History Main / BreakTheCutie

On a more constructive note, sometimes breaking the cutie can result in a cute but weak character [[TookALevelInBadass Taking a Level in Badass]] as they [[DidYouThinkICantFeel confront their tormentors]] and [[GrewASpine become more assertive]]. When the cutie refuses to break, they might become an [[IronWoobie iron]] or {{stoic Woobie}}, a {{Determinator}}, or a PluckyGirl. If they are simply unbreakable to begin with, they are probably a [[ThePollyanna Pollyanna]].

Sometimes it can be CorruptTheCutie, where the girl in question breaks it by herself. Frequently a part of a character crossing the DespairEventHorizon or the cause of a HeroicBSOD. Also frequently part of the backstory of the BrokenBird, and instrumental in the FreudianExcuse of a villain who UsedToBeASweetKid. Compare FragileFlower and WideEyedIdealist.

The writers then proceed to slowly torment them in front of your very eyes. [[DeusAngstMachina They destroy everything important to them, kill everyone they love and make them suffer from horrible accidents, diseases and acts of violence]], including but not limited to [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]], [[MindRape ra]][[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil pe]] or any other FateWorseThanDeath. They beat the character with one cruel stroke of fate after another until they are just an EmptyShell of their former cheerful, carefree self.

'''Phase 3:''' DespairEventHorizon.\\
[[spoiler: '''Phase 4:''' ScrewDestiny.]]]]

'''Phase 3:''' DespairEventHorizon.]]

->''"Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of."''
-->-- '''Creator/KurtVonnegut''', "Eight Rules for Writing Fiction"

Then the writers proceed to slowly torment them in front of your very eyes. [[DeusAngstMachina They destroy everything important to them, kill everyone they love and make them suffer from horrible accidents, diseases and acts of violence]], including but not limited to [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]], [[MindRape ra]][[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil pe]] or any other FateWorseThanDeath. They beat the character with one cruel stroke of fate after another until they are just an EmptyShell of their former cheerful, carefree self.

[[BewareTheNiceOnes Be careful about tormenting sweet little things]]-- sometimes instead of breaking, or when there's nothing left to break, they FreakOut. If they snap, you'd better hope your [[UnstoppableRage life insurance policy]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is up to date]], [[BullyingADragon especially]] if the cutie was a {{badass|Adorable}} to begin with. If they break but refuse to show it, they could be a type-A StepfordSmiler.

Sometimes it can be CorruptTheCutie where the girl in question breaks it by herself. Frequently a part of a character crossing the DespairEventHorizon or the cause of a HeroicBSOD. Also, this is frequently part of the backstory of the BrokenBird, and instrumental in the FreudianExcuse of a villain who UsedToBeASweetKid. Compare FragileFlower and WideEyedIdealist.

Contrast BreakTheHaughty, where bad things happen to an arrogant person (who had it coming), BreakTheBadass (when a super strong person is put through the gutter) or the even worse variation KillTheCutie.

[[caption-width-right:243:'''Phase 1''': NaiveEverygirl.\\
'''Phase 2''': HeroicBSOD.\\
'''Phase 3''': DespairEventHorizon.]]

* BreakTheCutie/{{Webcomics}}

-> ''"I feel something inside. It's like the opposite of happiness. I Must...stay...positive! *Hyperventilating* "Uh...Bubblegums!" *More Hyperventilating* "Butterflies?"''
-->-- '''[[WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie Unikitty]]''', [[spoiler: after her home is destroyed.]]

-> ''"My home...It's gone. I feel something inside. It's like the opposite of happiness. I Must...stay...positive! *Hyperventilating* "Uh...Bubblegums!" *More Hyperventilating* "Butterflies?"''
-->-- '''[[WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie Unikitty]]'''

-->-- '''[[TheLegoMovie Unikitty]]'''

Contrast BreakTheHaughty, where bad things happen to an arrogant person (who had it coming), or the even worse variation KillTheCutie.

[[caption-width-right:243:'''First''': NaiveEverygirl.\\
'''Second''': HeroicBSOD.\\
'''Third''': DespairEventHorizon.]]

'''Third''': DespairEventHorizon.\]]

'''Third''': DespairEventHorizon.\\

[[note]]'''Second''' is after seeing her CoolBigSis getting eaten by an EldritchAbomination. '''Third''' is after her childhood best friend turning into another EldritchAbomination and having to be [[MercyKill Mercy Killed]], with another girl she knows performing a HeroicSacrifice in the proccess.[[/note]]]]

[[BewareTheNiceOnes Be careful about tormenting sweet little things]]-- sometimes instead of breaking, or when there's nothing left to break, they FreakOut. If they snap, you'd better hope your [[UnstoppableRage life insurance policy]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is up to date]], [[BullyingADragon especially]] if the cutie was a {{badass|Adorable}} to begin with. If they break but refuse to show it, they could be a type-a StepfordSmiler.

'''Third''': DespairEventHorizon.]]

[[note]]'''Second''' is after seeing her CoolBigSis getting eaten by an EldritchAdomination. '''Third''' is after her childhood best friend turns into another EldritchAbomination and has to be MercyKilled, with another girl she knows performing a HeroicSacrafice in the proccess.[[/note]]]]

On a more constructive note, sometimes [[BreakTheCutie breaking the cutie]] can result in a cute but weak character [[TookALevelInBadass Taking a Level in Badass]] as they [[DidYouThinkICantFeel confront their tormentors]] and [[GrewASpine become more assertive]]. When the cutie refuses to break, they might become an [[IronWoobie iron]] or {{stoic Woobie}}, a {{Determinator}}, or a PluckyGirl. If they are simply unbreakable to begin with, they are probably a [[ThePollyanna Pollyanna]].

This technique is often used to build TheWoobie in an attempt to enhance "adorability" points. Writers have to be careful or else TheCutie will the universe's [[TheChewToy Chew Toy]].

Sometimes it can be CorruptTheCutie where the girl in question breaks it by herself. Frequently a part of a character crossing the DespairEventHorizon or the cause of a HeroicBSOD Also, this is frequently part of the backstory of the BrokenBird, and instrumental in the FreudianExcuse of a villain who UsedToBeASweetKid. Compare FragileFlower and WideEyedIdealist.

'''Third''': HeroicBSOD.]]

Sometimes it can be CorruptTheCutie where the girl in question breaks it by herself. Frequently a part of a character crossing the DespairEventHorizon or the cause of a HeroidBSOD Also, this is frequently part of the backstory of the BrokenBird, and instrumental in the FreudianExcuse of a villain who UsedToBeASweetKid. Compare FragileFlower and WideEyedIdealist.

'''Third''': DespairEventHorizon.]]

Sometimes it can be CorruptTheCutie where the girl in question breaks it by herself. Frequently a part of a character crossing the DespairEventHorizon. Also, this is frequently part of the backstory of the BrokenBird, and instrumental in the FreudianExcuse of a villain who UsedToBeASweetKid. Compare FragileFlower and WideEyedIdealist.

This technique is often used to build TheWoobie in an attempt to enhance "adorability" points. Writers have to be careful though, else it seems TheCutie becomes the universe's [[TheChewToy Chew Toy]].

[[BewareTheNiceOnes Be careful about tormenting sweet little things]], though -- sometimes instead of breaking, or when there's nothing left to break, they FreakOut. If they snap, you'd better hope your [[UnstoppableRage life insurance policy]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is up to date]], [[BullyingADragon especially]] if the cutie was quite the {{badass|Adorable}} to begin with. If they do break but refuse to show it, they could be a type-a StepfordSmiler.

Sometimes it can be CorruptTheCutie, where via PygmalionPlot or WifeHusbandry, the girl in question breaks it by herself. Frequently a part of a character crossing the DespairEventHorizon. Also, this is frequently part of the backstory of the BrokenBird, and instrumental in the FreudianExcuse of a villain who UsedToBeASweetKid. Compare FragileFlower and WideEyedIdealist.

* BreakTheCutie/AnimatedFilms
* BreakTheCutie/LiveActionFilms