The TVTropes Trope Finder is where you can come to ask questions like "Do we have this one?" and "What's the trope about...?" Trying to rediscover a long lost show or other medium but need a little help? Head to Media Finder and try your luck there. Want to propose a new trope? You should be over at You Know, That Thing Where.
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openPlayed by the Creator Western Animation
Do we have a trope, where as the creator of a show actually plays as a character for it. Not just limited to self-inserts.
For example, Alex Hirsch, the creator of Gravity Falls, voices Grunkle Stan, and Soos.
Peter Browngardt, the creator of Uncle Grandpa, plays as Uncle Grandpa himself.
And Dana Terrace, the creator of The Owl House, plays as Tinella Nosa.
Edited by StoucaopenHuman Bowling Ball Gag Western Animation
I think I have seen this gag in several cartoons but it looks like it doesn't have a trope page.
The gag usually goes something like this: A clumsy, unlucky, or just dumb guy, who usually is also fat, tries to play bowling. When he tries to throw the ball, his fingers get stuck in the holes and the momentum carries him into the lane and he ends up sliding all the way down the lane and into the pins. And of course, it is usually treated like he got a legitimate strike even thought this is both dangerous and obviously against the rules of bowling.
I am pretty sure I have seen this gag in several cartoons but most of them I only saw a really long time ago so it would be hard for me to list them. I think I also once owned a toy that was based on this gag, a figure of a cartoon character lying on their belly and clutching a bowling ball in front of them that had wheels on the bottom to make it look like they were sliding.
I was reminded of this gag because it appeared in a Nikiciy video (here), although in that case the bowler tripped on a Banana Peel and rolled into the lane instead of sliding.
Related to Be the Ball but not quite the same thing.
If this trope doesn't exist, I might try to launch it.
Edited by legendaryweredragonopenMisleading Intonation Western Animation
It!s basically that funny dialogue. Say after a crazy event, Person A talks to Person B and tells him a short "Reason You Suck" Speech, as it seems like it’s leading to Person A to counter it with their benefits…but he doesn’t. He just ends it right there. Leaving Person B sad.
Here are some examples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SChpZdyMpS8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3eHHY_Vk0&t=44s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auw60X3ZmP4&t=47s
openEspanish-influenced espeech Western Animation
What is the trope for when a Spanish-speaking character (or at least one whose speech has been influenced by the Spanish language) puts the letter E in front of a consonant cluster starting with S?
Example: The Casagrandes Movie - Upon arriving in Mexico, the Mercado van lands on top of a giant cactus called Señor Espikey.
openCreative use of powers Western Animation
WARNING: Contains some Avatar: legend of Aang spoilers
Ok, what I mean is when a power is used in an unexpected/unusual way. For example: that one old water bender in Legend of Aang developing blood bending. The water bender realizes that all life has water in some way, so she learns how to control sentient life. She then goes on to develop this talent, and even teaches it to Katara, proving that all water benders can do it. So the power of water is used in a way that most people wouldn't think of using their hypothetical water powers. I am not referring to the trope "Heart Is an Awesome Power," where a seemingly useless power can be quite powerful.
Edited by MycomniopenOur job is that trope! Western Animation
A parody scene where a trope that's supposed to be an organic aspect of the story is revealed to be something that's happening intentionally, by action of an individual or organization.
For instance, in Family Guy, a Fruit Cart is destroyed during a car chase scene, and it's revealed that there are several fruit carts being sent to the location of the scene from a base resembling a police station.
openTrope Where a couple has two kids Western Animation
AND ONE KID LOOKS EXACTLYYY LIKE ONE PARENT AND THE OTHER KID LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE OTHER ONE. LIKE SONIC AND SALLY'S KIDS. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS TROPE.
openBirthday cake during the apocalypse Western Animation
In Carol and the End of the World, Luis meets a guy under a bridge and trades away some meds for what turns out to be a birthday cake. Considering this show takes place during an impending apocalypse, and the military are managing ordinary grocery stores, the implication is that Luis couldn’t go to a bakery and had to resort to drug dealing. Should I list this as Commonplace Rare, or Mundane Luxury?
Edited by CSS1openThe Villain & Hero Gets Defeated At The Same Time. Western Animation
The Villain Is About To Be Defeated, Killed, Taken To Jail Or Something Else, The Villain Takes Down The Hero As well Or Taken To Jail Alongside The Villain In Some Way Shape Or Form (By Either Using a Surprise Attack Or Exposing The Hero's Dark Secret To Cops), (Which Is Like: "If I'm Going Down...YOUR GOING DOWN WITH ME!").
openThe Villain & Hero Gets Defeated At The Same Time. Western Animation
The Villain Is About To Be Defeated, Killed, Taken To Jail Or Something Else, The Villain Takes Down The Hero As well Or Taken To Jail Alongside The Villain In Some Way Shape Or Form (By Either Using a Surprise Attack Or Exposing The Hero's Dark Secret To Cops), (Which Is Like: "If I'm Going Down...YOUR GOING DOWN WITH ME!").
openA character is eaten and becomes an egg Western Animation
I noticed some egg examples on Anuscape Plan, and I realized that there doesn't seem to be the trope where a character gets eaten and then comes out as an egg? It's pretty ubiquitous in western animation and animated films, so maybe it's already a trope that I just can't find the name of? The closest I can see is a similar query from 2018: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=60478&type=lnf
openFaceless Parents Western Animation
Seems to be a common trope in some media, like The Loud Housenote for a while and Gravity Falls (and, technically, Comic Strip/Peanuts) that parents and other adults tend to be kept faceless a lot of the time. I wonder why this isn't a trope of itself, though admittedly The Faceless does somewhat cover it.
openphony halo Western Animation
when a character is pretending to be kind and a halo appears, usually followed by red devil horn appearing when they drop the façade
openvehicle on stretcher Western Animation
A character has crashed a vehicle, an ambulance turns up and two men come out with a stretcher, but then they put the vehicle on the stretcher instead and leave the character on the ground. I've seen this in old cartoons, any clue?
open“you made me believe i was the chosen one!” Western Animation
best example off the top of my head like Tai Lung from Kung Fu Panda or Morro from Ninjago Possession
Picture this.
There is a prophecy that one day there will be a destined fighter who will save the day one day. One day, the old wise sensei finds a pupil who shows promise and tells them they might be the great destined one, but it turns out theyre not from whatever signal of destiny . They obviously become very angry and storm off having a personal vendetta against this sensei. Years later the actual destined one comes around, the first catches wind lf this and tries to exact revenge against the sensei and new pupil
Edited by Juno199xopenAmerican Dad! - answering machine scene Western Animation
In "Da Flippity Flop," Steve finds an answering machine in his room and Roger has left a ton of messages on it pestering him to join his gym, then the messages literally swerve off into Roger getting into a car accident and then shooting up a courtroom. I've had this as Funny Answering Machine, but that's more for the message on the machine. What trope fits this scene better?
openNon-Sapient Predator Western Animation
In media depicting Talking Animals, especially Civilized Animal societies, I've noticed that one of the tricks a lot of writers use is have the predatory animals act much more animalistic and inhuman compared to their prey counterparts. For example:
- Sabor in Tarzan
- The barracuda and anglerfish in Finding Nemo
- The bird in A Bug's Life
- The hawk in Rango
Is there any existing trope that tackles this type of characterization?
openTrope in The Jungle Book Western Animation
In Disney's 1967 film adaptation of The Jungle Book, there is a scene where Baloo and Bagheera try rescuing Mowgli from King Louie and his band of monkeys. At one point, Baloo tries hitting one of the monkeys with a club, but inadvertently hits Bagheera on the head.
I wonder if we have any tropes based on the above example?
Edited by gjjonesopenWe Bee One Western Animation
An even more common trope in Western animation is a swarm of bees acting so perfectly in sync as a hive mind they can work together to form objects and pictures within seconds, often being weapons or people. Otherwise, they form an oval shape that still acts as one entity.
I thought this would have been easier to find.
A visual gag - it's so hot, a character can put a frying pan on the ground and "fry" an egg in a few minutes.