This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Keru: As to the anime example, there are three factors at work there. For Kitsune, it's an attempt to evoke the concept of her nickname (kitsune, being fox). The same can be said for the rather snake-like Ichimaru Gin of Bleach For many older characters, Bunta of Initial D being a good example, the closed eyes are meant to indicate great wisdom. Eyes being blanked out, shaded out, or completely covered by hair are temporary devices usually used to show the building of a potential outburst by that character, though there are other situational uses for it as well. (Meki, help me out with some examples of that one.)
Ununnilum: Since it doesn't really matter to the entry that Omega doesn't have a body.
Daibhid C: Didn't the Titans episode with Thunder and Lightning show Slade without his mask?
Meta4: I did a bit of a rewrite on the main article. Reorganized the paragraphs and moved the in-article examples into the "Examples" section (except for Dark Helmet, who isn't an example at all because he spends more time unmasked than he does masked). If anyone was particularly attached to the old copy, here it is:
A variant of He Who Must Not Be Seen. The audience never gets a good look at this character's face. The Faceless trope is frequently used when the character is a Diabolical Mastermind.
Occasionally, the faceless character will be revealed in an especially poignant scene, typically just before the series (or the character's tenure on it) ends. Villainous characters tend to be hideously disfigured when their masks are removed (In Doctor Who, when Omega was unmasked, he turned out to have no face at all), though the subversion has become just about as common, where the villain is revealed to be a perfectly ordinary guy (eg. Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet in Spaceballs).
Occasionally, the President of the USA will be The Faceless; this tends to come from not wanting the episode to seem dated when they re-run it in four years. See also Invisible President.
Specific variants include characters who are only ever shown from behind (Steinbrenner, Dr. Claw), characters who are only ever shown while standing behind something (Wilson), characters who always stand in shadow or have their Face Framed in Shadow, and characters who wear a mask (Cobra Commander, Darth Vader, everyone on Mucha Lucha).
There is an anime variant on The Faceless, in which a character's eyes are hidden or always closed. Since anime relies strongly on eyes to express emotion and intent, this adds an air of ambiguity to the character and his motives — Mitsune "Kitsune" Konno from Love Hina is a prime example.
When this trope is applied to the Evil Minions or, more rarely, the good guy's Red Shirt Army, you end up with Faceless Goons.
For other parts of the body, see Peeka Boo. If you don't see anything at all from a villain, watch your step; you're up against an Ultimate Evil.
Allandrel: The faceless aspect of Jawas caused some problems in a Star Wars roleplaying game I played in, where the party wound up fighting many, many Jawas. After a fight left us surrounded by Jawa corpses, the following exchange occurred:
- Me: I pull aside a dead Jawa's hood to take a look at its face.GM: It's stench is too overpowering for you to approach it.Me: My armor is atmospherically sealed and has its own air supply. I pull back the hood.GM: ... okay, fine. You look at the Jawa's face. Now you know what Jawas look like. Happy?Me: Yes.
Evilsbane: Should this page have a link to a subtrope about when The Faceless Big Bad turns out to be someone familiar (like Darth Sidious turning out to be - GASP - Palpatine, or similar?
