  Explaining observed properties in terms of underlying shape degrees of
freedom is a well--established prism with which to understand atomic nuclei.
Self--consistent mean--field models provide one tool to understand nuclear
shapes, and their link to other nuclear properties and observables. We present
examples of how the time--dependent extension of the mean--field approach can
be used in particular to shed light on nuclear shape properties, particularly
looking at the giant resonances built on deformed nuclear ground states, and at
dynamics in highly-deformed fission isomers. Example calculations are shown of
$^{28}$Si in the first case, and $^{240}$Pu in the latter case.
