Fading Plots

[The Huntsman]

I have been a fan of animation for roughly two decades now, and I’ve noticed that many animated programs have contained plots that are reminiscent of those that have been done in numerous other animated programs over the years. Some people have claimed that these episodes were cliché, while others have claimed that they were merely paying homage to the works that were created before it. However,
some of these archetype plots that have played an integral role throughout the history of animation seem to be fading and are not used that often anymore.

For example, the plot where a baby keeps crawling or walking into harms way, while its (temporary) caregiver struggles to prevent its demise. I’m not sure where it originated but I believe that it was popularized by Popeye, and numerous animated programs since then have had such plots in one episode or another. I believe “Animaniacs” even had a recurring segment that contained that plot. However, I do not believe that plot has been done in quite some time and it was one of the reasons that I chose to create this thread. I concede that I haven’t seen every episode of every animated program, so perhaps this plot has been alive and well all these years, but I haven’t seen evidence of that.

Despite this fact, I thought that this thread was still worth creating. Perhaps I have made an incorrect analysis and there aren’t many plots on the verge of fading into obscurity, but I encourage people to share and discuss the ones that they are aware of. I am fully aware that some of these archetype plots are alive and doing well, such as the plot where Character A saves Character B’s life and receives special treatment, only to eventually despite special treatment and decide to get Character B to save their life in order to make them stop. That is a plot that certainly hasn’t died and has withstood the test of time, even though it, too, doesn’t occur as frequently as it had at one point in time. I’m not even sure which animated program popularized that trend, but I digress.

Do you know of any other plots that aren’t as common in this day and age as they were a decade or more earlier? Also, what are your opinions on such archetype plots? Do you believe that they are cliché since they have been done in numerous animated programs over the years, or do you accept them as an homage to earlier works?

Here’s hoping this thread doesn’t bomb, eh wot?

[aalong64]

I think alot of these probably reached their peak, and maybe actually became cliched, in the 80's. Plots such as the "special treatment for saving someone's life" one, along with "character tells a small lie, gets out of hand and eventually has to confess to it at big celebration in their honour" aren't used as much anymore because they've done so many times, and it's easy to see them coming. I think in general, although I dislike virtually all modern cartoons, I must commend them for trying to come up with more original plots. Many 80's, and some 90's cartoons seemed content to rehash the same tired sitcom plots.

BTW, I always disliked those Buttons and Mindy segments on Animaniacs. I never found them funny at all. :p

[mojokingbee1]

Character A finds out his parents are coming and tries to make himself and his friends look successful so his parents won't be dissapointed.

"Kappa Mikey" did a twist on that plot, Mikey's parents decide NOT to come so Mikey finds people to act as his parents so his friends won't get angry for cancelling their vacation just to meet his parents.

[judyindisguise]

For example, the plot where a baby keeps crawling or walking into harms way, while its (temporary) caregiver struggles to prevent its demise. I’m not sure where it originated but I believe that it was popularized by Popeye, and numerous animated programs since then have had such plots in one episode or another. I believe “Animaniacs” even had a recurring segment that contained that plot. However, I do not believe that plot has been done in quite some time and it was one of the reasons that I chose to create this thread. I concede that I haven’t seen every episode of every animated program, so perhaps this plot has been alive and well all these years, but I haven’t seen evidence of that.

Actually, that plot was used for one of the few new FOP episodes that was actually enjoyable: "Mission Responsible".

[Mad Mod 49]

"Character's TV Hero is revealed to be a fake, Character gets in trouble, TV Hero is forced to be a real hero". Eugene Goes Bad from Hey Arnold! comes to mind as an example.

[The Huntsman]

Actually, that plot was used for one of the few new FOP episodes that was actually enjoyable: "Mission Responsible".
Ah, I stopped watching that show. Still, I don’t believe that it is as common as it once was. Regardless, thanks for all of the posts.

[Antiyonder]

Despite this fact, I thought that this thread was still worth creating. Perhaps I have made an incorrect analysis and there aren’t many plots on the verge of fading into obscurity, but I encourage people to share and discuss the ones that they are aware of. I am fully aware that some of these archetype plots are alive and doing well, such as the plot where Character A saves Character B’s life and receives special treatment, only to eventually despite special treatment and decide to get Character B to save their life in order to make them stop. That is a plot that certainly hasn’t died and has withstood the test of time, even though it, too, doesn’t occur as frequently as it had at one point in time. I’m not even sure which animated program popularized that trend, but I digress.

Hey Arnold took that cliche in a different direction. Arnold saved Sid from a falling billboard, thus prompting Sid's servitude. Rather than coming up with a plan to make Sid save his life, Arnold gives up and has to tolerate having a servant until Sid starts feeling like Arnold is taking advantage of him. Then Arnold makes it up to him by getting him a food coupon (I think)

[mojokingbee1]

Hey Arnold took that cliche in a different direction. Arnold saved Sid from a falling billboard, thus prompting Sid's servitude. Rather than coming up with a plan to make Sid save his life, Arnold gives up and has to tolerate having a servant until Sid starts feeling like Arnold is taking advantage of him. Then Arnold makes it up to him by getting him a food coupon (I think)


I thought Viva Pinata's version was better. Instead of Hudson serving Franklin after saving him from a falling disco ball, Franklin becomes more popular than Hudson.

[R-Taco]

Don't forget "Character A takes the blame for Character B's actions. Character B spends the episode feeling guilty and eventually confesses. Everyone may or may not have known this all along."

"Character becomes popular/rich/both and turns his/her back on his/her old friends, then eventually sees that this was a mistake and gives up the popularity/wealth."

Nicktoons in the late 90s used the same plots so often that they may have as well been a single show.

[Racattack!Force]

Plots like these usually begin fade two decades or so after their creation, with it the plot (at it's peak) being used by almost every single cartoon you see at least once. After that, it soon becomes less and less common, until few cartoons do it, and some of those shows put their own special twist on it. And then it makes an amazing comeback! And then it all starts all over again...

[Atoon]

There's a plot used by the very first episode of the Flintstones I've seen in other shows for a while. Spongebob did a funny twist once. Not sure if has been done before that, but probably.

"Character A asks to Character B to disguise of something that A's friends or enemies fear, like a police man or a wild animal, in order to make a prank to them. When A and all the others are together, "B" appears and the prank works perfectly, until A notices that B isn't actually the disguised guy but is an actual police man, wild animal, etc."

[Dr. Daedalus]

It should be noted that cliched plots can be entertaining, as long as they're executed correctly. Some of SpongeBob's plots weren't exactly the most original ideas in the world when you strip them down to their core (such as "Naughty Nautical Neighbors", "Just One Bite", "Ripped Pants", "Squirrel Jokes", "Squidville"), but they're hilarious.

[Antiyonder]

One that came to mind is a cliche to my knowledge which was only used on Ducktales and Tale Spin. Make the authority figure (Rebecca or Scrooge in this case) think it's Saturday so the main character can get their allowance/salary. But as a result, the authority figure passes word on it being Saturday, thus technically missing Friday deadlines and being sentenced to a firing squad for the mess up. Then the main characters have to prove it's Friday by moving the clouds to show an eclipse that is only occuring on Friday.

To my mind no other shows used this cliche.

[Racattack!Force]

One that came to mind is a cliche to my knowledge which was only used on Ducktales and Tale Spin. Make the authority figure (Rebecca or Scrooge in this case) think it's Saturday so the main character can get their allowance/salary. But as a result, the authority figure passes word on it being Saturday, thus technically missing Friday deadlines and being sentenced to a firing squad for the mess up. Then the main characters have to prove it's Friday by moving the clouds to show an eclipse that is only occuring on Friday.

To my mind no other shows used this cliche.
But if only two shows have done it, then it isn't a cliche. :sweat:

[Antiyonder]

But if only two shows have done it, then it isn't a cliche. :sweat:

But it was the exact same story just with different characters in the part and different reasons for wanting to be paid. Small usage of a cliche doesn't mean it's not a cliche.

[Racattack!Force]

But it was the exact same story just with different characters in the part and different reasons for wanting to be paid. Small usage of a cliche doesn't mean it's not a cliche.
But it was only used twice, which (by definition), isn't a cliche. If it was used by several cartoons, then then it would count as one, but since it was only used twice...

[EJLD4Ever]

Here's another commonly-used plot I see often (it's been used to death IMO): A hit on the head at the beginning of an episode causes Character A to develop amnesia and take on a completely different personality. Towards the end of the episode, Character A gets another clunk on the noggin, and finally returns to his/her former self.

We all have Hanna & Barbera to blame for this "amnesia" plot, as they first used it in the Tom & Jerry cartoon "Nit Witty Kitty" (1951). It was later used in Quick Draw McGraw, The Flintstones, Dastardly and Muttley, Rugrats, Courage the Cowardly Dog, the list goes on!

[cyde]

Both the save some one's life and the amneisa stories were used in The Beverly Hills Teens and in C.O.P.S.

[Mikintosh]

For example, the plot where a baby keeps crawling or walking into harms way, while its (temporary) caregiver struggles to prevent its demise. I’m not sure where it originated but I believe that it was popularized by Popeye, and numerous animated programs since then have had such plots in one episode or another. I believe “Animaniacs” even had a recurring segment that contained that plot. However, I do not believe that plot has been done in quite some time and it was one of the reasons that I chose to create this thread. I concede that I haven’t seen every episode of every animated program, so perhaps this plot has been alive and well all these years, but I haven’t seen evidence of that.


Well, the Incredibles short "Jack-Jack Attacks" used this, with the caveat that the baby itself was actually causing the destruction.

[Movie06]

Anything dealing with a character having a nightmare from a movie the character wasn't supposed to see and the nightmares become too much, he/she eventually confesses.

[Chykin]

I've actually seen the "character A saves character B" and the "amnesia" plots recently. The first in the George of the Jungle episode,"Don't thank me" and the second in the Skunk Fu! episode, "The art of Brainwashing".

[Starbro]

I've actually seen the "character A saves character B" and the "amnesia" plots recently. The first in the George of the Jungle episode,"Don't thank me" and the second in the Skunk Fu! episode, "The art of Brainwashing".


Actually, "Don't Thank Me" didn't follow that cliche. Rather than characters B and C (in this case, George and Ursula) becoming Ape's servants after he saves their lives, they begin competing with each other on who can come up with the best, most elaborate way of thanking him. Later on Magnolia gets in on it as well, on the reasoning that "everybody's doing it" and so it must be trendy.

Old premise, new twist.

[Chykin]

Actually, "Don't Thank Me" didn't follow that cliche. Rather than characters B and C (in this case, George and Ursula) becoming Ape's servants after he saves their lives, they begin competing with each other on who can come up with the best, most elaborate way of thanking him. Later on Magnolia gets in on it as well, on the reasoning that "everybody's doing it" and so it must be trendy.

Old premise, new twist.
Oh yeah...:shrug: And then there was the whole "thank you curse" thing in the episode.

[Senshi Mizaka]

One of the oldest cartoon plots (Though I have no idea which show it was first used in) is the whole Two characters who hate each other get handcuffed together, and have to use teamwork to overcome their differences story. I remember seeing that done in alot of recent cartoons (Samurai Jack and Danny Phantom are the only ones that come to mind now).

[Bratbat]

A bunch of kids somehow wind up caught in a ongoing war or unleash a sealed evil in a can. Variations include the kids wanting to fight because it looks cool and then they learn how ugly it is.

Yu-Gi-Oh
Naruto
Pokemon
Dinosaur King

Time Safari is present in Chaotic, because those teens dodge rocks, fire, and lightning just for a prized photoshot. How crazy is that!

[Blackstar]

One of the oldest cartoon plots (Though I have no idea which show it was first used in) is the whole Two characters who hate each other get handcuffed together, and have to use teamwork to overcome their differences story. I remember seeing that done in alot of recent cartoons (Samurai Jack and Danny Phantom are the only ones that come to mind now).

This plot was also employed on:


Snorks- All Star Seaworthy and Junior Wentworth get cuffed together.
Tale Spin- Baloo and Don Carnage get cuffed together.
Moon Dreamers- Sparky and Bucky Buckaroo get cuffed together.
Angry Beavers- Norbert and Dagget are cuffed in a short appropriately titled "Cuffed Together", but the short never aired on TV.

[DarthGonzo]

This plot was also employed on:
Snorks- All Star Seaworthy and Junior Wentworth get cuffed together.
Tale Spin- Baloo and Don Carnage get cuffed together.
Moon Dreamers- Sparky and Bucky Buckaroo get cuffed together.
Angry Beavers- Norbert and Dagget are cuffed in a short appropriately titled "Cuffed Together", but the short never aired on TV.

Darkwing Duck as well, in the episode where Darkwing and Herb Muddlefoot get bonded together by a melted wrist weight (You Sweat Your Life).

Also, Baloo and Karnage actually get glued together, not cuffed.

[Blackstar]

Also, Baloo and Karnage actually get glued together, not cuffed.

Oh, yes. It's coming back to me now. The title of that episode was "Stuck On You".

[Starbro]

Glue was the rasion d'etre for Bucky and Sparky getting stuck together too; the short in question was titled "Stuck on Bucky".

[darkdetective]

"Character A asks to Character B to disguise of something that A's friends or enemies fear, like a police man or a wild animal, in order to make a prank to them. When A and all the others are together, "B" appears and the prank works perfectly, until A notices that B isn't actually the disguised guy but is an actual police man, wild animal, etc."
Pinky and the Brain did that with Godzilla. Pinky was in a Godzilla costume, and Pinky and Brain grew to giant size. Brain's plan was to fight Pinky and be crowned ruler of the world for saving everyones lives. In the end, he ended up fighting the real Godzilla, and didn't notice till Pinky showed up. "Pinky, go away! Can't you see I'm trying to fight Pinky!?!" "Brain, how can I be two places at the same time?" "Oh no..."

[Dracula_Marth]

Here's one that goes on and off multiple times: Character A and B get into a fight over a trivial subject and
stop being friends. then a problem comes up that can only be solved with the combined efforts of A & B they become friends again and solve the problem. Bonus points if they start arguing again at the end.

[R-Taco]

A bunch of kids somehow wind up caught in a ongoing war or unleash a sealed evil in a can. Variations include the kids wanting to fight because it looks cool and then they learn how ugly it is.

Yu-Gi-Oh
Naruto
Pokemon
Dinosaur King

Time Safari is present in Chaotic, because those teens dodge rocks, fire, and lightning just for a prized photoshot. How crazy is that!

That's more of an overall premise, though.

[cyde]

This plot was also employed on:

Snorks- All Star Seaworthy and Junior Wentworth get cuffed together.
Tale Spin- Baloo and Don Carnage get cuffed together.
Moon Dreamers- Sparky and Bucky Buckaroo get cuffed together.
Angry Beavers- Norbert and Dagget are cuffed in a short appropriately titled "Cuffed Together", but the short never aired on TV.
No offense but it's Karnage.

[EJLD4Ever]

This plot was also employed on:

Snorks- All Star Seaworthy and Junior Wentworth get cuffed together.
Tale Spin- Baloo and Don Carnage get cuffed together.
Moon Dreamers- Sparky and Bucky Buckaroo get cuffed together.
Angry Beavers- Norbert and Dagget are cuffed in a short appropriately titled "Cuffed Together", but the short never aired on TV.

Albeit with one toon and a human, and used very briefly as a gag, it was also used effectively on Who Framed Roger Rabbit (which is one of my favourite uses of the "cuffs" device). The way they used flying rigs and puppeteers to make Roger "drag" Hoskins around the room was quite impressive, IMO!

[Racattack!Force]

One of the oldest cartoon plots (Though I have no idea which show it was first used in) is the whole Two characters who hate each other get handcuffed together, and have to use teamwork to overcome their differences story. I remember seeing that done in alot of recent cartoons (Samurai Jack and Danny Phantom are the only ones that come to mind now).
It's also become a cliche in live-action sitcoms also.

[blazecat]

I'm suprised noone has mentioned this plot: One of the main characters overhears a conversation about how "he has only has a few days to live." The main character tries to do all these fun things before he dies. Near the end of the episode, the character is about to do a crazy stunt when one of the characters says "We weren't talking about how you had a few days to live." The main character realizes it was a misunderstanding but he results in loads of broken bones to due his crazy stunt.

[Starbro]

I'm suprised noone has mentioned this plot: One of the main characters overhears a conversation about how "he has only has a few days to live." The main character tries to do all these fun things before he dies. Near the end of the episode, the character is about to do a crazy stunt when one of the characters says "We weren't talking about how you had a few days to live." The main character realizes it was a misunderstanding but he results in loads of broken bones to due his crazy stunt.

Ah, the old reliable Send Me No Flowers sendup. Done many times in cartoons. I even remember episodes of Smurfs and Johnny Bravo which tackled this storyline.

[DarthGonzo]

Ah, the old reliable Send Me No Flowers sendup. Done many times in cartoons. I even remember episodes of Smurfs and Johnny Bravo which tackled this storyline.

Ducktales, Talespin and Goof Troop as well.

[Starbro]

Ducktales, Talespin and Goof Troop as well.

Yeah, I forgot about those. Dang, you're good at this! ;)

[The Huntsman]

Ducktales, Talespin and Goof Troop as well.
A lot of the shows in the 80s and the 90s relied on such plots. Hell, looking through this thread, I’ve come to realize that “101 Dalmatians: The Series”, which is still one of my favorite animated programs, used just about every cliché plot that was mentioned. For example, this episode (http://www.tvrage.com/101_Dalmatians-The_Series/episodes/80/01x09) contained the first cliché plot that I mentioned while this episode (http://www.tvrage.com/101_Dalmatians-The_Series/episodes/106/02x23) contained the second cliché plot that I mentioned. The cliché plot that Mad Mod 49 mentioned was used in this episode (http://www.tvrage.com/101_Dalmatians-The_Series/episodes/77/01x06), the second cliché plot that R-Taco mentioned was used in this episode (http://www.tvrage.com/101_Dalmatians-The_Series/episodes/76/01x05) and the cliché plot that blazecat mentioned was used in this episode. (http://www.tvrage.com/101_Dalmatians-The_Series/episodes/94/02x11)

However, the question still remains. A lot of these clichés seem to be fading; I know most people consider that to be a good thing, but why are they fading? Are today’s writers too “sophisticated” to rely on such clichés? Does that make them better than the writers of the past? Why did the writers of the past rely on so many clichés? Hmm…

[Bratbat]

Camp value.