History Main / NarrativeShapeshifting

* Creator/GregEgan included a subtle and rare literary example in his ''Literature/{{Orthogonal}}'' trilogy. One application of the StarfishAliens' {{Shapeshifting}} ability is that they write by raising shaped ridges on their skin, then dusting their skin with dye and pressing it to paper for posterity, like a stamp. But when characters can't hear each other, either because the environment is too noisy or because they are in the [[SpaceIsNoisy silent vacuum of space]], they can also communicate by "writing" notes on their skin for others to read.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MikeLuAndOg'' episode "Repeat After Me", parrot Skipper repeats Mike's comments about Og's "dorky hairdo" while his head feathers take on said do.

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

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1'', 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.

* In Creator/HBeamPiper's ''Literature/LittleFuzzy'', Little Fuzzy warns Pappy Jack of a damnthing by crouching and holding his hands near his face with fingers pointed out to represent the damnthing's horns. For good measure, he then holds his arm out stiff and makes a barking noise to communicate "shoot it with your rifle, Pappy Jack!" Later, the episode gets discussed as evidence for Fuzzies being sapient.

** In ''WesternAnimation/WabbitTwouble'', Bugs does a mocking impression of Elmer and briefly takes on his portly physique ([[TemporaryBulkChange which Elmer had for this and three other shorts]]). This became the source of [[MemeticMutation the "Big Chungus" meme]].

* 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.

* Abu and Iago do this in ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''.

* In ''Disney/CinderellaIIIATwistInTime'', Jaq and Gus do this while explaining to Cinderella that her stepmother stole the Fairy Godmother's magic wand.

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

* [[Creator/{{Terrytoons]] Tom Terrific]] was able to shapeshift into whatever a situation would call for and he'd always have that hair curl and funnel on his head.

Compare MetaphoricMetamorphosis, which is when a character morphs into an VisualPun or other imagery to convey a particular emotion or trait.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', after the first segment in Hyrule Castle, Midna briefly shapeshifts into screaming images of Ilia and Colin to get Link to help her, as a rather mean-spirited way reminding Link that ItsPersonal for him.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

** In ''WesternAnimation/WabbitTwouble'', Bugs does a mocking impression of Elmer and briefly takes on his portly physique ([[TemporaryBulkChange which Elmer had for this and three other shorts]]). This because the source of [[MemeticMutation the "Big Chungus" meme]].
* The Warden in ''WesternAnimation/SuperJail'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_CKJ4q5Tu4 shapeshifts often]], though only to emphasize his talking points.

Compare MetaphoricMetamorphosis, which is when a character morphs into an image representing a particular emotion.

** In ''WesternAnimation/WabbitTwouble'', Bugs does a mocking impression of Elmer and briefly takes on his portly physique ([[TemporaryBulkChange which Elmer had for this and three other shorts]]).

** In ''WesternAnimation/WabbitTwouble'', Bugs does a mocking impression of Elmer and briefly takes on his portly physique ([{TemporaryBulkChange which Elmer had for this and three other shorts]]).

** In "The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone", Rainbow Dash does an unflattering impression of Twilight and her hairstyle briefly straightens up to match Twilight's.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', 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 "Celestial Advice", Spike quotes some advice from Rarity, and briefly slicks back his scales to resemble her trademark mane-style.

* Abu and Iago do this in ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''.
** The Genie is likely to have done this as well.

* 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.

* A ''[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Simpsons]]'' short on ''TheTraceyUllmanShow'' had Maggie briefly turn into Bart in order to convey the idea "Bart stole the cookies."

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.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone", Rainbow Dash does an unflattering impression of Twilight and her hairstyle briefly straightens up to match Twilight's.