History IronicEcho / WesternAnimation

* [[WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}} Amphibia]]: At the end of season 1, when Anne [[GrewASpine fights against Sasha,]] she asks her what she’s doing. She responds with, “Something I should have done a long time ago. Standing up to you!” In the GrandFinale, [[spoiler: King Andrias sends his robots to help the Calamity trio push The Core away from Amphibia. When it asks Andrias what he’s doing, he says, “Something I should have done a long time ago. Standing up to you!”]]

** In ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 Twilight's Kingdom Part 2]]'', [[spoiler:[[TokenEvilTeammate Discord]]]] betrays the ponies to join Tirek.

** Then, in the Season 5 episode [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E12AmendingFences Amending Fences,]] Twilight is trying to repair her friendship with [[ShadowArchetype Moondancer]], whom she [[InnocentlyInsensitive accidentally put off friendship]] back in that first episode:

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E25TheCutieRemarkPart1 The Cutie Remark Part 1]], one of Starlight Glimmer's attempts to prevent the Sonic Rainboom was to stop the bullies from messing with Rainbow Dash, telling Twilight that stopping the Rainboom was "just a bonus". Flash forward to [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E6NoSecondPrances No Second Prances]], where Trixie, attempting to tell a heartbroken Starlight that she genuinely was her friend, she added [[DiggingYourselfDeeper that beating Twilight was "just a bonus".]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''

* In the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' episode "Secrets", when Artemis tries to fight Harm, he says she's too riddled with doubt to be an effective fighter: "How can [[ItIsDehumanizing it]] fight [[ThirdPersonPerson Harm]] when it is busy fighting itself?" When Harm is shaken by being forced to confront [[spoiler: the ghost of his sister, who he murdered to remove "weakness" from his life]], Artemis throws the line back at him.

* ''WesternAnimation/XMen'': From "Beyond Good and Evil Part 4" in the final battle with Apocalypse when Magneto gets attacked and saved by ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}:

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DoubleDragon'' cartoon, Jimmy becomes drunk on the power of the Eye of the Dragon, causing him to (temporarily) break the bond between him and his brother at an inopportune time. At this point, "I hold the power" becomes his MadnessMantra, and while under the influence of the Eye's power, he comes within a hair's breadth of killing the [[BigBad Shadow Master]] until he shows Jimmy a captured Billy, forcing him into a FriendOrIdolDecision with the phrase "The end of your enemy... or the life of your brother? Only ''I'' hold ''that'' power."

* ''WesternAnimation/XMen'': From "Beyond Good and Evil Part 4" in the final battle with Apocalypse when Magneto gets attacked and saved by {{Wolverine}}:

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZelda'',

** In the episode "Bart's Girlfriend", [[PreachersKid the Lovejoys' daughter Jessica]] arrives in town from boarding school, and Bart is instantly smitten. Lisa reminds him that his chances with her are slim to none, saying [[PuritySue "She's a sweet, kind reverend's daughter,]] and [[AntiHero you're the devil's cabana boy."]] Bart begrudgingly adopts a "good boy" persona to get into the Lovejoys' good graces, which doesn't take. Neither does it matter, because Jessica proves to be a troublemaker on par with himself. They go on a petty crime spree, wherein Bart realizes that [[BitchInSheepsClothing Jessica]] actually ''outclasses'' him in terms of amorality. When he tries to break off their relationship next week in church, Jessica retaliates by dumping the contents of the collection plate into her purse and pinning the theft on him, which leads the entire town to ostracize him. Bart later confronts Jessica about her betrayal and vows to let the town know who the real culprit is. She replies, echoing Lisa's earlier sentiment, "Who would believe you? Remember, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity I'm the sweet, perfect minister's daughter,]] and you're just [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation yellow]] trash."
** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS19E9EternalMoonshineOfTheSimpsonMind Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind]]", Homer's line "The mother of my children with the reason for my children" changes its meaning in a funny way. First time around the "reason" is alcohol, but when he repeats the line later he refers to Marge's caring nature as the reason.

-->'''Kyle:''' Yes, [[IBelieveThatYouBelieveIt I believe that you believe]] you helped write that joke. That's how people like you work! Your ego is so out of whack that it will do whatever it can to protect itself. And people with a messed up ego can do these [[SelfServingMemory mental gymnastics]] to convince themselves they're awesome, when really, they're just douchebags!

-->[[spoiler:'''Discord''']] Surely you saw this coming.

** In "[[WhoWouldWantToWatchUs The Ember Island Players]]", when the rest of the [[FanNickname Gaang]] is upset over how they're portrayed in the play, Toph tells everyone, "Listen, friends, it's obvious that the playwright did his research. I know it must hurt, but what you're seeing up there on that stage is the truth." Later, when Toph's character, played by "a really buff ''guy''" is introduced, Katara ''tries'' to get back at her:

* In ''WesternAnimation/AngelsFriends'' - In episode 2, Raf and Sulfus see Andrew's friend Jacob getting picked on by three bullies:

-->'''625''': But—

-->'''625''': Look, I'm trying to tell you that—

-->'''Gantu''': But—

** Then, in the season five episode [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E12AmendingFences Amending Fences,]] Twilight is trying to repair her friendship with [[ShadowArchetype Moondancer]], whom she [[InnocentlyInsensitive accidentally put off friendship]] back in that first episode:

** The season two arc uses this twice.

** The Enchanted Girl introduces herself to Cassandra saying that she's a friend "Or at least, I'd like to be." [[Recap/TangledTheSeriesS3E12CassandrasRevenge Eleven episodes later]], she says the same thing to [[spoiler: [[GadgeteerGenius Varian,]] [[FalseFriend and the viewer isn't fooled this time.]]]]

** One five seasons in the making: In the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E1MareInTheMoon very first episode of the series,]] Twilight is irritated about all the "annoying" ponies trying to make friends with her
--> '''Twilight''': I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends.
** Then, in the season five episode [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E12AmendingFences Amending Fences,]] Twilight is trying to repair her friendship with [[ShadowArchetype Moondancer]], whom she [[InnocentlyInsensitive accidentally put off friendship]] back in that first episode
--> '''Moondancer''': I just need to be alone so I can study without some crazy pony trying to make friends.

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "One Krabs Treasure" has an IronicEcho done in a way. First in the graveyard when [[MoneyFetish Mr. Krabs]] comes to steal back the "valuable" novelty soda drink hat, he comes across a depressed [[ButtMonkey Squidward]] mourning his hopes and dreams. Krabs replies "What a baby." Later after Krabs finds out that the soda drink hat has no value after others are found, [[VillainousBreakdown he sobs]] and Squidward passes by saying "What a baby." May count as a [[Funny/SpongebobSquarepants Crowning Moment of Funny]].

* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'' has an episode where Gantu is immediately rebuked for his idea of how useful an experiment would be. When 625 discovers something that could vindicate him, he's too angry to listen.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': Used in a very dark context by first [[WoobieDestroyerofWorlds Demona]] and then her enemy [[NotSoDifferent John Canmore]]:

* In TheUnicornInTheGarden, the wife first tells the husband "The unicorn is a mythical beast", then later [[spoiler: the psychiatrist asks if the husband told the wife there was a unicorn, which would mean the wife was not crazy, to which the husband replies "Of course not. The unicorn is a mythical beast."]]

** An even larger example involving Beast Boy and Terra. In "Aftershock" when Terra is about to finish Beast Boy while controlled by Slade, he utters this "It's your life Terra, your choice, it's never too late to change."
** In the show's finale: "Things change, Beast Boy. The girl you want me to be [[spoiler:is just a memory.... you're the Teen Titan. That's who you are. That's not me. I'm not a hero. I'm not out to save the world. I'm just a girl with a geometry test next period and I haven't studied."]]

** An even larger example involving Beast Boy and Terra. In Aftershock when Terra is about to finish Beast Boy while controlled by Slade, he utters this "It's your life Terra, your choice, it's never too late to change."
** In the show's finale:[[spoiler:"Things change, Beast Boy. The girl you want me to be is just a memory.... you're the Teen Titan. That's who you are. That's not me. I'm not a hero. I'm not out to save the world. I'm just a girl with a geometry test next period and I haven't studied."]]

* The season two arc of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' uses this twice. First off in an episode where it's revealed that Terra has been working with Slade to help her control her powers, when she attempts to protect Beast Boy from Slade he tells her that she doesn't have any friends. Then after the truth comes out, she begs Beast Boy to forgive her deception. He turns his back on her, replying "Slade was right. You don't have any friends." The second time it's used is in the 2-part finale. Terra, now bitter and completely sided with Slade, is tearing up the town, and Beast Boy attempts to reason with her and begs her to stop, stating that he's still her friend. Terra coldly replies, "I don't have any friends, remember?''."

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': When Angelica's parents send her to her room for refusing to eat her broccoli, her mother tells her, "We tried to reason with you, but you wouldn't listen." Later, [[HilarityEnsues Hilarity En]][[StealthPun sues]] when Angelica sues her parents. When Charlotte tries to reason with her, Angelica tells her, "It's too late for talk now, Mommy. I tried to reason with you, but you wouldn't listen."

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZelda'', Zelda borrows Link's shield and leaves him to fight off Ganon's invasion alone:
-->'''Zelda:''' You hold them here!\\

-->'''Link[[spoiler:'s Ghost]]:''' Just hold them a while!\\

-->'''Flash!Clayface:''' Looks like I didn't need you after all, yo, but you can help me tie him up.\\

-->'''Clayface:''' ...What gave me away?\\

-->'''Danny:''' I'll give you a five-minute head start, Plasmius.\\

* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' loves this trope. One of the earliest examples is in "Maternal Instinct"; when Vlad first uses the Plasmius Maximus on Danny to temporarily DePower him, he smugly tells him, "I've seen your grades, and I know you're bad at math. I'll give you five minutes before I send my minions to destroy you.... Five minutes, five seconds -- oh, apparently, I'm bad at math, too." Later, after Danny gets the better of him:

** "Life Lessons" begins with a great example. When Danny is fighting Valerie, he says "I don't wanna hurt you," to which she replies "What makes you think you can?" Later, after finding out that they were assigned to the same Home Economics project, the teacher mocks them, referring to them as a married couple. Danny says "I am so not kissing the bride" to which Valerie replies, "What makes you think you can?"

-->'''Valerie''': I never thought a ghost could be anything but trouble.\\

-->'''Danny''': Wow, this is like the worst job ever. I didn't know this is the job you were talking about.\\

-->'''The Box Ghost''': ''Beware''.