Shapeshifter

From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.

Shapeshifter (also known as Shapechanger) is a term encompassing any sort of being that can change their physical shape and appearance under its own willpower. In fantasy fandoms, these beings may be known as polymorphs (i.e. a being or creature with the means to change its biological shape into another, commonly by the use of magic; This process is also commonly known as "morphing.")

[edit] Shapeshifting and furry

Shapeshifters abound in the lore of most cultures. Contemporary examples include werewolves, which are wolves that turn into humans (or vice versa, depending on the specific mythos), and kitsune (and related shapeshifters, such as kumiho), which are typically depicted as the enlightened semi-spirit forms of foxes which can turn into people. If the term 'furry' is taken in its loosest sense, i.e., something which exhibits a mixture of human and animal traits, then these may be the oldest known examples of furries in human culture.

A great deal of fursonas in the furry fandom are shapechangers. Some of them accomplish this task by "magical" means, some using technology (i.e., nanites or extreme genetic engineering), and some furs can shapechange "just because."

Most mucks also include a morph program, which facilitate these changes. The most common program was created by Triggur for FurryMUCK, although there are others (and indeed, some mucks have multiple morph programs, depending on that user's preferences).^{[citation needed]}

One good example of shapeshifter beings would be Barbapapa, a popular children's cartoon series from the U.K. and France, created by Annette Tison & Talus Taylor, where Barbapapa and his colourful Barba-family find themselves in all kinds of adventures, with their shapeshifting ways.

[edit] See also

• Shapeshifting on Wikipedia
• Transformation
• Shapeshifting

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