History Main / WaterIsBlue

In RealLife, you probably would have misgivings about drinking a glass of some [[color:blue:blue]] substance that presumably is clean [[color:blue:water]], but in drawn media this is just the way it looks (unless it's [[CoolClearWater unsafe for consumption]]). It's not just large enough bodies of [[color:blue:water]] to show its inherent [[color:blue:blue]] color (see below); someone might as well have spilled dye into the tap [[color:blue:water]], and even tears are not exempt. It's just easier to animate it this way, and [[RuleOfPerception easier for the audience to see]].

It should be noted that water ''does'' in fact have an inherent (though faint) blue tint in RealLife; the color just isn't noticeable unless you're looking through a great deal of it. Check Wiki/TheOtherWiki for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_of_water more info.]] Though in cultural/linguistic terms the association of the water with the color blue is not OlderThanDirt per se; the Greeks of Homer's day had no word for blue in their vocabulary, so the sea was called 'wine dark'.

This {{trope}} is near universal in WesternAnimation. ComicBooks and {{Anime}} are more varied in this respect, and may even feature both solid blue and colorless, transparent blue water in the same art style. Generally, only older or cartoon-styled VideoGames feature blue water.

Aversions include tinging it white instead, or going the whole way and animating it as a distortion of the light. If water is deliberately not blue, however, chances are it's GrimyWater. Any shade of blue fits this trope, though. Compare FireIsRed, WindIsGreen, and GoldIsYellow. When this trope and IceMagicIsWater meet, you often end up with BlueMeansCold. When Water is Blue meets WaterIsWomanly, you get TrueBlueFemininity.

Aversions include tinging it white instead, or going the whole way and animating it as a distortion of the light. If water is deliberately not blue, however, chances are it's GrimyWater. Any shade of blue fits this trope, though. Compare FireIsRed, WindIsGreen, and GoldIsYellow. When this trope and IceMagicIsWater meet, you often end up with BlueMeansCold.

It should be noted that water [[TruthInTelevision does in fact]] have an ''extremely'' faint inherent blue tint in RealLife; the color just isn't noticeable unless you're looking through a great deal of it. Check Wiki/TheOtherWiki for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_of_water more info.]] Though in cultural/linguistic terms the association of the water with the color blue is not OlderThanDirt per se; the Greeks of Homer's day had no word for blue in their vocabulary, so the sea was called 'wine dark'.

Aversions include tinging it white instead, or going the whole way and animating it as a distortion of the light. If water is deliberately not blue, however, chances are it's GrimyWater. Any shade of blue fits this trope, though. Compare FireIsRed and WindIsGreen. When this trope and IceMagicIsWater meet, you often end up with BlueMeansCold.

-->-- ''Discworld/TheScienceOfDiscworld'', Creator/TerryPratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen.

Aversions include tinging it white instead, or going the whole way and animating it as a distortion of the light. If water is deliberately not blue, however, chances are it's GrimyWater. Any shade of blue fits this trope, though. Compare FireIsRed and WindIsGreen.

->'''Dean:''' Everyone ''knows'' the sea is blue. [[CommonKnowledge Ask anyone.]]\\
'''Ridcully:''' That's right. However, while everyone ''knows'' the sea is blue, [[RealityIsUnrealistic what everyone usually sees]] is a sea that's grey, or dark green. Not ''this'' colour. This is virulent!

In RealLife, you probably would have your misgivings about drinking a glass of some [[color:blue:blue]] substance that presumably is clean [[color:blue:water]], but in drawn media this is just the way it looks (unless it's [[CoolClearWater unsafe for consumption]]). It's not just large enough bodies of [[color:blue:water]] to show its inherent [[color:blue:blue]] color (see below); someone might as well have spilled dye into the tap [[color:blue:water]], and even tears are not exempt. It's just easier to animate it this way, and [[RuleOfPerception easier for the audience to see]].

This {{trope}} is near universal in WesternAnimation. ComicBooks and {{Anime}} are more varied in this respect, and may even feature both solid blue: blue and colorless, transparent blue water in the same art style. Generally, only older or cartoon-styled VideoGames feature blue water.

Aversions include tinging it white instead, or going the whole way and animating it as a distortion of the light. If water is deliberately not blue, however, chances are it's GrimyWater. Any shade of blue fits this trope though. Compare FireIsRed and WindIsGreen.

It should be noted that water [[TruthInTelevision does in fact]] have an ''extremely'' faint inherent blue tint in RealLife; the color just isn't noticeable unless you're looking through a great deal of it. Check TheOtherWiki for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_of_water more info.]] Though in cultural/linguistic terms the association of the water with the color blue is not OlderThanDirt per se; the Greeks of Homer's day had no word for blue in their vocabulary, so the sea was called 'wine dark'.

'''Ridcully:''' That's right. However, while everyone ''knows'' the sea is blue, [[RealityIsUnrealistic what everyone usually sees]] is a sea that's grey, or dark green. Not ''this'' colour. This is virulent!\\
-- ''Discworld/TheScienceOfDiscworld'', Creator/TerryPratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ColorCodedElements It even matches her outfit]].]]

Aversions include tinging it white instead, or going the whole way and animating it as a distortion of the light. If water is deliberately not blue, however, chances are it's GrimyWater. Any shade of blue fits this trope though. Compare FireIsRed and WindIsGreen.

In RealLife, you probably would have your misgivings about drinking a glass of some [[color:blue:blue]] substance that presumably is clean [[color:blue:water]], but in drawn media this is just the way it looks (unless it's [[CoolClearWater unsafe for consumption]]). It's not just large enough bodies of [[color:blue:water]] to show its inherent [[color:blue:blue]] color (see below); swimming pools will always look like this too, someone might as well have spilled dye into the tap [[color:blue:water]], and even tears are not exempt. It's just easier to animate it this way, and [[RuleOfPerception easier for the audience to see]].

This {{trope}} is near universal in WesternAnimation. ComicBooks and {{Anime}} are more varied in this respect, and may even feature both solid blue:blue and colorless, transparent blue water in the same art style. Generally, only older or cartoon-styled VideoGames feature blue water.

It should be noted that water [[TruthInTelevision does in fact]] have an ''extremely'' faint inherent blue tint in RealLife; the color just isn't noticeable unless you're looking through a great deal of it. Check TheOtherWiki for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_of_water more info.]] Though in cultural/linguistic terms the association of the water with the color blue is not OlderThanDirt per se, the Greeks of Homer's day had no word for blue in their vocabulary, the sea was called 'wine dark'.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ColorCodedElements It even matches Katara's outfit]].]]

In RealLife, you probably would have your misgivings about drinking a glass of some [[color:blue:blue]] substance that presumably is clean [[color:blue:water]], but in drawn media this is just the way it looks (unless it's [[CoolClearWater unsafe for consumption]]). It's not just large enough bodies of [[color:blue:water]] to show its inherent [[color:blue:blue]] color (see below); swimming pools will always look like this too, someone might as well have spilled dye into the tap [[color:blue:water]], and even tears are not exempt. It's just easier to animate it this way.

This {{trope}} is near universal in WesternAnimation. ComicBooks and {{Anime}} are more varied in this respect, and may even feature both solid blue:blue and colourless, transparent blue:water in the same art style. Generally, only older or cartoon-styled VideoGames feature blue water.

It should be noted that water [[TruthInTelevision does in fact]] have an ''extremely'' faint inherent blue tint in RealLife; the colour just isn't noticeable unless you're looking through a great deal of it. Check TheOtherWiki for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_of_water more info.]] Though in cultural/linguistic terms the association of the water with the colour blue is not OlderThanDirt per se, the Greeks of Homer's day had no word for blue in their vocabulary, the sea was called 'wine dark'.

Also, some household chemicals are specifically dyed blue to discourage people from drinking them. Blue is most likely used because very few drinks are coloured this way.

Aversions include tingeing it white instead, or going the whole way and animating it as a distortion of the light. If water is deliberately not blue, however, chances are it's GrimyWater. Any shade of blue fits this trope though. Compare FireIsRed and WindIsGreen.