| “ | Smokebomb! | ” |
–Randy Cunningham | ||
Randall "Randy" Cunningham is a 9th grade student, Norrisville Ninja at Norrisville High, and the protagonist of Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja.
Personality
Randy is an average high schooler who tries to fit in and be cool. There are many times where he engages in dubious acts that could possibly get him into a lot of trouble, like crashing Bash's party ("House of 1,000 Boogers"), spitting into a volcano ("Monster Dump"), and using the Ninja powers to fix a science project ("Dawn of the Driscoll"). Often he forgets that his actions have consequences which can result in major problems for himself and the people around him. As time goes on, though, he realizes when the situation is his fault, and takes responsibility to fix it as much as possible.
He is apparently not very smart, as seen in especially science class, or he could just be lazy. Despite his ignorance, he is quick-witted in ninja situations, creating techniques, and normal life situations.
He can be inconsiderate, impatient, and a bit bossy in his attitude with the NinjaNomicon, but is a loyal friend and has the heart of a hero, the perfect ideals of a Ninja. He also keeps his promises, for example, when Howard asked him to promise to stay in the locker for ten seconds after Howard leaves and he did even though Howard farted and closed the locker door on him. Howard can be troublesome and rude, but fortunately Randy is usually forgiving toward Howard's actions. He can treat Howard unfairly or neglectfully at times, as when he said Howard didn't have any understanding of having a duty, but he does his best to make it up, and works hard at balancing their friendship and his vocation as the Ninja.
When Randy gained the mask and became the Ninja, he thought the position would be all butt-kicking and hitting, but discovers it is very hard fighting against robots and monsters, and soon gets used to it. He becomes quite serious at his profession, which strains and sometimes nearly breaks his friendship with Howard. Ever since becoming the Ninja, he grows more mature bit by bit in each episode as a result of the lessons he learns and understands from the Nomicon.
Appearance
Physical Appearance
Randy is very trimly built, in contrast to his best friend Howard. Randy is also somewhat taller. He has naturally Tyrian purple hair and sapphire blue eyes. Comparing his shirtless physique as shown first in "Got Stank" and later in "Ninja Camp," he seems to have gained some muscle, probably because of his ninja duties.
Clothing
Randy is always (except as the Ninja) seen wearing a red McTop with a white stipe that angles up to form the same "Greek key" symbol which is found on the cover of the NinjaNomicon and the Ninja Suit. He also has a grey McHoodie that has wavy sleeves and pockets. He wears black McSkinnies that fit very well with the rest of his outfit. He is seen wearing purple zip-up McKicks.
In winter he also wears a dark teal, fur-lined hooded jacket, though in "Debbie Meddle" he was imprudent enough to wear a black jacket with red piping and a red scarf, with the Ninja mask worn on his head like a stocking cap.
Notable Possessions
Ninja Suit
The Ninja Suit is the suit that possesses all the power that Randy uses to defeat robots and stanked students. Before Randy relieved the suit by the previous Ninja, he knew almost everything about it because he was a big fan of the ninja.
NinjaNomicon
The NinjaNomicon is Randy's guide to everything about being the ninja. When he first received it he was unsure of its worth, but he quickly learned always to trust and respect it. The only disagreement Randy has with it is regarding Howard. The NinjaNomicon suggests that the ninja should not have a friend. When it glows or when Randy is in a situation, The NinjaNomicon offers advice or proverbs which Randy usually does not understand immediately, but later see what it means.
McFist Industries' Products
As Randy states, "We are McFist men from head to toe." Randy may be such a big fan of the products either because it's just popular, or that he finds that there's something good about it. In "McFists of Fury," he stated that as the Ninja, he is boycotting the merchandise, but as Randy, he will be first in line to buy it.
Grave Puncher Series
Randy is a big fan of the Grave Puncher video-game series, and of its various accessories and spin-offs. He has posters of it covering all of the walls in his room. He and Howard completed the first three games together and were working on the fourth.
Schooling
English Language Arts
Not much is known about his relationship to writing. His ELA teacher is Mr. Bannister, who is a rather lackadaisical teacher; in "Last Stall on the Left" he gives Randy a "B" for a torn-up essay which he described as a metaphor. Randy is later seen in "To Smell and Back" refusing to let Howard copy off his paper because he is angry, which implies A) that in ordinary circumstances he does let Howard copy, and B) that he is at least marginally better at writing than Howard is.
Science
Randy is said to be failing science in the episode "Attack of the Killer Potatoes." He seems to be getting bad science grades in all the different projects he does with Howard. Mrs. Driscoll, their science teacher, also sees him as a student which may lower his effort grade. He does not actually seem to have a hard time with the material, but he is just too lazy to work hard for a good grade.
Physical Education
Randy may not have too much trouble with gym, but his gym teacher Coach Green has a harsh and crazed way of teaching which certainly scares him.
Spanish
Randy does not do very well in Spanish because the only words he knows are foods such as agua ("water"), frijoles ("beans"), taco, quesadilla, salsa, habanero, burrito, and tortilla; even of those he seems to know only that they are Spanish words, not the actual meaning of them.
Thoughts
Dreams
Randy dreams about normal things like being popular, everyone knowing his name, and looking brave.
Opinions
Toward School
Randy finds himself bored in class, but most likely enjoys the social aspects and field trips.
Toward Being the Ninja
Randy thinks of it as awesome in the beginning, but quickly learns that it is not an easy task. It is hard for Randy still to be friends with Howard because of his task.
Towards Bullying
Randy does not show signs of any form of hatred towards it, but simply takes it as a normal thing that happens all the time. He thinks Bash is a "schoob," but takes no particular steps to stop him from bullying other students like Bucky.
Toward Romance
Randy doesn't seem to think much about romance, probably due in part to being busy as a best friend, a student, and the Ninja. In "Sorcerer in Love," he pretends to be concerned that he and Howard didn't have dates, which ends with them laughing about it. Sometimes, he even finds the idea of romance horrific. For example, in "Stank'd to the Future," when Dickie and Miss Zingwald kissed, Randy shows disgust (likely due to their age) and leaves. Mrs. Driscoll's displays of affection towards the bones of Mr. Driscoll also creep him out.
However, Randy has shown interest in a number girls so far. He has flirted with girls like the trio of girls he passed by in the hallway in "Viva El Nomicon." During "Sorcerer in Love," he was, like the other boys in the school, attracted to Amanda Levay because of her beauty, though, of course, he later discovers she's the Sorceress and had been using magic to control the boys of the school. He admits to Howard that he has, on occasion, found his sister Heidi "spicy." Whenever Theresa is around, Randy shows signs of having feelings for her, as in "Night of the Living McFizzles" (in which he flirts with her and Debbie Kang shamelessly), in "Der Monster Klub" and in "The Ninja Identity." He thinks she's attractive and good-smelling, and rarely treats her badly. In "Sorcerer in Love 2: The Sorceress's Revenge," he blushes when she grabs his hand and allows her to hold it for a some time. In "Shloomp! There It Is!," Randy is shown to be well aware of the fact that Theresa likes him, as evidenced by the fact that he immediately knows how to destank her by apologizing and giving her bouquet of roses (indirectly as the Ninja). Besides that moment, he hasn't done anything else with his crush on her yet.
Habits
Talking
While talking, he uses a lot of supposed slang (made up for the show), some of which include "wonk," "what the juice?" "bruce," "the cheese," "shnasty," etc.
Diet
For breakfast he eats McFistios and for lunch he eats the cafeteria food at Norrisville High.
McIndustries Merchandise
He often uses MicFist's products from McIndustries like McKicks, McTighties, McTops, McSkinnies, McHoodies and even McFistios.
Relationships
Howard Weinerman
Randy and Howard are best friends. Randy ends up telling Howard about his secret ninja identity somewhat by accident in the first episode. Although the NinjaNomicon tells Randy that the Ninja shouldn't have a friend, Randy does not listen. The two friends do have some fights, but no matter what the circumstances they seem to forgive each other. Often Randy does something upsetting to Howard, as in "Monster Drill" when he laughs at the idea that Howard could be the Ninja, or in "30 Seconds to Math," when he keeps ninja-ing out and leaving Howard in order to fight the Robo-Apes. Nevertheless, it is shown that Randy cares for his best friend very much, risking his life in one occasion ("Ninja Camp") and sacrificing the Ninja Mask in order to save Howard from the Tengu ("Evil Spirit Week").
The Sorcerer
Randy did not know about the Sorcerer's existence until the NinjaNomicon explained it to him in "So U Think U Can Stank." The only relationship Randy really has with the Sorcerer is being the villain's arch-enemy. He encountered his Stank many times and even tried chasing the stank, but failed because the pipe through which the stank escaped was quite small. They finally met face-to-face (though not in person) in "Raiders of the Lost Nomicon." In "Randy Cunningham: 13th Century Ninja" he encountered the Sorcerer as he was eight hundred years before, in the time of the First Ninja. Finally, in Ball's Well That Friends Well, he frees the Sorcerer's true self and allows him to ascend to a higher plane of existence.
Hannibal McFist
McFist was originally Randy's hero and idol. Unfortunately in "McFists of Fury," he found out that his role model was actually responsible for the robots that tried to get rid of the Ninja. He did not expose McFists' dark secret to the public, possibly fearing that no one would believe him. He remarks that as the Ninja he is boycotting buying McFist's products, though as Randy Cunningham he will still be first in line to get them. Randy seems to be nervous when meeting Hannibal out of his Ninja attire and often strings large suspicious sentences together if he has to talk to him, despite the fact that he still thinks that McFist's stuff was cool. As of "Ball's Well That Friends Well," now that the Sorcerer is no longer around to offer McFist a reward for destroying the Ninja, it is uncertain whether McFist has any reason to pursue him any further.
Willem Viceroy
Viceroy is the one responsible for making the robots that attack the Ninja. Despite that fact, Randy helps Viceroy on occasion and the other way around. In "Monster Dump," he saved Viceroy's pet Nicholas in exchange for Viceroy to take a vacation from helping McFist try to destroy him. In "Dawn of the Driscoll," Randy used Viceroy to help him defeat Jerry Driscoll before he could destroy the world. Nevertheless, Randy was rather annoyed that Howard dressed up as Willem Viceroy instead of dressing up as the first half of the cow.
===Principal Irving Slimovitz
Principal Slimovitz has had to bring Randy into his office more than once in the course of the show. He attempts to discipline him and Howard in "The Fresh Principal of Norrisville High," and he shows some interest in his and Howard's academic progress in "The Prophecy of Hat Sword," though in that episode he shows himself willing more or less to sacrifice their lives for the good of the school. He seems more eager, however, to discipline Doug for his tattle-taling than he does Randy and Howard for talking, sleeping, or even slipping away from school activities.
Mrs. Marlene Driscoll
Mrs. Marlene Driscoll seems to take no particular notice of Randy. She realizes he is failing, but seems to do nothing to help him raise his scores, and never seems to contact his parents about the situation, which suggests that she is not a very good teacher. In the episode "Monster Dump," she pairs Randy, whom she knows to be irresponsible, up with the apparently more trustworthy Bucky to make sure he doesn't go to the volcano. In "Dawn of the Driscoll," after Randy accidentally revives Marlene's husband Jerry Driscoll, she gives Randy and Howard a mere "C" even after Mr. Driscoll had nearly killed Howard. Randy seems to see Mrs. Driscoll as more than a little crazy and naturally cringes every time she kisses Mr. Driscoll's skeleton.
Coach Green
Coach Green is Randy's physical education teacher. He somewhat frightens Randy with his crazy and dangerous ideas of improving gym class and making it more fun. Due to this Randy joins Julian and Howard on an adventure for the golden doctor's note in "The Tale of the Golden Doctor's Note" to excuse himself from participating in the physical activities. Randy seems to be athletic, partly due to being the Ninja, but is often shown to be terrified of Coach Green's crazy plans.
Bucky Hensletter
In the episode "Monster Dump," Randy is irked to be paired with Bucky by Mrs. Driscoll, suggesting he doesn't think much of him. In "Attack of the Killer Potatoes," Randy calls Bucky a brown-noser for laughing at Mrs. Driscoll's puns about their grades. In "True Bromance" he is seriously upset with Howard for (as he thinks) preferring Bucky's company to his own. However, by the time of "The Curse of Mudfart" he seems to have warmed up to him enough to engage in a Halloween camp-out with him, Howard, Dave, and Doug (though, considering Doug's presence, that may not be saying much).
Debbie Kang
Randy tried to impress Debbie and Theresa by saying that he was not scared during the Whoopee World Frightacular. She seemed embarrassed to ask him if he could walk them home and Randy said that he would be delighted. She also ended up holding his hand when she got frightened. She developed a temporary crush on Randy, but quickly recovered by the next episode. In "Viva El Nomicon," she was shown to be annoyed by the fact that Randy and Howard didn't know proper Spanish during class. Randy, as the ninja, asked for her help when he needed to defeat a Mexican Death Bear, which was attacking the school.
Flute Girl
Flute Girl does not think that Randy and Howard are very smart; she regularly remarks of them, "You guys are idiots." Her low opinion of their intelligence was confirmed when Randy and Howard didn't know Brawn Brickwall's name in the History Pavilion in "McFists of Fury."
Heidi Wienerman
Heidi is Randy's best friend's sister. He regularly gets upset that she can't ever remember his name properly. After he and Howard agreed to judge the talent show in "So U Think U Can Stank," he stated that he had known her his entire life. He is particularly annoyed when the one time she gets his name right is when revealing that he is the Ninja in "Gossip Boy." In the episode "30 Seconds to Math," he gave her the guitar Robo-Apes stole from her and left Howard by being the ninja right before their performance in order to help her. Heidi attempts to keep Randy and Howard inside the house during Grave Puncher: The Movie! and later gets the blame when trying to explain the situation. Feeling guilt, Randy takes the blame on to Howard and himself, earning respect from Heidi, but she still manages to mispronounce his name, much to his chagrin.
Julian
In "The Tale of the Golden Doctor's Note," Randy has sympathy for Julian and teams up with him to get the note. Otherwise, Randy feels that Julian is creepy, though he is not the only one to think that.
Rachel
Theresa Fowler
Randy, who usually doesn't care much about romance, seems to have a crush on Theresa whenever she's around, treating her with kindness and respect. Although his crush on Theresa isn't as huge as her crush is on him, Randy seems to be aware of her feelings, and does genuinely care about her. In "So U Think U Can Stank," Randy destanks Theresa, assuring her that everything is going to be alright afterwards. He wants her to see him in good light, and either blushes or reacts with surprise when she grabs his hand, so having to tell her that he's not a hero in "Sorcerer in Love 2: The Sorceress's Revenge" frustrates him, even though he knows it's the only way for her to let go of his hand. To destank her, Randy, as the Ninja, apologizes for ignoring her and flirting with Heidi (while his body was under NomiRandy's control) and gives her flowers in "Shloomp! There It Is!."
Fighting Style as the Ninja
Not much about Randy's fighting style is known, but there are clues hinting that he might be a free style fighter, using almost everything around for his own advantage in battle, like using a shovel to hit the robot and using the force of a new robot to counter the killer potatoes in "Attack of the Killer Potatoes." He also use bells to fight Bucky Hensletter in "Got Stank." He heated a Robo-Ape using a convenient microwave option for Robo-Apes in "Gossip Boy."
Randy also has many Ninja weapons in his arsenal, including the Ninja Sword, smoke-bombs, chain sickles, and many others. His scarf has proven to be a helpful object as well, good for grabbing objects. Although ninjas are known to use stealth for their advantage, Randy doesn't seem to use this skill much, but has proven to be able to do it. The Nomicon holds a section of "Forbidden Knowledge of the Shadow Warrior," which holds the ability of the art of healing, which Randy learned in "Dawn of the Driscoll," and possible future skills like the art of flying, the art of telepathy, and the art of invisibility. After Randy threw the Ninja Mask in a fire to save Howard from the Tengu, he gained Ninja Rage, which he can now use fire-based powers like the Tengu Fireball. The online game Punchocalypse also has a Cold Ninja Rage, so it can be assumed that Randy might earn this skill eventually.
Intelligence
Randy is at least intelligent and clever enough to figure out what meaning lies behind the advice of the Nomicon, in part to his ability to figure out riddles. Many times, though, he has proven to think of plans and actions on his own whether he's fighting or trying to achieve something, like defeating the Blob Monster with lava from a volcano, stopping zombies by starting a vomit chain reaction, and even shooting a clock with a pencil eraser to change the time. Not always are his choices and actions the wisest, however, and sometimes he can cause greater problems, varying from on accident to on purpose. His grades in school are not very high, but it may be because he is lazy and doesn't care, or just not good in those subjects.
Gallery
Template:Gallerylink
Trivia
- Originally, Randy was supposed to be a ginger, as seen on the show's Tumblr.
- He and Howard have appeared in every episode.
- He can play the key-tar as seen in "30 Seconds to Math."
- He claims to be good in solving riddles and was able to solve the puzzle leading to the doctor's notes in "The Tale of the Golden Doctor's Note."
- Apparently he has a shnasty zone where he has sights in his head he wishes to get rid of (as of "Gossip Boy").
- He lives in a suburban house in Norrisville.
- Only his room, Bucky's, and Howard's have been seen on the show so far.
- The last name "Cunningham" is a Scottish or Northern English name of uncertain meaning, though it may be translated "coney" (= "rabbit")'s "home" or "village".
- Either Randy or Howard has an extra nipple, as stated in "30 Seconds to Math." (Neither, however, has shown one in their shirtless appearances in the show.)
- In "Monster Drill" he learned how to respect others and do the "Air Fist" properly.
- He was first seen wearing a suit in "Silent Punch, Deadly Punch."
- The first time he used the Ninja Rage was in "Silent Punch, Deadly Punch."
- He can write in cursive.
- A lot of the fans think Randy, Danny from Danny Phantom and Jake Long|Jake from American Dragon: Jake Long are alike and have many things in common, such as dark, spiky hair, only their friends and some family knowing about their alter ego, and fighting evil. Because of this, a lot of fans write fan-fictions and draw fan-art that include all three of them and called them the "Secret Trio."
- Some fans, in order to complete the trifecta of Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network, occasionally include Juniper Lee (of The Life & Times of Juniper Lee) as a fellow secret warrior of the supernatural.
- As revealed by Julian, Randy's real name is Randall.