History Main / WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' when Mike and Sulley see Boo running through the restaurant.

* In ''Anime/KillLaKill'', [[HotBlooded Ryuko Matoi]] has this reaction when [[spoiler: [[CuteAndPsycho Nui Harime]], whom she literally just met, reveals that she owns the other half of Ryuko's [[ShearMenace Scissor Blade]], and is by proxy [[YouKilledMyFather the one who murdered Ryuko's father]], Isshin Matoi.]] She also gets the absolutely ''pissed'' version of this, [[spoiler: coupled with a furious scream of '''''"YOU BITCH!!!"''''', when she flies into an UnstoppableRage towards Nui in response to this revelation. And it is ''terrifying'' to behold.]]

* Frequently used in ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes''; for example, [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/2122090/fair-warning/ here]] when Mr. Mighty is scaring off the homeless guy who came to rob a convenience store.

* Souls in ''Webcomic/{{Jack|DavidHopkins}}'' have teeny irises, if they are unjudged or hellbound. Once they are judged ready for heaven, or if the hellbound seek redemption, the characters' irises get even bigger and more expressive than when they were alive. Corpses' eyes look like this as well.

* Black Mage does this a few times in ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'', though given the fact that his eyes glow like two little lights under his hat, its hard to really say if he's a true example, even if his eyes do visibly shrink.
** Also, the [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/8bitlogicbomb_7154.PNG current page picture]] for PuffOfLogic.

* Mark, of ''Webcomic/FreakAngels'', exhibits classic tiny, tiny irises as he goes into his furious, terrified rant in Episode 0134.
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' had Kat eyes doing this when [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=521 she was told about]] certain PowerTattoo. Repeated in a later scene that ends in a triple BeatPanel and deserves it.
** Annie gets her turn on the last page of chapter 36.
** In [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=751 751]], Kat's eyes go from BlackBeadEyes, to this, to BlankWhiteEyes within three panels.
* When Tanna of ''Webcomic/EarsForElves'' [[http://www.earsforelves.com/archives/174 first sees Rolan]] (who is moving at high speed), her widened eyes, tiny irises, and high arched eyebrows indicate her surprise/shock. The black and white explosion-style background also shows suddenness.
* In ''Webcomic/SequentialArt'', this often happens to [[http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=410 Kat,]] who as CatFolk normally has massive irises.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Savestate}}'', Riley has this reaction [[http://www.savestatecomic.com/2016/10/paralyzed/ when she first meets Harvey.]]

* A pair of jerks in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1908 get such eyes]] after learning that Tedd (on whom one of them had clumsily hit) is not, as they thought, a girl.
* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the MasterSwordsman Auntie Maya [[http://killsixbilliondemons.com/comic/wielder-of-names-5-100/ gets these]] while [[ParryingBullets parrying a bullet]]. Rather than fear, it pairs with DissonantSerenity to extremely unnerving effect.

* ''Webcomic/EveryoneIsHome'': The end result of [[Franchise/{{Kirby}} King Dedede]], [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Young Link, and Zelda]] encountering [[VideoGame/EldenRing Godrick the Grafted]]: they respawn at a Site of Grace, clearly traumatized by their off-screen deaths at his ([[MultiArmedAndDangerous many, many]]) hands.

* Happens on a regular basis in the ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' anime, usually when one character is impressed by another character's power/abilities.
** And Arisawa does this in chapter 410 when [[spoiler: Aizen states he intends to kill her and draws his blade]].

* Most characters on ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' do this when they're really scared, but Satoko has a habit of giving particularly haunting moments. One of these is Satoko's reaction to Keichii standing by [[spoiler: her best friend's corpse]] in ''Tatarigoroshi-hen''. Satoko [[FreakOut freaks out]], believing that Keichii was responsible, and while doing so, gives a picture perfect demonstration of the trope. Her reaction upon getting out of the river and returning to her school [[spoiler:and finding her friends dead]] elicits this reaction from her as well, and it is also the expression her classmates are wearing. Gives a truly ghoulish impression. Keichii does it a few times as well.

* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' has some moments with this trope, especially when Shinji freaks out in End of Evangelion, upon seeing [[spoiler: Asuka's dismembered Eva Unit ]]. Epic FreakOut ensues, and again shortly after upon seeing [[spoiler:the Giant Naked Rei/Lilith]].
* ''Manga/ShamanKing'' characters tend to do this, along with sporting white-colored irises for that instant.
** ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' also has this happen both with human and Beastmen characters. In both series, this usually happens when someone is really shocked, horrified or furious. [[TheHero Simon]] ends up LockedIntoStrangeness after [[spoiler:Kamina dies]], with his eyes in a constant state of this combined with them turning white.
* The OELManga ''Manga/MyCatLoki'' features this whenever the titular cat Loki is scared.
* Part of an OhCrap moment for the villain of ''Domu'' by Creator/KatsuhiroOtomo. Reaches epic levels insofar as it is a silent panel the size of an entire two-page spread.
* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', All Might himself develops these after hearing from All For One that [[spoiler:Tomura Shigaraki is the grandson of All Might's mentor; Nana Shimura.]] What follows is All Might suffering a huge HeroicBSOD during the fight.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
** Since most of Kakashi's face is permanently hidden (usually just the one eye is left clear), this is what allows us to notice he's having an OhCrap moment.
** Naruto himself gets a noteworthy set of these when [[spoiler:Hinata gives him her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove just before almost getting killed by Pain]]. Notable in that they are not momentary; he is so shocked, he has them for the ENTIRE SCENE. And then he, quite understandably, goes [[UnstoppableRage berserk]]. Oh boy, ''does he''.
* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', Light does this several times - most noticeably after he realizes the titular notebook is for real.
** Also, Light gets them when he's [[http://view.thespectrum.net/series/death-note-volume-01.html?ch=Volume+01&page=42 starting to go insane.]]
** Mello also does this all the time.
* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' already has most characters displaying proportionately small irises/pupils, but when they're frightened or under stress, their pupils shrink to pinpricks &/or go white.
** As a side note, Super Saiyans lack pupils, arguably, this makes them ''really'' scary.
* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'', we have [[SmugSnake Quattro]](see the anime image for OhCrap), [[DoNotTauntCthulhu who has a very good reason to be terrified]].
* Edward Elric does this a lot in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''.
* Accelerator of ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'' does this quite a lot (because of his insanity) but the most prominent is [[spoiler:when Amai Ao is about to shoot him in the head and he knows he won't be able to deflect it.]]
* Most ''Manga/FairyTail'' characters inverts this for their pupils are usually invisible unless shocked or angry.
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'', it happens to Relena when Heero raises his gun to her at the end of Episode 2. Of course, she's saved from his IneffectualDeathThreats by a [[IncrediblyLamePun Duo Ex]] [[DeusExMachina Machina]].
* Saionji does this in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'' during a duel, not to indicate fear or shock, but focus on defeating his opponent. The quick shift makes him appear deranged and potentially murderous.
* ''Manga/FutureDiary'':
** Yuno Gasai has some horrifying examples in the anime version. Bonus points when she's smiling or laughing maniacally.
** Also in the anime version, Marco Ikusaba sports a pair of these in [[HarmfulToMinors his backstory]]. A perfectly understandable reaction to witnessing [[spoiler:your girlfriend being [[RapeAsBackstory gang-raped]]]].
* This happens on occasion in ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'', such as when Germany sees that the invading aliens have rendered his tanks useless in TheMovie.
* In ''Anime/DigimonTamers,'' Guilmon is a childlike, friendly dinosaur {{Mon}}. He's also ''crazy'' powerful by Rookie-level standards[[note]]Actually common in ''Tamers,'' where Rookie Digimon are quite capable instead of SleepModeSize; even Terriermon, who is the size of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' rookies, is a PintsizedPowerhouse who can ''[[BlowYouAway clobber you with a frikkin' tornado]].''[[/note]] and when in a battle mindset can be feral and scary even to his friends. The signal that you should stop d'awwing over him and get out of his way in a ''big'' hurry is when his pupils suddenly shrink to pinpoints.
* [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yksuR4ZRu38/maxresdefault.jpg An understandable reaction]] from [[SuperSpeed "Speed O' Sound" Sonic]] running [[GroinAttack junk-first]] into the fist of the titular ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' in the anime. Yes, it's Sonic's fault because he's the [[BloodKnight belligerent loony]] while Saitama comes off as sharp as his smooth, bald head.
* Popuko of ''Manga/PopTeamEpic'' naturally has wide eyes, but when she gets angry ([[HairTriggerTemper which happens very easily]]), her irises shrink to the size of periods.
* Happens to [[BigBad Vicious]] in the ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "[[Recap/CowboyBebopSession26TheRealFolkBluesPart2 The Real Folk Blues (Part 2)]]" [[spoiler:when Spike shoots him during their final duel]].
* Shinji in the 2010 movie adaptation of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' [[https://p1.pstatp.com/large/pgc-image/1528251779376c73c9c7869 sometimes looks like]] he crept his way straight out of the ''Higurashi'' anime. Not surprising, since both are Creator/StudioDEEN productions.
* In the animated short ''WebAnimation/SonicNightOfTheWerehog'', a tie-in to ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', when Sonic notices the full moon, the camera pans in close to his eyes, and we get a shot of his pupils shrinking in both fright and shock... you know, before the [[PainfulTransformation painful transformation]] into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werehog]] kicks in.
* In the first chapter of the ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'' manga, Ao gets this when the other new member says she wants to find an asteroid. Downplayed when it is adapted in the first episode of the anime, when her irises only shrinks a little when that other member's companion calls her "Mira". This is a benign example, however; the reason Ao gets this is because she had ThePromise of "finding an asteroid together" with ''this'' Mira many years ago, but soon parted due to her family ReallyMovesAround.
* In ''Manga/SgtFrog'', this is Tamama's default expression whenever someone pisses him off.
* In a flashback of ''Manga/KotouraSan'', this is used to show Yuriko's horror when she found her mother DrivenToSuicide.
* In ''Anime/KillLaKill'', [[HotBlooded Ryuko Matoi]] has this reaction when [[spoiler: [[CuteAndPsycho Nui Harime]], whom she literally just met, reveals that she owns the other half of Ryuko's [[ShearMenace Scissor Blade]], and is by proxy [[YouKilledMyFather the one who murdered Ryuko's father]], Isshin Matoi.]] She also gets the absolutely ''pissed'' version of this, [[spoiler: coupled with a furious scream of '''''"YOU BITCH!!!"''''', when she flies into an UnstoppableRage towards Nui in response to this revelation. And it is ''terrifying'' to behold.]]
* In ''Anime/SoreikeAnpanman'', Baikinman does this when in shock, and his irises can become [[https://imgur.com/a/OlDGmkc particularly small]]. You almost can't even see them!

* It occurs in ''Film/ThreeAmigos'' during the duel between Ned Nederlander and that German guy.
* ''Film/{{Psycho}}'': Marion Crane's eyes do this, though in an ArtisticLicenseBiology moment.
* This happens to Jessica Rabbit in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', in the only scene where you really get a good look at both her eyes ("Oh my God, it's DIIIIIIP!"). And, indeed, her face looks more childlike (symbolizing her fundamental fear of Dip), and loses its more mature look, [[FridgeBrilliance much like how many other toons do when faced with an instinctual fear]]. [[spoiler:Judge Doom]] also has this look when he sees the Dip nozzle pointed at him was just turned on.
* Happened in the American version of ''Film/TheRing'' with a very good close up of Rachel's eyes when viewing the cursed tape for the first time.

* This happens to the animated Cruella [=DeVil=] in the video game Roger made in the live action ''Film/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians1996'' movie when a keg of dynamite is thrown at her.
* Large Marge's NightmareFace from ''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure''.

* ''Literature/GoToSleepAJeffTheKillerRewrite'':
** Randy taunting "If I knew this emo lookin' fucker was going to be like this I would've pushed him instead." pushes Jeff into a trance-like state of rage. He stops suddenly in his tracks and his change in expression is described as "eyes widened, as his pupils and irises appeared to shrink."
** Some drawings show characters with widened eyes and shrunken pupils in moments of shock, or otherwise in Jeff's case. Randy and his gang [[OhCrap wear the same horrified reaction]] when they accidentally burn Jeff alive. As Jeff's sanity weakens, his smile looks manic as his pupils get smaller, which eventually carries into his SlasherSmile. When Liu discovers Jeff's bloody smile, he has the same shrunken irises as his brother, but from terror instead of insanity.

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', Ganondorf does this after he is defeated and sealed away.

* In ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'', activating a Super Combo or Ultra Combo will make the screen darken and the action slow down. This is not terribly different from conventional 2D {{Fighting Game}}s using 2D graphics, which usually darken and go slow-motion/pause for super moves as well. A nice touch that ''is'' different in this game (which uses 3D graphics) is that you often get to see the other fighter’s eyes slowly do this as they get that gut feeling that their opponent is about to open a biiiiig can of whoop-ass....

* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'': Splatter the Shadow Blot with paint. No seriously, do it, it's priceless.
* Vincent from ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'' pulls off a [[http://download.gamezone.com/assets/old/screenshots/Catherin_edimage.jpg spectacular example]] for one of the promo arts of the game.

* This happens ''a lot'' in the ''VideoGame/JoeAndMac'' series. It occurs whenever Joe, Mac, the enemies, and even the bosses receive damage. It's especially funny in ''Joe & Mac 2'' considering that the dinosaur bosses in that game look more realistic compared to the other entries in the series.
* Used to hilarious effect by Ludger in ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'', after he tests out a mind-reading device on Musee and learns that she's a lot wackier then she lets on; the accompanying dumbfounded facial expression making it all the more priceless. However, it's also used in a serious fashion throughout the game, often as a result of a mortal wound.
* Male characters in the original ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' on the Super Famicom spot funny popping eyes when they take damage.
* The "Shocked" expression for characters in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' have notably small eyes with wide open mouths.
* When Toy Bonnie attacks the player character in ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2'', his irises are noticeably smaller than normal.

* The intro cinematic for ''VideoGame/JazzJackrabbit 2'' shows the titular Jazz [[MookHorrorShow wreaking havoc on a few helpless mooks]]... before coming face to face with [[GiantMook one three times his size]]. Cue the Oh Crap Face, before little brother Spaz bails him out.
* ''VideoGame/EternalSeniaHydrangeaAfterTheRain'': Little Fairy has such an expression, but with no iris at all, she's the character in the StartScreen and tapped, when she says:
--> Ahh! Careful Senia! You almost hit me!
* The FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' (both the original and [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake the remake]]) does this immediately before dying.

[[folder:Web Originals]]

* ''WebAnimation/TheGmodIdiotBox'' episode 9 has Alex react this way when driven over the edge. As he stares motionlessly, one of the widened eyes actually falls out of his head, revealing his normal eyes underneath.

* Qwackerjack in the ''ComicBook/DarkwingDuck'' comic, after [[spoiler: the Crimebots mention Negaduck]].
* Shadowcat busts this expression out for a full four panels in ''ComicBook/XMenForever'' after [[spoiler: Wolverine, who is supposed to be dead, ends up impaling her with his bone claws from the back.]]
* In a ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' tie-in to ''Comicbook/WorldWarHulk'', Comicbook/DoctorStrange gets these when the Ghost Rider spirit takes over from Johnny Blaze. Blaze might have defeated the Hulk and saved the Illuminati, but the Ghost Rider decides Hulk is in the right and rides away.
* This happens in {{Franchise/Godzilla}} Rulers of Earth when Godzilla sees a Destoroyah juvenile kill a man in front of him.
* As noted in the Page Quote, this happens to [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes Calvin]] frequently when Hobbes attacks him.
* ''Comicbook/CaptainAmerica'' villain Zaran showed an exaggerated version of this once, i.e., [[http://i.imgur.com/B8Xlccd.jpg with no irises]].

* In ''FanFic/TheApprenticeTheStudentAndTheCharlatan'', Nova Shine does this when Twilight confesses her love to him. He has crippling CommitmentIssues, and had been trying to keep her at arm's length while he sorted his own feelings for her, causing him to freak out.

* ''{{WesternAnimation/Balto}}'': Happens to Balto when he is about to vomit all the water in his lungs when he is revived after nearly drowning.
* ''{{WesternAnimation/Dinosaur}}'': Aladar when he sees the monster cloud closing in on him though unlike most examples, only one of his eyes is seen doing this.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'': Mowgli when Kaa tries to get the man-cub to look at him, and when Shere Khan first tries to attack the boy.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Facilier during the reprise of "Are You Ready?". Also the leader of the frog hunters after Ray flies up his nose and when he gets the crotch of his pants blasted off.
* Darla Dimple in ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' does this at the end when she sees that her attempt at sabotaging Danny's show actually ''improved'' it.
* This happens to the Thief in ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' [[spoiler:when he realizes his hands are about to be chopped off]].
** Happens again with Zig-Zag when he enters One-Eye's tent.
* Meowrice does this a couple times in ''WesternAnimation/GayPurree'' first when Juane Tom catches up to him while he's making his get away with the kidnapped Mewsette on a train, then later when Robespierre bites his tail.
* Providing the page image, Rabbit's memorable freakout scene during ''WesternAnimation/TheManyAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh'', which was fittingly animated by Creator/DonBluth.
** When everyone notices the avalanche in ''WesternAnimation/TheTiggerMovie'', Eeyore reacts this way, and even Tigger's BlackBeadEyes are briefly replaced by wide, horrified eyes.
* Flik does this in ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'' when he figures out his 'warriors' are really just circus performers. Thumper does this too in his OhCrap moment when Dim roars at him.
* This occurs to Clayton in ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'', [[spoiler: just as he falls from a tree while [[NooseCatch trying to untangle a vine coiled around his neck]]. As he tries to desperately save his own life, his eyes grow wide and bulge out while he also delivers a [[HellIsThatNoise bloodcurdling scream of absolute terror]] before the vine stretches taut, hanging him and killing him.]]
* Scar in ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'' does this shortly before [[spoiler: he is eaten by hyenas]]. Simba did it, too... [[spoiler:just before a stampede rains down on him.]]
* Mr. Potato Head in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' does this right before RC slams into him. Other characters in the movie do this (notable being Woody)
* Stinky Pete from ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' does these eyes when Buzz and the gang flash him with cameras and when Woody points to a young girl's backpack for his friends.
* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' when Mike and Sulley see Boo running through the restaurant.

* Happens to Mickey Mouse in ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers'' when he is trapped in a dungeon that begins to flood and fully realizes the danger he is in when he sees an inscription high up on the wall reading [[YouMustBeThisTallToRide "You Must Be This Tall to Survive This Dungeon"]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/HelpImAFish'', Fly's eyes do this just as [[spoiler: a crab slashes one of its claws at him and slices his side open.]]

* Happens to Goofy himself in ''WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie'', after he takes a considerable fall in his daydream and hits the pavement ''hard''.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'', this was the giant turtle island's reaction when Genie entered inside it as a distraction.
* In ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'', Bill Sykes shows these eyes just before he gets killed by an oncoming train.
* Frequently seen in ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', with some examples being:
** Mei, when she's about to snap from the embarrassment of her mother coming to school to bring her pads.
** Miriam, Priya, and Abby, seeing Mei's panda form for the first time.
** Mei, realizing that Stacy had caught her in her panda form (and Stacy, reacting to Mei's panda form).
** [[RuleOfThree Mei]], realizing that Tyler had put up embarrassing posters of her crush on Devon all over the school.
** Tae-young in the closing photo of all the cast together, when Abby jumps on his back.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys2022'': The BigBad of the film, [[spoiler:Professor Marmalade]] has an absolutely priceless reaction of this sort when [[spoiler:Mr. Snake blows up Marmalade’s mansion with the Love Meteor]], proving [[spoiler:Marmalade stole the meteor and embezzled his own charity funds]] and outing [[spoiler:Marmalade]] to everyone as the manipulative conniving schemer that the character truly is.
* ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'': Charlie has these after Itchy, having seen him get hit by a car earlier that night, screams in his face.

[[folder:Web Original]]

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] with Jet in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' when his ManchurianAgent brainwashing is triggered.
** Cleverly done when Azula first hears of the solar eclipse, her eyes stay the same size but her irises suddenly shrink. Other than this, she gives no outward indication of fear.
** In the sequel comic ''The Search'' Azula is still more than a little crazy, which is shown with her eyes constantly being in this state.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' used the angry version. When Brittany meets Tommy Sherman and tells him that her boyfriend, Kevin, worships him, Tommy barely acknowledges this before propositioning her. Brittany's pupils shrink to pinpricks in response.

* Likewise, ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'' uses this in similar situations.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': In Episode 92, this is Mr. Cat's reaction to seeing [[spoiler: the GrimReaper]] when he opens the door.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' does this when [[spoiler: [[RomanticFalseLead her boyfriend]] reveals he's actually an evil synthodrone created by Dr. Drakken and tasers her]] in ''[[TheMovie So the Drama]]''.

* One of Creator/ChuckJones' trade mark gags in his WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes shorts, some notable examples are in "Rabbit's Feat" before Wile E. Coyote gets hit by the train and Marc Anthony the bulldog when he fears for Pussyfoot's safety in "Feed The Kitty”.

* Frequently seen as part of the heavy eye animation of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. Sometimes [[http://i.imgur.com/xarPm.png combined]] with OpenTheIris to express sinking terror.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls:'' Bubbles's pupils shrink in "Bubble Boy" when the Rowdyruff Boys try to force her to eat a roach.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'':

** Mr. Krabs does this in ''Imitation Krabs'' after [=SpongeBob=] tells him that he supposedly gave Squidward the day off.
-->'''Mr. Krabs''': ''(irises narrow to pinpricks)'' "Day...'''''[[SkywardScream ooooooooooffffffff?!]]''''' I don't know the meaning of them horrible words!"
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''' [[{{Shapeshifter}} Beast Boy]] when he transforms into [[DeadlyUpgrade The Beast]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': This trope has been done a few times in South Park.
** In [[Recap/SouthParkS19E1StunningAndBrave "Stunning And Brave"]], one of the PC Bros falls off the balcony and hits his head during the fight against them, when he hits his head and dies his pupils become very dilated.
** In [[Recap/SouthParkS20E4WienersOut "Wieners Out"]], when Sheila walks in on Gerald in the bathroom at night, he hisses at her with light shining on his face and very small pupils.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': The show is usually known for its characters drawn with Large Pupils. But as an artistic style or storyboarder/character design choice, the character's eyes are drawn very small or with just small dots for the irises as a moment of worry or any weird expression.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'': In "[[Recap/StevenUniverseFutureS1E3RoseBuds Rose Buds]]", Steven's reaction to seeing three duplicates of his dead mom had his irises shrink. Amethyst has a similar reaction when she sees Steven surrounded by three duplicates of his dead mom.
* In the WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck cartoon ''WesternAnimation/DonaldsTireTrouble'', after all four of his car tires go flat, Donald's eyes briefly shrink before [[WingdingEyes spinning wildly into spirals]] -- and then, as he is wont to do, he goes berserk and simply drives off with flat tires.

Contrast OpenTheIris, the trope's physical opposite. If this effect only happens to one eye and not the other, it's a case of {{Mad Eye}}s. Not to be confused with SphereEyes, which always look like dots.

* The infamous statue WebOriginal/{{Momo}} has this.

* In ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'', Kermit shrinks his eye irises during a heavy load on Benjamina Gunn at the cliff.

* [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Murdoc is seen sporting these]] in the Music/{{Gorillaz}}' music video for [[WhamEpisode "The Lost Chord,"]] as him and the rest of the band watch from a lighthouse as [[spoiler:Plastic Beach [[TrashTheSet crumbles down around them.]]]] Understandable, especially conisdering that [[DarkestHour Plastic Beach]] is a source of rather... ''complicated'' emotions for everyone involved.

'''Hobbes:''' You should've seen them! They were as big as dinner plates!

* Used to varying effect in ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator''. In the case of Yandere-chan, they slowly shrink when the player gets a GameOver by way of [[SenpaiKohai Senpai]] rejecting her or a teacher expelling her. For everyone else, they appear in the same fashion when they see something bad happen (either you killing someone or happening across a corpse). If they see you commit a murder, but you get away with it, their irises remain shrunken as a way of saying that they know you killed someone and they're going to damage your reputation continuously by spreading the word of your crime around the school.

** Naruto himself gets a noteworthy set of these when [[spoiler:Hinata gives him her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove just before almost getting killed by Pain]]. Notable in that they are not momentary; he is so shocked, he has them for the ENTIRE SCENE. And then he, quite understandably, goes [[BerserkerRage berserk]]. Oh boy, ''does he''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'', Bill Sykes shows these eyes just before his death.

* This happens to Jessica Rabbit in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', in the only scene where you really get a good look at [[PeekABangs both her eyes]] ("Oh my God, it's DIIIIIIP!"). And, indeed, her face looks more childlike (symbolizing her fundamental fear of Dip), and loses its more mature look, [[FridgeBrilliance much like how many other toons do when faced with an instinctual fear]]. [[spoiler:Judge Doom]] also has this look when he sees the Dip nozzle pointed at him was just turned on.

** ''Anime/HirogaruSkyPrettyCure'': Sora and Manatsu, realizing how close the Sky Jewels really are.

* Most characters on ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' do this when they're really scared, but Satoko has a habit of giving particularly haunting moments. One of these is Satoko's reaction to Keichii standing by [[spoiler: her best friend's corpse]] in ''Tatarigoroshi-hen''. Satoko [[FreakOut freaks out]], believing that Keichii was responsible, and while doing so, gives a picture perfect demonstration of the trope. Her reaction upon getting out of the river and returning to her school [[spoiler:and finding her friends dead]] elicits this reaction from her as well, and it is also the expression her classmates are wearing. Gives a truly ghoulish impression. Keichii does it a few times as well.
** It's also used fairy often to show a character is going AxCrazy, to the point that most instances of NightmareFace in the series include this.

* Inverted by Maka and sometimes Black☆Star in ''Manga/SoulEater''; their pupils are invisible unless they're particularly shocked or angry. Everyone else in the series plays this straight.

* ''Anime/DragonballZ'' already has most characters displaying proportionately small irises/pupils, but when they're frightened or under stress, their pupils shrink to pinpricks &/or go white.

* Accelerator of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' does this quite a lot (because of his insanity) but the most prominent is [[spoiler:when Amai Ao is about to shoot him in the head and he knows he won't be able to deflect it.]]

* Happens to [[BigBad Vicious]] in ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' [[spoiler:when Spike shoots him during their final duel.]]

* A rare realistic depiction in ''WesternAnimation/{{Paranorman}}''. Norman gets a vision of the famous witch trial of Blithe Hollow, in the position of the accused. Norman tries to defend himself, until he hears someone behind him, crying. His [[http://24.media.tumblr.com/aae5a8e4e6905839705f4fc7936e5bec/tumblr_mi4kbtVSnl1qhdexto2_500.gif irises narrowing]] in shock is a nice touch to TheReveal that [[spoiler:the "witch" was a little girl who talked to ghosts]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys'': The BigBad of the film, [[spoiler:Professor Marmalade]] has an absolutely priceless reaction of this sort when [[spoiler:Mr. Snake blows up Marmalade’s mansion with the Love Meteor]], proving [[spoiler:Marmalade stole the meteor and embezzled his own charity funds]] and outing [[spoiler:Marmalade]] to everyone as the manipulative conniving schemer that the character truly is.