%%
%%
%%
%%
%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
%%
%%
%%
%%
%%
%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1601174728013585600
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
%%
[[quoteright:250:[[ComicBook/UncannyXMen https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uncanny_x_men_1963_issue_266_gambit_foot_first_intro.jpg]]]]
%%
->''"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk,\\
I'm a woman's man: no time to talk."''
-->-- '''Music/TheBeeGees''', "Stayin' Alive"

Introducing a character by showing the feet and either {{pan}}ning or cutting to the rest of the body, ending with the face. Evidently, shoe selection is a big element for characterization. [[AuthorAppeal Or the director is just into feet.]]

This trope is often used to introduce characters who are evil, sexy, or [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs evil and sexy]]. Someone may be crouching down or laying prone for some reason (perhaps injured) and a pair of shoes will step directly in front of them, creating unease. Or a number of people - maybe even a huge crowd - are waiting for someone to arrive, and that arrival is heralded by footsteps and then the appearance of feet. Either way, the camera will travel upward very slowly, building anxiety as the audience (whether in-universe or out) receives the full effect of being towered over by an intimidating figure. LegFocus may come into play, but not necessarily. The same can also be applied to FearsomeFoot.

Sometimes the trope is used for reasons other than villainy or sex appeal. A character's feet, for example, might be a clue to their personality. Extremely colourful shoes can indicate someone either mischievous or buffoonish, while bare feet might signal anything from a NobleSavage to [[TheDeterminator a person determined to triumph despite poverty]].

And sometimes the character's face is just ''so'' worth waiting for that the creators put off TheReveal until the last possible second. They might even cut back and forth to whoever is looking at this character to draw out the process even more. A GiantFootOfStomping is, as you might expect, introduced this way.

Not to be confused with DynamicEntry, which sometimes also happens feet first.

----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* A French Lipton iced tea commercial opens on a city of abandoned shoes, until a tea-drinking man's sneakered[[note]]prior to the tea's natural recipe converting him into an EarthyBarefootCharacter[[/note]] feet walk into the scene.
* A Sky Italia commercial featuring giant soccer players introduces two of them with closeups of their large feet.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}}'' UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 port's commercial begins with a live-action Rick Taylor's bruised bare feet dragging across a dusty floor.
* A commercial for a scuba-diving Stretch Armstrong figure opens on a live-action Stretch's left foot taking a temperature-testing dip into the water, hiding the daunting height of his dive until the next scene; in which Stretch, sitting on top of a tall dock, retracts his leg to finish putting on his flippers.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* The first time [[TheFaceless L]]'s full appearance is revealed in ''Anime/DeathNote'', when he meets the Japanese Police Force, the camera {{pan}}s up from his [[BarefootLoon bare feet]] (one of which is scratching his leg) to his face, both establishing his [[BunnyEarsLawyer eccentricity]] and saving his face for last.
* ''Anime/DigimonAdventureTri'': The first thing we get to see of [[TheFashionista Mimi are her feet with her stylish sandal boots]].
* Misaki from ''Anime/ExcelSaga'' is introduced this way. However, [[MaleGaze the camera keeps stopping at her breasts]] and her face is blurred out in various ways before finally showing what she looks like.
* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', almost every entrance of [[spoiler:Zeref]] is like this.
* In the ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' film, Kim Kaphwan's gorgeous wife Myeungseuk is introduced [[LegFocus legs first]]. A JustifiedTrope, so to say: her and Kim's youngest son Jae Hoon is with her, and he's a tiny CheerfulChild no older than six.
* In ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'', the first episode introduces Roy mustang with a shot of his military boots from behind, signalling his power to the audience, before showing his face.
* The first we see of Yukari in ''Anime/TheGardenOfWords'' is her feet and shoes as seen from Takao's POV. A nice touch on the "getting on your feet" symbolism in the movie.
* In ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'', [[HotTeacher Nao Kadena]] is first seen as just her stiletto-clad feet walking past the mail slot of the Oni-Baku's apartment.
* In ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', Alexander Anderson is introduced this way, with the slight twist of it being him walking down some stairs.
* In the ''Anime/{{Inuyasha}}'' anime, the first thing we saw of [[DarkActionGirl Kagura]] was a close-up to her always bare feet.
* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'': Hifumi Abe, the final of the five counterparts to Princess Kaguya's suitors (and thus the implicit final member of the Student Council) in ''Literature/TheTaleOfTheBambooCutter'' is introduced this way. [[spoiler:In reality, the focus was actually on his cat Gomanosuke, who goes on to be a very minor recurring character. Hifume himself never shows up again after that one panel.]]
* The epilogue for ''Anime/{{Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 2nd As}}'' uses this in a heartwarming manner. Specific focus is put on Hayate's legs before her face is shown to underline the fact that she is finally free of the [[ArtifactOfDeath Book of Darkness']] curse, which had rendered her paraplegic for most of her childhood.
* In ''{{Anime/Noir}}'', when the Bouquet family's killer is finally seen they are shot from the feet up, with the distinct shoes revealing it's [[spoiler:Kirika]] before we ever reach the face.
* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': the first part of Makoto Kino in Jupiter, the Powerful Girl in Love" is a shot of her heel, close to the camera when she confronts a gang of bullies threatening Usagi, who accidentally bumped into them. The camera then pans from the lower-half of her body to her upper-half to reveal who she is.
* ''Literature/ShakuganNoShana'': Yuji's hitherto [[DisappearedDad missing]] father, for almost half the episode.
* Oddly Reiji Akaba from ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'' is always introduced this way.
* This is how Makishima Shougo is introduced in the first episode of the ''Anime/PsychoPass'' new edit.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' storyline "ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl": The readers' first look of the Infinite Monster is two absolutely humongous, scaly red feet trampling over a city as Supergirl futilely tries to stop their advance.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Not couting the cover, Gambit is first introduced in ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'' #266 walking towards a de-aged storm.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/TheEvilQueen'': Goro Akechi is first introduced by kicking his way out of a police car in the [[MentalWorld Metaverse]], so his legs are the first things described.
* Upon making the jump from ''Fanfic/PrehistoricEarth'' to its subsequent ContinuityReboot ''Fanfic/PrehistoricParkReimagined'', the very first moment in which Cynthia physically appears consists of her foot stepping down from a helicopter.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'', when the Beast steps into a spotlight to reveal himself to Belle, the camera shows his [[FearsomeFoot lupine feet]] before his monstrous face.
* ''WesternAnimation/Cars1'': As Doc Hudson drives into the courtroom and takes the podium, the camera is focused on his tires.
* Massive manservant Max from ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' enters the soundstage via an ImpactSilhouette in the wall, and his feet are shown in polished shoes that create tremors with every footfall. The next shot shows his brutish head way up among the Kleig lights. His last footstep squishes a rubber duck.
* Cinderella is introduced this way in ''WesternAnimation/CinderellaIIIATwistInTime''.
* In ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'', Tony's first glimpse of the rest of the Parr family is at their boots, aside from Violet.
* The ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' example below is parodied in ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' with Marty the Zebra, complete with "Stayin' Alive" in the background.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'':
** This is how Sunset Shimmer, running to the school, is introduced. It's also the movie's first shot.
** When Human Twilight is properly introduced in Crystal Prep uniform, it's with a pan up from her feet.
* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'': Lord Farquaad is first introduced by walking down the hallway towards the torture chamber, with the scene focusing on his boots.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie:'' '''BIGGER BOOT!'''
** Of course, these being very small sea creatures encountering a [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever normal-sized]] [[HumansAreCthulhu scuba-diver]], this trope is a [[JustifiedTrope pretty reasonable]] usage.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'': This is how Buzz Lightyear is actually introduced.
* ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'':
** The audience's first look at Mei's red panda form is two huge furry red feet crushing Mei's bunny slippers.
** Mei's aunties get introduced with a view of their footwear before shots of their jewelry are seen.
* ''Animation/WhiteSnake2019'':
** Our first look at the Little Daiost three-headed crane mount is of its feet stomping as it enters snake catcher villages.
** The General has a slow pan up from his feet up when we see him for the first time.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Lindsey Brigman in ''Film/TheAbyss'' is introduced feet first in high heels as she exits a helicopter. Her shoes contrast with the row of combat boots belonging to the marines who exit before her.
* ''Film/{{Amelie}}'': The mystery man is at first seen only by his feet, with distinctive red shoes. Later it is revealed that this is the bald man who keeps mysteriously reappearing in Nino's album of discarded passport photos, [[spoiler: and for a simple reason: he is the photo booth repair man, discarding his test photos.]]
* In ''Film/TheAscent1977'', Portnov the evil collaborator is introduced this way, when Sotnikov the patriotic Russian soldier is thrown into the interrogation room and at Portnov's feet.
* In ''Film/AustinPowers: International Man of Mystery'', [[MaleGaze we first see Vanessa Kensington via a slow pan up her entire body]].
* In ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', it emphasizes Jake's joy (he's a paraplegic) in being able to move his toes and feel the dirt between them after linking with his Avatar. On a more subtle level, the first shots of the bare feet on Jake's Avatar are also used to show off the unprecedented level of detail in the wrinkles of the fully CGI models. And [[DragonInChief Quaritch]] is introduced boots first.
* In ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', the viewers first see Ebony Maw's feet as he steps over corpses of dead Asgardians and Sakaaran gladiators. The camera then moves up to reveal his body, and finally, his face.
* Done with Kristy in the [[FilmOfTheBook film adaptation]] of ''Literature/TheBabysittersClub''. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] because during her introductory scene, she was getting dressed. Her feet were the only part of her that could be shown without being way too risqué for a kid's movie.
* The martial arts film ''Film/TheBareFootedKid'' introduces it's eponymous main character walking through the streets... his bare foot filling up the entire screen being the first audiences see of him. It's an emphasis of his status as being BarefootPoverty.
* ''Film/Blade1998'': A vampire's victim crawls away in search of a safe place to hide and comes face-to-toe with a pair of boots. The camera pans up to give the audience its first view of Blade as an adult.
* In ''Film/{{Boot Camp|2008}}'', Dr. Hail is introduced by a lengthy shot of his sandal-clad feet and walking stick slowly approaching the newly arrived teens.
* ''Film/BringMeTheHeadOfTheMachineGunWoman'': The Machine Gun Woman enters the story with a shot of her CombatStilettos striding through the town square, sending pigeons scattering.
* ''Film/TheBurning'': The [[DisposableSexWorker prostitute]] is shown from Cropsy's POV as he stares at her legs as she stands in a doorway. The camera then follows her feet as she leads him back to her apartment, with her face not being seen till she starts to ascend the stairs.
* ''Film/ComingToAmerica'': During King Jaffe's grand entrance with his motorcade in Queens, he's shown feet first stepping on the rose petals his servant girls throw down wherever he goes.
* ''Film/Constantine2005'': When [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]] manifests on Earth, the camera first shows his feet, [[MagicalBarefooter bare]] and [[FootprintsOfMuck dripping hot tar]], [[PowerFloats hanging in midair]] before he deigns to touch the ground.
* ''Film/TheDevilWearsPrada'': When Miranda arrives, her feet --wearing red pumps-- are first shown when she steps out of her car before entering her Runway office.
* Used for a BigLittleMan gag in ''Film/{{Elf}}'' when legendary writer Miles Finch (played by Creator/PeterDinklage) enters the room, revealed only by his feet and the awed expressions of onlookers. We only see his height when Miles pushes away a chair so he can stand at the conference table that everyone else is sitting at.
* Done to truly awe-inspiring effect in ''Film/Godzilla2014'', when in the midst of the chaotic airport scene, the camera pans from the male [[BigCreepyCrawlies M.U.T.O.]] past a line of exploding planes before a truly ''enormous'' scaly foot [[WhamShot slams down into frame]], instantly shocking [[StunnedSilence everyone in the airport into silence]]. It also serves to emphasize Godzilla's size by showing how big his foot alone is compared to the massive M.U.T.O.
* In ''Film/HoboWithAShotgun'', Drake is introduced stepping out of his limo as Logan is begging the hobo for help. The first things seen are his perfectly polished black shoes and his immaculate white trousers: which mark him as an anomaly on the grime-ridden streets of Scum Town.
* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' reintroduces the title character by having his boots walk into shot then panning up to the [[DistinctiveAppearances iconic shadow]] as he replaces his hat. Obviously included just for the trailer, but ''damn'' it works.
* Virgil Tibbs is introduced this way in ''Film/InTheHeatOfTheNight''.
* ''Film/{{Intouchables}}'': When the camera pans over the men waiting for the job interview, it goes for their shoes. All highly polished, combined with ironed trousers... and then it reaches a pair of worn trainers, after which Driss is shown in an establishing shot. With this simple trick the audience knows how much he doesn't fit in there.
* ''Film/JemAndTheHolograms2015'': When Erica Raymond is first introduced in the film, her heels are shown walking up the sidewalk and kicking a skateboard.
* In ''Film/JojoRabbit'' Jojo's mother Rosie is first introduced walking up in very distinctive shoes to his hospital bed from his perspective while he's laying down . Her shoes remain a very important recurring motif, culminating in them being all you can see [[spoiler:when Jojo finds her hanged as traitor]] in the town square.
* The shiny-shoed assassin in ''Film/JumpinJackFlash'', though that was to [[TheMole conceal his identity from the audience]].
* Subverted at the start of ''Film/JurassicWorld'', when two wicked claws slam down like [[GiantFootOfStomping Giant Feet of Stomping]]. What terrible creature do they belong to? [[BigLittleMan An ordinary bird.]]
* In ''Film/KissMeDeadly'', Soberin is introduced with a shot of his highly-polished wingtip shoes; until his final scene, all the audience sees of him are his lower legs and feet.
* In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', after Rose and Finn are [[spoiler: thrown into one of the casino's prison cells]], they end up sitting next to the sleeping feet of [[spoiler: DJ, the very person that they were looking for.]]
* Played for laughs in ''Film/{{Legion}}'' with an old lady and her walker.
* ''Film/{{Lolita}}'':
** Used for creepy effect in the 1997 movie for the introduction of pedophile Quilty. Dolores is on her hands and knees, petting his dog. The camera does a slow pan up from Quilty's shoes to his face... which is still hidden from the audience behind part of the chair. Instead we only hear Quilty's voice as he talks to Dolores, and he continues to be a shadowy figure for much of the movie.
** The TitleSequence of the Creator/StanleyKubrick adaptation has a closeup of Humbert's hands painting Lolita's toenails.
* One of several shots used to introduce ''Film/MadMax1'', who's shown either from a distance, from behind, via a close-up of his hands fiddling with his engine, or his boots calmly striding around his Pursuit Special in [[DissonantSerenity deliberate contrast]] to the violent CarChase his police colleagues are engaged in.
* ''Film/TheMatrix'':
** The first time Smith is introduced, when he gets out of the garbage truck after trying to crush Trinity, is this.
** Neo's entrance to the building where Morpheus is being held prisoner.
* [[LiteralManeater Serleena's]] introduction in ''Film/MenInBlackII'' as she shapeshifts into a human disguise starts by focusing on her high heel shoes, then slowly panning up her legs and lingerie clad body, before she gets jumped by a mugger who she promptly eats.
* For the first three minutes of 14-minute film ''Film/MeshesOfTheAfternoon'', all we see of the unnamed protagonist is her feet as she walks up a concrete driveway and then into her home.
* ''Film/MysteryMen''. When The Spleen enters the cafe, the camera focuses first on his shoes, which then pivot and he walks forward as the camera pans up to his face, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9rBv4Dn3Bk as seen here]].
* Parodied in ''Film/TheNakedGun 33 1/3'', where the camera just keeps going [[MaleGaze up the legs]]...and [[OverlyLongGag up the legs]]...and [[RuleOfThree up the legs]]. It passes the knees twice.
* ''Film/NothingButTrouble'': The deputy sheriff is introduced shoes first as he gets out of his police cruiser.
* Used for the BigDamnHeroes moment in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''. Film/JamesBond is trapped in an ice-skating rink while SPECTRE {{mook}}s search through the crowd. Bond is in despair, expecting to be captured again; he sits at a table with his collar up and his head down, hoping to blend in with the other tourists. Suddenly one of the ice skaters comes to a halt right in front of him. Bond looks up from the ice skates past well formed legs to...a smiling Tracy di Vincenzo, whom he last saw in Portugal and who has an ice-modified fast car to get him out of there. Diana Rigg (the actress playing Tracy) couldn't ice skate, so a stunt double was used until the camera panned upwards to reveal the real actress.
* Hannibal Chau from ''Film/PacificRim''. The first time he properly appears, the shot starts on his gold-plated shoes and pans up to his face.
* The remake of ''Film/{{The Parent Trap|1998}}'' uses this with Annie, so that it takes viewers some time to realise she looks like Hallie.
* In ''Film/{{Parker}}'', the first shot of Parker is of his feet emerging from his car. The camera slowly moves up his body as he takes a case out of the boot, before finally revealing his face. And that [[BadHabits he is dressed as a priest]].
* In ''Film/ThePianist'', the first shot of Captain Hosenfeld is of his boots.
* Done for both [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest Davy Jones]] and [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides Blackbeard]] in the ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' films. Jones is also heralded by his ominous, mismatched footsteps; Blackbeard is seen as a menacing silhouette against the smoky interior of his cabin before he is fully revealed.
* The first appearance of Cora Smith (Lana Turner) in the 1946 film version of ''[[Film/ThePostmanAlwaysRingsTwice1946 The Postman Always Rings Twice]]''.
* ''Film/PulpFiction'': Mía Wallace is introduced by a long tracking shot of her bare feet (a clear sign this movie was made by Creator/QuentinTarantino).
* Done with jingling spurs in ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'' for the introduction of the villain. When he duels the Lady at the end of the movie, her reappearance when revealed as NotQuiteDead also has the jingling spurs.
* The rival baseball team is introduced this way in ''Film/TheSandlot''. The trope was used as a method to contrast their snazzy uniforms against the casual and eclectic outfits and shoes the sandlot team wore.
* The title character in the incredibly surreal Mexican B-movie ''Film/SantaClaus1959'' is introduced to a forlorn child with this shot.
* ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'': The first thing we see are Tony Manero's feet as he struts down the street.
* The NEB soldier approaching the Alliance base at the start of ''Film/{{Screamers}}''. [[AnArmAndALeg He doesn't keep his feet for long.]]
* In ''Film/SeeNoEvil1971'', the first shot of the murderer is of his feet walking out of a movie theatre. Up until the climax, he's only shown from the chest down and is recognizable because of his cowboy boots.
* ''Film/ShriekIfYouKnowWhatIDidLastFridayTheThirteenth'': The masked psycho killer is first seen walking into frame wearing a very distinctive pair of boots. This is a set-up to a later gag because multiple unrelated characters are also wearing this type of boot.
* In ''Film/TheSignOfFourSherlockHolmesGreatestCase'', the first shot of the BigBad Jonathan Small is his wooden leg--making its distinctive clopping sound--striding along the prison corridor towards Major Sholto's office.
* In ''Film/ASimpleFavor'', Emily (Creator/BlakeLively) makes a deliberately emphatic first entrance, emerging from a Porsche in killer heels; there's a particular emphasis on her feet because her face is initially screened by an umbrella. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cVlSAD2mRU The movie's trailer exploits the hell out of this moment,]] which comes about as close to a LegFocus scene as is possible when the character is wearing a pant suit. The trope is played with a little, though, in that it takes place in a rainstorm and the character is a mother picking her kid up from school; the audience is reminded that this is (for now) a comedy set in suburbia, albeit one with, well, Blake Lively in killer heels.
* Creator/CydCharisse gets this in ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' when Creator/GeneKelly drops his hat and she picks it up with her foot, showing off her lovely physique in the process. In her case, the trope could well be alternatively named "Legs First Introduction".
* ''Film/SomeLikeItHot'' uses this to introduce gangster boss "Spats" Columbo, focusing on his nice shoes as he steps out of a limousine.
* ''Film/SpyHard'' used a similar gag, panning from the feet and up the legs... before a similarly-dressed woman comes in front of the giant statue.
* Done cleverly in ''Film/StrangersOnATrain''. The protagonist and antagonist are both introduced by showing their feet as they make their way to the titular train, walking in opposite directions, the first of many instances of the theme of duality the movie uses.
* In ''Film/SuburbanCommando'', the first thing we see of [[TheHero Shep Ramsey]] is his boots as he is shooting down [[BigBad Suitor]]'s men.
* Done with the desert camp survival participants at the beginning of ''Film/SuitsOnTheLoose''.
* In ''Film/{{Sunset|1988}}'', Wyatt Earp first appears with his boots climbing down the steps at the rear of the train, far away from the hoopla happening at the other end.
* ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'':
** The movie begins with a close-up of a Terminator stepping on and crushing a human skull.
** When the Terminator steps out of the bar wearing its newly acquired leather jacket and boots, the camera starts on its boots, then pans up as "BadToTheBone" begins playing. This makes the Terminator more badass.
** After the T-1000 kills off the police officer who appears when it has just time-traveled, this is used to establish that it has (apparently) donned the cop's uniform.
** Sarah Connor's [[WorldWarThree nightmare sequence]] begins with her combat boots striding across the grass.
* The killer in the 1984 Creator/ClintEastwood movie ''Film/{{Tightrope}}'' is first shown via his trainers as he stalks a woman. She's aware someone is following her, but runs into a uniformed police officer who escorts her home safely. The camera then tracks down to show the '[[ImpersonatingAnOfficer police officer]]' is wearing the killer's trainers.
* Parodied in ''Film/TopSecret'' when Nick breaks back into Flurgendorf prison and finds himself crawling towards a pair of guard boots... which pan up to reveal that nobody is wearing them.
* Used in ''Film/TheUsualSuspects'' to hide the identity of Keyser Söze. [[spoiler:This is cleverly used as BookEnds for TheReveal, as Verbal Kint's limp slowly changes to a confident stride as he walks away from the police station.]]
* The opening shot of Creator/JessFranco's ''Film/{{Venus In Furs|Franco}} begins on Wanda's shoes, then pans up her {{stocking|Filler}}ed legs.
* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': The first thing we see of Jessica Rabbit is one of her legs peeking through a curtain. Followed by one of her breasts.
* ''Film/WildTales'' opens with a shot of María Marull's high heels and wheeled case she struts towards the check-in desk at the airport.
* Yukio and Viper from ''Film/TheWolverine'' have these with their "badass in boots" look, as well as a LegFocus intro when Viper gets out of her car at the funeral.
* ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'': The feet that step out of the limousine belong to Charles Xavier. It's a surprise because he's always been seen in a wheelchair. A subtitle appears: "Ten Years Ago".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', Madame Maxime is introduced foot first - specifically, a foot in a high-heeled shoe the size of a boat. This introduces both her glamour and her half-giant stature.
* A plot point in the Literature/HerculePoirot novel, ''Literature/OneTwoBuckleMyShoe''. Poirot first meets Miss Salisbury-Seale while the latter was coming out of a taxi and takes a particular notice of her shiny, buckled shoe. The state of this shoe is what helps Poirot realise who the murderer is.
* Our first introduction to Claire in ''Literature/WhaleMusic'' is her bare feet, under the covers while she sleeps on Desmond's couch.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In an episode of ''Series/OneThousandWaysToDie'' "Dead Before They Know It", the first death story opens up with the bare soles of Shelly as she is lying down in a tanning bed.
* The ''Series/{{Andor}}'' episode "Nobody's Listening!" introduces Dr. Rhasiv with a closeup on his bare feet, hinting that the rest of the prison staff treats him like a {{barefoot captive|s}}.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}''.
** Subverted in the ColdOpen of "[[Recap/AngelS04E14Release Release]]" from the usual badass version -- the shoes of an exhausted Wesley and a severely battered Faith slowly step into frame, then drops of blood from Faith's wounds drip onto the floor.
** Used for a BaitAndSwitch in "[[Recap/AngelS01E20WarZone War Zone]]". We're meant to think the sword-wielding BadassLongcoat is Angel, but it's our introduction to series regular Charles Gunn.
--->'''Gunn:''' "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall You expecting somebody else?]]"
** In "[[Recap/AngelS02E17Disharmony Disharmony]]", a vampire sneaks into Cordelia's bedroom with bloodlust on her mind. As it's ditzy vampire Harmony, the first thing we see is her pink fuzzy slippers.
* Almost a standard camera shot in ''Series/TheBachelor'' and its related shows. Whenever a woman arrives at a location, there's a better-than-even chance of either a pan up from the ground or one of her high-heeled feet emerging from a limousine.
* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'': Ellen Tigh is introduced to the series with a shot of her feet and legs being revealed first by the opening door of a ''Raptor''. During the final season, her return to the human fleet begins with a shot staged the same way as a ContinuityNod to her introduction.
* ''Series/BigTimeRush'': The first scene of "Big Time Rocker" is Lucy Stone stepping out of her limo and entering The Palm Woods; the camera is focused on her boots as she comes out.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** Entirely justified with the demon [[TheMusicMeister Sweet]] in "[[MusicalEpisode Once More With Feeling]]" as he wears a great pair of dancing shoes which he puts to immediate use.
** After Xander has cast a love spell that's gone haywire, causing every girl in Sunnydale High to fall for him, we see his feet as he strides down the school hall, WalkingInRhythm to the Average White Band's funky "Got the Love" -- as the camera pans up, we see he's in a deer-in-the-headlights state of panic as girls [[EatingTheEyeCandy eye him lustfully]] and the boys DeathGlare.
** Spike's badass introduction on the series, as he steps out of his CoolCar. Subverted when the scene is repeated in a later episode...except the first thing we see is a [[DrowningMySorrows bottle falling out of the car]].
** {{Played for laughs}} when the Scoobies think that Spike has returned, and we immediately cut to a striding pair of [[EvilWearsBlack black combat boots, black leather duster and black shirt]]...worn by geek BigBadWannabe Andrew.
** Done for a RuleOfThrees in "The Wish". Cordelia exits her hotrod convertible giving everyone a long look at her long legs in a leather man-eater outfit. After her wish creates an AlternateUniverse, Vampire Willow makes her introduction high-heeled boots first, then up to her own leather [[OfCorsetsSexy catsuit]] and UndeathlyPallor. The third is a RescueIntroduction to our DarkerAndEdgier Wishverse Buffy, from her entirely unfashionable combat boots and cargo pants to the grey tank top and RuggedScar across her lip.
* In episode 2.23, "MIA/NYC Nonstop", of ''Series/CSIMiami'', which served as the back door pilot of ''Series/{{CSINY}}'', uses this trope to introduce our new hero. An NYPD cruiser arrives a murder scene in The Bowery. The passenger door opens and the shot pans up from a man's right foot as he exits the vehicle, and it fixes on the back of his head as he walks toward the building. We only see the face of Det. Mac Taylor, head of the NY Crime Lab, when he turns to address a fellow officer.
* ''Series/{{The Day of the Triffids|2009}}'' (2009). [[BigBad Torrence]] steals and wears a [[SharpDressedMan distinctive Saville Row suit]] early in the series, so just his familiar slacks are shown striding into view for the final act after the protagonists think they've long seen the last of him.
* The opening credits for ''{{Series/Dinosaurs}}'' work this way, creating an impression of huge dinosaur stomping the forest... before zooming on the face. "Honey, I'm home!"
* In ''Series/TheFlash2014'' Live Action series the first time we see Barry Allen in his Flash outfit is as a slow pan up from his feet.
* ''Series/GetSmart''. Our first look at 99 is a MaleGaze shot from Barbara Felton's feet up to her face.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' has an in-universe example. Barney finally gets his hands on a picture of Ted's new girlfriend and deliberately decides to zoom in on her feet and scroll up, commenting on her various attributes along the way. He's in for a bit of a shock when he finds the face of [[spoiler:his sister]] at the top.
** The first glimpse the audience gets of The Mother is a brief shot of her foot in the hundredth episode. Her first full appearance in the eighth season finale starts by showing her boots as she walks through a train station before cutting to her face as she buys her ticket. As the Mother's identity was the show's main MythArc the framing was a deliberate choice to highlight TheReveal of her identity.
* ''Series/IronFist2017''. The introduction of our hero Danny Rand, showing he PrefersGoingBarefoot even though he's walking through the middle of New York City. Rather than his badass nature (which comes later), this is to show his [[BarefootLoon eccentricity and lack of social skills]].
* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'': After [[BigBad Sledge]] decides to go for the GodzillaThreshold and orders his underlings to drag [[TheDreaded Heckyl]] out of his cell, only the man's feet are seen at first. Feet in ''[[SharpDressedMan dress shoes]]'' as he turns out to be the only HumanAlien out of all Sledge's [[PeopleInRubberSuits prisoners]], outwardly resembling a normal twenty-something male steampunk cosplayer. His unassuming appearance was the key part of Sledge's then new plan to get the [[MineralMacGuffin Energems]].
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': the episode where Ellie Bishop goes undercover as a hooker introduces her [[https://gfycat.com/pointlessemptyelver like this.]]
* ''{{Series/Nikita}}'' uses this a lot with Amanda--not uniformly, but enough to make it a visual trademark for her.
* Played for laughs in one episode of ''Series/PoliceSquad'' where an unknown assassin is shown this way during his attacks. When his identity is revealed, he turns out to be [[spoiler: a woman wearing a men's shoes and suit trouser-legs reaching from knees down]].
* ''Series/RedDwarf'': In "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonVDemonsAndAngels Demons and Angels]]", the evil version of Rimmer is introduced walking down a stairway to menace Lister, revealing that he's [[CreepyCrossdresser dressed as a sexually sadistic dominatrix]].
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Towards the end of "Ménage à Troi", Wesley got one of these when he was field-promoted to full ensign and got to put on the Starfleet uniform.
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "The Way Of The Warrior", Worf received this treatment when he first boarded [=DS9=].
* In ''Series/StrangerThings'', Eleven is introduced with a shot of her bare feet.
* On ''Series/Supergirl2015'' When Veronica Sinclair or Roulette in introduced in her fight club, it shows her heels first then scrolls up her body to her face.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''
** In a RashomonStyle episode, Sam catches Dean chatting up a girl in a bar instead of working the case. In both cases we get a MaleGaze view from her legs on up: In Sam's version, she has silver high heels with [[StockingFiller fishnet stockings]], a denim miniskirt, a short tank top showing a pierced belly button, blue eyeshadow, lip gloss, and [[DumbBlonde bleached blonde curls]]. In Dean's version, she has black pumps, dark stockings, a [[LittleBlackDress sleek, black, cocktail dress]], and a diamond necklace.
** In "The Bourne Again Identity", Dean stabs a demon who does a StaircaseTumble right up to the legs of Castiel, in the RevealShot that he's BackFromTheDead.
* The first season of the 1989-90 Nickelodeon game show ''Series/ThinkFast'' always used this trope with then-host Michael Carrington as he came in, even though he was usually seen first in the Locker Room telling viewers, "Hey you! Think Fast!" as a practical joke took place.
* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1985'': In "Dead Woman's Shoes", the first that the audience sees of Maddie Duncan is her feet as she walks to the thrift store where she works. She continually steps out of people's way as she does so. The camera pans to reveal her face when she arrives in the store.
* Burgundy Smith's first appearance in ''Series/TheWesterner'' is his well-polished boots exiting a saloon in "Brown". The camera follows his boots as he walks along the boardwalk till he stops, then pans up to show him opening a bottle of champagne.
* Margaret of Anjou, aka [[NamestoRunAwayFromReallyFast The She-Wolf of France]], is introduced to us in Series/TheWhiteQueen during an audience with [[TheChessmaster Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick]] and his daughter, Anne, after the family has switched sides from [[UsefulNotes/WarsoftheRoses the House of York to Lancaster]]. Her larger than life persona is emphasized by a slow pan up from her shoes to her face as she strides onto a dais before the anxious Nevilles.
* ''Series/WynonnaEarp''. The episode that started with Waverley in her cheerleader costume & matching cowboy boots (s02e03).
* Jacqueline's [[SweetPollyOliver male disguise]] is introduced this way in the first episode of ''Series/YoungBlades''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music Videos]]
* A barefoot, mostly-nude Music/{{Gotye}} gets this in the music video for "Somebody That I Used to Know".
* Music/TomPetty's character is introduced this way in the Heartbreakers' post-apocalyptic music video for "You Got Lucky"
* The Music/TalkingHeads concert film, Film/StopMakingSense, begins with a close-up of David Byrne's feet as he walks onto the stage.
* The video for Tanz Mit Laibach loves this trope, and boots, and marching.
* In the music video for "We Are the World" by USA for Africa, the camera starts at Music/MichaelJackson's glittery socks and pans up slowly from there. Given that this was near the highest point of his career, his appearance was clearly meant to be the video's SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, so the suspenseful introduction makes sense.
* [[UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica South African]] singer Bok van Blerk uses this trope in his ballad ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL9DzrmORGs Appel, Lemoene]]''. in which two [[LowerClasslout zef]] delivery drivers set the scene by leering at passing women from their ''bakkie'', then seriously get up the nose of a greengrocer called Sally. Who gets the full feet-up treatment as she is seen to storm out, before coming back with a very big rifle. Never annoy an [[AmoralAfrikaner Afrikaaner meisie]] who can shoot straight. In the case of both the anonymous blonde woman in the street and of Sally the greengrocer, the first sight of them is their legs, and the camera moves upwards, with cutaways to the reaction from the two zefs.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/BrainDead13'', when Lance stumbles into Vivi's Salon and gets up, the first thing he sees is her neon purple high-heeled shoes before the camera pans up from her legs to her chest, and finally to a close-up of Vivi herself, [[MissingReflection looking at her facial mirror]].
* Outside the dream sequence intro, this is how Kid is introduced in ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''.
* ''VideoGame/DangerGirl'' introduces TheHeavy, Major Maxim, as a massive boot crushing a skeleton in the opening cinematics. Before the scene pans out to reveal an excavation of an ancient Indian tomb in progress.
* ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'': Takes place in Zack's ending from the third game. He rides a private limousine through downtown Las Vegas. It arrives at a casino. When the door to the limo opens, there is immediately a closeup of one of Zack's brown leather shoes exiting the car. A wide shot shows Zack exiting the limo while wearing a white tuxedo. He then grooms himself before heading to a high rollers room.
* ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'': Chapter 6-4, Writhing Shadow, starts off with a cutscene of a ''gigantic'' clawed foot slamming down in front of Laharl's group. It belongs to the Overlord of an Alternate Netherworld, whom has come to take over the Netherworld with Krichevskoy dead.
* ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Dissidia 012: Duodecim]]'': Each of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX Yuna's]] matches begins with brief cutscene, where the camera focuses on her feet as she enters the frame, before revealing who she is. Her feet are even something of a {{meme|ticMutation}}, because they were how she was confirmed to be appearing in the game at all.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': The Riku Replica is introduced like this in ''Re:Reverse/Rebirth'' when the real Riku first meets him.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'': [[NatureLover Ilia's]] introductory cutscene begins with a close-up of her bare feet, then slowly pans up her body, stopping just shy of fully showing her face. Though you get to see her smile, before she leads Epona offscreen towards the Ordon Spring.
* Dekar in ''VideoGame/LufiaCurseOfTheSinistrals'', when he meets with Idura.
* ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar'': When [[GiantSpider Shelob]] takes human form for the first time on screen, it first shows a closeup of her bare feet before panning up.
* In ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'', many of the witnesses are introduced from the feet up when they take the witness stand, including Armie "Sarge" Buff, who's testifying through a helicopter drone (as well as when Armie appears in person), and Uendo Toneido, who is sitting on a large stack of Zabuton pillows.
* ''VideoGame/SakuraWars2019'':
** The previously PutOnABus Sumire Kanzaki's reintroduction begins with a close-up of her shoes walking down the Imperial Theater's steps. As it moves up her body, she closes her fan. Then, when it finally stops on her face, she introduces herself to Seijuro Kamiyama as the theater's general manager.
** In Hatsuho Shinonome's first appearance, the camera focuses on her geta as she walks towards the stage. Then, it pans up to her face as she teases Sakura Amamiya about getting herself some arm candy, only for Sakura to bluntly rebuke her.
** When Anastasia Palma first appears in chapter 2, the first thing we see is her shoes as she walks down the main entrance to greet the rest of the team.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'', all three Bowser fights begin with the camera focusing on Bowser's feet. ''Super Mario 64 DS'' tries to do the same, but fails since the new Bowser model is smaller and more hunched over, which leaves his face in the frame.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* In the pilot episode of ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'', two characters are introduced feet first.
** Angel Dust is shown getting out of the car of a John he sold his services to, letting the camera pan up his long frame.
** After a bomb goes off in Sir Pentious' airship, the one who threw the bomb steps into the frame with one boot. The camera follows up the boot to reveal Cherri Bomb.
* In "Music to My Ears", the first short preceding ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'', Vinyl Scratch is introduced with a pan up from her feet. It notably brings attention to her new shoes, having switched the blue boots she wore in the first movie with tricolor sneakers.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':
** [[TheDragon Cinder]] [[TheHeavy Fall]] technically has a shot beforehand, but her official introduction focuses on her [[HighHeelPower glass heels]] and shadows her upper body and face, to establish her own fairytale motif of being inspired by ''Literature/{{Cinderella}}''.
** In Volume 8, the Madame plays this straight, as we see a shot of her walking across a floor in heels before we see her full body shot. [[spoiler:Given the emphasis placed on Cinder's high heels, this is our first indication that she is Cinder's [[AbusiveParents abusive guardian]], whose cruelty shaped her into the woman she is today and who was the inspiration for Cinder's own heels. It gets called back in "Ultimatum", where a near identical shot is used for Cinder, demonstrating how she's [[TheChainOfHarm modeled herself after her abuser]].]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Used a few times in ''Webcomic/BadMoonRising'' in the first story, first with Madison and Chloe's arrival at the bar, and then again with Persephone.
%%* Francesca from ''Webcomic/TheThingThatWouldNotLeave''.
** Technically Feet First ''Re''-introduction, but when we finally get to see [[spoiler:Corporal Ross again when the crew reach Tombstone.]] We are greeted to a pair of boots with a [[spoiler:bite mark on them, that they protected her from]].
* In ''Webcomic/TheWaterPhoenixKing,'' an interesting twist: the first glimpse we have of our [[ShellShockedVeteran unconventional hero]] is his bare foot as he lies sprawled on a bare wooden floor, in near-rags, not bothering to light the lamp as the sun goes down. It perfectly symbolizes his state of psychological deadness, at the bottom of Fortune's Wheel, right before everything changes and he [[KnightErrant rejoins the fray]]:
-->'''Gilgam:''' Moving furniture is a lot of work. ''Work'' is a lot of work. I'm happy to lie here.\\
'''Anthem:''' If you had any self-respect you'd be ''drunk.'' Lying on the floor while ''sober'' smacks of indolence.\\
'''Gilgam:''' Not indolence! A proper sense of the world's fundamental pointlessness! I have a philosophy. The philosophical are ''never'' indolent.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}''. Our introduction to Powder after the TimeSkip--now CuteAndPsycho [[SheIsAllGrownUp teenager]] Jinx--is her boots with the tips of her long blue BraidsOfAction brushing against them, as she steps out of the smoke.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': The opening theme starts with a shot of Arthur's feet skipping down a sidewalk with Pal running alongside.
* Spoofed in ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'' when Cleveland meets an old school friend of his who grew up to be really hot. His eyes travel up her body, but when he gets to her head the view suddenly and quickly goes over the top of it. We then see that Cleveland accidentally fell over backwards while checking her out.
* Throughout the first season of ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', Yumi "entered the screen" this way. Admittedly, it was never meant to be a surprise.
* The ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode ''[[Recap/DuckTales2017S3E5LouiesEleven Louie's Eleven]]'' has ''WesternAnimation/DaisyDuck'' descending some staircases. The lower half of her body is the very first thing we get to see of her in the show.
* The opening theme to ''WesternAnimation/IHeartArlo'' has each of the main cast introduced doing something in their homes, while the camera is focused on their feet.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Horseland}}'': In the first episode, when the characters first see Sarah during the flashback sequence, the camera is focused on Sarah's boots as she comes out of her limo, before landing up to show her full self.
* Though one can see her in class, in ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures'' when Pepper Potts fully introduced herself to Tony, the camera focused on her feet first.
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': When Luthor and the Legion of Doom think they've resurrected Brainiac, the smoke clears to reveal the feet of... someone else. The camera pans up to reveal Darkseid, and before it can fully sink in what's happened, he starts to blow things up.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' episode "Impeach Fuzz". When Miss Bellum is introduced in her new "uniform" by Fuzzy, she is introduced bare feet first.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', Principal Prickley's replacement [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Dr Slicer]] steps out of his car in this fashion. On the day he takes over, he steps out [[BookEnds again]], [[spoiler: but it is actually Prickley, taking his old job back because ([[HiddenHeartOfGold ostensibly]]) the salary was too low]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': Of the campers making their grand entrance in "[[Recap/TotalDramaNotSoHappyCampersPartOne Not So Happy Campers - Part 1]]", Lindsay, Heather, and Eva are introduced feet first. Lindsay's and Heather's come back to back. They're the conventionally sexiest female campers, and while the sweet Lindsay's pan shot upwards is accompanied by a sultry jazz tune, the wicked Heather's flash shot is marked by a threatening aerophone and drum. The violent Eva also gets a flash shot and her intro tune starts with a bang that subsides in a threatening aerophone.
* Amalia in ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' is introduced feet first. Mainly because it is from Ruel's point of view, and his eyes are more focused on the golden foot cuff on her saddle.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Human babies are rarely born feet-first. While the foetus naturally positions itself to be born head-first most of the time, in about 3 to 5% of pregnancies it ends up "upside-down". Since it is considered a higher risk for the baby to be born this way, most such babies are delivered by caesarean section, or the mother can do abdominal exercises to attempt to rotate the foetus inside the womb. As such, feet-first births are very rare in the developed world, though they may occur in parts of the globe suffering extreme poverty, where access to healthcare is less reliable.
[[/folder]]
----