History Main / TightropeWalking

Compare ElectricSlide for more "shocking" examples, GrindBoots for when skateboards are simply too expensive, and ThePrecariousLedge for when high wire walkers get cold feet. Also compare IHaveTheHighGround, and promptly thwack them round the ankles. That'll teach 'em. May be a talent of TheLightfooted.

Being able to walk on ropes is not a very common skill in RealLife, and reveals a lot about a character, [[IHaveTheHighGround like that they have a very good sense of balance and body control]], that they can perform [[DanceBattler graceful, lithe combat maneuvers]]. Depending on the background of the work, it can imply a character's history with a traveling troupe, ninja village or a circus, for example, pointing to useful further contacts for the character.

It is, in the simplest sense, walking on tightened ropes. The performer may use a balancing tool such as an umbrella, a long pole, or they may stretch out their arms. Tightrope walkers were staples in traveling circuses. These balancing performers walked on ropes high above the circus ring. There are other [[UpToEleven more dangerous versions of this as well.]]

** ''VideoGame/MarioParty1'': The minigame [[CamelCase TightRope Treachery]]. One player is walking a large, thick tightrope to reach the other side; the other three players are boarding naval warships to shoot cannonballs at their solo opponent to attempt to bring them down. Wind currents can also make the solo player fall down, so paying attention to the surroundings will be key. The sailing players must, in turn, be careful not to hit each other with the cannonballs, as the impacted players will lose precious time while they recover. If time runs out or the solo player falls down, then the other three players win; if the solo player reaches the goal, then they win.
** ''VideoGame/MarioParty2'': The minigame Rainbow Run, unlocked after purchasing all other minigames from Woody. One character is walking scross a bridge made of solid rainbow in a cloudy sky, while the other three players are driving SolidClouds armed with cannons to shoot at them and make them fall down.

* In ''Fanfic/UnderTheBigTop'', Castiel is a tightrope walker in the circus. At the end of the story, he kills himself by deliberating stepping off of the rope without a safety net.

Compare ElectricSlide for more "shocking" examples, GrindBoots for when skateboards are simply too expensive, and ThePrecariousLedge for when high wire walkers get cold feet. Also compare IHaveTheHighGround, and promptly thwack them round the ankles. That'll teach 'em.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYoy'': The Ghost Clown makes Franchise/ScoobyDoo walk a tightrope under hypnosis in "Bedlam in the Big Top."

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* Chiko, the title character of ''Manga/TheDaughterOfTwentyFaces'', works as a tightrope walker when the gang goes undercover as a circus troupe. Later, she uses the skill to flee an angry mob by tightrope walking from one roof to another.

* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Before Jason Todd was retooled he was from a family of murdered circus performers like his predecessor Dick Grayson, only instead of trapeze artists they were tightrope walkers.

* Madellaine, Quasi's love interest from ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameII'', wants to learn how to wire walk, but her boss/father figure discourages her, saying her purpose is to [[LovelyAssistant stand around and look pretty.]] She [[CrisisMakesPerfect masters it]] just in time to rescue Phoebus and Esmerelda's son, Zephyr.

* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'', we see Legolas running along a chain to attack the cave troll.

* In ''Film/TheCircus'', Creator/CharlieChaplin is pressed into service as the tightrope walker after the regular tightrope walker doesn't show.
* ''Film/TheWalk'', about Philippe Petit's story of how he conceived of, planned for, and pulled off illegally walking between the two towers of the World Trade Center is basically ''Tightrope Walking: The Movie''.

* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'': Jame has excellent balance and training in LeParkour, and frequently ropewalks. The Kendar companions, however, often has a great fear of heights despite having great balance. The officer academy of Tentir makes use of that, by having the cadets ropewalk in order to learn how to control their fear and their bodies, and as a test.
* In ''Literature/TheCaliforniaVoodooGame'', Acacia crosses a rope strung over a chasm in the Crystal Maze. The narrative mentions that she's actually capable of such a feat for real, although in-Game it's her ''character's'' skill that determines her chances.
* ''Literature/AlexRider'': In ''Ark Angel'', Alex escapes from a burning high rise by walking across a cable attaching a banner to the neighbouring building, using some 'props' left behind by a building crew for balance. Author Creator/AnthonyHorowitz explains in an afterword that the physics of what Alex does would work, but tells readers DontTryThisAtHome.

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* One "Journey to Ernie" sketch on ''Series/SesameStreet'' has Big Bird walking across a tightrope in a circus to get to a box that Ernie may or may not be in.
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* UsefulNotes/D20System and other RPG systems based on it feature a SkillScore responsible for moving on narrow surfaces.

* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed'' games, Alta�r, Ezio, and Connor can all run on certain incredibly thin ropes, wires, and the like.

* The thief in ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'' gets a chance to demonstrate his balance on numerous occasions: from the humble beginnings of shuffling over a tree branch, to creeping around on tightropes twenty feet above the head of a demon wizard.
* Featured as one of the balance games in ''VideoGame/WiiFit''.

* In ''Mother Up'', Apple becomes obsessed with winning pretty trophies; the last one in the case is for tightrope walking, and was retired since the last winner fell off and died. [[NoOSHACompliance For some reason]], the school still has the tightrope set up and Apple walks it in a fugue state (unless the ghost she sees is real, hard to say.)

* The Ghost Clown makes Franchise/ScoobyDoo walk a tightrope under hypnosis in "Bedlam in the Big Top."

* Elix Skipper's "New School" maneuver involved him tight rope walking across the ropes to an opponent sitting on the turn buckle then jumping on them and delivering a Frankensteiner. In Wrestling/{{TNA}}, he's done if not on a rope, but after walking on the edge of a steel cage.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/BackToTheFuture'' episode "[[Recap/BackToTheFutureTheAnimatedSeriesS1E11GoneFishin
Gone Fishin']]", while they're planning a way to stop Doc's younger self from being forced into one final, very dangerous, stunt, Jules asks Marty if he can walk a straight line, which Marty confirms. Jules' plan involves Marty [[WeNeedADistraction creating a distraction]] with a tightrope act while he and Verne get Emmett out of the way.

** The Grappling Hook can be used this way in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]]''. Have two wooden stacks present, draw a line between them with the hook equipped, and then walk over it.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'' contains many tightropes which Mario can cross and bounce on. Funnily enough, initially a new player would be nervous to cross one, and be very careful about walking in a straight line, but eventually testing reveals that the tightropes are, in fact, impossible to fall off of unless you intentionally jump off.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', in that your human form can't move on ropes. Your ''wolf'' form is perfectly able to do so, do a jumping 180 on the spot, and even leap off as if he were on solid ground rather than a swaying rope no thicker than his leg.
** Occurs in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', where you can walk across them. So can your enemies, but they move slower.

* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', we see Legolas running along a chain to attack the cave troll.

Being able to walk on ropes is not a very common skill in RealLife, and reveals a lot about a character, [[IHaveTheHighGround like that he or she has a very good sense of balance and body control]], that they can perform [[DanceBattler graceful, lithe combat maneuvers]]. Depending on the background of the work, it can imply a character's history with a traveling troupe, ninja village or a circus, for example, pointing to useful further contacts for the character.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Film -- Animated ]]

* ''Anime/SpiritedAway'', Chihiro has to attempt this once on a thin metal pipe to reach a far ladder. At the end, however, she is absolutely terrified when she actually makes it.

[[folder: Film -- Live-Action ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

* {{Tag Team}} partners Wrestling/ChristinaVonEerie and Buggy Nova had a double team move where they held hands while Von Eerie walked on the top rope before jumping off and delivering a Frankensteiner, in a {{shout out}} to both "Old" and "New" schools.

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]
* There is a SkillScore responsible for this type of movement in the UsefulNotes/D20System and other RPG systems based on it.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* There is a SkillScore responsible for this type of movement in the TabletopGame/D20System and other RPG systems based on it.