Shapeshifters

Werewolves. Vampires. The Incredible Hulk. Stories of shapeshifting creatures have existed for thousands of years. Some people still believe in shapeshifters, but is changing from one form to another actually possible?

Early myths

Shapeshifting is a common theme in myths and fairytales, and is often associated with magic and witchcraft. In the Harry Potter stories, Professor McGonagall can become a cat and Sirius Black changes into a dog. Eustace Scrubb in the Chronicles of Narnia is turned into a dragon as a punishment for being greedy.

Native American Navajo people tell of ‘skinwalkers’ – witches who can turn into animals. Skinwalkers are thought to have powers of mind control, super-speed and shapeshifting, which allow them to turn into animals like coyotes. They are so feared that the Navajo people have various methods to ward them off.

In myths, transforming the physical shape is often used as a way to gain power or hide from enemies. Gods like Zeus and Loki could change shape and take different forms. Some shapeshifters are tricksters, like the Japanese fox spirits called kitsune, that disguise themselves as humans.

These stories are often ways for people of the past to explain things that they didn’t understand at the time, which often led to the creation of supernatural explanations like shapeshifters. Gruesome crimes, unusual physical traits, and injuries were sometimes attributed to these mythological creatures. This provided a way to explain the actions of those who seemed ‘possessed’ or ‘out of control’.

Real-life shapeshifters

Nature is full of animals that can change their outward appearance. Starfish are able to regrow lost limbs and cuttlefish can change colour to blend in with their environment. When threatened, pufferfish inflate to make themselves look bigger and more intimidating.

The mimic octopus is a shapeshifting ninja. This master of disguise changes its shape, colour, and behaviour to look like (and even imitate the behaviour) of other sea creatures. Some frogs change the texture of their skin depending on their environment.

Perhaps the most amazing transformation in nature is metamorphosis. This is when a creature becomes an entirely different type of creature as it grows up. This happens when caterpillars become butterflies, and when tadpoles turn into frogs. A caterpillar is a squishy tube-shaped eating machine with legs, but when it encases itself in its chrysalis, many of its cells dissolve into a “butterfly soup” before reforming. Caterpillar leg cells become butterfly leg cells until eventually the entire animal has transformed.

Mighty morphing humans

So, could humans ever shapeshift? Animals use hormones to control these changes (chemical signals that connect the body to the brain). Humans also go through hormonal changes like puberty but full-body transformation would need something much more advanced.

Scientists are exploring the idea of regenerative medicine. One day, you may be able to regrow a limb. There’s also genetic engineering where DNA can be altered to change physical traits like eye colour. By inserting jellyfish genes into pig embryos (egg cells), scientists in the USA were able to make glow-in-the-dark pigs.

Transforming from one species to another is not possible – but that hasn’t stopped stories imagining what human shapeshifting might look like. For now, superhero films might be the closest we get to witnessing a shapeshifter. Bruce Banner turns into a gigantic, green, rage-filled Hulk when he becomes angry, showing the struggle between control and chaos. Princess Fiona from Shrek transforms into an ogre every night due to a curse. These stories are supposed to show the limits of human transformation.

Stories of shapeshifters can teach us things. They reflect our fears or desire for change. The idea of transformation remains powerful and while humans may never gain the ability to turn into animals, we do transform. We grow, we change, and learn.

Digital shapeshifting

If you could become anyone, who would you be? Artificial Intelligence lets you digitally transform your face to look like someone else’s. You could pretend to be a celebrity, a politician, or even your teacher. This technology is new and known as a ‘deepfake’. Although the transformation only happens digitally, it poses some interesting questions about identity and trust online.

‘Deepfakes’ can be used to create online content which makes it appear like someone said or did something they never would. Criminals use deepfake tech for scams and fraud by pretending to be other people – but there are also fun uses too like gaming or socialising online.

First published in The Week Junior Science+Nature, issue 87, April 2025.