lonky after [[spoiler: the Giraf tribe player became part of the blue team led by Kuga]].

* MagicAIsMagicA: The Peng tribe are magicians using only tarot cards and it seems to be the only source of power when attacking; [[spoiler: if it work that is]]. And according to Popo's profile, his tribe is a modern city with magic as one of the tribe's culture.

* PuppyDogEyes: He uses this a lot such as when Kuga is about to use him as a bowling ball or other situations that got him into big trouble.

* RapidAging: [[spoiler: Inverted. Instead of aging older, Popo aged backwards into a baby. In season 2, he aged normally again. He mentioned that using his magic would make him 'shorter']].

* ThoseTwoGuys: With Lonky, most of the Running Man contenders are not amused from their antics.

Gai is 16 years old and is from the Mong tribe who has the history of the residents becoming slaves from the war. His tribe breaks out of their isolation and the leader made him a contestant. Their reason was to get the FamilyHonor back that was once lost from them because of their past.

He is the {{Ninja}} of the seven. Gai’s main ability is creating four until eight clones of himself, and he can sometimes teleport from one place to another.

[[spoiler: However in TheReveal, Gai works under Charming Gold. Giving him the name of ''Man X'' and was brainwashed against the Running Man. Miyo was able to save him at the end of Episode 35.]]

* AlreadyDoneForYou: Not just for [[spoiler: Charming Gold]], but to his friends [[spoiler: who suffered long enough in the Pyramid Pursuit and sacrificing his win to Popo, Lonky, and Pala as he disables all the traps that he controlled]].

* OurClonesAreIdentical: Gai's clones have similar forms, but different hair color. Still, it's one of his ninja moves. [[spoiler: That's until it was revealed in Episode 23, his three 'colored' clones are actually his siblings that he took care of during the competition. He hid them in the secret compartment in his dorm room. Which means if his siblings are added to the roster, the total number of players would be ten]].

* TakeThisJobAndShoveIt: It wasn't his [[spoiler: choice to be a spy. He wanted to help his people after their history of being slaves before]]. Episode 27 is the time where [[spoiler: he reaches his breaking point and quit his role]]. And based on the episode after that, it didn't end up well for Gai at all.

Joining against his will, 38-year old Pala became the representative of the Empa tribe. He first appeared as the only competitor who fell asleep at the beginning of the opening game, only to wake up and catch up with the others.

* BewareTheSillyOnes: Do not underestimate Pala. He can still win a match without having the attention from the others.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Before the Team Change Battle begins, Pala appeared to be tired and distant to his teammates. As well as his cane is ominously covered like he's hiding something from the six to the point that he doesn't participate in the match. [[spoiler: It revealed that the red crystal Pala picked up had an ominous presence and possessed him, the two teams had to work together and save him]].

* ButtMonkey: The poor impala had it worse than Lonky himself. He's one of the people to get knocked out the most, the announcer and the audience doesn't seem to be excited to see him in battle, and when he gets the [[DayInTheLimelight chance to win and is proud of it]], the show discarded him. [[BreakingTheFourthWall Literally]]. In a meta way, his profile and bio didn't appear in the [[https://www.cartoonnetworkasia.com/show/running-man Cartoon Network Asia website]]. The guy couldn't catch a break.

* {{Determinator}}: Liu concludes this that despite Pala is the weakest in the team, his potions can make him back on his feet no matter how many times he gets hurt.

* InnocentlyInsensitive: In the aftermath of the Zone Battle, he asked the upset Liu about [[spoiler: his sister being a D.V 7]]. This resulted him from getting thrown away by Kuga.

* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: When he is the next player in the Battle for the Highgrounds game, the audience went silent and gave him a DisapprovingLook. Even the announcer isn't that enthusiastic by the time Pala emerged in the game platform.

* NerdGlasses: Pala is an alchemist and wears black rimmed square glasses.

* TakeThatAudience: When he won the Hammer Bingo Game, he boasts against the audience who doubted him in the series. Unfortunately, his speech didn't last long because of the screen blacks out.

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ; Daniel J. Edwards (English)

* AMistakeIsBorn: His parents questioned themselves on how their son having [[spoiler: the face of a monster]].

* BullyingADragon: Years before the Running Man was created, [[spoiler: Charming Gold was ostracized by his kin because of his ugliness and was mocked as a 'Monster'. His parents thought that he's been cursed by the Gods, they might have treat him [[ParentalAbandonment negatively]]. Charming then discovered his powers right after he sucked the lifeforce of the person who bullied him, this power rejuvenates his beauty and looked more young. He had the resolve to extract all of the lifeforce of the Pikok Tribe, killing everyone until he's the last of his kind]].

* TheChessmaster: Charming Gold kept an eye on the contestants and used the game to his advantage. [[spoiler: This became the method on finding who are capable of being part of the D.V 7 team]].

* MadnessMantra: His announcement speech keeps on reverting "Goodbye" over and over. It didn't help when behind him is just a plain purple background with an eerie lighting.

* MainliningTheMonster: In order for the [[spoiler: Running Man team to lose the game and keeping the Soul Tree to himself, he released the D.V 7. The said team who were once the champions of the different tribes that got brainwashed by Dr. Mala and his Amplifier drug]].

* MilkingTheMonster: He has the [[spoiler: D.V 7 as backup when Gai quits being the mole. Of course, the D.V 7 became the main attraction in the Running Man competition so the protagonists won't win the game]].

[[WMG: [[spoiler: Sean]] ]]

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ; (English)

She first appeared in the aftermath of the Team Change Battle as one of [[spoiler: Charming Gold's evil henchmen]]. She is mostly known for wearing a black attire along with a veil and a mask that covers her true face. Whenever D.V 1 is present, Mr. Suitcase emerged from Liu's belt and started to chase her much to its owner's dismay.

In Episode [[spoiler: 35, Liu discovered that D.V 1 is actually his older sister named Sean. But because she was brainwashed, she hurt Liu and left him afterwards when she retrieved Gai's mask]].

Liu told everyone [[spoiler: that Sean was supposed to be dead right after he witnessed a red gas explosion inside her room leaving her final invention, Mr. Suitcase, to Liu. Lonky realized that he took her place for this exact reason]].

[[spoiler: Sean had a one on one battle with her younger brother and she was subdued]].

* TheAce: She is the Bug Tribe's famous inventor. [[spoiler: Charming Gold kidnapped her for this reason, making Liu as a replacement in the game]].

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ; (English)

* TheAce: He was the famous warrior of the Bars Tribe but ended up getting exiled because of his attitude. When he wanders in the forest, [[spoiler: Charming Gold's minions attempted to kidnap him. While Makhan was able to hold off, he was still captured]].

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ; (English)

* GroinAttack: After taunting Kuga, [[the Running Man competitor punched Alto in the groin]].

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ;(English)

* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: As part of Liu's plan, the remaining Running Man team worked together to defeat her, Alto, Spin, and [[spoiler: Gai]]. Most of the D.V 7 worked alone, this became their downfall in Zone Battle game.

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ; Matthew Shaw (English)

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ; (English)

* BrattyHalfPint: During his [[spoiler: brainwashing]], he was much rude than Popo that he threw the latter when the former was called little.

--> '''Tribe:''' Empa (Impala)

--> '''Voiced by:''' (Korean) ; (English)

Dr. Mala is [[spoiler: Charming Gold's secret assistant]] who resembles like Pala from their original tribes. His reason of joining his boss' malicious cause remains unknown.

[[spoiler: Pala was able to recognize Dr. Mala as the banished tribe resident for practicing [[BlackMagic the forbidden magic]] and only joined Charming Gold is because he desires respect. Dr. Mala is the creator of a drug called the "Amplifier" that he injected to the D.V 7 under Charming Gold's control. Aside from having enhanced abilities; the side effects include the loss of self (evidenced by Gai), unbearable pain from taking it too much, and brainwashing]].

* PleaseGetOffMe: When Kuga [[spoiler: took D.V 2's tag off without fighting]], Liu hugged Kuga's paw. Though Kuga tried to pull his paw off, he let Liu cuddle him for a bit.

* DarthVaderClone: Gender-inverted. Wear black? check, wear a mask? Check, is the dragon to the BigBad? Check, is related to the hero? [[spoiler:Check]]

* AdultFear: Inverted. He was left on his own when [[spoiler: Sean was presumed dead]]. The event still grieves him.

* AdultFear: Inverted. She's the one who got kidnapped, leaving her brother behind.

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[[spoiler: In Episode 35, Liu had an untimely reunion with his long-lost sister who became BrainwashedAndCrazy]].

* AttackItsWeakPoint: With the help from [[spoiler: Sean and Makhan]], he is able to destroy the core that [[spoiler: empower's Charming Gold's robot that is located from its midsection]].

** Used gravity to his Takjji's advantage