Red Demon
We can't do anything, so
why be morose about it?Red Demon
Red Demon[note 1] is a monster who stands next to Wrap Mouse in the northern part of Snowdin Town.
Red Demon is a humanoid creature with no visible arms. They have a head shaped similarly to a comedy mask, with eyes in the shape of crosses. They have a pair of bull-like horns protruding from the upper sides of their head. They wear a cloak with a collar. Their entire appearance, other than their legs and feet, which are black, is in an orange-red color.
Their appearance as a jester-like, cloaked demon with vertical openings across their eyes has similarities to Jevil, a character from Deltarune.
Red Demon constantly smiles, pretending to be happy. They do this because, although they know about the unpleasant aspects of the situation in the underground, they believe that the plight of monsters is hopeless, so to be unhappy about it is pointless. However, they do not seem to enjoy this facade of happiness, as they seem relieved, after the True Pacifist Route, to show their real feelings.
If the protagonist kills Papyrus, Red Demon says that they felt their smile falter for a moment,[1] as though they sensed his death. If the protagonist does not kill Papyrus, Red Demon says they will try to frown but can't bring themself to do it.[2]
When the protagonist talks to Red Demon after completing the True Pacifist Route, they mention how they are glad that they do not have to pretend to be happy anymore.[3]
It is explained in the UNDERTALE Art Book that there were plans for other NPCs of the same species, the Unused Demons, including a frowning blue demon and a yellow demon Amalgamate, but these were forgotten by Toby.[4]
- When spoken to a second time, Red Demon's dialogue reads "Smile smile." This is possibly a reference to EarthBound, in which some cheerful shopkeepers say "Smile, smile" at the ends of their sentences.
- ↑ Internally referred to as
spr_npc_reddemonin the game files andobj_townnpc_reddemonin the game object references, but this character is not named in game
- ↑
Just now, I felt my smile falter for a moment.
— Red Demon - ↑
Maybe I'll try frowning for once. ... no. I just can't do it.
— Red Demon - ↑
Oh? We're free? Finally... I'll be able to stop smiling.
— Red Demon - ↑
Originally there was going to be a frowning demon NPC later in the game. I have no idea why I didn’t do this. I think I forgot to. Also, there was going to be an amalgamate version.
— Toby Fox, UNDERTALE Art Book, pg. 179