History Main / WeaselMascot

* ''TheAreasOfMyExpertise'': "Let's use my ferret to steal that diamond."
** [[MoreInformationThanYouRequire "New ferret, same old con."]]
** Taken to its logical conclusion with a mounted ferret skeleton on the back cover of the DarkerAndEdgier finale, ''ThatIsAll''.
* Ozzie from ''AvalonWebOfMagic'' is an elf who was magically transformed into a ferret. Besides being more goofy than snarky, he's pretty much this trope exactly.

* Yuuno, from ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' is another actual ferret. He's an exception to the character type, though—he's a bookish, shy mage that gets nervous and blushes around Nanoha. This is mostly because Yuuno is not actually a ferret, but a 9-or-10-year-old human boy who transforms into such; when this is finally revealed, Nanoha [[BigWhat reacts predictably]].
* Hippo the penguin in ''MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch''.

* Hisashi Sakisaka, an occasional recurring character in the ''MidoriNoHibi'' manga, has a weasel sidekick, Tomahawk, on his shoulder at all times.

* Mepple in ''FutariWaPrettyCure'' has an incredible attitude, and is greedy, picky, and likes to guilt Nagisa into doing things for him.
** Tart from ''FreshPrettyCure'', who insist that he's a 'cute fairy' and speaks with KansaiRegionalAccent. He swings around being responsible (trying to help the Cures) and irresponsible (stealing the Cures' foods like ice cream) at times

* Chamo from ''MahouSenseiNegima'' (with DirtyOldMan tendencies to boot!).

** [[spoiler:There is a specific punishment for mages in ''MahouSenseiNegima'': temporary transformation into an ermine. It is never stated directly, but some lines may imply that Chamo-kun did undergo such a penalty. Nevertheless, Chamo-kun always claims he is a regular ermine and mentions about his ermine family. He also revealed that he was banned from his home country for [[PantyThief stealing panties]] from his girl ermine companions. This may be somewhat true. Just don't [[InternetBackdraft try to make a definite claim]].]]

* Rafra from ''InfiniteRyvius''.

* Candy from ''CandyCandy'' has a pet raccoon called Clean.

* Used in ''SpiritedAway'', not that you'd be able to tell: the "Art of" book tells us that the character Lin is supposed to be a [[HumanityEnsues transformed weasel]]. She's sarcastic but sweet and quite cute.

* [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Team Gurren]] has Buta!
* Anime/{{Pokemon}}: Arguably, Ash's (previously Dawn's) Buizel is one of these despite the actual mascots being the [[RodentsOfUnusualSize Rodent of Unusual Size]] and the adorable [[SpotlightStealingSquad yet overused]] [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins Penguin]]. It initially followed in the tracks of previous {{Badass}}es Charizard and Sceptile, and did a very good job of it early on despite being a RidiculouslyCuteCritter. Unfortunately, it hit [[BadassDecay a losing streak]] later on.

* Candy from CandyCandy has a pet raccoon called Clean.
* Kyubey from Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica. Given [[{{Deconstruction}} the nature of the show]] it's a subversion. There's [[ManipulativeBastard a good reason]] that a good chunk of the show's fans don't trust him at all. [[spoiler:WickedWeasel, [[http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/AthenAltena/kyuubeyaaah.png after all]]. He seems to be less of a subversion by the end of the show.]]

* ''TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'' features the character Weasel, who is actually a rather sarcastic, selfish deadpan snarker.

* Artemis's playful relationship with Minako in ''Manga/SailorMoon'''s (versus Luna, who acts slightly more "parental" to Usagi).

* ''FanFic/GuardiansOfPokemon'' has a pair of these, Jupei and Ki. This is not surprising as the author has stated that the fic was inspired by [[RuleOfThree three]] anime: ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' (of course), ''Manga/SailorMoon'', and ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura''.

* Yuuno, from ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' is another actual ferret. He's an exception to the character type, though—he's a bookish, shy mage that gets nervous and blushes around Nanoha. This is mostly because Yuuno is not actually a ferret, but a human who poses as such.

* ''{{Popotan}}'' has Unagi, who also turns into an Anthropomorphic kemonomimi. Ironically, despite being the likely cause of the surge in ferrets-as-anime-characters, Unagi is actually a [[http://japan-animals.blogspot.com/2007/06/hondo-stoat.html Hondo Stoat]], a close relative to the ferret with rather distinct winter markings and a nebulous connection to faeries and magic in folklore.

[[caption-width-right:270:Cheer up, [[strike:Weasel kid]] Ferret Boy!]]

* Mr. Kimble has a pet ferret ([[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger pronounced "fyeuwr-it"]]) that he uses to calm down his class in ''Film/KindergartenCop''. Said ferret even saves his hide by putting a well-timed bite on the BigBad in the climactic showdown.

A major benefit of the Weasel personality is that it largely reflects the behavior of the real animal. This personality also applies to many positive cat depictions, especially in Japan where cats are hugely popular. The Weasel can make a good [[DeadpanSnarker ironic deadpan snarker]], without the [[CatsAreMean nasty or untrustworthy streak]] westerners associate with the Cat. There is ''deep'' irony in the contrast between the two because [[WickedWeasel weasels fared differently in older Western works]].

* Ferrets do indeed tend to have very hyperactive and playful personalities in real life, with a special emphasis on ''hyperactive''; something to keep in mind for households with small children. They also like to chew on things, so by all means don't leave your leather goods within their reach.
** Or your keys. Or socks. Or potatoes, napkins, things made out of rubber, anything spherical... they're kind of hoarders, is what we're getting at.

* Japolo from ''ShamanicPrincess''.

** The weasel ends up [[DorkHorseCandidate elected class president]], over several more-qualified human candidates. (Actually, "more-qualified" is debatable...)

* Spip, ''SpirouAndFantasio'''s snarky squirrel.

* Weasel, the techie/hacker sidekick from the mainstream comic ''{{Deadpool}}''. Not an actual weasel, but merely a man of shifty moral integrity who has his own weasel-head logo. Exists to get Deadpool both in and out of trouble.

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/WeirdAlYankovic's song "Albuquerque" features him being attacked by rabid weasels. Al gets his revenge in "Weasel Stomping Day".
[[/folder]]

* ''IAmWeasel!'''s titular character is, unsurprisingly, a weasel.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k76IGLi6jWI Weasel Stomping Day]] from ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' and [[Music/WeirdAlYankovic "Weird Al" Yankovic]].
* On the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "Paint Misbehavin'", Freddie the Ferret is Launchpad's favorite comic book hero, famed for his "Friend Power."

* An early episode of ''TheSimpsons'' featured a Chuck E. Cheese {{Expy}} called Wally Weasel's, complete with a literal weasel mascot and the slogan "we cram fun down your throat!"

* Ferret from Scott Morse's FerretAndParrot cartoon short, which debuted on Cartoon Network's 2001 Big Pick

* Literally a weasel mascot, the ferret from [[http://www.blindferret.com/index2.php Blind Ferret Entertainment]].
* The website [[http://www.playitcybersafe.com/ Play It Cyber Safe]] has a ferret for its mascot. It gets funny when they start saying piracy is theft when the word "ferret" means "little thief".
* The Queensland Police in Australia are catching some flak due to their new anti-fraud mascot aimed at children: a ferret. Despite a) the previously mentioned meaning of the word, and b) ferrets are ''[[CriticalResearchFailure illegal to own in the state of Queensland]]''
* [[http://www.dancing-ferret.com/ Dancing Ferret Discs]], an alternative music label, has a stylized ferret as part of its logo.
* WildWeasel squadrons, fighter-bomber units specially trained and equipped for seeking out and destroying enemy AntiAir assets (typically by [[CrazyAwesome drawing fire by exposing themselves]] in order to find their targets) use a stylized Weasel ([[OhCrap visibly distressed by the concept of this strategy]]) on their patches.
** This [[MeaningfulName is actually based on the fact that real life wild weasels]] will distract their prey with crazy antics: rolling, "dancing," flipping, and doing similar things which resemble the kind of radical maneuvers you might do if you were trying to dodge anti-aircraft fire while also trying to ''draw'' it.

* ''TheLateLateShow with CraigFerguson'': "Do we have a [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WrKY10IR-ng/TLuTrEYzcTI/AAAAAAAANhs/FFkxPmo0a-0/s1600/craig+ferret+1.jpg picture]] of me with my ferrets?"

The recent popularity of ferrets has created a new kind of animal sidekick character, in addition to the old standbys of the loyal, dull Dog and the smart, [[CatsAreSnarkers snarky]] Cat.

A major benefit of the Weasel personality is that it largely reflects the behavior of the real animal. This personality also applies to many positive cat depictions, especially in Japan where cats are hugely popular. The Weasel can make a good [[DeadpanSnarker ironic deadpan snarker]], without the [[CatsAreMean nasty or untrustworthy streak]] westerners associate with the Cat. (Anyone who knows [[WickedWeasel how weasels fare in older Western works]] should appreciate the ''deep'' irony of the previous sentence, but hey, times change.)

* The title character of ''Zucchini'' is a boy's pet ferret. The book was later adapted on ''CBSStorybreak.''

* Kyubey from Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica. Given [[{{Deconstruction}} the nature of the show]] it's a subversion. There's [[ObviouslyEvil a good reason]] that a good chunk of the show's fans don't trust him at all. [[spoiler:WickedWeasel, [[http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/AthenAltena/kyuubeyaaah.png after all]]. He seems to be less of a subversion by the end of the show.]]

* In reference to his BalefulPolymorph in ''HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', some fan fiction makes [[DracoInLeatherPants Draco Malfoy]] a ferret animagus.

* Seamus the pooka from ''BlueMonday''.

* In PhilipPullman's ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'', Lyra's shapeshifting dæmon, Pantalaimon, often takes the shape of a weasel; he settles as a [[spoiler:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Marten Pine Marten.]]]]

*** His twin sons, Fred and George, have otters for their patronesses.