Line #32 Mooks/WesternAnimation


1	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'': Duke Igthorn's monster mooks. While technically being giant technicolor ogres, the dim-witted monsters rarely presented any serious threat whatsoever. Occasionally, the law of ConservationOfNinjitsu did apply.
2	* ''WesternAnimation/AeonFlux'' repeatedly and ''graphically'' deconstructs the mook trope. It's like the titular heroine is some sort of latex-clad ninja Hitler.
3	** This is especially true in the Pilot and some of the early shorts. In the pilot Aeon comes in guns blazing left and right killing the faceless mooks, [[spoiler:only for the heroism to be cruelly reversed when we see the survivors amongst mountains of corpses and ankle deep blood.]]
4	** Perhaps a more notable deconstruction is seen in the short "War" which manages to blind the line between mooks and heroes by having a random mook [[spoiler:kill the main character,]] take off his helmet, and become completely badass. [[spoiler:He is then killed by another mook, in a double inversion of WhyDontYouJustShootHim, and we follow his killer's action sequence until he is shot by another mook, whose action sequence we follow through to the end.]]
5	* ''WesternAnimation/AngelWars'': One-eyed hunchbacked demons in armor with wrist-mounted flamethrowers are frequently-reused character models; in-universe, they're called Obsidian Minions.
6	* ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
7	** Fire Nation soldiers (both the normal and firebending types) are this in the original ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.
8	** ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
9	*** [[EliteMooks The frighteningly competent chi-blockers]] are the ''basic'' troops of Amon's Equalists in Book 1.
10	*** Unalaq's Northern Water Tribe soldiers (both the normal and waterbending types) are this in Book 2.
11	*** In Book 4, the regular troops of Kuvira's Earth Empire are a mix of nonbenders and earthbenders who wear rather [[PuttingOnTheReich German-inspired]] uniforms.
12	* ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'': The villains are typically backup by large armies of night creatures and faceless vampire soldiers, which are capable of massacring civilians and militias with ease but which are otherwise just strong enough for it to be impressive when the heroes cut them down by the dozen.
13	* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': XANA's monsters such as Krabs, Bloks and Kankrelats serves as his main fighting force against Lyoko Warriors.
14	* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'':
15	** Both [[BigBadDuumvirate Father and Mr. Boss]], along with [[TheDragon the Delightful Children]], use [[BadHumorTruck ice cream men as mooks]], considering them as expendable as any other type. Father even uses an EliteMook squad of ice cream men in "Operation: T.R.A.I.N.I.N.G."
16	** A weird subversion of this Trope appears in "Operation: T.H.E.S.H.O.G.U.N." The minions that the villainous Shogun Roquefort uses are actually competent and able fighters; however, Roquefort himself [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain is anything but.]] When challenged by Numbuh Two, the villain is defeated when he hits his head on the ceiling and knocks himself out.
17	** Season 3 brings in the teen {{ninja}}s, who are primarily teenage American football players equipped with [[{{fun with acronyms}} battle-ready armour]], as backup for Cree and Chad.
18	* ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'': The Serpentmen, partly due to the heroes' starmetal weapons being able to easily banish them with even a single nondamaging hit.
19	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Cybersix}}'': The Fixed Ideas. Big, dimwitted brutes whom the titular ActionGirl usually has to fight at some point in the episode. Notably, the Fixed Ideas are a little more dangerous, since Cybersix is very much a GlassCannon, but they’re still mooks either way.
20	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' had the Eliminators acting like this for [[BigBad the Darkness]] in the "Wishology" trilogy. The Lead Eliminator acted as TheDragon.
21	** And, by the end of the trilogy, TheStarscream, with the Eliminators now being forced to work for ''him''.
22	* ''Franchise/GIJoe'': The various flavours of Cobra fit the bill here. Mostly faceless (the majority wear full-face masks) disposable henchmen of various combat specialties in colourful uniforms -- and they're all psychotically over-armed.
23	* ''WesternAnimation/HotWheelsAcceleracers'': The Racing Drones, who are ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
24	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' has many examples of these. Lampshaded in "Odds Man In", when it is revealed that Dr. Drakken, in fact, did not pay his henchpeople but attempted to reward them with a large business-inspired incentive program (complete with trust exercises and org charts). Unfortunately for the villain, one of the good guys spread panic throughout the lair while incognito, convincing the henchmen to quit ("You know, 38% of all splinter mishaps are caused by manual lifting. Did you know you have a 17% chance of losing your good looks practicing martial arts without the correct padding? Yep, one out of every two homemade explosive devices backfire.").
25	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': In "WesternAnimation/LighterThanHare", Yosemite Sam attempts to use a few types of mooks -- most notably an army of "indestructible tanks" and the "undefeatable robot" to capture his foe, WesternAnimation/BugsBunny. Of course, those names were complete aversions once Bugs got done with them.
26	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Mixels}}'' has the Nixels, tiny black-and-white cube-like creatures that [[OnlySixFaces all look the same]] save for three ear variations. Their goal is to destroy the Cubits that let the Mixels [[FusionDance Mix]], thus destroying their creativity. They're easily [[TheGoomba squishable]] on their own, but a danger in [[ZergRush mass quantities]]. They're lead by [[KingMook King Nixel]] and Major Nixel, who are the only ones that speech tendencies out of just saying [[PokemonSpeak the word "Nix"]]. The app ''Calling All Mixels'' also introduces [[GiantMook Muscle Nixel]] and various weaponized variations of the smaller ones.
27	* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterBeach'': Dr. Knutt's Tikis creatures.
28	* ''WesternAnimation/MummiesAlive'': Scarab has a never ending supply of clay minions called Shabti to send against the mummies. [[MadeOfPlasticine They tend to break with one hit]].
29	* ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'':
30	** ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'': The troggles are Grogar's army of nameless flunkies, much weaker than he is but useful for enforcing his rule in a widespread way. Their effectiveness tends to vary -- they're very effective soldiers when fighting on their own terms or with the element of surprise, but the escaping prisoners in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyAndFriendsE27TheReturnOfTambelon2 The Return of Tambelon, Part 2]]" are able to very efficiently rout them until Grogar himself steps in.
31	** ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Most villains act strictly by themselves, but a few make use of Mooks:
32	*** The changeling army from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 A Canterlot Wedding, Part 2]]", Queen Chrysalis personal army of interchangeable, nameless goons whom the ponies beat their way through by the dozen until eventually [[ZergRush overwhelmed by sheer numbers]].
33	*** ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'' has the Storm King's army, a collection of hulking apelike creatures who are dangerous and effective soldiers right until the heroes actually try, at which point they're routed with speed and ease.
34	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePerilsOfPenelopePitstop'': The Bully Brothers, who are as much a hinderance as they are helpful to the [[BigBad Hooded Claw]].
35	* WesternAnimation/PennZeroPartTimeHero: Though usually only aided by [[MinionWithAnFInEvil Larry]], Rippen occasionally gains mooks depending on the current dimension of TheMultiverse they’re in. Ranging from [[MechaMooks Robots]], [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Goblins]], [[VillainousHarlequin Clowns]], and even weirder.
36	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In an early episode, Homer was visited by Mr. Burns' evil minions.
37	-->'''Homer:''' ''(Hears a knock at the door)'' Who is it?\
38	'''Goons:''' Goons.\
39	'''Homer:''' Who?\
40	'''Goons:''' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Hired goons.]]\
41	'''Homer:''' Hired goons? ''(opens door)''\
42	''(The goons grab Homer and take him to Burns.)''\
43	'''Mr. Burns:''' Ah, Homer. I hope "Crusher" and "Low Blow" didn't hurt you.\
44	'''Homer:''' Y'know, you could have just called me.\
45	'''Mr. Burns:''' Oh yes, but the telephone is so impersonal. I prefer the hands-on touch you only get with hired goons!\
46	'''Homer:''' Hired Goons?
47	* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'': Sandman, Rhino, and Shocker tend to get this treatment in the various animated adaptations, even though they mostly work alone in the comics. Hammerhead even calls Marko and O'Hirn mooks in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan''.
48	* ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo'' has the Formless, skeleton warriors made from a black goo that mindlessly serve the command of [[BigBad the Skeleton King]]. They tend to only be a threat in large numbers, and even then not so much.
49	* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': Foot Soldiers are the Storm Troopers of the franchise. They never hit anything and only die, usually after a single hit. They are probably the only units to die.
50	** The ones from the 2K3 series at least were more dangerous and gave the turtles a good fight. The purple dragons are straight up mooks though.
51	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'': The title characters often fight hordes of these -- at least five varieties of MechaMooks, FacelessGoons, aliens, clones, flaming [[TheLegionsOfHell demonic minions]], [[MesACrowd clones]], mechanical aliens, [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot giant mechanical nutcracker soldiers]], delicious gingerbread men, alien tofu clones, flying busts with [[ChainsawGood chainsaws]] and [[Film/AustinPowers freaking laser beams attached to their heads]]...
52	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Generic Gumby nameless Seekers in Season 1. In Season 3 they have the Sweeps.
53	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'': The Decepticons have the Vehicons (also known as Eradicons) who fill in the roles of standard mooks; they come in either car or [[AirborneMook jet]] forms.
54	** Breakdown seemed to be on friendly terms with the Vehicons, acknowledging that guarding the Space Bridge was a thankless job.
55	** The Insecticons have recently joined them. ConservationOfNinjitsu is in effect though; A single bug is still really hard to kill, but a swarm of them die in droves.
56	* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'': The codified hero/villain interaction naturally involves henchmen; two, Number 21 and Number 24, become important recurring characters. Though they get beaten, maimed and killed on a regular basis, the henchmen frequently respect their enemies. (As one of them says of Brock Samson, "slayer of men, slayer of henchmen...".) Deconstructed a bit when it turns out that all of them except 21 and 24 have suicidal urges.
57	** Various villains' henchmen make enough appearances that they could practically be considered a minor character, en masse. One episode even has a scene with The Monarch's Henchmen and Baron Ünderbheit's Henchmen sitting around a campfire discussing the reasons they went into henching.
58	** The Monarch himself used to be a similarly number henchman for the Phantom Limb, Shadowman 9.
59	* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'': Jackbots, which are rarely effective against the protagonists.
60	-->'''Wuya:''' Why do you build these things? They're useless!\
61	'''Jack:''' Mom said I needed a hobby.
62	* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'': Lord Hater has his army of Watchdogs. Other villains have their own sets of mooks too, with Emperor Awesome's fist fighters or Lord Dominator's Bots. Of course, only Dominator's mooks are actually competent...

Context Mooks / WesternAnimation