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From the Desk of Killer: Stretching the Limit- MG and WG
8 years ago
Welcome to a new series of these journals: “Stretching the Limit.” In these, I’ll be discussing different forms of “transformation” I’ve seen that are either usually not included in the genres of transformation or just things I believe at least have generally the same themes. To start things off, I’ll be discussing both Muscle and Weight Gain.
For the uninitiated, the name basically says it all. Muscle gain involves usually normal or skinny characters getting jacked, and weight gain is sort of the opposite, with characters gaining a ton of fat and becoming tubby or even blob-like.
On the surface, both of these are literal forms of transformation. A character starts off one way, then their form changes (sometimes pretty drastically) into something else. What I find even more fascinating is that both of these methods of transformation are the most realistic. While no one has ever turned into another creature, there are plenty of real-world examples of people going from skinny to fat, thin to muscular, and the vice versa of both.
So why aren’t these two included in a lot of transformation fiction and drawing? First off, I think they actually are, in a sense. With a lot of werewolf transformations, there’s usually a line about a person gaining physical strength and size, which could be categorized as a form of muscle gain. Additional, subjects like Pokemon’s Snorlax and other chubby creatures can incorporate themes of weight gain. Therefore, weight and muscle gain are included in some stories and art, they’re just paired with standard creature transformations.
But then, why aren’t vanilla weight and muscle gain attributed to transformation? Personally, I think it’s because it’s too casual, too plausible. Transformation art and literature thrives on the impossible, the thrill of exploring the trials and tribulations of experiencing life in a totally different perspective. While weight gain and muscle gain have that to an extent, perhaps they just don’t go far enough. Or maybe it’s just because it doesn’t involve animals, who knows?
What do you all think? Do you see weight gain and muscle gain as forms of transformation, or are they too simple or different to be included in the pantheon of transformation? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading and farewell.
-Killer
For the uninitiated, the name basically says it all. Muscle gain involves usually normal or skinny characters getting jacked, and weight gain is sort of the opposite, with characters gaining a ton of fat and becoming tubby or even blob-like.
On the surface, both of these are literal forms of transformation. A character starts off one way, then their form changes (sometimes pretty drastically) into something else. What I find even more fascinating is that both of these methods of transformation are the most realistic. While no one has ever turned into another creature, there are plenty of real-world examples of people going from skinny to fat, thin to muscular, and the vice versa of both.
So why aren’t these two included in a lot of transformation fiction and drawing? First off, I think they actually are, in a sense. With a lot of werewolf transformations, there’s usually a line about a person gaining physical strength and size, which could be categorized as a form of muscle gain. Additional, subjects like Pokemon’s Snorlax and other chubby creatures can incorporate themes of weight gain. Therefore, weight and muscle gain are included in some stories and art, they’re just paired with standard creature transformations.
But then, why aren’t vanilla weight and muscle gain attributed to transformation? Personally, I think it’s because it’s too casual, too plausible. Transformation art and literature thrives on the impossible, the thrill of exploring the trials and tribulations of experiencing life in a totally different perspective. While weight gain and muscle gain have that to an extent, perhaps they just don’t go far enough. Or maybe it’s just because it doesn’t involve animals, who knows?
What do you all think? Do you see weight gain and muscle gain as forms of transformation, or are they too simple or different to be included in the pantheon of transformation? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading and farewell.
-Killer
Yeah, I think this is an excellent example of weight gain being a part of the transformation and even being a bit of the focus. I also agree with your sentiment that WG and MG are forms of transformation; I just thought it was interesting they aren't normally included in transformation categories, at least on the places I've been.
Hmmm... I imagine people who are really into fat furs or into muscle furs see it more as an outgrowth of that fetish, rather than as transformation? If that makes sense?
Interesting to think about!
And yeah, I'm not really interested in just fat or strong things just being there; I'm more interested in the process, which is why I compared them to transformation. While I would say there isn't a strong following of straight WG or MG here on FA, other sites like DA definitely have that stuff.
Appreciate the comment; you had some good insight!