History Main / StationaryWings

* Averted in ''Manga/BirdMen'', you need to flap, ''constantly''.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** Flying Pokémon are sometimes subject to this when it comes to games that use 3D models. Some Pokémon like Salamence, Xatu, and Swellow don't move their wings at all, while other Pokémon actually do flap their wings.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'' falls slightly into this trope. In her final Senshi form she gains a back bow in the form of two pairs of wings shaped like one. While they never move she has flown in a few episodes while in this form.
* Reinforce and Hayate's [[DarkIsNotEvil black wings]] and Nanoha's Flier Fins in ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' rarely ever move even in flight. Considering how [[IBelieveICanFly every other mage flies without wings]], these seem to be purely decorative.
* Inexplicably averted with the movie version of [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Wing Zero]], which actually does flap it wings, which just makes it even sillier, since not only is it a giant robot, but most of the time it's in space.
** The larger wings are shown to be lined with thrusters, hence "flapping" is a form of thrust vectoring. The sub-wings on the middle of the back stay stationary and provide the main thrust, however.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' series, most Digimon with wings don't flap them in order to fly. The primary exceptions to this are Digimon like Lilymon and Flymon, who are of the "Nature Spirits" type of Digimon. This trope is most obvious on the angel-based digimon, some of which are bristling with wings (e.g. Angemon has six, Angewomon has eight and Lucemon has twelve).
** ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' justifies this trope in continuity, possibly for the entire franchise; Basically, in a close up of Grani taking off we are shown air being accelerated along the surface, which explains why digimon without wings can fly; whatever their shape may be, and provided the have [[PowerFloats enough power]] they can simply create thrust by using their skin (of sorts) to accelerate the air around them! This not only justifies why some digimon have many wings (more wings = more surface area = better thrust = quicker and better flying ability), it enter FridgeBrilliance considering that in this series the titular mons live in a digital world with gravity; the simplest way to instruct movement in something is to have it literally move the world around it, with or without direct physical contact.
* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': In a case of inconsistency, flying Pokémon in the anime are sometimes shown flying by flapping their wings and other times are shown flying without moving their wings at all.

* Sugar and her fairy pals in ''Anime/ALittleSnowFairySugar'' rarely ever flap their wings. They seem to fly because they want to, their wings are decorative.
* All of Amu's character transformations in ''Manga/ShugoChara'' seem capable of limited flight but her character transformation with [[spoiler:Diamond]] gives her what appear to be wings as part of her dress. Both she and Utau fly without flapping much at all when Utau is transformed with [[spoiler:El]].
* Shin Manga/GetterRobo, one of the few HumongousMecha with wings, is guilty of doing this. It'll flap its wings at least to lift off, but after that, no flapping.

* Averted in ''Manga/BirdMen'', you need to flap, ''constantly''.
* In the ''Manga/SandsOfDestruction'' manga, the Destruct's wings are never shown to move. Rhi'a may or may not move hers, depending on the scene (they always seem to be drawn the same way, but sometimes have lines or sound effects implying she might flap them). In the [[Anime/SandsOfDestruction anime]], Rhi'a rarely flies (and thus [[PartialTransformation rarely has her wings]]), and when she does it often appears to be more of a "big jump" than actual flight, but her wings are mostly unused.
* Cell from ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' possesses wings, but does not move them even when flying. Given that most of the cast [[IBelieveICanFly flies despite lacking wings]], this is unsurprising.
* Dark from the ''Manga/DNAngel'' anime usually doesn't have to flap.

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai''/''Franchise/PowerRangers:'' Pretty much any time a winged {{Mecha}} is used as a MechaExpansionPack, due to the limitations of the props/suit similar to other Toku shows.

* While most characters with wings in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' do flap, [[spoiler:Yuan, Kratos and Zelos]] all have wings that don't.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' a flying mount chooses when to flap its wings seemingly at random. You can go up, do loops, turns or anything without the wings so much as twitching, and then you pitch down and suddenly the wings go FLAP FLAP. Oh, and the wings only go up and down. They don't actually appear to pull you along. Acceptable break there, wing animations are never really done accurately.
* ''VideoGame/BattleForWesnoth'' is a mixed bag; units such as the WingedHumanoid Elvish Shyde and Sylph have more stationary, insectoid wings. JustifiedTrope in those cases by them mainly flying using [[AWizardDidIt magic]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Okamiden}}'' uses this trope. Kurow's pink feather wings don't move at all when he's flying, although they very rarely beat once or twice if he's hovering near the ground.

* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': Given that absolutely everyone can fly anyway, this isn't that much of a problem.
* In an amusing inversion, you can give your characters wings in ''VideoGame/DCUniverseOnline''. They'll flap when flying or hovering, but they'll also flap when gliding, when one'd expect them to be outstretched and still.
* ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' plays this straight all the way through. At some points in ''Origins'', you can see people ''take off'' without ever flapping their wings. As the wings in question are "Wings of the Heart", which appear to be only partly physical, it's an open question as to whether they actually work the same way as ordinary wings.

* In ''VideoGame/MegaManXDive'', the [=DiVE=] Armor variants of X, Zero and Axl all project holographic wings shaped as their respective letters from their backs. Their purpose seems to [[RuleOfCool just make them look cool]].

* Airplane wings don't flap at all during flight. This is justified by the fact that the Aerodynamic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust Thrust]] of an Airplane is provided by the engines, whether it's a propeller engine or a jet engine, and the wings only provide [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_(force) Lift]]. This is in contrast to flying animals, where the wings provide Lift and also provide Thrust via the animal flapping its wings.

* A lot of the flying Pokémon in the ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' don't flap their wings while flying. Charizard is a main offender. Most Flying-type Pokémon are shown to flap their wings in the 3D games, though.

* ComicBook/{{Hawkman}}: The flight mechanics of the various Hawkmen and Hawkwomen are a case of DependingOnTheWriter, as Hawkman and co. have been subjected to many {{RetCon}}s and changes over the years on whether their wings and flight ability are organic or not. In cases where they are not organic, their flight ability is explained as being a result of using AntiGravity technology for propulsion, with their wings being non-organic devices that are used to steer while in flight, only moving when adjusting the angle or altitude.

* Flying ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' are often subject to this. some like Salamence, Xatu, and Swellow don't move their wings at all while in flight, while practically all of them stop moving their wings when performing attacks in the games that animate them.

* The various ComicBook/{{Hawkm|an}}en never flap their wings. They're rudders used to steer them and the flight is actually propelled by antigravity devices.
** Very much depends on the writer. Hawkman and co. have been subjected to many {{RetCon}}s and changes in the past and across the DCU multiverse regarding the organic-ness or otherwise of their wings

* Airplane wings don't flap at all during flight. This is justified by the fact that the Aerodynamic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust Thrust]] of an Airplane is provided by the engines, whether it's a propeller engine or a jet engine, and the wings only provide [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_(force) Lift]]. This is in contrast to flying animals, where the wings provide Lift and also provide Thrust via the animal flapping its wings. The only exception are [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithopter Ornithopters]], which are aircraft specifically designed to fly with flapping mechanical wings similar to flying animals.

* Airplane wings don't flap at all during flight. This is justified by the fact that the Aerodynamic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust Thrust]] of an Airplane is provided by the engines, whether it's a propeller engine or a jet engine, and the wings only provide [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_(force) Lift]]. This is in contrast to flying animals, where the wings provide Lift and also provide Thrust via the animal beating its wings. The only exception are [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithopter Ornithopters]], which are aircraft specifically designed to fly with mechanical wings providing Thrust via movement similar to flying animals.

* Airplanes' wings don't flap at all during their flight. This is justified by the Bernoulli principle and the fact that airplanes' forward movement is generated by thrusters beneath the wings rather than the movement of the wings themselves. The only exception is ornithopters, aircrafts or drones specifically designed with beating wings.

* This is a common problem in giant monster movies, notably those featuring Film/{{Mothra}}. When the wings flap at all, it is generally very slow. It is generally the result of the difficulty of making wings on such a large puppet move quickly, as well as the method of filming, whereby the footage is slowed down to aid in the illusion of size. The most notorious example of this is likely found in 1992's ''Film/GodzillaAndMothraTheBattleForEarth''.
* Likewise, Film/{{Rodan}} almost never moves his wings at all in flight, especially when going at top-speed.

[[folder:Live Action Television]]

* ''Franchise/PowerRangers:'' Pretty much any time a winged Zord is used as a MechaExpansionPack, due to the limitations of the props/suit. The Falcon Zord flaps its wings (waaaay too slowly that they'd keep its massive weight aloft. And when it hovers while ''firing its wingtip missiles,'' all bets are off.) but not when it attaches to the Ninja Megazord, allowing it to fly.

* Averted in Manga/BirdMen, you need to flap, ''constantly''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''. Given that absolutely everyone can fly anyway, this isn't that much of a problem.

* ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' plays this straight all the way through. At some points in ''Origins'', you can see people ''take off'' without ever flapping their wings.