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Five Man Band: Western Animation A to M
aka: Western Animation A-M
The Five-Man Band is a group of characters whose members fall into archetypes which all complement one another. They are a very specific team with skills that contribute to the group in a unique way. Here are some places where the trope occurs in animation:
The Adventures Of Blinky Bill
All Grown Up!
Adventures of the Gummi Bears
Aladdin: The Series
Angelina Ballerina
The original
The CGI
Animalia
Avatar: The Last Airbender: the third season
Babar and the Adventures of Badou
The Backyardigans (most of the time)
Beethoven The Animated Series
Ben 10: Alien Force: The Junior Plumbers
Bionic Six
Braceface: Sharon's pets
Bucky O Hare And The Toad Wars
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Care Bears: The Care Bear Cousins
Casper Scare School
Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Codename: Kids Next Door: Sector V
Danger Rangers
Darkwing Duck
Justice Ducks
Darkwing's normal troop
Dennis the Menace (US)
Dino Riders
Disney's Fab Five
Dragon Flyz
Drawn Together
Dungeons & Dragons
Fanboy and Chum Chum
Futurama
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Gargoyles
Generator Rex
Geronimo Stilton TV series
Gravity Falls
Growing Up Creepie: Creepie's family
Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats: The Catillac Cats
The Herculoids
Horseland
Horses
Humans
Jackie Chan Adventures: The J Team
James Bond Jr.
Jane and the Dragon
Jelly Jamm
Johnny Test - Johnny's family
Josie and the Pussycats
KaBlam!: The Off-Beats''
Kappa Mikey
Kick Buttowski: Kick's family
The Kids From Room 402
A Kind of Magic: A fairy tale family
The Lampies:
The Land Before Time
The LeBrons
The titular family
The Legend of Tarzan
Liberty's Kids
Loonatics Unleashed
Madballs Escape From Orb!
Martha Speaks
Maya And Miguel
Metalocalypse
The Mighty Ducks
The Mighty Heroes
Millionaire Dogs
Mister T
My Gym Partner's A Monkey
| The Leader | Blinky Bill |
| The Lancer | Flap |
| The Smart Guy | Shifty Dingo (also The Sixth Ranger) |
| The Big Guy | Splodge |
| The Chick | Nutsy |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Marcia |
| The Mentor | Wombo |
| The Leader | Tommy |
| The Lancer | Chuckie |
| The Big Guy | Phil |
| The Smart Guy | Lil |
| The Chick | Kimi |
| Tagalong Kid | Dil |
| The Leader | Gruffi |
| The Lancer | Grammi |
| The Smart Guy | Zummi |
| The Big Guy | Tummi |
| The Chick | Sunni |
| Tagalong Kid | Cubbi |
| Sixth Ranger | Gusto |
| Team Pet | Artie Deco |
| The Leader | Aladdin |
| The Lancer | Abu |
| The Smart Guy | Carpet |
| The Big Guy | Genie |
| The Chick | Jasmine |
| Sixth Ranger | Iago |
- Note: Abu and Iago are the Team Pets qualify, until Rajah joins the team.
| The Leader | Gumball |
| The Lancer | Nicole (the mom) |
| The Smart Guy | Anais |
| The Big Guy | Richard (the dad) |
| The Chick | Darwin |
| The Leader | Angelina |
| The Lancer | Alice |
| The Smart Guy | William |
| The Big Guy | Sammy |
| The Chick | Anya |
| The Mentor | Ms. Lilly |
| Tagalong Kid | Henry |
| The Leader | Angelina |
| The Lancer | Alice |
| The Smart Guy | Marco |
| The Big Guy | AJ |
| The Chick | Gracie |
| Sixth Ranger | Vici |
| The Mentor | Ms. Mimi |
| Tagalong Kid | Polly |
| The Leader | Alex |
| The Lancer | Iggy D'Iguana |
| The Smart Guy | Livingston T Lion |
| The Big Guy | G'Bubu |
| The Chick | Zoey |
| The Leader | Aang |
| The Lancer | Zuko (also a Sixth Ranger) |
| The Smart Guy | Sokka |
| The Big Guy | Toph |
| The Chick | Katara |
| The Leader | Badou |
| The Lancer | Zawadi (sometimes Munroe) |
| The Smart Guy | Jake |
| The Big Guy | Munroe |
| The Chick | Chiku |
| The Leader | Uniqua |
| The Lancer | Pablo |
| The Smart Guy | Austin |
| The Big Guy | Tyrone |
| The Chick | Tasha |
| The Leader | Beethoven |
| The Lancer | Sparky |
| The Smart Guy | Mr. Huggs |
| The Big Guy | Ceasar |
| The Chick | Ginger |
| The Leader | Pierce |
| The Lancer | Helen Wheels |
| The Smart Guy | Cooper Daniels |
| The Big Guy | Manny Armstrong |
| The Chick | Alan Albright |
| The Mentor | Max Tennyson |
| The Leader | Jack/Bionic-1 |
| The Lancer/The Chick | Helen/Mother-1 |
| The Smart Guy | J.D./I.Q. |
| The Big Guy | Eric/Sport-1 |
| The Heart | Meg/Rock-1 |
| Sixth Ranger | Bunji/Karate-1 |
| The Mentor | Professor Sharp |
| Team Pet | F.L.U.F.F.I. |
| The Leader | Pigger |
| The Lancer | Lawrence |
| The Smart Guy | Moishe |
| The Big Guy | Samson |
| The Chick | Roxie |
| The Leader | Bucky O'Hare |
| The Lancer | Deadeye Duck |
| The Smart Guy | Willy DuWitt |
| The Big Guy | Bruiser |
| The Chick | Jenny |
| Team Pet | Blinky (sort of... he's a robot) |
| The Leader | Kwame |
| The Lancer | Linka |
| The Big Guy | Wheeler |
| The Smart Guy/The Chick | Gi |
| The Heart | Ma-Ti |
| The Leader | Brave Heart Lion |
| The Lancer | Swift Heart Rabbit |
| The Smart Guy | Bright Heart Elephant |
| The Big Guy | Lotsa Heart Elephant |
| The Chick | Cozy Heart Penguin |
| The Leader | Casper |
| The Lancer | Ra |
| The Smart Guy | Mantha |
| The Big Guy | Wolfie |
| The Chick | Jimmy (Team Fleshie) |
| The Leader | Chuck Norris |
| The Lancer | Reed |
| The Smart Guy | Kimo |
| The Big Guy | Tabe |
| The Chick | Pepper |
| Tagalong Kid | Tumachi (pronounced "Too Much") |
| The Leader | T-Bone |
| The Lancer | Cleo |
| The Smart Guy | Mac and KC (the latter of whom is a Sixth Ranger) |
| The Big Guy | Clifford (subversion: he's the star) |
| The Chick | Mimi |
| The Leader | Nigel Uno/Numbuh One ("The Leader") |
| The Lancer | Abby Lincoln/Numbuh Five ("The Cool Kid") |
| The Smart Guy | Hoagie Gilligan/Numbuh Two ("The Inventor") |
| The Chick | Kuki Sanban/Numbuh Three ("The Flirt") |
| The Big Guy | Wallaby Beetles/Numbuh Four ("The Tough Kid") |
| The Leader | Sully |
| The Lancer | Kitty |
| The Smart Guy | Burt |
| The Big Guy | Burb |
| The Chick | GB |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Squeaky |
| Robot Buddy | Fallbot |
| The Leader | Darkwing Duck |
| The Lancer | Gizmo Duck |
| The Smart Guy | Neptunia |
| The Big Guy | Stegmutt |
| The Chick | Morgana Macawber |
| The Leader | Darkwing |
| The Lancer | Gosalyn |
| The Smart Guy | Honker |
| The Big Guy | Launchpad |
| The Chick | Morgana |
| The Leader | Dennis |
| The Lancer | Tommy |
| The Smart Guy | P.B. |
| The Big Guy | Jay |
| The Chick | Margaret |
| The Heart | Gina |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Joey |
| Team Pet | Ruff |
| The Leader | Questar |
| The Lancer | Yungstar |
| The Big Guy | Gunner |
| The Smart Guy | Turret |
| The Chick | Serena |
| The Mentor | Mind-Zei |
| Tagalong Kid | Llahd |
| The Leader | Mickey Mouse (His band is made for you and me, after all.) |
| The Lancer | Donald Duck |
| The Smart Guy | Minnie Mouse (She's not so much brainy as level-headed, but in this group that's a major accomplishment.) |
| The Big Guy | Goofy |
| The Chick | Daisy Duck |
| Team Pet | Pluto |
| Tagalong Kids | Huey, Dewey and Louie |
| The Leader | Z'nyth |
| The Lancer | Summit |
| The Smart Guy | Dram |
| The Big Guy | Peak |
| The Chick | Apex |
| The Leader | Captain Hero |
| The Lancer | Xandir P. Wifflebottom |
| The Big Guys | Toot Braunstein and Spanky Ham |
| The Smart Guy | Foxxy Love |
| The Chick | Princess Clara |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Wooldoor Sockbat |
| Team Pet | Ling-Ling |
| The Leader | Hank |
| The Lancer | Eric |
| The Smart Guy | Presto |
| The Big Guy | Diana |
| The Chick | Sheila |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Bobby |
| Team Pet | Uni the Unicorn (Bobby's pet) |
| The Mentor | Dungeon Master |
| The Leader | Fanboy |
| The Lancer | Chum Chum |
| The Smart Guy | Kyle |
| The Big Guy/The Mentor | Oz |
| The Chick | Yo |
| The Leader | Fry |
| The Lancer | Leela |
| The Smart Guy | Farnsworth |
| The Big Guy | Bender |
| The Chick | Amy |
| Sixth Ranger | Hermes |
| Team Pet | Zoidberg |
| Tagalong Kid | Cubert |
| The Leader | Mac |
| The Lancer | Bloo |
| The Smart Guy | Frankie |
| The Big Guys | Wilt and Eduardo |
| The Chick | Coco |
| Sixth Ranger | Goo |
| The Leader | Goliath |
| The Lancer | Brooklyn (originally Hudson) |
| The Smart Guy | Lexington |
| The Big Guy | Broadway |
| The Chick | Elisa and later Angela |
| Team Pet | Bronx |
| The Mentor | Hudson |
| Sixth Ranger | Angela |
| The Leader | Rex |
| The Lancer | Agent Six |
| The Smart Guy | Doc Holiday |
| The Big Guy | Bobo (Genius Bruiser) |
| The Chick | Noah |
| The Leader | Geronimo (Though he may not look fit for the role, being a clumsy homebody, he organizes everything.) |
| The Lancer | Thea (She is the foil to Geronimo, being an athletic and fearlessly adventurous Action Girl.) |
| The Big Guy | Trap (He has the appetite, the raw strength and the disposition. Whether he can hold himself in a fight or not, unfortunately, depends on the episode writer.) |
| The Smart Guy | Benjamin (He goes in the Adorably Precocious Child and Child Prodigy direction, complete with shades of Little Mister Snarker to boot.) |
| The Chick/Tagalong Kid | Pandora (Bugsy Wugsy in the book series. She comes complete with the role of always being the Damsel in Distress.) |
| The Leader | Dipper |
| The Lancer | Mabel |
| The Smart Guy | Grunkle Stan |
| The Big Guy | Soos |
| The Chick | Wendy |
| The Leader | Creepie |
| The Lancer | Gnat |
| The Smart Guy | Vincent |
| The Big Guy | Pauly |
| The Chick | Caroleena |
| Sixth Ranger | Jerry, Aunt Rose, Larves, Wendy and Wanda |
| The Leader | Riff Raff |
| The Lancer | Hector |
| The Smart Guy | Wordsworth (more or less) |
| The Big Guy | Mungo |
| The Chick | Cleo (although she's an Action Girl in a few episodes) |
| The Leader | Zok |
| The Lancer | Tundro |
| The Smart Guy | Gloop |
| The Big Guy | Igu |
| The Chick | Gleep |
| The Leader | Scarlet |
| The Lancer | Button |
| The Smart Guy | Jimber |
| The Big Guys | Chili and Pepper |
| The Chick | Calypso |
| Sixth Ranger | Aztec |
| The Leader | Sarah |
| The Lancer | Molly |
| The Smart Guy | Alma |
| The Big Guy | Bailey |
| The Chicks | Chloe and Zoey |
| Sixth Ranger | Will |
| Team Pets | Scarlet, Button, Chili, Pepper, Jimber, Calypso, Aztec |
| The Leader | Jackie |
| The Lancer | Jade (sometimes Tagalong Kid) |
| The Smart Guy/The Mentor | Uncle |
| The Big Guy | El Toro Fuerte |
| The Chick | Viper |
| Sixth Ranger | Tohru (who also fits in with The Big Guy, and (after learning Chi Magic from uncle) The Smart Guy, as well) |
| Tagalong Kid | Paco |
| Reasonable Authority Figure | Captain Black (sometimes The Lancer) |
| Team Pets | Scruffy and Super Moose |
| The Leader | James Jr. |
| The Lancer | I.Q. |
| The Smart Guy | Phoebe |
| The Big Guy | Gordo |
| The Chick | Tracey |
| The Leader | Jane |
| The Lancer | Gunther |
| The Smart Guy | Jester |
| The Big Guy | Smithy |
| The Chick | Pepper |
| The Heart | Rake |
| Team Pet | Dragon |
| The Mentor | Sir Theodore (Jane's mentor), Sir Ivon (Gunther's mentor) |
| The Leader | Bello |
| The Lancer | Ongo |
| The Smart Guy | Mina |
| The Big Guy/The Heart | Goomo |
| The Chick | Rita |
| The Leader | Johnny |
| The Lancer/Team Pet | Dukey |
| The Smart Guys | Mary and Susan |
| The Big Guy | Hugh |
| The Chick | Lila |
| The Leader | Josie James |
| The Lancers | The Cabot Twins (Alexandra and Alexander) |
| The Smart Guy | Valerie Smith |
| The Big Guy | Alan M. Mayberry |
| The Smart Guy | Valerie Smith |
| The Chick | Melody Jones |
| Team Pet | Sebastian (Alexandra's pet) |
| The Hero | Betty Anne Bongo |
| The Lancer | Tommy |
| The Smart Guy | August |
| The Big Guy | Grubby Groo |
| The Chick | Repunzil |
| Team Pet | September |
| Sixth Ranger | Kurt Waltz |
| The Leader | Mikey (bold, charismatic, and puts less thought into things than your average piece of tin foil does) |
| The Lancer | Lily (an odd example of a female lancer who can't stand The Leader) |
| The Smart Guy | Guano (He writes, directs, acts, and panics.) |
| The Big Guy | Gonard (He is the textbook definition of a "Lug"; he towers over everyone, cheerful and stupid.) |
| The Chick | Mitsuki (She's head over heels for Mikey, and cares a lot about everyone else as friends. Ironically, she's the least ditzy, but, in her own way, the most naive.) |
| The Mentor | Ozu (He produces as well.) |
| Yes-Man | Yes Man (dur!; an assitant to Ozu) |
| The Leader | Kick |
| The Lancer | Brad |
| The Smart Guy | Honey |
| The Big Guy | Harold |
| The Chick | Brianna |
| The Leader | Nancy |
| The Lancer | Jessie |
| The Smart Guy | Polly |
| The Big Guy | Vinnie |
| The Chick | Penny |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Freddie |
| Sixth Ranger | Melanie |
| The Leader | Tom |
| The Lancer | Cindy |
| The Smart Guy | Ferocia (Subverted: She's a Token Evil Aunt.) |
| The Big Guy | Gregore |
| The Chick | Willow |
| Team Pet | His Highness |
| The Leader | Captain Brightlight |
| The Lancer | Charge |
| The Smart Guy | Contact |
| The Big Guy | Burnout |
| The Chick | Livewire |
| Team Pet | Dustywugg |
| The Leader | Littlefoot |
| The Lancer | Cera (She's also a bit of a Cute Bruiser.) |
| The Smart Guy | Petrie |
| The Big Guy | Spike |
| The Chick | Ducky |
| Sixth Rangers | Chomper, Ruby |
| The Leader | Business |
| The Lancer | Kid (Subversion: He's the main character.) |
| The Smart Guy | Wise |
| The Big Guy | Athlete |
| The Chick | Gloria |
| The Leader | Tarzan |
| The Lancer | Terk |
| The Smart Guy | Professor Archimedes Q. Porter |
| The Big Guy | Tantor |
| The Chick | Jane Porter |
| Team Mom | Kala |
| The Leader | James |
| The Lancer | Henri |
| The Smart Guy/The Mentor | Benjamin Franklin |
| The Big Guy | Moses |
| The Chick | Sarah |
| The Leader | Ace Bunny |
| The Lancer | Danger Duck |
| The Smart Guy | Tech E. Coyote |
| The Big Guy | Slam Tasmanian |
| The Chick/Action Girl | Lexi Bunny |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Rev Runner (who could also share The Smart Guy role with Tech) |
| The Mentor | Zadavia |
| The Leader | Screamin' Meemie |
| The Lancer | Skull Face |
| The Smart Guy | Dustbrain |
| The Big Guy | Hornhead |
| The Chick | Freakella |
| Tagalong Kid/Brother Chuck | Occulus Orbus |
| Those Two Guys | Slobulus and Aargh |
| The Leader | Martha |
| The Lancer | Helen |
| The Smart Guy | Truman |
| The Big Guy | TD |
| The Chick | Alice |
| Team Pet | Skits |
| Sixth Ranger | Carolina |
| The Leader | Maya |
| The Lancer | Miguel |
| The Smart Guy | Theo |
| The Big Guy | Andy |
| The Chicks | Maggie and Chrissy |
| Team Pet | Paco |
| Tagalong Kid | Tito |
| The Leader | Nathan Explosion (Subverted in how little leading he does beyond songwriting.) |
| The Lancer | Skwisgaar Skwigelf (Subverted in lacking knowledge unrelated to guitars and being fine with his place on the team.) |
| The Smart Guy | Pickles (Subverted in that he's really just the smartest of the group. Not too hard to pull off.) |
| The Big Guy | William Murderface (Subverted in that Murderface is extremely sensitive and insecure, with cripplingly poor self-esteem and image problem.) |
| The Chick | Toki Wartooth (Gives Murderface a run for his money in the "emotional" department. Extremely childish.) |
| The Sixth Ranger | Charlse Foster Ofdenson (Straight Man, Only Sane Man, Battle Butler and Badass Bookworm all rolled into one.) |
| Tagalong Kid | Fatty |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Dr. Rockzo the Rock n' Roll Clown (Though he is hyperactive and brightly colored, the rest is violently subverted: He is amoral, dangerous, not kid friendly and the only reason he's so cheerful is that he does cocaine. A lot of cocaine.) |
- Note: Despite the central characters being a band with five people, the show loves to subvert this.
| The Leader | Bessie (with elements of The Smart Guy) |
| The Lancer | Portia |
| The Smart Guy | Gwen |
| The Big Guy | Penny |
| The Chick | Millie |
| Tagalong Kid | Ben |
| Team Pet | Happy |
| The Mentor | Mary Francis |
| Sixth Ranger | The Honeybee Troops |
| The Leader | Wildwing Flashblade |
| The Lancer | Duke L'Orange |
| The Smart Guy | Tanya Vanderflock |
| The Big Guy | Grin Hardwing |
| The Chick/Action Girl | Mallory McMallard |
| Kid-Appeal Character | Nosedive Flashblade |
| The Leader | Diaper Man |
| The Lancer | Tornado Man |
| The Smart Guy | Rope Man |
| The Big Guy | Strong Man |
| The Chick | Cuckoo Man |
| The Leader | JD |
| The Lancer | Bella |
| The Smart Guy | Chuffie |
| The Big Guy | Sherman |
| The Chick | Velvet |
| Team Pet | Emmo |
| The Obi-Wan | Miss Lilly |
| The Leader | Mr T |
| The Lancer | Robin O'Neill |
| The Smart Guy | Woody Daniels |
| The Big Guy | Jeff Harris |
| The Chick | Kim Nakamura |
| Tagalong Kid | Spike O'Neill |
| Sixth Ranger/Team Mom | Priscilla Bisby |
| Team Pet | Dozer |
| The Leader | Adam Lyon |
| The Lancer | Jake Spidermonkey |
| The Smart Guy | Windsor Gorilla |
| The Big Guy | Ingrid Giraffe (the tallest female student) |
| The Chick | Lupe Toucan |
| The Heart | Slips Python |
