History Sandbox / MetaRunnerCharacters

The head of the Rustworks, an underground gaming arena where the social rejects of Silica City duke it out.

!!Tari

!!Theo

!!MD-5

[[folder:Masa]]
!!Masa Shimamoto

[[folder:Sofia]]
!!Sofia Porter

[[folder:Lamar]]
!!Lamar Williams

[[folder:Lucks]]
!!Derek Lucks

[[folder:Belle]]
!!Belle Fontiere

[[folder:Lucinia]]
!!Lucinia Porter
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AmberLeeConnors

See the "Spoiler Characters" section below for details.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Evelyn]]
!!Evelyn Claythorne

!!Belle's Elite Squad

[[folder:Sheridan]]
!!Dr. James Sheridan

!!Bo

!!Marco

The head of the Rustworks, an underground gaming arena where the social rejects of Silica City duke it out to stay on top.

* AscendedExtra: In Season 2, he only makes two appearances: once as MD-5's opponent in "Unreal Engines", and again in the last scene of "Fatal Error" before the credits. In Season 3, he becomes the SixthRanger for MD-5.

* MultiArmedAndDangerous: He has a
* OneManArmy: His extra limbs allow Marco to function as two players in one,

!!Bot Boys

!!Elder Tomato

!!Crab King

----

!!Facepalms

!!Kizuna AI

!!Satsuki-chan

!!Petey

!!Angler

A Meta Runner with the unique ability to warp her mind into any video game she plays. First waking up with total amnesia in a back alley lab, she quickly finds herself targeted by the evil corporation TAS Corp for her power, soon joining MD-5's fight against them as she seeks to uncover her past. Tari starts off timid, curious, and hardly a good gamer at all, but as her gaming experience grows, so do her confidence and skill.

!TAS Corp

* EvilInc: On the surface, TAS Corp seems like an ordinary video game company that manufactures performance-enhancing tools, namely the Meta Runner arm. Behind the scenes, however,
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: In-universe, the company name is spelled as [=TASCorp=] or "TAS-Corp". Official descriptions and closed captions call it "TAS Corp".

!!Top Brass

[[folder:Lucks]]
!!Derek Lucks
->'''Voiced by:''' David J.G. Doyle

The cruel and unscrupulous CEO of TAS Corp.

* BelievingTheirOwnLies: As part of her TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Lucks in Season 2, Belle declares that he's lied and manipulated others for so long that he's convinced himself he isn't a monster. This is in direct response to [[spoiler:Lucks telling her and MD-5 that he was keeping Lucinia alive all along, when he only revealed the truth after over a year to worm his way out of trouble]].
* BigBad: He's in charge of the biggest gaming corporation in Silica City, and is responsible for pretty much everything the other characters have gone through. [[spoiler:However, he's killed at the end of Season 2 by Sheridan, who takes over the role for Season 3.]]
* CorruptCorporateExecutive:
* SlaveToPR: Being such a VillainWithGoodPublicity, he does his damnedest to keep his monstrous conspiracies from reaching the media, knowing that just a single one would ruin him. MD-5 manages to use this against him in Season 2 when he's hosting a heavily publicized tournament, keeping him trapped on his public pedestal as they carry out their own plans.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The first trailer's official description spells his name as "Lux", but it's consistently written in-universe and in the credits
* VillainWithGoodPublicity:

!!Meta Runners

[[folder:Belle]]
!!Belle Fontiere
->'''Voiced by:''' Jessica Fallico

The number one Meta Runner at TAS Corp, and Lucks's right-hand woman. She harbors a certain rivalry with Tari, which only intensifies when Belle uncovers a connection between her and a deeply personal loss. Feisty and stubborn, she nevertheless fights for what she believes is right, even if it's alienated her from everyone she cares about.

[[folder:Lucinia]]
!!Lucinia Porter
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AmberLeeConnors

See the "Spoiler Characters" section below for details.

[[folder:Evelyn]]
!!Evelyn Claythorne
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ElsieLovelock

The newest member of TAS Corp's main Meta Runner lineup. Evelyn's cutesy outward appearance barely hides an obsessive craving for attention and a truly venomous streak towards others, especially Tari, whom she sees as a threat to her chance at the spotlight.

* BigNo: Does this in "Soft Lock" after Tari beats her in ''Hidden Heroes'' [[spoiler:while taken over by a fragment of Lucinia's consciousness.]]
* DepravedDwarf: Her ''Skybreakers'' avatar is an elvish dwarf who's roughly the same size as Theo, but is just as vicious as she usually is.
* EvilBrit: She
* FreudianExcuse: Her need for attention stems from being TheUnFavourite of her family, which also feeds into her hatred of Tari, who seemingly had the silver spoon shoved into her mouth as soon as she joined TAS Corp despite enduring the same nightmarish expectations as Evelyn.
* HiddenDepths: Despite being a SpoiledBrat who gives off the impression that she bought her way to the top thanks to her family's influence, she actually worked hard to get where she is, going through the same physically and mentally demanding experiences as any other Meta Runner at TAS Corp, just to fulfill her dream of being adored by legions of fans.
* MiniMecha: She pilots a jumbo-sized suit of armor in ''Skybreakers'' to account for her lack of size.
* OneWingedAngel: For her final battle with Tari in Season 2, Evelyn takes on the avatar of [[spoiler:the "Glitchemoth", a {{Kaiju}}-sized DigitalAbomination made up of various monster parts and humanoid limbs within Theo's corrupted ''Ultra Jump Mania'' cartridge.]]
* PsychoKnifeNut: She becomes one in Season 3 when she's supplied with a special knife designed specifically to harm and kill Tari, and is positively giddy at the idea.
* RedEyesTakeWarning:
* TheResenter: She absolutely despises Tari for getting thrust into the spotlight purely based on the edge her game-warping gives her over other players, whereas Evelyn herself toiled endlessly just to reach the same level of adoration.
* VillainHasAPoint: Although she's driven by resentment towards Tari, Evelyn isn't wrong in her assessment that Tari [[CripplingOverspecialization relies too heavily on her Meta Runner vision to gain any real skill]], and that the strategies it gives her are repetitive to the point of predictability.

[[folder:Elite Squad]]
!!Belle's Elite Squad

Belle's assigned team of Meta Runners during the ''Tempest'' tournament.
----
* EliteFour: {{Downplayed|Trope}}. They're the toughest foes MD-5 encounters in ''Tempest'', each jumping in with A-tier spells that instantly decimate any less skilled player. In the real world, only Belle has the skill to be considered one of TAS Corp's elite; the rest are nowhere near her level.
* GenderEqualEnsemble: Counting Belle, they consist of two men and two women.
* HeroKiller: They're all meant to be this, but only one of them manages to take out Theo when he [[TakingTheBullet takes a shot for Tari]]. The rest (sans Belle) take a good deal of skill and teamwork from MD-5 to beat.
* MalevolentMaskedMen: Each member's Tempest avatar wears an intimidating mask.
* NoNameGiven: None of them except Belle have their names mentioned.
* TheVoiceless: They don't utter a single word, which adds to their intimidation factor.

!!Others

[[folder:Sheridan]]
!!Dr. James Sheridan
->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

A scientist from TAS Corp's R&D department, and a figure from Tari's past. Sheridan was working on a top-secret gaming project known as "Project Blue", but was presumed dead after an experiment gone horribly wrong.

[[folder:Bo]]
!!Bo

TAS Corp's company mascot.

* TheCameo: She appears on billboards everywhere
* LivingProgram:
* {{Mascot}}

!MD-5

[[folder:In General]]
!!MD-5

An underground resistance formed for one purpose: to take down TAS Corp and its CEO, Lucks. Initially consisting of only three members, they welcome Tari and Theo into their ranks after saving them from the company, while gaining other allies who become honorary members.

* AnimalMotifs: Much like Tari and Belle, the members of MD-5 are all modeled around different types of birds, as specified by their would-be codenames in "Hack and Slash": Masa is a falcon (cunning and noble), Sofia is a canary (bright and cheery), and Lamar is a peacock (a flamboyant show-off).
* LaResistance: They're a small band of heroes whose lives were ruined by TAS Corp's evil, and now fight to rid Silica City of the company.
%%* PowerTrio:
* ThreePlusTwo: The trio officially becomes a FiveManBand after Tari and Theo join.

[[folder:Masa]]
!!Masa Shimamoto
->'''Voiced by:''' Brendan Barry-Cotter

The hard-boiled leader and founder of MD-5. Formerly TAS Corp's star Meta Runner team captain, Masa acted out against Lucks's corrupt practices and was decommissioned for it. While cynical and slow to trust others, he has his heart in the right place and becomes a valued guide for Tari.

* DespairEventHorizon: Season 2 reintroduces him having given up all hope of defeating TAS Corp following Season 1's events, believing MD-5 has lost their hard-earned data, and being unable to do much of anything with his shot-off Meta Runner arm. Learning that Sofia successfully backed up all the data instantly rekindles his desire to fight.
* EntertaininglyWrong: Masa correctly suspects Lucks of hiding the details surrounding Lucinia's disappearance, but wrongly concludes that Lucks murdered her and is covering up his tracks. In reality, it was Sheridan to blame for her death, [[spoiler:and even then, she's OnlyMostlyDead; Lucks selfishly hid her survival as a final trump card to escape punishment.]]
* EtTuBrute:
** He was deeply stung when his trusted teammate Belle took Lucks's side during Lucinia's disappearance, writing Masa off as a lunatic for hacking into their boss's private server for evidence of Lucinia's murder, much less accusing Lucks of killing one of his best Meta Runners. It's for this reason he initially rejects her offer to help when she finally turns against Lucks in "Heart to Heart", fearing she'll just let him down again until Tari convinces him to give her another chance.
** He starts off Season 2 feeling betrayed by Tari and Theo following the events of "Shutdown": the former for [[TheyDiedBecauseOfYou her involvement in Lucinia's death]] and the latter for [[UnwittingPawn being used as TASCorp's spy]]. However, he sets his grudges aside to save them after a short talk with Lamar, and later shows no hard feelings to Tari when they finally reunite in "Heart to Heart", implying [[DownplayedTrope Masa isn't as bitter towards the two as he lets on]].
* FakeArmDisarm: He suffers this in "Shutdown" when Lucks shoots his Meta Runner arm off at the elbow joint. He's forced to rely on a single-handed controller until he gets a replacement arm in "Transfer Student".
* GaveUpTooSoon:
* LaserGuidedKarma: In "Unreal Engines", he secretly bugs Marco's cybernetic arms to sabotage their match and win himself a new Meta Runner arm. In "Fatal Error", [[spoiler:it's shown that his unfairly won arm was bugged the exact same way by Sheridan, who takes control of it to shoot Lucks and frame Masa]].

[[folder:Sofia]]
!!Sofia Porter
->'''Voiced by:''' Hayley Nelson

MD-5's resident tech genius who provides the team with arm upgrades and TAS Corp intel. Sofia is chipper, energetic, and just a little nutty, but all of that hides a burning desire to bring TAS Corp to justice.

* BreakTheComedian: Sofia is the embodiment of a GenkiGirl, but becomes quiet, submissive, and emotionally destroyed in "Shutdown" after Lucks shoots off Masa's arm in his SadisticChoice for her, followed minutes later by Belle showing her how Lucinia died. Fortunately, she pulls herself back together by Season 2.
* AFriendInNeed:
* GenkiGirl: Sofia is a "little ball of chaos", in Masa's words.
* HeroicBSOD: She goes into one in "Shutdown" after Belle exposes Tari for her involvement in Lucinia's death. However, Sofia shakes it off after Tari [[HeroicSacrifice turns herself over to TAS Corp for her friends' safety]].
* MoralityPet: Downplayed regarding Marco, who's a gruff {{Jerkass}} rather than a villain, but she's nevertheless the only member of MD-5 he's on friendly terms with, on account of their shared history.
* SadClown: Despite being one of the most comedic characters in the series, she's also one of the most deeply affected by TAS Corp's actions, since she lost her sister and only family to them.
* SadisticChoice:

[[folder:Lamar]]
!!Lamar Williams
->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

->''"Tari, I know you're scared. I was too when MD-5 found me. But I swear on all the 2D twin-tail tsundere girls out there that if you stick with us, we'll keep you safe."''

A hardcore anime otaku and Meta Runner who works with MD-5. Lamar is as laid-back and friendly as they come, but often butts heads with his team' crazier ideas.

* BigDamnHeroes:
** He busts Tari out of TAS Corp's holding van in "Sequence Break", which is also how she meets him and gets taken to MD-5's hideout.
* AFriendInNeed: Lamar is the most vocal in defending Tari from [[TheyDiedBecauseOfYou accusations of her role in Lucinia's fate]], at first insisting that Tari must have been framed, and later concluding that none of it matters since she [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificed her freedom for MD-5's]].
* IHaveManyNames: He has at least four online screen names: [=Animeking20=], [=OtakuPrince=], [=xXBodyPillowBossXx=], and [=Ecchi_Emperor92=]. This is a plot point in Season 2, since it makes him tricky to identify when Tari tries looking for him in ''Pocket Gakusei''.
* MysteriousPast: His past is the most vague of all MD-5 members, as he simply says in "Aimbot" that TAS Corp ruined his life before MD-5 found him. Season 3 {{downplays}} this by shedding light on how he became a Meta Runner--he started out content to remain a casual gamer, but TAS Corp's evil motivated him to join MD-5 and get his arm so he could put his skills to better use--but still nothing specifically on what TAS Corp did to him.
* {{Otaku}}: He is obsessed with anime--particularly hot anime girls--and is not afraid to show it, ranging from decals of them on his car to body pillows of them that he introduces to anyone he meets.

!Citizens of Silica City

[[folder:Marco]]
!!Marco
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/JasonMarnocha

The head of the Rustworks, an underground gaming arena where the social rejects of Silica City duke it out to stay on top.

* AscendedExtra: In Season 2, he only makes two appearances: once as MD-5's opponent in "Unreal Engines", and again in the last scene of "Fatal Error" before the credits. In Season 3, he becomes the SixthRanger for MD-5.
* AwesomeBackpack: He wears a mechanical backpack that gives him an extra pair of limbs, giving him the advantage of two players over one.
* BigDamnHeroes: Downplayed. He comes to MD-5's rescue when they're on the run from the police at the end of Season 2...so he can lock them up himself by the start of Season 3.
* HatesRichPeople:
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: He has a
* OneManArmy: His extra limbs allow Marco to function as two players in one,
* OnlyOneName:

[[folder:Bot Boys]]
!!Bot Boys
->'''Voiced by:''' Kevin Lerdwichagul, [[Creator/Supermarioglitchy4 Luke Lerdwichagul]]

Tiny robot assistants who can be found all over Silica City.

* BeastlyBloodsports: Parodied with two Bot Boys seen in "Hard Reset",
* BewareTheSillyOnes:
* TheChewToy:
* CreatorCameo: Most of the Bot Boys are voiced by series co-creator Kevin Lerdwichagul, with a few in Season 2 voiced by his brother and other co-creator, [[Creator/Supermarioglitchy4 Luke/SMG4]].
* FunnyRobot: Their main purpose in the series is to provide comic relief.
* ICantFeelMyLegs: Said by one Bot Boy who demonstrates a forward-folding chair to Tari.
* NumberTwo:
* SycophanticServant: Evelyn's Cabin Boy in ''Skybreakers'' is constantly bossed around by her, but hangs on her every word all the same.

!Game Characters

!!''Ultra Jump Mania''

[[folder:Elder Tomato]]
!!Elder Tomato
->'''Voiced by:''' David J.G. Doyle

[[folder:Crab King]]
!!Crab King

* FakeCrossover: He makes a non-canon appearance in the {{Pilot}} of ''WebAnimation/SunsetParadise'', where he helps Meggy carry her luggage.

[[folder:Facepalms]]
!!Facepalms

The most common enemy characters.

* {{Mooks}}:
* NoSell: As weak as they are, they are immune to any form of realistic, non-comical violence. Tari learns this the hard way when she tries punching one.
* PunnyName: They're palm trees with faces.
* WhenTreesAttack: These walking, grunting trees are the basic enemies of ''Ultra Jump Mania''.
* ZergRush: A large number of them swarm Tari and Theo in "Out of Bounds".

!!''Pocket Gakusei''

[[folder:Kizuna AI]]
!!Kizuna AI
->'''Voiced by:''' [[WebAnimation/KizunaAI Herself]]

Yes, ''[[VirtualYouTuber that]]'' WebAnimation/KizunaAI, who shows up in ''Pocket Gakusei'' as a tutorial guide.

* BilingualDialogue: AI speaks exclusively in Japanese to the English-speaking Tari, who can understand her back thanks to a [[TranslatorMicrobes universal translator]].

[[folder:Satsuki-chan]]
!!Satsuki-chan

A character from the dating sim ''Nova Explorers'' who appears in ''Pocket Gakusei'' as part of a promotional crossover.
----
* AdvertisedExtra: Despite appearing prominently in Season 2's trailer and opening, and in the thumbnail of "Transfer Student", she's a minor character who shows up in all of two scenes in that season, with Tari's side quest of getting to Lamar through her happening in a FallingInLoveMontage during that episode's credits.
* ChekhovsGunman: She first appears on a body pillow as one of Lamar's "side chicks" in "Game Plan". Tari remembers this factoid when she enters ''Pocket Gakusei'' in "Transfer Student", giving her the idea to contact MD-5 through her.
* EveryoneIsBi: This being a DatingSim for gamers of any sex, Satsuki-chan doesn't distinguish between male and female players when it comes to their relationship.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: When her LoveConfession gets turned down, she gives players options to tell her or describe who they really love so she can help get them together.
* NoodleIncident: Her dialogue goes into an elaborate and upsetting backstory involving "nine space gems" and a LukeIAmYourFather moment with the "evil Nova-Lord", but Tari's haste to get through it all means we don't get to see any more than that.
* PlayerPunch: In-universe, her brokenhearted reaction to getting her LoveConfession turned down is this for Tari, who wasn't all that invested in the game to begin with.
* ProductionForeshadowing: Not Satsuki-chan herself, but rather her home game, ''Nova Explorers'', which was mentioned in ''[=SMG4=]''[='=]s Anime Arc as a manga series created by Axol before ''Meta Runner'' was released.
* RelationshipValues: This being a DatingSim, Tari is required to go on dates with Satsuki-chan to fill their relationship meter and trigger a "heart to heart" (i.e., a LoveConfession) event.
* VoiceGrunting: Her voiced dialogue consists entirely of speechless grunts.

!!''Skybreakers''

[[folder:Petey]]
!!Petey
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/BrendanBlaber\\

An overenthusiastic robot pirate who serves as the tutorial guide for newcomers. His model and voice are recycled with other guides and shopkeepers in the game.
----
!!!Tropes applying to Petey

* BigDamnHeroes: He comes to Tari's rescue when Evelyn attacks her, providing just enough cover for Tari to escape from the level.
* ClosedCircle: His programming forbids him from leaving his domain level, Shipwreck Swamp, and the game's rules keep players stuck with him until they clear it.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: He seems like an annoying character who's only good for barking
* FunnyRobot: He's a short, goofy pirate robot
* IncomingHam: As he ever so loves to announce to players, "WELCOME TO ''SKYYYBREAKEEERS''!"
* LargeHam:
* MrExposition: Being a tutorial guide, he fulfills the role of explaining the basics of ''Skybreakers'' to Tari as much as the audience.
* SkewedPriorities: Subverted. He seems more concerned with putting Tari through a ForcedTutorial instead of letting her go to help her friends, but as he points out, the tutorial level is a ClosedCircle that is genuinely impossible for her to leave until she learns the basics, which are also vital to her survival.
* UnwantedAssistance: He's an in-universe AnnoyingVideoGameHelper to Tari, who finds his advice a pain to deal with. When he reveals he can communicate with her remotely from Shipwreck Swamp, she shuts off his dialog box.

!!!Tropes applying to other guides

* AssetActor: They're all recolors of Petey due to in-universe budget restraints, but act as distinct characters.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: To distinguish them from Petey, who wears red, the Dockmaster wears dark green while the Fashionmaster wears yellow.
* DeathSeeker: PlayedForLaughs with the Dockmaster, who desperately wants to be put out of his misery since he's stuck in a non-[=PvP=] zone.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Unlike Petey, the other guides don't have any known names beyond their in-game roles like "Dockmaster" and "Fashionmaster".
* IDieFree: Subverted when Evelyn's rule-breaking hack allows the Dockmaster to finally experience the "sweet release of death", only to respawn immediately, much to his disappointment.

[[folder:Angler]]
!!Angler

An elite boss that dwells within the dungeon of Scrapbeard's Fortress.
----
* MixAndMatchCritters: It has the face and lure of an angler fish mixed with the body of an eel.
[[/folder]]

!Spoiler Characters

[[folder:Lucinia]]
!!Lucinia Porter
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AmberLeeConnors
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Mastermind]]
!!Dr. James Sheridan
->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

Tari's creator and the scientist behind Project Blue. Presumed to have died in the lab explosion together with Lucinia, Sheridan survived with horrible burns at the cost of his sanity. He has since lurked behind the scenes, using Tari in an elaborate plan of revenge against Lucks so he may force his twisted vision onto the world.
[[/folder]]

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Celeste Notley-Smith\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Robyn Barry-Cotter\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' David J.G. Doyle\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Jessica Fallico\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ElsieLovelock

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ElsieLovelock\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Brendan Barry-Cotter\\
'''First appearance:''' "Sequence Break" ([=S1E04=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Hayley Nelson\\
'''First appearance:''' "Sequence Break" ([=S1E04=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha\\
'''First appearance:''' "Bad Split" ([=S1E03=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/JasonMarnocha\\
'''First appearance:''' "Unreal Engines" ([=S2E03=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Kevin Lerdwichagul, [[Creator/Supermarioglitchy4 Luke Lerdwichagul]]\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' David J.G. Doyle\\
'''First appearance:''' "Out of Bounds" ([=S1E02=])

!!!'''First appearance:'''

!!!'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

The enemy characters.

!!!'''Voiced by:''' [[WebAnimation/KizunaAI Herself]]\\
'''First appearance:''' "Transfer Student" ([=S2E04=])
->''"Hello, I'm Kizuna AI. Nice to meet you."''[[labelnote:Japanese]]''Watashi wa Kizuna AI desu. Hajimemashite!''[[/labelnote]]

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AmberLeeConnors\\
'''First appearance:''' "Game Plan" ([=S1E06=])
->''"Space love is different to earth love. B--b-but I want your love Tari-senpai!"''

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/BrendanBlaber\\
'''First appearance:''' "Testing Room" ([=S3E02=])

!!!'''First appearance:''' "Death Warp" ([=S3E05=])
->''"Oh man, it's even scarier than in the trailer!"''
-->-- '''Lamar'''

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AmberLeeConnors\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha\\
'''First appearance:''' "Wrong Warp" ([=S1E01=])

'''First appearance:''' "Aimbot" ([=S1E05=])

* ChekhovsGunman: She first appears on a body pillow as one of Lamar's "side chicks" in "Game Plan". Tari remembers this factoid when she enters ''Pocket Gakusei'' in "Transfer Student", giving her a way to contact MD-5 through her.

* BilinguqlDialogue: AI speaks exclusively in Japanese to the English-speaking Tari, who can understand her back thanks to a [[TranslatorMicrobes universal translator]].

->'''Voiced by:''' Celeste Notley-Smith

->'''Voiced by:''' Robyn Barry-Cotter

->'''Voiced by:''' David J.G. Doyle

->'''Voiced by:''' Jessica Fallico

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ElsieLovelock

->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ElsieLovelock

->'''Voiced by:''' Brendan Barry-Cotter

->'''Voiced by:''' Hayley Nelson

->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/JasonMarnocha

->'''Voiced by:''' Kevin Lerdwichagul, [[Creator/Supermarioglitchy4 Luke Lerdwichagul]]

->'''Voiced by:''' David J.G. Doyle

->'''Voiced by:''' [[AsHimself Herself]]

Yes, that Kizuna AI.

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AmberLeeConnors

->''Voiced by:''' Creator/BrendanBlaber

* AnnoyingVideoGameHelper: InUniverse to Tari, who finds his advice a pain to deal with. When he reveals he can communicate with her remotely from Shipwreck Swamp, she shuts off his dialog box.

* ClosedCircle: His programming forbids him from leaving his domain level, Shipwreck Swamp, and the game's rules keep players stuck with him until they clear .
* FunnyRobot:

* AssetActor: They are all recolors of Petey due to in-universe budget restraints, but act as distinct characters.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: To distinguish them from Petey, the Dockmaster wears dark green while the Fashionmaster wears yellow.
* DeathSeeker: PlayedForLaughs with the Dockmaster, who desperately wants to be put out of his misery.

* IDieFree: Subverted when Evelyn's rule-breaking hack allows the Dockmaster to finally experience the "sweet release of death", only to disappoint him when he respawns immediately.

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AmberLeeConnors

->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

* EntertaininglyWrong: Masa correctly suspects Lucks of covering up the details around Lucinia's death, but

** He was deeply stung when Belle took Lucks's side during Lucinia's disappearance, writing Masa off as a lunatic for hacking into their boss's private server for evidence of Lucinia's murder, much less accusing Lucks of killing one of his best Meta Runners. [[spoiler:It takes Tari to convince him to accept Belle's help again when she finally turns against Lucks in "Heart to Heart".]]

* FakeArmDisarm: He suffers this in "Shutdown" when Lucks shoots his Meta Runner arm off at the elbow joint.

* OneWingedAngel: In "Nightmare Mode", she takes on the avatar of [[spoiler:the "Glitchemoth", a horrific mashup of monsters and limbs within Theo's corrupted ''Ultra Jump Mania'' cartridge.]]

The latest member of TAS Corp's Meta Runner lineup. Evelyn's cutesy outward appearance barely hides an obsessive craving for attention and a truly venemous streak towards others, especially Tari, whom she sees as a threat to her chance at the spotlight.

* SychophanticServant: Evelyn's Cabin Boy in ''Skybreakers'' is constantly bossed around by her, but hangs on her every word all the same.

[[folder:Belle]]
!!Belle Fontiere
->'''Voiced by:''' Jessica Fallico

The number one Meta Runner at TAS Corp, and Lucks's right-hand woman. She harbors a certain rivalry with Tari, which only intensifies when Belle uncovers a connection between her and a deeply personal loss. Feisty and stubborn, she nevertheless fights for what she believes is right, even if it's alienated her from everyone she cares about.
[[/folder]]

!MD-5

!!MD-5

An underground resistance formed for one purpose: to take down TAS Corp and its CEO, Lucks. Initially consisting of only three members, they welcome Tari and Theo into their ranks after saving them from the company, while gaining other allies who become honorary members.
----
* AnimalMotifs: Much like Tari and Belle, the members of MD-5 are all modeled around different types of birds, as specified by their would-be codenames in "Hack and Slash": Masa is a falcon (cunning and noble), Sofia is a canary (bright and cheery), and Lamar is a peacock (a flamboyant show-off).
* LaResistance: They're a small band of heroes whose lives were ruined by TAS Corp's evil, and now fight to rid Silica City of the company.
%%* PowerTrio:
* ThreePlusTwo: The trio officially becomes a FiveManBand after Tari and Theo join.

[[folder:Masa]]
!!Masa Shimamoto
->'''Voiced by:''' Brendan Barry-Cotter

The hard-boiled leader and founder of MD-5. Formerly TAS Corp's star Meta Runner team captain, Masa acted out against Lucks's corrupt practices and was decommissioned for it. While cynical and slow to trust others, he has his heart in the right place and becomes a valued guide for Tari.

* DespairEventHorizon: Season 2 reintroduces him having given up all hope of defeating TAS Corp following Season 1's events, believing MD-5 has lost their hard-earned data, and being unable to do much of anything with his shot-off Meta Runner arm. Learning that Sofia successfully backed up all the data instantly rekindles his desire to fight.
* EntertaininglyWrong: Masa correctly suspects Lucks of covering up the details around Lucinia's death, but
* EtTuBrute:
** He was deeply stung when Belle took Lucks's side during Lucinia's disappearance, writing Masa off as a lunatic for hacking into their boss's private server for evidence of Lucinia's murder, much less accusing Lucks of killing one of his best Meta Runners. [[spoiler:It takes Tari to convince him to accept Belle's help again when she finally turns against Lucks in "Heart to Heart".]]
** He starts off Season 2 feeling betrayed by Tari and Theo following the events of "Shutdown": the former for [[TheyDiedBecauseOfYou her involvement in Lucinia's death]] and the latter for [[UnwittingPawn being used as TASCorp's spy]]. However, he sets his grudges aside to save them after a short talk with Lamar, and later shows no hard feelings to Tari when they finally reunite in "Heart to Heart", implying [[DownplayedTrope Masa isn't as bitter towards the two as he lets on]].
* FakeArmDisarm: He suffers this in "Shutdown" when Lucks shoots his Meta Runner arm off at the elbow joint.
* GaveUpTooSoon:

[[folder:Sofia]]
!!Sofia Porter
->'''Voiced by:''' Hayley Nelson

MD-5's resident tech genius who provides the team with arm upgrades and TAS Corp intel. Sofia is chipper, energetic, and just a little nutty, but all of that hides a burning desire to bring TAS Corp to justice.

* BreakTheComedian: Sofia is the embodiment of a GenkiGirl, but becomes quiet, submissive, and emotionally destroyed in "Shutdown" after Lucks shoots off Masa's arm in his SadisticChoice for her, followed minutes later by Belle showing her how Lucinia died. Fortunately, she pulls herself back together by Season 2.
* AFriendInNeed:
* GenkiGirl: Sofia is a "little ball of chaos", in Masa's words.
* HeroicBSOD: She goes into one in "Shutdown" after Belle exposes Tari for her involvement in Lucinia's death. However, Sofia shakes it off after Tari [[HeroicSacrifice turns herself over to TAS Corp for her friends' safety]].
* MoralityPet: Downplayed regarding Marco, who's a gruff {{Jerkass}} rather than a villain, but she's nevertheless the only member of MD-5 he's on friendly terms with, on account of their shared history.
* SadClown: Despite being one of the most comedic characters in the series, she's also one of the most deeply affected by TAS Corp's actions, since she lost her sister and only family to them.
* SadisticChoice:

[[folder:Lamar]]
!!Lamar Williams

->''"Tari, I know you're scared. I was too when MD-5 found me. But I swear on all the 2D twin-tail tsundere girls out there that if you stick with us, we'll keep you safe."''

A hardcore anime otaku and Meta Runner who works with MD-5. Lamar is as laid-back and friendly as they come, but often butts heads with his team' crazier ideas.
----
* BigDamnHeroes:
** He busts Tari out of TAS Corp's holding van in "Sequence Break", which is also how she meets him and gets taken to MD-5's hideout.
* AFriendInNeed: Lamar is the most vocal in defending Tari from [[TheyDiedBecauseOfYou accusations of her role in Lucinia's fate]], at first insisting that Tari must have been framed, and later concluding that none of it matters since she [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificed her freedom for MD-5's]].
* IHaveManyNames: He has at least four online screen names: [=Animeking20=], [=OtakuPrince=], [=xXBodyPillowBossXx=], and [=Ecchi_Emperor92=]. This is a plot point in Season 2, since it makes him tricky to identify when Tari tries looking for him in ''Pocket Gakusei''.
* MysteriousPast: His past is the most vague of all MD-5 members, as he simply says in "Aimbot" that TAS Corp ruined his life before MD-5 found him. Season 3 {{downplays}} this by shedding light on how he became a Meta Runner--he started out content to remain a casual gamer, but TAS Corp's evil motivated him to join MD-5 and get his arm so he could put his skills to better use--but still nothing specifically on what TAS Corp did to him.
* {{Otaku}}: He is obsessed with anime--particularly hot anime girls--and is not afraid to show it, ranging from decals of them on his car to body pillows of them that he introduces to anyone he meets.

!TAS Corp

[[folder:In General]]
* EvilInc: On the surface, TAS Corp seems like an ordinary video game company that manufactures performance-enhancing tools, namely the Meta Runner arm. Behind the scenes, however,
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: In-universe, the company name is spelled as [=TASCorp=] or "TAS-Corp". Official descriptions and closed captions call it "TAS Corp".

[[folder:Lucks]]
!!Derek Lucks
->'''Voiced by:''' David J.G. Doyle

The cruel and unscrupulous CEO of TAS Corp.

* BelievingTheirOwnLies: As part of her TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Lucks in Season 2, Belle declares that he's lied and manipulated others for so long that he's convinced himself he isn't a monster. This is in direct response to [[spoiler:Lucks telling her and MD-5 that he was keeping Lucinia alive all along, when he only revealed the truth after over a year to worm his way out of trouble]].
* BigBad: He's in charge of the biggest gaming corporation in Silica City, and is responsible for pretty much everything the other characters have gone through. [[spoiler:However, he's killed at the end of Season 2 by Sheridan, who takes over the role for Season 3.]]
* CorruptCorporateExecutive:
* SlaveToPR: Being such a VillainWithGoodPublicity, he does his damnedest to keep his monstrous conspiracies from reaching the media, knowing that just a single one would ruin him. MD-5 manages to use this against him in Season 2 when he's hosting a heavily publicized tournament, keeping him trapped on his public pedestal as they carry out their own plans.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The first trailer's official description spells his name as "Lux", but it's consistently written in-universe and in the credits
* VillainWithGoodPublicity:

[[folder:Evelyn]]
!!Evelyn Claythorne
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ElsieLovelock

The latest member of TAS Corp's Meta Runner lineup. Evelyn's cutesy outward appearance barely hides an obsessive craving for attention and a truly venemous streak towards others, especially Tari, whom she sees as a threat to her chance at the spotlight.

* BigNo: Does this in "Soft Lock" after Tari beats her in ''Hidden Heroes'' [[spoiler:while taken over by a fragment of Lucinia's consciousness.]]
* DepravedDwarf: Her ''Skybreakers'' avatar is an elvish dwarf who's roughly the same size as Theo, but is just as vicious as she usually is.
* EvilBrit: She
* FreudianExcuse: Her need for attention stems from being TheUnFavourite of her family, which also feeds into her hatred of Tari, who seemingly had the silver spoon shoved into her mouth as soon as she joined TAS Corp despite enduring the same nightmarish expectations as Evelyn.
* HiddenDepths: Despite being a SpoiledBrat who gives off the impression that she bought her way to the top thanks to her family's influence, she actually worked hard to get where she is, going through the same physically and mentally demanding experiences as any other Meta Runner at TAS Corp, just to fulfill her dream of being adored by legions of fans.
* MiniMecha: She pilots a jumbo-sized suit of armor in ''Skybreakers'' to account for her lack of size.
* OneWingedAngel: In "Nightmare Mode", she takes on the avatar of [[spoiler:the "Glitchemoth", a horrific mashup of monsters and limbs within Theo's corrupted ''Ultra Jump Mania'' cartridge.]]
* PsychoKnifeNut: She becomes one in Season 3 when she's supplied with a special knife designed specifically to harm and kill Tari, and is positively giddy at the idea.
* RedEyesTakeWarning:
* TheResenter: She absolutely despises Tari for getting thrust into the spotlight purely based on the edge her game-warping gives her over other players, whereas Evelyn herself toiled endlessly just to reach the same level of adoration.
* VillainHasAPoint: Although she's driven by resentment towards Tari, Evelyn isn't wrong in her assessment that Tari [[CripplingOverspecialization relies too heavily on her Meta Runner vision to gain any real skill]], and that the strategies it gives her are repetitive to the point of predictability.

[[folder:Sheridan]]
!!Dr. James Sheridan
->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

A scientist from TAS Corp's R&D department, and a figure from Tari's past. Sheridan was working on a top-secret gaming project known as "Project Blue", but was presumed dead after an experiment gone horribly wrong.

[[folder:Bo]]
!!Bo
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ElsieLovelock

TAS Corp's company mascot.

[[folder:Masa]]
!!Masa Shimamoto
->'''Voiced by:''' Brendan Barry-Cotter

The hard-boiled leader and founder of MD-5. Formerly TAS Corp's star Meta Runner team captain, Masa acted out against Lucks's corrupt practices and was decommissioned for it. While cynical and slow to trust others, he has his heart in the right place and becomes a valued guide for Tari.

* DespairEventHorizon: Season 2 reintroduces him having given up all hope of defeating TAS Corp following Season 1's events, believing MD-5 has lost their hard-earned data, and being unable to do much of anything with his shot-off Meta Runner arm. Learning that Sofia successfully backed up all the data instantly rekindles his desire to fight.
* EntertaininglyWrong: Masa correctly suspects Lucks of covering up the details around Lucinia's death, but
* EtTuBrute:
** He was deeply stung when Belle took Lucks's side during Lucinia's disappearance, writing Masa off as a lunatic for hacking into their boss's private server for evidence of Lucinia's murder, much less accusing Lucks of killing one of his best Meta Runners. [[spoiler:It takes Tari to convince him to accept Belle's help again when she finally turns against Lucks in "Heart to Heart".]]
** He starts off Season 2 feeling betrayed by Tari and Theo following the events of "Shutdown": the former for [[TheyDiedBecauseOfYou her involvement in Lucinia's death]] and the latter for [[UnwittingPawn being used as TASCorp's spy]]. However, he sets his grudges aside to save them after a short talk with Lamar, and later shows no hard feelings to Tari when they finally reunite in "Heart to Heart", implying [[DownplayedTrope Masa isn't as bitter towards the two as he lets on]].
* FakeArmDisarm: He suffers this in "Shutdown" when Lucks shoots his Meta Runner arm off at the elbow joint.
* GaveUpTooSoon:

[[folder:Sofia]]
!!Sofia Porter
->'''Voiced by:''' Hayley Nelson

MD-5's resident tech genius who provides the team with arm upgrades and TAS Corp intel. Sofia is chipper, energetic, and just a little nutty, but all of that hides a burning desire to bring TAS Corp to justice.

* BreakTheComedian: Sofia is the embodiment of a GenkiGirl, but becomes quiet, submissive, and emotionally destroyed in "Shutdown" after Lucks shoots off Masa's arm in his SadisticChoice for her, followed minutes later by Belle showing her how Lucinia died. Fortunately, she pulls herself back together by Season 2.
* AFriendInNeed:
* GenkiGirl: Sofia is a "little ball of chaos", in Masa's words.
* HeroicBSOD: She goes into one in "Shutdown" after Belle exposes Tari for her involvement in Lucinia's death. However, Sofia shakes it off after Tari [[HeroicSacrifice turns herself over to TAS Corp for her friends' safety]].
* MoralityPet: Downplayed regarding Marco, who's a gruff {{Jerkass}} rather than a villain, but she's nevertheless the only member of MD-5 he's on friendly terms with, on account of their shared history.
* SadClown: Despite being one of the most comedic characters in the series, she's also one of the most deeply affected by TAS Corp's actions, since she lost her sister and only family to them.
* SadisticChoice:

[[folder:Lamar]]
!!Lamar Williams
->'''Voiced by:''' Anthony Sardinha

->''"Tari, I know you're scared. I was too when MD-5 found me. But I swear on all the 2D twin-tail tsundere girls out there that if you stick with us, we'll keep you safe."''

A hardcore anime otaku and Meta Runner who works with MD-5. Lamar is as laid-back and friendly as they come, but often butts heads with his team' crazier ideas.

* BigDamnHeroes:
** He busts Tari out of TAS Corp's holding van in "Sequence Break", which is also how she meets him and gets taken to MD-5's hideout.
* AFriendInNeed: Lamar is the most vocal in defending Tari from [[TheyDiedBecauseOfYou accusations of her role in Lucinia's fate]], at first insisting that Tari must have been framed, and later concluding that none of it matters since she [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificed her freedom for MD-5's]].
* IHaveManyNames: He has at least four online screen names: [=Animeking20=], [=OtakuPrince=], [=xXBodyPillowBossXx=], and [=Ecchi_Emperor92=]. This is a plot point in Season 2, since it makes him tricky to identify when Tari tries looking for him in ''Pocket Gakusei''.
* MysteriousPast: His past is the most vague of all MD-5 members, as he simply says in "Aimbot" that TAS Corp ruined his life before MD-5 found him. Season 3 {{downplays}} this by shedding light on how he became a Meta Runner--he started out content to remain a casual gamer, but TAS Corp's evil motivated him to join MD-5 and get his arm so he could put his skills to better use--but still nothing specifically on what TAS Corp did to him.
* {{Otaku}}: He is obsessed with anime--particularly hot anime girls--and is not afraid to show it, ranging from decals of them on his car to body pillows of them that he introduces to anyone he meets.