Tropedia

  • All unique and most-recently-edited pages, images and templates from Original Tropes and The True Tropes wikis have been copied to this wiki. The two source wikis have been redirected to this wiki. Please see the FAQ on the merge for more.

READ MORE

Tropedia
Tropedia
WikEd fancyquotesQuotesBug-silkHeadscratchersIcons-mini-icon extensionPlaying WithUseful NotesMagnifierAnalysisPhoto linkImage LinksHaiku-wide-iconHaikuLaconic
Kimmy 293

Bob the Mouse is from the wrong side of the tracks, a true scrapper from the bad side of town but how do you show this easily? Add some notches to his ears for that tried and tested "been through it all" indicator. The ol' 'chunk out of the ear' character design trick has been around for some time and most commonly appears on animated animals. On the Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism this can apply to almost all points from Nearly-Normal Animal to Funny Animal (though can appear on Petting Zoo People) as long as the ears are still large enough and/or discernible as non-human.

It acts as a simple indicator of a character's alignment or temperament if within a group, usually denoting tough or evil traits. It usually is displayed on characters within the rodent species but can also appear on cats and other species with ears large enough to show it off.

Sometimes can be used for added character in a Cute Little Fangs sense where the character isn't at all gritty and/or bad. Tangentially related to Good Scars, Evil Scars.

Has nothing to do with the ear of Notch, the creator of Minecraft.

Examples of Ear Notch include:


Anime and Manga[]

  • Boss in Hamtaro.
  • Giro, the villanous wolf leader from Arashi no Yoru ni, due to him having one of his ears bitten off by Mei's mother before telling her son to run away as he and the other wolf maul her to death.


Comic Books[]

  • Gen in Usagi Yojimbo has a broken horn.
  • In the comic strip Outland by Berke Breathed, Mortimer Mouse (a parody of Mickey) has a bite taken out of one ear--supposedly the result of a scuffle with Disney exec Michael Eisner.


Film-Animated[]


Film-Live Action[]

  • Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had one from when he was still a regular rat in the live action films. In the computer generated sequel, he doesn't, prompting one of the directors to joke in the commentary that he's had some work done between films.
  • Tsu'tey from Avatar.
  • The mother tiger from Two Brothers.
  • Alvin in the live-action adaptation of Alvinandthe Chipmunks has a notch in his ear, perhaps to identify him as a scrappiest member of the group.


Literature[]

  • The Dresden Files has Harry's dog Mouse with a notched ear. When Harry first gets the puppy he notes that its probably a sign the pup is either more brave or more stupid than the rest of the litter.


Web Comics[]


Western Animation[]


Real Life[]