History Main / KungFoley

'''This Trope is specifically about the hyper-exaggerated applications of foley in action sequences [[note]]{{Fight Scene}}s, {{Training Montage}}s, {{Lock And Load Montage}}s, {{Chase Scene}}s and spoofs thereof.[[/note]] For more applications of this art, and examples of non-action uses, see TheCoconutEffect, the supertrope to KungFoley.'''

KungFoley is the hyper-exaggerated sound effects that go along with almost any ''really serious'' actions. From high risk martial arts to [[MundaneMadeAwesome zipping your fly]], it's all fair game. It's moved from Kung Fu trope to cliché to high {{Camp}} to {{Satire}} to acceptance as a mainstream trope. This is odd as it represents a backwards evolutionary trajectory. According to Series/MythBusters, a normal punch is almost silent and a Hollywood punch is created by a combination of sounds like breaking walnuts.

Martial Arts equivalent of NoisyGuns.

This trope is even more common in animation (especially WesternAnimation), wherein the concept holds that every action must have an accompanying sound effect, even actions that normally don't or that have a minimal sound. In this regard, KungFoley becomes a supertrope of:

* AudibleSharpness
* SqueakyEyes
* WhiningLight
* KnuckleCracking (though more TruthInTelevision than the others)

See also MickeyMousing. A subtrope of the RuleOfPerception.

Named for a comment from the ''{{MST3K}}'' version of ''WarriorOfTheLostWorld''. Foley artists being the people responsible for making sound effects to be put in after shooting, because flapping an umbrella and crinkling cellophane [[RealityIsUnrealistic sounds more like a fire than a real fire does]].

A foley is a sound effect recorded with a microphone, usually in a studio, and often involves using props to make sounds, hence the whooshes and cracks.

''(In light of the trope's ubiquity in animation, it's probably better to list common methods of implementation rather than show-specific examples)''
* That slight swooshing sound when someone's eyes dart back and forth.
** And that little "plink plink" that denotes blinking. See SqueakyEyes.
* Anything that holds immense power will usually hum or ring. See WhiningLight.
* The "''sling!''" of sunlight glinting off a metallic surface (especially a sharp edge). See AudibleSharpness.
** The metal-on-metal sound of a sword being unsheathed. [[RealityIsUnrealistic Swords do not make that sound]]. If they do, you've got a horrible sheathe (they ''should'' have softer interiors specifically to prevent metal-on-metal). If you hear that metal-on-metal sound when you draw your sword, it's ''bad'' because it means you're ''dulling your sword''.
* A cracking bullwhip whenever a character snaps his/her head around or makes some other sudden jerky motion.
* The rolling bongos that go along with a WheelOFeet.
* The slide whistle, a universal indicator that something is falling (up or down).
** If it's something big, substitute the sound of a dive-bombing Stuka airplane. More whimsically, it can be ''literally'' used to show that a CuteMute is depressed, embarrassed, or confused.

* Old people will creak and squeak with every movement, like an unoiled hinge or a loose floorboard.
* Lit fuses will always emit a menacing hissssssss.
* The inevitable 'ting!' sound of [[AudibleGleam light glinting]] off the hero's (or cheesy villain's) gleaming, white teeth. This particular example is used with humorous intent in the occasional sugar-free gum or dental product commercial.

* Someone sneaking around will be accompanied by strings: pizzicato for tip-toeing, slides for strides (think ''ThePinkPanther'' theme). See MickeyMousing.
* Anything with a ponderous pace (elephant, bear, fat dude, [[StarWars Jabba the Hutt]]) will be accompanied by tuba. The tuba's sound will also be used to literally [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Get Crap Past The Radar]] when it's meant to simulate a character farting.
* The little 'fwip' sound of a ninja or similar character jumping improbably high or simply vanishing without a trace.
* The high-pitched sound of a coiled spring ("boing-boing") whenever someone is jumping or an object is bouncing. If the person/object is large enough, substitute a kettle drum.
* The "poof" sound that accompanies anybody (from spies to ninjas) throwing a smoke bomb to escape.
* Then there's the ''[[MostAnnoyingSound really]]'' [[MostAnnoyingSound annoying]] "WAAAH-HAAH-HAAH-HAAH-HAAH!" sound of someone crying in a cartoon, often with WaterWorks or OcularGushers. In reality, these loud cries are made only by babies, and only because they haven't yet learned to talk. But even though actual crying is usually much quieter, [[TheCoconutEffect cartoon characters]] ''[[TheCoconutEffect have]]'' [[TheCoconutEffect to cry like this]] because if their crying were more true-to-life, the scene would look like it was being PlayedForDrama, and thus not be funny. (Oddly, sometimes this sound effect will be consciously used to undercut the pathos of a serious or semi-serious scene, with the result being intentional {{Narm}}. In ''TheLionKing'', for example, Timon and Pumbaa cry this way after they reason that, now that Simba has a girlfriend, he won't be hanging out with them anymore.)

* Parodied in the ad for the Samsung Epic 4G called [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtdCvSQUDhY "Epic Sound Effects"]].

* Then there's the ''[[MostAnnoyingSound really]]'' [[MostAnnoyingSound annoying]] "WAAAH-HAAH-HAAH-HAAH-HAAH!" sound of someone crying in a cartoon, often with WaterWorks or OcularGushers. In reality, these loud cries are made only by babies, and only because they haven't yet learned to talk. But even though actual crying is usually much quieter, [[TheCoconutEffect cartoon characters]] ''[[TheCoconutEffect have]]'' [[TheCoconutEffect to cry like this]] because if their crying were more true-to-life, the scene would look like it was being PlayedForDrama, and thus not be funny.

* A cymbal crash or orchestra hit whenever someone gets struck hard with something.

** If it's something big, substitute the sound of a dive-bombing Stuka airplane.

* Anything with a ponderous pace (elephant, bear, fat dude, [[StarWars Jabba the Hutt]]) will be accompanied by tuba.

* Parodied in Music/WeirdAlYankovic's video ''Fat'' (itself a parody of Michael Jackson's video ''Bad''). Al suddenly realizes he is causing sound effects with every slightest move, first regular swishes and cracks, then ratcheting and glass breaking.
** And further parodied when after one hand movement causes a loud snapping noise, he pulls it back to show the mousetrap that's closed on it.
* Used straight in the opening sequence of ''HotFuzz''. Other sequences go less on it, but the camera makes an audible ''whoosh'' as it whip-pans. And it whip-pans ''a lot''.
** Pay close attention, because the foley guys were actually quite clever; there's times when they threw in sounds that work so perfectly that even though they're glaringly out of place, you don't even notice they're there (like when the doctor gets shot in the foot; as he goes down, you can hear the sound of a tree falling). Yeah, I know it's a contradiction. Work with me here.
*** Or when the [[spoiler: Chef Inspector]] roars when the chandelier in the pub falls, he has a lion's roar!
** Perhaps the most obvious is when Timothy Dalton [[SpikingTheCamera looks right at the camera]], with a cash register sound added in just to draw attention to it.
* While not ''martial arts'' the foley sounds of {{Eye Poke}}s and {{Dope Slap}}s in ''Film/TheThreeStooges'' is masterful foley work.
** Arguably, the foley is the only reason why the Three Stooges shorts work. Otherwise it's just a bunch of guys hitting each other--at least with the sounds it becomes exaggerated and comical. It also made it so they wouldn't have to actually hit each other very hard.

** "Synchronize Swatches!" '''[WOOSH]'''

-->'''[[RiffTrax Mike Nelson]]''': Sound effects courtesy of WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry.
** For that matter, the Adam West series was even more ridiculous. MickeyMousing was used heavily, while the (in)famous written sound effects(Pow! Biff! Wham!) popped up on the screen.

* ''PowerRangers'' / ''SuperSentai'', ''KamenRider'', and most other tokusatsus are guilty of this. Back then they would save the sound effects for when someone puches someone else, making the fights a bit closer to reality. Lately though there have been more whooshes in the fights, so not really anymore.
* ''HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' and ''XenaWarriorPrincess'' both made heavy use of this trope, with nearly every punch, throw, and glance accentuated with sound effects. no surprise since executive producer Creator/SamRaimi is generally fond of this trope, which also shows up in his ''Franchise/EvilDead'' movies.

* Averted in {{Fight Club}} where the fights have disturbingly real sound effects.

* The live action films ''{{Guyver}}'' and ''Guyver: Dark Hero'' are full of bizarre sound effects. The first one decides that the Zoanoids should sound like elephants and/or lions while the second one decides that every movement of the titular Guyver must sound like scraping metal.

KungFoley is the hyper-exaggerated sound effects that go along with almost any ''really serious'' actions. From high risk martial arts to [[MundaneMadeAwesome zipping your fly]], it's all fair game. It's moved from Kung Fu trope to cliché to high {{Camp}} to {{Satire}} to acceptance as a mainstream trope. This is odd as it represents a backwards evolutionary trajectory. According to MythBusters, a normal punch is almost silent and a Hollywood punch is created by a combination of sounds like breaking walnuts.

* ElChavoDelOcho and Chespirito has pretty original elements; among them, everytime a character punches another character you can hear a boxing bell...

So you've dedicated years of your life to mastering some obscure martial art with the intention of avenging your family's murder at the hands of [[BigBad an evil man]] [[FluffyTheTerrible named]] [[KungPow Betty]]. Only you'll never sneak up on him because your slightest movement causes horribly loud '''swoosh'''es and '''crack'''s.

* ''HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' and ''XenaWarriorPrincess'' both made heavy use of this trope, with nearly every punch, throw, and glance accentuated with sound effects. no surprise since executive producer SamRaimi is generally fond of this trope, which also shows up in his ''Franchise/EvilDead'' movies.

** When Ash builds his mechanical hand in ArmyOfDarkness his ''engineering prowess'' is demonstrated through the use of KungFoley.

* ''HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' and ''XenaWarriorPrincess'' both made heavy use of this trope, with nearly every punch, throw, and glance accentuated with sound effects. no surprise since executive producer SamRaimi is generally fond of this trope, which also shows up in his EvilDead movies.

-->-- ''TelevisionWithoutPity'' recap of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', "Born Under a Bad Sign"

See also MickeyMousing.

* While not ''martial arts'' the foley sounds of EyePokes and DopeSlaps in TheThreeStooges is masterful foley work.
** Arguably, the foley is the only reason why the Three Stooges shorts work. Otherwise it's just a bunch of guys hitting each other--at least with the sounds it becomes exaggerated and comical.

* Anything with a ponderous pace (elephant, bear, fat dude) will be accompanied by Tuba.

KungFoley is the hyper-exaggerated sound effects that go along with almost any ''really serious'' actions. From high risk martial arts to [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome zipping your fly]], it's all fair game. It's moved from Kung Fu trope to cliché to high {{Camp}} to {{Satire}} to acceptance as a mainstream trope. This is odd as it represents a backwards evolutionary trajectory. According to MythBusters, a normal punch is almost silent and a hollywood punch is created by a combination of sounds like breaking walnuts.

* It's impressive to watch the foley for ''APrairieHomeCompanion'' in action; he's able to simulate, among other things, a helicopter hovering over a house being torn apart by an earthquake while pterodactyls close in.

* Parodied in WeirdAlYankovic's video ''Fat'' (itself a parody of Michael Jackson's video ''Bad''). Al suddenly realizes he is causing sound effects with every slightest move, first regular swishes and cracks, then ratcheting and glass breaking.

* Foley is parodied in the ''[[Series/TheGoodies Goodies]]'' episode ''Kung Fu Kapers'', when Tim and Bill are fighting -- Tim tries to hit Bill, finds it produces a honking noise, then just touches him for a while to explore the sounds that ensue, which include alarm clocks and party horns. Bill laughs and plays a few notes on himself by tapping his head and knees. Tim pushes Bill's stomach and produces a loud honk. They both laugh...and then Tim clobbers Bill over the head accompanied by a huge, rock-smashing sound effect.

* Anything with a ponderous pace (elephant, bear, fat dude) will be accompanied by Tuba.