Line #165 Main/TitleTropes


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4	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dsc_0020.png]]
5
6	''It all starts with the title...''
7
8	''Summing up an entire complex narrative, a colorful cast of characters and an inventive concept with a few words can be quite an art. What you choose will bear the burden of being the work's representative and designation.''
9
10	''Compare NamingConventions. See also TextTropes.''
11	----
12	!!Tropes:
13	[[index]]
14	[floatboxright:
15	'''Categories:'''
16	+ ThisTropeIsX
17	]
18	* AdaptationTitleChange: An adaptation of a work has a different title from the source material.
19	* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: A title definitively names the titular superhero; with the article "the", followed by a relevant adjective, and then their alias.
20	* AdjectiveNounFred: A title the follows the format "[''adjective''] [''common noun''] [''proper noun'']".
21	* AgeOfTitles: Things are named "The Age of [''noun'']" because an age is a vague length of time (and TheXOfY is a good naming scheme).
22	* AlliterationAndAdventurers: An AlliterativeTitle with TheNounAndTheNoun wording is a prime naming format for TabletopGames. Uses ampersands ("&") for extra fantastical fancies.
23	* AlliterativeTitle: The title is an alliteration.
24	* AmericanTitle: Titles with "America" or "American" in them.
25	* AnnualTitle: A series of annual releases that are dated by year in their title.
26	* AntagonistTitle: A work is titled after TheAntagonist.
27	* AppropriatedTitle: A different title a franchise is better known by than its original.
28	* ArtifactTitle: The show still goes by its original title in spite of having gone through developments and changes that render the original title meaningless.
29	* ArtistAndTheBand: A title follows the "[Artist's name] and [name of their backing band]" format.
30	* TheBackwardsR: Non-Latin characters are used to emulate the Latin alphabet and invoke a foreign setting or subject, despite almost always being illegible in the language(s) of the derived script as a result.
31	* BalladOfX: Things that are named "The Ballad of [''noun'']", usually musical in nature.
32	* TheCaseOf: A title that implies a mystery/detective story.
33	* CelebritySong: A song about a notable celebrity, either living or dead, is directly named after them.
34	* CensoredTitle: When a title has to be changed because it's considered "inappropriate" for its target audience.
35	* CharacterInTheLogo: A character or their silhouette is or a part of their series' logo.
36	* CharacterActionTitle: Title consists of a subject and predicate, i.e., phrased as [''character name''][''verb''][''etc.'']
37	* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase: Phrased as [''character name''] and [''noun'']". Latter may be an AdverblyAdjectiveNoun.
38	* CharacterTitle: The title relates to a character within the work.
39	* CodenameTitle: The title is phrased as a CodeName.
40	* ColonCancer: Punctuated Titles: With Two or More Colons: A Blight Upon Subtitles.
41	* CompletelyDifferentTitle: A work’s title gets changed completely in foreign markets.
42	* CompleteTheQuoteTitle: A work's title is a portion of an excerpt deriving from an earlier piece of media.
43	* CompoundTitle: Individual titles of installments in a series form one statement.
44	* TheCrimeJob: TheCaper is titled "The [''adjective''/''noun''] Job".
45	* CrossReferencedTitles: Two related episodes of a series have titles that match or otherwise reference each other.
46	* DeceptivelySillyTitle: The title gives the impression of the work being more lighthearted and kid-friendly than it actually is.
47	* DoomyDoomsOfDoom: Something sounds hilariously evil or dangerous when suffixed with "of Doom".
48	* DoubleDoubleTitle: A title consisting of one or more repeated words.
49	* DoubleMeaningTitle: A title that has a DoubleMeaning.
50	* DoubleX: The use of the letter "X" is doubled (or [[RuleOfThree tripled]]).
51	* EitherOrTitle: A work that has multiple titles for itself that are in the title.
52	* EnterEponymous: The title follows the format "Enter [''character name'']" or "Enter the (''character attribute'')".
53	* EpisodeFinishesTheTitle: The title of an episode or episodes finishes or [[QuestioningTitle answers]] the statement that is its series' title.
54	* EpisodeTitleCard: A television series' episodes have a card showing the episode's title.
55	* EpisodeZeroTheBeginning: A prequel work/prologue work/remake of a first installment is numbered before the first episode.
56	* TheEponymousShow: Shows that are named after being a show about the main character.
57	* EpunymousTitle: A work's title is a pun involving the eponymous character/location/object's name.
58	* EventTitle: A work is titled after an event (or series thereof) that takes place before or during the story.
59	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The title tells you everything you need to know about the work.
60	* ExcitedTitleTwoPartEpisodeName: The episode title is ''two'' exclamatory statements.
61	* FamilyTitle: The title refers to a family.
62	* TheFantasticTropeOfWonderousTitles: A lengthy title of multiple syllables and whimsical visual elements.
63	* FinaleTitleDrop: A TitleDrop that happens in the finale, or in the final moments of a series.
64	* ForeignLanguageTitle: The language of the title is different from the language of which the work is written.
65	* TheForeignSubtitle: When a title without a subtitle in its original language has one in-translation.
66	* FranchiseDrivenRetitling: An early installment of a franchise is renamed once the producers realize they have a franchise.
67	* TheFullNameAdventures: A serial of adventures, chronicles, tales, etc.
68	* GoryDeadlyOverkillTitleOfFatalDeath: Painfully over the top horror movie titles.
69	* IAmNotShazam: The work's title is mistaken for the protagonist's name.
70	* IconicCharacterForgottenTitle: A character's name overshadows the title of the work they're from (even if it is in the title).
71	* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Some if not every episode of a series has their title follow the same pattern.
72	* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: The work's title acknowledges the company that owns the rights to the work or the work's creator.
73	* InheritedIlliteracyTitle: A misspelling in a work's title reflects an in-universe misspelling.
74	* InitialismTitle. A title which is solely an initialism -- uses big letters, optionally also periods or [[LuckyCharmsTitle other punctuations]].
75	* ICommaNoun: The title is simply a first-person pronoun followed by the title character's given name/surname/alias.
76	* InstructionalTitle: A title of the form "How To [''subject of work'']".
77	* IntentionallyAwkwardTitle: The title, for some reason, ''just doesn't sound right'' coming out.
78	* InWhichATropeIsDescribed: A title in which elements of the story is described beforehand.
79	* IronicEpisodeTitle: The title gives the impression of a tone that is the opposite of the one in the work.
80	* ItCameFromBeverlyHills: Beverly Hills is so cool that mentioning it in a work's title automatically makes it cooler.
81	* JobTitle: The title is a character's profession or role.
82	* TheJoyOfX: Parodying of an TheXOfY title is easily done with the replacement of ''X'' and/or ''Y''.
83	* JustifiedTitle: The title has a literal meaning in-universe separate from its meaning out-of-universe.
84	* TheLastTitle: Having the word "Last" somewhere in the title of a work (sometimes an intended GrandFinale).
85	* TheLegendOfX: A title that implies the story will feel like an epic story repeated from generation to generation.
86	* LetteredSequel: A sequel is not numbered, but lettered. No, not even necessarily Roman numerals, ones like [[XtremeKoolLetterz "Z" or "X"]].
87	* Letters2Numbers: Replacing letters with numbers (relevant to the plot or the installment's number).
88	* LiteraryAllusionTitle: A work's title is an excerpt deriving from an earlier piece of media.
89	* LuckyCharmsTitle: Symbols that are not letters are put in a title. Tend towards unpronounceable.
90	* MacGuffinTitle: The work is titled after a MacGuffin.
91	* MadLibThrillerTitle: A Thriller title which follows a specific pattern of "The [''meaningful noun or name''] [''noun with political or symbolic connotations'']" to represent an enigmatic story.
92	* MarketBasedTitle: A work's title is changed in a foreign country to make it more audience-friendly, because of translation problems, etc.
93	* MetafictionalTitle: The title of the story is also the title of an in-universe document or [[ShowWithinAShow fictional work]].
94	* MononymousBiopicTitle: A biopic titled as a OneWordTitle after the central character's name/surname/alias.
95	* MultiCharacterTitle: A title names off multiple characters.
96	* NPlusOneSequelTitle: The sequel for a work with a number in the title uses the subsequent integer.
97	* NameAndName: A title follows the format "[''Main Character A''] and [''Main Character B'']".
98	* NamedAfterFirstInstallment: A series' title is based on that of its first installment.
99	* TheNamesake: The title of the story derives from an in-universe element that is not immediately made apparent.
100	* NeverTrustATitle: The title has little or nothing to do with the work.
101	* TheNewAdventures: "New" or "neo" is slapped onto a sequel or revival series.
102	* NewSeasonNewName: When an ongoing work changes its name to represent its current arc.
103	* NonAppearingTitle: A TitleDrop is absent from an auditory or literary work.
104	* NoTitle: A work is officially untitled, often only known by a designation for record purposes.
105	* TheNounAndTheNoun: The title is phrased as "[''article''] [''something''] and [''article''] [''something'']" (the article being optional).
106	* NounVerber: A title that follows the format "[''noun''] [''verb'']-er/-or".
107	* TheNounWhoVerbed: A title that describes someone who did or will do something.
108	* NumberedSequels: The names of sequels contain numbers to show the order in which they were made, or the order in which they take place.
109	* NumberOfObjectsTitle: The title names a quantity of something. [[NPlusOneSequelTitle May go up in sequel]].
110	* OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo: A sequel with a weird subtitle (or, at least, one weirder than its predecessor).
111	* OfficiallyShortenedTitle: When an ongoing work later cuts down a previously elaborate title.
112	* OminousLegalPhraseTitle: The title of a work refers to legal jargon, making it sound ominous.
113	* OneLetterTitle: The title consists of a single letter.
114	* OneWordTitle: The title consists of a single word.
115	* OnscreenChapterTitles: Displaying the title/number of a visual work's acts/chapters.
116	* TheOriginalSeries: When the original work in a franchise gets a subtitle identifying it as the original work.
117	* ParallelPornTitles: A pornographic work has a title spoofing that of a non-pornographic work.
118	* PictorialLetterSubstitution: Replacing a letter (or part of a letter) with an image of something else with a similar shape. Often used in title logos.
119	* ThePlace: The work is named after its main central location.
120	* PopCulturePunEpisodeTitle: A work's title is a pun on a famous work, series, song, etc.
121	* {{Portmantitle}}: The title is a {{portmanteau}} (a word made by merging two or more words).
122	* PortmanteauSeriesNickname: A nickname for a series is made using a portmanteau of morphemes from the full title.
123	* PostReleaseRetitle: A work's title is changed after it's initially been released.
124	* PrematureEncapsulation: An episode is forced to use a placatory title because a better title more well-tuned to the plot was already used for a prior episode.
125	* PrepositionalPhraseEqualsCoolness: A good title has a CharacterTitle or TheNamesake, but a ''great'' title adds a prepositional phrase to that.
126	* TheProblemWithPenIsland: Improperly spaced words spell something different.
127	* ProtagonistAndFriends: A title that consists of "[''Main Character''] and Friends".
128	* ProtagonistTitle: The name of the main protagonist is the title of their series.
129	* ProtagonistTitleFallacy: The false assumption that if a work is titled X, then X is the protagonist.
130	* PublisherChosenTitle: The title is chosen by the publisher, not the creator of the work.
131	* PunBasedTitle: The title is a pun.
132	* QuestioningTitle: The title is an inquisitive statement. Question marks are common, but not required.
133	* RecycledTitle: A title gets reused.
134	* RecycledWithAGimmick: A gimmick (e.g., set in space) is often apparent because the title says so.
135	* RefrainFromAssuming: A song's lyrics keep repeating something that's not the title.
136	* {{Retronym}}: When a work's title is retroactively changed because it shares its name with something else.
137	* RevengeOfTheSequel: A character's return in a sequel is outright stated [[{{Pun}} with a vendetta]] in the title.
138	* RhymingTitle: The title contains rhyming words or phrases.
139	* RoleCalled: The name and profession of the main protagonist is the title of their series.
140	* RunningTimeInTheTitle: The chronological length (or, rarely, number of episodes) of a work or series is in its title.
141	* SarcasticTitle: Titles in SarcasmMode.
142	* SecondaryCharacterTitle: The character of a self-titled work is really a {{Deuteragonist}} of sorts.
143	* SelfReferentialTrackPlacement: A song's placement in the tracklist corresponds or alludes to its title.
144	* SelfTitledAlbum: An album that uses the band/musician's name for a title. Usually a debut release.
145	* SequelNumberSnarl: The [[NumberedSequel numbering of sequels]] gets complicated.
146	* SequelTheOriginalTitle: The sequel inherits the previous installment's title as its subtitle.
147	* ShortTitleLongElaborateSubtitle: The title is short and dwarfed by its subtitle.
148	* SimilarlyNamedWorks: Works that coincidentally have the same or similar titles.
149	* SomethingBlues: A work is titled "[something] Blues". Very prevalent in Blues music, although there are also many, many non-blues songs with a title like this.
150	* TheSomethingForce: TheTeam is a called a Force.
151	* SomethingNauts: TheTeam are specialists that are also sailors, or "nauts".
152	* TheSomethingSong: It's a song about [''subject''] because the title says it's the [''subject''] song.
153	* SpeciesTitle: Stories named after a species of creature.
154	* SpoilerTitle: The title of a work is a {{spoiler}} for the plot.
155	* SpotlightStealingTitle: The most popular character/the character with the most famous actor is on the series title.
156	* {{Subtitle}}: An explanatory or alternate title suffixed to the main title.
157	* SuperTitle64Advance: A video game port or a video game exclusive to a specific system has a title alluding to the system the game was released on.
158	* SyndicationTitle: Title changing because of syndication.
159	* TheTalkShowWithHostName: The title of a TalkShow is followed by the name of its host.
160	* TeamTitle: The title refers to the team the main characters form.
161	* TemporaryNameChange: A PostReleaseRetitle is overturned.
162	* TerminologyTitle: The title of a work refers to select jargon.
163	* TheTheTitleConfusion: When nobody is quite sure if a work's title begins with a "the."
164	* ThirdIs3D: The third release is [[Platform/ThreeDMovie in 3D]] (heck, the title says so).
165	* TimeTitle: The title of a work includes or references as measurement or period of time.
166	* Title1: Explicitly titling to your work as the first in a series in full anticipation of there being sequels... [[StillbornFranchise they don't always get 'em]].
167	* TitleTheAdaptation: An adaptation gives a subtitle to the work specifying the medium of the adaptation.
168	* TitleByNumber: The title is or contains a number tangentially related to the work's premise.
169	* TitleByYear: Title contains the year the story takes place in.
170	* TitleConfusion: The title of a work is unintentionally counter-intuitive.
171	* TitledAfterTheSong: A show or movie titled after a pre-existing song.
172	* TitleDrop: A work's title is mentioned within the work.
173	* TitleDropAnthology: A TitleDrop of a story in the title of the anthology it is a part of.
174	* TitleDropChapter: A TitleDrop of a story in the title of one of its chapters.
175	* TitleIn: Displaying location name/date/time of a scene as it opens.
176	* TitleOfTheDead: Titles of ZombieStories consisting of the setting with "of the (Living) Dead" slapped on the end.
177	* TitlePlease: Television episodes never have their titles shown.
178	* TitleReadingGag: A gag involving the reading of the title.
179	* TitleRequiem: The title ends with "requiem", often implying a {{Bittersweet\|Ending}} or DownerEnding.
180	* TheTitleSaga: A work title that ends in "Saga", or has "Saga" in it.
181	* TitleScream: The name of a work is screamed at the viewer.
182	* TheTitling: It's not just "[''Gerund'']", it's "'''''[[SpellMyNameWithAThe The]]''''' [''Gerund'']"!
183	* TranslationMatchmaking: Two unrelated films, through translation, seem related to each other by name.
184	* TrivialTitle: A work gets its title from something unimportant in it.
185	* UnInstallment: A NumberedSequel's title skips an installment number, implying series installments that do not exist.
186	* UntitledTitle: A work has a title which claims it has NoTitle.
187	* UntranslatedTitle: A work's title is not translated for release in a foreign market.
188	* VehicleTitle: The title is named after a vehicle used by the protagonist(s).
189	* VerbedTitle: The title is a variation of a verb.
190	* VerbingNouny: The title follows the format "[''Gerund''] [''Proper Noun'']".
191	* VersusTitle: A work is named for one thing going up against another thing.
192	* VisualTitleDrop: A TitleDrop portrayed through on-screen writing in place of dialogue.
193	* WeaponTitle: The work is titled after a SwordOfPlotAdvancement.
194	* WordPureeTitle: The title doesn't use real words.
195	* WordSaladTitle: The title makes no sense.
196	* WordSequel: Works start getting {{Subtitle}}d instead of [[NumberedSequels Numbered]] with the fourth installment.
197	* WorkInfoTitle: The title gives information on what a work is about.
198	* WorkingTitle: A work started out with a different title that ended up being changed during production.
199	* TheXOfY: The title is phrased as "[''article''] [''something''] of [''article''] [''something'']" (the article being optional).
200	[[/index]]
201	----
202	[[TheStinger The Tried Trope of The Stinger: That Which We End On]]

Context Main / TitleTropes