History Main / TheBumblebee

[[quoteright:250:[[TransformersAnimated http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-Bumblebee_anim_toy.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250: Little. Yellow. 'Special'. Kids love him!]]

TheBumblebee is typically the kid-appeal character. [[TropeNamer Named]] after a set of recurring character types (and names) from the ''{{Transformers}}'' franchise. Cute, popular, tiny, likely to be TotallyRadical, and almost always the youngest character on the team, he's invariably obnoxious and thinks he's so totally cool, in a frantic effort to convince viewers that this is a family friendly show.

As well as that, TheBumblebee is all too often portrayed as seeing TheHero and [[TheCaptain leader]] of the Good Guys as his Father Figure. If the Leader is also quite young, chances are he'll see him as his Big Brother. In the same regard, he may look at TheLancer as being his uncle. Oh, and being [[color:goldenrod:yellow]] is not compulsory - but many kid-appeal characters are oddly brightly colored...

Depending on how young he is, how nice he is, or how old his father/brother figure is, TheBumblebee will usually take one of these roles:

## Clown. Not just any clown either, this is the Kid Clown, who hurls humor at every available point. He may be funny, he may be clumsy (he's not called The '''[[AWorldwidePunomenon Bumble]]'''bee for nothing), or he may just be the joker of the team, playing pranks, making wisecracks and sometimes just whining about all the problems that are going on. Usually played for laughs but may have a serious side. ''TransformersAnimated'' Bumblebee takes this role.
## Weak but Lovable. Often getting into trouble, whether it's with the enemies or with the {{badass}} members of the good team. He's still kid-appeal heavy, but less of a prankster. Their bravery as a RecklessSidekick often backfires on them, but they have just enough nobility or good intentions to avoid being written off as [[DamselScrappy useless]]. [[TransformersGeneration1 G1]] Bumblebee.
## Ankle Biter. Mega-brave young character who's awfully gutsy for his (or her) puny age, puny height, or puny strength. They may be swatted aside by the more powerful enemies, but their [[TheDeterminator determination]] will not let them stay down. Sometimes they'll make them a CuteBruiser so he can match the big guys, or a FragileSpeedster in combat. [[TransformersFilmSeries Movie]] Bumblebee is this latter type.
## TheSmartGuy (TeenGenius) in the FiveManBand. The Gen-X type who is more tech savvy than the older generation. While [[TransformersPrime Prime]] Bumblebee doesn't fill this role, his human partner Raf does.
## Some combination of all of the above.

The Bumblebee tends to stand out, especially in a story largely involving adult characters. Because of this any version can become TheScrappy, which is fitting since the '''original''' [[ScoobyDoo Scrappy]] was one of these. The ways this can happen is: The Clown is obnoxious as well as a KarmaHoudini, the Weak But Lovable one [[TheLoad never shows any real sign of helpfulness]], the Ankle Biter slowly takes up prominence in the story over the primary characters, and as for the TeenGenius... two words: [[CreatorsPet Wesley]] [[StarTrek Crusher]]. Slightly more common is for the character to acquire a PeripheryHatedom: loved by those the producers intended, hated by everyone else.

In a FiveManBand, if there isn't a definitive [[TheChick Chick]] in the band, {{the Bumblebee}} can take over her duties by being the [[TheHeart moral center]] of the team, always considering the little guys. A smart leader is often fully aware that TheBumblebee is not a strong front line warrior and will assign them roles better suited towards their skills, such as being a scout (like the {{Trope namer}}).

Kids love to purchase his {{toys}}. {{Fanfic}} writers love to give them [[LauncherOfAThousandShips massive sex roles]] and [[SlashFic pair them up with their father figure.]]

See also TagalongKid, BrattyHalfPint, KidSidekick, PluckyComicRelief. TheBumblebee is not quite the same as the Tagalong. TheBumblebee is an official full member of the team while the Tagalong is either not a member or holds some sort of secondary membership status like team {{mascot}}. They will likely be great friends, though. A Tagalong that [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] can be promoted to TheBumblebee. Compare CousinOliver.

Not to be confused with the FragileSpeedster, although they sometimes overlap.
----
!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:{{Anime}}]]
* ''{{Cowboy Bebop}}'': Ed, being the youngest and most playful is the Bumblebee to Spike Spiegel's Hero, Jet Black's Lancer.
* Seira, the TokenMiniMoe of ''MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'', pumps up the kid appeal and has a whole season revolving around her...
* ...though not as much as Sailor Chibimoon of ''SailorMoon'', who became a one-girl SpotlightStealingSquad in season four after two seasons with her hanging around the older girls and playing with sparkly wands to match [[KidFromTheFuture her mom's]].
* [[{{Mascot}} Pikachu]] of ''{{Pokemon}}''. Very much a Type 3. Its species is extremely weak (though the [[StatusBuff Light Ball]] makes this debatable), and particularly in the first season, it got beaten by pretty much every Gym Leader at least once, but it always got back up. It's far and away the most popular character, and it's [[color:yellow:yellow]].
** A [[http://homepage1.nifty.com/rally43/Models/Complete/misc/pika-f1.jpg Volkswagen Beetle]] was modeled after him. Hmmm...
** Also, it's the {{mascot}} of the [[CashCowFranchise franchise]]. Somewhere a [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Clefairy]] cries.
** Max and Piplup could also qualify, with the former being Type 4 and the latter being Type 3.
*** Yet both teeter on the lines of TheScrappy.
* Marcia Mouse of ''BlinkyBill'' easily fits the ankle biter type, being a fiery PluckyGirl of the bunch.
* Chopper from ''OnePiece''.
* Hwang Bu-ling/Mew Pudding of ''TokyoMewMew'' fits here: eight years old, wears bright [[color:yellow:yellow]], equal member of the team, and dove right into danger even before she or anyone knew she had any powers. Even her VerbalTic (nano da!) screams cute exuberance.
* {{Naruto}} is a rare occasion where {{the Bumblebee}} is the main character. Brightly colored, often obnoxious and alternatively very weak and ridiculously strong, and to top it all off, his leader [[http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/File:Kakashi2.jpg wears a mask over]] [[http://images.wikia.com/naruto/images/e/e0/Kakashi9.jpg the lower part of his face]].
** While until the TimeSkip and several [[TookALevelInBadass power ups]] made took place.
** [[BloodKnight Gaara]] is a rather interesting case, being a [[DefeatMeansFriendship former]] {{AxCrazy}} antagonist, he becomes a [[TheStoic stoic]] variation of the bumblebee among the 5 kages once he takes up the mantle of kazekage, becoming the youngest to hold the title.
* Nearly all of the seasons in ''{{Digimon}}'' have at least one of these:
** The original ''DigimonAdventure'' have Takeru (T.K.).
** ''DigimonTamers'' has Terriermon, Calumon and Suzie.
** ''DigimonFrontier'' has Tomoki (Tommy).
** Before his evolutions kick in, Agumon fits the bill very nicely in ''DigimonSavers'', while his tamer is {{the hero}} and his "Big Brother".
* Arguably, [[TengenToppaGurrenLagann Simon,]] in the first half of his series.
* Gohan, Goten and Trunks in ''DragonBallZ''. Also, Krillin due to all his panicking.
* In ''{{Voltron}}'', Pidge is the youngest at 12, plus he's always trying to prove himself and gets excited so easily.
* Yahiko in ''RurouniKenshin''.
* Happy from ''FairyTail''
* Jinpei from ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' is often boastful, sometimes capable of taking out bad guys and sometimes not, and makes stupid jokes. He has occasionally felt the need to prove himself, and gone to deal with the villains. The various derived characters in adapted versions of the show have the same characteristics.
* Kon from {{Bleach}}.
* In ''SaintBeast'', in comparison to the rest of the cast Gai is younger, more energetic, less mature, fun and inquisitive, and to top it off has yellow and dark brown hair.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* ''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}'' usually has one of these characters, though sometimes it's less bright-coloured and more fuzzy. Either that, or Wolverine's young, female spunky sidekick. Whichever one he has at the time. They're usually female, the order for the main team was Iceman, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Jubilee, Cannonball, Husk, Armor, and now Oya.
** Lest we forget, Jubilee ''actually wore a lot of [[color:gold:yellow]].''
** In ''New X-Men'', Pixie was one of the youngest, had brightly coloured wings, and was otherwise comic relief. For the few issues that focused on her before BreakTheCutie (Which really didn't break her very much at all).
* Jolt was this in the early years of ''{{Thunderbolts}}''.
* Impulse in ''Comicbook/YoungJustice'' and Kid Flash in ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'', perhaps. Bart's mostly type 1 with bits of type 4 thrown in when necessary.
* [[{{TransformersGeneration1}} The original Bumblebee]] is usually portrayed in comics as being the sort who keeps trying to "prove himself" to his bigger, stronger teammates, and usually gets into trouble because of it. (Prime, for his part, thinks Bumblebee has proven himself well enough in his given role of a spy that he shouldn't feel like this.)
* {{Batman}}'s Robin was originally an obvious Type 2, and even has the [[color:gold:yellow]] cape. In fact, most comic-book sidekicks in the Golden and Silver Ages were created specifically to give readers a character to identify with.
* The Human Torch in the FantasticFour was the teenager in a cast of adults. Early on in the series, he was extremely popular and was the BreakoutCharacter with his own {{spinoff}} within a year after the series started. His popularity was one of the reasons why Marvel created other teen superheroes like {{Spider-Man}} and the {{X-Men}}.
* Speaking of Spider-Man, when he is put into a team dynamic, such as Comicbook/{{The Avengers}}, he usually fits this {{trope}} as a combination of the Type 1 Clown and the Type 4 Smart Guy, in fact there have been team-ups where he has out and out ''stolen'' this role from Johnny Storm, [[spoiler:to the point where he's taken Johnny's place on the FF!]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* Quite obviously, Jar Jar Binks from the ''StarWars'' {{prequel}}s was meant to be this. Being out of place in the story however, caused the attempt to [[TheScrappy backfire miserably]]. Reasons why people hate him range from more plausible to [[FanDumb outright preposterous]], but one thing is for certain. Admitting to liking him is a death warrant.
** He fills basically the same "funny personality" role as [=R2-D2=] and [=C3-PO=]. But both Artoo and Threepio had valuable technical skills compared to Jar Jar's [[SpannerInTheWorks convenient clumsiness]]. Still, Threepio is more Bumblebee-like than Artoo because he's always complaining.
*** And of course, let's not forget that Artoo and Threepio were still present in the films that Jar Jar appeared in, making Jar Jar somewhat redundant.
** Jar-Jar's position is further weakened by the fact that ''The Phantom Menace'' had Anakin himself as a child. That brought us to the absurd critical mass of ''four'' Bumblebees in the movie: one useful multitool, one chatty throwback to the original trilogy, one [[TheChosenOne chosen one]]... and Jar-Jar. That's a lot of kid appeal for a series with so many adult fans, so dislike for the least plot-critical of them was inevitable, even if Jar-Jar wasn't totally obnoxious and often offensive (and he was).
* The twins in ''{{Revenge of the Fallen}}'', as MichaelBay [[WordOfGod states]], were meant to be this (hell, they're even stuck with Bumblebee for much of the movie)... in spite of being violent {{Jive Turkey}}s who keep beating up each other. Their toy bios essentially say that being among the few Autobots who made it to Earth made them living their dream of working directly alongside Optimus Prime, which is certainly a common trait for this type of character. Their immature wrestling and talking about being "quiet like a ninja" also highlights their relative youth.
** In the third film, Bumblebee's kid-friendly nature gets taken advantage of by [[spoiler:Laserbeak]], who turns into a mini pink Bumblebee to convince a little girl to let him in [[spoiler:so that he can assassinate her father]].
** In ''Dark of the Moon'' the character type is also embodied by the duo of Wheelie and Brains, who are small robots and basically act like kids during the course of the movie. Unlike Skids and Mudflap, though, they have relatively little screen time and would rather be chilling at Sam's home watching TV instead of being involved with the RobotWar.
* Skippy Rabbit from {{Disney}}'s ''Disney/RobinHood'' falls into the Ankle Biter category.
* Weak but lovable type in Olivia from ''TheGreatMouseDetective''.
* Chip from ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Gavin Darklighter plays this role in the first four books of the XWingSeries. Well, sort of. He starts out as a sixteen-year-old FarmBoy from Tatooine who is utterly naive and gets taunted by the rudest of his fellow Rogues, who for the most part are five to ten years older than he is. So he serves to be the newbie trying to find his place and being surprised by things that the older pilots find commonplace. While his subplots are pretty much in the background, he does go through CharacterDevelopment and grow and mature. Eventually, by the NewJediOrder, he's the leader of Rogue Squadron.
* Gavroche, from ''LesMiserables'', of the plucky ankle-biting variety. His reaction to getting shot at by the military is to [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome make up on the spot a song insulting French intellectuals!]] Then, this being LesMiserables, RealityEnsues.
* In Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom is TheBumblebee due to his panicking. He turns brave later, though.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* While several ''PowerRangers'' have Bumblebee elements, few really seem to go so far as to be a viewpoint character kids are "supposed" to identify with. One that definitely does, though, is Justin from ''PowerRangersTurbo'', currently the only one who was a Ranger as a kid when most are in their late teens or early twenties. Other good candidates include:
** Kelsey from ''PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''. A quintessential Type 3 -- an extreme daredevil who always loved to show off. (Also a [[color:gold:Yellow]] Ranger.)
** Max from ''PowerRangersWildForce''. The definite kid of the group (high school age when the others were in college at a minimum) and had childlike enthusiasm to match, but got a lot less focus than your standard 'Bee.
** Ziggy from ''PowerRangersRPM'', fitting Type 2: a LovableCoward, the weakest fighter on the team (he became a Ranger [[FallingIntoTheCockpit by accident]]), best buds with and sidekick to the TroubledButCute {{Lancer}}, and something of a viewpoint character as a MetaGuy. However, he was the same age as the other Rangers and didn't come off as all that "childlike" in comparison, being in trouble with [[TheFamilyForTheWholeFamily organized crime]] and showing hints of being a ChivalrousPervert.
*** Also from ''RPM'', {{Sixth Ranger}}s Gem and Gemma, who ''were'' extremely childlike (even seeming to be developmentally a year or two ''behind'' the target audience). They're more of a subversion, really; rather than being audience surrogates for kids, their immaturity came off as them being [[CreepyTwins very]] [[StepfordSmiler very]] [[CuteAndPsycho screwed]] [[PsychopathicManchild up]].
* ''Power Rangers'' ' parent series, ''SuperSentai'', has this {{trope}} recurring because of the FiveManBand layout. There's several kinds of Bumblebees, whether they are eccentric geniuses ([[MiraiSentaiTimeranger Sion / TimeGreen]], [[TokusouSentaiDekaranger Sen-chan / DekaGreen]] or [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Don / GokaiGreen]]), immature pranksters ([[ChoushinseiFlashman Bun / Blue Flash]], [[SeijuuSentaiGingaman Hikaru / GingaYellow]] or [[HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger Kai / GaoBlue]]), scatterbrains ([[NinjaSentaiKakuranger Saizou / Ninja Blue]], [[JukenSentaiGekiranger Ken / GekiChopper]] or [[EngineSentaiGoOnger Hant / Go-On Green]]), or reckless hotheads ([[HimitsuSentaiGoranger Kenji / MidoRanger]], [[ChourikiSentaiOhranger Yuuji / Oh Blue]] or [[SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Chiaki / ShinkenGreen]]). [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Gai / GokaiSilver]] is a special case because, while he doesn't quite fit into any of the previous categories, he is a GenreSavvy WideEyedIdealist whose idea of a Super Sentai is to serve as role models for children in their endeavors to protect the world.
** More commonly, when the [[TheHero other]] [[TheLancer main]] [[TheBigGuy four]] [[TheChick roles]] except TheSmartGuy is taken... and this Smart Guy isn't really as SMART, then this is the place of TheBumblebee. In older times, this trope can also be applied for the youngest (mostly) male character ([[DaiSentaiGoggleFive Aoyama / Goggle Blue]], [[DengekiSentaiChangeman Yuuma / Change Pegasus]], [[HikariSentaiMaskman Akira / Blue Mask]], [[KyoryuSentaiZyuranger Boi / Tiger Ranger]], [[GekisouSentaiCarranger Naoki / Blue Racer]]) as due to their youth, they seem to appeal more for kids. Note that even if she's female and the youngest, [[ChoujinSentaiJetman Ako / Blue Swallow]] would've also fit in.
* Matthew in NewsRadio
* Mark [=McCain=] in ''{{The Rifleman}}'' definitely falls into this trope. He's sweet'n'innocent, but he can be pretty scrappy if the situation calls for it. But usually, he's there to provide a kid's perspective of the situation and to allow Lucas to become Mr. Exposition.
* Jimmy, the thirteen-year-old resistance fighter in [[FallingSkies Falling Skies]], looks as if he may shape up to be one of these. However, he is currently off the main fighting team after panicing in combat, so it is unceartain if he will develop into one or not.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:ProfessionalWrestling]]
* ReyMysterioJr isn't the youngest in WWE and isn't (too) obnoxious, but he fulfills every other requirement as the Ankle Biter subset. He's tiny, wildly popular with kids, frequently wears ridiculously bright clothes, and gets picked on by the bad guys a lot. He's even had several of the bigger faces in WWE (Dave {{Batista}} most noticeably) in a big brother role at one point or another.
** Rey plays directly to very little fans on his ring entrance. If there are kids on the sides next to the ramp during his entrance wearing merch masks, he'll walk right over and touch his forehead to theirs. One special kid will actually get Rey to take off his peel off part of his mask and put it on them, ala when Bret Hart used to take off his sunglasses and put them on a child in the front row.
* Hornswoggle's a recent example, fitting many of the same characteristics Mysterio does except he's much less competent, actually is either the youngest man on the roster or close to it, and is about a foot smaller than Mysterio is. And Mysterio's 5'3".
* Command Bolshoi of All Japan Wrestling, also known as Piko. Has a mask with a clown nose but is otherwise an ankle biter.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]
* Takua in the first years of ''{{BIONICLE}}''. While the Toa were the main heroes - and the ones that actually got the action figures - Takua started out as the FeaturelessProtagonist of the first few video games (one before the Toa arrived, and the other as the HeroOfAnotherStory). After the games he remained a major character and his character was developed as adventurous and loving to explore, but knowing to leave the real fights to the Toa. All this culminated in the ''Mask of Light'' movie, where he was the main character and became a Toa himself (renaming himself "Takanuva").
[[/folder]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* Imoen in ''BaldursGate''. Nothing like as sexy as other female characters, Imoen is certainly the most innocent, and one of the best (and nicest) thieves you'll find. Pretty much a sister figure to the main character. [[spoiler:And it turns out you're right, by the way.]]
* Tails from ''{{Sonic the Hedgehog}}'' is probably the first Kid Appeal character {{Sega}} made, featuring in just about every cartoon as Sonic's best friend.
** Also Charmy, who is both one of these and a literal bumblebee.
* Pal-18 from ''{{Anachronox}}'' is a toy robot (though his owner has upgraded him with weapons and hacking systems) with a squeaky voice and a hip personality. You actually obtain his best weapon by letting him play in a playground for four hours (real time). Also, his theme color (relevant to the magic system) is yellow...
* Relm from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is an extremely sassy ten-year-old girl who despite her grandfather's best efforts, keeps insisting on jumping into the fray. And [[CuteBruiser she holds her own]]!
** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII Onion Knight]] in ''DissidiaFinalFantasy''.
* The Scout is one of these that stopped trying to convince people that ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is a family-friendly game. He's all the better for it.
** After his weapon pack came out, it could be said he TookALevelInBadass and became one of the heaviest hitters around, to the point of needing a nerf.
** Wait, when was the Scout trying to convince people that [=TF2=] is kid-friendly? He's loud-mouthed, swears (albeit mildly) more than any other member of the team, and makes jokes about beating people to death with a baseball bat.
*** He's fills all the criteria: the youngest, a FragileSpeedster, loudmouthed, clownish and obnoxious (in a good way).
* Sakura Kusagano from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha''. She was always out to prove herself against older, better-trained, and often bigger fighters.
* Akari Ichijou in ''LastBlade''.
* Kurara in the ''PowerInstinct'' series.
* Bao in the ''KingOfFighters'' series.
* [[GenkiGirl Luste Teuber]] and [[CuteBruiser Dolis Warmind]] of ''{{Rosenkreuzstilette}}''. Luste portrays herself as a hero of justice despite smashing everything in sight and likes playing with Tia, and Dolis is the leader of RKS's special ops division, being calm in the heat of battle, very intelligent despite knowing little about the outside world, and easily jealous and reacting rather badly to being called small.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* Bumblebee from ''{{Transformers}}''. Obviously. Down to originally transforming into a Volkswagen. Every single version of him - ever - is a kid-appeal character. They even partnered him with the ''human'' kid on the show. (Weirdly enough, despite his being bright yellow, his function was ''[[HighlyVisibleNinja espionage]]''.)
** Given how ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetles were at the time, he's actually pretty well disguised for espionage.
*** To this day, the VW Beetle is ''still'' among the most common cars on the planet. Some 22 million were made, and most of them are still on the roads.
** After the [[TransformersTheMovie animated movie]], the kid appeal role was taken on by [[TheScrappy Wheelie]] for the third series of ''Generation 1'' (which paired ''him'' with the ''son'' of Bumblebee's partner, though not quite as often) and all of ''TransformersHeadmasters'', who was much more type 1.
** This role was then taken over by Holi in ''TransformersVictory'', who was blue but otherwise a combination of all this trope's aspects.
** Cheetor from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' is also yellow, fast and the youngest one on the Maximal Team. And if that weren't enough to tell that he's the kid of the team, he's got ''freckles''. Unlike Bumblebee however, he is actually quite a competent warrior and [[CharacterDevelopment later became]] TheLancer to Optimus Primal.
** Hot Shot, from ''TransformersArmada'', also yellow, falls under the third version. A bit of a goofball but [[LetsGetDangerous surprisingly competent in battle]].
** Wedge, from ''[[TransformersRobotsInDisguise Robots in Disguise]]'', is small, orange and gutsy, but where the typical Bumblebee-type in Transformers is fast, Wedge's assets are strength and engineering know-how. (that, and being the leader of a team that forms a CombiningMecha.)
*** Side Burn also fills the role, a type 1 clown who [[RunningGag constantly tries to hit on non-sentient red sports cars]] driven by the ButtMonkey bystander.
** This is all parodied in the [[TransformersTransTech Botcon script reading]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rUveSq7vg "Bee in the City,"]] where Bumblebee from ''Animated'' is identified as the kid-appeal character and is asked if he's a Bumblebee or a Hot Shot (also referencing how he was originally supposed to be a new Hot Shot). Over the course of the program various characters also called him Wheelie, Side Burn, Cheetor, and even [[{{MASK}} T-Bob]].
*** Much to his annoyance.
*** And amusingly, it was ''Beast''-era Megatron who called ''Animated'' Bumblebee "Cheetor," given that he never actually referred to Cheetor by his name during ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' or ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines''.
** In TransformersPrime this is sort of true, with Bumblebee based on his film counterpart and partnered with the youngest of the human characters.
** [[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=75783&pid=1725359&mode=threaded&start=0#entry1725359 According to]] WordOfGod, in BizarroUniverse ''[[TransformersShatteredGlass Shattered Glass]]'', Soundwave is intended as filling the Bumblebee role, and has a personality that's mostly #1 with a little of #2 and #5.
* And on that note, T-Bob from ''{{MASK}}'' fits here as well.
* Scooter from ''{{Challenge of the Go Bots}}''
* Flash from ''JusticeLeague''. Though he's also quite popular with the older fanbase.
** The original pitch had a modified ComicBook/YoungJustice consisting of Robin, Impulse and a GenderSwapped version of Cyborg acting as sidekicks to the League. This was when the show was being pitched to KidsWB, and the writers thought the execs would pass on the series unless it had kid superheroes for the audience to identify with.[[http://jl.toonzone.net/pilot/pilot.htm]]
* Kid Flash serves as this in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice.''
* Scrappy-Doo from ''ScoobyDoo'' was a [[TheScrappy famously unpopular one]].
* Jade from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' is a type 3. She's not powerful enough to be a solo hero and regularly ends up getting into trouble, but she's adventurous and determined and usually finds a way to be useful.
* Beast Boy from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' is a clown type. He's always trying to be funny and is clearly the least mature, and he usually seems to be the weakest fighter on the team.
* Tuck from ''MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''.
* Chameleon Boy from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''' SpiritualSuccessor ''Series/LegionOfSuperHeroes''. Funny that they're both shapeshifters.
* ''{{Thundercats}}'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} [=ThunderCats (2011)=]]]'': Wilykat and Kit. in the latter they are, as a BrotherSisterTeam of TricksterTwins, a combination of 1 and 3, Clowns and Ankle-biters. As {{Artful Dodger}}s, teasing, trickery and theft ''are'' their forms of attack, from baiting monsters into tripwire to stealing others' weapons.
* Orko from ''HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse''. He didn't exist in the original toyline, {{Filmation}} created him to appeal to younger kids.
* Buji from ''Mi Familia es un Dibujo'' (originally introduced in the movie ''Dibu: La Película'').
* Upita from ''Patoruzito''. In the original comic book, there was no such character, there was only Upa.
* Wasabi from ''SushiPack''.
* Enzo from ''{{ReBoot}}'' was [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling written in specifically for this purpose]]. The producers of the show admitted that during pre-production they were instructed to put a kid in the show by the execs and they were against having a kid "mess up our kick-ass action show." But they came to love the character, feeling he was the heart and soul of the show, and after he received a PlotRelevantAgeUp they worked to bring back [[CloningBlues the original kid (for a certain value of "original")]] because they missed him.
* Ahsoka from ''StarWarsTheCloneWars'' was to give the show a kid-perspective in a series filled with adults.
* Subverted in ''{{Metalocalypse}}'' with Toki, who is "Not a bumblebee."
* Richie Foley in ''StaticShock''. He replaces Frieda Goren as Static's best friend because the show was geared towards a younger audience than the comics were. He's the second definition of The Bumblebee. He was also given superpowers because the writers were having a hard time keeping him in the episodes, but often his attempts at defeating the enemy don't work. He's been kidnapped at least four times and he's been turned into a mind slave twice.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'', android Buzzwang is the Rangers' PluckyComicRelief RobotBuddy--and a substantial portion of the fanbase will never forgive him for it.
* Rusty the Boy Robot in ''WesternAnimation/BigGuyAndRustyTheBoyRobot'' is type 3. He's seriously determined to be a hero and actually has enormous powers, but his inexperience is always getting in the way.
* Ironically enough, TheWasp from ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes''. Incidentally, she's quite popular with the older fanbase and the show's EnsembleDarkhorse.
* Snap from ''ChalkZone''
* The Cutie Mark Crusaders in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', itself a kids' show, but the main cast are young adults([[VagueAge ish]]). The CMC are closer to the age of the target demographic, and thusly are easier for said audience to relate with.
** And the first member introduced to the viewers, Apple Bloom? [[color:yellow:Yellow]] coat.
* Gus Griswald from ''{{Recess}}'', the small, cute SixthRanger to the main group of kids, and is weak and cowardly, but warmhearted and lovable. While not as obnoxious as most examples, he's still a BaseBreaker among the fandom.
* Michelangelo of ''{{WesternAnimation/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003}}'' is a combination of roles 1 and 2, and thanks to his reception, became a BreakoutCharacter amongst the brothers.
[[/folder]]

----

* Relm from ''FinalFantasyVI'' is an extremely sassy ten-year-old girl who despite her grandfather's best efforts, keeps insisting on jumping into the fray. And [[CuteBruiser she holds her own]]!
** [[FinalFantasyIII Onion Knight]] in ''DissidiaFinalFantasy''.

** ''DigimonTamers'' has Terriermon, Calumon, Hirokazu, Kenta, and Suzie.

* Michelangelo of ''{{WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003}}'' is a combination of roles 1 and 2, and thanks to his reception, became a BreakoutCharacter amongst the brothers.
[[/folder]]

* Beast Boy from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' is a clown type. He's always trying to be funny and is clearly the least mature, and he he usually seems to be the weakest fighter on the team.

* Takua in the first years of ''{{BIONICLE}}''. While the [[MagicKnight Toa]] were the main heroes - and the ones that actually got the action figures - Takua started out as the {{AFGNCAAP}} player character in the first few {{video game}}s (one before the Toa arrived, and the other as the HeroOfAnotherStory). After the games he remained a major character and his character was developed as adventurous and loving to explore, but knowing to leave the real fights to the Toa. All this culminated in the ''Mask of Light'' movie, where he became a Toa himself (renaming himself "Takanuva").

* Jade from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''.
* Beast Boy from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''.

* Rusty the Boy Robot in ''WesternAnimation/BigGuyAndRustyTheBoyRobot''

* Jinpei from ''ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' is often boastful, sometimes capable of taking out bad guys and sometimes not, and makes stupid jokes. He has occasionally felt the need to prove himself, and gone to deal with the villains. The various derived characters in adapted versions of the show have the same characteristics.

* Command Bolshoi/Piko of All Japan Wrestling. Has a mask with a clown nose but is strictly and ankle biter.

** Lest we forget, Jubilee ''actually wore a lot of [[color:yellow:yellow]].''

* Impulse in ''Young Justice'' and Kid Flash in ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'', perhaps.
** The former Impulse is now a [[LegacyCharacter grown-up Flash]].
** The former Impulse is now a [[KilledOffForReal dead Flash]].
** The former Impulse is now again a [[DeathIsCheap Kid Flash]].
*** Ain't Comic Books ''fun''?
** Keeping to the point, Bart's mostly type 1 with bits of type 4 thrown in when necessary.

* {{Batman}}'s Robin was originally an obvious Type 2, and even has the [[color:yellow:yellow]] cape. In fact, most comic-book sidekicks in the Golden and Silver Ages were created specifically to give readers a character to identify with.

** Kelsey from ''PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''. A quintessential Type 3 -- an extreme daredevil who always loved to show off. (Also a [[color:yellow:Yellow]] Ranger.)

** Ziggy from ''PowerRangersRPM'', a LovableCoward, the weakest fighter on the team (he became a Ranger [[FallingIntoTheCockpit by accident]]) and something of a viewpoint character as a MetaGuy. However, he was the same age as the other Rangers and didn't come off as all that "childlike", being in trouble with [[TheFamilyForTheWholeFamily orgainized crime]] and showing hints of being a ChivalrousPervert. {{Sixth Ranger}}s Gem and Gemma, on the other hand, ''were'' extremely childlike (even seeming to be developmentally a year or two ''behind'' the target audience), but they too fail to be full Bumblebees as rather than being audience surrogates for kids, their immaturity came off as them being [[CreepyTwins very]] [[StepfordSmiler very]] [[CuteAndPsycho screwed]] [[PsychopathicManchild up]].

* ''{{Thundercats}}'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} [=ThunderCats (2011)=]]]'': Wilykat and Kit. in the latter they are, as a BrotherSisterTeam of TricksterTwins, a combination of 1 and 3, Clowns and Ankle-biters. {{Artful Dodger}}s, teasing, trickery and theft ''are'' their forms of attack, from baiting monsters into tripwire to stealing others' weapons.

** Kelsey from ''PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''. The extreme daredevil who was always loved to show off.

** Ziggy from ''PowerRangersRPM'', a LovableCoward and something of a viewpoint character as a MetaGuy. However, he was the same age as the other Rangers and didn't come off as all that "childlike", being in trouble with [[TheFamilyForTheWholeFamily orgainized crime]] and showing hints of being a ChivalrousPervert. {{Sixth Ranger}}s Gem and Gemma, on the other hand, ''were'' extremely childlike (even seeming to be developmentally a year or two ''behind'' the target audience), but they too fail to be full Bumblebees as rather than being audience surrogates for kids, their immaturity came off as them being [[CreepyTwins very]] [[StepfordSmiler very]] [[CuteAndPsycho screwed]] [[PsychopathicManchild up]].
* ''Power Rangers'' ' parent series, ''SuperSentai'', has this {{trope}} recurring because of the FiveManBand layout. There's several kinds of Bumblebees, whether they are eccentric geniuses ([[MiraiSentaiTimeranger Sion / TimeGreen]], [[TokusouSentaiDekaranger Sen-chan / DekaGreen]] or [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Don / GokaiGreen]] - spotted a pattern yet?), immature pranksters ([[ChoushinseiFlashman Bun / Blue Flash]], [[SeijuuSentaiGingaman Hikaru / GingaYellow]] or [[HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger Kai / GaoBlue]]), scatterbrains ([[NinjaSentaiKakuranger Saizou / Ninja Blue]], [[JukenSentaiGekiranger Ken / GekiChopper]] or [[EngineSentaiGoOnger Hant / Go-On Green]]), or reckless hotheads ([[HimitsuSentaiGoranger Kenji / MidoRanger]], [[ChourikiSentaiOhranger Yuuji / Oh Blue]] or [[SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Chiaki / ShinkenGreen]]). [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Gai / GokaiSilver]] is a special case because, while he doesn't quite fit into any of the previous categories, he is a GenreSavvy WideEyedIdealist whose idea of a Super Sentai is to serve as role models for children in their endeavors to protect the world.

* Bumblebee from ''{{Transformers}}''. Obviously. Down to originally transforming into a Volkswagen. Every single version of him - ever - is a kid-appeal character. (Weirdly enough, despite his being bright yellow, his function was ''[[HighlyVisibleNinja espionage]]''.)

** After the [[TransformersTheMovie animated movie]], the kid appeal role was taken on by--eeyurgh--[[TheScrappy Wheelie]] for the third series of ''Generation 1'' and all of ''TransformersHeadmasters'', who was much more type 1.

* ''{{Thundercats}}'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} [=ThunderCats (2011)=]]]'': WilyKat and Kit. in the latter they are, as a BrotherSisterTeam of TricksterTwins, a combination of 1 and 3, Clowns and Ankle-biters. ArtfulDodgers, teasing, trickery and theft ''are'' their forms of attack, from baiting monsters into tripwire to stealing others' weapons.

* ''{{Thundercats}}'' and ''{{Thundercats 2011}}'': Wily Kit and Kat.

* ''Power Rangers'' ' parent series, ''SuperSentai'', has this {{trope}} recurring because of the FiveManBand layout. There's several kinds of Bumblebees, whether they are eccentric geniuses ([[MiraiSentaiTimeranger Sion / TimeGreen]], [[TokusouSentaiDekaranger Sen-chan / DekaGreen]] or [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Don / GokaiGreen]] - spotted a pattern yet?), immature pranksters ([[ChoushinseiFlashman Bun / Blue Flash]], [[SeijuuSentaiGingaman Hikaru / GingaYellow]] or [[HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger Kai / GaoBlue]]), scatterbrains ([[NinjaSentaiKakuranger Saizou / Ninja Blue]], [[JukenSentaiGekiranger Ken / GekiChopper]] or [[EngineSentaiGoOnger Hant / Go-On Green]]), or reckless hotheads ([[HimitsuSentaiGoranger Kenji / MidoRanger]], [[ChourikiSentaiOhranger Yuuji / Oh Blue]] or [[SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Chiaki / ShinkenGreen]]). [[KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Gai / GokaiSilver]] is a special case because, while he doesn't quite fit into any of the previous categories, he is a GenreSavvy WideEyedIdealist whose idea of a Super Sentai is to serve as role models for children in their endeavors to protect the world.

* ''Power Rangers'' ' parent series, ''SuperSentai'', has this {{trope}} recurring because of the FiveManBand layout. There's several kinds of Bumblebees, whether they are eccentric geniuses ([[MiraiSentaiTimeranger Sion / TimeGreen]], [[TokusouSentaiDekaranger Sen-chan / DekaGreen]] or [[KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Don / GokaiGreen]] - spotted a pattern yet?), immature pranksters ([[ChoushinseiFlashman Bun / Blue Flash]], [[SeijuuSentaiGingaman Hikaru / GingaYellow]] or [[HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger Kai / GaoBlue]]), scatterbrains ([[NinjaSentaiKakuranger Saizou / Ninja Blue]], [[JukenSentaiGekiranger Ken / GekiChopper]] or [[EngineSentaiGoOnger Hant / Go-On Green]]), or reckless hotheads ([[HimitsuSentaiGoranger Kenji / MidoRanger]], [[ChourikiSentaiOhranger Yuuji / Oh Blue]] or [[SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Chiaki / ShinkenGreen]]). [[KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Gai / GokaiSilver]] is a special case because, while he doesn't quite fit into any of the previous categories, he is a GenreSavvy WideEyedIdealist whose idea of a Super Sentai is to serve as role models for children in their endeavors to protect the world.

* The Scout is one of these that stopped trying to convince people that ''TeamFortress2'' is a family-friendly game. He's all the better for it.

* Imoen in ''BaldursGate''. Nothing like as sexy as other female characters ([[YourMileageMayVary though that may depend on your tastes]]), Imoen is certainly the most innocent, and one of the best (and nicest) thieves you'll find. Pretty much a sister figure to the main character. [[spoiler:And it turns out you're right, by the way.]]

* ''Power Rangers'' ' parent series, ''SuperSentai'', has this {{trope}} recurring because of the FiveManBand layout. There's several kinds of Bumblebees, whether they are eccentric geniuses ([[MiraiSentaiTimeranger Sion / TimeGreen]], [[TokusouSentaiDekaranger Sen-chan / DekaGreen]] or [[KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Don / GokaiGreen]] - spotted a pattern yet?), immature pranksters ([[ChoushinseiFlashman Bun / Blue Flash]], [[SeijuuSentaiGingaman Hikaru / GingaYellow]] or [[HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger Kai / GaoBlue]]), scatterbrains ([[NinjaSentaiKakuranger Saizou / Ninja Blue]], [[JukenSentaiGekiranger Ken / GekiChopper]] or [[EngineSentaiGoOnger Hant / Go-On Green]]), or reckless hotheads ([[HimitsuSentaiGoranger Kenji / MidoRanger]] or [[ChourikiSentaiOhranger Yuuji / Oh Blue]]). [[KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Gai / GokaiSilver]] is a special case because, while he doesn't quite fit into any of the previous categories, he is a GenreSavvy WideEyedIdealist whose idea of a Super Sentai is to serve as role models for children in their endeavors to protect the world.
** More commonly, when the [[TheHero other]] [[TheLancer main]] [[TheBigGuy four]] [[TheChick roles]] except TheSmartGuy is taken... and this Smart Guy isn't really as SMART, then this is the place of TheBumblebee. In older times, this trope can also be applied for the youngest (mostly) male character ([[DaiSentaiGoggleFive Aoyama / Goggle Blue]], [[DengekiSentaiChangeman Yuuma / Change Pegasus]], [[HikariSentaiMaskman Akira / Blue Mask]], [[KyoryuSentaiZyuranger Boi / Tiger Ranger]]) as due to their youth, they seem to appeal more for kids. Note that even if she's female and the youngest, [[ChoujinSentaiJetman Ako / Blue Swallow]] would've also fit in.

* ''Power Rangers'' ' parent series, ''SuperSentai'', has this {{trope}} recurring because of the FiveManBand layout. There's several kinds of Bumblebees, whether they are eccentric geniuses ([[MiraiSentaiTimeranger Sion / TimeGreen]], [[TokusouSentaiDekaranger Sen-chan / DekaGreen]] or [[KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Don / GokaiGreen]] - spotted a pattern yet?), immature pranksters ([[SeijuuSentaiGingaman Hikaru / GingaYellow]] or [[HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger Kai / GaoBlue]]), scatterbrains ([[NinjaSentaiKakuranger Saizou / Ninja Blue]], [[JukenSentaiGekiranger Ken / GekiChopper]] or [[EngineSentaiGoOnger Hant / Go-On Green]]), or reckless hotheads ([[HimitsuSentaiGoranger Kenji / MidoRanger]] or [[ChourikiSentaiOhranger Yuuji / Oh Blue]]). [[KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Gai / GokaiSilver]] is a special case because, while he doesn't quite fit into any of the previous categories, he is a GenreSavvy WideEyedIdealist whose idea of a Super Sentai is to serve as role models for children in their endeavors to protect the world.
** More commonly, when the [[TheHero other]] [[TheLancer main]] [[TheBigGuy four]] [[TheChick roles]] except TheSmartGuy is taken... and this Smart Guy isn't really as SMART, then this is the place of TheBumblebee. In older times, this trope can also be applied for the youngest (mostly) male character ([[DaiSentaiGoggleV Aoyama / Goggle Blue]], [[DengekiSentaiChangeman Yuuma / Change Pegasus]], [[HikariSentaiMaskman Akira / Blue Mask]], [[KyoryuSentaiZyuranger Boi / Tiger Ranger]]) as due to their youth, they seem to appeal more for kids. Note that even if she's female and the youngest, [[ChoujinSentaiJetman Ako / Blue Swallow]] would've also fit in.

* ''Super Sentai'' has this {{trope}} recurring because of the FiveManBand layout. There's several kinds of Bumblebees, whether they are eccentric geniuses (Sion[=/=][=TimeGreen=] or Sen-chan[=/=][=DekaGreen=]), immature pranksters (Hikaru[=/=][=GingaYellow=] or Kai[=/=][=GaoBlue=]), scatterbrains (Saizou[=/=]Ninja Blue, Ken[=/=][=GekiChopper=] or Hant[=/=]Go-On Green), or reckless hotheads (Kenji[=/=][=MidoRanger=] or Yuuji[=/=]Oh Blue).
** More commonly, when the [[TheHero other]] [[TheLancer main]] [[TheBigGuy four]] [[TheChick roles]] except TheSmartGuy is taken... and this Smart Guy isn't really as SMART, then this is the place of TheBumblebee. In older times, this trope can also be applied for the youngest (mostly) male character (Aoyama[=/=]Goggle Blue, Yuuma[=/=]Change Pegasus, Akira[=/=]Blue Mask, Boi[=/=]Tiger Ranger) as due to their youth, they seem to appeal more for kids. Note that even if she's female and the youngest, Ako[=/=]Blue Swallow would've also fit in.

** Cheetor from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' is also yellow, fast and the youngest one on the Maximal Team. Unlike Bumblebee was, however, he is actually quite a competent warrior and [[CharacterDevelopment later became]] TheLancer to Optimus Primal.
*** Rattrap, on the other hand, fits the type 1 mold fairly well as the whiner. He's the physically smallest Maximal and pratically every battle against the Predacons begins with Rattrap screaming that it's hopeless and the Maximals are all doomed.

*** His successor is Ironhide in ''TransformersEnergon'', who looks up to Hot Shot for this very same reason.
**** Physically though, this Ironhide is a subversion, being a larger, tougher model than most of the Autobots (including Hot Shot) and able to [[CombiningMecha combine with]] Jetfire, a powerful veteran Autobot. That and there isn't very much yellow on him at all. He has the name and altmode usually associated with the franchise's BadassGrandpa for some reason.

* Michelangelo of ''TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' is a combination of roles 1 and 2, and thanks to his reception, became a BreakoutCharacter amongst the brothers.