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Top 10 Anime Transformation Sequences That Go HARD

Top 10 Anime Transformation Sequences That Go HARD
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VOICE OVER: Ashley Bowman WRITTEN BY: Garrett Alden
Power-ups have never looked this epic! Join us as we count down the most jaw-dropping, visually stunning transformation sequences in anime history. From reality-warping power boosts to terrifying monster evolutions, these moments left fans speechless with their incredible animation, high stakes, and unforgettable impact on their respective series. Our countdown includes Luffy's Gear 5th, Super Saiyan 4 Goku, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Gon's adult transformation, Kars becoming the Ultimate Lifeform, Mob's ???% mode, GaoGaiGar's Final Fusion, Zerofuku's corruption into Hajun, Ichigo's Full Hollow Form, and Tatsumi's Incursio debut! Which anime transformation had you screaming at your screen? Let us know in the comments!

#10: Tatsumi Debuts Incursio

“Akame ga Kill!” (2014)

Night Raid members Tatsumi and Bulat face off against Liver and Nyau, bodyguards to one of the Empire’s greatest generals. Unfortunately, while Bulat manages to kill Liver, he’s struck with deadly poison. The pompadoured warrior decides to entrust his armor Imperial Arms, Incursio, to Tatsumi. With his raging spirit, Tatsumi dons Incursio, shouting aloud as he summons the living armor behind him, before merging with it. Tatsumi makes short work of Nyau, but his first transformation has stuck with us for a long time. We’re not sure why there’s a hot-blooded, Super Sentai-like transformation scene in this dark fantasy series, but we’re not complaining!

#9: Ichigo’s Full Hollow Form

“Bleach” (2004-12; 2022-)

Ichigo Kurosaki undergoes many transformations while battling Shinigami, Hollows, and other spiritual foes. Yet few of them are as simultaneously hype and bone chilling as this one. In his fight with Ulquiorra, Ichigo is all but killed by the Espada. Yet when his best girl Orihime begs for his help, his body reacts on its own. His inner Hollow takes over completely, with the mindlessly savage personality letting out a roar. Between the Hollow form’s absolute swagger and its completely beastly beatdown of Ulquiorra, this transformation scene is utterly unforgettable!


#8: Zerofuku’s Corruption

“Record of Ragnarok” (2021-)


This mythological fighting tournament anime is extra in just about everything it does, but this transformation is still wild even by its impressive standards. The conclusion of Buddha’s duel with Zerofuku apparently ends in the Enlightened One’s victory. But then, Zerofuku’s own detached horns drill back into his head, grow, and then dive into his mouth and open chest wound. Then, two dragons burst out of him, and form a scaly egg around him. The egg then cracks to reveal Papiyas, or Hajun, Demon Lord of the Sixth Heaven. I think I speak for everyone in the audience when I say - “What the actual f-”


#7: GaoGaiGar Final Fusion

“The King of Braves GaoGaiGar” (1997-98)

When there are mechs involved, there’s a good bet there’ll be some extravagant transformation sequences of giant robots or vehicles combining to form a bigger one. While the “Brave” franchise isn’t as well-known as other mecha series internationally, this sequence alone is enough to put it on the map. The already epic GaiGar mech combines with a train, plane, and drill to form the GaoGaiGar Final Fusion. Along with the enormous green tornado it spins up every time, all of the parts are shown connecting in loving detail to form the huge, lion-torsoed robot. It may happen practically every episode, but when it’s this epic, it never gets old!

#6: Mob Goes ???% For the First Time

“Mob Psycho 100” (2016-22)

Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama unleashes powerful bursts of psychic energy whenever he feels strong emotions - often represented as going 100%. A vain fellow psychic Teruki Hanazawa tries to goad Mob into fighting back, even choking him into unconsciousness. However, that proves the worst thing he could’ve done. Unchecked by Mob’s waking mind, Mob’s suppressed emotions and psychic powers run wild as ???%. Roughly animated and featuring entirely white eyes, this Mob absorbs Teruki’s psychic energy before destroying the school around them and sending the haughty student into the sky. Don’t poke the bear, even if it’s a middle-schooler - you never know what you might awaken.


#5: Kars Becomes the Ultimate Lifeform

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (2012-)

As one of the immortal, vampire-like Pillar Men, Kars is already tremendously strong. However, after tricking the Nazis into hitting him with ultraviolet light while wearing the Stone Mask, Kars undergoes an incredible transformation. He glows with technicolor light, and you can even see his skeleton through his skin. When the Stone Mask breaks, Kars is practically at one with the universe. At first he seems unchanged - and then he turns his hand into a squirrel. Rodent body horror aside, Kars is now able to withstand the sun’s rays. He basks in its brilliance just as he forces everyone else to bask in his glorious, unbeatable power - and that perfect hair.

#4: Gon Grows Up

“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)


Even children can become monsters when pushed to their limits. After learning that his friend and mentor Kite is dead after all, Gon is furious at his killer, Neferpitou. Nen abilities become stronger the greater restrictions are placed on them. And Gon decides to use all the power he’ll ever have - to kill Pitou. Dark aura swirls through the halls, coalescing around Gon. His form grows to become adult sized, with his outline becoming roughly animated, his eyes a terrifyingly blank white. The long-haired, muscular man Gon becomes is barely recognizable as him. However, the absolute beatdown he delivers on Pitou still makes the transformation rewarding.


#3: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

“Gurren Lagann” (2007)

This mecha series is basically the show seeing if it can one-up itself with over-the-top mecha action and transformations. And this reaches its pinnacle with Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Team Dai-Gurren throws logic out the window and bursts out of an extra-dimensional prison to rescue Nia from the Anti-Spiral. They then proceed to use their own thoughts to generate their biggest mecha yet - Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann! We zoom out to see that the huge, red mech covered in green fire and dragon skulls is bigger than entire galaxies! It would take something truly ridiculous to surpass this…the movie version certainly tried though…

#2: Super Saiyan 4

“Dragon Ball Daima” (2024-25)

Goku unveils his crimson monkey form several times in this “Dragon Ball” sequel series. But his transformation while facing Supreme Demon King Gomah is the best of all. Goku wastes no time and powers up to Super Saiyan. Then Super Saiyan 2. Next, lightning comes off of him and vaporizes large chunks of his surroundings as he transitions to Super Saiyan 3. But he’s not finished yet! A titanic column of energy explodes out of him that can be seen in other Demon Worlds. And out of it steps Super Saiyan 4 Goku. The whole sequence is essentially a greatest hits of Goku’s transformations one after the other and all gorgeously rendered!


#1: Luffy Shows Lucci Gear 5th

“One Piece” (1999-)


When Luffy’s new look goes public, everyone’s naturally curious - particularly his enemies. So, when Luffy runs into Rob Lucci again on Egghead, the CP0 agent wants to see Luffy’s new peak. And Luffy is as happy to oblige him as we are to see it happen! After getting in touch with the heartbeat that sets his Devil Fruit awakening off, Luffy pounds his chest and starts letting out Haki so powerful it destroys his surroundings. His hair and clothing turn white, he starts laughing hysterically, and his surroundings turn rather bouncy. The music and animation go totally nuts as well! It’s a transformation scene that’s simultaneously hype, hilarious, and, as Lucci soon discovers, horrifying.

Is there an over-the-top anime transformation that should have been on our list? Go for broke in the comments by sharing your favorites!

anime transformations epic anime moments Luffy Gear 5th Super Saiyan 4 Gurren Lagann Gon adult form Kars Ultimate Lifeform Mob Psycho 100 GaoGaiGar Zerofuku Hajun Ichigo Hollow Incursio One Piece Dragon Ball JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Hunter x Hunter Bleach Akame ga Kill Record of Ragnarok power-ups animation sakuga
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