Shapeshifting

Directory: Techniques → Supportive Techniques

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

Overview[]

Shapeshifting allows the user to change their physical form into any appearance they desire. The transformation itself is accompanied by a puff of smoke, concealing the user as they transform. Whilst this technique can be used to make the user significantly larger or smaller than their natural form, it does not change their physical strength; transforming into a more muscular or larger form cannot make the user stronger, limiting the technique's uses in combat.

Usage[]

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

Shapeshifting is first seen in Dr. Slump, done frequently by Donbe to trick people. Oolong uses the ability to intimidate and terrorize villages until he is stopped by Goku and Bulma.^[13] Puar can also shapeshift, which proves particularly useful when Goku transforms into his Great Ape form during the Emperor Pilaf Saga.^[14] Puar is able to transform into a giant pair of scissors which are used to cut off Goku's tail, ending his rampage.^[15]

Southern Transformation Kindergarten — Oolong & Puar attending shapeshifting school in *Dragon Ball: Adventure Special*

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 Funimation dub, he steals the teacher's papers). As a result of his expulsion, Oolong never mastered the technique and can only shapeshift for up to five minutes at a time,^[16] while Puar can shapeshift indefinitely.^[4]

Neko Majins are also capable of shapeshifting.

Later, in the 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.^[17]

In Dragon Ball Super, Oolong turns into a bat to go to Capsule Corporation for a wish of Shenron.^[18] When preparing for the Tournament of Power Master Roshi asks Puar to help him overcome his "weakness" by shapeshifting into a beautiful woman. At first, Puar is reluctant and asks about Oolong, but Roshi reveals he already asked him, but Oolong refused (due to his previous trauma from shapeshifting into Bulma during the Emperor Pilaf Saga) so Puar reluctantly agrees to Roshi's request.^[19]^[20]

ScaredOolongPuar — 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.^[21] Sugoro and his son Shusugoro were also shown to be the masters of shapeshifting.^[22] Shusugoro played an important role to extend Goku's tail 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.^[23]^[24] Oceanus Shenron uses this technique to take on her Princess Oto form which she uses to hide her ugly true form and her usage of the technique is ironic given that the wish that created her was made by Oolong.^[25]

Film Appearances[]

In Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies, Oolong uses shapeshifting to turn into an Ogre to scare Pansy as she strolls through the woods. He then shapeshifts into his Ramen Robot form when confronting by Goku and into a bat to escape. When Bulma notices Master Roshi's Dragon Ball, she forces Oolong to shapeshift into her to help her trick Roshi in order to obtain it.

In Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle, this technique is used by Oolong to turn into one of Lucifer's demons and by Puar to do the same but hiding Yamcha's head, so everyone could infiltrate into the Devil's Castle and rescue Bulma. When they find her, Oolong's time is out and he turns back into his normal form. Puar, trying to advice him, unconsciously turns back into his real form, uncovering Yamcha's head. So everyone are discovered.

In Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure, Puar uses it to turn into Emperor Chiaotzu, while Oolong uses it to turn into Minister Shen.

In Dragon Ball: The Path to Power, Oolong uses shapeshifting to turn into a bull to attack Goku and Bulma. He then shapeshifts into his Ramen Robot form when confronting by Goku and into a bat to escape.

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.

DBE - Mai disguised as Chi-Chi — Mai shapeshifted to look like Chi-Chi.

In Dragonball Evolution, its revealed that Mai is capable of shapeshifting having used it to make herself look like Chi-Chi in order to sneak into the temple and steal the remaining Dragon Balls. It's possible that she also shapeshifted herself to look like a woman she'd previously killed in order to nurse Lord Piccolo back to health at the end of the film.

Video Game Appearances[]

Fake Goku Piano — Piano as Goku in *Gokuden*

Piano is able to shapeshift into Goku's form to fight in Dragon Ball 3: Gokuden.

Majin Ozotto, the final boss of 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 July shapeshifts into Mrs. Bon.

In Dragon Ball: Origins, Oolong and Puar use shapeshifting to transform into various forms and even fight.

In Dragon Ball: Origins 2, there is a Sub-Event involving Oolong transforming into Colonel Silver to avoid Bulma's wrath. However, the real Colonel Silver appears and as a result both end up fighting against Bulma as bosses with Oolong fighting using Colonel Silver form.

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 into small children.

In Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle, certain characters such as Oolong, Puar (with Yamcha), and Lord Yao utilize shapeshifting to fight. Oolong for example fights in his Ramen Robot form and uses his Rocket form as his Super Attack Transformation Rocket. Lord Yao uses his shapeshifted Cannon Arm as his Super Attack Cannon Transformation. Puar will shapeshift into a giant hand to slap the opponent down during their Ultra Super Attack with Yamcha. Oceanus Shenron appears shapeshifted in her Princess Oto form, though it is only playable in the Japanese version, as she only appears as a boss in that form in the global version (her true form is playable in both versions). Additionally, Oolong appears shapeshifted into Bulma (Bunny) on the "Puff-Puff!" summon screen performing the Puff Puff gesture with Master Roshi.

In Xenoverse, two Time Patrollers named Tennile and Nema can shapeshift, with Tennile referencing that he learned how to at Southern Transformation Kindergarten.

In Xenoverse 2, Tennile and Nema return transforming into various characters and will teach the Future Warrior new Emotes if they perform certain Emotes near them. Some of their transformations are imperfect.

In Dragon Ball Heroes Halloween mission, Werewolves will shapeshift themselves as a random member of the Dragon Team. They will fight alongside the real members and stun the weakest character on the player's team at the end of each round until the player discovers them within four rounds.

In Kakarot during a post-Saiyan Saga Intermission Sub Story, Oolong tells Gohan that he saw Yamcha walking around West City, despite him being deceased at the time and fears it may be his Ghost. Gohan decides to investigate and finds Yamcha alive and going on dates with various women. Eventually he discovers that it is actually Puar shapeshifting as Yamcha to keep up appearances that he is still alive by going on dates with Yamcha's various girlfriends. Krillin appears to give Puar a message that Yamcha had given him while they were training in the event, he died fighting the Saiyans. Unfortunately, the message actually encourages Puar to continue masquerading as him until he can be revived, even giving him advice on which girls to focus on. There is also an unlockable Z Encyclopedia entry for the Shapeshifting Academy in the Keywords Index which tells of the prestigious academy where Puar and Oolong learned to shapeshift though also noted Oolong was later expelled for stealing the teacher's Panties. As part of the -Trunks- The Warrior of Hope DLC, during the Episode 3 Sub Story: "Android Admirer", Future Trunks enlists Future Oolong and his Shapeshifting abilities to help stop a Despondent Man from trying to end his life due to the death of his unrequited love Future Android 18 by having Future Oolong masquerade as Future 18 to talk him down.

In Dragon Ball: The Breakers, Oolong can be seen using Shapeshifting in one of the Cinematic/Gameplay Idle Trailers using Change (Camouflage) to turn into a pot to hide from Imperfect Cell when he breaks into the Capsule House Oolong was hiding in. Oolong can also be seen using Change (Missile) to turn into his Missile form in the trailer. The Survivor can gain access to Change (Camouflage) and Change (Missile) as Active Skills by equipping Oolong's anime character skin. It is also revealed that Oolong's Change (Missile) will explode if it hits a enemy or terrain yet the user is able to survive.

Trivia[]

In the Xenoverse series, some characters mention shapeshifting in a 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.
- Puar's shapeshifting into a girl in a Bunny costume during the Universe Survival Saga in Dragon Ball Super also counts as gender-bending, as Puar is canonically male (according to series creator Akira Toriyama), though Puar is generally referred to as female in the Funimation dub.