Shapeshifting

Shapeshifting
変身
Henshin
Alternate names	Henka Transformation
Debut	Dr. Slump: "The Story of Donbe" Dragon Ball: "Oolong the Terrible"
Inventor	Southern Transformation Kindergarten
Users	Donbe Oolong Puar Darkness Piano Kopīman Ozotto Janemba Bon Para Sugoro Shusugoro Oceanus Shenron Mamba Susha Torga Lord Yao Churai Bubbles Tennile Nema Mai
Class	Magic
Similar Techniques	Body Manipulation Liquefaction Transformation

Directory: Techniques → Supportive Techniques

Shapeshifting (変身) is the ability to change one's shape or, more commonly, one's form and appearance.

Overview

Oolong, just transforming into a fish (puffs of smoke)

Shapeshifting is first seen in Dr. Slump, done frequently by Donbe to trick people.

In Dragon Ball, we learn that there is a shapeshifting school existing on Earth, which Oolong and Puar both attended. Puar graduated, but Oolong was expelled because he stole the teacher's underwear (in the English dub, he steals the teacher's papers). As a result of his expulsion, Oolong never masters the technique and can only shapeshift for up to five minutes at a time, while Puar can shapeshift indefinitely. Neko Majins are also capable of shapeshifting.

Later, in Dragon Ball anime, a mysterious entity named Darkness might have the ability to shapeshift into anyone but there is also the possibility that he is just creating illusions and toying with people's minds.

Oolong and Puar shapeshifted to fly like bats

In Dragon Ball GT, Bon Para uses this technique to disguise himself as a Gelboian in order to steal a Black Star Dragon Ball. Sugoro and his son Shusugoro were also shown to be the masters of shapeshifting. Shusugoro played an important role to extend the tail of Goku by transforming into a pair of giant pliers which was helpful beyond measure to defeat the incredibly powerful Baby Vegeta by transforming into the Golden Great Ape and eventually into Super Saiyan 4.

In Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy, this was used several times. First, Mamba uses this to turn herself into a beautiful young woman. Next, Susha and Torga use this to turn themselves into goo and a candle respectively. Finally, Lord Yao uses this to turn his arm into several things such as a cannon, a sword, and a tree root.

Video game appearances

Piano is able to shapeshift into Goku's form to fight in Dragon Ball 3: Gokuden. Ozotto, the final boss of the arcade game Dragon Ball Z: V.R.V.S., has the power to shapeshift into certain Z Fighters and use their techniques. In Dragon Ball Online, the Time Breaker Churai shapeshifts into Mrs. Bon.

In Adventure Mode of Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butōden, Bubbles can shapeshift by having a magic spell placed on him by King Kai, however Bubbles is limited to transforming in small children.

In Xenoverse, two Time Patrollers named Tennile and Nema can shapeshift, with Tennile referencing that he learned how to at the Southern Transformation Kindergarten shapeshifting school. They use this technique to transform into several Dragon Ball series characters:

Tennile's Transformations

• Yamcha
• General Blue
• Emperor Pilaf
• Great Saiyaman
• Turles
• God of Destruction Beerus

Nema's Transformations

• Kid Chi-Chi
• Android 18
• Supreme Kai
• Great Saiyaman II
• Salza
• Saiyuki Outfit

Gallery

Oolong transforms Oolong's five minutes are up Puar turns into scissors to cut off Goku's tail Oolong attempts to transform Bulma's form in the anime Oolong in Bulma's form deceiving Roshi in the anime Oolong showing off Bulma's breasts to Roshi in the anime Oolong showing off Bulma's breasts to Roshi in the manga Oolong attempts to take Bulma's form in Curse of the Blood Rubies Oolong in Bulma's form in Curse of the Blood Rubies Oolong enjoying Bulma's form in Curse of the Blood Rubies Oolong showing off Bulma's breasts to Roshi in Curse of the Blood Rubies Puar taking the form of Emperor Chiaotzu in Mystical Adventure Oolong turning into the Crane Hermit in Mystical Adventure Lord Yao with his arm morphed into a cannon Lord Yao's arm morphed into a club Lord Yao with his left arm as roots and his right arm as a sword

Trivia

• In Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, some characters mention shapeshifting in special dialog. When fighting GT Kid Goku, Yamcha will believe it is Puar shapeshifting into Kid Goku, causing Goku to state he is not Puar. When fighting Bardock, Goku will question if he is actually Oolong shapeshifting to look like Goku.
• Oolong's shapeshifting into Bulma is one of the few instances of gender-bending (the other being Captain Ginyu's Body Change with Bulma in the anime) in the Dragon Ball series.