History Main / AntiClimaxCut

* In the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' special ''Secrets of the Furious Five'', Po is telling Viper's story to a group of rabbit children:

Distantly related to the DescriptionCut, the Anticlimax Cut is a scene change where the resolution to a setup is much less exciting, sexy, dangerous, or supernatural than what the audience was led to expect. The resulting AntiClimax is PlayedForLaughs, making this a ComedyTrope.

Works very effectively in hybrid genres such as action/comedy or {{dramedy}}, as the audience might have a reasonable expectation of something [=sexy/dangerous/supernatural/etc.=] happening. In pure comedy, almost any dire pronouncement is liable to end in an AnticlimaxCut, making them easier to spot coming.

* The final episode of ''Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu'' features the entire class (and, after much HilarityEnsues, the entire school) being accidentally infected by a biological weapon Sousuke brought to the school. At the episode's climax, Sousuke brings his LoveInterest Kaname to the sick room, puts her on a bed, and tells her to strip. Kaname obviously expects [[MustNotDieAVirgin a specific trope]] -- [[spoiler:until a cut reveals that the 'biological weapon' was an experimental nylon-dissolving bacteria. It only causes light flu-like symptoms in humans, but dissolves practically all clothing on the school grounds. Sousuke brought her to the sick bed because it was the closest source of cotton curtains Kaname could use to stay modest.]]

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' ("[[{{Recap/AngelS05E17Underneath}} Underneath]]"): Eve is saying that Lindsay is trapped in some terrible hell dimension. Cut to Lindsey snuggling in bed with a beautiful blonde. Eve isn't entirely wrong however, as it's revealed to be a StepfordSuburbia with a nasty twist.

* In ''Film/TheMuppets'' Rowlf complains that he wasn't shown in a montage of Muppets being recruited for a revival show. Cut to his scene:

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* On ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'', Darius brings a HandcuffedBriefcase of money to a drug deal but forgets the key to the cuffs. The drug dealers tell them ominously that they will get their money... and after the break, we see that they have simply removed the money from the briefcase, which was not locked.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS7E1Lessons Lessons]]":
--->'''Buffy:''' Vampires, demons... they're nothing compared to what's coming.\\
'''Dawn:''' I know. I just can't believe it's back.\\
'''Buffy:''' Believe me, I thought I was long past it. I guess you never are. Just a few more days til it starts, and then we'll never know what's coming next.\\
''[cut to the opening ceremony at the new Sunnydale High School]''
** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E5NeverKillABoyOnTheFirstDate Never Kill a Boy on the First Date]]", Giles refuses to let Buffy go on a date because the Anointed One is supposed to rise.

** "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E10Nightmares Nightmares]]": Dreams are becoming reality, and Giles says they've got to stop it quickly "or else everyone in Sunnydale is going to be facing their own worst nightmares." Cut to Cordelia shrieking over an inexplicable onset of MessyHair.
** "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E8LoversWalk Lover's Walk]]": Buffy is talking to her mother on the phone when she hears vampire Spike speaking on the other end. Buffy rushes out without replacing the phone; cut to [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu Buffy's mother pouring hot cocoa]] for Spike and providing a sympathetic ear while he moans on about being ditched by his girlfriend.

** "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS4E25YouMayNowKissTheUhGuyWhoRecieves You May Now Kiss the... Uh... Guy Who Recieves]]" has an obvious CutawayGag setup where Stewie complains about missing an awesome parade featuring nude cheerleaders performing acrobatics all choreographed to the music of ''Music/{{Queen}}'', with other highlights being an F-16 airshow and a hundred-foot chocolate teddy bear. "I remember that day!" ...cut to Stewie sitting on his couch, bored. "Shoulda gone to that thing."

'''Buffy:''' You don't like the colors?

** "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E3TheWitch Witch]]":
--->'''Giles:''' I make allowances for your youth, but I expect a certain amount of responsibility, and instead of which you enslave yourself to this, this... cult?\\
''[reveal: Buffy in cheerleader uniform]''\\

** In "The Wandering Juvie", during Bart's stay at a youth detention center, he gets to watch an ''[[WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow Itchy and Scratchy]]'' cartoon for Juvie Movie Night. The cartoon, titled "The Battle of Slaughter-loo", features Itchy and Scratchy fighting with their respective armies of mice and cats. However, the cartoon was edited for prison viewing, so [[https://frinkiac.com/gif/S15E16/532157/533825/ the film abruptly cuts out at the first clash]] and returns with Itchy's victory speech at the end followed by two mice doing ThatRussianSquatDance, skipping the actual violence... which, judging from said speech, was such a spectacle, it was even in 3D.

-->'''Bender:''' You mean people will pay good money for romance? I think I have a scheme so deviously clever that I-- *SmashCut*\\
'''Judge:''' $500 and time served.\\
'''Bender:''' Stupid anti-pimping laws.

* Creator/KeeganMichaelKey's turn as Inigo in ''Series/HomeMovieThePrincessBride'' has him for the scene where Inigo is communing with his dead father on his revenge mission against the six-fingered man. Key appears to be doing so in a forest, like in the original, until it suddenly cuts to his other side to reveal the scene is being shot in a little landscaping patch bordering a city, complete with cars driving by in the background. As he has his revelation, he turns on the glass collector's lightsaber he was using as his sword, complete with an audible lightsaber-y "whoosh".

* ''Film/{{Garfield}}: The Movie'' has Garfield figuring out where to save Odie. Cut to outside, and he's already outside, totally out of breath...and he's barely reached the end of the driveway! So he goes back inside, fuels up on snacks and TV, and ''then'' continues his quest.

* In ''Film/Venom2018'', Eddie looks out through the busted window of an 80-story building:

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' has an idea where the water source could be and forms a posse. They ride off into the desert, where one of the townsfolk asks where they're going. Rango turns to answer...and because he doesn't know where he's going, [[FailedAttemptAtDrama they sheepishly head back to town]].

-->'''Undead:''' Pray to what gods you serve that you will be deemed worthy of this rare honor! Find your reserves of courage, warriors, for the Test of the Heart begins -- NOW!!\\

* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxyuQbB3Ryg 'Bring on The Thundah!']], WebVideo/{{Jerma985}} played up the epicness of his personal favourite map pl_Thundermountain, complete with lightning appearing on the screen for more badass effect, even WebVideo/{{STAR}}_ has his steam name changed to THUNDER for this video, only for the server to change the map to cp_Egypt, to Jerma's dismay.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': while working with the Marvel family, Batman is deaging, and Mr Mind has managed to get the Marvels to stop working with each other. Batman, by now a toddler, muses on how he can bring them back together with cunning psychological manipulation...which, since TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody, takes the form of using bat-gadgets to send each one a crayon sketch of them fighting while Baby Bats cries in the background. [[spoiler:It works.]]

-->'''Dipper:''' (''[[MundaneMadeAwesome in the same dramatic tone]]'') We're ''in''.

--> '''Po:''' Now I bet you're wondering... where's the kicking butt?\\

** In "The Wandering Juvie", during Bart's stay at a youth detention center, he gets to watch an [[WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow Itchy and Scratchy]] cartoon for Juvie Movie Night. The cartoon, titled "The Battle of Slaughter-loo", features Itchy and Scratchy fighting with their respective armies of mice and cats. However, the cartoon was edited for prison viewing, so [[https://frinkiac.com/gif/S15E16/532157/533825/ the film abruptly cuts out at the first clash]] and returns with Itchy's victory speech at the end followed by two mice doing ThatRussianSquatDance, skipping the actual violence... which, judging from said speech, was such a spectacle, it was even in 3D.

** Giles refuses to let Buffy go on a date because the Anointed One is supposed to rise.

** A different gag shows "The worst day in that man's life": a man is in Hiroshima late in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He gets splattered with mud by a passing car, finds a parking ticket on his own, and [[TemptingFate complains that his day can't possibly get any worse]]. Then he hears a falling noise, sees a shadow form directly underneath him, looks up, and has enough time to yell "[[BigOMG Oh... my... GOD!]]" right before... an ape falls on his face and starts attacking him.

Distantly related to the DescriptionCut, the Anticlimax Cut is a scene change where the resolution to a setup is much less exciting, sexy, dangerous, or supernatural than what the audience was led to expect. The resulting {{Anticlimax}} is PlayedForLaughs, making this a ComedyTrope.

Compare ChargeIntoCombatCut, DescriptionCut, and NotSoDire. See also {{Anticlimax}}. If only the ''audience'' perceives any Anticlimax while the characters take it seriously, may overlap with MundaneMadeAwesome or FauxHorrific. If the lead in to the cut is about how the BigBad must be planning something terrible, the cut will be to the VillainsOutShopping.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' ("Underneath"). Eve is saying that Lindsay is trapped in some terrible hell dimension. Cut to Lindsey snuggling in bed with a beautiful blonde. Eve isn't entirely wrong however, as it's revealed to be a StepfordSuburbia with a nasty twist.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''
** "Witch" (episode 3):

** "Lessons" (premiere of season 7):

** Dreams are becoming reality, and Giles says they've got to stop it quickly "or else everyone in Sunnydale is going to be facing their own worst nightmares." Cut to Cordelia shrieking over an inexplicable onset of MessyHair.
** Buffy is talking to her mother on the phone when she hears vampire Spike speaking on the other end. Buffy rushes out without replacing the phone; cut to [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu Buffy's mother pouring hot cocoa]] for Spike and providing a sympathetic ear while he moans on about being ditched by his girlfriend.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' has an idea where the water source could be and forms a posse. They ride off into the desert, where one of the townsfolk asks where they're going. Rango turns to answer...and because he doesn't know where he's going, [[FailedAttemptAtDrama they sheepishly head back to town]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', Miles wants to test his powers, so he decides to go up to the roof of a tall building, walks up to the edge, takes a deep breath, and... cut to him taking the stairs back down.

[[folder:Film]]

'''Ling's Father (in flashback):''' There will be... a Chosen One!\\

'''Ling's Father (in flashback):''' It will be...significant!

* In ''Film/TheMuppets'' Rowlf complains that he wasn't shown in a montage of Muppets being recruited for a revival show. Cut to his scene:
-->'''Kermit:''' "Hey Rowlf, you wanna get back together?"\\
'''Rowlf:''' "Okay."

-->'''Venom:''' Jump.
-->(''Cut to Eddie using the elevator.'')
-->'''Venom:''' Pussy.

--->'''Giles:''' I make allowances for your youth, but I expect a certain amount of responsibility, and instead of which you enslave yourself to this, this…cult?\\
''(Reveal: Buffy in cheerleader uniform)''\\

--->'''Buffy:''' Vampires, demons… they're nothing compared to what's coming.\\

''(Cut to the opening ceremony at the new Sunnydale High School.)''

-->Tonight, you go into battle! ''(Cut to Buffy and Giles in the graveyard, bored out of their minds)''

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* A ''Comicstrip/{{Dilbert}}'' strip had this exchange:
-->'''Dilbert:''' We've been dating for a year now, Liz. There's something I'd like to do tonight... there are some needs that I can't fulfill at work.\\
'''Liz:''' I understand.\\
''Cut to: Dilbert and Liz working on his computer.''\\
'''Dilbert:''' Yes! Yes!\\
'''Liz:''' How long has your internet connection at work been broken?

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''
** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0328.html #328]]: After having passed the Tests of the Body and Mind, one guarded by a hydra and the other a riddle, the Order finds themselves face-to-face with the guardian of the final Test of the Heart.
-->"Pray to what gods you serve that you will be deemed worthy of this rare honor! Find your reserves of courage, warriors, for the Test of the Heart begins--NOW!!"\\
''Cut to: Roy in a chair at a doctor's clinic, a stethoscope over his heart.''\\
"Pulse rate is 60... blood pressure is 85 over 60... You pass. Next!"
** Happens again [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0378.html here]], when Nale has disguised himself as Elan and wants to find information about the Gates:
--->'''Nale:''' "I need to devise some scheme, some elaborate machination, by which I could unearth more information concerning this gate..."\\
''(cut to Shojo telling the heroes, and Nale, everything about the Gates)''\\

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Episode 36 of ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' shows us how Vegeta finally managed to become a [[SuperMode Super Saiyan]].
--> '''Vegeta:''' Oh, trust me. There's more than one way to realize the legend.\\
[Cue Flashback]\\
'''Vegeta:''' (pounding the ground like a spoiled child) I wanna! I wanna be a Super Saiyan! I wanna! [[{{Angrish}} IwannaIwannaIwannaIwannawanna-]]\\
[Back in the present]\\
'''Vegeta:''' [[BlatantLies Pushups, situps, and plenty of juice.]]

-->'''Hollyhock:''' Do you have a key?
-->'''Bojack:''' (''ominously'') I have my ways.
-->''(Cut to Bojack checking under the mat and not finding anything.)''
-->'''Bojack:''' Welp, I'm out of ways.

''Closeup on Danny looking sly. Cut to: ...the kids in an RV going about 120 miles an hour, driven by Danny's dad.''\\

** "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS4E25YouMayNowKissTheUhGuyWhoRecieves You May Now Kiss the...Uh...Guy Who Recieves]]" has an obvious CutawayGag setup where Stewie complains about missing an awesome parade featuring nude cheerleaders performing acrobatics all choreographed to the music of ''Music/{{Queen}}'', with other highlights being an F-16 airshow and a hundred-foot chocolate teddy bear. "I remember that day!" ...cut to Stewie sitting on his couch, bored. "Shoulda gone to that thing."

--> '''Po''': Now I bet you're wondering... where's the kicking butt?\\
'''Rabbits''': Yeah!\\
'''Po''': Patience, o small ones. It begins... NOW!\\
(scene cuts to a night sky)\\
({{beat}})\\
'''Po''': Okay, well not ''right'' now...
* Featured on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':

-->'''Homer:''' Best night's sleep I ever had!\\

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In the 2000 remake of ''Film/{{Bedazzled 2000}}'', Brendan Frasier's character wants supernatural proof that the Devil is who she claims to be. He wishes for a Big Mac and a large Coke. Cut to...them riding on a bus, then standing in front of a counter at [=McDonalds=], where the Devil orders a Big Mac and large coke, and stiffs Brendan Frasier for the bill. There's a similar scene in the original, except that Stanley wishes for an ice cream, and ends up having to pay for it.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', Miles wants to test his powers, so he decides to go up to the roof of a tall building, walks up to the edge, takes a deep breath, and... cut to him taking the stairs back down.
* ''Film/KungPowEnterTheFist'' uses this in a series of flashbacks, when Master Tang reveals his knowledge of the Chosen One.
-->'''Master Tang:''' He told me there would be a Chosen One\\
'''Ling's Father (in flashback):''' There will be... a Chosen One!\\
'''Master Tang:''' And then he told me of the significance.\\
'''Ling's Father (in flashback):''' It will be...significant!
* In ''Film/TheMuppets'' Rowlf complains that he wasn't shown in a montage of Muppets being recruited for a revival show. Cut to his scene:
-->'''Kermit:''' "Hey Rowlf, you wanna get back together?"\\
'''Rowlf:''' "Okay."
* In ''Film/{{Go}}'', the Victors head to L.A. after their run-in with Simon to take revenge on him. They track down Todd (whose credit card Simon was using) instead. A brutal beat down follows? Nope. Instead, we see Todd and the Victors sitting a table together while Todd draws a map to Simon's place.
* ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'' features this as Scott is about to face Nega Scott (a ShoutOut to [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Dark Link]]). Scott warms up to take him on: [[spoiler:and then it cuts to Scott and Nega Scott talking about having pancakes as they exit the Chaos Theater]].
* In ''Film/TwentyOneJumpStreet'', Schmidt and Jenko get excited over all the "badass" things they'll be doing after graduating police academy. This is followed by an immediate cut to them patrolling a park on a quiet, peaceful afternoon.
* ''Film/{{Garfield}}: The Movie'' has Garfield figuring out where to save Odie. Cut to outside, and he's already outside, totally out of breath...and he's barely reached the end of the driveway! So he goes back inside, fuels up on snacks and TV, and ''then'' continues his quest.
* ''Film/KissKissBangBang'': Harry delivers a BadassBoast to a scumbag at a party and promises him some karmic justice. Instead of an epic fight or beatdown, we cut to the scumbag simply sitting on Harry's chest and slapping him around like a big brother while Harry lies helpless, having apparently put up no fight at all.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' has an idea where the water source could be and forms a posse. They ride off into the desert, where one of the townsfolk asks where they're going. Rango turns to answer...and because he doesn't know where he's going, [[FailedAttemptAtDrama they sheepishly head back to town]].

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' ("Underneath"). Eve is saying that Lindsay is trapped in some terrible hell dimension. Cut to Lindsey snuggling in bed with a beautiful blonde. Eve isn't entirely wrong however, as it's revealed to be a StepfordSuburbia with a nasty twist.
* In the {{troperiffic}} episode "200" of ''Series/StargateSG1'', this is used as a device for explaining how SG-1 is able to get to the Stargate through an army of Goa'uld, in under 30 seconds, before the bomb goes off to destroy the Replicators chasing them. When the SG-1 (who are reading the script) complain, Martin explains the use of "[[LampshadeHanging hanging a lantern]]" to avoid explaining things like that.

* ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' lampshades it [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/3134.html here]], with a link to this page. Despite the link, the actual trope the comic seems to be referring to is OffscreenMomentOfAwesome.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''

* From: ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'', when Hollyhock and Bojack are going to Gina's house to get his pills:
-->'''Hollyhock:''' Do you have a key?
-->'''Bojack:''' (''ominously'') I have my ways.
-->''(Cut to Bojack checking under the mat and not finding anything.)''
-->'''Bojack:''' Welp, I'm out of ways.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': while working with the Marvel family, Batman is deaging, and Mr Mind has managed to get the Marvels to stop working with each other. Batman, by now a toddler, muses on how he can bring them back together with cunning psychological manipulation...which, since TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody, takes the form of using bat-gadgets to send each one a crayon sketch of them fighting while Baby Bats cries in the background. [[spoiler:It works.]]
* The follow-up comic "The Promise" makes this out of Zuko's last scene in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Zuko confronts his father in prison and demands to know where his mother is. Ozai's response? [[spoiler:"Bring me some tea."]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': When Timmy, Cosmo and Wanda entered a scavenger hunt, one of the items was a Pot of Gold from the 15th century. Timmy commented on how leprechauns are usually protective of their gold. Cut to a leprechaun willingly giving them his pot.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' special ''Secrets of the Furious Five'', Po is telling Viper's story to a group of rabbit children:
--> '''Po''': Now I bet you're wondering... where's the kicking butt?\\
'''Rabbits''': Yeah!\\
'''Po''': Patience, o small ones. It begins... NOW!\\
(scene cuts to a night sky)\\
({{beat}})\\
'''Po''': Okay, well not ''right'' now...
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'' episode "The Flibber Flabber Diet", after Chowder puts on a bigger shirt to feel less fat from all the flibber flabber he's eaten, Mung says [[EurekaMoment that gives him an idea]]. It then cuts to him being spit in the face by with flibber flabber by Truffles for the umpteenth time, before cutting back and saying [[IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut he has]] ''[[IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut another]]'' [[IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut idea]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' has an idea where the water source could be and forms a posse. They ride off into the desert, where one of the townsfolk asks where they're going. Rango turns to answer...and because he doesn't know where he's going, they sheepishly head back to town.

* In ''Film/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', Miles wants to test his powers, so he decides to go up to the roof of a tall building, walks up to the edge, takes a deep breath, and... cut to him taking the stairs back down.