ANIME EXPRESSIONFACEFAULTA character falling over with a loud thud or crash after another character saying something anticlimactic or stupid. A character usually fall flat on their face or back, sometimes with their legs sticking up in the air as the only part of them visible on-screen.
SUPER DEFORMEDUsed in order to show extreme or exaggerated emotion, especially in the cases of anger or surprise, that would be difficult to portray, or would seem out of character if expressed on the more realistic visage. They are meant to be cute and are often used in humorous diversions from the storyline.
NOSEBLEEDHappened often in shounen anime, boys will get nosebleed when sexually aroused.
Click to view attachment Example of nosebleed in Love Hina anime.
SWEAT DROPA response to a stupid or inane action or spoken line. May also indicate nervousness, especially when a character is asked a question he incline want to answer and also fear.
Click to view attachmentSUDDEN APPEARANCE OF VERTICAL LINES ON FACE Indicates embarrassment or speechlessness in response to some absurdity.
SHORT VERTICAL RED LINES/LIGHTBULB APPEARS ON HEAD Appear or flash above the character's head before disappearing, indicating that something has caught the characters attention or understanding.
THIN VERTICAL BLUE LINES APPEARS ON FOREHEAD Often accompanied with a dark blue "aura"; Indicates that the character is ashamed, guilty, afraid or depressed.
FROZEN BY ICEIndicates someone just said something out of extreme stupidity or one of the characters told a lame joke.
GIANT HEADIndicates a character screams his/her anger at somebody else. Two character's heads may take turns in alternating between a "giant head" and a normal head as they are having an argument, each taking turns yelling at each other.
BLUSHINGHappened on cheeks, blushes usually is red, purple or blue. Indicates someone in love or embarrassment.
LIMBS IN FLESH-COLOURED BALLSHappened when a character is in irritation, impatience, confusion or loss of control, or occasionally, running away from something or someone, a character shakes his arms with her/his hands closed in fists, and they are shown as multiple flesh-colored balls with motion lines and no arms.
LIGHTNING BOLTIndicates the glare between two rivals.
LARGE SHINING EYESIndicates cuteness and excitement.
Click to view attachmentEYES SHAPED HALF-MOON WITH TINY PUPILSIndicates a devilish intent, usually accompanied by a toothy grin, a flash on the corner of one of the eyes and sometimes the flat side of the eyes will form a V
orIndicates anger, usually the flat side of the eyes will form a V parallel to the eyebrows
orIndicates the character is totally uninterested in the situation, usually accompanied by a flat small line as his/her mouth or simply having no mouth at all.
FLAMES IN EYESIndicates immense passion, usually accompanied by scared characters in background. May also indicate someone with rage.
HEART REPLACING EYESHappened frequently alongside with the character clasps his/her hands indicates that the character is attracted to someone.
SPIRAL REPLACING EYESindicate that the character is under hypnosis, or subconsciously attracted towards something as though he or she was hypnotized. These are also used if the character is dizzy or if the character is unconscious.
Click to view attachment Edward with spiral replacing eyes after drop unconcious
CIRCULAR WHITE EYESIndicates surprise, shock, vacancy, a lack of intelligence or an instance where the character is "struck dumb".
PUPILS DISSAPEARIndicating shock, anger, or a bad pun.
RIVER OF TEARSIndicate comedic anguish or discontent.
Click to view attachmentPULSATING CROSSED FOREHEAD VEINSIndicates anger, rage or irritation.
Click to view attachment Edward with huge pulsating forehead veins after being called a chibi.
CHIBIA short person or child in Japanese. Also used to refer someone which usually feature huge eyes, an enlarged head, and small body.
SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF VERTICAL LINES ON FACEIndicates embarrassment or speechlessness in response to some absurdity.
UPPER FACE BLACKED OUTThis shadow usually indicates serious sadness or shyness.
JAW DROPIndicates a character in shock. Usually including exaggeratedly drawn teeth and feature a very large mouth.
Click to view attachment LARGE EARSHappened when the character hears a very interesting conversation behind his/her back.
BREATHES FIREIndicates the character eaten very spicy food.
RED FACEIndicates the character eaten very spicy food. May also indicate huge embarrassment.
BLUE FACEIndicates the character is afraid, shock or sick.
Click to view attachmentWHITE CLOUD PUFFIndicates a sigh of exasperation, grudging acceptance, boredom, or disappointment.
Click to view attachmentTHE SCREAM POSTIndicating fear or great anguish.
Click to view attachmentTURNED INTO CRACKED STONE/SANDIndicates great emotional shock.
BECOMES MONOTONE/WAVY PAPER DOLLIndicates a character in states of extreme stress or shock.
KNOCKED INTO THE AIRA character will knock another character into the air when something stupid is said. In more extreme cases, characters sometimes fly off into great distance and finally disappear as a star in the sky when defeated in a duel.