History Main / InvisibleStreaker

* Played straight at first, but eventually {{averted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Violet's powers don't normally affect clothing, but she gets [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper a super-suit]] rather than having to take this option.

* In ''LightNovel/IsThisAZombie'', Ayumu gets turned invisible after drinking a potion he mistook for a drink. He strips down to sneak into the gym during the girl's physical examination day. Being the ButtMonkey that he is, the invisibility starts to wear off while he's still inside and he's forced to run and hide. Taeko catches him, but kindly loans him some clothes instead of turning him in.

* Averted in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' in the episode "Gone". Buffy is shot by an invisibility ray which also turns her clothes invisible too because it was within the blast radius.

* ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'', a 1970s Creator/{{NBC}} series, had this come up -- until the hero gained MagicPants.

* Played with in an episode of ''Series/TheXFiles''. Two moronic brothers find an actual genie, and begin asking for wishes, with [[LiteralGenie typical results]]. One brother asks to become invisible. He immediately strips down and goes out to have fun with his newfound power. He has a great time for about five minutes, then gets hit by a truck. Scully has to fingerprint-dust the entire body just to see it, and is completely flummoxed by being confronted by something that is clearly physically impossible.

* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial "Planet of the Daleks" mainly averts this with the Spiridons but plays it straight with Wester's first appearance, or rather, the lack thereof, so to speak. Then subverted when the Doctor & Co. try to pass themselves off as Spiridons, by covering themselves with Spiridon garb, but a Dalek notices that the party's feet are clearly visible.

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "Wishful Thinking", this is how the invisibility of one of the users of the magic wishing well works.

* On ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'', this is how the Earth-2 version of Linda Park/Dr. Light escapes her capture by the heroes. Her cell seems empty except for her helmet and suit, and then she escapes when people investigate.
* Invisibility not affecting clothes is played straight with Translucent in ''Series/{{The Boys|2019}}''.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Toru "Invisible Girl" Hagakure can usually be "seen" as either a floating school uniform, or in her superhero outfit, which is just a pair of shoes and gloves. To be truly effective with her powers, these come off when she needs to get completely stealthy. She [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl usually doesn't mind having to go naked]], but [[OurNudityIsDifferent feels embarrassed if people watch her undress]]. Also, on one occasion, a character [[AccidentalPervert accidentally bumps into her]] when she's naked as she freaks out as if he did it on purpose. Later chapters of the story hint that Hagakure has some sort of [[LightEmUp light-manipulation ability]], with one side effect of that being constant invisibility.

* Suehirogari's adult manga ''Moonlight Exhibition'' features a girl who can become invisible with the standard "no clothes" rule in play. Years of sneaking around nude in public to use her powers has lead to her gaining a serious exhibitionism / public nudity fetish. The plot is kicked off when one of her classmates sees her outside being "[[ADateWithRosiePalms self indulgent]]," which confuses her to no end -- however, as established earlier dogs can see her just fine, which apparently includes... [[spoiler: werewolves.]] LesYay proceeds to occur.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheReplacements'' had Todd become one in the episode ''Todd Busters'', when he used Agent K's invisibility hat. For unexplained reasons the hat itself does turn invisible along with the wearer, but the rest of his clothes don't, so he has to take them off. In the end, [[NakedPeopleAreFunny he loses the hat and is exposed nude to an audience.]]

* In the 1997 sitcom ''You Wish'' episode "A Real Don Juan" Genie gives Travis magic gum that turns him invisible to help with his sisters magic act. However it doesn’t work on clothes and not wanting to be completely naked, he leaves his underwear on. When the gum falls out his mouth he turns visible and ends up in his underwear in front of the entire school.

* ''Manga/GhostInTheShell'' had a type of camouflage -- essentially invisible spandex -- that couldn't be worn over anything and was ultra-skin tight. Once the anime series went more mainstream, the camo became "invisible clothing" as it had been in the manga. Note that this typically only applied to [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl The Major]], while male characters using the camo were able to wear less-revealing outfits.

* In ''LightNovel/DemonKingDaimao'', Kena Soga can turn invisible, (not that anyone knows that she can). However, since it's just her that turns invisible, it requires a lot of stripping or being caught naked after she materializes.

* The Major in the 2017 movie adaptation of ''Film/GhostInTheShell'' can cloak her cybernetic body, but needs to disrobe before she can actually make use of it in combat (which, since she's played by Creator/ScarlettJohansson, is definitely [[{{Fanservice}} a good thing]]). Certain full-contact actions like jumping through a window disrupt her nigh-invisibility even so.

* ''Manga/VermeilInGold'': To sneak past a Cerberus with a cold, meaning it lacks its sense of smell, to steal a special flower it is guarding, Lillian drinks an invisibility potion and strips. Even though Alto and Vermeil can't see her, she is incredibly embarrassed. The potion wears off just as she returns with the flower, giving them an eyeful.

* Inverted in ''ComicBook/TheBod,'' a short three-part miniseries in Creator/ImageComics. The story is about a rising supermodel whose body gets turned invisible due to an industrial accident shortly after she arrives at Hollywood to have her big break as an actress. She wears lots of very form-fitting clothing to show off her beautiful body as she tries to use her new, incurable condition as a gimmick to further her career. The rest of the trope -- that of the woman's invisibility not extending to her clothing, is played completely straight. Unfortunately, so are the TrueArtIsIncomprehensible and SmallNameBigEgo tropes -- the series quickly degenerates to a series of {{Take That}}s about how horrible Hollywood's culture is.

* In the Italian comic book ''La Donna Invisibile'', the heroine, Nadine Roland, is given a formula for pills that make her invisible for 15 minutes. In order for the pill to work, she has to be naked, and on at least one occasion she's still naked when the invisibility wears off.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-347 SCP-347, the Invisible Woman]].

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* ''[[http://vipondweb.byethost3.com/fanwork/mmi00.html Mr. & Mrs. Invisible]]'' is an ongoing sci-fi/comedy story about a couple who become invisible after they drink an exotic herbal tea.
[[/folder]]

As a final note, if you [[FridgeLogic think about it]] [[BellisariosMaxim too much]], you might stumble upon a problem with this trope: at any given time, a person will have bacterial colonies whose members come and go, viral invaders being fought by their immune system, [[InvisibleStomachVisibleFood food being digested or excreted]], dirt and dust falling on their skin, cells falling off their body, etc. -- What exactly ''counts'' as being part of an invisible person's body? There's just no hard line. Whatever the source of the character's invisibility, the RequiredSecondaryPowers that this trope supposedly averts [[NecessaryWeasel may not be so "secondary" after all]].

* In the 1941 comedy ''The Body Disappears'', the MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter injects herself with her father's invisibility serum to rescue her boyfriend, who was also made invisible. While nude and invisible, she gets into a convertible and DrivesLikeCrazy, to the horror of a man who had been hiding in the back seat.

* In the 1980s comedy ''The Invisible Kid'', the boy heroes have to sneak around nude and invisible, partly to steal back the invisibility formula and, given that this is a Teen Sexploitation Comedy, partly to peep on the cheerleaders.

* The alien visitor in ''Phantom from Space'' is invisible and can move unseen outside his spacesuit, but being in contact with Earth's atmosphere long enough makes him visible eventually.
* The Russian film ''Super Bobrovs'' is inconsistent about this. This trope usually applies to the invisible woman, but sometimes only part of her body (such as her arms, her legs or her head, neck and chest) is visible along with her clothes, and sometimes her clothes become invisible with her body.

* The residents of Raincliff in the ''Mystery Trackers'' installment ''Raincliff's Phantoms'' are all afflicted in this way, and cover themselves from head to toe in order to conceal their invisibility.

** [[BrickJoke 640 strips later]], the same joke gets a call back in [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0665.html "In the Flesh"]] when [[NakedOnRevival Roy is ressurected]].

* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Violet's powers don't normally affect clothing, but she gets [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper a super-suit]] rather than having to take this option.

Ultimately, if this trope is in play, expect the MundaneSolution to come up -- by definition, nobody can see the invisible person, so [[{{streaking}} going around naked]] is an acceptable solution to being unable to make other things invisible. This will probably be PlayedForLaughs the first time it's brought up, since [[NakedPeopleAreFunny the insinuation of nudity]] as well as the reactions to such is classic comedy. There's also an inherent [[RuleOfSexy sexiness]] to the concept -- oftentimes, this trope is averted specifically because the producers want to avoid risque situations.

Actually using the power afterwards, on the other hand, can often be [[PlayedForDrama anything but funny and sexy]]. After all, being naked doesn't just mean being indecent, it also means [[NoGearLevel being completely unarmed and vulnerable]]. And if going outdoors, then add ExposedToTheElements on top of that. Even beyond the nudity itself, the same rule that prohibits wearing clothes also prohibits carrying things. In general, an invisible streaker is probably going to be susceptible to as many of invisibility's {{Logical Weakness}}es as the author is willing to acknowledge, so the streaker will have to be extra careful to avoid doing even a minor thing that might get them spotted, and especially anything that might [[SeeTheInvisible render them a visible streaker]], since a DefeatByModesty is sure to follow. (Or, if it doesn't, then they get to [[NakedPeopleTrappedOutside continue sneaking around with modesty on the mind]], which is hardly better.)

* ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'': The villain in "Evil Boyfriend" does this after consuming the invisibility potion. However, for some reason, he is clothed when he turns visible again.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBigKnights'': The Knights use magic invisibility hats to go spying in a neighbouring kingdom, and have to remove their armour and underwear to remain invisible. It's not terribly effective, as they [[DumbMuscle aren't the brightest pair]] and still stomp around bellowing and waving their swords, even doffing their hats to a group of shocked {{nuns|AreFunny}}.
* In ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', Eustace is forced to strip when he has to turn invisible to save Muriel from the {{government|Conspiracy}} in the episode "Invisible Muriel". He keeps wearing his hat and glasses though and [[TheGuardsMustbeCrazy the guards]] [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight don't think anything is strange]]. Oddly enough, when Eustace [[ItMakesSenseinContext gets turned into a gold statue]], he's wearing boxers.

* Infamously inverted in ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' -- her ''plane'' was invisible, ''she'' wasn't, so in general, it just looked like a mysterious squatting woman shooting through the air. The plane is later retconned to make its contents invisible, too.

* The Invisible Man (an alternate version of the original one) in Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' must strip down to best take advantage of his condition. He was originally found wandering a girl's dorm nude... impregnating several of the girls (which they took as miracles).

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHvJQjWBMDo Daylong sunscreen]], a Turkish advert in which beachgoers are invisible except for their swimsuits

* Classically averted in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''. Sue's always been able to extend her field to whatever mundane outfit she has on (and much further if she so chooses)[[note]]Although it's been mentioned that the FF's entire wardrobe has unstable molecules infused - after all, how else would Ben Grimm's clothes and shoes fit him?[[/note]]. However, it's played straight a few times in the movies for {{Fanservice}}.

Actually using the power afterwards, on the other hand, can often be [[PlayedForDrama anything but funny and sexy]]. After all, being naked doesn't just mean being indecent, it also means [[NoGearLevel being completely unarmed and vulnerable]]. And if going outdoors, then add ExposedToTheElements on top of that. Even beyond the nudity itself, the same rule that prohibits wearing clothes also prohibits carrying things. In general, an invisible streaker is probably going to be susceptible to as many of invisibility's {{Logical Weakness}}es as the author is willing to acknowledge, so the streaker will have to be extra careful to avoid doing even a minor thing that might get them spotted, and especially anything that might [[SeeTheInvisible render them a visible]] [[TheNudifier streaker]], since a DefeatByModesty is sure to follow. (Or, if it doesn't, then they get to [[NakedPeopleTrappedOutside continue sneaking around with modesty on the mind]], which is hardly better.)

On the other hand, for characters who are [[PowerIncontinence always invisible]], this apparent downside is flipped on its head and usually ends up being pretty convenient since they can avoid all the awkward situations that always-invisible characters with always-invisible MagicPants tend to get into--for an always-invisible streaker, being visible is as as simple as getting dressed (though they might have to wear a burqa or similar clothing).

The few RealLife attempts at invisibility use the inversion of this trope, which is the InvisibilityCloak. Compare ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing.

On the other hand, for characters who are [[PowerIncontinence always invisible]], this apparent downside is usually pretty convenient as it makes living a normal life as simple as getting dressed (though perhaps regularly wearing a burqa or similar), thus easily avoiding all the awkward situations that always-invisible characters with always-invisible MagicPants tend to get into.

Not all {{invisibility}} methods are created equal. While most works HandWave away the problems with invisibility -- being able to see being the main one -- one specific problem frequently comes up. Namely: you may be able to become invisible, but [[RequiredSecondaryPowers that doesn't mean things you interact with can become invisible]]. That includes your clothes.

Ultimately, if this trope is in play, expect the MundaneSolution to come up -- by definition, nobody can see the invisible person, so going around naked is an acceptable solution to being unable to make other things invisible. This will probably be PlayedForLaughs the first time it's brought up, since [[NakedPeopleAreFunny the insinuation of nudity]] as well as the reactions to such is classic comedy. There's also an inherent [[RuleOfSexy sexiness]] to the concept -- oftentimes, this trope is averted specifically because the producers want to avoid risque situations.

Actually using the power afterwards, on the other hand, can often be [[PlayedForDrama anything but funny and sexy]]. After all, being naked doesn't just mean being indecent, it also means being completely unarmed and vulnerable. Even if the invisible person gets by completely unnoticed, they'll always be ExposedToTheElements. Beyond the nudity itself, the same rule that prohibits wearing clothes also prohibits carrying things, and interacting in other ways can be tricky. And that's not even getting into [[NakedPeopleTrappedOutside what happens if they become visible at the wrong time]]...

In short, the Invisible Streaker has an AwesomeYetImpractical power where they are forced to stressfully sneak around a space that isn't meant to be inhabited by naked people while carefully avoiding everything because they have no defense if detected. However, this might be a worthy tradeoff for a character who is [[PowerIncontinence always invisible]], as all they have to do to negate their ability is get dressed. Thus, unlike an always-invisible character with always-invisible MagicPants, they don't have to go unnoticed all the time and can live a relatively normal life when they aren't naked (though they might have to regularly wear a burqa or similar clothing).

The few RealLife attempts at invisibility use the inversion of this trope, which is the InvisibilityCloak. Compare ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing. A sub-trope of InvisibilityWithDrawbacks.

* The Invisible Naked Man in ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions'' [[http://www.basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2020/4/23/how-to-deal-with-the-loss-of-your-super-powers uses this to his advantage]].

As a final note, if you [[FridgeLogic think about it]] [[BellisariosMaxim too much]], you might stumble upon a problem with this trope: at any given time, a person will have bacterial colonies whose members come and go, viral invaders being fought by their immune system, [[InvisibleStomachVisibleFood food being digested or excreted]], dirt and dust falling on their skin, cells falling off their body, etc. -- What exactly ''counts'' as being part of an invisible person's body? There's just no hard line. Whatever the source of the character's invisibility, the RequiredSecondaryPowers that this trope supposedly averts [[NecessaryWeasel may not be so "secondary" after all]]. The few RealLife attempts at invisibility use the inversion of this trope, which is the InvisibilityCloak. Compare ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing.

* Similar to most other devil fruits in ''Franchise/OnePiece'', Absalom's invisibility powers affect his clothing for simplicity's sake. However, they go even further than that, allowing him to grab people to make them vanish while kidnapping them, or strapping bazookas to his arms to give the illusion of being able to emit [[HandBlast hand blasts]].
* [[DefiedTrope Defied]] in ''Anime/BNABrandNewAnimal,'' Michiru [[SuperpowerLottery develops]] ChameleonCamouflage powers when she realizes she needs to infiltrate Sylvasta's medical labs, but they don't affect her clothing. Rather than strip, however, she simply folds her arms and tail over her clothes, hiding them just enough to evade notice.
* Both [[AvertedTrope averted]] and [[ExaggeratedTrope exaggerated]] in ''Manga/{{Dorohedoro}}''. Shou's invisibility magic affects anything it's specifically cast on, but nothing else. When Fujita is turned invisible for a stealth mission, his clothes aren't a problem, but he has to hide while digesting food and quickly wash off any dirt that gets on him.

* The second issue of the Harvey Comics ''Toys/MonsterInMyPocket'' comic book had the Invisible Man decide to go without clothes due to enjoying the freedom and realizing that he's more use to the good monsters when no one can see him.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Igor}},'' Carl [[PunnyName Cristall]] is an invisible talk show-host who can be detected by his floating shirt and hat -- but no pants. His hatred of pants becomes a RunningGag up until the end of the movie.

* [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Violet's powers don't normally affect clothing, but she gets [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper a super-suit]] rather than having to take this option.

* Averted in the 2000 ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'' TV series: The hero turns invisible by secreting a light-bending substance from his skin granted via a gland surgically implanted in his brain. Naturally, this substance also covers his clothes.
** This was revealed to be a nice side effect that the creators of the gland didn't know about. They didn't realize he could consciously secrete Quicksilver on any object.

* Played with in an episode of ''Series/TheXFiles''. Two moronic brothers find an actual genie, and begin asking for wishes, with [[LiteralGenie typical results]]. One brother asks to become invisible. He immediately strips down and goes out to have fun with his newfound power. He has a great time for about five minutes, then gets hit by a truck. Scully has to fingerprint dust the entire body just to see it, and is completely flummoxed by being confronted by something that is clearly physically impossible.

* On ''Series/TheFlash2014'', this is how the Earth-2 version of Linda Park/Dr. Light escapes her capture by the heroes. Her cell seems empty except for her helmet and suit, and then she escapes when people investigate.
* Averted in ''Series/GilligansIsland'', when Gilligan, trying to be cured of another condition, gets struck by [[LightningCanDoAnything Magic Lightning]] and turns invisible along with his usual outfit. Later, just as he insults the Skipper, he starts to slowly turn visible again. Since he doesn't know it, when the Skipper lunges for him, he jumps to the side. The Skipper then stops and moves back in front of him. Cue the OhCrap expression on Gilligan.
* Invisibility not affecting clothes is played straight with Translucent in ''Series/TheBoys2019''.

* ''[[http://vipondweb.byethost3.com/fanwork/mmi00.html Mr. & Mrs. Invisible]]'' is an ongoing sci-fi/comedy story about a couple who become invisible after they drink an exotic herbal tea.

* ''Skinner Boys'': In "The Curse of Invisibility" the magical artifact the kids find is a bracelet that allows the user to turn invisible, insert ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings" joke here. Except the person who uses it has to be naked to be at their most effective. Did they mention that this person is a [[{{Squick}} child]]?

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAddamsFamily1992'' episode "Hide and Go Lurch", one of the ways Gomez and Fester attempted to prevent Lurch from finding them was by turning themselves invisible. The invisibility formula didn't affect their clothes, so they had to disrobe, only for Lurch to again succeed in finding them.