Line #55 Main/PluckyComicRelief


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6	[[quoteright:960:[[WesternAnimation/PorkyPig https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_d55f11b909462487adc966c2786d3a34_74d390c0_1280.jpg]]]]
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8	->''"You know, whenever I'm with you I can't help but feel like a fool for taking things so seriously."''
9	-->-- '''[[DefrostingIceQueen Kati Mannequin]]''' on [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat The Immortal]] [[CaptainCrash Patrick Colasour]], ''Anime/Gundam00AWakeningOfTheTrailblazer''
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11	A character whose primary role in the show is to relieve tension with [[CloudCuckooLander oddball]] and/or hysterical, [[RuleOfFunny buffoonish antics]]. They have a job to do, but they don't get into the thick of things and can stay somewhat detached. Since their purpose is to relieve tension, they almost always have immunity to dying when compared to the other characters. A guaranteed sign that the series is suffering from CerebusSyndrome or that things are just [[FromBadToWorse going to go to Hell from here]] is to see whether this character [[ShooOutTheClowns either dies, leaves/is left behind or has a complete and utter meltdown,]] no matter how deserved.
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13	This trope is also known as the "comic relief" and in TheTeam trope it is known as the Funny Guy. Within TheTeam they serve the same purpose as in the cast ensemble but this is specifically for the in-universe team members instead of the show's audience. If they can fight, they're likely to be a FightingClown.
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15	The term comes from Creator/SamRockwell's "Guy Fleegman" character in the movie ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' (who, in a non-[[GenreBlindness genre blind]] example of LampshadeHanging, is afraid that he is only a RedShirt, until another character suggests that maybe he is instead the "plucky comic relief"), which of course is spoofing the television show ''Franchise/StarTrek''.
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17	In some cases, similar to PointyHairedBoss. Many {{sidekick}}s fit this description, as well. See AmusingAlien for otherworldly characters whose ''only'' purpose is comedy. See TheFace for where they have a purpose greater than comedy. Compare {{Cloudcuckoolander}} (whereas the humor comes out of [[SurrealHumor sheer eccentricities]] rather than just being comical, and it can ''sometimes'' go hand in hand with each other).
18	----
19	!!Examples:
20
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
24	%%* Shinagawa from ''Manga/AskDrRin''.
25	* In ''Manga/AnimalLand'', llamas being plucky comedy reliefs seems to be their entire species schtick.
26	* Sasha Brauss of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''. In a series set in a near hopeless war against towering, man eating monsters, she's the resident goofball, with an [[BigEater appetite]] about as big as the Colossal Titan.
27	** Connie runs a close second behind her, and is often paired with Sasha for comic moments. In a series where named characters die in handfuls every arc, they were also planned to be killed as the series progressed, but were spared by their popularity and editor warnings.
28	** Hanji Zoe, considering how she is an eccentric MadScientist and has an unhealthy appreciation for Titans. But as the series continues, we are reminded just ''why'' she is a Squad Leader and senior officer in the Survey Corps.
29	** However, after [[LetsGetDangerous getting dangerous]] they all lose this as their primary characteristic. Especially Hange.
30	* Isaac and Miria, the [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} very]], ''[[TheDitz very]]'' out-of-it OutlawCouple of ''Literature/{{Baccano}}''. [[TheFool They also miraculously avoid injury beyond paper-cut level on a regular basis]] in a show with [[{{Gorn}} a violence rating and body count of a typical Quentin Tarantino film]]. The lone exception to this is one heavily-bleeding cut Isaac acquires on his while saving Czeslaw, [[spoiler:which reveals their [[{{Immortality}} less-than-mortal]] nature to the boy when it immediately [[HealingFactor stitches itself up]]]].
31	* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Puck and Isidro apparently exist in part to keep the work from collapsing under its own cynicism during the darker stretches of the series.
32	%%* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''
33	%%** Up until recently, Keigo Asano fit this trope.
34	%%** Don Kanonji, too.
35	%%** And Kon!
36	* ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'': [[ButtMonkey Sunohara Youhei]], {{Expy}} of Jun Kitagawa.
37	* Helen from ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'': the sole humorous character in this very dark series. Indulging in everything from [[BigEater over-eating]] to HypocriticalHumor, including a BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine with [[TheStoic uber-stoic]] Deneve and on one memorable occasion actually [[BestBeerEver getting drunk]].
38	* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' features a Britannia comic relief, Rivalz Cardemonde and a Japanese comic relief, Shinichiro Tamaki. Lelouch can confirm that; he's been around both of 'em. Rivalz' friend Lelouch Lamperouge by day, Tamaki's idol Zero by night.
39	%%* Sena in ''Manga/CrossGame''.
40	* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'':
41	** The CluelessDetective duo. They tend to only be involved with whatever SpyVersusSpy craziness is going on tangentially and accidentally, and their NonStandardCharacterDesign and use of anime effects like CrossPoppingVeins and BlueWithShock in a show that mostly uses a more realistic style makes it clear that they aren't to be taken seriously.
42	** Saito of the Japanese police. He's kind of like Matsuda in that he's a member of a special taskforce with a tendency toward humorous bumbling (Saito has twice been shown using his own name when undercover), and his unrequited crush on [[FairCop Kirihara]] is played for laughs. He's also something of a CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, which makes sense, as he's a {{muggle}} who has regularly been up against super-powered sociopaths and has survived.
43	* ''Manga/DeathNote'':
44	** Matsuda. [[spoiler: [[BewareTheNiceOnes Until]] [[UnstoppableRage the]] [[BrokenPedestal last]] [[BreakTheCutie episode]].]]
45	** Misa Amane. Indeed she and Matsuda were the only characters who used most of the "sillier" anime tropes, like puffy cheeks, {{Face Fault}}s and, at one point, repeatedly hitting Light on the chest (complete with Looney Toons-esque sound effects).
46	** [[{{Shinigami}} Ryuk]]. He makes off-hand humorous comments that usually involve apples even during the most serious scenes, and almost always chuckles loudly at any new plot or character development that occurs.
47	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'':
48	** Gomamon from ''Anime/DigimonAdventure''.
49	** [[StraightManAndWiseGuy Bokomon and Neemon]] in ''Anime/DigimonFrontier''.
50	** ''Anime/DigimonFusion'' has a villain version in [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Blastmon]].
51	* ''Manga/DragonBall'': Because of the light-hearted and humorous nature of the show, especially since it started as a gag series, every character, including many of the villains, have funny moments.
52	** Krillin is given this role in pretty much every ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' Movie he is in, the most famous case of him playing this role was in the ''Super Android 13'' movie where he was beaten up by Chi-Chi, clonked his head twice, had hot coffee spilled on his head, had his face fried by a stray energy bolt, had a large pile of snow dumped on him, had Vegeta sent flying into him, slipped and skidded past the main villain when he was about to attack him and was humiliated in the hospital.
53	-->'''Krillin''':[[LampshadeHanging "Why do these things always happen to me?"]]
54	** Mr. Satan/Hercule is mostly treated as a joke, and his main purpose is to act like a grandiose idiot, get beaten up by villains, and be the FakeUltimateHero. However, he ''does'' prove to be useful on several occasions thanks to, essentially, [[GuileHero being very good at PR.]] Despite being comic relief who wouldn't last five seconds in any major fight, he's notable for both managing to contribute to saving the universe from Majin Buu and being the ''only'' character to survive the entirety of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' without [[DeathIsCheap dying once.]]
55	%%* Alielle from ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld''.
56	* Bat in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' was the plucky comic relief sidekick until the TimeSkip, where he TookALevelInBadass.
57	* Jackie Gudelhian from ''Anime/FutureGPXCyberFormula'' serves as this in the series. He often gets into fights with his partner and rival Heinel, which is often a major source of comedy in the series.
58	* Smith from ''Manga/GingaNagareboshiGin'' who evolves into a CoolOldGuy in ''Anime/GingaDensetsuWeed''. GB, a LovableCoward, follows in his footsteps in said sequel.
59	%%* Ueda in ''Manga/JapanInc''.
60	* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' has at least one for each part (save ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Phantom Blood]]'').
61	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Battle Tendency]]'': The [=JoJo=] of this part, Joseph Joestar himself also works as the comic relief, showing a lot of hot-headed and careless behavior that leads him to awkward situations such as when he [[spoiler:playfully greeted an immortal who just slaughtered a bunch of Nazis]].
62	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'': Several, the already mentioned Joseph Joestar getting in awkward situations. Jean Pierre Polnareff, a Frenchman who has bathroom problems and more than once finds himself in a life or death situation that involves a toilet. Also, Hol Horse, a servant of Dio who pursues the party. At first serious business, later comic relief.
63	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'': Okuyasu Nijimura is a school delinquent that claims not to be a smart person, and demonstrates it numerous times.
64	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'': Narancia Ghirga who, despite being two years older than the main character, displays a very childish behavior that matches his appearance. Also Guido Mista when the number 4 is involved.
65	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]'': Foo Fighters, being a bunch of plankton taking the form of a girl, thinks that prison is a fun place. Narciso Annasui who later becomes the main comic relief as being madly in love with Jolyne, he is not afraid to express it in front of her despite her general disinterest or obliviousness.
66	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Ball Run]]'': The deuteragonist Gyro Zeppeli, when he's not busy being the serious cool guy spends his time planning bad jokes and songs that Johnny [[SarcasmMode really finds clever]].
67	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureJoJolion JoJolion]]'': Joshu, with his ButtMonkey status, serves as a source of comic relief throughout the story.
68	* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'': Panda often serves as the main comic relief amongst the cast, finding some way to make fun of the situation.
69	%%* ''Anime/{{Kanon}}'': Jun Kitagawa.
70	%%* Mako Mankanshoku from ''Anime/KillLaKill''.
71	%%* [[ThoseTwoGuys Bucky and Pauly Cracker]] from ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion''.
72	* Played with in the "Film Noir" episode of ''Anime/MagicalShoppingArcadeAbenobashi''. Getting shot turns you into a chibified comic relief character. Pluckyness varies.
73	* Shiro Kabuto from ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and ''Anime/GreatMazinger''. Although he is smarter than he looks and he can be an BadassAdorable, he often provides comic relief, or by pulling TooDumbToLive stunts or by being a DeadpanSnarker and the voice of reason.
74	** Boss and the remainder of TheTeamNormal also were Plucky Comic Relief characters. Boss even lampshaded is in one ''Anime/GreatMazinger'', wondering why he must be the Plucky Comic Relief.
75	* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'', this is Patrick Colasour's primary role. Every battle he's in, he gets shot down, usually by a Gundam, yet unlike most other characters, he survives every time, earning him the nickname "The Immortal Colasour". ''And he's considered the best pilot in Europe!''
76	** He's also loyal to a fault, as shown when the UN-Armed Forces ''abandons him'' in the middle of the Taklamakan Desert after his AEU Enact was shot down and everyone assumed he was dead. He ''still'' returned to the base as if nothing had happened a few days later.
77	* Minoru Mineta from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' is literally a Plucky Comic Relief, as in, his powers revolve around plucking sticky berries from his hair.
78	** Kaminari Denki and Mina Ashido tend to get the most spotlight during lighthearted situations, as [[TheDitz their]] [[GenkiGirl personalities]] are often used to lift up the spirits of the group.
79	* Shiho from ''Anime/MyOtome''. Though some of her antics are usually the cause of (or contribute to) the problem of the day in early episodes, she becomes surprisingly effective near the end, while retaining her goofy madness.
80	** Shiho being this is rather odd, as her original ''Anime/MyHime'' incarnation was a serious, plot-relevant, and [[spoiler:''[[{{Yandere}} much darker]]'']] character, with little-to-no comedic moments.
81	%%* Pedro and Sancho in ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', more so later in the series.
82	* Naoki from ''Manga/{{NANA}}'' fits this trope particularly well: Despite all the drama that goes on in the series, he is oddly immune to it and (in present time) seemingly oblivious. The writer herself admits that he was written to round out the two rival bands in the story -- in essence, he's a throwaway character with no real backstory -- but he usually ends up being used as MrExposition in side stories.
83	* [[HardDrinkingPartyGirl Misato Katsuragi]], her pet Pen-Pen, and [[HotBlooded Asuka]] [[LargeHam Langley]] [[TheMcCoy Soryu]] in the otherwise quite dark anime ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' count as this. Pen-Pen considerably more than Misato and Asuka, it has to be said. [[spoiler: [[ShooOutTheClowns When Pen-Pen leaves]], you know that the series has given up on plucky comic antics altogether and has now [[MoodWhiplash completely moved into depressing]] territory.]]
84	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
85	** Rock Lee and Might Guy, without a doubt.
86	** Tobi also played this role in the Akatsuki [[spoiler:[[TheReveal at least until he is revealed to be THE]] BigBad, Obito Uchiha]].
87	* This is a very interesting case with ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' as there is actually tends to be a comic relief character per series. However, Team Rocket is this overall throughout the series considering they're AffablyEvil and always wind up on the receiving end of Ash and his friend's abuse. They play this role even more whenever a much more threatening evil organization is a threat at the time and Team Rocket themselves would often assist Ash and company. This is actually subverted for the first half of the ''Black & White'' anime where they TookALevelInBadass and rarely "blasted off again" whenever their plans are foiled. However, they dropped back to their status once Team Plasma was dealt with.
88	** On the subject of the other reoccurring Plucky Comic Relief would definitely be Brock. His [[CasanovaWannabe constant flirting]] with women has constantly resulting in him getting his ear pulled or even attacked by his very own Pokemon! If it's neither of those, there are the rare times the women outright reject Brock on the spot.
89	** Also, this trope actually plays for one of Ash's or his traveling companion's Pokemon as there tends to be a specific Pokemon of the group that serves as this.
90	* Uzura in ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' spends much of the second season filling this role, although she has a few plot-important moments towards the end and is never quite able to stay completely detached from the action.
91	* Sailor Chibi Moon in the '90s ''Anime/SailorMoon'' anime. Her Pink Sugar Heart Attack rarely worked, and it was pathetically weak. This is in contrast to the [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]] and ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'' where it actually does work well on a regular basis.
92	* ''Manga/ShamanKing'' gives us Chocolove, who pretty much tries to invoke this because he wants to be a comedian. Ironically, his humor comes from the fact that his jokes ''aren't'' funny. He's also fairly useful, unlike some other examples.
93	%%* Yaya Yuiki from ''Manga/ShugoChara''.
94	* In the last episode of ''Literature/{{Slayers}} NEXT'', Lina concludes that the only reason Martina survived the confrontation with the BigBad was because she is the Plucky Comic Relief character.
95	* ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' has several, all of which become serious once the tragic final arc begins.
96	** Enji Koma, the goofy-looking head waiter of Anteiku. He's primarily there as a ButtMonkey, getting no respect from his peers as he waxes nostalgic about his glory days. [[spoiler: He comes out of retirement, proving to be a DeathSeeker out to atone for his bloody past. It is left unclear whether or not he died during the last stand at V14]].
97	** Seidou Takizawa, the easily-excited and jealous junior Investigator. He spends most of the series getting picked on, embarrassing himself while drunk, or otherwise being the ButtMonkey around the office. [[spoiler: He has up performing a HeroicSacrifice, and is presumed dead after being maimed by Noro. The sequel, however, reveals him to have survived as a deranged Half-Ghoul]].
98	* When he's not being a badass, or the resident ButtMonkey (yes, he's actually both), Jun Manjoume of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' tends to be this, especially when it comes to his [[AllLoveIsUnrequited hilarious crush]] on Asuka or when his [[SidekickCreatureNuisance spirit partners]] are involved.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
102	* In ''Animation/HappyHeroes'', Little M. provides a lot of the comedy for most of the scenes that feature him and Big M., often by way of Little M. doing or saying something weird or taking one of Big M.'s commands too literally.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Comic Books]]
106	* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'': Reggie Mantle, the most comedic and magnificent jock in Riverdale.
107	* Stephanie Brown fills this role in ComicBook/Batgirl2000. The issues where she appears are almost always much more lighthearted, and she provides most of the humor in the book.
108	* ''ComicBook/StarTrekEarlyVoyages'': Captain Pike's yeoman and close friend Dermot Cusack, [[{{Oireland}} an Irishman with a well known and well deserved reputation as a rogue]], is the Plucky Comic Relief for the first three issues, until he is killed by Talza on Rigel VII in "Nor Iron Bars a Cage".
109	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Golden Age ComicBook/EttaCandy was a prankster and BoisterousBruiser whose quips and violence was most always played for laughs, though not the character herself which was rather impressive for a short overweight comic relief character in the 1940s.
110	* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern1941'': Doiby Dickles is actually often fairly stalwart for a comic relief sidekick. He still has to ask Alan what things like being called a "moron" means, the answer to which gets him riled up enough to go deck the criminal who'd called him such.
111	* Tangle the Lemur from ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' is a [[LargeHam hammy]] and [[GenkiGirl easily-excited]] ThrillSeeker with a tendency to make [[{{Adorkable}} adorably goofy faces]]. Barring her [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness rare moments]] of bitterness [[spoiler:and the five issues she spends [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie infected with]] [[BigBad Dr. Eggman's]] [[TheVirus Metal Virus]]]], just about every scene she's in is comedy gold.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Fan Works]]
115	* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': Jackson Barnes is still this among Monarch's G-Team, like in ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019''.
116	* [[FanFic/DungeonKeeperAmi Mukrezar]] is a soulless, murderous bastard. He completely wiped out ''all'' life on a continent, is an unrepentant torturer who apparently finds screams of the tormented 'soothing', [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and is also a terrible cook.]] Despite this, he is an amazingly quirky and charismatic leader, and usually gets an 'episode' every other chapter or so. As the humorous element.
117	* [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Axel]] fills this role in ''Keyblade Masters'', even though he's introduced late in the story. He also performs this duty in the sequel series, ''Sentinels of Chaos''.
118	* In ''Fanfic/TheStoryOfApolloDaphneAndLucaAnItalianTragedy'', [[TheGadfly Carlos']] mischievous personality and his constant comical meddling in other people's business in order to obtain some juicy gossip give a more carefree and lighthearted note to the story, which is quite dramatic and emotionally deep.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Films — Animation]]
122	* ''Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon'' usually have one. And so do all of the movies that [[FollowTheLeader copy their formulas]].
123	** ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'': Dopey, who's kind of like a tiny Harpo Marx.
124	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'': Thumper
125	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'': The mice, mainly Jacque and Octavius/Gus
126	** ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'': Mr. Smee
127	** ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'': The Three Good Fairies and the two kings on certain occasions.
128	** ''WesternAnimation/TheAristocats'': Napoleon and Lafayette.
129	** ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'': Dinky and Boomer.
130	** ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'': Gurgi and Fflewddur Fflam.
131	** ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'': Tito.
132	** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid\|1989}}'': Flounder and Scuttle.
133	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Genie, who is very plot-relevant.
134	** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King\|1994}}'': Timon and Pumbaa.
135	** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame\|Disney}}'': Hugo, Victor and Laverne.
136	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'': Pain and Panic.
137	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'': Mushu, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po
138	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'': Terk and Tantor
139	** ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'': Kronk
140	** ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet'': Delbert Doppler, Morph and B.E.N.
141	** ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear'': Rutt and Tuke
142	** ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Louis and Charlotte.
143	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen\|2013}}'': Olaf and Sven. Olaf is the more prominent of the two, although he adds some quite heartfelt and "deep" moments to the movie. Sven's facial emotions are quite hilarious, but his few lines voiced by Kristoff provoke laughs.
144	** ''WesternAnimation/RayaAndTheLastDragon'': Sisu
145	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'': Bruno
146	* Devon and Cornwall, and to an extent, the Griffon and Bladebeak in ''WesternAnimation/QuestForCamelot''.
147	* Bobby in ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'' and ''WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie''. Notably the only one of the youths present in both movies with no visible conflict with a parent figure, almost everything he says and does is some sort of dumb joke. He takes very few things seriously, is an AttentionWhore, a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, and more-or-less a PerpetualSmiler, and is considered to be weird (among friends) or annoying (with Beret Girl and the Gammas). He's also the one to [[OoCIsSeriousBusiness give Max an emotionally-charged]] RousingSpeech.
148	%% * ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'': Donkey is a parody of the Plucky Comic Relief -- when he isn't being a straight example. %% Zero-context example. Please explain how Donkey is a parody/straight example.
149	%% ** This also applies to Puss in Boots as well as Donkey in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek 2}}'' and onwards. %% Please explain how they're Plucky Comic Reliefs.
150	%% ** The fairytale characters that appear in all the films as side characters can be classified as this. %% Please explain how they're Plucky Comic Reliefs.
151	%% * Perrito largely serves as this in ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'', though he does contribute to more serious scenes on occasion. %% Please explain how he's a Plucky Comic Relief.
152	* As serious as ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH'' was in tone, there was a certain crow that happens to be the comic relief. And that crow in particular is Jeremy.
153	* Humphrey from ''WesternAnimation/AlphaAndOmega'' serves as the snappy one-liner of the movie. he is usually seen hanging out with his other omega buddies and is shown to try to cheer up an alpha named Kate, whom he likes to be with.
154	** Justified in that this is stated to be the role of the Omegas in the pack; to break up fights and keep everyone's spirits up.
155	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'':
156	** Dug the dog is hilarious, and plucky doesn't even begin to describe him.
157	** Not to mention the overly-enthusiastic Russell.
158	%%* Mub and Grub from ''WesternAnimation/Epic2013''.
159	[[/folder]]
160
161	[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
162	* Lampshaded in ''Film/GalaxyQuest''. Guy fears for the entire film that he is destined to die, as his character on the show, Crewman #6, was a typical RedShirt that died in the first act of his only episode. Fred eventually calms his fear by suggesting Guy is actually this trope. (And towards the end of the film, [[spoiler: just before the in-universe ResetButton gets pushed, Guy is indeed the only crew-member who hasn't been killed.]])
163	** Fred himself also qualifies by spending most of the film oblivious to, or at least unreasonably calm about, the ostensible dangers they're going through. The original cut depicted him as a stoner, but this element was downplayed to receive a family-friendly rating. The remaining hints are enough to act as a ParentalBonus.
164	* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'':
165	** ''Film/TheReturnOfGodzilla'':
166	*** The Bum, played by Tetsuya Takeda. He has a variety of funny antics and lines in the Japanese cut, the New World cut, and the International dub, arguably because of the HK dubber's [[LargeHam hammy performance]].
167	-->''1985'': "Don't act like a big shot hick, you just got to town! If you wanna hang around with me you need to learn some manners!"
168	-->HK dub: "Ach! What's the big idea! Get away from me Godzilla! You wanna see the way us city folks live?! What's wrong with ya?!"
169	*** Kamijo, Maki's photographer, who never speaks a line in ''1985''.
170	** ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'': Monarch has two. Among the key brass, a lot of Rick Stanton's role not involving exposition or TechnoBabble is to make jokes to lighten the mood, whilst Jackson Barnes is the goofiest member of Monarch's military G-Team.
171	** ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': {{Inverted}} by the three-man Team Godzilla. Madison Russell is basically the OnlySaneWoman of them, while Hayes the ConspiracyTheorist and Josh the nerdy CowardlyLion can both be quite goofy in their own ways.
172	* ''Film/IndependenceDayResurgence'': Floyd Rosenberg, the nerdy federal controller immersed in a war against aliens. Dr. Okun, the AbsentMindedProfessor, who forgets that he has no pants on.
173	* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' / ''Film/TheHobbit'':
174	** All principle Dwarves (except Thorin and Balin) are prone to this in some ways through both of the trilogies. Whereas Gimli is the sole Dwarf who gradually fell into this trope in the original, the Dwarves in Thorin's Company all have strange quirks that make them unique. Even Dáin gets in on it with [[SirSwearsALot his surprisingly foul mouth]]. [[BewareTheSillyOnes That's not to say they won't back out from a fight if pushed, though]].
175	** [[ThoseTwoGuys Pippin and Merry]] in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing''. Pippin's humor is the one thing that keeps himself and his friends going throughout the ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy.
176	* ''Film/{{Mandalay}}'': Mrs. Peters, a fellow passenger on the ferry boat, is the main supplier of comical scenes. Her interactions with her husband, as they are an [[LikeAnOldMarriedCouple old, married couple]], are hilarious in a light-hearted sense -- she's the one doing the talking, only pausing to get confirmation from Mr. Peters who, in turn, is resigned to not quite catch what his wife is saying.
177	* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'':
178	** Nightcrawler provides some of the more amusing moments in ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' and ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.
179	** Banshee is the most fun character in ''Film/XMenFirstClass''.
180	** Quicksilver is a source of comedy in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' and ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.
181	** As referenced by the opening credits of ''Film/{{Deadpool 2016}}'', Weasel's narrative purpose is comedy.
182	** Downplayed with Professor X in ''Film/XMenApocalypse'' because he's predominantly a dramatic character, but writer Simon Kinberg reveals in his commentary that Charles was deliberately used to lighten up the mood of the first act.
183	--->'''Kinberg''': I tried to get a lot of humour into the movie whenever it was appropriate, and James [[=McAvoy=]] is a really good comedic actor, so there was a lot of good Xavier moments.
184	* [[NiceGuy Sergeant Paine]] is this in Film/TheThirdMan.
185	* ''Film/LastActionHero''. {{Lampshaded}} by GenreSavvy Danny Madigan, who had been [[MediumAwareness operating on the assumption]] that he was one of the Main Characters.
186	-->'''Danny''': ...I'm the comedy sidekick. Oh, ''[[PrecisionFStrike shit!]]'' I'm the comedy sidekick! ''[[OhCrap This isn't going to work!]]''
187	* In ''Film/Cinderella2015'', Lizards Footmen are like that in the film.
188	* Aside from being TheLancer to [[Film/StreetsOfFire Tom Cody's]] TheHero, Billy Fish filled this role for the scene where he refuses to give Ben Gunn the money. Tom manages to convince Billy, which follows with the latter complaining under his breath. And should we mention that Billy is played by Creator/RickMoranis, an actual comedian?
189	* The Largo brothers, Pavi and Luigi, fill this role in ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera''. In a movie like Repo, the comic relief duo is made up of a murderer and a rapist...
190	%%* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':
191	%%** Pintel and Ragetti serve as the comic relief.
192	%%** And to a lesser extent Mullroy and Murtogg.
193	* Jack, the main character of ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', falls squarely into this category, although ''he'' [[WrongGenreSavvy thinks he's the hero.]]
194	** He ''does'' have a climactic moment of heroism when he personally [[CatchAndReturn kills]] [[BigBad the evil tyrannical overlord]] [[WhoWantsToLiveForever who, like the Queen song, wants to live forever.]]
195	* J. Jonah Jameson and his assistant Hoffman in the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''. Also Peter's landlord and his daughter.
196	* C-3PO and R2-D2 in ''Franchise/StarWars''. This is the intended role of Jar Jar Binks in the prequel movies, but he proved so insufferable that George Lucas heavily cut down his screentime until he had a mere cameo in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
197	* C-3P0 and R2-D2 were allegedly inspired by Tahei and Matashichi from ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', who provided levity to a serious situation with their sinful shenanigans.
198	%%* Cabbie in ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork''.
199	%%* Johnny in ''Film/{{Airplane}}''.
200	* Sam Rockwell [[http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15815/rockwell-talks-iron-man-2-character actually used the term himself]] when describing his role as Justin Hammer in ''Film/IronMan2''.
201	* Riley from ''Film/NationalTreasure'' is this in spades. He is rarely seen taking a situation seriously, even when in immediate danger.
202	%%* John from ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy''.
203	* Pavel Chekov [[{{Flanderization}} increasingly]] takes on this role in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' films, the height of this occurring during [[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome the fourth movie]].
204	* ''Film/TheEyeCreatures'' has the Peeping Tom Air Force guys, who manage to both avoid having any plot relevance or give their actions any actual humor or other, non-repulsive qualities.
205	* Tuco from ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' might qualify, given that most, if not all of the humorous moments in the film involve him in one form or another. Unlike most examples, Tuco is the protagonist instead of a side character.
206	%%* Boris from ''Film/{{Goldeneye}}''.
207	%%* Fat Amy from ''Film/PitchPerfect''.
208	%%* Buck from ''Film/{{Stagecoach}}''
209	* Heihachi from ''Film/SevenSamurai'' intended to fill this role to boost morale and provide levity for this dark and grave situation of bandits raiding their village. However, it's Kikuchiyo, a later addition to the script, who fills this role better and becomes TheHeart as well. Feeble villager Yohei filled this role as well, [[spoiler: before becoming a SacrificialLion]]
210	* Darcy in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' and ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld''. She's a fish out of water among the other scientists (she's a ''political'' scientist, as opposed to astrophysicists Drs. Jane Foster and Erik Selvig), and so she primarily makes snarky remarks. Even when she does something like taser Thor, she maintains her snarkiness (upon Jane and Erik's shocked reactions; "[[DefensiveWhat What]]? He was freaking me out!").
211	* Jake in ''Film/SupportYourLocalSheriff'' is described as "the town character" to his face, and its hinted that when before he became a Sheriff's deputy he was the town drunk. Even he sees the ironic humor in that kind of promotion, and remarks upon it constantly. This was actually actor Creator/JackElam's first comedic role (for most of his prior career he'd been playing villains), and his wonderfully funny performance [[LeslieNielsenSyndrome typecast him as a comedic actor for the rest of his life]]. Not that he complained much about the change.
212	* The ghosts, Stuart and Cyrus in ''Film/TheFrighteners''. They wanted to haunt a house so Frank might "exorcise" it.
213	* ''Film/{{Help}}'': Ringo, sometimes aided and abetted by George.
214	* ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'': In "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", the little girl with the Creator/WCFields doll takes great delight in mocking John Valentine and takes everything in her stride, even when all of the adults around her are panicking. She maintains her composure right up until Valentine shoots open the window so that he can kill the gremlin.
215	* ''Film/DestinationMoon'': When one of the original crew falls ill, Flight Engineer Joe Sweeney is reluctantly convinced to come along as radio operator. His general lack of enthusiasm for the project is a RunningGag, but he turns out to be a CowardlyLion, volunteering himself to die in a ColdEquation without even being asked. As per usual for this trope, the other crewmen think up a way to avoid this.
216	[[/folder]]
217
218	[[folder:Literature]]
219	* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': Marco starts out as the team smartass, especially given that he's the one member of the team who wants nothing to do the fight against the Yeerk invasion. However, as the series continues and the war starts to wear on the team, Marco becomes progressively more cynical and calculating -- to the point that his SadClown antics barely seem to be keeping him sane.
220	* ''Literature/TheBrothersKaramazov'': Madame Khokhlakov's role is to provide lighthearted, trivial discussion versus everything else that goes on in the story. She is eternally cheerful and will talk you ''to death''. Dostoevsky used her to insult his critics at the time by having her agree with their works.
221	%%* ''Literature/TheDeathOfTheVazirMukhtar'': Faddey Bulgarin.
222	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
223	** A casual reading of the Witches novels would suggest that Nanny Ogg's job is to keep bringing the funny, while Granny Weatherwax and Magrat get all the achievements. And this is the case, but what's not always apparent is that this is exactly how she likes things, and if she ''wanted'' to be Granny, she easily could be.
224	** In the Watch novels, the role is filled by [[ThoseTwoGuys the Watch's most senior and least effective coppers]], dim-witted Sergeant Colon and kleptomaniac {{Gonk}} Corporal Nobbs.
225	* ''Literature/TheDragonHoard'': Prince Sillius plays this role among the questing princes.
226	* ''Literature/FiveWeeksInABalloon'': Joe doesn't treat anything too seriously and cracks jokes nearly constantly. A lot of his humor revolves around mock-naivety.
227	** The same author's ''Literature/FromTheEarthToTheMoon'' has Michel Ardan in a similar role, balancing the other two serious protagonists with his laid back attitude.
228	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
229	** Fred and George. As the series gets DarkerAndEdgier, [[spoiler:one loses an ear and the other dies.]]
230	** Ron Weasley also fills this role within the main trio, and he's an even earlier gauge of the series' impending [[CerebusSyndrome dark turn]]: as early as [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire book four]], his general status as ChewToy produces some moments of unexpectedly bitter resentment. By [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows book seven]], he's primed for a [[DarkestHour complete meltdown]].
231	* ''Literature/TheHeartsWeSold'': James takes this role InUniverse, taking it upon himself to crack jokes in awkward or tense situations. This is important for two reasons: first, it makes James seem approachable and trustworthy to newcomers, and second, it keeps everyone from going insane due to stress.
232	* ''Literature/InDesertAndWilderness'': Kali, mostly due to CrossCulturalKerfluffle -- he seems much more serious among his own people.
233	%%* Basil Stag Hare in ''Redwall''.
234	* ''Literature/ASymphonyOfEternity'': We have Commodore Dalius Augustus, he's his fleet's resident comedian, but that doesn't stop him from being [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot a badass sentient velociraptor alien who is well versed in fleet warfare and has a sweet tooth!]] He's best friends with the resident Starscream.
235	* ''Literature/TeenPowerInc'': Tom is written to be more goofy than his friends due to his moments of immaturity and some of the silly sketches he draws.
236	* ''Literature/TheToughGuideToFantasyland'': The Small Man. His LovableCoward ways, gambling, and womanizing will be more irritating than funny, but he will still manage to help save the world in some small way.
237	* ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'': Jacob is the funniest character in the book. And probably the only one.
238	* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': Graystripe is only in the first book to lighten the mood. However, his role greatly increases in later books.
239	* ''Literature/WarsOfTheRealm'': the angel Ral, described in the books' character list as Validus' "awkward and funny friend." He purposefully asks to be reassigned under Validus' command, even though the assignments are far more dangerous, because he's tired of being around "people who never smile" (speaking of the Russians). At one point, he even gives Arphaz a bad case of ''constipation'' just to get him out of the way.
240	* ''Literature/WatershipDown'': Bluebell, the comedian rabbit, serves as a comic relief not only to the readers, but also is an in-story tension breaker. Keehar the seagull serves the purpose in the film adaptation.
241	[[/folder]]
242
243	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
244	* ''Series/{{The 100}}'': Jasper and Monty filled this role in Season 1. When they got involved in a more intense and dramatic storyline for Season 2, Wick stepped up as the main funny guy (with a knack for making other characters more snarky whenever they're around him). Murphy also starts to fill this role late in Season 2, serving as the DeadpanSnarker towards Jaha's messianic zeal.
245	%%* ''Series/TwentyFour'': Chloe O'Brian is this, as far as a serious show like this allows anyone to be.
246	%%* ''Series/{{Alias}}'': Marshall.
247	* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': Felicity Smoak went from one-off episode guest appearance to essentially the female lead thanks to her awkward quips and the actress's comic timing. (Though she also acts as TheSmartGuy). As the show started off rather sober in tone without a resident funny guy her handful of scenes significantly lightened the mood (she actually managing to get a ''smile'' out of [[{{ByronicHero}} Oliver]]) and she was brought on as a regular. [[spoiler: In an unusual case she's become Oliver's main LoveInterest while also remaining the PluckyComicRelief.]]
248	* ''Series/BabylonFive'': This was Vir's role early in the series, until CharacterDevelopment began kicking in during Season 2.
249	* ''Series/BandOfBrothers'':
250	** It's resident [[ManOfAThousandVoices master of parody]] George Luz. Considering the series is set in WWII, he has some elements of the SadClown.
251	** His friend Perconte also qualifies, and so does "Skip" Muck.
252	* ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'': Eric started off as the ChickMagnet but when that role was taken over by Shawn he became this. And then things just got [[CloudCuckooLander weird...]]
253	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
254	** Xander and later Andrew. Though the writing is uniformly witty enough that all characters get their day in the Plucky Comic Relief sun.
255	** This is true with ''all'' Creator/JossWhedon shows, but there is still one or two characters in each series who do virtually nothing ''but'' be funny, in addition to fulfilling their role in the cast. In chronological order: Lorne on ''Series/{{Angel}}'', Wash on ''{{Series/Firefly}}'', and Topher on ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}''.
256	** Lampshaded:
257	---> '''Kaylee''' Did Zoe seem a little, er, funny to you at breakfast?
258	---> '''Wash''' C'mon Kaylee. We all know ''I'm'' the funny one.
259	** DeconstructedTrope with Lorne: the toll that being the Comic Relief takes on him by the fifth season is seriously rough.
260	** Harmony, however, remains her airheaded, self-absorbed self throughout.
261	%%* ''Series/BreakingBad'' gives us Saul Goodman, who was created for this purpose after Vince Gilligan felt the show was getting too dark.
262	* ''Series/{{CSI}}'': Greg Sanders, the DNA specialist, was originally an excellent example of this trope. Later in the series he has several serious character arcs. He also becomes one of the most experienced [=CSIs=] on the team. His role has been taken over by Hodges and the supporting [[LabRat Lab Rats]].
263	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Earned a LampshadeHanging in the episode ''The Unicorn And The Wasp'', when the Doctor calls Donna "The plucky young woman who helps me out":
264	-->'''Donna:''' 'The plucky young woman who helps me out'?
265	-->'''The Doctor:''' No policewomen in 1926.
266	-->'''Donna:''' I'll pluck you in a minute!
267	* ''{{Series/Emergency}}'': Chet Kelly. Station 51's resident [[ThePrankster practical joker]] and VitriolicBestBuds with Gage.
268	* ''Series/TheFlyingNun'': Sister Sisto. In the pilot it was explained that she is studying English sayings in preparation for her eventually teaching in the United States. From that point on her running joke was to say something like "We need to get on the circle!" to immediately be corrected by one of the others "Uh, that's 'ball', Sister."
269	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
270	** Tyrion Lannister can lighten up any scene, even the most violent ones (his [[spoiler: bludgeoning a man to death with his ''shield'' easily counts as one of his most badass and amusing scenes in the series.]]) He also bucks the trend in that he is [[HiddenDepths neither dim-witted]] nor [[MagnificentBastard genuinely concerned for anyone around him.]]
271	** Oh, he's plenty concerned for others. [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold He just doesn't show it often.]]
272	* Brittany S. Pierce from ''Series/{{Glee}}'' served as this for at least most of the first two seasons 2
273	* In ''Series/{{Glue}}'', the role is fulfilled by [[TheStoner Rob]] and [[TheDitz Annie]]. The latter is a straighter example since she has no character arc of her own.
274	* ''Series/HarpersIsland'': In this murder mystery, Cal and Chloe provide much-needed wacky romance hijinx between all the deaths. They even have a short breather episode after the [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath head spade incident]] when they try to retrieve Chloe's engagement ring. [[spoiler:When they both die in episode 11 of 13, it's a sign that there [[ShooOutTheClowns won't be any more funny bits thence onwards]].]]
275	%%* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'': Both Hiro and Ando.
276	* Crosetti and Lewis from ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' were frequently used for comic relief to prevent the show from getting too dark. Crosetti's quirky personality and Lewis's sardonic, devil-may-care attitude made them into a quintessential duo, and they would frequently show up in otherwise extremely dark episodes to provide some levity. Since they were very likeable and well-written characters, and they easily lended themselves to more dramatic storylines, so they weren't totally out of place.
277	%%* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Bud Roberts on seasons 2,3 & 4.
278	%%* ''Series/{{Lost}}'': Hurley's role began this way, but has become less so as the character has become more important.
279	* ''Series/{{Mash}}'': Klinger so seldom got into the dramatic plots of the episodes that his SarcasmFailure was more effective than Hawkeye's ("Mail Call Three", "Period of Adjustment", "Death Takes a Holiday").
280	** In latter seasons, occasional character Sergeant Rizzo took on this role--his main job being to goof off, sleep, and tell quirky stories about his home in Louisiana.
281	* ''Series/{{Monk}}'': Randy Disher. His quirky antics and wild theories really give a nice dose of humor in the show. Still he is semi-competent and is always in the right place when he's needed.
282	* ''Series/MrLucky'': Andamo plays this role. Even when being held hostage by a murderer with an itchy trigger finger, he keeps trying to make light of the situation.
283	* ''Series/TheOC'': Taylor Townsend. She was a welcome relief from the sometimes overpowering angst of the penultimate season. Usually her wackiness was paired with Seth and Summer's in the aforementioned season to provide comic drama, if such a thing exists.
284	* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' has had a share of these characters throughout its many seasons.
285	** The best known examples are off course Bulk and Skull from the original ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers''. A FatAndSkinny duo of {{Butt Monkey}}s who constantly try out schemes for their own gain, only for said schemes to backfire. Usually this results in slapstick humor. The duo was apparently so popular, that a stand alone series was planned for them in which they ran a hotel. This was the reason why the characters got turned into chimpanzees for the first half of ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo''. But ultimately, the higher ups decided such a series would not work, causing the actors to return to Power Rangers.
286	** Joel Rawlings of ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'' is this. Most of the humor of this series derives from his failed attempts to get dates with a female scientist or trying to skip training.
287	** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'': While the villains in this season are pretty lighthearted and comedic to begin with, villainesses Marah and Kapri fit this trope, as their main purpose seems to be playing the role of spoiled brats to their uncle [[BigBad Lothor]].
288	** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' has Devin and Cassidy. They are frequently compared to Bulk and Skull, but play a much more subdued role compared to them. Cassidy and Devin start out as an AlphaBitch and her lackey, who, like Bulk and Skull, try out schemes for their own gain, only for them to backfire. But later on, they grow out of these stereotypes and this role and develop distinct personalities.
289	** ''Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive'' features Norg the Yeti. He is a dimwitted Yeti who lived in the cave one of the main villains decided to take as his base.
290	** ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'': Ziggy Grover, the green ranger, fits this trope pretty well. His only task in this team seems to be being the victim of as many accidents as possible.
291	%%* ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars: Definitely'' Hanna.
292	* ''Series/{{Primeval}}'': Connor Temple initially provides some comic relief with his nerdiness and CowardlyLion behavior, but as the show becomes more serious, so does he.
293	* ''Series/{{Psych}}'':
294	** Shawn Spencer has the distinction of being the main character AND the Plucky Comic Relief. DeconstructedTrope in "An Evening with Mr. Yang," when it's revealed that Shawn ''needs'' the Plucky Comic Relief in order to distance himself from the things he has to deal with. When Shawn's mother is kidnapped by the serial killer and Shawn suffers a HeroicBSOD, [[StraightMan Gus]] steps forward to take over the Plucky Comic Relief, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness much to the confusion of everyone around them.]]
295	** Woody TheCoroner, a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} who is there to say and do funny, and [[RefugeInAudacity sometimes wildly inappropriate]], things. In the seventh season premiere ("Santabarbaratown 2"), Woody's the one who provides most of the comic relief because Shawn[[spoiler: 's father has just been shot]] and the situation is too serious for him to make jokes.
296	* ''Series/PunkyBrewster'': Allen Anderson was the show's comic relief, although his failure to learn CPR in "Cherie Lifesaver" left him sobered because it nearly took Cherie's life (she was trapped in a disused refrigerator and was found unconscious. Punky and Margaux used CPR learned at school to save her.)
297	* ''Series/{{Revolution}}'': Aaron Pittman. He says some pretty funny things, like in "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E7TheChildrensCrusade The Children's Crusade]]", when he compares the group of kids they find to ''Children of the Corn'', and annoying little Ewoks from ''Star Wars''.
298	* ''Series/{{Sadakatsiz}}'': Mrs. Cavidan is a total gossip who always digs for and reacts to juicy details in the most melodramatic manner possible. She gasps loudly, speculates wild scenarios, and exaggerates stuff shamelessly while remaining reasonably close to the truth. Her behavior is either hilarious, lightens up the mood, or causes some minor MoodWhiplash both out and InUniverse. Characters laugh at her antics, get annoyed at her in a way that's funny, or, like doctor Asya and Gönül, roast her à la DeadpanSnarker. Cavidan takes it all in good spirits.
299	* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': Elnor's main role in "Stardust City Rag" is to provide levity; all of his lines are lighthearted and they poke fun at his naïveté. He also has funny moments in subsequent episodes.
300	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
301	** Sam and Dean are both quite quippy, but Dean almost always has a one-liner ready for every situation that the brothers find themselves in.
302	** The archangel Gabriel is widely considered the funniest character on the show, especially when compared to his brothers Michael or Raphael.
303	** Kevin Tran is mostly this among the heroes, although things can still get very dark and serious when it comes to Crowley or the bombshell that's been dropped on his life.
304	** Among the Special Children who develop PsychicPowers, Andy Gallagher's reaction to developing the ability to project images into people's heads is to torment a {{Jerkass}} by making him think about gay porn.
305	* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'': There are a few of these, including [[Series/DaiSentaiGoggleFive Goggle Yellow]], [[Series/TokumeiSentaiGoBusters Beet Buster]], and [[Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger Kyoryu Black]].
306	* ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'''s Mitsuhiro Ide is the most comedic member of Science Patrol. However, he also does double duty as TheSmartGuy of the team, and some episodes reveal his [[HiddenDepths surprisingly complex]] views towards his job, such as him expressing reluctance towards killing [[WasOnceAMan Jamila]] in Episode 23 or feeling Science Patrol is useless compared to Ultraman in Episode 37.
307	* ''Series/TheWitcher2019'': Episodes where Jaskier appears are usually more lighthearted, and he tries his best to lighten the mood and cheer Geralt up when he can.
308	* ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'': Max, whose dialogue consists of nothing but bad one-liners.
309	* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': Joxer ([[MilesGloriosus the Mighty]]). No matter how hard or how often he tries to be TheLancer, the AntiHero, or the VillainProtagonist, poor man.
310	-->'''Joxer''': Now listen, I'm fierce, and I have a lust for blood. As a matter of fact, if a couple of days go by and I haven't shed some blood, I get ''very depressed.'' Blood and me go together like a horse and chariot! [[BloodBath I once bathed in a tub of blood]]! My nickname is Bloody Joxer!
311	-->'''Xena''': If you like blood so much? Keep talking.
312	* ''Series/TheXFiles'': The Lone Gunmen. [[spoiler: This did not save them from a random and contrived death in the last season, in an otherwise comedic episode]].
313	[[/folder]]
314
315	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
316	* Exotico {{tag team}} turned stable, The Christopher Street Connection, were the original plucky comic relief on the Wrestling/RingOfHonor shows. They got beat up ''a lot'' but always managed to come back smiling. Sometimes they feuded with baby {{face}}s but they were never worse than [[WildCard Tweeners]] themselves. Some later examples include [[Wrestling/LondonAndKendrick Paul London, Spanky]], Wrestling/ColtCabana, [[Wrestling/HunterJohnston Delirious]] and Wrestling/ElGenerico, though ROH has a tendency to turn many of them DarkerAndEdgier, even if only for an angle. Wrestling/JimmyJacobs is one who proved not so plucky and remained a problem child after he found out [[LoveRedeems love doesn't redeem]] till his final days in the company.
317	* In Wrestling/{{Progress Wrestling}} there's Eddie Dennis, although he's more than capable of holding his own in a fight.
318	[[/folder]]
319
320	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
321	* ''Series/PiliFantasyWarOfDragons'': Chin Chia-hsien and Yin Shih-jen, with a Laurel and Hardy type of slapstick. Notwithstanding, both have a fairly big impact on the plot by way of sharing messages, manipulating enemies of the Tiger Generals, and otherwise being good allies.
322	[[/folder]]
323
324	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
325	%%* [[OurGnomesAreWeirder Gnomes]] in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''.
326	* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', Squee from the Weatherlight Saga. For example, the flavor text for [[http://magiccards.info/tp/en/279.html Fool's Tome]]. More generally, goblins typically fill such a role. There was a RunningGag where goblins that could destroy things had a profession related to whatever it was they were destroying - [[http://magiccards.info/ud/en/84.html Goblin Gardener]] destroyed lands, [[http://magiccards.info/ul/en/79.html Goblin Medic]] dealt damage to creatures, and so on.
327	* Goblins in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', in a disturbing sort of way. Dangerously stupid, {{Big Eater}}s, UglyCute, {{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren, canonically so distractable that they pause in the middle of combat to raid the refreshments, and fond of singing little songs about eating people. They also serve as {{Butt Monkey}}s in a lot of official art. [[http://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9227-FlumphOnGoblinAction.jpg Getting pwned by a flumph]]. [[http://paizo.com/image/content/GameMastery/PZO3016-SAMPLES.jpg Demonstrating status effects.]]
328	* The Orks serve this function in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' as a race of [[PsychopathicManchild psychopathic manchildren]] with a healthy dose of CrossesTheLineTwice.
329	** Their [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy Counterparts]] fill a similar role in the game, but seeing as the setting is notably less [[DarkerAndEdgier grimdark]], they are obviously not the only race that fills this role. The Skaven are a good example of this, due to them being both StupidEvil and LaughablyEvil with their ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and all. Add to that hamster wheels with lasers, and it should be pretty clear that they fit into this spot too.
330	[[/folder]]
331
332	[[folder:Theater]]
333	* Launcelot Gobbo in ''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'', who was written in specifically as "the Clown." His life offstage is referred to (he's got a family and a mistress), but onstage he's mostly there to give overdramatic monologues, spew puns and complain about how converting Jews to Christianity will raise the price of pork. Gratiano qualifies, too.
334	* Sir Ké in ''Theatre/LaLegendeDuRoiArthur'' whose questions are a source of bemusement and irritation for Merlin but commedy gold to the audience.
335	%%* Luther Billis in ''Theatre/SouthPacific''.
336	%%* Costard and Don Armado in ''Theatre/LovesLaboursLost''.
337	%%* Jacob in ''Theatre/LaCageAuxFolles''
338	%%* Nick Bottom and his "crew of patches" in ''Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream''.
339	%%* Sir Andrew Aguecheek in ''Theatre/TwelfthNight''.
340	%%* Launce in ''Theatre/TwoGentlemenOfVerona''.
341	%%* Princess Amneris in ''{{Theatre/Aida\|JohnRice}}''
342	%%* Maureen in ''Theatre/{{Rent}}''.
343	[[/folder]]
344
345	[[folder:Toys]]
346	* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'':
347	** This seems to be the most common personality type for Toa of Air, as seen with Lewa, Matau and Kongu. Each is a DeadpanSnarker and a bit of a klutz who provide many of the funny moments throughout the story. Kongu actually invokes this trope because of Lewa, having been a rather serious Matoran before the Toa Nuva of Air showed him how to lift spirits with a little humour.
348	** Pohatu, one of the less serious Toa Nuva alongside Lewa, also has a poignant sense of humor, though this is a secondary trait compared to his [[NiceGuy friendliness]].
349	[[/folder]]
350
351	[[folder:Video Games]]
352	%%* ''VideoGame/AlanWake'': Barry Wheeler.
353	%%* Chuck from ''VideoGame/AngryBirds'' as well as his [[{{Expy}} exported]] [[DistaffCounterpart female counterpart]], Poppy, from ''Angry Birds Stella''.
354	* ''VideoGame/CarolReedMysteries'': The janitor. Most of the time he isn't connected to the cases, he's mainly there to make the player laugh every once in a while.
355	* ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'': The Jester naturally fills this role as he makes several wisecracks now and then. This trope then becomes {{Deconstructed}} if [[DespairEventHorizon he gains an affliction]] as he truly begins to see the hopelessness of the situation and his jokes (what little are left) begin to take a very spiteful and hateful tone that begin to stress out other party members instead of cheering them up.
356	* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' has [[LordErrorProne Siegmeyer]], a bumbling knight who became Undead and ventured to Lordran for one last adventure. The player runs into him in various situations, where he's nearly always in quite a pickle.
357	* ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'': Henry can always be counted on to get a laugh out of the player due to his surreal stupidity and complete cluelessness.
358	* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'': Alistair is an interesting case in that he is also well aware of how dreadful the situation is and what all is at stake, and is very competent when the situation calls for it.
359	* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'': If a Servant is introduced in a gag/jokey event (particularly the ''Gudaguda'', Summer, Halloween and Christmas events), chances are they're this. Even if some of them can be serious, they're often underscored with their more funny behavior and/or being the butt of jokes. Many of those Servants are variants of existing, non-gag Servants, and they're played in more lighthearted ways. Despite all that, most of them are powerful fighters in their own right.
360	%%* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'': Quina Quen.
361	* ''VideoGame/GodOfWarPS4'': Downplayed but Atreus as the {{Deuteragonist}} plays this role for some levity throughout the game. These moments aren't merely played for comedy's sake but to also provide Kratos opportunities to mellow out and develop his fatherly instincts. This is best demonstrated when Kratos [[spoiler:decides to finally reveal to Atreus his divine heritage]], only to be surprised when the first thing Atreus asks is if [[SkewedPriorities he can transform into an animal]].
362	%%* Tyrell in ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn''. Emphasis on the "[[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass plucky]]".
363	* ''VideoGame/GoodbyeVolcanoHigh'' provides a [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] example. Sage plays this role throughout the game; out of everyone in Fang's inner circle, he's the most lighthearted and cheerful, often exchanging humorous banter with Stella and lightening the mood. But as revealed in his secret scene with Fang in episode 4, he behaves like this in part because [[spoiler:being a feminine trans man, he can't deal with people being uncomfortable around him, so he tries acting this way to put people at ease. But in doing so, he worries that nobody takes him seriously, especially regarding his gender and career ambitions]].
364	* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'': Axl Low, the sweet-hearted British time-traveller has very few ties with any of the characters or occurring conflicts of the story and is really just there to lighten the mood, between his banter with [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld Sol Badguy]] and his flirting with [[DarkActionGirl I-no]]. His even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades this]] if he falls victim to [[DeadlyDoctor Faust's]] [[AssShove Kanchou move]].
365	* ''VideoGame/LoveOfMagic'': Discussed; when trying to convince Dylan that he's not going to die, MC tells him that "Humorous sidekicks are immortal." However, Dylan isn't really an example himself; if anyone is, it's Molly.
366	* The Black Baron (stop starin') from ''VideoGame/MadWorld'' is an [[CrossesTheLineTwice overly stereotypical pimp]] who acts as [[TheyKilledKennyAgain a living demonstration]] for all the minigames, and every moment he appears is a moment of hilarity. [[spoiler:Even when it turns out he's the FinalBoss, his reactions and stagger animations are so goofy that you can't help but laugh through all of it]]. His ''VideoGame/AnarchyReigns'' counterpart The Black''er'' Baron reprises the role, and arguably fits it better since he's the walking moment of funny in a game that is usually quite serious, unlike ''Madworld'' which just a hilarious game all around.
367	* ''VideoGame/{{Mafia\|TheCityOfLostHeaven}}'':
368	** If it wasn't for Joe Barbaro, ''VideoGame/MafiaII'' would be an even darker game than it already is.
369	** Due to his eccentric nature, [[RogueAgent John Donovan]] could be considered the comical relief of ''VideoGame/MafiaIII''.
370	* ''Franchise/MassEffect'': Joker takes the role first as a DisabledSnarker but eventually becomes a straight example as he loosens up around the crew and learns he does not have to constantly prove himself like he did in flight school because of his disease. He becomes a Plucky Comic Relief character almost exclusively with only occasional moments of snarkiness by the second game.
371	* ''VideoGame/MasterDetectiveArchivesRainCode'': Fubuki Clockford is a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} and a CluelessDetective who constantly says [[NonSequitur non-sequiturs]] because she's the token IdiotHero of the main cast.
372	* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': Although Teddie is this, every other character in the Investigation Team fulfill this role at some point or another in the game. Yosuke also relates to this trope, although really more towards the beginning and before CharacterDevelopment takes hold.
373	* ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity'': Hiravias. With the possible exception of the PlayerCharacter, only [[SadClown Edér]] matches him in the frequency of the jokes. And while Edér's jests tend to be GallowsHumor or otherwise bleak, Hiravias' jokes tend to be dirty, lewd, and absurd.
374	* ''VideoGame/Portal2'' subverts this with Wheatley, a moronic personality core who escorts the player through the early areas of the game and, with your help, attempts to engineer a coup against [=GLaDOS=]. The subversion comes when [[spoiler:Wheatley, upon successfully replacing [=GLaDOS=] in the Enrichment Center mainframe, goes into full AGodAmI mode and becomes the BigBad of the game]]. Portal 2 has fairly equal distribution of comedy, but Portal 1 arguably has [=GLaDOS=] carrying all the comic responsibility. However, this can probably be excused as she is the only speaking character.
375	* ''VisualNovel/PrincessEvangile'': Konomi Yanase is pretty much the only main character who's scenes almost completely consist of comedic moments, with nary a tragic backstory or tearjerking moment in-between.
376	* Uncle from ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' and ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'', a drunken old man who often complains about his terminal lumbago.
377	%%* Stunt in ''VisualNovel/{{SC2VN}}''.
378	* ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'': Maruhashi's ineffectualness combined with his earnest devotion to Seiji makes for some light-hearted moments. In the Kubitarou case, [[spoiler:this makes his death all the more depressing.]]
379	* Since DivergentCharacterEvolution turned him into a LovableCoward, Luigi tends to fill this role in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' games, especially in the ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' series.
380	* Dion from ''VideoGame/TearsToTiara2'', with his cowardness and every-failing quest to get girls.
381	* ''VideoGame/TelepathTactics'': PungeonMaster Gavrielle manages to remain chipper throughout the whole campaign even if her brother dies. (She doesn't take the death itself well, though).
382	* ''Videogame/{{Undertale}}'': While all characters are funny in their own right, [[PungeonMaster Sans]] and [[SmallNameBigEgo Papyrus]], two skeleton brothers and the main NPC's of Snowdin, are definitely the game's primary comic relief. They're constantly teasing eachother, the puzzles they set up all fail to stop you in hilarious ways, and Sans keeps making [[{{Pun}} really bad puns]], which Papyrus keeps getting annoyed at. But, given that ''Undertale'' is a DeconstructorFleet, [[spoiler:their funny personalities are likely just there to hide their personal issues. Papyrus uses his loud, confident personality to hide his low self-esteem, while Sans uses his jokey, laid-back demeanor to hide his depression. Also, doing a Genocide Run leads Papyrus to try and reform you with kindness, and Sans to give you the [[ThatOneBoss hardest]] [[SNKBoss bossfight]] in the entire game, during which he reveals his knowledge of timelines and your ability to save, load and reset]].
383	[[/folder]]
384
385	[[folder:Web Comics]]
386	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'''s Wayward Vagabond. Ironic, when you [[TraumaCongaLine consider his]] [[TheWoobie backstory.]]
387	** [[EruditeStoner Gamzee]] [[JokeCharacter Makara]] is also this. [[spoiler:[[FreakOut Well]], [[AxCrazy until]] [[MonsterClown he's]] [[LethalJokeCharacter not]].]]
388	%%* ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'': Ed.
389	* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'': [[RobotBuddy Pintsize]] (alone or teamed up with Winslow).
390	* ''Webcomic/{{Rain\|2010}}'': Rudy Strongwell is the most overtly comedic member in the main cast and at first seems to be there just to provide the comic laughs with his sassy and energetic CampGay attitude. This is {{Deconstructed}} once we get to know more about him, as we find out that his humorous tendancies and jokes are really just a way for him to cope with being descriminated against by his parents and certain classmates for his sexuality.
391	[[/folder]]
392
393	[[folder:Web Original]]
394	* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWallTheMovie'': Linkara specifically assigns the role of "comic relief" to WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob when he realizes that he has absolutely nothing for him to do onboard ''Comicron-1''. The Snob takes to this quite well, spending most of the film getting into wacky antics and making light-hearted quips.
395	* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Andy loves being the jokester of the group, and making jokes is pretty much all he does.
396	* ''WebVideo/EscapeTheNight'': In the first season, which was generally DarkerAndEdgier then other seasons, Timothy and [=GloZell=] are a big source of comedy. In the first few episodes, [=GloZell=] was the main source, but after she TookALevelInJerkass, Timothy took over the role.
397	%%* Lee Phillips in season 2 of ''WebVideo/KateModern''.
398	* ''Podcast/TheOrbitingHumanCircusOfTheAir'': Julian the Janitor desperately [[InvokedTrope wants]] to take on the role of a wacky, drop-in character in the eponymous radio VarietyShow that broadcasts where he works. His engineered attempts to be PushedInFrontOfTheAudience don't [[SubvertedTrope help]], as his personal InteractiveNarrator points out:
399	-->'''Julian:''' All those old radio shows like ''[[Radio/TheJackBennyProgram Jack Benny]],'' they all had these crazy characters who'd come crashing in, and everybody would laugh, and...and applaud.\
400	'''Narrator:''' Yes, but those things were ''planned'', those people were ''actors,'' they were-\
401	'''Julian:''' I know...funny.
402	* [[WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]: While yes, this show is a comedy, with the recent CerebusSyndrome the series has faced, Swag and Chris have been this, specifically in the [[WarIsHell Anime]] and [[OriginsEpisode Genesis]] arcs.
403	* A lot of them in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. The junior high mages known as 'the three little witches', Go-Go (a speedster who used to go by 'Quickie' until she found out why everyone was laughing), Generator. Oh God, Generator. Wacky comic relief in other people's stories, horrifyingly effective hero in her own stories. There are school armbands that identify the pacifists (who won't fight back if they're bullied so you're supposed to leave them alone) and the Ultraviolents (ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin). Only Generator wears ''both''. Not at the same time; that would be silly. She flips a coin every morning.
404	[[/folder]]
405
406	[[folder:Western Animation]]
407	%%* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'': Stanley fits this trope to a T.
408	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSokka Sokka]] is this, while also being TheSmartGuy and [[TheLeader The Field Leader]]. Also, Momo's role is usually to lighten things up.
409	** [[Characters/TheLegendOfKorraBolin Bolin]] takes on this role in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' as well as being TheBigGuy.
410	%%* ''WesternAnimation/ChalkZone'': Snap. The episode "Snap vs. Boorat" shows that [[BerserkButton he doesn't take too kindly to being referred to as such.]]
411	%%* Willy in the first season of ''WesternAnimation/{{Ewoks}}''.
412	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': While it's hard to find a character who ''isn't'' comic relief, Cosmo is hands-down the most deserving of the title.
413	%%* Danny O'Farrell of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}''.
414	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Soos, on occasion. "Need an amiable sidekick?"
415	* ''WesternAnimation/JaneAndTheDragon'': Jester, because it is quite literally his job. As such, he can still be serious when he wants to.
416	* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': [[Characters/DCAUTheFlash The Flash]]. Considering his death sparked a totalitarian dictatorship in [[MirrorUniverse another universe]] and nearly caused the [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt apocalypse]] in the regular one, his angstlessness plays a very important role in keeping the Justice League from going off the deep end.
417	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': [[Characters/KimPossibleRonStoppable Ron Stoppable]], while also being one of [[TheHero The Heroes]] of the show, though he's typically in a sidekick role.
418	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': In the classic cartoon "WesternAnimation/DripAlongDaffy", Daffy Duck is the supposed western hero, while Porky Pig is [[LampshadeHanging explicitly called]] the "comedy relief", dressed in a Gabby-Hayes sidekick outfit. As is the standard, Porky is leagues more competent than Daffy, and ends up defeating the villain and being appointed sheriff. Meanwhile, Daffy goes into trash collecting.
419	** Porky's character from Daffy's ''WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers'' cartoon and series, Eager Young Space Cadet, is also supposed to be this.
420	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': Luan basically invokes it. She is an aspiring comedian who is always cracking jokes.
421	%%* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' has Bubbles, who is the joy and the laughter.
422	* ''WesternAnimation/StormHawks'': Out of the main cast, Finn's antics are the most likely to be PlayedForLaughs.
423	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'': [[Characters/TeenTitans2003BeastBoy Beast Boy]]. Oh-so-very-much. Now with 100% more [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]]!
424	-->'''Beast Boy:''' ''[being dragged into the dark]'' What did I tell you? Funny guy goes fiiiiirst!
425	%%* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': [[MeaningfulName Plucky Duck]].
426	* ''WesternAnimation/TitanMaximum'': Parodied, where it's stated that each military squad are required to consist of one of these. The one shown is woefully aware that he's unfunny since he originally just wanted a desk job.
427	%%* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'': Raimundo starts off being just this.
428	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PluckyComicRelief