Protagonists with powerful alternate identities have remained popular over the years, but it was the Sailor Moon transformation that really changed the game it’s become a staple of the “magical girl” genre, and countless cartoons over the past few decades have found a moment to reference the iconic makeover sequence, whether as a parody or in earnest. They were often a way to save animators time by using repeating stock footage, but kids didn’t seem to mind for those like me, there was an undeniable allure of watching our favorite characters magically becoming bigger, stronger, more beautiful, in a way that never got old and now seems to be forever imprinted in our minds. Series like The Transformers and Voltron, as well as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and its spinoff, She-Ra: Princess of Power, featured their own takes on the transformation, or power-up, sequence. and its influence began to appear more and more in Western animation. Transformation sequences aren’t rare in cartoons of the ’80s and ’90s, especially as anime surged in popularity in the U.S. Here, femininity and strength aren’t at odds they are one and the same. With an incantation of “MOON PRISM POWER, MAKE UP!,” all the magical forces of the universe come together to make Usagi battle-ready and perfectly accessorized as her alter ego, Sailor Moon, complete with glitter, rainbows, and plenty of twirling. This explains why the iconic Sailor Moon transformation sequence has stuck with so many people and why homages to it appear again and again in contemporary animation. But to have a magic wand, a fabulous destiny, the strength to save the world, and the ability to look supernaturally amazing while doing it? It’s a dream come true.

Kids are constantly going through their own transformations as they grow and change, and it’s awkward and mysterious and sometimes scary - there’s nothing powerful or glamorous about it. Photo: Left: Courtesy of ABC, Right: Courtesy of Netflixįor a child, nothing is more satisfying than a good transformation sequence. When we set out to reimagine the iconic ’80s heroine She-Ra’s transformation for She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Sailor Moon was an obvious reference point.

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