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What's with crazy anime characters putting their hands over their face
- Thread starter DragonSJG
- Start date
I'm guessing it represents an unwell mind like you would hold your arm if your arm was hurt. Probably it was originally done somewhere with that in mind, then it was copied. And then it eventually just became shorthand to easily communicate that. Just guessing though
Anime is full of set expressions like https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HandBehindHead and https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SweatDrop
It's shorthand. An iconic character did it once, it gained the connotation, and now it is repeated because its an efficient way to convey that emotional state.
Dunno what it comes from specifically or why, now it's just visual shorthand. Like the "Kubrick Stare" kinda thing a lot of insane anime characters do as well. But with wider eyes/fish-eye lens effect added, a lot of the time.
I was just checking too, think they might actually not have this covered. This one is close:
Gotta Get Your Head Together - TV Tropes
The head is where the brain is, and the brain controls all conscious and unconscious functions. So when there's some external, intangible assault on the brain, cranium or ears, it's only natural to seek to protect the head. this is the resulting …
tvtropes.org
Yes. Edit: missed the insane part. :P Well, eyes in general here.
What about when it's not their hand.
What about when it's their face
I'm almost certain I've seen this trope in (western) live action but can not for the life of me place it. Hopefully someone else does.
But yeah, I think as others have said, it's just dramatic effect of natural hand motions related to the face. "Holding the crazy in", head splitting apart, signifying a "sickness" inside their head, it also allows for dramatic framing of (usually smiling) mouths and eyes and hair (the other features of a face don't seem as important in visually distinguishing the characteristics anyway).
But yeah, I think as others have said, it's just dramatic effect of natural hand motions related to the face. "Holding the crazy in", head splitting apart, signifying a "sickness" inside their head, it also allows for dramatic framing of (usually smiling) mouths and eyes and hair (the other features of a face don't seem as important in visually distinguishing the characteristics anyway).
They see whoever's in front of them is a man of culture as well
Or he's secretly a JoJo
John Cena is the face hiding the fact he could become a heel at any moment.
It's a sort of sarcastic attempt to "hide" their Insanity/evil/whatever from being noticed. Like a part of them is thinking "don't look at me", but they're so far gone that the gesture is pointless.
Kinda like how you would cover your mouth if you felt like laughing at something inappropriate.
Kinda like how you would cover your mouth if you felt like laughing at something inappropriate.
It gives the smile a more innocent and cute aspect. Also closing your eyes indicate trust in the other person, similar to how people close their eyes when kissing.
This is how I've seen it usually. It masks their overall expression and focuses on the intensity/insanity of their eyes.
It's a hand sign that represents the five pillars of edginess: misunderstood, no friends, 'tude, wearing dark clothes and disliking popular things. Looking between their fingers as they flash the sign is a desperate plea for help to be freed from the prison of their own making.
Something I've noticed is that crazy anime characters have this certain habit
So yeah why is this a thing in anime characters?
They're just shy, that's all.
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