God, I spent so long working on this for several days, and I didn't have time to draw anything on Halloween for some reason, because I was busy with other creative and social things.
Also, here's a batched pic with sketches of Cliff's werewolf form, which were based on various werewolf/lycan designs from universes/media I've enjoyed trying out. But some of these sketched were suggested by some people who’s mentioned and myself which helped me to work further to get rid of my lacks of ideas and art blocks (if I thank them for helping give me ideas for drawing), such as:
- Nickelodeon’s CatDog/Peter Hannan (1998; by me)
- The Wolf Man (each two designs of the 1941 classic and the 2010 remake film versions are merged into one for sake of my inspiration; by me)
- An American Werewolf In London (1981) (by me)
- Van Helsing (2004) (by me)
- Hotel Transylvania (2012; suggested by @tumblornis )
- Resident Evil Village (2021) (by me)
- Bloodborne (2015; suggested by h3nAnD on DeviantArt)
- The Long-Nosed Out (my adult “The Long-Noses Show” reboot project; by me)
Beyond these were simple and silly sketches of Were-Cliffy himself (even his encounter with his canon counterpart), and even a literal sketches of CatDog as a werecreatures, which I think they fit (but generally, not canon in my Were-Cliff AU).
Anyway, I had fun drawing featuring that tough buff yet chubby lil badass dog guy as an example to base various werewolf designs on from universes/media.
Art, the CatDog Werewolf/Were-Cliff AU and the “Long-Nosed Out” project are belongs to me (C)
Cliff Feltbottom, Cat and Dog from the CatDog are belongs to Peter Hannan and his eponymous production/Nickelodeon Animation Studio/Serom Animation/Rough Daft Korea (C)
Many other werewolf design bases from media/universes are belongs to their respectful owners (C)
How would you (or Batman) react upon seeing Jervis Tetch (the Mad Hatter) turn into a wererabbit and Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow) turn into a werecrow?
It could be BTAS/TNBA version, Arkham series version, it could be any version of these guys. Hell it could be your own version of these two.
Why am I asking this? Because I love different interpretations... And engagement, lol.
Did I mention I love werecreatures and turning any character into one?
shapeshifter is a broad category, covering any fictional creature or peoples that can alter the shape of their body. some can shift into pretty much any animal, like animorphs or DnD druids. some are shapeshifters against their will, like werewolves. I'll be covering the anatomical possibilities for shapeshifters with a limited ability to change their shape, more like werewolves.
the anatomy required to change one's form mostly involves keeping a lot of body parts "hidden" until they're brought out to use. there are a lot of animals that can do this! cats have retractable claws, eels have a secondary jaw in their throats, many snakes have large fangs that fold back in the mouth. etc.
hair and feathers are also capable of changing the shape of a creature by the way they move, like the quills of a porcupine or the display feathers of many birds of paradise. this is a much less flexible sort of shapeshifting, but it's a good option for intimidation and courting displays or temporary disguise.
to keep this post simple, I'm just going to focus on a humanoid with a singular monstrous form, but these concepts could be used for a lot of different creatures! though I haven't fully determined how to make someone go from mostly hairless to suddenly very furry. Maybe becoming a werewolf just gives you a lot more body hair growth and it puffs up during the transformation.
(image description: compiled sketches of different animal anatomy. in the top left corner, there are colored diagrams showing the different parts of a human skull and a wolf skull. in the top left, a diagram showing how cat claws retract and bend forward. on the bottom, sketches of moray eel and viper skulls, showing the eel's secondary jaw and the viper's folding fangs. end description.)
It took a while but i managed to find an ask i answered a while back about giving humanoids retractable claws like cats have. so that's at least one part of possible shapeshifter anatomy covered! the tldr is this: retractable claws actually require the first joint of the finger or toe to be folded backwards, and then the claw comes out when that joint flexes forward. it does make the fingers and toes shorter and more bulky at the front, but that's fine.
How do you think feline retractable claws would work on a humanoid hand? Thanks for the help ❤️
alright, finally clearing out my askbox bac
here's a look at just the skull and upper torso of a potential were-creature or monstrous humanoid.
(image description: colored sketches of a humanoid skeleton with a retractable fang on both the upper and lower jaws, as well as an extra joint on the lower jaw, and neck vertebrae that sit more curved in the first sketch and straighten out to a longer neck in the second sketch. end description.)
this could use more polish before it's really ready to add the fleshy parts on top, and they wouldn't quite look fully human on the outside. If you want to take something like this even further, you can alter the entire skull to be full of small moving joints, like how so many fish are able to fold up their jaws and then shoot them forward like a tube. or the sarcastic fringehead, a fish that can unfold its jaw as a method of intimidation.
(video description: a 3d model of a carp's jaw, showing how it's made of multiple parts that can all move and extend the mouth. end description.)
(image description: two photos of a sarcastic fringehead. the top photo shows this fish at rest, with its jaw frame folded backward along its face. the bottom image shows this fish with its jaw fully extended, revealing a very wide panel of brightly colored flesh on either side of the mouth. end description.)
facial changes like this are probably the most difficult part of making the anatomy for a shapeshifter. but the more moving parts their face has, the more variety of face shape you get! moving to the rest of the body though, let's consider how an upright human figure could shift into a quadrupedal form with digitigrade legs, since werewolves are probably among the more common creatures all this advice is useful for.
(image description: a simplified human skeleton and wolf skeleton next to each other, with an arrow pointing from the human to the wolf. end description)
pretty much all vertebrates have things in common when it comes to the form of their skeletons. the general location of each limb and the ribs and pelvis are always similar. but their exact size and shape varies from animal to animal. so you can't really make a normal human skeleton turn into a normal wolf skeleton. but you can make a weird human skeleton that doubles as a weird wolf skeleton.
(image description: same as above, but now the human shaped skeleton and the wolf shaped skeleton match each other, and the human shaped one is hiding its longer neck, spine, and tail by holding them with a far more curved shape while the wolf shaped skeleton holds them more straight. end description.)
okay they're not an exact match, but I tried. any humanoid being with a skeleton like this is not going to be able to fool anyone into thinking they're a normal human when they're naked. but with the right styling of clothes, a lot of the weird curves, hunched shoulders, and awkward feet problems can be hidden from view.
anything that gets more complicated than this will require extra bones and joints and muscles depending on what exactly you need your shapeshifter to do! a change in posture is a lot different than, say, being able to extend the length of their limbs or alter the shape of their ribcage by making it more narrow and protruding vs more flat and open.
I can't personally cover every single possibility! so you all will have to just use this post as a springboard and go explore more ideas yourself! I started with the idea of taking a human skeleton and altering it, but imagine what this would look like if the base form was entirely non-human! or if they were more of an invertebrate! extra arms can be folded to resemble the shape of a torso, for example. there are so many more options I'm sure I didn't even think of.
I saw @tunaze11x 's art with werewolf Obyron and it is literally the coolest thing ever ! I had to write a were-necron fic !
They are not werewolves, but were-skolopendras for flavor reasons, but it is 100% made because of that image !!!
I'll post the SFW part here, but feel free to read it all on ao3. (be careful to click on it only if you are 18+!)
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Zahndrekh was returning from his walk around his Cairn-class tomb ship, Yama.
After a successful campaign, lead to spread forth the glory of their honored Phaeron, Imotekh the Stormlord, the old general got into the habit of allowing himself a few moments of contemplation, while on a leisurely stroll across his ship.
In regard to his retinue, Zahndrekh knew that even if he ordered his bodygurd and dear companion, Obyron to take a rest, the Vargard would keep a keen ocular on him through the means of the many scarabs on the ship.
Eye. Keep an eye. He corrected himself, as he let out a static chuckle, waving his hand in front of the closed door on the command bridge.
Stepping inside, his eyes brightened as he took in the sight before him.
In the center of the bridge, on the floor next to the command seat, was a big pile of cuddling skolopendras, with their many legs and bodies entangled with each other.
The great canopteks seemed almost inoperative, except for the low hum that their cores were making and the slight twitch of their long antennas.
Zahndrekh approached slowly, trying to be as silent as possible. Unfortunately for him, on his third step, there was a slight creak, and all the thin appendages swiveled towards him as oculars glowing brightly snapped open.
Well, this is certainly unexpected, he thought to himself as he dismissively waved his hand in the thin atmosphere of Yama.
‘Stand down loyal guards, you are allowed a short respite after your duties, but I need to say, now this brings back memories!’ He said as a trial of joyous glyphs colored his words. ‘As I always said, a good soldier deserves a rest after a long and successful battle.’
The skolopendras were slowly rising, antennas twitching towards him in excitement.
From the middle of the pile rose the biggest skolopendra Zahndrekh ever saw. His carapace was a perfect white, with green segmented antennas and a gilded face with a single white stripe on it. He bowed his head at the old general.
‘Looking at you! Once again, I am reminded that, truly, the strength of the Gidrim lay in its people and its hounds!’ He answered an unasked question as he kneeled in front of the wiggling pile, and offered his open hands for the enthusiastic skolopendras as the constructs started nuzzling their heads in them. ‘Here I am, after all these years, still kneeling in front of my loyal pack. What kind of nemesor would I be if I didn’t look after the health of the ones under my care?'
On Gidrim every Lord has their accompanying hounds with them.
The necrontyr had a history as rich and diverse as the planets they colonized.
They had more genetic deviations and adaptations than one could count. One of the delightful quirks of the necrontyr was the Skolopendromorphism. Those were the necrontyr who could shift between two forms, switching between deadly arthropods or bipedal beings.
It depended much on their bloodline. Some crossbreeds would be stuck in a shape in between those two, like the frame of a necrontyr and the multiple members of the arthropods their parents could turn into, while some had an affinity for one shape more than the other.
Zahndrekh refocused back to the moment at hand, as the pack leader, and the largest skolopendra, gently placed his head on Zahndrekh’s outstretched palm.
‘Obyron, you old sentimental fool.’ The nemesor said fondly, as he ran his fingers down the Gauss slicers on the sides of his face.
On Gidrim, nobles always had hunting Skolopendras accompanying them.
He recalled, through fogged memories, how Setekh tried persuading him to take in his service Sepa, Sata’s twin, so they could match in that regard as well.
Zahndrekh remembered how he felt when meeting the skolopendra’s necrontyr form, as the slender Sepa stood a bit crooked, unused to spending time in her bipedal form, prostrating herself in front of him.
As much as he would have liked to share even more with his old friend, he recalled that splitting twins was quite a sign of ill omens.
This was one of the few times Zahndrekh actively listened to his gut feeling, instead of any particular rationality.
After insisiting that he already had someone else in mind, and as stars would have it, back then Obyron just got his first tomb fly medal, and it was enough of a reason for the nemesor to take an interest in him.
What started as an easy excuse to get out an uncomfortable invitation from his old friend, Setekh, turned out to be one of the best decisions he made.
Obyron was the pack leader of this pile of sand-born skolopendras, that accompanied him in battle.
When Zahandrekh got him in his service, Obyron asked for them to join as well, and oh-poor-old-Zahdnrekh, he was forced by the circumstances to get them all of them in his service.
Although they were most comfortable spending time in their bipedal form, even now, as necrons, their old instincts still held strong, their other forms etched deep into their engrams calling to them. Even so, Zahndrekh only saw them take their multipodal forms only when the fights were dire enough to ask for it, or, on the very rare occasions when they had some time off after a rough and difficult battle, to play and cuddle, to strengthen their comradery bounds.
Zahndrekh hasn’t seen them enjoy a cuddle puddle since the second war of succession.
He let out a loud laugh as his Vargard’s packmates started jumping all over him in excitement. He laughed again at Obyron’s tangible interstitial shock over the improper behavior.
Zahndrekh was still laughing, metallic and grating, as Sabni started coiling around his legs, tangling his body between them, and effectively pinning the nemesor on the ground.
Pentesh muffled his giggles as he dove metallic mandibles first, excitedly touching his face with electric skolopendra licks. All while Mehy shoved his head between Zahndrekh’s flux conduits, trying to cuddle as closely as he could to his master’s core.
Heart. He corrected himself as he tried to pet Neb, who was busy mouthing his hands, making them sticky with electrofluid.
The mischievous lychguard always did this, knowing that it would bring Obyron’s attention to him, as the pack leader would try to correct his behaviour.
Zahndrekh was just happy to receive their affection. Seeing them like this, even if their minds were long damaged their instincts were still as sharp as ever.
Who was he to stop them from being excited to greet their master?
It turned out that their own pack leader was the one to put a stop to the overly enthusiastic greeting. With a flux curdling static hiss, Obyron cracked the hyperphase fangs of his mouthpieces and started grabbing his packmates by the edge of their metallic scruffs and removing them from the general’s person, one by one.
After he removed Mehy, Pentesh, and Sabni, he turned to grab the wiggling Neb. The mischievous skolopendra kept hanging on his Master’s hand, not letting go, while the Vargard tried to dislodge him.
Zahndrekh couldn’t help but laugh, as the gigantic metal beast cuddled closer to him. He laughed so as to not let the bitter reality of their condition overcome the sweetness of the moment.
It was a rare sight to see the lychguard pack behave in a way that didn’t resemble stone statues with no feelings.
Obyron hissed as he dove in to grab Neb by the base of his antenna, and started to pry off the playful skolopendra.
Zahndrekh rushed to hug the youngest of the group, feeling Neb’s other antenna hug his back.
‘Now, let’s not rush, my dear old Obyron. Displays of loyalty are not to be discouraged when proper.’ Zahandrekh said as he felt Neb tighten his many legs around his torso as the skolopendra placed his head on top of his master’s, opening the diaphragm of his ocular and giving his leader the saddest look he was capable of.
The Vargard gave up, letting the two of them cuddle, as he let out a static exhale, before curling around the two.
The old nemesor enjoyed the hug as he ran his hand down Neb’s metallic carapace. It lasted until the mischievous youngster started nibbling at his golden headdress.
Zanhrekh released his hold, laughing loudly, not caring about who could hear him.
Neb rubbed his head under his chin, in gratitude, before finally moving away to leave his pack lead in his proper spot.
‘Obyrin, my old friend. Come over here’ The old general asked, turning around looking for the head of his loyal hound. He found him resting on his viridian cape, diligently scanning the area for any dangers. ‘Can you remember how we celebrated after we seized Yama?’ His eyes sparkled.
Obyron pushed himself forward so that his golden head would rest on his nemesor’s lap.
‘How we made the most out of the wits we were gifted with. The fight! The joy of a noble and well-deserved victory.’ Zahndrekh kept talking while petting the skolopendra in his lap.
‘It was all thanks to our soldiers, led by the wits of this old fool.’ He smiled at Obyron. ‘Remember how you let me see you transform after?’
At that mention the Vargard started raising his upper body, while slowly rolling his lower half around the nemesor.
He pressed himself on the nemesor, completely covering the smaller necron.
Zahndrekh tightened his grip.
They held each other in silence, listening to their core pulse.
Each year, I do an October art challenge, and for the past three I've turned the result into coloring books! For October 2025, I did Weretober with a custom list of unique creatures, turning them into anthropomorphic beasties of all shapes and sizes.
Just a reminder - all of my coloring books are now available for free, with a pay-what-you-want option if you want to support my work! Get this 26-page coloring book via my Itch.io, Gumroad, or DeviantArt.
