Resizing (fiction) - Shrinking Machines

Shrinking Machines

The shrinking is usually accomplished using a machine of some kind. For example, in the films Fantastic Voyage and Innerspace, in which the miniaturized protagonists travel through the human body, the machine looks something like a Star Trek transporter, and is large enough to accommodate the target. On the other hand, in the film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, the machine looks like a laser device which operates near the target. In some works, a shrinking machine can enlarge as well, and vice versa. For example, in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, a shrinking machine makes a toddler 100 feet tall. Both types of machine normally have the ability to reverse the shrinking process (though sometimes, as in Fantastic Voyage, the reversal happens automatically after a certain period).

In 1940's Dr. Cyclops, the protagonists are reduced to less than a foot in size by the titular mad scientist, and are subjugated to his whims. 1957's The Incredible Shrinking Man inspired a boom in science fiction films that made use of size-alteration in the late 1950s and the 1960s, and also inspired a comic remake in 1981's The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

In the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "The Terratin Incident", a ray of unknown origin strikes the Enterprise and causes everyone aboard to begin gradually shrinking. Spock explains this as the gaps between molecules reducing, though only in organic material such as flesh and the crews' algae-based xenylon uniforms. When Captain Kirk beams down to the planet from which the ray emanated, the effect of the transporter restores him to normal size.

In the "Doctor Who" series episode "The Invisible Enemy" (4th Doctor), the Doctor uses a component from his TARDIS called a Relative Dimensional Stabilizer (RDS) to shrink a clone copy of himself and Leela for injection into his own brain. Later, the RDS is used to increase the size of a micro-dimensional virus so that it can interact with the macrocosm.

In The Super Dimension Fortress Macross anime series, miniaturizing cloning technology known as micloning (maikuro-n ka in Japanese) plays a significant role in the coexistence of a giant alien race called Zentradi and humanity.

In Marvel Comics, "Pym particles" (named for their inventor, Henry Pym, variously known by the superhero identities Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath and Yellowjacket) cause physical matter to shrink or enlarge by shunting mass into, or drawing mass from, another dimension. In addition to Pym, a number of other superheroes have used Pym particles to change their size, including the Wasp (Pym's ex-wife), the second Goliath, Black Goliath, the second Ant-Man, and the second Yellowjacket. Pym also designed a prison for supervillains that was dubbed "the Big House", in which superhuman criminals who could not be normally incarcerated were shrunken down to six inches in height.

In DC Comics, the equivalent characters are the various individuals who go by the superhero name, The Atom. In particular of these people, Professor Ray Palmer is the foremost authority in size and molecular density changing technology.

In the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in The Television Room when Mike Teevee uses to shrink into the tiny chocolate bar size and he go to the Television on Purpose after the Taffy Puller.

In the children's television series Dr. Shrinker, Dr. Shrinker use the shrinking ray to shrink three young adults down to six inches tall.

In the videogame Harley's Humongous Adventure, the title character is miniaturized justifying fighting against giant rats and other such odds and relying on thumtacks as weaponry.

In the Science Fiction My Favorite Martian, when Tim shrink into tiny size takes the to the spaceship home with him the martian following.

In the 2008 comedy film Meet Dave, the humanoid aliens controlling "Dave" are one inch tall.

In the 2010 film Tooth Fairy, the main character is given a shrinking paste which he uses to shrink to a tiny fairy size.

In the television series Ally McBeal, the main character name Ally McBeal is shrinking about six inches in height.

In the 2001 Animated film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, the shrinking remote control when the teacher and Jimmy Neutron shrink into ant size.

In the 2010 Animated film Despicable Me, when Gru steal the shrink ray.

In the MGM cartoons, Tom and Jerry shorts Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse, when Tom shrink into tiny size of a fly and Jerry snaps Tom's Tail because he has a high-pitched screaming.

In the Cartoon show Micro Ventures, when they use shrinking machine to shrink themselves and their dune buggy to miniature size.

In the Fantasy Musical film Babes in Toyland, they using shrink gun when they shrink into tiny toy size.