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We've all seen it many times... When someone gets angry or annoyed, the angry
symbol (shown below) shows up one or more times in and around the person's
head.

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

  * Where did it come from?
  * How did it get popularized?
  * Is there a proper term for it?


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2013-02-23T16:00:41.080
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2020-04-29T22:25:46.903
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tropes
How did the angry symbol originate?


[TVTropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage) calls it the
"[Cross-Popping
Veins](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CrossPoppingVeins)", and
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga_iconography#Head_and_face) as
well as other blogs and sources seem to be comfortable backing up that term.
Other terms include "Bulging Vein" or "# Mark".

As their name suggests, they were inspired by a physiological effect many
people have; when they become excessively angry or tense, their blood pressure
rises and muscle tension builds, forcing veins to the surface.

> Angry characters may exhibit a "vein" or "stress mark" effect, where lines
> representing bulging veins will appear on their forehead.
> ([Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime#Facial_expressions))
>
> In real life, bulging veins are usually a sign of physiological changes,
> such as aging or diseases. Strong emotion pumps blood faster, thus making it
> more protrudent.
> ([TVTropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CrossPoppingVeins))

Obviously, the cross- or Y-shaped markings are oversimplified and cartoon-like
versions of these veins, but are still representative of this reaction.

The first use of this icon does not seem to be recorded, nor why it seems to
have become popular enough as a symbol of anime that even anime knockoffs will
use it. The tropes article I mentioned has a documented list of where it's
appeared over the years; however, it does remain possible that even the most
dated entry in that list is not the original usage of the icon.


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2013-02-23T16:22:22.103
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80% sure this originates from NES/SNES era computergames, with JRPG's in
particular.

Those characters were so small in size that they couldn't do any facial
expressions with them, because the characters didn't have a mouth.

Same thing with the popping vein. The question is with which video game this
started.

Oldest example known so for far is of Super Mario World November 1990, near
the end of the final battle it shows on the bowser's flying machine.


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2016-01-17T15:46:12.507
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The markings originated from some angry Japanese fudal lord don't remember
which one, but his face was used for some samurai masks. They are typically
used to show anger and/or announce. If anyone can name both the lord and mask
specifically it would help lots probably.


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