History Main / OurImpsAreDifferent

* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'': Imps are the smallest zombies, being short, bald creatures with two fingers. They come in many forms throughout the series, but are typically seen riding on the backs of hulking Gargantuars, who throw them deep into the plant defenses after taking enough damage.

** Imps and quasits are very weak, small, and low-ranking devils and demons, respectively, who take on jobs as familiars in the hope of carrying their master's soul off to the Lower Planes. Until then, they supply aid as a lab assistant, gopher, and irritant. Imps resemble tiny versions of the classic red-skinned, bat-winged devils with scorpion tails, while quasits are green and wingless and possess tall horns and solid black eyes. Additional imp variants are described in the 3rd Edition ''Fiend Folio'':

** Imps and quasits are very weak, small, and low-ranking devils and demons, respectively, who take on jobs as familiars in the hope of carrying their master's soul off to the Lower Planes. Until then, they supply aid as a lab assistant, gopher, and irritant. Imps resemble tiny versions of the classic red-skinned, bat-winged devils with scorpion tails, while quasits are green and wingless and possess tall horns and solid black eyes.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'': The Skull Kid is referred to as an "imp", but thanks to the titular mask, he's an exceptionally powerful one. [[spoiler:Except not really, since the spirit inside the mask turns out to have been running the show the whole time. Without it, he's far less imposing. He's also the same Skull Kid that Link teaches Saria's Song to in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. In that game, Skull Kids are described as being spirits of those children who lose their way in the Lost Woods (basically, young Stalfos).]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': Imps are the weakest and most common underlings, monsters created in the in-universe game Sburb to oppose the players. They resemble stout humanoids about the same size as human children, and while their basic form is simplistic and generic they gain a number of increasingly complex traits as the game progresses -- among others, jester and princess outfits, feline and canine traits, facial and arm tentacles, and wings all become present among them. They're fairly challenging foes when the game first begins, but as the kids grow stronger they quickly cease to pose a meaningful threat and eventually cease to be seen as dangers at all.

* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': Impmon is a Virus-type Rookie Digimon who first makes his appearance in ''Anime/DigimonTamers''. He is portrayed as a BoisterousWeakling hiding massive insecurities, [[spoiler:insecurities that lead to him taking a deal with Caturamon and becoming the Mega-Level Beelzemon in exchange for killing the Tamers]].

* Imp Tweek is Tweek's Mystical set card in ''VideoGame/SouthParkPhoneDestroyer''. His card art depicts him as looking like a human with red bat wings and horns, a forked tail, goat legs, and a pitchfork, and his quotes have him talking about how "Darkness will prevail!" and such.

Physically, imps tend to resemble tiny demons, but are otherwise fairly variable. They may or may not have wings, horns, or prominent ears, and may have skin in any of a variety of unnatural shades (green, red and coal black are the most common). Most are small, which can range from the size of a songbird to the size of a child, but some examples can be the size of a grown person. They're often linked to demons, and are often a specific variety of these beings -- invariably the weakest.

Not to be confused with TheImp, which is about any weak but bothersome characters who serve as stronger villains' sidekicks. See also OurDemonsAreDifferent, OurGoblinsAreDifferent and GripingAboutGremlins.

* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': Impmon is a Virus-type Rookie Digimon who first makes his appearance in ''Anime/DigimonTamers''. He is portrayed as a BoisterousWeakling hiding massive insecurities, [[spoiler:insecurities that lead to him taking a deal with Caturamon and become the Mega-Level Beelzemon in exchange for killing the Tamers]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'': [[BumblingHenchmenDuo Pain and Panic]] are two imps in the service of [[EverybodyHatesHades Hades]]. They're cowardly shapeshifters who [[BadBoss Hades frequently abuses]], and are responsible for kidnapping baby Hercules and [[BroughtDownToNormal making him mortal]] to prevent him from sabotaging Hades' plan to take over Olympus. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Too bad it doesn't go like they hoped]].

* According to legend, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Imp Lincoln Imp]], a decorative carving within the Lincoln Cathedral in England depicting a squat, ugly humanoid, was once one of two imps brough to Earth by Satan to cause havoc and mischief. When angels arrived to command them to stop, one of the imps threw a rock at them and was petrified in punishment.

* ''Literature/FightingFantasy'': Imps are a recurring, minor threat, with the most common being Fire Imps -- bat-like, fire-breathing, flying critters with a human's face and horns, who attack the heroes by spitting fireballs. They're FragileSpeedster-type enemies who, despite being fast, goes down in two hits, although in a few books (like ''Literature/TrialOfChampions'') the Fire Imps displays the ability to further transform into far more powerful Fire Demons upon being slain.

* ''Series/Charmed1998'': Imps are small, red, bat-winged demons who swarm to attack enemies. They are spawned from the bodies of lower level demons called Imp Masters who can control the swarm.
* ''Series/Supergirl2015'': Due to AdaptationDeviation, two imps, one a legendary DC antagonist / AntiHero, the other a more obscure character, who are more like HumanAliens and they seem to have a true form which isn't a YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm type.
** They have RealityWarper powers, TimeTravel powers, superhuman strength and are TheJuggernaut so these ''should'' in theory be a StoryBreakerPower, but the characterization the imps get often means the story-breaking element goes by the wayside in order to limit their powers. When they have used their powers, they've been beaten by Supergirl and her team over several episodes.
** We only see two imps as major characters (although it is noted that J'on Jonnz in a flashback played with some imps when he was younger, but these were [[FlatCharacter minor characters who had limited personality]] and there to provide BackStory for J'on):
** Mister Mxyzptlk, who in this case is not a short GreatGazoo type with a [[https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/scale_super/0/7015/1217365-supermanwhttmot_43_whatever_happened_to_the_man_of_tomorrow.jpg bizarre true form]]; instead he has AdaptationalAttractiveness in his two forms he's taken, and that the form portrayed by Thomas Lennon is his ''actual'' true form.
** Nyxlygsptlnz, also known as Nyxly, a female imp portrayed by Peta Sargeant, who has the same sort of powers as Mister Mxyzptklk, only she's StupidEvil unlike him who made a HeelFaceTurn and was eventually HoistByHerOwnPetard, partially for being StupidEvil.

** Imps and quasits are very weak, small and low-ranking devils and demons, respectively, who take on jobs as familiars in the hope of carrying their master's soul off to the Lower Planes. Until then, they supply aid as a lab assistant, gopher, and irritant. Imps resemble tiny versions of the classic red-skinned, bat-winged devils with scorpion tails, while quasits are green and wingless and possess tall horns and solid black eyes.

** Imps are usually depicted as essentially much smaller, weaker versions of demons, and like them are mostly tied to Black mana (the color of selfishness, treachery and amorality) and secondarily to Red mana (the color of impulsivity and emotion), and mostly appear as weak scavengers or servants to greater powers. They're chiefly associated with the Phyrexians, who use them as disposable minions and agents, and the Ravnican Cult of Rakdos, which mostly uses them as jesters. While most look like tinier versions of the humanoid, bat-winged demons, more unusual examples include the older art of [[https://scryfall.com/card/drk/41/bog-imp Bog Imp]], with diaphonous blue wings, green skin and an elongated skull; the Red-aligned [[https://scryfall.com/card/shm/82/blistering-dieflyn dieflyns]] of Shadowmoor, which are wingless and WreathedInFlames; [[https://scryfall.com/card/khm/99/infernal-pet Infernal Pet]], which resembles a rat with horns; the Phyrexian [[https://scryfall.com/search?q=Skirge&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name skirges]], which have vaguely frog-like heads split by vertical, fang-filled mouths; and [[https://scryfall.com/card/mir/98/teferis-imp Teferi's Imp]], the only Blue imp, which resembles [[MixAndMatchCritters a monkey-cat with bird wings and a prehensile ratlike tail]].
** ''Magic'' also uses the term Devil separately from Demons, refering to a kind of small, red-skinned, horned imps. Unlike the scheming DealWithTheDevil-type, [[TheCorruptor corrupting]] demons, devils are small nuisances that delight in causing chaos and suffering on a small scale.

** Imps are among the weakest of all devils, and resemble diminutive versions of the classic BigRedDevil with long tails tipped with venomous stingers. They are often summoned by evil spellcasters to act as familiars, a role they take to with servile glee because it allows them extended one-on-one time with which to subtly push their would-be master towards damnation. In Hell, they mostly act as secretaries, gofers and general-purpose lackeys while trying to impress their superiors enough to be promoted into a stronger form of devil.
** Quasits are demonic counterparts to imps, and resemble tiny, horned, winged humanoids covered in green scales. Unlike other demons, which originate from the souls of deceased, sinful mortals, quasits are created in the act of being summoned when a fragment of the summoner's soul breaks off and mixes with the matter of the Abyss. They're spiteful and scheming servants, but serve their role until their master's death frees them; at that point, they either race their master's soul to the Abyss to grab it for themselves and use it to bargain for power or a better position with more powerful demons or choose to remain as free-willed troublemakers in the material world.
* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay'': Imps are the most minor species of daemon, little more than motes of emotion and magical energy within their native Realm of Chaos. The exact form they take in the mortal world varies, but they're usually diminuative humanoids, and daemonologists like to use them as {{Familiar}}s.

* ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper'': Imps are the WorkerUnit doing all the digging, land claiming and logistics. They are also made out of mana and have undying loyalty.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'': Scamps, the weakest of Daedra, are small, pointy-eared beings used by Daedric Princes to cause mischief. They're noted to not be all that bright, and not especially dangerous to prepared adventures except in [[ZergRush large numbers]].
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy'': Imps are recurring enemies resembling small purple humanoids with bat wings and long, arrow-tipped tails; a more unusual version occurs in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', which is fat, neckless and with a wide mouth and a single central eye. They're usually fairly weak and described as cowardly, but can use a variety of elemental spells in combat.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'': The Skull Kid is referred to as an "imp", but thanks to the titular mask, he's an exceptionally powerful one. [[spoiler: Except not really, since the spirit inside the mask turns out to have been running the show the whole time. Without it, he's far less imposing. He's also the same Skull Kid that Link teaches Saria's Song to in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. In that game, Skull Kids are described as being spirits of those children who lose their way in the Lost Woods (basically, young Stalfos).]]
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'': Miniblins are small, very weak members of the Blin family of enemies, which makes up the series' most common {{Mooks}}. They're tiny, devilish figures, with prominent buck teeth and a pair of curved horns, and are armed with pitchforks. They make up for their weakness by [[ZergRush attacking Link in huge waves]], aided by the fact that they constantly respawn.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'': Midna begins the game as a small black imp, and is disrespectful and very clearly only using you as means to an end. However, eventually you learn that it isn't her real form at all, but the result of a curse that sealed away most of her powers (and seeing as she still has access to teleportation, energy blasts and flight in her weakened state, her true powers must be quite considerable). At the end of the game she's a fully heroic character, and beating the final boss restores her to her true form.
* ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'':
** Enemy Imps come in [[ShapedLikeItself Imp]], Naughty and Clever forms. They all wield pitchforks for their basic attacks and have a chance to [[StatusInflictionAttack "dip a Mii's heart in darkness"]], causing a Mii to temporarily [[RedEyesTakeWarning turn evil]]. In gameplay terms, affected Miis may trip up their teammates to interrupt their attack which can cause resentment in developing relationships.

* ''VideoGame/NightmareCreatures'' has three fire-breathing Grey Imps that show up in the first level, which attack by spitting fire but can be easily defeated. Later -- much, much later, after seven more levels -- the player encounters the imps' larger and stronger cousins, Red Imps, which shows up in the ruins of Westminster Abbey and Tower of London.
* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'': Imps are the smallest zombies, being short bald creatures with two fingers. They come in many forms throughout the series, but are typically seen riding on the backs of hulking Gargantuars, who throw them deep into the plant defenses after taking enough damage.
* ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'': Impidimp are tiny, pink humanoid Pokemon with large heads, pointed ears and upturned noses. They're mischievous PeeveGoblins who like to play pranks on people, cause minor damage and hide objects, in order to generate annoyance and irritation [[EmotionEater that they can feed on]]. They evolve in Morgrem, a stronger and more malicious gremlin, and then into the ogre-like Grimmisnarl.
* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'': Imps are small red demonic creatures that drop ash when killed. Originally they looked like gnomes in a hoodie with horns, but were re-designed to look more like a demon, with red skin and bat-like wings. There's also the friendlier Snow Imps who are blue colored and are the servants of the Queen of Snow. Similar creatures include the implings that look like small imps and can be caught for the Hunter skill.

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': Imps are the lowest class of demons in Hell, and are not really treated well by many higher-class demons, often being used as servants for higher demons. Blitzo and his company IMP cannot enter the living world normally, and have to use a book that Blitzo had to obtain by sleeping with its owner Stolas, one of the Princes of Hell.

** ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'': The BigBad, Hordak, has an imp named Imp as his sidekick. A shapeshifting spy, Imp rarely takes a direct hand against the good guys, but he's invaluable for collecting info on Rebel schemes. The fact that he's also one of the few minions Hordak has who is also competent at his job makes him a favorite of his master.
** ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' also features the Imp, but in a smaller role. It mostly acts as Hordak's {{Familiar}} and can't talk, but can perfectly mimic voices it's heard, which it uses to spy on Hordak's subordinates for him. Season three [[spoiler:implies that the Imp is a failed clone of Hordak]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'': One episode features a redheaded, green-skinned imp who is the same size of a Smurf and gives her some magical dancing shoes that lock her into an InvoluntaryDance. Papa Smurf notes that [[AlwaysChaoticEvil all imps are evil]].

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/our_imps_are_different.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Top to bottom, imps from ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', and ''VideoGame/Doom2016''.]]

{{WesternAnimation/Harvey Beaks}}: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

{{ WesternAnimation/Harvey Beaks}}: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

{{WesternAnimation/Harvey Beaks}}: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

{{WesternAnimation/HarveyBeaks}}: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

{{https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WesternAnimation/HarveyBeaks}}: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

{{HarveyBeaks}}: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

HarveyBeaks: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

Harvey Beaks: The twins, Fee and Foo, are confirmed by Word of God to be imps. They aren't particularly demonic looking; being short, humanoid creatures covered in pink and orange fur respectively, and possess sharp teeth. They do however share the mischievous nature of typical imps, being rambunctious but friendly troublemakers. Their parents later arrive in the series finale and hail from the "Greater Impland Empire". However, their parents are much bigger than the usually diminutive imps in classic fiction.

** ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'': Imps are stuck with relatively low health and damage, but have a total of four different kinds available. Options include imps that hurt your character and minion of evil named "Worthless Imp".
** ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'': The first demons that warlocks can summon are Imps. They're small, fragile, and whiny little things with long ears and goatlike horns that can only cast fireballs and make snarky jokes. They're replaced with other, more powerful demons as the Warlock levels up. They are however fairly effective for certain purposes, as they're the only demon with a ranged attack, and often continue to be used right up to the endgame.

** The Skull Kid in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' is referred to as an "imp," but thanks to the titular mask, he's an exceptionally powerful one. [[spoiler: Except not really, since the spirit inside the mask turns out to have been running the show the whole time. Without it, he's far less imposing. He's also the same Skull Kid that Link teaches Saria's Song to in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. In that game, Skull Kids are described as being spirits of those children who lose their way in the Lost Woods (basically, young Stalfos).]]

* ''Literature/FightingFantasy'': Imps are a recurring, minor threat, with the most common being Fire Imps -- bat-like, fire-breathing, flying critters with a human's face and horns, who attack the heroes by spitting fireballs. They're FragileSpeedster-type enemies who, despite being fast, goes down in two hits, although in a few books (like ''Literature/TrialOfChampions'') the Fire Imps displays the ability to further transform into far more powerful Fire Demons upon being slain.