History Main / WeaselMascot

Animal mascot personalities normally fall into the Cat or [[AllAnimalsAreDogs Dog stereotypes]] even if the author has tried to use a more exotic animal, like a bird or mouse -- it'll still act like a Cat or a Dog. The Weasel Mascot personality, likewise, may apply to non-mustelids (such as a mongoose or even a squirrel) -- but weasels, otters, and ferrets are most common. The Weasel personality is rarely applied to badgers and wolverines however (the latter in case where BearsAreBadNews).

A major benefit of the Weasel personality is that it largely reflects the behavior of the real animal. The Weasel can make a good [[DeadpanSnarker ironic deadpan snarker]], without the [[CatsAreMean nasty or untrustworthy streak]] commonly associated with the Cat, or [[ScavengersAreScum the aggressive, scavenging nature]] [[BewareOfViciousDog of the Dog]]. There is ''deep'' irony in the contrast between the two because [[WickedWeasel weasels fared differently in older Western works]], although this trope's ancestor can trace back to the weasels' fictional enmity against [[BasiliskAndCockatrice mythical Basilisks]] in European legends.

* 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.]]

* In Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/TheDarkTower'' books, the heroes are accompanied by Oy, a creature called a Billy-Bumbler which is said to resemble a cross between a raccoon, a badger, and a dog (although illustrations often make him look more like a [[https://www.animalspot.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/African-Civet.jpg civet]]). While intensely loyal to Roland and Jake, he otherwise has the snarky, independent attitude common to this trope.

[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/krew_fire_nation.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:300:[[MixAndMatchCritters Actually, it's a ferret.]][[note]]That looks exactly like a red panda[[/note]]]]

* Rafra from ''Anime/InfiniteRyvius''.
* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', Team Gurren has Buta!

* Koppa from ''VideoGame/ShirenTheWanderer''.

* Corasyn from ''Webcomic/NothingComesNaturally''.

* Ferret from ''Webcomic/ScooterAndFerret''.

** Mr. Weasley's Patronus is a weasel. His twin sons, Fred and George, have otters for their Patronuses. As does Hermione. (No wonder [[spoiler:she married into the family]].)

Compare PlayfulOtter. Contrast WickedWeasel.

* WebVideo/PeanutButterGamer has his ferret, Pixel. She doesn't show up too often in videos, but she steals the show.
* Limealicious from the ''WebVideo/{{Vinesauce}}'' Twitch team has multiple ferrets that often gatecrash the stream, and are also most of the emotes on the channel. There's Pikmin, Nero and Atreus, as well as Sky and Kovu, who sadly passed away but are still immortalised in emote form

* ''Webvideo/CriticalRole'': Jester buys a red weasel from an animal salesman once and calls him Sprinkles. While the other animals the Mighty Nein bought at that occassion are quickly left behind, Sprinkle stays with them. He is frequently forgotten and thus nearly drowns on several occassions or gets caught in the blast of area spells.

[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/krew_fire_nation.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:300:[[MixAndMatchCritters Actually, it's a ferret.]]]]

* Limealicious from the ''WebVideo/Vinesauce'' Twitch team has multiple ferrets that often gatecrash the stream, and are also most of the emotes on the channel. There's Pikmin, Nero and Atreus, as well as Sky and Kovu, who sadly passed away but are still immortalised in emote form

* Limealicious from the ''Web Video/Vinesauce'' Twitch team has multiple ferrets that often gatecrash the stream, and are also most of the emotes on the channel. There's Pikmin, Nero and Atreus, as well as Sky and Kovu, who sadly passed away but are still immortalised in emote form

* Limealicious from the Web Video/Vinesauce Twitch team has multiple ferrets that often gatecrash the stream, and are also most of the emotes on the channel. There's Pikmin, Nero and Atreus, as well as Sky and Kovu, who sadly passed away but are still immortalised in emote form

* Limealicious from the Web Video / Vinesauce Twitch team has multiple ferrets that often gatecrash the stream, and are also most of the emotes on the channel. There's Pikmin, Nero and Atreus, as well as Sky and Kovu, who sadly passed away but are still immortalised in emote form

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

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': Ryo-Ohki is Ryoko's [[Main/LivingShip pet]] that meows like a cat, yet eats carrots like a rabbit.

* ''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 three anime: ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' (of course), ''Anime/SailorMoon'', and ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura''.

* VideoGame/{{Torchlight}} launched with the choice of a dog or a cat as the character's animal partner, but a later official mod added a ferret as a third option. It has also been officially added as a pet choice in ''VideoGame/TorchlightII''.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

Animal mascot personalities normally fall into the Cat or [[AllAnimalsAreDogs Dog stereotypes]] even if the author has tried to use a more exotic animal, like a bird or mouse -- it'll still act like a Cat or a Dog. The Weasel Mascot personality, likewise, may apply to non-mustelids (such as a mongoose or even a squirrel) -- but weasels, otters, and ferrets are most common. The Weasel personality is rarely applied to badgers and wolverines however.

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

A major benefit of the Weasel personality is that it largely reflects the behavior of the real animal. The Weasel can make a good [[DeadpanSnarker ironic deadpan snarker]], without the [[CatsAreMean nasty or untrustworthy streak]] westerners associate with the Cat, or [[ScavengersAreScum the scavenging nature]] [[BewareOfViciousDog of the Dogs in other cultures]]. There is ''deep'' irony in the contrast between the two because [[WickedWeasel weasels fared differently in older Western works]], although this trope's ancestor can trace back to the weasels' fictional enmity against [[BasiliskAndCockatrice mythical Basilisks]] in European legends.

The 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. 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]], although this trope's ancestor can trace back to the weasels' fictional enmity against [[BasiliskAndCockatrice mythical Basilisks]] in European legends.

A major benefit of the Weasel personality is that it largely reflects the behavior of the real animal. 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]].

[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/krew_fire_nation.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:300:[[MixAndMatchCritters Isn't that more of a red panda?]]]]

[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/krew_fire_nation.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:300:[[HybridAnimal Isn't that more of a red panda?]]]]

[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/krew_fire_nation.jpg]]]]

** Mr. Weasley's Patronus is a weasel.
*** His twin sons, Fred and George, have otters for their Patronuses. As does Hermione. (No wonder [[spoiler:she married into the family]].)