Kent Mansley

"Kent Mansley, I work for the Government."

- Kent Mansley's catchphrase.

Kent Mansley is a federal government agent and the main antagonist of Warner Brothers' 1999 animated feature film, ''The Iron Giant. ''He was voiced by Christopher McDonald (who also played Kerr, Shooter McGavin and Wilson Croft).

Although Mansley likes to hint to people that he is a very important government agent trusted with top-secret work, in reality he is a low-ranking official who is regarded as little more than a nuisance by his superiors. Upon learning of a gigantic iron robot coming from outer space and into Rockwell, he was sent by General Rogard to investigate. However, he secretly plans to boost his career once he gains evidence of the Giant's existence.

History
After introducing himself to Hogarth and his mother, saying "Kent Mansley, I work for the government," he continually tracks down Hogarth, who developed a friendship with then Iron Giant, and harasses him for information. He is tough, pompous, slightly idiotic, scheming, cynical, and paranoid. During the climax, as the town are now aware of the Giant's existence and gentle nature, Kent tried to have General Rogard to track down the Giant and kill him. This led the Giant to attack the city of Rockwell, due to his defense mechanism being triggered by the Army's gunfire as he thought the gunfire killed Hogarth, when he actually survived. Kent even took the opportunity to lie to General Rogard that the Giant killed Hogarth, when the Giant was actually protecting Hogarth from the gunfire, in order to authorize a missile launch to the robot's current position from a nearby submarine. Fortunately, Hogarth regains consciousness and arrives to calm the Giant to its normal state, and the General, realizing that Hogarth is still alive and that the Giant never intended to kill him or anyone, orders his men to stand down, not wanting to make the same mistake again.

Rogard then tries to call the submarine to abort the missile launch, but Kent, still believing that the Giant is a threat, refuses to back down and instead snatches Rogard's radio, ordering the submarine to fire the missile at once. Upon hearing this, General Rogard berates and angrily informs Kent that will result not only the Giant's death, but also the destruction of Rockwell, since the Giant is still residing in the town. Despite realizing this, Kent refuses to take any regard in this, and instead renounces his patriotism before trying to escape from Rockwell. Unfortunately, he was stopped by the Giant, who then allows Rogard's soldiers to arrest him before the Giant had to sacrifice himself against the missile in order to save Rockwell.

Quotes
"Every once in a while, things happen that just can't be rationalized in a conventional way. People want to know that their government has a response. I am that response."

- Kent Mansley to Marv Loach

"Two nights ago, at approximateley 1900 hours, S.A.T. com radar detected an unidentified flying object entering Earth's atmosphere, losing contact with it two-and-a-half miles off the coast of Rockwell. Some assumed it was a large meteor,or a downed satelite, but my office in Washington received a call from someone reporting an actual encounter with the object. This is no meteor, gentlemen. This is something much more serious."

- Kent Mansley discussing about the information to the mayor of Rockwell and his associates

"Hey there, scout! Kent Mansley, I work for the government."

- Kent Mansley first meeting Hogarth

""Hogarth?" That's an embarrassing name. They might as well have called him "Zeppo" or something. What kind of person would name their kid "Hogar...? (stops and looks over to Hogarth's smashed B-B gun which Kent found at the power station. It reads part of Hogarth's name: Hog- Hug) Hog Hug? HOG HUG? 'HOGARTH HUGHES!! (screeches his car to a stop)"

- Kent Mansley discovering the B-B Gun he found at the power station belongs to Hogarth

"You know, Hogarth, we live in a strange and wondrous time: the Atomic Age. But there's a dark side to progress, Hogarth. Ever hear of Sputnik?"

- Kent Mansley

"What am I talking about? What am I TALKING ABOUT?! I'm talking about your goldarn security, Hogarth! While you're snoozing in your little jammies, back in Washington we're wide awake and worried. Why? Because everyone wants what we have, Hogarth. EVERYONE! You think this metal man is fun, but who built it? The Russians? The Chinese? The Martians? Canadians? I DON'T CARE! All I know is, we didn't build it, and that's reason enough to assume the worst and blow it to kingdom come! Now, you are going to tell me about this thing, you are going to lead me to it, and we are going to destroy it before it destroys us! [his stomach gurgles]... Hold that thought and stay right there! [Rushes to the restroom]"

- Kent Mansley's tirade towards Hogarth

"You're late for dinner, Hogarth."

- Kent Mansley confronts Hogarth in the barn

"Your mom's working late tonight, Hogarth. So it's just us guys. And we're gonna have a little chat. Sit down!"

- Kent Mansley stops Hogarth from escaping the barn

"How's that? A little too bright? Good. Forgive me, Hogarth. I wanted you to learn something."

- Kent Mansley wants Hogarth to learn something

"You can learn this, Hogarth, that I can do anything I want whenever I want if I feel it's in the people's best interest. The giant metal man. Where is it?"

- Kent Mansley boasting his power to Hogarth

"You don't? Well."

- Kent Mansley asks Hogarth about the Giant, but he doesn't know where the Giant is

"Does this ring a bell? No?"

- Kent Mansley toss the picture of the metal lure to Hogarth, but he refuse to answer

"How about this?"

- Kent Mansley toss the another picture of the him and the Giant in the background to Hogarth

"You've been careless, Hogarth."

- Kent Mansley states Hogarth that he is careless

"It's enough to get the Army here with one phone call."

- Kent Mansley suggest will be there in phone call

"WHERE'S THE GIANT?!"

- Kent Mansley after Hogarth responds to Kent what is stopping him

"You can't protect him, Hogarth, any more than you can... protect your mother."

- Kent Mansley tells Hogarth not to protect the Giant other than protecting his mother

"It's difficult to raise a boy all alone. We can make it more difficult. In fact, we can make it so difficult that it would be irresponsible for us to leave you in her care. And all of that implies... you'll be taken away from her, Hogarth."

- Kent Mansley blackmailing Hogarth

"Oh, we can... and we will."

- Kent Mansley will take Hogarth away from Annie Hughes soon enough

"The junkyard, of course!  Food for the metal eater. I wouldn't worry about this, Hogarth.  This isn't really happening.  It's only... a bad dream."

- Kent Mansley, before drugging Hogarth

"Yes, sir. This thing is real, sir. I not only have incontrovertible evidence General, I know where it's hidden. I don't know who built it, but it's here and massive and we're running out of time. There's no doubt we should act. The only question sir is...can you afford not to? Excellent, sir. You won't regret it. Thank you, sir."

- Kent Mansley having a conversation on the phone with General Rogard

"The army arrives in the morning, Hogarth. Don't get cute."

- Kent Mansley confronts Hogarth

"I'll be watching you."

- Kent Mansley claims that he will keep on eye on Hogarth for good

"He said the monster has killed a kid. Sir, we must stop it at all costs."

- Kent Mansley lying to General Rogard that the Giant killed Hogarth

"Gotcha!"

- Kent Mansley targets the Giant causing him to fall out of the sky

"Not everything, general. The bomb."

- Kent Mansley suggests the bomb might destroy

"The Nautilus isn't far offshore."

- Kent Mansley recommends Nautilus as the submarine

"General, the giant seems to follows whatever it attacks it. We can lure it away from the town, then destroy it."

- Kent Mansley plans to remove the Giant from the town then destroys it

"Don't listen, General! Destroy the monster while we still have the chance!"

- Kent Mansley begs General to destroy the metal monster

"Stop it now, general! Our future's at stake!"

- Kent Mansley begs General to stop

"It's a trick! Launch the missile!"

- Kent Mansley tells General to launch the missile

"LAUNCH THE MISSILE NOW!!!"

- Kent Mansley ordering the Nuke launched at the Giant, standing about five feet away from him

"Screw our country! I WANNA LIVE!"

- Kent Mansley's last line