History Main / Cloudcuckoolander

* Cloudcuckoolander/WebVideos

* {{Cloudcuckoolanguage}}: Eccentricity manifesting itself in [[ShiftingVoiceOfMadness speech mannerisms]], such as strange {{Verbal Tic}}s, [[ThirdPersonPerson referring to oneself in the third person]], [[TheNeologizer making up nonexistent words]], etc.

* {{Cloudcuckoolanguage}}: Eccentricity manifesting itself in [[ShiftingVoiceOfMadness speech mannerisms]], such as strange {{Verbal Tic}}s, [[ThirdPersonPerson referring to oneself in the third person]], making up nonexistent words, etc.

For more examples of this trope, both real and fictional, check out [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Eccentrics a thematic category]] on Website/TheOtherWiki.

* ''Theatre/MaratSade'': The work is largely framed as a [[ShowWithinAShow play-within-a-play]] where inmates at the insane asylum of Charenton are the main actors. Naturally, the actor's mental disorders are occasionally an obstacle that gets in the way of the overall production. Particularly, Monsieur Dupere is played by one of the asylum's most dangerous sex maniacs and repeatedly breaks character and tries to attack the actress playing Charlotte Corday.

Though they may overlap or go hand and hand with TheDitz, TheFool, or the KindheartedSimpleton, a Cloudcuckoolander, by definition, isn't necessarily stupid. Some Cloudcuckoolanders can be highly intelligent, very insightful or even geniuses, it's just the things they sometimes say and do may come off as weird, awkward, [[TheKlutz clumsy]], over-the-top, [[PluckyComicRelief buffoonish]], [[ChaoticStupid illogical and questionable]], outright eccentric, [[TheDitz goofy]], etc. -- and because [[MrImagination imagination often runs wild]], they tend to be EasilyImpressed.

* MischiefFace: their expression shows that they're up to something.

** [[Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream Nick Bottom]] starts out by expressing his desire to [[TalkingToHimself play all the characters in the same play.]] Later, when fairies show up out of nowhere and begin waiting on him, he hardly seems surprised.

* [[Wrestling/DeanAmbrose Jon Moxley]], thinks he is a lot bigger and stronger than he really is, but this (mostly) is not because of an inflated ego, dude is just not there. Oh you can see him and he's looking back at you but he's not. He rarely talks sense on anything that isn't hitting someone else and often not even then.

* AmbiguousDisorder: When the character obviously isn't just flighty but has a legitimate but undefined problem.

The name of the trope comes from the city built on air above the Greek plain in Creator/{{Aristophanes}}' play ''Theatre/TheBirds'', 414 B.C., whose ruler had quite a large mental gap between the [[WideEyedIdealist dreamy, wide-eyed, idealistic]] {{Utopia}} that he imagined his city to be and the brutal totalitarian regime that he had actually imposed on it. He also came up with brilliant ideas like keeping people out of his city -- a city you could only reach through the flight -- by building a really, really tall wall around it. ([[FridgeLogic We'll give you a minute to figure out why that wouldn't have worked so well]].)[[note]]Subversion: Go high enough and there's no air, so, even for a city accessible "through flight", [[FridgeBrilliance you need air to fly in]].[[/note]]

* Most of the Muppet characters on ''Series/SesameStreet'' would qualify. Yes, even StraightMan Bert, who has an unusual obsession with bottle caps and paper clips. Being a {{Nerd}} doesn't mean you're sane.

For more examples of this trope, both real and fictional, check out [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Eccentrics a thematic category]] on Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

The name of the trope comes from the city built on air above the Greek plain in Creator/{{Aristophanes}}' play ''Theatre/TheBirds'', 414 B.C., whose ruler had quite a large mental gap between the [[WideEyedIdealist dreamy, wide-eyed, idealistic]] {{Utopia}} that he imagined his city to be and the brutal totalitarian regime that he had actually imposed on it. He also came up with brilliant ideas like keeping people out of his city — a city you could only reach through the flight -- by building a really, really tall wall around it. ([[FridgeLogic We'll give you a minute to figure out why that wouldn't have worked so well]].)[[note]]Subversion: Go high enough and there's no air, so, even for a city accessible "through flight", [[FridgeBrilliance you need air to fly in]].[[/note]]

The concept is well known, as in this joke: "A neurotic is a man who builds a castle in the air. A psychotic is the man who lives in it. A psychiatrist is the man who collects the rent." — Jerome Lawrence

Another notable mark is that often there is nothing actually ''wrong'' with what they do, but it is most assuredly not something a normal person would do. Sit down with a Cloudcuckoolander and try to explain to them that normal people don't wear the clothes of a dead man. They will ''never'' understand what your problem is. It's not like the dead guy cares, is it? Likewise, they would fail to understand the reason for wearing shoes in a public place (it's warm and cozy, so [[BarefootLoon why not go barefoot?]]) or using the pronoun "I" when referring to yourself (you use other people's names when speaking about them, so [[ThirdPersonPerson why not use your own name when you speak about yourself?]])

Though they may overlap or go hand and hand with TheDitz, TheFool, or the KindheartedSimpleton, a Cloudcuckoolander, by definition, isn't necessarily stupid. Some Cloudcuckoolanders can be highly intelligent, very insightful or even geniuses, it's just the things they sometimes say and do may come off as weird, awkward, [[TheKlutz clumsy,]] over-the-top, [[PluckyComicRelief buffoonish,]] [[ChaoticStupid illogical and questionable,]] outright eccentric, [[TheDitz goofy,]] etc. And because [[MrImagination imagination often runs wild,]] they tend to be EasilyImpressed.

This character is a mainstay of SurrealHumor, DadaComics, WidgetSeries, and WordSaladHumor. Even in a series with a little more structure overall, the Cloudcuckoolander's wacky and bizarre antics will often be used for an easy gag, particularly when paired with a [[StraightMan straight foil]] to [[DrivenToMadness drive insane.]] This is probably why there are so many WebComics examples. Often this character will also be a GranolaGirl or NewAgeRetroHippie.

If a Cloudcuckoolander is dangerous, then that is the answer to BewareTheSillyOnes and/or CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass. If they fight for a random rather than heroic reason, see ClassicalAntihero or NominalHero. Because of the humor value in doing so, they're more likely than most characters to be a SpannerInTheWorks that stops a seemingly unstoppable plan, leaving viewers wondering if they were aware of what they were doing. For that reason, when it's time for a show to get serious, these characters are likely to be [[ShooOutTheClowns killed or detained]] so the viewers know they won't be responsible for yet another DeusExMachina.

The name of the trope comes from the city built on air above the Greek plain in Creator/{{Aristophanes}}' play ''Theatre/TheBirds'', 414 B.C., whose ruler had quite a large mental gap between the [[WideEyedIdealist dreamy, wide-eyed, idealistic]] {{Utopia}} that he imagined his city to be and the brutal totalitarian regime that he had actually imposed on it. He also came up with brilliant ideas like keeping people out of his city — a city you could only reach through the flight — by building a really, really tall wall around it. ([[FridgeLogic We'll give you a minute to figure out why that wouldn't have worked so well]].)[[note]]Subversion: Go high enough and there's no air, so, even for a city accessible "through flight", [[FridgeBrilliance you need air to fly in]].[[/note]]

* {{Cloudcuckoolanguage}}: Eccentricity manifesting itself in [[ShiftingVoiceOfMadness speech mannerisms,]] such as strange {{Verbal Tic}}s, [[ThirdPersonPerson referring to oneself in the third person]], making up nonexistent words, etc.

* TheFool: [[TheDitz Not too bright,]] but [[DumbIsGood good]] enough of heart [[BornLucky that luck's always on their side.]]

* TheLoonie: An eccentric character who is FunPersonified.
* TheMadHatter: Aware that they are insane — and proud of it.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: "Wacky" {{love interest}} to a "normal" person.

* TheWonka: Authority figure whose eccentricity is the ''catalyst'' for [[SuccessThroughInsanity their success.]]

See also CloudcuckoolandersMinder for the person who — with or against their will — often accompanies the Cloudcuckoolander(s) and tries to prevent things from getting out of hand. [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption This is usually an impossible task]]. See also CuckoolanderCommentator, when the Cloudcuckoolander is put in charge of commentary for an event. Also, if OnlyOneFindsItFun, expect the one to be a Cloudcuckoolander.

** Launce from ''Theatre/TwoGentlemenOfVerona'' takes this UpToEleven. He describes his departure from home thus:

* Music/NickLutsko (or more accurately, the fictionalized version of himself depicted in his songs) is a deranged and egotistical conspiracy theorist who frequently makes outlandish claims about various celebrities[[note]]Such as the time he claimed that [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Joe Biden was trying to steal his meat]][[/note]], has an inexplicable obsession with the ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' franchise and producing his godawful ''Gremlins 3'' script, attends school board meetings so he can make absurd demands or rant about his conspiracy theories despite mot having kids or even not having ever attended the school, and will only fall asleep when he watches ''Film/FightClub''.

* Music/NickLutsko (or more accurately, the fictionalized version of himself depicted in his songs) is a deranged and egotistical conspiracy theorist who frequently makes outlandish claims about various celebrities[[note]]Such as the time he claimed that [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Joe Biden was trying to steal his meat]][[/note]], has an inexplicable obsession with the ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' franchise and producing his godawful ''Gremlins 3'' script, and will only fall asleep when he watches ''Film/FightClub''.

* Music/NickLutsko (or more accurately, the fictionalized version of himself depicted in his songs) is a deranged and egotistical conspiracy theorist who frequently makes outlandish claims about various celebrities[[note]]Such as the time he claimed that [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Joe Biden was trying to steal his meat]][[/note]], has an inexplicable obsession with the ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' franchise, will only fall asleep when he watches ''Film/FightClub''.

* CuckooSnarker: When this trope meets the DeadpanSnarker.

* This trope dates back as far as Brother Juniper, a 13th-century friar and one of Saint Francis of Assisi's companions. [[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ugolino/flowers.vi.i.html According to legend]], Brother Juniper was once caring for a sick man and learned that the sick man had a craving for pig's feet. So Brother Juniper found a herd of pigs, cut a foot off of one of them, and carried it back to the sick man. When the pigs' owner confronted Brother Juniper about the incident, the friar couldn't understand why anyone would object to such a charitable act. He patiently explained his reason for cutting off the pig's foot, although this only seemed to make the pig owner angrier. Finally, he hugged the pig owner, who had a change of heart and donated all his pigs to the friars. Upon receiving the donation, St. Francis praised Brother Juniper, saying, [[IncrediblyLamePun "Would to God, my brethren, that I had a forest of such Junipers!"]]

When they are given a specific disorder, it is often AttentionDeficitOohShiny, despite the fact that a couple of lesser-known disorders actually fit better: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizotypal_personality_disorder Schizotypal personality disorder,]] which is essentially schizophrenia-lite characterized in part by acting really weird,[[note]]The rest of it consists of mild/sub-psychotic versions of the delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations found in paranoid schizophrenia, as well as the [[TheStoic affect]] [[MoodSwinger disturbances]] that appear across types, hence "schizophrenia-lite"[[/note]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_disorder thought disorder,]] which is when normal speech is disrupted and presumed to reflect a similar disruption in thoughts. However, there are a growing number of these characters whose strangeness is a symptom of HollywoodAutism. Oddly enough, [[TruthInTelevision quirkiness is a common trait in real-life autistics]].

Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.