Fanlore:Featured Article Archives/2024: Week 45

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+ The Smiler + by MadamMonarch (Apr 2024)

The Smiler is a rollercoaster at the British theme park Alton Towers. Many of the park's rollercoasters are anthropomorphised in fandom, though The Smiler is arguably one of the most popular to do so with. Fanworks will frequently involve anthro!Smiler interacting with the other coasters.

The coaster also features extensive lore centred around The Ministry of Joy, an organisation focused on spreading joy through perhaps less than humane methods. Horror is a key theme of the ride and backstory, especially psychological and body horror, and fanworks often reflect this. Alternatively, the ride has also been suggested as an obscure example of a Tumblr Sexyman.

Fans will cosplay as The Smiler itself, recreate the ride in the likes of Planet Coaster or Roblox, and write fic about the activities of the Ministry.