Line #42 WebAnimation/DrCrafty


1	!This page contains unmarked spoilers for ''Dr. Crafty's'' storyline. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.
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4	%%For future reference, be sure any entries here discuss the show in general terms. Specific episodes can be sighted for those general discussion points, but we now have a recap page to cover specific examples from specific episodes. The same can be said for any entries that cover a character in general terms; those entries can be moved to the character page.
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7	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_crafty_poster.png]]
8	[[caption-width-right:350: "Let's get Crafty!"]]
9
10	''[[https://www.youtube.com/DrCrafty/ Dr. Crafty]]'' is a weekly speed-art [=YouTube=] series created by Alex Tansley. This artist has done title card illustrations for ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall,'' ''WebVideo/PositivelyDreadful,'' and various original pieces of art before finally deciding to take a stab at creating his own series.
11
12	Deep within the Florida Everglades, the titular Dr. Crafty and Nurse Worse, his assistant, kick off a speed-art channel to help promote Crafty's artwork and hopefully make some money. Crafty is passionate about his interests but laughably egotistical, while Nurse is peppy and tries to keep things under control despite her waning patience. Unlike most other channels of its kind, ''Dr. Crafty'' has a unique twist: as the footage plays out, the characters actively commentate on the piece and provide relevant information about the work. The subjects include original creations, commissioned artwork, or fan art. To complement the informative commentary, the two also partake in some riffing and wacky shenanigans. [[HilarityEnsues Zany gags, various memes, open praise and critique, characters from other works who appear and interact with the Crafty Crew, Crafty's voluminous ego, and Nurse trying her hardest to keep the show together are all commonplace]].
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14	Typically, episodes are released weekly under a particular monthly theme. Each theme lasts four episodes--and, starting with Season 2, one episode of each spin-off series, whose contents function as additional segments for the main show. With those spin-offs comes a new character to help Crafty host them. They are listed here in the order they were released:
15	* ''Crafty's [=CharaCafe=]'' has a format similar to the main show's, with an exclusive focus on original characters. The specific theme of each episode's character design is voted upon by the show's Patreon supporters, from a selection of theme-appropriate choices. The show is co-hosted by Pepper the Octo-Chef, who is shy, kindhearted, and motherly, and Pickles the Sea Cucumber, Pepper's loyal and constant companion.
16	* ''Crafty's Top Ten Tub'' provides top ten lists of theme-appropriate subjects. In lieu of showcasing Crafty's art, these segments double down on the commentary, which, in turn, makes room for more jokes. The show is co-hosted by Messibelle the Slime Maid, the youngest Crewmate who is peppy, sexually charged, and eager to please others.
17	* ''Crafty's Questionable Qloset'' serves as the show's [=QnA=] segment, with three questions answered per episode. At least one question in the selection pertains to the monthly theme. The show is exclusively hosted by Crystelle the Mysterious Fortune Teller (and resident public relations expert), who is easy-going, nigh-all-knowing, and ever-curious.
18	* ''Crafty's Shake-Up Salon'' shares a similar format to both the main show and the ''Chara-Cafe.'' This time, Patreon supporters vote on theme-appropriate existing characters for the show to improve upon. The show is co-hosted by Stylene the Shape-Shifting Witch, a tough, abrasive, and frank ex-convict who is only here due to her probation agreement, but she quickly comes around to enjoy the Crew and the show.
19
20	The show also gives insight on the behind-the-scenes stories of the characters involved. From the weird situations with characters from other works to their fundamental personalities, the Crew's lives turn out to be not much different from what is shown in the art-commentary segments. They’re less actors and more internet personalities. Thus, there is great focus on how the Crewmates' interpersonal chemistry improves over time. As it does, the mysterious pasts of Crafty and Nurse are both gradually uncovered, and key figures within them continue affecting everyone in the present day. Crafty's strained relationship with a deity is given much focus; from that is Nurse's equally strained relationship with a (genuine) mad scientist and her minions, who are obsessed with the show and its connection to said deity's species. Yet, despite the threat of their antagonists' ambitions looming over them, their occasional bickering, and some individual insecurities, the Crewmates seek to persevere and continue focusing on their production. They always value each other no matter what and will always find time to get crafty, whether it be for their own benefit or their audience's.
21
22	In the latter half of Season 4, ''Dr. Crafty'' started advertising its then-upcoming sister show, ''WebVideo/CrafDND,'' an indirect spin-off of the show in which Crafty plays {{Tabletop RPG}}s with friends outside of his Crewmates. It officially started in February of 2022, and elements of both shows continue bleeding into each other.
23
24	On April 30th, 2022, Alex made his official debut in the VirtualYouTuber scene as Crafty. Over time, it would become his main focus for content creation, as it was becoming objectively more lucrative and easier to manage within his budget than ''Dr. Crafty.'' He ultimately [[https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxGdp9-DkJPFAXbq4P9QJUVx9pifo3RwpU announced]] months later that the show was canceled, and he has no desire to return to it.
25
26	----
27	!!''Dr. Crafty'' provides examples of:
28
29	* TwoForOneShow: Because the Crafty Crewmates are fictional internet personalities instead of actors, ''Dr. Crafty'' places equal focus on the Crew's production and their behind-the-scenes lives. The characters' antics off-camera sometimes inspire an episode's subject matter, the characters grow increasingly comfortable discussing their back-stage lives on-camera, and the art commentary segments are occasionally intercut with the characters' flashbacks. These presentation choices eventually culminate in SeasonFinale months like Yu-Gi-Oh Month and Hero Month, in which the show's antagonists interrupt the Crew's schedule and place everyone's lives in danger. These interruptions force the Crewmates to try and keep their show going while fighting to return things to normal, in turn experiencing personal growth from both tasks.
30	* AbsentAnimalCompanion: Both Crafty's pet skeleton dog Bonnie and Nurse's pet blob monster Goozie, each made in "The Cretinous Critters," are sparingly used throughout Season 1, then drop out entirely in Season 2. "Best ''Yu-Gi-Oh'' Monsters" and "Crafty Fan Characters" each reveal that the two pets eventually moved on to new pastures for different reasons.
31	* AdamWesting: Crafty's "agent in the Disney Parks" during Disney Month is Crafty's voice actor--and the show's creator--going on rides and making various snarky jokes.
32	* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Dr. Mindstein and Screw [[spoiler: take over the castle for the Season 3 finale, "I Need a Hero Academia."]]
33	* AmoralAttorney: In this show, [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Jedah Dohma]] of ''Darkstalkers'' decided to obtain a law degree--a decision he came to after Capcom refused to make another ''Darkstalkers'' game, according to Jedah himself in "Revolving Door." He eventually established his own lawfirm, "[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Jedah & Jedah Law Services]]," and he uses his legal skills to help and hurt Crafty and his friends throughout the series--but mostly the latter.
34	* AncientArtifact: The central conflict between the Crafty Crew and Dr. Mindstein involves the Infinium Relics, which first appear throughout the third season. There are seven in total, with four being revealed in Season 3, along with the Infinium Door, to which the seven artifacts act as a lock.
35	** The Infinium Torch is used to bring gods BackFromTheDead. Doctor Mindstein uses it to resurrect Zorc and Bill Cipher as part of her plans for Yu-Gi-Oh Month and Cartoon Month.
36	** The Infinium Flute produces [[BrownNote hypnotizing music specifically designed to affect gods]]. Mindstein also got her hands on it, using it to "convince" Bill to work for her in "Something Weird This Way Comes."
37	** The Infinium Sword is designed to kill gods, [[DeaderThanDead doing so in a way that completely erases all but memories of them from a universe's timeline]]; even the Torch can't bring back someone killed by the sword! [[spoiler: Sasha currently wields it, and she uses it to make Bill meet his end once again in "Titans! Reboot!"]]
38	** The Infinium Heart is used as a focal point for all the eldritch energy of the universe. By itself, it can integrate itself into a person's body and increases their strength and endurance tenfold. It was incomplete due to the near-extinction of the Infinia, but Mindstein managed to create a near-perfect replica. [[spoiler: It was essential in creating Nurse Worse, as Mindstein planned on using the divine energies behind the Infinium Door to turn Nurse into an unstoppable goddess.]] However, [[spoiler: in "I Need a Hero Academia," it is revealed that a genuine Infinium Heart ''does'' exist--without knowing it for some time, Crafty has it in his chest. It allows him to have a mental connection with Sasha so they can share their powers.]]
39	** The Infinium Door holds an unimaginable power behind it. Obtaining that power is the goal of Mindstein's plan. The door just so happens to be located in Crafty's castle basement; it's not until "We're Back! A Crafty Story" that he and the Crafty Crew learn of its significance.
40	* AndIMustScream: In "The Foreshadow Game," all four hosts' souls are trapped in the Shadow Realm, with nothing for them to do but draw to pass the time as they wait for rescue. Fortunately, they manage to escape with the combined might of Crafty and Sasha.
41	* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Throughout Disney Month, the main show focuses on drawing human representations of the Ride/WaltDisneyWorld areas based on each park's iconic centerpieces.
42	* ArtShift:
43	** For certain scenes, the show likes using new art and assets outside of the pose sets that it relies upon under normal circumstances. Sometimes, the new artwork is done by Crafty, while other times, the artwork is done by an entirely different artist with a distinct art style. "I Need a Hero Academia" utilizes some of both, often being frontloaded with art from the guest artists before later finishing up with art from Crafty. The second half of Part 4 of the special alternates between guest art and Crafty's art; some of the scenes are even fully animated!
44	** Starting with Season 3, Skittlezjuice was hired to create new video thumbnail art pieces to replace most of the original ones. The replacement thumbnails are drawn in her distinctive style.
45	* AuthorAppeal: Crafty is an unashamed Nintendo and Disney fanboy. In fact, you'll see a lot of Crafty's favorite series be the subjects of episodes, including ''{{VideoGame/Darkstalkers}},'' ''{{Franchise/The Addams Family}}'' and ''{{Franchise/Scooby Doo}}.'' [[MsFanservice Sexy ladies]] and pieces influenced by ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' are also common trademarks.
46	* BeachEpisode: Season 2's Beach Month covers aquatic and beach-themed content.
47	* BecauseDestinySaysSo: Crystelle, despite her immense cosmic powers, cannot interfere with the timeline. Thus, whatever is set to occur in ''Dr. Crafty's'' universe will happen regardless of her clairvoyance.
48	* BlackComedy: Many unwanted characters, be they people from other intellectual properties or some of [[ArtInitiatesLife Crafty's art coming to life]] get stuffed in a crate a-la {{Franchise/Indiana Jones}} [[ImAHumanitarian and get eaten]] by a [[VideoGame/{{Overwatch}} Junkrat]] that Crafty drew during "A Lovely Day for Meihem." This Junkrat kickstarts the running gag in "The Monster, the Sniper and the CLOD!"
49	-->'''Junkrat:''' Well, I guess we gotta eat ''someone...''
50	* BigFancyCastle: The Crafty Crew lives inside a massive castle with quite a bit of extra space. "[=LoveCrafty=]" finally presents a view of Crafty's lair from the outside, as seen [[https://twitter.com/BluePaintSea/status/1113972805597638657 here]]. It's depicted as an elaborate castle located in the Florida Everglades, complete with specific sections for the kitchen and bathroom.
51	* BreatherEpisode:
52	** Once per season, the show has a month dedicated to Crafty's commission work. These Commission Months typically follow up episodes with significant plot developments before subsequent episodes continue exploring the deeper plots. During these times, there is no unifying monthly theme; the exact contents of each months' episodes are entirely up to whoever's commission is shown onscreen. Consequentially, the spin-off segments are given free reign to do what they want. The ''Top Ten Tub'' is the sole exception to the rule; it always covers a general list of original characters during these months.
53	** Starting with "A[=DnD=]iction," the ''Questionable Qloset'' episodes close off their respective monthly themes before the show moves onto the next. They follow big plot developments of the final main show episodes of each month, and because of their primary focus on assorted trivia, they don't affect the show's overarching plot too deeply.
54	* CardsOfPower: On the ''Questionable Qloset,'' Crystelle randomly selects from a deck of ''Dr. Crafty''-themed tarot cards to determine what her next question shall be about.
55	* CerebusRetcon: Thought Crafty's NighInvulnerability was a result of him being an IronButtMonkey? [[spoiler: Well, in ''I Need a Hero Academia,'' it's revealed that he's so durable because ''he'' has an Infinium Heart within him (and it's a real one instead of the replica Mindstein made for Nurse).]]
56	* CerebusSyndrome: Starting out, ''Dr. Crafty'' is focused on establishing how Crafty and Nurse serve their purposes for their webshow. However, starting with "I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost-Type," the show starts dropping hints of a much larger narrative at play when it quietly introduces Sasha in a brief flashback. The show intermittently follows up on just who Sasha is as it continues depicting Crafty, Nurse, and the Crewmates to come working on their production. By "The Foreshadow Game," the mystery suddenly takes a turn when the show's main antagonist, Doctor Mindstein, appears to begin threatening the Crafty Crew's lives through various means. As a result, the show discusses some emotionally heavy themes, such as the ramifications of a romantic breakup and parental abuse, while also exploring the nuances of Crafty and Nurse's friendship.
57	* CharacterFilibuster: The #1 entries on the ''Top-Ten-Tub'' episodes typically receive a praise-filled speech from Crafty.
58	* ChekhovsGun: Crafty receives a '''''ton''''' of punishment across the entire series, frequently taking lethal damage yet being back on his feet soon after. One particular highlight is when the Hyrule Champions blast him to kingdom come in "Legend of Lonk." While Crafty's charred and barely able to stand up, he's very much alive; he returns to normal one week later. At first, such incidents seem to be just cartoon slapstick. However, it turns out this NighInvulnerability applies even during serious moments, such as during "Crafty Hearts Re:Grouped," when Crafty wakes up from a ''four-month-long coma'' in perfect health. "I Need A Hero Academia" finally explains why Crafty has this ability: [[spoiler: within his chest, he has an authentic Infinium Heart (which, as he and Sasha realize during "We're Back! A Crafty Story," he may have obtained when he and Sasha first made love). Mindstein even cites the violent slapstick moments as she rants about the heart]].
59	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The Crafty Crew members are each associated with a specific color:
60	** Crafty's is green.
61	** Nurse's is pink.
62	** Pepper's (and Pickles' by extension) is maroon. She's notably the only character whose color isn't a dominant one on her design.
63	** Messibelle's is cyan.
64	** Crystelle's is purple.
65	** Stylene's is yellow.
66	* CrossOver: The Hero Month Spin-Off Special sees Pepper, Messi, and Crystelle hosting three spin-off segment episodes in one go together without Crafty. Not only does this Special set the groundwork for more to come, but it also encourages Crystelle to start co-hosting episodes more often for the rest of the series.
67	* CuteMonsterGirl: Most of Crafty's cohosts are cute monster women, and quite a diverse bunch at that. The most prominent of them are the first three, introduced across the first two seasons: Nurse Worse, a cheerful, plump woman reminiscent of FrankensteinsMonster, Pepper, a kindhearted Octopus mutant, and Messibelle, an energetic, lewd slime maid. All three are occasionally portrayed as some of the most desirable women in the cast. Francis, among other people to come, swoons over Nurse in "Fanboy and the Furious," Pepper receives Valentine's gifts from distant admirers in abundance in "Ad-ORC-Able," and Prince Sidon mentions that Messi is quite famous for her beauty in "Aquatic Characters").
68	* DealWithTheDevil: In Episode 23, Crafty makes a deal with Jedah to trade the souls of his [=YouTube=] commenters for more views and Patreon money, but Jedah later voids the contract because [[TakeThat the souls he obtained were nothing but internet memes]]. Jedah seeks to get revenge on Crafty for his scam ever since.
69	* DeepSleep: After "The Foreshadow Game," Crafty ends up in a coma that lasts for the four months between Seasons 2 and 3. Just before he wakes up, he shares a conversation with Sasha that greatly affects him and ultimately shifts the trajectory of his character for the rest of the show.
70	* DidYouJustRomanceCthulhu: Crafty had a romantic relationship with [[AdorableAbomination Sasha]] in his youth. While they've broken up several years ago, it turns out that they still love each other, opening up the possibility of getting back together.
71	* DieOrFly: The Infinium Hearts (both Crafty's genuine one and Nurse's artificial one) are activated through a body's natural fight-or-flight response.
72	* DramaticThunder: Every episode begins and ends with a flash of thunder, and starting with the third season, there are occasional glimpses of outside the castle, where one can see the lightning directly.
73	* DropInCharacter: If the subject of the episode's art is fan art, expect the characters depicted to drop in.
74	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
75	** Season 1 is somewhat different compared to what succeeds it, thanks to the show trying to find its footing early on.
76	*** Some of the Season 1 episodes are a bit rough around the edges, as the production team was still trying to find their footing. The sound-mixing occasionally makes the music and sound effects louder than the characters' voices, there are a lot more technical difficulties with the footage, and the talking bits are shorter and contain a lot more throw-away jokes. Also, unlike later seasons, the character's pose sets are not fully lip-synced to their speech. For example, there are times throughout Season 1's episodes where Crafty's mouth still hangs open after he's done speaking.
77	*** Narratively speaking, Season 1 is the only season without spin-off segments or the principal conflict of the show. This leaves the main cast and the events that they partake in at their smallest until Season 2.
78	** Throughout Seasons 1 and 2, the Crafty Crew's Castle Lab is a much smaller space that bears iconography related to several of Crafty's other characters, such as a stained-glass window of [[VideoGame/FionaFrighteningAndTheWickedWardrobe Fiona Frightening]]. But there is absolutely nothing related to ''Dr. Crafty'' and its characters. Starting with Season 3, however, the lab would be renovated completely, becoming visibly larger and accommodating a stained-glass window of the Crafty Crewmates, which itself is quietly updated in Season 4 to include a few other characters.
79	* EdutainmentShow: Throughout its art segments, ''Dr. Crafty's'' characters cite various techniques that Crafty uses throughout his time doing digital art. Nurse spends most of her introduction in "The Worst Nurse" setting the typical production process of an art piece that all other episodes tend to follow, and from there, she, Crafty, and the other Crewmates bring up other relevant tips to contextualize what is being done in the art footage. These tips are intended to assist anyone interested in starting digital art--or art in general--for themself. If an episode deals with fan art, the characters typically discuss the history of the work being depicted while also discussing their opinions on it.
80	* EvilVersusEvil: [[DownplayedTrope Despite only playing a villain for his webshow]], Crafty's efforts to present himself that way in ''and'' out of the show greatly affects peoples' perception of him. Yet he's never regularly antagonized by a heroic foil; his show's most recurring antagonists are other (actual) villains. In "Crafty Idol", the 4th-ranking ''Dr. Crafty'' OC, Arigeta Kuroko, applies to Crafty Industries to fill that void.
81	* FlashbackEcho: It's very common throughout the show for something to trigger either Crafty or Nurse's memories of their distant pasts.
82	* FourthWallMailSlot: ''Crafty's Questionable Qloset'' is the show's [=QnA=] segment, where the audience asks questions about the show's characters. Before this show was created, Crafty also had mail slots via Curious Cat and [=AskFM=], but both accounts have since been deleted after the ''Qloset's'' premiere.
83	* HalloweenEpisode: The final monthly theme for Season 1 is the [=HalloWinter=] Special Month, a set of Halloween episodes that aired in December due to production delays (both in-universe and out). However, Season 4 would produce a properly timed Halloween Month as its SeasonFinale as both a celebration for the Season and as a CallBack to Season 1. Crafty is beyond excited for it to go underway in "Don't Drink and Draw," and his excitement and passion for the holiday continues to shine throughout the month.
84	* HurricaneOfPuns: Just about every character on the show has cracked at least several puns. Given the right subject matter, they can really let them loose in a single episode.
85	* ImAHumanitarian: Any time Crafty needs to clean out his storage, which is usually filled with guest characters who he's drawn fanart of (or even some of the art itself that [[AmbiguousSituation may or may not]] have [[ArtInitiatesLife come to life]]), he feeds them to [[VideoGame/{{Overwatch}} Junkrat]].
86	* InconsistentEpisodeLengths: The lengths of any given ''Dr. Crafty'' episode--including its spin-off segments--vary quite a bit. A typical episode from the main show, the ''[=CharaCafe=],'' and the ''Shake-Up Salon'' typically lasts between ten and twenty minutes, sometimes dipping above and below that range of time. The ''Questionable Qloset'' and ''Top Ten Tub'' segments are more extreme; ''Qloset'' segments tend to be the shortest at around five to seven minutes, while ''Tub'' segments tend to be the longest, at around fifteen to above twenty minutes, with both also dipping above and below those ranges like the other episodes. Sometimes, the extra length in an episode is dedicated to story progression that can't be told through a normal episode alone, such as the multi-part {{season finale}}s, "The Foreshadow Game" and "I Need a Hero Academia."
87	* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: A common wannabe antagonist on the show is Disgustilda, who wants to take over the world, starting with Crafty's castle, but just ''can't.''
88	* LemonyNarrator: If a narrator appears in an episode, they will either grow increasingly annoyed with the show or end up annoying the Crafty Crew.
89	* LetsYouAndHimFight: During Fighting Month's "Death Debate" episodes, the main show creates art depicting two characters fighting against each other, with Crafty and Nurse rooting for one of them as the combatants argue over who would win.
90	* LimitedAnimation: For its storytelling and character movement, ''Dr. Crafty'' employs some principles of {{Motion Comic}}s. Most animation on the show is represented by still images sliding around on the screen. Tons of reusable assets are at the show's beck and call, especially the expansive sets of reusable poses for the ''Crafty''-original characters. These presentation choices [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools keep the characters' contributions interesting but unobtrusive to the art production footage shown onscreen]]. Whenever the show requires fresh assets, it generally presents them under the same limitations as the rest.
91	* LoveTriangle: A love triangle opens up between Crafty, his OldFlame Sasha, and his lab assistant Nurse Worse opens up as the series goes on. Nurse's crush is only one-sided; despite how obvious Nurse's crush is to everyone else, Crafty is blissfully ignorant of her feelings, and Nurse [[CannotSpitItOut can't bring herself to express them directly]].
92	* MasculineLinesFeminineCurves: Crafty's design is notably sharper and more angular than his female co-hosts, who all have smoother, more rounded designs to them.
93	* MundaneMadeAwesome: From a meta perspective, one of the driving factors behind the show's conception was to make a speed-art series with additional qualities to make it more interesting to watch. Thus, the show is hosted by a flamboyant MadScientist and various [[CuteMonsterGirl Cute Monster Girls]], all of whom end up becoming involved in some very serious affairs behind the scenes.
94	* MythologyGag: The castle lab's first design contains nods to Crafty's other characters, including some from [[VideoGame/FionaFrighteningAndTheWickedWardrobe Fiona Frightening]]. These nods are later removed starting with Season 3, as the lab becomes personalized to depict the Crafty Crew and the other characters who appear on ''Dr. Crafty.''
95	* NegativeContinuity: The interactions involving the ''Crafty'' cast that are depicted in any commissioned artwork are deemed non-canon to the show's overall story, as Crafty explains in "Pros and Comms." Crafty equates his and his friends' likenesses in these pieces as "stunt doubles." "This is Crack(ship)" implies that the Crew has terms in place regarding art like this, ensuring that commissioners don't screw up the show's canon or, even worse, force themselves into the ''actual'' Crewmates' lives without their consent.
96	* NoFourthWall: Given the nature of the show, The Crafty Crew will frequently address the production problems they have on occasion, like missing voice actors and schedule slips.
97	* OnlyInFlorida: ''Dr. Crafty'' has an ''uncountable'' amount of weird qualities constantly noticed by the characters involved, from its eccentric, referential, memetic sense of humor to its presence of fantastical creatures and divine artifacts. All of them affect the show's story in one way or another, impacting the production of ''Dr. Crafty'' in-universe and the well-being of the people behind it. Overall, it serves as a love letter to the inherent weirdness of the show's primary setting: Florida. Specifically, the show takes place in the Everglades, and Crystelle reveals in "Atop the 4th Door" that the residents of the area provide the castle with free protection. The worst of them, in her opinion, are the ''country musicians.''
98	* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: While they dress the part, the Crafty Crewmates aren't actually villains--they're just committing to an aesthetic for branding and for fun. They're not above bending the rules if they have to, but they sit firmly on the side of good.
99	* ThePowerOfFriendship: Love and friendship are recurring themes in the show, with many characters finding the willpower to fight on because of how much they care for one another.
100	* PunchedAcrossTheRoom: A running gag throughout the series involves Nurse's incredibly strong [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure JoJo punches]]. She usually employs them to deal with unwanted guests.
101	* RageAgainstTheAuthor: It's quite common for the show's writing and editing team to try and get one over Crafty, who tends to mistreat them.
102	* RebuiltSet: Starting with "Crafty Hearts Re:Grouped," Crafty's lab receives a substantial redesign. In addition to being brighter and roomier than its predecessor, the new design replaces the imagery related to Crafty's other work in favor of more iconography tied to ''Dr. Crafty,'' namely a stained glass window depicting all of the show's hosts (which itself updates in Season 4 to accommodate Crystelle, Stylene, Sasha, and Disgustilda). The end of "Crafty Hearts Re:Grouped" reveals that the lab is a [[ChromaKey merely a green screen projection with special effects]]. However, later episodes imply that this projection quickly became a reality. Exterior shots of the castle in subsequent episodes show that the stained-glass window is now fully integrated into the castle's facade. And in "Magic Kingdom Mania," [[spoiler: when Screw sends Crafty flying through the window, it shatters apart, cementing its authenticity.]]
103	* RuleOfThree: Befitting for a comedy show, a ton of jokes like to come in threes.
104	* RunningGag: Several recurring gags have been established throughout the series.
105	** Crafty can summon a dragon with a [=d20=] die, shouting "Roll for dragon!" every time.
106	** Characters from other works, sometimes to provide relevant commentary and other times as part of a gag.
107	** Crafty's storage room, where he drops all of his unwanted, now sentient art, is inhabited by a voracious Junkrat who eats anything placed inside the room. The happenings in this storage room are another recurring fixture on the show.
108	** Jedah Dohma, being the AmoralAttorney, sometimes holds humorous ads for his services on ''Dr. Crafty.'' They always start at the most inconvenient times for the Crew.
109	** Mr. Blobby is depicted as an EldritchAbomination.
110	* SharedUniverse: Thanks to Linkara's cameo in the second Patreon video, Dr. Crafty is now officially part of the Reviewaverse. This gets followed up in both of their respective series. Dr. Crafty makes a cameo during Linkara's review of Manga/FrankenFran chapters 1 & 4, and Linkara and Pollo both appearing when [[spoiler:Dr. Crafty ''steals Neutro'' from them with [[Manga/MyHeroAcademia Iida's]] help.]]
111	* ShoutOut: The idea of a [=YouTube=] channel whose content hides a much larger narrative is directly inspired by ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall.'' Appropriately enough, both works coexist in the same universe.
112	* SpecialGuest: The show occasionally has guest appearances from voice actors and original characters from the other works, such as [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]], [[Creator/TheAutarch Alex Rochon]] and all of the ''VideoGame/FionaFrighteningAndTheWickedWardrobe Fiona Frightening'' characters.
113	* StuntDouble: In an InUniverse example, Crafty explained in Episode 28 that the depiction of the show's characters in commissions are body doubles that just happen to share their likeness and name, referred to as "non-canon clones".
114	* SummoningArtifact: Crafty's typical weapon of choice is the Draconian Vicennial (Which he always rolls with a shout of "ROLL FOR DRAGON!"), a die that he uses to summon a dragon to take care of a threat or unwanted visitor. The history behind it is covered in "The Little Purple House." The die has existed for several millennia and can summon a single dragon to assist the person who used the die. However, there's a chance the dragon won't be obedient to its summoner, and the die can randomly fail to summon anything. With these risks, Crystelle advises that the user should be careful using the die... but Crafty very much isn't; he happens to sprint past Crystelle while being chased by a dragon from the die before she moves on to the next question.
115	* SwampsAreEvil: The main setting of the show is an isolated area of the Florida Everglades, with the Crafty Crew's castle being located at the area's highest point and Disgustilda's cottage being the castle's sole neighbor further down. While its residents are relatively benevolent--the Crewmates only sell themselves as villains for branding purposes, and Disgustilda is an annoyance at worst--the castle hides a dark secret: it houses a divine artifact in its lowest levels, the Infinium Door, which allegedly contains unlimited power. Mindstein reveals as much during "I Need a Hero Academia" Part 2 as she discusses her plans to harness that energy with Screw, and she also reveals the castle's proper name: Castle Infinia.
116	* TakeThat: The whole Crafty Crew (including Pepper, the nicest of the bunch) makes a point to call out things that they don't like throughout the series.
117	* TakeThatAudience: Anyone who commissions their original characters can expect their designs to be mildly riffed upon.
118	* ValentinesDayEpisode: Season 3 has a Valentine's-themed Month, which contains a sub-plot concerning Crafty's past with Sasha, and how the breakup affected him.
119	* WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties: Technical difficulty signs are a semi-common running gag, especially throughout Season 2.
120	* WorldOfBuxom: Pretty much every main female character sports an exceptionally impressive bust, ESPECIALLY Nurse Worse, Pepper, and Screw. Even guest female characters tend to follow this trope.
121	* WorldOfWeirdness: Just about anything can happen on ''Dr. Crafty;'' the castle invites itself to tons of invited and uninvited guests alike from a wide array of franchises. Often, HilarityEnsues.
122	* XtremeKoolLetterz: The "Closet" in the ''Questionable Qloset's'' name is spelled with a Q for the sake of alliteration.

Context WebAnimation / DrCrafty