Saviours from the sidelines: The under-appreciated value of fictional sidekicks

Who’re sidekicks?

Who precisely is a sidekick? How does one obtain the mantle of a sidekick? Don’t mistake it as a time period for a weaker or much less related underling. A sidekick is outlined as somebody who’s a detailed affiliate to the principle character, both as a trusted subordinate or a accomplice. The phrase ‘sidekick’ can typically be extremely deceptive and even insulting at instances. However one should perceive that it’s an extremely advanced and valued place. Working example: the origin of the phrase. No! no! The phrase ‘sidekick’ didn’t originate from the act of any bodily kick; quite, it really got here from a slang time period within the late nineteenth Century used to consult with the entrance aspect pocket of a pair of trousers. In different phrases, the one pocket that might by no means lose one’s cash or belongings to theft, thus representing the belief the principle character holds of their sidekick. It was quickly outlined as one’s closest companion.

An emblem of friendship and belief

As acknowledged earlier than, the origin of the phrase sidekick connects to the belief between companions. You need somebody who’ll at all times be there to cheer you up? Nicely, Olaf loves heat hugs and could be delighted to provide you one. You need somebody to be your voice of motive? In comes Jiminy Cricket, the conscience! Cartoons and animations are stuffed to the brim with quite a lot of characters, however the sidekick would be the one who holds the closest connection to the protagonist.

Sidekicks aren’t extras; they’re characters who transfer the plot ahead and contribute to the character growth of the protagonist. They’re there when the principle character is experiencing painful feelings, a uncommon vulnerability, or a disaster of any form. In “Avatar the Final Airbender”, Aang and his bison Appa share a bond like no different, being the one two remaining members of their group. Let’s not neglect the truth that sidekicks are able to accompany the character by way of their obstacles and issues. Within the film ‘Tangled’, Pascal the Chameleon has spent his life caught within the tower, enduring the quarantine and changing into Rapunzel’s lifelong companion, and making certain that she doesn’t really feel lonely. Then there’s the companion for all times, like Pluto the canine, who has been by Mickey Mouse’s aspect for the reason that Thirties. However there’s one particular high quality within the class of belief that gives sidekicks with unbelievable significance. It’s because of them that we get to see multiple dimension of the principle character. Batman, on his personal, is silent, brooding, and extremely severe. But when we put Dick Grayson, also called Robin, within the image, we get to see the Caped Crusader as greater than only a vigilante. As a fatherly determine to the younger hero.

Rapunzel along with her cute animal sidekick, Pascal, from the film ‘Tangled’. PHOTO: AP

The ethical eye of the viewers

There are occasions in cartoons and TV reveals the place the principle character will do one thing that can spotlight their flaws (which each well-written character wants) and make the viewers marvel strongly in regards to the character’s determination or motion. However guess what, there’s an opportunity that the sidekick of the present is considering the very same factor!

For instance, in The Little Mermaid, Sebastian the crab was most likely echoing the viewers’s ideas when he was pleading with Ariel to not go to Ursula, the Sea Witch. One other instance could be from Magnificence and the Beast, the place it’s partly by way of Lumiere’s (the speaking candle) steerage that the Beast learns learn how to open his coronary heart to Belle and deal with her kindly. When watching a cartoon or an animated film, there’s a superb probability that you just’d relate to the sidekick greater than the principle character, just because the marginally much less focus positioned on the sidekick and their plotline, permits them to be portrayed as a an everyman (an odd character the viewers identifies with) with a seemingly regular characterisation. They might even be seeing the plot by way of the eyes of the viewers! You will need to perceive this bond between the sidekick and the viewers, as a result of if the fictional one have been actual, there’s a superb probability they’d make an amazing good friend.

Olaf the speaking snowman from the film ‘Frozen.’ PHOTO: AP

Their very own character

One other unbelievable factor about sidekicks is that, regardless of being created to be overshadowed by the story of the principle character, that doesn’t make their story any much less necessary. In truth, there are moments when their story and their character assist transfer the plot ahead.

Take, as an example, Black Panther, T’Challa’s sister Shuri, might not be on the forefront of the story, however her genius thoughts has helped and saved the Black Panther many instances. The sidekick has and experiences their very own story and experiences their very own character growth that displays that of the protagonist. Regardless that Batman is the protagonist for a lot of comics, DC followers would have a transparent understanding of the place every of the Robins comes from (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damien Wayne).

The lovable and comedy issue

For those who’re a Disney or Nickelodeon fan, there’s completely no probability that you just don’t have a favorite sidekick. Whether or not they’re a well-dressed monkey like Abu from Aladdin, a jazz-loving crocodile like Louis, or a vigilante named Casey Jones from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, all sidekicks show to be sturdy necessities for leisure.

A hero with a sidekick not solely supplies a way of consolation to the viewers and the storyline, but it surely additionally helps in breaking the stress in a far-too-serious scene. Sidekicks are sources for a big chunk of the film or present’s humour. Anthropomorphic animal sidekicks are an amazing instance of this. Giving animals like Pascal the Chameleon, Flounder the fish, Abu the monkey, and many others, human-like qualities not solely makes them enjoyable to look at, but in addition presents them as endearing.

Revealed – October 07, 2025 05:26 pm IST