History Main / BigAnimeEyes

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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/big_anime_eyes.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Here at TropeCo/TropeCo, we have anime eyes available in sizes ranging from "peephole" to "porthole"!]]

* In ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'', the Trophy Girls [[NonstandardCharacterDesign contrast]] with everyone else by being {{animesque}}, complete with huge eyes and [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair weird hair colors]] in the cases of Ami and Megumi. This is averted in ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'', which have them more in line with everyone else.

* Discussed in ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'' when the Rangers ask Dr. K why their zords have eyes. She explains that they are external sensors for the zords' onboard HUDs, but she never explains why they look like, as Ziggy puts it, "big googly anime eyes."

->''"Give me those eyes! Big eyes! Big eyes! Give me [[TitleDrop big anime eyes!]]"''
-->-- '''Fender''', ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''

-->Keute turned to give him a V for Victory sign, the reflection from her large luminous eyes burning out his image-intensifying cameras.

* Creator/InioAsano is well known for using a relatively realistic art style that is devoid of the usual manga character design cliches. ''Manga/GoodnightPunpun'' even has at least one TakeThat at big-eyed manga characters.

Exaggeratedly large eyes are one of the most famous and recognisable elements of {{anime}} and {{manga}}. Large eyes are ubiquitous in [[ShonenDemographic shonen]] and especially [[ShoujoDemographic shoujo]], which also happen to be the two best known demographics outside of Japan. [[SuperDeformed Chibi style]], again common in manga and anime aimed at kids and teens, exaggerates the eye size even further. It's important to note that ''older'' shonen (and some newer ones) avert big anime eyes, with the eyes instead tending to be either narrower or realistic.

* One

* One ComicStrip/MotherGooseAndGrimm strip had Grimm and Attila binge watching Anime/{{Pokémon}}, Mother Goose says they’d better stop before they ruin their eyes, they turn around and look at her and they’re drawn with big anime eyes.

* The ''Film/AlitaBattleAngel'' adaptation of [[Manga/{{Gunnm}} Yukito Kishiro's creation]] has Creator/RosaSalazar play Alita via motion capture, and the character has eyes enlarged beyond the usual human range. Director Creator/RobertRodriguez explains that they gave Alita large eyes because they were such a distinct feature for her, and as part of the effort to faithfully [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWgy6gAK9OA bring an anime aesthetic to live action.]]

"Anime Eyes" is an OmnipresentTrope in Japan, so the list of works would be huge and [[Administrivia/PeopleSitOnChairs widely common]], and this article will only list Western or non-Japanese works that use this as a resource intended to be "anime eyes". In the case of works from Japan, examples should only be added if they are cases of {{Lampshading}}, {{Subversion}}s and {{Aversion}}s.

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/BigEyesSmallMouth'' lampshades this in its title.
[[/folder]]

Interestingly enough, we actually partially have western animation to thank for this. The trend of big eyes in JapaneseMedia was started by Creator/OsamuTezuka, considerated by many as ''[[RedBaron The Father/Godfather/God of Manga]]'', who was influenced by western cartoons such as WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts, Fleischer cartoons like WesternAnimation/BettyBoop, and films like ''Disney/{{Bambi}}'' to get this kind of eyes in his creations, notably ''Manga/AstroBoy''. His works became so important for the industry (first manga and later anime) that the concept of "anime eyes" was widely accepted and much of the works use this kind of eyes until today.

[[caption-width-right:350:Here at TropeCo/TropeCo, we have {{windows|OfTheSoul}} available in sizes ranging from "peephole" to "porthole"!]]

Large eyes emphasise the youthfulness and [[UsefulNotes/{{Kawaisa}} cuteness]] of a character. They also make it easier to convey complex and nuanced emotions. Eyes are an [[WindowsOfTheSoul important tool for emotional communication]] for humans; the difference between Japanese and occidental smileys (which focus the information on eye and mouth shapes, respectively) would suggest that the importance of eyes is even higher in East Asia.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

Exaggeratedly large eyes are one of the most famous and recognisable elements of {{anime}} and {{manga}}. Large eyes are ubiquitous in [[ShonenDemographic shonen]] and especially [[ShoujoDemographic shoujo]], which also happen to be the two best known demographics outside of Japan. [[SuperDeformed Chibi style]], again common in manga and anime aimed at kids and teens, exaggerates the eye size even further. Also it has to add that ''older'' shonen (and some newer ones) avert big anime eyes, instead the eyes tend to be either narrower or realistic.

With "anime eyes" not only the size increases, but also the shape is exaggerated (and usually gives a hint whether the character is generally [[TsurimeEyes active]] or [[TaremeEyes passive]]), the iris and the pupil grow in proportion and change shape to compliment the general eye shape, and especially in the romantic genre, the reflections are greatly exaggerated. Horizontal lines above the eyes represent the folds of the upper lid and are not necessarily realistic for Asian characters, but serve as a visual anchor that makes for a lightning-fast distinction between a narrow eye and a half-closed eye. The range and flexibility of the eyebrows is also exaggerated.

Thus big eyes are very very popular for characters intended to be [[CutenessOverload cute]] and [[{{moe}} endearing]], and in genres which rely greatly on emotion and melodrama. Even in works that employ more realistic proportions use eyes as a major tool. However, out-of-context- or over-use of large eyes can, intentionally or unintentionally, place a portrayal in the {{Uncanny Valley}}. Only in the gag genre and some more experimental styles are eyes downplayed.

* In ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'', the Trophy Girls [[NonstandardCharacterDesign contrast]] with everyone else by being {{animesque}}, complete with huge eyes and [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair weird hair colors]] in the cases of Ami and Megumi.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]

* Though it's almost impossible to get the eye size for normal humans, there's a way to get the optical effect of "anime eyes" via makeup as seen in the main image, having many tutorials about how to make this on Website/YouTube and Website/{{Tumblr}}.

* ''Manga/GoodnightPunpun'' has a relatively realistic art-style devoid of the usual manga character design cliches. There is at least one TakeThat at big-eyed manga characters.