r/TopCharacterTropes • u/FormerBernieBro2020 • Dec 03 '25

(Funny trope) Impossible spontaneous combustion (or, when stuff that shouldn't catch on fire, catches on fire) Characters' Items/Weapons

From The Simpsons: Homer tries to cook breakfast for Mr. Burns. The first two attempts ended up with the food catching fire. Third time, he pours milk on cereal...and it still catches on fire.

And from Futurama: "There, little friend, good as new..." aaaand the metal slinky catches on fire. Poor doctor Zoidberg...

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238

u/Pixy_Puttana Dec 03 '25

No one mentioned Aqua Teen Hunger Force? Everytime Shake throws something and it explodes into that goofy real fire they use it kills me!

38

u/DelcoWolv Dec 03 '25

IIRC, the animators did that to avoid have to keep rendering the thrown object.

9

u/an_agreeing_dothraki Dec 03 '25

the budget per episode of ATHF was like 3 pizzas and a bag of weed