History Main / SwordSparks

* Shannon and Chris have a sparktastic sword-on-axe duel in the first episode of ''LightNovel/ScrappedPrincess'' (see image above).

* Used copiously in ''Manga/InuYasha'', both in swordfights & when the title character sheaths his ludicrous {{BFS}}. The act of cramming the gigantic magical sword into a normal sized scabbard kicks up so many sparks that he has to wear fireproof pajamas to avoid immolating himself. The sparks when he sheathes the sword are actually the sword transforming-the sword takes two forms, a shabby katana, and an incredibly gigantic sword that's meant to evoke the fang of his demon father (mostly because it was made from the fang of his demon father). Enticing the sword to transform from the small useless form into the big powerful form was actually a major plot point early on in the series.

* In ''Anime/MaiHime'', Mikoto's sword Miroku generates ''enormous'' quantities of Sword Sparks when she [[SwordDrag drags its tip on the ground]]... which is almost all the time, since it's practically bigger than she is. She has to build up speed to swing it.

* Seen in most fight scenes in ''Anime/MoribitoGuardianOfTheSpirit''. Particularly obvious in the ones taking place at night, like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdKiPOkh0K8 this one.]]

* The ''Film/{{Highlander}}'' films take this to near-obscene levels, with explosions of sparks unrivaled below the point of foundry work at every metal-to-metal contact. To achieve this, swords were attached by cables to car batteries. The cables can be spotted in some scenes.

* In ''Anime/MaiHime'', Mikoto's sword Miroku generates ''enormous'' quantities of SwordSparks when she [[SwordDrag drags its tip on the ground]]... which is almost all the time, since it's practically bigger than she is. She has to build up speed to swing it.

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' not only has the regular SwordSparks, but took it another level by having intense energy discharges every time someone clashes blades, and even in a BladeLock. Of course, [[LaserBlade beam sabers]] don't quite fit this trope, as they aren't solid swords, and Gundam Exia's swords are lined with [[MinovskyPhysics GN particles]], so yeah.

* The ''Literature/CodexAlera'' series has this being a trait of those able to use [[ExtraOreDinary metal furies]] to empower their sword-fighting; the SwordSparks are actually [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience color-coded]] with individual colors for each character.

* Contrariwise, ''Anime/LastOrderFinalFantasyVII'' [[https://youtu.be/upmW7r4mEf0?t=122 plays this very straight]] in the sword fight between Sephiroth vs Zack [[spoiler: and Cloud]] which has heaps of sword sparks.

* Contrariwise, ''Anime/LastOrderFinalFantasyVII'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upmW7r4mEf0 plays this very straight]] in the sword fight between Sephiroth vs Zack [[spoiler: and Cloud]] which has heaps of sword sparks.

Sometimes this is used to imply a character has a kind of quasi-magical ability without going too fantastical with the show.

** Link and Ganondorf's [[https://i1.wp.com/78.media.tumblr.com/cf01f8210693cd532abe9e3fdcc41328/tumblr_oveitiFcex1u1ry24o1_500.gif?w=605&ssl=1 sword clash]] in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''

* Unlike ''Anime/AdventChildren'' with it's "sword streams", ''Anime/LastOrderFinalFantasyVII'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upmW7r4mEf0 plays this very straight]] in the sword fight between Sephiroth vs Zack [[spoiler: and Cloud]] which has heaps of sword sparks.

* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' plays with this trope. During the final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth, every meeting of blade on blade generates light, but it's not sparks - the light is ''streams'' that twist through the air around them. Given both combatants are [[TheLifestream mako-infused]] [=SOLIDERs=], it's not unlikely that the light is magically induced.

* In the first fight between Dante and Vergil in ''Franchise/DevilMayCry 3'', the two of them lock swords so hard that not only do sparks fly, their weapons start glowing red-hot from the sheer energy being produced.

* Done [[https://steamusercontent-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/841461480720156334/681A521687F94B8792D1DB33F5A12B5649C32FCE/ spectacularly]] in Alucard and Trevor's sword duel in ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}''.

* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' plays with this trope. During the final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth, every meeting of blade on blade generates light, but it's not sparks - the light is ''streams'' that twist through the air around them. Given both combatants are [[TheLifestream mako-infused]] [=SOLIDERs=], it's not unlikely that the light is magically induced.

* Raiden and Vamp did this with knives during their final battle in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4''.

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Used copiously in ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'', both in swordfights & when the title character sheaths his ludicrous {{BFS}}. The act of cramming the gigantic magical sword into a normal sized scabbard kicks up so many sparks that he has to wear fireproof pajamas to avoid immolating himself.
** Technically the sparks when he sheathes the sword are actually the sword transforming-the sword takes two forms, a shabby katana, and an incredibly gigantic sword that's meant to evoke the fang of his demon father (mostly because it was made from the fang of his demon father). Enticing the sword to transform from the small useless form into the big powerful form was actually a major plot point early on in the series.

* When two [[EmpathicWeapon Devices]] clash in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', they will send up sparks. Best seen in the opening of the second season, where Nanoha's [[SimpleStaff staff]] and the handle of Vita's [[DropTheHammer hammer]] produce lots of sparks during a BladeLock.\\
\\
Sufficiently strong shields like those used by [[BarrierWarrior Yuuno]] or [[JackOfAllStats Wolkenritters]] will produce massive amount of sparks when attacked as well (which breaks weaker shields instantly). If they're ''really'' strong (thank you, StoneWall [[{{Shapeshifter}} Ferret]]), it's [[BladeLock device-on-shield lock]] with even ''more'' sparks.
* Justified in ''Anime/CodeGeass''; the HumongousMecha-sized swords are usually made of vibrating Phlebotinum, if not outright microchainsaw-like in operation.
** Specifically, the Britannian swords are vibro-swords, while the Black Knights use chainswords with heated blades.

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' not only has the regular SwordSparks, but took it another level by having intense energy discharges every time someone clashes blades, and even in a BladeLock.
** Of course, [[LaserBlade beam sabers]] don't quite fit this trope, as they aren't solid swords, and Gundam Exia's swords are lined with [[MinovskyPhysics GN particles]], so yeah.

* In ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' story ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Kara and Artemis' swords generate sparks when they collide during their training sword match.

[[folder:Film]]

* {{Tokusatsu}} generally has this trope all over the place, with sparks indicating a direct hit on the opponent. This includes ''Franchise/KamenRider'', ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers''. The Power Rangers are often said to "bleed sparks" because of excessive use of this.
** Sparks happen with ''any'' hit, including ridiculous examples like a Ranger being thrown through a stack of ''cardboard boxes'' with a ton of sparks.

[[folder:Theatre]]

** It should be noted that the sparks produced from two swords striking each other tend to be so small and dim that you could only detect them in total darkness. It still isn't recommended having a swordfight near natural gas deposits, though. (or in total darkness)

* During the final fight in ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'', Cloud and Sephiroth fight against each other in a dark building. The only legitimate source of light is the abnormally bright sparks their swords make while fighting.

* ''Film/XMen'':

* Some enterprising effect artists will wire up a sword to a battery to produces a sparks, however, that will make accidentally poking your co-star (or more likely yourself), that much more painful.

* Shannon and Chris have a sparktastic sword-on-axe duel in the first episode of ''ScrappedPrincess'' (see image above).

* In ''Anime/RurouniKenshin'', a.k.a. ''Samurai X'', a Big Bad lampshades this trope when he explains that his sword has oil in it, using the sword sparks to [[FlamingSword set it on fire]].

** Numerous sparks fly in ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'s battle with Lady Deathstrike in ''Film/X2XMenUnited.'' Notably, since sparks are made by little bits of metal flying off the blade, this should be impossible in an adamantium-on-adamantium duel, since adamantium is invulnerable.

* Necessary in ''{{Claymore}}'', where there is a lot of sword-fight, but the sword are so fast that they are invisible : the sparks are a visual way to tell the audience what is happening.

* In ''RurouniKenshin'', a.k.a. ''Samurai X'', a Big Bad lampshades this trope when he explains that his sword has oil in it, using the sword sparks to [[FlamingSword set it on fire]].

* When two [[EmpathicWeapon Devices]] clash in ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', they will send up sparks. Best seen in the opening of the second season, where Nanoha's [[SimpleStaff staff]] and the handle of Vita's [[DropTheHammer hammer]] produce lots of sparks during a BladeLock.\\

* Justified in ''CodeGeass''; the HumongousMecha-sized swords are usually made of vibrating Phlebotinum, if not outright microchainsaw-like in operation.

* ''Slightly'' averted in ''OnePiece'', during Zoro's battle against TheDragon to Sir Crocodile, Mr. 1, who can create any metallic weapon from his body, including drills. When Zoro strikes them, he's genuinely surprised that sparks kick up and wonders for a moment how fast they're really going.

* Turns up in ''SoulEater''. One example is when Crona fights first Maka and then Stein. Soul gets effortlessly cut and knocked around by Ragnarok. When Death Scythe Spirit turns up, the only effect Ragnarok has is some sparks.

** Numerous sparks fly in {{Wolverine}}'s battle with Lady Deathstrike in ''Film/X2XMenUnited.'' Notably, since sparks are made by little bits of metal flying off the blade, this should be impossible in an adamantium-on-adamantium duel, since adamantium is invulnerable.

* Seen in most fight scenes in ''Anime/SeireiNoMoribito''. Particularly obvious in the ones taking place at night, like [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdKiPOkh0K8 this one.]]

* ''{{Gundam 00}}'' not only has the regular SwordSparks, but took it another level by having intense energy discharges every time someone clashes blades, and even in a BladeLock.