History Main / HumanizingTears

Sometimes this moment acts as a roadstop in a BreakTheHaughty arc, a turning point in which the character [[CharacterDevelopment starts to slowly become a better person]]. However, other times, having felt embarrassed for daring to be vulnerable, the character might ''immediately'' thereafter worsen their attitude.

In the case of male characters, what differentiates this from ManlyTears is that whereas ManlyTears shows the sensitive attributes of an ''already'' decent male, Humanizing Tears is usually used in a softening context. See also TenderTears, where the crier is normally nice and sensitive; TearsOfRemorse, where somebody cries for feeling guilty; and TearsFromAStone, where a seemingly inanimate or emotionless being cries (it may also apply as this trope if used to humanize said being).

** In the aftermath of the Female Titan's battle with Levi and Mikasa, Levi takes one final look in her direction and sees her sitting against a tree, weeping. However, her actual feelings in that moment remain a mystery and it isn't clear whether her tears are because of [[TearsOfRemorse remorse]], frustration, or something else. Nevertheless, it provides a hint that she's more than a ruthless monster and serves to humanize her.

* The Big Daddies from ''VideoGame/BioShock2'' are essentially monstrous people in diving suits that only exists to protect the gathering girls known as Little Sisters. The Alpha series was scrapped due to getting too attached to their assigned Little Sister and some breaking down in tears as their protected died, eventually going insane.

* ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel'': Vanilla H starts out as an EmotionlessGirl who's constantly supressing her feelings, but slowly opens up to Tact as the story advances. On her route, she breaks down into tears when she's unable to save her pet rabbit from dying despite her best efforts, as it reminds her of [[MyGreatestFailure when she couldn't save her adoptive mother]]. Tact hugs her and assures her that she shouldn't blame herself for the death of her loved ones

* Franziska von Karma spends 99% of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll'' as an overly harsh and physically abusive rival prosecutor who whips anyone who doesn't meet the perfectionist standards she's learned from [[AmoralAttorney her father Manfred von Karma]]. In the ending, she has a unique ''crying'' sprite when she meets up with her adoptive brother Edgeworth, which reminds the player that she's still just a teenager who has recently lost her father, feels crushing pressure to live up to the family creed of total perfection in everything, and fears losing Edgeworth so much that the idea of it finally makes her crack and show her vulnerability.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': Ronnie Anne is a tomboy who is a LovingBully to Lincoln, but she can be quite sensitive to Lincoln's opinions, much to his surprise. She cried after hearing Lincoln call her "rude, and gross and totally annoying" and say that he would rather lick the bathroom floor than kiss her. Her crying is definitely another example of how different she is from her older brother Bobby, a KindheartedSimpleton prone to InelegantBlubbering.

* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' Gives us Donnie, an InsufferableGenius with an InferioritySuperiorityComplex who insists every chance he gets that he doesn't[[TheStoic "feel things."]] Said claim loses most of its merit when he ends up breaking down in tears in a later episode when he realizes his [[WellDoneSonGuy Dad lied to him about wanting to spend time with him.]] It's impossible ''not'' to want to hug him after that.
** Happens again in ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheMovie'', where Donnie spends a good chunk of the movie trying to remind his brother's and the audience how much he isn't a fan of emotion... only to become [[HeroicBSOD utterly broken]] at [[spoiler:witnessing Leo's HeroicSacrifice]].

* ''[[Literature/RascalDoesNotDreamOfBunnyGirlSenpai Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl]]'': Mai's [[AbusiveParents emotionally and financially abusive mother]] is depicted much more sympathetically once she breaks down in tears, immediately after being notified about [[spoiler:[[OutlivingOnesOffspring the death of her daughter]]]].

** Happens again in ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheMovie'', where Donnie spends a good chunk of the movie trying to remind his brother's and the audience how much he isn't a fan of emotion... only to become [[HeroicBSOD utterly broken]]at [[spoiler: witnessing Leo's HeroicSacrifice.]]

** Happens again in ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheMovie'', where Donnie spends a good chunk of the movie trying to remind his brother's and the audience how much he isn't a fan of emotion... only to become[[HeroicBSOD utterly broken]]at [[spoiler: witnessing Leo's HeroicSacrifice.]]
%%* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. Any time Stan Marsh cries. Ever. Most notably in these two instances:
%%** In “Ass Burgers”, when he’s crying in the counselor’s office when talking to Mr. Mackey about how nothing makes him happy anymore.
%%** In the pandemic special, when he’s crying because he just wants his life back.