History Main / MeaningfulGift

* ''[[VideoGame/ChoiceOfGames Choice of the Vampire]]'': {{Downplayed|Trope}} as it's an educated guess, but when {{romanc|eSidequest}}ing the voodoo priestess Clotho, you can decide that a goat would be a more practical gift than jewellery or flowers. She seems pleasantly surprised.

* ''Series/{{Castle}}'': In one episode, everyone is discussing what they'd do if they won the lottery, except for Beckett. Castle eventually figures out what it is she'd do with the money; establish a scholarship for lawyers who intended to help underprivileged clients, just like her mother. So, with Beckett's permission, Castle establishes the Johanna Beckett Scholarship Fund.

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* ''Manga/EvenIfItWasJustOnceIRegretIt'': Chiyo is out shopping and finds a set of earrings patterned after constellations. Knowing of Ritsuka's love of astronomy, she buys them for her, even choosing clip-on type since she noticed Ritsuka's ears aren't pierced. After talking it over with a friend, Chiyo decides to give them to her as a Christmas present. When she receives them, Ritsuka is clearly moved and asks Chiyo to put them on for her.

-->-- '''Maj. Charles Emmerson Winchester III''' upon being given a childhood memento, ''Series/{{MASH}}'', "Dear Sis"

* ''Film/AChristmasStory'': Ralphie spent the entire movie desperate for just one gift -- a ''Red Ryder'' B.B. Gun. When Christmas comes, he gets a couple of things that he likes, not the gun, which he reluctantly accepts when sitting with his parents. Then his dad points to one final present hidden behind the desk; the B.B. Gun, because he had one when he was a kid. Both of them light up with childlike joy when he's opening the box, and what makes this even more special is that his dad is the only one he ''didn't'' talk about the gun to.

** Penny gives Sheldon a cloth napkin from The Cheesecake Factory. It was signed by Creator/LeonardNimoy, one of Sheldon's most beloved actors. Penny apologizes that it's a little dirty, as Leonard had wiped his mouth with it. Sheldon is even more ecstatic.
** Amy's birthday falls on the same day as the opening of ''Film/StarWarsTheForceAwakens'', but with some prompting, Sheldon is encouraged to spend the day with her. When discussing possible gift ideas for her, Sheldon decides, to the shock of Penny, whom he discusses the idea with, that he will do the one thing that Amy has been hoping for since her relationship with Sheldon began, [[spoiler: deciding to initiate a sexual relationship with her.]]

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Can overlap with ItWasAGift, ApologyGift, and TragicKeepsake. Compare with YourFavorite. Contrast with MyNewGiftIsLame, and GiftGivingGaffe. Examples of GiftOfTheMagiPlot that are played straight belong on that page due to the super/sub-trope relationship. See also PrizedPossessionGiveAway, where the gifted item has just as much meaning, or more, to the giver as the recipient.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

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-->-- '''Maj. Carles Emmerson Winchester III''' upon being given a childhood memento, ''Series/{{MASH}}'', "Dear Sis"

There are many occasions and reasons why someone might give someone else a gift. Maybe it's their birthday, or a holiday like Christmas. Maybe it's a romantic gesture. It might even be something to show someone that they're appreciated, particularly when they're feeling low.

Gifts can be hit or miss. Some people might just decide to give a gift card, deciding it's best to let the person decide for themselves what they want. But not this situation. The person who gives the Meaningful Gift put thought and effort into it, and the gift reflects just how well they know the person receiving it. No one will consider regifting in this situation, unless it's to pass down the gift to one's offspring, years down the road.

* ''Manga/EvenIfItWasJustOnceIRegretIt'': Chiyo is out shopping and finds a set of earrings patterned after constellations. Knowing of Ritsuka's love of astronomy, she buys them for her, even choosing clip-on type since she noticed Ritsuka's ears aren't pierced. After talking it over with a friend, Chiyo decides to give them to her as a Christmas present. When she receives them, Ritsuka is clearly moved, and asks Chiyo to put them on for her.

* ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199''. Episode 17:''Out of the Forest of Memory''; Sanada gives Susumu Kodai a book of poetry written by Chuya Nakahara that had been given to Sanada earlier by Mamoru Kodai, Susumu's late older brother. Susumu had never known before of his brother's love of poetry, and the book is a momento of him.

* ''Film/AChristmasStory'': Ralphie spent the entire movie desperate for just one gift -- a ''Red Ryder'' B.B. Gun. When Christmas comes, he gets a couple of things that he likes, but but not the gun, which he reluctantly accepts when sitting with his parents. Then his dad points to one final present hidden behind the desk; the B.B. Gun, because he had one when he was a kid. Both of them light up with childlike joy when he's opening the box, and what makes this even more special is that his dad is the only one he ''didn't'' talk about the gun to.

* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'': At the end of "[[Recap/FrasierS03E09FrasierGrinch Frasier Grinch]]", Frasier and his dad go ahead and open each other's presents on Christmas Eve, with Frasier already feeling down about not getting his son the correct present (an Outlaw Laser Robo Geek). Frasier opens his gift, and begins to tear up... because his dad bought him an Outlaw Laser Robo Geek, knowing he'd need it.
* In the ''Series/{{Friends}}'' episode "[[Recap/FriendsS4E6TheOneWithTheDirtyGirl The One With The Dirty Girl]]", Chandler has a crush on Joey's girlfriend Kathy. Chandler knows that her favorite book is ''Literature/TheVelveteenRabbit'', so he goes to extreme lengths to get her a first edition. However, Ross points out it will seem weird if Chandler gives the book when her boyfriend Joey will go ConvenienceStoreGiftShopping. In the end Chandler gives the book in Joey's name, but Kathy knows who really sent it. Mainly because Joey thought it was called ''The Velveeta Rabbit''.

* ''Series/{{MASH}}'': In "[[Recap/MashS7E14DearSis Dear Sis]]", Radar, on the advice of Father Mulchahy, contacts Maj. Winchester's parents, explaining that the Major was not adjusting well to his environment, and asking to send him something that would make him feel better. Winchester is delighted and amazed to see his old tobogan cap, which brings back memories of his childhood. So moved is Winchester, he gives Mulchahy a large donation for the orphanage he looks after, telling him, "Buy the orphans whatever they need." He then adds even more money, saying, "Buy them what they don't need."

* ''Series/SchittsCreek'': In [[Recap/SchittsCreekS313GradNight "Grad Night"]], David's business partner Patrick offers to take him out for a birthday dinner. Insisting it is NotADate, David invites Stevie along. When Patrick goes to the restroom, Stevie notices he has brought a gift for David, and says if the present is anything sentimental then she is ''definitely'' crashing a date. The gift is the framed receipt from David and Patrick's first sale. David is touched, and [[ThirdWheel Stevie quickly excuses herself.]]

* ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Sikowitz. He makes his class do a SecretSanta and tells everyone that they must give a meaningful gift. Tori is assigned Andre and she spends much of the episode thinking of something meaningful for him. Towards the end of the episode, she's approached by Jade who reveals that she's Tori secret Santa. Her gift to Tori is an [[EncouragedRegifting idea for a gift to Andre]]: They perform a song he wrote in front of his teacher to boost a bad grade that he'd been moping around all episode.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS17E9SimpsonsChristmasStories Simpsons Christmas Stories]]", Homer has forgotten to buy Marge a Christmas present, and is afraid to go home without one. However, Marge isn't upset. She gives Homer his gift: a pre-wrapped present for him to give ''to'' her, since she knows he always forgets. Thus, Homer does have a present after all. Marge unwraps it and it's a nice Christmas photo of the two of them.

* ''[[Series/TheOfficeUS The Office (US)]]'': In "[[Recap/TheOfficeUSS2E10ChristmasParty Christmas Party]]", Jim has Pam as his recipient for Secret Santa. He buys her a teapot that she wants and fills it with mementos representing their inside jokes, as well as a note (presumably declaring his love for her). Things go horribly awry when Michael abruptly changes Secret Santa into Yankee Swap and everyone's presents are switched. Pam winds up with her teapot in the end, but Jim [[AbortedDeclarationOfLove removes the note at the last minute.]]

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