History Main / BrainMonster

[[caption-width-right:350:I can has Metal Slug?]]
->'''Andros''': "Only I have the brains to rule Lylat!"
->'''Fox [=McCloud=]''': "So Andros, you show your true form."
-->--''Videogame/StarFox64''

* Void, oldest member and nominal leader of the God Hand in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', is a looming figure in a high-collared cape topped by ghastly head which is mostly bulging, exposed brain.

** Lampshaded in Creator/TeamFourStar's [[TheAbridgedSeries abridged version]] of the movie. Wheelo is unaware and has to be told his brain has absorbed a lot of the embalming fluid it's suspended in, which caused it to grow. To his dismay.
--->"Why is it the size of a greyhound?"\\
"''THE BUS?!''"
* The [[HumanoidAbomination Nomus]] of ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' are former humans who have been bioengineered by the BigBad so that their bodies can support multiple Quirks. They all look almost completely different, but the one feature that ties them all together is their exposed brains. Characters who are unfamiliar with the term "Nomu"[[note]]which, ironically, is Japanese for "Brainless" — a reference to how the bioengineering process destroyed their minds and left them as puppets who can only blindly follow commands[[/note]] refer to them as "brain guy" or some variation thereof.

* Tak from the anime and manga ''Anime/SpaceFamilyCarlvinson'' is a brain with a spinal column plus arms and legs to move around and interact with stuff. For a brain creature he's also pretty ditzy and goofy, though by no means the dumbest in the cast.

* Several incarnations of Brain of ''Franchise/TheDCU'' -- as the disembodied, preserved, sentient BrainInAJar of a MadScientist. Together with his sentient gorilla servant/boyfriend Mallah, the two of them would go on to gather the Brotherhood of Evil.

%%* The giant squid monster from ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''. '''ZCE'''
* ComicBook/AmadeusCho's subplot in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules'' pits him against Boltzmann Brains; disembodied brains that are hypercomputer quantum constructs capable of creating virtual scenarios in pocket dimensions at will. They also shoot [[ShockAndAwe bolts of electricity]].
* An arc of Thunderbolts had the titular team stuck in hell due to the machinations of Blackheart. There they encounter a MagicMirror that conjures the antithesis of whoever is reflected in it to fight them. The Red Hulk gets Encephalon, pretty much a Hulk in stature but made entirely out of brain.
* The Gil'Dishpan or Gil'Dan, who have fought ComicBook/{{Superboy}} and the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes and were part of the Alien Alliance in ''ComicBook/{{Invasion}}'', look like misshapen brain-tubeworm things in tentacle covered bubbles.
* Some incarnations of ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' villain Brainiac have an exposed brain beneath his skull-diodes, for instance [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/5/5e/Adventures_of_Superman_Vol_1_519.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110925121223 here]]. The heroic Brainiac 417 of ''Comicbook/DCOneMillion'' is a disembodied brain encased in a humanoid forcefield.

[[folder:Film — Animation]]
* The principal antagonist of the French film ''Animation/{{Gandahar}}'', a.k.a ''Light Years'', is a giant brain, made by the people of the utopian city of Gandahar as a prototype organic computer. When the superbrain didn't work out as planned, it was dumped in the ocean and forgotten. Interestingly, when the heroes first encounter this giant brain, it seems docile, and even gives the heroes the tool for its own destruction.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'' Hogarth stays up past his bedtime watching TV, and the movie playing seems to be a ScienceFiction BMovie about killer brains. Just before the TV loses reception it shows the scientist character being attacked by a [[SpecialEffectsFailure brain with tentacles]]. This is probably an {{Affectionate Parody}} of ''Film/FiendWithoutAFace''.

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]

* The 1958 film ''Film/FiendWithoutAFace'' featured invisible monsters that when revealed are actually slimy crawling human brains. Said brains strangle victims with their spinal cords.
* ''Film/TheBrain1988'' (not to be confused with the 1969 [[Film/TheBrain1969 comedy of the same name]]) featured an alien that resembled a gigantic brain with a face as the titular monster.
* In ''Film/TheTimeMachine2002'', the Morlock leader is of a caste in which the brain has become so enlarged that it's not only visibly exposed on the back of his head, but its lobes extend halfway down his back as well.
* The invading Martians from Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/MarsAttacks'' are the acranial type. Their brains visibly pulsate and explode inside their clear helmets when exposed to their WeaksauceWeakness: really bad singing.
* In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', the [[spoiler: truest form of ComicBook/EgoTheLivingPlanet, which also seems to function as his core, is a gigantic, brain that glows with energy]]. Interestingly enough, this incarnation of him seems to be a literal [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltzmann_brain Boltzmann brain]].

* The Grand Lunar from Creator/HGWells' work ''Literature/TheFirstMenInTheMoon'' is the ruler of the "Moonies", and rests in the throne room with his exposed brain taking up most of the cathedral-like ceiling space. There are lesser Moonies that hover around moistening this huge brain. The Grand Lunar is LawfulNeutral but takes Doctor Cavor prisoner on the belief that humans are intelligent anarchists.
* In another HG Wells story, ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds,'' the Martians, to the human eye, appear as huge brains with tentacles, having pared their bodies down to just the vital organs (brain, heart, lungs, and hands, "the agent and educator of the brain"). Their TripodTerror giant robots are "bodies" built for the needs of the moment, and they "eat" by draining the nutrient-rich blood of lesser animals, including people.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' Ron gets attacked by tentacled brains in the Department of Mysteries that MindRape and leave gouges behind when they touch someone.
* In the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' series novel ''Galactic Patrol'', Mentor of Arisia is revealed to Kimball Kinnison to be (barring a few minor bits and appendages) "simply and solely a brain." Then in ''Second Stage Lensmen'' the Boskonian Prime Minister Fossten is revealed to be a nearly identical brain, explained by his being a renegade Arisian. [[spoiler:Except that this was a false appearance in both cases, arranged by Mentor to hide from Kinnison that Fossten was really Gharlane of Eddore.]]
* In Creator/RudyRucker's ''Master of Space and Time'', a giant brain became the Messiah of a ReligionOfEvil in an alternate dimension. Then it spawned regular-sized brains that can move around by crawling, attach to people's backs and mind-control them.
* ''Literature/PossibleTomorrows'': The 1973 Coronet cover seems to be a brain (with human-like eyes open in fear) as part of a radio tower. [[CoversAlwaysLie No, it doesn't show up in any of the stories.]]

* Creator/MadeleineLEngle's novel ''Literature/AWrinkleInTime''. The BigBad IT is a huge disembodied brain. It has MindControl abilities that involve making the victim think in repetitive patterns.
* In Creator/EdmondHamilton's ''The Man who Evolved'', the protagonist evolves (after several intermediate passages) into a giant brain with tentacles, and ''[[SerialEscalation then]]'' into a giant brain with PsychicPowers that no longer even needs tentacles.

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' [[Recap/AngelS03E02ThatVisionThing "That Vision Thing"]] Wolfram & Hart hire a psychic with an exposed brain to torture Cordelia, forcing Angel to release a soul from torment in return for stopping the torture.

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E4DaleksInManhattan "Daleks in Manhattan"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E5EvolutionOfTheDaleks "Evolution of the Daleks"]], Dalek Sec turns himself into a Dalek/Human hybrid, which has a large exposed brain.
* ''Series/{{Farscape}}''. [[spoiler: The evil version of Crichton of the "[[Recap/FarscapeS02E10MyThreeCrichtons My Three Crichtons]]" episode is the future version with the wrinkly head to show off his advanced brain lobes.]]
* The creature from ''Series/TheOuterLimits1963'' episode "[[Recap/TheOuterLimits1963S1E26TheGuests The Guests]]" splits the difference between this trope and BlobMonster.
* A few alien invaders from ''Series/UltraSeven'', including Alien Cool and Alien Chibull, are just massive brains with tentacles growing from beneath.

* Fern, the female monster in ''Series/TheJimHensonHour'' "Hurting Something" skits, had an exposed brain with tendrils of skin holding it in place.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' This is a general theme of illithid-aligned creatures (although illithids merely exhibit MyBrainIsBig, perhaps because their octopoid heads are stretchy enough to contain them).

** The Intellect Devourer is basically a brain running around on four little legs. Its modus operandi is to crack a victim's skull open, remove the brain and then [[GrandTheftMe squeeze inside, taking over the body]]. Believe me, if you survive an encounter, you'll never want to go without Protection from Evil and Good again. Intellect Devourers are created by Illithids transforming a humanoid's brain.

** Cranium Rats are superintelligent rats whose oversized brains are exposed. They have telepathic abilities that allow them to become smarter when large groups of them are close together.

* ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression'' also throws in its own version of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltzmann_brain Boltzmann Brains]]; this time, as super-intelligent and super-insane giant floating brains that, due to how Boltzmann Brains come into being, remember things that ''never'' happened, including massive crimes the targets of their aggression never committed. And being geniuses of their own, and quite insane at that, they tend to superimpose their own version of events over nearby reality. Notably, the thought experiment about them existing was what actually caused them to exist; disproven theories always leave a Mania-infused trace.

* ''VideoGame/AlienSyndrome'''s level 1 boss (A big brain with bonus supplemental brain attached).
* The final boss of ''VideoGame/BeastBusters'' looks like a human scientist, but it's only the disguise of a floating one-eyed alien brain creature that phases through the wall. After you defeat it, however, the battle is not yet over: its remains crawl into a massive contraption, powering it for the real final battle.
* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'' has enemies that are large brains (simply called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Brains]]) that crawl around the floor, leaving a trail of blood that damages you if you step on it. There's also an even larger variant, called a [[PunnyName Membrain]], that [[AsteroidsMonster splits into two regular Brains when it dies]]. [[ExpansionPack Afterbirth Plus]] introduced a [[PaletteSwap green variant]] called "Toxic Mind" that moves diagonally rather than horizontally and vertically.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blasphemous}}'' has Our Lady of the Charred Visage, whose pulsating brain is also her [[AttackItsWeakPoint weak point.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' has Amygdala and its brethren, whose head consists of a mostly-exposed brain occasionally covered in eyes. As well, the Brain of Mensis is a giant brain covered in eyes.

* The final form of Neibiros, the FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/DragonBlaze2000'' (it's a SequentialBoss, you'll need to defeat his draconic, behemoth and monster form first) is a massive brain-like form with Neibiros' head growing out from it's side. Said giant brain also have horns, a giant central eye, and the ability to spam fireballs all over the screen. Upon defeat, it turns into a smaller, ''winged'' brain and continues fighting before finally going down for good.
* ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' series
** The first final boss - the Spider Mastermind - was essentially a giant brain carried by a robot body. Its children in ''Doom II'' are the Arachnotrons, which are smaller versions with automatic plasma guns.
** ''VideoGame/DoomII''[='=]s final boss is the Icon of Sin, a giant skeletal goat face with an exposed brain as a weak point. It is only vulnerable to rockets fired into it from a certain angle, however.

* Featured in the first, third and fifth ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}}'' games. Many final bosses of the series are usually giant, brain-like beings. As a RunningGag through the series, they are often ridiculously easy to defeat.

** Third game: Rootmars, the FinalBoss, is an alien with a big exposed brain that serves as his weak point. Said brain can occasionally emit a shockwave that is hard to dodge.
** Sixth Game: The Brain Robot, a giant mecha BrainInAJar and an AdvancingBossOfDoom, that pursue the players relentlessly in the Beijing sewer system.
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''
** In ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}'' the final boss, Mother Brain, is a massive brain in a tank, with a laser-shooting eye. It's stated that she started off as an organic computer built by the [[BenevolentPrecursors Chozo]], who took command of the SpacePirates.
** In ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'', Mother Brain reappears as the final boss [[spoiler: this time as an "acranial" example, having gained a massive mechanised body.]]
* ''VideoGame/MonsterMaulers'' has Brain Golem from VideoGame/{{Salamander}} appear, now equipped with EyeBeams.

* The Lickers of ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' are [[OurZombiesAreDifferent T-Virus zombies]] which have mutated further and have had their brain extend out of their cranium. Despite the (relative) boost in intelligence, they also become more bestial; crawling on all fours and attacking based on sound with an elongated tongue. Contrary to its [[RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain previous forms]], the brain of a Licker is not a particularly weak spot.
* The demon [[http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Omoikane Omoikane]] from ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series isn't evil but is a floating brain with tentacles nevertheless.
* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'': The [[MindHive Overmind]] is a gigantic brain with a thick carapace and some tentacles. It is immobile and only relocates by [[ColonyDrop teleporting itself into a planet's orbit and crashing onto the surface]]. To a lesser extent, Cerebrates are overgrown Zerg larvae which root themselves in place and only exist as giant brains. When the Overmind is killed, several Cerebrates merge to form a new one.
* In ''VideoGame/StarFox64'', the FinalBoss, Andross, is said to be a MadScientist, but the only thing left of him appears to be his ([[RoboticReveal possibly robotic?]]) giant monkey head with [[FloatingLimbs unattached hands]] that attacks the player's Arwing SpaceFighter with {{telekinesis}}. After [[TurnsRed taking a certain amount of damage]], the surface layer of the...thing [[MadeOfExplodium explodes]] to reveal an equally giant brain with attached eyeballs. [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment No in-game explanation is given]] for how his brain got so large or why it can operate without a body.

* The final boss of ''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}} 2'' is a giant black widow spider with an exposed brain in her thorax. Sure enough, that exposed brain is [[AttackItsWeakPoint her weak point.]]
* The first ''VideoGame/XCom'' game also features the Alien Brain on Mars as the BigBad.

* {{Parodied}} in ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'', where a MadScientist discovers that his creation, a T-Rex with its brain in a giant jar, [[NightmareRetardant is anything but terrifying]].
* Pip from ''Webcomic/SequentialArt'' is mistaken for an agent of Vault One Eleven, and is brought to Spankaton Academy in a post-apocalypse London. There, he's brought before its administrator: a ButterFace with a shapely body, one eye, and a huge exposed brain. Her name is Dot, according to strip #963. In a world of barbaric moo-tants [sic] and ActionGirl[=s=] with {{Multiboobage}}, Dot fits right in. Fortunately for Pip, it's all a DreamApocalypse.

* ''{{Website/Neopets}}'' has the [[http://images.neopets.com/halloween/braintree.gif Brain Tree,]] which gives out quests in the form of questions you must answer. The rationale behind this behavior is that the Brain Tree loves knowledge but, being rooted to the spot, it must rely on others to find information.

** [[https://bogleech.com/mortasheen/necromon.htm Necromon]] is a monster that evolved from a homunculoid, the Mortasheen equivalent of a {{Nanomachine}}. For some reason, it looks like a brain perched atop a tiny body.

* Gunter briefly becomes this leading up to the sixth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', after a head injury literally splits his head open, and Gunter remembers that he is in fact [[spoiler: Orgalorg, an [[TheOldGods ancient]] EldritchAbomination from space]], prompting his brain to hijack Princess Bubblegum's spaceship.
* Ben's Alien Brainsorm from ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' can open his head to reveal his [[MyBrainIsBig oversized brain]] and shoot electricity from it.
* In ''Westernanimation/BigGuyAndRustyTheBoyRobot'' Dr. Neugog transforms into a GiantSpider monster with an exposed brain, that drains other people's intelligence to make himself smarter.
* The ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "[[Recap/DarkwingDuckS1E35HeavyMental Heavy Mental]]" revolves around a machine that gives the user PsychicPowers and [[MyBrainIsBig enlarges their brain]] as a side effect. At the episode's climax, the villain cranks the machine UpToEleven and turns himself into a truck-sized, floating brain. Darkwing and his friends beat him by [[spoiler: making him think too much during the power-up process, which [[YourHeadASplode blows him up]]]], making this one of the {{Squick}}iest episodes of the series.

* Mojo Jojo from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' has his enlarged brain protected by a helmet.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tigtone}}'': The villainous Brainbow, who is a former human whose brain and nervous system were magically separated and act independently. He has an enmity with his other half, a [[DemBones rainbow colored skeleton named Rainbone.]]

** The Intellect Devourer is basically a brain running around on four little legs. Its modus operandi is to crack a victim's skull open, remove the brain and then [[GrandTheftMe squeeze inside, taking over the body]]. Believe me, if you survive an encounter, you'll never want to go without Protection from Evil and Good again.
** Grells resemble giant floating brains, except with squid-like beaks and ten tentacles that inject paralyzing venom into their prey.
** Cranium Rats are superintelligent rats whose oversized brains are exposed.

* The titular terror in the ''ComicStrip/ThisModernWorld'' strip "[[https://images.dailykos.com/images/517153/story_image/TMW2018-03-14color.png?1520720102 The Thing That Ate America's Brain]]" (and [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/858490/story_image/TMW2020-09-23color.png?1600534632 its identically-named sequel]]) is a tentacled EldritchAbomination that [[EmotionEater feeds on]] the "chaos, anger and turmoil" generated by UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump.

* The Gil'Dishpan or Gil'Dan, who have fought ComicBook/{{Superboy}} and the ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} and were part of the Alien Alliance in ''ComicBook/{{Invasion}}'', look like misshapen brain-tubeworm things in tentacle covered bubbles.

[[folder: Puppet Shows]]

* Some incarnations of ''Comicbook/{{Superman}}'' villain Brainiac have an exposed brain beneath his skull-diodes, for instance [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/5/5e/Adventures_of_Superman_Vol_1_519.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110925121223 here]]. The heroic Brainiac 417 of ''Comicbook/DCOneMillion'' is a disembodied brain encased in a humanoid forcefield.

* ''VideoGame/MetalSlug 3'': Rootmars, the FinalBoss, is an alien with a big exposed brain that serves as his weak point. Said brain can occasionally emit a shockwave that is hard to dodge.

Subtrope of EvilIsVisceral and BodyHorror, and thusly, is always played for NauseaFuel.

* The first ''VideoGame/{{XCOM}}'' game also features the Alien Brain on Mars as the BigBad.

* It's not immediately noticeable, but the Cacodemon design in ''VideoGame/Doom3'' has an exposed brain on top of its head.

** The first final boss - the Spider Mastermind - was essentially a giant brain carried by a robot body. Its children in Doom II are the Arachnotrons, which are basically smaller versions with plasma guns.

* The Lickers of ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' are [[OurZombiesAreDifferent T-Virus zombies]] which have mutated further and have had their brain extend out of their cranium. Despite the (relative) boost in intelligence, they also become more bestial; crawling on all fours and attacking based on sound with an elongated tongue.

* The final boss of ''VideoGame/BeastBusters'' looks like a human scientist, but it's only the disguise of a floating one-eyed alien brain creature that phases through the wall. After you defeat it, however, the battle is not yet over: its remains crawl into a massive contraption, powering it for the real final battle.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', several [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranid]] creatures, especially those with strong psychic powers, have partially exposed brains.

* ''WesternAnimation/Tigtone'': The villainous Brainbow, who is a former human whose brain and nervous system were magically separated and act independently. He has an enmity with his other half, a [[DemBones rainbow colored skeleton named Rainbone.]]

* ''WesterAnimation/Tigtone'': The villainous Brainbow, who is a former human whose brain and nervous system were magically separated and act independently. He has an enmity with his other half, a [[DemBones rainbow colored skeleton named Rainbone.]]

----

* The titular terror in the ''ComicStrip/ThisModernWorld'' strip "[[https://images.dailykos.com/images/517153/story_image/TMW2018-03-14color.png?1520720102 The Thing That Ate America's Brain]]" is a tentacled EldritchAbomination that [[EmotionEater feeds on]] the "chaos, anger and turmoil" generated by UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump.

* The ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "[[Recap/DarkwingDuckS1E35HeavyMentalHeavy Mental]]" revolves around a machine that gives the user PsychicPowers and [[MyBrainIsBig enlarges their brain]] as a side effect. At the episode's climax, the villain cranks the machine UpToEleven and turns himself into a truck-sized, floating brain. Darkwing and his friends beat him by [[spoiler: making him think too much during the power-up process, which [[YourHeadASplode blows him up]]]], making this one of the {{Squick}}iest episodes of the series.

* In ''Westernanimation/BigGuyAndRustyTheBoyRobot'' Dr. Neugog transforms into a giant spider monster with an exposed brain, that drains other people's intelligence to make himself smarter.
* The ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "Heavy Mental" revolves around a machine that gives the user PsychicPowers and [[MyBrainIsBig enlarges their brain]] as a side effect. At the episode's climax, the villain cranks the machine UpToEleven and turns himself into a truck-sized, floating brain. Darkwing and his friends beat him by [[spoiler: making him think too much during the power-up process, which [[YourHeadASplode blows him up]]]], making this one of the {{Squick}}iest episodes of the series.