Many characters, typically heroes, have a secret identity. This means that they either have an alternate persona or an aspect of themselves that they do not wish others to discover. Characters usually hide their identity because they want to live normal lives, they don't want their enemies to exploit the people closest to them, or an enemy wants to use their powers for their own gain.
Keeping this secret usually protects the character, but there are some characters who either do not care about hiding their identities, or are extremely bad at it. They are so terrible at hiding their identities that fans often wonder how these characters haven't been discovered sooner by the people around them.
10 Bleach: Ichigo Kurosaki Assumes Most People Can't See Him
Despite having one of the strictest instructors, Ichigo has made a few careless mistakes during his time as a Shinigami. One of the most fatal ones was exiting his human body using his Substitute Shinigami badge, which allowed him to fight Hollows but left his human body in a death-like state in terrible places.
As the series went on, more and more people were able to see him. His friends and family discovered his identity, and his enemies knew his name and face, which meant they could have attacked his home at any time.
9 Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-kun: Iruma Suzuki Is A Human At A Demon School
Iruma was sold to a demon by his parents and found himself attending a demon school. In order to ensure his own safety, he needs to conceal the fact that he is human.
However, it becomes abundantly clear that he isn't a demon, given the fact that he is the only student who always walks to school. He doesn't even hide his reliance on his ring, often fiddling with it right before using a spell.
8 Howl's Moving Castle: Howl Jenkins Pendragon Stops Being A Coward
After making a contract with Calcifer, Howl's habit to run away from his problems became worse. He has multiple aliases, which vary depending on the country that he operates in. He was able to do whatever he pleased for a long time until he met Sophie, who convinced him to finally meet his old mentor, Madam Suliman.
He arrives disguised as the country's king, but his eagerness to stop the war combined with the entrance of the actual king gave his real identity away.
7 Persona 5 The Animation: Ryuji Sakamoto Talks About His Secret Identity In Public
Ryuji may wear a mask when operating as a Phantom Thief, but he is the absolute worst when it comes to revealing his secret identity. Not only does he long for the fame and recognition that would come with an identity reveal, but he easily gets overly excited when discussing their plans.
He often speaks too loudly, and this coupled with his tendency to speak about his secret identity has even led to his confession being recorded on more than one occasion.
6 The Seven Deadly Sins: Meliodas Frequently Shows Off His Strength
After being framed for a crime they didn't commit, Meliodas and the other Seven Deadly Sins went their separate ways to go into hiding. Many of them remained undetected for years, including Meliodas, who ran his own traveling bar.
Once Elizabeth showed up and needed to be rescued, Meliodas revealed his true powers, and in extension, his identity. His kind nature also led to him using his powers to help people in need, which usually ended in the Holy Knights pursuing them.
5 My Hero Academia: Deku's Quirk & Fighting Style Was Too Similar To All Might's
Given that heroes are so commonplace that they need to be licensed, there aren't really any secret identities. However, Deku has to hide the fact that he inherited One For All from All Might, Japan's former number one hero.
He doesn't do a very good job of hiding the fact that he is All Might's successor, given the fact that his fighting style was originally just like All Might's. Katsuki Bakugo even has to scold them for meeting together in the open too often.
4 Akame Ga Kill: Tatsumi Is Very Vocal About His Beliefs
Despite already being a part of the Night Raid, Tatsumi entered the tournament hosted by the very Empire his group was rebelling against. As a result, Esdeath fell in love with him and dragged him away to be her lover as well as a member of the Jaegers.
Tatsumi expresses a lack of interest in joining and has to force himself to relax despite one of Jaeger's members being responsible for his friend's death. He attempts on multiple occasions to convince Esdeath that the Empire is corrupt, which could have easily given him away.
3 Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Sayaka Miki Told Her Love Interest She Could Cure Him
Sayaka Miki didn't immediately become a magical girl, mainly due to the fact that she contemplated her wish for so long. She initially hesitated to wish for her crush, Kyosuke Kamijiro, to be able to play music again, which seemed hopeless due to his broken hand.
After he snapped at her for making him listen to music he could not play and said that miracles didn't exist, she steeled her resolve and told him that miracles did exist. She used her wish on him, but he never once questioned how his broken hand miraculously healed right after their conversation. As a result of her wish, she became a magical girl, and he never found out.
2 Tokyo Mew Mew: Mew Ichigo Uses Her Real Name In Her Hero Name
Ichigo Momomiya was accidentally caught up in an experiment, leading to her DNA combining with that of an endangered cat. As one of the few people capable of combating giant, rampaging animals infected with an alien virus, she dons a magical girl getup, which alters her appearance and gives her the power to purify these animals.
Unfortunately, she introduces herself as Mew Ichigo, despite the fact that using her real name would easily give her secret identity away. Naturally, her love interest figures out her secret immediately.
1 Sailor Moon: Sailor Moon Looks & Acts Exactly The Same
Tuxedo Mask gets a lot of criticism for being too easy to recognize since all he does to conceal his identity is wear a small mask. Sailor Moon, however, does not cover her face or experience an appearance change at all.
She does don a tiara and a sailor uniform, but her hair is so unique that anyone who met her before would be able to recognize her. Her personality doesn't change much when she fights either.