History Main / GrinOfAudacity

It may overlap with DyingSmirk.

* ''Film/{{Gandhi}}'' is good at this, although it's a cute little smile rather than a grin. ([[http://theinspirationthatisgandhi.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/8/0/16807508/573617856_orig.jpg?207 Truth In Television]] and Creator/BenKingsley does it perfectly.) He gives it to menacing British authorities when he knows he's right. It's ''extremely'' disarming, especially in response to "You're under arrest!"

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Guts during the Golden Age has [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSKyQz5rLcjRc6e2cAvGwPuSEoIQ1ugfPs2-Q&usqp=CAU this]] expression, with Casca noting that when he smiles he like that he needs no help in a battle. Post Eclipse lost all nearly all sense of morality in the pursuit of vengeance, he has a SlasherSmile instead.

* So are many Robins and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} in the ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' family. Usually: in their case, it's youthful enthusiasm, insecure optimism, and a bit of a prankster spirit. Batman himself often had this expression during the 70s (especially during the Creator/NealAdams era) before The Dark Knight slipped nigh-totally into PerpetualFrowner mode.

* Among the ''ComicBook/XMen'' while Wolverine has the SlasherSmile ComicBook/{{Gambit}} has this whenever he’s kicking ass. ComicBook/{{Beast}}, ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}}, ComicBook/{{Rogue}}, ComicBook/{{Pyslocke}} and ComicBook/{{X 2}} often have these kind of grins too.

** Natasha in ''Film/CaptainAmeriaTheWinterSoldier'' during the opening fight on the ship grins and cracks wise at a mook before taking him down.

* Series/TheBoys: Billy Butcher has a particularly badass grin overlapping with SlasherSmile, special mention goes to the [[https://media.tenor.com/-MOHgP9LI3UAAAAC/herogasm-billy-butcher.gif one]] he has while having a BrawlerLock with ArchEnemy Homelander in Season 3.

* In most of the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series this is Dante (a ThrillSeeker BloodKnight) almost permanent expression. If anything be more concerned when Dante ''is not'' smiling because that means he’s [[LetsGetDangerous taking things seriously]].

** Cloud although better known for frowning/looking impassive has [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgIGFlqUsi0tpHaj9m70jO5CRABxJinoTmzA&usqp=CAU been known]] [[https://thumbs.gfycat.com/AmpleAdorableArkshell-size_restricted.gif to smile]] [[https://64.media.tumblr.com/e8813e69280f4bd0bc0c65e1d367c22a/cfefcddd932e2019-4e/s400x600/1fa89fcf94d40fbbd3dd54ca6d36100a492fe56e.gifv like this]]. Even in his [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSvYlJKCL32X8zdJ52ET6QmG6UvgJrRuYaECg&usqp=CAU concept art]].
He most likely got it from Zack who wore this expression nearly all the time.

* In ''Manga/DragonBall'' Goku gives a confident smile when he's prepared to face a strong opponent. Something [[ObsoleteMentor Roshi]] Lampshades at least once, much to the irritation of Goku's wife.

* Unless you've seriously pissed him off, Luffy from ''Manga/OnePiece'' has this as his default expression when fighting. Zoro blurs the line between this and SlasherSmile.

* So are many Robins and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} in the ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' family. Usually: in their case, it's youthful enthusiasm, insecure optimism, and a bit of a prankster spirit.

--->'''Anakin:''' [[BloodKnight This is where the fun begins.]]

* Surprisingly enough, [[spoiler: Luigi]] in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' just before [[spoiler: fighting Giant Bowser]].

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' is a {{Trope Codifier}} for this. A lot of his art has him in his classic pose either with a smirk, or a cocky grin. Even when he could be kicked down to near-death, he doesn't let his grin fall.

* Franchise/LupinIII's cocky smile is seen whenever he's mid-heist or is about to get the advantage. Seeing as this is [[GentlemanThief Lupin]] we're talking about, this is often.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', when you enter combat with the single weakest monster in the game, this is their expression, even knowing how dangerous you are. [[spoiler: It doesn't waver as he proceeds to kick your ass.]]

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'':
** Sported by Walter Denton, whenever conniving to pull an especially severe prank on Mr. Conklin. Being told off sometimes serves to encourage the grin (except by Mr. Conklin himself, of whom Denton is somewhat afraid). Noticeable in "Wild Goose", "Space, Who Needs It?", "Cure That Habit", "Marinated Hearing" and "Spare That Rod!".
** Walter is also proud of having a "dark secret". In "Citizen's League", Miss Brooks suffers from guilt for having [[spoiler: accidentally stuck a pin in the seat of the church organist Mrs. Dunfy when fitting her dress for the governor's wedding]]. Miss Brooks asks Walter if he himself has a dark secret. Walter [[AnnoyingLaugh smirks, laughs, and says he does.]] [[spoiler: However, after being chewed out by Miss Brooks, Walter admits it's far from terrible, and again in the nature of a teenage prank.]]
** In "Wake Up Plan", Mr. Conklin laughs at his having sent a letter to the board of education, reporting Miss Brooks for missing her morning classes. This is in spite of admitted to himself, out loud, that it was a terrible thing to do.
** In TheMovie GrandFinale, Mrs. Davis suggests to Mr. Boynton that Lawrence Nolan had induced Miss Brooks to take a trip on his yacht so he might seduce her. Mr. Boynton is outraged, and begins frantically checking his address book. Meanwhile, Mrs. Davis smiles and stifles a giggles, overjoyed that her use of OperationJealousy was off to a fine start!

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', Blossom tends to range between this and your average benevolent smile, while Buttercup the PerpetualFrowner ranges between this and an outright ''scowl''.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', when you enter combat with the single weakest monster in the game, this is its expression, even knowing how dangerous you are. [[spoiler: It doesn't waver as he proceeds to kick your ass.]]

* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': In this Franchise/MonsterVerse fanfiction, Rodan's beak forms a grin at the idea of getting payback on Ghidorah for [[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 dominating him]], in Chapter 13. [[TwoBeingsOneBody Viv and San]] have a few such grins over the course of the story when it comes to the prospect of getting their own payback on Ghidorah or [[BloodKnight fighting generally]].

* While [[AntiHero Loki]] occasionally pulls one of these in ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm,'' mention must go to its most constant bearer, MagnificentBastard Stephen Strange, for whom a GambitPileUp is just part of his own BatmanGambit, and whose smile is usually code for 'you're completely and utterly screwed'.
** Harry develops one in the sequel, which is noted to look worryingly like Strange's.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': The BloodKnight protagonists will often sport this when a fight is beginning to get difficult - a challenge that tends to thrill them. As a result, [[SociopathicHero Kenpachi]], [[BaldOfAwesome Ikkaku]], [[FieryRedHead Renji]] and even [[GoodIsNotNice Ichigo]] tend to give one of these when they've acknowledged they have a WorthyOpponent and will therefore have earned the win they're aiming to achieve.

* Yang Xiao Long wears one often throughout the ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' trailer featuring her, preceding the delivery of a CurbStompBattle.

* Traditionally associated with ''Film/StTrinians'', which is almost entirely populated by female LovableRogue types, ever since the [[Film/StTrinians2TheLegendOfFrittonsGold time of the founder Fritton]], who was a LovableRogue himself. He was also[[spoiler: Creator/WilliamShakespeare.]] ''And'', he was [[spoiler:a woman]].

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In TheMovie GrandFinale, Mrs. Davis suggests to Mr. Boynton that Lawrence Nolan had induced Miss Brooks to take a trip on his yacht so he might seduce her. Mr. Boynton is outraged, and begins frantically checking his address book. Meanwhile, Mrs. Davis smiles and stifles a giggles, overjoyed that her use of OperationJealousy was off to a fine start!

* In "Wake Up Plan", Mr. Conklin laughs at his having sent a letter to the board of education, reporting Miss Brooks for missing her morning classes. This is in spite of admitted to himself, out loud, that it was a terrible thing to do.

** Walter is also proud of having a "dark secret". In "Citizen's League", Miss Brooks suffers from guilt for having [[spoiler: accidentally stuck a pin in the seat of the church organist Mrs. Dunfy when fitting her dress for the governor's wedding]]. Miss Brooks asks Walter if he himself has a dark secret. Walter [[AnnoyingLaugh smirks, laughs, and says he does.]] [[spoiler: However, after being chewed out by Miss Brooks, Walter admits it's far from terrible, and again in the nature of a teenage prank.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', this is the protagonist's signature expression whenever he's in PhantomThief mode, as befitting a defiant rebel seeking to change the hearts of the wicked and corrupt.

* Isabel of ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'' may enjoy fighting [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140703192241/http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=55 a]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140304040926/http://paranatural.net/index.php?id=57 little]] ''[[https://web.archive.org/web/20140331025408/http://paranatural.net/index.php?id=100 too]]'' [[http://www.paranatural.net/index.php?id=184 much.]] But if she ''stops'' smiling, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness something is very wrong]].

An athlete in a race, an adventurer [[TraintopBattle on top of a train]], a {{pirate}} [[BoardingParty boarding a ship]], a [[MagnificentBastard cunning politician]] executing an [[XanatosPlannedThisIndex amazing plan]], a LovableRogue during a {{Swordfight}}, a warrior during a LastStand, two friends sparring--anyone facing an interesting and fun challenge with a reasonable chance of failure will sport one of these smiles. It's usually a bit forced, showing the strain and stress the user is under, and there's a certain edge of malice and aggressiveness to it, even ''insanity'': a hint of BloodLust, to be precise. It's very common amongst [[AntiHero AntiHeroes]] of the [[UnscrupulousHero Unscrupulous]] and [[NominalHero Nominal]] types, especially if they are [[YoungConqueror young]] and/or [[InHarmsWay adrenaline junkies]]. It is usually coupled with a steady gaze, even a frown of sorts.

The heroic counterpart to the SlasherSmile and the PsychoticSmirk, which are mostly about enjoying the anticipation of hurting others, especially when it's secret and they're unaware of the threat. In contrast, the Grin of Audacity is about relishing the anticipation of ''winning''. Very un-professional and un-business like, since it shows lack of emotional restraint, and comes more easily to Chaotic than to Lawful characters: don't expect characters modelled after serious-minded, saint-like, statuesque, iconic Franchise/{{Superman}} or Franchise/{{Batman}} to sport it often if at all: the heroes wearing these are supposed to be more sympathetic and human. Before the fear and the threats that a hero confronts, there are many ways one would realistically react, and this is one of them: If you've gotta do it, you might as well enjoy it.

* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' delivers some particularly compelling examples.
** One good example comes from climax at the first episode. Simon, Kamina and Yoko are in Lagann and Simon has manifested drills on Lagann to defeat the Gunman. The Gunman is being used as an impromptu drill while the trio head to the surface. As Kamina proclaims they're heading to the surface, Simon manages to crack out a confident smile for the first time and giving the audience a glimpse at the true power the young man possesses.
* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'', Jail Scaglietti laughs when [[GracefulLoser Fate finally captures him after years of pursuit]].

* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': In contrast to the bloodthirsty {{Slasher Smile}}s sported by many of the cast, Rock's badass smiles tend toward these. They primarily come out when Rock has some kind of crazy plan in mind, or when he proposes something that's just... ''[[EvilCannotComprehendGood incomprehensible]]'' by most villain standards (like asking mercy for their victims). Justified since he stated that he asked for it because ''he likes it'', just like the bad dudes loves to blow themselves up. You first see one on him at the very beginning, when Revy challenges ''him,'' a Japanese ''{{salaryman}}'' to a ''drinking duel''. As of ''El Baile De La Muerte'', Rock's Grin Of Audacity has become pretty damn unnerving (and blurring the lines between this trope and the SlasherSmile), to the point where ''Revy'' seems uneasy.

* [[IdiotHero Natsu]] [[BloodKnight Dragneel]] from ''Manga/FairyTail'' is basically the same as Luffy in this regard. He challenges stronger guildmates apparently just for the fun of it, and wears this while fighting them.

* In ''Manga/Brave10'', numerous members of the cast sport these whenever it comes time to fight, bordering on SlasherSmile sometimes when the more loose canon Braves get provoked.
* Kobayashi of ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'' gives one right before she [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu starts arguing with Tohru's father]]. It stands out immediately since she's normally TheStoic.
* Franchise/LupinIII's cocky smile is seen whenever he's mid-heist or is about to get the advantage. Seeing as this is [[GentlemanThief Lupin]] we're talking about, this is often.

** The Fourth Doctor, an arrogant, reckless and {{Nightmare Fetishist}}ic adrenaline-junkie and Lord President of the CheshireCatGrin, does this very frequently in his more action-orientated serials (like "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E6TheSeedsOfDoom The Seeds of Doom]]" where he flashes one while snapping a man's neck, pointing a gun at a room full of villains, and so on). He also does an amazingly big one at the end of "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS15E6TheInvasionOfTime The Invasion of Time]]" to signify that he's returning to acting like himself, after being [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness acting in a cold, humourless and smileless way for the entire story thus far]] as part of a BatmanGambit. One absolutely heartbreaking example is in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS18E7Logopolis Logopolis]]", when the dying Doctor glances up at his concerned companions, and flashes his distinctive, terrifying, mad smile for a fraction of a second before mumbling his [[FamousLastWords last words]] and regenerating.