Cat Smiles Galore

This is based off a meme I've found in places like Facebook where an animation fan has observed this somewhat overused expression used in Western Cartoons and Anime.

This expression is called The Cat Smile. 

This is basically a facial expression where a character's mouth forms two upside down half circles, sort of like the way a cat's mouth is formed in front profile. And it's often used to indicate a smug or cute expression on a character.

I also call this this THE ELAINE BENNES SMUG FACE because it resemble a smug face that Elaine makes in Seinfeld. Despite the fact that actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus never makes this exact expression due to the live-action nature of SEINFELD.

Mostly an amalgamation of the expression because the smugness reminds me of Elaine.

"I can't do cat mouths but I can show you my pearly whites. 

You think that's smug enough for you?"

The funny thing is that cats actually don't smile no matter how happy they are.

Cats are actually physically incapable of smiling with their own mouths. To give you an idea what I'm talking about, here's a photo of an actual cat mouth.

This cat looks like he's been ordering too many Big Macs from McDonalds with his owner's credit card. Nonetheless, he's still a happy cat.

Normally, I get all critical of overused expressions like this but as you can see below with this artwork of Shasta making this face towards Hayden, yes, I couldn't resist the cat smile.

But like I said, I was aiming for an Elaine Benes style expression with this drawing.

Oh and by the way, this smile is not limited to girls. Men are capable of making this facial expression if this screenshot of Lupin from CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO is any indication.

Clarisse is not buying Lupin's alibi.