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| 4 | %% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks! |
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| 9 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1482502120040165600 |
| 10 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
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| 12 | [[quoteright:299:[[Series/{{CSINY}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/csi_2bnew_2byork_2bseason5.png]]]] |
| 13 | ->''"I've given it lots of thought, and think the most fun job in the world must be coming up with the acronyms for ''[[WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor Kids Next Door]]'' episode titles."'' |
| 14 | -->-- '''{{LetsPlay/Chuggaaconroy}}''' |
| 15 | |
| 16 | A title which is solely an initialism -- uses big letters, optionally also dots. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Historically, while the practice of shortening words has been around for a long time (think "[[AncientRome SPQR]]"), it has become very common among companies since the late 19th century; thus, such titles tend to be set in the modern era, and often have a vague suggestion of some powerful organization or government involved somewhere. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | This appears to be especially popular for video games. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | If such a title has a subtitle, more often than not it will be simply an expansion of the initialism in question. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | Note that ''acronyms'' written as one normally capitalized word, such as "Scuba" or "Gestapo", do not count as example of this trope. Titles that simply ''include'' an initialism (''Literature/MrsFrisbyAndTheRatsOfNIMH'', ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'') don't fit in here either. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Often overlaps with TeamTitle or VehicleTitle. Sometimes also with FunWithAcronyms, though usually it's because the initialism in the title is already the name of something within the work itself. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | This is so common for names of companies, organizations, software and industry products that there's no point in listing them, apart from when they're repurposed as names of works. |
| 29 | ---- |
| 30 | !!Examples: |
| 31 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 32 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 33 | * ''Anime/BNABrandNewAnimal'' |
| 34 | * ''D.I.C.E.: DNA Integrated Cybernetic Enterprises'' |
| 35 | * ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' |
| 36 | * ''Anime/IGPXImmortalGrandPrix'' |
| 37 | * ''Manga/{{QED}}'' |
| 38 | * ''Anime/RODTheTV'' |
| 39 | * ''Anime/StrainStrategicArmoredInfantry'' |
| 40 | [[/folder]] |
| 41 | |
| 42 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 43 | * ''Comicbook/{{BPRD}}'' |
| 44 | * ''ComicBook/FBPTheFederalBureauOfPhysics'' |
| 45 | * ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]'' and ''[[ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA]]''. |
| 46 | * ''ComicBook/LEGIONDCComics'' and its successor, ''R.E.B.E.L.S.'' |
| 47 | * ''[[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse W.H.A.D.A.L.O.T.T.A.J.A.R.G.O.N.]]'', a story by Creator/DonRosa |
| 48 | * ''Comicbook/{{WITCH}}'', and its [[Comicbook/{{Witch}} Animated]] [[AnimatedAdaptation Adaptation]]. |
| 49 | * ''Comicbook/{{SHIELD}}'': Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. |
| 50 | ** Lampshaded in the first episode of the Series/AgentsOfSHIELD tv-series based on the agency, while discussing the full name of the agency: |
| 51 | --->'''Maria Hill:''' What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?\ |
| 52 | '''Grant Ward:''' Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.\ |
| 53 | '''Hill:''' And what does that mean to you?\ |
| 54 | '''Ward:''' It means someone ''really'' wanted our initials to spell out "shield." |
| 55 | [[/folder]] |
| 56 | |
| 57 | [[folder:Film -- Animated]] |
| 58 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}}'': Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles |
| 59 | * ''WesternAnimation/WallE'': Waste Allocation Load Lifter -- Earth-class |
| 60 | [[/folder]] |
| 61 | |
| 62 | [[folder:Film -- Live-Action]] |
| 63 | * ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'' |
| 64 | * ''A.C.O.D.'': Adult Children of Divorce |
| 65 | * ''B.A.P.S.'' Black American Princesses |
| 66 | * ''C.H.O.M.P.S.'': Canine [=HOMe=] Protection System |
| 67 | * ''Film/{{CHUD}}'': Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers[[spoiler:/Contamination Hazard Urban Disposal]] |
| 68 | * ''Film/CODA2021'': Child of Deaf Adults |
| 69 | * ''Film/{{CRAZY}}'' |
| 70 | * ''Film/CSATheConfederateStatesOfAmerica'' |
| 71 | * ''Film/{{DARYL}}'' |
| 72 | * ''Film/{{DEBS}}'' |
| 73 | * ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' |
| 74 | * ''Film/{{FIST}}'' |
| 75 | * ''Film/TheFP'', which is revealed to stand for Frazier Park, a sleepy mountain town in California. |
| 76 | * ''Film/{{GBF}}'' |
| 77 | * ''Film/{{JCVD}}'' (stars Creator/JeanClaudeVanDamme AsHimself) |
| 78 | * ''[[Film/{{K91989}} K-9]]'' |
| 79 | * ''L.I.E.'' |
| 80 | * ''Film/{{LOL}}'': Laughing Out Loud |
| 81 | * ''Film/{{MASH}}'' |
| 82 | * ''Film/MelodySWALK'' |
| 83 | * ''Film/{{MFA}}'' |
| 84 | * ''P.O.E.: Poetry of Eerie'', and its sequel ''POE (2): Project of Evil'' |
| 85 | * ''Film/{{RIPD}}'' |
| 86 | * ''Film/{{ROTOR}}'' |
| 87 | * ''R.P.M.'': Revolutions Per Minute |
| 88 | * ''Film/{{SOB}}'' |
| 89 | * ''Film/SWAT2003'' |
| 90 | * ''Film/THX1138'' |
| 91 | * ''Film/{{UHF}}'' |
| 92 | * ''Film/{{ZPG}}'': Zero Population Growth |
| 93 | [[/folder]] |
| 94 | |
| 95 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 96 | * ''Literature/{{COLD}}'' |
| 97 | * ''Literature/GodelEscherBachAnEternalGoldenBraid'': The two parts of the book are titled "GEB" and "EGB" respectively, and the cover art is an artistic rendering of the title's initials. The title's initials are further played with in sundry references to an alleged book, ''Giraffes, Elephants, Baboons: an Equatorial Grasslands Bestiary'' by Egbert B. Gebstadter. |
| 98 | * ''Literature/{{MASH}}'' |
| 99 | * ''Literature/RDGRedDataGirl'' |
| 100 | * ''Literature/{{SPQR}}'' |
| 101 | * ''[[Literature/WaRWizardsAndRobots WaR: Wizards and Robots]]'' |
| 102 | [[/folder]] |
| 103 | |
| 104 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 105 | * Used in-universe for ''Series/ThirtyRock'' with ''[[ShowWithinAShow T.G.S.]]'' (which was formerly known as ''The Girly Show'' until Tracey Jordan was brought on). |
| 106 | * ''Series/{{ALF}}'': Alien Life Form |
| 107 | * ''Series/{{CSI}}'': Crime Scene Investigation |
| 108 | * ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' (see page image above) |
| 109 | * ''[[Series/Cucumber1972 Cucumber]]'': Children's Underground Club of United Moose and Beaver for Enthusiastic Reporters |
| 110 | * ''Series/{{FBI}}'' |
| 111 | * ''Series/TheFBI'' |
| 112 | * ''Series/{{FUBAR}}'' |
| 113 | * ''Series/{{MASH}}'', as well as the [[Film/{{MASH}} film]] on which it was based, as well as the [[Literature/{{MASH}} novel]] on which ''that'' was based. All of which stand for the Army term "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital". |
| 114 | * ''Series/{{MANTIS}}'' |
| 115 | * ''Series/{{JAG}}'', its successor ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', and that show's spinoff ''[[Series/NCISLosAngeles NCIS: LA]]'' (another double initialism!) |
| 116 | * ''Series/{{NTSFSDSUV}}'' ("National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle"; a parody of the PoliceProcedural genre) |
| 117 | * ''Series/{{PJ}}'' |
| 118 | * ''Q.E.D.'' (a short-lived 80s adventure series) |
| 119 | * ''RBT'' (a reality show about motorist stopped for a Random Breath Test) |
| 120 | * ''RPA'' (a reality show set at the Royal Prince Albert Hospital in Sydney) |
| 121 | * ''Skithouse'' parodied this with commercials for ''RSVP'' ("If you're gonna watch it, make sure you let us know!") and ''BYO''. |
| 122 | * ''Series/SWAT1975'' |
| 123 | * ''Series/SWAT2017'' |
| 124 | [[/folder]] |
| 125 | |
| 126 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 127 | * Arguably the crowning example is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpf9U88PZJ4 MfG]] ("mit freundlichen Grüßen" = "with kind greetings") by German rap group Music/DieFantastischenVier. Not only is the title an acronym, but also its two verses consist almost exclusively of acronyms. |
| 128 | * "EMI" (the music label) by Music/SexPistols, which immediately leads to Public Image Limited, often known as PIL. |
| 129 | * Music/{{Front 242}}'s "W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G." |
| 130 | * The Finnish band Music/{{HIM}} (formerly known as "His Infernal Majesty") |
| 131 | * KoreanPopMusic has a GirlGroup called Music/{{IOI}} which stands for "Ideal Of Idol" |
| 132 | * Music/{{Kelela}} has "LMK", which, as the lyrics reveal, stands for "Let Me Know". |
| 133 | * Mark Klem's song "[[http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9052790 GNA]]". |
| 134 | * {{Music/Madonna}}'s MDNA |
| 135 | * Music/{{Korn}}'s "A.D.I.D.A.S. (All Day I Dream About Sex)" |
| 136 | * Music/SupremeNTM ("Nique Ta Mère") |
| 137 | * "T.S.O.P." (The Sound of Philadelphia) by MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) |
| 138 | * Music/{{WASP|Band}} |
| 139 | * [[Music/WuTangClan Wu-Tang Clan's]] "C.R.E.A.M." (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) |
| 140 | * "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." (country song made famous by Tammy Wynette) |
| 141 | [[/folder]] |
| 142 | |
| 143 | [[folder:Newspaper Comics]] |
| 144 | * ''ComicStrip/{{BC}}'' |
| 145 | [[/folder]] |
| 146 | |
| 147 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 148 | ProfessionalWrestling is all over this trope. Nearly every company uses its initials as part of its branding and advertising. |
| 149 | |
| 150 | * [[Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling AEW]]: All Elite Wrestling |
| 151 | * [[Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling AJPW]]: All Japan Pro Wrestling |
| 152 | * [[Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation AWA]]: American Wrestling Association |
| 153 | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crockett_Promotions JCP]]: Jim Crockett Promotions |
| 154 | * [[Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling NJPW]]: New Japan Pro Wrestling |
| 155 | * [[Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance NWA]]: National Wrestling Alliance |
| 156 | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Wrestling_Federation_(Bill_Watts) UWF]]: Universal Wrestling Federation |
| 157 | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Class_Championship_Wrestling WCCW]]: World Class Championship Wrestling |
| 158 | * Wrestling/{{WCW}}: World Championship Wrestling |
| 159 | * [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWWF, then WWF, then WWE]]: World Wide Wrestling Federation, then World Wrestling Federation, then World Wrestling Entertainment, then WWE, Inc. |
| 160 | [[/folder]] |
| 161 | |
| 162 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 163 | * ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' - Generic Universal Role Playing System |
| 164 | * ''[[TabletopGame/GURPSIlluminatiUniversity GURPS IOU]]'' -- Illuminati University. Don't ask what the O stands for. You aren't cleared to receive that information. |
| 165 | * ''TabletopGame/SPANCSpacePirateAmazonNinjaCatgirls'' |
| 166 | [[/folder]] |
| 167 | |
| 168 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 169 | * ''Theatre/{{JB}}'', a SettingUpdate of the book of Job by Archibald [=MacLeish=] |
| 170 | * ''Theatre/{{RUR}}'' |
| 171 | * ''Theatre/{{SQS}}'' ([=SolidS=] and Quell on Stage). |
| 172 | ** From the [[Theatre/{{Tsukipro}} same franchise]], Theatre/{{Alivestage}} episode 4: WYD. |
| 173 | [[/folder]] |
| 174 | |
| 175 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 176 | * ''A.C.E. - VideoGame/AnotherCenturysEpisode'' |
| 177 | * ''ADOM'' - ''VideoGame/AncientDomainsOfMystery'' |
| 178 | * ''ADS: Advanced Destroyer Simulator'' |
| 179 | * ''A.I.M.: Artificial Intelligence Machine'' |
| 180 | * ''A.L.C.O.N.'' ("Allied League of Cosmic Nations") |
| 181 | * ''A.M.C.: VideoGame/AstroMarineCorps'' |
| 182 | * ''A.P.B. - VideoGame/AllPointsBulletin'' |
| 183 | * ''ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat'' |
| 184 | * ''A.S.O.: Armored Scrum Object'' |
| 185 | * ''[[VideoGame/ASPAirStrikePatrol A.S.P. Air Strike Patrol]]'' |
| 186 | * ''ATR: All Terrain Racing'' |
| 187 | * ''B.A.T.'' ("Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters") |
| 188 | * ''B.I.O.T.A.'' is a {{metroidvania}} from the author of ''VideoGame/GhostlyMatter'', though it's never revealed what the initials stand for. |
| 189 | * ''BCV: Battle Construction Vehicles'' |
| 190 | * ''B.O.T.S.S.: Battle Of The Solar System'' |
| 191 | * ''B.U.T.T.O.N.: Brutally Unfair Tactics Totally OK Now!'' |
| 192 | * ''D.I.P.R.I.P.: Die in Pain, Rest in Peace'' (''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' GameMod) |
| 193 | * ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'' |
| 194 | * ''VideoGame/DNADarkNativeApostle'' |
| 195 | * ''D.R.O.D.: VideoGame/DeadlyRoomsOfDeath'' |
| 196 | * ''E.D.F. - Earth Defense Force'' |
| 197 | * ''EGG: VideoGame/ElementalGimmickGear'' |
| 198 | * ''VideoGame/EOEEveOfExtinction'' |
| 199 | * ''E.S.S.'' ("European Space Simulator") |
| 200 | * ''F/A'' (''Fighter & Attacker'') |
| 201 | * ''[[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon]]'' |
| 202 | * ''FOFT: Federation of Free Traders'' |
| 203 | * ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'' |
| 204 | * ''GTR: FIA GT Racing Game'' |
| 205 | * ''GWNN'', actually meaning "Game With No Name". |
| 206 | * ''H.A.T.E.: Hostile All Terrain Encounter'' |
| 207 | * ''VideoGame/{{HAWX}}'' |
| 208 | * ''H.E.R.O.'' |
| 209 | * ''H.U.R.L.'' (Hardcore Union of Radical Litterbugs) |
| 210 | * ''VideoGame/{{IMGCM}}'' (stands for ''I AM MAGICAMI'').[[note]]Previously, the title was ''MGCM'' or just ''MAGICAMI''.[[/note]] |
| 211 | * ''I.S.S.: Incredible Shrinking Sphere'' |
| 212 | * ''VideoGame/JASFJanesAdvancedStrikeFighters'' |
| 213 | * ''VideoGame/{{KGB}}'' |
| 214 | * ''VideoGame/{{KKND}}: Krush, Kill 'N' Destroy'' |
| 215 | * ''VideoGame/{{KOLM}}: Kind Of Like Metroid'' |
| 216 | * ''L.O.L.: Lack of Love'' |
| 217 | * ''MAG: Massive Action Game'' |
| 218 | * ''VideoGame/MAXMechanizedAssaultAndExploration'' |
| 219 | * ''VideoGame/{{MDK}}'' |
| 220 | * ''M.I.A.: Missing In Action'' |
| 221 | * ''MRC: Multi-Racing Championship'' |
| 222 | * ''M.U.D.S. - Mean Ugly Dirty Sport'' |
| 223 | * ''VideoGame/{{MULE}}'' |
| 224 | * ''[[VideoGame/{{Aleste}} M.U.S.H.A.]]'' (Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor) |
| 225 | * ''N.O.M.A.D.'' |
| 226 | * ''N.U.D.E.@ Natural Ultimate Digital Experiment'' |
| 227 | * ''NYR: New York Race'' |
| 228 | * ''O.D.T.: Escape... Or Die Trying'' |
| 229 | * ''O.R.B.: Off-World Resource Base'' |
| 230 | * ''P.O.D.: Planet Of Death'' |
| 231 | * ''P.O.D.: Proof Of Destruction'' |
| 232 | * ''P.O.W. - Prisoners of War'' |
| 233 | * ''P.T.O.: Pacific Theater of Operations'' |
| 234 | * ''[[VideoGame/RobotAlchemicDrive R.A.D: Robot Alchemic Drive]]'' |
| 235 | * ''VideoGame/{{RUSE}}'', which doesn't actually stand for anything. |
| 236 | * ''S.A.R. - Search and Rescue'' |
| 237 | * ''SBK: VideoGame/SnowboardKids'' |
| 238 | * ''S.C.A.R.S.'' |
| 239 | * ''S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team'' |
| 240 | * ''S.C.I.: Special Criminal Investigation'' |
| 241 | * ''SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative'' |
| 242 | * ''VideoGame/SLAISteelLancerArenaInternational'' |
| 243 | * ''SLASH'EM'' ("Super Lotsa Added Stuff Hack - Extended Magic") |
| 244 | * ''S.P.Y.: Special Project Y'' |
| 245 | * ''SRC: Sprint Robot Championship'' |
| 246 | * ''SRD: Super Real Darwin'' |
| 247 | * ''VideoGame/{{SSX}}'' |
| 248 | * ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}'' |
| 249 | * ''[=STrike=] Gunner - S.T.G'' |
| 250 | * ''VideoGame/{{SWINE}}'' |
| 251 | * ''S.W.I.V.'' |
| 252 | * ''VideoGame/{{TERA}}: The Exiled Realm of Arborea'' |
| 253 | * ''TFX: Tactical Fighter Experiment'' |
| 254 | * ''T.L.L.: Tornado Low Level'' |
| 255 | * ''[[VideoGame/HardEdge T.R.A.G. - Tactical Rescue Assault Group]]'' |
| 256 | * ''V.R.: VideoGame/VirtuaRacing''. Its lesser-known arcade sequel was titled ''V.F.: Virtua Formula''. |
| 257 | * ''WTF: VideoGame/WorkTimeFun'' |
| 258 | * ''XDR: X-Dazedly-Ray'' |
| 259 | [[/folder]] |
| 260 | |
| 261 | [[folder:Visual Media]] |
| 262 | * ''[[http://sequentialscott.deviantart.com/journal/30640462/ THD]]'' by Ian Miller |
| 263 | [[/folder]] |
| 264 | |
| 265 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 266 | * ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': The story is about a team of four girls and the title is the name their headmaster gives their team. Team names are always acronyms formed from the first letter of the names of the team-members (either personal name or family name). The first letter is always the name of the team leader. RWBY stands for Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang. |
| 267 | * ''WebAnimation/{{TP}}'': The short is about [[AnimateInanimateObject a living roll of toilet paper]]. |
| 268 | [[/folder]] |
| 269 | |
| 270 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 271 | * ''Webcomic/{{DDG}}'' (Drop Dead Gorgeous) |
| 272 | * ''Webcomic/{{UC}}'' the authors are keeping it a secret what UC stands for, for now. |
| 273 | * ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' does not stand for anything, but since anyone's first question is "What does xkcd stand for", one can let go this aversion. |
| 274 | [[/folder]] |
| 275 | |
| 276 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 277 | * ''C.L.Y.D.E.'' |
| 278 | * ''WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries'' |
| 279 | * Every single episode of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' has one of these titles. |
| 280 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{MASK}}'' |
| 281 | * ''[[http://www.amazon.com/M-U-S-H-Vol-MUSH-spoof-animated/dp/B000MPPFW6 M-U-S-H]]'', an Animated Parody of ''Series/{{MASH}}'' with an all-animal cast. MUSH stands for Mangy Unwanted Shabby Heroes. |
| 282 | * Parodied on ''WesternAnimation/TheWrongCoast'' with ''S.W.A.T.A.W.A.T.A.T.A.A.'' (''Special Weapons And Tactics As Well As The Ability To Appraise Antiques''), a cross between ''S.W.A.T.'' and ''Series/AntiquesRoadshow''. |
| 283 | * ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': |
| 284 | ** "F.U.N.". As per the song [=SpongeBob=] sings, F is for friends who do stuff together, U is for ''U'' and me, and N is for ''N''-ywhere and anytime at all (down here in the deep blue sea!) |
| 285 | ** "C.H.U.M.S" revolves around Plankton coming across a group of sentient chum beings who let him rule them. The group calls themselves C.H.U.M., or Collective Hive Under Master. |
| 286 | [[/folder]] |
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