History Main / CastOfExpies

* ''LightNovel/{{Shimoneta}}'':
** SOX is both an expy and [[{{Parodied}} a parody]] of the SOS Brigade, from ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya''. Not only are the initials similar, so are the characters that comprise both groups.

* ''VideoGame/SuperFighter'': As a bootleg game made by the Taiwanese company C&E based on VideoGame/StreetFighterII (even tracing the animations of various characters and using the unaltered sound effects and music scores), the entire cast (with one or two possible exceptions) are basically "[[SerialNumbersFiledOff Poor man's Ryu, Ken, Chun-li," etc]]. Though the developers try to hide their blatant infringement on Creator/{{Capcom}}'s Intellectual Property rights by way of employing CompositeCharacter (e.g. Phoenix (the Chun-li ersatz) does some of M. Bison's moves), Red Man (the Blanka ersatz) has Dhalsim's color scheme and M. Bison and Sagat's mannerisms) in an effort to make them seem unique.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' has this woven into its very essence, with characters being references to fairy tales, fantasy novels, historical figures, nursery rhymes, mythological gods, and even memes. It's essentially using many a FracturedFairyTale as building blocks for the plot, [[ZigzaggedTrope zigzagging]] and [[SubvertedTrope subverting]] various elements of the original story each character references, as well as letting characters take roles in each other's stories depending on their own relationships. The stories referenced themselves serve as forshadowing to various actions the characters will take, although ''exactly'' what will happen continually surprises viewers.

* All five of the main characters in ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' are expies of an 80s movie or TV character:
** Chip is Franchise/IndianaJones.
** Dale is [[Series/MagnumPI Thomas Magnum]].
** Gadget is Jordan from ''Film/RealGenius''.
** Monterey Jack is Film/CrocodileDundee.
** Zipper is Rin Tin Tin or Series/{{Lassie}}.

* Another sector of the [=DC=] multiverse gives us the Retaliators, who are an expy of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers''. The roster includes [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Behemoth]], [[Comicbook/IronMan Machinehead]], [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Wundajin]], [[ComicBook/SpiderWoman Ladybug]], [[{{ComicBook/Hawkeye}} Deadeye]], [[ComicBook/BlackWidow Red Dragon]], [[ComicBook/TheFalcon Kite]], and [[Comicbook/MsMarvel Major Max]], lead by [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica American Crusader]] and opposed by the villainous [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Lord Havok]].

** Julia Ash is [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Jean Grey]] from ''ComicBook/XMen''.

* Barring Gun, Song and the Speaker enemy, everyone from ''WebVideo/SheriffDomestic'' is an AffectionateParody of a pre-existing ''Petscop'' character.

* ''Manga/CellsAtWorkAndFriends'': Cells in this series are very similar to the ones in its [[Manga/CellsAtWork parent series]], though it mostly ends at physical resemblance. From the main trio alone, we've got Killer T (looks like the Commander and has the same [[BruiserWithASoftCenter problems]]), U-2145 (a straighter-haired U-1146), and [=IM1235=] (a less accident-prone [=AE3803=] with pigtails).

* ''The Refrigerator Monologues'' by Creator/CatherynneMValente parodies on sexist tropes in superhero comics. As such, all six of the main characters are extremely transparent Ersatzes of dead or otherwise maltreated female characters from DC or Marvel:

* Another sector of the [=DC=] multiverse gives us the Retaliators, who are an expy of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers''. The roster includes [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Behemoth]], [[Comicbook/IronMan Machinehead]], [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Wundajin]], [[ComicBook/SpiderWoman Ladybug]], [[{{ComicBook/Hawkeye}} Deadeye]], [[ComicBook/BlackWidow Red Dragon]], [[ComicBook/TheFalcon Kite]], and [[Comicbook/MsMarvel Major Max]], lead by [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica American Crusader]] and opposed by the villainous [[SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom Lord Havok]].

* The ''Franchise/BerniceSummerfield'' novel ''Ship of Fools'' by Dave Stone has Benny trapped on a ClosedCircle space-liner with a bunch of {{Clueless Detective}}s based on Literature/HerculePoirot, Literature/MissMarple, Franchise/SherlockHolmes and Franchise/CharlieChan.

* ''Manga/CellsAtWorkAndFriends'': Cells in this series are very similar to the ones in the parent series, though it mostly ends at physical resemblance. From the main trio alone, we've got Killer T (looks like the Commander and has the same problems), U-2145 (a straighter-haired U-1146), and IM1235 (a less accident-prone AE3803 with pigtails).

*** Applejack and Spike are the only two who aren't expies. Hasbro had their names due to reusing them in G3. (G1 AJ was a bit role in the show and known for her extreme clumsiness in the comic; not much beyond her look caries over to the FIM version; meanwhile, Spike was Majesty's assistant in the comic much as in FIM, and "Spike's Search" is based on a G1 episode, but personality-wise, he's gone very much in his own direction. Applejack's brother Big McIntosh is likely a reference to Applejack's G3 design.)

*** Cheerilee is a partial example. In G3, the unicorn Cheerilee was leader of the unicorns and the mentor to Rarity, while the earth pony Cheerilee, Scootaloo's sister, was TheSmartGuy due to liking to read, so they're both a different flavor from FIM's schoolmarm (not to mention each other). But a purple pony named Cheerilee in charge of dumping exposition on us and wrangling rambunctious kids is now a triply familiar sight.

*** Rarity is based on Sparkler (''not'' Glory like many think) however her fur is a near-white shade of blue. They're both gem stone related, though Rarity uses it in her [[FashionDesigner designs]] while Sparkler collected gems.
*** Applejack and Spike are the only two who aren't expies. Hasbro had their names due to reusing them in G3. Applejack's brother Big Mcintosh is likely a reference to Applejack's G3 design.

* ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'' has [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Arachne]], [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Achilles]], [[ComicBook/SuicideSquad the Damocles Directive]], [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Guardsman]], [[ComicBook/PowerGirl Morningstar]], and [[ComicBook/CaptainAtom Quantum]]. Franchise/{{Superman}} has ''two'': Ultra-Man in general, and Golden Man for his Golden Age depictions.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Film - Animation]]

* This is one of the many reasons why ''WesternAnimation/{{Foodfight}}'' is so reviled. Its creators had planned to use many famous advertising mascots in its cast in the same way that ''Disney/WreckItRalph'' uses video game characters. They could not afford the rights to the characters they had hoped to use, so rather than write them out, they created ripoffs. Vlad Chocul is, for example, a CaptainErsatz of cereal mascot Count Chocula.

* ''WesternAnimation/TitanicTheLegendGoesOn'' is an obvious ripoff of numerous Disney and Creator/DonBluth films. Angelica is Disney/{{Cinderella}} crossed with WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}, for example. The [[WesternAnimation/FernGullyTheLastRainforest Batty]]-styled dog is often compared to a bat, and there's a [[Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]]-styled man named... Gaston.

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' has quite a few, though some are InNameOnly or only there for a ShoutOut gag. "[[Creator/SylvesterStallone Sly]]" [[Franchise/{{Rambo}} Marbo]], [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat Solar Macharius]], [[Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians Kruellagh the Vile]]....

* ''Series/TheBoys2019'': Most of the main superhero characters' abilities and costumes are very similar to those of famous established comic book superheroes.

* The characters in the card game ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'' are all expies of Marvel and DC superheroes. However, each character has a distinct background and gimick behind them that makes them more than just “X character with a different look.”

** ''TabletopGame/HaltEvilDoer'''s Patriots are also a JLA/Avengers mix, although it's closer to 50-50. The Tomorrow Syndicate is the X-Men led by Scarlet Witch, and in addition there have been various other "Tomorrow" groups paralleling X-Factor, X-Force, etc. Jack Union's Psychotic Seven is roughly Manchester Black's Elite, although it also includes the Swamp Thing, Aquaman/Namor and Black Panther expies ... and, more surprisingly, Hecate, the Troia counterpart.

* The monsters featured in ''Film/TheMonsterSquad'' technically belong to the public domain. ''But'', the specific designs and interpretations used in the movie hearken back to the Universal Studios versions of the characters, just tweaked a little to avoid copyright violation. They created their own version of the Gil Man, too, a monster whose copyright Universal owned wholesale.

* This is one of the many reasons why ''WesternAnimation/{{Foodfight}}'' is so despised. The creators had planned to use many famous advertising mascots in its cast, the way ''Disney/WreckItRalph'' uses video game characters. However, they could not afford the rights to all the characters they had hoped to use, so rather than write them out, they created ripoffs. For example, Vlad Chocul is a CaptainErsatz of cereal mascot Count Chocula.
* The main characters of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' are very similar to the ComicBook/FantasticFour, though WordOfGod says that this was unintentional. The Underminer, whom they fight at the end, is also similar to FF enemy Mole Man. This also extends to some of the minor superheroes we hear about like Gazerbeam (''Comicbook/XMen'''s Cyclops).

* ''WesternAnimation/TitanicTheLegendGoesOn'' is pretty obviously a ripoff of numerous Disney and Creator/DonBluth films. Angelica is Disney/{{Cinderella}} crossed with WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}, for example. The [[WesternAnimation/FernGullyTheLastRainforest Batty]]-styled dog is often compared to a bat, and there's a [[Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]]-styled man named... Gaston.

* ''Film/MurderByDeath''. All of the main characters are {{Expies}} of literary detectives: Inspector Sidney Wang and son (Film/CharlieChan and his Number One Son), Dick and Dora Charleston (Nick and Nora Charles from ''Film/TheThinMan'' films, based on Creator/DashiellHammett's novel), Milo Perrier (Creator/AgathaChristie's Literature/HerculePoirot), Sam Diamond and his secretary Tess Skeffington (Creator/DashiellHammett's Sam Spade and his secretary Effie Perine) and Jessica Marbles (Creator/AgathaChristie's Literature/MissMarple).
* As an AffectionateParody of superhero comics, ''Film/SkyHigh2005'' features many expies. Aside from [[Franchise/XMen the school itself]], Layla is a good [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Poison Ivy]], and Speed and Lash are evil [[Franchise/PowerRangers Bulk and Skull]].
* Most of the major characters in ''Film/EscapeFromLA'' fill the roles of the major characters from ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork''; Malloy stands in for Hauk, Cuervo Jones takes the role of The Duke, Map To The Stars Eddie fills in for Cabbie and so on. In fact, the one major character who isn't filling a role that someone else played in the first film is Snake himself.
* All of the major characters in ''Film/BarelyLethal'' map neatly to characters from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', to the point where one can't help but wonder if [[SpiritualAdaptation they were originally intending to make]] a ''Kim Possible'' movie but couldn't get the rights. Agent 83 (aka Megan) is the film's version of Kim, Roger is pretty plainly Ron, Liz is Bonnie (and is even played by a Creator/DisneyChannel star, Creator/DoveCameron), Cash is Josh, Hardman is a [[GenderFlip gender-flipped]] Dr. Director (herself a gender-flipped ComicBook/NickFury, amusingly enough given that Hardman is played by Creator/SamuelLJackson), Victoria Knox is a gender-flipped Dr. Drakken, and [[spoiler:Agent 84 (aka Heather) is Shego]]. All that's missing is a naked mole rat.

* ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' series. Just about every named character that doesn't have a MeaningfulName is a reference to a real or fictional character: [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Chaos Warmaster Varan the Undefeatable (a short demagogue with a ridiculous mustache)]], Imperial Navy Admiral [[Franchise/StarTrek Jaymstea]] [[Literature/TreasureIsland Flint]], [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Arbitrator Foreboding]], [[Franchise/WinnieThePooh Wynetha Phu]]... Cain himself is a combination of Literature/{{Flashman}} and Captain Series/{{Blackadder}}.
* ''The Refrigerator Monologues'' by Creator/CatherynneMValente is a satire on sexist tropes in superhero comics. As such, all six of the main characters are extremely transparent Ersatzes of dead or otherwise maltreated female characters from DC or Marvel:

** Samantha Dane is [[StuffedIntoTheFridge Alexandra DeWitt]] from ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''.

* A self-referential variant shows up in the ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' franchise, as the casts of each anime created after ''[[Anime/YuGiOh Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters]]'' clearly take inspiration from the DM cast. In ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' this was to [[AffectionateParody parody]] the original, but now it's become something of a tradition. [[TropesAreNotBad It works surprisingly well.]]

* As ''Anime/ReCreators'' is a series all about taking characters and seeing how they fare outside their home worlds, of course the ones that get pulled out share some similarity with something in our world. Mamika acts like a [[Franchise/PrettyCure Cure]] and fights like a [[Franchise/LyricalNanoha TSAB agent]], Celestia takes on a role similar to [[LightNovel/SwordArtOnline Asuna]], Alicetelia is a female [[Manga/{{Berserk}} Guts]] with a dash of [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Saber's]] ideals, Rui displays some [[Franchise/{{Gundam}} Newtype]] behavior, etc. [[spoiler: Even the Military Princess gets in on this, being an expy of an ''in-universe'' mascot character while her story is a send up to how offshoot franchises and original characters Anime/BlackRockShooter got her start.]]