Animation Source Forums

Similar to a topic in the books section, I'm not sure if there is one like this in here. Basically, in your average film, animated or not, there are always bound to be a few clichés - ideas that used over and over again to the point of becoming stale. Here you can share which ones get on your nerves the most. I'll start.

In animated films:

- The villain is almost always some one-dimensional power-hungry jerk who doesn't have feelings.
- If the protagonist isn't a young male who comes of age, it's some gal who is 'fighting to be equal.'
- For every single little point made, everyone bursts into song.
- In animated direct-to-video sequels, the hero has a whiny, bratty teenage kid who runs away because they can't have what they want. The hero is turned into the typical overprotective father (a far cry from their original character) and the heroine's character is destroyed, pushed into the background and voiced by Jodi Benson.

In live action:

- In action flicks, when the (usually male) protagonist fights crime/arch-enemies/whatever, he also has to deal with issues with his girlfriend/wife and ends up rescuing her, and then they live happily ever after. (How realistic!)
- In some films which are 'based on a true events,' there is a sappy fictional romantic subplot which ends in tragedy (e.g. 'Titanic' and 'Pearl Harbor').
- The person who needs rescuing is almost always female.
- In Christmas films, it's usually about Santa getting into some ridiculous, painfully unfunny situation which involves cheap slapstick and toilet humour, followed up by a slapped-on tacky, sentimental anti-consumerist message. Lovely!