History Main / PrimalStance

* ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} often uses this as his "pre-asskicking pose", coupled with his extended claws, naturally.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'' mutants the Beast and Nightcrawler, [[DependingOnTheArtist sometimes]].
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Spidey does this from time to time, usually symbolizing that the villain isn't dealing with their Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man anymore, or otherwise doing a nimble variation of this trope to show that he's ready to spring to action at any moment.

* ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'': Franchise/SpiderMan is always bent over, which seems a little more fitting than the heroic poses he usually strikes in the comics.%%Lampshaded by [[Franchise/StreetFighter Ryu]].%%Be more specific.

** Gollum, who is permenently hunched over and often lopes on all fours when running. One orc describes him as "rather like a spider himself, or perhaps like a starved frog."

** Ridley is hunched over in a gargoyle-like position similar to his depiction in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' in his playable debut in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. Even when hunched over, Ridley is still the [[MemeticMutation biggest]] fighter in the game, even bigger than Bowser who stands fully upright.

** Bowser has a monstrous, hunched-over stance in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl''. His stance becomes much more humanlike starting with the fourth installment, which reflects a change in his moveset from primal, reptilian movements to a surprisingly agile wrestler-type fighter.

If done right, this can strike fear into our hearts either by the character doing the stance looking intimidating or by falling into the UncannyValley. This may be due to suffering a nervous breakdown and showing an animalistic side. However, this often this falls short and strikes {{Narm}} into our hearts.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Grogar walks with a quadrupedal variant of this, with his back hunched and head lowered, contrasting all the other quadrupedal creatures (such as all ponies) who walk upright (i.e. with their neck and head held up) and in a very civilized way, to make him look [[UncannyValley more unsettling and threatening]].

* Creator/JackKirby loved this pose. Usually with more "primal" characters, like [[ComicBook/NewGods Kalibak]] or ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk.
* ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} often uses this as his "pre-asskicking pose". Coupled with his extended claws, naturally.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'' mutant The Beast, as well.
** Nightcrawler too, [[DependingOnTheArtist sometimes]].
* ComicBook/SpiderMan does this from time to time, usually symbolizing that the villain isn't dealing with their Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man anymore.
** Or otherwise doing a nimble variation of this trope to show he's ready to spring to action at any moment.
* Radgoll, a member of the ''{{ComicBook/Secret Six}}'' is usually depicted like this due to his extreme flexibility, but on the rare occasion he elects to stand up straight everyone [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness pays attention]].

A stock pose used to show how feral a character is by having them stand and walk in a manner reminiscent of an ape or of a stereotypical caveman. They are hunched over, and walk slightly like a gorilla. Used to show the character has regressed to a primal, wild state. In downplayed examples, the character remains biped, but stands hunched over, with their arms hanging down and their head jutting forward from their shoulders. More extreme cases drop entirely to all fours, with the characters resting their weight on their knuckles as well as their feet. Note that, since human legs are considerably longer than human arms, a fully quadrupedal, knuckle-walking stance requires the character in question to have a truly apelike anatomy in addition to an apelike mindset if they're to walk like this without some truly awkward contortions.

A stock pose used to show how feral a character is. They are hunched over, and walk slightly like a gorilla. Used to show the character has regressed to a primal, wild state.

Compare LimpAndLivid, ThreePointLanding, and RunningOnAllFours. Has nothing to do with PrimalScene.

* Venusians in ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' all walk like this, understandable given they are essentially intelligent gorillas. Theirs is also a culture of tribal warfare and the hunt.

* ''VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'': Adult Alma.

** Taken UpToEleven with the genlocks, who are constantly hunched over and prone to RunningOnAllFours.

* Coolio as TheDragon in ''Dracula 3000''.

* In My Little Pony fancomic ''Webcomic/TheLastAdventure'', Discord drops on fours to defend Fluttershy from the Chiera and Timberwolves. Moments later, he runs on fours, not only because he runs quickly this way (he can't fly because he lost his powers once again), but [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome also because he is injuried and weak, so the weight of his long body is too much for his short hind legs]].

* In the My Little Pony fancomic ''Webcomic/TheLastAdventure'', Discord drops on fours to defend Fluttershy from the Chiera and Timberwolves. Moments later, he runs on fours, not only because he runs quickly this way (he can't fly because he lost his powers once again), but [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome also because he is injuried and weak, so the weight of his long body is too much for his short hind legs]].

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

* ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperheroes'': Timber Wolf sometimes adopts this stance when in combat, fittingly seeing he's the Legion's feral member.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'''s aptly-named Brutes, described by Creator/{{Bungie}} as bear-gorillas, will go ''berserk'' if you break their shields or kill their allies, with the ones in ''VideoGame/Halo2'' taking up this stance.

* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'': Carnage tends to have this posture. Also add in the fact that Carnage screeches rather than talk, he comes off as rather feral.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'': The [[SpaceOrcs Krogan]] have shades of this, due to the large hump on a typical Krogan's back, along with [[BloodKnight their general temperment.]] The Elcor even moreso, naturally walking on all fours, although in their case they are some of the calmest beings in the galaxy. The Yahg, meanwhile, adopt this stance even more than the Krogan do, and are ''much'' more aggressive. And then there are the [[BodyHorror Brutes.]] [[spoiler: After Saren dies and Sovereign takes over his cybernetics, he starts moving like this, which makes sense, given that Sovereign-Saren is a substantially harder fight than regular Saren - it's actually entirely possible to skip the fight with Saren by [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath talking him into killing himself.]]]]

%%* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':

** King of Dinosaurs (Tizoc in a PaperThinDisguise) in KOF XIV, as fitting for his new status as a Heel. Also with a more brutal fighting style and, of course, a dinosaur themed costume in place of his old Griffon costume.

** The E.M.M.I.s from ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' can be bipedal if they choose to be, but spend most of their time crawling on all fours.
* The [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' are exactly like this.
* Wolf from ''VideoGame/StarFox'' assumes one in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.
** Also Franchise/DonkeyKong, which isn't surprising considering he's an ape.

* With the exception of the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Blood Elves]] and tauren, all the male models for the Horde races in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' exhibit this.
** And on the Alliance side, [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Worgen]].
* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear X2'''s Robo-Ky had this stance before he was completely overhauled into a LethalJokeCharacter in the [[CapcomSequelStagnation later versions of the game]]. He crawls on the ground as his walking animation. This, combined with his distorted theme song, made him seem a little more threatening than his later incarnation...
* Devil Jin of ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' has been known to do this.
* As do the Yakuza depicted in ''VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai''.

* Lizardman in the ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul Calibur]]'' series, for obvious reasons. Also any ''Soul Calibur IV'' created character with his style, which just looks stupid on a human.

* ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'': HUNTER!
** The Tank is even more hunched over, walking with its huge arms.
* ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'''s Alex Mercer has exceedingly bad posture, and that's before he shifts his biomass into his arms, making them heavy enough to smash tanks. Among other things.
* Blanka from ''Franchise/StreetFighter''.
** During his V-Trigger, Necalli from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' moves like this.
* Franchise/SpiderMan is always bent over in the ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' games, which seems a little more fitting than the heroic poses he usually strikes in the comics.
** Lampshaded by [[Franchise/StreetFighter Ryu]].
---> Ryu: Your stance is weak!
* Raziel starts out walking relatively upright in ''[[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Soul Reaver 1]]'', but by the time ''Defiance'' rolls around, he's adopted a noticeably more hunched posture.
* Most enemy vampires in ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines''. A Gangrel PC can do it too by using Protean to give themselves claws, which are then used with this stance.
* The newly-designed hurlocks of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' utilize this trope. They tend to shamble rather than walk or run.
** Taken UpToEleven with the new genlocks, who are constantly hunched over and prone to RunningOnAllFours.
*** [[MagicKnight Fenris]] is a mild example, but there's still a noticeable difference between his posture and that of the other companions. Get him to stand near, say, [[BlackMagicianGirl Merill]] or [[KnightInShiningArmor Sebastian]] and you can clearly see a difference, as Fenris stands with his shoulders hunched forward, like he's constantly ready to pounce into action in an instant.
* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, the [[ProudWarriorRace Krogan]] have shades of this, due to the large hump on a typical Krogan's back, along with [[BloodKnight their general temperment.]] The Elcor even moreso, naturally walking on all fours, although in their case they are some of the calmest beings in the galaxy. The Yahg, meanwhile, adopt this stance even more than the Krogan do, and are ''much'' more aggressive. And then there are the [[BodyHorror Brutes.]] [[spoiler: After Saren dies and Sovereign takes over his cybernetics, he starts moving like this, which makes sense, given that Sovereign-Saren is a substantially harder fight than regular Saren - it's actually entirely possible to skip the fight with Saren by [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath talking him into killing himself.]]]]
* Monkey in ''VideoGame/EnslavedOdysseyToTheWest''. He even runs in this position sometimes - and manages to make it look cool.
* Cipher Admin Gorigan of ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'' adopts a pose similar to an ape's pose at all times (as seen above). He also bangs his fists against his chest when angered.
** Also Dakim in the [[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum first game]].
* Keats in ''VideoGame/{{Folklore}}'' takes on this stance in combat, especially while in his [[SuperMode Transcended form]].
* [[spoiler: Adachi]] of ''VideoGame/Persona4'' enters this stance during his boss fight.
* Asura from ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' does this in his [[spoiler: Wrath Form]] on occasion, especially when he's in greater pain. Also does LimpAndLivid as well.
* Cole in ''VideoGame/{{inFAMOUS}}'' usually has this posture, even while sprinting or dodging. He even keeps his head hunched forward while climbing.
* Bonkers as a helper was portrayed as moving like a gorilla in ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', unusual since Bonkers usually inverts it (he's a gorilla who walks like a human). Not even the remake portrays Bonkers as a helper that way. It's not until ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamland'' where he's not only again portrayed as moving like an actual gorilla, but also stands like one.
* In ''VideoGame/Disgaea5'', Usalia is normally depicted riding her obese yellow Prinny. However, if she ever enters this stance, then she's gone without curry for too long or she uttered a [[LimitBreak Murmur of Rage]]. Either way, the advice is the same: '''RUN.'''
* The Goliath in ''VideoGame/{{Evolve}}'' stands with a hunched posture. This emphasizes its bestial nature while still giving it a semblance of intelligence, as well as creating a body structure that justifies its ease of movement when it walks on all fours.
* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, this is a trait of Scamps, the [[TheGoomba weakest]] and [[FunSize smallest]] known form of [[OurDemonsAreDifferent lesser Daedra]]. While they stop short of walking on all fours, Scamps have very hunched over postures. They're also among the less intelligent of the sentient Daedra.
* Though they're intelligent enough to wield MP-5s and follow verbal commands, your first clue that there's something ''seriously'' wrong and monstrous about the Undertakers you face in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilSurvivor'' is their hunched gorilla-like postures. If that wasn't enough of a clue that they're not human, but bio-weapons, the way they hoot like monkeys, hop around, and melt into goo when defeated will drive that point home.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* When she first debuted in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Galatea would sometimes run hunched over with her hands curled back in a "bestial" pose, emphasizing that she'd been raised as an animal. Subverted later, as now she tries to act very sophisticated at all times.

* Played with by Bumi of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' who is always hunched over: most of the time it just makes him look more feeble and decrepit, but this trope comes into play when he [[WalkingShirtlessScene takes his shirt off]] to [[LetsGetDangerous start fighting]] as when combined with all that muscle is quite intimidating.
* SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' uses this for [[EnemyWithout Evil Korra]]. This carries over in motion as well: bending usually uses [[SupernaturalMartialArts elegant martial arts movements]] to work, but Evil Korra uses wild swings and {{Flash Step}}s to manipulate the elements.
* Nightcrawler in ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' is often seen sitting or standing hunched over, but usually only when he's not wearing his holographic human disguise. This is because, like in the comics, he walks on his toes rather than the soles of his feet which changes his posture.
* Timber Wolf in ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperheroes'' sometimes adopts this stance when in combat, fittingly seeing he's the Legion's feral member.

* In ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' Carnage tends to have this posture. Also add in the fact that Carnage screeches rather than talk, he comes off as rather feral.
* The animated Kratt Brothers sometimes pose like this on ''WesternAnimation/WildKratts'' when they're taking on or shutting down their creature powers, although they smile cheerfully while doing it so it's clear that they're ''heroically'' feral. Chris even crouches like this at the end of the opening theme song of every episode.
* This is basically the natural pose of Sticks of ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom''.
* The boy in ''WesternAnimation/{{Feral}}'', who was a wild child living in the forest in the company of wolves. When he's brought back to civilization, he starts to walk upright. When he rejects human civilization and goes back to the forest, he starts going on all fours again.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Grogar walks with a quadrupedal variant of this (i.e. with his back hunched and head lowered), contrasting all the other quadrupedal creatures (such as all ponies) who walk upright (i.e. with their neck and head held up) and in a very civilized way, to make him look [[UncannyValley more unsettling and threatening]].

* [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Ridley]]'s default posture is this in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', which makes him seem gorilla-like. This, along with his sudden change in bulk in comparison to his earlier incarnations in the series, has led to fans giving him the nickname "Roidley".

** Ridley is hunched over in a gargoyle-like position similar to his depiction in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' in his playable debut in ''Ultimate''. Even when hunched over, Ridley is still the [[MemeticMutation biggest]] fighter in the game, even bigger than Bowser who stands fully upright.

* Compare old depictions of the TyrannosaurusRex to newer ones. The old ones are all in kangaroo-esque positions, tails dragging along the ground, while the newer ones have the entire body more or less parallel to the ground.

* ''Manga/DeathNote'': This is L's modus operandi when [[GeniusDitz not sitting in uncomfortable positions on staring at a computer screen for hours on end]].

* You know [[Franchise/DotHack Haseo's]] pissed when he sports three tails, [[SpikesOfDoom spiky armor]], hunches like a wolf, has very sharp claws, and can friggin summon thousands of swords just for one target. [[spoiler: This comes with a mental state like an animal, in which he is soundly defeated thanks to better tactics]]

* Negi Springfield of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' whenever his monstrous side starts to take over.

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

* [[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon Adult Alma]].

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'''s aptly-named Brutes, described by Creator/{{Bungie}} as bear-gorillas, will go ''berserk'' if you break their shields or kill their allies, with the ones in ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' taking up this stance.

* [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]] has this pose when he gets his blades out.
* [[VideoGame/Left4Dead HUNTER!]]

* [[spoiler: Adachi]] of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' enters this stance during his boss fight.

* [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Ridley]]'s default posture is this in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', which makes him seem gorilla-like. This, along with his sudden change in bulk in comparison to his earlier incarnations in the series, has led to fans giving him the nickname "Roidley".
* In ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 5}}'', Usalia is normally depicted riding her obese yellow Prinny. However, if she ever enters this stance, then she's gone without curry for too long or she uttered a [[LimitBreak Murmur of Rage]]. Either way, the advice is the same: '''RUN.'''

* The two evil sons taunting Lavinia after they mutilate her in the 1999 film ''Titus''.

* With the exception of the [[OurElvesAreBetter Blood Elves]] and tauren, all the male models for the Horde races in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' exhibit this.