History Main / ChangingClothesIsAFreeAction

** In "Party Pooper Pants" after SpongeBob digs himself back into his pineapple house (where everyone else is doing the Bunny Hop) only to be shoved back outside, the next shot that we see a few seconds later is SpongeBob wearing a bunny suit while angrily remarking that he "was supposed to lead the Bunny Hop!".

[[caption-width-right:350:Something he learned from Superman.]]

* ''LightNovel/{{OverLord}}'': Narberal has a quick change crystal built into her robe that instantly let's her change her outfit.

* Happens in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' since characters there are trapped in an [[AbsurdlyHighStakesGame online game]]. One scene in particular comes to mind, in which Asuna misunderstands Kirito's intentions before they become a BattleCouple. She scrolls through a menu, selecting items and causing her clothes to [[{{Fanservice}} instantly disappear]].

* Near the end of ''Theatre/{{Aladdin}}, Jafar's wish to become sultan is marked with his robes and hat disappearing in a puff of smoke and a white version of his attire taking its place. When he wishes to become a genie, the same puff of smoke appears and he's suddenly in a bright red version of his attire, all done without Jafar seemingly moving at all.

* Some of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' games allow you to switch weapons and armor mid-battle... as long as you've got them in that character's personal inventory. So, for instance, you could use a [[WhipItGood whip]] to take out a boss's groupies, then switch to your sword once you've whittled their numbers down.

* Creator/EddieIzzard {{lampshade|Hanging}}s this in his show ''Sexie'', when he talks about how there are no transvestite superheroes because they would take twenty minutes to change.

* For a period of time in ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' when Simmons defected to the Blue Team, he donned red armor painted blue. When he switched back to the Red Team, he changed his armor back mid-conversation. When Grif asks how he did that, he explains it being a fast changer, due to being shy about others seeing him.

* {{Justified}} in ''Literature/JessicasGhost. Jessica can instantly change her clothes at will because she's a ghost.

Some characters wear [[LimitedWardrobe the same wardrobe]] through an entire adventure, getting it suitably burned and torn (or not at all) in the process. Then there's those blessed with living in an RPG, "The Sims" world, Film, magic act, or TV show where Changing Clothes Is a Free Action.

* This isn't hard for ''Franchise/TheFlash'' to pull off, what with his SuperSpeed. He actually keeps his suit in a ring with an ejection mechanism.
* Same deal for ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}''. Spoofed (somewhat) in a ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' annual. Lois Lane thinks she's figured out the two heroes's identities, but then Superman uses Super {{Ventriloquism}} to distract her, then changes himself (and Batman) into pajamas via SuperSpeed and claims that they just woke up. Bruce, who isn't accustomed to the speed, gets [[VomitDiscretionShot motion sick]] (and Clark takes advantage of the situation to put him in a pink bathrobe and GoofyPrintUnderwear).
* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} takes advantage of her superhuman speed to change instantly. One example of her changing clothes between panels is provided in the first issue of her ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl1972 first solo book]]'', where she quickly takes off her Supergirl uniform and puts civilian clothes on as someone is opening her bedroom's door.

** ComicBook/JeanGrey-Summers is able to change into multiple outfits within a matter of seconds. Due to her Phoenix powers, she can alter the molecules of her costumes at a whim. Both Jean and her KidFromTheFuture Comicbook/RachelSummers have also done this with multiple other people's clothes at the same time, when the X-Men need to become inconspicuous by changing into civilian clothes. In Rachel's case, she almost collapsed from the effort because at the time she didn't have Phoenix powers, just "ordinary" telekinesis.
** [[ComicBook/{{Iceman}} Bobby]] even says all he has to do is ice up and put on his boots at one point. Early on (we're talking [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks really early on]]) that used to be the extent of his costume. If the ice was melted/broken by a bad guy, Bobby was in his boxers and his big yellow boots.
* The implausibility of this trope is {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in an issue of ''[[Comicbook/XMen X-Men: First Class]]''. Comicbook/BlackWidow and Dum Dum Dugan change from their civvies into their ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} duds in the span of a single panel, while Comicbook/ScarletWitch [[LeaningonTheFourthWall wonders aloud how that's even possible]].
* ComicBook/CarolDanvers's powers include, [[MostCommonSuperPower amongst other things]], clothes changing, usually with a single panel showing a line of energy between half-civies half-costume.

* The trope is justified in ''Franchise/GreenLantern'' considering any of the Green Lanterns can simply use their power rings to instantly change their clothes into their Corps uniforms.
* Franchise/SpiderMan, during a time when he was wanted by the police ([[ContinuityLockout long story]]) and had set up four different alter egos (All with different "Superpowers" and known collectively as "The [[PunnyName Slingers]]"), once did this while fighting Bloodscream and Roughhouse (two of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'s rogues), changing costumes so fast the two bad guys actually ''thought'' they were fighting four different guys!

* Franchise/WonderWoman, especially in the Golden Age when she actually had a secret identity, could change from her Diana Prince USAAF uniform to her Wonder Woman suit and back again essentially instantaneously even within the same panel due to her super-speed.

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''/''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' fic ''Fanfic/TheVampireOfSteel'', Supergirl is watching over Buffy and goes from her "Linda Danvers" clothes to her Supergirl uniform over the span of seconds when she sees a couple of vampires accosting the Slayer.

* Also played for laughs in ''Film/TommyBoy'', when Richard enters an airplane toilet the change and emerges in another outfit within three seconds. Tommy is briefly flabbergasted as to how Richard did it.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' does this often:
** In "Le Big Switch", Spongebob visits a fancy restaurant to work there and changes into a chef's hat and uniform within a few seconds.
** Also in "Spongicus", Spongebob manages to change from his normal clothes to Roman gladiator armor by just springing out of his seat and landing into the chariot.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', the villain Mad Mod was shown to often-times change clothes during scene transitions or after a quick cut-away, in a time frame that really shouldn't allow it. Of course, given that his whole schtick was that he was a reality warper (thanks to [[MagicFromTechnology a combination of holograms, elaborate machinations]] and hypnotism) it kind of made sense. Half the time it [[ActuallyADoombot wasn't even him]] considering he looked to be at LEAST in his mid-to-late sixties.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_quick-change_acts Quick-change magicians.]]

* ''Film/{{Supergirl}}'' walks behind a tree and emerges with a school uniform and different-coloured hair.

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' Season 11 features this, not just predictably and justifiably with Superman, but also with Nightwing. In the span of one panel that couldn't have taken more than 5 seconds, she goes from her underwear to full costume (including mask and ''lipstick'').

* In the Creator/MrT TV series ''TAndT'' T plays a private eye who dresses in a suit. OncePerEpisode he has to go "street" to get the 4-1-1 on the situation of the week. He always takes the time to go to the boxing gym and change into his streetwear (which is more like the Mr. T we know).

* In ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireDragonQuarter'', most of your combat actions cost points called AP, so that, for example, walking closer to a foe may leave you without enough AP to attack it. Yet strangely, using items -- including ''changing your armor'' -- cost no points!!

* In ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'', at first it seems like this trope would be subverted by Destroyman, who has to [[NoPeekingRequest ask Travis to turn around so he can change]]. However, this is only so [[{{Jerkass}} Destroyman]] can [[CombatPragmatist get a cheap shot at him]], as he has somehow managed to change from a mailman uniform to head-to-toe spandex in about the space of a second.
* During one sequence in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', Locke automatically switches costumes whenever he gets his hands on one. All it takes is a quick twirl and he's completely changed in a matter of ''seconds''.
* The power of the crystals in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' grant this to the protagonists in the form of the game's JobSystem. They can't switch classes in-battle like the girls of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'', but, when felled, their crystal shards power fails and they revert to their standard Freelancer class, only to switch back to the class they changed to when resurrected.
** They can all instantaneously change the weapon they are currently wielding so long as they have access to the Item command; changing loadouts, however, can only happen outside of battle.
* This is explicitly so in ''Final Fantasy X-2'', where changing the spheres lets you take another action immediately after, even with the long TransformationSequence. You can also turn off the {{Transformation Sequence}}s, allowing you to change clothes nigh-instantaneously.
* ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII'' marks the return of a job class system again with a customizable VirtualPaperDoll system and a fact that Lightning spends tons of time-fighting [[OneManArmy ''alone'']]. Naturally, she has to change her clothes a lot.
* Equipment macros run ''rampant'' in [=MMORPGs=], to the point where players are expected to actually gear swap for most of everything. Case in point: High-end players in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' change their entire wardrobe every 3-5 seconds at worst, mostly due to swapping in [[LimitBreak Weaponskill]] gear to fire one-off, then it's back to TP gear. This led to the line (specifically referencing Red Mages, but can be applied to any job): "Every fight is a fashion show.".
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' you can't change your clothes in combat, although you can swap out any hand-held item. It avoids the trope entirely on that part, as swapping weapons causes a global cooldown (meaning no abilities can be used for around one second). However, somewhat of a running gag is the fact that you can switch equipment (or more likely, remove it) while falling to avoid it being damaged when you crash into the ground.

* Equipment can also be changed in the middle of battle in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII''. Due to the removal of typical random battles, this means you can switch weapons and armor in the middle of battle, and even in the middle of an attack. If you don't mind being in the menu for most of the battle, you can get away with all kinds of crazy things, like:
** Attacking faster than usual by switching to a new weapon and switching back after an attack is finished (to reset the animation and start the next turn faster);
** Equipping armor so, for example, when the help message at the top of the screen says the enemy is using a Thunder spell, you quickly don the Thunder-proof armor;
** Protecting the whole party with one piece of equipment. Since attacks that affect the whole party hit characters one-at-a-time instead of all at once, you can pass one piece equipment between characters as the animation for the spell starts on the next target.

* In the ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', Link has three different tunics and three different pairs of shoes, which he can mix and match freely. Changing clothes does not happen in realtime; the player pauses, selects the new clothes, then unpauses, resulting in an instantaneous change. This is especially useful when, say, the moment after you jump into a pool in the Water Temple, you still haven't changed into your iron boots yet. You'll be wearing them before you hit the water. If you had changed into them beforehand, of course, you couldn't have jumped at all.

* Similar to the ''Ocarina of Time'' example above, Link in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' can change into his myriad of outfits instantaneously from the pause menu. This can lead to situations like changing Link's clothes while he's clinging to a sheer cliff hundreds of feet up, or most egregiously, changing into his female disguise right in front of the guards to Gerudo Town.
* The largely-ignored Capcom game ''VideoGame/BeatDownFistsOfVengeance'' for the UsefulNotes/{{P|layStation2}}S2 actually requires you to change clothes in order to lower the levels of the "enemy detection meters", one for gang members and one for police (they usually run independently of each other). Of course, buying clothes costs money, but changing clothes (either at the clothing store or in the closet of your home-base bar) is free. Ironically, simply changing to a different COLOR of the same outfit will still lower your detection meters despite looking almost exactly the same as the outfit you just changed out of.

** It's actually kind of ridiculous, as repairing items is ''also'' a free action. So it's entirely possible to notice your weapon is worn down enough to jam, go into your inventory, equip your Vault Utility Suit that grants a bonus to Repair, fix your gun, then re-equip your armor, all in mid-fight. At least ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' had the caveat that repairs could only be conducted away from enemies.

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' you change into certain outfits by twirling. How this really works makes no sense when in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'' you [[spoiler:dress up as a Rocket grunt]].

* ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has alternate costumes for most of the party members, which can be accessed while on the battlefield. Although the characters usually complain about [[AwesomeButImpractical how hard they are to move in]], or [[{{Stripperiffic}} how embarrassing they are to wear]], but never do they complain about apparently having to change into them in front of their friends.

* Equipment can be generally changed on the fly in the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'', even in the middle of battles. This is especially useful during the [[MonsterArena arena gauntlets]], where your constantly changing opponents may warrant the use of equipment that's effective against certain enemies or provides resistance to certain elements and/or status ailments.

* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' and [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords its sequel]], this applies in nearly all situations - weapons, armour, headgear, belts, gloves, and armbands can all be changed from the menu, and items such as medpacs or stimulants can be activated as the player wishes. Somewhat subverted when a hostile enemy is attacking - most of the same is still true, but armour cannot be changed and items used from the menu is limited to one per turn.

* The Gems in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' can [[https://33.media.tumblr.com/75d8fb21505954f494a6eaf879e860a3/tumblr_n4vb7vUubZ1qf2fu4o3_500.gif easily]] [[https://38.media.tumblr.com/a73defba3ef31a297c86390a7313d800/tumblr_n4vb7vUubZ1qf2fu4o5_500.gif do]] [[https://31.media.tumblr.com/c8e29aaa34d83ade2ef3642e5d36916b/tumblr_n4vb7vUubZ1qf2fu4o4_500.gif this]] because their clothes (like their bodies) are illusions that exist as a result of VoluntaryShapeshifting.

* Same deal for ''Franchise/{{Superman}}''. Spoofed (somewhat) in a ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' annual. Lois Lane thinks she's figured out the two heroes's identities, but then Superman uses Super {{Ventriloquism}} to distract her, then changes himself (and Batman) into pajamas via SuperSpeed and claims that they just woke up. Bruce, who isn't accustomed to the speed, gets [[VomitDiscretionShot motion sick]] (and Clark takes advantage of the situation to put him in a pink bathrobe and GoofyPrintUnderwear).

This is played literally in videogames where you can change your character's clothes, armor, weapons and accessories in the blink of an eye. Though for balance issues many games won't let you switch outfits -- or '''armor''' -- mid battle. At least, not without spending the [[ExperiencePoints XP]] to buy that special Feat or Spell.

InstantCostumeChange is the subtrope commonly used by {{Superhero}}es in the typical "change out of my civvies into my [[SpandexLatexOrLeather spandex]]" phonebooth scene.

* Parodied in ''Film/{{Sky High|2005}}'' when the superhero students's studies include doing this... to get into their gym clothes. One of the teachers has this as a RunningGag: he'll change his clothes in seconds at the drop of a hat, even if he spilled just a drop of punch on his tux.

* On ''Series/WhoWantsToBeASuperhero'', of course. One challenge started with the contestants having to find a place to hide, change into their costumes without being seen and re-emerge within a certain time frame. Of course, none were "actual" superheroes so it wasn't instant, but some were actually quite clever and quick. Gladiator even [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower shoved some port-a-poties around]] to hide where he got changed. Unfortunately, two contestants missed the "without being seen" angle, one changing in a small nook that was completely open to view, one [[TooDumbToLive putting her costume parts on over her civies right in the middle of the public square]].

* In the ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' games, the essential time to change clothes is "not actually in combat". Imoen can use stealth and then pull on a suit of mail fast enough that she doesn't actually stop hiding. Minsc can do it with ''plate mail''. And he's a) the size of a house and b) [[LargeHam the largest ham in videogame history]].

* Averted with armor in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', but played straight with '' implants'', which by all evidence are in your head.

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' and [[VideoGame/{{StarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords}} its sequel]], this applies in nearly all situations - weapons, armour, headgear, belts, gloves, and armbands can all be changed from the menu, and items such as medpacs or stimulants can be activated as the player wishes. Somewhat subverted when a hostile enemy is attacking - most of the same is still true, but armour cannot be changed and items used from the menu is limited to one per turn.

Some characters wear [[LimitedWardrobe the same wardrobe]] through an entire adventure, getting it suitably burned and torn (or not at all) in the process. Then there's those blessed with living in an RPG, "The Sims" world, Film or TV show where Changing Clothes Is a Free Action.

This is played literally in videogames where you can change your character's clothes, armor, weapons and accessories in the blink of an eye. Though for balance issues many games won't let you switch outfits -- or '''armor''' -- mid battle.

At least, not without spending the [[ExperiencePoints XP]] to buy that special Feat or Spell.

* The Hooded Claw on ''WesternAnimation/ThePerilsOfPenelopePitstop'' effects this using the twirlaround method. Other times he pulls his costume from behind and swoops it over himself.