Sorting Algorithm of Deadness/Western Animation

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Sorting Algorithm of Deadness

Using the scientifically Infallible power of the Sorting Algorithm of Deadness, who do you think is the next in line for being brought back from the great Bus in the sky?

To use the Algorithm, simply add the Column's "Death Value", and divide by the number of applicable rows.


Relative deadness factor Deader Than Dead Maybe Back Later Be Back Soon Death? What's That?
Death Value 4 3 2 1
Cause of death Irony, Bridge Drop, Overkill, Stuffed in The Fridge, Ret-Gone Redemption, Sacrifice, Bus Crash, Mortal Wound Reveal No One Could Survive That, just plain killed in battle Jumping
Audience Expectation Anyone Can Die, Kill'Em All Killed Off for Real, Tonight Someone Dies Disney Death Back from the Dead, Death Is Cheap, Nobody Can Die
Body Found? Dead and Buried
Only Bits And Pieces		 At The Morgue Never Found, Frozen, Petrified Left for Dead
Reaction Montage, Bond One-Liner He's Dead, Jim It's Personal Faux Death
Last Words Crap, Killed Mid-Sentence, Carry on men, His Name Is-- Catch Phrase, Famous Last Words, Final Speech, Obi-Wan Moment "Fly, you fools!" "Piece of cake" "My Death Is Just the Beginning"
Characterization Red Shirt, Loved One, Mauve Shirt Recurring Character, C-List Fodder Regular Protagonist, Archvillain
When did they die? 10+ years ago, Series Finale 5–10 years ago Same year Same arc
"Died" and come back? Not yet Died once, but got better Twice I've lost count

If the character hasn't died yet (but seems likely to), see Sorting Algorithm of Mortality. All of this is trumped by the First Law of Resurrection.

Currently, Shirley from Code Geass and the real Caulder from Advance Wars: Days of Ruin have scored 4, the highest possible. The latter is more notable by having 4 in every category instead of getting the CLAMP bonus that the former got. No characters have got the lowest possible score of 1 yet, but Davros and The Master are joint leaders in the death defying derby at 1.75, even beating South Park's Kenny.

Baseline Example: The death of Superman.

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice, so he's not coming back from that too quickly, or the sacrifice will be cheapened. 3.
  • Genre: It's a comic book, so Death Is Cheap. 1.
  • The Body: Deader Than Dead, a Pietà Plagiarism too for supes sake! So no chance of Faking the Dead. 4.
  • Reaction: Really Dead Montage, uh-oh. 4.
  • Characterization: Protagonist. 1.
  • When did he die: Same year, so 2.
  • Come Back?: This was a first, so 4.
  • Average: So add it up... we get a pretty high score, 19! Since it's not a videogame, divide by 7, and we get... 19/7 = 2.7, meaning supes isn't coming back for at least a few months, maybe even years. In actuality the Death Of Superman happened in January 1993 and he came back some time before May 1994.

Now let's make a prediction with the recent death of Batman in Final Crisis.

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice, give or take. 3.
  • Genre: Comic book, so Death Is Cheap. 1.
  • The Body: Dead and buried, but it's a little more complicated. Still, it's a 4.
  • Reaction: He's Dead Clark, plus "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" probably counts as a Really Dead Montage. 3.5.
  • Last Words: "Try Me." 3.
  • Characterization: It's The Goddamn Batman, people. 1.
  • When did he die: Same year, so 2.
  • Come Back?: This would be the first time, so 4.
  • Average: 21.5/8= 2.7. A semi-high score, and DC seems to be sticking to this one for a while. Still, he'll definitely be back, likely before the end of 2010 at the latest. CORRECT!


Note: This sub-page is for Western Animation examples only. Please ensure that you put new examples in the correct Sorting Algorithm of Deadness sub-page.

The Simpsons

Homer Simpson's Mother

  • Cause of Death: A form of Heroic Sacrifice, or Thanatos Gambit to be more exact: 3
  • Genre: Maude Flanders has been Killed Off for Real: 3
  • Body Found: Of course, the very idea that she could come back depends on the assumption that the ashes in that urn were the ashes of something other than Mother Simpson's cremated body. It's The Simpsons, you know that if they bring her back they'll just make some Hand Wave to explain how Mona faked her own death. Besides, after Sideshow Bob faked his own death, I'm not putting anything past the writers. 2 points (Faking the Dead)--or 4 points (Deader Than Dead) if you don't buy that whole "not actually her ashes" claim.
  • Reaction: Montage: 4
  • Characterization: Loved One: 4
  • When did she die? Same year: 2
  • Died and come back? The bus accident: 3

If we consider the "Body Found" too controversial to count, this gives us a score of (19 divided by 6), or 3 and a sixth. She might be coming back, but don't count on it.

Adventure Time

Tree Trunks

  • Cause Of Death: Exploded, counts as a Bridge Drop: 4
  • Genre: Death Is Cheap, I mean, we saw someone explode before and they came back the same episode: 1
  • Body Found: Floating around in some kind of crystal heaven, maybe?: 3
  • Last Words: None, although death was sudden, so: 4
  • Characterization: C list/recurring: 3
  • When: Same arc: 1
  • Died and come back?: Not yet: 4
  • Total: 20/7 = 2.86. Jury's still out on poor Tree Trunks, the show is very light-hearted but also random, so... it's anyone's guess.

She's back. Turns out the explosion was really a teleport.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Jet

Winx Club's Nabu

  • Cause: Exhausted himself closing the dark abyss in an attempt to protect the earth fairies from Ogron's Evil Plan. It suceeds. Heroic Sacrifice = 3
  • Genre: Winx Club is aimed at 6-12 year old kids (mostly girls) and everybody found shocking that a main character was Killed Off for Real. Let's give it a 2.
  • Body Found: Yes. This takes a full 4, since Layla used it to restore Tir Nan Og
  • Reaction: Layla even pulled a Face Heel Turn, so I think it counts as 2.
  • Last words: Said goodbye to Layla. 3.
  • Characterization: C-List Fodder in season 3, but upgraded to Regular in Season 4, so 2.
  • When: Same Year. 2
  • Came back: Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 23/8= 2.88. Considering the nature of the show, maybe he will be back.

Optimus Prime

  • I'm not even bothering to do the math. He's always going to come back. Simple as that. Average: 1.
    • But... but... Algorithm!
    • Therefore...
    • Cause of Death: Killed by Megatron in a Heroic Sacrifice / One Final Battle—3
    • Audience Expectation: It's a show meant to sell toys to six-year-olds. Nobody thought they'd have the cojones. -- 1.
    • Body/Casing Found?: Yes, was presumed to be buried after the events of the movie—4.
    • Reaction: Pretty much a He's Dead, Jim mixed with It's Personal. -- 2.5
    • Last Words: A fine Final Speech, and a passing of the Matrix to Hot Rod. -- 3
    • When?: Same Year—2
    • Died and come back?: Not to that point. -- 4
    • That gives us a 19.5/8=2.4. Which evens up with his next TV appearance later that year (albeit as a zombie controlled by the Quintessons...)
    • See, the algorithm works. Respect the algorithm. Love the algorithm.

South Park

  • Just because it should be so obvious, Kenny from South Park. May not count as it's one of the show's Running Gags.
    • Cause of Death: Absolutely Everything, Usually at Random. 4
    • Genre: Death Is Cheap. 1
    • Body Found: Highly variable, but usually of the splattered variety and thus usually dead and buried or never found. 3.5
    • Reaction: Oh-my-god-they-killed-Kenny-you-bastards. I think this scores a 0 for nobody caring (except for one episode). Even the other characters expect him back. 0
    • Characterisation: One of the four protagonists. 1
    • When did they die: Earlier today or yesterday, roughly. 1
    • Died and came back: I lost count. 1
  • Total: 11.5/7 = 1.64. Of course Kenny is coming back.

Let's take a look at the recent deaths on Code Lyoko:

Franz Hopper:

  • Cause of Death: Sacrifice. 3.
  • Genre: A little iffy. Up until then no one quite died, but it's repeatedly stressed that if someone did, there would be no way to bring them back. 3.
  • Body: Didn't have one. His digital form was destroyed, but digital code being what it is... 3.
  • Reaction: Violent crying and a place of honor in the wrap-up montage. The heroes finally give up on him. 4.
  • Characterization: He was a pretty major part of the plot, so 2.
  • When: One day before the final episode. 1.
  • Come back: He's survived a few death-like situations, but never anything quite this bad. 3.
  • Average: 2.7

XANA:

  • Cause of Death: A computer program specifically designed to kill him and powered by a sacrifice. 4.
  • Genre: See above. 3.
  • Body: Once again, see above. 3.
  • Reaction: Celebration on the part of everyone aware of his existence. But he is the villain...3.
  • Characterization: Archvillain, definitely. 1.
  • When: See above. 1.
  • Come Back: No. 4.
  • Average: 2.7

Conclusion: If there is a next season, both of them are probably coming back.

Henchman 1 (Scott Hall) in The Venture Brothers.

  • Cause: Strangled/punched by Brock Sampson. He tends to be thorough, so No One Could Survive That for 2.
  • Genre: Iffy. It's a cartoon, and the two leads are resurrected via cloning, there's a necromancer handy, and a few times there's been people Left for Dead. Still, henchmen can and have been killed in droves, 21 and 24 being Mauve Shirt exceptions, and one Dr. Venture revived as a Frankenstein's Monster just to prove he could. So, lets go with 2.
  • The Body: We don't actually see him get killed, nor the body, so Never Found the Body for 3.
  • Reaction: The Monarch said "It's Personal"... which is just to say "business as usual" with the added flavor that the next raid on Dr. Venture Jr. is in his honor/revenge. 2.
  • Characterization: Parodied mercilessly by 21 and 24 as a Mauve Shirt of the highly expendable pathos inducing variety. 3
  • When did he die: Same arc, so 1.
  • Died And Come Back: Not yet for 4.
  • Average: 17/7 = 2.42. For all 21 and 24's morbid talk, he's not that dead.

And indeed,he's pretty mad about being left for dead 


Twenty Four
  • Cause: No One Could Survive That, though it did seem a bit like a Bridge Dropping. 3.
  • Genre: 2, for the same reasons given in the previous one of these for Venture Brothers.
  • The Body: If the head we saw is his, then 4. Otherwise 3.
  • Reaction: None yet besides 21's, but it was right at the end of the episode and season, so 2.
  • Characterization: Called out as a Mauve Shirt in the show, but was more like a Regular. 2.5
  • When did he die: Same Arc. 1.
  • Died And Come Back: Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 2.643 if it is his head, 2.5 if not. Don't start cycling Mars, Bringer of War in iTunes just yet.

Grandpa Max, Ben 10 Alien Force

Conversely, Vilgax's death in the final episode of Ben 10

  • Cause: Incinerated by a gas line explosion. No One Could Survive That, except, y'know, Vilgax already has. A lot. 2.
  • Genre: As far as I remember, not even background characters ever actually died on the show (except for one episode where it was implied hundreds of 10 year old campers were eaten by giant mushrooms), but Vilgax and Tetrax did get to actually kill some background characters in The Movie, and there have been a fair share of Disney Deaths. I'd say 2.
  • Body: Unlike all of his previous apparent deaths, which were all No One Could Survive That (Word of God is that he survived the Season 1 finale by teleporting away before the ship exploded), this time we actually get to see Vilgax's body partially dissolving from the force of the explosion. Probably as close as this cartoon's ever come to Deader Than Dead. 4.
  • Reaction: A dramatic final episode victory pose by the Ben 10 Team, with The Hero himself stating that Vilgax is toast once and for all. Which is just a Never Say "Die" way of saying He's Dead, Jim. 3.
  • Characterization: Arch Villain. And How. 1.
  • When Did They Die?: About, what, 5 to 6 years ago? Being buried under Ben's home town, you'd think he'd have popped up again sooner if he was still alive. 4.
    • That would actually be a 3.
  • Died And Came Back: A definite yes. 1.
    • And that would be a 2, or a three if the series started killing off more people (for real) after he came back.
  • Average: 2.43. I'd love to see him come back and smear one of those stuck-up Highbreed Commanders against the wall.
  • Still 2.43, but you shouldn't fudge the formula anyway.

Elena

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice, killing herself to stop the nanite swarm that had taken over her body and mind. 3.
  • Genre: Death Is Cheap, remember when Max came back? 1.
  • Body: They left the nanite swarm there... and it started moving at the end of the episode. 1.
  • Reaction: Seeing as how they kept talking about how Elena was already dead, 3.
  • Characterization: A former love interest of Ben. 4.
  • When did they die?: The current arc. 1.
  • Came back?: Not yet, 4.
  • Average: 2.43 yet again! We're 1/2 on these thus far (and the jury's still out on Vilgax), so it's anyone's guess whether or not the swarm brings Elena with it when it inevitably returns. Leaning toward yes, she's coming back.

For Ben 10's Spiritual Successor, Generator Rex: Rylander

Average: 3. Tough luck Mr. Rylander.

Cardinal Ravenwood, Metalocalypse

  • Cause: When he tried to actually do something about Dethklok, his boss made him vomit his intestines. Definite death by irony. 4.
  • Genre: Death Is Cheap, it's a standard gag on the show to bring back people who were seen "dying" at the end of a previous episode, revealing that they were only horribly mutilated. 1.
  • Body: Found by Dethklok in his last moments alive. Unknown what they did as he lay there dying. 4.
  • Reaction: He's dead, Jim. 3.
  • Characterization: Regular antagonist. 2.
  • Time of death: Same year. 2.
  • Back from the dead before? Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 20/7 = 2.857. He might come back in a couple seasons, but it's unlikely.

Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic was turned to stone in one episode; just for fun, let's see what the algorithm has to say:

  • Cause: She was out doing an errand before getting petrified; Bridge drop, 4
  • Genre: It's a kid show where no one has ever died, 1
  • Body: As mentioned before, she was turned to stone, 2
  • Reaction: When Fluttershy found Twilight petrified, she was more worried about the kids she was babysitting than her, 1
  • Last Words: Judging by Twilight's frozen facial expression, it's something along the lines of Oh Crap, 4
  • Characterization: The leader of the Mane Six, 1
  • When: Same episode, 1
  • Died and Come Back: Not yet, 4
  • Average: 18/8 = 2.25 The algorithm says she'll be back soon and it is correct; she was brought back to normal in the same episode she "died", making this incident the fastest resurrection in a Hasbro show next to Optimus Prime's in Transformers Animated.

Speaking of... 

Prowl from Transformers Animated
  • Cause: Died by sacrifice, 3
  • Genre: Resurrections were common in this incarnation of Transformers, but more there were some deaths in the third season, 2
  • Body: Dead and probably buried, 4
  • Reaction: He's Dead, Jim, 3
  • Characterization: Regular, 2
  • When: Died at the Grand Finale, 4
  • Died and Come Back: Not yet, 4
  • Average: 22/8 = If they are going to make another season, don't expect him to come back.
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