Line #45 CharacterPerceptionEvolution/WesternAnimation


1	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'': Skeet, from the memetic episode "Men at Work", was intended to be seen as something of an [[PointyHairedBoss idiot]] and a disrespectful manager to Jimmy, with kids watching the episode and taking Jimmy's side. The discourse changed once the original fandom grew up, many of these kids taking minimum wage jobs for themselves, and beginning to realize that not only was Jimmy being a bit of a brat, but [[StrawmanHasAPoint everything Skeet said was entirely correct]]; for example, Jimmy taking customers' orders without using the cash register was actually ''illegal''. In this light, Skeet has become an EnsembleDarkhorse often depicted as an OnlySaneMan having to put up with Jimmy's InsufferableGenius tendencies.
2	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'':
3	** [[Characters/AdventureTimeIceKing Ice King]], despite initially being the series' main villain, didn't have a great reception at first, being viewed as a [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain somewhat annoying and incompetent]] crazy old monarch whose only goal was to find [[{{Yandere}} (or rather kidnap)]] a princess to be his wife, and to a lesser extent, [[IJustWantToHaveFriends become friends with Finn and Jake]]. However, after later episodes beginning with "Holly Jolly Secrets" [[DarkAndTroubledPast fleshed out his backstory]], revealing him to have once been a human named Simon Petrikov who [[LossOfIdentity slowly lost his mind]] due to his crown's influence and lost the love of his life because of it, Ice King quickly became acclaimed as a character, with many praising him for being a great example of a TragicVillain, and as an added bonus, many of his previous antics started to be viewed in a [[CerebusRetcon much more depressing yet three-dimensional light]]. It also helps that the show introduced the Lich, a [[VilerNewVillain far more malevolent and legitimately threatening villain]], to take his spot as the BigBad.
4	** The (original) Earl Of Lemongrab was originally very popular in his first appearance, "Too Young", for his memetic catchphrase, "[[NoIndoorVoice UNACCEPTABLE!]]", and for coming off as UnintentionallySympathetic in Finn and Princess Bubblegum's pranks. However, when he started appearing more often, many started to find his voice and constant shrieking annoying, and what few fans he had left jumped ship after he started abusing [[DomesticAbuser Lemongrab 2]] and [[AbusiveParents their children]]. Another point of contention is how his behavior and mannerisms make him come off as an ableist caricature of autistic people to some.
5	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': While [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderPrincessAzula Princess Azula]] has always been a popular villain, the reasons for why have changed quite a bit. During the original run of Books 2 and 3, the general view of Azula was that of an amoral sociopath who lacked the redeeming qualities of her brother [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Prince Zuko]], to the point of [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating her own allies]], as well as being a highly competent and dangerous foe who effectively usurped Zuko as the primary threat to Team Avatar in her debut, took over Ba Sing Se from the inside, and nearly killing Aang himself, among other notable deeds. By the middle of TheNewTens, people began to reinterpret her character in a more sympathetic light. As emotional abuse became more well known, people began to look at her relationship with her father [[EvilOverlord Firelord Ozai]] differently, arguing that she was ultimately just as much of a victim as her brother. This also coincided with people going back to Book 3, which gave her some more sympathetic qualities (namely, revealing that she believed her mother Ursa hated her, and her increasing SanitySlippage in [[GrandFinale Sozin's Comet]]), as well as ''ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSearch'' revealing that Ozai only conceived her and Zuko for the sake of producing strong firebenders. Nowadays, while some still view her as irredeemable, many argue that she deserved as much of a chance at redemption as Zuko.
6	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': The villainess Red Claw was not liked very much when the show was on the air, mostly due to her being a generic and underdeveloped TerroristWithoutACause (her first appearance being really about introducing the much more memorable and popular Catwoman, with Red Claw only being there to provide a larger threat that she couldn't and allow audiences to root for Selina) in a series that was praised for providing layers and complexities to formerly one-note supervillains and creating multiple memorable one-shot antagonists. This unpopularity was one of the factors why she took so long to become a CanonImmigrant in the comics (unlike many of the other aforementioned one-shot antagonists), only debuting there in 2018. However, over time fans began to re-examine her appearances, and have come to notice that whilst underdeveloped in motivation and possessing a somewhat generic personality, Red Claw is still presented as a cunning, highly competent and dangerous supervillain with a surprisingly [[AffablyEvil likeable personality]] as well as [[AmazonianBeauty a very attractive design]], causing many to reevaluate their views towards her, with some even seeing her as a previously unrecognised EnsembleDarkhorse. Whilst disdain for her still exists in certain circles, it is no longer the universal opinion it used to be and even several who aren’t fans have expressed their hope that future comics might correct her problems and allow Red Claw to finally live up to her full potential.
7	* ''Franchise/Ben10'':
8	** [[Characters/Ben10BenTennyson Ben Tennyson's]] initial characterization as a BrattyHalfPint IdiotHero as per the original series was originally beloved by viewers, as it made Ben seem believably endearing and flawed, which also stacked up with giving him an AwesomeEgo whenever he would engage in heroics. As such, there were many fans who took issue with Ben's more serious and mature personality during the ''Alien Force'' and ''Ultimate Alien'' era of the franchise, as it seemingly deprived him of his more comedic moments that made the character so fun to watch in the first place. However, as later seasons of both those shows and ''Omniverse'' attempted to bring Ben's cocky and immature behavior back to the forefront of his personality, many fans found the execution [[{{Flanderization}} to be a vast overcorrection]] and began to grow disillusioned with it, finding his attitude irritating and regressive rather than humorous. Furthermore, this has caused Ben's UAF portrayal to become more fondly appreciated, with many fans liking how it balanced both funny and serious moments quite well.
9	** One of the largest reasons for ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' initially being seen as a ContestedSequel to ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' was from [[EvilCounterpart Kevin Levin]]'s HeelFaceReturn. When the series was new, Kevin being a hero was widely lambasted for depriving Ben of [[EvilIsCool one of his most popular villains]], it occurring with a character who was presented as BeyondRedemption in the Original Series, contradicting an episode of the original series that claimed he would still be evil well into adulthood, and giving him [[StrangledByTheRedString a sudden romantic pairing]] with Gwen. Some fans even speculated that Gwen was only paired with Kevin to get people to [[IncestYayShipping stop shipping her with Ben]]. However, as ''Alien Force'' progressed fans warmed up to the idea of Kevin being TheAtoner, finding his interactions with Ben and Gwen to be legitimately hilarious, and that the three [[PowerTrio made an effective trio]]. Even his romance with Gwen was seen in a better light, as while fans agree that their initial attraction was rushed, they proved to be a [[BetaCouple well-developed and stable couple]], especially in contrast to Ben's several tumultuous romances throughout the franchise. This was increased when ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' finally explained [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity what caused such a shift in Kevin's demeanor]], in a way that felt natural, aided by the knowledge the writers wanted to explain this earlier but ExecutiveMeddling got in the way. This, combined with a praised performance by Creator/GregCipes and several stories showing how much gratitude Kevin had for Ben and Gwen for giving him a second chance, earned Kevin the reputation as one of the funniest and most developed characters in the franchise. Kevin's status as a hero had become so beloved by the end of ''Ultimate Alien'' there was a large outcry among fans when he and Gwen were sentenced to CommutingOnABus at the start of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse''. The [[WesternAnimation/Ben102016 reboot]] manages to thread the needle between both perceptions, having Kevin as a [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor constantly rotating]] villain and AntiHero with little desire to change his ways, but also one who can't deny his begrudging respect for Ben or romantic attraction toward Gwen.
10	** [[TimeMaster Eon]], the BigBad of the LiveActionAdaptation ''Film/Ben10RaceAgainstTime'' was initially seen as an unremarkable GenericDoomsdayVillain, with many decrying him for his [[FashionVictimVillain ugly costume]] and cliché ridden motives of wanting to possess Ben Tennyson so he could use [[ArtifactOfDoom The Hands of Arrmaggedon]] to revive his DyingRace, [[HumanAlien the Chronians]]. However, fans began to gain a new appreciation for Eon after ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' made him CanonImmigrant but did so in a way that completely discarded the character's previously established past and motives. The episode "Ben 10,000 Returns" would establish ''Race Against Time'' to be canon, but {{retcon}} Eon into being a version of Ben Tennyson from a BadFuture who wished to become the only version of Ben in the multiverse. As a result of causing a giant ContinuitySnarl with ''Race Against Time'' (it was stated within "Ben 10,000 Returns" that the Eon in the show and movie are the same person), alongside the new backstory being seen as even bigger ClicheStorm fans have begun to look back on the live-action take of the character with more fondness. In particular, fans have begun to praise [[TookTheBadFilmSeriously Christien Anholt's conviction to the role despite the script's failings]]. These fans now see Eon's original depiction as an effective TragicVillain who had a complex but brilliant plan behind his methods. Many fans lament that the writers chose to completely change the character for the shows that followed, instead of building on the foundation the movie presented.
11	** When he was first introduced in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'', Rook Blonko wasn't well-liked by fans, as they saw him as a ReplacementScrappy for Gwen and Kevin, who were already fairly popular in Ben's previous shows. As he began to develop however, people warmed up to how much of an {{Adorkable}} BadassNormal Rook was, who proved to be more than capable of holding his own in combat while still being subject to occasionally funny moments. With the show later having Gwen and Kevin making appearances roughly once or twice a season, the sting of them no longer being main characters wanned a bit allowed for people to look back on Rook's earlier episodes less harshly. As such, fans now consider Rook to be a great partner for Ben, and even those who dislike ''Omniverse'' consider him the best part of the show.
12	* ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'': When Steve left the series and his younger brother Joe became the new host, Joe was initially seen as [[ReplacementScrappy an inferior replacement to him]]. As the years went on, people became more accepting of Joe when they decided that he had his own charm, though he remains somewhat divisive.
13	* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': During the first few years of the show's existence, [[Characters/BobsBurgersTinaBelcher Tina Belcher]] was its BreakoutCharacter. Her social awkwardness, nerdy interests (like writing fanfiction), and [[HormoneAddledTeenager open sexuality]] were seen as refreshing and relatable, especially among women and girls in the fanbase. As the show continued, said open sexuality led her to become increasingly divisive. Her boy-crazy antics are either seen as as harmless, since she is a 13-year-old girl who isn't quite aware of social norms and the consequences of her actions, or creepy, off-putting, and stalker-ish behavior that would be completely unacceptable if [[DoubleStandard she were male]].
14	* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'': Todd was popular with fans in the first few seasons, with his lucky slacker persona coming across as relatable and his zany subplots providing some comic relief whenever the show got particularly heavy. As the show became more serious, however, Todd became more of a BaseBreakingCharacter, as his antics contrasted more starkly with the main plots, and the rampant deconstruction of EasilyForgiven made it more glaring when Todd didn't face consequences for a particular behavior solely because Todd's behavior is PlayedForLaughs while other characters' bad decisions are typically PlayedForDrama. In a series all about deconstructing the idea that life is just 22 minute segments of hijinks that can be undone by the ResetButton, this kind of thing naturally invites a higher degree of scrutiny. This made his TheReasonYouSuckSpeech towards [=BoJack=] at the end of Season 3, a very popular moment when it first aired, a bit more contentious over time. While some developments went over quite well, such as his [[ComingOutStory asexuality arc]], the surreal humor that made him popular early on became less of a draw.
15	* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'': During the series’ run, and for several years after the fact, [[DeanBitterman Mr. Lancer]] was seen as nothing more than a one-note {{Jerkass}} and KarmicButtMonkey who only existed as an obstacle that reinforced Danny’s struggles to maintain a balance between his super-heroics and academic life. When ''WesternAnimation/TheUltimateEnemy'' had his methods [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom inadvertently cause]] [[spoiler: a BadFuture where he, Sam, Tucker, and Danny's family die in an explosion, which leads to Danny’s ghost form [[FusionDance fusing with]] [[BigBad Vlad’s]] and [[FaceHeelTurn becoming an evil dictator]];]] it painted Mr. Lancer as an AssholeVictim for his actions ([[spoiler:with his headstone being buried so that it only says "gone" instead of "gone, but not forgotten"]]), with many fans agreeing to that assessment. But around the late 2010s, a theory began to rise that Mr. Lancer was a SecretSecretKeeper, only being so harsh on Danny to keep his wits up. These fans noted several moments throughout the show that don't make sense unless Mr. Lancer knew that Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom were the same person. The most blatant of which comes from the GrandFinale ''WesternAnimation/PhantomPlanet'', as when Tucker and Danny Phantom are presenting their plans to save the Earth, Mr. Lancer [[DeadpanSnarker snidely remarks]] "''They'' never put this much effort into their school work". This combined with Creator/RonPerlman giving a hilarious performance full of wit and [[LargeHam hamminess]] that had been previously overlooked has resulted in the character gaining a fan following. Several viewers are now more willing to express sympathy for Mr. Lancer's many ButtMonkey moments, including [[spoiler: his death in the BadFuture]].
16	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'': Tom was hated in the early days, mostly due to The Kiss--aside from coming off as UnintentionallyUnsympathetic, fans didn't like the LoveTriangle for turning a satire of teen dramas into a ''real'' teen drama. While The Kiss is still cited as a JumpingTheShark moment and Tom is seen as a SatelliteLoveInterest who adds little to Daria and Jane's dynamic, time has mellowed the fandom enough that actual ''hatred'' of him is more of a PlayAlongMeme than actual DieForOurShip.
17	* ''WesternAnimation/FinalSpace'': KVN spent Season 1 as TheFriendNobodyLikes, and fans of the show enjoyed hurling abuse onto him just as much as Gary did. However, as time went on, viewers were more open to considering his positive traits, namely his UndyingLoyalty to Gary and Co., and the fact he could actually be useful to his team at times. While viewers still make jokes about KVN being TheLoad, they do acknowledge his positive qualities as well. It helps that the character became less obnoxious in later seasons
18	* ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'': Cheese was an EnsembleDarkhorse back in his debut episode "Mac Daddy" for his comical {{Cloudcuckoolander}} antics and his subsequent FountainOfMemes status, but he became a BaseBreakingCharacter after he was [[{{Flanderization}} flanderized]] into being TheLoad. Some fans still find his memetic lines amusing, while others find him useless and irritating, with some in the latter camp even accusing him of being an offensive caricature of mentally handicapped people.
19	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls:'' Mabel Pines was initially well-liked when the show first started, due to her {{Adorkable}} personality, being a hilarious {{foil}} to Dipper, and for being a FountainOfMemes. However, starting late season 1, she became more and more of a BaseBreakingCharacter due to her tendency to tease Dipper for his crush on Wendy when [[{{Hypocrite}} she can barely go five episodes without getting a new crush]], how Dipper is often expected to make sacrifices for her when she rarely returns the favor, and for [[spoiler: inadvertently helping Bill break free and causing Weirdmageddon]]. What doesn't help matters is that she mostly never faces any negative consequences for her mistakes or {{Jerkass Ball}}s. However, in the years since the show ended other fans have examined this perception and found it to be exaggerated, leading to a backlash against the backlash. Mabel's defenders point to times when she ''does'' face negative consequences for her actions, bring up times when her better side is on display, and say she's far from the only character to have serious flaws and/or less-than-stellar moments. As a result, Mabel is one of the most severely polarizing characters in the entire show.
20	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'': When Fred Fredburger first appeared, he was widely popular for his {{cloudcuckoolander}} attitude and funny lines, and he was even briefly a BreakoutCharacter. After he started to appear in more episodes and Creator/CartoonNetwork promos, fans became more divided on him and some were annoyed by his [[ToiletHumour poop jokes]], though many people still find him hilarious.
21	* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'':
22	** While [[Characters/HeyArnoldHelgaGPataki Helga G. Pataki]] remains a beloved character for her sympathetic and tragically realistic portrayal of growing up amidst a negligent and dysfunctional family, her treatment and subsequent relationship with Arnold have seen reevaluation. During the 90s, Helga's treatment of Arnold was simply seen as a way for girls to display their affection towards the boys they liked under the pretense of concealing their own feelings. This mindset, along with the series making genuine efforts to explain and even address her behavior on occasion, most effectively with "Helga on the Couch", led many audiences to accept the dynamic between them and even root for them to end up together. However, with increasing awareness of the harms brought upon children through bullying and the DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale, people revisiting the series have found it far more difficult to cheer for Helga's pursuit of Arnold, as the "bully" aspect of the LovingBully trope is more emphasized than the "loving", with victims of bullying generally not expected to reciprocate the feelings of their abusers. While the pairing is not completely condemned, as fans were largely pleased to see them end up together in ''[[WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheJungleMovie The Jungle Movie]]'', Helga's relationship with Arnold is seen in a significantly less positive light; her treatment of him is now widely seen as unacceptable.
23	** Sid was often seen as one of the most unlikable characters early in the fandom's history, especially after he TookALevelInJerkass in Season 3. During this time, he was frequently derided as a {{Jerkass}} and a FairWeatherFriend who betrays everyone at the drop of a hat. Whenever he got ADayInTheLimelight, it typically highlighted how weird and off-kilter he is, which many viewers thought just made him even more off-putting. In more recent years, while his negative tendencies still get brought up a lot, there are quite a few fans nowadays who are more likely to consider him one of the funniest and most interesting characters on the show, making him more of a polarizing character than a truly hated one. That being said, one thing both fans and haters of his can agree upon is that episodes like "Bag of Money" and "Arnold Betrays Iggy" are Sid's lowest points.
24	* ''WesternAnimation/HorridHenry'': While back in the day, many adults viewed the titular character less as a lovable prankster and more like a [[SpoiledBrat spoiled]] [[{{Wangst}} whiny]] {{Jerkass}} ungrateful for everything he had, in later years, many people have come to sympathize with him due to his [[AbusiveParents parents]] handling his behavior with emotional abuse and [[WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent comparing him to his]] brother, Perfect Peter (who [[BitchInSheepsClothing isn't as perfect]] as his name suggests). As a result, nowadays more people understand why exactly he's so horrid.
25	* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': Elroy "Lucky" Kleinschmidt, despite being voiced by Music/TomPetty, was initially considered to be TheScrappy of the show and received a lot of hate during the show's run and for some years after. The reasons for the flack he took were how his relationship with Luanne Platter (combined with Luanne's {{Flanderization}}) turned her into the exact kind of person she ''didn't'' want to be in the earlier seasons; his lazy lifestyle which Luanne's uncle Hank Hill, for some reason, mostly tolerates despite being established as treating hard work and effort seriously; him being a major contributing factor to the show's NegativeContinuity; the fact that he took Texas stereotypes up to an obnoxious extreme despite earlier seasons making a point of showing that such stereotypes aren't always accurate; and his [[AscendedExtra greater importance]] in the show's last legs despite contributing very little to the plot and not being particularly funny. However, over the years, many new viewers who watch the show have found themselves fond of Lucky due to being one of the most consistently nice characters while many of the other cast members became bigger jerks, with many fans praising him for being an honest, down-to-earth man with integrity that treated Luanne with the love and maturity she deserved. Nowadays, while he's still a BaseBreakingCharacter, he is considerably more popular than he was before, with many fans saying they find him more likable than Peggy.
26	* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'':
27	** While Adrien/Cat Noir's base-breaking status developed fairly early in the show's run, Marinette/Ladybug used to be near universally beloved by fans. This started changing at some point during season 3, thanks to a combination of her shortcomings as a character becoming more numerous and blatant (as was happening with a number of other characters at the time), Adrien fans getting tired of what they perceived as other fans bashing their favorite character and deciding to give her the same treatment in turn, and a glut of "salt fic" writers constantly ignoring her flaws and turning her into a perfect angel who deserves everything on a silver platter while her loved ones suffer, much to the annoyance of less salty fans. Nowadays, while she still has a loyal fanbase, she's just as much of a base-breaker to the general fandom as her partner.
28	** Nino was the only one of the main characters who hadn't fallen into BaseBreakingCharacter territory for the first three seasons thanks to his positive attitude, his overall healthy and supportive friendship with Adrien and his getting the Turtle Miraculous, all of which made him a fan favorite. But from the fourth season onward, he began to gain detractors thanks to a combination of factors; part of it was him [[TookALevelInJerkass taking a level in jerkass]] starting from "Rocketear" onward (where he suddenly became a CrazyJealousGuy over Alya and revealed her secret identity to Adrien without her consent), part of it was fans re-analyzing his character and realizing he didn't have a lot going for him outside of being Adrien's TokenBlackFriend. Nowadays, while it hasn't reached the same heights as the other characters, he's much more of a base-breaker to the fandom than he was previously.
29	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'': Sheldon Lee was at first near-universally seen as a [[{{adorkable}} lovable]], sweet-natured nerd with a crush on [[RobotGirl Jenny Wakeman]] that was found endearing even by many who didn't ship the two of them. However, changing times meant that his StalkerWithACrush tendencies, once viewed as harmless pining, were seen in a more critical light. Some of his other behavior also got re-evaluated for the worse, with him having quite a few moments where he came off as manipulative and entitled to some viewers. Today, while he still has his fans, he's a far more polarizing character than he used to be, with some still finding him a sweetheart (albeit a flawed one), whereas others now consider him a creep who needs to leave Jenny alone.
30	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
31	** Diamond Tiara was originally seen as [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap going from hated to popular]] for her FreudianExcuse and [[HeelFaceTurn epic redemption]]. But the series [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E26TheCutieRemarkPart2 next redemption]] was a tipping point for [[Franchise/MyLittlePonyGeneration4 G4's]] frequent reductions being criticized as [[AssPull too left-field]] and abrupt which also applied to Diamond, whose [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter not having a story role since]] meant she never got a chance to further earn it. Nowadays Diamond's become [[BaseBreakingCharacter divisive]] with many seeing her as just another [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic poorly-done, undeserved redemption]]. On the other hand, it begun a re-evaluation of Diamond's {{Fanon}} portrayal which [[RonTheDeathEater vilified her so often]] sympathetic portrayals practically only happened as deliberate subversions. Her redemption and the similar aged and appearing [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicCozyGlow Cozy Glow]] being [[KarmicOverkill seen as unfairly punished for a child]] despite being [[EnfantTerrible genuinely evil and dangerous]] caused many to see Diamond's vilification as unfair.
32	** [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicKingSombra King Sombra]] was originally seen as a disappointment and the weakest major villain due to a combination of factors: he rarely appeared in the present and barely had a speaking role, him being defeated before even interacting with the heroes made him seem underwhelming (with [[VillainousLegacy the curses and traps he left long ago]] doing more damage than he himself), and [[ToughActToFollow following the very well-received Discord and Queen Chrysalis]] did him no favors (with some seeing him as boring and underdeveloped in comparison). Opinions on him started to improve when [[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFiendshipIsMagic the comics]] gave him a well-received [[StartOfDarkness backstory]] and the Season 5 finale showed a VillainWorld timeline where he won, featuring Equestria as a war-torn wasteland with Sombra as a legitimately effective, and still ''silent'', EvilOverlord. But the real re-evaluation started once most of the series' later villains also proved [[BaseBreakingCharacter divisive]] and underwhelming despite ample dialog and characterization, taking full effect once the Season 9 premiere revived Sombra and finally gave him a speaking role... as a hammy LaughablyEvil type who [[SmugSnake grossly overestimated his own abilities and was easily defeated]]. After this, many paid greater appreciation to his original appearance for [[ShowDontTell subtly implying]] he was a skilled [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]] and SorcerousOverlord (he managed a NearVillainVictory entirely from being CrazyPrepared in the past), with his lack of characterization and dialogue seen as [[NoNonsenseNemesis enhancing his threat]] and [[NothingIsScarier mystique]] rather than detracting.
33	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': When the show first came out, Bubbles was the fan favorite for her adorableness and kindness. Nowadays she's more of a BaseBreakingCharacter since several people find her [[ProneToTears tendency to cry a lot]] annoying and they don't like that [[KarmicMisfire she's gotten away with some things her sisters have suffered the consequences for]], but just as many fans still love her for being a sweetheart.
34	* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': Mindy was a very popular character (especially among the younger audience) early on for her [[LittleMissSnarker sarcastic side]] and for being a relatable AudienceSurrogate. As the show went on, she became more divisive when [[SpotlightStealingSquad she began to have many episodes focusing on her]] despite her limited character traits, but she still has her share of supporters who chalk her [[JerkassBall ruder moments]] to [[InnocentlyInsensitive not knowing any better since she's a younger kid and all]].
35	* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'':
36	** Mordecai was originally well-liked by fans for being the OnlySaneMan within the park, and far less prone to making dumb decisions compared to [[TheMillstone Rigby]]. Over time however, many people began to notice flaws with Mordecai that made him seem worse over time, particularly his desperation for being with Margaret and/or CJ despite his flagrant irresponsibility and inability to go steady with anyone, and his self-pitying attitude whenever he screws up his own chances. It's not helped by the fact that he tends to sideline Rigby in favor of trying to get with Margaret or CJ, making him come across as UnintentionallyUnsympathetic at times. These factors, along with Mordecai’s static character development in contrast to the other main characters, made many fans perceive him as a MemeticLoser who cares more about trying to get a girlfriend than he does trying to help his friends.
37	** Rigby, by contrast, went from being a BaseBreakingCharacter to a fan favorite, thanks to him not just getting serious CharacterDevelopment that [[TookALevelInKindness did away with his nastier traits]] but also being in a stable and loving relationship with Eileen, as it lacked the melodrama and constant back-and-forth of Mordecai's love life.
38	** Benson was originally disliked by many viewers during the show's heyday due to his frequent MeanBoss attitude towards the main protagonists, with his DisproportionateRetribution towards their frequent screwups making him particularly irritating. As time passed and said viewers got older though, they began to notice that Benson was actually more of a ReasonableAuthorityFigure whose irate behavior towards Mordecai and Rigby was actually quite justified due to their lazy, self-indulgent behavior, in contrast to how he and the other park employees work their asses off to get their jobs done. Furthermore, Benson's more positive traits such as his love of music and his treatment of the other park workers made people realize that Benson wasn't as bad as they thought.
39	** Muscle Man was also detested by many fans, due to his tendency to make ToiletHumour jokes and for being a very gross and overweight person that tended to antagonize other characters for mean-spirited fun. Later on though, many people began to notice how incredibly loyal and competent Muscle Man actually is to his friends and co-workers, and how most of his pranks were relatively harmless and pretty creative overall. His FunPersonified behavior also got some legitimate laughs out of people, making Muscle Man a more rounded-out character that people tend to enjoy now.
40	* ''WesternAnimation/Rugrats1991'':
41	** When the show was first airing, Angelica was one of the most popular characters for [[LaughablyEvil being rather humorous despite being a bully]], to the point where she was the show's only character to be in Magazine/TVGuide's 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters countdown. Around the 2000s, however, she started to receive more hatred for [[BrattyHalfPint being a selfish brat]], not helped by some ancillary media making her the main character. Depending on which fan you speak to, she's either loved because [[KarmicButtMonkey she suffers enough to balance out her rudeness]] and she can [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold occasionally show a soft side towards the other kids]], or she's hated for her general bullying and ego.
42	** When Dil and Kimi were first added to the cast, they were [[TheScrappy scrappies]] due to being considered "useless" additions to the cast and in Dil's case, because he was too young to do much. Now, however, they're [[BaseBreakingCharacter base-breaking characters]]. Some still hate them and think they're useless, while others think they're adorable. Most people do generally agree that they were improved upon in the sequel series ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp''.
43	* While Scrappy-Doo from ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' may be the {{Trope Namer\|s}} of TheScrappy, when introduced in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndScrappyDoo'' his popularity saved the show from being pulled off airwaves due to its waning ratings, being the KidAppealCharacter in a cast filled by teenagers and an adult dog. However the attempt to cash in on this popularity by turning Scrappy into a SpotlightStealingSquad in ''WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooAndScrappyDooShow'' backfired horribly and would forever taint fan reception of the character due to Velma, Daphne, and Fred being removed from the cast, along with the series shifting from a half-hour mystery series investigating fake monsters to a ThreeShorts format where Scrappy, Scooby and Shaggy face real monsters. By the time of the series revival in the ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooDirectToVideoFilmSeries'', the fandom hate of Scrappy-Doo bled into the franchise and any later mention of the character tends to be a TakeThatScrappy moment (most infamously, the [[Film/ScoobyDoo live action movie]] made him [[spoiler:the explicit villain]]). Recent fans, however, turned him into more of a BaseBreakingCharacter as a number of them pointed out his nobler traits of bravery and loyalty to his uncle Scooby and him being MisBlamed for ruining a franchise that he actually ''saved'', and argue that his biggest problem was the writers overusing him than anything on his part. By the time ''WesternAnimation/{{Velma}}'' came out in 2023 to mixed-to-negative reviews, it became a common occurrence for Scrappy to be compared ''positively'' to the new versions of the characters. [[spoiler:In fact, Scrappy himself ironically ended up [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap rescued]] when he killed Velma earning so much praise.]]
44	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
45	** Throughout the '90s and much of the 2000s, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon was generally praised as a positive and nuanced portrayal of a South Asian character, especially among first-generation immigrants from the region, thanks to him being a benevolent character who supports himself through a successful business. However, his reputation would grow increasingly divisive in the 2010s due to some among those same immigrants' descendants pointing out how his portrayal both created new stereotypes for South Asians while reinforcing old ones, which was seen as especially unfortunate due to the fact that he was voiced by [[Creator/HankAzaria a white man]]. It didn't help that Apu's {{Flanderization}} and increasingly stereotyped depiction have soured his perception amongst fans. Consequently, Apu is now a BaseBreakingCharacter, with viewers split on whether his portrayal is no different than the show's caricatured white cast or if his stereotypical traits, placed in the context of a minority group with comparatively low representation in American media, make him an EthnicScrappy (though he does have his defenders including [[MexicansLoveSpeedyGonzales actual Indians]], especially first-generation ones who admire and can relate to his work ethic).
46	** Early on, Principal Skinner was not discussed much, and while his episodes were generally praised, he didn't have a fervent fanbase. Then "The Principal and the Pauper" came out and revealed that he was an imposter named Armin Tamzarian who took the place of the real Seymour Skinner, which turned his entire pre-established characterization on its head and created all sorts of disturbing implications in the process. This episode is widely considered the point at which the "Simpsons Golden Age" ended and the "[[AudienceAlienatingEra Simpsons Dark Age]]" began. The shadow of the Tamzarian twist loomed large over Skinner for many years, and it was very hard to discuss him in ''Simpsons'' fandom without getting into debates over whether said twist added more depth to his character, or completely ruined it. The fact that the Dark Age would go on to use Skinner as a punching bag (breaking up his relationship with Edna Krabappel, [[{{Flanderization}} making Bart’s pranks on him even nastier]], and having him undergo severe BadassDecay) only made things worse. However, during the 2010s, Skinner would become a FountainOfMemes (most notably "Pathetic", "No, it's the children who are wrong", and “[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E2122ShortFilmsAboutSpringfield Steamed Hams]]”), caused a NewbieBoom of young fans to discover ''The Simpsons'' and adore it. And to a modern audience, Skinner ended up coming off as more sympathetic than he was intended to be in the past[[note]]for instance, living with one’s parents has become more common after the housing crisis, making Skinner’s struggles with his [[MyBelovedSmother beloved smother]] relatable to many millennials and zoomers; likewise, conditions like PTSD are treated with a lot more weight now, so while Skinner’s [[ShellShockedVeteran Vietnam flashbacks]] were PlayedForLaughs back then, to a modern audience it makes him come across as a [[TheWoobie Woobie]][[/note]]. Not to mention, these new fans had the advantage of coming in after Matt Groening had declared "The Principal and the Pauper" to be non-canonical. Nowadays, Skinner is a ''massive'' EnsembleDarkhorse, and is so widely beloved that Universal Studios [[https://www.reddit.com/r/UniversalOrlando/comments/159rqgv/you_can_buy_carnival_prizes_skinner_was_5120/ has begun producing and selling plush toys of him]], which is a big deal for an adult human character who isn’t Homer, Marge, or Krusty.
47	** Maude Flanders wasn't thought of much in the show's early days, being seen as a rather FlatCharacter who only served to be [[EnsembleDarkhorse Ned]]'s wife. Even the show's writers seemed to think so as well, given her infamous death in the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E14AloneAgainNaturaDiddily Alone Again, Natura-Diddily]]", which was made to avert the series' usual StatusQuoIsGod stance and give Ned reason to undergo CharacterDevelopment. It's telling that, at the time, most fans felt neutral about this development. However, with Ned growing into more and more of a mean-spirited stereotype of a religious conservative over the years, even being the TropeNamer for {{Flanderization}}, quite a few fans demanded Maude be brought back to the show, with many now seeing her death as the starting point of Ned's widely-disliked CharacterExaggeration. Her death is now widely considered one of the ''worst'' episodes of the show, in large part due to the surrounding circumstances (Maggie Roswell had asked for a raise to accommodate travel costs, which Fox denied her, [[FakeGuestStar despite the fact that she voiced four recurring characters]]) becoming more widely-known--consequently, the killing of Maude, combined with the fact that the episode openly denigrated her as an unimportant character, became viewed as a mean-spirited jab.
48	** Herb Powell from "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS2E15OhBrotherWhereArtThou O Brother Where Art Thou]]" was once viewed in a relatively positive light, even if he was never that popular. This was largely thanks to his unique status as the long lost half brother of Homer who was unfortunately screwed over by the latter's well intentions but lack of skill in car making. This was helped by a SequelEpisode in which the two made up. However, by TheNewTens, many fans began to turn on him, viewing him as UnintentionallyUnsympathetic, in particular, how he gave Homer no oversight despite having never made a car before, and then blaming it all on him when it ends up costing him his fortune.
49	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark:''
50	** Randy Marsh is a double example. When the show started, fans were indifferent to him as they felt there wasn't much to his character beyond being Stan's dad and a geologist. However, come season 9, his character was revamped to be more eccentric, which made him entertaining to watch. Even Trey Parker and Matt Stone grew to love writing for him and would find ways to give him more focus. However, over time, Randy would [[TookALevelInDumbass take further levels in dumbass]], and the viewers started getting sick of all the focus he would get, to the point where some accuse him of being a CreatorsPet. The final straw for fans was when he opened a marijuana farm, Tegridy Farms, and Randy got progressively more unlikable and his family more resentful of him. Not helping matters was that this change in status quo started in 2018 and is still going on as of 2024, and the Tegridy Farms centered episodes would be the worst received by fans.
51	** Pip was originally an EnsembleDarkhorse for his cute design, cheerful demeanor, and for being a huge [[TheWoobie Woobie]]. He was a favorite among fan artists and was regularly shipped with another Darkhorse, Damien. However, over time, he has become a BaseBreakingCharacter, if not an outright Scrappy, for having no depth beyond being a ButtMonkey and an ExtremeDoormat. His ADayInTheLimelight [[Recap/SouthParkS4E14Pip episode]] was poorly received by fans to the point of rarely being rerun and demonstrated that he couldn't carry his own episode. However, the final nail in the coffin for his character was when Butters became an AscendedExtra, and he filled the ButtMonkey role better due to having a more compelling personality.
52	** Timmy Burch is a mild example. When he was introduced, he was an immediate fan favorite for his memetic PokemonSpeak. He was so popular, merchandise was made of him, Comedy Central had a month dedicated to airing Timmy-centric episodes in May of 2001 called "Tim-May," and he was given a PromotionToOpeningTitles between the latter half of season 4 and the end of season 6. However, overtime, while fans don't hate him, they've become more indifferent to him. Fans felt his schtick was pretty one-note, and when Jimmy was introduced, he eclipsed Timmy's role as the resident disabled kid due to having more to work with in the personality department.
53	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsSquidwardTentacles Squidward Tentacles]] was conceived as an "entertaining jerk" character with his snotty personality and one-sided friendship with [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick (with Squidward being the non-reciprocating party), with this defining his perception during the show's first three seasons. However, several factors over the years would lead to his reputation growing more positive: later seasons featured a number of episodes that downplayed his {{jerkass}} qualities while increasing his sympathetic haplessness; other characters would be {{flanderized}} in [[TookALevelInJerkass the opposite direction]]; and most significantly, the show's initial child audience of Millennials and Zoomers would grow up and enter the workforce, resulting in them sympathizing more with Squidward's characterization as a beleaguered food service worker. Consequently, Squidward is seen nowadays as more relatable than the show's own title character by a significant number of fans, being regarded as an accurate depiction of modern adult ennui.
54	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
55	** When the late [[Characters/StevenUniverseRoseQuartz Rose Quartz]] was first introduced, the fanbase adored her, with later reveals about how naïve she was before her relationship with Greg and her [[ShootTheDog morally dubious actions committed for the greater good]] adding to her depth and appeal. But once it was revealed [[spoiler:Rose was actually [[Characters/StevenUniversePinkDiamond Pink Diamond]] (a SpoiledBrat who was implied to have whined her way into getting Earth), having faked her death]], this reveal of how horrible she used to be and recontextualizing her actions as SecretlySelfish undercutting her [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone genuine regret of her past actions]] massively tarnished her prior portrayal to fans, albeit [[IntendedAudienceReaction deliberately]] given [[BrokenPedestal in-universe characters felt likewise]]. Nowadays, she's a BaseBreakingCharacter who even defenders acknowledge was severely flawed, but for many, her positive traits have been utterly overshadowed by her past mistakes and irresponsibility.
56	** Kevin was initially regarded as one of the most hated characters due to his [[PaedoHunt creepy behavior]] towards Stevonnie and [[EntitledBastard his unwillingness to take no for an answer]]. But as the show became divisive about how many villains who committed far worse actions were humanized and redeemed, many felt it was unfair that he was the one character Steven continued to hate despite appearing to redeem everyone else and noticed Kevin had mitigating traits (like being [[EveryoneHasStandards genuinely shocked and horrified when learning Stevonnie was really two kids]]) that were previously overlooked. While still not liked, nowadays many deem him a character they wanted to be RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap rather than writing him off as a mere HateSink.
57	* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': Although there is a group of fans who still greatly cherish Edward and Henry as beloved characters, there is also a VocalMinority who have looked back on their episodes during the 2010s-20s and expressed some concerns about their portrayal in certain episodes where they take on the main role. These fans have noticed that these episodes sometimes follow a predictable formula, such as Edward having to prove himself or holding the JerkassBall or IdiotBall and Henry displaying traits like being sick, a nature lover, a worrywart, or a grump, which they feel may not truly align with the characters' established personalities. Consequently, many fans believe that Edward and Henry shine brightest when assigned secondary roles.
58	* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama''
59	** Cody was a fan-favourite in ''Island'' due to being a relatable dork who ultimately decides to [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy let Gwen be with Trent]]. He became a BaseBreakingCharacter after ''World Tour'' due to being carried by Sierra most of the season, hence why many fans, even those that initially enjoyed his character in the first season believe he didn't deserve to make it all the way to [[spoiler:the final three]]. In addition, many people think Cody comes across as a {{hypocrite}} for being creeped out by Sierra and trying to vote her off many times despite being a stalker himself towards Gwen. Even without taking ''World Tour'' into account, many people now see Cody as generic.
60	** While Gwen was initially one of most beloved female characters on the show, she's also a more BaseBreakingCharacter now. Her problems were initially taken as sympathetic, however now that Gwen (and Duncan) have gotten more detractors (along with Courtney gaining more defenders) over the years, this is no longer the case. Many have stated that (until All-Stars) Gwen was more sad about the fact she got caught than actually hurting Courtney, and her tactics to get Courtney eliminated were [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness too out of character]] to properly root for her. Even her once praised Island characterization has become base-breaking, with her snark and attitude towards the nicer characters no longer being as tolerated and if anything makes her complaining about being on the villains team in All-Stars UnintentionallyUnsympathetic at best and Wangst-y at worst. There's also the fact she ditched [[UnintentionallySympathetic Courtney]] in the infamously hated 'Sundae Muddy Sundae' after spending the whole season wanting to make amends.
61	** Thanks to his [[BigBadWannabe failed villain role]] and being [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute effectively replaced]] by the ''much'' more effective [[ManipulativeBastard Alejandro]] in subsequent seasons, Justin ended up as one of the least popular characters in the entire show for a long time, with many fans citing his incompetence as an antagonist during the first half of ''Action'' as a big factor for the season's [[SeasonalRot mediocre reception]]. However, fans started warming up to him after the series was put to rest[[note]]at least until the reboot[[/note]] due to re-watches painting him on a new light for them, seeing him as a LaughablyEvil IneffectualSympatheticVillain who helped make the first half of ''Action'' LighterAndSofter than ''Island'' before the real villain [[KnightOfCerebus Courtney]] showed up. As a result, Justin is now seen as one of the best comic reliefs on the show and a source of sympathy for fans who wished to see him do more during the second half of his best season.
62	** Lightning became a BaseBreakingCharacter after ''Revenge'' was finished, with his detractors believing he didn't deserve to make it to the finale after being a comic relief most of the season and [[TookALevelInJerkass becoming more evil]] in the last two episodes to have somebody against Cameron in the finale. Nowadays, most people consider him one of the funniest characters in the entire series and he's even the preferred finalist over Cameron.
63	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'':
64	** ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': After the release of [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie the theatrical film]], Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime was widely loathed as a ReplacementScrappy, with his lack of prior setup making it difficult for fans to accept him succeeding Optimus Prime after the latter's death. Fans blamed Rodimus for causing Optimus' death, and his [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter more cynical characterization]] was criticized as making him seem more ineffectual than his AllLovingHero predecessor. However, Optimus' reintroduction and the post-movie G1 output being VindicatedByHistory resulted in Rodimus' reputation improving, with newer fans coming to like him precisely because of his more conflicted ClassicalAntiHero nature.
65	** ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'': Back when the series was first airing, Nightscream was flat-out [[TheScrappy despised]], seen as an annoying CreatorsPet for being a {{wangst}}y teenager with an ability that comes in clutch too often, not helped by being one of the only three new Maximals in a cast of mainstays. As a result of the series being re-examined with fresh eyes, however, along with the introduction of ''much'' more maligned characters like [[Anime/TransformersEnergon Kicker Jones]] in later years, Nightscream has managed to gain some fans for his more sympathetic reasoning behind his behavior, his charming relationship with the feral Noble, his blossoming friendship with Silverbolt, and managing to act as the rookie of the group without retreading Cheetor's character arc or being ''just'' a KidAppealCharacter. While he's still [[BaseBreakingCharacter a far cry from being universally beloved]], he has a much larger following than he did during the show's initial airing.
66	* ''WesternAnimation/UncleGrandpa'': When the show first came out, Pizza Steve was the fan favorite because people found his [[SmallNameBigEgo overinflated ego]] hilarious. As the series went on, however, he became more of a BaseBreakingCharacter because some fans started to be annoyed with his constant bragging. There are still several fans who still like him, though, especially since he's been shown to [[BigEgoHiddenDepths have his share of insecurities]].
67	* ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'': For the decade following the show's run, the show's incarnation of Jean Grey was easily the least popular of the show's female cast, due to the perception that she was overly perfect. As she was also in direct conflict with Rogue, the most popular character in the show among both the fans and the writers, over Rogue's crush on Scott (with whom Jean was the OfficialCouple with, after three seasons of WillTheyOrWontThey), [[DieForOurShip she was often on the receiving end of fandom hostility]] that [[RonTheDeathEater twisted her]] into being a massive self-righteous bitch who mistreats everyone, and in particular accuse her treatment of Scott of being borderline abusive. During the 2010s, however, as the fandom got older and more mature, this view of Jean has largely fallen to the wayside as fans of the character have become more vocal about how much they enjoyed this incarnation of the character for being a complex, flawed but still benevolent character who notably ''wasn't'' defined solely by [[NeverLiveItDown the Dark Phoenix story or her deaths]], something that many other incarnations of the character haven't been lucky on. On top of that, people have looked back and recognized that the hostility between Rogue and Jean was ''entirely'' from Rogue's side, with Jean never intentionally doing anything to antagonize Rogue besides liking the same boy as her and being a pretty and popular girl in contrast to Rogue's outsider goth persona. As the 2000s saw a backlash to this type of interaction between female characters (leading to the concept of the "Not Like Other Girls"-type outsider protagonist being seen as frequently misogynistic in execution if not conception for how it encourages hostility towards other women for no reason other than them being more "conventional"; for what it's worth, [[ValuesResonance one episode deconstructed this exact phenomena]] focused on Rogue learning how much Jean's 'perfect popular girl' persona is a front for her own insecurities and difficulties controlling her psychic abilities, and realising they're [[NotSoDifferentRemark more alike than she originally believed]]). While it hasn't harmed Rogue's character in a substantial way (in fact, its seen as adding further nuance to her), it has made Jean herself be re-evaluated as a victim of fans projecting their own insecurities onto her just like Rogue did and missing the point of the show's moral about not doing exactly that.

Context CharacterPerceptionEvolution / WesternAnimation