History Main / DiedStandingUp

[[caption-width-right:350:[[FoeTossingCharge The]] [[FatherToHisMen greatest]] [[BadAssGrandpa badass]] [[WorldsStrongestMan around]] [[RasputinianDeath finally]] [[ImplacableMan goes]] [[MadeOfIron down]] [[TheLastDance in]] [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice the]] [[NoKillLikeOverkill only]] [[KilledOffForReal way]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome possible.]]]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/OnePiece_485_53.JPG]]

[[OnePiece [[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/OnePiece_485_53.JPG]]]]

* Similar to the Naruto example, Barry's Empoleon from ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' does one [[spoiler:after a brutal Thunder attack by Paul's Electivire during the Sinnoh League.]] It gives a pretty creepy [[KubrickStare glare]] while being attacked.

*** Even further... [[spoiler: Juuza, shortly after falling gets back on his feet and keeps fighting Raoh for another minute and a half, '''despite being already dead'''. This after having previously bashed heads with Raoh the day before. Considering the hellacious beating Juuza takes leading to his death and post-mortem fight, this might qualify as a RasputinianDeath as well]]

*** Even further... [[spoiler: Juuza, shortly after falling gets back on his feet and keeps fighting Raoh for another minute and a half, '''despite being already dead'''. This after having previously bashed heads with Raoh the day before.]]

*** Even further... [[spoiler: Juuza, shortly after falling gets back on his feet and keeps fighting Raoh for another minute and a half, '''despite being already dead'''. This after having bashed heads with Raoh twice in the previous few days.]]

** As well, [[spoiler:Toki dies this way after Kenshiro's fight with Ryuga, through a combination of radiation poisoning and sacrificing himself so that Kenshiro will use the sorrow from his death to unlock the ability of [[IntangibleMan Muso Tensei]]

* A variant in ''{{Naruto}}'': Rock Lee, after being completely and mercilessly thrashed by Gaara, pushing his body ''way'' past its limits, and suffering permanent damage to two limbs, manages to stand back up despite being ''unconscious at the time'', presumably by sheer willpower.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benkei Saito Musashibo Benkei]] is said to have died this way, [[UrExample 900 years ago]]. After fighting to buy time for his lord [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled to commit]] {{Seppuku}}, none of the enemy wanted to test his wrath, beleiving him to be ''a demon from hell''. Medically speaking, the lactic acid his muscles produced from the fighting caused a sudden onset of rigor mortis, causing his body to "Lock up" while still standing [[RuleOfCool and holding his spear]]. He has a small shrine today where this happened- see DetectiveConan above, where it becomes a plot point.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benkei Saito Musashibo Benkei]] is said to have died this way.

* In ''SoldierOfFortune II'', Mullins suddenly dies standing up [[HostageSpiritLink if an NPC is killed]] (or he disobeys orders in Colombia).

* In ''SoldierOfFortune II'', Mullins suddenly dies standing up if an NPC is killed (or he disobeys orders in Colombia).

This is a device used when a character is so utterly BadAss that even in death they refuse to accept utter defeat. The body continues to strive for victory even when its driving will has been extinguished. This goes hand in hand with a BadassNormal or any other absurdly strong character, especially one with a CharlesAtlasSuperpower. It may be mixed with TakenForGranite, when a villain's magical body has NoOntologicalInertia and turns to stone at the moment of death. Despite the description above, this can happen to both heroic and villainous characters.

* Jashugan, the Emperor of Motorball, from ''{{Gunnm}}/Battle Angel Alita'' manages to defeat the title character after taking a fatal blow and stays standing. A couple other characters also die standing up.

* In ''FistOfTheNorthStar'', [[spoiler:Raoh's corpse stays frozen, his fist gloriously clenched upwards, after he literally sends his soul to heaven.]]

* Similar to the Naruto example, Barry's Empoleon from {{Pokemon}} does one [[spoiler:after a brutal Thunder attack by Paul's Electivire during the Sinnoh League]]. It gives a pretty creepy [[KubrickStare glare]] while being attacked.

** [[WhatTheHellHero ........]]"[[RedShirtArmy We die standing]]."