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Anime and Manga
"This was huge news! What were you doing eh, hiding under a rock??"
—Usopp to Luffy regarding the Payback War, One Piece
Robotnik: As you both well know, Planet Freedom is made out of two separate dimensions. The outer world, the one you live in, is known as the Land of the Sky-
Sonic: Tell us something we don't know!
Robotnik: Ah, shut up! Heed me!
Sonic: Tell us something we don't know!
Robotnik: Ah, shut up! Heed me!
Comic Books
Finn: We've got to round up all the wizards and find the one named Ewlbo!
Jake: He's the one who gave BMO the virus!
Marceline: I know, guys. I was there. I, uh, understand events that happen around me?
Jake: He's the one who gave BMO the virus!
Marceline: I know, guys. I was there. I, uh, understand events that happen around me?
Exile: At last we have found you, master! Only the Red Skull can hope to lead—the Exiles!! When we Nazis were beaten—when the Third Reich collapsed—you ordered us into hiding until the time was ripe—!
Red Skull: Silence!! I do not need to be reminded of my own plan!
Red Skull: Silence!! I do not need to be reminded of my own plan!
"I know all this already. Who are you saying this again for?"
— Computer, Invader Zim (Oni), Issue #20
Old Man: Ain't that Gwenny?
Erwin: Why does she keep hangin' 'round these parts?
Old Man: I tol' you yesterday, Erwin... Day before that, too. And ever' day the Lord made.
Erwin: That durn memory o' mine.
Erwin: Why does she keep hangin' 'round these parts?
Old Man: I tol' you yesterday, Erwin... Day before that, too. And ever' day the Lord made.
Erwin: That durn memory o' mine.
I know how you found yourself alive after the explosion which destroyed all your co-workers... I know how you climbed from the rubble... and found your body altered!
— Protector, Krypton No More
"Van-Zee...Is there a point to this? I mean, I was there, remember?"
Reporter 1: It's Miss Potts, Stark's private secretary!
Reporter 2: And Happy Hogan, his right-hand man and trusted confidant!
Footnote by Stan Lee: We know people don't really talk this way…but we wanna bring any newcomer up to date!
Reporter 2: And Happy Hogan, his right-hand man and trusted confidant!
Footnote by Stan Lee: We know people don't really talk this way…but we wanna bring any newcomer up to date!
— An Iron Man story in Tales of Suspense
"As you know, when our native planet, Krypton, exploded, a large chunk of it, containing Argo City, was hurled away."
— Zor-El, The Untold Story of Argo City
Fan Works
San-2: it makes moving difficult we cannot go far like this the more she eats the more we use the many to regrow
Ichi: IF WE WANTED TO KNOW THE OBVIOUS WE WOULD ASK FOR IT WE ARE NOT IDIOT NEWBORNS
Ichi: IF WE WANTED TO KNOW THE OBVIOUS WE WOULD ASK FOR IT WE ARE NOT IDIOT NEWBORNS
— King Ghidorah's middle and left heads, Abraxas (Hrodvitnon)
"Yeah, and if I recall correctly, that's all the stuff we already knew."
"[Naruto] already knew all of this, of course, but SOMEONE had to provide exposition for the unenlightened onlookers."
"As you know, person I am referring to by name even though you're the only person I can possibly be talking to, this is a clumsy way of delivering exposition."
— Alfred Smith, Jake English's Mysterious Theater of Scientific Romance from the Year 3000's MST of Atlanta Nights.
"I don't have to explain how important this is, Proton," said the President of Earth, "but I'm going to anyway for reasons of exposition."
"I think we are all forgetting that this young woman is not the same Kara Zor-El that died at the hands of the Anti-monitor." Xavier continued. "It is, rather, the clone of that young woman merged with the spirit of that woman."
"I think we are all well aware of that, Prof." Reed said, somewhat stiffly. It was his and Doctor Strange's efforts that had accomplished that merger in the first place.
"I think we are all well aware of that, Prof." Reed said, somewhat stiffly. It was his and Doctor Strange's efforts that had accomplished that merger in the first place.
Molly: (to Scratch) Still, that's no excuse for ignoring my old best friend, Ashley Harris, from when I lived in Dayton, Ohio.
Ashley: Don't sweat it my old friend, Molly McGee, who currently lives in Brighton.
Ashley: Don't sweat it my old friend, Molly McGee, who currently lives in Brighton.
Film — Animated
Sulley: I don't have to sing it...
Mike: ...'cause we both know it's true...
Sulley: (...but I'll sing it anyway.)
Mike: ...'cause we both know it's true...
Sulley: (...but I'll sing it anyway.)
— From the song "If I Didn't Have You", Monsters, Inc.
Film — Live-Action
"Caslet tried very hard not to sigh. Shannon really didn't understand how irritating it was to have things you already knew explained to you. On the other hand, her lecture mode normally insured that she caught anything you might not know . . . or that you'd simply forgotten to consider."
Miss Piggy: Um, why are you telling me all this?
Lady Holiday: It's plot exposition. It has to go somewhere.
Lady Holiday: It's plot exposition. It has to go somewhere.
Frederick: You and your books. I mustn't complain, though. We never would have met without them. Yes, I was such a fan of Greemulax, I wrote you a letter all by myself. We started a correspondence, and, before long, you agreed to meet me for a holiday in St. Tropez. We both got so sunburned. We had to pee on each other till someone told us that's for jellyfish, not sunburns.
Kimmy: I know how we met, Frederick.
Kimmy: I know how we met, Frederick.
Ruth: This is not a game. Our situation is precarious. You know the money's gone.
Rose: Of course I know it's gone! You remind me every day!
Rose: Of course I know it's gone! You remind me every day!
Literature
Powell: If any [robot] gets within twenty feet of us, we'll be sensed whether we're in the line of sight or not. I hope you know that.
Donovan: When I need an elementary lesson in robotics, I'll file an application with you formally, and in triplicate.
Donovan: When I need an elementary lesson in robotics, I'll file an application with you formally, and in triplicate.
— "Catch That Rabbit" by Isaac Asimov
Thetis: Why then, child, do you lament? What sorrow has come to your heart now? Tell me, do not hide it in your mind, and we shall both know.
Achilleus: You know; since you know why must I tell you all this?
Achilleus: You know; since you know why must I tell you all this?
— The Iliad, Book I
"[...]As you no doubt know, Captain—" the Marine's tone suggested that she might not know but chose, diplomatically, to assume that she did[...]
— Captain Papadapolous, On Basilisk Station
Harry: All right Murph, Thomas, Faerie Fighting 101.
Thomas: I know, Harry.
Harry: Yeah, but I'm going to go over it anyway, so listen up.
Thomas: I know, Harry.
Harry: Yeah, but I'm going to go over it anyway, so listen up.
Live-Action TV
Mary: [on phone] Hey Kate, it's Mary. You know, your step-sister?
Kate: Mary, our parents have been married for over a decade. I know who you are.
Kate: Mary, our parents have been married for over a decade. I know who you are.
Orac: Reproduction by Clinician Franton's method of group cloning has resulted in highly developed psychic faculties, telepathy being the most obvious example. These faculties are, of course, limited to the young since cloning was developed relatively recently.
Avon: We know all that.
Orac: Since I lack sensors to assess what is or is not in your mind, I cannot assess what is or is not already known to you.
"It is known."
— Catchphrase of any Dothraki handmaiden in Game of Thrones
Jules: Look, Lassiter did me a solid, and he's holding off the chief for 24 hours, so we have to find [Henry and Lloyd].
Gus: You already told us that in the car, Jules.
Jules: Well, I need to cover my bases, Gus.
Shawn: For who?
Gus: You already told us that in the car, Jules.
Jules: Well, I need to cover my bases, Gus.
Shawn: For who?
Falken: If we capture Elora Danan, do you know what this would mean for us?
Sarris: I do.
Falken: The Crone would reward us with whatever we desire. Cashmere, Galadorn, Tir Asleen even.
Sarris: Yeah, 'cause when I said "I do", what I really meant was "Explain it to me like I'm an imbecile."
Sarris: I do.
Falken: The Crone would reward us with whatever we desire. Cashmere, Galadorn, Tir Asleen even.
Sarris: Yeah, 'cause when I said "I do", what I really meant was "Explain it to me like I'm an imbecile."
— Willow (2022), "Prisoners of Skellin"
Radio
"Now, you all know the rules, so here they are again."
— The Goon Show, "What's My Line?"
Theatre
Quirrell: My Lord, the Yule Ball has finally arrived and I've brought the key!
Voldemort: Yes, I know, Quirrell! I hear everything you hear!
Voldemort: Yes, I know, Quirrell! I hear everything you hear!
Video Games
Dr. N. Gin: But Dr. Cortex, to reach full power, we need not only your master crystal, but also the remaining twenty-five slave crystals on the surface. How do you expect to retrieve them when we don't have any earthbound operatives left?
Dr. Neo Cortex: You Fool!! Do you think I'm unaware of the situation?!
"Space Marines, today the enemy is at our door. We know our duty and we will do it! We fight for our honor, as Blood Ravens, as Space Marines, and we fight in the name of the Emperor!
And if we die this day, we die in glory. We die hero's deaths! But we shall not die, no, it is the enemy who will taste death and defeat!
As you know, most of our battle-brothers are stationed in space, prepared to deep strike! Our perimeter has been prepared in the event that our enemy should prove so bold and so foolish. We have placed numerous beacons, allowing for multiple, simultaneous and devastating deep strikes.
The Codex Astartes names this maneuver Steel Rain. We will descend upon the foe, we will overwhelm them, we will leave none alive! Meanwhile, our ground forces will ensure the full defense of our headquarters!
We are the Space Marines! We are the Emperor's Fury!"
And if we die this day, we die in glory. We die hero's deaths! But we shall not die, no, it is the enemy who will taste death and defeat!
As you know, most of our battle-brothers are stationed in space, prepared to deep strike! Our perimeter has been prepared in the event that our enemy should prove so bold and so foolish. We have placed numerous beacons, allowing for multiple, simultaneous and devastating deep strikes.
The Codex Astartes names this maneuver Steel Rain. We will descend upon the foe, we will overwhelm them, we will leave none alive! Meanwhile, our ground forces will ensure the full defense of our headquarters!
We are the Space Marines! We are the Emperor's Fury!"
—Blood Ravens Brother-Captain Indrick Boreale explaining the situation to his men (and the player)
, Dawn of War: Soulstorm
, Dawn of War: SoulstormSam: Boy, Grandpa Stinky, I sure am glad to see you back working in this diner again after returning from a long time away to work with your granddaughter who is also coincidentally named Stinky.
Grandpa Stinky: Was all that really necessary?
Sam: Sorry. Max is all short-term memory. I have to bring him up to speed every once in a while.
Max: *shocked* AHHH! Giant talking dog!
Grandpa Stinky: Was all that really necessary?
Sam: Sorry. Max is all short-term memory. I have to bring him up to speed every once in a while.
Max: *shocked* AHHH! Giant talking dog!
Sheldon: It takes eight Mini Zapfish to match the power of one of the normal ones!
Marie: Yeah, we know.
Marie: Yeah, we know.
"Ooo, there are soaker blocks in here. You probably don't need an explanation for those by now, right?"
— Marie, Splatoon 3
BT-7274: Captain, what is the status of the beacon?
Cpt. Cole: The power has shut down. We've lost all control of the beacon. We need something like this to jump start the system, but this one's destroyed.
BT: Designation: Arc Tool. Function: Generates power up to five megajoules.
Cole: Yeah. Yeah, we know what it is.
Cpt. Cole: The power has shut down. We've lost all control of the beacon. We need something like this to jump start the system, but this one's destroyed.
BT: Designation: Arc Tool. Function: Generates power up to five megajoules.
Cole: Yeah. Yeah, we know what it is.
Web Animation
Mera: (deadpan) Epithets! Rare powers! Some people got 'em! Some people don't! Do you know what it's called when someone doesn't have an epithet?
Students: (unenthusiastically) A mundie...
Mera: A mundie! That's right. Of course you know, you're not six.
Students: (unenthusiastically) A mundie...
Mera: A mundie! That's right. Of course you know, you're not six.
Makayla Van Buren: ...And I'll gladly tell the entire student body of Meadowlane Elementary that first-grader Katelynn Zales is rife with cooties!
Trisha Cappelletti: (gasps) [Katelynn Zales is] totally your sister.
Mackenzie Zales: (gravely) I know.
Trisha Cappelletti: (gasps) [Katelynn Zales is] totally your sister.
Mackenzie Zales: (gravely) I know.
"Okay, writers out there? Please never, ever start a sentence with "As you know," because that's basically holding up a big ol' sign that says "THIS IS EXPOSITION!"
Tails: You know, if you leave you're going to give up being the Creator for good, right? You're never going to be able to come back!
Sonic: [is standing next to a sign that has exactly what Tails just said] Yeah. I read the sign. Thanks, Professor Exposition.
Tails: Whatever. It's our first episode back, I got to explain stuff.
Sonic: [is standing next to a sign that has exactly what Tails just said] Yeah. I read the sign. Thanks, Professor Exposition.
Tails: Whatever. It's our first episode back, I got to explain stuff.
"What if the exposition is something an in-universe character would already know? Well, as you know, Bob, this technique is called “As you know, Bob”. When a character explains something to the audience under the guise of lecturing to a character even if that character should already know the information being presented since they live in the setting. The trick to this is to make it as clumsy and out of place as possible, kind of like a cashier explaining to me how a fuel injection engine works while I’m buying groceries."
—JP Beaubien, Terrible Writing Advice, EXPOSITION
"[T]he main character's usually some empty-headed prick who's been living in this world his entire life but still needs to have situations explained to him because I guess he never paid attention in burly warrior school."
Webcomics
Scathach: "...Do you always feel the need to recap everything you just learned? Seems like a waste of time to me."
Rikku: "...I don't need a lampshade right now, thanks."
Rikku: "...I don't need a lampshade right now, thanks."
"I love it when you ask questions you've memorized the answers to."
—Hazel, Girls with Slingshots
Web Video
"Got to love any discussion that begins with: 'As You All Know'! Nothing is more natural sounding than telling people things they're already aware of!"
"If you're actually going to put the line, 'as you may well know' into your script, why not just tell the truth and have them say, 'I'm going to be talking to the audience for the next few minutes'?"
— Bennett the Sage reviewing Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
Monsieur Renard: Cousin, I have come here today to make you a proposition. As you know…
Phelous (As Monsieur Du Bois): Ah, I’ll stop you right there, if I already know it, you don't have to tell me!
Phelous (As Monsieur Renard): Sacre bleu!
Phelous (As Monsieur Du Bois): Ah, I’ll stop you right there, if I already know it, you don't have to tell me!
Phelous (As Monsieur Renard): Sacre bleu!
— Phelous, Beauty and the Beast (Bevanfield)
Producer: Are we gonna have characters saying "As you know" before telling each other things they already know?
Screenwriter: You know it!
Producer: Oh, as you know, that's tight.
Screenwriter: I do know that, yeah.
Screenwriter: You know it!
Producer: Oh, as you know, that's tight.
Screenwriter: I do know that, yeah.
— Screen Rant Pitch Meetings episode for Artemis Fowl
Screenwriter: And by the way, there's no need to specify the current decade because it's currently the current decade.
— Screen Rant Pitch Meetings episode for Face/Off
Smeghead: This movie went way overboard with the exposition. You know you screwed up your storytelling when one of your characters starts a line with...
Fire Lord Ozai (in the film): As you know...
Smeghead: Well, if we know, why are you telling us?
Fire Lord Ozai (in the film): As you know...
Smeghead: Well, if we know, why are you telling us?
— Cinematic Excrement in the Second Look episode on The Last Airbender
Western Animation
Finn: What's going on with the costumes?
Fire Actor: This is a theater troupe. We are getting ready to preform for the king. Everyone in the kingdom shall be in attendance. Of course, you know all this being fellow actors from the exact same troupe.
Fire Actor: This is a theater troupe. We are getting ready to preform for the king. Everyone in the kingdom shall be in attendance. Of course, you know all this being fellow actors from the exact same troupe.
Brainpod 13: We believe just as the Unimind connected all the LGMs, it could, hopefully allow you to reach out and ensnare every innocent mind in the Galactic Alliance. You know, mind-slave evil puppet kind of scenario.
Evil Emperor Zurg: You're telling me my plan. I already know my plan. I made up the plan. It's MY plan. What I DON'T KNOW, is how close you are to ACCOMPLISHING MY PLAN!
Evil Emperor Zurg: You're telling me my plan. I already know my plan. I made up the plan. It's MY plan. What I DON'T KNOW, is how close you are to ACCOMPLISHING MY PLAN!
''"Pinnayus and Ferb! Just look at you two! You two are my younger brothers! And of course, I am Candace, your big sister, am I not?"
—Princess Baldegunde pretending to be Candace Flynn, Phineas and Ferb
Rick: Hey, it’s a good thing that space outlet had labcoats and your favourite kind of shirt in stock, huh Morty?
Morty: Yeah, Rick. I-I heard you the first time. You don’t have to keep saying it over and over.
Morty: Yeah, Rick. I-I heard you the first time. You don’t have to keep saying it over and over.
Homer: Well, here we are at the Brad Goodman lecture.
Lisa: We know, Dad.
Homer: I just thought I'd remind everybody. After all, we did agree to attend this self-help seminar.
Bart: What an odd thing to say...
Lisa: We know, Dad.
Homer: I just thought I'd remind everybody. After all, we did agree to attend this self-help seminar.
Bart: What an odd thing to say...
"Ha ha, yes! A fine recap of things I already know!"
—Pastry Pete, Tuca & Bertie, "Yeast Week"
Miscellaneous
Seanbaby: [as intro news anchor] Tonight's top story: Everything you already know because you're living it.
— Broken Pixels - WWE Crush Hour
"There's actually a term for when books do this, it's called maid and butler dialogue. It's when one character explains something out loud to another character, that they both already know, but the audience hasn't yet been made aware of. They're just having the conversation so the audience is brought up to speed."
