Line #25 Main/GarnishingTheStory


1	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pink_aurora_princess_1290.jpg]]]]
2	[-[[caption-width-right:350:[[GoldMakesEverythingShiny Gold decorations]], [[EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry jewelry]] that's [[GemEncrusted sewn in the dress]], [[PrettyInMink white fur trimming]], [[EverythingsBetterWithSparkles sparkles]] — this Franchise/DisneyPrincess has it all.]]-]
3
4	An element is included in a work, just because the element makes the story better in some way simply for having it, similar to adding spices and seasonings to food.
5
6	These elements don't drive the plot or have a narrative purpose, and aren't genre staples. They can add to characterization or WorldBuilding, but mostly the point of them is that having these elements is so much better than not having these elements.
7
8	Even if these elements have some importance to the story, it's similar to a {{MacGuffin}} in that the form needn't be any of the elements, but it's still better to have them.
9	* A SaveThePrincess plot could have anyone as the DamselInDistress, but often it's an actual princess, just because of this trope.
10	* The [[PowerCrystal all-powerful crystal]] that the villain wants needn't be in the form of a jewel, but it looks prettier than an all-powerful pine cone.
11	* We can see fighter planes attack the bad guys, but it's just a bit more exciting to have a FighterLaunchingSequence first.
12	* Weapons can be cool on their own, but it's [[RuleOfCool even cooler]] to have them be made of [[FlamingSword fire]], [[EnergyWeapon lasers]], or some other [[ElementalWeapon elements]], [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon no matter how impossible]].
13
14	Of course these elements can seem overused, especially if some feel the overall story is weak, but these elements can enrich a good story just with their inclusion.
15
16	Now that's not to say such tropes can't have any effect on the story. In fact many of these can also convey a MeaningfulAppearance.
17
18	A SisterTrope to NarrativeFiligree, {{Spectacle}}. If the garnish is so outlandish that having it is the whole point of the work, it's probably a DancingBear instead.
19
20	See also ArtisticLicense, ThePowerOfIndex, RuleOfIndex, TropesInAggregate.
21
22	Contrast Administrivia/PeopleSitOnChairs (when there isn't even this much of a reason for an element to be a trope).
23
24	----
25	!!A SuperTrope to:
26	[[index]]
27
28	[floatboxright:
29	'''Sub-categories:'''
30	+ BiggerIsBetter: Big things are so much better than normal-sized and tiny things.
31	+ StuffBlowingUp: Having explosions is so much better than not having them.
32	]
33
34	%% A SuperTrope to: %%
35	* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter -- Life with babies is so much better than life without babies.
36	* DeepFriedWhatever -- Deep fried food is so much better than food that isn't deep fried.
37	* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment -- Explaining something with repetition is funnier than explaining something the normal way.
38	* EnergyWeapon -- Laser weapons always add a bit more punch to a shootout.
39	* EverythingsBetterWithRainbows -- Rainbows make any setting more colorful.
40	* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai -- Samurai are so much cooler than without samurai.
41	* EverythingsBetterWithSparkles -- Audiences like things that sparkle, shine, and shimmer.
42	* EverythingsDeaderWithZombies -- Zombies in works not about them are so much cooler than without zombies.
43	* EverythingsLouderWithBagpipes -- Bagpipes are ''loud'', even if you know how to play them properly.
44	* EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry -- Jewelry is so much more glamorous than without jewelry.
45	* FighterLaunchingSequence -- If you want to show off a dogfight, sometimes it's just that much more awesome watching the fighter jets take off first.
46	* FluffyFashionFeathers -- Garments with feathers are both fluffy ''and'' fashionable.
47	* FunnySpoon -- "Spoon" is an {{Inherently Funny Word\|s}}, so it just goes to show that spoons in fiction are inherently funny objects.
48	* GemEncrusted -- Dressing a character in a gem-covered outfit is an easy way to show off how filthy rich they are.
49	* GogglesDoNothing -- Goggles look cool, so who cares if they don't actually protect your eyes?
50	* GoldMakesEverythingShiny -- Gold is so much prettier and shinier than most other precious metals.
51	* GratuitousDiscoSequence -- Disco [[DiscoSucks may have died in the '80s]], but the sparkling balls, quirky dance moves and gaudy outfits are still easily recognizable.
52	* GratuitousNazis -- Nazi villains are so much more evil than villains that aren't Nazis.
53	* GratuitousNinja -- Ninjas, like their samurai counterparts, make anything more badass just with their mere existence.
54	* GratuitousPrincess -- Princesses make anything more glamorous or fantastic, regardless of whether the plot/setting calls for them.
55	* GratuitousSpecialEffects -- Because flying cars are cooler than regular cars, and glowing flying cars trump both.
56	* HotterAndSexier -- Throwing in {{Fanservice}} for the purposes of pandering
57	* IncendiaryExponent -- Things are more dangerous when they're ''on fire''.
58	* InstantAwesomeJustAddMecha -- Because [[WesternAnimation/MegasXLR we all dig giant robots.]]
59	* JustForTheHeliOfIt -- Throwing in helicopters is so much cooler than not throwing them in.
60	* LavaAddsAwesome -- Something with lava or magma is so much cooler than something without.
61	* PortalEndpointResemblance: The area around a portal doesn't ''need'' to look like where it will take you, but wouldn't it look boring otherwise?
62	* PrepositionalPhraseEqualsCoolness -- Titles with prepositions are so much cooler than titles without prepositions.
63	* PrettyInMink -- Clothing with fur is so much more glamorous than without fur.
64	* {{Pun}} -- Puns are so much better than without puns.
65	* RentAZilla -- It's got nothing to do with [[{{Kaiju}} giant monsters]], but we threw one in anyway.
66	* RuinsForRuinsSake -- These old, crumbling structures don't have any history; they just provide atmosphere.
67	* SlimeSnailsAndMutantTails -- Sometimes, "creepy, slimy and gross" can also be cool.
68	* SpectacularSpinning -- Things that spin or roll or swirl are cool...provided you don't make yourself dizzy in the process.
69	* StabTheSky -- A character holding a sword over their head makes them look more heroic.
70	* StrawberryShorthand -- Strawberries as symbolism.
71	* StuffBlowingUp -- Explosions are so much better than not having explosions.
72	* TechnicolorMagic -- Magic looks even more magical when it's colorful.
73	* ThreePointLanding -- Landing in a cool pose, as opposed to landing in a more practical but less stylish way.
74	* TimeTravelersDinosaur -- A great way to throw an extinct animal; usually a dinosaur, into a story.
75	* TooManyBelts -- You can never have clothing with too many belts.
76	* {{Troperiffic}} -- Shows or works that use plenty of tropes unashamedly.
77	* WatchItStoned -- Characters think watching a show when high is so much better than watching it sober.
78	* XMakesAnythingCool -- Adding the letter "X" to a proper noun makes it sound more cool/mysterious.
79	* XtremeKoolLetterz -- Why simply settle for calling something "cool" when you can make something "Totally Kool"? Add X's, K's, and Z's for maximum koolness faktor.
80	* YoungerAndHipper -- Trying to make your characters seem younger to appeal the audience
81	* {{Zipperiffic}} -- Zippers are somehow cooler, even on clothing articles that don't normally carry them.
82
83	!!These animals are so much better than without these animals. Or, depending on the animal, much worse (adds danger and suspense).
84	* BearsAreBadNews -- Add terror to your narrative with powerful bears!
85	* BunniesForCuteness -- You just can't keep your eyes off that little bunny.
86	* CuteKitten -- Kittens are crazy cute to complain.
87	* DolphinsDolphinsEverywhere -- These creatures make everything a splash.
88	* ElectricJellyfish -- All jellyfish in your narrative go "zap-zap" 'cause why not?
89	* HighKoalatyCuteness -- Everybody line up to cuddle with the koala!
90	* KangaroosRepresentAustralia -- G'day, mate!
91	* PreciousPuppy -- Puppies are too neat to resist.
92	* SillySimian -- Because everything's better with monkeys!
93	* ThreateningShark -- Sharks for adding some real teeth to your (normally) aquatic adventure!
94	* TentacledTerror -- because you don't question the awesomeness of anything with CombatTentacles.
95	[[/index]]
96
97	!!Other languages can be better.
98	[[index]]
99	* EverythingSoundsSexierInFrench -- Parler en français est tellement plus sexy que de ne pas le faire.
100	* GratuitousEnglish -- Having English is better than having no English.
101	* GratuitousForeignLanguage -- These are better than any native language alone.
102	* GratuitousFrench -- Avoir du français, c'est bien mieux que de ne pas en avoir.
103	* GratuitousGerman -- Mit Deutsch ist alles besser als mit keinen Deutsch.
104	* GratuitousItalian -- Tutto con l'italiano è meglio di tutto senza italiana.
105	* GratuitousGreek -- Τα πάντα με την ελληνική είναι καλύτερη από ό, τι χωρίς ελληνικά.
106	* GratuitousJapanese -- あまり用途や目的がなくても日本語を使いましょう!
107	* GratuitousLatin -- Omnia cum Latina est melius quam omnia sine Latine.
108	* GratuitousRussian -- Все с русским лучше, чем все без русского языка.
109	* GratuitousSpanish -- Todo con español es mejor que todo sin español.
110	* HeavyMetalUmlaut -- Adding random ümläüts to thë vowels of your band's name lets you show off how mëtäl it is.
111	* YiddishAsASecondLanguage -- .אלץ מיט ייִדיש איז בעסער ווי אַלץ אָן ייִדיש (''Read it right to left'')
112	[[/index]]
113	----
114	!!General Mentions of Elements Enhancing a Story
115	* In ''Webcomic/CinemaSnobReviewsFrozen'' (a fan comic where ''WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob'' reviews ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen\|2013}}'') Snob says that Pierre Kirby (from the ''Film/GodfreyHoNinjaMovies'') can make any fight scene better.
116	* ''WebVideo/BerserkAbridged'' noted that a soundtrack by Music/YokoKanno can make even the weakest anime seem awesome.

Context Main / GarnishingTheStory