History DarkIsNotEvil / Film

** In ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'', the emotions thought of as negative may be based on, well, negative emotions (say, anger, sadness, disgust and fear). But they are as important as Joy, [[AnAesop which is the lesson of the story, to be exact.]]

** They are "Men In '''Black'''" but also Earth's "best, last, and only defense against the scum of the universe". Lampshaded in WillSmith's music video.

** Go Go Tomago wears dark, edgy clothing. Did we also mention she's also a member of the ''Disney/BigHero6''?

* This trope [[LightIsNotGood and its reverse]] are essentially the entire plot of Creator/CliveBarker's ''Film/{{Nightbreed}}'' - it's the [[HumansAreBastards humans who all act monstrously]]. Especially the one played by Creator/DavidCronenberg.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime TheLandBeforeTimeVTheMysteriousIsland'', Chomper's parents are carnivores (albeit sentient, reasonable ones).

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheChipmunkAdventure'', [[spoiler: turns out the supposedly [[ObviouslyEvil]] duo and their employer are actually cops.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'' also plays on this trope. The undead are jovial and friendly both to each other and to mortals, while a lot of the mortals themselves are jerks.
** They are also more colorful whereas the mortals appear in what can only be called 'the Tim Burton palette'.

** While not necessarily "good", Xibalba [[EverybodyHatesHades isn't really all that bad either]]. His body is made of black tar, his physiology resembling that of a cross between a skeleton and a [[FallenAngel fallen angel]], his colors primarily [[EvilWearsBlack black]] and [[SicklyGreenGlow green]] with [[RedEyesTakeWarning little red skulls for pupils]]. He rules over the [[CrapsackWorld Land of the Forgotten]], an ash-filled wasteland where the forgotten dead stand around doing nothing but be miserable before crumbling to dust. He cheats in a bet with La Muerte (who, by the way, is also his estranged wife) so that he could rule the Land of the Remembered instead. He cheats, he lies, has little faith in humanity... but again, he's not ''all'' bad. When Manolo wins his challenge, Xibalba begrudgingly admits his respect for him and gives him back his life like he wagered, and even cheers him on in the battle of San Angel against Chakal. The whole time, Xibalba is shown to still love his wife La Muerte, even when she was still angry will him, literally melting by her touch, and by the end [[LoveRedeems he apologizes to her for his transgressions'']], earning back her trust [[TheBigDamnKiss as they kiss, letting loose fireworks]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/MuneTheGuardianOfTheMoon,'' the People of Night are as respected as the People of the Day, and being Guardian of the Moon is as important a job as being the Guardian of the Sun.
* ''WesternAnimation/FireAndIce" - Just because Darkwolf has a [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast terrifying name]] and a darkness motif does not mean he's not good guy material.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' has Tack, a Deliberately Monochrome-skinned person who's the main character.

* In ''Anime/CastleInTheSky'', [[spoiler:the Spell of Destruction, considered a dark spell by the heroine Sheeta's grandmother, is what saves the heroes by destroying the bad guy's base]].

* ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' - Some spirits have shown companionship for Chihiro.
** Kamaji, who's a [[TheMenInBlack spirit in black]].
** No Face, an white-masked creature who causes a few problems, but craves her friendship.
** And Lin, who has a weasel motif.

* The CleverCrows from ''Anime/TheCatReturns.''
* ''Anime/HowlsMovingCastle''- Zigzagged with Howl's transformations, [[DarkIsEvil even though his other self's very dangerous]].

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' - Gru, post-HeelFaceTurn, wears dark as night clothing, but while he used to be a supervillain, he's become a good father and a Anti-Villain League agent; Edith, [[BlondeBrunetteRedhead the blonde of the girls]] sports a black catsuit in the sequel. The Minions also count.

** ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' - Kristoff wears black and dark brown clothing with dark grey fur lining and a deep red sash and collar, but he's the Deutergonist and [[TruthInTelevision that dark clothing tends to absorb heat better]].

* The 1996 live-action/stop-motion adaptation of ''Creator/RoaldDahl''s ''WesternAnimation/JamesAndTheGiantPeach'' has Miss Spider. Sure, she's solitary and mysterious unlike the other bugs (some of them live in fear of her), but she's good-hearted and hospitable to James -- spoiler alert -- because he saved her life.

* ''WesternAnimation/BartokTheMagnificent'' (an ''WesternAnimation/Antastasia'' spin-off) - Baba Yaga is a [[Gonk gruesome-looking]] witch who lives in a dingy old house with chicken legs, but she isn't evil; just an [[HeroWithBadPublicity Heroine With Bad Publicity]] who's antisocial.

* ''WesternAnimation/HortonHearsAWho'' - [=JoJo=] has a monochrome color scheme and he's the [[Tritagonist]].

* ''Franchise/[[Godzilla}}'' - Mothra's dark counterpart Battra looks very scary and while he's pretty rude, he's really hero potential. This also applies to Godzilla himself, who's charcoal grey, but is more of a Anti-Hero than a villain.

* ''Film/HarryPotteAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'': Sirius Black can transform into a scary-looking dog. In his human form, he looks disheveled. But its clear he's a good guy.

** The evil-looking Scavengers all wear dark colours and live in dark underground areas, but are eventually revealed [[spoiler:to be a human [[LaResistance resistance force]] led by [[MorganFreeman Malcolm Beech]] with noble goals]].

* ''WesternAnimation/HortonHearsAWho'' - JoJo has a monochrome color scheme and he's the [[Tritagonist]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', post-HeelFaceTurn, as he STILL has his black mamba and [[YouGottaHaveBlueSkin blue skin]]. Also, Minion's a angler-in-a-fish-bowl-attached-to-a-mechanical-gorilla's-body. Suffice to say, he's a NiceGuy.

* ''WesternAnimation/Megamind'', post-HeelFaceTurn, as he STILL has his black mamba and [[YouGottaHaveBlueSkin blue skin]]. Also, Minion's a angler-in-a-fish-bowl-attached-to-a-mechanical-gorilla's-body. Suffice to say, he's a NiceGuy.

** Kamaji, who's a [[ManInBlack spirit in black]].

** Kamaji, who's a [[Man In Black spirit in black]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/AlphaAndOmega'':TheLegendOfSawToothCave, the Ghost Wolf isn't a monster; merely a specter that wanted to help someone. It helps that that someone is [[spoiler: her daughter Daria;]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', a ogre who lives in a [[BubbleglompSwamp swamp]] and [[ThePigPen seems to have little regard for hygene]], but he is also a GentleGiant who cares for friends and family. Same goes for the supposed Big Bad Wolf and Puss In Boots, post-HeelFaceTurn, whose cape and boots are as black as pitch, but he is TheSmartGuy of Shrek's pals.

* In ''[WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie An Extremely Goofy Movie]'', Beret Girl wears all black but cares for PJ and Max Goof. [[JerkJock Bradley]] [[FauxAffablyEvil Uppercrust]].....not so much.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovieAnExtremelyGoofyMovie'', Beret Girl wears all black but cares for PJ and Max Goof. [[JerkJock Bradley]] [[FauxAffablyEvil Uppercrust]].....not so much.
* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek'', a ogre who lives in a [[BubbleglompSwamp swamp]] and [[ThePigPen seems to have little regard for hygene]], but he is also a GentleGiant who cares for friends and family. Same goes for the supposed Big Bad Wolf and Puss In Boots, post-HeelFaceTurn, whose cape and boots are as black as pitch, but he is TheSmartGuy of Shrek's pals.

* ''Film/MenInBlack'': They are "Men In '''Black'''" but also Earth's "best, last, and only defense against the scum of the universe". Lampshaded in WillSmith's music video.

** This is a case of AdaptationalHeroism since in the original comics J was anything but a good guy and the Men in Black were [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] with K being forced into service.

** His version of ''Film/AliceInWonderland'' has [[CheshireCatGrin Chessur]], an unbelievably unsettling version of the Cheshire Cat, although he is among the good guys. To a lesser extent, the Mad Hatter and the UglyCute bear/hyena/reptile like Bandersnatch (originally a bad guy, then changing sides); [[spoiler:inthe end, the Red Queen's minions also stop being in her side. Yes, that includes the creepy card soldiers]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/Mune:TheGuardianOfTheMoon,'' the People of Night are as respected as the People of the Day, and being Guardian of the Moon is as important a job as being the Guardian of the Sun.

* ''WesterAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster'' - The Elmo St. Peter's parts appliances are broken, tinkered and messed up from whatever bad happened in their life and even have a dark sense of humor (which is misery, which comedians use in [[RealLife]] for their routines). They're also they-who-help-the-appliances-scare-Elmo-to-save-Radio.

In ''WesternAnimation/CinderellaIIDreamsComeTrue'', Prudence wears black/gray clothing but in spite of the snubby aspect of her personality, at least her heart's in the right place.
The [[CleverCrows]] from ''Anime/TheCatReturns.''
''Anime/HowlsMovingCastle''- Zigzagged with Howl's transformations, [[DarkIsEvil even though his other self's very dangerous]].
Rain, eMMM, -- [[spoiler: the Pasteur and The Cult of the Strange]] -- from ''WesternAnimation/WeAreTheStrange.''
''WesternAnimation/HortonHearsAWho'' - JoJo has a monochrome color scheme and he's the [[Tritagonist]].

* ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'': Toothless the dragon is completely black, uses the cover of night to his advantage, his breed is considered the scariest and most dangerous dragon of all, and is on two different occasions referred to as something unholy. The dragon hand-guide describes his breed as an "unholy offspring of lightning and death itself" and Hiccup's father calls him "Devil" in one scene. However, he's also one of the main characters, a "good guy," and [[UglyCute freakin' adorable]].

** ''WesternAnimation/Ratatoullie'' - Anton Ego looks like he could be a potential villain, but as it turns out, he's just a very harsh critic trying to find a restaurant worth remembering for.
** In ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars 2}}'', [[TheAllegedCar Lemons]] are evil, but Otis, the beaten-up car seen in the BookEnds, is friendly.

** ''Disney/{{The Aristocats}}'' - One of Duchess' cats Berlioz and the leader of the Jazz Cats, Scat Cat have black fur but they're nonetheless two of the good guys.

** GoGo Tamago wears dark, edgy clothing. Did we also mention she's also a member of the ''Disney/BigHero6''?

* The Bog King from ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'' is a complicated example. He certainly looks evil by being a scowling insect humanoid. While he does kidnap and threaten an innocent Fairy princess, he's doing it to recover a LovePotion which he wants to destroy both because he hates love and that he knows it's incredible dangerous. [[spoiler: Once he and [[TheHero Marianne]] fall in love upon realizing that they are NotSoDifferent, he's able to show a more tender side. By the time he performs a HeroicSacrifice, its obvious that despite his monstrous appearance he'a good man. ]]

* The 1996 live-action/stop-motion adaptation of ''Creator/Roald Dahl''s ''WesternAnimation/JamesAndTheGiantPeach'' has Miss Spider. Sure, she's solitary and mysterious unlike the other bugs (some of them live in fear of her), but she's good-hearted and hospitable to James -- spoiler alert -- because he saved her life.

* ''WesternAnimation/BartokTheMagnificent'' (an ''WesternAnimation/Antastasia'' spin-off) - Baba Yaga is a [[Gonk gruesome-looking]] witch who lives in a dingy old house with chicken legs, but she isn't evil; just an [[HeroWithBadPublicity HeroineWithBadPublicity}} who's antisocial.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AGoofy Movie AnExtremelyGoofyMovie'', Beret Girl wears all black but cares for PJ and Max Goof. [[JerkJock Bradley]] [[FauxAffablyEvil Uppercrust]].....not so much.
* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek'', a ogre who lives in a [[BubbleglompSwamp swamp]] and [[ThePigPen seems to have little regard for hygene]], but he is also a [[GentleGiant]] who cares for friends and family. Same goes for the supposed Big Bad Wolf and Puss In Boots, post-[[HeelFaceTurn]], whose cape and boots are as black as pitch, but he is [[TheSmartGuy]] of Shrek's pals.

Rain, eMMM, -- [[spoiler; the Pasteur and The Cult of the Strange]] -- from ''WesternAnimation/WeAreTheStrange.''

* The main antagonists are [[DarkIsEvil dark-themed]] but so are the cat who helps ''WesternAnimation/Coraline'' while in the Other World and Wybie who wears a black as pitch coat and a vicious-looking skull-like mask.

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' - Gru, post-[[HeelFaceTurn]], wears dark as night clothing, but while he used to be a supervillain, he's become a good father and a Anti-Villain League agent; Edith, [[BlondeBrunetteRedhead the blonde of the girls]] sports a black catsuit in the sequel. The Minions also count.
* ''WesternAnimation/Megamind'', post-[[HeelFaceTurn]], as he STILL has his black mamba and [[YouGottaHaveBlueSkin blue skin]]. Also, Minion's a angler-in-a-fish-bowl-attached-to-a-mechanical-gorilla's-body. Suffice to say, he's a [[NiceGuy]].

** In ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania2'', Vlad wears black and is a vampire, just like his son, but is a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls'' might be trolls, but they're heroes nonetheless. Plus, they're all [[GadgeteerGenius GadgeteerGeniuses]].

** Manolo, [[TheHero]] of our story, wears a black suit on skulls on it, but is [[TheLancer Joaquin]] and [[Tomboy Maria]]'s best friend.