The Idea Bulb is a visible indication to the audience that someone has had a bright idea.
Sometimes, though, the idea will be a sound notion, so we hear a ding.
It's a simple one-note Sting sound made on a xylophone or glockenspiel or something else that sounds light and metallic. If the sound is diegetic, a microwave timer or doorbell may stand in.
Often appears with its Sister Trope Idea Bulb. Also related to Audible Gleam. Compare Palm-Fist Tap for a Japanese Media variant.
The same sound is often used for Love at First Sight, but that's a different trope.
Examples:
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Film
- UHF, when George ("Weird Al" Yankovic) gets the last-ditch idea to hold a telethon for his TV station.
- In Who Framed Roger Rabbit, there is a little trill in the score when Eddie gets the idea to make the weasels laugh themselves to death.
Literature
- Happens In-Universe in the Australian children's books Bottersnikes and Gumbles. It's limited to one character, Tinkingumble, and the loss of his "tink" is a plot point in one book.
Western Animation
- Dexter's Laboratory: The Monkey episode "Peltra" has the Idea Bulb and this happen together as Agent Honeydew thinks of a way to save Monkey.
- Happens frequently on Phineas and Ferb — not quite Once an Episode, but when it does appear, it's almost always before Phineas' "Hey Ferb!" catchphrase.
- Ultimate Spider-Man: "Venom": Peter is standing alone in his Dramatic Spotlight with no idea how to sort out what to do about Harry's dislike of Peter's "new friends". Mary Jane intervenes with a suggestion that comes with this. Peter brightens up, heartened by her great idea.
- Wander of Wander over Yonder likes to say "Bing!" whenever he gets an idea.
