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11[[quoteright:250:[[Film/DonJuanDemarco https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_1djdcape_33.jpg]]]]
12
13->'''Doyle:''' He likes playing the hero; walking off into the dark with his long coat flowing behind him in a mysterious and attractive way.\
14'''Cordelia:''' Is this a private moment? Because I can leave you alone.\
15'''Doyle:''' No, no, I'm not saying ''I'm'' attracted.\
16''[A few minutes later we get a hero shot of Angel striding out the door, his longcoat billowing behind.]''\
17'''Doyle:''' Maybe I'm a ''little'' attracted...
18-->-- ''Series/{{Angel}}'', "I Fall To Pieces"
19
20Not enough DramaticWind to blow your [[BadassCape cape]] around in a satisfactory manner? Make your own! The easiest way is to turn around quickly, causing your cape to billow out behind. You might also want to hold it out with one hand as you swoop for maximum surface area, but a true master of the technique can achieve awesome cape flaring with a minimum of movement. Running forward or other sudden movements can also make a cape flare, but is less dignified. Be wary of a CapeSnag however, lest it become a FailedAttemptAtDrama or worse.
21
22This is a favorite move of any character that wears a cape, especially the DastardlyWhiplash. However, any character with a cape can pull it off. It can also be done with a [[BlackCloak cloak]], [[BadassLongRobe robe]], [[BadassLongcoat coat]], or any similar long garment, or even with long hair.
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24SuperTrope to FlourishCapeInFrontOfFace. Compare BadassCape, OminousOperaCape.
25
26----
27!!Examples:
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29[[foldercontrol]]
30
31[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32* [[ImplacableMan Kazuo]] [[EmptyShell Kiriyama]] from ''Manga/BattleRoyale'' wears a CoatCape that swishes a bit too often in the manga.
33* Zero from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' adores this trope. Every one of his incredibly dramatic public addresses is punctuated by a well-timed Cape Swish. In his R2 uniform, Suzaku does quite a few of them, too.
34* In ''Anime/CuteHighEarthDefenseClubLove'', evil [[MagicalGirl Magical Boy]] Kinshiro does this at every opportunity. In fact, there are several occasions when, fully untransformed and in his school uniform, he seems to swish an invisible cape.
35* Piccolo of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' is quite good at this, though notably does it less often after his HeelFaceTurn.
36* [[LargeHam The Count]] in ''Anime/{{Gankutsuou}}'' does this quite often.
37* [[MysteriousProtector Tuxedo Mask]] of ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' is fond of this. Kunzite was also known to do it.
38* Nobunaga Oda does one in the ninth episode of the ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' anime adaption, right after murdering Pontiff Xavi and right before the Pontiff's chapel is burned to the ground.
39* The Super ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' does this, as do all the characters who sport capes, especially Simon and Kamina.
40[[/folder]]
41
42[[folder:Arts]]
43* Art/SistineChapel: In “The Creation of Adam”, God has sent his robes billowing and expanding to emphasize the force he's putting into Adam's creation. His flowing robes are so huge that they encompass twelve different people who surround God.
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Comic Books]]
47* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': In ''[[Recap/AsterixAndTheBigFight Asterix and the Big Fight]]'', the rival village chieftain tells Vitalstatistix he turns his back on the to-be-defeated chief, which he does with a Cape Swish. Unfortunately his Shield Bearers think this also applies to them, so he ends up facing them again.
48* A staple of ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', whose Cape Swish is actually ''weaponized''. The cape contains weights, the better to smack {{mooks}} upside the head with.
49* ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange'''s Cloak of Levitation, helpfully, grants flight powers and has some (very vaguely defined) sentience. It can billow around on its own, and often does.
50* Tim Drake had an impressive cape for dramatic swishes as both ''ComicBook/{{Robin}}'' and ''ComicBook/RedRobin'', though the practical application was different than his mentor's as swishing Tim's cape up is part of prepping it into acting as a glider.
51* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Discussed in one of the excerpts from the memoirs of Hollis Mason, the original Nite Owl. He considered trying to weaponize this trope, as his favorite pulp heroes used a well-timed swirl to make it seem they were standing a foot or so to one side of where they actually were to spoil a crook's aim, but [[AvertedTrope abandoned the notion and left the cape off his costume entirely]] after a highly publicized incident where [[CorporateSponsoredSuperhero Dollar Bill]]'s cape [[CapeSnag got caught in a closing door]] and he was shot dead by a bank robber while trying to free it.
52[[/folder]]
53
54[[folder:Film — Animated]]
55* ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'': The Beast was fond of it before his CharacterDevelopment took hold.
56* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}},'' [[HumanShifting Camilo]] wears a ruana (which is similar to a poncho) and uses it for the same effect.
57* Vincent Valentine has a habit of doing this in ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren''.
58* This is [[MaskedLuchador El Chupacabra]]'s preferred way to show his disdain for anyone in ''WesternAnimation/{{Planes}}''. However, [[EveryoneHasStandards even he has his limits.]] When he finds out Ripslinger attempted to murder Dusty by breaking off his radio antenna (thus depriving him of the ability to either navigate or call for aid) in the middle of the Pacific Ocean:
59--> '''El Chu''': You are not even worthy of a cape swish!
60* Witness also Jenner's swish in the rats' council hall in ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNimh''.
61* Prince Proteus from Dreamworks' ''WesternAnimation/SinbadLegendOfTheSevenSeas'' makes a dignified attempt at one, [[SubvertedTrope but the wind blows it back at him and it just ends up looking silly]].
62* ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'': A staple of Maleficent.
63* The Wicked Queen in ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' manages a particularly impressive one when rushing down from the Mirror Room to her secret spell-chamber.
64* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'': Mother Gothel is a master of this trope. She normally manages to use it to vanish, which is one of the hints she's a witch.
65[[/folder]]
66
67[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]
68* ''Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera2004'': Creator/GerardButler's Phantom does this a lot, most notably in "Point of No Return." Because it's at the beginning of the 'Music of the Night' scene, one could have an infinite loop of cape swishing.
69* M. Bison does this EVERY SCENE in the ''Film/StreetFighter'' movie. Seriously, every scene, at least once. Given how massive of a LargeHam he is, it's hilarious.
70[[/folder]]
71
72[[folder:Literature]]
73* Hrathen does this in ''Literature/{{Elantris}}''. When Sarene first sees him, she hopes he'll trip on it.
74* Severus Snape from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is known for this, particularly when entering his classroom. It fits with his "evil bat of the dungeons" persona.
75* Bumbling magician Schmendrick in ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'' wants DramaticWind but has to settle for this instead.
76* A staple of ''Literature/TheShadow'', who, in the original PulpMagazine stories, used his cape to [[AttackReflector deflect bullets]] (the ability to [[{{Invisibility}} cloud men's minds]] came later, with the radio adaptation).
77* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' mentions more than once that Darth Vader's cape streams behind him when he walks. In ''Literature/DeathStar'' a gunner's hand is brushed by the edge of it as Vader passes. In ''[[Literature/StarWarsAllegiance Allegiance]]'', Mara Jade can identify him from a distance because of that cape.
78* Sabre does this in ''Literature/TheTamuli''. The heroes are distinctly underwhelmed by his theatrics.
79->''The masked rider reared his horse dramatically, and his black cape swirled around him. Then he plunged down the far side of the crag and was gone.''\
80''"Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen in your life?"''
81[[/folder]]
82
83[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
84* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' does this in the Angel Investigations commercial Cordelia describes in a first season episode.
85* ''Series/Batwoman2019''. In "Prior Criminal History", Ryan Wilder has to do an EmergencyImpersonation of our heroine at a pro-Batwoman rally. She's told the DynamicAkimbo is a bit much and is advised to do this trope instead. [[DramaticWind Fortunately a breeze blows up at just that moment]], someone in the crowd sees her and everyone cheers.
86%%* To be expected in ''Series/TheCape''.
87* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
88** The Master, principally when played by Creator/AnthonyAinley.
89** We get a double dose of this in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E11Utopia "Utopia"]] and [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E12TheSoundOfDrums "The Sound of Drums"]] from the [[SadClown Tenth Doctor]] and [[ChivalrousPervert Captain Jack]], each of whom possesses an iconic BadassLongcoat.
90* Alan Statham from ''Series/GreenWing'' attempts to do this with his lab coat, and spends a great deal of time walking back and forth and turning sharply in order to achieve this. It doesn't manage to make him any cooler.
91* Bruce Campbell in ''Series/JackOfAllTrades''. Pretty much every scene where he's in his Daring Dragoon persona.
92* In ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt'', Titus is in love with capes as a fashion accessory, to the point of swiping discarded medical capes. When he gets a chance to pitch his own series, he invents a hero called "The Capist".
93[[/folder]]
94
95[[folder:Theatre]]
96* The cloak worn by the title character in ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' is designed to drape over and move with his arms, ensuring plenty of appropriately {{melodrama}}tic cape swishing.
97* Carrying over from the manga, Tuxedo Mask from ''Theatre/SeraMyu'' can swish a cape like it's his job. Especially while BrainwashedAndCrazy. Enjoy Yuuga Yamato [[http://waytoadream.tumblr.com/post/166292925008/the-guardian-who-lost-hope-or-i-have-an-unholy charming the heck out of the audience. ]]
98* Pirelli in ''[[Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet Sweeney Todd]]'' often makes use of these to amp up his LargeHam factor. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie8opd0JV_M this footage]] of the 1982 tour cast.
99* Graf von Krolock in ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire'' does this a lot, not least because the design of his cape actually forces the actor playing him to swoosh it back just to gesture- and being a musical, there's a ''lot'' of gesturing. His son Herbert rarely wears his own cape, but when he does, expect dramatic cape swishing as well.
100* In the ''{{Theatre/Tsukiuta}}'' series:
101** In the idols' 2017 stage costumes (as seen in Memorial Tour and the Dance Live parts of Kurenai Enishi and Tsukino Empire), Shun has a dramatic cape that he swishes around quite a bit, fitting his image of the White Demon King. Hajime doesn't have a cape, but he has a long coat that can be used to this effect, in both this costume set, and the one from the first anime season (as seen in the above productions, and the Cyber Dive Connection dance live).
102** Hajime, Shun, and Shiki in Tsukino Empire. As commanders of fleets in this SpaceOpera AU, they get to show off their capes not only while dancing, but also while posing in imperial ceremonies, sword-fighting, and just generally walking around looking badass.
103* In ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'', the musical, the choreography of "No Good Deed" ends with Elphaba swishing her cape with dramatic lighting to accompany the powerful, bitter music. It's ''badass.''
104[[/folder]]
105
106[[folder:Video Games]]
107* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' has this. See Batman in the Comics section.
108* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' has a very fluid movement animation for Alucard, cape and all.
109** In fact, they did ''such'' a good job of making Alucard's cape flow realistically, that [[NoFlowInCGI they can't faithfully recreate his SotN appearance in 3D]].
110* Valvatorez of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 4| A Promise Unforgotten}}'' is fond of this gesture, especially right before a RousingSpeech (that is more often than not about [[MundaneMadeAwesome how amazing sardines are]].)
111* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'': Golbez does this with pretty much every appearance he makes in the ''FFIV'' DS remake and, in the ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Dissidia]]'' games, his block animation is basically a dramatic cape swish.
112* ''VideoGame/{{Killer7}}'': Mask de Smith does this whenever you use the 180 turn button while running.
113* Zero and his clone from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' weaponize cape swishing, incorporating it into most of their special attacks.
114* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': Meta Knight does this a lot with his cape. [[LimitBreak Especially]] in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl]]''.
115* Lord Malak pulls this off in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' when [[spoiler:torturing Bastila]].
116* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', when Ganondorf finally turns to face you in his [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon tower]], he does one of these.
117* ''VideoGame/OdinSphere'' has Queen Odette, who teleports by swishing her PimpedOutDress.
118[[/folder]]
119
120[[folder:Webcomics]]
121* ''Webcomic/WalkyVerse'': The Head Alien, in those moments he chooses to be genuinely menacing.
122* ''Webcomic/{{Waterworks}}'': [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=43&p=223 "...hold your cape in front of your face in dark and mysterious manner."]] [[EvilLaugh Mwa ha ha]].
123[[/folder]]
124
125[[folder:Western Animation]]
126* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' is another chronic cape-swisher (probably in reference to ''Literature/TheShadow'').
127* {{Exaggerated|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', with Tenzin, whose naturally theatric movements as a tall man with an expansive BadassCape are intensified by his near-reflexive [[BlowYouAway Airbending]] when peeved. He does indeed "make his own" DramaticWind.
128* ''Franchise/ThePowerpuffGirls'': It's one of the things Mojo Jojo does best.
129[[/folder]]
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