Pointy Ears: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

For some reason, the fastest, most reliable way to establish someone (or thing) is not human is to give them [[Unusual Ears|unusually]] pointy ears. Whether it be [[Our Elves Are Better|elves]], [[Space Alien|aliens]], or [[Our Monsters Are Different|stranger fare]], having those ears point skyward is all it takes to [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?|knock them down]] ([[Can't Argue with Elves|or up]]) a peg.

 

A subtrope of [[Unusual Ears]].

 

* Elves in ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'', ''[[Those Who Hunt Elves]]'', ''[[Rune Soldier Louie]]'' and many other imitators of ''Lodoss''. Dwarves, such as Ghim, have smaller, less pointy ears that look a bit more humanoid.

** ''Lodoss War'' was the [[Trope Codifier]] for "jigokumimi" on elves; that specific style of long, tapered ear bled into ''every'' following depiction of elves in Japanese media and even into a large number of western productions, most notably [[Warcraft]].

* Mainly subverted thus far in ''[[Berserk]]''. The main character has pointy ears, as well as roughly half the cast (including extras) early on. As of yet, there is no explanation for this, at least in-story; it may just be artistic/some weird way some people from Midland are different from people in real life, but that doesn't explain the lack of new characters with pointy ears. Then again, it may be because [[Art Evolution|the author's style has shifted]], and he decided to keep Guts' ears as [[Super-Powered Evil Side|symbolic]]. Elves, however, still play this straight.

* Most of the human-looking demons in ''[[Inuyasha]]'' have pointed ears to establish their inhuman status, most notably Shippo, Kagura, Kōga and Lord Sesshomaru.

* A lot of the aliens and gods in ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' have pointed ears.

** This has actually been a minor plot point, as they helped Piccolo long-distance eavesdrop on Goku's conversation with Trunks near the beginning of the Android arc.

 

 

* There's Moloch in ''[[Watchmen]]'', but it went totally unacknowledged there as well as in the film (and was much more subtle).

* Several comic books in the ''[[Star Wars Expanded Universe]]'' feature characters of an unnamed species, very humanlike but with pointy ears. Fae, Aleco Stusea, and that one girl who was an obvious [[Expy]] of [[The Legend of Zelda|Princess Zelda]]. We don't hear that much about the latter two, but Fae was said to be a thousand years old, and was believed (at least by [[The Obi-Wan|Obi-Wan Kenobi]]) to be immortal.

* The [[Our Elves Are Better|Elves]] of ''[[The Strands Series]]'' by Gael Baudino seem to have pointy ears, although it is never actually mentioned directly in the books. Still, it is implied several times when people who have recently been transformed into Elves because of their [[Magic Genetics|Elven heritage]] are encouraged by other Elves to cover their ears with their hair, so that they may move around in public without being recognized.

* In an otherwise mundane Verse, [[Emily of New Moon]] has slightly pointed ears.

 

 

* The Vulcans from ''[[Star Trek]]''.

** And their distant kin, the Romulans and the Remans.

** It turns out it's because {{spoiler|they're actually ''becoming'' Xehanort, according to ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D]]''}}.

* Half of the races in ''[[Rift]]''. Interestingly enough, this applies whether or not you split [[Humans by Any Other Name]] and [[Our Elves Are Better|elves]] by faction. (The Defiant, however, have the edge on pointy ears.)

* Fatima of ''[[Luminous Arc 2]]'' has pointy ears, but she seems to be a normal human/witch and no one in-game comments on them.

* The ''[[Phantasy Star]]'' series has Numans/Newmans, a genetically engineered race that resemble elves. In the original series, the ears were different between the two instances. In ''Phantasy II'' Nei and Neifirst have very long pointed ears that go past their heads. Rika in ''Phantasy Star IV'' has smaller pointed ears with bits of black on the ends. ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'''s Newman race have differing ears depending on their class. Hunter Newmans have ears like Nei, while Forces have long pointed ears that stick out from the sides of their heads almost horizontally. In ''[[Phantasy Star Zero]]'', Newman ears are much smaller, but still pointy.

 

== Real Life ==

* Some people are actually born with one or both ears pointed. However, it's usually operated on when they're young.