History Main / RecognizableBySound

* In ''ComicBook/Superboy1994'', ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfMetropolis'' and ''[[ComicBook/JimmyOlsen Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen]]'' Guardian can generally tell if the Newsboy Legion are about by listening for their "pet" Angry Charlie's signature G[-R-]OIK vocalization.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has distinct voices for each of the 9 classes, further facilitated by their unique accents based on their country/state of origin (even though they are not accurate representations of real life accents). [[http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Voice_commands Voice commands here.]] [[http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Responses Responses to specific situations here.]]

A lot of people have great recognition abilities, which means that they are able to recognize the sounds of various items or even the tone of the voice of their friends. This can even come in handy when a character is separated from his friend and when he hears the voice of his friend, he will say "[[CaptainObvious I know that voice!]]" The result will prove victorious in the end afterwards.

-->'''Hope:''' I know that bark! It is him!

* In the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' series, Hon Rosie has a very loud, distinctive laugh that the others always recognize her by. "Whoohahahahahoohah!"

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'' episode "[[Recap/DuckTalesS1E53HeroForHire Hero for Hire]]", Scrooge, hearing the motor of Launchpad's helicopter, exclaims, "I'd know that sound anywhere!"

* While sneaking around the mansion of MadScientist Doctor Greenthumb in the ''WesternAnimation/JosieAndThePussycats'' episode "A Greenthumb Is Not A Goldfinger," the three band members encounter a walking pile of leaves. They presume that this is one of the mad doctor's plant creatures, and attack it. While Josie and Valerie are pummeling the creature, it cries in pain from the blows. Melody recognizes the voice, and begins sobbing, "That sounds like Alexandra. The creature-plant must have eaten her!" Immediately, Josie and Valerie realize that DumbassHasAPoint, and it's revealed that the creature was Alexandra disguised as a creature plant.

* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', in the Virtual World arc, Noah plays Serenity's screams into the tunnel where the rest of the gang are. Joey instantly recognizes it.
* In ''[[Anime/DarkerThanBlack Shikkoku no Hana]]'', [[spoiler: Hei, brain-churned by a telepath]] snaps back when he hears [[spoiler: Yin's]] voice. [[Heartwarming/DarkerThanBlack Awww...]]

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'': In the Hordika arc, Toa Nuju speaks to his companion Kualus about his old friend Ehrye. Just then, he hears Ehrye's voice calling for help. Kualus warns him not to follow it, but Nuju doesn't care. Sure enough, the source of the voice turned out to be from an Oohnorak waiting in ambush, having read Nuju's mind and then started mimicking Ehyre's voice.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* In the first ''Film/{{Pirates of the Caribbean|TheCurseOfTheBlackPearl}}'' movie, Jack is in prison when the Black Pearl opens fire on the town. He immediately sits up: "I know those guns."
* In ''Film/TheHuntForRedOctober'', Captain Mancuso and some of his men have boarded the titular Russian sub to accept Captain Ramius' defection when a torpedo wooshes overhead. Seaman Jones, Mancuso's sonarman, can tell from the torpedo's pitch that it's Russian.

* In the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' series, Hon Rosie has a very loud, distinctive laugh that the others always recognize her by. "Whoohahahahahoohah!"

* In the ''{{Goosebumps}}'' novel ''The Haunted Car'', main character Mitchell claims to be able to recognise any car by the sound of its engine.

* Invoked in the classic TV show ''Series/ThisIsYourLife''.
-->Do you remember this voice?

** Characters in have reacted to the sound of the TARDIS before, often running to meet the Doctor.
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E12ClosingTime Closing Time]]", the sound of his baby crying keeps Craig from full cyber-conversion into a Cyberman.
* Eliot Spencer of {{Leverage}} can not only identify firearms by the sounds of them firing, but even by listening to someone ''describe'' the sound of a helicopter instantly knows which agency sent it.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': All the species have a unique cry.

* The Big-Lipped Alligator from Creator/DonBluth's ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' has Charlie Barkin between his jaws when Charlie howls in terror. The sound is so melodious to the alligator that he set Charlie free. Later in the story, the evil Carface has captured Charlie, and has caused Charlie to howl in pain. Miles away, the Big-Lipped Alligator hears this cry, and comes to Charlie's rescue in a BigDamnHeroes moment.

* While sneaking around the mansion of MadScientist Doctor Greenthumb in the ''WesternAnimation/JosieAndThePussycats'' episode "A Greenthumb Is Not A Goldfinger," the three band members encounter a walking pile of leaves. They presume that this is one of the mad doctor's plant creatures, and attack it. While Josie and Valerie are pummeling the creature, it cries in pain from the blows. Melody recognizes the voice, and begins sobbing, "That sounds like Alexandra. The creature-plant must have eaten her!" Immediately, Josie and Valerie realize that DumbassHasAPoint, and it's revealed that the creature was Alexandra disguised as a creature plant.

* ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}'': In the Hordika arc, Toa Nuju speaks to his companion Kualus about his old friend Ehrye. Just then, he hears Ehrye's voice calling for help. Kualus warns him not to follow it, but Nuju doesn't care. Sure enough, the source of the voice turned out to be from an Oohnorak waiting in ambush, having read Nuju's mind and then started mimicking Ehyre's voice.

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

* ''{{Franchise/Bionicle}}'': In the Hordika arc, Toa Nuju speaks to his companion Kualus about his old friend Ehrye. Just then, he hears Ehrye's voice calling for help. Kualus warns him not to follow it, but Nuju doesn't care. Sure enough, the source of the voice turned out to be from an Oohnorak waiting in ambush, having read Nuju's mind and then started mimicking Ehyre's voice.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''Film/HomewardBoundTheIncredibleJourney'':
-->''[Chance is heard barking from a distance]''

* In the first Film/{{Pirates of the Caribbean|TheCurseOfTheBlackPearl}} movie, Jack is in prison when the Black Pearl opens fire on the town. He immediately sits up: "I know those guns."

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:{{Live-Action TV}}]]
* Invoked in the classic TV show ''ThisIsYourLife''.

* Characters in ''Series/DoctorWho'' have reacted to the sound of the TARDIS before, often running to meet the Doctor.

[[AC:ProfessionalWrestling]]
* Regularly employed in {{WWE}} productions, where a wrestler's entrance music indicates he is on his way to the ring, often to the detriment of the wrestler already in the ring.
-->Wrestler A: I throw out an open challenge to anyone backstage!
-->''SFX: Wrestling/TheUndertaker's "Bong" chimes''
-->Wrestler A: OhCrap...
* One time during an Wrestling/{{Edge}} vs Wrestling/MattHardy feud, Hardy's entrance music played while Edge was in the ring, causing Edge to panic and the audience to erupt - but then Edge started laughing. Hardy wasn't there, it was just Edge trolling the audience.

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

-->'''Rocky:''' That voice. Where have I heard that voice?
-->'''Bullwinkle:''' In about a hundred other episodes, but I don't know who it is either.

* Invoked in the classic TV show ''Series/ThisIsYourLife''.

* In ''[[Anime/DarkerThanBlack Shikkoku no Hana]]'', [[spoiler: Hei, brain-churned by a telepath]] snaps back when he hears [[spoiler: Yin's]] voice. [[Heartwarming/DarkerThanBlack Awww]]...

* In the first [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl Pirates of the Caribbean]] movie, Jack is in prison when the Black Pearl opens fire on the town. He immediately sits up: "I know those guns."

* Invoked in the classic TV show ''ThisIsYourLife''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'''s "Super Best Friends", Kyle and Stan are able to locate each other by playing a game of Marco Polo, using their respective and [[TheyKilledKenny distinctive]] SharePhrase.
* While sneaking around the mansion of MadScientist Doctor Greenthumb in the ''WesternAnimation/JosieAndThePussyCats'' episode "A Greenthumb Is Not A Goldfinger," the three band members encounter a walking pile of leaves. They presume that this is one of the mad doctor's plant creatures, and attack it. While Josie and Valerie are pummeling the creature, it cries in pain from the blows. Melody recognizes the voice, and begins sobbing, "That sounds like Alexandra. The creature-plant must have eaten her!" Immediately, Josie and Valerie realize that DumbassHasAPoint, and it's revealed that the creature was Alexandra disguised as a creature plant.

Two characters are separated from one another in different areas, but however, while they may be far away from each other, their voices can be heard from the distance between them. One character yells from far away, which the other character then hears, prompting him to say, "[[CaptainObvious I know that sound!]]" After following the sound, both characters are reunited once again.

This is when a character recognizes his vocal tone of his closest friend. The result will prove victorious in the end afterwards.

Compare/Contrast: SoundCodedForYourConvenience

* In ''[[DarkerThanBlack Shikkoku no Hana]]'', [[spoiler: Hei, brain-churned by a telepath]] snaps back when he hears [[spoiler: Yin's]] voice. [[Heartwarming/DarkerThanBlack Awww]]...

* Characters in ''Series/DoctorWho'' have reacted to the sound of the TARDIS before, often running to meet The Doctor.

* When James Bond cocks his gun to the back of Zukovsky's head in Film/{{Goldeneye}}, he can identify it (and the person holding it) by the sound alone.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'' episode "Hero for Hire", Scrooge, hearing the motor of Launchpad's helicopter, exclaims, "I'd know that sound anywhere!"

* {{Subverted|Trope}} in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime. Every individual pokemon, besides those that speak english, makes a noise either identical or near-identical to its name. However, even if they've already heard the pokemon speak, no one in that universe has any idea what the pokemon in question is unless they consult the Pokedex.

!Examples:

* Detective Eddie Valiant and Roger Rabbit are attempting to escape from the weasels by stealing the weasels' police van in ''WesternAnimation/WhoFramedRogerRabbit.'' A voice from the containment area of the van pleas for freedom: "Hey, you weasels, let me outta here!" Roger Rabbit recognizes the voice and replies, "Bennie, is that you?" The sarcastic response is, "No, it's Eleanor Roosevelt! C'mon, Roger, let me outta here!"

* ''Franchise/DocSavage'' stories. Doc sometimes gave off a eerie trilling sound. Several times his men heard the sound when they were in dire straits, letting them know that Doc was nearby.
* In both the book and film versions of ''Literature/TheHungerGamesCatchingFire'', both Katniss and Finnick hear the sounds of their loved ones and run toward them. It turned out to be mockingjays, not their actual relatives, leading to their being trapped.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy X-2'' (and to a lesser extent X), Tidus' whistle. (Though in X, the one time it occurs, Tidus is reacting to Yuna whistling in a crowd, even though it was Tidus who taught her to do it.)
* In ''Franchise/MegaMan 3'', Dr. Light recognized Proto Man's identity after he heard his whistle.