History WeCanRuleTogether / WesternAnimation

** Azula makes such an offer to Zuko -- a chance to help her capture Ba Sing Se and kick ass together as siblings, even though the latter was a Fire Nation fugitive at the time and was just starting a new, normal life within the city. [[spoiler:In a rare exception, he joins her, and they do indeed kick ass as evil siblings, even conquering a ''country'' in a few hours.]] However, [[spoiler: he quits ''later'']].

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfBooKiniBottom", Plankton attempts to offer an alliance to the Flying Dutchman by saying when he takes over the world, they'll split it 70-30. The Dutchman's not impressed and turns Plankton into an Igor-like servant.

** Over 100 years previously, Fire Lord Sozin [[HoYay used the same pickup line on Avatar Roku]], in the name of their childhood friendship. Roku declined, and Sozin got ''pissed'' as he viewed it as a personal betrayal of said friendship.

* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'': In "[[Recap/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteersS1E6TheConqueror The Conqueror]]", Gaia's EvilCounterpart Zarm arrives on the scene and manages to corrupt most of the team by pretending benevolence and offering them power upgrades while messing with their minds. After Gaia manages to bring them back to their senses ([[NiceJobFixingItVillain no thanks to Zarm upsetting a silo on her]]), he tries to reassert his influence to no avail. After the other three corrupted Planeteers have torn off their gauntlets, Zarm makes a last-ditch effort to keep control of [[CommanderContrarian Wheeler]], telling him that he can make him ruler of the world and following it up with a burst of HypnoticEyes just to make sure. It fails miserably; he's barely finished before [[KnightInSourArmor Wheeler]] tells him he doesn't want the kind of world Zarm is offering and [[TakeBackYourGift throws away his own gauntlet]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'':

** In "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E1To3TheLastSonOfKrypton The Last Son of Krypton]]", after making it plain to this mysterious alien that he runs Metropolis, Luthor notes that he often wonders if he should be satisfied with "just" one city and that between the two of them they could basically run the world. Naturally, Superman doesn't bite. However in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E12BraveNewMetropolis Brave New Metropolis]]" we get a look at [[VillainWorld what things would be like]] [[BewareTheSuperman had he accepted]].

* In the second episode of the classic ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' cartoon, Shredder makes this offer to the Turtles, on the grounds that his having accidentally been responsible for their mutation (in the course of betraying and attempting to poison their sensei) means they are ''destined'' to work with him. The response:

* Done twice in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan''. First with Tombstone offering Spider-Man a job that amounts to not fighting crime, and with Green Goblin offering to Spidey that the two of them could rule New York together. Too bad he doesn't partner with anybody green. Or, you know, psychotic.
** Although in Goblin's case it was done with such over-the-top sarcastic glee, he was likely just making fun of Spidey and giving a ShoutOut to the movie.

** Over 100 years previously, Fire Lord Sozin [[HoYay used the same pickup line on Avatar Roku.]] Roku declined, and Sozin got ''pissed.''

** Also, Stickybeard made this offer to Numbuh Five the first time they met, saying he [[YouGotSpunk liked her spunk]]. Although she turned the offer down, he did seem to consider her a WorthyOpponent in future episodes.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
** Slade's [[HiddenAgendaVillain hidden motive]] all along was revealed to be just to get Robin to join him. The DiabolicalMastermind finally resorted to outright {{blackmail}} -- apprenticeship in exchange for his friends' lives. At least, he used the word "apprentice," but what he really seemed to want was a son:
--->'''Slade:''' Who knows? I may even become like a father to you.\\
'''Robin:''' I already have a [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} father]].
** Considering that in the graphic novels, Slade has three kids - and the two surviving ones are hardly about to send him Father of the Year trophies?
** {{Parodied|Trope}} with Killer Moth. When he tries to [[LetHimChoose convince his mutant test subject to obey him instead of being Starfire's pet]], he says, "Join me, and together we will... go on a picnic of some sort."
* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'':
** Before MotiveDecay set in in Season 3, Vlad Plasmius held a similar obsession for Danny, offering him partnership from Day 1: "Think about the things I could show you. The doors I could open for you. You, Danny Phantom, and I, Vlad Plasmius... together, we could rule!"
** This is also said word-for-word by Sam when she's mind-controlled into becoming TheDragon for a plant-based ghost, complete with {{Stripperiffic}} Poison Ivy-ish outfit.
* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'':
** In the first SeasonFinale, Wuya offers this to Raimundo, who's feeling unappreciated... and he accepts, helping her regain her physical form and TakeOverTheWorld. He has a change of heart and leaves her in the second season's opening two-parter.
** Incidentally, this results in Raimundo asking his friends to serve Wuya at his side - he joined her because of his own selfish reasons, but never really wanted to hurt anyone. So when Wuya threatens his friends, the only way he can think of to spare them and keep what Wuya's given him is to pull this trope. They tell him they'd rather kiss the backside of a mule.
** Chase Young has this as his entire motivation - he knows Omi has the potential to defeat him someday, but also that their combined power would make him invincible. Therefore, he never puts his EvilPlan into motion until Omi is at his side. Throughout season 2, he is shown to be making progress slowly luring Omi to the side of evil, only to use a magic MirrorMoralityMachine... but while Omi is under its effects Chase gets him to swear his loyalty, so that when he's snapped out of it, ''[[HonorBeforeReason he goes over willingly]]''.
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'':
** In "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E1To3TheLastSonOfKrypton The Last Son of Krypton]]", after making it plain to this mysterious alien that he runs Metropolis, Luthor notes that he often wonders if he should be satisfied with "just" one city and that between the two of them they could basically run the world. Naturally, Superman doesn't bite. However in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E12BraveNewMetropolis Brave New Metropolis]]" we get a look at [[VillainWorld what things would be like]] [[BewareTheSuperman had he accepted]].
** {{ComicBook/Darkseid}} delivers one of these to a weakened Superman in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E25E26ApokolipsNow Apokolips...Now]]". It even plays out at the top of a tall mountain, paralleling the Biblical temptation of Jesus.
* Occurs frequently in ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', but what would you expect when the BigBad is voiced by [[Creator/MarkHamill Luke Skywalker, himself]]?
** Azula makes such an offer to Zuko -- a chance to help her capture Ba Sing Se and kick ass together as siblings, even though the latter was a Fire Nation fugitive at the time and was just starting a new, normal life within the city. [[spoiler:In a rare exception, he joins her, and they do indeed kick ass as evil siblings, even conquering a ''country'' in a few hours.]] However, [[spoiler: he quits ''later'']].
** Azula later tries to use it as a pickup line in the BeachEpisode combined with flaming hands, [[NoGuyWantsAnAmazon but that doesn't work out as well for her]].
** Over 100 years previously, Fire Lord Sozin [[HoYay used the same pickup line on Avatar Roku.]] Roku declined, and Sozin got ''pissed.''
** Mai's father, Ukano, continues the tradition in the comic ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderRebound Rebound]]'' when he tries to persuade Mai to join his movement to overthrow Zuko now that she's broken up with him.
** Happens again in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''. [[spoiler: Hiroshi Sato attempts this on his daughter Asami so they can take out all the Benders. It looks like she accepts, but then she attacks him.]]
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', Zim outsmarts a mall security guard who then declares his respect for Zim's skill and offers him a partnership - "Together, we can rule the mall!" Zim declines the offer - obviously because he plans to rule the ''Earth''.
* In the second episode of the classic ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' cartoon, Shredder makes this offer to the Turtles, on the grounds that his having accidentally been responsible for their mutation (in the course of betraying and attempting to poison their sensei) means they are ''destined'' to work with him. The response:
-->'''Raphael''': Does the phrase "Go suck a lemon" hold any meaning for ya?
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', Eris tries this with Mandy, and has her considering taking the offer until she slips up and says "You'll be the '''second''' most powerful person in the universe."

* [[PsychoPrototype Protoman]] does this several times throughout the course of the Ruby-Spears ''WesternAnimation/{{Mega Man|RubySpears}}'' series; it's more "we can level this city and many more together", though, considering that Protoman's TheDragon.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'':
** When Sector V traveled to the MirrorUniverse, [[EvilOverlord Negative Numbuh Four]] offers Sector V a chance to become his bodyguard. They flat out refuse. ( Actually, only one of them could be his bodyguard, and the rest would be sent to the broccoli mines in a very [[ThereCanBeOnlyOne there can be only one]]-esque fashion. They refuse because they don't want to sell out one of their teammates in an exchange for their own safety.)
*** A straight example of the Trope was made in the same episode by Negative Numbuh Three towards Numbuh Four, saying she didn't like him (a subtle clue that the ''real'' Numbuh Three ''did'' like him, as she's her complete opposite) but [[YouGotGuts she liked his guts]]. His reaction to her proposal for him to betray his friends and join her side? He clocked her in the face and said through clenched teeth, "You ''must'' be from another world..."
** Also, Stickybeard made this offer to Numbuh Five the first time they met, saying he [[YouGotSpunk liked her spunk]]. Although she turned the offer down, he did seem to consider her a WorthyOpponent in future episodes.
* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'':
** At the end of Season 3, Valtor makes this offer to Bloom, in an attempt to get her to target the three ancient witches (who have taken control of his body since he failed to do as they had wanted) instead. Bloom refuses, naturally.
** Midway through Season 4, when it was revealed Morgana and the Warrior Fairies of Earth have grown vengeful against humans losing their belief in them and being locked up for so long, Morgana grants an offer for the Winx and Roxy to join her army and become Warrior Fairies like them. The girls refuse and keep shut, knowing revenge is not the right thing to do, thus Morgana dubs the girls enemies.
* During one episode of ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'', villain Morgana teams up with a creature called Nodoff - he gives her sleeping sand, she puts people to sleep; he controls their dreams so Morgana can rob them. When Darkwing stumbles onto the plot, he tries to convince her that Nodoff is not to be trusted, prompting Nodoff to say that together, they would have the city's riches. Interesting in that he was offering her what she was already doing with him. But this time, (though the riches clearly tempt her) she sides with Darkwing.
* KnightTemplar Lyle "Lock-Up" Bolton makes this offer to Batman in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', arguing that Batman can go on catching the criminals while Lock-Up keeps them secured in a personal prison that's not [[CardboardPrison made of cardboard]].
** Poison Ivy says this to Batgirl -or, rather Barbara Gordon- during their debut in ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman''.
** Poison Ivy does this again to a filler episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold''. In that episode, she conquers Gotham and offers to spare Batman if he agrees to marry her and rule alongside her. He refuses ''both'' offers.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AlfredJKwak'', [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Dolf]] twice offers this to Alfred, first when he's looking for money to fund a political party, second when he's found the money elsewhere and is already in the process of seizing power in the entire country. After the second time, Alfred himself inverts it when he attempts to convince the CardCarryingVillain to stop his evil plans and immediately step down. Dolf just summarily imprisons him.
* The EvilutionaryBiologist Dr. X offers this to Alex in the series finale of ''WesternAnimation/ActionMan2000'', since they're both in possession of the superhuman AMP ability, and are thus both part of the "Neo-human race", which he thinks they should nurture together. Alex just retorts that X [[YoureInsane is a complete lunatic]] before sending him on a one-way ride into deep space.
* Dr. Klotzenstien makes this offer to Quailman on ''{{WesternAnimation/Doug}}''.
* The Lich from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' attempts this during the season 4 finale episode "The Lich". Finn refuses... [[spoiler:which is exactly what he wanted, as Finn shattering The Enchiridion grants him access to TheMultiverse]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' the Great Kandinsky offers this to his grandson in the episode "Do You Believe in Magic?". [[spoiler: When it doesn't work he hypnotizes him.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', Matt Bluestone nearly ruined his career trying to expose the Illuminati. The Illuminati in this series is very real, and eventually became impressed by Matt's determination. They make him a member partly because he'd be a valuable asset and partly to keep him in check.
** Demona also tries to use this on Goliath at the end of the series premiere, stating, "Together, you and I can make a new world for our kind."
* When Bubbles of the ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' thinks she is Mojo Jojo and [[AmnesiacDissonance manages to successfully defeat her sisters in a fight,]] the real Mojo suggests this to Bubbles before she declines, going on a long speech in a manner similar to himself. Keep in mind she refused not because he's evil, but because she thinks she's the real Mojo.
* [[spoiler:Qilby the Traitor]] in ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' in episode 21 of season 2 makes the offer to Adamai [[spoiler:trying to convince him that they should drain the World of Twelve of its wakfu to power up the Zinit for another journey into the cosmos because it's not their world]]. He's not surprised when Adamai refuses, since Adamai's previous incarnation also refused.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E25TwilightsKingdomPart1 Twilights Kingdom Part 1]]'', this is how Tirek sways Discord to his side. He claims to offer something far more valuable than friendship: freedom. In ''Part 2'', however, he decides that ICanRuleAlone, and drains Discord of his magic once [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he has outlived his usefulness]].
* WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot: Jenny gets this offer repeatedly from Cluster Prime, which is a pretty nice place...unless you oppose enslaving the human race, which of course X-J9 does.
* Attempted by Bill in ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' to [[spoiler: Ford, who rejects his offer and gets turned into a golden backscratcher for his troubles.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' flips the trope's usual setup on its head. Instead of the BigBad offering world domination to the hero, [[IgnoredEnamoredUnderling Scorpia]] offers this to [[AntiVillain Catra]] when [[EvilEmpire The Horde]] sends them on a suicide mission to the Crimson Waste. As Scorpia points out, in less than a ''day'', Catra has managed to drive out the major gang leader and take over herself. She suggests that they just abandon the Horde, let them believe they died, and live out the rest of their days in the Waste, with Scorpia as Catra's second-in-command. One of the only times this trope is a genuinely heartwarming moment.
-->''We could, you know... be happy.''
** By other turn, Shadow Weaver says the phrase to Adora as she tries to talk her into returning to the Horde in “The Shadows of Mystacor”. [[spoiler:It doesn’t work, of course.]]
* The final arc of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' gives a twist on the franchise's normal use of the trope, in which [[spoiler:Maul offers an EnemyMine to Ahsoka Tano, pointing out that [[NotSoDifferentRemark both of them were abandoned by their orders]], and now they can strike at Darth Sidious before his plans come to fruition. Ahsoka genuinely considers the idea, as she's recently learned that Sidious is a very real threat, but first she asks why Maul's interested in Anakin Skywalker. Maul's response, that he had foreseen Sidious corrupting Anakin, causes her to reject the offer, [[CassandraTruth believing there's no way her former teacher would turn to the dark side]], and therefore whatever else Maul says can't be trusted]].
* In a rare villain-to-villain example, Lex Luthor offers Brainiac to [[FusionDance work together]] in ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]''. Interestingly enough, at that moment Luthor is [[GrandTheftMe completely at Braniac's mercy]] but still manages to convince him.

* Subverted in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers''. Dodgers joins the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Green Lantern Corps]] after getting Hal Jordan's ring due to a dry cleaner mishap. He ends up as the last one standing against Sinestro, who has subdued the rest of the Corps. When Sinestro offers him the chance to join with him, Dodgers replies, "Yeah, sure, why not?" Sinestro suddenly launches into a tirade ("You fool! [[WontTakeYesForAnAnswer You defy my generous offer]]", etc.) before stopping and asking if he actually agreed. Sinestro is then disappointed because he didn't get the chance for his angry rejection speech. Being a good sport, Dodgers lets him give it anyway. And this incident subverts the trope in another way: by showing the folly of forging an alliance with the kind of fickle character who would agree to switch sides at the drop of a hat. Duck Dodgers has a sudden change of heart and frees the other Corps members when Sinestro isn't expecting it.

* [[PsychoPrototype Protoman]] does this several times throughout the course of the Ruby-Spears ''WesternAnimation/{{Megaman}}'' series; it's more "we can level this city and many more together", though, considering that Protoman's TheDragon.

-->'''Slade:''' Who knows? I may even become like a father to you.\\

* At the end of season 3 of ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' Valtor makes this offer to Bloom, in an attempt to get her to target the three ancient witches (who have taken control of his body since he failed to do as they had wanted) instead. Bloom refuses, naturally.

** {{ComicBook/Darkseid}} delivers one of these to a weakened Superman in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E25E26ApokolipsNow Akolips...Now]]". It even plays out at the top of a tall mountain, paralleling the Biblical temptation of Jesus.

** In "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E1To3TheLastSonOfKrypton The Last Son of Krypton]]", after making it plain to this mysterious alien that he runs Metropolis, Luthor notes that he often wonders if he should be satisfied with "just" one city and that between the two of them they could basically run the world. Naturally, Superman doesn't bite.
** In the comics (ComicBook/PostCrisis, pre-Comicbook/InfiniteCrisis, at least) Lex hires some {{Mooks}} to hijack his own boat just to see Superman in action. He's so impressed by what he sees he offers Supes a blank check and a permanent staff position. The mayor offers to temporarily deputize Superman so he can arrest Luthor for reckless endangerment of the passengers. Three guesses on what Superman decides to do, and the first two don't count.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'':
** Slade's [[HiddenAgendaVillain hidden motive]] all along was revealed to be just to get Robin to join him. The DiabolicalMastermind finally resorted to outright {{blackmail}} -- apprenticeship in exchange for his friends' lives. At least, he used the word "apprentice," but what he really seemed to want was a [[strike:[[FoeYay catamite]]]] son:
-->'''Slade''': Who knows? I may even become like a father to you.\\
'''Robin''': I already have a [[{{Franchise/Batman}} father]].

** Parodied with Killer Moth. When he tries to [[LetHimChoose convince his mutant test subject to obey him instead of being Starfire's pet]], he says, "Join me, and together we will... go on a picnic of some sort."

* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'': In the climax of "Coffee Quest", Chip Whistler tries to persuade Gloria into working with him at Wholesome Foods, because city people should stick together. Naturally, she refuses on account of she isn't from the city like Cricket, but from the suburbs.

** By other turn, Shadow Weaver says these exact words to Adora as she tries to talk her into returning to the Horde in “The Shadows of Mystacor”. [[spoiler:It doesn’t work, of course.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/AlfredJKwak'', [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Dolf]] twice offers this to Alfred, first when he's looking for money to fund a political party, second when he's found the money elsewhere and is already in the process of seizing power in the entire country. After the second time, Alfred himself inverts it when he [[WhatAnIdiot tries to convince]] the CardCarryingVillain to stop his evil plans and immediately step down. Dolf just summarily imprisons him.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}'': Vander extensively tries to reason with Vander into joining him after his capture, rationalizing they now have the strength to topple Piltover. [[spoiler:However, after Powder blows up his HQ, he angrily orders Deckard to kill Vander.]]