History Main / Animorphism

* "[''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' character] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Np-lwRk2c gets hit]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfr2vU4GGts so hard]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HyDhBsyBZ4 he ANIMORPHS]]", a series of Youtube videos where characters from the ''Yakuza'' series [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin get hit by someone or something and transform into an animal]] (usually the same animal represented on their respective tattoos).

* One of [[VideoGame/Terraria Terraria]]'s newer updates features a necklace as a mount item which lets you turn into a wolf.

* On ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'', Agent 57's appearance is different in several episodes. In "The Spy Who Stayed In With a Cold," he randomly changes on the spot which he explains away as the result of an accident at research HQ and his electrolytes getting upset when he catches cold.

* On ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'', Agent 57's appearance is different episodes. In "The Spy Who Stayed In With a Cold," he randomly changes on the spot which he explains away as the result of an accident at research HQ and his electrolytes getting upset when he catches cold.

* On ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'', Agent 57's appearance is different episodes. In "The SpyWho Stayed In With a Cold," he randomly changes on the spot which he explains away as the result of an accident at research HQ and his electrolytes getting upset when he catches cold.

* ''Blog/LimyaaelsFantasyRants'': Limyaael has a rant on [[http://limyaael.livejournal.com/288509.html shapeshifters]], on [[http://limyaael.livejournal.com/290393.html shapeshifter societies]] and on [[http://limyaael.livejournal.com/47942.html blurring the distinction between the "human" part and the "animal part"]].
* In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', Feral has the power to change into pretty much any predator mammal. There are also [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Weres]] who can shift into animal or were-animal forms, plus some mutant Shifters can do it. (Some mutants end up stuck in the involuntary version because of the way their power first manifests.)

* An interesting example happens in ''Webcomic/CrimsonFlag'', where the normally anthropomorphic fox characters are turned into normal foxes. This is more going from a FunnyAnimal to a normal animal.

** In ''Heckraiser'', [[spoiler: a city-wide ForcedTransformation turns hundreds if not thousands of humans into animals in a nearby city. A WeirdnessFilter keeps them from noticing this at first, but its eventually lowered, meaning rights for humans-turned-animals becomes an immediate hot topic again.]]

* In ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'', the portal from Earth to Furth transforms humans into appropriate animals. [[spoiler:Except Martha, when she was hiding in a lead-lined barrel.]]
* An apparent running gag in ''Webcomic/ElectricWonderland'' involves Aerynn turning NJ into a random animal whenever she needs help protecting herself and/or their teammates.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Dan once turned Melissa into a cat in a filler strip (which got carried over into a later filler strip).
** In an AprilFools strip, the cast was turned into cats at one point
** In the BackStory (but entirely canonical), Tedd once turned Sarah into a cat by mistake.
* An interesting example happens in ''Webcomic/CrimsonFlag'', where the normally anthropomorphic fox characters are turned into normal foxes. This is more going from a FunnyAnimal to a normal animal.
* One plotline in ''Webcomic/DarwinCarmichaelIsGoingToHell'' has Ella transformed into a cat by a magic hat. Turns out there's a man running a street theater show with involuntarily transformed anthropomorphic animals.
* ''Webcomic/ProfessorAmazingAndTheIncredibleGoldenFox'': Isla Grace receives a fox-shaped engagement ring from her husband-to-be, Parker, which gifts her with the ability to transform into a fox (both anthropomorphic and full fox versions). She then feels it's only appropriate to put her new powers to use in the service of her community.

* In "WesternAnimation/SpiesInDisguise", Lance Sterling drinks what he assumes is a glass of water, it ends up turning him into a blue pigeon. As well as a painful and agonizing transformation to go with it.

In "WesternAnimation/SpiesInDisguise", Lance Sterling drinks what he assumes is a glass of water, it ends up turning him into a blue pigeon. As well as a painful and agonizing transformation to go with it.

* In [[https://www.deviantart.com/slifofinadragon SilfofinaDragon]]'s ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' fanfics, Date Masamune and Katakura Kojuro change into a horse and a panther respectively from potions brewed by [[HotWitch Kyogoku Maria]], as means to protect Masamune and Sanada Yukimura's children. Both of them change back [[ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing minus any clothing]] after getting [[TrueLovesKiss smooched]] by Yukimura and Masamune & Yukimura's son Masa respectively.

* Others are characters who underwent a ForcedTransformation--i.e., unwillingly transformed into animals, usually as a punishment ([[KarmicTransformation ironic]] or otherwise) or {{curse}}, more often than not by the [[BlackMagic dark magic]] of the BigBad. In any case, regardless of species, the target is none too happy about being an animal. (Indeed, for some reason, characters are often just as upset over being turned into swans as they would be if they were turned into worms. There is an intriguing amount of CursedWithAwesome associated with this trope.) The target may lose the ability to speak, and must work hard to get the message to their friends about what happened. This is sometimes combined with a FreakyFridayFlip, leaving the animal's mind trapped in the human character's body. This is frequently accompanied with some sort of time limit, after which it will be difficult or impossible to reverse the process.

The transformation itself may be scientific in origin, or mystical. Popular mystical transformations include werewolves and other {{werebeasts}}, [[TotallyNotAWerewolf wolves]] (who may be confused for werewolves), [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] transforming into a singular wolf or bat or some other animal (transforming into a swarm is under OneToMillionToOne), or such chestnuts as a witch [[BewitchedAmphibians turning people into toads]]. And who can forget such classic fairy tales such as [[Theatre/SwanLake swan maidens]] or Literature/TheFrogPrince? In fact, Animorphism is OlderThanFeudalism, with ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' describing Circe turning Odysseus' sailors into pigs.

* In the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, Feral has the power to change into pretty much any predator mammal. There are also [[{{Werebeasts}} Weres]] who can shift into animal or were-animal forms, plus some mutant Shifters can do it. (Some mutants end up stuck in the involuntary version because of the way their power first manifests.)

** Post-timeskip, it was revealed that Dr. Vegapunk and later Caesar Clown had worked on creating artificial Zoan-type Fruits, Dr. Vegapunk creating a single known fruit using "Lineage Factor" from the user of the Mythical Zoan "Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon"; the resulting fruit was functionally identical, except for it turning the user into a ''pink'' dragon instead of a blue one, and was regarded as a failure by its perfectionist creator. Caesar Clown later created the mass-produced [=SMILES=], which are grown on trees through absorption of a chemical called [=SAD=], which contains "Lineage Factor" from all sorts of animals. Sadly, [[FlawedPrototype the results leaves much to be desired]], as 90% of all [=SMILES=] grant no powers, but afflict their consumer with two permanent curses; the SuperDrowningSkills that plague all Devil Fruit users, and [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul an inability to express any emotion other than smiles and laughter]]. For the other 10%, the consumer gets to roll on a SuperpowerRussianRoulette where they will, at best, get a lame knock-off version of the normal Zoan's power, and more likely suffer all manner of animal-related BodyHorror, up to and including gaining a ''fully sentient animal'' as either a conjoined twin or a replacement for a limb. The lucky ones just get permanent mutations, which may or may not come with the RequiredSecondaryPowers needed to use them effectively.

* [[Literature/{{Reckless}} The Mirrorworld Series]]: Fox, who prefers her animal form [[spoiler:until she [[GreenEyedEpiphany sees Jacob kissing Clara]]]].

** The Transformation Staff from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyThe4HeroesOfLight'' allows you to turn your characters into animals and back at will. Brandt and Rolan turn into dogs, Aire and Rekoteh into cats, Husqua into a rooster, and Yunita into a bunny. Animal forms can talk to animals and golems, but their battle stats are significantly reduced. However, the Beastmaster crown can potentially turn them into [[LethalJokeCharacter Lethal Joke Characters]].

* In the ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' series, visiting one of two shaman-type characters (Mumbo-Jumbo in the original and ''Grunty's Revenge'' or Humba-Wumba in ''Tooie'') would allow you transform into different things; this is usually an animal (but not always; other transformations have included a tank, a submarine, and a washing machine). Oddly, the main characters are ''already'' animals.
* The entire premise of the ''VideoGame/BloodyRoar'' game series is based on this trope. Each character can transform into a specific BeastMan form when their "Beast Bar" fills up, increasing their power, causing their health to slowly regenerate, and giving them new special moves on top of their original ones. The first game alone included characters who turned into a tiger, a wolf, a fox, a boar, a lion, a mole, and an albino gorilla, and subsequent games added even more animals and even mythical creatures. The final boss of the last BloodyRoar game was a man who could turn into a full-sized dragon.

* In ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryI'', Baba Yaga turns you into a frog, and the Dryad will turn you into a white stag [[YetAnotherStupidDeath if you offend her]].
** One should [[TheManyDeathsOfYou expect nothing less]] from a Creator/{{Sierra}} game.

* Common in the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy'' series is the Toad spell which turns either enemies or allies into frogs, and it's fittingly cured by the [[BewitchedAmphibians Maiden's Kiss item]]. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'' in fact requires you to turn your party into frogs at some points to advance dungeons. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' has a frog enemy called Touch Me who constantly turns your characters into frogs and back every time it hits them.

* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'', ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'', and ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' have an enemy-exclusive spell called Bael's Curse which turns your characters into flies. In Nocturne, this status is uncurable, so the only way to revert it is to kill the afflicted and revive them (which is impossible for Demi-Fiend [[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou since his death means a Game Over]]).

* Zoe from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' is in something of a grey area between voluntary and involuntary shapeshifting. The magic tattoo on her neck causes her to transform into a camel whenever someone says "shupid" near her, and it changes her back when someone says "kwi." Technically, Zoe could say "shupid" and turn herself into a camel, but this is pretty unlikely since she doesn't like transforming and, in camel form, she can't say the magic word to change back.
** She did it once, when she needed to hide fast and a random camel in a closet wouldn't raise eyebrows.

** Professor Crow from was turned into an intelligent dog, presumably by a lab accident.