Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / VillainByDefault

Go To

1%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1452266899092104700
2%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
3%%
4[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nazi_zombie_unusually_large_rat.png]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:350:So he's a [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi]], a [[TheUndead Zombie]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] a [[YouDirtyRat Rat]]? [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Must be a good guy.]]]]
6%%
7%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion here:
8%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900
9%%
10->''"...And there's this Nazi, who's a bad guy! Why is it that Nazis are always the bad guys?"''
11-->-- '''[[WebVideo/BumReviews Chester A. Bum]]''', [[http://channelawesome.com/bum-reviews-x-men-first-class/ reviewing]] ''Film/XMenFirstClass''
12
13Close relatives of AlwaysChaoticEvil, these characters are defined morally and narratively by what they ''are'', rather than what they ''do''. Inevitably, the Villain by Default is a member of an organization or class that society as a whole has agreed is evil. For this reason, they require little to no additional characterization to cement their position in the story or motives, and in fact, most Villain by Default characters receive none. Much of the time having to show a MoralEventHorizon for those characters might seem redundant, given that they were obviously beyond it with their whole criminal lifestyle.
14
15Essentially, this is a way to supply ready-made antagonists and EvilMinions without sacrificing screen time. EvilMinions, [[TheDragon Dragons]], and members of the QuirkyMinibossSquad are more dependent on this trope than the BigBad, since the BigBad usually has enough screen time to more clearly establish their motives.
16
17Nazis and neo-Nazis are possibly the ultimate example of modern cinematic Villain by Default characters, since these need no additional characterization - most of society agrees Nazis were evil simply by [[ThoseWackyNazis being Nazis]], and neo-Nazis are even more evil because they've willingly devoted themselves to a lifestyle the rest of the world considers evil (as opposed to the occasional Nazi who was forcefully conscripted).
18
19!!Other common examples of Villain by Default types:
20* [[TheAggressiveDrugDealer Drug dealers]] (though [[Series/BreakingBad exceptions do exist]]),
21* [[TheBully Bullies]] (especially in school-related or SliceOfLife works),
22* {{Necromancer}}s (with occasional exceptions like BadPowersGoodPeople, or if "necromancy" is defined more like the original term, to be InterrogatingTheDead or similar),
23* [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain Racial supremacists]] (unless they have a ''[[TragicBigot really]]'' good FreudianExcuse),
24* [[HollywoodSatanism Satanists]] and [[ReligionOfEvil Cultists]],
25* [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil Slavers and slave owners]] (unless they live in a society in which slavery is deeply ingrained and are shown to treat their slaves well),
26* [[GoodSmokingEvilSmoking Tobacco]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive company executives]],
27* [[DirtyCommunists Communists]], especially for works written in the Western countries during the UsefulNotes/ColdWar. Even more so if they're actual KGB agents. The major exception is works made during World War II, when the Soviet Union was on the Allies's side, and see below for another exception.
28* [[PaedoHunt Pedophiles]],
29* HumanTraffickers,
30* [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rapists]],
31* Terrorists,
32* {{Sadist}}s or [[BondageIsBad Sadomasochists]],
33* [[AxCrazy People]] who are [[InsaneEqualsViolent psychotic]],
34* Anyone or anything in a SciFi show that [[AGodAmI claims to be a deity]], [[NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus even (or especially) if they have a good case]],
35* [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Goblins]], [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orcs]], and [[OurMonstersAreDifferent various other monsters]] (see AlwaysChaoticEvil),
36* [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Demons]] and other evil spirits,
37* [[PredatorsAreMean Carnivorous animals]], because not wanting to starve (or not wanting [[MonsterIsAMommy your offspring]] to starve) is evil [[CarnivoreConfusion when your food is meat and you have to kill it]]. This goes obviously for animals with human intelligence, given that in real life animals cannot understand such concepts.
38* [[ScavengersAreScum Carrion-eating animals]]. If predators ''are'' the heroes, scavengers will be the villains by default instead, being seen as less noble and inferior.
39* Especially if the hero (or the writer) is poor or common-born, or is a Communist, there is a tendency that AristocratsAreEvil and [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the rich]] [[EvilColonialist are often]] [[CorruptPolitician this way]].
40* [[TheFundamentalist Religious Fanatics]], especially ones who employ terror tactics (also, on the other end of the spectrum and less commonly portrayed, [[OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions militant atheists]]),
41* [[EvilDebtCollector Debt collectors]],
42* Bandits, robbers, and thieves (Myth/RobinHood is a big exception, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Another big exception is the JustifiedCriminal)
43* Soldiers, who are often portrayed as either as [[ArmiesAreEvil explicitly this]] or as a NobleProfession, depending on setting, context, and often on the author's politics. When the former, they will either be [[PsychoForHire Psychos for Hire]] or FacelessMooks - or [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Bandits by Any Other Name]], especially if this is a civil war/uprising/feud/separatist movement. Of course, what side they are on will also be a huge factor. In the majority of post-Vietnam media, soldiers on either side who participate in combat missions are portrayed as an example of GreyAndGreyMorality.
44* [[SadistTeacher Sadistic teachers]], [[BadBoss mean bosses]], and other cranky authority figures in a school or office setting.
45* [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Mercenaries]], because they fight for money, unless they are helping the hero in LaResistance, in which case they become dashing "freedom fighters".
46* Political "advisors" from other countries in BananaRepublic settings, who are more interested in profiteering and creating their own little fiefdom than actually helping the people.
47* {{Greedy Televangelist}}s,
48* [[TheSociopath Sociopaths]],
49* [[CardCarryingVillain Card-Carrying Villains]],
50* Any kind of GenericDoomsdayVillain,
51* Anyone working for the [[IntimidatingRevenueService IRS]] (tax collectors) or, more generally {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s,
52* And of course, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment the Nazis]].
53* [[OppressiveImmigrationEnforcement Enforcers of immigration control]] are usually presented as bigoted, oppressive, and corrupt.
54
55If the protagonist of the story is an AntiHero, such as a vigilante or mob boss, or is [[ClearMyName wrongly accused]], then [[LawfulEvil any form of law enforcement will be the antagonist]]. Whether this is because they are ineffective, corrupt, [[InspectorJavert vengeful]], [[AntiVillain well-meaning-but-misinformed]], or just in the protagonist's way depends on the specific story.
56
57Naturally, whenever a group is cast as Villains By Default without additional justification, there will be a part of the audience that's going to [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation disagree with the assessment]]. This is particularly true of works that are [[PanderingToTheBase subtly or unsubtly pandering to one "fashionable" prejudice or another]], or that are aimed at very specific audiences. This is where ValuesDissonance will kick in: a work created by a fundamentalist Christian might have a "sinful" person (stripper, alcoholic, what-have-you) as an irredeemable villain, whereas a work by someone who despises Christians will want his/her audience to assume that ''Christians'' are the evil ones.
58
59See also AcceptableTargets and DesignatedHero. Compare SympatheticPOV and DesignatedVillain. Very likely to lead to UnfortunateImplications, especially if vilifying a specific religion, ideology, and/or ethnicity.
60
61Contrast with NobleProfession, where a character is stereotypically ''good'' because of their career path. Contrast also with LovableRogue, a sympathetic (if not heroic) criminal character.
62
63----
64!!Examples:
65
66[[foldercontrol]]
67
68[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
69* The Abh from ''Literature/CrestOfTheStars'' subvert this trope (though they seem to embrace it at first). They have an interstellar empire acquired through conquest and they ban space travel for everyone but the Abh, claiming it's all for good reason; i.e., trying to prevent a vast and destructive conflict.
70** Subverted only to a degree as the world of [=CotS=] is bit [[GreyAndGreyMorality grey]].
71* In ''Manga/{{Holyland}}'', Yuu is repeatedly opposed by delinquents and gangsters. As time goes on, though, you see exceptions with formerly hostile characters who are at least honourable if not outright pull a HeelFaceTurn. Yuu also wonders at times how similar he is to them.
72* Subverted on ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency'' with '''ThoseWackyNazis'''! No, really! Have we already mentioned that this manga is bizarre? At first, the Nazis are seen trying to revive an [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot ancient race of fossilized Mesoamerican vampires]], most likely for the sake of harnessing their power. However, later on it's revealed [[spoiler:that they were investigating them, from the very beginning, for the sake of finding [[{{Immortality}} a way to eliminate them]], as their resurrection would mean the end of the human race]]. While they get some KickTheDog moments, they ultimately cooperate with the heroes by virtues of there being a GreaterScopeVillain. They even give the hero, [[TheTrickster Joseph Joestar]], [[spoiler:a cool mechanical hand as a thank-you gift after he lost it in the final battle]].
73* Aversion: One episode of ''Literature/KinosJourney'' involves slavers who had [[IAmAHumanitarian eaten their "cargo"]] to survive in a snowstorm. However, the episode is devoted to showing that despite how wicked their profession, actions, and plan seem once revealed, they're people as well, with loved ones, hopes, and dreams. Which only goes to show that ordinary people, too, are capable of acts of astonishing callousness — and conversely, that no matter how callous a person is, they're still a ''person''.
74[[/folder]]
75
76[[folder:Comic Books]]
77* The {{Anti Hero}}es of ''ComicBook/SinCity'' have taken on many a Villain by Default in their stories.
78** Marv has fought hitmen, a police death squad, a corrupt cardinal, and a silent and deadly cannibal whose proclivities the cardinal shared.
79** Dwight took on a vicious abuser who [[spoiler:turned out to be a ''hero'' cop]], a team of Irish "rented terrorists", and a syndicate bent on enslaving the girls of Old Town.
80** Hartigan's primary nemeses were a pedophilic rapist[=/=]SerialKiller and his corrupt US Senator father.
81* ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'': The first arc had ScaryDogmaticAliens that used to work for the Nazis.
82* Intentionally averted in ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'', at least the comic book. Creator/AlanMoore initially intended to write his Nazi antagonists as straight-up cardboard villains, as per typical views of Nazis, before reflecting that Fascists are people, too, who usually have reasons for their actions a little more complex than [[ForTheEvulz evil for evil's sake]]. However, he does this without actually making them or their ideology any more sympathetic. They're mostly pathetic, insecure losers who use their ideology to compensate or ordinary people who were too cowardly to fight back, and instead just went with the flow. [[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Inspector Finch]], the most humanized of them all, ultimately realizes that he can no longer ignore [[FinalSolution his government's crimes]], and, when given the opportunity to revive it, chooses to let it collapse.
83[[/folder]]
84
85[[folder:Film]]
86* The Nazis in the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' series, naturally. In a scene from ''[[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade The Last Crusade]]'', Indy's father tells the BigBad that he is slimy and evil not strictly because he is a Nazi sympathizer, but because he is an ''American'' Nazi sympathizer (i.e., he is betraying his country). Unlike the German soldiers, he had a choice in the matter.
87%%* The [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan Klansmen]] in ''Film/LiveByNight''.
88* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
89** Any military officer of the Galactic Empire is treated as thoroughly evil. Though one might assume that some are {{Punch Clock Villain}}s, just about every one with any characterization [[KickTheDog kicks a dog]] in some fashion. For example, in ''Film/ANewHope'' one Imperial officer refers to Chewie as a "thing". In the books, they enslaved his ''entire species''.
90** The bounty hunters in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', including Boba Fett, are portrayed (however briefly) as an unsavory bunch. Boba Fett, however, [[EnsembleDarkHorse became unexpectedly popular]], and has since been portrayed as a VillainProtagonist or even AntiHero in a number of spinoff works.
91** We occasionally meet a nice Hutt, but even they are generally only nice when it's convenient for them.
92[[/folder]]
93
94[[folder:Literature]]
95* {{Grand Vizier}}s on Literature/{{Discworld}}. Arguably, grand viziers ''everywhere'', but it's lampshaded every time one shows up in Discworld, sometimes by the Vizier himself. To the point where a new emperor chose a WrongGenreSavvy {{Cloudcuckoolander}} tourist to be his Grand Vizier on the rationale that someone who didn't ''know'' anything about the job would be ''good''.
96** When the Unseen University hires a necromancer as a professor he is contractually obligated to do small evil things on a regular basis since necromancy is considered evil magic. He is actually a pretty nice guy.
97* ''Literature/TortallUniverse'':
98** Used and then deconstructed in ''Literature/TheImmortals'' with [[HarpingOnAboutHarpies Stormwings]]. They desecrate bodies on the battlefield and feed on human fear, so they are universally hated by nearly all humans, and most other creatures. In ''Wild Magic'' they simply seem to be evil, helping Tortall's enemies and attacking Daine. She goes into ''Wolf-Speaker'' expecting that they're AlwaysChaoticEvil but several characters argue that she shouldn't. When she meets Rikash, who's taken on an older brother role for a neglected young girl, Daine is forced to grasp that Stormwings are individuals and some are outright good people.
99*** In ''Literature/TortallASpysGuide'' she says that Stormwings' natures are opposite to that of humans but that doesn't make them all evil. In ''Protector of the Small'' a flock of Stormwings does nothing as a refugee camp is overrun and the children taken away, but during the ''Literature/TrickstersDuet'', some entirely different Stormwings swoop down and rescue children imperiled by a riot.
100** It's played more straight with some of the other Immortals, who are simply monsters. Hurrocks, killer unicorns, and killer centaurs are clawed, predatory, bestial versions of winged horses, peaceful unicorns, and peaceful centaurs, though in ''A Spy's Guide'' 'peaceful' unicorns are quite fierce when crossed, and in ''Protector of the Small'' 'peaceful' centaurs are much like humans and some are quite repugnant. [[OurMinotaursAreDifferent Tauroses]] exist to attempt to rape women and kill or be killed. Spidrens, {{Giant Spider}}s with [[BeastWithAHumanFace human heads]], are intelligent enough to speak and use tools and weapons but only see humans as food and are quite sadistic. In the ''Spy's Guide'' Daine mentions hearing that they have to be taught to be cruel but she doubts this.
101** Bandits are generally this, existing in ''Literature/SongOfTheLioness'' as little more than a faceless enemy. They're less so in ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'' as Kel, fighting them, understands that most bandits are driven to prey on others by extreme poverty rather than inherent evil, and sees starving children among their dependents. This doesn't make her hold back and more of her sympathy is for their victims, but she doesn't celebrate their deaths either. A bandit she fought in ''Page'' reappears as a convict-soldier forced to fight for her in ''Lady Knight''. Kel, seeing that he's now serving his time and isn't trying to make a difficult situation any worse, holds no malice towards him and doesn't allow he and the other convicts to be whipped.
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Manhwa]]
105* It was obvious that Kim Lurker from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' was a villain because he was a LoanShark. A recurring LoanShark.
106[[/folder]]
107
108[[folder:Roleplay]]
109* In ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'', the first antagonists that any of the characters face are a group of Neo-Nazis. Naturally, they aren't good people, and none of the characters hold it against Benjy when he attacks and kills them in self-defense.
110[[/folder]]
111
112[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
113* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and most fantasy media, Necromancers (Or {{Necromantic}}s) invariably abuse their powers for fun and profit. Even though it's a player accessible subclass of the Wizard, it's rare to see a "good" necromancer. After all, a necromancer who can't cast spells with the "evil" subtype loses most of the necromancer's best spells. The aversion is more common in 5e, where there are no morality restrictions on spells, although most necromancy spells feel somewhat evil anyway.
114* Quite simply ''everyone'' in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' fits into one of these categories. When every major race in a setting is listed in ScaryDogmaticAliens, you know you're not looking at a happy galaxy. And it's not only human POV. For example, Eldars consider humans childish and ignorant at best while sharing humanity's views on other aliens.
115[[/folder]]
116
117[[folder:Video Games]]
118* Templars in ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar'' are neo-luddites with some legitimate concerns (especially those involving the [[TheCuckoolanderWasRight technocratic conspiracies]]). Their modus operandi is quite simplistic however.
119* Darkspawn in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series are orc/zombie-like monsters seemingly created as TheScourgeOfGod whose purpose is to wipe out all life on the world and spread a virulent plague that destroys the environment. While every other faction will have both good and bad people at best or seemingly work on BlueAndOrangeMorality at worst, Darkspawn are ''incapable'' of being good [[spoiler:even the one exception who isn't a cackling maniac such as the Architect ends up causing a lot of disaster like causing the events of the first game]], and as such, they represent an threat to everything or everyone, regardless of who they are fighting.
120** The third game is particularly egregious by featuring an Ancient Darkspawn who is also an [[EvilSorcerer Tevinter Magister]] as the BigBad. Tevinters are probably the second most hated group in the universe since they rule an oppressive magocracy that thrives on slavery (the difference is that there are actually heroic Tevinters like Dorian, Felix and Maevaris).
121* The enemies in ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' games tend to be TheMafia or other gangsters, mercenaries, {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s and [[spoiler:{{Dirty Cop}}s]] - all the sorts of nasty folk that few people would object to slaughtering.
122* You can count that any non-human robot in the ''Videogame/MegaManX'' and ''Videogame/MegaManZero'' series are down-and-out Mavericks, no exceptions; they're always either infected by TheVirus, criminally insane, or just plain fed up with humanity and aren't going to take it, anymore. Of course, this could also be considered a case of demonization; several Mavericks have called out the main characters as hunting them with little provocation, simply because the humans are paranoid and don't need a reason to point at a robot not doing what they think they should be doing and calling them "Maverick". And then they die at the protagonists' hands, anyway. Although, the animal Reploids of ''Zero'' were evil, they weren't considered Mavericks. You're playing on the side of the Mavericks, the bosses are fighting for humanity.
123* In ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'' you've got the police which you're more than welcome to beat up, steal their weapons and if the need arises push off the side of a 110 storey building. Fair enough you might think in an "evil" government setting but the main character's sister is also a cop.
124* Two of the bosses in ''VideoGame/TheSuffering: Ties That Bind'' are the spirits of a slave hunter (Copperfield) and a misogynistic serial-murdering pimp (The Creeper).
125[[/folder]]
126
127----
128
129'''Demonization:''' Oftentimes a character's occupation is not inherently evil, but has been demonized by Hollywood. Some examples would be [[EgomaniacHunter hunters]] (because they're bloodthirsty killers), land developers (who "rape the environment"), [[PoundsAreAnimalPrisons dogcatchers]] (who hunt down innocent animals and lock them up), [[AmoralAttorney lawyers]] (who prey on others' misfortune, and [[EvilLawyerJoke just because they're lawyers]]) or [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corporate CEOs]] (because they're money-hungry). And don't forget scientists (especially those dealing with anything nuclear or genetic), who're often depicted as {{Mad Scientist}}s. Once demonized in the story, these ones are treated just as evil as a Nazi, terrorist, etc. For positions of Gods, the ones involving the Dead and Death almost inevitably [[EverybodyHatesHades get this treatment]]. Note that this has a postmodern effect, in that many people may now actually see such professions as wicked in and of themselves; on the other hand (and in all fairness), these tend to be professions that annoy people in the first place.
130----
131!!Examples:
132
133[[folder:Film]]
134* In lighthearted works set in American high schools or similar adolescent environments, it's TheBeautifulElite (the AlphaBitch, the JerkJock, etc.) who are usually automatically evil. This stereotype is so pervasive that even when a pretty girl or boy is not supposed to be a villain, or might even be TheHero, [[BeautyIsBad they will still tend to be depicted as deeply flawed]].
135* The titular monsters from ''Film/{{Bats}}'' were genetically engineered by a "mad" scientist. When asked why he would create such a creature, his response basically sums up the premise of this trope: "Because I'm a scientist! [[ScienceIsBad That's what we do!]]"
136* Victor Quartermaine from ''WesternAnimation/TheCurseOfTheWereRabbit'' is depicted as an evil hunter; even though his stated goal is the acquisition of the leading lady's fortune, it doesn't explain his pathological need to shoot bunnies.
137* ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'' movie featured a CorruptCorporateExecutive, although their big game hunter Roland Tembo (Creator/PetePostlethwaite!) was rather sympathetic, and if a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IauEY2XoMR8 deleted scene]] had been left in, (3:16 in), he would have been a full out [[SubvertedTrope subversion]]. The novel had someone who wanted to do animal testing, and considered that dinosaurs would be the perfect test subject - they already went extinct, so who's going to argue?
138** By way of contrast, [[Film/JurassicPark the original movie]] had a ''good'' hunter (technically a game warden), who died in a HeroicSacrifice, as well as a kindly grandpa [=CEO=] - although he was, admittedly, TheMillstone, and in the original book he was a standard Villain by Default instead, who outright states that he would never run any business that helps people, as people tend to get upset when you charge them high prices for something they really ''need''. That's why he is building a theme park, because he can charge any amount he wants to. He makes a whole speech about how helping people is bad. He also ripped off the computer programmer, which gives the programmer another reason to betray him, which leads to the disaster. He also represents someone who is an intentional fool, someone who refuses to deal with inconvenient ''facts''. He's much more sympathetic in the movie.
139** Of course, once we saw a lawyer appear in the first movie we ''knew'' he was going to get eaten; having him sitting on a toilet at the time was just [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagniappe lagniappe]]. Whereas in the book, the lawyer was a bit more of a JerkAss, but a severe badass who punched out a raptor in one scene in contrast to his {{Dirty Coward}}ice in the movie.
140** The GreatWhiteHunter game warden in the first book also survives, and is much more useful. He actually kills a couple of the velociraptors, and indirectly helps Dr. Grant and the kids out when he shoots the T-Rex with a tranquilizer dart, which causes it to fall asleep long enough for them to get on a boat and escape downriver.
141[[/folder]]
142
143[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
144* Most episodes of ''Series/TheATeam'' start with a villain beating up shopkeepers or generally being a gigantic jerk. One memorable episode begins with the villains threatening to ''kill orphans'' if another character doesn't sign over an orphanage. Additionally, since ''Series/TheATeam'' are fleeing from the military, and they're the heroes, the military is often portrayed as villainous for being after them.
145* ''Series/CSIMiami'' had a few NSA agents as foes of Horatio during the run since they cleaned crime scenes, took suspects or committed crimes and hid behind the Patriot Act.
146%%* Federal officers of any kind on the various ''Franchise/LawAndOrder'' shows. One exception was a cameo by the woman from ''Series/InPlainSight''.
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Western Animation]]
150* Many of the villains on ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' are industrialists, whose sole motivation seems to be to produce as much pollution as possible. The exception is Looten Plunder, who is of course in it for the money. Hoggish Greedly was also in it for the buck, though he wasn't a billionaire like Plunder, but a less wealthy pioneer in dirty industry. However, their motives didn't remain consistent, and oftentimes, they would harm the environment out of sheer malice.
151** This was an EnforcedTrope. The villains produce pollution ForTheEvulz so that children whose parents work in polluting industries didn't think their parents were villains. This turned the overall message into a CluelessAesop by removing the real-world complexities behind environmental problems and turning it into a simple case of BlackAndWhiteMorality.
152* Elmer Fudd from ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' is usually a classic "evil" hunter, albeit a stupid one. Often subverted when he thinks he successfully bagged Bugs, since [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he's always upset about having "killed the wabbit"]] afterwards.
153** Also the concern of some WB staff such as Creator/FrizFreleng. While Elmer was designated Bugs' main antagonist, they worried he was so meek and unthreatening that audiences would ultimately start to feel Bugs was bullying Elmer rather than thwarting him. Later foes such as Yosemite Sam, Rocky and Mugsy, Marvin the Martian, and the Tasmanian Devil were created to counter this by being far more self explanatory villains, while Elmer became more commonly cast in non villainous roles.
154[[/folder]]

Top