History Main / TransformationRay

* In Stanley Kiesel's young adult book ''Literature/TheWarBetweenThePitifulTeachersAndTheSplendidKids'', the adults utilize a sinister device called the [[StatusQuoIsGod Status Quo Solidifier machine]], which [[spoiler:turns the defeated kids into well-behaved and well-dressed Perfect Young People.]]

* The aptly-named Anti-Morphing Ray in the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series is a variant (it's actually an ''un''-transformation ray), but the same logic applies: stick the "Andalite bandit" in a box, hit the button, and they turn back into their true form. It's never shown whether the thing works or not, because the Animorphs arrange for the Yeerks to "test" it on Tobias; the Yeerks have no way of knowing that hawk ''is'' [[ShapeshifterModeLock his true form]].
* In ''Literature/{{Below}}'', Brenish regards polymorphosis as AwesomeButImpractical because there's no way to control what the target creature will transform into, and the result could be an even worse threat. Gareth brings along a polymorph wand anyway for [[RuleOfCool a better tale]] to tell when they get back, believing he can handle it. He's ''mostly'' correct about that, but one shot [[GoneHorriblyRight goes horribly right]] enough to land the party in even worse trouble.

* An atomic bomb blast turned Bruce Banner into ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk.

* The ''{{Neopets}}'' website has a Lab Ray that does random things to the pets, like changing their stats, species, or color. The Petpet Lab Ray preforms similarly; it changes petpets' levels, species, color, or [[BreakingTheFourthWall name]].

** An earlier episode with a very similar plot had Wonder Woman and Superman turned into an anthro zebra and lion, respectively. The Wonder Twins also manage to be sort of useful.

* One episode of ''UruseiYatsura'' featured a gun that [[GenderBender switched its target's gender]].

* In the series ''KeroroGunsou'', several {{Transformation Ray}}s appear, including the ''Oni Girl Gun'', which changes the target into a japanese ''Oni'' or demon, the ''Age Transformation Ray'' which can de-age or age a person by around ten years, and the ''Animal Transformation Gun'', which changes animals into [[LittleBitBeastly humanized versions of themselves]].

* In ''VideoGame/SiN'', lead character and BadAss police officer John Blade is turned into a mutant by Alexis Sinclaire, the head of a pharmaceutical company marketing a dangerous designer drug. After surviving through a number of tests you are forced into completing by Sinclaire's private security force, you find the magic machine that transforms you back into a human again (making this a transformation needle, not a ray). Coincidentally, you also get your gun, your uniform and your wireless communication with your sidekick back once you've gone through the process.

* The ''WellWorld'' series by Creator/{{Jack Chalker}}: ''The Well of Souls'' provides a one-way (and usually Karmic) transformation for anyone who winds up there.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': From the late 1950s through the early 1960s, due to ExecutiveMeddling prompted by the monster-movie craze, many stories featured rays or other {{Phlebotinum}} that transformed the Caped Crusader into a fish-man, a human buzz saw, a giant genie and other bizarre creatures. This was a staple of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] plots, especially in DCComics.

* ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}'': Roodaka's Rhotuka Spinner permanently mutating the target into whatever shape the user wants.

* Franchise/{{Superman}} encounters Red Kryptonite which has various tranformative effects on him. Pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}}, each random chunk of red kryptonite had a different effect on Superman which lasted for 24 hours before wearing off and then he would be immune to the effects of that one chunk. ComicBook/PostCrisis and subsequent media adaptations have been a little more meta about it. [[note]]Each time it pops up, it was made in a different way or in some cases is being used in a different way, often with effects outside the trope.[[/note]]
* ''Mystery In Space'': One of the regular features of the 60's comic was the story of a space explorer who had been shot by four different rayguns at the same time, each wielded by a different kind of alien. The result was each ray changed the part of his body that it hit to be like that of the owner of the gun.\\

* An atomic bomb blast that turned Bruce Banner into ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk.

* Cosmic rays that created the ComicBook/FantasticFour.

* The ''WellWorld'' series by Creator/{{Jack Chalker}}: ''The Well of Souls'' provides a one-way (and usually Kharmic) transformation for anyone who winds up there.

Any {{Phlebotinum}} that transforms someone(s) into something weird, usually by shooting them with a ray. It's often a machine, produced by a MadScientist, but GreenRocks are also common. At the end of the episode the same {{Phlebotinum}} is used to revert the effects, or it simply wears off (for example, the puppetising spell in ''Series/{{Angel}}'').

* The title character of TamoraPierce's third ''Literature/TheImmortals'' book, ''Emperor Mage'', is a dictator whose time is up. At the end of the book, he's been hunted down by the protagonists, whereupon he plays what he thinks is his trump card, announcing, "I have Stormwing magic!" and sticking a sharp metal feather from a Stormwing (half-human, half-bird immortal) into his arm. To his unhappy surprise, the effect is to turn him ''into'' a Stormwing -- and once you've shapeshifted into immortal form, you can't go back. He's whisked away to be subjected to some Stormwing justice -- it's not clear what exactly this will entail, but he's done a lot to piss off the Stormwings in the past, and they're not known for being soft touches.\\

* ''FamilyMatters'' showed these sometimes:

* The ''RatchetAndClank'' series contains various weapons which transform enemies into either [[BalefulPolymorph useless animals]] or [[HeelFaceTurn makeshift animal allies]].

* ''{{Superfriends}}'': A villain kidnaps people for his twisted circus and shoots them with a ray gun that turns them into anthromorphic animals he uses it on Wonder Woman and turns her into an ugly rhinobeast. And with their usual amount of intelligence, The Wonder Twins manage to hold the gun backwards and turn themselves into a tree and centauress.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': From the late 1950s through the early 1960s, due to ExecutiveMeddling prompted by the monster-movie craze, many stories featured rays or other {{Phlebotinum}} that transformed the Caped Crusader into a fish-man, a human buzz saw, a giant genie and other bizarre creatures. This was a staple of SilverAge plots, especially in DCComics.

* The cursed spring water in ''RanmaOneHalf'' may be considered an example of a transformation device used to establish a series premise.

* ''WhateleyUniverse'': MadScientist Dr. Pygmalion used this on the deviser Delta Spike, who got transformed into a brunette bombshell while trying to capture Dr. Pygmalion. (Delta Spike actually wanted both things to happen, and is extremely happy now.)
* ''ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': The aptly-named Disguise Generator is used to set continuum-appropriate disguises for the Agents before they go on a mission. Going without a disguise makes it much more difficult to blend into the canon, and causes the Agents to be more likely to be noticed by the Sue, meaning that going without is very dangerous. However, it is not entirely necessary for Bad Slash missions or other departments that don't directly deal with Sues, simply making those jobs easier to carry out. The Disguise Generator/Disguise Outfitting Ryticular Kostume System ([[FunWithAcronyms DORKS]]) has a similar purpose for the agents while they're already inside the continuum, allowing them to change disguises on the fly (including, in one case, disguising the Agent as a ''chair'').

* Franchise/{{Superman}} encounters Red Kryptonite which has various tranformative effects on him. Pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}}, each random chunk of red kryptonite had a different effect on Superman which lasted for 24 hours before wearing off and then he would be immune to the effects of that one chunk. PostCrisis and subsequent media adaptations have been a little more meta about it. [[note]]Each time it pops up, it was made in a different way or in some cases is being used in a different way, often with effects outside the trope.[[/note]]

* Majin Buu from ''DragonBall'' has a ''literal'' transformation ray that he fires from his antennae, he normally uses it to turn people into [[SweetTooth candy]].

* An atomic bomb blast that turned Bruce Banner into TheIncredibleHulk.
* A radioactive spider gave Peter Parker his SpiderMan powers.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'': The concept was revisted in where it turns out Gorilla Grodd's big plan is to use an amped up transformation ray to turn the entire world into apes like him. After the plan fails, Luthor just shoots Grodd and takes over the Injustice Society weeks earlier than he'd planned.

* Franchise/{{Superman}} encounters Red Kryptonite which has various tranformative effects on him. PreCrisis, each random chunk of red kryptonite had a different effect on Superman which lasted for 24 hours before wearing off and then he would be immune to the effects of that one chunk. PostCrisis and subsequent media adaptations have been a little more meta about it. [[note]]Each time it pops up, it was made in a different way or in some cases is being used in a different way, often with effects outside the trope.[[/note]]

* ''SecretOfEvermore'''s sidekick, the dog, has this happen early in the game as a side effect of chewing on the wires to the world creation device. This causes it to change form in the different realms of Evermore, taking a shape appropriate to the world its in. The dog is fine once the hero and dog eventually escape Evermore at the end of the game.
* In ''{{Singularity}}'', the time device the character wears on his arm can either advance an object or person along its "personal timeline" and either powder them, or drag it back along same and create a horrific alternate timeline where they never [[NightmareFuel matured past month four in the womb before being born, and thus never developed eyes or skin.]]
* Sudoku's Transformation Ray in the Flash game for ''BananaNanaNinja'' can turn characters into pies, as well as generally being a SwissArmyWeapon.

* ''WorldOfWarcraft'''s [[GadgeteerGenius gnomes]] bring us the [[http://www.wowhead.com/item=23835 Gnomish Poultryizer]].