4th Wall Awareness

The ability to be aware that one's Universe is fictional, and potentially use this to act in otherwise impossible ways within their fictional universe.

Also Called

• Comic Awareness
• Fourth Wall Breaking
• Medium Awareness

Capabilities

User is aware that one's Universe is a fictional/false one, allowing them to carry out acts that, within the Universe, would otherwise be impossible. Depending on the extent of the user's power, one could potentially gain the powers of Reality Warping and/or Omniscience within the context of their own false Universe.

Applications

• 4th Wall Interaction

Associations

• Plot Device Techniques
• Reality Perception

Limitations

• Users may appear to be abnormal to every one else.
• Increased likelihood of being driven insane.
• May be linked to normal senses.

Known Users

See Also: Medium Awareness.

Gallery

Deadpool (Marvel) shows awareness that he is in an illustrated story.

She-Hulk (Marvel)

Loki (Marvel)

Uatu the Watcher (Marvel)

Pinkie Pie (My Little Pony: Frendship is Magic) can view and shatter the fourth wall.

Ajimu (Medaka Box) is aware that she is in a manga and will be animated.

Neo (The Matrix) is aware that The Matrix is a false existence, and as such can manipulate its reality, stopping bullets in their paths.

The title character of the film Rango is aware of the fact that he's a fictional character in the film.

Many Kid Icarus: Uprising characters like Pit and Viridi, often break 4th wall by making video games references or mentioning that they're in a video game themselves

Sonic talking to the audience in the show's segment "Sonic Sez"

Lyssa Drak (DC)

Kirihime Nastuno - "The protagonist has enter the story." (Dog & Scissors)

Kuzco (The Emperor's New Groove)

Scott Pilgrim (Scott Pilgrim comics) frequently shows an awareness that he's in a fictional universe, telling many other characters to "read the book" when they ask questions regarding the events of previous chapters or volumes.

The Squid Sisters (Splatoon), Callie (left) and Marie (right), are aware that they are in a video game and occasionally reference that fact.

The Twelfth Doctor tells the viewers to Google the bootstrap paradox (Doctor Who)

Neptune (Hyperdimension Neptunia) Breaks the fourth wall

Uncle Grandpa (Uncle Grandpa) is shown to be aware of the fact that he is in a cartoon, and would sometimes acknowledge the fictional world around him and the viewer.

Sardonyx (Steven Universe) is implied to have a limited awareness of the fictional nature of her show, making references to it as she gets to know Smoky Quartz, such as reffering to one of the voice actors and to Cartoon Network itself.

Tamatoa (Moana) is slightly aware that he is in a Disney film.

Control Freak (Teen Titans) is completely aware that he is in an animated series and has even found a way to reboot it which resulted in the creation of Teen Titans Go!

Mine's (akame ga kill) Wheel of pain (with gangan joker's mangas)

The Joker (DC Comics)

Card Collector (Valkyrie Crusade) is aware she is in a game, and even thinks that her power should be used on it.

On April Fools' Day, Luan Loud's (The Loud House) comedy becomes strong enough to break the Fourth Wall.

The Squid Baron (center) (Shantae series) is aware he lives in a videogame, which often rubs off on Shantae.

Frank Underwood (House of Cards) frequently blurts his ambitions to the audience, and no one's the wiser.

Elliot Alderson (Mr. Robot) often likens the audience to an imaginary friend.

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