Dumb Characters in Animation: The Discussion

G

GeorgiaSue

New member
Warning: This is not a list thread, nor is it a thread to bash characters or shows you do not like. This is a thread for discussing stupid characters and their roll in their respective series.
Since almost the start of animation itself, there have been many stupid characters for comic relief. But do they make or break a cartoon? This depends on the type of series these characters happen to be in, and how these characters are played. For example, many of Bugs Bunny's opponents were comically inept, often uttering phrases such as "Dah, you can't outsmart me, 'cause I'm a moron!" This was set up so that Bugs Bunny would almost always emerge victorious, and these nimrods would often be the targets of Bugs' jokes.
Animaniacs used this archetype in their character of Ralph, the dimwitted guard who always chased after the warners. Unlike most characters in the series, Ralph lacked character depth, and was used sparingly, often for cameos and anvil jokes.
Now for a more modern character, I bring you Billy, of the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. A kid with an apparent high sugar intake and low IQ, Billy is on one hand, loud, dumber than mud, often too stupid to realize when he's in mortal danger, and the source of most of the show's gross out gags. However, Billy is the glue that holds the gang together, and despite the abuse he often receives from Mandy and Grim, deep down both of them know this and appreciate Billy. I believe that the full-length TV movie, "Big Boogie Adventure" proves this point.
Feel free to discuss these characters and any examples you have of nimrods in animaniacs and whether they are good or bad for a show.
 
Hhhmmm...

Captain Hero from Drawn Together: One of the more idiotic characters from the whole cast. However, if you got rid of Captain Hero, the show's quality would decrease significantly. There are so many Captain Hero-based episodes, that it's not funny, except it is. He's usually in the basic set-ups for plots and provides a more intellegent "stupid" humor. He's oblivious and dull-witted without being all "Duurrhhhh episode gag!!!" like most characters.

Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants: Provides a best friend for Spongebob and allows Spongebob to participate in group activities. Without Patrick, Squidward wouldn't be as annoyed with his life, Spongebob would barely have an social interaction, and Spongebob would end up following the rules 24/7 making him unentertaining.

Cosmo from Fairly Oddparents: Let's face it, if there was no Cosmo and just Wanda, none of the outrageousness of Timmy's wishes would happen because Cosmo is always there to speak up and say "Nah, lets do it!!!" no matter how dangerous.
 
Going back to the Hannah-Barbera age, In Scooby Doo, Shaggy and Scooby played the less-intelligent-to-stupid members of the gang, as well as the most easily scared. Better yet, in any investigation, the two idiots were always paired together when the gang split up, specifically for a comic misadventure.

Also, going back to the present with the Venture Bros., the boys (Hank and Dean) play the stupid part of the Venture family, overestimating themselves and basically impersonating the Hardy Boys, with 50% the IQ, of course. And as for the villains, I must say the Monarch's henchman are just about the stupidest I've ever seen, but the two that are most often in the limelight have some of the best dialog ever.

I'm sure I'll think of more later...
 
Ed from Ed, Edd n Eddy in my opinion is the ultimate idiot. Everything that comes out of his mouth is just going to be nonsensical.
 
PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL....................meh. Let's not forget that yellow basketball named Heffer Wolf from Rocko's Moderen Life. He's a dumy.
 
I know some dumb characters(my favorites):

Goofy - The lovable nimrod who's hilarious when he's mostly clumsy alot and a brilliant father to Max in Goof Troop.

Homer Simpson/Ralph Wiggum(Simpsons) - The bad idiotic father who's hilarious when he does alot of many dumb things even when he drove his car right into his boss's office. A poor dumb unpopular kid who's the Chief's son which his random dumb things he says is funny & when an evil leprechaun wanted him to burn the Simpsons house was funny, yet random.

Rocksteady & Bebop(TMNT) - Two of Shredder's idiot henchmen which I love their comedic antics & goofups on making their boss yell at them.

Stimpy(R&S) - Ren's roommate who's a fat tailless cat who's stupid, but his stupidity is hilarious:p but can show some intelligence on taming the jerk Ren like the episode when they're a two-headed freak.

Patrick Starfish(Spongebob Squarepants) - Spongebob's best friend who's the mega hilarious idiot who loves jellyfishing with Spongebob and I agree what Infusions said that without Patrick, Spongebob would be boring.

Billy(B&M) - Typical dumb kid who's pretty funny which his stupidity amuses me when he gets into trouble with Grim's stuff,gets abused by Mandy, too stupid to realize about the danger and that episode when he took over Mandy was hilarious which she gets her just desserts from Billy.

Butters/Officer Barbrady(South Park) - A good adorable kid who's an idiot that's unpopular who gets ripped on when he's the new Kenny,has crappy jerk parents,he's funny like in the Awesom-O/Youtube video/Butters show eps. & saves Imaginationland. Barbraby is a typical idiot cop who makes me laugh sometimes like his Elvis impressions,teepeeing episode, & the Jakovasaurs episode.

Dr.Drakken(Kim Possible) - Evil scientist who wants world-domination which his stupidity is funny when he couldn't get the pickle jar open until when Shego opens it, when he's a rapper, and when he saves the day from an alien invasion with he's flower mutated which he rocked at that part.

Dr.Zoidberg(Futurama) - The dumb lobster doctor who's so hilarious which his dumbness cracks me up when he does the funny running with his weird sounds, comic genius:D.

Chowder(Chowder) - Mung's chef apprentice who wants to be a good chef, his dumbness cracks me up with him messing up ingredients & driving Schnizel crazy at the bank,he's a mega glutton & has random things come out of his mouth which freaked me out:eek:.

Bubba(Chop Socky Chooks) - He's my favorite, who's the big stupid gorilla henchman of Dr.Wasabi's which his dumb idiotic antics amuses me and he's pretty big & tough but easily gets bashed by Chick P.'s charm.

Himeko(Pani Poni Dash!) - The blue haired girl of Becky's class who's the humongous idiot which she's so hilarious because of her dumb antics and saying maho alot which is pure comedy.

Matsuda(Death Note) - Such an idiot of the Police Task Force who provides comedy relief for the show which he rocks, and it was hilarious when he got himself caught by the Yotsuba group with L having to save his butt.

11071-stimpy.jpg
Billy.gif
butters.jpg
 
Butters isn't really dumb, just painfully naive.

Anyway, as we know, it takes a smart person to write dumb comedy, because a dumb person wouldn't be able to tell the difference. That said, my favorite animated numbskulls include:

Ed (Ed, Edd 'N' Eddy)- This guy is so stupid that he's a stitch. He's out there with Pluto, but I enjoy him anyway, because I know whatever he says will be random and/or hilarious.

Gonard (Kappa Mikey)- Another oblivious goofball who's just plain on a different wavelength than everybody else. Gonard is like if Goku and Bull Shannon from Night Court had a child. He's one of my favorite characters on Kappa Mikey, because I'm guaranteed to laugh whenever he's on camera.

Goofy- How could we have a thread about funny dummies and not mention this guy? The Goof is the archetypical dimwit. He's the standard of which other dum-dums are based on.

My least favorite dumb character would have to be Cheese from Foster's. This guy's randomness is in no way innovative nor funny; Cheese is nails-across-a-blackboard annoying, with a voice that is so grating that while watching him, you begin to wish that recorded sound had never been invented. Cheese is dumb, but in a very unfunny way.
 
Back
Top