Bugs Bunny (reading): "A strong murderous beast, jaws as powerful as a steel trap — has ravenous appetite — eats tigers, lions, elephants, buffaloes, donkeys, giraffes, octopuses, rhinoceroses, moose, ducks—"
Taz: Rabbits.
Bugs: Rabbits? It doesn't say "rabbits" here.
[Taz writes "...and Rabbits" on bottom of page]
Taz: Rabbits.
Bugs: Rabbits? It doesn't say "rabbits" here.
[Taz writes "...and Rabbits" on bottom of page]
— "Devil May Hare"
The Tasmanian Devil is a marsupial native to Australia, though today it is limited only to the namesake island (though they are being reintroduced to the Mainland Australia). While not a particularly common animal in pop-culture compared to the likes of other pouched mammals like koalas, opposums, and especially kangaroos, most fictional appearances of Tasmanian Devils seem to gravitate towards one specific portrayal: namely, they are depicted as violent, ravenous, borderline Axe-Crazy animals that can and will attack everything in sight, tearing into everything with their powerful, bone-crushing jaws.
This trope is due more to the prevalence of a certain cartoon character who only vaguely resembles a real Tasmanian Devil, rather than any aspect of the animal itself. In Tasmanian Aboriginal mythology, the Tasmanian Devil was instead usually portrayed as a greedy, cowardly scavenger. However, the Ur-Example would likely be myths spread by European settlers to Tasmania, where they were blamed for killing livestock, which is also the source of their "devil" name. The Tasmanian Devil quickly developed a reputation as a sheep killer, and by the late 19th century its ferocious image was well-developed. In reality, Tasmanian Devils typically feed on small mammals such as possums and rabbits, and only eat larger animals when scavenging. However, there is still some Truth in Television here, as Devils are quite territorial and can get aggressive when defending their turf.
Worth mentioning that Tasmanian Devils are endangered species thanks to habitat loss, human persecution over that supposed livestock loss, and especially a cancer called Devil facial disease
(which is partially spread due to Devils' propensity for biting each others' faces during disputes).
Examples
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Anime & Manga
- Tasuku Kuroi, aka Brute Tasmanian Devil, from Killing Bites, is a therianthrope with the DNA of a Tasmanian Devil. A notably subverted example, Tasuku's violent and fierce persona is just an act, lacking the confidence to stand up for herself and tends to hold back in a fight. On the other hand, she is the only one who holds her own against Brute Ratel, and even breaks the latter's impenetrable hide once she embraces her inner strength.
Comic Books
- There is a DC Hero named Tasmanian Devil (AKA Hugh Dawkins) part of Justice League International, who can turn into a giant Tasmanian devil a lot more aggressive than his regular self, though this is downplayed as he's a perfectly Nice Guy. He's also gay, might we add.
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics): Thrash the Devil is a Mobian Tasmanian Devil-one of the few remaining-who sets out on a quest to find and punish the Echidnas who mutated and destroyed his people. He briefly joined the Downunda Freedom Fighters and continues his mission against the Echidnas, coming into conflict with the Team Fighters and Knuckles in the process due to blaming all echidnas. While he's more of an Anti-Villain, he's the Token Evil Teammate of the Downunda Freedom Fighters.
Fanfiction
- On Peeking Through the Fourth Wall, Episode 20 has one of the sisters point out that some of them have "the attitude of a Tasmanian devil", so their parents should expect fights.
Film — Animated
- Animals United, a German animated film, features a Tasmanian Devil named Smiley, who is a Big Eater (and an Extreme Omnivore at that), a Gasshole, and an all-around nuisance to everyone. He's still one of the protagonists, though.
- Back to the Outback: Downplayed. The Tasmanian devils that save Maddie and the others from Chaz are quite vicious while on the attack, but are pretty friendly once things settle down.
- Downplayed and later subverted with Hamish the Tasmanian devil from the 2012 movie Koala Kid. He tries to help the main protagonist Johnny (an albino koala) fit in... by putting him in a Freak Show, which makes him (Hamish) rich. However, when Johnny gets kicked out of the circus, Hamish's plan is to take photos of Johnny doing heroic stuff and make him famous as Koala Kid so when they get back to the circus, they can get in the main act rather than the freak show and earn Hamish more money. However, this causes Bog the crocodile to want to capture the Koala Kid, and ends up getting another young koala named Charlotte kidnapped. The billabong residents plan to rescue Charlotte but must cross the dangerous "Bungle Bungles" on their way to Precipice Lake. This convinces Hamish to go along with Johnny's conscience and join in the team to rescue Charlotte.
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole starts off when protagonist Soren and his brother Kludd fall out of a tree (after Kludd tries jealously shoving Soren), and upon reaching the ground, are immediately attacked by a Tasmanian devil. Luckily (or unluckily), they are then rescued by Jatt and Jutt.
Film — Live-Action
- Cemetery Gates, a 2006 horror film (not to be confused with the Pantera song of the same name) about a giant genetically modified Tasmanian devil that, thanks to a break-in from some activists, takes refuge in a cemetery and start attacking anyone who enters.
- Tasmanian Devils is a made-for-TV movie about giant, prehistoric Tasmanian Devils that have developed a taste for human flesh.
Live-Action TV
- Ultraman: Towards the Future: The Monster of the Week for episode 4 is Degunja, a Tasmanian Devil-themed kaiju who can generate tornadoes and shoot energy blasts from its hands. Supplementary materials revealed that Degunja used to be a normal Tasmanian Devil, before being infected by the Gudis virus, turning it into a rampaging monster.
Mythology and Religion
- Aboriginal Tasmanians knew these animals by a variety of names such as "tarrabah", "poirinnah", and "par-loo-mer-rer". It is speculated that some dark spirits in accounts of their beliefs were associated with these animals.
Video Games
- Crash Boom Bang!: Downplayed. A wealthy Tasmanian devil called the Viscount is more greedy than he is villainous. He is searching for the fabled Super Big Power Crystal as it has the power to grant wishes, but as his quest is ending in failure, he decides to con unsuspecting people into helping him, so he sends them invitations to the "World Cannonball Race". Crash and Cortex are among those who are invited. The Viscount sends the contestants to find and give him four stone tablets (so the location of the crystal can be revealed), but Cortex ruins everything by attempting to steal the map and ends up tearing it apart. This makes the Viscount confess the truth of the situation to everyone, so they are willing to help him find the Crystal in turn for a great sum of money.
- Ty the Tasmanian Tiger: Ranger Ken, the resident Tasmanian devil in the series, is a subversion. Despite his muscular build, he's a Friend to All Living Things true to his role as a wildlife ranger.
Western Animation
- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers: In the episode "A Wolf in Cheap Clothing", one of Professor Nimnul's experimental animals is a Tasmanian devil that looks fairly accurate, but still makes Taz-like sounds. It's portrayed as rather aggressive until Nimnul switches its body with a rabbit. Once the Rangers turn it back into its original form, it can easily beat up a fully-grown wolf (who is actually Nimnul turned into a wolf).
- The Trope Maker and Trope Codifier is easily the Tasmanian Devil (nicknamed Taz, spelt with a Z) from Looney Tunes, first appearance Devil May Hare, with his Angrish and spinning on full display that can tear through anything.
- Subverted in the show Taz-Mania, a spin-off starring him (or Taz for short). Taz is just as angry and incoherent as before, but the rest of his family are perfectly civilized. Taz is just the Black Sheep of his family.
- One episode of Stanley revolves around Tasmanian devils, with it being established that they snarl loudly to fend off any threats or intruders.
- Tiny Toon Adventures: Dizzy Devil, while nowhere near aggressive as his Looney Tunes counterpart, is a hyperactive party animal with a massive appetite and a bit of a temper. He's still counted as one of the antagonists in the show along with Elmyra and Montana Max.
- Wild Kratts features them in the episode Tazzie Chris, and they notably gross out Koki because of their scavenging habits and believe firmly in this trope (she gets better), but cause Chris' Power-Suit to malfunction hard, turning him into a Were-Devil per se. However, they're generally portrayed as they are in Real Life and so aren't the crazed creatures in other examples, making this a Downplayed Trope.
- The Wild Thornberrys: The main antagonists of the episode "Pal Joey" are a pair of ravenous Tasmanian devils that are prone to fighting each other. Weirdly though, they look, act, and sound very dog-like.
