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Tear Dryer

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"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion."
Truvy Jones, Steel Magnolias

You've reached a moment of pure sadness, a character, perhaps even several ones are crying, possibly mourning the All-Loving Hero who has just died, it seems like the villains have won and there's no hope left.

But all of a sudden, it turns out that The Hero is still alive, stronger than ever and ready to kick ass again, hope is really back this time and our hero's companions regained their smiles and optimism.

Or a character is feeling really down, perhaps even sobbing, but a close friend or relative manages to recomfort them or cheer them up through an encouraging, inspiring speech and a big hug, convincing them that everything is really gonna be alright.

To put it simply, we're in a grim situation, and the characters or the viewer are pretty bummed up, but thanks to a turn of events, some sort of Deus ex Machina, or simply a character who resolves the situation, everything gets better.

Subtrope of Mood Whiplash. May result from a "Hell, Yes!" Moment. May overlap with Earn Your Happy Ending and Surprisingly Happy Ending. Can overlap with Fission Mailed in video games, Bittersweet Ending if more emphasis is placed on the sweet, Not Now, We're Too Busy Crying Over You and Near-Villain Victory. Contrast Hope Spot, Sudden Downer Ending and Diabolus ex Machina. Compare Shock-and-Switch Ending and Despair Spot. This usually leads to a heartwarming moment.

As this is a moments page, all spoilers will be unmarked ahead. You Have Been Warned!


Examples:

    open/close all folders 

    Anime & Manga 

    Comic Books 
  • Spider-Man:
    • The Amazing Spider-Man (2018): In issue #10, Black Cat tearfully reveals that she knows her memory of Spider-Man's true identity was wiped from her mind. She confesses to be truly hurt by this, as she felt that she and Peter shared a special bond. It's one of the few times we have truly seen Felicia open and vulnerable since the Brand New Day era. This sad moment then leads to a heartwarming scene of Peter revealing his secret identity to her and the two reconciling.
    • Spider-Man Beyond: In issue #89, the Queen Goblin uses her Goblin Gaze on Felicia, tormenting her with feelings of guilt and shame over her failed relationships. The Goblin convinces Felicia to commit suicide, only for Peter to come in and save her, practically giving a rebuttal to Felicia's doubts as to whether or not she was worthy of love.

    Fan Works 

    Films — Animation 
  • In Alice in Wonderland, Alice bursts into tears when she thinks that she's stuck in Wonderland. Then the Cheshire Cat appears to put her in the right direction.
  • In Beauty and the Beast, Beast loses consciousness and it seems like he's dead, but then when Belle admits she loves him, he turns human and it turns out he's not dead after all.
  • Cinderella:
    • Cinderella's stepsisters tear her dress to shreds, leaving her unable to go to the ball. She rushes outside to cry where she is immediately comforted by her Fairy Godmother. With a little magic, the Fairy Godmother gives Cinderella everthing she needs to attend the ball.
    • Lady Tremaine trips the footman as he is about to offer the glass slipper to Cinderella, making him drop his pillow and shatter the slipper beyond repair. The exhausted Grand Duke goes into near-hysterics until Cinderella, smiling and calm, produces the other slipper. Cue the Grand Duke's overjoyed reaction, Lady Tremaine's face falling in shock, Cinderella's animal friends cheering, and the well-earned happy ending.
  • Frosty the Snowman has Frosty and Karen getting trapped in a greenhouse. Though Santa comes in time to free them, Frosty has melted, and Karen is crying over his puddle. Then, Santa brings in some Christmas magic, and Frosty is immediately revived, making the ending happy with the power of a Christmas Miracle.
  • In Frozen (2013), Elsa accidentally puts Anna into a state where she will turn into ice forever unless she finds an "act of true love." Everyone assumes this will be a classic True Love's Kiss, but Anna gives up her chance to get one when she throws herself in front of an enemy's sword to protect Elsa, freezing completely in the process, and it seems like she's a goner... until she turns back to normal because that was done out of love.
  • In the climax of Home (2015), Tip is left heartbroken after seeing Oh getting crushed by the Gorg mothership, especially after he gave her the egg containing the Gorg babies with a Tearful Smile. To Tip’s relief, she sees Oh alive, as he was under the hollow part of the mothership’s foot.
  • Inside Out: When Joy finally steps aside and lets Sadness take control, Riley pours her heart out to her parents about how she really feels about the move and missing everything they left behind in Minnesota. Afterwards, Sadness brings Joy back in, and Riley breathes easy as a new core memory is formed.
  • In The Jungle Book (1967), Baloo is unconscious and Mowgli and Bagheera think he's dead. Bagheera starts doing a speech, but halfway through the speech, Baloo wakes up.
  • Lilo & Stitch: The Grand Councilwoman comes to take Stitch back to space. Stitch, who has truly come to care for Lilo and Nani, starts to say goodbye. However, Lilo shows the Grand Councilwoman his adoption certificate, meaning that if Stitch is taken from Lilo, then that's technically stealing. As such, the Grand Councilwoman decides to let Stitch live with Lilo, making this double as a Surprisingly Happy Ending.
  • Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch: At the climax of the movie, Stitch passes away in the regeneration chamber when it fails to recharge his molecules. Lilo holds him and tearfully apologizes for having been too obsessed with the hula competition to realize that something's wrong with him. However, her tears awaken him and they share a big hug.
  • The Little Mermaid (1989) still looks like it's headed towards a Bittersweet Ending when Ursula has been destroyed, but she was Ariel's only chance at becoming human. Ariel sits sadly on a rock, watching Eric sleep, as if accepting that they can never be together. Triton then discusses with Sebastian "how much I'm going to miss her", and uses his magic to turn Ariel into a human. It then cuts to a wedding, where father and daughter properly reconcile and Triton accepts Eric.
  • Near the end of The Magic Roundabout (2005), after Dougal and his friends managed to re-imprison Zeebad by placing three diamonds on the roundabout, they all celebrate until Dougal asks about Florence and they immediately fall silent as they turn to Mr. Rusty, Basil and Coral trying to wake Florence up, who is seemingly lifeless and appears to have died due to the freezing conditions of the frozen roundabout. As everyone looks on with complete sadness, Dougal tearfully begs Florence to wake up. Then, when he licks her face as he begins to mourn for her, Florence begins to move again to everyone's surprise. This prompts Dougal to revive Florence by continuing to lick her face until she fully wakes up to everyone and Dougal's relief and joy before Florence thanks Dougal for saving her life and those who are trapped on the roundabout.
  • Moana: After Maui angrily takes off, Moana tearfully begs the Ocean to give Te Fiti's heart to someone else. After it reluctantly takes it, she quietly sobs, but then the spirit of Gramma Tala comes by and they share a fond embrace. Tala then sings to Moana, asking if she knows who she really is. Moana then decides to continue her journey to restore the heart of Te Fiti.
  • In the animated movie based on Moshi Monsters, Poppet, Katsuma, and the two Team Pet's are trapped in an ice cave and the pets both have hypothermia. At first, Poppet and Katsuma are crying, but then Poppet perks up and starts singing a happy little song about how there's always hope. At the same time, they manage to light a fire, warming up the pets, and find their needed MacGuffin.
  • Once Upon a Forest has the three main characters return with medicinal herbs within the two-day deadline to heal the stricken Michelle. However, after applying the herbs and resting overnight, Michelle remains unresponsive, and everyone presumes Michelle has perished from pulmonary failure. Cue lots of crying and hugging. One teardrop from her uncle Cornelius, however, awakens her, whereupon she's as vivacious as ever.
  • 101 Dalmatians: At one point it seems as though one of the puppies was stillborn, but when Roger rubs his back, it turns out that he was still alive.
  • In Pinocchio, Pinocchio is thought to have drowned and Geppetto, Jimminy, Figaro and Cleo are all grieving over him. Then the Blue Fairy makes him a real boy.
  • Pocahontas: Kocoum has been killed, John Smith is about to be executed at sunrise, the English are going to slaughter the Powhatans in a sneak attack, and Pocahontas has lost all hope. Meeko then gives her John's compass, and she realises that she can stop the execution and prevent further bloodshed. And that's exactly what she does.
  • In The Rescuers, Penny, a young child who is held captive by Madame Medusa, is praying for someone to rescue her, then breaks down in tears. Thankfully, Bernard and Bianca arrives just in time to comfort her.
  • The Rugrats Movie: When Tommy has had enough of Dil's brattiness, he gives Dil a massive "The Reason You Suck" Speech for all that he's put him through and he very nearly pours mashed bananas on him so that the circus monkeys will take him away. Dil begins to shed Tears of Fear, and after Tommy looks into his reflection in a puddle, he is horrified with himself. He then holds Dil close to himself and apologizes before taking him under the tree away from the rain.
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Snow White has fallen into a deep sleep because of a poisoned apple. The dwarfs, believing her to be dead, gather around her and mourn over her. Then the prince from the beginning of the movie comes in and kisses her, which wakes her up, and everyone celebrates.
  • The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie gives us a literal tear drying moment when SpongeBob and Patrick are trapped by the Cyclops and placed under a heating lamp to dehydrate them so he can turn them into smelly knicknacks; the two realize Shell City is a tacky gift shop on land, and Neptune's crown is just nearby, but they are unable to get it in time before the two dehydrate completely. However, just before dehydrating, the two shed tears which form the shape of a heart; that same tear slides down the lamp's cord into the outlet, causing it to short out and start a fire which activates the sprinklers in the store, rehydrating the heroes and bringing them right back to life.
  • The Super Mario Bros. Movie: During the final battle, the Mario Bros. reach for the Super Star just as Bowser's fire breath hits them. Princess Peach has seemingly lost her new friend, and nothing is standing between Bowser and a little world domination... then the smoke clears out, showing Mario and Luigi have touched the Super Star and are now invincible, leading to a beatdown of Bowser and his mooks.
  • In the climax of Toy Story 3, Woody and his friends are thrown into an incinerator, and after desperately trying to get out of it in vain, they decide to hold hands together and accept their death, but miraculously, they got saved in extremis by the three little green men thanks to a giant claw.
  • In Turning Red, Mei is distraught over her panda transformation making her life difficult and preventing her from having a chance to see her favourite Boy Band. She breaks down crying and curls into a ball. Thankfully, her friends spontaneously break into a song from said Boy Band and give her a big hug to cheer her up. This not only makes her feel better in the moment but gives her the idea for a mental technique to control her transformations.
  • Wallace & Gromit:
    • In A Close Shave, Gromit is wrongly imprisoned for sheep rustling and is sent a jigsaw puzzle with sheep on it. Gromit breaks down crying, thinking it's a cruel prank. Thankfully, it turns out to be a secret message from Wallace. Then Shaun appears at the window with a buzzsaw.
    • In The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Wallace turns back into a human after falling from a great height and appears to be dead. Gromit is devastated, until he gets the idea to revive him with cheese. It works.

    Films — Live-Action 
  • Back to the Future:
    • Near the end of Back to the Future, Marty arrives too late at the parking mall to save Doc Brown after the latter's refusal to hear Marty warning him about his eventual fate back in 1955, tearing up the letter he had written, and witnesses the terrorists shooting down his friend again. After the chase between the other Marty and the terrorists, he rushes to Doc's body, and breaks down in tears believing he lost him for good. But suddenly, the Doc blinks, slowly wakes up, Marty turns around and realizes he's still alive, the Doc then reveals that he's been wearing a bulletproof vest, and that he did read Marty's letter warning him about his death, having taped it back together.
    • In Back to the Future Part II, Marty witnesses Doc in the DeLorean get struck by lightning and vanish, leaving him stranded in 1955. Right on cue, a man from Western Union appears with a letter for Marty from Doc informing him that he's alive and well in 1885.
    • In Back to the Future Part III, Marty returns to 1985, but the DeLorean is destroyed and Doc is stuck in 1885. Marty and Jennifer return to the wreckage of the time machine and then Doc appears in a time machine made from a steam train with Clara and his sons Jules and Verne.
  • In The Breakfast Club, Brian tearfully confesses to the others that he tried to kill himself over a bad grade due to the pressure his mother puts on him. Then he admits that he brought a flare gun to school that went off in his locker. This prompts the others to start laughing, including Brian.
  • Ghostbusters (1984): After defeating Gozer by crossing the streams, the Ghostbusters are thankful that they've survived, but it looks like Dana and Louis, who were possessed by Zuul and Vinz Clortho, did not. That's when the charred remains of the terror dogs start to shatter, revealing that they survived, too.
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Indy goes over a cliff in a Nazi tank. His father, Marcus and Sallah are all looking over the cliff in horror and shock, completely missing that Indy made it out and is climbing back up, then joins them to see what all the fuss is about. Sadly Indy's just too late to hear Dr. Jones Sr. realize he'd never really spoken to his son.
  • Marvel Cinematic Universe:
    • Avengers: Endgame: After Tony Stark's funeral and a quiet scene of Clint and Wanda reminiscing about their own lost loved ones, we then cut to Thor ceding leadership of Asgard to Valkyrie before a humorous scene involving him and Star-Lord sniping at each other.
    • Midway through Spider-Man: No Way Home, Aunt May gets killed and Peter is visibly heartbroken. What follows this scene? The triumphant return of both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire as their respective Spider-Men. Scenes later, MJ is about to fall to her doom in a recreation of Gwen Stacy's fall. Peter-3 saves her, giving him a second chance to fix his greatest mistake.
  • Rags: At the end of the film, we're treated to a somber scene of Charlie returning home from the Rags audition, crushed at the fact his evil stepbrother Andrew stole the role from him. This is all made worse when he discovers his family's restaurant is already decorated to celebrate Andrew's new record deal, causing him to pack his bags and walk out for good. Then Kadee announces that she already knew Charlie was the real Rags and invites him on stage, seconds before he walks out the door, turning it into a happy ending.
  • Pollyanna (1960) has the title character go through a Despair Event Horizon after she's left paralyzed in an accident. She's told she may never walk again, and must go through a dangerous operation that only has a small chance of working. Even though her aunt has finally had a Heel Realization about how distant she's been, Pollyanna silently rejects her attempts at kindness, and is unable to play her usual Glad Game. Cue the entire town turning up to wish her well, thanking her for everything she's done for them; official Heel Face Turns for Aunt Polly's Beta Bitch and the cynical maid Angelica, Nancy and George revealing they're engaged (and Pollyanna is to be their flower girl), and Pollyanna finally accepting her aunt and reaffirming her positive attitude.
  • Top Gun: Maverick: After Maverick gets shot down in enemy territory and Rooster shoots down a chopper that would've finished him off, they make their way to an unattended F-14 Tomcat to fly their way out, only to spar with several of the enemy nation's Su-57 "Felon" fighters. They manage to splash all but one who gets the drop on them when the pair is out of missiles and countermeasures, and their ejection mechanisms don'tt work. It looks as if they're about to be KIA, with Mav heartbreakingly apologizing to Rooster for failing to protect him, and the late Goose (who died in a training accident in the previous film) as well...but Hangman swoops in and splashes the last bandit, before jokingly telling them to fasten their seatbelts and prepare for landing to lighten up the mood. Ultimately, every member of Dagger Flight Group lives, Maverick is crowned an ace (having now downed five enemy planes) and gets together with Penny, and he and Rooster finally reconcile their strained father-son-like relationship.
  • The Truman Show sees poor Truman Burbank survive his journey across the "ocean" only for his sailing ship to crash into the wall of the gigantic dome his world is confined in, and at first there appears to be no escape for him. Even when he finds a path to an exit door, Christof begins speaking to him, warning that if he leaves he'll enter a much worse world with "the same lies, the same deceit" — but none of the controlled bliss and safety that Truman's known all his life. But contrary to Christof's belief that he would never leave the safety of Seahaven Island, he does — with a theatrical flourish no less. As his beloved Sylvia rushes out of her apartment to meet him, this moment even serves as this trope in-universe as viewers around the world cheer Truman's triumph.
  • In The Witches (1990), it seems that we are headed for the book's Bittersweet Ending where Luke stays a mouse but is glad to die together with his grandmother. However, Susan Irvine appears and turns him back into a human.
  • The World of Suzie Wong has one hell of a Downer Ending in sight where Suzie only forgives Robert because she needs help rescuing her baby during a storm. Then the storm turns into an earthquake, and the baby dies! The final scene is a funeral for Young Winston, with Suzie and Robert in attendance. At the end of the funeral, Robert proposes, confirming that this Will They or Won't They? couple will be alright.
    Suzie: Robert, I'll be with you until you say "Suzie, go away"...
    Robert: That long?

    Literature 

    Live-Action TV 
  • The Brittas Empire:
    • The episode "Not A Good Day" ends with the leisure centre being attacked and trashed by Roman War Reenactors, leaving him to briefly go into a Heroic BSoD as a result. However, at that point, a poor single mother and her child come up to him and thank him for the lovely day they had thanks to deals and promotions that he had set up, which cheers him right back up and which ends the episode on a positive note.
    • In the later episode "The Last Day", Brittas is killed by a water tank. The resultant funeral is played almost dead seriously, with even members of the staff who hated him and wanted him fired in life not daring to disrespect him. Then it becomes hilarious when it cuts to the afterlife (which Brittas had been seen entering earlier on) and we see that he is such an annoying git that he has to be kicked out by St. Peter and Michael, which restores him to life.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
    • The ending montage of "Lovers Walk" of the characters depressed and the major relationships seemingly in tatters is followed by Spike merrily blasting rock music from his car radio as he drives off to find Drusilla.
    • In "Forever", Buffy stands by her mother's grave silently mourning alone. Then Angel appears to comfort her.
    • In "Touched", Buffy is at her lowest - deposed as leader and exiled from her own house and is beating herself up alone in an abandoned house. Spike finds her, reminds her of her worth and spends a tender night with her. By the climax, she's back to her old self again.
  • Doctor Who:
    • In "The Tomb of the Cybermen" the Doctor awakens to find his new companion Victoria who is clearly still very sad over her father's death at the hands of the Daleks in the previous serial. Comforting her, the Doctor assures her that her memories of him won't be always be sad, and explains to her the sheer wonder of their opportunity to travel all of time and space.
    • In "Pyramids of Mars", Sutekh has the robot mummy strangle the Doctor to death. Sarah Jane weeps over his body...until he wakes up and complains that she's soaking his shirt. He reveals that his respiratory bypass system saved him.
    • Sarah-Jane's departure in "The Hand of Fear" goes from sad to funny when she discovers that she's not in Croydon after all and complains about the Doctor's piloting skills to a random dog.
    • The Fifth Doctor's traumatic regeneration in "The Caves of Androzani" is followed by Six brashly and confidently making his mark.
    • In "Survival", Ace assumes the Doctor is dead and sits holding his hat. Then he casually takes it off her with a casual "Mine, I believe". They then head off to further adventures.
    • In "The Parting of the Ways", the Ninth Doctor saying goodbye to Rose and reassuring her (and us) that everything will be okay is followed by Ten cheerfully making his mark.
    • The Doctor's goodbye to Rose in "Doomsday" is suddenly interrupted, leaving them both sad and alone. Then Donna loudly makes her first appearance.
    • The Tenth Doctor's melancholic farewell scene in "The End of Time" is followed immediately by Eleven manically and energetically going through his new body and dealing with the now burning TARDIS. It also effectively serves as a transfer between Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat.
    • In "The Big Bang", Rory cradles the body of Amy, whom he's spent thousands of years waiting for. As if by magic, the Doctor appears holding a mop and wearing a fez
    • The Eleventh Doctor's tear-jerking final monologue in "The Time of the Doctor" is followed by Twelve rambling about his kidneys and seemingly not knowing where he is.
    • The Twelfth Doctor's final monologue reminding himself to be kind in "Twice Upon a Time" is followed by Thirteen admiring her new self before being blown out of the TARDIS. It also serves as a transition from Moffat to Chris Chibnall.
    • The Thirteenth Doctor's somber yet hopeful and fond final spoken thoughts before giving playful encouragement to her next incarnation in "The Power of The Doctor" is followed up by Fourteenth's baffled reaction to the all too familiar form he has retaken. It also serves as a transition from Chibnall to Davies.
  • Only Fools and Horses:
    • Grandad's funeral in "Strained Relations" is played completely straight and is a sombre farewell to both the character and the actor. Del placing Granddad's favourite hat in the grave is both sad and heartwarming. Then it becomes hilarious when it turns out to be the vicar's hat.
    • Cassandra's miscarriage in "Modern Men" is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the series. It's immediately followed by Del Boy punching out an obnoxious hospital patient.
    • Rodney finally opening up to Del in a broken down lift in "Time on Our Hands" is one of the series' most emotional moments. Then it's revealed that the lift wasn't really broken and it was just a ploy by Del to get Rodney to talk about his feelings.
  • Red Dwarf:
    • Subverted in "Timeslides", After his attempts to alter history, Rimmer laments how nothing ever goes right for him, Holly tells him that he's not a hologram anymore. Rimmer is overjoyed and starts celebrating...until he's killed again by an explosion.
    • In "The Promised Land", Rimmer is both forced to be connected to an Achilles' Power Cord and to go into low-power mode. After this, he is reminded by The Cat that he is no longer really Rimmer and that he is just a computer that functions according to what the real Rimmer would have done. Rimmer undergoes a Heroic BSoD as a result of this and (also believing that nobody likes him and he is just a waste of space), decides to run down his power source. However, Lister is able to convince Rimmer that they do indeed need him, which leads to him plugging himself back in.
  • Star Trek: Discovery: In one episode, Saru the alien is going through a biological process that he thinks will kill him. He asks Michael Burnham to cut off his ganglia and euthanise him... but then the ganglia fall out on their own and Saru survives.
  • In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Ethics", the doctors are trying to help Worf and at one point they think there's no hope and he's going to die but then he wakes up.
  • The penultimate episode of Star Trek: Picard sees The Federation at its Darkest Hour — the Borg have successfully assimilated every Starfleet member under 25 (including the daughters of Geordi La Forge and the son of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher) and are about to use the networked fleet to launch a direct attack on Earth, leaving Picard and his officers no choice but to flee. It's a sad, despairing moment — until Geordi brings them to the Athan Prime Fleet Museum, where he has a surprise waiting: the fully-restored Enterprise-D, which as a non-networked ship is immune to Borg control. Not only is it a heartwarming reunion with a member of their family, it also gives them the one weapon they can use to defeat the Borg once and for all and save the Federation. Cue the Epic Launch Sequence (with Theme Music Power-Up) and the Enterprise warps to the rescue.

    Puppet Shows 
  • Sesame Street: The song "Ballad of the Sad Cafe" is about some cowboys and cowgirls who come to the titular cafe when they're sad, which generally makes it a pretty gloomy song, especially because the cafe apparently doesn't even serve food! However, after the song, the cowboys and cowgirls cheer up and decide to go to a different cafe.

    Theatre 
  • In The Abduction from the Seraglio, whatever chance the heroes have of leaving Pasha Selim's palace peacefully vanishes after it turns out that Tenor Boy Belmonte's father is Selim's bitterest enemy. The heroes prepare for execution and only hope to end up Together in Death. Then, suddenly, Selim decides he is not going to sink to his enemy's level by getting a Best Served Cold revenge, and instead announces he is letting everybody go. Cue a celebratory chorus.
  • In Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice is mourning over her cousin Hero's failed marriage and the accusation of infidelity against her. Benedick finds her and promises to defend Hero's honor. In the process they confess their love for each other and embrace.
  • Wicked ends with the inevitable conclusion as Elphaba/The Wicked Witch of the West is melted by a bucket of water thrown by Dorothy. Glinda sobs over the death of her best friend, and is joined in sorrow when the Wizard realizes he put a hit on his own daughter. Then out of nowhere the Scarecrow stumbles onto the scene, and opens a trap door!
    "Scarecrow": (knocking on the ground) It worked!
    Elphaba: (popping out of the trap door) Fiyero!

    Video Games 
  • In BitLife, sometimes badly sick characters can be cured out of the blue, after a visit to the doctor or even without one. It is even possible to be cured of rabies.
  • In Bugsnax, the ending of the game has you, Filbo and whoever possibly survived the parasitic titular creatures attempting to kill and assimilate everyone, needing to leave both Lizbert and Eggabell behind in their snakified Queen form in order to allow everyone else to escape. The way the scene is set up as well as the music almost makes it seem that they aren't going to survive the bugsnax revolting nor the volcanic eruption that was going on while all of that was happening. Thankfully though, the credits show that they do in fact survive, begin a diet consisting of only sauce and eventually return to their normal selves.
  • Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers:
    • At the end of the main story, the partner breaks down crying on the beach over the Ret-Gone hero... then after the credits, Dialga decides to bring the hero back, and they have a heartwarming reunion.
    • In the Special Episode "In the Future of Darkness", Grovyle, Dusknoir, and Celebi begin to disappear into light due to being erased from existence. They bid each other farewell just as the sun rises for the first time and Grovyle and Celebi marvel over it before disappearing. Then they suddenly come back, and Dialga notes that it must have been some being higher than himself, and Grovyle calls out, thanking the Player and the Partner for bringing life back to their world.
  • Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team: At the end of the main story, the Player Disappears into Light so they can go back to the human world. They share a heartfelt goodbye with the Partner, and after the credits, we see the Partner sitting in front of their base as the townsfolk just stand there wistfully. Then the Player comes back and everyone gathers around them, overjoyed.
  • The ending sequence of Rayman 2: after Rayman defeated Razorbeard, the latter decides to set his pirate ship to blow up in a last ditch effort to kill Rayman shortly before escaping. This is followed by a sequence of Rayman's friends, believing he died in the explosion, mourning him around a pedestal with one of his shoes laying on it. But Rayman actually survived as he soon enters the scene, walking with a crutch, much to everyone's relief and joy.
  • Super Robot Wars: Original Generation Gaiden: The mood of the game has been bleaker than usual thanks to Lamia Loveless being thought to be killed in action, only to be brought back and Brainwashed and Crazy and it seems like there is just no hope on restoring her, something that some heroes feel like they're resigned to that outcome. Fortunately for the good guys, their old enemy Axel Almer has come Back from the Dead and for this occasion, he's not trying to antagonize them and for some reason lent his hand to fight a brainwashed Lamia, but even then, he's still set on killing her for pragmatic reasons. Then Axel makes a comment that Lemon's creation (Lamia) isn't turning out as she hoped, which kickstarted a defensive mechanism within Lamia to show that she's still there and wants to live, convincing Axel that all is not lost and prompting him to use Code: DTD to cleanse her brainwashing and successfully booted her out from her machine before she gets re-brainwashed again when she wakes up. With Lamia successfully saved, the bleak mood that shrouds the good guy ends right there, and the usual 'army of good robot pilots saving the world' mood can continue.

    Web Animation 

    Western Animation 
  • Arthur: In "Night of the Tibble," James is invited to a sleepover with the Tibbles. Seeing that James is scared of what the Tibbles might do to him at the sleepover, his classmates D.W. and Emily try their best to come up with a way to get him out of going to it, but James's conscience ultimately gets the better of him and he agrees to attend the sleepover despite his fear. The next day at preschool, the class is informed by the teacher, Ms. Morgan, that James won't be coming to school that day, which D.W. and Emily take to mean that James has died at the sleepover. After school, the two tearfully go to give James' mother flowers to show her how much James meant to them. Thankfully, it turns out James is alive and was only absent from school due to a stomachache from eating too many treats at the sleepover, and takes the flowers that were meant for his mother himself. This gets especially heartwarming in D.W.'s case when you remember that previous episodes have heavily implied that she "likes" James.
  • In Avatar: The Last Airbender, the episode "Appa's Lost Days" focuses on what Appa went through after being kidnapped in "The Library", and it is brutal. He is abused, bruised, traumatized, and lonely, and when Suki comes across him in a cave, he is too scared to recognize her as a friendly face. Luckily, she and the other Kyoshi Warriors nurse him back to health, and after showing a battered Appa fall asleep at Suki's feet, the next scene shows Appa cleaned up, unshackled, and happy.
  • Bluey:
    • In "Butterflies", Bluey reluctantly leaves Bingo alone so she can hang out with Judo. She goes back to talk to Bingo and apologizes, but Bingo doesn't say a word. Bluey tears up and begins to sing the ladybug song that Bingo had sung early on. Bingo joins in and they sing it together, and this culminates in a hug between the two.
    • In "Verandah Santa", Bluey gets some petty revenge on Socks for biting her by not leaving her any gifts when it's her turn to play Santa. Hurt, Socks runs outside and mopes by the lawn ornaments. Bandit and Chilli tell Bluey that being kind isn't just about getting Christmas gifts, it's just the right thing to do. As such, Bluey approaches Socks and apologizes. Socks licks her cheek and they hug each other.
  • The Casagrandes: In "Stress Test", we learn that Bobby keeps failing his Achievement Test of Destiny. After several failed attempts, poor Bobby begins to weep uncontrollably, and he nearly gives up on his plans to go to business school. But before long, his kid sister Ronnie Anne notices that Bobby can calculate money costs with ease whenever he's working in the mercado, so she builds a replica mercado to help him pass his test.
  • Dora the Explorer:
    • In "Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure", Dora and Swiper travel into the past and the future to help Swiper learn the True Meaning of Christmas so he can get off Santa's naughty list; after returning to the present, everyone gets presents from Santa except for Swiper, who checks his card to realize the tree has all four ornaments, but it did not get the star on top, thus his adventure is somehow failed and Dora hugs him in disappointment. But then Swiper thinks of a last-minute suggestion: share his Funny Bunny with Dora and everyone. This allows him to discover it's better to give than to receive (or swipe), thus this act of kindness is what makes the star appear on his card, and he is off the naughty list.
    • In "Dora's Big Birthday Adventure", Dora and Boots reach the Wishing Wizzle and Dora gives him the magic wishing crystal to grant their wish to get out of the Magic Storybook and go home to the forest for Dora's birthday party; however, just before the Wishing Wizzle could grant the wish, La Bruja casts a spell which destroys it, ruining its power and presumably trapping Dora and Boots in Wizzle World forever. However, the Wishing Wizzle reveals there might be another way: If Dora thinks of all the friends she helped and helped her in return, then this could reactivate the crystal and send her home. Dora makes a wish to go home while remembering her friends, and everyone makes a wish to send her home, and this fixes the crystal and restores its magic, granting the wish.
  • Final Space:
    • Season 2 starts with a summary of the Season 1 finale, including the (then uncertain) fates of Mooncake, Quinn, Little Cato, Tribore, and the Earth. In addition, HUE is implied to be gone as Gary's helmet is broken. As Gary is mourning his failure, it turns out that HUE survived by uploading himself in a robot body. Things improve when in the same episode, Little Cato reunites with Gary on Clarence's planet and Nightfall rescues Mooncake from the Lord Commander.
    • The Season 2 finale "The Sixth Key" sees Nightfall sacrifice herself to free Bolo. Mooncake is clearly sorrowful about having to blast her with his energy beam, while Gary is also left distraught. However, he hears a familiar voice come in - Ash's rage upon Nightfall's death had caused her to attack a possessed Avocato, resulting in Invictus being exorcized from his body. Now free and Locked Out of the Loop, Avocato was trying to contact out to Gary Goodspeed, and this time he's here to stay.
    • The Season 3 episode "Forgiveness" starts with Fox's funeral after his death in the prior episode, and Ash - while still in mourning - leaves the ship in anger. However, spending time blasting with space rocks with Evra cools her down, and after Mooncake finds her, she returns in a better state of mind. When Evra asks if her brother is alright, she responds with "He is now", after they see Mooncake guide his coffin towards the Hidden Lights.
  • In Garfield in Paradise, Odie and Monkey drive a car into a volcano to stop it from erupting. Garfield is sad that he Never Got to Say Goodbye to Odie and Owooda tosses a lei into the volcano, but then Odie and Monkey crawl out unharmed, so everyone cheers.
  • In The Loud House episode "Along Came a Sister", Frank the spider is thought to be dead twice and everyone is sad both times, but then the first time it turns out that what was thought to be Frank's corpse was a hairball Cliff coughed up and the second time, it turns out that one of the girls, Leni, saved Frank.
    • In the episode "City Slickers", Lori tries to act like a city girl, but reality hits her like a brick, and she goes through a massive Humiliation Conga, culminating in her falling into a manhole. She then comes to Bobby in tears and admits that she is reconsidering becoming a city girl. But Bobby cheers her up by admitting that he once ran into the backside of a police horse and assuring her that she will indeed enjoy being a city girl once she gets used to city life.
    • Towards the end of "Any Given Sundae", baby Lily drops the sundae she worked so hard to get, and she bursts into tears. But as her older siblings try to comfort her, she notices that Flip's is open and so gets her family to make her a sundae there. So, Lily gets to eat her first ice cream after all.
  • Miscellaneous Disney Shorts: In the short "The Ballad of Nessie", Nessie's search for someplace to stay has been all in vain and she's crossing the Despair Event Horizon. After spending much of the short Trying Not to Cry, she breaks down in Ocular Gushers for weeks on end. When she's done, she realizes that she has flooded the valley with her tears, and in doing so, she has made herself a new home. It ends with the narrator saying that It's Okay to Cry.
  • Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends: In "Cry Buggie", Squirt is deeply distraught that he can't participate in a soccerberry game due to having injured one of his legs. He decides not to cry because Dragon's told him that older bugs don't cry over anything. His parents console him and say that everyone can cry sometimes, and he starts to sob. At that moment, a rainbow forms in the sky, and Squirt feels much better now that he's gotten it out of his system. He then comforts the equally-devastated Dragon.
  • The Mr. Men Show: In "Surprises", Miss Sunshine's Surprise Party has gone awry and the inside of her house is an utter mess. Miss Sunshine sees the state of her home and sadly asks if this is the surprise. Things immediately brighten when most of the other Mr. Men and Little Misses appear on a floating platform above her, yelling, "Surprise!!", much to her joy.
  • The Powerpuff Girls (1998):
    • In "The Mane Event", Blossom is utterly humiliated and on the verge of tears after Buttercup and Bubbles accidentally give her a Traumatic Haircut. She sits in their room, moping alone. The Professor comes in and consoles her, saying that Townsville still needs her and that no matter how she looks, she should still do what's right. Her confidence restored, she goes back to defeat the giant Faceless Eye that's been terrorizing the city.
    • In "Knock It Off", Dick Hardly saps the Chemical X from the Powerpuff Girls, seemingly killing them in the process. His creations, the Powerpuff Girls Xtreme, turn against him for never showing them affection as the factory bursts into flames. The Professor clings to his fallen daughters, shedding Manly Tears, and this revives them.
      Bubbles: What happened to Professor Dick and the other Powerpuff Girls?
      Professor: Well, old Dick may have gotten the formula right, but the one ingredient he forgot was love.
  • Ready Jet Go!: In "Sean's Neptune Tune", Sean is scared to visit Neptune and is really embarrassed to tell Jet and Sydney. When they find out, they assure him that they'll always be his friend and he can tell them anything. With Sean still having reservations about visiting Neptune, Jet comes up with a funny song to ease Sean's fears, which works.
  • Rugrats (1991):
  • The Simpsons:
    • In "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish", Homer believes he has 24 hours to live after eating some badly prepared blowfish, and near the end, he seems to pass away in the middle of the night. Marge is devastated... but then she notices his drool is warm, which means he's alive.
    • In the first episode of Season Two, "Bart Gets An 'F'", Bart has been told that if he gets a failing grade on his upcoming test, he will be required to repeat the 4th grade. Bart actually cracks the books and studies, but unfortunately, his one Herculean effort is not enough to make up for a lifetime of poor study habits. Bart gets an F. He breaks down crying, telling Mrs. Krabappel that he had really tried this time, and all she can do is try and comfort him. But then, just when it looks hopeless, Bart compares his loss to George Washington having to surrender to the French in 1754, an obscure bit of history. So impressed is Mrs. Krabappel about this applied knowledge, she gives him a bonus point on the test, which pushes him from an F to a D -, allowing him to pass.
    • In "Bart Sells His Soul", Bart is so utterly despondent that he resorts to praying to get his soul back. It turns out that Lisa bought his soul from Comic Book Guy.
  • SpongeBob SquarePants:
    • In "Home Sweet Pineapple", SpongeBob tearfully resigns himself to leaving Bikini Bottom with his parents due to his house's destruction, much to Patrick's sadness. But as he's about to ride off, a seed he unintentionally watered with his tears grows into a plant that drops a new pineapple home right where his old one used to be, meaning he doesn't have to move after all.
    • In "Pizza Delivery," SpongeBob shows off his Determinator side by delivering a pizza to a customer despite all manner of obstacles, dragging a reluctant Squidward with him. When SpongeBob finally brings the pizza to the customer's door, the Jerkass accuses him of forgetting his drink—which he didn't order in the first place—and says he doesn't want it. SpongeBob walks back to the boat they drove over in and breaks down in hysterical sobs. Squidward first tries to comfort him—"It's OK!"—and then decides to take matters into his own tentacles:
      Customer: Another one? Look, I told your little friend, I ain't payin' for that!
      Squidward: Well, this one's on the HOUSE!
    • In "Rock-a-Bye-Bivalve", SpongeBob and Patrick notice that the baby clam they're trying to raise is about to jump out of SpongeBob's window. When they realize they didn't rescue him, they both scream "WE'RE BAD PARENTS!" and cry together. Then they discover that the clam didn't fall to his death because he learned to fly on his own.
  • In Steven Universe, near the end of the episode "Off Colors" (Episode 3, Season 5), Lars dies from the explosion caused by a Robonoid he was attempting to destroy to save Steven and the Off-Colors. After realizing he's dead, Steven starts to cry while holding Lars' body. Thanks to Steven's magical tears, Lars comes back to life.
  • There's Good Boos Tonight:
    • After several failed attempts to get animals to play with him, Casper begins to weep. Ferdie the fox kit comes by just then and feels bad for him, so he decides to become Casper's friend.
    • A hunter shoots and kills Ferdie, leading Casper to sob over him and bury him. He sits by Ferdie's grave, still sobbing. Ferdie comes back as a ghost and nuzzles him. The surprised and overjoyed Casper laughs heartily as Ferdie licks him.
      Narrator: And so, Casper and Ferdie lived happily ever after.
  • Thomas & Friends: In "Toby the Tram Engine", the passengers wish Toby one last goodbye after his controller decided to close the line, leaving Toby depressed and thinking nobody wants him. That is until his driver wakes him up with some good news in the form of an important letter of a certain stout gentleman.

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