History Main / PlayfulOtter

* Literature/TheWindInTheWillows: Otter is probably the TropeCodifier, always willing to lend a hand and always friendly except if you screw over his friends as a rabbit found out when he was braving the wildwood. The only other character to brave the wildwood is Badger.

* The 1969 film ''Ring of Bright Water'' features an executive (Bill Travers, of ''Born Free'' fame) whose life is transformed when he acquires a pet otter, Mij. This otter is rather mischievous and adventurous, which leads to many adventures.

* ''TableTopGame/MagicTheGathering'': [[https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lutri%2C+the+Spellchaser Lutri, The Spellchaser]] is a hybrid between an otter and an [[ElementalEmbodiment elemental]] - if that seems like an odd combination to you, welcome to [[MixAndMatchCritters Ikoria]]. It has the otter's classic playful and mischievous streak, combined with a fascination with magic and the ability to duplicate any spell it can "catch." The fact that it will only become your [[[[BondCreature Companion]] if you have no more than one of any card in your deck, however, implies that it's easily bored and will only forge an eludha bond with a similarly spontaneous mage.

[[Folder: Card Games]]
* ''TableTopGames/MagicTheGathering'': [[https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lutri%2C+the+Spellchaser Lutri, The Spellchaser]] is a hybrid between an otter and an [[ElementalEmbodiment elemental]] - if that seems like an odd combination to you, welcome to [[MixAndMatchCritters Ikoria]]. It has the otter's classic playful and mischievous streak, combined with a fascination with magic and the ability to duplicate any spell it can "catch." The fact that it will only become your [[[[BondCreature Companion]] if you have no more than one of any card in your deck, however, implies that it's easily bored and will only forge an eludha bond with a similarly spontaneous mage.

When used in fiction, otter characters are usually FunPersonified. They are usually depicted as playful, energetic, kind-hearted, optimistic and laid-back, sometimes even mischievous. Otters spend a lot of time in water, so expect them to be good swimmers, who love to have fun in water. Sometimes this overlaps with SurferDude (but otters are usually much more clever, rarely TheDitz). Often there can be a playful antagonism with beavers such as the playful otters getting in the way of the workaholic rodents engaged in their usual labors.

When used in fiction, otter characters are usually FunPersonified. They are usually depicted as playful, energetic, kind-hearted, optimistic and laid-back, sometimes even mischievous. Otters spend a lot of time in water, so expect them to be good swimmers, who love to have fun in water. Sometimes this overlaps with SurferDude (but otters are usually much more clever, rarely TheDitz).

[[folder:Film]]
* The 1969 film ''Ring of Bright Water'' features an executive (Bill Travers, of ''Born Free'' fame) whose life is transformed when he acquires a pet otter, Mij. This otter is rather mischievous and adventurous, which leads to many adventures.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animalympics}}'' features among its athletes a SurferDude otter named Dean Wilson. [[http://otterfershyuure.ytmnd.com/ Fer shyuuuure!]]

* The animated series version of ''WesternAnimation/LittleBear'' has a group of playful otters that shows up occasionally.

* Otter of the ''Literature/{{Franklin}}'' books and [[AnimatedAdaptation WesternAnimation/{{Franklin}}]] is shown as being this.

* In Japanese folklore, otters are capable of shapeshifting and performing other tricks to play pranks on humans, much like {{Kitsune}} and {{Tanuki}}.

To recap, if an otter is portrayed in fiction with a joyous, playful or mischievous personality, it's this trope.

[[folder: Anime And Manga]]

* Otter of the ''Literature/{{Franklin}}'' books and Animated Adaptation is shown as being this.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

** From the fourth generation, Buizel and Floatzel are also based on otters.

* Matt, the DoggedNiceGuy of ''Webcomic/HodgesPond''.
* Bayshore from ''Webcomic/DogsDaysOfSummer''.

* Marlene from ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', the spin-off TV series of the Creator/DreamWorksAnimation ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' is TheChick to the four male penguins.

* Mr. 13 of ''Manga/OnePiece'' subverts this trope, ''hard''. He's a small brown otter in sunglasses and a white onesie with purple spots... who also happens to be an agent of the criminal organization Baroque Works. He's at his most dangerous with his [[DualWielding two bladed shell weapons]] and his partner the [[FeatheredFiend violent vulture]] Ms. Friday at his side.

[[folder: Anime ]]

* Literature/TheWindInTheWillows: Otter is probably the TropeCodifier, always willing to lend a hand and always friendly except if you screw over his friends as a rabbit found out when he was braving the wildwood, the only other character to brave the wildwood is Badger.

* The protagonists of ''Literature/EmmetOttersJugBandChristmas'' are of course, otters. Who are playful and kind-hearted folks, and sings really well to boot. The Creator/JimHenson puppet adaptation is a Christmas special with a huge following.

* Every book in the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' series features several otters. Usually led by one named Skipper, they tend to dress and talk like local Seafaring People, and have a penchant for using ambushes and javelins. The Redwall wiki describes them as playful. The most playful one would probably be Cheek from ''Mattimeo''.

[[quoteright:256:[[Literature/ALotOfOtters https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a-lot-of-otters_1643.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:256:The more the merrier.]]

* When Mercer Mayer created the ''Literature/LittleCritter'' SpinOff ''LC and the Critter Kids'', one of the critter kids was a SurferDude otter named Slick Rick (no, not ''[[Music/RickAstley that]]'' [[{{Rickroll}} Rick]]).

* ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' has Daxter who was turned into an Ottsel (half otter, half weasel). He's a funny, but somewhat annoying bumbling sidekick.

* The protagonists of ''Literature/EmmetOttersJugBandChristmas'' are of course, otters. Who sing really well and are playful and kind-hearted folks.

* Matt, the DoggedNiceGuy of Webcomic/HodgesPond.
* Bayshore from Webcomic/DogsDaysOfSummer

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Radio ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Marlene from ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar''), the spin-off TV series of the Creator/DreamWorksAnimation ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' is TheChick to the four male penguins.

-->--'''Creator/DenisLeary'''