History Main / HumanAliens

In stories involving alien [[HollywoodCyborg cyborgs,]] the aliens are often human-looking in their original form, to emphasize that the conflict of the story is between their biological and cybernetic natures, and not mainly about the fact that they are aliens. Examples include the Kaleds who became [[DoctorWho the Daleks,]] the Galadorians from ''RomSpaceknight,'' the Nebulans from ''TheTransformers,'' the ''GoBots,'' and ''[[StarTrek Star Trek's]]'' Borg.

*** [[HaveIMentionedIAmGay Who would have guessed,]], [[CampGay the walking rainbow is a lesbian.]]

* While not referred to as aliens, many of the demons from ''{{Disgaea}}'' fall under this, since we see that they do inhabitant different planets throughout space.

* In one Literature/{{Discworld}} book (though it was referring to gods, the spirit's the same), it's mentioned that if you ask someone to come up with an alien-looking being, it would basically be a man in an animal mask.
* Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs did this all over the place starting back in 1912 with ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Princess_of_Mars A Princess of Mars]]''. Everybody on Mars except the Green men looked human, but [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe hotter]], and have much longer lifespans. The earth born hero [[JohnCarterOfMars John Carter]] and his Martian Princess wife have two kids, despite massive [[BizarreAlienBiology biological differences]] including Martians being oviparous. This doesn't even begin to cover some of the [[BizarreAlienBiology wild biology]] that shows up in the Land that Time Forgot stories.

* Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs did this all over the place starting back in [[OlderThanRadio 1912]] with ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Princess_of_Mars A Princess of Mars]]''. Everybody on Mars except the Green men looked human, but [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe hotter]], and have much longer lifespans. The earth born hero [[JohnCarterOfMars John Carter]] and his Martian Princess wife have two kids, despite massive [[BizarreAlienBiology biological differences]] including Martians being oviparous. This doesn't even begin to cover some of the [[BizarreAlienBiology wild biology]] that shows up in the Land that Time Forgot stories.

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' pointedly averts this trope. The most humanoid alien ever mentioned in the series is a species of amphibious monkey. Also, the Hork-Bajir feature basically the same head/two arms/two legs body shape, but otherwise go even beyond RubberForeheadAliens (in fact, they more closely resemble dinosaurs. The torsos of Andalites look fairly human, and the head has a RubberForeheadAlien quality to it, but otherwise they are very different (having a basic body structure like that of a Centaur). Aside from those three, none of the alien races/species portrayed or mentioned in the books look anything even remotely human. Some of them even stray into StarfishAlien territory.

[[caption-width-right:350:PopQuiz! Which of these is a human?[[labelnote:Answer]]None of the above. Starting from upper left, we have an [[Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick Air Elemental]], a [[Series/DoctorWho Time Lord]], a [[VideoGame/UniverseAtWar Masari]], an [[Franchise/StargateVerse Ancient]], one of [[Literature/TheClanChronicles the Clan]], an [[VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations Altarian]], a [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Kryptonian]], an [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration El-Aurian]], and an [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Echani]]. Well, okay, the Ancient [[UltraTerrestrials is an Earth hominid]], but not H. sapiens.[[/labelnote]]]]

In 1950's movies, this also could be used as an actual part of the theme of the story, as the idea that these sorts of aliens could pass completely for humans made a rather handy [[RedScare metaphor for Communism]].

* The Zentraedi of ''[[{{Macross}} Macross/Robotech]]'' and its descendants are one of the clearer examples of the trope, straight down to the HandWave concerning their origins being linked to that of humanity. The primary physiological difference being that in their natural state they are ten meters tall, but can through an [[CloningBlues ill-defined process]] be shrunk down to roughly human size (or expanded back up).
* The Buff Clan in ''SpaceRunawayIdeon'' look identical to humans, with the exception of them lacking pupils. They also possess the honor code of the samurai, call their warriors samurai (though the actual humans don't), and even call their home planet Earth. If it weren't for the fact that they were an isolated race before meeting the people of Logo Dau, you'd swear that they were human!

[[caption-width-right:350:PopQuiz! Which of these is a human?[[labelnote:Answer]]None of the above. Starting from upper left, we have an [[Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick Air Elemental]], a [[Series/DoctorWho Time Lord]], a [[VideoGame/UniverseAtWar Masari]], an [[Franchise/StargateVerse Ancient]], one of [[Literature/TheClanChronicles the Clan]], an [[VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations Altarian]], a [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Kryptonian]], an [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration El-Aurian]], and an [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Echani]].[[/labelnote]]]]

** That being said, the game makes it clear they are two separate species, and unlikely to be compatible for reproduction (no one has really tried).

* The Nemesites of ''TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' are [[PettingZooPeople butterfly people]] in their natural form, but use AppliedPhlebotinum to appear human when dealing with Earthlings.

* The GoBots looked completely human before becoming a race of cyborgs. The only two remaining Gobotic humanoids are the Last Engineer and the Master Renegade, who were discovered in [[HumanPopsicle suspended animation.]]

In stories involving alien [[HollywoodCyborg cyborgs,]] the aliens are often human-looking in their original form, to emphasize that the conflict of the story is between their biological and cybernetic natures, and not mainly about the fact that they are aliens. Examples include the Galadorians from ''RomSpaceknight,'' the Nebulans from ''TheTransformers,'' the ''GoBots,'' the Kaleds who became [[DoctorWho the Daleks,]] and ''[[StarTrek StarTrek's]]'' Borg.

In stories involving alien [[HollywoodCyborg cyborgs,]] the aliens are often human-looking in their original form, to emphasize that the conflict of the story is between their biological and cybernetic natures, and not mainly about the fact that they are aliens. Examples include the Galadorians from ''RomSpaceknight,'' the Nebulans from ''TheTransformers,'' the ''GoBots,'' and ''[[StarTrek StarTrek's]]'' Borg.

** The people of Homeworld in ''{{Micronauts}}.'' It was eventually explained that they and the RubberForeheadAliens of the Microverse are descended from humans from [[TimeTravel the future]].
** Nebulans from ''[[{{Comicbook/TheTransformers}} The Transformers.''

** PostCrisis, it was established that Mon-El's people, the Daxamites, are descended from Kryptonians, explaining the similarity of both races.

** The people of Homeworld in ''{{Micronauts}}.'' It was eventually explained that they and the RubberForeheadAliens of the Microverse are descended from humans from [[TimeTravel the future]].

** The people of Homeworld in ''{{Micronauts}}.'' It was eventually explained that they and the RubberForeheadAliens of the Microverse are descended from humans from [[TimeTravel the future]].

* The title character from OmegaTheUnknown, who was [[CreatingLife created]] by another alien race to be the perfect {{Ubermensch}}.

In-story, this occasionally leads to a {{handwav|e}}ing story about how all the races have some common ancestor. Other times, it gets {{justified|Trope}} by using a TransplantedHumans story. Out-of-story, this is often explained by the fact that there are remarkably few non-humanoids in the Main/{{SAG}} or Main/{{Equity}}, and by the fact that believable-looking, wildly-different-in-appearance aliens are incompatible with low budgets. Other explanations include the idea that a humanoid form is the natural result of any evolutionary path (HumansAreSpecial [[XMeetsY on]] EvolutionaryLevels). Recent research may hint at this being true to some extent; many species seem to be engineered by evolution for maximum fuel efficiency. The bipedal human body has remarkable agility and stamina for its size, though there are some notable flaws like weak joints and a narrow birth canal. Our impressive cognitive abilities and incredibly complex social structure evolved to counter these. There's also a real phenomenon known as "Convergent Evolution" whereby species that originated in different areas eventually develop into things that look similar because it's a useful form.

[[caption-width-right:350:Pop Quiz! Which of these is a human?[[labelnote:Answer]]None of the above. Starting from upper left, we have an Air Elemental, a Time Lord, a Masari, an Ancient, one of the Clan, an Altarian, a Kryptonian, an El-Aurian, and an Echani.[[/labelnote]]]]

[[quoteright:330:[[Franchise/TheDCU http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/JLAliens_6167.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:330:"Justice League of Aliens." Yep, [[{{Franchise/Superman}} the guy with the big red "S" on his chest]], the [[ComicBook/NewGods white dude with the silver helmet]], and the [[Franchise/GreenLantern guy with the buzzcut]], too.]]

In-story, this occasionally leads to a [[{{Handwave}} Handwaving]] story about how all the races have some common ancestor. Other times, it gets [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by using a TransplantedHumans story. Out-of-story, this is often explained by the fact that there are remarkably few non-humanoids in the Main/{{SAG}} or Main/{{Equity}}, and by the fact that believable-looking, wildly-different-in-appearance aliens are incompatible with low budgets. Other explanations include the idea that a humanoid form is the natural result of any evolutionary path (HumansAreSpecial [[XMeetsY on]] EvolutionaryLevels). Recent research may hint at this being true to some extent; many species seem to be engineered by evolution for maximum fuel efficiency. The bipedal human body has remarkable agility and stamina for its size, though there are some notable flaws like weak joints and a narrow birth canal. Our impressive cognitive abilities and incredibly complex social structure evolved to counter these. There's also a real phenomenon known as "Convergent Evolution" whereby species that originated in different areas eventually develop into things that look similar because it's a useful form.

The bottom rung of the [[AlienTropes Alien ladder]], below RubberForeheadAliens and [[IntelligentGerbil Intelligent Gerbils]]. Note that, for this trope, the alien must be '''visually indistinguishable from a human'''. "Human, but with blue (or purple, orange, [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe green]], etc.) skin" falls under RubberForeheadAliens. Aliens with cultural rather than biological similarities fall under InexplicableCulturalTies.

!!Examples

* Barring their monkey-esque tails (which can be permanently removed), Saiyans from ''DragonBall Z'' look exactly like humans, and can even [[HalfHumanHybrid interbreed with them with ease]]. Of course, the "Earth" of ''{{Dragonball}}'' is also inhabited by five foot tall talking foxes, dogs, cats, pigs, sea turtles... and [[WeirdnessCensor nobody ever thinks any of it is strange]].

* The S and Stars seasons of ''SailorMoon'' brought '''so''' many Human Aliens (or at least aliens that were ''originally'' human in appearance) from across the galaxy [[TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse to Tokyo]] that one could wonder if non-humanoid intelligent lifeforms really existed at all! Even the [[TalkingAnimal talking cats]] Luna and Artemis, who were aliens from the planet Mau in the manga, could assume human forms. (Rei's crows Phobos and Deimos were also revealed to be aliens who could take human form in the manga.) The filler arc villains Eiru and An from the start of the second season were also aliens who could assume human form, though the villains from the first season and the rest of the second season were originally from Earth.

** In the manga however they are [[spoiler: beings from another dimension with different laws of physics]] which is why they can generate power from seemingly nowhere. In their default state they also look something like a [[spoiler:human glued to a bunch of baby corpses, tumors, and angel wings.]]

* The Mu from ''RahXephon'' are entirely indistinguishable from humans save for their [[AlienBlood blue blood]]. Then there are the HalfHumanHybrids such as [[spoiler:Ayato and Hiroko]] whose Mu-phase has yet to be activated, making them appear human in every way [[spoiler:[[TomatoInTheMirror even to themselves]]]].

* [[spoiler: Yuki, Ryoko and Kimidori]] from SuzumiyaHaruhi

* Haruko Haruhara from ''{{FLCL}}''... maybe. She claims to be a 19-year-old space patrol officer, but is actually a galactic criminal out to find the Pirate King Atomsk. Its kinda hard to be sure of anything Haruko tells anybody. Other than pink hair and yellow eyes, Haruko is entirely humanoid. Also she fights with a Rickenbacker guitar, uses a house cat as a walkie-talkie, and has a flying Vespa.

* In WorldOfNarue, Narue is half-alien half-human, but her father, sister, and all other members of her species look completely human. They also come from planet Japan, which also appears to have a history very similar to the Japan we know, so go figure.
* In LightNovel/AsobiNiIkuYo, not only do the Catians look exactly like humans except for the [[{{Catgirl}} cat ears and tail,]] they even called THEIR planet "Earth" until they decided to make contact with us, then re-named it to Catia for our convenience. This seriously ticks off Beautiful Contact, a group of hardcore sci-fi fans who insist that humanity's FirstContact with an alien species should be with a race that looks more dignified and unearthly.

* ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'', oddly enough several of the Angels are roughly humanoid, others are more... [[EldritchAbomination interesting.]] Notably, the two most powerful ones are basically cloned {{Half Human Hybrid}}s.

* ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'' has a complex and bizarre subversion of trope, tied in to the origins of Angels and [[spoiler: humanity, who are collectively the 18th Angel.]]

Contrast with StarfishAliens (where the aliens are nothing like humans), HumanoidAliens (where aliens have a similar shape, but not quite human), AmbiguouslyAlien (where it isn't made clear in-canon whether a culture are human-like aliens or human-descended), and HumanSubspecies.

Contrast with StarfishAliens (where the aliens are nothing like humans), HumanoidAliens (where aliens have a similar shape, but not quite human) and HumanSubspecies.