Line #40 Main/BeamOfEnlightenment


1	%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1317086994078310000
2	%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
3	%%
4	[[quoteright:320:[[Anime/YuGiOh https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BeamofEnTristanment_7211.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:320:Tristan demonstrates [[WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries while hungry.]]]]
6
7	->''"Enter anime shwing~ sound effect here."''
8	-->-- The AltText of [[https://www.starimpactcomic.com/comic/chapter-2-page-28 this page]] of ''Webcomic/StarImpact''
9
10	A commonly used device when the character gets a moment of clarity, shock, or insight: what looks like a laser or a lightning bolt on a black background will shoot behind their heads. Used to emphasize the urgency or impact of what the character has just realized.
11
12	The IdeaBulb is a similar convention in Western media. AlertnessBlink also has a lot in common with this trope.
13
14	Not to be confused with the similar ThunderShock, which expresses, well, shock.
15
16	Compare NaturalSpotlight and RaysFromHeaven.
17
18	----
19	!!Examples:
20	[[foldercontrol]]
21	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
22	* Another instance where it is used frequently is in ''Manga/CaseClosed'', whenever the title character finally realizes who the criminal is. It's also used when a character finds a breakthrough, when the suspect/victim of the week hears something uncomfortable that is bound to turn up later.
23	* Various moments in the ''Franchise/DragonBall'' franchise when someone senses another character's ki (energy).
24	** It also marks the triggering of many transformations. In particular, Goku turning into the Great Ape while imprisoned by Pilaf in ''Manga/DragonBall''; Gohan's first transformation into the Great Ape during his survival training under Piccolo in the Saiyan saga of ''Anime/DragonBallZ''; the flashback to Vegeta's first transformation to Super Saiyan in the Androids saga of ''Z''; Trunks' first transformation into Super Saiyan after the murder of Gohan by Androids 17 and 18 [[Anime/DragonBallZTheHistoryOfTrunks in the bad future]]; and Gohan's first transformation into Super Saiyan 2 when triggered by Perfect Cell murdering Android 16 during the Cell Games.
25	* ''Anime/DigimonGhostGame'': The human protagonists always [[CallingYourAttacks call out the attacks]] of their Digimon partners, and each duo is shown to spontaneously "learn" new attacks every so often while in combat - represented by the attack name flashing by the human's head before they speak it.
26	** This is given a dark twist in episode 13, when [=GulusGammamon=] triggers a flash in Hiro as he prepares to execute the VillainOfTheWeek. Horrified by the actions of Gammamon's SuperpoweredEvilSide, Hiro ''rejects'' the flash before it can resolve into an attack name, apparently causing himself physical pain. [[spoiler:At which point [=GulusGammamon=] calls Hiro useless and just uses the attack by himself.]]
27	* ''Manga/GlassMask'' repeatedly uses this when Maya, or Ayumi, struggle with their portrayal of a character and then suddenly get this beam, when they manage to figure out how to properly do it.
28	* Ditto title hero of ''Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles''.
29	* Can be seen at various points in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', usually used for comic effect.
30	* Often occurs in ''Anime/YuGiOh'', when Yugi manages to think up a strategy to beat his latest opponent.
31	* Seen in the sixth episode of the TV version of ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'', when Belldandy sensed the entity possessing Megumi's apartment.
32	* In ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' shows, the BeamOfEnlightenment signifies a Newtype's danger sense going off, and is generally referred to as the "Newtype flash" by fans.
33	* Every time ''Manga/{{Kaiji}}'' discovers anything at all, there's a notorious close-up of his face with a lightning bolt in the background.
34	** One of the songs on the soundtrack is even entitled "Beam of Light".
35	* Sena, the running back nicknamed ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'', often has these when noticing his enemy's weakness, or realizing how to make himself faster/stronger.
36	* Also very frequent in ''Manga/CromartieHighSchool''.
37	* In ''Manga/KotouraSan'', these ''will'' show up the moment Haruka's {{Telepathy}} catches onto something dramatic and/or serious.
38	* This happens to Meowth once in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesDiamondAndPearl'' when Jessie and James try to scapegoat him for a failed plan to catch Ash's Pikachu, leading to a temporary end of their partnership as Meowth (and, subsequently, Jessie) try to go straight.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
42	* Jake Blues in Film/TheBluesBrothers experiences this in a black church, which sets the plot ball rolling.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Video Game]]
46	* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'': The "Alert" spirit command, which causes its user to automatically dodge the next attack, has this effect in reference to the "Newtype flash" from ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''.
47	* Shows up whenever the Dimensional Scream activates in ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers of Time/Darkness/Sky'', and the anime specials based on them.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Webcomics]]
51	* Used in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' when, thinking that she's going to die, Ellen temporarily goes nuts.
52	[[/folder]]

Context Main / BeamOfEnlightenment