Mind Over Matter: Difference between revisions

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It's also very light in terms of Special Effects demand (no need for expensive fire effects or CG energy projectiles, just use some strings or an air-cannon to blast stuff around) making it popular with Live Action shows. See [[Coconut Superpowers]].

That said, telekinesis being such a powerful ability, it will sometimes fall prey to some [[Kryptonite Factor]] that is more or less entirely arbitrary. [[Story Breaker Power|Or not]]...

That said, telekinesis being such a powerful ability, it will sometimes fall prey to some [[Kryptonite Factor]] that is more or less entirely arbitrary. [[Story-Breaker Power|Or not]]...

The major limitation with telekinesis seems to be its scalability: it is almost always harder to lift a heavy object than a light one, and a person with this superpower will often be seen to be visibly straining to accomplish it, as if their telekinesis takes the form of a long but entirely physical "invisible arm" with all the normal physical limitations that normally implies. Pushing this ability past its limit often leads to a [[Psychic Nosebleed]] or even passing out. Nevertheless, it is [[Fridge Logic|very rarely used]] up to [[Story Breaker Power|its full potential]], as almost every fight would become trivial if it ended with a telekinetic neck-snap.

The major limitation with telekinesis seems to be its scalability: it is almost always harder to lift a heavy object than a light one, and a person with this superpower will often be seen to be visibly straining to accomplish it, as if their telekinesis takes the form of a long but entirely physical "invisible arm" with all the normal physical limitations that normally implies. Pushing this ability past its limit often leads to a [[Psychic Nosebleed]] or even passing out. Nevertheless, it is [[Fridge Logic|very rarely used]] up to [[Story-Breaker Power|its full potential]], as almost every fight would become trivial if it ended with a telekinetic neck-snap.

For whatever reason, telekinesis seems to be more common for series outside the usual superhero tradition: classic [[The Cape]]-style superheroes rarely have this as a power, except in very specialized forms.

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* For an extreme end of power, see Tetsuo Shima in the manga and anime ''[[Akira (Manga)|Akira]]''.

* The vectors of Diclonii in ''[[Elfen Lied (Manga)|Elfen Lied]]'' is effectively a very limited form of telekinesis. Ironically, despite LITERALLY being invisible arms, Diclonii never seem to suffer from increased stress when moving heavier objects.

* Asagami Fujino in the third ''[[Kara no Kyoukai (Literature)|Kara no Kyoukai]]'' book/movie can do a very specific form; she can bend things. It doesn't sound like much until you add in the fact that she can do this to anything she thinks is remotely bendable -- in particular, ''human limbs''. At the end of her story as she is cornered by Shiki, {{spoiler|she gets a [[Desperation Attack]] upgrade in the form of boosted power and [[My Significance Sense Is Tingling|clairvoyance]], which removes her one weakness -- having to actually [[Evil Eye|see the thing in order to bend it]]. Asagami to suspension bridge: '''''[[Awesome (Anime)|BEND!!!!!!]]'''''}}.

* Asagami Fujino in the third ''[[Kara no Kyoukai (Literature)|Kara no Kyoukai]]'' book/movie can do a very specific form; she can bend things. It doesn't sound like much until you add in the fact that she can do this to anything she thinks is remotely bendable -- in particular, ''human limbs''. At the end of her story as she is cornered by Shiki, {{spoiler|she gets a [[Desperation Attack]] upgrade in the form of boosted power and [[My Significance Sense Is Tingling|clairvoyance]], which removes her one weakness -- having to actually [[Evil Eye|see the thing in order to bend it]]. Asagami to suspension bridge: '''''[[Awesome/Anime|BEND!!!!!!]]'''''}}.

** According to the novel, and somewhat implied in the anime, she actually has two powers. She can rotate things clockwise... and can rotate them counterclockwise. The bending happens when she does both at once. Also, she completely averts the "harder to move heavier objects" aspect. If she can imagine a fulcrum, she can rotate it.

* It was revealed that Il Palazzo can do this at the end of the ''[[Excel Saga (Anime)|Excel Saga]]'' anime, along with various other psychic powers.

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* In ''[[Dragonball Z]]'', Chiaotzu has shown telekinetic abilities. Also, Guldo, of the [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|Ginyu Force]], uses this as well. And so do Frieza (lifting the Dragon Balls), Cell (building his arena) and the Kaioshin (making the super hard metal float).

* In ''[[Trigun]]'', Legato often demonstrates that in a world where one has generally pull a trigger to kill someone, the ability to break bones and control people with thoughs is rather potent.

* In [[Tiger and Bunny]], [[Goo Goo Godlike|the Sternbild mayor's]] ''[[Goo Goo Godlike|baby]]'' son, [[Goo Goo Godlike|Sam]], has this as his NEXT power. Young as he is, at the moment he only causes things to break or fly into the air when he cries. Even so, it was enough to spoil the plans of a trio of kidnappers who thought they were kidnapping a pair of harmless, non-superpowered, children.

* In [[Tiger and Bunny]], [[Goo-Goo Godlike|the Sternbild mayor's]] ''[[Goo-Goo Godlike|baby]]'' son, [[Goo-Goo Godlike|Sam]], has this as his NEXT power. Young as he is, at the moment he only causes things to break or fly into the air when he cries. Even so, it was enough to spoil the plans of a trio of kidnappers who thought they were kidnapping a pair of harmless, non-superpowered, children.

* One episode of [[Suzumiya Haruhi]] had this as one of Nagato's powers.

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* This power, while hardly a classic power of [[The Cape]], is nonetheless extremely common in comics.

* One [[Retcon]] of [[Superman (Comic Book)|Superman]]'s abilities proclaimed that all his super-powers were telekinesis or another [[Psychic Powers|psychic power]]; this became explicit with Superboy, a [[Half-Human Hybrid|part-Kryptonian part-human]] clone with "[[The Same but More|tactile telekinesis]]", allowing him to telekinetically manipulate anything he could touch. Then it got [[Retcon|RetConned]] away again...

** The powers of the [[Future Me Scares Me|Superman Conner Kent]] from the [[Bad Future]] of the ''Titans Tomorrow'' story arc are upgraded from tactile telekinesis to full-blown telekinesis in the interim, which pretty much gives him [[Combo Platter Powers|the combined power of]] [[Superpower Lottery|Superman and Phoenix]].

** The powers of the [[Future Me Scares Me|Superman Conner Kent]] from the [[Bad Future]] of the ''Titans Tomorrow'' story arc are upgraded from tactile telekinesis to full-blown telekinesis in the interim, which pretty much gives him [[Combo-Platter Powers|the combined power of]] [[Superpower Lottery|Superman and Phoenix]].

* The ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]]'''s Jean Grey is one superhero with general-purpose telekinesis (as are her various [[Superpowerful Genetics|genetic descendants]]). Initially, the Phoenix power was simply this at its highest level -- rearranging any and all matter down to the sub-molecular level.

** Of her descendants it is the [[Tangled Family Tree|various Nate Greys]] who top out the scale. Nate "Cable" Grey once had a fight where he and his opponent repeatedly destroyed an entire city but telekinetically rebuilt it so fast that people watching didn't notice. Cable's powers, though, are usually mostly devoted to stopping the techno-organic virus that would otherwise overtake his body, hence his reliance on [[BFG|BFGs]] for most of his history. Unencumbered, his powers at their height are easily movieverse Phoenix class.

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== Fan Works ==

* {{spoiler|Haruhi}} takes on this in ''[[Kyon Big Damn Hero (Fanfic)|Kyon Big Damn Hero]]'' in order to have fun with supernatural powers without causing total havoc.

* {{spoiler|Haruhi}} takes on this in ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero (Fanfic)|Kyon Big Damn Hero]]'' in order to have fun with supernatural powers without causing total havoc.

* Ringo in ''[[With Strings Attached (Fanfic)|With Strings Attached]]''. Extraordinarily powerful, inasmuch as, by using his TK in conjunction with his [[My Significance Sense Is Tingling|mindsight]], he has incredibly precise control and can reach at least a hundred miles with it. It does not tire him out to use it. His upper level of strength is not known, but he can toss people around and move them very rapidly. One limitation he has is that he must constantly concentrate on an item to keep it moving, and his concentration fails after 5-7 seconds, or if he's terrified, or if he's being jounced around. Still, he can do a lot in 5-7 seconds.

** Isn't it a good thing he's an [[Actual Pacifist]]?

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'''Wesley:''' Ah. Yes. The power of moving things with one's mind. ([[Beat]]) That's... pretty much it. The power of... moving... I-I'm better with demons, really. }}

* In the [[Supernatural (TV)|Supernatural]] episode "Nightmare", Max Miller, one of Azazel's special children, could lift objects with his mind. Demons and angels have this power too. In the later seasons, Sam and Dean spend a lot of time being slammed into walls because of it, especially when the guy doing the slamming is Crowley.

* Cally from ''[[Blake's Seven ~~(TV)~~|Blakes Seven]]'', a telepath in canon, manifested it once under conditions of EXTREME stress, and (as far as this troper can recall) not entirely voluntarily.

* Cally from ''[[Blake's Seven|Blakes Seven]]'', a telepath in canon, manifested it once under conditions of EXTREME stress, and (as far as this troper can recall) not entirely voluntarily.

* As if [[~~Doctor Who (TV)|~~Doctor Who]]'s [[Paranoia Fuel|Weeping Angels]] didn't have enough powers, they also can apparently use a version of telekinesis to short out lights. While this might not sound very deadly, you have to remember that being unable to see an Angel even for a split second easily gives it enough time to kill you (and if there isn't a light source, you're going to be blind for longer than a split second). They can reach a person standing several feet away and kill them in the time it takes for someone to blink, after all...

* As if [[Doctor Who]]'s [[Paranoia Fuel|Weeping Angels]] didn't have enough powers, they also can apparently use a version of telekinesis to short out lights. While this might not sound very deadly, you have to remember that being unable to see an Angel even for a split second easily gives it enough time to kill you (and if there isn't a light source, you're going to be blind for longer than a split second). They can reach a person standing several feet away and kill them in the time it takes for someone to blink, after all...

** Possiblly this is 'just' their ability to feed of various forms of energy in the local environment.

* A natural ability of Vardians in ''[[Tracker (TV)|Tracker]]''. Often accompanied by a flick of the head in the direction the item was being thrown.

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== Video Games ==

* In the game ''[[Psi Ops the Mindgate Conspiracy (Video Game)|Psi Ops the Mindgate Conspiracy]]'', this is one of the first powers Nick Scryer "[[Gameplay Guided Amnesia|remembers]]". Unfortunately, as is the case with just about every single power Scryer remembers in the game, one of your enemies is much more proficient at it than the PC; in this case, Edgar Barrett spends his boss battle hurling fuel tankers at you.<br />However, through the use of cheats and secret costumes, you can match his telekinesis, and cut his bossfight wonderfully short by smashing his fat face in with one of his own 5 ton tankers. And, of course, you are then free to use it throughout the rest of the game [[Video Game Cruelty Potential|however you may choose]].

* In the game ''[[Psi Ops the Mindgate Conspiracy (Video Game)|Psi Ops the Mindgate Conspiracy]]'', this is one of the first powers Nick Scryer "[[Gameplay-Guided Amnesia|remembers]]". Unfortunately, as is the case with just about every single power Scryer remembers in the game, one of your enemies is much more proficient at it than the PC; in this case, Edgar Barrett spends his boss battle hurling fuel tankers at you.<br />However, through the use of cheats and secret costumes, you can match his telekinesis, and cut his bossfight wonderfully short by smashing his fat face in with one of his own 5 ton tankers. And, of course, you are then free to use it throughout the rest of the game [[Video Game Cruelty Potential|however you may choose]].

* Likewise, you get telekinesis in ''[[Second Sight]]''. At first, you can only move small objects with it. Once you upgrade it, though, you can force choke and throw enemies around like rag dolls. Another power involves throwing Mind Bullets, which may be a separate form of TK.

* Telekinesis is also one of the many powers available to Raz, the psychic prodigy protagonist of ''[[Psychonauts (Video Game)|Psychonauts]]''. In the beginning, Raz begins with a fist of psychic force to use in fights and a "thought bubble" that he bounces off of to [[Jump Physics|double-jump]]. After he earns the Telekinesis merit badge, he can use the fist to lob objects and enemies through the air (and into walls). After he earns the Levitation merit badge, he can ride his thought bubble to bounce incredibly high and use it like a cartoon umbrella to slow his descent.

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* Plenty of pins in ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'' let you throw around any traffic barriers, bicycles, cars, or the like that happen to be lying around. Joshua has similar attacks, such as using his cell phone to drop soda machines on enemies.

* The Psychokinesis ability in ''[[Destroy All Humans]]'', which lets you fling around humans like the apes that they are, and when you get strong enough, toss around cars and [[Humongous Mecha|mechs]] with impunity.

* The Telekinetic Grab spell in ''[[Runescape]]'', which lets the player take objects that are visible but not necessarily accessible (e.g. behind an [[Insurmountable Waist Height Fence]]). The [[Dishing Out Dirt|Earth spells]] also resemble telekinesis by magicking up boulders out of the ground and hurtling them at opponents.

* The Telekinetic Grab spell in ''[[Runescape]]'', which lets the player take objects that are visible but not necessarily accessible (e.g. behind an [[Insurmountable Waist-Height Fence]]). The [[Dishing Out Dirt|Earth spells]] also resemble telekinesis by magicking up boulders out of the ground and hurtling them at opponents.

* In ''[[Ghost Trick]]'' Sissel uses the titular tricks to move inanimate objects. {{spoiler|Yomiel can control living beings like [[People Puppets|puppets]] with a similar technique}}

* ''[[Kingdom Hearts II (Video Game)|Kingdom Hearts II]]'' introduced the concept of Drive Forms, which allowed Sora to fuse with his teammates (excepting Limit Form) to temporarily gain new abilities in battle, one of which granting him the ability to wield a second Keyblade. Two of the Drive Forms, Master Form and Final Form, involve him handling at least one Keyblade telekinetically.

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* In an episode of ''[[Almost Naked Animals]]'', Howie gets a remote control stuck to his head. He gains telekinetic powers after it gets wet while he tries to remove it.

* Used in its original meaning in ''[[Batman Beyond]]'', when a villain turns out to be nigh-invulnerable purely by ''convincing himself that he is''. Apparently, all you need when you're falling from a high-rise is to imagine that you can't get hurt, and you'll be fine. Bruce utters this trope's title.

** [[Psychic Powers]] are involved as well as [[~~Ninety Percent~~ of Your Brain]].

** [[Psychic Powers]] are involved as well as [[90% of Your Brain]].

* In the 1973/74 ''[[Super Friends]]'' episode "The Balloon People", the title characters have modest telekinetic power. When acting together, they can move a doghouse.

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[[Category:Urban Fantasy Tropes]]

[[Category:Mind Over Matter]]

[[Category:Trope]]