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| 3 | %% The examples section has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct place in accordance with Administrivia/HowToAlphabetizeThings. |
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| 6 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1623805563076007300 |
| 7 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
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| 9 | [[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/korraportal.png]]]] |
| 10 | [[caption-width-right:350:Republic City: taking light pollution to a new level.]] |
| 11 | %% |
| 12 | |
| 13 | ->''"Whoa! I could have missed it, but I'm pretty sure a giant beam of energy shooting up into the sky wasn't in the mission briefing..."'' |
| 14 | -->-- '''Devlin''', ''VideoGame/{{Singularity}}'' |
| 15 | |
| 16 | When an event of great celestial, magical or ultratech power occurs, it is often heralded by a beam of light -- usually blue or white -- that shoots straight up into the sky from ground zero, often evaporating whatever clouds are unfortunate enough to be in its path. Sometimes it starts out narrow and expands in diameter as it climbs. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | In the case of more disastrous events, the Pillar of Light is just an extension of the PreExplosionGlow; in other cases, it can be part of a truly cosmic BattleAura. The rest of the time it is relatively benign, if exciting to watch. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | It should be noted that a Pillar of Light usually travels upwards. A Pillar of Light that comes ''down,'' more often than not, is a KillSat, which tends to be far less benign. See also {{Sphere of Destruction}} for the globular variant. |
| 21 | ---- |
| 22 | !!Examples: |
| 23 | |
| 24 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 25 | |
| 26 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 27 | * When Belldandy grants Keiichi's wish in ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'', a beam of light blasts from her forehead up to heaven (coincidentally blowing a hole through all the intervening floors of the building they're in at the time). Fortunately, nobody is standing in the way -- the whole reason why she's able to grant the wish is that Keiichi is dorm-sitting while ''everyone else'' goes out and has fun. |
| 28 | * In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', yellow lightning strikes the spot where the Colossal Titan appears, whenever it does. [[spoiler:Titan Shifters]] also get this effect. |
| 29 | * In an episode of ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', Ray beats his rival with a move which is accompanied by his beyblade emmitting a green beam of light that smashes through the roof of the arena, causing one of the {{Combat Commentator}}s to [[DeadpanSnarker quip]] "That's probably going to take down a couple of satellites!" |
| 30 | * In ''Anime/TheBigO'', a pillar of light effectively triggers the end of the world... [[GainaxEnding maybe]]. |
| 31 | * Many of the events of ''Anime/BoogiepopPhantom'' appear to be precipitated by a mysterious pillar of light that shot into the sky. [[spoiler:As revealed in "Boogiepop and Others", this was the result of Echoes' transmitting himself as information back to the higher plane he came from.]] |
| 32 | * ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'': After beating [=VenomVamdemon=] and his demon crotch, the heroes use one of these to return to the Digital World. Also, if the exaggerated StockFootage {{Transformation Sequence}}s are to be believed, Digivices blast one through the crests and into the sky every time evolution to the Perfect level happens. |
| 33 | * Any sufficiently powerful attack on ''Manga/DragonBall'' or ''Anime/DragonBallZ''; especially when it's a deflected beam attack. |
| 34 | * In ''Manga/DragonKnights'', three of these mark the halfway point between the Western and Eastern continents, rarely seen as the Eastern continent is almost entirely lost. |
| 35 | * In ''Manga/FairyTail'', when the huge demon Lullaby is destroyed, a pillar of light rise in the atmosphere. It also leaves a huge crater behind. |
| 36 | * ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'' has one of these at each summoning ceremony -- and yes, the pillars are ColourCodedForYourConvenience. |
| 37 | * In ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure'', the protagonists' TransformationSequence is performed within a Pillar of Light, and is one of the most pyrotechnically impressive transformation sequences known. |
| 38 | * ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'': Zonders de-cored by [[YinYangBomb Hell and]] [[FinishingMove Heaven]] release a vertical blastwave when destroyed, although unusually for this trope, it does appear to give off shockwaves and heat; the Goldion Hammer makes Zonders [[DisappearsIntoLight turn into light]], but also sends up a shaft of glowing energy in addition to the wavy, floating beam of glowing particles. The Eraser Head missile also produces this effect, shunting 99% of the energy into space. |
| 39 | * ''Anime/{{Gasaraki}}'' has an inversion -- when Yushiro performs the ritual that is at the center of much of the Gowa family's attention, the pillar comes ''down'' out of the sky to him. |
| 40 | %% Needs Context * ''Anime/HaibaneRenmei'' has one for the Day of Flight. |
| 41 | * ''Anime/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteelNorthernWar'': In the finale, a berserk [[VideoGame/TrailsSeries Rean]] unleashes a reddish black Pillar of Light that parts the sky, revealing the moon. |
| 42 | * ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'': |
| 43 | ** This happens in the very first episode of the original season of that series, when Nanoha first activated [[EmpathicWeapon Raising Heart]]. |
| 44 | ** Near the end of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'', [[spoiler:the return of Hayate and her Wolkenritter]] is accompanied by one of these. |
| 45 | ** The movie version of ''A's'' has what can best be described as a pillar of ''darkness'' [[spoiler:during Hayate's TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening]]. |
| 46 | * ''Anime/MyOtome'': |
| 47 | ** When the Harmonium Organ is activated, it creates a pillar of light that can be seen for miles. |
| 48 | ** ''Anime/MyOtome0Sifr'' has [[spoiler:Lena's Artemis]], which comes down from the sky in a potential homage to its ''Anime/MyHime'' [[spoiler:KillSat]] namesake. |
| 49 | * In ''Manga/NabariNoOu'', a pillar of light accompanies the Shinrabansho's activation. |
| 50 | * The Tower of Babel superweapon in ''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater'' shoots a column of light upwards towards an Atlantean satelite (basically a mirror orbiting the earth) and redirecting it in the specified target. |
| 51 | * ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': |
| 52 | ** In a ''Shippuden'' {{Filler}} arc, a young boy named Yûkimaru has the power to partially control the Three-tailed Beast. Whenever he uses this power, his chakra would shoot up into the air, which looked like a pillar of light. |
| 53 | ** All jinchuuriki do this when entering the [[BattleAura Version 2]] state, but with a pillar of ''burning blood and dark chakra''. |
| 54 | * ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': Especially large-scale magic tends to do stuff like this, such as when [[spoiler:the bad guys use Konoka's latent magical powers to summon a giant demon]]. Of particular note is [[spoiler:Chachamaru's KillSat Artifact, ''Al-Iskandaria'']]. |
| 55 | * A [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic cross-shaped version]] is often seen as the results of Angel attacks in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. |
| 56 | * In ''Manga/OnePiece'', the first hint of God Eneru's presence and power is a column of light that vaporizes people who make "blasphemous" statements. After Eneru actually appears on-screen, it is used as a particularly devastating attack. |
| 57 | * ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'': In [[Recap/PokemonS1E1PokemonIChooseYou the first episode]], Pikachu's final attack on the Spearow causes a pillar of electrical light to appear. |
| 58 | * The perfected form of the [[KiManipulation Shishi Hokodan]] in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' looks a lot like this. The user launches a bolt of depression-generated ki straight up into the air, forming a brief pillar of blazing energy that then coalesces into a pulsing fireball, then goes emotionally limp and lets it fall back down, smashing everything around the user. The biggest problem with this move is that, if the user gets snapped out of being emotionally hollow at the wrong time, the move will crush ''them'', too. |
| 59 | %% Needs Context * Bad stuff happens when this shows up in ''Manga/{{Saikano}}''. ''Really'' bad stuff. |
| 60 | * In ''Anime/SailorMoon'', Chibi-Usa frequently emits one of these from the moon mark on her forehead when she's frightened or upset due to [[spoiler:the Silver Crystal being inside her body]]. |
| 61 | * In the ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' arc set in Asgard, Hilda's God Warriors are awakened when their Cloths emit great pillars of light to match the stars of Ursa Major. |
| 62 | * The CombinedEnergyAttack in ''Manga/TokyoMewMew'' uses five pillars of light, [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience color-coded to each girl]]. Ichigo's, of course, is the biggest, and right in the middle. |
| 63 | * In ''Anime/TransformersCybertron'', activating a [[SpecialAttack Cyber Key Power]] requires summoning the Cyber Key by doing this with one's BattleAura. |
| 64 | * In ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'', Vash the Stampede gets PuppeteerParasite into firing his weapon at full power against an enemy. He manages to redirect the aim to the sky, and when the weapon fires a huge Pillar of Light rises up to the planet's moon and bores a large crater in it. |
| 65 | * ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' uses this as the special effect for Hitomi's teleportation power -- which, besides being central to the plot, comes up pretty frequently. |
| 66 | * This sometimes happens on ''Anime/YuGiOh'' when a powerful monster is summoned, especially if said monster is an [[PhysicalGod Egyptian God]]. It also happens when the Seal of Orichalcos [[YourSoulIsMine claims the soul]] of someone who lost a duel. |
| 67 | [[/folder]] |
| 68 | |
| 69 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 70 | * In ''ComicBook/HelOnEarth'', when H'el activates his [[TimeMachine Star Chamber]], it emits a gaint beam of light that shoots through the sky and into outer space. |
| 71 | [[/folder]] |
| 72 | |
| 73 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 74 | * ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonTitansAndOtherCreatures Godzilla]]'s DynamicEntry on the scene is marked by his Atomic Breath blasting vertically into the sky from ''underground''. |
| 75 | * ''Fanfic/TheAlarmaverse'': In Ditzy's [[StoryboardingTheApocalypse dream of an eldritch horror destroying the world]] in ''Alarm Clock'', she sees a pillar of light that widens and incinerates everything it touches. |
| 76 | * ''WebVideo/AvatarTheAbridgedSeries'': See "Western Animation" below for the original context. |
| 77 | -->'''Zuko:''' That light, it could only be someone opening an iceberg piñata... AND NOT SHARING IT WITH ME! |
| 78 | * ''Fanfic/TheBridgeMLP'': This happens whenever one of the transformed kaiju get hit with enough magic to return to their original form. It's often bright enough to light up the night and be seen miles away. |
| 79 | * ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsFriendshipSouls'': When Sunset Shimmer first releases her Zanpakuto, [[spoiler:Hokori]], it generates a pillar of fire that can be seen by every spiritually aware person in the city. Happens again when she activates her Bankai. This time tall enough to pierce the clouds and strong enough to shake the ground like an earthquake. |
| 80 | * ''Fanfic/MyLittleMagesTheNightmaresReturn'': One of these occurs when [[BadassPreacher Applejack]] casts her massive Undead-killing prayer spell. |
| 81 | * This happens in ''Fanfic/NeonExodusEvangelion: The Motion Picture'' when [[spoiler:five Evas and Lucifer use their AT fields to contain [[TakingYouWithMe the explosion]] of the BigBad]]. |
| 82 | * In ''Fanfic/UndocumentedFeatures'', [[Manga/AhMyGoddess Yggdrasil]] in Asgard emits one to continually show it hasn't been compromised. This was added as a safety feature after it was nearly destroyed (and with it, the world). |
| 83 | [[/folder]] |
| 84 | |
| 85 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 86 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys2022'', the meteorite creates a massive one [[spoiler:when it explodes, having been set to overdrive by Mr. Snake, [[EverythingExplodesEnding destroying Marmalade's complex]] in the process]]. |
| 87 | * At the conclusion of ''Anime/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin'', the [[spoiler:Phantom Gaia, having been countered by the Spirit Wave, leaves Earth in the form of a pillar of light that stretches from the Leonid Crater and into outer space, taking its Phantoms with it]]. |
| 88 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'': |
| 89 | ** In [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls1 the first movie]], Sunset Shimmer is engulfed in set of RingsOfActivation that coalesce into a Pillar of Light when she puts the Element of Magic crown on her head, marking the start of a TransformationSequence. |
| 90 | ** In the prologue of ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks Rainbow Rocks]]'', the very same Pillar of Light is shown to have attracted some attention. First from the Dazzlings, [[spoiler:but also with Twilight Sparkle's human counterpart]]. Later in the film, [[spoiler:the Rainbooms' collective magic, including that of the redeemed Sunset, coalesces into a rainbow pillar that forms the counterspell that defeats the Dazzlings]]. |
| 91 | * In ''WesternAnimation/OverTheHedge'', the De-Pelter Turbo unleashes a Pillar of Light that obliterates a passing satellite, roasts marshmallows and pops popcorn a few feet away, and can be seen from outside the galaxy. |
| 92 | * ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': |
| 93 | ** ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie'' has Mewtwo's destruction of the laboratory he was born in, and how he blew up Viridian's gym. Then later in the sequel ''Anime/PokemonMewtwoReturns'' when he sends the lake underground. |
| 94 | ** Used as a sign that [[spoiler:Latios is dying]] in ''Anime/PokemonHeroes''. |
| 95 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}}'': In the climax, the portal to the other dimension is opened via a sky beam. |
| 96 | * ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'': As Mei's family begins to perform the separation ritual [[spoiler:on Ming's gigantic panda form]], a large pillar of light bursts from the circle. |
| 97 | * In ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', one of these is used at the end of a round of ''Hero's Duty'' to lure and kill Cybugs like moths to a lamp, since they do not know they're in a game and would breed uncontrollably if left alive. [[spoiler:Ralph creates an improvised one at the climax with a Mentos volcano and Diet Cola lava to kill the Cybugs that invaded ''Sugar Rush'', which also finally kills Turbo, as he had been consumed by one and fused with it.]] |
| 98 | [[/folder]] |
| 99 | |
| 100 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 101 | * In ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick2004'', New Mecca has many large constructions which emit Pillars of Light. These shut down as the Necromongers attack. |
| 102 | * There is one towards the end of ''Film/DarkCity1998'' when the dark world disintegrates. |
| 103 | * ''Film/FantasticFour2015'' has one in the portal Doom opens in the alternate dimension. |
| 104 | * At the climax of ''Film/TheFifthElement'', [[spoiler:once the five elements are activated, a pillar of light fires through Leeloo's mouth, stopping the Great Evil and turning it into a moon]]. |
| 105 | * ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'': |
| 106 | ** In ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', when the ecto containment unit explodes, light go straight into the sky with ghosts flying from it. |
| 107 | ** ''Film/Ghostbusters2016'' has one in the portal to the spirit world ([[SicklyGreenGlow green]] as it spews ghosts, [[spoiler:red once the Ghostbusters do a ReversePolarity and make the spirits be sucked instead]]). |
| 108 | * ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'': Godzilla blasts his Atomic Breath into the sky upon [[spoiler:being fully revitalized and overcharged]], and it is truly ''glorious''. |
| 109 | * ''Film/Hellboy2004'': In the climax, Rasputin forces Hellboy to release the Ogdru Jahad by shooting a pillar of light at the moon that turns it into a giant portal for them. |
| 110 | * One comes out of the book when [[spoiler:the witches are utterly inexplicably resurrected]] in ''Film/HocusPocus''. |
| 111 | * In ''Film/HotTubTimeMachine'', when transporting the group back to the present, the hot tub builds a glowing vortex reaching into the sky. |
| 112 | * At the end of ''Film/Lifeforce1985'', from London's cathedral to a spaceship in orbit. |
| 113 | * Minas Morgul produces one of these in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'', shooting a gigantic, green pillar of light into the sky moments before disgorging a horde of orcs led by the Nazgûl. The book tells us that this particular pillar is produced in response to one from Barad-dûr. The exchange is essentially Sauron (at Barad-dûr) asking "Are you ready?" and the Witch-King at Minas Morgul replying "Yes!" It causes a lot of [[BringMeMyBrownPants drawers-ruining]] in Minas Tirith. |
| 114 | * In ''Film/{{Maleficent}}'', when the title character realizes that her childhood friend betrayed and mutilated her for a chance at political power, she punctuates her StartOfDarkness with a SkywardScream and a pillar of {{sickly green|Glow}} light that terrifies said former friend from a kingdom away. |
| 115 | * ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': |
| 116 | ** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' Red Skull is defeated when he picks up the Tesseract and the Space Stone contained within painfully sends him into another dimension through a pillar of light. |
| 117 | ** In ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', Loki uses Erik Selvig's Tesseract-powered generator to shoot a pillar of light from the Stark Tower and open a wormhole over Manhattan to summon the Chitauri invasion. |
| 118 | * ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'': A pillar of light is created by TheArkOfTheCovenant when it's opened. What seems to be a wondrous sight ends up spelling demise for all the bad guys (and because HolyIsNotSafe, Indiana and Marion only survive because they close their eyes to avoid seeing it). |
| 119 | * In ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022'', a huge green column of light, visible many miles away, bursts into the sky to [[spoiler:reveal the location of the Master Emerald]]. |
| 120 | %%* The "God" in ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier''. |
| 121 | * Enchantress's device in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' emits one that is surrounded by swirling, floating debris. |
| 122 | * In ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'', on Krypton, the three criminals Zod, Non and Ursa are kept arrested within an independent, seemingly emitter-less Pillar of Light. |
| 123 | * ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesOutOfTheShadows'' has one that's a teleporting portal bringing the Technodrome battle station to Earth. |
| 124 | * Appears several times in ''Film/ThisIsTheEnd'' [[spoiler:when people are pulled into Heaven]]. |
| 125 | * ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'' has one that's a teleporting portal bringing planet Cybertron to Earth. |
| 126 | * ''Franchise/{{Tron}}'': |
| 127 | ** I/O Towers in ''Film/{{Tron}}'' have a beam that shoots into the sky at an angle and enables communication between living programs and their [[DeityOfHumanOrigin Users]]. In addition, the [[MasterComputer Master Control Program]] essentially ''is'' a Pillar of Light with a face. |
| 128 | ** ''Film/TronLegacy'' also has a Pillar of Light, when the portal to the real world is activated by Kevin Flynn's disc. |
| 129 | * What [[spoiler:The Network]] appears as in ''Film/TheWorldsEnd''. |
| 130 | [[/folder]] |
| 131 | |
| 132 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 133 | * In ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'', Touma accidentally causes this when he redirects a powerful spell cast by [[spoiler:Index]] upwards, which just so happens to destroy the city's satellite/supercomputer, Tree Diagram, in its wake. |
| 134 | * When the Crippled God is [[spoiler:freed from his captivity]] towards the end of ''Literature/TheCrippledGod'', [[spoiler:his soul rides up to the jade statues of his followers]] in a bright ray of light. |
| 135 | * In ''Literature/IJedi'', the title Jedi is caught in a massive firestorm of explosives. He absorbs all of the energy and sends most of it straight up. (For extra points, he uses some of the power to weave a city-wide illusion of a [[HugeHolographicHead giant spectral Jedi]], with the pillar as the blade of his lightsaber.) |
| 136 | [[/folder]] |
| 137 | |
| 138 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 139 | * ''Series/{{Chernobyl}}'': A faint blue sky beam emerges from the nuclear power plant once it explodes. It is ionized air that is the first clear indication that the core is now exposed to the exterior. |
| 140 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'': |
| 141 | ** The DVD edition of "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E1DayOfTheDaleks Day of the Daleks]]" includes a version with new special effects. One of these is a narrow column of light shining upward from the Daleks' headquarters when they switch on the Time Vortex Magnetron. |
| 142 | ** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E7ThePyramidAtTheEndOfTheWorld The Pyramid at the End of the World]]", an orange skyward beam rises from the alien pyramid as the Americans and Russian are about to bombard it. Then the beam plucks out the bomber plane from the sky and deposits it next to it, soon followed by the Russian submarine. |
| 143 | * The first season of ''Series/HisDarkMaterials'' climaxes with Lord Asriel blasting apart the barrier between the worlds. The results look like this. |
| 144 | * In the ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'' episode "[[Recap/LegendsOfTomorrowS2E16Doomworld Doomworld]]", a pillar of light erupts from Star Labs when [[spoiler:Eobard throws the Spear of Destiny into the reactor, destroying it]]. |
| 145 | * In ''Series/{{Lost}}'', the characters, having [[spoiler:travelled back in time]], see a pillar of light shoot up into the sky. Subverted in that it is later revealed by Locke that it was [[spoiler:perfectly ordinary lightbulb light from the hatch, and he comments that at the time he thought the light was somehow significant, when in reality it was actually completely meaningless]]. |
| 146 | * In the fourth, self-titled ''Franchise/{{Quatermass}}'' serial, the Planet People are a sect who believe they are being transported to a wonderful new planet by beams of light that descend to the Earth. Professor Quatermass discovers that the beams have a much deadlier purpose. |
| 147 | * These appear in the ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' episodes "[[Recap/SmallvilleS07E14Traveler Traveler]]" and "[[Recap/SmallvilleS08E04Instinct Instinct]]" -- when [[spoiler:Jor-El restores Kara's memories and powers]] in the former, and when [[spoiler:Tess Mercer and a scientist mess with a Kryptonian crystal (Maxima recognizes the Kryptonian beam and comes to Earth in search for a mate)]] in the latter. |
| 148 | * An episode of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' shows a Pillar of Light coming down to a village from the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Wraith]] [[LivingShip hiveship]] in orbit. Sheppard goes to check it out but never reveals what he found, and no one bothers to ask him. No such beam has been seen on the show before or since. |
| 149 | * One of these is produced when Lucifer is freed in the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS05E01SympathyForTheDevil Sympathy for the Devil]]". |
| 150 | * In ''Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth'', a pillar of light coming down from the sky is how the [[spoiler:456 emissary]] arrives on Earth. |
| 151 | * ''Series/WandaVision'': [[spoiler:Wanda creates a magical one, projected directly from her body, that begins to break apart the barrier around Westview. She cuts it off before completing the process, though, when she realizes doing so will kill Vision and their children.]] |
| 152 | [[/folder]] |
| 153 | |
| 154 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 155 | * Music/BlueOysterCult pioneered the use of lasers as part of their live shows in The70s. Commonplace today, back then it was new and spectacular (albeit dependent on unreliable technology). Live concert footage preserved as part of the ''Some Enchanted Evening'' CD/DVD package shows a Pillar of Light rising during the song ''[[Music/SecretTreaties Astronomy]]''. |
| 156 | [[/folder]] |
| 157 | |
| 158 | [[folder:Pinballs]] |
| 159 | * The Portal from ''Pinball/TronLegacy'', most notably in the first edition release. |
| 160 | [[/folder]] |
| 161 | |
| 162 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 163 | * In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', there is a Solar-Circle Sorcery called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Total Annihilation]], which results in a pillar of light that is five miles high. And a Solar Exalted's BattleAura essentially becomes a non-destructive Pillar of Light plus other special effects when it's at full power. Ironically, it's a drawback to using maximum power, since it advertises the Solar's presence to the setting's "Shaolin death squads". |
| 164 | * The "Iron Gods" ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' campaign opens in the town of Torch, named for an immense column of violet flame emanating from a hill in the town. The players eventually discover its origin: [[spoiler:a jet of plasma being vented from the power core of a buried spaceship]]. |
| 165 | [[/folder]] |
| 166 | |
| 167 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 168 | * ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': When Ann awakens her SuperMode, her body is at first encircled by [[ButterflyOfDeathAndRebirth energy butterflies]] before forming into a pillar of light surrounding her as she transforms. |
| 169 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Apocalypse}}'', the first two horsemen, Death and Plague, both dissolves into vertical pillars of light into the sky upon their defeat. |
| 170 | * ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'': |
| 171 | ** ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore4'' provides a classic instance of this trope with the tower-like Ehrenburg Anti-Satellite cannon. If the player fails to destroy it, it will fire a huge pillar of light into the air, destroying the GA surveillance satellite. The mission which it appears in is also (amusingly) called... "Pillar of Light". |
| 172 | ** They come back in ''VideoGame/ArmoredCoreForAnswer'', except they appear significantly smaller this time and there are three of them around a huge lake (although like the ''[=AC4=]'' version, they are in Antarctica). However, the player only sees them fire in the final cutscene of the ORCA Ending, where they are used to [[spoiler:destroy the [[KillSat Assault Cells]] that keep the human race bound to the Earth, the goal that ORCA was working towards; however, it is a BittersweetEnding, because the player is the last surviving member of the ORCA Brigade, and millions suffocated due to pollution when the Cradles crash to earth as a consequence of the player's actions]]. |
| 173 | * ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'': Asura creates one after coming out of a 12,000-year exile of Gaea. |
| 174 | * Frog earns one of these in ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' (complete with ThemeMusicPowerUp) by attuning himself to the Masamune blade, just before the party's assault on Magus's castle. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3pRXgMv2GE Watch!]] |
| 175 | * ''VideoGame/CoffeeCrisis'': Every now and then, the game will dispense alien {{Mooks}} by beaming them downwards on pillars of light. After their defeat, they're then beamed ''upwards''. |
| 176 | * ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'': |
| 177 | ** The American superweapon from ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals'' fires one of these... which is then reflected off of the KillSat in orbit and back onto the battlefield, where it acts like a huge cutting laser. |
| 178 | ** In the ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSeries'', the GDI's KillSat Ion Cannon. It fits the Pillar of Light idea a bit more; Kane himself was shown to have [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything treated it like a beam of light from God himself]]. |
| 179 | ** The Athena Cannon in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' is essentially a giant targeting laser on treads that sends coordinates to an orbiting laser cannon. One Challenge mission in ''Uprising'' has cannons firing in sequence all over the map, limiting progress. |
| 180 | * ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'' has this as a castable Miracle (holy spell), aptly called "Divine Pillars of Light". |
| 181 | * Occurs in the opening animation of Jedah Dohma, the BigBad of the third ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'' game ''Vampire Saviour'', except the pillar is made of blood instead of light. He appears from the top of the screen, slowly hovering down into place, before the pillar dissipates. |
| 182 | * ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': [[spoiler:At the end of Mission 17, V impaling a weakened Urizen causes a blue pillar of light to shoot up from where they are. It shatters the illusory background like glass, and when it dissipates, a reformed Vergil is standing in place of V and Urizen.]] |
| 183 | * ''VideoGame/Diablo3'': Imperius summons his spear from a pillar of light [[spoiler:before confronting Diablo]]. |
| 184 | * Happens when Crocodile Isle explodes and sinks into the sea in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'' after K. Rool is thrown into the island's core. |
| 185 | * ''Franchise/DragonAge'': |
| 186 | ** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', when the Archedemon is slain. The whole of the Fereldan army sees it from a distance. |
| 187 | ** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', the [[spoiler:bomb Anders planted in the Chantry creates a pillar of red light during the explosion]]. |
| 188 | * In ''VideoGame/DragonsCrown'', if you take too long fighting the Arch Demon, the injured female warrior monk you met earlier will eventually manage to put the holy symbol in place on her own, causing pillars of light to continuously rain down from the heavens and deal heavy damage to the Arch Demon and his minions. However, killing the Arch Demon with divine intervention means you won't get full credit for beating the boss and you won't receive the Blue Talisman. |
| 189 | * ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'': |
| 190 | ** The finishing move "Blasting Zone" of Squall's LimitBreak in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' involves a Pillar of Light that's visible from orbit, which is impressive since it's generated by his gunblade. |
| 191 | ** An optional boss uses this as one of its attacks. Granted, it doesn't go straight up but straight through the target, but since it's named "Light Pillar", this trope still applies. |
| 192 | ** The Guardian Force Eden, when summoned, turns ''the entire planet'' into a magical cannon that shoots the enemy into outer space using a continent-wide Pillar of Light. Overkill? [[ThereisNoKillLikeOverkill Naaah]]. |
| 193 | ** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', after Sephiroth obtains the Black Materia and begins casting Meteor, the Planet's [=WEAPONs=] are awakened in an enormous column of Lifestream that shoots straight up from the Northern Crater. In the ending, the ultimate White Magic, Holy, rises from the same place in the same manner. |
| 194 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'''s ultimate Eidolon, Ark, smashes the enemy down with a magical explosion so potent that it's [[DistantReactionShot briefly seen from outer space]] as a brief pillar bursting from the ground. |
| 195 | ** The opening Sequence of ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates'' has [[spoiler:Princess Tilika]] exploding into a pillar of light. |
| 196 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'': Vaan's level one Quickening, Red Spiral, shoots a [[NonIndicativeName mostly blue spiral]] into the air, before calling down a pillar of glowing red-yellow light. How far off it's visible is hard to determine, however, given that Quickenings seem to take place in a nullspace where dropping meteors or hurricanes on the enemy does no damage to the surrounding environment at all. |
| 197 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': [[MagicKnight Red Mage]]'s Verholy produces a spiraling gout of white from beneath the target. You also do a little twirl. In addition, the [[BareFistedMonk Monk]]'s Level 3 LimitBreak, Final Heaven, creates a pillar-like explosion. |
| 198 | %% ZCE * ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': |
| 199 | %%** When you kill [[spoiler:Ares]]. |
| 200 | %%** When you kill [[spoiler:Athena]]. |
| 201 | %%** When [[spoiler:you finally kill Zeus and AGAIN when Kratos commit suicide]]. |
| 202 | * In ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'', the Gaia spell blasts the enemy with light and levitating rocks from underground. Certain summons also have this effect. |
| 203 | * The Smiting Prayers elite skill Ray of Judgment in ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' calls forth a pillar of glowing white light that heavily damages (and sets on fire) anyone foolish enough (or knocked-down enough) to remain within its radius. |
| 204 | * ''VideoGame/HalfLife2: Episode 2'''s superportal beam is an unusual example, in that it is not a straight line. |
| 205 | * In ''VideoGame/Halo3'', a giant Forerunner artifact left buried in Africa emits one of these when it's uncovered and activated. |
| 206 | * The "Alpha Strike" in ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'' is of the downward variety. There are a ''lot'' of pillars (one from each of an entire space armada), since it is meant to ''raze the entire planet simultaneously''. |
| 207 | * In the good ending of ''VideoGame/InFamous2'', when Cole activates the RFI, it shoots a beam that can be seen from space! |
| 208 | * Right in the first area of ''VideoGame/JiuXiao'', you spy a pillar of blue energy shooting into the heavens, and you're required to make your way towards it while avoiding obstacles. You then need to find out where the light leads, by jumping on floating debris circling around said pillar. |
| 209 | * In ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', Palutena's preferred method of direct attack when needed, used against the Hewdraw if Pit takes too long [[spoiler:and later against Pit himself during her BrainwashedAndCrazy boss fight]], is a giant blue vertical beam. It returns in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' as her Up Smash, and the standard attack with the tallest hitbox in the game. |
| 210 | * ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': This serves as one of the strongest [[LightEmUp light]] attacks available to certain Keybearers -- Roxas's {{Limit Break}}s Magic Hour and Event Horizon, Sora and Minnie's ability Faith, and one of the limit breaks for Xion's final form. |
| 211 | * ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'': Terry Bogard's Power Stream is one of these Rugal. Vice, and Mature can also cause them when they use certain "slamming" Desperation Attacks (Rugal and Mature when they press the foe against the stage "wall" and when Vice hits her power bomb). The image of a skull can usually be seen within. Rugal's son, Adelheid, can also do it with his wall press super. |
| 212 | * In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', a ''very'' high "Light Side" alignment cause your character portrait to be backlit by one of these. |
| 213 | * ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': |
| 214 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' has: |
| 215 | *** Pillars that show the position of any treasure you have a chart for as long as you're not too close, |
| 216 | *** Pillars that warp you out of the Boss Arena, |
| 217 | *** and even a Pillar that shines briefly before stopping to reveal a stone with the instructions for the Command Melody on it. |
| 218 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' uses these as beacons, with color-coded beams showing the way to each of the main overworld areas. You can place additional ones on the map as reminders. |
| 219 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' lets you place one beacon each of six colors around the map that manifest as this. |
| 220 | * This happens in two endings of ''VideoGame/LobotomyCorporation'' during [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Tree of Light event]], with significantly [[ApocalypseHow different]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero consequences]]. Repeated in the true ending of [[VideoGame/LibraryOfRuina the sequel]], possibly with a little more positive outcome. |
| 221 | * [[BigBad Nowel]] of ''VideoGame/MagicalBattleArena'' calls down four of these for her super move, which is then followed by four massive, highly damaging explosions. If you see her preparing these, for goodness sake, ''run!'' |
| 222 | * In ''VideoGame/MagicAndMayhem: The Art of Magic'', the "Judgement" spell appears as a column of light. |
| 223 | * ''Franchise/MegaMan'': |
| 224 | ** ''VideoGame/MegaManX'''s Zero makes use of the Pillar of Light to hurt enemies and stay temporarily invincible. Two variations: a colossal, screen-wide vertical [[BeamSpam shower of beams]] in ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX6 X6]]'' called Rekkoha, or a more benign Pillar of Light in ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX8 X8]]'' called Tenshouha. |
| 225 | ** Copy X from the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' games uses a big blue pillar of light to heal himself if the player's rank is high enough to warrant it (A or S). He also uses it in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero3'' regardless of their rank in that game. This pillar can also damage the player if they touch it. |
| 226 | ** Omega, [[spoiler:using Zero's X-era body]], also uses ''X6''[='s=] Pillar of Light's name but resemble ''X8'''s more. It makes himself invincible briefly and in ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'', [[HealThyself heals himself]]. Model OX's version, however, resembles the one Zero uses in ''X6'' more. |
| 227 | * ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'': |
| 228 | ** When Samus finally [[spoiler:places all the artifacts]] in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', a beam of light shoots up from the central structure. What does it do? The player never finds out, as [[spoiler:Meta Ridley comes along and breaks it]]. Presumably, it would have done what the pulse afterward does, which is [[spoiler:teleport Samus into the Impact Crater]]. |
| 229 | ** In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'', restoring the energy to all four temples and gaining the Light Suit allows Samus to [[WarpWhistle teleport between the temples]] by riding their Pillars of Light. You also use one to enter the final level. |
| 230 | * The ending of the combined ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic IV'' and ''V'', ''World of Xeen'' shows that is the first visible effect of the Unification -- a pillar of light ascending high into the sky (high enough to be at least as tall as the world is [[FlatWorld long]]). Then light from the top of the pillar curves down to meet receivers at the edges of the world, which sends curved pillars of light up on the ''other'' side of the world, where they meet and make a pillar of light down exactly opposite to the first pillar... [[spoiler:turning a flat world into a round one evidently requires lots of light]]. |
| 231 | * ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' has the Beacons, which, you guessed it, you have to gather and build yourself. The Nether Star in particular requires building and killing The Wither. In addition to the Pillar of Light, it grants you up to two status effects while you're in range. |
| 232 | * One of Nightwolf's [[FinishingMove fatalities]] in the ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' franchise. |
| 233 | * ''VideoGame/Mother3'': The [[CosmicKeystone Seven Needles]] briefly turn into beams of light when pulled. |
| 234 | * ''VideoGame/{{PAGUI}}'' depicts the spirit world's entrance as a pillar of golden light shooting from the ground, which you step into. |
| 235 | * Whenever you're doing a quest in ''VideoGame/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnline'', you can create a ray of light that will guide you either to your destination or to the closest object that would help you complete your quest. |
| 236 | * ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': |
| 237 | ** As of ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', the attack Solar Beam has this as its animation. |
| 238 | ** Judgment, the signature move of [[OlympusMons Arceus]], is depicted in various media as pillars of divine light raining down from the sky. |
| 239 | %% ZCE * One of the death animations from ''VideoGame/ScorchedEarth''. |
| 240 | * Minor variant: Slain colossi in ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus'' leave pillars of light as beacons to their areas, in case the player wants to re-battle them in Reminiscence Mode. |
| 241 | * ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'': |
| 242 | ** This is how the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Tower of Kagutsuchi]] appears in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne''. |
| 243 | ** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', the Schwartzwelt ''starts'' as one. [[WorldWreckingWave As for what comes next]]... |
| 244 | * The Demichev Reactor in ''VideoGame/{{Singularity}}'' provides the page quote. |
| 245 | * In ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'', one of these accompanies each time someone summons one of the Gigas. |
| 246 | * Done in the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' with the Evil Seed. When Siegdfried becomes Nightmare, an evil Pillar of Light occurs that causes widespread madness and bloodlust. |
| 247 | * In ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'', following [[spoiler:Fayt destroying the Vendeeni battleship]], talking to [=NPCs=] will have them wondering what that pillar of light was. |
| 248 | * ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'': |
| 249 | ** Subverted in ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Original Generations]]''. Wodam Ymir's final attack summons a sword made of PureEnergy to destroy his surroundings in a SphereOfDestruction preceded by a Pillar of Light. The aftermath of the explosion shows the pillar still shooting into the sky... then pans down to show that it's just his enormous energy sword being held vertically in a post-AsskickingPose. |
| 250 | ** Similarly, [[InconsistentSpelling Ganleon/Gunleon]]'s final attack in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ'' ends with a [[VictoryPose "victory" pose]] in which ''the robot itself'' cries ManlyTears for its fallen opponent. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7WaRZpOV_I It then roars and fires those tears into the stratosphere.]] |
| 251 | * In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'', [[VideoGame/KidIcarus Pit]]'s Three Sacred Treasures ''[[LimitBreak Final Smash]]'' ends with a series of light pillars in random locations across the battlefield. |
| 252 | * ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'': The recurring spell Judgement brings destructive pillars of light down randomly across the field. Tear Grants from ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' also has this as her default LimitBreak, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmVOvuL1QMM Innocent Shine.]] |
| 253 | * A textbook Pillar of Light can be seen in ''VideoGame/ThiefDeadlyShadows'' [[spoiler:when Garrett activates the Final Glyph. The streets around it also briefly flood with light, creating an intricate symbol from the City itself]]. |
| 254 | * In ''VideoGame/TokyoAfterschoolSummoners'', there are 23 pillars of light known as gates, each one in a different ward in Tokyo. They all connect to a different world based on a different mythology, with residents from those worlds, such as [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]], [[BeastMan beast men]], and other beings, being summoned into this world. |
| 255 | * Like the movies they're based on, pillars of light factor heavily in ''VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh'', representing an escape route from a particular level. |
| 256 | * Done beautifully in ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfileCovenantOfThePlume'' by Garm [[spoiler:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGlaeZEhkw /Ailyth]]]]. |
| 257 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'', this is a pretty common effect for spells. Off the top of my head, this happens during Hero level ups, resurrections, Holy Light, Mass Teleport, and more. |
| 258 | * ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'': Pillars of Light of varying magnitudes are Joshua's secondary attack method after a certain plot point. It's more this than BeamSpam, because they come out of the ground instead of from Joshua. Also happens when Neku levels up. |
| 259 | * Several offensive Druid spells in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' cause downward-traveling Pillars of Light. Most frequently seen (and also most awesome-looking, especially with the latest graphic change) is Moonfire. |
| 260 | [[/folder]] |
| 261 | |
| 262 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 263 | * ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': Excalibur tends to cause a giant, golden pillar of light whenever its power is unleashed. Archer's Caladbolg II arrow also causes a big one in the anime adaptation. |
| 264 | [[/folder]] |
| 265 | |
| 266 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 267 | * ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'': In the ''Bohrok Online Animations'', 6 of them occur when the Bohrok are defeated. |
| 268 | [[/folder]] |
| 269 | |
| 270 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 271 | * ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'': After Jillian attempts to persuade her to [[LastSecondChance switch sides]] and promises to find and croak Stanley, Wanda responds by unleashing a [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0106.html massive attack spell,]] complete with a Pillar of Light as wide as Efdup Tower. |
| 272 | * ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': Some sort of alien probe sends a red beam into the sky after scanning Sydney's orbs. [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-642-screwed/ It seems to be a kind of beacon,]] since not long after that a gigantic spaceship appears right over the beam. |
| 273 | * ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'': Fructose Riboflavin's escape pod [[http://bobadventures.comiecgenesis.com/d/20091027.html appears to Galatea]] in a pillar of light. |
| 274 | * ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': When Miko Miyazaki crosses the MoralEventHorizon, her gods hit her with one, [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0407.html taking away her paladin powers.]] |
| 275 | * ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'': [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0084.html When Julie activates the Magicant Pendant,]] a Pillar of Light shows up. It also unfortunately attracts the attention of the bad guys. |
| 276 | * ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': When Tessa unleashes her fully-charged finishing attack on the monster in Chapter 1, the scene cuts to a distant reaction shot showing [[https://www.sleeplessdomain.com/comic/chapter-1-page-24 the massive pillar of pink magical energy]] that results. Her teammates Sally and Sylvia can see the beam from across the city: |
| 277 | -->'''Sally:''' Now that's just gratuitous. |
| 278 | * ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'': This is the form that [[spoiler:portals leading out of Hell]] take. |
| 279 | * ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'': When someone ascends to the next floor of the Tower, a beam of light transports them there. |
| 280 | [[/folder]] |
| 281 | |
| 282 | [[folder:Web Originals]] |
| 283 | * A MemeticMutation of the "Beacon of Minas Morgûl" scene from ''Return of the King'' shows that the Men of Gondor can be terrified by ''any'' pillar of light. For example, [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic the Crystal Palace]] or [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 Elsa building her Ice Castle.]] |
| 284 | [[/folder]] |
| 285 | |
| 286 | [[folder:Web Videos]] |
| 287 | * ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'' cites "shooting a blue beam into the sky" as part of the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse's StrictlyFormula in the Honest Trailer for ''Film/IronMan1''. |
| 288 | [[/folder]] |
| 289 | |
| 290 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 291 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': In "[[Recap/AmphibiaS3E15IfYouGiveAFrogACookie If You Give a Frog a Cookie]]", a flashback shows when Anne first opened the calamity box, a pillar of energy emerged that affected several areas of the city. |
| 292 | * ''Franchise/{{Avatar|TheLastAirbender}}'': |
| 293 | ** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': |
| 294 | *** In the series premiere "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBoyInTheIceberg The Boy in the Iceberg]]", Prince Zuko guesses that the random Pillar of Light that suddenly appears in the South Pole signals something of great, powerful significance, like the return of the Avatar. Lampshaded by Iroh, who thinks it might just be the natural polar lights. "We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko." |
| 295 | *** [[{{Bookends}} Way later]], in the GrandFinale "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSozinsCometPart4AvatarAang Sozin's Comet, Part 4]]", a similar-looking one occurs when Aang [[spoiler:takes away Ozai's bending]]. |
| 296 | ** ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': |
| 297 | *** The Spirit Portals, located at the north and south poles, take the form of swirling pillars of orange and blue light, respectively. In the material world, their tips split off to form the auroras, while in the SpiritWorld, they appear infinite. |
| 298 | *** In the GrandFinale "[[Recap/TheLegendOfKorraS4E13TheLastStand The Last Stand]]", when Kuvira's spirit weapon [[spoiler:blows up, it has so much energy that it rips open a new, green-gold spirit portal]]. |
| 299 | * The signal in the ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' episode "[[Recap/BeastWarsS1E17TheTriggerPart2 The Trigger, Part 2]]". Not a ''good'' thing, but a ''significant'' thing. |
| 300 | * ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': |
| 301 | ** Whenever a monster or hero falls into the Digital Sea, a white Pillar of Light rises from the spot into the sky of Lyoko (with the notable exception of William in Season 4, since a dive into the Digital Sea doesn't harm him). |
| 302 | ** Also occurs at the beginning of a return to the past sequence, when an expending pillar of light bursts from the holographic display in the lab. |
| 303 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': In "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS3E2ForTheFuture For the Future]]", the outpouring of energy from [[spoiler:Luz's palisman finally hatching]] results in a pillar of dark purple light. It's also slightly deconstructed, since [[spoiler:Luz and her mother are hiding from Kikimora at the time and such an obvious visual cue immediately tips her off of their location]]. |
| 304 | * ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': In "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS7E9MortRagnarick Mort: Ragnarick]]", Rick sends the infinite energy he accumulated at Valhalla as a beam straight up into the sky. |
| 305 | * ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'': During a flashback to their high school days, Heifer eats the potato that he, Rocko and Filburt were using for a potato battery experiment. When they realize that putting the lightbulb in Heifer's mouth causes it to light up, they stuff him with potato products, resulting in this trope. |
| 306 | * The title character of ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'' draws her power from a living Pillar of Light. |
| 307 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' episode "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E20TwilightOfTheApprenticePartII Twilight of the Apprentice, Part II]]", the lightning shooting upwards under the temple on Malachor is channeled into one of these in order to keep a Sith holocron suspended inside. |
| 308 | * In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Rose's Light Cannon uses a beam of light that can morph into the images of the Crystal Gems in order to destroy most Homeworld Drones. |
| 309 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' loves this trope: |
| 310 | ** Willow in episode 14, after getting Moon's hammer. |
| 311 | ** Another one in episode 17, [[spoiler:when Grougaloragran is defeated by Nox and he explodes, his wakfu soaring in the sky]]. This pillar could be seen all over the world. |
| 312 | ** And again in episode 25, [[spoiler:when the huge teleportation portal is activated]]. And [[spoiler:when Amalia is possessed by the Tree of Life]]. And [[spoiler:when Razortime's Energy Ball hits Sadlygrove]]. |
| 313 | ** Still another one in season 2 episode 6, [[spoiler:when Yugo and Adamaï activate the Eliacube]]. |
| 314 | ** [[spoiler:Rushu fusioning with his army of Shushus]] is the excuse for yet another one in the season 2 finale. |
| 315 | * ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021'': In "[[Recap/WhatIfS1E9WhatIfTheWatcherBrokeHisOath What If... The Watcher Broke His Oath?]]", [[spoiler:Killmonger]] creates a sky beam when he uses the Infinity Stones to attack the Guardians of the Multiverse. |
| 316 | [[/folder]] |
| 317 | |
| 318 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 319 | * Highly magnetised neutron stars called pulsars do this in real life, producing electromagnetic radiation focused into two beams by the star's magnetic field. Black holes with accretion disks produce jets of matter like this as well. Certain powerful types of supernovae also produce beams of radiation called "gamma-ray bursts". |
| 320 | * The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribute_in_Light Tribute in Light]] memorial to the September 11 attacks. |
| 321 | * The searchlight on top of the Luxor pyramid in Las Vegas can allegedly be seen for hundreds of miles at night. Lights on the pyramid's edges sometimes even do a streaming-upward effect to give the beam SuckingInLines. |
| 322 | * Within minutes after the steam explosion that caused the Chernobyl accident, a number of employees at the power station went outside to get a clearer view of the damage. One such worker, Alexander Yuvchenko, recounts [[http://ecolo.org/documents/documents_in_english/cherno-alexander_yuvchenko.htm in an interview]] that once he stopped outside and looked up towards the reactor hall he saw a "very beautiful" LASER-like beam of light, bluish light that appeared to flood up into infinity. This was most likely caused by the radiation escaping the reactor through a hole in the roof and [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionized-air_glow ionizing]] the air it went through. |
| 323 | * The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_Peace_Tower Imagine Peace Tower]] in Reykjavik, Iceland consists as one of these as a tribute to Music/JohnLennon with the inscriptions "IMAGINE PEACE" carved in 24 languages. Add an aurora or two and it makes a spectacle. |
| 324 | * [[http://www.billdolson.com/reentryseries/Peace_Reentry-kmr.jpg Re-entry vehicles]], although the effect doesn't last very long. |
| 325 | * The [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]] [[LightIsNotGood also liked Pillars of Light]] and had one of their massive rally grounds in Nuremberg surrounded by 130 huge flak lights, called the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Light "Cathedral of Light"]]. It required so much power the area had its own electric power plant. |
| 326 | [[/folder]] |
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