Trope of the Week: Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Chick 1 says:

Exciting!  Another new series: Trope of the Week.

What is a trope?  A trope is a device, motif, recurring theme, or even a cliche used in storytelling.  It can be a character type, a specific line or style of dialogue, a plot device, even a type of location or set.

A trope itself is neither good nor bad.  In fact, used appropriately it can be an effective tool.  In storytelling, whether in literature or film or other media, a lot of information needs to be communicated to the audience without bogging down the pace with lots of backstory or exposition.  A trope can be a kind of shorthand that the creator and audience have agreed on and recognize so the audience knows what to expect and can concentrate on more important parts of the plot.

When overused it can make the storytelling lazy or one dimensional.  It then becomes a cliche and distracts from the story.

One of my favorite trope sources is the website tvtropes.org.  It is a massive user-run collection of all tropes film, tv, literary, anime, video game, ad nauseum.  I’m a bit of an addict.

This week’s trope is currently a popular one; the Manic Pixie Dream Girl.  The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is, obviously, a female character type.  She is pretty, spontaneous, non-conformist, and above all else, quirky.  Cute and quirky are pretty much the two key ingredients for Manic Pixie Dream Girl.  She is not usually the protaganist but is often used to rescue the male protaganist from his dull emotionless existence.  She is full of the wonder of life and marvels at the delight that each moment holds.

The phrase was first used to describe Kirsten Dunst’s character in 2005′s Elizabethtown but the archetype has been around a lot longer than that, going all the way to Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby and back.   Other Manic Pixie Dream Girls include Barbara Streisand in What’s Up Doc?, Sarah Jessica Parker in L.A. Story, Charlize Theron in Sweet November (with a twist of tragedy) and Natalie Portman in Garden State.

But the current reigning monarch of all Manic Pixie Dream Girls is Zooey Deschanel.  Almost every role she plays, from (500) Days of Summer to Yes Man is some form of this type.  Her new TV show New Girl (quite funny by the way) is almost entirely based on her embodiment of this archetype.  On the flipside, a writer on this trope’s page points out that in Elf her character is pretty jaded and that Will Ferrell is actually the Manic Pixie Dream Guy.

Edit:(4/29/12) OK, this is what happens when I’m excited and I want to post an article.  I post and then think about it and have more to say or correct.  In regards to Zooey, she actually started out as the snarky best friend in movies like Abandon or Failure to Launch.  In fact, her character was one of the few bright points in Failure.  She only moved to Manic Pixie Dream Girl after movies mentioned above.

What Manic Pixie Dream Girls have you picked up on?

And now for your viewing pleasure, a couple of videos.  First up, Zooey makes fun of her own reputation on SNL

And even better, the need to care for all these Manic Pixie Dream Girls roaming the streets has finally led to a home being set up for them.  Enjoy.

Posted on by Chick 1 in Tropes 2,408 Comments

2,408 Responses to Trope of the Week: Manic Pixie Dream Girl

  1. 프라그마틱 슬롯 무료

    The Reason Behind Pragmatic Slot Experience Has Become Everyone’s Obsession In 2024
    프라그마틱 슬롯 무료

  2. menwiki.Men

    The No. One Question That Everyone Working In Glass Seal
    Repair Should Be Able To Answer window seal replacement cost
    (menwiki.Men)

  3. Louisa

    Five Killer Quora Answers To Under Desk Treadmill Uk under
    desk treadmill uk (Louisa)

  4. 먹튀검증 커뮤니티

    Watch Out: How Toto Is Taking Over And What Can We Do About It
    먹튀검증 커뮤니티

  5. bandar online togel

    Bandar Online Togel Tools To Make Your Daily Life Bandar Online Togel Trick Every Person Should
    Know bandar online togel

  6. Kurtis

    You’ll Be Unable To Guess Bio-Ethanol Fireplace’s Tricks bio-ethanol
    fire [Kurtis]

  7. residential windows Repair

    12 Pvc Doctor Facts To Make You Think Twice About The
    Water Cooler residential windows Repair

  8. Manie

    3 Reasons Commonly Cited For Why Your Bunk Bed Double Isn’t Working (And How To Fix
    It) double bunk bed frame – Manie -

  9. Yasmin

    14 Questions You’re Afraid To Ask About Spare Car Key Maker spare car key maker near me; Yasmin,

  10. Mitchel

    Private ADHD Assessment Near Me Tips From The Top In The
    Industry private adhd assessment somerset – Mitchel,

  11. butt plugs and sex

    Beware Of These “Trends” About Butt Plugs Near Me butt plugs and sex

  12. Salvatore

    Guide To Double Glazing Repairs Near Me: The Intermediate Guide In Double Glazing Repairs
    Near Me double glazing repairs near me (Salvatore)

  13. www.sitiosecuador.Com

    24 Hours To Improving Adults Bunk Beds Uk
    bunk for adults [http://www.sitiosecuador.Com]

  14. ferrari smart key

    A Glimpse In Ferrari Key Programming Near Me’s Secrets
    Of Ferrari Key Programming Near Me ferrari smart key

  15. Sadie

    The Unspoken Secrets Of Uk ADHD Medication best medication for
    anxiety depression and adhd (Sadie)

  16. diva test adhd

    Why ADHD Test Is Harder Than You Think diva test adhd

  17. Treadmills uk

    Five Killer Quora Answers On Treadmills UK Reviews Treadmills uk

  18. french door fridge with Ice maker In freezer

    10 Quick Tips For French Fridge Freezers Uk french door fridge with Ice maker In freezer

  19. medication for inattentive Adhd

    The 9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Medication For Inattentive ADHD medication for inattentive Adhd

  20. driving Anxiety symptoms

    11 “Faux Pas” That Actually Are Okay To Do With Your General Anxiety Symptoms driving Anxiety symptoms

  21. Bifold Door repair

    20 Resources That’ll Make You Better At Bi Fold Door Repair Near Me Bifold Door repair

  22. Folding Treadmill

    15 Reasons To Not Ignore Fold Away Treadmill UK Folding Treadmill

  23. malmberg-tate.hubstack.Net

    Guide To Large Wood Burning Stove: The Intermediate Guide On Large Wood Burning Stove large wood
    burning stove (malmberg-tate.hubstack.Net)

  24. stickcicada16.bravejournal.net

    Why Pick A Card Kit For Card Making? 200만원 대출 – stickcicada16.bravejournal.net,

  25. best integrated fridge Freezer 70/30

    14 Questions You’re Afraid To Ask About Integrated Fridge
    Freezer Deals best integrated fridge Freezer 70/30

  26. Tomoko

    12 Companies Setting The Standard In Situs Togel Online
    situs toto (Tomoko)

  27. Mercedes Benz key

    The 10 Most Scariest Things About Mercedes Benz Key Replacement Mercedes Benz key

  28. french door fridge large

    10 Things You’ll Need To Be Aware Of French Door Fridge With Ice Maker french door fridge large

  29. Rico

    10 Locations Where You Can Find 3 Wheel Double Buggy best 3
    wheel buggy (Rico)

  30. compact treadmill incline

    See What Compact Treadmill Incline Tricks The Celebs Are Utilizing
    compact treadmill incline

  31. Most Realisticsex Doll

    How To Find Out If You’re Ready To Affordable Realistic
    Sex Dolls Most Realisticsex Doll

  32. misted

    The Reasons Double Glazing Units Near Me Is More Difficult Than You Imagine misted

  33. bentley continental gt key

    Five Things You’re Not Sure About About Bentley Bentayga Key bentley continental gt key

  34. Max

    Do You Know How To Explain Private Psychiatrists
    To Your Boss private practice psychiatrist, Max,

  35. upvc Tilt and turn window Adjustment

    20 Amazing Quotes About Tilt And Turn Window Locks upvc Tilt and turn window Adjustment

  36. Stylish prams

    The Most Effective 2 In 1 Stroller Car Seat
    Tricks To Rewrite Your Life Stylish prams

  37. repair window hinges

    What Do You Know About Handles And Hinges? repair window hinges

  38. 프라그마틱 무료게임

    What Is Pragmatic Slot Manipulation And Why Is Everyone Speakin’ About It?
    프라그마틱 무료게임

  39. mobility scooters

    The 10 Scariest Things About Indoor Mobility
    Scooters mobility scooters

  40. Upvc door lock repair

    Five Killer Quora Answers To Upvc Door Lock Repair Upvc door lock repair

  41. Front doors bromley

    Watch Out: How Bromley Double Glazing Is Taking Over The World And
    What You Can Do About It Front doors bromley

  42. daftar Situs Togel

    Five Killer Quora Answers On Daftar Situs Togel daftar Situs Togel

  43. Car Keys Programmer

    5 Killer Quora Answers To Car Keys Programmer Car Keys Programmer

  44. Retro Fridge freezer

    See What Retro Fridge Freezer Tricks The Celebs Are
    Using Retro Fridge freezer

  45. Private Adhd Assessment Taunton

    10 Untrue Answers To Common Private ADHD Assessment Adult Questions: Do You Know The Correct Ones?

    Private Adhd Assessment Taunton

  46. Retro Look Fridge Freezer

    10 Wrong Answers For Common Frost Free Retro
    Fridge Freezer Questions Do You Know The Correct Answers?
    Retro Look Fridge Freezer

  47. window Repairs near me

    The 10 Most Scariest Things About Double Glazed Window Repairs Near Me window Repairs near me

  48. Walking Pad Under desk

    You’ll Never Be Able To Figure Out This Walking Pad Under Desk’s Secrets Walking Pad Under desk

  49. Toto Macau

    Five Toto Online Terbaik Projects To Use For Any Budget Toto Macau

  50. Rolls Royce Ghost Key Fob

    The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Rolls Royce Ghost Key
    Fob Rolls Royce Ghost Key Fob

Add a Comment