rdfs:comment
| - The recent popularity of ferrets has created a new kind of animal sidekick character, in addition to the old standbys of the loyal, dull Dog and the smart, snarky Cat. The weasel (or ferret) is a cute, mischievous, playful mascot who nonetheless looks out mainly for himself and can be very critical of people around him. He's nowhere near as clever as he thinks he is, and swears up and down he doesn't have to be fussed over. Until he wants to be, and frankly he's not about to turn down free food or attention if it's offered. Examples of Weasel Mascot include:
|
abstract
| - The recent popularity of ferrets has created a new kind of animal sidekick character, in addition to the old standbys of the loyal, dull Dog and the smart, snarky Cat. The weasel (or ferret) is a cute, mischievous, playful mascot who nonetheless looks out mainly for himself and can be very critical of people around him. He's nowhere near as clever as he thinks he is, and swears up and down he doesn't have to be fussed over. Until he wants to be, and frankly he's not about to turn down free food or attention if it's offered. Animal mascot personalities normally fall into the Cat or Dog stereotypes even if the author has tried to use a more exotic animal, like a bird or mouse -- it'll still act like a Cat or a Dog. The Weasel Mascot personality, likewise, may apply to non-mustelids (such as a mongoose or even a squirrel) -- but weasels, otters and ferrets are most common. A major benefit of the Weasel personality is that it largely reflects the behavior of the real animal. This personality also applies to many positive cat depictions, especially in Japan where cats are hugely popular. The Weasel can make a good ironic deadpan snarker, without the nasty or untrustworthy streak westerners associate with the Cat. (Anyone who knows how weasels fare in older Western works should appreciate the deep irony of the previous sentence, but hey, times change.) Many magical animal guardians are Weasel mascots, and most Weasel mascots are Talking Animals. Examples of Weasel Mascot include:
|