History Main / SpeedEchoes

* Used straight in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' to show particularly fast opponents. Memorably subverted in at least one instance: Kodachi appears to do this in the middle of her gymnastics-themed battle with Ranma, but it is quickly revealed that she's actually attacking him with 20 objects at once.
* In ''Manga/Cyborg009'', one guy who is TheMinnesotaFats to the main character can move so fast he does this. Furthermore, the afterimages sticks around for quite a while, effectively being used as a DoppelgangerSpin.

** This is also the main schtick of the Arrancar Zommari Leroux, at least his pre-Ressurecion form. He moved so quickly that he left up to four "clones" of himself
** Sui-Feng does this when she confronts Aizen during the Arrancar arc.

* ''Anime/CyberpunkEdgerunners'' illustrates the insane speed boost provided by the Sandevistan implant through a combination of this trope and BulletTime.
* Several characters of ''Anime/HunterXHunter'' (Killua and Feitan, notably) do this ''purposely'': the multiple images are visible to everybody, and the characters hide among those in order to proceed with a surprise attack.
* This happens quite a bit in ''Manga/DragonBall'', to the point where it became a staple of the series's biggest fights; among other instances, one character pulled this trick with a total of ''eight'' copies.
* In ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'', speed echoes are used to show how fast Joshua can move. Interestingly, there's also another page in the same chapter for an almost theatrical slow motion effect. (Warning: the second page contains a spoiler.)
* Used by [[LightningBruiser Signum]] during her first battle with [[FragileSpeedster Fate]] in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs''. "You have pretty good senses for a mage... but when challenging a Belka-type knight, it's not enough!"
* This is one of Shinomori Aoshi's special attack in ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'', ''Ryusui no Ugoki''. Its weakness is while the flow of afterimages itself is seemingly unbreakable, the transition towards an offensive move (as is the case with the ''Jissen Kenbu'' combo attack) can be anticipated by a skilled opponent (like Kenshin and Okina).

** One of the most prominent examples of this was the "afterimages with mass" created by the titular mech of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91''; in the climax Seabook used its ability to ablate molecule-thin layers of its armor (ostensibly to dissipate excess heat) to create a trail of illusory Gundams that distracted the BigBad, allowing Seabook to go in for the kill. While the F91 ''is'' a fast machine, it's capable of shedding those armor layers regardless of how fast it's moving at the moment.

* Ryuko from ''Anime/KillLaKill'' uses this to confuse Inumuta during their fight, as well as during her fight with Nui.
* Long before the Gundams could do that, there was Getter-2 from ''Manga/GetterRobo'', whose special ability is "Getter Vision", which allows it to create images of itself as it moves fast.
* Polnareff, in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', at one point uses the DoppelgangerAttack variant.
* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Muga's "Dance of the Falling Leaves" creates an afterimage by rapidly accelerating to dodge at the last instant and then slowing back down just out of reach. To his opponent, Muga confusingly appears to be both slow-moving yet completely untouchable. His son Soga ends up managing to use the technique [[MundaneUtility to avoid an awkward conversation with Matsuri]].
* Speed-o-Sound Sonic in ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' is able to pull this off. As per usual with [[ButtMonkey Sonic]], Saitama promptly does the same thing, but to a degree Sonic doesn't come ''close'' to mimicking.
* In ''Manga/{{Kinnikuman}}'', Robin Mask does this to defeat Junkman; He takes off as much of his armor as he can to increase his speed, then runs circles around the Devil Choujin. The resulting after-image effect serves to confuse Junkman, making him vulnerable to Robin's attack.

* Frequently used in comics to display either superhuman speed or acrobatics. ComicBook/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} are the undisputed masters of the latter effect. For acrobatic characters, it's done largely to depict a full set of moves in a single panel, since they do enough leaping and twisting that their movements would otherwise confuse the reader.
* ComicBook/TheFlash and his fellow speedsters. This is actually ''weaponized'' by a (non-Flash) speedster in Creator/GrantMorrison's [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]] run: he runs in such a manner that he leaves speed echoes in a strobing pattern, trying to disorient The Flash, who's chasing him at SuperSpeed.
* Numerous early comics of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' have panels of the titular hero fighting enemies with after images of her dolling out blows or preforming different maneuvers to show her moving faster than her surroundings. Some of them include her speaking whole sentences that are broken apart and divided amongst each image.
* In the New 52's ''[[ComicBook/DialHForHero Dial H]]'' series, the ability to produce speed echoes is the signature power of the villain Centipede.

* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' does this with Cloud's [[FinishingMove Omnislash version 5]]. Loz too.

* ''Film/TheMatrix'' has several examples of this, beginning with the "Hit me. If you can." dojo fight, through the agent in the rooftop firefight dodging bullets, to the "fist bouquet" effect as Smith pummels Neo.
* Used for the BigBad in ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', although in his case it's more a matter of slipping through hyperspace (the "underverse") than super-speed.
* Used to unintentionally hilarious effect in ''Film/QueenOfTheDamned''. Vampires' unnatural speed is represented by a smeary trail of afterimages... even if the vampire otherwise appears to be moving at the same speed as nearby ''non-''vampires.

* A rare written example in ''Literature/ArtemisFowl: The Lost Colony''; a pixie named Doodah Day is talked into helping the protagonists break into a mansion in return for having his meat-smuggling charges dropped. When sent in ahead, he disguises himself as the owners' son and suped-up a miniature car with a {{Magitek}} fuel cell. When a security officer realizes he isn't a real kid, Doodah hit the throttle, going from five to fifty thousand in two seconds, and is described as leaving behind a distinct and long lasting after image in his wake.

* This trope coupled with BulletTime makes the signature style of the SuperSpeed scenes of ''{{Series/Smallville}}''.
* In one of the ''Dune'' series, this effect was used to show the preternatural speed Paul had earned through his martial training.
* A variation is found in The Picard Maneuver of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. The premise is that [[FlashStep making a short warp jump]] allows a ship to overtake their own image travelling toward the observer and thus appear in two places at once. This maneuver only works on low-tech enemies, who rely on light-speed sensors only; an enemy ship with FTL sensors (i.e. most of the ones ''Enterprise'' runs across) can easily distinguish between the echoes and the real thing.
* Eobard Thawne from ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'' created a nifty illusion of himself doubled and standing side-by-side by traveling back and forth from those spots in super speed.

* This effect was used with Vicki in the ''Series/SmallWonder'' episode "My Robot Family".
* Suggested by Raj as a solution when all four of the main characters showed up for a costume party dressed as Franchise/TheFlash on ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''.
* Used in ''Series/SuperGran'' in scenes where the title character moves at superhuman speed.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition'': ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' #337 proposes a feat for sorcerers, Spell Graft, gaining them some supernatural abilities in exchange for sacrificing spells. Among others, the "After Images" option gives sorcerer who sacrificed the spell ''mirror images'' to leave behind frozen images of himself whenever he moves, confusing opponents and making him harder to hit.

* Many, many, ''many'' 2D {{Fighting Game}}s have the character summon "afterimages" during {{Desperation Attack}}s, high jumps, or even evades.

* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' used afterimages whenever...well...ANYTHING happened, really.
* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'': The Epoch leaves afterimages of itself when changing time periods.

* The GBA ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games do this with many [[CriticalHitClass high-speed classes]] such as [[MasterSwordsman Swordmasters]] and [[ProfessionalKiller Assassins]] to illustrate their speed. The Assassin's [[OneHitKO Silencer]] ability in particular uses the standard CriticalHit animation, but with motion blurs at the start.

* Guess what is the superpower of Afterimage in ''VideoGame/LegacyOfHeroes''?...
* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
** This appears in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' (since VideoGame/MegaManX4 onwards), ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero Zero]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZX ZX]]'' games whenever the player dashes or dash-jumps.
** Used constantly with Quick Man in ''VideoGame/MegaMan2ThePowerFighters''. While quite understandable in his introduction (where he darts around on the screen like an overcaffeinated superball), he is considerably slower in the course of the battle. Gemini Man also has afterimages on both of his selves, but given the whole premise of his method of combat involves speed and deception, it's fitting.
** Anything using the Speed Gear in ''VideoGame/MegaMan11'' tends to leave behind blue afterimages. [[spoiler:Dr. Wily gets the same effect when he jumps back and [[VillainsWantMercy starts yet another begging-for-mercy routine]]]].

* ''VideoGame/MintyFreshAdventure'': Colgate gets them in the "earliest ones fade out" style when she stops time and moves around.
* Invoked by characters with "Shadow" moves in the Franchise/MortalKombat series, such as Johnny Cage. Curiously, this is absent in the games following ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance'', where characters performing said moves are trailed by a green fog effect instead.

* The Franchise/{{Pokemon}} move Double Team works this way to raise the user's chances of evading attack.

* In ''VideoGame/SDGundamCapsuleFighter'', those same aforementioned Gundam units, usually the high-end S-Ranks, can create speed echoes once they activate a secondary form.

%%* Employed by Hotsuma in ''VideoGame/Shinobi2002''
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' and friends show this in the 2D games, mainly the ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy'', ''VideoGame/SonicRush'', and ''VideoGame/SonicRushAdventure''.
** First seen when Sonic became [[SuperMode Hyper Sonic]] in ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles''.
** Sonic also leaves these when doing certain [[LeParkour Parkour]] moves or [[SolidClouds jumping on clouds]] in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.
** It's also present when Sonic is using the Phantom Rush in ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'', which combines FlashStep with RapidFireFisticuffs to attack so quickly, it appears he's striking from multiple places at once.

** This happens to Mario or Luigi when you use the Rainbow Star in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 its sequel]].
** The Speed Flower and Slow Flower in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' make whoever uses them leave red and blue copies respectively; the latter is an odd case as it makes them ''slower'' than without it. For some reason, shaking the Wii remote after [[GoombaStomp jumping on an enemy]] also makes you leave afterimages while you're in the air. [[spoiler: Count Bleck also leaves these and can slow his opponent to the same effect as the Slow Flower]].

* Very obvious in ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe''. To an outside observer, this could just as easily be a magic spell Joe casts which causes a bazillion Joes to appear on the screen beating the bejeezers out of everyone.

** Ulrich running at SuperSpeed leaves a yellow trail behind him. His "Triangulate" power relies on Speed Echoes, combining the Super Sprint with DoppelgangerAttack.
** In the real world, the [=XANAfied=] people and Polymorphic Specters also leave such an after-effect when moving fast.

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'':
** A similar situation to the ''Simpsons'' example above occurs in an episode: Doofenshmirtz decides to make a quick exit, and a Doofenshmirtz-shaped dust cloud appears along with a *RUN AWAY* sound effect. However, when the smoke clears, a confused Doofenschmirtz is still there, wondering what exactly just happened.
** Candace does a similar thing at the beginning of "The Flying Fishmonger".
* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Blurr_%28G1%29 Blurr]] is unsurprisingly animated like this. He also ''[[MotorMouth speaks]]'' like this -- his mouth does not have clear animation frames because they overlap several consecutive animation frames, which causes his mouth shapes to be nothing but a series of afterimages when he says anything.

** In ''Anime/Gundam00'', activating [[SuperMode the GN Drive's secret "Trans-Am" protocol]] causes a Gundam to temporarily [[CharClone shine bright red and triple in speed and power]], while leaving a trail of afterimages.

** ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'': As shown in the WebVideo/NintendoDirect trailer, Swordfighter Peach can do an acrobatic jump that leaves blue afterimages of her behind to position herself better and defeat certain enemies.

** This is also the main schtick of the Arrancar Zommari Leroux, at least his pre-Ressurecion form.
** Soi Feng does this when she confronts Aizen during the Arrancar arc.

* ''VideoGame/WarioWareIncMegaPartyGames'': In "Outta My Way", the smaller characters (Spitz, Kat, Ana, 9-Volt, and Orbulon) leave afterimages of themselves wherever they go.

* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII''':

* This happens to Mario or Luigi when you use the Rainbow Star in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 its sequel]].

* ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'': As shown in the WebVideo/NintendoDirect trailer, Swordfighter Peach can do an acrobatic jump that leaves blue afterimages of her behind to position herself better and defeat certain enemies.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' and friends show this in the 2D games, mainly the ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy'' and ''VideoGame/SonicRushSeries''.

* Frequently used in comics to display either superhuman speed or acrobatics. Franchise/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} are the undisputed masters of the latter effect. For acrobatic characters, it's done largely to depict a full set of moves in a single panel, since they do enough leaping and twisting that their movements would otherwise confuse the reader.
* ComicBook/TheFlash and his fellow speedsters. This is actually ''weaponized'' by a (non-Flash) speedster in Creator/GrantMorrison's [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]] run: he runs in such a manner that he leaves speed echoes in a strobing pattern, trying to disorient The Flash, who's chasing him at SuperSpeed.

* Since her first appearance displaying Franchise/WonderWoman's "bullets and bracelets" ability has been done by showing echos and outlines of her arms in multiple positions at once.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/StarFox Fox McCloud]] moves faster than the naked eye.]]

* Rolento in the ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' games creates a trail of bluish clones as he skitters about.
* Very obvious in ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe''. To an outside observer, this could just as easily be a magic spell Joe casts which causes a bazillion Joes to appear on the screen beating the bejeezers out of everyone.

* This is how the Speed Booster power-up is animated in the 2D ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' games where it appears.
* This appears in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' (since VideoGame/MegaManX4 onwards), ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero Zero]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZX ZX]]'' games whenever the player dashes or dash-jumps.
* ''VideoGame/SamuraiWestern'' have Gojiro's rapid FlashStep abilities, which he uses to dodge bullets. More often than not they'll leave behind a translucent image of himself.
* This happens to Mario or Luigi when you use the Rainbow Star in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 its sequel]].
** The Speed Flower and Slow Flower in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' make whoever uses them leave red and blue copies respectively; the latter is an odd case as it makes them ''slower'' than without it. For some reason, shaking the Wii remote after [[GoombaStomp jumping on an enemy]] also makes you leave afterimages while you're in the air. [[spoiler: Count Bleck also leaves these and can slow his opponent to the same effect as the Slow Flower]].

%%* Employed by Hotsuma in ''VideoGame/Shinobi2002''

* High-end [[GunsAkimbo Dual Pistols]] attacks in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' create speed echoes as the character spins to bring their guns to bear on targets.
* Guess what is the superpower of Afterimage in ''VideoGame/LegacyOfHeroes'' ?
* In ''VideoGame/SDGundamCapsuleFighter'', those same aforementioned Gundam units, usually the high-end S-Ranks, can create speed echoes once they activate a secondary form.
* Used constantly with Quick Man in ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' BossRush GaidenGame ''The Power Fighters.'' While quite understandable in his introduction (where he darts around on the screen like an overcaffeinated superball), he is considerably slower in the course of the battle. Gemini Man also has afterimages on both of his selves, but given the whole premise of his method of combat involves speed and deception, it's fitting.
* In ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriorsGundam'', picking up the speed boost power up will cause your mobile suit to leave ghostly echoes of itself for a couple of seconds when it starts to move again after coming to a full stop. Also, the 'escape boost' causes a brief afterimage of your suit to flicker in the place you used to be while, implying that the emergency boost got your suit out of trouble so quickly that enemies are attacking where you seemed to be.
* In ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, the beneficial status "blink" is presented as the character moving back and forth, leaving blurry afterimages, and therefore making it difficult for the enemy to pin down where they are exactly.
* Invoked by characters with "Shadow" moves in the Franchise/MortalKombat series, such as Johnny Cage. Curiously, this is absent in the games following ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance'', where characters performing said moves are trailed by a green fog effect instead.
* The Franchise/{{Pokemon}} move Double Team works this way to raise the user's chances of evading attack.
* The GBA ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games do this with many [[CriticalHitClass high-speed classes]] such as [[MasterSwordsman Swordmasters]] and [[ProfessionalKiller Assassins]] to illustrate their speed. The Assassin's [[OneHitKO Silencer]] ability in particular uses the standard CriticalHit animation, but with motion blurs at the start.

* ''VideoGame/MintyFreshAdventure'': Colgate gets them in the "earliest ones fade out" style when she stops time and moves around.
* ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'': Aurora gets red, orange and black echoes of herself when she backdashes at some point, but most assuredly when she's aged up and a full princess.
* As the fight against Chapter 1's OptionalBoss in ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' progresses, his dancing begins to leave behind afterimages.

* Peppino from ''VideoGame/PizzaTower'' leaves red and green trails when dashing and white trails when grabbing.

* Piglet briefly appears to be in three places at once while he is [[BerserkBoardBarricade boarding up his house]] in ''WesternAnimation/BooToYouTooWinnieThePooh''

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' and friends show this in the 2D games, mainly the ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy'' and ''VideoGame/SonicRushSeries''.

* ''VideoGame/SamuraiWestern'' have Gojiro's rapid FlashStep abilities, which he sues to dodge bullets. More often than not they'll leave behind a translucent image of himself.

* As the fight against Chapter 1's BonusBoss in ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' progresses, his dancing begins to leave behind afterimages.