| 1 | [[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16196425140A67458000 under discussion]] in TropeTalk.]]]]]] |
| 2 | %% An Expy is a fictional characters based on another, pre-existing fictional character: NoCelebritiesWereHarmed, NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed and anything else involving copying real-life people or groups are separate concepts. Please don’t add them back to the subtrope list! |
| 3 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1603744403044763200 |
| 4 | %% Image kept on page per IP thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1620296862036700400 |
| 5 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 6 | %% |
| 7 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/saber_fountain.png]] |
| 8 | [[caption-width-right:350:[[https://youtube.com/watch?v=pwAT_xcejgo Actually, can I have five more of these blonde lady knights?]][[note]] L-R, top to bottom: [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Alice Zuberg]], [[Anime/ReCreators Alicetaria February]], [[Literature/{{Maoyu}} Female Knight]], [[Literature/KonoSuba Darkness]], Center: [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Saber]][[/note]]]] |
| 9 | %% |
| 10 | %% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion in the Caption Repair thread: |
| 11 | %% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900 |
| 12 | %% |
| 13 | ->''And there's a million of us just like me\ |
| 14 | Who cuss like me; who just don't give a fuck like me\ |
| 15 | Who dress like me; who walk, talk, and act like me\ |
| 16 | And just might be the next best thing, but not quite me!'' |
| 17 | -->-- '''Music/{{Eminem}}''', "[[Music/TheMarshallMathersLP The Real Slim Shady]]" |
| 18 | |
| 19 | A character who is so popular and impactful that many other {{characters}} created afterwards are heavily inspired by it. They share even more than its {{Archetypal Character}}s, they are its {{exp|y}}ies — basically the same old character recycled, with some minor changes to make it fit into the new setting. The original one gives inspiration not just for their basic CharacterizationTropes, but for parts of their relationship dynamics, personality, and appearance. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | While too many authors using the same obvious expies could be considered a worrying trend in terms of originality, it [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools isn't an inherently bad thing.]] As a longer time passes, creators might be more and more likely to make bigger changes to the character, eventually growing it into a whole new Character Archetype {{trope}} on its own. In other cases, it's possible that the resulting characters are too different even for that: Talented writers can explore certain aspects of a character with an expy, and other aspects with another expy, in a way, that if you would compare the two expies, they wouldn't even appear that similar ''to each other''. While it's possible that a Fountain of Expies also serves as a TropeCodifier for the character's most fundamental tropes, other times the shared similarities are more vague. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | In the following "subtropes" list, only add trope pages whose descriptions are explicitly based on the idea of collecting StockCharacters that are based on a first one. There are other {{trope}}s that were more indirectly [[TropeMakers started]] or [[TropeCodifier codified]] by certain characters, but these should not be referenced. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | {{Expy}} refers mainly and solely to characters drawn from pre-existing fiction. '''For characters derived from historical figures (this includes any real life person that has passed away), please see NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed'''. '''Celebrities go under NoCelebritiesWereHarmed'''. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | See also AlternateCompanyEquivalent, which is when a character or product from another brand resembles its competitor. |
| 28 | |
| 29 | A SubTrope of FollowTheLeader. See also WholePlotReference when it's the {{plot}}, not the character, that's being referenced. See also CastOfExpies and AllStereotypeCast. See also NoCelebritiesWereHarmed and NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed, where it's a fictional character/organization that is based on a real-life person or group. |
| 30 | ---- |
| 31 | !!Subtropes: |
| 32 | [[index]] |
| 33 | [[AC:General]] |
| 34 | [floatboxright: |
| 35 | '''Main trope:''' |
| 36 | * {{Expy}} |
| 37 | |
| 38 | '''Sub-categories:''' |
| 39 | * NoCelebritiesWereHarmed |
| 40 | * NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed |
| 41 | ] |
| 42 | * CaptainErsatz |
| 43 | * CorruptedCharacterCopy: An expy that is much less friendly than the original character. |
| 44 | * OverusedCopycatCharacter: When a work jokes about how many times a certain character has been copied. |
| 45 | * VirtuousCharacterCopy: An expy that is much nicer than the original character. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | [[AC:From {{Advertising}}]] |
| 48 | * InsaneProprietor (Crazy Eddie, in turn based on Madman Muntz) |
| 49 | |
| 50 | [[AC:From {{Anime}}, {{Manga}}, and LightNovels]] |
| 51 | * AstroClone (Manga/AstroBoy) |
| 52 | * CharClone ([[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Char Aznable]]) |
| 53 | * PhlebotinumGirl ([[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Lalah Sune]]) |
| 54 | * ReiAyanamiExpy ([[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Rei Ayanami]]) |
| 55 | * SailorSenshiSendUp ([[Franchise/SailorMoon The Sailor Guardians]]) |
| 56 | * StockLightNovelCalamityPrincess ([[Literature/HighSchoolDXD Rias Gremory]]) |
| 57 | * StockLightNovelHero ([[Literature/SwordArtOnline Kirito]] and/or [[Literature/MushokuTenseiJoblessReincarnation Rudeus Greyrat]]) |
| 58 | * StockShonenHero ([[Manga/DragonBall Goku]]) |
| 59 | * StockShonenRival ([[Anime/DragonBallZ Vegeta]]) |
| 60 | * StockShoujoHeroine ([[Franchise/SailorMoon Usagi Tsukino]] and/or [[Manga/BoysOverFlowers Tsukushi Makino]]) |
| 61 | |
| 62 | [[AC:From ComicBooks & ComicStrips]] |
| 63 | * BatmanParody (ComicBook/{{Batman}}) |
| 64 | * CaptainFishman (ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} and [[ComicBook/SubMariner Namor the Sub-Mariner]]) |
| 65 | * CaptainPatriotic (ComicBook/CaptainAmerica) |
| 66 | * CaptainSpaceDefenderOfEarth (ComicStrip/FlashGordon and ComicStrip/BuckRogers) |
| 67 | * TheCommissionerGordon ([[ComicBook/{{Batman}} James Gordon]]) |
| 68 | * CreepyFamily ([[ComicStrip/TheAddamsFamily The Addams Family]]) |
| 69 | * ElectricBlackGuy (ComicBook/BlackLightning) |
| 70 | * TheFantasticFaux (ComicBook/FantasticFour) |
| 71 | * HulkMashUp (ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk) |
| 72 | * PracticallyJoker ([[ComicBook/{{Batman}} The Joker]]) |
| 73 | * SpiderManSendUp (ComicBook/SpiderMan) |
| 74 | * SupermanSubstitute (ComicBook/{{Superman}}) |
| 75 | * TeenageMutantSamuraiWombats (Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles) |
| 76 | * TrenchcoatBrigade ([[ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}} John Constantine]]) |
| 77 | * WolverineWannabe (ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}) |
| 78 | * WonderWomanWannabe (ComicBook/WonderWoman) |
| 79 | |
| 80 | [[AC:From FanWorks]] |
| 81 | * ParodySue ([[Fanfic/ATrekkiesTale Lt. Mary Sue]]) |
| 82 | |
| 83 | [[AC:From {{Film}} & {{Theatre}}]] |
| 84 | * AdventurerArchaeologist (Franchise/IndianaJones) |
| 85 | * AttackOfThe50FootWhatever (''Film/AttackOfThe50FootWoman'' or ''Film/TheAmazingColossalMan'') |
| 86 | * ClassicalMovieVampire (Creator/BelaLugosi and Creator/ChristopherLee as {{Dracula}}) |
| 87 | * ColonelKurtzCopy ([[Film/ApocalypseNow Colonel Kurtz]]) |
| 88 | * DastardlyWhiplash ([[Film/TheGreatRace Professor Fate]], [[WesternAnimation/DudleyDoRight Snidely Whiplash]], and/or [[WesternAnimation/WackyRaces Dick Dastardly]]) |
| 89 | * TheExpyWithNoName ([[Film/DollarsTrilogy The Man With No Name]] and/or [[Film/{{Yojimbo}} Sanjuro]]) |
| 90 | * FishPeople ([[Film/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon Gill Man]]) |
| 91 | * FleshEatingZombie ([[Film/LivingDeadSeries Romero zombies]]) |
| 92 | * HockeyMaskAndChainsaw ({{composite|Character}} of [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]] and [[Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre Leatherface]]) |
| 93 | * TheIgor (another composite, this time of [[TropeMakers Fritz]] from the original film adaptation of ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'' and [[TropeNamers Ygor]] from ''Film/SonOfFrankenstein'') |
| 94 | * KingKongCopy (Franchise/KingKong) |
| 95 | * LooksLikeCesare ([[Film/TheCabinetOfDrCaligari Cesare]]) |
| 96 | * LooksLikeOrlok ([[Film/{{Nosferatu}} Graf Orlok]]) |
| 97 | * LorreLookalike (Creator/PeterLorre) |
| 98 | * TheMagnificentSevenSamurai (The Film/SevenSamurai and Film/{{The Magnificent Seven|1960}}) |
| 99 | * MayTheFarceBeWithYou (includes all ''Star Wars'' expies) |
| 100 | * {{Notzilla}} (Franchise/{{Godzilla}}) |
| 101 | * TheOphelia ([[Theatre/{{Hamlet}} Ophelia]]) |
| 102 | * PredatorPastiche (Franchise/{{Predator}}) |
| 103 | * TheRealSpoofbusters (Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}) |
| 104 | * StockSlasher ([[Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre Leatherface]], [[Franchise/{{Halloween}} Michael Myers]] and [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]]) |
| 105 | * TerminatorImpersonator (Franchise/{{Terminator}}) |
| 106 | * ThreeStoogesShoutOut (Film/TheThreeStooges, particularly the iconic line-up of Moe, Larry and Curly) |
| 107 | * TuxedoAndMartini (Film/JamesBond) |
| 108 | * XenomorphXerox ([[Franchise/{{Alien}} The Alien/Xenomorph]]) |
| 109 | |
| 110 | [[AC:From {{Literature}} & {{Fairy Tale}}s]] |
| 111 | * AliceAllusion (Literature/{{Alice|sAdventuresInWonderland}}) |
| 112 | * TheArtfulDodger ([[Literature/OliverTwist The Artful Dodger]]) |
| 113 | * BarbarianHero (Literature/ConanTheBarbarian) |
| 114 | * BlindWeaponmaster (Franchise/{{Zatoichi}}) |
| 115 | * ByronicHero (archetypes derived from the poems of Creator/LordByron, as well as the persona Byron himself developed) |
| 116 | * CaptainNemoCopy ([[Literature/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea Captain Nemo]]) |
| 117 | * {{Cthulhumanoid}} ([[Literature/CthulhuMythos Cthulhu]]) |
| 118 | * DrFakenstein ([[Franchise/{{Frankenstein}} Victor Frankenstein]]) |
| 119 | * TheFagin ([[Literature/OliverTwist Fagin]]) |
| 120 | * FrankensteinsMonster ([[Franchise/{{Frankenstein}} The Creature]]) |
| 121 | * GentlemanThief (Literature/ArseneLupin) |
| 122 | * TheGrinch ([[Literature/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas The Grinch]]) |
| 123 | * HardboiledDetective ([[Literature/TheMalteseFalcon Sam Spade]] and/or Literature/PhilipMarlowe) |
| 124 | * InspectorJavert ([[Literature/LesMiserables Inspector Javert]]) |
| 125 | * InspectorLestrade ([[Literature/SherlockHolmes Inspector G. Lestrade]]) |
| 126 | * JekyllAndHyde ([[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde]]) |
| 127 | * JustLikeRobinHood (Myth/RobinHood) |
| 128 | * LongJohnShoutOut ([[Literature/TreasureIsland Long John Silver]]) |
| 129 | * PeterPanParody (Franchise/PeterPan) |
| 130 | * RedRidingHoodReplica (Literature/LittleRedRidingHood) |
| 131 | * TheRenfield ([[Literature/{{Dracula}} Renfield]]) |
| 132 | * RobinHoodlum (Myth/RobinHood) |
| 133 | * {{Robinsonade}} (Literature/RobinsonCrusoe) |
| 134 | * TheScrooge ([[Literature/AChristmasCarol Ebenezer Scrooge]]) |
| 135 | * SherlockHomage (Franchise/SherlockHolmes) |
| 136 | * StringyHairedGhostGirl ([[Literature/TheRing Sadako Yamamura/Samara Morgan]]) |
| 137 | * TarzanBoy (Franchise/{{Tarzan}}) |
| 138 | * TheatrePhantom (Franchise/ThePhantomOfTheOpera) |
| 139 | * TinyTimTemplate ([[Literature/AChristmasCarol Tiny Tim]]) |
| 140 | * UnfazedEveryman ([[Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy Arthur Dent]]) |
| 141 | * TheWatson ([[Literature/SherlockHolmes Dr. John Watson]]) |
| 142 | * WinterRoyalLady (Literature/TheSnowQueen) |
| 143 | * TheWonka ([[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory Willy Wonka]], usually Creator/GeneWilder's [[Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory 1971 portrayal of the character]]) |
| 144 | * YellowPeril (Literature/FuManchu and [[ComicStrip/FlashGordon Ming the Merciless]]) |
| 145 | |
| 146 | [[AC:From LiveActionTV]] |
| 147 | * AgentMulder ([[Series/TheXFiles Agent Fox Mulder]]) |
| 148 | * AgentScully ([[Series/TheXFiles Agent Dana Scully]]) |
| 149 | * DoctorWhomage ([[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor]]) |
| 150 | * KidsShowMascotParody (most often Series/BarneyTheDinosaur) |
| 151 | * TheKirk ([[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries James T. Kirk]]) |
| 152 | * TheMcCoy ([[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Leonard "Bones" McCoy]]) |
| 153 | * MockHeadroom (Series/MaxHeadroom) |
| 154 | * {{Sentai}} (Franchise/SuperSentai[=/=]Franchise/PowerRangers) |
| 155 | * TheSpock ([[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Mr. Spock]]) |
| 156 | * UltramanCopy ([[Franchise/UltraSeries Ultraman]]) |
| 157 | |
| 158 | [[AC:From {{Mythology}}, {{Religion}}, & {{Oral Tradition}}]] |
| 159 | * BorrowinSamedi ([[UsefulNotes/{{Voudoun}} Baron Samedi]]) |
| 160 | * LooksLikeJesus and MessianicArchetype (UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}) |
| 161 | * MadonnaArchetype ([[Literature/TheBible Virgin Mary]]) |
| 162 | * MonkeyKingLite ([[Literature/JourneyToTheWest Sun Wukong]]) |
| 163 | * MosesArchetype ([[Literature/TheBible Moses]]) |
| 164 | * PseudoSanta (SantaClaus) |
| 165 | * SatanicArchetype ({{Satan}}) |
| 166 | * DemiurgeArchetype ([[UsefulNotes/{{Gnosticism}} The Demiurge/Yaldabaoth]]) |
| 167 | |
| 168 | [[AC:From [[AlbumsIndex Music]]]] |
| 169 | * MetalBandMascot ([[Music/IronMaiden Eddie the Head]]) |
| 170 | |
| 171 | [[AC:From {{Toys}}]] |
| 172 | * FauxFurby (Toys/{{Furby}}) |
| 173 | * MyLittlePhony (Franchise/MyLittlePony) |
| 174 | |
| 175 | [[AC:From VideoGames]] |
| 176 | * MascotWithAttitude (Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog) |
| 177 | * MaouTheDemonKing ([[VideoGame/DragonQuestI The Dragonlord]] and [[VideoGame/DragonQuestIII Zoma]]) |
| 178 | * {{Phonymon}} (mainly various Franchise/{{Pokemon}}, but also Franchise/{{Digimon}} and Franchise/{{Tamagotchi}}) |
| 179 | * PowerUpMount ([[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Yoshi]]) |
| 180 | * {{Shotoclone}} (''Franchise/StreetFighter'', specifically Ryu and Ken) |
| 181 | * VampireLolitaArchetype ([[Franchise/TouhouProject Remilia Scarlet]]) |
| 182 | |
| 183 | [[AC:From WesternAnimation]] |
| 184 | * GreatGazoo ([[WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones The Great Gazoo]] / [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} Mr. Mxyzptlk]]) |
| 185 | * MockyMouse (WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse and friends) |
| 186 | * SpoofyDoo (Franchise/ScoobyDoo) |
| 187 | [[/index]] |
| 188 | ---- |
| 189 | !!Other examples: |
| 190 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 191 | |
| 192 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 193 | * ''Anime/SailorMoon'': Hotaru Tomoe/Sailor Saturn was so popular [[TheWoobie for]] [[TokenMiniMoe whatever]] [[{{Moe}} reason]] that a few MagicalGirl series following copied her character in particular, such as Michal Amagi in ''Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch''. Tsubame Sanjou from ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' is also explicitly mentioned by WordOfGod as being based on her character. |
| 194 | * The trailblazing success of ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'' (especially that of its movie adaptation) led to its antagonist Tetsuo Shima becoming an inspiration for many other characters since then. From [[Manga/MyHeroAcademia Tomura Shigaraki]] to [[Franchise/TheKingOfFighters K9999]] to even [[Film/{{Chronicle}} Andrew Detmer]], quite a lot of [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity psychotic, supernaturally powered youngsters]] in anime, video games and even movies since ''AKIRA'''s release wear their inspiration from Tetsuo on their sleeves. |
| 195 | * Another Shonen Jump starter was ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'''s [[FallenHero Sensui]]. Before him there were just ArrogantKungFuGuy and SmugSnake [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] villains in anime/manga, then his extremely suave persuasion, extremely broken ([[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds in more ways]] [[AlasPoorVillain than one]]) [[StoryBreakerPower abilities]] and knack for turning [[GambitRoulette every little mishap to his advantage]], is what defines today's anime/manga (particularly {{Shonen}}) villains. Just ask Madara of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Blackbeard of ''Manga/OnePiece'', Byakuran of ''Manga/Reborn2004'', Naraku of ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'', and Father of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. Though Sensui has some more traditionally ''direct'' (as in, based directly on ''him'' in particular and not just the type of overpowered shounen AntiVillain he created) expies as well -- ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' gives us Aizen, [[FillerVillain Kariya]], Ginjo ([[ExaggeratedTrope Ginjo to the extent that if you just put a bindi on his forehead]] ''[[InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals he looks exactly like Sensui were Kubo Tite to draw him]]''), and Ulquiorra (his R1 and R2 transformations during his fight against Ichigo), ''Manga/HunterXHunter'' has Chrollo (unsurprisingly, from a manga by [[Creator/YoshihiroTogashi the same author]]), ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has Pain (his background and his powers such as the six paths of pain relating to Sensui's multiple personalities), and ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}'' has Homura. |
| 196 | * The ''Anime/CardfightVanguard'' franchise have Naoki Ishida, the hot-blooded sidekick of the third season and quite possibly Vanguard's biggest BreakoutCharacter. Naoki is so well received, that he effectively become the {{Deuteragonist}} of the fourth season and the only one of the main core group that manage to avoid getting DemotedToExtra. His popularity would later spawns several character that is based on him to take on the prominent roles. Chrono Shindou, the protagonist of the fifth season onwards is heavilly based on Naoki, and when the seventh season introduced a new sidekick for Chrono, in form of Kazuma, he's also clearly based on Naoki. The seventh season also had another character acting as the sidekick of Chrono's former teammate turned rival that, despite lacking much of a similarity to Naoki in personality, is practically written to emulate the development of Naoki of the fourth season. |
| 197 | * ''Manga/SpaceAdventureCobra'': TheHero Cobra, has tons of them, like [[Anime/{{Trigun}} Vash]], [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Ragna]], [[Manga/{{Hellsing}} Alucard]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Vincent Valentine]], [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]], etc. All of them all wear red and a lot of them have an unusual arm of sorts, while some others share Cobra's flirtatious and cocky personality. |
| 198 | * ''Anime/CaptainHarlock'' is very iconic in SpaceOpera anime, and he shows up damn near everywhere in anything where there are huge spacey battleships. Notable Harlock expies include Alex Row of ''Anime/LastExile'' (the stoic renegade captain of the legendary steampunk battleship "Kill'em All" Silvana), Captain Napolipolita from ''Anime/ProjectAKo'', Vyse Inglebard of ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' (a non[=-=]SpaceOpera example, being a SkyPirate who resembles a younger Harlock complete with brown bangs, scar, and eyepatch), the villainous Vicious of ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' (who even has the weird bird, probably to make up for his distinct lack of a battleship), and even Lars Barriga of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' (who sports a BadassCape that is nearly identical to Harlock's and commands his own starship [[spoiler:after he gets resurrected]]). Speaking of Creator/LeijiMatsumoto's creation, the Maetel archetype is also popular: tall, willowy blonde women with few words and deeply mysterious origin. [[CosplayOtakuGirl Nekota]] from ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'' and Elendira the Crimsonnail from ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' are obvious nods to the original Maetel. Elendira even cosplays Maetel on one of the gag covers. |
| 199 | * Ryo Asuka from ''Manga/{{Devilman}}'' spawned an entire lineage of WhiteHairBlackHeart characters with a SatanicArchetype or FallenAngel theme and often HomoeroticSubtext with the protagonist. Examples are Kaworu Nagisa from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', Griffith from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', Bakura from ''Manga/YuGiOh'', Joshua from ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' and Sephiroth from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' to name a few. |
| 200 | * More ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' expies: |
| 201 | ** In a similar vein to the ReiAyanamiExpy and Ryo Asuka above, Kaworu Nagisa has a similar amount of Expies, such as N from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', Volo from ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'', Ryoji Mochizuki from ''VideoGame/Persona3'', Aru Akise from ''Manga/FutureDiary'', Itona Horibe from ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'', Nagito Komaeda from ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', Killua Zoldyck from ''Manga/HunterXHunter'', Mitsuki from ''Manga/{{Boruto}}'', Alvis/A/Alpha from ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'', Alpha Omega Nova from ''Anime/SpacePatrolLuluco'', Tsukasa Okino from ''VideoGame/ThirteenSentinelsAegisRim'', Teruki Hanazawa from ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'', The Anguished One/[[spoiler:Al Saiduuq]] from ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'', Lio Fotia from ''Anime/{{Promare}}'', Makima from ''Manga/ChainsawMan'' (a {{Distaff|Counterpart}} ''and'' [[spoiler:EvilCounterpart]] to this archetype), and Boy from ''Anime/PacificRimTheBlack'' (a younger, more innocent example who instead views the protagonists as ParentalSubstitute[=s=]). You will often find a morally-grey {{Bishonen}} with light (typically white or grey) hair who's AmbiguouslyGay[=/=]AmbiguouslyBi and aims for the lead character. If FoeRomanceSubtext is part of the character, he's [[EnsembleDarkhorse more than qualified]] for the Expy. For even more points, make them AmbiguouslyHuman as well and [[spoiler: have them turn out to be the AntiAntichrist]] (as with the aforementioned Ryoji and Boy). |
| 202 | ** We also can count Shinji Ikari. After the series, countless {{Classical Antihero}}es appeared with dark hair and angst similar to Shinji's. Renton Thurston from ''Anime/EurekaSeven'' (in vain of FollowTheLeader) also counts as well as Ouma Shu from ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' and Yukiteru Amano from ''Manga/FutureDiary''. |
| 203 | *** Shinji is also representative of an archetype of ShrinkingViolet [[TinySchoolboy short teenage male protagonists]] with CrossdressingVoices who are TroubledButCute (if not outright InTouchWithHisFeminineSide) and possess HiddenDepths that allow them to act far more forcibly and decisively than what they appear. Examples include the aforementioned Yukiteru, Makoto Naegi from ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' (who shares [[Creator/MegumiOgata a Japanese voice actress]] with him), Nagisa Shiota from ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'', Yuri Katsuki from ''Anime/YuriOnIce'', Negi Springfield from ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', and Hiro from ''Anime/DarlingInTheFranxx''. |
| 204 | ** Not to be outdone by both Shinji and Rei, Asuka Langley Soryuu/Shikinami has quite her fair share of Expies. These characters will usually be tall and HotBlooded ActionGirl[=s=] with long reddish-brown hair and display a "harsh" {{tsundere}} personality. For bonus points, have them wear the color red, make them pilot mechas while wearing a skin-fitting [[LatexSpaceSuit bodysuit]], and put them in a MasculineGirlFeminineBoy pairing. Notable examples include Asuna from ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', Zero Two from ''Anime/DarlingInTheFranxx'', D.Va from ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'', Power from ''Manga/ChainsawMan'', and Pyra/Mythra from ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2''[[note]]Pyra has the requisite red color scheme, but Mythra has the personality[[/note]]. |
| 205 | * ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' sure likes to recycle character attributes, much more character designs, as exemplified by the CharClone and PhlebotinumGirl pages. As to other characters: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Relena Darlian/Peacecraft]], herself the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Sayla Mass]] to Heero Yuy's Amuro Ray and Zechs Merquise's Char Aznable, has expies of her own in [[Anime/TurnAGundam Dianna Soreil]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Lacus]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Clyne]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Cagalli Yu]][[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny la Athha]] (who's also partly based on Sayla; and who would later on get an expy of her own in [[Anime/CrossAnge Ange]]), [[Anime/SDGundamForce Princess Rele]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Marina Ismail]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Kudelia Aina Bernstein]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury Miorine Rembran]] and outside of Gundam, [[Anime/CodeGeass Nunnally Lamperouge and Euphemia Li Brittania]] (the latter who's also partly based on Lacus), and [[Anime/AldnoahZero Asseylum Vers Allusia]]. |
| 206 | ** Then Heero himself is thrown into the mix as well. Former child soldiers who can keep the military aspect of {{Real Robot|Genre}} shows while still being young enough to appeal to kids and/or teenagers. Such expies include [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Setsuna F. Seiei]] (who later gets one in [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Mikazuki Augus]]) and Sousuke Sagara from ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'' (who pulls double duty as an AffectionateParody of the character type). |
| 207 | ** ''MSG'' BigBad Gihren Zabi has expies in [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Glemmy Toto]], [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Fonse Kagatie]], [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Seidel Rasso]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Patrick Zala]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge Flit Asuno]], all of whom are sociopathic despots who preach MasterRace ideals and employ [[DoomsdayDevice destruction superweapons]]. |
| 208 | ** Likewise, Ramba Ral, as an [[AntiVillain anti-villainous]] FatherToHisMen who commands one of the antagonists' military units from the front, has quite a number of clones: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam Norris Packard]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Andrew Bartfeld]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Sergei Smirnov]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Crank Zent]] are the most obvious examples, whilst [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Suberoa Zinnerman]] is arguably a borderline case. And then there's [[Anime/GundamBuildFighters Mr. Ral...]] |
| 209 | ** ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' has a few: |
| 210 | *** [[HeroKiller Yazan Gable]] has an infamy second only to Char in number of knockoffs: There's Rakan Dahkaran of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ'', [[DistaffCounterpart Rezun Schneider]] of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack'', Ash Grey of ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamSEEDAstray'', Ali Al-Saachez of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' and Decil Galette of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE'', as well as ''Anime/CodeGeass''' Sir Luciano Bradley. All are {{Sociopathic Soldier}}s who joined the army for the chance to kill as many people as possible, act as TheBrute within their respective forces, have no redeeming qualities whatsoever, possess fearsome reputations in-story, and with the exception of Ash and Decil, are {{badass normal}}s to boot. |
| 211 | *** Paptimus Scirocco has a number of clones in refined and charismatic military officers who manipulate their way into power, preach high-minded but mysterious goals and have several significant female followers, as can be seen with [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Tassilo Vago]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Treize Khushrenada]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Gilbert Durandal]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Ribbons Almark]]. There's also Kurow Kirishima in ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'', who's pretty much a CaptainErsatz of Scirocco (right down to being voiced by the [[Creator/BinShimada same guy]]). |
| 212 | *** Four Murasame kickstarted the trend of the 'Cyber-Newtype' character: A mentally unstable, sociopathic character who's nonetheless pitiful that [[TykeBomb their instability was forced onto them via cybernetics.]] They often act BrainwashedAndCrazy. If they're particularly 'lucky', they get to be a {{Love Interest|s}}, but if they're even unluckier, they're going to be the ''tragic'' love interest because they're going to DIE. If they're even luckier, they survive, but still won't become the main love interest. Examples include [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Elpeo Ple and Ple-2]], certain interpretation of [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Katejina Loos]][[labelnote:Explanation]]She usually goes off the rocker on her own accord, but many alternate retelling put the blame of being subject to Cyber-Newtype-like experiments which did a number to her sanity[[/labelnote]], [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Allenby Beardsley]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Quatre Raberba Winner]][[labelnote:Explanation]]Only temporarily, when he goes unhinged and killing indiscriminately after losing his father and many of his sisters. He gets better and [[TheAtoner spends the rest of the show trying to atone.]][[/labelnote]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Stella Loussier]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Marida Cruz]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury Elan Ceres]]. Even in ''Zeta'' itself, Four's plotline repeated three times - once by briefly resurrecting her, and then with two other characters in Sarah Zabiarov and Rosamia Badam. |
| 213 | * ''Anime/CodeGeass'': |
| 214 | ** [[Characters/CodeGeassLelouchLamperouge Lelouch Lamperouge]] started a trend of (usually teenaged) WellIntentionedExtremist, [[ByronicHero Byronic]] {{Anti Hero}}es with masked alter-egos, such as <C> from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'', the Flame Emperor from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' and Joker from ''VideoGame/Persona5'' (who has the same Japanese voice actor). |
| 215 | ** [[Characters/CodeGeassMainCharacters Nunnally vi Britannia]] started a trend of Wheelchair bound little sister princesses in mecha anime, such as Fiona Junyou Weinberg from ''Anime/BuddyComplex'', Lemrina Vers Envers from ''Anime/AldnoahZero'', Sylvia Ikaruga Misurigi from ''Anime/CrossAnge'' (a CorruptedCharacterCopy), and Parviz from ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'' (the first male example). |
| 216 | * [[Manga/{{Berserk}} Guts]] is pretty much the basis for every "manly" Japanese hero after him. Some examples are [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Ike]] and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade Hector]] from ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', Auron from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' and Caim from ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}''. Even the below-mentioned Cloud Strife, himself giving rise to legions of imitators, has a ton of parallels to the Black Swordsman (beyond the giant sword and brooding attitude, his past involves a betrayal by a comrade with [[LongHairedPrettyBoy long]] [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white hair]]. Sephiroth's feather motifs and the harm he does to the protagonist's love interest only serve to underline the Griffith parallels). Guts also has some characters based off of him like Kirito from ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'' (nicknamed The Black Swordsman, has a {{BFS}} and FairyCompanion in the second arc), The Dragonslayer of ''VisualNovel/DraKoi'' (wears a similar armor to Guts's Berserker Armor [[spoiler:or rather [[AnimatedArmor is one]], and has similar effects on the protagonist when worn]]), the titular character of ''Literature/GoblinSlayer'' (a [[BadassNormal "gritty"]] warrior who [[TerrorHero becomes nightmarish in combat]] against the goblins who [[BrokenHero traumatised him]], and [[ScrewDestiny "doesn't let gods roll the dice"]]), and even Arthur Leywin from ''Literature/TheBeginningAfterTheEnd'' for a non-Japanese example (who post-Volume 9 [[spoiler:wears an ancient suit of ebon-black armor, is TheDreaded among his mortal enemies, and has lost much of his friends and family thanks the machinations of JerkassGods [[RageAgainstTheHeavens whom he seeks to overthrow]]]]). His dark, tragic motif has also inspired several characters in ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' such as [[VideoGame/DarkSoulsI Artorias The Abysswalker]], [[VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII The Abyss Watchers]] and [[VideoGame/DarkSouls Slave Knight Gael]] -- all three are [[TragicMonster corrupted by the Abyss]] and [[TheBerserker fight like Guts in Berserker Armor]], spinning their {{BFS}} with absurd speed and power. |
| 217 | * And even before Guts, We have [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar Kenshiro]] as the original manly, [[HeroicBuild musclebound]], [[PerpetualFrowner stone-faced]] action hero with a [[BruiserWithASoftCenter kind heart]] who specializes in using his [[RapidFireFisticuffs fists]] to deliver LaserGuidedKarma to villains who oppress the weak just because they are stronger and isn't afraid to shed ManlyTears to the less-fortunate. Most well-known examples includes many expies from the early parts of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''. Such as the [[KnightInShiningArmor gentlemanly]] [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Jonathan Joestar]] and his [[RapidFireFisticuffs blazing fists of]] [[ThePowerOfTheSun Hamon]]. [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Jotaro Kujo]], TheAce who [[YoungerThanHeLooks looks much older than he actually is]] and commands his trusty [[FightingSpirit Star Platinum]] to inflict [[RapidFireFisticuffs physical]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown humiliation]] on his enemies [[GuileHero AFTER he defeats them with his wits]]. Lesser-known examples includes [[Manga/RikiOh Saiga Riki-Oh]] who defeats evil by [[MegatonPunch punching]] THROUGH them in the most [[LudicrousGibs spectacular]] [[MadeOfPlasticine way]] possible with his stone-shattering strength. Last but not least, we have the mysterious wandering surgeon [[Manga/SuperDoctorK Kazuya]] who inherited Kenshiro's many super-human traits and combines them with [[Manga/BlackJack Dr. Karoo Kazama]] medical skills. |
| 218 | * The VampireHunter (often a HunterOfHisOwnKind) with a wide brimmed hat, long hair, and cloak or BadassLongcoat, inspired by ''Literature/VampireHunterD''. Some examples would include [[Manga/{{Hellsing}} Alucard]] and [[WesternAnimation/InvaderZim Vampire Piggy Hunter]]. |
| 219 | * Deedlit from ''Literature/RecordOfLodossWar'' has become the archetypical fantasy elf in Japanese media, having inspired a slew of "[[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold golden-haired]] green-clad elf chicks" such as Tiffania Westwood from ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'', Leafa from ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', Shera L. Greenwood from ''Literature/HowNotToSummonADemonLord'', Tuka Luna Marceau from ''Literature/{{Gate}}'', High Elf Archer from ''Literature/GoblinSlayer'', and Lilia from ''Literature/TheHeroAndHisElfBrideOpenAPizzaParlorInAnotherWorld''. This archetype has also spread to video games (e.g. Lucia from Capcom's ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' arcade series). |
| 220 | ** A specific derivative of this archetype found in the {{Isekai}} genre has MysticalWhiteHair, acts as the main {{Love Interest|s}} to the protagonist, and is oftentimes subjected to [[OfficialCoupleOrdealSyndrome great personal duress]]. Examples of this subtype include Sylphiette from ''Literature/MushokuTenseiJoblessReincarnation'', Emilia from ''Literature/ReZero'', and Tessia Eralith from ''Literature/TheBeginningAfterTheEnd''. |
| 221 | * Being one of the most iconic anime characters ever, this obviously happened to ''Manga/AstroBoy''. There have been numerous stories about humanoid robots that rely heavily on the series. The American ''WesternAnimation/RobotBoy'' and ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'' come to mind, along with the Japanese ''Jetter Mars'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic''. |
| 222 | * ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' has a mess of recurring archetypes, in both its spinoffs and its ripoffs. |
| 223 | ** Yugi, or better Atem, is a role-model for many other protagonist, by being rather short (or simply not being tall), using a wide variety of monsters with his ace having 2500 ATK, having crazy AnimeHair and using magical powers to win the duel even if they actually defy the rules. They are all almost {{Invincible Hero}}es and they tend to have {{Spirit Advisor}}s residing within their bodies. |
| 224 | ** [[TheRival Seto Kaiba]]. Since he was the BreakoutCharacter, the various spinoffs [[GenerationXerox traditionally]] have at least two characters who [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys have lots of money]], [[TheStoic act cool in all circumstances]], [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou get obsessed with the main character]] after he [[BreakTheHaughty insults the character's pride]], [[GadgeteerGenius know their way around machines]], [[BadassLongcoat stay clad in a gravity-defying coat]], [[TheAce are/were successful and famous pro Duelists]] and specialize in dragons. Oftentimes, they'll give some Kaiba traits to one character and others to another. ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' had Manjoume, who got Kaiba's wealth, obsessiveness, the coat and expies of some of Kaiba's lesser archetypes, while Kaiser got the stoicism, the coat and expies of Kaiba's signature Blue-Eyes, and Edo got the fame and success and is an even more effective {{Foil}} to the protagonist Judai than the other two. ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'' has Jack, who got the obsession, the wealth, the fame, the coat and the dragon focus (as well as a similar backup strategy with Fiend-Types), though unusually, most of the other usual Kaiba traits got filtered into ''[[TheHero Yusei]]''. ''Anime/YuGiOhZEXAL'' has Kaito who got the coat, the technology and the dragon, while Shark got the fame and has one-to-two dragon-like sharks, and both of them can be stoic. ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'' has Reiji, who got the money, the technology, the fame, but lacks the dragons; he also plays with the {{Expy}} trope by being a ContrastingSequelMainCharacter at the same time, having three copies of a 3000 ATK beatstick that loses its role as Reiji's signature card and doesn't focus on a single monster by having a lot more variety, similar to Atem. ''Anime/YuGiOhVRAINS'' has Revolver, who may be the closest rival to Kaiba himself thus far, with a luxurious seaside house, the coat, a cold stoic demeanor, is a skilled hacker, is obsessed with Playmaker, has a deck that revolves around dragons, and is easily the best duelist thus far in LINK VRAINS besides Playmaker himself. |
| 225 | ** Kaiba and his expies usually have a younger brother they have to babysit. The younger brother might be a Duelist or not. Mokuba is the original (and he is a ''Capsule Monsters Chess'' player), with his expies being Sho from ''GX'' (although his brother Kaiser often distances himself from him), Haruto from ''ZEXAL'' and Reira from ''ARC-V''. |
| 226 | ** Jounouchi and Shizuka are the first characters to introduce the deep-bonded big-brother-little-sister dynamic, a pair that appears in all other anime series. ''GX'' has Fubuki (a Red-Eyes player like Jounouchi) and Asuka who even invert Jounouchi and Shizuka's hair colors, ''5D's'' has Lua and Luca, ''ZEXAL'' has Shark and Rio, and ''ARC-V'' has Kurosaki and Ruri. Most of the time, the big brother is very protective towards his younger sister. |
| 227 | ** Bakura's archetype as a SixthRangerTraitor who has some kind of connection to the protagonist, quickly bonds with them, and ends up battling them for greater reasons while serving the BigBad (usually forcibly) has recurred several times, with Johan in ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', Bruno in ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'', and Vector in ''Anime/YuGiOhZEXAL.'' Vector, by being a deliberate case of TheMole but eventually [[BecomingTheMask turning good of his own will,]] spawned a few of his own, including Sora and Dennis in ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV.'' |
| 228 | ** Insector Haga/Weevil Underwood wasn't the guy who started the idea of a StarterVillain who's nerdy, [[CheatersNeverProsper a cheater]], a HateSink, and a SmugSnake, but characters who are clearly cut from his cloth pop up fairly frequently -- most obviously, Ura from ''Anime/YuGiOhZEXAL'', and Eita from ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV''. |
| 229 | ** In an odd case of an archetype starting from a CanonForeigner, Dartz's role as a leader of an evil organization (typically a cult) of more sympathetic characters who are being kept in place by MoreThanMindControl and inevitably undergo a HeelFaceTurn has been redone several times, with Saiou in ''GX'', Divine in ''5Ds'', and Don Thousand in ''ZEXAL''. The latter even copies the twist of Dartz having manipulated his underlings into their StartOfDarkness. Dartz also, oddly, seems to have been a bigger inspiration for the traditional FinalBoss character than most of the original canon villains -- while the originals tended to be self-centered dirty fighters who were roughly equal with the protagonists, Dartz was a borderline SNKBoss who played two-on-one and overpowered the protagonists at every turn, with a [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans more altruistic]] motivation (on the surface, anyway) and {{Hannibal Lecture}}s at every opportunity -- a set of ideas that fit Darkness, Z-One, and especially Don Thousand quite well. |
| 230 | * While ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' has Nagi Sanzen'in as one of the main heroines, it's BreakoutCharacter [[StudentCouncilPresident Hinagiku]] [[KendoTeamCaptain Katsura]] that has inspired plenty of imitators after her unexpected popularity. Previously, if an anime/manga featured a Student Council they were either protagonists as seen in ''Manga/MaidSama'' or major antagonists as seen in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'' (usually being {{absurdly powerful|StudentCouncil}} in either role). What Hinagiku brought to the table was the cool and extremely popular ([[EvenTheGirlsWantHer with both genders]]) [[TheBeautifulElite Beautiful Elite]] version popular with antagonists (to the point of originally being drawn in an extra flowery NonStandardCharacterDesign which resembled Utena) that was also a very kind and helpful supporting character to the unpopular main characters. Characters following in her example can be seen in Hisa from ''Manga/{{Saki}}'', Yanagin's Sempai from ''Manga/DailyLivesOfHighSchoolBoys'' (whose character notes even {{lampshade|Hanging}} it), and Captain Liliana from ''Anime/QueensBlade'' (as a busty, semi-evil pirate version of Hina) as just ones that share her voice actress. Megumi Imae from ''Manga/NoMatterHowILookAtItItsYouGuysFaultImNotPopular'' fits as well with her being very nice and supportive of the bizarre and unpopular main character. |
| 231 | * ''Manga/OsomatsuKun'': |
| 232 | ** ''Osomatsu-kun'''s popularity saw a rise in overbite-ridden, overzealous mustachioed showmen a la Iyami, down to their own use of his famous "Sheeeh!" pose or something like it. |
| 233 | ** The Sextuplets deserve a mention, since they defined and established the 'Children with Wacky Adventures' formula. Notable characters that were based/inspired by them include Nobita from ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'', Eiichi from ''Manga/KiteretsuDaihyakka'' and Kenichi from ''Manga/NinjaHattori-kun''. |
| 234 | * ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': |
| 235 | ** Team Rocket has become so iconic that Jessie and James's dynamic (e.g. aggressive female paired with passive male, [[ColorCodedCharacters associated with red and blue respectively]]) has become a staple of villainous duos in both anime and western animation (while the TerribleTrio trope technically has roots in the Doronbo Gang of ''Yatterman'', this specific format of them was popularized by Jessie and James). |
| 236 | ** While Ash Ketchum didn't make the archetype, the spirited collector surrogate on a journey ToBeAMaster was codified by his adventures. |
| 237 | ** Misty was the TropeCodifier for the ShortTank, and at the very least ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' has found much use for redhead {{Tomboy}}s in denim. |
| 238 | *** Sora Takenouchi of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' is clearly Misty's heir, with her red hair, yellow top, and blue denim jeans almost point for point a duplicate of Misty (Sora even has family-driven insecurities like Misty does). [[Anime/DigimonTamers Rika Nonaka]] and [[Anime/DigimonFusion Angie Hinomoto]] are both Sora's heirs in turn. |
| 239 | *** Kari Kamiya in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' is an inversion of the Misty's model--she's got Misty's top and shorts, but she's a straight GirlyGirl. |
| 240 | * ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' codified the SliceOfLife high school comedy genre to the point where there's an expy in nearly every entry to the genre since, typically Osaka or Tomo. |
| 241 | * ''Literature/{{Anpanman}}'' has the main villain Baikinman, a weird devil and fly amalgamation meant to represent an alien germ. His popularity has caused this hybrid design to become an ultra-common shorthand for germs of many varieties, including computer viruses. |
| 242 | * ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' has Dio Brando. If there's ever a Vampire or a villain who has the [[TimeStandsStill ability to stop time]], wields a large number of knives, and has a habit of dropping objects onto people while gesticulating wildly, expect them to reference Dio if not be a full-blown Expy. Examples include Zephyr (and sometimes, Dracula himself) from ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}},'' Sakuya Izayoi from ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', Junko Enoshima from ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}},'' and Peacock from ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}.'' |
| 243 | * ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' has Andromeda Shun, who is the poster boy for effeminate, kind-hearted shonen characters such as [[Manga/YuYuHakusho Kurama]], [[Manga/YuGiOh Ryo Bakura]], and [[Manga/HunterXHunter Kurapika Kurta]]. |
| 244 | * ''Anime/TimeBokan'' defined what {{Terrible Trio}}s look like in anime and manga, usually using one bossy, beautiful lady flanked by two bumbling boys. The above-mentioned Team Rocket was one of them, but this extends to groups like [[Manga/DragonBall Emperor Pilaf's trio]], the [[Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater Grandis Gang]], and even [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Dr. Eggman and his two hench-bots]] starting from ''Anime/SonicX'' (though early traces of that could be found in ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog''). |
| 245 | ** There are a few gender-inverted examples too, such as Genius Yamada and his two assistants in ''VideoGame/GameTengoku'' or Dr. Highbrow with Tracy and Yvette in the obscure anime ''Cybot Robocchi''/''Robby the Rascal''. |
| 246 | * ''Manga/PrincessKnight'' set a standard with Sapphire, presenting a female protagonist who is skilled in swordfighting and can pull off a masculine look, whether just in her usual look or through full-on crossdressing. Characters that kept up this trend include Oscar Francois de Jarjayes from ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles'' and Utena Tenjou from ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. |
| 247 | * ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'' had Lum, introducing an otherworldly love interest who'd be possessive of the main character, oftentimes bringing misfortune courtesy of malfunctioning gadgets or inedible food. Other such characters would start turning up, like Zero Two from ''Anime/DarlingInTheFranxx'', Miia from ''Manga/MonsterMusume'', and Lala from ''Manga/ToLoveRu''. |
| 248 | [[/folder]] |
| 249 | |
| 250 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 251 | * While Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} could be said to be the TropeCodifier for the whole SuperHero genre, he is even more directly the inspiration for every single [[TheCape Cape]] superhero in terms of personality and outfit, and for anyone with the standard FlyingBrick powers (including the aforementioned [[Manga/DragonBall Goku]]!). Then there are those characters more directly and deliberately inspired by him, including ComicBook/{{Supreme}}, Samaritan of ''ComicBook/AstroCity'', and [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel's]] Gladiator and ComicBook/TheSentry. |
| 252 | ** Similarly, Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}} (himself borrowing heavily from Franchise/{{Zorro}} and Radio/TheShadow) gave rise to every single BadassNormal in (American) Comics, particularly those that [[TheCowl work during the night.]] This is {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in a [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]] 80-Page Giant issue when ComicBook/GreenArrow talks, InUniverse, about how Batman was the coolest non-powered hero around, so ''of course'' GA had to have a cave, and an Arrowmobile, and a sidekick. |
| 253 | ** If there are expies of Superman and Batman in a story there is probably a WonderWomanWannabe somewhere there to complete the Trinity. |
| 254 | ** Characters/{{Robin}} as well [[TropeCodifier set the pace]] for the {{Sidekick}} in comics. Following his creation, numerous other kid sidekicks were created, [[Characters/MarvelComicsBuckyBarnes Bucky]], ComicBook/{{Aqua|man}}lad, [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Speedy]], [[ComicBook/TheFlash Kid Flash]], the list goes on. |
| 255 | ** [[Characters/SupermanLoisLane Lois Lane]] as well, as the journalist love interest of the hero with an AlliterativeName -- think of [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Vicki Vale]], [[ComicBook/TheFlash Iris Allen]], [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Betty Brant]], [[WesternAnimation/MegaMind Roxanne Ritchi]]... |
| 256 | * [[Characters/HellblazerJohnConstantine John Constantine]] is by far the best known member of the TrenchcoatBrigade and OccultDetective, generating the likes of [[ComicBook/ExcaliburMarvelComics Peter Wisdom]] (who's basically John Constantine with Nick Fury's job), ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger (who took on more of these aspects as Constantine became more popular), and even [[Characters/MarvelComicsGambit Gambit]] has been dabbling in the supernatural in recent years. The surprising thing is that it's crossed mediums, with [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]] being one of the best known examples of the trope, and becoming one of these in his own right - including, peculiarly, a sort of recursive {{Expy}} in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction'' version of John Constantine, who was essentially a British Harry Dresden. |
| 257 | * [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]] is the best known [[CaptainPatriotic patriotic superhero]], and as such has inspired numerous Expies. Among them are the Fighting American, the Guardian (also created by Joe Simon and Creator/JackKirby), Agent Liberty, General Glory from the [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational JLI]], and Commander Steel from the ComicBook/AllStarSquadron. |
| 258 | ** Captain America himself is inspired by The Shield (by the publishers of ''ComicBook/{{Archie|Comics}}''), the first known patriotism-themed superhero in comic books. |
| 259 | ** He's also spawned a series of "Shield Bearing CaptainPatriotic" {{One Shot Character}}s put in charge of various national superteams dropped into comics to represent other nations and their interests. Namely, Russia's Red Guardian (The Seventh one) of the Winter Guard, and China's The Star of the Dynasty. |
| 260 | * ''[[Characters/MarvelComicsLogan Wolverine]]''. Nearly every "[[NinetiesAntiHero exciting new character]]" introduced in MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks was a [[WolverineWannabe cheap knockoff of him]]. Wolverine himself is an expy of Timber Wolf from the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes. |
| 261 | ** Wolverine isn't the only one to have inspired these characters. ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'s'' Rorschach was a major influence in many ways across the board and helped codify many of the tropes for [[AntiHero AntiHeroes]]. His popularity was certainly a factor in the creation of the NinetiesAntiHero, and every one of those characters owes something to him, be it a willingness to kill, working alone, constantly brooding, being intimidating towards the criminal scum and not cooperating well with police or other heroes. Rorschach did most of it first. Rorschach is himself an UnbuiltTrope of this, ironically. |
| 262 | * [[Characters/MarvelComicsPeterParker Spider-Man]] is often credited as being the TropeCodifier for the non-sidekick KidHero and the UnluckyEverydude Superhero. A lot of characters owe much of their characteristics to him such as ComicBook/{{Blue Beetle}}s Ted Kord and Jaime Reyes (moreso the latter as the former also draws inspirastion from Batman), ComicBook/{{Static}}, Freedom Ring from ''Creator/MarvelComics Gravity'', Kyle Rayner aka ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'', and his own LegacyCharacter [[Characters/MarvelComicsMilesMorales Miles Morales]], the second ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan''. |
| 263 | * Almost without exception, if a work is intended as a parody of/meditation on/deconstruction of/homage to the idea of superheroes in general, there WILL be a ComicBook/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}} of Expies, and/or an expy of ComicBook/TheAvengers or [[TheFantasticFaux an expy]] of ComicBook/FantasticFour (the latter was more common prior to the advent of the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse''). |
| 264 | ** Justice League Expies include the Champions in ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible''; the Seven Sentinels in ''ComicBook/TopTen''; the Honor Guard in ''ComicBook/AstroCity''; Marvel's ComicBook/SquadronSupreme; the League of Honor in ''ComicBook/ThePro''; The Guard of ''ComicBook/SilverAgeSentinels''; the Freedom League of ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds''; and the original Global Guardians in ''ComicBook/{{Invincible}}''. |
| 265 | ** Avengers expies include DC's Champions of Angor and Payback in ''ComicBook/TheBoys''. |
| 266 | ** Fantastic Four expies include the Parrs of ''Franchise/TheIncredibles''; the Furst Family of ''ComicBook/AstroCity''; the Nobles of ''ComicBook/NobleCauses''; the original Cyborg Superman's backstory in Creator/DCComics; the Atom Family of ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds''; the thoroughly evil 4 in ''ComicBook/{{Planetary}}'', and the Impossibles of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers''. One episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' involved an expy team going rogue. |
| 267 | * Due to complex rights issues, ComicBook/BlackLightning was barred from appearing in DC animated productions until around 2009 or so, which led to the creation of numerous [[CaptainErsatz thinly-veiled substitutes]] with similar powers. Among them are Black Vulcan from ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'', Soul Power from ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'', and Juice from ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited''. This [[TropeMakers ultimately resulted]] in [[ElectricBlackGuy black characters with electric powers]] becoming a trope in its own right. |
| 268 | * The character ''Literature/{{Fantomas}}'', originating as the VillainProtagonist in a series of novels, was an OmnicidalManiac with GentlemanThief trappings, who was aided by a DarkMistress and pursued by a SympatheticInspectorAntagonist. He inspired the VillainProtagonist GentlemanThief of ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'' (similarly aided by a DarkMistress and pursued by a SympatheticInspectorAntagonist)... |
| 269 | ** ...who in turn inspired a number of other (usually more sympathetic) comic book characters, such as fellow Italian comic book anti-heroes Kriminal and Satanik (also fearful figures in black with a significant "K" in their name), the ''ComicBook/XMen'' character Fantomex, a heroic take on Fantômas in Mexican comics, and ComicBook/{{Paperinik|NewAdventures}}, a secret identity used by WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck in Italian comics. Tellingly, among the many names given to Paperinik in translations are Fantomiald (France), Fantonald (Norway), and Phantomias (Germany). |
| 270 | * ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'': {{Discussed|Trope}}, carrying over from their [[ComicBook/ActionComicsNew52 Action Comics run]] Morrison uses the term 'Archtrope'; basically anyone who shares a constellation of traits with say {{Superman|Substitute}} (TheCape, FlyingBrick, BigGood) are considered to be part of [[SupermanSubstitute his Archtrope]]. Even with [[CompositeCharacter heavily mixed characters]] this counts. [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] too because analogues are also mentioned. |
| 271 | * Radio/TheShadow was contemporary with a number of similar pulp heroes: the Crimson Clown, Thunderbolt, the Spider, and... well, Batman himself. A few more stand-ins for him have appeared in modern times, including [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the Gray Ghost]], the [[VideoGame/Fallout4 Silver Shroud]], and ComicBook/MoonKnight. |
| 272 | * ''ComicBook/TheAdventuresOfTintin'' is a classic and influential Belgian adventure-comedy comic book series. So much that a wide variety of French/Belgian comics in the mid-20th century took obvious inspiration from it (to the point it was almost expected of the genre). These usually include a young inquisitive VanillaProtagonist with BlackDotEyes (Tintin), his larger-than-life PluckyComicRelief sidekick (Captain Haddock), an older authority/professor figure (Professor Calculus) and/or a quirky pet (Snowy). A classic example is ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio with Spirou, Fantasio, Champignac and Spip. Other obvious expies that more or less fit are ''Gil Jourdan'' with Libellule and Croûton, ''ComicBook/JohanAndPeewit''... |
| 273 | * ComicBook/JudgeDredd has inspired many vaguely-fascist future lawmen in other media. Creator/MarvelComics alone has Boss Cage (from a possible future in ''ComicBook/DarkAvengers''), Justice Peace (from the [[TimePolice Time Variance Authority]] in ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor''), Justicer Bull (a member of the Captain Britain Corps in ''ComicBook/{{Excalibur|MarvelComics}}''), and ComicBook/ThePunisher2099 during the period he was running S.H.I.E.L.D. as the Punishment Police. Non-Marvel examples include Adjudicator Craator in the ''Literature/DoctorWhoMissingAdventures'' novel ''Burning Heart'' (and, indeed, the Guild of Adjudication in general as portrayed in the ''Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures'') and Arbitrator Foreboding from ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' (and, indeed, the Adeptus Arbites in general in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''). |
| 274 | [[/folder]] |
| 275 | |
| 276 | [[folder:Film -- Animated]] |
| 277 | * After ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'' came out, not only did ''Literature/TheSnowQueen'' shoot up in popularity, but some works find an excuse to include the Snow Queen as a character... and they now have a strong resemblance to Elsa. This can be seen in ''VideoGame/PocketKnightsII'', and is spoofed in ''VideoGame/TheGuildOfDungeoneering'' that has an ice level boss named [[https://guildofdungeoneering.gamepedia.com/Generic,_Non-Infringing,_Cartoon_Ice_Princess "Generic, Non-Infringing, Cartoon Ice Princess"]]. |
| 278 | * ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' introduced Jessica Rabbit, a memorable cartoon semi-realistic FemmeFatale-MsFanservice with a glamorous ChandlerAmericanTime fashion. Many other similar seductive/manipulative Western cartoon women would follow, with long poofy hair, luscious lips, vintage sexy fashion involving UsefulNotes/OperaGloves, and have an ambiguous relationship with the male protagonist. These include Holly Would from ''Film/CoolWorld'', Goldie Pheasant from ''WesternAnimation/RockADoodle'', Angel in ''WesternAnimation/FishPolice'' and Lola in ''WesternAnimation/SharkTale''. |
| 279 | [[/folder]] |
| 280 | |
| 281 | [[folder:Film -- Live Action]] |
| 282 | * Certain actors with memorable appearances and manners of speaking have spawned many homages and caricatures in the popular culture that followed, especially in cartoons: Creator/JamesCagney, Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/EdwardGRobinson, Creator/PeterLorre, Creator/OrsonWelles, Creator/MarlonBrando, Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger (TheAhnold) etc. |
| 283 | * It is perhaps easier to count the number of {{Adventurer Archaeologist}}s who are not ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' clones than the number of those that are, and Indiana himself descended from a long line of {{Adventurer Archaeologist}}s. |
| 284 | * Audrey II of ''Film/LittleShopOfHorrors'', who brought you other {{Man Eating Plant}}s like the Piranha Plants from ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' |
| 285 | * ''Franchise/KingKong'' may be the single most [[{{Pun}} aped]] character who is not technically in the public domain, but [[KingKongCopy it hasn't stopped many from copying him]] (probably because it's rather difficult to copyright a giant ape, whether we all know who it is or not). This was proved when Creator/{{Universal}} Studios famously sued Creator/{{Nintendo}} over ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong''; they lost because [[HoistByHisOwnPetard they'd previously successfully argued a giant ape climbing a building was public domain]]. |
| 286 | * The sister franchise to Alien, ''Franchise/{{Predator}}'', has similarly had this occur with several mercenaries/killers (whether alien or not) taking after some combination of the titular monster's cloaking device and wrist blades, plasma weapon, flat mask, dreadlocks, mandibles and hunting tactics. |
| 287 | * ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'', the quintessential city wrecking giant monster, has had too many monsters based on him. You can say "Godzilla-sized" and everyone will know what you're talking about. See {{Kaiju}} and RentAZilla for examples of Godzilla clones. |
| 288 | * A lot of [[TheDon mafia bosses]] act suspiciously like TropeCodifier ''Film/TheGodfather'', down to the odd mannerism of speaking. |
| 289 | * ''Franchise/StarWars'': |
| 290 | ** A lot of fantasy, science fiction or other fantastic works feature also a character modeled after Darth Vader. This character tends to be a BlackKnight, EvilSorcerer or EvilOverlord who is at the top of TheEmpire and acts as TheHero's ArchEnemy or ArchnemesisDad. This character also tends to be feared in universe due to being a powerful MasterSwordsman or MagicKnight like Darth Vader himself. It's not uncommon for this character to kill The Hero's parental figure/mentor and/or to be secrely related to (at least) one of the good guys, leading to some LukeIAmYourFather moments. [[note]]However, many of the tropes associated with Vader are so pervasive in fiction that the "Darth Vader Clone" page has been retooled into an Ambiguity page.[[/note]] |
| 291 | ** Another example: often, a LovableRogue takes a cue from Han Solo, like the above mentioned [[ActorAllusion Dr Jones]] or the treasure hunter Pietro Conti from ''VideoGame/UnchartedWatersNewHorizons''. |
| 292 | ** Emperor Palpatine is also one of the most prominent codifiers of {{Evil Overlord}}, inspiring a type of villain who are [[EvilOldFolks elderly]] manipulators with [[EvilSorcerer vast sorcerous or mystical powers]]. Expect to also occasionally see them RunningBothSides of a conflict or trying to [[WeCanRuleTogether tempt a hero to their side]]. |
| 293 | * Every DrillSergeantNasty in fiction after 1987 will invariably be heavily inspired by Gunnery Sergeant Hartman of ''Film/FullMetalJacket''. Notable in that most of these will have the same actor (Creator/RLeeErmey) portraying him, as well. |
| 294 | * Got PoweredArmor? Expect an ''Film/IronMan''-esque suit-up sequence complete with robot arms, on the spot assembly, the holographic HUD in the person's helmet, and the iconic "Stepping into the boot" shot. |
| 295 | * ''Film/JamesBond'': |
| 296 | ** Oddjob from ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'' was so popular that actor Harold Sakata got several more roles as taciturn thugs wearing black bowler hats and suits. |
| 297 | ** Perennial Bond bad guy Ernst Blofeld inspired countless villains who [[RightHandCat sinisterly stroke cats]]. Particularly those who are initially only depicted as hand petting a cat obscured by a large chair. |
| 298 | ** Red Grant from ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'' is very popular as a Bond villain and inspired many blonde, quiet, muscular henchmen in later Bond films, such as Hans in ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'', Kriegler in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly'', Necros in ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'', and Stamper in ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies''. This also was why many fans reacted negatively to Creator/DanielCraig's casting as Bond in ''Film/{{Casino Royale|2006}}'', as he looked more like Grant and his expies than Bond himself (at least until they finally saw the film). |
| 299 | * [[SergeantRock Sergeant Apone]] from ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' has influenced several other sergeant characters of his type, such as Sgt. Johnson from the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' game series. This is especially impressive considering [[spoiler: he was one of the first people to die]], which demonstrates just how much of an impact he left on viewers with his general attitude and initial CommandingCoolness. |
| 300 | [[/folder]] |
| 301 | |
| 302 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 303 | * ''Franchise/SherlockHolmes''. The inspiration for hundreds of [[DefectiveDetective eccentric private detectives]] in all kinds of settings, many of them explicit expies, to the extent that from the time he became popular until ''Trent's Last Case'' {{Deconstruct|ion}}ed the type in 1913, it was well-nigh impossible to find a GreatDetective who ''didn't'' rip him off, or, for that matter, a crime-solver who wasn't at least a parody of a GreatDetective. Several characters inspired by Holmes have become distinctive popular characters in their own right, including [[Series/{{House}} Gregory House]] and Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}}. |
| 304 | ** And when Literature/ArseneLupin was created in order to give Sherlock Holmes -- pardon, Herlock Sholmes -- a WorthyOpponent, the titular Lupin went on to become the TropeCodifier for the GentlemanThief archetype. |
| 305 | * ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'': The most well known BarbarianHero, whenever he's brought to pulps, paperback novels, comics, or motion pictures, he always brings with him a slew of imitators. Some of the obvious ones are Creator/LinCarter's Thongor the Valkarthian, Creator/GardnerFox's Kothar the Cumberian, Creator/JohnJake's Brak the Barbarian, and Creator/AlanMoore's Bram the Berzerkian. |
| 306 | ** Some of Kothar's prose stories were actually adapted into Conan comic book stories. |
| 307 | ** The barbarian class in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' was created more or less entirely for the benefit of people who wanted to play as Conan. |
| 308 | ** In recent years, the name ''Clonans'' has seen increasing use among fans. |
| 309 | * ''Literature/TheElricSaga'': The iconic sentient weapon Stormbringer is the grandaddy of the magical swords with the ability of absorbing the souls of their enemies, including the Black Sword from ''VideoGame/UltimaVII, the Soul Reaver from ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'', Soul Edge from the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'', and Frostmourne from ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}''. Although these are less [[EvilWeapon dickish]] to their wielder compared to Stormbringer. |
| 310 | ** For that matter, Elric "The White Wolf" of Melniboné himself has been seen as a possible progenitor to other elf-like, albino, [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white-haired]], [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience black-dressed]], EvilWeapon-wielding AntiHero[=/=]AntiVillain {{Magic Knight}}s with mutations or other inborn physical disabilities compensated for by their weapon or the use of alchemical potions, exact proportion of Elrickian traits varying. Notable cases include [[Franchise/TheWitcher Geralt the Witcher]] (although the author denies inspiration), Literature/MalusDarkblade and (to a much lesser degree) Teclis from ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'', Seltyiel from ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', Sephiroth of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', Griffith from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', Arthas from ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' (though he became more of a Sauron expy later), and Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. |
| 311 | * [[Literature/TheLegendOfDrizzt Drizzt Do'Urden]], as mentioned on the OverusedCopycatCharacter page ([[Administrivia/RenamedTropes being its former]] {{Trope Namer|s}}), has inspired several Dark Elven adventurers. Ironically, Drizzt himself is an expy of Xodar, a character from the ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'' novels. |
| 312 | * ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': |
| 313 | ** BigBad, Sauron -- though the EvilOverlord archetype is almost as old as humanity itself, many modern fantasy overlords owe quite a bit to this guy, particularly if they live in an EvilTowerOfOminousness in {{Mordor}}, are HeWhoMustNotBeSeen for most or all of the story, are {{Tin Tyrant}}s decorated with SpikesOfVillainy, use an ArtifactOfDoom, which may double as a SoulJar, and they [[EvilCannotComprehendGood cannot comprehend good]]. |
| 314 | ** Also, Elves. Extremely common in fantasy literature, but post-Christianity and pre-Tolkien, fae in general were portrayed as small, cute, harmless, etc. Or as TheFairFolk. |
| 315 | ** And Hobbits. There are now lots of "halflings" and other short-people-who-are-not-dwarves in the fantasy literature and in fantasy [=RPGs=]. |
| 316 | ** The archetype of a wandering, humble-seeming wise old man with a wide-brimmed hat and an array of supernatural powers may be started by Odin of Myth/NorseMythology, but most aren't aware of that and base their WizardClassic upon Gandalf. |
| 317 | ** Legolas is pretty much the TropeCodifier for "Elf wielding a bow who is adept at surviving in nature." Bonus points if said elf lives in the woods. |
| 318 | ** Smaug from ''Literature/TheHobbit'' brought the "silver-tongued dragon" archetype to Western audiences. |
| 319 | ** The Balrog of Moria, especially [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings the movie version design-wise]], and Balrogs in general, inspired a lot of "[[BigRedDevil giant powerful winged fire demon]]" entities in tabletop and video gaming, including Balor from ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', the Ash Titan from ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'', and Bloodthirsters such as Skarbrand and Ka'bandha from ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''. And not only this, but the "[[BigRedDevil giant powerful winged fire demon]]" look is preferred by [[Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower other adaptations of ''Tolkien's Legendarium'']] too, despite not sharing same continuity with Peter Jackson's trilogies. |
| 320 | * ''Literature/LandOfOz'': |
| 321 | ** ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'' gave us: Cyborgs/Androids afraid of losing their humanity (the [[TinMan Tin Woodsman]]), Cowardly Powerhouses (CowardlyLion), the most iconic WickedWitch of them all (especially given Creator/MargaretHamilton's portrayal in [[Film/TheWizardOfOz the film]]), and a very typical girl heroine (Dorothy). |
| 322 | ** Princess Ozma of Oz has inspired several characters. She's a [[AChildShallLeadThem young]] BenevolentMageRuler with an iconic design consisting of a flowing white dress, long dark hair. and a ringlet crown. Leia from ''Franchise/StarWars'' and the Childlike Empress from ''Literature/TheNeverEndingStory'' are two characters that take note from Ozma. |
| 323 | * The ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'' has been the inspiration of the EldritchAbomination trope. If a creator wants to make one, it will usually have a face full of tentacles. |
| 324 | * Literature/JamesBond is possibly the most famous depiction of a spy and is copied endlessly. His villains have also had a big influence on fictional characters, with Ernst Stavro Blofeld being quite possibly the most commonly copied. |
| 325 | * ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'': Son Wukong In addition to many Chinese adaptations and knock-offs, the immortality-seeking monkey king with an extensible staff and great magical powers is known to the Japanese as Son Goku. (Most expies, however, only copy Wukong's {{Munchkin}}-levels of mischievousness and forget that he's also a GuileHero.) |
| 326 | * ''Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser'' had a huge influence on both the SwordAndSorcery genre fantasy roleplaying games, and gave rise to a frequently copied adventurer pairing of BrainsAndBrawn and/or SwordAndSorcerer. (While TheBigGuy often gets {{flanderiz|ation}}ed into a standard BarbarianHero, some versions remember that Fafhrd ''isn't'', and give their version the appropriate HiddenDepths.) |
| 327 | * Many a KillAllHumans-minded race of MechanicalLifeforms owe a debt to Creator/FredSaberhagen's ''Berserker'' series. |
| 328 | * ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'': The Pseudo-Arachnids (or Bugs) of Klendathu became the major inspiration for every swarm of man-eating InsectoidAliens that infest the Science Fiction and Space Opera genres. From the Xenomorphs from ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'', to the Tyranids from ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', to the Zerg from ''VideoGame/StarCraft'', to the Brood and the Annihilation Wave from ''Marvel Comics''. |
| 329 | * {{Discussed|Trope}} in ''Literature/ThursdayNext''; "generics" (basically book extras) in the Well of Lost Plots are affected by strong personalities and model themselves accordingly, which are then distributed in lots of other books. (One example InUniverse is how many Merlins appeared following ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'', which then were sent to books throughout the fantasy genre.) |
| 330 | * Harry Dresden of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' is both an {{Expy}} of John Constantine and an example in his own right, spawning [[FollowTheLeader a whole wave of imitators]] in the form of often powerful but also often outgunned {{Occult Detective}}s and {{First Person Smartass}}es; [[Literature/IronDruidChronicles Atticus O'Sullivan]], [[Literature/TheHellequinChronicles Nate Garrett]], [[Literature/RiversOfLondon DC Peter Grant]], and Literature/AlexVerus are all examples. As, peculiarly, is the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction'' version of John Constantine, who owes more to Dresden than to any canon counterpart, making this positively recursive. |
| 331 | * Hawk (from the ''Literature/{{Spenser}}'' series) has started a low-profile trend in crime fiction. Take a look at any ongoing series that started in the eighties or later, and take note of how many of the protagonists happen to have a [[PsychoSidekick borderline-sociopath best friend]], ally, and/or partner. The most obvious examples are Mouse, from Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins novels; Joe Pike from Literature/ElvisCole; and Ranger from the Literature/StephaniePlum series (though Ranger isn't really sociopathic, he's still pretty much a carbon copy of Hawk in terms of his mysteriousness and overall badassery). It's even snuck into other ''genres'': witness [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Thomas Raith]]'s cool car, friendly banter, and habit of whistling odd songs to himself during a fight, or the general relationship between Literature/AnitaBlake and the assassin Edward. |
| 332 | * Literature/DocSavage. Key points of a Doc expy are being a ProtoSuperhero who is the pinnacle of human achievement (possibly due to some kind of [[GuineaPigFamily parental experimentation]]), either appearing in TwoFistedTales or "the pulp era" of a superhero pastiche universe, and often actually being named Doc or having a nickname reflecting Savage's "Man of Bronze" tag, or both. They include ComicBook/TomStrong, Literature/DocSidhe, Doc Brass from ''ComicBook/{{Planetary}}'', Doc Prophet (the Man of Marble) from ''TabletopGame/FreedomCity'', Doc Aeon from ''TabletopGame/HaltEvilDoer'', Mr Misnomer (the Man of Chrome) from ''Literature/BerniceSummerfield'', Doc Thunder from ''Pax Britannia'', Doc Bronze from the works of Creator/KimNewman, and Literature/DocWilde. |
| 333 | * Yasunori Kato, antagonist of the classic series ''[[Literature/TeitoMonogatari Doomed Megalopolis]]'', has inspired a slew of imitators, which have in turn inspired others, to the point where it's difficult to tell who inspired who after the original. Characters of his lineage include [[Franchise/StreetFighter M. Bison]], [[Manga/RikiOh Washizaki]], [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Rudolph von Stronheim]], the [[Anime/UltimateMuscle Blocken family]], [[VideoGame/WorldHeroes Brocken]], and [[Manga/OnePiece Shiryu]], while surprisingly, we have a couple of heroic versions by the names of {{VideoGame/Raidou|KuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy}} [[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon Kuzunoha]] and [[Manga/TokyoBabylon Subaru and Hokuto Sumeragi]]. Also, they are ALL descended from the Hugo Boss-designed [[PuttingOnTheReich Nazi officer uniforms.]] |
| 334 | [[/folder]] |
| 335 | |
| 336 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 337 | * Ralph Kramden, as portrayed by Jackie Gleason, from classic American sitcom ''Series/TheHoneymooners'', has influenced many other sitcom protagonists who are blue-collar, crude, simple-minded yet well-meaning middle-aged family men. |
| 338 | * Hakaider, TheRival of the titular hero in ''Series/{{Kikaider}}'', was so popular he went on to inspire many other villains in various Japanese media, especially in the {{Toku}} genre, that fit the mold of [[TheGunslinger gun-toting]], black-colored {{Killer Robot}}s who are rivals, {{Evil Counterpart}}s and/or brothers with the main protagonist. Examples can be seen in [[Series/ChoudenshiBioman Bio Hunter Silva]], [[Series/ChoujinkiMetalder Top Gunder]], [[Series/TokusouRoboJanperson Gun Gibson]], [[Series/JuukouBFighter Black Beet]], [[Series/SevenStarFightingGodGuyferd Deathferd]], [[Series/ChouseishinGransazer Logia]] and [[Series/KamenRiderDrive Mashin Chaser]]. |
| 339 | * Nasir from ''Series/RobinOfSherwood'' introduced the idea of adding a North African or Arab character to the Merry Men in ''Myth/RobinHood'' retellings. Several subsequent works, most notably ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves'' and the 2010s BBC ''Series/RobinHood'', have done the same, either out of a conscious desire to ethnically diversify the cast, or due to accidental LostInImitation. |
| 340 | * ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' ([[Franchise/UltraSeries and his successors]]) proved to be such a hit back in the day that Japanese television studios were churning dozens of giant heroes in an attempt to cash in on his success, with the most notorious of the bunch being Jet Jaguar from the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies. In fact, it's become a subgenre of its own in {{Toku}} -- the ''Kyodai Hero''. |
| 341 | * Being a long-running franchise, ''Franchise/KamenRider'' likes to recycle certain archetypes and character molds: |
| 342 | ** ''Franchise/KamenRider'' itself also set a trend for Japan's take on superheroes in media, such as a costume design that incorporates a helmet, transformations involving a gadget, and dramatic poses. From ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' to ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe'' to even Gohan's superhero persona as [[Manga/DragonBall Great Saiyaman]] all borrow bits and pieces from Kamen Rider's core design. Later Toku series from Toei, including ''Series/{{Kikaider}}'', ''Series/{{Inazuman}}'', ''Series/HenshinNinjaArashi'', ''Series/Akumaizer3'' and ''Series/SpaceIronmenKyodain'' all featured heroes who borrowed various elements from Kamen Rider in one way or another. |
| 343 | ** Shocker are pretty much the TropeCodifier for the NebulousEvilOrganisation in regards to Toku. If an organization has a rotating lineup of executives, FacelessGoons who shout "yee" and mutant monsters with AnimalMotifs, they're likely derived from Shocker in some way. The [[Series/HenshinNinjaArashi Blood Wheel Clan]], [[Series/TheKagestar Satan Empire]], [[Series/KamenRiderBlack Gorgom]], [[Film/ShinKamenRiderPrologue ISS]], [[Series/KamenRiderBuild Faust]] and [[Series/SevenStarFightingGodGuyferd Crown]] being some notable examples. |
| 344 | ** [[Series/KamenRider Nigo]] and [[Series/KamenRiderV3 Riderman]] provide the template for the heroic secondary riders, the former acting as the basis for the friendlier ones (i.e., [[Series/KamenRiderAgito G3-X]], [[Series/KamenRiderKabuto Gatack]]), whereas the latter's influence is seen on TheRival (i.e., [[Series/KamenRiderRyuki Knight]], [[Series/KamenRiderExAid Brave]]). |
| 345 | ** Akiyama Ren ([[Series/KamenRiderRyuki Kamen Rider Knight]]) himself set the precedent for TheRival in subsequent series to come. As an aloof, initially antagonistic StockShonenRival fighting for the sake of a loved one in contrast to the protagonist's generalized idealism, this came to be the template for future secondary riders of TheRival variety, and secondaries after him tend to possess at least one of these traits. |
| 346 | ** If you can think of a female rider (i.e., [[Series/KamenRiderGaim Marika]], [[Series/KamenRiderRyuki Femme]]), odds are that they have a few things in common with [[Series/KamenRiderStronger Tackle]] (even though she's not officially recognized as a rider). |
| 347 | ** [[Series/KamenRiderBlack Shadow Moon]] provides the influence for most evil[=/=]morally questionable riders who are rivals with the main protagonist (i.e., [[Series/KamenRiderBlade Glaive]], [[Series/KamenRider555 Kaixa]]). |
| 348 | * Keller and Mirror in the ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series ''Series/DenshiSentaiDenziman'' have inspired a number of evil female spy duos in {{Toku}}, often colored in gold and silver. Interestingly, expies of them are particularly prevelant in the ''Series/MetalHeroes'' series, which features such duos as [[Series/SpaceSheriffSharivan Miss Demon 1 and 2]], [[Series/KyojuuTokusouJuspion Brima and Gyol]], [[Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban Shadow and Gasher]] and [[Series/KidouKeijiJiban Marsha and Karsha]]. |
| 349 | * Zoom's appearance on ''Series/TheFlash2014'' ended up inspiring several more black-clothed, deep-voiced [[KnightOfCerebus Knights of Cerebus]] on other [[Creator/TheCW CW shows]], including [[Series/{{Arrow}} Prometheus]], [[Series/{{Riverdale}} Black Hood]], and [[Series/Supergirl2015 Reign]]. ''The Flash'' itself followed the trend with Cicada. |
| 350 | * Series/{{Spectreman}}'': Dr. Gori inspired Monkey Alien from ''Manga/{{Dandadan}}'' and Mojo Jojo from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls''. |
| 351 | [[/folder]] |
| 352 | |
| 353 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 354 | * In VisualKei there are a ''lot'' of artists that get this treatment, but probably the most notorious is [[Music/HidetoMatsumoto hide.]] The amount of hide clones or one-time hide clones within VisualKei is enough to fill an entire page, but some of the ''more'' well known are Die and Kaoru of Music/DirEnGrey (though they currently are not), Jun of Spiv States plus the entire band concept of Spiv States being a thinly veiled copy of hide's solo band, and a 2013 photoshoot for a band called CELL featuring ''everyone'' in the band as a hide clone. It's been overdone to the point that anyone in Visual Kei with red or pink hair, especially paired with hide's face or eye makeup, is a clone of him regardless of sound or instrument. |
| 355 | * Music/GeorgeStrait. In TheNineties, many young up and coming males in CountryMusic followed his pattern of being youngish, clean-cut, sharp-dressed good ol' country boys with a bit of a honky-tonk flair to their music. Their copying of Strait's image was dubbed "hat act". Over time, so ''many'' "hat acts" flooded Nashville that the phrase quickly became a derogatory term, and most new males in country music ever since have abandoned the Strait archetype (except Strait himself, of course). |
| 356 | * Though Music/{{Eminem}} song "The Real Slim Shady" serves as the current page quote, he himself comes from a long line of white rappers with that particular look (tank top, shorts, backward baseball cap, etc.), a family tree that includes Vanilla Ice. |
| 357 | [[/folder]] |
| 358 | |
| 359 | [[folder:Mythology]] |
| 360 | * Being the archetypical medieval fantasy king, Myth/KingArthur has inspired quite a fair share of expies in media. These expies will usually be a medieval king or leader who commands an order of knights, wields a magical sword, sometimes has an AntagonisticOffspring BastardBastard or traitorous lieutenant, and ends up being a KingInTheMountain in the hour of greatest need. Examples include Leoric from ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', He-Man from ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'', the whole Kingdom of Bretonnia from ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' (though specifically its founder Gilles le Breton and to a lesser extent its current King, Louen Leoncouer), and the Dark Angels chapter from ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' (more specifically its primarch, Lion el'Jonson). And while Saber/Altria Pendragon of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' does not count as she is just a GenderFlip, Richard the Lionheart as portrayed in ''Literature/FateStrangeFake'' counts as he strives to emulate the Arthurian ideals of a king to no avail. |
| 361 | [[/folder]] |
| 362 | |
| 363 | [[folder:Newspaper Comics]] |
| 364 | * ComicStrip/MandrakeTheMagician had ''many'' imitators in MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, most of them with an almost identical costume. The one that is best remembered today is Creator/DCComics's Zatara, father of ComicBook/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}} member Characters/{{Zatanna}}. Another who pops up once in a while in current DC Comics is Creator/FawcettComics's [[Characters/ShazamOthers Ibis the Invincible,]] a [[SealedGoodInACan revived Ancient Egyptian]] who wears a turban instead of a top hat. The ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica's enemy [[Characters/JusticeSocietyOfAmericaVillains the Wizard]] is basically an ''evil'' version of Mandrake, right down to the outfit and mustache. Even [[MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] magician ComicBook/DoctorStrange shares the Himalayan origin and (originally pencil-thin) mustache. And magician John Mandrake of ''Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy'' is named after him, though they don't have much else in common. Likewise, Shmendrake the Magician from ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'' is named in humorous homage to him. |
| 365 | [[/folder]] |
| 366 | |
| 367 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 368 | * Wrestling/GeorgeWagner is not just the {{Trope Maker|s}} and {{Trope Namer|s}} for GorgeousGeorge but the originator of TheGimmick as it would be used in pro wrestling from the 1930s onward. Besides {{ambiguously gay}} wrestlers like Wrestling/ExoticAdrianStreet (who is himself a fountain of expies), his influence is also transparently shown in Natural Guy Wrestling/BuddyRogers (another fountain of expies). |
| 369 | * Wrestling/ElSanto, which ironically was a gimmick intended to cash in on the popularity of The Masked Marvel, only the The Marvel gimmick was supposed to be that of a {{Heel}} everyone wanted to see unmasked. Santo instead underwent a HeelFaceTurn after reaching a point no one wanted to see him unmasked and after the man died he was buried in it. Some of expies include Mil Mascaras, who in turn inspires his own expies, Black Man, who became Mexico's biggest draw (alongside Kung Fu and Kato Kung Lee) after succeeding an LLI feud Santo was a part of, Novia Del Santo (Irma Gonzales), El Zorro Plateado (who spawned his own {{Legacy|Character}}), Franchise/ElSantos from the satire series of the same name and Number Five from ''Series/{{Angel}}''. |
| 370 | * Fray Tormenta is the MaskedLuchador with the most expies after El Santo, which include Manga/TigerMask (which would in turn become another fountain of expies), Sagrado, Wrestling/{{Mistico}} ([[Wrestling/{{Hunico}} that one too]]), [[Wrestling/SamiZayn El Generico]], Videogame/{{Tekken}}'s King and Film/NachoLibre. |
| 371 | * The French Angel, aka "[[RedBaron The World's Ugliest Man]]", became such a huge draw when he arrived in the Boston territory that a wave of expies rose across North America, including but not limited to Swedish Angel (formerly [[IHaveManyNames Phil/Olaf/Popey/Frankenstein/Olaffsen]]), Russian Angel (formerly Tony Angelo and a former [[LegacyCharacter Masked Marvel]]), Canadian Angel (formerly Bill Rush, who beforehand was in another ersatz role as [[PaletteSwap Red Masked Marvel]]), Polish Angel (formerly Iron Talun, who [[SubvertedTrope in a bit of variation]] was [[{{Hunk}} cute]]), Czech Angel (formerly Stanley Pinto), Irish Angel (formerly Clive Welsh), Golden Angel (formerly Tiger Jack Moore) and Black Angel (Gil Guerrero). There was also Super Swedish Angel (formerly Tor Johnson) who was a CaptainErsatz of an expy and two {{distaff counterpart}}s, the Lady Angel gimmick being taken up both by Jean Noble and Yulie Brynner. The animated ogre Franchise/{{Shrek}} also closely resembles the world's ugliest man. |
| 372 | * Filipino wrestler Rey Urbano started TheGimmick of Asian wrestlers with "[[CombatPragmatist ninja cheats]]", though more imitators were inspired by his expy, The Great Kabuki, who in turn was overshadowed by one his own expies during the territorial era when promoters in the Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance pushed Wrestling/TheGreatMuta as his son. Far more wrestlers have imitated Muta's style but the poison fog/colored mists come from Kabuki and the face paint and or mutilation come from Urbano. |
| 373 | * Wrestling/SuperstarBillyGraham, whose expies include many other blonde and or bearded "body builder" types in fancy get ups such as Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/JesseVentura and Wrestling/ScottSteiner, who all also took elements of his promos, though adding their own unique tics. |
| 374 | * The Wrestling/NewWorldOrder are a group example. As one of the most famous and influential {{heel}} stables in the history of professional wrestling, it's perhaps unsurprising that the [=nWo=] has influenced numerous later stables, who took the basic premise "A large alliance of uncouth [[EvilWearsBlack black-clad]] bullies with an anti-authority streak trying to take over a professional wrestling organization by force" and ran with it. They've inspired a few straightforward parodies and homages, like Wrestling/{{ECW}}'s "Blue World Order", Wrestling/{{WCW}}'s "Latino World Order", and Wrestling/JuggaloChampionshipWrestling's "Juggalo World Order". Some, like [[Wrestling/ImpactWrestling TNA]]'s Sports Wrestling Xtreme ("SEX"), Wrestling/ImpactWrestling's Wrestling/{{Aces and Eights|Wrestlers}}, and WWE's Wrestling/{{Nexus}}, are usually seen as cheap knockoffs. But a few stables that are genuinely famous and acclaimed in their own right--like WWF's Wrestling/DGenerationX, Wrestling/{{WWE}}'s Wrestling/TheShield, Wrestling/{{NJPW}}'s Wrestling/BulletClub, and Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling's Wrestling/TheDarkOrder--are also widely seen as (at the very least) the spiritual descendants of the [=nWo=].[[note]]Notably, Bullet Club proved to be popular enough to inspire a few obvious copycats of its own, most notably WWE's "The Club" (later "The O.C.", or "Original Club") and "Balor Club"; but since the O.C. and the Balor Club were started by Bullet Club alums after they moved on to other promotions and wanted to pay tribute to their old teammates, Bullet Club is closer to a "Fountain of {{Lawyer Friendly Cameo}}s".[[/note]] |
| 375 | [[/folder]] |
| 376 | |
| 377 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 378 | * Professor Harold Hill from ''Theatre/TheMusicMan'' set the standard for a certain flavor of {{Con Man}} marked by their old-timey fashions, businesses/scams that are designed to target a community, and oftentimes a musical number that can double as their pitch. Lyle Lanley from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and the Flim-Flam Brothers from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' are two such examples.[[/folder]] |
| 379 | |
| 380 | [[folder:Toys]] |
| 381 | * ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'' has had many, many knockoffs in miscellaneous toy stores. Barbie toy expies are so pervasive that Mattel will only bother to sue if the face and name are too similar. Since she is the most famous "girl toy", she of course often gets homaged/parodied in media, such as Malibu Stacy in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Beyond toy-wise, animated shows like ''WesternAnimation/BeverlyHillsTeens'' and ''WesternAnimation/MaxiesWorld'' feature protagonists and settings that might as well be Barbie. |
| 382 | * ''Franchise/{{Lego}}'' has been copied a lot of times through other toy brands and even in video games, appearing as simple cutesy cubic claw-handed plastic-like figurines and minimal facial features. Also, with a tendency of being yellow-skinned. The avatars in ''Platform/{{Roblox}}'' are obvious Lego clones, as are the Servbots in the ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' series. With a stretch, you could also consider the Minions of the ''Franchise/DespicableMe'' franchise as Lego expies. |
| 383 | [[/folder]] |
| 384 | |
| 385 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 386 | * ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'': Morrigan Aensland. If you've seen a "succubus" or "demon" with batwings wearing {{Stripperiffic}} skintight clothes, especially with implausibly revealing cuts and hemlines, you've seen one of Morrigan's imitators. |
| 387 | * The popularity of the ''Franchise/FateSeries'' in TheNewTens [[TropeCodifier codified]] a specific breed of JeanneDArchetype based on ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'''s most recognizable character Saber (a GenderFlip of Myth/KingArthur): a [[TheStoic stoic]], [[HonorBeforeReason honorable]] [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold gold-haired]] [[ActionGirl young]] [[LadyOfWar female knight]]. Her hair is braided and often tied to a PrimAndProperBun, which symbolizes [[YamatoNadeshiko the combination of femininity with determination and self-discipline]]. In combat, she's most often equipped with a sword and clad in knight heavy armor[[note]]but [[HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic not in helmet]][[/note]] so that she can [[DamagerHealerTank shield others from enemy attacks]]. Her civilian attire has the color scheme of [[BlueIsHeroic blue]] and white, and she's a bit awkward yet [[DefrostingTheIceQueen more open]] to her companions while wearing it. Straight versions include [[Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} the house]]'s [[Literature/FateApocrypha own Jeanne d'Arc]], [[VisualNovel/PrincessLover Sylvia van Hossen]], [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Alice Zuberg]], [[Anime/ReCreators Alicetaria February]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Ingrid Brandl Galatea]][[note]]who ticks most boxes except for preferring lances and mounted combat over swords and shields (which she inherits from the ''Fire Emblem''[='=]s own internal archetype of "The Caeda")[[/note]]. [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics Agrias Oak]] possesses most of the traits but came out five years before ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. Literature/VioletEvergarden is pretty close, only missing the armor. [[Literature/KonoSuba Darkness]] is a [[{{Pun}} deviant]]. |
| 388 | * ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'': |
| 389 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'': Kefka. He may well be the ''inspiration'' for every {{Camp}}, MonsterClown, [[StrawNihilist Nihilist]] in gaming the world over. Ironic, considering he's frequently considered the FF version of [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker The Joker]]. He also started the trend of RPG bosses having a [[LightIsNotGood vaguely angelic]] OneWingedAngel form, predating even the {{Trope Namer|s}} up above. Ardyn from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' is usually considered to be following in Kefka's footsteps, and Kuja from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' is like a mashup between Kefka and Sephiroth. |
| 390 | ** Sephiroth of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', while hardly the first white haired {{Bishonen}} villain, did inspire a whole slew of imitators trying to get the same sort of MultipleDemographicAppeal. Just look at the design of TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering's [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=195403 Sorin Markov]]. (That "control other player" part sounds morbidly familiar...) |
| 391 | *** These characters, derisively called "Sephiroth Clones", are becoming increasingly common, especially in later ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games. On any given ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' server, you will find ''dozens''. All of them [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elvaan]] males, all with long silver hair, almost always [[KatanasAreJustBetter Samurai]]. |
| 392 | *** As an amusing point of fact, Sephiroth was himself inspired by Psaro of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV''. In the Nintendo DS remake of the game, Psaro's redesign lifts a few elements from Sephiroth in turn. |
| 393 | ** The success of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'''s Cloud meant every JRPG until about 2002 had to star a moody, arrogant, aloof, charismatic, {{Anime Hair}}ed young man (or woman) with NinetiesAntiHero and EmoTeen elements, an InferioritySuperiorityComplex, a DarkAndTroubledPast, access to a motorbike, a uniquely designed {{BFS}}, and usually some form of amnesia or magical dark side. None of these traits are unusual in protagonists, of course, but it was unusual until then to have a JRPG protag of this kind, since the kind of storytelling usually used in the genre favours more naive and helpful characters than this. The FollowTheLeader died out when the Cloud copies got so extreme with the angst, coolness and attitude that it was impossible to enjoy being in their company any more. |
| 394 | ** Various later ''FF'' games have used Cloud copies too, usually focusing on a different aspect of Cloud's concept -- Squall Leonhart from ''VIII'' and Lightning from ''XIII'' are variations playing up the coldness, Wol from ''Mobius'' plays up the detachment and sarcasm and Ace from ''Type-O'' has Cloud's ego and flair. |
| 395 | * ''Creator/FromSoftware'' is fond of this while creating in-universe expies of expies; it often occurs to characters with the same voice actor, or having similar appearance and backstories, especially anyone who happens to be named ''[[LegacyCharacter Patches]]''. |
| 396 | * Inverted in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic''. Every class is an expy of one or more characters from the Films, as are their starships. Companion Characters also channel minor characters from the films and ExpandedUniverse. Excepting minor cases of characters who are Expies of non-Star Wars characters (the Imperial Agent is a dead ringer for Film/JamesBond) and of earlier Creator/BioWare characters (Kaliyo is [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 Jack]]). |
| 397 | * If a video game produced after 2001 has a main character who's head to toe in PoweredArmor and has any sort of personality, you can bet that said personality will resemble ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' protagonist Samus Aran, Master Chief from ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', or [[VideoGame/Doom2016 as of late,]] Doomguy from ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', as will the abilities and limitations of said PoweredArmor. |
| 398 | * The success of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1'' kicked off a slew of copycats trying to cash in on his BadButt personality, giving rise to the MascotWithAttitude trope. Ironically, many of these characters starred in {{Platform Game}}s similar to those of his rival, [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]. |
| 399 | ** Speaking of Sonic, after ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' introduced Scratch and Grounder, a pair of bumbling henchbots, it became a custom for Dr. Robotnik/Eggman to possess similar henchmen in the various ''Sonic'' media, from Sleet and Dingo in ''WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground'' to Bocoe and Decoe in ''Anime/SonicX'' to Orbot and Cubot in the games themselves. |
| 400 | * Riesz from ''VideoGame/TrialsOfMana'' has inspired a slew of princess knights with [[MercurysWings winged headdresses]], especially in fantasy anime and visual novels. |
| 401 | * During the '90s, many puzzle games tried to emulate the success of ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' to varying degrees. One of the more common elements is having a protagonist based on heroine Arle Nadja, a BadassAdorable female character who is either depicted as a child or teenager and typically having magical abilities. Several examples include Lip from ''VideoGame/PanelDePon'', Justice from ''VideoGame/MagicalDrop F'', Exchanger and Debtmister from ''Money Puzzle Exchanger'', Polly from ''Baku Baku Animal'', and Prim Amor from ''Pochi and Nyaa''. ''Puyo Puyo'' itself would even copy Arle with some of its own protagonists from the Sega era on, like Amitie and to a lesser extent Ringo. |
| 402 | * ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' had (has?) a problem with this. It's [[http://www.gamegirladvance.com/archives/2005/02/01/city_of_copies_marvel_vs_nc_soft.html very easy]] to make an obvious CaptainErsatz with it, and Creator/MarvelComics sued them over it once. When the Twin Blades power set was added to ''City of Heroes'', thousands of clones of the aforementioned Drizzt Do'Urden were the first characters seen using it. Drizzt's popularity as an overused character even extended to video games... |
| 403 | * When the first expansion for ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' hit, giving the Horde blond elves, in the first hours there were literally ''thousands'' of variations of [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Legolas]], most of them hunters with bows, as well as hundreds of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroths]]. The game's [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], i.e. the ProudWarriorRaceGuy shamanistic type, are almost as common as the original AlwaysChaoticEvil type nowadays. |
| 404 | * The protagonist of any ''VideoGame/YumeNikki'' [[FanSequel fangame]] is an {{expy}} of [[{{Hikikomori}} Madotsuki]] by default. |
| 405 | ** Also, expect a [[SurprisinglyCreepyMoment surprisingly creepy]] ghostly monster like Uboa, sometimes with a JumpScare. ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' has both, Frisk as a Madotsuki Expy and Gaster for Uboa. |
| 406 | * Several ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games feature a pair of MachoCamp bandits, often found in desert areas who serve as a DualBoss. There are enough recurring character archetypes throughout the series to merit [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Archetypes an entire category]] on the ''Fire Emblem'' Wiki (and [[Characters/FireEmblemHeroicArchetypes two separate]] [[Characters/FireEmblemAntagonistArchetypes character pages]] on this wiki). |
| 407 | * ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': |
| 408 | ** Every generation after the first will have an adorable electric rodent resembling Pikachu. The exact species varies (there have been mice and squirrels so far) but all of them have [[BlushStickers cheeks that conduct electricity]]. which seems a little redundant given that Pikachu itself is also available in every generation bar [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite the]] [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 fifth]]. This trend is spoofed by the introduction of Mimikyu in the seventh generation, a Ghost and Fairy-type who wears a poorly-made Pikachu costume in the hopes that he will become as popular as Pikachu. |
| 409 | ** Every generation after the first also tends to feature an early-route Pokémon resembling a small rodent or other similar creature in the vein of Rattata, A bug-type Pokémon not unlike Weedle or Caterpie, a bird Pokémon rather similar to Pidgey, and a powerful Pokémon, usually a dragon-type such as Dratini that takes starts off fairly weak and takes a long time to fully evolve. |
| 410 | ** Every generation except for the [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver second]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon seventh]] have introduced two new families of Rock-types that can only be obtained through reviving fossils. |
| 411 | ** Every generation has three starter Pokémon that are Grass, Fire, and Water respectively, have two evolutions and their main ability boosts the power of their same-type attack bonus by 50% when their health is a third below their max. |
| 412 | ** After the success of BreakoutCharacter Lucario in [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl the fourth generation]], each subsequent generation has introduced a similar bipedal animal humanoid Pokémon hoping to achieve the same type of popularity, to varying degrees of success. Some of these expies include [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Zoroark]], [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Greninja]], [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Lycanroc]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Toxitricity]]. |
| 413 | * Pick a [[MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena MOBA]] game. [[VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends any]] [[VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm MO]][[VideoGame/HeroesOfNewerth BA]] [[VideoGame/{{Smite}} game]]. There is always a knockoff [[VideoGame/Dota2 Meat Hook]] ability. ''Every single time''. |
| 414 | ** Or someone who [[SpinAttack spins to win]]. Or someone who likes to go stealth but dies pretty quickly when discovered. Or someone whose ultimate has them jump into the air and slam on the ground to trap enemies. [[Analysis/MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena Go here for more of them.]] |
| 415 | * We've long since lost count of how many low-budget horror games have tried to be [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys Freddy Fazbear and the gang]], which helped codify the MascotHorror genre. |
| 416 | * Dak'kon, the Githzerai WarriorPoet from ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', permanently altered the perceptions of the Githzerai. Before Dak'kon, the canonical alignment of the Githzerai was mostly ChaoticNeutral, befitting a people who lived in Limbo, a plane directly tied to chaos, with the LawfulNeutral Dak'kon being an explicit and very unusual exception to the rule. However, due to Dak'kon's influence (both in-universe and out-of-universe), level-headed, monastic, LawfulNeutral {{Warrior Monk}}s became the norm for the Githzerai thereafter. |
| 417 | * Inverted in ''Super KO Boxing 2'', where nearly all boxers have the gimmicks of ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' boxers. Examples include: |
| 418 | ** KO Kid = Little Mac |
| 419 | ** Big Gip/Bigger Gip = Glass Joe |
| 420 | ** El Bulli/El Diablo = Don Flamenco |
| 421 | ** Sake Bomb = Piston Hondo with Bald Bull's knockout recovery |
| 422 | ** King Tub = King Hippo |
| 423 | ** Executioner = Every final opponent in the game. |
| 424 | * The ''VideoGame/ShiningSeries'' has one inspired by Zylo, the claw-wielding, wolfring warrior king from the original ''VideoGame/ShiningForce''. Since his debut, there's been a WolfMan character in nearly every game in the series that emulates to some degree. Notable examples include: |
| 425 | ** Gerhalt from ''VideoGame/ShiningForceII''. |
| 426 | ** Zachs from ''VideoGame/ShiningSoulII''. |
| 427 | ** Volg from ''VideoGame/ShiningTears'', who is in turn an Expy of Zachs. |
| 428 | ** Rouen from ''VideoGame/ShiningWind''. |
| 429 | ** Baron from ''VideoGame/ShiningForceNeo''. |
| 430 | ** Duga from ''VideoGame/ShiningForceEXA''. |
| 431 | ** Fenrir from ''VideoGame/ShiningBlade''. |
| 432 | * Almost every single cute RobotGirl {{Meido}} [[UnusualEars with mechanical ears]] in Japanese media can be traced back to Multi from ''VisualNovel/ToHeart''. Some popular examples include [[Franchise/TouhouProject Ruukoto]], [[Music/{{UTAU}} Momone Momo]], and [[VideoGame/DreamCClub Airi]]. |
| 433 | * ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' downplays this trope since it’s limited to the series itself, but since the introduction of [[ManiacMonkeys Rajang,]] the series has added more monsters (namely [[HungryMenace Deviljho]], [[TheUsurper Seregios]], and [[DeathFromAbove Bazelgeuse]]) who fill the same niche of powerful, nomadic monsters who [[DiabolusExNihilo show up out of nowhere to ruin your hunt.]] |
| 434 | * While ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' tends to reuse character archetypes from the first two games on occasion, especially in the mainline games, Ozawa from ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'' starts a pattern of despicable human villains who are largely powerless in the grand scheme of things, but are mainly responsible for the protagonists (typically of the Chaotic variety) going off the deep end. ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'' is the only following mainline game to lack such a character, though Ozawa himself cameos. |
| 435 | * ''Franchise/DragonQuest'': You see a sword-wielding "Hero" or the concept of a "Demon King" in a Japanese fantasy story, and they will inevitably be based off of Erdrick and Zoma from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' given its influence. |
| 436 | * ''{{VideoGame/Angelique|KoeiTecmo}}'': Much like how ''Franchise/DragonQuest'' is the primary inspiration for the RPG isekai genre, '' Angelique'', the {{Trope Maker|s}} for {{Otome Game}}s, is the primary inspiration for the otome isekai genre. The archetypes of the stock otome heroine and otome villainess that the genre revolves around are ultimately derived from '' Angelique'''s heroine Angelique Limoges and rival character Rosalia de Catargena. |
| 437 | * While AntiVillain Vergil from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' is hardly videogaming's first IaijutsuPractitioner, the sheer popularity of the character means any katana carrying character is inevitably compared to him, and more than a few actually do have moves that take a few cues from Vergil's, such as using BladeSpam, or projecting a DiagonalCut from a quick-drawn blade. |
| 438 | ** Vergil's brother Dante, the main character of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' himself has gotten plenty of expies after his debut: |
| 439 | *** [[VideoGame/{{Gungrave}} Brandon "Beyond the Grave" Heat]] is more a {{silent|Protagonist}} variation minus the {{BFS}} and more emphasis on shooting. It appears the [[GunFu Gunslinger]] Style was inspired by his gunplay on the debut game. |
| 440 | *** [[VideoGame/GodHand Gene]]. He also doubles as a (decidedly more lighthearted) expy of [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar Kenshiro]]. Capcom would later take notes and base Nero partially off the former. |
| 441 | *** [[VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}} Bayonetta and Jeanne]] are both GenderFlip examples (being essentially SpiritualLicensee[=s=] by the [[Creator/HidekiKamiya same creator]] to the point that both works supposedly take place in the same universe). The two ladies are snarkers that both fight with swords and guns, taunt their enemies, and the latter even has white hair and dresses in red. The only differences is that they are witches that fight angels. [[note]] They fight demons in the sequel.[[/note]] |
| 442 | *** [[VideoGame/{{Onechanbara}} Kagura]] is another gender flip example that is very {{Stripperific}} and arguably an expy of the ''[=DMC3=]'' incarnation. A HalfHumanHybrid ({{Dhampyr}} in this case) that's young, snarky, taunts, and likes to show off. It fits the bill. |
| 443 | *** [[VideoGame/TheWonderful101 Wonder Blue]], Dante in Franchise/SuperSentai form. A HotBlooded, cocky swordsman with silver locks and a BadassLongcoat. Not surprising considering [[Creator/HidekiKamiya his creator]] also made Dante. |
| 444 | *** [[VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd Siegfried Kaslana]] is a dead ringer for Dante - the hair, the BadassLongcoat, the use of two guns and a {{BFS}}, the lecherousness, the laid-back attitude, the fondness for pizza, and [[BreadMilkEggsSquick the ability to turn into a half-demonic form.]] Like Dante, he gets his half-demonic form through getting [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice impaled by his own sword.]] |
| 445 | *** [[VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends Samira's]] creators have listed [[https://twitter.com/Lanky_Tree/status/1300124059225616384 many inspirations]] [[https://twitter.com/Kindlejack/status/1300174488894537728 for her character]], but the one she most obviously resembles is Dante, from the StylishAction-inspired fighting style (complete with a {{combo|s}}-based [[GameplayGrading grading system]], itself called ''Style'' to parallel ''DMC'''s "Stylish Rank"), to wielding a sword and a pair of handguns (one black and one white), to having an ability called ''Inferno Trigger'' (not to be confused with Dante's "Devil Trigger"), to even [[ShoutOut directly quoting several of his catchphrases.]] |
| 446 | --->'''Samira''': Jackpot. |
| 447 | *** [[VideoGame/TalesOfCrestoria Vicious]] is another Dante expy; dual wielding guns, wearing a longcoat with no shirt and surviving being stabbed through the heart. Complete with a cocky and trollish attitude, as well as not even hiding the fact that he's thought of as a bad guy. |
| 448 | *** [[Manga/VampireKnight Zero Kiryuu]]'s characterization is patterned around Dante. Both despised the other species that they become hunters in hunting them down, skilled with both a gun and sword, white-haired, have an evil twin brother (Vergil and Ichiru), and [[EtTuBrute getting betrayed by the female lead]] (Trish and [[spoiler:Yuuki]]) [[WomanScorned that they vowed to kill them the next time they crossed paths with the respective female]]. |
| 449 | *** [[VideoGame/MobileLegendsBangBang Alucard]], a demon hunter with BadassLongcoat, wielding a {{BFS}} and a cursed right arm. In fact, when he debuted, he was literally named 'Dante' and has the same white hair, red longcoat color scheme and a similar cocky attitude ("He-hey, not bad!"), until Moonton realized (after several copyright strikes against them) that they made the similarities too blatant, so they decided to change his name into {{Alucard}}, tone down his cockiness into a normal confidence and give him a blond hair-blue longcoat color scheme (which ironically made him look more similar to ''[=DMC4=]''-era Nero). |
| 450 | [[/folder]] |
| 451 | |
| 452 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 453 | * Back in the early 1930s, every new cartoon character that came along was a WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse clone. Ironically, Mickey himself was merely following the formula established the decade before by WesternAnimation/FelixTheCat, and more than one person has stated that he was merely Disney's previous star WesternAnimation/OswaldTheLuckyRabbit with round ears and a long tail. Some people theorize that the whole "black skin, white mouth" genre of funny animals started out as an animated version of minstrel shows. Felix's ability to spawn expies even extended past animation. Characters/{{Sonic the Hedgehog|SonicTheHedgehog}} looked more or less exactly like Felix in the Genesis era, which kickstarted a bunch of expies in video games, though almost none besides Sonic himself remain. |
| 454 | * ''Franchise/TheSmurfs'' were originally [[ComicBook/TheSmurfs a comic book series]], but [[WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981 their animated adaptation]] brought forth a lot of Expies that obviously attempted to FollowTheLeader, usually following the format of a SugarBowl group of tiny colorful cutesy [[PlanetOfHats very similar humanoid creatures]] living in a [[HiddenElfVillage remote location]], and often being threatened by a bigger, more human-looking villain. One of the most famous Smurfs Expies are ''WesternAnimation/TheSnorks'', but even before being made into animation, the Smurfs had Expies in characters such as the Galaxians in ''ComicBook/TheScrameustache'' and the Astroniks toys (incidentally, both being green aliens). |
| 455 | [[/folder]] |
| 456 |
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