Door gag

See also: wrapping world

Although sometimes attributed to Isadore "Friz" Freleng (of Warner Bros) due to his habit of including a specific variation of it in his cartoons, the gag is much older than him. Oldest cartoon instances are from 1930s and the gag has been used even before cartoons existed.

Can be seen as somewhat related to (ACME) portable hole which was often used in WB cartoons for this same gag.

The one frame shot variation. Often involves multiple variation without any cuts. The camera is placed so the multiple doors are visible. This is often at the end of a hallway. This camera placement, especially with no cuts, lends itself well to unexpected exit variation and can be panned nicely into several variations especially the outside door and doors to the same room variations.

The 3rd person shot variation. Works well for unexpected character, unexpected scene, outside door, inside door, and wall behind the door. But some variations are spoiled by this type of shot. This shot is less common and is oten used at the end or less often at the beginning of the gag.

The 1st person point of view shot variation. A good option for any of the variation mentioned for third person. An interesting choice for missed action, unexpected character meet, unexpected character swap, turning tables, and some portable hole variations. Sadly this is rarely used in the Freleng door gag.

Moving camera variation. Hardly ever used.

Overhead camera variation. Never used?

Split frame variation. Useful for achieving a simular surrealness as the impossible unexpected exits but has the option of being totally realistic. Rarely used

Immediate door close variation. There is no reason a character must proceed through a door after opening it. This is an especially appropriate reaction to the turned tables variation.

There is the unexpected exit variation. An example would be entering a door in a hallway (or room) and exiting a different door in the same hallway.

The unexpected character variation. An example would be setting up the situation to expect no one to be behind a door but someone is there when the door is opened.

The unexpected object variation. The classic example is handing a bomb to a pursuer followed by an immediate door close variation.

The missed action variation. After several variations of the gag, a character peeks out of a door, sees nothing, then closes it just before another variation occurs. Thus the peeking character missed the gag. The peeking character may or may not be and unexpected character or may or may not be directly involved in the gag.

The unexpected scene variation. A character or the audience is caught of guard when opening a door reveals an entire scene that seems out of place. One or more unexpected characters may populate the scene.

The unexpected character meet variation. Both characters know the other is present but are convinced they know the others exact whereabouts. But they both stumble upon each other simultaneously.

The unexpected character swap variation. An example would be Mouse entering a door but when the door is opened immediately after Dog is seen standing there.

The help variation. An example would be Cat wanting to capture Mouse. Mouse polity opens a door for Cat and Cat rushes through.

The false help variation. An example would be Cat wanting to capture Mouse. Mouse polity opens a door for Cat and Cat rushes through. But the door leads nowhere helpful for Cat or can be locked immediately. Or Cat polity opens a door for Mouse but there is a cage behind the door that Mouse runs inside of.

The outside door variation. A interior door unexpectedly leads outside. This could be on a 2nd floor or higher and be a false help variant. This could be on the basement floor or lower and be unexpected scene variant.

The inside door variation. A exterior door unexpectedly leads inside.

The accidental help variation. An example would be Cat wanting to capture Mouse. But as Mouse rushes into the scene, Cat reacts without thinking by polity opening an escape door for Mouse.

The chase order variation. Cat is chasing mouse when they both enter a door. But Mouse is chasing Cat when the exit. This may involve 3 or more characters also.

The turning tables variation. Cat is chasing Mouse. But some variant of the gag gives Mouse the means to turn the tables on Cat. Such as the entry of his friend Dog into the scene.

The unexpected character walk though variation. An example would be setting having Cat and Mouse deeply involved in the gag for several variations and suddenly have Lama (perhaps even one from another fiction) enter the gag then leave. Cat, Mouse or both may or may not react to this for comic purposes. Multiple characters may enter and have their own variation of the gag that they perform.

The unexpected character swap variation. An example would be Dog entering a door but when the door is opened immediately after Cat is seen standing there.

The simultaneous action variation. All character simultaneously perform the same action as if they are unaware of each other. Cat exits door 1 and enters door 4 while Dog exits door 2 and enters door 5 while Mouse exits door 3 and enters door 6.

The doors to the same room variation. Cat enters door 1, Mouse enters Door 2, Dog enters door 3, but all doors lead to the same room.

The door behind the door variation. Opening a door reveals another door.

The wall behind the door variation. Opening a door reveals a wall. A pursuing character may collide with it.

The filling the cramped room variation. More many character than seem possible continually enter a door.

The emptying the cramped room variation. More many character than seem possible continually exit a door.

The portable hole variation. A door can be moved around and leads to different areas depending on where it comes to rest. Movement might be sliding it along its wall, opening it as if the hinges switched sides. Opening it up or down as if the hinges were on top of bottom edge. A hinged door suddenly opened as if it were a pocket door. Or a completely portable door. A variation of this variation is a working door being removed from its place to show there is no longer an opening there.

The little door variation. When a small door within the big door opens immediately upon closure of the big door. Rarely this is reversed (close little door, open big door).

The Doorknob failure variation.