History SugarWiki / SoShortItRocks

* ''WebVideo/NightmareTime'' is an {{anthology}} series made up of hour-long episodes in Creator/TeamStarkid's ''{{Franchise/Hatchetfield}}'' universe. (Think ''Series/TheTwilightZone'', but with recurring characters and all set in the same town.) One of the chief criticisms of ''Theatre/BlackFriday'' was that it tried to fit too much into a two-hour stage production, resulting in several stories going at once and introducing several interesting characters, but none getting the full attention they deserved. ''Nightmare Time's'' format allows it to focus on one storyline and a handful of characters at a time--and, judging from fan receptions, an hour is all they need.

** Jazzpunk is very short and weird with only 3 chapters, but its gameplay, humor, and art style are so unique that it definitely is this trope.

* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's [[ScrewedByTheNetwork intent]], WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}} lasted only [[BritishBrevity 13 episodes]], but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with its SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier storytelling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route, not to mention the show's long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes and wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been given more. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''Series/ThunderBirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

** ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' spends most of its length teaching the player how to think with portals, with the end section a final exam of all that has been learnt, rather than using the same techniques over and over. This together with the hilarious dialogue leaves you wanting more rather than frustrated by padding. [[VideoGame/Portal2 The sequel]] was longer by adding more mecaniques to add variety, as well as the co-op campaign, but each could still be beaten in a single sitting.

* ''WebVideo/NightmareTime'' is an {{anthology}} series made up of hour-long episodes in Creator/TeamStarkid's "Hatchetfield" universe. (Think ''Series/TheTwilightZone'', but with recurring characters and all set in the same town.) One of the chief criticisms of ''Theatre/BlackFriday'' was that it tried to fit too much into a two-hour stage production, resulting in several stories going at once and introducing several interesting characters, but none getting the full attention they deserved. ''Nightmare Time's'' format allows it to focus on one storyline and a handful of characters at a time--and, judging from fan receptions, an hour is all they need.

* ''WebVideo/NightmareTime'' is an AnthologySeries made up of hour-long episodes in Creator/TeamStarkid's "Hatchetfield" universe. One of the chief criticisms of ''Theatre/BlackFriday'' was that it tried to fit too much into a two-hour stage production, resulting in several stories going at once and introducing several interesting characters, but none getting the full attention they deserved. ''Nightmare Time's'' format allows it to focus on one storyline and a handful of characters at a time--and, judging from fan receptions, an hour is all they need.

Where a work is exactly as long as it needs to be and no longer. Rather than Padding out to a watered down length, the creators deliberately deliver a condensed experience that is awesome all the way through and is good because of its short length, not just in spite of it. Similar to BritishBrevity, but without the link to British TV season lengths. Lots of works created by smaller teams, like [[IndieGame Indie Games]], follow this as it's easier to create a short experience with a small team.

** VideoGame/StarFox64 can be beaten in a couple of hours, but as a result is constantly action-packed and can be replayed to discover alternate paths.

** VideoGame/{{Limbo}} and its spiritual successor VideoGame/{{INSIDE}} both pitch their puzzles such that they're satisfying to solve, but unlikely to result in you getting hung up on a section. Together with the constant changes of scenery and oppressive atmosphere results in a tight rollercoaster of an experience.
** VideoGame/BrothersATaleOfTwoSons hit on just about every possible variation of the "single-player co-op" mechanic the game was built around, and the short length heightened the emotional impact of the journey of the characters.
** VideoGame/{{Portal}} spends most of its length teaching the player how to think with portals, with the end section a final exam of all that has been learnt, rather than using the same techniques over and over. This together with the hilarious dialogue leaves you wanting more rather than frustrated by padding. [[VideoGame/Portal2 The sequel]] was longer by adding more mecaniques to add variety, as well as the co-op campaign, but each could still be beaten in a single sitting.

* ''WebOriginal/{{Vine}}s'' enforces this as videos are limited to six seconds, long enough to post video clips of awesome flukes and goofballs getting pwned.

Where a work is exactly as long as it needs to be and no longer. Rather than Padding out to a watered down length, the creators deliberately deliver a condensed experience that is awesome all the way through, and is good because of its short length, not just in spite of it. Similar to BritishBrevity, but without the link to British TV season lengths. Lots of works created by smaller teams, like [[IndieGame Indie Games]], follow this as it's easier to create a short experience with a small team.

** VideoGame/StarFox64 can be beaten in a couple of hours, but as a result is constantly action packed and can be replayed to discover alternate paths.

** VideoGame/BrothersATaleOfTwoSons hit on just about every possible variation of the "single player co-op" mechanic the game was built around, and the short length heightened the emotional impact of the journey of the characters.

** Jazzpunk is very short and weird with only 3 chapters, but its gameplay, humor and artstyle are so unique that it definitely is this trope.

* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' contains an in-universe example in the episode "Animaniacs!" Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig were forced to judge the student films, and they end up giving ''The Plucky Duck Story'' high praise solely because it was short (all it consists was just Baby Plucky crying over his deflated first intertube as the words "TheEnd" fade in over the scene -- no title card or credits). Ironically, Pluckly's film was supposed to be at least a more normal length, but he was forced to edit it down due to Shirley's film, which was shown before his, being absurdly long.
* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's [[ScrewedByTheNetwork intent]], WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}} lasted only [[BritishBrevity 13 episodes]], but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with its SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier story telling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route, not to mention the show's long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes and wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been given more. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''Series/ThunderBirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's [[ScrewedByTheNetwork intent]], WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}} lasted only [[BritishBrevity 13 episodes]], but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with its VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier story telling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route, not to mention the show's long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes and wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been given more. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''Series/ThunderBirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

** VideoGame/{{Portal}} spends most of it's length teaching the player how to think with portals, with the end section a final exam of all that has been learnt, rather than using the same techniques over and over. This together with the hilarious dialogue leaves you wanting more rather than frustrated by padding. [[VideoGame/Portal2 The sequel]] was longer by adding more mecaniques to add variety, as well as the co-op campaign, but each could still be beaten in a single sitting.

* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's [[ScrewedByTheNetwork intent]], WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}} lasted only [[BritishBrevity 13 episodes]], but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with it's VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier story telling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimaton/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route not to mention the shows long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been allowed to be given more episodes and like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''Series/ThunderBirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

[[AC:{{Podcast}}]]

[[AC:Puzzles]]

[[AC:VideoGame]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

Inversion of ItsShortSoItSucks and {{aversion}} of {{Padding}}

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'' (not to be confused with [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars another work]]) episode run times average less then 6 minutes, leaving little room for anything that's not badass action.

'''WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck:''' It's short!

-->-- ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventuers'', "[[Recap/TinyToonAdventuresS1E36Animaniacs Animaniacs!]]"

* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's [[ScrewedByTheNetwork intent]], [[WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}}]] lasted only [[BritishBrevity 13 episodes]], but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with it's VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier story telling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimaton/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route not to mention the shows long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been allowed to be given more episodes and like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''Series/ThunderBirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's [[ScrewedByTheNetwork intent]], [[WesternAnimation/TUGS]] lasted only [[BritishBrevity 13 episodes]], but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with it's VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier story telling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimaton/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route not to mention the shows long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been allowed to be given more episodes and like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''Series/Thunderbirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's intent, ''WesternAnimation/TUGS'' lasted only BritishBrevity13 episodes, but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with it's VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier story telling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimaton/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route not to mention the shows long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been allowed to be given more episodes and like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''WesternAnimation/Thunderbirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

* Though this wasn't the creator David Mitton's intent, ''WesternAnimation/TUGS'' lasted only BritishBrevity13 episodes, but many of its fans say that was all that it needed with it's VisualEffectsOfAwesome and DarkerAndEdgier story telling compared to its sister series ''WesternAnimaton/ThomasTheTankEngine'' which rarely went a darker route not to mention the shows long term SeasonalRot made many fans of TUGS wonder if the series might have gone downhill had it been allowed to be given more episodes and like the fact that it only lasted 13 episodes. Not to mention the fact that the director worked on ''Series/Thunderbirds'' means lots of Explosions and destruction as well.

* Discussed trope in episode 193 of Podcast/OnTheRocks, which was also the TropeNamer and inspiration for creating the trope.

* ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall's'' 10 episodes left it the perfect length to showcase its development without dragging out.

* PuzzleGame: By their nature, puzzle games or games with heavy usage of puzzle elements for their gameplay lean towards this trope, as once you've solved a particular puzzle type, having the player repeat the same solution multiple times would be complete padding

* ''[[WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall Over The Garden Wall's]]'' 10 episodes left it the perfect length to showcase its development without dragging out.

Examples:

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'' (not to be confused with [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars another work]]) episode run times average less then 6 minutes, leaving little room for anything that's not badass action.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall Over The Garden Wall's]]'' 10 episodes left it the perfect length to showcase its development without dragging out.

Inversion of ItsShortSoItSucks and {{aversion}} of Main/{{Padding}}

( [[Main/IThoughtItMeant Categorically]] ''not'' a SpearCounterpart to PetitePride. It's not that kind of trope...)

Where a work is exactly as long as it needs to be and no longer. Rather than Padding out to a watered down length, the creators deliberately deliver a condensed experience that is awesome all the way through, and is good because of its short length, not just in spite of it. Similar to BritishBrevity, but without the link to British TV season lengths. Lots of works created by smaller teams, like [[Main/IndieGame Indie Games]], follow this as it's easier to create a short experience with a small team.

Obviously a YMMV, an [[Main/AudienceReactions Audience Reaction Trope]] and GushingAboutShowsYouLike. Not only is good or bad subjective, so is long and short, and what is considered long is dependent on the medium, and if the work is great because of its short length or in spite of it. A good rule of thumb for length is a work like a game, book or TV show that can be completed in a single sitting or a movie under an hour long. For content, a work with no padding and a central concept or mechanic such that it would have needed padding to make it longer.

Particularly video games, but applicable to other media as well, where a work is exactly as long as it needs to be and no longer. Rather than Padding out to a watered down length, the creators deliberately deliver a condensed experience that is awesome all the way through, and is good because of its short length, not just in spite of it. Similar to BritishBrevity, but without the link to British TV season lengths. Lots of [[Main/IndieGame Indie Games]] pull this as its easier to create a short experience with a small team.

(Is it possible to change the namespace this is listed under to SugarWiki, that would be appropriate for the trope.)

* Discussed trope in episode 193 of Podcast/OnTheRocks, which was also the TropeNamer.