Line #103 Main/BladeReflection


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4	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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12	[[quoteright:330:[[Literature/ShakuganNoShana https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sample-83da5bfbecdb2fd49c94d8ebeca1c333_2952.jpg]]]]
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14	If a character regularly uses a sword of some sort, then the show's [[TitleSequence opening credits]] or StockFootage will almost always include a shot of that character's face reflected in the highly-polished steel of the blade. Another common usage is to have the character's opponent(s) reflected in the blade as a reaction shot.
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16	The characters in those scenes are facing each other, but unlike the MirroredConfrontationShot that shows them from a side, this shot allows us to see both characters' front faces. Without the reflection, we would have to see one of them from behind.
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18	Remember that Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible. This trope is usually done with swords, but any object that may show a reflection can be used as well. Sometimes even objects that are not very reflective.
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20	See also ReflectiveEyes.
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22	!!Examples
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24	[[foldercontrol]]
25	[[folder:Advertising]]
26	* Promotional materials (posters, DVD covers, etc) for several of the ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}'' and ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' movies have often featured the image of an unfortunate victim reflected in the blade of whatever weapon (knife, machete, chainsaw) either killer is about to use.
27	[[/folder]]
28
29	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
30	* Yamcha in ''Manga/DragonBall'''s intro.
31	* ''VisualNovel/{{Hakuouki}} Record of Jade Blood'' features a shot of Hijikata reflected in the blade of Sanan's sword as Sanan draws it against him.
32	* In the manga of ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'', Shigure Kousaka turns the blade reflection to practical use, using it to see what is behind her. Her only blind spot is the part of the blade reflecting her face.
33	* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' doesn't actually do this with its hero Domon, rather, the sword blade reflects the faces of his eventual companions.
34	* The manga of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' uses this during a moment between Naruto and Gaara: in the aftermath of a fight, the two are facing each other across a [[{{BFS}} giant frog's knife]] planted in the ground. We see a shot of each of them with half their face visible behind the sword and the other half of their opponent's face reflected in the blade.
35	* Variant: The opening theme of ''Manga/PrincessResurrection'' features Hiro's reflection in the side of a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]].
36	* In ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', when [[FailureKnight Fakir]] and [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Mytho]] get into a sword fight, Mytho sees his reflection in Fakir's sword, leading him to realize [[EvilPrince what he's become]].
37	* Utena, Touga and Saionji in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''.
38	* While not in the opening credits, Juliet in ''Anime/RomeoXJuliet'' has a shot of her looking at her reflection off the sword, in the rain during a thunderstorm.
39	* Sakura in ''Anime/SakuraWars2000''.
40	* Pictured above is Shana from ''Literature/ShakuganNoShana''. Although that's not Shana being reflected.
41	* ''Manga/SoulEater'': When the [[EquippableAlly human-weapon hybrid]] Soul is in his weapon form and needs to comment on something to his wielder, his face will occasionally be shown as a reflection on his blade.
42	** Most of the other weapons in soul eater do the same.
43	** There's also a neat effect in the anime, where the reflection on the blade turns from that of Stein [[SlasherSmile grinning]], to an image of the Weapon Spirit also grinning.
44	* ''Literature/TheTwelveKingdoms'': Youko's reflection in her sword moves the plot at several points. The sword does not seem to be bound by the laws of specular reflection.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Comic Books]]
48	* Inadvertently used by Comicbook/{{Blade}} to defeat Comicbook/GhostRider when the [[LetsYouAndHimFight Spirits of Vengeance fight the Nightstalkers.]]
49	* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': [[http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080831180659/marveldatabase/images/3/31/Incredible_Hulk_Vol_1_340.jpg The famous cover of Hulk #340 (1988)]] has ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} with his claws popped and Joe Fixit being reflected in them as he's about to unleash [[HulkSmash the Smash]].
50	** This image (along with a number of other covers relating to one or both of these characters) is replicated in the animated [[WesternAnimation/HulkVs Hulk Vs Wolverine]].
51	** Wolverine also uses his claws to reflect The Gorgon's [[TakenForGranite stone gaze]] back on him. You'd think a guy who calls himself The Gorgon would've read the legend of Perseus.
52	* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel
53	** ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'': Issue #5 starts with Wolverine ready to attack, and Magneto's face is reflected on his claws.
54	** ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan''
55	*** In the start of issue 7, both Spider-Man and the Green Goblin are reflected in the eyes of each other.
56	*** The cover of issue #13 shows Spider-Man's mask in Peter's hand, reflecting Mary Jane's shocked face in the eyes.
57	** ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'': The man in the lobby is seen in Hawkeye's glasses.
58	** ''ComicBook/SpiderMenII'': The cover of issue #2 shows both Spider-Men reflected on the Taskmaster's sword.
59	* Franchise/WonderWoman:
60	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Diana uses the reflection on her gauntlets and sword to see Medusa during their first fight.
61	** ''ComicBook/WonderWomanBlackAndGold'': When Circe reveals herself in "What Doesn't Kill You" and Diana mocks her and tells her she won't be driven to kill the witch even after having her prior turns to deadly violence thrown in her face Circe's glowing eyes dripping ichor are reflected in Diana's blade.
62	* ''ComicBook/XForce'': From the (first) list of [[http://www.progressiveboink.com/2012/4/21/2960757/robliefeld3 The 40 Worst Rob Liefeld Drawings,]] example #14 has Shatterstar gripping his sword and looking forward, but the reflection in his sword only makes sense if Cannonball is attacking from his right or if the blade is warped in some impossible way.
63	* The cover of ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' Book 5: Ring of Truth has Yorick and his pet monkey reflected in the blade of Toyota's katana.
64	[[/folder]]
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66	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
67	* In ''WesternAnimation/DragonsFireAndIce'' during a duel with the two protagonists, there is a moment when it appears that one stabbed the other while on the ground. The next shot inverts the trope by showing the ''sword's'' reflection in the victim's opening eye.
68	* In [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney's]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'', Mulan's face is reflected as she unsheathes a sword before she gives herself an ImportantHaircut.
69	** The cover art has the blade reflecting Mulan's male disguise, while paradoxically she's standing in her original costume ''behind'' it.
70	* In ''WesternAnimation/MulanII'', when she is [[spoiler:mourning over Shang's death, she is looking at a sword and when lightning flashes, she sees his face reflected in it]] before she drives the sword into the ground.
71	[[/folder]]
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73	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
74	* In ''Film/BladeTrinity'', when Hannibal King is explaining the origins of Drake/Dracula to Blade, we're treated to a shot of both Drake's human and monster face reflected in the blade shot that's in the creepy stock footage/bloodbath/Fetish Fuel moment.
75	* In ''Film/CastAway'', Chuck uses the blade of an ice skate both as a knife and as a mirror.
76	* In the game-based film ''Film/DOADeadOrAlive'', Helena [[DualWielding dual-wields]] [[KatanasAreJustBetter katanas]], using one as a mirror to look behind her at the surrounding {{Mook}}s.
77	* Expanded upon in ''Film/KillBill 1'', when the Bride uses her mirror-polished blade to inspect all angles of a {{Mook}} formation.
78	* In the classic film ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', Lawrence uses his dagger blade as an impromptu mirror to check out how he looks in his snazzy new white robes; it was a ThrowItIn moment from actor Peter O'Toole.
79	* The ''Film/KillBill'' example above is taken from one of its main inspirations, the ''Film/LoneWolfAndCub'' film series, in which Ogami Itto uses his sword to look behind him without alerting a pair of ninjas sneaking up on him. He kills them.
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82	[[folder:Literature]]
83	* ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'': Piper Mclean uses her dagger Katoptris as a mirror like its previous wielder, Helen of Troy.
84	[[/folder]]
85
86	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
87	* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' does it this late in the first season when [[spoiler:Kaito Nakamura instructs Hiro in the use of the Sword of Kensei]]
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Music]]
91	* Referenced as {{foreshadowing}} in Music/BobDylan's "[[Music/BloodOnTheTracks Lilly, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts]]."
92	--> ''Rosemary started drinking hard and seeing her reflection in the knife''.\
93	''She was tired of the attention; tired of playing the role of Big Jim's wife''.
94	[[/folder]]
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96	[[folder:Video Games]]
97	* In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', this trope provides the only proof that Nero's Devil Trigger doesn't quite take the form of Nelo Angelo, as many fans speculate. For those dedicated enough to fully clear the game, the game-clear art for Hell or Hell difficulty shows it reflected on Yamato's surface in full color - color that is mostly red, the reflection being Dante's DT form.
98	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' does this when a character changes into the warrior class.
99	* ''[[VideoGame/{{GuiltyGear}} Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core]]'''s new intro gives a moment of Blade Reflection to Ky Kiske, who is facing Sol Badguy at the time.
100	* In the ''Kakera Asobi'' version of the opening to ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry: Matsuri'', the last shot is of the reflection of a dying cicada in a sword, followed by a glint on the sword and a reflection of someone who looks like [[OracularUrchin Rika]]. [[spoiler:It's actually Ouka, Hanyuu's daughter]].
101	* ''VideoGame/NeopetsTheDarkestFaerie'' has the BigBad's face reflected in the hero's sword on the box art.
102	* On the ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryV'' boxart, our hero reflects the title dragon on his blade.
103	* ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII'' gives this trope a small shuffle, as well: in its opening video, the sword of the main character Geddoe reflects--look closely!--Queen.
104	** A similar scene appears in the opening for ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'', with Miakis.
105	* In the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' video game series, whenever Sangar Zombolt uses his {{BFS}} Zankantou's ultimate attack, the target of the attack will be reflected on the blade as the camera pans up on it. This only applies to the Zankantou used by the Grungust Type-3 and the [=DyGenGuard=].
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Web Animation]]
109	* A popular recurring theme in fan-comics and animations for ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', specifically those featuring the Genocide route. In this case, it is usually an ominous sign of [[spoiler: The Fallen Child confronting their next victim. Because of the crushing difficulty of his boss fight and thanks to MemeticMutation from a popular FilkSong comic, Sans is usually the one shown in such a reflection.]] Best exemplified by this [[https://youtu.be/4TzVOLOROkM?t=116 spoilery fan-animation]].
110	[[/folder]]
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112	[[folder:Webcomics]]
113	* [[http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=37&issue=2 This]] page of ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja''.
114	[[/folder]]
115
116	[[folder:Western Animation]]
117	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'': In "Welcome to Wakanda", Iron Man and the Wasp are reflected in the Grim Reaper's scythe as they advance on him in the mine.
118	* In the WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} episode "A Long Way Till Morning", Demona is briefly seen reflected in Hudson's sword as he uses it to deflect a laser blast.
119	** In "Enter Macbeth", the title character is reflected in his wall-mounted sword rack as he chooses a weapon. (When the series' producer looked back on the episodes one by one, he counted this as a "sweet effect" in an episode where serious production issues had delayed everything.)
120	* In the FreakyFriday episode of ''WesternAnimation/PiratesOfDarkWater'', [[BigBad Bloth]] and [[TheHero Ren]] switched bodies, but their true selves could be seen in reflections. So when Ren-in-Bloth was attacked by another good guy, getting him to look into the reflection in his sword during a BladeLock convinced him that Ren-in-Bloth wasn't evil.
121	* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' tried to use his blade's reflection to blind his opponents at least once. His sword's mirror polish became a plot point in the EnemyWithout episode.
122	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': In "Heart of Evil," Donnie becomes fixated on killing [[TheDon Don Vizioso]], who had previously captured and tried to dissect him in "Mutant Gangland." During the climax, he has Vizioso dead to rights, and is about to spear him with his bo-staff... and then he [[https://turtlepedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:503-Donatello_Don_Vizioso.png sees his crazed reflection in the naginata blade]]. It's this, and realizing how close he was to [[HeWhoFightsMonsters crossing the line]], that finally snaps him out of his RevengeBeforeReason.
123	* In ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' this is the mechanism of the Sword of Omens' "[[{{Seers}} Sight Beyond Sight]]," in which protagonist Lion-O sees a frightening MirrorMonster vision of BigBad Mumm-Ra.
124	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / BladeReflection