Line #106 Main/VFormationTeamShot


1	[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Justice_League_anime.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300: Not to be confused with the B or the Q.]]
3	->''"I've heard of it before, but I've never seen it! It's the Flying "V"!"''
4	-->-- '''Announcer''', ''[[Film/TheMightyDucks D2: The Mighty Ducks]]''
5
6	In almost every show featuring a team of heroes, at some point in the opening or promotional materials, the main characters will be displayed in a certain formation. The leader stands in the middle of the shot, with the rest of the team standing to each side of him in order of importance, each slightly behind each other, forming a "V" shape.
7
8	Quite apart from [[RuleOfCool looking really cool]], this shot also has practical advantages. For one thing, it makes all the characters neatly visible, but more importantly, the viewer can and will make inferences about the group's power dynamic based on the arrangement of the characters. The characters flanking the central figure on either side will be assumed to be the two second most important team members, with others descending in importance as they move further toward the tips of the V and thus further back into the shot. (To be clear, it's not a hard and fast rule that every V formation shot ''will'' adhere to this formula, but the viewer's expectation is definitely there. The designer of the shot will have taken that expectation into account, even if they intend to subvert it.) Also, though this is less of a given, information might be conveyed by whether a character is standing to the central figure's left or right side. The left and right sides may represent different subgroups of the team, or indeed two separate (but probably not worse than [[InterserviceRivalry rivaling]]) factions altogether.
9
10	They put it on DVD boxes, magazine covers, book covers, game covers and album covers too. However, in movie covers there is a risk that the center lead will be replaced by the most famous name, whether they are the leader or not.
11
12	Most characters will pull off a DynamicAkimbo in this shot. The moving version of this is TeamPowerWalk. Subtrope of TeamShot (also compare that trope) and OpeningCreditsCastParty, where the cast poses for the cameras during the credits and the EstablishingTeamShot.
13	----
14	!!Examples:
15
16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
19	* Seen in the opening sequence of the first ''VideoGame/GateKeepers'' series.
20	* Used in one of the opening sequences of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''.
21	* Also seen in the opening sequence of ''Manga/HisAndHerCircumstances''.
22	* The first opening sequence of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' ends with one of these.
23	* The second version of ''Anime/CodeGeass''' second opening ends with a gigantic V-Formation Team Shot; Zero in the center, the named Black Knights members behind him in a vague V-shape, and a mass of faceless uniformed Black Knights lined up in the background.
24	* ''Anime/StrikeWitches'' does this in the opening credits, with Yoshika at the front and two members being added in succession.
25	* The second opening of ''Manga/TokyoUnderground'' features this setup.
26	* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has now done this a number of times in its openings as the crew grows, usually focusing on each one grinning before panning out as the ending shot.
27	* [[http://images.wikia.com/reborn/images/4/4e/The_Family.PNG Ties? Check. Suits? Check. Rings? Check. Box Weapons? Check. Major Badass look? Check.]] ''Manga/Reborn2004'' is all set to go!!! And everyone is looking at their very best.
28	* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' subverts this by putting a unique spin. The opening for 2nd Gig shows Section 9 against a white background with Motoko in the center and the other members on either side, but everyone is lined up and spaced apart instead of standing in a V formation. Website/{{Pixiv}} even has a special tag for artworks that parody the 2nd Gig opening called "攻殻立ち" (Strike).
29	* A chapter in the ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'' manga has the student council attempting to do this, but they realize they can't put their leader, Angie, in front without the formation being lopsided. Kokichi suggests they rectify it by disassembling Kiibo, much to the robot's chagrin.
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
33	* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'': The title card for episode 124, which references ''Franchise/StarWars'', has the goats in this formation.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Comic Books]]
37	* ''ComicBook/{{BIONICLE}}'': Used many times on covers or title pages. Most notably the first and last issues have Tahu in the front in the same pose, except in the latter image, one side of the "V" is made up of villains.
38	* ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'': A party of three is sent on a covert mission. Its leader, driving force, and most effective member if you don't count snarky comments is shown at the head of the little V they make on the way to a confrontation.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
42	* The official poster for ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars 2}}''.
43	* The poster for ''WesternAnimation/{{BIONICLE}} 3: Web of Shadows''.
44	* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'', Twilight Sparkle and the human versions of her friends strike this pose when they first confront the Dazzlings at the kickoff party.
45	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Mei's aunties are introduced striking this pose.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
49	* The end of the ColdOpen for ''Film/{{Eternals}}'' shows the Eternals standing in a V formation, with their leader, Ajak, in the center.
50	* ''Series/KamenRiderDecade: [[TheMovie All Riders vs Dai-Shocker]]'':
51	** It has a 27-man WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague shot featuring almost every ''Franchise/KamenRider'' protagonist to date.
52	** The end of the first act of ''Final Chapter'' has the Heisei Riders (''all'' in their {{Super Mode}}s), plus Diend and Kivala, in this pose, [[spoiler:before the Neo-Organism sics a Mammoth mecha on them.]]
53	* ''Series/KamenRiderDenO: Final Countdown'' also has this, with 5 of the eponymous Rider's basic forms (assumed by the [[NobleDemon Taros and Sieg]]), [[TheLancer Zeronos]] Zero Form and finally [[TheHero Ryotaro]] in [[SuperMode Liner Form]], as they prepare to fight the revived Imagin army.
54	* ''Let's Go Kamen Rider'': since there were 28 Riders present, they couldn't do a traditional V-formation (since the formation requires an odd number), so they pulled off '''two''' layers: the movie's five central Riders [[Series/KamenRiderDenO Den-O, New Den-O]], [[Series/KamenRiderOOO OOO]], and [[Series/KamenRider V1 and V2]], with the 23 cameo Riders behind them.
55	* Behind the closing credits in ''Film/AngelsRevenge''.
56	* The theatrical poster for the movie ''Film/{{Valkyrie}}'' (though Col. Stauffenberg appears to be attempting a MenacingStroll).
57	* The final moments of ''Film/TheSpecials''.
58	* The poster for ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'' features this with the Borg. Lead characters get FloatingHeadSyndrome.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Literature]]
62	* An in-universe example is mentioned in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' when Taylor first meets Armsmaster. Taylor mentions that when the Protectorate does promotional footage displaying their team in this pose, Armsmaster is one of the members shown -- but as one of the people off to the side.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
66	* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Happens on several occasions with Team Arrow for RuleOfSymbolism, given that a V-shape is also an arrow shape.
67	* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' does this, while striding out of the smoke and in slow motion.
68	* It's also common for the various teams of ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' to be seen like this, too.
69	** The poster for TheMovie used a version focusing on their helmets.
70	** And so has ''Franchise/SuperSentai''.
71	* The cast of ''Series/{{Glee}}'' gets one in "Theatricality" when they come to aid Kurt as he's being accosted by two jocks. They do this in full KISS and Music/LadyGaga outfits.
72	* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' has [[http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.scificool.com/images/2010/06/torchwood.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.scificool.com/torchwood-lands-at-starz-with-john-barrowman-and-eve-myles/&h=664&w=674&sz=365&tbnid=XJB6XzNdVidCtM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3DTorchwood&zoom=1&q=Torchwood&usg=__C4Y-LxQnrHx8-oTFAzeBVd5uN0E=&sa=X&ei=hxxzTY-8O5Ox0QH1tYnFAQ&ved=0CFEQ9QEwAw them.]]
73	* A rather hilarious accidental one occurs for a brief moment on the miniseries ''Series/JohnAdams'' of all places, as Mr. Adams and some of the other delegates enter the room to begin Framing the Constitution.
74	* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' features it on their DVD covers, with Lord Grantham standing at the front.
75	* ''Series/RealHumans'' for cover images.
76	* ''Series/DoctorWho''
77	** The fiftieth anniversary special "Day of the Doctor" closes on [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140205054854/tardis/images/thumb/6/62/Day_of_the_Doctor_Closing_Scene.jpg/1024px-Day_of_the_Doctor_Closing_Scene.jpg this shot of the past incarnations of the Doctor,]] with the Eleventh Doctor front and center, immediately flanked by Ten and the War Doctor. The First Doctor stands behind the Eleventh, mainly to maintain symmetry.
78	** In [[Recap/DoctorWho2022NYSEveOfTheDaleks "Eve of the Daleks"]], the Doctor has just finished giving a RousingSpeech when the Daleks turn up to exterminate them. This time there are three Daleks in the form of a V, and our heroes defiantly move into their own V formation in response.
79	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'', the final shot of [[Recap/GameOfThronesS7E5Eastwatch Eastwatch]], has this [[RagTagBunchOfMisfits with seven]], being led by [[TheHero Jon Snow]] and consisting of [[spoiler:[[BarbarianHero Tormund Giantsbane]], [[TheExile Jorah Mormont]], [[HeroicBastard Gendry]], [[JustLikeRobinHood Beric Dondarrion]], [[WarriorMonk Thoros of Myr]], and [[NobleDemon Sandor "The Hound" Clegane]]]].
80	* The Discovery Channel show ''Series/MythBusters'' had a segment about the V to see if the formation saved energy which it did in the experiment.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Music Videos]]
84	* Music/MomoiroCloverZ's AnimatedMusicVideo for ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal's'' OpeningTheme "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Va228UhRs Moon Pride]]" has the {{CGI}} Sailor Senshi pose in a V-formation with Sailor Moon at center at the end of a synchronized TeamPowerWalk.
85	* Music/BigAudioDynamite are frequently shown in this formation in the video for "Sightsee MC".
86	* The elaborate choreography employed by Music/{{NSYNC}} usually opened or finished with them in the [[http://i.imgur.com/vwVxr4U.jpg formation.]]
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Pinball]]
90	* Downplayed in the backglass artwork for the Premium version of ''Pinball/TheMandalorian''. The title character is front and center, with the rest of the cast arranged behind him in a V-formation – however, half of them are ''villains'', with the other heroic characters staying on the other side of him.
91	[[/folder]]
92
93	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
94	* In the ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} Survivor Series'' pay-per-views, the teams of wrestlers will be shown in this formation with the "captain" front and center.
95	* The debut of Wrestling/DieBruderschaftDesKreuzes at the end of the Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} 2009 SeasonFinale ''Three-Fisted Tales'', November 22, 2009, featured them posing like this, doubling as an EstablishingTeamShot.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Toys]]
99	* Most pieces of ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'' promotional art showing all six members of a given set wave did this within the first six years, occasionally with some variation such as one character flying above the pose. Due to there usually being six members to a team (with one placed in the center), the "V" was often uneven and asymmetrical, with one side having more characters than the other. Come 2008, when set waves became more diverse in who was in them, this became considerably less frequent; after all, having heroes and villains posing together as a team wouldn't make all that much sense.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Video Games]]
103	* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'':
104	** The opening CG has the ten villains [[OutOfTheInferno walking out of a wall of lava]] in a villainous V Formation Team Shot.
105	** With a bonus MythologyGag in [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]] assuming the same pose as when he burned down Nibelheim in his original game.
106	* The cover of [[VideoGame/MonacoWhatsYoursIsMine Monaco: What's Yours is Mine]].
107	* In ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' (and ''Platinum''), when you beat the Elite Four, you go into the backroom and record your team into the hall of fame. After going through a montage showing each of your team members, it shows a V Formation Team Shot, with your trainer sprite in the center, and three Pokémon flanking you on either side. Their order depends on what order you had them in your party. The remakes ''Heart Gold'' and ''Soul Silver'' also feature this with the photographers around the game map, who'll take a picture of you and your team of six Pokémon in such a shot.
108	* Subverted in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', after Snake meets Akiba and disarms him. Meryl introduces her team as Rat Patrol 01, with her in point and Jonathan and Ed behind her, then [[http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/File:Ratpatrol.jpg Johnny rushes in and completely screws it up]] with the ''silliest'' pose.
109	* Creator/{{Capcom}}:
110	** Did one for all the main heroes in the ''Franchise/MegaMan'' (all 7 of them) series, (with Grey and Ashe (from [[VideoGame/MegaManZX ZX Advent]]), but not Lan (from VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork), [[http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/12/mega-man-20th.jpg Behold]].
111	** And then again, in a piece of official artwork for VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 3 showing the five kids (Geo, Sonia, Luna, Bud, and Zack) [[http://ui11.gamefaqs.com/1130/gfs_111395_1_7.jpg standing on a half-destroyed bridge]] alongside Solo and A.C. Eos.
112	* The ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' promotional poster/[[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:Judge_1280.jpg wallpaper]] has this, with Luso in the center.
113	* Done in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' by [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario, Yoshi]], [[VideoGame/KidIcarus Pit]], [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] and VideoGame/{{Kirby}}, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP78qGZ214U as demonstrated here.]]
114	* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', the Axem Rangers group around the Blade's Breaker Beam cannon like this; Axem Red, [[RedIsHeroic of course]], takes the front position.
115	* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' has this on its game cover. Additionally, on the selection screen for the next mission, your soldiers stand in a V formation, with the most experienced fighter taking point.
116	* ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'' does this with the entire combined cast of ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' & ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors''.
117	* At the end of every match in ''Videogame/{{Overwatch}}'', the winning team is presented in this fashion. Each character has a set of unique unlockable poses for the team shot.
118	* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' has this on the "Premium Anime Song & Sound Edition's" cover art, consisting of (from left to right) [[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Black Sarena]], [[Literature/MobileSuitGundamHathawaysFlash Xi Gundam]], [[Manga/GetterRobo Shin Getter-1]], [[Literature/FullMetalPanic Arbalest]], [[Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine Might Gaine]], Anime/Zambot3, [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Eva Unit-01]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ ZZ Gundam]], [[Anime/ShinMazinger Mazinger Z]] and [[Anime/CrossAnge Villkiss]], with [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199 the Yamato]] positioned in between.
119	* With the War of the Chosen expansion for ''VideoGame/Xcom2'', players will be able to make posters after each mission, and one of the options for the squad formation is this trope.
120	* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'' has two moments with this. The first is when the Dutch Van Der Linde gang storms the Braithwaite manor after the Braithwaite family kidnap Jack. And the second goes to when Arthur, Sadie, Charles, Dutch, and some Wapiti warriors storm the US Army settlement to rescue Eagle Flies.
121	* ''VideoGame/XCOM2 War of the Chosen'' allows players to make posters with this trope by using the wedge team formation option in the photo booth.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
125	* Inverted in the final encounter with [[spoiler:Dr. Mosely/Zeta]] in ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework''. All six girls are in a v-shaped formation with the protagonist at the bottom and facing [[spoiler:Dr. Mosely/Zeta]], but the bottom of the v-shape is facing away from her.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Web Comics]]
129	* Parodied in [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=031102 this]] ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' strip.
130	* Used in [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/pack-the-bug-spray/ this]] ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare'' strip.
131	[[/folder]]
132
133	[[folder:Western Animation]]
134	* The trope was originally named after ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', whose main characters are seen [[SinisterSilhouettes silhouetted]] in this manner in the opening, combined with a TeamPowerWalk. The ''Justice League Unlimited'' series takes the shot and the silhouettes to an extreme level -- from the Magnificent Seven to the Magnificent Thirty-Seven.
135	** A villainous example where a similar shot is made by [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E17And18SecretSociety the Secret Society]] with Grodd at the center.
136	* Seen in the opening sequence of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''.
137	* The opening sequence for ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'', and the cover of the FakeBand Dethklok's album.
138	* Team Go from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' does this. Even before ass-kicking.
139	* The [[WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor Kids Next Door]] get one in their TV movie ''WesternAnimation/OperationZERO'', when they exit their escape pods at the museum.
140	* The Club of Heroes do this at the end of the teaser for the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' episode "Powerless!".
141	[[/folder]]
142
143	[[folder:Real Life]]
144	* Geese flying in formation.
145	** Similarly, several aircraft formations mimic this. A four-plane version used by the Americans during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII is known as the Finger Four (named for the positions your fingertips are in if you look at your hand, [[DisSimile and if you aren't missing any fingers]], [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg not counting the thumb, obviously.]] Leave one of the middle spots empty to do a MissingManFormation. If you line everyone up using only one half of the V, you get an Echelon formation instead.
146	* A promotional poster for the 1992 UsefulNotes/{{Cricket}} World Cup showed the participating nations' captains (minus South Africa, who were a late addition) like this.
147	* Military Aerial Events, as well as training exercises and 20th-century bomber runs, will go in the V formation with the squadron leader leading the pack.
148	[[/folder]]

Context Main / VFormationTeamShot