“ | I'm the wolf you read about. I'm known throughout the nation. I'm in all the fairy tales. You know my reputation. I'm a... Pardon me! Here comes Little Red Riding Hood! | „ |
~ The Big Bad Wolf to the audience in Mighty Mouse and the Wolf. |
The Big Bad Wolf (aka The Wolfman and The Angry Wolf) is a major antagonist from children's fairytales.
Biography[]
The Three Little Pigs[]
The Big Bad Wolf is depicted as a cunning, predatory, and manipulative wolf who wishes to devour the three pigs - managing to blow down the house made of straw and the house made of sticks, forcing the two hapless to run away to their brother's home: he was smart enough to have built his home of bricks. Not one to give up, the Big Bad Wolf went after them and threatened to blow the house down as he had done with the others, but he was unable to do so due to the strong bricks. He still refused to give up and tried to climb down the chimney but the three pigs were prepared and set a fire on with a big pot of water over it. Depending on the version, the wolf is either boiled alive (a more gruesome ending from traditional fairytales) or he simply gets his tail burnt and flies back up the chimney and runs away crying out in pain never to be seen again.
Little Red Riding Hood[]
In the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf is the main antagonist who devours Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother and disguises himself as her in an attempt to trick Little Red Riding Hood. In the traditional story, he succeeds in eating her only for a huntsman to enter the cabin and free both Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother from the wolf via cutting his stomach (killing the wolf in the process). However, in most modern takes of the story this violent ending is omitted for one in which Little Red Riding Hood manages to defeat the wolf in some other (less gruesome) manner.
However, in some other versions, there is no huntsman and the story ends with the Wolf eating and killing Red and her Grandma.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf[]
Although not specifically named in this story, the Big Bad Wolf does appear near the end as a villain of sorts, this tale is one of the rare moments he actually succeeds in devouring someone and it is often used as a symbolic tale on how lying is a dangerous pass-time.
According to the tale, there was once a boy who always lied and the villagers grew angry with him and eventually opted to ignore him, this proved to be his undoing as he was attacked by the Big Bad Wolf and cried out for help; of course none of the villagers would listen as his many previous lies had made them distrustful of him and thus the wolf devoured him.
The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids[]
In the story of The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids, the Big Bad Wolf is first mentioned by the old mother goat when she told her kids to not open the door to him while she is away, and that he might disguise himself, but that he would be recognized by his rough voice and black feet.
After the old mother goat leaves to the woods, the Big Bad Wolf appears and knocks on the door, saying that he is their mother. However, the kids told him that he is not their mother, since the Big Bad Wolf has a rough voice, while their mother has a soft voice. The Big Bad Wolf bought himself a large piece of chalk, which he ate, making his voice soft. He once again rushes to the kids' house and knocked on the door, saying that he is their mother. But he put his black foot, and their mother does not have black feet. The wolf later goes to a miller and threatens to eat him up if he would not put white flour on his foot. Now, with white flour on his foot, the Big Bad Wolf rushes to the kids' house and knocks on the door, saying that he is their mother. The kids then ask the Big Bad Wolf to show them his foot, to confirm that he is their mother. The Big Bad Wolf puts his white foot on the window, and the kids, who assume that the wolf is their mother, open the door, only to realize that the "mother" is none other than the Big Bad Wolf.
The Big Bad Wolf chases the kids, who try to hide from him, and devours all of them, except for the youngest kid, the one who is in the clock case. The Big Bad Wolf then goes to a meadow and sleeps there. The old mother goat then returns from the woods and is devastated to see that her house is destroyed and that almost all of her kids are gone, with the exception of the youngest kid, who tells her the horrible incident of the Big Bad Wolf.
The old mother goat then goes with her remaining child to the meadow where the Big Bad Wolf is fast asleep. Upon seeing the Big Bad Wolf's large belly, the old mother goat assumes that the Big Bad Wolf may have eaten the other kids whole. She then tells her remaining child to bring her a pair of scissors to cut the Big Bad Wolf's belly. After the remaining kid brings her the scissors, she cuts the Big Bad Wolf's belly, and the other six kids jump from it and reunite with their mother.
Then, the old mother goat tells her kids to bring her stones to fill the Big Bad Wolf's belly while he is asleep. After they bring her the stones to fill the Big Bad Wolf's belly, the old mother goat and her kids fill the Big Bad Wolf's belly with the stones, and then the old mother goat sews the wolf's belly. During this time, the wolf was sleeping so deeply, that he did not feel anything.
Then, the Big Bad Wolf wakes up and feels the stones in his belly, who makes him very thirsty. He goes to a well and tries to drink, but his heavy belly pulls him down and he drowns and dies. The old mother goat and her seven little kids then dance happily around the well now that the wolf is gone forever.
The Wolf and the Lamb[]
The Wolf and the Lamb is another tale where the wolf succeeds in devouring someone. When going to a stream to drink, it sees a lamb washing in the water. Thinking of an excuse to eat it, the wolf accuses the lamb of insulting it a year ago. The lamb defends itself by saying that would be impossible because it was not alive back then. After the lamb disproves the wolf's several other false accusations, the wolf loses patience and claims it might have been a family member of the lamb who committed the misdemeanours, and eats the lamb anyway. Other versions have the wolf drop the accusations and decides it does not need an excuse to eat the lamb.
Other Media[]
Darkwing Duck[]
Big Bad Wolf makes a cameo appearance in the episode "In Like Blunt". Check kidnap a S.H.U.S.H. Agent List for once.
The Three Little Pigs (1991)[]
The Big Bad Wolf is the main antagonist in the animated film based on book by James Marshall.
When the first little pig receives an arrival from a builder to build a house of straw, the wolf blows it down and eats him. The second little pig also receives the arrival of a builder to build a house of sticks, but the wolf blows down and eats the second little pig too. The third little pig builds a house of bricks after receiving a visit from a builder, which Big Bad Wolf unsuccessfully blows it down. While the third little pig cooks soup at home, Big Bad Wolf keeps an eye on him to eat it, he briefly gets out of his house to pick up apples to take home, the wolf approaches threatening to eat him, but the pig gives one apple to the wolf to avoid being eaten, gives up taking apples to home.
When the third little pig returns at home, the Big Bad Wolf angrily approaches the brick house talking about to eat him. The third little pig briefly gets out of his house to enjoy the the circus, but Big Bad Wolf threats to eat him again, the third pig quickly returns to the house. Finally, the angry wolf resolves to come down the chimney, the third little pig who owns the brick house lights a pot of water on the fireplace. Just like in the original story, the wolf falls in and is fatally boiled, as well cooked by the third little pig.
Three Little Pigs Sing a Gig[]
The Big Bad Wolf is the main antagonist of John Clark Matthews' stop-motion animated film Three Little Pigs Sing a Gig.
He is first seen alone listening Mother Goose the narrator telling his story, but she said to her children not to hear him talking, leaving the wolf sadly. When Big Bad Wolf thinks about to eat the Three Little Pigs, he spends time singing. Afterwards, the Wolf first blows Lippy's house down (straw) with little resistance and Lippy Pig manages to escape and hides at Lumpy Pig's house. The Wolf starts threatening Lippy Pig and Lumpy Pig, but both tell the truth to him to stop making threats, he disobeys them. The Wolf blows Lumpy Pig's house down (wood) until he gets tired. The two pigs manage to escape and hide at Larry Pig's house (brick). While Lippy Pig and Lumpy Pig are at Larry Pig's house protected, Big Bad Wolf disguises himself as an innocent sheep to trick the pigs into letting him in, but fails because Lumpy Pig and Lippy Pig corrects Larry Pig saying that the sheep is not real and he agrees, so Big Bad Wolf decides to remove his sheep costume to be unmasked and starts to talk with Larry Pig about to eat him and brothers, Larry Pig loses his temper in the conversation with the Big Bad Wolf about being food, in addition Mother Goose's hand appears briefly showing a drawing of a dead pig to the wolf and also the word yuk to Larry during the argument after denying being wolf's food.
After Big Bad Wolf finished his conversation with Larry Pig, he attempts to enter the house through the chimney, but the pigs light a fire under the chimney causing him feeling burning pain. Shrieking in pain, Big Bad Wolf jumps out of the chimney and runs away crying, leaving the pigs alone and Mother Goose closes the book.
This version of Big Bad Wolf reappears with Larry Pig, Lippy Pig and Lumpy Pig in the computer animated film Goldilocks and the Three Bears Sing Their Little Bitty Hearts Out as one of the spectators watching Three Bears singing in a show as well in the end, maybe redeemed himself.
Shrek[]
The Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood serves as a supporting character in Shrek franchise. Unlike his fairytale counterpart, he is harmless, friendlier to Shrek and is on good terms with the Three Little Pigs. However, in Shrek spin-off short The Pig Who Cried Werewolf, the Wolf has an evil female alter-ego called Chef Lady at night when the full moon is visible, which he is turned into a menacing woman to eat the Three Little Pigs.
Disney[]
- Main article: Zeke Midas Wolf
The Big Bad Wolf appears in Disney's Silly Symphonies under the name Zeke Midas Wolf, though he is commonly called the Big Bad Wolf. He appears as the main antagonist of some Silly Symphonies, such as "Three Little Pigs".
Universal Pictures[]
The Big Bad Wolf appears in Univeral Pictures short film The Hams That Couldn’t Be Cured under the name Algernon Wolf. While the wolf is almost hanged, he pleads for a mercy crying remembering that the Three Little Pigs implicated with him and wrecked the brick house, it was revealed that the Algernon was a classical music teacher.
Algernon Wolf makes a cameo appearance in the short film Mother Goose on the Loose where he steals Little Bo Peep's lambs to devour them.
Faerie Tale Theatre[]
The Big Bad Wolves from Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs appear in tv show Faerie Tale Theatre under the names Reginald Von Luptin and Buck Wolf.
The Land of Stories[]
The Big Bad Wolf is a posthumous antagonist in The Land of Stories, who was killed by the hunter after the wolf almost ate Red Riding Hood. When he was killed, his children formed themselves to become "The Big Bad Wolf Pack". They are led by Malumclaw and together they attack any unsuspecting victims.
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The Wolf Among Us[]
- Main article: Bigby Wolf
He is the titular main protagonist of The Wolf Among Us, in this rather unique take on the character, he is mostly not a villain, but is actually heroic in some ways.
Music[]
Music videos have been dedicated to the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs. One of the more famous music videos is Three Little Pigs by Green Jello.
IDW Strawberry Shortcake comics[]
He is another antagonist of Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures appeared in the IDW comic issue #7.
The Bad Guys[]
Mr. Wolf referred to himself as the Big Bad Wolf to the audience and mentioned that he is the villain of every story.
Quotes[]
“ | Wolf: "Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in." Pigs: "Not by the hair on our chinny-chin-chins!" Wolf: "Then I'll huff... and I'll puff... and I'll BLOW your house in!" |
„ |
~ The Big Bad Wolf to the Little Pigs in The Three Little Pigs, and his most famous quote. |
“ | Red: "My, Grandma. What big eyes you have." Wolf: "All the better to see you with, my dear." Red: "My, Grandma. What big ears you have." Wolf: "All the better to hear you with, my dear." Red: "My, Grandma. What big teeth you have." Wolf: "All the better to EAT YOU WITH, MY DEAR!" |
„ |
~ The Big Bad Wolf to Little Red Riding Hood while disguised as her Grandma. |
“ | Hey, you! Get over here! A little bit closer…Oh, I know what it is. You’re afraid, cause I’m the uhh…the BIG BAD WOLF!! Well, I’m not surprised. I AM the villain of every story. | „ |
~ Mr. Wolf’s first fourth wall break in the opening to the audience. |
Gallery[]
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