

The gif below shows Noriko from minute 11 of
[GunBuster's](http://myanimelist.net/anime/949/Top_wo_Nerae!_Gunbuster?q=gunbust)
episode 3.

[![Noriko
grinning](https://i.stack.imgur.com/A5el6.gif)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/A5el6.gif)

This is the dialogue directly preceding it:

> Noriko: I should at least memorize basic space manoeuvring patterns. [...]
>
> Smith: All that stuff is useless in real combat.
>
> Noriko: Why do you have to keep patronizing me?
>
> Smith: 'cause your such a cute little freshman.
>
> Noriko: I'll have you know that Onee-sama and I are the best team in the
> entire Top Squadron! A "solo" like you with no partner couldn't possibly
> appreciate everything we've been through together as a team. So long!

In terms of usage it seems somewhat interchangeable with the [Eyelid pull
taunt](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/4568/why-do-characters-often-
pull-down-one-eyelid-and-stick-out-their-tongue/4569#4569). I assumed it is
meant to show defiance, kind of like baring one's teeth but in a more cheeky
way?

The sound she makes is "bi-" I would say, but her action doesn't really fit
any of the common uses of that onomatopoeia which I'm aware of.

I feel I've seen this before but I couldn't find it among any of the
[teeth](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TeethTropes) and
[smile](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SmileTropes) realated
tropes on tvtropes.

So, **TL;DR** , does this have a name, is it repeated throughout anime and
signifies something particular or is it just Noriko being random and I'm
overthinking it?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-25T23:49:52.967
28353
2017-01-10T13:25:30.047
2017-04-13T12:54:48.953
-1
34
question
tropes gunbuster
What does this grinning gesture signify?


My understanding of it is basically that they are making a face, except it's
different to how we usually know it. These are how they do it nowadays:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vrY9s.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vrY9s.jpg)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wrzKV.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wrzKV.jpg)

They are all making a face and saying "bi~". It is exactly the same as how we
make a face, but Japanese style. I don't have research evidence to support
this, but I have consulted quite a few Japanese people who lived in Japan for
quite a while and they all agreed to my statement, so I do think it's very
reliable.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-19T07:26:33.477
31502
2017-01-10T13:25:30.047
2017-01-10T13:25:30.047
8486
23346
28353
answer