History Main / NarrativeShapeshifting

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* In ''{{Enchanted}}'', the chipmunk can't speak outside the fairy tale world, so he tries using charades to warn Prince Edward that Nathaniel is planning to poison Giselle with an apple. It doesn't work; [[BrainlessBeauty Edward just thinks the chipmunk is praising his greatness]].

* Mario in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' uses this to get around his HeroicMime status.

* ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'': Ash's Pikachu has done this on occasion.

* The opening credits of ''MyNeighborTotoro''.

* ''CourageTheCowardlyDog'': Courage would often do this to warn Eustace and Muriel of the MonsterOfTheWeek.

* ''APupNamedScoobyDoo'': Scooby would also do this to tell the others about the monster.
** The other incarnations of ''ScoobyDoo'' may have done this to some degree, but not as much.

* A "{{Simpsons}}" short on ''TheTraceyUllmanShow'' had Maggie briefly turn into Bart in order to convey the idea "Bart stole the cookies."
* Doom Kitty in ''RubyGloom'' uses her extremely thin, flexible and strong tail to make shapes - not strictly shapeshifting, but it does alter her appearance after a fashion. Of course, only Ruby can understand her.

* Baby Beaker in ''MuppetBabies'', explaining his fear of the monster under his bed to the other babies (since, like Adult Beaker, all he can say is "Meep!").

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "The Camping Episode", Squidward gains [=SpongeBob=]'s eyelashes and buck teeth when imitating his AnnoyingLaugh.

* In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames Oracle Of Ages]]'', this appears to be the case when Link is telling the Funny Joke to the depressed boy, as Link's body contorts in ways never before seen from our favorite HeroicMime.

* In ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'', as Flounder tells King Triton where he and Ariel have been, he briefly turns into a seagull when he comes to the part when they talk to Scuttle.

An IntellectualAnimal in a cartoon just saw something strange land in the cornfields. It is something beyond description. The animal wants to tell his owners about the dangerous thing he just saw, unfortunately, [[TheSpeechless he can't talk]]. So how does he convey what he saw? He alters his physical appearance to resemble the strange thing he just saw.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:{{Video Games}}]]

[[AC:{{Western Animation}}]]

* Doom Kitty in ''RubyGloom'' uses her extremely thin, flexible and strong tail to make shapes ? not strictly shapeshifting, but it does alter her appearance after a fashion. Of course, only Ruby can understand her.

* In the ''SouthPark'' episode "Up the Down Steriod", Timmy attempts to tell Mr. Mackey about Jimmy using steriods, but doesn't have much luck since all he can say is "Timmy" and "Jimmy". So he mimics Jimmy shooting up and then getting all muscular, but Mr. Mackey still doesn't get it.

* In ''TheLegendOfZelda: OracleOfAges'', this appears to be the case when Link is telling the Funny Joke to the depressed boy, as Link's body contorts in ways never before seen from our favorite HeroicMime.
** In ''TwilightPrincess'', after the first segment in Hyrule Castle, Midna briefly shapeshifts into screaming images of Ilia and Colin to get Link to help her. A bit of BigLippedAlligatorMoment since she could easily have made the point without doing it and never displays this ability at any other point in the game.

* In the ''TomAndJerry'' cartoon "Of Feline Bondage", Jerry uses this trope to tell his fairy godmother about his cat troubles.

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* In ''TheLegendofZelda:OracleofAges'', this appears to be the case when Link is telling the Funny Joke to the depressed boy, as Link's body contorts in ways never before seen from our favorite HeroicMime.

* ''[[{{Anime/Ptitlei015gc004kw4}} Pokémon]]'': Ash's Pikachu has done this on occasion.

* Mario in ''SuperMarioRPG'' uses this to get around his HeroicMime status.

It's a form of VoluntaryShapeshifting in which one character changes his appearance to tell a story or [[TimmyInAWell warn of a danger]], especially if that character cannot speak or has [[SpeechImpairedAnimal trouble speaking]]. It could be especially jarring especially if the character shows no signs of being able to shapeshift in any other time.

* [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]] has done this on occasion.

* In ''{{The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages}}'', this appears to be the case when Link is telling the Funny Joke to the depressed boy, as Link's body contorts in ways never before seen from our favorite HeroicMime.

A minor variation is when a speechless character attempts to warn the others of the impending danger by playing a nice game of [[NonverbalCommunication charades]].

* ''CourageTheCowardlyDog'': Courage would often do this to warn Eustace and Muriel of the MonsterOfTheWeek.
* ''APupNamedScoobyDoo'': Scooby would also do this to tell the others about the monster.
** The other incarnations of ''ScoobyDoo'' may have done this to some degree, but not as much.
* In the ''TomAndJerry'' cartoon "Of Feline Bondage", Jerry uses this trope to tell his fairy godmother about his cat troubles.
* A "{{Simpsons}}" short on ''TheTraceyUllmanShow'' had Maggie briefly turn into Bart in order to convey the idea "Bart stole the cookies."

* Doom Kitty in ''RubyGloom'' uses her extremely thin, flexible and strong tail to make shapes ? not strictly shapeshifting, but it does alter her appearance after a fashion. Of course, only Ruby can understand her.

* In ''{{Enchanted}}'', the chipmunk can't speak outside the fairy tale world, so he tries using charades to warn Prince Edward that Nathaniel is planning to poison Giselle with an apple. It doesn't work; [[BrainlessBeauty Edward just thinks the chipmunk is praising his greatness]].

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