History Literature / Animorphs

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

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, with the six protagonists having nightmares about the horrors they have to endure, they're silently tormented by the morally questionable things they do, the battle against the Yeerks errodes their personal lives and relationships, and over the course of the series they 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.

The franchise included fifty-four regular installments, four extra-length specials (the ''Megamorphs''), two ''ChooseYourOwnAdventure''-style books (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, with the six protagonists having nightmares about the horrors they have to endure, they're silently tormented by the morally questionable things they do, the battle against the Yeerks errodes their personal lives and relationships, and over the course of the series they 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 infinite resources, an infinite army, anyone they know could betray them, and they try to balance the war with their normal lives so none of the enemy work out who they are, to target their families. All they can do is sabotage the Yeerks until the Andalites ''hopefully'' send their fleet one day to save the Earth, but in the meantime they are only delaying the inevitable.

The franchise included fifty-four regular installments, four extra-length specials (the ''Megamorphs''), two ''ChooseYourOwnAdventure''-style books (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 {{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]].

One night, five teenagers discover that [[TheVirus parasitic aliens]], called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by [[PuppeteerParasite taking over people's minds and 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, with the six protagonists having nightmares about the horrors they have to endure, they're silently tormented by the morally questionable things they do, the battle against the Yeerks errodes their personal lives and relationships, and over the course of the series they 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 infinite resources, an infinite army, anyone they know could betray them, and they have to balance the war with their normal lives so no one catches onto them. All they can do is sabotage the Yeerks until the Andalites ''hopefully'' send their fleet one day to save the Earth, but in the meantime they are only delaying the inevitable.

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

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, with the six protagonists having nightmares about the horrors they have to endure, they're silently tormented by the morally questionable things they do, and over the course of the series they 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 infinite resources, an infinite army, anyone they know could betray them, and they have to balance the war with their normal lives so no one catches onto them. All they can do is sabotage the Yeerks until the Andalites ''hopefully'' send their fleet one day to save the Earth, but in the meantime they are only delaying the inevitable.

The series heavily deconstructed the RecruitTeenagersWithAttitude / WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld concept, turning what could have been a Saturday morning cartoon into pure horror. The six protagonists regularly have to confront the morality of their actions and push against the lines they are not willing to cross, and inevitably end up crossing them because there is no other choice. WarIsHell is in full effect and they have nightmares about the horrors they have to endure, in addition to the gradual loss of innocence and humanity. It is emphasized repeatedly that their efforts are ''not'' enough--the Yeerks have infinite resources, an infinite army, anyone they know could betray them, and they have to balance the war with their normal lives so no one catches onto them. All they can do is sabotage the Yeerks until the Andalites ''hopefully'' send their fleet one day to save the Earth, but in the meantime they are only delaying the inevitable.

On September 9th, 2015, rumors of Universal's interest in an Animorphs film began to spread. The rumors purport that Deborah Forte (of Silvertongue Films and Scholastic's long-time media adaptation producer) and Creator/{{Universal}} Pictures are interested in making it happen and are currently searching for a writer/director.

On September 9th, 2015, rumors of Universal's interest in an Animorphs film began to spread. The rumors purport that Deborah Forte (of Silvertongue Films) and Universal Pictures are interested in making it happen and are currently searching for a writer/director.

On September 9th, 2015, rumors of an Animorphs film began to spread. The rumors purport that Deborah Forte (of Silvertongue Films) and Universal Pictures are interested in making it happen. This being such a recent turn of events we'll have to wait and see if there's any truth to this.

'''WARNING: MASSIVE spoilers ahead.'''

Five teenagers discover that [[TheVirus parasitic aliens]], called Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by [[PuppeteerParasite taking over people's minds and bodies]]. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an [[OurCentaursAreDifferent Andalite]] named Elfangor, who 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 franchise included fifty-four regular installments, four extra-length specials (the ''Megamorphs''), two ''ChooseYourOwnAdventure''-style books (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 {{Nickelodeon}}, 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]].

Five teenagers discover that [[TheVirus parasitic aliens]], Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by [[PuppeteerParasite taking over people's minds and bodies]]. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an [[OurCentaursAreDifferent Andalite]] named Elfangor, who 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 alien invaders.

Five teenagers discover that [[The Virus parasitic aliens]], Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by [[PuppeteerParasite taking over people's minds and bodies]]. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an [[OurCentaursAreDifferent Andalite]] named Elfangor, who 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 alien invaders.

Five teenagers discover that [[PuppeteerParasite parasitic aliens]], Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by [[PuppeteerParasite taking over people's minds and bodies]]. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an Andalite named Elfangor, who 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 alien invaders.

Five teenagers discover that [[TheVirus parasitic aliens]], Yeerks, are secretly infiltrating Earth by [[PuppeteerParasite taking over people's minds and bodies]]. They encounter an alien who is on their side, an Andalite named Elfangor, who 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 alien invaders.

[[quoteright:204:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c152e74626012a0f78694a404dd620c9.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:204: Make the change.]]

[[quoteright:204:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AnimorphsBook1Cover_8632.JPG]]

It supplanted ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' as the most popular children's book series of the mid-1990s till the Millennium despite its incredibly dark setting and content, or perhaps because of it. Like Creator/JKRowling, the author credits herself as Creator/KAApplegate to [[MoustacheDePlume obscure her gender]]; the books were co-authored by her husband Creator/MichaelGrant, [[Literature/{{Gone}} an accomplished author]] [[Literature/{{BZRK}} in his own right]], and most later books were ghostwritten so that Applegate could write ''{{Everworld}}''. Applegate did still write the outlines, however, and she came back for the two-book finale.

* Animorphs/{{Tropes A-H}}
* Animorphs/{{Tropes I-P}}
* Animorphs/{{Tropes Q-Z}}