History Main / ShapeShifterMashup

The Shapeshifter Mashup is usually the penultimate step in the BishonenLine, right before a return to a humanlike appearance.

* {{Invoked|Trope}} in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', where Terry's facing the genetic engineer responsible for the [[LegoGenetics splicing]] craze, who's injected himself with the DNA of three forms to become an apex predator. Terry then injects him with [[PhlebotinumOverload a whole fistful of syringes]], and... [[BodyHorror hoo boy]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "Into the Bunker", the form the Shape-Shifter takes after being confronted is a BodyHorror mix between Dipper and Mabel, with a set of spider legs coming out of the mix between Dipper's vest and Mabel's sweater.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Mimic Madness", [=SpongeBob=] becomes so skilled at impressions, he becomes a shape-shifter from the chest up, including being able to impersonate Sandy and Plankton at the same time, growing a second head to do so. When Sandy, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Squidward and Plankton stage an intervention, he turns into a yellow spongey version of all of them at once, while retaining his own nose and mouth. He assumes this form several more times during his melancholy "Who Am I?" song, including as a barbershop quintet.

-->-- '''Malifishmirtz''', ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episode "Excaliferb"

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Alpha of ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack: The Series'' is a former human who's taken to tearing parts of various aliens and grafting them to his own body to become [[UltimateLifeform a superior being]]. At his most benign, he's an old man that can sprout about a dozen [[CombatTentacles tentacles]] on a second's notice. At his most [[OneWingedAngel extreme]], it's impossible to tell that the thing you're looking at was ''ever'' a human.

* ''Film/TheThing1982's'' final form is this. Also many of its earlier human/dog-alien shapes. Possibly the ''all''-alien ones too, as we don't know what normal specimens of the creatures it was imitating on those occasions would've looked like.

* During the FinalBattle of ''Fanfic/TheLionKingAdventures'', [[spoiler: [[UltimateEvil the Writer]]]] transforms into a chimera that has traits from [[AllYourPowersCombined every other villain in the series]].

Because of all the above drawbacks, this is sometimes used as a nasty {{curse}}, typically a BalefulPolymorph that [[ShapeshifterModeLock Mode Locks]] the victim. The independent body parts in this case are usually [[GuardianEntity Guardian Entities]] outside of the victim's control, but won't attack him or her. They may however respond to his or her emotional cues, like a gorgon's snake hair or an owner's pets.

** And then there's Kevin 11,000. *shudder* That's "11,000" as in [[spoiler:11,000 ''aliens'', and he doesn't need to be shifted to access their powers.]]

** And then there's Kevin 11,000. *shudder*

* A common theory about ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' is that the [[EvilTwin SA-X]]'s [[OneWingedAngel penultimate form]] is this (it resembles a Hornoad, the previous form of the X that infected Samus).

* Belberith in ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor'' is a combination of all of the previous Bels that he had absorbed off-screen. He does, however, avert the part of this trope that makes him have more weaknesses, as he's [[ThatOneBoss hideously overpowered]].

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/CareBears'', No Hearts pendent, which let's him transform into animals, is damaged. [[MinionWithAnFInEvil Beastly]] takes the amulet thinking the damage isn't so great, only to discover it only let's him manifest parts of animals. Worse, there's no way to remove the parts, meaning the more he uses it, the more he becomes a MixAndMatchCritter. The Care Bears are able reverse the transformation with a Care Bear Stare, though Beastly isn't very grateful for it.

** Happens to Marco involuntarily in "The Proposal", when he gets emotional over his dad's remarriage. He morphs a skunk/spider cross, a lobster/osprey cross and a poodle/polar bear cross at various points. He also morphs a trout with gorilla arms, which nearly suffocates him. This is actually a method people who are able to morph can do called the Frolis Maneuver.
** Might also be said of anyone who uses the Frolis maneuver to create a morph of the DNA of several individuals of a species combined.
** Elfangor and Aximill use a downplayed version of this trope, combining human features to create a completely new human appearance.

* Gemclone from ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'' is an artificial monster that can take the form of any Impact Monster, taking the form of Bal, Jack, and Abygale in turn. [[labelnote:Note]][[[[https://buddyfight.fandom.com/wiki/Fake_Replica_Weapon,_Gemclone it card]] lets you play any Impact Monster you want in your deck and ignore their call costs by calling them over itself.[[/labelnote]] When it gets an upgrade into Gemclone "Origin Breaker", it's legs keep the coloration of it's original form, it has Bal's head and torso, and Jack and Abygale's heads becomes its hands.

* Gemclone from FutureCardBuddyfight is an artificial monster that can take the form of any Impact Monster, taking the form of Bal, Jack, and Abygale in turn. [[labelnote:Note]][[[[https://buddyfight.fandom.com/wiki/Fake_Replica_Weapon,_Gemclone it card]] lets you play any Impact Monster you want in your deck and ignore their call costs by calling them over itself.[[/labelnote]] When it gets an upgrade into Gemclone "Origin Breaker", it's legs keep the coloration of it's original form, it has Bal's head and torso, and Jack and Abygale's heads becomes its hands.

Despite the patchwork nature of this form, it does still have ''[[PowerUpgradingDeformation some]]'' advantages. Like the [[RuleOfScary power of intimidation]], its [[ShapeshifterBaggage supermassive]] [[MightyGlacier size with strength and durability]] to match, and an AnatomyArsenal stocked with every variety of BreathWeapon known to man ([[SerialEscalation if not more]]), and can easily wipe out entire armies that approach anywhere within its InstantDeathRadius.

However, this form may have [[MasterOfNone severe drawbacks]] over [[MultiformBalance the individual component forms]], and it's likely to be rather slow [[PowerDegeneration highly unstable]] or prone to [[ClippedWingAngel catastrophic failure]]. If the shapeshifter can't keep focus he may enter a SuperpowerMeltdown where the LossOfIdentity causes the [[OrganAutonomy body's components to attack each other]], with the potential to become the [[TakeOurWordForIt very goriest]] of {{Shapeshifter Swan Song}}s.

Despite the patchwork nature of this form, it does still have ''[[PowerUpgradingDeformation some]]'' advantages. Like the [[RuleOfScary power of intimidation]], its [[ShapeshifterBaggage supermassive]] [[MightyGlacier size]], and an AnatomyArsenal stocked with every variety of BreathWeapon known to man ([[SerialEscalation if not more]]), and can easily wipe out entire armies that approach anywhere within its InstantDeathRadius.

However, this form may have [[MasterOfNone severe drawbacks]] over [[MultiformBalance the individual component forms]], and it's likely to be [[PowerDegeneration highly unstable]] or prone to [[ClippedWingAngel catastrophic failure]]. If the shapeshifter can't keep focus he may enter a SuperpowerMeltdown where the LossOfIdentity causes the [[OrganAutonomy body's components to attack each other]], with the potential to become the [[TakeOurWordForIt very goriest]] of {{Shapeshifter Swan Song}}s.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/CareBears'', Beastly is given an amulet that allows him to transform into different creatures. Eventually, the amulet stops working and he is trapped as a MixAndMatchCritter.

* Mr 2 Bon Clay from ''Manga/OnePiece'' once used a mash-up of the most ridiculous facial features he knew during his fight against Sanji, in an attempt to throw him off-guard with laughter. Unfortunately, 90% of said features are ''[[ShapeshifterDefaultForm his]],''[[note]]The only part that wasn't was Usopp's nose.[[/note]] which was so stupidly pointless that it just made Sanji angry.

* Gemclone from FutureCardBuddyfight is an artificial monster that can take the form of any Impact Monster, taking the form of Bal, Jack, and Abygale in turn. When it gets an upgrade into Gemclone "Origin Breaker", it's legs keep the coloration of it's original form, it has Bal's head and torso, and Jack and Abygale's heads becomes its hands.

* Kefka in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has a half dozen penultimate bosses who are all merged into a grotesque spire of amalgamated shapes. Notably, many of them are clearly modeled on the ''heroes'', making it feel a bit like a ShapeshifterGuiltTrip. The most infamous is the stage right before battling Kefka himself - it's Terra, the heroine, holding Kefka himself in a PietaPlagiarism. That this image appears in a tower constructed by Kefka says a ''lot'' about how far his mind has collapsed.