Line #45 Main/GlowingMechanicalEyes


1	[[quoteright:350:[[{{Franchise/Terminator}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/terminatoreyes_1306.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV Stare into the face of death!]]]]
3
4	->''"Could you close your eyes? I feel like I'm banging tail lights on a country road."''
5	-->-- '''Sterling Archer''', ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''
6
7	{{Robot}}ic or {{cyborg}} characters will frequently have obviously [[ElectronicEyes artificial eyes]]. Presumably these are some sort of video cameras, which makes sense for an artificial creation. Unlike normal cameras, however, these will usually glow with an inner light. While this makes very little sense from a mechanical design perspective, it makes excellent sense from a ''character'' design perspective. Eyes convey a lot of information about a person; light-up eyes help make up for a robot face's lack of expressiveness.
8
9	By varying the intensity, shape, and color of the light, a robotic character can convey much of the emotion that would otherwise be lost. A brief flash of intense light can indicate surprise or anger. The light going out can show that the character is unconscious, blind, or [[EyeLightsOut dead]]; conversely, the light coming back ''on'' is a form of EyeAwaken. If the light is red, you might want to [[RedEyesTakeWarning watch out]] (especially if its usually a different color, but suddenly turns red). If the eye glow can change shape, then it becomes nearly as expressive as normal eyes; the glow widen or narrow, the expressiveness of eyebrows can be simulated by eliminating strategic parts of the glow (a >:\| face is popular with this technique), etc.
10
11	Glowing robotic eyes can also be used to indicate anything that glowing eyes can mean on organic characters as well, from [[GlowingEyesOfDoom impending doom]] to [[ThroatLight inner power]]. Glowing mechanical eyes are a prerequisite for EyeLightsOut. A CyberCyclops is a specific variant. If things that are ''supposed to'' glow are also able to see it's a case of ScreensAreCameras.
12
13	----
14	!!Examples:
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16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Anime]]
19	* It's extremely common to see the eye cameras of [[AMechByAnyOtherName mobile suits]] glow throughout the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' franchise, be they two or [[CyberCyclops one eyed]] robots. In most series, the viewer is guaranteed to get at least one close up shot of a mecha's eyes starting to glow as it powers up, or the eye of a mecha glowing as it scans its target.
20	* In general, almost ''every'' mecha anime has this trope as ''standard''. The ''Anime/BraveSeries'' is also a strong demonstration of a secondary element of this trope; any mecha with a faceplate instead have their eyes flash to indicate they are speaking.
21	[[/folder]]
22
23	[[folder:Comic Books]]
24	* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Doctor Cyber's most iconic look includes a cybernetic polished mask/faceplate with recessed a black band across where her eyes should be that has two red lights reminiscent of eyes in it.
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Fan Works]]
28
29	* In ''Fanfic/{{Marionettes}}'', it's shown that [[spoiler:the robot ponies (the title Marionettes) have glowing blue optics, though they're normally covered by their fake pony eyes (which can be a different color). The exception is Lightning Dust, who's fake eye was severely damaged in a TrainTopBattle, revealing the optic.]]
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31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
34	* The eyes of the characters in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}'' glow, even forming torch-like beams in the dust in the air in pitch-black locations.
35	* ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'' has glowing irises ''and'' glowing pupils.
36	* In ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet'', Ben has LED eyes that illuminate in the dark in one scene.
37	* That one car seen in Paris in ''WesternAnimation/Cars2'', unlike everyone else whose eyes are located on their windshields.
38	* [[KrakenAndLeviathan The Leviathan]] from ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'' has large mechanical optics, revealing the fact that it is actually a machine.
39	* Baymax from ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6'' gets these when [[spoiler: Hiro removes the chip containing his "caregiver" programming.]]
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
43	* [[RedEyesTakeWarning Red glowing eyes]] are one of the most distinctive features of {{Franchise/Terminator}}s. In [[Film/TheTerminator the original film]], after his bio eye was damaged, the Terminator was forced to wear sunglasses to hide his glowing robot eye.
44	* ''Franchise/StarWars'' gives almost all of its droids glowing eyes. A notable scene in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' has Chewie trying to repair C-3PO; his eyes go out when Chewie fiddles with something, suggesting that C-3PO has [[EyeLightsOut been deactivated]] -- but in a {{subversion}}, he continues speaking, only complaining about how now he can't see.
45	* In ''Film/GodzillaAgainstMechagodzilla'', Kiryu's [[RedEyesTakeWarning eyes glow red]] whenever he [[GoneHorriblyRight reverts back to his old instincts as the original Godzilla and goes on a rampage.]]
46	* The Autobots and Decepticons in the Film/TransformersFilmSeries.
47	* In ''Film/BladeRunner'', the replicants have a camera-like, reflective red glow to the eyes under certain lights. However, what the replicants are exactly is uncertain, they seem to be more ArtificialHumans than robots.
48	* ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'': Ultron -- an artificial intelligence and the BigBad -- has red glowing eyes.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Literature]]
52	* The Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse has many different kinds of prosthetic/artificial eye. There are eyes that look entirely like normal human eyes, installed into [[Literature/TalesOfTheBountyHunters Dengar]] and [[Literature/ShadowsOfTheEmpire every human replica droid]]. There are some that are [[Literature/XWingSeries glossy reflective black]]. [[ComicBook/StarWarsMarvel1977 Some people]] get visors. Normal droid eyes glow, and it's also very common for humans with prosthetic eyes to [[Literature/XWingSeries get glowing red ones]].
53	* In ''Literature/HeartOfSteel'', Alistair has a mechanical eye that glows either blue (when he's calm or happy), red (when he's angry) or green (when he is using nightvision).
54	* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "{{Literature/Robbie}}": Robbie is described with red glowing eyes, which [[RedEyesTakeWarning disturbs Mrs Weston]], but Gloria finds reassuring because of their expressiveness. Mr Weston reminds his wife that Robbie wants to keep Gloria safe, too, because he's a machine that was made to care for her and [[ThreeLawsCompliant couldn't harm her no matter what]].
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
58	* In ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica\|1978}}'' and [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 its remake]], the [[CyberCyclops eye]] of each Cylon glows.
59	* Animal Zords in ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' have glowing eyes, as do the Megazords.
60	* In ''Franchise/KamenRider,'' many Riders have eyepieces that light up, though circumstances for doing so differ. No matter when or ''if'' a Rider's eyepieces usually light, when morphing at the same time as ''Series/KamenRiderDecade,'' the eyepieces will flash when the transformation sequence finishes, right alongside Decade, whose eyepieces always do.
61	* ''Series/TheOrville'': Isaac, a member from a race of androids who joined the Orville crew, has two glowing blue eyes on his head, but they do not serve any sensory purpose. It turns out that other species were just freaked out by an eyeless robot.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Pinball]]
65	* Appropriately enough, the T-800 on the playfield of ''Pinball/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' has these.
66	* In ''Pinball/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'', the T-850 Terminator's head on the playfield has one red LED eye visible.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Tabletop Game]]
70	* In ''Tabletopgame/BattleTech'', the ''Atlas II'' (and sometimes the standard ''Atlas'') [[HumongousMecha Battlemech]] is depicted with glowing red eyes in its [[SkeleBot9000 white skull-shaped head]]. Depending on the model/variant number, the cockpit is either housed in one eye (sometimes with the [[EyeBeams other being the housing for a laser]]) or the nose. The Cyclops (take a wild guess as to [[CyberCyclops what it looks like]]) likewise is typically equipped with a glowing eye.
71	* Many of the Robomen in ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' who have eyes tend to have either glowing slits or bulbs in the art.
72	* Mechanical beings in ''Tabletopgame/Warhammer40000'' often have this. The Necron universally have glowing green eyes, and the various eye augments of the Imperium, Chaos and Orks frequently glow a variety of colors.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Toys]]
76	* Most characters in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''. On the toys, this is usually represented by transparent pieces, but in the animated media the eyes are given a definite glow. Though a fair number of 2006 sets did come with functioning light-up eyes.
77	* Not uncommon in the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise. Often represented in the toys via translucent plastic with a "lightpiping" effect, though some larger toys with electronic gimmicks do have light-up eyes.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Video Games]]
81	* In ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'', the machine gun turrets, the personality cores, and [=GLaDOS=] all have glowing eyes.
82	* ''Franchise/MassEffect'' uses glowing eyes for both [[MechanicalLifeforms the geth]] and [[MechaMooks generic security robots]]. Useful for [[EyeAwaken lighting up when the unit activates]]. More subtly, the Illusive Man has glowing, blue cybernetic eyes. Also, as a result of his/her [[CameBackStrong rebirth]], Shepard can get glowing red eyes, but only with a high Renegade score.
83	* In ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'', a [=MagiTechMechaMech=]'s eye will even continue to glow when severed.
84	* Robots in ''VideoGame/StealthBastard'' have these.
85	* Most of the robots in ''VideoGame/BinaryDomain'' have these. [[spoiler:[[RidiculouslyHumanRobot Hollow Children]] do too when they are being controlled by the Amada A.I.]]
86	* Most robots in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''[='=]s Mann vs. Machine mode have them, except for the Pyro robots and the Demoman Robot, who has a single eye.
87	* In the fourth ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', VideoGame/MegaManClassic's eyes are basically [=LED=] screens (with the eyes being merely pictures on them).
88	* In ''VideoGame/{{SOMA}}'', Simon Jarrett's vision [[OminousVisualGlitch mysteriously pixellates]] when enemy monsters are near. [[spoiler: That's because he's using someone else's body, with a pair of [[Film/ShortCircuit Johnny-5-esque]] cameras and a cortex chip wedged into what's left of their head. You can see this in a couple of mirrors and an X-ray machine later on.]]
89	* ''Videogame/PlanetSide 2'' has glowing red eyes on many of the [[TheEmpire Terran Republic]]'s {{Cool Helmet}}s. Their MAX PoweredArmor suits in particular ''always'' have [[http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/355/d/1/tr_max_by_sirdelundo-d5or89v.jpg glowing eyes.]]
90	* In the ''Videogame/MechWarrior'' series, the ''Atlas'' [[HumongousMecha battlemech]] is often equipped with glowing eyes in its SkullForAHead cockpit, often coinciding with it being a mounting point for EyeBeams. The ''Cyclops'' in the FreewareGame re-release of ''Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries'' had a glowing CyberCyclops head that was the mounting point for a laser cannon.
91	* Elliot Sinclair's robots in ''VideoGame/TheJourneymanProject'' have huge, glowing, cycloptic visual sensors that dominate their heads. The remake ''Pegasus Prime'' ups this by brightening the glare they give off, and showing that Agent 5 can still see this with his eyepiece, even when one of them morphs into a complete human disguise.
92	* Genji of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has a single glowing visor. His Blackwatch skin shows that his eyes also have some sort of cybernetic implant that allows them to glow red, although this functionality has (seemingly) disappeared by the time of ''Dragons'' (although it's unclear whether he had them removed, or simply turned them off so he didn't freak out Hanzo more than he needed to).
93	* The Working Joes from ''VideoGame/AlienIsolation'' have light-emitting diodes in their eyes. These glow white in neutral condition, glowing red when hostile, and [[EyeLightsOut not glowing at all when disabled]].
94	* The version of a [[VideoGame/AtelierMeruru former]] OptionalBoss in ''VideoGame/AtelierLulua'' has her eyes glow briefly on one of her attacks.
95	* ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}''
96	** [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Exos]] have glowing eyes and a glowing ThroatLight. The colour can be changed for playable Exos during CharacterCustomization.
97	** The only recognizable feature on most [[MechanicalAbomination Vex]] is a [[CyberCyclops single glowing eye]], which [[GoForTheEye of course serves as a weakpoint]].
98	[[/folder]]
99
100	[[folder:Webcomics]]
101	* In ''Webcomic/CommanderKitty'', [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2012/09/16/six-very-special-panels/ Zenith's eyes glow brightly enough to see by when the lights go out]] [[spoiler: [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2012/09/09/she-dun-goofed/ after she crashes.]]]]
102	* In Webcomic/BobAndGeorge, Mega Man's eyes glow in the dark to serve as flashlights. The comic commentary points out that these lights wouldn't actually allow him to see in the dark.
103	* Violet from ''Webcomic/TheNoordegraafFiles'' has a left eye that glows red. She always wears a mask, but this is a likely explanation.
104	* The XAG suits in ''Webcomic/WeAreTheWyrecats'' tend to have glowing eyes. They're occasionally expressive, as well.
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Western Animation]]
108	* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'': In "Armstrong", when the eponymous robot undergoes his FaceHeelTurn. His eyes glow red when he pins Scrooge with the blade of his bulldozer.
109	--> '''Armstrong''': I am Armstrong. [[BlatantLies I am your friend.]]
110	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', [[spoiler:after being [[WeCanRebuildHim recontruscted by Dr. Krieger]], Katya]] gets one of these. When sleeping with Archer, he gets annoyed at how bright they are.
111	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', Hermes Conrad ends up with ''Cylon'' eyes on his face after [[{{Cyborg}} several upgrades]]. Despite the [[ModestyBedsheet modesty bedsheet]], we learn that he also has one [[UnusualEuphemism down below]].
112	* The ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' cartoon "Water Water Every Hare" has a MadScientist construct a giant robot with oversize jaw and lightbulbs for eyes. Its eyes remains dim, because the robot has no brain ... yet. The mad scientist intends to obtain a brain from a passing bunny. Understandably, the rabbit defers.
113	--> '''Bugs Bunny''': Sorry, doc, I need what little I've got.
114	* A ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou'' episode has the Mystery Inc. gang visit the Funland carnival that powers up in the middle of night, only to power down shortly thereafter. It's the work of a maintenance robot running amok. This 'bot has a generic face with glowing eyes, the better to see what it's doing in the dead of night. This face is one of the many "monsters" seen in the show's opening montage.
115	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' stands out amongst other entries in the Franchise/{{Transformers}} franchise for the sheer variety of eye designs. Every character has their own unique design, usually incorporating a black ring on glowing colour or the reverse to approximate a human iris, which greatly assists in facial recognition by the audience.
116	%% * One of the most notable features of Dr. Robotnik in ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM''. Many a nightmare has been had by children seeing him.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Real Life]]
120	* Many cameras, especially security cameras, use rings of [=LEDs=] around the camera to light up the room in the dark. Generally these use wavelengths of light that humans can't see to minimize intrusiveness, but not always, and cheap infrared or ultraviolet [=LEDs=] sometimes glow a bit in the visual spectrum as well.
121	* Some robots designed to interact with humans use glowing screens in place of eyes, which can display different eye movements as well as doubling as a screen for displaying information on command. Of course, these "eyes" [[{{ScreensAreCameras}} aren't actually used for seeing]], that's usually done with smaller or hidden cameras instead.
122	[[/folder]]

Context Main / GlowingMechanicalEyes