Line #32 Main/DownplayedTrope


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/never_underestimate_or_overestimatesvg.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:On the left: downplaying reality (overestimation). On the right: downplaying expectations (underestimation). [[https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Never_underestimate_or_overestimate.svg Source]]]]
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4	It has been said that "a trope [[Administrivia/NotASubversion cannot be partially subverted]] any more than a woman can be a little bit pregnant". Then what do you call it when TheButlerDidIt, but "it" [[PokeThePoodle was eating the last cookie in the jar?]] Or when [[PowerGlows a powerful weapon glows]] so little you can't even notice it in good light?
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6	You call it a Downplayed Trope.
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8	A Downplayed Trope is when a trope is played to a much smaller extent than it usually is. In particularly extreme cases, the lack of extent to which the trope is played is PlayedForLaughs for the same reason as its antithesis, the ExaggeratedTrope. The exact definition varies on a case-by-case basis, but the above works as a general rule. It's also why [[Administrivia/TheSameButMore The Same But Less]] doesn't really make a new trope, since Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible.
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10	In case the introduction didn't tip you off, many cases of Administrivia/NotASubversion fall into this trope's territory. Keep in mind when listing examples, downplaying does NOT mean that trope criteria can be ignored (see Administrivia/SpeculativeTroping) and that not all tropes can be downplayed.
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12	A form of PlayingWithATrope.
13
14	Compare SubvertedTrope, ParodiedTrope.
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16	Contrast ExaggeratedTrope.
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18	----
19	!!Examples:
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21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
24	* Yazan Gable of ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' downplays the AxCrazy and PsychoForHire tropes. Yazan is a dangerously insane, feral predator who joined the army just so he could get the chance to hurt people and has no empathy whatsoever for those around him. However, he's as rational as a person with that kind of motivation can be, enjoys the company of a few likeminded sociopaths (though he doesn't care at all when they die), follows the orders of those superiors he respects, and is generally portrayed as a brutal uncaring thug rather than the cackling madman that is typical of both tropes.
25	* Rei Kiriyama from ''Manga/MarchComesInLikeALion'' is a downplayed example of TheEeyore. He spends much of his time and narration contemplating over his many issues and is prone to frequent emotional lows. However, he is not ''unreasonably'' depressed, and he is capable of showing other emotions for more than just a brief moment.
26	* ''Manga/FairyTail'''s Fairy Law is a downplayed, laser-guided FantasticNuke. They have the real thing in the MagiTek KillSat Etherion, though.
27	* In ''Anime/GaikingLegendOfDaikuMaryu'', Gaiking's Puncher Grind attack is a downplayed RocketPunch; it's not propelled, and it can't return to Gaiking after being fired. Daiya has to improvise by using the [[GrapplingHookPistol Zecter Hook technique]] to retrieve it from mid-air.
28	* ''Manga/MariaNoDanzai'' downplayed CrocodileTears. Nozomu Okaya did not shed a tear, but he pretends to sympathize with Taiichiro Nagare, Kiritaka's father, stating that what happened to the inspector's son was "a truly unfortunate incident".
29	* ''Manga/OnePiece'' downplays AllLovingHero. Monkey D. Luffy will only go to the ends of the earth to help the people he "likes"; or, in other words, people who catch his attention for some reason or another (usually just being nice to him, especially by giving him food). Of course, being TheHero, it just so happens that he "likes" most of the people he encounters (generally, anybody that's not trying to kill him and quite a few that have). But if you're someone he ''doesn't'' like, then your best bet is to run in the other direction as fast as possible. Specifically, Luffy only seems interested in helping those who are willing to help themselves. People who sit on the sidelines and hope for things to get better don't interest him, but those who will put themselves in danger to fight for their beliefs earn his respect. He even patently refuses to [[spoiler:help Momonosuke save Wano Country until Momo shows a will to fight,]] caring more about the willingness to act than being begged for help. Still, as said above, he does not like people who hurt his friends, and given his tendency to make friends quickly, there's a good chance that any bad guy Luffy crosses paths with is about to get his ass whooped.
30	[[/folder]]
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32	[[folder:Comic Books]]
33	* ''ComicBook/Dynamo5'': Downplay JealousParent. According to Scatterbrain (Gage Reinhart), the supervillain Chrysalis is afraid that her looks are fading and she can't attract men anymore. He said that she is jealous of her daughter Cynthia because of her looks and that she probably can better attract men. However, it appears that Chrysalis does not let her jealousy affect her relationship with her daughter, and they appear to be close.
34	* ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'': Captain Marvel villain Dr. Sivana downplays the EvilCripple trope. He's a CardCarryingVillain and MadScientist who walks with the aid of a cane, and whose disability only mildly impairs him.
35	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Downplay TookALevelInKindness. Comicbook/MaryJaneWatson was always fun and friendly, but the significant event that changed her from a flighty, self-absorbed party girl into a mature and compassionate woman, is the death of Gwen. With the death of her close friend, she realizes that Peter, having just lost one of the loves of his life, needs her to be a better person. In one of her most iconic moments, after Peter unloads on her in the cruelest way possible, to the point that she is sobbing, and he angrily demands she leaves him, Mary Jane slowly walks towards the door, but instead of exiting through it she shuts it, and returns to comfort her grieving friend. From then on MJ is portrayed as a supportive and kind-hearted friend to Peter, and of course, eventually a loving Wife. Made even more clear in the ComicBook/SpiderGwen alternate universe, where without the death of Gwen, while still a good person,
36	[[/folder]]
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38	[[folder:Fan Works]]
39	* ''Fanfic/DannyPhantomStranded'' downplays AbusiveOffspring. While Colette Bevier is not openly emotionally or verbally abusive to her father, biological mother, and stepmother(s), it's clear her love and regard for them (especially her stepmothers) is based on them [[SpoiledBrat spoiling her]], as she is not above [[ManipulativeBitch lying to and manipulating them by acting like a loving daughter to get what she wants]].
40	* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'' downplays CrazyJealousGuy. Germany and Japan may have been [[GreenEyedMonster intensely jealous]] of each other, but they didn't actively try to ban Italy from being with the other.
41	* ''Fanfic/CodePrime'' downplays ThouShaltNotKill. Optimus is relaxing the rules due to the fact Britannia has the technology to fight the Autobots on equal footing, plus some of the Britannians being just as evil as the Decepticons. [[WouldNotShootACivilian Civilians are still off-limits.]]
42	* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'' downplays MegatonPunch. In chapter 2 [[FieryRedhead a very angry]] [[BelligerentSexualTension Asuka punches Shinji]] ''hard''; but instead of putting him in orbit as usual in this trope, her punch just results in him stumbling backwards and his nose bleeding.
43	* ''Fanfic/NoOneBreaksMyHeartLikeYou'' downplays WhatDoesSheSeeInHim. Barbara Heinz, Mary Jane's friend, does not hate Peter or look down on him; she knows that Peter and Mary Jane love each other and that Peter is a good guy. However, she can tell that Mary Jane is unhappy and sometimes feels that he's weighing her down.
44	* ''Fanfic/RickAndTheLoudHouse'' (''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'') downplays AdaptationalNiceGuy. Rick Sanchez remains the snarky and cynical MadScientist that he is in his respective show, but some of his more overtly negative traits are lessened. For example, Rick saves Lincoln from falling off a cliff, injects Lincoln with a serum that would negate the effects of the mega seeds dissolving in his butt, and admits that the whole love potion incident was partially his fault. None of which Rick does in the original show.
45	* The ''WebVideo/TheUltimateEdChronicles'' downplays the {{Bowlderise}} trope at times (especially when they are PlayedForLaughs and CensoredForComedy, due to Ed Edd 'N Eddy being a DenserAndWackier comedy), this making the videos feel like a sillier ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon''.
46	* ''Fanfic/WanderOverFostersAUOneshot'' (''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'', ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'') downplays BreakTheCutie. Being away from Sylvia takes a toll on the Wander, but he doesn't completely break from sorrow. He instead becomes friends with others at Foster's.
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49	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
50	* The original ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1'' downplays AllOfTheOtherReindeer. The Furious Five and Shifu treat Po with disrespect for most of the film. However, during his second day, Po earns the respect of most of the Five through his HeroicResolve, [[ThroughHisStomach great cooking skills]], storytelling, and humor, while Shifu undergoes a JerkassRealization.
51	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkTheStreamingWars'' downplays IHaveNoSon. While Liane still plans to raise her son Eric, she is resentful that he made her quit her job, causing them to lose their house and move into a hotdog house, and refuses to let him blame her for the loss of their house. When Eric comes up with a plan for them to move in with a rich old guy by Liane seducing him and needs her to get breast implants, Liane refuses, pointing out that they don't have the money for breast implants. And when Eric got the money for the breast implants, Liane outright refused to get them, saying that when Eric made her quit her job, she promised herself that she would never give in to him ever again. Liane refuses to give in, even when Eric threatens to either call the police or run away, telling her son she is done with this. And when Eric said that he himself would take the breast implants, while shocked, Liane called his bluff and was annoyed and disappointed when Eric actually took the breast implants. When Eric asks Liane what she will do now that she knows he is serious about his threats, Liane tells Eric that she plans to go grocery shopping. Liane leaves as Eric threatens to go to school with his breast implants. It is implied that while Liane will not abandon her son and will support Eric financially until he becomes an adult, she has given up on having a relationship with him and closed off emotionally from him.
52	* ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' downplays GenderBlenderName. While the name "Ming" itself is unisex from having a multitude of readings (read: distinct Chinese characters pronounced the same way), the name typically has more masculine associations among many Chinese-speaking people.
53	* ''WesternAnimation/UnicornWars'':
54	** This film downplays AllOfTheOtherReindeer. Tubby was shown to be made fun of because of both his weight and immaturity in his unit. While all his unit was admiring their bodies, he was insecure about his fat body, and with his brother making fun of him, the unit joined in. Later when Bluey revealed to the unit that Tubby had wet the bed, they all made fun of him, and finally, when the unit learned that Tubby was joining them, they were skeptical about how useful he would be on the mission. Despite this, it appears that Tubby is not constantly mistreated and is mostly accepted by the unit; it's notable that even though his unit was skeptical of his usefulness during the mission itself, he was never mistreated or an outcast.
55	** Also ParentalFavoritism. When Bluey and Tubby's unit stop by a town to see their family and friends before leaving to go to war, their father expresses pride in both his sons, saying that their mother would be proud of them, and gives them a pie that was made from their mother's recipe. Bluey received almost the whole pie, while Tubby just received a slice, which he was clearly unhappy about. Aside from this moment, Bluey and Tubby's father shows love for both of his sons and doesn't seem to particularly favor either of them. It's possible he just gave Tubby the smaller piece of pie because he was concerned about his weight problems, as others pointed out that Tubby is overweight.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
59	* ''Film/DiaryOfAMadBlackWoman'' downplays AdaptationalHeroism. It present and an unusual mix of the character being more moral but more of a jerk. In the original play, it was revealed that Charles had been physically abusing his wife, Helen; it’s unknown how long, but it was implied for at least a few years. In the movie, it’s implied that Charles was never physically abusive to Helen during their marriage and only became physical with her when he forced her out of their house. However, Charles is still very much crueler to Helen than in the play, forcing Helen out of the house they lived together and without financial support, while in the play, he lets her keep the house with $2,000 a month.
60	* ''Film/HappyDeathDay'' downplays DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist. Every time Tree dies she wakes up she wakes up weaker and weaker and she feels the after effects of whatever killed her last. If the cycle goes on too long she won't even be strong enough to wake up at all.
61	* ''Film/HomeAlone2LostInNewYork'' downplays PunchClockVillain with the concierge played by Creator/TimCurry. He's doing his job and is right that Kevin used his father's credit card illegally to book a room, but he's overly motivated in catching Kevin and it looks like he's doing it out of spite.
62	* ''Film/TheMatrix'' downplays LikeAGodToMe, where a guy calls Neo a "personal Jesus Christ", but in the context of being polite instead of amazed.
63	[[/folder]]
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65	[[folder:Literature]]
66	* Creator/BeverlyCleary's sister series ''Literature/HenryHuggins'' and ''Literature/RamonaQuimby'' downplays EmbarrassingNickname. ''Beezus and Ramona'', which was written in Beezus' perspective, mentions that she'd rather be called her real name "Beatrice", rather than "Beezus". But she never verbally complains about the nickname when her friends and family uses that, so one might assume that she's actually fine with it.
67	* Literature/PaddingtonBear downplays the BearsAreBadNews trope; unlike most bears who appear in this trope, he is rather placid, friendly, polite and mild-mannered, but his naïveté and innocence about both British culture (being a recent immigrant to London from Darkest Peru) and human culture (being, well, a bear) mean that he tends to inadvertently cause trouble for people around him, albeit mainly of the "awkward social situations" nature rather than the "OMG this bear's gonna eat my leg" nature.
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69
70	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
71	* ''Series/TheMentalist'': The butler was the driver for the {{socialite}} who did it, making him an accomplice. Said socialite arranged for the butler to go free if she confessed.
72	* ''Series/{{Bones}}'': The butler confessed to doing it, but it's pretty likely he's just taking the fall for his employers.
73	* ''Series/{{Justified}}'':
74	** Dickie Bennett downplays EvilCripple. An injury from high school left him with a limp. It doesn't impair him overly much, and is only noticeable when characters call attention to it. At the same time, said limp is at the core of his anger with the world, and twenty years after receiving it, he still wants payback on the man who gave it to him.
75	** Johnny Crowder, conversely, downplays ObfuscatingDisability. Johnny really is crippled. A shotgun blast to the stomach left him with a shuffling, painful walk, and it's much easier for him to use a wheelchair. What he is ''not'' however, is a full on paraplegic, which is what he pretends to be; if Johnny has to, he can walk.
76	* ''Series/FamilyMatters'' downplays ADayInTheLimelight. Judy Winslow never really gets one, only a few subplots:
77	** In "Fast Eddie Winslow", she must write a book report about ''Swiss Family Robinson'' after she doesn't read the book.
78	** In "Ice Station Winslow", she feels ignored by her family because of her younger cousin Richie.
79	** In "A Thought in the Dark", she ruins Harriette's dress and begs Carl to cover for her.
80	** In "Taking Credit", she's in the FramingDevice along with Rachel and Richie.
81	* ''Series/McCloud'' is a literal example of a CowboyCop, but otherwise ''much less'' so. He's really a StrangeCopInAStrangeLand (Taos, New Mexico to New York City) and as such not quite at home with the rules of their department. Just ask Chief of Detectives Peter Clifford.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
85	* ''TabletopGame/IsaacAsimovsRobots'': This game downplays Creator/IsaacAsimov's habit of [[RobotNames naming robots]] with different [[YouAreNumberSix serial numbers]]. Each Sammy-type model of robot has a number emblazoned on their front for identification purposes, but normal names (like Sammy or Jane) are used in actual conversation.
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88	[[folder:Video Games]]
89	* David Sarif of ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' fits this aspect of CorruptCorporateExecutive. He's not a bad guy ''per se'', especially given the setting. He's shown to genuinely care about his employees, but he's also willing to cut some corners that would be difficult to explain in an investigation and to take "creative" interpretations of some of his employee contracts. That said, he's the nicest bigshot you'll meet in the setting [[spoiler:and the only one not in cahoots with TheIlluminati.]]
90	* Fina of ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' has a small version of a CleavageWindow (because it has a purpose other than {{Fanservice}}).
91	* In ''VideoGame/{{Bastion}}'', you have a ShortRangeShotgun in the Scrap Musket, but those qualities can be downplayed by installing upgrades that tighten the spread and reduce the damage falloff at range. Or it can be further tuned in the other direction with an opposite upgrade that ''further'' widens the spread.
92	* In ''Videogame/TalesOfTheAbyss'', the resident TeamPet comes equipped with a downplayed BreathWeapon. He's too young to use it without an AmplifierArtifact, and even then it's too weak to be useful outside of puzzle solving.
93	* The Templar's AncientConspiracy status in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag''. The Templars are rich and powerful in the Carribean but not so much that the similarly rich and powerful English Navy and plantation owners can't ignore them at their leisure.
94	* The computer opponents generally in Pokémon, and those in the battle facilities in particular are noted for being such [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard blatant cheaters with illegal movesets.]] Come the Battle Maison in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', however, and the opponents use Pokémon and movesets that are all legal. Only two instances of cheating - which aren't really blatant forms of cheating:
95	** Pokémon with unreleased hidden abilities - which ''were'' programmed in the first place, just not released to the general public, so it's different to tacking on a random ability just to gain an unfair advantage.
96	** Their Pokémon also sometimes hold items unavailable in X and Y - but they were all available/used in the previous generations of games - so that's not really cheating either.
97	* In the ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' expansion Enemy Within, dealing with humans terrorists and saboteurs known as EXALT involves a NoGearLevel... For the covert operative you send after them, who needs to be as inconspicuous as possible, and as such can only bring a {{handgun}} and two items with him/her, and is forced to go without armor (which includes PowerArmor) or main weapon ([[ShotgunsAreJustBetter a shotgun]], an assault rifle or a SniperRifle, depending on class). The extraction team send to rescue him/her after his/her cover is blown is free to pack as much heat as a supernova though.
98	** Further downplayed if you equip your operative with a plasma pistol and a nanofiber vest. If they're the right class (say, Assault geared for close combat or a sniper with Gunslinger and Double Tap) they can more than pull their own weight during the exfiltration.
99	* ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVAbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder'':
100	** King Graham in this installment is a downplayed EmpoweredBadassNormal. The magical fruit he ate in the previous game not only cured him of his fatal illness, but also gave him strength far beyond what his advanced age should allow. However, his abilities are exactly as they were when the series began. [[spoiler:This is no longer downplayed when he learns Iconomancy.]]
101	** This game also downplays TakesOneToKillOne in the FinalBoss battle, where Graham needs to [[spoiler:learn Iconomancy]] in order to successfully kill the BigBad, himself [[spoiler:an Iconomancer]]. However, the BigBad is ''not'' directly weak to his own element, merely that it's the only means Graham has of being able to fight him on an equal footing.
102	* ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' downplays ForcedTutorial on a NewGamePlus: you're still forced to do the tutorial, but it's really one very quick level that you'll most likely finish with just one move.
103	* ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' downplays MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch with [[TokenEvilTeammate Viconia]]. Your regular MSDPTM drow is a ChaoticGood Eilistraee worshipper. Viconia, on the other hand, is a NeutralEvil cleric of Shar, but fell from grace with the drow society for invoking EvenEvilHasStandards while she was an initiate for the much more evil Lolth. Still, she's an angel compared to your typical drow, especially those you meet in ''Shadows of Amn''.
104	* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIShadowsOfAmn'' downplays CardCarryingVillain with the BigBad, Irenicus. He doesn't brag about being evil but knows that people views him as such so he doesn't bother denying it, enough to tell in your face that you "warrant no villain's exposition" from him.
105	[[/folder]]
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107	[[folder:Web Animation]]
108	* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' downplays OutdatedOutfit with Caboose, who opted to stick with his Halo 1 armor and weapon when every other main character was upgrading to Halo 3. His armor is only outdated in-universe, while to viewers not familiar with the games he just looks like a custom loadout.
109	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' downplays BrokenPedestal. [[spoiler:Ruby finds out that her mother, who she always believed to be a do-no-wrong Huntress and who inspired her to become a Huntress herself, actually lied about the severity of the mission that would kill her and is horrified and upset. However, she is reminded of her last words, that she would love her no matter who she is, convincing Ruby that all she needs to do is to BeYourself and not try to be a perfect Huntress]].
110	* ''WebAnimation/ShareMyStory'' downplays MyGodWhatHaveIDone. When Clara tells the protagonist that she got with Brandon behind his back and they are in a relationship now, she is in tears. However, that does not stop her from kissing Brandon in front of him.
111	[[/folder]]
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113	[[folder:Web Comics]]
114	* ''Webcomic/FiveNightsAtFreddysLostSouls'' downplays AdaptationalNiceGuy. The animatronics in this comic are far less blood-thirsty and their desire to protect others, especially children, doesn't go straight to KnightTemplar - levels. They're content with just scaring intruders away and even that is done for their safety, because the entity haunting the park has proven to be extremely dangerous. [[spoiler: Downplayed, as there are frequent implications of the animatronics having been completely different before the fire. Night 4 has it confirmed through Kelly that children under their care went missing and that they apparently killed a man, though the reason for the last one isn't given and Kelly is a more than a bit biased source.]]
115	[[/folder]]
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117	[[folder:Web Original]]
118	* Some of the contestants in ''WebVideo/MovieFights'' have been assigned with [[RedBaron Badass nicknames]], such as Alicia Malone "The Red Fury", and Dan "The Mad Man" Murrell. However, these names are used so sparingly throughout the show that the less attentive audiences would probably not even know they have them.
119	[[/folder]]
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121	[[folder:Western Animation]]
122	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bluey}}'' downplays the trope ButtMonkey with the character Wendy. While bad things don't happen directly ''to'' her, she often bears witness to the Heelers' antics, which she is often mortified by. However, there are a few moments, such as the episodes "Ragdoll" and "Sheepdog" in which [[NotSoAboveItAll she plays along with their games.]]
123	* ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince''
124	** Downplays OneManArmy. [[Characters/TheDragonPrinceViren Viren]] utterly obliterates the guards sent to arrest him, but he's only able to do this because Aaravos is channeling primal magic through him. However, since he was able to use his abilities to hold off the king of the dragons, he certainly qualifies.
125	** Downplays SquishyWizard. [[Characters/TheDragonPrinceCallum Callum's]] shown to be very fit throughout the series but for most of his life, he felt like a failure because he couldn't live up to the martial skill expected of a prince. Then he tries magic for the first time, and turns out to be a natural at it. But much of Sky Magic, unlike Dark Magic, often requires Callum to rely on his physical strength as well; his Aspiro spell will only work as long as Callum has air in his lungs. By the season finale, Callum can use "mage wings" to fly, which make him inhumanly fast and strong in the air.
126	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' downplayed ImplausibleDeniability in ''Into the Wild Green Yonder'', when the head of the robot mafia isn't denying his wife stole his lucky foot. He's just insisting they need more evidence when the evidence so far is conclusive.
127	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'':
128	** GravityIsAHarshMistress is downplayed. When Dipper and Mabel run off a cliff, they fall down at a realistic speed, but instead of falling forward in an arc, they go straight forward, then down.
129	** The pair also downplay HalfIdenticalTwins: they're almost the exact same in terms of height, face and body type, but have different hair styles and outfits, as well as [[DifferentAsNightAndDay personalities]]. (Also, Mabel Pines wears braces while Dipper Pines has a birthmark hidden under his bangs.)
130	* ''WesternAnimation/GlitchTechs'' downplayed FakeUltimateHero. Mitch Williams is legitimately talented and can easily fight [[ActionGirl Miko Kubota]] on equal terms. His ranking at the top of the local Glitch Techs is repeatedly shown to be heavily based on cheating, killstealing and undercutting his rivals however, not to mention how he's far from the heroic archetype he would like you to think he is.
131	* ''WesternAnimation/HarleyQuinn2019'' downplays FaceHeelDoubleTurn regarding The Joker and Dr. Psycho. They both start off and end as unrepentant villains, but their relationship with Harley definitely changes compared to how they previously started. The Joker is Harley’s abusive ex-boyfriend who becomes her main enemy in Season 1 around the time Dr. Psycho joins Harley’s crew as her ally to better his image. However, in Season 2, Psycho decides to betray Harley and carry out his EvilPlan around the time The Joker decides to help Harley stop Dr. Psycho after having a LoveEpiphany for his new girlfriend while parting with Harley on (somewhat) better terms.
132	* ''WesternAnimation/TheHollow'' downplays ProperlyParanoid. When served food by a woman they've just met, Kai is suspicious and asks her what is in the soup. Just vegetables... [[spoiler:and Toros bones]]. The trio don't [[IAteWhat freak out]] about it beyond an inital SpitTake and being slightly disgusted that [[spoiler:they just ate soup that used bones from humanoid cows]]. Though later, [[spoiler:one of her sisters drops a plate of jello... which contains things like eyeballs]] and [[spoiler:these women are actually witches that want to eat the trio's souls]].
133	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' downplays MyGodWhatHaveIDone. It appears that [[Characters/TheLegendOfKorraBolin Bolin]] is so focused on stopping Kuvira that he is not allowing himself to think about how he messed up by trusting her, but he is upset when he meets the innocent people Kuvira is interning in her camps, realizing that he has had a part (albeit unwittingly) in ruining their lives.
134	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic's'' [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicPrincessCelestia Princess Celestia]] downplays PrincessesPreferPink, as she only has a pink outline and pink strands in her hair; she is mostly white. Not that you'd know it, looking at the earliest toys based on her, which depicted her with a ''pink'' coat instead of a white one. Thankfully, with the arrival of Princess Cadance, a princess who really ''is'' pink, Celestia is now free to have the ''first'' toy that actually looks like her made ''years'' after her introduction.
135	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty''
136	** Downplays ObviouslyEvil. [[Characters/RickAndMortyEvilMorty Evil Morty]] puts up a facade when he needs to, but his villainy is apparent even before his confrontation with Rick C-137 in the season 5 finale. As Rick points out, good guys don't have mutant Mortys crawling out of the sewers warning of doomday weapons, which earns a simple "{{Touche}}" from Evil Morty.
137	** Downplays {{Yandere}}. [[Characters/RickAndMortyMortySmith Morty Smith]] doesn’t do anything creepy to Jessica or treats her as a possession. However, whenever he finds a scenario where he might end up with her, he goes to pretty sociopathic lengths to achieve it. He gave her a love potion because he couldn’t handle that she was dating Brad, which ended up mutating her and causing Rick to label him as a creep for trying to roofie her. Likewise, one of Morty’s Mindblowers shows that he’s violently protective of her, as he was willing to torture an alien for releasing a worldwide virus that nearly killed Jessica. He’s also willing to sell Rick, his own grandfather, for some trim as he ignored Summer’s concerns about Tiny Rick overwhelming Rick’s mind because he helped him get close to Jessica. Furthermore, upon gaining a death crystal that let him see a future where Jessica comforted him in his old age, Morty committed several atrocities to ensure it happens, up to avoiding resurrecting Rick and killing many cops and military man while acting like an AKIRA.
138	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' downplayed CompanyTown with Springfield itself. The town is largely dominated by CorruptCorporateExecutive [[Characters/TheSimpsonsCharlesMontgomeryBurns Montgomery Burns]] and his power plant, which not only functions as an energy monopoly, but is also one of the main job providers. The plant is incredibly poorly maintained, produces a lot of pollution and presents a massive danger to the citizens, but they're stuck with it, as any time the plant is closed down or resorts to layoffs, Springfield plunges into an economic depression.
139	* ''WesternAnimation/SummerCampIsland'' downplays TheFriendNobodyLikes. At least amongst the counselors. Since Betsy is the nicest, she is the one who stops Susie and Alice from overdoing it, much to Susie's displeasure. However Alice does not seem to care when she stops her from overseeing it and despite Susie's dislike of Betsy's stopping her from going too far, she still cares for Betsy.
140	-> '''Susie:''' You know, sometimes I really hate you, Betsy...
141	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003''
142	** Downplays PetTheDog. While [[Characters/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003TheShredder Oroku Saki/Ch'rell/The Shredder]] can throw it away at a moments notice, he seems to have ''some'' level of affection toward his higher level lieutenants; he personally raised Karai, trained Hun, rarely ever significantly punished them, and they're the only ones he listens to. He also respected the power of the Foot Mystics, which they reciprocated to some extent, even when they thought he was an "abomination".
143	** Downplays VillainWithGoodPublicity. Bishop's a very secretive government agent and very few people know of his actual existence. However, he has the backing of the United States government and by the fourth season, the unconditional support of the President himself, which makes him arguably as big of a threat to the Turtles as the Foot Clan, if not moreso. He becomes yet another downplayed example by the time of Fast Forward because by that time, everyone knows of his existence and he's extremely well liked by almost everybody on Earth... but by that time, he's pulled a HeelFaceTurn and is no longer an actual villain.
144	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' downplayed PinkMeansFeminine by making Arcee blue, with just pink touches.
145	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DownplayedTrope