History Main / IdleAnimation

** Shrek and Donkey: one animation has Shrek pets Donkey's back while another has Shrek pull Donkey under his legs to ride him, only for Donkey to crumple under his weight.

* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', your character will start fiddling with their gun if left alone for a certain amount of time such as pulling open the cooling latch on the plasma pistol or pressing the "TEST" button on the rocket launcher (which tests the rotation mechanism). Creator/RoosterTeeth, the creators of the {{Machinima}} series ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', said this was one of their biggest problems while "filming" in ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'', which resulted in very short takes to prevent the "cameraman" from doing this (the animation in which the character adjusts a knob on the magnum). Alternatively, panning and/or dolly shots could be done indefinitely as turning and moving stopped idle animations from playing.

* Lara Croft in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend'' and ''[[VideoGame/TombRaider Anniversary]]'' has various idle animations, ranging from her tightening the laces on her boots, stretching her arms out, and others, although this could also be seen on the title screen.

* In ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', CJ will sway from side to side and sing a few bars of a random hip-hop song if left to his own devices. Also, if left idle in a populated area, the camera will shift to an over-the-shoulder view showing what CJ is paying attention to. He always eyeballs the nearest cop, with attractive women coming a close second.
* Back in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto2'', the player character would light up a cigarette.

** ''VideoGame/BlackMesa'' will have Gordon pet the Snark. It's adorable.
** Also, the Spore Launcher in ''Opposing Force''. It wiggles and purrs in response to Shephard petting it. Awww.
** With the revolver equipped, Gordon will [[GunTwirling twirl]] [[ArtisticLicenseGunSafety it on his finger]] in ''VideoGame/BlackMesa''.

** In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'', Dante would scratch his head in annoyance, cross his arms, and tap his foot impatiently.

* The four games of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' provide an [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters absolutely massive roster of playable characters]] and almost all of them are controllable on the field. Listing specific idle animations for all characters would liklely take all day, but to name just a couple examples, main character Rean Schwarzer will cross his hands, pumping them, and say "Okay!" while Fie Clausell will rub one of her eyes and [[{{Sleepyhead}} mumble "Sleepy."]] Also, all of the characters will blink at regular intervals.

* The Rudies in ''VideoGame/JetSetRadio Future'' dance if left alone. Each [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters character]] has a different animation, all of which can also be seen in the GG's garage.

Like BattleIntro and VictoryPose, this can be used the help characterize the player character and may also serve as a hidden EasterEgg.

** Murray will occasionally try to pull up his belt (why he wears a belt when he [[HalfDressedCartoonAnimal has no pants]] is anybody's guess), resulting in his hands slipping and Murray accidentally smacking himself in the face.

*** The characters also have idle animations that play during the character selection screen; Sly's include balancing his cane on his hand, twirling his cap, and (in ''VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves'' and ''3'') pulling out his family book, the ''Thievius Raccoonus'' and reading it for a few moments, sometimes appearing surprised by what he reads. Bentley will look at blueprints and sometimes whip out a calculator and crunch some numbers. Murray will occasionally doze off briefly before startling back awake, and sometimes produce a slice of pizza [[{{Hammerspace}} from behind his back]], scarfing it down in nearly one bite.

** Luigi and Yoshi do the same in the remake, ''Super Mario 64 DS''. On the other hand, Wario scratches his butt.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'', if you've unlocked the sound effects and equipped Mario with the doorbell or the buzzer, that particular sound effect will play every three seconds while Mario is idling.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' brings back the pasta dreams. It also has a whole host of new idle animation for Mario. His basic idle animation features him yawning, stretching tiredly, tapping his boot against the ground, and limbering up his legs; a bird may also land on Mario's nose while he's sleeping. In areas with a creepy or ominous atmosphere, he looks nervous, glances around anxiously, and shudders a little. In cold areas Mario shivers and tries to warm himself, while in hot areas, Mario wipes sweat from his brow and fans himself; unless he wears a costume appropriate for the weather, in which case he'll do his standard animation. Also, if he stands near a boombox or someone playing music, he starts dancing. If he stands right above a spot which can be Ground Pounded to find a hidden treasure, he'll look at his feet and kick the ground curiously.

* ''VideoGame/ToejamAndEarl'' has a particularly awkward one where your character would fall asleep and you would have to spend several seconds ButtonMashing to get the characters to wake up again.

** In the original trilogy, Crash either plays with a yo-yo (sometimes tying himself up by accident) or bounces a wumpa fruit up and down (often ending up with a faceful of wumpa from above). If you leave him long enough he'll get bored of his yo-yo and start to boogie. And if he's in a level where it's raining, or there's ice and snow, he'll start shivering and blowing on his hands to try and warm up

* ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}'':

** In the family-friendly prequel, ''Conker's Pocket Tales'', Conker would play ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongLand'' on a Game Boy, complete with the bonus round music.

* ''VideoGame/WarioLand'': Wario has multiple of these in the series, but in ''Shake It/The Shake Dimension'', he actually says "Get on with it!" if you've not made him do anything for a while.

** In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'', Donkey will pull out a Nintendo DS and play with it, then toss it away.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Duck Dodgers in the 24th-and-a-Half Century]]'' was a rather mediocre platformer on the N64, starring Daffy Duck. However, if you left Daffy alone for long enough, he would got on an absolutely ''massive'' rant about how nobody was playing with him, and he was getting sick and tired of waiting around -- including several WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes {{Continuity Nod}}s.

* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' also has several. Most consist of just Ratchet (or Clank) looking around, though he'll shiver and wrap his tail around his legs on snowy planets. On the weapons select screen, he'll play with the currently selected weapon - they went from unique animations for the weapons in the first game (juggling the Glove of Doom 'bots, twirling the Blaster, plugging his ear to test out the Taunter) to just one generic "mock aiming" animation for all in the second. Speaking of weapons, leaving the screen idle at a vendor will also get you some funny ones: the attendant may ask you if you're going to buy something, or "Help, I'm trapped in this box!" may scroll by on the ticker trail.

** Some enemies have idle animations. For example, two enemies will sometimes play paper-scissors-rock with each other.

* While waiting for you in ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet'', Sackboy may yawn, hang his head down in boredom, sit down for a moment, or place his hands on his zipper.

[[caption-width-right:347:[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Come on,]] [[MemeticMutation step it up!]] [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM I'm waiting!]]]]

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series. In the original game, Dante had a wait animation for whatever gun he had equipped. With his twin pistols he would twirl them and put them away. When equipped with the shotgun, grenade launcher or Nightmare-Beta, he would put his hand in his pocket while he would rest his weapon arm on his shoulder. In the third game, Dante would scratch his head in annoyance, cross his arms and tap his foot impatiently.
** In the 4th, Nero would inspect his arm. Dante actually has 2 animations: Looking around with his hands on his hips, then stretching out an arm while still looking around. The other is a little funnier; it looks like he might have dozed off standing up with his arms crossed.
** In ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'', Dante would turn his head from side to side.

* ''VideoGame/PrzygodyReksia'': In both ''Wizards'' and ''Time Machine'', Kretes will start singing when the player does nothing. In the latter game, Reksio also gets an idle animation (namely, sitting down and looking bored) which is triggered if the player waits longer.

* Stand still for a few seconds in ANY ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters King of Fighters]]'' game past '97 while playing Ralf, and he starts jumping back and forth in place. (The safest time to do this is after you knock out the opponent, needless to say.) His partner, Clark, will stretch his arms out and wiggle his fingers, showing that his regular pose can leave even him with stiff joints. Duke, meanwhile, folds his arms if left idle for a short time.

** K' would fall asleep if left long enough. How would the player know? Well, when he has his hand on his hips, he usually blinks. You'll know he's snoozing when his eyes close....and don't open. Just hit any button to wake him up.

** Shermie doesn't stand -- she dances in one spot.
** Yamazaki Ryuji was crazy enough, but he loses it in his idle stance in 2k3

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', each character cycles through unique idle animations. Hope sways back and forth and occasionally clasps his hands together. Lightning and Fang both put their hands on their hips, while Vanille crouches down onto the ground with her hands on her knees. Sazh scratches his afro, and Snow punches his hands together.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tamagotchi}}'': When left idle, Tamagotchis move back and forth across the screen, whether by walking, hopping, dancing, or flying. In later generations, their animation ties to their mood.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': The title character would glare at the player, tap his foot and even lie down if left for a few seconds. In ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'', he would jump off the screen after 3 minutes of idling with an "[[ScrewThisImOuttaHere I'm outta here]]!" and [[NonstandardGameOver the game would reset to the title screen]]. Likewise, other playable characters have these as well - though only Tails has one as consistently as Sonic (falling asleep standing up). This trend would be carried across pretty much every game in the series, with ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Advance 2]]'' replacing the "look up" feature of holding up on the D-pad with instantly going into each character's idle animation. [[HammerSpace It's also probably for the best if you don't think too hard about where Cream gets all those ice cream cones from.]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}: Risky's Revenge'', when Shantae is at full health and standing still, she'll do a happy little dance. When not at full health or critical she'll breath normally and adjust her top. When nearly dead she'll hold her arm and breath heavily.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': The title character would glare at the player, tap his foot and even lie down if left for a few seconds. In ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'', he would jump off the screen after 3 minutes of idling and [[NonstandardGameOver the game would reset to the title screen]]. Likewise, other playable characters have these as well - though only Tails has one as consistently as Sonic (falling asleep standing up). This trend would be carried across pretty much every game in the series, with ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Advance 2]]'' replacing the "look up" feature of holding up on the D-pad with instantly going into each character's idle animation. [[HammerSpace It's also probably for the best if you don't think too hard about where Cream gets all those ice cream cones from.]]

** Surge plays his [[VideoGames video game]].

* In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning]]'', [[VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon Spyro]] will rather amusingly begin ''dancing'' if left alone for long enough.
** He also curls up and falls asleep if left standing there in ''[[VideoGame/SpyroAHerosTail A Hero's Tail]]''. Particularly amusing when on the bed in an Elder's hut.
** The original game series had these too, with Spyro turning to look impatiently at the viewer. Occasionally the dragonfly Sparx would flutter up into the screen.

* Wario has multiple of these in the ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' series, but in ''Shake It/The Shake Dimension'', he actually says "Get on with it!" if you've not made him do anything for a while.

** In the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' series, if left alone DK beats his chest, Diddy takes his hat off to scratch his head or starts juggling, Dixie blows a bubblegum bubble and drinks from a juicebox and Kiddy tugs on a loose thread on his romper suit until he tugs too hard and falls over. [=NPCs=] also did this.

* Unique soldiers in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid: Portable Ops'' all do one which fits their personality. The most amusing is Ocelot, who does a ridiculously exaggerated exhausted slouch, and then suddenly whips out his revolvers and starts posing.
* In ''VideoGame/SplinterCell: Blacklist'', when Sam is hanging on to the side of a building and left to idle, he will shift his stance around and move his arms so they don't go numb. This later becomes a tipoff in the last level, when [[spoiler:the character you're controlling uses different idle animations, in addition to alternate stealth takedowns. This is a tipoff that it's not Sam in the suit, but Briggs]].