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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"Fear has nothing to do with cowardice. A fellow is only yellow when he lets his fear make him quit."''
|'''Jerome Cady'''}}
A '''Cowardly Lion''' is a character with the major characteristic of being a coward, especially when compared to any fearless characters of the story. Thing is, when push comes to shove, they have nothing to envy about the naturally badass characters.▼
▲{{quote|''"Fear has nothing to do with cowardice. A fellow is only yellow when he lets his fear make him quit."''|'''Jerome Cady'''}}
Unlike [[Took a Level
▲A character with the major characteristic of being a coward, especially when compared to any fearless characters of the story. Thing is, when push comes to shove, they have nothing to envy about the naturally badass characters.
Usually, inverse of [[Miles Gloriosus]]. Unlike [[The So-Called Coward]], this character is not actually misunderstood and does not need to be viewed by other characters as cowardly; it is his own opinion that matters. (And the so-called coward may be perfectly confident in his own courage.) Unlike the [[Accidental Hero]], the examples in this trope are characters that manage to get things done with their own worth, despite their fears.
▲Unlike [[Took a Level In Badass]], the character's fearful nature isn't eliminated after their moment/s of glory. They remain scaredy-cats and/or insecure in their regular lives, despite the fact that they can kick major ass when they put their minds into it. Many of them will tell everyone to [[Think Nothing of It]], because they think the fear they felt trumps the heroism they performed.
Contrast the [[Fearless Fool]]
▲Usually, inverse of [[Miles Gloriosus]]. Unlike [[The So-Called Coward]], this character is not actually misunderstood and does not need to be viewed by other characters as cowardly; it is his own opinion that matters. (And the so-called coward may be perfectly confident in his own courage.) Unlike the [[Accidental Hero]], the examples in this trope are characters that manage to get things done with their own worth, despite their fears.
▲Contrast the [[Fearless Fool]] -- especially when it is invoked to encourage him. Prone to [[Heroic Self-Deprecation]] and [[Face Your Fears]]. See also [[Lovable Coward]].
{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* Usopp and Chopper in ''[[One Piece]]''.
** Of course, Usopp's a funny case in that as long everything is fine, he's a total [[Miles Gloriosus]]. But the instant there's the slightest hint of danger, and particularly when he's the only one who can do anything about it, he upgrades to
* Shinji Ikari in ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''.
* Mr Satan in ''[[Dragon Ball]]''. And to a lesser extent Krillin.
** Gohan as well all the way up until the Cell Saga. But admittedly [[Justified Trope|he was a little kid.]]
* Hanyuu in ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]''. She's really fearful and insecure, but lays the smackdown when it comes to people she cares about, as shown at the end of Kai. {{spoiler|[[Messianic Archetype|This isn't always a good thing]] though.}}
* Joe Kido in ''[[Digimon Adventure]]''.
* Grasshop in ''[[Spider Riders]]''.
* Jacuzzi Splot from ''[[Baccano!]]''. The guy knocked over ''eighteen Mafia-owned speakeasies'' in ''one night'' by himself, with a single Tommy gun, crying hysterically in fear all the way. The week after, he helped save a train from two clashing terrorist groups; to do this, he did battle unarmed but for a single cherry bomb against someone with a shiv knife, a fist-gun and a ''flamethrower'' (which did turn out to be pretty convenient for lighting said bomb) on top of a moving train. He took a couple of bullets in the gut and a knife in the elbow before he tackled the other guy off the train and won. He was later half-carried to the station by his girlfriend, moaning in pain.
* GB in ''[[Ginga Legend Weed]]''.
* Sir Penwood and Seras Victoria in ''[[Hellsing]]''.
* Sena Kobayakawa. He's a coward that runs at the first sight of trouble... but then [[Accidental Athlete|gets drafted into a football team]], had his team in dire strait, and then, [[Chronic Hero Syndrome|forced by his own conscience]], runs into [[The Juggernaut|Seijuro]] [[Worthy Opponent|Shin]]. [[Eyeshield 21|And the legend of the legendary runningback begins....]]
** Kobanzame of the Kyoshin Poseidons is another example. A nervous nellie of a quarterback, Kobanzame thinks he's useless and leaves all the major decisions to Kakei. Yet he has perfect ball handling, and on short passes is a perfectly competent player. Reiji Marco, captain and quarterback/safety of the Hakushuu Dinosaurs is a villainous
* Tsuna from ''[[Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]''.
* Simon from ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' is like this initially. Scared of all the things happening around him that nearly kill him, but if Kamina is in danger he opens up a can of badass at a moment's notice.
* Closer from ''[[Hyde and Closer]]''. Always run from battle, [[Badass|Hyde]] always had to bail out his ass, but ''never'' let his friends in danger, even if that means takes the beating all for himself.
* Yukiteru Amano from ''[[Mirai Nikki]]''. Even though at times he seems to have grown out of this, he remains a
* Yuu from ''[[Holyland]]'' personifies this beautifully. Basically, if you took a timid, scared, insecure piece of [[The Woobie|bully-bait]] and gave him the ability to knock a man unconscious with one punch, he would be Yuu.
* Italy from ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]''. So much.
* Asura from ''[[Soul Eater]]''. Despite being fear and insanity incarnate, he rose to be one of the world's most dangerous beings, quite possibly surpassing the much more level headed Shinigami-sama himself.
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* Kain Fuery in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''. He's the smallest and youngest member of [[Colonel Badass|Roy Mustang]]'s hand-chosen unit, and his main value is as the communications specialist. When the team gets {{spoiler|split up and he's reassigned to the southern war front}}, he's absolutely terrified and only gets through it by shouting at himself that he's going to live. Later, {{spoiler|he deserts in order to return to Central City and aid Mustang and Hawkeye with their coup}}.
** And then we have Warrant Officer Falman, who was literally crying and shaking with fear {{spoiler|as he defied Bradley's order to open the gate to Central palace.}} Captain Buccaneer called him on it.
{{quote|
* Kai Shiden of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' with emphasis on "Lion". An abrasive jerk who perpetually points out the stupidity of the situations they're in and often seems about to panic when sent into combat, Kai's nevertheless a reliable solider who racks up a pretty impressive kill count over the course of the war. He might have easily ended up as one of the Earth Federation's most celebrated aces, if not for being the wingman of [[Red Baron|the White Devil]] [[Overshadowed by Awesome|Amuro Ray]].
* While Ranma Saotome of ''[[Ranma
* Kasumi of ''[[King of Thorn]]''. She believes she is [[Heroic Self-Deprecation|weak and useless]], having depended on her braver twin sister Shizuku for most of her life. Later she depends on [[Genius Bruiser|Marco]] for protection and often needs him to rescue her. However, she's still able to put her fears aside long enough to save someone else's life. She even saves ''Marco'' a few times, and earns his respect for it.
== Comic Books ==
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* Eric O'Grady in ''[[The Avengers (Comic Book)|The Avengers]]''.
* [[Donald Duck]] (who is often [[Miles Gloriosus]] too), especially in [[Don Rosa]]'s comics.
* Rex and Pugsy in ''[[Beasts of Burden]]''. Notable that Rex was a [[Miles Gloriosus]] in the first story, but has gotten better. All of the characters are regularly terrified by the supernatural occurences that surround them, but these two (especially Pugsy) are the ones most likely to be visibly
* Commander Blanx of the pre-Crisis ''[[Martian Manhunter]]'' comics is a villainous example along the same lines as Donald Pierce. A [[Dirty Coward]] and [[Combat Pragmatist]] who never fights
* ''[[
▲== Fan Fic ==
* Hobbes is [[Character Exaggeration|exaggerated]] into this in ''[[Calvin and Hobbes: The Series]]''.
== Film ==
* A major characteristic of the [[Trope Namer|Cowardly Lion]] in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' [[Captain Obvious|is]] [[Department of Redundancy Department|cowardice]], overlapping with [[Lovable Coward]]. The Scarecrow and Tin Woodsman fit the Trope too in many scenes.
* Albert Lory from ''[[This Land Is Mine]]'' lives in an unnamed country under Nazi occupation and, literally, runs home to his aged mother any time there is an allied air strike. He eventually makes a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] because he's more terrified of seeing his friends picked off one by one than actually dying.
* Bob from ''[[Drugstore Cowboy]]'' is pretty open about his neurosis and his reliance on drugs to keep the stresses of world away from him. The people around him are still awed by the acts of [[Magnificent Bastard
* Edgar from ''[[The Lost Boys]]'' is a teenager who fancies himself a vampire hunter, but while he is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject, he's just as terrified of them as anyone else would be. Still, he does manage to be a decent fighter when backed into a corner.
== Literature ==
* The [[Trope Namer]] is the Cowardly Lion in ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'' and ''[[Wicked (novel)|Wicked]]'', and he usually tended to lose the "Cowardly" part of his name whenever Dorothy was in danger or something was required that only a Lion could do. The [[The Wizard of Oz (film)|film version]] examines this trope in some depth, with the Wizard eventually pointing out to the Lion that he was confusing cowardice with common sense. Sometimes, running away is the most sensible option if fighting only gets you pointlessly killed, as the Lion demonstrates when he flees from the Kalidahs in Baum's original
** He, in fact, pretty much explains this trope when explaining 1. His name, and 2. Why he's the bravest person in Oz. Though this is in a sequel book.
* Neville Longbottom in ''[[Harry Potter]]''.
** At least until he [[Took a Level
* [[Sixth Ranger|David]] from ''[[Animorphs]]''. {{spoiler|He gets over this after his [[Face Heel Turn]]}}.
* Harold Lauder is this way in [[Stephen King]]'s ''[[The Stand]]''.
* Samwell Tarly in ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.
* Kell Tainer, from the ''[[X Wing Series|Wraith Squadron]]'', constantly deals with what he considers to be cowardice. When his commanding officer figures it out, he calls it more a case of "extremely strong performance anxiety", as he's not so much afraid of battle as he is of screwing up, particularly when people are counting on
** {{spoiler|Though this officer was unaware of when Kell 1. Literally froze up while controlling an X-wing, unable to work the controls, thinking his ship was instead malfunctioning, and 2. Not really aware that Kell was one lever-pull away from just leaving battle...until he thought of his girlfriend, and pulled a [[Big Damn Heroes]]...but Kell definitely fits this trope in his first book. However, he also grows out of the cowardice almost completely, so...}}
* In Lee Lightner's ''[[Warhammer
* [[Ciaphas Cain]] quite literally [[Literary Agent Hypothesis|wrote the book]] on how to be one of these in the ''[[Warhammer
* Yossarian of ''[[Catch-22]]''. He views this as justified due to the fact that there are thousands of people he's never met who are trying to kill him, but as he's a World War II bombardier, it's nothing personal.
* Rincewind of ''[[Discworld]]'', who has an entire life philosophy based on running away. Nonetheless he has saved the Discworld several times, usually because he simply no longer had anywhere to run ''to''.
{{quote|
'''Other character:''' Where to?
'''Rincewind:''' ''From''! The key word is ''from''! }}
* [[Horatio Hornblower]], in spades. Every time he sends whatever ship he's on into and out of the fire, he's constantly second-guessing himself and feels like he's lying to his admiring crew because he doesn't give them any hint how honestly frightened he is of being killed or maimed.
** An example: In one battle, an explosive lands on the deck at his feet. He looks down, grimaces, carefully pinches off the fuse, and disposes of the (now harmless) explosive. He then looks up to see that ''everyone else'' on the deck is emerging from cover and staring at him like he's 12 feet tall. From that day forward, his crew worships the ground he walks on, but he ''still'' thinks of himself as a coward who just did what had to be done.
* Nessus in ''[[
{{quote|
** For that matter, Louis Wu from the same novel. He's a self-proclaimed coward who is bad at fighting (something else that he'll be the first to tell you). That said, he managed to out-think a ''Pak Protector'' and fix it so the Protector died ugly, just because he pissed Louis off.
* The protagonist of ''[[Rowan of Rin]]'' is afraid of virtually everything, but has learned to cope with this enough to be functional in everyday life. This leaves him {{spoiler|the last one standing in a nonlethal [[Dwindling Party]] scenario--everyone else turns back rather than face their personal worst fear, but he's faced his fears so often that it's become second nature to him.}}
* The eponymous dragon from the poem "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" by Ogden Nash is a coward that is afraid of everything and wants nothing more than to be in a nice safe cage. His owner, a little girl named Belinda, and her other pets are described in the narrative as being very brave and occasionally tease poor Custard. When a well
* Martha Abbott (rhymes with rabbit) in Zilpha Keatley Snyder's ''The Changeling'' is this. Deprecated as a coward and crybaby by herself and everyone in her family, she does a number of things that frighten the life out of her. She cries, even pukes, but she ''does'' them. Few if any children's books illustrate the difference between courage and fearlessness the way this one does.
* The title
* The foppish bard Dandilion in the ''[[The Witcher|Witcher]]'' series. He is obnoxious and cowardly, but in ''The Last Wish'' he mustered a [[Defiant to the End|brave face against execution]] and in ''Blood of Elves'' he held his tongue against
* [[Bloody Jack|Jacky Faber]] is a self-proclaimed coward, and insists that her moments of [[Little Miss Badass|badassery]] were just combinations of bad luck, coincidence, and what had to be done, but the fact is that those moments of badassery far outnumber any actual cowardice she may display.
* In Herman Wouk's books ''[[The Winds of War and War and Remembrance|The Winds of War]]'' and ''[[The Winds of War and War and Remembrance|War and Remembrance]]'', the character of Leslie Slote views himself as a coward, but his drive not to be one inspires him to commit some brave acts, and he ends up {{spoiler|dying a hero}}.
== Live Action TV ==
* Mr. Carlton in ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]''. He's a nervous and henpecked man, but he's strongly implied to have seen heavy combat in World War II bloodbaths.
** Has his finest hour when he stays on the air during a tornado. "Sometimes we have to be very brave even when we're not."
* Vila Restal of ''[[Blake's
* Mr. Monk in ''[[Monk]]''. He went into a panic about having laser pointers pointed at him by children early one episode. Later he has them pointed at him attached to guns, held by professionals, while ''keeping a jet airplane piloted by a man he knows is a killer on the ground by standing in front of it.'' He does the latter while barely flinching.
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'': Quark (who had always been portrayed as pretty much a fast talking coward) had a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] when he stood in front of a Klingon who was nearly twice his height in the middle of the Klingon parliament, after the Klingon had challenged him to a duel to the death, and just looked him straight in the eyes and flat out told him that he wasn't going to fight and if [[Proud Warrior Race Guy|the Klingon]] wanted Quark dead just to [[Get It Over With|get on with it]]. This would, of course, deny the Klingon the honor of defeating a foe gloriously in battle (Quark even
** All told, he shoots down about a dozen super-soldiers over the course of the show when things get serious. A slight subversion, as in his culture talking your way out of things gets you a lot more respect than what other cultures consider heroism.
** Neelix in ''[[Star Trek:
* [[Adorkable|Connor]] in ''[[Primeval]]'' thinks of himself as a cowardly geeky, bookworm, but when it comes to it is just as capable of facing down velociraptors and other [[Nightmare Fuel|nightmare fuel-riffic]] creatures as any of the more traditionally heroic characters.
* The Cowardly Lion's counterpart in ''[[Tin Man (TV series)|Tin Man]],'' Raw. Quiet fellow, [[The Empath|empathic]], [[Empathic Healer|healer]], and generally not badass in the slightest...until the climax of the series.
* McKay from ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' is whiny and cowardly. Somewhat justified as he's a scientist put into a military team. In dire situations however, he always shows astounding courage.
* Xander "I laugh in the face of danger...Then I hide until it goes away" Harris from ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' ''talked'' about being a coward, but he never was.
* On ''[[Leverage]]'' [[The Smart Guy|Hardison]] often acts this way, especially in comparison to [[In Harm's Way|adrenaline junkie]] Parker or [[Badass]] Elliot. While he often complains about the situations he goes into, he never actually backs down.
* ''[[The Lone Gunmen]]'': Byers is a meek, mild-tempered guy - ''except'' when you ask him to look the other way on an injustice. Then, he suddenly develops enough balls to call out one of the most frightening members of [[The Conspiracy]] right to his face.
* ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'': Archie (or Jiminy) was such an [[Extreme Doormat]] that he gave up his humanity just to get away from his thieving family. However, [[God Save Us From the Queen|Regina]] made the mistake of trying to trying to interfere in his treatment for Henry. Instant backbone and set of [[Brass Balls]] showed up, and he ''threatened her'' by saying that he could be a deciding factor if Emma wanted to sue Regina for custody of the kid.
* In the ''[[The Electric Company]]'', bumbling hero the Blue Beetle is something of a coward, and if he knows a crisis is too dangerous for him to handle, he politely refuses to help... but if ''children'' are in danger in said crisis, [[Friend to All Children| ''that'' is a different story.]]
== New Media ==
* Stanislav in ''[[The Lord of Darkwood]]''
== Newspaper Comics ==
* Wade Duck in ''[[Garfield and Friends|U.S. Acres]]''.
* Dan Thompson's action-strip [[Affectionate Parody]] ''[[Rip Haywire]]'' features dog companion TNT who, despite being an abject coward, is always by Rip's side.
== Video Games ==
* You can make a case for Khalid in ''[[Baldur's Gate]]''. He's the easily unnerved [[Henpecked Husband]] of Jaheira, whois usually the first to have a morale failure and run in a battle (even though he has some of the highest HP) and can hardly form a [[Porky Pig Pronunciation|sentence without stammering]]. One of his trademark phrases being ''"If at first I don't succeed the wife won't let me forget..."'' , but level him up enough and he makes for a pretty decent tank. And you ''don't'' want to have to deal with him while he's [[Brainwashed and Crazy|Dire Charmed]].
** If you'd like a demonstration of Khalid not being as big a wimp as he seems, just sent your group into a random inn and start indiscriminantly slaughtering everyone. Watch as Khalid's usual stutter completely vanishes and he actually soiunds ''sure of himself'' for the first time in game.
* Luigi in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]].'' He proves to be more effective than Mario on quite a few occasions. He took down the lord of the underworld by himself. And it was certainly a [[Curb Stomp Battle]].
** Koops in the second ''[[Paper Mario (franchise)|Paper Mario]]'' game.
** Mallow in ''[[Super Mario RPG]]: Legend of the Seven Stars''.
* [[Mother 3|Lucas]] is like this in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]].''
** He ultimately gets over this, however, reflecting his character growth in his original game.
* Arnoud from ''[[Wild
* If you allocate enough points to his Strength stat, the Chaos Hero from ''[[Shin Megami Tensei I]]'' can be like this.
** He fits this trope whatever you do with him (unless you deliberately allocate his stats stupidly), [[Statistically Speaking]]. But he is never strong enough to defeat Ozawa {{spoiler|until he [[Took a Level
* [[Spoony Bard|Prince Edward Chris von Muir]] in ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]''.
* Gordon in ''[[
* ''[[The Maw]]'', a game on the [[
* Captain Linebeck in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass|The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass]]''.
** Also a [[Miles Gloriosus]] at times.
* Almaz, from ''[[Disgaea]] 3''. He's a normal human fighting demons; he has a right to be scared. Still manages pretty well for himself when it counts.
* The Grunts from ''[[Halo]]''. They are tiny, weak, and treated like cannon fodder by tyrants who are larger and stronger and far more numerous than the human
* Hahn Mahlay from ''[[Phantasy Star]] IV'', a meek young scholar who learns the instant death skills Vol and Savol.
* In ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', [[Gentle Giant|Chunky Kong]] [[Pose of Supplication|begged for mercy]] to a big monster to no avail. What followed was... well, let's just say it must hurt a lot.
* The player character in ''[[Penumbra (video game series)|Penumbra]]''. The "Cowardly" part is represented in-
* Dirk the Daring of ''[[Dragon's Lair]]'' usually attempts to put on a brave face when battling the disturbing and creepy creatures he has to face when saving Princess Daphne, but it's obvious that he's a freaking nervous wreck the entire time.
* Poco from ''[[Arc the Lad]]'': a musician who's afraid of his own shadow...and who happens to be one of the strongest fighter of [[The Verse]]
* In Medieval 2 and Rome [[Total War]] generals will often bring up that there is no shame in feeling fear before a battle, but it is letting fear rule you which is cowardly.
{{quote|
"...any man who faces battle without concern, is a moonstruck ''fool''. To be brave is to go forward ''anyway'', no matter how afeared! ''That'' is why I go forward, with so many other brave men." }}
* In ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'', anytime actual work is proposed, a minor character named Zone immediately crouches by the wall and complains about stomach pains. Later, he goes off and buys emergency train tickets for himself, his leader, and the three main characters, not counting on there being one addition to the party. After a moment, he passes his own ticket to her, then immediately finds a corner to hug his stomach in.
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* Satoshi Mochida of ''[[Corpse Party]]'' ''hates'' scary stories. But once he finds himself ''in'' one, he actually handles himself pretty well.
* Daichi in ''[[Devil Survivor 2]]'' is always scared of the next demon attack and complains that the others are much more calm than him, but he'll always volunteer to fight and will drive a truck right onto a killer divine being to save his comrades.
== Web Comics ==
* Zergarem the Destroyer from ''[[Cwen's Quest]]'' seems to be [https://web.archive.org/web/20100316232528/http://www.drunkduck.com/Cwens_Quest/index.php?p=529280 rather cowardly], possibly justified as previously he was nearly killed before a [https://web.archive.org/web/20100316232856/http://www.drunkduck.com/Cwens_Quest/index.php?p=486124 timely surrender] saved his life.
** The Author, after reading this trope, decided to do a short story where [https://web.archive.org/web/20100316232534/http://www.drunkduck.com/Cwens_Quest/index.php?p=589924 Zeragrem meets and kills the real cowardly lion] discovering his own inner courage.
* The rock-crabs, from ''[[Vexxarr]]'', are a species that do not eat (they feed on energy gradients), lives in terror of the predators in their native enviroment, and have trouble understanding that other species ever do anything other than running or hiding from danger. They rarely realize that those predators are about the only thing that can harm them. [http://www.vexxarr.com/archive.php?seldate=071808 See] [http://www.vexxarr.com/archive.php?seldate=072108 these] [http://www.vexxarr.com/archive.php?seldate=072808 examples] of their encounter with a Bleen warfleet.
* Sir Carrot in ''[[Cucumber Quest]]'', though he is quite loyal.
== Web Original ==
* Chip from the web fiction serial ''[[Dimension Heroes]]''.
* Phase, from the [[Whateley Universe]]. While Team Kimba fearlessly charges into fights against supervillains, Phase is the only one who's really frightened. He still dives in like everyone else. He has claustrophobia, and his best trick is walking into solid matter ''which sets his phobia off''. Or maybe he's the [[Only Sane Man]] in a comic book world.
* Although Headmaster Leonardo Lionheart of ''[[RWBY]]'' is based on the Trope Namer, he averts this trope by being a [[Dirty Coward]] instead.
== Western Animation ==
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* Dean Venture from ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'', in contrast to his [[Fearless Fool]] brother, Hank.
* In the ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' franchise, Shaggy and Scooby sometimes come across as this. They're cowards, but they'll ''never'' abandon their friends. Jack O'Lantern points this out in ''Scooby Doo and the Goblin King''...
{{quote|
'''Shaggy''': Like, I hate to tell you this, but that wasn't courage. That was panic!
'''Jack''': Hey, whatever you call it, it's working for you. }}
* Gus Griswald from ''[[Recess]]''.
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** Pretty much sums up [[Cowardly Sidekick|Jeremy]] as well; he's an obvious wuss, but he goes out of his way to help Mrs. Brisby ([[The Klutz|even if it often causes]] [[Stop Helping Me!|more problems than it prevents]]). In his defense though, he does protect her by attacking [[Nightmare Fuel|Dragon]] (who ''everyone'', bravado or not, is fearful of) while he and the near equally cowardly Cecil save her two sons in the sequel despite their intence fear of NIMH.
* [[Donald Duck|Donald]] is portrayed this way in ''[[Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers]]''.
* The ''[[Adventures of the
* ''[[Filmation's
* Fluttershy from ''[[My Little Pony:
* The vultures of Disney's adaption of ''[[The Jungle Book (Disney film)|The Jungle Book]]'' tremble before Shere Khan and flutter to the highest tree, when he threatens Mowgli and Baloo however, they quickly swoop in and take the fearsome tiger head on.
* Zilly on ''[[Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines]]''. He was hypnotized into being brave in the episode ''Zilly's a Dilly,' but he only made things worse.
* Eek in ''[[Eek!
* [[The Woobie|Eugene]] [[One-Shot Character|the]] [[Smelly Skunk|skunk]] from ''[[Chucklewood Critters]]''.
* [[Kim Possible]]'s best friend and partner([[Relationship Upgrade|and later boyfriend]]) Ron Stoppable continually has to deal with a host of phobias, largely stemming from his childhood summers spent at Camp Wannaweep. Lampshaded by Kim's cousin Joss:
{{quote|
* Early
* In the ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' short "Scardy Cat", Sylvester acts like a [[Dirty Coward]] at first, running for his life after the mice grab Porky. Then his conscience appears, calls him a coward and gives him a pep talk. Sylvester manages to overcome his fear, rip a limb from a tree and brandish it like a club... Then changes his mind, ''[[Crowning Moment of Awesome| uproots the entire tree]]'', and charges in for a [[Big Damn Heroes]]-style rescue.
{{reflist}}
[[Category:More Than Meets the Eye]]
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[[Category:Hidden Badass]]
[[Category:Badass]]
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