History Main / MirthlessLaughter

[[quoteright:500:[[ComicBook/BatmanThreeJokers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rco028_1603374660.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:500:You wouldn't expect the Joker of all people to be a SadClown, would you?]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga ]]

* Througout ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'', characters tend to laugh this way whenever they fall into [[spoiler:disease-related]] bouts of paranoia.

* Literature/SherlockHolmes: a guy who'd had his thumb ripped off that night gets it bandaged up by Watson, and only when it's done does all the stress come back and start laughing. As Watson puts it, "all my medical instincts rose up against that laugh".

* Widespread in the ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' series and its SpiritualPredecessor ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls''; [=NPCs=] often end their dialogue with a hearty chuckle at the CrapsackWorld they inhabit
* [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII Firion]]'s pre-battle quote when fighting [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Kefka]] in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' has him remark that he has "never heard a sadder laugh." Also, after Terra defeats Kefka for the final time during the game's story mode, he goes off on a nihilistic rant about the pointlessness of cherishing existence in the face of inevitable destruction before he [[DrivenToSuicide explodes]], leaving behind the echo of a [[CryLaughing sobbing laugh]].

-->'''Narrator:''' And as the black shadow of eternity looms over him, he becomes hysterical...
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'', Freya lets out a mirthless laugh of shock upon learning that her long-lost boyfriend, Fratley, has amnesia and no memory of her whatsoever.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'':
** Tidus and Yuna's fake-laughter scene. They're practicing laughing as a way to de-stress when things get too sad or scary and then they laugh for real over how silly they sounded trying to practice laughter. At least, Tidus does. It's never made clear whether Yuna, given her situation, was actually capable of genuine laughter at that point. Wakka expresses concern for both of them, thinking that they had lost it.
** Later, Yuna oversleeps at the Djose Temple and the party lets her sleep in. Afterwards, the party makes fun of her for having "bed-hair."

** There's also Rikku's laughter when she panics over the lightning at the Thunder Plains.

* [=DiZ=]/[[spoiler:Ansem the Wise]] does this twice in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', first when [[spoiler: Riku, having embraced the power of darkness to defeat Roxas, introduces himself as "Ansem" while physically looking like "Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness", unaware he's addressing the ''real'' Ansem]], and again at the end when [[spoiler: his Kingdom Hearts Encoder starts to break down and it fully hits him just how stupid the plan really was.]]

* In the "Jetstream" DLC of ''Videogame/MetalGearRevengeance'', Sam lets one out at the end after Armstrong manages to defeat him and cut off his arm, deciding that his vigilante campaign has effectively ended and accepting Armstrong's offer to join him. Armstrong in return [[EvilLaugh chuckles menacingly with him]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'', Yusuke does this a few times as the crimes of his teacher/foster father Madarame are slowly exposed. After Yusuke's faith is Madarame has been [[BrokenPedestal completely shattered]] with the reveal that [[spoiler:Madarame essentially [[MurderByInaction let Yusuke's mother die]] so he could profit off of her painting]], Yusuke starts sadly laughing, then thanks Madarame for completely removing any reason to forgive him.

->''I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral.''
->''Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will.''

** When [[spoiler:Darth Nihilus uses his telekinesis to crash Ironwood's airship into Beacon]], Qrow can't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation while everyone around him stares up in horror at [[spoiler:the incoming airship.]]

* In ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', both Harry and Carol tend to laugh mirthlessly when in a bitter mood, usually accompanied by [[SarcasmMode biting sarcasm, often self-deprecating]]. With Harry in particular, it tends to relate to memories of [[spoiler: the Dark Phoenix]].

* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' most of the character's laughter is induced by [[spoiler:disease-related]] paranoia.

* During the latter half of ''Anime/TheBigO's'' second season, [[BrokenBird Angel]] confesses her feelings for Roger, but he fails to reciprocate. When she asks why, he hesitates, then finally answers that he isn't sure himself; which stuns Angel. Then it hits her. [[spoiler: Roger apparently held feelings for [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot R.]] [[EmotionlessGirl Dorothy]]]] The realization is so jarring for her, it results in bitter laughter. This marks the beginning of her downward spiral for the remainder of the series as her life falls apart.
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' most of the character's laughter is induced by [[spoiler: disease-related]] paranoia.

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': In episode seven, Ryoko and Ayeka join forces to try to win Tenchi's favor by eliminating the competition [[spoiler: including each other.]] They start by tricking Mihoshi into returning to Galaxy Police headquarters, then attempt to seal Washuu in her lab. One by one, however, their plans backfire, [[ItMakesSenseInContext which ultimately lands them in the lake outside.]] And at the exact moment when it seemed things couldn't get worse, Mihoshi returns. The two share a laugh as the last of their schemes blows up in their faces.

-->'''Abomination:''' A-ha! Ha ha ha! '''Ha ha ha haaaaa!''' "Nothing can hurt the '''Abomination'''", I said! Not even falling out of '''space'''! It may put me in a '''coma''' -- but when I '''wake up''', I don't even know '''know''' about it! ''How '''wonderful''' to be a freak! I can lose '''whole sections''' of my '''life'''! Isn't that '''funny''', Hulk? Isn't that just '''hilarious'''?! Ha ha '''ha ha haaaa'''
-->'''Hulk:''' Do not '''laugh'''! Hulk does not '''like''' your laugh! Sounds like '''crying'''.

* In the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fanfic [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10740041/4/Remember-When Remember When]], the final chapter is this trope.
* In ''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/boku-no-hero-academia-ideas-and-discussion-thread.389237/page-174#post-37097851 My Poltergeist Report]]'', Izuku chuckles lifelessly after learning that his whole life, including his death, was going to be miserable and utterly pointless in the grand scheme of things. The only thing that snaps him out of it is [[Manga/YuYuHakusho Botan's offer to bring him back to life.]]

* In ''Fanfic/AllThisVenatoriNonsense'', protagonist Trevelyan laughs hysterically out of pure shock following the revelations at the end of the story.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter''

* Widespread in the ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' series and its SpiritualPredecessor ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls''; [=NPCs=] often end their dialogue with a hearty chuckle at the CrapsackWorld they inhabit

--->'''Auron:''' Once Lady Yuna can fixes her hair, we leave! (''everyone laughs'')\\
'''Tidus''': (''narrating'') I hadn't really laughed like that in a long time. It was only later that I realized... The only one really laughing then... was me. Laughing must have been the only thing keeping them going.

* [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII Firion]]'s pre-battle quote when fighting [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Kefka]] in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' has him remark that he has "never heard a sadder laugh." Also, after Terra defeats Kefka for the final time during the game's story mode, he goes off on a nihilistic rant about the pointlessness of cherishing existence in the face of inevitable destruction before he [[DrivenToSuicide explodes]], leaving behind the echo of a [[CryLaughing sobbing laugh]].
* [=DiZ=]/[[spoiler: Ansem the Wise]] does this twice in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', first when [[spoiler: Riku, having embraced the power of darkness to defeat Roxas, introduces himself as "Ansem" while physically looking like "Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness", unaware he's addressing the ''real'' Ansem]], and again at the end when [[spoiler: his Kingdom Hearts Encoder starts to break down and it fully hits him just how stupid the plan really was.]]

* In the "Jetstream" DLC of ''Videogame/MetalGearRevengeance'', Sam lets one out at the end after Armstrong manages to defeat him and cut off his arm, deciding that his vigilante campaign has effectively ended and accepting Armstrong's offer to join him. Armstrong in return [[EvilLaugh chuckles menacingly with him]].

** Peridot also did this once she realized she [[spoiler:wouldn't be able to escape from the Cluster.]]
** This seems to be a favorite way of showing distress amongst the characters. Lapis does this after Steven answers her question of "what if something bad happens?" with the ArmorPiercingResponse "what if something good happens?" Lapis chuckles mirthlessly at her own trauma-induced paranoia before breaking out into song.

* In ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'', Craig bursts into inappropriate laughter at his abusive fathers funeral.

* Rand Al'Thor of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' series does this increasingly as [[SanitySlippage sanity depletes]]. When pressed, he maintains that he does it to keep from crying, while other characters point out that it would be better for him if he did the latter.

* Awkwardness: People have a tendency to laugh when they don't know quite how to respond to a situation, and may do so when they hear particularly strange, scandalous or shocking information. This can come off as particularly insensitive in cases where they're laughing in response to hearing someone else talk about something like the death of a loved one, but, most of the time, the laugher isn't being sincere. That being said, as many an episode of a [[TalkShowWithFists tabloid talk show]] can demonstrate, if you gather a big enough group of people to listen to such allegations as infidelity, sexual assault, drug-taking, murder, child abuse ''and worse''... there's a good chance at least some of the people in the stands may [[DissonantLaughter genuinely find it hilarious]] in their own slightly-depraved way.

* Rage: Some people may begin ominously laughing after someone else has just made them pass their RageBreakingPoint. If they don't stay in a state of TranquilFury, this laughter will gradually grow louder and louder until they’re full-on LaughingMad, all while now completely berserk. This is a time to run away from the laugher as fast as you can... [[CurbstompBattle not that it will make that much of a difference anyway]].

* ''Series/SchittsCreek'': After they [[RichesToRags lose their fortune]] and are forced to move, [[DramaQueen Moira]]'s husband reminds her that if she wants a flower garden, she'll have to plant it herself. She answers with a long sarcastic chuckle that builds to a full-on cackle, all without moving her face or blinking.

* Rage: Some people may begin ominously laughing after someone else has just made them pass their RageBreakingPoint, gradually growing louder and louder until they’re full-on LaughingMad, all while now completely berserk. This is a time to run away from the laugher as fast as you can... not that it will make that much of a difference anyway.

** Some fans theorize that [[spoiler:the First Child's]] laughter at [[spoiler:King Asgore getting sick from poisonous buttercups in a pie they and Asriel made for him]] was this instead of a case of EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor. It's really up to fan speculation whether it was [[spoiler:CriticalResearchFailure (confusing "buttercups" for "cups of butter") or them trying to play TheUsurper by poisoning Asgore to take the throne and delighting in his sickness while passing it as "laughing it off"]].

** [[spoiler:Toriel falls under this trope as well, if you either kill her as part of your KillEmAll run or if you [[ISurrenderSuckers strike her down after she’s stopped attacking you.]]]]

* Near the end of ''{{VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker]]'', after [[spoiler: King Daphnes uses the Triforce in order to finally destroy Hyrule, Ganondorf's response is to start laughing, starting with a chuckle and then immediately cackling like a madman as water starts pouring into the kingdom. He then takes out his swords and starts the game's final battle]].

* Near the end of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker]], after [[spoiler: King Daphnes uses the Triforce in order to finally destroy Hyrule, Ganondorf's response is to start laughing, starting with a chuckle and then immediately cackling like a madman as water starts pouring into the kingdom. He then takes out his swords and starts the game's final battle]].

* ''ComicBook/BatmanThreeJokers:'' One of the three Jokers, "The Criminal", actually hates laughing since it causes him physical pain (he's the Joker from the very first ''Batman'' comics, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness who rarely laughed or smiled).]] He seems to do it most often when things aren't going his way, like when Jason Todd mocks him or when [[spoiler:Batman foils his scheme at the end.]]
* ''ComicBook/IncredibleHulk:'' In issue #159, after learning from the Hulk that he spent two years in a coma before his HealingFactor restored him from their last fight, when he fell to Earth from orbit, the Abomination begins alternatively ranting about the situation and laughing at it. [[LampshadeHanging The Hulk tells him to stop laughing, because it sounds all wrong]], and then finally sucker-punches the Abomination to leave him out cold and stop the laughter.

* Just before the terrifying reveal in the second segment of ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad the former, Ichabod Crane is getting petrified at every sound in the forest - when he finally sees that cattails in the wind are making noises like hoofbeats he starts laughing in frightened relief with a bit of LaughingMad thrown in.

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': In episode seven, Ryoko and Ayeka join forces to try to win Tenchi's favor by eliminating the competition [[spoiler: including each other.]] They start by tricking Mihoshi into returning to Galaxy Police headquarters, then attempt to seal Washuu in her lab. One by one, however, their plans backfire, [[ItMakesSenseInContext which ultimately lands them in the lake outside.]] And at the exact moment when it seemed things couldn't get worse, Mihoshi returns. The two share a laugh as the last of their schemes quite literally blows up in their faces.

* ''[[Film/TheTexasChainSawMassacre1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre]]'': Memorably, the film ends with [[FinalGirl Sally Hardesty]] laughing after escaping Leatherface on the back of a pickup truck, having endured an entire night trying to escape a CannibalClan that have killed her brother and friends.

* Laughing from relief or anxiety often crops up in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels, usually in the context of someone making a lame joke, and the narration noting that it wasn't funny, but the tension was such that people would laugh at ''anything''. Of particular note is the joke Sacharissa makes in ''Literature/TheTruth'' after the print shop's been smashed up; the dwarfs laugh, but Sacharissa herself ''keeps'' laughing, and William realises that "this was the kind of laughter you died of".

** In "Oscar Strikes Back", Oscar attends Lab-Con for the first time with Oprah and explains to Odelia how Oona, his assistant, is in charge of the lab while he's gone. He then lets slip one of his fears of leaving such an experienced Scientist in charge of the lab, in that Oona could press a button and the entire place could explode. Odelia and Oprah get a good genuine laugh out of his remark, but Oscar's laugh is much more anxiety-ridden, and he tries to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere before Oprah stops him.

** Tidus and Yuna's fake-laughter scene. They're practicing laughing as a way to de-stress when things get too sad or scary and then they laugh for real over how silly they sounded trying to practice laughter. At least, Tidus does. It's never made entirely clear whether Yuna, given her situation, was actually capable of genuine laughter at that point. Wakka expresses concern for both of them, thinking that they had lost it.