Woodland Creatures: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}} |
{{trope}} |
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[[File:snapestomp.jpg|frame|They are [[Harry Potter|Snape]]'s biggest fear.]] |
[[File:snapestomp.jpg|frame|They are [[Harry Potter|Snape]]'s biggest fear.]] |
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Remember when you were taught their names from a picture book? |
Remember when you were taught their names from a picture book? |
||
Woodland Creatures are a group of animals commonly associated with the forest. They are commonly used to symbolize the presence of [[Mother Nature Father Science|Mother Nature]]. Expect to find them on a clearing in [[The Lost Woods]]. |
'''Woodland Creatures''' are a group of animals commonly associated with the forest. They are commonly used to symbolize the presence of [[Mother Nature, Father Science|Mother Nature]]. Expect to find them on a clearing in [[The Lost Woods]]. |
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Although they are distinctly separate species, they will show great affection for each other and will rarely act or appear separately. Predators will be notably absent from the group, but [[Nature Hero|a human being accepted in is not unheard of]]. They tend to be very shy and easily startled, but if a character is [[Friend to All Living Things|pure at heart, she will be allowed among them]], [[All Animals Are Domesticated|and they will even come to her aid]]. If they decide to take matters in their own hands then it will inevitably lead to a [[ |
Although they are distinctly separate species, they will show great affection for each other and will rarely act or appear separately. Predators will be notably absent from the group, but [[Nature Hero|a human being accepted in is not unheard of]]. They tend to be very shy and easily startled, but if a character is [[Friend to All Living Things|pure at heart, she will be allowed among them]], [[All Animals Are Domesticated|and they will even come to her aid]]. If they decide to take matters in their own hands then it will inevitably lead to a [[Gaia's Vengeance]]. |
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They usually appear to have to some degree a [[Hive Mind|shared consciousness]], or may be a part of [[Genius Loci|the forest's soul itself]]. |
They usually appear to have to some degree a [[Hive Mind|shared consciousness]], or may be a part of [[Genius Loci|the forest's soul itself]]. |
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The [[Egomaniac Hunter]] and the [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] will constantly be on their tail and [[Humans Are |
The [[Egomaniac Hunter]] and the [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] will constantly be on their tail and [[Humans Are the Real Monsters|try to chase them away from their home]]. It will be required that a sympathetic human (usually [[Kids Wilderness Epic|a plucky kid]], a female [[Animal Wrongs Group|green activist]] and an initially cynical but ultimately friendly adult male) helps them. |
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How the [[Carnivore Confusion]] is treated depends on the story: sometimes the two groups will make a truce [[Humans Are Cthulhu|against the common enemy]], sometimes the carnivores are shown to be mindlessly aggressive brutes, in which case playing them against the humans will be the best option. |
How the [[Carnivore Confusion]] is treated depends on the story: sometimes the two groups will make a truce [[Humans Are Cthulhu|against the common enemy]], sometimes the carnivores are shown to be mindlessly aggressive brutes, in which case playing them against the humans will be the best option. |
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If they are the focus of the story, they might be [[Talking Animal |
If they are the focus of the story, they might be [[Talking Animal]]s (with the suggestion that they are using an "[[Animal Talk|animal language]]" that each of them can understand). |
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Even if they have no acting role, they will make an appearance in stories with a [[Green Aesop]]. |
Even if they have no acting role, they will make an appearance in stories with a [[Green Aesop]]. |
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If this trope is subverted, they will become the [[Disney Creatures of the Farce]]. |
If this trope is subverted, they will become the [[Disney Creatures of the Farce]]. |
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The group will always contain the following animals: |
The group will always contain the following animals: |
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* A [[Bambification|Deer]] |
* A [[Bambification|Deer]] |
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* A Bunch Of Squirrels |
* A Bunch Of Squirrels |
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with the additional talent of: |
with the additional talent of: |
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* The Mischievous Raccoon |
* The Mischievous Raccoon |
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* The [[The Owl |
* The [[The Owl-Knowing One|Wise Owl]] |
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* The Noble Badger |
* The Noble Badger |
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* The Flirty Skunk |
* The Flirty Skunk |
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* The Grumpy Hedgehog |
* The Grumpy Hedgehog |
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See also |
{{See also|Animal Stereotypes}} |
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== [[Film]] == |
== [[Film]] == |
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* Homaged in Disney's ''[[Enchanted]]'', parodied in Disney's ''[[Hercules ( |
* Homaged in Disney's ''[[Enchanted]]'', parodied in Disney's ''[[Hercules (1997 film)||Hercules]]'', played straight in every other Disney movie ever. (''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney film)|Snow White]]'', ''[[Sleeping Beauty]]'', and ''[[Bambi]]'' being the top three biggest contenders.) |
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* The 1939 short ''[[Peace |
* The 1939 short ''[[Peace on Earth]]'', where woodland creatures inherit the Earth once humans kill themselves off. |
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* Any number of ''[[Silly Symphonies]]'' shorts, [[Happy Harmonies|as well]] [[Color Classics|as their imitators.]] |
* Any number of ''[[Silly Symphonies]]'' shorts, [[Happy Harmonies|as well]] [[Color Classics|as their imitators.]] |
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* ''[[Over the Hedge ( |
* ''[[Over the Hedge (animation)|Over the Hedge]]'', minus Verne and maybe a few others. |
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* In ''[[The Last Unicorn ( |
* In ''[[The Last Unicorn (animation)|The Last Unicorn]]'', these inhabit the unicorn's forest at the beginning of the film. |
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* ''[[Once Upon a Forest]]'' features a trio of woodland creatures (a woodmouse, a hedgehog and a mole) trying to find the cure for their young badger friend (a rare ''cute'' badger) after a truck carrying toxic gas crashes and poisons the forest. |
* ''[[Once Upon a Forest]]'' features a trio of woodland creatures (a woodmouse, a hedgehog and a mole) trying to find the cure for their young badger friend (a rare ''cute'' badger) after a truck carrying toxic gas crashes and poisons the forest. |
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== [[Literature]] == |
== [[Literature]] == |
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* The protagonists of [[Redwall|Brian Jacques]] books. |
* The protagonists of [[Redwall|Brian Jacques]] books. |
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* Made reference to in ''[[ |
* Made reference to in ''[[Wyrd Sisters]]'', where they pay Granny Weatherwax a visit - in this case ''with'' the predators in tow. |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|"I don't know what this spell is," she said. "But I'll tell you this for nothing - when it wears off, some of you little buggers had better get moving."}} |
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== [[Music]] == |
== [[Music]] == |
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== [[Newspaper Comics]] == |
== [[Newspaper Comics]] == |
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* Done in one ''[[Far Side]]'' comic. But of course, this being [[Deconstructor Fleet|the Far Side]], all the happy little woodland critters seem [[Slasher Smile|a bit]] [[Yandere|too happy]]. |
* Done in one ''[[Far Side]]'' comic. But of course, this being [[Deconstructor Fleet|the Far Side]], all the happy little woodland critters seem [[Slasher Smile|a bit]] [[Yandere|too happy]]. |
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== [[Video Games]] == |
== [[Video Games]] == |
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* Also featured in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'' as a semi-joke ability. |
* Also featured in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'' as a semi-joke ability. |
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* Seen in the end credits of ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]''. Gee, would've been nice if they came out earlier, but nooo... |
* Seen in the end credits of ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]''. Gee, would've been nice if they came out earlier, but nooo... |
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* The early installments of [[Sonic the Hedgehog ( |
* The early installments of [[Sonic the Hedgehog (video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] revolved around Sonic stopping Dr. Robotnik from using woodland creatures to power his 'badniks'. |
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== [[Western Animation]] == |
== [[Western Animation]] == |
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* Semi-parodied in ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' when one of the woodland critters accidentally becomes Bullet the Powerpuff Squirrel. |
* Semi-parodied in ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' when one of the woodland critters accidentally becomes Bullet the Powerpuff Squirrel. |
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* ''[[Drawn Together]]'' joyfully slaughtered Clara's Woodland Creature crew. |
* ''[[Drawn Together]]'' joyfully slaughtered Clara's Woodland Creature crew. |
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* A bunch of woodland critters show up during a musical number in an episode of ''[[Ed, Edd n Eddy]]''. Notable, among their number includes a ''skunk''. |
* A bunch of woodland critters show up during a musical number in an episode of ''[[Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy]]''. Notable, among their number includes a ''skunk''. |
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* In the [[Christmas Special]] ''Christopher the Christmas Tree'', a group of woodland creatures take up residence in Christopher, making him feel not so bad about not being picked to be a Christmas tree. They include a deer, a raccoon, a rabbit, a squirrel, a chipmunk, a couple of mice, a couple of birds, a beaver, and yes, a flirty skunk. (And an owl, but he was there first.) |
* In the [[Christmas Special]] ''Christopher the Christmas Tree'', a group of woodland creatures take up residence in Christopher, making him feel not so bad about not being picked to be a Christmas tree. They include a deer, a raccoon, a rabbit, a squirrel, a chipmunk, a couple of mice, a couple of birds, a beaver, and yes, a flirty skunk. (And an owl, but he was there first.) |
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* The heroes of the '80s cartoon ''[[The Bluffers]]'' are a squirrel, a mouse, an owl, a fox, a bear, a snake, a porcupine, an eagle (though he looks more like a buzzard), and for some reason a goose. There are also two rabbits who get billing in the credits, but almost never show up in the actual show. |
* The heroes of the '80s cartoon ''[[The Bluffers]]'' are a squirrel, a mouse, an owl, a fox, a bear, a snake, a porcupine, an eagle (though he looks more like a buzzard), and for some reason a goose. There are also two rabbits who get billing in the credits, but almost never show up in the actual show. |
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* ''[[The Animals of Farthing Wood]]''. [[Exactly What It Says |
* ''[[The Animals of Farthing Wood]]''. [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|The title says it all.]] |
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* In ''[[My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic |
* In ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'', the timid character Fluttershy cares for all of the woodland creatures and has a house full of them. |
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** The ponies in general, with their whole "custodians of nature" schtick, deal with woodland creatures on a regular basis, especially when it's time to change the seasons (for example, they tell the animals when to hibernate and when to wake up). This is actually related to one of the things that scares the ponies about the Everfree Forest; forget the fact that it's home to dangerous mythological beasts, ''perfectly ordinary woodland creatures go about their woodland business without the ponies telling them to!'' It ain't right! |
** The ponies in general, with their whole "custodians of nature" schtick, deal with woodland creatures on a regular basis, especially when it's time to change the seasons (for example, they tell the animals when to hibernate and when to wake up). This is actually related to one of the things that scares the ponies about the Everfree Forest; forget the fact that it's home to dangerous mythological beasts, ''perfectly ordinary woodland creatures go about their woodland business without the ponies telling them to!'' It ain't right! |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Animal Tropes]] |
[[Category:Animal Tropes]] |
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[[Category:Woodland Creatures]] |
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⚫ |
Latest revision as of 18:56, 24 October 2023
Remember when you were taught their names from a picture book?
Woodland Creatures are a group of animals commonly associated with the forest. They are commonly used to symbolize the presence of Mother Nature. Expect to find them on a clearing in The Lost Woods.
Although they are distinctly separate species, they will show great affection for each other and will rarely act or appear separately. Predators will be notably absent from the group, but a human being accepted in is not unheard of. They tend to be very shy and easily startled, but if a character is pure at heart, she will be allowed among them, and they will even come to her aid. If they decide to take matters in their own hands then it will inevitably lead to a Gaia's Vengeance.
They usually appear to have to some degree a shared consciousness, or may be a part of the forest's soul itself.
The Egomaniac Hunter and the Corrupt Corporate Executive will constantly be on their tail and try to chase them away from their home. It will be required that a sympathetic human (usually a plucky kid, a female green activist and an initially cynical but ultimately friendly adult male) helps them.
How the Carnivore Confusion is treated depends on the story: sometimes the two groups will make a truce against the common enemy, sometimes the carnivores are shown to be mindlessly aggressive brutes, in which case playing them against the humans will be the best option.
If they are the focus of the story, they might be Talking Animals (with the suggestion that they are using an "animal language" that each of them can understand).
Even if they have no acting role, they will make an appearance in stories with a Green Aesop.
If this trope is subverted, they will become the Disney Creatures of the Farce.
The group will always contain the following animals:
with the additional talent of:
- The Mischievous Raccoon
- The Wise Owl
- The Noble Badger
- The Flirty Skunk
- The Grumpy Hedgehog
Film
- Homaged in Disney's Enchanted, parodied in Disney's |Hercules, played straight in every other Disney movie ever. (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Bambi being the top three biggest contenders.)
- The 1939 short Peace on Earth, where woodland creatures inherit the Earth once humans kill themselves off.
- Any number of Silly Symphonies shorts, as well as their imitators.
- Over the Hedge, minus Verne and maybe a few others.
- In The Last Unicorn, these inhabit the unicorn's forest at the beginning of the film.
- Once Upon a Forest features a trio of woodland creatures (a woodmouse, a hedgehog and a mole) trying to find the cure for their young badger friend (a rare cute badger) after a truck carrying toxic gas crashes and poisons the forest.
Literature
- The protagonists of Brian Jacques books.
- Made reference to in Wyrd Sisters, where they pay Granny Weatherwax a visit - in this case with the predators in tow.
"I don't know what this spell is," she said. "But I'll tell you this for nothing - when it wears off, some of you little buggers had better get moving." |
Music
- "All God's Critters got a place in the choir, some sing low and some sing higher..."
Newspaper Comics
- Done in one Far Side comic. But of course, this being the Far Side, all the happy little woodland critters seem a bit too happy.
Video Games
- Also featured in Final Fantasy V as a semi-joke ability.
- Seen in the end credits of Shadow of the Colossus. Gee, would've been nice if they came out earlier, but nooo...
- The early installments of Sonic the Hedgehog revolved around Sonic stopping Dr. Robotnik from using woodland creatures to power his 'badniks'.
Western Animation
- Subverted in the South Park episode "Woodland Critter Christmas" where the woodland critters are trying to raise the Anti Christ.
- There are also those from Imagination Land, that rape and kill things.
- Semi-parodied in The Powerpuff Girls when one of the woodland critters accidentally becomes Bullet the Powerpuff Squirrel.
- Drawn Together joyfully slaughtered Clara's Woodland Creature crew.
- A bunch of woodland critters show up during a musical number in an episode of Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy. Notable, among their number includes a skunk.
- In the Christmas Special Christopher the Christmas Tree, a group of woodland creatures take up residence in Christopher, making him feel not so bad about not being picked to be a Christmas tree. They include a deer, a raccoon, a rabbit, a squirrel, a chipmunk, a couple of mice, a couple of birds, a beaver, and yes, a flirty skunk. (And an owl, but he was there first.)
- The heroes of the '80s cartoon The Bluffers are a squirrel, a mouse, an owl, a fox, a bear, a snake, a porcupine, an eagle (though he looks more like a buzzard), and for some reason a goose. There are also two rabbits who get billing in the credits, but almost never show up in the actual show.
- The Animals of Farthing Wood. The title says it all.
- In My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic, the timid character Fluttershy cares for all of the woodland creatures and has a house full of them.
- The ponies in general, with their whole "custodians of nature" schtick, deal with woodland creatures on a regular basis, especially when it's time to change the seasons (for example, they tell the animals when to hibernate and when to wake up). This is actually related to one of the things that scares the ponies about the Everfree Forest; forget the fact that it's home to dangerous mythological beasts, perfectly ordinary woodland creatures go about their woodland business without the ponies telling them to! It ain't right!