History Main / MyBrainIsBig

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Doctor Vegapunk had a brain that was four times bigger than the rest of his body, and a giant cranium to match. [[spoiler:He surgically removed it and separated it into six artificial bodies so he could get more work done.]]

* ''Anime/MacrossDoYouRememberLove'' {{retcon}}s ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'''s Exedore/Exsedol into this, apparently to visually emphasize his role as an archivist and advisor; ''Anime/Macross7'' also uses his ''DYRL?'' design (in contrast, the ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' continuity ignores it in favor of his original ''SDF'' design).

* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''Manga/DragonHalf'': [[DumbMuscle Damaramu]] has a ''small'' brain, making him not too bright. This actually works in his favor when he accidentally sticks his own LaserBlade through his head; his brain only got nicked.

*** The Leader, whose ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' version combines this with [[GeniusCripple a totally useless body]]. Sometimes, he is even shown needing a metal frame to keep his head from snapping his neck. While other [[ILoveNuclearPower gamma-radiation mutated]] characters had their physical strength enhanced, the Leader instead was given SuperIntelligence.

** The Cyber-Controller in the original series has an extended dome rising from its head. (The new series Cyber-Controller has an exposed brain in a normal-sized head.)
** The inhabitants of Logopolis, in the classic serial [[Recap/DoctorWhoS18E7Logopolis of the same name]].
** In the new series, the Daleks display this trope on the occasions when we get a look inside the casing. A Dalek appears to be nothing ''but'' a brain with a single eye and some tentacles.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E4DaleksInManhattan "Daleks in Manhattan"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E5EvolutionOfTheDaleks "Evolution of the Daleks"]], Dalek Sec becomes a Dalek/Human hybrid with a large exposed brain.

* The titular ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'' after an overdose of Brain Grub. It even stretched out his NiceHat!

* Wobbly-Headed Bob, a side character in Creator/JhonenVasquez's ''ComicBook/{{Squee}}'' series. Sadly, his freakishly overdeveloped brain brings him only sadness and contempt for his fellow beings.
* In the old Italian comic book ''ComicBook/{{Zagor}}'', a MonsterOfTheWeek was a wanted criminal known as the "Mutant" because of his oversized, bald cranium and psicokynetical powers. According to the Mutant himself, his cranium is so large because he has a "second brain" which allows him to perform telekinesis.
* Doc Danger from Creator/JohnByrne's ''Danger Unlimited'' has enhanced intelligence, and his brain grows over time. In the comic book's timeline, he looked normal when he gained his powers in 1959, he had a ForeheadOfDoom in the mid-sixties, and in the twenty-first century he's a giant head on a mechanical support a la ComicBook/{{MODOK}}.

* A one-panel comic had a UsefulNotes/{{Mensa}} convention with two guys enraptured with a woman's large head, and she is saying "Ahem, guys - [[MyEyesAreUpHere my breasts are down here]]."

** M.O.D.O.K. of ComicBook/{{AIM}} (a [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetically-enhanced human]] designed as a [[WetwareCPU biological super-computer]]) takes this to an extreme -- [[{{Cephalothorax}} most of his "body" is actually his head and the power chair which holds it steady]]. He proves to be so intelligent that he [[PhlebotinumRebel takes over the organization that enhanced him]].

* The main villain
of ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheTinLabyrinth'', Professor Napogistra, have a huge brain that takes up around one-third of his entire body. Justified since his brain is a neural link to his entire robot army.
* ''Anime/MacrossDoYouRememberLove'' retcons ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross''[='s=] Exedore/Exsedol into this, apparently to visually emphasize his role as an archivist and advisor; ''Anime/Macross7'' also uses his ''DYRL?'' design (in contrast, the ''{{Anime/Robotech}}'' continuity ignores it in favor of his original ''SDF'' design).

* Inverted in ''Manga/DragonHalf'': [[DumbMuscle Damaramu]] has a ''small'' brain, making him not too bright. This actually works in his favor when he accidentally sticks his own LaserBlade through his head; his brain only got nicked.

--->"This slab of liver has an MBA from Harvard, you pointy-haired fool!"

* The main villai

* A few episodes of ''WesternAnimation/BigGuyAndRustyTheBoyRobot'' had a giant scientist that got in the way of a particle beam and a spider (or something) that could suck out people's brains. With each brain that he absorbed, his head got bigger. Also, the company's CEO's nephew (a teenage {{Expy}} of the CEO) also got in the way of the particle beam, and received the same power.

* Dr. Badvibes from ''WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries'' has a clear dome over the (missing) top of his head, allowing everyone to see his brain.

* This was one of the forms of John Crichton in the "My Three Crichtons" episode of ''Series/{{Farscape}}''.

* ''Film/InvasionOfTheSaucerMen''
* Explicitly invoked in ''Film/MarsAttacks'' The Martians have big heads due to their brains. Professor Kessler thinks they ''must'' be peaceful because of their intelligence, but is unfortunately proven [[AliensAreBastards horribly wrong]].

* In ''Film/{{The Brain|1969}}'', Creator/DavidNiven plays the role of the master criminal known as "The Brain". While his head isn't any larger than normal, his brain is apparently so heavy that when he is stressed out, his head falls to one side.

* ''[[Film/TheTimeMachine2002 The Time Machine]]'' (2002). The Uber-Morlock -- rather than have the usual huge head, his brain extended down the neck and lower back.
* ''Film/StarshipTroopers3Marauder''. The huge brain bug that takes up an entire planet, "Brain of Brains", also known as "Behemecoatyl".
-->"[[{{understatement}} The bug is big.]]"

* ''Film/SuperMarioBros.'' does this both ways on the Devo Machine's monitors: when a humanoid gets devolved into a Goomba, the brain shrinks considerably; when Spike and Iggy get hit with the "Advanced" setting, their brains become larger.

* Used horrifically in C.S. Lewis' ''[[Literature/TheSpaceTrilogy That Hideous Strength]]'', where the evil scientists [[spoiler:have taken the head of an executed criminal and are keeping it alive(-ish) it to channel demonic forces; they've removed the top of the head and its "augmented" brains are bulging out over the top, pulsating under membrane]]. [[ThisIsWrongOnSoManyLevels AAARGH]].

* Nocturnomaths in WalterMoers' ''Zamonia'' novels are a variation: they have multiple brains, which make them highly intelligent and telepathic to boot. The actual number of brains varies between individuals: three is the norm, but very brilliant nocturnomaths may have four or five, and Professor Abdullah Nightingale -- arguably the greatest genius in Zamonian history -- is rumored to have seven.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/78a4e80ba28990ac40a6880c263d4e25.png]]]]

* Franchise/{{DCU}} examples:
** The Ultra Humanite's albino gorilla form
** Evil telepath and Fearsome Five member Psimon has his exposed brain covered by a clear shell. In ''ComicBook/SalvationRun'' [[spoiler: ComicBook/TheJoker can't help but smash it]].
** ''Franchise/GreenLantern'' villain Hector Hammond's brain is huge -- to the point that his neck can't support it. As such, he's confined to a special chair. Over the last few years, he's gone from "unusually large, ovoid head" to "big square head twice the size of the rest of his body."

** The fake [[http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Action_Comics_Vol_1_256 "Superman of the Future"]] from Action Comics #256.
** [[http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/Issue.aspx?id=95ced61d-68bd-426f-be1f-930f49baa633 It happened to Jimmy Olsen.]]
** [[http://www.superdickery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/1296_4_027.jpg And Lois Lane]], when an evolution ray made her super-intelligent.
** [[http://www.superdickery.com/beware-the-super-genius-baby/ The Super-Genius Baby.]]
** [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEarUlzbBcU/UfvcNmqc3WI/AAAAAAAAZc0/-owdxgBwiSo/s1600/sm+ann+2-05.jpg The Blessed]] in the Brainiac Psi-War storyline.
** Cadmus' second failed attempt to clone Superman ended up creating a humanoid pink hairless figure with a large bulbous head, whose skin started blistering away. They finally managed a functional clone on their [[ComicBook/Superboy1994 thirteenth attempt]].
** ''ComicBook/SuperboyAndTheRavers'': It turns out the aliens that accidentally killed Byron Stark's whole family look like traditional [[TheGreys greys]], including the tallish heads.

** Muto, a villain of a Superman's descendant, and who later appeared in the 2499 segment of ''ComicBook/TheDominusEffect''.
** In ''ComicBook/TheAttackOfTheAnnihilator'', [[https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Kenneth_Anderson_(Earth-One) the titular]] ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} villain has an oversized bulbous head, a hint of his fearsome psychic powers.
** ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Professor Andro has a misshapen large cranium and boasts of his various "mento" powers implied to be mental powers tied to his large mind. However once Wondy catches him it becomes clear his human form was just a disguise he was wearing as he escapes the body in his true far more alien crystalline body.
* Franchise/MarvelUniverse examples:
** The Leader, one of the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk's main villains, whose ComicBook/UltimateMarvel version combines this with a totally useless body. Sometimes he is even shown needing a metal frame to keep his head from snapping his neck. While other gamma radiation mutated characters had their physical strength enhanced, the Leader instead was given SuperIntelligence.
** ComicBook/{{MODOK}} (a [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetically-enhanced human]] designed as a biological super-computer) takes this to an extreme - [[{{Cephalothorax}} most of his "body" is actually his head and the power chair which holds it steady]]. It proves to be so intelligent that it [[PhlebotinumRebel takes over the organization that created it]].
** Brainchild, the ringleader of the Savage Land Mutates. He's also short, skinny, and physically feeble.
** Uatu the Watcher. In his first appearance, his head was only slightly out of proportion with the rest of his body, but his design evolved until he was a tall skinny man whose head made up half his body mass.[[note]]At least one issue of ''ComicBook/{{Quasar}}'' suggests that Watchers are capable of {{voluntary shapeshifting}} to an unknown extent when one tries to intimidate the eponymous hero by "assuming a more formidable aspect".[[/note]]
** The Futurist and Alpha the Ultimate Mutant were both [[EvolutionaryLevels hyper-evolved]] into bighead superintelligence. This is lampshaded when they are both prisoners on an alien planet and become friends.
** Yuri Topolov, a [[SovietSuperScience Soviet scientist]], was mutated into a big-headed dwarf and, becoming an EvilGenius, called himself the Gargoyle. [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] actually managed to cure him, though, and a grateful Topolov [[RedemptionEqualsDeath sacrificed himself]] to ensure Banner's safe return to America.
** Yuri's [[LegacyCharacter son Kondrati]], who inherited his father's deformity (and capacity for EvilGenius), chose to [[MisBlamed blame the Hulk]] for his father's death, and became the villainous Gremlin. As the second Titanium Man, he died during ComicBook/IronMan's ''Armor Wars'' rampage.
** Villainous [[PsychicPowers telepathic]] mutant Mind-Scan (who, considering her usual tactic, could have just as appropriately been called [[MindRape Mind-Rape]]), in the original ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', appears to have a red BeehiveHairdo in her first few appearances. At one point, she has to remove her wig...[[http://www.comicvine.com/mindscan/4005-26627/ revealing a swollen, lumpy, veiny skull underneath.]] ''Ewww''.
** Reed Richards did this to himself once in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour: 1234'' by Creator/GrantMorrison. In order to defeat Doctor Doom in a 4-dimensional chess game that was threatening to destroy the Fantastic Four, Reed used his stretching powers to literally grow new structures in his brain in order to out-think Doom.
** Similarly, in the BadFuture of ''ComicBook/EarthX'', Reed expanded his brain in order to use Professor X's Cerebro helmet.
** [[ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour The Maker]], a villainous version of Reed Richards from the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel universe, uses the same brain-stretching technique in general to enhance his intellect at all times. He normally covers it up with an elongated helmet construct, as others find the result hideous and disfiguring.
** Lobe, a minor nemesis of the X-Men has an enlarged and hairless cranium. The source of his name most likely comes from "brain lobe".
** Natalie X is a psychic mutant member of a team from a BadFuture that confronted the Fantastic Four in an attempt to save refugees from that future. After resolving it with a move to an artificial Earth, she took a serum to increase her telepathic powers that had the side effect of increasing the size of her brain. It's very grotesque, she eventually becomes the HiveQueen of the colony they established and her head becomes big enough to fill out ''Galactus' helmet''.
** The character ComicBook/TheSentry had a [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]]-esque villain called Cranio, the Man With The Tri-Level Mind! Rather than having one giant brain, Cranio had a massive, elongated, transparent skull with ''three'' normal-sized brains inside.

* ''ComicBook/EMan'' 's first foe, The Brain From Sirius, was ''nothing but'' a gigantic BrainInAJar the size of a house!
* Appropriately, this is the appearance of [[spoiler: Veidt's fake alien]] in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Parodied in ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'', where a powerful telekinetic with a ridiculously tall BeehiveHairdo shows up and some characters assume he's hiding a huge brain under it. Turns out he's just wearing a wig.

* Mojo Jojo from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' is a super-intelligent chimpanzee who can speak. He was originally a normal baby chimp until a lab accident caused his brain to grow. He keeps it under a dome-shaped hat most of the time.

* ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends''

* ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack: The Series'':

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''
-->'''Stewie''': I say, it appears my cranium has doubled in size!

-->'''Stewie''': Good lord, Lois, either I was a C-section or you're Wonder Woman.

* WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}. One of the taglines was "It's big for a reason."

* The evolved mice from ''WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow'' episode "Planet of the Aches", in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

* Parodied/Invoked in ''Manga/MobPsycho100'', where a powerful telekinetic with a ridiculously tall BeehiveHairdo shows up and some characters assume he's hiding a huge brain under it. Turns out he's just wearing a wig.

* Webcomic/KarateBears brains are generally concealed but they are visibly [[http://www.karatebears.com/2012/06/bear-brain.html huge here.]]

* The male telepath in ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'', first seen [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/219.html here.]]

* Spoofed in [[http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/241/ this post]] at Dial B for Blog.
* ''WebOriginal/OrionsArm'': The [[http://www.orionsarm.com/xcms.php?r=oaeg-view-article&egart_uid=47ed99bea6c67 Highbrows.]]

* ''VideoGame/XComEnemyUnknown'': You can tell a Sectoid Commander from a regular Sectoid by looking for the following traits: 1) Their skins has an orange tint, rather than dull gray. 2) Their cranium is significantly larger. 3) They know [[PsychicPowers psionics]].

* Explicitly invoked in ''Film/MarsAttacks'' The Martians have big heads due to their brains. Professor Kessler thinks they ''must'' be peaceful because of their intelligence. [[InsaneTrollLogic Even though intelligence does not dictate how you behave]].

* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''Literature/{{MARZENA}}'' -- don't go thinking that you can just build up a giant robotic brain and create super-intelligence, warns Anika From Bremen in one of her many [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness scientific proses]]. Giant brains only mean more coordinations between data; to become more intelligent, one needs to raise the ratio of astroglial cells in the cortex, which doesn't have anything to do with size.

* [[Literature/JeevesAndWooster Jeeves's]] head bulges out slightly at the back, and Bertie believes that this is a sign of his intelligence. He also attributes the size of Sir Roderick Glossop's head, which resembles "the dome of St. Paul's", to his vast intellect: "I suppose he must have taken about a nine or something in hats. [[GoodIsDumb Shows what a rotten thing it is to let your brain develop too much.]]”
* Similarly, in "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," Franchise/SherlockHolmes deduces that the owner of a certain hat must be an intellectual because his head is bigger than Holmes's.
-->It is a question of [[ScienceMarchesOn cubic capacity]]. A man with so large a brain must have something in it.
* Subverted in ''Literature/{{MARZENA}}'', don't go thinking that you can just build up a giant robotic brain and create super intelligence, warns Anika From Bremen in one of her many [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness scientific proses]]. Giant Brains only mean more coordinations between data, to become more intelligence one needs to raise the ratio of Astroglial cells in the Cortex, which doesn't have anything to do with size.

* In the Literature/RevelationSpace series, the larger heads of those who've chosen to enhance their intelligence are actually due to the need to cool the faster-running brain, hence a dinosaur-like heat fin on their head.
* One of the step-capable hominids from ''Literature/TheLongEarth'' series acquires the nickname "lollipops", because their cranial capacity is so great that their heads appear spherical. A subversion, as the creatures aren't any more ''intellectual'' than humans, but use the extra brain-power to navigate the Long Earths; also a deconstruction, as it's stated that their females ''only'' survive giving birth because they step over to the next parallel world and leave the infant behind, rather than try to expel a huge-headed fetus. In the last book [[spoiler: the Next have genetically engineered their own "lollipops", who ''are'' extremely intelligent (much more intelligent than regular Next, who are themselves much smarter than regular humans).]]

* Creator/PhilipKDick
** ''Minority Report'' (and a few other stories that mention them in passing) precogs are mutant humans with enormous brains and wasted bodies; they, however, have very low intelligence (to the point of not being able to feed themselves) as much of the brain is occupied by an "ESP lobe" that lets them predict the future.
** ''Literature/TheThreeStigmataOfPalmerEldritch''. In the future Earth of the novel, if you wanted to be smarter, you could actually grow more brainier. Special genetic tampering called E Therapy could give anyone a huge frontal lobe.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Aboleths start out life with brains contained in the usual manner within their craniums, but which include four tendril-like lobules that grow as they accumulate memories and psionic power, eventually extending internally from gaps in the back of the aboleth's skull all the way to the base of the tail.