Natsuki is a character from the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club. She is known for having large, expressive eyes that sometimes seem to pop out of her head for comedic effect. This exaggerated eye style is common in anime and manga character designs, as it allows artists to convey a wider range of emotions through a character’s facial expressions. But why exactly do Natsuki’s eyes seem to pop out in such an exaggerated fashion? There are a few potential reasons behind this artistic choice.
To Emphasize Her Expressions
One of the main reasons Natsuki’s eyes are drawn in such an exaggerated, popped-out style is simply to emphasize her facial expressions. As a tsundere character, Natsuki often switches between acting harsh or aloof to being sweeter and more vulnerable. The wide range of emotions she displays is conveyed clearly to the player through her extremely animated eyes. When she’s angry, her eyes practically bulge out of her head. When she’s confused, they shrink away. And when she’s happy, they shine brightly. This allows the artist to convey Natsuki’s shifting moods clearly and immediately through her eyes alone. The exaggerated eye style matches her over-the-top personality.
To Make Her Appear More Childlike
Natsuki is the youngest female character in Doki Doki Literature Club, and her tiny stature and tastes reinforce her childlike nature. Her large, rounded eyes with pupils drawn as circles rather than dots contribute to her youthful look. Children’s eyes are relatively larger compared to the rest of their faces, and anime characters meant to look young are typically drawn with big round eyes. Natsuki’s wide, popped-out eyes likely reflect her status as the most childlike member of the Literature Club. This allows players to understand her character immediately based on her design.
To Contrast With the Other Characters
Each of the characters in Doki Doki Literature Club has a unique eye style that reflects their personality. Protagonist Monika has sharper, more mature-looking eyes that hint at her role as the most grounded, focused character. Sayori’s eyes appear very large and round, reflecting her playful innocence. Yuri’s heavily lidded, dark purple eyes convey her elegant, mysterious personality. By contrast, Natsuki’s huge, expressive pink eyes communicate that she is the most openly emotive and loud member of the cast. The distinctive eyes allow the characters’ personalities to be conveyed clearly through their designs. Natsuki’s exaggerated popped-out eyes ensure she looks as lively and reactive as her personality.
To Be Cute
Large, shiny eyes are considered very cute in anime/manga art styles. Characters meant to appeal to audiences as sweet or charming are usually drawn with huge eyes. The rounded shapes and wide range of expressions possible with very large eyes makes a character seem more innocent. Since Natsuki is meant to be the cute, appeal-to-players member of the Literature Club, it makes sense that she would be given an extremely cute, pop-eyed look. Her eyes are likely exaggerated to maximize her cuteness based on the artistic standards of anime/manga.
To Show Vulnerability
While Natsuki wants to seem tough and independent, she sometimes lets her vulnerable side show through. Her over-the-top eye expressions allow glimpses of sadness, loneliness, and other emotions she tries to hide behind her abrasive nature. The expressive eyes with pupils that seem to water when she’s sad or shine when she’s happy demonstrate that under her prickly exterior, Natsuki feels emotions very deeply. Her eyes betray the sensitive soul behind her standoffish front.Drawing the eyes in such an exaggerated, fluid style makes it clear there is more complexity to Natsuki than just her tsundere trope.
To Be Exciting and Energetic
Natsuki’s eye style matches her passionate, fierce personality. She is the most dynamic member of the Literature Club – quick to raise her voice in anger or joy. The exaggerated eyes mirror the energy and enthusiasm she puts into everything she does. While the other girls have calmer, more tranquil personalities, Natsuki is fiery and explosive. The way her eyes practically burst off her face conveys the force of her strong feelings and opinions. The eye style choice reflects the intensity that makes Natsuki such a vivid, lively character.
To Show Embarrassment
When Natsuki is feeling awkward or embarrassed, her eyes tend to bulge out even more extremely, accompanied by dark blush lines across her face. This reflects how bashful she can get when placed in embarrassing situations that highlight her sensitivity, such as when the protagonists reads her poetry without permission. Having her eyes exaggerate even further in these moments helps convey how flustered she feels while also keeping the moments lighthearted. Her embarrassment is communicated clearly while still being cute and funny.
To Keep Visual Interest
Of the four main female characters, Natsuki has the least number of visual accessories in her design – no hair decor, no glasses, no bows or pins. Her outfit is also relatively simple compared to the others. As such, her facial features need to be more exaggerated to create visual interest and grab the player’s attention. With fewer costuming details, the energy of Natsuki’s design is communicated through her over-the-top face and eye expressions. When she is on screen, her eyes immediately catch interest based on their size and flexibility. Even when she is not speaking, her eyes add dynamism.
Conclusion
Natsuki’s exaggerated popped-out eyes ultimately serve a range of purposes in conveying her personality and role in Doki Doki Literature Club. Their size, expressiveness, and fluidity reflect her childlike nature, passionate emotions, and underlying vulnerability. Her eye style contrasts with the other characters while also emphasizing her cuteness and energy. While obviously unrealistic, the extreme popping out establishes Natsuki as the most animated, lively member of the Literature Club. The eyes grab attention and interest when she is on screen. And they allow the artist to clearly convey Natsuki’s complex blend of strength, shyness, and sensitivity through her expressive gaze alone. In the end, Natsuki simply wouldn’t be the same character without her signature popped-out eyes.
| Character | Eye Style | Personality Conveyed |
|---|---|---|
| Natsuki | Large, rounded, popping out | Lively, cute, energetic |
| Monika | Sharper and mature | Focused, grounded |
| Sayori | Very large and round | Playful, innocent |
| Yuri | Heavily lidded, dark purple | Elegant, mysterious |
Natsuki’s Eye Expressions
| Emotion | Eye Style |
|---|---|
| Anger | Bulging out |
| Confusion | Shrunken in |
| Happiness | Shining/sparkling |
| Sadness | Watery, large pupils |
| Embarrassment | Extremely bulged out with blush lines |