History Main / EyeCatch

** The "Who's That Pokémon" segment, in which viewers are asked to identify a Pokémon by its silhouette (and, in more recent episodes, some information about its behavior). The Japanese version eventually dropped this, replacing it with normal eyecatches, but the American [[{{Creator/4KidsEntertainment}} 4Kids]] dub kept it up 'til the Hoenn era, where it was replaced with "Trainer's Choice", a quiz on Pokémon knowledge. That lasted until The Pokémon Company International took over the dub.

** The "Who's That Pokémon" segment, in which viewers are asked to identify a Pokémon by its silhouette (and, in more recent episodes, some information about its behavior). The Japanese version eventually dropped this, replacing it with normal eyecatches, but the American [[Creator/4KidsEntertainment 4Kids]] dub kept it up 'til the Hoenn era, where it was replaced with "Trainer's Choice", a quiz on Pokémon knowledge. That lasted until The Pokémon Company International took over the dub.

** The "Who's That Pokémon" segment, in which viewers are asked to identify a Pokémon by its silhouette (and, in more recent episodes, some information about its behavior). The Japanese version eventually dropped this, replacing it with normal eyecatches, but the American [[Craetor/4KidsEntertainment 4Kids]] dub kept it up 'til the Hoenn era, where it was replaced with "Trainer's Choice", a quiz on Pokémon knowledge. That lasted until The Pokémon Company International took over the dub.

** The "Who's That Pokémon" segment, in which viewers are asked to identify a Pokémon by its silhouette (and, in more recent episodes, some information about its behavior). The Japanese version eventually dropped this, replacing it with normal eyecatches, but the American dub kept it. Then, the dub replaced it with "Trainer's Choice", a quiz on Pokémon knowledge until The Pokémon Company International took over the dub.

** Showa Era ''Franchise/KamenRider'' shows have this too. The Heisei ones plus Zero One don't have any, just cutting to commercials. Kamen Rider Saber re-instated them.

** Many if not all'' Franchise/UltraSeries'' shows, beginning with ''Series/ReturnOfUltraman'', use their logos this way.

** ''Anime/LupinIIIRedJacket'' had some funny ones, such as Lupin's gun firing while he [[JugglingLoadedGuns twirls it on his finger]], or jumping into his car, only for the steering wheel to break off and causing Lupin to roll out the other side.

* The first ''Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'' eyecatch was composed of pictures of Lucia and Hanon in glowing stars (apparently ignoring Rina, even though the show is focused on the three as a PowerTrio). Once the [[AnimeThemeSong OP]] changed for the first time, Lucia would draw a card from a deck of playing cards, with Hanon and Rina around her. She smiled if the card bore a hero and gasped at a villain; the character on the card was usually a character that had a big role in the episode, and if not, it was Lucia. The second season's eyecatch was one of the mermaids (or [[http://www.jpfankelly.com/Series%20Summaries/PDVD_4731.jpg Hippo]]) surrounded by a bubble border; again, if no specific character [[ADayInTheLimelight held the spotlight]], Lucia or Seira appeared. Caren, Noel and Coco each appeared in this eyecatch a total of ''[[OutOfFocus one time]]''.

** Early seasons of ''Series/{{Kaamelott}}'' have short gags or scenes from the pilot episodes, showing the knights {{Power Walk}}ing or [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere fleeing]], or [[IneptMage Merlin]] misfiring a {{Fireball|s}}. One was original, though: KingArthur pulling [[ExcaliburInTheStone Excalibur from the stone]] and stumbling into a pond as a result.

* ''Anime/OnePiece'' uses these, and they're downright charming. Each one features a different character;

* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'' started out with these, but after Episode 26, when the show moved to a different timeslot in Japan, they were replaced with the show's logo fading in and out during a scene transition, akin to the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' examples.

* The anime adaption of ''LightNovel/StudentCouncilsDiscretion'' has the first eyecatch showing characters in a parody of cultural references, the second eyecatch shows pictures of the characters school life.

*** Averted with ''Series/ChikyuuSentaiFiveman'', ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'', ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGobusters'', and Sentai shows from ''Series/ResshaSentaiToqger'' onward which don't have them -- it's just the animated logo popping up at a corner of the screen. Episode 29 of ''Gokaiger'', which had cameos from ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'' characters, did an exception with a proper eyecatch of the "what will happen after the commercial break? Stay tuned!" kind, as a nod to ''Abaranger''[='=]s cliffhangers. ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'' uses a different eyecatch every episode on both seasons.

** The [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 original cartoon]] had eyecatches before and after each break, each one showing off a different character's transformation and accompanied by the distinctive voice of Victor Caroli intoning, "''The Transformers'' will return, after these messages". The VHS release of some episodes kept these, and added sound effects for flying, transforming, etc. The [=DVD=]s don't have it.

* ''Manga/UruseiYatsura: Changed several times during the TV anime series' run.

* The anime adaption of ''LightNovel/SeitokaiNoIchizon'' has the first eyecatch showing characters in a parody of cultural references, the second eyecatch shows pictures of the characters school life.

* ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'' has "Amefuto Clinic", where Mamori and the Devil Bat give the audience a trivia question about the rules of American football in each episode's eyecatch.

* The original ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' series had no eyecatch. ''Next'' had a quick montage of the main characters ending with two of them in a couple pose (often wearing school uniforms); amusingly, when Gourry and Zelgadis (both men) ended together the screen would shatter. In ''Try'' the montage showed the main characters as children and ended again on a couple pose, but this one seemed to represent possible pairings as they would be at the end of the main story arc (and the series). Both series reused a set number of eyecatches but had unique ones for the last few episodes. For the first time in the series, ''{{LightNovel/Slayers}} Revolution'' has the post-break eyecatch showing events directly connected to the current episode.

* Instead of full-screen eyecatches, some shows just display the logo in the corner before going to commercial. ''Anime/MyHime'' and ''Anime/{{Monster}}'' do this. Alternatively, the "logo in the corner" version may appear ''after'' the commercial break, as done, for example, in ''[[VideoGame/HarukanaruTokiNoNakaDe Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Hachiyou Shou]]''; in this particular case the logo is also accompanied by falling [[CherryBlossoms sakura petals]] (just like it does in the opening).

** The crossover special with ''{{Manga/Toriko}}'' also had a unique one. It was just a still image of Luffy and Toriko.
** Yet another unique one was during the crossover special with ''{{Manga/Toriko}}'' and ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. It showed Luffy, Goku, and Toriko laughing together.

* ''Anime/MawaruPenguindrum'' uses a map of Tokyo's Marunouchi subway line with each stop representing the current episode. This is a rare case where the eyecatch isn't just a reference to the plot but an important clue in itself since [[spoiler: Marunouchi was targeted in two of Aum Shinrikyo's gas attacks]].

** ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'': Cards from the Super Digica Taisen game are demonstrated, with cartoony renditions of the heroes popping up. The first half had one of its two eyecatches feature ghostly images of [[CallBack Agumon, Garurumon, V-mon and Guilmon]] popping out of Taiki's X Loader and laughing at him.

* ''Manga/GingaKikoutaiMajesticPrince'' usually didn't have them, but in the BreatherEpisode, we are treated to a very 80's-esque eyecatch of Red 5 slashing its sword in a space background.

** ''Anime/DigimonXrosWarsTheYoungHuntersLeapingThroughTime'': Pictures of one of the six Heroes posing with their unevolved partner, then flicks around into a silhouetted image of them posing with their evolved partner, enclosed in a circle.

* ''Anime/KidouTenshiAngelicLayer'' changed the eyecatch mid-season from just Misaki to Misaki and Hatoko. In the English voice actors' audio commentaries, someone would often announce "Commercial!" when the eyecatch showed up.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'' had new catches for each season, usually involving the team jumping around inspirationally. A few of the eyecatches were also recreated for the video games. Noteably the first part of R's eyecatch is recreated in one of the first games, unless Chibi-usa mode is selected, where-in she drops into the eyecatch on top of the Sailor Senshi.

* The original ''Manga/DragonBall'' anime has two eyecatches, the first being Goku and Oolong juggling Dragon Balls on a Chinese umbrella, and the second being Goku trying to take Master Roshi by surprise with a power pole attack.
** ''Anime/DragonBallZ''[='s=] eyecatches for most of its run show Goku playing with toddler Gohan. During the Buu saga, the version before the commercial break shows Goten lifting the car that Gohan and Videl are driving in, and the one after the break shows King Kai's car crashing into Goku, who doesn't even budge but laughs apologetically.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}''

* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' and ''Manga/ZettaiKarenChildren'' have the characters playing shiritori (a Japanese word game) across the eyecatches for the entire show. In ''Hayate's'' case, the eyecatch sometimes contains [[ShoutOut shout outs]] to other anime.

* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''

* Instead of full-screen eyecatches, some shows just display the logo in the corner before going to commercial. ''Anime/MaiHime'' and ''Anime/{{Monster}}'' do this. Alternatively, the "logo in the corner" version may appear ''after'' the commercial break, as done, for example, in ''[[VideoGame/HarukanaruTokiNoNakaDe Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Hachiyou Shou]]''; in this particular case the logo is also accompanied by falling [[CherryBlossoms sakura petals]] (just like it does in the opening).

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' is an interesting case. It's not aired on television and is instead aired through cellphones and the internet, and the episodes are only about 5 minutes long, so the eyecatches are used to switch scenes instead. The eyecatches themselves have the logo with a [[MoeAnthropomorphism chibi nation-tan]] popping out from behind the logo and saying the title in a slightly more high-pitched voice.

* ''Franchise/YuGiOh''

* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}''

* Despite each episode of ''Manga/ICantUnderstandWhatMyHusbandIsSaying'' being three minutes long, they normally have one or two eyecatches peppered through them, often accompanied by the sound of someone typing at a computer (most of them are [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]]). Instead of signaling a commercial break, they're used to go from one scene to the next and more emotional episodes, like [[FlashbackNightmare Episode 11]], don't have any.

** ''Anime/DragonBallKai'', a {{Recut}} of ''Z'', replaces the original bumpers with a screen of Goku doing a Kamehameha, followed by drawings depicting the characters relevant that episode.

** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Victory Gundam]]'' has an evolving eyecatch that advances two frames per episode.

* ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure''[='=] eyecatch has a hand placing a Cure Decor in the shape of the Smile emblem, [[spoiler:or the same decor into the Royal Clock]] into the Smile Pact. It causes it to show a random character, usually a Cure for the first eyecatch and Candy in a different outfit [[spoiler:or in the sky with Pop]] for the second one. Four times, the second was an Akanbe. Rumor has it that some prints of episode 9 had this eyecatch when it actually was supposed to premiere on episode 10.

** Showa Era ''Franchise/KamenRider'' shows have this too. The Heisei and Reiwa ones don't have any, just cutting to commercials.

* ''Anime/MajesticPrince'' usually didn't have them, but in the BreatherEpisode, we are treated to a very 80's-esque eyecatch of Red 5 slashing its sword in a space background.

''[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not]]'' a subtrope of EyeScream, though a poorly done eyecatch may make you ''want'' to.

** Averted with ''Series/ChikyuuSentaiFiveman'', ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'', ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGobusters'', and Sentai shows from ''Series/ResshaSentaiToqger'' onward which don't have them -- it's just the animated logo popping up at a corner of the screen. Episode 29 of ''Gokaiger'', which had cameos from ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'' characters, did an exception with a proper eyecatch of the "what will happen after the commercial break? Stay tuned!" kind, as a nod to ''Abaranger'''s ones. ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'' uses a different eyecatch every episode on both seasons.
** Showa Era ''Franchise/KamenRider'' shows have this too. The Heisei ones don't have any, just cutting to Ad breaks.
** The Japanese ''[[Series/SpiderManJapan Spider-Man]]'' series has eyecatches too, used as page images on the article.
** Many if not all Franchise/UltraSeries shows, beginning with ''Series/ReturnOfUltraman'', use their logos this way.
* ''Series/TokusatsuGaGaGa'' also has these, but only once per episode, and to segue to the next scene at some random point of the show. (This is due to it being aired on NHK, as a publicly funded network, doesn't air commercials.)