Line #57 Main/RelaxOVision


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4	[[quoteright:276:[[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/modest_veil_5032.png]]]]
5
6	->''"What followed was... ugh. Horrible. It shall not be described here.[...] Have you ever been to a slaughterhouse, like for a school field trip or something? It was a bit like that. Only to a person.\
7	"Honestly, just don't think about it, go look at a picture of a bunny or a kitten or something. You'll be happier."''
8	-->-- ''Fanfic/UninvitedGuests''
9
10	A gag in which the camera cuts away or is interrupted by a bumper explaining the following scene is too disturbing to see, or, more importantly, would not be allowed by the broadcasting network.
11
12	[[TropeNamers The trope name comes from]] an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'' where a cartoon supposedly filmed in "Relax-O-Vision" cut away from scenes that were purportedly too much for the kids to watch to relaxing images like ocean waves or a fish-tank, usually accompanied by the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSsiS-v6_6M Theme from "A Summer Place"]]''[[note]] This piece is more commonly known as the [[StandardSnippet ubiquitous "peaceful music"]], and also as the "makeout music" from ''Film/AnimalHouse''[[/note]] or otherwise some form of [[TheElevatorFromIpanema Muzak]]. Bonus points if sounds from the disturbing event still can be heard over the image, usually with lots of NoodleImplements thrown in.
13
14	See also BattleDiscretionShot, and {{Discretion Shot}}s in general. Sometimes utilized as a deliberate OffscreenMomentOfAwesome. Contrast ScreamerPrank. Compare NoodleIncident.
15
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
22	* ''Manga/BocchiTheRock'': Instead of showing Bocchi throw up after the band's audition, the anime shows [[MediumShiftGag various real life dams]] spewing out water for 20 seconds.
23	* ''Manga/DoctorSlump'': The Malaysian dub censors nudity by suddenly cutting to a panoramic view of the village and then back to the show when the censors decide that enough time has passed.
24	* ''Anime/MonColleKnights'': The Malaysian airing of the show has all appearances of the Star of David censored out [[note]]There are two theories as to why- the most prominent is that the Malaysian government, being an Islam majority, had been conditioned by other Islamic nations to hate Israel and support Palestine due to the Gaza Strip crisis, and believes that the Star of David represents Israel. The less prominent theory is that MoralGuardians had simply mistaken it for a pentagram [[/note]] via a cutaway to a totally unrelated scene, which is to say really jarring because the star usually only appears for a split second in many cases, which means the cutaway only lasts a split second before cutting back.
25	* ''Anime/ExcelSaga'':
26	** "The Koshi Rikdo Assassination Plot" substituted scenes of sunsets and seashores for footage of bloody violence -- but didn't change the soundtrack, so you got to ''hear'' everything that happened.
27	** A similar gag occurs in "Take Back Love!", where random pictures of Puchuus are used to cover up the visuals (but not the sounds) of a non-consensual lesbian sex scene.
28	** Inverted in "Butt Out, Youth", where peaceful music is used to cover the horrible sound of Excel [[NailsOnAChalkboard dragging metal claws across a blackboard]].
29	** One version of the ''Anime/PuniPuniPoemi'' '''trailer''' opened with a short message that they removed ''anything'' offensive to ''anyone'' so that it could reach "the widest possible audience". The result? A black screen. Remove anything offensive to "most people"? Another black screen. Remove "anything that might get us sued"? We finally get the trailer, with black screens with funny text replacing some scenes. This entire affair is made very funny when you remember that this version appeared on a ''Milk-chan'' DVD!
30	* In episode 16 of ''Manga/GakuenAlice'', a bumper screen comes up with the giant Piyo and the stuffed bear. The bear holds a sign which simply says, "Please wait for a moment." ("Shibaraku omachi kudasai.") in place of the violence Mikan undoubtedly intends to visit upon Natsume.
31	* In episode 30 of ''Manga/SgtFrog'', it cuts away from Giroro being stretched in a body-sculpting aid/medieval torture device to cute, {{fanservice}}y shots of Natsumi. The equivalent chapter of the manga has the same gag but instead censors it with a single panel full of nothing but speech bubbles and painful-sounding onomatopoeia.
32	** In chapter 50 of the manga, during a black-out in the base, Giroro beats the crap out of Keroro for squandering their invasion budget and, at one point, hits him with [[TakeOurWordForIt "an attack]] [[MediumAwareness no manga]] [[LampshadeHanging can express!"]]
33	* In addition to having a small cartoon man with a sign [[CensorSteam censor minor infractions]], ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' also uses Relax-O-Vision during particularly JustForFun/{{egregious}} acts of senseless violence, mostly involving replacing the visuals with a landscape or façade shot of the area/building, or by mild {{fanservice}}. The audio isn't affected, however, making it abundantly clear what's going on.
34	** Almost always, it is a picture of [[EnsembleDarkhorse Hinagiku]] that is used as Relax-O-Vision.
35	** Subverted in the manga, when one of Hayate's vicious smackdowns of Gilbert is covered by... er, scenes of senseless violence.
36	* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'':
37	** An EyeCatch featuring Chiyo and Tadakichi is used as a VomitDiscretionShot earlier in the series when a drunken Yukari pukes in the street.
38	** Nyamo's drunken [[TheTalk sex ed lesson]] is overlaid with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O6mC9tFP1A relaxing music]] and uplifting visuals, such as windchimes, a paper lamp, and the earth with the sun rising in the north, occasionally cutting to the students' [[strike:embarrassed]] enthralled faces. And [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5WC8UKM0ZI the same music]] plays when Chiyo asks Nyamo for... clarification. Bonus points for the [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything toothbrush-and-cup metaphor]].
39	* A somewhat literal and more serious usage of this trope occurs in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'', when Treize broadcasts images of a peaceful, sunlit field to Lady Une's Leo while encouraging her to calm down.
40	* "[[MemeticMutation Nice Boat]]." A real-life example: The violent final episode of ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' is infamous for [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents being taken off air due to a then-recent murder]], and its time slot filled by a half-hour long clip of a boat peacefully floating on water. This one gets bonus points because the last episode actually does end with a boat sailing serenely on the ocean. The passengers, however, are anything but serene.
41	* ''Manga/HuskyAndMedley'': When Husky and Medley's lovemaking progresses to the main event, the manga comedically censors the action by cutting to a relaxing view of a ship sailing through a beautiful fjord with the caption "due to recent developments, the planned program has been modified." The two girls' speech bubbles continue, hinting at what's going on and leaving the visuals up to the readers' imagination.
42	* Done in the ''VideoGame/Persona3'' manga in an omake. Minato is playing a rail simulator and sets the speed to "Excessively powered mach speed" to the point where the rails started to melt from the friction. It shows Junpei's horrified face with the caption "Please enjoy Junpei's expression in place of the graphic scene on-screen" with horrible bold sound effects.
43	* This is used in ''Anime/YuGiOh'' whenever one character punches another, having the characters out of frame, both in the original footage and the dub. However, it only occurs once or twice in the original, and numerous other times punches are shown on-screen with no cutaways (these on-screen punches are, of course, cut out of the dub), so the couple of occasions where they ''do'' use Relax-O-Vision are rather out of place.
44	* In the opening credits of "Anime/PowerpuffGirlsZ", Him is just about to pop-up when the scene cuts over to the laughing girls in a van on a hillside of New Townsville, then cuts back to the rest of the villains.
45	* In ''Literature/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan'', the non-DVD versions have a rather...calming photo of a beach in place of Dokuro-chan and her sister respectively molesting (read: washing the back) Sakura.
46	* In an episode of ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', the silent shot of some pile-driving equipment was used to cover the fact that Akane had just given Ranma-chan and Ryōga each a single powerful slap on the face for [[TraumaticHaircut shearing off her hair]].
47	* Used in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'':
48	** Negi, possessed by the magic of TheWorldTree in the Mahora Festival arc, gives Asuna a very passionate kiss. Just as it's implied that Negi starts to slip a little tongue in, we cut to a peaceful [[https://imgur.com/v85LbtU sea-side view]] with a cute turtle (Tama from ''Manga/LoveHina'') in the foreground. "Everybody please wait for a while. Talk for a while".
49	** In the "Magic World" arc, when [[BoisterousBruiser Jack Rakan]] starts to [[https://imgur.com/d0S0IuI sniff and taste the panties of Fate's minions]] ([[TheNoseKnows He was doing it for a very good cause!]] [[ObfuscatingStupidity Really!]]), we see a panicked Konoka carrying a picture of that same sea-side view in an attempt to censor the scene, screaming that there are children reading the manga.
50	* Used during episode 6 of the ''Manga/KOn'' anime, when Mio [[spoiler:trips over a microphone cable and gives the entire auditorium a [[PantyShot very clear view of her striped blue-and-white panties]]]]. This is shown in the 4-koma, but in the anime, the scene cuts away to a [[VisualPun blue-and-white striped]] bowl of rice. Also, almost everytime Mio hits Ritsu, it cuts to a closeup of something else in the room, and then back to Ritsu, now with a CranialEruption.
51	* In the fourth episode of Princess Lover, there is a brief picture of a mountain as Seika beats Haruhiko into the wall.
52	* Ep.7 of ''Manga/ToLoveRu'' has a fight between Ren and a mountain ape interrupted by [[{{Fanservice}} Haruna showering.]] He gets into another fight later in the episode, which is again interrupted by shower scenes.
53	* In the ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' manga, at the conclusion of the Sacred Beasts arc, Kuwabara tricks Yusuke into thinking that Keiko and Botan were killed by the zombies that attacked them. Upon learning that they're really safe (though not before freaking out), Yusuke is implied to give Kuwabara a savage beating (even for him) for his twisted little joke, while the panel cuts to a picture of a kitten and the caption "We'll hold for a while as Kuwabara gets his head handed to him".
54	* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'':
55	** In one episode America asks France for diet tips. Then, a white screen pops up explaining that France's response is "educationally inappropriate" or something like that, so they'll be cutting out that section. France is pissed.
56	** There is also a sequence set during the WWII storyline where Japan attacks China. Readers are treated to a panel featuring a panda while China's cries of anguish are heard in the background.
57	* Happens in an episode of ''Anime/GalaxyAngel'' in which [[TheQuietOne Vanilla]] discovers she has a secret admirer. During the course of said episode, the rest of the Angels ask her different questions, such as if she knows what a love letter or a romantic relationship is [[note]]justified since Vanilla is also an EmotionlessGirl [[/note]], and every time she replies the camera does a close up on her moving lips (without sound) before changing into a picture of a different landscape each time. Then, we're cut back to the other Angels (minus [[TheDitz Milfeulle]]) [[LuminescentBlush blushing in embarrassment]].
58	* Appears early on in ''Anime/TheWallflower'' anime, where, e-hem, ''certain'' scenes are replaced with a picture of a pretty flower on a meadow. As the sounds in the background get more and more gruesome, ''[[SpectacularSpinning the flower starts spinning]]''.
59	* Used twice in ''Manga/{{Dazzle}}''. The first time is when Rahzel and Baroqueheat team up to cut off Rayborn's bangs, and the second is when Sera beat up [[ChivalrousPervert Baroqueheat]]. With a bat full of nails. In the first instance, you can hear Rayborn screaming over the pastoral scenery.
60	* In ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'', shortly after fantasizing about Onizuka and herself on a beach, Fuyutsuki runs to the bathroom in her coworker's house and jumps in the tub. The viewers are treated to a black screen with flashing, scrolling text that says something like "For certain reasons, we cannot show the image".
61	* ''VisualNovel/{{Shuffle}}'' has Sia beating up her father with a chair [[RunningGag on occasion]]. One time when she was particularly pissed off, it switched to a message of apology for not showing the scene.
62	* Used in episode 50 of ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'' to censor the worse of Okita's [[BrownNote rather... interesting demonstration]] of how he thinks the show could be improved. Everyone is struggling to hold onto their sanity by the time he finishes.
63	* In one of the ''Literature/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'' shorts, Nyarko and Mahiro do the DisneyDogFight over her pet Shantak...who immediately chooses Mahiro. Nyarko flips out and we get a censor screen by the SpacePolice over the sounds of violence; when we cut back, Nyarko is panting for breath while snuggling a badly beaten Shantak and cooing about how she's such a good pet for "choosing" her mistress.
64	* ''Anime/MekakucityActors'': We are treated to the image of Ene floating around in Shintaro's phone (which is flipping through the air) as the soothing ending theme plays while Momo beats up Shintaro off-camera [[ItMakesSenseInContext for being naked in Marry's room]]. Next time we see him, he's tied up for questioning.
65	* One chapter of ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'' has Matsuri's [[GenderBender sex-transformation spell]] acting strangely just as Rochka is looking up his skirt. We then get a cutaway that [[VisualInnuendo brazenly implies]] what she ended up seeing.
66	-->''Meanwhile, in the Arctic Ocean...\
67	(Bowhead whale pokes its head out of the water)''
68	* ''Prisma Phantasm'', the GagReel OVA of ''Manga/FateKaleidLinerPrismaIllya'', has a couple of sketches between siblings Sakura and Shinji following up on the grim prospect of Shinji [[spoiler:murdering Sakura in cold blood]] in canon. Sakura's revenge for this is not suitable for viewing, so while we hear Shinji screaming bloody murder in the background, we're treated to images of [[MissFanservice Sakura in swimwear]] instead.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Comedy]]
72	* A slight variation was seen in a sketch on ''Series/TheWhitestKidsUKnow'', with Trevor and Timmy BreakingTheFourthWall by explaining that they couldn't think of the ending to the sketch and instead have a girl take off her top and bounce around "to help DVD sales" because her exposed breasts are censored on television but would be uncensored on the DVD.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Comic Books]]
76	* In a few ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' books, particularly violent brawls only happen off-panel. In ''Asterix in Belgium,'' our heroes get in a fight with Romans, which is hidden by a flowery curtain pulled over the panel (as seen above).
77	* ''ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske'' employs the same flowery curtain when Jethro becomes particularly violent (since Jethro using enemies as melee weapons does show up, one does wonder what's behind this curtain...) In one such instance, it is mentioned how Jethro expertly makes use of a technique called "furniture swinging."
78	* Used as an alternate cover for ''ComicBook/XForce'' in the trade paperback collection ''X-Force: Legacy of Vengeance''. The original cover of the series' second issue featured ComicBook/{{X 23}} and other mutants killing people, while the version used for the collected edition's cover had [[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/x-force-legacy-of-vengeance-1-angels-and-demons/4000-255229/ all the blood replaced by rainbows and puppies.]]
79	* Occasionally used in the British AnthologyComic ''ComicBook/TheBeano''. ''Calamity James'' often employed it to obscure some particularly painful misfortune inflicted on the hapless James.
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
83	* ''ComicStrip/LibertyMeadows'':
84	** In a strip, the "graphic and nonpolitically correct" panels have been replaced by a picture of a bunny, who says: "Gosh, I'm so cute and nonthreatening."
85	** Another time, there was a mundane one-panel comic "Yard Apes" ("I'm e-mailing Grandma a hug.") drawn as being taped over an implicit fanservice image.
86	* A early ''ComicStrip/BabyBlues'' comic had Wanda and Darryl talking about going on a vacation for a couple of days, even though Zoe, at that time, was teething. When Wanda talks to Darryl for the second time, the third panel has a title card that says "The sarcastic response in this panel has been judged too graphic for general audiences or the unmarried.", although we do see the top of her speech bubble and the feet of Wanda and Darryl. Afterward, Zoe and Wanda's faces are never seen until the next comic.
87	* Also done in ''ComicStrip/MyCage'' with the Censor Sheep standing in for regular strips pulled for controversial/offensive content. Also done with bunnies in ''The New Adventures Of Queen Victoria'' -- all of which are homages to Walt Kelly, who had "cute bunny" strips on the ready for newspapers too nervous to run regular strips of his (often controversial and outspoken) ''ComicStrip/{{Pogo}}''.
88	* In a ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' [[http://images.ucomics.com/comics/ga/2005/ga050430.gif strip]], Jon says to Garfield: "If you beg, I'll let you lick my ice cream cone." In the next panel, there's a title card saying: "The cartoonist has elected not to show this panel due to its graphic nature." In the following panel, Garfield has the cone, and Jon has a few scratches and a good deal less hair.
89	* In a ''ComicStrip/BloomCounty'' strip where Portnoy is in a characteristically foul mood and Hodge Podge comes up to him singing, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," the following panel is covered with a title card reading, "A scene of unimaginable violence."
90	* Happens in a couple of ''ComicStrip/{{Yenny}}'' strips in spring 2006, whenever the title character's pet lizard does something bad.
91	* At least one ''ComicStrip/KrazyKat'' strip censors the usual "Ignatz beans Krazy with brick" gag thus:
92	--> ''[[BlatantLies Rather than taint our "art" with the smirch of undignified pictorialism we draw the curtain of propriety - we deal as ever in naught but "gentle humor".]]''
93	* One ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' strip has Alice about to contront [[ItMakesSenseInContext the new sadist that the company recently hired.]] The second panel has Scott Adams explaining to the reader that [[BlatantLies nothing bad or unpleasant happened in the panel,]] and Alice and the sadist worked out their differences and became lifelong friends... and then in the third panel, Alice is trying to find a place to dispose of a black bag.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Fan Works]]
97	* Suffice to say, the scene from ''Ranma ½'' mentioned above was used in ''WebVideo/RanmaOneHalfTheAbridgedChronicles'' with the sounds of a vicious beating playing while showing the "not-very-subtle symbolism," à la the first ''Anime/ExcelSaga'' example. The pile-driver was a beautiful touch.
98	* Happens in ''Fanfic/UninvitedGuests'' when Hitsugaya... gets some business done with Zommari, as shown in the page quote. Note that this is perhaps one of the first ''textual'' examples of this trope.
99	--> Hitsugaya turned to stare at the immobilized Espada, his eyes not quite visibly glowing. But the glow was implied.
100	* Parodied in ''Fanfic/ThoseLackingSpines''. As Xaldin prepares to [[GroinAttack castrate Xiggy-kun]], the author decides to switch to another scene during the process -- preferably something involving kittens. However, they're out of kittens, so they just decide to cut back to the drama going on at [[HighSchoolAU Destiny Sanctuary Peak High School Academy Grammar School]] instead.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
104	* Used by [[StrawmanNewsMedia WNN]] in ''WesternAnimation/CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs''. Head anchor Patrick cuts from Sam reporting on the spaghetti twister to a shot of a playful puppy over scrolling weather forecasts, not due to any technical difficulties, but due to her recently re-embraced nerd style.
105	-->"We'll get right back to that storm, and hopefully Sam will look a little more appealing."
106	* In ''WesternAnimation/CaptainUnderpantsTheFirstEpicMovie'', George and Harold [[BreakingTheFourthWall inform the audience]] that the battle between Captain Underpants and Professor Poopypants was so violent (and expensive) that they decide to present it using [[MythologyGag Flip-O-Rama]]. The movie itself continues when Harold runs out of paper to use.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
110	* Non-animated variation: In the Tarantino/Rodriguez double-feature ''Film/{{Grindhouse}}'', both movies ("Film/PlanetTerror" and "Film/DeathProof") feature "missing reels" to give them an authentic, old-fashioned feel. However, both missing reels are inserted during apparent sex scenes; given the rest of the content of the movie, it's obviously not really done for censorship purposes so much as purely for the gag. In fact, ''Planet Terror'''s missing reel covers up a fairly major plot revelation and comes just toward the end of the sex scene. As the film leads up to the sex scene, it gets more and more heavily scratched until the missing reel, the implication being that the sex scene was played so many times that it fell apart. Tarantino got the idea for "missing reels" after he watched a B-movie that skipped over a plot point due to a missing reel and realized that you could interpret the rest of the movie differently depending on what had happened in the missing footage. This is also a not so subtle nod to the fact that missing reels containing sex scenes were common in "[=Grindhouse=]" theaters because the projectionists would steal them [[LampshadedDoubleEntendre for personal use]].
111	* This happens more due to the lack of budget and no post-production than actual Relax-O-Vision in ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', in a part cut from a scene, where Azrael shows Bethany exactly what hell's like now that human imagination has made it even worse. A title card is then flashed on the screen: [[[TakeOurWordForIt ten seconds of the most fucked-up imagery to ever be shown in cinema]]] before cutting back to Azrael hissing, "I'd rather die than go back to that."
112	* ''Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle'' does this several times. When an extra falls off a bridge suspended several hundred meters over a canyon or [[spoiler:George is shot by the BigBad]] the narrator quickly interjects with the line, "Whew! Let's all calm down, now. Don't worry, kids, nobody dies in this film, they just get really big boo-boos," before moving to the next scene showing the victim [[BandageMummy covered in dozens of bandages and casts]].
113	* Another live-action version in ''Film/ThePrincessBride''...she does not get eaten by eels at this time.
114	* Used mercifully during the Room101 scene of the ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' film adaptation.
115	* One of the video trailers for ''Film/{{Braindead}}'' had, for the sake of viewers of a nervous disposition, scenes from the film only on the right side of the screen, on the other side were some pictures of lambs. However, right at the end, one particularly gory moment does fill the whole screen. This can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbOmCUWm25w here]]
116	* In ''Film/AsterixAndObelixMissionCleopatra'', a voice-over announces that due to the violence of the few next scenes (of [[OneManArmy Obelix beating up a band of Roman soldiers]]), a short documentary on crayfish will be shown instead. After a few grainy images and a narrator informing us that the crayfish eats only seafood (contrary to CommonKnowledge), the view cuts to the construction site with Roman soldiers flying all over, with very audible punching sounds.
117	* Another live-action example with the sound intact; according to Website/IMDb, the original Japanese cut of ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'' had the film freezing on the frame prior to any gore scene, with the sound playing through, and having the film jump back into motion once the offending moment passed.
118	* Played with in the British film ''Film/{{Cuts}}'', about a man trying to write a screenplay. Early in the film, a man in the film industry makes a very loud joke that in his day, to refer to sex, you would show a field of waving corn, while today, to refer to a field of waving corn, you show two people having sex. Suffice to say that both versions happen in the film.
119	* In ''Film/ForbiddenCityCop'', the protagonist and his wife are attending a picnic while his fellow Cops escort the Emperor when they are attacked by the villains. As the protagonist enjoys himself, his fellow Cops are swiftly and brutally killed. Each time a Cop is killed, the scene shifts to the picnic where something happens that mirrors the way he dies. For example, when the last Cop is killed by having his [[GroinAttack crotch crushed]], the scene immediately shifts to the picnic where the fruit is pulped to make juice.
120	* ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'': As King Arthur and Sir Bedevere cross the Bridge of Death to the accompanying dramatic action background music, a title card reading "Intermission" suddenly appears for about ten seconds to the sound of peppy organ music. Then it cuts back to the scene.
121	* In ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', Wolverine got inside the mansion to seek the professor and moved upstairs, ignoring the protests of Hank [=McCoy=]. So [=McCoy=] turned into the Beast, went after Wolverine, and the camera changed the view to the empty stairs that they had just climbed. Well, they are not empty for very long...
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Literature]]
125	* OlderThanRadio: In ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer'', Tom has just successfully [[FencePainting conned]] all his friends into giving him enough tickets to receive a special prize in Sunday School for [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] memorization. However, he didn't count on his surprised teachers proudly asking him to display his Scripture knowledge by answering a few questions. Needless to say, his cover is blown when he answers the question, "Who were the first two disciples?", with "''[[ArtisticLicenseReligion David and Goliath]]!''" At which point [[Creator/MarkTwain the narrator]] interjects: "Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene." End of chapter.
126	* In ''Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy'', this is done in ''The Amulet of Samarkand'' when [[WeakButSkilled Bartimaeus]] interrogates [[SirSwearsalot an imp]]. All we know is that afterwards Bartimaeus is slightly sweaty and the imp is a model of cooperation.
127	* Used in-universe in ''Literature/TheRestaurantAtTheEndOfTheUniverse'' with the Peril-Sensitive Sunglasses. "Especially designed to help people develop a relaxed attitude to danger. They work by turning completely dark at the first sign of danger, thus preventing you from seeing anything that might alarm you."
128	* Used several times in the ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'' series. This is in keeping with the author's persona of reviling the stories he has to write, but appreciating the truth enough to say it anyway. That being said, after avoiding the topic, it's usually written about anyway. Often the narrator keeps talking, but he urges the reader to stop reading.
129	* In the ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'' books, the Flip-O-Rama chapters begin with a warning that the chapter contains graphic violence (each chapter being called "The Incredibly Graphic Violence Chapter") and that the reader is best advised to skip the chapter. In ''Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman'', it goes a step further by warning the reader that the chapter is so violent it is ''mandatory'' to skip reading it and they will have to spank themselves eleven times if they do try to read it! Also, in a later book, the scenes get so violent that a four-year-old witness is made [[StylisticSuck guest artist]], with his grandma providing the narration for that chapter.
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
133	* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'':
134	** A sketch involving a four-star restaurant in the middle of the jungle cuts out just as bushmen are about to attack the diners. A faux BBC apology plays over the scene, with the announcer describing in rather graphic detail the violence and nudity that will not be shown. In typical Python fashion, they play the 1958 Gardening Club instead...and a few seconds into footage of a formal garden, in run several nude women, the Pantomime Goose, Mister Gumby, and others having a frantic, clumsy orgy.
135	** A variation occurs in another episode. Following the ridiculously violent "Creator/SamPeckinpah's ''Salad Days''" sketch, and the subsequent gunning down of critic Philip Jenkinson in slow motion, the show ends with several minutes of waves crashing against the shore. (With occasional interruption by John Cleese dressed as a Trojan explaining the show was short on time and this was all they had.)
136	* ''Series/TopGear'': Split-Screen Optional. Not censorship, rather an anti-boredom device:
137	-->'''Clarkson:''' Now I'm going to talk about all the German technical stuff but for those not interested in all that, on the left-hand half of the screen we'll be showing kittens!
138	* Repeatedly on ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou'', of the "we're being censored" variety.
139	* Happens a lot on ''Series/EverybodyHatesChris''. Usually, it is just when Chris is about to do something bad. One example was when Chris was handed a bag of marijuana by a criminal trying to escape the police. His friend Greg suggests they smoke it. A screen then comes up and says that Chris Rock does not endorse the smoking of pot. He instead decides to put it in lasagna.
140	* A segment on the German ''Series/TheDailyShow'' style "heute-show" that has correspondent Gernot Hassknecht ("Hateservant") peacefully commenting on a news story, then launching into a hateful tirade. After a few seconds he is cut off by a VHS recording of the network's 60s-era Technical Difficulties screen with elevator music in the background.
141	* Parodied in the "Kim Jong-Il Show" sketch on ''Series/MADtv1995'', where, when censoring [[Music/{{NSYNC}} JC Chasez's]] musical number, threatens to cut the song to [[CuteKitten kittens]] when it gets too sexy, which he does.
142	* On one episode of ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', the gang and Victoria (Ted's girlfriend at the time) recount the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to them. Victoria starts to tell her story, then they cut to an all-black screen. Future Ted's voiceover says "Kids, I know I tell you a lot of off-color stories, but there's no way in hell I'm telling you this one."
143	* On an episode of ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'', D.J. has been spying on Molly with a telescope. Darlene assures Molly she'll take care of it, and at the end of the episode, tells an angry Molly she's put shoe polish on the eye of his telescope so he'll be exposed. Except D.J. comes downstairs, and he looks normal. David, on the other hand, comes down a second later with shoe polish around one of his eyes, and while Molly looks happy, Darlene is pissed. Cut to a card that reads, "DUE TO ITS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC AND VIOLENT NATURE, THE REMAINDER OF THIS SCENE HAS BEEN CENSORED".
144	* On an episode of ''Series/{{Kenny Vs Spenny}}'', Kenny makes a bomb out of urine, mentos and mouthwash. The actual explosion was deemed too graphic to show on Canadian television by the producers and a black screen with text explains this.
145	* For ''WesternAnimation/FetchWithRuffRuffman'', this was seen in one of the wallpapers for the show, featuring a picture of Ruff in a flower field and the message "We are experiencing technical difficulties." Seen on the show as well, in a few episodes where Ruff would have an off-camera scuffle with someone. This was later recycled for the spin-off ''Ruff Ruffman: Humble Media Genius'' as well.
146	* Creator/TheWeatherChannel counter-programmed against coverage of the 2016 Presidential Election with "Escape the Election", featuring calm scenery and tranquil music.
147	* ''Series/YoungSheldon'': In "Legalese and a Whole Hoo-Ha", just as Connie is making Pastor Jeff sweat, adult Sheldon says that he's ending the episode here so the audience doesn't have to listen to a grown man beg for mercy.
148	* ''Series/{{Community}}'' has the scene where the study group play Dungeons & Dragons. They encounter an elf (played by Abed) who demands sex. Annie plays Hector the Well-Endowed. They roleplay the entire sex scene but in the form of a montage where the dialogue is replaced with soothing music. Annie says things like "I turn her over and give her a spanking", "I reveal my huge member" and "I insert three, no, four fingers..."
149	[[/folder]]
150
151	[[folder:Radio]]
152	* The original radio version of ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1978'' included an interlude during the approach to Magrathea where, supposedly in order to help combat rising stress levels in the galaxy, it was carefully explained to the audience that no one was going to get killed in the ensuing confusion -- although one unidentified person would be bruised on the arm. [[Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1 The novelization]] did this too, as did [[Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1981 the television series]], the latter of which used posterization and other special effects to obscure the action as [[{{Narrator}} the Book]] explained what was going on. The LP of the radio series includes a twist; listeners who allowed the album to play into the spiral scratch at the end would hear a short audio outtake informing them that it was Arthur whose upper arm was bruised. The same series, of course, includes the famous Peril Sensitive Sunglasses, which help you take a relaxed attitude to danger by going black at the first hint of trouble to prevent your seeing anything that might alarm you. A pair of these glasses were provided as feelies with the text adventure game. [[spoiler:They're totally made out of black cardboard.]]
153	[[/folder]]
154
155	[[folder:Video Games]]
156	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
157	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'':
158	*** The special ability "Devour" cut to a scene of a peaceful meadow with a disclaimer about sensibilities, rather than show the character consume the monster. When the move is successful, a sound [[{{Pun}} bite]] of something gruesome happening out of sight played.
159	*** Selphie's Limit Break "The End" worked with similar visuals; MemeticMutation by the fans then turned Selphie into a RealityWarper capable of [[Literature/ItsAGoodLife "wishing people into the cornfield"]].
160	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': One of the gathering-based quest chains you can take in ''Endwalker'' involves helping a student, T'laqa Tia, with his research into aetherology. The reason he needs assistance is T'laqa Tia is ''very'' prone to aether sickness, such that he can't use any of the aether based transportation or teleportation systems the player makes liberal use of. When demonstrating just how bad he has it, the scene is replaced by a screen of himself in a field of flowers looking at a fairy as the dialogue makes very clear he's losing his lunch everywhere.
161	* ''Franchise/DragonQuest'':
162	** The move known in the U.S. as "Puff-Puff" cuts away from the actual "Puff-puff" (which is a somewhat UnusualEuphemism for... ahem, well let's just say that [[MarshmallowHell only females normally have the Puff-puff ability...]]) Some male characters can use it too, but it isn't nearly as pleasant and in fact does damage.
163	** There is a DoubleSubversion in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII''. One of the secret places is a sort of brothel, where you can get a "Puff-puff" from one of the girls. There is a black screen, because the character is blindfolded, and we hears sounds of something squishy, but then the screen brightens up, and we just see the girl squishing a couple of slime dolls against the character's head.
164	** As a general rule, you should never trust a strange woman offering "Puff-Puff", as this sort of thing happens in more than one ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' game, and the result is never pleasant. In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'', the Puff-Puff is administered not by the girl who drags you to her house, but by the girl's extremely manly ''[[{{Squick}} father]]'', and in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'', the girl uses a pair of ''[[NightmareFuel sheeps' butts]]''.
165	* The Super Move of Morrigan Aensland in the ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'' series. If it connects, red curtains close over the screen for a few seconds, during which silhouettes provide a vague idea of what she's doing to her opponent. Never mind the fact that she's a [[SuccubiAndIncubi succubus...]]
166	* In ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestIIIThePiratesOfPestulon'', if you don't get off the garbage conveyor in time, "NOT A PRETTY SIGHT" covers the disposal unit as Roger is shredded. Rather than relaxing the player, it actually serves to make this way of dying funny.
167	* In ''VideoGame/AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaARecklessDisregardForGravity'', a base-jumping game about almost hitting buildings (kind of like a gravity-powered Burnout), has an unlockable level which is just a voice telling you [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UH014tmRPY relax]]. The game has a lot of unlockable sections like this... and one that subverts it by trying to invoke unnerving mental imagery instead.
168	* In ''VideoGame/TheHouseOfTheDeadOverkill'', after G and Washington [[StormingTheCastle storm the secret facility]] in the final level, they confront the BigBad only to discover [[YouAreTooLate they're too late]]. As the horror of the [[ChildSupplantsParent plan]] unfolds, the game puts up a "Missing reel" card, and suddenly G and Washington are on the surface, armed with personal gatling guns, and fighting an EldritchAbomination.
169	* Playing ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'' with sex scenes turned off brings in pictures of stuff to replace them. (For instance a sex scene in Shizune's route is replaced by a picture of cantaloupes.) This can create some {{Bathos}} in Hanako's route. She has finally come out of her shell enough to show you the burn scars that cover the entire right side of her body...only for the game to suddenly cut to a photo of shrimp. ''Grilled'' shrimp.
170	* Parodied in ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'' as several scenes are cut out and replaced with adorable pictures of kittens.
171	** A RunningGag the Pirate quest series involves scenes being replaced with pictures of kittens to censor horrifying scenes.
172	*** In "Rum Deal", several Zombie Swabs will attack the player and attempt to hinder their progress. Should they threaten the zombie, the scene will cut away to a graphic of a cat playing with a ball of yarn, returning with the end of their threat.
173	--->'''Player Character:''' ... and I'll grind up what's left, mix it with lemon juice, and throw the whole lot into the ocean!
174	*** In "The Great Brain Robbery", the player needs the help of Dr. Fenkenstrain to operate on some monks whose brains were stolen by zombie pirates. Before the surgeon begins the operation, he asks them to record what he does, for posterity. The scene cuts away to a graphic of a cat playing with a ball of yarn once more. When the scene comes back...
175	--->'''Player Character:''' [[BrainBleach I don't want my eyes anymore!]]
176	--->[...]
177	--->'''Dr. Fenkenstrain:''' Only a little, and the sawdust scraped right off [[CrossesTheLineTwice with that cheese grater]].
178	*** The kitten-intermission pops up [[RuleOfThree yet again]] in the Pirate quest finale "Pieces of Hate", when the player blows up the entrance to a dungeon on Braindeath Island. Doing this unleashes 'Rum'-pumped Crabs that wreak havoc on the zombie pirates that make up the majority of Captain Rabid Jack's army.
179	--->'''Narrator:''' [[WhatTheHellPlayer Who are you kidding, really? You're a monster and you know it. If you think a scene of playful kittens will spare you from MY horror, you are mistaken. Do you really think you can save them, [Player]?]]
180
181	** Also present in "Bringing Home The Bacon", where you are tasked with beating the daylights out of someone accused of theft. The screen cuts to a view of a kitten and a piglet, and their absolutely wonderful adventures. You can still hear the thief's cries of pain.
182	* Meta-example in Valve's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUhOnX8qt3I Meet The Pyro]]" short film for ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. The implication is that the Pyro's perception of ''the entire world'' consists of Relax-o-Vision -- with rainbows, lollipops, dancing unicorns, chibified "baby" Blue Team members, all set to the tune of "Do You Believe In Magic."
183	* ''VideoGame/EdnaAndHarveyHarveysNewEyes'' reflects Lilli's inability to comprehend death by covering dead bodies in pink paint, applied by little potato-shaped gnomes that only she can see. It's generally a thin enough layer to get a good idea of what's just happened, but she never has an option to interact directly with it, and displays absolutely no curiosity about it. (The paint stops appearing later on in the game when the protagonist's illusions begin to break.) Interestingly, no character in the entire game displays the ability to recognize a dead body--it's just that the others convince themselves the dead are still alive, whereas Lilli can't see them at all. Mother Superior even gives an award to a girl who's hung herself out of despair.
184	* ''VideoGame/KillerIsDead'' [[spoiler:Bryan's]] about to get hit by a train! Cut to a Unicorn in a grassy field while "Please Stand By" marquees across the screen. Cut back to [[GenkiGirl Mika]] [[spoiler:catching his robot remains]] and [[TheHero Mondo]] swearing his death won't be in vain.
185	* ''VideoGame/{{Neptunia}}'':
186	** ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaVictory'':
187	*** After the party catches up with and defeats Arfoire, who had kidnapped the children they were looking after, [[FetishizedAbuser Iris Heart]] decides she needs to vent her rage on the hapless foe. Cut to a picture of a SuperDeformed Neptune telling the audience to "Please Stand By". When things fade back in, Iris Heart looks extremely [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything satisfied]] while Arfoire looks traumatized, and the other [=CPUs=] discuss how even they had to look away during the moment... right before remembering [[HarmfulToMinors the five-year-old they rescued, IF, just saw everything]] and can now barely speak. All PlayedForLaughs.
188	*** The same image shows up during the Good Ending route when Neptune decides to [[BlackComedyRape introduce]] Iris Heart to Uni, [[TokenMiniMoe Rom, and Ram]].
189	** ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaProducingPerfection'' has an event where the producer [[AccidentalPervert walks in]] on [[{{Tsundere}} Noire]] while she's changing. Cue a SuperDeformed Histoire telling us to "Please wait".
190	* Used in ''VideoGame/Disgaea5'', during the Succubus' Dazzling Stage special; the Succubus does a pole dance. When it looks like the cape obsuring her naked body will dissolve completely away, the scene cuts to a Cat Saber playing in a field with a caption '''*There seems to be a problem with the picture. Please wait.''' It then cuts back to the target suffering damage.
191	* Used in ''VideoGame/Drakengard3'', where Zero is finishing off Five by stabbing the hell out of her with her sword. The scene switches to a cartoon drawing of a chibified Zero and Five with the text "This content has been deemed inappropriate for pretty much everyone. Please stand by" while the sounds of Five screaming in pain can still be heard.
192	* PlayedForDrama in ''VideoGame/Persona5'', where a plot-centric livestream cuts to this after [[spoiler:Kunikazu Okumura suddenly undergoes a mental shutdown]]. This doesn’t become funny at all, considering who the target was to one of the Phantom Thieves, and their public reputation goes down the toilet shortly after.
193	* ''VideoGame/{{maimai}}'' applies this as a form of [[{{Bowdlerise}} censorship]] to the music video for the song "[=MopeMope=]". The original music video features [[spoiler:the previously cute and happy flowers [[DisguisedHorrorStory turning]] into [[BotanicalAbomination plant horrors with human arms for petals and thrashing human mouths]]]], while the edited version for this game instead features a peaceful video of a boat.
194	* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Pico}} Pico's School]]'', when Cassandra starts [[AxesAtSchool shooting up Pico's class]] in the opening, the camera cuts to black the moment the first blood starts spurting from the teacher's neck, with a message telling the player:
195	-->''Your computer is unable to process the immense amounts of blood flying around the screen at this time.''\
196	''The genocide will be over in just a moment. Thank you.''
197	[[/folder]]
198
199	[[folder:Web Animation]]
200	* ''WebAnimation/FourSwordsMisadventures'':
201	** This happens while Red Link is being [[VideogameCrueltyPunishment pummeled by the Cuccos]] during [[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/388606 Episode 4]]. The screen even displays the words "Relax-O-Vision" superimposed on a field of flowers with a blurb about the scene being unsuitable for those with weak stomachs, perhaps as a ShoutOut to the original Freakazoid "Relax-O-Vision".
202	** In another possible example, [[ItMakesSenseInContext Green Link and Red Link are fighting each other,]] and then the scene cuts to Blue and Purple in a theater, watching a parody of the infamous ant speech from Naruto. When Blue and Purple get back to where the fight was, it's already over.
203	* ''WebAnimation/OverlySarcasticProductions'': In some her videos, if bloodshed is involved or if the topic becomes too serious or heavy, Red will show a picture of a kitten on the screen. Notably in her videos for ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' and ''Literature/AllQuietOnTheWesternFront''.
204	* ''WebAnimation/TerribleWritingAdvice'': In "revenge plot", the author mentions "non-family friendly ad-demonetizing grimdark violence" being inflicted on the antihero's [[DisposableWoman female love interest]], while the screen shows an "Unrelated ad-saving puppy -- think happy thoughts."
205	[[/folder]]
206
207	[[folder:Webcomics]]
208	* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' plays with [[NoFourthWall the fourth wall]] by having a character argue with the narrator, wanting to see the grisly wound that's covered by a censored panel.
209	* ''Webcomic/{{Girly}}'':
210	** Whenever sex is meant to be portrayed, the panel instead shows a scene with the characters involved dancing with happy mammals in a world where everything has an incredibly cute face and sings "Lalalala". It was even done in ''thought bubbles''! Example [[http://girlyyy.com/go/121 here]].
211	** Subverted in the final battle with the [[spoiler:Dickweed Queen]], whom Winter and Otra defeat by consummating their heroine/sidekick relationship. The cute censorship animals show up... and prance away singing, trampling the [[spoiler:Queen]] and leaving the sex scene ''completely'' uncensored.
212	* In ''Webcomic/CaptainSNES'', panels are occasionally replaced with an image of the the Nintendo Censorship Angel. Taken a step further when she censored the visual part of a fight that ended in the [[spoiler:death of Fat Chocobo]] in [[http://www.captainsnes.com/2002/06/17/145-bob-eats-brains/ this animated strip]]. Dialogue and sound effects are still visible, though ironically, the former is uncensored (ie: early on, Porom says "Kick his ass!").
213	* ''Webcomic/FlintlockesGuideToAzeroth'' has this one [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/303 here]] when Flintlocke is using Beaverstick (don't ask) to fight against an Everblooming. Naturally, the characters protest immediately that they want to see the fight.
214	* ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'' at one point features a panel explaining that [[ButtMonkey Nodwick's]] brain turning into coleslaw followed by his head exploding couldn't be shown, so it cuts straight to the aftermath.
215	* ''Webcomic/TheSuburbanJungle'' usually covers up fight/predation scenes with a text banner announcing "A scene of indescribable carnage" or some such, [[http://suburbanjungleclassic.com/?p=984 like so.]]
216	* A ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' bonus strip replaces a sex scene from a VisualNovel with a little girl chasing butterflies.
217	* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'':
218	** Weaponized in-universe by the immortal known only as Jerry. He has a spell that causes the target to suddenly perceive itself as being in a grassy field surrounded by adorable fluffy animals. It's only been used once so far, but when it was, it reduced a character from an angst-driven rampage to vaguely [[{{Series/Firefly}} River Tam]]-like babbling ''in seconds''.
219	** This also occurs in a Q&A comic regarding whether or not various forms of VoluntaryTransformation can heal injuries (answer: no). The answer is given alongside a montage of cute animals.
220	-->'''Amanda:''' ''Ugh'', I've been dreading this question. You are ''not'' getting fitting visuals for this one.
221	* [[TerrifiedOfGerms Germophobic]] protagonist Paul of ''Webcomic/UhOhItsADinosaur'' who works a thankless retail job is one day [[http://fulltimeink.com/archives/8408 given a special assignment]] [[spoiler:of the sort that janitors sometimes refer to as [[BigNo "nasty-ass" duty]]]]. So it is represented by [[PreciousPuppies cute puppies!]] to keep things inoffensive....
222	* ''Webcomic/GGGuys'' has Dave wear Relax-O-Vision goggles to portray the censored version of ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2''. It did not end well.
223	* Subverted in ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'', where Meji's early melee with the guards at the Heretic Knowledge Vault (using her familiar Ellis as a [[http://www.errantstory.com/2003-05-26/100 melee weapon]]) goes on behind a relax-o-vision curtain. However, that wasn't out of concern for the sensibilities of the reader; it was because Poe was too lazy to draw the melee scene. ([[WordOfGod He said so]].)
224	* In a part of ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', the view is changed to a dead person (killed earlier by one of the characters) while someone gets beaten up in a jail cell. It is used [[https://www.homestuck.com/story/4912 two]] [[https://www.homestuck.com/story/4924 times]], in quick succession -- and subverted the first time, because it cuts back ''too early''!
225	-->'''Narrative:''' You stop being the other guy in time for us to see that you have just finished quickly and cleanly subduing the... Jack. Jack, the man is dead. Stop that. [[BlackComedy Jack. Jack. Jack.]]
226	* Done in ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' after Saitama lightly taps Sonic in the groin (taking the form of a "WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties" screen). It may not sound like much, but [[MegatonPunch a full-blown punch]] from Saitama can [[YourHeadASplode obliterate a monster's head]].
227	* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', when [[spoiler:the vampire possessing Durkon [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0958.html drinks Elan's blood]]]], it's censored with a {{flashback}} panel as Durkon [[HappyPlace distracts himself with a happy memory]] rather than watch.
228	* In ''WebComic/UndyingHappiness'', some of the [[BloodyHilarious particularly gruesome]] injuries [[GoodThingYouCanHeal Keisuke]] suffers are censored in this manner, like cutting to images of a steak when his girlfriend Naomi [[AnArmAndALeg has to cut his arm off]] so it can regenerate properly.
229	* In the "[[http://faultylogic.comicgenesis.com/d/20080830.html Jalyss Dislikes Headcrabs]]" page of ''Webcomic/FaultyLogic'', Jalyss shows pictures of puppies while describing how a [[VideoGame/HalfLife headcrab]] attaches itself to a victim because there is no way she's showing anything that disturbing.
230	[[/folder]]
231
232	[[folder:Web Original]]
233	* Website/TVTropes:
234	** In the BloodierAndGorier article, instead of a horrific, gory scene of guts and carnage, there used to be an adorable picture of {{cute kitten}}s.
235	** Same used to go for NightmareFace, though it was later replaced with a back shot.
236	%%* The ''Website/DesuDesBrigade'' has used it a few times.
237	* ''Blog/WhatIf'':
238	** "[[http://what-if.xkcd.com/98/ Blood Alcohol]]" featured drawings of squirrels instead of [[spoiler:people throwing up blood]].
239	** "[[http://what-if.xkcd.com/105/ Once again, we've reached a scenario I really don't want to illustrate.]] [[BrickJoke Here's another squirrel]]. [[note]][[AltText I'm gonna look for less morbid questions for a while]][[/note]]
240	* While it's not an outright replacement, in the Website/{{Cracked}}.com article [[http://www.cracked.com/article_15767_third-reich-to-fortune-500-five-popular-brands-nazis-gave-us.html 5 Popular Brands the Nazis Gave Us]], the editor puts pictures of cute kittens after particularly horrifying parts. This has since become standard practice for Cracked's darker articles.
241	* On ''Blog/ToplessRobot'', the "Fan Fiction Friday" reviews sometimes include pictures of baby animals when particularly graphic excerpts from the fan fictions are quoted.
242	* During WebSite/SFDebris' analysis of ''Film/BladeRunner'', he showed two kittens in a laundry basket when Roy Batty killed his creator.
243	* On the Bad Webcomics Wiki, their article for ''The Office Bitch'' has stock photos of puppies instead of any pictures from the comic itself (with the exception of one heavily edited series of panels).
244	-->I want some pictures in this review, but I don't want any pictures of "The Office Bitch". So here's some cute puppies instead to get my mind off this comic.
245	[[/folder]]
246
247	[[folder:Web Videos]]
248	* In ''WebVideo/ItalianSpiderman'', the start of a love scene cuts away to {{Toku}}.
249	* One scene in LetsPlay/{{Diabetus}}'s LetsPlay of the ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' [[GameMod ROM Hack]] ''Parallel Worlds'' features several cuts to Relax-O-Vision (with the words displayed onscreen) during a moment of UnstoppableRage after Diabetus reaches a room where you must kill all enemies to proceed... [[GameBreakingBug and the enemies don't appear.]]
250	-->'''Diabetus:''' Um, Oyster, am I trapped?\
251	'''Oyster:''' Uh, I dunno, where are you? No.\
252	'''Diabetus:''' Nothing's moving.\
253	'''Oyster:''' This is a "kill all enemies" room.\
254	'''Diabetus:''' Do you see any enemies in the room?\
255	'''Oyster:''' Oh... no. ''[starts to laugh]''\
256	'''Diabetus:''' URAAAAAA--\
257	''[RELAX-O-VISION]''\
258	'''Oyster:''' Isn't there like a Stalfos or something in there?\
259	'''Diabetus:''' FUCK YOU, Euclid, FUCK YOU and your FUCKING romhack!\
260	''[RELAX-O-VISION]''\
261	'''Diabetus:''' --can't even fix your fucking glitches in the game I'm in this roo--\
262	''[RELAX-O-VISION]''\
263	'''Diabetus:''' It's not like Franchise/IndianaJones are you going to put fucking GAS in the room now, is that wha--\
264	''[RELAX-O-VISION]''\
265	'''Diabetus:''' AAAAAAARGH!\
266	''[RELAX-O-VISION]''
267	* ''WebVideo/GloveAndBoots'' makes use of it during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMHTmivtZ6s "Jigsaw Puzzle"]] several times as Mario and Fafa deal with one of [[Franchise/{{Saw}} Jigsaw's traps]].
268	* WebVideo/MarzGurl uses it twice in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6es8YbtqaFU her review]] of ''WesternAnimation/FritzTheCat'', the first time when the chicken truck driver kills all his chickens with a board with a nail in it, and again when the junkie rabbit beats and (at least implied) rapes his girlfriend.
269	* The ''WebVideo/JoueurDuGrenier'' ValentinesDayEpisode / special has a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY0peQRNauY#t=808 particularly hilarious one]] which prevents us from seeing the title character of ''VideoGame/BradStallion'' [[spoiler:getting it on with a ''sheep'']]. [=JdG=], unfortunately, is not so lucky.
270	* The episode of ''WebVideo/NeedsMoreGay'' discussing the Westborough Baptist Church[[note]]The "God Hates Fags" people[[/note]] ends with "a rage-quelling image of a puppy imagining a guitar" due to Rantasmo's disgust of merely mentioning the group.
271	* In the ''WebVideo/GameTheory'' episode "Is [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] the STRONGEST Video Game Character?", when [=MatPat=] discusses "[[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]]'s latest beatdown where he takes a mythological creature and manually separates torso from cranium," he shows a bunny eating because "literally nothing Kratos in his games is brand-safe for us to use here."
272	* When ''WebVideo/Civvie11'' completed ''[[VideoGame/FinalDoom The Plutonia Experiment]]'', the ending text states that Hell has gone back to "[[AccidentalInnuendo pounding bad dead folks instead of good live ones.]]" Civvie asks his editor Katie for a pic of a demon banging UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler. Katie instead posts a graphic of some cute kittens with the caption "[[NoJustNoReaction NO. NO. NO. NO.]] [[SickAndWrong NO. NO. NO.]]" Civvie concedes.
273	* WebVideo/{{JonTron}} does this in his review of ''The Goop Lab'' when he reaches episode 3, which is about the female group members stripping naked and admiring themselves... and the event's host [[FanDisservice is an old lady]].
274	-->'''Jon:''' I cannot show you ''any'' of that on [=YouTube=], and frankly... [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain I don't wanna talk about]] [[BrainBleach what I've seen ever again.]]
275	* In WebVideo/Rank10YGO's review of ''VideoGame/{{Ultrakill}}'''s first act, he splices in footage of someone petting a rat (the Rat-A-Matic[[TradeSnark ™]] Distraction Cam) during the descent to the game's {{Superboss}} fight for people to look at if they're uncomfortable with the darkness and eerie silence.
276	* WebVideo/CountDankula's video on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ1camSU6Jw Frank Amodeo]] includes a complex explanation of the scheme Amodeo used to amass enough money from investors to hire a private army and enact his plan to TakeOverTheWorld. To make the viewers keep watching during this part, Dank sets the explanation to a background of assorted attractive anime girls.
277	[[/folder]]
278
279	[[folder:Western Animation]]
280	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' episode "Here There Be Dwarves", Creator/RLeeErmey, [[DrillSergeantNasty of all people]], pops up to explain that a fierce battle between dwarves and elves is too gruesome to show to younger viewers, so they will be showing a clip of a cute koala instead. However, they accidentally cut back briefly to the battle before the carnage is over, and Ermey remarks "That was entirely my bad! I misread the signals. I knew a guy named Joe. He misread the signals in a combat situation -- now he eats everything through a mechanical straw!"
281	* In the ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' episode "The Magic Tree of Nowhere", this happens after Courage climbs into a hive. The camera pans across a beautiful field while only Courage's screams of pain can be heard in the background.
282	* In the ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'' episode "Alzheimer's That Ends Well", Wooldoor covers Clara's genitalia with himself, explaining that they cannot show it because of the [[MediaWatchdog FCC]]. When he proceeds to explain what FCC stands for, his mouth is {{pixel\|lation}}ated and his words are [[SoundEffectBleep beeped out]] (the uncensored DVD release reveals that he said "Faggoty Cock-blocking Clamfuckers").
283	* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' episode "Gee Whiz". Pretty much the entire episode is a parody of this trope combined with religious censorship.
284	* ''WesternAnimation/DaveTheBarbarian'':
285	** Variation: "And so our heroes defeat the muffin in an exciting battle, which we can't show you because it would be much too expensive for a cheap show like this."
286	** Played straight in the episode where Chuckles takes over the show by enslaving the narrator. He writes a scene where he defeats Dave and his family, but the narrator can't read it because it's "far too violent for a family show". Chuckles makes some adjustments and hands the script back. The narrator okays it, and they cut to the exterior of the castle, as it bounces like crazy and a fierce battle is heard; the narrator's dialogue is somewhere along the lines of "And lo, the Dark Lord Chuckles the Silly Piggy does inflict many vague but presumably unpleasant things on the smelly barbarians."
287	* ''WesternAnimation/EarthwormJim'':
288	** The theme song to the cartoon includes a cut away from Peter Puppy-monster induced ultraviolence to Jim in a hammock accidentally swallowing a butterfly to relaxing music, and then back to the aftermath of said violence.
289	** Another example from the show is when Jim battles a "gigantic, undefeatable army". Cut to a newscaster announcing "Cost of cartoons skyrocketing! Producers seek cheap substitutes for huge action sequences." Cut back to Jim: "What a huge action sequence! I never thought we'd survive!" (Unsurprisingly, this show and the above-mentioned ''Dave the Barbarian'' had the same writer, Doug Langdale.)
290	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
291	** The show's portrayal of Mohammed ordering food at a stand was censored by Creator/ComedyCentral. After much kerfuffle, Comedy Central replaced it with Relax-O-Vision, allowing Matt and Trey to describe the scene and express their feelings about the censorship. (Prior to 9/11, ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' had shown Mohammed uncensored. He appears on a lunchbox uncensored in a 2020 special.)
292	** The daytime broadcasts (and [[EditedForSyndication versions seen on OTA TV stations via syndication]]) of the episode "Red Hot Catholic Love" cut to Relax-o-Vision during scenes [[ItMakesSenseInContext where the characters crap out of their mouths]]. A black screen with text describing the censorship, accompanied by a few seconds of soothing music (and then the sound of them actually doing it). The late-night version is not censored.
293	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'':
294	** The {{Trope Namer\|s}}. In the titular episode, Freakazoid is seen charging into combat against the villains from his RoguesGallery, only for Relax-O-Vision to kick in for a few seconds, after which Freakazoid is shown towering victorious over his opponents. As the episode goes on, it becomes obvious that Relax-O-Vision is being used by the writers as a magical and lazy (yet funny) way [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome to resolve the fights without providing any explanation as to how it happened]]. It culminates in Freakazoid rescuing his girlfriend from his archnemesis in [[OffscreenRealityWarp a hilarious and extremely implausible way]] during a Relax-O-Vision cutaway. It's finally subverted at the end when Relax-O-Vision censors Freakazoid and Steph kissing after the battle ends, and Freakazoid, [[RageBreakingPoint finally fed up with it]], beats up the network censor who introduced it at the beginning of the episode over a final Relax-O-Vision shot (with the carnage playing over the relaxing music).
295	** Another episode (the one with [[JustForFun/CandleJack the floaty guy with the rope]]) had "Scream-O-Vision", where whenever something scary was about to about to happen, a narrator would say, "Scream" and small sound clip of people doing just that played. When it happens when Freakazoid and Steph were about to kiss, he yells at the narrator to knock it off.
296	** The Relax-O-Vision gag returned when Freakazoid guest-starred in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' episode "Huggbees", first when Freakazoid goes to take a poo while watching movies on Cyborg's cell phone and again when Freakazoid and the Titans go and beat up the Brain's robotic minions, with the scene getting shot up, a robot thrown through it and the entire thing getting burnt up.
297	* WesternAnimation/TexAveryMGMCartoons:
298	** Variation: In a ''Screwy Squirrel'' cartoon, the squirrel is chased by the dog into a pitch-black cave where loud violent noises rage. Squirrel steps out into the light, telling us "Sure was a great gag, folks -- too bad you couldn't see it!"
299	** Tex pulls a variation in two other cartoons. "What's Buzzin', Buzzard?" concludes with a live shot of a fully cooked steak that was shown earlier (this was made in WWII, when meat was being rationed), while "The TV Of Tomorrow" shows the very sexy girl that was shown earlier as well. Both were presumably shown again through audience requests.
300	** In "One Ham's Family", one character warns the camera not to follow them into a room because the fighting inside "is entirely too gruesome to witness."
301	* ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'':
302	** The cartoon ''WesternAnimation/RabbitPunch'' ends with Bugs Bunny about to be run over by a train. As the train barrels toward Bugs, the film breaks. Bugs walks onto a blank screen and announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to continue with this picture. And, uh, confidentially," he adds, holding up a pair of scissors, "the film didn't exactly break."
303	** Similar ending to the WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck cartoon ''WesternAnimation/MyFavoriteDuck'', where the film breaks while WesternAnimation/PorkyPig is chasing Daffy Duck with a gun. Daffy then describes the missing action where he fights back against Porky and gains the upper hand, until Porky hits him over the head with his rifle.
304	** Another Daffy Duck cartoon from 1938 called ''WesternAnimation/PorkyAndDaffy'' has the champ pull down a shade that says "censored" as he beats the hell out of Daffy behind it. When the shade comes back up, Daffy is out cold on the canvas.
305	* ''WesternAnimation/OggyAndTheCockroaches'' does this frequently, even having the characters either move the camera, or put a picture in front of the camera to stop us from seeing the ensuing violence. They do show the result of the violence, though.
306	* Spoofed in the ''[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Merrie Melodies]]'' short "Cross Country Detours". At one point, the screen splits to show a snarling Gila monster on one side and a cute little girl reciting a nursery rhyme on the other, for those who might find the Gila monster too scary. Eventually, the girl shouts at the Gila monster to shut up, scaring it away.
307	* ''{{WesternAnimation/Spliced}}'': "To avoid damage to young minds, we've been ordered to replace this fight scene with happy puppies."
308	* In the conclusion to the ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' adventure "Wossamotta U.," Rocky is making [[DownToTheLastPlay a dramatic, game-saving, climactic move]], when suddenly the action stops as we cut to a blank screen with the only word "RELAX!!!" After a few seconds, the action resumes where it left off.
309	* "WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror" episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' sometimes cut from a scene of implied violence on a ShowWithinAShow to a card explaining "technical difficulties, please stand by."
310	* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' episode "The Safety", when Darwin put on a profanity filter in real life. When Gumball stomps on Darwin's foot, his angered response is cut off with [[http://theamazingworldofgumball.wikia.com/wiki/File:Say_it_one_at_a_time.jpg a series of soothing images]], but they actually obliquely hint at what he said. [[spoiler:"Ow! You mother-forking ass-clown!"]]
311	* In "I Want to Recycle" on ''Literature/LittlePrincess'', Princess drops a lollipop on the grass after a fly lands on it, but declares she's still going to eat it because to not do so would be wasteful. She tells the narrator, however, that he doesn't have to watch. He replies that he won't and the "camera" pans to a view of a bluebird splashing in a birdbath with relaxing music playing until Princess is all done.
312	* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': In "Once Upon a Tyne in New York", the show cuts to an ad for ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' when Lester is about to say [[NWordPrivileges the N-word]] ([[TooDumbToLive in the middle of Harlem!]]). The ad then disappears to reveal Lester surrounded by a mob of angry black people.
313	* In the ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' remake episode "The Scare Mouse Project", the true form of the [[HeadlessHorseman Headless Postman]] is too scary for the timeslot, so is replaced by a photo of a puppy making friends with a kitten. (All subsequent scenes featuring it are done in POVCam.)
314	* Used InUniverse in the episode "Sleepover and Over" of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', where AJ's dad installs a parental block on their TV just before a Crash Nebula versus Crimson Chin crossover. All that Timmy and AJ can see is a revolving cube reciting "blockblockblockblockblock" on everything but the nature channel. When AJ says "At least we can watch animal violence," his dad upgrades the parental block to insert the cube over that channel too.
315	[[/folder]]
316
317	[[folder:Real Life]]
318	* Before 24-hour broadcasting became the norm, some TV stations played [[TheElevatorFromIpanema muzak]] to accompany test card displays during off-hours. The same also happened in operating hours when there were [[WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties technical difficulties]].
319	* Totalitarian regimes control the news and don't especially ''like'' to [[BreakingNewsInterruption break bad news]]. The trend is to interrupt programming and start playing nonstop classical music, partly to give the viewer time to prepare themselves for bad news and partly to give ''themselves'' time to work out exactly what to say.
320	* In Nazi Germany, state radio replaced all regular programming with Anton Bruckner's Seventh Symphony before announcing the catastrophic defeat at Stalingrad.
321	* The Soviet Union liked to do this; Soviet viewers were conditioned, upon hearing classical music from the TV and radio, to understand that something really bad had just happened. After UsefulNotes/{{Chernobyl}}, the radio played classical music for two days straight until the official announcement was prepared. During the August Coup in 1991, Soviet television played ''Theatre/SwanLake'' [[https://www.npr.org/2021/08/19/1029437787/in-1991-soviet-citizens-saw-swans-on-the-tv-and-knew-it-meant-turmoil on repeat]]. The impulse was so strong that even after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian news stations would ''still'' do this, often as a sort of editorial statement; for instance, ''Swan Lake'' was played in this fashion by independent Russian TV station TV Rain after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, in protest, [[https://people.com/politics/russias-last-independent-tv-station-broadcasts-swan-lake-amid-ukraine-invasion/ right before they were taken off the air by the Kremlin]].
322	* In her autobiography about surviving the Rwandan genocide, Esther Mujawayo wrote that she associated classical music with political upheaval because the national radio network used this music [[HereWeGoAgain each time a coup occurred]].
323	[[/folder]]

Context Main / RelaxOVision