History Main / Badbutt

** Sokka is TheSmartGuy, but still was able to occasionally hit people with his boomerang, but when he gets a CoolSword in a later episode he now has no chance to, since that would draw blood. Likewise, the skills of KnifeNut Mai are impressive, but the restrictions of children's television mean that she'll only be able to pin people's clothing to walls.

* Lobo as he is presented in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''. He drinks, but the drink is only implied to be alcoholic (it ''is'' highly explosive though), he uses only family-friendly swears (the exact same ones he uses in the comic, point of fact), only alludes to serious violence and never kills anyone on-screen, has a family-friendly laser gun, only uses his [[WeaponOfChoice signature meathook]] to grab things in a non-harmful fashion, and doesn't go much further than a few sleazy comments towards ComicBook/LoisLane and Franchise/WonderWoman on the 'sex' front. He's also shown to have, if not a HiddenHeartOfGold, at least a Hidden Heart of Pyrite or some other almost-precious-looking metal. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This is one case where it actually sort of works,]] since rather than try to sell Lobo's violence or debauchery the creative team played up the absurdity and asshole-ishness of the character instead.

* Jay and his group in ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'' were supposed to be the school's dangerous crowd of at-risk teens, but when the worst thing they did was break into a vending machine in the school, Website/BoycottTheCaf (and [[FanNickname the rest of the fandom]]) dubbed them "The Candy Bandits".

* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'': These men (and women) are supposed to be the best of the best of the best that the U.S. armed forces can offer. And yet, starting with the second season, they routinely find themselves run into the ground by their new drill sergeant: Sergeant Slaughter--a pro wrestler. And Snake Eyes, supposedly the baddest of the bad (a ninja, no less, who except for the lack of a healing factor and indestructible skeleton might even be good enough to give {{Wolverine}} a run for his money), never even manages to land a single blow on his opponents. Fat lot of good all of those blades, small arms, and martial arts training do under the circumstances.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Bart was conceived as a non-badbutt version of ComicStrip/{{Dennis the Menace|US}}, but {{follow|TheLeader}}ing, [[BlackComedy edgier]] animated shows make him look like this trope by comparison. This was pointed out in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' when an {{expy}} of Bart told Cartman he once [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS1E8TheTelltaleHead cut the head off a statue]], to which Cartman replied that he once [[Recap/SouthParkS5E4ScottTenormanMustDie tricked a boy into eating his parents]], and was used to great effect in the crossover episode with ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Both Dennis and Bart show how Badbutt can overlap with MenaceDecay; both were legitimately pretty serious "bad kids" in their heyday, but ValuesDissonance means they just lost their impact over time.

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* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' has Phil, the Prince of Insufficient Light as an obvious stand-in for {{Satan}}. However, Phil only [[GoshDangItToHeck "darns" people to "heck"]] and carries around a giant spoon.
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Bart was conceived as a non-badbutt version of ComicStrip/{{Dennis the Menace|US}}, but {{follow|TheLeader}}ing, [[BlackComedy edgier]] animated shows make him look like this trope by comparison. This was pointed out in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' when an {{expy}} of Bart told Cartman he once [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS1E8TheTelltaleHead cut the head off a statue]], to which Cartman replied that he once [[Recap/SouthParkS5E4ScottTenormanMustDie tricked a boy into eating his parents]], and was used to great effect in the crossover episode with ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Both Dennis and Bart show how Badbutt can overlap with BadassDecay; both were legitimately pretty serious "bad kids" in their heyday, but ValuesDissonance means they just lost their impact over time.

* ComicBook/ThePunisher shows up in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' more than once. Since the series skews even younger than most superhero cartoons, his badbutt nature is basically unparalleled. In his first appearance, his usual BadassBoast about crime is an UsefulNotes/ExtendedAnalogy comparing criminals to Brussels sprouts.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** Bart was conceived as a non-badbutt version of ComicStrip/{{Dennis the Menace|US}}, but {{follow|TheLeader}}ing, [[BlackComedy edgier]] animated shows make him look like this trope by comparison. This was pointed out in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' when an {{expy}} of Bart told Cartman he once [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS1E8TheTelltaleHead cut the head off a statue]], to which Cartman replied that he once [[Recap/SouthParkS5E4ScottTenormanMustDie tricked a boy into eating his parents]], and was used to great effect in the crossover episode with ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Both Dennis and Bart show how Badbutt can overlap with BadassDecay; both were legitimately pretty serious "bad kids" in their heyday, but ValuesDissonance means they just lost their impact over time.

** Bart was conceived as a non-badbutt version of ComicStrip/{{Dennis the Menace|US}}, but {{follow|TheLeader}}ing, [[BlackComedy edgier]] animated shows make him look like this trope by comparison. This was pointed out in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' when an {{expy}} of Bart told Cartman he once [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS1E8TheTelltaleHead cut the head off a statue]], to which Cartman replied that he once [[Recap/SouthParkS5E4ScottTenormanMustDie tricked a boy into eating his parents]], and was used to great effect in the crossover episode with ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.
** Dennis himself really was a terror as far as 1950s kids go (he is often forced to sit in a corner as punishment), but [[Series/DennisTheMenace the black-and-white TV series]] from the early '60s sanitized him so completely that Jay North (the actor who plays him in that series) comes off as grating instead.
** Interestingly, Dennis and Bart alike showcase how Badbutt can overlap with BadassDecay; both were legitimately pretty serious "bad kids" in their heyday, but ValuesDissonance means they just lost their impact over time.

* When many ''WebVideo/PoohsAdventures'' videos had these peeps from any media aimed at a Teenage/Young Adult/Adult audience, parts of the content have to be cut, much to the dismay of the others who wanted to do anything what they want in a proper way for the crossovers at times (although some videos had [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] this, however).

* Shank and the other gang members in ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet'' are the feared antagonists in an ultra-violent racing game inspired by ''VideoGame/{{Carmageddon}}'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'', but other than incinerating two players (who can, of course, [[DeathIsCheap just start the game over again]]), we never see them do anything brutal. Overlaps with DarkIsNotEvil, as (like the vast majority of video-game villains in the ''Wreck-It Ralph'' films) they are all pretty decent people [[PunchClockVillain when off the clock]].

* Many ''WebVideo/PoohsAdventures'' videos had these peeps from media aimed at a Teenage/Adult audience appears (although some videos had [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] this, however).

** Falco Lombardi is as hardcore as a fighter pilot in a game with an E rating can get. His favorite pastimes include kicking some tail and sarcastically calling you "Einstein."

Compare CluelessAesop, another trope where being kid-friendly can get in the way. RuleAbidingRebel is when a character doesn't even try to come off as this. Also compare ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything, when a creator wants to depict a character with a badass profession, but never actually shows him or her doing anything related to said badass profession. RatedGForGangsta is when a genuinely edgy public figure turns themselves into one of these for marketing reasons. This character may also use ParentheticalSwearing and/or {{Unusual Euphemism}}s.

* Played for laughs in ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour'' when some of the Pop Trolls [[DressingAsTheEnemy try to impersonate]] Rock Trolls. When called on it, they improvise a song that's sufficiently loud and angry-sounding, but the lyrics [[LyricalDissonance don't quite match up]]. "Rainbows! Unicorns! Everything Nice!"

* Much talk was made of how Shawn Hunter from ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'' was such a badass in high school, but this was ultimately a kid who didn't lose his virginity until well into college, never smoked or did drugs, and got drunk like twice in his life.

This character type appears in family-friendly works or works with children as the intended audience. They are supposed to be a supreme badass, but are unfortunately hampered by their target audience. They are as much [[Film/DieHard John McClane]] as can be squeezed by the censors, and they are often much tougher than their companions. Still, they are usually not allowed to [[NoSmoking smoke]], [[TheAlcoholic drink]], [[ReallyGetsAround bed numerous people]], [[SirSwearsALot swear]], or do too much fighting or killing, and that is quite a list of hurdles to making them a rough-edged Mister Falcon.

This character type appears in child-friendly works. They are supposed to be a supreme badass, but are unfortunately hampered by their target audience. They are as much [[Film/DieHard John McClane]] as can be squeezed by the censors, and they are often much tougher than their companions. Still, they are usually not allowed to [[NoSmoking smoke]], [[TheAlcoholic drink]], [[ReallyGetsAround bed numerous people]], [[SirSwearsALot swear]], or do too much fighting or killing, and that is quite a list of hurdles to making them a rough-edged Mister Falcon.

** Link never actually uses his sword as a weapon, at least on sentient opponents. No slicing or thrusting whatsoever. He instead takes advantage of its beam-shooting properties and thus uses it more like a sword-shaped BoomStick.

* Film/{{Courageous}} is an interesting example in that being a Christian film, the cops are often shown doing pretty spectacular things (even with both stun-guns and real bullet-guns), minus the profanity and the smoking, drinking, etc. Except at the picnic where they do drink, just responsibly.

** VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}} is a fair bit more intact, likely due to being less realistic (she's allowed to use guns, but they're magic guns strapped to her heels so presumably they let it slide). Still, she doesn't swear (though she's classy enough that it still fits), her nudity is [[AdaptationalModesty toned down considerably]], and her LovableSexManiac status is kept to a few suggestive remarks. She's still almost completely in-character, which surprised a lot of fans.

* Most Franchise/PowerRangers are this. Case in point, the entire original ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' team - they're described in the opening sequence as "teenagers with attitude", but generally seem to be upstanding, rule-abiding citizens. Once in a while one will prove to be an ''actual'' (but still family-friendly) badass.

* The titular character of ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' is [[MascotWithAttitude famous for his attitude]], but since he mostly appears in family-friendly games, this trope is ineffect. However, in ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', the titular character does get to kill and swear. The characters around Sonic tend to get exasperated by his [[AwesomeEgo cocky]], [[LargeHam larger-than-life]] way of carrying himself and mildly JerkWithAHeartOfGold behavior sometimes.

The badbutt tends to use FamilyFriendlyFirearms. When they are wielding a sword, expect plenty of the InverseLawOfSharpnessAndAccuracy. If they do get real guns, they'll [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy never be shown actually shooting another person with them]].