History Main / GlowingMechanicalEyes

* In ''BattlestarGalactica'', the Cylon's [[CyberCyclops eye]] glows.

[[quoteright:350:[[{{Franchise/Terminator}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/terminatoreyes_1306.png]]

[[RobotRollCall Robotic]] or {{cyborg}} characters will frequently have obviously [[ElectronicEyes artificial eyes]]. Presumably these are some sort of video camera, which makes sense for an artifical creation. Unlike normal cameras, however, these will usually glow with an inner light. While this makes very little sense from a mechanical design perspective, it makes excellent sense from a ''character'' design perspective. Eyes convey a lot of information about a person; light-up eyes help make up for a robot face's lack of expressiveness.

[[RobotRollCall Robotic]] or {{cyborg}} characters will frequently have obviously [[ElectronicEyes artificial eyes]]. Presumably these are some sort of video camera, which makes sense for an artifical creation. Unlike normal cameras, however, these will usually glow with an inner light. While this makes very little sense from a mechanical design perspective, it makes excellent sense from a ''character'' design perspective. Eyes convey a lot of information about a person; light-up eyes help make up for a robot face's lack of expressiveness.

By varying the intensity, shape, and color of the light, a robotic character can convey much of the emotion that would otherwise be lost. A brief flash of intense light can indicate surprise or anger. The light going out can show that the character is unconscious, blind, or [[EyeLightsOut dead]]; conversely, the light coming back ''on'' is a form of EyeAwaken. If the light is red, you might want to [[RedEyesTakeWarning watch out]] (especially if its usually a different color, but suddenly turns red). If the eye glow can change shape, then it becomes nearly as expressive as normal eyes; the glow widen or narrow, the expressiveness of eyebrows can be simulated by eliminating strategic parts of the glow (a >:| face is popular with this technique), etc.

* The eyes of the characters in ''{{Robots}}'' glow, even forming torch-like beams in the dust in the air in pitch-black locations.

* The Autobots and Decepticons in ''{{Film/Transformers}}''.

* Most characters in ''{{Bionicle}}''. On the toys, this is usually represented by transparent pieces, but in the animated media the eyes are given a definite glow.

** During the first mission in ''MassEffect1'', Shepard tries to comfort Ashley about losing her entire squad to a geth ambush, but Ashley points out that the geth shouldn't even be able to set an ambush, since they're, essentially, walking flashlights.

* ''MassEffect'' uses glowing eyes for both [[MechanicalLifeforms the geth]] and [[{{Mook}} generic security robots]]. Useful for [[EyeAwaken lighting up when the unit activates]]. More subtly, the Illusive Man has glowing, blue cybernetic eyes. Also, as a result of his/her [[IGotBetter rebirth]], Shepard can get glowing red eyes, but only with a high Renegade score.

* In ''{{Portal}}'', the machine gun turrets, the personality cores, and [=GLaDOS=] all have glowing eyes.

** A notable scene in ''TheEmpireStrikesBack'' has Chewie trying to repair C-3PO; his eyes go out when Chewie fiddles with something, suggesting that C-3PO has [[EyeLightsOut been deactivated]] -- but in a {{subversion}}, he continues speaking, only complaining about how now he can't see!
* In the {{Godzilla}} films, Kiryu's [[RedEyesTakeWarning eyes glow red whenever he]] [[GoneHorriblyRight reverts back to his old instincts as the original Godzilla and goes on a rampage.]]

* That one car seen in Paris in [[{{Cars}} ''Cars 2'']], unlike everyone else whose eyes are located on their windshields.
* [[KrakenandLeviathan The Leviathan]] from ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'' has large mechanical optics, revealing the fact that it is actually a machine.

* Animal Zords in PowerRangers have glowing eyes, as do the Megazords.

* ''MassEffect'' uses glowing eyes for both [[MechanicalLifeforms the geth]] and [[{{Mook}} generic security robots]]. Useful for [[EyeAwaken lighting up when the unit activates]]. More subtly, the Illusive Man has glowing, blue cybernetic eyes.

* ''{{Portal}}'' has both the machine gun turrets and [=GLaDOS=] have glowing eyes.
* ''MassEffect'' uses glowing eyes for both [[MechanicalLifeforms the geth]] and [[{{Mook}} generic security robots]]. Useful for [[EyeAwaken lighting up when the unit activates]].
** More subtly, the Illusive Man has glowing, blue cybernetic eyes.

By varying the intensity, shape, and color of the light, a robotic character can convey much of the emotion that would otherwise be lost. A brief flash of intense light can indicate surprise or anger. The light going out can show that the character is unconscious, blind, or [[EyeLightsOut dead]]; conversely, the light coming back ''on'' is a form of EyeAwaken. If the light is red, you might want to [[RedEyesTakeWarning watch out]] (especially if its usually a different color, but suddenly TurnsRed). If the eye glow can change shape, then it becomes nearly as expressive as normal eyes; the glow widen or narrow, the expressiveness of eyebrows can be simulated by eliminating strategic parts of the glow (a >:| face is popular with this technique), etc.

By varying the intensity, shape, and color of the light, a robotic character can convey much of the emotion that would otherwise be lost. A brief flash of intense light can indicate surprise or anger. The light going out can show that the character is unconscious, blind, or [[LightsOffTheirEyes dead]]; conversely, the light coming back ''on'' is a form of EyeAwaken. If the light is red, you might want to [[RedEyesTakeWarning watch out]] (especially if its usually a different color, but suddenly TurnsRed). If the eye glow can change shape, then it becomes nearly as expressive as normal eyes; the glow widen or narrow, the expressiveness of eyebrows can be simulated by eliminating strategic parts of the glow (a >:| face is popular with this technique), etc.

Glowing robotic eyes can also be used to indicate anything that glowing eyes can mean on organic characters as well, from [[GlowingEyesOfDoom impending doom]] to [[ThroatLight inner power]]. GlowingMechanicalEyes are a prerequisite for LightsOffTheirEyes. A CyberCyclops is a specific variant. If things that are ''supposed to'' glow are also able to see it's a case of ScreensAreCameras.

** A notable scene in ''TheEmpireStrikesBack'' has Chewie trying to repair C-3PO; his eyes go out when Chewie fiddles with something, suggesting that C-3PO has [[LightsOffTheirEyes been deactivated]] -- but in a {{subversion}}, he continues speaking, only complaining about how now he can't see!

[[RobotRollCall Robotic]] or {{cyborg}} characters will frequently have obviously artifical eyes. Presumably these are some sort of video camera, which makes sense for an artifical creation. Unlike normal cameras, however, these will usually glow with an inner light. While this makes very little sense from a mechanical design perspective, it makes excellent sense from a ''character'' design perspective. Eyes convey a lot of information about a person; light-up eyes help make up for a robot face's lack of expressiveness.

Glowing robotic eyes can also be used to indicate anything that glowing eyes can mean on organic characters as well, from [[GlowingEyesOfDoom impending doom]] to [[ThroatLight inner power]]. GlowingMechanicalEyes are a prerequisite for LightsOffTheirEyes. A CyberCyclops is a specific variant.