Signature Scene

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Do you know any other scene from this movie?

That one scene that everyone remembers from a movie or other media. When people think of the work, this is the one scene that they immediately think of, and may be the only reason to remember it at all. If the work is referenced in popular culture, it will reference this scene. Cover illustrations will often depict this scene. Any parodies will also center on this scene specifically.

There are many reasons that the scene may stand out. It may be...

No matter the reason, the Signature Scene is cemented in the minds of the general public. Your Mileage May Vary, as if you have actually seen the work yourself, there may be more scenes that you enjoy, or possibly stick out more in your mind than what people believe to be the Signature Scene.

Scenes which are little more than famous quotes should probably not be listed here. Those are examples of Signature Lines. Quotes do help keep a Signature Scene memorable, though.

Compare All There Is to Know About "The Crying Game", Everybody Remembers the Stripper, Watch It for the Meme, and Everybody Knows That.

Examples of Signature Scene include:

Anime and Manga

  • The "Last Shooting" scene from Mobile Suit Gundam, where Amuro uses the eponymous Mobile Suit to fire one last shot at the Zeong that ends up destroying both mecha.
    • This one is famous enough that it gets Homaged throughout the Gundam saga. In particular, Gundam F 90 recreates the scene almost exactly, while Gundam Wing has an example in The Movie that doesn't outwardly resemble the classic version but is still called "Last Shooting". Super Robot Wars got in on the homages with Z2 Hakai-hen, where the Nu Gundam's fin funnel attack ends with the Last Shooting.
  • Osaka's little moment with the knife in Azumanga Daioh.
  • Ippo's completed Dempsey Roll against Sendou at the end of the Japanese Featherweight Championship has become one of the most iconic scenes. It's had Shout Outs in games like Super Street Fighter IV and Tekken for starters.
  • Toothbrush.
  • In Cowboy Bebop, Julia getting shot, then falling to the ground in excruciating slow-mo is one of the most iconic moments in all of anime, not to mention a major Tear Jerker.
    • Bang.
      • The scene in "Ballad of Fallen Angels" where Spike throws a grenade through a shattered stained-glass window after Vicious tosses him through it.
  • Nice Boat.
  • Goku's first transformation into a Super Saiyan after Frieza pushed him too far in his cruelty from Dragonball Z.
    • Or when they realize his power level is.... greater than... 9000.
  • Rika smashing her head into a knife in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni.
    • Keiichi's delusions of Rena from Onikakushi are pretty iconic too, especially the "Usoda!" and laughing scene. In fact, it's such a memorable scene, people assumed everyone in that show was an Axe Crazy person when it's clearly not the case.
  • Death Note has two candidates: Light taking a potato chip AND EATING IT, and "Exactly as planned."
  • In Puella Magi Madoka Magica, one particular scene got so many parodies it has its own Danbooru tag: the one in episode 3 where Mami dies a gory (though only partially seen) death by devouring.
  • Spirited Away has the scene where Chihiro remembers Haku's name while riding through the air on his back.
  • Whisper of the Heart has two: Seiji's violin rendition of "Country Road" and his bike ride with Shizuku at the end.
  • One Piece has the scene where Shanks gives his straw hat to Luffy.
  • Abe Takakazu unzipping his overalls on the bench in Kuso Miso Technique.
  • Kamina's death in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
  • Fist of the North Star has Kenshiro and Shin's simultaneous jump kicking (resulting in their legs seen as crossed) during their fated duel.
  • The initial car chase to rescue Clarisse and the climatic bell tower fight in The Castle of Cagliostro.

Comic Books

"What, are you dense? Are you retarded or something? I'm the Goddamn Batman."

Fan Works

Film

Sho'nuff: Alright, Leroy, who is the one and only master?
Leroy Green: I am.

Live-Action TV

Literature

Professional Sports

  • Ask people in Chicago, and they'll tell you that the Cubs lost the 2003 NLCS because of Steve Bartman. Forget the fact that they couldn't get an out the rest of the inning, and then lost the next game. No, it all comes down to that one play.
    • Similar with Buckner in the 1986 World Series. The Red Sox had already blown a two run lead with two outs in the 10th inning. Buckner's error allowed the third (albeit winning) run to score. The Red Sox also blew a three run lead the next game to lose the Series. Ask most people why the Red Sox lost that series though, and they'll tell you about the Buckner play.
  • Carlton Fisk waving a home run ball fair in the 1975 World Series. Of course, Boston lost the series to the Big Red Machine, one of the greater teams in history, but the Fisk home run is what people most focus on.
  • 1980 Miracle on Ice "Do you believe in miracles?! YES!" Also, the team celebrating after Eruzione's goal to take the lead.
  • The FIFA World Cup has two, Pelé's goal in the 1958 final, and Maradona's goal versus England in 1986 (no, not the one he punched the ball!).
  • 2004 ALCS Dave Roberts stealing second base.
  • Super Bowl XLII: Quarterback Eli Manning throwing a pass after escaping a sack that was caught by third string wide receiver David Tyree against his helmet while being pulled to the ground.
    • Janet Jackson's halftime show "wardrobe malfunction"
    • For more Super Bowl goodness, there's always Scott Norwood's wide-right field goal; or Kevin Dyson coming up "One Yard Short" for the Titans.
  • The fatal crash of Dale Earnhardt
  • Pittsburgh Pirates Hall-of-Famer Bill Mazeroski was regarded as a superb second baseman; his batting was so unremarkable that it nearly cost him his chance to be in the Hall. What is he remembered for? In the Game Seven of the 1960 World Series, he cracked a walk-off home run that won his team the game and the Series.

Theatre

Video Games

N. Tropy: You manage our affairs with such poise.

Female N. Tropy: Naturally...as do YOU!

N. Tropy: (makes a kissy face at Female N. Tropy)

Female N. Tropy: AHHHHHH...

Nitros Oxide: (disgustedly cringes)

N. Tropy: (swings his left "paw" toward Female N. Tropy and flirtatiously growls at her)

Female N. Tropy: (bites down on her lower lip and flirtatiously giggles at N. Tropy)

Coco Bandicoot: OHUOH...UGGGH!

Tawna Bandicoot: UGH! BARF!

Western Animation

  1. This is especially true for works that were already So Bad It's Good.