History Main / HolyHalo

* Most of the gods in ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' have them, except for the title character himself (oddly enough).
** Actually, it seems Asura does have one. Check out this [[http://www.ptfgn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AsurasWrath_Gamestop_Artbook_PAPresentsComic_Cover1.jpg pic]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr8cMQj50N0 2:57]]

** In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]], such as Whis, have blue halos that float either around their necks or behind their heads. [[spoiler:Fused Zamasu has a double white halo behind his head and shoulders]]. Also, [[spoiler: Frieza sports a regular halo during the Tournament of Power, having been brought back from Hell to fight in [[HeavySleeper Majin Buu]]'s stead on behalf of Universe 7]].

* From ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows'', [[spoiler: Tenri manifests one whenever Diana takes control.]]

* Ubiquitous among the villains of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry''. Though, most of them are actually horns in a halo shape.

* While not strictly a halo, the Fire Tablet artifact in ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' creates a circle the the sun's corona around Amaterasu when equipped... and gives her a nice damage reduction to fire and immunity to LethalLavaLand.

* Dead characters in ''Manga/DragonBall'' are typically depicted wtih halos when in the afterlife, or when brought back to the living world temporarily. This was established in the Fortuneteller Baba saga, when Grandpa Gohan was brought back in this manner to have a chance to spar with Goku; Goku himself came back in this manner during the Buu Saga, and later Vegeta was sent back after his failed HeroicSacrifice (both were resurrected, while Gohan remained dead). The short-lived Creator/{{Toonzai}} broadcast of ''[[Anime/DragonBallZKai Dragon Ball Z Kai]]'', however, [[NeverSayDie changed the halos into "orbs"]].

* ''Manga/MyMonsterSecret'': Shirogane Karen is a FallenAngel. [[MinionWithAnFInEvil Just not a very good one.]]. Except that in reality it's strongly implied that she's still a normal angel who only believes she's fallen because she lost (as in, physically misplaced) her halo. [[spoiler: [[{{Troll}} Akane]] took it and is [[HiddenInPlainSight using it as a lightbulb]] in the Student Council room.]]

* Ubiquitous among the villains of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry''.
** Though, most of them are actually horns in a halo shape.

!!Examples

[[folder:Art]]

[[folder:Comicbooks]]

* In Fanfic/DeadEyedTsuna Hibari is frequently surrounded by light, though its less a symbol of his holiness and more so symbolism of Tsuna's terror worship towards him, is even lampshaded!

[[folder:Film]]

* Inverted and played for laughs in ''Film/{{Bedazzled 2000}}'' when Elizabeth Hurley's Devil tries on different outfits. She ends up looking like an angel, complete with wings and halo but is quick to point out that it's "just a Halloween costume."
* In some ''Hanuman'' and its {{Spinoff}} ''Animation/TheReturnOfHanuman'' artworks Maruti/Hanuman is depicted with this.

* In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', the ceiling painting above the throne room depicts all members of the royal family with halos to highlight their divinity. Like other part of the pictures, the halos are moving thanks to Asgardian {{Magitek}}.
* ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'': As Carol looks down on Yon-Rogg for the final time, fully realized as one of the most powerful beings in the universe and a force for good, the sun is behind her giving her a halo effect around her head.

* In ''Series/DoctorWho,'' angel robots were the waiters on the ''[[UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic Titanic]]'' [-IN SPACE!-]. When the bad guy reprogrammed them for killing, they plucked off their halos (to use as [[ImprobableWeaponUser instruments of death]]) which left behind the mounts - which now looked [[FallenAngel like horns]].

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': In the episode "A Passage For Trumpet", John Anderson pauses in the dark hallway to identify himself to Jack Klugman as "Gabe" (short for Gabriel, of course). The sole light in the hallway is directly over his head, forming a perfect halo. Clever effect!

* The Angels in ''{{Series/Supernatural}}'' are confirmed to have them in season 8 when a [[HalfHumanHybrid Nephilim]] says she can see a halo on Castiel's head, but like their wings they are invisible when they're in their human hosts on Earth.

[[folder:Magazine]]
* ''{{Magazine/Analog}}'': The [[Recap/Analog1941 January 1941 cover]] has an [[OurGiantsAreBigger enormous human-like figure]] with a bright circle of light around their head. Their entire body glows with the same light as the halo.

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* British comic ''Augusta'' plays with this in one strip.
-->'''Augusta''' ''(Our cute young heroine, to a man she meets who's wearing a halo)'': Is it hard to get one of those?
-->'''Man''': Bloody hard.
-->''(The halo vanishes. In the next panel they are seen looking for it under the sofa.)''
* In the 1980s ''ComicStrip/ThePerishers'' introduced Dirty [=McSquirty=], a character who never bathes and is always surrounded by a halo of flies.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''WebAnimation/MadnessCombat'', a golden halo is part of [[AGodAmI Jebus]]' signature look. Subverted when his first appearance establishes him as a superpowered AxCrazy maniac. [[spoiler:The halo turns out to be an AmplifierArtifact, which causes no end of trouble when the BigBad claims it for himself. For him, it turns [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver blood-red]].]]
[[/folder]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark,'' Jesus has one, which usually just floats above his head [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight without being remarked upon]]. In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpiritOfChristmas'' he actually [[ImprobableWeaponUser throws it]] to knock the hat off of the murderous Frosty's head, rendering it immobile.

* Ginka Shirokane from ''Anime/IlSolePenetraLeIllusioni'' has one as part of her MagicalGirl outfit. Turns out it's more symbolic than it originally seems.

* the Biblical root of the halo lies in the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36) The Gospel account relates that Christ went up a mountain and communed directly with people in Heaven. The biblical account tells us that Jesus became a radiant being of light; the line about "his face (and head) shone like the sun" may well be the starting-point for haloes in Christian iconography.

** An alternative approach is Moses, who typically lacks a halo but is depicted with two flames sprouting, hornlike, from his forehead. This is because St. Jerome in the Latin Vulgate Bible used the uncommon word ''cornutus'' (="shining") in translating ''[[Literature/BookOfExous Exodus]]'' 34:29. (Most likely the Latin word, as well as the Hebrew word קָרַן it translated, referred to the spiky appearance of rays of light), but later readers read it as literally derived from ''cornu'', and translated it "horned." ([[http://www.the-orb.net/encyclop/culture/artarch/danish/tomoses/15-041.jpg This Danish depiction]] from ''ca.'' 1325) shows Moses with halo ''and'' horns.)

** An alternative approach is Moses, who typically lacks a halo but is depicted with two flames sprouting, hornlike, from his forehead. This is because St. Jerome in the Latin Vulgate Bible used the uncommon word ''cornutus'' (="shining") in translating ''Exodus'' [-XXXIV-]. xxix. (Most likely the Latin word, as well as the Hebrew word קָרַן it translated, referred to the spiky appearance of rays of light), but later readers read it as literally derived from ''cornu'', and translated it "horned." ([[http://www.the-orb.net/encyclop/culture/artarch/danish/tomoses/15-041.jpg This Danish depiction]] from ''ca.'' 1325) shows Moses with halo ''and'' horns.)

* Subverted very ''very'' much with Angelo, one of the [[BigBad biggest antagonists]] in ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure.''
* ''Webcomic/EvilDiva'': All the angels.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4352 they are awarded at graduation.]]
** [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4140 Part of Ezekiel and Ariel's normal attire, too.]]

A SubTrope of PowerGlows and SisterTrope to HolyBacklight and BattleAura. See also BackgroundHalo, when this is an InvokedTrope. Contrast HornedHumanoid. Not to be confused with the video game series ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', although [[RuleOfSymbolism the parallels are intentional]].

Either a gold ring floating over someone's head, or the more traditional shimmer of light like someone is holding a flashlight behind a character's head. In fiction (and ''lots'' of classical art), halos are basically synonymous with holiness and extreme good. It means you're either {{God}}, [[CrystalDragonJesus a non-denominational]] [[LowestCosmicDenominator equivalent]], an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]], a saint, a buddha, the MessianicArchetype or a soul of the dearly departed in FluffyCloudHeaven (the real {{Heaven}} isn't quite so tacky). Although the term "halo" only dates back to the 17th century the trope itself is ancient, in the middle-ages it was known as the ''corona gloriae'' ("crown of glory") in Europe. While in the West it is associated with Christian iconography, halos are also a part of Muslim, Buddhist, and other religious art. Traditionally, the presence of a halo on someone in art means they are inhabited with the Holy Spirit because of their great virtue.

* The Angels in ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' are confirmed to have them in season 8 when a [[HalfHumanHybrid Nephilim]] says she can see a halo on Castiel's head, but like their wings they are invisible when they're in their human hosts on Earth.

* In the more recent ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' games, you can buy a halo from the Able Sisters to wear on your head.

* Dead characters in ''Manga/DragonBall'' are typically depicted wtih halos when in the afterlife, or when brought back to the living world temporarily. This was established in the Fortuneteller Baba saga, when Grandpa Gohan was brought back in this manner to have a chance to spar with Goku; Goku himself came back in this manner during the Buu Saga, and later Vegeta was sent back after his failed HeroicSacrifice (both were resurrected, while Gohan remained dead). The short-lived Creator/{{Toonzai}} broadcast of ''[[Anime/DragonBallKai Dragon Ball Z Kai]]'', however, [[NeverSayDie changed the halos into "orbs"]].

[[caption-width-right:196: Every deity should have one!]]