History Main / CapeSnag

See Also: NotWearingTights, where the characters refuse costumes entirely, KillerOutfit, when it's the ''rest'' of your wardrobe taking you out, and PinnedToTheWall.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In the Christmas episode of ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'', while in the middle of a LetsYouAndHimFight moment with Moon Knight, Spidey thwarts Moon Knight's initial offense by grabbing his cape and throwing him against a wall, stating that this is the reason he never wears one himself.

* In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', one of Ziro's IG-86 sentinel droids grabs Padme Amidala's cape as she tries to escape from being imprisoned. She successfully does this at the cost of her cape which finally ripped as it fell on IG-86. Very smart of her, though.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' is the old TropeNamer. It isn't hard to see why, as it [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] the topic quite heavily.

Often shows up during Superhero deconstructions/parodies, specifically with regards to the SuperheroesWearCapes[=/=]BadassCape tropes. SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome also works on this trope.

** [[RealLifeWritesThePlot The real reason for "no capes" was that Pixar]] [[NoFlowInCGI didn't want to animate flowing capes]].

Often shows up during Superhero deconstructions/parodies, specifically with regards to the SuperheroesWearCapes[=/=]BadassCape tropes.

''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

* The cape-wearing mutant baddie Exodus from the ''ComicBook/XMen'' usually makes his cape work as only a SuperpowerLottery winner can, but during one fight against the X-Men the wily Cajun ComicBook/{{Gambit}} was able to blindside Exodus by grabbing his cape from behind and using his kinetic charging ability to [[StuffBlowingUp make it go boom]].

** Edna Mode hates adding capes to superheroes' costumes solely because too many have gotten killed. When Bob requests one on his new costume, she [[https://youtu.be/M68ndaZSKa8?t=120 shoots him down]]:

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': In the English dub, this is used as a metaphor when Aizawa, getting away from a group of reporters, wonders how the veteran #1 hero All Might managed to get anything done with the media "stepping on his cape". (All Might's literal costume is a bodysuit that seems to have been described in keeping with "no capes".)

** As ComicBook/{{Robin}} (Tim Drake) has always had a quick release cape which he uses in fights any time his cape seems to get him in trouble it's an early hint that what is being seen is staged and Tim is playing a part.

* ''WesternAnimation/LoonetTunes'': In the opening of "WesternAnimation/StuporDuck", the titular character (a.k.a. WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck) tries to leap a building like ComicBook/{{Superman}}, but ends up getting his cape caught on the flagpole on top.

* In issue 23 of the ''ComicBook/MegaMan'' comic book Mega prevents [[spoiler: Break Man]] from fleeing by grabbing onto [[spoiler: his iconic yellow ScarfOfAsskicking.]]

** In Batman: Gothic, it's even noted, that in addition to a quick release function on the cape, the part where it attaches to the cowl also has a built in neck brace to protect him from whiplash or getting his neck broken if the cape is caught by something especially heavy or fast.

* In the ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'', ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}} has admitted he recognizes the problems with wearing a cape, but wears one anyway because [[RuleOfCool it looks impressive]].
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** The Man of Steel is well aware of this problem, to the point he has used it against other cape-wearing enemies. In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXB0lBoaQ0 this animated short]] he grabs Bizarro's cape and throws his defective clone away.
** ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} has also ran into this problem. In ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl1982 an 80's issue]]'', Parasite grabs her cape, and after spinning Kara around, slams her into a railroad track.
** ''ComicBook/TheKryptonChronicles'' provides an humorous example: when Superman is about to take off towards planet Rokyn excitedly, [[https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdLWlDWAFmE/Wp19SyDTrjI/AAAAAAAAypQ/-fJrLWjPMMUdZrU7bWuYC8EpsKFnX2aKQCLcBGAs/s1600/Kry%2BChron%2B1-03.jpg Supergirl tugs on his cape]] before reminding him that they need a spaceship to get there, what with Rokyn orbiting a red star.
** In ''ComicBook/TheKillersOfKrypton'', Kara gets into a bar brawl and gets hindered by a thug grabbing onto her cape.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': In the backstory, the corporate hero Dollar Bill was ordered by his sponsors to get a cape as a part of his outfit, in order to increase his marketability. However, one day, when he tried to stop a bank robbery, his cape got caught in a revolving door, allowing the bank robbers to shoot him to death. Nite-Owl notes (somewhat bitterly) in his memoir that Dollar Bill would likely be alive today were he allowed to design the costume himself. The same section of the memoir notes that Nite-Owl experimented with a caped costume in his early days, but gave it up because he was unable to master the art of walking around ''his own home'' without the cape catching on things.

* Subverted in ''ComicBook/AllFallDown''. Wearing a cape is what saves Paradigm's life.
* The ComicBook/ScarletWitch had a pair of cases in ''Avengers West Coast'', and tried a new costume without cape. It didn't stick.

* During the ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'' edition of ''ComicBook/GenerationsMarvelComics'', Clint pulls this on Taskmaster, complete with a quip about how capes are always a bad idea.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Diana attempts to capture Serva by grabbing her cape, but Serva slips out of the cape and leaps from the moving car in one motion.
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules'': When battling against The Sentry, Hercules temporarily disposes of the more-powerful hero by dodging an attack and tossing him by his cape. Herc cites this trope as the reason he stopped wearing the Nemean Lion skin. (Although, his outfit in Chaos War featured a cape.).

* In ''ComicBook/PowerGirl'' fanfic ''Fanfic/AForceOfFour'', one of the three villains grasps [[Franchise/WonderWoman Fury]]'s cape to prevent her from helping Power Girl during a battle.
-->"No!" cried Fury, trying to hurl herself at him. But Kizo grabbed her cape and then her arm to hold her back.

* In ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy,'' it's mentioned that Peter disapproves of Izuku's insistence on having an All Might-inspired hood, as it could be easily grabbed by someone or snag on something in the middle of a brawl. They compromise by making it detachable.

* A very early Disney example as shown in ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' during Snow White's terrifying flight through the spooky forest, her cape, along with her skirt gets caught in the tree branches, twice. But she manages to free herself without any signs of tears. Later on, her cape gets caught on another branch in a different part of the forest, but her animal friends free it for her.
* Another early Disney example occurs in ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' when [[spoiler:Prince Phillip's cape gets caught in the branches of Maleficent's forest of thorns. Merryweather alerts the fairies to this and they use their magic to free his cape from the thorny branches without a single tear.]]

* In the [[WesternAnimation/AladdinGoldenFilms Golden Films version of]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin|GoldenFilms}}'', the villain Hasseem during a sword fight with Aladdin accidentally trips over his cape and ends up stabbing himself.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'', Razoul uses his scimitar to attempt to stop the Titular King of Thieves, who's actually Aladdin in disguise.
* Inverted from ''WesternAnimation/SinbadLegendOfTheSevenSeas'', [[GiantFlyer Roc]] inadvertently bites off Marina's Duffle Parka-Robe

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanUnderTheRedHood'', Red Hood pins Batman's cape with a dagger and punches away at him until Batman is able to rip the cape.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanVsTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': Joker tries this against Batgirl, but she detaches it before he can do anything.
* In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', one of Ziro's IG-86 sentinel droids grabs Padme Amidala's cape as she tries to escape from being imprisoned. She successfully does this at the cost of her cape which finally ripped as it fell on IG-86. Very smart of her, though.
* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainUnderpantsTheFirstEpicMovie'': Captain Underpants tries to fly out the school window... only for the window to close on his cape, leaving him dangling. After a few struggles, the hem of the cape rips, and Captain Underpants falls to the ground.
-->'''Prof. Poopypants:''' I bet he thought ''that'' was gonna be cooler.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** In the final battle in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanDoomsday'', as Superman is fighting his clone, at one point he grabs his clone by the cape and swings him around.
** The remake ''WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman'' has Doomsday constantly grabbing Superman by the cape and slinging him around, at one point grabbing it and wrapping it around his neck to strangle him.
* In ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeTheMovie'', Serpentor's cape gets tangled in his air chariot's turbine, causing him to fly out of control.
* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragonTheHiddenWorld'', Snotlout spends a lot of time on missions hanging off the scenery by his cape.
* ''WesternAnimation/PocahontasIIJourneyToANewWorld'': Just as Ratcliffe is about to kill Pocahontas with a sword, John Smith grabs his cape and yanks him back.

* Inverted in ''Film/SupermanReturns''. [[spoiler:Superman is saved from drowning because Lois is able to grab him by the cape.]]

* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', a mook yanks Batman to the ground by his cape, allowing his comrades to attack him. It only lasts a few seconds before Batman regains the upper hand.

* ''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}'' (2018): Oscar tries to run away from Michael Meyers and climbs over a fence, but the cape of his Halloween costume gets caught on the fence, allowing Michael to catch up and kill him.

* In ''[[Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus Blood of Olympus]]'' the villainous Octavian's praetor's cloak -- and his hubris -- cause his death.

* Averting this trope was the reason Batman and Robin's capes were shorter (around knee length) in the 1960s ''Series/Batman1966''. The fast shooting schedule didn't allow for much in the way of reshooting for flubs and the original full-length capes on their costumes were too easy for other actors to step on accidentally, half strangling Adam West or Burt Ward when they tried to move to hit their marks in a scene and ruining the take. The capes were swiftly shortened to stop this.

* Defied in ''Setback''. Ms. Ribbon wears a cape with her ensemble but keeps it at least near her waist so it won't be too long and, since her power allows her to manipulate her clothing, she trains herself to instinctively have the cape rip from where it's snagged to avoid such a problem since she can just re-materialize the torn part easily.

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'':
** Batman's cape gets snagged on a Daily Planet press. Apparently it was attached to his cowl, and its removal exposed his identity to Lois Lane.
** Superman grabs Maxima by the cape and drags her into the sky.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'', Michelangelo decides he wants to be a superhero and sets himself up with a costume, complete with cape... which proceeds to trap him in the door of a bus falling into the river. Oops.
* A comic example in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'', where ComicBook/DoctorStrange gets his Cloak of Levitation caught in a portal, spoiling what would have been a pretty good entrance.

* In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'', Shaak Ti manages to temporarily defeat General Grievous by using the Force to tie his cape to a passing train.
* Inverted in one of the ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons''. Superman saves Lois from a torrent of molten steel by sheltering her under his cape.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Spike mocks comic-book hero Hundrum's cape as impractical and pointless. Sure enough, in "Power Ponies", Spike is turned into Humdrum, and he trips on his cape.
* In ''WesternAnimation/CyberSix'' you could make a DrinkingGame out of how many times the titular character takes a blow because a [[DumbMuscle Fixed Idea]] managed to grab onto her cape.

* In the Christmas episode of ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'', while in the middle of a LetsYouAndHimFight moment with Moon Knight, Spidey thwarts Moon Knight's initial offense by grabbing his cape and throwing him against a wall, stating that this is the reason he never wears one himself.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'', while Batman and Catwoman were fighting Ragdoll, Batman's cape got caught between some moving gears. What's worse, his cape is connected to his mask, meaning if he wants to survive, he has to take his mask off to escape. Fortunately, Catwoman helps him out by cutting his cape off.
* In the opening of "WesternAnimation/StuporDuck", the titular character (a.k.a. WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck) tries to leap a building like ComicBook/{{Superman}}, but ends up getting his cape caught on the flagpole on top.

** The Man of Steel is well aware of this problem, to the point he has used it against other cape-wearing enemies. In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXB0lBoaQ0 this animated short]] he grabs SelfDemonstrating/{{Bizarro}}'s cape and throws his defective clone away.

** Costume designer, Edna Mode hates adding capes to costumes solely because of this trope. When Bob requests one on his new costume, she [[https://youtu.be/M68ndaZSKa8?t=120 shoots him down]]:

'''Edna:''' Do you remember Thunderhead? Tall, [[WeatherManipulation storm powers]]? Nice man, [[FriendToAllChildren good with kids]]. November 15th of '58! All was well, another day saved, when... his cape snagged on a missile fin!\\

** Given an IronicEcho of sorts when [[spoiler:the villain Syndrome's cape gets caught in a jet turbine in the climax, leading to his death]].
** RealLifeWritesThePlot: The real reason for "no capes" was that Pixar [[NoFlowInCGI didn't want to animate flowing capes]].

[[caption-width-right:300:[[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles "Nomad", 1974, tripped on cape, made a fool of himself. No capes!]]]]

** In "[[Recap/DarkwingDuckS1E65BadLuckDuck Bad Luck Duck]], the titular hero got his rip-proof cape trapped in the hood of a car just as a brought-to-life Hamburger Hippo stand was bearing down on him. Later in the same episode, it is shown that Negaduck has enough foresight to buy rip-able capes.

** In one episode, the titular hero got his rip-proof cape trapped in the hood of a car just as a giant monster was bearing down on him. Later in the episode, it is shown that Negaduck has enough foresight to buy rip-able capes.

* ''VideoGame/PajamaSam2: Thunder And Lightning Aren't So Frightening'': Near the beginning of the game, Sam accidentally trips on his cape and hits a BigRedButton at World Wide Weather, causing the weather factory to go haywire.