History Main / VolatileTasmanianDevil

* ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys'': The main antagonists of the episode "Pal Joey" are a pair of ravenous Tasmanian devils that are prone to fighting each other.

This trope is due more to the prevalence of [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes a certain cartoon character]] who only [[InformedSpecies vaguely resembles]] a real Tasmanian Devil, rather than any aspect of the animal itself. In Tasmanian Aboriginal mythology, the Tasmanian Devil was instead usually portrayed as a greedy, cowardly [[ScavengersAreScum scavenger]]. However, the UrExample would likely be myths spread by European settlers to Tasmania, where they were blamed for killing livestock, which is also the source of their "devil" name. The Tasmanian Devil quickly developed a reputation as a sheep killer, and by the late 19th century its ferocious image was well-developed. In reality, Tasmanian Devils typically feed on small mammals such as possums and rabbits, and only eat larger animals when scavenging. However, there is still some TruthInTelevision here, as Devils are quite territorial and can get aggressive when defending their turf.

This trope is due more to the prevalence of [[Franchise/LooneyTunes a certain cartoon character]] who only [[InformedSpecies vaguely resembles]] a real Tasmanian Devil, rather than any aspect of the animal itself. In Tasmanian Aboriginal mythology, the Tasmanian Devil was instead usually portrayed as a greedy, cowardly [[ScavengersAreScum scavenger]]. However, the UrExample would likely be myths spread by European settlers to Tasmania, where they were blamed for killing livestock, which is also the source of their "devil" name. The Tasmanian Devil quickly developed a reputation as a sheep killer, and by the late 19th century its ferocious image was well-developed. In reality, Tasmanian Devils typically feed on small mammals such as possums and rabbits, and only eat larger animals when scavenging. However, there is still some TruthInTelevision here, as Devils are quite territorial and can get aggressive when defending their turf.

Worth mentioning that Tasmanian Devils are endangered species thanks to habitat loss, human persecution over that supposed livestock loss, and especially a cancer called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_facial_tumour_disease Devil facial tumour disease]] (which is partially spread due to Devils' propensity for biting each others' faces during disputes).

This trope is due more to the prevalence of [[Franchise/LooneyTunes a certain cartoon character]] who only [[InformedSpecies vaguely resembles]] a real Tasmanian Devil, rather than any aspect of the animal itself. In Tasmanian Aboriginal mythology, the Tasmanian Devil was instead usually portrayed as a greedy, cowardly [[ScavengersAreScum scavenger]]. However, the UrExample would likely be myths spread by European settlers to Tasmania, where they were blamed for killing livestock, which is also the source of their "devil" name. The Tasmanian Devil quickly developed a reputation as a sheep killer, and by the late 19th century its ferocious image was well-developed. In reality, Tasmanian Devils typically feed on small mammals such as possums and rabbits, and only eat larger animals when scavenging.

Worth mentioning that Tasmanian Devils are endangered species thanks to habitat loss, human persecution over that supposed livestock loss, and especially a cancer called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_facial_tumour_disease Devil facial tumour disease]].

The Tasmanian Devil is a marsupial native to Australia, though today is limited only to the namesake island (though they are being reintroduced to the Mainland Australia). While not a particularly common animal in pop-culture compared to the likes of other pouched mammals like koalas, opposums, and especially [[KangaroosRepresentAustralia kangaroos]], most fictional appearances of Tasmanian Devils seem to gravitate towards one specific portrayal: namely, they are depicted as violent, ravenous, borderline AxeCrazy animals that can and will attack everything in sight, tearing into everything with their powerful, bone-crushing jaws.

The Tasmanian Devil is a marsupial native to Australia, though today is limited only to the titular island (though they are being reintroduced to the Mainland Australia). While not a particularly common animal in pop-culture compared to the likes of other pouched mammals like koalas, opposums, and especially [[KangaroosRepresentAustralia kangaroos]], most fictional appearances of Tasmanian Devils seem to gravitate towards one specific portrayal: namely, they are depicted as violent, ravenous, borderline AxeCrazy animals that can and will attack everything in sight, tearing into everything with their powerful, bone-crushing jaws.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AnimalsUnited'', a German animated film, features a Tasmanian Devil named Smiley, who is a BigEater (and an ExtremeOmnivore at that), a {{Gasshole}}, and an all-around nuisance to everyone. He's still one of the protagonists, though.
* Downplayed and later subverted with Hamish the Tasmanian devil from the 2012 movie ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala_Kid Koala Kid]]''. He tries to help the main protagonist Johnny (an albino koala) fit in... by putting him in a FreakShow, which makes him (Hamish) rich. However, when Johnny gets kicked out of the circus, Hamish's plan is to take photos of Johnny doing heroic stuff and make him famous as Koala Kid so when they get back to the circus, they can get in the main act rather than the freak show and earn Hamish more money. However, this causes Bog the crocodile to want to capture the Koala Kid, and ends up getting another young koala named Charlotte kidnapped. The billabong residents plan to rescue Charlotte but must cross the dangerous "Bungle Bungles" on their way to Precipice Lake. This convinces Hamish to go along with Johnny's conscience and join in the team to rescue Charlotte.

* ''Film/CemeteryGates'', a 2006 horror film (not to be confused with the Music/{{Pantera}} song of the same name) about a giant genetically modified Tasmanian devil that, thanks to a break-in from some activists, takes refuge in a cemetery and start attacking anyone who enters.

* ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'': In the episode "A Wolf in Cheap Clothing", one of Professor Nimnul's experimental animals is a Tasmanian devil that looks fairly accurate, but still makes Taz-like sounds. It's portrayed as rather aggressive until Nimnul switches its body with a rabbit. Once the Rangers turn it back into its original form, it can easily beat up a fully-grown wolf (who is actually Nimnul turned into a wolf).

->'''Bugs Bunny''' (reading): "A strong murderous beast, jaws as powerful as a steel trap -- has ravenous appetite -- eats tigers, lions, elephants, buffaloes, donkeys, giraffes, octopuses, rhinoceroses, moose, ducks--"''\\

* ''Cemetery Gates'', a 2006 horror film (not to be confused with the Music/{{Pantera}} song of the same name) about a giant genetically modified Tasmanian devil that, thanks to a break-in from some activists, takes refuge in a cemetery and start attacking anyone who enters.