History Main / VoluntaryShapeshifting

* ''Series/LovecraftCountry'': Ruby's transformations are willing after the first one, as she comes to enjoy having greated privilege in a white form. [[spoiler:Christina has also been turning into William all this time.]]

* ''Series/InFromTheCold'': Jenny has some kind of implants inside her body which let her “morph” into a new body, which is discovered after she's changed into an older man in the prison. However, this is a bit more realistic as it puts an incredible strain on her internal organs, so much that she risks death through even using it and can only “copy” a body whom she's already touched. After using it she craves foods which have a lot of iron too since morphing costs this. She can only control this for so long, and it sometimes reverts on its own after a time.

* ''Franchise/StarWars introduces this in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' with the bounty hunter Zam Wesell. Though bizzarely, she fails to ever actually use this power, even when it would obviously allow her to escape pursuit. Though this could be due to the fact that shapeshifting in public would be too obvious, and it seemed safer to just attack. The ExpandedUniverse indicates that there is a notable prejudice against changelings, as a result of their abilities.

* The Imposter from the ''Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'' episode of the same name can shapeshift into anyone. He has even tricked [=SMG4=] and [=Starman3=] into believing that [=MarioMario54321=] was acting weird and Mario was dancing to a JustForFun/{{Rickroll}}.

*** Morph from the [[WesternAnimation/XMen 90s series]], who was in turn inspired by Changeling from the comics. Morph (maybe not the same guy) also appears in the ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' event and the ''ComicBook/{{Exiles}}'' ongoing monthly title.

MagicPants are almost always in effect, unless the shapeshifting character demonstrates or mentions they are simply [[TechnicallyNakedShapeshifter molding what looks like clothing out of his/her body cells]] for the common decency of those around them. (In which case, it's [[BellisariosMaxim best not to think too much]] about that... [[PowerPerversionPotential whoops, too late]].)

A character with the power to transform and reshape his or her body. This trope comes in a wide variety of [[{{Pun}} forms]], but can be classified by exactly '''what''' the character can transform themselves into.

* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' has lots of ways to do this but the Morph version of Shapeshifting allows the user to become virtually anything he or she has seen before (within point limits). There are numerous spells that allow the user to alter their shape as well.

** The ComicBook/IncredibleHulk developed the ability to do this at one point in the early 1980s when Bruce Banner had taken complete control of the Hulk's form. While he normally stayed in his basic human body, Banner could transform himself into the Hulk at will and retained full control of his body while doing so. The emotionally reserved Banner couldn't get as angry as any of the actual Hulk personalities and so wasn't as strong, but he made up for it by using his scientific smarts to fight as a GeniusBruiser.

* The main characters from ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga'' have the power to transform into powerful demons, but at the cost of [[HorrorHunger gaining an insatiable hunger for human flesh]]. Trying to resist this hunger results in the human mind being eroded, and eventually overwritten by the personality of the mythological being the demon represents. All enemies you fight are also on the same boat. Gameplay-wise, characters start every battle in demon form unless they were ambushed, and a turn must be spent to transform into demon form. Human forms lack all the powers and elemental resistances demons have, but they're immune to Expel spells, and attack with guns that certain enemies are weak to. The second game also has the Berserk Mode, which is a partial transformation that randomly occurs at certain Solar Noise phases.

* In ''VideoGame/DevilSummonerRaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon'', demons of the Skill Order have the Investigation Skill Transform, which allows Raidou to transform into other people [[EmpathicMagic as long as he procures a hair from the target]]. This is naturally a tremendously useful skill for a detective. He can even shapeshift into a dog or [[spoiler: LouisCyphre]].

* ''VideoGame/BloodyRoar'' games have a whole lot of characters with this ability.

** The series has recurring spells that allows characters to do this. It typically takes the form of transforming into another party member (replacing the user's abilities with the other member's) or turning into a fire-breathing dragon.

* Jin Tachibana from ''Manga/TalentlessNana'' can shapeshift into other people, icluding perfectly imitating their powers. He has two restrictions: 1.He can only shapeshit into [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Talented]] and 2.He can't shapeshift into dead people. [[spoiler: And as it turns out, Jin Tachibana is not his original identity.]]

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' has Mikitaka Hazekura, a guy (or alien) with a stand (or alien powers) that allows him to transform into almost anything. He seems to be able to combine his strength with those of other people: when he turned into sneakers for Josuke to wear, he notes that their strength combined is what made them able to move away so fast. Although he can transform into almost any object, he is unable to transform into complex items like machines or something that requires more strength than his own to operate (i.e. dynamite) and copy the appearances of other people (he claims it's because all humans look the same to him).
** ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'' has minor villain Oingo, whose Stand allows him to change his appearance at will, as long as the result is human.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'', Inklings can transform between a human form capable of using weapons and a squid form that can hide in and rapidly swim through ink. They share this ability with [[EvilCounterpartRace their Octarian counterparts]] [[EliteMooks Octolings]], who turn into octopuses instead. In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it example, Sheldon will quickly transform from his hermit crab form to his humanoid one whenever you enter his shop.

** Several MentorMascot characters, especially in the most recent years, are able to change into human form, most notably all four main mascots from ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'' and its sequel ''[=GoGo=]'', as well as pre-HeelFaceTurn Siren/Ellen from ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'', who could also change into other people. As if that wasn't enough, Pop from ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' cranks it UpToEleven by being a {{ninja}} with the ability to change into anything the situation calls for.

** An article in ''The [=ElfQuest=] Gatherum v. II'' specifies that the original High Ones shapeshifted on the ''[[UpToEleven genetic]]'' level. [[labelnote:fridge logic]]Which means that all elves have the same number of chromosomes as wolves and explains why they can't breed with humans.[[/labelnote]]

* ''Fanfic/MikesNewGhostlyFamily'': Liz Schmidt (formerly Elizabeth Afton) can shapeshift into a spectral form of Scrap Baby at will, making her the only ghost child capable of shapeshifting into an animatronic form at will. This form has stronger "physical" influence on the corporeal world, allowing her to break things more easily with her claw and hand. Initially, Liz hated this form, viewing it as a MarkOfShame on her soul, until her new father Mike Schmidt and her new siblings, [[spoiler:as well as Michael Afton, who descended from Heaven to comfort her]], were able to convince her to not view her new form as punishment, but to make Scrap Baby into what she wants her to be, as opposed to what William Afton wanted to turn her into, with Liz deciding to use the Scrap Baby form to become a protector of her new family.

* ''Fanfic/MikesNewGhostlyFamily'': Liz Schmidt (formerly Elizabeth Afton) can shapeshift into a spectral form of Scrap Baby at will, making her the only ghost child capable of shapeshifting into an animatronic form at wi. This form has stronger "physical" influence on the corporeal world, allowing her to break things more easily with her claw and hand. Initially, Liz hated this form, viewing it as a MarkOfShame on her soul, until her new father Mike Schmidt and her new siblings, [[spoiler:as well as Michael Afton, who descended from Heaven to comfort her]], were able to convince her to not view her new form as punishment, but to make Scrap Baby into what she wants her to be, as opposed to what William Afton wanted to turn her into, with Liz deciding to use the Scrap Baby form to become a protector of her new family.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', when self-inflictedthis is the only type of shapeshifting that doesn't violate the second Law of magic. Any transformation of another, either by force or benign, is not allowed. Among the non-violators are [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent the Alphas]], who have the ability to turn into wolves voluntarily (in contrast to the [[BalefulPolymorph loup-garou]], and the hexunwulf, which is reliant on an ArtifactOfDoom). [[spoiler:Also [[EldritchAbomination the skinwalker]] and [[MagicalNativeAmerican Listens to Wind]].]]

* Tomoe and Mizuki, Nanami's two familiars from ''Manga/KamisamaKiss,'' are shown capable of shapeshifting at will. Mizuki is only shown to be able to transform from his normal human form to a white snake. Tomoe, on the other hand, is a LittleBitBeastly {{Kitsune}} who is shown to be able to transform himself and other people into just about anything and anyone he damn well pleases.

** Luz, the {{Miko}} {{Kitsune}} [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot girl]], is capable of transforming herself, and uses her powers to hold a MagicalGirl {{Tokusatsu}} stage show. Unlike the previous two examples, Luz is incapable of changing her clothes, and has to rely on [[SpiderPeople Rachnera]] to make new costumes on the fly when she transforms. When Luz starts going unexpectedly [[{{Improv}} off-script]], Rachnera is unable to keep up the costume-making, leading to an epic WardrobeMalfunction.

* In Myth/JapaneseMythology, {{tanuki}} ("raccoon dogs") usually have this ability; often {{kitsune}} (foxes), jorogumo (spiders), and housecats (bakeneko and nekomata) can do this as well.

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has the [[MedievalEuropeanFantasy Nohr]]-exclusive [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Wolfskin]] (who can transform into ogre-like werewolves) and the [[{{Wutai}} Hoshido]]-exclusive Kitsune (basically, well, {{Kitsune}}). The player avatar, [[spoiler:a [[HalfHumanHybrid half-dragon]], and their child Kana]] can also transform into a dragon.

* In ''LightNovel/IveBeenKillingSlimesForThreeHundredYearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'', demons and dragons have the capability to switch between their more monstrous (and oftentimes, much more massive) forms, and humanoid shapes with clothes included.