History Main / CastOfExpies

* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'': The series borrows heavily from popular martial arts fiction. Sonya Blade is Cynthia Rothrock, Johnny Cage is Jean Claude Van Damme (especially as he appears in ''Film/{{Bloodsport}}''), Liu Kang is Bruce Lee's character from ''Film/EnterTheDragon'', and Shang Tsung, Raiden, and Scorpion/Subzero/et all resemble characters from ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina''.

* ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors'' is basically bootleg ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}''. The Belphase family are a clear analogue to the Belmonts, the [[TheUnfought supposed]] main villain is a Dracula Expy, and the spritework, items, and general aesthetics are stylized after the games. As a matter of fact, the earliest versions of the game used assets directly taken from ''Castlevania'' fangames.

* The ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "Heroes" had a team of three expies of the Fantastic Four. 2D Man was based off Mr. Fantastic, Freon was an ice-based Invisible Woman, and Magma was a combo of the Thing and the Human Torch (and was the most BlessedWithSuck of all of them, not even being able to touch Freon without hurting her). Given that the episode in question was essentially a {{Deconstruction}} of the Fantastic Four, things do not end well for them, especially when their creator betrays them.

* ''Series/TheBennyHillShow'' longform sketch "Murder on the Oregon Express" features parody versions of several TV detectives including Series/McCloud, Series/{{Ironside}}, Series/{{Cannon}}, Series/{{Kojak}} and his supporting cast, Literature/HerculePoirot (all played by Hill), Series/PoliceWoman, Series/{{Columbo}}, and Series/BarnabyJones.

* Creator/AlEwing's ''El Sombra'' series in the ''Pax Britannia'' SharedWorld star a working-class Franchise/{{Zorro}}, and the second novel has him meet Hugo Donner/Doc Thunder (Literature/DocSavage with elements of [[Literature/{{Gladiator}} Hugo Danner]]) and Blood Spider (Literature/TheSpider with elements of every other CoatHatMask killer vigilante, and a dash of Comicbook/SpiderMan). The third one extends this even further, including a RagtagBunchOfMisfits in which ''every single character'' is an expy from a completely different source, while the team itself is based on ''Comicbook/SgtFuryAndHisHowlingCommandos''.

** ''Astro City'' has [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters enough characters]] that some characters are [[DecompositeCharacter split]] into multiple Expies. For example, Samaritan is the main SupermanSubstitute, while Atomicus and [[LegacyCharacter the first]] Starbright are as well, but with emphasis on different aspects ("world's greatest hero," "alien trying to be human" and "AllLovingHero," respectively).

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

* ''Me & Roboco'' has a cast primarily made of ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'' expies. Yes, this includes Roboco herself (who fulfills the general role but nothing else of Doraemon), who even has her own Dorami expy.

* In ''Comicbook/{{PS238}},'' many of the important adult heroes (including some parents and teachers) are {{Captain Ersatz}}es, most obviously Ron's dad [[TheCape Atlas]] for Comicbook/{{Superman}} and Tyler's mentor [[TheCowl the Revenant]] for Franchise/{{Batman}}. Many of the kids are, too. Because of the large cast this goes beyond the more obvious examples--for example, we have a Comicbook/{{MODOK}} (bratty kid [[BigBadWannabe Zodon]]), [[Comicbook/{{Preacher}} Genesis]] (friendly [[GooGooGodlike Malphast]]) and [[Comicbook/TheSandman Morpheus]] (loopy [[PiecesOfGod Murphy]]).

* In ''Literature/{{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.
** Ayame is their equivalent of Haruhi, herself, in that they initially seem pushy, but [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold generally mean well.]] They're also the leaders of their respective clubs, who each drafts Tanukichi and Kyon as their first recruits.
** Tanukichi fills Kyon's role as the SupportingProtagonist/everydude [[ManicPixieDreamGirl who gets dragged along]] with Ayame and Haruhi's schemes. Both serve as the voice of reason for the girls and provide commentary on SOX's/the SOS Brigade's activites.
** Oboro's case is likely unintentional, but is still a [[spoiler: gender bent]] version of ''[[Manga/AzumangaDaioh Azumanga Daioh's]]'' Sakaki. The two are near identical [[AloofDarkhairedGirl in appearance]] [[TheComicallySerious and mannerism]], including having Japanese seiyuus who even sound alike[[note]]Oboro's JP seiyuu is Creator/SumireUesaka, while Sakaki's is Creator/YuuAsakawa[[/note]].

* ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors'' is basically bootleg ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}''. The Belphase family are a clear analogue to the Belmonts, the main villain[[TheGhost (?)]] is a Dracula Expy, the spritework, items, and general aesthetics are stylized after the games. As a matter of fact, the earliest versions of the game used assets directly taken from ''Castlevania'' fangames.

* In ''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.

* 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 [[Anime/PrettyCure Cure]], fights like a [[Franchise/LyricalNanoha TSAB agent]] and experiences [[Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Puella Magi]] growing pains, 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 like Anime/BlackRockShooter got their start.]]

* ''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 {{Foreshadowing}} to various actions the characters will take, although ''exactly'' what will happen continually surprises viewers.

* 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/CarolDanvers Major Max]], lead by [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica American Crusader]] and opposed by the villainous [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Lord Havok]]. This universe is also home to the Battlin' [[Comicbook/SpiderMan Bug]] "the hero you hate to love", and the G-Men or Zen Men, [[Comicbook/XMen a group of genetic freaks protecting a world that hates and fears them]] led by [[Comicbook/{{Cyclops}} Uni-Orb]], and also including [[Comicbook/{{Storm|MarvelComics}} Windrider]], [[Comicbook/{{Nightcrawler}} Night-Troller]], and others.

* ''VideoGame/LegendOfHeroes'' is a rather shameless, blatant ripoff of ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'', with all it's named characters being plagiarized from the then 2-year-old Disney film. Your princess heroine, Falan, is Mulan by another name with your partner General Liang based off General Shang and your two other allies being two heroic soldiers looking exactly like Yao and Chien-po from the movie. The villains and bosses are lifted from the Disney film as well, the BigBad Chen-yu being a dead ringer to Shan-yu, which the game's developers doesn't even attempt to disguise.

* The cast of ''Anime/SpacePatrolLuluco'' is basically a reunion of characters from past Creator/StudioTrigger and Creator/StudioGainax series. There's [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Kaworu]] (Alpha Omega Nova), [[Anime/{{FLCL}} Haruko and Commander Amarao]] (Midori and Keiji), WebAnimation/InfernoCop [[spoiler: who turns into [[Anime/GurrenLagann Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]]] (OVER JUSTICE), and [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia Professor Ursula]] (Hisho). And that's not even counting the villains' side, which features [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia Shiny Chariot]] (Lalaco) and a very [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Viral]]-esque [[spoiler:[[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Anti-Spiral]] (the Blackholian commander-in-chief)]], just to name a few enemies. [[spoiler:Luluco herself would later turn out to be Trigger's mascot Trigger-chan. Not an expy of her, but [[OriginsEpisode the literal character]].]]

* There's barely a character that exists in ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' that ''doesn't'' reference a pre-existing character through design, personality, or both, such as Spearman referencing [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Lancer Cú Chulainn]], Heavy Warrior referencing [[Manga/{{Berserk}} Guts]], Witch referencing [[VideoGame/DragonsCrown Sorceress]], and many more. Half the reason for this is because the author used all of those characters wholesale as the placeholder designs and overall inspiration for the characters when making the original web novel, so when time came for official publication as a light novel, the author just tweaked the designs a bit while keeping it obvious to well-versed fans what the original references are.

* Creator/AlEwing's ''El Sombra'' series in the ''Pax Britannia'' SharedWorld star a working-class Franchise/{{Zorro}}, and the second novel has him meet Hugo Donner/Doc Thunder (Franchise/DocSavage with elements of [[Literature/{{Gladiator}} Hugo Danner]]) and Blood Spider (Literature/TheSpider with elements of every other CoatHatMask killer vigilante, and a dash of Comicbook/SpiderMan). The third one extends this even further, including a RagtagBunchOfMisfits in which ''every single character'' is an expy from a completely different source, while the team itself is based on ''Comicbook/SgtFuryAndHisHowlingCommandos''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' is a DeconstructiveParody of old "boys' adventure" stories like ''Franchise/DocSavage'' and ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'', and most of its cast are riffs on classic characters of the genre. Doc Venture and Brock Samson are an adult Jonny and Race Bannon (although [[ExpyCoexistence the real Jonny and Race also exist in this setting]]), and the titular brothers are ersatz [[Literature/TheHardyBoys Hardy boys]]. Then there's [[Series/TheGreenHornet the Blue Morpho]], [[Franchise/JamesBond Colonel Gentleman]], [[ComicBook/DoctorStrange Doctor Orpheus]] and many more.

** Comes full circle with ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity: Pax Americana'', a story from one of DC's many alternate universes, which features alternate versions of Blue Beetle, The Question, Peacemaker (deceased), Nightshade, and Captain Atom, [[AndZoidberg and also Tiger]] (another Charlton hero who has no analogue in ''Watchmen'') whose appearances and backstories are much closer to those of their ''Watchmen'' equivalents, effectively making them expies [[UpToEleven of expies]] ''[[UpToEleven of themselves]]''.

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* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' is about a bunch of ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' expies training to become like their idols. They vary how much they resemble their counterparts: Plucky and Dizzy greatly resemble Daffy and the Tasmanian Devil, for example, while Elmyra is both a GenderFlip and ContrastingSequelAntagonist to Elmer Fudd (as she [[AndCallHimGeorge comically hurts animals by accident]] instead of comically failing to hurt them on purpose).

** A steel/electric type based on gears, and its evolutions are just it becoming ''more'' gears. Based on Magneton.
** A pure electric type that evolves through a Thunder Stone. It's also a Zebra that has its element woven into its design. So, it's actually serving as a double expy for Pikachu AND Rapidash.
** ''Two'' pure psychic-types that evolve twice, once through trade evolution. Based on Alakazam.

* Just about every enemy or background character in ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' is taken from a different show. Panty and Stocking are basically ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' gone wrong. Panty sleeps with WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo, the Transformers and Decepticons turn the girls into robots for their side, [[ShoutOut/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt etc.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' story "Steal A Meal" (DC Comics, Cartoon Network Block Party #26) has Him bringing three cereal mascots to life to steal all the cereal in Townsville. The mascots are expies of the Trix rabbit, Lucky the Leprechaun (Lucky Charms) and Twinkles the Elephant (Twinkles cereal, an obscure 1960s entry).

* Creator/AlEwing's ''El Sombra'' series in the ''Pax Britannia'' SharedWorld star a working-class Franchise/{{Zorro}}, and the second novel has him meet Hugo Donner/Doc Thunder (Franchise/DocSavage with elements of [[Literature/{{Gladiator}} Hugo Danner]]) and Blood Spider (Literature/TheSpider with elements of every other CoatHatMask killer vigilante, and a dash of Comicbook/SpiderMan). The third one extends this even further, including a RagtagBunchOfMisfits in which ''every single character'' is an expy from a completely different source, while the team itself is based on the Comicbook/HowlingCommandos.

Please note: To qualify, at least half of the work's major characters must be recognisable as derived from earlier ones. A work which has multiple Expies or Ersatzen simply because it has LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters does not qualify.