History Main / FromBeyondTheFourthWall

* TheDarkTower: In StephenKing's Dark Tower series, the characters meet StephenKing to discover his impact on their lives and get him back on track writing the series.

'''Note:''' instances where the main character is portrayed as the author of a work (such as ''TheCuriousIncidentOfTheDogInTheNightTime''), alternate realities and dimensions, references to real world events (such as 9/11), and anything else where it is not clear that something from our world is ''directly'' intervening in the plot (in a way that is BreakingTheFourthWall) do not count!

* Jon English recently played the Pirate King in a production of ''ThePiratesOfPenzance''. In this performance of [["O Better Far to Live and Die"]], he ends up sword-fighting with the conductor halfway through.

* At one point in MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail, a monster that was chasing the heroes disappeared when, "suddenly, the animator suffered a fatal heart attack!"

** The cartoon "The Cat's Tale" has a mouse-traumatized cat telling the hero's origin and his subsequent battle against a giant cat. The cowardly cat then tells us how he's show Mighty Mouse a thing or two, only for the animator to draw Mighty Mouse floating right behind him. The cat runs off in fright.

** The cartoon "The Cat's Tale" has a mouse-trauatized cat telling the hero's origin and his subsequent battle against a giant cat. The cowardly cat then tells us how he's show Mighty Mouse a thing or two, only for the animator to draw Mighty Mouse floating right behind him. The cat runs off in fright.

Sometimes related to NoFourthWall, though only in cases where the interaction ''directly'' alters the work in a physical way. For examples where the fourth wall is internal and the story affected is a ShowWithinAShow see IntrepidFictioneer. Related to DeusExMachina, though [[{{Anvilicious}} far less subtle]]. Could be considered a SuperTrope of AuthorPowers and, occasionally, CreatorCameo. Not to be confused with RefugeeFromTVLand, MarySue characters, AudienceParticipation, or ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve. ''Really'' not to be confused with regular examples of BreakingTheFourthWall, if a character simply talks to the viewer it doesn't count!

* In ''TheBabyOfMacon'', Cosimo de' Medici acts as both an audience member to the stage production as well as a character. He occasionally steps onto the stage and interacts with the characters, influencing the plot. Because he is an aristocrat, it makes sense that the players would adapt the play on the fly to whatever Cosimo suggests. The film is all about the interaction between various layers of reality in an artistic work.

* In {{Peter Pan}}, there are moments where J.M. Barrie himself comments on the story, once even going so far to consider telling Mrs. Darling of the imminent return of her children, only deciding not to at her insistence.

[[folder:VideoGames]]

* {{TheImpossibleQuiz}} has a few puzzles which require manipulating the program window.

* In the first {{Metal Gear Solid}}, you are told that you need to find Meryl's codec number so you can get in contact with her. Where is this codec number found? The back of your CD case.

[[folder:WebComics]]
* In the ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'' our favourite rogue actually leaves the comic to [[spoiler:steal a giant diamond out of her character bio]], causing [[spoiler:said diamond to actually vanish from the page]].

[[folder:WebOriginal]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

* ''{{Inkheart}}'' explores this in great depth.

* The ''LoveHina Again'' OVAs have KenAkamatsu, the mangaka (writer and artist) of the original manga, lending some of the girls money, as well as a boat. This is, in both respects, a textbook example of this trope.

* ''Dungeons & Dragons'' Adventure WG7 Castle Greyhawk. One of the dungeon levels has the author of that level being omnipotent and interacting with the PCs as they explore the level.

'''Note 2:''' YuGiOhTheAbrigedSeries is NOT the TropeNamer.

[[quoteright:339:[[Webcomic/{{Homestuck}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BOOYAH_1761.PNG]]]]
[[caption-width-right:339: [[{{Homestuck}} Andrew Hussie]] to the rescue!]]

* The LoveHina Again OVAs have KenAkamatsu, the mangaka (writer and artist) of the original manga, lending some of the girls money, as well as a boat. This is, in both respects, a textbook example of this trope.

* There are a few authors who make a joke of this

* In the bugs bunny cartoon, Rabbit Rampage (a {{remake}} of "DuckAmuck.") BugsBunny fights with the animator, represented by a brush that does all sorts of unpleasant things to him. Subverted in that at the end it's revealed to be Elmer Fudd.

[[folder:WebComics]]
* In the ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'' our favourite rogue actually leaves the comic to [[spoiler:steal a giant diamond out of her character bio]], causing [[spoiler:said diamond to actually vanish from the page]].
* Andrew Hussie literally breaks into ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' through his "Fifth Wall", which he designed to separate him from the other omniscient narrator, Doc Scratch, in order to force [[FillerArc the story]] [[AbortedArc to progress]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]
* The flash series AnimatorVsAnimation sees a flash artist pitted against their animated creations.
[[/folder]]

* In one {{Popeye}} short, Popeye is out of spinach. We cut to a live-action child watching the short in a movie theater, who reaches into a grocery bag and pulls out a can of spinach and throws it into the film.

-->Cut out the rough stuff once in a while and act more refined. Be like ladies and gentlemen. That's the natural thing to do. (signed) Popeye FanClub. P.S. Now go on with the picture.

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' stage play (and audio adaptation) "Seven Keys to Doomsday", the two companions, Jimmy and Jenny, are (supposedly) theatregoers who have come to watch the play. Close to the beginning, the injured Doctor calls for help; they run to him, and become part of the action.

* The flash series CreatorVsCreation sees a flash artist pitted against their animated creations.

* In ''TheBabyOfMacon'', Cosimo de' Medici acts as both an audience member to the stage production as well as a character. He occasionally steps onto the stage and interacts with the characters, influencing the plot. As an aristocrat, it makes sense that the players would adapt the play on the fly to whatever Cosimo suggests. The film is all about the interaction between various layers of reality in an artistic work.