Wide Eyes and Shrunken Irises: Difference between revisions

[[File:winniethepoohirises 4438.jpg|link=The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh|frame| Do you think that, just maybe, he's scared?]]

 

 

A sign that a character is absolutely terrified is if the eyes are wide open and the irises and pupils are shrunken to minimum, or even absent. Gives the impression that the character is screaming inside, even if they are silent with shock. It comes across as striking and, if done well, can even be [[Nightmare Fuel]] or its [[Nightmare Fuel|high octane equivalent.]] Often a warning sign that the character is about to [[Freak-Out]]. May also involve [[Tears of Fear]].

See also [[Oh Crap]], and [[Open the Iris]] for the trope's physical opposite.

 

 

Not to be confused with [[Sphere Eyes]].

 

{{examples}}

* Most characters on ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'' do this when they're really scared, but Satoko has a habit of giving particularly haunting moments. One of these is Satoko's reaction to Keichii standing by {{spoiler|her best friend's corpse}} in ''Tatarigoroshi-hen''. Satoko [[Freak-Out|freaks out]], believing that Keichii was responsible, and while doing so, gives a picture perfect demonstration of the trope. Her reaction upon getting out of the river and returning to her school {{spoiler|and finding her friends dead}} elicits this reaction from her as well, and it is also the expression her classmates are wearing. Gives a truly ghoulish impression. Keichii does it a few times as well.

* Happens on a regular basis in the ''[[Bleach]]'' anime, usually when one character is impressed by another character's power/abilities.

* In the third season of [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]], we have [[Smug Snake|Quattro]](see the image for [[Oh Crap]]), who has very good reason to be terrified.

* Edward Elric does this a lot in the first and second ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' anime.

* Most ''[[Fairy Tail]]'' characters inverts this for their pupils are usually invisible unless shocked or angry.

* In ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing]]'', it happens to Relena when Heero raises his gun to her at the end of Episode 2. Of course, she's saved from his [[Ineffectual Death Threats]] by a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Duo Ex]] [[Deus Ex Machina|Machina]].

 

== [[Film]] ==

* ''Psycho'': Marion Crane's eyes do this, though in a [[You Fail Biology Forever]] moment.

* This happens to Jessica Rabbit in ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit?]]'', in the only scene I can think of where you really get a good look at both her eyes ("Oh my God, it's DIIIIIIP!").

* In ''[[The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'', the main character does just this when he is [http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/15p5 very, very angry]. [[Lampshaded]] in the [[Alt Text]].

* The expression ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'' characters make when they're scared sort of evokes this. Including for [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html Xykon himself]: the skeleton with [[Glowing Eyelights of Undeath]] suddenly gains [[Expressive Mask|Expressive Orbits]].

* Souls in ''[[Jack (webcomic)|Jack]]'' have teeny irises, if they are unjudged or hellbound. Once they are judged ready for heaven, or if the hellbound seek redemption, the characters' irises get even bigger and more expressive than when they were alive.

** Corpses' eyes look like this as well.

* In ''[[The Other Grey Meat]]'' Pretty much every other strip.

* Happens in ''[[Questionable Content]]'', with lampshading by the author at least once.

* Black Mage does this a few times in ''[[8-Bit Theater|Eight Bit Theater]]'', though given the fact that his eyes glow like two little lights under his hat, its hard to really say if he's a true example, even if his eyes do visibly shrink.

* In ''[[Last Res0rt]]'', while still used as an expression of shock, these eyes along with a slightly agape mouth are the telltale sign that someone's under the [[Compelling Voice]] of a Celeste.

* Frequently used in ''[[Everyday Heroes]]''; for example, [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=191554 here] when Mr. Mighty is scaring off the homeless guy who came to rob a convenience store.

* Mark, of [[Freak Angels]], exhibits classic tiny, tiny irises as he goes into his furious, terrified rant in Episode 0134.

* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'' had Kat eyes doing this when [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=521 she was told about] certain [[Power Tattoo]]. Repeated in a later scene that ends in a triple [[Beat Panel]] and deserves it.

** Annie gets her turn on the last page of chapter 36.

 

== [[Web Original]] ==