The original She-Ra was conceived as a “girl version” of the popular character He-Man while his powers focused more on enhanced physical strength, She-Ra had additional, more classically “feminine” powers, such as healing, animal communication, and the ability to transform her sword, most notably into a shield. She-Ra is, after all, a magical girl in her own way. When we set out to reimagine the iconic ’80s heroine She-Ra’s transformation for the reboot She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Sailor Moon was an obvious reference point. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t note how gay the whole thing feels, with its ethereal sparkly glamour there’s a reason Sailor Moon has been so influential for queer viewers in particular, as a show with groundbreaking queer-coded characters and themes (much of which was erased in the English dub that ran on Cartoon Network in the late ’90s and early aughts, an obfuscation that only adds to the series’ queer legacy.) More than that, the intimate framing puts the viewer in her place we feel as though the transformation is happening to us.
Its rainbow colors and impressive animation make it instantly recognizable, set in an evocative cosmic void that brings an abstract quality as time stands still to allow the change to take place ahead of any fight. There’s just something about the sequence’s tactile three-dimensional quality that makes it exciting every single time as each accessory materializes, turning an ordinary schoolgirl, along with her friends, into universe-saving superheroes in sailor outfits. 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.
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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.