History Main / ColorfulContrails

%%* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', this is seen along with SpeedStripes just before Mei rams into her mother during the climax. %%Missing context: What is seen along with Speed Stripes during the climax.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Ho-Oh's designation is literally the "Rainbow Pokemon", and some versions of the Pokedex claim that a rainbow forms behind it as it flies.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': In the 3D games, characters will, under certain circumstances, leave behind a color-coded trail of light. Sometimes, it fits the color of the character. Other times, like with Shadow's orange trail, it doesn't.

The defining principle here that would keep it from being a form of MotionBlur is that a blur is not physically there, but is supposed to be an optical illusion for depicting a LudicrousSpeed. This is a direct product of the cause of motion (such as jet engine exhaust) or is used to depict a power or ability that would cause such motion (like depicting a BarrierWarrior's force field as being used as a propellant) -- or when it cannot be determined if it is one or the other. %%[[note]]The page image of The Powerpuff Girls and Rainbow Dash would fit this category. The former clearly seems to have a flight at speeds thing component, though any occasion where the girls were shown that it has a physical presence. In the latter's case, while it could be argued that it's part of the character's motion blur, it has also been weaponized, with the Sonic Rainboom and Sonic Nuclear Boom[[/note]]

* ''Manga/{{Initial D}}'': Cars leave trailing red taillights as they race down tracks on mountainous roads. These contrails are only left by the main cast and the opponents they race.

* ''Manga/{{Wangan Midnight}}'': Trailing red taillights are often left by the main cast during high speed races on the Wangan Highway. These are most often seen during moments of high speed and intensity.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', this is seen along with SpeedStripes just before Mei rams into her mother during the climax.

* ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'': The newly-refit ''Enterprise'' produced a spectacular rainbow contrail effect when entering warp drive. This was toned down quite a bit in subsequent films.

** Reverse Flash [[spoiler:and Nora West-Allen]] have red lightning [[spoiler: under the effects of the Negative Speed Force]].

* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'': In ''The Second Coming'', Hiro meets his "archnemesis" Daphne, who is a speedster, he stops time. He then follows the motion blur streak which exists InUniverse to where she's stopped -- and then she moves! She's moving ''so fast'' that even with time standing still she can travel at (what appears to be) normal speed.

** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': Each hero left a vertical trail of the same color as their costume when teleporting (an effect common to most, if not all, iterations of the franchise).

* ''VideoGame/MegaManX5'': In a variant, the F-Laser weapon shoots out a controllable drone that leaves behind trails of light. The trails can deal damage to enemies as much as the drone itself does.

* ''VideoGame/RocketLeague'': The customization feature allows you to change the type of boost and trails you leave behind to you liking, in a variety of colors. This means you can have a car propelled by a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izh74RIr650 literal bassline]] and leaving behind a trail of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsYp4icY3KQ cloud and stars]] inspired by ''Anime/{{DragonBallZ}}''.

* The Website/YouTube [[MemeticMutation meme]] Nyan Cat is shown flying with a rainbow trail following it.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':

* ''WesternAnimation/BlazeAndTheMonsterMachines'': Blaze leaves one whenever he unleashes his "Blazing Speed". Anyone he shares it with will have one as well.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': In ''[[Recap/RickAndMortyS2E4TotalRickall Total Rickall]]'', the fantasy character Tinkles leaves a [[http://78.media.tumblr.com/ce488375d7550baea88c86866ef24499/tumblr_nut0p80DLo1uo0kxpo1_500.jpg rainbow colored trail]] while flying.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In ''[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS23E22LisaGoesGaga Lisa Goes Gaga]]'', instead of the typical black or white smoke, Lady Gaga’s personal train spews a full-on rainbow trail from its smokestack.
* ''WesternAnimation/UncleGrandpa'': Giant Realistic Flying Tiger always leaves a rainbow trail behind her. In one episode, this trope is exploited when the other characters follow Tiger's trail to find her.

* ''VideoGame/RocketLeague'': The customization feature allows you to change the type of boost and trails you leave behind to you liking, in a variety of colors. This means you can have a car propelled by a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izh74RIr650 literal bassline]] and leaving behind a trail of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsYp4icY3KQ cloud and stars]] inspired by ''Anime/{{DragonBallZ}}''.

* ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie'': After Mewtwo destroys Giovanni’s complex in a fit of rage, he propels himself away through the sky, leaving a bright blue streak behind.

* ''VideoGame/{{Battlerite}}'': Characters who are hit with Zander's [[BalefulPolymorph Sheep Trick]] while hasted gain a rainbow trail behind them as they move.

* {{Invoked|Trope}} in ''ComicBook/JustImagineStanLeeCreatingTheDCUniverse'' for its alternate take on ComicBook/TheFlash. Rather than depicting the speedster with a lightning bolt motif, this version is made to resemble a prismatic flash of light, with an all-white costume and rainbow-colored tassels attached to her helmet, forming a bright rainbow streak as she zips along.