History Main / ShapeshifterDefaultForm

* [[Weredragon Dragons]] in ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'' are usually in human form for convenience, even when they aren't upholding TheMasquerade. The draconic form is stated to be their true form, and thus the one an illusion/transformation-dispelling potion [[ShapeshifterModeLock forces them into]]. What's odd is that they can and usually do interbreed with humans in human form, even having fully-human descendants [[RecessiveSuperGenes whose own children can be dragons]].

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': Inque had a slightly human-like "combat form" that had a white blot on a featureless face and her hands were barbed whips or some other weapon. When in a peaceful mood she would take on human features, which is assumed to be an approximation of her human appearance before the mutation serum was used on her, as she still has an oily look. Otherwise she looked just like a blob of ink.

*** The vain Tracks loves his [[CoolCar Corvette]] mode more than his robot form, but this is more of an InformedAttribute in the actual show.

* The ''Series/UltramanTowardsTheFuture'' episode, "Tourists from the Stars", have a shapeshifting alien couple, Ryugulo and Veronica, visiting Earth, where Veronica spends the whole movie in her human form (which is that of her actress, Orianna Panozzo). Ryugulo on the other hand have a bit of FantasticRacism towards humans, hence spends the whole episode as inanimate objects like benches, dustbins, and a hot-dog cart before finally turning into his true form, a quadrupedal horned alien monster and going on a rampage after mistaking Veronica to have an affair with the human Stanley.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheMightyDucksTheAnimatedSeries'': The villainous Chameleon was in reality a rather skinny, green lizard with big bulging eyes.

* Mystique of the ''ComicBook/XMen''. Interestingly done in ''Film/X2XMenUnited'', where Creator/RebeccaRomijn played Mystique in disguise -- sans makeup. From ''[[Film/XMenTheLastStand X-Men 3]]'', it seemed like the ''X2'' no-makeup appearance would be her normal human appearance, except with dark hair.
** In ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', Mystique could almost be considered to be true form ''and'' preferred form. Her original form is the blue skin and red hair we all know and love, but she spends most of her time as Creator/JenniferLawrence, much like Rebecca Romijn sans makeup in ''X2''. The fact that, like Clayface, she has to continually put effort into shifting, coupled with the final abandonment of her "regular human" disguise tips her into true form by the movie's end.
** She basically has 2 default forms. Blue-Skinned when her mutant powers are working, and normal human when de-powered. Basically, her Human Default Form is her exact look with normal skin and eyes.
* Clayface from ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''. ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' explains that shapeshifting is an acquired skill, or "muscle tensing", so he can't just constantly be in another form.
* Durlans in Franchise/TheDCU like [[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes Chameleon Boy]] have a default form as a bald orange humanoid with pointy ears and a pair of antenna. Those whose families were badly effected by the fallout from the "Six-Minute War" have essentially lost their default and instead look like a shifting writhing inconsistent mass of brown and grey tentacles in their "default" form, and have more trouble with ShapeshifterBaggage in general.
* The Franchise/MarvelUniverse has the Skrulls, who often hang around in their normal forms even when there's no real reason to do so. The Skrulls believe they are superior to all other forms of life, a very good ''psychological'' reason to assume their natural forms whenever possible, much like the way someone who has to wear a uniform they consider demeaning for their job probably takes it off in their spare time. Apparently, it can also be uncomfortable for them to remain in an assumed form for too long at a time. In one ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' story, [[MsFanservice Lyja]] makes an excuse to her date to take a short break and rest a few minutes in her default mode, because her human form gives her a headache.
* ComicBook/MartianManhunter from Franchise/TheDCU. The familiar alien "superhero" form in the comics is actually a slightly more human-like version of his true appearance, which is kind of playing with this trope.
* [[http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Jacob_Gavin,_Jr._(Earth-616) Courier]], a shapeshifter who most often appeared in the pages ''ComicBook/GambitMarvelComics'', is an interesting twist on this. Courier's default form started off as a man, but after being melted (while impersonating a woman) and reconstituted by Mister Sinister, became a woman permanently.
* ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'': Hulkling has a true form and, technically, two preferred forms; he's equally comfortable in his true form and his battle form, and can be seen lounging in the latter nearly as often as the former:
** True ''and'' Preferred: His Kree heritage gives him his default form, as evidenced when Kl'rt uses technology to ''force'' Teddy to revert to his original form in order to prove to Teddy that he's truly a Skrull... and Teddy stays exactly the same.
** Preferred: His preferred form during a fight, after he stops patterning himself after the Hulk, is quite reptilian in appearance. He keeps his blonde hair, but gains green and possibly scaly skin, armored shoulder plates, and claws. He also frequently grows leathery dragon-like wings when he needs to be airborne.
* All of the Endless in ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' can change their looks at will, but they all have default appearances they stick to when they're among other immortals. Morpheus usually looks [[AuthorAvatar tall, thin and pale, with messy dark hair]], but he occasionally shows up in other forms [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith appropriate to the person he's talking to]] -- for instance, when visiting the dream of a cat, he looks like a cat, while ComicBook/MartianManhunter sees him in the shape of the Martian dream god, a giant flaming head. There's some indication that his AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder, but he can definitely alter his shape deliberately, too.
** Death's favorite form is that of a perky goth girl. She even appeared (briefly) in this form ''in a story set in ancient Greece'', when her nephew Orpheus visited her in her home (which initially appeared as a slightly cluttered late-20th century apartment). The sight disturbed Orpheus so much that she promptly changed herself and her home into [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith a form he was more comfortable with]].
* ComicBook/BeastBoy in ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'', when not in animal form, generally takes his natural form, a human male (albeit one with green skin).
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Nol Lapp is a Durlan who was enslaved by the Sangtee Empire and subsequently very rarely uses her default form and even then only when in the company of those she trusts. She instead presents herself as one of the Durlans made unstable by the Six Minute War, looking like a bunch of tentacles in a cloak.

* Xavin, a Skrull in ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', was originally sexless, but when (s)he began a [[ShapeshiftersDoItForAChange lesbian relationship]], his/her female human form became the default. Though like all Skrulls, (s)he will revert to skrull form if rendered unconscious. Karolina later determined that Xavin's "true" self was the female body s/he reverted to when they were being romantic, because that was the form Xavin took when s/he temporarily stopped focusing on her physical form while arguing with Karolina.
* M'gann M'orzz, the DCU's Miss Martian. Her preferred default is the green-skinned redhead usually seen in the [[ComicBook/TeenTitans comics]], with her true form being one of the monstrous White Martians. Some comics have suggested that the real difference between Green and White Martians is purely psychological. Green Martians are peaceful, philosophical types, so they adopt a non-threatening form. White Martians are savage warriors so they adopt a more monstrous form. ''Theoretically'' a White Martian who defected to the Green camp would naturally adopt the true form of a Green Martian (and vice-versa) but this has never been demonstrated in the comics.

** Miss Martian defaults to a green-skinned version of her civilian, human identity. It's eventually revealed that she developed it based on an old sitcom [[AliensStealCable that she watched on Mars]]. "Image" also reveals that [[spoiler:she's ashamed of her real form, which is a White Martian, not a Green one]].

* In the ''Literature/{{Hurog}}'' series, [[spoiler: Oreg is quarter-dragon]]. Both of his forms are his real forms, but he seems to prefer the human for everyday life -- probably because of the hands with opposable thumbs.

* Sacred Eclipse in ''LightNovel/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'' normally appears as a girl with silver hair and blue eyes; the appearance of [[spoiler:its creator, the imperial princess Arshalia.]]

* ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'': Most of the story takes place on Earth, so most of the alien characters stick with human form; however, it's implied that they prefer this anyway, because [[AliensStealCable Earth's pop culture is loved throughout the galaxy]]. The title character claims to be Nyarlathotep the Crawling Chaos from the Franchise/CthulhuMythos, but sticks with the form of a beautiful human girl with silver hair and emerald green eyes, claiming that it's just one of her thousand different forms (and the easiest on the eyes). While the stories that do leave Earth sometimes show more alien creatures, there are still plenty who stick with human forms even out in space; Nyarko in particular is shown in a FlashBack to use her human appearance going all the way back to her childhood.

* ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'': Freddy Krueger possesses near-limitless shapeshifting abilities in the dream world, regularly using it to impersonate other people or even inanimate objects. While he can assume any form he desires, he prefers to appear as his post-death burnt self, presumably to scare his victims. His "real" form, if any, are [[DemBones his skeletal remains]].

* ComicBook/{{Mystique}} of the ''ComicBook/XMen''. Interestingly done in ''Film/X2XMenUnited'', where Creator/RebeccaRomijn played Mystique in disguise -- sans makeup. From ''[[Film/XMenTheLastStand X-Men 3]]'', it seemed like the ''X2'' no-makeup appearance would be her normal human appearance, except with dark hair.

* Clayface from ''Franchise/{{Batman}}.'' ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' explained that shapeshifting is an acquired skill, or "muscle tensing," so he can't just constantly be in another form.

* [[http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Jacob_Gavin,_Jr._(Earth-616) Courier]], a shapeshifter who most often appeared in the pages of ComicBook/{{Gambit}}'s solo series, is an interesting twist on this. Courier's default form started off as a man, but after being melted (while impersonating a woman) and reconstituted by Mister Sinister, became a woman permanently.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the default form of Mei and her female relatives is human but if they are in giant red panda form and get knocked out they remain in panda form until they wake up and return to a calm emotional state.

* In the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, Skrulls are green, pointy-eared humanoids when they're not impersonating anyone. If they die while disguised, they revert to their natural forms.

* In the ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' episode [[Recap/FarscapeS03E07ThanksForSharing "Thanks For Sharing"]], a shapeshifting Corlata has been impersonating the daughter of Kanvia's sovereign in order to keep an eye on Moya's crew. It's actual form is crimson red and reptilian.

* ''Series/RedDwarf'': The episode [[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIVCamille Camille]] had the crew come across a Pleasure [=GELF=] called Camille, who is capable of appearing as one's dream partner. After this is revealed, she reverts back to her default form - an amorphous green slimy blob with an eyestalk, which Kryten does not mind at all.
* ''Series/{{Space 1999}}'': The second season featured a new regular character Maya, who was able to transform into any lifeform for up to an hour.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'' franchise:
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode ''Whom Gods Destroy". Lord Garth is a human being who learned the ability to shapechange. His default shape is his original (human) body.
** On ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Security Chief Odo is a shape-shifter. He has a default humanoid appearance that he uses during his everyday activities, but must revert to his natural state as a gelatinous liquid after holding that form for 16 hours. Others of his species (usually referred to as the Changelings or [[spoiler: the Founders]]) have the same natural form, though the need to revert to it is implied (and was stated by WordOfGod) to be limited to Changelings inexperienced with their shapeshifting abilities, such as Odo. Indeed, most Changelings live as a vast sea on their homeworld.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': the Alien Bounty Hunter first appeared in "Colony" in the form of a Russian pilot played by Brian Thompson. While he could take on any form, he is most often seen in the appearance of the pilot. It wasn't until "The Unnatural" that his true form was revealed to be that of a Grey alien and that he was using his current human template as far back as 1947... long before the events of "Colony". It was further revealed that there may have been more than one ABH but that they all had the same 'default' appearance since Mulder saw a number of Greys after being abducted and they all bore the same human form.

* Doopliss in ''VideoGame/PaperMario 2'' has his default form he reverts to when defeated or not transformed into something else (which looks like a BedsheetGhost with party hat), as do possibly the Duplighosts in ''VideoGame/PaperMario 1'' and Mimi in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario''.

* ''Webcomic/{{Aurora|2019}}'': Gods can reshape their incarnations with effort, but the most comfortable way for them to appear is in their 'true form', set by the way others view their domain.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10''. His Phlebotinum only allows him to change form for a set period of time, afterward he changes back into his normal form. In the future of "Ben 10,000", he unlocked the master code removing the time limit, and he instead chose [[SuperSpeed the really fast XLR8]] as his default form because he'd basically decided to never stop working. [[spoiler:His younger self showed him that he should change back to human occasionally.]] In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' episode "Ben 10,000 Returns", [[spoiler: Ben's Future Self has unlocked the humans ultimate form, meaning he can stay human, but use the powers of all the aliens]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', Alcazar courts Leela and other aliens by shapeshifting to resemble a male of their species. When Fry and Bender blow Alcazar's cover, Leela and his other wives beat him up until he reveals his true form: a 3-foot alien cricket.
* Hades' minions Pain and Panic from ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' can assume any shape and voice they wish. Their default forms are a fat pink demon and a skinny blue demon respectively.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
** When not in animal form, Beast Boy appears as a male teenager with green hair/skin, pointed ears, and a prominent lower tooth.
** Madame Rouge's default form can be described as TheBaroness and TheVamp (might be a preferred form -- it's never said if it's her true form or merely a preferred one).
* The villain of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'''s Season 2 finale is [[ManipulativeBastard Chrysalis]], [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen]] [[HiveQueen of the Changelings]], who dramatically reveals her true form (the same general shape as [[WingedUnicorn an alicorn pony]], but with [[BodyHorror hole-punched legs]] and various insectoid characteristics like dark, chitinous skin, antennae, and a set of transparent, fluttering wings) once she is outed as an imposter. The rest of her invading army have a similar default appearance.
* Jake from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' defaults to the form of a large (roughly half human-sized) bipedal dog. He basically looks the same as his non-shapeshifting parents and biological brother. His powers have severe limitations: he can't change his surface coloration, he appears to need to retain eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, and he occasionally mentions having internal organs which can be rearranged but not done away with altogether. He's something of a halfway point between a {{Voluntary Shapeshift|ing}}er and a RubberMan. [[spoiler:"Skyhooks II" ends with his true form reset to a tall, blue, five-eyed monster, and he suffers PowerIncontinence until he's able to restore his yellow dog form in "Abstract". It's unknown if the aforementioned color limitations of his powers have been permanently removed.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'', Penny (Gumball's girlfriend) used to hide herself in a peanut-shaped shell. In "The Shell", she is revealed to actually be a shapeshifter fairy-like creature. In her default form, she has a yellow body, antlers and wings. In every transformation, she has a pair of antlers.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'': Jenny Wakeman [[DoAnythingRobot can reconfigure herself for nearly any situation.]] When she isn't fighting, she's a 600-pound {{Ridiculously Human Robot|s}} [[WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld high school student.]] Preferred form sneaks in at times, as it's never clear how much (if any) mental effort it takes to keep a gadget "loaded" and Jenny would rather [[IJustWantToHaveFriends pretend to drink milkshakes with her neighbors.]] Plus, some of her powers crop up once and never again, while her rocket engines and arm blasters are used in nearly every episode.

** [[spoiler:Vee]] is [[spoiler:a [[BasiliskAndCockatrice Greater Basilisk]], a serpentine creature with a fishlike tail, who can transform into a human. After her true nature is revealed, she ends up hanging around the Noceda house in her natural shape much of the time.]]

* On his downtime, Klone from ''WesternAnimation/{{Blackstar}}'' usually looked like a statuesque humanoid with gray skin, white hair, and elfin features. That this was also the form he wore when he got knocked unconscious by the Overlord's minions seems to indicate it's what he really looks like.
* When he wasn't on the job or pulling a prank, [[EvilOverlord Hordak's]] master spy [[TheImp Imp]] from ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'' is usually seen in something of a cross between a blue piglet and a bat. It's actually rather cute. Since he's never been rendered powerless, it can't be stated for certain that this is his default mode, but it's probably a safe bet.
* Debuting in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' before [[WesternAnimation/TheZetaProject his series]], Zeta is an infiltrator robot who uses holograms to assume the identity of anyone he was supposed to KillAndReplace. He has a form without holograms, but as his dilemma was that he [[GrewBeyondTheirprogramming Grew Beyond His Programming]] and developed a psychological identity, he also (usually) takes the same appearance unless he has to hide his identity or assume someone else's identity, fitting both the True and Preferred form of this trope.

* ''Manga/InuYasha'': When we first hear about Naraku, it's like shapeshifting was going to be a significant part of his arsenal, and it was how he'd gotten the drop on Miroku's grandpa, Inuyasha and Kikyou. However, within the series, his mask is always worn until he takes on the form of a certain feudal lord, impersonating him for that two-parter... and from then on, that's the face he always has, [[OneWingedAngel whatever he may be doing]] with the rest of his body. The idea of turning into one of the cast and kindly asking whoever has the jewel shards if he might hold them for a moment never seems to occur to him, probably because of the five main cast members, at least two could [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne sense]] that he was a demon and at least one could tell they [[TheNoseKnows smelled]] different.

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': The Mazoku can appear to be anyone or anything they wish to, they just have "default" human forms so that they can be recognized by people they want to be recognized by. On one occasion a Mazoku took the form of the default form of another Mazoku to act as bait for Lina and co, who were trying to track the other Mazoku.
* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': Rimuru's initial and true appearance after reincarnating is [[CuteSlimeMook an adorable blue slime]]. After assimilating the dying hero Shizue Izawa per her LastRequest, he regained a human form [[DudeLooksLikeALady that resembles hers]] as his default, with gold eyes and light blue hair. Notably, when he first manifests in this form he looks like a short-haired child version of her, but as he grows stronger the body steadily grows older with greater height and longer hair to match.

* The aliens (the ones in the silver jumpsuits) in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' were actually tentacled beasties, prompting an onlooker to exclaim "Oh, that's just WRONG!!" when one's tentacles become visible as she embraces and smooches a human crewmember. Their default forms were humans, with Vulcan-esque hair styles.

** Another character was capable of imitating other peoples' appearance; possibly that of anyone he came in contact with. We never got to learn how his ability worked or what he actually looked like before [[spoiler: he got brain-fingerbanged, care of Sylar. Wait... OhCrap..]].
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'' franchise:

*** Likewise, the Allasomorphs in ''Next Generation'' hang around in humanlike forms while visiting the Enterprise; they are eventually revealed to be EnergyBeings in their true forms.

** Later, the other changelings, most notably the [[NoNameGiven Female Changeling]], default to a face that looks similar to Odo's when dealing with Alpha Quadrant species and wishing to be correctly identified as changelings. Unlike Odo, they can imitate "solid" species perfectly when they so choose.
* In the original ''Series/{{V|1983}}'' miniseries, the alien invaders took on human form to disguise their true reptilian nature (as well as their intentions to cannibalize the human race). Oddly, the aliens continued to maintain their human appearance long after the jig was up. (It's possible the human suits had some sort of protective factor against the environment, but it also conveniently kept half the cast from having to don expensive alien makeup before shooting.)
* In ''Series/MyParentsAreAliens'' the aliens are capable of shapeshifting but spend most of their time in default human forms (if the intro sequence is to be believed then their true forms are some sort of green blobs). Interestingly, Sophie is not particularly good at morphing, and this was used as an excuse when her actress was changed in later seasons. She supposedly morphed into the new form offscreen and then got stuck that way, before eventually deciding that she preferred it.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': The members of the Ra-Tet. Mesektet took on the form of a little girl.

*** Q has a default human form that looks like actor John de Lancie, usually dressed as a Starfleet officer, with no particular reason given for choosing that appearance in particular other than wanting to be recognized. One assumes that the Q don't even have what we'd consider a "physical" form, the closest we ever see is a diamond flash of light. They apparently have some non-visual way of recognizing each other, as John de Lancie's Q recognizes another Q (played by Corbin Bernsen) in human form as the particular Q the latter is, and further recognizes the Q who takes the name "Quinn" on ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' as who he is.

** In [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]], his true form is different, and is instead revealed to be [[spoiler:the dead son of Hohenheim and Dante. He despises his resemblance to the father who was never there for him and so only assumes the form once before [[ScaledUp transforming into a giant snake]]]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/CareBearsMovieIIANewGeneration'', BigBad Dark Heart was a being who could change into nearly anything. While his true form was that of a sinster red cloud, he mainly stayed in his disguised form of a human boy. [[spoiler:After undergoing a HeelFaceTurn, he ends up [[BecomingARealBoy becoming an actual boy]]]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/CareBearsIIANewGeneration'', BigBad Dark Heart was a being who could change into nearly anything. While his true form was that of a sinster red cloud, he mainly stayed in his disguised form of a human boy. [[spoiler:After undergoing a HeelFaceTurn, he ends up [[BecomingARealBoy becoming an actual boy]]]].

* [[spoiler:Vee]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' is [[spoiler:a [[BasiliskAndCockatrice Greater Basilisk]], a serpentine creature with a fishlike tail, who can transform into a human. After her true nature is revealed, she ends up hanging around the Noceda house in her natural shape much of the time.]]

** Beast Boy stays humanlike when not an animal.

** On ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' Odo is a shape shifter. He must return to his natural state as an amorphous liquid every 18 hours, and also has a default humanoid appearance which he uses around other solid sentients. Others of his species (usually referred to as the Changelings or [[spoiler: the Founders]]) have the same natural form, though the need to revert to it is implied (and was stated by WordOfGod) to be limited to Changelings inexperienced with their shapeshifting abilities, such as Odo. Indeed, most Changelings live as a vast sea on their homeworld.

** On ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' Odo is a shape shifter whose natural form is a gelatinous liquid that he must revert to every 18 hours. Others of his species (usually referred to as the Changelings or [[spoiler: the Founders]]) have the same natural form, though the need to revert to it is implied (and was stated by WordOfGod) to be limited to Changelings inexperienced with their shapeshifting abilities, such as Odo. Indeed, most Changelings live as a vast sea on their homeworld.

* [[Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine Frobisher]] in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' ExpandedUniverse. He's a shapeshifter, but is usually in the form of a large talking [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins penguin]] simply because he likes it.

* ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf'': Holo's true form is that of a giant wolf, but most of the time we see her in the form of a young girl [[LittleBitBeastly with wolf ears and a tail]], as her true form is terrifying to people who aren't used to it, and would attract unwanted attention.

* In the 15th Dresden Files novel, ''Literature/SkinGame'', the character Goodman Grey is defined as a shape shifter in practically his first mention in the book. Grey's appearance is that of a standard suit for most of the action, and it seems as though he is very comfortable in this form. From what we learn later, however, this observation remains to be confirmed. [[spoiler: Grey turns out to be a [[EldritchAbomination Naagloshi]] [[HalfHumanHybrid Scion]]. ]]