History Main / Fireball

This is a disambiguation page for "Fireball". Choose from one of the following:

* For the series of {{Anime}} shorts depicting the robot girl Drossel and her gigantic, one-eyed robotic servant, see [[Anime/{{Fireball}} Anime/Fireball]].
* For the 1971 PhysicalPinballTable from Creator/{{Bally}}, see [[Pinball/{{Fireball}} Pinball/Fireball]].
* For ''actual'' fireballs, see {{Fireballs}}, KillItWithFire and PlayingWithFire.

* For the series of {{Anime}} shorts depicting the robot girl Drossel and her gigantic, one-eyed robotic servant, [[Anime/{{Fireball}} click here.]]
* For the 1971 PhysicalPinballTable from Creator/{{Bally}}, [[Pinball/{{Fireball}} click here.]]
* For ''actual'' fireballs, see KillItWithFire and PlayingWithFire.

[[redirect:Anime/{{Fireball}}]]

->'''Gedächtnis:''' ''Did you learn capoeira?''\\
'''Drossel:''' ''It's karate.''

[[quoteright:360:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fireball_anime.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:360:Gedächtnis & Drossel]]
''Fireball'' is a series of anime shorts depicting the antics of {{robot girl}} Drossel and her gigantic, one-eyed robotic servant Gedächtnis, who dwell in a mansion in the center of a huge robot city, somewhere in the 49th century. Later the duo is accompanied by Schadenfreude, a robotic monkey of sorts.

Drossel looks like the robotized version of a pigtailed [[TheOjou spoiled princess]] and pretty much behaves that way, complete with stylized poses. The discussions she has with Gedächtnis are generally nonsensical, with lots of [[RapidFireComedy emphasis on speed of delivery]] and [[SeinfeldianConversation flights of fancy]], although occasionally they [[ContemplateOurNavels become more serious in tone]].

The series was produced by Toei in cooperation with Disney Studios and is notable for the usage of pure 3D imagery, in contrast with other anime where this is often blended with cel shading or other types of animation.

A second season, subtitled ''Charming'', aired in [[Spring2011Anime April 2011]].

Don't confuse with {{Fireballs}}. Or [[KatsuhiroOtomo Fire Ball]].
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!!This series provides examples of:
* AfterTheEnd: Or is it before?
* AnimatedActors: The ''Making of Fireball'' DVD special has interviews with both Drossel and Gedächtnis' "actors" - Drossel is a cheerful GenkiGirl who has [[MotorMouth trouble keeping quiet on set]] and [[WhoWritesThisCrap doesn't always understand the script]], while Gedächtnis is a gravel-throated ManOfAThousandVoices who hates filming and hadn't bothered reading the book ''Fireball'' is supposedly based on.
-->'''Gedächtnis:''' The original? Never read it. Rather than going by the original, I made the character my own.\\
''[{{Beat}}]''\\
'''Gedächtnis:''' ...You think I'm just being lazy, yeah?
* ArtEvolution: Drossel and Gedächtnis have both received updated character designs in ''Charming'' -- Gedächtnis in particular is significantly more detailed. These may simply be examples of older hardware, however, considering that ''Charming'' is a prequel to ''Fireball''.
* BadassCape: Drossel wears one in an episode of ''Charming''.
* BolivianArmyEnding: Implied in the last episode.
* BookEnds: The first episode of Charming starts with a dream Drossel has of standing in a classroom, in front of a chalkboard cluttered with writing. In the last episode of Charming, the classroom and chalboard is seen again as a representation of Drossel's memory and loss of which as she wipes the chalkboard clean. More importantly, however, is Drossel's wiping away "Gedächtnis", and the first season's RunningGag of Drossel's inability to remember Gedächtnis' name. When Drossel mentions that this might happen, Gedächtnis laughs. The fool.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Gedächtnis does this one time to [[spoiler:disable the laugh track]].
** [[CameraAbuse Quite literally.]]
* CatchPhrase: "Incidentally, my name is Gedächtnis." In Charming: "M'lady, it's time for the ball."
* DolphinsDolphinsEverywhere: Mentioned in the first episode. Also Drossel's preferred way of CountingSheep.
* DropTheWashtub
* {{Dystopia}}: The imagery of the town gives that feel.
* [=~Everything's Better With Monkeys ~=]: Yes, even robotic ones.
* ExpressiveHair: In ''Charming'', Drossel's "pigtails" have been replaced with a single articulated ponytail-like... thing.
** It's kinda like a third leg attached to the back of her head. Creepy...
* TheFaceless: After Drossel has her Juno-XIII face taken off (to be refitted with the Juno-XIV), whatever was beneath is conspicuously not shown.
* FlowerMotifs: Blue Roses. Drossel gets one for her birthday. Apparently they are biohazardous. Also, the antiquated puppet representing human beings contain blue rose petals, and blue roses are components in Drossel's "bed"/stasis chamber.
* GenreSavvy: At one points Drossel remembers having seen an anime.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In episode 2 of ''Charming'', Drossel makes an entrance by slowly sliding down metal poles and finishes it off with [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean some stretching...]]
* GratuitousEnglish: The game board robot in ''Charming'' episode 9 says "WOULD YOU PLAY A GAME?"
* GratuitousGerman
* HurricaneOfPuns
* HartmanHips: ''Charming'' Drossel (AKA Juno-XIII) design sports one of these.
* {{Keigo}}: Gedächtnis speaks in this fashion, to underline his butler-like persona.
* LaughTrack: One starts playing in one episode, much to Drossel's dismay.
* LonelyRichKid: At times Drossel gives that impression.
* MeaningfulName: Gedächtnis is German for "memory". Schadenfreude is German for ... {{Schadenfreude}}.
* {{Meido}}: The mansion apparently has thousands, but [[spoiler:they are all invisible]].
* MyNameIsNotDurwood: See the RunningGag about Gedächtnis' name.
* NecktieHeadband: Gedächtnis during the "flower viewing" in the Charming finale. He does not [[LampshadeWearing appear to be drunk]] otherwise.
* NotSoStoic: Gedächtnis actually ''screams aloud'' when Drossel shows him that the human vehicle has [[spoiler:"Warning" written on it]].
* TheOjou: Drossel. And how!
* OncePerEpisode: See the RunningGag about Gedächtnis' name.
* OverlyLongName: The 19th Lord of Uranos' Kingdom's Tempest Domain, Drossel Juno Vierzehntes Heizregister Fürstin von Flügel.
** AKA Juno-XIV.
* RapidFireComedy
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: Despite being a robot, Drossel appararently has a (deceased) father. She also has some human quirks, like arrogance.
* RobotGirl: Drossel, but no effort has been made to make her humanly cute.
** That's not to say that [[FetishFuel she]] ''[[WhatMeasureIsANonCute isn't]]'' [[FetishFuel cute, though...]]
* RunningGag:
** Every episode, Drossel summons Gedächtnis using the wrong name. Gedächtnis reminds her of it only for her to tell him to not interrupt her and then get her wrong name wrong.
--->'''Drossel:''' Hey, Durum Semolina! Durum Semolina, where are you?\\
'''Gedächtnis:''' Yes, milady? Incidentally, my name is Gedächtnis--\\
'''Drossel:''' Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking, Barcelona.
** Also, Drossel referring to her obvious capoeira movements as "karate".
* SeinfeldianConversation: Quite.
* ShoutOut: Several, but most notably to ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''.
** Most of the alternative names for Gedächtnis that Drossel comes up with also qualify.
** Let's not forget about the reference to ''HitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' while discussing dolphins (i.e. humans are number 3 on the intelligence scale).
** The training program in ''Charming'' episode 2 is a reference to the one Paul Atreides undergoes in {{Dune}}.
** In episode 8 of ''Charming'', Gedächtnis claims that if she so chooses, Drossel can [[{{Film/Superman}} reverse the earth's rotation to turn back time.]]
** The human-puppet throwing the [[StarTrek Vulcan Salute]] ("peace and prosperity") in the Charming finale. Maybe the Charming Mankind did show up for the Ball.
** Drossel starts humming [[{{ptitleh3elkyxdypyw}} Daisy Bell]] as she is being prepared for stasis at the end of ''Charming''.
** On meeting a human in Fireball Charming ep 1, Drossel holds out her hand as if for a handshake, then uses the Curwen hand gestures from the movie CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind.
* TimeSkip: Years and years pass between each episode. It doesn't affect much.
* TitleDrop: In the first season, "Fireball" refers to a plan devised by Windstille regarding the war with mankind. In the second season, "Charming" refers to the stage of mankind that will be devoid of senseless warmongering.
* WidgetSeries: Maybe not as weird as some, but still quite... out there.
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* MeaningfulName: Gedächtnis is German for "memory".

** On meeting a human in Fireball Charming, Drossel holds out her hand as if for a handshake, then uses the Curwen hand gestures from the movie CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind.

* ShoutOut: Several, but most notably to ''TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''.

** The training program in ''Charming'' episode 2 is a reference to the one Paul Atreides undergoes {{Dune}}.

** The training program in ''Charming'' episode 2 is a reference to the one Paul Atreides undergoes {{''Dune''}}.

** The training program in ''Charming'' episode 2 is a reference to the one Paul Atreides undergoes ''Dune''.

* TheOjou: Drossel.

** The human-puppet throwing the Vulcan Salute ("peace and prosperity") in the Charming finale. Maybe the Charming Mankind did show up for the Ball.

A second season, subtitled ''Charming'', began airing in April 2011.

* NotSoStoic: Gedächtnis actually ''screams aloud'' when Drossel shows him that the human vehicle has a "Warning" written on it.

** In episode 8 of ''Charming'', Gedächtnis claims that is she so chooses, Drossel can [[{{Film/Superman}} reverse the earth's rotation to turn back time.]]

* CatchPhrase: "Incidentally, my name is Gedächtnis."