History Main / CoolKey

* James Butler Hickok Stark, aka ''SandmanSlim'' stole the key to The Room of Thirteen Doors, which is the only way to Earth from Hell (unless you're [[Satan Lucifer]] himself). We don't know what the key looks like as Stark buried it in his body, but he doesn't need to actually fit it into a lock for it to work, either.
* in {{garth Nix}}'s KeysToTheKingdom books, there are seven keys, each signifying control over a part of the [[Celestial Bureaucracy The House]], each of which do different things (suchas being able to transform into weapons or gloves and such).

* In season 5 of ''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer]]'', a mystical key to alternate dimensions is transformed into human form, [[spoiler:and the timeline is altered to place her into reality as Buffy's younger sister, Dawn.]]

* Sailor Pluto, guardian of the time gate in ''SailorMoon'', uses a giant key as her weapon. It's so big that when she stands on a floor with it, it reaches her neck.

* In ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', Simon's Core Drill not only activates his mini-mech, it also functions as a drill, albeit a very small one. He uses it to drill through [[spoiler: Lordgenome at the end of the first StoryArc]]. In the CompilationMovie he also uses it to escape from a prison and climb a mech that is holding Nia hostage.

* James Butler Hickok Stark, aka ''SandmanSlim'' stole the key to The Room of Thirteen Doors, which is the only way to Earth from Hell (unless you're {{Lucifer}} himself). We don't know what the key looks like as Stark buried it in his body, but he doesn't need to actually fit it into a lock for it to work, either.

* In season 5 of ''[[{{Buffy}} Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', a mystical key to alternate dimensions is transformed into human form, [[spoiler:and the timeline is altered to place her into reality as Buffy's younger sister, Dawn.]]

* In ''ProblemSleuth'', keys are [[RunningGag sometimes]] weapons. The key is a pistol, the ring of keys is a machine gun, and the [[MacGuffin Megaton Key]] ([[TronLines a particularly cool key in its own right]]) is a set of brass knuckles.

* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'': The Air and Fire temples are both locked with mechanisms which can only opened by the appropriate bending discipline being used on the doors.

** TwilightPrincess' [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100402014830/zelda/images/0/00/Boss_Key_(Twilight_Princess).png Boss Key]] has a more crystalline shape. ''SkywardSword'''s Boss Keys are 3-dimensional golden sculptures that have to be turned the right way before inserting them.

* ''TheLegendOfZelda'''s Boss Keys or Big Keys usually have horns on the back, or horns as the teeth of the key. The ''[[CelShading Cel]][[FanNickname da]]'' games added an eye on the back of the key. TwilightPrincess' [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100402014830/zelda/images/0/00/Boss_Key_(Twilight_Princess).png Boss Key]] has a more crystalline shape.

[[AC: Other]]
* ''{{BIONICLE}}'': the Keystone, which is made of many components each containing instructions on how to awaken [[FirstChurchOfMecha Mata Nui]]. Once all piece were retrieved, it was used to deactivate the barrier surrounding the Codrex.

* In ''{{Coraline}}'', the key to opening the door to the other world has a button-shaped bow.

* ''WarioLand 4'': Keyzer, a ghost with a key for a nose.

* The keys to the [[DoctorWho TARDIS]] look perfectly ordinary, but are given to companions as a sign that they've been fully accepted by the Doctor. More in line with the trope, they've been shown to glow when the TARDIS is active, and been retrofitted to [[WeirdnessCensor make people ignore the person wearing them]].

** ''DoctorWho'' also had the Key to Time, which when assembled looked like a metal cube.

A Cool Key is one that is intended to reflect these values. It may simply be ornate and fancy, or it may have some special attributes that are unusual. The most common type is the skeleton key, which in addition to just [[RuleOfCool being cool]], is associated with the ability to open any lock for historical reasons: skeleton keys were used in antiquity to pass warded locks, which is why warded locks aren't very popular anymore. There are also master keys, which are designed to open any lock in a given set, allowing its possessor unlimited access to the household or area associated with the locks.

* In the ''AdventureTime'' episode "The Enchiridion'', the key to opening the gates to get the {{MacGuffin}} is literally the [[TrollBridge Gate Keeper]], whose hat looks (and functions) just like a giant key.

* ''TheLegendOfZelda'''s Boss Keys or Big Keys usually have horns on the back, or horns as the teeth of the key. The [[ForTheCelOfIt Cel]][[FanNickname da]] games added an eye on the back of the key. TwilightPrincess' [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100402014830/zelda/images/0/00/Boss_Key_(Twilight_Princess).png Boss Key]] has a more crystalline shape.

* ''KingdomHearts'''s Keyblades. Giant key-swords that can unlock any barrier. Doesn't get much cooler than that.

[[AC: RealLife]]
* The occupational badge (optionally) worn by Air Force personnel in Intel career fields is a key superimposed over a globe.
* The Key to the City, an award occasionally bestowed on folks who do particularly good things for a city (such as being the BigDamnHeroes), is a tradition hearkening back to the days when cities were protected by walls with gates that they would lock at night to keep outsiders out. If you had a key to the city, you could come and go as you pleased.

* [[KingdomHearts Keyblades]]. Doesn't get much cooler than that.

[[LockeAndKey http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/LAK.JPG]]
[[caption-width:350:Take your pick.]]

* In her first appearance on ''{{Buffy}}'', Dawn, Buffy's kid sister, was actually a key, but had no idea she was.

* In ''{{Coraline}}'', the key to opening the door to the other world has a button-shaped bow (the movie version at least, don't remember if it's that way in the book or not).