Cyclopean Creature: Difference between revisions

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[[File:saffi 6995.png|link=Jimmy Two-Shoes|frame]]

A '''Cyclopean Creature''' -- ~~better~~ ~~known~~ just as a "cyclops" -- is a character or creature that naturally only has one eye.

A '''Cyclopean Creature''' -- or informally just a "cyclops" -- is a character or creature that naturally only has one eye. The term is derived from the Cyclopes of [[Classical Mythology]]: here, "cyclops" more accurately translates to "circle-eye" or "wheel-eye", referring to the eye's size rather than its number - the Cyclopes themselves were giants as well.

~~Monocular~~ vision is symbolic of ~~metaphorical~~ narrow vision and lack of ~~depth~~ perception. ~~As such,~~ many human villains have one eye as an indication of their ~~simplistic~~ worldview. This also provides an excuse for an [[Eyepatch of Power]]. Characters with a single eye might also sport [[Peek-a-Bangs]] or some other ocular obtrusion.

As a design trope, monocular vision is occasionally symbolic of a narrow vision and lack of (figurative) perception - many human villains have one eye as an indication of their mypoic worldview. This also provides an excuse for an [[Eyepatch of Power]]. Characters with a single eye might also sport [[Peek-a-Bangs]] or some other ocular obtrusion.

It should be noted that "cyclops" more accurately translates to "circle-eye" or "wheel-eye", referring to its size. Therefore Cyclopean ''technically'' means huge, rather than one-eyed (not to mention Cyclops themselves were giants).

For other deviations from normal eye structure, see [[Eyeless Face]], [[Third Eye]], [[Oculothorax]], and [[Extra Eyes]]. Compare to the robotic subtrope, the [[Cyber Cyclops]]. For other uses of the term, see [[Cyclops|the disambiguation page]].

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* ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' has the Doll Soldiers, which are one-eyed [[Zombie Mooks]] who look similar to [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|EVAs]].

** Although his initial [[One-Winged Angel]] form is [[Extra Eyes]] / [[Eyes Do Not Belong There]], Father takes on a cyclopean appearance right before crossing the [[Bishonen Line]].

* Gold And Silver from ''[[Yaiba]]''. ~~In the latter case, it's also his weakpoint. (~~Gold's eye is ~~just as~~ [[Rubber Man|bouncy]] as everything else).

* Gold And Silver from ''[[Yaiba]]''. Gold's eye is [[Rubber Man|just as bouncy as everything else]]; for Silver, it's his [[Aim for The Eye|weak point]]

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* ''[[X-Men]]'' member Cyclops, so named because of the large visor spanning his head. Underneath the visor he's got two eyes, of course - but getting a look at them can be rather [[Eye Beams|dangerous]]~~, however~~.

* ''[[X-Men]]'' member Scott Summers AKA Cyclops, so named because of the large visor spanning his head. Underneath the visor he's got two eyes, of course - but getting a look at them can be rather [[Eye Beams|dangerous]].

** In the ''[[Age of Apocalypse]]'' timeline, he really did only have one eye, since Wolverine [[Eye Scream|gouged out the other one]].

* A couple appear as minor characters in ''[[Preacher (Comic Book)|Preacher]]''. They're ~~the kids of~~ an isolated family living in the swamps of Louisiana, ~~after~~ generations of in-breeding.

* A couple appear as minor characters in ''[[Preacher (Comic Book)|Preacher]]''. They're from an isolated family living in the swamps of Louisiana, and are born from generations of in-breeding.

== [[Film]] ==

* Mike from ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' is a cyclopean [[Cephalothorax]], and his girlfriend Celia is also one-eyed. The logo of the titular company also features a single eye.

* The Cyclops in ''[[The 7th Voyage of Sinbad]]'', which looks like a giant one-eyed satyr with a horn on its head; it is defeated when Sinbad blinds it by [[Eye Scream|shoves a fiery torch into its eyeball]], then leads it off a nearby cliff. A second, two-horned one also appears, and follows Sinbad and the princess into a cave; Sinbad baits a dragon into fighting the Cyclops, and successfully make their escape while the dragon kills it.

* The Cyclops in ''[[The 7th Voyage of Sinbad]]'', which looks like a giant one-eyed satyr with a horn on its head; it is defeated when Sinbad blinds it by [[Eye Scream|shoves a fiery torch into its eyeball]], then leads it off a nearby cliff. A second, two-horned one also appears, and follows Sinbad and the princess into a cave; Sinbad baits a dragon into fighting the Cyclops, and the two successfully make their escape while the dragon kills it.

* ''[[The Golden Voyage of Sinbad]]'' had a one-eyed centaur.

* In the 2007 ''[[TMNT (film)|TMNT]]'' film, a one-eyed centaur is one of 13 immortal monsters released from a portal 3,000 years ago.

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* Many of the Minions in ''[[Despicable Me]]'' have only one eye.

* [[Disney]]'s ''[[Hercules (1997 film)|Hercules]]'':

** A giant fat Cyclops appears as one of the Titans, which Hades sent after Hercules while the rest of the Titans attacked the gods of Olympus; ''[[Villainous]]'' confirms his name to be Arges.

** A giant fat Cyclops appears as [[Our Titans Are Different|one of the Titans]], which Hades sent after Hercules while the rest of the Titans attacked the gods of Olympus; ''[[Villainous]]'' confirms his name to be Arges.

** The three Fates share one eye between themselves as in the original tales, and one of them has a single orbit in her head.

* Agent Wendy Pleakley from ''[[Lilo and Stitch]]'' is a Plorgonarian, a race of tripedal one-eyed aliens.

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** [[Anti-Villain|Magnus the Red]], [[Authority Equals Asskicking|Primarch]] of the [[Cosmic Plaything|Thousand Sons]], is also known as "the Red Cyclops" - his defining features are [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|coppery red skin]], [[Meaningful Name|being a giant]] and having just one eye. Magnus lost his right eye in a bargain to save his Legion from mutation, with a being whom he would later discover to be Tzeentch; the mutations did go into remission, albeit temporarily. After the Burning of Prospero, Magnus gave in to Chaos, becoming a [[One-Winged Angel|Demon Prince]] of Tzeentch.

*** Older material describes the pre-daemonic Magnus as resembling the mythological Cyclops, as does his ''Epic'' miniature; later editions established the above lore, which is a parallel to that of Odin from [[Norse Mythology]].

*** In the ''[[Horus Heresy]]'' novel ''[[Betrayer]]'' by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]], Lorgar remarks that the truth is kept deliberately skewed; Magnus himself seems to prefer the version where he lost his eye to gain ultimate knowledge.

*** In the ''[[Horus Heresy]]'' novel ''[[Betrayer]]'' by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]], Lorgar remarks that [[Multiple Choice Past|the truth is kept deliberately skewed]]; Magnus himself seems to prefer the version where he lost his eye to gain ultimate knowledge.

* The [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (Tabletop Game)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' card game]] has many an instance:

** [https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Hitotsu-Me_Giant "Hitotsu-Me Giant"] (or simply "Cyclops" in the OCG) is an EARTH Beast-Warrior and one of the earliest examples. A very similar-looking monster named [https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Cybernetic_Cyclopean "Cybernetic Cyclopean"] is a [[Cyber Cyclops]] and possibly a counterpart, as they share a Type and Attribute.

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== [[Video Games]] ==

* Ogre magi in the ''[[Warcraft]]'' universe [[Our Ogres Are Hungrier|have two heads]], one with two eyes and another with one eye. Cyclopean ogres of the single-headed variety also exist in the [[Warcraft Expanded Universe]]. The latter category rarely appear in ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' (although ogre magi are common enough), but ''WoW'' did introduce the gronn, their kin who bear a resemblance to the Harryhausen cyclopes from ''[[The 7th Voyage of Sinbad]]''.

* Various ''[[God of War (series)|God of War]]'' games~~, being~~ based on [[Greek Mythology]], have these as recurring enemies in a few varieties. A common method of finishing them off is to [[Eye Scream|rip their eyes out]].

* Various ''[[God of War (series)|God of War]]'' games based on [[Greek Mythology]] have these as recurring enemies in a few varieties. A common method of finishing them off is to [[Eye Scream|rip their eyes out]].

** In ''[[God of War II]]'', [[Twenty Bear Asses|collecting twenty of them]] unlocks the "General Kratos" costume.

** In ''[[God of War: Ascension]]'', Polyphemus appears as the first multiplayer boss of the series in the desert stage.

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** ''[[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl]]'' introduces Dusknoir, an evolution of Dusclops that appears more djinn-like but retains the single eye.

** ''[[Pokémon X and Y]]'' add some examples:

*** Honedge is a Steel/Ghost Pokémon that appears as [[Living Weapon|an animate sword]] with a gem in the hilt that appears to be its "eye". Its evolution Doublade ~~averts~~ this, as its body is composed of two swords (with one 'eye' gem for each sword); the final evolution Aegislash plays it straight, with more of an actual 'eye' situated where the blade and hilt of its body meet.

*** Honedge is a Steel/Ghost Pokémon that appears as [[Living Weapon|an animate sword]] with a gem in the hilt that appears to be its "eye". Its evolution Doublade subverts this, as its body is composed of two swords (with one 'eye' gem for each sword); the final evolution Aegislash plays it straight, with more of an actual 'eye' situated where the blade and hilt of its body meet.

*** Trevenant is a Ghost/Grass Pokémon resembling [[When Trees Attack|an animate tree]] with a single red eye.

** The cells and Cores of Zygarde (a Pokémon introduced in ''X/Y'') are ambiguous examples - each have a single visible eye next to a white oval that could ~~possible~~ be another eye.

** The cells and Cores of Zygarde (a Pokémon introduced in ''X/Y'') are ambiguous examples - each have a single visible eye next to a white oval that could possibly be another eye.

** ''[[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]]'' add Meltan and Melmetal, amorphous Steel Pokémon that have a single sphere for an eye - said sphere usually rests within their heads, which resemble gold hexagonal nuts.

** ''[[Pokémon Sword and Shield]]'' adds a ~~Gigantamax form for Melmetal, whose Pokédex entry describes it as a cyclopean giant that inspired a legend in a distant land. The games also add two~~ more ~~examples~~:

** ''[[Pokémon Sword and Shield]]'' adds a few more still:

*** The Pokédex entry for the Gigantamax form of Melmetal describes it as a cyclopean giant that inspired a legend in a distant land.

*** Rolycoly is a Rock Pokémon that appears as a chunk of coal with a single red eye.

*** Runerigus is a Ground/Ghost Pokémon formed from a cursed painting absorbing a Galarian Yamask, and its ghostly form only has a single eye visible within the slabs composing its body.

* Massmouth, from the ''[[Doom]]'' [[Game Mod]] series ''The Adventures of MassMouth''. (He was originally a [https://web.archive.org/web/20131002132955/http://planetquake.gamespy.com/View.php?view=ModeloftheWeek.Detail&id=28 Quake II skin].) He also appears as a bot in ''Skulltag'', a source port focused on multiplayer, where one of his lines is a complaint about his lack of peripheral vision.

* Many enemies in ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' franchise sport a single eye, often as their [[Attack Its Weak Point|attacking its eye]].

* Many enemies in ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' franchise sport a single eye, often as their [[Attack Its Weak Point|attacking its eye]]. Recurring examples include:

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** The Tektite is a one-eyed [[Giant Spider]] which often hops around the map. The recurring Gohma is a giant spider boss that can usually only be damaged by [[Attack Its Weak Point|attacking its eye]].

** Recurring examples:

** Armos are animated statues that feature a one-eyed design in some of the games.

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*** The Tektite is a one-eyed [[Giant Spider]] which often hops around the map. The recurring Gohma is a giant spider boss that can usually only be damaged by [[Attack Its Weak Point|attacking its eye]].

*** ~~Armos~~ are ~~animated statues that feature a~~ one-eyed ~~design in~~ ~~some~~ of ~~the~~ ~~games~~.

** Ghinis are one-eyed ghosts found solely around graveyards.

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** Eyegores are typically statue-like cyclopean beasts that are tough to damage, but are weak to arrows.

*** Ghinis are one-eyed ghosts found solely around graveyards.

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*** Eyegores are typically statue-like cyclopean beasts that are tough to damage, but are weak to arrows.

** [[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The first game]] had its own share of examples to start:

*** Digdogger is a giant urchin-like monster with a single eye; the Japanese manual instead calls it a giant [[Clu Clu Land|Unira]]. Playing the recorder while in the same room as it will cause it to shrink into a smaller form, which can be damaged with other weapons. One is fought as the boss of Level 5, and a second appears in Level 7 that instead splits into 3 of its miniature self.

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** ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'' has the ghostly Moas, Fiery Moas and the [[Faceless Eye|eyeball-like]] Girubokku.

** ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]'':

*** Twilit Parasite Diababa is the three-headed boss of the Forest Temple, and has an eye hidden inside the large main head that only appears during the second phase.

*** Twilit Parasite Diababa is the three-headed boss of the Forest Temple, and has [[Aim for The Eye|an eye hidden inside the large main head]] that only appears during the second phase.

* The Cyclops in ''[[Castle Crashers]]'', whom you must defeat to rescue the [[Damsel in Distress|Green Princess]]. {{spoiler|He is revived by [[The Dragon|The Necromancer]] as part of the final [[Boss Rush]]}}.

* The Cyclops in ''[[Castle Crashers]]'', whom you must defeat to rescue the [[Damsel in Distress|Green Princess]]. {{spoiler|He is revived by [[The Dragon|The Necromancer]] as part of the final [[Boss Rush]].}}

* Cyclopes appear as [[Superpowered Mooks|Myth Units]] in ''[[Age of Mythology]]'' if you progress to Classical Age with Ares. Another Cyclops, ~~Gargst~~.

* Cyclopes appear as [[Superpowered Mooks|Myth Units]] in ''[[Age of Mythology]]'' if you progress to Classical Age with Ares. Another Cyclops, Gargarensis, is the main antagonist of the "Fall of the Trident" campaign.

* The Cyclopes in ''[[Rift]]'' seem to be denizens of the [[Dishing Out Dirt|Plane of Earth]]. They're built along the same large and solid lines as [[Proud Warrior Race|bahmi]] (although they tend to be even taller), but have ivory-yellow skin, vaguely bestial features, and the definitive single, centrally-positioned eye.

* Polyphemus appears as a boss in ''[[Titan Quest]]''. You also meet some other cyclopes while ascending {{spoiler|Mount Olympus}}.

* A Cyclops heavily based on the one from ''The 7th Voyage of Sinbad'' appears as the first boss in ''[[Will Rock]]'', capable of hitting you from far away by spitting stones at you. It becomes a [[Degraded Boss]] soon enough.

* The boss enemy Gorpus from ''[[Musashi: Samurai Legend]]'' is a gigantic scorpion with a single huge eye hidden under his helmet.

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* Fleepa, Optomon and the [[Final Boss]] in ''[[The Guardian Legend]]''.

* ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'' has MONOCULUS, a giant [[Faceless Eye]] monster. It was created when [[Makes Just as Much Sense in Context|the RED Demoman's missing eye was haunted and grown to monstrous size by the Bombinomicon, then summoned when the RED Soldier breaks Merasumus's staff]]. Introduced to the game during a [[Halloween]] event, it appears as the boss of several King of the Hill maps when 10 people are playing; defeating it gives the "Optical Defusion" [[Achievement]] and the accompanying "MONOCULUS!" cosmetic 'hat', which replaces the wearer's head with a MONOCULUS eyeball.

* In ''[[NetHack]]'', a classical-style Cyclops appears as the quest nemesis of the Greek-themed [[The Medic|Healer]] role, and even generates with a wand of lightning that parallels the thunderbolts forged by the mythical ones.

== [[Web Comics]] ==

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== [[Western Animation]] ==

* Leela of ''[[Futurama]]'', who initially was presented as a member of an unknown alien race, but turned out to be a human mutant.

* Saffi, Cerbee, and Dorkus on ''[[Jimmy Two-Shoes]]''.

* Saffi, Cerbee and Dorkus from ''[[Jimmy Two-Shoes]]'' are examples of this, with Saffi providing the page image.

* ''[[ChalkZone]]'': Biclops ononly had one eye before Rudy drew him his second one.

* Kang and Kodos from ''[[The Simpsons]]'' "Treehouse of Horror" [[Halloween Special]]s.

* [[Meaningful Name|Iris]] from ''[[Ruby Gloom]]''.

* ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'':

* The [[Monster of the Week]] roster for ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' includes a few one-eyed creatures.

** "Bubblevicious" has a red one-eyed creature with crustecean-like claws among the monsters Bubbles fights after sneaking into the training simulator and cranking it [[Up to Eleven]].

** The [[Monster of the Week]] roster includes a few one-eyed creatures.

** ~~In "Schoolhouse Rocked",~~ Billy ~~from~~ the Gangreen Gang is revealed to be ~~a cyclops~~ under his [[Blinding Bangs]].

** Big Billy of the Gangreen Gang is revealed to be one-eyed under his [[Blinding Bangs]] in "Schoolhouse Rocked".

** "Down n' Dirty" has Buttercup fighting one of these after being kicked out of the house for [[The Pig Pen|refusing to take a bath]]. She dodges the giant's punches easily, then runs up its arm and ''punches its head clean off'' - which then [[Cephalothorax|sprouts stubby legs and runs away]]. Soon after, the monster's body inexplicably falls vertically into halves... [[Animate Body Parts|which then flatten Buttercup with their hands before sprouting two eyes each]], forcing her to outwit them by getting them tangled up.

** One of the deformed Powerpuff Clones seen near the end "Knock It Off" has an eyeball in place of their head.

* Plankton from ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''.

* Cherri Bomb and Niffty from ''[[Hazbin Hotel]]'' are one-eyed demon-girls.

== [[Real Life]] ==

* Cy, the internet-famous one-eyed noseless kitten, who was born December 2009 and died a day later.

* A cyclops goat was born in Nigeria. It caused quite a stir - [[But You Screw One Goat!|~~they~~ ~~even~~ ~~accused~~ ~~the~~ ~~owner~~ of an act of bestiality]].

* A cyclops goat was born in Nigeria. It caused quite a stir - [[But You Screw One Goat!|the owner was even accused of an act of bestiality]].

* A one-eyed piglet with a severely deformed nose was also in China in 2005.