History Main / FloatingHeadSyndrome

* Most of the covers for the NES Game/MegaMan games' Japanese versions had this, for the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Robot Masters]] (from ''2'' onwards, although ''4'' and ''5'' had floating torsos instead). However, this is a [[TropesAreNotBad positive case]], as they are considered universally better than their [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore overseas]] [[SoBadItsGood counterparts]]. When ''9'' and ''10'' came out as [[{{Retraux}} throwbacks to that era]], this design philosophy [[GrandfatherClause was preserved]].

* Most of the covers for the NES Game/MegaMan games' Japanese versions had this, for the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Robot Masters]] (from ''2'' onwards, although ''4'' and ''5'' had floating torsos instead). However, this is a [[TropesAreNotBad positive case]], as they are universally better than their [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore overseas]] [[SoBadItsGood counterparts]]. When ''9'' and ''10'' came out as [[{{Retraux}} throwbacks to that era]], this design philosophy [[GrandfatherClause was preserved]].

* All of the covers for the NES Game/MegaMan games' Japanese versions had this, for the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Robot Masters]] (although, ''4'' and ''5'' had floating torsos instead). However, this is a [[TropesAreNotBad positive case]], as they are universally better than their [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore overseas]] [[SoBadItsGood counterparts]]. When ''9'' and ''10'' came out as [[{{Retraux}} throwbacks to that era]], this design philosophy [[GrandfatherClause was preserved]].

* The cover of the ''Film/SilentHill'' movie was fan designed, and features the floating head of a [[TheBlank mouthless]] Sharon Da Silva[[spoiler:/Alessa Gillespie]]. Far from being annoying or funny, though, this one is [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel just plain unnerving]].

* The DVD version of ''Deadfall'' features the floating heads of Michael Biehn, NicolasCage, and Sarah Trigger. There's a minor case of CoversAlwaysLie to boot: Presumably for the sake of keeping him recognizable, the Cage head is a more recent, clean shaven photo. However, in the film itself, Cage has a mustache and spends most of the time wearing sunglasses.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* When the ''DoctorWho'' VirginNewAdventures started, there was no requirement for the cover to depict a scene from the book, and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Timewyrmgenesys.jpg cover]] from the first book in the series included the Doctor's head floating in midair. Years later, when the last book was being written, there was a thought that it should have [[BookEnds a similar cover]]. Since it was now the convention that the cover ''should'' depict a scene from the book, the author added a sequence where the Doctor's HugeHolographicHead appeared over London. Then that scene wasn't used for the cover after all.

Not to be confused with when heads literally float as a magical side effect of LosingYourHead, or HugeHolographicHead.

* The DVD version of Deadfall features the floating heads of Michael Biehn, NicholasCage, and Sarah Trigger. There's a minor case of CoversAlwaysLie to boot: Presumably for the sake of keeping him recognizable, the Cage head is clean shaven, while in the film itself Cage has a mustache and spends most of the time wearing sunglasses.[[/folder]]

* Utilized in [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Marypoppins.jpg this poster]] from the original release of ''MaryPoppins'', which in contrast to later home video covers, emphasizes the flashy musical aspects over the fantasy aspects. This Syndrome was also utilized on [[http://media.photobucket.com/image/mary%20poppins%20dvd/doleted/Disney/MaryPoppins1998.jpg the original DVD cover]], averted for re-releases from 2000 [[hottip:*:which focused more on Mary flying with her umbrella]] and 2004 [[hottip:*:Mary flying in silhouette]], and played straight again in [[http://www.popentertainment.com/marypoppins.jpg 2009]].[[/folder]]

* Utilized in [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Marypoppins.jpg this poster]] from the original release of ''MaryPoppins'', which in contrast to later home video covers, emphasizes the flashy musical aspects over the fantasy aspects. This Syndrome was also utilized on [[http://media.photobucket.com/image/mary%20poppins%20dvd/doleted/Disney/MaryPoppins1998.jpg the original DVD cover]], averted for re-releases from 2000 (which focused more on Mary flying with her umbrella) and 2004 (Mary flying in silhouette), and played straight again in [[http://www.popentertainment.com/marypoppins.jpg 2009]].[[/folder]]

* Utilized in [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Marypoppins.jpg this poster]] from the original release of ''MaryPoppins'', which in contrast to later home video covers, emphasizes the flashy musical aspects over the fantasy aspects. The [[http://www.popentertainment.com/marypoppins.jpg 45th Anniversary DVD cover]] has this Syndrome as well.
[[/folder]]

A derogatory term referring to the tendency in modern FilmPosters and {{DVD}} cover art to have a black background with the faces of the lead actors above the name of the movie.

* 30s and 40s pulp comics tended to have a DramatisPersonae on the side of the cover, usually depicting characters from multiple stories that would appear in the books.

* The cover of the ''SilentHill'' movie was fan designed, and features the floating head of a [[TheBlank mouthless]] Sharon Da Silva[[spoiler:/Alessa Gillespie]]. Far from being annoying or funny, though, this one is [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel just plain unnerving]].

* Posters for the ''HarryPotter'' films have [[http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2001/images/HarryPotter_poster.jpg followed]] [[http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/bb/200px-Harry_Potter_and_the_Prisoner_of_Azkaban_poster.jpg this]] on occasion.

[[TheFifthElement http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/GuyBeingChasedByCopsAndThreeBigHeads.jpg]]

!!Examples:

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* Parodied in the ''MahouSenseiNegima'' manga when Jack Rakan [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mahou_sensei_negima/v25/c229/19.html shows Ala Alba an informative movie he made]] about the war that he and Negi's father had fought in. They all promptly start complaining about how he placed himself front and center even though his role is comparatively minor.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

* [[http://www.jplegacy.org/comics/jp/jp02-v1.jpg This rather cheesy cover art]] for a ''JurassicPark'' comic book is - excluding the raptor - comprised of ''nothing'' but floating heads on a blue background. The raptor seems comprensibly ''scared''.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* ''GiveMyRegardsToBroadStreet'', 2000s {{DVD}} release (taken to the minimalist extreme; the original posters also had a dash of this.)
* Some posters for ''Film/AHardDaysNight'', including the ones the various AHDN album covers use.

* The promotional posters for ''NoCountryForOldMen'' featured Llewelyn Moss as a tiny figure fleeing desperately from [[EvilOverlooker the looming visage of the inexorable Anton Chigurh]], the composition of [[http://www.amazon.com/Country-Old-Men-Vintage-International/dp/0307387135 the image]] reflecting the story's contemplation of trying in vain to outrun fate. For [[http://www.amazon.com/Country-Old-Men-Javier-Bardem/dp/B00118T63C the DVD cover]]? Floating Heads!

* All ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' [=DVD=]s, especially when the cast grows.
* DVD/Posters of [[strike:the first two]] all three movies of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' trilogy (theatrical editions only; the special editions had polished art.)
* ''TheFifthElement'', or - as [[SomethingAwful the goons]] call it - ''[[http://www.somethingawful.com/d/photoshop-phriday/misinterpreted-movie-titles.php?page=3 Guy being chased by cops and three big heads]]''.

* Almost all of the ''StarTrek'' movies do this. [[StarTrekInsurrection Insurrection]] goes for the EvilOverlooker instead.
* A good deal of posters and DVD covers for the {{Terminator}} series are simply pictures of the titular cyborg's head. Many of these show off the "part man, part machine" aspect.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

* Also, see [[http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/47d8df4123/movie-poster-floating-heads-from-fod-team this awesome video]] for a look at the process of making, the floating head poster.

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<<|ComingAttractions|>>

** This gets alluded to in the making-of features of ''TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' remake. The creators said they wanted something simple, and wished to avoid the "[[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7f/Scream_2.jpg roughly]] [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a2/I_Know_What_You_Did_Last_Summer.jpg five]] [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/Urban_Legend_film.jpg kids]] [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Final_Destination_movie.jpg facing]][[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5e/HalloweenH20poster.jpg forward]]" thing.