History Main / PartialTransformation

One of the understated traits of {{Shape Shifter}}s is their [[TheMario versatility]], not just in having multiple forms they can assume, or people they can impersonate, but by using the stages in between. When a shapeshifter uses a Partial Transformation they can selectively shapeshift a part of their body (often an arm or limb) into their alternate form. This has [[MundaneUtility a lot of potential uses]]: For example, a shapeshifter needing to [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman open a safe underwater]] doesn't have to transform into a ''full'' fish or shark, but can instead choose ''just'' the gills (and perhaps a few fins) to breathe and maneuver underwater, while retaining their human hands to manipulate the safe itself; a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] thrown off a building could swap out her arms for a pair of [[WingedHumanoid bat wings]] to slow her fall; and a sniper without any surveillance gear could transform his eyes into that of an owl's, cat's, or anything else with [[SuperSenses enhanced vision]].

** Her expy, Yami the 'Golden Darkness' in the Toloveru series has the same ability.

One interesting thing about the Partial Transformation is it's usually a "high level" technique that can be mastered only by the best shapeshifters. A character who has recently acquired VoluntaryShapeshifting must first learn how to shapeshift between their "basic" forms before they have ''any'' hope of mixing and matching the elements between them; attempting to selectively invoke a PartialTransformation without sufficient experience can result in some ... [[{{Understatment}} rather]] [[BodyHorror messy]] [[GoneHorriblyWrong consequences]].

A second variant of partial transformation occurs when the character "stops" their usual TransformationSequence "half way" between their forms. For example, a character who can transform between a human and a wolf shape (and we don't [[TotallyNotAWerewolf necessarily]] mean a [[OurWerewolves werewolf]]) may opt to transform into a WolfMan instead of a "full wolf", [[MultiformBalance combining the advantages of both]], like the sharp claws and fangs of their wolf shape while retaining the bipedal mobility of their human form. It goes without saying that these "middle" forms typically look like [[SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism anthropomorphized]] [[PettingZooPeople animals]].

One of the understated traits of {{Shape Shifter}}s is their [[TheMario versatility]], not just in having multiple forms they can assume, or people they can impersonate, but by using the stages in between. When a shapeshifter uses a Partial Transformation they can selectively shapeshift a part of their body (often an arm or limb) into their alternate form. This has [[MundaneUtility a lot of potential uses]]: For example, a shapeshifter needing to [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman open a safe underwater]] doesn't have to transform into a ''full'' fish or shark, but can instead choose ''just'' the gills (and perhaps a few fins) to breathe and maneuver underwater, while retaining their human hands to manipulate the safe itself; a [[OurVampiresOurDifferent vampire]] thrown off a building could swap out her arms for a pair of [[WingedHumanoid bat wings]] to slow her fall; and a sniper without any surveillance gear could transform his eyes into that of an owl's, cat's, or anything else with [[SuperSenses enhanced vision]].

One of the understated traits of {{Shape Shifter}}s is their [[TheMario versatility]], not just in having multiple forms they can assume, or people they can impersonate, but by using the stages in between. When a shapeshifter uses a Partial Transformation they can selectively shapeshift either a limb or part of their body into their alternate form. This has [[MundaneUtility a lot of potential uses]], for example a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent were-shark]] who [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman needs to open a safe underwater]] might ''just'' grow gills to [[WaterIsAir breathe underwater]] while keeping their human hands to crack the safe; or a vampire falling off a building could switch her arms out for [[WingedHumanoid bat wings]] to slow her fall; and a sniper without any surveillance gear (and at night!) could [[SuperSenses change his eyes into an owl's.]] Defense and offense also figure into the Partial Transformation. If the shapeshifters second form has natural weapons, they can use it as a ShapeshifterWeapon while still in human form.

Another type of partial transformation is when the character "stops" their TransformationSequence half way. So for example, rather than go from human to wolf, they stop at WolfMan. This can be useful because the hybrid form [[MultiformBalance may have advantages]] the two end forms lack.

One interesting thing about the Partial Transformation is it's usually a "high level" shapeshifting technique. The character first has to be a VoluntaryShapeshifter, and ''then'' learn how to selectively use the change. [[SuperPowerMeltdown Failure to do so]] [[ShapeShifterSwanSong can get]]... ''[[BodyHorror messy.]]'' Relatedly, PhlebotinumBreakdown might cause this accidentally, putting the character in a lot of danger since they're now [[ModeLock "stuck"]] between shapes, [[PainfulTransformation probably in pain]] ''and'' suffering PowerDegeneration. If several partial transformations for different craetures are used simultaneously, the result is a ShapeShifterMashup.

One interesting thing about the Partial Transformation is it's usually a "high level" shapeshifting technique. The character fist has to be a VoluntaryShapeshifter, and ''then'' learn how to selectively use the change. [[SuperPowerMeltdown Failure to do so]] [[ShapeShifterSwanSong can get]]... ''[[BodyHorror messy.]]'' Relatedly, PhlebotinumBreakdown might cause this accidentally, putting the character in a lot of danger since they're now [[ModeLock "stuck"]] between shapes, [[PainfulTransformation probably in pain]] ''and'' suffering PowerDegeneration. If several partial transformations for different craetures are used simultaneously, the result is a ShapeShifterMashup.

** Her expy, Yami 'Golden Darkness' in the Toloveru series has the same ability.

* ''WorldOfDarkness'' ''WerewolfTheApocalypse''. In addition to human and wolf forms the Garou could turn into Crinos (traditional wolf-man) form.

* Grace from ''ElGoonishShive'' can transform to any stage between full squirrel and full human, can selectively morph away her furry antennae, as well as routinely pull of various {{ShapeShifterMashup}}s with any or all of her continually growing number of forms though all of them are humanoid.

* It's been established that Timmain from ''ElfQuest'' can do the wolf-man... er, wolf-elfwoman thing, both with tail and without. Mostly seen in flashbacks to her early days though. In later comics she's usually either one or tother.

* In ''{{Claymore}}'', Clare manages to Awaken only her limbs to save her CoolBigSis-figure Miria during the battle of Pieta. She later masters this technique, partially turning into an Awakened Being at will. As a much later chapter shows, [[spoiler:this may have something to do with her inability to Awaken ''completely'']].

** And of course, Naruto himself.

** In 3.0-.5 D&D all werecreatures have an animal, human and hybrid form.

* [[HumanoidAbomination Harvesters]] in ''The Deaths of Ian Stone'' apparently have precise control over how far their transformations go. Their use of this varies--the [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch most heroic of the lot]] stays slightly human as a rejection of his heritage, whereas the DarkActionGirl seems to use it as a means of taunting him.

* In ''{{Terminator}} 2'', the T-1000 frequently transforms its arms into metal stabby things while keeping the rest of its body human.