History Main / VFormationTeamShot

* The Discovery Channel show "Series/MythBusters" had a segment about the V to see if the formation saved energy which it did in the experiment.

The Discovery Channel show "Series/MythBusters" had a segment about the V to see if the formation saved energy which it did in the experiment.

In almost every show featuring a team of heroes, at some point in the opening or promotional materials the main characters will be displayed in a certain formation. The leader stands in the middle of the shot, with the rest of the team standing to each side of him in order of importance, each slightly behind each other, forming a "V" shape.

Quite apart from [[RuleOfCool looking really cool]], this shot also has practical advantages. For one thing, it makes all the characters neatly visible, but more importantly, the viewer can and will make inferences about the group's power dynamic based on the arrangement of the characters. The characters flanking the central figure on either side will be assumed to be the two second most important team members, with others descending in importance as they move further toward the tips of the V and thus further back into the shot. (To be clear, it's not a hard and fast rule that every V formation shot ''will'' adhere to this formula, but the viewer's expectation is definitely there. The designer of the shot will have taken that expectation into account, even if they're intending to subvert it.) Also, though this is less of a given, information might be conveyed by whether a character is standing to the central figure's left or right side. The left and right sides may represent different subgroups of the team, or indeed two separate (but probably not worse than [[InterserviceRivalry rivaling]]) factions altogether.

* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' subverts this by putting a a unique spin. The opening for 2nd Gig shows Section 9 against a white background with Motoko in the center and the other members on either side, but everyone is lined up and spaced apart instead of standing in a V formation. Website/{{Pixiv}} even has a special tag for artworks that parody the 2nd Gig opening called "攻殻立ち" (Strike).

* A rather hilarious accidental one occurs for a brief moment on the miniseries Series/JohnAdams of all places, as Mr. Adams and some of the other delegates enter the room to begin Framing the Constitution.

** And then again, in a piece of official artwork for VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 3 showing the five kids (Geo, Sonia, Luna, Bud and Zack) [[http://ui11.gamefaqs.com/1130/gfs_111395_1_7.jpg standing on a half destroyed bridge]] alongside Solo and A.C. Eos.

* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' has this on the "Premium Anime Song & Sound Edition's" cover art, consisting of (from left to right) [[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Black Sarena]], [[Literature/MobileSuitGundamHathawaysFlash Xi Gundam]], [[Manga/GetterRobo Shin Getter-1]], [[Literature/FullMetalPanic Arbalest]], [[Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine Might Gaine]], Anime/Zambot3, [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Eva Unit-01]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ ZZ Gundam]], [[Anime/ShinMazinger Mazinger Z]] and [[Anime/CrossAnge Villkiss]], with [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199 the Yamato]] positioned inbetween.

* Team Go from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' does this. Even before ass kicking.

* Military Aerial Events, as well as training exercises and 20th century bomber runs, will go in the V formation with the squadron leader leading the pack.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', the Axem Rangers group around the Breaker Beam like this; Axem Red, [[RedIsHeroic of course]], takes the front position.

!!Examples

* Used many times on ''ComicBook/{{BIONICLE}}'' covers or title pages. Most notably the first and last issues have Tahu in the front in the same pose, except in the latter image, one side of the "V" is made up of villains.
* During ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'', a party of three is sent on a covert mission. Its leader, driving force, and most effective member if you don't count snarky comments is shown at the head of the little V they make on the way to a confrontation.

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

* An in-universe example is mentioned in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' when Taylor first meets Armsmaster. Taylor mentions that when the Protectorate does promotional footage displaying their team in this pose, Armsmaster is one of the members shown - but as one of the people off to the side.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Anime/StrikeWitches'' does this in the opening credits, with Yoshika at the front.

* An in-universe example is mentioned in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' when Taylor first meets Armsmaster. Taylor mentions that when the Protectorate does promotional footage displaying their team in this pose, Armsmaster is one of the members shown.

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' (and ''Platinum''), when you beat the Elite Four, you go into the backroom and record your team into the hall of fame. After going through a montage showing each of your team members, it shows a V Formation Team Shot, with your trainer sprite in the center, and three Pokémon flanking you on either side. Their order depends on what order you had them in your party.
** ''Heart Gold'' and ''Soul Silver'' (remake for ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'') also feature this with the photographers around the game map, who'll take a picture of you and your team of six Pokémon in such a shot.

* Done in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' by [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario, Yoshi]], [[VideoGame/KidIcarus Pit]], [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] and VideoGame/{{Kirby}}, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP78qGZ214U as demonstrated here.]]

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', after Snake meets Akiba and disarms him. Meryl introduces her team as Rat Patrol 01, with her in point and Jonathan and Ed behind her, then [[http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/File:Ratpatrol.jpg Johnny rushes in and completely screws it up]] with the ''silliest'' pose.

* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' has this on the "Premium Anime Song & Sound Edition's" cover art, consisting of (from left to right) [[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Black Sarena]], [[Literature/MobileSuitGundamHathawaysFlash Xi Gundam]], [[Manga/GetterRobo Shin Getter-1]], [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Arbalest]], [[Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine Might Gaine]], Anime/Zambot3, [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Eva Unit-01]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ ZZ Gundam]], [[Anime/ShinMazinger Mazinger Z]] and [[Anime/CrossAnge Villkiss]], with [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199 the Yamato]] positioned inbetween.

Most characters will pull off a DynamicAkimbo in this shot. The moving version of this is PowerWalk. Subtrope of TeamShot (also compare that trope) and OpeningCreditsCastParty, where the cast poses for the cameras during the credits and the EstablishingTeamShot.

* The theatrical poster for the movie ''Film/{{Valkyrie}}'' (though Col. Stauffenberg appears to be attempting a solo PowerWalk).

* Music/MomoiroCloverZ's AnimatedMusicVideo for ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal's'' OpeningTheme "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Va228UhRs Moon Pride]]" has the {{CGI}} Sailor Senshi pose in a V-formation with Sailor Moon at center at the end of a synchronized PowerWalk.

* The trope was originally named after ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', whose main characters are seen [[SinisterSilhouettes silhouetted]] in this manner in the opening.
** They also throw in a PowerWalk.
** The ''Justice League Unlimited'' series takes the shot and the silhouettes to an extreme level -- from the Magnificent Seven to the Magnificent Thirty-Seven.

* ''Series/DoctorWho''; the fiftieth anniversary special "Day of the Doctor" closes on [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140205054854/tardis/images/thumb/6/62/Day_of_the_Doctor_Closing_Scene.jpg/1024px-Day_of_the_Doctor_Closing_Scene.jpg this shot of the past incarnations of the Doctor,]] with the Eleventh Doctor front and center, immediately flanked by Ten and the War Doctor. The First Doctor stands behind the Eleventh, mainly to maintain symmetry.

* Almost every piece of ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'' promotional art showing all six members of a given set wave did this within the first six years, occasionally with some variation such as one character flying above the pose. Come 2008, when set waves became more diverse in who was in them, this became considerably less frequent; after all, having heroes and villains posing together as a team wouldn't make all that much sense.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Happens on several occasions for RuleOfSymbolism, given that a V-shape is also an arrow shape.

* Also seen in the opening sequence of ''Manga/KareKano''.

* [[http://images.wikia.com/reborn/images/4/4e/The_Family.PNG Ties? Check. Suits? Check. Rings? Check. Box Weapons? Check. Major Badass look? Check.]] ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'' is all set to go!!! And everyone is looking at their very best.

* A chapter in the ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3'' manga has the student council attempting to do this, but they realize they can't put their leader, Angie, in front without the formation being lopsided. Kokichi suggests they rectify it by disassembling Kiibo, much to the robot's chagrin.