Sinister Silhouettes: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Where [[The Faceless]] meets [[Chekhov's Gunman]]. It comes in several different flavors, with a common theme. It is an abstract (i.e. not an actual scene) shot of one or more characters, who will eventually be revealed, with said character(s) shown as silhouettes. The background can be anything from bland to suitably ominous, but either way, the [[Sinister Silhouettes]] will typically be just standing there in a [[Badass]] manner. The background music will most likely be ominous.

== Anime & Manga ==

 

* The Ginyu Force from ''[[Dragonball Z]]''.

** Silhouettes of Vegeta and Nappa in the first opening sequence are shown doing a [[Power Walk]] with fire and lightning in the background.

* The manga of ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' does this with Hiei and Kurama (and Gouki, who was unimporant) before we get to know them.

** The [[The Four Gods|Saint Beasts]] and [[Breakfast Club|Sensui's Seven]] were depicted in this manner.

** The entire [[Student Council]] is shown in a [[Sinister Silhouettes]] [[Team Shot]] before the opening credits start rolling.

* Parodied in episode 2 of ''[[Haruhi-chan]]''. After being defeated by Nagato, Asakura proclaims that though she has been defeated, it's not over yet. She goes on to add that ''[[Sorting Algorithm of Evil|above]]'' [[Sorting Algorithm of Evil|the Radical Big Four]] [[Sorting Algorithm of Evil|are three leaders]], also shown as silhouettes. Kyon proceeds to [[Deadpan Snarker|call her story cheesy]].

* Every suspect gets one of these in ''[[Case Closed]]'' if the [[Cold Open]] decides to show the crime in progress.

* ''[[Samurai Deeper Kyo]]'' is the ''embodiment'' of [[Sinister Silhouettes]].

* The Suzaku Seishi in ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'' (with the exception of Tamahome and Hotohori) are first depicted as silhouettes with their body symbols when Hotohori explains the legend of Suzaku.

* ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'' does this with the introduction of Kenshiro's adoptive brothers and then with the six Nanto Stars. The latter is a bit more egregious, since it depicts Shin and Rei alongside four male silhouettes, but one of them later {{spoiler|turns out to be a [[Samus Is a Girl|woman]].}}

* The preview of the third installment of the ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' features four shadows that are implied to belong to new Evangelion pilots. Two of them are presumably, but not necessarily Mari and Kaworu, while the other two still remain to be seen.

* [[Moe Anthropomorphism|The Netherlands]] of [[Axis Powers Hetalia]] was first depicted as one, until his design was revealed.

* ''[[Flame of Recca]]'' had the tendency to introduce the next team of opponents this way.

 

== Comic Books ==

* The X-Hunters are introduced in ''[[Mega Man X]] 2'' as silhouettes observing a [[Palantir Ploy|hologram recording]] of X.

** Also, arguably invoked in ''X4'' by {{spoiler|Dr. Wily appearing to his "son"}} Zero. Invoked as in it's a nightmare the latter was having, yet {{spoiler|Dr. Wily}} looked like he was standing behind a spotlight. And then the "mysterious man" does it ''again'' in ''X5'', {{spoiler|in a [[Montage]] of Zero's previously unknown past life, just as he was dying.}}

* [[General Ripper|Ishijima Kaigen]] from the [[Nitroplus|Nitro+]] [[Visual Novel]] ''Hanachirasu'' is only ''mostly'' silhouetted, but she makes up for it with [[Glowing Eyes of Doom]]. See [http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8836/kaig02.jpg here]

** Although early in the game, the Reapers ''do'' appear, with some slight drak shading over them, so...

* Although they aren't silhouettes, Organization XIII from ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' invoke this by wearing a hood that obscures their face, revealing their appearance only when Sora meets the individual members properly.

== Web Comics ==

 

* The Speaker in ''[[Harkovast]]'' spent the first part of the comic appearing only as a silhouette, while making ominous statements.

* The Feline Emperor in the ''[[Blade of Toshubi]]'' has only been seen in silhouette.

* Jack Noir often does this in ''[[Homestuck]]''. Granted, it's not hard to do, since he has a shiny black carapace. {{spoiler|But then he leaps over the [[Moral Event Horizon]]. After that, the sight of his shadow flying overhead is enough to elicit a mass [[Oh Crap]].}}

** This is the most we ever see of the troll [[Famous Ancestor|Famous Ancestors]], the only colored facial features being mouth, face paint, glasses, and occasionally eyes.

 

== Western Animation ==

 

* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'': Fire Lord Ozai for the first two seasons.

** Although it's not that big a surprise. The first episode Father's true appearance appears in made it pretty obvious that was what Father really looked like - although the entire episode was [[All Just a Dream|a story made up by Number One.]] Another episode was a [[Mirror Universe]] with that man being the counterpart of Father.

* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'' has the Guild of Calamitous Intent's Council of 13.