History Main / CumbersomeClaws

** Kassen is [[ForcedTransformation turned into]] a yinglet, a type of creature with clawed fingers. At one point he writes about wanting to ball his hand into a fist to punch someone, but that would just jab the claws into puffy paw pads he has now. He also initially has trouble holding a quill, making his handwriting sloppier-looking than it used to be until he adjusts.

** Kassen is [[ForcedTransformation turned into]] a yinglet, a type of creature with clawed fingers. At one point he writes about wanting to ball his hand into a fist to punch someone, but that would just jab the claws into puffy paw pads he has now.

* ''Webcomic/OutOfPlacers'': The Baxxid are serpentine insectoids with spiky limbs that, according to Ran Ste-Su G'Mindel's Val Salian Regional Field Guide, "are suited for ripping apart large, armored plains-beasts in an instant." But these are not gripping limbs, so despite having memories and [[CunningLinguist language-learning skills]] that greatly surpass those of humans, they cannot make tools/structures or write things down like other civilized races. They have to rely on human servants to do those things for them.

* ''Webcomic/OutOfPlacers'': The Baxxid are serpentine insectoids with spiky limbs that, according to Ran Ste-Su G'Mindel's Val Salian Regional Field Guide, "are suited for ripping apart large, armored plains-beasts in an instant." But these are not gripping limbs, so despite having memories and [[ThePolyglot language-learning skills]] that greatly surpass those of humans, they cannot make tools/structures or write things down like other civilized races. They have to rely on human servants to do those things for them.

Can be a form of BlessedWithSuck (if the character didn't always have the claws) or CripplingOverspecialization (especially if the character can't trim, transform, retract, or otherwise remove the claws). Often a DeconstructiveParody of WolverineClaws. May overlap with DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength, though it's not required for ''dangerous'' claws to also be ''strong'' claws. Also compare AndCallHimGeorge, when characters of this nature try to show affection to others and accidentally hurt them.

* ''Film/FantasticFour2005'': After Ben Grimm gets turned into a RockMonster, his fiancée Debbie can't accept his new appearance and rejects him. She makes her intent clear in the aftermath of the Brooklyn Bridge scene by leaving her engagement ring on the ground and running off. Ben then tries to pick up the ring, but his now rocky fingers can't grip it. Reed Richards picks it up for him and swears to reverse the transformation.

Cumbersome Claws are often portrayed in a humorous light because of the juxtaposition of characters trying and failing to do normal actions with abnormal hands. This is particularly true when a non-clawed character has a FreakyFridayFlip with a clawed character and suddenly has to deal with the new impediment. But there are also times when such situations are PlayedForDrama, especially if it involves a would-be CuddleBug who can't safely cuddle others or a TragicMonster who accidentally injures or even kills people with its claws.

* ''Literature/AccelWorld'': This is something Kuroyukihimi laments about her Brain Burst avatar. Focused around attack, Black Rose's hands are swords, completely incapable of anything but cutting her opponents to ribbons. She's unable to shake hands, clap friends on the back, or even casually hug people unlike the vast majority of other avatars, including those also infused by the black color. This actually extends from her hidden fear that she herself is incapable of doing anything but causing harm to those she loves, manifested by the Accelerated World's programming.

* ''LightNovel/AccelWorld'': This is something Kuroyukihimi laments about her Brain Burst avatar. Focused around attack, Black Rose's hands are swords, completely incapable of anything but cutting her opponents to ribbons. She's unable to shake hands, clap friends on the back, or even casually hug people unlike the vast majority of other avatars, including those also infused by the black color. This actually extends from her hidden fear that she herself is incapable of doing anything but causing harm to those she loves, manifested by the Accelerated World's programming.

* Buwaro of Webcomic/SlightlyDamned has claws instead of fingers, writing requires him to tie a pencil to one of his claws.

* ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'': A behind-the-scenes example actually influenced the design of Franchise/{{Godzilla}} in this film. The special effects team found that the length of the eponymous {{Kaiju}}'s feet and talons made it surprisingly tricky to animate his walk cycle. To compensate, they redesigned him with short, almost elephant-like digits that wouldn't get "snagged" on stuff, which would stay mostly unchanged in later Franchise/MonsterVerse entries.

Suddenly, those claws become an encumbrance rather than nifty toys. You can't pick up delicate objects without cutting or crushing them. You have to be careful when eating finger food lest you stab yourself in the mouth. Any handshake becomes an unintentional CrushingHandshake if you don't just slice the other person's hand off entirely. And you can't touch books, keyboards, or phones without poking holes in them.

* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries

* ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'': Shortly after escaping from William Stryker's facility and taking refuge in an old couple's farmhouse, Logan decides to extend and retract his claws to test out the new [[MadeOfIndestructium adamantium]] plating on them. He then attempts to test his new abilities in the farm's bathroom only to accidentally slice a sink and a radiator into half.

* The title character of ''Film/EdwardScissorhands'' is an ArtificialHuman whose dying creator was in the process of finishing his body with normal human hands, but Edward accidentally cut up the hands with the scissor-and-shear limbs he already had, leaving him stuck with those. He's able to do surprisingly artistic things with his scissor hands like bush sculpting and hairstyling, but he also has mishaps like puncturing a WackyWaterbed and electrocuting himself when he stabs a microphone cable. His own face is CoveredWithScars because of all his attempts at self-care with his sharp digits. And he always has to be careful when it comes to physical affection with others.

Let's say you're a character with claws. Perhaps you're a warrior or slasher with WolverineClaws, a robot or GiantEnemyCrab with PowerPincers, or a vicious beast with long, sharp nails. When it comes to fighting, hunting, and killing, your claws make it a breeze to slice, slash, and crush whoever and whatever get in your way.

** The RX-160S Byarlant Custom that appeared in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' was even less able to use weapons: instead of the small finger-like claws of the original Byarlant, the Byarlant Custom's forearms were gigantic claws capable of grappling with enemy Mobile Suits. However, unlike the original Byarlant this wasn't considered a flaw: the Byarlant Custom's new function was rapid assault, and so the claw arms (coupled with how the beam sabers were now emitted from the now wrist-mounted beam cannons) were deemed conducive to its function.

* ''ComicBook/{{Toxin}}'': Razorfist keeps a small army of SelfHarm-addicted children to attend to him, since his lower arms are replaced by blades. He's called out on it by Toxin saying he removed his arms to force the responsibility of feeding, clothing, and cleaning himself onto others.

* ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'': Shortly after escaping from William Stryker's facility and taking refuge in an old couple's farmhouse, Logan decides to extend and retract his claws to test out the new [[MadeOfIndestructium adamantium]] plating on them. He then attempts testing his new abilities in the farm's bathroom only to accidentally slice a sink and a radiator into half.

* Human-turned-demon [[spoiler:Akira]] in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' is described to awkwardly manipulate his old smartphone with his clawed hands, but manages it.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Zoidberg has a tendency to be rather clumsy at times with his claws. A notable example in "The 30% Iron Chef" where he accidentally snaps the Professor's bottled ship in two and fails to fix it due to his claws exerting so much force.

-->'''Harold:''' Well maybe we wouldn't sound so bad if some of us weren't trying to play with ''big, meaty claws''!\\

* ''Film/{{Azumi}}'': The second movie, ''Death or Love'', has Azumi being menaced by a group of ninjas armed with WolverineClaws strapped to their wrists, allowing them to climb buildings, leap all over the place and perform all kinds of summersaults without becoming loose. But this backfires for the ninja leader - as he missed a swing at Azumi, the leader [[LeftStuckAfterAttack accidentally stabs his claws into a guardrail]], and quickly gets his entire hand hacked off by Azumi before she kills him.

* ''ComicBook/MegaManArchieComics'': This is actually a problem for Crash Man, who's hands terminate in spikes that fire his crash bomber. Mega Man even gets in a dig on Crash about that during their initial fight. After being rebuilt Crash Man is seen in a few background panels futilely trying to help rebuild Wily's fortress, much to his growing frustration. When he finally confronts Wily about this design flaw, he's informed that his arms do actually transform into hands, Wily had simply not informed him as it wasn't needed for the original plan he'd been part of. And afterwards Wily had simply forgotten.

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'': Since nearly all the LEGO mini figures have pincer-like hands, Bad Cop when making sarcastic AirQuotes has to verbally explain that's what he's doing since otherwise it just looks like he's waving his hands in the air.

-->'''Alex:''' What is wrong with me?! ''(clutches his head)'' ...Owwww.

[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]

* ''Series/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents2017'': One of Count Olaf's henchmen, the Hook-Handed Man, [[MeaningfulName has a pair of hook-like prosthetics for hands]]. While these prosthetics are far more useful than typical hooks for hands, they can still be incredibly cumbersome at times, and he often has difficulty with grabbing/holding objects. Occasionally, he has to [[HandyMouth hold objects in his mouth]] while trying to place them into his prosthetic hands.

* ''Webcomic/CursedPrincessClub'': Princess Thermidora is a lobster who was cursed into a human form, but her lobster pincers stayed the same and became an occasional hindrance. For instance, she once split a Puss in Boots hand puppet in half when she tried shoving a claw into it. Another time, she stuffed her claws into her pockets to hide them from someone who didn't know the true nature of the Cursed Princess Club, but when she tripped she shot her arms out to break her fall and ripped the sides of her dress open.
* In ''WebComic/RainBurn'' after Saida [[FreakyFridayFlip switches bodies]] with Brent the volcano dragon she has some trouble adjusting to his claws. Accidentally [[https://rainburn.virmir.com/comic.php?page=71 popping]] Roko's balloon body for one.

-->'''Professor''': (''after swatting Zoidberg away from the bottle'') For the last time, Zoidberg! Look with your eyes, not your claws!

* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "Band Geeks". After a failed band practice, Harold blames their failure on Mr. Krabs attempting to play his instrument with claws. He takes offense to this, causing a fight to break out.
-->'''Harold:''' Well maybe we wouldn't sound so bad if some of us weren't trying to play with ''big, meaty claws''!
-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' What did you say, punk?!
-->'''Harold:''' ''Big, meaty, '''CLAWS'''!''
-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Well, these claws aren't just for attractin' mates!
* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'': One episode sees Spidey and Wolverine swap bodies. Spidey has some trouble with Wolverine's claws. Trouble that involves him stabbing himself. A lot. Thank goodness for those healing factors!

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* ''ComicBook/Spiderman2099'': Miguel is glad that his retractable claws [[RequiredSecondaryPowers reflexively retract when he touches his own skin]] because otherwise going to the bathroom would be a huge chore... But he's not quite as lucky with other tasks. While he's still getting used to his claws, it was a very common occurrence for him to wake up with shredded sheets or to accidentally tear his clothes.

* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'': One episode sees Spidey and Wolverine swap bodies. Spidey has some? trouble with Wolverine?s claws. Trouble that involves him stabbing himself. A lot. Thank goodness for those healing factors!