Cuteness Proximity: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

''The closer a character is to something cute, the more likely [[Cuteness Overload]] will happen. Get close enough and, if the character has any susceptibility to [[Cuteness Overload]] at all, it is certain to happen.''

Dignity goes flying out the window. Often strikes [[The Comically Serious]], helping to make them seem [[Not So Above It All]]. Also a good way to show that a [[Badass]] character is [[Pet the Dog|a big softie at heart]].

 

 

{{examples}}

== Advertising ==

* Several years back, there was an ad campaign for Beggin' Strips dog treats that had several people giving the treats to their pets. As their dogs cutely ate them, they basically dissolved into baby-talk and cute overload.

* A woman and man do this in a McCain commercial... to a bag of baby ''peas''. Cue raspberries and the inevitable cooing. Ick.

 

** The scene where [[Stoic Spectacles|Ishida]] [[The Comically Serious|Uryuu]] is ''giggling'' over a butterfly that randomly flew by. Surprisingly [[Genius Ditz|not as out of character as one might think.]] Granted, he's being held in a prison cell at the time, so it would have been nice to see something like a butterfly.

** Rukia shows her love of bunnies again in chapter 464, when she has to fight {{spoiler|Riruka}} in a place full of plushies. ''Several'' of these are bunny-shaped. [http://www.mangareader.net/bleach/464/15 This happens.] And in a subversion... in 469 this proves to be a ''flaw''. {{spoiler|Rukia cannot really concentrate in her fight due to the adorableness of the plushies, which gives Riruka a chance to attack.}}

** Roy Mustang apparently had this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dMQ7m9oQ0 occur over dogs.] Although, he states that he likes dogs because you can "Be a jerk to them and they won't complain and they never once beg for a paycheck!"

** Also, Al's reaction to kittens, while in character, probably counts, especially as [[Gentle Giant|he looks scary]].

** Maes Hughes was regularly seen bragging about his cute daughter Elicia (After being exposed to her cuteness, Winry has similar symptoms)

** And about his wife Gracia, too, although less frequently.

** Winry has exactly the same reactions at the sight of well-done automails and mechanical supplies. The start of episode 11 of ''Brotherhood'' shows this very well.

** Sakaki, over pretty much anything. Unfortunately the animals involved [[Animals Hate Him|REALLY don't appreciate it]]. Also, she can be internally overwhelmed by all the cuteness, but all the other girls can see is a blushing [[Huge Schoolgirl]].

** Male [[Tsundere]] England is often the [[Only Sane Man]]. But he's got the ability to see supernatural creatures, and when a sweet-tempered one approaches him, [http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/5087111.html his deredere side arises and he acts very gentle to them]. And since he's the only one who can see them, his friends/rivals/enemies [[Cassandra Truth|think he has finally gone off the deep end.]] (Though [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/kawaiipinay/scans/fantasy.gif France's reaction] when he ''does'' get to see them is ''priceless'') He also gets like this when around/thinking of baby America.

** [[Crazy Awesome]] badass Prussia falls victim to this when he finds a baby chick on his head, commenting on how soft and fluffy it is. His little brother Germany, normally [[The Stoic]], has a weak spot for dogs.

** Miu Fuurinji and Kisara Nanjo absolutely ''adore'' cats. Kisara especially to the extent that she adapts cat-based movements into her Tae Kwon Do fighting style, which another character promptly calls Nya Kwon Do.

** [[Lady of War|Shigure]] also had this reaction... to a tank.

** Marilyn, a one-off character in the episode "Battling a Cute Drama", to a truly ridiculous extent. Brock is annoyed to no end by it.

** The first thing Ash ever said about Pikachu was "It's so cute!" (He was then promptly electrocuted.)

*** Iris has a Cuteness Proximity over Pikachu when they first met. She is so busy [[Genki Girl|genki-ing out]] over the thing that she doesn't notice [[And Call Him George|she was holding him too hard]]. That is, until he got his point across in his own [[Harmless Electrocution|inimitable fashion]].

*** She didn't have much luck with cute mons besides her partner... until Lenora's Lillipup showed up, all too happy to be played with before battle. Even Ash fell victim to the little puppy!

*** [[Dumb Blonde|Bianca]] has her moments as well.

** Kagami admits that she gets this way around goldfish. Konata immediately mocks her for it.

** Also, Konata and virtual pets.

** Also, Yutaka and Minami's dog, Cherry... know what? A LOT of examples are found in this show.

** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpVjvzj7Hbs#t=3m58s The Kyuun Spark (3:58)].

** Zoro in general appears to have soft spot for cute things, especially Chopper.

* Examined in ''Super Cruel and Terrible Tales of Mangaka''. A young mangaka is very passionate about gory, gruesome manga, and is very, very happy in terms of success. However, when his wife gives birth to a daughter, this trope settles in, and the quality of his manga fades and eventually gets canceled. ("I don't need status or glory, or money or life, as long as I have Nunuko!")

* Yuiko from the manga ''Beast Master'' takes this [[Up to Eleven]] whenever she sees a cute animal, such as a dog or a cat, and even birds.

 

== Comic Books ==

* In an issue of ''[[She Hulk]]'', the title character visits a prison where supervillains are shrunk down before they are incarcerated. She starts cooing when she sees the tiny Wrecking Crew.

 

== Fan Works ==

** Marik, as shown in Episode 31:

** And later in Episode 43 even his evil alter ego, Melvin, is shown to have a soft spot for the bird.

 

* In ''[[Shrek]]'', the [[Genre Savvy]] Puss in Boots is [[Invoked Trope|fully aware of this trope]] and is [[Deliberately Cute Child|quick to use it to his advantage]]. See [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LbumSMoQK8&feature=related Shrek's reaction to Puss in Boots] in ''Shrek 2''. Keep in mind this is the guy who has admitted that the eye jelly is quite good on toast. Yeah. Puss is that good.

** This backfires when he tries to use it {{spoiler|when he and Donkey [[Freaky Friday Flip|have their bodies exchanged]] in ''Shrek the Third''}}.

 

== Literature ==

** Nanny Ogg as well. She does this with babies (many of which, in Lancre at least, are her descendants) and with her evil one-eyed demon cat Greebo.

** Due to male and female dwarfs looking alike, Sam Vimes is still not sure how many of each he employs. Until his infant son is brought to the Watch House, and half of them can't help but fawn over him.

* An entry in ''Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul'' features the author (a new cat owner) fearing she's become "one of ''those people''" who use baby talk on their pets. Naturally she succumbs to it in the end.

* French writer and journalist [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Beauvais Robert Beauvais] provided a humorous study of the language used by dog-owners, which he dubbed "''le kiskose chien-chien''" ("the doggy-doggy whatchaspeak"), in ''Le Français kiskose'' (1975).

 

== Live-Action TV ==

** A minor [[Running Gag]] has the guys react to any dog appearing in the movie they're watching by cooing "Puppy!" and trying to get its attention. Even if it's supposed to be the monster of the film.

** Kelso laughs at Elliot's attempts to be unfeminine by saying that as soon as the "stork comes calling" she'll be gushing "look at the baby!" like all of the other female doctors in OB/GYN and Pediatrics. She denies it, but when she actually sees the baby...

** The same thing happens in a later episode when she and her friend Melody are shrieking with joy (to such a degree that in J.D.'s fantasy they are actually blowing people away). Showing them a picture of Turk's daughter Izzy immediately turns their screams into "Aww"s.

* ''[[Soap]]''

** We're not exactly sure how to spell the string of gibberish that Burt Campbell spouted off whenever he was faced with his granddaughter Wendy. The letter "L" would definitely be used heavily, though.

** Burt's son Chuck&Bob (Chuck was a [[Ventriloquism|ventriloquist]]), who was Wendy's step-uncle, would stick Bob's head up close to hers and go "'''Weny'''WenyWenyWenyWeny! '''Weny'''WenyWenyWenyWeny!" while shaking his head back and forth. Chuck is usually slightly embarrassed by Bob's behavior.

* The straight-laced businessmen on ''[[The Fast Show]]'', who get soppy over calenders with cute puppies on them and excited when they're allowed into the cockpit of a plane.

** Spock is [[Sarcasm Mode|totally unaffected]] by Tribbles. [[Pet the Dog|He is only petting it]] [[Blatant Lies|because it is logical]]... What's everybody looking at?

** And cats. [[Suspiciously Specific Denial|He has no particular fondness for the creatures.]]

** Also, McCoy and babies... [[Baby Talk|Oochie woochie coochie coo!]]

** Speaking of cats, Data adores his pet cat Spot, despite being an "[[Tin Man|emotionless]]" android. Even he is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auHXg1H0bAQ&feature=related reduced to inane speech in the presence of his cat].

'''Worf:''' I will ''feed'' him. }}

** It seems to be sort of an unspoken rule in ''Star Trek''... If you're supposedly emotionless, you have to love small furry creatures, especially if they're cats.

'''Margaret:''' ''(reacts in traditional manner)'' }}

'''Roz:''' I do it with men, too. }}

* Dr. Talbot on ''[[Series/Mercy|Mercy]]'' reacts this way to a kitten she finds under a car. Her [[British Accents|accent]] makes it all the more hilarious.

** The Doctor does this sometimes with K-9.

** And {{spoiler|Ace's mum when she was still}} a baby.

** And at least once, [[Timey-Wimey Ball|himself]].

** And flying alien fish, to the point of talking [[Baby Talk]] to them.

** In "Closing Time", he gets Craig to bring his baby son with them when they investigate the alien-menace-of-the-week. His reasoning is that people are friendlier to someone with a baby, which is the same reason he travels with non-Time Lords.

"You're my baby!" }}

** One episode had Marshall, Lily, and (eventually) Robin, and Barney gushing over a baby's sock.

** Worse yet, the '''tea cup pig wrapped in a blanket'''. [http://tv.gawker.com/5483702/how-i-met-your-mother-delights-all-by-incorporating-teacup-pigs Just watch] Great music at the end there.

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xig_x0vaIIE Russel Howards' opinion on the subject.]

* Conan O'Brien had a wildlife expert on as a guest, and completely lost it when he brought out the coyote puppy. As the animal guy was trying to explain they're "less friendly than dogs and wolves" Conan was rubbing his cheek on it. Then it licked him. ''Then he licked it back.'' The bear cub did not quite elicit the same reaction, as it was trying to claw him to death...

* Even characters on ''[[Veronica Mars]]'' periodically [[Cuteness Overload|degenerate into a mushpile]] after they get to know the "ferocious pitbull" called Backup.

* The gruff and withdrawn Nathan Wournos from ''[[Haven]]'' pretty much turns into another person around babies.

 

== Music ==

 

 

== New Media ==

 

* Lucy the Bulldog. She was the pet of Triple H, and he walks on screen, picks her up above his head, and says something along the lines of "Schnuzzywuzzywoofle". Funnier than it sounds. Woulda been even funnier if Lucy hadn't been upstaging the guy HHH was theoretically feuding with, Chris Jericho.

* Happened again with Rene Dupree's poodle, Fifi. Ross would talk about how terrified the dog was (Dupree being a heel) but whenever the camera was on her, she'd be stood on her hind legs, happily being fed popcorn by fans.

 

== Tabletop Games ==

 

== Video Games ==

** [[Chinese Girl|Litchi]] tends to get a little ''[[Les Yay|too]]'' friendly when she's drunk. Put a girl near her and [http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120310230746/blazblue/images/thumb/4/4a/Noel_Vermillion_%28Calamity_Trigger%2C_Story_Mode_Illustration%2C_3%2C_Type_A%29.png/786px-Noel_Vermillion_%28Calamity_Trigger%2C_Story_Mode_Illustration%2C_3%2C_Type_A%29.png this] and [http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120310230746/blazblue/images/thumb/0/0e/Noel_Vermillion_%28Calamity_Trigger%2C_Story_Mode_Illustration%2C_3%2C_Type_B%29.png/786px-Noel_Vermillion_%28Calamity_Trigger%2C_Story_Mode_Illustration%2C_3%2C_Type_B%29.png this] and even [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100809145329/blazblue/images/thumb/c/c3/Tsubaki_Yayoi_%28Continuum_Shift%2C_Story_Mode_Illustration%2C_3%2C_Type_C%29.png/786px-Tsubaki_Yayoi_%28Continuum_Shift%2C_Story_Mode_Illustration%2C_3%2C_Type_C%29.png this] happens.

** Makoto's also on the receiving end of this trope in Arcade mode. Post-combat commentary from Ragna, Noel, Platinum, and Taokaka all show how irresistable her tail is to them.

** Also, in one episode of ''[[Fourth Wall Mail Slot|Teach Me, Miss Litchi!]]'':

'''Noel:''' ''([[Heart Symbol]])'' ... Aaaaah... }}

** The funniest example is a young Ragna descending into this upon meeting Jubei. This was ''before'' he became the pissed-off [[Good Is Not Nice]] [[Anti-Hero]] we know today, but still...

'''Marina:''' ... So cute... }}

'''Sten:''' I hate humans. }}

** And from the ''Awakening'' expansion, you can get a kitten as an inventory item. Click it, and Anders the mage coos "Whooo's a pretty kitty?" and similar bits of cuteness overload.

* In the ''[[Jak and Daxter]]'' series, [[Weasel Mascot|Daxter]] seems to have this effect on [[Genius Ditz|Tess]], and it later [[Interspecies Romance|gets upgraded to]] [[Sickeningly Sweethearts]].

'''Nameless One:''' Did you hear anything, cube hero? Neither did I! }}

 

 

== Web Animation ==

* Taken to extremes with [[Something Awful]]'s Flash Tub cartoon, [http://www.somethingawful.com/d/flash-tub/pony-puppy-cartoon.php Ponuppy, the pony-puppy.] His cuteness is so powerful that {{spoiler|it drives a woman to go on a murderous rampage.}}

* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx9PujLoqiI A puppy in Halo 3]''!

 

== Web Comics ==

** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0268.html Phil Rodriguez], upon seeing [[Formally-Named Pet|Mr. Scruffy]]... although Phil has a fairly low Intelligence and high Inanity of Statements to begin with.

** ''OotS'' also demonstrates that Cuteness Proximity [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0163.html is actually dangerous]. As is [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html making fun of it.]

** Belkar also falls victim to this trope, after a fashion, in that Mr. Scruffy is the ''only'' living thing he'll show any sort of empathy for. Though that's mainly because, as a freaking ''cat'', Mr. Scruffy is not only cute but also totally [[Badass]].

** Averted: Jeremy has no effect on Susan, [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-01-07 despite its attempts]. Goes into parody when [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-01-28 she invokes this trope].

** Not so averted with [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-06-11 the main shapeshifting character triggering this for Sarah with her full squirrel form].

** Marigold's Anthro-PC Momo (who looks like a little girl anime character) has this effect on Dora, as seen [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1412 in this strip]. Apparently its a common enough occurrence to warrant having a taser feature built in to shock them out of it.

** Hannelore has a [[Nightmare Fuel|different]] sort of [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1585 reaction] to cute felines. Hilarious since Mieville pulled the [[Cats Are Mean]] card in the previous strip.

* In ''[[The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob]]'', Jean remains [http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20081220.html surprisingly articulate] at her first exposure to a unicorn, but it [http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20081227.html doesn't last long.]

* In ''[[The Last Days of Foxhound]]'', Sniper Wolf's friendship with [[Intellectual Animal|Berthold]] may not be an example of this trope, but her [http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=409 reaction] to his [http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=417 half-dog pups] [http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=418 certainly is.]

'''Berthold:''' Fantastic, she's a grandma. }}

 

== Web Original ==

** Frankomatic has his cat interrupt him during several inopportune moments during his LP's, most notably in Donkey Kong GB:

** Although he is typically immune to overt cuteness (see his reaction to [[Full House]]), the Critic fell completely into this trope when watching ''[[Sesame Street]]'', due to his childhood love of that series. He can't even finish the review.

* [[Zomg Smells]] gives us [http://www.zomgsmells.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=35&products_id=75 Marmalade] [[Cute Kitten|Tabby]], which threatens to fall into this throughout, and finally does at the end.

* [[Board James]] (and his co-host, "Motherfucker Mike") had this response when he first saw the ''Doggie Doo'' dog.

 

== Western Animation ==

* Whenever [[The Flintstones|Fred Flintstone]], normally a rough-around-the-edges Ralph Kramden-type, sees his daughter Pebbles, he goes all sweet and cute [[Bumbling Dad]] and starts to gush about his "little Pebbly-poo".

* In ''[[The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack]]'', the dog in the episode "Rye Ruv Roo" {{spoiler|does a back flip}} and [[Big Word Shout|K'Nuckles]] {{spoiler|says "OOOH" in slow-motion}}.

** Weaponized by the natives of Thuban 9, or as we call them, {{spoiler|housecats}}. They intentionally utilize cuteness proximity to control the minds of the cast.

** When someone devolves into baby talk around Nibblonians they tend to get rather irritated, though if Nibbler is any clue some actually develop a taste for that kind of treatment.

'''Fry:''' Leela! Stop bonding and let's ''go''! [[It Makes Sense in Context|I got jelly in my underpants!]] }}

 

== Real Life ==

** Whenever someone brings a dog, he usually ends up holding it in his lap. It's likely that there have been more than a few [[Genre Savvy]] contestants who have taken advantage of this.

* [[Truth in Television]]: many people are quite fond of cute things.

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKhZzGR5tYU These] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52duiUapITQ&feature=related cute] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8-LF_lNESE tykes]. Takes [[Children Are Innocent]] to a whole new level.

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno This] video of two sea otters napping. While ''holding hands''. Judging by the cooing in the background, everyone around is in dangerously close proximity.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Rule of Cute]]

[[Category:Characterization Tropes]]

[[Category:Laws and Formulas]]

[[Category:Truth in Television]]