History Main / AdaptationalSeriousness

* ''VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon'': In the original series, Hunter was a goofy SurferDude who would help out, but normally leaves hero stuff to Spyro. In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'' series, he is instead a serious, [[TheStoic stoic]] resistance leader who is a HeroOfAnotherStory.

** Barry the Chopper is an AffablyEvil comic relief IneffectualSympatheticVillain in the manga and ''Brotherhood''. In the 2003 anime, he is treated as a serious threat, and he lacks his comedic and redeeming qualities.

** Maya in the game was a GenkiGirl and a bit of an AdultChild. Here, she behaves more maturely and is still haunted by Mia's death. She still has some traces of her original personality at points (such as looking at the giant inflatable Steel Samurai with a look of awe at one point), but it's more muted compared to the game.

** Norman Osborn's cinematic iteration from ''Film/SpiderMan1'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' is another {{downplayed|Trope}} example. He still has the silly green costume, cranks plenty of jokes, and yells out his dialogue with enough gusto that he could break a window, but his goal of breaking Spider-Man -- [[Creator/TobeyMaguire his]] or [[Creator/TomHolland another universe's]] -- is all played deadly serious, as he goads his foe into taking the final blow.

** Sentinel Prime, in comparison to his iteration from ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', falls into this trope. His original iteration had little backstory, and the TFA iteration was a {{Jerkass}} of the highest order, but even that version has moments where [[LaserGuidedKarma karma would give him a swift kick to the tailpipe]], often for comedic purposes. If they need to show Sentinel as the guy the audience wants Optimus to replace, enter this trope. Look at ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon or IDW's [[ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW first run]] to showcase a very serious, very horrific, and very evil guy who has no time for joking around.

* The Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel'' is much more solemn and prone to brooding than his classic iterations in both the [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} comics]] and the [[Film/SupermanTheMovie Reeves films]], who are best known for their warm and approachable AllLovingHero personalities.

** Sentinel Prime, in comparison to his iteration from Transformers Animated, falls into this trope. His original iteration had little backstory, and the TFA iteration was a {{Jerkass}} of the highest order, but even that version has moments where [[LaserGuidedKarma karma would give him a swift kick to the tailpipe]], often for comedic purposes. If they need to show Sentinel as the guy the audience wants Optimus to replace, enter this trope. Look at Transformers Dark Of The Moon or IDW's first run to showcase a very serious, very horrific, and very evil guy who has no time for joking around.

This trope is often found in Derivative Works that are DarkerAndEdgier or BloodierAndGorier than their source. It is also often done with TheHero, especially when a work from another medium is adapted to film. Other notable examples range from a LaughablyEvil HarmlessVillain becoming a [[TheDreaded scare mongering]] KnightOfCerebus to TheChewToy[=/=]ButtMonkey being [[TheWoobie woobified]].

** Although the Internet has latched on to many of Thanos's quotes from his appearances, he's not so much the LargeHam {{Badass Boast}}er that he is in the comics. In the MCU, he's much more solemn and contemplative about his work, rarely raising his voice, and dead set on ensuring his goal is complete, with few boasts of his awe and might (Ebony Maw fills that void on his behalf).

** ''Film/{{The Jungle Book|2016}}'': This version of Kaa is a [[GenderFlip female]] python and less comedic and fun, thanks to having the serious voice of Creator/ScarlettJohansson. The meeting between Mowgli and Kaa is not for nothing by PlayedForLaughs.

** ''Film/{{TheJungleBook|2016}}'': This version of Kaa is a [[GenderFlip female]] python and less comedic and fun, thanks to having the serious voice of Creator/ScarlettJohansson. The meeting between Mowgli and Kaa is not for nothing by PlayedForLaughs.

* ''Series/AlexRider'': [[BigBad Damien Cray]], [[ExaggeratedTrope big time]]. He was one of the most comedic villains of the books, being a [[EccentricArtist loony pop star]] and PsychopathicManchild with a penchant for elaborate {{Death Trap}}s, namely a life-sized mock-up of the "Feathered Serpent" video game (which he tossed homeless people into ForTheEvulz) and [[DeathByIrony crushing the greedy traitor Charlie Roper with a literal mountain of small change]]. Here, though, he's portrayed as a considerably more stable (on the surface) [[CorruptCorporateExecutive charismatic tech mogul]], with a a FreudianExcuse for his EvilPlan to [[spoiler: [[NukeEm destroy the world's major drug-producing nations]]]] -- [[spoiler: [[ItsPersonal he found his idolised older brother dead of a drug overdose]] when he was a young child]]. In fact, his relative sanity makes him ''more'' frightening, as he's absolutely '''seething''' with [[TranquilFury barley contained rage]] whenever someone messes with his plans, leading you to wonder when [[VillainousBreakdown he's going to explosively snap]]... [[spoiler: Which, actually, he never does. He also keeps ''trying'' to be a NoNonsenseNemesis, but keeps getting interrupted before he can shoot Alex.]]

** In the manga, Envy is a very excitable and somewhat frequent source of comedy for the audience with several LargeHam moments when recounting their evil deeds. In the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime]], Envy is considerably calmer with toned-down comedic traits, also lacking the manga version's PowerfulButIncompetent tendencies. Justified since Envy is a much older and smarter AdaptationalBadass in the 2003 anime, being treated as a very real threat to the heroes, whereas manga!Envy was dwarfed in terms of power and importance by many other villains.

Usually, in an adaptation, a character (if not always) becomes an AdaptationalComicRelief in comparison to the original source. But what if it's the opposite? A character is more serious or just humourless in an adaptation. Can result in a character being TheStoic. May also come from an AdaptationalAngstUpgrade.

This trope is often found in Derivative Works that are DarkerAndEdgier or BloodierAndGorier than their source. It is also often done with TheHero, especially when a work from another medium is adapted to film.

** Mrs. Beakley in the original classic is a doddering GrannyClassic, while in the 2017 series she is an AdaptationalBadass no-nonsense former spy.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': Usagi Tsukino is best known for being a CuteClumsyGirl, a crybaby, and a BigEater slob who bungles around being a Sailor Senshi before CharacterDevelopment eventually kicks in. In the eventually dropped [[WesternAnimation/ToonMakersSailorMoon American pilot]], Victoria (Usagi's to-be American counterpart) is a far more composed teenage girl who, while still engaging in typical teenage activities, handles her double life as a PrincessWarrior immediately.

* ''WebAnimation/HololiveError'', being a DarkerAndEdgier HighSchoolAU to ''WebAnimation/{{Hololive}}'', does this to [[Characters/HololiveSuiseiChannel Suisei Hoshimachi's]] character Nanase Furukawa. Whereas Suisei is a MemeticPsychopath known for her [[ComedicSociopathy humorously murderous persona]] in the games she plays (such as ''VideoGame/ProjectWinter'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'') Nanase's sociopathic behavior (which is a lot [[AdaptationalJerkass worse than Suisei's]]) is PlayedForHorror, which is evident by her bitchy nature and her [[{{Yandere}} feelings towards the]] NewTransferStudent.

* Downplayed with Iris Heart in ''Anime/HyperdimensionNeptuniaTheAnimation''. While she isn't ''completely'' serious, compared to her depiction in ''[[VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaVictory Victory]]'', she isn't a HeroicComedicSociopath who enjoys tormenting enemies and allies alike, barely makes DoubleEntendre jokes, and doesn't resort to BlackComedyRape that often. Instead, she is depicted as a {{sadist}}ic, CreepyGood AntiHero who [[TerrorHero only dishes out her sadism towards her enemies]]. The only exception is in [[BeachEpisode episode 8]] when she tortured Linda, but even then that comes off as more [[AssholeVictim deserving of punishment]] (as the latter had poisoned Neptune and [[FalselyReformedVillain tricked the other CPUs into thinking she had redeemed herself]], all the while she [[CardCarryingVillain smugly says to herself as being a "natural born villain"]]) rather than ComedicSociopathy. This is likely due to her more [[AdaptationalHeroism friendlier portrayal]] in the anime.

* In the ''Film/{{Ghostbusters|1984}}'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/35402485/chapters/88242349?view_adult=true Sick]]'', Ray, who, in canon, is an [[{{Keet}} extremely cheerful and energetic man]], is somewhat subdued and a lot less optimistic.

* In the ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/1100077 To the Stars]]'', Cosmo only makes one joke and he never does any of the deliberate slapstick gags that he almost never ''stops'' doing in the film.

** Barry the Chopper is an AffablyEvil comic relief IneffectualSympatheticVillain in the manga and Brotherhood. In the 2003 anime, he is treated as a serious threat, and he lacks his comedic and redeeming qualities.

** Donald Duck, while he still has a temper and ButtMonkey moments due to his terrible luck, is also more of an overprotective ActionDad with an AdaptationalAngstUpgrade from [[spoiler: losing his twin sister and having a falling out with Uncle Scrooge over it,]] raising the triplets alone. Season 2 even reveals he's been going to therapy for many years so he can better channel his anger into protecting his family.

* ComicBook/{{Batman}} can sometimes fall into this trope. Some versions are completely goofy or TheComicallySerious, like the ''Series/Batman1966'' iteration, and others still, like the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' version, do in fact crack jokes or display a warmer side. However, some have completely lost themselves in the identity, and little, if any warmth or humor, is not present. The version from ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' eventually falls into this, and the iteration from ''Film/TheBatman'' is like this from the beginning.

* ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'': One thing fans disliked about the film is how ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} was changed from a HeroicComedicSociopath and TalkativeLoon to a serious threat with his MouthStitchedShut. This version of the character [[BitingTheHandHumor was even the butt of many jokes]] in ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' and [[Film/Deadpool2 its sequel]]. This is {{subverted|Trope}} since he was brainwashed at the time.

* The original ''{{Franchise/Pokemon}}'' games:
** The villain squads of each region usually consist of a hierarchy in competence (in most cases, [[VileVillainLaughableLackey bungling mooks but with sinister leaders]]), but are very often still [[BewareTheSillyOnes very hammy and grandiose in behaviour despite a usually threatening scheme]]. In the anime, likely because Team Rocket still exists as the GoldfishPoopGang in each series, the alternate teams are usually conveyed as more consistently serious and fearsome. Team Flare in particular are conveyed as genuinely no-nonsense and stoic, even their lowlier grunts, while in the games their fashion victim gimmick made them far more pretentious and silly acting in-universe to offset their shady behaviour. Only Team Skull are largely the same as their games counterparts, posing as a SitcomArchNemesis for Team Rocket.

* The original ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} was a warm, friendly guy who was quick to crack a joke and had such a strong [[ThouShallNotKill code against killing]] that he temporarily quit the Avengers when he killed the supervillain Egghead by accident (he'd tried to disarm Egghead by firing an arrow at his ray gun only for the gun to explode and fatally wound Egghead). In the Ultimate Universe, he was changed into a stone-cold, dead-serious assassin who never joked and never smiled while casually killing people.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Jungle Book|1967}}'': All three of Mowgli's [[AnimalCompanion Animal Companions]] get personality changes in this adaptation. This trope applies to Bagheera the panther, who was far more playful in the book, while the inverse applies to Baloo the bear.

* ''Film/TheDarkKnight'': Most versions of the Joker usually have a variety of comical gags and plenty of jokes to throw around in their quest to drive Batman insane. Caesar Romero and Jack Nicholson's versions are no exception to this rule. Enter Heath Ledger's take, who eschews the comedy in favor of his scheme being the joke; to him, the world is a chaotic place, and every person is just one bad day away from going insane. He's going to be the one to prove that, and he's dead serious about it. If he does laugh, it's not because Batman got covered in silly putty, but rather that he's playing right into his hands and proving him right. He still provides a few laughs, but they mostly come from Joker's utter flippancy in the face of any kind of threats against him.

** Film/{{Aladdin|2019}}: This version of Jafar lacks the more comedic side of his animated counterpart in favor of being a straight-up madman who wishes to wage war on a neighboring kingdom, with no banter with Iago (who undergoes a similar treatment) or mocking the Sultan behind his back.

* In ''Film/{{Sonic the Hedgehog 2|2022}}'', Knuckles, unlike his ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'' counterpart, takes the encounters with Sonic and Robotnik very seriously. [[TheComicallySerious A little too seriously, in fact.]]

** Norman Osborn's cinematic iteration from ''Film/SpiderMan'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' is another {{downplayed|Trope}} example. He still has the silly green costume, cranks plenty of jokes, and yells out his dialogue with enough gusto that he could break a window, but his goal of breaking Spider-Man -- [[Creator/TobeyMaguire his]] or [[Creator/TomHolland another universe's]] -- is all played deadly serious, as he goads his foe into taking the final blow.

** ''Series/LukeCage'': His comic book counterpart could trash-talk like Spider-Man, but the Netflix adaptation makes him stiff and bland to better suit its weighty, ponderous tone.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'': In his origin series, Mario is a [[{{Keet}} happy-go-lucky]] HeroicMime who is friendly to everyone he meets. In the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series (from ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Melee]]'' [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl on]][[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU wa]][[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate rds]]), he is instead a [[TheStoic stoic]], [[PerpetualFrowner grumpy]] HeroicMime who is very skilled at fighting, and is sometimes hostile to anyone who harms his loved ones (Like in ''Brawl'' where he wanted to kill [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] and Yoshi, the latter being [[FightingYourFriend one of his friends]], for killing Peach).

* ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatam'': Dr "Eggman" Robotnik, while fluctuating in competence, is generally depicted as a LaughablyEvil ham of a bad guy in most interpretations of the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise. This series set itself apart from the norm by depicting Robotnik as a [[KnightOfCerebus legitimately terrifying]] EvilOverlord, with the entire globe under his mercy from the start of the show, with a full-on CerebusSyndrome concerning his badnik machinations and very few jokes made at his expense. The second season made Robotnik more characteristically vain and prone to a bit more sarcasm and pratfalls, though he still remained a far more sinister entity than most takes of the doctor.