History Main / ReverseCerebusSyndrome

* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'''s predecessor series ''VideoGame/MadouMonogatari'' was extremely dark, with the second game infamously having a scene of '''''[[OffWithHisHead uncensored decapitation]]'''''. ''Puyo Puyo'' itself took a turn for the lighthearted, and even more so when Creator/{{SEGA}} acquired the franchise.

* The ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'' has been going this way. The first two movie in the franchise, ''Film/ManOfSteel'' and ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', were directed by Creator/ZackSnyder and had dark tones comparable to ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''. However, both films received mixed to negative reactions from critics and audiences, with some even drawing unfavorable comparisons to UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks. Warner Bros. responded to the feedback by course-correcting to make subsequently movies lighter and whimsical. ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' has a more optimistic outlook, with director Creator/PattyJenkins drawing inspiration from ''Film/SupermanTheMovie''. Creator/JamesWan's ''Film/Aquaman2018'' and Creator/DavidFSandberg's ''Film/Shazam2019'' embrace the whimsical and fantastical mythos of the source material by having the characters keep their classic costumes and their goofy powers. Subsequently, ''Wonder Woman'', ''Aquaman'', and ''SHAZAM!'' were more positively received by critics and audiences compared to ''Man of Steel'' and ''Batman v. Superman''.

** The early ''WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror'' episodes were dark, murderous and were morbid at best and downright terrifying at worst (the one in which teachers are gradually eating through students is a perfect example). The modern ones tend to keep the bloodiness but have become much sillier. How many horror stories have you heard of that start off with a MediaWatchdog getting murdered by a UsefulNotes/{{media classification|s}}? The comic book series based on it did ''the exact opposite'', and now focuses on more straightforward horror stories with some BlackComedy.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts1'' has the bleakest setting of all, the story coming off of a NearVillainVictory with most of the worlds in the multiverse destroyed, and protagonist Sora gets thrown into the conflict when his world becomes the next one to get annihilated. Many of the [=NPCs=] in this game are refugees who escaped the destruction of their worlds, like Gepetto from ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'' hiding out in Monstro or Beast from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' traveling across the remaining worlds to look for Belle. In spite of it all, however, Sora is able to restore the multiverse to before this destruction took place, and all subsequent games in the series involving Sora are more about him stopping the bad guys from carrying out their plans than the first game's protection of what little is left.

* The first two seasons of ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' are mostly constant action and focuses on the criticism of a world where superheroes are a common profession. The next couple of seasons then have a lot more lighthearted school life scenes, which includes showing off everyone's dorms and preparing for a school festival.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' had a much more lighthearted tone compared to its predecessor, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV''. Even though considerably more characters [[KilledOffForReal died for real]] in V than in IV.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX''. After the more downbeat tones of VI, VII and VIII, IX brought back some much-needed humor. It's still has it's darker moments (its main theme is mortality, after all), but it's significantly cuter and sillier than the previous installments.
** ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 Final Fantasy X-2]]'' had a goofy, deliberately cheesy veneer masking a reasonably serious plot, whereas ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' was darker and grimmer most of the time. It's justified in that most of the things that made ''X'' so dark were dealt with in that game.

** ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' itself has undergone a variation of Reverse Cerebus Syndrome; while the story hasn't gotten less serious, the design process certainly has. When the game was launched, the art style stuck to a strict "{{Eagleland}} during TheSixties" theme, and each character was boiled down to a series of instantly-recognizable traits, in terms of both design and game balance. Compare that to today, with over 300 increasingly-wacky unlockable hats and weapons inching further into RummageSaleReject territory. A Scout armed with a [[ShamuFu fish]] fighting a Heavy wearing a DodgyToupee was unthinkable in 2007, but is rather commonplace today.

** Go back a step further to the oft-overlooked ''VideoGame/{{Koudelka}}'', which ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' is a sequel to. This game is ''dark'' and deadly serious, as is fitting for a SurvivalHorror RPG, and makes ''Shadow Hearts'' look like a laugh riot high adventure in comparison. Roger Bacon is the only real source of humor in the game, while everyone else is depressed and soaked in tragedy and horror. The bad ending is the canonical ending for this one.

* The ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' franchise started off depicting the horrors of a nuclear holocaust. The [[Film/Godzilla1954 first movie]] was very dark and, even by today's standards, frightening. The series gradually [[GenreShift shifted]] from allegorical horror to a children's movie series best known for goofy rubber suits and ridiculous plots. The titular monster, originally a metaphor for the atomic bomb, turned into a proud national icon and the source for cartoons, toys, video games, etc. It wasn't until 1984's ''Film/TheReturnOfGodzilla'' (and, to a lesser degree, the previous two movies, which preceded it by ten years) that the series took a partial turn back to its serious roots, and [[CerebusRollercoaster it's been wavering back and forth between both extremes ever since]].

* While {{Franchise/Splatoon}} in general leans more towards the goofy side of things in general, the final battles of the story modes are generally more serious and high-stakes... However, with [[{{VideoGame/Splatoon1}} the original game]] and ''[[{{VideoGame/Splatoon2}} Splatoon 2]]'''s Hero Mode final battles, the latter of which involves one of the most heartbreaking moments of the entire series involving Marie trying to reach out to her BrainwashedAndCrazy cousin Callie, you can replay them. Rather than a repeat of the original scenes and dialogue, the whole thing turns into a comedy instead, as in the first game Callie and Marie express exasperation that their grandpa got kidnapped and they have to do this whole thing all over again, and in the second game Callie puts the hypnoshades that brainwashed her back on because they look good on her, much to Marie's exasperation. And in both affairs, only DJ Octavio himself actually takes the fight seriously at all. This is averted for the final battles in the ''Octo Expansion'' and [[{{VideoGame/Splatoon3}} Splatoon 3]] Hero Mode, however, as replaying them is explicitly framed as the player character recalling what happened.

* As [[http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/24029 this article]] about ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' says, Sega aimed to {{invoke|dTrope}} this trope for the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series, starting with ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings'', after the DarkerAndEdgier games that were ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' continues in the same vein, and ''Sonic Boom'', both [[VideoGame/SonicBoom the game]] and [[WesternAnimation/SonicBoom the cartoon]], are pure goofiness. However, starting with ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', the series started moving back in the other direction, followed by the much more melencholic ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'', the latter of which switched writers to long-time fan-favourite Sonic comic writer [[{{Creator/IanFlynn}} Ian Flynn]], who has years of experience writing both the series and goofy sides of Sonic.

* As [[http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/24029 this article]] about ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' says, Sega aims to {{invoke|dTrope}} this trope for the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series, starting with ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings'', after the DarkerAndEdgier games that were ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' continues in the same vein, and ''Sonic Boom'', both [[VideoGame/SonicBoom the game]] and [[WesternAnimation/SonicBoom the cartoon]], are pure goofiness.

* The ''Franchise/KamenRider'' franchise, from 2000 on. First, we start with it DarkerAndEdgier than its pre-revival self; AnyoneCanDie, the ''manner'' of deaths can be NightmareFuel, sometimes monsters are people too ''and some must die anyway,'' sometimes HumansAreBastards, and "good guys" can sometimes do things that are downright unheroic - though rare, it ''can'' even extend to the main Rider (see ''Kabuto.'') As of the so-called "Neo Heisei Era" (2010 onwards), it's easing off - not to the point of no longer being dramatic, but on the ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' continuum, maybe it's gone from ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' to ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries.'' Fewer [[HeroWithAnFInGood heroes with an F in good]], better chance of being able to save the guy who didn't want to turn into the MonsterOfTheWeek, better chance of being able to save the first poor shmuck the ''bad'' monster takes a shot at, and the DangerousForbiddenTechnique isn't actually ''guaranteed'' to kill you, and more LargeHam characters. It mostly starts with the new decade, but even then, compare ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz'' to ''Series/KamenRiderKiva.'' Similar in construction, same showrunner, monsters kill civilians left and right, monsters are all transformed humans... but ''Faiz'' ends with [[spoiler: one general still plotting and the BigBad not completely defeated, half the cast dead, and main hero Takumi hasn't long to live]]. ''Kiva'' ends with [[spoiler: a new peace between humans and Fangires, the resurrected original BigBad defeated, the new one ''redeemed,'' a wedding, and a new adventure with the main hero's KidFromTheFuture about to begin]].\\

Then you tune in next week, and find out that... the three dead guys [[DeathIsCheap have been resurrected]] thanks to the powers of a MagicalGirl BunnyEarsLawyer who takes the form of a polkadot unicorn. The evil government conspiracy is actually a sham by TheManBehindTheCurtain, a demonic dog from hell who speaks entirely in Pig Latin and just wants to impress chicks. The heroine's pregnancy was just a [[TheFoodPoisoningIncident hallucination brought on by overcooked chocolate-chip cookies]] (and she's fine now). There's NoFourthWall any more, and the characters have a degree of MediumAwareness. Everyone ''[[PerpetualSmiler always]]'' smiles.

** ''Rei'' upped this with the funny variant, the first and the last episodes are siller than any arc-beginning episode ever, and they don't even end in tragedy. The arc episodes though are quite dark, being about [[spoiler:Rika dying and entering a "good" world where Keiichi never shot up a girl, Satoshi's parents never died, etc. It climaxes with Rika killing her mother in order to get back to hers and an ambiguity on whether it was AllJustADream or not]].

* ''Anime/SailorMoon S'', the anime's darkest season yet, which included older Senshi, [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremists]] galore, [[SadisticChoice Sadistic Choices]] ForTheGreaterGood, dark [[MessianicArchetype Messianic Archetypes]], and even a PostFinalBoss that proved the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Monsters of the Week]] were NotSoHarmless after all, was followed by... ''Sailor Moon Super S'', which mainly focussed on [[TagalongKid Chibi-Usa]], featured mostly [[MinionWithAnFInEvil completely ineffectual]] circus-themed MOT, veered towards fantasy/fairytale-like imagery, barely bothered with character development (with the Inner Senshi being hit the worst) and whose fight scenes were almost entirely slapstick comedy up until the final few episodes. The next season, ''Sailor Moon Sailor Stars'' went with a darker tone again, even revamping the ''Super S'' BigBad and putting her at the helm of the anime's most nightmarish arc yet.

* The ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series went this route with ''VideoGame/Persona4'', which despite its plot about serial killers and [[spoiler:the sublimation of humanity's consciousness into the sea of shadows as orchestrated by the embodiments of self-destructive desire]], is just so darn cheerful and optimistic its signature color scheme is ''sunshine yellow'', its mascot is a colorful and pun-spewing teddie bear, and it ends [[spoiler:with an unambiguously happy ending]]. After its predecessors' soul-crushing "Good" endings, and especially within the greater ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei Megaten]]'' franchise, this was quite the MoodWhiplash.

** The early ''WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror'' episodes were dark, murderous and were morbid at best and downright terrifying at worst (the one in which teachers are gradually eating through students is a perfect example). The modern ones tend to keep the bloodiness but have become much sillier. How many horror stories have you heard of that start off with a MediaWatchdog getting murdered by a UsefulNotes/{{media classification|s}}? The comic book series based on it did ''the exact opposite'', and now focuses on more straightfoward horror stories with some BlackComedy.

Right: The ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' line is about to get closed, so what the hell, bring in the Ultimate ComicBook/SpiderHam and his troupe.[[note]]Image from ComicBook/UltimateFF #5.[[/note]]]]

* As [[http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/24029 this article]] about ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' says, Sega aims to {{invoke|dTrope}} this trope for the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series, starting with ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'', after the DarkerAndEdgier games of ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' continues in the same vein, and ''Sonic Boom'', both [[VideoGame/SonicBoom the game]] and [[WesternAnimation/SonicBoom the cartoon]], are pure goofiness.
* The ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series went this route with ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', which despite its plot about serial killers and [[spoiler:the sublimation of humanity's consciousness into the sea of shadows as orchestrated by the embodiments of self-destructive desire]], is just so darn cheerful and optimistic its signature color scheme is ''sunshine yellow'', its mascot is a colorful and pun-spewing teddie bear, and it ends [[spoiler:with an unambiguously happy ending]]. After its predecessors' soul-crushing "Good" endings, and especially within the greater ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei Megaten]]'' franchise, this was quite the MoodWhiplash.

* The original ''VideoGame/LEGOStarWars'' was a fairly straight retelling of the prequel trilogy with some added jokes along the way. Later VideoGame/{{LEGO Adaptation Game}}s were full-on over-the-top parodies that only nominally followed the events of the films they were based on.

* ''{{Webcomic/xkcd}}''. The earlier strips are very avant-garde and philosophical, and often not meant to be funny. Eventually the comic shifted to being primarily a nerd humor GagSeries. This change is the main reason for its BrokenBase.

* While ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', being the epitome of WorldOfHam, was always LighterAndSofter than ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'', the later seasons played this up more.

* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' had most of its 4-to-8-episode-long arcs slowly turning from amusing SliceOfLife to gory horror. An arc starting with a cute and hilarious card game will end with [[spoiler: a boy killing two of his best friends]]. Then came the last arc of ''Kai'' was somewhat of the opposite, starting with a flashback showing a girls parents dying before being sent to an OrphanageOfFear where she was abused and possibly raped, yet ending in what was practically a shonen-style action-adventure story with NonLethalWarfare and [[spoiler: EverybodyLives ending. Even the main antagonist survives]].

** The anime begins with Miku [[ForegoneConclusion grieving death of her best friend and]] [[TheHeroDies main character of the show]]. In a flashback, Hibiki goes to a concert, where Noise attack occurs, which results in many gruesome deaths. Kanade [[HeroicSuicide sacrifices herself]] to save Hibiki, who then gains power by getting hit in the chest with a fragment of her Symphogear. In the present, Tsubasa hates Hibiki and blames her for her friend's death. Later we learn about [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Swan Songs]] – ultimate techniques which [[SuicideAttack end with attacker's death]]. In episode 4, [[spoiler:Tsubasa uses it, [[BloodFromEveryOrifice starts bleeding heavily]] and collapses seemingly dead.]]
** After this point the show starts to go away from its initial darkness towards more standard and idealistic {{Superhero}} story. Tsubasa quickly reconciles with Hibiki. More magical girls join the squad, even [[HeelFaceTurn those who were introduced as enemies]]. Characters go through [[NextTierPowerUp multiple power-ups]] and [[spoiler: Swan Songs no longer kill their users]]. Some characters still die, but main cast doesn't bear this risk and villains often get redeemed before death. Needless to say, [[spoiler:Hibiki wasn't actually dead.]]

* Webcomic/TheBikiniBottomHorror is a DarkFic of WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants that starts off with Patrick turning into a monster and going on a killing spree across Bikini Bottom, with the other characters desperately trying to fight Patrick and his clones the best they can. But it turns out that Patrick isn't the only character who got a hefty dose of AdaptationalBadass, and when the other characters undergo their own transformations, the story turns into something more akin to a superhero or {{Kaiju}} story.

* ''Film/TheNeverendingStoryIIIEscapeFromFantasia'' was widely criticized for having goofy depictions of characters like Falcor and the Rockbiter who spew pop culture references as opposed to the far more serious mood of the [[Film/TheNeverEndingStory first movie]].

* The ''Film/{{Superman}}'' film series hit this with ''Film/SupermanIII'', starting with the choice to cast comic actor Richard Pryor as a bumbling-but-brilliant computer programmer in the employ of the CorruptCorporateExecutive villain. General wacky hijinks include an opening credit sequence focusing on DisasterDominoes tumbling on the streets of Metropolis and a temporarily evil Superman causing trouble by straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa and blowing out the Olympic flame ForTheEvulz. ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'' mostly reverses this, with the exception of a TotallyRadical nephew/sidekick for Lex Luthor.
* Creator/TimBurton's two ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' films were much darker and grimmer than the Creator/AdamWest version of the franchise, but still contained hammy villain performances and plenty of camp, such as constant Prince songs or rocket penguins. When Creator/JoelSchumacher took over, he dropped the dark elements, leaving nothing to counterbalance the HamAndCheese of Creator/JimCarrey as The Riddler, Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, and the infamous Bat-nipples.

* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse has been going this way. The first two movie in the franchise, ''Film/ManOfSteel'' and ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', were directed by Creator/ZackSnyder and had dark tones comparable to ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''. However, both films received mixed to negative reactions from critics and audiences, with some even drawing unfavorable comparisons to UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks. Warner Bros. responded to the feedback by course-correcting to make subsequently movies lighter and whimsical. ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'' has a more optimistic outlook with director Creator/PattyJenkins drawing inspiration from ''Film/SupermanTheMovie''. Creator/JamesWan's ''Film/{{Aquaman|2018}}'' and Creator/DavidFSandberg's ''[[Film/Shazam2019 SHAZAM!]]'' embraced the whimsical and fantastical mythos of the source material by having the characters keep their classic costumes and their goofy powers. Subsequently, ''Wonder Woman'', ''Aquaman'', and ''SHAZAM!'' were more positively received by critics and audiences compared to ''Man of Steel'' and ''Batman v. Superman''.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon S'', the anime's darkest season yet, which included older Senshi, [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremists]] galore, [[SadisticChoice Sadistic Choices]] ForTheGreaterGood, dark [[MessianicArchetype Messianic Archetypes]], and even a PostFinalBoss that proved the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Monsters of the Week]] were NotSoHarmless after all, was followed by... ''Sailor Moon Super S'', which mainly focussed on [[TagalongKid Chibi-Usa]], featured mostly [[MinionWithAnFInEvil completely ineffectual]] circus-themed MOT, veered towards fantasy/fairytale-like imagery, barely bothered with character development (with the Inner Senshi being hit the worst) and whose fight scenes were almost entirely slapstick comedy up until the final few episodes. Thankfully, the next season, ''Sailor Moon Sailor Stars'' pur the show back on track, even revamping the ''Super S'' BigBad and putting her at the helm of the anime's most nightmarish arc yet.

* ''Film/{{Gremlins}}.'' The first film was a hybrid of horror and BlackComedy, but with [[Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch the sequel]], the director decided to parody aspects of the original and give the film a feel like a feature-length ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' sketch (with the movie being [[Main/{{Bookends}} bookended]] ''with the actual Looney Tunes'').

* The U.S version of {{Series/The Apprentice}} became this when it changed its format to become an all-celebrity show. The [[UsefulNotes/BarackObama birther]] opinions from Creator/DonaldTrump don't help the show's possible view of itself as a paragon of solemnity either.
* Franchise/PowerRangers, in the new-10’s, has deliberately invoked this, as a response to the DarkerAndEdgier later Disney seasons. While [[UnpleasableFanbase fan reaction is all over the place]], [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Ratings have been for the most part good.]]

* ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'' was a dramatic show with some comedic beats in season 1, taking its two main arcs featuring captain Rip Hunter, BigBad Vandal Savage, and heroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl serious as a heart attack. However, the drama was falling flat with both audiences and crew, so for Season 2, the show was retooled into putting the emphasis on zany time-travel hijinks (the element that most considered worked the best), jettisoning the Hawks and Savage and reducing Hunter to a supporting character (and eventually removing the character as well), and sanding down the darker edges of White Canary and Heat Wave into lighter, unquestioned heroes. The show became a cult favorite with each subsequent season, landing on several critics' top-10-television lists praising its humor, creativity, and appealing cast. What was once a dramatic show with hints of comedy had successfully turned into a ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''-style adventure comedy with the occasional dramatic beat.

* The ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series went this route with ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', which despite its plot about serial killers and [[spoiler:the sublimation of humanity's consciousness into the sea of shadows as orchestrated by the embodiments of self-destructive desire]], is just so darn cheerful and optimistic its signature color scheme is ''sunshine yellow'', its mascot is a colorful and pun-spewing teddie bear, and it ends [[spoiler:with an unambiguously happy ending]]. After its predecessors' soul-crushing "Good" endings, and especially within the greater [[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei Megaten]] franchise, this was quite the MoodWhiplash.

* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue: After earlier seasons took the show from a comedic slice-of-life to serious multi-season arcs, Season 14 is an anthology where, aside from the odd sad moment and three {{Origins Episode}}s about existing villains, it's all about the comedy again. The following three seasons are also more biased towards laughs, although the drama ramped up once the villains played a bigger part in the plot.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Occurs several times over the course of ''WebComic/{{Shortpacked}}'' as the comic returns to wacky hijinks mode after each "Drama Tag" episode, though the reverse is not invoked, parodied or lampshaded like the CerebusSyndrome that preceded it.

** The Third Doctor era began with a season where stories featured moral ambiguity, bittersweet and downer endings and real tension between the cast about the military way of UNIT and the Doctor's pacifist nature. Starting from the next season these elements where gradually removed.