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Hypnotic Head

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A stock visual effect that is usually used to indicate someone is being hypnotized (or trying to hypnotize someone). It does get used for all sorts of hallucinations and visualized breakdowns but it's primarily associated with hypnosis for some reason.

The common version tends to include:

  • A floating head
  • The head itself is spinning or moving
  • A (usually) multicolored swirl as the background
  • A humming '50s sci-fi sound effect or increased echo if the head is speaking.

Goes in hand with Hypnotic Eyes and Compelling Voice, often used as part of a Mass Hypnosis plot. Compare Hypno Ray, Huge Holographic Head. For hypnosis symptoms, see Mind-Control Eyes.


Examples:

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    Advertising 

    Comic Books 
  • Blake and Mortimer: Used when Abdul Razek hypnotizes Blake and Mortimer so they can't remember the Chamber of Horus and later in the series when Septimus hypnotizes Mortimer, complete with swirling effect.
  • The Ringmaster from Marvel Comics has done this at least once.

    Films — Live-Action 

    Music 
  • This is a recurring theme in Canadian EDM producer Rezz's stage visuals, album artwork and music videos.

    Live-Action TV 
  • Doctor Who:
    • Played for Drama (it was the 60s) in the Hartnell-era story "The War Machines", in which WOTAN's manipulation of people's minds is depicted using a very faintly super-imposed spiral, usually over a closeup of the victim's struggling face. The Radiophonic Workshop musique concrete score makes it quite disturbing.
    • The Second Doctor, (first) Third Doctor and (first) Fourth Doctor title sequences both display a closeup of the Doctor's face in front of a whirling, spiralling psychedelic vortex of light.
  • Max Headroom. Honorable Mention must go to the Max Headroom Pirating Incident.

    Video Games 

    Western Animation 
  • In Futurama, the highest rated TV show is "Everybody Loves Hypnotoad", which features sitcom establishing shots alternating with shots of the title character showing off his hypnotic eyes. This, of course, results in the highest quality television entertainment imaginable.

 
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