History Main / ForcedTransformation

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'':

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1651201612036520600 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.]]]]]]

* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lChMubRVM Sega's commercial for it's Aladdin game]] a boy finds a magic lamp which gives him three wishes. He first wishes for Disney's Aladdin on Sega Genesis. His two friends don't believe him so he uses his remaining wishes to turn one into a dog and the other into a fire hydrant.

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1651201612036520600 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.]]]]]]
%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1296696609074840100
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-->-- Matoya, Webcomic/EightBitTheater

* ForcedTransformation/AnimatedFilms

* ForcedTransformation/LiveActionFilms

* ForcedTransformation/WebComics

* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZGXss02yo this]] ''Advertising/{{GEICO}}'' ad, WickedWitch Grizwalda uses a potion to turn her roommate into a cat, slowly and with BodyHorror.

[[folder:Asian Animation]]

* ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'': [[SequenceBreaking Exploited]] by Brian a few times.

* ''ComicStrip/SnarfQuest'', Prince Raffendorf had been transformed into a [[RatMen rat man]] by Suthaze's magic, and only Suthaze possessed the ability to reverse the curse.

[[folder:Eastern European Animation]]
* ''Animation/GypsyTales'': Near the end of "The Gypsy Woman and the Devil", the devil turns Vunida into a cherry tree so "[her] children will eat of [her] flesh and drink of [her] blood." It's described as [[BodyHorror agonizing to her]].
[[/folder]]

* In ''Literature/BrotherAndSister'', Brother is transformed into a deer by his WickedStepmother and can only turn back [[NoOntologicalInertia after her death]].
* In ''Literature/TheWhiteDuck'', the queen is turned into a white duck, and her children are born as ducklings.

* ''Literature/TheSixSwans'' were princes changed to that form by their WickedStepmother. They could turn back into humans once an evening, but would turn into swans again after a short time.

* In ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/cinderella/stories/birch.html The Wonderful Birch]]'', after the hero marries the heroine, the WickedStepmother turns her into a reindeer and puts her own daughter in her place; a wise woman brings her child to the forest and she turns to a woman to tend it, and her husband burns her skin.
* In the [[Literature/ChildBallads child ballad]] ''Literature/TamLin'' (Child #39), Tam Lin is transformed in Fair Janet's arms by TheFairFolk, who want her to let go of him.
* In ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/grimms/135whiteblackbride.html The White Bride and the Black One]]'', the WickedStepmother turns her stepdaughter into a duck.
* In ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/sevendoves.html The Seven Doves]]'' the heroes are turned to birds by their sister's carelessness; similarly for their mother's in ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/twelvewilducks.html The Twelve Wild Ducks]]'' and their father's in "Literature/TheSevenRavens".
* In ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/pussboots/stories/lordpeter.html Lord Peter]]'', a variant of ''Literature/PussInBoots'', the cat turns out in the end to be an enchanted princess.
* In ''Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast'', a prince is turned into a beastly creature by a fairy/enchantress he angered.
* The hero of ''Literature/EastOfTheSunAndWestOfTheMoon'' was made a bear, albeit a TalkingAnimal, by his WickedStepmother (for refusing to marry her daughter and let her become his mother-in-law) and can only take on his human form at night. Similarly with ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/norroway.html The Black Bull of Norroway]]'', ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/brownbear.html The Brown Bear of Norway]]'', ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/enchpig.html The Enchanted Pig]]'', the dog in ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/daughterskies.html The Daughter of the Skies]]'', and ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/whitewolf.html The White Wolf]]''.

* In "Literature/IronHans", Iron Hans turns out to be have been a king, turned into a wild man.
* In ''Literature/TheWhiteDove'', the dove is a kidnapped princess. The witch also tries to hide her from the prince in other shapes.

* In "Literature/TheFrogPrince", the prince is turned into a frog before the story.
* In Creator/AsbjornsenAndMoe's "Literature/TheSevenFoals", the foals are the king's transformed sons.
* In "Literature/TheBlueBird", PrinceCharming is cursed to live seven years as a bird by [[DaddysLittleVillain Princess Truitonne]]'s FairyGodmother. At the end of the story, Truitonne herself becomes a pig.
* At the end of ''Literature/TheBakersDaughter'', the daughter is permanently transformed into an owl as punishment for her greed and dishonesty.

* In "Literature/TheLaidlyWormOfSpindlestonHeugh", the titular monster used to be Princess Margaret. She is saved by her brother, who then turns the tables on the WickedWitch and changes her into a toad.

* "Literature/KingGoldenlocks": The giant wildman turns out to be an ordinary man who had been transformed into a monster by a curse.
* In "Literature/TheGoldMountain", a princess has been turned into snake by a curse.
* "Literature/JorindeAndJoringel": The witch turns male intruders into statues, and females into birds. Jorinde becomes a nightingale when she goes too near the castle.

* In "Literature/TheThreeFlowers", Katie's brothers are turned into deers when she ignores the wood sprite's well-meaning warnings and plucks three flowers.
* "Literature/TheEnchantedQuill": A curse turns a prince into a talking crow.

* Music/{{Radiohead}}'s music video for "There There" ends with Thom Yorke becoming a tree, as his apparent punishment for stealing some enchanted clothing he found in the woods.

* OlderThanFeudalism from Myth/ClassicalMythology: Circe in ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' takes revenge on Odysseus's men by turning them all into pigs.
* One version of the myth of Atalanta ends with Atalanta and her lover transformed into lions as punishment for having sex in a temple (less of an {{Unishment}} as it may seem: the Greeks thought lions and lionesses didn't reproduce with each other but with leopards).
* Occurred with considerable frequency in Myth/CelticMythology, to the point that it's actually difficult to find stories that don't feature at least one instance of it. Literature/TheChildrenOfLir were turned into swans, a Welsh king got turned into a boar, Gwydion and Gilfaethwy were stuck spending three years as a breeding pair of animals that changed every year, Oisin's mother was changed into a doe, and so on.

* While the cause for the ability varies between versions, the story of King Midas has his touch act like this, [[BlessedWithSuck turning anything touched into a gold statue]]. Very unfortunate when his daughter goes to hug him. Fortunately for him, not only is this power removed, but the victims are restored. In some versions, though, the power is never removed and he ends up starving to death because any food he touches turns into gold. At this point, "the Midas Touch" has become synonymous with "BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor."

** [[TropeNamers Named after]] the 4th-level ''baleful polymorph'' [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/balefulPolymorph.htm spell,]] which turns involuntary targets into small, weak animals and can make them [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody lose their minds]]. Turning them into something that would kill them (a non-lunged fish on land, or a non-flying animal in a situation where only a flying creature has a reasonable chance of survival) makes the spell easier to resist, as though the target instinctively knows what he's being turned into and that the situation is even worse. Though the duration is permanent, the subject gets a second save to retain their mental faculties and their special powers.
** In 5th Edition D&D Polymorph is significantly less powerful as it only lasts one hour and then the target reverts. Also whilst the target's mental abilities become that of what it turned into it does still keep it's personality so it's not unheard of for players to use it on themselves especially if they are low on the ability to cast for the day (spell slots) and they are in a situation where being a giant ape for an hour may be more beneficial than being a SquishyWizard. The higher level spell True Polymorph ''can'' permanently turn someone into an animal (or object) but the caster has to concentrate on this for full hour which means they cannot fail any concentration saving throws it they get hit by an attack mid combat, so this is tricky to pull off mid-battle.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' has Pattern Spider Touch, from the [[SupernaturalMartialArts Charcoal March of Spiders Style]]. It allows a Sidereal to fundamentally alter their opponent in some interesting way. Typically, it's used to punch people in the face and turn them into ducks.

* ''TabletopGame/SuperDungeonExplore'' has an expansion set Von Drakk Manor including happy looking [[http://superdungeonexplore.wikia.com/wiki/Curse_Coven_Witch witches]] with the ability to turn heroes engaged in combat into [[http://superdungeonexplore.wikia.com/wiki/Miserable_Toad Miserable Toads]]. Far from Miserable, they acquire several defensive abilities and a knack for stealing potions and healing from their foes. They are even reverted with a kiss from a friendly model.
* The "Transformation" trick in ''TabletopGame/KitsuneOfFoxesAndFools'', appears to show the Scumbag Lawyer turned into a toad.
* This is a new spell available to spellbinders of the Svaldon disciplines in ''TabletopGame/KaisersGate''. Actually uses the same name, requires not only the casters Spellbinding skill roll, but it must beat the targets Spirit roll, and doesn't last too long. Cannot be used against those who teach it, and is also useful for turning polymorphed beings back to their original state, as well as returning those who have been [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]] to their normal state (though they are not guaranteed to survive that.)

* In one episode of ''WebAnimation/PuffinForest'', Asiago defeats a kraken by turning it into a cat (Ben is very surprised to discover that Krakens don't any of the typical kinds of ContractualBossImmunity to this), [[DefeatMeansFriendship and then they form an alliance with it]].

* This is the backstory for animation blogger, Neil Sharpton's persona the ''Blog/UnshavedMouse'', who used to be human, but as a child was turned into an animated mouse by [[spoiler:the immortal warlock, ''Creator/WaltDisney'' (just go with it)]] for the crime of... not thinking Disney's ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' was as great as everyone else. Though unlike most examples, Mouse has largely accepted this and moved on. (Being happily married to Mrs. Mouse probably helps.)
* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'':
** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-731 SCP-731 ("Rathole Cover")]] is a manhole cover which causes anyone who steps on it while not being observed to fall through it and turn into a sewer rat.
** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-748 SCP-748 ("Industrial Dissolution").]] One of the products created by SCP-748 is cigarettes. When they're lit, anyone inhaling their vapor is turned into a basking shark over a period of 30 minutes.
** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1537 SCP-1537 ("Akul'hil").]] Anyone hearing a specific phrase in the SCP-1537 language Akul'hil is 99% likely to die and be transformed into SCP-1537-A (a ShapeShifting BlobMonster) after a two week period.
** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2950 SCP-2950 ("Just A Chair").]] It's just a chair. [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Nothing world-ending about it at all.]] [[BlatantLies Trust us.]] [[spoiler:It is actually an anomaly that takes the form of whatever the majority of people think it is. A book describing it as an extremely dangerous monster used to mean that it was a monster, but after figuring out the true nature of the object, the Foundation wrote a fake document claiming it was an extremely comfortable metal chair and spread information of it among their members in order to turn the monster into said chair.]]
** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-3660 SCP-3660 (The Zoo Zipper).]] A rusty metal zipper which if attached to the skin of a human will slowly unzip, and once it is unzipped, an animal with the same conscience as the human will emerge, and the skin on the normal human will appear more rubbery, effectively transforming the victim into a random animal.
* Thanks to [=DovSherman=] at Website/DeviantArt, Sue transformations [[http://dovsherman.deviantart.com/art/Mary-Sue-ification-Meme-d-169162395 now works like this too]].

* In ''Literature/{{Moonflowers}},'' Ned Song is turned into a white wolf by the Hunter, TheFairFolk leader of TheWildHunt, then gets unwittingly adopted by his own daughter Alima. The curse means he can't communicate with anyone living or the Irish gods trying to help him out, and it also makes humans mistake him for a wolf-dog instead of a full-blooded wolf. Ned can't do much as Alima's pet, but by the twentieth chapter he makes a BloodOath with a spirit to kill the Hunter.

* In ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' this quickly became the Mighty Nein's M.O. for dealing with difficult or potentially lethal encounters, including turning a blue dragon into a weasel, a fire giant into a giant tortioise, a frost worm into a turtle, and turning a ''turtle dragon'' into a sea slug... [[RunningGag and a sea turtle]].

* In ''Animation/KungFuWa'' a Kung Fu Master from the past is transported to the present day, losing his physical body and turning into a sock, when Tee Yang puts him in her foot she obtains his Kung Fu abilities and mystical powers.
** When Kung Fu Master Sock arrived, at the same time his [[APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil former student]] Manipulens, ends up tranforming into a pair CoolShades.

** When Kung Fu Master Sock arrived, at the same time his [[APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil former student]] ends up tranforming into a pair CoolShades.

** When Kung Fu Master Sock arrived, at the same time his [[ASudentOfMineUntilHeTurnedEvil former student]] ends up tranforming into a pair CoolShades.

Characters get hit with a spell, {{Curse}}, or TransformationRay, causing an instantaneous and involuntary transformation into a form that is harmless or otherwise seriously impairs their ability to pursue their goals, until they can revert to their usual form by some means. This is commonly [[{{Animorphism}} some sort of animal creature]] (whether real or fantastic), though it can also be a [[{{Transflormation}} plant]] or a lifeless object. They may [[TalkingAnimal or may not]] lose their voice, or even their mental faculties (in which case someone else will have to seek the cure for them).

In role-playing or video games, this is frequently a StatusEffect that will disable or greatly weaken most attacks and magic, but will rarely affect the victim's HitPoints or armor. People may get turned into toads, but — hot damn — those toads will be MadeOfIron! A notable exception is when insects are involved, in which case the victim is not long for this world.

This is common in fiction, as it's a way for a spellcaster to defeat foes with magic without simply [[ThouShaltNotKill killing them]], or as a form of punishment (e.g. underlings who failed their boss [[YouHaveFailedMe one time too many]]). It's also generally [[SortingAlgorithmOfDeadness less permanent]] and [[NeverSayDie more palatable]] than actual death. Often requires a hero to find the magic "[[FindTheCure cure]]" to turn his friend back into a person. This can be also be used to show a specific aspect of the character's personality, such as [[AnimalStereotypes gluttons turned into pigs, or cowards into chickens]].

Occasionally, this may function as a TransferredTransformation; in such cases, one character stuck in an undesirable form can only break the curse by shunting it onto someone else.

Occasionally in fiction a character may manage to save the day while still under this effect, sometimes through use of the animal form's abilities. This will lead to the {{Aesop}} that it's brains, not strength, that's important. Or that courage is more important than size. Or that you ''can'' lay an egg and still feel like a man.

Whether or not a forced transformation is effective against a {{Voluntary Shapeshift|ing}}er varies, depending on whether or not it also imposes a ShapeshifterModeLock — otherwise the shapeshifter can just transform themselves back to normal, or at least something else. Thus, it is a subtrope of {{curse}}s.

Polymorphing into a nonliving form is much less likely to be played for laughs and much more likely to be permanent.

* BalefulPolymorph/AnimatedFilms
* BalefulPolymorph/AnimeAndManga
* BalefulPolymorph/ComicBooks
* BalefulPolymorph/FanWorks
* BalefulPolymorph/{{Literature}}
* BalefulPolymorph/LiveActionFilms
* BalefulPolymorph/LiveActionTV
* BalefulPolymorph/VideoGames
* BalefulPolymorph/WebComics
* BalefulPolymorph/WesternAnimation

Whether or not a Baleful Polymorph is effective against a {{Voluntary Shapeshift|ing}}er varies, depending on whether or not it also imposes a ShapeshifterModeLock — otherwise the shapeshifter can just transform themselves back to normal, or at least something else. Thus, it is a subtrope of {{curse}}s.

* Literature/TheTrollsDaughter": The troll turns his servant into three different creatures (a hare, a bird, and a fish) after giving him permission to take a break for a while. The transformed boy spends a lot of time running because the troll has enchanted and caged up all the rest of the creatures. However, the third transformation backfires on him when the boy-turned-fish ends up finding and falling in love with the troll's daughter.

* In "LiteratureTheThreeFlowers", Katie's brothers are turned into deers when she ignores the wood sprite's well-meaning warnings and plucks three flowers.

** When Calvin and Hobbes use the Transmogrifier, like most of their cardboard box technology, it never turns out well. This might be why ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' used the word as well in the above song lyric.

* [[SequenceBreaking Exploited]] by Brian in the ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'' a few times.

[[folder:Music Videos]]

* In ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/sevendoves.html The Seven Doves]]'' the heroes are turned to birds by their sister's carelessness; similarly for their mother's in ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/twelvewilducks.html The Twelve Wild Ducks]]'' and their father's in Literature/TheSevenRavens.

* In ''Literature/IronHans'', Iron Hans turns out to be have been a king, turned into a wild man.

->''"Are you ready?\\
Transformation central!\\
Reformation central!\\
Transmogrification central!"''
-->-- '''Dr. Facilier''', ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', "[[VillainSong Friends on the Other Side]]"

In role-playing or video games, this is frequently a {{Standard Status Effect|s}} that will disable or greatly weaken most attacks and magic, but will rarely affect the victim's HitPoints or armor. People may get turned into toads, but — hot damn — those toads will be MadeOfIron! A notable exception is when insects are involved, in which case the victim is not long for this world.

* Thanks to [=DovSherman=] at Website/DeviantArt, MarySue-ification [[http://dovsherman.deviantart.com/art/Mary-Sue-ification-Meme-d-169162395 now works like this too]].