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* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she was actually given free rein to rule the city after being captured, and she chose to do it as Hive. Life under her became even harsher than it was under the Mayor.]]
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* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she was actually given free rein to rule the city after being captured, and she chose to do it as Hive.an immortal hive mind. Life under her became even harsher than it was under the Mayor.]]
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* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she was actually given free rein to rule the city after being captured, and she chose to do it as Hive.]]
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* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she was actually given free rein to rule the city after being captured, and she chose to do it as Hive. Life under her became even harsher than it was under the Mayor.]]
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* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she was even crueler than the Mayor and willingly turned herself into Hive.]]
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* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she was even crueler than actually given free rein to rule the Mayor city after being captured, and willingly turned herself into she chose to do it as Hive.]]
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* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: [[spoiler: As Neutral Hive, she tries to argue against punishing Shadow, stating that stripping away more of his humanity would diminish his usefulness. She doesn't get far before the Hive comes to a consensus and vetoes her.]]
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* Really700YearsOld: WordOfGod states that she is approximately two thousand years old.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Neutral Hive tries to argue against punishing Shadow, stating that stripping his humanity further would diminish his usefulness. She doesn't get far before the Hive comes to a consensus and outvotes her.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: When one is assimilated to Hive, regardless of gender, they take on the voice of [[spoiler: the original Exceptional girl.]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Neutral Hive tries to argue against punishing Shadow, stating that stripping his humanity further would diminish his usefulness. She doesn't get far before the Hive comes to a consensus and outvotes her.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: When one is assimilated to Hive, regardless of gender, they take on the voice of [[spoiler: the original Exceptional girl.]]
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* Really700YearsOld: WordOfGod states that she is approximately two thousand years old. \n* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Neutral Hive tries to argue against punishing Shadow, stating that stripping his humanity further would diminish his usefulness. She doesn't get far before the Hive comes to a consensus and outvotes her.\n * VoiceOfTheLegion: When one is assimilated to Hive, regardless of gender, they take on the voice of [[spoiler: the original Exceptional girl.]]
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* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Neutral Hive tries to argue against punishing Shadow, stating that stripping his humanity further would diminish his usefulness. She doesn't get far before the Hive comes to a consensus and outvotes her.
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** ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that even she doesn't remember it anymore, only recalling her moniker of the Exceptional Girl.
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** ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that even she doesn't remember it anymore, only recalling her moniker of that she was called the Exceptional Girl.
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** ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that even she doesn't remember it anymore, only recalling her moniker of the Exceptional Girl.
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* TilMurderDoUsPart: She was discovered by the Mayor because her own husband personally turned her in, which would have been a death sentence had it not been for her exceptionality.
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* TilMurderDoUsPart: She was discovered by the Mayor because her own husband personally turned her in, which would have been a death sentence had it not been for her exceptionality.
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* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she willingly did this to herself and might have been even crueler than the city's original leader.]]
to:
* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she willingly did this to herself and might have been was even crueler than the city's original leader.Mayor and willingly turned herself into Hive.]]
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* TilMurderDoUsPart: She's discovered by the Mayor because her own husband turns her in, which would have been a death sentence had it not been for her exceptionality.
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* TilMurderDoUsPart: She's She was discovered by the Mayor because her own husband turns personally turned her in, which would have been a death sentence had it not been for her exceptionality.
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* TillMurderDoUsPart: She's discovered by the Mayor because her own husband turns her in, which would have been a death sentence had it not been for her exceptionality.
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* TillMurderDoUsPart: TilMurderDoUsPart: She's discovered by the Mayor because her own husband turns her in, which would have been a death sentence had it not been for her exceptionality.
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* TillMurderDoUsPart: She's discovered by the Mayor because her own husband turns her in, which would have been a death sentence had it not been for her exceptionality.
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-> '''Appearances:''' "No Monsters", "Friendly Shadow" (as [[spoiler:Hive]])
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-> '''Appearances:''' "No Monsters", "Friendly Shadow" (as [[spoiler:Hive]])[[spoiler:Hive]]), "Immortal Machine"
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The theory that the Handymen the Robinsons call Joe aren't the same already existed before being confirmed; the adult Freak is only 'hostile' after the Friendly Shadow walks into its child's room and points a weapon at it, and once it tosses him out, it waits until he starts shooting at it to charge him
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* IdenticalStranger: At the end of "Model Citizen", Mr. Robinson thanks the Handyman about to execute him, referring to him as "Joe", like the Handyman he's known for years. WordOfGod states these are not the same Handymen.
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* IdenticalStranger: At the end of "Model Citizen", Mr. Robinson thanks the Handyman about to execute him, referring to him as "Joe", like the Handyman he's known for years. WordOfGod states confirms these are not the same Handymen.
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* AmbiguousSituation: WordOfGod states that the Freaks in "Don't Feed the Freaks" can represent other people, with the one at the end being the Young Man seen through the eyes of Autodale's citizens. In "Friendly Shadow," however the adult Freak is openly hostile toward Shadow and displays clear animalistic behavior and far greater physical strength that couldn't be explained if it saw itself as another human.
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* AmbiguousSituation: WordOfGod states that the Freaks in "Don't Feed the Freaks" can represent other people, with the one at the end being the Young Man seen through the eyes of Autodale's citizens. In "Friendly Shadow," however however, the adult Freak is openly hostile toward Shadow and displays clear animalistic behavior and far greater physical strength that couldn't be explained if it saw itself as another human.
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* AgeWithoutYouth: The millennia have [[BodyHorror not been kind]] to him.
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* TenThousandYears: [[WordOfGod According to David]], that's how long he's been sitting in his tower running Autodale.
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* ScaryShinyGlasses: Sported these while he was still human.
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* MechaMooks: The nameless, innumerable, robotic enforcers of Autodale's deadly system.
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* AlienBlood: In "Friendly Shadow", they have what [[DeliberatelyMonochrome appears to be]] black blood. In any case, it's a dark colour that isn't red.
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* DarkLordOnLifeSupport: Once a genius inventor, is now barely human and sustained only by the energy of the Matriarch and his own cybernetics.
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* HumanResources: "Immortal Machine" reveals that the blood of the Uglies is drained and used to power the barely-alive Matriarch, preventing Autodale's residents from mutating like the humans of the outside world.
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* TragicVillain: The Mayor, for all his crimes, is ultimately a tragic figure. He created Autodale to [[spoiler:preserve some part of the dying world]], but it is hard to say if the effort was worth the cost. He later brought in the Exceptional girl to get a "new perspective" and maybe even find a bette way, but she turns out to be EvilerThanThou.
to:
* TragicVillain: The Mayor, for all his crimes, is ultimately a tragic figure. He created Autodale to [[spoiler:preserve some part of the dying world]], but it is hard to say if the effort was worth the cost. He later brought in the Exceptional girl to get a "new perspective" and maybe even find a bette way, better way to manage his creation, but she turns out to be EvilerThanThou.
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grammar fix
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* InSeriesNickname: The Robinsons call their favorite handyman "Joe". This highlights the flaw of the Autodale system, as no matter how much societal brainwashing and propaganda they were put through, the Robinson were still people.
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* InSeriesNickname: The Robinsons call their favorite handyman "Joe". This highlights the flaw of the Autodale system, as no matter how much societal brainwashing and propaganda they were put through, the Robinson Robinsons were still people.
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* NecessaryEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equipped to handle.
to:
* NecessaryEvil: NecessarilyEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equipped to handle.
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Not an existing trope.
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* UnknownFate: By ''Friendly Shadow'', Hive appears to be in charge of Autodale, but the Matriarch is still around, making it unclear if the Mayor has passed away.
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* UnknownFate: By ''Friendly Shadow'', Hive appears to be in charge of Autodale, but the Matriarch is still around, making it unclear if the Mayor has passed away.
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* AmbiguouslyRelated: To the young girl he's carrying in the flashback. She appears alongside him in every scene in the past, but it's unclear if she's his daughter, his apprentice or just a girl who survived the withering.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_37.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The first who stood out]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The first who stood out]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_372.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Model Citizens]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:Mr. and Mrs. Robinson unmasked]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_7.JPG [[/labelnote]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Model Citizens]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:Mr. and Mrs. Robinson unmasked]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_7.JPG [[/labelnote]] ]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_90.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Old, Divorced, Disabled, Mentally ill...]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Old, Divorced, Disabled, Mentally ill...]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2bccf60168ccbc338f7cbd7fc8e2ca2aa2ca7ed6_hq.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Children's toys]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Children's toys]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_21.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Our goddess]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:As the old goddess]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_26.JPG[[/labelnote]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Our goddess]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:As the old goddess]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_26.JPG[[/labelnote]] ]]
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* [[spoiler: BrokenAngel]]: [[spoiler: This massive, grotesque, BodyHorror laden monstrosity? She's a ''nature goddess.'' An imobile, maimed, ''dying'' one only sustained by the Mayor's inventions and mass blood sacrifice. And she's the only thing keeping the lands around Autodale - the last living lands on the planet - alive.]]
to:
* [[spoiler: BrokenAngel]]: BrokenAngel: [[spoiler: This massive, grotesque, BodyHorror laden monstrosity? She's a ''nature goddess.'' An imobile, maimed, ''dying'' one only sustained by the Mayor's inventions and mass blood sacrifice. And she's the only thing keeping the lands around Autodale - the last living lands on the planet - alive.]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_82.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The old man in the tower]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:The Inventor]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_39.JPG [[/labelnote]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The old man in the tower]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:The Inventor]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_39.JPG [[/labelnote]] ]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_405.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The new beings]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The new beings]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skjermbilde_040.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:On the road to paradise]]
[[caption-width-right:350:On the road to paradise]]
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* NecessaryEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equiped to handle.
to:
* NecessaryEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equiped equipped to handle.
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* NecesaryEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equiped to handle.
to:
* NecesaryEvil: NecessaryEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equiped to handle.
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Moved all content from The Autodale Series.
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Characters from the ''{{WebAnimation/Autodale}}'' animated web series.
'''Spoilers for all entries before "Friendly Shadow" will be unmarked. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''
----
[[foldercontrol]]
!!Autodale
!!!Citizens
[[folder:The Exceptional Girl]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "No Monsters", "Friendly Shadow" (as [[spoiler:Hive]])
-> '''Voiced by:''' Adrienne Cox
A woman deemed Exceptional by Autodale's society, trying and failing to escape her horrific fate.
----
* AdmiringTheAbomination: She deeply admired the Mayor. [[spoiler:The other compnents of Hive teases her for it, implying that she liked him in other ways too]].
* AssimilationPlot: [[spoiler: She was the first to be recruited into what would later become Hive, and as soon as she was given the power to do so, she started hunting other Exceptional people to assimilate them into Hive.]]
* BecameTheirOwnAntithesis: [[spoiler: She was allowed to rule by the mayor, being the first person to realize Autodale wasn't as rosy as it appeared; in present day, she harshly punishes those who intentionally or unintentionally break the rules.]]
* BodyHorror: When she gets caught, the Girl's body is sliced apart, until she's just a head, a heart and a pair of lungs, hanging suspended from cables in the Matriarch's lair.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: WordOfGod says that [[spoiler: the Girl chose to have her body torn to shreds and being hung up in the Matriarch's lair, partly due to Autodale's influence on her. Not only that, she began hunting Exceptional people to join her, and eventually formed Hive.]]
* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she willingly did this to herself and might have been even crueler than the city's original leader.]]
* EvilerThanThou: [[spoiler:The Mayor is deeply troubled by what he had to do to ensure mankind's survival. The Exceptional Girl finds his accomplishments ''impressive'']].
* DarkAndTroubledPast: WordOfGod revealed that she was the first person to realize Autodale wasn't as happy as it appeared and openly rebelled. She was apprehended by the mayor, [[spoiler: who said she could help run Autodale alongside him. For that, she was taken away and began to assimilate other Exceptional people.]]
* DramaticIrony: [[spoiler: She was chosen to run Autodale by the mayor, as she was the first to realize the town wasn't as utopian as described. Instead, she has enforced their rules, put out propaganda, and deemed a child Ugly for being associated with the Freaks.]]
* FaceHeelTurn: Goes from the first rebel to [[spoiler:the Hive]].
* LackOfEmpathy: [[spoiler:Upon witnessing the terrible truth of what happens to the Uglies, that they are ground into mush and used to power the city, she admits that she found it impressive]].
* NoNameGiven: We never find out the name of the poor woman; the closest she gets to have a name is being referred to as [[spoiler: Neutral Hive]] as per WordOfGod.
* ShipTease: She has a bit with [[spoiler:the Mayor]]. The other components of [[spoiler:Hive]] tease her for it, which she dismisses since he only had eyes for [[spoiler:the Matriarch]], but doesn't deny it. David also describes her becoming [[spoiler:Hive]] as him "seducing" her.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Robinsons]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Model Citizens", "Friendly Shadow" (cameo)
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby (Mr. Robinson), Kirie Quackenbush (Mrs. Robinson)
A family of three, living out their lives in Autodale. Mr. Robinson works, Mrs. Robinson stays home to take care of the house and their son, Robinson Junior.
----
* TheCameo: [[spoiler: They make a quick cameo in "Friendly Shadow" viewing an advertisement for Friendly Shadow's newest adventure. Junior's wife also makes a quick cameo as an adult, turning the radio up when Shadow's radio drama is announced.]]
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Though they are sad and scared when they are lined up to be executed, they are still more than willing to walk to their doom, as they know they've fulfilled their purpose in life. When the Handyman about to club them to death tells them that they're "true model citizens", Mr. Robinson even takes his hand and thanks him.
* OnlyOneName: Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Robinson and Robinson Junior are their full names, as Autodale's citizens don't have first names. When Mr. Robinson is executed, Robinson Junior becomes the new Mr. Robinson.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: When Robinson Junior grows up and moves out, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are branded as Ugly and executed.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Uglies]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Being Pretty, "No Monsters", "Model Citizens"
Autodale's undesirables. Any citizen that is no longer useful to society is labelled as Ugly, sentenced to death, and thrown into mass graves.
----
* AbsoluteXenophobe: Everyone who doesn't fit into Autodale's very specific mold is labelled as Ugly. "Being Pretty" shows us that this is a disturbing amount of social groups, from disabled people, to LGBT people, to people unable to produce children, there are even two Uglies that are labelled "fat" and "depressing". It should also be noted that all of Autodale's citizens are white, with the [[FridgeHorror very disturbing implication that people of color were labelled Ugly too...]]
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: One can be deemed Ugly for being disabled, unemployed, or having your grown child leave the house.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror:
** "No Monsters" shows that even though the Uglies don't fit Autodale's standard of Pretty they still believe in the system, as they all start to rat out the Exeptional girl trying to escape the Handymen. Not to mention that they all willingly walk up to their death.
** It's implied one can choose to be Ugly if they believe they can no longer contribute anything to society: the Robinson couple decided when it was time to declare themselves Ugly, reasoning that after their son married and left home, there no longer was use for them.
* DeathMarch: The Uglies are lined up and forced to walk toward their grave, where at the end, they're hit over the head by a Handyman and thrown into the pit.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the first short, Uglies have their imperfection written on their mask, such as "depressing" or "sterile." Whenever Ugly people are shown in the rest of the shorts, they simply have "Ugly" written instead. Possibly justified, as "No Monsters" is stated to take place two thousand years before "Friendly Shadow", meaning the branding of somebody as Ugly likely changed as well.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: People with mental illnesses can be branded Ugly. In "Friendly Shadow" [[spoiler: the little girl was going to be branded Ugly because she was associated with the Freaks and likely traumatized, implying that traumatized people are considered Ugly.]]
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: An Ugly is someone who is no longer useful to society, or who does not fit the mold. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are labelled as Ugly when they grow old and their son grows up, and the mother from "Friendly Shadow" is labelled as Ugly when her husband is murdered.
[[/folder]]
!!!Leadership
[[folder:The Handymen]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Being Pretty", "No Monsters", "Children's Toys", "Model Citizen", "Friendly Shadow"
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
Robotic peacekeepers, here to protect citizens from anything that could harm them. Or so they say, at least.
----
* AffablyEvil: They are polite and kind to the citizens of Autodale, even the Uglies they execute.
* ApologeticAttacker: One of the Handymen apologize to the Robinson couple before it executes them.
-->'''Handymen:''' [[IronicEcho Deepest apologies, Robinsons, but duty calls. I am afraid that Autodale is hardly automatic.]]
* TheExecutioner: Among their functions is to execute the Uglies by delivering a blow to the head and letting them fall into a mass grave.
* {{Gaslighting}}: A Handyman is able to convince a girl who notices blood on his breastplate that the horrific truths of Autodale are purely her imagination.
* IdenticalStranger: At the end of "Model Citizen", Mr. Robinson thanks the Handyman about to execute him, referring to him as "Joe", like the Handyman he's known for years. WordOfGod states these are not the same Handymen.
* InSeriesNickname: The Robinsons call their favorite handyman "Joe". This highlights the flaw of the Autodale system, as no matter how much societal brainwashing and propaganda they were put through, the Robinson were still people.
* NoNameGiven: As robots, the Handymen don't have proper names. Although, some are nicknamed. The Robinson couple nickname their favorite Handyman, "Joe."
* PetTheDog:
** The Robinson couple offer to dance with Joe, who refuses at first because he is busy. Eventually, he agrees to dance with Mrs. Robinson some time down the line.
** The Handyman who executes the Robinson family praises them as model citizens before executing them.
** In "Children's Toys", the Handyman comforts the child when she's scared of him, telling her she's safe in Autodale.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Matriarch]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Being Pretty", "No Monsters", "Children's Toys" (background)
Autodale's ruler. A gigantic woman, strung up inside the central tower.
----
* [[spoiler: BrokenAngel]]: [[spoiler: This massive, grotesque, BodyHorror laden monstrosity? She's a ''nature goddess.'' An imobile, maimed, ''dying'' one only sustained by the Mayor's inventions and mass blood sacrifice. And she's the only thing keeping the lands around Autodale - the last living lands on the planet - alive.]]
* GiantWoman: The Matriarch is absolutely gigantic, easily as tall as the building she resides in.
* LastOfHerKind: Implied. The Young Man comes across the ruins of several towns while wandering the wasteland, including the corpses of several massive beings akin to the Matriarch. [[spoiler: Eventually confirmed in "Immortal Machines".]]
* MechanicalAbomination: Cyborg, at least. She is massive, ancient, and rules her society with impunity. [[spoiler: She used to be a benevolent BotanicalAbomination, before the rise of Autodale.]]
* PoweredByAForsakenChild: [[spoiler:She is at the brink of death, kept alive only by the blood of the Uglies and the machines of the Mayor.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Friendly Shadow]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/friendly_shadow.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Our Shadowy Protector]]
->'''Appearances:''' "Friendly Shadow"
->'''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
Detective, monster hunter and mercenary, the Friendly Shadow is dispatched to solve any crimes that happen within Autodale.
----
* BadassLongcoat: In propaganda, he is shown wearing a black trench coat which conceals his cybernetic limbs. He refuses to wear it when not in such media, in defiance of Autodale.
* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: When he gets his arm ripped off by the Freak, it exposes a bundle of what appear to be ''nerves''.]]
* {{Cyborg}}: Shadow is part human, in order for him to do the kind of problem-solving detective work that a Handyman just can't pull off.
* DarkIsNotEvil: He's a shadowy, mysterious figure who works in the shadow and is essentially Autodale's [=SpecOps=] division, but he is also far more understanding than the Handymen and actively resists Hive's influence, placing himself strongly on the side of mankind.
* GoodCopBadCop: Shadow has two versions of himself working in tandem: his human half and his cybernetic half. When in his bad cop state, he is able to speak without moving his mouth, much like Hive.
* NecesaryEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equiped to handle.
* OnlySaneMan: So far, he's the only person we've seen that's critical of Autodale and the way it's run. He openly expresses grief and remorse when the mother of the abducted child is labelled Ugly and sent to her death, and [[spoiler: disobeys orders to let the little girl and the baby Freak go free.]]
* PropagandaHero: In addition to detective work, he is also the face of a propaganda campaign depicting him as "Autodale's Shady Protector." Autodale at large knows him from comic books, films, and radio dramas. After [[spoiler: his failure to apprehend the Freak, Hive wastes no time in convincing the public Shadow was a hero who defeated the Freaks and rescued the little girl.]]
* Really700YearsOld: WordOfGod states that Shadow is a century or more old.
* UnwillingRoboticization: Shadow's transition into cyborg does not seem like it was voluntary, considering the way he behaves. He actively resist the robotic part of himself, shows open resentment to the Handymen, and he's implied to be a substance abuser in order to cope. At the end of "Friendly Shadow", [[spoiler: Hive considers removing more of his humanity as a punishment. Word of God reveals that he used to be a part of Hive as well, but was given a body due to his exceptional problem-solving abilities.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Hive]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/primehive.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Neutral" Hive (the primary head)]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hive1.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Angry" Hive]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/anotherhive.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Funny" Hive]]
->'''Appearances:''' "No Monsters", "Friendly Shadow"
-> '''Voiced by:''' Adrienne Cox
The brain of Autodale. [[spoiler: Hive consists of hundreds of Exceptional people, stripped down to their bare essentials and strung up in the Matriarch's lair.]]
----
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Neutral Hive [[spoiler:deeply admires the Mayor, and considers the Matriarch his only equal.]]
* BaitAndSwitch: The beginning of [[spoiler: "Friendly Shadow" suggests Hive is just a single woman who is Shadow's superior, occasionally giving conflicting orders. In truth, Hive is a collection of hundreds of people, who each give their own input.]]
* BenevolentBoss: [[spoiler: To Shadow, Neutral Hive flips this like a switch: she can harshly criticize Shadow one second and be incredibly merciful the next. When he fails his mission, she advocates simply rewiring him, reasoning that he was following the wishes of the Little Girl's mother and that pragmatically, it would defeat his purpose to appear robotic. However, the rest of Hive is able to convince her to "give him the coat."]]
* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: The people who make up Hive are mutilated to the point where most of them are just a head and some organs, suspended from cables. Their mouths don't move when they speak, they have cables plugged into their heads, and one of them still has a large piece of metal sticking out of his chest. Hive's chambers look almost eldritch, with the ground and walls covered in cables and organs, and mutilated people hanging from the ceiling.]]
* CreepyTwins: A pair of twins make up a single component of Hive called "Funny Hive."
* CosmopolitanCouncil: As far as you can get with Autodale. The members of Hive are Exceptional people, or those with a talent or skill considered worth preserving. For example, Shadow was assimilated into Hive because of his problem solving skills.
* DeadlyEuphemism: Hive seems to decide that [[spoiler:Shadow's]] punishment will be "giving [him] the ''coat''."
* HiveMind: Hive is not an individual, but a collection of hundreds of Exceptional people from over the years. Despite the fact they have thousands of members, some have more input than others. There are three main members of Hive, who serve as its main components: Neutral Hive, Angry Hive, and Funny Hive.
* TheIlluminati: Hive's existence is unknown to the population at large. Because of propaganda, they simply wish to be Exceptional, but they don't realize what happens afterwards.
* InternalRetcon:
** In "No Monsters", [[spoiler: the apprehension of the Exceptional girl is depicted as a storybook where she is hunted by monsters, but the Handymen save her. WordOfGod states the purpose of this is to convince Exceptional people to disregard any ideas of rebellion so they can be assimilated into Hive.]]
** In "Friendly Shadow", [[spoiler: the events of the episode are rewritten in the form of a comic book, a cartoon, and a radio drama. In this version of events, Shadow is able to defeat the Freak and bring the girl safely home to her mother.]]
* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner: The main components of Hive serve as this to [[spoiler: Shadow during his "trial": Neutral Hive serves as his judge, wanting to simply rewire him for his insolence; Angry Hive serves as his executioner, who wants to harshly punish him by "giving him the coat"; finally, Funny Hive acts as the jury, who is able to convince the rest of Hive - and by extension Neutral Hive - to "give him the coat."]]
* MissionControlIsOffItsMeds: Hive serves as MissionControl for the Friendly Shadow, but constantly gives contradicting orders, acts warm and kind one moment and cold and heartless the next, and can't seem to make up her mind about anything. [[spoiler: It turns out Hive isn't one woman, but a collection of hundreds of different people, all with their own ideas on what the correct course of action is.]]
* NoNameGiven: As Autodale doesn't have first names, the members of Hive are referred to by their role in the system, such as [[spoiler: Neutral Hive, Angry Hive, and Funny Hive.]]
* PropagandaMachine: [[spoiler: They are behind the multiple {{PSAs}} and commercials that brainwash the citizens of Autodale. When Shadow breaks his promise, they waste no time in depicting his story in the most heroic light possible.]]
* Really700YearsOld: WordOfGod states that she is approximately two thousand years old.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: When one is assimilated to Hive, regardless of gender, they take on the voice of [[spoiler: the original Exceptional girl.]]
* WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler: At the end of "Friendly Shadow", Hive decides to brand the little girl as Ugly, reasoning her connection to the Freaks wouldn't let her fit in with Autodale's standards.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Mayor]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Immortal Machine"
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
Autodale's creator. Or at least the man who made it all possible.
----
* AllForNothing: According to WordOfGod, this is the reason for his (and by extension Autodale's) fear and hatred of the Freaks. Everything he did was to ensure [[spoiler:the survival of life in a sick, doomed world]]. He thought that all of his atrocities were necessary. The Freaks, who evolved ''after'' [[spoiler:the Withering]], proves that they were not. Life went on outside the walls, even if humanity did not. Inside the walls, humanity has been stripped of its humanity.
* AntiVillain: He was motivated to create Autodale because [[spoiler:the world outside has been destroyed and he's trying to save humanity]].
* BaldOfEvil: Bald of Necessary Evil, at least. His scalp is hairless, both in his emaciated form and in his youth.
* BigBad: As the creator of Autodale, he is directly responsible for all of the atrocities committed throughout the series.
* BodyHorror: The Mayor rivals Hive in this department. He is still humanoid, but he has no flesh on the front of his torso and has gained elongated limbs. Tubes and machinery stick out of his back, clearly the only thing keeping him alive, and his eyes have been replaced with mechanical optical lenses. His skin hangs loosely of his face, and his mouth appears to have grown shut. [[spoiler:It makes him look a lot like Mother Nature]].
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: He asks the Exceptional Girl if she can "forgive [his] necessary sins" before showing her [[spoiler:what truly happens to the Uglies]].
* ParentalSubstitute: He has shades of this during his interactions with the Exceptional Girl, acting as a dark mentor to her. [[spoiler: As Hive, she even believes she cannot surpass him, only the Matriarch can equal him.]]
* SympathyForTheDevil: The Exceptional Girl recalls feeling this for him, although Hive seems confused by this.
* TragicVillain: The Mayor, for all his crimes, is ultimately a tragic figure. He created Autodale to [[spoiler:preserve some part of the dying world]], but it is hard to say if the effort was worth the cost. He later brought in the Exceptional girl to get a "new perspective" and maybe even find a bette way, but she turns out to be EvilerThanThou.
* WasOnceAMan: The Mayor was human. Once. He is not anymore.
[[/folder]]
!!Others
[[folder:The Freaks]]
->'''Appearances:''' "No Monsters" (storybook), "Don't Feed the Freaks", "Friendly Shadow"
Horrific looking monsters that prowl the wasteland surrounding Autodale. However, despite their appearances, they're mostly docile.
----
* AmbiguousSituation: WordOfGod states that the Freaks in "Don't Feed the Freaks" can represent other people, with the one at the end being the Young Man seen through the eyes of Autodale's citizens. In "Friendly Shadow," however the adult Freak is openly hostile toward Shadow and displays clear animalistic behavior and far greater physical strength that couldn't be explained if it saw itself as another human.
* BeyondTheImpossible: As revealed in "Immortal Machine", the world beyond Autodale isn't just desolate, it is [[spoiler:dead or dying. The End of the World is long past, and even the gods of life (with the exception of the Matriarch) are dead]]. The Freaks survive nonetheless.
* ItCanThink: "Friendly Shadow" reveals that [[spoiler:the Freaks are sentient; a Freak child befriends a human girl and displays the ability to draw]].
* MeaningfulName: "Freak" means something abnormal and abhorrent. Suiting for the monsters, but it is more commonly used as an insult for other people that are different. The Freaks are a metaphor for other people.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: They have two sets of arms, and know how to use them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Young Man]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Don't Feed the Freaks"
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
The only survivor from a Town that has collapsed into ruin, and the focus character for "Don't Feed the Freaks". The Young Man travels the wasteland in search of a safe place to live, a mythical place called Autodale.
----
* AuthorAvatar: According to WordOfGod, this pale, bald loner who's looking for companionship in all the wrong places represents David himself.
* GenreBlind: He takes everything positive he hears about Autodale at face value, believing it to be a paradise where everyone is "pretty." He also mostly ignores the corpses of people trying to ''escape'' the place. He's clearly not aware that he's in a dystopian story.
* TomatoInTheMirror: He sees himself as human. The people of Autodale see him as a Freak.
[[/folder]]
----
'''Spoilers for all entries before "Friendly Shadow" will be unmarked. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''
----
[[foldercontrol]]
!!Autodale
!!!Citizens
[[folder:The Exceptional Girl]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "No Monsters", "Friendly Shadow" (as [[spoiler:Hive]])
-> '''Voiced by:''' Adrienne Cox
A woman deemed Exceptional by Autodale's society, trying and failing to escape her horrific fate.
----
* AdmiringTheAbomination: She deeply admired the Mayor. [[spoiler:The other compnents of Hive teases her for it, implying that she liked him in other ways too]].
* AssimilationPlot: [[spoiler: She was the first to be recruited into what would later become Hive, and as soon as she was given the power to do so, she started hunting other Exceptional people to assimilate them into Hive.]]
* BecameTheirOwnAntithesis: [[spoiler: She was allowed to rule by the mayor, being the first person to realize Autodale wasn't as rosy as it appeared; in present day, she harshly punishes those who intentionally or unintentionally break the rules.]]
* BodyHorror: When she gets caught, the Girl's body is sliced apart, until she's just a head, a heart and a pair of lungs, hanging suspended from cables in the Matriarch's lair.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: WordOfGod says that [[spoiler: the Girl chose to have her body torn to shreds and being hung up in the Matriarch's lair, partly due to Autodale's influence on her. Not only that, she began hunting Exceptional people to join her, and eventually formed Hive.]]
* EvilAllAlong: The ''No monster'' short implies she was unwillingly turned into a cyborg. [[spoiler: ''Immortal Machine'' reveals that she willingly did this to herself and might have been even crueler than the city's original leader.]]
* EvilerThanThou: [[spoiler:The Mayor is deeply troubled by what he had to do to ensure mankind's survival. The Exceptional Girl finds his accomplishments ''impressive'']].
* DarkAndTroubledPast: WordOfGod revealed that she was the first person to realize Autodale wasn't as happy as it appeared and openly rebelled. She was apprehended by the mayor, [[spoiler: who said she could help run Autodale alongside him. For that, she was taken away and began to assimilate other Exceptional people.]]
* DramaticIrony: [[spoiler: She was chosen to run Autodale by the mayor, as she was the first to realize the town wasn't as utopian as described. Instead, she has enforced their rules, put out propaganda, and deemed a child Ugly for being associated with the Freaks.]]
* FaceHeelTurn: Goes from the first rebel to [[spoiler:the Hive]].
* LackOfEmpathy: [[spoiler:Upon witnessing the terrible truth of what happens to the Uglies, that they are ground into mush and used to power the city, she admits that she found it impressive]].
* NoNameGiven: We never find out the name of the poor woman; the closest she gets to have a name is being referred to as [[spoiler: Neutral Hive]] as per WordOfGod.
* ShipTease: She has a bit with [[spoiler:the Mayor]]. The other components of [[spoiler:Hive]] tease her for it, which she dismisses since he only had eyes for [[spoiler:the Matriarch]], but doesn't deny it. David also describes her becoming [[spoiler:Hive]] as him "seducing" her.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Robinsons]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Model Citizens", "Friendly Shadow" (cameo)
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby (Mr. Robinson), Kirie Quackenbush (Mrs. Robinson)
A family of three, living out their lives in Autodale. Mr. Robinson works, Mrs. Robinson stays home to take care of the house and their son, Robinson Junior.
----
* TheCameo: [[spoiler: They make a quick cameo in "Friendly Shadow" viewing an advertisement for Friendly Shadow's newest adventure. Junior's wife also makes a quick cameo as an adult, turning the radio up when Shadow's radio drama is announced.]]
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Though they are sad and scared when they are lined up to be executed, they are still more than willing to walk to their doom, as they know they've fulfilled their purpose in life. When the Handyman about to club them to death tells them that they're "true model citizens", Mr. Robinson even takes his hand and thanks him.
* OnlyOneName: Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Robinson and Robinson Junior are their full names, as Autodale's citizens don't have first names. When Mr. Robinson is executed, Robinson Junior becomes the new Mr. Robinson.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: When Robinson Junior grows up and moves out, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are branded as Ugly and executed.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Uglies]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Being Pretty, "No Monsters", "Model Citizens"
Autodale's undesirables. Any citizen that is no longer useful to society is labelled as Ugly, sentenced to death, and thrown into mass graves.
----
* AbsoluteXenophobe: Everyone who doesn't fit into Autodale's very specific mold is labelled as Ugly. "Being Pretty" shows us that this is a disturbing amount of social groups, from disabled people, to LGBT people, to people unable to produce children, there are even two Uglies that are labelled "fat" and "depressing". It should also be noted that all of Autodale's citizens are white, with the [[FridgeHorror very disturbing implication that people of color were labelled Ugly too...]]
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: One can be deemed Ugly for being disabled, unemployed, or having your grown child leave the house.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror:
** "No Monsters" shows that even though the Uglies don't fit Autodale's standard of Pretty they still believe in the system, as they all start to rat out the Exeptional girl trying to escape the Handymen. Not to mention that they all willingly walk up to their death.
** It's implied one can choose to be Ugly if they believe they can no longer contribute anything to society: the Robinson couple decided when it was time to declare themselves Ugly, reasoning that after their son married and left home, there no longer was use for them.
* DeathMarch: The Uglies are lined up and forced to walk toward their grave, where at the end, they're hit over the head by a Handyman and thrown into the pit.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the first short, Uglies have their imperfection written on their mask, such as "depressing" or "sterile." Whenever Ugly people are shown in the rest of the shorts, they simply have "Ugly" written instead. Possibly justified, as "No Monsters" is stated to take place two thousand years before "Friendly Shadow", meaning the branding of somebody as Ugly likely changed as well.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: People with mental illnesses can be branded Ugly. In "Friendly Shadow" [[spoiler: the little girl was going to be branded Ugly because she was associated with the Freaks and likely traumatized, implying that traumatized people are considered Ugly.]]
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: An Ugly is someone who is no longer useful to society, or who does not fit the mold. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are labelled as Ugly when they grow old and their son grows up, and the mother from "Friendly Shadow" is labelled as Ugly when her husband is murdered.
[[/folder]]
!!!Leadership
[[folder:The Handymen]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Being Pretty", "No Monsters", "Children's Toys", "Model Citizen", "Friendly Shadow"
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
Robotic peacekeepers, here to protect citizens from anything that could harm them. Or so they say, at least.
----
* AffablyEvil: They are polite and kind to the citizens of Autodale, even the Uglies they execute.
* ApologeticAttacker: One of the Handymen apologize to the Robinson couple before it executes them.
-->'''Handymen:''' [[IronicEcho Deepest apologies, Robinsons, but duty calls. I am afraid that Autodale is hardly automatic.]]
* TheExecutioner: Among their functions is to execute the Uglies by delivering a blow to the head and letting them fall into a mass grave.
* {{Gaslighting}}: A Handyman is able to convince a girl who notices blood on his breastplate that the horrific truths of Autodale are purely her imagination.
* IdenticalStranger: At the end of "Model Citizen", Mr. Robinson thanks the Handyman about to execute him, referring to him as "Joe", like the Handyman he's known for years. WordOfGod states these are not the same Handymen.
* InSeriesNickname: The Robinsons call their favorite handyman "Joe". This highlights the flaw of the Autodale system, as no matter how much societal brainwashing and propaganda they were put through, the Robinson were still people.
* NoNameGiven: As robots, the Handymen don't have proper names. Although, some are nicknamed. The Robinson couple nickname their favorite Handyman, "Joe."
* PetTheDog:
** The Robinson couple offer to dance with Joe, who refuses at first because he is busy. Eventually, he agrees to dance with Mrs. Robinson some time down the line.
** The Handyman who executes the Robinson family praises them as model citizens before executing them.
** In "Children's Toys", the Handyman comforts the child when she's scared of him, telling her she's safe in Autodale.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Matriarch]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Being Pretty", "No Monsters", "Children's Toys" (background)
Autodale's ruler. A gigantic woman, strung up inside the central tower.
----
* [[spoiler: BrokenAngel]]: [[spoiler: This massive, grotesque, BodyHorror laden monstrosity? She's a ''nature goddess.'' An imobile, maimed, ''dying'' one only sustained by the Mayor's inventions and mass blood sacrifice. And she's the only thing keeping the lands around Autodale - the last living lands on the planet - alive.]]
* GiantWoman: The Matriarch is absolutely gigantic, easily as tall as the building she resides in.
* LastOfHerKind: Implied. The Young Man comes across the ruins of several towns while wandering the wasteland, including the corpses of several massive beings akin to the Matriarch. [[spoiler: Eventually confirmed in "Immortal Machines".]]
* MechanicalAbomination: Cyborg, at least. She is massive, ancient, and rules her society with impunity. [[spoiler: She used to be a benevolent BotanicalAbomination, before the rise of Autodale.]]
* PoweredByAForsakenChild: [[spoiler:She is at the brink of death, kept alive only by the blood of the Uglies and the machines of the Mayor.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Friendly Shadow]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/friendly_shadow.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Our Shadowy Protector]]
->'''Appearances:''' "Friendly Shadow"
->'''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
Detective, monster hunter and mercenary, the Friendly Shadow is dispatched to solve any crimes that happen within Autodale.
----
* BadassLongcoat: In propaganda, he is shown wearing a black trench coat which conceals his cybernetic limbs. He refuses to wear it when not in such media, in defiance of Autodale.
* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: When he gets his arm ripped off by the Freak, it exposes a bundle of what appear to be ''nerves''.]]
* {{Cyborg}}: Shadow is part human, in order for him to do the kind of problem-solving detective work that a Handyman just can't pull off.
* DarkIsNotEvil: He's a shadowy, mysterious figure who works in the shadow and is essentially Autodale's [=SpecOps=] division, but he is also far more understanding than the Handymen and actively resists Hive's influence, placing himself strongly on the side of mankind.
* GoodCopBadCop: Shadow has two versions of himself working in tandem: his human half and his cybernetic half. When in his bad cop state, he is able to speak without moving his mouth, much like Hive.
* NecesaryEvil: InUniverse, this is how Hive views him. While she generally doesn't allow much independence from [[spoiler:her components]], she does recognize the need for someone who can handle delicate affairs that the Handymen aren't equiped to handle.
* OnlySaneMan: So far, he's the only person we've seen that's critical of Autodale and the way it's run. He openly expresses grief and remorse when the mother of the abducted child is labelled Ugly and sent to her death, and [[spoiler: disobeys orders to let the little girl and the baby Freak go free.]]
* PropagandaHero: In addition to detective work, he is also the face of a propaganda campaign depicting him as "Autodale's Shady Protector." Autodale at large knows him from comic books, films, and radio dramas. After [[spoiler: his failure to apprehend the Freak, Hive wastes no time in convincing the public Shadow was a hero who defeated the Freaks and rescued the little girl.]]
* Really700YearsOld: WordOfGod states that Shadow is a century or more old.
* UnwillingRoboticization: Shadow's transition into cyborg does not seem like it was voluntary, considering the way he behaves. He actively resist the robotic part of himself, shows open resentment to the Handymen, and he's implied to be a substance abuser in order to cope. At the end of "Friendly Shadow", [[spoiler: Hive considers removing more of his humanity as a punishment. Word of God reveals that he used to be a part of Hive as well, but was given a body due to his exceptional problem-solving abilities.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Hive]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/primehive.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Neutral" Hive (the primary head)]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hive1.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Angry" Hive]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/anotherhive.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Funny" Hive]]
->'''Appearances:''' "No Monsters", "Friendly Shadow"
-> '''Voiced by:''' Adrienne Cox
The brain of Autodale. [[spoiler: Hive consists of hundreds of Exceptional people, stripped down to their bare essentials and strung up in the Matriarch's lair.]]
----
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Neutral Hive [[spoiler:deeply admires the Mayor, and considers the Matriarch his only equal.]]
* BaitAndSwitch: The beginning of [[spoiler: "Friendly Shadow" suggests Hive is just a single woman who is Shadow's superior, occasionally giving conflicting orders. In truth, Hive is a collection of hundreds of people, who each give their own input.]]
* BenevolentBoss: [[spoiler: To Shadow, Neutral Hive flips this like a switch: she can harshly criticize Shadow one second and be incredibly merciful the next. When he fails his mission, she advocates simply rewiring him, reasoning that he was following the wishes of the Little Girl's mother and that pragmatically, it would defeat his purpose to appear robotic. However, the rest of Hive is able to convince her to "give him the coat."]]
* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: The people who make up Hive are mutilated to the point where most of them are just a head and some organs, suspended from cables. Their mouths don't move when they speak, they have cables plugged into their heads, and one of them still has a large piece of metal sticking out of his chest. Hive's chambers look almost eldritch, with the ground and walls covered in cables and organs, and mutilated people hanging from the ceiling.]]
* CreepyTwins: A pair of twins make up a single component of Hive called "Funny Hive."
* CosmopolitanCouncil: As far as you can get with Autodale. The members of Hive are Exceptional people, or those with a talent or skill considered worth preserving. For example, Shadow was assimilated into Hive because of his problem solving skills.
* DeadlyEuphemism: Hive seems to decide that [[spoiler:Shadow's]] punishment will be "giving [him] the ''coat''."
* HiveMind: Hive is not an individual, but a collection of hundreds of Exceptional people from over the years. Despite the fact they have thousands of members, some have more input than others. There are three main members of Hive, who serve as its main components: Neutral Hive, Angry Hive, and Funny Hive.
* TheIlluminati: Hive's existence is unknown to the population at large. Because of propaganda, they simply wish to be Exceptional, but they don't realize what happens afterwards.
* InternalRetcon:
** In "No Monsters", [[spoiler: the apprehension of the Exceptional girl is depicted as a storybook where she is hunted by monsters, but the Handymen save her. WordOfGod states the purpose of this is to convince Exceptional people to disregard any ideas of rebellion so they can be assimilated into Hive.]]
** In "Friendly Shadow", [[spoiler: the events of the episode are rewritten in the form of a comic book, a cartoon, and a radio drama. In this version of events, Shadow is able to defeat the Freak and bring the girl safely home to her mother.]]
* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner: The main components of Hive serve as this to [[spoiler: Shadow during his "trial": Neutral Hive serves as his judge, wanting to simply rewire him for his insolence; Angry Hive serves as his executioner, who wants to harshly punish him by "giving him the coat"; finally, Funny Hive acts as the jury, who is able to convince the rest of Hive - and by extension Neutral Hive - to "give him the coat."]]
* MissionControlIsOffItsMeds: Hive serves as MissionControl for the Friendly Shadow, but constantly gives contradicting orders, acts warm and kind one moment and cold and heartless the next, and can't seem to make up her mind about anything. [[spoiler: It turns out Hive isn't one woman, but a collection of hundreds of different people, all with their own ideas on what the correct course of action is.]]
* NoNameGiven: As Autodale doesn't have first names, the members of Hive are referred to by their role in the system, such as [[spoiler: Neutral Hive, Angry Hive, and Funny Hive.]]
* PropagandaMachine: [[spoiler: They are behind the multiple {{PSAs}} and commercials that brainwash the citizens of Autodale. When Shadow breaks his promise, they waste no time in depicting his story in the most heroic light possible.]]
* Really700YearsOld: WordOfGod states that she is approximately two thousand years old.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: When one is assimilated to Hive, regardless of gender, they take on the voice of [[spoiler: the original Exceptional girl.]]
* WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler: At the end of "Friendly Shadow", Hive decides to brand the little girl as Ugly, reasoning her connection to the Freaks wouldn't let her fit in with Autodale's standards.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Mayor]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Immortal Machine"
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
Autodale's creator. Or at least the man who made it all possible.
----
* AllForNothing: According to WordOfGod, this is the reason for his (and by extension Autodale's) fear and hatred of the Freaks. Everything he did was to ensure [[spoiler:the survival of life in a sick, doomed world]]. He thought that all of his atrocities were necessary. The Freaks, who evolved ''after'' [[spoiler:the Withering]], proves that they were not. Life went on outside the walls, even if humanity did not. Inside the walls, humanity has been stripped of its humanity.
* AntiVillain: He was motivated to create Autodale because [[spoiler:the world outside has been destroyed and he's trying to save humanity]].
* BaldOfEvil: Bald of Necessary Evil, at least. His scalp is hairless, both in his emaciated form and in his youth.
* BigBad: As the creator of Autodale, he is directly responsible for all of the atrocities committed throughout the series.
* BodyHorror: The Mayor rivals Hive in this department. He is still humanoid, but he has no flesh on the front of his torso and has gained elongated limbs. Tubes and machinery stick out of his back, clearly the only thing keeping him alive, and his eyes have been replaced with mechanical optical lenses. His skin hangs loosely of his face, and his mouth appears to have grown shut. [[spoiler:It makes him look a lot like Mother Nature]].
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: He asks the Exceptional Girl if she can "forgive [his] necessary sins" before showing her [[spoiler:what truly happens to the Uglies]].
* ParentalSubstitute: He has shades of this during his interactions with the Exceptional Girl, acting as a dark mentor to her. [[spoiler: As Hive, she even believes she cannot surpass him, only the Matriarch can equal him.]]
* SympathyForTheDevil: The Exceptional Girl recalls feeling this for him, although Hive seems confused by this.
* TragicVillain: The Mayor, for all his crimes, is ultimately a tragic figure. He created Autodale to [[spoiler:preserve some part of the dying world]], but it is hard to say if the effort was worth the cost. He later brought in the Exceptional girl to get a "new perspective" and maybe even find a bette way, but she turns out to be EvilerThanThou.
* WasOnceAMan: The Mayor was human. Once. He is not anymore.
[[/folder]]
!!Others
[[folder:The Freaks]]
->'''Appearances:''' "No Monsters" (storybook), "Don't Feed the Freaks", "Friendly Shadow"
Horrific looking monsters that prowl the wasteland surrounding Autodale. However, despite their appearances, they're mostly docile.
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* AmbiguousSituation: WordOfGod states that the Freaks in "Don't Feed the Freaks" can represent other people, with the one at the end being the Young Man seen through the eyes of Autodale's citizens. In "Friendly Shadow," however the adult Freak is openly hostile toward Shadow and displays clear animalistic behavior and far greater physical strength that couldn't be explained if it saw itself as another human.
* BeyondTheImpossible: As revealed in "Immortal Machine", the world beyond Autodale isn't just desolate, it is [[spoiler:dead or dying. The End of the World is long past, and even the gods of life (with the exception of the Matriarch) are dead]]. The Freaks survive nonetheless.
* ItCanThink: "Friendly Shadow" reveals that [[spoiler:the Freaks are sentient; a Freak child befriends a human girl and displays the ability to draw]].
* MeaningfulName: "Freak" means something abnormal and abhorrent. Suiting for the monsters, but it is more commonly used as an insult for other people that are different. The Freaks are a metaphor for other people.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: They have two sets of arms, and know how to use them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Young Man]]
-> '''Appearances:''' "Don't Feed the Freaks"
-> '''Voiced by:''' David Armsby
The only survivor from a Town that has collapsed into ruin, and the focus character for "Don't Feed the Freaks". The Young Man travels the wasteland in search of a safe place to live, a mythical place called Autodale.
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* AuthorAvatar: According to WordOfGod, this pale, bald loner who's looking for companionship in all the wrong places represents David himself.
* GenreBlind: He takes everything positive he hears about Autodale at face value, believing it to be a paradise where everyone is "pretty." He also mostly ignores the corpses of people trying to ''escape'' the place. He's clearly not aware that he's in a dystopian story.
* TomatoInTheMirror: He sees himself as human. The people of Autodale see him as a Freak.
[[/folder]]
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