7 Wildest Transformations in Anime That Aren’t From Naruto or Dragon Ball

by

A captivating part of anime is how its characters change. These transformations aren’t just about cool visuals; they often show the character’s personal growth and what they’ve overcome.

I’ve noticed a common thread in many anime, and it really started with Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation in Dragon Ball Z. It was such a powerful idea, and it paved the way for other shows to do something similar. Naruto definitely took this to heart and used it effectively. But honestly, a lot of anime have explored this concept, and some of their transformations are even more over-the-top than anything we saw in Dragon Ball or Naruto.

7) Black Clover – Asta Devil Form

Like popular anime such as Dragon Ball and Naruto, Black Clover includes a power boost for its main character, which is common in this type of show. But Asta’s transformation is special – it highlights how different he is in a world where magic is everything.

Asta is a fascinating character in Black Clover because he’s a unique paradox: a boy without magic who can use anti-magic and the power of a devil. This makes his journey especially compelling, as he achieves incredible power without being a naturally gifted prodigy – arguably making his transformation even more remarkable than those of other heroes in similar stories.

6) Tokyo Ghoul – Ken Kaneki

I’m totally fascinated by Ken Kaneki’s journey! It really shows me that true change isn’t always about getting stronger or looking different. For Kaneki, the biggest shift happened inside his head. After everything Jason put him through, and his struggle with becoming a ghoul, he finally learned to accept himself – and that’s what made all the difference. It’s a powerful reminder that psychological growth can be just as impactful as any physical transformation.

After experiencing this shift, he’s changed forever. The sudden appearance of white hair, a result of intense stress and trauma, is a small detail that adds to his striking new look, making it a truly remarkable transformation.

5) Hunter x Hunter – Gon Freecs

Gon’s sudden shift into adulthood highlights how deeply upsetting experiences – like trauma, sadness, and regret – can cause rapid personal change. He wasn’t able to handle the difficult things he went through as a teen, so he essentially became an adult in an attempt to cope with them.

When Gon enters this state, he radiates a dark and chilling presence, reflecting the difficult growth caused by intense emotional pain. Though it appears fantastical, this transformation feels surprisingly realistic and relatable as a response to deep trauma.

4) Chainsaw Man – Denji Chainsaw Man

The main character of Chainsaw Man undergoes one of the most dramatic transformations in anime and manga. When Denji merges with the Chainsaw Devil, he becomes Chainsaw Man, sprouting chainsaws from his arms and developing a terrifying chainsaw face.

When Denji transforms, he becomes completely reckless, destroying enemies without hesitation. His fighting style is even more savage than his appearance suggests. Chainsaw Man takes the typical, over-the-top transformations seen in action heroes and makes them much more intense and chaotic.

3) Bleach – Ichigo Final Getsuga Tensho

Bleach is a hugely popular anime, often ranked among the best, and like many action-oriented anime, it uses changes in a character’s form to show how much they’ve developed. Throughout the series, Ichigo transforms several times, but his most impressive transformation—the Final Getsuga Tensho—happens during his fight with Aizen.

This transformation is unique within the series because it looks and feels very different from Ichigo’s usual Hollow powers. It has a more enigmatic and spiritual quality, which is likely why it only happens once and ultimately leads to him losing his abilities. It’s arguably the most unusual and striking transformation seen throughout the entire show.

2) Attack on Titan – Eren Founding Titan

When you first start watching Attack on Titan, you might not realize how important transformations would become. But after the show introduces the idea of Titan powers – particularly the Founding Titan – things change drastically. While all Titan transformations are intense, Eren’s ultimate Founding Titan form is the most shocking and powerful of them all.

Eren’s new form is terrifying – a giant, insect-like structure never before seen in the series. It’s especially disturbing because it appears while Eren is leading an army of Titans in a global genocide. The sheer scale of destruction makes this transformation one of the most shocking and extreme events ever shown.

1) One Piece – Luffy Gear 5

Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation in One Piece is already becoming legendary, and is easily one of the most exciting and discussed power-ups in anime and manga recently. Its popularity is due not only to One Piece‘s long-running history of almost thirty years, but also to how incredibly different and creative the transformation is itself.

This transformation is different from others in the series. Eiichiro Oda went for a fun, old-school comic and manga style, focusing on limitless possibilities and creativity rather than strict rules. The concept is straightforward, but incredibly effective. It’s difficult to picture a transformation that could be as unrestrained and imaginative as Luffy’s Gear 5.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/list/7-anime-power-ups-that-changed-everything/embed/#

Read More

2026-04-22 00:19