"The Scream" (Skrik, 1893; since 2012-05-03 the most expensive work of art ever sold in an auction) is a seminal series of expressionist paintings by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, depicting an agonized figure against a blood red skyline. Anyone who has watched a fair amount of anime cannot help noticing how often the painting is parodied in visual jokes. Having given the subject some thought, it seems that either actively imitating the style of the painting, or at least going into some sort of superdeformed mode with hands on both cheeks are qualifications for being shown here. Anyway, some examples:
For more information and history, pls see wiki entry - The Scream
The original painting--actually, one of a series of similar ones:
Excel Saga, episode two: One minute he's a human torch, the next immigrant worker Pedro finds himself in bed with "The Great Will of the Macrocosm". Can you blame him for his anguish?
In School Days: Magical Heart Kokoro-chan, Saionji Sekai screams because a huge rock has fallen down on her secret crush, Itou Makoto.
In Azumanga Daioh (TV), episode 6, Yukari-sensei is afraid of her class losing the relay race at the school festival (because she has bet money on the victory of her own class against her friend/rival teacher Minamo).
In these parodies, a character's eyes often go blank while screaming, even though the screaming man's pupils are still narrowly visible in the painting.
Lovely Complex, episode two: Koizumi Risa's response to Otani's comment that never having gone on a date isn't something to brag about.
Comment: The reddish background strongly suggests the overall tone of original painting.
Hayate no Gotoku!, episode 17: A painting stashed in the basement of the Sanzenin mansion. It is pretty clear which cast member posed for it.
The painting itself has come to look like an anime character, rather than the other way around!
Hayate no Gotoku!, episode 14: Unable to muster the courage to apologize for a practical joke gone terribly wrong, Katsura Yukiji realizes that her culpability is about to be exposed by another party.
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, episode five: Sunako's idea of a good pose in which to be photographed (a number of other famous artworks were parodied also).
In NHK ni Youkoso!, episodes 21/22 (cliffhanger), Tatsuhito fantasizes on his senpai trying to seduce him all of a sudden (even though she knows he's unable to deal with people).
In Inukami, episode eight, Keita is horrified when he realises that in two hours a disaster will befall the city--a disaster involving muscular gay men and the strange outfits they wear.
G-on Riders, episode seven: After winning nothing more than 204 paper handkerchiefs in a lottery, Sela reacts to Yuki's winning a trip to the beach on her very first try.
Busou Renkin, episode 10: Just when he's on the verge of defeating his final opponent in a lengthy and challenging video game, Okakura reacts to the channel being changed.
Magikano: The eldest sister, Yoshikawa Maika is caught in a ‘scream’ in episode 3 when she finds out that her beloved brother has been turned into a muscle-beast by Mamiya Ayumi.
PaniPoni Dash!, episode 23: Himeko is in anguish when Rei chooses to wear an outfit which hides her "adorable"-ness.
A wildly exaggerated version of the "flexibility" of the screaming character.
To LOVE-Ru, episode six, "The Alien Assasin": Here is Yuuki's reaction when Haruna-chan's "white chest" is exposed by the menacing alien Ghi Bree.
Nodame Cantabile, Episode 17: One of Chiaki’s nameless fellow students is horrified to learn that no less than 1600 tickets must be sold for an upcoming concert by their heretofore unknown orchestra.
Angel Heart, episode 45: Ryo Saeba is horrified by an interrogation technique used by his comrade Yang Fanyui to extract information from a prisoner—-a technique which employs a threat which especially strikes home to a “Mokkori Man” like him.
Honey & Clover Chapter L: Mayama, Morita and especially Takemoto are painfully dismayed to learn that their godsend senpai Ro-Maiya will be leaving school for awhile. What will they eat now?
Keroro Gunsou: I haven't seen this particular episode, but one of the Frog-Aliens is clearly in an anguished mood.
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, episode 11: Each time a new body is discovered during Inspector Despair's investigation of a series of murders, a girl screams in a similar manner. Surely it is no coincidence that the girls' late benefactor was an artist known locally as "Mr. Scream".
Cosplay Complex, episode one: Maria, a member of the East Oizuki Academy cosplay club, realizes that the club's new member, Jenny Matel, has impure desires regarding her little sister, Athena.
Some surprisingly rare and valuable artwork turns up in a shabby tavern in World Destruction--if you can call these beast-morphized parodies "valuable", that is.
(Note also "Liberty Leading the People" by Delacroix).
Skip Beat!, episode nine: actress hopeful Kyoko Mogami reacts to being challenged to perform a difficult role when she has virtually no acting experience to her name.
Rosario + Vampire Capu2, episode 12: Ageha Kurono (Kurumu's mother) is shocked by the claim that her daughter's boyfriend, Tsukune, is engaged to marry another girl.
Zettai Karen Children, Episode 40: Shuji Sakaki's attempt to be a psychic Peeping Tom and get a look at the "Great Fleet" goes horribly wrong.
Maria+Holic, episode one: Kanako Miyamae is a bit disconcerted when the beautiful Mariya Shido turns out to be something other than what her first impressions had suggested.
Macademi Wasshoi!, episode four: Hazuki Kirishima is terrified by the look that comes over his sister Futaba's face when she realizes that she may have not one, but two rivals for the affection of Takuto Hasegawa.
To Love-Ru OVA, episode one: "Riko" is in a bit of a tizzy after a little gender swapping puts her/him in an embarassing situation relative to some female classmates.
The realization that she has been paired with the single guy she most hates to serve as class cheerleaders summons a hearty scream from Kei Enomoto of Hatsukoi Gentei.
A bit of relaxing artwork in the coffee shop of Natsu no Arashi! (episode five).
The joke here is simply that a version of the painting turns up in the anime in a place where you'd least expect it.
Episode 14: Hiroshi realizes that his strange pet Higepiyo has broken an expensive object at his wealthy classmate Kumano's birthday party.
During an episode seven visit to an art gallery, the girls of GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class come across the painting which seems the best artistic depiction of the response which one of them tends to provoke from the others.
Akane Mishima is mortified to learn that her romantic interest Natsuru Senou has already shared his first kiss with another girl. Hurting Akane's feelings is definitely not a good idea, considering that she can transform into a vicious Kämpfer.
(Episode nine)
Nyan Koi!, episode five: Kaede Mizuno expresses her disconcertion as something of hers which is definitely not a "snack" is mistaken for something that is.
Chu-Bra!!, episode three: Nayu Hayama feels like screaming after the daring idea of her forming her own very unconventional club--an underwear club--is tabled. At first she is anxious, but if she doesn't do it, who will? One thing she has in excess is enthusiasm for the topic: "As women, we should be proud to be able to wear such wonderful things".
In episode 9 of Omamori Himari, the pervert of the class is shocked to find out that Yuto has yet another female admirer. Little does he know that the loli girl is really a water-snake spirit.
Chu-Bra!!, episode 8: Hiroki Komachi is brought to the point of screaming when he realizes that after fainting while naked in a hot spring, he has been brought back to his room--and the people most likely to have done that would be his fellow members of the Underwear Appreciation Society, all of whom are girls.
Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, episode ten: Akihisa Yoshii and Yuji Sakamoto react to the punishment which they have been dealt by the merciless teacher "Ironman" after committing yet another prank.
Nodame Cantabile: Finale, Episode 0: I have no idea whatsoever who this girl is, but she is definitely wearing a Scream-face!
Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, episode six: Misa-chan's coworkers at the Maid Latte cafe are thrilled by the comment made by her 'master' Usui after being photographed with her.
The Phantom Thief 'Twenty' (AKA Nijuuri Kai) screams when a supposedly idiotic detective girl of the Milky Holmes team makes mincemeat of his own ESP abilities (Episode eight).
Squid Girl screams when a device which was supposed to grant her "the dignity of an invader" has a somewhat different effect than what she had expected.
In a Seitokai no Ichizon gag regarding anime and RPG character designs, Mafuyu Shiina is aghast when a slight modification to her hairstyle renders her unrecognizable to her own sister.
(Episode seven)
"She struck me like a total psycho!" exclaims Edogawa Miho when disturbing writing by a female visitor is brought to light in Level E. In fact, what really bothers her is that she had completely trusted this person and taken a liking to her.
(Episode 13)
In a dark school building, late at night, Harumi Fudoh reacts to the work of the 'Face Eating Demon' in Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera.
(Episode One)
In episode eight of Yuruyuri, Toshino Kyouko cannot understand why the friend-of-a-friend Chitose Ikeda seems to be ignoring her in the school library.
A scene from what Komiya Yuzu of Nekogami Yaoyorozu says is a "true cellphone horror story that someone I know experienced".
(Episode seven)
Hanamura Yosuke feels like screaming (and doing something else as well) when he sees that there's some truth to a small town legend in episode one of Persona 4: The Animation.
One of a series of funny faces made by Satonaka Chie to cheer up her new friend, Amagi Yukiko in episode three of Persona 4: The Animation.
In art class during the series Another, Mochizuki's version of a still life of pieces of fruit is what he calls "The Lemon's Scream". "Actually", he points out, "it's the world that's screaming. The lemon is covering its ears because it's terrified of the sound".
(Episode two)
"I see Mochizuki hasn't changed" Mei comments after seeing his latest work.
(Another episode six)
The nutty Crawling Chaos Nyarlathotep describes to Mahiro Yasaka what would happen to him if he caught a glimpse of her normal form.
(Haiyore! Nyaruko-san episode one)
Atsumi Miyagawa is terrified by the possible results of her blundering into the men's bath at an Onsen. Fortunately, she has a built-in defence against being charged as an adult.
(Recorder and Randsell episode 18)
Haruyuki is screamified when he realizes that he has managed to offend both of the strong-willed girls that he was trying to flatter.
(Accel World episode 9)
The girls of Teekyuu notice a strange mark on a doorframe at a classmate's house.
(Teekyuu episode 4)
Notice the artwork in the creepy 'sanctum' of the ESP Society of Kotoura-san.
(episode 2)
The officers of Incognito, a secret unit, go into scream mode when they realize that even their beloved leader, Sir Eric, has been bankrupted by their unsuccessful attempts to sabotage a royal wedding.
(Ixion DT, episode 18)
In Mushibugyo, The boy Onmyo Tenma Ichinotani suffers from an irrational revulsion of creepy, crawly things--which is odd, given his line of work.
(episode 4)
Since she is an extreme masochist, the effect that gestures of kindness have on Suzuna Hiiragi is about the complete opposite of what you would expect.
(Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyō, episode 12)
An artist's interpretation of what happened when the normally unflappable Takahiro Mizuno found himself in view of others with a pair of panties draped across his head.
(Walkure Romanze, episode 7)
Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it: Suzuki Toru, a member of the student council at Himaraya 3rd Technical High School, is horrified when a careless practical joke on his part works out exactly as he had intended.
(Meganebu!, episode 8)
Kosaku Hata can only scream when he finds that his extensive collection of posters, CDs, DVDs, Blue-Ray discs, scrapbooks, articles, a tapestry, and a pillow case devoted to his favorite idol star has vanished from his room.
(No-Rin, episode three)
Notice the artwork at the left in the ad hoc club room of the high school advice columnists of Jinsei.
(episode thirteen)
In Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (TV1), the mysterious Cid Kageno has taken great care to decorate his study, including acquiring the famous painting 'The Shriek' by 'Monch'.
(episode four)
