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4[[quoteright:338:[[VideoGame/AbobosBigAdventure https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abobopipec_6480.png]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:338:[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Better call a plumber.]]]]
6
7Mostly found in animated and CG media, the Traveling Pipe Bulge is a phenomenon that occurs when an object moves through a pipe or hard tube, creating a [[ShapedLikeItself bulge]] to [[RuleOfPerception tell you where it is]]. Bonus points if the fittings do not contract after the object passes through them, or if the object is much smaller than the pipe itself.
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9It's not always a pipe, it can be a water hose as well.
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11Sometimes used to depict TubeTravel in video games. SisterTrope to WormSign, DinnerDeformation and BalloonBelly. May result in ForciblyFormedPhysique.
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13----
14!!Examples:
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16[[foldercontrol]]
17
18[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
19* In ''Manga/SoulEater'', a bulge is shown with the metaphorical representation of [[spoiler:Tsubaki's soul getting captured by Youtou by a vacuum cleaner]].
20[[/folder]]
21
22[[folder:Eastern European Animation]]
23* In one episode of ''Staflik a Spagetka'', it was done inside a monocular.
24[[/folder]]
25
26[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
27* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' when objects (such as Santa Claus) go down the pipe to Oogie Boogie's lair.
28** In a rare variance of this trope, Santa's transport causes bolts to pop out of the pipe. This is because the transport system wasn't designed to accommodate something as large as Santa. But, as the trick-or-treaters say, if he can fit down a chimney...
29* In ''WesternAnimation/HortonHearsAWho2008'', this happens when Horton's ''voice'' first travels down the pipe to the mayor's office.
30* The Thief does this extensively while trying to sneak into the castle in ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler''.
31[[/folder]]
32
33[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
34* Happens in ''Film/DeepRising'' when the worm monsters pass through pipes.
35* A somewhat brief, but gruesome example in ''Film/TheBlob1988'', when the monster yanks a kitchen worker bodily through a sink drain.
36[[/folder]]
37
38[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
39* They did this in the ''Series/RedDwarf'' episode "Polymorph".
40* ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': Rita's [[MookMaker Monster-Matic]] (a magic kiln that turns clay figures into full-sized beings, either [[MonsterOfTheWeek monsters]] or [[{{Mooks}} Putty Patrollers]]) displays this with its exit pipe.
41[[/folder]]
42
43[[folder:Video Games]]
44* In ''VideoGame/AbobosBigAdventure'', Abobo enters the ''VideoGame/{{Super Mario Bros|1}}.''-themed level through a pipe, which bulges as he travels through it because he's so big and muscular.
45* In ''/VideoGame/{{Antonblast}}, When Anton enters a pipe, a pipe extending is clearly seen.
46* In ''VideoGame/TheBugsBunnyCrazyCastle'', these show up whenever Bugs enters a pipe.
47* ''VideoGame/CrystalCaves'': One of the hazards in this game is a pipe that periodically lets out a drop of dangerous-looking liquid; this pipe has a bulge in it as part of its animation when it's about to let out a drop.
48* Many Creator/HumongousEntertainment titles have pipes that do this in the background either to show that processes are happening, or just for [[FunnyBackgroundEvent humorous click spots.]]
49* When Kirby goes behind the background in ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'', it bulges, as do cannons when he's inside them.
50* Many tubes in ''VideoGame/LocoRoco'' are very flexible, allowing to stretch so a locoroco could traverse pipes and other things in one piece.
51* The plumbing in ''VideoGame/NightmareNed'' does this as Ned moves through them.
52* ''VideoGame/PizzaTower'' has Oh Shit! level and Slums hub world that have pipes. When Peppino enters then, the pipes expand and show where he is in the pipe.
53* In Generation 1-3 ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' Cable Link trades.
54* In Stage 6 of ''[[VideoGame/RocketKnightAdventures Sparkster]]'' (the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]] version),this happens when you go inside the trumpets.
55* In the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', there are a few elevators in Tropical Resort which bulge when Sonic enters them.
56* ''[[Videogame/{{Dizzy}} Spellbound Dizzy]]'' has a few pipes that lead to new areas. One of these is actually a man-eating flower.
57* Several ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' games have this, starting with ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland''. In particular, the first ''VideoGame/MarioParty1'' game does this in the "Pipe Maze" minigame, with a treasure chest dropped into a pipe.
58* Happens in ''VideoGame/TalesOfMonkeyIsland'', Chapter 3. Although in this case it's a bile tube, not a pipe.
59* In ''VideoGame/TinyToonAdventuresBabsBigBreak'', these show up whenever Buster, Plucky, or Hamton travels through a pipe.
60* When golf ball in ''VideoGame/WhatTheGolf'' goes into tubes, there is a clearly visible bulge when the ball is travelling via tubes. The ball is much smaller than the tube itself.
61[[/folder]]
62
63[[folder:Western Animation]]
64* Happens in the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "[[Recap/DarkwingDuckS1E34DryHard Dry Hard]]", when The Liquidator is passing through the pipes of the city waterworks. ("Followwwww that piiiiipe!")
65* ''WesternAnimation/FanboyAndChumChum'' has their straws showing bulge of [[TrademarkFavoriteFood Frosty Freezy Freeze]] as they suck it from the source.
66* In the 1935 WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes short "Billboard Frolics", a cat traps a dog in a piece of pipe, which bulges where the dog thrashes around inside.
67* In one of Creator/ChuckJones' ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' cartoons, Jerry escapes into a gutter; when Tom follows, there's a noticeable bulge.
68** Also, any time Jerry (or tar/air/etc) goes through a garden hose.
69* ''WesternAnimation/FelixTheCat'': "Felix Doubles for Darwin" short has a whole scene of Felix traveling through the entire transatlantic cable and then back again, pursued by apes. The pipe extends where they are in the cable.
70* [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario and Luigi]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosSuperShow''
71* ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouseWorks'': Happens in the short "Pluto Gets the Paper: Street Cleaner" when Pluto is sucked into the pipes of the street cleaner which also leaves impact silhouettes.
72[[/folder]]
73
74[[folder:Real Life]]
75* This is exactly how a snake swallows a prey wider than its body.
76[[/folder]]

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