Line #66 Series/AnimalFaceOff


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hqdefault_566.jpg]]
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3	''Animal Face-Off'' was a Creator/DiscoveryChannel & Creator/AnimalPlanet documentary where two animals fight to the death in computer simulated battles at the end of the show. Before the actual fight, scientists test out the abilities of the animals. To avoid controversies of animal testing or the danger of trying to capture wild animals, they instead make molds of a skull of the animal and make it into a steel biting machine. There is usually at least one scientist on each side supporting an animal and, like two sports fans, they sometimes {{trash talk}} before the fight begins. The show lasted from March to September 2004 (reruns do occur, but they're ''extremely'' rare).
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6	!!Tropes in this series:
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8	* AchillesHeel: In some cases, even ONE weakness means death to the loser.
9	%% * AlwaysABiggerFish: Colossal Squid vs. Sperm Whale.
10	* AlwaysSomeoneBetter:
11	** Although the lion [[spoiler:beats the tiger]] in Asia, the lion [[spoiler:could not beat the crocodile]] in Africa.
12	** Croc vs. Shark makes a brief note that as dangerous as great white sharks are, they are preyed on by killer whales.
13	%% * AngryAngryHippos: One is pitted against a bull shark [[spoiler:and wins]].
14	* AnimalJingoism:
15	** Cases in which an herbivore or other possible prey battles a predator, such as in Polar Bear vs. Walrus, Leopard vs. Gorilla and Colossal Squid vs. Sperm Whale.
16	** Big cats & crocodilians are often made out to be enemies, which is reflected in Lion vs. Crocodile.
17	* AnimalMotifs: One can note some resemblances in look and attitude between some experts and [[AnimalStereotypes their animals]]....is it a casual thing or not? Big cat expert Dave Salmoni acts like a young and rather perky showman; bear trainer Jeff Watson is a big guy with a shaggy beard and calm yet touchy temper; herpetologist Adam Britton is a lean, unflappable man with a bit of DeadpanSnarker when arguing with his rivals; finally, primatologist Tara Stoinski is a pretty woman (remember that apes and ladies are ''historically'' associated with each other in media).
18	* AnimalReactionShot: Many close-ups are shown of the animals during the fights. And before the fights, samples are put from which show how the animal's muscles react.
19	* ArtisticLicenseBiology:
20	** Well, for starters, if a bull shark encountered an animal unaffected by its bites, it would be far more likely to find something else to eat than continue the fight.
21	** "Black Bear VS. Alligator" suffers from this quite a bit. Even as strong as the bear is, it's unlikely it'd be able to bowl over the much heavier alligator without the alligator biting back and pulling the bear with it, and the latter is not as vulnerable on land as the episode would suggest, since it can run at 12-14 km/h for short periods. But even with that in mind, the alligator would have little reason to pursue the bear onto land, even if it was heavier than said bear, as crocodilians are ambush predators who use surprise attacks to capture their prey. If the bear managed to escape the first attack, for which it would have to be incredibly lucky given the explosive power and immense jaw strength of a crocodilian, the gator would have simply retreated into the water instead of continuing the struggle (given its poor stamina, as alluded to in the episode).
22	** [[IncorrectAnimalNoise The leopard and jaguar are heard uttering the same caterwauls as the cougar]]. Given how they are much more closely related to tigers and lions (with all four being part of the ''Panthera'' genus), leopards and jaguars ''roar'' in real life but don't yowl or meow.
23	** They claim that polar bears stand 12 feet tall on their hind legs, but the largest specimen ever recorded (who was an abnormally large male) stood just over 11 feet and most big males are 10 feet tall or less. They also claim a lion is both taller than a tiger (by about a foot) and longer (again, by a foot). In reality, big male lions and tigers can both reach 4 feet at the shoulder (though both species vary in size throughout their range), and tigers are typically longer than lions (by at least 2 feet).
24	** The "Lion vs. Tiger" episode ends with the lion winning and it's deemed the superior fighter. However, given how lions and tigers are (morphology and size-wise) near-identical species, it's unsurprising that during the numerous captive fights between them throughout history (be it intentionally staged or accidental encounters), both the lion and tiger had a 50/50 chance of winning the fight, and which one won each individual battle depended largely on the size and strength of the specific lion and tiger involved. Also, since this fight takes place in India, Asiatic lions are smaller in size than their African cousins, meaning they are far more likely to lose a fight with a Bengal tiger, especially a mature male (which commonly outweighs Asiatic lions by up to 50 kg).
25	** The white rhino is described as ill-tempered and the most dangerous of rhinos. In actuality, the white rhino is one of the more passive rhino species, bordering on GentleGiant (as long as you don't provoke it), though the smaller and sympatric black rhino, on the other hand, is far more prone to aggression and charging without provocation. Whenever rhinos clash with elephants in real life, it’s usually the [[CruelElephant latter]] who instigates the fight, typically a young male looking for trouble or a mature bull in musth, and despite not being the brightest beasts, rhinos try to avoid quarrelsome elephants whenever possible, and only fight back if cornered or if they are a [[MamaBear female with a calf]].
26	** In the "Wolf vs. Cougar" episode, it's the wolf who instigates the fight and continues attacking the cougar, even though wolves in real life are very cautious animals and if a lone wolf was confronted by a cougar (who is physically stronger and better armed for fighting), said wolf would undoubtedly turn tail and run.
27	** During the “Gorilla vs Leopard” episode, the narrator cites the two combatants as “two of Africa’s most dangerous animals”. While gorillas are quite powerful, they are also vegetarians and textbook [[GentleGiant Gentle Giants]], so that statement just seems to be enforcing the KillerGorilla misnomer. Not to mention, this same show features elephants and hippos, African vegetarians who are commonly seen by experts as [[CruelElephant two of the most]] [[AngryAngryHippos dangerous land animals period]].
28	* AttackItsWeakPoint: For the most part, the neck. Though for the crocs and gators, the underbelly.
29	* BarrierWarrior: The beginning of Polar Bear vs. Walrus and Lion vs. Croc. Though later subverted by the end of the fight.
30	* BearsAreBadNews: With the exception of [[spoiler:the polar bear]], the bears [[spoiler:''always'' win]].
31	* BeautyEqualsGoodness: At the end of Leopard vs. Gorilla, the narrator says "Beauty killed by the Beast", [[WhatMeasureIsANonCute even though the gorilla was only defending itself from the attacking leopard.]] Inversely, the Gorilla expert was rather pretty (a curious example from RealLife of Film/KingKong).
32	* BehemothBattle: Almost the matchups feature at least one combatant larger than a human. Only Cougar vs. Wolf has both human-sized rivals.
33	* BoomHeadshot: Bull Shark vs. Hippo. The narration often points out that RealLife crocodilians often use this, and both the Nile & saltwater crocodiles use it against their adversaries. [[spoiler:It doesn't work in the latter's favor.]]
34	* BreakableWeapons: [[spoiler:Although the elephant kills the rhino, a part of one of the tusks breaks off in the process.]] Good thing it can grow back.
35	* BulletTime: The slow-motion speed when the machines bite down on a fruit/veggie/meat before the fights to show more detail on how they bite.
36	* ButtMonkey: Although the big cats win twice ([[spoiler:Cougar and Asiatic lion]], although [[spoiler:in the case of the lion]] it was ''against'' another big cat), they also have the most losses ([[spoiler:Siberian/Bengal tigers, African lion, jaguar, and leopard]]). That's 2 for 5. Other animal groups with more losses than wins include the crocodilians (1 win, 2 losses) and the canids (1 loss, 0 wins).
37	* CatsAreMean: All the big cats in this are very tough, [[spoiler:but only the cougar and the Asiatic lion win their respective battles]].
38	%% * CatsHateWater: Lion vs. Croc, although [[spoiler:it's justified, as it loses]].
39	* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: The walrus. It's very slow on land but is a LightningBruiser in the water.
40	* CurbStompBattle:
41	** Lion vs. Crocodile bears the distinction of being the only episode in which the loser didn't inflict any damage at all.
42	** Also Elephant vs. Rhino, [[spoiler:the only time the rhino touched the elephant is when it tried a headbutt, which didn't work]].
43	* CruelElephant: Elephant vs. Rhino [[spoiler:ends with the elephant flipping over the rhino and crushing it. TruthInTelivision as there have been documented cases of African elephants killing rhinos.]]
44	* DeliciousDistraction: [[spoiler:The jaguar loses]] because it was distracted by a bird call.
45	* FoodChainOfEvil: Several, with Whale vs. Squid being the most notable.
46	** Croc vs. Shark briefly shows a clip of a great white shark being attacked by a pod of killer whales, pointing out that killer whales eat sharks.
47	* FragileSpeedster: The colossal squid is very maneuverable but eventually ends up swallowed whole by the whale.
48	* GiantEqualsInvincible:
49	** [[spoiler:The elephant easily wins its fight with the rhino.]] In the accompanying game, when pit against all possible opponents from the show, [[note]] which didn't allow for pitting it against every animal in the series so it couldn't be pit against aquatic animals[[/note]], the elephant was considered the clear winner against '''all''' of them.
50	** [[spoiler:The sperm whale, the largest animal in the series, defeats the smaller squid.]]
51	* GiantSquid: A colossal squid is pitted against a sperm whale [[spoiler:and loses]].
52	* GlassCannon: The big cats move and strike fast and pack good power, but they have low stamina and are relatively fragile. The wolf, quick-moving, and powerful-jawed, really can't take it. The bull shark is similar as well.
53	* GeniusBruiser: The elephant, gorilla & black bear are presented in this way.
54	* {{Gorn}}: Although it's all CGI, apparently it was ScrewedByTheNetwork for the violence.
55	* GrandFinale: Insofar as a double-length CurbStompBattle that [[NoExportForYou never aired in the U.S.]] can be considered "grand".
56	* HeelFaceTurn: Dave Salmoni plays ''against'' the lion in one of the first episodes, but later he ''defends it'' against the croc in another episode. [[spoiler:He defends the wrong creature both times]].
57	%% * HerbivoresAreFriendly: Subverted by the gorilla, elephant, rhinoceros & hippopotamus.
58	* HollywoodScience: Every single episode basically consists of assumptions over the physical strength of the subjects, a test on animatronic animals, and a fight sequence that will (usually) make the heavier animal win by default.
59	%% * TheHunterBecomesTheHunted: Polar Bear vs. Walrus & Bear vs. Alligator.
60	* KillerGorilla: Faced off against the leopard [[spoiler:and killed it with a single blow of its arm]].
61	%% * KingOfBeasts: Played straight in Lion vs. Tiger, but averted in Lion vs. Crocodile.
62	* LightningBruiser: On land, bears, the rhino, and the elephant, the last one being more of a MightyGlacier compared to the rhino. In water, the saltwater crocodile, great white shark, and the [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass walrus]].
63	* MartialPacifist: The gorilla actually tries to avoid fighting the leopard, but is forced to take action when its warnings are ignored.
64	* MinorInjuryOverreaction: In Hippo vs. Bull Shark, the Hippo cries out in pain when the shark does an exploratory bump, despite the damage being superficial at worst.
65	* MonsterWhale: A sperm whale is pitted against a colossal squid [[spoiler:and wins]].
66	* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: Downplayed. Only ''CGI'' animals are hurt. For the most part, none of the real animals are put in the show except for stock footage from Creator/DiscoveryChannel's back lot.
67	* PoisonIsEvil: Probably why, despite the constant emphasis on the deadly arsenals of the combatants, no venomous species was ever included in a face-off (because it wouldn't seem "fair" enough). It didn't stop them from putting a clip of a tiger vs. spitting cobra altercation, with a slow-motion closeup of the cobra projecting its venom, into the opening, though.
68	* ThePowerOfFriendship: A wolf fights a cougar [[spoiler:and loses because it was fighting alone instead of with the rest of its pack like it would have in RealLife. Before it can eat its victim, the cougar [[KnowWhenToFoldEm flees upon hearing the approach of the rest of the wolf's pack]].]]
69	* PredatorsAreMean: Almost all of the featured animals are at least partly predatory, although the few herbivorous animals that are shown are equally aggressive.
70	* PrimalChestPound: The gorilla does this to scare off the leopard, to no avail.
71	* RhinoRampage: The rhino's anger toward the elephant, although [[spoiler:it doesn't save it]].
72	* SavageWolves: One is pitted against a cougar [[spoiler:and loses]].
73	* ShoutOut: Bear vs. Gator claims that the black bear is [[WesternAnimation/YogiBear "smarter than the average reptile."]]
74	* SnakesAreSinister: An anaconda is pitted against a jaguar [[spoiler:and wins]].
75	* SomewhereAHerpetologistIsCrying:
76	** [[http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/animalfaceoff/game/play.html The accompanying game]] bills the American alligator as "the Western Hemisphere's largest crocodilian." The black caiman is slightly larger, as are the American and Orinoco crocodiles.
77	** The Alligator/Bear duel, in general, is this; the alligator is flipped over easily by the bear and clawed once by the bear, and that kills it. Anyone who knows much about crocodilians can say that the bear would, as insanely strong as it is, not be able to effortlessly bowl the much heftier alligator over; the snapping, thrashing alligator would be a bit harder to get a grip around to even lift than an inanimate boulder. That, and the alligator's bite would be disastrous for the bear's bones, but apparently, the crocodilians in this show suffer Turtle Syndrome, in that they are absolutely useless on their backs.
78	* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Series/TheTruthAboutKillerDinosaurs'', ''Series/JurassicFightClub'' & ''Series/DeadliestWarrior'' can all be seen as this.
79	* StrictlyFormula: When two land-based predators fight, it will almost always be over a kill. [[spoiler:Its original owner will always lose.]]
80	* TailSlap: The crocodile uses this against the lion. The alligator tries to use this against the bear, only for the latter to dodge it.
81	%% * TempleOfDoom: Lion vs. Tiger takes place in one.
82	%% * ThreateningShark: Saltwater Croc vs. Great White Shark and Bull Shark vs. Hippo. Though [[spoiler:the great white shark is the only one who won]], and rather cheaply, so it's actually subverted.
83	* TrashTalk: Occurs between the competing scientists.
84	%%* UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny
85	%%* VideogameCharacters: The fighting animals may be classified into one of the following:
86	* WildMassGuessing: Results of the final battles often end in this, with viewers arguing about which animal really deserved to win. Lampshaded on the website:
87	-->''"And if you disagree with our outcomes, be assured that you won't be alone."''
88	%% * WilyWalrus: One is pitted against a polar bear [[spoiler:and wins]].

Context Series / AnimalFaceOff