The Art of Mamabliss

I've been following transformation online since 1997, and I can tell you one thing: TF artists burn out. I've watched so many come and go that a pattern emerges: a brilliant entrance, several years of productivity, a period of declining workrate, an even more fallow period, then disappearance. Eventually the artist pulls his work from the web to try and erase every trace of his presence. Though I can draw somewhat well, I've never led the life of an active amateur artist, so I can't presume to say what makes TF artists burn out. But they do.

And yet there are always exceptions. One of these is Mambliss. She (or he?) has been producing art for years now, and unlike so many bitter burn-outs has remained good humored and able to put up with the irritating demands of people who view artists as their servants. She's also still as productive as when she started, and--unlike so many people who tried and failed--she's managed to make money from TF art. Her site (linked above) has a free preview section, but in order to see the many TF sequences she's drawn over the years, you have to subscribe. It's worth doing so. Her style is extremely distinctive and sensual--the linework is whispy, the figures funky, the imagery sensual and not for the prudish. For an example, take a look at this freebie donkey TF from her blog.

She also has a free archive site that stores many of her older TF sequences, and these you can see right now. Just scroll down to the bottom of the page. I've picked out some of the best male TFs for the benefit of my readers. Here are my picks:

"Cici's Mount" (Horse TF)

"The Locket" (Horse TF)

"All the Way" (Horse TF)

"Equine Transformation" (Horse of course)

"First Time" (Werewolf TF)

"Seals" (Short seal TF)

"Tutoring" (Very short werewolf TF)

"Renamon" (Digimon TF--I don't usually care for those critters, but some readers might)

Readers will notice a preponderance of horse TFs. This is not due to my own taste, but rather to what sequences Mamabliss has chosen to make available for free. Subscribers to her site will see a wider range of transformations.

News Update 4 (Dutchbull Updates, and Teen Wolf reactions)

Before I begin posting my own stuff, I should note that Dutchbull has once again updated his terrific site, and you should head over there now.
I particularly recommend checking out the clips from Outcast (a teenager to hulkish monster TF--an anonymous commenter notes that the beast is anatomically correct; pause at the 50 second mark for proof) and Le poil de la bête, a Quebecois werewolf movie. I'd planned on having these on my blog, but Dutchbull beat me to the punch. An obvious sign that I need to update more often!
Dutchbull updates every couple of months, but he always announces the exact date in advance and is always true to his word. How many other webmasters are so consistent and trustworthy? Dutchbull's site is especially valuable since Shadowlord Inc. (still the largest TF media site on the net) has been dormant for five months.

There's one other set of new clips on Dutchbull's site that I particularly recommend: those from Teen Wolf. Readers of this blog know that I was a supporter of the series well before it aired, despite the know-nothing carping from other netizens. I'm happy to say they were wrong and I was right--Teen Wolf is a critical and commercial success and will return for second season (shooting starts in November). Though its pilot was deceptively generic, the series began deftly toggling between thriller, horror, romance, comedy, and high school drama. Characters who first seemed like stereotypes ended up as well-developed members of an excellent ensemble cast. The mystery at the heart of the series (who was the Alpha?) was unexpectedly and wisely revealed before the finale, which left more than enough plot strands for next season's story arc. Showrunner Jeff Davis said the whole series was essentially structured like an eight-hour movie and was right. It also looks just as good as one--the photography and lighting were far above TV standards. Lastly, I don't think I've ever seen a better looking group of male werewolves on TV...

...Which means that I pretty much for forgive the show for being slightly disappointing in the TF department. Scott's transformations were quick, and being an omega werewolf, he didn't have all that far to transform (omegas are little more than humans with long ears and nails and gnarly facial features). The same went for Derek. That left the Alpha, who transformed into an honest-to-God wolf monster, but only once onscreen (watch it here). We mostly saw his back during the TF, though there were some nice muzzle-growth spasms beforehand. Mostly CGI too, but of decent quality. Anyway, we have to remember that Teen Wolf has a limited budget and managed to disguise that in other areas for most of its run. I hope that next season they'll have enough money to spend on (British)Being Human-style animatronics--especially since the new Alpha is played by a stunningly handsome actor who I would dearly love to see going through the throes of an American Werewolf-style TF.
In the meantime, congratulations to everyone involved with the show, and best wishes for the new season!

Reader Contributions

It's been a long summer break, but I'm about to go into another update binge. Before I do, I'd like to highlight a couple of reader submissions.
When I announced my last update, I told the folks at TF World "if you have a TF tip-off, do let me know." Two folks wrote in with contributions. From Richard comes a youtube clip called "The Receptionist is Next Up!", which features a gradual werewolf transformation (it picks up around the 1:37 mark).
Meanwhile, from Bamadave comes a homemade donkey TF video. (NSFW.)

Thanks very much for the videos gentlemen. As for the rest of you, if you know of a good transformation that I haven't featured yet, please let me know. However, I should say that I'm not interested in the following: "poof" or instant transformations, male-to-female TG, and TFs involving inanimate objects. Thanks in advance, and stay tuned for more updates this weekend.

Method Shapeshifting with Marshall Allman

This clip is a promotional piece for the upcoming season of True Blood. I've been pretty open about my disappointment with that show--it features several hot shapeshifters but you never see them actually changing shape! Though this clip features only mental shapeshifting, it's still better than anything from the actual show, and features gratuitous nudity from the cutest member of the cast, Marshall Allman! And whoever pixelated his genitals ought to win a medal for leaving as little to the imagination as possible...

Method Shapeshifting with Marshall Allman from Janina Gavankar

Teen Wolf (Werewolf transformation)

So, Teen Wolf has finally premiered. We're now two episodes in, and much as I predicted, the show is solid. The first episode had to do a lot of set-up work and was a bit formulaic, but the second entry shows what the show can do once on thriller-track. The reviews have been mostly positive (the bad ones read as if they composed weeks before the show aired) and the premiere scored well. Unfortunately, the second episode brought in only brought in 1.4 million viewers and a 0.5 rating for Adults 18-49. Nowadays TV programs get cancelled at the drop of a hat, and I do not want happening to a show that shows definite promise. So if you've got a Nielsen box at home, for the love of Lycaon, watch Teen Wolf! It's the only show on TV centered around werewolves, and the second episode shows that its creators are excited about further exploring werewolf lore. If it goes, werewolf fans will have pretty slim pickings. Let's hope next week's ratings are higher...

EDIT: They were indeed! According to TV By the Numbers, Teen Wolf "is heading into its fourth week with tremendous momentum following a 23% increase among P12-34, with a 1.6 in the demo. With double digit percentage gains among total viewers and key demos, Teen Wolf was the #1 show in its timeslot with women 12-34." Evidently they all read my blog! Just kidding. It didn't hurt that MTV reran the first two episodes endlessly. Casual viewers who might have been skeptical realized this was a very promising show.

As for the transformation: since Scott is just an entry-level lycanthrope, his TF is pretty simple and short. (It comes at the 33:15 mark here.)
We anticipate seeing more complex transformations from Derek and the mysterious, yet-to-be-revealed alpha werewolf--if the show survives that is. (Cross your paws!)

EDIT: Derek shifted in episode 3, but the transformation was quick and obscured by a pane of frosted glass. What he shifted into was a beta-wolfman, much like Scott. Not much meat for TF fans there, but revealed the existence of the Alpha wolf, who is far more of a beast. Here's hoping we get a juicy American Werewolf in London-style TF once they reveal the identity of the Alpha (unless it's a female!).

The Super Hero Squad Show (Werewolf Transformation)

The 17th episode from the second season of Super Hero Squad features what might be the first first animated appearance of Jack Russell, aka Werewolf By Night. The episode pays homage to his original green pants and snout-less wolfman look.

EDIT: The original link has disappeared, but you can still watch the clip at Shadowlord Inc.

Mon Colle Knights (Weretiger Transformation)

You hear a lot about werewolves, but never enough about weretigers. That's a real shame, since they're just as magnificent. Readers of this bvlog can see that I tend to feature werewolves most, since they're the most common werecreature and the easiest to search for. But I'd very much like to get in some more diversity, so let's start with this clip, even though it might be familiar to TF fans. It's from episode 18 of an otherwise forgettable anime called Mon Colle Knights, and features a boyishly handsome chap (with a suspiciously orange tan) who turns into a great hulking weretiger whenever he gets agitated. The werebeast's design (and his clothes-busting and muscle-growth) is so good it makes you curse the show for never bringing back this guy.

This clip is of better visual quality than the one that's been floating around youtube. It's in German, but for some reason that makes it all the more alluring...The transformation occurs at the 25 second mark.



There's no scene of him reverting back to normal, but you can see him post-reversion at 09:03.

Lastikman (Werewolf Transformations)

Lastikman is a Filipino superhero, and has been the subject of several Pinoy movies. The 2004 film stars John Estrada and Danilo Barrios as a father and son werewolf team (or as they're called in the movie "Taong Aso"). The transformation effects are computer generated but not as dire as one might expect, and Danilo is pretty easy on the eyes. Then again, I happen to think Filipinos are among the cutest men on earth, so I'm hardly an objective source...

The specially-edited clip below (forgive the brief visual glitches at the beginning and around the middle) includes the father and son transforming at the same time (through the magic of intercutting) and then shows the father and son returning to human form separately (and much later on in the film). Incidentally, if you happen to know of any other Filipino movies or TV shows involving handsome fellas getting beastly, do let me know...

Werewolf Transformations from Apuleius on Vimeo.

Lobo (Werewolf Transformation)

Lobo the intergalactic alpha wolf becomes a literal wolfman after receiving a mysterious bite... (Click on the thumbnails to expand them)

News Update 3

Dutch Bull has updated his terrific site everyone! Go there now to see videos from the American Being Human and the third season of the original BH, along with clips from a real rarity--an Indian weretiger film called Junoon!

The American Being Human has turned out to be a predictable disappointment in the TF department, by the way. It used to be said that while American films and TV shows were bad, they at least had big-budget production values. Now even that isn't even the case--the British version looks far richer in its special effects (even if its recent transformations haven't topped its first few). But the American version is really shameless--it even cheated its way out of showing a transformation that had occurred in the original!

(Edit: the next transformation in the American version is admittedly better...too bad what he transforms into looks like a giant mangy rat though.)

Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood (Frog and Pig Transformations)

In episode 38 of this long-running (and frankly indigestible) anime, we see two characters transform into giant pig and frog men. The link is here, and the TF starts around the 11:08 mark.

News Update 2

Just in case you were thinking of seeing Red Riding Hood, keep in mind that the film does not have any werewolf transformation scenes. I have verified this with people who have seen the film. It's a real bummer if you happen to know what happens in the film's last scene. It's also another example of a frequent disappointment encountered by male TF fans: the anticlimax of filmmakers hiring an utterly beautiful actor to the play a werewolf but never putting him go through a decent transformation. Examples of this include the Twilight films, True Blood, The Gates, and the Vampire Diaries.

The Konamis (werewolf transformation)

Another very quick update--a brief spot of lycanthropy found in a webcomic. Read it here.

Fujitsu Commercial (Rabbit Transformation)

This Japanese computer commercial, starring heartthrob Takuya Kimura, features a somewhat rare lapin transformation...EDIT: Robin notes that "in Japan the full moon is associated with two rabbits on the moon pounding mochi...there are even foods associated with the full moon and rabbits."
You learn something new everyday! I certainly hope to come across more obscure Japanese transformations in the future.

Young Justice (Muscle Growth/Monster Transformation)

The fourth episode of Young Justice ("Drop Zone") features a double-deal for fans of muscle-growth. First we see the Batman villain Bane inject himself with the "Venom" steroid and bulk up. Then we see his opponent, a scrawny little guy, enters the ring, get injected with a secret serum, and turn into an even bigger and more bestial muscle monster!

Picklejuice's TF Art (new link)

Picklejuice is quite likely the oldest TF artist on the web. I remember first encountering his work in 1998, which shows you that he was an early pioneer when it came to TF on the internet. And best of all, he's still creating new work. Unlike every other TF artist from back then he hasn't burnt out, become embittered, removed his work from the web, or anything similar. He's a model of perseverance and productivity. With that in mind, I've included a link to him in the "TRANSFORMATION-RELATED SITES" sidebar. I should also note that Picklejuice is currently selling some of his art for good prices. I bought and downloaded his Gavinwolf comic--a 20+ page saga about a guy slowly and sexily turning into a wolfman) for only a dollar. So go ahead and show him your appreciation too!

The Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy (Werewolf Transformation)

Here's an excellent werewolf transformation from the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. In "Tween Wolf" Billy friend Irvin goes through a beautifully detailed transformation--clothes-bursting, muscle and muzzle growth, and even cries "Oh no, it's PUBERTY!!" (I've heard that the artist who storyboarded it was a werewolf fan--if only there were more like him...)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I'd like to thank everyone who's been reading the blog--during the past year I've been posting more and more often and hope to increase my rate. As you can see, I've already added two entries to the site today and hopefully will add a couple more tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a cute and funny X-Mas gift--a kid re-enacting the transformation scene from An American Werewolf in London.

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! (Muscle Growth/Monster Transformation)

(Edit: since, the original youtube links no longer work, I've replaced them with links to Dragoniade's site, which has been recently updated.)

A recent episode of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, called Gammaworld, had several of the heroes getting exposed to fields of gamma radiation and turning into hulk-style monsters. The first TF is brief and involves several SHIELD operatives.
The second transformation is even briefer--a quick monsters-reverting-to-human scene.
Next, most of the Avengers hulk out!
Slightly disappointing in its use of silhouettes, not to mention tricks like only showing Captain America's back burst through his uniform, and bypassing his other body parts. Oh well!

Evil Con Carne (Gorilla Transformation)

In this episode (#15) of Evil Con Carne, General Skarr gets hit with a ray and devolves into a big old gorilla. The TF features some nice clothes-bursting and grunting:

Vampire Diaries (Werewolf Transformation)

So, at long last and after much delay, Tyler finally transformed into a werewolf. An edited video of the transformation scenes is below. As for the quality of the transformation...well, it started promisingly. The acting was perfect--Michael Trevino conveyed the pain of the change most convincingly (and in human form he's very easy on the eyes)--and the computer-rendered chest-squeezing and foot-into-paw morphs were excellent. But then the character crawls into the shadows and the TF peters out in shadows or off-screen. It was a bad sign when Trevino reported having spent only a couple of hours getting prosthetics (and damn if I could see them, everything was so dark). Though the producers trumpeted this transformation to the skies, their budget obviously didn't stretch toward more CGI or Being Human-style animatronics (almost a lost art).

Part of the problem is that the character is supposed to transform into just an ordinary wolf, not a man-wolf beast or a monster wolf. With a man-wolf TF, you can just show the actor hulking out and then have a shot of his face contorting into a muzzle, since the creature is anthropomorphic. But a full wolf is so different in shape from a human that you need more time, ingenuity, and special effects if you want to show the transformation onscreen. And most TV shows don't have that sort of budget (or imagination) so they cheat on showing the process and use shadows, poofs, cutaways, or blink-and-miss-it effects. That's partly why the transformations in True Blood, Twilight, Blood and Chocolate, and The Gates were all huge disappointments and crushingly unimaginative. What Vampire Diaries did was slightly better but still too little, and I doubt Tyler's future wolf-outs will be much better. Ah well--let's hope for better things from the remake of Being Human (plus the third season of the original) and Teen Wolf.

Being Human--The American Remake (Werewolf Transformation)

Someone has found a video file of the first episode of the American remake of Being Human, and like its British counterpart, it features a werewolf transformation upfront.
How does it compare to the original in that department? Not as good--disappointingly so. The American transformation is choppy, disjointed and lacks the fluidity and length of the British version--you never get the sense of seeing a man directly change shape in front of your eyes. There's even a bizarre head-on shot where he looks like Jabba the Hut. All told, it looks like an uneasy mix of CGI and prosthetics, and we can only hope that future episodes rise to the standards of the original show. Isn't it funny how the British achieve much better results with only half the budget?
(EDIT: I've removed the original video file, since all the TFs from this series can now be watched in higher quality at Dutchbull's site. Go here and then scroll down to "Episodes.")

Red: Werewolf Hunter

Red is a made-for-TV movie that will be airing on the SyFy channel on Oct. 30th. It's about a werewolf hunter whose fiancé (the very fine-looking Kavan Smith) contracts lycanthropy, and like most SyFy movies it's made on the cheap. You can see a new preview here. The werewolf designs look fine, but since this is SyFy, they're all in cheap CGI, so even we get a detailed TF scene it'll probably have that too-smooth, synthetic morphing look. Computer graphics on a  television budget simply can't give a real impression of transforming flesh--there's no real weight or texture to the images. Still, I wouldn't mind being proved wrong, so let's see what happens...

POST-SCRIPT: I was proved right, but not entirely. As I guessed, the transformations were in weightless CGI, but they were better than expected. Still, it'll be a while before computer graphics will ever suggest the same  weight and sensual, tactile quality as animatronics and prosthetics. There were three transformations of note, and a youtuber named weremaster1989 recorded all three of them. You can watch them here, here, and here.

Werewolf! (Indie comic series)

Hey kids, do you like indie comic? Do you like good indie comics? Do you like good indie comics about werewolves? You're in luck! Werewolves! is a two (soon to be three) issue anthology of lycanthrope-related comic vignettes. I own and can heartily recommend the extant issues, which you can buy here. Plus, you can see a comic from the upcoming third issue, which (naturally) features a dude wolfing out during the full moon.

Naruto (Weretiger Transformation)

Naruto is one of those corny animes that everyone under 16 is crazy about. Kids these days...

Anyway, episode 146 of this silly show features a character called Mizuki who transforms into a sort of tiger man. You can watch it on this very blog. (My thanks to the guys at the Musclegrowth.org forum, where I first learned of this video.)

Lurko: Il Porco Mannaro (Werepig transformation)

Lurko: Il Porco Mannaro is a webcomic about a...werepig.

There are multiple short transformations, so I'll just number them for you:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Shin-Chan (Lion Transformation)

EDIT: Fixed Link yet again!

One of the recent Shin-Chan movies (Crayon Shin-chan: Roar! Kasukabe Animal Kingdom) revolves around people being turned into animals. Alas, most of the TFs are of the flash-of-light variety (almost as annoying as "poof" TFs, and definitely near the bottom on the lousy TF scale). There was one semi-bright spot when the villain changed into a lion-beast thingy with wings--not because of the animal bit (flash-of-light again!) but because of a few seconds of muscle growth. The TF begins at the 1:24:45 mark here.

Melonpool (Chimpanzee Transformation)

Here is an ape TF from an old page of the webcomic Melonpool. For some reason, detailed chimp TFs are not very common.

Archipelago (Wereshark Transformation)

The webcomic Archipelago recently featured a neat wereshark transformation. It starts here.

Sorcery 101 (Werewolf Transformation)

Several main characters in this long-running webcomic are werewolves. One of the younger ones undergoes a transformation that starts here.
Werewolves feature in two other comics from the same artist. There is a reversion in Strange Someone and a quick transformation in Bisclavret (based on the classic medieval werewolf story by Marie de France).

Howling Brat (Werewolf Transformation)

A short post: here's a little film with a young werewolf. Low budget and not a lot of process, but charming.

Monsterhood (Werewolf Transformation)

In this webcomic the hero is transported to a monsters-only town, and fools the populace into thinking he's a werewolf. But when he's invited to an event under the full moon, he has to drink a potion to turn himself into the real thing...as seen here.

Edit: there's a later werewolf TF, involving a different character, here.