History Main / Humanshifting

** Time Lord [[TheNthDoctor regeneration]] could be considered a limited variant of this, only accessible after sustaining serious injury under normal circumstances, and always resulting in a humanoid form (Romana trying out several different bodies in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS17E1DestinyOfTheDaleks "Destiny of the Daleks"]] notwithstanding).

* In the ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries'', one of the magical powers of vampire lord Roman is ability to give himself, or any other person, the shape of any other humanoid, complete with scent. It's implied to be less of a biological change and more an extremely detailed, touch-proof illusion.

* This is Tessa Gray's unique power in ''The Literature/TheInfernalDevices''. 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.

* In ''Literature/{{Seraphina}}'' dragons can only transform into their own human form, called a saarantras (saarantrai for plural, saar for short).

** 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.

** 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.

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

* Beautiful PlayboyBunny Melona in ''Anime/QueensBlade'' has this ability. Often using it for disguise, battle, or to sow confusion.
* 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.
* Liar's Mask, Due's Inherent Skill in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'', allows her to assume the appearance of any humanoid (though apparently only female of approximately the same height and build as herself).
* Mirror Man, an agent of the British Library in ''Anime/RODTheTV''.
* An assassin in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' steals the appearance of several people (as part of the KillAndReplace routine).
* Minor character Suetsumu in ''Manga/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 ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' this seems to have originally been the extent of Ivan/Origami Cyclone's power, though after the TimeSkip he's able to take on a wider variety of forms.
* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'': Albireo Imma's Artifact allows him to assume the appearance, personality, memories, and abilities of anyone he desires, so perfect an imitation that he might as well be transforming into that person themselves. There is a catch that keeps this from being ridiculously overpowered: if he uses it to assume the form of someone more powerful than himself, ItOnlyWorksOnce, and only for a few minutes. People less powerful than himself he can transform into with impunity.

* This is the power of the villain Everyman in Franchise/TheDCU.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]

* 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 Literature/TheInfernalDevices''. 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.

* In ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries'', one of magical powers of vampire lord Roman is ability to give himself, or any other person, a shape of any other humanoid, complete with scent. It's implied to be less of biological change and more an extremely detailed, touch-proof illusion.
* 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.

* In ''Literature/ArrivalsFromTheDark'', the Exile's VoluntaryShapeshifting species can turn into any other race at will. However, he had a rare condition that locks him into the first form he turns into, allowing only minor variations after (no GenderBender due to major internal changes that would require). He chooses to go to Earth and turn into a human, arriving in the 13th century. In the first book alone, he has four named identities with well-established credentials: a Chinese astronomer, a Zulu representative to the UN, a European reporter, and an American soldier. In later novels, he mimics a HumanAlien and a "pseudo-humanoid" with four fingers, although those changes are largely cosmetic (i.e. still human inside). He also appears to be able to remove and regrow limbs at will, as he spends decades as a soldier with a prosthetic arm.
* In ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheMiraclesDistrict'', Nikita's HulkingOut abilities can be applied to let her alter her face and figure to some extent, so while she can't look like a man, she can, for example, change her apparent ethnicity.
* Water nymphs can do this in ''Literature/{{Below}}''. They're already humanoid but for a stinging tail to render victims unconscious and rob them. Their memetic camouflage lets them hide the tail and adopt whatever features they like. They also use mind reading to perfect their disguise.

* Victoria in ''Series/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''.
* ''Series/TheTwilightZone'' episode "The Four of Us Are Dying" features a con man with the ability to shapeshift into anyone he chooses. His downfall comes when he appears as a crazy old man's son. The guy [[OffingTheOffspring really doesn't like his son]].
* In ''Series/TrueBlood'', shapeshifters gain the ability to do this after killing at least one of their parents, even if it was an accident or not their fault (like during childbirth). But it takes a serious toll on their bodies, and if they do it just a few times they'll most likely die.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "The Faceless Ones", the aliens are "chameleons" -- faceless aliens who can transform into duplicates of specific humans through technology.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-974 SCP-974 ("Treehouse Predator")]]. It can take the form of a any human being that it has killed and eaten.

* 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.

* Elliot in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' can [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1083 consciously change his appearance]], 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.) His magically-created OppositeSexClone Ellen has a more refined version of this, allowing her to scan somebody and change her form to match theirs perfectly, which [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1065 isn't limited to humans]].

* DependingOnTheWriter, Mystique from the ''ComicBook/XMen'' 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 (and in one memorable case due to Apocalypse boosting her power, [[OneToMillionToOne she was able to turn into]] an entire ''swarm'' of bats).

See {{Doppelganger}}. Compare {{Shapeshifter}} and MasterOfDisguise. Contrast WigDressAccent. For nonhumans that become humans, then that's HumanityEnsues. If someone is involuntarily shifted then see CloneByConversion. {{Weredragon}} is the subtrope for dragons that can do this.

** Oingo's Stand, Khnum, allows him to reshape himself into anyone else he wishes, right down to scent (so even animals, like Iggy, are fooled). That being said, Oingo seems cursed with rotten luck, as he repeatedly finds himself in situations where his shapeshifting won't do him much good (such as being forced to swallow lit cigarettes).

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/{{Inception}}'', this is Eames' job as a Forger, but he can only do it in dreams.
* In ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'', the T-X is a Terminator with an endoskeleton covered by liquid metal. It can't shapeshift to the same extent as the T-1000, but it is more stable, is able to carry on-board weapons, and is still able to disguise itself as other people.

** Metamorphmagi like Nymphadora Tonks ([[spoiler:or her son Teddy Lupin]]) have the ability to alter their appearance at will, but must presumably retain a human shape. This is in contrast to Animagi, who can perform {{Animorphism}} into one specific animal.

** The ''alter self'' spell 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]].) The ''humanoid shape'' invocation for Dragonfire Adepts lets them transform into any (non-templated) humanoid shape (it's not ''quite'' as powerful as ''alter self'' for humanoid adepts -- it misses out on a few boni the new form might have -- but on the other hand it lasts for much longer than a standard ''alter self'' spell).

{{Shapeshift|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.

* 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.

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

See {{Doppelganger}}. Compare {{Shapeshifter}} and MasterOfDisguise. Contrast WigDressAccent. For nonhumans that become humans, then that's HumanityEnsues. If someone is involuntarily shifted then see CloneByConversion. {{Weredragon}} is a subtrope.

See {{Doppelganger}}. Compare {{Shapeshifter}} and MasterOfDisguise. Contrast WigDressAccent. For nonhumans that become humans, then that's HumanityEnsues. If someone is involuntarily shifted then see CloneByConversion.

** The Changeling race in the TabletopGame/{{Eberron}} setting 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. They can also change sex (or mixe sexes, or become asexual) at will.

** In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', the Callidus Temple of the Officio Assassinorum are experts in the use of the aptly named drug polymorphine. This rare substance allows a trained operative to change their appearance into that of another person so that they can disguise themselves, and occasionally to KillAndReplace their targets. With the addition of special surgical implants that react with the polymorphine, the Callidus Assassin is even able to masquerade as aliens or mutants.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', both the Inquisition and the Officio Assassinorum sometimes issue the aptly named drug polymorphine to their operatives that allows them to change into different people to disguise themselves, and occasionally to KillAndReplace their targets.

** By extension, the {{Doppelganger}} race (which the Changelings are descended from) has this same power too. Of course, by the way ''D&D'' defines "humanoid", they could also become creatures such as harpies or centaurs.

[[quoteright:236:[[Franchise/XMen http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mystique_shapshifting_1888.jpg]]]]

* IN ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'', the T-X is a Terminator with an endoskeleton covered by liquid metal. It can't shapeshift to the same extent as the T-1000, but it is more stable, is able to carry on-board weapons, and is still able to disguise itself as other people.

** The ''alter self'' spell 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]].)