History WesternAnimation / Madeline

* GoneHorriblyWrong: Fifi gets [[IllGirl sick]], ruining her lace, and she cannot control it, and [=LaCroque=] threatens to punish her, and a [[RageBreakingPoint pissed]] Madeline comes to Fifi's defense... and gets thrown in jail under the pretenses of "learning a hard lesson," invoking the third act's DownerEnding.

* IllGirl: Fifi suffers from IncurableCoughOfDeath. [[spoiler: Thanks, [[BadBoss [=LaCroque=]]]. Of course, by the end, it goes away.]]

Although critically acclaimed animated versions of the ''Literature/{{Madeline}}'' books were produced throughout TheFifties (the first was even nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward), it wasn't until 1988 that Creator/{{CINAR}} and Creator/{{DiC| Entertainment}} created the widely remembered TV special based on the first book for {{Creator/HBO}}. [[NamedByTheAdaptation It gave names to three of Madeline's friends]] (Nicole, Danielle, and Chloe) whom would be present in later TV showings. The special was a success, so CINAR and [=DiC=] created more specials based on the rest of the books. The project also saw a soundtrack CD, "Madeline's Favorite Songs", with music from the specials released.

In 1993, after their partnership with CINAR had ended, [=DiC=] decided to make a ''Madeline'' TV series. Reusing the character designs, some of the talents (Creator/ChristopherPlummer was held back by [=DiC=] as the narrator), and the TitleThemeTune from the old specials, Madeline's other friends were given names, and had various adventures that were not present in the books. Similar to the specials, the show was filled with catchy music. It premiered on [[Creator/ABCFamily The Family Channel]]. Some notable differences between the CINAR-[=DiC=] Partnership version and this version were new voice actors, some girls hair colors were changed, the animation was ''much'' better, and various supporting book characters made more appearances as well. In 1995, more episodes premiered on ABC Saturday mornings, under the title ''TheNewAdventures of Madeline''. Following a second Soundtrack CD release ("Hats Off To Madeline"), the franchise went into a 4-year hiatus.

* AnimationBump: ''Madeline: Lost in Paris'' has better animation than the specials and TV series.

* NiceHat: Subverted in Pepito's case, where when introduced he was known as the "Bad Hat" due to the distinctive black hat he wore during his usual pranks and mischief. He disowns it after he sees the error of his old ways.
** Played straight with Madeline and her classmates, all of whom wear a formal yellow hat for all of their outings.
* NoAntagonist:
** Played straight most of the time. Pepito starts out as an antagonist, but is then redeemed a little later on; the same is true for his three bratty cousins. Lord Cucuface also starts out as an antagonist, but [[TookALevelInKindness takes a level in kindness]] when [[MoralityPet one of Genevieve's puppies]] melts his heart. Otherwise the only places where antagonists show up are in the two direct-to-DVD movies and in ''Madeline and the Singing Dog''.

* CallingTheOldWomanOut: Madeline calls [=LaCroque=] out after her coughing leaves yellow splotches on her work.

* RageBreakingPoint: When [=LaCroque=] threatens to sentence Fifi to working with black lace for coughing, which the latter could not control at all, Madeline is absolutely FURIOUS. Cue a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: As mentioned above, Madeline fires one at [=LaCroque=] for being such a BadBoss and threatening to punish Fifi for something the poor girl couldn't control. This would be a [[Awesome/{{Madeline}} badass moment]]... if [=LaCroque=] didn't fire her [[BlatantLies own]] [[InsultBackfire right back]]!

Although critically acclaimed animated versions of the ''Literature/{{Madeline}}'' books were produced throughout TheFifties (the first was even nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward), it wasn't until 1988 that Creator/{{CINAR}} and Creator/{{DiC| Entertainment}} created the widely remembered TV special based on the first book for {{Creator/HBO}}. [[NamedByTheAdaptation It gave names to three of Madeline's friends]] (Nicole, Danielle, and Chloe) who would be present in later TV showings. The special was a success, so CINAR and [=DiC=] created more specials based on the rest of the books. The project also saw a soundtrack CD, "Madeline's Favorite Songs", with music from the specials released.

* YouCanPanicNow: In "Madeline and the Lost Crown", when a visiting prince's crown goes missing, his RulesLawyer valet checks his giant book of protocol for the correct response:
-->'''Philippe the Valet:''' Page 325, Stolen Crown, What to do: Panic! ''(sobs)''

* RageBreakingPoint: When [=LaCroque=] threatens to sentence Fifi to working with black lace for coughing, which the latter could not control at all, Madeline is absolutely PISSED!! Cue a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Madeline fires one at [=LaCroque=] for being such a BadBoss and threatening to punish Fifi for something the poor girl couldn't control. This would be a [[Awesome/{{Madeline}} badass moment]]... if [=LaCroque=] didn't fire her [[BlatantLies own]] [[InsultBackfire right back]]!

The show focuses on a group of twelve girls who live at a boarding school with a nun named Miss Clavel in Paris, France. They live next door to the Spanish ambassador, who also has a young son named Pepito who is about the same age as the girls. Together, they all often end up on adventures, led by the bubbly red-haired Madeline. Though small, she never lets it get her down and is filled with courage, telling tigers "poo-poo" and finding courage no matter how tough things might seem. Whether it's becoming a famous artist, traveling with gypsies, or solving adventures, Madeline's adventures are rarely ordinary, and sure to be a lot of fun. The English language version of the cartoon is often [[BilingualBonus peppered with French words and phrases]], such as ''mes enfants'' and ''oui oui''.

* AdultFear:
** Miss Clavel noticing Madeline's empty bed in ''Madeline and the Gypsies'', then [[OhCrap quickly realizing]] that Madeline got left behind at the circus. The cartoon also shows Pepito's parents (who were apparently off on a business trip in the book) worrying about him also getting left behind.
** The original "Something is Not Right" sequence. Especially the ending.
** ''Lost in Paris'' has been said to scare kids to the point where they get nightmares and also instill fear of relatives in several younger viewers.

* AdultFear: The subplot of Miss Clavel trying to find Madeline relies on this.

Unknown to a lot of people, another direct-to-video movie of Madeline called ''Madeline in Tahiti'' was released in 2007. Not much is known about this movie due to its mainstream obscurity. It's about Madeline and her friends going to Tahiti on a vacation and plot to stop a man's plans to make a volcano erupt so he can steal from the capitol when it is evacuated. Madeline also gets with a disagreement with Pepito and learns that ThePowerOfFriendship is more important than a vacation. Trailers and clips are available on Website/YouTube and it can be purchased on Amazon and iTunes. The movie is also on Website/YouTube but [[NoExportForYou it isn't available for every country]]. After this, it seems the franchise seems to have ended.

* BadBoss: Madame [=LaCroque=]. (Since when would a BenevolentBoss punish his workers for one little slip that [[NeverMyFault they had no control over]]?)

* BlindIdiotTranslation:
** ''Madeline's Christmas'': Chloe replaces "ester" with "estre" when she and Madeline ask for where Madame Marie went at the end. (InUniverse for English. Averted in languages other than it, French, and Italian.)
--> Chloe: ''"Où est Marie?"'' (Proper: "Où esta Marie?")
** ''Madeline and the Mean, Nasty, Horrible Hats'': Pepito uses Ustedes instead of vosotros to refer to the twelve little girls when he asks them to follow his lead. We see this from him a second time in ''Madeline and the Mummy''. (Averted in languages that distinguish the second person plurals in terms of formality. InUniverse for English.)
--> Pepito: ''"¡Vengan, muchachas!"'' (Proper: "¡Venid, muchachas!")
** ''Madeline and the Haunted Castle'': We see this from Pepito AGAIN, with him telling the girls to run for it. (Same [[PlayingWithATrope playing with]] with the above.)
--> Pepito: ''"¡Corran!"'' (Proper: "¡Corred!")
** ''Madeline and the Mummy'': Uncle Pablo averts this due due to infamiliarity with the girls, so it is fine if he does "Ustedes" instead of "vosotros".

The silence ended when [=DiC=] made a direct-to-video movie, known as ''Madeline: Lost in Paris''. The plot was a man posing as Madeline's uncle came to take her to a finishing school in Vienna, but it was actually a lace factory that put orphan girls to labor. This movie had a slightly different color palette than the 1993 version, and different voice actors. Released by Creator/{{Disney}} in 1999, the movie was later re-released by Creator/ShoutFactory on DVD, but [[ProductDisplacement removing all Disney idents]].

** Averted with the RecurringExtra street busking monkey and organ grinder. The monkey remains at his job happily dancing to the music with a cup for donations. Madeline and the girls will sometimes join him when they pass to two by on their daily walks.

* DownerBeginning:
** Third act: Madeline is trapped in a BadBoss's workshop.
** Fourth act: Following her GoneHorriblyWrong attempt to stop [=LaCroque=]'s BadBoss act, Madeline is in jail.
* DownerEnding:
** Second act: Henri reveals that Madeline does not have a family, and she gets put to work in harsh conditions.
** Third act: Fifi gets sick from her illnesses and starts coughing, ruining the lace she's working on, and [=LaCroque=] [[BadBoss sentences her to working with black lace]]. Madeline defends Fifi... [[GoneHorriblyWrong and then gets thrown into jail for it]].

** If you were to divide the film into acts, the first act will invert this trope in the sense that it has a DownerEnding, but the second plays this trope straight. The transition from the climax to the final act has this type of transition, too as the [[MisplacedRetribution police arrest Madeline]] [[TakingYouWithMe as well as her opponent]].
* DownerEnding: Subverted in regards to the entire film when Emma reveals the truth. However, if you were to divide the film into parts, the first and penultimate parts play the trope straight, leading to their respective successive acts getting a DownerBeginning apiece:
** In the first act, Madeline is sent to Finishing School rather than being allowed to continue her attempts to stop the thieves. In the penultimate act, she is arrested when Dumbella [[TakingYouWithMe twists the details of the story]].

* LighterAndSofter: In the cartoon version of ''Madeline's Rescue'', the girls' two "fights" about who Genevieve will sleep with are playful [[ChildishPillowFight Childish Pillow Fights]], with the girls laughing the whole while, making Miss Clavel's warning that they can't keep Genevieve unless they stop fighting over her seem a bit [[DisproportionateRetribution disproportionate.] In the original book, the girls get genuinely angry and the second fight is a particularly nasty brawl, with crying, water-throwing, hair-pulling, and other violence.

* DirtyCoward: Henri. [[spoiler: he attempts to evade arrest from the police twice, but is foiled by a StreetUrchin he mistreated and Pepito. His boss, [=LaCroque=], is no better, trying to [[NeverMyFault blame all of her misdeeds on Henri]] upon arrest.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Played with, as Miss Clavel laments not making certain of "Horst"'s true nature when it becomes apparent that Madeline has been stolen away. LaCroque inverts this with HER treatment towards Madeline, claiming to be a "good teacher" when in fact she [[SadistTeacher isn't]].

* TraumaticHaircut: Downplayed. [=LaCroque=] threatens the lace shop girls with this all the time because lace is supposedly made from human hair. But [[spoiler: when she finally cuts Madeline's hair, it's a few strands on one side; this is treated as if the poor girl has been shorn. Her 11 schoolmates later copy the cut in solidarity.]] However, Fifi's haircut is much more ragged and unattractive, thus playing the trope a little straighter. [[spoiler: By the end of the movie, everyone's hair has grown back.]]

* AdaptationalWimp: Madeline of all people becomes this despite her badassery earlier in the series. She becomes TheWoobie just for the sake of the plot. Downplayed in that it's just [[ButtMonkey bad luck plaguing her]] and not her becoming a coward.