History Main / GrinOfAudacity

** The Thirteenth Doctor carries on the proud tradition, sporting a wide cheeky grin as she does anything CrazyAwesome. If she's about to thwart the VillainOfTheWeek, her smile can become downright ''[[SlasherSmile feral]]''.

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* Ash of ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'' has one when s/he is about to show the driver's ahead of her/him why the title King of the Mountain [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130305122900/http://www.misfile.com/?date=2013-03-01 still belongs]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130306222533/http://www.misfile.com/?date=2013-03-04 to Ash.]]

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'':

* So are many Robins and Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} in the ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' family. Usually: in their case, it's youthful enthusiasm, insecure optimism, and a bit of a prankster spirit.

* While [[AntiHero Loki]] occasionally pulls one of these in ''FanFic/ChildOfTheStorm,'' mention must go to its most constant bearer, MagnificentBastard Stephen Strange, for whom a GambitPileUp is just part of his own BatmanGambit, and whose smile is usually code for 'you're completely and utterly screwed'.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima:''

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* In ''FanFic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality's'' fan art, Harry is often represented wearing this, as befits a YoungConqueror, as do his retainers in the Chaos Legion (don't ask). Then a certain WhamEpisode happens, some illusions are shattered, and Harry's expressions become much more grim: it's instead Hermione and her group that take up most of the more optimistic kind of heroing.
* ''FanFic/YesterdayUponTheStair'''s Izuku forces himself to smile under stress.

[[folder:Films — Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'': There's that scene with "I walk on the wild side...I laugh in the face of danger ha ha ha ha!" First it's young Simba, then Nala does it right before the big battle at the end.

** The Third Doctor has a memorable sequence in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]] in which he pins the Master at sword-point, and then starts [[PokeThePoodle eating the Master's]] [[EnemyEatsYourLunch lunch in front of him]] while smirking enormously.
** The Fourth Doctor, an arrogant, reckless and {{Nightmare Fetishist}}ic adrenaline-junkie and Lord President of the CheshireCatGrin, does this very frequently in his more action-orientated serials (like [[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E6TheSeedsOfDoom "The Seeds of Doom"]] where he flashes one while snapping a man's neck, pointing a gun at a room full of villains, and so on). He also does an amazingly big one at the end of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS15E6TheInvasionOfTime "The Invasion of Time"]] to signify that he's returning to acting like himself, after being [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness acting in a cold, humourless and smileless way for the entire story thus far]] as part of a BatmanGambit. One absolutely heartbreaking example is in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS18E7Logopolis "Logopolis"]], when the dying Doctor glances up at his concerned companions, and flashes his distinctive, terrifying, mad smile for a fraction of a second before mumbling his [[FamousLastWords last words]] and regenerating.

* The traditional Border ballad [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIr21QNA6iE ''Lock the Door, Lariston'']] is about a besieged reiver with a cunning plan.
-->''Why dost thou smile, noble Elliot of Lariston?''\\
''Why does the joy-candle gleam in thine eye?''\\
''Bold border ranger, beware of thy danger,''\\
''Thy foes are relentless, determined and nigh!''

-->''Fates we have found so hellbent, wild...''\\
''Facing it down with reckless smiles!''

* In ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'', athlete Emi wears this expression when she's running, and the protagonist describes it in great length, as he finds that change from her standard, softer expressions fascinating.

* This is the default expression for any protagonist in the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series once they start on their cleverer hunches, especially when they're onto something that turns a previously hopeless case upside-down. Then again, this can be said for just about anyone in these games pursuing the legal profession, as it's clear they all enjoy their jobs far too much.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Ash of ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'' has one when s/he is about to show the driver's ahead of her/him why the title King of the Mountain [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130305122900/http://www.misfile.com/?date=2013-03-01 still belongs]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130306222533/http://www.misfile.com/?date=2013-03-04 to Ash.]]
* Isabel of ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'' may enjoy fighting [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140703192241/http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=55 a]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140304040926/http://paranatural.net/index.php?id=57 little]] ''[[https://web.archive.org/web/20140331025408/http://paranatural.net/index.php?id=100 too]]'' [[http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=184 much.]] But if she ''stops'' smiling, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness something is very wrong]].

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In [[http://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/chrysalis-20-5/ Chapter 20.5]] of ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', Skitter is cornered by [[spoiler:five superheroes, two of whom are wearing PoweredArmor,]] without her armor or weapons and with her superpower effectively neutralized. Then she realizes that [[TheDreaded her opponents are still leery of attacking in fear of her pulling an ace from her sleeve at the last minute.]] Cue grin.
** [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Tattletale]] wears a smile all the time. Her smiles become these whenever she's facing down near-impossible odds.
* Yang Xiao Long wears one often throughout the {{WebAnimation/RWBY}} trailer featuring her, preceding the delivery of a CurbStompBattle.

* While the trope description DID say that Batman doesn't engage in this trope, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' gives him two awesome instances where he does. First is when he pulls an OhWait on the Secret Society's ambush on him, and then after he gets one up on the Joker during the ''Injustice For All'' two-parter. If BATMAN pulls this, you know he's just outclassed you badly.

An athlete in a race, an adventurer [[TraintopBattle on top of a train]], a {{pirate}} [[BoardingParty boarding a ship]], a [[MagnificentBastard cunning politician]] executing an [[XanatosPlannedThisIndex amazing plan]], a LovableRogue during a {{Swordfight}}, a warrior during a LastStand, two friends sparring--anyone facing an interesting and fun challenge with a reasonable chance of failure will sport one of these smiles. It's usually a bit forced, showing the strain and stress the user is under, and there's a certain edge of malice and aggressiveness to it, even ''insanity'': a hint of BloodLust, to be precise. It's very common against [[AntiHero AntiHeroes]] of the [[UnscrupulousHero Unscrupulous]] and [[NominalHero Nominal]] types, especially if they are [[YoungConqueror young]] and/or [[InHarmsWay adrenaline junkies]]. It is usually coupled with a steady gaze, even a frown of sorts.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/ThePrincessBride https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grin-of-audacity2_5997.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[AC:"Surrender!"]]''\\
"You mean you wish to surrender to me?\\
Very well, I accept."]]

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

* {{WesternAnimation/Mulan}} is about to be cut down by the leader of the invading army, and stops him by smiling at what's behind him.

[[folder:Films - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': "Now ''bring'' me that horizon!" ''Captain'' Jack Sparrow is very excited [[spoiler:he got his ship back]].
* ''Film/TheMask'' in his movie and [[WesternAnimation/TheMask cartoon version]] tends to wear a more overjoyed, confident version of this. The anticipation isn't of effort, but of ''immense fun''. By the end of the film, Ipkiss wears it a couple of times to signify he TookALevelInBadass.
* Traditionally associated with ''Film/StTrinians'', which is almost entirely populated by female LovableRogue types, ever since the [[Film/StTrinians2TheLegendOfFrittonsGold time of the founder Fritton]], who was a LovableRogue himself. He was also[[spoiler: Creator/WilliamShakespeare.]] ''And'', he was [[spoiler:a woman]].
* In ''Film/ThePrincessBride'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOKuYsFIwXM Wesley has no problem cracking a grin in the most dire of circumstances]].

-->'''Anakin''': [[BloodKnight This is where the fun begins.]]

* ''Film/CaptainMarvel2019'': Carol unlocking her binary state causes the power on [[spoiler:Mar-Vell's ship to go haywire and cut out, including extinguishing the force field bars of the jail cell where the Skrulls are all being held. Cue Talos grinning as he prepares to fight their captors.]]
* In the {{Stinger}} of ''Film/{{TheAvengers2012}}'': when told that fighting the humans is to "court death", Thanos smiles.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The Third Doctor has a memorable sequence in "The Sea Devils" in which he pins the Master at sword-point, and then starts [[PokeThePoodle eating the Master's]] [[EnemyEatsYourLunch lunch in front of him]] while smirking enormously.
** The Fourth Doctor, an arrogant, reckless and {{Nightmare Fetishist}}ic adrenaline-junkie and Lord President of the CheshireCatGrin, does this very frequently in his more action-orientated serials (like "The Seeds of Doom" where he flashes one while snapping a man's neck, pointing a gun at a room full of villains, and so on). He also does an amazingly big one at the end of "Invasion of Time" to signify that he's returning to acting like himself, after being [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness acting in a cold, humourless and smileless way for the entire story thus far]] as part of a BatmanGambit. One absolutely heartbreaking example is in "Logopolis", when the dying Doctor glances up at his concerned companions, and flashes his distinctive, terrifying, mad smile for a fraction of a second before mumbling his [[FamousLastWords last words]] and regenerating.

* Garnet of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' gives a beautiful one for most of her fight against Jasper in the finale of Season 1, paired with her BadassBoast which she actually [[RuleOfCool sings]] to Jasper while kicking her ass. Given [[TheStoic her default personality]], [[Awesome/StevenUniverse it was definitely that one moment which people will remember about her forever]].
** In a WholeEpisodeFlashback, Rose Quartz faces down a FusionDance of three Rubies with a smirk...before [[CurbStompBattle taking the Fusion down with a few punches]].
* If Sterling ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' even acknowledges what's going on in a firefight, he'll often have this expression. The best part of being a secret agent for him is being as over-the-top as possible, and turning things around from a hopeless position (and vice-versa) is second nature for him.
* While the trope description DID say that Batman doesn't engage in this trope, WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague gives him two awesome instances where he does. First is when he pulls an OhWait on the Secret Society's ambush on him, and then after he gets one up on the Joker during the ''Injustice For All'' two-parter. If BATMAN pulls this, you know he's just outclassed you badly.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E4DestroyMalevolence Destroy Malevolence]]" Obi-Wan gets a little grin when he's ambushed and surrounded in the hyperdrive control room, right before he uses the Droideka's shields to protect himself and then uses the force to knock them into their own allies like bowling balls and escapes unharmed.

* Isabel of ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'' may enjoy fighting [[http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=55 a]] [[http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=57 little]] ''[[http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=100 too]]'' [[http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=184 much.]] But if she ''stops'' smiling, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness something is very wrong]].

* Ash of ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'' has one when s/he is about to show the driver's ahead of her/him why the title King of the Mountain [[http://www.misfile.com/?date=2013-03-01 still belongs]] [[http://www.misfile.com/?date=2013-03-04 to Ash.]]

* ''Disney/TheLionKing'': There's that scene with "I walk on the wild side...I laugh in the face of danger ha ha ha ha!" First it's young Simba, then Nala does it right before the big battle at the end.
* {{Disney/Mulan}} is about to be cut down by the leader of the invading army, and stops him by smiling at what's behind him.
* Eugene in ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'' wears this as he tries to speak an apology to Maximus before riding to Rapunzel's rescue.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Fan Fic ]]

[[folder: Films -- Animated]]

[[folder: Films - Live-Action]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Music]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Webcomics]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

** The Fourth Doctor, an arrogant, reckless and {{Nightmare Fetishist}}ic adrenaline-junkie and Lord President of the CheshireCatGrin, does this very frequently in his more action-orientated serials (like "The Seeds of Doom" where he flashes one while snapping a man's neck, pointing a gun at a room full of villains, and so on). He also does an amazingly big one at the end of "Invasion of Time" to signify that he's returning to acting like himself, after being [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness acting in a cold, humourless and smileless way for the entire story thus far]] as part of a BatmanGambit. One absolutely heartbreaking example is in "Logopolis", when the dying Doctor glances up at his concerned companions, and flashes his distinctive, terrifying, mad smile for a fraction of a second before mumbling his [[FamousLastWords last words]] and [[GoOutWithASmile regenerating]].

* ''ComicBook/Okko'': In the FlashBack to his adolescence, when Okko is cornered during a fight against a Yojimbo, he give her a SlasherSmile before turning his back to the enemy with a confidant grin. She try to attack him, only to be defeated by his newly mastered technique.

* In the {{Stinger}} of ''Film/{{The Avengers}}'': when told that fighting the humans is to "court death", Thanos smiles.

* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': In contrast to the bloodthirsty {{Slasher Smile}}s sported by many of the cast, Rock's badass smiles tend toward these. They primarily come out when Rock has some kind of crazy plan in mind, or when he proposes something that's just... ''[[EvilCannotComprehendGood incomprehensible]]'' by most villain standards (like asking mercy for their victims). Justified since he stated that he asked for it because ''he likes it'', just like the bad dudes loves to blow themselves up. You first see one on him at the very beginning, when Revy challenges ''him,'' a Japanese ''{{salaryman}}'' to a ''drinking duel''. As of ''El Baile De La Muerte'', Rock's GrinOfAudacity has become pretty damn unnerving (and blurring the lines between this trope and the SlasherSmile), to the point where ''Revy'' seems uneasy.

* Sora when he stabs himself in the chest with the dark Keyblade to release Kairi's heart in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts''.

An athlete in a race, an adventurer [[TraintopBattle on top of a train]], a {{pirate}} [[BoardingParty boarding a ship]], a [[MagnificentBastard cunning politician]] executing an [[XanatosPlannedThisIndex amazing plan]], a LovableRogue during a {{Swordfight}}, a warrior during a LastStand, two friends sparring--anyone facing an interesting and fun challenge with a reasonable chance of failure will sport one of these smiles. It's usually a bit forced, showing the strain and stress the user is under, and there's a certain edge of malice and aggressiveness to it, even ''insanity'': a hint of BloodLust, to be precise. It's very common against [[AntiHero AntiHeroes]] type IV and V, especially if they are [[YoungConqueror young]] and/or [[InHarmsWay adrenaline junkies]]. It is usually coupled with a steady gaze, even a frown of sorts.

An athlete in a race, an adventurer [[TraintopBattle on top of a train]], a {{pirate}} [[BoardingParty boarding a ship]], a [[MagnificentBastard cunning politician]] executing an [[XanatosPlannedThisIndex amazing plan]], a LoveableRogue during a {{Swordfight}}, a warrior during a LastStand, two friends sparring--anyone facing an interesting and fun challenge with a reasonable chance of failure will sport one of these smiles. It's usually a bit forced, showing the strain and stress the user is under, and there's a certain edge of malice and aggressiveness to it, even ''insanity'': a hint of BloodLust, to be precise. It's very common against [[AntiHero AntiHeroes]] type IV and V, especially if they are [[YoungConqueror young]] and/or [[InHarmsWay adrenaline junkies]]. It is usually coupled with a steady gaze, even a frown of sorts.

* Traditionally associated with ''Film/StTrinians'', which is almost entirely populated by female LoveableRogue types, ever since the [[Film/StTrinians2TheLegendOfFrittonsGold time of the founder Fritton]], who was a LoveableRogue himself. He was also[[spoiler: Creator/WilliamShakespeare.]] ''And'', he was [[spoiler:a woman]].

* A tragic example: in ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'', the baddies are torturing [[spoiler: Tachibana]] for the location of the owner of the Emtpy Lot, but Yoneda is getting too rowdy with his giant sledgehammer; Liutenant [[BloodKnight Kuze]] scolds him saying that their prisoner is of no value for them dead, and proceeds to stop the torture and loosen his wraps. This prompts [[spoiler: Tachibana]] to give the two-bit yakuza a small grin... [[spoiler: which unfortunately makes Yoneda lose his shit and smash Tachibana's head on with the hammer, killing him]].