History Main / TheImp

* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': Rumplestiltskin is often called this, either by [[EvilQueen Regina]] or another character who has befallen one of his 'deals'.

[[quoteright:172:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/midnasmall.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:172:[-"So, you're not absolutely stupid after all!"-] ]]

[[folder:Fanworks]]

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]

[[folder:Live-Action Television]]

* Experiment 625 (aka "Reuben") from ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'', who was supposedly as powerful as Stitch, but was so lazy he instead spent all of his time as sidekick to one of the villains, doing little more than making wisecracks (and sandwiches) and eating.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': The recurring character Skull Kid is frequently described as an imp. Skull Kid himself doesn't appear to actually be evil, but he is very mischievous and enjoys playing pranks on people... pranks that range from annoying them with music to getting them lost in the forest for all eternity. Overall, he's portrayed as innocent and childlike for the most part, except in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'', where his pranks turn downright apocalyptic. [[spoiler:This is eventually revealed to be because he was possessed by the power of Majora's Mask. After the Mask is destroyed, Skull Kid reverts to his more playful, mischievous personality.]]

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda'': The recurring character Skull Kid is frequently described as an imp. Skull Kid himself doesn't appear to actually be evil, but he is very mischievous and enjoys playing pranks on people... pranks that range from annoying them with music to getting them lost in the forest for all eternity. Overall, he's portrayed as innocent and childlike for the most part, except in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'', where his pranks turn downright apocalyptic. [[spoiler:This is eventually revealed to be because he was possessed by the power of Majora's Mask. After the Mask is destroyed, Skull Kid reverts to his more playful, mischievous personality.]]

* Imps have a major role in ''WesternAnumation/TheRealGhostbusters'''s episode "Janine's Day Off", especially when merged together creating a full size demon.

* While dapper little triangle-demon Bill Cipher from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' is [[EldritchAbomination a major threat]] [[BigBad in his own right]] in canon, his [[AdorableAbomination cute appearance]] and [[LaughablyEvil humorous personality]] lend themselves to imp treatment in LighterAndSofter fanworks, such as [[http://f-imaginings.tumblr.com/post/155244029731/captioned-click-through-story-in-mabels these]] [[http://moringmark.tumblr.com/post/118118697388 fancomics]].

* While dapper little triangle-demon Bill Cipher from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' is [[EldritchAbomination a major threat]] [[BigBad in his own right]] in canon, his [[AdorableAbomination cute appearance]] and [[LaughablyEvil humorous personality]] lend themselves to imp treatment in LighterAndSofter fanworks, such as [[http://f-imaginings.tumblr.com/post/155244029731/captioned-click-through-story-in-mabels this fancomic]].

* The first [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demon-type]] that warlocks can summon in WorldOfWarcraft are Imps. They small, fragile, and whiney little things that can only cast fire balls and make snarky jokes. They are replaced with other more powerful demons as the Warlock levels up. They are are however fairly effective for certain purposes (they are the only demon with a ranged attack) and continue to be used right up to the Endgame.
* Creator/BlizzardEntertainment builds off of the WorldOfWarcraft imps in HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft. They are once again stuck with relatively low health and damage, however now you have a total of four different kinds available. Options include imps that hurt your character and glorious minion of evil seriously named "Worthless Imp."

WeaselMascot, ChaoticNeutral version. The Imp is tons of vices rolled into one, with the baggage that something about him totally destroys him as a threat: sheer laziness, apathy or just being very tiny. The Imp looks like he's trying too hard, intentionally or because of the designers. So whether or not they have delusions of grandeur, Imps just end up behaving very practically, [[PunchClockVillain wanting mostly to have fun and to wallow in their vices]].

They can occasionally cause a great deal of havoc on their own, making them a NotSoHarmlessVillain, but usually whatever holds them back stops them from doing too much damage in the end. Frequently overlaps with the SnarkyNonhumanSidekick. They are sometimes prone to DarkIsNotEvil. Contrast TheJester.

* Impmon from the sequel, ''Anime/DigimonTamers'', started this way, but like many tropes in that series, became [[EvolutionaryLevels something]] [[FromNobodyToNightmare else]].
** Worth noting that Impmon was still a jerk even after [[spoiler:his HeelFaceTurn]]. In an episode of the second arc, he greets Calumon with a kick on the butt just a little bit after [[spoiler: getting over killing Leomon]].

* Salacious Crumb, the cackling monkey-lizard perched on Jabba the Hutt's tail, in ''StarWars: ReturnOfTheJedi''.

* In DCComics, there's a race of [[RealityWarper Reality Warpers]] from the Fifth Dimension who are called "imps" and typically fill this trope's role in-story, overlapping with the GreatGazoo.

They can occasionally cause a great deal of havoc on their own, making them a NotSoHarmlessVillain, but usually whatever holds them back stops them from doing too much damage in the end. Frequently overlaps with the SnarkyNonhumanSidekick. They are sometimes prone to DarkIsNotEvil.

* Iago from Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' is a villainous example in the initial movie, and a heroic example after his HeelFaceTurn in the sequel and subsequent TV series. (For his appearances in ''HouseOfMouse'' he tended to switch between being a good guy and a bad guy, depending on the episode, but he remained this trope throughout.)

* [[Series/OnceUponATime Rumplestiltskin]] is often called this, either by [[EvilQueen Regina]] or another character who has befallen one of his 'deals'.

* Tyrion in ASongOfIceAndFire plays like a subversion. Though he is called "The Imp," loves his creature comforts, delights in debauchery, and constantly jibes others (and himself) with his acerbic wit, he is largely held back by the prejudice of those around him by virtue of his being a dwarf instead of holding himself back. [[spoiler: Also, Tyrion proves himself perhaps the most dangerous of all the Lannister family, which is ''really'' saying something. ]]

* In DCComics, there's a race of [[RealityWarper Reality Warpers]] from the Fifth Dimension who are called "imps" and typically fill this trope's role in story, overlapping with the GreatGazoo.

** Franchise/{{Batman}}'s imp Bat-Mite. Although in Batman: RIP, Bat-Mite is portrayed as the opposite of an Imp [[spoiler: He's the tiny bit of sanity and morality the Batman of Zurr-En-Ah has.]]

* In DCComics, there's a race of [[RealityWarper Reality Warpers]] from the Fifth Dimension who are called "imps" and typically fill this trope's role in story, overlapping with TheGreatGazoo.

* Mr. Mxyzpltk from ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comic books -- especially the late 1950s though the 1960s.
* Franchise/{{Batman}}'s imp Bat-Mite. Although in Batman: RIP, Bat-Mite is the opposite of an Imp [[spoiler: He's the tiny bit of sanity and morality the Batman of Zurr-En-Ah has.]]
* And Quisp from ''Comicbook/{{Aquaman}}''.

* Midna from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' is a heroic example; a snarky little imp with knowledge of the Twilight that is threatening to blanket Hyrule. She forces Link to accomplish her goals (despite the fact that she clearly has some powerful magic of her own), takes every opportunity to tease him and keeps saying that she's only helping him because she needs him. [[spoiler:She later drops this characterization once Zelda gives her life force to save Midna from death.]]

* Nyanko-sensei from ''NatsumeYuujinchou''. Just as long as you [[OneWingedAngel don't make him angry.]]
* Onsokumaru from ''NininGaShinobuden'' is a mild form of this, as there is nothing in that series remotely serious enough to be evil.

* In the main plotline of ''SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'', Gig spends most of the game as this because he's stuck in the main character's head and needs permission to actually use any of his various powers. [[spoiler:Alternate endings and plotlines let Gig shed this trope through [[GrandTheftMe Grand Theft Protagonist]].]]

* ''SoulEater'''s title character has a red, oni-like imp that plagues his mind and encourages him to use the BlackBlood that runs in his veins, thus consuming him and his technician Maka into madness. Soul often ignores the Imp's suggestions for fear of being entirely overtaken by insanity.