History Main / FadeAroundTheEyes

Unlike ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes, which is usually a result of LimitedAnimation, this trope is done for dramatic effect[[note]]Although ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes can be used dramatically as well[[/note]]. It is usually done by villains, who often do it at the end of a VillainSong. It is exceedingly rare for a non-villainous character to do this, but even if the character isn't evil, this trope can be a sign that the character is either dangerous, DarkIsNotEvil, an AntiHero, a {{Jerkass}}, or perhaps some combination of those traits. Another common feature of this trope is that the character who does it will usually have [[DreamworksFace one eyebrow raised, and a smile]], as the background fades away.

* [[https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/705733 Cuphead: Don't Deal With Me!]], an animated parody of ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'', contains a very brief example. The video ends with a shot of [[spoiler:Cuphead, having [[HeWhoFightsMonsters gone bad]],]] doing a KubrickStare at the camera. Everything goes black, but not before we see his eyes in the darkness for a split second.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ursula_scary_eyes.jpg]]]]

** In ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', several scenes FadeOut with Jafar smiling evilly--even more than in the original film.
** Sa'luk from ''WesternAnimation/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'' does it at the end of his VillainSong, "Are You In or Out?" At the end of the song, a fiery background appears out of nowhere around his face, and when the fire goes out, everything goes black except for his eyes and teeth, which then fade away.

** In a [[WhatCouldHaveBeen deleted scene]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'', Scar does this after singing a DarkReprise of "Be Prepared". We see a close-up of his face during the last line, and in the next shot, we see his eyes in the sky, leering over the landscape where the next scene will take place.

** Ursula does this at the end of her first scene in ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989''. The image of her tentacles curling around her as the screen fades to black can be very frightening.

** In ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', several scenes fade out with Jafar smiling evilly--even more than in the original film.

** ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'' to heat his revenge on Aladdin, several more scenes fade out with Jafar's smiling evilly--even more than the original film.,

** In a [[WhatCouldHaveBeen deleted]] scene from ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'', Scar does this after singing a DarkReprise of "Be Prepared". We see a close-up of his face during the last line, and in the next shot, we see his eyes in the sky, leering over the landscape where the next scene will take place.

** In ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', Dr. Facilier does this at the end of "[[VillainSong Friends on the Other Side]]", not just with his eyes, but also with the skull mask that he wears during the last part of the song. There is a big firework display that ends with the screen going black except for the mask and his eyes, and then the mask disappears, followed by his eyes.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before". In one scene with Gary Mitchell after he has undergone his transformation, the rest of the screen fades out, leaving only his silver eyes visible.

** In ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', Dr. Facilier does this at the end of [[VillainSong "Friends on the Other Side,"]] not just with his eyes, but also with the skull mask that he wears during the last part of the song. There is a big firework display that ends with the screen going black except for the mask and his eyes, and then the mask disappears, followed by his eyes.

** Grand Admiral Thrawn does this in his debut episode, [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsStepsIntoShadow "Steps Into Shadow"]], at the end of a scene where he vows to tear the Rebellion apart piece by piece.
** In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS4E05Kindred "Kindred"]], the [[WhiteWolvesAreSpecial white]] [[NobleWolf Loth-Wolf]] backs into a darkened section of cave with only its eyes showing before they disappear. When the cave is lit the Loth-Wolf is gone and the place it backed into was just a solid wall with a crack. He's not villainous but he is very powerful and [[AboveGoodAndEvil beyond sapient morals]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', Mumbo Jumbo does this at the end of [[VillainSong "Master of Your Fate"]], but with his mouth instead of his eyes. Unusually, while most examples of this trope featuring the mouth only use the teeth, this example shows his entire mouth.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In ''Anime/YuYuHakusho'' this happens to Kurama [[spoiler: once Amanuma dies.]]

** It is used also in the end of the first episode by Taurus Bulba while still talking in a sinister way. A similar one is used in a later episode by disgruntled Agent Grizzlikof once the FOWL agents approach him [[spoiler: and he pretends that he accepts their offer.]]

** In a [[WhatCouldHaveBeen deleted]] scene from ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'', Scar does this after singing a DarkReprise of "Be Prepared". We see a closeup of his face during the last line, and in the next shot, we see his eyes in the sky, leering over the landscape where the next scene will take place.

** Not exactly a fadeout, but in ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'', when Lady Tremaine figures out that Cinderella was the mystery girl at the ball, there is a closeup of her face where the screen gets darker while her squinting eyes remain lit.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheChipmunkAdventure'' has a Fade To Next Scene after an informer relays to Claudia that The Chipettes have strayed off course from their balloon race, angering her and demanding they find a way to retrieve their dolls or else. After slamming the phone down, Claudia stares into the camera with evil in her eyes, while dissolving to Antarctica where The Chipettes are turning the baby penguin, her eyes still seen.

** Ursula does this at the end of her first scene in ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989''. The image of her tentacles curling around her as the screen fades to black can be very frightening. It currently provides the page image.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ursula_scary_eyes.jpg]]]]

** Ursula does this at the end of her first scene in ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1''. The image of her tentacles curling around her as the screen fades to black can be very frightening. It currently provides the page image.

* In ''VideoGame/Transformers2004'', after the first battle with [[TheStarscream Starscream]], the Autobots defeat him and walk away to stop Cyclonus. However, the camera then pans over Starscream's face, as his eyes light up, and the screen fades around his {{red|Eyes Take Warning}} GlowingEyesOfDoom, indicating that [[RecurringBoss he will return for rematch]]…

So, you have a dramatic scene with your villain. Perhaps it contains dark imagery so over-the-top that it practically ''defines'' SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Wouldn't it be so awesome if you ended this bombastic tour-de-force with something more [[NothingIsScarier quiet and subdued]]? What better way to do that than with a Fade Around the Eyes?

[[quoteright:350:[[Disney/TheLittleMermaid https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ursula_scary_eyes.jpg]]]]

** ''Disney/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'' to heat his revenge on Aladdin, several more scenes fade out with Jafar's smiling evilly--even more than the original film.,
** Sa'luk from ''Disney/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'' does it at the end of his VillainSong, "Are You In or Out?" At the end of the song, a fiery background appears out of nowhere around his face, and when the fire goes out, everything goes black except for his eyes and teeth, which then fade away.
** Not exactly a fadeout, but in ''Disney/{{Cinderella}}'', when Lady Tremaine figures out that Cinderella was the mystery girl at the ball, there is a closeup of her face where the screen gets darker while her squinting eyes remain lit.
** Ratigan from ''Disney/TheGreatMouseDetective'' does this at the end of one scene. He grins at the camera with a sinister expression as the shot fades to the next scene. His bright yellow eyes are the last things you see.
** Hades from ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'' does an interesting variant at the end of the scene where he figures out Hercules' weakness. The screen fills up with smoke as it fades to the next scene, and the last things we see are Hades' eyes.
** In a [[WhatCouldHaveBeen deleted]] scene from ''Disney/TheLionKing'', Scar does this after singing a DarkReprise of "Be Prepared". We see a closeup of his face during the last line, and in the next shot, we see his eyes in the sky, leering over the landscape where the next scene will take place.
*** In ''Disney/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'', the villainess Zira does an interesting variation of this just before she begins her song, "[[VillainSong My Lullaby]]." She walks towards the screen as it fades to black around her eyes.
** Ursula does this at the end of her first scene in ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid''. The image of her tentacles curling around her as the screen fades to black can be very frightening. It currently provides the page image.

*** In ''Disney/TheLittleMermaidIIReturnToTheSea'', Ursula's sister Morgana does this when Melody starts her quest for Atlantica. Maybe being dramatic runs in the family.
** In ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', Dr. Facilier does this at the end of [[VillainSong "Friends on the Other Side,"]] not just with his eyes, but also with the skull mask that he wears during the last part of the song. There is a big firework display that ends with the screen going black except for the mask and his eyes, and then the mask disappears, followed by his eyes.
** In what may be the UrExample, the Evil Queen from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarves'' does this when she transforms herself into a witch. An unusual example in that by the time the screen fades to black, the eyes have almost completely faded away, but you can still see them for a second.

* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', Marik does this at the end of his first in-person appearance, as he sends out the Rare Hunters. When he does, he glares at the screen as it fades to black around his PurpleEyes.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Grossology}}'', this is used at the end of the debut episodes of both [[{{Fartillery}} Fartor]] and [[WalkingWasteland Kid Rot]]. as the aforementioned villains vow to make a [[WeWillMeetAgain triumphant return]], the screen fades to black except for their eyes ([[YellowEyesOfSneakiness yellow]] and [[PurpleEyes purple]] respectively), which is accompanied by ominous music.

** In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS4E04Kindred "Kindred"]], the [[WhiteWolvesAreSpecial white]] [[NobleWolf Loth-Wolf]] backs into a darkened section of cave with only its eyes showing before they disappear. When the cave is lit the Loth-Wolf is gone and the place it backed into was just a solid wall with a crack. He's not villainous but he is very powerful and [[AboveGoodAndEvil beyond sapient morals]].

%%This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please keep it that way!

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'': In the episode "The Greater Hater", Lord Dominator does this when she decides that the heroes are idiots, and defeating them will be easy. For extra awesomeness, she does it while wearing her power suit, which gives her [[EvilSoundsDeep an electronic deep voice]] and a glowing green visor. The screen fades to black as she does an EvilLaugh for terrifying effect.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Grossology}}'', this is used at the end of the debut episodes of both [[{{Fartillery}} Fartor]] and [[WalkingWasteland Kid Rot]]. as the aforementioned villains vow to make a [[WeWillMeetAgain triumphant return]], the screen fades to black except for their eyes ([[YellowEyesOfSneakiness yellow]] and [[PurpleEyes purple]] respectively), which is accompanied by ominous music.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'':
** Grand Admiral Thrawn does this in his debut episode "Steps into Shadow", at the end of a scene where he vows to tear the Rebellion apart piece by piece.
** In the episode "Kindred", the [[WhiteWolvesAreSpecial white]] [[NobleWolf Loth-Wolf]] backs into a darkened section of cave with only its eyes showing before they disappear. When the cave is lit the Loth-Wolf is gone and the place it backed into was just a solid wall with a crack. He's not villainous but he is very powerful and [[AboveGoodAndEvil beyond sapient morals]].