[[http://www.threepanelsoul.com/view.php?date=2009-02-09 http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RoboHalo.jpg]]
[[caption-width:320:Every time bellring.mp3 plays, an angelbot gets its halo.]]

->"The halo is a purely optical illusion, produced by moisture in the air, in the manner of a rainbow; but the aureola is conferred as a sign of superior sanctity, in the same way as a bishop's mitre, or the Pope's tiara. In the painting of the Nativity, by Szedgkin, a pious artist of Pesth, not only do the Virgin and the Child wear the nimbus, but an ass nibbling hay from the sacred manger is similarly decorated and, to his lasting honor be it said, appears to bear his unaccustomed dignity with a truly saintly grace."
-->-- '''AmbroseBierce''', ''[=~The Devil's Dictionary~=]''

In fiction, halos are basically synonymous with holiness and extreme good. It means you're either a {{God}} (or [[CrystalDragonJesus a non-denominational]] [[LowestCosmicDenominator equivalent]]), an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]], a saint, the MessianicArchetype or a {{soul}} of the dearly departed in FluffyCloudHeaven (the real {{Heaven}} isn't quite so tacky). This is of course because of the religious connotations with [[ChristianityIsCatholic Catholic Christian]] religious iconography, despite the fact that halos are also a part of Muslim, Buddhist and other religious art. Traditionally, the presence of a halo on someone in art means they are inhabited with the Holy Spirit because of their great virtue.

Therefore, anyone with a halo is usually [[TheChosenOne chosen to]], either by a deity or the cosmos in general. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that anyone with a halo hovering overhead is also likely very, ''very'' powerful -- PowerGlows, after all. Either as a pre-requisite to appearing or a side effect of being chosen by on-high, the character will be capable of miracles... and kicking butt! Expect it to be associated with ElementalPowers of [[LightIsGood Light and/or Holy]], and [[ItBurns cause fear and pain]] to [[GlamourFailure the evil in their presence.]] Exceptions of course are when LightIsNotGood, and the decidedly evil character (maybe a [[FallenAngel fallen]] or OneWingedAngel?) decides to ape the good guys as a way to mock them.

Holiness aside, some characters can wear an "artificial" halo without ever being remotely religious or even spiritual. Energy powered {{Super Hero}}es (and {{Super Villain}}s) may create BattleAura's around their head (or entire body) related to their power, like GreenLantern or [[TheAuthority Apollo]]. Interestingly, robotic characters may be built with mechanical halo's that can shoot ReverseShrapnel, or double as DeflectorShields. Further, evil characters may create "negative" halo's of darkness around themselves, paired with {{Face Framed In Shadow}} along with GlowingEyesOfDoom.

Often paired with PowerGivesYouWings. A SubTrope of PowerGlows and SisterTrope to BattleAura. Not to be confused with the video game ''{{Halo}}.''

''[[TropeCo/HolyHalo This item]] is available in the TropeCo/TropeCo catalog.''
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Dead characters in ''DragonBallZ'' tend to wear halos when in the afterlife, or if they, like Goku of the Majin Buu saga, return to Earth without being resurrected by the Dragon Balls.
* The halos in ''HaibaneRenmei'' appear to be ''artificial'', created by a blacksmith, and need to be held on by a device until they "stick" and hover over the Haibane's head.
** Only in Rakka's case. According to the flashbacks, on most Haibane it normally sticks right away. Incidentally, it's created by putting substance called "light leaves" in a ring-shaped frying pan, and heating it over an oven until it melts and takes uniform shape. No special training is required, but only the Renmei know where the raw material comes from.
* At one point in {{FLCL}} Kanti the robot affixes a fake halo made of wire to his head.
*In the Director's Cut and Platinum version (as well as in the manga) of Evangelion when possessed by Armisael (which starts off as what looks like a giant halo, making this a double pointer), Unit 00 is shown growing a fleshy tumorous mass along its back which incorporates the shapes of almost all the previous Angels they have battled. Then, for a moment the Eva raises in the air and turns into an all white, naked, Rei, that appeared to resemble Lilith, with a halo over her head just prior to exploding.
** In the ''Rebuild of {{Evangelion}}'', some of the Angels form a halo-like ring around themselves when they use their AT-field for specific actions, such as floating.
** [[spoiler: In Rebuild 2.0 Unit 01 gets a halo when it goes into its god mode (this seems to freak everyone out, as 01 is now showing some very blatant Angel traits). Unit 06 gets one while it hovers down from the moon.]]
* The angels in {{Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan}} have halos that are only atoms wide and thus, very sharp. Like, "slice off all your fingers upon grabbing," sharp. Additionally, removing the halo causes... [[{{Toilet Humour}} stomach issues]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* Apollo, TheCape of TheAuthority, has one of these. Justified by his solar powers: the halo gets dimmer when he's weaker, and glows brightest when he's just had a good bask in the sun. Or, to put it another way: that's not a halo; that's ''lens flare''.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In the more recent ''AnimalCrossing'' games, you can buy a halo from the Able Sisters to wear on your head.
* In ''Gauntlet 64,'' they are a powerup that lets you steal life energy from the Death enemies. If you beat the game, you will wear it at all times.
* While not strictly a halo, the Fire Tablet artifact in ''{{Okami}}'' creates a circle the the sun's corona around Amaterasu when equipped... and gives her a nice damage reduction to fire and immunity to LethalLavaLand.
* Ubiquitous among the villains of DevilMayCry.
* ''Starships'' frequently have halos in {{Xenosaga}}, specifically the Dämmerung and the Durandal.
* Many {{JRPG}}s will include halos as part of either the "dead" status (WorldOfMana) or the "revive" spell (FinalFantasy).
* Oddly subverted by GaiaOnline. The Angelic Halo plays the trope straight, but there's also an ''evil'' halo, and several that are simply there to look pretty.
* Played straight [[spoiler:(or, as it turns out, not so straight)]] in {{Tales of Symphonia}}.
** The angelic light spirit Rem in other ''Tales'' games often has one. If the Raise Dead spell summons an actual angel, that one too. (The one in ''{{Tales of Eternia}}'' was [[TalesOfPhantasia Mint]] with a halo.)
* Maxing out the positive end of the KarmaMeter in the ''{{Fable}}'' series will get you one of these, among [[BeautyEqualsGoodness other changes]]. The halo isn't always visible, though; it's particularly hard to see in the day.
* In ''WorldOfWarcraft'' several of the high level priest and paladin armors create halos. There's also an item that grants essentially a halo made of fire, for mages or warlocks.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Renaissance paintings often have halos around Jesus/Virgin Mary/Holy Figure of Choice's head.
* The TropeCodifier seems to be the Christian art canon, where any holy person or being had to be drawn with a halo.
* In Muslim art canon, Muhammad's head is replaced by flames.
* Buddha is often shown with a fiery halo in Buddhist art.
* OlderThanTheyThink: Most people think halos as we know them originated in Christian art. In fact, similar gilded round halos around gods' heads were used in late Egyptian religious paintings.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* {{Reliquary}} uses an interesting example of this in Alcolla's angel form: hovering spikes and letters.
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