History Main / ToneShift

* BleachedUnderpants: A work clearly intended for adults is given an adaptation that is more kid-friendly and eschews the original's mature content.

* RuderAndCruder: A series entry is more profane than the those before it.

** ReverseCerebusSyndrome: A dark, dramatic work becomes more episodic and comedic.
** CerebusRollercoaster: A work repeatedly shifts between mostly light and comedic and mostly dark and dramatic.
* DarkerAndEdgier: A series gets darker undertones over time or when a sequel/reboot/alternate continuity is noticeably darker (i.e. more violent, more sexual, more bleak themes) than its predecessor(s).

* ''Series/FullHouse'' started with some family-friendly undertones but otherwise a run-of-the-mill sitcom. Over time, it brought the family-friendly aspect more and more to the forefront until they were dropping {{Aesop}} anvils every episode. Complete with heavy {{Flanderization}} and a continual feed of new child actors.
** ''Series/FullerHouse'', its SequelSeries, has more adult content and self awareness than the original, complete with the cast [[BreakingTheFourthWall glaring at the camera]] when the current status of Michelle (who has not returned to the series) is brought up.

* Downplayed with ''Series/{{Taskmaster}}'', which is always a fairly light-hearted comedic variety show that keeps the same format throughout the show's run. However, each series has a RevolvingDoorCast of comedians and actors, meaning that the tone and style of comedy can change depending on who's on the show and how they connect with the format and the other contestants. For example, Series 4 is fairly cheery as everyone clicks well and tends to be fairly good-natured and supportive of one another while Series 7 is more manic, chaotic as everyone hurls themselves into the tasks, and a little more fractious as there are more clashing personalities around.

* The first two games in the ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' by Creator/RemedyEntertainment series were noir tales in the style of Creator/JohnWoo set in TheBigRottenApple, and featured a lot of references to respectively Myth/NorseMythology and ''Literature/ParadiseLost'', had rather cartoonish enemies [[EnemyChatter whose chatter]] which often functioned as comic relief, used graphic novel sequences in lieu of cutscenes, and had a story that was often self-referential and even bordered on SelfParody a couple of times. Enter the third game by [[Creator/TakeTwoInteractive Rockstar Games,]] which is based rather heavily on ''Film/ManOnFire'' and is set in Brazil, features enemies who deliberately are incomprehensible to anyone who doesn't understand Portuguese, and even then their dialogue is clearly not meant to be comical in any way, has normal cutscenes which are again based heavily on ''Man on Fire'''s visual style, and while the game sometimes does become self-referential, these moments are fewer and further in-between and are relatively downplayed.

Over time, works can change in tone. A formerly episodic comedic work can become a dark political satire with a strong plot arc. A dark work about a future dystopia can become a lighthearted adventure series.

* ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'' started out as a very witty sitcom with elements of KitchenSinkDrama with a good deal of CharacterDevelopment, until [[{{RealLifeWritesThePlot}} behind the scenes drama]] derailed the entire show into A DenserAndWackier farce of its former self AND a heavy-handed Melodrama subject to MoodWhiplash. The last Season plays like one long GainaxEnding.

This is especially true in episodic media, such as [[LiveActionTV live-action]] shows, ComicBooks or WebComics, where their long-running status and, in the first two cases, changes in writing teams can cause marked changes in tone over time.

This is especially true in episodic media, such as LiveActionTV, ComicBooks, and WebComics, where their long-running status and, in the first two cases, changes in writing teams can cause marked changes in tone over time.

* LighterAndSofter: A work becomes lighter.

* TamerAndChaster: A work started sexy but becomes tame with the time or in its adaptations.

* KinderAndCleaner: A work removes some or all of the cursing in a future installment.

* RuderAndCruder: A work becomes more raunchy and vulger.

* The first two games in the ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' by Creator/RemedyEntertainment series was noir tales in style of Creator/JohnWoo set in TheBigRottenApple and featured a lot of references to respectively Myth/NorseMythology and ''Literature/ParadiseLost'', had rather cartoonish enemies [[EnemyChatter whose chatter]] which often functioned as comic relief, used graphic novels sequences in lieu of cutscenes, and had a some story was often self-referential and even bordered on SelfParody a couple of times. Enter the third game by [[Creator/TakeTwoInteractive Rockstar Games]], which is based rather heavily on ''Film/ManOnFire'' and is set in Brazil, features enemies who deliberately are incomprehensible to anyone who doesn't understand Portuguese, and even then their dialogue is clearly not meant to be comical in any way, has normal cutscenes which are again based heavily on ''Man on Fire'''s visual style, and while the game sometimes do become self-referential these moments are fewer and further in-between and are relatively downplayed.

** FriendlyFranchiseSomberSpinoff: When a normally lighthearted franchise has dark spin-offs.

Changes to tone are not always permanent; in order to qualify, they must be long-lasting. A single dark episode in an otherwise light and fluffy show is '''not''' a Tone Shift.