Line #58 Main/ShellBackpack


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4	[[quoteright:200:[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/koops_2.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:200:"Yeah, I have no idea how I managed to put this hoodie on either."]]
6
7	When a shell-clad anthropomophic animal, such as a turtle or armadillo, is seen wearing human clothing on their upper body, it will often inexplicably cover only the front while still leaving the shell on the back exposed like a backpack.
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9	Realistically, this should not be possible, as said shells are attached to an animal's body; even when RemovableShell is in effect for turtles, it should remain impossible unless the shell itself is able to come apart. Either that or the clothing on chelonians (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins) and armadillos would open on the back like a hospital gown. Sometimes the clothing may even inexplicably disappear if the character fully retreats into their shell.
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11	This may also apply to the quills or spines of animals like hedgehogs, porcupines, tenrecs and echidnas.
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13	A possible explanation for this may be that shells and quills are considered iconic attributes of these animals, and thus it would "look wrong" to the viewer if they were not visible, or else that without the shell being visible, the viewer may not realize what type animal the character is supposed to be.
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15	A subtrope to AppropriateAnimalAttire.
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17	----
18	!!Examples:
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
22	* Tortoise John, the Mayor of Dirt in ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'', wears a FatSweatySouthernerInAWhiteSuit outfit, but has a bare tortoise shell on his back.
23	* The porcupine characters (Ash, Lance and Becky) in ''WesternAnimation/{{Sing}}'' are fully dressed, with quills all over their back. This also applies to turtle characters like a quartet that tries out for Buster's show or one of Big Daddy's cellmates.
24	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'', Dharma Armadillo, Judy's landlady at the Grand Pangolin Arms, notably wears shell-exposing clothes. This also applies in a different fashion to the porcupine extra seen later on, who has visible quills despite being fully-dressed.
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Literature]]
28	* Literature/{{Franklin}} the Turtle often sports one of these while wearing more than his typical neckerchief, as does his family.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder: Magazines]]
32	* The cover of the ''New Scientist'' Christmas issue 2011 [[https://www.newscientist.com/issue/2844/ shows a tortoise in a Christmas sweater]] with his shell visible at the back.
33	[[/folder]]
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35	[[folder:Sports]]
36	* [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/Fuleco.png Fuleco]], the armadillo mascot of the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup, wears a shirt that leaves the blue shell on his back visible.
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Toys]]
40	* Usually averted in ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' toylines, as the titular turtles are most commonly naked aside from their masks and arm and leg bands or wearing outfits that cover their entire bodies, but there have been a few where they have had their shells exposed.
41	[[/folder]]
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43	[[folder:Video Games]]
44	* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewLeaf'': The tortoise former mayor, Tortimer, is seen wearing an Aloha shirt in this manner.
45	* In ''[[VideoGame/DillonsRollingWestern Dillon's Dead Heat Breakers]]'', the titular armadillo character wears a black leather jacket which covers only the front of his upper body, leaving the shell on his back exposed and allowing him to use a RollingAttack.
46	* ''VideoGame/LivingBooks'': In ''The Tortoise and the Hare'', the Tortoise wears a blue shirt that doesn't cover the shell on his back.
47	* In ''VideoGame/LonesomeVillage'', Hanzo and Pistachio are turtles who wear clothes that don't cover their shells.
48	* Zigzagged in ''VideoGame/PokemonUnite'' with Blastoise, with the fashionable outfit playing it straight but the firefighter outfit being an aversion.
49	* Midori the turtle from ''VideoGame/PopNMusic'' wears a sleeveless shirt and a skirt, along with a shell on her back.
50	* In ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'', the Hypnotist encountered on Planet Damosel is a tortoise-like alien not seen elsewhere in the series, and somehow wears a shirt that doesn't cover his shell.
51	* ''VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime'': Toothpick is an armadillo who wears a white dress shirt and red vest, with his shell visible.
52	* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsEmployeeOfTheMonth'': The lobster waiter at Sublime Seafoods wears a tuxedo, but the back of it is covered by his shell.
53	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
54	** Koops from ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' wears a light blue hoodie that covers only the front of his shell. It even disappears entirely when he retreats into his shell to use a Shell Toss attack.
55	** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'':
56	*** The Koopa Striker enemies wear soccer uniforms that cover half of their shells.
57	*** Bowser also wears a white tuxedo during his wedding with Peach in the introduction.
58	** Bowser wears a white and purple tuxedo, again with the back of his shell showing, in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey''.
59	** There's also Bowser [[DressedToHeal wearing a doctor's outfit]], once again exposing the shell, in ''VideoGame/DrMario World''.
60	* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', Gerson, an old turtle monster, wears his adventurer shirt under his shell.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Webcomics]]
64	* All Terrekin in ''Webcomic/CosmicDash'' have a removable shell that attaches to their back, [[http://www.cosmicdash.com/comic/episode-3-pg-3/ through a hole in their clothes.]] WordOfGod mentions genetic engineering.
65	* The quill variant applies to Lindesfarne in ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell''. In one strip she says her clothes attach to her quills with paper-doll style tabs, meaning they really do only have a front.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Western Animation]]
69	* Like in the original books, WesternAnimation/{{Franklin}} and the other turtle characters in the franchise exemplify this often.
70	* In ''WesternAnimation/HilltopHospital'', Dr Atticus, the tortoise anaesthetist, wears a jumper, trousers and ''lab coat'' under his shell.
71	* ''WesternAnimation/TheKoalaBrothers'' has George the turtle, who wears his entire postman outfit under his shell.
72	* Filbert in ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' wears a pale yellow polo shirt and chartreuse pants that are mostly hidden by the prominent back-half of his shell.
73	* King Koopa in ''Series/TheSuperMarioBrosSuperShow'' regularly dressed up in setting appropriate costumes, and in almost every situation, this trope is in full effect, with the shell appearing to be worn over whatever other clothes he has on.
74	* The tortoises' clothing in ''WesternAnimation/UnstableFables'' follows this logic.
75	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ShellBackpack