The transformation sequence is anime’s secret weapon. That moment when the protagonist reaches their limit, then breaks through to a new level of power—accompanied by screaming, glowing, and usually a killer soundtrack. The best transformations become iconic, referenced and parodied for decades.
We’ve ranked the most memorable anime transformations based on visual impact, narrative significance, emotional weight, and cultural legacy. These are the power-ups that changed everything.
The List
25. Shinra’s Adolla Burst
- Series: Fire Force
- The Transformation: Shinra’s feet ignite with the Adolla Burst, allowing him to move faster than light and enter a state that appears as a demonic smile to observers.
- Why it’s iconic: The “devil’s footprints” visual and the contrast between heroism and demonic appearance create striking imagery.
24. Eren’s First Titan Shift
- Series: Attack on Titan
- The Transformation: Consumed by a titan, Eren explodes from within as the Attack Titan—humanity’s first hope against the monsters.
- Why it’s iconic: It flipped the entire premise. Humanity wasn’t just prey anymore.
23. Ichigo’s Full Hollow Form
- Series: Bleach
- The Transformation: After dying against Ulquiorra, Ichigo returns as a fully Hollowfied berserker with a terrifying mask and horn.
- Why it’s iconic: The horror of watching the hero become the monster, attacking friend and foe alike.
22. Killua’s Godspeed
- Series: Hunter x Hunter
- The Transformation: Killua converts his assassin training and electrical aura into pure speed, reacting and moving faster than thought.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s not dramatic visually, but Killua casually dismantling Youpi showcases terrifying competence.
21. Saitama Getting Serious
- Series: One Punch Man
- The Transformation: He just… stops holding back. No visual change except his expression getting slightly more focused.
- Why it’s iconic: The anti-transformation. The joke is that he doesn’t need one.
20. Ken Kaneki’s White Hair
- Series: Tokyo Ghoul
- The Transformation: After Jason’s torture breaks him, Kaneki’s hair turns white, and he accepts his ghoul nature—eating Jason in return.
- Why it’s iconic: The visual shift from innocent to predator, accompanied by one of anime’s most disturbing sequences.
19. All Might’s True Form Reveal
- Series: My Hero Academia
- The Transformation: The inverse—All Might deflating from Symbol of Peace to skeletal true form, showing the cost of his heroism.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s a de-transformation that’s more impactful than most power-ups.
18. Meliodas Assault Mode
- Series: Seven Deadly Sins
- The Transformation: The cheerful protagonist reveals his true demon form, covered in black marks with empty eyes and overwhelming power.
- Why it’s iconic: The gap between usual Meliodas and his true nature creates genuine fear.
17. Deku’s 100% Full Cowling
- Series: My Hero Academia
- The Transformation: With Eri rewinding the damage, Deku uses One For All at full power, shattering everything around him.
- Why it’s iconic: The animation explosion and the emotional stakes of saving Eri combine perfectly.
16. Tanjiro’s Hinokami Kagura
- Series: Demon Slayer
- The Transformation: Remembering his father’s dance, Tanjiro switches from Water to Sun Breathing, unleashing inherited flame techniques.
- Why it’s iconic: Episode 19 broke streaming services. The music, the animation, the family legacy reveal—perfect execution.
15. Gear Fifth
- Series: One Piece
- The Transformation: Luffy’s awakening transforms him into a cartoon god, white hair and clothes, with the power to rubberize everything around him.
- Why it’s iconic: After 25 years, Luffy’s ultimate form embraces pure joy and absurdity. The drums of liberation are unforgettable.
14. Mob’s ???% State
- Series: Mob Psycho 100
- The Transformation: When Mob’s emotions completely overflow, he enters an unconscious state of unlimited psychic power.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s not a triumphant power-up—it’s terrifying. Mob loses himself completely.
13. Super Saiyan 3
- Series: Dragon Ball Z
- The Transformation: The most dramatic visual change—hair down to the waist, eyebrows vanishing, earth-shaking screaming for a full episode.
- Why it’s iconic: Pure absurdist escalation. Goku screaming for three minutes while the planet shakes became legendary.
12. Gon’s Adult Form
- Series: Hunter x Hunter
- The Transformation: Trading decades of his life and Nen potential, Gon ages into his prime to kill Pitou for murdering Kite.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s a transformation built on pure hatred. Gon becomes a monster to avenge his mentor, and the cost is everything.
11. Natsu’s Dragon Force
- Series: Fairy Tail
- The Transformation: Natsu taps into his dragon slayer heritage, gaining scales, enhanced fire magic, and dragon-like features.
- Why it’s iconic: The reveal of Natsu’s E.N.D. nature adds layers to later Dragon Force uses.
10. Gohan’s Ultimate Form
- Series: Dragon Ball Z
- The Transformation: Old Kai unlocks Gohan’s full potential—no Super Saiyan needed. Just base form at maximum power.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s an anti-transformation that says Gohan was always strong enough; he just needed to unlock it.
9. Naruto’s Kurama Mode
- Series: Naruto Shippuden
- The Transformation: Finally befriending the Nine-Tails, Naruto gains its full power—a golden cloak of chakra with complete Kurama manifestation.
- Why it’s iconic: The payoff of Naruto’s lifelong struggle with being a jinchuriki. They became partners.
8. Ultra Instinct
- Series: Dragon Ball Super
- The Transformation: Goku’s body moves on its own, dodging and attacking without thought. Silver eyes, silver aura, transcendent calm.
- Why it’s iconic: The Tournament of Power music, the animation quality, and the concept of “mastering nothing” made this Dragon Ball’s best transformation in decades.
7. Bankai (First Time)
- Series: Bleach
- The Transformation: Ichigo’s Bankai compresses his massive cleaver into a sleek black blade, enhancing speed over raw power.
- Why it’s iconic: Every Bankai reveal in Bleach carries weight, but Ichigo’s first—using it against Byakuya—set the standard.
6. Gon-san
- Series: Hunter x Hunter
- The Transformation: See #12, but elevated here for the sheer emotional devastation. This isn’t power fantasy; it’s tragedy.
- Why it’s iconic: Gon transforms into something that makes Pitou—an enemy that killed Kite easily—feel only fear. But we’re not cheering. We’re horrified.
5. Super Saiyan 2 (Gohan)
- Series: Dragon Ball Z
- The Transformation: Cell kills Android 16 and Gohan finally snaps. The sky darkens, lightning surrounds him, and the quiet boy becomes the strongest fighter in the universe.
- Why it’s iconic: The transformation that proved Dragon Ball could do emotional weight. Gohan’s rage, the music, Cell’s dawning terror—perfection.
4. Titan Eren (Final Form)
- Series: Attack on Titan
- The Transformation: Eren’s Founding Titan form is a skeletal monstrosity stretching across continents, made of bones and pure horror.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s not cool—it’s apocalyptic. The protagonist becoming the final boss, larger than any enemy before.
3. Super Saiyan Blue Evolution
- Series: Dragon Ball Super
- The Transformation: Vegeta breaks his limits through sheer pride, achieving a form Goku didn’t—deeper blue, breaking further.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s Vegeta’s moment. For once, he achieves something Goku doesn’t have, through pure Saiyan pride.
2. Berserk Armor Activation
- Series: Berserk
- The Transformation: The armor that removes pain and fear, letting Guts fight beyond human limits—but consuming him with each use.
- Why it’s iconic: It’s not a power-up; it’s a desperate bargain. Guts becomes more monster than man, and he knows it.
1. Super Saiyan (Original)
- Series: Dragon Ball Z
- The Transformation: Krillin dies. Goku’s grief and rage explode. His hair turns gold, his eyes green, and the legend of the Super Saiyan becomes reality.
There’s no contest for the most iconic anime transformation. Super Saiyan didn’t just change Dragon Ball—it changed anime. Every transformation since exists in its shadow. The golden hair, the green eyes, the aura, the screaming power-up—these became the template.
What makes the original special is the emotional context. Goku isn’t transforming to win a tournament or prove himself. He’s transforming because his best friend was murdered in front of him, and his rage unlocked something legendary. The transformation is earned through loss, not training.
Frieza’s terror sells it. The tyrant who destroyed Goku’s home planet, who seemed unstoppable, is suddenly facing a being he was always taught to fear. The tables have turned completely.
Every anime fan knows this moment. Even people who’ve never watched Dragon Ball know the Super Saiyan. It transcended anime to become a cultural touchstone—referenced in music, sports, and everyday conversation. “Going Super Saiyan” means something to people who couldn’t name another anime character.
That’s legacy. That’s iconic.
Honorable Mentions
- Sage Mode (Naruto) – Frog eyes never looked so cool
- Demon Form Zenitsu (Demon Slayer) – Sleeping Thunder God
- Imperial Arms Release (Akame ga Kill) – Various character power-ups
- Awakening (JoJo’s) – Stand evolutions
- Devil Trigger (Devil May Cry anime) – Dante’s demonic transformation
- Berserker Mode (various) – When rage takes over
- Magical Girl Transformations (Sailor Moon, etc.) – The original transformation sequences
What Makes a Transformation Iconic
Visual Impact: The transformation needs to look dramatically different and memorable.
Emotional Weight: The best transformations are earned through struggle, loss, or growth.
Music: A killer soundtrack elevates good to legendary.
Narrative Payoff: It should matter to the story, not just be a power boost.
Cultural Penetration: Truly iconic transformations are known beyond their fandom.
Anime transformations tap into something primal—the desire to break through our limitations and become something more. These moments remind us why we watch.