Free Fall Romance



Our heroes appear to be falling to their doom, from a very tall height, but they don't seem to be too worried because they are in LOVE. Instead of panicking, they will probably hold hands while falling and share a heartwarming moment. There may even be significant plot development.

They will usually be saved by an improbable occurrence, or an ally that was there all along swooping in to save them. In the latter case, the situation is treated as if the ally's appearance is an extremely lucky coincidence, even if they were Right There in the moments leading up to The Fall. Or like in the Spirited Away example, one of the characters knows how to fly, and was just temporarily shocked into falling.

This is very closely related to Flight of Romance, with the difference that the heroes aren't in control of their "flight" at all, and the viewer is usually unsure whether they should be awed by the sweetness of the moment, or seriously concerned for the character's lives. Fortunately, it's Not the Fall That Kills You.

Often there's some variation of Headbutt of Love, and Almost Kiss. May result in a Now or Never Kiss, or a Dying Declaration of Love, although in this trope the characters usually do NOT worry like someone really about to die, or just don't think about it much at all, because The Power of Love will save them, obviously. Related: Love Floats.

Compare Free-Fall Fight, for the less-lovey-more-fighty version of the trope.

Anime and Manga

 * Happens more than once in Eureka Seven These kids don't seem at all fazed to find themselves skydiving with no parachute. In fact, just falling isn't dangerous enough, so in the third show opening this happens in the middle of a Free-Fall Fight : http://youtu.be/dAYRRWo-tU0
 * Spirited Away: A very beautiful example with other creatures and teardrops of happiness accompanying the heroes. Also a plot-relevant moment, as the main "reveal" in the movie is what triggers The Fall.
 * In the Ouran High School Host Club anime, when . It's a slow-motion fall that's quite romantic until the splash.
 * Immortal Rain Chapter 30 - The main heroes reunite after, he leaps high (like, hundreds of feet!?! into the air with her in his arms, while escaping danger. It's very sweet, there's a great view and fireworks (literal ones). But how they're going to land safely is never mentioned or explained. They're happily sitting on some grass in the next panel. Part of a larger Not the Fall That Kills You recurring trope in this work.
 * The very end of Red Line ends in a flying kiss. No, we won't tell you who it involves, or how they got in the air, because you need to see something that awesome for yourself.

Film

 * Shrek: "Shrek 4D" (14-minute special) Shrek and Fiona falling beside a waterfall, saved by lady dragon.
 * Subverted in Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs where Scrat and Scratte both appear to be doing this... ...but then it turns out to be part of Scratte's plan to steal Scrat's acorn.

Western Animation

 * In the My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic episode "Secret of My Excess," Spike confesses his love for Rarity while they're both falling. She cuts him off and smiles to let him know that she knew all along.