Characters / K-12

Cry Baby

Played by: Melanie Martinez

The protagonist of film, she is portrayed by singer Melanie Martinez. Her story is continued from the story told through the Crybaby album as the film details her adventurers through the sleep away school K-12.

Tropes:

• Action Girl: She gradually becomes this over the course of the film as she’s become more prone to standing up for herself.
• Ambiguously Bi: She might be this, as she initially believed the love letter left by Ben was left by a girl and didn’t appear to have an issue with the idea.
• Braids of Action: She frequently spots twin braids and is a reality warping Action Girl. In "Class Fight" sequence, she chokes Kelly with those prehensile braids.
• Creepy Doll: Gets turned into one in the “Show & Tell” segment of the film. Angelita turns her back.
• Expository Hairstyle Change: Changes hairstyles several times throughout the film.
• Fatal Flaw: Her wish to be loved romantically seems to be part of her motivation to accepting Leo's invitation to the dance, even though she knows he doesn't care for her. It may also be why she was happily talking to Brandon in the playground despite him shoving her aside in favour of Kelly in their initial meeting.
• Girly Bruiser: Cry Baby, with her Girlish Pigtails and in a pink dress, beats up her rival in "Class Fight" 'till "her face was fucked up and my hands were bloody." In the lyrics, at least.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: Angelita and her, as they’re best friends.
• Honey Trap: As Lorelei.
• Nightmare Fetishist: "I'm getting kind of a creepy chill down my back... I love it!"
• Prehensile Hair: In the "Class Fight" sequence, Cry Baby chokes Kelly with her braids while holding both of them suspended in the air.
• The Protagonist: The main character of the film.
• Took a Level in Badass: Crybaby, in between her debut and this, manages to gain some sort of power (presumably from Lilith) that borders on low-level reality warping.
• Took a Level in Kindness: In her debut she was a homicidal maniac who only showed kindness to her love interests. Here, her homicidal tendencies still show up from time to time, but mostly, she is an incredibly kind and understanding person.
• Vague Age: She physically appears to be a young adult but starts off the movie in kindergarten. As the film progresses, so does the grades she’s in.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Gives this to herself, after she ends up arguing with her friends.
  Crybaby: You fucked up the whole plan. And all for some asshole who doesn't even love you.

Angelita

Played by: Elita Harkov

A student at K-12 Sleepaway School who is Cry Baby's best friend.

Tropes:

• Ax-Crazy: Is implied to be this even more so than Cry Baby.
• Action Girl: She has serious knife skills which the teacher ends up on the receiving end of. She also was the one to suggest they burn down the school with their powers.
• Deuteragonist: In a way, as she gets almost as much focus as Cry Baby does in the film.
• Expository Hairstyle Change: Changes hairstyles several times throughout the film.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Cry Baby.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She can be harsh and cold but she really cares about her friends.
• Psycho Knife Nut: At the end of the "Teacher's Pet" sequence, she picks the teacher's knife and maniacally twirls it before cutting him.
• Teacher/Student Romance: Implied to be in a relationship like this with one of the teachers until she kills him.
• Vague Age: She physically appears to be a young adult but starts off the movie in kindergarten. As the film progresses, so does the grades she’s in.

Celeste

Played by: Megan Gage

A student at the school and a friend of Cry Baby and Angelita.

Tropes:

• Deadpan Snarker: Probably the only one in the movie.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She is very sarcastic and serious but she's a good friend.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Gives a small speech to Cry Baby at the dance about letting Leo manipulate her.

Magnolia

Played by: Zinnett Hendrix

A student at the school and a friend of Cry Baby and Angelita.

Tropes:

• Loner-Turned-Friend: Is sitting alone at lunch when Crybaby befriends her.
• Nice Girl: She is sweet, friendly and fun-loving.

Fleur

Played by: Zión Moreno

A student at the school who was previously a member of Kelly's gang but is befriended by Cry Baby.

Tropes:

• Flat Character: Subverted. At first she appears to be just another of Kelly's yes-women but reveals much more personality later on.
• Good Parents: We only get a very brief glimpse of her mother and sister but they at least seem to care about Fleur more than Crybaby's own mother and brother. Her mother sings the lyrics "Please say that you won't continue/Ordering oranges off the menu" in Orange Juice, referring to Fleur's unhealthy dieting.
• Nice Girl: She has a big heart and is the only girl hesitant to destroy the school.

Ben

Played by: Marsalis Wilson

A student at the school who develops a crush on Cry Baby.

Tropes:

• Implied Love Interest: Ben obviously has a crush on Crybaby, which she doesn't become aware of until late into the movie, a time when she has things other than romance on her mind. However, she does kiss him on the cheek, suggesting that she'd be willing to give things a go with him in the future.
• Nice Guy: In contrast to Leo, which is especially notable when he's trying to work up the nerve to ask Crybaby to the dance. Ben's wording is, "Will you go to the dance with me?" while Leo's is "I'd like you to come to the dance with me." He also seems to want to go after Crybaby, when she is upset after arguing with her friends.

Leo

Played by: Jesy Mckinney

The son of the late principal of the school and the Big Bad of the movie.

Tropes:

• Affably Evil: Downplayed. He is by no means a good person but he genuinely apologises to Ben when he bumps into him.
• Big Bad: He is the main antagonist of the movie

Kelly

Played by: Maggie Budzyna

A popular but cruel student who enjoys making Cry Baby's life miserable.

Tropes:

• Alpha Bitch: She bullies Cry Baby and runs her school.
• Girl Posse: She has one at her beck and call.
• Jerkass: She has no redeeming qualities.