History Main / Humanshifting

* The Changeling race in the {{Eberron}} setting of DungeonsAndDragons has this as its signature power, being able to take on the appearance (and only the appearance, not the other innate powers of) other humanoids. By extension, the {{Doppelganger}} race has this same power too.
* The ''alter self'' spell in DungeonsAndDragons lets you transform into another creature of your type. Since most spellcasters are humanoids, this means [[FiveRaces humans, elves, dwarves, etc]]. (Although a dragon casting ''alter self'' could only turn into [[OurDragonsAreDifferent a different dragon]].)

* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', this is [[{{Transvestite}} Mr. 2 Bon Clay's]] power from the Clone-Clone Fruit. By touching the face of a person, he is able to impersonate the face, voice, and body, [[ManIFeelLikeAWoman as he proved with Nami]], of that person. There's a reason why he's ranked Number 2. It is also a hindrance, since to use his [[DanceBattler Martial Ballet Arts]] he has to use his real body, or something as strong.

* In ''Franchise/Naruto'', just about everyone can transform into other people with ease with the Transformation Technique. There are many variations to this technique.
* In ''Anime/Bakugan'', Zenet Surrow can transform into other people.

* Mirror Man, an agent of the British Library in ''{{ROD The TV Series}}''.
* An assassin in ''VisionOfEscaflowne'' steals the appearance of several people (as part of the KillAndReplace routine).
* Minor character Suetsumu in ''ZettaiKarenChildren'', using telepathic hypnosis. An unusually benevolent example, since she uses it primarily to comfort terminally ill patients in her role as a nurse, and she doesn't even lie about who she really is while using it.
* In Naruto just about everyone can transform into other people with ease with the Transformation Technique. There are many variations to this technique.
* In Bakugan, Zenet Surrow can transform into other people.
* In Dragonball, Oolong and Puar can transform into people and objects.

* This is sometimes the Chameleon's power in ''{{Spider-Man}}'', who is a SuperVillain who has impersonated Spider-Man and some of his RoguesGallery many times. (DependingOnTheWriter, this may be a shapeshifting superpower, or he may just be a MasterOfDisguise).

[[folder:Literature]]
* This is an ability that can be possessed by watercrafters in ''Literature/CodexAlera''. Even if you have only a limited watercrafting talent, you can change your appearance, though it takes longer to complete the process. Taking a form of a different size or shape from your own can be uncomfortable at best, though.
* This is Tessa Gray's unique power in ''The InfernalDevices''. Her whole schtick is that she can change her appearance into any humanoid, dead or alive, as long as she has touched an object that belonged to them. She's turned into both males and females.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Metamorphmagi like Nymphadora Tonks ([[spoiler:or her son Teddy Lupin]]) have the ability to alter her appearance at will, but must presumably retain a human shape. This is in contrast to Animagi, who can perform {{Animorphism}} into one specific animal.
** There is also Polyjuice Potion, which can turn you into a specific person for an hour, [[CannibalismSuperpower after you add a bit of said person into it]] (such as a hair, nail, etc.) It messes up if you add a non-human component, even if that person is a HalfHumanHybrid.
* In Max Fraj's ''Literature/LabyrinthsOfEcho'' most sufficiently powerful mages can alter their appearance. There are also some mages proficient in changing the appearance of others. Their field of work is best compared with cosmetic surgeons, therefore the LSIF (the settings police for magic-involving cases) keeps tabs on them. The most notable user of this magic is Sir Kofa Yokh, the LSIF's Master Listener. While an elder gentleman in his default appearance, Kofa Yokh will easily assume any shape at will to do his work - going unnoticed all around Echo and gathering all relevant information or altering the appearances of his fellow Secret Investigators when needed.
* As a Shi'ido, Borborygmus Gog of ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'' should be able to transform into any creature he wants to, but in the series he stays almost exclusively to humanoid forms while the protagonists are watching. Partly this is because he uses his power to infiltrate, but even cornered, he prefers tools like blasters and {{Tykebomb}}s. Pretty much the only exception is just before and during his ShapeshifterSwanSong, and he keeps flickering back into his default form during that.
[[/folder]]

{{Shape shift|ing}}ers are very common in fiction due to their flexibility. They can turn into a [[{{Werewolf}} wolf]], a [[{{Sizeshifter}} giant]], a tree, a whale, or sometimes only transform into another person.

See {{Doppelganger}}. Compare ShapeShifter and MasterOfDisguise. Contrast WigDressAccent. For nonhumans that become humans, then that's HumanityEnsues.

!!Examples:

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''{{Inception}}'', this is Eames' job as a Forger, but he can only do it in dreams.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* The First Evil in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' can only transform into real, dead (or ex-dead, or undead), people. You do see occasional glimpse of a demonic face that presumably represents its "true form," however.
* ''XFiles'':

* ''TheTwilightZone'' episode "The Four of Us Are Dying" features a con man with the ability to shape shift into anyone he chooses.

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* A villain from ''KimPossible'' named [[PunnyName Camille Leon]] can shapeshift into people after an experimental cosmetic surgery.

{{Shape shift|ing}}ers are very common in fiction due to their flexibility. They can turn into a [[{{Werewolf}} wolf]], a [[{{Sizeshifter}} giant]], a tree, a whale, or sometimes only transform into another person.

How much a humanshifter can change varies. It could be just the face or it could be the whole body. The latter can lead to GenderBender tropes. While Humanshifters don't have the versatility of being able to shift into another animal, they have their advantages. They are usually a MasterOfDisguise, able to replace their subject, and wreak havoc by many ways. Done rightly, they could bring down entire kingdoms without having to personally use a weapon.

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[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

* Liar's Mask, Due's Inherent Skill in ''{{Nanoha StrikerS}}'', allows her to assume the appearance of any humanoid (though apparently only female of approximately the same height and build as herself).

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

* DependingOnTheWriter, Mystique from the ''ComicBook/{{X-Men}}'' comics is usually limited to human shapes (some adaptations have stretched this, though, such as the ''X-Men Evolution'' cartoon that had her turning into animals like wolves).
* This is the power of the villain Everyman in TheDCU.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* In ''{{Inception}}'', this is Eames' job as a Forger, but he can only do it in dreams.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* The First Evil in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' can only transform into real, dead (or ex-dead, or undead), people. You do see occasional glimpse of a demonic face that presumably represents its "true form," however.

** Episode "Small Potatoes", Eddie Van Blundht has an extra layer of muscle that he can control to perfectly impersonate other humans. Moreover, although the episode doesn't specifically mention the limitation, we only see him in the forms of other ''male'' humans.
** The Alien Bounty Hunter can assume the appearance of any human he has met, e.g. Fox Mulder's.
** In the episode "Gender Bender", the villain shapeshifts from male to female and back, though s/he only seems to have a single appearance for each gender.
* Victoria in ''NoOrdinaryFamily'' had the ability to shapeshift into anyone else, even including their personality and superpowers. After she was killed, Stephanie was able to exploit this by temporarily impersonating ''her''.
* ''TheTwilightZone'' episode "The Four of Us Are Dying" features a con man with the ability to shape shift into anyone he chooses.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* This is an ability that can be possessed by watercrafters in ''Literature/CodexAlera''. Even if you have only a limited watercrafting talent, you can change your appearance, though it takes longer to complete the process. Taking a form of a different size or shape from your own can be uncomfortable at best, though.
* This is Tessa Gray's unique power in ''The InfernalDevices''. Her whole schtick is that she can change her appearance into any humanoid, dead or alive, as long as she has touched an object that belonged to them. She's turned into both males and females.

[[AC:TabletopGames]]
* The Changeling race in the {{Eberron}} setting of DungeonsAndDragons has this as its signature power, being able to take on the appearance (and only the appearance, not the other innate powers of) other humanoids. By extension, the {{Doppelganger}} race has this same power too.

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* A villain from ''KimPossible'' named [[PunnyName Camille Leon]] can shapeshift into people after an experimental cosmetic surgery.
* Zee from ''WesternAnimation/TheZetaProject''. He has been known to appear as a (humanoid) statue and a broken version of his robot form, otherwise it's strictly people.
* False Face from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' had the ability to change his facial features and hair to impersonate others, but was never shown to even appear as another gender or body type.

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* The [[TheFairFolk changelings]] from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' are a race of bug-like creatures that can take the form of any pony (the equivalent of humans in this show).

* This is an ability that can be possessed by watercrafters in the ''CodexAlera''. Even if you have only a limited watercrafting talent, you can change your appearance, though it takes longer to complete the process. Taking a form of a different size or shape from your own can be uncomfortable at best, though.

* The spy in VideoGame/TeamFortress2 has the ability to impersonate members of the opposing team in order to infiltrate their base.

[[ShapeShifting Shape shifters]] are very common in fiction due to their flexibility. They can turn into a [[{{Werewolf}} wolf]], a [[{{Sizeshifter}} giant]], a tree, a whale, or sometimes only transform into another person.

!'''Examples'''

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

[[AC:Literature]]

* ''HarryPotter'':

* As a Shi'ido, Borborygmus Gog of ''Literature/GalaxyOfPrice'' should be able to transform into any creature he wants to, but in the series he stays almost exclusively to humanoid forms while the protagonists are watching. Partly this is because he uses his power to infiltrate, but even cornered, he prefers tools like blasters and {{Tykebomb}}s. Pretty much the only exception is just before and during his ShapeshifterSwanSong, and he keeps flickering back into his default form during that.

* [[spoiler:Origami Cyclone's]] power in ''Anime/TigerAndBunny''.

[[AC: AnimeAndManga]]

[[AC: ComicBooks]]

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC: TabletopGames]]

[[AC: VideoGames]]

* The spy in {{Team Fortress 2}} has the ability to impersonate members of the opposing team in order to infiltrate their base.

[[AC: {{Webcomics}}]]

[[AC: WebOriginal]]

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

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** There is also Polyjuice Potion, which can turn you into a specific person for an hour, [[CannibalismSuperpower after you add a bit of said person into it]] (such as a hair, nail, etc.) It messes up if you add a non-human component, even if that person is a HalfHumanHybrid.

How much a humanshifter can change varies. It could be just the face or it could be the whole body. The latter can lead to GenderBender tropes. While Humanshifters don't have the versatility of being able to shift into another animal, they have their advantages. They are usually a MasterOfDisguise, able to replace their subject, and wreak havoc and many ways. Done rightly, they could bring down entire kingdoms without having to personally use a weapon.

* Elliot in ''ElGoonishShive'' has this ability, although thanks to a botched magical awakening, most of his available forms are female. (Properly awakened magic in this setting tends towards PersonalityPowers, so it's been theorized that he won't awaken properly until he finds a female form that in some way represents his true self.) He also has access to a cat-person form, but the transformation is [[PainfulTransformation significantly more painful]].

See {{Doppelganger}}. Compare ShapeShifter and MasterOfDisguise. Contrast WigDressAccent.

* This is Tessa Gray's unique power in ''The InfernalDevices''. Her whole schtick is that she can change her appearance into any humanoid, dead or alive, as long as she has touched an object that belonged to them (although so far, she's only turned into females).

* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', this is [[{{Transvestite}} Mr. 2 Bon Clay's]] power from the Clone-Clone Fruit. By touching the face of a person, he is able to impersonate the face, voice, and body, [[ManIFeelLikeAWoman as he proved with Nami]], of that person. There's a reason why he's ranked Number 2.
** But it's also a hindrance since to use his [[DanceBattler Martial Ballet Arts]] he has to use his real body, or something as strong.

* The First Evil in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' can only transform into real, dead (or ex-dead, or undead), people.
** You do see occasional glimpse of a demonic face that presumably represents its "true form," however.
* In the ''XFiles'' episode "Small Potatoes", Eddie Van Blundht has an extra layer of muscle that he can control to perfectly impersonate other humans. Moreover, although the episode doesn't specifically mention the limitation, we only see him in the forms of other ''male'' humans.
** Also from ''TheXFiles'', the Alien Bounty Hunter can assume the appearance of any human he has met, e.g. Fox Mulder's.
** And one more from ''TXF'': in the episode "Gender Bender", the villain shapeshifts from male to female and back, though s/he only seems to have a single appearance for each gender.

* In the ''HarryPotter'' series, Metamorphmagi like Nymphadora Tonks ([[spoiler:or her son Teddy Lupin]]) have the ability to alter her appearance at will, but must presumably retain a human shape. This is in contrast to Animagi, who can perform {{Animorphism}} into one specific animal.
** There's also Polyjuice Potion, which can turn you into a specific person for an hour, [[CannibalismSuperpower after you add a bit of said person into it]] (such as a hair, nail, etc.) It messes up if you add a non-human component, even if that person is a HalfHumanHybrid.

* The Changeling race in the {{Eberron}} setting of DungeonsAndDragons has this as its signature power, being able to take on the appearance (and only the appearance, not the other innate powers of) other humanoids.
** By extension, the {{Doppelganger}} race has this same power too.

ShapeShifting is a very common element in fiction, due to their flexibility. They could turn into a [[{{Werewolf}} wolf]], a [[{{Sizeshifter}} giant]], a tree, a whale...

What if the ShapeShifter can only transform into people?

Humanshifting is when a humanoid character can only transform into a {{Doppelganger}} of someone from their own species. How much a humanshifter can change varies. It could be just the face or the whole body. The latter can lead to GenderBender tropes.

While Humanshifters don't have the versatility of being able to shift into another animal, they have their advantages. They are usually a MasterOfDisguise, able to replace their subject, and wreak havoc and many ways. Done rightly, they could bring down entire kingdoms without having to personally use a weapon.

Humanshifting is when a humanoid character can only transform into a {{Doppelganger}} of his/her own species and/or other humanoid races, depending on the setting. How much a humanshifter can change varies. It could be just the face, but it could also be the hands, voice, mannerisms, or even the whole body (the latter can lead to GenderBender tropes). Even so, it might take awhile to figure out that its not what you think he is.

While Humanshifters don't have the versatility of being able to shift into another animal, they have their advantages. They are usually a Master Of Disguise, able to replace their subject, and wreak havoc and many ways. Done rightly, they could bring down entire kingdoms without having to use a weapon theirselves.

Note in order to qualify for this trope, the character can ''only'' transform into his/her own species or other humanoid species, based on the setting. If he can shift into an animal or other non-humanoid organism, he doesn't fit this trope.

* Zee from ''WesternAnimationTheZetaProject''. He has been known to appear as a (humanoid) statue and a broken version of his robot form, otherwise it's strictly people.

* In ''OnePiece'', this is [[{{Transvestite}} Mr. 2 Bon Clay's]] power from the Clone-Clone Fruit. By touching the face of a person, he is able to impersonate the face, voice, and body, [[ManIFeelLikeAWoman as he proved with Nami]], of that person. There's a reason why he's ranked Number 2.

* [[spoiler:Origami Cyclone's]] power in ''TigerAndBunny''.

* DependingOnTheWriter, Mystique from the ''{{X-Men}}'' comics is usually limited to human shapes (some adaptations have stretched this, though, such as the ''X-Men Evolution'' cartoon that had her turning into animals like wolves).

* The First Evil in ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' can only transform into real, dead (or ex-dead, or undead), people.

** Also from ''TheXFiles'', the Alient Bounty Hunter can assume the appearance of any human he has met, e.g. Fox Mulder's.

* 'TheTwilightZone' episode "The Four of Us Are Dying" features a con man with the ability to shape shift into anyone he chooses.

* Zee from TheZetaProject. He has been known to appear as a (humanoid) statue and a broken version of his robot form, otherwise it's strictly people.
* False Face from BatmanBeyond had the ability to change his facial features and hair to impersonate others, but was never shown to even appear as another gender or body type.

* Elliot in ''ElGoonishShive'' has this ability, although thanks to a botched magical awakening, most of his available forms are female. (Magic in this setting is usually PersonalityPowers, so it's been theorized that this will last until he finds a female form that in some way represents his true self.) He also has access to a cat-person form, but the transformation is [[PainfulTransformation significantly more painful]].

* Elliot in ''ElGoonishShive'' has this ability, although thanks to a botched magical awakening, he can only transform into women. (Magic in this setting is usually PersonalityPowers, so it's been theorized that this will last until he finds a female form that in some way represents his true self.) He also has access to a cat-person form, but the transformation is [[PainfulTransformation significantly more painful]].

* In ''ElGoonishShive'', Elliot's shapeshifting is not only limited to assuming human forms, but [[GenderBender only half of the possible human forms]]. On the other hand he can also shift his clothes to match and has access to one catboy form but the latter ability is [[PainfulTransformation painful]].