History Main / CreepyCoolCrosses

** Misa and Mello's respective necklaces (and, in Misa's case, also earrings). Interesting in that while Misa's is generally seen as her being into typically commercialized gothic trends, Mello's is often seen as an indication he is Catholic by fandom. This is probably because Misa's are just random crosses, while Mello is seen at least once with an actual rosary. Not to mention that while Misa is Japanese, Mello is European (what kind is up for debate) and thus more likely to actually have some personal connection to the religion itself. In the anime, the crosses are [[{{Bowdlerise}} omitted]], with Misa's cross replaced with a fleur de lis and all crosses worn by Mello removed - though interestingly, the cross is retained on the Misa collector's figure included with volume 5 of the DVD series, and she is also depicted wearing it in the anime's first opening. It's also worth noting that, in the scene where he interrogates Soichiro, he's sitting beneath a ''crucifix.'' [[ChristianityIsCatholic All Christianity may be Catholic]] in American and European media, but crucifixes are much less common that regular crosses in Japanese media. The fandom also cites the fact that his real name, [[spoiler: Mihael Keehl]], appears to be Croatian and German. Both countries have a high percentage of Catholics.

* In ''BrokenSaints'', there is a rain of crosses [[ShoutOut similar to a famous scene from]] TheWall, used for a lucid dream, and later on when referring to the same subject.

* Crosses feature prominently in ''WeissKreuz'', the title of which is in fact (slightly mangled) German for "white cross." A white cross appears to be the logo of Weiss, the team of four [[HitmanWithAHeart Hitmen with Hearts]] who are the protagonists of the series. Several members of Weiss habitually wear crosses - particularly in the {{Oddly Named Sequel|2ElectricBoogaloo}} ''Weiss Kreuz: Gluhen'', in which every member of Weiss has a red cross somewhere on his "working clothes," including one who paints a cross on his bare chest. Possibly justified in the cases of Aya and [[RaisedCatholic Ken]], as they are [[JapaneseChristian at least nominally Christian]]. Crucifixion symbolism also turns up at least once.

* The mediaeval Japanese used crucifixion as a method of execution, having developed this independently of the West. The first Western visitors - Catholic missionaries - were amazed at this (and especially at the way the prisoner [[ImpaledWithExtremeprejudice was eventually dispatched with long spears]]) and speculated the country must have had some prior contact with decent Christian folk, reasoning back from the two thieves executed with Jesus. Crucifixion was used as public execution until well into the final Shogunate, was regularly used against {{Japanese Christian}}s (the most "famous" victims being [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Miki Saint Paul Miki]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-six_Martyrs_of_Japan the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki]]), and accounts exist of its being used on British and American prisoners of war in WorldWarTwo.

** [[spoiler: And the Quincy cross, albeit in a corrupted form, is used as the logo by the final arc's new enemy, the Vandenreich.]]

* Seifer Almasy in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is distinguished by the {{T|heKnightsTemplar}}emplar cross that he wears.

** The concert at which the "Gimme chocolate!!" was filmed[[note]]"Legend D", marking Suzuka's 16th birthday[[/note]] ends with the lead singer being crucified, in front of said statue.

[[quoteright:270:[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Eva_cross_explosion.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:270:[[FauxSymbolism What do you mean it's not symbolic?]] ]]

* In ''Manga/CardCaptorSakura'', some of Sakura's clothes have crosses on them.

* Parodied in PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt, where the high school is shaped as a cross.

* Shipwrecked English sailor John Blackthorne is both amazed and appalled to witness Japanese criminals being executed by crucifixion in Creator/JamesClavell's epic ''{{Shogun}}''. See "Real Life" below.

* In ''MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'', crosses are symbols of the Panthalassa race.
* Tooya in ''AyashiNoCeres'' wears a choker with a cross on it.
* Hayate's Armed Device in ''[[LyricalNanoha Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' is shaped like a cross (and she's got crosses all over her mage outfit, too) and named accordingly: "Schwertkreuz" means "Sword Cross" in GratuitousGerman. What with being a PersonOfMassDestruction and all... Her [[QuirkyMinibossSquad quirky miniboss]], [[CuteBruiser Vita]], has crosses all over her ElegantGothicLolita costume, which [[CosplayOtakuGirl Hayate]] created for her.

** ''NanohaForce'' additionally gives us an ancient ArtifactOfDoom inconspicuously dubbed "the [[GratuitousEnglish Bible of Silver Cross]]". It's nature and origins are yet to be revealed, however.

* Ikuto and Utau in ''ShugoChara''.
* Zange in ''{{Kannagi}}''.

* ''ViolinistOfHameln'': The kingdom and royalty of Sforzendo use crosses as a holy seal. Flute goes one further and pulls out huge, mallet-sized crosses to beat down on the object of her ire. Queen Horn shoots laser beams from hers.

* Since ''ChronoCrusade'' is about a [[ChurchMilitant nun with guns]] and the [[DealWithTheDevil demon she's contracted to]] fighting other [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], it makes sense that crosses would pop up--and they do, a ''lot''. The bullets Rosette uses show crosses in the air when fired, the barriers used to trap the demons also glow with cross-shaped energy, in the anime Chrono is badly injured when [[FauxSymbolism a cross-shaped piece of a building falls on top of him]], Remington's energy blade looks like a cross relic until it's activated...

* Strangely enough, this is completely averted in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', this troper cannot remember even one cross of religious context throughout the series, when you consider that the resident CrystalDragonJesus is based largely on inquisition era Catholicism, and the portrayal of the Kushan religion, this is surprising.

--> '''[[BridgeBunny Aoba]]''': ''Another'' cross attack!? Why!?
--> '''[[BridgeBunny Maya]]''': Because it's... deep?
--> '''[[DeadpanSnarker Gendo]]''': Ah, don't start start that tired argument again! It was added because the director thought it was shiny, so just move on and continue the operation.

* ''LoveHina'': An interesting subversion: Naru is neither creepy nor particularly cool, yet a discreet and small cross can be seen around her neck at times. This small cross necklace helped ''save her life'' in volume 12, where it and the engagement ring Keitaro had been trying to give to her snagged a tree branch as they fell off a cliff. Then the chain snapped and they fell the last couple feet with no problem. Akamatsu himself says that the cross doesn't really mean anything, that it's likely a shop keeper talked her into buying it at some point in Volume 8.

* The demon-fighting demon symbiotes of ''{{Tokko}}'' all wear crosses.
* In ''PrincessResurrection'' the vampiress Reiri seems especially associated with crosses; [[IHaveTheHighGround standing on them for effect]] or having them in her background.

* ''YamiNoMatsuei'' - Dr Kazutaka Muraki sure loves those crosses to set a mood, and even gives a monologue at one point during the anime about how Christians in Japan in the past had to hide their faith. There's no indication that Muraki himself is a Christian, though.

* ''{{Eyeshield 21}}''. The Devil Bats use a play called the Cris Cross, some translators having put in as "Christ Cross," as it was pictured as the religious cross with the quarterback at the center. The play is simply two runners taking the ball from the quarterback, or faking the play so the quarterback can pass. [[spoiler: Monta and Sena never successfully play it until one of the last plays of the Christmas bowl. It also turns out that that one time was actually a variation of the move called the Evil cross.]]
* Strangely enough, this is completely averted in Manga/{{Berserk}}, this troper cannot remember even one cross of religious context throughout the series, when you consider that the resident CrystalDragonJesus is based largely on inquisition era Catholicism, and the portrayal of the Kushan religion, this is surprising.
* ''DGrayMan'': Allen along with the other Exorcists wear crosses on their uniforms to signify that they are part of the Black Order. Most of the Innocence weapons have some allusion to a cross of some sort:

* Satoshi from ''DNAngel'' is often shown wearing crosses in his outfits, including one outfit where his shirt has a huge gold-colored cross on the back. This is partially because the manga likes dressing him in gothy visual kei-styled outfits, but is also likely a reference to [[spoiler:his alter ego]] Krad, who has a cross accessory hanging from his ponytail.

* During the NESTS saga of ''TheKingOfFighters'', Kyo Kusanagi wears a black shirt with 2 pairs of perpendicular white lines forming a cross on his chest. Also, in the ''[[DatingSim Days of Memories]]'' {{Spin Off}}s, Goenitz, Chris and Shermie are seen wearing crucifixes. It may be important to note that, while of those chracters, Goenitz is supposed to be a priest, his true loyalties are with {{Orochi}}.

* ''KiddyGrade'''s Éclair wears a pair of crosses as earrings. Apparently, they also function as communication devices, and also indicate the status of her nanomist shield.

* Jung from ''{{Gunbuster}}'' wears one, despite being from [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp East Germany]], when the Communist Bloc historically persecuted devout Christians. Maybe they got lax in the future.

* The mediaeval Japanese used crucifixion as a method of execution, having developed this independently of the West. The first Western visitors - Catholic missionaries - were amazed at this (and especially at the way the prisoner was eventually dispatched with long spears) and speculated the country must have had some prior contact with decent Christian folk, reasoning back from the two thieves executed with Jesus. Crucifixion was used as public execution until well into the final Shogunate, and accounts exist of its being used on British and American prisoners of war in WW2.

* Choutaro Ohtori from ''PrinceOfTennis'' wears a silver cross, despite not being Christian (he says so in the OAV when asked by Shishido). Subverted since he's not creepy, but quite a GentleGiant.

* Slayer from ''GuiltyGear'' makes use of cross motifs, being [[OurVampiresAreDifferent a sufficiently different vampire]] and all.

* [[http://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/7/115598.jpg The title character Nyanpire]] from [[NyanpireTheAnimation The Gothic World of Nyanpire]] has a yellow cross on his stomach that he got once he was turned into an actual vampire.