History Main / TruncatedThemeTune

* So far, ''Series/{{Community}}'' has proven to be a reversal of the norm with this trope. A TitleOnlyOpening version of the theme with the single line "I can't count the reasons I should stay" was used in the majority of season 1 episodes (and [[Recap/CommunityS1E01Pilot two]] [[Recap/CommunityS1E08HomeEconomics episodes]] from that season omit the theme tune altogether). But most episodes afterwards have either the regular full sequence or a SpecialEditionTitle, with the truncated version only appearing once each in seasons [[Recap/CommunityS2E08CooperativeCalligraphy 2]] and [[Recap/CommunityS4E03ConventionsOfSpaceAndTime 4]], and not at all in season 3.

* Airings of RL Stine's ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'' on Creator/TheHub go back and forth between the full credits with aging model and theme tune barking dog, to lopping off the model or simply going straight to "viewer beware...".

* ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' was given an abridged, instrumental theme when it aired on Cartoon Network. While never confirmed, it may have something to do with the original RealSongThemeTune being a BleachedUnderpants version of a rather risqué song.

* ''[[Series/BuckRogersInTheTwentyFifthCentury Buck Rogers in the 25th Century]]'': Buck Rogers' theme song, Suspension, was performed in the theatrical release that doubled as a pilot for the series. Once it reached the small screen, the theme was an instrumental piece that lasted exactly as long as the credits required. It is common for fans to not merely not know the words to the song, but to be unaware that Buck's theme song even has lyrics.

* ''Series/{{Wings}}'' (from the creators of ''Series/{{Cheers}}'') used to have a title sequence with a highly abridged version of Franz Schubert's Piano Sonata No. 20, but that later got ([[IncrediblyLamePun ahem]]) chopped.

* The ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' theme is a [[RearrangeTheSong rearranged]] version of the 1985 ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'' ThemeTune, now made [[InstrumentalThemeTune lyricless]] and consisting solely of the original's {{Fanfare}}, its signature "'' Thunder thunder thunder [=ThunderCats=]!''" EpicRiff, and a finishing [[RoarBeforeBeating roar]]. All ''ten seconds'' are performed by a ''[[OrchestralVersion full orchestra]]'' while the assonances are called out by an EtherealChoir. This makes for a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flTtnD4Z9j8 surprisingly effective]] aural AdaptationDistillation.

* For years, the Italian openings had a length of about 2 minutes when airing on TV. Around 2003, the standard format became 1 minute, and many 2-minute theme songs were abruptly shortened to fit the new format. The worst offenders were the first season opening of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' (jumping straight to the instrumental part before the last repetition of the chorus) and the first opening of ''Anime/{{Hamtaro}}'' (not only cutting part of the first verse, but then ''in the middle of the chorus'' it just abruptly cuts to the end). Ending themes were not afflicted by this because it would cut part of the credits.

* ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'': To the point where Creator/NeilPatrickHarris made a joke about it while MC'ing the Emmys. He played the show's original themesong. ''"Men, men, men, men, manly men, men men!"'' Then he played the shortened version of the song: ''"Men!"'' And suggested that the show's theme song in its next season would simply be ''"Meh--*"''

* ''WesternAnimation/BewareTheBatman'' had its 20-second intro shortned to ''5 seconds'' when it aired on Creator/{{Toonami}}.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDisneyAfternoon''': To accomodate both the ''Disney Afternoon's'' unique opening and the greater commercial time in syndication, shows that aired as part of the block had their opening titles reduced from 60 seconds to approximately 45. Generally, this was accomplished by remixing the theme to remove the bridge and/or the refrain, though ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' had alternate lyrics as well.

** Oddly the Dutch and Affrikans dubs of the show used the Spanish theme but edited down to about the English theme's lenght.

* When shown on Creator/AdultSwim, ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'', ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'', ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' and ''Anime/CodeGeass'' all get shortened openings. Averted with ''Anime/AttackOnTitan'' after Episode 1; after the shortened version of Guren no Yumiya aired on the premiere night in 2014, episodes 2-13 showed the entire 90-second opening.

Once a show has gone into syndication or [[ChannelHop jumped channels]], though, the ThemeTune is one of the first casualties. It will get edited, shortened, or otherwise truncated so as to leave room for more commercials. Occasionally, if the show is on the air on its original channel more than a few years, they'll maim the theme tune for more commercial space while it's still in its original airing. Also, the lyrics of the theme song, where present, may be changed a little.

The title sequence and opening credits, since they often appear simultaneously with the playing of the theme tune are often collateral damage. Shows dating from TheEighties and TheNineties are the first to display this trope; older shows' {{Theme Tune}}s (''Series/GilligansIsland'' and ''Series/ILoveLucy'', for example) tend to be so iconic that they don't usually go under the editing knife.

It should be noted that if this trope rears its head during a show's original run, it (and TitleOnlyOpening, for that matter) can manage to serve as a boon for the writers. As mentioned over on ExtremelyShortIntroSequence, the running time for television programs has slowly shrunk over the years to make way for more commercials, so having a shorter version of your TitleSequence that you can switch to as needed means you have a bit less pressure when it comes time to trim down the script to fit the runtime.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]