Reptiles in animation

[Toon Capone]

Have you guys ever noticed that reptiles are always protrayed as villains in cartoons. Especially snakes and lizards.

The Koopas
The Snake Men from Masters Of The Universe
Cobra (Okay they wasn't really reptiles but they used a lot of Snake symobolism for their criminal organization)

There's more I just can't think of them right now.

Why do you guys think reptiles are always portrayed as villains in cartoons?

[Speedy Boris]

Shere Kahn's another example.

I guess it all started with The Garden of Eden. Ever since then, snakes have represented evil, even if it's not warranted.

[Jave]

Shere Kahn's another example.

I guess it all started with The Garden of Eden. Ever since then, snakes have represented evil, even if it's not warranted.Shere Kahn was a tiger, you're thinking of Kaa.

Add Kobra-Khan from the He-Man series.

[Speedy Boris]

Shere Kahn was a tiger, you're thinking of Kaa. Yup, you're right. That's what happens when your brain is fried from homework... :sweat:

[Juu-kuchi]

However, there was that Extreme Dinos cartoon as well as this Street Sharks crossover as well. That was an exception where reptiles were heroes.

[shogunthethird]

what about TMNT? Turtles are reptiles as well

or the Dinobots, or Godzilla (both the crappy 60's cartoon and the marginally better cartoon based on the crappy 90's movie)
or the Crusading Chameleon from "the tick"

[Toon Capone]

Yeah I forgot about Kaa from the Jungle Book.

TMNT yeah I know their reptiles and their heroes, but most of the time reptiles are portrayed as villainous in cartoons.

[Zebi]

Have you guys ever noticed that reptiles are always protrayed as villains in cartoons. Especially snakes and lizards.
Another villian to add to the list:

Dr. Curt Connors/the Lizard

He started out human, but ended up as a lizard due to genetic experimentation gone awry. He's had appearances on most of the Spider-Man cartoons. You can read a bio about him (based on his appearances in the comics) here (http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/lizard.html).

[Artimus Gigan]

Dinoriders-pretty much self explanitory

[Dudley]

However, there was that Extreme Dinos cartoon as well as this Street Sharks crossover as well. That was an exception where reptiles were heroes.
What character from Street Sharks was a reptile?

[shogunthethird]

I just remembered an example of a heroic snake, Beast Wars Neo Cohrada, he was a Maximal who became a cobra, then there was beast machines nightviper, who also became a cobra, and geckobot who turned into a lizard, and it may be a stretch, Mercer from G.I.JOE the movie, he was an ex- Crimson guardsman who joined Slaughter's marauders

[Jave]

TMNT yeah I know their reptiles and their heroes, but most of the time reptiles are portrayed as villainous in cartoons.I clearly recall an episode of TMNT (the first series) where one of the turtles (I think it was Leo) stated they were amphibians, not reptiles.

The term "Reptile" is given to an animal that crawls for moving, while an "Amphibian" is an animal that lives in both water and land. This means ground turtles are reptiles while sea turtles are amphibians, this means the TMNT are mutated sea turtles, not mutated ground turtles.

And speaking of this... I'm not too sure but I vaguely recall the first episode of the first TMNT series... was the kid that lost the turtles into the sewers carrying them in a fish tank?

[Sharklady]

> Shere Kahn was a tiger, you're thinking of Kaa. <

Interestingly enough, in the book Kaa was a good guy.

> I clearly recall an episode of TMNT (the first series) where one of the turtles (I think it was Leo) stated they were amphibians, not reptiles. <

It was the other way around. And just to clarify what the difference is:

Reptiles and amphibians, though both vertebrates, belong to different taxonomic classes. What distinguishes amphibians is that they all start life as water-breathers (ex; tadpoles), and change into air-breathers as they mature. But they must return to the water to lay their eggs. Frogs, toads, and salamanders are amphibians.

Reptiles are born air-breathers, and stay that way all their lives. They're believed to be the first vertebrates to lay their eggs on dry land. Snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and turtles are reptiles (as is an obscure lizard-like creature called the tuatara.)

As to why reptiles are so frequently cast as villains; I suppose they make convincing ones because so many people think they're creepy. Albeit less so, in the case the turtles- there's not many turtle villains around other than Tokka, and Gamera (and even he eventially became a good guy!)

[Sketch]

Believe it or not but I'm pretty sure the stereotype of at least snakes being villians in cartoons and stories came from the bible. Ever since then snakes and some other reptiles have been depicted as shifty, sly, and treacherous.

[Macross90210]

Slyth in Thundercats was a lizard guy.

[UberMonkey]

Yes, there's been quite a few series with dinosaur-type characters as the heroes. Although that'd be irrelevant if you're only talking about modern-day reptiles.

[RockItShipper]

Shere Kahn was a tiger, you're thinking of Kaa.

Add Kobra-Khan from the He-Man series.
He-Man had a reptilian friend in the original show called Lizard Man.

[ClockStomper]

Yeah, the first TMNT toon was wrong, they are reptiles...in fact, in every other incarnation, they can't breathe underwater.

[shogunthethird]

there was also a TMNT character named Mondo Gecko, and speaking of geckoes although he's strictly a videogame character you can't forget Gex, and although they're technically mammals, Zafiro the guatemalan gargoyle clan leader (he's based of the mayan snake god Kulkulkhan) or Wally gator

[OnlyJedi]

Besides the bible connotations that have been brought up, another possible reason for the portrayal of reptiles as villians is that the are, basically, the antithesis of human. Reptiles (well, most - turtles I believe don't fall into this) are cold-blooded, which figuratively means they are likely to kill without emotion (a cold-blooded killer). They have scaley, slimey skin (at least in most people's eyes), which adds to the gross-out and 'alien' factors. Those beady eyes, claws, tails, and lack of hair...all add to the 'inhuman' quality.

By representing villians as being as inhuman as possible, the writers are able to paint a more 'black-and-white', 'good-versus evil' picture in their stories, whereas a human villian is more able to fall into a shade of grey. From a non-animation point-of-view, think of the orcs from Lord of the Rings, or the aliens from Independence Day or Alien. Though not exactly reptiles in the strictest sense of the word, all these villians show these inhuman qualities, which help make clear the distinction between good and evil.

there was also a TMNT character named Mondo Gecko, and speaking of geckoes although he's strictly a videogame character you can't forget Gex... If you're speaking about geckos, don't forget the Geiko Gecko :p

[pseudowudo]

Have you guys ever noticed that reptiles are always protrayed as villains in cartoons. Especially snakes and lizards.
Why do you guys think reptiles are always portrayed as villains in cartoons?


I'm in total agreement with Hyper Luigi and Only Jedi on this, when you see a lizard or a snake, it is perfectly natural to express fear or disgust (at least for some people) and that is what is seen of reptilian characters in animation.


Some Anime and Cartoons portray reptiles as the good guys (which is a very rare depiction)

In a 'Defenders of the Earth' episode, there was a Reptilian freedom fighter whom the Defenders were aiding in his peoples fight against Ming's forces.


There was also a cartoon series that's no longer on the air known as, 'Pocket Dragons' in which the main characters are minitaurized dragons doing good deeds in medieval times.


In 'Digimon' we see Agumon/Greymon is a dinosaur/reptile and a good guy
There's also Guilmon, another reptile type digimon.



Magesty 329 made a good point on the use of Snake symobolism in some cartoons, in 'Thundercats' Mumm-Ra's has a symbol of intertwined snakes on his chest and headgear, which is another direct representation of the evil snakes/reptiles are.

[Sharklady]

Reptiles (well, most - turtles I believe don't fall into this) are cold-blooded... <

Actually, turtles are cold-blooded too. All the reptiles, amphibians, and fish are (except the larger sharks.)

Maybe people just don't think of turtles as 'cold blooded' because they're cute. Though the meat-eaters among 'em will kill as willingly as any other predatory animal- after all, their survival depends on it.

> They have scaley, slimey skin... <

Scaley, yes, but the other adjective is a fallacy. I've handled plenty of snakes and lizards and they were all perfectly dry.
Many of the amphibians and fish are slimey, because they need the slime layer to guard their perpetually-wet skins from infection. But reptiles, having thick scales, need no other protection. The shiney appearence of many lizards & snakes is due to their skins being so smooth.

(Oye, I feel like I'm back teaching summer museum classes...)

[wrenchien]

i wish there more snake heros.. maybe someday i'll try to introduce some

[RAINMAN]

Dragons are also know to be evil too. Except the savage dragon.

Snakeman from RW was one of the crasies warlods in the series. Rumor has it that this guy may not be human.

Reptile from MK, who we know is not human.

Vicious from CB. I know hes human but during the series he ben refer to have snakelike personilty. And if you look right into his eyes, he has the look of a snake.:eek:


It was stated in the old TMNT show that they were cold blooded. In a battle someone fire a heat seeking missle at the turtles, don told them sense they were cold blooded the missle would miss them and go right back at the person who shot it.

[Sharklady]

> Dragons are also know to be evil too. Except the savage dragon. <

There's some other good ones in 'Pocket Dragons' and 'Dragon Tales'.

Interestingly, these dual images refect the roles dragons have historically held in human cultures.
In European lore, dragons are always villains, fit only to be slain by the likes of Beowulf, Saint George and Siegfried. But in Asia, dragons are held in high regard, as bringers of rain, symbols of royalty, and rewarders of virtuous behavior.

[Space Lion]

There's some other good ones in 'Pocket Dragons' and 'Dragon Tales'.

Interestingly, these dual images refect the roles dragons have historically held in human cultures.
In European lore, dragons are always villains, fit only to be slain by the likes of Beowulf, Saint George and Siegfried. But in Asia, dragons are held in high regard, as bringers of rain, symbols of royalty, and rewarders of virtuous behavior.

The Chinese zodiac says that I'm a fire dragon (born in 1976). You'd better believe I'm very proud of that. :D

Oh, and Granamyr, from the old He-Man series, was a good dragon.

[GCFyouthcamper]

what about TMNT? Turtles are reptiles as well


Actually no. They're amphibians.

[GCFyouthcamper]

In the G.I.Joe movie, Cobra Commander was exposed to spores that would turn him into an animal. Out of all the animals in the world he could have become. He became a snake. a cobra. Maybe it was fitting.

[shogunthethird]

no, turtles are reptiles, they hatch from eggs and are born looking like they do as an adult, amphibians don't have shells and their juvenile forms are different from their adult forms, it's been scientifically established, if you don't believe me ask any biology teacher and as for snake heroes, a character of mine in the gargoyles fandom started as a mutate hero based off of prehistoric reptile DNA (yes I did get the idea from "Jurassic Park") as for hero snakes, I think in DKC 2 there was an animal helper that was a snake