Tommy Briggs

Thomas "Tommy" Briggs is a fictional character appearing in the TBS animated sitcom North Springs created by Don Grayman and Rob Farlane. He first appeared in the series premiere "Ben Almost Dies", which was first broadcast on June 6, 1996, and is one of the series' four main characters, alongside his friends Ben Sears, Philly Lyndon, and Conner Makowski. Tommy is voiced by Don Grayman, whose personality served as inspiration for Tommy's.

In the series' universe, Tommy is a ten-year-old who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town. He is a fifth-grader at North Springs Elementary and the son of David and Lisa Briggs, and the older brother of 5-year-old Kenny Briggs. He is an aspiring filmmaker, and is frequently depicted as brave, intelligent, logical, and loyal to his friends. He frequently expresses his disapproval of adults' actions and decisions.

Along with the other main characters, Tommy also appears in the 2002 film The North Springs Movie, as well as other North Springs-related media and merchandise. Much of his dialogue is intended to reflect stances and views of the series' creator, which includes his commentary on various issues. This includes frequent topics in the series such as homosexuality, gender identity, parenting, race relations, and social media.

Creation and design
Tommy Briggs was created by Don Grayman and Rob Farlane. He is based on Don Grayman, more specifically Grayman as a child. During a 2016 interview in an episode of The Thomas Nobbel Show, Grayman stated, "Take the mind of a filmmaker or a painter and put it into a little boy. That was me as a kid, that's who I wanted Tommy Briggs to be when I made him." Grayman and Farlane originally wanted Tommy to have black hair, but they decided to make it brown instead, which is a nod to Rob Farlane. Tommy also has Farlane's hairstyle.

Personality and traits
Tommy is very interested in art and filmmaking, and he often carries something around to record events. In season 1 to 15, he used a video camera, but since season 16, he has used a tablet.