History Main / BackgroundHalo

* Andrea Mantegna's [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mantegnadescentlimbo.jpg Descent Into Limbo]] pulls a twofer: not only does the stooping wanderer's (that is, Christ's) hat look like a halo from that perspective; all of the details of objects and people in the picture, and even the rocks and crevasses of the walls and floor of the tunnel are carefully arranged along lines that all intersect in one point near the middle of the central figure's [[MisplacedHeart left shoulder]]. Originally subtly hidden, once you see and concentrate on it, it almost verges on HolyBacklight.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/barack-obama-halo_1762.jpg Taking various photos of Obama with a halo around his head had become a meme]].
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* ''Series/AmericanGods'' has a BaitAndSwitch case in the episode that introduces Jesus: at first, it seemed like the HolyHalo he had was just a light source in the wall behind, but then other scenes have him with a proper halo. And then Season 3 had [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/510xPdhoKAL.jpg promotional]] [[https://www.instagram.com/p/CHf_9SFh8Td/ images]] where the characters were below neon halos with "God" words\phrases.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. When Buffy is resurrected from the dead at the start of Season Six, she's walking through a graveyard and due to the camera angle appears to have the wings of an angel statue growing from her back. [[spoiler:This foreshadows TheReveal that she was brought back from Heaven, not from some terrible hell dimension as her friends supposed.]]

* ''Series/{{Danger 5}}''. MadScientist Dr. Mengele gives virginal ActionGirl Claire the [[ScarpiaUltimatum choice of sleeping with him]] or seeing her friends thrown to the mutants. A pair of lab coats hung up behind Mengele give the appearance of horns.

* ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}'': In the first poster for the show, golden clock frame Loki's head like a halo, while glowing hour and minute bars and multiple clock hands remind of rays. Loki is a Norse god, but not a benevolent one, so he also sports a KubrickStare and a smirk.
* ''Series/{{Lucifer}}''. In "God Johnson", Lucifer confronts an inmate in a mental hospital who believes that he is God. Although Lucifer's powers don't work on him for some reason, Lucifer is not impressed by this apparent nutcase and goes to leave -- until Johnson addresses him by his true name. When Lucifer turns to look at Johnson in shock, the sunlight shining through the blinds behind Johnson provide a subtle version of this trope.
* ''Series/{{Luke Cage|2016}}'': Not a halo, but Cottonmouth {{invoke|dTrope}}s this early in the series after discussing a portrait of Music/TheNotoriousBIG (the very same one used on his page in this very wiki) in his room, and then sitting in a chair in front of it in just such a manner as to make it look like the crown in the picture is on his head. [[spoiler: Luke himself sits in front of the picture in the same manner in Season 2's finale.]]

* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "The Chute", Harry Kim and Tom Paris are in an inescapable prison where the inmates are given aggression-causing brain implants [[RatsInABox so they will turn on each other.]] One prisoner however remains calm, claiming that he's figured out the secret of controlling the implants. As he speaks to Harry (whom he wants to become his first disciple), a force field ring surrounding the bottom end of the Chute frames the top of his head, appearing as a halo. However when he moves his head slightly it also appears as a [[BigRedDevil pair of red horns]], leading to a [[DarkMessiah more ambiguous interpretation of his character]].
* The ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' two-parter "Terra Firma" has multiple instances of this with Emperor Georgiou's elaborate halo-shaped headdress framing objects in the background. In one case, it's the Terran Empire seal, in another, the glowing power core of the ISS ''Charon''.

* A subtle example in a classic episode of ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'', "A Passage for Trumpet", where a mysterious figure pulls a suicidal trumpet player (Jack Klugman) back from the DespairEventHorizon and gives him a second chance at life. Just before he leaves, Jack says, "I didn't get your name." He turns around and answers, "Call me Gabe. Short for [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Gabriel]]." As he says this, he is standing directly under an overhead lamp, the light from which resembles a halo over his head. The shot was framed intentionally for that effect.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'': Mary gets background horns in one episode, {{foreshadowing}} that [[spoiler: she is not the nice, normal woman she appears to be, but a former assassin.]]

* The horns variant is played for laughs in a scene in ''Series/{{Spaced}}'', as Daisy realises she and Tim are going to have to keep lying to Marsha about them being a couple in order to continue renting her flat; "We're evil," Daisy laments, just as the shot is reframed to position a pair of bananas in a fruit bowl as horns on her head.

* Invoked in ''Film/TheGreenKnight'', where [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tgn_crown.png the crowns]] worn by King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and later Gawain have a vertical metal ring attached to the back to make it look like a halo. They are the royal family of Camelot so the crowns make them look rather holy, and the crowns' design is in line with medieval depictions of saints and holy figures.

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* The OP for ''Anime/DeathParade'' uses the bar's stained glass decor for this effect.

* Issue 5 of ''ComicBook/{{Shutter}}'' gives Kate both these and wings.

* In ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'', [[BigBad Lord Blackwood]] is highlighted by the ornate golden sunburst at the Temple of the Four Orders after [[spoiler:assuming its leadership]]. To complete the angelic imagery, he bids the other members not to be afraid. Of course, in his case, he is very much channeling [[{{Satan}} the fairest and fallen angel]].

* ''Series/JaneTheVirgin'' does this in its advertising, setting the titular Jane against things like the setting sun to form such a halo in order to emphasize her virginity and Catholic upbringing and how this contrasts with the SurprisePregnancy plot.

* Space Marines of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' especially love this trope. Leaders like Chapter Masters and Captains often wear an "Iron Halo", a halo made of a metallic material and placed behind the head of the Marine, on their helmet or around the head. When active, the Halo glows with a sun-like aura and protects the wearer from almost any attack.

* In ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', Kim Kitsuragi's character portrait puts his head in front of a white circle in a background otherwise dominated by black. Considering he's pretty much The Detective's StraightMan and resident Moralist, the halo helps present him as the one unambiguously good character in the game. (The halo is actually a ceiling fan; the portrait comes from an interaction most players get late in-game.)
** A more subtle example is Jean Vicquemare, the Detective's old partner, whose head is front of a black rectangle: halos have, historically, also been depicted as square-shaped in some cases. In this case, it is symbolize that Jean, despite his outwardly caustic attitude, is still a good man deeply worried about his old friend's health.

* ''Webcomic/AvasDemon'' provides the page image.

A HolyHalo has a lot of symbolic value attached to it, chief among them being saintliness, purity, and status as TheChosenOne. Sometimes however, it just isn't appropriate to the {{genre}} for a character to sport an ''actual'' HolyHalo, even if it's very appropriate for them as a character at a given moment in a story. What's more, it's also very obvious, which is not always a good thing.

Enter the Background Halo, a stylistic visual technique where a character's head will be put in front of something shiny or below a circle or oval. It benefits from being fairly subliminal and subtle. Well, provided directors don't turn on the HolyBacklight UpToEleven. Then it's just silly, and [[LensFlare possibly blinding.]]

An opposite and similar version, involving background horns, is also fairly common.

* When Esmeralda comforts Quasimodo after he's been ridiculed at the Feast of Fools in ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'', as she is walking up to the torture wheel the villagers strapped Quasimodo on to make fun of him, the Sun can be seen shining from behind her head, giving her the appearance of wearing a halo.

* ''Series/LukeCage'': Not a halo, but Cottonmouth {{invoke|dTrope}}s this early in the series after discussing a portrait of Music/TheNotoriousBIG (the very same one used on his page in this very wiki) in his room, and then sitting in a chair in front of it in just such a manner as to make it look like the crown in the picture is on his head. [[spoiler: Luke himself sits in front of the picture in the same manner in Season 2's finale.]]

* In the church meeting scene in ''WesternAnimation/TheCurseOfTheWereRabbit'', Lady Tottingham has one as she advocates a non-violent approach to dealing with the Were-Rabbit. And Victor, who'd rather just shoot it, has Background Devil Horns.

* Some news photographers seem to enjoy the opportunity of taking pictures of the President of the United States with the Presidential seal behind his head like a halo. [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqb_qVg0mVA/UlVEDR_pdKI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/L3OoPKIvJ4w/s1600/o-OBAMA-GOVERNMENT-SHUTDOWN-facebook.jpg Here's]] an Obama example, and [[https://excusemylogic.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/mdf145235.jpg one]] of George W. Bush. [[https://secure.media.foxnews.com/BrightCove/990505083001/990505083001/2020/08/28/990505083001_6185292334001_6185278672001-vs.jpg Here's]] one for Trump. Biden couldn't even wait for the presidency and did it with the President-Elect seal [[http://pointofview.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/joe-biden-transition-center-halo.jpg here]].

* Some news photographers seem to enjoy the opportunity of taking pictures of the President of the United States with the Presidential seal behind his head like a halo. [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqb_qVg0mVA/UlVEDR_pdKI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/L3OoPKIvJ4w/s1600/o-OBAMA-GOVERNMENT-SHUTDOWN-facebook.jpg Here's]] an Obama example, and [[https://excusemylogic.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/mdf145235.jpg one]] of George W. Bush.

* In ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', Kim Kitsuragi's character portrait puts his head in front of a white circle in a background otherwise dominated by black. Considering he's pretty much The Detective's StraightMan and resident Moralist, the halo helps present him as the one unambiguously good character in the game.
** A more subtle example exists in the form of Jean Vicquemare, the Detective's old partner, who's head is front of a black square on a light-gray background. The subtly comes from the little known fact, that halos have, historically, also been depicted as square-shaped in some cases. In this case, it is symbolize that Jean, despite his outwardly caustic attitude, is still deeply worried about his old friend's health.

* Inverted with the [[https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_large/6/67663/5853043-03.jpg volume 3 cover]] for ''Manga/SleepyPrincessInTheDemonCastle'', which has a blood-red crescent moon positioned in just the right spot to make it look like the princess has horns.

* Inverted with the [[https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_large/6/67663/5853043-03.jpg volume 3 cover]] for ''Manga/SleepyPrincessInTheDemonCastle'', which has a blood-red crescent moon positioned in just the right spot to make it look like [[CuteButPsycho the princess]] has horns.