History InsultBackfire / WesternAnimation

'''KOOPA:''' Flattery will get you nowhere.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', there's this exchange between Barbara Gordon and Shriek over the phone, after Shriek makes a ransom demand.

--->'''Gideon:''' '''AAAH!'' [[YoureInsane You're insane!]]\\

--->'''Gideon:''' '''AAAH!'' [[YoureInsane You're insane!]]

'''Pre-Creeper:''' Creep? ''Creep?'' ... I like it! [[AppropriatedAppelation My new name]] -- the Creep! No, wait, too negative...

** Lobo in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', starting in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E9E10TheMainMan The Main Man]]":
--->'''Preserver:''' You are Lobo: assassin, brigand, sociopath, monster.\\

** Another example in "The Ember Island Players":

** Probably the best use of this occurs during the Day of Black Sun invasion. When [[CallingTheOldManOut Zuko confronts Ozai]], this is part of the exchange:

** Inverted when Bender is ''trying'' to compliment a fellow soldier ([[SweetPollyOliver Leela in disguise]]), but doesn't quite grasp the concept:
--->'''Bender:''' You hard fightin', hard fartin', ugly, ugly, son of a...\\

** Also used by Fry when trying to defend himself and his friends who felt insulted by Leela's new boyfriend's dislike of abnormality:

'''Zoidberg:''' Damn straight!!!
** "Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?" is ''chock'' full of these.

'''Bender''': Like whale barf.\\

...\\

'''Edna:''' Why, yes! Thanks for noticing!
*** Note that this one actually ''was'' intended as a compliment; Fry had advised Zoidberg to tell Edna she looked thin.
--->'''Fry:''' I'm flattered, really. If I was gonna do it with a big freaky mud bug, you'd be way up the list.\\

--->'''Leela:''' For a split second, my common sense was overwhelmed by pity.\\

--->'''Leela''': I don't mean to offend you but this pizza tastes like vomit.\\
'''Aliens''': Thank you!\\
'''Leela''': Um... actually, I meant to offend you a little...
** Fry, a college dropout in his own time, finds out that by current academic standards he's only a high-school dropout:
--->'''Fry:''' What?! That's not fair. I deserve the same respect any other college dropout gets. By God, I'm going to enroll here at Mars University and drop out all over again!
--->'''Leela:''' You won't last two weeks.\\

** Since [[CardCarryingVillain Bender is Bender]], Leela is able to intentionally invoke this trope in "The Bots and the Bees":
--->'''Leela:''' Relax, Bender. No one would let you near a child. Bev will get custody, and you'll be a deadbeat dad who never even bothers to know his own son.
--->'''Bender:''' ''(sniffling)'' You really think so?\\
'''Leela:''' ''(kindly)'' I know so! You're absolutely horrible in every way!\\
'''Bender:''' ''(wiping away a tear)'' You're sweet, Leela!
** "The Six Million Dollar Mon":
--->'''Hermes:''' Oh no. No more implants. I don't want to end up a cold, emotionless machine like you.\\

** "Fry Am the Egg Man":

** Then in "The Beast with a Billion Backs", as Bender and Planet Express are trying to push a massive ball in a competitive sport.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' used this with a non-villainous, but rather crazy, old herbalist in "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBlueSpirit The Blue Spirit]]":
-->'''Aang:''' ...You're insane, aren't you.
-->'''Herbalist:''' That's ''riiight''...

** And then there was the lovely little [[CainAndAbel family reunion]] between Zuko and his baby sister:
--->'''Zuko''': ''You lied to me!''
--->'''Azula''': ''(smugly)'' Like I've never done ''that'' before.

---> '''Zuko''': We've [the Fire Nation] created an era of fear in the world, and if we don't want the world to destroy itself, we need to replace it with an era of peace, and kindness.
---> '''Ozai''': [laughing dismisively] Your uncle has gotten to you, hasn't he?
---> '''Zuko''': [smiles] Yes, he has.

--->'''Toph''': It's obvious that the playwright did his research. I know it must hurt but what you're seeing up there on that stage is the truth.
--->'''Later''':
--->'''Toph''': ''[Hearing her voice actor]'' Wait a minute, I sound like...a guy. A really buff guy.
--->'''Katara''': ''[Attempts to make fun of her]'' Well Toph, what you hear up there is the truth. It hurts, doesn't it?
--->'''Toph''': ''[Smiles]'' Are you kidding me? I wouldn't have cast it any other way!
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', much like in the herbalist example above:
---> '''Bataar Jr:''' YoureInsane\\

-->'''Rhino:''' (''while chasing Spider-Man'') You like being hunted, freak?!\\

* Probably done more than once in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons,'' but this example stands out. When Bart was working for money in order to save up for something, he worked at a barber shop. He gets his pay and it's hair instead of money. Bart asks the barber about that and asks if the barber's crazy, and the barber smiles widely and nods, also laughing in a creepy way as a disturbed Bart backs out of the barber shop.

---> '''Homer:''' Hey, Flanders, you stink!\\
'''Flanders:''' (''cheerfully'') Uh-oh. Better cancel that dinner party tonight. Thanks for the nose news, neighbor!
** In early episodes of the series (and merchandise related to the show), Bart replied to accusation that he was an "underachiever" by saying he was "proud of it". This was lampshaded in a much later episode (after his antics in many seasons made it clear that he was anything but), when he read his permanent record at Springfield Elementary:
--->'''Bart:''' (''reading'') "Underachiever and proud of it"? Man, how old is this thing?
** In "Lisa's Substitute" Martin Prince, competing with Bart to become class president, put up a campaign poster with the slogan "A Vote for Bart is a Vote for Anarchy!". Bart of course put up another poster with the same slogan.
** Upon seeing Bart in his pajamas, this attempt to capitalize on the situation by Jimbo quite conclusively backfired.
--->'''Jimbo:''' ''(mockingly)'' Nice [=PJs=] Simpson. Did [[YourMom your mommy]] buy them for ya?\\

'''Jimbo:''' ''({{beat}})'' [[{{Touche}} All right, Simpson. You win this round.]]
** And another between Ned and Homer in "Hurricane Neddy":
--->'''Ned Flanders:''' Homer... you are the worst human being I have '''ever''' met.
--->'''Homer Simpson:''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Hey, I got off pretty easy.]]
** Later in "Hurricane Neddy", Homer and Ned's roles were reversed.
--->'''Homer Simpson''': That's it, you just can't insult this guy. You call him a moron and he just sits there, grinning moronly.
** In "Three Men and a Comic Book" Bart works his ass off for Mrs. Glick to earn enough money to buy the first issue of Radioactive Man. After doing all his hard work upon pay day she gives him two quarters.
--->'''Mrs. Glick:''' "Bart... you didn't say 'thank you.'"
--->'''Bart:''' "Listen lady, I can leave without screaming, I can leave without saying a bad word, but there is ''no way'' I'm saying 'thank you'!"
--->'''Mrs. Glick:''' "You're welcome!"
** In "A Star is Burns":

'''Jay:''' ''(contemptuous)'' How do you sleep at night?\\

''(Long after the interview, Rainer Wolfcastle prepares to shoot Jay on the street, [[DelayedReaction having just realised he's been insulted]] and made him look bad. Jay distracts Wolfcastle by telling him his shoes are untied and grabs a taxi. Hours later, Wolfcastle realises he's wearing loafers.)''
*** Later, a female viewer commented on how beautiful Barney's movie was. Barney was sitting next to her and thanked you. She was then disgusted by him.

''[The woman's eyes widened.]''
** Homer writes a song about how much Ned Flanders sucks, which turns into a huge hit. During the musical montage, we see that even ''Flanders'' loves the song and his sons scream in joy when the song describes them as "his creepy offspring".
** In ''Bart's Girlfriend'':
--->'''Bart''': Jessica, you're very beautiful, but you're not very nice.
--->'''Jessica''': Well, duh.
** During her ShamingTheMob speech in ''The Boys Of Bummer'', Marge mentions that Springfield has been called "The Meanest Town In America" and points to a nearby sign that shows the town was proud enough about this label to put it on the sign like it was something worth mentioning to tourists.

* And ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' had the following exchange between the time-travelling Comicbook/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/VandalSavage, now a few thousand years older and the last human left, stuck on a [[AfterTheEnd barren and ruined earth]] for all eternity:
-->'''Superman:''' [[YoureInsane You're]] ''[[YoureInsane insane]]''.
-->'''Vandal Savage:''' ...[[TheMadHatter True]]. But that doesn't mean I'm not good company. Say, you want to [[HoYay come over to my place?]]
-->'''Superman:''' [[VisibleSilence ...]]
-->'''Vandal Savage:''' Like you have anything ''better'' to do.
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', episode "Girls' Night Out". Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} and Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} fight Livewire, Poison Ivy, and Comicbook/HarleyQuinn. Harley rescues Livewire by ''spraying her with water''. Livewire gets up and grabs Harley, preparing to fry her:
-->'''Livewire:''' [[YoureInsane Are you]] ''[[YoureInsane outta your mind?!]]''
-->'''Harley Quinn:''' <thinks hard for several seconds, then smiles broadly> Yes!
** And then there's Lobo.
--->'''Preserver:''' ''You are Lobo: Assassin, brigand, sociopath, monster.''
--->'''Lobo:''' ''You left out Scourge of the Cosmos.''

--->'''Superman:''' ''I think you're a certifiable madman!''
--->'''Lobo:''' ''Thanks.''

--->'''Superman:''' ''I've never seen a creature like this.''
--->'''Lobo:''' ''Mwah! I love you too.''

-->'''Mario:''' Koopa, you're the meanest, ugliest lizard that ever slimed its way across Cramalot!
-->'''KOOPA:''' Flattery will get you nowhere.

--->'''Toadstool:''' I should have known never to trust you!
--->'''Mario:''' Yeah, once a sewer-breath slime wagon, ''always'' a sewer-breath slime wagon!
--->'''Koopa:''' How nice of you to say so!

-->'''[=GizmoDuck=]''': I still think [[AntiHero your crime fighting style]] is [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal disreputable, disturbed, and possibly devious]].
-->'''Darkwing''': Well, from you, that's a compliment.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'':
-->'''Wanda''': You evil little boy!
-->'''Remy''': Why thank you.
** Done again in ''Abra-Catastrophe'', with Timmy's mother calling out on Crocker:
--->'''Timmy's Mom''': You great evil monster!
--->'''Crocker''': Thank you! I was going for that!

-->'''Timmy''': You are the absolute worst human being on Earth!
-->'''Vicky''': Thank you.
* Happens on ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' after Glomgold previously accused Scrooge of being "too soft":

--> '''Numbuh 1:''' "[[WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck You're despicable!]]"
--> '''Delightful Children:''' "Thank you, Nigel."
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'':
%% *** The episode "Super Sonic"; specifically, when Bunnie was trying to free Sally, then being shot, with a paralyzing ray, by a robot, at Robotnik's orders.
*** Similarly, in "Blast to the Past", when Robotnik was referred to as Julian:
---->'''Sir Charles''': You are pure scum, Julian.
---->'''Julian''': Why, thank you.
** ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'' had a subversion where an insult backfire was quickly followed by an insult that hit the mark.
---> '''Shadow:''' You have all the reflexes of a panther.
---> '''Sonic:''' Is that an insult? I thought panthers were fast.
---> '''Shadow:''' Maybe compared to ''you!''

-->'''[=DNAmy=]:''' You are the biggest meanie in the whole wide world!
-->'''Drakken:''' A-ha! You ''have'' heard of me!
* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' there was this on between Barbara Gordon and Shriek over the phone, after Shriek made a ransom demand.
-->'''Gordon:''' [[YoureInsane You're insane...]]
-->'''Shriek:''' Duh. ''(Hangs up.)''
* Also a fantastic moment in ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' after BumblingDad Jack defeated Vlad Plasmius.
-->'''Vlad''': [[ThisCannotBe It's not possible!]] You're an idiot! An idiot!
-->'''Jack''': Maybe so. But I'm the idiot who beat ''you''.

---> '''Jazz''': You're ''toast''!
---> '''Danny''': Oh yeah? You and what toaster? [''Jazz punches Danny.'']
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' had DemonicDummy Scarface thinking that there was a traitor in his gang who was selling them out to the cops. DumbMuscle Rhino tries to prove his loyalty:
-->'''Rhino''': It ain't me, boss!
-->'''Scarface''': I know it aint you, Rhino! You're too stupid to be a mole!
-->'''Rhino''': Gee, thanks boss!
** In "Beware the Creeper," the as-yet unnamed Creeper confronts ComicBook/TheJoker's henchmen:
--->'''Henchman''': We don't know nothing about no Joker, creep!
--->'''Pre-Creeper''': Creep? CREEP? ... I like it! My new name - the Creep! No, wait, too negative...
** In "The Terrible Trio", we get this exchange between [[UpperClassTwit Warren Lawford]] and Bruce Wayne:
--->'''Warren''': "Thanks, Kevin"? [[NiceToTheWaiter Awfully chummy with the help, Bruce]]. Do you thank the garbage man for picking up your trash?
--->'''Bruce''': If I happen to run into him.

-->'''Freakazoid:''' You really have no life, do you?
-->'''FanBoy:''' [proudly] No, sir!

* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'':
** When [[AlphaBitch Pacifica Northwest]] says that Mabel "sounds like a fat old lady's name!"
---> '''Mabel''': (grins) I'll take that as a compliment!
** This conversation between Gideon and Bill Cipher (after Bill hands Gideon a pile of teeth he just yanked out of a passing deer):
--->'''Gideon''': '''AAAH!'' YoureInsane
--->'''Bill''': Sure I am! What's your point?
** This exchange between Ford and Bill;

'''Bill:''' Ha! Ha! Ha! I'm insane either way, brainiac!
* WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch pulled one of these when Wrestling/VinceMcMahon challenged ''Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin'' [[TooDumbToLive of all people to a death match.]]
-->'''Stone Cold''': ...So I stunned [=McMahon=]'s sorry ass. [[CatchPhrase And that's the bottom line.]]
--> '''Vince''' (angrily): Stone Cold, who the hell do you think you are? You dare to disparage ME? You're nothing but a foul-mouthed, beer-swilling sonuvabitch!
--> '''Stone Cold''': Hell, Vince, I appreciate the compliments, and right after I finish this beverage, I'm gonna knock that damn toupee off that stupid little head of yours [[AssShove and shove it]] [[CurseCutShort right up...]]

'''Flanders:''' (''cheerfully'') Oops. Thanks for the nose-news. I'd better cancel that dinner party tonight.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode, "The New Crystal Gems", an insult backfire leads into a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech speech.

** Occurs during the episode "Opposite Day", when Squidward tells [=SpongeBob=] that it's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Opposite Day]]. [=SpongeBob=] falls for it, and dedicates his entire day to doing and perceiving everything possible inversely.
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''[greeting Squidward]'' Hello, Squidward! Woop! I mean... goodbye, Squidward! Oh, isn't Opposite Day... terrible? ''[giggles gleefully]''
-->'''Squidward:''' ''[groans angrily]'' I'll tell you what's terrible! Living next to YOU! You're the worst neighbor in ''history!''
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''[with genuine happiness]'' Wow! That's the nicest thing Squidward has ever said to me!
-->'''Squidward:''' ''[{{facepalm}}]''

* In the ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' episode "Mojovision", Longshot tells Mojo "You're a soulless, sadistic bag of pus. And you smell!" Mojo replies "Flattery, young man, will get you absolutely nowhere!"

-->'''Zim''': (To Tak) You're a worse pilot than I am! ({{Beat}}) Wait a minute...

* In the WesternAnimation/PorkyPig cartoon "Paying the Piper", where Porky portrays the Pied Piper and his foil is a cat (who's upset at the rats being gone) Porky experiences something similar to the ''ComicStrip/BeetleBailey'' example above:

* Inverted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Bender is ''trying'' to compliment a fellow soldier ([[SweetPollyOliver Leela in disguise]]), but doesn't quite grasp the concept:
-->'''Bender:''' You hard fightin', hard fartin', ugly, ugly, son of a...
-->'''Leela:''' Stop, stop flattering me!

--->'''Fry:''' Zoidberg is a horrible monster who smells like he eats garbage, and does!
--->'''Zoidberg:''' Damn straight!!!

--->'''Dr. Zoidberg''': How do I look?
--->'''Bender''': Like whale barf.
--->'''Dr. Zoidberg''': Then the illusion is complete.

--->'''Dr. Zoidberg''': You seem malnourished. Are you suffering from internal parasites?
--->'''Edna''': Why, yes! Thanks for noticing!
** That one's a bit of a subversion, as it actually ''was'' intended as a compliment; Fry had advised Zoidberg to tell Edna she looked thin.
--->'''Fry''': I'm flattered, really. If I was gonna do it with a big freaky mud bug, you'd be way up the list.
--->'''Edna''': Hush, you romantic fool.
** Let's not forget when Leela tried to explain to Zapp Brannigan why she slept with him:
--->'''Leela''': For a split second, my common sense was overwhelmed by pity.
--->'''Zapp''': A split second is all it takes.

--->'''Leela''': I don't mean to offend you but this pizza tastes like vomit.
--->'''Aliens''': Thank you!
--->'''Leela''': Um... actually, I meant to offend you a little...

--->'''Leela:''' You won't last two weeks.
--->'''Fry:''' Aww, thanks for believin' in me.

--->'''Bender:''' ''(sniffling)'' You really think so?
--->'''Leela:''' ''(kindly)'' I know so! You're absolutely horrible in every way!
--->'''Bender:''' ''(wiping away a tear)'' You're sweet, Leela!

--->'''Hermes:''' Oh no. No more implants. I don't want to end up a cold, emotionless machine like you.
--->'''Bender:''' ...That's sweet, Hermes.

--->'''Fry:''' Zoidberg, you're an inhuman monster.
--->'''Zoidberg:''' [[CaptainObvious What are you, my driver's license?]]

-->'''Leela:''' Come on, Bender! Your ''grandma'' can push harder than you!\\

** Also used by Fry when trying to defend himself and his friends who felt insulted from Leela's new boyfriend dislike of abnormality:

-->'''Bowser:''' Flattery will get you nowhere.

--->'''Peach:''' I should have known never to trust you!