History Main / PartialTransformation

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 this without sufficient experience can result in some... [[BodyHorror messy]] [[GoneHorriblyWrong consequences]].

* On ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice,'' [[{{Animorphism}} Beast Boy]] seems to [[ShapeshifterDefaultForm prefer]] a form halfway between a normal human and a monkey.

* Used heavily in ''Anime/WolfChildrenAmeAndYuki'', where the children (And their father) can take on their wolf forms to any extent they please while still generally appearing human.

* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/17249318/chapters/41377370#workskin What's in a Hoard?]]'', Izuku first learns how to partially transform himself, such as turning his arms draconic.

* In Disney/{{Pinocchio}} shortly after his friend Lampwick fully transformed into a donkey, Pinocchio grows donkey ears and a tail, he is able to escape from Pleasure Island with Jiminy’s help before he completes his transformation, he eventually loses the ears and tail when he becomes a real boy after giving his life to save Gepetto from Monstro.

* Elfman and Lisanna (the latter pictured above) can do this in ''Manga/FairyTail'' with their [[DemonicPossession Take Over]] abilities. Presumably their older sister Mirajane can do it too, but she prefers the Full Body version, which in this world is supposed to be more difficult. However, it should be noted that both Elfman and Lisanna can do the Full Body Take Over as well.
** In the beginning, Elfman, while ''capable'' of Full Body Take Overs, tended to only avail of this trope, due to the fact that [[spoiler:the last time he tried, he lost control of himself, and ended up killing Lisanna... Or so it seemed]].

* A rare example of a [[TransformingMecha ''mecha'']] partial transformation are the GERWALK modes of various [[Anime/{{Macross}}]] Variable Fighters. The mode falls squarely into the "best of both while having no downfalls" category, the result essentially being a plane with arms and legs, which allows for some truly impressive manoeuvres under the control of a skilled pilot. Most newbie pilots, hence, elect to skip the mode in favour of a direct transformation from plane to Battroid mode; the skill required for the full control of a GERWALK mode is sufficient that the reaction times of most pilots are more likely to get them killed in the mode before they can even react while in it.

* In the two-part episode "Prometheus" of ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk'', Banner stopped halfway through his transformation. He had some of Banner's personality but much less knowledge, and he was stronger than Banner but not as strong as Hulk. He had his green eyes, but not green skin. It wasn't voluntary, however; it was caused by a nearby meteor emitting a high concentration of gamma rays, and not letting him revert fully to normal.

* [[HumanoidAbomination Harvesters]] in ''Film/TheDeathsOfIanStone'' 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.

* ''Film/FrightNight1985''. Evil Ed changes into a wolf to attack Peter Vincent. After he's staked he changes partially back into a human, looking like a humanoid wolf.

*** ''Monstrous Compendium Annual''. The werebadger can take three forms: a dwarf, a giant badger, or a hybrid form which has a dwarf body with huge claws, thick fur, and a badger's head.

* In ''WesternAnimation/KipoAndTheAgeOfWonderbeasts'', this is initially all that Kipo is capable of, only being able to transform body parts into their jaguar equivalents and grow a tail. And even then, ''that'' started as something she had no control over, being involuntary emotional reactions to environmental triggers.

* In one episode of ''Franchise/CareBears'', [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Mr. Beastly]] accidentally breaks [[BigBad Lord No-Heart's]] [[TransformationTrinket amulet]] and tries to use it himself to capture the Care Bears. He discovers that the damaged amulet can ''only'' perform {{partial transformation}}s, and that these transformations ''stack'', resulting him in eventually becoming a comical ShapeShifterMashup. He succeeds in capturing Braveheart Lion and Tenderheart Bear, but discovers [[ShapeshifterModeLock he can't change back]]... unless [[ThePowerOfLove he admits how much he really cares.]] (Tenderheart then ''[[GoodIsNotNice blackmails]]'' Mr. Beastly into letting them go with a tape recording of him shouting "I care!" over and over.)

*** In the''TabletopGame/MasqueOfTheRedDeath'' boxed set's "A Guide to Gothic Earth", Lady Michelle [=LeDeuce=] is a werefox who can assume three different forms: a silver fox, human being, and a hybrid fox/human.

** Some [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves can do this]] when it's near the full moon (although the [[TakeOurWordForIt in between forms are apparently unpleasant to look at]] and they ''have'' to assume full wolf form when the full moon is out). Most notably when [[spoiler: Angua fights her brother at the end of ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'']].
** Ludmilla Cake is the kind of werewolf who has a [[WolfMan humanoid wolf form]], but as far as is known, can't change into a regular wolf. She still has a partial transformation in ''Discworld/MakingMoney'', when Moist notices that her fingernails get longer when she's annoyed.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''
** 1st-2nd Edition AD&D
*** In 1st Edition wererats can change into human, rat or human-sized ratman form. Judging from their illustrations, werewolves and wereboars can change into half-human half-animal forms as well.

*** ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine #265 article "Humanimals" updated the ''Oriental Adventures'' hengeyokai for 2nd Edition, by adding twelve new versions. The partial transformations got a bit more complex, since some of them weren't based on quadrupeds. A dolphin hengeyokai's hybrid form grows legs as well as arms, an octopus hengeyokai essentially grows an entire humanoid body, but still has tentacles instead of limbs.
*** ''Magazine/WhiteDwarf'' magazine #19 article "The Fiend Factory". The werefox has three possible forms: a beautiful woman, a fox, and a bipedal human/fox hybrid.
*** The "Basic" D&D supplement ''Night Howlers'' covers rules for player character lycanthropes for that version of the game. Newly infected characters start as "cubs" and have to work their way up to "normal monster" level (splitting experience between human and animal form) to actually get all the standard powers of their were-type. The ability to take the transitional "beast-man" form came most typically only upon reaching 9th level as a were after ''that''.
*** ''Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix''. The lycanthropic were-jaguar can take three forms: human, human/jaguar and jaguar.
*** TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}} setting, 2nd Edition ''Realm of Terror'' boxed set. Most true lycanthropes can assume three forms: human, a specific animal, and a human/animal hybrid. The hybrid has a humanoid form but with animal characteristics (fur, claws, etc.).
*** TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}} setting, 2nd Edition ''TabletopGame/MasqueOfTheRedDeath'' boxed set, "A Guide to Gothic Earth". Lady Michelle [=LeDeuce=] is a werefox who can assume three different forms: a silver fox, human being, and a hybrid fox/human.
*** 2nd Edition TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms supplement ''Hall of Heroes''. New lycanthropes that can change into hybrid forms include werebison, werecats, weredragons and wereleopards.

*** In 2nd Edition the jackalwere was given the ability to take a hybrid form that combined its human and jackal forms.
** Edition 3.0 and 3.5

* ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'':
** Vampires with the Protean discipline (which allows shapeshifting into wolf and bat forms) could learn the Partial Transformation merit, which allowed them to change one feature into that of their animal form for dice bonuses or attacks.
** One Vampire bloodline in ''Shadows Of Mexico'' the Dead Wolves, could actually shapeshift into a werewolf Crinos form thanks to an ancestral connection.
* ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse''. In addition to human and wolf forms the Garou could turn into Crinos (traditional wolf-man) form. With effort, they can even transform just part of their bodies (although they may lack RequiredSecondaryPowers-- using Crinos arms to lift a heavy object might snap one's human spine).
* ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheDreaming ''. With the Cantrip '' Beastkin '' a changeling can gain animalistic features, like wings or claws. Thanks to the system of magic, also objects can be enhanced in this way, like envenomed swords.

* Michael Stackpole's ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' ''Wolf and Raven'' short story "If As Beast You Don't Succeed" in ''Ka•Ge'' magazine Volume 1 Issue 12. Wolfgang Kies can turn into a half-man half-wolf form.
* ''Eureka: 501 Adventure Plots to Inspire Game Masters'' adventure "Where Wolf?" A character affected by the werewolf curse can change into human, half wolf, or wolf form. They are strong and fast in all of the shapes, and all have the human form's knowledge and intelligence.

* ''Arduin'' RPG. ''The Compleat Arduin Book 2: Resources''. Metamorphs are a type of ShapeShifter that can change to any of three possible forms: human, 1 type of animal, and a human/animal hybrid.

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 [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent 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]].