History Main / CoolKey

** ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'' / ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'': [=AbareBlack=] transforms by inserting the Dino Harp, which turns into a key-like form, into his Dino Commander; the same holds for its Dino Thunder counterpart, the Brachio Morpher.
** ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' / ''Series/PowerRangersMegaforce'': The Gokaigers have keys based on their many, many [[Franchise/SuperSentai predecessors]], allowing them to mimic their powers (basically, keys are to Gokaiger what cards are to Series/KamenRiderDecade). The Mega Rangers used their own versions. Both series also had a special Gold Anchor Key that, inserted into the bottom, activated the Silver Rangers' Gold Mode.

* ''Film/ReturnToOz'': Mombi's ruby key to unlock the cabinets containing her various heads. Dorothy has to steal this key to steal the Powder of Life.

* Downplayed in ''Literature/TheFamousFive'' book ''Five Go To Demon's Rocks''. Nine-year-old Tinker always carries the large key to his very own lighthouse with him, as a symbol of his pride in owning a lighthouse. Soon after he has said "I am looking forward to unlocking ''my'' lighthouse with ''my'' key", he finds it has become stiff, and needs Julian to help him unlock it. Later, the key is stolen, and is never recovered.

* Downplayed in ''Literature/FiveGoToDemonsRocks''. Nine-year-old Tinker always carries the large key to his very own lighthouse with him, as a symbol of his pride in owning a lighthouse. Soon after he has said "I am looking forward to unlocking ''my'' lighthouse with ''my'' key", he finds it has become stiff, and needs Julian to help him unlock it. Later, the key is stolen, and is never recovered.

* In something that sounds like it came from a HighFantasy/Sci-Fi crossover, the Internet's DNS service is maintained by [[https://www.icann.org/en/blogs/details/the-problem-with-the-seven-keys-13-2-2017-en seven cryptographic keys]], held by keyholders around the globe. While the rumours that these keys can 'turn off the internet' are just that, the Seven Keys and their keyholders must unite to access the DNS master key, should the service ever be in trouble.

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the ouken is a key to the Palace of the Spirit King. Naturally this made acquiring it, or at least circumventing it's necessity, the goal of several Big Bads. [[spoiler: It's actually stored in the bones of each member of Squad Zero.]]

* In ''Anime/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.

* In ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'', the key to Two-Edge's treasure vault is [[spoiler: hidden in the pommel of Cutter's sword, New Moon]].

*** The TARDIS key may look ordinary ''now'' (and in TheSixties), but back in TheSeventies it looked like [[http://www.doctorwhoprops.co.uk/dw_images/tardis-key2.jpg this]], and in TheEighties like [[http://www.doctorwhoprops.co.uk/dw_images/tardis-key.jpg this]].

* The Website/SCPFoundation has [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-005 SCP-005]], a key that can open any lock in the world, provided the user can find and identify the lock.
** There's also [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-860 SCP-860]], which when used inside of coordinates which appear randomly on the key's blade to open a door, will cause the door to open to a mysterious forest clearing dubbed SCP-860-1. The key has also been shown to be able to dematerialize in one place and appear in another.
* The Review Reviewer of ''WebVideo/ThoseDudesWithAHat'' gains [[spoiler: a Keyblade in his battle with sub channel, the Game Tyrant]]

* [[http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2011/07/05/key-guns/ Key Guns]], which are [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin exactly what they sound like]]. Supposedly intended for use by prison guards, enabling them to quell a rowdy prisoner without opening the door by firing ''through'' the lock, most were probably not functional as keys and were probably intended as a disguised holdout firearm or just a gimmicky conversation piece.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Sailor Pluto, guardian of the time gate in ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', uses a giant key called the Garnet Rod as her MagicStaff. It's so big that when she stands on a floor with it, it reaches her neck.

* [[SummonMagic Celestial Spirit Magic]] in ''Anime/FairyTail'' requires keys to open celestial spirit gates, which are basically gateways into their dimension. The manga originally gave these keys fairly plain designs until the anime decorated them more intricately. Shortly after, the manga followed suit.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action ]]

* The Yatagarasu's Key in ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations''. Not only is it very ornately designed, [[spoiler:it also has a built-in knife blade!]]
** [[spoiler:And the blade is also a key.]]

* ''Zelda'''s Boss Keys or Big Keys usually have horns on the back, or horns as the teeth of the key. The CelShading games added an eye on the back of the key.

** In the NES games, Link can collect the Magical Key, an imposing lion-faced key in gold that can open infinite doors.

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

* The translucent blue Crystal Key in the [[VideoGame/TheCrystalKey video game of the same name]]. It's used to interface with [[CoolGate portal devices]] made by the Arkonians, and each plane added to it, which you'll [[DismantledMacGuffin eventually collect]], contains coordinates for the various colony worlds within the game.

* The Key to Hell that Lucifer passes to Dream of the Endless in Creator/NeilGaiman's ''[[ComicBook/TheSandman Sandman]]''.

* The Wiki/SCPFoundation has [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-005 SCP-005]], a key that can open any lock in the world, provided the user can find and identify the lock.

* the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series is full of ornate keys, usually with a fancy design or engraving that shows which doors they can unlock

* In ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', Tucker's sword, a legendary binding artifact, has the second function of being the key to the hangar of a cool spaceship.

* The key to {{Superman}}'s Fortress of Solitude is [[http://superman.wikia.com/wiki/File:Superman187.JPG a huge thing]] that only he can lift; it's also used as an aircraft path marker.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' had at least 20 standard types of magical keys, each with its own powers.
** Adventure X2 ''Castle Amber'': The CoolGate "The Gate of the Silver Keys" can be opened only by three silver keys found at various places in the Castle.

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* The silver key discovered by Cynthia at the beginning of The ''Webcomic/CarawayCrew''.
** Appears in its SoftReboot ''Webcomic/CarawayTalesOfLucidity'' as well, angel wings and all.

* In ''Webcomic/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.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', the Skeleton Key has the power to open anything from doors to abstract things like hidden potential inside a person. Unfortunately, in the hands of the player, all the Key does is function as an unbreakable lockpick (which is pretty handy), but you only get the key for a little while unless you decide to not complete the quest to turn it in. Plus, there’s a perk that makes your lockpicks unbreakable anyway, so it’s really only useful until you get that.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', the Skeleton Key has the power to open anything from doors to abstract things like hidden potential inside a person. Unfortunately, in the hands of th eplayer, all the Key does is function as an unbreakable lockpick (which is pretty handy), but you only get the key for a little while unless you decide to not complete the quest to turn it in.

* In the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', the villainous Locksmith had a large, elaborate, and rather baroque-looking key that he uses to open any lock, and create "doorways"... dimensional tunnels from one location to another... by way of opening random door. When the heroes captured this "dimensional key", they discovered it was just a prop, and it was the man who had the power all along.

* The Magical Keys (seen above) from ''ComicBook/LockeAndKey''.