History Main / HyperactiveSprite

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' had sprites that were never still (except when paralysed or dead) until ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'', when it went full 3D. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 [[VideoGameRemake remake]] of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'' still kept the series' traditional "move in place" animation, despite the fact that it's completely in 3D. It looks bizarre, to say the least.

** Everyone in the ''VideoGame/PokemonTradingCardGame'' UsefulNotes/GameBoy game walks in place in time to the music. The exception is the player character, but you can make even him do it if you turn to face a wall and leave him facing it.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Glider}} PRO'', the fish enemy swims constantly back and forth in its bowl when it's not leaping out.

* A lot of fighting games, especially in the 16 bit era. While most characters just bounce a little due to represent them in a fighting stance, there are typically some characters, (or entire games) where the movement is so stylized that it counts as this.
** Elena from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'', being a [[UsefulNotes/{{Capoeira}} capoeira]] practitioner, has a full ''ginga'' movement as her idle animation.
** ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting's'' Robert Garcia is known to employ these. He's a special example because he's had different fighting stances in almost each of his appearances. Arguably the most extreme instance comes from his appearance in ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' where he almost seems to be dancing in his idle stance.

** Most characters manage to stand fairly still when idle, but the Succubus and Nekomata characters... [[{{Gainaxing}} well]], don't.

* Some ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'' games, notably ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', have this on the map screen. Mario appears to walk in place. He stays perfectly still when not doing anything in-game, however. Not even an IdleAnimation. The "walking in place" animation is referenced in ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'', where Mario is seen frantically running in place right before accessing the very first level out of panic over Peach being kidnapped (though he stands still after that).

** Most characters manage to stand fairly still when idle, but the Succubus and Nekomata characters... [[JigglePhysics well]], don't.

* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'': Most characters manage to stand fairly still when idle, but the Succubus and Nekomata characters... [[GagBoobs well]], don't.
** A more traditional example is seen with recurring OptionalBoss Pringer X, who walks in place. Asagi also does it in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|CursedMemories}}'', her sprite and animations being ripped directly from her first appearance in ''VideoGame/MakaiKingdom'', where everybody did it.
** Also of note is a bat-demon NPC in ''Disgaea 2'' who comments that he's exhausted and just wants to land already, but can't because they didn't make him any non-flying sprites.

** A more traditional example is seen with recurring BonusBoss Pringer X, who walks in place. Asagi also does it in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|CursedMemories}}'', her sprite and animations being ripped directly from her first appearance in ''VideoGame/MakaiKingdom'', where everybody did it.

* Your critters in all three ''VideoGame/{{Patapon}}'' games. Also applies for the enemy tribes. The only ones who avert this are the Uberheroes/Dark Heroes.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble'': Returns from the previous game, but only Kiddy can pick up the barrels. In the SNES version, the inactive Kong always does this. Unfortunately, this also causes a glitch where pressing Select will do nothing unless you are moving.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble'': Returns from the previous game, but only Kiddy can pick up the barrels.
* HyperactiveSprite: In the SNES version, the inactive Kong always does this. Unfortunately, this also causes a glitch where pressing Select will do nothing unless you are moving.

[[AC:Rumble [=McSkirmish=]: This is as STILL...as I can STAY!]]
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''

* Jive from ''Literature/TheThiefOfAlways'' is described as this: "Every muscle in his body seemed to be in motion: tics, jigs, and jitterings ... Even his hair ... seemed to hear some crazed rhythm."

* The king/queen/prince in ''Series/RetroGameMaster'' are done in this fashion, to invoke an old ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' style.

* Mocked in ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''; when 16-bit fighting game character Rumble [=McSkirmish=] is brought to life in "Fight Fighters", he is physically incapable of standing still.

* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'': Most characters manage to stand fairly still when idle, but the Succubus and Nekomata characters... [[GagBoobs well]], [[{{Gainaxing}} don't]].

One of the reasons is the designers' unwillingness to make separate "standing still" sprites for the characters, whether out of memory limitations or laziness.

** ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting's'' Robert Garcia is known to employ these. He's a special example because he's had different fighting stances in almost each of his appearances. Arguably the most extreme instance comes from his appearance in ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' where he almost appears to be dancing in his idle stance.

* In the SNES version of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble'', the inactive Kong would always do this. Unfortunately, this also caused a glitch where pressing Select would do nothing unless you were moving.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' and sequels.

* Some characters in ''VideoGame/{{Action 52}}'' games start constantly walking in place after shooting. Examples include main characters in Non-Human and French Baker.

* In just about every two dimensional ''{{Franchise/Metroid}}'' game, the morph ball is perpetually spinning, even in place.

* ''VideoGame/{{Wolfenstein 3D}}'' and ''VideoGame/BlakeStone'' first averted this (despite both preceding ''Doom''), although you'll only see it when sneaking up on enemies, since once they spot you they never stop running around to find you.

* In a subtle way, every NPC from ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' appears to walk in place. (It's one [[AmbidextrousSprite almost-symmetrical sprite]] with one leg forward. The game keeps flipping it horizontally and it looks like walking. Saves on graphics memory.)

* Player characters, heroes, and enemies in ''Videogame/MarvelAvengersAlliance'' move slightly on the battle screen, as if breathing hard or keeping loose in anticipation. An early glitch (now fixed) could cause the sprites to end up 'stuck' in a permanent attack animation.
* The heroes in the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona 1}}'' constantly shift through a series of poses just fast enough to be considered animated. This can be written off as them being fidgety teenagers, but since no one else does it, it's pretty noticeable.

** In ''[[Videogame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'', your partner Pokémon never wants to keep still.
** Even more so in ''Videogame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', where all Pokémon are always animated in battle.

* ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecrodancer'': Not only is everyone hyperactive, they do it in rhythm.

* In a subtle way, every NPC from ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' appears to walk in place (that is, they alternate between two sprites).

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' do this on battle scenes and the overworld. If a unit is ''not'' constantly walking in place, it's almost certainly charging a spell/special ability, about to die or carrying one of several StandardStatusAilments.