History Main / GlamourFailure

* OlderThanPrint: In Myth/JapaneseMythology, a {{Kitsune}}'s (fox's) human-disguise is often revealed because:

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'':

* In ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', Fred Kwan had been making eyes at the {{Starfish Alien|s}} that's disguised as a pale-looking human. Eventually, the two finally kiss, and she lets some of her tentacles out from beneath the illusion. Subverted in that, instead of repulsing and frightening him, it seems to turn him on even more, and they get right into it. Though bystander Guy is repulsed, either because of the tentacles or whatever she was ''doing'' with them.

* The Literature/{{Discworld}} gods, despite their reality-altering powers, cannot change their eyes. Said eyes always reveal something about their true nature.

*** And cats.
*** Also wizards and witches, who not only are trained to see things as they really are (much harder than seeing what isn't there) but are entitled to a personal visit when their time comes so are fully aware of his existence.

* ''Franchise/SailorMoon Sailor'': Once she gains control of it, Sailor Neptune can break illusions with her Submarine Mirror.

* Once she gains control of it, [[Franchise/SailorMoon Sailor Neptune]] can break illusions with her Submarine Mirror.

* ''{{Series/Ghosts}}'': In the first series episode ''Moonah Ston,'' one of Barclay Beg-Chetwynde's dogs barks incessantly at ghosts Robin and Pat (the latter of whom attempts to pet it). The 2020 Christmas special reveals that some human infants also possess “the sight.”

* [[TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf True reflection]] (Fae or other glamour users will usually reflect their true image). A modern variation has the true form of glamour users revealed by a security camera, since glamour meant to fool human minds won't work on a [[DisabilityImmunity mindless machine]].

* Surprisingly an InvertedTrope in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker''. On a NewGamePlus, Link's Grandmother, instead of giving him the iconic green hero's clothes, gives him what's either invisible clothes or absolutely nothing. Link wears them over his normal clothes, with absolutely no difference. It seems at first that she's just playing a joke on him, but looking at Link's shadow reveals the indistinctive shape of his floppy hat. This may also be a programming oversight, however. According to his grandma, they're magical clothes that are only visible to honest people. ''"What's the matter? You see them, don't you?"''

* [[FangsAreEvil Mildly pronounced fangs]] (not huge, but big enough for the WolfMan and vampire to stand out; compare CuteLittleFangs).

** Maguro, Agitaro and Furiyo's Humanization Transformations are incomplete, leaving them with [[{{Gonk}} literal]] [[http://screenshots.fansub.tv/1014/19/23.jpg fish faces]].

* In ''ComicBook/RunawaysRainbowRowells'', Alex reveals that while he looks normal after coming BackFromTheDead, he still feels like a corpse to anyone who actually touches him.

* In ''ComicBook/RainbowRowellsRunaways'', Alex reveals that while he looks normal after coming BackFromTheDead, he still feels like a corpse to anyone who actually touches him.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': Whenever Derek Powers gets angry, which is frequently, his powers flare up and start to burn through his artificial skin, revealing that of the [[ILoveNuclearPower radioactive]], [[PowerGlows glowing]] villain Blight. Actively using his powers for even a few seconds will completely shatter it, requiring him to have new skin grafted on. His inability to keep his skin on through the events of any given workday actually makes him a case of BlessedWithSuck. This worsens as he undergoes a [[VillainousBreakdown figurative meltdown]], followed by a [[SuperPowerMeltdown literal meltdown]] which left him dead for good.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'':

** Earlier, a spell cast on Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/WonderWoman to make each think that the other is a demon can only be broken once they see the other's reflection. The problem is that, once Superman sees what is going on, he feels unable to fight Wonder Woman, and thus has to take a beating until Diana sees it too.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Beast Boy retains his green color when changing into other animals. This would make infiltration difficult.

'''[[DeadpanSnarker Raven]]:''' Yeah, a green mongoose is gonna blend right in.

* ''{{Series/Ghosts}}'': In the first series episode ''Moonah Ston'', one of Barclay Beg-Chetwynde's dogs barks incessantly at ghosts Robin and Pat, the latter of whom attempts to pet them.

* In Fanfic/ANewWorldANewWay sidestory ''Swarm'' Naruto the Zoroark's shadow does not change while he is using his Illusions. This is how Emperor Carapace begins to doubt who he really is.

* [[Literature/DeltoraQuest Ols]] can be identified by the mark of the Shadow Lord somewhere on their bodies, and by their form wavering once every three days. Inverted for Grade 3 Ols, whose shapeshifting is perfect enough that they even die like humans.
* At least once in ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', an arrived Andalite is easily identified by the heroes due to her uncontrollable reaction to the food she's devouring.

* Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo in ''Anime/{{Gankutsuou}}'' appears blurry and out-of-focus in photographs, and his voice cannot be heard in audio recordings. While he's generally assumed to be an alien by most people due to his blue skin and pointed ears, which isn't considered unusual due to the futurustic setting, these are still indications that something is very untrustworthy about him.

* Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo in ''Anime/{{Gankutsuou}}'' appears blurry and out-of-focus in photographs, and his voice cannot be heard in audio recordings.

* ''{{Series/Ghosts}}'': In the first series episode ''Moonah Ston'', one of Barclay Beg-Chetwynde's dogs barks incessantly at ghosts Robin and Pat, the latter of whom attempts to pet him.

** Edward and the vampires in the books [[spoiler: not only burn or get harmed in the sunlight but instead sparkle]].

** In Creator/DanAbnett's ''Literature/BrothersOfTheSnake'', a squad of marines finds themselves fighting foes that can ''only'' be seen with the naked eye; all their equipment will not recognize them. They bare their faces and win, though several die because of the vulnerability. Later, a Chaos daemon infiltrates a Chapter House. After one Marine recognizes it and kills its host, it escapes, but a second one manages to recognize it. (It also manages to make the rest of the House believe that the first Marine was raving in his cell, but the second one manages to see that in fact, the man is sitting there quietly, and talks with him.)

* ''Manga/OInariJKTamamoChan''