Line #16 Main/CapeWings


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11	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/{{Dislyte}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/narmer_cape_wings_0.png]]]]
12	[[caption-width-right:350:♫ [[Music/TheBangles Fly like an Egyptian!]] ♫]]
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17	Some characters -- often of the badass variety -- have a mysterious way of controlling even the very fabric of their clothing. They can [[{{Shapeshifting}} turn their cape]] (generally a single piece of cloth) into a pair of [[WingedHumanoid fully functional wings]] (generally ''not'' a single piece of cloth), and then back again without any damage.
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19	Probably because [[RuleOfCool they look cooler,]] these wings often appear demonic or bat-like.
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21	It might not always be clear if the wings turn into a cape or the cape turns into wings. It's [[BellisariosMaxim best not to think about it.]]
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23	Some examples take this even further, making the cape a form of MorphWeapon, capable of turning into many different things. They may also function as a type of WingShield as a means to protect oneself or others.
24
25	Compare PrehensileHair.
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27	----
28	!!Examples
29	[[foldercontrol]]
30
31	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32	* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Femto (a.k.a. [[spoiler:Griffith]]) looks a lot like a black demonic version of Batman, with his evil-looking hawk-hood and his dark and menacing batlike Cape Wings.
33	* They serve no practical purpose (he can't fly with them), but ''Anime/CodeGeass'''s Lelouch was probably attempting to invoke this motif with his [[MyHeroZero Zero disguise]], given that [[http://www.pureanimegallery.com/d/4415-1/ZERO-code-geass.jpg it appears to be a cape-like cloak when settled around his shoulders]], [[http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7umfh31Hb1rcqu9ao1_500.gif but the cape is revealed to be split into two "wings" when he]] [[LargeHam dramatically throws it/them back]], recalling this trope's imagery.
34	* Sidoh the Shinigami from ''Manga/DeathNote''.
35	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'':
36	** [=UlforceVeedramon=] is a DragonKnight Digimon who has a pair of blue and pink wings that behave as a BadassCape when it's not using them to fly.
37	** Dukemon/Gallantmon is another DragonKnight Digimon whose cape turns into angelic wings when it mode-changes into Crimson Mode.
38	** [=LadyDevimon=] has a pair of tattered wings resembling a cape, though it's hard to tell if they're part of her outfit or part of her body (the fact that she can evolve from regular Devimon, who's just a plain vanilla WingedHumanoid, suggests the latter).
39	* In another HumongousMecha example, some incarnations of ''Manga/GetterRobo'' have this power. Unlike the above example there is usually no plausible mechanism for this, much like everything else about Getter Robo.
40	* Some depictions of ''Theatre/GoldenBat'' give him the power to transform his cape into bat wings, though he is more often shown flying [[SuperheroesWearCapes superhero-style]]. The 2000 ''New Golden Bat'' anime pitch trailer even shows him using these wings as a WaveMotionTuningFork in order to obliterate a giant monster. {{Implied}} in the 2022 manga, where Bat's spirit form wears an OminousOperaCape similar to his 1966 portrayal but can lend his host the power to sprout bat wings.
41	* A one-shot villain from ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki'' has the power to turn his cape into feathery wings, and can also [[FeatherFlechettes use the feathers as projectiles]].
42	* [[PhantomThief Kaitou KID]] of ''Manga/MagicKaito'' (''[[Manga/CaseClosed and the other series]]'') has his white cape which transforms into a hang-glider; also his iconic escape method from heists.
43	* Laharl in ''Anime/MakaiSenkiDisgaea'', even though what he's wearing is actually a scarf.
44	* Both ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam's'' Master Gundam and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing's'' Deathscythe Hell have mechanical wings that transform into a cloak that covers their body; the ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz'' version of Deathscythe takes it a step further by having the wings be lined with thrusters for exceptional mobility.
45	* [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampires Evangeline]] of ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi''. Her cloak can also turn into a swarm of bats. Since the cloak usually seems to start out in bat form, it's probably the other way around.
46	* Subverted for Shiryu "Of the Rain" from ''Manga/OnePiece''. He is seen sporting devil wings when confronting Magellan, but they are not present afterward as they are part of his Impel Down's uniform.
47	* The heroes of ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' (a.k.a. ''Anime/BattleOfThePlanets'') are an example. The split up the back often seemed directly related to whether they would fly-glide with them in that episode. Come to think of it, Zoltar's cape behaved interestingly from time to time too....
48	* There's a vampiric variant in ''Literature/VampireHunterD: Bloodlust''. Meier Link can turn his cape into bat-like wings (which he can also harden to use as enormous blades), and his hands into armored claws.
49	* The title HumongousMecha of ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' is able to transform into a dragon. Its [[CapedMecha cape]] forms the fabric of the wings.
50	* Zeon of ''Manga/ZatchBell'' has a cloak that responds to his will, expanding wildly to attack and defend as needed. [[spoiler:Gash later inherits it after Zeon's HeelFaceTurn.]]
51	[[/folder]]
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53	[[folder:Comic Books]]
54	* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'s'' cape, in his many incarnations, usually operates along these lines for gliding and roof-hopping. Tim's later Robin costume in ''ComicBook/Robin1993'' and his ComicBook/RedRobin suit have taken inspiration from this example.
55	* After a trans-dimensional jaunt, Cecil from ''ComicBook/PS238'' has his trenchcoat altered into this by the forces of Chaos a.k.a. his classmate's mother. It becomes permanent.
56	* Linda Danvers/Matrix version of ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. She becomes an earth-born angel, and her cape can turn into [[HotWings flaming wings]].
57	* The cover art to ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' #659 ([[http://www.comicvine.com/superman-angel/37-106635/ link]]) depicts Superman floating above a crowd, with a pair of red angelic (though still vaguely cloth-like) wings instead of a cape. The story is about an old woman who is convinced Superman is an angel.
58	* In ''ComicBook/WonderWomanHistoriaTheAmazons'', Ares wears a cape he turn into a pair of vulture-looking wings.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
62	* ''WesternAnimation/BirdBoyTheForgottenChildren'': Bird Boy is always dressed in a suit and the coat tails double as his wings.
63	* In ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'', Vincent's cape is something like this: it sort of flows.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
67	* ''Film/BatmanBegins'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' did this with Batman's cape. Justified in that the wings were only for gliding, with "memory cloth" in the cape going rigid when you apply an electrical current. And before that, it was done in ''Film/Batman1989'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns''.
68	* The Eagle King from the martial arts fantasy film, ''Film/DemonOfTheLute'', packs hidden, unfoldable wings in his cape that allows him to glide around.
69	* From the Creator/ShawBrothers ''wuxia'' movie, ''Film/TheWingedTiger'': ever wonder where the titular hero earn his nickname? From his badass golden cape, who allows him to glide with a single leap, of course; he effortlessly takes out a valley filled with enemies using said cape, scaling one corner to another in mere seconds.
70	[[/folder]]
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72	[[folder:Literature]]
73	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
74	** Some vampires (particularly Arthur Winkins, the Count Notfaroutoe, and a full-time vegetable merchant) need to be wearing a cape to transform into a bat.
75	** ''Literature/GoingPostal'' features an interesting variant with Mr. Gryle, a banshee who appears at first glance to be wearing a leather cape or overcoat, but those are actually his wings neatly folded around him.
76	* In ''Literature/JourneyToTheMorningStar'', a Russian children's novel, the [[HumanAliens Sinots]] have these. Two of the protagonists and their Etherian guide are captured by a Sinot commander and his robot who swoop down from their just-landed [[ZeeRust rocket]] using their capes, which then fold into their suits.
77	* ''Literature/XWingSeries'': In ''The Krytos Trap'', part of the outfit Wedge Antilles wears while trying to talk some Twi'leks around, along with fingerless gloves and a LoinCloth, is a cape cut in such a way that it fell in two red wings.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
81	* ''Series/MrTerrific'' is a CBS sitcom from the summer of 1967 about Stanley Beamish, a mere auto mechanic who is recruited by the government to become the title superhero with the aid of power pills. He takes flight by flapping his cape like birds' wings.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
85	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has several versions of magic cloaks that can turn into wings. Usually these are of limited usage, about an hour a day, useless for long distance flight.
86	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': While most people assume the [[CelestialParagonsAndArchangels empyreal lord]] Andoletta to be wearing a black feathered cape this is in fact her wings, which she keeps furled against her back most of the time.
87	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' has a non-batlike version in the Lizardman item Cloak of Feathers.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Video Games]]
91	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' and ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' use the same "memory cloth" justification as in ''Film/BatmanBegins'' to enable Batman to glide like his namesake.
92	* ''VideoGame/Boktai2SolarBoyDjango'': While in Vampire mode, Django's scarf turns into (or at least takes the shape of) a pair of wings. It's unclear if he uses them to fly or if he just uses generic "vampire levitation" powers during his attack when he flies across the screen.
93	* ''VideoGame/BugFables'': Leif the moth folds his wings around his body, making it appear like an AllEncompassingMantle. When asked about it, he answers that he [[SharedFamilyQuirks took this habit from his father]]. An old moth living in the Ant Village, [[spoiler:who is Leif's descendant]], also has this trait.
94	* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'':
95	** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'': Alucard's cape momentarily turns into a pair of bat wings when he double-jumps, and his wings in bat form [[MorphicResonance are the same color as his cape]].
96	** Soma Cruz of the ''Aria'' subseries also appears to turn his pimp coat into the wings of his bat form.
97	** Dracula also sometimes turn his cloak to wings, in ''Curse of Darkness'' and ''Dracula X Chronicle''.
98	* ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'': In the DLC ''The Ringed City'', [[spoiler: [[FromNobodyToNightmare Slave Knight Gael]]]] is revealed to be the final boss of the game [[spoiler: after he consumes [[TitleDrop The Dark Soul of Man]]]], and once he transitions to his second phase, his red cape -- which is now on fire -- becomes animated and tattered in just the right way to resemble a pair of wings. He can both swing these at you to attack you, or pull off some impressive aerial acrobatics with them.
99	* ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'': Morrigan's wings can transform into a swarm of bats, become blades, spikes, or [[CombatTentacles tentacles]], or clothes in her win poses.
100	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'': Dante does this with his [[BadassLongcoat coat]] while in [[SuperMode Devil Trigger]].
101	* ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'': Valvatorez, while he's never shown to fly, definitely has this aesthetic going for him.
102	* ''VideoGame/{{Dislyte}}'': Narmer is imbued with the divine powers of the Egyptian sun god Ra, and his cape wings are an obvious nod to how Ra is frequently depicted as a bird.
103	* ''Videogame/TheGladiator'' has a boss clad in a golden cape, which unfurls into a set of wings periodically allowing him to glide in and out the screen while fighting you.
104	* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'': All three members of the Moth tribe that the player encounters -- the Seer, plus Thistlewind's and Markoth's ghosts -- keep their wings gathered around their bodies like cloaks, covering themselves from neck to feet.
105	* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': Meta Knight wears a cape that can turn into bat wings in the main games and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', but not in the [[Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa anime]], where he only had wings in the pilot.
106	** {{Averted\|Trope}} in ''Return to Dream Land''. In the opening cutscene, Meta Knight removes his cape, revealing a small pair of wings ''under'' it.
107	** In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'''s ''VideoGame/TheSubspaceEmissary'' mode, he gets shot with a laser in the wing, which starts to burn off that wing. He lands and transforms it into a cape, which stops the burning and heals the damage somehow.
108	** This varies from game to game. In ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', he throws his cape away to the side, and he does it in the remake, but in the cutscenes and his own game in ''Ultra'', his cape is established as wings, even if they don't appear in normal gameplay (outside of the cart-riding sprite).
109	* ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'' plays with this; Raziel's actual bat-like wings are broken and the tattered shreds hang behind him like a cape, but he can still use them to glide for short distances.
110	%%* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Roc's Cape in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords'', and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap''.
111	* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'': Waka's hat has long wing-like extensions which are apparently functional.
112	* ''VideoGame/Spelunky2'' has Vlad's Cape, which can briefly turn into wings for a DoubleJump in addition to the normal cape power of slowing falls.
113	* ''VideoGame/{{Sundered}}'': If Eshe corrupts her Leaping Device, she’ll be able to [[NotQuiteFlight glide over long distances]] by merging her arms and cape together to form a pair of giant bat wings.
114	* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'':
115	** Wriggle Nightbug's operatic cape gives her this look (since she's a firefly youkai).
116	** Okuu has both wings and a cape, but some fanart depicts them as being one and the same.
117	* While it doesn't see any practical use, one of Zero's (the original from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters 2001'') win poses has him lifting his cape over his shoulders, with an effect that gives it the illusion of wings.
118	[[/folder]]
119
120	[[folder:Webcomics]]
121	* Mink from ''Webcomic/{{Darken}}'' [[http://darkencomic.com/?webcomic_post=20040821 can do this.]]
122	* Ariel from ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' explicitly does it with magic (her shapeshifting powers allowing AppendageAssimilation) for a one-time stunt. HilarityEnsues when said stunt gets derailed by Liriel.
123	* Shadow!James' "Fae Animal Superhero" outfit in the "Such Stuff..." arc of ''Webcomic/{{Roommates}}'' had a feathered cape that could act as wings or the other way around and he had wings in this form that could look like a feathered cape. So [[http://asherhyder.deviantart.com/art/Roommates-Such-Stuff-As-Dreams-Are-Made-On-36-303479249 wings]] or [[http://asherhyder.deviantart.com/art/Roommates-Such-Stuff-as-Dreams-Are-Made-On-16-294056058 cape]]?
124	* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', Aylee -- an alien that occasionally grows a new kind of body as an adaptation to circumstances -- eventually adopts a rather human-like form with a built-in dress. [[NakedPeopleAreFunny Amusing embarrassment ensues]] when it turns out the dress is actually her wings and she's even more human underneath. The trope is {{justified}} in the sense that, unlike in some cases, the wings actually fold to make the dress in a perfectly logical way.
125	[[/folder]]
126
127	[[folder:Web Original]]
128	* The dating website Soul Geek has different pieces of mini-fiction, along with iconic characters, used in the advertising. One of the pair of vampires is showing with a cloak that rises up on one side in a huge wing.
129	* Oblivion from ''Roleplay/ShadowhunterPeril'' is shown to do this when he gets pissed. It generally preludes his transformation into an EldritchAbomination. Once he completes his transformation, he keeps the wings, but now they're [[HotWings FLAMING]].
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder:Western Animation]]
133	* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', Batman's cape transforms into a fully-functional jet-powered glider.
134	* Megatron in ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'', via transformation. The red dragon wings invert and become his blue cloak, which he uses to hide the fact that he still hasn't purged himself of his dragon form.
135	** The Coneheads from [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 Generation 1]] invert this somewhat: in robot mode their [[KibblesAndBits jet mode wings]] hang down by their legs much like a cloak.
136	* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'': Big Chill has a pair of wings that form a makeshift cloak when out of use.
137	* Falkenar from ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'' has a magic cape that can turn into wings at will.
138	* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' can fold their wings up into capes when not using them. Creator/GregWeisman at least admitted this was physically impossible by any stretch of the imagination.
139	* Warlord Slasher from ''WesternAnimation/KingArthurAndTheKnightsOfJustice'' has a cape starting season 1 and gets to use it as wings starting season 2.
140	* The "Level Two" Jewel Armor in Season Two of ''WesternAnimation/PrincessGwenevereAndTheJewelRiders'', with Gwenevere's and Fallon’s capes converting into wings (Gwen's into a hang-glider and Fallon's into bat wings) at any given time.
141	* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'': Unlike his henchmen of The Fluttering Horde, The Monarch keeps the wings on his costume folded down when not in use, giving the appearance of a stiff cape. Presumably he went with the setup as a "best of both worlds" compromise, since his first costume had a regular cape until the future Dr. Girlfriend pointed out that wings would better fit the butterfly theme ''and'' she could make some that would enable him to fly. Season 7 eventually reveals that he that he usually wears a more comfortable, flowing set that functions solely as a cape, and only uses the sturdy ones when he thinks he'll need them ("One's for showin' and one's for goin.'").
142	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / CapeWings