History Main / CapeSwish

This is a favorite move of any character that wears a cape, especially the DastardlyWhiplash. However, any character with a cape can pull it off. It can also be done with a [[BlackCloak cloak]], [[BadassLongRobe robe]], [[BadassLongcoat coat]], or any similar long garment, or even with RapunzelHair.

* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' is another chronic cape-swisher (probably in reference to ''Radio/TheShadow'').

* A staple of ''Radio/TheShadow'', who, in the original PulpMagazine stories, used his cape to [[AttackReflector deflect bullets]] (the ability to [[{{Invisibility}} cloud men's minds]] came later, with the radio adaptation).

* Tim Drake had an impressive cape for dramatic swishes as both ''[[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]]'' and ''ComicBook/RedRobin'', though the practical application was different than his mentor's as swishing Tim's cape up is part of prepping it into acting as a glider.

* ''Series/Batwoman2019''. In "Prior Criminal History", Ryan Wilder has to do an EmergencyImpersonation of our heroine at a pro-Batwoman rally. She's told the DynamicAkimbo is a bit much and is advised to do this trope instead. Fortunately a breeze blows up at just that moment, someone in the crowd sees her and everyone cheers.

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* Piccolo of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' is quite good at this, though notably does it less often after his HeelFaceTurn.
* The Super Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann does this, as do all the characters who sport capes, especially Simon and Kamina.
* Zero from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' adores this trope. Every one of his incredibly dramatic public addresses is punctuated by a well-timed Cape Swish. In his R2 uniform, Suzaku does quite a few of them, too.

* In ''Anime/CuteHighEarthDefenseClubLove'', evil [[MagicalGirl Magical Boy]] Kinshiro does this at every opportunity. In fact, there are several occasions when, fully untransformed and in his school uniform, he seems to swish an invisible cape.

* A staple of Franchise/{{Batman}}, whose Cape Swish is actually ''weaponized''. The cape contains weights, the better to smack {{mooks}} upside the head with.
* Tim Drake had an impressive cape for dramatic swishes as both [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]] and ComicBook/RedRobin, though the practical application was different than his mentor's as swishing Tim's cape up is part of prepping it into acting as a glider.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}} and the Big Fight'', the rival village chieftain tells Vitalstatistix he turns his back on the to-be-defeated chief, which he does with a Cape Swish. Unfortunately his Shield Bearers think this also applies to them, so he ends up facing them again.
* A staple of Radio/TheShadow, who, in the original PulpMagazine stories, used his cape to [[AttackReflector deflect bullets]] (the ability to [[{{Invisibility}} cloud men's minds]] came later, with the radio adaptation).
* Comicbook/DoctorStrange's Cloak of Levitation, helpfully, grants flight powers and has some (very vaguely defined) sentience. It can billow around on its own, and often does.

* Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon:
** ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'': A staple also of Maleficent, and probably picked up from her by [[WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH Jenner]].
** The Wicked Queen in ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' manages a particularly impressive one when rushing down from the Mirror Room to her secret spell-chamber.
** [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast The Beast]] was fond of it before his CharacterDevelopment took hold.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'': Mother Gothel is a master of this trope. She normally manages to use it to vanish, which is one of the hints she's a witch.
* Prince Proteus from Dreamworks' ''WesternAnimation/SinbadLegendOfTheSevenSeas'' makes a dignified attempt at one, [[SubvertedTrope but the wind blows it back at him and it just ends up looking silly]].

* ''Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera2004'': Creator/GerardButler's Phantom does this a lot, most notably in "Point of No Return." Because it's at the beginning of the 'Music of the Night' scene, one could have an infinite loop of cape swishing.

* In ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'', the musical, the choreography of "No Good Deed" ends with Elphaba swishing her cape with dramatic lighting to accompany the powerful, bitter music. It's ''badass.''

* Similarly, the cloak worn by the title character in ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' is designed to drape over and move with his arms, ensuring plenty of appropriately {{melodrama}}tic cape swishing.
* Pirelli in ''[[Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet Sweeney Todd]]'' often makes use of these to amp up his LargeHam factor. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie8opd0JV_M this footage]] of the 1982 tour cast.
* Carrying over from the manga, Tuxedo Mask from Theatre/SeraMyu can swish a cape like it's his job. Especially while BrainwashedAndCrazy. Enjoy Yuuga Yamato [[http://waytoadream.tumblr.com/post/166292925008/the-guardian-who-lost-hope-or-i-have-an-unholy charming the heck out of the audience. ]]
* In the {{Theatre/Tsukiuta}} series:

* [[VideoGame/{{Killer7}} Mask de Smith]] does this whenever you use the 180 turn button while running

* [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Golbez]] does this with pretty much every appearance he makes in the ''FFIV'' DS remake and, in the ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Dissidia]]'' games, his block animation is basically a dramatic cape swish.
* [[Franchise/{{Kirby}} Meta Knight]] does this a lot with his cape. [[LimitBreak Especially]] in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl]]''.
* Lord Malak pulls this off in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' when [[spoiler:torturing Bastila]].
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', when Ganondorf finally turns to face you in his [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon tower]], he does one of these.

* ''VideoGame/OdinSphere'' has Queen Odette, who teleports by swishing her PimpedOutDress.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': It's one of the things Mojo Jojo does best.

Not enough DramaticWind to blow your [[BadassCape cape]] around in a satisfactory manner? Make your own! The easiest way is to turn around quickly, causing your cape to billow out behind. You might also want to hold it out with one hand as you swoop for maximum surface area, but a true master of the technique can achieve awesome cape flaring with a minimum of movement. Running forward or other sudden movements can also make a cape flare, but is less dignified.

8 ''Series/Batwoman2019''. In "Prior Criminal History", Ryan Wilder has to do an EmergencyImpersonation of our heroine at a pro-Batwoman rally. She's told the DynamicAkimbo is a bit much and is advised to do this trope instead. Fortunately a breeze blows up at just that moment, someone in the crowd sees her and everyone cheers.

* ''Franchise/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': Gerard Butler's Phantom does this a lot, most notably in "Point Of No Return." Because it's at the beginning of the 'Music of the Night' scene, one could have an infinite loop of cape swishing.

** ''Disney/SleepingBeauty'': A staple also of Maleficent, and probably picked up from her by [[WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH Jenner]].
** The Wicked Queen in ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' manages a particularly impressive one when rushing down from the Mirror Room to her secret spell-chamber.
** [[Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast The Beast]] was fond of it before his CharacterDevelopment took hold.
** ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'': Mother Gothel is a master of this trope. She normally manages to use it to vanish, which is one of the hints she's a witch.

''[A few minutes later we get a hero shot of Angel striding out the door, his BadassLongcoat billowing behind.]''\\

* Graf von Krolock in ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire'' does this a lot, not least because the design of his cape actually forces the actor playing him to swoosh it back just to gesture- and being a musical, there's a ''lot'' of gesturing.

** We get a double dose of this in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E11Utopia "Utopia"]] and [{Recap/DoctorWhoS29E12TheSoundOfDrums "The Sound of Drums"]] from the [[SadClown Tenth Doctor]] and [[ChivalrousPervert Captain Jack]], each of whom possesses an iconic BadassLongcoat.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Films -- Animated]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action]]

[[folder: Literature]]
* The Franchise/StarWarsLegends mention more than once that Darth Vader's cape streams behind him when he walks. In ''Literature/DeathStar'' a gunner's hand is brushed by the edge of it as Vader passes. In ''[[Literature/StarWarsAllegiance Allegiance]]'', Mara Jade can identify him from a distance because of that cape.

* Hrathen does this in ''Literature/{{Elantris}}''. When Sarene first sees him, she hopes he'll trip on it.

->''The masked rider reared his horse dramatically, and his black cape swirled around him. Then he plunged down the far side of the crag and was gone.''
->''"Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen in your life?"''

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

* The Master, principally when played by Creator/AnthonyAinley, on ''Series/DoctorWho''.
** We get a double dose of this in ''Utopia'' and ''The Sound of Drums,'' from the [[SadClown Tenth Doctor]] and [[ChivalrousPervert Captain Jack]], each of whom possesses an iconic BadassLongcoat.
* Series/{{Angel}} does this in the Angel Investigations commercial Cordelia describes in a first season episode.
* Alan Statham from ''Series/GreenWing'' attempts to do this with his lab coat, and spends a great deal of time walking back and forth and turning sharply in order to achieve this. It doesn't manage to make him any cooler.
* To be expected in ''Series/TheCape.''

[[folder: Theater]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Comics]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

* The Master, principally when played by Anthony Ainley, on ''Series/DoctorWho''.

->'''Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen in your life?''

* The Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse mentions more than once that Darth Vader's cape streams behind him when he walks. In ''Literature/DeathStar'' a gunner's hand is brushed by the edge of it as Vader passes. In ''Literature/{{Allegiance}}'', Mara Jade can identify him from a distance because of that cape.

* Tim Drake had an impressive cape for dramatic movement in the wind as both [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]] and ComicBook/RedRobin and he weaponized it in a different way than his mentor, by having an electrical current run through it that he could trigger as he detached it.

Compare BadassCape, OminousOperaCape.

* Carrying over from the manga, Tuxedo Mask from Theatre/SeraMyu can swish a cape like it's his job. Especially while BrainwashedAndCrazy. [[Enjoy Yuuga Yamato charming the heck out of the audience. http://waytoadream.tumblr.com/post/166292925008/the-guardian-who-lost-hope-or-i-have-an-unholy]]

* To be expected in ''Series/TheCape''

* A staple of Radio/TheShadow, who, in the original PulpMagazine stories, used his cape to [[AttackDeflector deflect bullets]] (the ability to [[{{Invisibility}} cloud men's minds]] came later, with the radio adaptation).

* A staple of Radio/TheShadow, who, in the original PulpMagazine stories, used his cape to deflect bullets (the ability to [[{{Invisibility}} cloud men's minds]] came later, with the radio adaptation).