Once-ler

The Once-ler is a character from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and the 2012 animated movie based on the book. After the film, he because central figure in a fandom that overtook the movie's general fandom. The Once-ler fandom was infamous for Oncest, a selfcest pairing between different versions of the Once-ler - usually the original and the Greed-ler.
The Once-ler fans, primarily female, called themselves "Once-lings" or "Once-sluts." He may also be called the "Rizzler" on TikTok, referencing how he's seen as charismatic, aka 'full of rizz,' though this didn't start happening until the 2020s. 
==Original Once-ler==
In fandom, the Once-ler is most often based on his portrayal in the 2012 Lorax movie. He was originally a faceless and enigmatic character in the Dr. Seuss book; but with the movie's use of flashbacks, he is now more commonly known as an optimistic, hopeful, round-faced young man who went bad a la anti-hero.
While the original book and the 1972 movie had framed his character solely as the story's antagonist, the movie provides a backstory from his point of view, depicting him as a victim of hubris rather than the simple, greedy industrialist he was once known as. This may be a part of his appeal to the Once-ler fandom, in addition to his being a skinny white man. His age is unknown, though speculated to be 21 in the film's flashbacks. He also likes marshmallows.The Once-ler on the Dr. Seuss wiki
In Oncest fanwork, he is often woobified.
Fans, comprised primarily of ladies, tend to affectionately call the Once-ler "Oncie" (which his mother had called him in the film). Though he is overwhelmingly most often paired with himself, it's ambiguous if these shippers do it because they themselves want to date the Once-ler, are genuinely invested in the dynamic, or both.
==Greed-ler==
The Greed-ler is a fan-created term for the Once-ler's persona once he becomes overtaken by, well, greed. This transformation occurs during the musical number, How Bad Can I Be?, which is accepted as Greed-ler's theme song.
The Greed-ler is a manipulative, money-hungry version of the Once-ler, usually written by fans to be unapologetically and knowingly evil. This technically is an overexaggeration of his character transformation, although likely popular because it plays opposite to the Once-ler's original hopeful and positive demeanor. He is often written to be overtly sexual, seducing more innocent versions of the Onceler, and especially combined with BDSM and other kinks. This has caused the Greed-ler to be specifically the fan favorite, as opposed to his original counterpart.
He is made distinctive with his green pin-stripe suit and top hat.
Canonically, his personality is not much different from the original Once-ler's, just more self-righteous and willfully ignorant.
===Fanworks===
Fanart
*Once-ler WIEFP by duskchant 
*Fanart by miru667
*Fanart by lemonorangelime
*Fanart by savvysleeves
*Fanart by debellini
==Older Once-ler==
The older Once-ler rarely makes an appearance in fanwork, though he is in the movie. After years have passed, to when the Once-ler tells his story to Ted, he is seen as a regretful old man who wishes to see the Lorax again, as the Lorax had disappeared with the last Truffula tree. He tells Ted to plant the last Truffula seed into the ground, sprouting one more tree, and summoning the Lorax once again. Repentant and apologetic, the Once-ler finally comes out of his shadowed house at the end of the movie to make amends with the Lorax.
==Commentary and Analysis==
Others, such as ok once and for all, what is the onceler fandom ?, are less supportive.
From Is The Grinch the new Once-ler, Tumblr’s autosexual Lorax idol?, a November 2018 retrospective of the fandom:
==Meta==
* Tumblr's Strangest Obsession: A History of the Onceler Fandom, a video essay by Sarah Z
*Anonymous asked: ok once and for all, what is the onceler fandom ? conversation on Tumblr
==Fannish Resources==
* fuckyeahonce-ler at Tumblr - a fuckyeah blog dedicated to Once-ler fanwork
* theoncelerscorner at Tumblr - a blog dedicated to Onceler fanwork
==Sources==
Category:The Lorax