Lens Flare: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

A form of glare, which has become a trope in its own right.

 

Artists have many debates over the use of lens flares in animation and CGI. Ironically, the artificial element can add a touch of realism (even without [[The Coconut Effect]]) due to the fact that the user is watching the image through a screen.<ref>Unless it's flat. Which an increasing proportion of televisions are.</ref> Others feel that the lens flare has been overused and doesn't truly add anything to the image, other than distracting from the quality (or lack there of) of the image.

 

== Anime and Manga ==

* ''[[Gurren Lagann]]'' uses these to an extreme, each and every [[Eyecatch]] uses at least one lens flare.

 

 

* ''[[Transformers]]'' comic book colorist Josh Burcham is infamous for adding lens flare effects wherever possible.

 

* Parodied in ''[[Hot Fuzz]]''. When Sgt. Angel is in the pub for the first time doing his little [[Sherlock Scan]] on all the minors in the pub he spots one kid who smiles at the same time a car outside turns on its lights, causing a hilariously over the top Flare that blinds Sgt. Angel.

* In the second ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' movie, the camera does a worm's-eye-view of Jack on the ship's deck, with a big ring-shaped lens flare surrounding him. The DVD commentary shamelessly calls that "the greatest lens flare in cinema".

* ''[[Super 8]]'': The amount of scenes ''don't'' have a lens flare could be counted with both hands.

* There is always real lens flare around the spinners in ''[[Blade Runner]]'' as the light on top of them is so bright. Invoked by the design team as they noted the lens flare made them seem more real and less like pieces of plastic flying around

* Some ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' cards have this in their art. [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=42058 Wingbeat Warrior] caused someone to send in a letter wondering what it was doing there, which earned the reply "Yes, there are 35mm cameras all over Otaria. Photography is a favorite hobby there."

 

 

* Older ''[[Ace Combat]]'' games (such as Air and 2) has no lens flare. Conversely, it got really gratuitous in 3: Electrosphere (but it does look [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?|awesome]]). Later games have it, but not as pronounced.

** It does serve quite functionally. If you line up the lens flare, you [[Captain Obvious|''will'' get disoriented by staring at the sun]]. Think that's not a big deal? The very first mission in Electrosphere has you heading towards the sunset to intercept some backup fighters. For a lack of better term, you basically ''couldn't see shit'' (aside from the lens flare that is).

* ''Perfect World International'''s debut trailer's use of lens flare was savaged by Kotaku's debut (and only) episode of Trailer Trash. Their response? Make a new trailer, ''[[Self-Deprecation|Now with more lens flare]]".

* '97 racing game ''POD'' featured lens flares around the sun of the alien planet the game was set on. Yes, that sun that was usually obscured by dark [[Blood Moon|red clouds]]. All you saw was the... lens flare.

* This is decently done for the opening animation in ''[[Sonic Advance]] 2'', a Game Boy Advance game. The "camera" flies across the ocean before panning up to reveal an island. It continues to fly up, giving us a lens flare, then the title screen.

* ''[[Vectorman]]'' might be the first video game to feature a lens flare.

 

 

* An example from ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'', [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0430.html here].

* ''[[Questionable Content]]'': [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1485 Samurai AnthroPC vs. squirrel]

 

== Western Animation ==

 

 

[[Category:Camera Tricks]]

[[Category:The New Tens]]

[[Category:Lighting Tropes]]