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Basic Trope: A character accidentally transforms themself.

  • Straight: Whenever Alice sneezes, she turns into a kangaroo.
  • Exaggerated:
    • Alice is constantly turning into various animal forms, to the point where we see her in human shape only rarely and briefly anymore.
    • All the characters turn into kangaroos when they sneeze.
    • Alice can accidentally trigger a transformation from doing nearly anything.
  • Downplayed: Alice tries to turn into a bear, but accidentally turns herself into a kangaroo.
  • Justified:
  • Inverted:
    • Whenever Alice sneezes, the person nearest her turns into a kangaroo.
    • Alice tries to turn into a kangaroo, but sneezes and can't.
    • Voluntary Shapeshifting: Alice changes into a kangaroo intentionally.
  • Subverted: Alice is telling Bob how she has a hard time controlling her shape-shifting powers. She sneezes... and nothing happens.
  • Double Subverted: Then Alice stubs her toe and turns into a kangaroo.
  • Parodied: While Alice is telling Bob how she has complete control over her shape-shifting powers, she sneezes and turns into a kangaroo.
  • Zig-Zagged:
    • The first time Alice turns into a kangaroo, it's accidental. The next time she turns into a kangaroo, it's because she tried to transform. The next time she tries, she doesn't succeed.
    • Alice has less control over her shape-shifting powers than Bob has, but more than Charlie.
  • Averted:
    • Alice does not transform.
    • Alice can control her shape-shifting powers.
  • Enforced: "Alice is a shapeshifter, so let's give her a conflict she can face while trying to figure out how her powers work. Maybe accidentally shapeshifting when she doesn't want to is a good idea!"
  • Lampshaded: As soon as Alice returns to being a human, she says, "I did not intend to turn into a kangaroo."
  • Invoked: Alice's enemies expose her to a cold virus or allergens, giving her sneezing fits that make her turn into a kangaroo.
  • Exploited: Alice exposes herself to a cold virus or allergens to make herself sneeze when the ability to jump very far and/or high will be helpful.
  • Defied:
    • Alice learns to control her shape-shifting powers so that she doesn't turn into a kangaroo when she sneezes.
    • Alice takes cold or allergy medicine to prevent herself from sneezing.
  • Discussed:
    Alice: I learned how to change into a kangaroo.
    Bob: That's quite an accomplishment, but be careful not to do anything that might set it off accidentally.
  • Conversed: "'Alice turns into a kangaroo by accident' ... Is that the only story idea this show has? With a large, you would think they'd write at least a few about them, but no..."
  • Implied: Alice's accidental transformation is mentioned, but not seen.
  • Deconstructed: Alice always turns into a kangaroo at the most inopportune times, she never knows how long it lasts at a time, and she goes through clothes more quickly than she can replace them.
  • Reconstructed:
    • Alice figures out how to control her shape-shifting powers, or at least the answers to the second question posed by "Deconstructed."
    • If Alice does not master her powers outright, she learns how to retain humanity within a kangaroo's body, effectively becoming a Funny Animal temporarily.
    • Alice gets a large, sequestered space in which to disrobe privately and transform.
    • Alice tries to find some sort of Magic Pants so that she won't ruin clothing while she transforms.
  • Played for Laughs:
    • Alice has no coordination as a kangaroo and gets herself into all sort hilarious Slapstick while in kangaroo form.
    • Alice turns into a kangaroo when she sneezes, and then laughs too hard and turns into a penguin. Alice is then seen giving a disappointed look towards the audience because of how often she keeps accidentally turning into animals.
  • Played for Drama:
    • Alice is ostracized for turning into a kangaroo.
    • Being turned into a kangaroo makes it very difficult for Alice to continue her goals, but she has to Find the Cure! in a certain amount of time or she'll be stuck as a kangaroo forever.
  • Played for Horror:

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Alternative Title(s): Involuntary Shapeshifter

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