Rock and Rule (Western Animation)

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''The war was over...

The only survivors were street animals — dogs, cats and rats. From them, a new race of mutants evolved.

That was a long time ago.

Mok, a legendary super rocker, has retired to Ohmtown. There his computers work at deciphering an ancient code which would unlock a doorway between this world and another dimension.

Obssessed with his dark experiment, Mok himself searches for the last crucial component:

a very special voice.''

— Opening Narration (of the US version)

In this gloriously insane adult animated film from Canada (the first English language one entirely produced within that country, done by Nelvana), a dark magician and aging rock star's wicked plan to summon a grotesque demon is thwarted by Beast Men who sing early '80s rock music about The Power of Love.

Yes, that is the actual plot: think an animated, fantasy version of Streets of Fire with animal-people.

Two distinct versions exist; the original Canadian television version — which for many years existed only as a transfer from a VHS source until it got a 25th anniversary Blu-Ray re-release — and the American theatrical version (AKA Ring of Power), which features a different voice actor for Omar, some altered dialogue, some extended scenes, an extended prologue narration explaining the animalistic appearance of the characters, and some minor changes to the ending. Among other changes.

Compare Jem and Kidd Video.

Rock and Rule provides examples of:

2D Visuals, 3D Effects: A couple scenes involve CGI animation, such as the images on Mok's computer and the overall lighting throughout the film. In fact, this was actually the very first traditionally animated film to even use CGI.
Above Good and Evil: When the very child-minded Zip watches an Uncle Mikey cartoon about how you should be good instead of evil, he asks Mok if what they're doing is evil. Mok's response is to say they've grown beyond such concerns, and justifies it with some sketchy logic—"evil spelled backwards is 'live' and we all want to do that!" It's also worth noting Mok is high off his ass when explaining this, so the extent to which he actually believes what he's saying is questionable.
Actually Pretty Funny: When Omar insults Mok's latest album ("My gerbil uses it for a room divider"), Mok responds with a deep-throated chuckle that turns into uproarious laughter, presumably because he knows that Omar is one of the people who definitely did NOT attend his concert and looks forward to seeing what his demon will do to him.
Adaptational Nice Guy: Aside from changing his voice actor, the American cut of the movie also included a few new more lines (which can be seen here) and alternate scene takes to make Omar slighlty more likeable than he was in the original Canadian cut.
After the End: There's some jazz in the prologue (of the American version) about how an apocalyptic war killed off all the humans and now extremely anthropomorphic animals have taken their place as detailed in the quote above. It doesn't actually factor into the plot, aside from being a source of puns ("Nuke York City", "Carnage Hall", etc.), a random scene where some post-nuclear mutants attack Club 666, and of course, Mok bragging about being "the greatest thing since World War III".
Air-Vent Passageway: Cindy Schlepper escapes this way every Saturday night, apparently, which is convenient for Angel.
Alien Blood: Mutants are shown to bleed pink (for one of the blue ones) and green (for the green one) blood.
All Drummers Are Animals: Putting aside the fact that the characters aren't human, this trope is averted by Dizzy who is both The Smart Guy and the drummer.
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Angel for Omar, probably, though she's not exactly a saint herself.
All Part of the Show: After the demon is sent back and Mok vanishes, Mylar states this, and claims that Mok's just backstage relaxing.
All Take and No Give: Omar to Angel, to the point where his character arc is learning to overcome his ego and appreciate her talents, as well as let her share the spotlight and pursue her own dreams.
Angrish: Whenever Mok is properly ticked off he'll go into glorious tirades of this. It happens when Angel defies him and right before his Disney Villain Death.
Animal Is the New Man: The setting occurs on an Earth where humanity has eradicated itself, leaving the dogs, cats and rats to ascend mastery of the world. It seems they can now interbreed, as none of the characters seem to fit neatly into canine, feline or murine physiology.
Animation Bump: Several times, most notably towards the start of the film when Angel sings her song (provided by the voice of Debbie Harry, no less). Her seductive movements with the microphone look noticeably rotoscoped. When Mok's ring starts flashing, revealing that Angel's voice is the one that will open the portal to hell, there's a heavily sexualised close-up on Angel's lips that looks practically live-action. Such smooth and fluid animation like this was fairly difficult to find at the time.
Anti-Hero: Omar throughout the film is this. He's self-centered and rude, but as his Character Development shows, he's not a bad person and does care about his friends.
Anti-Love Song: Born to Raise Hell ("You're so pretty / Pretty useless!")
- Humorously subverted with its reprise, "Ohm Sweet Ohm" ("I like the girls/And they like me")
Artificial Gravity: Club 666 is an "antigravity club" which is basically a spherical room where people can walk all over the walls and ceiling.
Backhanded Apology: Omar and Toad's first encounter has Omar call him one of "Mother Nature's finest freaks", which Toad doesn't take kindly to. A few minutes later when he's holding up Omar by his shirt collar:
Omar: It was the freak reference, wasn't it?
Toad: You gonna apologize, rude boy?
Omar: I'm sorry...dicknose! ^note"dogbreath" in the American version
Toad: Why, you—!
Bad Boss: Unusually subverted with Mok, despite him being a Card-Carrying Villain. He'll hurl the odd insult, but is otherwise fairly civil toward his goons and even has a pleasant conversation with Zip on the nature of good and evil.
Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work: When Zip saves Omar's life at the possible cost of his own, it prompts Toad to avenge his brother by throwing Mok into the portal he used to summon the demon.
Badge Gag: Omar, Dizzy and Stretch abscond Sheriff Quadhole's vehicle to drive to Nuke York City, which is in lockdown due to a black-out. Omar attempts to bluff their way in, posing as the Ohmtown sheriff bringing two scientists to alleviate the problem. His credentials get examined by the Lantern Jaw of Justice officer, who quickly recognizes a tuna fishing license in his hand and arrests all three imposters on the spot.
Bald of Evil: Mok. Any hair he has is really a wig, though he takes advantage of this by swapping between multiple wigs.
- What's-Her-Face, in a way that overlaps with mild Body Horror.
Band Toon: Technically. Omar fancies himself the lead singer of his band, and promises Angel a chance to do lead vocals, but his ego prevents him from doing so until the end of the world is at stake. There are also other performing bands in the film.
Banishing Ritual: Songstress Angel was exploited by Mok to summon a towering monster from another dimension. Free of the villain's Mind Control, Angel stands her ground: "If I can sing it up, I can sing it back." This doesn't seem to work, as Mok snarks, "The girl can't sing it back; no one can." It turns out that once Omar joins Angel in a duet, the monster recoils as though sprayed with Hollywood Acid, and retreats into its hole, not to be seen again.
Beast Man: The exact species of several of the characters is up for debate, although the rat-peoples' features seem to be the most recognizable of the three stated types. There's also a wino who looks more like a Pig Man than a canine, feline or rodent, so it's possible that still more varieties of sapient species arose in the post-holocaust countryside.
- Also, at one point during the club scene, we see the back of someone who appears to have antlers like a deer. Granted, there's no way to know whether those antlers were real or fake, but you never know...
Big Beautiful Woman: Cindy. Her size is played for comedy, but she's presented as cute, confident, caring, and desirable in-universe.
Big Damn Heroes: Omar's attempt at rescuing Angel.
Big "NO!": Omar's reaction to the sight of an Angel impersonator snuggling up to Mok.
- Mok himself utters three during his Villainous Breakdown after the demon is banished back to where it came.
Big, Thin, Short Trio: What Dizzy (Big), Stretch (Thin), and Omar (Short) are without Angel (who is shorter than Omar).
The B Grade: Mok's villainous motivation—no, really. It's not even Played for Laughs.
Mok: My last concert was not completely sold out!
The Brute: Sleazy and Zip.
Bland-Name Product: Fold, Disa, Vilo, Nuke York, Carnage Hall (Car-NAH-Gee).
Bluffing the Authorities: Attempted by Omar, Stretch and Dizzy upon arriving at a Nuke York City checkpoint. The entire city is closed to inbound traffic while the electric grid is down. Omar claims that he's a lawman bringing scientists to correct the problem. The Lantern Jaw of Justice patrolman isn't fooled, and arrests all three. This actually gets them into Nuke York, though they have to be bailed out of jail by Dizzy's aunt.
Bowdlerise: At one point in the film, Omar insults Toad by calling him "Dicknose". The American version changes the insult to "Dogbreath".
- Another example: in the Canadian Cut, the Opening Monologue says Mok is attempting to decipher "an ancient Satanic code" to put his plans into motion, while in the Theatrical Cut, they excise the mention of Satanism.
Bragging Theme Tune: "My Name Is Mok (Thanks A Lot)."
"I'm the biggest thing since World War III!"
Brainwashed and Crazy: Multiple examples.
- Mok brainwashes Omar and Stretch in his mansion with the Edison balls, then again, along with Dizzy, when they try to rescue Angel.
Brawn Hilda: Cinderella Schlepper, who is only different from her equally-brickhouse-sized brothers in terms of design by her voice, hair, and short skirt.
Broken Pedestal: Angel and Dizzy held Mok in rather high esteem before they actually met the man.
By the Lights of Their Eyes: Mok is often shown this way, especially in the first twenty minutes of so of the movie where he's only ever shown in shadow, with only his eyes visible.
Camp Straight: Mok is rather flamboyant, fitting his 80s rocker style, and he not only creepily pervs on Angel, but Cindy claims that he has a long string of "lady friends" he's implicitly slept with.
Card-Carrying Villain. Mok, big time.
"My name is Mok, thanks a lot. I know you love that thing I've got. You've never seen the likes of me; why, I'm the biggest thing since World War III - girls?"
The Caretaker: Toad is this with his brothers and sister (particularly Zip, who has an almost child-like personality) but it doesn't stop him from being a jerk to other people.
Cat Girl: Angel would count as one of these, albeit as a cat mutant.
Chekhov's Gun: Ohmtown's name sounds like an Incredibly Lame Pun on "Hometown". Then Mok finds he needs more electrical power for his summoning rite, and you realize "ohm" is a good name for a town with a gigantic power plant. Well technically it's a terrible name for a power plant as an ohm is a unit of electrical resistance, but it least it's electricity-adjacent. (It counts in any case because Ohmtown is described in the opening crawl as being famous for its "unique power plant".)
The Chessmaster: Mok fancies himself as one, with his plan to make the world pay for losing interest in him such that he doesn't sell out giant arenas anymore.
City Noir: Nuke York. The entire film is done in dark, desaturated colors, but the grimmer aspects of the film take place once Mok kidnaps Angel to the city.
Clarke's Third Law: Much of Mok's more fantastical feats (appearing in a flash of light, wall-phasing, illusions and, of-course, summoning an Eldritch Abomination) give him all of the airs of an Evil Sorcerer, when really he is an obscenely rich man with access to advanced future technology. Even the parameters of summoning his demon are less ingredients in a ritual and more something his computer surmised would happen with sound-frequency.
Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Stretch, who seems to believe that there are rays coming out of the arcade game he plays, which are slowing down his brain.
Cockroaches Will Rule the Earth: It has an intro narration that, After The End, the dogs, cats and rats ascended to mastery of the ravaged Earth, and have rebuilt their new civilization atop the debris of the old. The denizens of range from quite humanoid to somewhat less so.
Comic-Book Adaptation: Marvel did a "Super Special".
Comic-Book Fantasy Casting: Mok looks a bit like either Steven Tyler or Mick Jagger or perhaps Iggy Pop.
- Notably, his full name is Mok Swagger.
Complexity Addiction: There's no particular reason Mok needs to summon an interdimensional demon just to murder a stadium full of his fans. In fact, his first failed attempt at the summon is implied to have killed a lot of people, which was his goal all along. But he's insistent on seeing it through.
- Omar and crew aren't much of a threat to Mok, but he still enacts a convoluted plan to trick Omar into thinking Angel (really What's Her Face in a rubber mask) has fallen for Mok just to torture him. ...Before abducting Omar and literally torturing him.
Cool Airship: Oh man, Mok's airship.
Cool Old Lady: Dizzy's aunt Edith. How many aunties run their own tattoo parlors?
Coolest Club Ever: There's a scene set in Club 666, an anti-gravity nightclub, soundtracked by Earth, Wind & Fire. The geometry of the place is mind-bending, to the point that there are people literally dancing on the floors, walls and ceilings, and the bar itself seems to be designed in a large helical shape. It very much runs on the Rule of Cool - just don't think about it too hard.
Cyberpunk: The film is in a futuristic setting, but the world is not a very pleasant place due to dilapidated buildings everywhere and many people being unpleasant.
Cyborg: Mok's supercomputer is a massive brain connected to technology and computers.
Deadpan Snarker: Omar, most of the time.
"It was the freak reference, wasn't it?"
- Then there's Dizzy's Aunt Edith (voiced by Catherine O'Hara).
  Omar: Aw, are you gonna tuck us in, too?
  Aunt Edith: Relax Oscar, I was just beginning to like ya, ya little scumbag.
Defiant Captive: Angel doesn't put up with being kidnapped and refuses to cooperate with Mok. He finally has her drugged and wired to a computer just to make her sing.
Deranged Animation: Nelvana created a bizarre world, but that's to be expected from the same group that did the Boba First ett animated segment of The Star Wars Holiday Special. Whether you think it's good or bad, one thing pretty much everyone who's seen this movie can agree on is that it's weird.
- The Demon itself is a highlight of this off-the-wall animation, given that for the moment lead up to it rising from the portal has it changing forms into increasingly surreal forms and base color every second, vomiting out demonic infants at one point until it settles on an orange form of a blue-eyed obese demon.
Didn't Think This Through: Mok's plan requires a lot of planning and cleverness to pull off; summoning a demon from another dimension to Earth in revenge for his last concert not being completely sold out but the people in attendance at the concert would be people who had come to see him so he wouldn't be killing any of the people who had "disrespected" him, he'd just be killing off his own fans. Not to mention, summoning a hellish monstrosity to commit mass murder is definitely going to significantly reduce your fanbase even if they weren't among the ones killed by it. This is actually pointed out by his assistant AI, but he doesn't care. Does it make sense? Well, no, but then again Mok is clearly not a particularly mentally healthy man as he himself cheerfully admits to Angel.
Angel: You're totally crazy!
Mok: Thank you. Shall we?
Disco Tech: Mok uses music and Angel's voice to conjure up a demon from another dimension.
Disney Acid Sequence: Care of trippy early-80's CGI.
Disney School of Acting and Mime: Most of the characters move and emote like this, with emphasis on Angel.
Disney Villain Death: Mok is tossed into his portal to Hell by Toad while Angel and Omar are unsummoning the demon.
Disproportionate Retribution: Mok might be taking his slightly, slightly dwindling popularity a mite too hard, what with summoning a demon to slaughter tons of people because his last concert didn't totally sell out...hilariously, he justifies himself by snarling "Wars have been started for less!"
- According to Lou Reed, there were only two empty seats in the audience.
The Dog Bites Back: After Zip sacrifices himself to shield Omar from the demon, Toad avenges him and turns against Mok by throwing him into the portal to Hell as Omar and Angel sing together to force the demon back into whence it came.
Toad: (vengefully) My brother is dead!
Dog Faces: All of the characters look like humans with canine muzzles, just slightly smaller than the Disney model. Canonically they are meant to be the evolved descendants of rats (also cats and dogs in the American cut) mutated by radiation.
Don't Think, Feel: Dizzy's advice to Omar, who, still hurt, angry, and wounded over believing Angel threw him over for certain fame and sleeping with Mok to get it, refuses to rescue her. Dizzy knows Omar loves her, but is just too hurt and egotistical to let that affect his thinking.
Dragged Off to Hell: Toad throws Mok into the portal he opened to Hell, resulting in him falling in as it sealed behind him.
The Dragon: Toad.
Dramatic Necklace Removal: As Angel decides to try and sing the demon back into its own dimension, she tears off the computer-linked collar that was forcing her to sing.
Dread Zeppelin: Mok's airship, once again.
Drives Like Crazy: Dizzy can't drive yet but does so three times in the movie. Two of these end with the car getting wrecked.
Dual-Meaning Chorus: "Send Love Through" refers both to Omar finally overcoming his ego and sending Angel his love by singing a song she wrote and the two of them together literally sending love through the song to overcome the demon.
Duck Season, Rabbit Season: Omar wants to be the one to "get the evidence" so he can make a break for it, so he tries this routine with Officer Quadhole. It doesn't work and the officer collects the evidence himself, giving the heroes enough time to steal the cop's car.
Dude Looks Like a Lady: Dizzy mistakes a man for a woman in the club scene. Said man doesn't mind.
Dumb Muscle: Two of the three Schlepper brothers, Zip and Sleazy, are quite brawny but small on brains. Their brother Toad is marginally more intelligent.
Eaten Alive: Mok's demon devours several members of the audience in the American version. It's not made clear if they survived or not after the demon was sent away, although it doesn't seem so.
Eldritch Abomination: Mok's Kaiju-sized demon, made possible by the creative use of cow brains.
'80s Hair: Most of the cast have it, but Angel and Omar in particular stand out.
Embarrassing First Name: Dizzy's real name is Alphonse. Only his aunt Edith calls him that.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: "My... brother's.... dead!"
Everybody Do the Endless Loop: Not as glaringly obvious as most examples, but many of the dancers in the "Dance Dance Dance" sequence are clearly looped.
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": What's-Her-Face.
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Mok's plan might have succeeded if he had simply agreed to bring Angel's friends along instead of just her, but a narcissist on his scale couldn't possibly fathom sharing the spotlight with a band of fellow musicians.
Evil Counterpart: Mok to Omar, they both want Angel on their sides, they both need to be the center of attention, have big egos and huge tempers. You find yourself wondering if maybe Omar is what Mok was like when he was younger and serves a lesson to Omar of what he could one day become if he's not careful.
Evil Is Not Well-Lit: Up until roughly a quarter into the film, Mok is shown in darkness. All we can see of him is a vauge outline of his body, with only his eyes and hands visible.
Evil Laugh: Mok enjoys doing this so much he'll pull it randomly.
Evil Slinks: Mok moves slinkily when he has a mind to, but that thing he summons at the climax of the movie has it down pat.
Evil Sounds Deep / Evil Sounds Raspy: Mok showcases both tropes to great effect, except when he sings. It makes sense, as he's been singing on stage for decades, after all.
Evil Sorcerer: Mok.
Exact Words: "One Voice, One Heart, One Song." but "No one voice..." Oh, wait. Omar has a singing voice, too.
Expy: Some members of the cast are imitations of the cast of The Devil and Daniel Mouse. Omar is Daniel Mouse, Angel is Janet Mouse, Mok is Wheez the Weasel (though he plays the role of The Devil himself for most of the film), and the demon is B.L. Zebubb.
Fan Disservice: By far most characters and backgrounders are not conventionally attractive and there are quite a few scenes showing that off, like a close-up of Dizzy's bare butt or when a middle-aged homeless woman loses almost all of her clothes. And even those times that conventionally attractive backgrounders get exposed, it tends to be in tainted contexts, like one flasher harassing Dizzy.
Fantastic Drug: The Edison balls, similar to Orb in Sleeper. You wait and wait for someone to say "I'm trippin' balls!" Notably there are also real drugs used: Mok smokes marijuana and snorts cocaine, and at Club 666 a druggie has "uppers and downers".
Fantastic Racism: Mutants, Never mind that the opening narration in the American version establishes that they are all mutants. Granted, the mutants are far more monstrous and bizarre-looking than the other characters, which might explain why the beast folk don't seem to think too highly of them. In a more straightforward example, Toad calling a rat a fink.
Faux Affably Evil: Phew, charming though Mok can be, Affably Evil, he is not! He invites Omar's band over "for a spell". He seems to be the consummate host at first, until he kidnaps Angel and takes off with her to Nuke York, and repeatedly tries to kill the boys for trying to stop him. By the end of the movie, he's gone from evil to completely 'round the bend.
Foreshadowing: Mok's Villain Song ends with him falling through a neon tunnel. Mok is killed off by Toad throwing him down into the demon's portal.
Final Love Duet: How Omar and Angel defeat Mok's demon; singing about love.
Fingore: During his Villain Song number, Mok can be seen shoving a glowing blue needle-like...something under his index fingernail until it completely vanishes, smiling in twisted pleasure all the while.
Flashy Teleportation: When the struggling Ohmtown music group visit the palatial home of the legendary rocker Mok, and are being screened by the brutish Schlepper brothers, Mok teleports into the room in a dazzling lights and cracking electrics show. "Anyone want a beer?" Notably, while Mok is pitching his charms to Angel in his private garden, he can teleport silently as well. The first instance was done just to showboat.
For the Evulz: A reason is never given as to why Mok wants to summon a demon to kill everybody other than scientific curiosity. This also applies to his other acts of cruelty.
Four-Fingered Hands: Despite the anthropomorphism, the characters otherwise have realistic human proportions, although the lack of a fifth digit could be handwaved due to the characters being evolved from dogs, cats, and rats.
Furries Are Easier to Draw: Justified. If you'd like to see Nelvana's skill at animating humans at around the time they started this film, check out the Boba Fett scene in The Star Wars Holiday Special.
Furry Confusion: Multiple:
- The scene where a Dog-Woman character gives a Rat-man a tattoo of a traditional mermaid (fish tail on a human lady) as a non-anthropomorphic cat looks on is a Lampshade Hanging.
- Omar makes reference to owning a pet gerbil early on in the film.
Funbag Airbag: Stretch turns right and his face wedges into a lady's chest in Club 666. She doesn't appreciate it.
Genki Girl: Cindy, who despite being a Gender Flip of her brothers, is all about fun and music.
Cindy: Sometimes those brothers of mine really burn my buns too!
Gentle Giant: Cindy and Zip are the young Schlepper siblings. They are just as big and strong as the older two, but really not cut out for the villain life. Cindy is a kind-heart party girl and Zip outright wants to be a good person, going as far as sacrificing himself to do good.
Get a Load of That Square: Cindy's reaction to Angel trying to sound hip.
Go-Go Enslavement: Angel's outfit during the finale is skimpier than her usual.
Gonk: Mok is just plain gross.
Gonky Femme: Cindy doesn't look that different from her brothers, but she dresses in cute girly outfits and loves music and dancing.
Good Bad Girl: Angel is only intimate with Omar, but she's not above using feminine charms to get her way.
Great Balls of Fire!: In-universe, the audience considers the demon that emerges during Mok's concert as nothing more than a special effect for the stage show.
Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Angel
Hard Light: The light bridge is a bridge made of light.
Heel Realization / Being Evil Sucks: Zip, thanks to Uncle Mikey. It leads to his Heroic Sacrifice.
Hellgate: When Mok summons his demon, it emerges from a star-shaped portal. Mok gets knocked into it after the demon is driven back.
Heroic Sacrifice: Zip (though in the original Canadian version, it's not permanent) takes a shot for Omar. Toad, overcome by grief, turns on Mok.
He's Just Hiding: Invoked by Mylar at the end to explain Mok's disappearance. (He isn't hiding.)
Mylar: Good night, Mok, where ever you are. Hah just kidding folks, Mok's just backstage... I think.
Huge Schoolgirl: Cinderella "Cindy" Schlepper is the size of her immense brothers but is treated as their much younger sister who is too young to be out partying.
Humanity's Wake: Nuclear war leads to a civilization of animal mutants.
Hyper-Competent Sidekick: The Schlepper Brothers, despite being presented as Dumb Muscles. They succeed at every job Mok gives them.
"I Am Great!" Song: Seem to be the entirety of Mok's oeuvre.
Indy Hat Roll: Done by Stretch at one point.
Informed Species: The American version of the opening claims that the characters are mutated cats, dogs, and rats. However, many of them don't look anything like any of these species. Angel in particular is pretty much completely human aside from her nose and ears (which aren't visible most of the time).
Ink-Suit Actor: Angel looks a lot like Debbie Harry, who voices her.
Insane Troll Logic: "Evil spelled backwards is 'live', and we all want to do that!" Come to think of it, Mok's entire plan pretty much hinges on this. See Did Not Think This Through further up.
Instrument of Murder: Omar uses his curiously-shaped, futuristic guitar as an axe to sever the power cables of Mok's machine and free Angel.
Insult Backfire: Between Mok and Angel during a creative torture session with Omar and the others.
Angel: You-you're totally crazy!
Mok: (completely unfazed): Thank you. Shall we see them off?
It's All About Me:
- Mok is so self-absorbed it falls squarely into A God Am I territory - this is a man who routinely writes songs solely about how divinely awesome he is, and how everyone must worship him. When people don't completely worship him, he snaps and decides to summon a demon to teach them a lesson.
- Omar has this issue, too. He only wants to sing his own songs, and when Angel sings "Send Love Through", Omar walks off the stage. He apologizes.
"I Want" Song: Angel's song is essentially about her faithfulness to Omar, despite his apparent coldness.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Omar. At first he seems to be an all-out Jerkass, but then he gets better thanks to Angel.
Kavorka Man: Mok is really old and rather unpleasant to look at, but he's implied to have a fairly active sex life.
Kick the Dog: As if anyone needed any more proof of Mok's dickishness, when Zip asks if what Mok and the Schlepper brothers are doing is evil, Mok gently chides him then throws Zip's "Uncle Mikey" doll out the window of their airship.
- Later on, he callously shrugs off Zip's death. Needless to say, it doesn't well between him and Toad.
Large Ham: Mok doesn't laugh evilly because he's evil but he enjoys it so much.
Latex Perfection: "Get me... Whatsherface!"
Lightning Can Do Anything: Such as clear mind-altering drugs from your system, it seems.
Limited Lyrics Song: The reprise of "Send Love Through" has one verse, a short bridge, and one chorus, with the latter repeated twice over the course of the four-minute song.
Looks Like Orlok: What's-Her-Face.
Mad Scientist: Mok. He's even got an outfit for it.
Magic Music: The ritual to summon the demon requires someone with the perfect singing voice.
Manipulative Bastard: Mok fancies himself this. But his plan was assisted by his computer, and the most manipulative thing he does is trick Omar.
Master of Disguise: Ms. Whats-her-face, a withered mutant who Mok hires to impersonate Angel so Omar thinks she's willingly helping Mok. She's virtually a PG version of Jane Doe from Arkham Asylum: Living Hell.
Master of Illusion: Mok has an amazing special effects setup, which he uses in shows, around his home, to trip out his guests, and to capture unsuspecting songstresses.
Meaningful Name: Multiple:
- Angel.
- Mok Swagger. Not only is it an obvious parody of the name "Mick Jagger", but it sounds like "mock swagger"- ie, false cool/sexiness, which fits a decrepit egomaniac.
- The Schlepper Brothers as well. "Schlep" is a Yiddish word that means to do some kind of undesired labor, such as carrying something heavy.
- What's-Her-Face, a minor minion Mok contracts to help mess with Omar, is a master of disguise. Though this one is implied to be a nickname.
Monumental Damage: Played with in a shot of the Statue of Liberty, still standing but tilted and battered, with ramshackle houses attached to her sides. She survived the war, but is no longer considered anything more than odd-looking real estate.
Mooning: When Angel finds out that Omar, Stretch, and Dizzy have been brainwashed by Mok to put them out of the way, Dizzy moons her.
Morality Pet: Zip is one to his brothers. "We ain't evil, are we?"
Mugging the Monster: Omar spends much of the movie being a Jerkass, insulting both Mok and his mooks to their faces before they even do anything, completely unaware of just how big of a threat he really is.
Mushroom Samba: Edison balls cause people to trip out and see weird things.
Narcissist: Mok, big time. When he tells Angel they should talk about her, his resulting question is 'Did you buy my last album?' In fact the entire plot happened because he flew into a narcissistic, homicidal rage when his last concert wasn't sold out by two seats.
- Mok's narcissism is perhaps best exemplified by the lyrics to his song Triumph, only a snippet of which is heard in the actual film:
  ''What better time to be alive
  Than when Mok does his magic jive?
  What a privilege it is to watch such a superior being!''
Never Say "Die": "DESTROY THEM ALL!"
Nipple and Dimed: Several times in the club.
No Celebrities Were Harmed: Mok's never-heard full name is Mok Swagger.
No Man of Woman Born: Mok's computer predicts that the demon can only be turned back by "the magic of one voice, one heart, one song," but then adds there is "no one" who can stop his plan. Mok doesn't count on Omar and Angel singing one song together, Angel with her mystically-attuned voice and Omar because his heart finally beat out his ego and let him sing something she wrote.
No New Fashions in the Future: Despite supposedly taking place in a dystopia centuries (if not millennia) after humanity's demise by nuclear war, everyone dresses like it's the mid-80s.
Non-Ironic Clown: Zip's favorite cartoon is "Uncle Mikey", starring a short, pudgy cartoon clown with a big, goofy grin. Though his choppy animation and grotesque face can be off-putting, he's genuinely nice and teaches kids the difference between good and evil.
Non-Standard Character Design: The mutants, in comparison to the rat-like beast folk, look a lot more animalistic and non-human. The red and green ones in particular, as the former resembles a Pig Man while the latter is a Cartoon Creature With Extra Limbs.
Noodle Incident: Where exactly did Omar get a Tuna Fishing License?
Not Distracted by the Sexy: Angel tries thwarting Mok's plans by seducing him, but he catches on too quick.
Mok: You're a very clever girl, I've enjoyed your little game, but tonight, the game is mine!
Nothing Can Stop Us Now!: Mok. This lasts about two seconds before the computer calls it cliché and explains that he can be stopped.
Nothing Is Scarier: In the Theatrical Cut, when the camera focuses on the poster for Mok's show at Nuke York, we get superimposed flashes of footage and sound from the climax of the movie, mainly Angel's being bound up and singing, before cutting to the wrecked aftermath of the failed concert. In Canadian Cut, when the movie cuts to the poster, it stays there, silent, with the poster slowly singeing and burning away, until finally cutting to the post-concert news reports. In the latter's case, we're never given more than a couple of details on what exactly happened, with the main one being that there wasn't enough electrical power in Nuke York to complete the ritual, and something went VERY wrong when the power ran out.
Nuclear Mutant: It killed humanity but managed to evolve several species of animal into intelligent humanoids.
Obviously Evil: Mok. He's so incredibly creepy in everything he does, it makes one wonder how he can be popular enough for an album to go "from gold to platinum to plutonium(?) in one day". Just look at him he has all the visual signs of a villain; he has Creepy Long Fingers, Leanand Mean, Baldof Evil, see above and Villainous Cheekbones they stretch out very far. Then again, we don't see what he was like at the start of his journey. Like Norma Desmond he might have started off simply as a nice, talented person but the immense success he achieved fed his ego to the point that he went Drunk with Power.
Offscreen Teleportation: In the film's climax Omar disappears between shots and reappears in the power station just in time to save Angel. He somehow even manages to beat Dizzy and Stretch there, despite them having a car.
Old-Timey Cinema Countdown: While Mok is seducing Angel privately, Omar and Stretch are being sedated by Edison Balls, which reduces them to a catatonic state. Later, the Schlepper brothers find Omar and Stretch still in the reception room, watching an old hologram of Mok's song "Triumph." The hologram ends with a cinematic counting up to six before ending completely.
Omnicidal Maniac: Mok's last concert didn't entirely sell out, so he's trying to open a portal to Hell (or somewhere very like it) and summon at least one demon to ravage the earth, whether out of revenge or a desire for attention. His first attempt at Carnage Hall leads to a massive number of innocent deaths, but it fails, so he plans to do it again.
Only Sane Man: Numerous nostalgia geeks criticizing the movie have pointed out that this is Dizzy's role, expressing a wish that his character would have more to do as a way to balance out the other characters' various issues.
Opening Narration/Opening Scroll: They explain the setting's backstory, how war wiped humans out and evolved the animals into Beast Men.
Pædo Hunt: Discussed when Cindy notes that Angel looks "dated" for one of Mok's lady friends.
Cindy: You know, it's just like Toad says: "There's wackos out there just waiting for sweet young things like you!"
People Puppets: What Mok does to Angel via drugs and a computer hookup; it was the only way to force her to sing.
Plucky Comic Relief: Stretch, and two of the three Rollerskating Schlepper Brothers.
Police Are Useless: Officer Quadhole and the Nuke York border guard are no help when it comes to stopping Mok's Evil Plan. Thus, Omar and his friends are on their own.
Police Code for Everything: Quadhole's got this covered.
Quadhole: That's a 419. B and F. Bathing felony. You're lucky I'm not running you in for a 431. Improper swimwear.
Police State: Ohm Town has ridiculous laws against things like "improper swimwear". When Nuke York has a blackout, it means the city is put under martial law.
Polite Villains, Rude Heroes: Mok is shown to have this dynamic with Omar.
The Power of Love: Mok's computer warns him that this is the only thing that can stop his demon; one heart, one song etc.
The Power of Rock: It is Exactly What It Says on the Tin; rock has the power to summon demons or banish them.
Precision F-Strike: During Mok's little breakdown. Surprising in that it made it onto TV without censoring.
Mok: She can sing or she can screeeeeeaaam! *gasping inhalation* But she still pissed me off.
Prim and Proper Bun: Dizzy has one, befitting his status as the most careful and law-abiding of the group.
Properly Paranoid: Stretch doesn't so much as admire Mok as he does fear him, wary of the rock star's formidable reputation and rumored ties with the criminal underworld. He turns out to be rightfully afraid of him for the above reasons and the only cause for alarm he's wrong about is Mok having genuine magic powers, a quality that Mok himself spends the majority of the film trying to make into a reality.
Prophecy Twist: Mok is told that while the power of one song, one heart, and one voice can beat his demon, 'no one' can do so. No one can, but two singing with one heart and one voice, however...
Put on a Bus: Cindy vanishes after the Club 666 scene.
Rearrange the Song: Six years after Rock & Rule's release, Debbie Harry recorded a remixed version of "Angel's Song", with different lyrics, under the title "Maybe For Sure".
Red Eyes, Take Warning: Toad, after Zip's Heroic Sacrifice.
Redemption Equals Death: Zip, but only temporarily in the uncut version.
Rollerblade Good: The Schleppers are always wearing roller-skates for some reason.
Romantic Rain: Rain falls steadily on the outskirts of Ohmtown, where the protagonists are getting "snuggly" in the back seat of a convertible. Their fun is interrupted when henchman Zip tears off the soft top to hand Angel an invite from legendary musician Mok.
Screaming Warrior: Omar, particularly at the climax where he lets out an epic rocker scream.
Screams Like a Little Girl: Mok, both in his first Villainous Breakdown and when he's thrown into the dimensional hole by Toad.
Sealed Evil in Another World: Mok succeeds in summoning a demon from another dimension through a pentagram in the stage floor. Fortunately, Omar and Angel are able to dispel the demon, and it retreats back to its home dimension. Mok ends up being tossed into the pentagram hole as well. He makes one desperate effort to crawl back out, baffled as to how his demon was defeated, before losing his grip and plummeting into the depths of the alternate dimension. Mok and his demon can play canasta there, perhaps.
Simpleton Voice: Zip Schlepper has one.
Sissy Villain: Mok's status as this becomes obvious by the fifth or so costume change.
Shout-Out: At one point, Mok says "All work and no play makes Mok a dull boy!".
Show Within a Show: Uncle Mikey's Cartoon Show, which is Zip's favorite. It teaches him the difference between good and evil, ultimately resulting in his Heel–Face Turn.
Smug Snake: Mok borders on this due to his extreme narcissism.
Sophisticated as Hell: The news anchor and the narrator in the opening both speak like this.
Stealthy Teleportation: Mok's teleportation can silent, as seen when Mok is pitching his charms to Angel in his private garden.
Stylistic Suck: Uncle Mikey's Cartoon Show, which has has crude and choppy animation, grotesque character designs, and moralizing less subtle than bricks through a window. Despite this, it's Zip's favorite show.
Summoning Ritual: Mok's ritual to summon the demon, involving Magic Music.
Take Our Word for It: Mok's first demon-summoning concert is a disaster that destroys Carnage Hall and is implied to kill a lot of people. Presumably actually showing it would've broken the budget, since all we get are news reports and Mok complaining after the fact.
This Cannot Be!: "You can't do this to me! I! AM! MOK!"
Those Two Guys: The Rollerskating Schlepper Brothers, Toad, Sleazy and Zip.
Mok: Mes assistantes stupide.
Zip: I just love it when he speaks French.
- Stretch and Dizzy
Thwarted Escape: Angel tries to use Cindie's outing to Club 666 as a cover for her escape, but it's thwarted when the rest of the Schleppers show up to retrieve their sister and take her back to Mok.
Tim Taylor Technology: When Mok's machine fails to keep the portal open, he simply orders his minions to get more power.
Title Drop: As the band (minus Angel) are driving back after the talent show, they stop in front of an animated billboard advertising Mok's newest project. "Rock and Rule is here to Slay!"
Token Good Teammate: Zip serves Mok primarily because he doesn't know better. When he starts to question Mok's actions... Heel–Face Turn
Totally Radical: Angels tries using slang around Cindie - which sounds like sitcom chatter. Cindie momentarily gets suspicious, "Saaaay, you're little dated for one of Mok's", but then cheerfully adds, "But that's okay!"
Triumphant Reprise: The reprise of "Send Love Through", where Omar finally sings alongside Angel.
Troubled, but Cute: Omar is generally considered sexy and good looking if the reactions girls have to him are any indication. He's an egotistical asshole to hide that he's really a softy underneath.
Unexplained Recovery: In the original Canadian release, Zip is revealed to be alive - with a goofy grin on his face, no less.
Unlimited Wardrobe: Mok has several costume changes in the movie. This even extends to his hair, since it's all wigs.
Unusually Uninteresting Sight: The audience apparently doesn't think there's anything strange about Mok's new singer appearing on stage in some kind of bondage device.
Uplifted Animal: The Opening Narration explains that radiation mutated animals into Beast Men.
Vertebrate with Extra Limbs: A mutant that bleeds to death and melts afterwards has these. Possibly for maximum Squick factor
Villainous Breakdown: Multiple:
- Beginning with Mok's freakout late into the movie after Angel defies him. After almost strangling her, he goes into his costume room and goes berserk for a little while before one of his henchmen finds him.
  Mok: She can SING, or she can SCREAM! (gasps before suddenly composing himself again) But she still pissed me off.
- Mok goes berserk with outrage a second time as Omar and Angel banish his demon.
Villain Song: 'My Name Is Mok' and its attendant Disney Acid Sequence. Thoughout the movie snippets of Mok's other songs can be heard as well - all just as egotistical - though "My Name Is Mok" is the only one with a sequence dedicated to it.
Watch It Stoned: For example, this movie. Despite the muted, desaturated colors, it is ... quite psychedelic.
Wetware CPU: Mok's supercomputer is revealed to be a large brain mass kept alive by life support machinery.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Sleazy, one of Mok's henchmen, disappears halfway through the film and is never seen or mentioned again.
What Is Evil?: The aforementioned "Uncle Mikey" scene.
What the Hell, Hero?: Angel lays a big one on Omar after he walks off stage during her set. Omar then tells her she was good.
Wicked Cultured: Mok pulls off the elegant and suave man of the world thing...before we get to see the evil.
Wouldn't Hit a Girl: Played with. Mok would sacrifice a girl to a demon apparently but when Angel mocks him, saying that she's not going to sing and that he'll never see his demon, Mok has a minor Villainous Breakdown and grabs her by the throat, but manages to stop short of actually hitting her, instead storming into his dressing room and taking out his anger on his possessions.
Wretched Hive: Club 666 is apparently the club in Nuke York where one can get what ever kind of altered state one desires, and is too skeevy for Cinderella's brothers to let her dance there.
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Toad pulls this on a valuable informant trying to curry favor with Mok. Interestingly, Mok himself never stoops to this, despite being a Card-Carrying Villain.
You Killed My Father:
Toad: My brother's dead.^note
You're Insane!: Angel to Mok. Mok doesn't mind.
Mok: Thank you..!