Thunder Shock



A great shock is emphasized in the background with metaphorical lightning. As a gag, the character might be literally shocked as a result.

Not to be confused with Lightning Glare or Beam of Enlightenment. Or Dramatic Thunder, which is... dramatic. And thunder. For a more direct metaphor of the effects of being struck by actual lightning (or other electric surges), see X Ray Sparks.

Also not to be confused with Pikachu's signature attack.

Anime and Manga

 * Many times in Lucky Star.
 * Sakaki from Azumanga Daioh, overwhelmed by the cuteness of a photo of kittens.
 * Same series, when Kaorin and Chihiro discover that Chiyo not only makes her own lunch, but is actually quite good at it.
 * Happened to Misaki in Kaichou wa Maid Sama, when Hinata chooses "Misa-chan" in a photo op prize should he win the Sweets eating event in the Maid Latte.
 * This happened to Setsuna in Negima Second Season when she made a particularly bad word-play joke (uncharacteristic of her in that she made a joke at all). She apologized for it after the lightning cleared.
 * Used often by the members of the Ouran High School Host Club, especially by the highly theatrical Idiot King, Tamaki.
 * Amusingly enough in the anime the resulting lightning bolt will actually hit Tamaki resulting in X Ray Sparks more often than not.
 * In the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Striker S supplementary manga, privates Alto and Lucino gush over a cute, floating, child-like mage in a military uniform... shortly before said mage floats over to them and introduces herself as Sergeant Major Reinforce Zwei, their superior officer. Cue Thunder Shock.
 * Used interchangeably with the Beam of Enlightenment in Ranma One Half, both for comedic and serious purposes, but mostly the former.
 * Scar, Serial Killer on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge in Fullmetal Alchemist, has this reaction when he sees Xiao Mei, a tiny panda.

Light Novels

 * To Aru Majutsu no Index: Index and Aisa (plus a Color Failure), when Komoe starts happily talking about how Touma was a naughty boy, and how "various things" happened. Though in this case it's more like a Thunder Rage: "Another one?" "That bastard."

Visual Novels

 * Shows up in a Freak Out in Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney. 's, to be specific.
 * Experienced by both Nagisa and her theatrical mother, Sanae, Clannad. In Nagisa's case, her antennae-hair is temporarily withered as a result.

Web Comics

 * Exploited in Tsunami Channel, with one comic having the characters intentionally saying shocking (untrue) things (i.e. "I'm pregnant!") in order to repeatedly electrocute another character.

Western Animation
"Timmy: Did anyone else notice the lightning?"
 * Expertly lampshaded in Dexters Laboratory with both Mandark and his Sister Olga.
 * Happens often in The Fairly Odd Parents with Vicky.