History Main / AnimalisticAbilities

* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': The [[TransformationTrinket Miraculouses]] are based on Zodiac animals and grant the user a power that is somehow connected to the animal they represent. For example, the Ladybug Miraculous grants the power of Creation since ladybugs are said to be signs of good luck, while the Black Cat Miraculous grants the power of Destruction since black cats are said to be omens of bad luck.

** In "The Amazing T-Girl'', Jade absorbs the powers of all 12 talismans.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "The Man Who Grew Too Much", Sideshow Bob reveals he's been modifying his own DNA and now has, among other things, the strength of a Brahma bull, the thighs of a grasshopper, and the sonar of a killer whale.

* ''LightNovel/ProblemChildrenAreComingFromAnotherWorldArentThey'': Yo Kasukabe can [[SpeaksFluentAnimal communicate]] with animals and use the abilities of any animals she has befriended.

* ''Videogame/FarCry3'': Jason is given a PowerTattoo that is said to simultaneously grant him the power of a shark, a heron and a spider. In game mechanics terms, each animal is associated with a branch of the SkillTree: Shark skills grant endurance, toughness and better healing, Heron skills grant better handling of long-range weapons and improve mobility, and Spider skills grant better stealth and the ability to find more items when hunting, foraging or looting.

* The main draw of the ''Literature/ShadowsOfTheApt'' series is that it takes place in a world where humans have developed powers based on particular totem arthropods. Ant-kinden are peerless soldiers with a HiveMind, Beetle-kinden are tough and enduring, Wasp-kinden can fly and [[HandBlast shoot “stings” from their hands]], Spider-kinden are [[CharmPerson alluring]] schemers, etcetera.

* The main draw of the ''Literature/ShadowsOfTheApt'' series is that it takes place in a world where humans have developed powers based on particular totem arthropods. Ant-kinden have a HiveMind, Beetle-kinden are tough and enduring, Wasp-kinden can fly and [[PalmBlast shoot “stings” from their hands]], etcetera.

* ''LightNovel/{{Campione}}'': As a Campione, Godou has access to the "Ten Incarnations", ten different divine powers. Most of these powers are named after an animal:

* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'': Udyr is the vessel of four primal animal spirits, each with its own unique power. The tiger grants him speed and ferocity, the turtle resilience, the bear might, and the phoenix its eternal flame.
* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'': [[MagicalNativeAmerican Nightwolf]] can borrow power from two animal spirits, the wolf and the bear. The wolf increases his strength and attack damage while the bear increases his resistance to damage.

The way this power is depicted varies. Some may have this as their default powerset (this is often the case if the powers are derived from one animal). Other cases have the user able to [[PowerCopying copy the abilities of animals]] either within their vicinity or just in existence. A mystical variation of this power may have characters invoking animal spirits to empower themselves. At its most powerful, this power grants a character abilities [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphogenetic_field the entire morphogenetic field]] allowing them even copy human powers. Expect {{AnimalThemedSuperbeing}}s to have these powers.

** ComicBook/{{Vixen}} wears a [[MagicalAccessory magic totem]] which allows her to use the abilities of any and all animals. The totem was created by the spider god Anansi and given to Vixen's ancestor Tantu, whose family has passed it down from generation to generation. [[SwissArmySuperpower Vixen has also been able to mimic the abilities of extinct animals, mutated animals like Gorilla Grodd, mythical beasts and even sapient creatures like Kryptonians]].

** The Bear grants strength and endurance, making the barbarian resistant to most forms of damage and extra strength when carrying pushing, pulling or lifting. It also grants protection for the barbarian's allies, by allowing the barbarian to impose disadvantage on an enemy's attack rolls, making their attacks less likely to hit.

** The Elk grants mobility; barbarians who follow this path gain further movement speed when raging, the ability to cover more ground when travelling long distance on foot, and a charging attack that can knock enemies prone.

* ''Videogame/FarCry3'': Jason is given a PowerTattoo that is said to simultaneously grant him the power of a shark, a heron and a spider. In game mechanics terms, each animal is associated with a branch of the SkillTree: Shark skills grant endurance, toughness and better healing, Heron skills grant better handling of long-range weapons and improve mobility, and Spider skills grant better stealth and more efficient exploration.

* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':

* ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'': A bandit with the Shamanic Adept class calls out the names of different animals (which manifest as glowing tattoos) to give him corresponding stat boosts. Unfortunately for him, he's dealing with Sebas, one of Nazerick's EliteMooks, who are magnitudes more powerful than even the best the world has to offer. The bandits abilities prove useless.

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': The Inuzaka clan's "Four Legs Technique" is based on animal movements and enhances speed and accuracy. It also grants them teeth and claws.

* ''Manga/GetBackers'': Shido Fuyuki has the ability to take on the characteristics of about 100 different types of animals, such as a bat's echolocation abilities, or a wolf's strength and claws.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': The Inuzaka clan's "Four Legs Technique" is based on animal movements and enhances speed and accuracy.

The way this power is depicted varies. Some may have this as their default powerset (this is often the case if the powers are derived from one animal). Other cases have the user able to [[PowerCopying copy the abilities of animals]] either within their vicinity or just in existence. A mystical variation of this power may have characters invoking animal spirits to empower themselves. At its most powerful, this power grants a character abilities [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphogenetic_field the entire morphogenetic field]] allowing them even copy human powers.

Some cases of this trope are when the powers are based on superstitions or beliefs about certain animals i.e a character possessing the nine lives of a cat or SelfDuplication based on certain creatures that breed very fast.

** ComicBook/AnimalMan is the TropeCodifier for western superheroes. Initially believed to have gained his animal mimicry abilities from alien experiments, Animal Man was retconned into being an avatar for The Red, the mystical representation of the earth's morphogenetic field. Initially, Animal Man could only copy the powers of animals within his proximity but later gained the ability to use any animal ability just by tapping into the morphogenetic field, regardless of if he was in proximity to an animal or not.

** ''ComicBook/FreedomFightersDC'': The original version of the Black Condor gained the power of flight by studying the birds [[RaisedByWolves the raised him]].

->'' "Then one day, a lawman appeared\