Running Gag/Film/Animated Films

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Examples of Running Gags in Animated Films include:

  • In the Aardman Animation/DreamWorks film Flushed Away, several slugs regularly appear in the movie to whistle and sing a song of some kind, usually pertaining to events that have just transpired. Originally they were to only appear in one scene, but DreamWorks execs insisted that they be slotted in at every opportunity simply to keep the laughs going if there hadn't been any big jokes in a while.
  • And in Disney/Pixar's Up, we ha--SQUIRREL!!
  • Kung Fu Panda: The ridiculously-long flight of steps leading up to the Jade Palace, and Po's inability to climb them without collapsing in exhaustion. It even precedes his Crowning Moment of Awesome fight with Tai Lung. Interestingly, when he realizes that Shifu may be dying, we have a cut from him in the town square to him in the temple, never showing how he got up the steps so fast. Either the writers decided the gag had run long enough, or having become the true Dragon Warrior put Po above this sort of thing. Or it did give him some very cool abilities… like superspeed, or teleportation…?
    • Though he does struggle a bit when he goes up the steps one last time.
      • Could be as a sign on how far he's gone from "kung fu fan boy" to "kung fu master". First, he's on his back just halfway. Second, he make it to the top, only needing to rest a bit on the wall. Last, well…
  • The Aladdin sequel has "You'd be surprised what you can live through" pop up many times.
    • Also, "_____ is such a strong word."
  • How to Train Your Dragon has many.
    • Gobber's advice can never come out right.
    • Ruffnut and Tuffnut argue, and get in trouble with a dragon.
    • Tuffnut getting hurt and then screaming 'Oh I'm hurt! I am very much hurt!' as he runs away.
    • 'Thank you for summing that up.'
    • 'You just gestured to all of me!'
    • 'Night fury! Get down!'

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