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* In ''Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas'', Scooter puts on an old home movie of the very first Christmas the Muppets spent together [[WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984 when they were babies]]. The film reel opens with such a countdown displaying the numbers 4, 3, and 2.
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Crosswicking
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* ''WebAnimation/FlipnoteWarrior'': When the animation goes into narration, it starts with an old-fashioned grainy countdown.
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* ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow'': In "The Yard Sale", when Patrick's grandfather projects a vision of his flashback, it starts with an old-timey grayscale countdown.
to:
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow'': ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow'':
** In"The "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS1E4TheYardSale The Yard Sale", Sale]]", when Patrick's grandfather projects a vision of his flashback, it starts with an old-timey grayscale countdown.countdown.
** "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS2E6TheCommodeEpisodeTyingTheKlopKnot Tying the Klop-Knot]]" opens with a countdown to Cecil and Bunny's wedding video: 3, 2, then a sausage (a staple of the ForeignQueasine of Klopnod, Bunny's home country).
** In
** "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS2E6TheCommodeEpisodeTyingTheKlopKnot Tying the Klop-Knot]]" opens with a countdown to Cecil and Bunny's wedding video: 3, 2, then a sausage (a staple of the ForeignQueasine of Klopnod, Bunny's home country).
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[[folder:Theme Parks]]
* In the queue for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]]'s "Meet Mickey" attraction, there is a movie screen that plays [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pa_7Uge0lM trailers for Mickey's cartoons]], with a countdown header appearing before each one. At one point, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck gets stuck in the projector and is kicked around by the clock hand.
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[[folder:Theme Parks]]
* In the queue for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]]'s "Meet Mickey" attraction, there is a movie screen that plays [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pa_7Uge0lM trailers for Mickey's cartoons]], with a countdown header appearing before each one. At one point, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck gets stuck in the projector and is kicked around by the clock hand.
[[/folder]]
* In the queue for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]]'s "Meet Mickey" attraction, there is a movie screen that plays [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pa_7Uge0lM trailers for Mickey's cartoons]], with a countdown header appearing before each one. At one point, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck gets stuck in the projector and is kicked around by the clock hand.
[[/folder]]
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[[folder:Software - Non-Video Game]]
* Since version 5.0 in 1998, the Adobe Premiere nonlinear video editing software has had a feature enabling editors to create a "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELCO3ELXnJ8 universal counting leader]]", fashioned off the 1960s SMPTE Universal Leader (and labeled as the "Adobe Universal Leader") and with the options to change the colors and when the leader should beep. When the software was rebranded as Adobe Premiere Pro in 2003, this feature remained, still in newer versions to this day, and is often used when preparing video projects for broadcast or for digital cinema projectors. (Earlier versions of Adobe Premiere Elements, the scaled-down consumer version of Premiere, also included this feature.)
* Since version 5.0 in 1998, the Adobe Premiere nonlinear video editing software has had a feature enabling editors to create a "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELCO3ELXnJ8 universal counting leader]]", fashioned off the 1960s SMPTE Universal Leader (and labeled as the "Adobe Universal Leader") and with the options to change the colors and when the leader should beep. When the software was rebranded as Adobe Premiere Pro in 2003, this feature remained, still in newer versions to this day, and is often used when preparing video projects for broadcast or for digital cinema projectors. (Earlier versions of Adobe Premiere Elements, the scaled-down consumer version of Premiere, also included this feature.)
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* In ''Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas'', Scooter puts on an old home movie of the very first Christmas the Muppets spent together [[WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984 when they were babies]]. The film reel opens with such a countdown displaying the numbers 4, 3, and 2.
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[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
* In ''Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas'', Scooter puts on an old home movie of the very first Christmas the Muppets spent together [[WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984 when they were babies]]. The film reel opens with such a countdown displaying the numbers 4, 3, and 2.
[[/folder]]
* In ''Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas'', Scooter puts on an old home movie of the very first Christmas the Muppets spent together [[WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984 when they were babies]]. The film reel opens with such a countdown displaying the numbers 4, 3, and 2.
[[/folder]]
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* ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam'':
** The opening wraparound to "I Just Don't Get It" has Henry presenting his and June's audition tapes [[AnimatedActors for hosting the series]]. Henry's tape opens with such a countdown showing the numbers 2 and 1, complete with movie projector StockSoundEffect (despite already being mentioned it's a videotape). Strangely, while June's audition tape opens with the projector sound effect, there isn't any countdown at the start.
** In the ''Stewy the Dog Boy'' short, a stereotypical boring [[EducationalShort educational classroom film]] the homeroom teacher shows Stewy's class on the first day of school opens with [[MediumBlending an actual universal countdown leader]] displaying the numbers 4, 3, and 2.
** The opening wraparound to "I Just Don't Get It" has Henry presenting his and June's audition tapes [[AnimatedActors for hosting the series]]. Henry's tape opens with such a countdown showing the numbers 2 and 1, complete with movie projector StockSoundEffect (despite already being mentioned it's a videotape). Strangely, while June's audition tape opens with the projector sound effect, there isn't any countdown at the start.
** In the ''Stewy the Dog Boy'' short, a stereotypical boring [[EducationalShort educational classroom film]] the homeroom teacher shows Stewy's class on the first day of school opens with [[MediumBlending an actual universal countdown leader]] displaying the numbers 4, 3, and 2.
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A black number on a grey board going down every second, often when a full circle happens, and usually won't actually reach the end. When it appears, chances are it's a reference to old cinematic projections and is meant to make an intro or something else more classic.
to:
A black number on a grey board going down every second, often when a full circle happens, and usually won't actually reach the end. When it appears, chances are it's a reference to old cinematic projections and is meant to make an intro or something else more classic.
classic. More often than not, a StockSoundEffect of an old movie projector may accompany the countdown.
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* ''VideoGame/PoliceQuestIVOpenSeason'': When Carey is offered to watch a movie in the Third Eye Theater, the film screen shows 5 and 4 (and potentially even a 3, depending on game speed) before the screen goes black and it starts.
to:
* ''VideoGame/PoliceQuestIVOpenSeason'': When ''VideoGame/PoliceQuest'': In ''Open Season'', when Carey is offered to watch a movie in the Third Eye Theater, the film screen shows 5 and 4 (and potentially even a 3, depending on game speed) before the screen goes black and it starts.
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my edit has already been checked and corrrected for grammar in the Get Help With English thread
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': In ''WesternAnimation/AbraCatastrophe'', Barry Cowlick Jr. puts Timmy in a cinema chair and turns on a projector to show what people wish for during his musical number. Before the projection starts, there is a black-and-white countdown from 3 to 1.
to:
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'':
** In ''WesternAnimation/AbraCatastrophe'', During his musical number, Barry Cowlick Jr. puts Timmy in a cinema chair and turns on a projector to show what people wishfor during his musical number.for. Before the projection starts, there is a black-and-white countdown from 3 to 1.
** A similar countdown leader also kicks off Timmy's [[AmateurFilmMakingPlot low-budget attempt at an action movie]] in "Movie Magic".
** "This Is Your Wish!"
*** Wanda presents a home movie (to convince the titular talk show's audience that Cosmo can be a hero) which begins with a black-and-white countdown leader.
*** Timmy's montage video of Cosmo being a great fairy godparent opens with a black-and-white countdown leader.
** In ''WesternAnimation/AbraCatastrophe'', During his musical number, Barry Cowlick Jr. puts Timmy in a cinema chair and turns on a projector to show what people wish
** A similar countdown leader also kicks off Timmy's [[AmateurFilmMakingPlot low-budget attempt at an action movie]] in "Movie Magic".
** "This Is Your Wish!"
*** Wanda presents a home movie (to convince the titular talk show's audience that Cosmo can be a hero) which begins with a black-and-white countdown leader.
*** Timmy's montage video of Cosmo being a great fairy godparent opens with a black-and-white countdown leader.
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': In "Stimpy's Cartoon Show," the animated short Stimpy presents to Wilbur Cobb opens with such a countdown, using footage of an actual universal countdown leader with a purple tint and a [[WackySoundEffect "pop" sound effect]] accompanying the number 2 (instead of the standard beep). In the original airing of this episode, the full countdown from 8 to 2 is shown, but in the ReCut version seen in subsequent reruns and video/streaming releases, the countdown is shortened from 5 to 2.
* ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'': In many cases when a film reel is being shown (and [[TwoDecadesBehind it's fairly often]]), the film usually opens with such a countdown leader. In most cases, the countdown is animated in the same style as the rest of the show, but the ''Wacky Delly'' pilot opens with StockFootage of a real universal countdown leader.
* ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'': In many cases when a film reel is being shown (and [[TwoDecadesBehind it's fairly often]]), the film usually opens with such a countdown leader. In most cases, the countdown is animated in the same style as the rest of the show, but the ''Wacky Delly'' pilot opens with StockFootage of a real universal countdown leader.
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** In "Bart the Murderer", when the kids of Springfield Elementary School take a field trip to the Ah Fudge! chocolate factory, they view an educational film about the history of chocolate hosted by Troy [=McClure=]. When the countdown leader begins with "PICTURE START" and 4 (in a long shot of the auditorium), it's animated in the show's usual style, but for 3 and 2 (in a close up shot of the screen), [[ArtShift footage of a real universal countdown leader]] is used.
** In "Duffless", Chief Wiggum shows traffic school students arrested for driving under the influence a ScareEmStraight film about the dangers of drunk driving. After accidentally putting on a home movie of Wiggum and his wife in their backyard, the correct film reel opens with such a countdown of 3 and 2.
** In "Duffless", Chief Wiggum shows traffic school students arrested for driving under the influence a ScareEmStraight film about the dangers of drunk driving. After accidentally putting on a home movie of Wiggum and his wife in their backyard, the correct film reel opens with such a countdown of 3 and 2.
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Added some examples.
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* ''VideoGame/DisneysActivityCenter'': Each tapestry in ''Groove Center'' starts with a 3-second circular monochrome countdown, though its aesthetics resemble the movie as well as old cinema.
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewSchool'': The post-episode credits of "[[Recap/TheEmperorsNewSchoolS1E1RabbitFace Rabbit Face]]" have a grey-blue circular countdown that goes from 8 to 3.
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Consistency.
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[[folder: Web Video]]
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* ''VideoGame/{{Populous}} II: Trials of the Olympian Gods'' shows the opening cinematic in an ancient movie theater of sorts. Fittingly, there's a monochrome counntdown from 5 to 2.
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* ''Film/{{Report}}'' is an impressionistic short film that is a StockFootage montage of clips of assassination of John F. Kennedy. At the halfway point there is a clip of alternating black and white film leader counting down. The flickering film leader suggests the fading consciousness of a dying man.
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* ''WesternAnimation/KickMe'': This cartoon is a DerangedAnimation abstract short about a pair of disembodied legs running around an abstract landscape. In one scene the legs run right into some old-timey film leader that is counting down. The legs keep getting knocked around by the hand of the film leader clock as it sweeps around in a circle.
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The technical term for this is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_leader universal film leader]], a length of film attached to the beginning of a reel. The countdown assists the projectionist in setting the reel to the start of the program before turning on the projector. It is also meant to help synch the video with the audio since they used to come on two different reels, with a beep meant for every time the number is subtracted.
to:
The technical term for this is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_leader universal film leader]], leader,]] a length of film attached to the beginning of a reel. The countdown assists the projectionist in setting the reel to the start of the program before turning on the projector. It is also meant to help synch the video with the audio since they used to come on two different reels, with a beep meant for every time the number is subtracted.
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Info and link fix for IMAX and Madoka Magica (IMAX uses a more regular version being linked now).
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* One of the Creator/{{IMAX}} ads [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HbQ7vCvDY starts with such a countdown]] and some words meant before a projector is on before switching to proper quality at 8.
to:
* One of the Creator/{{IMAX}} ads theaters play [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HbQ7vCvDY starts with com/watch?v=rQOA-24VWvI such a countdown]] and some words meant before movies. Words are shown as if a projector is powered on before switching to proper quality at the number 8.
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* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': The show itself begins with a variation of this using runic symbols. This countdown also appears in the penultimate episode, before Homura's climactic battle with Walpurgisnacht.
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* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': The show itself begins with a variation of this using runic symbols. This countdown also appears in the penultimate episode, before Homura's climactic battle with Walpurgisnacht. A specialized runic countdown is used for ''Eternal'', the second CompilationMovie.
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* ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow'': In "The Yard Sale", when Patrick's grandfather projects a vision of his flashback, it starts with an old-timey grayscale countdown.
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* ''VideoGame/GarfieldCaughtInTheAct'': Each level starts with one of these countdowns going from 3 to 1.
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* ''VideoGame/GarfieldCaughtInTheAct'': Each level starts with one of these countdowns going from 3 to 1.1 against a background of static.
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* ''VideoGame/GarfieldCaughtInTheAct'': Each level starts with one of these countdowns going from 3 to 1.
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[[folder:Web Original]]
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* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'': [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Steven Spielberg's]] pre-battle intro has one of these in the background.
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[[folder: Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'': [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Steven Spielberg's]] pre-battle intro has one of these in the background.
[[/folder]]
* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'': [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Steven Spielberg's]] pre-battle intro has one of these in the background.
[[/folder]]
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Added the ERB example
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[[folder: Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'': [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Steven Spielberg's]] pre-battle intro has one of these in the background.
[[/folder]]
* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'': [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Steven Spielberg's]] pre-battle intro has one of these in the background.
[[/folder]]
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[[AC:{{Advertising}}]]
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[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]
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[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
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[[AC:{{Film}}s - Animation]]
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[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
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[[AC:{{Film}}s - Live-Action]]
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[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
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[[AC:Theme Parks]]
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[[folder:Theme Parks]]
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[[AC:Video Games]]
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[[folder:Video Games]]
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[[AC:WebAnimation]]
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[[folder:Web Animation]]
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[[folder:Web Original]]
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[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
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[[folder:Western Animation]]
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* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': [[Recap/GravityFallsPilot The pilot]] starts with "HEAD", "SOUND START", "PICTURE START", and a monochrome countdown from 8 to 3 (and 2 very shortly) before the show actually starts.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': In "One Flu Over the Loud House", the flashback that [[InfectionScene explains how Lynn and the twins got the flu]] is preceded by an old film reel countdown.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': In "One Flu Over the Loud House", the flashback that [[InfectionScene explains how Lynn and the twins got the flu]] is preceded by an old film reel countdown.
to:
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': [[Recap/GravityFallsPilot The pilot]] starts of ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' opens with "HEAD", "SOUND START", "PICTURE START", and a monochrome countdown from 8 to 3 (and 2 very shortly) before the show actually starts.
*''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': In the ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' episode "One Flu Over the Loud House", the flashback that [[InfectionScene explains how Lynn and the twins got the flu]] is preceded by an old film reel countdown.
*
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** In "Beyond Blunderdome" as they're about to watch the new improved version of Mel Gibson's remake of ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' Homer announces "here comes two!" as the 2 is about to show up.
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** In "Beyond Blunderdome" as they're the Simpson family about to watch the new improved version of Mel Gibson's remake of ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' Homer announces "here comes two!" as the 2 is about to show up.
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[[/folder]]
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That was a mistake on my part.
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* ''VideoGame/AmazonGuardiansOfEden'': To help replicate the feel of a 1950s access serial, the game begins with "PICTURE START" and goes from 5 to 3.
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* ''VideoGame/AmazonGuardiansOfEden'': To help replicate the feel of a 1950s access serial, the game begins with "PICTURE START" and goes from 5 to 3.
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Removed TLP Note.
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TLP Note: Administrivia/RollingUpdates. 24 wicks possible before launching at least.
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Indexes: CountingTropes, GrayTropes, FilmTropes
Indexes: CountingTropes, GrayTropes, FilmTropes
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Created from YKTTW
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TLP Note: Administrivia/RollingUpdates. 24 wicks possible before launching at least.
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[[quoteright:190:[[VideoGame/AmazonGuardiansOfEden https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/amazonfilmcountdown.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:190:That's as low as it goes.]]
A black number on a grey board going down every second, often when a full circle happens, and usually won't actually reach the end. When it appears, chances are it's a reference to old cinematic projections and is meant to make an intro or something else more classic.
The technical term for this is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_leader universal film leader]], a length of film attached to the beginning of a reel. The countdown assists the projectionist in setting the reel to the start of the program before turning on the projector. It is also meant to help synch the video with the audio since they used to come on two different reels, with a beep meant for every time the number is subtracted.
Compare MeltingFilmEffect.
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!!Examples:
[[AC:{{Advertising}}]]
* An old Creator/DisneyChannel [[StationIdent bumper]] starts off like a normal "clock" countdown, but WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse pauses it, removes the circle, and replaces it with three circles that form the part of the DC logo shaped like his head.
* One of the Creator/{{IMAX}} ads [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HbQ7vCvDY starts with such a countdown]] and some words meant before a projector is on before switching to proper quality at 8.
[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': The show itself begins with a variation of this using runic symbols. This countdown also appears in the penultimate episode, before Homura's climactic battle with Walpurgisnacht.
[[AC:{{Film}}s - Animation]]
* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Madballs}} Madballs: Gross Jokes]]'' starts off with one, with an audience in the background of children shouting "Five! Four! Three! Two! One... Yay!"
* ''WesternAnimation/RockAndRule'': While Mok is seducing Angel privately, Omar and Stretch are being sedated by Edison Balls, which reduces them to a catatonic state. Later, the Schlepper brothers find Omar and Stretch still in the reception room, watching an old hologram of Mok's song "Triumph." The hologram ends with a cinematic counting up to six before ending completely.
[[AC:{{Film}}s - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheAdventuresOfElmoInGrouchland'' begins with an old film reel. Seeing as the film was based on an EdutainmentShow, Ernie [[FakeInteractivity has the audience count down along with the numbers]].
* ''Film/LooneyTunesBackInAction'' has "Mother" produce a [=VHS=] tape that explains the significance of the Blue Monkey Diamond. The tape begins with the cinematic countdown before actor Peter Graves, in an AffectionateParody of his Jim Phelps role, narrates the mystic power of the Blue Monkey: it has the power to transmute people into monkeys, and ''vice versa''. The comic subtext is that the US government can house an ElaborateUndergroundBase (Area 52) that still uses antiquated methods of counter-intelligence.
* ''Film/SpaceJam'': Since the Nerdlucks have no idea what basketball is, the Looney Tunes show them a newsreel from TheForties that shows how the game is played (badly) in a public gymnasium. This newsreel begins with the cinematic countdown (3, 2, blank), during which Barnyard Dog throws his box of popcorn at a standing Foghorn Leghorn. Dog grouses, "Down in front!" as the popcorn somehow levels the rooster on impact.
[[AC:Theme Parks]]
* In the queue for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]]'s "Meet Mickey" attraction, there is a movie screen that plays [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pa_7Uge0lM trailers for Mickey's cartoons]], with a countdown header appearing before each one. At one point, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck gets stuck in the projector and is kicked around by the clock hand.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/AmazonGuardiansOfEden'': To help replicate the feel of a 1950s access serial, the game begins with "PICTURE START" and goes from 5 to 3.
* ''VideoGame/{{Oscar}}'' starts its levels with a white-on-black countdown. Downplayed as it looks slightly more modern than the usual examples and goes from 5 to 1, but it still fits the levels being in a cinema.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'': The films from Pokestar Studios all have the countdown circle before playing. All of the films are homages of different genres, so the circle fits the aesthetic while still being recognizable as a cinema thing.
* ''VideoGame/PoliceQuestIVOpenSeason'': When Carey is offered to watch a movie in the Third Eye Theater, the film screen shows 5 and 4 (and potentially even a 3, depending on game speed) before the screen goes black and it starts.
* ''VideoGame/PowerStone'': The first game features this countdown at the very beginning of the intro.
* ''VideoGame/SundayNightSuicide'': The opening cutscene starts with a {{Retraux}} countdown to 2, complete with old-timey film tape artifacts, to resemble a vintage Mickey Mouse cartoon.
* ''VideoGame/TheThreeStooges'': After the Stooges see they're in a ''Film/GhostbustersII'' game, the screen cuts to a circle with a number that goes from 5 to 3 and a moving line. It's simplistic due to the NES's limitations.
[[AC:WebAnimation]]
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': When you select one of the reels in the Old-Timey toon "Kick the Can", after it finishes loading, the projector shows a circle and a number that goes from 5 to 2 before the short starts.
* ''WebAnimation/MinilifeTV'': In "Prank Week!", the highlight reel of the pranks pulled during Prank Week begins with a circled countdown, only it's in color and the beeps are replaced with someone saying "Beep sound, beep sound, beep sound, final beep".
[[AC:WebOriginal]]
* As a reference to Chaplin's films coming from old film era, WebVideo/FreshyKanal's "Mr. Bean vs. Charlie Chaplin" starts with projector and countdown beep sounds before revealing theatre seats and a projection screen where the countdown is happening.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'''s intro has a classic countdown from 4 to 2 interspersed with footage from the show and colored flashes.
* ''WesternAnimation/BeingIan'': The intro starts with a countdown from 4 to 1. After that, Ian crashes through the screen in an airplane and the rest of the intro plays out.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': In ''WesternAnimation/AbraCatastrophe'', Barry Cowlick Jr. puts Timmy in a cinema chair and turns on a projector to show what people wish for during his musical number. Before the projection starts, there is a black-and-white countdown from 3 to 1.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': [[Recap/GravityFallsPilot The pilot]] starts with "HEAD", "SOUND START", "PICTURE START", and a monochrome countdown from 8 to 3 (and 2 very shortly) before the show actually starts.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': In "One Flu Over the Loud House", the flashback that [[InfectionScene explains how Lynn and the twins got the flu]] is preceded by an old film reel countdown.
* ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack'''s intro has such a countdown show up on Donald Duck's projector before he's interrupted by his nephews.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rejected}}'' has one appear before every segment, but only the 3 appears and it flashes away as soon as it ticks down to 2.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In "Beyond Blunderdome" as they're about to watch the new improved version of Mel Gibson's remake of ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' Homer announces "here comes two!" as the 2 is about to show up.
** In "Natural Born Kissers" when watching an alternate version of ''Casablanca'' at the old folks' home, Grandpa announces "Here comes two!" as the 2 is about to show up.
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Indexes: CountingTropes, GrayTropes, FilmTropes
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[[quoteright:190:[[VideoGame/AmazonGuardiansOfEden https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/amazonfilmcountdown.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:190:That's as low as it goes.]]
A black number on a grey board going down every second, often when a full circle happens, and usually won't actually reach the end. When it appears, chances are it's a reference to old cinematic projections and is meant to make an intro or something else more classic.
The technical term for this is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_leader universal film leader]], a length of film attached to the beginning of a reel. The countdown assists the projectionist in setting the reel to the start of the program before turning on the projector. It is also meant to help synch the video with the audio since they used to come on two different reels, with a beep meant for every time the number is subtracted.
Compare MeltingFilmEffect.
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!!Examples:
[[AC:{{Advertising}}]]
* An old Creator/DisneyChannel [[StationIdent bumper]] starts off like a normal "clock" countdown, but WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse pauses it, removes the circle, and replaces it with three circles that form the part of the DC logo shaped like his head.
* One of the Creator/{{IMAX}} ads [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HbQ7vCvDY starts with such a countdown]] and some words meant before a projector is on before switching to proper quality at 8.
[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': The show itself begins with a variation of this using runic symbols. This countdown also appears in the penultimate episode, before Homura's climactic battle with Walpurgisnacht.
[[AC:{{Film}}s - Animation]]
* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Madballs}} Madballs: Gross Jokes]]'' starts off with one, with an audience in the background of children shouting "Five! Four! Three! Two! One... Yay!"
* ''WesternAnimation/RockAndRule'': While Mok is seducing Angel privately, Omar and Stretch are being sedated by Edison Balls, which reduces them to a catatonic state. Later, the Schlepper brothers find Omar and Stretch still in the reception room, watching an old hologram of Mok's song "Triumph." The hologram ends with a cinematic counting up to six before ending completely.
[[AC:{{Film}}s - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheAdventuresOfElmoInGrouchland'' begins with an old film reel. Seeing as the film was based on an EdutainmentShow, Ernie [[FakeInteractivity has the audience count down along with the numbers]].
* ''Film/LooneyTunesBackInAction'' has "Mother" produce a [=VHS=] tape that explains the significance of the Blue Monkey Diamond. The tape begins with the cinematic countdown before actor Peter Graves, in an AffectionateParody of his Jim Phelps role, narrates the mystic power of the Blue Monkey: it has the power to transmute people into monkeys, and ''vice versa''. The comic subtext is that the US government can house an ElaborateUndergroundBase (Area 52) that still uses antiquated methods of counter-intelligence.
* ''Film/SpaceJam'': Since the Nerdlucks have no idea what basketball is, the Looney Tunes show them a newsreel from TheForties that shows how the game is played (badly) in a public gymnasium. This newsreel begins with the cinematic countdown (3, 2, blank), during which Barnyard Dog throws his box of popcorn at a standing Foghorn Leghorn. Dog grouses, "Down in front!" as the popcorn somehow levels the rooster on impact.
[[AC:Theme Parks]]
* In the queue for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]]'s "Meet Mickey" attraction, there is a movie screen that plays [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pa_7Uge0lM trailers for Mickey's cartoons]], with a countdown header appearing before each one. At one point, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck gets stuck in the projector and is kicked around by the clock hand.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/AmazonGuardiansOfEden'': To help replicate the feel of a 1950s access serial, the game begins with "PICTURE START" and goes from 5 to 3.
* ''VideoGame/{{Oscar}}'' starts its levels with a white-on-black countdown. Downplayed as it looks slightly more modern than the usual examples and goes from 5 to 1, but it still fits the levels being in a cinema.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'': The films from Pokestar Studios all have the countdown circle before playing. All of the films are homages of different genres, so the circle fits the aesthetic while still being recognizable as a cinema thing.
* ''VideoGame/PoliceQuestIVOpenSeason'': When Carey is offered to watch a movie in the Third Eye Theater, the film screen shows 5 and 4 (and potentially even a 3, depending on game speed) before the screen goes black and it starts.
* ''VideoGame/PowerStone'': The first game features this countdown at the very beginning of the intro.
* ''VideoGame/SundayNightSuicide'': The opening cutscene starts with a {{Retraux}} countdown to 2, complete with old-timey film tape artifacts, to resemble a vintage Mickey Mouse cartoon.
* ''VideoGame/TheThreeStooges'': After the Stooges see they're in a ''Film/GhostbustersII'' game, the screen cuts to a circle with a number that goes from 5 to 3 and a moving line. It's simplistic due to the NES's limitations.
[[AC:WebAnimation]]
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': When you select one of the reels in the Old-Timey toon "Kick the Can", after it finishes loading, the projector shows a circle and a number that goes from 5 to 2 before the short starts.
* ''WebAnimation/MinilifeTV'': In "Prank Week!", the highlight reel of the pranks pulled during Prank Week begins with a circled countdown, only it's in color and the beeps are replaced with someone saying "Beep sound, beep sound, beep sound, final beep".
[[AC:WebOriginal]]
* As a reference to Chaplin's films coming from old film era, WebVideo/FreshyKanal's "Mr. Bean vs. Charlie Chaplin" starts with projector and countdown beep sounds before revealing theatre seats and a projection screen where the countdown is happening.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'''s intro has a classic countdown from 4 to 2 interspersed with footage from the show and colored flashes.
* ''WesternAnimation/BeingIan'': The intro starts with a countdown from 4 to 1. After that, Ian crashes through the screen in an airplane and the rest of the intro plays out.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': In ''WesternAnimation/AbraCatastrophe'', Barry Cowlick Jr. puts Timmy in a cinema chair and turns on a projector to show what people wish for during his musical number. Before the projection starts, there is a black-and-white countdown from 3 to 1.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': [[Recap/GravityFallsPilot The pilot]] starts with "HEAD", "SOUND START", "PICTURE START", and a monochrome countdown from 8 to 3 (and 2 very shortly) before the show actually starts.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': In "One Flu Over the Loud House", the flashback that [[InfectionScene explains how Lynn and the twins got the flu]] is preceded by an old film reel countdown.
* ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack'''s intro has such a countdown show up on Donald Duck's projector before he's interrupted by his nephews.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rejected}}'' has one appear before every segment, but only the 3 appears and it flashes away as soon as it ticks down to 2.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In "Beyond Blunderdome" as they're about to watch the new improved version of Mel Gibson's remake of ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' Homer announces "here comes two!" as the 2 is about to show up.
** In "Natural Born Kissers" when watching an alternate version of ''Casablanca'' at the old folks' home, Grandpa announces "Here comes two!" as the 2 is about to show up.
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Indexes: CountingTropes, GrayTropes, FilmTropes
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