Xenafication: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|''"When the hell did [[Harry Potter (novel)|Hermione]] become a ninja?"''|'''[http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=4330423&postcount=318 Tokezo Tenken]''' on ''[[Paradigm of Uncertainty]]''}} |
{{quote|''"When the hell did [[Harry Potter (novel)|Hermione]] become a ninja?"''|'''[http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=4330423&postcount=318 Tokezo Tenken]''' on ''[[Paradigm of Uncertainty]]''}} |
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The polar opposite of [[Chickification]] and a subtrope of [[Adaptational Badass]]. We all know [[Girls Need Role Models]] and [[Real Women Never Wear Dresses]], so what do you do when you're adapting or sequelizing a work from a "less enlightened" time? Make your female lead into an [[Action Girl]]! If you don't feel comfortable putting her in hand-to-hand combat, give her a chase scene on [[Horseback Heroism|horseback]] or hand her a [[The Archer|warbow]], because even a 90-pound waif can [[Critical Research Failure|easily fire one of those]]. Her fighting prowess [[Faux Action Girl|doesn't even have to last the whole movie]]; one scene will suffice. You don't even have to bother with intelligence or [[Character Development]], everyone knows that [[Action Girl]] automatically equals one of those [[Tradesnark|Strong Female Characters™]] you've heard so much about. |
The polar opposite of [[Chickification]] and a subtrope of [[Adaptational Badass]]. We all know [[Girls Need Role Models]] and [[Real Women Never Wear Dresses]], so what do you do when you're adapting or sequelizing a work from a "less enlightened" time? Make your female lead into an [[Action Girl]]! If you don't feel comfortable putting her in hand-to-hand combat, give her a chase scene on [[Horseback Heroism|horseback]] or hand her a [[The Archer|warbow]], because even a 90-pound waif can [[Critical Research Failure|easily fire one of those]]. Her fighting prowess [[Faux Action Girl|doesn't even have to last the whole movie]]; one scene will suffice. You don't even have to bother with intelligence or [[Character Development]], everyone knows that [[Action Girl]] automatically equals one of those [[Tradesnark|Strong Female Characters™]] you've heard so much about. |
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The title comes from ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'', who is ''not'' an example but rather the inspiration, being something of a [[Trope Codifier]] for [[Action Girl]]. Xenafication thus can be defined as "becoming like Xena". At least once, this has been lampshaded by having the character go [[Battle Cry|"AYIYIYIYIYIYI!"]] before kicking ass. Related to [[Took a Level In Badass]] and [[Adrenaline Makeover]]. Sometimes a specific form of [[Adaptational Badass]]. Not to be confused with [[Xenofiction]]. |
The title comes from ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'', who is ''not'' an example but rather the inspiration, being something of a [[Trope Codifier]] for [[Action Girl]]. Xenafication thus can be defined as "becoming like Xena". At least once, this has been lampshaded by having the character go [[Battle Cry|"AYIYIYIYIYIYI!"]] before kicking ass. Related to [[Took a Level In Badass]] and [[Adrenaline Makeover]]. Sometimes a specific form of [[Adaptational Badass]]. Not to be confused with [[Xenofiction]]. |
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**** Before they were canned, Siegel and Shuster were even considering having her figure out Clark was Superman, and making her Superman's civilian sidekick, similar to Margot Lane and the Shadow. They even wrote a script, which is [http://superman.nu/k-metal/splash.php floating around on the Internet]. |
**** Before they were canned, Siegel and Shuster were even considering having her figure out Clark was Superman, and making her Superman's civilian sidekick, similar to Margot Lane and the Shadow. They even wrote a script, which is [http://superman.nu/k-metal/splash.php floating around on the Internet]. |
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* Marian, the ladyfriend of the Lee brothers from the ''[[Double Dragon]]'' video games who gets sucker-punched and carried off in the original arcade game, became a policewoman in the comic and animated adaptation of the series and a female gang leader (who just happens to be the daughter of a policeman) in the [[Double Dragon (film)|movie]]. The [[Neo Geo]] fighting game version influenced by the film followed suit and made her into one of the playable fighters in the game who can stand on her own against the likes of Abobo, Burnov and even the Lee Brothers themselves. |
* Marian, the ladyfriend of the Lee brothers from the ''[[Double Dragon]]'' video games who gets sucker-punched and carried off in the original arcade game, became a policewoman in the comic and animated adaptation of the series and a female gang leader (who just happens to be the daughter of a policeman) in the [[Double Dragon (film)|movie]]. The [[Neo Geo]] fighting game version influenced by the film followed suit and made her into one of the playable fighters in the game who can stand on her own against the likes of Abobo, Burnov and even the Lee Brothers themselves. |
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* The [[Magical Girl]] ''genre'' got Xenafied by ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' and the [[Magical Girl Warrior]] subgenre it inspired, which today is what most people think of when they hear the phrase "Magical Girl". |
* The [[Magical Girl]] ''genre'' got Xenafied by ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' and the [[Magical Girl Warrior]] subgenre it inspired, which today is what most people think of when they hear the phrase "Magical Girl". |
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* The 2011 Post-[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]] reboot takes this up a notch by ratcheting up the Amazon warrior aspect even further. |
* The 2011 Post-[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]] reboot takes this up a notch by ratcheting up the Amazon warrior aspect even further. |
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* A somewhat tame version of this trope occurred with Lois Lane's [[Post-Crisis]] reboot. Whereas her dominant characterization had always been typical shrieking helpless damsel despite [[Bronze Age]] attempts to make her [[Take a Level In Badass]], her revamped continuity gave her an [[Army Brat]] past and made her highly adept at hand-to-hand combat as well as a wide range of weapons and vehicles. The ''very first'' post-crisis miniseries in which she appeared had her [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|beating up and commandeering the machine guns of a gang of terrorists]] holding her and a group of socialites hostage on a yacht, while Superman lets her take care of things as he obligatorily carries the yacht to safety. Needless to say, this pretty much makes him fall for her even harder than he had already. |
* A somewhat tame version of this trope occurred with Lois Lane's [[Post-Crisis]] reboot. Whereas her dominant characterization had always been typical shrieking helpless damsel despite [[Bronze Age]] attempts to make her [[Take a Level In Badass]], her revamped continuity gave her an [[Army Brat]] past and made her highly adept at hand-to-hand combat as well as a wide range of weapons and vehicles. The ''very first'' post-crisis miniseries in which she appeared had her [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|beating up and commandeering the machine guns of a gang of terrorists]] holding her and a group of socialites hostage on a yacht, while Superman lets her take care of things as he obligatorily carries the yacht to safety. Needless to say, this pretty much makes him fall for her even harder than he had already. |
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* In the ''[[Fantastic Four]]'', Susan Storm was originally [[The Chick]] of the team with a near useless power of invisibility. [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]] took partial steps to fix that early on giving her force field projecting powers. However, it was [[John Byrne]] who really powered her up by having her [[Green Lantern Ring|nifty new ways of using her powers]] and learning to get aggressive enough to really use them well. Today, she is now considered one of the most powerful superheroes of the [[Marvel Universe]] and even [[Doctor Doom]] underestimates her at his peril. |
* In the ''[[Fantastic Four]]'', Susan Storm was originally [[The Chick]] of the team with a near useless power of invisibility. [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]] took partial steps to fix that early on giving her force field projecting powers. However, it was [[John Byrne]] who really powered her up by having her [[Green Lantern Ring|nifty new ways of using her powers]] and learning to get aggressive enough to really use them well. Today, she is now considered one of the most powerful superheroes of the [[Marvel Universe]] and even [[Doctor Doom]] underestimates her at his peril. |
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** This may be a subversion. It should be noted that they also made her smarter than the original character, and that the character trait that stands out most about Esmerelda in the adaptation [[Plucky Girl|is her moral courage]] rather than being an [[Action Girl]]. |
** This may be a subversion. It should be noted that they also made her smarter than the original character, and that the character trait that stands out most about Esmerelda in the adaptation [[Plucky Girl|is her moral courage]] rather than being an [[Action Girl]]. |
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* ''[[The Little Mermaid]] II'' completely flipped the roles of Eric and Ariel. In the original film, Eric had to do all the action sequences and save a rather helpless Ariel in the climax. Meanwhile, in ''The Little Mermaid II'', Ariel was so action-oriented when Morganna tried to kidnap her infant daughter Melody, that she actually ripped Eric's sword out of its scabbard while he stood there slackjawed. Eric was mostly useless in the action scenes. Apparently only ''one'' member of that couple can be an action team. |
* ''[[The Little Mermaid]] II'' completely flipped the roles of Eric and Ariel. In the original film, Eric had to do all the action sequences and save a rather helpless Ariel in the climax. Meanwhile, in ''The Little Mermaid II'', Ariel was so action-oriented when Morganna tried to kidnap her infant daughter Melody, that she actually ripped Eric's sword out of its scabbard while he stood there slackjawed. Eric was mostly useless in the action scenes. Apparently only ''one'' member of that couple can be an action team. |
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** Ariel was also generally ''far'' more adventurous and action-oriented on the television series, which took place [[Prequel|before the first film]]. |
** Ariel was also generally ''far'' more adventurous and action-oriented on the television series, which took place [[Prequel|before the first film]]. |
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== Live Action TV == |
== Live Action TV == |
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* In ''[[Lost in Oz]]'', Princess Ozma is mentioned as having been trained from birth to fight the Wicked Witch, and is apparently in her 20s. {{spoiler|It's actually a subversion, as by the time the heroes rescue her she's lost all fighting capabilities and has been enchanted to be an eight-year-old}}. |
* In ''[[Lost in Oz]]'', Princess Ozma is mentioned as having been trained from birth to fight the Wicked Witch, and is apparently in her 20s. {{spoiler|It's actually a subversion, as by the time the heroes rescue her she's lost all fighting capabilities and has been enchanted to be an eight-year-old}}. |
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* Nicely [[Averted]] with Guinevere from ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]''. It would have been easy for the writers to simply give her a sword and have her display unlikely physical prowess in battle ...but she never does. Instead her worth is founded on [[Badass Damsel|her kindness and intelligence]], and she's managed to get herself out of several dangerous situations by using her wits or stalling for time until she's either rescued by other parties, or manages to escape by herself. On the odd occasion when she ''does'' wield weapons in self-defense, she's portrayed as a competent but hardly skilled fighter. As such, she's something of a [[Base Breaker]] in fandom, with half appreciating her as a strong female character whose strength does ''not'' lie with the ability to swing a sword, and the other considering her a case of [[Real Women Never Wear Dresses]]. |
* Nicely [[Averted]] with Guinevere from ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]''. It would have been easy for the writers to simply give her a sword and have her display unlikely physical prowess in battle ...but she never does. Instead her worth is founded on [[Badass Damsel|her kindness and intelligence]], and she's managed to get herself out of several dangerous situations by using her wits or stalling for time until she's either rescued by other parties, or manages to escape by herself. On the odd occasion when she ''does'' wield weapons in self-defense, she's portrayed as a competent but hardly skilled fighter. As such, she's something of a [[Base Breaker]] in fandom, with half appreciating her as a strong female character whose strength does ''not'' lie with the ability to swing a sword, and the other considering her a case of [[Real Women Never Wear Dresses]]. |
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* As mentioned above, Maid Marian from the BBC's ''[[Robin Hood (TV series)|Robin Hood]]'' had a secret identity as the Night Watchman, a masked and hooded vigilante who was giving alms to the poor long before Robin came up with the idea. Despite Marian having a reputation as an [[Action Girl]] and [[Badass]] in the original ballads, the Night Watchman was clearly an attempt on the writers' behalf to have a "strong, modern take" on Marian, an idea that (in the context of the show) was somewhat unnecessary for several reasons: a) Marian already had a vitally important role as the spy and informant within Castle Nottingham, b) the concept was stuffed full of [[Fridge Logic]] (why didn't anyone notice that the NWM had breasts? Why did Marian need the guise in the first place considering taking food/money to the poor was hardly illegal? Where did she get her combat skills in the first place?<ref>She claims her father had her trained so that she "would have choices", but given that Sir Edward spends the entire show fretting over her and forbidding her to do things means that this explanation makes even ''less'' sense</ref>), and c) despite being presented as a skilled fighter, the writers often had her thrown into the role of [[Damsel in Distress]] ''anyway'' (and most of her best [[Badass]] moments were done ''without'' the disguise). For the most part, the writers get away with it considering their Marian ''was'' a three-dimensional character in her own right, and the idea fitted in well with Marian's rebellious attitude, but often the Night Watchman just felt like an excuse to have their lead female do an occasional back-flip or karate chop. |
* As mentioned above, Maid Marian from the BBC's ''[[Robin Hood (TV series)|Robin Hood]]'' had a secret identity as the Night Watchman, a masked and hooded vigilante who was giving alms to the poor long before Robin came up with the idea. Despite Marian having a reputation as an [[Action Girl]] and [[Badass]] in the original ballads, the Night Watchman was clearly an attempt on the writers' behalf to have a "strong, modern take" on Marian, an idea that (in the context of the show) was somewhat unnecessary for several reasons: a) Marian already had a vitally important role as the spy and informant within Castle Nottingham, b) the concept was stuffed full of [[Fridge Logic]] (why didn't anyone notice that the NWM had breasts? Why did Marian need the guise in the first place considering taking food/money to the poor was hardly illegal? Where did she get her combat skills in the first place?<ref>She claims her father had her trained so that she "would have choices", but given that Sir Edward spends the entire show fretting over her and forbidding her to do things means that this explanation makes even ''less'' sense</ref>), and c) despite being presented as a skilled fighter, the writers often had her thrown into the role of [[Damsel in Distress]] ''anyway'' (and most of her best [[Badass]] moments were done ''without'' the disguise). For the most part, the writers get away with it considering their Marian ''was'' a three-dimensional character in her own right, and the idea fitted in well with Marian's rebellious attitude, but often the Night Watchman just felt like an excuse to have their lead female do an occasional back-flip or karate chop. |
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* ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'' does this for a lot of female fairy tale characters. Snow White in particular is an extraordinary [[Action Girl]] more than willing to fight anyone who tries to keep her away from Prince Charming (at one point planning to snipe the Evil Queen [[The Archer|with a magic bow and]] [[Instant Death Bullet|Instant Death Arrow]]). Little Red Riding Hood also kicks copious amounts of ass, {{spoiler|though in her case, it's because she ''is'' the Wolf in this adaptation--the trademark red cloak is an enchanted item that keeps her from transforming, and once she finds out the truth, she uses her wolf form to help her friends--after making sure they get ''far'' away from her first.}} |
* ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'' does this for a lot of female fairy tale characters. Snow White in particular is an extraordinary [[Action Girl]] more than willing to fight anyone who tries to keep her away from Prince Charming (at one point planning to snipe the Evil Queen [[The Archer|with a magic bow and]] [[Instant Death Bullet|Instant Death Arrow]]). Little Red Riding Hood also kicks copious amounts of ass, {{spoiler|though in her case, it's because she ''is'' the Wolf in this adaptation--the trademark red cloak is an enchanted item that keeps her from transforming, and once she finds out the truth, she uses her wolf form to help her friends--after making sure they get ''far'' away from her first.}} |
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== Video Games == |
== Video Games == |
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* The ''[[Dynasty Warriors]]'' series does this for Zhen Ji, Yue Ying, and Diao Chan. Sun Shang Xiang is a borderline example as she was known as something of an [[Action Girl]] by the standards of her time. |
* The ''[[Dynasty Warriors]]'' series does this for Zhen Ji, Yue Ying, and Diao Chan. Sun Shang Xiang is a borderline example as she was known as something of an [[Action Girl]] by the standards of her time. |
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'': Amy Rose was kidnapped in her first video game appearance in Sonic CD. She was given a [[Drop the Hammer|Piko Piko Hammer]] in Sonic Adventure (well...Sonic Fighters) and was more than capable of taking care of herself. |
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'': Amy Rose was kidnapped in her first video game appearance in Sonic CD. She was given a [[Drop the Hammer|Piko Piko Hammer]] in Sonic Adventure (well...Sonic Fighters) and was more than capable of taking care of herself. |
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** Prior to that, she had a mild form of this. Her [[Informed Ability]] of being a spunky tomboy who could fend for herself started coming into light with the racing games and ''[[Sonic the Fighters]]''.. Though she's gotten less tomboyish over the years. |
** Prior to that, she had a mild form of this. Her [[Informed Ability]] of being a spunky tomboy who could fend for herself started coming into light with the racing games and ''[[Sonic the Fighters]]''.. Though she's gotten less tomboyish over the years. |
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* Kairi in the first ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' game spent 80% of the story as a vegetable while Sora had to save her. In the second game she acquires a Keyblade and is able to kick plenty of ass to save Sora and the others. |
* Kairi in the first ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' game spent 80% of the story as a vegetable while Sora had to save her. In the second game she acquires a Keyblade and is able to kick plenty of ass to save Sora and the others. |
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** While Ariel in ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'' franchise qualified as an [[Action Girl]], she was made into a guest party member in ''Kingdom Hearts'' and kicked more ass than she did in the movie or TV series (though neither of them had Heartless so who's to say she wasn't already like that?). |
** While Ariel in ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'' franchise qualified as an [[Action Girl]], she was made into a guest party member in ''Kingdom Hearts'' and kicked more ass than she did in the movie or TV series (though neither of them had Heartless so who's to say she wasn't already like that?). |
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* Yuna in [[Final Fantasy X 2]]. She goes from being a White Mage / Songstress / Summoner (All the stock 'female' jobs in that franchise) to being gun slinging [[Action Girl]] who thanks to the metagame Dressphere system, can be any of several 'boyish' jobs such as Warrior, Dark Knight and Berserker. |
* Yuna in [[Final Fantasy X 2]]. She goes from being a White Mage / Songstress / Summoner (All the stock 'female' jobs in that franchise) to being gun slinging [[Action Girl]] who thanks to the metagame Dressphere system, can be any of several 'boyish' jobs such as Warrior, Dark Knight and Berserker. |
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* Fitting with the Alice in Wonderland example in Film, Alice takes ''several'' levels in [[Badass]] in [[American McGee's Alice]]. Justified as it's a [[Battle in the Center of the Mind]]. |
* Fitting with the Alice in Wonderland example in Film, Alice takes ''several'' levels in [[Badass]] in [[American McGee's Alice]]. Justified as it's a [[Battle in the Center of the Mind]]. |
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* Princess Zelda has progressively become more active in the games as the series went on. Originally just a classic [[Damsel in Distress]], in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]]'' she gained the badass ([[Sweet Polly Oliver|though male]]) alter-ego Sheik, who admittedly didn't do much against the actual [[Big Bad]]. But in the later games, starting with ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Legend of Zelda the Wind Waker]]'', it became her schtick to fire Light Arrows at Ganon during the final battle, and in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks|The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks]]'' she even {{spoiler|helps Link push his sword into Malladus' head}}. ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword]]'' has her {{spoiler|spending most of the game entombed in crystal and serving as a [[Damsel in Distress]] again at the very end, but the first part has her getting all the way through one and a half major areas by herself before getting caught and needing Impa's help for bodyguard services, not to mention her backstory}}. |
* Princess Zelda has progressively become more active in the games as the series went on. Originally just a classic [[Damsel in Distress]], in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]]'' she gained the badass ([[Sweet Polly Oliver|though male]]) alter-ego Sheik, who admittedly didn't do much against the actual [[Big Bad]]. But in the later games, starting with ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Legend of Zelda the Wind Waker]]'', it became her schtick to fire Light Arrows at Ganon during the final battle, and in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks|The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks]]'' she even {{spoiler|helps Link push his sword into Malladus' head}}. ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword]]'' has her {{spoiler|spending most of the game entombed in crystal and serving as a [[Damsel in Distress]] again at the very end, but the first part has her getting all the way through one and a half major areas by herself before getting caught and needing Impa's help for bodyguard services, not to mention her backstory}}. |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Media Adaptation Tropes]] |
[[Category:Media Adaptation Tropes]] |
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[[Category:Characterization Tropes]] |
[[Category:Characterization Tropes]] |
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[[Category:Skills and Training Tropes]] |
[[Category:Skills and Training Tropes]] |
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[[Category:Xenafication]] |
[[Category:Xenafication]] |
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