Line #92 Main/EmptyEyes


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/{{Collar6}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/michael_kappel_empty_eyes.jpg]]]]
2
3	->''"Ever look into his eyes? There's nothing there."''
4	-->-- ''Series/{{Angel}}'', [[Recap/AngelS02E02AreYouNowOrHaveYouEverBeen "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been"]]
5
6	Lack of pupils, and customary light reflection; iris shading goes from the usual radial to gradient; eyelids drop. Yep, this character is suffering from the "Empty Eyes" trope, a condition denoting that the character is dying, dead, distracted, shocked, [[HeroicBSOD traumatized]], [[{{Brainwashed}} mind-controlled]], broken, in a state of TranquilFury, completely insane, or some combination of the above.
7
8	Due to the condition of shock causing the eyes to dilate, realistic live action will never have this unless the producers don't know better. Could be a way to show someone is so shocked they haven't blinked for a while, because the tears that accumulate would make the eyes more reflective and the pupils harder to see. Pushed for effect in BreakTheCutie scenarios.
9
10	Sister trope of ProphetEyes, and the two may coincide as repeated trauma could give someone a DisabilitySuperpower.
11
12	Subtrope of ReflectionlessUselessEyes. Compare DullEyesOfUnhappiness, ThousandYardStare, MindControlEyes, HeroicBSOD and AngstComa.
13
14	----
15	!!Examples:
16
17	[[foldercontrol]]
18
19	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
20	* After the climax of ''Anime/SailorMoon S'', Usagi emerges from her battle against [[spoiler:Pharaoh 90]] with blank, horrified eyes.
21	** In the [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]]'s "Infinity Arc," this is used to demonstrate that [[PersonOfMassDestruction Sa]]{{t\|heGrimReaper}}urn has awakened, and Hotaru's no longer in control. In the anime's equivalent season, this is occasionally used when someone besides Hotaru is "behind the wheel," though it prefers to combine GlowingEyesOfDoom and RedEyesTakeWarning.
22	** In Act 2 of ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'', a {{Brainwashed}} Ami's eyes go from a deep sea blue to a matte, dull deep green with dilated, obscured pupils under the [[MindControlEyes influence]] of the [[MindControlDevice Crystal Disk]], a magical CD meant to enslave the user, disguised as a CramSchool study aid.
23	%%* Towards the climax of ''Ragnarok: The Animation'' this happens to [[spoiler:Yufa]]. (ZCE- in what context? Why does this happen to Yufa?)
24	* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'': Sometimes invoked by Sakaki, particularly when she's either [[CloudCuckooLander daydreaming]], or when she's suffering from CutenessOverload.
25	* In ''Anime/JuuniSenshiBakuretsuEtoRanger'', Hols' SuperMode has blank, angry eyes, indicating that after [[BullSeeingRed seeing red]], no amount of looking at anything else can stop him.
26	* In ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'' Karma alone in class E lacks eyeshine in his design. Coupled with them being drawn a bit wider, it makes him look a little unhinged compared to the others. Given that a lot of his attitude is from being let down horribly by a teacher he once respected, there's definitely a sign of being broken there.
27	** This may also be due to his psychopathic and manipulative behavior, since his eyes apparently have always lacked the shine. But that doesn't erase the fact that the incident about how his teacher betrayed him in favor for maintaining images instead of doing the right thing destroyed Karma.
28	** Both Asanos have this as well.
29	* Happens to Takiko in ''Manga/FushigiYuugiGenbuKaiden'', after [[spoiler:Genbu devours her soul]].
30	* In ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'', this is how Clair is first introduced at his dad's funeral, before he throws a grenade at his father's grave. It happens to him later in the series, when he goes into an AngstComa, and when he comes out of the coma to rescue his bodyguard/friend Giovanni from [[spoiler:the titular J]].
31	* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Happens with Kiyomi Takada and Naomi Misora under the influence of the Death Note; arguably a case of MindControlEyes, as well.
32	** Inverted with L, whose eyes only become shiny and reflective [[spoiler: when he dies]]
33	* ''Manga/SengokuYouko'': Senya is drawn with pupil-less irises that resemble black scribbles, and prior to his HeelFaceTurn he was stated to have eyes devoid of everything except murderous intent.
34	* Kishou Arima from ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'', which combined with his ScaryShinyGlasses, makes him look quite intimidating. This detail turns out to be significant, as it hints towards [[spoiler:him being partially blind and a DeathSeeker]].
35	* In ''Anime/KemonoFriends'', empty eyes are used to represent [[LittleBitBeastly Friends]] born from endangered or extinct animal species like Crested Ibis.
36	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': When Sasuke Uchiha impales Karin in order to kill Danzo, the iris of his right eye is shown as being filled with black scribbles to show how far he's succumbed to the Uchiha Clan's Curse of Hatred.
37	* In ''Manga/SkipBeat'', Kyoko gets these more and more as the message of [[spoiler:her mother mentioning on TV that [[IHaveNoSon she has no children]]]] settles in.
38	* ''Manga/TheMermaidPrincesssGuiltyMeal'': As the mermaid princess Ela's [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil addiction to seafood worsens]], she's drawn with solid black irises both when [[DullEyesOfUnhappiness despairing]] over her [[BlackComedyCannibalism growing desire to eat her friends]] and when she lets her KillingIntent come to the surface.
39	* ''Manga/MyGirlfriendGivesMeGoosebumps'': Both Haruka and Kisaki are often drawn with black iris, to represent how bored (Haruka) or obsessive (Kisaki) they are. In both cases, those empty eyes are what push them to enter in a relationship with the other.
40	* ''Literature/ReignOfTheSevenSpellblades'': The manga and the anime both depict Oliver's eyes going empty [[spoiler:when Darius Grenville begs for Oliver to finish him off]], as a visual version of what the original novel described as, "The moment Oliver heard those words, all his rising emotions felt as if they were being sucked down into a bottomless void."
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Comic Books]]
44	* Note that empty eyes can also merely mean that the artist was too lazy. A prominent example (got even a TakeThat on that behalf in a satiric comic) is ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie.
45	* Used to imply mind control in ''Heart of Empire, or the Legacy of ComicBook/LutherArkwright''.
46	* ''ComicBook/Robin1993'': Lady Shiva stops Robin from going after Clyde Rawlins when he goes to what Tim knows it the man's certain death by pointing out that a look in his eyes should tell Tim that regardless of physical health Rawlins died with his family and there's no way to stop him going after their murderer even if he has no chance at avenging them or survival.
47	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': When ComicBook/{{Artemis}} dies, her jade green eyes go flat, losing all highlights and shading, to indicate that she is really gone.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:FanWorks]]
51	* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'':
52	** [[ProfessionalKiller Derreck]] is noted have these by Luz after using her PowerParasite Quirk on him, from getting permanent brain damage.
53	** [[SilentAntagonist Charlie]] is described as having empty black eyes showcasing his LackOfEmpathy with his assassin profession for the past month.
54	* Italy temporarily gained the traumatized type in ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]''. After Germany pulled out a Browning Hi Power on Japan and Japan pulled out his katana on Germany, Italy [[RageBreakingPoint had had enough of their]] [[CockFight cock fight]].
55	-->It only took one look at the utterly ''devastated'' form of their precious beloved, one look at normally limpid brown eyes ''dead'' with misery and grief to do all three to those two nations. Simultaneously. And then some.
56	* ''Fanfic/AMothToAFlame'': Marcy gains these after coming out of the HealingVat, symbolizing her complete InnocenceLost after GainingTheWillToKill.
57	* ''Fanfic/TheSacredAndTheProfane'': The eyes of the FallenAngel Zirah, aka Mr. Rah, are as bright, blue, and depthlessly empty as the sky. He's the sort of being who honestly does not understand why one shouldn't kill a baby simply because it's the most expedient way to stop it from crying.
58	-->''You couldn't have eyes like Mr. Rah's and ''not'' have something lurking underneath the surface. It wasn't that there was anger or hatred or suppressed violence in their blue depths. That was the point. There wasn't ''anything'' in Mr. Rah's eyes''.\
59	''It was ''creepy''.''
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
63	* This is what happens to anyone who befell the titular curse in ''Film/BloodyParrot'', notably on the hero's HookerWithAHeartOfGold girlfriend. It's depicted on the film's poster, too.
64	* In the original 1975 version of ''Film/{{The Stepford Wives\|1975}}'', Joanna's robot double has empty black eyes when she's first seen.
65	* ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' had Quint's memorable quote about how a shark's eyes look like a doll's eyes - cold and empty.
66	* ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'' had Dr. Loomis describe [[SerialKiller Michael]] as having "the blackest eyes. The Devil's eyes." This was back when he was a little boy having just murdered his sister, and he would only get worse from there.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Literature]]
70	* In ''Literature/AWrinkleInTime'', Charles Wallace's pupils constrict completely, leaving only empty blue irises.
71	* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Effie Trinket. [[spoiler:Katniss notes how Effie has a "vacant look" in her eyes in ''Mockingjay'' due to the torture she suffered while being held prisoner by the Capitol.]]
72	* In all ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'' media except for the anime adaptation of ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'', the Sisters (HiveMind clones of Misaka Mikoto with [[TheStoic dulled emotions]]) are drawn with Empty Eyes to distinguish them from the original. The exception is Last Order, a [[HiveQueen "network administrator"]] Sister who is already easy to distinguish from Mikoto by virtue of being a TokenMiniMoe GenkiGirl.
73	* ''Literature/{{Shimoneta}}'': Exhibited by Oboro in chapter 10. Tanukichi mistakes Oboro for a member of Gathered Fabric and wrestles him to the floor, which is when Tanukichi realizes something is [[UnsettlingGenderReveal "off"]] and uses his foot to [[CrotchGrabSexCheck confirm his suspicions]]. The inspection causes Oboro to silently [[spoiler:arch his back as he experiences his first orgasm]]. After which, he's seen smiling with a faint blush.
74	* In ''Literature/FateZero'', both the protagonist Kiritsugu Emiya and the antagonist Kirei Kotomine constantly have empty eyes.
75	* ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'':
76	-->'''King Haggard:''' ''(to Amalthea)'' Your eyes! Your eyes have become empty as Lir's, as any eyes that... never saw unicorns.
77	* Wights, the main antagonists of ''Literature/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'', can only be differentiated from Peculiars and normals by their lack of pupils. Granted, there are plenty of ways for them to [[SunglassesAtNight hide this.]]
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Music]]
81	* Music/{{Evanescence}}'s song, "''Exodus''", mentions in the last verse "so much more dismay in empty eyes".
82	* The track "Riding Tigers" on Music/DesperateStraights by Music/SlappHappy goes "An empty gaze/Sitting like that for days."
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Toys]]
86	* Karzahni and Tren Krom were described as having these in certain ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' media, though the former was illustrated with bright yellow eyes and later released as a toy with red eyes, and the latter was also given glowing eyes because of the writer misremembering.
87	* "Beast Changer" (Savage/Noble) from the ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'' line had literally empty eyes in his Noble mode. Some think that this was a deliberate decision,[[note]]To show that he was in reality [[spoiler:a waste of organic material possessed by the soul of Megatron]]? Or foreshadowing to [[spoiler:him becoming a "soulless" yet still living body later on]]? His bio on the packaging surely kept these reveals under tight wraps.[[/note]] others say that the toy was simply released incomplete -- at any rate, Noble had normal eyes in the TV series.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Video Games]]
91	* ''VideoGame/GadgetTrial'': The titular trial is pitting two families of E-Series cyborg girl soldiers against each other to see which is better. Contrasting the protagonist White family, are the E-Series Black who are programmed for perfect obedience, lack of character and minimal self-awareness. Gleamless eyes and stiff expressions come with it.
92	* Dark Arle in ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo 7'' has these, [[spoiler:[[MindControlEyes when under control of Ecolo]]]].
93	** As well as Yu, but mostly because she's a [[GenkiGirl cheerful]] [[FogFeet ghost]]. Probably her brother Rei too, but he hides his eyes with bangs.
94	** [[DemBones Dapper Bones]], too. At least, in the [[TheDeadHaveEyes one eye]] he has left, anyway. (The other falling under GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath.)
95	* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'':
96	** Giving Koishi Komeiji these was common in fanart even before [[AscendedFanon it became official]] as of ''VideoGame/TouhouShinkirouHopelessMasquerade''. The reason why is a very odd combination of the potential uses of this trope - yes, she's [[ForgetfulJones air-headed]], but more significantly Koishi is [[AMindIsATerribleThingToRead a former mind-reader]] who, [[BreakTheCutie after being reviled for her powers,]] [[BrokenAngel sealed away her own ability.]] As a side effect she lost the ability to read her ''own'' mind, so she's more or less an EmptyShell with a complete LackOfEmpathy, wandering around and acting on her unconscious impulses. She's either insane or close to enlightenment, depending on who you ask.
97	** Junko was depicted like this in the spin-off manga ''[[Manga/TouhouSangetsusei Visionary Fairies in Shrine]]'', with dull irises, tiny pupils and an empty smile. In her case it's justified because she's less a person and more a vengeful spirit, the purified embodiment of a woman's grudge against those who killed her son.
98	** The fan-made anime ''WebAnimation/FantasyKaleidoscope'' gives this to Yuyuko, who falls under the "dead" distinction by virtue of being a CuteGhostGirl.
99	* ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'': One of the signs that [[VillainProtagonist Ayano]] has become "visibly insane" is that her eyes go blank. This is fitting, because her true nature is that she's [[EmotionlessGirl close to emotionless]], with what emotions she does have reserved for love for her Senpai and hatred for her rivals. WordOfGod says that being visibly insane is less her actually going crazy (since she already is), but more her insanity becoming more apparent to onlookers. So, it's only fitting that her eyes go blank when this happens.
100	** Ayano can also torture someone into becoming an EmptyShell. Once the process is over, they'll have these.
101	** Shiromi also has these. In her case, it's to show how odd she is, and not linked to craziness.
102	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
103	** Throughout the series, this is a trait of some [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampire]] bloodlines. Their eyes are a pale white with no irises or pupils. Others have BlackEyesOfEvil, while others still have SuperNaturalGoldEyes. (It's implied that they may all have these glowing gold eyes, but only beings with divine souls, such as the [[PlayerCharacter Dragonborn]] of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', can actually see them.)
104	** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', this is a trait of Scamps, the [[TheGoomba weakest]] and [[FunSize smallest]] known form of [[OurDemonsAreDifferent lesser Daedra]]. Other games have variously given them [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]] or BlackEyesOfEvil.
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
108	* In ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', Clair Vaux Bernard always has these eyes, representative of her status as merely [[spoiler:Yasu's]] storyteller, unable to interfere with anything that actually occurs within the story she tells.
109	* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry''
110	** Used when Rika [[spoiler:is found dead by the others]].
111	** Given to Rena at the height of her insanity during the ''Atonement'' Arc, same with Shion during hers, it comes and goes.
112	** Satoko gets these at any time when her EvilUncle is around and subjecting her to abuse. [[spoiler:It's a sign that she's found the courage to stand up to him when her pupils and highlights come back]].
113	* ''VisualNovel/TheFruitOfGrisaia'': In her bad ending [[spoiler:Michiru gets these, after her attempted suicide [[FateWorseThanDeath leaves her with permanent brain damage]], [[EmptyShell all but dead inside]].]]
114	* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'': [[DisguisedHorrorStory You wouldn't think this would come up that way in such a cheery-sounding game]], but it applies to more than one character when [[spoiler: they're dead. In one case, they even start out like this but their normal colour, but turn greyer as time passes after the character's death]].
115	* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'': When [[spoiler:unmasked as the Phantom, Bobby Fulbright]] loses the light in his eyes.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Webcomics]]
119	* ''Webcomic/AvasDemon'': {{Implied\|Trope}} regarding Odin's [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] brother Olai. He's drawn with ordinary pupils, but...
120	-->'''Odin:''' Olai... d-doesn't care about anyone but himself. M-my mother once s-said... he's missing the window to his soul. Wh-when you look into his eyes, it's like he's looking r-right through you... like you're n-not really there.
121	* The page image is Michael Kappel of ''Webcomic/Collar6'', deep in the midst of a HeroicBSOD [[http://collar6.com/archive/collar6-603 after his parents]] were killed by UnfriendlyFire.
122	* In ''Webcomic/GenocideMan'', all of the Genocide Men have cold, dead stares (represented in the art by blank white eyes) due to the lifetime of horrors they've each seen and committed. One character actually thought the eyes were cybernetic, because she didn't believe that human eyes could look like that.
123	-->'''Caera:''' What about the eyes? All your Genocide Men... your eyes are so cold and dead. As if you've lost your souls.\
124	''[{{Beat}}]''\
125	'''Kevin:''' ...the procedure doesn't affect the eyes.
126	* Characters in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' who are dead gain completely blank eyes if they are seen in Dream Bubbles afterward. It doesn't affect their personality or eyesight, though. Andrew Hussie's AuthorAvatar also had empty eyes even ''before'' his in-comic death. Whether that is significant or not remains to be seen.
127	* In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', Hannelore's eyes [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3427 go flat]] when she is avoiding engaging with a police officer.
128	* ''Webcomic/TapiseriSoujourn'': While burning down the village, Caleb has empty, crazed eyes.
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Web Original]]
132	* ''Roleplay/DinoAttackRPG'':
133	** Most Mutant Dinos and Quasifigus Hybrids have blank white eyes.
134	** After being attacked by a Mutant Raptor, Greybeard's [[GoodScarsEvilScars scarred]] [[EyeScream eye]] appears washed-out in color in comparison to his other eye. He was also nearly blind in that eye.
135	** When Rex's body was [[spoiler:[[DemonicPossession possessed]] by Baron Typhonus]], his eyes turned blank white.
136	* In ''Podcast/AliceIsntDead,'' the eyes of the narrator's soon-to-be stalker The Thistle Man are described as "...flat. Like a bad painting of a face," shortly before he deliberately reveals himself as a HumanoidAbomination.
137	[[/folder]]
138
139	[[folder: WesternAnimation]]
140	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': In "Mirror Gem", Steven frees Lapis Lazuli from her imprisonment in a mirror, but the gem on her back is still cracked and her eyes have no irises. In the next episode, Steven heals her gem and she regains both her irises and her ability to create water-based wings for herself.
141	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Under his golden mask, [[BigBad Emperor Belos]] looks remarkably normal, save for the [[BodyHorror rotting scar across his face]]... and the fact that, [[NonStandardCharacterDesign unlike every other character in the show]], his eyes have no shine to them, underscoring his nature as TheSociopath.
142	[[/folder]]

Context Main / EmptyEyes