History Main / TheManInTheMirrorTalksBack

* A rather ominous example takes place during the Will Vinton claymation adaption of Rip Van Winkle. After Rip washes his face when arriving in the mountains to go squirrel hunting, he laughs at his reflection in the water and asks, "And what are you doing here?" It then asks the same question in an echoey fashion, prompting Rip to run away fast.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959''

The difference? The MirrorMonologue is realistic (physically, if not psychologically); nothing fantastic is happening, so we can pretend we're objective observers. Many versions of this explicitly have the mirror moving in a completely different way than the 'real world', thus bringing it over into either the fantastic, or we're explicitly seeing things through the character's eyes. Those that don't do the 'mirror isn't reflecting the real world' thing via special effects of one sort or another but still qualify are using editing for much the same effect (see, e.g., the first SpiderMan movie, or the Gollum/Sméagol dialogue from film version of ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing The Return of the King]]'').

And then you have this trope, which is when the reflection is the one doing the talking.

Many versions of this explicitly have the mirror moving in a completely different way than the 'real world', thus bringing it over into either the fantastic, or we're explicitly seeing things through the character's eyes.

Usually used, much like the MirrorMonologue, to make visual an internal dialogue, either between different aspects of a character (such as a man and his conscience) or between different personalities sharing the same body.

* ''Film/TheMuppetMovie''. The rare non-psychotic instance in which Kermit's inner self materializes to counsel himself in a true [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Heartwarming Moment]].

* ''Webcomic/AvasDemon'': After Ava forms a PowersViaPossession pact with the spirit Wrathia, who has [[DemonicPossession inhabited her]] since her birth, Wrathia occasionally [[http://www.avasdemon.com/pages.php?page=0347 hijacks Ava's reflection]] to deliver some snark at times when it's not practical for Ava to enter their shared MentalWorld.

And then you have this trope, which is when the reflection is the one doing the talking (or, occasionally, moving).

The difference? The MirrorMonologue is realistic (physically, if not psychologically); nothing fantastic is happening, so we can pretend we're objective observers. Many versions of this explicitly have the mirror moving in a completely different way than the 'real world', thus bringing it over into either the fantastic, or we're explicitly seeing things through the character's eyes. Those that don't do the 'mirror isn't reflecting the real world' thing via special effects of one sort or another but still qualify are using editing for much the same effect (see, e.g., the first SpiderMan movie, or the Gollum/Sméagol dialogue from film version of ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing The Return of the King]]'').

Usually used, much like the MirrorMonologue, to make visual an internal dialogue, either between different aspects of a character (such as a man and his conscience) or between different personalities sharing the same body; But can sometimes in actuality be a MirrorSelf.

* ''Film/MaryPoppins'' features this during "A Spoonful Of Sugar"; at first, the reflection is echoing her lyrics, but then the reflection starts showing off. ("Cheeky!")

The difference? The MirrorMonologue is realistic (physically, if not psychologically); nothing fantastic is happening, so we can pretend we're objective observers. Many versions of this explicitly have the mirror moving in a completely different way than the 'real world', thus bringing it over into either the fantastic, or we're explicitly seeing things through the character's eyes. Those that don't do the 'mirror isn't reflecting the real world' thing via special effects of one sort or another but still qualify are using editing for much the same effect (see, e.g., the first SpiderMan movie, or the Gollum/Sméagol dialogue from film version of [[TheLordOfTheRings The Return of the King]]).

* Gollum talks to his reflection in water in the film of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings: Return of the King'', as part of the Gollum-Sméagol conflict.

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]

-->'''Ash''': I'm fine...\\
'''Reflection''': I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound... ''fine''?

* In ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'', Dick has a conversation with his reflection while waiting for Mary at a fancy restaurant. The camera switches back and forth between Dick and his reflection in the large mirror his table is located next to, before he finally decides to go where Mary is. His reflection says he'll "Cover the check." Dick gets up from the table and leaves. [[spoiler: The reflection stays and asks for the check.]]

-->'''The Mask:''' But...I didn't do it. ''[stares at reflection in a nearby window]''\\

'''''Spongebob's'' Reflection:''' (in bizarre accent) Well, I thought it was a pretty good idea.