History Main / ExpressiveMask

* In the ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'' film ''Animation/MoonCastleTheSpaceAdventure'', the Bitter Gourd King wears a sheet of paper on his face bearing the Chinese symbol "苦", meaning "bitter". This mask does not move for most of the film, but near the end the mask's mouth moves when [[spoiler:he accidentally swallows one of Wolffy's tears of joy and stops being bitter]].

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' - Spaceman Spiff, interplanetary explorer extraordinaire, wears a space visor that is more like a small square black screen perched on his nose, which somehow conveys all of his eyes' expressions. The standard expression is two squares, but he uses circles for alarm, a thin line for when he's squinting, and triangular shapes for when he's angrily blasting stuff. For that matter, the {{Calvinball}} masks and Stupendous Man's mask are very expressive for pieces of cloth (the Stupendous Man hood, however, does white out Calvin's eyes in his daydreams.)

** Ant-Man might have a broader range of expressions with his mask than without.

* Franchise/{{Batman}}'s mask can sometimes be seen doing this. For Bats it's almost always "brow furrowed." '''[[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batmangasp.bmp Almost]]'''. The ''appearance'' of this is [[JustifiedTrope explained]] by the live-action films: close-ups on Batman's face make clear that he's wearing eye makeup in the gap between his mask and the edges of his eyelids. (This is the most likely method for any live actors masked in the same style.) Except in certain close ups of Batman's face in the comics, we see that the eyeholes end around his skull holes and there is no black eye makeup. The moving mask could be explained as flexible skin tight material, or just artistic expression, a la the white eyes.

** Jason Todd (aka [[ComicBook/RedHoodAndTheOutlaws Red Hood]]) wears an expressive ''helmet'' in the ComicBook/{{New 52}}.

* ComicBook/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}, both of the MarvelUniverse, often manage some pretty goofy expressions even though they wear masks concealing their entire face. These are usually of the "[[FascinatingEyebrow cocked eyebrow]]" variety. DependingOnTheArtist, Deadpool's mouth can be seen through his mask, making his expressions even ''goofier''. Most dramatic is when Spider-Man narrows his eyes. Somehow this makes the whites of his mask narrow as well. (During the [=McFarlane=] big-eyes era, this was particularly emphatic.) They experimented with this for [[Film/SpiderMan1 the movie]], but decided that in live-action it looked too creepy. However, by the MCU Spidey series, it was incorporated - the mask was redesigned by Tony Stark to expand and contract the eyes as it adjusts to what he sees.
** Lampshaded in a recap issue of ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan, where the in-character design sketch for the new costume's reactive eye-lenses has a note saying "lens can also be used for emotion!"
* The [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]], Hobgoblin, and Goblin Knight have masks so expressive and kooky that they could be mistaken for actual faces covered in makeup.
* ComicBook/BlackPanther is another Marvel example like Deadpool and Spider-Man. Like Batman, his expressions are usually limited to his eyes narrowing to make him look more intimidating.
* Both Franchise/MarvelUniverse characters Doctor Doom and ComicBook/IronMan have masks specifically described as made of metal, yet both can show emotion when needed. The trick is the angle from which they're shown.
** Justifications exist: Iron Man is shown creating a faceplate for his armour that follows his own expressions, the better to intimidate his foes. In ''The Ultimate Super-Villains'' anthology Doctor Doom's updated mask contains micro-servos that can mimic expression. He habitually keeps it locked in an arrogant scowl to better intimidate his underlings.
* ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'' has a domino mask that's very flexible and shows expression very well.
** In the movie they got around this simply by making the mask's eye holes large enough so as not to obscure the actor's performance.
* ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'': His mask does not move, but lighting effects are used to make it more expressive. If you don't show the eyebrows, he looks innocently happy, but focusing on them makes him look more formidable.

* The ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}} wears a skull mask that is quite expressive, to the point where his mouth seems to move when he talks. DependingOnTheArtist is will either contort with his expressions like a rubber mask, or rely on the expressions of his eyes if it's a more hard mask. ''ComicBook/AllNewWolverine'' takes the "eyeblack around the eyes" method beneath his skull mask.
* The ComicBook/IronMan villain Madame Masque, DependingOnTheArtist. Sometimes her mask is essentially "painted on" (like Destro's), and moves with her facial features. Other times it's clearly a metal or ceramic mask that doesn't show any emotion other than from the holes for her eyes. In one story, [[ComicBook/YoungAvengers Kate Bishop]] actually gagged her by putting a strip of duct tape ''over'' the mouthpiece on the mask, implying that it's normally movable.

* There's also Emoticon from ''ComicBook/WelcomeToTranquility'', who is something of a unique example. [[spoiler:His mask actually always shows his true emoticons, and is effectively a proxy face for him, given a supervillain by the moniker of The Typist actually mutilated his face beyond recognition and rendered him utterly blind. The mask also has prosthetic eyeballs in it, allowing poor Emoticon to see. Understandably, he's got a bit of an attitude problem. Poor guy.]]

* A select few comic characters, including [[ComicBook/NewGods Mister Miracle]] and Mike Allred's ComicBook/{{Madman}}, really go the extra mile. They wear full-face masks with openings that are flawlessly molded to their eyes, nostrils, ''and'' lips, and that move/open/close freely along with them. For any practical purpose their masks ARE faces, made of some miracle fabric known only to comic creators.
* Although generally averted with [[ComicBook/{{X 23}} Wolverine's]] cowl in ''ComicBook/AllNewWolverine'', [[DependingOnTheArtist Ig Guarra]] has the eyes shift to fit Laura's expressions and mood in issues 10-12.
* [[BloodKnight Whirl]] from ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' is a CyberCyclops with no face due to a horrific MarkOfShame ritual known as Empurata, which took away his normal, expressive face and replaced it with a single glowing optical sensor. In spite of this, he manages to to convey emotions like shock, skepticism, and even cheekiness with a single yellow dot set deep in a black void; he can even deliver quite a DeathGlare by narrowing the...shutters?

* [[ComicBook/{{Steel}} John Henry Irons]] usually wears a metal mask that looks exactly like his face and moves the way his face would. A lettercolumn suggested this was either something to do with his mysterious superpowers (during a period when he could teleport the armour on and off, but didn't know how) or "really strong facial muscles". These days (the mysterious superpowers having [[AudienceAlienatingEra long been abandoned]]) generally accepted that there's some kind of motor that detects his expressions and relays it to the mask, and the mask itself is surprisingly flexible in the same way that there aren't obvious joints on his arms and legs.

* Citizen V's mask in ''Comicbook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' is meant to be featureless, but with reflections on it that ''just happen'' to resemble facial expressions. Sometimes it looks more like you can see the Citizen's face ''through'' the mask, somehow.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'': All the characters' masks have eyes that move with theirs (and in Peter Porker's case, the nostrils too), except for Miles while he is wearing his store-bought costume. And when he wears his new, custom-graffitied Spider-Man suit, the eyes move just like on the other Spider-people's suits.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'': All the characters' masks have eyes that move with theirs (and in Peter Porker's case, the nostrils too), except for Miles while he is wearing his store-bought costume. [[spoiler:And when he wears his new, custom-graffitied Spider-Man suit, the eyes move just like on the other Spider-people's suits.]]

* In ''Webcomic/CityOfBlank'', the masks are often drawn changing according to character emotion. Justified because it's hard to convey character emotion otherwise, since (just about) ''everyone'' wears a mask 24/7.

* In ''LightNovel/TheStoryOfSaiunkoku'', Kou Kijin's masks themselves aren't animated, but he has a wide assortment of them made by his friend and colleague Kou Reishin, and some of them are ''very'' expressive.

** In "[[Recap/TotalDramaSuperHeroId Super Hero-Id]]", Pythonicus (Chef) and Dander Boy (a cat) wear masks that overtly move along with their facial expressions.

* The masks in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' are essentially dark patches on the characters' skin, changing shape as their features move and even covering their eyelids. Particularly notable in that when Violet throws one at the ground in the second movie, it ''bounces'' and keeps its shape. Given everything else their costume designer, Edna Mode, is able to make their costumes do, this might just be another feature.

* In the third ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'' film, the Bitter Gourd King wears a sheet of paper on his face bearing the Chinese symbol "苦", meaning "bitter". This mask does not move for most of the film, but near the end the mask's mouth moves when [[spoiler:he accidentally swallows one of Wolffy's tears of joy and stops being bitter]].

* ComicBook/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}, both of the MarvelUniverse, often manage some pretty goofy expressions even though they wear masks concealing their entire face. These are usually of the "[[FascinatingEyebrow cocked eyebrow]]" variety. DependingOnTheArtist, Deadpool's mouth can be seen through his mask, making his expressions even ''goofier''. Most dramatic is when Spider-Man narrows his eyes. Somehow this makes the whites of his mask narrow as well. (During the [=McFarlane=] big-eyes era, this was particularly emphatic.) They experimented with this for [[Film/SpiderMan1 the movie]], but decided that in live-action it moved the mask firmly into the UncannyValley. However, by the MCU Spidey series, it was incorporated - the mask was redesigned by Tony Stark to expand and contract the eyes as it adjusts to what he sees.

* Fain in ''VideoGame/{{Lusternia}}'' combines this with NotAMask for [[UncannyValley creepy effect]].

* The newest VideoGame/WWEVideoGames have a handful of face-concealing "Halloween" masks that take on the expressions of the wrestler wearing them. This looks hilarious and somewhat creepy at the same time when you give one of them the {{Oni}} mask and watch it yell in a panic along with its wearer as you put them into a suplex.

* Citizen V's mask in ''Comicbook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' is meant to be featureless, but with reflections on it that just happen'' to resemble facial expressions. Sometimes it looks more like you can see the Citizen's face ''through'' the mask, somehow.

* Citizen V's mask in ''Comicbook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' is meant to be a featureless, but with reflections on it that just happen'' to resemble facial expressions. Sometimes it looks more like you can see the Citizen's face ''through'' the mask, somehow.

** Brook can do this with his skull head. This happens particularly often when he's in battle, when he'll often have [[AngryEyebrows angry eyesockets]].

* ComicBook/PlasticMan's goggles contort with his expressions, although this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] since his costume was doused with the same chemical that gave him his rubber powers.
* Michael Holt AKA ComicBook/MisterTerrific's T-shaped mask is a skin tight fabric that only covers his face and naturally moves with his expressions. At times it more resembles black makeup than a mask.

* [[AvertedTrope Aversion]]: The character designers for the animated film ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'' deliberately gave the title character's head extra hinges, shutters, etc. so that it could produce facial expressions without cartoony contortions. The live-action ''Film/{{Transformers|Film Series}}'' movies are similar, with even greater detail.

* Mr. Earthworm wears expressive sunglasses in the film of ''Film/JamesAndTheGiantPeach'' to compensate for his lack of actual eyes, as an [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin earthworm]].

** In ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', Comicbook/{{Ultron}}'s main body has a moving mouth and eyes, allowing him to make various [[UncannyValley disturbingly human]] expressions. His comic self, by contrast, has a fixed, glowing red "smile", and was first seen as a malfunctioning Iron Legion drone that had been hit with acid, resulting in its macabre grin.

* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'': Not quite a mask, but Agent Sasha Nein's glasses are capable of changing shape with his expressions. He ''is'' [[PsychicPowers psychic]], of course, but that seems a rather trivial use of telekinesis.

* ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIWingsOfLiberty'': [[DownplayedTrope It’s very subtle]], but the lenses on the Reaper’s gas mask move like eyebrows in his unit portrait.

** Doctor Octopus of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' swaps unmoving NerdGlasses for curiously emotive [[GogglesDoNothing goggles]] after his FaceHeelTurn.

* Most [[AnimatedAdaptation Animated Adaptations]] of the characters in Franchise/TheDCU (and the Franchise/MarvelUniverse) have expressive masks; especially notable are ComicBook/{{Robin}} from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' (pictured) and [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague JLU's]] Comicbook/{{Steel}}, whose mask is an immobile steel helmet.

* Downplayed in ''[[Toys/{{Bionicle 2015}} Bionicle: The Journey to One]]'', where facial expressions were limited to subtle expansions of the masks' eye holes. Even when a character had an actual jaw under the mask, it didn't move when they talked.

--->'''Yogi''': I just don't trust anyone who smiles all the time, ''(imitating the polar bear mask's expression)'' and talks without moving his mouth.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheHollow'': War one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse helmet completely covers his face, yet he can still be rather expressive with it a la [[Manga.FullmetalAlchemist Alphonse Elric]].

* The earliest animated use of this trope may have to go back to the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' cartoons whenever a FullBodyDisguise (or at least a LatexPerfection -style mask) is used. Worth of note is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ifLAfFbNQ this rubber goat mask]] [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Sylvester]] wears in "Fowl Weather," with the eyes and mouth acting like the real thing and a nice double take fully showing through (when Tweety blows his cover, not fooled by the mask.)

* In an inversion, ''WesternAnimation/{{ReBoot}}'''s character Hexadecimal, a computer virus of an excessively chaotic and unpredictable behavior, had no facial animation for most of the series. Her face was a "drama mask", and her expression would always [[CreepyChangingPainting change on a cut or while her face was not visible (usually blocked by her hand)]].

** In an episode where Bob actually removes Hex's mask, we see that [[TheBlank there is nothing underneath]]. The mask ''is'' her face, and her expression is at the mercy of chance. This is why, in the third and fourth seasons, after Hex [[spoiler: becomes sane and does a HeelFaceTurn]], her face ''does'' become expressive and actually moves when she talks.

** Taken to an extreme with ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' Shockwave, who has no facial features at all. [[spoiler: Well, when he's not in Longarm Prime mode.]] All he has is a red circle as an optic sensor in the middle of his dark face, but it changes shape subtly according to his moods the way the other characters' optic sensors do.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'', Nox's mask has shutters that act as eyelids. However, more often than not, we get the full unsettling effect of those unblinking [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing]] eyes.