History Main / PluckyComicRelief

* While all characters in ''Videogame/{{Undertale}}'' are funny in their own right, [[PungeonMaster Sans]] and [[SmallNameBigEgo Papyrus]], two skeleton brothers and the main NPC's of Snowdin, are definitely the game's primary comic relief. They're constantly teasing eachother, the puzzles they set up all fail to stop you in hilarious ways, and Sans keeps making [[IncrediblyLamePun really bad puns]], which Papyrus keeps getting annoyed at. But, given that ''Undertale'' is a DeconstructorFleet, [[spoiler: their funny personalities are likely just there to hide their personal issues. Papyrus uses his loud, confident personality to hide his low self-esteem, while Sans uses his jokey, laid-back demeanor to hide his depression. Also, doing a [[KillEmAll Genocide Run]] leads Papyrus to try and reform you with kindness, and Sans to give you the [[ThatOneBoss hardest]] [[SNKBoss bossfight]] in the entire game, during which he reveals his knowledge of timelines and your ability to save, load and reset]].

* [[Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]: While yes, this show is a comedy, with the recent CerebusSyndrome the series has faced, Swag and Chris have been this, specifically in the [[WarIsHell Anime]] and [[OriginsEpisode Genesis]] arcs.

** Their [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy Counterparts]] fill a similar role in the game, but seeing as the setting is notably less [[DarkerAndEdgier grimdark]], they are obnviously not the only race that fills this role. The Skaven are a good example of this, due to them being both StupidEvil and LaughablyEvil with their ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and all. Add to that hamster wheels with lasers, and it should be pretty clear that they fit into this spot too.

%% * ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Bubbles, who is the joy and the laughter.

* In ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'', Raimundo starts off being just this.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Bubbles, who is the joy and the laughter.
* Snap from ''WesternAnimation/ChalkZone''. The episode "Snap vs. Boorat" shows that [[BerserkButton he doesn't take too kindly to being referred to as such.]]
* Funny girl Luan is acting like one in ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse''.

* Beast Boy from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''. Oh-so-very-much. Now with 100% more [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]]!
--> '''Beast Boy:''' *being dragged into the dark* "What did I tell you? Funny guy goes fiiiiirst!"

* [[SuperSpeed The]] [[ComicBook/TheFlash Flash]] in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''. Considering his death sparked a totalitarian dictatorship in [[MirrorUniverse another universe]] and nearly caused the [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt apocalypse]] in the regular one, his angstlessness plays a very important role in keeping the Justice League from going off the deep end.

The term comes from Sam Rockwell's "Guy Fleegman" character in the movie ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' (who, in a non-[[GenreBlindness genre blind]] example of LampshadeHanging, is afraid that he is only a RedShirt, until another character suggests that maybe he is instead the "plucky comic relief"), which of course is spoofing the television show ''Franchise/StarTrek''.

* ''WebVideo/EscapeTheNight'': In the first season, which was generally DarkerAndEdgier then other seasons, Timothy and {{GloZell}} are a big source of comedy. In the first few episodes, {{GloZell}} was the main source, but after she TookALevelInJerkass, Timothy took over the role.

* Lewa, Kongu, and Matau from ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}.'' Each is a DeadpanSnarker and a bit of a klutz who provide many of the funny moments throughout the story. Kongu actually invokes FollowTheLeader in this, as he's resolved to follow his mentors' example.

** Their [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy Counterparts]] fill a similar role in the game, but seeing as the setting is notably less [[DarkerAndEdgier grimdark]], they are obnviously not the only race that fills this role. The Skaven are a good example of this, due to them being both StupidEvil and LaughablyEvil with their ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and all. Add to that [[CrazyAwesome hamster wheels with lasers]], and it should be pretty clear that they fit into this spot too.

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

* On ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' Raimundo starts off being just this.

* Snap from ''WesternAnimation/ChalkZone''. The episode "Snap Vs. Boorat" shows that [[BerserkButton he doesn't take to kindly to being referred to as such]].

!!Examples:

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

[[folder:FanFiction]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney Animated Films]] usually have one. And so do all of the movies that [[FollowTheLeader copy their formulas]].
** ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'': Dopey, who's kind of like a tiny Harpo Marx.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'': Thumper
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'': The mice, mainly Jacque and Octavius/Gus
** ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'': Mr. Smee
** ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'': The Three Good Fairies and the two kings on certain occasions.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheAristocats'': Napoleon and Lafayette.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'': Dinky and Boomer.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'': Gurgi and Fflewddur Fflam.
** ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'': Tito.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid|1989}}'': Flounder and Scuttle.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Genie, who is very plot-relevant.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'': Timon and Pumbaa.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Hugo, Victor and Laverne.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'': Pain and Panic.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'': Mushu, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'': Terk and Tantor
** ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'': Kronk
** ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear'': Rutt and Tuke
** ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Louis and Charlotte.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'': Olaf and Sven. Olaf is the more prominent of the two, although he adds some quite heartfelt and "deep" moments to the movie. Sven's facial emotions are quite hilarious, but his few lines voiced by Kristoff provoke laughs.
* Devon and Cornwall, and to an extent, the Griffon and Bladebeak in ''WesternAnimation/QuestForCamelot''.
* Bobby in ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'' and ''WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie''. Notably the only one of the youths present in both movies with no visible conflict with a parent figure, almost everything he says and does is some sort of dumb joke. He takes very few things seriously, is an AttentionWhore, a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, and more-or-less a PerpetualSmiler, and is considered to be weird (among friends) or annoying (with Beret Girl and the Gammas). He's also the one to [[OoCIsSeriousBusiness give Max an emotionally-charged]] RousingSpeech.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'': Donkey is a parody of the Plucky Comic Relief -- when he isn't being a straight example.
** This also applies to Puss in Boots as well as Donkey in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek 2}}'' and onwards.
** The fairytale characters that appear in all the films as side characters can be classified as this.
* As serious as ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH'' was in tone, there was a certain crow that happens to be the comic relief. And that crow in particular is Jeremy.
* Humphrey from ''WesternAnimation/AlphaAndOmega'' serves as the snappy one-liner of the movie. he is usually seen hanging out with his other omega buddies and is shown to try to cheer up an alpha named Kate, whom he likes to be with.
** Justified in that this is stated to be the role of the Omegas in the pack; to break up fights and keep everyone's spirits up.
%%* Mub and Grub from ''{{WesternAnimation/Epic}}''.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Guy in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' fears for the entire film that he is destined to die, as his character on the show, Crewman #6, was a typical RedShirt that died in the first act of his only episode. Fred eventually calms his fear by suggesting Guy is actually this trope. (And towards the end of the film, [[spoiler: just before the in-universe ResetButton gets pushed, Guy is indeed the only crew-member who hasn't been killed.]])
** Fred himself also qualifies by spending most of the film oblivious to, or at least unreasonably calm about, the ostensible dangers they're going through. The original cut depicted him as a stoner, but this element was downplayed to receive a family-friendly rating. The remaining hints are enough to act as a ParentalBonus.
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'':
** Nightcrawler provides some of the more amusing moments in ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' and ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.
** Banshee is the most fun character in ''Film/XMenFirstClass''.
** Quicksilver is a source of comedy in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' and ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.
** As referenced by the opening credits of ''Film/{{Deadpool 2016}}'', Weasel's narrative purpose is comedy.
** Downplayed with Professor X in ''Film/XMenApocalypse'' because he's predominantly a dramatic character, but writer Simon Kinberg reveals in his commentary that Charles was deliberately used to lighten up the mood of the first act.
--->'''Kinberg''': I tried to get a lot of humour into the movie whenever it was appropriate, and James [[=McAvoy=]] is a really good comedic actor, so there was a lot of good Xavier moments.
* [[NiceGuy Sergeant Paine]] is this in Film/TheThirdMan.
* ''Film/LastActionHero''. {{Lampshaded}} by GenreSavvy Danny Madigan, who had been [[MediumAwareness operating on the assumption]] that he was one of the Main Characters.
-->'''Danny''': ...I'm the comedy sidekick. Oh, ''[[PrecisionFStrike shit!]]'' I'm the comedy sidekick! ''[[OhCrap This isn't going to work!]]''
* Aside from being TheLancer to [[Film/StreetsOfFire Tom Cody's]] TheHero, Billy Fish filled this role for the scene where he refuses to give Ben Gunn the money. Tom manages to convince Billy, which follows with the latter complaining under his breath. And should we mention that Billy is played by Creator/RickMoranis, an actual comedian?
* The Largo brothers, Pavi and Luigi, fill this role in ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera''. In a movie like Repo, the comic relief duo is made up of a murderer and a rapist...
%%* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':
%%** Pintel and Ragetti serve as the comic relief.
%%** And to a lesser extent Mullroy and Murtogg.
* Jack, the main character of ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', falls squarely into this category, although ''he'' [[WrongGenreSavvy thinks he's the hero.]]
** He ''does'' have a climactic moment of heroism when he personally [[CatchAndReturn kills]] [[BigBad the evil tyrannical overlord]] [[WhoWantsToLiveForever who, like the Queen song, wants to live forever.]]
* J. Jonah Jameson and his assistant Hoffman in the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''. Also Peter's landlord and his daughter.
* C-3PO and R2-D2 in ''StarWars''. This is the intended role of Jar Jar Binks in the prequel movies, but he proved so insufferable that George Lucas heavily cut down his screentime until he had a mere cameo in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
* C-3P0 and R2-D2 were allegedly inspired by Tahei and Matashichi from ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', who provided levity to a serious situation with their sinful shenanigans.
* [[ThoseTwoGuys Pippin and Merry]] in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing''. Gimli, to some extent, in the other two.
** Bofur is revealed to be this in the film adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit''.
%%* Cabbie in ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork''.
%%* Johnny in ''Film/{{Airplane}}''.
* Sam Rockwell [[http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15815/rockwell-talks-iron-man-2-character actually used the term himself]] when describing his role as Justin Hammer in ''Film/IronMan2''.
* Riley from ''Film/NationalTreasure'' is this in spades. He is rarely seen taking a situation seriously, even when in immediate danger.
%%* John from ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy''.
* Pavel Chekov [[{{Flanderization}} increasingly]] takes on this role in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' films, the height of this occurring during [[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome the fourth movie]].
* The ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''-subject ''Film/AttackOfTheTheEyeCreatures'' has the Peeping Tom Air Force guys, who manages to both avoid having any plot relevance or give their actions any actual humor or other, non-repulsive qualities.
* Tuco from ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' might qualify, given that most, if not all of the humorous moments in the film involve him in one form or another. Unlike most examples, Tuco is the protagonist instead of a side character.
%%* Boris from ''Film/{{Goldeneye}}''.
* Fat Amy from ''Film/PitchPerfect''.
%%* Buck from ''Film/{{Stagecoach}}''
* Heihachi from ''Film/SevenSamurai'' intended to fill this role to boost morale and provide levity for this dark and grave situation of bandits raiding their village. However, it's Kikuchiyo, a later addition to the script, who fills this role better and becomes TheHeart as well. Feeble villager Yohei filled this role as well, [[spoiler: before becoming a SacrificialLion]]
* Darcy in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' and ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld''. She's a fish out of water among the other scientists (she's a ''political'' scientist, as opposed to astrophysicists Drs. Jane Foster and Erik Selvig), and so she primarily makes snarky remarks. Even when she does something like taser Thor, she maintains her snarkiness (upon Jane and Erik's shocked reactions; "[[DefensiveWhat What]]? He was freaking me out!").
* Jake in ''Film/SupportYourLocalSheriff'' is described as "the town character" to his face, and its hinted that when before he became a Sheriff's deputy he was the town drunk. Even he sees the ironic humor in that kind of promotion, and remarks upon it constantly. This was actually actor Creator/JackElam's first comedic role (for most of his prior career he'd been playing villains), and his wonderfully funny performance [[LeslieNielsenSyndrome typecast him as a comedic actor for the rest of his life]]. Not that he complained much about the change.
* The ghosts, Stuart and Cyrus in ''Film/TheFrighteners''. They wanted to haunt a house so Frank might "exorcise" it.
* ''Film/{{Help}}'': Ringo, sometimes aided and abetted by George.
* ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'': In "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", the little girl with the Creator/WCFields doll takes great delight in mocking John Valentine and takes everything in her stride, even when all of the adults around her are panicking. She maintains her composure right up until Valentine shoots open the window so that he can kill the gremlin.

[[folder:Literature]]
* From Literature/ASymphonyOfEternity we have Commodore Dalius Augustus, he's his fleet's resident comedian, but that doesn't stop him from being [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot a badass sentient velociraptor alien who is well versed in fleet warfare and has a sweet tooth!]] He's best friends with the resident Starscream.
* Bluebell, the comedian rabbit of ''Literature/WatershipDown'', serves as a comic relief not only to the readers, but also is an in-story tension breaker. Keehar the seagull serves the purpose in the film adaptation.
* Madame Khokhlakov's role in ''Literature/TheBrothersKaramazov'' is to provide lighthearted, trivial discussion versus everything else that goes on in the story. She is eternally cheerful and will talk you ''to death''. Dostoevsky used her to insult his critics at the time by having her agree with their works.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter''
** Fred and George. As the series gets DarkerAndEdgier, [[spoiler: one loses an ear and the other dies.]]
** Ron Weasley also fills this role within the main trio, and he's an even earlier gauge of the series' impending [[CerebusSyndrome dark turn]]: as early as [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire book four]], his general status as ChewToy produces some moments of unexpectedly bitter resentment. By [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows book seven]], he's primed for a [[DarkestHour complete meltdown]].
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
** A casual reading of the Witches novels would suggest that Nanny Ogg's job is to keep bringing the funny, while Granny Weatherwax and Magrat get all the achievements. And this is the case, but what's not always apparent is that this is exactly how she likes things, and if she ''wanted'' to be Granny, she easily could be.
** In the Watch novels, the role is filled by [[ThoseTwoGuys the Watch's most senior and least effective coppers]], dim-witted Sergeant Colon and kleptomaniac {{Gonk}} Corporal Nobbs.
* Jacob from ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''. He is the funniest character in the book. And probably the only one.
%%* Basil Stag Hare in ''Redwall''.
%%* Faddey Bulgarin in ''Literature/TheDeathOfTheVazirMukhtar''.
* Graystripe from ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is only in the first book to lighten the mood. However, his role greatly increases in later books.
* Joe from ''Literature/FiveWeeksInABalloon'' doesn't treat anything too seriously and cracks jokes nearly constantly. A lot of his humor revolves around mock-naivety.
** The same author's ''Literature/FromTheEarthToTheMoon'' has Michel Ardan in a similar role, balancing the other two serious protagonists with his laid back attitude.
* In ''Literature/InDesertAndWilderness'', Kali, mostly due to CrossCulturalKerfluffle - he seems much more serious among his own people.
* In ''Literature/TheDragonHoard'', Prince Sillius plays this role among the questing princes.
* In ''Literature/TheHeartsWeSold'' James takes this role InUniverse, taking it upon himself to crack jokes in awkward or tense situations. This is important for two reasons: first, it makes James seem approachable and trustworthy to newcomers, and second, it keeps everyone from going insane due to stress.
* Marco of ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' starts out as the team smartass, especially given that he's the one member of the team who wants nothing to do the fight against the Yeerk invasion. However, as the series continues and the war starts to wear on the team, Marco becomes progressively more cynical and calculating - to the point that his SadClown antics barely seem to be keeping him sane.

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Exotico {{tag team}} turned stable, The Christopher Street Connection, were the original plucky comic relief on the Wrestling/RingOfHonor shows. They got beat up ''a lot'' but always managed to come back smiling. Sometimes they feuded with baby {{face}}s but they were never worse than [[WildCard Tweeners]] themselves. Some later examples include [[Wrestling/LondonAndKendrick Paul London, Spanky]], Wrestling/ColtCabana, [[Wrestling/HunterJohnston Delirious]] and Wrestling/ElGenerico, though ROH has a tendency to turn many of them DarkerAndEdgier, even if only for an angle. Wrestling/JimmyJacobs is one who proved not so plucky and remained a problem child after he found out [[LoveRedeems love doesn't redeem]] till his final days in the company.
* In Wrestling/{{Progress Wrestling}} there's Eddie Dennis, although he's more than capable of holding his own in a fight.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* ''Series/PiliFantasyWarOfDragons'': Chin Chia-hsien and Yin Shih-jen, with a Laurel and Hardy type of slapstick. Notwithstanding, both have a fairly big impact on the plot by way of sharing messages, manipulating enemies of the Tiger Generals, and otherwise being good allies.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film--Animated]]

[[folder:Film--Live Action]]

In some cases, similar to StupidBoss. Many {{sidekick}}s fit this description, as well. See AmusingAlien for otherworldly characters whose ''only'' purpose is comedy. See TheFace for where they have a purpose greater than comedy. Compare {{Cloudcuckoolander}} (whereas the humor comes out of sheer eccentricities rather than just being comical, and it can ''sometimes'' go hand in hand).

A character whose primary role in the show is to relieve tension with [[CloudCuckooLander oddball]] and/or hysterical, [[RuleOfFunny buffoonish antics]]. They have a job to do, but don't get into the thick of things and can stay somewhat detached. Since their purpose is to relieve tension, they almost always have immunity to dying when compared to the other characters. A guaranteed sign that the series is suffering from CerebusSyndrome or that things are just [[FromBadToWorse going to go to Hell from here]] is to see whether this character [[ShooOutTheClowns either dies, leaves/is left behind, or has a complete and utter meltdown,]] no matter how deserved.

In some cases, similar to StupidBoss. Many {{sidekick}}s fit this description, as well. See AmusingAlien for otherworldly characters whose ''only'' purpose is comedy. See TheFace for where they have a purpose greater than comedy. Compare {{Cloudcuckoolander}}.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Golden Age ComicBook/EttaCandy was a prankster and BoisterousBruiser whose quips and violence was most always played for laughs, though not the character herself which was rather impressive for a short overweight comic relief character in the 1940s.

A character whose primary role in the show is to relieve tension with [[CloudCuckooLander oddball]] and/or hysterical, buffoonish antics. They have a job to do, but don't get into the thick of things and can stay somewhat detached. Since their purpose is to relieve tension, they almost always have immunity to dying when compared to the other characters. A guaranteed sign that the series is suffering from CerebusSyndrome or that things are just [[FromBadToWorse going to go to Hell from here]] is to see whether this character [[ShooOutTheClowns either dies, leaves/is left behind, or has a complete and utter meltdown,]] no matter how deserved.