Poor Image: Nightmare Fuel.Western Animation TV

So I don't really suggest images on Image Pickin anymore, but I think we can definitely do better. The current image is just some weird slightly uncanny valley seal laughing, nowhere near nightmarish. Considering the medium's◊ source◊ material◊, I think this should be a quick fix.

edited 10th Dec '12 12:24:42 AM by Mattonymy

I like the Real Monsters one because it is a monster in the closet. Different people think different things are scary, but that is classic scary.

The current image is an In-Universe example, given that otters (or sealions) prey on penguins. Awfully close to JAFAAC though.

The closet image is the best in my judgment.

ETA: As per PM suggestion.

edited 10th Dec '12 2:52:59 AM by SeptimusHeap

Closet > Joker > Whatever the hell that last one is > Current.

Closet over everything else.

Final thing > Closet monster > Joker = Current.

1. Last... thing in post #1 2. Joker 3. Current 4. Closet monster

What is good about the "last thing"? Whether or not it is scary is subjective.

I also like Joker because it's a clown, but still like the closet monster best. Not because it scares me.

edited 13th Dec '12 9:27:15 PM by rodneyAnonymous

I think the "last thing" is just freaky. I like the Joker image too, because he has a menacing expression, but is it JAFAAC?

Either you know it's The Joker or it's an animated scary clown.

The fact that scariness is subjective can be argued for all of the suggestions, including the current, so that's really a non-issue.

The Joker image is pretty nondescript - it's basically just a weaker version of the pose on Laughing Mad, and barely suggests Monster Clown.

Also, anecdotal, but I never really found Batman: The Animated Series's take on The Joker to be all that frightening. Somehow.

"The fact that scariness is subjective can be argued for all of the suggestions..."

No I don't think so, scary clowns and monsters in the closet are classic tropes. The images don't rely on being subjectively scary.

(^^ ^ But yes, I agree that the Joker image is kind of weak.)

edited 15th Dec '12 1:31:37 AM by rodneyAnonymous

Personally, the third image — the Nightmare Face violin girl from Courage the Cowardly Dog — gives me shivers every time I see it. The show itself pretty infamous with any nightmare fueling subject matter since the '90s, and I should know because I was one of those kids who was terrified to see THAT and King Ramses with the re-runs as a kid.

"Return the slab, or suffer my curse..."

edited 6th Jan '13 9:51:35 PM by ViperAcidZX

So are drawing a blank thought here...?

I like the closet one the most even though I personally find it the -least- scary of the trio (classic scary image). The one from Courage is the one that gives me the most creeps to look at, but that's not necessarily what we need for the page image. Classic scariness tropes > subjective level of scariness.

Bump.

I still favour the Nightmare Face from Courage.

Courage pic, lets get this done already.

Crowner's hooked.

Huh, I wonder what Nightmare Face Girl would be li-HOLYSHIT!

In terms of just sheer disturbingness, I think NFG is the best. As for other criteria, I can't say.

edited 2nd Feb '13 8:55:34 AM by dRoy

Bump for votes; as of right now:

Monster in closet: 6 (yeas:10 nays:4) 2.50 : 1

Nightmare face girl: 2 (yeas:9 nays:7) 1.29 : 1

Joker is way in the red.

edited 6th Feb '13 5:51:06 AM by Willbyr

I think "sheer disturbingness" is, of all the criteria, the least (or not at all) important.

You've made that clear before. What other criteria are you using, besides the one about being recognisable as a common fear motif?

Whether it looks like it is supposed to be scary (regardless of how successful it is at that). "Nightmare face" a little, but "closet monster" a lot, especially given there is a scared child in the picture.

edited 6th Feb '13 3:12:00 PM by rodneyAnonymous

I'm having difficulty imagining a context in which a person with enormous bloodshot eyes and a gaping, straggle-toothed mouth, evidently shrieking at the audience, is not intended to be frightening. And it is rather the obvious intent to me. :/ (I've come up with 'over-the-top reaction to something terrifying happening Behind the Black', but ultimately that would still be an example.)