Line #278 Main/CharacterActionTitle


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[Series/KourtneyAndKimTakeNewYork https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_i3supae.png]]]]
6
7	A frequent stylistic {{Title Trope\|s}} which essentially delivers the premise of the story before it even starts rolling, and therefore often is synonymous with a show's HighConcept.
8
9	The ''character'' in question must be a ''person'', in one sense or another. Whether he, she or it is featured in the story, or is just related to it in one way or another - be it only metaphorically (like, say, the Devil) - isn't important. Objects only count if they are anthropomorphised properly in-story.
10
11	The ''action'' taken, on the other hand, can be ''anything'' under the sun. What counts is that it ''is'' an action thats being described ("Bob Eats Bread" or "Bob Eats"), rather than, say, merely (and explicitly - see below) [[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statal describing a state or condition]] ("Bob ''Is'' A Breadophile" or "Bob ''Has'' A Bread-Fancy") or describing the character in a [[TheNounWhoVerbed relative clause]] ("The Bob ''Who'' Ate Bread").
12	Tense, aspect, mood and voice all make no difference for the purposes of this trope, so it can just as easily be "Bob ''Ate'' Bread" "Bob ''Will'' Eat Bread", "Bob ''Is Eating'' Bread", "Bob ''Would'' Eat Bread" or even "Bob ''Was'' [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Eaten]]". The idea is that the title is a complete sentence (subject + verb) is more or less a given.
13	The 'action' can even be an idiom or metaphor for something completely different, even a state or condition ("Bob [[EasyEvangelism Eats The Bread That Is Jesus]]" or "Bob [[NeverSayDie Has Eaten His Last Slice of Bread]]").
14
15	This includes explicit actions such as "to do," "to meet someone," or "to go somewhere," and it also includes [[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intransitive intransitive verbs]] such as "to return," "to begin," or "to die."
16
17	This otherwise very simplistic naming convention tends to follow some particular trends:
18	* It's used in children's programmes (to spark the young audience's interest in the upcoming subject matter without making things too complicated).
19	* It's used in titles meant to reproduce the brevity of news messages and headlines, often (ironically) about otherwise important and momentous events.
20	* For {{Crossover}}s, the title formula "Character from Franchise A does something to Character from Franchise B" can be used, "Meets" being the most common variant.
21	* Particularly variations like "Returns", "Rides Again" and "Strikes Back" are popular with sequel movies, as they bring across the message and deliver a little emotional velocity and creativity into the title at the same time. The "Strikes Back" title in particular also heavily overlaps with RevengeOfTheSequel.
22	* It's used in humorous works, where any of the above is PlayedForLaughs. Examples of the "Goes To X" variation, for one, often [[StockParody riff]] on ''Film/MrSmithGoesToWashington''.
23
24	The most frequent variations involve the character doing something new and/or exciting, such as going to a place or being thrown into an unlikely situation.
25
26	EventTitle SubTrope. Very often part of IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming within series.
27
28	Compare RoleCalled, JobTitle, AdjectiveNounFred, InWhichATropeIsDescribed, TheNounWhoVerbed and TheJoyOfX. Also compare VersusTitle, which is also common for {{Crossover}}s but lacks the action verb. Not to be confused with JustForFun/XMeetsY, which is a JustForFun page for describing works as combinations of other works.
29	----
30	[[foldercontrol]]
31
32	[[folder:The Character Goes Somewhere]]
33	[[AC:Films -- Animation]]
34	* ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven''
35	* ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail: Fievel Goes West''
36	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToasterGoesToMars''
37	* ''WesternAnimation/MrBugGoesToTown''
38	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGoToTheMovies''
39
40	[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]
41	* ''Buster and Bubs Go Hawaiian''
42	* The Film/ErnestPWorrell films almost exclusively follow this structure:
43	** ''Film/ErnestGoesToCamp''
44	** ''Film/ErnestGoesToJail''
45	** ''Ernest Goes To School''
46	** ''Ernest Goes To Africa''
47	* ''[[Film/HaroldandKumarGoToWhiteCastle Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle]]''
48	* ''[[Film/TheLoveBug Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo]]''
49	* ''Film/JasonGoesToHellTheFinalFriday''
50	* ''Leningrad Cowboys Go America'', a Finnish movie that started the career of the band Music/LeningradCowboys.
51	* ''Film/MadeaGoesToJail''
52	* ''Film/MrDeedsGoesToTown''
53	* ''Film/MrSmithGoesToWashington''
54	* ''Film/SabrinaGoesToRome''
55
56	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
57	* ''Series/{{Blackadder}} Goes Forth''
58	* In ''Series/{{Monk}}'', a good portion of episodes follow this convention, such ''Mr Monk Goes To The Asylum''.
59
60	[[AC:Music]]
61	* ''Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood''
62	* The album "Music/AliceCooper Goes to Hell."
63
64	[[AC:Video Games]]
65	* ''VideoGame/PuttPutt Goes to the Moon''
66
67	[[AC:Web Original]]
68	* ''WebVideo/BarneyBunch'' often have their most common videos be titled “Drew Pickles Goes to X”.
69	* ''WebAnimation/CharlieTheUnicorn Goes to Candy Mountain''
70	* ''WebVideo/ElliotGoesToSchool''
71	* Even Website/TVTropes itself has its own share of examples:
72	** Tropes:
73	*** LimeyGoesToHollywood
74	*** SequelGoesForeign
75	** Other:
76	*** ''JustForFun/BakabonNoPapaGoesToIndonesia''
77	* YoutubePoop videos often use this format (''Captain Hook Wins the Lottery'', ''Simba and Nala go to White Castle'', etc.) which usually has little to do with the YTP's plot (if there even is one).
78
79	[[AC:Western Animation]]
80	* Of course, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' did it, with such episode titles like "Homer Goes to College" and "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington".
81	* ''WesternAnimation/TimothyGoesToSchool''
82	* ''WesternAnimation/TomGoesToTheMayor''
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:The Character Returns]]
86	[[AC:Anime & Manga]]
87	* ''Anime/TheCatReturns''
88	* ''Anime/PokemonMewtwoReturns''
89
90	[[AC:Comic Books]]
91	* ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns''
92
93	[[AC:Fanfic]]
94	* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': [[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/dungeon-keeper-ami-sailor-moon-dungeon-keeper-story-only-thread.30066/post-6355798 The chapter]] where someone returns: "[[spoiler:Mukrezar]]'s Return".
95
96	[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]
97	* ''Film/BatmanReturns''
98	* ''[[Film/TheInvisibleManReturns The Invisible Man Returns]]''
99	* ''Film/MaryPoppinsReturns''
100	* ''[[Film/TheMummyReturns The Mummy Returns]]''
101	* ''Film/SupermanReturns''
102
103	[[AC:Video Games]]
104	* '' VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns''
105
106	[[AC:Web Original]]
107	* Website/TVTropes:
108	** RightfulKingReturns
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:The Character Meets Someone or Something]]
112	[[AC:Comic Books]]
113	* ''ComicBook/ArchieMeetsThePunisher''
114
115	[[AC: Films -- Animation]]
116	* ''Alvin And The Chipmunks'':
117	** ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunksMeetFrankenstein''
118	** ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunksMeetTheWolfman''
119	* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMeetsTheBooBrothers''
120
121	[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]
122	* Creator/AbbottAndCostello loved to follow this trope. In order of release:
123	** ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetFrankenstein''
124	** ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetTheKillerBorisKarloff''
125	** ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetTheInvisibleMan''
126	** ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetDrJekyllAndMrHyde''
127	** ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetTheMummy''
128	* ''Creator/BelaLugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla''
129	* ''Film/BillyTheKidMeetsDracula''
130	* ''Film/EastMeetsWatts''
131	* ''Film/FrankensteinMeetsTheWolfMan''
132	* ''Film/JesseJamesMeetsFrankensteinsDaughter''
133	* ''Film/KissMeetsThePhantomOfThePark''
134
135	[[AC:Music]]
136	* Music/DukeEllington had a collaboration with Coleman Hawkins titled ''Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins'', and a collaboration with Music/CountBasie titled ''First Time! The Count Meets The Duke''.
137	* ''Bags Meets Wes''--referring to the nicknames of the two primary musicians, Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery.
138
139	[[AC:Video Games]]
140	* ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsBartmanMeetsRadioactiveMan''
141
142	[[AC:Web Original]]
143	* Tv Tropes' own CarMeetsHouse.
144
145	[[AC:Western Animation]]
146	* ''WesternAnimation/BambiMeetsGodzilla''
147	* ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsonsMeetTheFlintstones''
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:The Character Rides Again]]
151	[[AC:Film]]
152	* ''Film/DestryRidesAgain''
153	* ''Film/ErnestRidesAgain''
154	* ''Film/GodzillaRaidsAgain'', in a rare {{pun}} on this variation.
155	* ''[[Film/HerbieRidesAgain Herbie Rides Again]]''
156
157	[[AC:Western Animation]]
158	* ''WesternAnimation/KamaSutraRidesAgain''
159	* ''WesternAnimation/TheMagicSchoolBusRidesAgain''
160	[[/folder]]
161
162	[[folder:The Character Saves Something or Someone]]
163	[[AC:Film]]
164	* ''Film/CoolCatSavesTheKids''
165	* ''Film/ElmoSavesChristmas''
166	* ''Film/ErnestSavesChristmas''
167	* ''WesternAnimation/FelixTheCatSavesChristmas''
168	* ''Film/ReadItAndWeep'': InUniverse, Jamie Bartlett's journal that became a best-selling book was titled "Is Saves the World".
169
170	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
171	* ''Series/BillNyeSavesTheWorld''
172	* ''Series/KevinProbablySavesTheWorld''
173
174	[[AC:Video Games]]
175	* ''VideoGame/CthulhuSavesTheWorld'', a parody of {{Eastern RPG}}s starring Cthulhu as he... travels around the world to become a hero.
176	* ''VideoGame/PuttPutt Saves the Zoo''
177	* ''VideoGame/TroverSavesTheUniverse''
178
179	[[AC:Web Original]]
180	* Website/TVTropes:
181	** AmericaSavesTheDay
182
183	[[AC:Western Animation]]
184	* "WesternAnimation/DangerMouse Saves the World...Again" ( a serialized story from the original series).
185	* ''WesternAnimation/DoraTheExplorer'': A number of the episodes begin with "Dora Saves..." (ie. "Dora Saves the Prince", "Dora Saves the Mermaids", "Dora Saves Three Kings Day").
186	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': parodied by the ShowWithinAShow, ''Music/{{Kiss}} Saves Santa'' where the band saves SantaClaus from dinosaurs with ThePowerOfRock.
187	* Similar to ''Dora'', ''WesternAnimation/GoDiegoGo'' has a majority of episodes with this title (ie. "Diego Saves Mommy and Baby Sloth", "Diego Saves Baby Humpback Whale", "Alicia Saves the Crocodile")
188	* Almost every episode of ''WesternAnimation/PawPatrol'' follows the format "Pups Save...", with "Pups and..." used on occasion.
189	* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': The US title of season 1, episode 7 is "Thomas Saves the Day". Season 8, episode 6 shares the same title. There's also a [=DVD=] called "Percy Saves the Day", and another named "Emily Saves the World".
190	* ''WesternAnimation/WonderPets'': Every episode is titled "Save the (Animal)". The EpisodeTitleCard is also read as "The Wonder Pets Save the (Animal)". There are a few exceptions though, like "Ollie to the Rescue", "Help the Monster", "Off to School", "Join the Circus" and "In the Land of Oz".
191	[[/folder]]
192
193	[[folder:The Character "Does" Something or Someone]]
194	[[AC:Film]]
195	* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtheadDoAmerica''
196	* The infamous porn film ''Debbie Does Dallas'' in which the girl next door earns a spot in the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad, but doesn't have money to travel from her hometown to Cowboy stadium. She improvises.
197
198	[[AC:Web Original]]
199	* Even Website/TVTropes itself has its own share of examples:
200	** HarpoDoesSomethingFunny
201	[[/folder]]
202
203	[[folder:The Character Takes Something]]
204	[[AC:Film]]
205	* ''Film/TheMuppetsTakeManhattan''
206	* ''Film/FridayThe13thPartVIIIJasonTakesManhattan''
207
208	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
209	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E5TheAngelsTakeManhattan "The Angels Take Manhattan"]]
210	* ''Series/KeepingUpWithTheKardashians'': The ''Kourtney and Kim Take New York'' spinoff.
211
212	[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
213	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has ''Rarity Takes Manehattan''
214	[[/folder]]
215
216	[[folder:The Character Strikes Back]]
217	[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
218	* ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie - Mewtwo Strikes Back''
219
220	[[AC:Fanfic]]
221	* ''Fanfic/{{Quizzical}}'': The chapter, [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/68414/7/quizzical/diamond-tiara-strikes-back "Diamond Tiara Strikes Back"]].
222
223	[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]
224	* ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''
225	* ''[[Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]''
226	* ''Killer Tomatoes Strike Back''
227	* ''Munchie Strikes Back''
228
229	[[AC:Video Games]]
230	* ''Videogame/CrashBandicoot2CortexStrikesBack''
231	[[/folder]]
232
233	[[folder:The Character Kills Someone or Something]]
234	[[AC:Comic Books]]
235	* ''ComicBook/DeadpoolKillsTheMarvelUniverse''
236	* ''ComicBook/ThePunisherKillsTheMarvelUniverse''
237
238	[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]
239	* ''[[Film/MacheteKills Machete Kills]]''
240
241	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
242	* ''Mary Kills People''
243	[[/folder]]
244
245	[[folder:The Character Investigates Something]]
246	[[AC:Literature]]
247	* The children's book series ''Fox Investigates''.
248	* ''Literature/HerculePoirot'': The ''Poirot Investigates'' collection of short stories.
249	* ''Literature/InspectorImanishiInvestigates''
250	* ''Literature/ParkerPyneInvestigates''
251
252	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
253	* ''Series/HettyWainthroppInvestigates''
254
255	[[AC:Web Original]]
256	* Tropes:
257	** LittleOldLadyInvestigates
258
259	[[AC:Western Animation]]
260	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': The episode "Rarity Investigates".
261	[[/folder]]
262
263	[[folder:The Character Performs Other or Multiple Actions]]
264	[[AC:Anime & Manga]]
265	* The third episode of the ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' is known as "Ash Catches a Pokémon" in English, though the Japanese title is in first-person.
266
267	[[AC:Arts]]
268	* ''Art/DogsPlayingPoker''
269	* ''Art/LibertyLeadingThePeople''
270
271	[[AC:Comic Books]]
272	* ''ComicBook/FredHembeckDestroysTheMarvelUniverse''
273	* ''ComicBook/SergioAragonesDestroysDC''
274	* ''ComicBook/SergioAragonesMassacresMarvel''
275	* ''ComicBook/SquirrelGirl Beats Up The Marvel Universe''
276	* ''ComicBook/{{Werner}}'' has quite a number of stories with such a title, sometimes describing rather mundane actions, sometimes being LiteralMinded. Bonus points if Brösel's AuthorAvatar tries to tell Werner not to do whatever the title announces. Examples (not all occurrences translate into German easily or at all):
277	** "Werner fährt nach Kiel" (Werner drives to Kiel--that is, not really, the engine of his car blows up on the way)
278	---> '''Werner:''' I'm gonna drive to Kiel!\
279	'''Brösel:''' And I say, Werner, don't do that! But '''HE''' doesn't listen.
280	** "Werner schmeißt sein Geld zum Fenster raus" (actually meaning Werner spends his money senselessly, but [[LiteralMinded Werner literally throws his money out of the window]])
281	** "Werner und seine Kumpels spielen TableTopGame/{{Skat}}" (Werner and his buddies play Skat)
282	** "Werner und Penner haun sich 'ne Stunde aufs Ohr" (actually meaning Werner and Penner hit the mattress for an hour, but [[LiteralMinded Werner and Penner literally end up slapping their ears]]).
283
284	[[AC:Fan Works]]
285	* ''Fanfic/ChrysalisVisitsTheHague'', though the "visit" part is rather sardonic.
286	* ''Fanfic/PsychedelicEpiphanySeries'': The final chapter of ''Psychedelic'', [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/267654/7/psychadelic/discord-inevitably-decides-green-equines-rate-indescribably-desirable-on-occupation "Discord Inevitably Decides Green Equines Rate Indescribably Desirable On Occupation"]].
287
288	[[AC:Films -- Animation]]
289	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrinchGrinchesTheCatInTheHat''
290	* ''[[WesternAnimation/MuzzyInGondoland Muzzy Comes Back]]''
291	* ''WesternAnimation/SitaSingsTheBlues''
292	* ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryBlastOffToMars''
293	* ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet''
294
295	[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]
296	* ''Film/BatmanBegins''
297	* ''Film/CelineAndJulieGoBoating''
298	* ''[[Film/TheCreatureWalksAmongus The Creature Walks Among Us]]''
299	* ''Film/DancesWithWolves'' counts, as it's a unique amalgamation of name ''and'' predicative.
300	* ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises''
301	* ''Film/DunstonChecksIn''
302	* ''Film/TheEagleHasLanded''
303	* ''Film/FreddyGotFingered''
304	* ''Film/FridayThe13thPartVIJasonLives''
305	* ''Film/HaroldAndKumarEscapeFromGuantanamoBay''
306	* ''Film/JohnDiesAtTheEnd''
307	* ''Killer Tomatoes Eat France''
308	* ''Film/KingKongEscapes''
309	* ''Lola rennt'' (German for "Lola runs"), though it's better known in English-speaking markets as ''Film/RunLolaRun''.
310	* ''Film/MonstersCrashThePajamaParty''
311	* ''Film/SantaClausConquersTheMartians''
312	* ''Film/SometimesTheyComeBack''
313	* ''Film/TheyLive''
314	* ''Film/ZackAndMiriMakeAPorno''
315
316	[[AC:Literature]]
317	* ''Literature/AmericanGirlsCollection'' used to have "____ Learns a Lesson" and "____ Saves the Day" as part of their StrictlyFormula structure for each of the girls.
318	* ''Literature/TheDevilWearsPrada''
319	* The ''Horton'' series of books by Creator/DrSeuss:
320	** ''Literature/HortonHearsAWho''
321	** ''Literature/HortonHatchesTheEgg''
322	* ''Literature/TheHomestarRunnerEntersTheStrongestManInTheWorldContest'', as well as the subsequent ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' shorts based on it.
323	* ''Literature/TheMasterKey'': Chapter 7. The Demon Becomes Angry.
324
325	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
326	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E10TheDoctorDances "The Doctor Dances"]]
327	* The German crime series ''Graf Yoster gibt sich die Ehre'' (Loosely translated as ''Count Yoster has the Honour'', but more literally as, ''Count Yoster Gives Himself The Honour'')
328
329	[[AC:Manhua]]
330	* The third and fourth chapters of ''Manhua/DigimonLegendarySkies''; "击退金丝猴兽, 何首乌兽出现!" ("Defeat Jinshihoumon, and Heshouwumon Appears!") and "觜火猴兽登场!" ("Zihuohoumon Appears!").
331
332	[[AC:Music]]
333	* ''Back to Back: Music/DukeEllington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues''
334	* The Danish soft rock band Michael Learns to Rock.
335	* "She Loves Me Not" (either the Music/PapaRoach song or the Music/{{Tatu}} song)
336	* Although the official album title is just ''Music/{{Illinois}}'', the front cover stylizes it as ''Music/SufjanStevens Invites You to: Come On Feel the Illinoise!''
337	* The Music/TearsForFears song "Brian Wilson Said".
338
339	[[AC:Video Games]]
340	* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxHitTheRoad''
341	* ''VideoGame/ThisStarryMidnightWeMake''
342	* ''VideoGame/TravisStrikesAgainNoMoreHeroes''
343	* The first six mainline ''VideoGame/PuttPutt'' games are titled this way. Besides those listed in other categories, these include:
344	** ''Putt-Putt Joins the Parade''
345	** ''Putt-Putt Travels Through Time''
346	** ''Putt-Putt Enters the Race''
347	** ''Putt-Putt Joins the Circus''
348
349	[[AC:Web Animation]]
350	* ''WebAnimation/MinilifeTV'' has an episode titled "Chris and Ian Shamelessly Promote Themselves".
351
352	[[AC:Web Original]]
353	* Even Website/TVTropes itself has its own share of examples:
354	** DickDastardlyStopsToCheat
355	** DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp
356	** SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou
357
358	[[AC:Western Animation]]
359	* ''WesternAnimation/ElinorWondersWhy'' certain things happen in nature and the world around her.
360	* ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBeaks'' has episodes named "Harvey Fights Kraz", "Harvey Isn't Scary", and "Princess Wants a Mom".
361	* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' has an episode titled "Zim Eats Waffles".
362	* ''WesternAnimation/MarthaSpeaks''
363	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' provides a small wealth of examples too, such as "Fluttershy Leans In" and "She Talks to Angel".
364	* Of course, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' did it, with such episode titles like "Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts" and "Marge Gets a Job", as well as [[CrossReferencedTitles several episodes]] with the form "[Character] Gets a [Grade]".
365	[[/folder]]
366

Context Main / CharacterActionTitle