History Main / GenreShift

Genre Shifts are sometimes used in {{Sequel}} stories.

* Creator/DreamWorksAnimation: Originally, [=DreamWorks=] focused on sweeping epics, and more serious stories such as ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt''. These unfortunately fell under the umbrella of AllAnimationIsDisney. Now, barring some of their more [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda recent]] [[WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon efforts]], it can be hard to remember when their films weren't based primarily on pop-culture references and heavily marketed celebrity voice-acting. As alluded before, however, [=DreamWorks=] shifted once again, with its movies once more taking themselves seriously while remaining healthily comedic. While still not quite as serious as ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'', the tone generally leans towards what was seen in ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado''.

* ''Webcomic//{{Sinfest}}'' started off as a comedy strip, albeit one not unwilling to touch upon dramatic and/or political subject matter when the situation called for it. In 2011, the comic started becoming much more overtly political, and by 2019 had abandoned its previous genre altogether in favor of espousing right-wing politics.

* ''ComicBook/TheAvengersJonathanHickman'' starts out seeming like a standard superhero story, albeit one with an unusually large cosmic scale. Than as things progress and [[FromBadToWorse the Incursions and other threats get worse]], it becomes clear you're ''actually'' reading a CosmicHorrorStory that just happens to include superheroes. The [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism contrast]] between the early and later parts of the story is highlighted when Captain America gives a passionate, epic speech about how he saves worlds and will find a way to save everyone. Previous, similar speeches had been treated as rightfully awe-inspiring and hopeful. This speech? Kang bluntly tells Cap that nobody cares and that his HeroicWillpower won't stop the Incursions.

* ''{{WesternAnimation/Mulan}}'' starts off as a typical Franchise/DisneyPrincess Animated Musical... but after we see soldiers sing a cheerful song about the girls worth fighting for, [[spoiler: they find out that the Huns have already destroyed the village they're supposed to save]] and the movie stops being a musical altogether (the characters no longer break into song afterwards, and the last three songs, a TriumphantReprise of "I'll Make a Man out of You", and the end credits music don't count).

* Since-ended Website/{{Keenspot}} comic ''Webcomic/CoolCatStudio'' started out as a mundane office comedy without any hint of unusual goings-on. Then one of the characters underwent AlienAbduction and cloning. Eventually the comic became an all-out FantasyKitchenSink, with arcs centered around ghosts, magic, private eyes, and extraterrestrial war.