History Main / CharacteristicTrope

* In the UK, any show using the BBCQuarry will be compared to ''Series/DoctorWho'', even though the series hardly uses it any more. [[TheNthDoctor Actor replacement]] will also be referred to as 'regeneration'.

Some tropes may be more characteristic in some circles than others. For example, while the iconic PlayboyBunny suit is too characteristic of the Magazine/{{Playboy}} franchise to be seen in Western works, it's ubiquitous in {{anime}}. FanMyopia can also play a part for works that are well-known within a specific niche, but are virtually unknown outside of that niche. A fan of WebAnimation/YouTubePoop will immediately think of [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaCDiGames King Harkinian]] upon seeing an AdiposeRex in another work, but anyone who isn't familiar with either WebAnimation/YouTubePoop or VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaCDiGames won't think anything of it. This page mainly concerns tropes that are universally characteristic to a well-known work.

* Any time two extremely different characters, usually one good and one evil, [[JekyllAndHyde turn out to be the same person]], people will think of ''Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde''.

The {{dead horse|Trope}} counterpart to this trope would be StockParodies. See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, OneMarioLimit for name-specific examples, StockShoutOuts, and WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a work for becoming well known for a trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a work uses what will eventually become a trope, but wasn't actually one at the time; and FromClonesToGenre, for when a trope becomes too saturated within a genre to remain characteristic to a certain work. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular work.

** Any BadFuture fic will face inevitable comparisons to Fallout Equestria.

* The GibberingGenius trope is inextricably linked to the career of Creator/JeffGoldblum, as he played the TropeCodifier Seth Brundle in ''Film/TheFly1986'' and went on to play similarly talkative scientist-types in ''Film/JurassicPark'' (and several of its follow-ups), ''Film/IndependenceDay'', and several other movies.

* Any work in the {{Mons}} genre will inevitably get compared to ''Franchise/Pokemon''.

* To countless people, NintendoHard IS VideoGame/DarkSouls.

The {{dead horse|Trope}} counterpart to this trope would be StockParodies. See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, OneMarioLimit for name-specific examples, and WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a work for becoming well known for a trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a work uses what will eventually become a trope, but wasn't actually one at the time; and FromClonesToGenre, for when a trope becomes too saturated within a genre to remain characteristic to a certain work. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular work.

{{Trope}}s can become [[DiscreditedTrope discredited]] in a number of ways. Usually this involves overuse or changes in social values. But sometimes it doesn't even take that.

The [[DeadHorseTrope dead horse]] counterpart to this trope would be StockParodies. See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, OneMarioLimit for name-specific examples, and WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a work for becoming well known for a trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a work uses what will eventually become a trope, but wasn't actually one at the time; and FromClonesToGenre, for when a trope becomes too saturated within a genre to remain characteristic to a certain work. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular work.

* WizardingSchool, [[Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians or otherwise any place where magical children go to train]]= ''Literature/HarryPotter''

* In more recent days, any video game where the default (or only) difficulty is HarderThanHard will invariably draw comparisons to ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', to the point where it's become cliche to refer to something as "X meets Dark Souls" when a franchise entry spikes in difficulty.
* Any time two extremely different characters, usually one good and one evil, turn out to be the same person, people will think of Main/JekyllAndHyde.

* Almost all ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' [[DarkFic Dark Fics]] are in some way connected to ''[[{{Fanfic/Cupcakes}} Cupcakes]]'', be it through the use of the same tropes ([[RunningGag a favorite]] being [[VasquezAlwaysDies Rainbow Dash as the victim]]) or even through the use of a ShoutOut or TakeThat. Even a reference to Pinkie Pie having straight hair or acting crazier than usual will do it.

* If there's a PlatformGame where the GoombaStomp is the primary method of dispensing with enemies, it will inevitably have links to ''SuperMarioBros'', whether intentional or assumed. It's become even stronger nowadays, as ''SuperMarioBros'' is one of the few platformers to use this mechanic anymore.

* WizardingSchool = ''Literature/HarryPotter''

* Almost all ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' [[DarkFic Dark Fics]] are in some way connected to ''[[{{Fanfic/Cupcakes}} Cupcakes]]'', be it through the use of the same tropes ([[RunningGag a favorite]] being [[VasquezAlwaysDies Rainbow Dash as the victim]]) or even through the use of a ShoutOut or TakeThat.

When a trope which may have been perfectly ordinary on its own is used ''so'' famously by one particular work, its meaning gets changed. Instead of what the trope had meant before, it now means it's an {{homage}}, parody or, if you're less lucky, blatant rip-off of the work which used it famously.

This can get annoying for writers, since the trope may be a useful screen-metaphor in its own right, but they can't use it without creating unwanted associations. Some tropes may also be more characteristic in some circles than others. For example, while the iconic PlayboyBunny suit is too characteristic of the Magazine/{{Playboy}} franchise to be seen in Western works, it's ubiquitous in {{anime}}.

See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, OneMarioLimit for name-specific examples, and WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a work for becoming well known for a trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a work uses what will eventually become a trope, but wasn't actually one at the time; and FromClonesToGenre, for when a trope becomes too saturated within a genre to remain characteristic to a certain work. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular work.

For that matter, most of the {{trope}}s in this catalogue which are actually [[TropeNamer named for a particular show]] are probably so characteristic of those shows that it's dangerous to use them if you can't handle the association.

When a trope which may have been perfectly ordinary on its own is used ''so'' famously by one particular show, its meaning gets changed. Instead of what the trope had meant before, it now means "{{Homage}} or parody of the show which used it famously." (Or, if you're less lucky, "Blatant rip-off of the show which used it famously.") Think of it as a kind of RealLife {{Flanderization}} of a trope.

See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, OneMarioLimit for name-specific examples, and WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a show for becoming well known for a trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a show uses what will eventually become a trope, but wasn't actually one at the time; and FromClonesToGenre, for when a trope becomes too saturated within a genre to remain characteristic to a certain work. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular show.

* Any use of LukeIAmYourFather invites ''Franchise/StarWars'' comparisons.

See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, OneMarioLimit for name-spacific examples, and WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a show for becoming well known for a trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a show uses what will eventually become a trope, but wasn't actually one at the time; and FromClonesToGenre, for when a trope becomes too saturated within a genre to remain characteristic to a certain work. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular show.

This can get annoying for writers, since the trope may be a useful screen-metaphor in its own right, but they can't use it without creating unwanted associations. Some tropes may also be more characteristic in some circles than others. For example, while the iconic PlayboyBunny suit is too characteristic of the Playboy franchise to be seen in Western works, it's ubiquitous in {{anime}}.

This can get annoying for writers, since the trope may be a useful screen-metaphor in its own right, but they can't use it without creating unwanted associations.

See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, as well as WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a show for becoming well known for a trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a show uses what will eventually become a trope, but wasn't actually one at the time. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular show.