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-->'''Zim''': ''(after stepping off the bus)'' What is ''wrong'' with these humans?!
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Added example(s), Crosswicking
Changed line(s) 82,85 (click to see context) from:
* WasOnceAMan:
-->'''Rat person''': I was once a man!\\
'''Dib''': But you're a woman.
** Also Chickenfoot. Except not really.
-->'''Rat person''': I was once a man!\\
'''Dib''': But you're a woman.
** Also Chickenfoot. Except not really.
to:
Changed line(s) 87 (click to see context) from:
* WaveOfBabies: In "Plague of Babies".
to:
Changed line(s) 91 (click to see context) from:
* WeHaveReserves: "Hobo 13" is this trope over and over again.
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Changed line(s) 94,95 (click to see context) from:
* WhiteVoidRoom: "A room... with a moose!"
* WickedWeasel: "Computerrr! Take me to the ''WEASELS!''"
* WickedWeasel: "Computerrr! Take me to the ''WEASELS!''"
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* WorldOfDumbass: Everyone on Earth except the Membrane family is so stupid that Zim the alien can fool them into believing he's a human child with only a wig and a pair of contact lenses, while passing off his green skin and lack of ears as a skin condition.
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Changed line(s) 98 (click to see context) from:
* WombLevel: "[=NanoZIM=]".
to:
Changed line(s) 100,105 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Zim''': Is that Irken equipment you're using? That's Tak's ship you're sitting in, isn't it?\\
'''Dib''': Yes it is, Zim! It fell from the-\\
'''Zim''' ''(yelling)'': '''''Isn't it!?!'''''\\
'''Dib''' ''(also yelling)'': ''I said it was!'' Man, you have a problem with listening, Zim!\\
'''Zim''': '''''[++ISN'T IT!?!++]'''''
* WorldGoneMad
'''Dib''': Yes it is, Zim! It fell from the-\\
'''Zim''' ''(yelling)'': '''''Isn't it!?!'''''\\
'''Dib''' ''(also yelling)'': ''I said it was!'' Man, you have a problem with listening, Zim!\\
'''Zim''': '''''[++ISN'T IT!?!++]'''''
* WorldGoneMad
to:
Changed line(s) 107,113 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Zim''': Yes. Oh, I will bring my pa-rents. And they shall be the ''greatest'', most ''parental'' parents ''EVER!''
-->'''Gaz''': Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing heart!
-->'''Dib''': Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin' stuff!''
-->'''Prof. Membrane''': [[BigNo NOO!!]] Santa has let me down! I will turn my back on him and devote a portion of my life to destroying Santa!
-->'''Gaz''': Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing heart!
-->'''Dib''': Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin' stuff!''
-->'''Prof. Membrane''': [[BigNo NOO!!]] Santa has let me down! I will turn my back on him and devote a portion of my life to destroying Santa!
to:
-->'''Gaz''':
-->'''Gaz:''' Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing
-->'''Dib''':
-->'''Dib:''' Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin'
-->'''Prof.
Changed line(s) 115 (click to see context) from:
* WorldOfSnark
to:
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* ThinkOfTheChildren: Parodied in "Door to Door", where an obese, flaming mutant in Zim's simulation of a dystopian future he uses to persuade people into buying his candy states "Pwease? For the children!" after shoving a girl into his pocket and devouring her doll.
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* VillainousGentrification: Downplayed. On the infrequent occasions that the Irken Empire appears on-screen, it seems the only thing the Armada does with the planets it conquers is pave them over to build convention centres, shopping malls, parking lots...
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* ToyBasedCharacterization:
** Dib is a self-professed paranormal investigator who is deeply fascinated with anything supernatural he can find. Even as a baby, he was spelling out the word "aliens" with his letter blocks.
** His sister Gaz is a misanthropic goth who HatesEveryoneEqually. She owns a "Bitey the Vampire" doll and several stuffed animals that she converted into security drones to guard her room. According to her, they're programmed to feed on human flesh.
** Dib is a self-professed paranormal investigator who is deeply fascinated with anything supernatural he can find. Even as a baby, he was spelling out the word "aliens" with his letter blocks.
** His sister Gaz is a misanthropic goth who HatesEveryoneEqually. She owns a "Bitey the Vampire" doll and several stuffed animals that she converted into security drones to guard her room. According to her, they're programmed to feed on human flesh.
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* TakeThat:
** In "GIR Goes Crazy and Stuff" and "ZIM Eats Waffles", ZIM is shown to have a human child captive in order to experiment with the happiness receptors in the child's brain. As a result, the child is compulsively happy. The child's name? [[{{Creator/Nickelodeon}} Nick]].
** In one episode Dib tries to take over an Irken computer, hoping out loud [[Film/IndependenceDay that they just happen to use the same operating system as him]].
** The hilarious fact that being banished to Foodcourtia, a fast food civilization, is regarded as the lowest position as an Irken citizen.
** Really, ''the whole show'' involves making fun of human society, in some ways that are true, in some ways that is regarded by a LargeHam who tries his hardest to hate mankind. "Walk of Doom" is a huge example of this.
-->'''Zim''': ''(after stepping off the bus)'' What is ''wrong'' with these humans?!
** Breakfast Chunks are a stab at the equally disgusting [[https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8456/8031387066_36d5c41b64_b.jpg Breakfast Squares]] General Mills sold in the '80s, which pretty much nobody liked.
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Changed line(s) 43,44 (click to see context) from:
* UnexplainedRecovery: Is a RunningGag for poor [[TheChewToy Skoodge...]] First he was sent to Blorch, home of the slaughtering rat people, for being the shortest Invader of Operation Impending Doom II. When he actually did conquer it, the Tallests still didn't like him and launched him out of a cannon. This still didn't stop him from making an appearance in "Hobo 13", where his remarkable recovery was {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and {{handwave}}d:
-->'''Zim''': Skoodge? I thought the Tallests killed you!\\
-->'''Zim''': Skoodge? I thought the Tallests killed you!\\
to:
* UnexplainedRecovery: Is a RunningGag for poor [[TheChewToy Skoodge...]] First he was sent to Blorch, home of the slaughtering rat people, for being the shortest Invader of Operation Impending Doom II. When he actually did conquer it, the Tallests Tallest still didn't like him and launched him out of a cannon. This still didn't stop him from making an appearance in "Hobo 13", where his remarkable recovery was {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and {{handwave}}d:
-->'''Zim''': Skoodge? I thought theTallests Tallest killed you!\\
-->'''Zim''': Skoodge? I thought the
Changed line(s) 59 (click to see context) from:
* VitriolicBestBuds: The Tallests ''big time''.
to:
* VitriolicBestBuds: The Tallests Tallest ''big time''.
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Flame Bait
Changed line(s) 72 (click to see context) from:
** Also Chickenfoot. [[WhatAnIdiot Except not really]].
to:
** Also Chickenfoot. [[WhatAnIdiot Except not really]].really.
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[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:T]]
[[folder:T]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:U]]
[[folder:U]]
Changed line(s) 36 (click to see context) from:
* UndyingLoyalty: ZIM is clearly loyal to the Irken cause.
to:
* UndyingLoyalty: ZIM Zim is clearly loyal to the Irken cause.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:V]]
[[folder:V]]
Changed line(s) 45 (click to see context) from:
** Inverted, given that ZIM is a VillainProtagonist -- Dib occasionally gets episodes entirely dedicated to himself such as "Battle-Dib" and "The Sad, Sad Tale of Chickenfoot" where ZIM does not appear at all.
to:
** Inverted, given that ZIM is a VillainProtagonist -- HeroAntagonist Dib occasionally gets episodes entirely dedicated to himself such as "Battle-Dib" and "The Sad, Sad Tale of Chickenfoot" where ZIM does not appear at all.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:W]]
[[folder:W]]
Changed line(s) 57 (click to see context) from:
* WasOnceAMan
to:
* WasOnceAManWasOnceAMan:
Changed line(s) 63 (click to see context) from:
* WeaksauceWeakness: ZIM's ship crashes after a bee hits its windshield. The bee survived. Also, ZIM's aforementioned issues with water.
to:
* WeaksauceWeakness: ZIM's WeaksauceWeakness:
** Zim's ship crashes after a bee hits its windshield. The beesurvived. survived.
** Also,ZIM's Zim's aforementioned issues with water.
** Zim's ship crashes after a bee hits its windshield. The bee
** Also,
Changed line(s) 79,87 (click to see context) from:
* '''[[WorldOfHam WORLD OF HAM]]''':
** Some hammy highlights:
--->'''Zim''': Yes. Oh, I will bring my pa-rents. And they shall be the ''greatest'', most ''parental'' parents ''EVER!''
--->'''Gaz''': Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing heart!
--->'''Dib''': Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin' stuff!''
--->'''Prof. Membrane''': [[BigNo NOO!!]] Santa has let me down! I will turn my back on him and devote a portion of my life to destroying Santa!
** Some hammy highlights:
--->'''Zim''': Yes. Oh, I will bring my pa-rents. And they shall be the ''greatest'', most ''parental'' parents ''EVER!''
--->'''Gaz''': Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing heart!
--->'''Dib''': Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin' stuff!''
--->'''Prof. Membrane''': [[BigNo NOO!!]] Santa has let me down! I will turn my back on him and devote a portion of my life to destroying Santa!
to:
* '''[[WorldOfHam WORLD OF HAM]]''':
**WorldOfHam: Some hammy highlights:
--->'''Zim''': Yes.-->'''Zim''': Yes. Oh, I will bring my pa-rents. And they shall be the ''greatest'', most ''parental'' parents ''EVER!''
--->'''Gaz''': -->'''Gaz''': Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing heart!
--->'''Dib''': -->'''Dib''': Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin' stuff!''
--->'''Prof.-->'''Prof. Membrane''': [[BigNo NOO!!]] Santa has let me down! I will turn my back on him and devote a portion of my life to destroying Santa!
**
Changed line(s) 93 (click to see context) from:
* XMustNotWin: Even when the fate of the world isn't at stake, Dib will stop at nothing to oppose Zim. His only reason for participating in the fund-raiser in "Door to Door" is to see Zim fail to win the "secret prize".
to:
[[/folder]]
[[folder:X]]
* XMustNotWin: Even when the fate of the world isn't at stake, Dib will stop at nothing to oppose Zim. His only reason for participating in the fund-raiser in "Door to Door" is to see Zim fail to win the "secretprize". prize".
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Y]]
[[folder:X]]
* XMustNotWin: Even when the fate of the world isn't at stake, Dib will stop at nothing to oppose Zim. His only reason for participating in the fund-raiser in "Door to Door" is to see Zim fail to win the "secret
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Y]]
Changed line(s) 100,101 (click to see context) from:
* YourHeadAsplode: GIR does that sometimes.
* ZombieGait: A mall security guard sends a horde of zombies after ZIM. He is initially scared, but soon realizes just how useless they are as they fall over each other and are completely incapable of harming him.
* ZombieGait: A mall security guard sends a horde of zombies after ZIM. He is initially scared, but soon realizes just how useless they are as they fall over each other and are completely incapable of harming him.
to:
* YourHeadAsplode: GIR does that this sometimes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Z]]
* ZombieGait: A mall security guard sends a horde of zombies afterZIM. He is Zim. He's initially scared, but soon realizes just how useless they are are, as they fall over each other and are completely incapable of harming him.him.
[[/folder]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Z]]
* ZombieGait: A mall security guard sends a horde of zombies after
[[/folder]]
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[[WMG:[[center:[-''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' '''Trope Examples'''\\
[[InvaderZim/TropesAToC A - C]] | [[InvaderZim/TropesDToF D - F]] | [[InvaderZim/TropesGToM G - M]] | [[InvaderZim/TropesNToS N - S]] | '''T - Z'''-]]]]]
----
[[InvaderZim/TropesAToC A - C]] | [[InvaderZim/TropesDToF D - F]] | [[InvaderZim/TropesGToM G - M]] | [[InvaderZim/TropesNToS N - S]] | '''T - Z'''-]]]]]
----
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* TakeThatAudience: In "Dib's Wonderful Life Of Doom," the [[ItMakesSenseInContext shoe aliens]] address Dib as "Dib... er, whatever your last name is," to which Dib firmly replies "That's right," a jab at all of the fans who insisted that his last name is Membrane (this being before it was made canon).
* TakeYourTime: In "Bloaty's Pizza Hog", Gaz can't go to the titular restaurant for the annual family night until she brings Dib with her, but the latter is in Zim's lair. And if she doesn't rescue him in time, it will be put off until next year. And she only has a couple hours left! Despite all of this, she just takes her time and is able to go to Bloaty's before Membrane goes to work.
* TeachersPet: Zita to Ms. Bitters.
* TemporalParadox: Discussing them makes GIR's [[YourHeadASplode head blow up]].
* TenMinuteRetirement: Dib in "Mopiness of Doom" (the unproduced script).
* TerminatorImpersonator: Zim creates a robot called a "Hunter-Destroyer" (which has a name and appearance incredibly similar to a "Hunter-Killer" robot from the ''Terminator'' franchise) to go back in time and kill Dib before he can become Zim's enemy. However, in addition to the TemporalParadox this would create, the robot proves incompatible with TimeTravel anyway, so the scheme never gets off the ground.
* TerrifiedOfGerms: Zim has mysophobia in the episode "Germs".
* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Female Irken (there aren't that many of them) are distinguished by having fuller eyebrow/lashes and curly feelers. [[SelfFanservice Fandom typically chooses to ignore this.]]
* ThatLiarLies: As an overcompensation to his PaperThinDisguise, Zim loves accusing others of lying at complete random.
* ThemeNaming:
** The main characters all have three-letter names: Zim, GIR, Dib, Gaz. Although not as important as the aforementioned characters, Tak also follows this trend.
** Red and Purple also count, though the other Tallests mentioned have different names.
* TheSnackIsMoreInteresting: GIR does this frequently. Take ''Plague of Babies'' for example: while Zim fights for his life against the Giganto-Baby, GIR enjoys a bucket of fried chicken and mayo (even eating a still clucking chicken). Other characters also have their moments.
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: "The Wettening" sees Zim ultimately get back at Dib for constantly hitting him with water balloons by dropping a giant one on him from a KillSat in orbit.
* ThirdPersonFlashback: Lampshaded. ZIM remembers escaping from Frycourtia, and Sizz-Lor coming in and swearing to recapture him. Back in the present, Sizz-lor asks how he can remember that last part if he already left. ZIM doesn't have an answer.
* ThirdPersonPerson: ZIM does this a lot, especially when he's [[ChewingTheScenery hamming it up]] (and when is he not?).
* ThrowTheDogABone: After being the ButtMonkey his whole life, Dib gets the chance to salvage Tak's ship.
* TimeyWimeyBall: Lampshaded and discussed by ZIM and Sizz-lor after Sizz-lor describes how he spent twenty years on Foodcourtia even though ZIM only left a year or two ago. Sizz-lor tries too pass it off and ZIM dosen't seem convinced by it.
* ToiletHumor
* ToiletTeleportation: This is the main method of transportation.
* TooDumbToLive: The vast majority of the human race.
* TotallyRadical: Parodied by Poop Dawg in "Door to Door".
* TouchedByVorlons: Played straight [[spoiler: and later averted]] in "Dib's Wonderful Life of Doom".
* TransformationSequence: GIR doing a MundaneMadeAwesome version of putting on his dog costume.
* {{Transplant}}: Ms. Bitters and the Abductors were major characters in Jhonen's comic ''ComicBook/{{Squee}}'', though neither had names. Two Vortians also appear as rivals of the Abductors.
* TrueMeaningOfChristmas: Dib actually does effectively [[ShamingTheMob shame the mob]] on Christmastime by expounding on it and urging them to go home and spend time with their families. It holds for about five seconds before ZIM shows up as the "Easter Platypus" and turns them against him.
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture
* TwoHalvesMakeAPlot: "Tak the Hideous New Girl" has this when Dib's sister Gaz found files containing Tak's plan, which gives this exchange:
-->'''Zim:''' I'm the only one with the technology to decode those files!\\
'''Dib:''' And we're the only ones with the files to be decoded!
* TwoTeacherSchool: The only Skool teachers that we really see throughout the series and comics are Ms. Bitters and Mr. Elliot. That said, certain episodes and comics have confirmed the existence of other Skool staff, including the Principal, guidance counselors, and a gym coach.
* UltraSuperDeathGoreFestChainsawer3000: Vampire Piggy Hunter, which actually looks to be a decent game.
* UndyingLoyalty: ZIM is clearly loyal to the Irken cause.
* UnexplainedRecovery: Is a RunningGag for poor [[TheChewToy Skoodge...]] First he was sent to Blorch, home of the slaughtering rat people, for being the shortest Invader of Operation Impending Doom II. When he actually did conquer it, the Tallests still didn't like him and launched him out of a cannon. This still didn't stop him from making an appearance in "Hobo 13", where his remarkable recovery was {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and {{handwave}}d:
-->'''Zim''': Skoodge? I thought the Tallests killed you!\\
'''Skoodge''': Yeah, but I'm okay now.
* UnwantedFalseFaith: In "Attack of the Saucer Morons" ZIM somehow fails to see the benefits of dozens of worshipers and instead has to escape from them.
* UsedFuture
* TheUsualAdversaries: Irkens for most of the galaxy. ZIM for the Irkens.
* VileVillainLaughableLackey: Zim is an unusual case in several ways. [[SmallNameBigEgo Zim]] is a VillainProtagonist and an underling for TheEmpire, and characters from TheEmpire higher up than him are indeed far, ''far'' more capable, competent, and serious than Zim is. However, they don't actually care about conquering Earth, and indeed aren't even sure Earth ''exists'': sending Zim to Earth is their idea of making him ReassignedToAntarctica, just so he won't screw up any of the plans they ''do'' care about!
* VillainEpisode:
** Inverted, given that ZIM is a VillainProtagonist -- Dib occasionally gets episodes entirely dedicated to himself such as "Battle-Dib" and "The Sad, Sad Tale of Chickenfoot" where ZIM does not appear at all.
** Also Gaz, in "Game Slave 2".
* VillainProtagonist: Zim.
* VillainsOutShopping: "Mortos Der Soulstealer", "ZIM Eats Waffles".
* VirtualRealityInterrogation: A variation is present in an episode where Zim puts Dib in a virtual reality where he gains ultimate power and uses it to defeat the Irken and become a major celebrity just so he could get Dib to confess that he threw a muffin at him during lunch.
* VitriolicBestBuds: The Tallests ''big time''.
* VomitDiscretionShot:
** "GIR! Your waffles have sickened me! FETCH ME THE BUCKET!"
*** In the Latin American dub, it was changed to "GIR! Your waffles have sickened me! [[BileFascination BRING ME MORE!]]"
* VomitIndiscretionShot: In "Zim Eats Waffles", GIR is seen eating 2 waffles (while Zim is being attacked by [[EldritchAbomination the "giant flesh-eating demon squid"]]) and vomiting shortly afterwards.
* WackySoundEffect: Lots. The sound of air being slowly let out of a balloon is the most common, accompanied by the visual of stupid people straining their brains.
* TheWalrusWasPaul: Jhonen Vasquez decided to celebrate the "one month only" rerun of the show in March 2010 by giving an Invader ZIM "fact" each day in his [[http://www.questionsleep.com/mindspill/ blog]]. All of them devolve into [[CrossesTheLineTwice very, very sick]] tall tales. Considering he rails against the misinformation about the show and its circumstances on the first post, it's not hard to interpret this as his attempt to outdo his own fanbase at bullshitting.
* WasOnceAMan
-->'''Rat person''': I was once a man!\\
'''Dib''': But you're a woman.
** Also Chickenfoot. [[WhatAnIdiot Except not really]].
* WatchThePaintJob: "Police, I'd like to report a ... giant house that flew out of the sky and destroyed my car, okay, thank you! ... AAAGH!!"
* WaveOfBabies: In "Plague of Babies".
* WeaksauceWeakness: ZIM's ship crashes after a bee hits its windshield. The bee survived. Also, ZIM's aforementioned issues with water.
* WeHaveReserves: "Hobo 13" is this trope over and over again.
* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: Tak's voice starts off as fake American, then wavers somewhere between that and British before becoming full-on Brit. She's played by the British-American Olivia d'Abo, who's most famous role was [[Series/TheWonderYears as an American with a slighty more consistant accent]].
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: The city where most of the series takes place is never named, let alone given a specific location. Various screenshots and supplemental information of dubious canonicity places it anywhere from Ohio to Quebec.
* WhiteVoidRoom: "A room... with a moose!"
* WickedWeasel: "Computerrr! Take me to the ''WEASELS!''"
* WithCatlikeTread: [[NoIndoorVoice Zim]] 24/7.
-->'''Zim:''' '' '''LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAVE NOOOOOOOOOO EVIDEEEEEEEEEEEENCE!!!!!!''' ''
* WombLevel: "[=NanoZIM=]".
* WontTakeYesForAnAnswer:
-->'''Zim''': Is that Irken equipment you're using? That's Tak's ship you're sitting in, isn't it?\\
'''Dib''': Yes it is, Zim! It fell from the-\\
'''Zim''' ''(yelling)'': '''''Isn't it!?!'''''\\
'''Dib''' ''(also yelling)'': ''I said it was!'' Man, you have a problem with listening, Zim!\\
'''Zim''': '''''[++ISN'T IT!?!++]'''''
* WorldGoneMad
* '''[[WorldOfHam WORLD OF HAM]]''':
** Some hammy highlights:
--->'''Zim''': Yes. Oh, I will bring my pa-rents. And they shall be the ''greatest'', most ''parental'' parents ''EVER!''
--->'''Gaz''': Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing heart!
--->'''Dib''': Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin' stuff!''
--->'''Prof. Membrane''': [[BigNo NOO!!]] Santa has let me down! I will turn my back on him and devote a portion of my life to destroying Santa!
* WorldOfJerkass: There are few characters who are genuinely decent in this series.
* WorldOfSnark
* WorthyOpponent:
** Dib to ZIM, by ZIM's own admission.
** Sgt. Slab Rankle, a mall security guard who takes his job a little too seriously, describes ZIM as this in "FBI Warning of Doom," even [[WeCanRuleTogether offering to join forces with him so that they can "rule the mall."]] ZIM is unimpressed.
* XMustNotWin: Even when the fate of the world isn't at stake, Dib will stop at nothing to oppose Zim. His only reason for participating in the fund-raiser in "Door to Door" is to see Zim fail to win the "secret prize".
* YankTheDogsChain: "Dib's Wonderful Life of Doom" is ''all'' this, but "Vindicated" is probably worse.
* YouCanRunButYouCantHide: Dib says it to Zim, or rather ''tries'' to say it but just winds up contradicting himself. ("You can hide, but you can't.... hide!") In his defense he was seriously brain damaged by that point.
* YouDoNOTWantToKnow:
-->'''Dib:''' Miss Bitters? I read that long ago that people used to give out cards and candy on Valentine's Day. How did the whole meat thing get started?\\
'''Miss Bitters:''' [[NoodleIncident You don't want to know...]]
* YoungerThanHeLooks: The aptly-named "Old Kid".
* YourHeadAsplode: GIR does that sometimes.
* ZombieGait: A mall security guard sends a horde of zombies after ZIM. He is initially scared, but soon realizes just how useless they are as they fall over each other and are completely incapable of harming him.
----
* TakeYourTime: In "Bloaty's Pizza Hog", Gaz can't go to the titular restaurant for the annual family night until she brings Dib with her, but the latter is in Zim's lair. And if she doesn't rescue him in time, it will be put off until next year. And she only has a couple hours left! Despite all of this, she just takes her time and is able to go to Bloaty's before Membrane goes to work.
* TeachersPet: Zita to Ms. Bitters.
* TemporalParadox: Discussing them makes GIR's [[YourHeadASplode head blow up]].
* TenMinuteRetirement: Dib in "Mopiness of Doom" (the unproduced script).
* TerminatorImpersonator: Zim creates a robot called a "Hunter-Destroyer" (which has a name and appearance incredibly similar to a "Hunter-Killer" robot from the ''Terminator'' franchise) to go back in time and kill Dib before he can become Zim's enemy. However, in addition to the TemporalParadox this would create, the robot proves incompatible with TimeTravel anyway, so the scheme never gets off the ground.
* TerrifiedOfGerms: Zim has mysophobia in the episode "Germs".
* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Female Irken (there aren't that many of them) are distinguished by having fuller eyebrow/lashes and curly feelers. [[SelfFanservice Fandom typically chooses to ignore this.]]
* ThatLiarLies: As an overcompensation to his PaperThinDisguise, Zim loves accusing others of lying at complete random.
* ThemeNaming:
** The main characters all have three-letter names: Zim, GIR, Dib, Gaz. Although not as important as the aforementioned characters, Tak also follows this trend.
** Red and Purple also count, though the other Tallests mentioned have different names.
* TheSnackIsMoreInteresting: GIR does this frequently. Take ''Plague of Babies'' for example: while Zim fights for his life against the Giganto-Baby, GIR enjoys a bucket of fried chicken and mayo (even eating a still clucking chicken). Other characters also have their moments.
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: "The Wettening" sees Zim ultimately get back at Dib for constantly hitting him with water balloons by dropping a giant one on him from a KillSat in orbit.
* ThirdPersonFlashback: Lampshaded. ZIM remembers escaping from Frycourtia, and Sizz-Lor coming in and swearing to recapture him. Back in the present, Sizz-lor asks how he can remember that last part if he already left. ZIM doesn't have an answer.
* ThirdPersonPerson: ZIM does this a lot, especially when he's [[ChewingTheScenery hamming it up]] (and when is he not?).
* ThrowTheDogABone: After being the ButtMonkey his whole life, Dib gets the chance to salvage Tak's ship.
* TimeyWimeyBall: Lampshaded and discussed by ZIM and Sizz-lor after Sizz-lor describes how he spent twenty years on Foodcourtia even though ZIM only left a year or two ago. Sizz-lor tries too pass it off and ZIM dosen't seem convinced by it.
* ToiletHumor
* ToiletTeleportation: This is the main method of transportation.
* TooDumbToLive: The vast majority of the human race.
* TotallyRadical: Parodied by Poop Dawg in "Door to Door".
* TouchedByVorlons: Played straight [[spoiler: and later averted]] in "Dib's Wonderful Life of Doom".
* TransformationSequence: GIR doing a MundaneMadeAwesome version of putting on his dog costume.
* {{Transplant}}: Ms. Bitters and the Abductors were major characters in Jhonen's comic ''ComicBook/{{Squee}}'', though neither had names. Two Vortians also appear as rivals of the Abductors.
* TrueMeaningOfChristmas: Dib actually does effectively [[ShamingTheMob shame the mob]] on Christmastime by expounding on it and urging them to go home and spend time with their families. It holds for about five seconds before ZIM shows up as the "Easter Platypus" and turns them against him.
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture
* TwoHalvesMakeAPlot: "Tak the Hideous New Girl" has this when Dib's sister Gaz found files containing Tak's plan, which gives this exchange:
-->'''Zim:''' I'm the only one with the technology to decode those files!\\
'''Dib:''' And we're the only ones with the files to be decoded!
* TwoTeacherSchool: The only Skool teachers that we really see throughout the series and comics are Ms. Bitters and Mr. Elliot. That said, certain episodes and comics have confirmed the existence of other Skool staff, including the Principal, guidance counselors, and a gym coach.
* UltraSuperDeathGoreFestChainsawer3000: Vampire Piggy Hunter, which actually looks to be a decent game.
* UndyingLoyalty: ZIM is clearly loyal to the Irken cause.
* UnexplainedRecovery: Is a RunningGag for poor [[TheChewToy Skoodge...]] First he was sent to Blorch, home of the slaughtering rat people, for being the shortest Invader of Operation Impending Doom II. When he actually did conquer it, the Tallests still didn't like him and launched him out of a cannon. This still didn't stop him from making an appearance in "Hobo 13", where his remarkable recovery was {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and {{handwave}}d:
-->'''Zim''': Skoodge? I thought the Tallests killed you!\\
'''Skoodge''': Yeah, but I'm okay now.
* UnwantedFalseFaith: In "Attack of the Saucer Morons" ZIM somehow fails to see the benefits of dozens of worshipers and instead has to escape from them.
* UsedFuture
* TheUsualAdversaries: Irkens for most of the galaxy. ZIM for the Irkens.
* VileVillainLaughableLackey: Zim is an unusual case in several ways. [[SmallNameBigEgo Zim]] is a VillainProtagonist and an underling for TheEmpire, and characters from TheEmpire higher up than him are indeed far, ''far'' more capable, competent, and serious than Zim is. However, they don't actually care about conquering Earth, and indeed aren't even sure Earth ''exists'': sending Zim to Earth is their idea of making him ReassignedToAntarctica, just so he won't screw up any of the plans they ''do'' care about!
* VillainEpisode:
** Inverted, given that ZIM is a VillainProtagonist -- Dib occasionally gets episodes entirely dedicated to himself such as "Battle-Dib" and "The Sad, Sad Tale of Chickenfoot" where ZIM does not appear at all.
** Also Gaz, in "Game Slave 2".
* VillainProtagonist: Zim.
* VillainsOutShopping: "Mortos Der Soulstealer", "ZIM Eats Waffles".
* VirtualRealityInterrogation: A variation is present in an episode where Zim puts Dib in a virtual reality where he gains ultimate power and uses it to defeat the Irken and become a major celebrity just so he could get Dib to confess that he threw a muffin at him during lunch.
* VitriolicBestBuds: The Tallests ''big time''.
* VomitDiscretionShot:
** "GIR! Your waffles have sickened me! FETCH ME THE BUCKET!"
*** In the Latin American dub, it was changed to "GIR! Your waffles have sickened me! [[BileFascination BRING ME MORE!]]"
* VomitIndiscretionShot: In "Zim Eats Waffles", GIR is seen eating 2 waffles (while Zim is being attacked by [[EldritchAbomination the "giant flesh-eating demon squid"]]) and vomiting shortly afterwards.
* WackySoundEffect: Lots. The sound of air being slowly let out of a balloon is the most common, accompanied by the visual of stupid people straining their brains.
* TheWalrusWasPaul: Jhonen Vasquez decided to celebrate the "one month only" rerun of the show in March 2010 by giving an Invader ZIM "fact" each day in his [[http://www.questionsleep.com/mindspill/ blog]]. All of them devolve into [[CrossesTheLineTwice very, very sick]] tall tales. Considering he rails against the misinformation about the show and its circumstances on the first post, it's not hard to interpret this as his attempt to outdo his own fanbase at bullshitting.
* WasOnceAMan
-->'''Rat person''': I was once a man!\\
'''Dib''': But you're a woman.
** Also Chickenfoot. [[WhatAnIdiot Except not really]].
* WatchThePaintJob: "Police, I'd like to report a ... giant house that flew out of the sky and destroyed my car, okay, thank you! ... AAAGH!!"
* WaveOfBabies: In "Plague of Babies".
* WeaksauceWeakness: ZIM's ship crashes after a bee hits its windshield. The bee survived. Also, ZIM's aforementioned issues with water.
* WeHaveReserves: "Hobo 13" is this trope over and over again.
* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: Tak's voice starts off as fake American, then wavers somewhere between that and British before becoming full-on Brit. She's played by the British-American Olivia d'Abo, who's most famous role was [[Series/TheWonderYears as an American with a slighty more consistant accent]].
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: The city where most of the series takes place is never named, let alone given a specific location. Various screenshots and supplemental information of dubious canonicity places it anywhere from Ohio to Quebec.
* WhiteVoidRoom: "A room... with a moose!"
* WickedWeasel: "Computerrr! Take me to the ''WEASELS!''"
* WithCatlikeTread: [[NoIndoorVoice Zim]] 24/7.
-->'''Zim:''' '' '''LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAVE NOOOOOOOOOO EVIDEEEEEEEEEEEENCE!!!!!!''' ''
* WombLevel: "[=NanoZIM=]".
* WontTakeYesForAnAnswer:
-->'''Zim''': Is that Irken equipment you're using? That's Tak's ship you're sitting in, isn't it?\\
'''Dib''': Yes it is, Zim! It fell from the-\\
'''Zim''' ''(yelling)'': '''''Isn't it!?!'''''\\
'''Dib''' ''(also yelling)'': ''I said it was!'' Man, you have a problem with listening, Zim!\\
'''Zim''': '''''[++ISN'T IT!?!++]'''''
* WorldGoneMad
* '''[[WorldOfHam WORLD OF HAM]]''':
** Some hammy highlights:
--->'''Zim''': Yes. Oh, I will bring my pa-rents. And they shall be the ''greatest'', most ''parental'' parents ''EVER!''
--->'''Gaz''': Let it be known that from ''this'' day, until the ''end'' of the day, vengeance will be mine. Dib, you will not know the meaning of peace, for I shall rain misery down upon your pizza-stealing heart!
--->'''Dib''': Go on, laugh! But one day, you'll be sitting in your house feeling all safe and secure, and then you'll look over and I'll be there! ''Doin' stuff!''
--->'''Prof. Membrane''': [[BigNo NOO!!]] Santa has let me down! I will turn my back on him and devote a portion of my life to destroying Santa!
* WorldOfJerkass: There are few characters who are genuinely decent in this series.
* WorldOfSnark
* WorthyOpponent:
** Dib to ZIM, by ZIM's own admission.
** Sgt. Slab Rankle, a mall security guard who takes his job a little too seriously, describes ZIM as this in "FBI Warning of Doom," even [[WeCanRuleTogether offering to join forces with him so that they can "rule the mall."]] ZIM is unimpressed.
* XMustNotWin: Even when the fate of the world isn't at stake, Dib will stop at nothing to oppose Zim. His only reason for participating in the fund-raiser in "Door to Door" is to see Zim fail to win the "secret prize".
* YankTheDogsChain: "Dib's Wonderful Life of Doom" is ''all'' this, but "Vindicated" is probably worse.
* YouCanRunButYouCantHide: Dib says it to Zim, or rather ''tries'' to say it but just winds up contradicting himself. ("You can hide, but you can't.... hide!") In his defense he was seriously brain damaged by that point.
* YouDoNOTWantToKnow:
-->'''Dib:''' Miss Bitters? I read that long ago that people used to give out cards and candy on Valentine's Day. How did the whole meat thing get started?\\
'''Miss Bitters:''' [[NoodleIncident You don't want to know...]]
* YoungerThanHeLooks: The aptly-named "Old Kid".
* YourHeadAsplode: GIR does that sometimes.
* ZombieGait: A mall security guard sends a horde of zombies after ZIM. He is initially scared, but soon realizes just how useless they are as they fall over each other and are completely incapable of harming him.
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