History Main / FromBeyondTheFourthWall

** In the ''WebVideo/RatsSMP'', most of the creators' chats manifest as fleas, and raiding another creator on Website/{{Twitch}} is referred to as "sharing fleas".

->'''Susie:''' ''[angry]'' Okay, punk. What the HELL is your problem?!
->'''"Kris" (AKA You):''' Shut up.
->'''Susie:''' ...Okay, "Kris". Whatever you say. But lemme ask you this... Why'd you try to kill me? Do you just want rid of me that badly?
-> '''"Kris":''' I want you dead.
->'''Susie:''' OH REALLY NOW??? ALRIGHT. You want me dead, huh??? Bet you also want Noelle and Kris dead too, huh??? Alright, punk, I see you. You didn't ''need'' to do this, y'know. Ya could've just laid low and used me and everyone else for murder. So y'know what? I'm ready to jeopardize EVERYTHING. Don't expect me to take your shit from now on. I'm done.

-->"[[spoiler:Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Well anyway, I finawwy got even with that scwewy wabbit!]]"

* ''Franchise/MetalGear'' uses this trope as CopyProtection. You have to look at the back of the package the game came in to learn a crucial frequency. In one case, it renders the game {{Unwinnable}} unless the player already knows the frequency from either a previous playthrough or looking it up online ahead of time.

* In the first ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', you are told that you need to find Meryl's codec number so you can get in contact with her. Where is this codec number found? The back of your CD case.

* In ''VisualNovel/Ever17'', [[spoiler:the extradimensional entity, only known as Blick Winkel, which ends up solving the main conflict of the story, represents the reader.]]

* In Webcomic/BobAndGeorge The Author actually has to resurrect one of the characters [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/000506c here]].

* In Creator/GrantMorrison's ''CComicBook/SevenSoldiersOfVictory2005'', Comicbook/{{Zatanna}} reaches through the comic panel for the author (or possibly the reader) to help her. She ends up being helped by [[spoiler:seven Creator/DCComics writers, including Morrison himself]]. Later on in the story she asks the reader to help her cast a spell to sort things out. What does the spell do? [[spoiler:It welds the separate pieces of the JigsawPuzzlePlot of ''Seven Soldiers'' together, which couldn't be done without the reader's help, i.e. their interpretation of the plot.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/SevenSoldiers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/z_ssov.png]]]]

* In Creator/GrantMorrison's ''ComicBook/SevenSoldiers'' Comicbook/{{Zatanna}} reaches through the comic panel for the author (or possibly the reader) to help her. She ends up being helped by [[spoiler:seven Creator/DCComics writers, including Morrison himself.]] Later on in the story she asks the reader to help her cast a spell to sort things out. What does the spell do? [[spoiler:It welds the separate pieces of the JigsawPuzzlePlot of ''Seven Soldiers'' together, which couldn't be done without the reader's help, i.e. their interpretation of the plot.]]

** ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'': WebVideo/{{Technoblade}} was the first content creator to bring his stream chat into the SMP's canon; it's explained to the other characters as Techno HearingVoices. Since then, about 40% of the cast have had their stream chats canonized in some way.

** As a 2019 predecessor to this, ''WebVideo/SMPLive'' has hits, which are tasks to kill or prank other players given to characters by the streamers' donations.

** ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'': LetsPlay/{{Technoblade}} was the first content creator to bring his stream chat into the SMP's canon; it's explained to the other characters as Techno HearingVoices. Since then, about 40% of the cast have had their stream chats canonized in some way.

** ''LetsPlay/EmpiresSMP'': Being centred on [=YouTube=] episodes rather than livestreams, throughout both seasons thus far, the viewers in the [=YouTube=] comments section have been referred to as "spies" for each of the ruler-characters. Particularly, [=MythicalSausage=]'s comments section have manifested as ravens in Season 1 and parrots in Season 2.

** In the ''LetsPlay/RatsSMP'', most of the creators' chats manifest as fleas, and raiding another creator on Website/{{Twitch}} is referred to as "sharing fleas".
** In the ''LetsPlay/NewLifeSMP'', while [[{{Cyborg}} holding the Copper Golem origin]], Sparrow briefly gains the ability to read viewers' comments during Owen's 6th episode in order to improve his machinery.
** In the ''LetsPlay/PiratesSMP'', about half of the creators' stream chats have been canonized from the very start of the SMP in various forms, from flocks of birds to waves to ''sea salt''.

** ''LetsPlay/EmpiresSMP'': Throughout both seasons thus far, the viewers in the [=YouTube=] comments section have been referred to as "spies" for each of the ruler-characters. Particularly, [=MythicalSausage=]'s comments section have manifested as ravens in Season 1 and parrots in Season 2.

* Ever since the 2020s, content creators throughout the ''Minecraft'' Multiverse have variously brought their livestream chats into the roleplay worlds themselves in various shapes or forms, who can thus give ideas to the creators, inform them of recent plot developments they may be missing, or mildly influence the plot in various ways. The creators may also directly address the stream chats to clarify plot developments or consult them for advice.

Sometimes a character needs help, and sometimes that help comes from a highly unexpected place - us, or the author. When something like this affects the plot from outside the work in a very definite and obvious way it can be said to have come [[TitleDrop from beyond the fourth wall]]. For example, when an audience member tosses the hero an item that helps save the day, or the author nips into their own work to lend the characters a boat (or, inversely, a character sneaking into our world to steal one). The author may even step directly into a work in order to assume a role of some sort; if this is the case, they often have AuthorPowers and can [[RealityWarper manipulate the fabric of their fictional universe]]. Of course, it isn't always good things that come from beyond the FourthWall, the author could add something dangerous 'to make things more interesting' or for some other reason.

** It's then inverted when [[spoiler: a group of characters ''[[BreakingTheFourthWall break through]]'' the fourth wall in order to get to another universe. Yes, that means "our world" is a VoidBetweenTheWorlds.]]

* ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'': Technoblade was the first content creator to bring his stream chat into the SMP's canon; it's explained to the other characters as Techno HearingVoices. Since then, about 40% of the cast have had their stream chats canonized in some shape or form.

** In another Bugs Bunny cartoon, "WesternAnimation/HairRaisingHare", Bugs is trapped in a MadScientist's BigFancyCastle. At one point, as Bugs is behind a door and a monster is trying to break through, a desperate-sounding Bugs cries out, "IsThereADoctorInTheHouse" [[BornInTheTheater A silhouette, seemingly from the theater audience,]] stands up and offers, "I'm a doctor." Bugs suddenly relaxes, grins, holds a carrot in the air, and asks, [[CatchPhrase "Ehhh, what's up, Doc?"]]

* The ending of ''VideoGame/EarthBound''. [[spoiler:You, personally, deal the finishing blow to the final boss.]]

* Inverted in ''VideoGame/UnboundSaga'', an action game set inside a comic book. Your character is well aware that he's a comic book character, and wants to get out and oppose the comic artist who puts them in.

%% Image removed per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1316225631084744700
%% Please start a new thread if you'd like to suggest an image.

* ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'': Technoblade was the first content creator to bring his stream chat into the SMP's canon; it's explained to the other characters as Techno HearingVoices. Since then, about a third of the cast have had their stream chats canonized in some shape or form.

Sometimes related to NoFourthWall, though only in cases where the interaction ''directly'' alters the work in a physical way. For examples where the fourth wall is internal and the story affected is a ShowWithinAShow, see IntrepidFictioneer. Related to DeusExMachina, though [[{{Anvilicious}} far less subtle]]. Could be considered a SuperTrope of AuthorPowers and, occasionally, CreatorCameo. Not to be confused with RefugeeFromTVLand, AudienceParticipation, or ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve. ''Really'' not to be confused with regular examples of BreakingTheFourthWall, if a character simply talks to the viewer, it is not this trope.