History Main / DefeatByTransformation

* Subverted in ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', where Ray Stantz ''tried'' to do this by having [[EldritchAbomination the Destructor]] take the form of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, the cutest and most harmless thing he can think of. Unfortunately, this spawns a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man ''the size of a {{kaiju}}'' in the middle of Manhattan. The fact that it's, well, a giant marshmallow man means that the Ghostbusters' proton packs are able to fry it, but it otherwise causes a ton of chaos along the way.

* ''Fanfic/SpiderNinja'': In Chapter 38, Spider-Ninja, the Turtles, and [[HeelFaceTurn Dr. Octavius]] are hunting down/fighting [[CompositeCharacter Leatherhead (aka the transformed Dr. Curt Connors)]]. Doc Ock wins the fight by pinning Leatherhead to the wall while Spidey pours gene cleanser down his throat. This transforms him back into Doc Connors, winning the fight.

* ''VideoGame/KingsQuestIIIToHeirIsHuman'': Gwydion defeat Manannan by transforming him into a cat using the wizard's own spells.

* ''WesternAnimation/FairlyOddParents'': In "Nectar of the Odds", the lemonade at Timmy's lemonade stand gets imbued with wish-granting properties, and one wish results in a {{Kaiju}} destroying an office building. At the end of the episode, as Timmy sets about undoing the damage, he uses a wish to transform the kaiju into a tiny, harmless lizard.

* ''Series/{{Charmed1998}}'': The episode "[[Recap/CharmedS5E19NymphsJustWannaHaveFun Nymphs Just WannaHaveFun]]" features two demons Xavier and Tull searching for the Eternal Spring which would allow them to become immortal. Xavier gets vanquished before he reaches his goal, but Tull manages to become immortal. Unable to properly vanquish him, the Charmed Ones use a spell to turn him into a tree.

* ''Film/LittleNicky'': In the climactic battle, Adrian transforms into a bat, at which point Nicky unleashes his ultimate weapon [[spoiler: Music/OzzyOsbourne, who proceeds to bite Adrian's head off]].

* Subverted in ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', where Peter Venkman ''tried'' to do this by having [[EldritchAbomination the Destructor]] take the form of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, the cutest and most harmless thing he can think of. Unfortunately, this spawns a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man ''the size of a {{kaiju}}'' in the middle of Manhattan. The fact that it's, well, a giant marshmallow man means that the Ghostbusters' proton packs are able to fry it, but it otherwise causes a ton of chaos along the way.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ducktales2017'': Villainous example; when Webby and Lena venture into Scrooge's other bin, Lena takes hold of Scrooge's 1# Dime and uses it to release Magica De Spell. When Webby finds out about this, she immediately runs to tell Scrooge -- until Magica transforms Webby into her Quacky Patch doll, making her effectively lifeless.

** Used again in [[spoiler:the finale: after his plan to defeat the [=McDuck=] family and eliminate adventure once and for all has been defeated, the final nail in the coffin for Bradford Buzzard's HumiliationConga is to be turned into a non-anthropomorphic, non-sapient buzzard by Magica.]]

** Used again in [[spoiler:the finale: after his plan to defeat the McDuck family and eliminate adventure once and for all has been defeated, the final nail in the coffin for Bradford Buzzard's HumiliationConga is to be turned into a non-anthropomorphic, non-sapient buzzard by Magica.]]

* ''Literature/Goosebumps'': One villain is defeated by cunning. He turns himself into a liquid at the hero's request. Since he can't transform back into a solid, he can only wait for a slow death.

* ''Literature/PussInBoots'': The eponymous Puss defeats a demon by tricking him into turning into a mouse, which Puss then eats.

* ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'': After his military defeat, prince Rabadash is punished for his {{pride}} by Aslan transforming him into a donkey. This comes with the stipulation that the transformation can be reversed at the temple of Tash, which is in his capitol city in full view of all his subjects, so there's no escaping the public HumiliationConga.