What is the origin of shaking eyes meaning surprise or fear?


In a lot of shows, a character's eyes (pupil and iris) will begin to shake
when they are surprised or shocked? What is the basis of this, and where was
it first used?




I think it might be universal as [Mysticial
mentioned](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/3022/what-is-the-origin-
of-shaking-eyes-meaning-surprise-or-fear/3114#comment2301_3022) in the
comments above, your eyes waver or tremor when you express emotions such as
fear, sadness, elation etc.

> _"The eyes are the window to the soul …"_

**I don't think it has a set origin, just one of those things that anime
inherits from real life**. Showing emotions in anime can be hard but not as
much with some of those
[big](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1v_1_hhWp84/SzmUe8hY3dI/AAAAAAAACgA/5DiefDnmt00/s400/huge_anime_eyes.jpg)
[doleful](http://www.wallsave.com/wallpapers/1440x900/yu-gi-oh/160216/yu-gi-
oh-sad-eyes-widescreen-anime-160216.jpg) eyes with multiple [catch
lights](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_light).

* * *

> **[And a bit more..](http://animeyourway.blogspot.com/2011/09/eyes-have-
> it.html)**
>
> Eyes are an absolutely fantastic way for having your character convey
> emotions without actually saying a word. Sometimes a scene can be much more
> powerful when no words are spoken, but a character's eyes do the talking.
> This definitely happens in anime quite a lot. While most people think of
> big, bright eyes in anime, there's actually a lot more to it than that.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GMAQp.jpg)




I think it might be universal as [Mysticial
mentioned](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/3022/what-is-the-origin-
of-shaking-eyes-meaning-surprise-or-fear/3114#comment2301_3022) in the
comments above, your eyes waver or tremor when you express emotions such as
fear, sadness, elation etc.

> _"The eyes are the window to the soul …"_

**I don't think it has a set origin, just one of those things that anime
inherits from real life**. Showing emotions in anime can be hard but not as
much with some of those
[big](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1v_1_hhWp84/SzmUe8hY3dI/AAAAAAAACgA/5DiefDnmt00/s400/huge_anime_eyes.jpg)
[doleful](http://www.wallsave.com/wallpapers/1440x900/yu-gi-oh/160216/yu-gi-
oh-sad-eyes-widescreen-anime-160216.jpg) eyes with multiple [catch
lights](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_light).

* * *

> **[And a bit more..](http://animeyourway.blogspot.com/2011/09/eyes-have-
> it.html)**
>
> Eyes are an absolutely fantastic way for having your character convey
> emotions without actually saying a word. Sometimes a scene can be much more
> powerful when no words are spoken, but a character's eyes do the talking.
> This definitely happens in anime quite a lot. While most people think of
> big, bright eyes in anime, there's actually a lot more to it than that.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GMAQp.jpg)

