Trickster Gods and the Mortals Who Love Them | Fate & Fabled

If you’ve attended a sleepover party in the last 50 years, chances are high that you’ve encountered a prank call - maybe you’ve even made one yourself. But for thousands of years before the invention of the telephone, pranks fell under the purview of a force even more powerful than rowdy teens. It was left to the Trickster Gods.
Hosted by Dr. Moiya McTier & Dr. Emily Zarka, FATE & FABLED explores the stories and characters of mythologies from all around the world - why they came to be and how they impact us still today.
Host / Writer: Moiya McTier, PhD
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Thomas Fernandes
Editor / Animator: Steven Simone
Assistant Editor: Jordyn Buckland
Illustrator: Sophie Calhoun
Script Editors: Emily Zarka, PhD & Moiya McTier, PhD
Fact Checker: Yvonne McGreevy
Additional Footage: Shutterstock
Music: APM Music
Executive in Charge (PBS): Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming (PBS): Gabrielle Ewing
Fate & Fabled is produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.

Пікірлер: 539

  • @JedediahCyrus
    @JedediahCyrus2 жыл бұрын

    Honestly, with how many people found the jackass series hilarious, I'm pretty sure that goat trick Loki pulled would still be considered top tier comedy.

  • @kathryngeeslin9509

    @kathryngeeslin9509

    2 жыл бұрын

    Especially with teenaged boys.

  • @RictusHolloweye

    @RictusHolloweye

    2 жыл бұрын

    In the future the most popular television show will be "Ow, my balls!".

  • @LuisSierra42

    @LuisSierra42

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@RictusHolloweye hahaha, the simpsons predicted this

  • @RictusHolloweye

    @RictusHolloweye

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@LuisSierra42 - As did the movie, Idiocracy.

  • @pvtpain66k

    @pvtpain66k

    2 жыл бұрын

    The Godzilla bit in the 3rd movie, yeah.

  • @Kolbjornelenano
    @Kolbjornelenano2 жыл бұрын

    The Aztecs had Huehuecoyotl, Old Coyote, who was also the god of music, dance, good luck and storytelling. He usually was a good guy but if he was extremely bored he would provoque wars

  • @Kolbjornelenano

    @Kolbjornelenano

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 ... What?

  • @RobExNihilo

    @RobExNihilo

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 What does anything you said have to do with Huehuecoyotl?

  • @DanielVCOliveira

    @DanielVCOliveira

    2 жыл бұрын

    Huehuehuehue coyotl

  • @Kaosbunny000

    @Kaosbunny000

    Жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 it’s the Greeks whole spiel of crossing humans and animals. Just realized this person is most likely a bot or just someone spamming this question through out the comments.

  • @andrewblack2596

    @andrewblack2596

    Жыл бұрын

    Native Americans also had old man coyote too I think he traveled from Mexico to North America.

  • @cfgould9811
    @cfgould98112 жыл бұрын

    I remember the "Coyote" character appearing in several Indigeneous American myths and stories. As I recall, the "Coyote" character is an integral part of the creation myths of many of these cultures.

  • @RidireOiche
    @RidireOiche2 жыл бұрын

    The hobgoblin and progenitor of Bugs Bunny, Robin Goodfellow, a fae spirit who roamed the land, through no fault of his own repeatedly coming into chance encounters with those who were cruel, selfish, or excessively arrogant, Goodfellow would use his magics to gleefully teach the bad person lessons in humility and decent behavior through his own brand of amusing/tormenting tricks turning the targets own greed and hubris against them. But he was not evil himself. Be good and see it returned, be bad and see it return tenfold. Goodfellow would reward and even grant random mostly unhelpful boons to good, decent, and selfless people he would encounter. Though asking for a favour required very specific wording, lest you ask to be able to turn into an animal to get out of a sticky situation and get stuck that way for the rest of your life unable to communicate with anyone because you said nothing about being able to turn back afterward. In that one case he did come back and lift the spell a year and a day later but that was in service of a different trick.

  • @AngBQueenAdwoasCloset
    @AngBQueenAdwoasCloset2 жыл бұрын

    As someone part of the Akan trine of Ghana, i LOVE how Anansi was incorporated into this fabled series. Thank you for highlighting us! 🇬🇭💖

  • @nicolehegarty4749

    @nicolehegarty4749

    Жыл бұрын

    I love Anansi ♥️ I have a close friend who is from Ghana and your culture is so beautiful I love it ♥️

  • @germanomagnone
    @germanomagnone2 жыл бұрын

    that's why in Walt Disney's 1973 Robin Hood they used the fox as a "living" symbol of Trickster.

  • @Lucius1958

    @Lucius1958

    2 жыл бұрын

    Disney studios originally proposed a version of the Reynard stories, but decided he was not sympathetic enough. So they changed him over to Robin Hood, with the same cast of characters. BTW, there's a great old stop-motion version of Reynard, by Ladislaw Starevich: check it out...

  • @marce.t8732
    @marce.t87322 жыл бұрын

    Currently, I am working on a comic series that involves multiple tricksters from folklore and myths. I greatly appreciate segments like these that explore the importance of the trickster archetype.

  • @monstersociety3360

    @monstersociety3360

    2 жыл бұрын

    Will you include Jack from European folklore? Or perhaps coyote from certain native American tales?

  • @andrevejohnrebucias603

    @andrevejohnrebucias603

    2 жыл бұрын

    Where can we read it?

  • @JP-br4mx

    @JP-br4mx

    2 жыл бұрын

    are they going to be African or African derived? Can I be part of it?

  • @SeantheDracunyan76

    @SeantheDracunyan76

    2 жыл бұрын

    I love that concept keep at it. I want to read that one day

  • @WanderTheNomad

    @WanderTheNomad

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 Spamming is cringe

  • @nickmalachai2227
    @nickmalachai22272 жыл бұрын

    My favorite trickster varies, but currently it's Odin, because nobody ever expects him to be a trickster. He's seen as this wise and/or powerful figure like a straightforward interpretation of Zeus, but he is a god who wanders and disguises himself to play games of riddles and trivia with people to secretly test them. There's a reason the Romans syncretized him with Mercury, and it's not because he was someone else's messenger boy.

  • @HoangMinh-pb7gd

    @HoangMinh-pb7gd

    2 жыл бұрын

    small fact: "the unexpected magician/wizard' theme in pop culture was inspired by Odin!

  • @nickmalachai2227

    @nickmalachai2227

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@HoangMinh-pb7gd so much was inspired by Odin. Wizards with beards, crows as supernatural knowing things (that might just be corvids, though. Smart buggers), Harley Quinn, Santa Claus, possibly Mrs Claus, so much is just "Odin in a different hat" Edit: note, I am not sure all of the above are clearly inspire by Odin, but I wouldn't be surprised.

  • @Gavither

    @Gavither

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@nickmalachai2227 What's your logic behind Harley Quinn inspired by Odin? Doubtful if just her professor's name.

  • @nickmalachai2227

    @nickmalachai2227

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Gavither so, Harley Quinn is inspired by the Harlequin, a French comedic figure of sorts potentially derived from the old germanic King Herla (Herla Cyning), a mythical figure often identified as Odin. The actual stylistic design for the Harlequin is probably not from Odin, but their existences as leaders of the Wild Hunt leads people to think they're possibly connected pretty far back.

  • @nickmalachai2227

    @nickmalachai2227

    2 жыл бұрын

    Ignore the above comment, it is spam

  • @pezlerthepolychromatic8337
    @pezlerthepolychromatic83372 жыл бұрын

    I would love to hear more about the Cree trickster Wesakechak, stories about him were always so riveting and I remember hearing them as a child on a show called Gather 'Round, many years ago.

  • @Lucius1958

    @Lucius1958

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 What does your comment have to do with this post? Spammers are not trickster gods: they're just annoying a**holes.

  • @Gavither

    @Gavither

    2 жыл бұрын

    The cool thing about him is he's not necessarily a pure trickster. He's a transformer for sure, and plays tricks / is mischievous, but he's benevolent, like one of his (probable) brothers Nanabozho (if not just another name for him).

  • @SlapstickGenius23

    @SlapstickGenius23

    2 жыл бұрын

    Maui’s also a trickster deity, so is Anansi.

  • @pezlerthepolychromatic8337

    @pezlerthepolychromatic8337

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Gavither Very true, his stories usually revolve around explaining why things are the way they are, like why the porcupine has quills or why the loon laughs.

  • @SedatedGhostwriter

    @SedatedGhostwriter

    2 жыл бұрын

    Whisky Jack!

  • @CaineDM1955
    @CaineDM19552 жыл бұрын

    Not all slaves brought stories of clever spiders to the U.S. Many African folk tales told of a clever rabbit. Like an American version of the Brothers Grimm, Joel Chandler Harris collected many of these stories, & published them in the original slave's dialect, just as they were told to him. It could be argued that "Br'er Rabbit" might even be the inspiration for "Bugs Bunny".

  • @efaristi9737

    @efaristi9737

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 well, thay are rather known for going after nymphs, women and men for sex.

  • @CaineDM1955

    @CaineDM1955

    Жыл бұрын

    @@efaristi9737: If you look at more of the comments, you'll see that this person has been spamming copies of this opinion on several other people's comments - regardless of whether or not it is relevant to that comment's topic. I don't know why they can't just say it, instead of attaching it to the comments of others.

  • @efaristi9737

    @efaristi9737

    Жыл бұрын

    @@CaineDM1955 yeah, i have noticed XD

  • @grell5108

    @grell5108

    Жыл бұрын

    I've heard some of those stories. They're very reminiscent of the stories I grew up with. But we had the clever, mischievous Jackal and the dumb but strong Wolf, who was often at the receiving end of Jackal's schemes, as main characters. With many others like the Farmer from whom they'd steal lambs and fat, the Farmer's two dogs (Thunder and Lightning), the brave but often arrogant Lion and the confusing and slightly scary Vulture (who sometimes forms a very unstable alliance with Jackal; and is sometimes called a Mariboe, depending on who you ask).

  • @michaelhanford8139

    @michaelhanford8139

    Жыл бұрын

    Op, Good point! I bet that's where the 'brayer rabbit' (sp?) story came from that Disney made popular decades ago. He tricked the antagonist of the story into a briar patch. Tricksters are easily interpreted as wicked or ill willed but that's pejorative, imo, as humans prefer stability & predictability since giving up the hunter gatherer life style. Tricksters dont just shake things up to counter stagnation, they teach humility using their target's hubris & hot temper against them to teach a lesson.

  • @kennyhagan5781
    @kennyhagan57812 жыл бұрын

    Great video. My favorite trickster is Kikahah,the fox from the north-eastern parts of North America. He was the one who helped humans when the giants ruled the world and the other gods were afraid to help. He was also the one who taught humans about medicine and magic, against the wishes of the others. He was a lot like Prometheus in that he seemed to care about humans. The science fiction author Phillip Jose Farmer used him as a major character in his "world of tiers "novels. Those are some ripping yarns, so if you're into fantasy literature, you should check them out.

  • @SlapstickGenius23

    @SlapstickGenius23

    2 жыл бұрын

    Sun Wukong is indeed influenced by Hanuman. And both are trickster gods.

  • @brandondavidson4085
    @brandondavidson40852 жыл бұрын

    For a whole week during November (Native American Heritage Month) we read Iktomi stories at the daycare I worked at a few years ago. They just loved how clever he was and how the stories taught important lessons.

  • @keybojoe900
    @keybojoe9002 жыл бұрын

    For Yupiit here in Alaska, the Tulukaruk (Raven) is known as the trickster spirit, and is also the most powerful spirit in our spirituality

  • @MariaVosa
    @MariaVosa2 жыл бұрын

    I love all the trickster gods, but Sun Wukong is the OG. Honestly, he's just the best. As he would tell you himself.

  • @LuisSierra42

    @LuisSierra42

    2 жыл бұрын

    Son Goku

  • @MariaVosa

    @MariaVosa

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 What on earth are you on about? Have you been drinking?

  • @Markus0021

    @Markus0021

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@MariaVosa Either a bot or troll. Just report him.

  • @aidanrogers4438
    @aidanrogers44382 жыл бұрын

    _Loki causes the death of Baldur_ Loki: ‘It’s just a prank, bro!’

  • @peterkelley6344

    @peterkelley6344

    2 жыл бұрын

    Odin: Every time you do that I have to expand the great table in Vahalla, or the war lands for the fallen solders. Death IS no prank, Brother.

  • @NovaRuner
    @NovaRuner2 жыл бұрын

    So the fact that in most versions of spider-man he will joke or quip one liners while fighting is intentional because he’s inspired by Anansi.

  • @Domdrok
    @Domdrok2 жыл бұрын

    I really hope that thousands of years from now they dig up Looney Tunes and see them as our trickster deities.

  • @spazbobstinkpants

    @spazbobstinkpants

    Жыл бұрын

    All hail the wask-wee wabbit.

  • @Albinojackrussel
    @Albinojackrussel2 жыл бұрын

    I think Odin is always very interesting as a trickster god, and fairly unique in his placement in the hirachy as his pantheon. Tricksters are rarely at the top

  • @wratched
    @wratched2 жыл бұрын

    Many of Anansi's stories bled over to other West African cultures, where he became the Hare. When these poeple were sent over to America on slave ships, he became B'rer Rabbit, who then became Bugs Bunny.

  • @theasinclaire52
    @theasinclaire522 жыл бұрын

    It's neat how Trickster Gods can be bringers of change in the world. Kind of like a variable in science.

  • @grapeshot
    @grapeshot2 жыл бұрын

    One of the most powerful scenes I've seen in cinema was on American Gods. Anansi, angry gets💩 done. Let It Burn🔥🔥🔥

  • @alastorcorvus

    @alastorcorvus

    2 жыл бұрын

    yeah, first season was amazing, too bad they fired Brian Fuller.

  • @SedatedGhostwriter

    @SedatedGhostwriter

    2 жыл бұрын

    You'll love the sequel novel to American Gods, Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.

  • @alastorcorvus

    @alastorcorvus

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@SedatedGhostwriter he's also working in the TV adaptation!

  • @CidTheGargoyle

    @CidTheGargoyle

    2 жыл бұрын

    I hated what they did to Anansi in that show. In the book he was the cynical, snarky, but friendly and fun loving trickster that you were glad to have as a vicarious companion. The show forgets almost everything that made him likeable or even much of a trickster and him turned him into a bitter, almost constantly angry, "embodiment of the rage of Africa" sort of character, though apparently that had a lot to do with the actor's input. Glad they fired him.

  • @AngBQueenAdwoasCloset

    @AngBQueenAdwoasCloset

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@CidTheGargoyle You may not have been the target audience for that particular character. I know for a fact Anansi resonated with MANY ppl w/i my community on American Gods .. It was powerfully done and loved

  • @bellama920
    @bellama920 Жыл бұрын

    I inherited a couple lamps with kokopeli on them. I always felt bad because it seemed like cultural apropriation and I had no idea who or what was depicted, but I needed lamps really badly for my new apartment. Thanks for including kokopeli in this video so that I can do more research and learn about the mischievous trickster God in my living room. Also, I have worms on a string hanging off one of the lamps, and I'm glad kokopeli also has a similar chaotic energy.

  • @melaneykk5986
    @melaneykk5986 Жыл бұрын

    Charles de Lint wrote of the Crow Girls. I have loved how they embodied the trickster spirit ever since I first read about them.

  • @LukeBunyip
    @LukeBunyip2 жыл бұрын

    I've only heard a little bit about the Mesoamerican deity Xochipilli, but I love the story about his habit of switching the goods and valuables of strangers that pass each other at a crossroad. Could we have more about Trickster myths from around the world? That was fun.

  • @whathell6t

    @whathell6t

    Жыл бұрын

    @Luke Bunyip Xochipilli also a Butterfly God and protector of homosexuals. He always sides with Quetzalcoatl every time Quetzalcoatl duel against Tezcatlipoca.

  • @franklindavidson5668
    @franklindavidson56682 жыл бұрын

    In Cherokee mythology we have Jistu the Rabbit. In every story about him, he manages to find his way into trouble, but manages to escape with a clever trick.

  • @jamessirot854
    @jamessirot8542 жыл бұрын

    Hermes, the Greek god of Travelers, is also a known trickster. Even from the day he was born, the son of Zeus was pulling pranks.

  • @EnbyNomad

    @EnbyNomad

    2 жыл бұрын

    Truly and Icon

  • @silvercandra4275

    @silvercandra4275

    Жыл бұрын

    Hermes being born and immediately stealing Apollon's cattle will never not be funny.

  • @Lonnielonni
    @Lonnielonni Жыл бұрын

    Appreciate the Anansi shoutout but I was really hoping to see Eshu/Elegba trickster god of the Yoruba of Nigeria, Orishas aren't well talked about and it definitely would've been nice to see these gods/Orishas get some representation. this was a good video regardless 😊

  • @BlueBeetle1939
    @BlueBeetle19392 жыл бұрын

    Yes I have always been fascinated by trickster tales from my childhood with bugs bunny and brer rabbit to learning about Anansi and Eshu my favorite characters have always been the ones who use their wit amd cleverness to make sure things go their way

  • @iananelson8256

    @iananelson8256

    2 жыл бұрын

    Br'er Rabbit was always so sarcastic in his tricks too. There are some bad stereotypes around him though so he is definitely a mixed bag.

  • @martingerlach8285
    @martingerlach8285 Жыл бұрын

    As a Dane, I must admit that the TRUE Loke (Yes that is how Loki is spelled correctly in Danish), is my favorite trickster God. I have a great facination of the Old Viking Sagas about the Gods of Valhalla, and that entire world. It has some really great stories.! Not all of them minded for children, I must ad.! Really nice video, and THANK YOU for mentioning that the Loki from the Marvel Universe is NOT the same as the True Loke, from the Norse myths. 🙂

  • @irighterotica
    @irighterotica2 жыл бұрын

    How can you not love a good-hearted trickster?

  • @DarkestElemental616
    @DarkestElemental616 Жыл бұрын

    I highly recommend "Trickster Makes The World" as a book for fellow trickster lovers! I love all tricksters tbh, but Brer Rabbit and the various fox tricksters hold a special place in my heart from my childhood.

  • @thomasdevine867
    @thomasdevine8672 жыл бұрын

    If I am in anyway honest, Bugs Bunny was always my favorite trickster figure. Ba're Rabbit, from the time my mother read us the Uncle Remus stories, has been high on the list too. Molly Whuppie (a female equivalent to Hop-o-my-thumb), Kate Crackernuts, Saharazade, and Robin Hood, are all near and dear to my heart.

  • @tashokukisune
    @tashokukisune2 жыл бұрын

    The native Americans also had Coyote as a trickster. And Raven. I like them both very much!

  • @Lucy-ks9qb

    @Lucy-ks9qb

    2 жыл бұрын

    Raven steals the light is one of my favorite stories.

  • @juliewedam9826
    @juliewedam9826 Жыл бұрын

    Hi :) I love your series ! Trickster energy is indeed very powerful. As as I practitioner of witchcraft I and other practitioners I know work with trickster energy. I personally work with Loki and Odin. Tricksters are the survivors that adapt to their situations while never losing their identity. As soon as you mentioned Anansi I knew Spiderman was the marvel superhero you were going to mention. :)

  • @susanbergquist3550
    @susanbergquist35502 жыл бұрын

    My favorite trickster is Old Man Coyote from southwestern Native American folktales.

  • @Mr.HotDogShirtGuy
    @Mr.HotDogShirtGuy2 жыл бұрын

    I grew up reading children’s books featuring Anansi, Kokopeli, and Loki, so those are my favorite.

  • @angelacooper8973

    @angelacooper8973

    Жыл бұрын

    I grew up on Anansi. The only spider I could have great respect for.

  • @mrs.g.9816
    @mrs.g.98162 жыл бұрын

    Since I was little, I've enjoyed the Brer Rabbit stories. I've also enjoyed Irish folk tales, especially those about the leprechauns, who are tricksters. I think if the tricksters of myth from all over the world had a favorite holiday, it would be April Fool's day!

  • @greyladybast
    @greyladybast2 жыл бұрын

    I am SO HAPPY to see the best modern trickster ever. Hats off to Bugs Bunny!

  • @ElicBehexan
    @ElicBehexan2 жыл бұрын

    I love Kokopeli, but Coyote is probably a more common First Nation trickster god.

  • @pwnmeisterage

    @pwnmeisterage

    Жыл бұрын

    Raven is the typical trickster in areas where ravens are common and coyotes are rare.

  • @zakrilege3428
    @zakrilege34282 жыл бұрын

    One of my favorite trickster stories is of the native Americans Wakjakaga, who's foolish antics were used to explain why our buttholes look the way they do. Tricksters can fill so many roles in every medium and it's honestly my favorite character archetype.

  • @ringlhach
    @ringlhach2 жыл бұрын

    I'm a little sad that Coyote and another figure influenced/merged with Anansi in the American South, Brer Rabbit, didn't get a mention.

  • @samwill7259
    @samwill72592 жыл бұрын

    I'm pretty sure the largest cult of the trickster gods in this day and age is kindergarteners. Like all of them. You turn your back on them for ten seconds and they ruin your life.

  • @LindaC616

    @LindaC616

    2 жыл бұрын

    Haha, continues until they're through college

  • @ButterflySeraph612
    @ButterflySeraph6122 жыл бұрын

    Tricksters are my favorite characters of all time. I think a fun concept I want to explore one day is a trickster figure as a character in a cosmic horror setting. Alternatively, maybe a written thought experiment where the author/narrator is a trickster to both the audience and the story they reign over.

  • @nemilyk
    @nemilyk2 жыл бұрын

    I'd add that Odin himself has many characteristics of a trickster god. So technically, Marvel has at least three of them.

  • @MariaVosa

    @MariaVosa

    2 жыл бұрын

    Really wish Marvel comics writers had understood that about him, and not just made him into Norse Zeus. Odin is far more interesting - and dangerous - than that.

  • @nemilyk

    @nemilyk

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@MariaVosa Totally agreed. As entertaining as the Marvel properties can be, they don't really do things like nuance that well...

  • @nemilyk

    @nemilyk

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 Er... did you reply to the wrong comments...?

  • @Markus0021

    @Markus0021

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@nemilyk He/It responded to dozens of messages with the same off-topic comment. I suspect it is a bot.

  • @nemilyk

    @nemilyk

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Markus0021 Cheers, I had me heccin' confused for sure, haha.

  • @rosavanopheusden5211
    @rosavanopheusden5211 Жыл бұрын

    oh my stars, those artworks are gorgeous 😍 it would be really neat to have sources or artist credits in the videos, even for non-copyrighted material!

  • @cheshirccat
    @cheshirccat Жыл бұрын

    My all-time favorite is Loki (whose symbol I have tattooed on my arm), but a very close second would be the Cheshire Cat. I like him in any and all iterations, but my favorite version of him has to be from the original book. Yes, he comes along to help Alice, but he's going to cause some trouble along the way 😉

  • @spotpz
    @spotpz Жыл бұрын

    One could classify the Devil as a trickster too. Although some tales portray him as being particularly malevolent, others place him firmly in the trickster role. If you want to see the Devil in full-on trickster mode, check out The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman, or the TV series Lucifer which focuses on Gaiman's Devil character as the protagonist.

  • @Giles29

    @Giles29

    Жыл бұрын

    Other trickster figures like Loki suffer in later Christianization of their myths because they are changed from trickster figures to more devil-figures due to this association.

  • @mediocreocon
    @mediocreocon2 жыл бұрын

    Odysseus when he told the cyclops his name was Nobody 🤣

  • @Googledeservestodie
    @Googledeservestodie2 жыл бұрын

    frost giant: make me laugh! Loki: *Hi I'm Loki of Asgard and welcome to Jackass!*

  • @GillamtheGreatest
    @GillamtheGreatest2 жыл бұрын

    the art for this video was fantastic, and im happy anansi got mentioned

  • @douglasphillips5870
    @douglasphillips58702 жыл бұрын

    My favorite trickster is probably Gwydion of the Mabigonion. He's more troublesome in the earlier part of the story, but usually finds some loophole to get his way.

  • @juliewedam9826
    @juliewedam9826 Жыл бұрын

    Hi :) I love your series ! Trickster energy is indeed very powerful. Tricksters are the survivors. As soon as you mentioned Anansi I knew Spiderman was the marvel superhero you were going to mention.

  • @CGlacia
    @CGlacia2 жыл бұрын

    I read this super-cool post on Tumblr that claims Bugs Bunny and El-Ahrairah (the rabbit trickster culture hero from Watership Down) could have been inspired, at least indirectly, by Br'er Rabbit, and I can't stop thinking about it. And this is pretty niche, but in the world of Star Wars fanfiction on Archive Of Our Own, author Fialleril created their Tatooine Slave Culture, and central to it is the trickster Ekkreth, who uses their shapeshifting to help free slaves, and was explicitly inspired by Br'er Rabbit and Anansi.

  • @MySerpentine

    @MySerpentine

    2 жыл бұрын

    That was a fun series.

  • @Jayjay-qe6um
    @Jayjay-qe6um2 жыл бұрын

    "I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose."

  • @EmelieWaldken
    @EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

    I think the trickster gods were very relevant in mythologies where the concept of Good & Evil didn't exist. Many gods had both positive and negative sides, creative and destructive, and so on. And a god with an affinity for mischief and chaos makes a perfect troublemaker, so these are often the antagonists... but not always. And I LOVE that fluidity.

  • @BeatrixTomomizu
    @BeatrixTomomizu2 жыл бұрын

    My favorite is Loki. But not the marvel one. The one, that turned thor into freya to trick a ice giant so thor can get his Hammer back, after Loki stole it and gave it away xD I really like that story... Loki is kinda a figure like: "LOKI! WHAT THE HECK?? Now you have to help us, cause YOU are the reason for this!! " And my boyfriend LOVES the story with Skadi. But I must admit, I don't really know that many mythologies and I'm still watching out to learn more. Anansi seems like a really cool god~ First time I came across that Name was actually american gods xD

  • @nduduzoblose4355
    @nduduzoblose43552 жыл бұрын

    Gods, I've *been* waiting for this episode Tricksters are my favourite, and Anansi is the one I love the most

  • @grell5108
    @grell5108 Жыл бұрын

    My favourite trickster would have to be Odinn. A lot of people forget that Loki wasn't the only one in the norse pantheon. Although most of Odinn's trickery was to gain knowledge and satisfy his curiosity, he was called by many names to represent the different aspects of him. A lot involve classic trickster archetypes. And I do believe that he embodies the phrase, "for the thrill of it" when asked why he did something, perfectly.

  • @sarahwatts7152
    @sarahwatts71522 жыл бұрын

    "Prank responsibly." Love it.

  • @Luksilva
    @Luksilva2 жыл бұрын

    Here in Brazil we have Exu from Candomblé as an example of the trickster archetype

  • @MWhaleK
    @MWhaleK2 жыл бұрын

    Loki, Hermes, Sun Wukong, Coyote and Maui are basically my top five trickster gods.

  • @austinfreyrikrw6651
    @austinfreyrikrw66512 жыл бұрын

    Good information but just one correction for Chinese pronunciation: “Sun” in Sun Wukong here is pronounced with “oo”, like Ü in Über the ride sharing company.

  • @ravenclawfairy3648
    @ravenclawfairy36482 жыл бұрын

    I love this! ❤️ Tricksters are my favorite 💖 Loki is my favorite Trickster.

  • @elizabethcoen
    @elizabethcoen Жыл бұрын

    In my personal opinion, one of my favorite tricksters from Japanese pop culture is Impmon from Digimon Tamers. Even though his pranks and mischievous nature were actually a cover-up for deeper negative feelings, I could easily tell from the instant he showed up on screen that this purple devil-like Digimon was a trickster god for the digital age. Another good example of a modern-day trickster? Cut Man and Clown Man from the "Mega Man" video games. Although both Robot Masters aren't very tall in terms of height, they outsmart their opponents through trickery and their wit. In fact, both of these robots weren't even bad guys to begin with. Cut Man was created by Dr. Light to fell timber while Clown Man worked at an amusement park providing entertainment to visitors.

  • @DAGGER479
    @DAGGER4792 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Thank you guys!

  • @KootFloris
    @KootFloris Жыл бұрын

    Tricksters often level humanity up by stealing gifts, like fire, from the Gods. Great book about this is: "Trickster Made This World" by Lewis Hyde

  • @samchafin4623
    @samchafin4623 Жыл бұрын

    Love all the trickster deities, spirits, fairies, and just plain ol' tricky heroes, from Kokopeli, Loki, and Hermes, to Leprechauns, to Robin Hood, to Freakazoid. Love seeing a clever character put one over on the powerful.

  • @bjgoodrich5864
    @bjgoodrich58642 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for making this video!😻

  • @smileyp4535
    @smileyp45352 жыл бұрын

    4:40 maybe the joke was less of a joke and more of a jackass stunt, someone tying their dingdong to a goat and letting it go free is very much in the spirit of those guys. Maybe Scotty the giant and Loki are the type to get a kick out of that stuff lol, idk if it would make up for her father's murder but hey, it was probably the first time she'd see anyone do that and it made her laugh

  • @Giles29

    @Giles29

    Жыл бұрын

    Who else would think of that? You can't say Loki wasn't creative.

  • @badscientist42069
    @badscientist420692 жыл бұрын

    Road Runner doesn't beep beep, he meep meeps!

  • @ladyselenafelicitywhite1596
    @ladyselenafelicitywhite15962 жыл бұрын

    Interesting, thank you for sharing this with us 🙋🏼‍♀️

  • @pendragon2012
    @pendragon20122 жыл бұрын

    Enslaved African-Americans also had Brer Rabbit. I think my favorite might be Raven from the Pacific Northwest tribes.

  • @UubTay
    @UubTay2 жыл бұрын

    Those illustrations are gorgeous!!

  • @catherinebaldwin6580
    @catherinebaldwin65802 жыл бұрын

    Brony here, Discord is my favorite chaos bringer.

  • @spiderlover2021
    @spiderlover20212 жыл бұрын

    Loki is definitely my favorite trickster. But anansi is very interesting too.

  • @seaservant9852
    @seaservant98522 жыл бұрын

    This was amazing!

  • @MDSunglasses
    @MDSunglasses2 жыл бұрын

    I've been watching since the begining. And your video's get better and better.

  • @africaamaze
    @africaamaze Жыл бұрын

    When I started watching this video, I wanted to suggest that the presenter checks out Ananse from my country Ghana. Then boom!!! she mentioned it👌👍👍

  • @trevelyank1526
    @trevelyank15262 жыл бұрын

    I really enjoyed that thanks

  • @stelladonaconfredobutler9459
    @stelladonaconfredobutler94592 жыл бұрын

    First Nation's Coyote Jack and his act of rolling tobacco and sharing it with you while kinda helping you at the crossroads in making decisions or giving you information. In the end of the encounter you have made the decision.

  • @awildamartinez3484
    @awildamartinez3484 Жыл бұрын

    I think in the Taino myth, one of mother earth's sons, Deminam Caracaracol, was the trickster one. Once, he stole from a Fire god, and from his mother if I recall. He was punished but managed to get out of it. I think he's even link to humanity's creation. My memory is fuzzy so I should read up more on it.

  • @ShawntelDC
    @ShawntelDC2 жыл бұрын

    Okay on top of appreciating the information you’ve given me.. can I just say that is an amazing colour on you 🥰

  • @btg-bp4vl
    @btg-bp4vl Жыл бұрын

    If I remember correctly Anansi was also a superhero in staticshock where he was a spiderbased trickster who acts as the protector of Africa.

  • @rickloftus9330
    @rickloftus93302 жыл бұрын

    Love you docs! Awesome episode! My favorite trickster is Nanaboozhoo, of the Anishinaabe. They are a hero associated with rabbits or hares.

  • @Jeff-0621
    @Jeff-06212 жыл бұрын

    That was awesome! Nuff said

  • @Turdfergusen382
    @Turdfergusen3822 жыл бұрын

    Ownage Pranks is still the best prank call KZread channel

  • @andrevejohnrebucias603
    @andrevejohnrebucias6032 жыл бұрын

    The modern illustrations are really good. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

  • @deirdregibbons5609
    @deirdregibbons56092 жыл бұрын

    Nice segment! I enjoy the stories of the Lakota trickster Inokti. His clever plans often backfire, so maybe he is more of an aspiring trickster? I enjoyed reading about him in the children's books written by Paul Goble.

  • @cha5
    @cha52 жыл бұрын

    My favorite mythical trickster figure in literature who also loves putting human beings through a wringer would have to be H. P. Lovecraft's Nyarlathotep.

  • @ryangee4634
    @ryangee46342 жыл бұрын

    I was waiting for her to mention Hermes the entire time.

  • @alitain8135
    @alitain8135 Жыл бұрын

    Hey, you guys should do a video on the Sun, Moon, and Stars in myths and folklore. Like specifically the imagery and use of the three together. They pop up a lot, like in Grimm Fairytales and whatnot. I always found it interesting when those three iconic symbols show up together. I mean obviously, they go together being what they are, but yeah just find it neat but I wonder if there's more to why specifically they're often used together as a trinity. Anyways I enjoy your guys' videos, keep up the good work!

  • @aversivearcher8589
    @aversivearcher8589 Жыл бұрын

    1:43 This was in Michael Scotts office in The Office and I always thought it was Randall lmao

  • @israelnekruman
    @israelnekruman2 жыл бұрын

    I came here specifically because I knew they'd talk about my boys/non binary gods Anansi and Loki.

  • @Giles29

    @Giles29

    Жыл бұрын

    Well, I guess they are boys if they want to be on that particular day

  • @Bubblesthewitch
    @Bubblesthewitch2 жыл бұрын

    I got to the point where they mentioned another Marvel hero inspired by a trickster god and I’m so excited because there are so many it could be. Is it just Odin? Is it Hercules, who is also a trickster and became a god? Is it the Hulk who’s influenced by Cu Chulainn? Is it Captain America, who is visually inspired by Hermes? Or how Miles Morales can be read as Paralleling Anansi? Ms. Marvel’s new origin (too new not spoiling it)? I could do this all day? Edit: oh, that’s an obscure comics reference! But also Daredevil because Lucifer, Various Xmen, Hawkeye bc Apollo is kinda a trickster sometimes, Deadpool because I’m counting Ryan Reynolds as a god, Shang Chi because of The Monkey King’s influence on The movies it’s inspired by, Namor’s more direct parallels to Hermes, Quick Silver bc also Hermes, the idea of superheroes having roots in Greek hero’s who where all trickster, the Golem & Anansi kinda also influencing superheroes because a lot of the best comic writers where Jewish or descended African.

  • @MartyMango0
    @MartyMango0 Жыл бұрын

    I've always loved tricksters so thanks for this vid! One of my lesser known favorites is the medieval European Reynard the Fox because the Reynard stories are both entertainment & 12th century (often political) satire.

  • @JoaoPessoa86
    @JoaoPessoa862 жыл бұрын

    one of the first trickster figure I remember learning about was the Saci Perêrê, a one legged figure of Brazilian folklore known for causing mischief

  • @andremassabki6034

    @andremassabki6034

    2 жыл бұрын

    Me too, I love this entity!

  • @afrinaut3094

    @afrinaut3094

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yeah I remember him he’s kind of a racist a picture of enslaved Africans in Brazil. A mischievous African child, something you cannot trust.

  • @JoaoPessoa86

    @JoaoPessoa86

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 ?

  • @andremassabki6034

    @andremassabki6034

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@taylorfusher2997 "and I oop-" (MASTERS, 2015)

  • @Lucius1958

    @Lucius1958

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JoaoPessoa86 It's a spammer: report it.

  • @historical_lalo785
    @historical_lalo7852 жыл бұрын

    First love you guys keep it up

  • @ardri8680
    @ardri8680 Жыл бұрын

    art in this was insane

  • @witchplease9695
    @witchplease96952 жыл бұрын

    Anansi and Baron Samedi from African/Caribbean mythology are my fave tricksters.

  • @jannebrija9879
    @jannebrija9879 Жыл бұрын

    I clicked on this video because the thumb nail really reminds me of Joy Boy, maybe this is Eiichiro Oda's inspiration and it also explains the 5th gear