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{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|''"We wear the mask that grins and lies''
''It hides our face and shades our eyes."''
|'''[[wikipedia:Paul Laurence Dunbar|Paul Laurence Dunbar]]''', ''[http://www.potw.org/archive/potw8.html We Wear the Mask]''}}
Virtually everyone has to wear a public mask in order to be accepted by others. That's a simple fact of human psychology. When circumstances (such as anonymity, strong emotion, or sufficient power) allow a character to take off that mask and act in complete accord with their inclinations, they reveal what's
The secrets this mask hides are varied and are not always dark. A villain, for example, might be [[Pet the Dog|hiding a soft spot]].
Sometimes a person may never know they had a hidden self before the mask comes off. The change is even a surprise to them. Other times the person is well aware of their hidden self and are determined to keep it hidden. This hidden self that people don't show to others is what
This hidden self is sometimes portrayed as "the real self". Occasionally the person actually wants someone to see their hidden side (the "real me") but for some reason can never get people to see it. More complex works might argue that the hidden self is just a part of the real self, and that the public self is also part of the real self.
Related to [[GIFT]] and [[What You Are in
{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* ''[[Magical Project S]]'': Misao Amano's normal self is that of a stereotypical [[Shrinking Violet]] [[Friendless Background|friendless]], [[Shy Blue-Haired Girl|blue-haired]] [[Ill Girl]]. However, this persona falls away when she's transformed into Pixy Misa, the manifestation of her deeply repressed id: an egomaniacal [[Chaotic Evil]] [[Green-Eyed Monster|jealous]] [[Dark Magical Girl]] [[Villainous Harlequin|trickster]].
* ''[[
* Sakura from ''[[Naruto]]'' is a perfect example: her inner side shows us what she actually thinks about something but is not willing to say or do. Although Inner Sakura hasn't been seen since the timeskip, and Sakura is now more willing to say what's really on her mind. A bit of a cross between [[Becoming the Mask]] and [[Character Development]].
** One theory is that Sakura broke out of her [[Stepford Smiler]] attitude and embraced "Inner Sakura" after it helped her break out of Ino's body switch jutsu during the Chuunin Exam.
Line 26:
* ''[[Code Geass]]'' plays with this trope. Lelouch Lamperouge is a [[Brilliant but Lazy]] highschool student living in Area 11, a [[The Empire|Britannia]]-occupied territory formerly known as Japan. When we first see him, he's skipping class in order to do some high-stakes gambling. He seems to regard everything with indifference or disdain, and as we get to know him, it becomes clear that he has a strong sense of justice but has come to accept that there's nothing he can do to fix his government's deep-seated corruption and institutionalized racism. Then he gets [[Evil Eye|superpowers]]. He maintains his [[Rich Idiot With No Day Job]] facade to avoid suspicion, but secretly becomes [[Dark Messiah|Zero]], a masked [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|freedom fighter]] dedicated to dismantling the most powerful government in the world. The series heavily contemplates identity and character, and repeatedly addresses the irony that Lelouch needs to put on a literal mask in order to take off his metaphorical one.
** It should also be mentioned that in his conversations with CC Lelouch strongly implies that he was planing to overthrow Britannia since he was a child, gaining the Geass simply meant that he could start much earlier and move much quicker than he otherwise would have been able to. As such one can say that his hidden personality was already simmering in the depths of his lazy life before the story kicks in.
** {{spoiler|His father's ultimate plan? To remove ''all'' "masks" via an [[Assimilation Plot]].}}
* The manga version of ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' pulled off a Type C with Asuka: she acted like the stereotypical good girl around Misato and Kaji while being a total jerk to everyone else. Once Misato revealed that she knows Asuka's true personality and she doesn't have to hide it, Asuka became a full-blown [[Tsundere]] with an extra helping of [[Hair-Trigger Temper]].
* Essentially everyone in ''[[Princess Tutu]]'', but particularly:
** Fakir, initially portrayed as a selfish, manipulative [[Jerkass]], accidentally reveals himself to be a [[Jerk
** Kraehe is initially portrayed as doing things just [[For the Evulz]], but by the end, it's revealed that {{spoiler|she only wanted to be loved.}}
* ''[[
* ''[[.hack]]''.
* In ''[[Kare Kano]]'', Arima is insanely scared of what's beneath his.
* ''[[Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl]]'' has the protagonist who gradually feels more and more free to act more feminine.
* Seems to be a theme in ''[[Durarara!!]]'', where pretty much everyone involved, up to and including the district of Ikebukero, has a hidden second side beneath the personalities they show to the world.
* Kurei from ''[[Flame of Recca]]'' personifies this trope, he even wears a mask! He may seem like one of the most cruel, heartless and sadistic characters in the series, but most of his actions are driven by his love for people he cares about.
* ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro
** However, it's played more straight with {{spoiler|Rika}} in the second season, where {{spoiler|although everyone knows about her place in the Furude family, she acts like a child usually would at her age. At least, the age everyone thinks she is.}} However, when {{spoiler|she's}} seen alone with {{spoiler|Hanyuu}}, {{spoiler|she}} acts much more like [[The Stoic|a stoic]], or even a [[Determined Defeatist]].
* Barnaby Brooks Jr. from ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'' has ''two'' masks superimposed on one another. The first is the guise of a charming, skilled [[The Ace|ace]] that hides a rude, untrusting [[Ice Queen|Ice King]] beneath it. The rude, untrusting Ice King mask in turn hides a {{spoiler|traumatized, lonely man who doesn't know what to do with his life beyond getting revenge on the organization that assassinated his family.}}
** The second cour, as well as [[Word of God]], proves that Kotetsu also wears a mask. Thanks to an almost [[Fatal Flaw|pathological fear of sharing his burdens with others]] and a reluctance to make himself vulnerable, quite a bit of his doofy, [[Idiot Hero]] behavior is [[Obfuscating Stupidity|something he exaggerates]] to lower peoples' opinions of him so they won't bother with (and therefore worry about) him.
** Ivan Karelin is another example. As the hero [[Secret Identity|Origami Cyclone]], he's loud, brash, and over-the-top. As Ivan, he's an awkward, insecure [[Shrinking Violet]].
* ''[[
** Also, [[The Lancer|Itsuki]] [[Stepford Smiler|Koizumi]] is implied to have much more going on under his always-smiling, friendly, easy-going exterior than meets the eye, especially in those few moments when he slips up and lets a little of his anger, stress, or loneliness show. Confirmed in Volume 11 when he {{spoiler|goes[[Beware the Nice Ones|completely ballistic]] at Fujiwara for trying to [[If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her...|kill Haruhi]].}} Also, Haruhi takes him as her ever-loyal ally without realizing he is [[The Chessmaster]] behind much of what goes on.
* In [[Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle]], [[Stepford Smiler|Fai]]'s personality change following the events of [[I Hate You, Vampire Dad|Acid Tokyo]] is a powerful example of this trope.
* Several characters in ''[[Life (
* In [[Kimi no Iru Machi]] when Haruto first meets Eba Rin he wonders how such a level headed person could be related to Yuzuki, even if only as step-sisters. Eventually Rin gets tired enough of the mask that she completely discards it with Haruto, in fact she is more honest with herself around Haruto {{spoiler|and eventually Yuzuki}} that she doesn't put it back on around them, leading her to change [[Bitch in Sheep's Clothing|just a little bit.]]
* The way ''[[Black Butler]]'' is going, every single character is going to turn out to wear a mask or several. For example Ciel, being a [[Villain Protagonist]] [[Kuudere]], has a cold, ruthless side masking a warm side, underneath which lies a deeply traumatized child side. Later on Ciel learns to adds the mask of a cheerful, social boy on top of everything, to be used when necessary. You can even say that Behind the Mask counts as a [[Central Theme]].
==
* The Sentry, though he pretends to be a [[Lawful Good]] hero, has a dark side that manifests against his will.
* [[X
** The notion that it was a separate entity was itself a [[Retcon]], and Phoenix was always supposed to be Jean Grey's more passionate, "dark" side. [[Master of Illusion|Mastermind's]] messing with her head was originally what made the [[Super-Powered Evil Side|"superpowered side" evil.]]
* Black Adam of [[Captain Marvel]] was chosen as a champion of justice, but when he received superpowers he [[Anti-Hero|didn't react as his patrons expected him to]].
* Inverted by Jack O'Lantern in ''[[Ultimate
▲== Fan Fic ==
* In ''[[DC Nation]]'', Fauna lampshades this when it comes to Nightwing. After seeing him as Dick Grayson, she wrote in her [[Character Blog]] that not many people put a mask ''on'' when they want to be themselves.
▲* Inverted by Jack O'Lantern in ''[[Ultimate Spider Woman (Fanfic)|Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With The Light]]''. Although he wears a public mask to be accepted by his fellow citizens, he also begins wearing a ghoulish pumpkin-headed costume and committing increasingly deadly crimes to reveal his ''true'' personality. He is well aware of the irony in wearing a mask to reveal his true face, but he considers himself superior to the pathetic, mindless sheep and cattle that make up most of the rest of society because he's willing to embrace just what he ''really'' is.
▲* In ''[[DC Nation]]'', Fauna lampshades this when it comes to Nightwing. After seeing him as Dick Grayson, she wrote in her [[Character Blog]] that not many people put a mask ''on'' when they want to be themselves.
* Played straight in a Danny Phantom [[Fanfic]] called [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3831182/1/Masks Masks.] It is unusual in that Danny is actually wearing three masks to hide his true self. A surprisingly good read.
== Film ==
== Films -- Live-Action ==▼
* In ''[[Bridesmaids]]'' Helen is the typical [[Alpha Bitch]]. At least that's what it appears on the surface. But when she breaks down crying, she reveals {{spoiler|[[I Just Want to Have Friends|she's in a loveless marriage, and just gets invited to weddings because she's good at organizing events]].}}
* [[Film/Enter The Dragon|Enter The Dragon]]: In reference to Han, the villain, whose martial-arts tournament is a front for a really nasty operation: "You must remember... the enemy has only images and illusions, behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image, and you will break the enemy."
* The basic premise of ''[[The Mask (
{{quote|
* In ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' Tia Dalma initially helps and even cares for Jack Sparrow, but in the third movie it is revealed that {{spoiler|she is actually Calypso, a sea goddess. When she regains her full powers she becomes a destructive force of nature who doesn't care much about the various factions' petty struggles.}}
* Shows up in ''[[An Education]]''.
* [[Red Eye (
* In the [[Film of the Book|film version]] of ''[[The Voyage of the Dawn Treader]]'', the darkness tempts the main characters, showing their hidden desires.
* The knights' elaborate, mask-like helmets in the John Boorman film, 'Excalibur,' show the real personae of the wearers.
* A major theme of ''[[Wild Things]]''. Sam appears to be an honest, upstanding educator, but he's really a {{spoiler|sleazy, exploitative pervert.}} Kelly appears to be an all-American teenage girl next door, but she's actually {{spoiler|an angry, sexually confused cokehead who hates her family.}} Ray appears to be an honest if overzealous cop, but he's actually a {{spoiler|[[Dirty Cop]] who enjoys prostitutes and is quite willing to murder anyone who pisses him off.}} Suzie appears to be a white-trash loser, but she's actually a {{spoiler|brilliantly calculating [[The Chessmaster|Chessmaster]] who manipulates everyone else}}
** Lampshaded by Ray, although in reference to another character.
{{quote|
== Literature ==
* In ''[[Twilight (
* In [[The Dresden Files]], wizards have two major abilities related to this.
** A Soulgaze is a one time per person link. When initiated by the wizard staring into someone's eyes for a few seconds, each sees the other's True Self.
** The Sight shows the essence of how things
* The entirety of the [[Ciaphas Cain]] novels is about a '''[[Fake Ultimate Hero|HERO]] [[Memetic Mutation|OF THE]] [[All
* In Elias Canetti's book ''Crowds and Power'', he speaks in detail about masks and hiding of a true-self in relation to power. For Canetti everyone wears a mask and for this reason a ruler is never able to truly trust in anyone, which is a cause of paranoia regarding[[Et Tu, Brute?|betrayal]]. For Canetti the "unmasking" is crucial in the movements of power.
* [[John Le Carre]] takes a very dark look at this in the ''[[The Quest for Karla|Karla trilogy]]''. The protagonist, George Smiley, appears to be a slightly myopic, helpless, and generally tragic old man who is genuinely sick of all the betrayals and lies that constitute his profession and that has wrecked his personal life. Only occasionally do we see why he's still in the Circus: he is brilliant and ''very, very good'' at what he does, i.e., the betrayals and lies that constitutes the intelligence life. His opponent, Karla, appears to be an iron-willed fanatic for whom taking advantage of the opposition's humanity is part of the job. It is not until ''Smiley's People'' that we see the crack in his mask: {{spoiler|his love for his illegitimate daughter, Tatiana, who is driven insane by her inability to recognize the spymaster as her father. The ending of ''Smiley's People'' implies that beneath their masks, Smiley and Karla are [[Not So Different]] - a revelation that drives Smiley to retire for good.}}
* In [[Hugh Laurie]]'s novel ''[[The Gun Seller]]'', the protagonist notes that a certain revolutionary leader puts on a different mask for every member of the cell. To one true believer, he's a fiery and passionate Che type; to the Southern hick, he's a rock and roll adventurer; to another, he's a philosophical seeker after truth. His true self is only hinted at when he instinctively strikes a small child on an airplane.
* Patrick Bateman in [[Bret Easton Ellis]]' ''[[American Psycho]]'' wears the mask of a sociable, high-flying yuppie to hide his murderous desires.
* In [[The Pale King]], Meredith Rand is so gorgeous that [[Distracted
* In ''[[
* Double Subverted in [[Deep Space Nine]] ''Soldiers of the Empire''. Klingons underneath their swagger are lonely overworked soldiers grumbling about their lot just as much as human soldiers do. But when inspired they [[Becoming the Mask|put on their mask]] again and go into battle as a true [[Proud Warrior Race]].
* Major Zod in ''[[Smallville]]'' pretended to be an ally to Clark and a caring leader until he received his superpowers, revealing his hidden lust for power. "[[Paradise Lost|Better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven]]."
** Lana Lang once received Clark's superpowers, using them to try to kill [[Big Bad|Lex]], steal his secrets, and discredit him in the media.
** There was an episode with a flower that made people act out their secret desires. There was also the red kryptonite for Clark.
* [[Complete Monster|Niska]] in ''[[Firefly]]'' is fond of quoting the mad Chinese philosopher Shan Yu, who once said "Live with a man for fifty years, share meals, spend every waking hour with him. Then one day take him and dangle him over a volcano's edge, and on that day, you will finally meet the man."
* [[House (TV series)|House]] certainly thinks that this is humanity's natural state, given his famous quote "...Everybody lies".
** This is a premise of the show too , as all the main cast including the patients are not always what they seem to be, in the case of the patients their lies often complicate the medical procedures of the team , while House himself dedicates his time to discover the secrets of his co-workers.
* [[Lizzie
* The Doctor, in ''[[Doctor Who]]''. Yes, he wears celery, offers people jelly babies, and has a fascination with [[Cool Hat
* In ''[[
* Pretty much the entire basis of ''[[Hannah Montana]]''.
* ''[[Odyssey 5]]'' has Kurt occasionally show a much kinder side than his usual persona.
* Effectively everyone of any importance on ''[[Babylon 5]]'', as summed up by G'Kar's word of warning to Catharine Sakai: ''"No one here is exactly what he appears. [[Ass in Ambassador|Not]] [[Magnificent Bastard|Mollari]], [[The High Queen|not]] [[Lady of War|Delenn]], [[The Captain|not]] [[Obfuscating Stupidity|Sinclair]]... and [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|not]] [[Cassandra Truth|me.]]"''
* In [[Deep Space Nine]]: ''Soldiers of the Empire'' we go aboard a Klingon ship for a routine patrol and see that beneath their boasting they are grumbling soldiers [[Not So Different]] from humans. When they are finally [[Let's Get Dangerous|rallied]] they [[Becoming the Mask|put their mask back on.]] Which come to think of it is also [[Not So Different]] from humans.
== Music ==
* [[
* [[Electric Six]] has stated that they play disco dance music because it's "exactly what we are not."
* [[Pink Floyd]] sang of this trope in their song ''[[The Wall|In the Flesh]]'': "So ya, thought ya might like to go to the show/To feel the warm thrill of confusion--that space cadet glow/Tell me, is something eluding you, sunshine? Is this not what you expected to see?/If you wanna find out what's behind these cold eyes, you'll just have to claw your way through this disguise!"
* [[Britney Spears]]'s "If U Seek Amy" video shows off how conflicting public and private selves can lead to confusion in the media. How certain people put on an act to maintain a fanbase or a group of supporters.
* The song "[[True Colors]]" from Cyndi Lauper. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GzQ2IDzeRE Makes a mention to this trope].
* The song "Mr Roboto" by [[Styx]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQsuNMncBo uses this trope]. "I am the Modren man/Who hides behind a mask/So no one else can see/My true identity."
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** He gets pretty cynical about it. The song is about how no matter how close you are to a lover, there are some secrets you never tell, and you shouldn't be surprised if they're hiding their nature from you - because you're doing the same to them.
** Adding the qualifier: "We may never understand how the Stranger is inspired / But he is not always evil, and he is not always wrong."
* [[The Beatles (
==
* Explored deeply in ''[[Jekyll and Hyde]]'', most notably with the song ''Facade'' and its numerous reprises.
{{quote|
* Fiyero in ''[[Wicked (
{{quote|
'''Fiyero:''' So?
'''Elphaba:''' So no matter how shallow and self-absorbed you pretend to be--
'''Fiyero:''' Excuse me! There's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.
'''Elphaba:''' No, you're not. Otherwise you wouldn't be so unhappy. }}
Line 132 ⟶ 131:
* A classic case is Squall from ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]''. On the outside: cold, cynical, mean, rude, and very much a [[Determinator]]. On the inside, he is collapsing: constantly questioning himself and why he continues to do what he does, and cripplingly insecure about how other people perceive him. He uses his anti-social exterior to hold others at arm's length rather than risk the pain of rejection or loss because such feelings devastate him.
* Zolku-Azolku, an [[Non-Player Character|NPC]] in ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'', [[Conversational Troping|discusses]] the concept:
{{quote|
* In the ''[[
** Actually it's implied that {{spoiler|after their first meeting he was actually dating her non [[Evil Twin]] after a [[Twin Switch]].}}
* In ''[[Halo 3]]'' the normally calm Prophet of Truth shows his true colors as a mad alien willing to kill his fellow prophets and an entire race of aliens while trying to [[A God Am I|reach godhood]]. This is a result of [[Becoming the Mask]]; in [[Contact Harvest]], Truth doesn't come off as particularly pious and initiates the human-Covenant war to conceal humanity's status as 'Reclaimers' and gain control of the Covenant. He's been lying for so long and with such conviction that by the time he dies, even ''he'' believes his lies.
** Both Guilty Spark and Medicant Bias hid their true intentions until their betrayals due to rampancy.
** Gravemind acts as a calm, pragmatic, smooth-talking individiual with a [[Wicked Cultured|high love for poetry]], but when Master Chief is penetrating the Flood's defences at High Charity, Gravemind slowly shows himself as the ragefilled, angry, ruthless, hot tempered, screaming, murderous monster he actually is.
* ''[[Modern Warfare 2]]'': {{spoiler|General Shepherd betrayed Task Force 141 and killed them, revealing himself to be a [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]}}. Very hard for Price and Soap to bear, though not too hard to believe.
* The [[Karma Meter]] system in ''[[
* This trope is a staple of the ''[[Persona (
** ''[[
* Zevran in ''[[Dragon Age]]: Origins'' appears to be a smartmouthed skirt-chaser, but closer inspection reveals a mess of homesickness and guilt.
* Isabela in ''[[Dragon Age 2]]'' has got an honorable side buried under all the greed and selfishness, and under her carefree sex-without-attachment persona she just wants to be loved.
Line 147 ⟶ 146:
* A bittersweet one for ''[[King's Quest]]'': despite his return to Daventry, his rank of prince, and his joy of being a free man with a loving family, Alexander considers that identity as "a cloak." [[Expanded Universe]] material establishes that he still considers himself to be "Gwydion," the name he had as Mannanan's slave. In the series guide, he makes a concession to both identities by signing his name Alexander-Gwydion.
* ''[[Heavy Rain]]'' has Lt. Blake and his boss, Captain Perry, liking [[By-The-Book Cop]] Norman Jayden. However, their true selves revealed that [[Jerkass|they don't like him]].
* [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
* Zelos from [[
* [[
* ''[[
* Several characters in [[
=== Visual Novels ===
* {{spoiler|Lesteena}} in ''[[Eien no Aselia]]'' isn't sure whether her normal personality or the one she pretends to be when she gets a chance to relax is the real one. The answer seems to be both and neither.
* Tohsaka in ''[[Fate/stay
== Web Original ==
* ''[[
** Both Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer actually have three layers to them. On the surface, Billy is just Billy, leading a normal life, trying to woo Penny, underneath that he's the power-hungry Dr. Horrible, but even deeper down he's just Billy. As Penny mentioned, she first thought Hammer was just a big jerk, but he became really sweet later on. However, he really is just a [[Jerk
* In [[Neopets]]: {{spoiler|Xandra in the "Faerie's Ruin" plot initially has a facade of a helpful and nerdy innocent appearance with anger issues (even using glasses to appear more innocent}} [http://images.neopets.com/faerieland/tfr_fa61c26562/conv/2_9815d2d41a.png pictured here]. However she is revealed to be a [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] with a completely "machiavellian" and [[A God Am I|egomaniacal personality]] [http://www.drsloth.com/p/view/162912/ pictured here].
* [[Ask That Guy With
* In ''[[
* ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' acquired a running gag about this, once Susan began to [http://egscomics.com/?date=2010-06-02 summon a fairy doll replica] that acts on her subconscious desires. When it is first summoned, Sarah and Grace have a field day interpreting how its actions show things that [[The Stoic|Susan tries so hard to hide]]. Also, Susan's [[Hates Being Touched|aversion to being touched]] evidently does not work by proxy (even though she ''does'' receive [http://egscomics.com/egsnp/2014-12-17 some tactile feedback]). It took her some time to learn "manual control", but when she isn't paying attention, the doll [http://egscomics.com/egsnp/2015-01-02 still gives her away].
== Western Animation ==
* In ''[[
** Toph Bei Fong pretends to be a weak well-mannered girl in front of her parents, but is a very powerful Earthbender and much more informal with her friends. Sometimes [[Played for Laughs]].
** Princess Azula infamously pretended to be a secure, strong, cold woman. It was revealed in the last episode that {{spoiler|she was a lonely woman that wanted someone to trust, but lost her friends and didn't have anyone to confide in, and was crazy and sad because she wanted her mother's approval}}. It wasn't a coincidence that when she became more powerful thanks to {{spoiler|nearly becoming the new Firelord and getting a power upgrade}} that [[Villainous BSOD|it became too much for her to handle]].
** Prince Zuko as well, especially in season one. He is introduced as a ruthless, conceited bully of a prince who only cares about himself and seemingly looks down on everyone, including his superiors. In reality, he's just a [["Well Done, Son" Guy|good-natured kid]] who wants his father to be proud of him. Over the next two seasons, this facade begins to gradually break and by the final episode it has disappeared completely.
* Helga from ''[[Hey Arnold
* Trixie Tang from ''[[The Fairly
* In ''[[
** Candace Flynn is secretly a fan of a series called Duckie Momo (a parody of both [[Hello Kitty]] and Pokemon). She used to wear a costume in order to hide her love of the series from her friends, going as far as lying to both her boyfriend and her best friend.
** Isabella has a hidden crush with Phineas, something both Ferb and Candace are aware of. However, in front of him she pretends to be [[Just Friends]].
** Perry the Platypus acts as a non-sapient animal (where it is not uncommon for someone to claim. that because he is a platypus, he doesn't do much), but in reality he is a very skilled and smart secret agent.
** Suzy, the sister of Jeremy, pretends to be a dumb innocent girl, but in reality she is very smart, and cruel to whoever threatens her relationship with Jeremy.
* In ''[[Teen Titans (
* In ''[[
** Vlad Plasmius has a facade of being a nice guy in front of the Fenton family (except Maddie) and the general public by being a well-known billionaire and later {{spoiler|mayor}}.
** Danny Fenton had a facade of indifference and naivety over his secret identity in front of his sister and his parents. This was mainly to protect them.
** Dash's best friend, Kwan, has a facade in other to be accepted among the popular crowd. Deep down, he is insecure and unsure about the things he does (bullying and whatnot).
* Jack Skellington from ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' seems to have shades of this trope. To the citizens of [[Halloweentown]], he's the charismatic, self-confident, [[Nightmare Fuel Station Attendant|terrifying]] Pumpkin King. What they don't know is that Jack is very unhappy and bored about doing the same thing every year and longs for something different. [[Curiosity Is a Crapshoot|Then he discovers Christmastown . . .]]
* In ''[[
** {{spoiler|Flynn}}'s daring, thieving personality is also a mask. As well as {{spoiler|everyone at The Snuggly Duckling.}}
* In '' [[Beauty and
* [[The Flash]] in ''[[Justice League]]''.
* [[Megamind]] thought {{spoiler|Titan would be a lot more heroic than he turns out to be}}.
* Fiona at beginning of ''[[Shrek]]'' acts like an stereotypical Disney Princess, before slowly revealing herself as an [[Action Girl]].
** Shrek hides a soft spot too, particularly over his need of love.
* Artemis in ''[[Young Justice (
** As does Impulse. {{spoiler|His personality during his introductory episode is more or less an act that he uses to hide the fact that he comes from a [[Bad Future]].}}
* [[Kevin Spencer]], in his confrontation with [[Love Interest]] [[Axe Crazy|Shawna]], states that beneath all her sociopathic, murderous tendencies, she's really a popularity-obsessed bitch.
* Casper The Friendly Ghost, in one of the older cartoons, ''Fright from Wrong'', is force-fed a huge jar of "Mean Pills" by his mean uncles, who want him to be a mean ghost to ''humans''. But Casper spends the rest of the short putting them through the wringer (both literally and figuratively). It would appear that this example wouldn't count since Casper was drugged to act like that, right? Ehhh, not so much... he reveals at the very end that he never took the pills; all the cartoonish brutality he'd unleashed on his uncles was all him just trying to teach them a lesson! The little Friendly Ghost has a vicious side hidden under the "friendly".
* In ''[[Thundercats 2011
== Real Life ==
* The Rorschach test is a test that psychologists use to find insights into an individual's personality through their interpretations of ink spot patterns.
* Pretty much everyone ever [[GIFT|on the internet]].
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Disguise Tropes]]
[[Category:More Than Meets the Eye]]
[[Category:Internal Conflict Tropes]]
[[Category:Psychology Tropes]]
[[Category:Fame and Reputation Tropes]]
[[Category:
|