<p>According <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FaceFault" rel="noreferrer">here</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When shocked or surprised, often by an absurdity or non sequitur, the
  listener may fall over onto his face, his limbs in a twisted mass
  above him. In its typical form, the character in question has just
  heard someone else say something so incredibly stupid that it, quite
  literally, floors them. A device usually limited to humorous anime,
  <strong>this may have been imported from a similar trope in <a href="http://www.lileks.com/comics/jerry/index.html" rel="noreferrer">early American comic strips called the 'flip-take'</a></strong>. A variation used mainly in films
  (as falling on one's own face in real life tends to be dangerous) has
  the characters briefly faint backwards, as opposed to forwards. Often
  includes, and is confused with, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_takes" rel="noreferrer">Wild Takes</a>.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-15T14:12:01.020Z
fair enough but the bulk of your answer, sparing the 'flip-take' link was already stated as insufficient in the question.
iKlsR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-15T23:28:17.203Z
@iKlsR, it's the only stated probable origins of face faults wherever I search. So it is probably it's origin. :)
xjshiya
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-16T13:53:39.867Z
same here, its not exactly along the lines of what i was hoping for but its ok.
iKlsR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-15T06:52:34.727Z
2013-04-15T06:52:34.727Z
xjshiya
<p>In many anime, when characters are surprised or seen to do something stupid, the other characters will sometimes fall or keel over on their faces in some comical positions with their legs in the air. Where did this originate and is it used in any other case and or culture where stupidity or shock is <em>(or)</em> not implied?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/t9Uaq.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>This <a href="http://tropes.wikia.com/wiki/Face_Fault" rel="noreferrer">link offers some information</a> on it but it <strong>doesn't verify or explicitly state</strong> <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Face%20Fault" rel="noreferrer">its</a> origin.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When shocked or surprised, often by an absurdity or non sequitur, the
  listener may fall over onto his face, his limbs in a twisted mass
  above him. In its typical form, the character in question has just
  heard someone else say something so incredibly stupid that it, quite
  literally, floors them.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/k2ZUy.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-01T00:57:16.663Z
Why do you have one part of your question in block quotes? Are you quoting something?
kuwaly
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-01T00:58:07.030Z
@kuwaly editing, the blockquotes section was supposed to have a title, just changed it
iKlsR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-11T16:30:22.400Z
In the Japanese language, a joke or story is said to "slip" (suberu) if at any point it fails to keep up with comedic timing or the joke is seen as unfunny. Therefore, the origin of the actual facefault, the specific action of falling on one's face or back, is likely a literal expression of the slipping (failing) joke, resulting in characters manifesting the metaphorical use of the word literally and physically.
Ajo Koshy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-11T16:44:39.163Z
@AjoKoshy sounds good, answer with a credible source. :)
iKlsR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-11T17:20:23.223Z
@iKlsR, well it doesnt have a source so gave it in comment :P
Ajo Koshy
<tropes><anime-history>
What is the origin of the face fault?
# What is the origin of the face fault?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-04-01
In many anime, when characters are surprised or seen to do something stupid, the other characters will sometimes fall or keel over on their faces in some comical positions with their legs in the air. Where did this originate and is it used in any other case and or culture where stupidity or shock is *(or)* not implied?

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/t9Uaq.png)

This [link offers some information](http://tropes.wikia.com/wiki/Face_Fault) on it but it **doesn't verify or explicitly state** [its](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Face%20Fault) origin.

> When shocked or surprised, often by an absurdity or non sequitur, the
> listener may fall over onto his face, his limbs in a twisted mass
> above him. In its typical form, the character in question has just
> heard someone else say something so incredibly stupid that it, quite
> literally, floors them.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/k2ZUy.png)
**Tags:** tropes anime-history
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why do you have one part of your question in block quotes? Are you quoting something?  
> **username_0**: @kuwaly editing, the blockquotes section was supposed to have a title, just changed it  
> **username_2**: In the Japanese language, a joke or story is said to "slip" (suberu) if at any point it fails to keep up with comedic timing or the joke is seen as unfunny. Therefore, the origin of the actual facefault, the specific action of falling on one's face or back, is likely a literal expression of the slipping (failing) joke, resulting in characters manifesting the metaphorical use of the word literally and physically.  
> **username_0**: @AjoKoshy sounds good, answer with a credible source. :)  
> **username_2**: @iKlsR, well it doesnt have a source so gave it in comment :P  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2013-04-15. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
According [here](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FaceFault)

> When shocked or surprised, often by an absurdity or non sequitur, the
> listener may fall over onto his face, his limbs in a twisted mass
> above him. In its typical form, the character in question has just
> heard someone else say something so incredibly stupid that it, quite
> literally, floors them. A device usually limited to humorous anime,
> **this may have been imported from a similar trope in [early American comic strips called the 'flip-take'](http://www.lileks.com/comics/jerry/index.html)**. A variation used mainly in films
> (as falling on one's own face in real life tends to be dangerous) has
> the characters briefly faint backwards, as opposed to forwards. Often
> includes, and is confused with, [Wild Takes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_takes).
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2013-04-15): fair enough but the bulk of your answer, sparing the 'flip-take' link was already stated as insufficient in the question.  
> **username_3** (2013-04-15): @iKlsR, it's the only stated probable origins of face faults wherever I search. So it is probably it's origin. :)  
> **username_0** (2013-04-16): same here, its not exactly along the lines of what i was hoping for but its ok.  
---
