Cyril Sneer

Cyril Sneer is a fictional character in the animated series "The Raccoons" and its two spinoffs. He is voiced by Michael Magee. His alter ego is Steve Botting.

Botting is a pink aardvark of eastern European origin and multimillionaire head of 'Sneer Industries'. The greedy, ruthless Sneer was originally the series' main antagonist; he is usually the brains behind a scheme to destroy Evergreen forest, the main characters' home. His trademark is half a cigar in his mouth and chatting up asexual secretaries. However, Cyril gradually undergoes a change of heart through the course of the series until he becomes a conscientious executive and ally of the Raccoons.

Family

Cyril Sneer is only shown to have one living direct relative: his college educated son Cedric, who lives with him in his vast house 'Sneer Mansion' on the edge of Evergreen forest. His wife Antionette Sneer is rarely mentioned but it is hinted that she is deceased. He keeps numerous servants, including three particularly incompetent pigs (Lloyd, Floyd and Boyd/Lloyd), and a large number of bears who function as butlers, handymen, and mechanics.

In the episode "Going it Alone", Cyril is shown to have an uncle who was his complete antithesis, a fantastic benefactor to the poor and renowned for his charity work.

References are also made in "Courting Disaster" to Cyril's wife, and mother of Cedric. No disclosure is ever made as to the reason for her absence, but since Cyril refers to her in the past tense it would seem to imply she died many years previously ("She was beautiful. I loved her. She really knew how to make money!")

It is also stated that Cyril is adopted, and evicted his entire family from Sneer Mansion at age seven before making his fortune.

In "Simon Says", it's revealed that Cyril has a long-lost brother named Simon, who disappeared several years ago and is entitled by testament to half of the inheritance Cyril utilized to make his fortune, which almost forced Cyril to give half of his fortune to one imposter who claimed to be Simon, who turned out to be Simon's childhod friend Sid Leech.

Business

Sneer Industries is apparently highly-diversified, entering into all manner of industries, including public utilities (Power Trip), tourism and merchandise (Monster Mania), logging and lumber (The Christmas Raccoons) and many more. The first episode (the 'Christmas Racoons' TV Special) shows Cyril as a money-hungry lumber baron, so it may be from wood that the foundation of his fortune was made.

If Cyril's money-making schemes are anything like those illustrated in some episodes, many would appear to be insane failures- including producing 40,000 platform shoes for short people and selling egg and broccoli flavour potato chips.

Cyril Sneer's first business is a small store named Sneer & Snarl, which he runs with his former partner Carl Snarl. Sneer abandons the business, and his partner, when it begins to fail. Ironically, soon after Sneer's departure, Snarl turns the business around and uses it as the first stepping stone to earning his own fortune.

The Raccoons and the Lost Star

The Cyril Sneer shown in the alternate universe of the "Raccoons and Lost Star" special is cast as a military general and cruel dictator bent on the conquest of the planet Earth. His character remains greedy, and still occupying a very similar mansion, albeit one on the slopes of a giant volcano which houses his army.

Good Deeds

* In "The Artful Dodger", he accidentally gave free admission to a great artist's cave and his paintings.
* In "The Evergreen Express", he burned $10,000,000 in the train's firebox to save Bert and Schaeffer from rolling over the edge of a broken bridge.
* In "Trouble Shooter", he convinced Bentley that he can never run away from his problems.
* In "Games People Play", he unintentionally donated his tax refund to an orphanage.
* In "Spring Fever", Cyril went to Cedric's Father and Son Banquet in lieu of seeing J.P. Gordon. (As luck would have it, Gordon was attending the same event, met Cedric on the train there and was eager to speak to Cyril because of his good introduction by his son)
* In "Making the Grade", Cyril donated his cash to keep Evergreen Elementary from closing down.
* In "Stress Test", he donated his blood for a patient.
* In "Join The Club", he helps comfort Lisa and persuade her to give up smoking, which started due to peer pressure.
* In "Evergreen Election", after Bert was illegally disqualified, Cyril turned down the mayorship for a re-election.
* In "The One That Got Away", he avenged the lake's destruction by arresting Mr. Midas who caused it.
* In "The Phantom of the Sneer Mansion", he provides the funds for Cedric's play, saying that "no expense was spared", and gives (albeit accidentally) the money from evening's admissions to charity.

Character Development

The first incarnation of Cyril in 'The Christmas Raccoons' is very much an uncaring, greedy and selfish individual. He mellows over the course of series, however. While still greedy, he occasionally shows that some things are genuinely more important to him than wealth — particularly his son, Cedric. He has also been a voice of experience, as shown when he helps persuade Lisa Raccoon to give up smoking.