STRIPE
Stripe is the primary Mogwai and Gremlin antagonist of the 1984 film Gremlins, created by writer Chris Columbus and director Joe Dante. Defined by his aggressive nature, tactical intelligence, and signature white mohawk tuft of fur, Stripe leads a chaotic Gremlin army against Kingston Falls and serves as the arch-nemesis of Gizmo.
Cronologia
Biografia
Stripe is the vicious and cunning leader of the Mogwai batch accidentally spawned when water spilled on Gizmo in Billy Peltzer's bedroom. Instantly identifiable by the distinctive white tuft of fur atop his head, Stripe displays an inherently sadistic and predatory personality from the moment of his creation.
Unlike the gentle Gizmo, Stripe manipulates his fellow Mogwai, leads malicious pranks—such as tangling the Peltzer family dog in Christmas lights—and intentionally sabotages Billy's bedside clock to trick him into feeding the group after midnight. After transforming inside a cocoon into a green, reptilian Gremlin, Stripe escalates his reign of terror.
He tortures Gizmo, launches an assault on Billy's mother, and ultimately leaps into a YMCA swimming pool to spawn a massive army of Gremlins that ravages the town of Kingston Falls. Cold-hearted, merciless, and tactically intelligent, Stripe rules over his chaotic horde until his final confrontation with Billy and Gizmo inside a Montgomery Ward department store, where he is destroyed by direct sunlight.
Storia
In the film franchise lore created by Chris Columbus and Joe Dante, Stripe was spawned directly from Gizmo's back in Kingston Falls.
However, expanded literature, such as George Gipe's official 1984 novelization, reveals a deeper background origin tied to an alien scientist named Mogturmen, who created the Mogwai species, endowing Stripe with inherent telepathic malice toward Gizmo.
Behind the scenes, Stripe's narrative origins underwent significant revision. In early script drafts written by Chris Columbus, Gizmo himself was originally slated to turn into the main evil Gremlin leader. Executive producer Steven Spielberg overruled this idea, insisting that Gizmo remain a benevolent companion for Billy Peltzer. This decision led directly to the creation of Stripe as a distinct villain, designed with his trademark white fur crest to visually distinguish him as the primary antagonist.
I PEZZI DI STRIPE
Poteri & Abilità
• Multiplication upon water contact: Spawns new Mogwai or Gremlins whenever exposed to liquid water. • High tactical intelligence and leadership: Directs other Mogwai and commands the Gremlin army with ruthless authority. • Enhanced physical agility and stealth: Capable of acrobatic leaps, hiding in plain sight among stuffed toys, and ambush tactics. • Marksmanship: Proficient with firearms (handguns and Uzi submachine guns) and crossbows.
• Improvised weapon mastery: Skillfully wields heavy equipment and tools, including chainsaws, circular sawblades, and ball launchers. • Vehicle operation: Capable of riding tricycles, toy cars, and skateboards. • Mechanical and electrical sabotage: Disables circuit breakers, sabotages chairlifts, and tampers with digital or mechanical clocks. • Reincarnation and genetic mutation: Reborn as Mohawk in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, capable of mutating into a massive Spider-Gremlin hybrid after ingesting spider DNA.
Apparizioni
• 1984 – Gremlins (Film): Debut appearance as the main antagonist leading the Kingston Falls invasion. • 1984 – Gremlins (Atari / C64 / Apple II / IBM PC Video Game): Primary enemy players must stop from multiplying and eating after midnight. • 1984 – Gremlins Official Novelization & Graphic Novels (Literature): Novelization by George Gipe and comic adaptations by Golden Books and Marvel UK. • 1985 – Gremlins: The Adventure (C64 / ZX Spectrum Game): Text adventure game featuring Stripe as the main threat. • 1990 – Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Film): Reincarnated as Mohawk, later mutating into a Spider-Gremlin hybrid. • 1990 – Gremlins 2: The New Batch (NES / Game Boy Game): Action platformer where Mohawk/Stripe appears as a major boss fight. • 2001 – Gremlins: Unleashed (Game Boy Color Game): Side-scrolling platformer featuring Stripe as a playable character and final boss.
• 2002 – Gremlins: Stripe vs. Gizmo (Game Boy Advance Game): Platformer allowing players to control Stripe to destroy Christmas presents. • 2008 – Return of the Gremlins (Dark Horse Comic Series): Comic miniseries exploring the legacy of Stripe's initial Kingston Falls outbreak. • 2016 – LEGO Dimensions (Video Game): Released as a playable physical minifigure in the Gremlins Team Pack (#71256). • 2021 – Space Jam: A New Legacy (Film): Crossover background cameo appearance in the Tune World basketball crowd. • 2021 – Mountain Dew Zero Sugar Commercial (Television): Official commercial featuring a double-mohawked pet Mogwai homage to Stripe. • 2022 / 2024 – MultiVersus (Video Game): Playable fighter equipped with a gun, chainsaw, circular sawblades, and skateboard. • 2023–2024 – Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai / The Wild Batch (Animated Series): Animated prequel series expanding the canonical Mogwai lore.
Relazioni
• Gizmo: Arch-nemesis and genetic progenitor; Stripe relentlessly tortures and attempts to kill Gizmo. • Billy Peltzer: Primary human adversary; Stripe tricks him into late-night feeding and battles him in a department store.
• First Batch Mogwai / Gremlin Horde: Subordinate followers; Stripe acts as their recognized leader throughout Kingston Falls. • Mrs. Deagle: Kingston Falls resident targeted and killed by Stripe's crew via a sabotaged chairlift. • Kate Beringer: Human victim held hostage at Dorry's Tavern until she blinds the Gremlins with a camera flash. • Mohawk: Stripe's reincarnated self in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, sharing his white mohawk pattern and hatred for Gizmo.
Evoluzione
Stripe's role in pop culture has evolved from a single film antagonist into an enduring horror-comedy icon. In the original 1984 film, he established the baseline visual and behavioral traits for evil Gremlins—sadistic, clever, and distinguishable by his signature white hair tuft. Although destroyed by sunlight at the conclusion of the first film, director Joe Dante reincarnated his spirit as Mohawk in 1990's Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
In this reincarnation, he adopted an even darker loner demeanor, eventually transforming into a terrifying Spider-Gremlin hybrid after consuming genetic serum. Beyond cinema, Stripe's character expanded into interactive media across multiple console generations. Transitioning from simple 8-bit sprites in 1984 to fully playable anti-hero roles in Gremlins: Unleashed (2001) and Gremlins: Stripe vs. Gizmo (2002), Stripe allowed players to experience the franchise from the villain's perspective. In recent years, Stripe made the leap into crossover media, appearing as a physical LEGO minifigure in LEGO Dimensions (2016) and joining Warner Bros.' platform fighter MultiVersus (2022/2024), where his moveset showcases his signature movie weapons.
Da Collezione
For figure collectors and retro horror fans, Stripe is one of the most recognizable creature collectibles from the 1980s. Toy manufacturer NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) produces the premier modern line of Stripe figures, headlined by the Ultimate Stripe 7-inch scale action figure. Renowned for its screen-accurate sculpt, this release includes key movie accessories such as his chainsaw, circular saw blades, a skateboard, and interchangeable head sculpts.
NECA has also produced Mogwai-form variants and convention-exclusive versions. In the construction toy market, Stripe was produced in official physical LEGO minifigure form as part of the LEGO Dimensions Gremlins Team Pack (#71256) alongside Gizmo, making it a sought-after set for LEGO and film collectors alike. Vintage 1984 tie-in items, including original storybooks, retro video game cartridges, and classic movie merchandise, also hold strong value among dedicated completionists.
Curiosità
• Stripe was voiced by legendary voice actor Frank Welker in the original movie and in LEGO Dimensions. • In early script drafts, Gizmo was originally supposed to turn into Stripe, but Steven Spielberg overruled the script to keep Gizmo cute and alive.
• Stripe is the only Gremlin in the movie theater scene who did not sing along to 'Heigh-Ho' from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs because he was eating popcorn (though a deleted scene showed him singing flat). • Despite sunlight avoidance being the primary rule of Mogwai care, Stripe is the only Gremlin across both main films to meet his demise directly from sunlight exposure. • As a Mogwai, Stripe is seen playing a tabletop miniature arcade version of Donkey Kong.
