History Main / PhysicalAttributeSwap

In settings where characters' bodies can be altered through {{Shapeshifting}} either [[VoluntaryShapeshifting voluntary]] or [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting not]], a common requirement for such a transformation is directly exchanging a particular physical attribute with someone else who already has that attribute. This is usually based on some in-universe version of EquivalentExchange that also explains away ShapeshifterBaggage.

* ''Plötzlich fett'' is a German film about a FormerlyFat personal trainer named Nick who's [[BoomerangBigot prejudiced against fat people]] swapping body weight with an overweight woman named Eva that won a session from him in a raffle. Finding himself suddenly pitied by everyone around him, he slowly falls in love with Eva for being the only support he has left. When everything is restored to normal they become a couple.

Often works by way of LiquidAssets. Closely related to TransferredTransformation. The "height swapping" cases are examples of {{Sizeshifting}}. If the swapping process involves harming or killing the person with the desired trait, that's FaceStealer. Contrast with FusionDance, where two characters become one and merge their physical attributes, and ViralTransformation, where a particular physical trait is passed on without the donor losing it.

Often works by way of LiquidAssets. Closely related to TransferredTransformation. The "height swapping" cases are examples of {{Sizeshifting}}. If the swapping process involves harming or killing the person with the desired trait, that's FaceStealer. Can be thought of as FreakyFridayFlip meets PartialTransformation. Contrast with FusionDance, where two characters become one and merge their physical attributes, and ViralTransformation, where a particular physical trait is passed on without the donor losing it.

In settings where characters' bodies can be altered through {{Shapeshifting}} either [[VoluntaryShapeshifting voluntary]] or [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting not]], the requirement for such a transformation is often to directly exchange a particular physical attribute with someone else who already has that attribute. This is usually based on some in-universe version of EquivalentExchange that also explains away ShapeshifterBaggage.

Such trait swapping may involve entire discrete limbs being traded, perhaps in a LEGOBodyParts manner. Other times, the swap involves a more general and/or abstract trait such as height, weight, musculature, skin complexion, or age. More fantastical works may even have two characters changing into each other's species while still [[MorphicResonance recognizably being themselves]]. In action-focused works, the characters will likely swap whatever traits will give them an advantage in battle, such as switching with a stronger character's muscles for greater offense or switching with an iron-hided character's carapace for greater defense. More prosaic comedies and dramas instead tend to pair this with characters who [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful want to look more attractive]], such as a character with HeightAngst stealing the desired height from someone taller or a fat person with WeightWoe transferring the weight to someone thinner. Also, kids who want an OvernightAgeUp may steal the age from adults who [[FountainOfYouth get younger]] as a result.

Such trait swapping may involve entire discrete limbs being traded, perhaps in a LEGOBodyParts manner. Other times, the swap involves a more general and/or abstract trait such as height, weight, musculature, skin complexion, or age. More fantastical works may even have two characters changing into each other's species while still [[MorphicResonance recognizably being themselves]]. In action-focused works, the characters will likely swap whatever traits will give them an advantage in battle, such as switching with a stronger character's muscles for greater offense or switching with an iron-hided character's carapace for greater defense. More prosaic comedies and dramas instead tend to pair this with characters who [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful want to look more attractive]], such as a character with HeightAngst stealing the desired height from someone taller or a fat person transferring the weight to someone thinner. Also, kids who want an OvernightAgeUp may steal the age from adults who [[FountainOfYouth get younger]] as a result.

Such trait swapping may involve entire discrete limbs being traded, perhaps in a LEGOBodyParts manner. Other times, the swap involves a more general and/or abstract trait such as height, weight, musculature, skin complexion, or even age. In action-focused works, the characters will likely swap whatever traits will give them an advantage in battle, such as switching with a stronger character's muscles for greater offense or switching with an iron-hided character's carapace for greater defense. More prosaic comedies and dramas instead tend to pair this with characters who [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful want to look more attractive]], such as a character with HeightAngst stealing the desired height from someone taller or a fat person transferring the weight to someone thinner. Also, kids who want an OvernightAgeUp may steal the age from adults who [[FountainOfYouth get younger]] as a result.

* ''Manga/AsatteNoHoukou'': Iokawa Karada is a young girl who lives with her older brother Hiro, while Nogami Shouko is Hiro's ex-girlfriend. Because Hiro left Shouko unexpectedly, she's bitter to the point that she also resents Karada. When they both make wishes at a shrine, they end up swapping ages, with Karada [[OvernightAgeUp becoming an adult]] and Shouko [[FountainOfYouth becoming a kid]]. They spend the rest of the series adjusting to the sudden change and trying to understand each other's angst.

Such trait swapping may involve entire discrete limbs being traded, perhaps in a LEGOBodyParts manner. Other times, the swap involves a more general and/or abstract trait such as height, weight, musculature, skin complexion, or even age. In action-focused works, the characters will likely swap whatever traits will give them an advantage in battle, such as switching with a stronger character's muscles for greater offense or switching with an iron-hided character's carapace for greater defense. More prosaic comedies and dramas instead tend to pair this with characters who [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful want to look more attractive]], such as a character with HeightAngst stealing the desired height from someone taller or a FatGirl transferring her weight to someone thinner. Also, kids who want an OvernightAgeUp may steal the age from adults who [[FountainOfYouth get younger]] as a result.

* One of the central aspects of ''Series/{{Galidor}}'' is that the inhabitants of the Outer Dimension have an ability called Glinching that allows them to swap body parts with another person. For example, at one point Euripides the large [[FrogMen Frog Man]] is StrappedToAnOperatingTable on Earth, so he briefly Glinches with the much shorter Nepol's body below the neck in order to hop out of his restraints. Various character also swap arms at different points. Part of what makes Nick Bluetooth special as TheChosenOne is that he ''doesn't'' need to swap with other characters to copy their body parts.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'', the VillainOfTheWeek runs an agency that kidnaps supermodels and uses a contraption that switches their body parts with other women's. First we see Clover's long, slender legs replaced with stout, muscular legs complete with wide-childbearing hips; then the brace-faced owner of the large legs gets her freckled complexion and frizzy red hair switched with Alex's sleek, raven bob and Sam's peaches-and-cream complexion and smile.

* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': A set of magical scales capable of this appeared in [[https://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/2018-022 one sketchbook entry]]. The scales reappeared in a [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/nanasecraft-36 non-canon side story]].

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''Film/TheFly1958'', a TeleporterAccident results in Andre Delambre having his head and arm swapped with that of a fly.

[[folder:Live-Action Television]]

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross". A man discovers that he can trade his own qualities with those of another person if that person voluntarily agrees to do so. One of his trades is exchanging his youth with a wealthy man's old age in return for one million dollars. He makes a series of trades with other men, paying them $1,000 for trading him a year of their youth in exchange for a year of his old age, and is soon young again.

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* ''Galidor Quest'' (a browser MMO based on ''Series/{{Galidor}}'') lets you you choose your species, which determines your head and abdomen, but you're able to trade arms or legs with NPC's you encounter via Glinching, and you're expected to do so in order to meet stat requirements for various tasks. These trades typically have to be won through challenges -- but if you lose a challenge and the NPC thinks your limbs are better, they'll take them, which can lead to losing streaks.

In settings where characters' bodies can be altered through {{Shapeshifting}} either [[VoluntaryShapeshifting voluntary]] or [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting not]], the requirement for such a transformation is often to directly swap a particular physical attribute with someone else who already has that attribute. This is usually based on some in-universe version of EquivalentExchange that also explains away ShapeshifterBaggage.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' has Planet Express set up a passenger shuttle service after running out of money. When they crash-land, an alien turns the crew and passengers neuter. They then get turned into their opposite gender, before being returned to their [[StatusQuoIsGod original genders]].

* Brought up jokingly in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh''. When HugeSchoolgirl Sakaki admits that she is still growing and recently went over 170 centimeters, Osaka suggests that she got that tall by "sucking away" the height from [[CheerfulChild Chiyo]]. This leads Chiyo to start begging Sakaki to "give it back."

* In ''Film/TheFly1958'', a TeleporterAccident results in Andr&eacute Delambre having his head and arm swapped with that of a fly.

* In ''Film/TheFly1958'', a TeleporterAccident results in Andre Delambre having his head and arm swapped with that of a fly.

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[[AC:Anime & Manga]]

[[AC:Film]]

[[AC:Live-Action Television]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'', the VillainOfTheWeek runs an agency that kidnaps supermodels and uses a contraption that switches their body parts with other women's. First we see Clover's long, slender legs replaced with stout, muscular legs complete with wide-childbearing hips; then the brace-faced owner of the large legs gets her freckled complexion and frizzy red hair switched with Alex's sleek, raven bob and Sam's peaches-and-cream complexion and smile.