Characters you felt could have been portrayed deeper...

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Potatonator

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Have you ever looked at a show and saw the characters and thought that they had so much possibilities for being deep or having an interesting personality, only to be stunned as they become shallow, empty-shells of a character that rely on gags or one trait of their personality?

An example of this for me would be Billy & Mandy. I saw the characters and their interactions and thought they could've built them up so much more and made a bit of their relationship somewhat meaningful as the series went on. Instead, Billy became a breeding ground for toliet humor, Grim did nothing but sulk and sigh with very, very, very little hint at admitting he actually enjoys Billy and Mandy's company, and Mandy became dull. She won everything creating unsuspenseful and boring stories that revolved around her.

It's one thing to make a character tough or hard-headed, it's another to make them only win. Even at the beginning of an episode, you immediately know she will win just because the show doesn't allow otherwise.

It's especially upsetting since I find Grim to be a really interesting character, or plausible for being really fascinating. The show did really well when it first started, even the artwork looked more fun. Too bad they tightened things up.
 
Agreed. In fact, Mandy almost became like Steven Seagal on that show. Everyone else gets humiliated/the snot kicked out of them, but not her.

I'd definitely have to name Ron Stoppable.

Here was a guy with so much potential (Mystical Monkey Power) reduced to a high-voiced nitwit whose pants couldn't stay on. It would've been in no way difficult to keep his first season voice and have him be significantly more competent.
 
I agree completely about Billy & Mandy. Those kids ruin the show for me.

Everyone on SpongeBob falls into this nowadays. I'm not asking for any deep psychological character studies, honestly... but would it kill the writers to invent some new routine for them? How many times do we need to see Mr. Krabs' latest failed scheme to get-rich-quick, or Plankton's latest failed attempt to steal the Krabby Patty formula, or SpongeBob's latest failed attempt to get his driver's license, or Squidward's latest failed attempt to find happiness in his life...?
 
You could mention it. But the characters were never meant to be deep. Not even from the beginning. And I'd say the same about Billy and Mandy, a show that (as much as I like it) is full of brainless humor, farts and snot.

I'd say most characters in cartoons could be deeper, but that would have to match the tone of the show. And Family Guy and Billy and Mandy don't need deep characters.

And now that I've read the post above I'm convinced this thread is already threatening to slip away from it's original topic and become something along the lines of "Lets vent about the characters in shows we don't like anymore."
 
That does seem to be a general failing with many toon shows. As soon as the writers hit upon a formula that they believe works, they follow that formula slavishly until it severely limits the characters and makes the show tiresome and predictable. I look at it as self-sabotage. As for Billy and Mandy...I wasn't an initial fan of the show (too many boogey jokes, ick), but as time has gone by I've really come to appreciate it. I think it was the episode "Keeper of the Reaper" that opened my eyes to how funny and creative the show could be. Suddenly Billy became more interesting, because he wasn't totally dumb in the episode, and Mandy had to face the knowledge of what other people think about her - even her parents (her reaction to their comments was pretty funny and a tad revealing). Grim was a victim as usual, and that DID get old in the series overall. You know, I think writers just get scared. They think it all has to be a laugh-a-minute or kids will get restless and tune away. WRONG! Kids appreciate a thoughtful moment now and then - as long as it's sincere and not preachy. But it's very rare in toons, which is why I appreciate Phineas and Ferb so much. It interweaves good character moments into the comedy smoothly and cleverly, and the result is a Disney Channel cartoon that's beginning to pose a serious threat to Spongebob. I never thought THAT would happen! :D

But of course my choice for characters who could have been developed and expanded upon better are Cosmo and Wanda. In the early episodes, they were a really interesting, adult-oriented couple, on a par with, although different from, Homer and Marge Simpson. They were funny, warm and charming. Then they degenerated into an unbearably loud, abrasive couple consisting of a whiny useless nitwit who has one "personality trait" - he's stupid - and a suffering put-upon Mommy substitute who's the target of some of the most sexist humor seen on the small screen since the days of I Love Lucy (A caveat: I admittedly enjoy watching some episodes of I Love Lucy because of the brilliance and craft of the show's performers. But some of the show's sensibilities are still cringeworthy and inappropriate for these more progressive days). Great things could have been done with this couple, but any chance of range and depth was terminated by people who, in my view, have a very low opinion of the emotions and intelligence of kids, both younger and older. A great waste.
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Considering none of the posts are like that and the only way it could transition into that is if someone follows your totally out of place prediction...

One character I'd like to see a bit deeper into would be Captain Marvel from Justice League Unlimited. I would have liked to see how he saw the League after the Cadmus fiasco ended. I think it would have been interesting to see would've given him more character.
 
In Kappa Mikey, it's Lily and Mitsuki who could be portrayed deeper. I can wonder if the episode "Back to school", when they disguised as students to infiltrate a piracy ring, could had been a thing to come? Mitsuki who was the shallow girl of LilyMu was treated as a popular girl while it was the reversed role for Lily. Maybe it was a little clue to their respective pasts...
 
Mandy's feelings were hurt when Mindy kept calling her ugly. That's what made her want to enter the beauty pageant and her smile caused a disturbance in the nature order of all things. She also felt bad when Eris tricked her by spending time with her and later on pulling a prank on her.



I agree with this. IMO they didn't have to boost him up to Kim's level but he didn't always have to be the buffoon sidekick.
 
The entire cast of Gundam SEED Destiny. They're an entire set of stagnant, one-note, walking cliches and archetypes that didn't really push the potential of the story.
 
Charmcaster from Ben 10. She had great protential with the whole crual uncle thing, and in the episode when she and Gwen switched bodies, it showed she probably had a hard life with people probably being very crual to her her entire life. They never really went deeper into that character. Hopefully they will with Ben 10: Alien Force this upcoming season.
 
It's one thing to make a character tough or hard-headed, it's another to make them only win. Even at the beginning of an episode, you immediately know she will win just because the show doesn't allow otherwise.
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I for one think it's good a non hero character wins for once rather than the stereotypical goody two shoes moral message plot

It's especially upsetting since I find Grim to be a really interesting character, or plausible for being really fascinating. The show did really well when it first started, even the artwork looked more fun. Too bad they tightened things up.
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i watched a lot more of Grim and Evil than i did of TGAOBAM and i'd probably agree if id' seen more of TGAOBAM

Here was a guy with so much potential (Mystical Monkey Power) reduced to a high-voiced nitwit whose pants couldn't stay on. It would've been in no way difficult to keep his first season voice and have him be significantly more competent.
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yeah i'd agree on Ron. Could've been developed more... And i never cared for his whole pants falling down/clumsiness jokes... he's fine as a loser without needing to be a klutz as well


Everyone on SpongeBob falls into this nowadays. I'm not asking for any deep psychological character studies, honestly... but would it kill the writers to invent some new routine for them? How many times do we need to see Mr. Krabs' latest failed scheme to get-rich-quick, or Plankton's latest failed attempt to steal the Krabby Patty formula, or SpongeBob's latest failed attempt to get his driver's license, or Squidward's latest failed attempt to find happiness in his life...?
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i haven't watched much SB beyond the last season after the movie was made, but i can understand what you're getting at

You could mention it. But the characters were never meant to be deep. Not even from the beginning. And I'd say the same about Billy and Mandy, a show that (as much as I like it) is full of brainless humor, farts and snot.
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i like Billy and Mandy so... yeah won't go further down that track. But i'd agree they were never meant to be 'deep'

I'd say most characters in cartoons could be deeper, but that would have to match the tone of the show. And Family Guy and Billy and Mandy don't need deep characters.
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agreed

But of course my choice for characters who could have been developed and expanded upon better are Cosmo and Wanda
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hmm quite

I agree with this. IMO they didn't have to boost him up to Kim's level but he didn't always have to be the buffoon sidekick.
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yeah

Charmcaster from Ben 10. She had great protential with the whole crual uncle thing, and in the episode when she and Gwen switched bodies, it showed she probably had a hard life with people probably being very crual to her her entire life. They never really went deeper into that character. Hopefully they will with Ben 10: Alien Force this upcoming season.
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Definitely. I always thought Charmcaster had potential.

Well for my own additions i'll say that Ingrid and Fillmore perhaps... Cassie and Marion... from Bounty Hamster... Bradley and Stacy from Stickin' Around... Daria characters had depth but more isn't a bad thing imo... i mean like in Boxing Daria sort of history type depth... Ben 10... hmm... yeah Charmcaster and also some other Ben 10 characters... Recess had depth but got a bit stale after a while... However i'm a advocate of 'tried and true'

Which brings me to a point. I AM an advocate of tried and true. Now i don't mean 'stale' or 'repetitive', but certainly formulaic continuation beats a mistake that is unerasable from continuity... At least imo... And playing safe is good imo in many areas. However obviously if you CAN add depth without ruining a character (remembering some cartoons don't need deep meaningful characters and situations, and that's their style) then it's good imo.

I'd add more but my memory is not worthy.
 
It won't. ;)

I always thought that too. They were a unique play on the animated sitcom couple that took a 180 that some cartoons do when they become driven by a formula.
 
My top two picks are definitely Mai and Ty Lee from Avatar: The Last Airbender. The two girls had unique fighting styles and some great chemistry with the res tof the cast, but we never got to know more of them aside from one of them being bored with her life and the other trying to stand out from her (off-screen) family.

It got worse in the last season when one was reduced to being mere arm-candy for Zuko and the other was only used when Azula needed some back-up.
 
Well, when you consider that she only had one non-cameo appearance after that, and she had to share it with nine other villains, it's more a case of not having the time to develop her rather than not making the effort.
 
Agreed. In the right writers' hands, Mandy is cool (like in Keeper of the Reaper or Big Boogey Adventure). But in the wrong writers' hands, she becomes an insufferable character on Mary Sue levels. Sadly, this seems to often happen.

Once more agreed. Charmcaster was as well-written as can possibly be considering the circumstances surrounding the whole Negative 10/series cancellation deal. Let's wait till her time in Alien Force this Fall before making any full judgments on Charmcaster's character.

AGAIN agreed, but this example's too painful to talk about...:sweat:
 
I never said they did a bad job with Charmcaster in the episodes she was in, I am just saying there was more they could have done if she was in more episodes, and more they still can do in the upcoming season of Alien Force. I thought in the original series, she had as much character protential as Kevin.

She was only featured in two episodes, and each one got deeper into her character. Even the Negative 10 did its share with how she interactive with the other villains.
 
Personally, I see Ty Lee and Mai as secondary characters; important, but completely optional on whether they need or should get a full on character development or background. They got both in the end, but the latter was haphazardly thrown in by a bunch of words on how miserable their lives are that felt awkward and out of the blue. The former tuned out a bit better, especially the character Mai. Zuko/Mai still raises a bit of an eyebrow for me, but you have to admire her for standing up and outsmarting Azula due to the power of love!

My choices on this topic:

Tucker Foley: Sam Manson fits in as well, but Tucker has the far more interesting background. Two episodes focused majorly on him, both of which ran a similar theme of inferior complexity. Compared to the individual, outspoken, confident Sam, and his superpowered best buddy, Tucker is a normal, average, unlikable, dull loser (both in the series and the fandom!). It's any wonder he's built up a lot of pent-up negetivity. Said two episodes had him corrupted and nearly betray his friends because of his vices.

Unfortunately, the series never concluded this and I'm left wondering if he ever conquered. An irriating mark for a series that's good about its character development.

Jack Spicer: Xiaolin Showdown wasn't meant to be a big hop on the character development bandwagon, but Jack had potential to step above that. He started off as stereotypical evil, then hinted he may have a kind heart in...the 15th episode, I think. Since then, the series has tossed Jack's good and bad chi like a tennis ball with writers wondering how on earth to work this character.

What could have been a deep exploration on the morals of good and evil (which, incidentally, is a running theme of this series), the writers just couldn't decide and instead played up him as the undeserving comical monkey he was. Shame, he had a lot of character waiting to be discovered.
 
My choice? The campers from Total Drama Island who weren't able to participate as contestants in Total Drama Action.

In other words, Katie and Sadie, Cody, Tyler, Noah, Eva, and Ezekiel!
 
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