Line #1 Main/TwistedKneeCollapse


1	%%
2	%%
3	%%
4	%%
5	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
6	%%
7	%%
8	%%
9	%%
10	%%
11	%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1471000070083152000&page=2#29
12	%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
13	%%
14	[[quoteright:312:[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twistedkneecollapse.png]]]]
15	[[caption-width-right:312:Flexiblity, thy name is anime.]]
16
17	A character, usually female, who collapses from exhaustion or dejection sometimes lands on their knees, with the lower legs splayed out sideways while the thighs remain together. This is difficult to do for all but the most limber of people in real life, and even then it's not very comfortable.
18
19	This usually occurs when the character's body is facing the camera instead [[PoseOfSupplication of in profile]], [[CheatedAngle ignoring three-dimensional perspective]] in favor of [[RuleOfCute looking cute]].
20
21	The obvious reason for this is that far more commonly, the female suffers MagicSkirt failure due to landing in the far more realistic and comfortable position of sitting down with her thighs ''spread'', leading to a PantyShot. Open or closed, the sitting position is called ''pettanko'' due to the legs visually flattening out against the ground. It is independent of the sitter's [[UsefulNotes/{{Pettanko}} chest curvature]].
22
23	In RealLife, this is called [[https://www.pre-kpages.com/w-sitting-explained/ "W"-sitting,]] and is very common in young children who have difficulty maintaining balance in other sitting positions. It can cause strain on the hips and knees, so most medical practitioners advise against letting kids sit this way.
24
25	----
26	!!Examples:
27
28	[[foldercontrol]]
29
30	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
31	* Ao collapses this way from [[HighPressureEmotion overwhelming emotions]] on the balcony of her home in the second chapter of ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'' (animated in the first episode) when Mira tells her the latter has been learning a lot about astronomy due to Ao's influence.
32	* This is the standard sitting position of Kotomi Ichinose from ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}''. Okazaki lampshades how uncomfortable it must be.
33	* In ''Literature/TheDevilIsAPartTimer'', Emilia does this after pulling a DivingSave on Chiho...[[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome and breaking both legs in the process]].
34	* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure2020'' Kari has done it in some occasions. Matt's little brother T.K. has even done a less extreme version too.
35	* Yoshino does this in the second ''Anime/DigimonDataSquad'' opening. It looks even more awkward and less comfortable than normal through its clear {{fanservice}}y intent.
36	* Risa does this in episode 5 of ''Manga/DNAngel'' after becoming exhausted from running.
37	* Bulma of ''Manga/DragonBall'' does this every now and then. As does Chi Chi such as when she found out Goku died to Cell and doesn't want to return.
38	* Often done by Nyu in ''Manga/ElfenLied''.
39	* Honda Tohru from ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' has been known to do this on occasion, usually apologizing for something.
40	* Winry from ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'' does this on occasion. Specially when [[spoiler: she walks into Scar fighting the Elrics... and learns that Scar killed her parents.]]
41	%%* Miaka from ''Manga/FushigiYuugi''.
42	* In a male example, England from ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' breaks down crying in this pose when he can't bring himself to harm America during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution.
43	* In the DownerBeginning of ''Manga/KotouraSan'', Haruka does this immediately after the SkywardScream. Unusually for the trope, this was animated in profile.
44	* Fate does this in the first chapter of ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' after witnessing Vivio's TransformationSequence. Poor Fate wasn't quite expecting to see Vivio [[spoiler:accessing [[OlderAlterEgo her Sankt Kaiser mode]]]] since Nanoha kinda forget to mention that little detail to her.
45	* ''Anime/MyHime'':
46	** In episode 24, DarkMagicalGirl Nao Yuuki goes into this position after [[spoiler: her definitive defeat against Shizuru, which equates to her CHILD ''and'' her MVP (her comatose mother) dying as well.]]
47	** In Episode 15, Yukino does this after she thinks Mai has been killed by a direct hit from Artemis.
48	** In a more comedic example, this happens in Episode 9 when Natsuki notices that the car that stops for her while she [[ShowSomeLeg is posing]] has Youko, Midori, Reito, and Shizuru in it.
49	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': Before the TimeSkip, Sakura did this a lot.
50	* In ''Literature/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'', Mahiro tells Nyarko [[WhamLine "I don't like you"]], which causes her to collapse in this position and suffer ColorFailure as part of an overall HeroicBSOD. She stays that way until Mahiro's mother convinces him to apologize.
51	* Tashigi does this after Zoro tests his luck in a lethal way in ''Manga/OnePiece''.
52	* As does Melfina in ''Manga/OutlawStar''.
53	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
54	** Misty did this on a couple occasions in the early seasons of ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries''.
55	** In the side-series ''Anime/TheLegendOfThunder'', Marina [[https://i.imgur.com/gFjSsQD.jpg does]] [[https://i.imgur.com/TLcQLoO.jpg it]] multiple times.
56	* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'':
57	** Ranma in female form collapses on his rump, knees and thighs together and legs splayed out when Kunō first declares his budding love for "her" with a bouquet of roses. Especially strange since Ranma is typically very masculine and his reaction wasn't just [[ThirdLawOfGenderBending straight out of a shojo manga]], he was actually shocked into stereotypically girlish submission (instead of being outraged into beating the crap out of Kunou).
58	** Happens again to Ranma-chan after [[OldMaster Cologne]] reveals she's used the "Full Body Cat's Tongue" to hit Ranma's {{Pressure Point}}s and trap him in his female form, in an effort to force him to agree to his AccidentalMarriage to Shampoo.
59	* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': Utena fell victim to this with a sickening sneaker squeak and the echoing sound of her knees hitting the floor as she was brought down with the aid of a sword being run through her back, while in the one-armed embrace of her princess, who was using her other hand to push said sword through her.
60	* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': Usagi, frequently. Often combined with OcularGushers or SparklingStreamOfTears.
61	* ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'': Mamina falls on her knees at the end of episode 7.
62	* In ''Literature/StrawberryPanic'', Yaya sits like this after [[spoiler:being rejected by Hikari]].
63	* ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'': When Shino disarms her and then takes a shot at a can, Endou panics and collapses on her posterior.
64	* Ichigo does this in ''Manga/TokyoMewMew'' when she's being chased by [[StalkerWithACrush Quiche]].
65	* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'': Ruka adopts this position after Team Masho loses their match and her barrier disappears.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Comic Books]]
69	* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
70	** In story arc ''ComicBook/KryptonNoMore'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} collapses in this position -facepalming for further effect- when her cousin admits he knows she has lied to him and demands an explanation.
71	** In ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'', Supergirl falls on her knees when Superwoman's body falls apart and explodes at the end of their battle.
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
75	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'':
76	** Twilight Sparkle does this, combined with SkywardScream, after she finds out she's become a human.
77	** ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsForgottenFriendship'': Sunset Shimmer slumps to the floor with her knees awkwardly spread after finding out her memories erased and that she and Trixie are locked up in the photo lab.
78	** ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsSunsetsBackstagePass'': After Sunset Shimmer breaks the Time Twirler, Kiwi Lollipop falls to her knees from shock before the broken magic item, crying.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
82	* ''Film/{{Cutie Honey\|2004}}'' has [[Manga/CuteyHoney the protagonist]] doing this in the lift.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
86	* Happens to Uozumi Ai after her first transformation into Sazer Pisces in ''Series/ChouSeiShinGransazer''.
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Music]]
90	* Music/BritneySpears' debut album cover shows her in this pose.
91	[[/folder]]
92
93	[[folder:Sports]]
94	* The "[[https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-5a235f745682d0f3c036e7b99a130bdd-c butterfly]]" position for an ice hockey goaltender is exactly this, the position being most useful for blocking shot attempts at the lower part of the goal. It became popular in the NHL starting in the 1990s and gradually displaced the previous stand-up style of goaltending as the most common style.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Video Games]]
98	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
99	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'': Terra collapses in what looks for all the world like this pose -- it's hard to tell with the low-pixel character design. Also hard to tell if they're parodying this trope since there's no danger of a panty shot, or if they're shooting for cuteness.
100	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': This is one of Tifa's stock animations, most notably used when she collapses in the lifestream. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' brings it back when she despairs over the Sector 7 pillar's destruction and that they have failed to save their sector.
101	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''
102	** Rikku does this when she is low on HP. It kind of looks awkward if she is revived with full HP after losing all her health because it looks like she scoots forward on her rump while doing this pose forward before standing up.
103	** Similar to Rikku, Mindy of the Magus Sisters does this when she is low on HP too. She also assumes the pose at the end of the sisters' collective final drive ultimate attack.
104	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'':
105	*** Serah Farron collapses this way in pure grief and hopelessness when [[spoiler:she has her first vision; of her village completely decimated in (what is revealed to be) a BadFuture.]]
106	*** She also falls into this position [[spoiler:when her legs give out as she dies during the ending.]]
107	* More than one already defeated character in early ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' games is seen in this position in the background, i.e. Athena Asamiya.
108	* In the [=N64=] ''VideoGame/MarioTennis'', [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Peach]] does this whenever she misses a point.
109	* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': Chie does this when the rope she was holding onto (as part of Yosuke's plan to return to reality from the TV World without Teddie's assistance) is suddenly cut off, leading her to believe Yosuke and the Protagonist might be stuck there for good.
110	* In ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'' and ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'', failing on the highest difficulty will cause the Cheer Girls or Elite Beat Divas to slump into this position on the bottom screen while the target's life falls apart on the top screen.
111	* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', the normally unflappable Takemi falls to her knees when she hears that the patient she'd devoted her life's work to treating had died at the hospital.
112	* In ''VideoGame/RockBand 3'', sometimes your guitarist will slide/dive into this position during a solo.
113	* Ibuki from ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' does this pose when she loses via timeout or [[https://i.imgur.com/XWl0Lnk.jpg fails]] to do a [[https://i.imgur.com/ZWopVP5.jpg task]] in general. She also is doing this as part of her countdown screen after [[https://i.imgur.com/ATeS8GI.mp4 losing]] in [[https://i.imgur.com/kqg3Ig8.mp4 arcade mode]].
114	** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken'' also has her do [[https://i.imgur.com/WzUxUen.mp4 this]] as part of her midround transition. Interestingly, as Ling Xiaoyu is pretty much Ibuki's AlternateCompanyEquivalent on the ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' side, she also gets one of this when she loses via time out and her own [[https://i.imgur.com/E13IDtZ.mp4 round loss]] transition.
115	* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'': Colette does this pose when in low health.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Webcomics]]
119	* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', Quintin falls to his knees with relief rather than dejection after a bullet aimed at Jackie's head pings harmlessly off her skin thanks to her powers. This is right after he had a BigNo when the gun came out.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:Web Animation]]
123	* ''WebAnimation/MangaSoprano'': In the episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XedhgDieOko "My sister plundered my fiancé! Now my arranged marriage partner is also plundered"]] [sic], [[spoiler:a worn-out Nonoka collapses on her knees after her older sister Ram revealed Ikki-san was a chauvinistic abuser from the beginning and that's why she let her have him.]]
124	-->[[spoiler:'''Nonoka:''' You're horrible! You were looking down on me!]]
125	[[/folder]]
126
127	[[folder:Western Animation]]
128	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': In "[[Recap/KimPossibleS2E21TheFullMonkey The Full Monkey]]", Ron collapses, screaming, "[[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Curse you monkeys!]]" when he hears they're going up against Monkey Fist again.
129	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'', Luz falls to her knees after the shock of [[spoiler:[[PostKissCatatonia Amity giving her a kiss]]]] sinks in.
130	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
131	** Ruby does this when Sapphire runs away after they learn that [[spoiler: Rose Quartz was actually Pink Diamond]].
132	** Peridot does this when Steven is unable to fix the Homeworld Warp Pad, though it quickly turns into a [[TroubledFetalPosition Troubled Fetal Position]].
133	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
134	** ComicBook/{{Raven}} did this a few times in the episode "Birthmark".
135	** ComicBook/{{Starfire}} did this a lot.
136	* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': In "Moment of Truth", Scorpia falls to her knees after [[spoiler: Catra threatens to taser her after she objects to sending Entrapta to Beast Island, making it clear that their relationship is dead]].
137	* The [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/thunderbirds/images/1/11/BrainsvsBrawnDVD04388.png/revision/latest?cb=20180331084612 Mechanic]] of all people in the final episode of the second series of ''WesternAnimation/ThunderbirdsAreGo'' when his attempt at killing the Hood is thwarted by Brains.
138	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TwistedKneeCollapse