JOY | Sensitive Smile - May 2016

Putting on
​the Charm

Credits: "Frozen" is based on Hans Christian Anderson's book, "The Snow Queen." Movie produced and distributed by Disney Studios, 2013.

The sensitivity which makes the smile of Prince Hans in "Frozen" so appealing is based on the slightest upwards inflection of his inner eyebrow corners, which normally arc downwards.  This movement, actually part of the Distress pattern in the brows, adds a sad or fearful inflection to the moderate smile, as though we were trying to be likable but at the same time are feeling insecure about being rejected, or being seen as too assertive. 

​The Sensitive Smile is surprisingly common in popular photographs of female actresses who have learned how to capitalize on a certain friendly, vulnerable appeal, and even a tiny amount of brow curl changes the whole flavor of the expression.  

To add to the charm, Prince Hans' extra-wide eyes are part of the Eager Smile pattern, which is an extra-energetic, more childlike smile which combines widened eyes with a normal smile.  To sum up: Our character is Eager, Happy, and looking to an off-screen someone for approval.  Once he does get that approval, BTW, the distress pattern will disappear, no longer required once we’ve made the cut.  Smiles are spectacularly flexible in their ability to communicate a variety of complex signals. 
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​The horse looks quizzical, looking upwards with one eyebrow raised higher than the other.