32 Human Movie And TV Characters Who Turned Into Animals

I find myself simultaneously captivated and repelled by the notion of metamorphosing into an animal. This might be due to the fact that I’ve encountered many movies and television series where characters experience such transformations, often by their own decision or against their will.

To clarify, this list will primarily focus on characters who transformed completely into a non-human earthly creature, excluding those with human-creature hybrid forms like in the movie The Fly, or horror films involving body transformation and werewolf tales. With that said, let’s delve into an exciting exploration!

Wilby Daniels (The Shaggy Dog)

Some great films about talking dogs feature a dog character who was once human, like “The Shaggy Dog.” This Disney movie from 1959, which led to a sequel titled “The Shaggy D.A.” and a remake starring Tim Allen, tells the story of teenager Wilby Daniels (played by Tommy Kirk), who undergoes a curse that transforms him into a sheepdog at certain times.

Harry Limpet (The Incredible Mr. Limpet)

In 1964’s “The Incredible Mr. Limpet,” Don Knotts takes on the role of the title character who yearns to live among marine life. This desire comes true when he undergoes a magical transformation, turning him into a lively fish. Surprisingly, this change provides him with a superior chance to help the Navy during World War II compared to his human self.

Tiana And Naveen (The Princess And The Frog)

In the original fairy tale that inspired the 2009 Disney animated movie “The Princess and the Frog,” the prince transforms back to human form following a kiss from the princess. But in this reimagining, when restaurant server Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) plants a smooch on Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), she turns into a froggy creature just like him as well.

The Kids From Animorphs (Animorphs)

Between 1998 and 2000, Nickelodeon broadcasted a television series titled “Animorphs,” which was adapted from the book series of the same name authored by Katherine Applegate and her partner Michael Grant (writing as K. A. Applegate). The story revolves around a gang of adolescents who acquire the ability to transform into any creature they touch, courtesy of a band of aliens, with the aim of assisting them in battling an invasive alien race that intends to infiltrate humanity.

Professor Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone)

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at Maggie Smith’s enchanting portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. One of my favorite moments comes from the 2000’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” where her character’s magic never ceases to amaze me. In this scene, young Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) believe they have sneaked into class before Professor McGonagall arrives, only to find out that the feline perched on her desk was none other than their instructor in disguise!

Beast Boy (Teen Titans)

In order to save Garfield Logan’s life from an illness that West African green monkeys are resistant to, his father conducted an unproven experiment which inadvertently granted him the power to transform into any creature he desires. This DC Comics superhero, more famously recognized as Beast Boy, gained widespread popularity on the cherished animated series, “Teen Titans,” with Greg Cipes providing his voice.

Kenai (Brother Bear)

In the 2003 animated movie titled “Brother Bear,” Joaquin Phoenix lends his voice to Kenai, an Alaskan hunter from the post-ice age. After a magical transformation makes him his sworn adversary, a brown bear, Kenai undergoes a significant change in perspective when he forms a bond with a cub named Koda, voiced by Jeremy Suarez.

Jayna (Super Friends)

In my humble opinion as a movie critic, The Wonder Twins, DC Comics’ unique duo, were meticulously designed for the animated precursor to Justice League, Super Friends. Interestingly, Zan, their elder brother, possesses the extraordinary ability to morph into water – not just in its familiar liquid state, but also as a solid or gaseous entity. On the other hand, Jayna, their younger sister, boasts an even more versatile talent: she can shape-shift into any animal that inhabits any planet, including legendary creatures from various mythologies.

Emperor Kuzco (The Emperor’s New Groove)

In the hilarious Disney animated movie “The Emperor’s New Groove,” David Spade lends his voice to a self-centered monarch named Kuzco. He learns a valuable lesson about humility in an unusual way. When his vindictive ex-advisor, Yzma (Eartha Kitt), mistakenly turns him into a llama instead of poisoning him as planned, he is compelled to seek the assistance of a commoner named Pacha (John Goodman) to reverse the transformation and regain his human form.

Dr. Jonathan Chase (Manimal)

In the brief 1980s science-fiction TV series titled “Manimal“, Simon MacCorkindale plays Dr. Jonathan Chase, a character with the unique ability to transform himself into any animal at will. He employs this talent to aid the police in resolving criminal cases.

Lampwick (Pinocchio)

In a particularly chilling sequence from Disney’s 1940 animated adaptation of Pinocchio, the living puppet develops a friendship with a mischievous character named Lampwick. Similar to boys who visit Pleasure Island, Lampwick ultimately undergoes the same transformation – turning into a donkey. A popular speculation among movie enthusiasts proposes that this is the fate of Eddie Murphy’s character from Shrek.

Sabrina Spellman (Sabrina The Teenage Witch)

In the ABC comedy series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”, Melissa Joan Hart’s character, Sabrina, often transformed into different animals. These transformations occurred either because of Sabrina’s actions or due to unusual circumstances that she had to find a way to undo.

Thomas P. Johnson (Fluke)

In the movie “Fluke,” which was released in 1995, Matthew Modine plays the role of a self-centered workaholic who dies unexpectedly and finds himself reborn as a dog rather than a human – specifically, a canine named Fluke, after his own breed. Throughout the story, he strives to reconnect with his family despite being in a non-human form. The film presents an intriguing perspective on reincarnation.

Wonder Woman (Justice League Unlimited)

In the oddly titled episode “This Little Piggy” from Justice League Unlimited, Wonder Woman (voiced by Susan Eisenberg) is magically transformed into a pig by Circe (portrayed by Rachel York). To reverse the spell, Batman (the iconic voice of Kevin Conroy) demonstrates affection for her in an unusual way: he serenades her at a nightclub.

Meilin “Mei” Lee (Turning Red)

In the 2022 animated film, “Turning Red,” by Pixar, Roaslie Chiang lends her voice to the character Mei, a Chinese-Canadian teenager. The movie is praised for its subtle references to the challenges faced during adolescence, particularly in young women. The title of the film refers to a unique consequence of a family curse, whereby Mei transforms into a large red panda whenever she experiences intense emotions.

Thackery Binks (Hocus Pocus)

It seems to me that no character from the 1993 movie “Hocus Pocus” suffered more than Thackery Binks (portrayed by Sean Murray initially, then voiced by Jason Marsden). Shortly after they strip his sister Emily (Amanda Shepherd) of her youth and vitality, the Sanderson Sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) cast a spell on him, transforming the 17th-century boy into a black cat and condemning him to an everlasting existence.

Wallace Bryton (Tusk)

In the 2014 A24 horror movie “Tusk,” directed by Kevin Smith, there’s an unusual, unsettling storyline where Justin Long portrays a conceited podcast host. Instead of undergoing a magical transformation, this character is subjected to a surgical procedure and psychological manipulation, forced upon him against his will, by a deranged ex-sailor, played by Michael Parks. This manipulator turns him into a walrus.

Akio And Yūko (Spirited Away)

One highly praised Studio Ghibli movie is Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 fantasy journey, Spirited Away, where the character Chihiro gets caught in a magical world, and her parents are transformed into pigs after they indulged in a meal that wasn’t intended for them due to their greed.

Queen Elinor (Brave)

In the animated fantasy masterpiece by Pixar, Brave, the princess, Merida (Kelly Macdonald), uses her courage and exceptional archery abilities to search for a remedy, as a spell has transformed her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), into a bear.

Bob (The Lobster)

In Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2016 film, The Lobster, we step into a bleak future where relationships are compulsory, and singles must undergo transformation into an animal they choose if they don’t find a partner within a specified timeframe. Our protagonist, David, played by Colin Farrell, has just gone through a divorce and is now required to attend a retreat aimed at helping him find love. Accompanying him on this journey is his brother, Bob, who unfortunately didn’t succeed in the same program, and is now a dog in disguise.

Irena Gallier (Cat People)

According to its 1942 horror movie namesake, the 1982 thriller Cat People, directed by Paul Schrader, features Nastassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell as relatives of a tribe who transform into panthers after intimate moments. However, the only means to return to their human form is by carrying out a murder.

Buffy Summers (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

In one episode from Season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the character portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar – who is a teenage hunter of supernatural forces – gets turned into a rat due to a mishap with a spell by her friend Xander Harris (played by Nicholas Brendon).

Debbie Stevens (A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master)

In the 4th film of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” character Debbie Stevens (Brooke Theiss) undergoes an unusual transformation into a cockroach within a dream sequence. However, this dream-death translates to real-life demise for her at the hands of Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). Therefore, I consider it as a death scenario.

Benjamin Browning (Oh! Heavenly Dog)

In the ’80s movie “Oh! Heavenly Dog,” Chevy Chase portrays Ben Browning, a private investigator who has recently been killed and is granted a second chance to return to Earth. The twist? Instead of returning as a human, he’s reborn as a dog named Benjean, who happens to be the offspring of the original canine actor of Benji, Higgins.

Peter Pettigrew (The Harry Potter Movies)

In “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, it’s revealed that Ron Weasley’s pet rat, whom he thought was just an ordinary rat, had actually been a disguised servant of Voldemort, named Peter Pettigrew, portrayed by Timothy Spall, all along.

Wart (The Sword In The Stone)

In Disney’s 1963 animated film, titled “The Sword in the Stone,” we follow the character named Wart (voiced by Rickie Sorensen). This boy has the potential to become King Arthur. During the story, he is guided by Merlin, a powerful sorcerer, through a sequence of lessons. These lessons are unique as they involve transforming Wart into different animals, such as fish and squirrels.

Edmond (Rock-A-Doodle)

As a passionate admirer, let me share my affection for Don Bluth’s enchanting 1991 animated musical fantasy, “Rock-a-Doodle.” In this captivating tale, I find myself in the shoes of a young farm boy named Edmond (Toby Scott Ganger). Under extraordinary circumstances, I am magically turned into a cat by none other than the Grand Duke of Owls (Christopher Plummer). This transformation sets me on an exciting journey, where I reach out for help from a remarkable, singing rooster called Chanticleer (Glenn Campbell), who just happens to be anthropomorphic!

Luke Eveshim (The Witches)

In the 1990 movie adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel, “The Witches” (which can still be quite unsettling for younger viewers), the character Luke Eveshim, portrayed by Jasen Fisher, gets caught peeking at an evil coven of witches. As punishment, they transform him into a mouse.

Sheena (Sheena)

In the 1984 movie titled “Sheena,” Tanya Roberts plays a character who grew up in the jungle after being orphaned as a child, having been raised by a mysterious woman with the ability to teach her how to transform into different wild animals due to her skill in shape-shifting. This film later led to a series adaptation in the early 2000s.

The Kids From DinoSquad (DinoSquad)

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: If you’re a fan of Animorphs and are looking for an animated spin-off, give DinoSquad a try! This short-lived series, airing from 2007 to 2008, takes us back even further in Earth’s history, resurrecting prehistoric animals. The show revolves around a team of teenagers who leverage their unique ability to transform into these ancient creatures, using them to combat crime and keep our world safe.

Tom Brand (Nine Lives)

In this 2016 comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the main character, portrayed by Kevin Spacey, is a busy workaholic with no time for his family. He undergoes an unusual transformation into a cat as part of the story, thanks to a quirky pet shop owner played by Christopher Walken.

Eddie McDowd (100 Deeds For Eddie McDowd)

The less well-known Nickelodeon TV series titled “100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd” revolves around a mischievous youngster (portrayed by Seth Green), who gets turned into a dog due to a mystical wanderer (performed by Richard Moll). In order to revert back to his human form, Eddie embarks on 100 redeeming missions. He receives assistance from the last child he mistreated (played by Brandon Gilberstadt), who is also the only person he can communicate with. As a result, he eventually takes him in as part of his family.

2025-07-29 23:43