Invisible Main Character: Difference between revisions
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In shows that lean toward comedy, the character will often play pranks on the other characters, often overhearing things they were not prepared for (such as supposed enemies expressing concern about the character being missing, or frustration at aspects of the character's personality).
If the show is geared toward a young adult or older audience, the invisibility will [[Invisible Streaker|frequently not apply to clothing]]
In one variation, characters are placed "out of phase" so they're imperceptible to anyone on the show, but still visible to the audience. They can [[Intangible Man|walk through walls]], but they [[Required Secondary Powers|don't fall through the floor]]. They can't eat, but can still breathe oxygen. Often, if the character is "out of phase," there is one other character (usually a guest star) who [[Only Sane Man|can see and/or hear them]], but this character has a reputation for "seeing things" that aren't there or has been in a mental institution for years. This variation can be realized as an out-of-body or near-death experience.
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See [[Invisibility]] for when this is a character power or otherwise longer than a one-shot storyline.
See also: [[Near
{{examples
== [[Film]] ==
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== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* For most of ''[[Power Rangers Dino Thunder]]'', Jason David Frank (playing Dr. Tommy Oliver) was not available for filming, necessitating that he be rendered audio-only for much of the show's run, first by encasing his character in a block of amber, then by rendering him unable to remove his Ranger Suit, and finally by turning him completely invisible.
* In ''[[
* ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'':
** Spoofed in the episode "200", when Jack O'Neill becomes invisible, leading to a [[Hurricane of Puns]] and ultimately proves useless as he can no longer signal to his team ("Making hand signals here, people!"), leading to confusion all around. What makes the spoof even more delightful is that it was originally scripted in case Richard Dean Anderson wasn't available for filming... but he finally was, up to the point ''he acted as his own stand-up in a green suit'' for a scene involving special effects. The characters [[Lampshade Hanging|hung a big lampshade]] on this whole trope in the dialogue.
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** Daniel goes out of phase in "Crystal Skull"; the only person who can see him is his grandfather, who's spent the last few decades in an insane asylum.
*** Daniel is not only invisible and intangible. He also doesn't experience hunger, thirst, or the need to relieve himself. When he realizes this, he assumes it's because he's dead. Of course, this is never brought up again.
* The "out of phase" scenario was done in ''[[Star Trek:
* Done in an episode of ''[[Round the Twist]]'', titled "Linda Godiva". The title is in reference to the way the [[Invisible Streaker]] heroine helps another character win a horse
* In a 1992 episode of ''[[
** In a two-part story in 2004, a magic ukulele makes Snuffy invisible, but he drops the ukulele while invisible and it breaks. He doesn't become visible again until the ukulele is repaired and brought back to Sesame Street.
* In the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' episode "Gone", Buffy wreaked havoc and had invisible sex with Spike. In "Fear Itself", Xander experienced the visible-to-the-audience variation due to a demon exploiting his fear of being ignored.
* "Gillian of the Spirits" is an example where the out-of-phase character is perceived by another character.
* An episode of ''[[Seven Days]]'' had Parker unable to be seen ''or'' heard, [[By the Eyes of
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* In ''[[Batman:
* In the ''[[Peanuts]]'' special ''It's Magic, Charlie Brown'', Snoopy turns Charlie Brown invisible during his magic act. At first Charlie laments becoming a "lost soul", but then he discovers that he can kick the football off Lucy's hand before she pulls it away, which he [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|takes advantage of.]] Naturally, he becomes visible again just as he is attempting the kick a second time.
* One episode of ''[[
* In the [[Bugs Bunny/Characters|Bugs Bunny]] cartoon ''Water, Water Every Hare'', Bugs douses himself in vanishing fluid to attempt escape from a [[Mad Scientist]]. It backfires when said scientist subsequently uses "Hare Restorer" to render him visible again.
* ''[[Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius]]'': Jimmy did this, in a way, by creating shoes that make him run so fast that nobody can see him. He abuses this ability to play mean tricks on all his friends.
* ''[[Fairly Oddparents]]'': Timmy once wishes to make himself invisible to keep from being beat up by the school bully. He uses this opportunity to scare the entire student body.
* ''[[
* An odd variation happens in two episodes of ''[[South Park]]'', In one Cartman believes he is invisible/dead because everybody is intentionally ignoring him, and another has him use a fake superpower of invisibility. In both episodes, everyone but him knows that he is not invisible.
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[[Category:Plots]]
[[Category:Invisible Main Character]]
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