History Main / HollywoodChameleons

* In Literature/DarkLife, this is [[spoiler: Shade's Dark Gift.]] Interestingly, Dark Gifts are based on the abilities of sea creatures, so this fits under the octopus example.

* In the ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'' series, the "chameleon" armor enchantment draws on this idea by giving you a bonus to stealth. Getting it all the way to 100% is a complete GameBreaker, as it renders you [[InvisibilityCloak effectively invisible]].

* The Disney film ''WesternAnimation/TheWild'' features a group of chameleons that can work together to basically paint any surface they cover, up to even rendering that object completely invisible.

[[folder: Film ]]
* Subverted in ''Film/DrDolittle 2'', with Pepito the chameleon, who thinks he has the ability to blend completely into the background, but never can. At the end, Charisse paints a room completely green as a surprise for Pepito, and it looks like he finally got his dream.

* In the movie ''Literature/CuriousGeorge'', George causes a chameleon to display a veritable kaleidoscope of colors by quickly passing a series of different-colored objects behind it.

* Hank the Octopus from ''WesternAnimation/FindingDory'' effortlessly blends with all sorts of backgrounds.

* The ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' character Espio's ability to blend into any colour is represented by him becoming almost invisible. In ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', he can use this ability to literally ''walk through laser detection systems without being spotted by them''.

* The title character from British comic strip ''[[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/k/kidcham.htm Kid Chameleon]]'' was [[WildChild raised by lizards]] and wore a skin-tight suit of chameleon scales (and not much else). By concentrating, he was able to make the scales change colour, turning him almost invisible - except for his prominent mop of blond hair, which somehow the bad guys never noticed.

Subtrope of SomewhereAHerpetologistIsCrying. Compare InvisibilityCloak.

[[folder: Anime ]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': [[AvertedTrope Averted]] by Illia Amitola, a chameleon [[LittleBitBeastly faunus]] whose animal trait is her color changing skin. The closest she ever comes to this trope is turning herself pitch-black when skulking around in the dead of night, while her skin usually changes colors depending on her mood (blue when sad, red when angry, ect.) and in patterns and colors that are clearly not meant to blend in with anything.

In RealLife, chameleons have only a limited colour-changing ability which is primarily dictated by the lizard's mood. Any usefulness as camouflage is entirely unintended. The colours they change into (shades of green, brown, and grey, with bolder psychedelic patterns usually reserved only for courtship or [[GameFace frightening rivals and predators]]), just happen to be the same as their surroundings most of the time.[[note]]Of course, the reason those colors are used as opposed to, say, bright pink or blue is that they're far more likely to be useful as camouflage.[[/note]]

In RealLife, chameleons have only a limited colour-changing ability which is primarily dictated by the lizard's mood. Any usefulness as camouflage is entirely unintended. The colours they change into (shades of green, brown, and grey, with bolder psychedelic patterns usually reserved only for courtship or [[GameFace frightening rivals and predators]]), just happen to be the same as their surroundings most of the time.[[note]]Of course, the reason those colors evolved as opposed to, say, bright pink or blue is that they're far more likely to be useful as camouflage.[[/note]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Primeval}}'', they faced a camouflage monster. It could almost seamlessly disappear into any background. Even when moving really fast, it is still hard to spot. Although, being a creature from the future, it isn't exactly a chameleon.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Table Top RPG ]]

* The [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Mokole]] from ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' have this as a possible character trait.

** This is likely based on a weird RealLife case of CallASmeerpARabbit. The Carolina Anole, a small tree-dwelling Iguanid, used to be sold in pet stores under the name "Chameleon". The only reason for this was because the Anole can change from green to brown depending largely on health or temperature; they look ''nothing'' like a real chameleon and are nowhere near closely related. Nowadays, they're usually simply sold under their real name... which can lead to a bit of confusion when they are called Chameleons in older media.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', Francine mentions having a pet chameleon that changed colors and escaped. It doesn't particularly look like a real chameleon, either.

* Milli from ''WesternAnimation/TeamUmizoomi''is a rare human example, but she changes ''only'' the pattern and color [[MagicPants of her clothes]].

* In [[Literature/TheSwordOfShannara The Wishsong]] we get one of these... As a giant tiger. (The Cheshire Cat reference is obvious.)

* There actually are ''a few'' chameleons that use their trademark color-changing ability for camouflage, such as the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith%27s_dwarf_chameleon Smith's dwarf chameleon.]]

* In ''Film/JurassicWorld'', the I Rex is capable of changing color to blend in to its background. When questioned on this, Dr. Wu states that the genetically engineered dino has cuttlefish DNA in it that is left Kelly the source of this ability.

* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': Justified with CHEN, since its more like a cloaking device than color-changing camouflage.