History Main / PerpetualMolt

'''Akira:''' [[GenreSavvy Do you know how many feathers come off every time they flap their wings?]] I've calculated that [[RealityEnsues it takes only minutes before all feathers come off!]]

* The OneWingedAngel(s) from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. Not just Sephiroth, [[spoiler:Angeal and Genesis]] too had a single wing that, well, always give rains of feather. [[spoiler:Zack's death is symbolized by a rain of feathers as Angeal picks his arm to go to the Lifestream]]. It seems that everyone with a wing has infinite feathers... Arguably justified, as the characters are [[spoiler:decaying due to needing a cure]].

* The OneWingedAngel(s) from ''FinalFantasyVII''. Not just Sephiroth, [[spoiler:Angeal and Genesis]] too had a single wing that, well, always give rains of feather. [[spoiler: Zack's death is symbolized by a rain of feathers as Angeal picks his arm to go to the Lifestream]]. It seems that everyone with a wing has infinite feathers... Arguably justified, as the characters are [[spoiler:decaying due to needing a cure]].

* Ran of AkameGaKiru, when he releases his Teigu and shows his wings, they are constantly losing feathers, which is in fact a purposely built in feature of them as he can manipulate the feathers to attack his targets and they are extremely deadly.

* Also parodied in [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic1-092010.php this]] ''AwkwardZombie'' comic.

In fiction, any feathered creature, from a sparrow or crow to [[OurGryphonsAreDifferent gryphon]] or [[OurAngelsAreDifferent winged angel]], always seem to be molting loose feathers, such that whenever one takes flight, it leaves behind a trail (or shower) of loose feathers.

* ''DNAngel:'' To say the angels [[PhantomThief Dark]] and [LightIsNotGood Krad]] shed feathers all over the place is the understatement of the year. It can be said without exaggeration that there's times when they shed thousands of feathers all at once.

* Both [[PhantomThief Dark]] and [[LightIsNotGood Krad]] from ''DNAngel'' shed feathers like crazy.

* The Haibane of ''HaibaneRenmei'' manage to subvert this trope. There are places with giant piles of Haibane feathers at times, but it's ''always'' indicative of something serious problems when more than a single feather falls out.

* As per the RuleOfCool, Setsuna Sakurazaki of ''MahouSenseiNegima'' always leaves a dramatic shower of feathers behind whenever she spreads her angel-like wings (they're actually white "tengu" wings).

->'''Mina:''' ''"Why is it bat wings? Aren't bird wings more efficient?"''\\
'''Akira:''' ''"[[GenreSavvy Do you know how many feathers come off every time they flap their wings?]] I've calculated that [[RealityEnsues it takes only minutes before all feathers come off!]]"''

* Hayate's magical form in ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' has her shedding black feathers from [[WingedHumanoid her wings]] whenever she uses them.

* Hayate's magical form in ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''.

* While not being a bird, Alita Tiala's brooch lets a flock of feathers into the air every time she is distressed in ''Apollo Justice: AceAttorney''.

* Shanoa's magical wings in ''{{Castlevania}}: Order of Ecclesia'', which are either [[JustifiedTrope justified]] or {{Handwave}}d by the wings being generated by magic; presumably, the MP cost when you activate the glyph includes periodic upkeep.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' subjects Pit to this trope. Every time he flies, he seems to lose a ton of feathers. But he's using a magic one (the move was based off a powerup from Kid Icarus) so that's okay.

--->'''Palutena:''' It... looks like your wings are losing feathers, Pit.
--->'''Pit:''' Huh. I never really noticed... but I guess you're right.
--->'''Palutena:''' I wonder if you're wings are going bald.
--->'''Pit:''' WHY WOULD YOU EVEN SAY THAT?!
--->'''Palutena:''' Sorry, it just... slipped out. Here, maybe if you sort of... brush the other feathers over the bald spot...
--->'''Pit:''' I am NOT doing a comb-over!
* In ''SamuraiWarriors'', OdaNobunaga and his [[KnightInShiningArmor White Knight]] counterpart AkechiMitsuhide manage to do this ''without any visible wings''.
* In ''BillyHatcherAndTheGiantEgg'', when you hatch an Elder, they always hatch out with a burst of feathers. Interestingly, one of the hatchable powerups (a double-jump, aptly named '[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Wings]]') will also let loose a flurry of feathers, every time you use it.
* Some of the main characters being angels with giant wings, this is common in ''RivieraThePromisedLand''.

* ''KirbySuperStar''

* The obscure fighting game ''Gundam: Battle Assault 2'' brings Wing Gundam Zero Custom into the roster. Despite its feathers being decorative armored plates, Wing Zero still somehow molts feathers when using certain special attacks.
* In one of the more unusual examples of this trope, Vincent's pillow in ''{{Catherine}}''.

* Shanoa's magical wings in ''{{Castlevania}}: Order of Ecclesia''.

* [[ShelteredAristocrat Sieg]] from ''KamenRiderDenO''. This and his {{leitmotif}} are always a sign that he has arrived.

* In "{{League of Legends}}", the angel champion Kayle molts a shower of golden feathers onto her target whenever she casts her healing spell.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' pulled this earlier, by including a PerpetualMolt StockFootage scene during usage of the owl-themed WarpWhistle.
*** As well, Link's owl guide once took advantage of his molting to create a track across a set of invisible platforms for the boy to follow.
** Before that, in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', Cuckoos constantly molt while you hold them (as parodied in [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic1-092010.php this]] ''AwkwardZombie'' strip).
* When wings, including bird-like angel-wings, were introduced to the MMO ''CityOfHeroes'', they were originally planned to be in PerpetualMolt... this was, however, scrapped before they "went live", due to the demands this would've put on the physics engine.
** With the release of issue 20.5, a "feather" aura which produces this exact effect is now available for Incarnate characters to purchase.
* By far, the greatest use of this trope may be ''[[http://raptorsafari.com/ Off-Road Velociraptor Safari!]]''

** In the console opening to ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'', Angel is shown surrounded by feathers. Averted in actual gameplay, at least for Angel. Characters given wings via customisation, on the other hand...
*** But Angel's wings actually do molt whenever she uses them, by jumping or flying. It's easier to see the feathers against a dark background.

** In fact, later in the game, [[spoiler: Colette]] gets a spell that grants a status boost. How is this portrayed? By making your entire party molt pink feathers constantly.

* ''SuperSmashBros Brawl'' subjects Pit to this trope. Every time he flies, he seems to lose a ton of feathers. But he's using a magic one (the move was based off a powerup from Kid Icarus) so that's okay.
** A slight molt effect is added to some of his landings in KidIcarusUprising, which turns this into a (very easily missable) conversation that Pit and Palutena might have

* If anyone plays ''[[Franchise/YuGiOh The Tag Force Series]]'', in the [[Anime/YuGiOh5Ds fourth and fifth installations]], [[MeaningfulName Crow]]'s Ace monsters (or the ones with cutscene animations) have this problem. Their summon and attack animations all have an '''absurd''' amount of [[IncrediblyLamePun Black Feathers]] in them, the worst offender is Black Feather-Arms Wing, who uses the feathers ''as bullets''.

* In ''HappyFeet'', this trope is subverted. The main character, Mumble, is an adult Emperor Penguin. Yet he didn't ever finish shedding his down feathers in the movie. He's the only adult penguin that has this occur. It was later explained that the editors wanted him to have a unique look throughout the movie. This permanent molt makes it look like he is wearing a tuxedo, appropriate for tapdancing.
** Played straight in the storybooks, however.

* The OneWingedAngel(s) from ''FinalFantasyVII''. Not just Sephiroth, [[spoiler: Angeal and Genesis]] too had a single wing that, well, always give rains of feather. [[spoiler: Zack's death is symbolized by a rain of feathers as Angeal picks his arm to go to the Lifestream]]. It seems that everyone with a wing has infinite feathers... Arguably justified, as the characters are [[spoiler:decaying due to needing a cure]].

* In ''SamuraiWarriors'', OdaNobunaga and his [[KnightInShiningArmor White Knight]] counterpart Mitsuhide Akechi manage to do this ''without any visible wings''.

'''Akira:''' ''"[[GenreSavvy Do you know how many feathers come off every time they flap their wings?]] I've calculated that it takes only minutes before all feathers come off!"''

* The Oni-Eating Tengu Haruka in ''Tactics'' always takes off in a shower of falling plumes. In especially dramatic scenes it's practically a downpour of them.