History Main / CryCute

%% Cry Cute trope is used on characters that do not have a likable personality (such as a Tsundere, Jerk With a Heart of Gold, Jerkass, or any villain trope you come across) being more adorable when they cry. If you do NOT see any of these tropes describing these, do NOT use the Cry Cute trope. Instead, use the Tender Tears trope (particularly if the character happens to be a Nice Guy, Fragile Flower, or an All-Loving Hero).
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%% Do not include quality judgments of any kind. No potholes to Tear Jerker, Heartwarming Moments, or any other YMMV items. Let the examples speak for themselves.
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%% Image retained with edits per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1303154389013040100
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
[[quoteright:325:[[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ZnS_Louise_cry_3438.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:325:So sad, and yet so adorable.]]

A character, usually female and often a {{tsundere}}, cries. Unlike in cases of InelegantBlubbering, the crying person will be, if anything, ''more'' attractive-looking than they normally are, so that [[JerkassWoobie the audience can easily sympathize with them in their moment of emotional vulnerability.]]

There is an inexplicable phenomenon that the tougher a character is, the more ''adorable'' they will be when a SparklingStreamOfTears pours out of their eyes. The tyrant instantaneously becomes TheWoobie, whose endearingly vulnerable sobs and pleas for sympathy makes the coldest of hearts want to [[TheGlomp hug her till she feels better]]. This is considered {{Moe}} beyond belief by fandom in general, even by those who are not normally into that sort of thing.

Sometimes this moment acts as a roadstop, a turning point in which the character [[CharacterDevelopment starts to slowly become a better person]].

However, other times, having felt embarrassed for daring to be vulnerable, the once adorable woobie will ''immediately'' thereafter turn into a [[{{Jerkass}} tyrant of epic magnitude]] worse than the mere {{Tsundere}} she was to compensate for her brief moment of weakness.

TruthInTelevision, of course, but it's by no means as common as it is in media - most people will fall under the category of InelegantBlubbering when tears are shed, and this is likely to be for an evolutionary reason, as the more 'ugly' aspects of crying - things such as blotchy skin, ragged breathing, runny nose, etc. are traits that have been refined through selection to catch the attention of other people who might be able to console the crier or offer assistance.

Note that this trope can also occasionally apply to a male character. What differentiates this from ManlyTears is that whereas ManlyTears shows the sensitive attributes of an ''already'' decent male, CryCute is usually used on a male character in the AlasPoorVillain context that humanizes them. Also keep in mind that a character does not necessarily even need to be a tsundere in order to qualify for this trope. See also TenderTears, where the crier is normally nice and sensitive.

Sometimes includes BitingTheHandkerchief.

A SuperTrope to CryIntoChest. Contrast with InelegantBlubbering.
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!!Example Subpages:
[[index]]
* CryCute/AnimeAndManga
* CryCute/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

!!Other Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* The ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'' fan comic from Website/DeviantArt, "[[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/gallery/64893285/Cagney-is-a-Carnation Cagney Is a Carnation]]" by [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/ fuyuflowga]], is rife with this. The [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-717397125 title page]] has Cagney Carnation's eyes glistening with silent tears. But it doesn't stop there, as he often cries [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-5-717397705 at]] [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-6-717397813 some]] [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-11-717694035 parts]] whenever he feels rejected and unloved since he reluctantly signed the Soul Contract in his DealWithTheDevil to save his adoptive flower children. However, his crying [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-9-717554651 looks a bit hideous in his monster form]] when he [[ShootTheDog reluctantly kills]] [[WouldHurtAChild Mugman]] during the battle for the contract. [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-7-717398088 Mugman often cries in his ghost form at one point]], and Cuphead also [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-10-717554928 cries at the loss of his brother]] before hitting his RageBreakingPoint.
* ''Fanfic/FantasyOfUtterRidiculousness'': Yuuka Kazami. One of Gensokyo's oldest and mightiest youkai, if not ''the'' mightiest. Has no qualms with trying to reduce Megas to dust. Is the type of person to make jokes about violence and genocide... and, after being given some packets of sunflower seeds [[spoiler:after the Garden of the Sun's pieces are blown across Gensokyo]], is surprisingly adorable when she's trying not to cry. "Youkai moe", indeed.
-->'''Reimu:''' Look at this. This is the most pathetic thing I've seen in years. Someone with her strength isn't supposed to look so... helpless!
* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': [[spoiler:After Germany pulled out a Browning Hi Power against Japan and Japan pulled out his katana on Germany during the climax of their [[CockFight cock fight]], Italy [[RageBreakingPoint had had enough]]. He broke down crying before fleeing the scene.]]
* [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Faith]] spends the first several chapters of ''[[http://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-6868-10/GreyMatter+Marching+Orders.htm Marching Orders]]'' being distant if not outright hostile to everyone, especially Xander. But after the teddy bear he bought her gets its ear ripped off by a vampire, she breaks down crying, wondering if Xander will be mad that it got damaged.
* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'':
** In Chapter 16, Iris is bent on chasing Hunter J to rescue her family of Dragon-types. Ash's Pokédex points out that doing so will only result in getting herself killed, and to get the point across, it commandeers Ash's Charmeleon in a battle against Iris' Excadrill. This causes her to break down in tears, knowing she's not strong enough to rescue them.
** In the Oak's Summer Camp Gaiden sidestory, Serena, who isn't happy about being in the titular camp, gets nervous while trying to bathe a Poliwag and it splashes her in the face. The other kids laugh at her and she runs off to cry alone, until Ash goes after her.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': Averted. When Robin breaks down in tears at Enies Lobby, Cross calls it "messy, loud, and ugly" but insists it was absolutely beautiful for it's complete and undeniable sincerity.
* In the ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' fanfic ''Fanfic/HomeSick'', [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Aran Ryan]] cracks under the pain from his illness and [[CryIntoChest cries into Disco Kid's chest]].
** Its sister story ''Fanfic/LetMeWarmYourHeart'' also uses this with Narcis Prince, who weeps over his [[NotInTheFace beautiful face]] [[SicknessEqualsRedness being disgraced]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'', Lightning [=McQueen=] experiences this just before he departs for California, not to mention this is the first time he actually broke down as a result of his CharacterDevelopment taking effect due to staying in Radiator Springs and befriending the locals. He immediately wanted to leave upon getting stuck there, but after spending so much time, he's upset and is reluctant to go. You can actually see the tears at the bottom of his windshield during this scene.
** Lightning does this again in the sequel as he reads Mater's farewell note and feels bad for lashing out at him for making him lose the Tokyo race of the World Grand Prix. Ditto for Fillmore, Sarge, Luigi and Guido, the last two being the saddest (and cutest) ever during that scene.
%%* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', a ''dragon'', of all things, manages to pull this off (yes, the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent flying reptile kind]], not [[TheDragon the other kind]]) while [[spoiler:feeling sorry for herself by a pond after having her love interest run away.]]
%%* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' sees Vanellope break down sobbing after [[spoiler:Ralph smashes her car to pieces.]] At the same time, Ralph looks to barely be holding back waterworks of his own.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Played for Heartwarming-Laughs in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' with Thor. [[spoiler:When the Thunder God was caught by Frigga, his mother, during his quest for the Reality stone travelling back in time, he thought she would be ashamed of him because he is now an overweight alcoholic shut in. Instead assures him she still loves him, and encourages him pick himself up and be the best person he can be, instead what others expect him to. This causes the former god of thunder to adorably weep like a little boy as his mom lovingly hugged him.]]
* Nails the Spider from ''Film/CoolWorld'' cries like this when he mourns over Frank's death.
-->'''Nails:''' ''[sobs]''
-->'''Whiskers:''' I'm sorry he didn't make it.
-->'''Nails:''' I got to take him back with me. There's a nice gal back there. She deserves to see him, dead or alive!
* Played for drama in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' as the Foul Mouthed {{Jerkass}} Cyborg Racoon Rocket holds the bundle of sticks that remains of his sentient-tree-man friend Groot (it's that kind of movie) after his HeroicSacrifice, and finally resembles the adorable Racoon he should be as he weeps bitterly like a child.
* In ''Film/KickAss2'' Mindy does this after being left in the woods by the AlphaBitch after Mindy was able to beat her on the dance team. She arrives at Dave's house in tears. It is one of the only times in the movie that she actually appears vulnerable.
-->'''Mindy:''' ''[in tears]'' I just wanted to see my Robin...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Tate in ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse''.
* Arguably Faith in the episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' she first appears in, though a much more extreme example.
** Faith is more of a [[TheWoobie woobie.]] Rewatch ''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' Season 3, particularly Faith's first appearance and the Christmas episode "Amends."
* Annie's "Disney face" in ''Series/{{Community}}''.
-->'''Jeff:''' Now she is going to make the Creator/{{Disney}} face: her lip is going to quiver and [[PuppyDogEyes her eyes]] will flutter but they won't ever actually close, but ''do not'' feel sorry for her!
* In ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', Oswald Cobblepot/the Penguin tends to look adorable when he cries, mostly due to AdaptationalAttractiveness. Despite being a hardened criminal that will stab, shoot, and betray people without a second thought, he's one of the most openly emotional characters on the show, and frequently tears up when he's upset or even happy; his [[https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/aubreysmaturin/160927164182 happy tears]] are especially innocent and endearing. Even when he's full-out ''sobbing,'' there's something heartbreakingly vulnerable in it that just makes you want to give him a big hug. Seriously, [[https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/captainchilly/184415280614 look at him]]. [[spoiler:The one exception is when his beloved mother is killed, and his tears are a ''terrifying'' VillainousBreakdown.]]
* Series/PunkyBrewster was good at this. Noticeably the pain she experiences when she sees the Space Shuttle Challenger explode on TV was based on the pain series star Soleil Moon Frye recalled when it actually happened.
* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Chloe has the tendency to look very cute when crying. She rarely does it all-out and instead settle for trying to blink away the tears, but when she loses it and starts sobbing uncontrollably ([[spoiler:''Progency'']], for example), it is adorable.
* Subverted, lampshaded, deconstructed or... something... by Vala Mal Doran in an episode of ''Series/StargateSG1''. Daniel accuses her of using sex as a weapon, and she starts looking hurt and crying, but about halfway through a very heartfelt apology, Daniel realizes that she's just messing with him. She doesn't deny it.
** Played painfully straight later when [[BewareTheNiceOnes Daniel]], having had enough of her antics, gives one of the most vitriolic [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech diatribes for how screwed up she is ever]]. Vala can't even look at him. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m_wQEtafm8 Watch.]]
--->'''Daniel:''' You'd better not be messing with me.
* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E66Two Two]]", after taking a shot at the man, the woman spends the night in the barber's shop and cries slightly because of her loneliness.
* Jade's breakdown in ''Series/{{Victorious}}'' after she and Beck break up.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/{{Belgariad}}'' this trope is pointedly averted. When the initially waspish Ce'Nedra finally breaks down in tears, Polgara tells her it's best that she doesn't cry like that in the future as she doesn't have the complexion to pull it off.
* In ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'' you are treated to the final humanizing moments of the up till this point nigh omnipotent and borderline eldritch abomination of a sorceress queen through use of this trope.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Small Favor'', Harry demands of Rosanna how many knights she's murdered with her trick of getting her eyes to well up with tears and looking helpless.
** He also explicitly invokes this trope with great detail before saying that it doesn't describe Elaine [[spoiler:when one of their charges gets assassinated by a vampire despite their efforts.]]
* Teela Brown in ''{{Literature/Ringworld}}'': "Her lips, he saw, were perfect for pouting. She was one of those rare, [[{{Foreshadowing}} lucky]] women whom crying does not make ugly."
* Literature/SherlockHolmes does this three times. Once when writing a final note to Watson, second when he feels guilty for lying to him for being dead, and again when his friend is wounded.
* Many other female characters are jealous of Elayne in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' for being able to look pretty while crying.
* In ''Literature/WorldAfter'', [[spoiler:soon after Raffe realizes Penryn is alive, for one of the few times in the series he doesn't hide his emotions and cries]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Folklore]]
* OlderThanFeudalism: Myth/ClassicalMythology states that the monstrous Gorgon Euryale cried mournfully when her sister Medusa was slain by Perseus.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/BioShock2'', it is revealed in one of the recordings left by Gil Alexander, one of the head scientists on the Big Daddy project, that in the event that an Alpha series Daddy lost its Little Sister, it become suicidal. He describes one time that he saw a Big Daddy who had lost its Sister kneeling in front of a Gatherers' Garden, crying. This certainly gives a great deal of insight into the motivation of the protagonist.
* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': Even when Ragna is utterly exhausted, [[spoiler:his left arm destroyed]], and would probably like a good long rest after [[spoiler:changing Mu-12 back into Noel]], its not going to stop Noel from crying, screaming, and calling him stupid at the top of her lungs.
* Unbelievably, [[SociopathicHero Caim]] of ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'' [[spoiler:when his pact partner [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Angelus]] is being turned into the BarrierMaiden of the world, and Caim thinks he'll never see her again. He's wrong, but...it doesn't work out at all...]]
* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
** Also [[spoiler:Soren]] from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'', in his A support with [[spoiler:Ike. Normally cold and taciturn, the tears start before telling Ike about his [[FantasticRacism Branded]] nature]]. He does one better in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', with a [[GuideDangIt difficult to unlock]] conversation [[spoiler:about his ForgottenFirstMeeting with Ike that ends with him outright bawling.]]
** Several in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' gets one with potential love interest Owain, and in her A support with each of her parents.
*** [[spoiler:[[TheStoic Gerome]] sheds tears during the end of his talk with his mother Cherche in the Future Past DLC.]]
*** Similarly, [[spoiler:Laurent]] tears up in his A support with any of his fathers, as he finally manages to explain what he felt [[spoiler:in the years he spent completely alone.]]
*** Inverted with [[spoiler:Cynthia]], who accidentally makes any of her own fathers cry upon [[spoiler:explaining that she ''does'' understand how TimeTravel work and that she clung to him to make beautiful memories [[ButNowIMustGo before she leaves to build her own life]] ]], but she herself [[WiseBeyondTheirYears manages to stay mostly calm.]]
*** Lucina cries at the end of Chapter 13 when she's reunited with [[spoiler:her father Chrom.]]
** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has several cases of this:
*** The DarkMagicalGirl Rhajat starts sobbing when her father [[spoiler:Hayato]] tells her that despite claiming to be TheAloner, she doesn't ''truly'' [[IJustWantToBeLoved to be alone]].
*** In [[DefrostingIceQueen Beruka]]'s supports with [[NiceGuy Silas]], Beruka starts crying if he proposes to her. It's a CallBack to an earlier talk, where he cried TenderTears after learning of her DarkAndTroubledPast.
** Serra from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'', during her A supports with either Hector ([[spoiler:when she tries to convince him ''and herself'' that the parents who abandoned her will return]]), Oswin ([[spoiler:upon believing that he hates her [[WelldoneSonGuy despite how muchy she admires him]]]]) and Lucius ([[spoiler:when he tells her his own DarkAndTroubledPast and she sees that [[NotSoDifferentRemark they're not that different.]]]]). Fan interpretation suggests this happens in her A support with Erk as well ([[spoiler:as they end up admitting their mutual feelings]]), which considering the circumstances may not be that far from the truth.
** Similarly, Ephraim from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' isn't a jerk, but an odd mix of TheAce and BloodKnight. And then he cries openly in his own route, when [[spoiler:his and Eirika's BigBadFriend Lyon dies]]. L'Arachel does this too in her B support with Eirika, when she confesses that [[spoiler:she cannot remember her parents, who died when she was a little girl.]]
* In ''VideoGame/GrimGrimoire'' Margarita Surprise eventually winds up on the wrong side of Opalneria, who, being an expert necromancer, has some [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment pretty nightmarish punishments for misbehaving students.]] Margarita, who - up until that point in the game - had been shown as a fairly strong character, is reduced to a terrified, blubbering wreck and it's hard not to feel sorry for her.
* Even [[TheConqueror Vert]] of ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaVictory'' has this. [[spoiler:When she lost to the power of the four CPU's [[LadyOfWar Purple]] [[TotallyRadical Heart]], [[{{Tsundere}} Black]] Heart, [[LadySwearsaLot White]] [[MightyGlacier Heart]] and [[{{Dominatrix}} Iris Heart]].]]
** In the same game, Blanc has a Cry Cute moment after [[spoiler:she gets betrayed by [[EvilChancellor her trusted advisor]] and [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly loses all of her followers]], and [[BroughtDownToNormal thus her power as a CPU]]]]. It's even what prompts Iris Heart to pull the DefeatMeansFriendship card on her.
** Blanc also get a moment in Re;Birth 1 when she AintTooProudToBeg the other [=CPUs=] for help [[spoiler:defeating Arfoire after the latter impersonated her and usurped the throne of Lowee]].
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** [[spoiler:Leona]] is seen almost sobbing in her team's ''97'' ending, after [[spoiler:her father Gaidel's spirit tells her to keep on living.]]
** Poor [[spoiler:Elisabeth]] does this in ''XIII'', when [[spoiler:Ash says goodbye to her... before being {{Ret Gone}}d.]] It's implied in her team's ending, but the ''Climax'' OP sequence [[SpoilerOpening confirms it towards the end]].
* ''VideoGame/CookieRunKingdom'': Poor Onion Cookie and Squid Ink Cookie cry like this all the time.
* If a male Shepard romances [[AxCrazy Jack]] in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', she comes to his cabin later, and once she is assured that he's not going to bombard her with more questions and will just ''be'' there with her, she embraces him and starts to openly weep, making her makeup run. It speaks volumes that she has allowed herself to be so vulnerable with someone, considering her DarkAndTroubledPast.
* [[spoiler:Kyosuke Kagami]] from ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' starts screaming and crying when [[spoiler:his twin brother Hyo dies]] in the sequel's [[spoiler:Taiyo]] school ending.
** In the sequel, [[spoiler:Akira Kazama]] can be seen crying twice. If some conditions are met in the [[spoiler:Gedo]] route, [[spoiler:Daigo will die and the last screen will show her weeping over him while Gan and Edge swear revenge]]. If the [[spoiler:Seijyun]] path is chosen instead, then [[spoiler:she'll cry TearsOfJoy upon Yurika's return to the school.]]
** Also, in the sequel's Gorin path [[spoiler:Momo Karuizawa]] cries when [[spoiler:Shoma saves her from Kurow's YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness ''despite'' all that she did to him and others as TheMole, and tells her to choose between Justice or Gorin. She'll obviously choose Gorin [[IOweYouMyLife out of gratitude]], and then the final battle will start.]]
*** She was already crying a little before that, when [[spoiler:Kurow not only told her "YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness", but [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech totally trash talked her.]] Momo's reasons to be an asshole to the Gorin students was that [[SubordinateExcuse she loved Kurow]] and [[LoveMakesYouCrazy wanted to do everything in her power to help him]], so learning that her beloved "boss" never ever cared for her '''and''' was willing to kill her completely broke her heart.]]
* Meet Catiua, sister of [[PlayerCharacter Denam]] from ''VideoGame/TacticsOgre''. She's haughty, possessive, manipulative and ultimately performs a FaceHeelTurn. She's not completely lost yet, though: if Denam manages to talk sense into her, the floodgates open and suddenly the bitchy older sister transforms into a vulnerable little girl who begs for forgiveness for all that she has done. It's a turning point in her characterization.
* In Trails of Cold Steel IV, [[spoiler:once Rean finally comes back to his senses during their rescue of him Altina ends up letting loose some tears as she hugs him in relief.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Tsugumi in ''VisualNovel/Ever17'' as an example where the character genuinely stops being a {{jerkass}}. There were signs beforehand that she wasn't, sure, and they were even [[CharacterDevelopment getting more common.]] Seeing her cry makes you forget her doing stuff like pretending to push Takeshi down an elevator shaft for shits and giggles or randomly sucker punching him at the beginning, though. Mostly applicable to Takeshi's routes so they could spring a whole bunch of surprise reveals on you by letting her stay a jerk in The Kid's.
* Claire from ''VisualNovel/FadingHearts'' manages this in most scenarios, when she's not putting up a tough front with Ryou.
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' in its Unlimited Blade Works route has [[{{Tsundere}} Rin]] doing this after [[spoiler:Shirou stumbles out of bed after getting nearly chopped in half the day before, only to look around for her in a pained stupor and risk his life to save her when he does find her.]]
** And it happens again in Heaven's Feel with Sakura when [[spoiler:She overhears Rin and Shirou discussing whether or not she's too dangerous to be alive and flees the church. Shirou finds her standing in the rain, crying before giving Shirou [[SelfDeprecation a monologue about how impossible it would be for them to be together]]. Shirou decides against it and gives her a CooldownHug and what is [[IWillProtectHer basically his version of a love confession]], making her cry even more, into his arms.]]
* Caius from ''VisualNovel/FrozenEssence'' completely breaks down in his Light path after [[spoiler:Mina almost dies saving him]], pinpointing the moment where he goes from a JerkWithAHeartOfJerk to a JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
* Lilly in ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'', when she first confesses to Hisao and when she visits him in the hospital after his heart attack that he had chasing her to the airport.
* ''VisualNovel/MajikoiLoveMeSeriously'' has two notable examples:
** Momoyo, while definitely a hero, is a badass BloodKnight whose soft side is strictly limited to flirting with cute girls, but in one of the routes when [[spoiler:her sister Wanko runs away and Momoyo meets up with her]], she cries for probably the only time in the entire series. ''Everyone'' is surprised. She's not all that happy about Yamato praising her for it, though.
** Kokoro Fushikawa is a haughty {{ojou}}, but one time when she cries in the anime, Yamato calls her cute. Her reaction, quite unlike Momoyo, is shown as a shot by a Cupid's arrow.
* [[spoiler:Franziska von Karma]] at the end of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll''.
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', Ciel does this at the end of her route's true end.
* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'': Beatrice in just a few scenes in Episode 3, manages not just to trick Battler but also the readers. Lambdadelta lampshades it later. [[spoiler:Although it was only partially an act.]]
-->'''Lambdadelta:''' A single tear from a woman can make a man's heart waver. Truly efficient and economical.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/FreakingRomance'': After Zylith's father reappears in her life, she sees that the theme for the webcomic contest she wants to enter is love. Having never felt love in her life, Zylith can't help but break down into tears from the stress and irony.
* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', [[AxCrazy Bangladesh]] [[ForTheEvulz Dupree]] of all people [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ggmain/strips/ggmain20120118.jpg weeps uncontrollably]] and actually collapses in Gil's arms [[spoiler:when he confronts her over her failure to protect his injured father]]. This is definitely the OOCIsSeriousBusiness variety of the trope, since Bang is the most chirpy, upbeat mass-murderer in the whole setting.
-->'''Bang:''' ''[sniffling]'' You have made me ''cry''. For this I will ''kill'' you.\\
'''Gil:''' ''[comfortingly]'' Yes, yes.
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
** [[DramaQueen Kark]][[HotBlooded at]] [[HairTriggerTemper Va]][[GrumpyBear nt]][[JerkAss as]]. It's revealed relatively early, however, that he does care deeply for his friends, and has since ended up the character to cry the most throughout the comic.
** ''[[ManipulativeBitch Ter]][[BlindWeaponMaster ezi]]'' has one of these as well, when she dooms Dave to die in an alternate timeline.
* The aptly named [[{{Moe}} Moé]] [[https://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/676 the ninja-girl]] in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' is made of this trope. Poor kid cries a lot. Note that the main gag with the ninjas is that, under their masks, they are the only characters in the comic who are drawn in manga style.
* Kevin gets depressed without Chad around in Comic #9 of Webcomic/KevinAndChad.
* Ink from ''Webcomic/LostNightmare'' is a little kid prone to crying. Jasper counts too.
* ''Webcomic/MyDeepestSecret'': After she’s been having a rough time involving her peers and her professor hitting on her, Emma bursts into tears in front of Elios.
* ''Webcomic/TrixieVs'' During a flashback, we get filly!Trixie crying over deceased gold fish.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[{{Tsundere}} Kiazuki]] breaks down in tears when forced to admit she's sad in the Season 1 finale of ''WebAnimation/HanazukiFullOfTreasures''.
* ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'':
** [[HairTriggerTemper Brittnay Matthews]] tears up at Amberlynn's speech in Episode 13.
** [[AlphaBitch Mackenzie Zales]] is moved to tears by Trisha's heartwarming speech to her in Episode 62.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': When Blake Belladonna [[spoiler:has an explosive falling-out with Weiss and is subsequently ousted as a Faunas and former White Fang member]], she runs off and has a cry. While she's not a {{Jerkass}} or {{Tsundere}}, it's certainly extremely out of character.
* When the titular character of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGdOwPYqQDk "Cloud"]] cries after her ice cream drops, she turns into a raincloud and rains.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* ''Creator/AngelinaJolie'' has a reputation for looking beautiful when she cries.
[[/folder]]
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[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1658653763059797000 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.]]]]]]

If a direct wick has led you here, please correct the link so that it points to the corresponding article.

* {{Moe}}: Audience reaction for characters who are so cute the audience wants to protect them at all costs.

CryCute may refer to the following:

* TenderTears: A softhearted character cries easily.

* {{Moe}}: Audience reaction for characters who are so cute the audience wants to protect them at all costs.

%%
%%
%% Cry Cute trope is used on characters that do not have a likable personality (such as a Tsundere, Jerk With a Heart of Gold, Jerkass, or any villain trope you come across) being more adorable when they cry. If you do NOT see any of these tropes describing these, do NOT use the Cry Cute trope. Instead, use the Tender Tears trope (particularly if the character happens to be a Nice Guy, Fragile Flower, or an All-Loving Hero).
%%
%%
%% Do not include quality judgments of any kind. No potholes to Tear Jerker, Heartwarming Moments, or any other YMMV items. Let the examples speak for themselves.
%%
%%
%% Image retained with edits per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1303154389013040100
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
[[quoteright:325:[[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ZnS_Louise_cry_3438.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:325:So sad, and yet so adorable.]]

A character, usually female and often a {{tsundere}}, cries. Unlike in cases of InelegantBlubbering, the crying person will be, if anything, ''more'' attractive-looking than they normally are, so that [[JerkassWoobie the audience can easily sympathize with them in their moment of emotional vulnerability.]]

There is an inexplicable phenomenon that the tougher a character is, the more ''adorable'' they will be when a SparklingStreamOfTears pours out of their eyes. The tyrant instantaneously becomes TheWoobie, whose endearingly vulnerable sobs and pleas for sympathy makes the coldest of hearts want to [[TheGlomp hug her till she feels better]]. This is considered {{Moe}} beyond belief by fandom in general, even by those who are not normally into that sort of thing.

Sometimes this moment acts as a roadstop, a turning point in which the character [[CharacterDevelopment starts to slowly become a better person]].

However, other times, having felt embarrassed for daring to be vulnerable, the once adorable woobie will ''immediately'' thereafter turn into a [[{{Jerkass}} tyrant of epic magnitude]] worse than the mere {{Tsundere}} she was to compensate for her brief moment of weakness.

TruthInTelevision, of course, but it's by no means as common as it is in media - most people will fall under the category of InelegantBlubbering when tears are shed, and this is likely to be for an evolutionary reason, as the more 'ugly' aspects of crying - things such as blotchy skin, ragged breathing, runny nose, etc. are traits that have been refined through selection to catch the attention of other people who might be able to console the crier or offer assistance.

Note that this trope can also occasionally apply to a male character. What differentiates this from ManlyTears is that whereas ManlyTears shows the sensitive attributes of an ''already'' decent male, CryCute is usually used on a male character in the AlasPoorVillain context that humanizes them. Also keep in mind that a character does not necessarily even need to be a tsundere in order to qualify for this trope. See also TenderTears, where the crier is normally nice and sensitive.

Sometimes includes BitingTheHandkerchief.

A SuperTrope to CryIntoChest. Contrast with InelegantBlubbering.
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!!Example Subpages:
[[index]]
* CryCute/AnimeAndManga
* CryCute/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

!!Other Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* The ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'' fan comic from Website/DeviantArt, "[[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/gallery/64893285/Cagney-is-a-Carnation Cagney Is a Carnation]]" by [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/ fuyuflowga]], is rife with this. The [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-717397125 title page]] has Cagney Carnation's eyes glistening with silent tears. But it doesn't stop there, as he often cries [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-5-717397705 at]] [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-6-717397813 some]] [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-11-717694035 parts]] whenever he feels rejected and unloved since he reluctantly signed the Soul Contract in his DealWithTheDevil to save his adoptive flower children. However, his crying [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-9-717554651 looks a bit hideous in his monster form]] when he [[ShootTheDog reluctantly kills]] [[WouldHurtAChild Mugman]] during the battle for the contract. [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-7-717398088 Mugman often cries in his ghost form at one point]], and Cuphead also [[https://fuyuflowga.deviantart.com/art/Cagney-is-a-Carnation-page-10-717554928 cries at the loss of his brother]] before hitting his RageBreakingPoint.
* ''Fanfic/FantasyOfUtterRidiculousness'': Yuuka Kazami. One of Gensokyo's oldest and mightiest youkai, if not ''the'' mightiest. Has no qualms with trying to reduce Megas to dust. Is the type of person to make jokes about violence and genocide... and, after being given some packets of sunflower seeds [[spoiler:after the Garden of the Sun's pieces are blown across Gensokyo]], is surprisingly adorable when she's trying not to cry. "Youkai moe", indeed.
-->'''Reimu:''' Look at this. This is the most pathetic thing I've seen in years. Someone with her strength isn't supposed to look so... helpless!
* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': [[spoiler:After Germany pulled out a Browning Hi Power against Japan and Japan pulled out his katana on Germany during the climax of their [[CockFight cock fight]], Italy [[RageBreakingPoint had had enough]]. He broke down crying before fleeing the scene.]]
* [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Faith]] spends the first several chapters of ''[[http://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-6868-10/GreyMatter+Marching+Orders.htm Marching Orders]]'' being distant if not outright hostile to everyone, especially Xander. But after the teddy bear he bought her gets its ear ripped off by a vampire, she breaks down crying, wondering if Xander will be mad that it got damaged.
* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'':
** In Chapter 16, Iris is bent on chasing Hunter J to rescue her family of Dragon-types. Ash's Pokédex points out that doing so will only result in getting herself killed, and to get the point across, it commandeers Ash's Charmeleon in a battle against Iris' Excadrill. This causes her to break down in tears, knowing she's not strong enough to rescue them.
** In the Oak's Summer Camp Gaiden sidestory, Serena, who isn't happy about being in the titular camp, gets nervous while trying to bathe a Poliwag and it splashes her in the face. The other kids laugh at her and she runs off to cry alone, until Ash goes after her.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': Averted. When Robin breaks down in tears at Enies Lobby, Cross calls it "messy, loud, and ugly" but insists it was absolutely beautiful for it's complete and undeniable sincerity.
* In the ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' fanfic ''Fanfic/HomeSick'', [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Aran Ryan]] cracks under the pain from his illness and [[CryIntoChest cries into Disco Kid's chest]].
** Its sister story ''Fanfic/LetMeWarmYourHeart'' also uses this with Narcis Prince, who weeps over his [[NotInTheFace beautiful face]] [[SicknessEqualsRedness being disgraced]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'', Lightning [=McQueen=] experiences this just before he departs for California, not to mention this is the first time he actually broke down as a result of his CharacterDevelopment taking effect due to staying in Radiator Springs and befriending the locals. He immediately wanted to leave upon getting stuck there, but after spending so much time, he's upset and is reluctant to go. You can actually see the tears at the bottom of his windshield during this scene.
** Lightning does this again in the sequel as he reads Mater's farewell note and feels bad for lashing out at him for making him lose the Tokyo race of the World Grand Prix. Ditto for Fillmore, Sarge, Luigi and Guido, the last two being the saddest (and cutest) ever during that scene.
%%* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', a ''dragon'', of all things, manages to pull this off (yes, the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent flying reptile kind]], not [[TheDragon the other kind]]) while [[spoiler:feeling sorry for herself by a pond after having her love interest run away.]]
%%* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' sees Vanellope break down sobbing after [[spoiler:Ralph smashes her car to pieces.]] At the same time, Ralph looks to barely be holding back waterworks of his own.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Played for Heartwarming-Laughs in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' with Thor. [[spoiler:When the Thunder God was caught by Frigga, his mother, during his quest for the Reality stone travelling back in time, he thought she would be ashamed of him because he is now an overweight alcoholic shut in. Instead assures him she still loves him, and encourages him pick himself up and be the best person he can be, instead what others expect him to. This causes the former god of thunder to adorably weep like a little boy as his mom lovingly hugged him.]]
* Nails the Spider from ''Film/CoolWorld'' cries like this when he mourns over Frank's death.
-->'''Nails:''' ''[sobs]''
-->'''Whiskers:''' I'm sorry he didn't make it.
-->'''Nails:''' I got to take him back with me. There's a nice gal back there. She deserves to see him, dead or alive!
* Played for drama in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' as the Foul Mouthed {{Jerkass}} Cyborg Racoon Rocket holds the bundle of sticks that remains of his sentient-tree-man friend Groot (it's that kind of movie) after his HeroicSacrifice, and finally resembles the adorable Racoon he should be as he weeps bitterly like a child.
* In ''Film/KickAss2'' Mindy does this after being left in the woods by the AlphaBitch after Mindy was able to beat her on the dance team. She arrives at Dave's house in tears. It is one of the only times in the movie that she actually appears vulnerable.
-->'''Mindy:''' ''[in tears]'' I just wanted to see my Robin...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Tate in ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse''.
* Arguably Faith in the episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' she first appears in, though a much more extreme example.
** Faith is more of a [[TheWoobie woobie.]] Rewatch ''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' Season 3, particularly Faith's first appearance and the Christmas episode "Amends."
* Annie's "Disney face" in ''Series/{{Community}}''.
-->'''Jeff:''' Now she is going to make the Creator/{{Disney}} face: her lip is going to quiver and [[PuppyDogEyes her eyes]] will flutter but they won't ever actually close, but ''do not'' feel sorry for her!
* In ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', Oswald Cobblepot/the Penguin tends to look adorable when he cries, mostly due to AdaptationalAttractiveness. Despite being a hardened criminal that will stab, shoot, and betray people without a second thought, he's one of the most openly emotional characters on the show, and frequently tears up when he's upset or even happy; his [[https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/aubreysmaturin/160927164182 happy tears]] are especially innocent and endearing. Even when he's full-out ''sobbing,'' there's something heartbreakingly vulnerable in it that just makes you want to give him a big hug. Seriously, [[https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/captainchilly/184415280614 look at him]]. [[spoiler:The one exception is when his beloved mother is killed, and his tears are a ''terrifying'' VillainousBreakdown.]]
* Series/PunkyBrewster was good at this. Noticeably the pain she experiences when she sees the Space Shuttle Challenger explode on TV was based on the pain series star Soleil Moon Frye recalled when it actually happened.
* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Chloe has the tendency to look very cute when crying. She rarely does it all-out and instead settle for trying to blink away the tears, but when she loses it and starts sobbing uncontrollably ([[spoiler:''Progency'']], for example), it is adorable.
* Subverted, lampshaded, deconstructed or... something... by Vala Mal Doran in an episode of ''Series/StargateSG1''. Daniel accuses her of using sex as a weapon, and she starts looking hurt and crying, but about halfway through a very heartfelt apology, Daniel realizes that she's just messing with him. She doesn't deny it.
** Played painfully straight later when [[BewareTheNiceOnes Daniel]], having had enough of her antics, gives one of the most vitriolic [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech diatribes for how screwed up she is ever]]. Vala can't even look at him. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m_wQEtafm8 Watch.]]
--->'''Daniel:''' You'd better not be messing with me.
* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E66Two Two]]", after taking a shot at the man, the woman spends the night in the barber's shop and cries slightly because of her loneliness.
* Jade's breakdown in ''Series/{{Victorious}}'' after she and Beck break up.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/{{Belgariad}}'' this trope is pointedly averted. When the initially waspish Ce'Nedra finally breaks down in tears, Polgara tells her it's best that she doesn't cry like that in the future as she doesn't have the complexion to pull it off.
* In ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'' you are treated to the final humanizing moments of the up till this point nigh omnipotent and borderline eldritch abomination of a sorceress queen through use of this trope.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Small Favor'', Harry demands of Rosanna how many knights she's murdered with her trick of getting her eyes to well up with tears and looking helpless.
** He also explicitly invokes this trope with great detail before saying that it doesn't describe Elaine [[spoiler:when one of their charges gets assassinated by a vampire despite their efforts.]]
* Teela Brown in ''{{Literature/Ringworld}}'': "Her lips, he saw, were perfect for pouting. She was one of those rare, [[{{Foreshadowing}} lucky]] women whom crying does not make ugly."
* Literature/SherlockHolmes does this three times. Once when writing a final note to Watson, second when he feels guilty for lying to him for being dead, and again when his friend is wounded.
* Many other female characters are jealous of Elayne in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' for being able to look pretty while crying.
* In ''Literature/WorldAfter'', [[spoiler:soon after Raffe realizes Penryn is alive, for one of the few times in the series he doesn't hide his emotions and cries]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Folklore]]
* OlderThanFeudalism: Myth/ClassicalMythology states that the monstrous Gorgon Euryale cried mournfully when her sister Medusa was slain by Perseus.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/BioShock2'', it is revealed in one of the recordings left by Gil Alexander, one of the head scientists on the Big Daddy project, that in the event that an Alpha series Daddy lost its Little Sister, it become suicidal. He describes one time that he saw a Big Daddy who had lost its Sister kneeling in front of a Gatherers' Garden, crying. This certainly gives a great deal of insight into the motivation of the protagonist.
* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': Even when Ragna is utterly exhausted, [[spoiler:his left arm destroyed]], and would probably like a good long rest after [[spoiler:changing Mu-12 back into Noel]], its not going to stop Noel from crying, screaming, and calling him stupid at the top of her lungs.
* Unbelievably, [[SociopathicHero Caim]] of ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'' [[spoiler:when his pact partner [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Angelus]] is being turned into the BarrierMaiden of the world, and Caim thinks he'll never see her again. He's wrong, but...it doesn't work out at all...]]
* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
** Also [[spoiler:Soren]] from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'', in his A support with [[spoiler:Ike. Normally cold and taciturn, the tears start before telling Ike about his [[FantasticRacism Branded]] nature]]. He does one better in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', with a [[GuideDangIt difficult to unlock]] conversation [[spoiler:about his ForgottenFirstMeeting with Ike that ends with him outright bawling.]]
** Several in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' gets one with potential love interest Owain, and in her A support with each of her parents.
*** [[spoiler:[[TheStoic Gerome]] sheds tears during the end of his talk with his mother Cherche in the Future Past DLC.]]
*** Similarly, [[spoiler:Laurent]] tears up in his A support with any of his fathers, as he finally manages to explain what he felt [[spoiler:in the years he spent completely alone.]]
*** Inverted with [[spoiler:Cynthia]], who accidentally makes any of her own fathers cry upon [[spoiler:explaining that she ''does'' understand how TimeTravel work and that she clung to him to make beautiful memories [[ButNowIMustGo before she leaves to build her own life]] ]], but she herself [[WiseBeyondTheirYears manages to stay mostly calm.]]
*** Lucina cries at the end of Chapter 13 when she's reunited with [[spoiler:her father Chrom.]]
** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has several cases of this:
*** The DarkMagicalGirl Rhajat starts sobbing when her father [[spoiler:Hayato]] tells her that despite claiming to be TheAloner, she doesn't ''truly'' [[IJustWantToBeLoved to be alone]].
*** In [[DefrostingIceQueen Beruka]]'s supports with [[NiceGuy Silas]], Beruka starts crying if he proposes to her. It's a CallBack to an earlier talk, where he cried TenderTears after learning of her DarkAndTroubledPast.
** Serra from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'', during her A supports with either Hector ([[spoiler:when she tries to convince him ''and herself'' that the parents who abandoned her will return]]), Oswin ([[spoiler:upon believing that he hates her [[WelldoneSonGuy despite how muchy she admires him]]]]) and Lucius ([[spoiler:when he tells her his own DarkAndTroubledPast and she sees that [[NotSoDifferentRemark they're not that different.]]]]). Fan interpretation suggests this happens in her A support with Erk as well ([[spoiler:as they end up admitting their mutual feelings]]), which considering the circumstances may not be that far from the truth.
** Similarly, Ephraim from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' isn't a jerk, but an odd mix of TheAce and BloodKnight. And then he cries openly in his own route, when [[spoiler:his and Eirika's BigBadFriend Lyon dies]]. L'Arachel does this too in her B support with Eirika, when she confesses that [[spoiler:she cannot remember her parents, who died when she was a little girl.]]
* In ''VideoGame/GrimGrimoire'' Margarita Surprise eventually winds up on the wrong side of Opalneria, who, being an expert necromancer, has some [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment pretty nightmarish punishments for misbehaving students.]] Margarita, who - up until that point in the game - had been shown as a fairly strong character, is reduced to a terrified, blubbering wreck and it's hard not to feel sorry for her.
* Even [[TheConqueror Vert]] of ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaVictory'' has this. [[spoiler:When she lost to the power of the four CPU's [[LadyOfWar Purple]] [[TotallyRadical Heart]], [[{{Tsundere}} Black]] Heart, [[LadySwearsaLot White]] [[MightyGlacier Heart]] and [[{{Dominatrix}} Iris Heart]].]]
** In the same game, Blanc has a Cry Cute moment after [[spoiler:she gets betrayed by [[EvilChancellor her trusted advisor]] and [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly loses all of her followers]], and [[BroughtDownToNormal thus her power as a CPU]]]]. It's even what prompts Iris Heart to pull the DefeatMeansFriendship card on her.
** Blanc also get a moment in Re;Birth 1 when she AintTooProudToBeg the other [=CPUs=] for help [[spoiler:defeating Arfoire after the latter impersonated her and usurped the throne of Lowee]].
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** [[spoiler:Leona]] is seen almost sobbing in her team's ''97'' ending, after [[spoiler:her father Gaidel's spirit tells her to keep on living.]]
** Poor [[spoiler:Elisabeth]] does this in ''XIII'', when [[spoiler:Ash says goodbye to her... before being {{Ret Gone}}d.]] It's implied in her team's ending, but the ''Climax'' OP sequence [[SpoilerOpening confirms it towards the end]].
* ''VideoGame/CookieRunKingdom'': Poor Onion Cookie and Squid Ink Cookie cry like this all the time.
* If a male Shepard romances [[AxCrazy Jack]] in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', she comes to his cabin later, and once she is assured that he's not going to bombard her with more questions and will just ''be'' there with her, she embraces him and starts to openly weep, making her makeup run. It speaks volumes that she has allowed herself to be so vulnerable with someone, considering her DarkAndTroubledPast.
* [[spoiler:Kyosuke Kagami]] from ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' starts screaming and crying when [[spoiler:his twin brother Hyo dies]] in the sequel's [[spoiler:Taiyo]] school ending.
** In the sequel, [[spoiler:Akira Kazama]] can be seen crying twice. If some conditions are met in the [[spoiler:Gedo]] route, [[spoiler:Daigo will die and the last screen will show her weeping over him while Gan and Edge swear revenge]]. If the [[spoiler:Seijyun]] path is chosen instead, then [[spoiler:she'll cry TearsOfJoy upon Yurika's return to the school.]]
** Also, in the sequel's Gorin path [[spoiler:Momo Karuizawa]] cries when [[spoiler:Shoma saves her from Kurow's YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness ''despite'' all that she did to him and others as TheMole, and tells her to choose between Justice or Gorin. She'll obviously choose Gorin [[IOweYouMyLife out of gratitude]], and then the final battle will start.]]
*** She was already crying a little before that, when [[spoiler:Kurow not only told her "YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness", but [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech totally trash talked her.]] Momo's reasons to be an asshole to the Gorin students was that [[SubordinateExcuse she loved Kurow]] and [[LoveMakesYouCrazy wanted to do everything in her power to help him]], so learning that her beloved "boss" never ever cared for her '''and''' was willing to kill her completely broke her heart.]]
* Meet Catiua, sister of [[PlayerCharacter Denam]] from ''VideoGame/TacticsOgre''. She's haughty, possessive, manipulative and ultimately performs a FaceHeelTurn. She's not completely lost yet, though: if Denam manages to talk sense into her, the floodgates open and suddenly the bitchy older sister transforms into a vulnerable little girl who begs for forgiveness for all that she has done. It's a turning point in her characterization.
* In Trails of Cold Steel IV, [[spoiler:once Rean finally comes back to his senses during their rescue of him Altina ends up letting loose some tears as she hugs him in relief.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Tsugumi in ''VisualNovel/Ever17'' as an example where the character genuinely stops being a {{jerkass}}. There were signs beforehand that she wasn't, sure, and they were even [[CharacterDevelopment getting more common.]] Seeing her cry makes you forget her doing stuff like pretending to push Takeshi down an elevator shaft for shits and giggles or randomly sucker punching him at the beginning, though. Mostly applicable to Takeshi's routes so they could spring a whole bunch of surprise reveals on you by letting her stay a jerk in The Kid's.
* Claire from ''VisualNovel/FadingHearts'' manages this in most scenarios, when she's not putting up a tough front with Ryou.
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' in its Unlimited Blade Works route has [[{{Tsundere}} Rin]] doing this after [[spoiler:Shirou stumbles out of bed after getting nearly chopped in half the day before, only to look around for her in a pained stupor and risk his life to save her when he does find her.]]
** And it happens again in Heaven's Feel with Sakura when [[spoiler:She overhears Rin and Shirou discussing whether or not she's too dangerous to be alive and flees the church. Shirou finds her standing in the rain, crying before giving Shirou [[SelfDeprecation a monologue about how impossible it would be for them to be together]]. Shirou decides against it and gives her a CooldownHug and what is [[IWillProtectHer basically his version of a love confession]], making her cry even more, into his arms.]]
* Caius from ''VisualNovel/FrozenEssence'' completely breaks down in his Light path after [[spoiler:Mina almost dies saving him]], pinpointing the moment where he goes from a JerkWithAHeartOfJerk to a JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
* Lilly in ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'', when she first confesses to Hisao and when she visits him in the hospital after his heart attack that he had chasing her to the airport.
* ''VisualNovel/MajikoiLoveMeSeriously'' has two notable examples:
** Momoyo, while definitely a hero, is a badass BloodKnight whose soft side is strictly limited to flirting with cute girls, but in one of the routes when [[spoiler:her sister Wanko runs away and Momoyo meets up with her]], she cries for probably the only time in the entire series. ''Everyone'' is surprised. She's not all that happy about Yamato praising her for it, though.
** Kokoro Fushikawa is a haughty {{ojou}}, but one time when she cries in the anime, Yamato calls her cute. Her reaction, quite unlike Momoyo, is shown as a shot by a Cupid's arrow.
* [[spoiler:Franziska von Karma]] at the end of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll''.
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', Ciel does this at the end of her route's true end.
* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'': Beatrice in just a few scenes in Episode 3, manages not just to trick Battler but also the readers. Lambdadelta lampshades it later. [[spoiler:Although it was only partially an act.]]
-->'''Lambdadelta:''' A single tear from a woman can make a man's heart waver. Truly efficient and economical.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/FreakingRomance'': After Zylith's father reappears in her life, she sees that the theme for the webcomic contest she wants to enter is love. Having never felt love in her life, Zylith can't help but break down into tears from the stress and irony.
* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', [[AxCrazy Bangladesh]] [[ForTheEvulz Dupree]] of all people [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ggmain/strips/ggmain20120118.jpg weeps uncontrollably]] and actually collapses in Gil's arms [[spoiler:when he confronts her over her failure to protect his injured father]]. This is definitely the OOCIsSeriousBusiness variety of the trope, since Bang is the most chirpy, upbeat mass-murderer in the whole setting.
-->'''Bang:''' ''[sniffling]'' You have made me ''cry''. For this I will ''kill'' you.\\
'''Gil:''' ''[comfortingly]'' Yes, yes.
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
** [[DramaQueen Kark]][[HotBlooded at]] [[HairTriggerTemper Va]][[GrumpyBear nt]][[JerkAss as]]. It's revealed relatively early, however, that he does care deeply for his friends, and has since ended up the character to cry the most throughout the comic.
** ''[[ManipulativeBitch Ter]][[BlindWeaponMaster ezi]]'' has one of these as well, when she dooms Dave to die in an alternate timeline.
* The aptly named [[{{Moe}} Moé]] [[https://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/676 the ninja-girl]] in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' is made of this trope. Poor kid cries a lot. Note that the main gag with the ninjas is that, under their masks, they are the only characters in the comic who are drawn in manga style.
* Kevin gets depressed without Chad around in Comic #9 of Webcomic/KevinAndChad.
* Ink from ''Webcomic/LostNightmare'' is a little kid prone to crying. Jasper counts too.
* ''Webcomic/MyDeepestSecret'': After she’s been having a rough time involving her peers and her professor hitting on her, Emma bursts into tears in front of Elios.
* ''Webcomic/TrixieVs'' During a flashback, we get filly!Trixie crying over deceased gold fish.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[{{Tsundere}} Kiazuki]] breaks down in tears when forced to admit she's sad in the Season 1 finale of ''WebAnimation/HanazukiFullOfTreasures''.
* ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'':
** [[HairTriggerTemper Brittnay Matthews]] tears up at Amberlynn's speech in Episode 13.
** [[AlphaBitch Mackenzie Zales]] is moved to tears by Trisha's heartwarming speech to her in Episode 62.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': When Blake Belladonna [[spoiler:has an explosive falling-out with Weiss and is subsequently ousted as a Faunas and former White Fang member]], she runs off and has a cry. While she's not a {{Jerkass}} or {{Tsundere}}, it's certainly extremely out of character.
* When the titular character of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGdOwPYqQDk "Cloud"]] cries after her ice cream drops, she turns into a raincloud and rains.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* ''Creator/AngelinaJolie'' has a reputation for looking beautiful when she cries.
[[/folder]]
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* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', a ''dragon'', of all things, manages to pull this off (yes, the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent flying reptile kind]], not [[TheDragon the other kind]]) while [[spoiler:feeling sorry for herself by a pond after having her love interest run away.]]
* Mei from WesternAnimation/TurningRed after she breaks down and cries as a giant red panda after feeling utterly embarrassed about what had happened to her and her parents taking away everything from her room except for her mattress and favorite stuffed toy dog.
* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' sees Vanellope break down sobbing after [[spoiler:Ralph smashes her car to pieces.]] At the same time, Ralph looks to barely be holding back waterworks of his own.

* Creator/LeslieMann does this a lot in her movies, such as ''Film/KnockedUp'', ''Film/FunnyPeople'', and ''Film/TheOtherWoman2014''.
* In ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', during his sad scene, Roger manages to pull this off by saying his catchprase:
-->'''Roger:''' ''[sobs]'' P-p-p-pleaaaase!

->''"I can't believe this. A guy made me cry."''
-->-- '''Rin Tohsaka''', ''Anime/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks''

A character, usually female and often a {{tsundere}}, cries. Unlike in cases of InelegantBlubbering, the crying person will be, if anything, ''more'' attractive-looking than they normally are, so that [[TheWoobie the audience can easily sympathize with them in their moment of emotional vulnerability.]]

%% Cry Cute trope is used on characters that do not have a likable personality (such as a Tsundere, Jerk With a Heart of Gold, Jerkass, or any villain trope you come across) being more adorable when they cry. If you do NOT see any of these tropes describing these, do NOT use the Cry Cute trope. Instead, use the Tender Tears trope (particularly if the character happens to be a Nice Guy, Fragile Flower, or an All Loving Hero).

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** Lemmy Koopa, when he loses a race in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8''.