Summary
Anime always finds creative ways to spice up the power system with transformations and monsters. Transformations can dramatically redefine characters and add to the tension in an anime. Various anime series have shown unique and iconic transformations, such as Filo in The Rising of the Shield Hero, Baek Yoonho in Solo Leveling, and Nezuko in Demon Slayer.
Flashy transformations have been at the forefront of shounen anime for decades, with many series creating several the most powerful transformations that completely redefine beast mode. From drawing influence from mythology to influences from the foundations of the animal kingdom, anime always finds new and creative ways to spice up the power system.
Of course, there are also transformations that are purely enhanced versions of the character, adding a small detail or two to indicate an increase in power. While these forms are interesting, the transformations that exploit the most drastic and inhuman changes raise the most questions about the absurdity of the situation. Therefore, such narrative choices will also enhance the overall tension and possibility of the anime simply through the character’s beastly form.
10 Filo is the Queen of birds
The Rise of the Shield Hero (2019), Kinema Citrus
The Rising of the Shield Hero is a harsh reality check of isekai, as the anime delves into the darkest possibilities of entering a fantasy world. The series follows Naofumi, one of four students from modern-day Japan transferred to the kingdom of Melromarc to serve as the Four Cardinal Heroes, each representing a weapon. As for Naofumi, he is a shield hero who was ostracized and humiliated from the beginning.
Despite the troubles along the way, Naofumi quickly adapts to the fantasy setting and even gathers some companions along the way, first Raphtalia and then Filo, who turns out to be female. king of all Filolial, a species of bird-like transport animals. As queen, Filo displays special abilities, such as being able to transform into human form as well as a super-strong feathered bird form. As a character, Filo’s transformation is the exact opposite of how monsters are perceived in anime.
9 Baek Yoonho only showed a little bit of his strength
Solo Leveling (2024), Photo A-1
With the recent release of the long-awaited Solo Leveling anime adapted from the manhwa of the same name, there are new details and a slight restructuring of the opening sequence. The anime explores the deeper arcs of the story and presents well-integrated and exciting introductions to many characters who don’t appear until later in the manhwa. This provides the perfect foundation to start building the fandom early and provides a glimpse into characters like Baek Yoonho.
Baek Yoonho is one of Korea’s few S-rank hunters, and the anime introduces him along with several other S-rank hunters, such as Choi Jong-In and Min Byung-Gyu, as they deal with a terrifying ant nest that has sprung up on Jeju Island. Even though the campaign ultimately fails, the anime still provides a brief look at the overbearing power of the S-rank hunter, especially with Baek Yoonho’s transformation into a tiger, which will only become more colorful. more outrageous as the series continues.
8 Nezuko redefines demon transformation
Demon Slayer (2019), Studio Ufotable
The Shounen Demon Slayer series was one of the biggest anime phenomena of 2019 and continues into the near future, as the story follows a brother and sister on a journey to destroy the demons plaguing the world. The main character, Tanjiro, joins the Demon Slayer Corps with the belief of avenging his family who were massacred by demons, and takes care of his sister who has been transformed into a bloodthirsty demon.
Although Nezuko can usually control herself and remain in her iconic docile form, there are times when her inner demon takes over, promote a powerful transformation. A horn grows on her head, veins seem to want to pop out of her skin, and she has a more mature appearance overall, which ultimately calls into question the basis of the demon’s transformation.
7 Rimuru has the ability to transform into almost any shape
That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime (2018), 8bit Studio
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one of the classic forerunners of modern isekai anime, as it took the world by storm even before the first episode came out. The story is about a middle-aged Japanese man who is killed and transported to a fantasy world. However, the twist is that he was reincarnated into a slime named Rimuru, one of the weakest monsters in the fantasy universe.
Luckily for Rimuru, he was given a system and the breaking ability to devour anything and gain its abilities. Using this ability, Rimuru can transform into anything he consumes, from inanimate energy crystals to ferocious wolves. Such versatility completely redefined the way monster transformations were previously shown in anime.
6 Alucard can transform into his familiar
Hellsing Ultimate (2006), Madhouse et al.
Hellsing Ultimate is a classic reboot of the 2001 Hellsing series and is an anime that steers clear of seinen themes, often bursting with action, horror, and gore. The series follows the main character, Alucard, a powerful vampire working for an organization called Hellsing.
Although Alucard is a vampire, his abilities are far different and beyond traditional notions. A special ability is Alucard’s ability to transform and use the power of familiars. For example, his familiar, Bakersville, is a vicious-looking hound that Alucard can transform into an arm and control to attack his enemies. He can also transform into anything from a bat to a cockroach to a chair, providing a refreshing contrast to his more beastly forms.
5 Ichigo can touch his inner hollow
Bleach (2004), Studio Pierrot
One of the big three shounen anime series, Bleach, recently released a sequel series called Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, which is a mesmerizing story about souls, demons, and soul collectors. . Although the anime doesn’t always use those terms, the series’ main villains, the Hollows, are essentially ghostly apparitions formed from human souls.
Bleach’s main character, Ichigo, is a god of death, or shinigami, whose mission is to destroy such Hollows. However, deeper into the series, Ichigo’s origins are called into question when he unleashes a horribly powerful transformation that takes on both humanoid and Hollow qualities. By the time this transformation debuted, waves of fear were released with each new iteration of Ichigo’s demonic form.
4 Naruto’s nine-tailed transformation is iconic
Naruto (2002), Studio Pierrot
The Naruto anime is entirely built around the tragic story of the main character Naruto and his lonely role in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. It is quickly revealed in the series that Naruto’s parents sacrificed themselves to seal the legendary Nine-tailed fox that attacked the village into the boy’s body, thus transforming him into what the series calls a Jinchurichi , host of a tailed spirit.
As Naruto moves towards his dream of becoming Hokage and his ninja powers grow, he also begins to become more familiar with the Nine-Tails that exists within him. On many occasions early in the series, Naruto nearly lost control of this power and let it consume him in countless horrifying transformations.. Luckily, by the end of the series, Naruto was able to fully control this power, leading to one of the most exciting transformations in anime history.
3 Fish Kaido’s fish doesn’t sound like it at all
One Piece (1999), Toei Animation
One of the kingpins of shounen anime, One Piece has been bringing the anime world endless adventures and possibilities for over two decades. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy on his journey to become Pirate King as he assembles the most eccentric crew to travel to the Grand Line. In this pirate universe, nothing comes close to traditional pirate novels, as new power systems are created and there are countless types of abilities, from Haki to beast transformations.
Among the monster transformations that appear in One Piece made possible by the formation of a Zoan Devil Fruit, Kaido’s transformation is said to be the most intense. As one of the Four Emperors or Four Emperors of the Sea, Kaido’s strength has been well tested and his devil fruit, modestly named the Fish-Fish Fruit, gives him extraordinary power. . Kaido’s ability to transform into the mythical Azure Dragon shook the pirate world.
2 Great Ape Transformation Established as Anime Beast
Dragon Ball (1986), Toei Animation
As a franchise, Dragon Ball has long stood the test of time, with many sequels, spin-offs, and films, including but not limited to Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super. The story begins with a boy named Goku who has a tail like a monkey’s and travels through the world of martial arts. The concept of the series is clearly influenced by the classic story of Sun Wukong, but manga artist Toriyama Akira has put his own unique spin on it.
One such twist is the Saiyans, space-based humanoids that can transform into giant apes. if they absorb the power of the moon. The main character, Goku, is one such species, and his transformation, as well as the transformations of his son Gohan and his first enemy Vegeta, have become defining characteristics. iconic score of the early Dragon Ball series. From this foundation came perhaps anime’s most famous transformation: the Super Saiyan, which has very little to do with the Great Ape transformation, aesthetically speaking.
1 Titan-Shifters completely overturned the perception of war
Attack on Titan (2013), Wit Studio and later MAPPA
Attack on Titan instantly revolutionized the shounen anime scene with its gory depictions and unique world founded on a post-apocalyptic society. Most importantly, the series introduces one of anime’s most iconic enemies, the titans, which are giant humanoid creatures that seemingly for no comprehensible reason, but eat meat. human. Such a premise creates unrelenting conviction for revenge-seeking protagonists, like Eren, and it laid the foundation for political instability to form between the two entities, humans and giants.
However, not long after the anime, it was revealed that Eren has the ability to transform into a titan and more, much to the surprise and outrage of the entire cast in the series. Such a terrible transformation opens a window into the changing landscape of the war against the titans and what is really happening below the surface. Eren gradually reveals that humanity’s struggle is not a battle for survival against towering monsters, it is a complex battle of titan shapeshifters, royalty and all The mystery has not yet been revealed. Given the brutal nature of Eren’s transformation and its incredible power, it only makes sense Eren’s Titan form is one of anime’s strongest transformations ever.