Line #29 Main/DiegeticVisualEffects


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4	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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11	[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/{{Paranatural}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/paranatural_letterboxing.png]]]]
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13	The visual counterpart of LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn, this is a gag where a grand special effect meant to [[PaintingTheMedium highlight a prominent scene]] turns out to be a part of the in-universe scenery. The BishieSparkle that follows the pretty guy/girl? It's actually store-bought glitter. The LoveBubbles that marks a couple's ShipTease moment? Oh, it's just some kid blowing soap bubbles in the background. The LightningGlare between two rivals? Well, they're actually shooting EyeBeams at each other... You get the idea.
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15	Compare/contrast MetafictionalDevice and NinjaProp, which also allows characters with MediumAwareness to interact with the story's visual elements, but the elements themselves are usually not treated as an "actual" part of the setting. Compare BackgroundHalo and SpreadWingsFrameShot, in which the characters standing in front of a backdrop or other objects that makes them appear to have a HolyHalo or wings for symbolic reasons. See also {{Prop}}.
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18	!!Examples:
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20	[[foldercontrol]]
21
22	[[folder:Animation]]
23	* ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'': When Adu Du publicly announces to the residents of Rintis Island that the recent arson incidents were [=BoBoiBoy's=] fault, a DramaticSpotlight is cast over him, drawing everyone's attention to the KidHero. Probe, who's shining a flashlight down on [=BoBoiBoy=], then says "You're done for, [=BoBoiBoy=]."
24	[[/folder]]
25
26	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
27	* ''Anime/BangBraveBangBravern'' turns this into a RunningGag with the titular robot. As a GenreRefugee of the SuperRobotGenre, he has all the usual trappings, including flashy backgrounds when he transforms or does something cool, a ThemeMusicPowerUp, and all manner of other things. However, all these aspects are diegetic--the background is something he projects, and [[LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn his theme song can be heard by other characters]]. In one scene, it turns out that when he shows up on a MissionControl radar marked by his name and logo, said radar isn't supposed to have the capacity to display that--he somehow hacked into it to add his name and logo.
28	* One episode of ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'' has Breda dress up like [[LargeHam Alex Louis Armstrong]] as a prank. The costume includes Armstrong's signature {{Bishie Sparkle}}s as little pink diamond shapes attached to wires, which seems to imply that Armstrong's sparkles are also diegetic (though we never get an explanation as to how).
29	* The first chapter/episode of ''Manga/HeavensDesignTeam'' has a bunch of pigeons appear as a sign of God's approval when the design for the giraffe is finally passed. In the very next panel, the giraffe ''ate'' the pigeon--to Venus's horror--because its leaf diet is insufficient to fulfill its protein requirement. Considering that subsequent approvals don't come with such extravagant "effects", it is possible that God sent the pigeons precisely to fulfill the creature's dietary needs.
30	* In ''Literature/HorizonInTheMiddleOfNowhere'', a [[HolographicTerminal sign frame]] always appears over Toori's crotch whenever he gets naked. Although it seems to be just a stylized CensorBox, it actually appears in universe as part of his contract with the god of entertainment, allowing him to include nudity in his comedy routines without worrying about public indecency.
31	* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', when Kodachi Kuno's childhood rival, Asuka Saginomiya, is first introduced, she is wreathed with a bunch of white lilies, which is supposed to reflect her beauty and elegance, and her nickname. When she stands up, it is revealed that she actually has a white lily bouquet tied on her back.
32	* ''Manga/SkipBeat'' has the Kyoko Apparitions (or Kyoko's demons/Grudge Kyokos, depending on the translations), which initially seems to just be an exaggerated expression of Kyoko's thirst for vengeance, but turns out to be actual spirit manifestation that can affect other characters and their surroundings. In several instances, Kyoko uses the apparitions to [[HeroStoleMyBike steal a random stranger's bike]], and to haunt/curse Sawara so that he'd let her into the LME talent division. Later on, Reino -- who claims to have psychic powers -- actually takes one of the apparitions hostage to threaten Kyoko.
33	[[/folder]]
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35	[[folder:Comic Books]]
36	* ''ComicBook/StevenUniverse'': In ''Camp Pining Play'', when Peridot gets an idea for how to get props, an IdeaBulb appears next to her head. Next panel, it turns out to be an actual light bulb being dangled by Sour Cream.
37	[[/folder]]
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39	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
40	* ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' has a story arc where Paige is struggling both to write a school report about Thomas Edison, and to fend off UnwantedAssistance on the subject from her dad Roger. In one strip, an IdeaBulb suddenly appears above her head as she's writing. Then it turns out Roger was just standing behind her, holding a real lightbulb up, as a pretext to rattle off a list of Edison's inventions.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
44	* ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'': Kuzco and Pacha running to the palace is shown as a TravelMontage, with a red dotted line to indicate their progress. Cut to Yzma and Kronk following him, where they suddenly notice the red line on the ground. Then they look behind them and see that a blue dotted line is forming behind them. They just shrug it off and continue the chase.
45	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePiratesInAnAdventureWithScientists'': We see a red dotted line on the map that's supposedly just there to show where the pirates have traveled... only for the scene to shift into reality and we find out that the albino pirate is creating the dotted line by throwing red items out the back.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
49	* ''Film/TheMuppets2011'' combines this with LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn in one scene. It's night when Kermit the Frog makes his first appearance, and from the perspective of obsessive Muppet fan Walter, [[HolyBacklight Kermit is spontaneously bathed in light from behind]] while an EtherealChoir sings. Then the light is revealed to be the headlights of a passing bus--with a church choir aboard, practicing. As soon as the bus drives by, the scene returns to normal.
50	* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': During the opening sequence, Roger gets CirclingBirdies after having a refrigerator fall on his head, and is immediately berated by the director because the script calls for stars, not birds. While ranting, the director grabs one of the birds and throws it on the floor, before yelling at the remaining, chirping birds to shut up. As the director storms off, Roger is seen catching the birds and stuffing them back into his pants, suggesting that the birds are stage props for the filming.
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
54	* ''Series/{{Community}}'': When Abed and Troy attempt a FreakyFridayFlip (appropriately while holding a copy of the film), the lights begin flickering crazily. A maintenance guy flips them back on and apologizes for the routine light switch check.
55	* ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'': In "Girls," Ned remarks that when he meets his perfect girl, a golden light will hit her and the angels will sing. Twice in the episode, a light shines on Moze and a chorus of angels sings. However, it's not an actual BishieSparkle -- Gordy is just fixing up the lights while the choir practices in the hallway, as the lights in the chorus room broke. The third time this happens, however, [[SubvertedTrope Gordy fixed the lights and the choir is back in their room]], suggesting it's ''actually'' [[ShipTease in Ned's head]] that time.
56	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWho2007CSVoyageOfTheDamned Voyage of the Damned]]", an in-universe advertisement featuring business owner Max Capricorn has a TwinkleSmile with AudibleGleam when he gives the tagline "My name is Max". The Doctor is rather bemused when he meets him in person and finds out it really does that.
57	* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XhwQUqm_Hw&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive this]] ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch, the BigManOnCampus and the [[AlphaBitch Head Cheerleader]] enter via a SlowWalk, much to the awe and bafflement of the new kid. The principal clarifies that this is a magic hallway where everything moves in slow motion.
58	[[/folder]]
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60	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
61	* The secondary schtick of the Count von Count of ''Series/SesameStreet''. Somewhere, '''''any'''''where, even indoors or on a day with no storm clouds, should the Count finish counting anything, it will most likely be punctuated by flashes of lightning and claps of thunder, along with his famous staccato "Ah-ah-ah!" laugh. In a rare dramatic twist, the thunder and lightning actually ''affects'' the outcome of the finale of the "Slimey to the Moon" arc, where the vibration and shockwaves of the lightning and thunder throws the WASA space capsule off-course, towards Sesame Street! (Unfortunately, there's ''no water there to cushion the fall'', and a solution is quickly needed to bring Slimey home safely!)
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Webcomics]]
65	* ''Webcomic/BugMartini'' has [[http://www.bugmartini.com/comic/cartoon-generated-imagery/ "Cartoon Generated Imagery"]], speculating about the downsides of various cartoon visual effects appearing in real life. Patent thieves would stalk anyone with [[IdeaBulb a light bulb floating above their head]], [[VisibleOdor stink lines]] would make it impossible to hide when you fart, and stray soap bubbles would get mistaken for [[BriffitsAndSqueans drunk bubbles]], leading to false drunk-driving charges.
66	* ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' does this twice with {{Censor Box}}es:
67	** The young {{Robot}} Helix's [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff300/fv00203.htm view]] is censored when Florence undresses near him because his vision system's parental controls are enabled.
68	** One scientist equips hordes of small robots with vantablack panels to confound an automated security system. Conveniently, they all start [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2600/fc02586.htm running around]] when Florence and Henri need to take a shower.
69	--->'''Florence:''' He must have run out of panels. That one is carrying a [[LampshadeHanging lamp shade]].
70	* ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'': This is a common gag:
71	** In the first chapter, people in the background are [[DeliberatelyMonochrome colored purple]] and slowly begin to crowd the hallway, making it difficult for Max to follow Suzy. When he mentions the problem, she wonders what he's talking about, as the hallway is empty. The people were really shades that Max was seeing as he became a spectral. Actual background characters are colored like normal people.
72	** Mr. Spender is fond of adjusting his [[ScaryShinyGlasses glasses to create a shine]]. It then turns out the flash effects are real, and with his light manipulation powers, he can use them as throwing stars.
73	** During the hitball game, the teams are briefly likened to a [[TigerVersusDragon tiger and a dragon]], with the creatures appearing in the background behind the teams. It turns out to be a tiger and a dragon spirit crossing in the middle of the game who are reprimanded and forced to move off the court.
74	** Isaac has oddly styled hair which initially appears to just be an effect for his {{Animesque}} design. It then turns out to be a side effect of being possessed by a spirit.
75	** In one strip, Ollie and later Johnny get BishieSparkle while they're doing a GoodCopBadCop routine to bully information from Jeff. In the background, RJ is throwing glitters on them.
76	* ''Webcomic/ScandinaviaAndTheWorld'': Iceland is constantly accompanied by BishieSparkle. In one strip, it turns out that this is a physical substance, and other characters can borrow it to look more bishie themselves.
77	* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', the background goes dim when GenreSavvy Tarquin makes a {{foreshadowing}}. Apparently it's because [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0751.html he had dimmers installed for dramatic effect]].
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Western Animation]]
81	* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': In "[[Recap/AmericanDadS12E5NowAndGwen Now and Gwen]]", an argument between Francine and Hayley is punctuated by a lightning strike, which turns out to be Roger flicking the lights off and on while shaking a metal sheet for the sound of thunder. When Roger gets busy with his own subplot, Klaus tries to continue the gag in later scenes but always gets the timing wrong.
82	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'': "The Flibber Flabber Diet" has Chowder leading Truffles in a random route around the town to get her out of the house [[ItMakesSenseInContext so that Schnitzel and Mung can work on making the house bigger]]. We get an aerial map view with red dots following behind icons of the duo, which end up being actual red dots physically following them.
83	-->'''Truffles:''' Why do these strange dots keep following us? Run Chowder!
84	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
85	** "[[Recap/FuturamaS3E6BendlessLove Bendless Love]]": When Bender first sees Anglelyne, she first appears as a GaussianGirl. Then the workers remove the dirty glass they had placed in front of her.
86	** "[[Recap/FuturamaS3E16ALeelaOfHerOwn A Leela of Her Own]]": Several Blernsball players are naked in a locker room, censored by black bars. Bender accidentally unplugs the "black bar generator" in the corner, making the bars vanish and the guys have to cover up with towels (except for one apparently hung player who proudly looks around and declares, "I win!")
87	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'':
88	** When the town celebrates Pioneer Day in "[[Recap/GravityFallsS1E8IrrationalTreasure Irrational Treasure]]", its redecorated downtown is shown in sepia at first, but then the men selling "dirty glass" move out of the way of the camera and color returns.
89	** In [[Recap/GravityFallsS1E10FightFighters "Fight Fighters"]], when Dipper takes Rumble's attention away from killing Robbie, the view shifts to [[{{Eyedscreen}} a letterboxed close-up on Dipper's face]]. Then the camera zooms out to reveal the effect is from Dipper holding up a pair of black-colored planks, which he throws away.
90	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': In season 5, Mr. Cat's StalkerWithACrush, Pretty, realizes that Mr. Cat will never see her as anything more than an AbhorrentAdmirer and she should just give up on him. In the 13th episode of this season, the characters have a discussion about love, and the camera pans to Pretty gloomily talking about heartbreak while staring out of the window as rain pours down. The camera zooms out to reveal that it wasn't raining, there was just a guy with a watering can standing on the roof and pouring water down for... some reason.
91	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': In "Bonding", Professor Dementor's face is [[RedFilterOfDoom tinged red]] as he declares that [[NothingCanStopUsNow there is nothing Kim can do to stop him]]. Bonnie (currently [[ChainedHeat stuck to Kim]] and dragged along on the adventure) mocks the whole idea of EvilGloating and asks him why he's [[ScaryFlashlightFace holding a red flashlight]].
92	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
93	** "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E6TreehouseOfHorrorVI Treehouse of Horror VI]]": In "Homer³", Frink announces Homer has fallen into "The Third Dimension!" and the room goes dark. We then see that Lisa accidentally leaned on the light switch.
94	** In an episode where Homer goes on a sea voyage, this is montaged by a dotted line traveling across a map [[HereThereBeDragons sprinkled with sea monsters and other decorations]]. Homer crashes into the compass rose, and avoids a sea serpent outright.
95	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
96	** "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E10WetPaintersKrustyKrabTrainingVideo Wet Painters]]": [=SpongeBob=] is taking a ridiculously long time starting to paint Mr. Krabs' living room, indicated by title cards saying "Two hours later", "Three hours later", and so on. The last one is revealed to be held by Patrick, who complains that he's out of time cards, implying that he held up the other cards as well.
97	** "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E13NewStudentStarfishClams New Student Starfish]]": After Mrs. Puff sentences [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick to detention, she is lit from below as she says "May Neptune have mercy on your souls!" Camera pulls back to show that Mrs. Puff is [[ScaryFlashlightFace holding a flashlight under her chin]].
98	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DiegeticVisualEffects