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Michael Collins[3] is a recurring character from The Proud Family. He's Penny's very close and flamboyant friend. In the place of his best friend Sticky, he’s upgraded to being the main supporting male character in the revival series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder and undergoes a substantial redesign.

Appearance[]

Michael is a 15-year-old boy of both African and Native-American descent. In the original series, he was lanky and somewhat short, had black hair in a short Afro, and large front teeth with a gap. He wore an oversized light grey shirt that exposed one of his shoulders, dark blue shorts, a grey headband, and black and white sneakers and socks. His later changed his outfit to two shades of purple and apparently dyed his hair became light brown (auburn) color. This was first seen in "A Hero For Halloween", where he dressed in a suit to look like Luther Vandross, but broke out the auburn hair color. He then returned to his original look by the end of the episode. The new appearance became normalized across every episode beginning with "Tween Town" where he meets the girls at the Warm Front Night Club.

In The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Michael's appearance changes the most drastically out of the rest of the cast. He’s grown much taller, becoming the second tallest of Penny's friend group behind only Zoey. He may have worn braces for a while as he no longer has an overbite or tooth gap, and he now has a gender non-confirming appearance in terms of his clothing and hairstyle. He also has more prominent lips and eyelashes.

His main outfit is a black shirt with a white collar and sleeve cuffs, burgundy jeans with black suspenders worn loose around the hips, grey boots and large grey glasses. His hair is grown out while wearing a Mohawk, but accented with cornrows and are mostly dyed pink.

He has also been seen wearing several alternate outfits and hairstyles.

Personality[]

Michael is a flamboyant friend of Penny who has a strong interest in fashion and displays effeminate behavior, which often makes him the target of ridicule. His father, who is a coach and gym teacher, feels ashamed of Michael's behavior. On the other hand, Penny has a male friend who excels in both fashion design and basketball. He also works as a choreographer and, in public, refers to his father as "Coach" instead of "Daddy." Michael's father is a coach at Willie T. Ribbs Middle School, where Michael was frequently bullied due to his awkwardness. Despite this, Michael is known for his trash-talking skills and his ability to make people laugh with his witty jokes. He shares a close bond with his best friends, Sticky Webb (who moved away to Japan) and LaCienega Boulevardez (who once had a crush on him).

Despite being known for his trash-talking, Michael is a kind, laid-back, and resourceful person, always ready to assist his friends in any way he can. He utilizes his fashion design and choreography skills to help his friends in various situations. For instance, he choreographed LPDZ's first dance routine, which led them to win the Hip-Hop Helicopter dance competition and become celebrities. He also helped LaCienega cope with puberty by fixing her appearance and making her look cute again in the new series. Additionally, he tried to assist Penny in jazzing up her outfit when her father insisted on her wearing military gear to avoid boys talking to her.

Michael's emotional nature is uncovered in "Who You Callin' a Sissy". Despite his flamboyant personality, he is sensitive and vulnerable, admitting to being bullied and crying as a result.

Michael's character in the original series was portrayed as naive and lacking in the skills to handle bullying. He kept his emotions to himself, hoping that the bullying would stop. However, this approach failed, and he ended up causing terror in the school, especially towards his tormentors. Despite his usual self-confidence, Michael struggled to deal with negative emotions such as hurt, anger, disappointment, or annoyance in a constructive manner. In the revival series, it is suggested that Michael still grapples with the same difficulty of processing negative comments and criticisms directed towards him. However, his tendency to often respond with snarky remarks serves as a coping mechanism, which results in this issue being portrayed less frequently. While this defense mechanism may provide temporary relief, it could also create a barrier to authentic communication and potentially further isolate Michael socially.

The revival series depicts Michael as having grown more sophisticated in his use of snarky remarks, yet this does not translate to subtlety on his part. On the contrary, Michael seems to feel no compulsion to lie or sugarcoat his message. He opts to express his thoughts as they are, even if they might be hurtful to others. It's possible that Michael's past experiences of being insulted without subtlety have influenced his behavior, but the reason for his new attitude remains unclear.

Michael's blunt approach to communication can come across as abrasive and insensitive to those around him. Some may find it refreshing, while others may find it off-putting. Regardless, it's clear that Michael's newfound confidence in expressing himself is a departure from his previous behavior. He feels that he no longer needs to hold back or cater to others’ feelings. It’s clear that Michael's personality has undergone some significant changes in the revival series. It remains to be seen whether these changes will have a positive or negative impact on his relationships with those around him.

Although Michael's blunt communication style can be perceived as hurtful or insensitive to those around him, his snarky remarks are often interpreted as humorous by other characters or within the larger context of the show, perhaps serving as a way to lighten the mood or provide comedic relief amidst the show's more serious or dramatic moments.

Despite his tendency to make snarky comments, Michael is consistently portrayed as a kind-hearted, friendly, and easygoing individual, much like he was in the original series. While he may occasionally make biting remarks towards others, he ultimately proves himself to be a decent person who simply enjoys making people laugh and having a good time. His snarky comments may be a part of his humor, but they do not define him as a person, and he remains a beloved character among fans of the show.

Social Life[]

Typically, Michael has a positive attitude and is able to make his companions chuckle, infusing any gathering with energy. Despite the fact that his wisecracks can be somewhat foolish and sarcastic, it's effortless to develop a liking for him. His close friends, particularly Penny, Dijonay, LaCienega, and Zoey, relish his company. Sticky Webb is his closest friend.

Penny Proud[]

Over time, Penny and Michael have grown to become very close friends, largely due to their shared friendship with Sticky. Their bond initially formed when they both auditioned for the cheer team in "Bring It On" under the leadership of Dijonay. Although they were merely polite to one another at first, they gradually started spending more time together. Michael played a pivotal role in the success of LPDZ, serving as their choreographer and leading them to victory in the Hip-Hop Helicopter dance contest. His humorous jokes consistently bring laughter to Penny and the rest of the group, which draws her closer to him. In addition, Michael's resourcefulness shines through, as he designs outfits for Penny, including her presidential ensemble in "Election". Upon discovering the bullying Michael experiences, Penny becomes fiercely protective of him and encourages him to stand up for himself. Meanwhile, Michael supports Penny in developing her fashion sense. Although Michael's unwavering pursuit of perfection can occasionally fluster Penny, she doesn't allow it to affect their relationship too much. Michael, in turn, is incredibly loyal to Penny and tends to support her plans without much opposition. He is undoubtedly one of her most dependable allies and always willing to lend a hand. All in all, their relationship is a healthy one.

LaCienega Boulevardez[]

Michael and LaCienega's relationship has been complicated, but they have ultimately grown very close. In the past, Michael playfully teased LaCienega about her large feet, but he never apologized for it since he thought it was harmless. Unfortunately, LaCienega is self-conscious about her body and held a grudge against Michael for his comments. However, LaCienega is not entirely blameless either. In the original series, they both had crushes on each other and made plans to attend the Willie T. Ribbs Checkered Flag Dance together. Michael even designed matching outfits for them in LaCienega's favorite color, red. However, Michael was subjected to severe teasing by his peers, which made LaCienega embarrassed to be seen with him and caused her to break his heart by canceling their date. Although she complimented the dress Michael designed, she also hurt him by saying that he was not good enough. Despite immediately feeling remorseful for hurting Michael's feelings, he was unable to handle the intense bullying he faced that day and unleashed his anger on her and anyone else who had caused him pain by transforming into a monster. After learning how deeply his experiences had affected him, she didn't apologize with words, but instead asked him to dance with her once again, which he happily accepted. In the revival series, Michael revealed that he is homosexual, but he and LaCienega continue to maintain a strong bond and excellent chemistry. Although they both have a sensitive nature and tend to suppress their deepest emotions, they are transparent with each other and offer constructive criticism without creating any animosity. Michael has called LaCienega out for being stubborn, while LaCienega has deemed Michael dramatic due to his flamboyant personality. Despite their differences, it's evident that LaCienega and Michael share a deep affection for each other.

Sticky Webb[]

Sticky has been Michael's closest friend since childhood, similar to the relationship between Penny and Dijonay. However, like Penny and Dijonay, Sticky and Michael's friendship has its flaws. Sticky has been involved in bullying and playing pranks on Michael, such as locking him in the girls' bathroom, which was hurtful to Michael because of his effeminate nature. This incident led Michael to express his anger by lashing out at the school in "Who You Callin' a Sissy". Despite their imperfect relationship, Sticky and Michael are loyal friends for life. In Sticky's absence, Michael takes on the role of the male leader in their friend group.

Dijonay Jones[]

Initially, Dijonay and Michael had very little interaction with each other. However, in the original series, Dijonay, along with Penny and Zoey, came to Michael's aid when he needed help. Dijonay also advised Michael not to suppress his emotions, especially when he is hurt, because she doesn't want him to become aggressive towards her or her friends.

In the revival series, Dijonay and Michael are shown to have developed a close friendship and are the first to welcome Penny in the first episode. Although they are good friends, they often engage in playful banter, with Michael usually getting the last word. Michael teases Dijonay about her hair, dance skills, and even her coordination.

Despite frequently making snarky remarks towards each other, their bond remains strong and their comments are not intended to be hurtful. As a result, their relationship on the show is generally neutral, and at times, even healthy.

Zoey Howzer[]

Zoey and Michael don't have much interaction, much like Michael and Dijonay. Despite this, they have a good relationship with each other. In "Who You Callin' a Sissy," Zoey defended Michael when he was rejected in a hurtful manner, and later praised him when he stood up to his bullies.

In the revival series, when Michael sees Zoey again, he remains silent and waits for Penny to address her. This demonstrates that although Michael enjoys teasing his friends, he has boundaries and doesn't engage in playful insults with Zoey.

There could be several reasons why Michael doesn't playfully insult Zoey as much as his other friends. One possibility is that he may have a different dynamic with her, perhaps due to their past interactions or shared experiences. Another possibility is that he may see her as someone who deserves more respect, or he simply may not find her quirks or habits as amusing as he does with his other friends. Additionally, Michael may have a softer spot for Zoey, and doesn't want to do anything to damage their friendship. Overall, there could be a variety of reasons why Michael doesn't tease Zoey in the same way he does his other friends.

The dynamic between Michael and Zoey is not fully clear, but it's possible that Michael and Zoey have a more serious or reserved dynamic compared to his other friends, perhaps due to their shared experiences or personalities. Alternatively, they may simply not have as much in common or share the same sense of humor. However, their willingness to defend each other suggests that they have a level of trust and respect for each other.

Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins[]

Michael, like the girls, is still getting to know Maya and her brother KG. Their interactions so far have been limited, but they have been polite towards each other. However, at LaCienega's quinceañera, KG labeled Michael, Dijonay, and others as "basics" for not keeping up with his choreography, which LaCienega had chosen.

Tookie Thomas[]

Despite appearing in just one episode, Tookie Thomas is revealed to be one of Michael's closest friends. However, Tookie's behavior towards Michael hasn't always been pleasant and he has been known to bully him. Notably, he called Michael a "sissy" after losing to him in a basketball game, which triggered a sequence of events that led Michael to harbor his anger towards Tookie, LaCienega, and Sticky. Eventually, Tookie faced the consequences of his actions and apologized to Michael, who forgave him. Despite the conflict, Michael and Tookie remained friends.

Episode Appearances[]

The Proud Family[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Season 3[]

Louder and Prouder[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Disney Channel Shorts[]

Chibiverse[]

Theme Song Takeover[]

Gallery[]

Main article: Michael Collins/Gallery

Trivia[]

  • Michael is the first male character to appear on the show as he is lined up at the cheerleading tryouts along Penny, Zoey and other girls.
  • His name is also the first to be spoken on the show before anyone else's as Dijonay says the show's very first line.

References[]

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