Music for the ArticleTimesheet Hero
In many works of fiction, the hero will have to stand up to a large number of villains who aren't really especially bad people; they're simply doing their jobs. The same, naturally, applies to heroes.
The Timesheet Hero isn't fighting for peace, revenge, or because it's the right thing to do. He's only going against the Big Bad because he has to. In some cases, he is destined to do so but refused the call, only to find out that he can't fight fate. In other cases, he gets involved only because he has bills to pay.
He doesn't really care about helping people.
He just follows his orders and does what he can For Science.
Or he is Simply bored.
Sometimes the only thing he wants to do is fight.
Sometimes they are machines that will literally die for you (or destroy those who try to harm you), because that's what their programming says to do.
If the machine gains a free will however, upon deciding that she'd rather hang out with human, they becomes an example of this.
This is usually what happens when a hero is Neutral.
As Anti Heroes they are eaither Type 3 or Type 5.
Timesheet Villian
These are characters who have no real grudge against the heroes, but are simply doing a job they're getting paid for. After hours, they're totally personable joes who go hang out like anyone else. Most Timesheet Villains are not even particularly mean.
Used to be an odd device but has become increasingly frequent due to the popularity of superhero parody, where minions are portrayed as sympathetic employees for unreasonable bosses. In addition, nearly all anime featuring a comedic villain usually has these, who are frequently cute characters.
Conversely if played seriously, the emotional detachment that the Timesheet Villain displays when he or she knowingly contributes to various crimes can be chilling, and audiences may see them as a monster. Depending on the nature of the story this trope can make a villain either more relatable to audience or more hateful.
They might reform at the very, VERY end of the story or were never evil to begin with.
As Anti Villians they are Type 4
Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:17 am
