Writers like to play with our perceptions and {{subvert|ed trope}} our expectations, especially when it comes to [[ChildrenAreInnocent the innocent]]. Things associated with purity, happiness, and joy are frequently warped and twisted into something more sinister, either for [[PlayedForLaughs humour]], [[PlayedForDrama drama]], [[HorrorTropes horror]], or [[HotterAndSexier eroticism]]. These are the tropes that make you sit back and think, "Well, thanks for ruining my idyllic childhood."

Related to EvilAllAlong and HiddenEvil. Contrast with ObviouslyEvil, which doesn't even bother with hiding any malice, and IndexWithAHeartOfGold, which is basically the inverse example of this index in tropes about subverting malice.
----
!!Tropes:
[[index]]
* AbandonedPlayground: A disrepaired playground induces nervousness.
* AbusiveParents: Parents are meant to be who children go to for support, but these ones abuse their kids.
* AdorableAbomination: An [[EldritchAbomination incomprehensible nightmare]] that looks deceptively cute.
* AffablyEvil: Someone who has a polite and friendly personality, but they are actually a scheming villain.
* AffectionatePickpocket: Using sweet gestures as a cover for robbing the person they are directed at.
* AgeInappropriateArt: Art that is inappropriate for the intended target audience.
* AIIsACrapshoot: An A.I. is created to be benevolent and subvervient to its creators, but this version is evil and TurnedAgainstTheirMasters.
* AmbiguousInnocence: It remains skeptical as to whether someone is innocent or not.
* AmusementParkOfDoom: An amusement park turns out to be really scary.
* ApocalypseMaiden: An innocent character is destined to bring about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt just by existing.
* ArtisticLicenseChildLaborLaws: Kids are shown working despite being too young to work in real life.
* ArtStyleDissonance: Art style doesn't match the story.
* AnAssKickingChristmas: A day of Christmas filled with intense action-packed adventure.
* BackstoryHorror: A horrific backstory told in canon or by WordOfGod.
* BadassAdorable: Very cute, yet can kick some serious ass.
* BadassBystander: A surprisingly competent random bystander.
* BadassSanta: SantaClaus can kick ass.
* BadHabits: A villain disguises themselves as a religious figure.
* BadHumorTruck: Ice cream trucks are used by horrible people.
* BadSanta: SantaClaus turns out to be evil (or he at least has an EvilCounterpart).
* BalloonOfDoom: A party balloon is a symbol of evil.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Someone seems nice but can be mean sometimes.
* BewareTheSillyOnes: Just because someone is a goofball doesn't mean they can't be a threat.
* BewareTheQuietOnes: Quiet does not equal being a pushover.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Someone who acts sweet on the outside, but is really bitter on the inside.
* BlackComedy: Something that's both dark and funny.
* BlackComedyPetDeath: A pet dies and it's played humorously.
* BloodSplatteredInnocents: InnocentBystanders are exposed to horrific violence.
* BreakTheCutie: [[TheCutie Sweet and innocent character]] is put through hell.
* BrightIsNotGood: Being associated with brightness does not make you morally righteous.
* BrokenAce: TheAce has scars on their reputation.
* BrokenPedestal: Your mentor/idol is everything but heroic.
* CarouselKidnapping: An unsuspecting child is snatched off a carousel.
* CatholicSchoolGirlsRule: Catholicism, schools, and young girls are associated with chastity, but here Catholic school uniforms on girls are portrayed as sexy.
* CatsAreMean: Cats are supposed to be soft and cuddly, but here, they're complete meanies.
* CatsAreSnarkers: Cats are portrayed as mouthy.
* CerebusCallBack: A light moment gets alluded to in a dark way.
* CerebusRetcon: Something that was originally just a joke is revealed to be for a dead serious reason.
* CerebusSyndrome: A light work gradually gets darker.
* ChildrenForcedToKill: A child is forced to take someone's life.
* ChildSoldiers: Children in the military, forced to experience (and participate in) all the [[WarIsHell horrors of war]].
* CircusOfFear: A disturbing circus.
* CockyRooster: Chickens (especially roosters), even as livestock, can be complete meanies.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: A person accepts horror as a part of their daily routine.
* CorruptionByAMinor: When a ''child'' is a bad influence on an ''adult''.
* CorruptionOfAMinor: An adult encourages a child to engage in bad behavior.
* CorruptTheCutie: [[TheCutie Sweet and innocent character]] becomes a much more negative person after hanging around a toxic influence.
* CovertPervert: Innocent character has a touch of perversion.
* CrappyHolidays: Christmas break was such a letdown.
* CrapsaccharineWorld: A CrapsackWorld that pretends to be a SugarBowl.
* CreepyBallet: Ballet is normally seen as pretty and delicate...until it's twisted by something horrific.
* CreepyChild: A child with disturbing behavior.
* CreepyChildrenSinging: Something is off-putting about the vocals of a child choir.
* CreepyCircusMusic: Circus music that's less than innocent.
* CreepyDoll: A doll with disturbing features.
* CreepyDollhouse: A dollhouse is unnerving.
* CreepyMascotSuit: Mascot performers, or anyone who puts on a mascot suit, are either unintentionally terrifying to kids or even adults or outright evil.
* CreepyStalkerVan: Unmarked vans are driven by creeps and kidnappers, sometimes luring in kids with candy.
* CuteBruiser: A cute person can kick ass.
* CuteAndPsycho: Someone who is adorable and unstable at the same time.
* CuteAsABouncingBetty: Weapons with cute names.
* CuteCreatureCreepyMouth: A creature that is cute... until it opens its mouth.
* CuteIsEvil: The villain is also adorable.
* DangerouslyGarishEnvironment: A brightly-coloured place is actually dangerous.
* DarkerAndEdgier: A light work makes a ToneShift into darkness.
* DarkFic: The work is fun, the fanfic of it is serious.
* DarkParody: A lighthearted work has a parody of it that's anything but.
* DeadlyRemoteControlToy: A toy turned to deadly purposes.
* DeathByNewberyMedal: A cute or nice character dies and the story wins an award.
* DeathOfAChild: A young child dies.
** AccidentalChildKillerBackstory: ...and all it took was one mistake.
* DeceptivelyCuteCritter: An animal pretends to be sweet and innocent to manipulate human characters.
* DeliberatelyCuteChild: A child uses their endearing nature as a manipulation tactic.
* DelusionsOfParentalLove: A child innocently believes that their AbusiveParents are actually loving.
* DemographicallyInappropriateHumour: Dirty or drug-related jokes in a kids' work.
* DemonicDummy: An evil ventriloquist's dummy.
* DepravedKidsShowHost: The friendly host of a children's TV show turns out to be a rather repugnant person offstage.
* DirtyKid: When even children can be perverts.
* DirtyOldMonk: A monk who's a pervert.
* DisguisedHorrorStory: A work starts off normal and gets progressively creepier without warning.
* DissonantSerenity: Calmly and eerily smiling in a terrible situation.
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: The villain was the one you least expect.
* DreadedKidsPartyEntertainerJob: Your kid's party may be fun for the attendees but ''not'' for the entertainer.
* DystopianOz: The Franchise/LandOfOz isn't as perfect as it seems.
* EmpathyDollShot: Seeing a plushie or doll on the floor means that either a kid died or a kid's innocence was lost evacuating from a war.
* EnfantTerrible: An evil child.
* EnlightenedAntagonist: They have achieved greater wisdom and understanding of the way the world works... just don't expect them to behave like some sort of peaceful monk.
* EntertainmentAboveTheirAge: A child enjoys fiction intended for older audiences.
* EvilAllAlong: Someone pretending to be a good guy was actually a bad guy this whole time.
* EvilOrphan: A parentless child is downright malicious.
* EvilPuppeteer: A puppeteer who is deranged.
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: Someone who looks adorable or beautiful but is completely deranged and psychopathic.
* TheFakeCutie: TheCutie turns out to have faked their innocent ego this whole time.
* FallenCupid: Cupid imagery played as sinister.
* FalseFriend: Your so-called friend is not really your friend.
* FalseInnocenceTrick: A prisoner pretends to be a good person to fool others into freeing them.
* FalseUtopia: It's really a {{dystopia}} in disguise.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Somebody's friendliness is a completely fake mask designed to hide how cruel and twisted they really are.
* FightingInThePlayground: Kids brawl in the playground.
* FilleFatale: An underage FemmeFatale.
* FluffyTheTerrible: A creature with a cutesy name that is actually scary.
* FoulBallPit: Ball pits may look like simple, childish fun, but in fiction, they are often disgusting and/or horrific.
* FoulFlower: Flowers are used to symbolize evil.
* FracturedFairyTale: A parody of a fairy tale or other classic children's story.
* FromTheMouthsOfBabes: Obscenity comes from an innocent child's mouth.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: A work (usually a kids' show) manages to slip objectionable (usually adult) content right under the censors' noses.
* GirlScoutsAreEvil: Girl scouts are portrayed as villainous.
* GoodIsNotNice: Heroes are supposed to be nice, but here they're [[{{Jerkass}} rude]].
* GrotesqueCute: Cuteness meets {{Gorn}}.
* HairRaisingHare: "[[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail That rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide!]]"
* HappyMarriageCharade: When two characters seem HappilyMarried but aren't even in love.
* HarmfulToMinors: Children are exposed to something disturbing that only adults would understand.
* HideAndSeekHorror: A game of hide-and-seek is played for horror.
* HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday: Horror plots occur on the holidays.
* HorsingAround: Horses who have bad attitudes.
* HostileAnimatronics: Animatronic characters (often used to entertain children) gone bad.
* HotLibrarian: Being prudish and intellectual is sexualised.
* InappropriateSpeakAndSpell: A simple childhood toy involves swear words and/or sexual innuendo.
* InfantilizationRetaliation: A character treating someone or something like a baby directly results in pain or an attack for said character.
* InnocentInaccurate: A serious situation seems all the more serious because a naïve character (often a kid) thinks it's not.
* IronicBirthday: Something bad happens on someone's birthday even though birthdays are meant to be a time for happiness.
* IronicNurseryTune: A nursery rhyme is used to portray creepiness.
* KidsAreCruel: Children who are outright [[{{Jerkass}} mean]] and [[TheBully nasty]], (though not necessarily [[EnfanteTerrible evil]]).
* KillTheCutie: [[TheCutie Sweet and innocent character]] ends up dying.
* KillerRabbit: A cute animal with murderous tendencies.
* KillerTeddyBear: A teddy bear with murderous tendencies.
* KnewItAllAlong: A character lies that they knew something all along, which they obviously didn't.
* LaserGuidedTykebomb: Kids who were raised and trained to kill a specific person.
* LethalJokeCharacter: Someone seems like a total joke but they're ''not''.
* LightIsNotGood: Being associated with the light does not make you morally righteous.
* LittleGirlsKickShins: Little girls are seen as innocent by virtue of being young, but watch out-- they can kick you in the shin if you're not careful!
* LittleMissBadass: This little girl knows how to kick ass.
* LittleMissConArtist: A cute little girl who is also a thief.
* LittleMissSnarker: Not all little girls are innocent; some are snide.
* LotusEaterMachine: When someone is dreaming or hallucinating their own perfect fantasy world. But sooner or later, they have to wake up from this illusion.
* MatureWorkChildProtagonists: Although it may ''feature'' children, this is not a work for them.
* AMischiefOfMice: Mice that are portrayed in a slightly more negative light than their NiceMice counterparts. They can be mischievous, scheming, greedy, sneaky or even evil.
* MisterMuffykins: A usually adorable and friendly little dog turns out to be a mean AngryGuardDog instead.
* MonsterClown: A downright evil clown.
* MusicAgeDissonance: Children listen to music unsuitable for their age.
* NatureIsNotNice: Many see nature as beautiful and pure, but it can be dangerous.
* NaughtyByNight: Someone seems innocent but they get wild and raunchy in the evening.
* NaughtyNuns: Nuns are sexualised.
* NiceCharacterMeanActor: They play the role of a good and wholesome character onstage, but they're actually rather nasty and unpleasant in real life.
* NightmareFuelColoringBook: A coloring book with disturbing imagery.
* NightmarishNursery: A childish setting such as a nursery or playground played for horror or suspense.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: A normally ineffectual villain suddenly become a big threat.
* NunTooHoly: Nuns that missed the memo on needing to act sacred and holy.
* ObsessivelyNormal: Someone who's so obsessed with normality that they immediately turn down anything remotely abnormal.
* OminousMusicBoxTune: A music box tune that's creepy because it sounds off somehow (like it's too sad or it's happy but playing at a bad time).
* ParentService: Titillation exists in a kids' show.
* PeaceAndLoveIncorporated: A corporation with a pleasant image that is actually creepy.
* PedophilePriest: A religious leader pervs on children.
* PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny: A brutal dictatorship that pretends to be a liberal democracy.
* PerversePuppet: When the reason why the doll/dummy/puppet is evil is because it's possessed.
* PervertDad: A father-daughter relationship should be sweet and pure, but this guy's attracted to his own daughter!
* PeskyPigeons: Pigeons are supposed to be sweet and pure, but instead, they are {{Feathered Fiend}}s.
* PleasureIsland: A seemingly carefree place for fun activities proves to be a nightmare.
* PsychopathicManchild: Adults with child-like or adolescent-esque temperaments are usually seen as endearing and/or harmless, but some adults with these same characteristics can be frightening and often dangerous.
* PsychoPoodle: A little poodle who's completely deranged.
* PsychoPink: A seemingly innocuous pink-themed character is psycho.
* PureIsNotGood: Being pure-hearted doesn't mean you are [[IncorruptiblePurePureness noble or innocent]]. Some people are pure ''evil'' after all.
* RaincoatOfHorror: Raincoats are colorful and often worn by children. That makes them perfect for horror works that subvert their innocence.
* RazorApples: Food with dangerous objects hidden inside.
* RelaxOVision: Showing something saccharine... to cover up something gory.
* RepulsiveRingmaster: A ringmaster with a creepy factor.
* RonTheDeathEater: The character is good, but in the fanfiction, they're evil.
* RousingLullaby: This ain't yer grandma's lullaby, kid. This is Crazy Uncle Bob's lullaby.
* RuleThirtyFour: There's porn of everything, even the most innocent things you can think of.
* {{Santabomination}}: An [[EldritchAbomination incomprehensible nightmare]] that resembles Santa.
* SantasSweatshop: Santa's workshop is a dangerous work environment to say the least.
* ScaryJackInTheBox: A jack-in-the-box that evokes fright instead of childhood fun.
* ScrewballSquirrel: Squirrels and chipmunks look cute, but here, they are animal-hurting {{Sadist}}s.
* SealedEvilInATeddyBear: Evil is contained inside something cute.
* SexyPriest: Religious leaders are sexualised.
* SexyWhateverOutfit: When it comes to costumes, ''anything'' can be sexualized.
* SinisterMinister: Evil clergy.
* SinisterSweetTooth: Liking sweets is villainous.
* SinisterWhistling: A whistle that signals something creepy or unnerving, or a villainous character.
* SlippingAMickey: A drink actually contains poison/sleeping potion/etc.
* SmugglingWithDolls: Dolls are used to smuggle illegal goods.
* SnowGlobeOfInnocence: A snowglobe symbolizing lost innocence and/or joy in the face of tragedy.
* SnowMeansDeath: Snow is generally seen as fun and beautiful, but here someone dies in the snow.
* SoundtrackDissonance: A soundtrack that doesn't fit the rest of the scene -- in this case, a cheerful, beautiful, or otherwise feel-good soundtrack accompanying a disturbing scene.
* SpecialPersonNormalName: The person with an average name isn't average.
* StepfordSmiler: ThePollyanna isn't as happy as they seem.
* StepfordSuburbia: A seemingly perfect suburban city inhabited by a community of {{Stepford Smiler}}s.
* SubvertedKidsShow: It (intentionally and misleadingly) looks like a kids' show at first glance, but it's actually meant for adults.
* SubvertedSitcom: The wholesome sitcom aesthetic misleads the audience before the work reveals itself to actually be dark, surreal, or violent.
* SubvertedSuspicionAesop: It looks like there'll be AnAesop about not being too suspicious, but the character who was suspicious was right all along.
* SugarApocalypse: When a genuine SugarBowl suffers a horrifying disaster that destroys its peaceful innocence.
* SuperFunHappyThingOfDoom: Something with a happy-seeming title but which is actually creepy.
* SurprisinglyCreepyMoment: A non-horror work has a surprisingly horror-like moment or section.
* SweetsOfTemptation: Candy, cake, and other sweet food is used as symbolism for temptation and hidden danger.
* TooBrokenToBreak: A character seems normal, but inside is so broken that nothing can affect him/her.
* TownWithADarkSecret: A town seems nice, but it actually has a dark secret.
* TragicStillbirth: Stillbirths are pretty close to Death of a Child.
* TrojanAmbulance: When it looks like an ambulance, don't assume anything!
* TroubledToybreaker: An abused, neglected or otherwise troubled child vents their anger by destroying toys.
* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior: Child engages in age-inappropriate behavior.
* TwistedChristmas: It's the most ''horrible'' time of the year!
* TykeBomb: Kids who were born and bred to kill.
* UncannyVillage: A small town in the countryside that is the rural equivalent of a Stepford Suburbia.
* UndeadChild: A kid comes back from the dead but horribly wrong.
* UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode: An episode of a normally lighthearted series is dark.
* UnnervinglyHeartwarming: A superficially sweet moment made deliberately unsettling or even horrifying.
* ValentinesDayViolence: A day of hearts and chocolates and roses is filled with action- and horror-packed ruckus.
* VengefulAbandonedToy: A sentient toy turns evil after being abandoned or forgotten.
* VerySpecialEpisode: An Unexpectedly Dark Episode exists for the purpose of teaching an important lesson.
* VileVillainSaccharineShow: A cute, kid-friendly, lighthearted show with a menacing villain.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: A kids' show gets away with disturbing content that makes the audience question its innocence or suitability for young children.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: An adult show that looks like (or is mistaken for being) family-friendly makes viewers question how it's not appropriate for kids.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForLittleGirls: A work that looks cute and saccharine but isn't.
* WickedHeartSymbol: Heart motifs used to portrayed subverted innocence.
* WickedToymaker: The toymaker is completely insane.
* WiseOldFolkFacade: An [[EvilOldFolks evil old person]] intentionally comes off as being wise and loving to fool others (especially naïve youths).
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: Someone who's dangerous pretends to be something more harmless.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Someone pretends to be a victim to frighten others.
* {{Yandere}}: Going to deranged lengths in pursuit of love.
[[/index]]
----