History Main / NonIronicClown

* In Chinese opera, there are four role types, Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou. Chou is usually translated into "clown", and the role usually includes minor, harmlessly comical characters. Legend says that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang likes to play the Chou role himself, so traditionally a Chou actor would be the off-stage leader of a troupe.

* In Chinese opera, there are four role types, Sheng,Dan, Jing, and Chou. Chou is usually translated into "clown", and the role usually includes minor, harmlessly comical characters. Legend says that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang likes to play the Chou role himself so traditionally a Chou actor would be the off-stage leader of a troupe.

* As well as having records and a TV show, Bozo the Clown also had [[WesternAnimation/BozoTheWorldsMostFamousClown a cartoon feature]] where he was either heroic or mischievous, but nevery scary.

* ''VideoGame/TheSims'': The clown who hassles your Sims is a nuisance, but he's not particularly evil. He's just bad at his job.

* In the Film/ErnestPWorrell tv show "Hey Vern, It's Ernest", one recurring sketch is "My Father the Clown". The clown family members are annoying, but harmless.

* On ''Series/TheBennyHillShow'' Benny sometimes played a circus clown of the Emmett Kelly style.

* Lola Pop from ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' is a brightly-coloured FightingClown with a peppy, cheerful personality. According to an interview, the developers were rather surprised at the initial negative reaction from westerners from her concept art as coulrophobia is uncommon in Japan.

* Boomer, the air-humping clown from ''VideoGame/{{Ballz}}''.

* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' with the Circus ability. Yes, it is [[TheHero Kirby]] doing tricks like tumbling, juggling, and making balloon animals, but he's doing these things to [[FightingClown attack]], not to entertain.

* The clowns present in ''VideoGame/SpaceStation13'' are meant to be this trope in a slight subversion of the game's otherwise quite BlackComedy, but oftentimes have to end up acting [[TheTrickster more resourcefully]] in order to receive a laugh.

* The Creator/JerryLewis-esque clown in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' episode "Clown and Out." (A few of the characters view him as a MonsterClown, however, as they have "clownophobia."[[note]]The actual word for an irrational fear of clowns is "coulrophobia".[[/note]]) He's eventually tricked into entering a rocket ship and blasted to Mars, where he finds [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff he's much more popular among Martian children than Earthling children]].
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheBackyardigans'' has Pablo, Uniqua and Austin as clowns who befriend Tyrone as a circus ringleader who dislikes clowns and excludes them from his circus. Unfortunate for him, his circus train leaves without him, forcing him to seek the aid of the trio. He starts out irritated by their antics, but by the end warms up to them and allows them to perform in his show.

%%* Jester in ''WesternAnimation/JaneAndTheDragon''.

* Max Fleischer's WesternAnimation/KokoTheClown, one of the earliest cartoon characters. He's definitely mischievous (the series' later title change to ''Inkwell Imps'' is well-earned), sometimes bordering on complete asshole (particularly to his animator - but to be fair, the animator torments him right back), but ultimately just a friendly jokester. His later appearances in the ''WesternAnimation/BettyBoop'' and Talkartoon series tone down his rude behaviors, eventually making him into just a harmless, bumbling NiceGuy.

* Despite having been a {{Jerkass}} to everyone in the series (and even expressing unexplained hatred of clowns), Ed Bighead from ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' inadvertently discovers his passion for [[{{Pun}} clowning around]], and takes on a second job as a clown. He winds up being the most popular one in O-Town, even more so than his boss. Because he's afraid of what others will think, he tries to hide his second job as a clown in one of the most spectacular displays of DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything on television.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': In season 2's ''Conjoined Fetus Lady'', during a dodge ball tournament, after Pip brutally injures an opposing player, that player is lying on the ground crying in pain. To keep the audience entertained, two clowns are sent in to carry him on a stretcher (not before doing a silly dance).
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' has these sometimes:

** Mr Krabs dresses as a clown called "Krabby the Clown" in the episode "Krabby Land," although only to scam the children.
** One of the comedy acts in the opening of "Squirrel Jokes" was a clown named [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/spongebob/images/9/94/Spongebob_Project.JPG/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/640?cb=20130729085024 Dougie Williams]] whose act consisted of "forgetting the jokes and skipping to the part where he throws pies at people." He gives Spongebob a brief pep talk before he leaves.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil''

* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' has Skelly, who is a bit of an odd case of this. Appearance-wise, he's extremely [[MonsterClown monstrous]], what with being a ''[[DemBones skeleton]] clown'' and all. Personality-wise, however, he's incredibly friendly, eager to lighten the mood, and a total MommasBoy.
* ''VideoGame/{{Dropsy}}'' has a particularly sad example. The main character, Dropsy the Clown, is [[TheGrotesque bloated, ugly and monstrous-looking]], having all the visual features necessary to be a Monster Clown. But he clearly suffers from [[AmbiguousDisorder some sort of mental disability]], has an innocent and child-like demeanor, and [[AllLovingHero is always trying his hardest to make people happy]], even when everyone thinks he's a demented freak.
* ''VideoGame/{{Gauntlet}}: Dark Legacy'' has a Jester as one of the main classes. While a zany prankster who fights with slapstick, the Jester is portrayed as a well meaning hero who wants to undo the BigBad's [[FisherKing corruption]] of his realm into a CircusOfFear. One of the Jester titles is even Clown.

* ''VideoGame/HitmanBloodMoney'' has a clown at a kid's birthday party whose clothes you can steal. The protagonist, 47, even once won a 'Clown of the Year' award. Of course, given the nature of the game, you may end up a MonsterClown instead.
* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'' features Moe, a friendly clown who loves to laugh... and we don't mean [[EvilLaugh like]] [[LaughingMad that]].

* ''VideoGame/TheSims'': The clown who hassles your Sims is a nuisance, but he's not particularly evil. He's just bad at his job.
* ''VideoGame/DarkCloud 2'' goes both ways. While you do spend the early portions of the game fighting an evil clown and his circus troupe... you can also unlock a clown outfit for the male protagonist, build clown themed parts for his [[MiniMecha Ridepod]], and be greeted by a perfectly friendly jester fond of hiding in dungeon treasure chests. He might even hook you up with above average loot!

* The title character in the classic arcade game ''VideoGame/MrDo''
* The title character in the ''Kid Klown'' series of games is, as the name indicates, a KidHero clown. His adventures range from saving his family of equally friendly clowns from an evil magician in ''Kid Klown in Night Mayor World'' to rescuing a princess while taking many AmusingInjuries in an obstacle course in ''VideoGame/KidKlownInCrazyChase''.
* ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheMiracleMask'' features a whole circus of legitimate clowns, including Juggles, a philosopher clown who spends his free time pondering clown tropes. [[EstablishingCharacterMoment When you first find Juggles]], he's wondering why clowns spraying seltzer is funny when spraying water has the same effect.
* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' with the Circus ability. Yes, it is [[TheHero Kirby]] doing tricks like tumbling, juggling, and making balloon animals, but he's doing these things to [[FightingClown attack]], not to entertain.
* The clowns present in ''VideoGame/SpaceStation13'' are meant to be this trope in a slight subversion of the game's otherwise quite BlackComedy, but oftentimes have to end up acting [[TheTrickster more resourcefully]] in order to receive a laugh.
* The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Mime Jr.]] resembles an adorable (albeit mischevious) child clown.
** [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Popplio]] takes on quite the uncanny clown appearance, complete with red nose and frilled neck, and even uses its nose bubbles as makeshift balloons to bounce around or upon.
* Lola Pop from ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' is a brightly-coloured FightingClown with a peppy, cheerful personality. According to an interview, the developers were rather surprised at the initial negative reaction from westerners from her concept art as coulrophobia is uncommon in Japan.
* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** Lemmy Koopa, one of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Koopaling siblings]], has a colorful mohawk, pink FacialMarkings, and is usually seen balancing on a circus ball. While he is technically a VillainousHarlequin, as he serves main villain [[BigBad Bowser]] and fights against the Mario Bros., it's stated in the manual for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' that he would rather join the circus than commit evil acts (which he actually does in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash''). Also, he is easily the goofiest and least intimidating of the Koopalings, and attacks with rubber balls and colorful {{Cartoon Bomb}}s, in contrast to his siblings' more hardcore weaponry.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'': One of the outfits you can buy for Mario in the Luncheon Kingdom is a clown outfit. It manages to turn Mario, who is already FunPersonified, into one of these.
* ''VideoGame/TinkerQuarry'': Camime is a cheerful, fun-loving clown poodle who lives in a circus-themed room and sets up minigames and puzzles for the player. Camime is completely devoted to being kind and fun. This devotion is so strong that WordOfGod says she has no idea how dark the world she's in actually is, and "thinks she's in [[WrongGenreSavvy a more kid-friendly game]]."

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Rainbow the Clown, who is this except for the one time he was temporarily turned into an EnemyMime. The girls still beat him up and toss him into jail after he turns back, but in a later episode he appears at the Powerpuff Girls' birthday party, so it seems he's back into freedom and as cheery as ever.

%%* Jester in ''WesternAnimation/JaneAndTheDragon''.

* The Creator/JerryLewis-esque clown in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' episode "Clown and Out." (A few of the characters view him as a MonsterClown, however, as they have "clownophobia."[[note]]The actual word for an irrational fear of clowns is "coulrophobia".[[/note]]) He's eventually tricked into entering a rocket ship and blasted to Mars, where he finds [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff he's much more popular among Martian children than Earthling children]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Krusty is a cynical parody of this (more specifically, Bozo), yet despite his being greedy and disinterested, his merchandise being low-quality and dangerous and his show's shrinking budget, he manages to bring joy to children and we occasionally see hints that even after everything, he still loves comedy. Even if he is a hack. In a flashback to his childhood, he admitted to his rabbi father that he wanted to be a clown because "I want to make people laugh!"
** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E15HomieTheClown Homie the Clown]]", Krusty opens a clown college dedicated to training non-ironic clowns to serve as Krusty impersonators for local events. Homer Simpson, however, proves to be a fairly poor example after his graduation, quickly tiring of his hosting gigs and being mistreated by children (at least until he realizes he can grift off of being mistaken for Krusty) and, at one point, severely beating a man dressed as "The Krusty Burglar" in front of a crowd of children. When TheMafia takes over the college late in the episode, the "instructors" promote more MonsterClown-ish attitudes by suggesting the clowns rob children after entertaining them.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': In season 2's ''Conjoined Fetus Lady'', during a dodge ball tournament, after Pip brutally injures an opposing player, that player is lying on the ground crying in pain. To keep the audience entertained, two clowns are sent in to carry him on a stretcher (not before doing a silly dance).
* ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'': Binky the Clown is another parody. Unlike Krusty, he's passionate about being a clown. And although he's not monstrous or evil, he's incredibly obnoxious and irritating to just about everybody. Played far straighter in the comics, where Garfield genuinely enjoys Binky's antics. That is, when he isn't the target of Binky's antics.
* Max Fleischer's WesternAnimation/KokoTheClown, one of the earliest cartoon characters. He's definitely mischievous (the series' later title change to ''Inkwell Imps'' is well-earned), sometimes bordering on complete asshole (particularly to his animator - but to be fair, the animator torments him right back), but ultimately just a friendly jokester. His later appearances in the ''WesternAnimation/BettyBoop'' and Talkartoon series tone down his rude behaviors, eventually making him into just a harmless, bumbling NiceGuy.
* Despite having been a {{Jerkass}} to everyone in the series (and even expressing unexplained hatred of clowns), Ed Bighead from ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' inadvertently discovers his passion for [[{{Pun}} clowning around]], and takes on a second job as a clown. He winds up being the most popular one in O-Town, even more so than his boss. Because he's afraid of what others will think, he tries to hide his second job as a clown in one of the most spectacular displays of DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything on television.
* ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' has a clown-based imaginary friend named Jokey as a one-shot character.
* Francois the clown flea in the Creator/TexAvery-[[WesternAnimation/TexAveryMGMCartoons directed MGM cartoon]], "The Flea Circus".

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Subverted in the episode ''Be A Clown''; the Joker disguises himself as a party clown by stealing the outfit of an actual party clown and he manages to pull out some good laughter before he decides to drop of his disguise. Especially the kids love "Jekko the Clown". The party guests don't learn that the Joker is disguised since he leaves the party before the birthday cake explodes (and his plan is foiled by Bruce Wayne, no less) and the birthday kid in question looks up to "Jekko" because he wants to become a magician himself, going so far to run away from home and follow "Jekko". But once "Jekko" starts acting AxCrazy, the kid questions him and "Jekko" reveals his true identity.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': Aside from being a comedian-in-training, Luan Loud also has a job as a party clown. In fact, she runs her own party business, Funny Business Inc., which does all sorts of parties and not just children's birthdays.
* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Steve attends a clown class run by the most intense and most driven teacher ever. He's not surprised at all to find out the teacher is Roger.
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheBackyardigans'' has Pablo, Uniqua and Austin as clowns who befriend Tyrone as a circus ringleader who dislikes clowns and excludes them from his circus. Unfortunate for him, his circus train leaves without him, forcing him to seek the aid of the trio. He starts out irritated by their antics, but by the end warms up to them and allows them to perform in his show.
* ''WesternAnimation/MrBenn'': In "Clown", a clown suit saw Mr. Benn join a circus troupe, which had been stopped at a cliff on account of a collapsed bridge. It would take all their combined efforts to build a new bridge to get across so they could get on with their planned show.

* Twisty from ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryFreakShow'' used to be one, until mobbing and bad luck pushed him over the edge and he became a MonsterClown. He still thinks of himself as a Non-Ironic Clown, but to everybody else, he's definitely a MonsterClown now.
* William "Bingo" Krebs on "The Clown" episode of ''Series/BarneyMiller'', a mugging victim who wears face paint, a red derby hat, and a blue patched overcoat. When he is mugged while performing outside a theater, Barney responds that he was the third clown to be assaulted in the precinct, and Harris didn't have the heart to say it.

* The entire cast of ''Series/TheBigComfyCouch'', in particular the main character Loonette, who is very jovial.

* Barnaby, an English sheepdog in a bowler hat and baggy pants who regularly performed on Disney's ''Dumbo's Circus''. He was shown to be friendly if kind of stupid, and he was actually more of a jack-of-all-trades than a clown, also performing magic and the like.

* Baxter from ''Series/TheGreatSpaceCoaster'' is an alien clown, and a very nice guy, who ran away from the circus because the ringmaster was mean.

* Clarabelle on ''Series/HowdyDoody''. Originally played by [[Series/CaptainKangaroo Bob Keeshan]], then by Nick Nicholson and Lew Anderson. Like a lot of traditional clowns, Clarabelle was silent, and Buffalo Bob believed he set a good example for the children in the studio audience.[[note]]In the series finale, Clarabelle revealed that he actually could speak and had a message for the audience: ''[[TearJerker Goodbye, kids.]]'' The whole cast and even the technical crew were crying.[[/note]]
* Homey D. Clown from ''Series/InLivingColor'' is an interesting variation as ex-con Herman Simpson who performs as Homey trying to get back at the white folks who he believes are holding him back from advancing in society. Whenever the kids ask him to do something a stereotypical clown would do, he responds with "I don't think so. Homey don't play that!" He still manages to get his audience to laugh by using unconventional, non-stereotypical humor, followed by a sing-along.

* Chuckles the Clown was a [[TheGhost never-actually-seen]] character on ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow,'' occasionally referenced as the star of a local children's show broadcast from the same building as Mary's newsroom. Then came the episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust": word reaches the newsroom that Chuckles has just been trampled to death by a parade elephant while dressed as a peanut. The awkward balance between the fact that this is simultaneously horrible and ''hysterical'' -- especially for poor sensitive Mary, who can't bring herself to admit that it ''is'' funny -- has led to this episode often being cited by critics as the single funniest episode of any sitcom ''ever.''
* Fizbo on ''Series/ModernFamily''. Cameron takes it into SeriousBusiness territory.
* Rusty in ''Series/TheNoddyShop'' is a circus clown that plays guitar.

* Mr jelly from ''Series/Psychoville'' used to be a very beloved and cheerful clown until he got carpal tunnel syndrome from over working himself. During an ill-fated attempt to reattach a tendon in his right arm, his hand had to be removed and the quality of his performance subsequently plummeted, turning him into a creepy, embittered {{Jerkass}} who unintentionally terrifies children.

* One of the titular "Five Characters in Search of an Exit" from ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' is an interesting take on this trope. He's not scary in any sense of the word--but he is extremely cynical and borderline depressed, making darkly humorous comments about the group's situation and occasionally breaking down, revealing that he's just as frightened and confused as the rest of the group.

* Clarabelle on ''Series/HowdyDoody''. Originally played by [[Series/CaptainKangaroo Bob Keeshan]], then by Nick Nicholson and Lew Anderson. Like a lot of traditional clowns, Clarabelle was silent, and Buffalo Bob believed he set a good example for the children in the studio audience.[[note]]In the series finale, Clarabelle revealed that he actually could speak and had a message for the audience: ''[[TearJerker Goodbye, kids.]]'' The whole cast and even the technical crew were crying.[[/note]]
* Bozo, the "World's Most Famous Clown," had the distinction of being portrayed both by a live actor and as a cartoon on ''Series/TheBozoShow'', with the most famous version aired on Creator/WGNAmerica starting with the Channel 9 years and lasting from 1961 to 2001.
* Blinky the Clown (Russell Scott), hosted "Blinky's Fun Club" in Colorado Springs from 1958-1966, and then Denver from 1966-1998, dressed up in hobo makeup, wishing the kids a happy "birfday".

* Homey D. Clown from ''Series/InLivingColor'' is an interesting variation as ex-con Herman Simpson who performs as Homey trying to get back at the white folks who he believes are holding him back from advancing in society. Whenever the kids ask him to do something a stereotypical clown would do, he responds with "I don't think so. Homey don't play that!" He still manages to get his audience to laugh by using unconventional, non-stereotypical humor, followed by a sing-along.
* Many personas of Red Skelton: Mean Wittle Kid, [[http://red-skelton.info/articles/clem-kadiddlehopper-red-skeltons-country-bumpkin/ Clem Kadiddlehopper,]] [[http://red-skelton.info/articles/freddy-the-freeloader-red-skeltons-famous-hobo-clown/ Freddie the Freeloader,]] Gertrude and Heathcliff, and on and on.

* Fizbo on ''Series/ModernFamily''. Cameron takes it into SeriousBusiness territory.
* Russian kids' green screen show ''Komedya Klowna'' (written as "Келоуна Комедия") mostly features these.
* Seattle, Washington TV clown JP Patches. Performer Chris Wedes continued to perform as Patches until his death in 2012, decades after the show was cancelled.
* Barnaby, an English sheepdog in a bowler hat and baggy pants who regularly performed on Disney's ''Dumbo's Circus''. He was shown to be friendly if kind of stupid, and he was actually more of a jack-of-all-trades than a clown, also performing magic and the like.

* Series/TheTwoRonnies once did a TearJerker song "People Don't Want Clowns No More" about how this trope is supposedly dying, and how clowns used to be the most beloved part of the circus. Season 10, Episode 6.
* Bassie from the Dutch childrens series ''Series/BassieEnAdriaan''.
* Pipo De Clown: another Dutch example.
** There's [[NamesTheSame another]] Pipo who was a famous Mexican clown.[[note]]Moreover, the actor who played him actually started out playing Bozo, until the rights to use the Bozo character expired.[[/note]]

* On ''Series/TheBennyHillShow'' Benny sometimes played a circus clown of the Emmett Kelly style.
* Justin Fletcher's character Mr. Tumble on Creator/TheBBC's ''Something Special'' is an old-school physical clown.
* One of the titular "Five Characters in Search of an Exit" from ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' is an interesting take on this trope. He's not scary in any sense of the word--but he is extremely cynical and borderline depressed, making darkly humorous comments about the group's situation and occasionally breaking down, revealing that he's just as frightened and confused as the rest of the group.
* Creator/{{Studio100}}:
** The 2009 series [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO5pbYwsp_w "Dobus"]], is focused on a trio of clowns who live at their own themed circus caravans. The titular character is an [[{{Keet}} upbeat clown]], and his two clown friends are [[TheChick Mina]] and [[TheDitz Sollie]]. Their mentor is a Ringmaster (known as "de directeur") [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_h0v7E_wG8 who challenges the characters]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O54MoanQ7M8 on simple tasks.]]
** Bumba and Bumbalu from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xARH3u2DNoE the 2004 Belgian preschool series]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfh3okr1eN0 "Bumba".]] Bumba is an energetic young clown who later becomes a big brother to a baby clown named Babilu.
* Ecuadorian clown Tiko Tiko, who was even offended when ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'' used a clip of his visiting president Rafael Correa to make MonsterClown jokes. ("[[http://www.mediaite.com/tv/john-oliver-escalates-beef-with-ecuadorean-president/ When a clown calls you grotesque, it hurts!]]")
* In ''Series/TheGreatestAmericanHero'' episode "Just Another Three-Ring Circus," Ralph is searching for a kidnapped Polish clown named Yuri. As Ralph idly tries on some of Yuri's clown paraphenalia, he muses, "I like this guy. So sue me. I like clowns."
* Mr jelly from ''Series/Psychoville'' used to be a very beloved and cheerful clown until he got carpal tunnel syndrome from over working himself. During an ill-fated attempt to reattach a tendon in his right arm, his hand had to be removed and the quality of his performance subsequently plummeted, turning him into a creepy, embittered {{Jerkass}} who unintentionally terrifies children.
* Twisty from ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryFreakShow'' used to be one, until mobbing and bad luck pushed him over the edge and he became a MonsterClown. He still thinks of himself as a Non-Ironic Clown, but to everybody else, he's definitely a MonsterClown now.

* Rusty in ''Series/TheNoddyShop'' is a circus clown that plays guitar.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Webcomic/CopperEyes'': LuLu is a {{Rubber Hose|Limbs}}-style cartoon clown made to instruct children to take [[FantasticDrug Loveless]]. She seems to be a fairly popular character, having her own merchandise for sale.

The CourtJester is one of the oldest forms of this trope.

* Yuya dressed like one during the first episode of ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'', to go with his comedic style of "Dueltainment". (unfortunately, he was also a SadClown in this case.) He would quickly change styles in future episodes.

* The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Popplio]] takes on quite the uncanny clown appearance, complete with red nose and frilled neck, and even uses its nose bubbles as makeshift balloons to bounce around or upon.

* ''Clown Corps'' is about an [[HeroesRUs emergency response team of crimefighting clowns]] who receive their training from a special Clown College and fight crime with [[MartialArtsAndCrafts things such as throwing pies and gags associated with clowning]].

For clarification, it should be noted that a degree of ''irony'' is intrinsic to most clown performances, and indeed to humor in general. The traditional "tears" painted on a clown's cheeks are there to show that he is laughing on the outside but may be [[SadClown crying on the inside]], an acknowledgment by the performer that most humor contains at least some element of laughing at another's pain. This is most played up in old-school, down-on-their-luck "hobo" clowns like Emmett Kelly Jr., though the ultimate artistic expression of the tragic clown concept is probably the title aria in the opera ''Theatre/{{Pagliacci}}''. The "Non-Ironic" in the trope's name simply refers to the clowns listed here ''not'' being evil or deliberately frightening. The fact that a clown even has to be identified as "non-ironic" is pretty telling.

* ''Clown Corps'' is about a [[HeroesRUs emergency response team of clown crimefighters]] who receive their training from a special Clown College and fight crime with [[MartialArtsAndCrafts things such as throwing pies and gags associated with clowning]].

* ''Clown Corps'' is about a [[HeroesRUs organization of clown crimefighters]] who receive their training from a special Clown College and fight crime with [[MartialArtsAndCrafts things such as throwing pies and gags associated with clowning]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Dropsy}}'' has a particularly sad example. The main character, Dropsy the Clown, is bloated, ugly and monstrous-looking, having all the visual features necessary to be a Monster Clown. But he clearly suffers from [[AmbiguousDisorder some sort of mental disability]], has an innocent and child-like demeanor, and [[AllLovingHero is always trying his hardest to make people happy]], even when everyone thinks he's a demented freak.

See TheJester for a more common type.

The past 30 years or so have seen a surge in the popularity of evil, [[ComicBook/TheJoker Joker]]-style {{Monster Clown}}s who deliberately and very effectively invert everything clowns were traditionally assumed to represent -- that is, making people laugh, especially children. However, there ''was'' a time when clowns were treated in the popular media as sympathetic figures of whimsy and silly fun. Outside of their early habitats like rodeos and circuses, [[GrandfatherClause pretty much the only clown left in the public eye who is still permitted to act at all clown-like]] is [[UsefulNotes/McDonalds Ronald McDonald]]. (And now he's been phased out of the advertising.) But in days past...

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheBackyardigans'' has Pablo, Uniqua and Austin as clowns who befriend Tyrone as is a circus ringleader who dislikes clowns and excludes them from his circus. Unfortunate for him, his circus train leaves without him, forcing him to seek the aid of the clown trio. He start out enduring the clown antics that come with the trio, but by the end he warms up to them and allows them to perform in his show.

** The 2010 series [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO5pbYwsp_w "Dobus"]], is focused on a trio of clowns who live at their own themed circus caravans. The titular character is an [[{{Keet}} upbeat clown]], and his two clown friends are [[TheChick Mina]] and [[TheDitz Sollie]]. Their mentor is a Ringmaster (known as "de directeur") [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_h0v7E_wG8 who challenges the characters]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O54MoanQ7M8 on simple tasks.]]