History Main / AngelicTransformation

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Nanase has a spell that gives her an angelic form when defending herself or others. While it's unknown whether it's divine in nature ([[http://egscomics.com/?date=2013-05-20 in-universe]] as well as [[ShrugOfGod out]]), the form is a lot more than a WingedHumanoid form would suggest as it gives her a massive power boost, several unique abilities and is the closest thing to a traditional angel that is likely to show up.
* In ''{{Webcomic/Lessa}}'', the originally mortal Rano ascends in Season 2 and becomes the angel Rayel aka one of Ra's Apostles, after meeting Ra in person. In Season 3, it's revealed that the angel Mitt has similar origins, [[spoiler:as a human soul who was meant to die but was then given a chance to live by ascending]].
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* ''Film/{{Constantine}}'' states that the forces of Heaven and Hell are forbidden by an ancient truce to interfere with the mortal world, and they work their influence by "half-breeds", who are implied to be humans who have earned their way into one or the other realm and been sent back as an agent. We see this happen with [[spoiler: Chaz]], who appears above his own gravestone with wings and a tattered straightjacket before flying away.

In the canon of all Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), angels are a separate order of creation from humanity, generally regarded as composed of spirit or light. Though they can appear as humans if it suits them, they are unable to truly become human. Yet even in canon, angels are often envious of mortals, and many writers have mused on how one of them might become one of us. Similarly, in recent centuries due to carelessness or wishful thinking, it's not uncommon to show characters in fiction becoming angels after death, especially if they were particularly saintlike in life.

* ''Film/{{Constantine}}'' states that the forces of heaven and hell are forbidden by ancient truce to interfere with the mortal world, and they work their influence by "half-breeds", who are implied to be humans who have earned their way into one or the other realm and been sent back as an agent. We see this happen with [[spoiler: Chaz]], who appears above his own gravestone with wings and a tattered straightjacket before flying away.
* In ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' Clarence Oddbody introduces himself as an "Angel, Second Class" and his reward for helping George is that he is promoted to First Class and earns wings. His name and somewhat bumbling nature suggest that he was once a living man.

Many religions recognize beings that can be broadly termed angels, though [[OurAngelsAreDifferent their exact natures and traits vary]]. In the current age, these are often seen as not overly dissimilar from the souls of humans, allowing members of one kind to change into the other. As angels are increasingly portrayed as {{Winged Humanoid}}s, the distinction becomes very fine.

* Particularly virtuous humans in the ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' franchise occasionally reincarnate as angels upon death, like what happened with [[spoiler:[[Videogame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten Artina]]]]. This would have happened with [[spoiler:[[[[VideoGame/DisgaeaD2ABrighterDarkness Laharl's mother]]]] as well, but the circumstances of her death resulted in her passing that right onto her unborn daughter instead.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Nanase has a spell that gives her an angelic form. While not actually supernatural, the form is a lot more than a WingedHumanoid form would suggest as it gives her a massive power boost, several unique abilities and is the closest thing to a traditional angel that is likely to show up.

** In ''Shadows Over Innistrad'', the archangels Gisela and Bruna [[spoiler: are turned into a BodyHorror EldritchAbomination by Emrakul]].

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' zig zags this trope. Angels have human vessels, basically extra-devout humans who allow angels to use their bodies to become corporeal on Earth. But sometimes angels lose their grace, and become fully human; yet they continue to consider themselves as their angel self rather than their human self. For example, the human Jimmy Novak allowed the angel Castiel to use his body, but when Castiel becomes human he doesn't think of himself as Jimmy, he's still Castiel.

!! Examples of Angels becoming Human

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* It's rare, but ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has angels transform into other... things.
** In Amonkhet, angels can become mummies like everyone else.
** In ''Shadows Over Innistrad'', the archangels Gisela and Bruna [[spoiler: are turned into a BodyHorror EldritchAbomination by Emrakul]].

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!! Examples of Humans becoming Angels

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* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'': Occurs late in the game where Law Hero [[TheCutie Zelenin]] decides to become one, an action that in theory allows her to TakeAThirdOption rather than enter a [[LastStand battle of attrition]] with [[GeneralRipper Captain Jack]] OR surrender to the FateWorseThanDeath he has planned. [[spoiler: It works and her [[MagicMusic Song of the Lord]] [[EmptyShell renders Jack's army docile]], but [[LightIsNotGood since angels aren't any better than devils]], she quickly falls into TranshumanTreachery and her song becomes the catalyst for heaven's WorldOfSilence.]]

* Occurs symbolically in ''VideoGame/TheTalosPrinciple''. [[spoiler:If one of Elohim's children exceeds at the puzzles they've been tasked with solving, they're given the chance to give up their life and become a "messenger", charged with aiding those who come after them. In doing so, they choose an epitaph and lie dormant in a sarcophagus until awoken to give advice]].

* Occurs symbolically in ''VideoGame/TheTalosPrinciple''. If one of Elohim's children exceeds at the puzzles they've been tasked with solving, they're given the chance to give up their life and become a "messenger", charged with aiding those who come after them. In doing so, they choose an epitaph and lie dormant in a sarcophagus until woken to give advice.

* Tyrael becomes tired of being mired in the CelestialBureaucracy in ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' and pulls off his armor and wings, becoming a man who is frail and amnesiac until his sword is returned to him. The transformation is apparently one-way, though. A distinction is also made between being mortal and being one of the Nephalem, the humans of the setting who are the descendants of angels and demons commingling.