Painful Transformation: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

Usually, [[Shapeshifting]] is done quickly and without undue damage to the shifter. For whatever reason, the body flows from one form to the other without much trouble. But that isn't always the case. Sometimes, those who would take on another form are going to suffer for it.

 

 

There are generally two ways transforming can be painful:

 

* ''Physical'' - The body is tortured during the transformation process. This is rather understandable, as one would imagine the bones and organs shifting around as having some sort of impact on the nerves.

 

If ''painful'' doesn't begin to describe the transformation, see [[Body Horror]].

 

 

In cases where the shapeshifter will, once fully transformed, pose a threat to all others present, [[Transformation Is a Free Action|no one takes advantage of their temporary incapacitation]] in an attempt to flee or subdue them.

 

{{examples}}

== Anime and Manga ==

** Even the lesser forms are painful to an extent. The chakra is poisonous to Naruto and constantly burns his skin, only the accelerated healing it grants preventing him from succumbing to the damage.

* [[Dark Magical Girl|Princess Kraehe]] of ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' goes through a painful, involuntary transformation to unlock her [[Super-Powered Evil Side]].

** Adding to this, Koji and Koichi most likely go through the most painful transformations of them all. This is because the beast spirits do bend their bones, flesh, and bodies to match their evolution. Everyone else is human shaped while they have to suffer a complete bone re-structure.

** Although not quite as much, the Digivolution sequences in Tamers show the Digimon in slight pain as their skin is peeled off.

** Hayate's similar transformation at the end of A's appears similarly painful, but as her body is at this point being controlled by an AI, it seems unlikely that she felt it.

* Valgaav (''[[Slayers]] TRY'') is capable of a partial transformation into his dragon form. The transformation appears so painful to him that he never manages to transform fully.

* In ''[[S-Cry-ed]]'', Kazuma and eventually {{spoiler|Ryuho, Martin Zigmarl and Straight Cougar}} damage their bodies when they go into their alter forms. Usually, the scars appear where the armor does. For example Kazuma gets scars on his arm, then on his face and even part of his hair starts to change. By the end of the series, he doesn't even open his right eye unless he's in his alter form (which he might possibly not even ''have'' outside of his alter form). They look pretty scary during the last fight.

** In the manga, Daisuke feels pain when transforming {{spoiler|after Risa was kidnapped off the Farris Wheel because he transformed with anger, not love.}} This could also explain why transforming is so painful for Satoshi. {{spoiler|The one time he did transform with little-to-no pain was after diving to save Risa when she fell off the tower, transforming out of "love" (according to some fans).}}

* Mamoru Kusanagi from ''[[Blue Seed]]'' bleeds green blood when he brings out his arm blades.

* While it is inconsistently portrayed (at least in the manga), the more extreme renditions of Chise's transformations into [[Person of Mass Destruction|the Ultimate Weapon]] in ''[[Saikano]]'' are agonizingly painful for her.

* The titular haibane of ''[[Haibane Renmei]]'' are born looking like normal humans, until their wings grow during their first night in the town. Having a pair of wings explode out from one's shoulder blades is about as painful as it sounds.

** Ditto for Goku's first-time Super Saiyan 1 and 3 transformations.

* [[Eureka Seven|Eureka's]] {{spoiler|wings growing from her back}} was not a pleasant experience.

* In ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'', the chronic [[I'm Having Soul Pains|soul pains]] that the eponymous Negi's been having ever since learning [[Dangerous Forbidden Technique|Magia Erebea]] are a symptom of him being {{spoiler|''turned into a demon'' by overuse of the technique}}.

** The replacement of lost limbs with automail is said to be incredibly painful, and the scant few flashback's to Ed's experience with the procedure show him crying and groaning in agony.

* Late in ''[[Inuyasha]]'', the title character is forced to use a [[Mineral MacGuffin|Jewel Shard]] on the Tetsusaiga to give him a power boost; however, the jewel becomes corrupted and forces him to transform into a [[Axe Crazy|full]] [[Super-Powered Evil Side|demon]]. Given how much he was screaming, it's safe to assume the forced transformation was pretty damn painful.

 

 

 

== Film ==

* In Disney's ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'', Ariel's tail is literally torn in half as she is changed into a human. The facts that it occurs in silhouette and the two ragged halves become shapely legs almost instantly does little to ease the horror of the scene.

** And of course, [[Disneyfication|Disney being what it is]] this is actually ''toned down'' from the original fairy tale; not only was the transformation excruciating, but afterward she felt like she was walking on knives the entire time she was transformed.

* ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', Hyde-to-Jekyll. Ouch.

* In ''[[Dog Soldiers]]'', the transformation into a werewolf is apparently very painful, as the unfortunate lycanthrope-to-come begins screaming and grunting as they stagger around the room, tripping over random objects, as fur begins to grow and they generally display more wolf-like characteristics as the change continues, growling instead of crying for example. This occurs is a surprisingly dramatic sequence towards the end of the film, where the infected character of Sergeant Wells is writhing around the kitchen as his accomplice Cooper makes his escape. Eventually, towards the end of his change, he attracts the attention of the remaining werewolves, looks at a picture of his wife, roars and blows the fuck out of everything in the house, including him, with the faulty gas cooker he was leaning against.

* Sebastian becoming invisible in ''[[Hollow Man]]'', as well as making the previous test subject visible again.

* Ron Howard wanted something like this originally for the bathtub scene in ''[[Splash]]'' where Madison the mermaid turns into her mermaid form in the bath. But he feared that it would ruin the appeal of the character. But the part where her lower torso bubbles and turns scaly would probably count- seeing as the bath tub scene in general was intense.

** The animated series also had some of it, but mostly while he's removing the mask. Which is only sensible, since pulling the mask off basically requires him to ''tear off his face''.

** The Mask Pressbook has this to an extreme in their test images of Jim Carrey turning into the Mask. One of them looks like it was borrowed from ''The Howling'' or ''American Werewolf In London''. There are pictures on that on [http://www.jimcarreyonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8492 Jim Carrey Online.]

* The poor title character of the dark and edgy ''[[Kamen Rider]]'' [[Deconstruction]] film ''[[Shin Kamen Rider Prologue]]'' suffers from this. Rather than simply having the 'armor' appear over his body, Shin's body actually changes, distorts and morphs into the Shin Kamen Rider. This is only done twice in the film, and is extremely painful for the guy (also leaving him naked for some reason); specific super-creepy examples include his forehead splitting open four ways at once, and his jaw ''splitting in half''. They had to tone the costume down a bit for his appearance in ''[[Kamen Rider Decade]]'', and even then he was pretty scary-looking.

* In ''[[Hocus Pocus]]'', we don't actually see Thackeray Binks' transformation into a cat, but we can HEAR his body changing shape...and it doesn't sound comfortable ''at all''.

** You can also hear the poor guy screaming as it happens.

* Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader in ''[[Star Wars]]: [[Revenge of the Sith]]''. The first part involves a horrific aversion of [[Convection, Schmonvection]], the other prosthetics that hook in directly to his nerves.

 

 

== Literature ==

** Also, something of a self-conscious aversion: morphing is explicitly painless, but looks and feels like it should hurt. In some ways, this is even creepier than just agonizing pain.

* In ''[[Harry Potter]]'', werewolf transformations are described as being excruciatingly painful. Animagi amd Metamorphmagi, however, easily transform at will without the slightest discomfort.

** The same series also features the Polyjuice Potion, whose transformation description includes the phrase ''bubbling skin''... creepy and painful.

* [[The Vampire Chronicles]] transformation includes the body painfully rejecting digested food and fluids.

* When [[The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde|Dr. Jekyll]] drank his potion, "the most racking pangs succeeded: a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death."

* Inferno XXIV of ''[[The Divine Comedy]]'' gives a vivid account of shades transforming into snakes, and vice versa.

** The transformation back is over in almost one day and completely painless.

 

 

== Live Action TV ==

** The Master's regeneration in "Utopia" shows him screaming throughout the whole process. Extra creepy when his face morphs and the scream pitches up.

** "Planet of the Ood" has the [[Karmic Transformation]] of the [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]. It starts as simple hair loss, and ends in him ripping his own face off to expose his newly transformed self and coughing up part of his brain.

** The Doctor's forced aging in "The Sound of Drums" and again in "Last of the Time Lords" certainly sounds painful, judging by the screaming.

* [[Played for Laughs]] in ''[[Babylon 5]]''. Delenn undergoes her Minbari-to-human transformation unconscious and cocooned; several episodes later, she finds herself completely unable to cope with having hair, and complains about her first menstrual cramps.

** Shows up again in season 3 with the [[Voluntary Shapeshifting]] ability {{spoiler|acquired by Sylar}}.

'''George''': There aren't words. }}

** It's implied that when a person dies, they go to an unknown place where terrifying things happen to them. So when a person comes back as a vampire or ghost, they haven't had the best time.

* The transformation to vampire in ''[[True Blood]]'' has been described as incredibly painful and horrifying by vampire protagonist Bill, who had vowed never to turn another human into a vampire to ensure that nobody else has to experience what he went through.

** Possibly justified when taking into account how much a werewolf ''wants'' to transform. Oz was quiet when he was safe and behind bars; Veruca loves being a werewolf; and Bay transformed out of protection. Characters who experience pain, however, always seem to fight it.

 

== Manhwa ==

 

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* Infernal [[Exalted]] have the Charm Inner Devils Unchained, which turns the target into a demon. Painfully.

 

 

* For the first half of the game ''[[Shadow Hearts]]'', Yuri Hyuga convulses and screams when using his "Fusion" ability to combine with demons; whether the pain is mental or physical is unknown, but the former is implied. Partway through the game, he experiences an epiphany, whereupon he no longer suffers the [[Freak-Out]] on using his power.

** The sequel repeats this pattern, with another epiphany.

** Midna's first transformation with the Fused Shadows in ''Twilight Princess'' had her being thrown around and screaming painfully.

* Every monster in the ''[[Resident Evil]]'' series that is depicted transforming does so in a terrifying, disgusting, and obviously agonizing manner. Humans that transform have it worse, as the ones that scream don't bear thinking about.

* Just about every transformation sequence with [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] turning into the Werehog in ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' looks kinda painful for Sonic. However, transforming back to his normal self is almost instantaneous and looks completely painless, with Sonic looking relieved and content afterward. There's a nice touch in that every time you change the time of day while in the Next-Gen version's [[Hub Level|hub worlds]] (Either via Pause Menu or with hourglasses) it plays the appropriate transformation sequence as a [[Loading Screen]].

* In ''[[Diablo II]]'', the Dark Wanderer assumes Diablo's true form in the cinematic between Acts 3 and 4. Lumps move under his skin, horns sprout from his brow, and his face stretches and twists as he howls in pain. Thankfully, he collapses and the rest of the transformation occurs hidden under his cloak.

* {{spoiler|Naoki's (Main Character), and Chiaki's}} Transformation in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne]]''

* In ''[[Mega Man Zero]] 4'': Dr. Weil, when undergoing his final transformation, has tubes being jammed into him (with copious amounts of blood in the Japanese version), and shouting something that roughly translates from Japanese as either "Can you see this Pain?! You'll never understand any of it?!" or "Can you understand pain such as this?!". The drama tapes even include him screaming and grunting in pain as he transforms in such a way that could be considered [[Nightmare Fuel]].

* Jelanda's transformation into a monster was offscreen in the original ''[[Valkyrie Profile]]''. In the [[Updated Rerelease]] for the PSP, however, it's rendered in CG, and you get to see this innocent (if bratty) teenage girl [[Nightmare Fuel|screaming and crying in pain and fear as her skin mutates into scales]], [[And I Must Scream|and her limbs move of their own accord to slaughter the soldiers sent to rescue her while she's utterly helpless to do anything]], until the monstrous flesh finally swallows her face.

* Jak being [[Involuntary Shapeshifter|forced]] into his [[Super-Powered Evil Side|dark form]] in ''[[Jak and Daxter]]'', either by the Oracle or due to an overexposure of [[Psycho Serum|Dark Eco]]. The way he jerks and spasms as [[The Corruption]] takes over makes clear it's no picnic. Reverting back, though rather quickly, will have him grabbing his head and shuddering violently. In ''TLF'' it's implied that due to the massive amounts of Dark Eco present, even [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|changing voluntarily]] will cause him so much pain that it will kill him.

** Downplayed with Daxter's change from [[Rubber Forehead Aliens|human]] to [[Mix and Match Critter|ottsel]]. "''Man'', that stung!"

* ''killer7'' features Heaven Smiles as its regular enemies. While some of them are transformed humans, you rarely see the transformations. When you do, they usualy feature an instantaneous transformation or an ofscreen one. THEN we have {{spoiler|Andrei Ulmeyda}}, whose transformation goes like this: {{spoiler|The army, wishing to experiment on him to try and use Smiles as their own weapons, injects potent Heaven Smile tumors into him. The army triggers a small explosion for some reason, but then an even larger explosion occurs amd Ulmeyda asks why you didn't kill him at the injection and saying he "can't control this urge to kill." He then screams, his head then flies of his head, his acidic blood (acidic because of all the diseases he infected himself with to create vaccines) kills everyone in the army present, then his blood BRINGS HIS HEAD BACK ONTO HIS BODY AND PULLS UP HIS AFRO. Needless to say, Ulmeyda was in GREAT PAIN in his last moments of sanity.}}

 

 

== Webcomics ==

''"meep."'' }}

 

 

* ''[[The Veloci Pastor]]'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNzzhCpqxA full stop].

* Think regeneration was painful in ''[[Doctor Who]]''? In ''[[Protectors of the Plot Continuum]]'', we have a human-turned-Gallifreyan with Borg implants. That first regeneration, his screams of pain and the shriek of his morphing musculoskeletal system combined into [[Fridge Horror|what had to be]] [[Hell Is That Noise|one hell of a hideous racket]].

 

 

== Western Animation ==

* The 2006 revival of ''[[Biker Mice From Mars]]'' has Stoker change into a rat-like beast called Stoker Rat when under sunlight. The transformation first occurred in the episode "Changes" and happened again in "British Invasion." The transformation is an ode to the transformation scene from ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]''.

* If one of the eponymous ''[[Transformers]]'' hasn't transformed in an exceedingly long time, or is banged up badly enough, transforming can hurt like hell, or, in extreme cases, be fatal.

** When {{spoiler|Waspinator}} is put into Blackarachnia's transwarp machine in ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', he screams and his hands can be seen clawing at the machine. Blackarachnia casually comments that it might hurt a bit.

* [[Played for Laughs]] in the first episode of ''[[Invader Zim]]''. As a machine gives Zim his human disguise (offscreen), he screams "Why does it ''hurt?!''" (For the record, his disguise is [[Paper-Thin Disguise|a wig and a pair of contacts]].)

* ''[[Garfield]]: His 9 Lives'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6vdg2ytDy0 life 7] (about 3 minutes in, and be grateful [[Shadow Discretion Shot|the final takes aren't shown]]).

* ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' actually has ''five'' instances, all Danny. The first and last sets of two are all seen as excrutiating agony. The middle one is [[Nightmare Fuel]] and what follows is just as disturbing and ''really'' should have earned a higher rating.

* In ''[[Street Sharks]]'', getting turned into a mutant always involves a good bit of screaming. Makes sense, considering that occasional extra limbs are grown and all of them gain a good amount of extra muscle mass.

** Simon Williams' transformation into [[Wonder Man]], in another episode, seemed unbearable as well. The other characters mention that Simon became the only person to survive the process.

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Shapeshifting]]