History Main / CuteCrittersActChildlike

* The Lumas from the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series are playful and childlike star children. Most live on the [[CoolStarship Comet Observatory]] under the care of their "Mama", [[TheHighQueen Rosalina]]. A JustifiedTrope since they are actually children, and turn into planets, stars and all manner of cosmic phenomena when they reach maturity.
* The Nopon from ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'' are cute fuzzballs mostly known for being laid-back and easy-going, and for their [[YouNoTakeCandle simplistic speech pattern]]. Most are okay with child-like treatment the other races tend to give them, a few take full advantage of it to get away with some questionable things, while others lament that nearly no one takes them seriously.
* The Chao of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise are basically ''Franchise/{{Tamagotchi}}''[=/=]''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' [[{{Expy}} Expies]] that the player character raises like small toddlers for races and other activities.

* The Temmies from ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''. They're CloudCuckooLander[=s=] of the highest degree, think humans are adorable and constantly try to pet them, and don't seem to understand the concept of money, the fact that you can't hatch a hard-boiled egg, or [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext how to keep their faces from jittering away from their bodies.]]
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' has the Kokiri in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' and their descendants the Koroks in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', forest-based children with playful personalities and everlasting youth.
* Much like the ''Gremlins'' example above from which they draw a lot inspiration, the UglyCute minions from ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' act and speak in a childlike way.
* Played with the [[LittlePeople Lalafell]] of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''. While Lalafell characters have very childlike animations, In practice they can be as mean, greedy, lecherous, scheming, violent, or sadistic as any of the other Spoken or Beast races. One in particular is so deceitful, cruel and hateful that, in his signature scene, his getting ''cut in half'' at the end of it is considered one of the highlights of the entire game.

[[quoteright:350:[[Fanfic/EducatedFluffies https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/educatedfluffiesnarrowcrop.png]]]]

* ''Manga/SlimeLife:'' Slime is naïve and trusting, never cottoning on to the fact that Darul is constantly trying to manipulate him into situations where she can hug him.

* Many [[OlympusMons Mythical]] [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon]] like Mew, Celebi and others act this way despite having access to absurdly powerful abilities.

* Kender in ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' are small, halfling-like people known for curiosity, playfulness, and lack of self-preservation.

* The Chao of the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise are basically ''Franchise/{{Tamagotchi}}''[=/=]''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' [[{{Expy}} Expies]] that the player character raises like small toddlers for races and other activities.

* Mort from ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}''. Despite his childish personality, WordOfGod says he is actually [[OlderThanTheyLook an adult]].

[-[[caption-width-right:350:[[https://marcusmaximus.deviantart.com/art/Oracle-s-Educated-Fluffies-312453423 Image]] by [[https://marcusmaximus.deviantart.com/ marcusmaximus]].]]-]

A result of EmotionalMaturityIsPhysicalMaturity, and related to the real-life concept of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny neoteny]]. Among many domesticated animals, the adults retain more cute physical traits and more youthful behaviors (such as playfulness and sociability) than adults of their wild counterparts. See also TheCutie.

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* Hobbits in ''Literature/TheHobbit'' and ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' are downplayed examples. Tolkien doesn't portray them as ''particularly'' cute, but they are small people notable for their innocence and simplicity. When Treebeard adds them to the LongList poem of all the races known to the Ents, he calls them "hungry as hunters, the Hobbit children,
the laughing-folk, the little people".

* Hobbits in ''Literature/TheHobbit'' and ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' are downplayed examples. Tolkien doesn't portray them as ''particularly'' cute, but they are small people notable for their innocence and simplicity.

This is related to the real-life concept of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny neoteny]]. Among many domesticated animals, the adults retain more cute physical traits and more youthful behaviors (such as playfulness and sociability) than adults of their wild counterparts. See also TheCutie.

* [[SeriesMascot Mr. Saturns]] in ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' are cute, innocent, {{Cloudcuckoolander}} {{Waddling Head}}s whose dialogue is in a font inspired by a child's handwriting. [[SubvertedTrope However, they have technology decades ahead of ours.]]

Among {{fantastic sapient species|Tropes}}, the small, cute races (often {{Hobbits}} or {{Ridiculously Cute Critter}}s) are often given personality traits commonly associated with children - such as innocence, playfulness, curiosity, or naivete - to complement their adorable appearances. These creatures are usually sympathetic, but a rare [[CuteIsEvil evil]] or [[KillerRabbit dangerous]] example of the trope may be a {{Psychopathic Manchild}}.

These little guys are often capable of inspiring protective affection in members of the bigger races, and possibly, in the audience - although [[BadassAdorable they may not need it]]. However, if done badly, this trope can get into TastesLikeDiabetes territory.