History Main / ManicPixieDreamGirl

** It is implied that Candace also started out this way for Joe. A [[HeroesWantRedheads redheaded]] musician who loves [[Literature/WutheringHeights ''Wuthering Heights'']], strumming on her ukulele, and using pet names like "Bunny" for Joe. Like with his other love interests, Joe puts her up on an unattainable pedestal. [[spoiler: When it turns out she is not [[BrokenPedestal the perfect girlfriend]] and cheats on Joe with a producer to further her career, Joe attempts to murder her]].

* Exploited in ''Anime/WelcomeToTheNHK'' with Misaki, [[spoiler:who gloms onto the main characters because she needs to have the company of people she considers even more pathetic than herself.]]

* ''LightNovel/LoveChunibyoAndOtherDelusions'': {{Subverted|Trope}}. Initially, it seems like Rikka is the bizarre pixie girl who enters strait-laced protagonist Yuta's life to shake him up and teach him to embrace being {{Chuunibyou}} again, but as the story goes on it becomes apparent ''he's'' the one who has to help ''her'' get over her deep psychological scars.

* Nyarlathotep (please, call her Nyarko) from ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'' fits that second paragraph at the top of the page like she was poured into it. In fact, it actually works to her disadvantage, as her manic nature (including lying to people about their nonexistent sex life and impending firstborn) actually puts off her {{love interest|s}} Mahiro, who's said that he has a hard time believing her confessions of love and has admitted to himself that he'd like her better if she could take it down a few notches[[note]]That, and her being a [[Creator/HPLovecraft Lovecraftian]] CosmicHorror [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith who only LOOKS like a cute girl]] kinda wrecks his mood[[/note]]. In fact, the few times Nyarko has toned herself down and acted demure, even Mahiro is surprised at how attractive he finds her.

* In the ''LightNovel/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign'', the [=MPDG=] is an evil EldritchAbomination who thinks nothing of killing people to get her love interest's attention. Kyousuke is genuinely offended ('''not''' in the cute, insincere sort of way) by her behaviour, not least because she completely ignores his [[DarkAndTroubledPast trauma]] and her part in causing it. [[spoiler:They eventually find a compromise and get back together, but she has to grow a conscience before they can do so...and he also has to stop blaming her for not being depressed by ''his'' problems.]]

* In ''Film/{{Adam}}'', both Adam and Beth have elements of this towards each other. The story is about a young teacher dating a young man with UsefulNotes/{{Autism}} in Manhattan. [[spoiler:The story ends [[DidNotGetTheGirl with the two breaking up]], but it is a BittersweetEnding because the two have gained a greater understanding from each other: Beth writes a book on her experience, and Adam seems more socially adjusted and happier in his new job.]]

** Abed Nadir is a male version and a DeconstructedCharacterArchetype. He brings out the geekiness and creativity in his friends (and is described as "a magical, elf-like man who makes us all more magical by being near us"), but his antics can be wildly exhausting and irresponsible, and his odd outlook on life can be attributed to an AmbiguousDisorder. Possibly intentionally, as he's shown to be remarkably trope-savvy.

[[folder:Stand-up Comedy]]

* ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' has a downplayed example with the title character, the [[NoNameGiven "Monkey Girl"]] who reincarnated into ''[[ShowWithinAShow Fortune Lover]]''[='s=] RichBitch villainess Catarina Claes. Her personality (an [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} off-kilter]], [[BigEater food-loving]] and somewhat dense tomboy otaku) certainly qualifies for this trope, but her main focus is simply to avoid getting killed or exiled as per the original game. However, since the original Catarina was a selfish brat, "Monkey Catarina" showing basic human decency and kindness to those around her is really all it takes to improve their lives. For example, in the game Catarina's adoptive brother Keith is a shallow playboy because she and her mother [[WickedStepmother treated him like crap]], but because "Monkey Catarina" always wanted a little brother, she showers him with love and attention which results in his growing into an upstanding young man (albeit with a sister complex).

* ''Series/TheXFiles'' has a subversion in the character of Melissa Scully, Agent Dana Scully's sister. Melissa is a lot into crystals, psychics and New Age stuff and tries to get Mulder to leave his "dark" place and drop his cynicism and paranoia. Not surprising he's depressed as his partner and only friend Scully is dying. Refreshingly, Mulder is most definitely ''not'' impressed and absolutely uninterested in her happy and playful ways. The rumour has it that Melissa was originally written as his {{love interest|s}}, but instead she was quickly turned into a SacrificialLion. She appeared mid season 2, and season 3 openers saw her dead.

* ''LightNovel/KagerouDaze'':
** Ayano tried to be this for [[InsufferableGenius Shintaro]]. It's [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype deconstructed]] in that Shintaro -- while genuinely (internally) grateful for her -- was too self-absorbed to show affection back, while Ayano suffered through [[spoiler:her mother's death and subsequently finding out that her father is planning to kill two of her best friends]] alone, which eventually results in [[spoiler:her suicide, in an attempt to get an eye power]], this in turn the primary reason that Shintaro is a {{Hikikomori}} when the story opens.
** Ene also acts as one to Shintaro, constantly urging him to go outside. She just so happens to also be a complete [[{{Troll}} troll when he pisses her off]]. Notably, she is also the one to sign Shintaro up for the [[RagTagBunchOfMisfits Mekakushi-Dan]] when he's unconscious.
* ''LightNovel/LoveChunibyoAndOtherDelusions'': {{Subverted|Trope}}. Initially, it seems like Rikka is the bizarre pixie girl who enters strait-laced protagonist Yuta's life to shake him up and teach him to embrace being {{Chuunibyou}} again, but as the story goes on it becomes apparent ''he's'' the one who has to help ''her'' get over her deep psychological scars.
* ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' [[ZigZaggingTrope zigzags this trope]] with the titular Haruhi herself.
** Kyon was fine with his life as it was, or at least thought so until the day he decided to strike up a conversation with Haruhi, not knowing (at the time) what he was getting himself into. Their meeting gave her the impetus to create the SOS Brigade. Rather than wait around for extraterrestrials, espers, and time travellers to show up, she decided they'd investigate strange happenings around their neighborhood in hopes of finding them herself, and she volunteered [[UnluckyEverydude Kyon]] as her first inductee.
** The series goes deeper by exploring Haruhi's psyche, revealing that her eccentricity stems from her perpetual boredom. Complicated further when Koizumi explains that Haruhi unknowingly possesses the ability to [[RealityWarper reshape reality as they know it, according to her desires.]] And is convinced she may be the god of their universe. Despite Kyon's initial skepticism, this revelation sheds new light on his perception of Haruhi, and he eventually accepts that Koizumi may be right. He also comes to realize that he actually likes the weirdness that surrounds her and ultimately admits he prefers life ''with'' Haruhi than without[[note]]near the end of ''"The Disappearance of Suzumiya"''[[/note]].
* ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' has a downplayed example with the title character, the [[NoNameGiven "Monkey Girl"]] who reincarnated into ''[[ShowWithinAShow Fortune Lover]]''[='s=] RichBitch villainess Catarina Claes. Her personality (an [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} off-kilter]], [[BigEater food-loving]] and somewhat dense tomboy otaku) certainly qualifies for this trope, but her main focus is simply to avoid getting killed or exiled as per the original game. However, since the original Catarina was a selfish brat, "Monkey Catarina" showing basic human decency and kindness to those around her is really all it takes to improve their lives. For example, in the game Catarina's adoptive brother Keith is a shallow playboy because she and her mother [[WickedStepmother treated him like crap]], but because "Monkey Catarina" always wanted a little brother, she showers him with love and attention which results in his growing into an upstanding young man (albeit with a sister complex).
* Nyarlathotep (please, call her Nyarko) from ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'' fits that second paragraph at the top of the page like she was poured into it. In fact, it actually works to her disadvantage, as her manic nature (including lying to people about their nonexistent sex life and impending firstborn) actually puts off her {{love interest|s}} Mahiro, who's said that he has a hard time believing her confessions of love and has admitted to himself that he'd like her better if she could take it down a few notches[[note]]That, and her being a [[Creator/HPLovecraft Lovecraftian]] CosmicHorror [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith who only LOOKS like a cute girl]] kinda wrecks his mood[[/note]]. In fact, the few times Nyarko has toned herself down and acted demure, even Mahiro is surprised at how attractive he finds her.
* ''Literature/{{Shimoneta}}'': Life was normal for Tanukichi, until his fateful encounter with [[EthicalSlut Blue Snow]], who saves him from the Public Decency Squad at the railway station. Later that morning, he learns she's really [[TheHero Ayame Kajou]], the vice-president of Tokioka Academy's student council. The incident at the station and his status as Zenjoru Oukuma's son inspires her to create [[LaResistance SOX.]] Guess who she drafts as her first recruit?
* Creator/{{Dante|Alighieri}}:
** OlderThanPrint, thanks to the ''Literature/VitaNuova''. Beatrice is the most loving, humble, and beautiful woman in the world, so Dante dedicates his whole life to her despite talking to her once before her death. We don't hear much from her or learn what she does with her life and instead only learn about her through her affects on the male lead.
** In ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'', Dante has lost his way in life until Beatrice comes down from Heaven to send her lover on the right track through a bizarre journey through the afterlife. The poem builds anticipation for when Beatrice lovingly reunites with Dante, only to [[UnbuiltTrope unbuild]] the trope by having Beatrice coldly condemn her lover and make it clear that improving him is going to involve more harshness than manic glee.
* E.F. Benson -- of ''Mapp And Lucia'' fame -- wrote a trilogy of novels about a turn of the 19th/20th-century version of the MPDG. But Dodo is anything but good for the men in her life -- or herself -- until she grows up a bit and earns her happily ever after.

* Creator/JRRTolkien's works largely avoid this: female characters are either CloserToEarth types or ethereal, magical Elven princesses. But ''Literature/TheUnfinishedTales'' features Tar-Vanimeldë, Queen of Númenor. She was more interested in dancing and playing music than actually, you know, governing the most powerful nation on Middle-Earth, so she left all the boring, practical day-to-day stuff to her consort, Herucalmo. Since the Tale is Unfinished, it's not really clear what Tolkien meant for Tar-Vanimeldë, but she fits many of the requirements, at least by Middle-Earth standards. Possibly a DeconstructedCharacterArchetype, since it seems Herucalmo was not okay with this: when the Queen died, he finally got sick of being the stable, modest, supportive guy and usurped the throne for himself.

* Sage from ''Almost Perfect'' can be considered this from the moment she's introduced until [[spoiler:she tells Logan she's Transsexual]].

* Julia in ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' is, like the rest of the book, a horrific example. Sure, her presence livens up Winston's life and exposes him to things he never dreamed of, but it's clear that their relationship is based more on rebellion against Big Brother than any actual affection and they often seem to outright ''hate'' each other. (At one point Winston [[spoiler:casually talks about a fantasy he had of ''raping'' her]].) Her impulsive, childish behaviour would be considered emotionally immature by anyone in our world, but is arguably typical of the deliberately dumbed down population of Oceania.

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/SatisfactionGuaranteed": Claire Belmont is an introverted ShrinkingViolet whose life is changed by Tony. She spends three weeks with him helping around the house. He encourages her to dress differently, and learns how to be a beautician and home decor designer on her behalf. By the time the trial period is over, she's become a young {{socialite}}. Her own husband is amazed at the transformation Tony provides.

* In the ''LightNovel/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign'', the [=MPDG=] is an evil EldritchAbomination who thinks nothing of killing people to get her love interest's attention. Kyousuke is genuinely offended ('''not''' in the cute, insincere sort of way) by her behaviour, not least because she completely ignores his [[DarkAndTroubledPast trauma]] and her part in causing it. [[spoiler:They eventually find a compromise and get back together, but she has to grow a conscience before they can do so...and he also has to stop blaming her for not being depressed by ''his'' problems.]]
* In ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'', Kyon falls in love with the titular character ''despite'' her quirky whims, which can involve physical abuse. As their characters develop, the trope begins to go both ways: Haruhi encourages Kyon to reclaim his childhood dreams of magic/uniqueness/proactivity, and he helps her to be content where she is and curb her obsession with being unique.

[[folder:Light Novels]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]

* In ''Manga/GourmetGirlGraffiti'', Kirin's [[GenkiGirl energy]] brought Ryou out of the latter's depressive rut[[note]]Caused by ParentalAbandonment.[[/note]] in the beginning of the series, starting with [[TastesLikeFriendship food sharing]]. This was [[LampshadeHanging noted]] by Shiina in Chapter 24:
-->''[Ryou] has changed a lot since [Kirin] came... in a good way... I couldn't say it, but if I had a personality more like [Kirin], [Ryou] would have been happier now.''

* {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''LightNovel/EndoAndKobayashiLiveTheLatestOnTsundereVillainessLieselotte''. While her GenkiGirl behavior may lead the reader to think Endo has a crush on her for that reason, his backstory segment shows it's her being ''thoughtful'' that causes it.

** [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist Edward Elric]] to Alfons Heiderich. Edward majorly shook up Alfons' dull life with his determination, devil-may-care attitude and refusal to believe anything without proof and helped Alfons' rocket program take off. In fact Edward shakes up Alfons' life so much that when given the choice to go to Amestris with him, Alfons jumps at the chance without a second thought. Although the dark side of the trope is lampshaded when Alter!Hughes warns Alfons how dangerous Edward could be, so focused on his own goals that he ignores the possible fatal consequences.

* ''[[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/76159/the-golden-armor The Golden Armor]]'':
** Angel Beats is the Manic Pixie Mare in this ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic, slowly defrosting the stone faced pegasus Comet Burst through the expedient of being the most annoying thing in his life. She fulfill all the signs of the trope, she is full of energy, never stops talking, keeps hitting on him (metaphorically and literally as well) and instead of a wild hair color (that's not very singular in the show) she's a Bat Pony, a rare breed of pony. For some reason the superiors in the Royal Guard of Equestria think it's good to keep them together, and he slowly begin the standard routine of falling in love with a Manic Pixie Girl.

* [[Music/{{Aja}} "Josie"]] by Music/SteelyDan is about a local wild party girl returning home to everyone's delight after being away awhile.

* ''Literature/FateStrangeFake'': Saber is a male version with a twist. Saber, like most Manic Pixie Dream Guys, is impulsive, adventurous, relentlessly optimistic, charmingly idiosyncratic, pops into Ayako's life at her lowest and most depressed, and is literally a magical KnightInShiningArmor that exists for Ayako's sake. The problem? It turns out that Saber is [[spoiler:Richard the Lionheart]], and Manic Pixie Dream Guys [[TheCaligula make for rather poor rulers]]…

I said "Hi"\\
She said, "Yeah, I guess I am"

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': [[spoiler:The irony of being the only human among a society of witches and [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] aside, Luz Noceda inadvertently livens up and ultimately improves Amity Blight's life and leads to the young witch developing a crush on her]].

* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'', while Star does seem to make Marco's life more interesting, the show is more about her growing as a character by toning down her chaotic overenthusiasm by being with the safety-minded, level-headed Marco.
* Gender inverted in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', with Steven as the literal magical boy bringing excitement to the life of bored, lonely Connie. They even have a CrashIntoHello.

** Giselle from ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'', who has the excuse of being a [[RefugeeFromTVLand fairy tale character]] who suddenly fell into Robert's life. [[DefrostingIceQueen She helps him loosen up]], and even helps him with his relationship, only to end up falling for him. For his part, Robert helps her find some firmer ground. It also helps that Giselle is the protagonist, and her livening up Robert's life is incidental while she's actively trying to make sense of the world around her.

** Fletcher in ''Still Breathing (1997)'' is a sensitive artist who puts together rock sculptures and does puppetry for a living. After he begins to have visions of his one true love, he drops everything to go meet her and show her that true love is indeed real.

* Creator/GoldieHawn played this type in ''Cactus Flower'' (1969) and ''Film/ButterfliesAreFree'' (1972). In both films she plays madcap, giggly, high-energy blondes that bring a bolt of excitement into the life of a lonely man. Her later film ''Film/PrivateBenjamin'' (1981) is an examination of what happens when the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is forced to grow up.

* ''Daddy Issues'' is what happens when two Manic Pixie Dream Girls fall in love with [[QueerRomance each other.]]

** ''Film/ImThinkingOfEndingThings'' plays this more subtly. Jake is a socially awkward young man, while his girlfriend is a charming intelligent young woman. His mother is delighted that he mmet someone as lively and intelligent as she. [[spoiler:Later, though, it is heavily implied that the young woman isn't real, instead an idealized encounter of a real person he briefly interacted with once, brought to life by the films and literature he consumes -- which why she takes on characteristics of the fiction they discuss and the works seen in his room.]]

* Catherine from the Atlus puzzle game ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}''. [[spoiler:Deconstructed, in that Catherine's a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin literal]] pixie dream girl, being a [[HornyDevils succubus]] who's taken on the form of the main character's ideal woman.]]

* In Season 2 of ''Series/BreakingBad'' Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) meets a low-key MPDG in the form of Jane (Krysten Ritter), a tattoo artist with a serious drug history. She's considerably more subdued and less manic than most examples, and she encourages him to cut back on the drugs in addition to getting him to embrace art. Then she [[PoisonousFriend demonstrates the dark side of this trope]] when she backslides on her own sobriety, gets Jesse into harder drugs (and given that he started out as a methhead, that's saying something), and ultimately reveals herself (at least while using) to be greedy, [[YokoOhNo manipulative]], and self-destructive. [[spoiler:Then she dies of an overdose.]]