History Main / ThemeTunelessEpisode

[[folder: Films -- Live-Actionl]]

In modern {{anime}} (especially during the 2010s), it's often common for shows to omit the opening in the first episode and/or in the last episode (either season and/or series), usually for having more storytelling time (as both the first and the last episode tend to be the most important). Other episodes that tend to have a strong importance to the plot (such as a WhamEpisode), sometimes do this as well. Sometimes, in either the first and/or the last episode, the opening plays in the end of the episode in place of the normal ending.

In some cases, the theme might make a cameo, usually as an instrumental, despite it not being used in the actual episode.

If the theme tune is still there, but different, see VariationsOnAThemeSong. Compare to NoThemeTune, when every episode of a show has no theme song.

[[folder: Film - In general]]
* This is a common practice for movies that adapt TV shows:
** ''Film/BarneysGreatAdventure'' doesn't use the traditional ''Series/BarneyAndFriends'' theme tune. Instead, it uses a Bernadette Peters song called "Barney".
** Both ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' movies lack the show's traditional theme song.
** ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' doesn't use the opening themes of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' or ''Series/ShiningTimeStation''.
** Both ''Series/SesameStreet'' movies lack the series theme song, but it plays in ''Film/FollowThatBird'' as an instrumental during a chase scene.
** Although [[OpeningShoutOut imagery from the theme song shows up in the movie]], the theme song to ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' doesn't appear in ''WesternAnimation/TheBobsBurgersMovie''.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOnTheRun'' doesn't use the opening theme to ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', although the last quarter of the show's theme song is heard over the InMemoriam card of Stephen Hillenburg, which then segues into the first end credits song, "Agua".
** Unlike [[WesternAnimation/PAWPatrolTheMovie its predecessor]], ''WesternAnimation/PAWPatrolTheMightyMovie'' does not use the show's theme song.

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** Unlike [[WesternAnimation/PAWPatrolTheMovie its' predecessor]], ''WesternAnimation/PAWPatrolTheMightyMovie'' does not use the show's theme song.

* Downplayed and justified in ''WebVideo/TheMirror''. In the last episode, the only remaining member of the cult is Curtis, and he lacks even the ability to use the usual episode intro. Instead he pulls out a radio and plays some of the theme song, then stops it to present the subject of the video.

In modern {{anime}} (especially during the 2010s), it's often common for shows to omit the opening in the first episode and/or in the last episode (either season and/or series), usually for having more storytelling time (as both the first and the last episode tend to be the most important). Other episodes that tend to have a strong importance to the plot (such as a WhamEpisode), also does this. Sometimes, in either the first and/or the last episode, the opening plays in the end of the episode in place of the normal ending.

* Episode 10 of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has no standard opening; the show's usual opening theme plays over the closing credits.

There are a number of reasons this happens. The most common reason for this occuring is that the episode in question is considered to be a special one by the creators. This is especially common with the ChristmasEpisode of a show. Another reason is that the show's episode is either the first or last in the series. A case where it's for the first episode is likely because the creators are trying to avoid a SpoilerOpening, while for a finale episode, they're trying to avoid MoodWhiplash by playing the song before or after a crucial moment in the show. Another reason is that the episode would be too long if the theme tune was left in. It might also happen on a VerySpecialEpisode or UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode.

* The final episode of ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' lacked the show's typical intro, though the theme song played over the credits.

** ''Film/BarneysGreatAdventure'' doesn't use the traditional ''Series/BarneyAndFriends'' theme tune. Instead, it used a Bernadette Peters song called "Barney".
** Both ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' movies lack the traditional theme song.

** Both ''Series/SesameStreet'' movies lack the theme song, but it plays in ''Film/FollowThatBird'' as an instrumental during a chase scene.

* The two part episode "The Burning" that opened series 3 of ''Series/DempseyAndMakepeace'' forwent the normal opening theme as they dealt with Dempsey?s New York past coming back to haunt him.
* An episode of ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'' didn't have the the theme song - until, at around forty-minutes in, two characters have a WaxingLyrical conversation that repeats the lyrics of the ExpositoryThemeTune, and the scene then ends with the title card appearing.

** The first episode of Series 11, "The Woman Who Fell to Earth", had no opening theme or credit sequence.

* ''Series/OneTreeHill'' forewent the usual "I Don't Want to Be" opening for more serious episodes, such as one in the third season involving a school shooting, before ultimately dropping the theme altogether in season 5 due to the TimeSkip.

* In ''Series/{{Red Dwarf}}'', the opening theme for both Ouroboros and Duct Soup are absent in the broadcast versions but available on the DVD 'X-tended' versions of the episodes, due to the episodes overrunning their time slot. Duct Soup retains the title card whilst Ouroboros doesn't, however, it does open with the last note of the theme tune.

* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'': Downplayed: the Season 6 premiere "A Horse Walks Into a Rehab" plays the first few notes of the theme song, but then the image burns away to immediately show the next scene, possibly to illustrate [=BoJack=]'s effort to break free of his unhealthy habits and bad memories.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': The episode "Brian and Stewie" opens with the show's logo appearing silently over a black background.
* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'': The half-hour episodes "[[ChristmasEpisode Arnold's Christmas]]", "[[ThanksgivingEpisode Arnold's Thanksgiving]]", "SchoolPlay", "[[TearJerker Parents Day]]", and "Dino Checks Out", as well as the [[MultiPartEpisode two-parter]] produced GrandFinale "The Journal" have the show's logo and opening credits appear over the first shots of the said episodes.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': Season 4's story arc focusing on the Santiago/Casagrande family only played a little bit of the theme tune before cutting to Ronnie Anne introducing her family.

** The first episode "A Lying Witch and a Warden" completely skips the opening theme and the title does not appear until right before the end credits.
** The first season finale "Young Blood, Old Souls" completely skips the opening theme.
** Similar to ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'', "Elsewhere and Elsewhen" introduces a TitleOnlyOpening created to extend a particularly important episode's runtime after the series was CutShort. As the last six episodes of the second season are all {{Wham Episode}}s, they all use this opening. All 3 episodes of season 3 do this with the show's logo shown in the background after each cold open.
* ''WesternAnimation/PennZeroPartTimeHero'': The episode "The Pirates, the Parrot, the puzzle and the Talking Boats" is the only episode to not open with the theme song, rather than having the show's title appear for a few seconds before cutting to the episode's title.

** "Werewolf vs. Unicorn" and "Fight Club Paradise" do not open with the opening sequence, as the first began with the show's title card leading into the PreviouslyOn sequence and the second was a MilestoneCelebration of 100 episodes as the Robot Chicken was finally freed.
** Also, the episode "Hey I Found Another Sock" skips the opening sequence and immediately heads straight into the first segment (with the opening credits rolling over it).

* The ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' episode "My Fair Hatey" is the only episode that does not play the theme song; instead, it begins with the show's logo in front of a curtain which rises and cuts to the actual show.

* Subverted with the Season 8 premiere of ''Series/{{CSINY}}''. The show's format typically features a couple minutes' worth of scenes, followed by the theme tune playing over the opening credits, then the first commercial break. However, this episode cuts to commercial with just a quiet title card after the scenes, as it commemorates the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The regular credits and tune ''do'' appear, however; they're just after the commercial break.

* Subverted with the Season 8 premiere of ''Series/{{CSINY}}''. The show's format typically features a couple minutes' worth of scenes, followed by the opening credits, then the first commercial break. However, this episode cuts to commercial with just a quiet title card after the scenes, as it commemorates the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The regular credits ''do'' appear, however; they're just after the commercial break.

** The first episode have the show's logo form while a remixed version of the theme plays. The intro proper plays right before the end credits.

** Similar to ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'', "Elsewhere and Elsewhen" introduces a TitleOnlyOpening created to extend a particularly important episode's runtime after the series was CutShort. As the last six episodes of the second season are all {{Wham Episode}}s, they all use this opening.