Changing Portraits are a type of haunted paintings.
Description
Changing Portraits are portraits haunted by the ghosts of their subjects (or, in the case of still-lives, related subjects) and made to shift appearances by the ghosts to achieve a spooky effect. This shift can be a gradual morphing, or flashes aided by lightning.
Though the ghosts often reside inside the portraits, it seems they can essentially leave their frames yet have the effect persist; copies of the same Changing Portraits, with identical transformations, exist simultaneously in Phantom Manor and in the Haunted Mansion and at least one ghost once haunted two Changing Portraits and a Sinister Eleven portrait all at once.
In most cases, the shifting will either reveal the subject's true nature (such as a portrait of Count Dracula becoming that of a large bat) or hint at their grim fate (such as the portrait of a handsome young man turning into that of a skeleton).
The Haunted Mansion, Phantom Manor and Mystic Manor all house a number of Changing Portraits.
Known Changing Portraits
| Portrait | Description | Occupant(s) | Found in |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
A beautiful young woman's portrait ("April") ages to that of a bitter crone ("December"). Optional middle phases depict naughty June and matronly September. | Miss April-December | Haunted Mansion, |
 |
A mysterious, exotic woman reclining on a sofa transforms into a monstrous humanoid panther (or, in an alternate version, a white tiger.) Optional middle phases depict a slow from the head down instead of an instant transformation. |
The Werecat Lady | |
 |
A fierce knight in black armor becomes a rampaging skeleton knight as lightning flashes. Optional middle phases depict a slow decay into the skeletal form, with his armor rusting. |
The Black Prince |
Behind the scenes
The Changing Portraits are a recurring element in the Haunted Mansion ride and its spin-offs.