View source for Cat Smile

{{trope}}
[[File:CatSmile.jpg|link=Ai Yori Aoshi|frame|When the fiancee is away, Tina Foster will play. ''Rowr''.]]

The playful counterpart to the [[Cheshire Cat Grin]], often used by [[The Ditz]], the cute [[Kawaiiko]], or a more normal character being playful or mischievous rather than manipulative or creepy. The Manga style is just more often played as cute or as crackful. They're different in that the '''Cat Smile''' rarely shows teeth (except [[Cute Little Fangs]], if the character has them), while the [[Cheshire Cat Grin]] shows ''[[More Teeth Than the Osmond Family|too many]].'' Also known as "[[Colon Three Smile]]". That is, ''':3'''. There is also the "Lion Smile", also known as '''>:3'''.

The Cat Smile often overlaps with other [[Japanese Media Tropes]] and facial expressions, like [[Puppy Dog Eyes]] for pleading or that extra dose of being [[Sickeningly Sweet]]. Oddly, this is not usually the default expression for [[Catgirl|Cat Girls]]. It's fairly common to see [[Eyes Always Shut]] with a Cat Smile for characters who are more "passively" happy or a tad ditzy/confident in their shenanigans. Half lidded eyes bring the Cat Smile its closest to the Chesire Cat Grin.

Be warned, overuse of this trope may cause viewers to simply think the character is plain ol' ''hare lipped''.

A subtrope of [[Manga Effects]].

{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* A rare ''male'' example is [[Lupin III]]. When he's [https://web.archive.org/web/20121202034300/http://tapety.sej.pl/img1/wallpaper1200.jpg smiling without showing teeth], it's a playful, long lion smile. When he shows teeth, it's a [[Cheshire Cat Grin]].
* One of Haruko's expressions in ''[[FLCL]]''.
* This is the default expression of Konata, and her cousin Yui from ''[[Lucky Star]]''. Combined with Konata's [[Eyes Always Shut]], her expression is more like [http://lh6.ggpht.com/_BirvUCzeN8s/Scre0rtBKFI/AAAAAAAAAm4/cSJSM3zYbiw/lucky_star_-_izumi_konata_seiyuu_hirano_aya.jpg '''¦3''']
** Akira as well, until she cuts the [[Genki Girl]] facade.
** And sometimes Yutaka has one too.
** There is a darkfic where the expression is equated to a deformation akin to harelip. [[Narm|It was hard to take seriously.]]
** And then [[Haruhi-chan|it spread to Haruhi.]]
* ''[[Hyakko]]'' has newspaper photographer, Koma.
* Botan from ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' would often make this face... in pretty much every occasion too.
* Ryoko several times in the ''[[Tenchi Muyo!]]'' [[OVA]]s, most notably during the "crash landing" sequence at the beginning of the series.
* [[Hellsing|Schrodinger]] would do several of these, given that he's a [[Catgirl|Cat]] [[Distaff Counterpart|Boy]]
** [http://www.whiners.pro/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Whine-Subs_Hellsing_Ultimate_OVA_08_BD720p-AACB3A0EE51.mkv_snapshot_28.14_2011.08.14_13.22.03.jpg Seras does this too in OVA 8].
* Merle, a [[Catgirl]] from ''[[Vision of Escaflowne]]'' does one of these when she first sees Hitomi's pendant, and of course Merle attempts to steal it.
* In the [[Trigun]] anime Vash does this when the fights are being played for laughs (reads, just the first few episodes).
** Milly gets one near the start of the seventh episode while drunk and half-asleep, claiming to have an unusual physiology including "a separate stomach just for cake and ice cream!"
* [[Genki Girl]] Kana in ''[[Minami-ke]]'' almost always has one of these.
* During comedic moments Fai in ''[[Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle]]'' often is wearing this expression, and considering that he's been identified as "kitty" on several occasions (once using it as his alias in a race) it makes perfect sense.
** Note that "neko" is also slang for the [[Uke|bottom]] in gay relationships. Nope, no subtext here. None at all...
*** Well, it ''is'' a [[CLAMP]] manga, after all...
****  {{spoiler|And he ends up taking in Kurogane's fluids... OK, the fluid is blood, and it is due to a special form of vampirism, but still subtext.}}
* Tina Foster from ''[[Ai Yori Aoshi]]'' (pictured above) does this from time to time whenever she's feeling a little...''frisky'' around Kaoru.
* ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'': Kero's default expression. Unless he's mad.
* ''[[Nyoron Churuya San]]'': Churuya, the [[Super-Deformed]] [[Memetic Mutation|fan-character version]] of Tsuruya from ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'', has this as her ''only'' facial expression, [[Verbal Tic|nyoro~n]].
* Unsurprisingly, Train does this in his sillier moments in ''[[Black Cat (manga)|Black Cat]]''.
* Used almost constantly by [[Dark-Skinned Blond]] Mahya Blythe in ''[[Mai-Otome]]''. Strangely, it's {{spoiler|''Akane''}} who winds up in a [[Catgirl]] costume, and she never uses the Cat Smile.
* This is the default expression of ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'''s [[Team Pet|Mokona]]. If [[Viewer Gender Confusion|he/she/it]] isn't smiling like this, it's a sign something ''serious'' is about to occur (especially in the manga.)
* This is how [[Ken Akamatsu]] draws Kuu Fei in ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''.
** In her case, it's more signifying her naivete or complete lack of understanding.
** Nagase Kaede as well, who also sports [[Eyes Always Shut]] as well
* Lotte from ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'', typical for a [[Genki Girl|genki]] catgirl. [[Media:Screencap.jpg|Image]]
* ''[[Gunsmith Cats]]'': Minnie-May Hopkins, whenever she's feeling sneaky and/or amorous.
* In an episode of the ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' anime, England uses it in a slightly mean-spirited way towards America, laughing a little behind his hand.
** This also seems to be [https://web.archive.org/web/20100530092632/http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/7404073.html Belgium's default expression.] New Zealand wears one in most of his/her (admittedly few) appearances as well.
* Kirino Chiba from ''[[Bamboo Blade]]'' does this occasionally, when she's at her most [[Genki Girl|cheerful and energetic]].
* Mika Inamori from ''[[Manabi Straight!]]'' has this as her only expression. Along with the way her ever-present ribbon looks, it may point to [[Catgirl|a certain design motif]].
* Default facial expression of Neco-Arc in ''[[Tsukihime]]''. Arcueid pulls this off herself on occasion.
** Surprisingly, Shiki manages this as well, [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/shingetsutan_tsukihime/v06/c051/15.html in the manga]. Although it's very subtle, to his credit.
* Rosette from ''[[Chrono Crusade]]'' makes this expression occasionally.
** And Shader, the [[Catgirl]] [[Our Demons Are Different|Demon]] has this expression almost constantly.
* Strengthening her [[Catgirl]] image, Kana of ''[[Saki (manga)|Saki]]'' has a cat smile that rarely goes away.
* Shinobu of ''[[Ninin ga Shinobuden]]'' spends about half an episode perpetually doing this while dressed as a [[Catgirl]].
* Fujimura Taiga (Tiger) does this a lot in ''[[Fate/stay night]]''.
* Togusa from ''[[Ghost in the Shell]] 1.5: Human Error Processor''. He expresses this to gloat his seniority and experience over his newbie partner Azuma, whose overconfidence ended up angering a woman they were transporting home.
** The [[Spider Tank|Fuchikoma]] occasionally sports one while being mischievous. An impressive achievement, considering it lacks a mouth.
** Batou tends to have one whenever he's in a good mood, and even Aramaki, of all people, sports one now and then when he's really sticking it to a political opponent.
* Koyuki from ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'' wears this smile nearly as often as [[Lucky Star|Konata]] does.
** Tamama also does this too...that is, until something ticks him off.
* Keiichi's sister Megumi in ''[[Ah! My Goddess]]'' maintains this as a default expression, though it's a subtle curve rather than a complete alteration of human anatomy.
* [[Otaku]] Erika Karisawa from ''[[Durarara!!]]'' often sports one of these.
** Kururi Orihara has one when she's looking for Kasuka from the TV broadcast.
* When the animation in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' is [[Super-Deformed]], Alphonse's helmet can appear to have one of these.
* This seems to be Furuya's default expression in [[Sankarea]].
* Kanda Yuusuke from ''[[Devil and Her Love Song]]'' :3
* Edward has one in [[Cowboy Bebop]] when she looks up at Spike while telling him that Jet asked her to take care of his bonzai trees.
* Ayumu Nishizawa sports one in episode 37 in the first season of ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler]]'' while gloating that she has a photo sticker with Hayate.
** Hayate also gets one in episode 39.
* It's practically the default smile for titular heroine, Index, from ''[[A Certain Magical Index]]''. And she smiles a lot.
* Rokuna from ''[[Mon Colle Knights]]''.
* Ryoga from ''[[Ranma ½]]'' does this a couple of times in the episode where he's possessed by Maomolin the ghost cat.
* Koko from ''[[Jormungand]]'' has this as a frequent expression.
* Kyubey from ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'' wears this expression [[Frozen Face|at all times]], [[Dissonant Serenity|even when something unspeakably horrible is going on.]]
* In the horror manga ''[[Emerging]]'', Mori surprises Onotera with a Cat Smile while he's raging about Japan's lack of preparedness for a major disease outbreak... he's even further surprised when she starts gushing over the possibility that she could get a chance to study a disease as rare and deadly as Ebola.
* "Chimp" Sarutobi from [[My Bride Is a Mermaid]] has a constant cat, or in this case, chimp smile due to his admittedly ape-like appearance and behavior.
* In the anime adaptation of ''[[Steins;Gate 0]]'', this is Faris' default expression to emphasise her cuteness. As a rare male example, Daru also has one in a couple of scenes.
* ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' episode "Ditto's Mysterious Mansion". Misty does this briefly while making a snarky comment.
* Yui Hirasawa in the [[K-On!]] [[Omake]].
* Usagi Tsukino from [[Sailor Moon]] gives one to Luna in episode 31 when she playfully mocks the latter's words of wisdom from earlier at the start of the episode.
* Alister Agrew in [[Last Exile: Fam, The Silver Wing|all incarnations]] of [[Last Exile]], being ''much'' more playful and mischievous that it would be suggested by her outward appearance, constantly sports it when no one's looking.
* ''[[The Idolmaster (anime)|THE iDOLM@STER]]'' - The Futami Twins do this sometimes.

== [[Comic Books]] ==
* [[Catgirl|Ocelotina]] in #4 of ''[[Empowered]]'' (see p155, you may miss it)

== [[Fan Works]] ==
* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series]]'' did it in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPJgqd1B_ns "Seto Kaiba vs. The World"]

== [[Film]] ==
* It may not be too visible, but Maruti from ''[[The Return of Hanuman]]'' sports this smile briefly during his first meeting with Minku at a classroom.

== [[Literature]] ==
* [[Magnificent Bitch|Opal Koboi]] from ''[[Artemis Fowl]]'' is often described as grinning like a cat.
* In ''[[Neverwhere]]'', [[Neil Gaiman]] describes [[Magnificent Bastard|The Marquis de Carabas]] in very feline terms and at one point mentions him "grinning like a tiger that has spotted a lost child."

== [[Toys]] ==
* There is a stuffed ''[[Half Life]]'' headcrab toy that has this expression.
** Headcrabs don't even have ''faces''!

== [[Video Games]] ==
* The Civilian's character portrait in ''[[Castle Crashers]]''.
* Etna from ''[[Disgaea]]'' is shown to have this face ''very'' often. It could also be said to be her default face.
* ''Minato'', of all [[The Stoic|people]], gets one after Yukari tells him and Junpei not to look up her skirt during their monorail mission in the [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/persona_3/v02/c007/17.html manga adaption] of ''[[Persona 3]]''.
* NOVA, the comet from ''[[Kirby]] Super Star'' that grants wishes, has its mouth shaped like this.
** This is also Chef Kawasaki's default expression. In ''Super Star Ultra'' (but not plain old ''Super Star''), he has this smile in each one of his animations, even after you beat the mustard out of him.
* In ''[[Katawa Shoujo]]'', Shizune is seen using this expression several times when she's feeling competitive.
* One of Satori's expressions, from ''[[Touhou Project]]''
* [[Mad Scientist]] [[Catgirl]] Kokonoe from ''[[BlazBlue]]'', for obvious reasons.
** [[The Ditz|Ditzy]], [[Attention Deficit Ooh Shiny|distracted]] [[Catgirl]] [[Idiot Hero|Taokaka]] occasionally has this face.
* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'': Excellen. Browning. Especially in the Inspectors.
* The ''[[Pokémon]]'' [http://images.wikia.com/es.pokemon/images/c/cf/Maractus.png Maractus]
* Recette from ''[[Recettear]]'' displays a subtle one in the pause menu.
* Mayuri Shiina, Suzuha Amane, and especially Faris Nyannyan from ''[[Steins;Gate]]'' all wear cat smiles in some of their sprites 
* Monty Moles in ''[[Super Mario World (video game)|Super Mario World]]'', and some of the Podoboos in ''[[Yoshi's Island]]''. [[Raocow]] has taken to calling the latter "Catoboos" as a result.
* Porings and their kin from ''[[Ragnarok Online]]''.
* Chocolat of ''[[Solatorobo]]'' does it most often, despite being a Caninu ([[Petting Zoo People|dog person]]). Elh also does one once or twice, though any [[Catfolk|Felineko]] is likely capable of it.
* Data from ''[[Mega Man Legends]]'' has a constant one.

==  [[Web Animation]] ==
* An original from Happy Harry Toons from Newgrounds called [http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/524391 "Hot Na'vi Sex"] features Neytiri sporting an excellent one of these towards the middle of the animation.

== [[Web Original]] ==
* Chaka of the ''[[Whateley Universe]]'' has what she likes to call her 'patent pending leopard grin'.
* [[Memetic Mutation|JESUS CHRIST, IT'S A LION, GET IN THE CAR!]]
** 0>:3
*** WHAT?! JESUS CHRIST '''IS''' A LION?! WHAT DO WE DO NOW?!
**** Clearly this is a ''[[Chronicles of Narnia]]'' style metaphor.
**** Don't be silly. It's obviously Saint Mark.
* '''[[Madness Combat|I am a lion, rawr!]]'''
* [[The Nostalgia Critic]] has a tendency to do this whenever he's trying his best not to laugh. Lookit the cute dimple!
* Tom from ''[[Ruby Quest]]'' does this occasionally, especially when he has a [[Covert Pervert]] moment.

== [[Web Comics]] ==
* Marigold in ''[[Questionable Content]]'' gets one after Hanners and Angus both call her pretty. [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1495 Much to her embarrassment].
** Marigold is again seen with a Cat Smile while [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1738 dancing with Angus. ]
** Hanners gets one when she [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1588 can no longer resist her curiosity] about Dora's supply of [[Unusual Euphemism|"party favors"]].
** Even [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2016 Faye] gets to do one.
* Jakkai in ''[[Slightly Damned]]'' do this, as well as Kieri in bunny form. [[Justified Trope|Nonhuman anatomy]].
* Emily in [http://www.misfile.com/index.php?page=1225 this] ''[[Misfile]]'' page. Complete with cat background.
* ''[http://threepanelsoul.com/2007/03/19/on-girlfriends/ Three Panel Soul]'' does this one in relation to [[Half Life|headcrabs]].
* Aeris from ''[[VG Cats]]'' [http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=290 here]. Of course, she's an actual cat.
* Happens in ''[[Ménage à 3]]'' from time to time.
* "Vodka Mutini", a mutant kittie, has this face on at all times in ''[[Homestuck]]''. {{spoiler|Jaspersprite}} frequently uses the emoticon in conversation.
** [[Media:Nyaaa 6839.png|Nepeta]], fitting her [[Animal Motifs|cat theme]], has one of these.
*** She also types with these, but as :33, as Alternian cats (Or at least her [[Raised by Wolves|guardian]])) have two mouths. (And 33 is the [[Genius Bonus|elemental number for arsenic]]—her IM handle is 'arsenicCatnip'.)
* Both Racer and Mach from ''[[Bomberman Land Parody]]''. Keep in mind that they are both biological brothers in that comic.
* On page 24 of ''[[Double K]]'', Simon briefly sports a cat smile after being rescued by Kamina.
* Trigger occasionally does this in ''[[Far Out There]]'', usually when [https://web.archive.org/web/20130716155822/http://faroutthere.smackjeeves.com/comics/1065764/page-115-triggers-big-book-on-pranks/ a prank is involved].
* On occasion the feline kids in ''[[Precocious (Webcomic)|Precocious]]'' will do a rather menacing [http://www.precociouscomic.com/archive/comic/2010/09/29 one]
* ''[[The Cyantian Chronicles]]'': Tira uses this during Akaelae [http://cyantian.net/akaelae/2008/11/12/11122008/ here, in the last panel.] Which is odd, because she's a fox, not a cat!
* Aggie in [http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=694 this strip] of ''[[Penny and Aggie]]''

== [[Western Animation]] ==
* Kitten from ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' makes this face at one point.
* Jin from ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''. [[Girl Next Door]] in Ba Sing Se who is ''NOT ZUKO'S GIRLFRIEND!''
** Aang and Sokka make this face too at times.
* In ''[[The Legend of Korra]]'', Bolin seems to have trained in this art.
* Otto the [[Mr. Fixit]] and [[Genius Ditz]] [[Cloudcuckoolander]] green robot monkey from ''[[Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!]]'' does this several times.
* Pay close attention to ''[[Adventure Time]]''{{'}}s Finn the Human and you'll see him make this face. Along with a plethora of other humanly impossible expressions...
* In ''[[Chowder]]'' the title character sports one whenever he gave Mung Huggies in the episode with his tongue.
* [[Smug Snake|James]] from ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine]]'' had one back when the show used sculpted faces.
* In [[ThunderCats (2011 series)|the 2011 reboot of ''ThunderCats'']], Wily Kit and Wily Kat use this while trying to convince Lion-O to let them join him on his journey, [http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=84917688371#!/video/video.php?v=792160167537 as seen in this trailer], while Snarf does it while looking at a reflective geode.
* ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]''. Not surprisingly, the [[Catfolk]] Caitian Lieutenant M'Ress has one of these constantly.

== [[Real Life]] ==
* [[Summer Glau]]. [http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/AttilaTheBum/summercatsmile.jpg Apparently.]
* [[Alyson Hannigan]]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekiM_o7MLZc&feature=related It's most noticeable when she talks.]
* [[Zoe Bell]].
* [[Keira Knightley]].
* [[Michelle Pfeiffer]]
* Dawn French.
* Eva Green.
* [[Eartha Kitt]], to the extent that her obituary described her as "feline."
** Not surprising, since she did play Catwoman at one point.
* Meryl Streep.
* [[Anne Hathaway]].
* [[Billie Piper]].
* [[Julia Roberts]].
* [[Britney Spears]].
* [[Jessica Simpson]].
* Mo'Nique
* A rare male example: [https://web.archive.org/web/20111107112112/http://www.celebrityring.info/images/pictures/Jake-Gyllenhaal-5.jpg Jake Gyllenhaal]. YMMV.
** There are several male actors who can pull off the [[Lupin III|Lupinesque]] "long lion" smirk, Jake Gyllenhaal is one, but so is Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt (watch [[Ocean's Eleven]]), Toby Stephens, Phillip Glennister, Eddie Izzard, Ryan Phillipe, David Schwimmer and oddly enough [["Weird Al" Yankovic]].
* Natalie Dormer seems [http://images.askmen.com/women/actress/natalie-dormer/large_image-1.jpg to sport this often in her photos.]
* Tomomi Itano of Japan's wildly popular [[AKB48]] has it in every photo she is in, to the point of starring in a commercial with a Tiger to emphasize it.
* [[Riki Lindhome]] actually looks like a [[Alice in Wonderland|Cheshire Cat]] when she smiles.
* [[Melanie Laurent]]
* [[Thandie Newton]]
* [http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/847/042334.jpg/ Sunny] from K-Pop [[Girl Group]], [[Girls' Generation]].
* Some turtles have cat smiles. Like [http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j118/superprincesspeach12/Cute%20Animals/97743061.jpg red ear sliders.]
* [http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs32/i/2008/198/7/d/Ferret_Collage_by_Silsuka.jpg Ferrets.]
* Oddly, [[Reality Is Unrealistic|cats can't actually smile.]]
** But they still sport this as a default expression.
** They use [http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/www-dailyrandomfacts-5.jpeg?w=500&h=403 alternate methods]{{Dead link}} of displaying happiness.
** They squint or shut their eyes when they're happy, bringing out the "3" mouth even more so the effect is the same.
* Masahiro Sakurai, creator of the [[Kirby]] and [[Super Smash Brothers]] series, to the point of [[Image Boards]] declaring him to be [[Moe]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150925232952/http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41786_115519281833494_6687_n.jpg Andy Prieboy,] formerly of Wall of Voodoo.
* ''[[Guest From the Future]]'' star [[Natalia Guseva]] [http://www.mielofon.ru/alisoman/album_NG/photo/big/ng22.html smiles] [http://www.mielofon.ru/alisoman/album_NG/photo/big/ng33.html like] [http://www.mielofon.ru/alisoman/album_NG/photo/big/ng71.html a cat].
* ''[[Harry Potter]]'' actress [[Scarlett Byrne]] (the final Pansy Parkinson) has [http://images.wikia.com/harrypotter/images/7/7d/PansyParkinson.jpg this] [http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e206/SS_PB/News/byrnescarlett.jpg smile], though we don't see that in the films, as [[Mean Character, Nice Actor|she plays]] the [[Alpha Bitch]].

{{reflist}}
[[Category:Smile Tropes]]
[[Category:Japanese Visual Arts Tropes]]
[[Category:Manga Effects]]
[[Category:Cat Smile]]
[[Category:Perpetual Expression]]