| rdfs:comment | - A character with the power to transform and reshape his or her body. This trope comes in a wide variety of forms, but can be classified by exactly what the character can transform themselves into. Most commonly, a character is limited to a specific set of one or more "alternate" forms, or a specific "class" of things he can change into (animals, machines, elements, etc.) Sometimes, there's a specific feature that they are unable to conceal, like hair color or voice, that others can use to identify them regardless of what form they are in. If the only thing they are able to change is hair/eye color, they have Kaleidoscope Hair/Eyes.
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| abstract | - A character with the power to transform and reshape his or her body. This trope comes in a wide variety of forms, but can be classified by exactly what the character can transform themselves into. Most commonly, a character is limited to a specific set of one or more "alternate" forms, or a specific "class" of things he can change into (animals, machines, elements, etc.) Sometimes, there's a specific feature that they are unable to conceal, like hair color or voice, that others can use to identify them regardless of what form they are in. If the only thing they are able to change is hair/eye color, they have Kaleidoscope Hair/Eyes. Usually, the character can transform simply by thinking about it, but occasionally they may use a gadget or a magic phrase. Magic Pants are almost always in effect, unless the shapeshifting character demonstrates or mentions they are simply molding what looks like clothing out of his/her body cells for the common decency of those around them. (In which case, it's best not to think too much about that... whoops, too late.) Many Superheroes have this power, along with nearly all gods and Sufficiently Advanced Aliens. It's particularly popular with Tricksters and Reality Warpers. Many with a flexible transformation scheme also have a tacked-on bonus ability to alter their shape in any way they wish; i.e., adopt a clay-like consistency and sculpt themselves blob-style. The stretchy, ultraflexible body of a character like Plastic Man or Mrs. Incredible is a milder form. Others may use a Partial Transformation to "mix and match" elements of their human and transformed states. Being able to form limbs into stabbing weapons and reform oneself after being blown apart by explosives has become an almost standard ability of the clay-consistency metamorph in recent years, probably due to the popularity of the T-1000 character from the Terminator films. Quite a few Shifters boast elemental powers, with water-based powers being particularly popular. A potent Healing Factor is also often packaged in, considering they can restructure their body at will. Exactly where their extra body mass comes from (or goes) when a shapeshifter transforms from one size to another is known as Shapeshifter Baggage. Can be used for Narrative Shapeshifting. The Shapeshifting Seducer finds picking up partners at bars is fairly easy. Sooner or later, a Phlebotinum Breakdown may leave the character suffering Involuntary Shapeshifting or Shapeshifter Mode Lock, if only temporarily. If badly beaten or near death, they may have a Superpower Meltdown and lose control of their power, resulting in a Shapeshifter Swan Song. Examples of Voluntary Shapeshifting include:
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