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* A pair of Darwin Award winners tried invoking this trope for laughs, though they chose to do so in an idiotic and dangerous way; rather than inhaling from party balloons, they shoved their torsos into a roadside advertisement balloon, and stayed there for long periods of time. Needless to say, they died of suffocation, and were only discovered after a highway patrol officer saw their corpses sticking out of the now deflated balloon.
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* One of the (''very'') few moments in ''Film/ASerbianFilm'' which contains comedy rather than rape or gore; a home video depicting Petar's sixth birthday, with his father Milos and mother Marija celebrating, and at one point Milos blows into a balloon when Marija squeezes it, the reverse rush of air somehow making Milos' voice sound high-pitched.
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added example(s)

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* In ''ComicBook/SpiderBoy'', supervillain Professor Emilio Helio has to breathe helium, which gives him a high-pitched and squeaky voice. He reacts [[BerserkButton violently when people find it funny.]]
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* While no helium is actually involved, in the musical level of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'', "Piranha Plants on Parade", the Piranha Plants all sing in very high pitched chipmunk-like squeaky voices.

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%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Take care to put your example in its proper place in accordance with Administrivia/HowToAlphabetizeThings!



%% The examples have been alphabetized. Please put any new example in its proper place in the folder rather than at the end.

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%% The examples have been alphabetized. Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1624846633013325500
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Please put any do not replace or remove without starting a new example in its proper place in the folder rather than at the end.thread.



[[quoteright:279:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heliumspeech.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:283:[[InstantSoprano You could do worse.]]]]



%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1624846633013325500
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
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[[quoteright:279:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heliumspeech.png]]]]
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added a section for when no helium is actually involved





!!! Instances when helium is actually involved



* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', Alpha's malfunctioning TranslatorCollar makes him talk like this. The collar's normal voice is deep and menacing, of course.



* One episode of ''Series/HellsKitchen'' had Sabrina and Tek messing around with helium while blowing up balloons for a dinner party, even going so far as to imitate Ramsay.

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* One episode of the sixth season of ''Series/HellsKitchen'' had Sabrina Sabrina, Tek and Tek Amanda messing around with helium while blowing up balloons for a dinner party, even going so far as to imitate Ramsay.



* In one episode of ''Series/LateNight with Creator/DavidLetterman'' where the theme of the night was audience voting, the audience voted to have Dave's and his guest's voices [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Z4dyVANA8 electronically modified to sound as if they had inhaled helium.]] Dave's guest (Jane Pauley) refused to talk after that.



* Wayne Brady of ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' was known for pulling this off ''without actual helium.''



* Miis in ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' have become (in)famous for the pitch of their voice. They don't actually inhale helium, though.



* WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck: TropeCodifier and he could be the {{Trope Namer|s}}. The [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} Other Wiki]] even has him as the Trope Namer!



* The ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "Long Haired Hare". Bugs Bunny replaces an opera singer's throat spray with liquid alum; as he does warm-up exercises singing Figaro, each time he says it his head shrinks and his voice becomes higher-pitched.



* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', there's the dwarf Dr. David Nelson in the Season 11 premiere "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson". Trey Parker inhaled helium to do his voice.
* Averted with Plo Koon in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', who speaks in a low, deep voice, despite the fact that he breathes helium.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
** Noah gets one of these in ''Total Drama World Tour'' after a serious GroinAttack with a golden statue head.
** Harold gets one in the finale after Courtney {{Groin Attack}}s him, hilariously, he does a literal ''speech'' while in Helium Speech mode.
* Characters in ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' speak in a high-pitched voice when [[SuperDeformed chibified]], but only in the sixth season.
** In the episode 'Ho Ho Ho No', Sam uses an 'Osmosis Bubble Suit' to sneak inside the villains weather balloon, gaining a helium voice once inside. Later in the episode, she knocks the villain into the balloon using the suit, with him also receiving a squeaky voice as his gondola crashes.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', there's the dwarf Dr. David Nelson in the Season 11 premiere "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson". Trey Parker inhaled helium to do his voice.
* Averted
Inverted with Plo Koon in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', who speaks in a low, deep voice, despite the fact that he breathes helium.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
** Noah gets one of these in ''Total Drama World Tour'' after a serious GroinAttack with a golden statue head.
** Harold gets one in
In the finale after Courtney {{Groin Attack}}s him, hilariously, he does a literal ''speech'' while in Helium Speech mode.
* Characters in
''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' speak in a high-pitched voice when [[SuperDeformed chibified]], but only in the sixth season.
** In the episode
episode, 'Ho Ho Ho No', Sam uses an 'Osmosis Bubble Suit' to sneak inside the villains weather balloon, gaining a helium voice once inside. Later in the episode, she knocks the villain into the balloon using the suit, with him also receiving a squeaky voice as his gondola crashes.



* Creator/TreyParker actually inhaled helium to voice one-off character David Nelson in the Season 11 premiere of South Park, "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson".



* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'': Chris Sanders when providing the voice for Stitch.


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!!!Instances where no helium is involved

[[folder: Films - Animated]]
* In the climax of ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'', after Yyzma gets transformed into a cat, her voice becomes high pitched as if she inhaled helium.
* Happens to Mario and Bowser after they get shrunken from eaten Mini-Mushrooms in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie''.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', Alpha's malfunctioning TranslatorCollar makes him talk like this. The collar's normal voice is deep and menacing, of course.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
* In one episode of ''Series/LateNight with Creator/DavidLetterman'' where the theme of the night was audience voting, the audience voted to have Dave's and his guest's voices [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Z4dyVANA8 electronically modified to sound as if they had inhaled helium.]] Dave's guest (Jane Pauley) refused to talk after that.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'': Hortensia, the second princess of Elusia and Ivy's younger sister, talks in this kind of voice when she is not sad or distressed, having a very high pitched and squeaky voice in the English dub.
* Miis in ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' have become (in)famous for the pitch of their voice. They don't actually inhale helium, though.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck: TropeCodifier and he could be the {{Trope Namer|s}}. The [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} Other Wiki]] even has him as the Trope Namer!
* The ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "Long Haired Hare" does a ResizedVocals example of this. Bugs Bunny replaces an opera singer's throat spray with liquid alum; as he does warm-up exercises singing Figaro, each time he says it his head shrinks and his voice becomes higher-pitched.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', there's the dwarf Dr. David Nelson in the Season 11 premiere "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" who talks in this kind of voice.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
** Noah gets one of these in ''Total Drama World Tour'' after a serious GroinAttack with a golden statue head.
** Harold gets one in the finale after Courtney {{Groin Attack}}s him, hilariously, he does a literal ''speech'' while in InstantSoprano mode.
* Characters in ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' speak in a high-pitched voice when [[SuperDeformed chibified]], but only in the sixth season.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life]]
* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'': Chris Sanders, the movie's director, pulls this off without helium when providing the voice for Stitch.
* Creator/WayneBrady of ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' was known for pulling this off ''without actual helium.''
[[/folder]]

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Examples Are Not Arguable, and neither are subversions


* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'':
** The villain does this at the end to unnerve Eddie.

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* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'':
**
''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': The villain does this at the end to unnerve Eddie.



** Possibly subverted in that, as Eddie explains earlier, this is actually how the villain actually sounds.
--->'''Eddie:''' I never did find out who that guy was. All I remember was him standing over me laughing, with those burning red eyes and that high, squeaky voice.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'' when Puss, Kitty Softpaws, and Humpty Dumpty make it to the clouds after riding the beanstalk, they talk in high pitched voices because of the thin air.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'' ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots2011'', when Puss, Kitty Softpaws, and Humpty Dumpty make it to the clouds after riding the beanstalk, they talk in high pitched high-pitched voices because of the thin air.



* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', Alpha's malfunctioning collar makes him talk like this. The collar's normal voice is deep and menacing, of course.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', Alpha's malfunctioning collar TranslatorCollar makes him talk like this. The collar's normal voice is deep and menacing, of course.



* The Martians in ''Film/MarsAttacks'' get the same effect from huffing a nuclear explosion. It even makes sense if it was a fusion bomb since they work by fusing hydrogen to, well, helium.

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* The Martians in ''Film/MarsAttacks'' get the same effect from huffing a nuclear explosion. It even makes sense if it was a fusion bomb bomb, since they work by fusing hydrogen to, well, helium.
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** The already squeaky-voiced Bernadette claims that her brothers once forced her to inhale helium, when she tried to call for help only the dog could hear her.
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index wick


* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', one of Dr. Doofenshmirtz's evil plans involved filling the entire tri-state area with "Doofelium" making his high squeaky voice lower in comparison because making his own voice lower would be too much of a hassle. Ended up affecting himself and yelling out his {{catchphrase}} [[OncePerEpisode ("Curse you Perry the Platypus!")]] in helium speech.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', one of Dr. Doofenshmirtz's evil plans involved filling the entire tri-state area with "Doofelium" making his high squeaky voice lower in comparison because making his own voice lower would be too much of a hassle. Ended up affecting himself and yelling out his {{catchphrase}} catchphrase [[OncePerEpisode ("Curse you Perry the Platypus!")]] in helium speech.
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* In ''VideoGame/DeepRockGalactic'', the Ritch Atmosphere modifier causes all dwarves to speak faster and at a much higher pitch.
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* ''Film/MyBestFriendsWedding'' has a romantic scene that's [[Unrequited Love not really so romantic]], and in the background a romantic song that's itself not really so romantic either, since it's being sung by a bunch of teenagers offscreen who just inhaled helium.

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* ''Film/MyBestFriendsWedding'' has a romantic scene that's [[Unrequited Love [[UnrequitedLove not really so romantic]], and in the background a romantic song that's itself not really so romantic either, since it's being sung by a bunch of teenagers offscreen who just inhaled helium.
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%%* ''Film/MyBestFriendsWedding''

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%%* ''Film/MyBestFriendsWedding''* ''Film/MyBestFriendsWedding'' has a romantic scene that's [[Unrequited Love not really so romantic]], and in the background a romantic song that's itself not really so romantic either, since it's being sung by a bunch of teenagers offscreen who just inhaled helium.
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* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "The Magic Egg", where Clumsy gets a deeper voice when he is turned into a giant.

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* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' episode "The Magic Egg", where Clumsy gets a deeper voice when he is turned into a giant.
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* ''VideoGame/GothamKnights2022''. Harley Quinn does this while talking to Nightwing, before using the balloons to float the book he wants out of her cell. May be a MythologyGag on the high-pitched voice of her animated character.

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* ''VideoGame/GothamKnights2022''. Harley Quinn does this while talking to Nightwing, the player character, before using the balloons to float the book he wants out of her cell. May be a MythologyGag on the high-pitched voice of her animated character.

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* ''VideoGame/GothamKnights2022''. Harley Quinn does this while talking to Nightwing, before using the balloons to float the book he wants out of her cell. May be a MythologyGag on the high-pitched voice of her animated character.



* ''VideoGame/GothamKnights2022''. Harley Quinn does this while talking to Nightwing, before using the balloons to float the book he wants out of her cell. May be a MythologyGag on the high-pitched voice of her animated character.

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* ''VideoGame/GothamKnights2022''. Harley Quinn does this while talking to Nightwing, before using the balloons to float the book he wants out of her cell. May be a MythologyGag on the high-pitched voice of her animated character.
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* ''VideoGame/GothamKnights2022''. Harley Quinn does this while talking to Nightwing, before using the balloons to float the book he wants out of her cell. May be a MythologyGag on the high-pitched voice of her animated character.
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* {{Zigzagged}} on ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'' when Murr has to deliver a speech while going back and forth breathing helium and sodium hexafluoride, making his voice go higher and lower.

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* {{Zigzagged}} on ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'' when Murr has to deliver a speech while going back and forth breathing helium and sodium sulfur hexafluoride, making his voice go higher and lower.
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* In one episode of ''Anime/{{Grenadier}}'', Rushuna has to fight underwater, and nearly drowns until Mikan throws her a compressed air canister. After the fight is over and she surfaces, Rushuna has a very squeaky voice - the canister was full of helium that Mikan used with her balloons.
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* {{Zigzagged}} on ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'' when Murr has to deliver a speech while going back and forth breathing helium and sodium hexafluoride, making his voice go higher and lower.
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* The ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "Waltz For Venus" features an expedition to the titular planet, whose atmosphere consists largely of helium when the series takes place. Naturally, it has the expected effect on the characters' voices.

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* The ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "Waltz For Venus" "[[Recap/CowboyBebopSession8WaltzForVenus Waltz for Venus]]" features an expedition to the titular planet, whose atmosphere consists largely of helium when the series takes place. Naturally, it has the expected effect on the characters' voices.



* The ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' episode "The Case of the K-9 Caper!" involved Team Rocket using the rather smart plan to disrupt the voices of an Officer Jenny and the other Trainers using helium, so their Pokémon wouldn't recognize their commands. Then they used voice changers to imitate the Trainers' usual voices. It fails because Pikachu immediately recognizes his true trainer, Ash, regardless of his voice. Officer Jenny's Growlithe are fooled for a while, but eventually catch on.

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* The ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' episode "The "[[Recap/PokemonS1E54TheCaseOfTheK9Caper The Case of the K-9 Caper!" involved Caper!]]" involves Team Rocket using the rather smart plan to disrupt the voices of an Officer Jenny and the other Trainers using helium, helium so that their Pokémon wouldn't recognize their commands. Then they used use voice changers to imitate the Trainers' usual voices. It fails because Pikachu immediately recognizes his true trainer, Ash, regardless of his voice. Officer Jenny's Growlithe are fooled for a while, but eventually catch on.
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the wiki namespace is being deprecated


* WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck: TropeCodifier and he could be the {{Trope Namer|s}}. The [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} Other Wiki]] even has him as the Trope Namer!

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* WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck: TropeCodifier and he could be the {{Trope Namer|s}}. The [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} Other Wiki]] even has him as the Trope Namer!
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None


* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', an optional conversation in the Toy Box can be triggered by striking the valve of a helium tank or popping balloons, which causes everyone's voice to become high pitched. They all have some fun talking in their new helium-induced voices... Except Donald, who isn't affected at all.

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* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', an optional conversation in the Toy Box can be triggered by striking the valve of a helium tank or popping balloons, which causes everyone's voice to become high pitched.high-pitched. They all have some fun talking in their new helium-induced voices... Except except Donald, who isn't affected at all.
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* Used to get the voices of the ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'' Martians, rather than artificially speeding up the voices.

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* Used This was used to get the voices of the ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'' Martians, ''Franchise/ToyStory'' little green aliens, rather than artificially speeding up the voices.
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Up To Eleven is a defunct trope


--->'''Judge Doom:''' Rememeber me, Eddie?! When I killed your brother, I talked... ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis JUST...]] [[ExaggeratedTrope LIKE...]] [[UpToEleven THIIIIIIIS]]''

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--->'''Judge Doom:''' Rememeber me, Eddie?! When I killed your brother, I talked... ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis JUST...]] [[ExaggeratedTrope LIKE...]] [[UpToEleven THIIIIIIIS]]''
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* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'': While acting in a radio play Niles has to improvise a voice on the spot for "Pepo the Dwarf". After realising that crouching below the microphone won't work on radio Frasier grabs a balloon (which are popped to simulate gunshots) and hands it to Niles so he can inhale the helium for a high-pitched voice.
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* ''Fanfic/RocketshipVoyager''. An oxygen-helium atmosphere is used on board ''Voyager'' to reduce the risk of fire. When Tom Paris enters a space station using an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, he thinks it should make chatting up dames easier since he won't sound like [[WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck Daffy Duck]].

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* ''Fanfic/RocketshipVoyager''. An oxygen-helium atmosphere is used on board ''Voyager'' to reduce the risk of fire. When Tom Paris enters boards a space station using an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, he thinks it should make chatting up dames easier since he won't sound like [[WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck Daffy Duck]].
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[[quoteright:280:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heliumspeech.png]]]]

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[[quoteright:280:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} [[quoteright:279:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heliumspeech.png]]]]
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quality upgrade


[[quoteright:300:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heliumspeech1.png]]]]

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[[quoteright:300:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} [[quoteright:280:[[Magazine/{{Mad}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heliumspeech1.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heliumspeech.png]]]]



* Miis in ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' have become (in)famous for the pitch of their voice. They don’t actually inhale helium, though.

to:

* Miis in ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' have become (in)famous for the pitch of their voice. They don’t don't actually inhale helium, though.



** In the episode ‘Ho Ho Ho No’, Sam uses an ‘Osmosis Bubble Suit’ to sneak inside the villains weather balloon, gaining a helium voice once inside. Later in the episode, she knocks the villain into the balloon using the suit, with him also receiving a squeaky voice as his gondola crashes.

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** In the episode ‘Ho 'Ho Ho Ho No’, No', Sam uses an ‘Osmosis 'Osmosis Bubble Suit’ Suit' to sneak inside the villains weather balloon, gaining a helium voice once inside. Later in the episode, she knocks the villain into the balloon using the suit, with him also receiving a squeaky voice as his gondola crashes.
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* '''VideoGame/{{Madagascar}}'': Marty can obtain this during King of New York by popping at least 6 balloons.

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* '''VideoGame/{{Madagascar}}'': ''VideoGame/{{Madagascar}}'': Marty can obtain this during King of New York by popping at least 6 balloons.

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