The Brief: The new Shapeshifting effect on TikTok is being used by creators to morph into popular fictional characters.
DEEP DIVE
The popular Shapeshifting effect on TikTok is finally available to US-based users and the resulting videos do not disappoint.
The effect started to go viral once TikTokers overseas shared hilarious videos of themselves morphing into Disney princesses and other fictional characters. Though conversations in comments sections it was revealed that the creators using the effect were not in the United States.
As of April 15, the Shapeshifting effect landed on TikTok’s Discover Page in the US. There are over 246,000 videos using the effect which works by transforming a creator into one of the characters they upload from cast character photos from various movies. The assumption is, your face transforms into the character that closely resembles you. About 25,000 of these videos are also set to the same song, “Fantasy” by Meiko Nakahara and 55,000 videos linked to “It’s Been A Long, Long Time” by Harry James and His Orchestra.
A popular trend appears to have emerged out of the fact that that the effect seems a bit glitchy. Many creators are finding that when they use this photo of the Avengers, many individuals morph into Black Panther played by the late Chadwick Boseman.
@christibalisti I tried folks. I REALLY TRIED. And I miss him 🥺😔💔 #fyp #awkward #shapeshiftingchallenge #marvel #glitch
Part of the amusing nature of these videos are the confused expressions that cross the creators’ faces.
@zachodinson The amount of questions I have #shapeshifting #marvel #foryou
♬ Meiko Nakahara Fantasy Also drop me a follow – Oyasumi_shin
Funny enough, the “glitch” didn’t seem to work for creator @tumi.malatse who hoped to transform into Black Panther.
@tumi.malatse Filter is bogus as hell #fyp #marvel #blackpanther #clintbarton #foryou
Others have found a similar issue when trying the effect with Harry Potter character lists, too. Creator @readyfredi did everything in his power to try and morph into Voldemort.
@readyfredi Which HP character are you? #fyp #harrypotter #voldemort
Some takes on the trend worked out quite nicely, though.
@thatjakeryan Duet this with your Marvel lookalike! #captainamerica #mcu #avengers #chrisevans #shapeshifting
More takes:
@sierradurin Thought I was gonna get Kendall…. wtf #fyp #zxycba #uh #okay #wow
@themonkeyservice Frickin Hawkeye #hawkeye #ItsOurHome #shapeshifter #avengers #strangefaces #sad #fyp