History Main / GoodAnimalsEvilAnimals

** The Maximals all turn into either mammals or birds (with the exceptions of Dinobot and [[spoiler:Blackarachnia]], who both started out as Predacons before doing a HeelFaceTurn), while the Predacons mostly turn into either [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent reptiles]] or [[BigCreepyCrawlies arthropods]]. There are a few fish on both sides, though, and at least one mammalian Predacon in Ravage[[note]]his beast form is a carryover from being part of the [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 older generation of Transformers]], which did not play by the same rules regarding good/evil beast forms[[/note]]. The theme was especially apparent in regards to the Fuzors, who had MixAndMatchCritters for beast modes -- Maximal Fuzors included Torca (orca/elephant), Bantor (tiger/mandrill), and Silverbolt (wolf/eagle), whereas Predacon Fuzors were guys like Terrorgator (crocodile/turtle), Skyshadow (dragonfly/lizard) and Quickstrike (cobra/scorpion).

* In ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'', the goats are good and the wolves are evil. There are a few exceptions, though (for example, Wolffy's child Wilie is friendly toward the goats despite being a wolf).

* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', with villainous wolves and crocodiles in an ImagineSpot and rabbits, pigs and ducks for civilians... actually, any species that doesn't have more than two specimens is destined to stand out, for better or worse. The villain, however, is a snow leopard. His motivation is borne out of psychological resentment rather than anything to do with species, and animals tend to pretty much get along.

* ''Film/CatsAndDogs'': A movie in which cats were evil and try to TakeOverTheWorld and dogs were good trying to [[SavingTheWorld save the world]]. The sequel, however, reveals that cats are NotAlwaysEvil, although the villain is still a cat. The sequel also mentions that some dogs are evil, although none are seen.

* Fortitude from Creator/RaphaelSanzio's ''Cardinal and Theological Virtues'' is casually petting her lion companion, one of the few animals brave and noble enough to sit beside courage personified.

** Played with in ''WesternAnimation/BabarAndTheAdventuresOfBadou''. The show's recurring antagonists are [[RhinoRampage rhinos]], [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]], a [[BrutishBulls cape buffalo]], a [[CatsAreMean black leopard]], and a [[SnakesAreSinister python]]. However, the villains also include an [[CruelElephant elephant]] and a lion, both being {{Token Evil Teammate}}s of their respective species, and there are also good rhino and crocodile characters. As odd exceptions to this trope, the good characters include a hyena and a condor, going against the stereotypes of the [[HeinousHyena two]] [[VileVulture species]].

* The three main heroes of ''Literature/PiilomaanPikkuAasi'' are a donkey, a dog, and a cat, and the villain is a StubbornMule with fox lackeys.

** [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} The Anime]] features an episode where Ash's Pokémon and Team Rocket's Pokémon are both stranded on a tropical island. It's revealed that Ekans and Koffing are actually quite friendly when they're not busy trying to capture Pikachu and were [[JustFollowingOrders just trying to make their trainers happy.]] In fact, it's only Meowth that's willingly evil (although he's sometimes [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold a jerk with sympathetic qualities]] rather than an outright antagonist, particularly since he's usually LaughablyEvil).

* PlayedWith the humanoid bird characters in ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}: [[Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheWingedBraves Nobita and the Winged Braves]]''. The heroes and civilians are all species usually portrayed as good (eagles, owls, ducks, ostriches, penguins, pelicans, cranes, etc.) while the antagonists are ones commonly stereotyped as evil (a vulture, a falcon, and crows). Downplayed in that said antagonists are more of [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well-Intentioned Extremists]] that believe [[HumansAreCthulhu humans are a menace to birds]], and the vulture receives some sympathy for being shot in the wing and rendered flightless.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* PlayedForDrama in ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys''. The gang consists of predator animals that have always been seen as monsters (wolf, snake, tarantula, shark, and piranha), and decided to live up to the stereotypes and become a CaperCrew. They stand in contrast to beloved Governor Diane Foxington (a red fox) and genius philanthropist Professor Marmalade (a guinea pig). While the gang revels in their villainy, deep down, leader Mr. Wolf wishes the world had given him and his friends a chance to see them as anything other than savage monsters. [[spoiler:Marmalade is later revealed to be EvilAllAlong, using his public perception as an inherently good creature to get away with framing the gang for his own crimes. And Diane is revealed to have been a former criminal herself, having lived up to her own species' worst stereotypes before getting sick of the lifestyle.]]

** The Maximals all turn into either mammals or birds (with the exceptions of Dinobot and [[spoiler:Blackarachnia]], who both started out as Predacons before doing a HeelFaceTurn), while the Predacons mostly turn into either [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent reptiles]] or [[BigCreepyCrawlies arthropods]]. There are a few fish on both sides, though, and at least one mammalian Predacon in Ravage. The theme was especially notable in regards to the Fuzors, who had MixAndMatchCritters for beast modes -- Maximal Fuzors included Torca (orca/elephant), Bantor (tiger/mandrill), and Silverbolt (wolf/eagle), whereas Predacon Fuzors were guys like Terrorgator (crocodile/turtle), Skyshadow (dragonfly/lizard) and Quickstrike (cobra/scorpion).

* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994''. The BigBad is a lion, but his species is generally presented as good. [[HeinousHyena Hyenas]], meanwhile, are [[DesignatedVillain ostensibly bad guys]], but it's because they're being starved to death. Individual hyenas come across as LaughablyEvil.

* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', with villainous wolves and crocodiles in an ImagineSpot and rabbits, pigs and ducks for civilians... actually, any species that doesn't have more than two specimens is destined to stand out, for better or worse. The villain, however, is a snow leopard. His motivation is borne out of psychological resentment rather than anything to do with species, and animals tend to pretty much get along.
* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', the main villain is a [[AgentPeacock white peacock]], while there are primarily good characters who happen to be a rhinoceros, a crocodile and an ox.
* ''WesternAnimation/RockADoodle'': Owls are evil to the point of having vampiric weakness to sunlight. All other animals are good. Some of them have obnoxious tenancies, though.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH'' and its source novel, ''Literature/MrsFrisbyAndTheRatsOfNIMH'', averted this for the most part. Rats were both good and bad guys, the owl was terrifying but also wise and helpful if you dared to approach him, and the crow is not at all evil. However, Dragon is a prime example of CatsAreMean.

* Hilariously inverted in the Soviet-era Russian series ''Animation/LeopoldTheCat''. A kind, peaceful and artsy Leopold is harassed by two mice bullies, who set traps and perform brutal practical jokes on him. In most cases, they're just a petty nuisance, given that Leopold is several times larger, older and wiser. Having a Jesus level in forgiveness, Leopold occasionally even saves the mice.
* In the wizard duel scene of ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'', Madam Mim turns mostly into traditionally evil animals like a crocodile, a cat, a fox, a rhinoceros, a snake and a dragon (although an elephant and a chicken are also thrown in the mix). Merlin turns into traditionally good ones like a tortoise, a mouse, a rabbit, a caterpillar and a walrus (the only forms that actually have weapons are a crab and a goat).
* In the animated soccer match sequence of ''Film/BedknobsAndBroomsticks'', the yellow team consists of stereotypically mean animals (a lion, a rhino, a warthog, a hyena, a crocodile and a gorilla), while the blue team consists of stereotypically nice ones (a cheetah, an ostrich, a hippo, a kangaroo and an elephant).
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad'', Rats, Moles, Badgers and Toads are good and Weasels and Stoats are bad.

* ''WesternAnimation/OverTheHedge'' centers around a group of woodland friends that mixes species usually seen in a more negative light (porcupines, possums, a raccoon, and a skunk) and more positive light (a turtle and a squirrel) together. Pets are also shown sympathetically. The only animal that's intimidating or anything is a big black bear that's got every reason to be pissed off (somebody broke into his home, woke him up, ''and'' tried to steal his food).

* From ''WesternAnimation/IsleOfDogs'', followers of the villainous Mayor Koboyashi are shown to ostensibly like cats while the general populace prefers dogs.
* In ''WesternAnimation/Epic2013'', the Leafman heroes ride hummingbirds into battle, while the evil Boggans ride bats or grackles.

* ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'' has foxes, hens, rabbits, owls, mice, cats, dogs and turtles to be good, whilst Prince John is served by wolves, vultures, boars, rhinoceroses, a crocodile and a snake. Lions don't follow the pattern, with King Richard presented as good and Prince John as evil, because [[KingOfBeasts they are royalty]] and so are operating under a different trope.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Epic}}'', the Leafman heroes ride hummingbirds into battle, while the evil Boggans ride bats or grackles.

* PlayedWith the humanoid bird characters in ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}: Nobita and the Winged Braves''. The heroes and civilians are all species usually portrayed as good (eagles, owls, ducks, ostriches, penguins, pelicans, cranes, etc.) while the antagonists are ones commonly stereotyped as evil (a vulture, a falcon, and crows). Downplayed in that said antagonists are more of [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well-Intentioned Extremists]] that believe [[HumansAreCthulhu humans are a menace to birds]], and the vulture receives some sympathy for being shot in the wing and rendered flightless.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'' takes traditional animal stereotypes and plays around with them in a way that subverts them as often as plays them straight. Wolves are threatening but have a crippling obsession with howling, sloths are slow but rather clever, and so on. This turns out to be the whole point of the movie, with [[FantasticRacism attitudes among sentient animals being a stand-in for social bias and prejudice]]. For the most part, the various characters are flawed but fundamentally good (or, at least, morally grey) and the main story-line involves a situation where predator animals are reverting to their primitive, savage ways. Some exceptions are [[spoiler:a particularly trashy weasel (Disney really seems to want to hold on to this stereotype), and a gang of criminal sheep (from the BigBad on down being [[AmbitionIsEvil motivated by lust for power]] rather than species).]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'' plays with this trope. In a world of anthropomorphic animals naturally all the different species would have good and bad individuals, nevertheless the main heroes and villains do play the trope straight. For example the main heroes are [[BearyFriendly bears]], [[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys orangutans]] and a [[KingOfBeasts lion]], whilst the most recurrent villains are a [[CatsAreMean tiger]], a [[SavageWolves band of wolf pirates]], [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile a gangster crocodile]] and his two goons a [[RhinoRampage rhino]] and a [[KillerGorilla gorilla]], and the [[FullBoarAction boar-like Thembrians]].

* Non-animal example: In the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' continuities, certain vehicle types are almost always affiliated with a certain faction; Autobots are more likely to turn into emergency response vehicles like police cars and ambulances, while Decepticons are more likely to turn into purpose-built war machines like bombers and tanks. Deceptions are also more likely than Autobots to have flying vehicle modes (though this rule isn't as strict as the first one; plenty of flying Autobots exist in various continuities).
** G1 also had several instances of Autobot teams vs Decepticon teams where the Autobots turned into vehicles while their Decepticon counterparts turned into animals. The most prominent examples was probably the Headmasters: Autobots included Highbrow, a futuristic helicopter, Hosehead, a fire truck, and Chromedome, a car, while Decepticons included Weirdwolf, a wolf, Mindwipe, a giant vampire bat, and Skullcruncher, a crocodile.
** ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' brings it back around to this; the Maximals all turn into either mammals or birds (with the exceptions of Dinobot and [[spoiler:Blackarachnia]], who both started out as Predacons before doing a HeelFaceTurn), while the Predacons mostly turn into either reptiles or arthropods. There are a few fish on both sides, though, and at least one mammalian Predacon in Ravage. The theme was especially notable in regards to the Fuzors, who had MixAndMatchCritters for beast modes -- Maximal Fuzors included Torca (orca/elephant), Bantor (tiger/mandrill), and Silverbolt (wolf/eagle), whereas Predacon Fuzors were guys like Terrorgator (crocodile/turtle), Skyshadow (dragonfly/lizard) and Quickstrike (cobra/scorpion).
** ''Anime/BeastWarsII'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'' had it both ways, with the good-guy team of animals fighting a bad-guy group of vehicles. Although note that "animals vs machines" means that normally "evil" animals were on the good guys' side, as seen with the Maximal cobra Night Viper and the Cybertron weevil Drill Nuts. The bad guys of ''II'' received a MidSeasonUpgrade, receiving their own beast modes. They were: A T-Rex, a raptor, a shark, a wasp, and a wolf. Even this was still in keeping with the "animals vs machines" premise -- the good guy Cybertrons had organic beast modes, whereas the Destrons were cyborg in appearance.
** ''Anime/BeastWarsNeo'' featured mostly-mammalian Cybertrons and evil dinosaur Destrons.
*** ''Beast Wars Shattered Glass'' features a small group of Autobots taking beast modes, including a lion, an eagle, and an elephant, opposing a group of Decepticons mostly made up of the Seacons (a sub-group that includes a shark, a snapping turtle, and a squid).
** The Battle Beasts in ''Anime/TransformersHeadmasters'' followed a similar idea with reptiles, amphibians and sealife as evil, and warm-blooded species as good. There were a handful of mammalian-or-avian Decepticon Beastformers, though. Most (yet not all) the Transformers of that same era followed a pattern of vehicular Autobots and beast Decepticons.
** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' kept with the vehicular version, but made it narrower -- its main Autobots are all non-combat vehicles (even Bulkhead, a military transport), whereas its Decepticons are mostly heavy-hitting war machines. The "Autobots drive, Decepticons fly" thing was also enforced and pointed out; until Jetstorm and Jetfire, flying Autobots didn't ''exist'' (unless you counted the Omega Sentinels), whereas four of the five main Decepticons are planes or helicopters. Contrast Optimus Prime's ever-present "Autobots, Transform and Roll Out!" with Megatron's new EvilCounterpart, "Decepticons, Transform and [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized Rise Up!]]".
** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise2015'' flips the "animals vs machines" concept -- virtually every evil Decepticon has animal features in robot mode (so they don't actually ''turn into'' animals, for the most part), while the heroic Autobots, excepting Grimlock, are just your standard car robots

* Inverted with ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994''. The BigBad is a lion, but his species is generally presented as good. [[HeinousHyena Hyenas]], meanwhile, are [[DesignatedVillain ostensibly bad guys]], but it's because they're being starved to death. Individual hyenas come across as LaughablyEvil.

** ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', formerly ''VideoGame/DinosaurPlanet,'' has the antagonistic Sharpclaws, a race of anthropomorphic theropods, led by General Scales, an anthropomorphic allosaur despot. Other hazards include non-anthropomorphic tyrannosaurs and Galdon, a bizarre insectoid dinosaurian ''thing'' that also appeared to be some kind of carnosaur hybrid. [[spoiler:The only really evil mammal is [[HijackedByGanon Andross]].]] Fox's allies are pterosaurs, ceratopsians, and other herbivorous dinosaurs. [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers And the odd mammoth or two.]]

* UsefulNotes/{{Zoroastrianism}} has a long list of good animals and bad animals. Bad animals are most predators except for dogs, and include wolves, cats, snakes, frogs, wasp, flies and so on. Also some mythological like "winged dragons". Good animals include the dog, most cattle like sheep and ox, and the ant. This is the reason why it is said that Zoroastrians do no killed ants when they took some corn saying that they could spare some of it for them. Harming a dog was absolute taboo, whilst hunting the bad animals (like cats and wolves) was almost mandatory and it is said that Zoroastrianism mandates to have a weapon to kill snakes in the house. Interestingly some of these orders are the exact opposite in both UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}} and UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} were dogs, for example, are considered ritually unclean and (in the case of latter) cats are favoured as pets. This of course brought to the exact opposite situation when Islam became dominant in Iran as Muslims are not allowed to own dogs except for hunting and guarding (and not allowed to enter their houses) and cats are their favorite pets which caused friction between dog-loving Zoroastrians and cat-loving Muslims. In fact it is also said that misstreatment of dogs was a way for Iranian Muslims to taunt their Zoroastrian neighbors.
** The negative of connontations of dogs in Islamic cultures have been fully fortified after [[https://qz.com/india/1038116/the-moment-in-history-when-muslims-began-to-see-dogs-as-dirty-impure-and-evil/ a major plague]], where the [[ScavengersAreScum scavenging dogs]] were taken out for being the cause of it.

* UsefulNotes/{{Zoroastrianism}} has a long list of good animals and bad animals. Bad animals are most predators except for dogs, and include wolves, cats, snakes, frogs, wasp, flies and so on. Also some mythological like "winged dragons". Good animals include the dog, most cattle like sheep and ox, and the ant. This is the reason why it is said that Zoroastrians do no killed ants when they took some corn saying that they could spare some of it for them. Harming a dog was absolute taboo, whilst hunting the bad animals (like cats and wolves) was almost mandatory and it is said that Zoroastrianism mandates to have a weapon to kill snakes in the house. Interestingly some of these orders are the exact opposite in both Judaism and Islam were dogs, for example, are considered ritually unclean and cats are favoured as pets. This of course brought to the exact opposite situation when Islam became dominant in Iran as Muslims are not allowed to own dogs except for hunting and guarding (and not allowed to enter their houses) and cats are their favorite pets which caused friction between dog-loving Zoroastrians and cat-loving Muslims. In fact it is also said that misstreatment of dogs was a way for Iranian Muslims to taunt their Zoroastrian neighbors.