| 1 | ->''"I mean, it's not that I necessarily wouldn't draw a cartoon like ''Henry'' or ''Snuffy Smith'' or ''Blondie'', it's that I can't. If I drew ''[[ComicStrip/Blondie1930 Blondie]]'', for example, it would still come out looking like ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide''; Daisy would get rabies and bite Dagwood, who'd go insane and have Mr. Dithers stuffed -- whatever that means."'' |
| 2 | -->-- '''Gary Larson''', ''The [=PreHistory=] of The Far Side'' |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Authors have styles. It's common and acceptable that, when people write often, they start to develop a distinct way of writing, or an [[CreatorsPet arbitrary favouritism]] for one of their characters, places, or even a specific name. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | Some authors internalize a single style to such extent that it's noticeable in anything they happen to write, co-write, or in extreme cases, even inspire. There are extreme cases in which, without knowing who wrote the work you're watching/reading, you can say "Hey, it has to be [insert author name here]!", because their style is too distinct and famous ''not'' to recognize. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | Visual artists, and movie directors, have similar styles in not only their stories but the {{spectacle}}. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | Related to AuthorAppeal, AuthorCatchphrase. See also CreatorThumbprint and BorrowingFromTheSisterSeries. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | ---- |
| 13 | !!Examples subpages: |
| 14 | |
| 15 | [[index]] |
| 16 | * SignatureStyle/ComicBooks |
| 17 | * [[SignatureStyle/LiveActionFilms Film — Live-Action]] |
| 18 | * SignatureStyle/{{Literature}} |
| 19 | * SignatureStyle/LiveActionTV |
| 20 | * SignatureStyle/{{Music}} |
| 21 | [[/index]] |
| 22 | |
| 23 | !!Other examples: |
| 24 | |
| 25 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 26 | |
| 27 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 28 | * Most of Creator/HayaoMiyazaki films have at least one scene involving flying, as well as [[GhibliHills lush natural settings]] and [[GreenAesop environmentalist themes]]. His films include a boy-girl pairing, where one of the two is either magical or has some otherwise-unusual quality. [[Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind Nausicaä]] has her position and talent with creatures, [[Anime/CastleInTheSky Sheeta]] has her heritage, Anime/{{Kiki|sDeliveryService}}'s a witch, and so on. There also tends to be a weird old lady somewhere, who is usually helpful (although ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' has both a [[GrannyClassic good old lady]] and a more villainous one). And at least one non-human character with a static and unchanging facial expression ([[Anime/MyNeighborTotoro Totoro]], [[Anime/SpiritedAway No-Face]], and [[Anime/HowlsMovingCastle Turniphead]] being a few of the more famous examples). |
| 29 | * Chiaki J. Konaka is such a fan of Creator/HPLovecraft, he'll often place references to the Franchise/CthulhuMythos in any series he works on. ''Anime/TheBigO'' had an episode featuring a megadeuce called "Dagon," ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' had an episode based on "The Call of Cthulhu" using Dagomon instead, and ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' had a small reference to a university often seen in Lovecraft stories. He also reuses several names (Alice, Juri, Reika) across most of his works, and he's also a fan of {{Reaction Shot}}s of the {{GASP}} and EyeTake kind (e.g. ''Anime/SerialExperimentsLain'', ''Anime/{{Texhnolyze}}'' and ''Anime/GhostHound''). Also in ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', the Hypnos organization with their Yuggoth and Shaggai creations. Plus the very Lovecraftian variations on D-Reaper and its [=ADRs=]. ''Tamers'' was "[[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids Lovecraft For Japanese Children]]." |
| 30 | * Koichi Ohata always uses superhumans as main characters, and all his stories are TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture and feature cyborgs of some kind. Cases in point: ''Anime/MDGeist'', ''Anime/{{Genocyber}}'' and ''Anime/BurstAngel''. |
| 31 | ** ''MD Geist'', despite claiming to be TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, is actually very, very far into the UsedFuture according to the manga... so it's a slight subversion of Ohata's style. |
| 32 | * The manga team Creator/{{CLAMP}} is known for HoYay, LesYay, dramatic CherryBlossoms, battles in TokyoTower, {{Massively Multiplayer Crossover}}s, and cute [[{{Sidekick}} mascots]], among others. |
| 33 | ** They also tend to have characters with [[NoodlePeople very noodly-looking bodies]]. It's only become more exaggerated as they've gone on. |
| 34 | ** They also love pimped out clothing and complex geometric designs (think the Clow cards). |
| 35 | ** And EyeScream. |
| 36 | ** Also, massive amounts of alcohol are consumed in their works. |
| 37 | * Creator/MohiroKitoh will use kids for main characters. And then he ''will'' [[HarmfulToMinors mess them up]] [[BreakTheCutie beyond compare]], while making a HumansAreTheRealMonsters aesop out of it. |
| 38 | * Creator/StudioGainax will have seriously insecure characters complete with quasi-philosophical monologues. And large bouncy breasts. |
| 39 | ** Also, [[GainaxEnding the endings don't make much sense.]] |
| 40 | ** A lot of their works end up having LimitedAnimation [[StylisticSuck on purpose]] during parts of the show, with [[Creator/StudioTrigger their successor]] doing the same, Episode 4 of ''Anime/KillLaKill'' is a well known example of this. Other examples include episode 4 of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and episode 05-B of ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt''. |
| 41 | ** Also, since ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', their male protagonists seems to have a lot in common. |
| 42 | * Creator/HideakiAnno, creator of NGE, has pretty clear stylistic choices in both his animated and live-action works, codified particularly after ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''[[note]]This does not apply to his adaptation of ''Manga/CutieHoney''.[[/note]]: |
| 43 | ** A villain whose motivation and characterisation are not explored in detail, if at all (''Anime/{{Gunbuster}}'', ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''), influenced by his favourite film ''Film/BattleOfOkinawa''. |
| 44 | ** He usually collaborates with Shiro Sagisu (''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater'', ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', ''Manga/HisAndHerCircumstances'') or with artists who produce soundtracks with the same effect, with a lot of quiet piano music and existing Western art music for introspective dramatic scenes (''Love & Pop'', ''Shiki-Jitsu''). |
| 45 | ** He likes using a black or white screen with writing on it, representing questions characters ask or tell themselves, narration, or parts of dialogue of some characters (''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', ''His and Her Circumstances'', ''Love & Pop'', ''Shiki-Jitsu''). |
| 46 | ** Frequently uses and designs EldritchAbomination characters, both as a director and an animator (''Gunbuster'', ''Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'', ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', and possibly ''Anime/TheWindRises''[[note]]While Anno was only credited as a voice actor, a ridiculous amount of elements in the direction are clearly parts of his own style and look nothing like [[Creator/HayaoMiyazaki Miyazaki’s]].[[/note]]) |
| 47 | ** Focus on industrial city views (electric wires, grey buildings, etc.), which Anno has said [[AuthorAppeal he is very fond of]] (''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', ''His and Her Circumstances'', ''Love & Pop'', ''Shiki-Jitsu''). |
| 48 | ** Focus on sci-fi technology, using {{Technobabble}} and [[TechnologyPorn close-up shots]] (The opening sequence of ''Madox 01'', ''Gunbuster'', ''Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'', ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''). |
| 49 | ** Long, suspenseful scenes waiting for an enemy attack, accompanied by unnerving music, usually played on the piano (''Gunbuster'', ''Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'', ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''). |
| 50 | ** Cuts between scenes that feel ‘premature’, often to industrial urban views, creating suspenseful pacing (''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', ''His and Her Circumstances'', ''Love & Pop'', ''Shiki-Jitsu''). |
| 51 | ** Somewhat {{Mind Screw}}y animation to stop the viewer from focusing on external conditions and focus on a character’s (or characters’) state of mind, accompanied by unsettling music and often a spotlight turning on loudly to indicate something (''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', ''His and Her Circumstances''[[note]]Used occasionally in the beginning as a form of SelfParody, later PlayedForDrama[[/note]], ''The Wind Rises''). |
| 52 | ** A general theme of a main character in a poor emotional state going through a crisis, or a series of crises, [[ComingOfAgeStory to grow as a person]] (''Gunbuster''[[note]]This series is different in this respect, as the main character was fairly well-functioning despite the trauma she experienced, and simply applied what she had already known to harder and harder challenges. The theme used in the way Anno is most famous for was codified only in ''Evangelion'', [[RealitySubtext inspired by Anno’s own struggle with depression]] after the TroubledProduction of ''Nadia'' [[CreatorBreakdown took a heavy emotional toll on him]].[[/note]], ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', ''His and Her Circumstances'', ''Love & Pop'', ''Shiki-Jitsu''[[note]]While the last three were originally written by different artists altogether -- ''His and Her Circumstances'' was a manga by Masami Tsuda, ''Love & Pop'' was based on Ryū Murakami’s novel ''Topaz II'', and ''Shiki-Jitsu'' was based on Ayako Fujitani’s novella ''Touhimu'', Anno wrote the scripts for all three (except the [[NoEnding infamous last episode]] of ''His and Her Circumstances''), implementing significant changes, and directing them in a style distinctly his own, to the point he had to resign around mid-series while working on ''His and Her Circumstances'' because of CreativeDifferences with Tsuda.[[/note]]). |
| 53 | ** Generally, producing works far on the character end of the SlidingScaleOfPlotVersusCharacters. |
| 54 | * Creator/GoNagai: {{Mecha}}s, [[{{Shonen}} action]] and [[HotbloodedSideburns bushy sideburns]]. [[spoiler: Also {{Gorn}}, ToiletHumor and BlackComedy for his non-animated works, which are a good deal darker/raunchier than his TV shows due to censors.]] |
| 55 | * Creator/KoichiMashimo's protagonists have a distinct tendency to be strong-willed, [[BadassAdorable adorable, and deadly]] young women with a slightly ambiguous sexual identity, a ton of handguns, and more LesYay in-between. Also, the man just loves to use {{Subtext}} instead of spelling things out. |
| 56 | * Creator/NaokiUrasawa has a thing for {{Jigsaw Puzzle Plot}}s pitting ActionSurvivor protagonists against MagnificentBastard {{Big Bad}}s, all while giving both GenericCuteness and ContractualImmortality [[CastOfSnowflakes the]] [[AnyoneCanDie finger]]. He also adores Europe and places many of his stories there. |
| 57 | * Pick a Creator/RumikoTakahashi manga. ''Any'' Rumiko Takahashi manga. It'll have OnlySixFaces, many characters drawn PuniPlush style, and the protagonist ''will'' be caught in at least a LoveTriangle, if not the LoveDodecahedron to end all Love Dodecahedrons. Generally at least one of the prominent characters (if not several) will be an outright {{Jerkass}} to the rest of the cast while [[KarmaHoudini not really getting punished in the end, aside from a]] HyperspaceMallet [[KarmaHoudini or]] slap [[KarmaHoudini or two]], and another prominent character will be a raging [[PerverseSexualLust pervert]]. Expect 90% of her main male characters to be [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold secretly-kind jerks]], [[BelligerentSexualTension usually paired up with a]] {{tsundere}} (though there are variations of this, especially in her new manga, ''Manga/{{Rinne}}''). Absolutely no of-age woman will be flat-chested, and a common running gag in her {{manga}} are misunderstandings that cause hectic situations, often involving [[AccidentalPervert accidental perversion]] and jumping to the wrong conclusions. Several non- or semi-human creatures will serve as mascots/gag characters of sorts, depending on the series. |
| 58 | * Creator/AkiraToriyama has a very distinct art style that sets his works apart from others, including characters with ShonenHair, [[ScienceFantasy sci-fi and fantasy elements coexisting]], [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation characters with strange skin colors]], [[SolarPunk massive high-tech metropolises coexisting with idyllic natural landscapes]], a tendency to draw OnlySixFaces, and the occasional bawdy humor. ''Manga/DragonBall'' features all of these elements, but at least some of them can also be seen in ''Manga/DrSlump'' and ''VideoGame/DragonQuest''. |
| 59 | * Masaki Tsuzuki, the main (and only) writer behind the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' franchise, is very fond of a particular kind of MoodDissonance: after setting up a massive tragic mood with somber opening monologues, mournful music, and pessimistic {{foreshadowing}}, he then proceeds to throw it out the window in favor of [[StuffBlowingUp epic battles]] that eventually end up with (almost) ''no'' fatalities, ''no'' permanent injuries, ''no'' psychological traumas, but a ''ton'' of new [[DefeatMeansFriendship friendships]]. He is also known for successfully alloying the [[HumongousMecha masculine]] and the [[MagicalGirl feminine]] in his characters, which results in a ''very'' ambiguous relationship dodecahedron between them. |
| 60 | * Creator/StudioShaft (specifically its director, Akiyuki Shinbo) has a fondness for [[DerangedAnimation insane visuals]], [[MediumBlending mixing of photographs]], [[TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects CGI]], UnreadablyFastText, shifting colors, various angles, and creating an overall schizophrenic feel to things. |
| 61 | ** [[http://i.imgur.com/4dqAX.jpg There's also the head-tilts]]. |
| 62 | * Keiichiro Kawaguchi has a style that focuses on a large volume of {{Shout Out}}s, turning anything into a rapid-fire GagSeries. He also has a distinctive style of {{eyecatch}}es featuring the characters saying one-liners, as well as a love of fanservice of all kinds. |
| 63 | * Creator/LeijiMatsumoto: Trains, willowy women, and reflections on what exactly defines a "human". |
| 64 | * Creator/MamoruHosoda's films often feature a dimension consisting of a white background covered with lots of multicolored numbers, symbols, and lines. |
| 65 | * Adachi Mitsuru's manga normally involves sports theme, high school relationships (and rivalries), simple, comical character designs (with enormous ears), recurring pet, the uses of Subtext and blatant references from the author's other manga (going to the point of advertising any Adachi's manga on sales) |
| 66 | * Creator/JunjiIto will give you nightmares about the strangest of things. [[Manga/{{Uzumaki}} Spirals]], [[Manga/{{Gyo}} fish]], [[BodyHorror your own skin]]... Sexually promiscuous young girls are always dangerous. The tiniest evil deed will result in hugely [[DisproportionateRetribution disproportionate]] karmic feedback. The more beautiful someone is (especially if female), the more BodyHorror will happen to it. |
| 67 | * There is one particular style that is easily recognized even when it's people making fanarts of the characters, rather than the author drawing it themselves. His characters always have ''really pointy'' AnimeHair, are always drawn with a lot of angles, the main male characters ''always'' seem to have DramaticWind billowing about them, especially the {{Badass Longcoat}}s. He also loves to use the GoodEyesEvilEyes idea to differentiate characters, and ''[[DemonicPossession two aspects of the same character]]''. This man is Creator/KazukiTakahashi. |
| 68 | * Creator/KenAkamatsu loves his female {{moe}} characters, often possessed of and wielding enormous power. They'll almost always orbit around a central male hero. Cosplay, cultural references, computers, magic and/or {{Magitek}} will slip in there somewhere too. |
| 69 | * Hitoshi Ashinano: dreamlike, unrealistically tranquil settings; flying, dreams of flying; ''mono no aware''; no magic but no proper physics and biology laws either; simple faces and complex backgrounds. |
| 70 | * Daisuke Igarashi: sketch-like but very detailed drawing style, heavy use of hatching instead of toning (even on eye irises), focus on nature, shamanism ''sensu lato'', nature vs. technology. |
| 71 | * Amano Kozue: Cats. And water. And nearly all-female casts, all in ankle-length dresses which still emphasize their butts. (see AuthorAppeal) |
| 72 | * Suu Minazuki (''Manga/HeavensLostProperty'', ''Manga/GouDereBishoujoNagiharaSora'', ''Manga/WatashiNoMessiahSama'') tends to use {{Mood Whiplash}}es. '''Often.''' It's not unusual for him to juxtapose humor with an AwfulTruth, awesome moment, or heartwarming moment. He also tends to use ArtShift frequently and the MagicalGirlfriend Archetype. |
| 73 | * Creator/TanakaYutaka loves MoodWhiplash, too. {{Minimalism}}, SceneryPorn, EarnYourHappyEnding, GenreBusting, and PornWithPlot. See ''Manga/AiRen'' and ''Manga/MyLovelyGhostKana'' for details. |
| 74 | * Nobuyuki Fukumoto (''Manga/{{Kaiji}}'', ''Manga/{{Akagi}}'', ''Manga/GamblingEmperorLegendZero''): inventive and [[AbsurdlyHighStakesGame lethally dangerous]] gambling, psychological observations, blocky people with big noses that resemble no other manga ever, and lots of [[UnsoundEffect ZAWA]]. |
| 75 | * Yuu Watase manga will almost always feature: |
| 76 | ** A young spirited OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent as her main character. A girl. |
| 77 | ** A handsome young man with an unusual background as her love interest. |
| 78 | ** A lovable band of TrueCompanions. |
| 79 | ** A FaceHeelTurn by a family member or best friend of the protagonist. |
| 80 | ** Goofy humor. |
| 81 | ** Some sort of supernatural element appearing in a world where the supernatural isn't commonplace. |
| 82 | * Ryu Fujisaki loves his sci-fi and will work in futuristic designs in any manga he draws. This includes Hoshin Engi, which was a fantasy story in ancient China. Oddly, this actually worked in favor of the manga. |
| 83 | * Most of Hiro Mashima's works, such as ''Manga/RaveMaster'' and ''Manga/FairyTail'', take place in European-styled HighFantasy worlds with a hotblooded {{idiot hero}} as the main protagonist, a small and adorable {{team pet}} acting as a sidekick/companion to one of the heroes, a strong-willed female {{deuteragonist}} who serves as the main love interest, a rival character with a moodier personality to contrast the main character's, a ''lot'' of emphasis on ThePowerOfFriendship, lots and ''LOTS'' of FanService, and a BoyMeetsGirl dynamic between the two main characters that acts as a catalyst for their adventures together. |
| 84 | * Tadao Nagahama's SuperRobotGenre series usually involved themes of rebellion and WarIsHell to a certain extent, as well as a HotBlooded hero and his blond-haired [[TheRival rival]] with a [[WorthyOpponent sense of honor]]. [[spoiler: Also, they sometimes had {{Bittersweet Ending}}s.]] |
| 85 | * Creator/MasamuneShirow, best known as the creator of the franchise ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell'', loves CyberPunk themes like the WetwareCPU, BrainComputerInterface, and cyborg police (who pilot MiniMecha). He also has a love of GunPorn, especially rare weapons. |
| 86 | * Miki Yoshikawa of ''Manga/FlunkPunkRumble'' and ''Manga/YamadaKunAndTheSevenWitches'' is really into drawing and writing wacky school comedies with a delinquent protagonist who is [[SmarterThanYouLook smarter than he looks]], plays the StraightMan, is really a big ol' softie inside, and learns to loosen up by being around at least one weird friend. She prefers BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine humor with a pinch of ToiletHumor and/or perverted humor about panties and boobs. Her series are about having fun in school with your friends, and as such she doesn't like portraying adults or situations which are entirely non-school-related. Oh, and prepare to see a lot of people wearing glasses. And at least some romance. |
| 87 | * Creator/HirohikoAraki's works ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and the occasional (un)related one-shots are highly distinctive as they invariably feature a WorldOfHam, emphasis on miscellaneous bizarre elements (some of which are twisted versions of real-life occurrences), fashion-victim eccentric characters posing in improbable ways, and probably {{Gorn}} and horror elements. |
| 88 | * Creator/MakotoShinkai's works tend towards SceneryPorn that is detailed and realistic while simultaneously having a surreal softness, a focus on {{Long Distance Relationship}}s, StarCrossedLovers or otherwise disconnected protagonists, and the presence of cats and trains. |
| 89 | * Expect any work by Shin Yoshida to feature evil cults brainwashing people, villains that are closely linked to the darkess of the human heart, and prominent brooding characters; without any major female characters for the most part. |
| 90 | * Creator/CoolKyouShinsha's works are almost always SliceOfLife stories that involve {{Odd Couple}}s or a case of OppositesAttract, there will usually be at least one person with otherworldly powers (often [[BuxomBeautyStandard a woman with large breasts]]), and there will invariably be a DramaBomb somewhere along the line. There will also be at least one cameo from another one of his series. |
| 91 | * Creator/KunihikoIkuhara's works all have a number of recurring elements thrown together to create GenreBusting MindScrew works. |
| 92 | ** Recurring visual {{motifs}} of objects, often FlowerMotifs |
| 93 | ** WorldOfSymbolism, often combined with confusing or metaphorical plots |
| 94 | ** {{Transformation Sequence}}s, even in genres that don't usually have them |
| 95 | ** Dramatic poses |
| 96 | ** Fabulous, {{Bishonen}} villains |
| 97 | ** Themes related to SexIsEvil |
| 98 | ** Wacky comic relief animals |
| 99 | * If you're reading a manga from somewhere in the late 60s to late 80s, filled with [[NoodlePeople tall, bowlegged, lanky men]] (often with sideburns), buxom women, a lot of WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry style slapstick, references to classic detective literature and Japanese folk tales, humorous sex scenes with genitalia replaced by the ♂ and ♀ symbols, gunplay and/or swordplay, an East vs West motif, with backstabbing criminals (usually thieves, assassins, or con men) as the protagonists, drawn in a way resembling classic '[[Magazine/{{MAD}} MAD Magazine]]'' more than conventional manga styles, and ending with a character running for their life...you're probably reading a manga by Kazuhiko "Monkey Punch" Katō. |
| 100 | [[/folder]] |
| 101 | |
| 102 | [[folder:Arts]] |
| 103 | * Creator/MCEscher took a great deal of inspiration from the geometric designs in the Alhambra, a Moorish palace he saw on a trip to Spain. However, his works can readily be told apart by the one thing he found fault with in those designs -- whereas they were all abstract, in accordance with Islamic prohibitions against realistic art, Escher's art always has something that's alive. So does the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_the_Lions Alhambra]], famously. |
| 104 | * Creator/HRGiger; all of his artwork contains nightmarish sexual imagery depicting the merge of flesh and machinery with strong phallic and erotic overtones. You probably recognize his work from the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' franchise. The xenomorphs? They look like giant dicks for a reason. |
| 105 | * Creator/DonKenn; [[DeliberatelyMonochrome sepia-toned]] drawings on sticky-notes featuring children and [[OurMonstersAreWeird bizarre creatures]] in old-fashioned-looking settings. The majority of his online art is pretty distinctive that way. |
| 106 | |
| 107 | [[/folder]] |
| 108 | |
| 109 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 110 | * [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1180320/Telcontar_Rulz Telcontar Rulz]] tends to put in a lot of ArcWords which are variations on 'this was no coincidence', implication of meddling by the Almighty, somewhat Catholic views of the afterlife, Wolverine being connected to Film/VanHelsin and being a nephilim. Also, PapaWolf[=/=]MamaBear characters abound. And lots and lots and lots of snarking. |
| 111 | * Creator/NimbusLlewelyn loves crossovers, especially a good DeconstructionCrossover. He's got ComplexityAddiction that leads to {{Foreshadowing}} is dropped in ''everywhere'', resulting in a formidable ChekhovsArmoury, a JigsawPuzzlePlot (occasionally verging on KudzuPlot), and a grand scale MythArc. Perversely, however, he places a massive emphasis on characters and their reactions driving the plot. Oh, and if it's not made explicit in the text, it's AllThereInTheManual. His actual writing style is dialogue heavy and SophisticatedAsHell, with [[WorldOfSnark snarky banter]] mixed in with a LemonyNarrator. He also favours a 'less is more' descriptive style, unless he ''really'' wants to make a point, preferring to let the reader's imagination do most of the work. |
| 112 | ** He likes extrapolating small things in canon, which results in many an AdaptationalBadass, making FridgeHorror and FridgeBrilliance alike canon, and [[BlackAndGreyMorality somewhat morally dubious acts by the good guys]]. He's [[WordOfGod credited]] Creator/JimButcher, Creator/TerryPratchett, and Creator/ChrisClaremont as influences, with a touch of Creator/JossWhedon thrown in to flavour. This surprises no one. |
| 113 | * The ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' fanfic writer, Tropers/{{Gideoncrawle}} has a [[DescriptionPorn description-rich]], dialogue-light style with a flavor that readers have described as "19th century", "elegant", "nearly poetic", and so on. He is also inclined to [[ShownTheirWork explain things in detail]], whether in the story or [[AllThereInTheManual in notes]], and to use "death and renewal" themes. |
| 114 | * Creator/ShadowCrystalMage: He's been deified as the Overlord of ALL CRACK! He also does his best to get an insanely high trope/story ratio. Plus, he loves {{Crossover}}s. |
| 115 | * Writing team [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1758544/Aleine-Skyfire Aleine Skyfire]] and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/3677015/Riandra Riandra]] make an interesting case. Skyfire's first Sherlockian novel, ''[[Fanfic/DeliverUsFromEvilSeries Mortality]]'' grew out of her tendency to torture Literature/SherlockHolmes and prove that he's NotSoStoic, as well as her need for {{Fix Fic}}s. Riandra's first Sherlockian novel, ''Fanfic/AStudyInRegret'', started out as something of a fanfic of a fanfic (specifically, ''Mortality''), and remains thematically quite similar. DarkerAndEdgier, TraumaCongaLine, EmotionalTorque, CharacterDevelopment, ActionGirl, EarnYourHappyEnding... all favorites of the pair, who teamed up to write the crossover series ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfTime'', which incorporates more of the same. Even better, their writing styles blend so well that readers have said that they can't tell the difference between the authors writing Dr. Watson, who is stated to pass back and forth between the two. |
| 116 | ** The underlying {{motif}} throughout the Sherlockian works of both is a sense of {{realism}} with Holmes and Watson, fleshing out the characters as real people with real emotions. One result lies in the men pointing out that the characters in the Sherlock Holmes stories of ''Strand Magazine'' are just that, people whose traits have been so far exaggerated as to be all but fictional. |
| 117 | * [[http://fernwithy.livejournal.com Fernwithy]], best known for her ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' and ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' fics, has a thing for proving [[Literature/AnnaKarenina Tolstoy]] wrong and having uniquely happy families in everything she writes. When she is asked to write an AU, it will be a nightmarish DarkFic, even though the typical request is "what if X Beloved Character survived?" At some point after ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'' came out, she started featuring the recurring theme of "the revolution that [[ReignOfTerror didn't know when to stick a fork in it.]]" |
| 118 | * Creator/PeterChimaera became (in)famous for the intentional use of BeigeProse, RougeAnglesOfSatin and blatant factual inaccuracies. You can expect that the stories he writes have absolutely no resemblance to the works they are based on, only using some names of said works. |
| 119 | * Creator/JusSonic likes to [[NarratingTheObvious narrate the obvious]]. His stories also contain a real confusing plot with tons of characters (most of them stolen, mainly from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'') that [[AssPull come right the fuck outta nowhere]] with a main character which can only be described as a GaryStu. It got so bad that Platform/FimfictionDotNet actually ''deleted'' two of his works (then again, they were [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestria]] [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks Girls]] adaptations). |
| 120 | * Expect to see the following from Creator/DakariKingMykan: {{Fix Fic}}s leaning towards the "plot" end of the SlidingScaleOfPlotVersusCharacters, often with characters related to whatever is being fixed getting [[WhatTheHellHero called out for their actions]], a couple of {{Author Avatar}}s thrown in, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking overuse of]] [[DramaticEllipsis ellipses]]. |
| 121 | * Note here: if the story you're reading contains LampshadeHanging and BreakingTheFourthWall ''ad nauseaum'', a ton of references to things such as ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' and ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus,'' footnotes galore, Durch puns, ''tons'' of OOCIsSeriousBusiness, and snark, chances are you're reading ''Fanfic/PokemonXNimjaPlayTheGame''. |
| 122 | * Creator/Iron117Prime has a tendency to write grandiose action-oriented crossover [[FusionFic fusion fics]], with tons of characters complemented with strong CharacterDevelopment, visionary villains with extreme evil plans, large-scale battles, and a hefty dose of drama. Not to mention how he writes villains; typical power-hungry warlords (or the like) with a strong group of followers and a rather strong threat level. When the crossover starts with two villain factions, only one will become the dominant faction, and the other will either submit to them or die. This in turn forces the heroes to upend their game for the new antagonist. The only significant flaw in his style is his slight tendency for telling instead of showing, but the story comes together right from the big picture. Oh, and expect at least one BigBadassBattleSequence before the story ends. |
| 123 | * [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5808614/Darthkvzn Darthkvzn]], author of ''Fanfic/ThereWasOnceAnAvengerFromKrypton'', is extremely fond of FusionFic crossovers that tend to seamlessly combine whatever series are involved. |
| 124 | * [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4060717/Xomniac Xomniac]], of ''Fanfic/ThisBites'' fame, writes stories about shaking up the existing power structures in whatever source material he's writing for, either through characters openly rebelling against the status quo or by introducing some sort original, sci-fi faction as an {{Outside Context Problem}}. His protagonists tend to be male, highly sarcastic, and the vehicle for the rebelling against the status quo. Wisecracking robots also tend to feature prominently as characters. Add in lots of pop-culture references and constant flip-flopping between humor and drama, and you have his style. |
| 125 | [[/folder]] |
| 126 | |
| 127 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 128 | |
| 129 | * In a CGI animated movie with great visual effects? A lot of SceneryPorn? Leads who are HeterosexualLifePartners (and at least one of whom is dorky) [[FireForgedFriends who initially don't get along but learn how]]? John Ratzenberg is hanging around somewhere? Congratulations, you're in a Creator/{{Pixar}} movie. |
| 130 | * Creator/DreamWorksAnimation is known for their {{All Star Cast}}s and liberal use of topical pop culture references. They have since toned these tendencies down, starting around the time of the first ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1'' film. |
| 131 | [[/folder]] |
| 132 | |
| 133 | [[folder:Music Videos]] |
| 134 | * Michel Gondry has a personal style. Most of his videos are [[SurrealMusicVideo weird]] in one or more ways. Some have trippy morphing environments and multiplying objects; others are set in a crude, theater-like scenery and feature puppets. He may also break the boundary between an [[ShowWithinAShow in-video fiction]] (TV show/book/dream) and reality, or make a musicological rendition of the song. And if it's filmed with a shaky camera, it might also be one continuous shot. |
| 135 | * If it's a Music/{{Tool}} video, it's going to feature some form of animation (usually stop-motion), [[NightmareFuel eerie and disturbing imagery]], the characters will come straight out of the UncannyValley, and the band won't be in the video. The only major aversion to this is "Hush". The only other aversion is "Sober," where there are glimpses of the band members. |
| 136 | * Russell Mulcahy's videos were all filmed in a highly cinematic style back when nearly all music videos were still being shot in video and almost always were filmed on location in some beautiful and/or majestic setting. He also liked utilizing split screens and widescreen footage, and was doing slightly surreal music videos back when a lot of videos were simply performance videos with a little added footage thrown in. |
| 137 | * Music/OKGo have a tendency towards visually impressive and surprisingly cheaply made videos, using a lot of primary colours or other effects that stand out, and often consisting of [[TheOner a single shot]]. |
| 138 | * Roman White, who directs mainly for CountryMusic artists, loved to use loads of effects, computer graphics, green-screen, and {{Undercrank}}. He also had a tendency to make videos that have [[LyricsVideoMismatch little or nothing to do with the song's narrative]], such as the video for Music/CarrieUnderwood's "So Small". Later videos find him taking a much more straightforward approach. |
| 139 | * Videos of Polish rock band Kult and some of the later ones for its leader Kazik Staszewski's solo projects feature a lot of footage from Communist era documentaries and film chronicles, intercut with scenes of the band performing. |
| 140 | [[/folder]] |
| 141 | |
| 142 | [[folder:Pinball]] |
| 143 | * Creator/SteveRitchie: |
| 144 | ** An emphasis on combos and non-stop flowing shots (''Pinball/BlackKnight'', ''Pinball/Terminator2JudgmentDay''). |
| 145 | ** A {{Combo}} shot: outer left loop shot to the upper right flipper, for a shot to an upper loop or side ramp. |
| 146 | ** A wide left outlane, with a kickback to shoot the ball back into play. |
| 147 | ** Two sets of three targets, just above the triangle bumpers. |
| 148 | ** A preference toward "adversarial" themes where the player must defeat some entity. |
| 149 | ** Using his own deep, booming voice for certain characters (e.g. the skull in ''Pinball/NoFear''). |
| 150 | * His brother, Creator/MarkRitchie, prefers: |
| 151 | ** Crisscrossing ramps (see ''Pinball/{{Taxi}}, Pinball/FishTales,'' and ''Pinball/{{Diner}}''). Multiball modes in these games often encourage the player to shoot both ramps simultaneously, and award a large bonus for doing so. |
| 152 | ** Long shots from the lower flippers to the top of the playfield. |
| 153 | ** Gradually escalating rules. |
| 154 | ** [[TimedMission Timed modes and jackpot shots,]] where the player has to light a target and then shoot it in a few seconds to collect. |
| 155 | ** Multiple ways to win a game, and the lack of a WizardMode. |
| 156 | ** Mundane themes about everyday life, as opposed to Steve's battle or competition themes. |
| 157 | * Creator/PatLawlor's tables have: |
| 158 | ** The "Bumper Shot", requiring the player to shoot a ball between a set of pop bumpers to hit a crucial target. |
| 159 | ** There are at least three flippers on a table, with flippers high on the board positioned to hit high-scoring shots. |
| 160 | ** "Soft plunge" {{Skill Shot}}s. |
| 161 | ** Dual inlanes on either side of the playfield. |
| 162 | ** Spinning discs or magnets beneath the board that throw off the ball's trajectory. |
| 163 | ** Thematically-related gimmicks, such as the shaker motor in ''Pinball/{{Earthshaker}}'' that made the entire cabinet shake during the game. |
| 164 | ** A general aversion to any sort of VideoMode. |
| 165 | * Creator/JohnPopadiuk is fond of: |
| 166 | ** A theme based on magic or mysticism (''Pinball/TheatreOfMagic, Pinball/TalesOfTheArabianNights, Pinball/MagicGirl''). |
| 167 | ** A unique or original playfield toy. |
| 168 | ** A reduced emphasis on pop bumpers. |
| 169 | ** At least one captive ball target, positioned asymmetrically on the field. |
| 170 | ** Magnets to catch the ball, send it in unexpected directions, or both. |
| 171 | ** "Tug-of-war" style Wizard Modes, where the player must continually hit a certain area of the playfield - as much as possible, and as fast as possible. |
| 172 | * Creator/GeorgeGomez: |
| 173 | ** Only two flippers. |
| 174 | ** Long shots from the flippers up the board to a variety of ramps. |
| 175 | ** A saucer on the middle-left side of the playfield. |
| 176 | ** ''Very'' precise shots. |
| 177 | ** A design focusing on straight lines and rails. |
| 178 | * Creator/DennisNordman games tend to have: |
| 179 | ** Wiggling, swirling, and/or rollercoaster-style ramps (the helicopter in ''Special Force'', the "Monster Slide" in ''Pinball/ElviraAndThePartyMonsters'', "Insanity Falls" in ''Pinball/WhiteWater''). |
| 180 | ** At least one vertical up-kicker. |
| 181 | ** A spinning disc, either to bounce the pinball around a chamber or as part of a playfield toy. |
| 182 | * Games from Creator/JonNorris tend to include: |
| 183 | ** Choices between two awards (dowplayed in ''[[Pinball/TeedOff Tee'd Off]]'', played up in ''Pinball/StreetFighterII'' and played straight in ''Pinball/HighRollerCasino'') |
| 184 | ** Gambling motifs. |
| 185 | ** Multiple wizard modes, usually with at least one that can only be played once per game. |
| 186 | ** Strongly emphasized center shots (the cue ball in ''Cue Ball Wizard'', the gopher hole in ''Tee'd Off'', Ra's Pyramid in ''Pinball/{{Stargate}}'', and the ramp in ''Pinball/HighRollerCasino''). |
| 187 | * Creator/JohnTrudeau: |
| 188 | ** Ramps that follow elaborate paths (e.g. ''Pinball/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon''). |
| 189 | ** Narrow shots from lower angles. |
| 190 | ** A wider-than-normal flipper gap (the "Trudeau gap"). Particularly noteworthy on ''Pinball/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon'' and ''Pinball/GhostBusters''. |
| 191 | ** In spite of the above examples, part of John Trudeau's "signature style" is deliberately trying something new and different with each game. |
| 192 | * Creator/JohnBorg: |
| 193 | ** Emphasis on at least one major "bash toy" - particularly as a means of advancement towards a multiball. |
| 194 | ** Magnets to throw the ball off course, usually right in front of at least one of the bash toys. |
| 195 | ** Usually, but not always, at least one set of dual inlanes. |
| 196 | ** The set of 3 pop bumpers usually being near the middle, usually being fed by an orbit. |
| 197 | ** In recent years, lots of emphasis on rock band themes. |
| 198 | * Creator/KeithElwin: |
| 199 | ** At least 3 flippers. |
| 200 | ** Multiple skill shots. |
| 201 | ** A repeatable shot from an upper flipper. |
| 202 | ** An "achievement" system for doing well in certain modes (Tomb Treasures in ''[[Pinball/IronMaidenLegacyOfTheBeast Iron Maiden]]'', Fossils in ''[[Pinball/JurassicParkStern Jurassic Park]]'', Trophies in ''Pinball/AvengersInfinityQuest''). |
| 203 | ** At least one spinner, and at least one mode or rule built around the use of the spinner(s). |
| 204 | ** An aversion to scoops. |
| 205 | ** Unconventional methods of building bonus multipliers (besides rollover lanes in the pop bumper area). |
| 206 | * As a company example, Creator/SpookyPinball: |
| 207 | ** Pop bumpers are located at the top center. Without anything to stop the ball, the ball must fall down onto them, leading to even less bumper usage than Popadiuk's tables. |
| 208 | ** Low scoring. |
| 209 | ** Very complex rules requiring multiple steps to start things. The modes themselves also usually require many shots to clear. |
| 210 | ** After ''Pinball/AmericasMostHaunted'', they use full-color monitors but done in a dot-matrix display style. |
| 211 | ** A large rectangular scoop either on the far left or far right, very close to the flippers. |
| 212 | ** Two flippers only. An exception is if it has an upper playfield. |
| 213 | ** Flippers and the rubber bands surrounding them are colored to the theme. |
| 214 | ** {{Skill Shot}}s requiring a precise plunge (or in the case of ''[[Pinball/RobZombiesSpookshowInternational Rob Zombie]]'', an ''extremely'' precise plunge). |
| 215 | ** Multiballs are downplayed, with main modes worth more points. |
| 216 | ** Shots are narrow and require good aim. |
| 217 | [[/folder]] |
| 218 | |
| 219 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 220 | * ProfessionalWrestling writer Wrestling/VinceRusso has cultivated a signature style characterized largely by Americentrism, [[DoubleStandard misogyny]], {{Ass Pull}}s, and the [[FleetingDemographicRule attention span of a gnat]]. Fans often refer to storylines and gimmicks that show Russo's fingerprints as "Russo-riffic"; this is ''not'' a compliment. |
| 221 | ** Also, [[AuthorAppeal pole matches]]. Insane objects on top of poles at every corner of the ring. Expect any sort of tangible object at the center of a dispute to be put on a pole. And if there is no object in dispute, he'll put a weapon of some sort on a pole. Just because. |
| 222 | [[/folder]] |
| 223 | |
| 224 | [[folder:Theater]] |
| 225 | * Creator/TimRice likes his idioms. Also never has more than two female protagonists. His lyrics also have a remarkable ability to sound like normal conversations that just coincidentally happen to fit a certain rhythm and rhyme scheme. |
| 226 | * If you're watching a play with a vast number of literary references and {{Genius Bonus}}es, if the dialogue is peppered with puns and if the play looks like a simple love story but turns into a debate on the nature of art or reality, then it's by Tom Stoppard. |
| 227 | [[/folder]] |
| 228 | |
| 229 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 230 | * Many companies include at least one ShoutOut in every game. Blizzard threw a couple into ''VideoGame/WarcraftOrcsAndHumans'', spiced a few dozen into ''VideoGame/WarcraftII'', and now they just [[ReferenceOverdosed go crazy with it.]] |
| 231 | * It seems customary for most Creator/BioWare games to have a heroic sociopath [[TokenEvilTeammate on the protagonist's team]]. Teenage girls who have a tendency to be thieves/technical experts. (Imoen, Mission, Tali, Wild Flower, Sigrun, etc). These apply even when Bioware adapt [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog other franchises]], as is the case with ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles: The Dark Brotherhood.'' Heroic sociopath? Shadow, for starters, and also two other playable characters, [[spoiler:Eggman, who is at points ''mandatory,'' and secret character Omega]]. Thieving, technical expert teenager? Rouge the Bat. These characters are like this in Sega's offerings, too, but that their roles are either unusually flattering (Shadow, [[spoiler:Eggman]]), or unusually prominent (Rouge, [[spoiler:Omega]]) in ''Chronicles''. |
| 232 | ** Bioware also has a habit to write "general" epic save the world plots with the protagonist being the "chosen one". In contrast, games written by Creator/ChrisAvellone tend to focus more on given protagonist's own story/person/coming of (heroic) age and philosophy. |
| 233 | ** Traditionally, every game must begin with a routine mission (usually the tutorial level, but in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' it was the entire first chapter) that goes horribly wrong and leaves the protagonist as [[ItsUpToYou the only person left]] to carry the torch. |
| 234 | ** They usually include [[RomanceSidequest romance options]], and later began including [[GayOption same-sex options]]. |
| 235 | ** Another signature of Bioware's: A high degree of smartass, both in quantity and in quality. ComicBook/SpiderMan would fit right into any universe they've made. |
| 236 | * Character designs by Tetsuya Nomura tend to overlap both in personality types and clothing style. Expect lots of... |
| 237 | ** A: perky young boys/men with spiky hair. |
| 238 | ** B: Silver or blue haired men with ANGST! |
| 239 | ** C: Chipper and generally positive female archetypes. |
| 240 | ** Lots of [[TooManyBelts belts]] and [[EverythingsBetterWithZippers zippers]] too! |
| 241 | * Other main ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' artist Creator/YoshitakaAmano has plenty of signature elements too. |
| 242 | ** Blond women. He really likes blond women. |
| 243 | ** Tall, long-haired, slender and willowy, bejeweled and tastefully made-up, fine-featured and alabaster-skinned... [[{{Bishonen}} men]]. |
| 244 | *** Relatedly, the man is ''so fond'' of white- or silver-haired bishonen that he may well be one of the [[TropeCodifier Trope Codifiers]] for use of this trope in the modern era. |
| 245 | ** Capes. |
| 246 | ** Sashes. |
| 247 | ** Leotards on female characters. |
| 248 | ** Lots of beads. |
| 249 | * Other ''other'' major ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' character designer, Akihiko Yoshida, has a couple elements of his own: |
| 250 | ** Fond of thigh-high leather boots on characters male and female, young and old alike. |
| 251 | ** Possibly ties into a fondness for bondage-themed clothing designs in general. |
| 252 | ** Allergic to noses. |
| 253 | * ''Other'' other other major ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' character designer Toshiyuki Itahana, appears to be a breast and leg man. Unique leggings or tight bodysuits are common. Check out the character designs for [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX Garnet]] or most of the female characters in the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' series (especially Chime and Belle) for examples of this. |
| 254 | * Final Fantasy's graphics rendering of characters in general has a very distinctive style, which makes it obvious when another game is copying it with a cheap rearangement of character X's body, character Y's heir, and character Z's outfit. |
| 255 | * Creator/HideoKojima would like to remove that ugly FourthWall or at least [[PaintingTheMedium paint it]] a more interesting color. |
| 256 | ** He also has an obsession with detail - this is most notorious in his writing, where he'll tell you both [[ShownTheirWork real world details]] and [[BackStory every little detail of his character's lives]], but it's also present in his visual style. Witness [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeHgrf5z4C0&feature=related this cutscene]] from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', where he feels the need to show every person, gun, car, helicopter and boat pointed at Liquid, as well as every single character's reaction to it. |
| 257 | * Games that Creator/TimSchafer's been at tend to transpose a standard premise onto a non-standard setting (''VideoGame/GrimFandango'' is a film noir/romance...in the South American mythological afterlife, ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' is about a runaway kid attending a summer camp...for psychics, ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'' has an ordinary man thrown into a fantasy world...which happens to have a landscape resembling ''every HeavyMetal album cover ever produced''). They're also full of foreshadowing, almost excessive amounts of throwaway detail and characterization, and... weird. A ''lot'' of weird. No, more weird than that. |
| 258 | * [[Franchise/TouhouProject ZUN]] seems to have a penchant for LittleMissBadass characters who wear really frilly dresses (though in later works, the outfits aren't as frilly). Oh, and lots and lots of Nice Hats. His music is also very distinctive, and it's easy to tell when he's been called on to compose for a game outside the main series. |
| 259 | * Creator/{{Valve|Software}} loves post-apocalyptic settings, [[VideoGame/Left4Dead especially]] [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 cities]] [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 and]] [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} abandoned installations]]. What they seem to love equally is the general aesthetic of decaying industrial architecture, as further showcased in projects like ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' and the original ''VideoGame/HalfLife'', particularly in the flavours mossy concrete, rusty steel, cavernous wood and chipped brick. |
| 260 | * Creator/{{Suda 51}} makes, for the most part, strongly character-driven games with intricate stories, about which he often doesn't bother to explain everything of. He likes to incorporate real life events into his stories, but almost always has an element of Body Snatching to them. He will ''always'' have at least one character that has blocked out a traumatic memory from his past, and an important point of character development is the character acknowledging and overcoming this event, which Suda refers to as "killing the past". His games will also have a post-modern feel to the interface, and will always show close-ups of characters, either when they're introduced, or whenever they're speaking. His games will invariably feature tons of [[ShoutOut shout-outs]] to movies, and include ProfessionalWrestling moves in at least one character's arsenal. Luchadores, too. He's also big into raining blood, revolvers, and toilets (especially related to defecation). |
| 261 | * [[Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} Kinoko Nasu]] has a natural gift for writing believable characters whom you either want to hug or LoveToHate. The former especially concerns his female characters, each of whom is a one-of-a-kind mixture of [[HiddenDepths genuine personality]], {{Fetish}} (or {{Moe}}, depending on who you ask), and plain badass. Thematically, his plots often revolve [[GaiasVengeance humans' relationship with Mother Earth]] and feature {{Bittersweet Ending}}s ([[DownerEnding at best]]). ''And'' he has an [[AuthorAppeal Eye Fetish]]. |
| 262 | ** One thing that is present in all of his work is super-powered female leads. The main heroine is either the most powerful being in the series or one of the most powerful. However, she is often in circumstances where she can't use her full power so that others can at least fight with her on equal grounds. |
| 263 | ** Also, alter-egos of some sort, be it SplitPersonality, or [[spoiler: a FutureBadass]]. |
| 264 | * ''People Can Fly'', the developers of ''VideoGame/{{Painkiller}}'', have a knack for games with [[TheWarSequence massive numbers of enemies on-screen at once]], fun, catharthic gunplay in unsettling, creepy environments, and huge, epic fights against massive boss monsters. Even after the company was absorbed by Creator/EpicGames, many players felt that the extra content the team cooked up for the PC version of ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' was the single best part of the entire game. |
| 265 | * Creator/Ryukishi07, creator of the ''Franchise/WhenTheyCry'' franchise and ''VisualNovel/OokamiKakushi'': [[{{Gorn}} Murder]], NightmareFuel, {{Tear Jerker}}s, {{Bishonen}}, Bishoujo, {{Dark And Troubled Past}}s, ThePowerOfFriendship, child abuse, and [[TownWithADarkSecret Towns with a Dark Secret]]. |
| 266 | * Creator/SpiderwebSoftware has a pronounced tendency towards the LemonyNarrator, apparently coming from its chief designer, Jeff Vogel. |
| 267 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' series directed by Toshihiro Nagoshi (and be extension, ''VideoGame/{{Judgment}}'' and ''VideoGame/FistOfTheNorthStarLostParadise'') have many elements in them that make them stand out, including: |
| 268 | ** BossSubtitles that appear when a character is introduced, showing their name and occupation. In the case of yakuza members, expect to see their rank within a specific family of a clan. |
| 269 | ** Main stories that are gritty and dramatic, juxtaposed with side quests that are often DenserAndWackier. ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'', for instance, has a side quest revolving around someone stealing pants from bullies, or one where a kid gets his new video game stolen, only for the thief to have it stolen by someone else, and so on... |
| 270 | ** An emphasis on hard-hitting {{Finishing Move}}s. The Heat Moves of ''Yakuza'' are often brutal. |
| 271 | ** Environmental objects being used as weapons. Expect to use anything that isn't bolted to the ground as a bludgeon (and maybe even a few things that are!). Even ''Lost Paradise'', which doesn't have a lot of weapons for Kenshiro to use, has a counter-move for mooks with flamethrowers and the ability to ''[[WordsCanBreakMyBones weaponize his enemies' death cries]]''. |
| 272 | ** Beautiful women in luxurious clothing. Hostess clubs showcase this best. |
| 273 | ** {{Battle Strip}}s before major battles, where combatants will throw off their shirts and coats in one fluid motion, revealing their tattoos underneath. |
| 274 | * Creator/{{Rare}}: |
| 275 | ** It's pretty easy to pick out Grant Kirkhope's work on soundtracks for Rare, particularly ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'' and the ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' franchise. The vast majority of his compositions all share a similar song structure (it's virtually guaranteed that at some point the melody and harmony will be flipped to have the main theme played in the basss clef), and can mostly be written in the key of C. This is by no means a ''bad'' thing though. One other quirk is that the boss battle music will be a more dramatic rendition of the music heard in the rest of the level. |
| 276 | ** Rareware also has a very distinct art style, especially noticeable in the N64 era. Many of their games feature cartoon animals such as Banjo, Donkey Kong and Conker, as well as sentient inanimate objects such as a talking toilet in ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie'', the pinatas in ''VideoGame/VivaPinata'', and least we forget The Great Mighty Poo of ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' fame. Also expect most of the characters to have giant SphereEyes. Another trait of Rareware's games is that they're generally quite comedic, so the colorful cartoony style suits their games well. |
| 277 | * If the RPG is well-written, epic, funny, poignant, and terrifically overambitious; if it's less about SavingTheWorld and more about your character's personal journey; if it has no happy love stories but instead ones that are [[AllLoveIsUnrequited unrequited]] or ''[[LoveHurts horribly tragic]]''; if it takes some staple RPG cliché and does [[{{Deconstruction}} really really nasty things]] with it; if you're betrayed by the last character you'd expect to betray you; if everybody has an agenda that may or may not coincide with yours; and if you find the most spectacular battles are fought not with swords or guns but words - [[HannibalLecture lots]] and [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech lots]] and ''[[NoMoreHoldingBackSpeech lots]]'' of words - it's a fair bet that game involved Creator/ChrisAvellone. He also has a philosophy degree that he tends to show off, particularly in ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''. It will also inevitably utterly deconstruct and critique everything about the genre and setting Avellone doesn't like, even if he created the setting. If he didn't create the setting, stand by to have the biggest pillars of your fictional world knocked down. His ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' is a polarizing DeconstructorFleet with Kreia as his AuthorAvatar ''ripping'' Franchise/StarWars a new one with a zeal not seen since Creator/DavidBrin. |
| 278 | * Many games by where Edmund [=McMillen=] is involved in, feature weird anatomy and life cycle-related themes, including unborn creatures. |
| 279 | * Creator/HidekiKamiya likes designing his characters on basic concepts that usually come down "What would be awesome?" Dante was Coolness, Viewtiful Joe was Style, Bayonetta was Beauty and Ammy from Okami was because he thought making the main character a wolf would be neat. Also, expect his main characters to dash around like kids with a sugar addiction and have over the top attacks. Also expect gigantic bosses which require specific and over-the-top finishing moves, lifebars that double up on themselves when they exceed the max capacity, only being able to dodge due to lack of a block command (although ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' and ''VideoGame/TheWonderful101'' let you block), and some kind of AstralFinale. He also really likes ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'' to the point that a level emulating will more than likely show up. |
| 280 | * Creator/IdSoftware has a thing for first-person shooter games that [[WhatCouldHaveBeen start out]] with dreams of being something else.[[note]]VideoGame/Wolfenstein3D was originally going to have more stealth elements like VideoGame/CastleWolfenstein, Doom was going to have a more involved adventure-game plot, Quake drifted from fantasy to LovecraftLite to a LovecraftLite take on Doom...[[/note]] Expect a typical HyperspaceArsenal with at least one reference to the original {{BFG}}, and a choice of shotguns where [[ShortRangeShotgun the double-barreled one has a horribly unrealistic range]] compared to the other shotgun. |
| 281 | * [[ShootEmUp Shoot-em-ups]] by Shinobu Yagawa of [[Creator/EightingRaizing Raizing]] and Creator/{{CAVE}} fame are infamous for various game mechanics, such as [[DynamicDifficulty rank]], collecting items without dropping any for increasing point bonuses, collecting [[SmartBomb bomb]] bits rather than whole bomb items, bombing generously to reap even more points, [[ViolationOfCommonSense dying on purpose as a strategy]] (often to get more bombs, lower the rank, or to [[TakingYouWithMe inflict damage]]), and generous amounts of [[Every10000Points point-based 1-ups]] to offset that last point. |
| 282 | * [[VideoGame/BioShockInfinite "There is always a lighthouse, there's always a man, there's always a city."]] Ken Levine games in a nutshell. He is also fond of the GenreDeconstruction of gameplay (MissionControl in ''VideoGame/SystemShock2'' and ''VideoGame/BioShock1) and political (utopianism, specifically objectivism and American exceptionalism) systems. The narrative is usually set up around a naive PlayerCharacter who is dropped in the middle of a PunkPunk setting during or after a cataclysmic event or conflict. The hybridization of FPS and RPG elements is also critical, as is the use of secondary powers such as [[VideoGame/BioShock Plasmids and Vigors]]. |
| 283 | ** WebVideo/ErrantSignal went a step further and suggested you can track a signature style of people connected to Creator/LookingGlassStudios and people influenced by them that can be seen across the games like ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock2'',''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' series, VideoGame/BioShock series, ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'' or ''VideoGame/Prey2017''. Their games tend to be darker story-heavy science fiction tales, happening in an idyllic, at first glance, full of secrets setting that has either been built on twisted principles or has recently been ravaged by a disaster. The story is driven by a deconstruction of an ideology taken to its extreme, or two ideologies opposite to each other with the protagonist as a balancing force in-between. They also tend to feature a twist that changes both how we think about the main villain and protagonist's actions up to this point. |
| 284 | * Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto is well-known for making games that have gameplay over story as one of their priorities.[[note]]Though the idea that he outright dislikes story is often CommonKnowledge as seen [[https://www.wired.com/2009/06/super-mario-galaxy-2/ here]][[/note]] In contrast, Miyamoto's pupils Creator/EijiAonuma (overseer of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'') and Creator/YoshiakiKoizumi (overseer of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'') have preferred to insert complex and thoughtful stories within the games. Most of the resulting games offer a middle aspect between the two opposite visions, which itself has become a joint signature style (though in some cases Miyamoto does manage to upend the table for a more gameplay centric game). |
| 285 | * Back in the 80's, {{Creator/Sierra}} had a stable of writers who were all fond of writing GuideDangIt, NintendoHard, UnwinnableByDesign adventure games. Each writer, though, handled it differently. Roberta Williams went LighterAndSofter, rewarding lateral thinking, SolveTheSoupCans, and the odd MoonLogicPuzzle. Her games rewarded players who ''thought'' their way out and took a non-violent approach if possible. Al Lowe was responsible for ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry'' and ''VideoGame/FreddyPharkasFrontierPharmacist'', loading his games with risque humor, pop-culture references, and a little ComedicSociopathy. Meanwhile, the "Two Guys from Andromeda," Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy, made TheManyDeathsOfYou integral to gameplay, rewarding players with novel death scenes and descriptions while playing ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest''. |
| 286 | * Starbreeze Studios, the studio behind games like ''Franchise/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', ''VideoGame/EscapeFromButcherBay'', ''VideoGame/AssaultOnDarkAthena'' and ''VideoGame/TheDarkness'', are known for the following: Strong storytelling and atmosphere, stylish visuals, extreme amounts of violence and {{Gorn}} (that range from the amusing to the disturbing), a gravelly-voiced voiced protagonist and the casting of Creator/DwightSchultz as the BigBad. When the team that made up the studio left to start Creator/MachineGames in 2009, the former members took the usual tropes they used before and applied them to their first project, ''VideoGame/WolfensteinTheNewOrder''. |
| 287 | * Creator/YokoTaro, the director responsible for the general tone and characterization of ''VideoGame/{{NieR}}'' and the ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'' series, has a pretty noticeable directorial style: |
| 288 | ** His casts are always comprised of DysfunctionJunction, and tend to have pretty bizarre quirks. He has also established himself as a TrollingCreator and seems to have a thing for PlotTwist, particularly when it comes to the endings of his games. ''Drakengard'' in particular is infamous for its joke ending, which earned Yoko so much ire he had to "hide out in a bunker" until the backlash died down. If you want a secondary source of entertainment in his games, tick a box every time one of these elements makes an appearance: [[HalfIdenticalTwins identical twins]] (or just straight up {{Opposite Sex Clone}}s), siblings with troubled relationships, magical flowers, beautiful women with grotesque secrets (who may be vicious and brutal warriors or monsters or both), character duality, robots, incest, cannibalism, and children suffering hideously. |
| 289 | *** Expect the Twins to have Blonde or White hair, and Red or White robes. One of them may die horribly, leaving the other one in mad grief. This is common enough to sometimes occur [[VideoGame/NierAutomata twice per game]]. |
| 290 | ** Another common quirk of his writing is that there are always more than one side in a conflict with [[BothSidesHaveAPoint all sides frequently having valid points]] as well as extensive humanization of all the characters, even the monstrous ones. Even if a character isn't sympathetic, one is often made to understand where they are coming from. |
| 291 | * The tables created by Zen Studios for ''VideoGame/ZenPinball'' tend to have many things in common: Three or more flippers, modes that do not stack (on most tables, if not in a normal state, anything not related to an objective at hand is worth minimal points and does not qualify towards anything), {{Timed Mission}}s, very strong emphasis on ramps (''Iron Man'' has 4), a playfield longer and wider than a normal machine, at least one multiball mode required to reach a WizardMode, multi-stage wizard modes, narrow shots, multi-level playfields, generous and easy-to-obtain ball savers, a kickback on both outlanes, and {{Skill Shot}}s requiring soft plunges. |
| 292 | * If you play a game by Creator/{{Treasure}} it's either going to be [[QuirkyWork really weird]], [[NintendoHard really hard]], or both at once. Their games thrive on strange Japanese humor, intense and over-the-top action, spectacular boss fights and brutally difficult arcade-style gameplay. Their games also often have a colorful and exaggerated anime art-style. |
| 293 | * Games from Creator/NipponIchi have a few recurring traits. They specialize in retro-style [[StrategyRPG strategy RPGs]], using 2D sprites and an isometric view. Their games are also often [[JustOneMoreLevel massively addictive time sinks]], thanks to {{absurdly high level cap}}s and tons of content. Finally, they have a distinct sense of humor that will appeal to {{Otaku}} in particular, often poking fun at tropes in video games and anime. |
| 294 | * Games developed by Creator/{{CAVE}} tend to have a number of common characteristics: |
| 295 | ** Five or six stages. Late 90's CAVE games tend to favor six stages; games made since then often feature five. |
| 296 | ** Prerendered 3D graphics, particularly in post-2000 games. |
| 297 | ** BulletHell. The bullets themselves tend to be pink, blue, and/or purple in games developed from the early 2000's onwards. |
| 298 | ** Deliberate slowdown (usually a characteristic of hardware struggling with handling large quantities of graphical assets) to assist the player in dodging these bullets. |
| 299 | ** Exactly two [[Every10000Points point-based opportunities for extra lives]], as well as a hidden OneUp item that can be uncovered under certain conditions, often on the third stage. |
| 300 | ** Scoring systems that often involve [[{{Combos}} chaining]] enemies and/or collecting medals for large sums of points at once. |
| 301 | ** A distaste for SmartBomb use; firing bombs will at best have no score-based effects, and at worst introduce penalties such as ending the player's hit combo or rapidly draining their multiplier. |
| 302 | ** Soundtracks that are often composed by Creator/ManabuNamiki, as well as some other composers like Azusa Chiba and Yoshimi Kudo. |
| 303 | ** At least three buttons: A regular shot button that can be repeatedly tapped for a regular shot or held down for a "focus" shot (often a laser of some sort), a bomb button, and a "full-auto" button (which has the same effect as continuously tapping the shot button). Depending on the game, there may be a fourth button for special commands, and if there is, arcade versions will allow the player to swap this button with the bomb or the full-auto buttons. |
| 304 | ** Plots that actually have some sembalance of a theme, [[AllThereInTheManual if you care to read them on the official websites or in the manuals]]. For example, the ''VideoGame/DonPachi'' series is a DeconstructorFleet for the ShootEmUp genre and the concept of {{Robot Girl}}s. |
| 305 | ** Exceptionally hard {{True Final Boss}}es hidden behind very difficult requirements, a single-credit clear almost always being one such requirement. |
| 306 | * Pixel artist Paul Robertson is very fond of kittens, puppies, curvy and bouncy girls, {{Gorn}}, pop culture references, elaborate looping animations and psychedelic effects. All of the above can be found in ''VideoGame/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorldTheGame'' and ''VideoGame/MercenaryKings'', in various quantities. |
| 307 | * Range Murata is the character designer for ''VideoGame/PowerInstinct'' series since the first game and the responsible of giving the distintive look that makes this game series a CultClassic status. |
| 308 | * [[Creator/Swery65 Hidetaka "Swery" Sushiro]] of ''Creator/AccessGames'' tends to create games that heavily favor {{Shout Out}}s and familiar ideas, involve the color red in an evil capacity, [[ReusedCharacterDesign characters from a previous separate game reused in a different capacity]], and a number of cast members that could be generously described as [[CloudCuckoolander "weird"]]. |
| 309 | * A DoujinSoft developer known as Creator/FoxEye has a huge fascination with putting girls through UnderTheSea fantasies to the point of AuthorAppeal, as every game made by them takes place in a partial or completely submerged setting. However, from there, the developer's [[{{Fetish}} most prominent factor]] is putting their heroines in dangerous underwater situations where they're constantly at risk of drowning, and [[TruthInTelevision there is a lot of unnervingly-realistic detail put into how drowning is portrayed in these games]], such as animating the girls struggling when they start drowning, and sometimes hiring voice actresses to vocalize the characters' distress for oxygen. Also, while Fox Eye has gone through several different VideoGameGenres, ''all'' of them utilize an OxygenMeter of some sort, with some games letting you use items to keep it from going empty or having powerups to raise its maximum length. |
| 310 | * ''Creator/SuckerPunch'''s two major franchises, ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'' and ''VideoGame/InFamous'' are both heavily inspired by comic books. Platforming is also a recurring element throughout all their games, even going back as far as ''VideoGame/RocketRobotOnWheels'', generally being used for scaling buildings and traversing open worlds with elements of ''LeParkour''. |
| 311 | * Creator/MasahiroSakurai's games all tend to feature a large [[AchievementSystem grid of achievements]] where you can only see the requirements for achievements adjacent to ones you've already unlocked. As such, there are always a few {{Effortless Achievement}}s to get you started. You also get several single-use items which will open an achievement for you, but can't be used on certain [[ThatOneAchievement particularly difficult ones]]. They also feature a huge amount of collectibles such as trophies that give a short description of the subject and menus feature [[https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/289612-super-smash-bros-brawl-wii-screenshot-the-main-menu.jpg large]], [[http://lparchive.org/Kid-Icarus-Uprising/Tutorial/1-00000.png colourful]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/4/40/Smash_Bros_Wii_U_Main_Menu.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141030222822 buttons]] instead of boring lists. Starting with ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', a unique difficulty selection system seems to have been added to this where one bets the ingame currency to raise (or lower) the difficulty all the way from 0.1 (effortless) to 9.0 (nothing harder). The higher the difficulty, [[HardModePerks the better rewards you get]] but if you lose, you lose part of the bet you made and the difficulty is lowered by 0.5. In addition, if Sakurai is behind a game for a franchise he's worked on before, expect the soundtrack to be made mostly out of remixes. |
| 312 | * Creator/{{Atlus}} is practically ''obsessed'' with in-game characters and [[SummonMagic summonable]] [[{{Mons}} beings]] based on, or references to, real-world mythology and/or folklore of every country and culture imaginable, even more so than [[Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} Kinoko Nasu]] himself. They almost always feature teen-to-young adult protagonists possessing the power to determine the fate of the universe and humanity, or at least the opportunity to come into that possession. Following on, their games also often allow the player to make their own decisions about [[MultipleEndings how to resolve the (often incredibly cosmic) plot]], usually with a choice between joining the forces of Good, the forces of Evil, or [[TakeAThirdOption Neither]]. |
| 313 | ** Also, [[NintendoHard mindbendingly]] ''[[NintendoHard hard]]'' games filled to the brim with [[ThatOneBoss boss fights that will make you question why you ever enjoyed RPGs in the first place]], to the point that if you typed the company name in the search bar up above one of the first pages you'll see is, invariably, [[ThatOneBoss/{{Atlus}} this]]. Yes, a whole company (not a genre, not a series, but a ''company'') has its own section in ThatOneBoss. After all, [[WordOfGod they get off on our tears.]] |
| 314 | * Creator/{{SEGA}}'s arcade {{Rhythm Game}}s (particularly ''VideoGame/HatsuneMikuProjectDIVA Arcade'', ''VideoGame/{{maimai}}'', ''VideoGame/{{CHUNITHM}}'', and ''Ongeki''; basically, any game that is the focus of the [[https://twitter.com/performai @performai]] official Twitter account and then some) all have a number of trademark elements: |
| 315 | ** Scoring that is based strictly on accuracy, with combos effectively only serving to show how many notes since the player's last major mistake. |
| 316 | ** Scores that [[RankInflation appear to go to 100%, but can actually go slightly higher]]. Starting with ''CHUNITHM'' in particular: a better-than-perfect judgement that is worth 1% more than a "perfect" rank, with the maximum score being some form of 101%. |
| 317 | ** The use of infrared touch panels or touchscreens; ''DIVA Arcade'' and ''Ongeki'' only use it for one type of note, but the other two games make heavy use of touch sensors. |
| 318 | ** A strong use of licenses for casual appeal; ''DIVA Arcade''[='=]s title [[Music/{{VOCALOID}} says it all]], ''maimai'' shows the respective videos for ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', VOCALOID, anime, and other-game songs, and ''CHUNITHM'' allows the player to unlock licensed characters (such as [[Franchise/TouhouProject Reimu Hakurei]], [[VideoGame/Persona4 Yukiko Amagi]], and [[Manga/IsTheOrderARabbit Tedeza Rize]], heck even a ''Toyota Prius'') as partners. |
| 319 | ** At least four note types: ''maimai DX'' has Tap, Hold, Slide, Touch, and Break notes; ''CHUNITHM'' has Tap, Hold, Slide, and Flick notes; ''Ongeki'' has Tap, Hold, Flick, Bell, and Side notes. |
| 320 | ** An adjustable scroll speed that is not influenced by track BPM. |
| 321 | ** An [[MoodDissonance odd mix]] of cutesy characters coupled with a dark and "cool"-looking game interface design. |
| 322 | * As discussed by WebVideo/{{Jimquisition}} [[https://youtu.be/bYfYLR2PL68 video]], Creator/{{Ubisoft}} developed a style that is affecting such franchises as ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'', ''Franchise/FarCry'', ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'' or ''VideoGame/TheCrew'' and might be affecting ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil2''. Ubisoft games tend to have vast, open-worlds with slowly unfolding map and clear, distinct regions, multiple hidden collectibles, few types of side-missions recycled across the map, blend of stealth and shooting that is open for both playstyles, crafting, straigthforward skill threes and missions involving moving targets that have to be either hijacked or destroyed. |
| 323 | * If a game soundtrack is composed by Yousuke Yasui (''VideoGame/{{Eschatos}}'' and ''VideoGame/UnderDefeat HD'', for example), expect it to [[{{Retraux}} use synthesizers that would not sound out of place in a sprite-based console]]. Even when he uses more "modern" instrumention, the feel of an early- or mid-90's soundtrack is still distinctly there. |
| 324 | * If you're playing a video game, and the soundtrack is full of energetic, cheerful battle themes between 150 to 170 beats per minute with loud timpani sounds in each on-beat, odds are you're hearing music composed by Yoko Shimomura. Listen to "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKQPFdP-w5s Monstrous Monstro]]" from ''Kingdom Hearts'', "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so5E7Y6yVqc They're Pretty Tough, Should We Be Careful?]]" from ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'', and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndQIsfUWck4 Target Smash!!]]" from ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', and you'll recognize the similarities immediately despite them otherwise feeling very different from each other. |
| 325 | * ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'' has in-universe examples for each of the companies that create weapons: |
| 326 | ** Splat creates colorful weapons that appear to be made out of plastic, giving them a similar look to toy weapons, such as Nerf. They tend to be the JackOfAllStats of their weapon classes, and as a result, almost always have the lowest unlock requirements and serve to introduce players to those weapon classes. This company never puts its brand on its weapons, with endorsements by the in-universe clothing companies taking the place of where the logo should be. |
| 327 | ** Deco prefers a black-and-gray color scheme with accents identifying the weapons, and it makes weapons out of what appear to be carbon fiber. Their weapons resemble either automobile parts, such as exhaust pipes, or objects found in offices, such as water coolers. Deco's more advanced weapons have decorations in the form of either a set of yellow bracket shapes or rhinestones, usually on the weapon's handles. All of Deco's weapons have either a low fire rate or require the user to [[ChargedAttack charge the weapon before it can attack]]. |
| 328 | ** "D" creates weapons themed on appliances that shoot or dispense water. They all have a fairly elongated shape and, for various reasons, are all nontraditional examples of their weapon classes. All of D's weapons have a medium-long range and make extensive use of the color blue. |
| 329 | ** Neo makes weapons that tend to be on the short-range side but are compensated with having very high fire rates for their weapon classes. Neo prefers to theme weapons based on commonly encountered machines, such as washing machines and pencil sharpeners. Despite their short range, all of Neo's weapons have a high capacity for combat as they're effective at ambushing and flanking. |
| 330 | ** Nouveau makes weapons that resemble an artist's tools and are the only known manufacturers of Inkbrushes. Like with Neo, Nouveau's weapons are all low-range but with a high fire rate, but unlike Neo, Nouveau's weapons are more adept at seizing and defending territory due to their high inking and high speed but low damage, and players who prefer to take on support roles tend to adopt Nouveau's weapons. That being said, it is pretty common to see Nouveau weapon users take the FragileSpeedster role and fight on the front lines too. |
| 331 | ** Custom weapons have a heavy, industrial look to them, making use of a lot more metal than its competitors. Fitting the heavy style, not only do many of them have fiery decals and heavy use of red, they are also high-damage and long range but will readily deplete your ink (ammo) if you don't refill often. Custom is the opposite of the unnamed company for this reason as Custom's weapons demand excellent aim and calmness under pressure to do well, and for that reason, Custom's weapons tend to have the ''highest'' unlock requirements for weapons of their classes. |
| 332 | ** Foil specializes in multitaskers. They have multiple forms that the user can switch between at will without any change to its appearance, and thus they allow the user to confuse and surprise opponents. The downside is that each form is significantly weaker than other weapons in its class, requiring the user to make up for that in ConfusionFu. The multiple-forms aspect is present in Foil's logo too, which consists of a pair of arrows pointing in opposite directions, representing these weapons' ability to perform opposite roles. Foil seems to like to theme main weapons on high society, such as fountain pens and champagne bottles. |
| 333 | ** Sorella is the exclusive manufacturer of the Brella weapon class, and it makes nothing else. As a result, Sorella has the most easily-noticeable traits, namely weapons themed on umbrellas and parasols whose canopies double as shields from enemy fire. |
| 334 | ** Though a clothing brand in the first game, Tentatek joined the sport weapons industry in ''Splatoon 2''. As Tentatek normally makes athletic-looking clothing, it naturally follows that Tentatek's weapons resemble athletic clothes as well, such as basketball shoes. Tentatek's weapons also contain a lot of rubber. |
| 335 | ** Auto does not normally make weapons, but, like Tentatek, it also joined the industry in ''Splatoon 2''. Both within and outside of Ink Wars, Auto specializes in technology designed to navigate terrain or locate things, and this is reflected in its Autobomb, a small walking explosive drone that can seek out opponents even when they're concealed. |
| 336 | ** Grizzco does not mass-produce weapons, but it does have illegally modified weapons that are all PurposelyOverpowered. These cannot be used in head-to-head battling, but only in the cooperative Salmon Run mode. Grizzco's weapons are all based on an existing weapon with every non-metallic part removed and replaced with canisters housing glowing yellow fluid inside. |
| 337 | ** Sheldon, the character who sells weapons to the player characters makes weapons of his own too, and he likes making them out of metal. Unlike Custom, these have a luxurious appearance rather than industrial, and fittingly, the more advanced variants are also often coated in gold. Sheldon has a MinmaxersDelight style, with each of them very good at one particular task but at the cost of a multitude of weaknesses in anything not related to that task. |
| 338 | * [[Creator/{{Nintendo}} Nintendo SPD1]] staff and alumni typically hide CreativeClosingCredits as a minigame marked by a picture of two aliens. |
| 339 | * [[VisualNovel/ShinzaBanshoSeries Takashi Masada]] is well known for his extremely liberal use of [[PurpleProse extensive prose]] and for creating charismatic and lovable characters that are [[MoralityKitchenSink all over the moral spectrum]]. The main plots tend to be fairly standard, but the scale and grandeur of everything else in his writing tend to be a big appeal of his style. Another common quirk of his style tend to be for the characters to engage in various philosophical musings as well as off-kilter metaphors. And ham. [[WorldOfHam Lots and lots of ham]]. |
| 340 | * If you're playing a DrivingGame by Sega's [=AM2=] division, chances are it will have the following: |
| 341 | ** A four-position H-shifter. |
| 342 | ** Four color-coded viewpoint buttons. |
| 343 | ** [[NonIndicativeName A Start button that doesn't actually start the game]], since inserting enough credits for a game will automatically do it. Instead, the Start button is used to access special modes, like a time attack mode. |
| 344 | ** Relatively realistic physics engine. While it still [[ArtisticLicenseCars allows for techniques you wouldn't try in a real-world car]], it's realistic enough that you can tell the game will be NintendoHard. |
| 345 | ** A tough time limit and similarly tough opponent A.I. |
| 346 | ** [[HardModePerks A slightly faster top speed if you use manual transmission]]. |
| 347 | ** A large number of cars on the grid, usually 20-40. |
| 348 | ** Adjustable lap count settings; usually there is at the least a standard lap setting for 3-5 minute races and a "grand prix" lap setting that takes at least twice as long to complete. |
| 349 | * Most of the ShootEmUp games developed by Creator/{{Takumi}} feature [[PinballScoring hugely inflated points values]], [[ScoringPoints scoring systems]] centered around collecting items dropped from destroyed enemies in order to increase a points multiplier, some sort of shield that regenerates with time (usally with AttackReflector properties) and [[TimeLimitBoss boss battles that have an on-screen timer]]. |
| 350 | * If Daniel Mullins (''VideoGame/PonyIsland'', ''VideoGame/TheHex'', and ''VideoGame/{{Inscryption}}'') has developed a game, expect it to be a meta-narrative, in which the game you're initially presented with must be manipulated from the "outside" via an UnexpectedGameplayChange (and sometimes all the way FromBeyondTheFourthWall) in order to progress. As the true story reveals itself, the experience ultimately becomes a GameplayRoulette as the player tries to conquer TheMostDangerousVideoGame. There's also notable trends for a FalseFriend, Satan's direct involvement, and an antagonistic presence that's not as great at making games as they think they are. |
| 351 | * Creator/FromSoftware has many signature elements of their works. Their games utilize a relatively slow combat system that encourages learning attack tells, dodging accordingly, and finding vulnerable moments between those dodges. Combat is limited by stamina that drains with every action, so increasing it is a priority. Enemies hit hard, even the weaker enemies late in the game, and so the games push the player towards dodging rather than tanking hits. Money and experience are one unit. Their storytelling relies on background text rather than dialogue and cutscenes, and this text utilizes deliberate ambiguities and contradictions so that it's up to player interpretation. Notably, [=FromSoftware=]'s style has proven influential enough that [[FollowTheLeader full or partial copycats]] have grown into a [[SoulsLikeRPG genre]] in their own right. |
| 352 | * ShootEmUp games by Creator/{{Terarin}} are known for several distinct elements: |
| 353 | ** A pixel-based art style [[{{Retraux}} that looks like something out of the late 80s or early 90s]], specifically Platform/TurboGrafx16 / PC Engine games. |
| 354 | ** A basic hit combo system, where destroying enemies in quick succession raises the counter. In some games, enemies must be destroyed with a specific weapon for the counter to increase. |
| 355 | ** Seven to eight stages. ''VideoGame/MissileDancer2'' bucks this trend by having ''16'' stages, although the average stage is shorter than in most other games by the same developer. |
| 356 | ** A Caravan mode where you [[TimedMission try to score as many points as possible over the course of three minutes]], in a tribute to the ''VideoGame/StarSoldier'' series. |
| 357 | ** A lower bullet count than [[BulletHell most contemporary shmups]]. |
| 358 | ** Crystal items that are released from destroyed enemies and which contribute a significant amount of points to the player's score at the end of the stage, but [[ContinuingIsPainful which are lost if the player dies before then]]. |
| 359 | ** A similar/same set of sound effects across many of his games. |
| 360 | ** At least one SegmentedSerpent boss fight. |
| 361 | [[/folder]] |
| 362 | |
| 363 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 364 | * Creator/TheBrothersChaps tend to use gags that involve words, wording, and grammar. For example, they have characters who have unusual greetings, like "Haldo", "Weclome", or even "Halosche". They also use some words in odd contexts like "twice", "all the time" when "always" would be more appropriate, and "why come" in place of "how come" or "why". |
| 365 | * WebAnimation/{{Kurzgesagt}} has an easily recognizable style, |
| 366 | %% TODO: describe why their style is distinct, I don't think I can do it justice. -moosetwin |
| 367 | ->''"Take the youtube channel Kurzgesagt, which uses similar [minimalism's] flatness, but is so carefully animated and packed with detail, it's effectively separated itself from this category [this genre of art]."'' |
| 368 | -->-- '''Solar Sands''', ''[[https://youtu.be/lFb7BOI_QFc?si=1OGSVc3b1Afhd22s&t=457 Why do "Corporate Art Styles" Feel Fake?]]'' |
| 369 | * Creator/VivienneMedrano's cartoons are full to the brim with MoodWhiplash, with fast-paced VulgarHumor and BlackComedy contrasting neatly with genuine pathos and drama. Such cartoons are usually set in {{Hell}} or involve the supernatural and infernal in some way. Animation is very fluid with bright, saturated colors (varying shades of red, pink, yellow, and gray being most prominent). The protagonists of her works are always deeply flawed yet still sympathetic to a degree. Characters often are either FunnyAnimals or at least have animalistic attributes, and in terms of aesthetics, tend to have [[NoodlePeople spindly bodies]], [[TheDandy extravagant fashion senses]], and EightiesHair. [[CastFullOfGay very few characters are heterosexual or cisgender]]. And finally, you can almost always expect at least one huge musical number per installment. |
| 370 | * Examples from YouTubePoop: |
| 371 | ** Creator/{{cs188}} loves using music videos as sources. He's also fond of ToiletHumor and sex jokes. |
| 372 | ** WebAnimation/DaThings: Constant "sus" editing (playing the first half of a word, then reversing it). A near-total opposition to vulgarity (which is in stark contrast to nearly ''all'' poopers ever). |
| 373 | ** Creator/{{Geibuchan}}: ''Heavy'' visual editing, which involves a hybrid of various styles; this includes masked images, sprites, flash animation, and even the occasional StylisticSuck. |
| 374 | ** WebAnimation/WalrusGuy: [[ManipulativeEditing Sentence mixing and subtle visual edits]]. Loves his {{Shout Out}}s to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion. |
| 375 | [[/folder]] |
| 376 | |
| 377 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 378 | * David Willis, author of the Webcomic/WalkyVerse, has cultivated a paranoid fanbase for his works, due to his use of extremely subtle {{foreshadowing}} that might not pay off until ''years'' later. He also has a way of flip-flopping between humor (often potty humor) and serious drama. Expect references to superheroes and comic books to show up now and then. |
| 379 | ** Visually, his art tends towards cartoony and simple, with as few lines as possible. |
| 380 | * Brian Clevinger of ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'', ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo'' and ''Webcomic/HowIKilledYourMaster'' tends to have overly cynical protagonists and worlds, [[{{Troperiffic}} a loving and heavy use of as many tropes as the genre allows,]] references to comic books and cartoons, {{Deadpan Snarker}}s out the wazoo, and jokes on the audience, usually in the form of either an AntiClimax or horribly depressing BlackComedy. |
| 381 | ** [[BrickJoke Jokes]] that are set up within the beginning only to pay off RIDICULOUSLY later. As in 1200 Strips/10 Years. [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2010/02/23/a-few-things/ He lampshades this aspect in this blog post.]] |
| 382 | * Creator/PhilFoglio has a distinct art style, but beyond that you'll often find [[GambitPileup Gambit Pileups]], {{Large Ham}}s, busty women, and nice hats. Lots of nice hats. |
| 383 | * Before ''Webcomic/LivingWithInsanity'', Creator/DavidHerbert's webcomics tended to star JerkAss protagonists who were anti-social, yet surrounded by loyal friends, and were always working for the greater good. He seems to have changed his style only slightly though. Both LWI and ''ComicBook/GeminiStorm'' have protagonists who are borderline insane and are partnered with men who are much more competent. However, both series were created at the same time (Gemini Storm #1 taking a [[Main/DevelopmentHell year to produce]]), so who knows what kind of stars will be featured in his next work? |
| 384 | ** His new style seems to have a man and woman as protagonists in various relationships. ''Webcomic/LivingWithInsanity'' has David and Alice, who are roommates, ''ComicBook/GeminiStorm'' featuring a brother and sister, and ''Webcomic/DomainTnemrot'' has a surrogate father and daughter relationship. ''Webcomic/JustAnotherDay'' has [[spoiler:the woman as the antagonist]]. |
| 385 | * Creator/SandraKFuhr is known for superb character development, making good use of the WorldOfWeirdness trope, well written gay main characters and ending her happy funny comics with a heavy dosage of CerebusSyndrome. Her latest comic, ''Webcomic/OtherPeoplesBusiness'', though it maintains her usual style, it is much darker from the outset, the plot having been kickstarted by one of the main characters' parents possibly being murdered. [[spoiler: It may have been something much worse.]] The about page warns you two important things: 1) Not everyone is going to get a happy ending and 2) The characters are ''lying'' to you. |
| 386 | * Tycho of ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness tends to use lots of long, verbose words]], writing for several sentences in a PurpleProse style, before [[SophisticatedAsHell suddenly dropping back down]] to a more normal meter for a [[PrecisionFStrike low brow joke]]. The mix of modern internet slang and SAT words tends to make for a unique style. |
| 387 | * Mash-ups of made of pictures from old periodicals is something found only in ''Webcomic/{{Wondermark}}''. |
| 388 | * [[Website/KiwisByBeat Ryan Armand's]] comics tend to feature MoodWhiplash (especially for the sake of a gag), characters who find their absurd situations normal, females who look [[{{Mukokuseki}} vaguely Asian]], and a very vague, yet nice-looking, setting that can move the story just as much as dialogue. Also, his art style is about [[{{Retraux}} fifty years out of date]]. |
| 389 | * As for Creator/StyleWager well he doesn't like using commas. No he doesn't not at all. |
| 390 | [[/folder]] |
| 391 | |
| 392 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 393 | * ''Literature/ChaosFighters'' and ''Literature/{{Phantalleum}}'', both being works of @/{{Murazrai}}, contains [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign odd character names that does not come from any language]], [[MixAndMatchWeapon bizzare]] [[DoubleWeapon weapon]] [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon designs]], high amount of battle scenes and lots of {{Battle Couple}}s. |
| 394 | * While the Website/SCPFoundation's combination of deadpan prose and rigid format might seem like a barrier, the works of numerous authors on the site can be spotted by their signature styles. To name a few: |
| 395 | ** Zyn tends to focus on the more whimsical and poignant side of the scpverse in her [=SCP=]s |
| 396 | ** Kalinin is known for his serious and artistic [=SCP=]s that mix SurrealHorror with MagicalRealism |
| 397 | ** [=djKactus=] mixes action into the format via exploration logs and after-action reports |
| 398 | ** [=DaveYouFool=]'s works can be described as trips along the entire sliding scale of HorrorComedy, showing the simultaneous mix of SurrealHorror and SurrealHumor that you find in a world where [[RealityIsOutToLunch reality is on a permanent lunch break]]. |
| 399 | * Creator/TheWeaver tends to write a very specific type of male lead. He's kind of a loser (often due to being a FishOutOfWater) who nonetheless [[SmallNameBigEgo thinks very highly of himself]] and frequently [[TheParanoiac becomes convinced others are trying to mock him]] while [[OpenMouthInsertFoot saying the exact wrong thing]], yet has a good heart, an insistence on sticking with his friends, and a tendency to get righteously indignant, whether justified or not. |
| 400 | [[/folder]] |
| 401 | |
| 402 | [[folder:Web Videos]] |
| 403 | * Even among video review shows, which often follow similar formulas, some reviewers on Website/ChannelAwesome have distinct styles. For instance: |
| 404 | ** WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic: Lots of camera-mugging, high-voiced LargeHam moments, and running gags that only appear a few times before they're retired. |
| 405 | ** WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall: A much lesser use of profanity and vulgarity than other reviewers; a tendency to hold {{Author Filibuster}}s on social issues being brought up in the work. |
| 406 | ** WebVideo/BadMovieBeatdown: Very highly detailed synopses of the film's entire plot line, with a heavier-than-usual focus on the backstory and development. |
| 407 | * WebVideo/{{Caddicarus}}: A lighthearted but upbeat delivery, games from the [=PS1=] or later, constant CaptionHumor and YouTubePoop levels of SensoryAbuse. |
| 408 | * The cinematography of ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' Steven Spielberg vs. Alfred Hitchcock [[spoiler: vs. Quentin Tarantino vs. Stanley Kubrick vs. Michael Bay]] makes reference to each director's preferred style- Spielberg has his signature tracking shot and sweeping soundtrack, Hitchcock is more minimalist, [[spoiler: Tarantino has AnachronicOrder, snappy dialogue, and a TrunkShot, Stanley Kubrick has a KubrickStare, and Michael Bay enters on a helicopter framed by a sunset (a personal favorite shot of his), and his rap is particularly bombastic and explosion-heavy.]] |
| 409 | * WebVideo/JonTron loves [[SmashCut smash cuts]]; reading or seeing a particularly odd thing in a game and offering a LargeHam reaction; and usually giving NoEnding (though he has admitted he doesn't know how to end videos). |
| 410 | * Website/CollegeHumor: Affectionately spoofed in the "[[http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6342539/if-other-directors-made-the-social-network If Other Directors Made the Social Network]]" video. If ''Film/TheSocialNetwork'' were directed by Creator/WesAnderson it tries too hard to be quirky and off-kilter, directed by Creator/MichaelBay it's a by-the-books action blockbuster with a blue-orange filter, directed by Creator/ChristopherGuest it's a {{mockumentary}} about character relationships, directed by Creator/QuentinTarantino it's an incredibly violent movie with gangsters who talk about pop culture, directed by Creator/GuillermoDelToro it's in Spanish and about a DealWithTheDevil gone wrong, and directed by Creator/FrankCapra it's a sentimental piece that emphasizes the importance of friendships. |
| 411 | [[/folder]] |
| 412 | |
| 413 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 414 | * Creator/ButchHartman is well-known for what some call "Butch-Hartmanism". He has a tendency to create heroes who are BookDumb, have [[ParentalAbandonment negligent/straight idiotic parents]], have only about [[ThoseTwoGuys two]] [[TokenTrio politically correct]] [[ThoseTwoGuys best friends]] that are as loserly as them, [[ThickLineAnimation simple background and character designs]], and a frequent bias against anybody considered rich and popular. |
| 415 | ** And women who have [[HartmanHips gigantic hips]]. (Though the TropeNamer is actually a misnomer. It's actually Stephen Silver's art style and character designs used in these shows.) |
| 416 | * The success of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' was in large part due to Bruce Timm's distinctive character designs, and soon became the ''de facto'' house style for the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse. The style tends towards streamlined characters, straight lines, broad-shouldered males with chiseled chins, and shorter women with emphasized curves. DCAU series that ''don't'' sport the TimmStyle look tend to stand out immediately as a result. |
| 417 | * Similarly, the same goes for shows using character designs by Derrick J. Wyatt (''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'', ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'', ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse''), with streamlined characters, straight lines, and {{Animesque}} skinny characters (usually teens). ''Mystery Incorporated'' slightly deviates from this as a blend between Wyatt's artstyle and the usual ''Scooby-Doo'' artstyle. |
| 418 | * If there are Shakespeare references up the ass and so many characters that you require a cheat sheet to remember all their names and how they relate to each other, you're probably watching a Creator/GregWeisman show. |
| 419 | ** He also has one villain who has his hand in everything that is seemingly unrelated to said character, and who benefits from his plans regardless if they succeed or fail. [[XanatosGambit You know the one]]. |
| 420 | * Creator/SethMacFarlane's shows feature a large amount of pop culture references, the standard nuclear family, talking animals, musical numbers and BlackComedy. Aside from not being about a nuclear family his live action film debut ''Ted'' features all of these. He is also very keen on voicing multiple roles himself. ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' is especially known for its {{Cutaway Gag}}s, so much that it has its own folder on that page. |
| 421 | * Creator/GenndyTartakovsky: All of his television work has super-advanced robots that will inevitably explode at some point, lots of scenes and [[NoDialogueEpisode even entire episodes]] where characters acting without speaking, and many [[{{Animesque}} have influence from Japanese animation]] (especially the aforementioned {{mecha}}). ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'', and ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan''. |
| 422 | * Each of the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' directors have a highly individual style that make their cartoons easily distiguishable from each other while still remaining whithin the house style. |
| 423 | ** Creator/ChuckJones is a master of the AsideGlance and OhCrap face, often shown in lingering pauses with little touches of movement (a twitch of the eye, a drooping ear) to break up the tension. His early films are more slower paced and {{Disneyesque}} than the studio's regular output, but his later films are known for their split-second timing, experimental background design, character-driven stories and liberal use of BlackComedy and [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonists]]. He also has a fondness for cats. (Conrad Cat, Claude Cat, Pussyfoot, etc.) |
| 424 | ** Creator/FrizFreleng loved to include song-and-dance routines in his cartoons. He also had a tendency to [[DiscretionShot have violent action occur offscreen]]. |
| 425 | ** Creator/BobClampett is known for his fast-paced, highly exaggerated action. His characters have a rubbery feel to them, even when standing still. |
| 426 | ** Creator/FrankTashlin uses fast-paced {{montage}}s and dramatic angles in his cartoons, foreshadowing his later career as a live-action director. He also used highly stylized character designs and quite a bit of adult humour. |
| 427 | ** Creator/TexAvery introduced the basic elements of the overall ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' style - BreakingTheFourthWall, {{Lampshading}}, outrageous sight gags, {{Wild Take}}s and fast timing - before leaving for Creator/{{MGM}} [[WesternAnimation/TexAveryMGMCartoons where he took them further still]]. |
| 428 | ** Creator/RobertMcKimson portrays his characters with small heads and small eyes, plays up their {{Jerkass}} tendencies, creates a fully-realized WorldOfHam, and used topical parody more than his cohorts. During his days as an animator for Jones, Avery and most notably Clampett, he was skilled at some of [[AnimationBump the most solid, technically-precise animation, along with some brilliant subtle acting the studio ever saw.]] |
| 429 | * Creator/ManOfActionStudios tend to be rather lighthearted with a focus on action, [[RuleOfCool usually veering toward the cool regardless of if it's possible or not]], tend to use young, energetic protagonists, with the work not taking itself seriously until a [[KnightOfCerebus dangerous, humorless villain]] shows up. |
| 430 | * Creator/MattGroening's characters tend to have round white eyes and overbites with circular teeth, his show tend to satire politics, religion, modern society and pop culture and they often include jabs at UsefulNotes/RichardNixon. |
| 431 | * Creator/JohnKricfalusi tends to use fast and wild animation, exaggerated facial expressions and {{Wild Take}}s, intense and exaggerated emotions, characters with crooked teeth or MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily, slapstick, grossout humor, and references to cartoons like WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes particularly Creator/BobClampett and Creator/HannaBarbera cartoons. He also likes the [[GrossUpCloseUp Still Shot]], often a closeup of something incredibly disgusting done in a ''completely'' different style (usually much more detailed, because it doesn't actually have to be animated), and his cartoons are usually soundtracked by stock production music from the 1940s and 1950s. |
| 432 | * Series created by [[WesternAnimation/{{Robotboy}} Jan]] [[WesternAnimation/MattsMonsters van]] [[WesternAnimation/DudeThatsMyGhost Rijsselberge]] tend to have the following line-up: An AdorablyPrecociousChild as the central character and often the OnlySaneMan, a NonHumanSidekick who may or may not be the real hero of the show, a BumblingDad (or some other bumbling father figure), a best friend who is a bit of a [[TheDitz Ditz]], and a female friend who is usually a TokenMinority, is much smarter than the other friend, and has a crush on the central character. |
| 433 | * [[WesternAnimation/ReBoot Shows]] [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars created]] [[WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders by]] Creator/MainframeEntertainment usually have, amongst other things: |
| 434 | ** A hero with BlueIsHeroic color motif, like [[WesternAnimation/ReBoot Bob]], WesternAnimation/MaxSteel[[note]]though they only took over production of season 3; see below for some of the traits it had being a Sony show[[/note]], [[WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders Graveheart]] and [[WesternAnimation/ActionMan2000 Action Man]]. |
| 435 | ** A KidAppealCharacter who admires the aforementioned hero, like [[WesternAnimation/ReBoot Enzo Matrix]], [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Cheetor]], and [[WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders Prince Pyrus]]. |
| 436 | ** A BigBad with [[DarkIsEvil a]] [[GeniusBruiser few]] [[EvilSoundsDeep recurring]] traits that starts off as an IneffectualSympatheticVillain but [[VillainDecay becomes more]] [[InvertedTrope evil]] [[MagnificentBastard and]] [[TookALevelInBadass competent.]] |
| 437 | ** [[VileVillainLaughableLackey Wacky and incompetent minions]]. |
| 438 | ** A DarkActionGirl that starts out a villain [[HighHeelFaceTurn but becomes good]], like [[WesternAnimation/ReBoot Mouse and Hexadecimal]], [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Blackarachnia]], and a subversion in the always-evil [[WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders Lamprey]]. |
| 439 | ** Voice work mainly handled by Creator/TheOceanGroup. |
| 440 | * [[Creator/SonyPicturesTelevision Adelaide Productions]] series had some things in common. Mostly from the quartet of major shows they did in the mid-to-late 90s: ''WesternAnimation/JumanjiTheAnimatedSeries'', ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'', ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlackTheSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries''. All of these shows had [[WesternAnimation/{{Duckman}} Everett]] [[WesternAnimation/SquirrelBoy Peck]] as a designer along with Australian animator Fil Barlow; the humans have relatively realistic designs, while anything else -- ghosts, aliens, kaiju, etc. -- will be utterly insane. Color schemes tended to be muted to the point of RealIsBrown. NightmareFuel is common, and most of them are set in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity. Jim Latham is usually the composer. Their intros also tended to be preceded by a teaser of some kind; the end of the intro after the title card would then transition into credits for the producers/developers (typically including Jeff Kline and Richard Raynis). (Not all Sony shows used that intro setup, but presumably Jeff Kline was the one who liked it; ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' used the same setup, despite not being a Sony show.) They also had a predilection for CGI shows despite it not being strictly necessary back then; these shows included ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles'' and ''WesternAnimation/MaxSteel''. |
| 441 | * Creator/JonMcClenahan's signatures in his animation style included arched eyebrows in a character's side profile, visible knuckles when a character clenched their fists, slight bouncing in their walk cycles or when they pointed towards the viewer, and the lower lip drooping when showing shocked or confused expressions. |
| 442 | * [[Creator/KennedyCartoons Glen Kennedy]]'s signature animation style included extremely stretchy and bouncy movements, characters pointing in the air when realizing something or just talking in general, character's mouths frequently in the "ooh!" position, gigantic mouths when yelling or taking a breath, frequent dance cycles including shuffling or kicking feet and flailing arms, and character's eyeballs taking most of their face as they zip out of frame. |
| 443 | * Much like the College Humor example above, ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' spoofed this concept with the episode "Three Directors", in which contained three vignettes of the same basic plot (Peter getting fired) as told InTheStyleOf three famous film directors: directed by Creator/QuentinTarantino, it's a [[{{Gorn}} pulpy bloodbath]] with a [[SoundtrackDissonance dissonant soundtrack]]; under Creator/WesAnderson, it's an old-timey dramedy that tries too hard to be random and quirky; and under Creator/MichaelBay, it's an action blockbuster packed to the gills with TestosteronePoisoning, MaleGaze, and ProductPlacement. |
| 444 | [[/folder]] |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Main / SignatureStyle
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
