History Trivia / NapoleonDynamite

* ExecutiveMeddling: The entire reason the series exists. It was created solely as filler for when ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' was in its off-season. Understandably, the ratings weren't good enough for a second season.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The entire reason the series exists. It was created solely as filler for when ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' was in its off-season. Not surprisingly, the ratings weren't good enough to justify a second season.

** Jon Heder's not looking at the camera during the Rex Kwan Do sequence because he was dying of laughter at Kip and Rex's "sparring".

* {{Corpsing}}: When Pedro's cousins scare off the attempted bike thief, the thief's would-be victim is clearly laughing his ass off.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/JackBlack almost played Rex.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Uncle Rico's time machine is a commercially available device called the Hyper Dimensional Resonator. However, unlike as shown in the film, the T-handle is pressed against your sternum, and not between your legs.

** Jared Hess would work with Jack Black though later in Film/NachoLibre.

** Even stuff like the Napoleon's liger obsession make sense within the context of the Hess's life experiences. The body of "Shasta the Liger" which lived at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah in the 1960's-70's, is on display at BYU where Jared and Jerusha went to school. Its possible that somehow Napoleon heard about the liger body on display in Utah, but having never seen it in person; extrapolated his fantasy version of the liger from the stories he had heard.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film immediately dates itself at the start by setting the year as 2004-2005, but the film's aesthetic more resembles the 1980s, with only one song from the 2000s at the end. When asked what time period the film takes place in, Jared Hess replied "Idaho." Most assumed that this was a case of TeasingCreator, but it was his way of explaining just how behind the times the state is. Many who visited Idaho after the film came out were quick to note how little the creators exaggerated its distance from the pulse of the rest of society.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Creator/{{Fox}} pretty much had no fate in the show, as they frequently put the show in time slots where it was usually preempted by football games, which quickly resulted in low ratings and the series was cancelled by the network after just six episodes.

* NoBudget: It only took $400,000 to produce and nearly half of that was spent for the post-credits scene.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The entire reason the series exists. It was created solely as filler for when ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' was in its off-season. Not surprisingly, the ratings weren't good enough to justify a second season.

* WriteWhatYouKnow: Jared and Jerusha Hess are from a small Mormon community in Idaho, and Pedro was based on Jared's friend.
** Many of the events are also from the directors' own life, such as the cow shooting scene, the "Happy Hands" club, the brothers slapping each other, the "I like your sleeves" line...

* AllThereInTheManual: According to the commentary, the woman riding her bike to Uncle Rico's van at the end is supposed to be his ex (the credits identify her only as "Woman on Bike"), and their break-up is the biggest reason why he seems so unhinged.

* NoBudget: It only took $400,000 to produce ''Napoleon Dynamite'' and nearly half of that was spent for the post-credits scene.

* [[AllThereInTheManual All There In The Commentary]]: The woman riding her bike to Uncle Rico's van at the end is supposed to be his ex (the credits identify her only as "Woman on Bike"), and their break-up is the biggest reason why he seems so unhinged.

* ThrowItIn: Napoleon's dancing was entirely improvised by Heder... to three different songs. It was cut together from 10 minutes of dancing footage, and they weren't even done shooting since the film ran out in the process.
** Also, the scene where Kip is giving the demonstration with the van and the dinnerware. Originally, he was to roll over it, and the plastic would deform but reshape itself, to which Kip was to say, "Pretty cool." However, the plastic was unable to comply due to the laws of physics, and that's what made it into the film. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments It actually ends up being funnier.]]
** Even earlier in the film, when we first meet Kip he's sitting at the computer mumbling a love poem, the words to which weren't in the script - they were said on the spot by actor Aaron Ruell. Seems Ruell is pretty good at filling in the blanks as an actor...
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Subverted, in a way. The film immediately dates itself at the start by setting the year as 2004-2005, but the film's aesthetic more resembles the 80s, with only one song from the 2000s at the end. When asked what time period the film takes place in, Jared Hess replied "Idaho." Most assumed that this was a case of TeasingCreator, but it was his way of explaining just how behind the times the state is. Many who visited Idaho after the film came out were quick to note how little the creators exaggerated its distance from the pulse of the rest of society.

* RoleReprisal: Practically the entire cast of the movie voices their respective roles in the show, [[TheOtherDarrin except for]] Trevor Snarr, who originally played Don, and Carmen Brady, who played Starla. Both are instead voiced by producer Jared Hess. Yes, that means [[CrossDressingVoices he plays a woman in the show]].

** Many of the events are also from the directors' own life, such as the cow shooting scene, the "Happy Hands" club, the "I like your sleeves" line...

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: ''Bus Man'' in Japan, though it was later reverted to the original English name, after controversy over that name being a wordplay based on the title of ''[[Franchise/TrainMan Densha Otoko]]'' (Train Man).