History Main / ThreeShorts

The ''Three Shorts'' format became eclipsed by the ''Two Shorts'' format [[UsefulNotes/TheMillenniumAgeOfAnimation around the turn of the century]], this being a pair of eleven-minute episodes. Originally very rare, it's now practically the standard for comedy animation, as it allows for more complex stories to be told while still not having the aforementioned hurdles that come with writing a half-hour story. In addition, some half-hour animated shows will have [[VignetteEpisode a few Two Shorts episodes]], any half of which can be used as emergency schedule filler around odd-length specials or movies.

The "Three Shorts" format became eclipsed by the ''Two Shorts'' format [[UsefulNotes/TheMillenniumAgeOfAnimation around the turn of the century]], with a pair of eleven-minute episodes. Originally very rare, it's now practically the standard for comedy animation, as it allows for more complex stories to be told while still not having the aforementioned hurdles that come with writing a half-hour story. In addition, some half-hour animated shows will have [[VignetteEpisode a few Two Shorts episodes]], any half of which can be used as emergency schedule filler around odd-length specials or movies.

A popular format in which to present a cartoon show. The half hour, 22 minutes of program time, is used to show three six-minute short cartoons. The remaining time is used for short framing segments or one-minute gags.

Many shows follow an A-B-A form for this format, meaning one series has a short in the first slot and in the last. This "A" series is generally the one that gives the whole show its name. The middle slot is filled by a second "B" series, that may or may not get billing in the TitleSequence. The "B" series is often in the same universe as the "A" series, and the two can often CrossOver, with the virtue that everyone who has seen the one will almost inevitably see the other. Creator/HannaBarbera likes this format for its Cartoon Network original shows, and many of its older productions.

Most series today use a TwoShorts form, with a pair of eleven-minute episodes. Originally very rare, it's practically the standard for comedy. Some half-hour animated shows have [[VignetteEpisode a few Two Shorts episodes made up]], any half of which can be used as emergency schedule filler around odd-length specials or movies. (The Disney Channel likes these, there are three episodes of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' that follow Two Shorts form, and they crop up after any given movie airing.)

Most series today use a TwoShorts form, with a pair of eleven-minute episodes. Originally very rare, it's practically the standard for comedy. Some half-hour animated shows have a few Two Shorts episodes made up, any half of which can be used as emergency schedule filler around odd-length specials or movies. (The Disney Channel likes these, there are three episodes of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' that follow Two Shorts form, and they crop up after any given movie airing.)

* ''VideoGame/YokaiWatch'' has up to four segments an episode.

* Some {{anime}} air (in Japan) in a form like this, notably ''Manga/RiskySafety'', Folktales From Japan and ''Anime/OruchubanEbichu'', although the series they aired with are less notable. More common are the half-length episodes (about 13 minutes) which air back to back in a half-hour timeslot.

* The anime version of ''Manga/SgtFrog'' usually followed a Two Shorts format.
* ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'' began as a Two Shorts format, sometimes leading to confusion about how many episodes there are since the shows from this period may be counted as either one or two.
* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' was broadcast as one five-minute episode per weekday, which were then stitched together into a half-hour Five Shorts form on Saturday.
* Episodes two and onward of (Zoku) ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'' follow this format.
** As does ''Goku'' (the OVA) and, so far, ''Zan'' (the third series).

* ''Motto Manga/ToLoveRu''
* ''Manga/SoredemoMachiWaMawatteiru'' anime adaption features two thematically linked chapters of the manga per episode.

* ''Manga/{{Sazaesan}}'' does the three shorts format.

* The 2009 ''VideoGame/{{Tamagotchi}}'' anime has two stories per episode.
* ''Anime/CrayonShinChan'' usually runs the three episode format.
* Most of the ''Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu'' episodes were made up of two different stories.
* ''Manga/SchoolRumble'' is a subversion. While the episodes are divided into three shorter ones (each with their own title, except for the season finales), they are all linked together in one overarching plot.
* ''Anime/JewelpetSunshine'' uses the two shorts format in more than half its episodes.
** Same with ''Anime/JewelpetMagicalChange''.
* ''{{Franchise/Anpanman}}'' follows the two story format in nearly every episode, with the exception of a few half-hour special episodes. Because of [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters the amount of characters]] in the franchise, the episodes are simply created by pairing up two characters (or a [[CastHerd defined group]] and a seperate character) and have them work off each other based on their personalities.
* ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'' uses the ABA format, with a mini segment in between each episode. Most dubs cut these mini segments out, making it Two Shorts, and some episodes are full length.
* ''Shima Shima Tora No Shimajiro'' does the ABA format, with a live action segment featuring a costume Shimajiro being the B.
* ''YokaiWatch'' has up to four segments an episode.

* ''Anime/ShinChan'' usually runs the three episode format.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Some {{anime}} air (in Japan) in a form like this, notably ''Anime/RiskySafety'', Folktales From Japan and ''Anime/OruchubanEbichu'', although the series they aired with are less notable. More common are the half-length episodes (about 13 minutes) which air back to back in a half-hour timeslot.

* ''ShizukuChan'' does two stories per episode.
* ''Manga/{{Sazae-san}}'' does the three shorts format.

Many shows follow an A-B-A form for this format, meaning one series has a short in the first slot and in the last. This "A" series is generally the one that gives the whole show its name. The middle slot is filled by a second "B" series, that may or may not get billing in the TitleSequence. The "B" series is often in the same universe as the "A" series, and the two can often CrossOver, with the virtue that everyone who has seen the one will almost inevitably see the other. Creator/{{Hanna-Barbera}} likes this format for its Cartoon Network original shows, and many of its older productions.

* ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'' uses the ABA format, with a mini segment in between each episode. Most dubs cut these mini segments out, making it Two Shorts.

* ''Franchise/{{Jewelpet}} Sunshine'' uses the two shorts format in more than half its episodes.

* ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'' uses the ABA format, with a mini segment in between each episode. The dub cuts this out.

* The 1973 version of the ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'' anime ran in the two shorts format.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

[[folder: {{Radio}}]]

[[folder: Web Animation ]]

* Series/NightGallery. How many segments per episode varied, but was usually two or three. In series two, the segments were often by brief comedic skits. The formula was dropped for series three, where the series took on a more conventional format of each episode consisting of one half hour story.

* ''Anime/ThrillerRestaurant''

* ''Anime/KaidanRestaurant''

* Some {{anime}} air (in Japan) in a form like this, notably ''Anime/RiskySafety'' and ''Anime/OruchubanEbichu'', although the series they aired with are less notable. More common are the half-length episodes (about 13 minutes) which air back to back in a half-hour timeslot. ''VisualNovel/FinalApproach'' and ''VisualNovel/WWish'' aired together in this manner.

Many shows follow an A-B-A form for this format, meaning one series has a short in the first slot and in the last. This "A" series is generally the one that gives the whole show its name. The middle slot is filled by a second "B" series, that may or may not get billing in the TitleSequence. The "B" series is often in the same universe as the "A" series, and the two can often CrossOver, with the virtue that everyone who has seen the one will almost inevitably see the other. {{Hanna-Barbera}} likes this format for its Cartoon Network original shows, and many of its older productions.

Sometimes, in between the shorts are super-short one-joke bits. ''GarfieldAndFriends'' called these "Quickies", and they were often adapted from a single Sunday strip.

* Some {{anime}} air (in Japan) in a form like this, notably ''RiskySafety'' and ''OruchubanEbichu'', although the series they aired with are less notable. More common are the half-length episodes (about 13 minutes) which air back to back in a half-hour timeslot. ''VisualNovel/FinalApproach'' and ''VisualNovel/WWish'' aired together in this manner.
* The anime version of ''KeroroGunsou'' usually followed a Two Shorts format.
* ''UruseiYatsura'' began as a Two Shorts format, sometimes leading to confusion about how many episodes there are since the shows from this period may be counted as either one or two.

* Episodes two and onward of (Zoku) ''SayonaraZetsubouSensei'' follow this format.
** As does Goku (the OVA) and, so far, Zan (the third series).

* ''ShinryakuIkaMusume''
* ''Motto ToLoveRu''
* ''SoredemoMachiWaMawatteiru'' anime adaption features two thematically linked chapters of the manga per episode.

* ''{{Sazae-san}}'' does the three shorts format.
* The 2009 ''{{Tamagotchi}}'' anime has two stories per episode.
* ''ShinChan'' usually runs the three episode format.

* ''SchoolRumble'' is a subversion. While the episodes are divided into three shorter ones (each with their own title, except for the season finales), they are all linked together in one overarching plot.

* The 1973 version of the {{Doraemon}} anime ran in the two shorts format.

* ''NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'' has two 11-minute shorts per episode, with the second sometimes continuing where the first left off. Unless Nickelodeon only shows one to even out the time slots after running interstitials.
* Season 14 of BarneyAndFriends has two stories per episode. But really, it's two longer episodes from Seasons 10 and 11 shortened and strung together. A few episodes from a few years back followed this format, too.

* Early episodes of ''TheGoonShow'' ([[MissingEpisode none of which still exist]]) had three plots separated by musical interludes. Much later the show partly returned to the format with "The Million Pound Penny", in which the mystery set up in act one is solved during the musical break, with acts two and three forming the title story.

* ''{{Pucca}}'' uses the Three Shorts format for the TV series.
* ''HappyTreeFriends'' followed the Three Shorts structure when adapted for television.

* {{Jewelpet}} Sunshine uses the two stories format in some episodes.