Frances the Firefly is a UK animated short by Fire Kills. Intended to teach children about the dangers of matches, it is about a firefly named Frances who is impatient to have her wings glow, and accidentally burns down her kingdom. The short was frequently shown in schools, and can be seen here
. It was later adapted into a children's book.
Frances the Firefly contains the following tropes:
- Adaptational Nice Guy: A shortened version of the film, which aired on television, omits the fact that Cocky Roach was playing a prank on Frances, making it seem that he was just having fun and didn't intend for Frances to burn her wings with the match.
- As You Know: Stated word for word by the narrator, when explaining that insects love the night.
- The Atoner: Frances helps her friends re-build the kingdom, and teaches young insects about the dangers of matches.
- Can't Get Away with Nuthin': Frances flying with a lit match causes a massive fire that burns down her kingdom.
- Distaff Counterpart: The film is very similar to Moonlighters, only with a female protagonist and more of a fairy-tale setting. Also, Frances is pushed into playing with fire by Cocky Roach, and isn't judged as harshly for her mistake.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Frances, a young female firefly, is upset that her wings won't glow like those of the grownups.
- Easily Forgiven: Frances is forgiven for her mistake, as it was an accident and she didn't mean to start the fire. Cocky Roach, however, is exiled from the kingdom.
- Enfant Terrible: Cocky Roach is described as a very naughty cockroach who is always in trouble. He pressures Frances into flying with a lit match, knowing that the flame will burn her wings.
- Everybody Lives: Given the level of destruction, it's a little surprising that not a single insect is said to have died in the fire.
- Idiot Ball: Frances lets Cocky Roach, who she knows is always getting in trouble, talk her into trying a reckless stunt. It ends up setting the kingdom on fire.
- Oh, Crap!: Cocky Roach, when Frances drops the match and it starts a massive inferno.
- Parental Obliviousness: Cocky Roach's mother left a box of matches unattended, and doesn't notice that he stole them.
- Sugar Apocalypse: Frances's accidental fire results in this, burning down the kingdom and injuring many insects.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Cocky Roach gets Frances to try using a match while flying to "light up the night". It works much too well.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: While Cocky Roach isn't innocent in playing a mean trick on Frances, he didn't realize how out of hand the fire would get.
- Urban Fantasy: The firefly kingdom is a fairy tale-like setting, but human matches play a role in the story, and the final scene shows Cocky Roach in a human town.
- Yellow Eyes of Sneakiness: Cocky Roach has them.
