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 4,019 Comments

4,019 Responses to Trope of the Week: Manic Pixie Dream Girl

  1. Spare bmw key

    Are You In Search Of Inspiration? Check Out Bmw Spare Key Cost Spare bmw key

  2. Joey

    What Is Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit Lawyer Mesothelioma And How
    To Use It mesothelioma lawyers [Joey]

  3. bamboo-Directory.com

    7 Simple Strategies To Completely Moving Your Electric Wheelchairs
    Near Me Cheap Power chairs (bamboo-Directory.com)

  4. Shana

    It is important to choose the right law firm to
    handle your asbestos trust fund or mesothelioma
    claims. A national law firm will have extensive experience litigating mesothelioma cases as well as asbestos legal
    (Shana) trust fund claims nationwide.

  5. can you repair misted double glazed Windows

    20 Trailblazers Setting The Standard In Cost Of Replacing Misted Double Glazing
    Units can you repair misted double glazed Windows

  6. Best truck accident Lawyer

    Five Truck Accident Lawyers Projects To Use For Any Budget Best truck accident Lawyer

  7. Jeremiah

    The 10 Most Scariest Things About Sectional Sofa Sale sectional sofa sale (Jeremiah)

  8. three Wheel pushchairs

    10 Three Wheeler Pushchairs That Are Unexpected three Wheel pushchairs

  9. Windows Maidstone

    What’s The Current Job Market For Windows Maidstone Professionals?
    Windows Maidstone

  10. bbs.lingshangkaihua.com

    The 10 Scariest Things About Audi Car Keys Replacement audi car keys replacement
    (bbs.lingshangkaihua.com)

  11. nearby

    Why Audi Advanced Key Is Fast Becoming The Hottest Trend Of 2023 nearby

  12. mini Cooper Key Fob

    The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Replacement Key For Mini Cooper mini Cooper Key Fob

  13. beautiful Sexdoll

    Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Life Size Adult Dolls?
    beautiful Sexdoll

  14. item Upgrader Mod

    A The Complete Guide To Item Upgrading From Start To Finish item Upgrader Mod

  15. mesothelioma Lawyer

    15 Strange Hobbies That Will Make You More Successful At Mesothelioma Asbestos Claims mesothelioma Lawyer

  16. Amee

    10 Meetups Around Locksmith Near Me Cheap You Should Attend upvc door locksmith near me (Amee)

  17. Vauxhall corsa key fob replacement

    10 Things That Your Family Taught You About Vauxhall
    Corsa Key Fob Replacement Vauxhall corsa key fob replacement

  18. Terrie

    15 Things You Didn’t Know About Private Testing For ADHD
    private assessment for adhd northern ireland (Terrie)

  19. asbestos Settlement

    From the 1930s until the 1970s, asbestos Settlement was extensively
    used in construction materials. It was used in pipe
    insulation, fireproofing, cements, plasters and breaks, and many more.

  20. Situs Toto Login

    The 10 Scariest Things About Situs Toto Login Situs Toto Login

  21. volvo Small Key fob

    A Comprehensive Guide To Replacement Volvo Keys.
    Ultimate Guide To Replacement Volvo Keys volvo Small Key fob

  22. Isiah

    Guide To Accident Claim Lawyers: The Intermediate Guide On Accident Claim Lawyers accident claim lawyer – Isiah -

  23. Situs Toto

    It’s The Complete Cheat Sheet For Link Togel Situs Toto

  24. Fireplace suites

    7 Simple Tips To Totally Rocking Your Electric Fire Suite UK Fireplace suites

  25. l shaped Sofa leatherette

    Guide To L Shaped Sofa Leatherette: The Intermediate
    Guide The Steps To L Shaped Sofa Leatherette l shaped Sofa leatherette

  26. Audi a3 Keys

    10 Life Lessons We Can Take From Audi A3 Replacement Key Audi a3 Keys

  27. mesothelioma Lawyers

    You’ve Forgotten Asbestos Attorney Mesothelioma:
    10 Reasons That You No Longer Need It mesothelioma Lawyers

  28. Wood Fireplace

    10 Erroneous Answers To Common Fireplace Surround Questions: Do You
    Know Which Ones? Wood Fireplace

  29. images.google.as

    Why Audi A4 Spare Key Is Everywhere This Year replacement audi a3
    key; images.google.as,

  30. uk private adhd assessment

    8 Tips For Boosting Your Private ADHD Game uk private adhd assessment

  31. wheelchairs electric For sale

    The Leading Reasons Why People Perform Well In The Light Electric Wheelchair Industry wheelchairs electric For sale

  32. doodleordie.com

    A Step-By-Step Guide To Choosing The Right Table Top Freezer cheap Fridge uk
    (doodleordie.com)

  33. sofas sectional

    What’s The Job Market For Sofas Sectionals Professionals?

    sofas sectional

  34. Mesothelioma Lawyers

    7 Small Changes That Will Make A Big Difference With Your Asbestos
    Attorney Mesothelioma Lawyers

  35. infant Car seat Best

    Infant Car Seat Best Tools To Ease Your Daily Lifethe
    One Infant Car Seat Best Technique Every Person Needs To Learn infant Car seat Best

  36. replacements

    This Is The Ultimate Guide To Double Glazing Windows Repair replacements

  37. Coffee grinder compact

    14 Cartoons On Ceramic Grinder That Will Brighten Your Day Coffee grinder compact

  38. Marcia

    15 Amazing Facts About Black Electric Wheelchair That You Never
    Known electric wheelchairs for sale [Marcia]

  39. www.laba688.com

    10 Undisputed Reasons People Hate Asbestos Attorney Mesothelioma mesothelioma lawyers (http://www.laba688.com)

  40. metooo.co.Uk

    The Main Issue With Folding Treadmill, And How You Can Fix It folding treadmill With incline (metooo.co.Uk)

  41. Rowena

    What’s The Most Important “Myths” Concerning Upgrade Item Could Actually Be Accurate upgrade items (Rowena)

  42. Ashton

    See What Mesothelioma Attorney Tricks The Celebs Are Utilizing mesothelioma (Ashton)

  43. emseyi.Com

    A Step-By-Step Guide To Choosing Your Adult Diagnosis Of ADHD private adhd Diagnosis Wales (emseyi.Com)

  44. Loretta

    Guide To 2 Seater Leather And Fabric Sofa:
    The Intermediate Guide On 2 Seater Leather And
    Fabric Sofa 2 seater leather and fabric sofa
    - Loretta,

  45. psychiatric Assessment Near me

    See What Psychiatric Assessment Near Me Tricks The Celebs Are Utilizing psychiatric Assessment Near me

  46. Adhd Medication Assessment

    Adult Adhd Assessments Explained In Less Than 140 Characters Adhd Medication Assessment

  47. Wiley

    You’ll Never Guess This Sofa Sale Clearance’s Tricks sofa
    sale clearance (Wiley)

  48. Jodie

    You’ll Never Guess This Lawyer Injury Accident’s Tricks lawyer injury accident (Jodie)

  49. Shalanda

    What’s The Job Market For Cheapest Electric Wheelchairs Professionals Like?
    cheapest electric wheelchairs (Shalanda)

  50. Attorney For Truck Accident

    The No. 1 Question Everybody Working In Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me Should Be Able To Answer Attorney For Truck Accident

Add a Comment