Only the eagle-eyed can spot the fake candy in this optical illusion

It’s a pop-tical illusion.

Thought distinguishing the real owl from the stuffed ones in this illusion was hard? Take a look at this sugary sight exam, in which the goal is to differentiate the real candy from the drawing, as described in this TikTok video with 2.8 million views.

[Warning: spoilers below]

“Can you spot the drawing?” challenges the trippy clip, which was uploaded by Kevin D — known on TikTok as @myart1979 — who frequently posts clips showcasing his hyper-realistic illustration skills.

In the latest teaser, which depicts six gummy soda bottles, viewers are challenged to spot the illustrated pop-pelganger from the real sweets within 10 seconds.

This hall of mirrors-evoking task is particularly daunting as they’re nearly indistinguishable from the brown and yellow coloration down to the shiny sugar coating.

Still seeing nothing? Not to fear, at the end of the clip Kevin D sweeps all the real treats away with a paintbrush, revealing that the image in the lower left-hand corner was the counterfeit candy.

Interestingly, while some TikTokkers were flabbergasted, many found the challenge easy given that the drawing was noticeably lighter and paler than the real deal.

“It’s a little lighter so it was kind of easy,” said one unimpressed viewer. Another wrote, “I knew it because the color is a little lighter, but wow it’s super well done.”

Meanwhile, other puzzlers thought that Kevin D was employing reverse psychology with one skeptic writing, “I didn’t pick it because I thought it was too obvious.”

Optical illusions such as this are often just intended as a lighthearted diversion from the stresses of modern life — but they also hold actual scientific value for medical professionals.

These brain teasers are credited with helping researchers shed light on the complex inner workings of the human mind and how it reacts to its surroundings.

Dr. Gustav Kuhn, a psychologist and human perception expert at Goldsmiths University in London, once declared to the Sun that illusions are important to our understanding of the brain: “We typically take perception for granted, and rarely think about the hard work that underpins everyday tasks, such as seeing a cup of coffee in front of you.”