History Main / EmergingFromTheShadows

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'', this is how we first meet Lightning [=McQueen=].

* Dr. Claw is sort of revealed this way in the ''Film/InspectorGadget'' adaptation.

** ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': The dragon once ridden by King, Vermithor, lives in a dark cave beneath Dragonstone. Daemon Targaryen goes in that cave [[MusicSoothesTheSavageBeast singing an old Valyrian song]] with the intent of taming the beast so he can have a new rider and WeaponOfMassDestruction for the faction of the Blacks, and the gigantic beast first signals its presence (and becomes first visible in the dark) by breathing fire at the ceiling.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. When the Tyrell-Greyjoy fleet is ambushed in the middle of the night, Yara and Theon Greyjoy don't know who their attackers are, until the distinctive black ship of their EvilUncle emerges from the fog and rams their own.

* Downplayed in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'', when the Dazzlings introduce themselves to Sunset Shimmer. Not the first look at them since they're seen already in the prologue, but at least a first look at their standard clothes.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "Dungeons and Wagons", Haley's [[DeepImmersionGaming game avatar]] is revealed this way.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': In the episode "Splicers," Terry is spliced with vampire bat DNA by [[VillainOfTheWeek Dr. Cuvier]]. After breaking free of his restraints and saving Barbara and DA Young from Cuvier's mooks, Terry goes back to the Batcave. First, all we see is a massive silhouette of Batman... and then Terry throws his mask at Bruce's feet and comes into the light, revealing he's become a Man-Bat.
-->'''Terry:''' Bruce! Help... me!
* Tirek in the ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' special "Rescue at Midnight Castle", when he is about to use his Rainbow of Darkness for the first time.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E10ARoyalProblem A Royal Problem]]", Daybreaker appears at first completely obscured by shadows, so that only the dark silhouette of an alicorn (with no mane or tail) can be seen. This increases the impact of the WhamShot when [[spoiler:she lights up her FlamingHair and reveals herself as Celestia's EvilTwin]].
** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E25SchoolRazePart1 School Raze – Part 1]]", [[spoiler:[[BitchInSheepsClothing Cozy Glow]] does this as she reveals her true nature to Starlight Glimmer being held hostage and announces her plan to take over Equestria.]]
* Captain Hindsight in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Mysterion Rises".
* PlayedForLaughs in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Bart and Lisa meet a shady figure in a parking garage, and he stands in the shadows as he tells them to investigate Sideshow Bob's successful run for mayor, but refuses to give away his identity. Suddenly Homer drives up, illuminating the man in his headlights, and cheerfully calls out "Hi, Mr. Smithers!"
* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'', when we first see the Jokerz and their gang speak with their leader, he is partly concealed in the shadows at first, except for his {{red|EyesTakeWarning}} GlowingEyesOfDoom and his grin, but then, [[spoiler:after shooting Bonk dead for [[YouHaveFailedMe defecting him]], he emerges from the shadows, revealing himself to be the newly-resurrected Joker.]]
* Another PlayedForLaughs example shows up in the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "Two to Tutor", Señor Senior Senior records a warning message about an upcoming heist by Junior and Shego (he'd gotten annoyed with them because, after he hired Shego to tutor Junior in villainy, she kept blowing him off whenever he tried to check in on them). He records the message in a dark room with [[ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes only his eyes showing]]... until Junior barges in and turns on the light.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}'', the Blue Fang demon makes an awesome entrance using this. It even has an awesome line while stepping out.
-->'''Bishop:''' The speakers must die before sundown!\\
'''Blue Fang:''' The sun... is already down.
* ''WesternAnimation/LoveDeathAndRobots''. Played for horror at the end of "Beyond the Aquila Rift". As the alien emerges from the shadows, it first appears to resemble a slightly exotic [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe Pink-Skinned Space Babe]]. However, as it comes fully into view, it's revealed to be a horrible, oozing, multi-eyed StarfishAlien that resembles a GiantSpider.
* The Bakshi ''WesternAnimation/MightyMouse'' episode "Bat With A Golden Tongue" has Bat-Bat arriving to an arranged meeting where he faces a shadowy figure he first thinks is not of this world. The figure turns out to be Mighty Mouse.
-->'''Bat-Bat:''' What'd ya bring me out here for? I haven't got time to play Spielberg!

** When Godzilla and Mothra have Ghidorah down, Ghidorah's overhead stormclouds turn red as Rodan's silhouette materializes and he makes his entrance onto the FinalBattle with a DynamicEntry upon Mothra.

** In the [[Recap/SupernaturalS06E22TheManWhoKnewTooMuch Season 6 finale]], the third fragment of Sam inside his mindscape pulls this off to unsettling effect. When Sam first finds him, he's silhouetted in shadow. Then he stands up, and his face is illuminated, revealing it's disheveled as he explains to Sam that he's the fragment that remembers their time being tortured in Hell.

* ''Fanfic/FateLongNight'': Zouken Matou performs the summoning ritual, but nothing seems to happen. Losing patience, he commands his "Servant" to come out. The Stranger's Champion steps out of the shadows, but shocks him by wearing the form of his lost love Justeaze von Einzbern.
* In the first part of ''Fanfic/HopeForTheHeartless'', Avalina's two first meetings with [[VillainProtagonist the Horned King]] include him concealing himself in shadows [[MonstrousHumanoid for a reason]]. During their third meeting, he reveals himself fully to her by slowly walking out of the shadows, giving her a [[OhCrap major scare]] at the confirmation to her suspicions about ''[[TheDreaded who]]'' she's dealing with. While the Horned King's identity is never a secret to the readers, the effect is still strong when the reveal is told from Avalina's POV.

* Colonel Kurtz's face in ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' is emerging from the shadows only after minutes of talking.
* In ''Film/TheThirdMan'', Harry Lime is revealed when light from a window shines on him from across the street.

* Inverted with Gandalf's reappearance in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers'': his face is revealed after a bright flare dies down to background lighting.

* In ''Film/TheMenWhoStareAtGoats'', Bill is revealed this way to Lyn and Bob in the goat barn.
* In ''Film/TheFly1986'' remake, during the "Insect Politics" scene, when Veronica tells Brundle, "I don't know what you're trying to say," he finally reveals himself to her, as he steps into the light coming from the skylight.
* ''[[Film/BenHur1959 Ben-Hur]]'' uses this trope for a big return to his adversary's home place.

* The male lead in ''Film/HouseOfGames'' enters the story this way.

* A variant in ''Film/JurassicParkIII''; a ''Pteranodon'' approaches Eric Kirby whilst surrounded by OminousFog.
* ''Film/BloodDiamond''. Used for the reveal that the feared warlord Danny Archer is going to meet is actually a {{Child Soldier|s}}.
* In ''Film/Batman1989'', Jack Napier does this to his old crime boss Carl Grissom, revealing his new form as The Joker, before shooting him.
* In ''Film/SawIII'', [[spoiler:Amanda]] emerges from the shadows to a soon-to-be-killed [[spoiler:Allison Kerry]].
* ''Film/{{Screamers}}''. Just as he's about to use the escape rocket to get off the planet, Colonel Hendrickson is knocked down and his weapon taken by one of the [[TheyLookLikeUsNow human Screamers]], who then steps out of the dark to reveal [[spoiler:he's Hendrickson's NumberTwo, who should have been killed by the Screamers when they swarmed the Alliance base. Turns out the real NumberTwo was [[KillAndReplace killed and replaced]] by the Screamer before the events of the movie even started.]]
* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** ''Film/IronMan1'': In TheStinger, Nick Fury is at first hidden in the dark when he starts talking to Tony, before stepping into the light for Samuel L. Jackson's first appearance as the character.
** In ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', Steve Rogers reveals himself after coming to help Wanda and Vision by walking out of the shadows that had previously been hiding his face.
* Inverted in ''Film/TheInvisible'', when [[spoiler: Nick's spirit recedes into indistinct shadow when the physical Nick regains consciousness]].

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}''
** "Kandor": [[spoiler:Jor-El]] is revealed this way.
** "Idol": [[spoiler:Chloe does this to the Wonder Twins; comes with a pretty epic threat.]]

* Happens in almost every season of ''Series/{{American Horror Story}}'' (In season one it's Ben appearing to Larry. In season four, Desiree appears to Dell)
* In the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "[[Recap/AngelS01E10PartingGifts Parting Gifts]]", a demon comes to Angel Investigations seeking protection from the {{Determinator}} who's been chasing him across several states. Angel is then confronted by a leather-clad man in the shadows holding a crossbow, but is singularly unimpressed when ComedicHero Wesley steps into the light.
* Angel himself does this in the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E14Innocence Innocence]]", knocking out the lights, then emerging in GameFace to attack Willow in the InternalReveal that he's turned evil. Given Angelus' love for mind games, he's obviously doing it deliberately to scare everyone.
* In ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', Phil Coulson reveals [[NotQuiteDead he's still alive this way]], and immediately lampshades it in true Creator/JossWhedon fashion.
-->'''Agent Coulson:''' ''[steps out of shadows dramatically]'' Welcome to Level Seven. ''[beat]'' Sorry, that corner was really dark and [[IAlwaysWantedToSayThat I couldn't help myself]]. I think a bulb is out or something.
* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS02E20WhatIsAndWhatShouldNeverBe What Is and What Should Never Be]]", the shadow of the djinn appears on the screen behind the woman in white before he appears.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. When the Tyrell-Greyjoy fleet is ambushed in the middle of the night, Yara and Theon Greyjoy don't know who their attackers are, until the distinctive black ship of their EvilUncle emerges from the fog and rams their own.
* ''Series/DearWhitePeople'': In the season 2 finale, [[spoiler:this is how the narrator introduces himself to Sam and Lionel, implying that he's actually be a member of the Order of X.]]
* ''Series/TheGates'': Used effectively at the end of "Little Girl Lost", when the villainous vampire Christian is heading out of town on foot by night... only for a completely shadowed figure to emerge from the darkened forest. [[spoiler:It's Claire, come to stake him for kidnapping her daughter and general emotional torture.]]

** "Idol": [[spoiler:Chloe does this to the ComicBook/WonderTwins; comes with a pretty epic threat.]]

* Esmeralda beckoning Quasimodo to come out of the cathedral at the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''.

* ''Film/BenHur'' uses this trope for a big return to his adversary's home place.

* In ''Film/SawIII'', Amanda emerges from the shadows to a soon-to-be-killed Allison Kerry.

* In ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', a revived Gandalf the White keeps his face and new garments hidden until it is time to reveal himself. The films actually invert this, by having him reveal himself as a blinding light fades.

* ''Literature/GodsAndWarriors'': When Hylas is in the last book brought to meet the leader of the Akean rebels, [[[[RightfulKingReturns the true High Chieftain of Mycenae]]]], the latter is obscured by the darkness of a cave until he steps into the light and reveals himself to be [[spoiler:Akastos]].

* In ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', Steve Rogers reveals himself after coming to help Wanda and Vision by walking out of the shadows that had previously been hiding his face.

-->'''Agent Coulson:''' ''[steps out of shadows dramatically]'' Welcome to Level Seven. ''[beat]'' Sorry, that corner was really dark and [[IAlwaysWantedToSayThat I couldn't help myself]]. I think there's a bulb out.
* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E20WhatIsAndWhatShouldNeverBe "What Is And What Should Never Be" (S02, Ep20)]], the shadow of the djinn appears on the screen behind the woman in white before he appears.

* ''{{Literature/Deviant}}'': [[spoiler: Verity, who is supposed to be dead]], skulks in the shadows for a small portion of chapter 2.06.

** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E10ARoyalProblem A Royal Problem]]" Daybreaker appears at first completely obscured by shadows, so that only the dark silhouette of an alicorn (with no mane or tail) can be seen. This increases the impact of the WhamShot when [[spoiler:she lights up her FlamingHair and reveals herself as Celestia's EvilTwin]].
** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E25SchoolRazePart1 School Raze – Part 1]]", [[spoiler: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Cozy Glow]] does this as she reveals her true nature to Starlight Glimmer being held hostage and announces her plan to take over Equestria.]]

-->'''Bishop''': The speakers must die before sundown!
-->'''Blue Fang''': The sun... is already down.

This is especially popular in some HighFantasy (usually involving a shadow in a lighted scene), and FilmNoir (usually involving a light in a dark scene).