History Main / AnimalEyeSpy

* Wargs or skinchangers do this in ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', mostly with wolves, but other animals are possible. Most only control one, while Varamyr Sixskins... well the clue's in the name. All of the Stark children are potential wargs, though [[spoiler: Sansa never learned how due to her direwolf being killed, and only Bran has honed his talent to be able to use it on anything other than his direwolf. When a skinchanger dies they move into the body of their animal. This can also be done to humans, though they don't like it - when Varamyr tries to take over a human she gouges out her eyes and bites off her tongue to deny him use of her body.]]

* The witch Arachne from ''SoulEater'' can see though the eyes of her spiders.

* Wargs or skinchangers do this in ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', mostly with wolves, but other animals are possible. Most only control one, while Varamyr Sixskins... well the clue's in the name. All of the Stark children are potential wargs, though [[spoiler: Sansa never learned how due to her direwolf being killed, and only Bran has honed his talent to be able to use an animal other than his direwolf. When a skinchanger dies they move into the body of their animal. This can also be done to humans, though they don't like it - when Varamyr tries to take over a human she gouges out her eyes and bites off her tongue to deny him use of her body.]]

* On ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'', Ursula uses her pet eels to spy on Ariel. Each have one magic eye that provides a video feed back to her lair.

* Someone possesses a cat in ''TwoKinds'' to spy on the main character, but Lady Nora uses her shapeshifting powers to [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean distract it]].

* ''{{Discworld}}'' has this as one of the most useful applications of Borrowing (possession magic). A mouse can walk through cracks, an eagle can fly high and fast. The crystal balls has image quality problems, Omniscope is hard to aim and scrying without enchanted hardware may or may not exist at all, so Borrowing has major advantages if the possessor is skilled enough.

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Compare EyeSpy.

* E.E. "Doc" Smith's ''{{Lensman}}'' novel ''Gray Lensman''. Kimball Kinnison makes mental contact with a spider and sees through its eyes as he uses it to turn off a Boskonian's thought-screen. He can do this with higher level animals as well.

* ''SoulEater'' has a slight variation. [[MagnificentBastard Medusa]] does this with Erika (who's a witch that can transform into a frog and thus more of a minion who she's keeping [[IncrediblyLamePun an eye on]]). Arachne plays it straight by using her spiders for a PalantirPloy.

* ''The Falcon'', of MarvelComics, can do this with birds, with varying strength in doing so. Considering a bird's eye [[strike: view]] sight, it could be pretty useful.

* The movie ''Film/TheBeastMaster'' uses this. Not sure if it's used in the AndreNorton novel the film is [[InNameOnly allegedly based on]].

* The movie ''Film/TheBeastMaster'' uses this. Not sure if it's used in the AndreNorton novel the film is [[AdaptationDecay allegedly based on]].

*** By fourth edition the 'scry on familiar ability' has gone missing. Arcane users can see though the eyes of a falcon familiar and several others allow you to determine line of sight from their point of view.

*** By fourth edition the 'scry on familiar ability' has gone missing but arcane users can see though the eyes of a falcon familiar and several others allowing you to determine line of sight from their point of view.

This character doesn't just [[TheDoctorDolittle talk to animals]] and [[TheBeastmaster order them about]], he or she can see through their eyes and experience the world through their senses. The range of this power goes from [[BeingWatched paranoia inducing]] to SuperpowerLottery winner. On the low end, the character can see through one animal, usually a {{Familiar}} he or she is emotionally and spiritually tied to. On the high end, she can do this through more than one type of animal, or even [[MindHive several at once]], making them close to TheOmniscient. Depending on the level of control, she may only be able to not just see, but also create TheSwarm out of local fauna.

* ''{{Discworld}}'' has this as one of the most useful applications of Borrowing (possession magic). A mouse can walk through cracks, an eagle can fly high and fast, and it's hard to remember when any magic-user worked a true scrying, so this must be harder than Borrowing.

* ''{{Discworld}}'' has this in the forl of Borrowing.

** Magic-users/wizards could do this with their {{familiar}}s.
** There were a surprisingly large number of spells that granted this ability.

This character doesn't just [[TheDoctorDolittle talk to animals]] and [[TheBeastmaster order them about]], he or she can see through their eyes and experience the world through their senses. The range of this power goes from paranoia inducing to SuperpowerLottery winner. On the low end, the character can see through one animal, usually a {{Familiar}} he or she is emotionally and spiritually tied to. On the high end, she can do this through more than one type of animal, or even [[MindHive several at once]], making them close to TheOmniscient. Depending on the level of control, she may only be able to not just see, but also create TheSwarm out of local fauna.

* In TamoraPierce's ''TheImmortals'' quartet, Daine talks to animals, sees through their eyes, and even had them sabotage an army for her.