History Main / NotSoForgottenBirthday

-->'''Red''': [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Well, Kitty, marking the calendar is your responsibility!]]

* On ''[[WesternAnimation/TotalDramaIsland Total Drama World Tour]],'' [[CoolLoser Cody]] is so used to people forgetting his birthday that ''he'' forgets it... but [[LoonyFan Sierra]] doesn't. ''[[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Awwwww]].''

* Inverted in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland'': Daphne apparently spent so much time getting ready for her talk show, she didn't realize her birthday had arrived until the other Mystery Inc. members showed up and surprised her.

%% * ''TheBiskitts'' did this one to the letter.

%% * ''DragonTales'': Done with Ord's birthday in the first-season story "Ord's Unhappy Birthday"

* In one episode each of ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'' and the children's program ''TodaysSpecial'', a character (VideoGame/MegaMan and Scott the living mannequin, respectively) feels left out because they are not truly alive and therefore cannot have a birthday. Special surprises are prepared for each; in the Mega Man example, it means a chance to become a living being.

* An episode of ''Series/MakoMermaids'' involves Evie thinking Zac forgot her birthday while he avoids her to plan a surprise party. However, it's only Zac; everyone else involved with the party decides that it would be more suspicious ''not'' to at least acknowledge her birthday, and Mimmi even attempts a distraction by giving Evie her birthday present early.

* In an episode of ''TheNewAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh'', Pooh (sticky with honey) accidentally pulls several pages off Rabbit's calendar, leading Rabbit to mistakenly believe it's his birthday and misinterpret his friends' activities as preparations for a surprise party. Angst ensues when he concludes they've forgotten, but fortunately there's a party on his actual birthday the next week.

* ''Anime/{{Mai-HiME}}'' episode 10. Made somewhat more surprising for the audience (and thus less {{Anvilicious}}) by not revealing what exactly Mai is upset about until the very end.

* In one episode for Series/KabouterPlop called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OKCx_vkhMw "Plops Verjaardagstaart"]]. Plop gets excited for his birthday since he sees a huge birthday cake in his home and decided to wait hours until his friends arrive. He later starts crying knowing they forgotten his birthday until he hears the cake raising revealing all of his friends hiding inside the cake.

In one episode for Series/KabouterPlop called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OKCx_vkhMw "Plops Verjaardagstaart"]]. Plop gets excited for his birthday since he sees a huge birthday cake in his home and decided to wait hours until his friends arrive. He later starts crying knowing they forgotten his birthday until he hears the cake raising revealing all of his friends hiding inside the cake.

These sorts of plots are fueled by PoorCommunicationKills because they could be resolved by one of two simple actions. Main Character: "Hey, it's my birthday!" or Supporting Character: "Happy Birthday, [character]!" then saying they hadn't heard anything about a party yet. However, [[IdiotPlot then there wouldn't be much episode to be had]].

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': Inverted in the episode ''The Birthday Bag''. Miss Brooks forgets ''her own'' birthday, while everybody else remembers and throws her a surprise party.

What can make these especially infuriating for the viewer is that the entire situation could be defused by a simple: Main Character: "Hey, it's my birthday!" or Supporting Character: "Happy Birthday, [character]!" then saying they hadn't heard anything about a party yet. However, [[IdiotPlot then there wouldn't be much episode to be had]].

A famous desperation plot for Sitcom Writers. A major character is sure everybody's forgotten his or her birthday (or perhaps a similar occasion) and wanders around in an angry funk until surprise! They not only remembered it, they threw a SurpriseParty!

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
** [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS3E1StarkRavingDad "Stark Raving Dad"]] takes place on Lisa's birthday and nobody remembers it. Bart is the only one Lisa complains about.
** In [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS18E6MoeNaLisa "Moe'N'a Lisa"]] Homer forgets he made plans to take Moe fishing on his birthday. Moe is devastated until Lisa, who sees a rich artistic side to Moe, decides to write about him for school.
** Another episode briefly makes use of this trope.
--->'''Homer:''' I can't believe I'm being mocked ... by my own family ... on my ''birthday''!\\
'''Bart:''' It's your birthday?\\
'''Homer:''' Yeah, don't you remember? It's the same day as the dog's.\\
'''Lisa:''' ''[gasps]'' Oh, Santa's Little Helper! It's your birthday?! We have to do something special! Yes we do!\\
'''Homer:''' ''[muttering]'' Lousy loveable dog.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' had an episode called "1600 Candles" in which Roger anticipates his 1600th birthday, only to have it preempted by Steve's shenanigans. Of course it has the obligatory ''Sixteen Candles'' scene.
** Of course, [[ItsAllAboutMe as usual]], Roger was being a complete JerkAss about it, effectively telling Stan and Francine that they should give up on Steve completely just so they can throw him exactly the kind of party he wants.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': After being freaked out and then downright terrified by [[TheDragon Shego's]] [[EmotionBomb moodulator-induced]] mood swings from giddiness to weeping to fury, Drakken works up the nerve to ask "Did I forget your birthday? Is that what this is about?"

* Inverted in ''ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland'': Daphne apparently spent so much time getting ready for her talk show, she didn't realize her birthday had arrived until the other Mystery Inc. members showed up and surprised her.
* On the ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' episode "Hank's Dirty Laundry," Bobby assumes his parents are buying him a birthday present while shopping for a dryer. (His birthday is a month away.) He later, on a different day, assumes his birthday party is that day. (It isn't.) He bemoans to Luanne that he "can't believe my parents forgot my birthday." Luanne says that "they've still got a whole month to remember." Hank and Peggy's new dryer is then delivered and Bobby believes it his birthday present and ''loves'' it.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' had a Christmas episode spent convincing everyone to remember all the good things about Christmas, like gift giving and being with family. The credits had a cut to Jesus, sitting all alone, sadly singing "Happy birthday to me..."
* Happened to both WesternAnimation/YogiBear and Ranger Smith at different times.

* ''APupNamedScoobyDoo'': In one episode, the gang questioned a suspect about a letter and he said it was an apology letter to his mother and he was asked if it was for forgetting her birthday. It wasn't.
* Completely subverted in ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' with Ginger's closest friend, Macie Lightfoot, whose 13th birthday really is forgotten by her incredibly absent-minded parents. Although they are truly upset that they forgot such an important event, they then proceed to give her a birthday that caters more to small children than to their daughter's appropriate age (even giving her a swing set which she was years beyond). Despite this, Macie still thinks it's wonderful gift because she's just happy that they acknowledged her birthday.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Peter and Lois didn't so much forget Meg's birthday as completely forgot what age she was turning when it was coming up. At one point, when they talked to her, they tried using hints so they could learn her upcoming age without telling her outright. Unfortunately Meg was already aware of the whole thing, as is expected of the series ButtMonkey.
** Though they did forget the birthday as well. When Meg mentions wanting a party, they spend some time wondering what she wants a party ''for.'' They even consider that she's getting married, but cautiously dismiss it because they don't remember her bringing any guys around. Chris has to tell them it's her birthday.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' pilot, this is taken UpToEleven when it is revealed that Bob routinely forgets not only his wife's birthday, but '''his own'''.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/SquirrelBoy'' has Rodney forgetting Andy's birthday. When Mr. Johnson tries to remind him of it, Rodney laughs it off saying that "[[WhatAnIdiot Andy's birthday was 12 months ago]]".

* In ''Film/SixteenCandles'', the main character's birthday is forgotten by everyone due to the furor caused by her sister's impending (and last minute) wedding. [[spoiler: Except for her younger brother. He deliberately ignored her birthday because he's a jerk.]]
* In ''Bollywood/JaaneTuYaJaaneNa'', Aditi's birthday is missed by her best guy friend for a date with Mehgan— she doesn't take it well.
* In ''Film/TheDeepBlueSea'', Rachel Weisz' character ''attempts suicide'' after [[Creator/TomHiddleston her beau]] forgets hers.

* A plot of many ''LittleGoldenBooks''.
* There was a ''{{Garfield}}'' kids' book where Garfield ''thought'' everyone forgot his birthday, but what actually happened was that ''Garfield himself'' forgot which day his birthday was on and misremembered it being one day earlier than it really was; the party happened on the correct day.

* Subverted in ''PatriciasSecret'' by Ruth Dagget Leinhauser. Patricia thinks her father has forgotten her birthday since he doesn't mention it. [[spoiler: She didn't have a calendar. It was actually the following day.]]
* In one of the ''Literature/GossipGirl'' books, Eleanor Waldorf unwittingly schedules her wedding for Blair's birthday.
* In one chapter of ''Literature/WinnieThePooh'', Pooh noticed that Eeyore seemed very depressed (more so than usual), only to find out no one took notice of his birthday.

* In ''{{Animorphs}},'' Tobias (who is {{Shapeshifter Mode Lock}}ed as a hawk except for two-hour intervals) learns that he is supposed to meet with a lawyer to receive a letter from his biological father on his "next birthday." He is a bit embarrassed to admit that, like other aspects of his human life, he can't quite remember when it is.

* ''TheSecretLifeOfTheAmericanTeenager'': Everyone forgets Amy's sixteenth birthday while she's in New York. In the next episode, her mom (played by Creator/MollyRingwald) is horrified when she finds out they forgot Amy's birthday and [[ActorAllusion laments]], "[[ShoutOut Everyone forgot my sixteenth birthday]] [[Film/SixteenCandles and it stayed with me forever!]]" Amy is mildly irritated, but she quickly gets over it.

* ''Series/HannahMontana'': In this case, Miley and Jackson actually ''did'' forget their father's birthday.

* ''WandaAtLarge'': Subverted in this short-lived sitcom. The titular character doesn't want anyone celebrating her birthday. She sees the lights in her apartment go off (it's just her friends) and she calls the cops. When the cops break in, and one friend mutters "Happy birthday," her only response is to look at the cops and say "Well? Shoot!"
* Subverted by ''Series/SavedByTheBell'': they actually do forget Screech's birthday, and they spend the episode making it up to him.

** Hal does this to Lois, his programmed watch didn't go off.

* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren''
** In one episode, the family decides to make tomorrow [[CousinOliver Seven's]] birthday since nothing is happening on that day. Turns out it is actually Al's birthday.
** In another episode, they forget Kelly's birthday until they're reminded by learning of her plans to watch a movie with her date for the occasion. Al then devises a plan to have an excuse to always forget: They'd invite Kelly to watch a movie with them, she'd refuse in favor of her date, and the Bundys would use this as an excuse to forget her birthday every year after that. The plan backfires because Kelly decides to cancel the date instead. Al and Peggy's only relief was that Bud didn't have friends to remind them of ''his'' birthday.

* During the beginning events of ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'', both Yuusuke and his police partner Ichijo wind up forgetting their own birthdays in their fight against the Grongi, both birthdays happening in different episodes. This isn't to highlight just how tragic things are, but rather show that they have a lot in common.

* ''{{Garfield}}'' once spent his entire birthday walking around corners faking a surprise, expecting Jon and Odie waiting for him with a birthday cake, only to find nothing there. Depressed, thinking that everyone forgot, he decides to go to bed. That's when Jon and Odie spring the surprise.

[[folder:Webcomic]]
* ''Webcomic/FarOutThere'' ran a page in which [[http://faroutthere.smackjeeves.com/comics/1436631/happy-late-birthday-to-us/ Jenna's birthday is forgotten]] after the author realized he had forgotten the COMIC'S birthday.
[[/folder]]

* In ''WebAnimation/BravestWarriors'' Danny built a Robo-Chris to make Chris jealous because he forgot Danny's birthday.

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|1987}}'', this happens to Michaelangelo.

* ''TheBiskitts'' did this one to the letter.

* ''DragonTales'': Done with Ord's birthday in the first-season story "Ord's Unhappy Birthday"

* ''TheFlumps'': Happens in an episode of this UK pre-school stop-motion series. Unusually, we're shown it from the point of view of the rest of the family, trying desperately to conceal the truth from Grandpa Flumph. The educational purpose of the episode seemed to be explaining synonyms for "keeping a secret".

* ''WesternAnimation/GodTheDevilAndBob'': God forgets the Devil's birthday (and has apparently done this a lot), prompting the Devil to leave and take Evil with him. Bob ends up playing therapist to the two of them.
-->'''The Devil''': I'm supposed to believe that he forgot my birthday? He's omniscient!

* Inverted in episode 7 in the first season of ''Anime/{{Beyblade}}'', (well, in the dub version at least) Tyson is so excited about his match with Kai, he forgets about his own 13th birthday.

* In one episode of ''Anime/SailorMoon S'' it's Usagi's birthday and when she drops an unsubtle hint about what she wants for a gift, Mamoru reveals that he didn't know it was her birthday so he gets a huge slap in the face from her. Turns out she never actually told him when her birthday was. Even worse, she doesn't know his birthday either.
** PlayedForDrama and used to facilitate [[spoiler: Chibiusa/Rini's]] FaceHeelTurn. She is shown a memory of everyone seemingly forgetting her birthday and uses that loneliness and depression to transform into Black Lady. Sailor Moon tries to use her magic to reveal the second part of the memory, that everyone really did remember it, as an IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight. [[spoiler: She's convinced it's just a lie and it doesn't work]].

* Subverted in ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'', when Tsukune's birthday was coming up, and he wanted to ask [[LoveInterest Moka]] to spend the day with him. At the same time, he was disappointed that she didn't seem to remember it herself. After some misunderstandings and a close call with the MonsterOfTheWeek, he woke up in the hospital on his birthday, for Moka to reveal that she hadn't forgotten and to give him his present... and a LoveConfession!
* Inverted in ''RurouniKenshin'' anime. Kenshin believed he had forgotten Kaoru's birthday when she was actually expecting him to propose during a holiday that served for the purpose.

** Daisy Duck once forgot her own birthday.
* [[http://www.comics.org/issue/221951/ This issue of Betty and Me]] used the plot.
* A [[SpinoffBabies Little]] ''ArchieComics'' story presented a subversion of this. Veronica tells Archie that she thinks her dad has forgotten it's her birthday - and he has, because he's busy making plans for next week's Founder's Day celebration. Fortunately for him, Archie thinks he's planning a surprise party for Veronica and rounds up everyone to take part in it.
** In one regular story, Reggie Mantle's birthday is coming up. He overhears the gang wondering what to do for 'the most important man in town' and the egotistical Reggie assumes they're talking about him. Reggie nudges the gang into arranging a banquet at a fancy club...and it turns out that the gang was talking about an old war veteran who was born in Riverdale. And Reggie's the only one there who isn't in his golden years.
* This happens in the ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' issue "Forty".

* In one ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' fanfic, everyone forgets Hermione's birthday because it happens to coincide with TalkLikeAPirateDay.

* ''Manga/KeroroGunsou'': Keroro does this to Natsumi in one episode, while Fuyuki insists that Natsumi wouldn't enjoy it. Much to his chagrin, he finds his sister not only has a good time at the party, but completely fell for the ForgottenBirthday ploy.

* WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko. The premise: About three days after it happened, Yumi gives Ulrich the cold shoulder. Odd tells Ulrich this too late. Ulrich tries to make up with Yumi on Lyoko, failing, but the ending helps remedy this. Ulrich gives Yumi a gift. [[spoiler: The gift ends up being Kiwi's, though.]]
* An episode of ''{{Archer}}'' has the [[ManChild titular character (a super-spy)]] get offended when his coworkers seemingly forget about his birthday. The sub-plot only lasts about 5 minutes, though, as its quickly revealed that they ''did'' remember and his boss/mother got him a CoolCar as a gift.