History Main / ShyShelledAnimal

* [[https://www.themarysue.com/pride-turtle-art/ Hue the Pride Turtle]] is a mascot whose message that it's okay to not come out of the closet if you don't feel ready to do so, and your identity is still valid even if you choose not to come out. He is a turtle with a rainbow-colored (or other pride-flag-colored) body, hiding inside his grey shell.

* In the poem "Shelly Snail and Swallowtail", from 'Literature/TheButterflyBallAndTheGrasshoppersFeast'' by Alan Aldridge and William Plomer, Swallowtail (a butterfly) asks Shelly what he's like beneath the mask [[MasqueradeBall he's wearing to the ball]]. Shelly replies that without the mask, he'd be too shy to socialise at all.

* In the poem "Shelly Snail and Swallowtail", from ''The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast'' by Alan Aldridge and William Plomer, Swallowtail (a butterfly) asks Shelly what he's like beneath the mask [[MasqueradeBall he's wearing to the ball]]. Shelly replies that without the mask, he'd be too shy to socialise at all.

Subtrope of AnimalStereotypes. For other tropes related to shelled animals, see RemovableShell and ShellBackpack. Compare PricklyPorcupine for another kind of animal that may be portrayed as timid.

* Toby Turtle from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'' is often seen hiding in his shell when he feels scared. One such example is when Skippy tells him that he's going to get the arrow he shot back from Maid Marian's castle, fearing that Skippy will face execution if Maid Marian spots him.

->"My nerves are shot! This is a catastrophe! What would her father say? I'll tell you what her father'd say. He'd say he's gonna kill himself a CRAB, that's what her father'd say!"

Subtrope of AnimalStereotypes. For other tropes related to shelled animals, see RemovableShell and ShellBackpack.

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-->-- '''Malcolm''', ''VideoGame/DillonsRollingWesternTheLastRanger''

* ''VideoGame/DillonsRollingWesternTheLastRanger'': Discussed when Dillon first meets Mayor Malcolm, who is an armadillo like him. Malcolm mentions his dislike for the stereotype of armadillos as cowardly animals, and he and Russ both note how Dillon is an aversion of the trope, being a capable fighter known for his RollingAttack.

* ShyShelledAnimal:

* ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'': Bentley Turtle is an {{Adorkable}} ally to Sly, who originally acted as his MissionControl. Subverted in later games, where he starts to take a more active role.

* Sebastian the crab from ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'' is the uptight, NervousWreck servant of King Triton.

* Toby Turtle from Disney's ''Disney/RobinHood'' is often seen hiding in his shell when he feels scared. One such example is when Skippy tells him that he's going to get the arrow he shot back from Maid Marian's castle, fearing that Skippy will face execution if Maid Marian spots him.

* According to Om, a god who has accidentally taken the form of a tortoise in ''Discworld/SmallGods'', and is [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody starting to think like one]], "Tortoises are cynics. They always expect the worst." When asked why, he replies "Because it usually happens to them."

--->"He's not aiming to be a crowd pleaser. He's not trying to prove anything to anyone. He just wishes those darn fish would stay off the ground!""

[[folder: Fanfic]]

[[folder: Literature]]

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[[folder:Western Animation]]

** Greta's boyfriend, Todd, [[https://kevinandkell.com/2016/kk0208.html initially cut this air.]] But it turns out, [[MoreThanMeetsTheEye he was actually a toad in a turtle shell]]. The story is that Greta set up a blind date with a turtle while in high school, [[https://kevinandkell.com/2016/kk0507.html but the turtle was eaten. Todd found the void shell,]] [[https://kevinandkell.com/2016/kk0509.html hid in it when Greta approached, and decided to play along.]] They ended up falling in love, but it was three years before Greta learned the truth that he was a toad.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bubsy}}'': Arnold the armadillo is depicted as a fearful character with a crippling fear of trucks who becomes terrified at the mere mention of them, possibly due to some form of post-traumatic stress.
* ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'': Filburt the turtle is your stereotypical, [[NerdGlasses glasses-wearing]], socially awkward comic book nerd, and he's very timid to boot. He's still a NiceGuy, he just doesn't have many friends aside from Rocko, Heffer, and his wife Dr. Hutchison.