| 1 | %% |
| 2 | %% Do NOT link to manga scan sites. That's illegal. |
| 3 | %% |
| 4 | |
| 5 | %% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1311398840049633200 |
| 6 | %% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 7 | %% |
| 8 | [[quoteright:280:[[Manga/AngelDensetsu https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fotm280_1470.png]]]] |
| 9 | [[caption-width-right:280:[[SincerityMode He really did like the joke.]]]] |
| 10 | |
| 11 | ->''"I'm the bald white guy who, even in broad daylight, looks like he's about to step out of a dark alley and shank you. I promise, I'm really friendly, my face just does that."'' |
| 12 | -->-- '''Creator/{{Tailsteak}}''' |
| 13 | |
| 14 | This is where a character is shown to have a very scary, thuggish face -- mostly for comedic purposes. The expression will often include a KubrickStare, where the face tilts down but the eyes look up. The face of a thug is so scary that normal people are shown to be easily scared off just by looking at them, and can make even [[GiantMook tough brutes]] feel uneasy. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | The catch here is that the character with the face of a {{delinquent}} is [[HiddenDepths anything but]]. Some of them are [[NotEvilJustMisunderstood genuinely nice]], even [[AllLovingHero exceptionally so]]; others are actually [[LovableCoward cowards]] surviving solely based on their looks. Generally, though, they are normal people who [[IJustWantToBeNormal would rather just have a normal life]]. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Things aren't that easy, though. Since everyone assumes them to be a badass of the highest degree, other people will either avoid them for fear of getting involved or try to rope them into fights far beyond their actual ability. Their actions will usually revolve around trying to make normal people acknowledge their true self while avoiding that the thugs around them learn the truth about the same. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | This can often result in a {{delinquent|s}} who [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything doesn't act like a delinquent.]] Such a character may even have actual skill at fighting and street survival, not by choice but by simple necessity. Since it was forced on them, they ''[[HadToBeSharp had]]'' [[HadToBeSharp to pick up those skills simply to survive]]. They may even reluctantly become a thug because [[ThenLetMeBeEvil everyone assumes they are one already]]. Very frequently overlaps with DarkIsNotEvil, since darkness and fear factor are synonymous in aesthetics. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | Please note that this trope doesn't necessarily mean "ugly", even though most of the examples below are. It's more about looking threatening than actually looking unattractive, and it's possible to look both handsome and fearsome. Indeed, there are situations where the scary-looking character is found attractive as a ''result'' of being scary-looking (e.g. AllGirlsWantBadBoys), which can in turn lead to the infatuated party [[LovingAShadow being disappointed by how non-scary the crush really is underneath]]. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | In modern-day usage, especially on the internet, the phrase "resting bitch face" has become a popular term for this phenomenon. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Compare DeathGlare, FrozenFace, GentleGiant, TheGrotesque, MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold, HeroWithBadPublicity, and TheUnSmile. Subtrope of PaperTiger (except in those cases where kind-but-scary-looking characters [[BewareTheNiceOnes suddenly become truly as scary as they look]]). A frequent subversion of ScaryBlackMan. When parents are scared of this character harming their children, it may result in PullingYourChildAway. When an actor has this, they'll often be type-cast as thugs. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | The opposite of this trope is FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, which is when someone looks friendly on the outside but is evil on the inside. When that trope and this one are brought together, it can result in UglyHeroGoodLookingVillain, though as mentioned above, the trope isn't always about attractiveness exactly. See also PeekABogeyman for when a character ''intentionally'' scares others, but only in a harmless manner; there may be overlap with this trope whenever the character isn't actively trying to scare people at the moment. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | ---- |
| 31 | !!Examples with their own pages: |
| 32 | |
| 33 | [[index]] |
| 34 | * FaceOfAThug/AnimeAndManga |
| 35 | * FaceOfAThug/{{Literature}} |
| 36 | * FaceOfAThug/VideoGames |
| 37 | [[/index]] |
| 38 | !!Examples without their own pages: |
| 39 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 40 | |
| 41 | [[folder:Advertising]] |
| 42 | * In the 1980s, a famous American Express print ad touted cards with the holder's photo on the front: "''This'' is you" (picture of scary biker). "''This'' is the jerk who stole your credit card" (dorky-looking guy with horn-rimmed glasses). |
| 43 | [[/folder]] |
| 44 | |
| 45 | [[folder:Manhua]] |
| 46 | * In an ''Manhua/OldMasterQ'' strip, the titular character is eating by himself in a teahouse when a heavily-scarred, fierce-looking man sits down opposite. Master Q daydreams about what would happen if he pisses the guy off, leading to an ImagineSpot where Master Q and the guy tears the whole place apart while brawling; intrigued, Master Q then flicks a peanut to the other guy's face. To Master Q's surprise, the man simply remarks "You're such a joker!" and continues eating as if nothing happened. |
| 47 | [[/folder]] |
| 48 | |
| 49 | [[folder:Manhwa]] |
| 50 | * Woo-Soo Choi of ''Quantum Mistake'' is a studious boy who has swapped bodies with Kang Too-Jee, a delinquent who spent most of his time getting into fights. Woo-Soo Choi, relying on Kang Too-Jee's reflexes, is capable of putting up a fight, but most of the time, just wants to talk it out with the other guy. (This pretty much never works.) |
| 51 | [[/folder]] |
| 52 | |
| 53 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 54 | * ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} is a BigRedDevil with glowing yellow eyes, a protruding lower jaw, and a rocky [[TheRightHandOfDoom Right Hand of Doom]] which all make him look rather sinister. But thanks to his [[OrcRaisedByElves upbringing among the humans of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense]], he is a force for good who works to protect the world from sinister supernatural forces. His benevolence, natural charisma, and positive reputation are so strong that even devoutly religious civilians, who would otherwise be very wary of interacting with demons, never show any trepidation about interacting with him. Even when his similarly freaky-looking demonic brethren try to convince him of how he "should" act (particularly when it comes to [[AntiAntiChrist his originally planned role in ending the world]]), he repeatedly rejects their cajoling and stays on the side of humanity. |
| 55 | * Marv from ''ComicBook/SinCity'' was so ugly, they had to resort to SpecialEffects to recreate his looks on Creator/MickeyRourke. He made a KubrickStare or two throughout the movie as well. While he is indeed a SociopathicHero toward his enemies, he is an otherwise decent guy driven to avenge the death of a woman at the hands of a SerialKiller. |
| 56 | * Tony Stark, AKA ComicBook/IronMan, when outside his armor, is one of the few {{Superhero}}es to wear a mustache and a [[BeardOfEvil goatee]], making him look more like a traditional villain than a good guy. However, while he can be a {{Jerkass}} and has [[NoSocialSkills poor communication skills]], he struggles hard to be a good person in spite of his innate flaws. |
| 57 | * Thanks to his powers turning his body into living iridium Mettle from ''ComicBook/AvengersAcademy'' has a metallic red skull for a face. Yes, in the same universe as [[Characters/MarvelComicsRedSkull that other chap]] prominently known for the same. He's not very comfortable with it, especially given that he's Jewish. |
| 58 | * MMA fighter "Mistress" Ayane in ''ComicBook/GoldDigger'' would love to be a {{Face}}; unfortunately, she has the coldest, cruelest eyes on the planet and a wicked smile to boot. It's hard to be a hero to children when they run screaming whenever you look at them. It's so bad that even all-powerful sorcerers and dragons wince when they meet her gaze. In fact, when she met a guy who could look her in eyes and ''not flinch'', she was desperate to win his heart so she could finally be with someone who wasn't terrified of looking at her. [[spoiler:It's even implied that her unnaturally cold and fearsome stare might be because she's actually ''not human''.]] |
| 59 | * In the Marvel Universe, there are a handful of Skrulls who have for one reason or another ended up on Earth and decided that they want to be heroes. They have all found it necessary to adopt more human guises, as their natural forms tend to freak people out. |
| 60 | * ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'': Dorothy Spinner has a face like an ape, but is a very sweet and good-natured girl. |
| 61 | * ''ComicBook/TheRocketeer''. This causes misunderstandings when a man like this turns up seeking the JetPack the protagonist has found. He's assumed to be another spy or gangster seeking it but he's actually Colonel Mayberg, the personal bodyguard of the inventor, and his interest is legitimate. |
| 62 | [[/folder]] |
| 63 | |
| 64 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 65 | * ''Fanfic/{{Medicated}}'': One of the most common things noted by frogs that scare them about the human form is the eyes, which are more set in front of the head like a predator than the more spread out frog eyes. This effect is amplified if they are ever angry or agitated. |
| 66 | * In ''FanFic/OriginStory'', Sanchez and Francisco are a pair of twin brothers who work as agents for porn actresses. They are described as looking like walking stereotypes and "feel slimy" when Alex Harris first meets them. It turns out that they are two honestly nice guys who give Alex some helpful advice after realizing she's underage. |
| 67 | * ''Fanfic/BuildYourWingsOnTheWayDown'': Aviv Seif, [[spoiler:Catherine Armstrong]]/Gabby's boyfriend, looks rather intimidating due to his height and burn scars on his face, which make him look like he's always scowling. He's actually rather down-to-earth and very sweet. |
| 68 | * In the ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9920512/1/Reaching-for-a-Dream Reaching for a Dream]]'' series, after ascending to godhood Naruto certainly looks incredibly intimidating given that he's two meters tall, has horns, fangs, fiery orange eyes, claws, and black markings on his face. But as noted in one of the [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10917821/1/The-questionable-burdens-of-leadership-of-a-troll-Emperor sequels]], he's like a large dog; he looks intimidating but the worst he'll do is drool on you. Though that [[BewareTheNiceOnes doesn't apply to enemies]]. |
| 69 | * In ''Fanfic/LiveAHeroMHA'', Izuku is eerily pale-skinned, frightfully thin, CoveredInScars, and has a habit of playing with and sharpening knives in plain sight. Despite it all, he wants to be a Hero. |
| 70 | * In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', Ren is a PerpetualFrowner whose face makes him look old enough to pass for an adult despite being only sixteen. Despite this, he's a well-meaning kid who loves his parents and tries to stop Black Mask to prevent him from hurting others rather than any sense of revenge. |
| 71 | * In ''Fanfic/{{Unlimited}}'', Izuku's teacher Kurobayashi has the head of a shark, which tends to make others instinctively afraid of him. He's actually a very nice man and enjoys helping others. |
| 72 | * In ''Fanfic/SomethingAlwaysRemains'', [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys4 Spring Bonnie]], after falling into the decrepit state of [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3 Springtrap]], is this. It's even more poignant when it's revealed that [[spoiler: it's haunted by [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2 Jeremy Fitzgerald]], a man who could never harm a fly in life. Averted when the ''[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge other]]'' ghost takes over, though]]. |
| 73 | * ''Fanfic/JustAnotherNightAtFreddys'' has pretty much any animatronic fit the bill, with Foxy perhaps being the best out of all of them. He is a FriendToAllChildren and will emotionally break down if he is forced to scare or harass any. But his disrepair has done no good for his looks and most people's reaction is generally fear. His occasional hairpin temper and hatred of being touched don't help either. |
| 74 | * In ''Fanfic/SuchADotingFather'', Endeavor is ranked in the top 10 heroes who look like villains, but (in this fic's AU at least) he's a massive softie and AmazinglyEmbarrassingParent. |
| 75 | * In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/33107422/chapters/82187701 A Slice of Smash]]'', [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate Dharkon]] looks like a terrifying EldritchAbomination. He ''acts'' like a {{Keet}} NiceGuy. |
| 76 | * Like in [[VideoGame/Persona5 canon]], Munehisa Iwai in the ''WebComic/Persona5AdultConfidantAU'' is a case of this. He's a rather intimidating guy who [[TheUnSmile can't give a proper smile to save his life]], but is overall a decent person and a member of the AU's Phantom Thieves. |
| 77 | * Giratina in ''Fanfic/ChosenOnesAdventureWithLegendaries'' looks just like his canon counterpart, but behind his terrifying appearance and [[NoIndoorVoice lack of an indoor voice]] he's actually a meek NiceGuy. |
| 78 | [[/folder]] |
| 79 | |
| 80 | [[folder:Films -- Animated]] |
| 81 | * ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'': |
| 82 | ** The [[ThreateningShark shark trio]] of [[Film/{{Jaws}} Bruce]], [[TheDitz Chum]] and [[TheLancer Anchor]] seem like they'd be fish-eating monsters - [[TrailersAlwaysLie trailers]] played up Bruce as the BigBad, in fact. Turns out they're pretty nice guys who have [[MonstersAnonymous sworn off]] eating fish... Except for [[FantasticRacism stinkin']] [[DolphinsDolphinsEverywhere dolphins]]. [[spoiler:Just don't let any of them catch a whiff of blood]]. Oddly, out of the shark trio, Chum, being a shortfin mako, and Anchor, being a greater hammerhead, are the ones most likely to subsist on a diet of fish at their [[GentleGiant size]]. A great white of Bruce's size would mostly eat marine mammals... Like dolphins. |
| 83 | ** Gill, even though he has enough scars to look like a mob boss, and puts an act of being one, is actually a benevolent leader. |
| 84 | * ''WesternAnimation/IsleOfDogs'': One of the cannibal dogs, Gondo, is pretty freaky-looking. He's got huge fangs, the fur on half of his face had been torn away, and he's always got a fierce expression on his face. However, he turns out to be a friendly and gentle dog. [[spoiler:It also turns out that he and his fellow "cannibal" dogs were [[OnceDoneNeverForgotten very ashamed]] to have eaten another dog, when [[IDidWhatIHadToDo they could do nothing else]] to help him.]] |
| 85 | * Tigress of the ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'' series arguably qualifies as such in later installments. While not hideous, she is designed with a much fiercer look befitting her species compared to the more cartoony designs of the other Furious Five members, [[PerpetualFrowner with a scowl often her default expression]]. However, after having TookALevelInKindness following the first film (as well as a study of HiddenDepths in ExpandedUniverse material) Tigress is often conveyed as very loyal and sympathetic, if still rather aloof and blunt. She does [[WhenSheSmiles manage some softer expressions at times]] however. |
| 86 | * ''Anime/RudolfTheBlackCat'': Gottalot is a muscular and intimidating stray cat feared by his peers, but he has a good heart; he's not gratuitously violent, willingly takes care of Rudolf, values learning and intellectual pursuits and gives Rudolf an education. |
| 87 | * ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'': Humans are scared of Shrek because of his monstrous appearance, but in reality, he's a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who doesn't hurt people without provocation, and at one point he laments to Donkey that people judge him before they get to know him. |
| 88 | -->'''Shrek:''' Ogres are like onions.\ |
| 89 | '''Donkey:''' They stink?\ |
| 90 | '''Shrek:''' Yes. [[VerbalBackspace No!]]\ |
| 91 | '''Donkey:''' Oh, they make you cry.\ |
| 92 | '''Shrek:''' No.\ |
| 93 | '''Donkey:''' Oh, you leave 'em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs...\ |
| 94 | '''Shrek:''' No! ''Layers.'' Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.\ |
| 95 | '''Donkey:''' Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions. |
| 96 | * ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'': All of [[BigBad Sid's]] toys are disfigured and creepy looking in some way. Both Woody and Buzz think they're cannibals after they carry away two toys who Sid performed "surgery" on. Then they fix Buzz's arm as he goes through a HeroicBSOD and reveal that they weren't eating the first two toys; they fixed them too. |
| 97 | * Grandma Wu in ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' has EvilEyebrows, a [[GoodScarsEvilScars visible scar]] on her right eyebrow and VillainousCheekbones but she's really just strict and intimidating rather than malicious. |
| 98 | [[/folder]] |
| 99 | |
| 100 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 101 | * ''Film/TheDayMyKidWentPunk'' is an 80s film about a guy who gets into punk music and fashion. His peers are skeptical about this massive change. When he applies to work as a daycare worker over the summer he is almost denied due to his unconventional looks, and he later gets a mother mad that they're allowing someone dressed like him to take care of little kids. |
| 102 | * ''Film/DungeonsAndDragonsHonorAmongThieves'': Norixius, the [[DraconicHumanoid dragonborn]] Absolution Council member with a bulky saurian head, dark scales, and gruff demeanor, looks rather sinister. However, he's the one who shouts at the escaping Edgin and Holga in an understandably exasperated tone that their pardon had been approved, indicating that he's more sympathetic to prisoners like them than he initially seems. |
| 103 | * ''Film/LittleMissSunshine'': At the pageant, Richard ends up sitting near an intimidating-looking man in biker clothes who brushes off Richard's attempt to introduce himself. After Olive's big dance number, the biker ends up being one of the few people in the crowd who actually cheers for her. WordOfGod is that the man is the father of one of the other contestants who got dragged to the pageant and cheered for Olive because she did something new and interesting. |
| 104 | * ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': The Pau'an as a whole LooksLikeOrlok, with gray skin, sunken red-rimmed eyes, long gnarled fingers and limbs, and a mouth full of razor-sharp fangs. Despite their ghastly appearances, they're capable of being perfectly friendly, as shown with [[NiceGuy Tion Medon]], who greets Obi-Wan and is happy to help him track down General Grievous despite worrying about the potential battle that could break out in the city. While there are ''some'' evil Pau'an in later works like ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' (Darth Desolous from ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed'') and [[ArcVillain The Grand Inquisitor]] from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' (who used to play this trope straight when he was a Jedi), they're rare exceptions to the rule. |
| 105 | * Glen from ''Film/SeedOfChucky''. Despite being depicted as an ugly doll, and at the beginning of the film, being seen killing a girl's parents, we find out that Glen was having a nightmare and that he's really sensitive and despises violence, unlike [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon the rest of his family]]. |
| 106 | * Lampshaded and played with in ''Film/SixDegreesOfCelebration''. A police officer tells a recently-caught thief that just from looking at his face, one can tell he’s a thug. Later on, the officer himself gets mistaken for a bandit – and a [[NeverMessWithGranny fierce-looking granny]] tells him ''he'' clearly has the face of a thief. |
| 107 | * The titular Tucker and Dale of ''Film/TuckerAndDaleVsEvil'' are stereotypical rednecks who initially come off as [[HillbillyHorrors creepy horror villains]] towards the group of college kids. In actuality, they're perfectly friendly people but prone to [[PoorCommunicationKills severe cases of miscommunication]] that make them come off worse than they intend. |
| 108 | [[/folder]] |
| 109 | |
| 110 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 111 | * Morso from ''Aasi, Morso ja Mouru''. Morso is a mouse who [[CreepyDoll looks like he came out of a puppet hater's worst nightmare]], and Aasi the donkey is known for being scared to death of mice. However, Morso serves to be TheHeart of the trio in comparison to Aasi's CowardlyLion and Mouru's JerkWithAHeartOfGold, and he's determined to help Aasi get over his fear of mice. |
| 112 | * ''Series/BreakingBad'': Jesse's assumptions about this regarding a random stranger causes his relationship with Walt to permanently sour in season 5. They've both retired from the drug business at this point but Jesse is working with the DEA to bring Walt down, whom he suspects is trying to have him killed to tie up loose ends. They agree to meet in a public space, but Jesse notices a man dressed like a Neo-Nazi skinhead standing close to Walt. He assumes this man to be a hitman and calls off the meeting, but it turns out the guy was just there to pick up his daughter. |
| 113 | * The ''Carol & Company'' episode "Myna and the Messenger" has Myna, a devout Christian woman, approached by an angel (Creator/HowieMandel) who urges her to get to Vegas to win money to save her church. Myna is soon hooked on the gambling as she ignores a rough-and-tumble biker. She puts all her money into a huge bet...which loses. When she moans about what went wrong, her "angel" smirks "Oh, I think everything went great" and removes his hat to [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon reveal a pair of horns.]] A downcast Myna is approached by that biker and gives him her last quarter out of pity. He uses it to win a huge slot jackpot which he says belongs to Myna as it was her coin. When she thanks him, he just smiles he's "doing my job" as he lifts his biker cap to show a halo over his head. |
| 114 | * ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'' has the infamous "Theater Thug" episode. |
| 115 | * Gorou Yura, a supporting character in ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'', is a perpetually scowling, rough-looking man who's both [[BattleButler butler and bodyguard]] to the [[AmoralAttorney corrupt lawyer]] Kitaoka Shuuichi. He's also significantly less of an asshole than his employer, at one point going out of his way to compliment the protagonist Shinji for having a "good whistle" and later asking him for his [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiaozi#Japanese_version gyoza]] recipe. |
| 116 | ** Ren Akiyama / Kamen Rider Knight usually gives people a bad first impression with his dour expression, rough attitude, and fondness for black clothes, but is actually a JerkWithAHeartOfGold trying hard not to let it show. |
| 117 | * Gentaro Kisaragi, the protagonist of ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'', dresses as a {{Delinquent}} with [[DelinquentHair slicked-back hair]]. However, he's actually an affable goof who quite literally wants to be FriendToAllLivingThings ([[BewareTheNiceOnes who can still kick ass if needed]]). |
| 118 | * ''Series/KamenRiderZiO'': Geiz Myokoin can make people run away in fear just with his sour face and doesn't even realize why. Granted, if that doesn't work, his HairTriggerTemper will probably do the trick anyway. Social grace of a sledgehammer notwithstanding, he has UndyingLoyalty to [[MoralityPet Tsukuyomi]] and fights to avert a BadFuture. |
| 119 | * ''Series/KamenRiderSaber'': Yuri, [[EquippableAlly Sword of Light]], has a fierce-looking face that seems locked in a perpetual frown, befitting his ComicallySerious reactions, but not so much his easily distracted CloudCuckoolander persona. |
| 120 | * An episode of ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'' dealt with this trope. |
| 121 | * ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' has, of course, the ever-lovable and normally harmless forensic scientist Abby. |
| 122 | ** It's not so much that Abby's really all that scary-looking, so much as it is that she is a caffeinated workaholic who dresses in a Goth fashion (even at work). |
| 123 | * ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace'' will sometimes feature [[DragQueen Drag Queens]] serving the female equivalent of the thug face, known as "resting bitch-face". Season 7's Pearl and Season 9's Trinity Taylor are two prime examples of queens who just paint their faces to look very cold and harsh even when they are perfectly content. |
| 124 | * Vulcans in ''Franchise/StarTrek''. The first alien species to appear on the show (and, as later movies confirmed, the one to initiate FirstContact with Earth), and one of the most popular. With pointed ears, upswept eyebrows and an overall cold demeanor, not to mention the ability to read minds, they have a genuinely demonic appearance (which was a problem -initially - for the producers of the Original Series worried about audience response and in-universe for the crew due to his more than once getting mistaken for a demon by one humanoid alien race or the other). Turns out that these guys are supersmart, logical, vegetarian pacifists who have completely forsworn violence and are quite willing to play the protective big brother to younger species. |
| 125 | * The MonsterOfTheWeek in the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "Yellow Fever" is the ghost of a man who was murdered as a result of this trope. |
| 126 | [[/folder]] |
| 127 | |
| 128 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 129 | * ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': |
| 130 | ** While not overly thuggish, [[EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette Viola Cadaverini]] from ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' looks ''creepy as Hell'', but discounting her relationship with [[LoanShark Furio Tigre]] she's really not that bad (though ''[[VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth Investigations]]'' shows that she's keeping Tender Lender running just as ruthless as ever in Furio's absence). |
| 131 | ** Will Powers is a GentleGiant with a face that scares small children. Kind of a handicap for an actor in children's shows, so he takes roles that involve wearing masks. He even refuses to be seen out of costume, because he's afraid of crushing his fans' expectations. |
| 132 | ** From ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'', Wocky Kitaki's father. He used to be the head of the local Yakuza and has an extremely intimidating face. [[spoiler:But by the end of the case, it's shown that he's a loving father who brought the family out of the mob business so that his children, especially Wocky, wouldn't have to put their lives in danger.]] |
| 133 | ** From the ''[[VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth Investigations]]'' games, Detective Badd is an imposing, gruff figure, but he's practically a second father figure to Kay. He gives her Swiss Rolls and distracts her with 'important detective assistance' to keep her mind off [[spoiler: her father's death]]. |
| 134 | ** Justine Courtney from ''Investigations 2'' practically ''screams'' ObviouslyEvil: A ColdHam HangingJudge proclaiming herself to be a divine avatar of the law itself, with an ever-present {{Leitmotif}} of [[OminousPipeOrgan sinister church music]], constantly gets in Edgeworth's way, and tries to strip him of his badge. [[spoiler:She was actually on his side all along, and her antagonism was mostly an act to get in the good graces of [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem Blaise Debeste]] so that she could more easily take ''him'' down]]. |
| 135 | ** From ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]'', Mayor Tenma, who is vilified for his scary looks and because he wants to [[spoiler: or rather was being blackmailed into]] merge Tenma Town and Nine Tales Vale. He is really a kind man, loving father [[spoiler:and popular pro-wrestler of the "face" variety.]] |
| 136 | ** In ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'', it's immediately clear why Barok van Zieks is known [[TheDreaded the Reaper of the Old Bailey]]. He's [[EvilIsBigger towering]], dressed like Dracula; and though he's clearly very handsome despite the RuggedScar between the eyes, he seems incapable of expressions other than [[IcyBlueEyes icy-eyed]] {{Death Glare}}s and menacing {{Kubrick Stare}}s. Even after he proves DarkIsNotEvil, Ryunosuke is still terrified to make eye contact with the man he's dubbed the "'Least Approachable Man in the World' winner, ten years in a row." |
| 137 | --->'''Ryunosuke:''' He really does look fully prepared to dispatch his next victim to the underworld. |
| 138 | * ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' |
| 139 | ** Sakura Ogami has a wild appearance more suited for a BarbarianHero than a high schooler and is the UltimateMartialArtist (and probably the strongest student in school), but if you're not too intimidated to befriend her you'll find that she's a gentle soul and possibly the most mature character in the game. |
| 140 | ** Kazuichi Souda in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' sports a pretty outrageous {{Slasher Smile}} accentuated even further by his filed down shark-like teeth. He is actually quite timid and cowardly, and gets called on it within the game. |
| 141 | * Moe Mortelli ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'' has a scary, often creepy-looking face, but he's a cop who (at least mostly) follows the laws that he is paid to enforce. |
| 142 | * In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', Morgan's uncle, Tommy, has an intimidating appearance, but is a caring father figure toward his niece, at once trying to keep her on the straight and narrow and looking after her happiness. |
| 143 | * In the Prologue of Grisaia in ''VisualNovel/TheEdenOfGrisaia'' Amane shows up riding a custom low-rider motorcycle, a leather jacket, and towering over the students and teachers alike. Chizuru is terrified until realizing that Amane hasn't the faintest idea what kind of impression she gives off and is actually very friendly and domestic. |
| 144 | * ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': |
| 145 | ** Berserker [[ZigzaggedTrope zigzags]] this trope, as while he IS a terrifying juggernaut of pure physical power to anyone even remotely threatening towards [[MoralityPet his master Illya]], around her and when not burdened by absolute batshit insanity, he is a very compassionate and heroic individual. Most of his most impressive moments are his going above and beyond the limit to keep Illya safe. |
| 146 | ** In the Heaven’s Feel route, it is revealed that [[spoiler: Rider bears this trope, as pretty much all of her actions are designed to protect her real master, Sakura]]. |
| 147 | * ''VisualNovel/MinotaurHotel'': Robert, considering how he scared the unsuspecting delivery man when his charm briefly malfunctioned. Storm is also this before he gets his charm while Asterion says most people find him scary. |
| 148 | [[/folder]] |
| 149 | |
| 150 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 151 | * ''WebAnimation/AttackOnMika'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44wQnfegw6Q Jin]] has a scary face, which is fitting for a former gang member. However, he is actually a kindhearted man and currently a stay-at-home dad. |
| 152 | * ''WebAnimation/MangaAngelNekoOka'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEDcCcORniA Akira]] has a face that usually intimidates people leading to none of the women in his workplace dating him. He uses it to his advantage when he saved Aoi from a stalker. He became her bodyguard soon after. |
| 153 | * ''WebAnimation/MangaWaido'': |
| 154 | ** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkRX2VIOzvQ "My parents put all their love into my sister, but I was sold to a dangerous man..."]]: Kaede and Mao's parents sold the latter to a scary-faced-businessman named Akio, only for her to find out he was an honest man who wanted to get ahead in his mushroom business by buying her grandmother's land. [[spoiler:He even helped her sister Kaede when she ran away from her parents' house when they forced her into sex work to earn them money and reported the couple]]. |
| 155 | ** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCvAeWB469w "My dad who exposed an injustice was fired from the boss…"]] Despite looking like a thug, Tadashi's father is actually a fun person to talk with. [[spoiler: He also turns out to be a lawyer who wants to help Keita's father to sue his former company for wrongful dismissal.]] |
| 156 | ** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhqvnj4r0FQ "I stumbled into my ex at work..."]]: Keisuke's father looked like a Yakuza at first glance, unnerving Mihiro as he called her out for insulting his son. However, he is actually the owner of a cleaning company Keisuke works for, and hoped for him to take over someday. |
| 157 | ** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03QvDYeb3Is&t=7m45s "My annoying neighbor told me that her boyfriend was a gangster so I..."]]: Yoko's father looked like a stereotypical Yakuza thug due to his towering build and scarred face, but he is actually part of an anti-gang squad and the scar in his face was from an injury at work. When he shows up, the stuck-up Ms. Makita (who brought up her Yakuza boyfriend to shut Yoko up) is reduced to a begging, sobbing wreck at the sight of him. |
| 158 | * ''WebAnimation/TheRhinoAndTheRedbill'' has Niles, who in the surface seems to be another [[RhinoRampage stereotypical rhinoceros brute]], with his blindness,[[PerpetualFrowner constant frown]] and a large muscular build making him look quite scary. However, he is a compassionate fellow that, despite his stoicism, does genuinely care about those around him, such as his Oxpecker partner Red. |
| 159 | [[/folder]] |
| 160 | |
| 161 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 162 | * ''Webcomic/Alfie2010'': Downplayed with Ozge. While Voch'khari features tend to be more inhuman than those of [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elves]] or [[{{Hobbits}} Havlin]] (the horns do not help), and they do not have the [[BarbarianTribe best reputation]] among settled peoples outside [[DontGoIntoTheWoods the Red Wood]]; her usual shyness would likely come off as more taciturn than menacing if she were [[GentleGiant a couple of feet shorter]]. |
| 163 | * In ''WebComic/AxeCop'', all mermaids are good but have mean-looking faces, apparently because they thought scowls indicated happiness and smiles indicated anger. Axe Cop, unaware of this, [[spoiler:murders one by accident. After learning that mermaids are all good and that this is the first time he ever killed a good guy, he immediately breaks down in tears.]] |
| 164 | * ''Webcomic/BewareTheVillainess'': It's implied that Melissa's father badly wants to get along with her but hasn't the faintest idea how to do so and can't even say how he feels due to sucking at talking to his children. Melissa just sees his craggy face, seemingly cold attitude and unwillingness to support her against her brother and concludes the worst about him. |
| 165 | * ''Webcomic/CursedPrincessClub'': The Pastel King's children are [[https://www.webtoons.com/en/comedy/cursed-princess-club/ep-1-the-king-returns/viewer?title_no=1537&episode_no=1 depicted]] as almost stereotypically [[PrincessClassic pure and attractive fairy tale princesses]] (and [[TheOneGuy a prince]]) who all adore each other and their doting father and get along with cute woodland animals. So when youngest daughter Gwendolyn is introduced with her sallow skin, messy green hair, carnivorous-looking ScaryTeeth, bulging eyes with beady [[BlackEyesOfEvil black]] irises (in contrast to her siblings' cute TaremeEyes), rigid [[VillainousCheekbones cheekbones]] and eye sockets, dour expression, ominous room full of creepy creatures like spiders and rats, and overall [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblin-like]] and [[WitchClassic witch-like]] vibe, it initially seems like she's being set up as the evil BlackSheep of the family. Yet she's probably even more of a NiceGirl than the rest of her already kind family, as she's a warm-hearted GirlyGirl, a [[FeminineWomenCanCook good cook]] who loves making meals for her family, NiceToTheWaiter to the point of helping the servants with their chores, and could have easily been a PrincessClassic like her sisters if not for how she looks. The main story arc is set off when she gets upset overhearing her arranged fiancé calling her ugly after they meet for the first time -- but even then, her first instinct is to [[ItsAllMyFault blame herself]] for not being a worthy bride instead of getting angry at him for being shallow. |
| 166 | * Jaws from ''Webcomic/DemonFist'' has the face of a gremlin and [[SlasherSmile the smile of a shark]] (plus he's a [[OurDemonsareDifferent demon]]), but he's a genuinely cheerful and caring person. |
| 167 | * ''Webcomic/GrandBlues'': Katzelia is noticed to have one in Comic [[http://game-a1.granbluefantasy.jp/assets_en/img/sp/assets/comic/episode/episode_1289.jpg #1289]], largely thanks to the "menacing glare" he has all the time. Yet he does all he can to improve life in the slums where he spends his exile, making him beloved by the other slum residents. His own sister Haaselia admits he could try to do something about the glare, while Alexiel offers to help by blocking his eyes with a tinted mirror-blade shard -- which only makes him look just as scary. Interestingly, his sprite in the flashback gave him a more gentle expression, implying his current face is the result of the stress of being in exile and seeking revenge on his uncle. |
| 168 | * ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'': When Bob ends up in prison, his cell mate is a really big, burly, bald man with an intimidating squint named Rocko [[MeaningfulName Sasquatch]]. However, Rocko turned out to be a kind if unrefined guy (and a [[BigHeartedBigfoot literal Sasquatch]]) who was only in prison for beating up the people trying to evict his adoptive mother. He and Bob keep in touch as pen pals until Rocko is released, and he becomes a close ally and friend of Bob and his loved ones from then on. |
| 169 | * ''Webcomic/Level1Housewife'': Angrboda is a retired BarbarianHero who still looks the part. She has a stern expression, a ''very'' buff physique, and is CoveredInScars, all of which tends to intimidate the people she meets (one even mistakes her for an ogre). But she's not remotely malicious toward anyone that isn't a vicious monster, and most of the misunderstandings she has with people are the result of her awkward attempts to get used to civilian life. |
| 170 | * ''WebComic/MierukoChan'': Chapter 4 involves Miko and Hana trying to find a good home for a stray kitten they find. [[ISeeDeadPeople Miko]] turns down a seemingly harmless fellow who's surrounded by ominous spirits, but convinces Hana to give the cat to Gozuka, a thuggish man covered in scars and tattoos. Not only is Gozuka surrounded by ''nekomata''-like spirits who happen to be much more pleasant-looking than the spirits Miko usually sees, he turns out to be a KindheartedCatLover. |
| 171 | * ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'' has the various members of the Body Improvement Club, all of whom look like some kind of delinquent: Gouda has HotBloodedSideburns, Jun's head is [[BaldHeadOfToughness shaved]], Hiroshi sports a [[DelinquentHair mohawk]], and Ryohei has ''[[AnimeHair a gigantic pointed pompadour]]''. All of them are incredibly beefy and exceptionally muscular for teenagers. They have to be JapaneseDelinquents who look down on scrawny, awkward runts like Mob right? Wrong. They are kind, pacifistic, good-natured guys who are 100% supportive of each other, and upon seeing that Mob genuinely wants to improve himself, they instantly accept him as one of their own and encourage him to do better each time. No mockery behind his back, no hazing, just acceptance and encouragement to exercise; they are every bit as honest and upright as they declare themselves to be. Of course, being pacifistic good guys doesn't mean they're not willing to act, as the various people who have tried to hurt Mob found out, [[EveryonesBabySister the hard way]]. |
| 172 | * ''Webcomic/ModernMoGal'': Dino is a dragon who manages to look a lot more bestial and intimidating than even the other dragons in the story (including his own wife and daughter). It doesn't help that his tank top and mane of spiky black hair would make him look like a yakuza enforcer even if he was a human. Yet he is a humble voice actor, a devoted husband, a BumblingDad, uses his massive strength just to help people (lifting cars to free people’s pets, for instance), and is all around EndearinglyDorky. |
| 173 | * In ''WebComic/OnePunchMan'', King's intense looks, coupled with the mysterious [[HellIsThatNoise King Engine]], have led many supervillains to flee in terror rather than fight him. [[spoiler: It's convenient for King, since he can't fight at all and is frightened to death of battling some city-destroying monster. Also, the King Engine is his own beating heart going into overdrive from fear.]] |
| 174 | * ''Webcomic/OutOfPlacers'': |
| 175 | ** Isher has a horn in her forehead, a brutish-looking face with ScaryTeeth and [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], and reptilian scales, hand claws, and legs, all of which make her look like a mix between an {{Oni}} and a theropod dinosaur. Yet she's actually a very empathetic and [[GentleGiant gentle]] girl -- and a NervousWreck to boot. Kass brought her into Ivenmoth to work as a bouncer (with the advice that she merely has to ''look'' grumpy to keep people from causing trouble), but she would much rather tend to the Undergarden, and she often angsts over the fact that she intimidates people. |
| 176 | ** The baxxid are an entire race of these. Serpentine insectoids covered in claws and bone-like protrusions, they are easily the most intimidating-looking inhabitants of Val Salia. Yet they are almost universally staunch pacifists, refusing to take jobs as guards or soldiers and instead filling in roles as diplomats and linguists. The handful of major recurring baxxid characters are also portrayed as very socially awkward around non-baxxid because of how different they are physically from their neighbors. |
| 177 | * ''Webcomic/PixieAndBrutus'': Brutus' [[RuggedScar face]] is proof that the boy has seen some... [[DarkAndTroubledPast stuff]], but he is very calm and patient with his hyperactive new little sister. |
| 178 | * In ''Webcomic/ScalieSchoolie'', [[HugeSchoolgirl Violet]]'s menacing appearance, with her [[PerpetualFrowner constant scowl]] and black-jacket-over-sarashi outfit akin to a stereotypical Japanese delinquent, leads many people to believe she is a bully, but she's truly one of the nicest characters in the comic. Part of this is due to her mother, who was bullied herself, forcing her to look the part. |
| 179 | -->'''Violet''': Why does everyone keep offering me their lunch money... Do I look poor? |
| 180 | * ''Webcomic/TheStrongestFlorist'': Jaeho has a brutish face and the physique to match, but he desires to [[RealMenWearPink open a flower shop]] in the virtual reality game New World. His face terrifies ''gangsters'' in the real world and leads everyone in the virtual world--including [=NPCs=]--to think he's a monster early on. |
| 181 | * In the ''Webcomic/TeamFortress2'' comics, when the Sniper accuses the Medic of being a traitor, referencing the SlasherSmile the Medic made [[TraitorShot upon seeing the Sniper earlier]], the Medic responds that he was simply happy to see the Sniper again; apparently, a psychotic grin ''is'' his default genuine smile. Granted, the Medic at the time was working with a team out to kill his previous teammates, but not for the sake of betrayal; rather, [[MadScientist he had run out of test subjects and, to continue his research, had signed on with a new team]], which, as it turns out, [[ContrivedCoincidence was contracted to kill the old team]] by Gray Mann. |
| 182 | * ''Webcomic/YourSmileIsATrap'': Lily Cha has a resting scowl on her face, and her classmates think she's a bully because of it. She takes after her father, who runs a flower shop but is thought to be a gang member. At first, Kiyu Ahn is the only classmate who sees her for the kind girl she is. |
| 183 | [[/folder]] |
| 184 | |
| 185 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 186 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': |
| 187 | ** [[BruiserWithASoftCenter Soggy Joe]] looks like a stereotypical thug but helps out the protagonists multiple times, starting with [[Recap/AmphibiaS1E14AnneVsWild Anne Vs. Wild]]. |
| 188 | ** [[BrawnHilda Priscilla]] from the episode [[Recap/AmphibiaS2E17HoppingMall "Hopping Mall"]] looks like (and is) a terrifying fighter, but is honorable as well as being a good mother. |
| 189 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh'' episode "The Great Honey Pot Robbery", honey robbers Stan and Heff bring in their gargantuan Woozle, Wooster, to mug the Hundred Acre Wood of all their honey. Pooh steps in and naively and sweetly asks if they could just be friends and then share the honey peacefully. Stan and Heff scoff at this suggestion. Wooster's response? |
| 190 | -->'''Wooster:''' [[HeelFaceTurn You be Wooster's friend?]] |
| 191 | * ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'': Roger is a sewer gator that looks as fearsome as any alligator does, yet he's probably the kindest animal you'll ever see in Central Park, with a penchant for baking and choir. |
| 192 | * ''{{WesternAnimation/Popeye}}'' has a face that could perhaps be best characterised as ugly, odd, and cartoony and fits with his rough-around-the-edges attitude but also has a rather altruistic and chivalrous personality treating everyone especially kids fairly. |
| 193 | * ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': The Topazes, a pair of big hulking minions with intimidating builds and scary faces, turn out to be [[GentleGiant Gentle Giants]]. |
| 194 | [[/folder]] |
| 195 |
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