History Main / FriendlySkeleton

* Being based on the Day of the Dead, Fiesta from ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' is a polite, friendly, mariachi band leader who happens to be a calavera-themed skeleton, willing to give trumpet lessons and autographs if asked. When he found out the respected Count Moneybone was intending to conquer Skylands, he and his band worked to distract the Count's army while the Skylanders stopped him. It was this act of heroism that led [[BigGood Master Eon]] to make him part of the Skylanders.

Whilst skeletons have the potential to be a little bit creepy, they also have brought us a lot of humor with funny skeleton classic one liner jokes such as "A skeleton walks into a bar and says to the bartender "I'll have a beer please, and a mop". They also bring us really funny puns too like "What is a skeleton's favorite thing to do with their mobile phone? Take skelfies." source: https://www.keeplaughingforever.com/skeleton-jokes

* [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheThreeStooges The Three Stooges]] ran into their share of animated skeletons. Most were more grouchy than evil, but [[IncrediblyLamePun 'Red' Skeleton]] was a friendly if scary guy.

* ''VideoGame/{{Gladius}}'' gives one the chance to recruit an Undead Summoner and an Undead Legionnaire into their gladiator school. They tend to act like their living counterparts, but are cheaper to recruit - as in free.

* An AprilFools update of ''{{VideoGame/Minecraft}}'' added the Friendly Wither, who would heal everyone and make plants grow (unlike its counterpart, who would destroy blocks and kill everyone in sight).
* The Skeleton Merchant from ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' is relatively helpful to the player, however he will not hurt his own kind to help the player.

* ''VideoGame/KingOfDragonPass'' has an event involving [[https://kingofdragonpass.fandom.com/wiki/Bundalini%27s_Skeleton_Musical_Troop Bundalini's All-Skeleton Band]]. Although undead are a ever-present threat for your people, these animate skeletons are harmless and fun.

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' has the skeleton brothers Sans and Papyrus, who are well liked in their MonsterTown and can become friends with the human PlayerCharacter. Papyrus refuses to kill the human even when they're hostile to him, and the player even has the option to go on a date with him. Sans is friendly [[spoiler:unless you choose the genocide route]], and often [[PungeonMaster makes skeleton puns]], much to his brother's annoyance.
* ''VideoGame/FranBow'' gives us Itward, a dapper looking skeleton who shows up on occasion, usually helping the protagonist along the way.
* In ''VideoGame/MoshiMonsters'', the Creepy Crooners are a species of walking skeletons who are quite friendly despite playing scary music.
* ''VideoGame/{{Insaniquarium}}'' has Vert, a friendly skeleton fish who is one of the unlockable pets. He produces coins for you, just like large guppies, but unlike guppies, he doesn't need you to feed him as he's undead.
* Originally a cowardly knight, Sir Daniel Fortesque from ''VideoGame/MediEvil'' is resurrected by the evil wizard Zarok, giving him a chance to redeem himself. Despite his new undead form, he's a heroic, if a bit cowardly, knight, who goes above and beyond to vanquish evils from his kingdom.
* ''VideoGame/CardCityNights1'': The Freezing Ghost. A blue skeleton in a ship's captain costume that you can talk to and play card games with.

* ''VideoGame/DiscworldII'': the intro features a chorus of singing, dancing, friendly skeletons.
* ''VideoGame/KingOfDragonPass'' has an event involving [[https://kingofdragonpass.fandom.com/wiki/Bundalini%27s_Skeleton_Musical_Troop Bundalini's All-Skeleton Band]]. Although undead are a ever-present threat for your people, these animate skeletons are harmless and fun.
* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'': An undead PlayerCharacter can choose heroic and compassionate plot options, just as any other PC, and can crack wise about their skeletal state. Several undead [=NPCs=] are also very friendly, such as Gratiana, a priestess in LaResistance who provides advice and {{healing|hands}} to [[spoiler:[[TheAtoner atone]] for a life of villainy.]]
* Being based on the Day of the Dead, Fiesta from ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' is a polite, friendly, mariachi band leader who happens to be a calavera-themed skeleton, willing to give trumpet lessons and autographs if asked. When he found out the respected Count Moneybone was intending to conquer Skylands, he and his band worked to distract the Count's army while the Skylanders stopped him. It was this act of heroism that led [[BigGood Master Eon]] to make him part of the Skylanders.

* ''VideoGame/GrabbedByTheGhoulies'': Unlike the other skeletons in the game, Mr. Ribs is an apprentice chef who doesn't try to attack Cooper at all.

* In ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall'' it's revealed that [[spoiler: all of the residents of Pottsfield are skeletons wearing vegetable costumes to celebrate the harvest]].

* A twist in one episode of ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall'' reveals the entire population of a town the boys had visited were really skeletons in costumes. They're quite reasonable.

A subtrope of DemBones, Skeletons are often symbols of death, but in recent years especially in much of the West, Skeletons have also become a symbol for revelry and good old fashioned spooky fun. Skeletons in fiction will often be portrayed as funny, jolly, and sometimes clever. They will often dress in dapper suits, and may be graceful and agile. Bone and skeleton puns are almost guaranteed, as are scenes of [[XylophonesForWalkingBones rib cages being used like xylophones]] or skulls being juggled and tossed about. The skeleton in question will usually either be on the hero's side, be the hero, or at least be a [[AffablyEvil really fun antagonists]]. Can often be a SkeletalMusician.

* One HalloweenEpisode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocoyo}}'' features a group of dancing skeletons part of the Halloween Theatre organized by Pocoyo and Nina. To the (frightning) surprise of all, the skeletons aren't managed by any of the characters, but later they discovered the skeletons are part of a travelling theatre company and they made a show for Pocoyo and friends.

[[quoteright:230:[[WesternAnimation/RubyGloom https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skullboy_5.png]]]]

* ''Franchise/{{Anpanman}}'': Horrorman the skeleton is extremely friendly and easygoing, and on good terms with most if not all of the other characters. This turns out to be a bit of a problem, though, because he's so personable and chummy that he treats ''everyone'' as his best friend and will cheerfully help them with whatever they need help with... even if the person he's helping is, say, a major villain.

Whilst skeleton's have the potential to be a little bit creepy, they also have brought us a lot of humor with funny skeleton classic one liner jokes such as "A skeleton walks into a bar and says to the bartender "I'll have a beer please, and a mop". They also bring us really funny puns too like "What is a skeleton's favorite thing to do with their mobile phone? Take skelfies." source: https://www.keeplaughingforever.com/skeleton-jokes

This trope is especially common in works centering around [[HalloweenSpecial Halloween]], or that have a decidedly {{Goth}} aesthetic, so friendly skeletons are especially likely to be found in {{Halloweentown}}. They can also be an example of OurMonstersAreDifferent. Related to ChummyMummy, FriendlyZombie, FriendlyGhost, and FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire. If the skeleton is the GrimReaper, it's also DontFearTheReaper. Can often overlap with StingyJack.

A subtrope of DemBones, Skeletons are often symbols of death, but in recent years especially in much of the West, Skeletons have also become a symbol for revelry and good old fashioned spooky fun. Skeletons in fiction will often be portrayed as funny, jolly, and sometimes clever. They will often dress in dapper suits, and may be graceful and agile. Bone and skeleton puns are almost guaranteed, as are scenes of [[XylophonesforWalkingBones rib cages being used like xylobones]] or skulls being juggled and tossed about. The skeleton in question will usually either be on the hero's side, be the hero, or at least be a [[AffablyEvil really fun antagonists]]. Can often be a SkeletalMusician.

* Jack Skellington from ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' is possibly the most well-known example in most regions, being defined as excitable, eager, though sometimes self centered and impulsive.

* ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'' of course features quite a few, including the SkeletalMusician who tells us the story of our titular Corpse Bride. In song, of course.

* The Pakahk from Cree mythology are the animate bones of people who died from starvation, or who were cursed as a result of some misdeed in life. They have a chilling cackle, but sometimes they will help people with healing or hunting.

* There's the classic animated short ''WesternAnimation/TheSkeletonDance'' which is possibly one of the earliest examples of this trope in pop culture, and invented and popularized many tropes associated with skeletons in general, especially within Animation.
* Skeletor from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' while not exactly kind, is definitely hammy enough to qualify. This is especially true in the ChristmasSpecial, where he becomes overwhelmed with Christmas Spirit, much to his confusion.

This trope is especially common in works centering around [[HalloweenSpecial Halloween]], or that have a decidedly {{Goth}} aesthetic, so friendly skeletons are especially likely to be found in {{Halloweentown}}. They can also be an example of OurMonstersAreDifferent. Related to FriendlyZombie, FriendlyGhost, and FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire. If the skeleton is the GrimReaper, it's also DontFearTheReaper. Can often overlap with StingyJack.

* Being based on the Day of the Dead, Fiesta from ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' is a polite, friendly, mariachi band leader who happens to be a calavera-themed skeleton. When he found out the respected Count Moneybone was intending to conquer Skylands, he and his band worked to distract the Count's army while the Skylanders stopped him. It was this act of heroism that led [[BigGood Master Eon]] to make him part of the Skylanders.

* Brook from ''Anime/OnePiece'' is a living skeleton and all around jovial guy. He has a fondness for skull jokes such as "I can't believe my eyes. Then again, I don't have eyes to begin with! [[SignatureLaugh YOHOHOHOHO]]!"