History Main / FloatingPlatforms

* In ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', massive islands of stone known as the Hallelujah Mountains (Thundering Rocks to the natives) float high above the planet Pandora's surface. It is [[HandWave loosely explained]] that the magnetic energies from the literal {{Unobtainium}} keep them suspended mid-air due to the [[{{Technobabble}} Meissner Effect]]. It's also known that the resulting magnetic "Flux Vortex" interferes with the navigational instruments of human aircraft. The principle is actually scientifically sound; a superconductor like unobtanium would float when exposed to a sufficiently powerful magnetic field. However, a magnetic field strong enough to make mountains float would do a lot more than interfere with navigation.

* ''VideoGame/{{Bug}}'': The entirety of the six levels take place on a floating terrain -- which is actually part of a movie set -- where small pieces of the terrain move around in the air.

Inexplicable floating platforms are in some respects a DiscreditedTrope, as any game developer who wishes to preserve immersion will surely opt for ways to make platforms of this nature seem more realistic, such as by attaching them to the surrounding terrain or giving some sort of {{justification}} like jet thrusters, GreenRocks, SolidClouds, CraniumRide on a creature that flies, or some other excuse. But if not, then this is justified perfectly well by ArtisticLicensePhysics and RuleOfFun.

** The most jarring example has to be in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', where, for no real reason, a crumbly-rock type platform hovers in the room you get the slingshot in. Saves all of three seconds of time, and just stands out in a game where most of the platforms are well placed and build, and the only floating ones are in more "magical" areas - why one suddenly needs to drop just stands out.

->'''Houston''': ''I just thought of something... how do these platforms float?''\\
[[PuffOfLogic *CRASH*]]\\
'''Samus''': ''NEVER question the physics in a video game!''
-->-- [[http://www.metroid2002.com/maru_mari/030.html Maru Mari]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Bug}}!'': The entirety of the six levels take place on a floating terrain -- which is actually part of a movie set -- where small pieces of the terrain move around in the air.

* ''VideoGame/{{Glam}}'': There are plenty of floating platforms in this game. A given due to the level design being made to really push the players' skills.

* ''VideoGame/{{Revolution 1986}}'' has them pop up in the levels here and there.

* ''VideoGame/{{Glam}}'': There are plenty of these in the game. Helps to make the game much more challenging.

[[AC:Films]]
* A rare example and justification of this: the newer ''Film/JourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarth'' movie has floating stones large enough to stand on suspended by magnetic force.
* In James Cameron's ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', massive islands of stone known as the Hallelujah Mountains (Thundering Rocks to the natives) float high above the planet Pandora's surface. It is [[HandWave loosely explained]] that the [[AppliedPhlebotinum magnetic energies]] from the literal {{Unobtainium}} keep them suspended mid-air due to the [[TechnoBabble Meissner Effect]]. It's also known that the resulting magnetic "Flux Vortex" also interferes with the navigational instruments of human aircraft. The Principle is actually scientifically sound; A superconductor like unobtanium would float when exposed to a sufficiently powerful magnetic field. However, a magnetic field strong enough to make mountains float would do a lot more than interfere with navigation.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'', Rex is seen playing a Buzz Lightyear video game, and walks up some magically appearing floating steps to fight the final boss.
* When Queen Amidala's starship arrives on Coruscant in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', it docks at a floating landing platform. [[NoOSHACompliance One with no apparent handrails,]] which was mocked severely by ''WebComic/DarthsAndDroids''.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Robert Jordan's Literature/TheWheelOfTime series feature the Ways, which are seemingly suspended in nothing. AWizardDidIt.
* The Worlds of Power Bionic Commando book actually features moving floating platforms without the slightest bit of humour.
* Laputa in Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. It is flying with help of magnetic force. Or so they say.

[[AC:{{Manhua}}]]
* As the game Long Wei creates in ''Manhua/InfinityGame'' is predominately made of pillars and bars, a lot of them float and are mostly used by enemies. The team eventually make their way to a falsely titled "floating city" which is really a series of floating platforms, that they reach by using an anti-gravity spell.

[[AC:Card Games]]
* In the ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' expansion ''Zendikar'', several geographic formations float in mid-air, including floating plains, mountains, and islands. This can be clearly seen in the artwork of the appropriate land cards. Of course, this expansion is based on the idea that the land is alive and is very volatile/unstable.
** The ''Urza's Saga'' storyline for ''Magic'' featured the {{Heaven}}-like world of Serra's Realm, which was made up of [[http://magiccards.info/br/en/22.html idyllic meadows]] and [[http://magiccards.info/us/en/325.html majestic cathedrals]] floating on huge slabs of rock.

[[AC: Web Original]]

[[AC: Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheSecretDoor'', Alexa, Romy, and Nori use a floating platform to get around Zinnia. It floats via magic.