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{{Shapeshifter}}s are very common in fiction due to their flexibility. They can turn into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wolf]], a [[{{Sizeshifter}} giant]], a [[{{Transflormation}} tree]], a [[{{Animorphism}} 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.

See {{Doppelganger}}. Compare {{Shapeshifting}} and MasterOfDisguise. Contrast WigDressAccent. For nonhumans that become humans, then that's HumanityEnsues. If someone is involuntarily shifted then see CloneByConversion. {{Sexshifter}} and DualAgeModes are subtropes where shapeshifting is even more restricted, only changing sex and age, respectively.

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!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/{{Bakugan}}'', Zenet Surrow can transform into other people.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** Oingo's Stand, Khnum, allows him to reshape himself into anyone else he wishes, right down to scent (so even animals, like [[UpliftedAnimal Iggy]], are fooled). That being said, Oingo seems [[BornUnlucky cursed with rotten luck]], as he repeatedly finds himself in situations where his shapeshifting won't do him much good (such as [[ItMakesSenseInContext being forced to swallow lit cigarettes]]).
** Toshikazu Hazamada's Stand, Surface, is a life-size mannequin that can change its form to any specific person Hazamada wants, with the bonus in that if Surface meets up with the person it copies and they engage in eye contact, that person is forced to mimic Surface's actions like a mirror image.
* 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).
* Toga Himiko from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has this as her Quirk: by drinking another person's blood, she can temporarily become that person... and because of her insanity, she sees this as a way of expressing her "love" for that person. In the Meta Liberation Army Arc, [[spoiler:she discovers that she can also copy a person's ''[[PowerCopying Quirk]]'' when she takes their form, something not even ''she'' knew she could do]].
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': 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.
* ''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 of that person, [[ManIFeelLikeAWoman as he proved with Nami]]. 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.
** A more literal example of this trope is the Human-Human Fruit; this is a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, a family that grants [[{{Animorphism}} the power the turn into specific animals]], that specifically allows the user to turn into a human or a "half human". Whilst the author has always played coy about what the effect would be on a human eater, it was eaten by a reindeer. Who [[UpliftedAnimal gained human-level intelligence]] and the ability to assume a human or [[BeastMan reindeer-boy]] form because of it. And that was how Tony-Tony Chopper, the future doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates, came to be.
* Minor character Suetsumu in ''Manga/PsychicSquad'', 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.
* Beautiful PlayboyBunny Melona in ''Anime/QueensBlade'' has this ability, often using it for disguise, battle, or to sow confusion.
* Mirror Man, an agent of the British Library in ''Anime/RODTheTV''.
* 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.
* An assassin in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' steals the appearance of several people (as part of the KillAndReplace routine).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''Franchise/TheDCU'': This is the power of the villain Everyman.
* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': The second Hate-Monger was an android that could take on different racial appearances. He used this ability to infiltrate hate groups and instigate a HatePlague.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': This is sometimes the Chameleon's power, 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.)
* ''ComicBook/XMen'': DependingOnTheWriter, ComicBook/{{Mystique}} is usually limited to human shapes. [[AdaptationalSuperpowerChange Some adaptations have stretched this]] though, such as ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', where she can turn 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).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/TheApprenticeTheStudentAndTheCharlatan'' and ''Fanfic/TheArchmagesLastBow'': Envy is able to constantly change forms due to her [[CursedWithAwesome curse from the Elements of Harmony]] to be a LivingShadow, though it seems limited to ponies.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': The Human-Human Fruit, Model Type: Child is a variant of the Human-Human Fruit (itself an example of this trope) that allows the user to specifically morph into a child. Protagonist Jeremiah Cross barters with the [[MeaningfulName Bastard Random Omnipotent Being]] to gain this fruit and avert the Going Merry's canonical destruction by giving this fruit to her Klabautermaan, her manifest spirit. The result is that the damaged ship is transformed into a little girl with SuperStrength and access to HammerSpace.
* ''Fanfic/VoyagesOfTheWildSeaHorse'': The Human-Human Fruit, Model Type: Child appears here as well. Here, it was consumed by a [[BlobMonster mat of hemorrhagic fever bacteria]], which gained the ability to assume the form of a [[CreepyChild disturbing yet fundamentally human-appearing child]].
* ''Fanfic/VowOfNudity'': As a changeling, this is Spectra's core ability, and the source of most of her backstory troubles when the magistrate finds out and decides she can't be trusted to run around with this ability unchecked.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'', Camilo's gift is shapeshifting, but he's only ever shown shapeshifting into other human forms.
* ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' combines this with RapidAging when the evil queen drinks a potion to disguise herself as a hag.
[[/folder]]

[[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.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* In the ''Literature/LoneWolf'' setting, the Helghast are [[TheUndead Undead]] with the power to change into a human form. This makes them the perfect spies and infiltrators for the [[EvilOverlord Darklords]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfAminaAlSirafi'': Raksh's true form is a humanoid demon with tusks, mottled skin, and [[AlienHair fleshy hair]], but he can freely switch to a human form that looks broadly similar but without the supernatural features. The one time the disguise slips, it's when he passes out drunk.
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': While the team can morph humans (their power works on anything with DNA), they rarely do so and when it happens, try to ask for permission first. More antagonistic people with the morphing power have no such compunctions, [[spoiler:such as when SixthRangerTraitor David morphs the dying Saddler to replace him]].
* 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 {{Human Alien|s}} 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.
* 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.
* ''Literature/BooksOfTheRaksura'': The setting [[NoFocusOnHumans has no known humans]], but the Raksura species can transform at will between a scaled, clawed, sometimes winged form and a form that can pass for one of the [[RubberForeheadAliens common groundling races]]. The trouble is, the same is true of the AlwaysChaoticEvil, [[ToServeMan cannibalistic]] Fell and at least one other predatory species, causing a general distrust of shapeshifters.
* ''Literature/CodexAlera'': This is an ability that can be possessed by watercrafters. 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.
* ''Literature/TheCosmere'':
** The Returned in ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'' have this power. Most modern Returned don't know they have it, and so simply take on whatever build and appearance society thinks of as the ideal. The Royal House of Idris, who are descended from a Returned, can alter the color and length of their hair at will (including facial hair for male Royals).
** The Kandra in ''Franchise/{{Mistborn}}'' can shift between different human forms, allowing them to act as master spies. In their natural state, they are just blob-like masses of amorphous muscles with limited ability to act and move without a solid framework to build off of, usually in the form of bones or sculpted stone or crystal. Once they have such a framework, the kandra can then alter their external appearance to match whatever texture and color they desire. Aside from bones, they also need hair or fur, since they cannot produce these on their own. As a side effect of their amorphous nature, kandra are practically immune to most bladed and piecing weaponry, and blunt weapons only work if they can break the bones underneath.
** In ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', both Radiant Lightweavers and the Fused known as the Masked Ones are able to alter their outward physical appearance. While Lightweavers don't actually alter their bodies, instead focusing on using [[{{Mana}} Stormlight]] to make illusions, the Masked Ones are much more thorough with their transformations, to the point that their [[AlienBlood normally-orange blood]] will instead bleed red.
* In the ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries'', one of the magical powers of vampire lord Roman is the 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.
* Downplayed in ''Literature/TheFruitOfEvolution''; protagonist Seichii Hiragi was originally a fat BeadyEyedLoser until he ate the titular PowerUpFood, which [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatHotness gave him a hot cool bishi look alongside a massive stat boost]]. After he encounters his former ChildhoodFriend, he reveals that, like his lovers [[KillerGorilla Saria]] and [[HellishHorse Lulune]], who [[HumanityEnsues were originally animals until they ate Fruits of Evolution]], he is also capable of reverting back to his original form.
* 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/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.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Metamorphmagi like Nymphadora Tonks and [[spoiler: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.
** There is also Polyjuice Potion, which can turn you into a specific person for an hour, [[YouAreWhoYouEat after you add a bit of said person into it]] (like a hair or nail, for example) It messes up if you add a non-human component, even if that person is a HalfHumanHybrid.
* This is Tessa Gray's unique power in ''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.
* ''Literature/IveBeenKillingSlimesFor300YearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'' has many characters who use magic to assume human forms for convenience or disguise, including dragons, [[GiantFlyer leviathans]], humanoid [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], and intelligent [[CuteSlimeMook slimes]]. For [[AuthorAppeal some reason]], they manifest as young girls, despite being centuries or millennia old.
* ''Literature/JohannesCabal'': Zarenyia the [[OurDemonsAreDifferent devil]] can "fold" her normal [[SpiderPeople spider-centaur]] body into an ordinary (albeit HotAsHell) human disguise. She's not a fan of the relative lack of legs.
* In ''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.
* In ''Literature/{{Seraphina}}'', dragons can only transform into their own human form, called a saarantras (saarantrai for plural, saar for short).
[[/folder]]

[[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 glimpses of a demonic face that presumably represents its "true form", however.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS4E8TheFacelessOnes The Faceless Ones]]", the aliens are "chameleons", faceless aliens who can transform into duplicates of specific humans through technology.
** 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]]", and various remarks by the Doctor prior to regenerating that imply alternative options if it goes wrong, notwithstanding).
** Saibra, the "face" of the Doctor's CaperCrew in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E5TimeHeist Time Heist]]", is a mutant who can copy people's appearance by touching them. Her reason for joining the team is to get a suppressant that will let her touch people ''without'' copying them.
* ''Series/InFromTheCold'': Anya can only turn into other people using her morphing ability, from what's seen (though this extends to [[ShapeshifterBaggage ones with much larger bodies]]).
* In ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'', Sauron prefers to take humanoid forms like humans and Elves. The watery reflection shows that his real (or preferred anyway) physical form is that of a BlackKnight.
* ''Series/Merlin2008'' has the titular character develop the ability to do this, primarily into an elderly version of himself who goes by 'Dragoon the Great'. Since this disguise means that he can both use his magical abilities openly and air his true thoughts about various things and people [[LargeHam (which he tends to do at the top of his voice)]], hilarity tends to ensue. He also once turns into an old woman.
* 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/TheOutsider'' has [[spoiler:El Cuco (the titular Outsider), a humanoid monster who can shapeshift into a human being ''down to the DNA'']].
* 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). However, it takes a serious toll on their bodies, and if they do it just a few times, they'll most likely die.
* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': The episode "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1959S1E13TheFourOfUsAreDying 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]].
* ''Series/TheXFiles'':
** In "[[Recap/TheXFilesS01E14GenderBender 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 "[[Recap/TheXFilesS04E20SmallPotatoes 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.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* "Seen and Not Seen", a song from Music/TalkingHeads' ''Music/RemainInLight'', is about a man who believes that he and others can gradually change their faces through force of will. He's worried, though, that he might have chosen features that don't suit him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** 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 mix sexes, or become asexual) at will.
** 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", in some editions, they can also become creatures such as harpies.
** The ''alter self'' spell lets you transform into another creature of your type. Since most spellcasters are humanoids, this means [[StandardFantasyRaces 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 bonuses the new form might have -- but on the other hand, it lasts for much longer than a standard ''alter self'' spell).
** Some creatures like [[SuccubiAndIncubi Succubi]] and Night Hags have the innate ability to assume human or {{demihuman}} forms at will, the better to corrupt people into doing evil.
* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', 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.
* The Kairic Acolytes of the Arcanite Cults from ''TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar'' possess some limited form of shapeshifting ability, being able to change their form and features so that they can appear as anyone from an emaciated scholar to a wealthy merchant. The Acolytes use this ability to disguise their true allegiances and enact their master's plans in secrecy.
* In "TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}" you have the kitsune and the Anadi, fox and spider people respectively, who can take on a single humanoid for in addition to their normal form. There is also the 'humanoid form' spell, which unlike the previous examples, has a time limit.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': The Spy impersonate members of the opposing team (and his own team) in order to infiltrate their base.
* ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'': Some Aches can transform into seemingly regular humans to spy for Ganon's forces.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* 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. [[spoiler:[[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2184 He did.]]]]) 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]].
* Sabine the [[SuccubiAndIncubi succubus]] from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. She can do "human", "dwarf", and also turn male. By ''D&D'' rules, she can change into any Medium or Small humanoid form.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Website/SCPFoundation'': [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-974 SCP-974 ("Treehouse Predator")]] can take the form of any human being that it has killed and eaten.
* Not uncommon among low-level Shifters in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. Bogus, a student at SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy can only turn into other people, and can't change his weight either.
* Pretender from ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' is a humanshifter who can clone himself. His clones are also humanshifters.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* False Face from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' has the ability to change his facial features and hair to impersonate others, but is never shown to even appear as another gender or body type.
* A villain from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' named [[PunnyName Camille Leon]] can shapeshift into people after an experimental cosmetic surgery; however, she always retains the same basic body shape.
* Another False Face, from ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'', can assume the features of any person whose face he feels with his hands. Given the prevalence of shapeshifters amongst the Horde, it's presumably the MasterOfDisguise attribute that allows him to stand out amongst his fellows for missions.
* Replace "human" with "cybertronian", and this is the power of Makeshift from ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', who can take as his alt-mode the robot modes of any of his fellows he can scan. It's implied that he can switch to other bots' looks simply by re-scanning, so it's not hard to see why the writers felt his debut episode [[TooPowerfulToLive should also be his finale]].
* Zee from ''WesternAnimation/TheZetaProject'' is a humanoid android who can disguise himself with holograms. He has been known to appear as a (humanoid) statue and a broken version of his robot form, otherwise it's strictly people.
[[/folder]]

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