History Main / LieToTheBeholder

* A light example in the ''Franchise/{{Tsukiuta}}'' anime. When famous [[IdolSinger idols]] Shun and Hajime go on a date, Shun casts a spell so that they won't be recognized, so that they can enjoy themselves like normal people.

* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', this ability is known as the Mirror of Mists. It can also be modified for {{invisibility}}.

* Shows up a couple of times in ''Series/DoctorWho'', City of Death, End of Time, and most notably Vamnpires of Venice.

[[folder:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* In the MarvelUniverse, the PlanetEater ComicBook/{{Galactus}} appears to any observer to be a gigantic member of the observer's own race. What his true appearance is like is unknown.

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
* An aspect of the Swap in FanFic/DividedRainbow.

[[folder:{{Film}}]]

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]
* Done in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' by Thomas to allow Harry to avoid TheFairFolk for awhile.

[[folder:TabletopGames]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]

[[folder:WebComics]]

* In ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'', Red Mage casts an illusion spell on the Light Warriors that works this way. Since the change isn't immediately obvious, Black Mage spends a good deal of time mocking him for casting a spell that apparently did nothing before Red Mage gets a chance to explain.

[[folder:WebOriginal]]
* Happened a few times during the ''Webcomic/CrossoverWars'': during the Forum Wars the Evil Overlord forces attacked the Wotch forum disguised as members of the [[Webcomic/ElGoonishShive EGS]] & [[Webcomic/CollegeRoomiesFromHell CRFH]] forums; during the Adult Wars Terry Dix cast a spell to make her & Miss Violence appear to be EOU droids & later convince the droids that M.Organ was Deception of the EOU.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', Nightcrawler uses a kind of hologram field device to appear as a normal human being. It was pointed out in an episode where he had to wear gloves to the prom to prevent his date from catching on to the fact that he had two fuzzy fingers.
** He originally used one in the comics as well, but he mostly toyed with it to transform into famous movie stars or as a disguise. He stopped using it after a trip through space - mostly because FreakyIsCool.
*** And because he felt it was contrary to the mutants-are-okay message.

[[quoteright:200:[[VideoGame/HarryPotter http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/laverne_de_montmorency.jpg]]]]

See also AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder

* In ''Series/StargateSG1'', Reoul venom can do this. Daniel Jackson uses it to infiltrate a Goa'uld summit meeting at one point, masquerading as a System Lord's personal trusted slave. At one point he questions what happens if you use the venom on yourself. Selmak replies "I don't actually know, and that alone should scare you." However, he has to inject every person he wants to see him as someone else. This becomes a problem when Osiris shows up in the host body of his ex-girlfriend Sarah, immediately recognizing him. Osiris then confronts Daniel, allowing Daniel to inject the Goa'uld. Osiris then forgets why she arrived.

* Happened a few times during the CrossoverWars: during the Forum Wars the Evil Overlord forces attacked the Wotch forum disguised as members of the [[Webcomic/ElGoonishShive EGS]] & [[Webcomic/CollegeRoomiesFromHell CRFH]] forums; during the Adult Wars Terry Dix cast a spell to make her & Miss Violence appear to be EOU droids & later convince the droids that M.Organ was Deception of the EOU.

* In ''[[{{Beetleborgs}} Big Bad Beetleborgs]]'', this was combined with TheNthDoctor when Shannon Chandler left the series: Halfway through Season 1, Wolfgang, while playing with a magic book, accidentally caused Jo to change in appearance. To counteract this, Flabber used his magic to make her look and sound just like herself, except to the people who saw him do the spell. So the viewers, Flabber, Drew, and Roland could still see Jo in her new appearance, played by Brittany Konarzewski, but the Hillhurst monsters as well as their family and friends could see her as she looked before. The psychological impact this would have on her brother and best friend was never addressed.

* On ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice,'' [[spoiler:[[TheArcher Artemis]]]] infiltrates the villains with a new persona, courtesy of a magic necklace {{Zatanna}} supplied. The spell works on everyone but herself and the three others ([[spoiler:[[MissionControl Dick]], [[FragileSpeedster Wally]] and [[MakingASplash Kaldur]]]]) who are in on the plan. This possibly extends to [[spoiler:[[SuperpowerLottery M'gann]]]] later on when she accidentally discovers the truth.

* Robots in the ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' world use transponders as the primary means of identifying each other. This means that a robot will "see" whatever the transponder tells it is there, [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2200/fc02105.htm even if it wouldn't actually fit in the space available]], or if the transponder [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2300/fc02296.htm is on an organic being rather than a robot]], or if [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1400/fc01305.htm there's nothing there but the transponder connected to a battery]].

* [[TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]] was originally portrayed as this, to ''the entirety of humanity.'' Only cameras saw him as faceless, because, y'know, they're not alive. This was quickly dropped for plain [[TheBlank facelessness.]]

* In Fred Saberhagen's BooksOfSwords, this is the main power of the sword Sightblinder. Its wielder appears as someone the viewer either loves or fears. The downside is that this makes it very hard for the wielder to be inconspicuous.
* In at least two instances in the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse (in ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Solo Command]]'' and ''Literature/HeirToTheEmpire'') protocol droids are modified to sound like other people, either to distract the enemy with a decoy or cover the escape of the real person (or both). Obviously they still ''look'' like droids, although Squeaky in ''Solo Command'' is outfitted with a mask and uniform to fool casual observers.
* In the ''YoungWizards'' series, when Dairine is taking a trio of extraterrestrial exchange students on a tour of the local mall, the [[PlantAliens walking Christmas tree]] and the [[InsectoidAliens giant centipede]] have to use a disguise spell (the third alien, a HumanAlien, needs no disguise). The tree's disguise spell temporarily fails when he's trying out a baseball cap in a changing room, leading to a very startled store clerk.

* The ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' spell "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Disguise Self]]".

* The Divine Fire hides a [[PrometheanTheCreated Promethean's]] true face. Given that Prometheans are animate ''corpses'', this is pretty much the only thing that keeps them from getting killed on sight (and [[HatePlague Disquiet]] means sometimes even ''that'' isn't enough). Prometheans can see each other's true faces, as well as how humans see them overlaid on it. There are, however, several ways to cause GlamourFailure, and those usually cause a ''world'' of problems...

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Justin, Elliot, and Ellen can change their appearance through magical illusions. Nanase used to be able to do it best as a fully "awakened" magic user, but she burned out her magic powers, so she can't use any now.
** She then got her powers back. And then lost them again. And then got them back.

* In ''DeadLikeMe'', the reapers look different to their true form to living people. We see "[=UnGeorge=]" in scenes through a living person's perspective.

* In ''The Black Unicorn'', the second book in the ''{{Magic Kingdom of Landover}}'' series by Creator/TerryBrooks, the hero, Ben, has a spell cast on him by an evil wizard that causes him to look and sound different to everyone except his enemies.

* In at least two instances in the StarWarsExpandedUniverse (in ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Solo Command]]'' and ''[[TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'') protocol droids are modified to sound like other people, either to distract the enemy with a decoy or cover the escape of the real person (or both). Obviously they still ''look'' like droids, although Squeaky in ''Solo Command'' is outfitted with a mask and uniform to fool casual observers.

* In ''[[SwordOfTruth Wizard's First Rule]]'', Richard is at one point subject to a spell that makes everyone see him as an enemy. To his enemies and himself, he looks and sounds normal, but to his friends, he appears as someone they hate.

* In ''WolfsRain'', the wolves can appear human, but they often appear human ''to each other'' even when there are no humans around.

* In ''WolfsRain'' the wolves can appear human, but they often appear human ''to each other'' even when there are no humans around.

* A Slaaneshi sorceress tries to pull this on Literature/CiaphasCain ('''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM'''), along with the squad of Guardsmen he's with, appearing as Amberley to him. When the spell wears off, he shoots her with the PreMortemOneLiner "Impersonating an Inquisitor is a capital offense". Strangely, no one,[[FootnoteFever including Amberley,]] comments on this.

* In ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', Nightcrawler uses a kind of hologram field device to appear as a normal human being--pointed out in an episode where he had to wear gloves to the prom to prevent his date from catching on to the fact that he had two fuzzy fingers.

* On ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice,'' [[spoiler:[[TheArcher Artemis]]]] infiltrates the villains with a new persona, courtesy of a magic necklace {{Zatanna}} supplied. The spell works on everyone but herself and the three others ([[spoiler:[[MissionControl Dick]], [[FragileSpeedster Wally]] and [[MakingASplash Kaldur]]]]) who are in on the plan. Also herself, but sometimes she sees the alter ego in the mirror if the show is going for [[RuleOfSymbolism symbolism]].