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| - Before the Ordinary High School Student (or a hidden Bad Guy) can access her (or his) secret powers, there must be a power-up. This usually involves a change of form or at least costume, although the precise mechanisms usually vary by type. In Japanese television, this is called (a) henshin. By genre, this usually goes as follows: Rarely is there a special-effects sequence for changing back. Compare Gorgeous Garment Generation, Creation Sequence, Fighter Launching Sequence, Lock and Load Montage, and Suit-Up of Destiny. Examples of Transformation Sequence include:
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| abstract
| - Before the Ordinary High School Student (or a hidden Bad Guy) can access her (or his) secret powers, there must be a power-up. This usually involves a change of form or at least costume, although the precise mechanisms usually vary by type. In Japanese television, this is called (a) henshin. By genre, this usually goes as follows:
* Magical Girl: Our heroine usually utters a key phrase, accompanied by certain gestures and/or using some sort of magical device, and then hovers into the air over a magical background, then has her clothes disappear as her hero costume glows into existence over her until all her ribbons, jewels, feathers and assorted frippery have formed. Despite being strongly associated with Magical Girls there are several "magical boys" who have comparable sequences, though their outfits are usually more like uniforms or armour.
* Henshin Hero: Similar to the Magical Girl but usually less elaborate and more awesome, our hero uses his special device (often a weapon) and/or shouts his transformation phrase to turn into his superhero form in a faster but equally flashy sequence, that for some reason often involves lightning, glowing or shining, and the hero announcing himself.
* Super Mode: An already-powerful hero or villain becomes even more powerful to face the latest threat. While generally not as elaborate as the previous two transformation sequences, it often signifies a more intense upgrade. The raised power level is usually indicated by a colour change, glowing eyes (or hair) or appearance altered in other ways than a wholly new costume and accessories.
* Monstrous Transformation: A darker and more physical sequence, usually when a humanoid character becomes more monstrous before our eyes -- often involving bulging muscles, ripping clothes, (to various extents) and often implications of pain, especially in a horror-themed series. Werewolves, Jekyll and Hyde, and other magical or chemical induced transformations usually fall under this.
* Mechanical Sequence: A Humongous Mecha or Power Armour wearing hero gets into battle mode, whether through transforming, combining, adding the gear, and/or just plain launching into battle. Usually contains as much Technology Porn as time and budget will allow, and are very often tool-assisted in some way as the base's machines use mechanical arms and such to remove and add components.
* Size Increase: An already formidable monster or hero doesn't make many physical changes but simply increases their size massively, often to Kaiju levels.
* Other Sequences: Ones that aren't covered by or overlap with the above include Mon "evolution" sequences (which are sometimes permanent), characters combining into one, or more mundanely, a Superhero donning their outfit via conventional (if accelerated) means. Transformation Sequences are good for a show's budget because they provide a large amount of Stock Footage that can be (and often must be) reused each episode. They also provide nice filler for the writers. If a particular transformation sequence occurs multiple times in one episode, a shortened version will often be used after the first time (hopefully). Rarely is there a special-effects sequence for changing back. It seems to be an unwritten rule that evil characters almost never get a Stock Footage transformation sequence, instead opting for a special-effects-assisted "insta-transformation", a single sequence in the case of one-shot villains, or just transforming offscreen. This is a good way to spot the Sixth Ranger Traitor or a Noble Demon looking to make a Heel Face Turn somewhere down the line. Note that many transformation sequences are actually just for the viewer's benefit (and to eat up air time), and the actual change as experienced by the character is instantaneous -- or at least very brief. This might explain why bad guys (almost) never attack a hero during his transformation sequence, although the Dangerously Genre Savvy usually will not let the opportunity slip by. This may result in an unstable Partial Transformation. Compare Gorgeous Garment Generation, Creation Sequence, Fighter Launching Sequence, Lock and Load Montage, and Suit-Up of Destiny. Examples of Transformation Sequence include:
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