History Literature / Animorphs

One night, five teenagers discover that [[TheVirus parasitic aliens]], called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by [[PuppeteerParasite taking over people's bodies]]. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an [[OurCentaursAreDifferent Andalite]] named Elfangor, who, before dying from injuries sustained when his spaceship crashed, gives them the power to [[VoluntaryShapeshifting morph into any animal they have touched]]. Joined by Elfangor's younger brother and unable to trust almost anyone else, they begin a violent and secretive [[LaResistance guerrilla war]] against the invading Yeerks to save the Earth.

The series heavily deconstructed the RecruitTeenagersWithAttitude / WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld concept, turning what could have been a Saturday morning cartoon into pure horror. WarIsHell is in full effect, as the six protagonists have nightmares about the horrors they have to endure, are silently tormented by the morally questionable things they do, have their personal lives and relationships eroded by the struggle, and over the course of the series shed their innocence to become battle-hardened soldiers before they're even legally adults. Additionally, it is emphasized repeatedly that their efforts are ''not'' enough: the Yeerks have resources, weaponry, and soldiers in quantity and quality far beyond what five teenagers and an alien cadet could hope to defeat in open war. The group must utilize guerilla tactics to win small-scale victories and sabotage the Yeerks where they find opportunities, hoping that one day the Andalites will send their fleets to help turn the tide. But until that day, which might not even come, they are only delaying the inevitable.

[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php/BestEpisode/Animorphs Now]] there's a best installment crowner! Please note that while it's listed under "Best Episode", this does NOT cover the TV series.

Has a [[Characters/{{Animorphs}} character sheet]].

For the TV series, see ''Series/{{Animorphs}}''.

A [[ComicBookAdaptation graphic novel adaptation]] of the first book, "The Invasion", was released October 6th of 2020, with adaptations of the next two installments in the works.

->''"We can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky, and we've got to be careful. Really careful. So we don't trust anyone. Because if they find us... well, we just won't let them find us.''

->''The thing you've got to know is that ''everyone'' is in really big trouble. Yeah. [[ParanoiaFuel Even you]]."''

Compare ''Literature/EndersGame'', another KidHero focused SpaceOpera that [[GenreDeconstruction deconstructs]] Kid Hero focused space operas, though it should be noted that Animorphs, despite being geared towards a younger audience, is much bleaker.

Compare ''Literature/EndersGame'', another KidHero focused SpaceOpera that [[GenreDeconstruction deconstructs]] Kid Hero focused space operas, though it should be noted that Animorphs, despite being geared towards a younger audience, is much [[DarkerAndEdgier bleaker]].

The franchise included fifty-four regular installments, four extra-length specials (the ''Megamorphs''), two {{Gamebooks}} (which are generally considered to be of low quality), four backstory specials (The ''Andalite'', ''Hork-Bajir'' and ''Ellimist Chronicles'' and ''Visser''), a [[Series/{{Animorphs}} short-lived TV series adaptation]] by {{Creator/Nickelodeon}}, a series of tie-in ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' toys, and [[LicensedGame Game Boy and PC games]]. A re-release of the series began in [[http://www.hiracdelest.com/blog/?p=543 summer 2011 with new 3D/animated covers,]] rewriting some of the more dated elements and also clearing up some {{Continuity Drift}}. Unfortunately, the lack of widespread marketing and poor sales of the rereleases [[http://www.hiracdelest.com/blog/?p=4491 led to its cancellation]].

The series heavily deconstructed the RecruitTeenagersWithAttitude / WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld concept, turning what could have been a Saturday morning cartoon into pure horror. WarIsHell is in full effect, as the six protagonists have nightmares about the horrors they have to endure, are silently tormented by the morally questionable things they do, have their personal lives and relationships eroded by the struggle, and over the course of the series shed their innocence to become battle-hardened soldiers before they're even legally adults. Additionally, it is emphasized repeatedly that their efforts are ''not'' enough: the Yeerks have resources, weaponry, and soldiers in numbers and power far beyond what six teenagers can muster. The teens must utilize guerilla tactics to win small-scale victories and sabotage the Yeerks where they find opportunities, hoping one day the Andalites will arrive to help turn the tide. But until that day, which might not even come, they are only delaying the inevitable.

Compare ''Literature/EndersGame'', another KidHero focused SpaceOpera that [[GenreDeconstruction deconstructs]] Kid Hero focused space operas, though it should be noted that Animorphs, despite being geared toward a younger audience, is much [[DarkerAndEdgier bleaker]].

In January of 2020 Scholastic began releasing audiobooks of the original novels. A graphic novel adaptation of the first book, "The Invasion", was released October 6th of that year, with adaptations of the next two installments in the works.

Scholastic started a ComicBookAdaptation in October, 2020.

In January of 2020 Scholastic began releasing audiobooks of the original novels, and also announced a graphic novel adaptation due to be released in October of the same year.