Written Sound Effect: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

We've all experienced it: We're reading a book, or a comic, or a website, when all of a sudden:

 

The [[Written Roar]] is one specific kind of '''Written Sound Effect'''. Contrast the [[Unsound Effect]], which is a written effect that is ''not'' onomatopoeia. A particularly common form of [[Editorial Synaesthesia]]. Can be used for [[Sound Effect Bleep]] with [[Speech Bubbles Interruption]].

{{examples}}

* [[Light Novels]] tend to have these a lot, probably since they are closely related to manga. Especially romantic novels tend to be filled with sound effects ranging from falling petals, the rain, wind to the fast beating of the human heart.

* In ''[[Doraemon]]'', there's a drink that makes your sound solid, turned it into letters. The size is according to how loud you speak it.

* Used occasionally in ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'', most noticeably in the [[Gratuitous English|"United States of Hetalia"]] strips and episode, which imitates American-style comic books. All of them are written in English/Romaji, though some are a little odd (like "spam spam spam" for patting someone on the shoulder) and others [[Unsound Effect]]s ([[Cute Kitten|a cat appearing]] sounds like "Neko!").

 

* [[The Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age]] [[Jimmy Olsen]] had his ultrasonic [[Superman]] signal watch, with its distinctive "zeee...zeee...zeee..." sound.

* The ''[[Doctor Who]]'' comics represented the TARDIS's instantly recognisable phasing-in effect with the equally distinctive "VWOOOOORP! VWOOOOOORP''

* A [[Marvel Adventures]] comic [http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/297446.html featuring] French [[Boisterous Bruiser]] Bartroc ze Lepair had all of his sound effects made French. "LeBOK!"

* Speaking of Marvel, they even have trademarked onomatopoeiae, like SNIKT ([[Wolverine]] sheathing his claws - temporarily changed to SCHLIKT when he had the adamantium sucked out of his bones), THWIP ([[Spider-Man]] casting his webbing) or BAMF ([[X-Men|Nightcrawler]] teleporting).

* [[Green Arrow]] fought a serial killer named Onomatopoeia, who only spoke to describe the sounds he heard (or anticipated hearing.) He'd usually say 'CLICK, BLAM!' before shooting his victims.

* ''Warrior'' #1 treats us to "'''SKRONK'''," which supposedly represents the Ultimate Warrior's snarling/coughing-up-phlegm. He does it underwater.

* EPA is the sound of [[Green Lantern]] punching [[Sinestro]], according to the Comic Book Guy of [[The Simpsons]]. Became an [[Ascended Meme]] with The Sinestro Corps War.

* ''[[Mad Magazine|MAD]]'' #20 had a story told almost entirely in pictures with sound effects written over. Dialogue was reduced to the phrases "AARRGH!" and "GNNG!" An alphabetical list can be found [http://www.madcoversite.com/dmd-alphabetical.html here].

* ''[[Youngblood]]'' uses "eepBeep" for the sound of a beeping wrist communicator.

* [[Wilhelm Busch]] (19th century artist from Germany) was pretty good at them. "Klickeradoms", "Rickeracke", "Klingelings"... these wouldn't be out of place in a modern comic either. The dogs Plisch and Plum are even named after sound effects (which are used when evil guy Schlich throws them into a pond).

* In one ''[[Achille Talon]]'' album, a villain has the (dis)ability to produce sounds completely inappropriate, like a grenade detonating with a klaxon sound.

 

== [[Literature]] ==

* In a literary example, L.E. Modesitt, Jr. likes to use those in his novels, notably in the Saga of Recluce series. By far the most prevalent is the explosive ''CRRRRRUMMMMMPTTTTT''.

 

* The old ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' [[Live Action TV]] [[Series]] used comic-style written sound effects for [[The Hit Flash]]. ''BIFF! ZOK! POW!"

** ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' (no, not ''[[The Avengers (Comic Book)|The Avengers]]'') parodied a Batman fight sequence in "The Winged Avenger". Also, the comic book writer in the episode uses rather odd onomatopoeia. ''Eeee-erp!''

** Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy in ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' use this as well, along with [[Unsound Effect]]s - punching over cardboard cut-outs of villains in their opening sequence produce "PROP", "CARDBOARD", and "LAME".

* In the ''[[That '70s Show]]'' episode "Cat Fight Club", Jackie's fight with Laurie is illustrated by ''Batman''-style [[The Hit Flash|Hit Flashes]] and written sound effects like "Meow" and "Scratch!".

* ''[[Big Bad Beetleborgs]]'', oh so much.

 

== [[Music]] ==

* "SPLUT!", for the sound a pie makes when it hits [[Garfield]]'s face.

* [[Peanuts]], of course, has "AUUGHH!"

{{quote|'''Hobbes''': Are you sure this is such a good idea?

'''Calvin''': You doubting Thomases get in the way of more scientific advances (...) Hit the button!

'''the button''': BOINK!

'''Hobbes''': (staring right at the fourth wall) Scientific progress goes 'boink'? }}

 

== [[Theatre]] ==

* In ''The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)'', the Tower of Babel scene ends when one of the characters threatens the others with a picture of a bomb. On the reverse of this picture is printed "BOOM!", or, when the bomb-picture-thrower is speaking in fake Spanish, [[El Spanish-O|"EL BOOMO!"]]

 

* The ''[[Bionicle]]'' comics all use this. Probably the most famous sound among fans is the Bohrok's distinctive "Chik Chik Chik Chik". Amusingly, a [[Translation Train Wreck]] fan-video of one of the movies subtitles the slashing sound effects as "Hurting Noises!".

 

* In the 1989 [[Arcade Game]] ''Violence Fight'', every time somebody got knocked to the floor a written sound effects as "BOGON" or "DOGOON" would pop up.

* In ''[[Captain America and The Avengers]]'', comicbook-style fight noises such as "KRAK!" and "WABOOM!" appear on screen.

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/19.html This] strip of ''[[Irregular Webcomic]]'' provides a subversion. "You can stop making those silly sword noises".

* ''[[Geist Panik]]'' uses these in combination with [[Unsound Effect]].

* Occasionally used in ''[[Everyday Heroes]]''; for example, [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=180831 someone punching in on a time clock] goes "ka-CLOCK".

* ''[[The Wotch]]'' uses this frequently, especially when one of Anne's (male) friends gets transformed into a girl. "Ka-GIRL!"

* In ''[[American Barbarian]]'', [http://www.ambarb.com/?p=181 numerous during the fight], quite often elsewhere.

* In ''[[Shan Shan|The Adventures of Shan Shan]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20131027153046/http://shanshan.upperrealms.com/view.php?pageid=006&chapterid=1 WHAM! into the gate].

* In ''[[Sinfest]]'', [[The Bully|the bullies]]' attack on Crimney had no words in the entire panel, but many sound effects, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140209190143/http://sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4247 such as boof, and rawr].

* In ''[[Our Little Adventure]]'', [http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0160.html BOP for a collision, and WHAMP for letting her fall as he started to help her up]—she apologizes, because that was a stupid time to insult him.

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* Many episodes of [[Cartoon Network]]'s ''[[Courage the Cowardly Dog]]'' had these, along with the [[Unsound Effect]] at times.

* The French animated series ''Enigma'' used them from time to time.

* Every time Cosmo and Wanda grant a wish in ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'', a magic cloud that reads "Poof" appears. A lot of times a non sound effect word appears relating to what Timmy wished for.

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