Did the premise of an entity approaching you only when it's not being viewed originate with Doctor Who's Weeping Angels?
The Weeping Angels apparently originated with Steven Moffat seeing a statue of a weeping angel in a structure in a cemetery and returning later to find out it was gone. At least according to this RadioTimes article. They first appeared in 2007 in the episode Blink.
I am wondering if this mechanic has been done before though?
It's become quite common in the indie horror scene.
In the 2007 video game Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis Watson would not move if in the player's view but would teleport behind the protagonist when given the opportunity. A video of it can be found here.
Considering this could be an easy place holder for developers or a way to get around programming walking animations all together I'm surprised no one took the idea and ran with it before then.
All that said it could have been used in books or movies. Maybe a twist on some other vision-centric myth like Medusa or Orpheus and Eurydice?
Boo from Super Mario only moves when your back is turned
It originated in Super Mario Bros 3 in 1988.
Or the game red light green light...
Which has roots in ancient China and was originally known as “Dong macha,” meaning “Freeze move” in Chinese. It was believed to have been played as early as the Tang Dynasty.
According to facts.com so, you know. Gotta be facts.
No more dong matcha for me, thank you
Good point. I don't know how I didn't think of that
When I saw Dr. Who, I thought you were going to say this was from an episode in the 60's or something, haha