History Main / DullEyesOfUnhappiness

** One notable example is Dazai: Before his HeelFaceTurn, his eyes are almost always dull and he is a straight-played DeathSeeker. Currently his eyes are somehow brighter (except for the few times when he gets dark again), and his desire of death has become much more diluted compare with before.
** During Kyouka's time as an assassin of the Mafia, her eyes show no light nor hope. Now at the agency she finds the purpose of her life and the dimness disappear from her eyes.

* Asuna in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' is drawn this way based on the her state of amnesia regarding her DarkAndTroubledPast. Upon regaining said memories, she went into a blank catatonia for days. She also sports these in the first anime [[spoiler: when she dies]] and again in chapter 352 upon [[spoiler: seeing Negi's grave]].

* Hiro from ''Manga/HidamariSketch'' has when she wakes up, since she is NotAMorningPerson.

** After [[spoiler:Rei fights a youma in the finale of the first season and is killed, after all the other inner scouts have died fighting,]] Usagi's eyes become blank and [[HeroicBSOD she shuts down.]]

** This also happens to Usagi when [[spoiler:the Silver Crystal is shattered on reentry]] at the end of the [[Anime/SailorMoonRTheMovie Sailor Moon R movie]] but it could be because [[spoiler:She's dead]]. It's about like it is with the before mentioned Dream Mirror.

* All three main characters from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' have these eyes at one point or another during their angst filled stories, most notably:

** PlayedForLaughs at the start of episode 5. Kaori's eyes suddenly become this when the gang visit her without knocking the door and sneak an accidental peek at her while she was naked and receiving a sponge bath from nurse.
** Played straight at episode 20 [[spoiler:from a traumatized Kousei on his way home after he was visit Kaori only to see her health take a sharp turn for the worst]].

* In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', White gets these (as well has having them full of tears) after [[spoiler:her Tepig abandons her for N and she falls out of the Ferris Wheel out of shock]].
* The title character of ''Manga/MoritaSanWaMukuchi'' [[PlayingWithATrope plays with this]]; sure, she's got the eyes and freaks people out, but she's really just a fairly normal, if quiet, highschool girl.

* In ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'', we watch as this happens to Okuru's eyes in his flashback. He returns to his village to find it destroyed and in flames, and his wife collapses and dies right in front of him. Over the course of a couple of seconds his eyes change from normal to dull. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEkNxpUhndk&t=0m59s Watch for yourself]]. Mugen later compares them to the eyes of someone who is already dead.

* ''Anime/{{Noir}}'': When Kirika's eyes get like this, it's serves as an indicator that she's just gone from dangerous to Death Incarnate.

* In ''Anime/{{Free}}'', though it's subtle, Haruka's eyes are much brighter as a child. We're given a comparison in the first episode with the scene cuts from a shot of kid Haruka's eyes to an older, much more apathetic looking Haruka with duller eyes. As the anime progresses the brightness returns, and he also begins to express much more emotion.

* Chris Yuu Takigawa of ''Manga/AceOfTheDiamond'' appears this way when he's first introduced. The reason is because he's depressed due to being relegated to the second string of Seidou's baseball team after he suffered a GameBreakingInjury. He gets better thanks to training and mentoring Eijun Sawamura.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', seems to become the default state of those who have had a long stay at Azkaban. It is noted more than once that Sirius still has a dead look in his eyes, even a few years after he broke out. That doesn't mean hes always unhappy though.

* In the HBO adaptation of ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'', those who have [[spoiler:been severed from their Daemon, an animal manifestation of their soul]] display these, through post production digitally removing the reflections in their eyes.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}:'' When [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ironwood]] and [[LegacyOfTheChosen Oscar]] argue about [[BigBad Salem]], Oscar suggests that Ironwood is [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming]] as dangerous as Salem. [[spoiler:Oscar calls him 'James' for the first time. Ironwood nods to himself and informs Oscar that only friends call him 'James'. His eyes suddenly lose all their eye shine to become dull and flat; he then tells Oscar to call him 'General', whips out his gun and shoots the boy off the ledge they're standing on. His eyes remain completely dull as he watches Oscar fall.]] Volume 8 and supplementary material reveals that this is a visual indicator of when his Semblance [[HeroicWillpower Mettle]] is active, as he uses it to enforce his less moral decisions. In the episodes "Risk" and "Creation", he engages it full time to go through with his decision to [[spoiler:threaten to destroy Mantle]], making his eyes dull and flat right up until the moment when he lets it go [[spoiler:when he thinks he has Penny]], and in "Worthy", he switches between the two while talking to [[spoiler:Winter]].

* Stu in ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' has these when he's [[MemeticMutation lost control of his life]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vs55Z7t7bk Here's your pudding Angelica...]]

* Lemongrab of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime.'' Seeing as how he's perpetually unhappy and has problems relating to people in social situations, it's understandable. (Of course, they'll get bigger and more expressive if you bother him enough...) Interestingly, his eyes are USUALLY like this, even when he's screaming.) He's one of the few examples where completely dull eyes are hilarious, because his facial expressions often don't match his SCREAMING tone of voice.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Motorcity}}'', when a Burner succumbs to the effect of the Terra's gas pod and see their greatest fears, their eyes go all black with a white dot (the opposite of their eyes' color palette).

** Very briefly, but after Tirek drains Twilight, the color in her eyes go to dull grey. Once Discord gives her the medallion and it's revealed to be the final key needed to open the box, her eyes and those of her friends are returned to normal.

* ''Manga/{{Chobits}}'': In the anime, the characters' eyes are usually depicted this way, to the point of seeming to be a stylistic quirk, until a major shift occurs: [[spoiler: Chi's program gives all the [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots persocoms]] normal-looking eyes]]. By contrast, [[spoiler:the human characters]] continue to be drawn in this style. [[NotSoDifferent There are multiple]] [[LuddWasRight ways to interpret]] [[AloneInACrowd what this means]].

* Ayumi Tachibana has these as her default expression in ''VideoGame/FamicomDetectiveClub: The Girl Who Stands Behind''. Considering that Yoko Kojima, the murder victim, was her best friend, it's a pretty justifiable expression. Her homeroom teacher Tatsuya Hibino also has these as well, for similar reasons.

* Ayumi Tachibana has these as her default expression in ''VideoGame/FamicomDetectiveClub: The Girl in Back''. Considering that Yoko Kojima, the murder victim, was her best friend, it's a pretty justifiable expression. Her homeroom teacher Tatsuya Hibino also has these as well, for similar reasons.

* ''Anime/KemonoFriends'': Fans noticed that all the friends based on extinct animals such as [[https://japari-library.com/wiki/Thylacine_Thylacine_a.jpg Thylacine]] and [[https://japari-library.com/wiki/Passenger_Pigeon Passenger Pigeon]] sport this kind of eyes. This is all but confirmed to be directly related to their extinct status, as [[spoiler: Kaban's eyes go dim once she hears about human's apparent extinction]].

* ''Anime/KemonoFriends'': Fans noticed that all the friends based on extinct animals such as [[https://kemono-friends.fandom.com/wiki/Thylacine?file=G284_Thylacine_a.jpg Thylacine]] and [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kemono-friends/images/a/a5/G356_Passenger_Pigeon_a.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170824063141 Passenger Pigeon]] sport this kind of eyes.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}:'' When [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ironwood]] and [[LegacyOfTheChosen Oscar]] argue about [[BigBad Salem]], Oscar suggests that Ironwood is [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming]] as dangerous as Salem. [[spoiler:Oscar calls him 'James' for the first time. Ironwood nods to himself and informs Oscar that only friends call him 'James'. His eyes suddenly lose all their eye shine to become dull and flat; he then tells Oscar to call him 'General', whips out his gun and shoots the boy off the ledge they're standing on. His eyes remain completely dull as he watches Oscar fall.]] Volume 8 and supplementary material reveals that this is a visual indicator of when his Semblance [[HeroicWillpower Mettle]] is active, as he uses it to enforce his less moral decisions. In the episodes "Risk" and "Creation", he engages it full time to go through with his decision to [[spoiler:threaten to destroy Mantle]], making his eyes dull and flat right up until the moment when he lets it go [[spoiler:when he thinks he has Penny]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}:'' When [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ironwood]] and [[LegacyOfTheChosen Oscar]] argue about [[BigBad Salem]], Oscar suggests that Ironwood is [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming]] as dangerous as Salem. [[spoiler:Oscar calls him 'James' for the first time. Ironwood nods to himself and informs Oscar that only friends call him 'James'. His eyes suddenly lose all their eye shine to become dull and flat; he then tells Oscar to call him 'General', whips out his gun and shoots the boy off the ledge they're standing on. His eyes remain completely dull as he watches Oscar fall.]]

** ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'': Cammy Meele sports this kind of eyes. She's constantly falling asleep/waking up, so it's likely to represent that she's perpetually half-sleep.

** ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigation'': Cammy Meele sports this kind of eyes. She's constantly falling asleep/waking up, so it's likely to represent that she's perpetually half-sleep.

* Ayumi Tachibana has these as her default expression in ''VideoGame/DetectiveClub: The Girl in Back''. Considering that Yoko Kojima, the murder victim, was her best friend, it's a pretty justifiable expression. Her homeroom teacher Tatsuya Hibino also has these as well, for similar reasons.

** Sasuke's older brother, [[HeartbrokenBadass Itachi]] is shown with eyes like these when is Sharingan isn't activated. And [[StoicWoobie with]] [[IDidWhatIHadToDo good]] [[DeathSeeker reason.]

* ''Manga/BungouStrayDogs'': It's stated by WordOfGod this trope indicates a character (at least at the moment) is “evil, hopeless and beyond help”. A lot of Mafia members show it.

* All three main characters from ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' have these eyes at one point or another during their angst filled stories, most notably:

** Also of the Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}, Shiki from ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai''. Although her eyes reflect highlights just fine, they're never drawn with pupils; just dull brown irises. Shiki's personality isn't as simple as 'unhappy', but it's one of the first indicators that she's not quite right.

* Asuna in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' is drawn this way based on the her state of amnesia regarding her DarkAndTroubledPast. Upon regaining said memories, she went into a blank catatonia for days. She also sports these in the first anime [[spoiler: when she dies]] and again in chapter 352 upon [[spoiler: seeing Negi's grave]].

* [[spoiler:Shizuru]] from ''Anime/MaiHime'' gets these briefly during her FaceHeelTurn, but they're only really noticeable right after [[spoiler:she attacks Haruka and Yukino]].

* [[NationsAsPeople Russia]] from ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' gets these to show when he gets too upset to keep his cool, since he's [[StepfordSmiler almost always calmly smiling regardless of his mood.]] [[http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff345/DarkBlueSinger/Hetalia%20Resources/Lithuania.jpg Looks like it rubbed off on Lithuania, too.]] Some characters have these permanently, such as Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland.

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': After Germany pulled out a Browning Hi Power on Japan and Japan pulled out his katana on Germany, Italy [[RageBreakingPoint had had enough of their]] [[CockFight cock fight]].

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''

** This also happens to Usagi when [[spoiler:the Silver Crystal is shattered on reentry]] at the end of the Sailor Moon R movie but it could be because [[spoiler:She's dead]]. It's about like it is with the before mentioned Dream Mirror.

* ''Manga/HunterXHunter's'' Gon is currently featured for the trope image. He gets these in Chapters 304 and 305 (and for the anime, Episodes 130 and 131) after [[spoiler: finding out that Kite is dead]].

* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies''. Poor Athena gets these when a particular incident in her past is brought up...[[spoiler:and, during the flashback, we get to see her thousand-yard stare right after the actual murder. Unsettling, at the very least]].
* Ayumi Tachibana has these as her default expression in ''[[VideoGame/DetectiveClub Famicom Detective Club: The Girl in Back]]''. Considering that Yoko Kojima, the murder victim, was her best friend, it's a pretty justifiable expression. Her homeroom teacher Tatsuya Hibino also has these as well, for similar reasons.

** Sasuke's older brother, [[HeartbrokenBadass Itachi]] is shown with eyes like these when is Sharingan isn't activated. And [[StoicWoobie with]] [[IDidWhatIHadToDo good]] [[DeathSeeker reason.]]
* ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'': Taking advantage of Koichi's loneliness and sadness, Cherubimon erases his memory, resulting in his expressive blue eyes becoming pale black (and making a small slasher smile), before using his tainted Duskmon form to digivolve into Velgemon.

* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': Anytime Revi's eyes lose their luster, it's a sign that she's in [[AxCrazy Whitman Fever]] mode and is incredibly dangerous to be around.

* Both Yamato and Sora get this in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' when they're being affected by the Dark Ocean.

* [[spoiler: Orson]] from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'', after we learn that [[spoiler: not only he's a traitor to Renais, but that [[DespairEventHorizon he been gone off the deep end for a while already]].]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Gungnir}}'', most characters' eyes will have some highlight to them depending on the angle, but not so for Julio, the protagonist--in ''every'' released piece of art featuring him thus far. As it's also apparently his destiny to cause mass destruction with a horrifically powerful demonic weapon, it's fair to say that ''something'' is up with this kid. It doesn't show in his [[{{Keet}} perky]], [[{{Adorkable}} cheerful]] disposition, but it sure shows on his face.

** In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', [[TheWoobie Fate]] [[LoveMartyr Testarossa]] gets these during her [[HeroicBSOD Antivillainous BSOD]] after her [[EvilMatriarch mother]] [[AbusiveParents Precia]] reveals [[ArtificialHuman what her]] [[ReplacementGoldfish origins]] [[CloningBlues are]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}:''
** The Apathy Grimm are not aggressive, but their presence drains the will to live from those nearby. Those affected are shown with eyes dull and flat, missing their typical shine.
** When [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ironwood]] and [[LegacyOfTheChosen Oscar]] argue about [[BigBad Salem]], Oscar suggests that Ironwood is [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming]] as dangerous as Salem. [[spoiler:Oscar calls him 'James' for the first time. Ironwood nods to himself and informs Oscar that only friends call him 'James'. His eyes suddenly lose all their eye shine to become dull and flat; he then tells Oscar to call him 'General', whips out his gun and shoots the boy off the ledge they're standing on. His eyes remain completely dull as he watches Oscar fall.]]

When [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ironwood]] and [[LegacyOfTheChosen Oscar]] argue about [[BigBad Salem]], Oscar suggests that Ironwood is [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming]] as dangerous as Salem. [[spoiler:Oscar calls him 'James' for the first time. Ironwood nods to himself and informs Oscar that only friends call him 'James'. His eyes suddenly lose all their eye shine to become dull and flat; he then tells Oscar to call him 'General', whips out his gun and shoots the boy off the ledge they're standing on. His eyes remain completely dull as he watches Oscar fall.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}: When [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ironwood]] and [[LegacyOfTheChosen Oscar]] argue about [[BigBad Salem]], Oscar suggests that Ironwood is [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming]] as dangerous as Salem. [[spoiler:Oscar calls him 'James' for the first time. Ironwood nods to himself and informs Oscar that only friends call him 'James'. His eyes suddenly lose all their eye shine to become dull and flat; he then tells Oscar to call him 'General', whips out his gun and shoots the boy off the ledge they're standing on. His eyes remain completely dull as he watches Oscar fall.]]

* If the Inquisitor encourages Cullen to [[spoiler:continue taking lyrium]] for the sake of his duty in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', there will be a cutscene in which they discuss the fact that he has done so. Observant players can note that his normally warm {{brown eyes}} are much paler than usual, with smaller pupils, indicating that [[spoiler:the FantasticDrug is continuing to addle him]]. This is also the scene in which, if he has been in a romance with the Inquisitor up to this point, he will break it off, citing his duty as being more important.