Breaking the Fourth Wall/Western Animation: Difference between revisions

* In ''[[Mulan]] II'', Shang walks away and Yao asks Mulan, "What's his problem?" When Mulan walks away, he asks the screen, "What's ''her'' problem?" Then he asks, "Who am I talking to?"

* ''[[The Lion King]]'', in the middle of "Hakuna Matata".

'''Simba:''' ''(also looks, with a perplexed expression on his face)'' }}

* One third-season episode of ''[[Re Boot]]'' featured Enzo and Dot hiding behind tombstones as a player looking like Ash (from ''[[Evil Dead]]'') massacred zombies and ghosts in a game. They both express horror at the (offscreen) carnage and wonder what kind of sick, demented person would ever play a game like that...and both turn and glare at the camera.

** "Will you leave off it already? He's not even in this episode!"

** Donatello trying to bring April up to speed on the episode so far:

'''April''': It's your show. }}

** A recurring moment whenever a dangerous stunt is or being performed, mostly Raphael will tell kids [[Don't Try This At Home|not to try this at home]].

** A very unusual double example in the episode ''Return of the Shredder''. April finishes a news broadcast by saying "Whoever you are, thanks." then winks at the camera, leading to this hilarious exchange.

'''Splinter''': Age has its privileges. *Winks at camera* }}

* Used straight, and [[Lampshade Hanging|topped with a turtle themed green lampshade]] in ''[[Turtles Forever]]''. When 80's version Raphael keeps breaking the fourth wall, other characters pause with confused looks. The third time he does it, [[The Dragon]] gets angry and starts shaking him. "Why do you keep doing that? Who are you talking to?! '''THERE'S NO ONE THERE!'''"

* In the [[Superhero Episode]] of ''[[The Fairly Odd Parents]], Timmy and the Crimson Chin explain to the Nega-Chin his existence is controlled by the comic book writer. The villain decides to confront him.

* Double [[Fourth Wall]] smashed--by ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]''. In "Hog Tide", to keep the Planeteers' minds off the hurricane that's doing a number on Hope Island, Gaia tells a tall tale about fictional heroes based on the Planeteers. As usual, the fictional heroes combine their powers to form Captain Planet, and asked who he is. Captain Planet sings his own [[Ending Theme]].

** In an early episode, there is a normal & reverse Fourth Wall smash from the other side. This episode was the first time the Planeteers faced Zarm. After Zarm is sent away, the Planeteers talk about aliens and that people had to share the Earth. Wheeler states, "We get the hint. Your turn." A mystery voice says Captain Planet's catchphrase, "The Power is Yours" ending the show.

* In the Japanese [[Gag Dub]] of ''[[Beast Wars]]'', Rattrap would occasionally comment on what audience members were eating.

** In "Ed Overboard", Eddy is being sworn in as a temporary member of the Urban Rangers, and remarks, "I'd swear, but [[Media Watchdog|standards]] won't let me."

** Kevin gets one in as well in "For Your Eds Only". After the Eds tie him to a tree so he doesn't blab about Eddy stealing Sarah's diary, Eddy shouts "[[The Terminator|Hasta la vista, baby!]]" and Double D apologizes before following, ending with "C'est la vie!"

** In "Run, Ed, Run" the fourth wall is literally smashed to pieces when the Eds are thrown into the sky - and hit it. The "sky" then breaks and falls away to reveal television static.

** ''[[Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy]]'''s relationship with the fourth wall seems to be something between a regular TV show and [[No Fourth Wall]]. The best way to think of it is a show where Peach Creek is a regular town and some TV director decided to make a documentary about their neighborhood. He tells them not to do anything they wouldn't do if the camera wasn't trained on them but from time to time, they will comment about their status in the show, which doesn't get edited out because it doesn't break the flow of the show (in other words they're still being themselves).

* Staying with Jones, the entirety of his Daffy Duck short ''[[Duck Amuck]]'' is devoted to this very idea, with Daffy being tormented throughout by a mystery director. Daffy spends the entire short talking to the director who is constantly changing the scenery, props, and even Daffy himself with the use of a paintbrush. And in the end, the director turns out to be Bugs Bunny!

* ''[[Animaniacs]]'' features this on several occasions. Example: Wakko, dressed as a doctor in a Russian-themed segment, remarks of his patient: "I think he'll need some Anastasia." Dot turns to the camera and says "Historical reference. Ask your parents." Lampshaded in the episode "Hello Nice Warners," where they're asked who they're talking to.

'''Slappy:''' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v{{=}}HNy4iSev97Q#t{{=}}3m40s ...Don't tell him - he might crack.] }}

** Really just one of many examples of how ''Animaniacs'' took most of ''Looney Tunes''' running gags and did them to wretched and hilarious excess... another example being anvil-dropping.

** ''[[South Park]]'' has an intermittent tendency to lean on the fourth wall. Example 1: In "Christmas Critters", Stan is arguing with the narrator of the story over the ridiculous plot (the narrator wins) (although considering Cartman was telling the story this could be considered a slight subversion), Example 2: Kyle deconstructs the entire episode structure in "Butt Out", trying to get everyone else to realize that they go through the same formula every week, and bemoaning the fact that he's always the one to deliver the Aesop... Look, it's [[Trey Parker and Matt Stone]]. There's gonna be leaning on the fourth wall.

* ''[[Space Goofs]]'' Christmas episode. The aliens were about to blow Santa Claus sky high with firecrackers as he was climbing down the chimney when the characters give a PSA about fireworks safety.

'''Santa:''' ...and happy holiday! }}

* In a first-season episode of ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'', Dr. Octopus, enraged by one of Spider-Man's signature glib quips, asks Spider-Man if he ever shuts up. Spider-Man responds by saying that the fans require a certain amount of quippage. Since hardly anyone ever sees him fight or hears these quips besides his adversaries, it's clear he means the audience watching the show.

* In the episode of ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'', "Missing Identity", SpongeBob retraces his steps, and Patrick has to say hi to him to make it complete, one of the times, we get this, even though SpongeBob is the only person around, and he was already leaving.

** Also in the episode 'Wet Painters', SpongeBob is going to start painting the wall. The next scene shows a time card, with the narrator mentioning "One Hour Later". Cut back to SpongeBob, who is still not starting to paint the wall. Another time card is shown, the narrator says "Two Hours Later", and yet again SpongeBob is still not starting to paint. Another time card, the narrator says "Three Hours Later", and then Patrick is shown to be the one handling the time cards and he tells SpongeBob to move along because he's all out of time cards.

** In an episode that [[No Fourth Wall|practically centered on fourth wall breakage]], Patrick broke the fourth wall ''again'' in the episode 'Krusty Krab Training Video'. He acknowledges the Narrator several times throughout the episode, believing that the Narrator is the Krusty Krab's ceiling or a ghost. SpongeBob also addresses the Narrator a lot, asking if he can make a Krabby Patty multiple times.

* Pete does this in ''[[Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers]]'' to comment on a [[Running Gag]].

* ''[[Superfriends]]'' (1973) episode "Dr. Pelagian's War". Dr. Pelagian has captured Wendy and Marvin and is planning his next move.

'''Wendy:''' Uh uh. [Looks at the camera and the audience] Do you? }}

* ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' The episode "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich." Robin trips a thug on a table by yanking the tablecloth. He then says "I love that trick, but I can never get it to work" unmistakably to the camera.

* The Narrator of ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' commonly acknowledged himself as the narrator of the show, interacted with the characters in almost every closing narration, and was often in on the show's gags. One particular episode, "Simian Says," had Mojo Jojo kidnap the narrator and take his place, causing the girls to rob banks and commit crimes for him and nearly destroy each other through his narration.

* ''[[Muppet Babies]]'' broke the fourth wall a couple of times in the episode "Good Clean Fun":

'''Piggy:''' No, Animal, the show's not over yet!<br />

'''Animal:''' Sorry.<br />

* "[[Little Bill]], who are you talking to?"

* ''[[Beetlejuice (animation)|Beetlejuice]]'' the cartoon does this quite a few times. Most often, it's BJ himself, but in "The Wizard of Ooze" the Wicked Witch of the West also broke it quite thoroughly.

'''Witch:''' Curse that Lion's character design! Why couldn't he have been drawn with some eyes?! }}

* A staple in ''[[The Weekenders]]'' when Tino tells the audience what's happening this weekend and its outcome in the beginning and the end of an episode.

* ''[[Perfect Hair Forever]]'' has a moment when Cat Man is forcibly pulled by Coiffio into a boat. When it is forcibly rocked he turns to the camera and insists with increasing anxiety that they go to commercials.

* In [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAmBTo4m9o8&feature=related this] episode of ''[[Darkstalkers]]'', Anakaris breaks the fourth wall by turning to the camera and saying, "You know, I hate it when my bandages get wet because they break!"

* ''[[Garfield and Friends]]'' indulged in this a number of times. One episode had Garfield waking up in the wrong cartoon, a ''[[Mazinger Z]]''-esque action cartoon. A U.S. Acres short had Wade, freaking out over a cryptic message warning that "The bunny rabbits is coming", turn to the audience and shout "Why are you just sitting there, watching TV? Don't you know that the bunny rabbits is coming!"

** Speaking of which, the LONGEST FOURTH WALL BREAKING was Axel in "Sidekicked", when he does his speech about that he is a sidekick (cue to rapid falls of the boulder crushing Taz.)

* In the Ireland episode of ''[[Yogi's Treasure Hunt]]'', Yogi and pals are trapped in a room filling with water as it goes to a commercial. When the show resumes, they're on the roof of the building safe and sound.

'''Snooper:''' Yeah, take Huck's word for it - it was a doozy! }}

* ''[[Young Justice (animation)|Young Justice]]'' version of the Joker is not the most well received version of the character, however he, like his comic iteration knows he is in an entertainment media. Episode 14, features not one, but two instances of fourth wall shattering. In the first he actually [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshades]] his very appearance by letting the viewer know he is aware of just how surprised they are at his appearance, he then does a [[Screen Tap]] to make sure everyone is paying attention when the Injustice League gives their demands.