History Main / GentleGorilla

* A legendary moment in Creator/DavidAttenborough's career as a {{documentary}} maker was the sequence in one documentary which had him discussing mountain gorillas while sitting close to a gorilla family in Rawanda -- when [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeaAZ1On-w8 they drew him into their grooming activity.]] He always emphasizes tat they are indeed gentle creatures and the danger to him was low, but given their raw strength, and the fact that he was close to their young while their parents were present, Attenborough's calm was astonishing.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys'': In "Valley Girls", Eliza and Darwin attempt to rrplace the Comvee's flat tire by sneaking a wheel-shaped rock from a troop of mountain gorillas. They get caught by the silverback, who turns out to be a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who lectures them that they have to ask if they want something from someone. Later, the troop of gorillas help out Eliza and Debbie fix the Comvee.

* ''Literature/LifeOfPi'': While no gorilla itself appears, Pi does unfavourably compare a chimpanzee being loaded into the ship he's travelling on to a gorilla by saying the former lacks the latter's melencholohy gentleness.

Gorillas are often (or rather, [[DeadHorseTrope used to be]]) depicted as [[KillerGorilla ravenous, dangerous beasts]] and stock monsters for heroes to fight. As time has gone on and primatology has advanced, it's been generally understood that gorillas are considerably nicer than many other primates, particularly [[ManiacMonkeys chimpanzees and baboons]], are almost exclusively [[HerbivoresAreFriendly herbivorous]], and generally avoid violence in most circumstances. In response to this, many writers, especially in recent years, have presented gorillas in a more sympathetic light, demonstrating them to be [[GentleGiant placid]] creatures. This being said, they're still usually depicted as willing to throw down in order to protect themselves, their friends, or their family.

* ''WesternAnimation/InfinityTrain'': While Tuba is initially quite dismissive to Grace and Simon, this is completely understandable considering they view her as little more than a robot and initially plan to dispose of her when she's no longer of use. She's also a loving surrogate mother to Hazel, and begins to warm up to the group before [[spoiler: Being ruthlessly killed by Simon in episode 5.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/KongTheAnimatedSeries'': Thanks to AdaptationalHeroism, Kong is portrayed as a GentleGiant and a protector of his island. Just don't mess with his friends or the island's animals.

* While Franchise/KingKong started off as a KillerGorilla, he gradually became this trope over the years as gorillas became better understood by science. His latest Franchise/{{Monsterverse}} incarnation has him in a completely heroic light.

* ''Anime/KemonoFriends'': Western Lowland Gorilla acts like a stern boss in order to keep her underlings behaving, but in reality she is a pacifist who gets stressed from having to act tough.

** On August 31, 1986, five-year-old Levan Merritt fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Durrell Wildlife Park in Jersey, Channel Islands. The silverback Jambo sat down in-between the child and the rest of the gorillas, and gently and curiously stroked the child's back. When the child woke up and cried, the silverback retreated, leading his family to a small hut in the enclosure, allowing the zookeepers to rescue the child.

* While Franchise/KingKong started off as a KillerGorilla, he gradually became this trope to correspond with modern research on gorillas. His latest Franchise/{{Monsterverse}} incarnation has him in a completely heroic light.

* While Franchise/KingKong started off as a KillerGorilla, he gradually became this trope to correspond with modern research on gorillas. His latest Franchise/{{Monsterverse}} has him in a completely heroic light.

* ''WesternAnimation/KongTheAnimatedSeries'': Thanks to AdaptationalHeroism, Kong is portrayed as a GentleGiant to his friends and a protector of his island.

Mostly TruthInTelevision, as gorillas are among the least aggressive primates and will leave humans alone unless they feel directly threatened. Friendlier examples of a KingKongCopy can qualify for this trope. Compare BigHeartedBigfoot, another example of a large but friendly hairy hominid, and EruditeOrangutan, a smart and usually friendly ape.

* ''Literature/LifeOfPi'': While no gorilla itself appears, Pi does unfavourably compare a chimpanzee being laded into the ship he's travelling on to a gorilla by saying the former lacks the latter's melencholohy gentleness.

* ''Literature/LifeOfPi'': While no gorilla itself appears, Pi does unfavourably compare a chimpanzee to a gorilla by saying the former lacks the latter's melencholohy gentleness.

Mostly TruthInTelevision, as gorillas are among the least aggressive primates and will leave humans alone unless they feel directly threatened. Friendlier examples of a KingKongCopy can qualify for this trope. Compare BigHeartedBigfoot, another example of a large but friendly hairy hominid.

* ''[[TheElectricCompany1971 The Electric Company]]'': Paul the Gorilla, who helped Jennifer Of the Jungle in reading skits. Sometimes characters would (comically) faint at the sight of him but Paul was harmless and one to make a quick friend with many others.