History WesternAnimation / TheKarateKid

* AnAesop: One or more of the characters learn a lesson quite regularly.

While its decent animation pleased fans of the [[Film/TheKarateKid film the series is based on]], Creator/{{NBC}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwed]] the series and canceled it after only thirteen episodes due to low ratings. Fortunately, Sony has made the entire series available on iTunes and has been streamed on Creator/{{Netflix}}, Creator/{{Hulu}}, Crackle, and Tubi.

In the 1989 series, Miyagi (Creator/RobertIto) and Daniel (Creator/JoeyDedio) continue their adventures when a magic shrine is stolen from a Japanese temple. Along for the ride is Taki (Creator/JaniceKawaye), a temple girl. It follows them from place to place as they hunt the shrine and help the natives.

In the 1989 series, Miyagi and Daniel continue their adventures when a magic shrine is stolen from a Japanese temple. Along for the ride is Taki, a temple girl. It follows them from place to place as they hunt the shrine and help the natives.

* OncePerEpisode: Daniel doing some stuns and failing, while Miyagi doing the same thing and succeed.

* BerserkButton: In "Return of the Shrine", Taki's aunt hates it when her hair is messed up.

* CatchAFallingStar: in "Homecoming", Miyagi grabs Taki after she falls trying to get the shrine.

* DramaticDrop: Kina when Daniel and Taki come suddenly into her hut. It's more significant than most examples because she drops the remaining water from the fountain of youth.
* ExpositoryThemeTune: Or sequence. The opening sequence shows how Daniel and Miyagi got involved and why Taki is with them.
* {{Expy}}: Taki is an expy of Kumiko.
* {{Failure is the Only Option}}: Every episode ends with Daniel about to recover the shrine when a freak stroke of bad luck causes it to slip from his grasp and end up being transported to another random location (for instance, in one episode it was tied to some balloons and floated away.) One episode has them actually obtain the shrine and return it to Okinawa. By the end of the episode, it's lost again. The darn thing really doesn't want to stay in one place.

* FeudingFamilies: In "Return of the Shrine", the Ishakis and the Takimuras are fighting over a past grievance and the shrine.
* FountainOfYouth: In "Over the Rainbow" the trio stumble on a hidden community with one fueled by the shrine.

* IncredibleShrinkingMan: In, "A Little World of His Own", Walter uses the shrine to shrink Daniel, Miyagi, and Taki.
* IShallTauntYou: in the first episode, the protagonist Kala calls his jailer "breath of the baboon" so he'll come back and Kala can steal his spear.

* NeverSmileAtACrocodile: in "My Brother's Keeper", both Miyagi and the BigBad encounter threatening crocodiles.
* NoMacGuffinNoWinner: In "Return of the Shrine", the Ishakis and Takimuras spend the whole episode fighting over the shrine, only for it to be lost again at the end. They realize the error of their ways and stop their feud.
* NonchalantDodge: Daniel just leans back and to the side to avoid a bully's punches in "Homecoming" and "A Little World of His Own".
* NotSoPhonyPsychic: A case where even the psychic himself is surprised: in one episode a fake psychic begins to get flashes of real psychic abilities. The episode opens up with his partner off stage reading off information from a married couple's wallet, but the husband doesn't fall for it and demands information not in the wallet (the names of their children). The psychic tries to talk his way out of it, but then to his own shock say correctly, "Scott and Melissa!"
* NotWhatItLooksLike: In "Return of the Shrine", Taki promises to save all her dances for Yoshi. Yoshi's aunt (who disapproves of the relationship) sends one of the family to force Taki into "dancing" with him. When Yoshi comes back, Taki tries to tell him this.

* PercussiveMaintenance: in "Homecoming", Miyagi kicks Papa Tony's truck as the last resort to fixing it.

* SlipperyMacGuffin: Good luck on anyone holding onto the Shrine for long, this includes the heroes. With the regularity this happens, you almost wonder if the Shrine itself has a part in it.

* StarCrossedLovers: Taki and Yoshi in "Return of the Shrine." They're in love, but their families' feud over the shrine and a past grievance threatens the relationship.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: in "My Brother's Keeper", the BigBad transforms himself into a jaguar.

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: In general, nearly anyone who gets their hands on the Shrine becomes corrupt by the easy power it offers, with varying levels of their reason going bye-bye.
* WouldHitAGirl: [[{{Jerkass}} Brick]] in "Homecoming" backhands his girlfriend Tina when she tries to keep him from going after the shrine.

* YouCantFightFate: This seems to be the {{Aesop}} being set up in "The Tomorrow Man." Daniel sees a set of prophecies in a magician's crystal ball, culminating in Mr. Miyagi getting hit by a truck as he attempts to get the shrine. Despite his efforts the first two prophecies come to pass. Miyagi is unruffled, claiming that getting the shrine is more important. Then the third prophecy starts playing out. Daniel hesitates, afraid he'll cause the prophecy to occur by trying to prevent it. However, after a brief pep talk from Miyagi, he jumps into the cab and stop the truck just in time. The Aesop of the episode is therefore not "you can't fight fate" but "you make your own fate."

* {{Failure is the Only Option}}: Every episode ends with Daniel about to recover the shrine when a freak stroke of bad luck causes it to slip from his grasp and end up being transported to another random location (for instance, in one episode it was tied to some balloons and floated away.)
** One episode has them actually obtain the shrine and return it to Okinawa. By the end of the episode, it's lost again. The darn thing really doesn't want to stay in one place.

* FriendOrIdolDecision: Anytime they got near the shrine, they would inevitably have to give it up to save somebody. Its nature meant that it would inevitably be gone by the time they got back to it.

While its decent animation pleased fans of the [[Film/TheKarateKid film the series is based on]], Creator/{{NBC}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwed]] the series and canceled it after only thirteen episodes due to low ratings. Fortunately, Sony has made the entire series available on iTunes and has been streamed on Creator/{{Netflix}}, Creator/{{Hulu}} and Crackle.

* NotSoPhonyPsychic: A case where even the psychic himself is surprised: in one episode a fake psychic begins to get flashes of real psychic abilities. The episode opens up with his partner off stage reading off information from a married couple's wallet, but the husband doesn't fall for it and demands information not in the wallet(the names of their children). The psychic tries to talk his way out of it, but then to his own shock say correctly, "Lisa, and Clarence!"

* AnAesop: One or more of the characters learn a lesson quite regularly.

* YouCantFightFate: This seems to be the {{Aesop}} being set up in "The Tomorrow Man." Daniel sees a set of prophecies in a magician's crystal ball, culminating in Mr. Miyagi getting hit by a truck as he attempts to get the shrine. Despite his efforts the first two prophecies come to pass. Miyagi is unruffled, claiming that getting the shrine is more important. Then the third prophecy starts playing out. Daniel hesitates, afraid he'll cause the prophecy to occur by trying to prevent it. However, after a brief pep talk from Miyagi, he jumps into the cab and stop the truck just in time. The Aesop of the episode is therefore not "you can't fight fate" but "you make your own fate."

In the 1989 series, Miyagi and Daniel continue their adventures when a shrine is stolen from a Chinese temple. Along for the ride is Taki, a temple girl. It follows them from place to place as they hunt the shrine and help the natives.

* FeudingFamilies: in "Return of the Shrine", the Ishakis and the Takimuras are fighting over a past grievance and the shrine.

* FriendOrIdolDecision: Anytime they got near the shrine they would inevitably have to give it up to save somebody. Its nature meant that it would inevitably be gone by the time they got back to it.
* ImplausibleBoardingSkills: in the opening sequence, Daniel surfboards using a ''torpedo.''

-->'''[[{{Jerk}} B.J.]]''': You and what army?

* WouldHitAGirl: [[{{Jerk}} Brick]] in "Homecoming" backhands his girlfriend Tina when she tries to keep him from going after the shrine.

* NotSoPhonyPsychic: A case where even the psychic himself is surprised: in one episode a fake psychic begins to get flashes of real psychic abilities. The episode opens up with his partner off stage reading off information from a married couple wallets, but the husband doesn't fall for it and demands information not in the wallet(the names of their children). The psychic tries to talk his way out of it, but then to his own shock say correctly, "Lisa, and Clarence!"

* IncredibleShrinkingMan: Daniel, Miyagi, and Taki in "A Little World of His Own."

* SelfFulfillingProphecy: the first two in "The Tomorrow Man", courtesy of Daniel.
* StandardFemaleGrabArea: a man grabs Taki by the wrist during "The Tomorrow Man", forcing Miyagi to throw something to rescue her.

* YouAndWhatArmy: in "A Little World of His Own."

* YouCantFightFate: This seems to be the {{Aesop}} being set up in "The Tomorrow Man" but at the end it switches to "You make your own fate."

* AnAesop: Quite regularly.
* BerserkButton: In "Return of the Shrine", Taki's aunt has two -- messing up her hair and messing with her relatives.
* CallBack:
** In the theme song, Miyagi incapacitates an opponent and honks his nose.
** In "A Little World of His Own", Daniel tells a lonely boy that he knows what being the friendless new kid is like.

* FakeUltimateHero [=/=] [[PhonyVeteran Phony Spy]]: Daniel's Uncle Jack in "The Paper Hero." He confesses that he made up the impressive exploits he told Daniel as a kid and apologizes for putting him in danger by taking him along on a raid. By the end, he's resolved to rack up some real accomplishments.

* StarCrossedLovers: Taki and Yoshi in "Return of the Shrine."

* YouCantFightFate: this seems to be the {{Aesop}} being set up in "The Tomorrow Man" but at the end it switches to "You make your own fate."

* WhosLaughingNow: Walter in "A Little World of His Own."