History Main / ShorterMeansSmarter

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Satoshi/Ash's Noctowl is aside from being a Shiny Pokémon not only much smaller than regular Noctowls, but also more intelligent than them.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

* ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series: ''X5's'' Shining Firefly/Izzy Glow and ''X8's'' Gravity Antonion. Both are extremely intelligent {{reluctant mad scientist}}s and are the smallest bosses in their games due to being based off a firefly and an ant respectively.

* Regardless of whether [[VideoGame/DragonAgeII Hawke]] is played as male or female, they're unfailingly taller than their best friend Varric, who is a dwarf. Varric, who is both a merchant prince and a published author of considerable renown, is shown repeatedly to be smooth, cunning, and exceptionally clever; of particular note, the devs have stated that no matter how much trouble he's in, the moment Varric is allowed to start talking, ''he's won.'' Fortunately for all of Thedas, Varric is unequivocally one of the good guys.

* Brainiac 5 from the ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' Then again, he is twelve.
** Averted in the comics.

* Played straight in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' where Robin is the shortest and youngest member of the team but is the most all-around intelligent.

* Of the male characters on ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'', the four shortest--[[DoggedNiceGuy Cody]], [[TheSmartGuy Noah]], [[HomeschooledKids Ezekiel]], and [[BubbleBoy Cameron]]--are all intelligent and geeky (though Ezekiel's intelligence is [[AllThereInTheManual mostly confined to the manual]]). There are [[AvertedTrope aversions]], however, including the tall, lanky geek Harold.

* Inverted on ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', as genius girl Gretchen is the second tallest member of the gang.
* ''WesternAnimation/AlbertTheFifthMusketeer'' is probably the best example among French cartoons.
* ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle''.
* WesternAnimation/TheTick and Arthur, most definitely.

** Played straight with Dipper, who is a millimeter shorter than his sister Mabel.

* Ocellus, the changeling student from season 8 of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', is slightly shorter than the the other members of they young six but much smarter and more academically inclined than them.

-->-- ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutronBoyGenius''

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', it's implied that Hermione is the shortest of the group (and she's obviously the smartest as well).

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Averted in real life. Indeed, people tend to believe the opposite, assuming that taller people are also more intelligent. This was reinforced by pre-modern economies having a limited ability to produce food, with protein especially being limited to the upper classes. People well-fed enough to reach their genetic potential could tower over the commoners, while also having far more access to education.
* A number of [[ChildProdigy Child Prodigies]] are leagues smarter than much older people. One example being [[http://college.usatoday.com/2015/05/22/11-year-old-graduates-college-with-3-degrees/ this kid]], who graduated college with three degrees.
* Inverted with conditions like [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_syndrome Down syndrome]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcephaly microcephaly]], which inhibit mental development ''and'' physical growth.
* Robert Reich, who was U.S. Secretary Of Labor from 1993 to 1997, generally considered one of the most prosperous times in American history, along with multiple other posts for other presidents, has degrees from Dartmouth, Oxford and Yale and is overall considered one of the most respected economic and political minds around, suffers from Fairbanks Disease and stands at a mere 4"9.
* Intellect is a huge investment of energy that most species' biology would rather spend on more immediate and obviously beneficial traits for survival. However, smaller animals like ravens and jumping spiders have been studied to have surprisingly complex intellects for both problem solving and communication compared to most larger animals.
[[/folder]]

* In, ''Literature/HarryPotter'', it's implied that Hermione is the shortest of the group (and she's obviously the smartest as well).

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Of the many, ''[[UndergroundMonkey many]]'' breeds of [[AllTrollsAreDifferent trolls]], the smartest "natural" kind (i.e. no magical experimentation was involved) are the forest trolls, which are about as intelligent, and the same size, as the average human. Which, due to how the game classifies size categories and monster typing, makes these forest trolls [[OxymoronicBeing Medium-sized Giants.]]

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* In ''Animation/HappyHeroes'', Careless S. is demonstrated to be the shortest of the Supermen and, despite being a ForgetfulJones, he has quite some intelligence and knows a lot about how weaponry works and how to build weapons of his own.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]

[[folder:Fan Fic]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

[[folder:Theater]]

* ''{{Franchise/EXTRAPOWER}}'': Professor Ace in Zophy's group, who is seemingly as diminutive as the youngers Dave and Marie, but occasionally proves that his credentials were earned. His archaeology background means that he has occasional surprising insights into ongoing adventures, and in ''[[VideoGame/ExtrapowerGiantFist Giant Fist]]'' he reveals that in his cowardice, he maintains a robust intelligence network to avoid getting himself in direct danger.

[[folder:Web Original]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* Silk, resident SmartGuy of ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', is significantly shorter than any other male adult in the party. When first introduced he's described as being barely taller than the then-prepubescent protagonist.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the local crime boss leading the rioting in prison is a man named "Big Figure," who is half the height of his two thugs. His FatalFlaw is a NapoleonComplex.

* Shulk is the shortest male party member in ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}}''. He's also an engineering student back at Colony 9.

* In ''Manga/DetectiveConan'', Conan Edogawa is the shortest of the Detective Boys, even shorter than the girls. This was, however, subverted with his [[OlderThanTheyLook teenage alter ego]] Shinichi Kudo, as Shinichi is of a more appropriate height for his age.

* Inverted in the animated TV show ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries''. Recurring shortarse baddie Abis Mal is an absolute doofus compared to his tall, thin lackey, Haroud.

* Inverted with conditons like [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_syndrome Down syndrome]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcephaly microcephaly]], which inhibit mental development ''and'' physical growth.

* Averted in real life. Indeed, people tend to believe the opposite, assuming that taller people are also more intelligent. This was reinforced by pre-modern economies having a limited ability to produce food, with protein especially being limited to the upper classes. People well-fed enough to reach their genetic potential could tower over the commoners, while also having far more access to education. The ancient stereotype is actually correct - taller people are on average slightly more intelligent than shorter ones, even in modern times.

Reflectively, in a BigGuyLittleGuy OddCouple the short one is always the planner, the schemer, the wise one. The taller may be TheHero, the DumbMuscle or the loon, [[FatIdiot the lazy one]], or just the wild one, but the short guy is always somehow smarter. The TeenGenius WiseBeyondTheirYears is especially often paired with a GentleGiant, and the child in a BadassAndChildDuo will often at least attempt to play the smart guy for the pair. [[HypercompetentSidekick Results]] [[CuriousAsAMonkey will]] [[SmallAnnoyingCreature vary]].

* Charlie and Raymond Babbitt from ''Film/RainMan'', the latter being a [[TheRainMan low-functioning yet genius autistic savant]].

* Yue Ayase of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' is the shortest of the post-pubescent characters, and easily one of the smartest.

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': Out of the former Axis Trio, Japan is the shortest. He also happens to be ''very'' smart. Not that Germany and Italy are dumb, but still.

* Gomar and Shioh in ''VideoGame/FZero''.

* ''Franchise/ArchieComics'': TeenGenius Dilton is [[TheShortGuyWithGlasses by far the shortest boy in the main cast.]]

* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'':