History FlawExploitation / WesternAnimation

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'', Doctor Octopus pegs Spider-Man as "weak" because he's obliged to save [[InnocentBystander Innocent Bystanders]]. Ock then grabs a nearby [[DistressedDamsel damsel]] and uses her in a HostageForMcGuffin ploy to get Spider-Man to fork over some desirable AppliedPhlebotinum.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': [[MasterOfIllusion Spellbinder's]] plot in "Eyewitness" hinged on exploiting Barbara's InspectorJavert tendencies towards Batman, duping her into thinking he killed Mad Stan in cold blood. It almost works, and when he's exposed and arrested, he [[EvilGloating gloats]] to Barbara's face that it was [[MoreThanMindControl easy to trick her]] because she was already fully prepared to believe the worst about Batman anyway.

* ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand''

-->'''Zurg''': We need to get him to come out... *''to a minion''* Target the Planet of Widows and Orphans!
-->'''Buzz''': You fiend! *''flies out''*
-->'''Zurg''': I ''knew'' that would get him!

* In the ''Westernanimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' episode "Operation GROWUP", the agified Nigel gets the Delightful Children to hand him the age-changing cigar simply by asking for it. It works because he's an adult, and goody-goody little brats have to obey adults.

** This is [[EmotionEater Spectra's]] MO, as she feeds off misery, and thus manipulates people's flaws to make them as miserable as possible.
* In the FiveEpisodePilot for ''DarkwingDuck'', Darkwing is keeping Gosalyn safe from Taurus Bulba by hiding her in his secret lair. Bulba, having observed that Darkwing is an egotistical GlorySeeker, sets up a trap by sending out a message offering to surrender to him and only him. Darkwing, eager to get the fame of bringing down a criminal kingpin, walks straight into the trap, in the process revealing his hideout and leaving Gosalyn unprotected and susceptible to being kidnapped by Bulba's goons.

** [[ManipulativeBastard Discord]] uses the mane cast's flaws to [[BreakTheCutie break them]] and turn them against their Elements. It fails on Fluttershy, however, because she ''knows'' she has flaws and is perfectly accepting of them [[spoiler:so he brainwashes her the old fashion way. Ironically, the heroes do this right back at him to ultimately defeat him, as [[SmugSuper his ego]] and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood inability to truly understand friendship's strength]] is ultimately what allows them to get the final blow.]]
** Amazingly, Fluttershy shows some serious {{Magnificent Bastard}}ry by pulling this on Discord ''again'' while Discord thinks he's pulling this on her. He uses her "friendship" as a free ticket to run completely rampant while she sits back and deals with it, thinking he has her wrapped around his little talon. She's ''aware'' of his plan, and exploiting it because it's the easiest way to get close to him and, to Discord's shock, he realises he's gained enough of genuine bond with Fluttershy that he can't betray her.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' season 5 has the episode "Cape Feare" where Bart plays upon Sideshow Bob's need to showcase his unappreciated musical talent by getting him to sing the entire ''Theatre/HMSPinafore'' score until police can save him.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': Cartman's revenge plot against Scott Tenorman relies heavily on this. If Stan and Kyle didn't rat him out to Scott, or Scott himself had reacted differently, the whole plan could have fallen apart. This can be seen double way, as it's either Cartman predicting the three's vindictive hatred of him, or acknowledging he's such an insufferable JerkAss of a friend to Stan and Kyle that they'd want to backstab him in the first place.

** In "Gullible Pants", [=SpongeBob=] is temporarily put in charge of the Krusty Krab while Mr. Krabs leaves to get a manicure. When he tries to tell Squidward what to do, Squidward refuses, and upon knowing [=SpongeBob=] is TheDitz and SuperGullible, he takes advantage of the sponge's flaws by telling several "secrets", and [=SpongeBob=] being [=SpongeBob=] is gullible enough to comply, and thus the Krusty Krab becomes a total disaster.
** Squidward does this again in "Sportz?" when Sponge and Pat accidentally receive Sandy's sporting goods but don't know how to play the sports and what they are; when they ask Squidward to teach them how to play, Squidward decides to use their idiocy and makes up several fake sports where they use the wrong equipment in different situations, resulting in both Sponge and Pat getting excessively hurt and injured until they're completely beat-up.

* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' had Wander and Sylvia trying to escape from a planet with an Army of Watchdogs trying to hunt them down. The Watchdogs figure out that [[ChronicHeroSyndrome Wander is compelled to help people]] and start to victimize random beings to draw Wander out for capture. It works.
* As a counterpart to what happened in the comic book, the second season of the animated series of ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' has ''Will'' [[TheChessmaster using Phobos' own arrogance and sense of superiority to manipulate him like a fiddle]], also [[spoiler: convincing a few {{Noble Demon}}s among his men to pull an HeelFaceTurn by exposing his lack of honour]]. Again, it fails, but for different reasons: Phobos ''did'' fall for it, but [[spoiler: Cedric saw through it and choose the moment before it would have paid off to pull a [[{{TheStarscream}} Starscream...]] ]]
* Chase Young may be a NobleDemon in ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'', but that doesn't stop him from being ManipulativeBastard as well. Wanting to take the young Omi as his apprentice, he uses Omi's biggest flaws to bring the boy over to his side...his naivety, his over-trusting nature, and then even after his friends save Omi from the dark side...Chase also previously had Omi swear his loyalty to him, knowing Omi would have no choice but to stay, because like Chase, the boy [[HonorBeforeReason always]] [[IGaveMyWord honors his word]].