The magical girl genre comprises a massive fan following who love all things sparkly, colorful and utterly breathtaking. One of the biggest takeaways from this genre is the mahou shoujo transformations that are the core element of every successful magical girl anime. From Sailor Moon to Mermaid Melody, these are the pioneer of magical girl transformations, which have given some of the most iconic sequences of all time.
However, there's a new breed of magical girl anime which has unfortunately gone under the radar. Every top list of transformations has been so obsessed with the classics that many underrated magic girl anime has failed to get in the spotlight. That’s why here’s an updated list of some of the best magical girl transformations of today, many of which remain unknown to fans of only the more mainstream magical girl shows.
Erza Scarlet's Armadura Fairy Armor
The great Erza Scarlet is perhaps one of today's most powerful female anime characters. She is relentless when it comes to protecting her guild but is equally soft at heart. Erza possesses the powerful Requip magic that allows her to call forth magical armor and weapons at will. She is known as the Queen of the Fairies and can summon countless powerful yet beautiful armors.
There's a tie in choosing Erza's best transformation armor; nonetheless, the winner by a small margin is the Armadura Fairy Armor. It's Erza's strongest armor and is named after her guild. She looks like a true warrior princess in her soft pastel tones, winged-shaped epaulets and headpiece, complete with feathered trim on the rest of the outfit and the sword.
Winx Club All Enchantix Transformations
Winx Club's fairy transformations are undeniably what magical girl transformations are all about. From energetic music to beautiful sequences, Winx Club heralds the crown for the most on-point transformations out there. However, if any of their transformations deserve a shout-out, it's definitely their Enchantix form.
In the third season of the show, fans get to experience the true nature of the fairies' powers in their own element. Enchantix has everything, including the glittery yet flattering outfits, butterfly wings matching each fairy's color and elements, raw accessories and ramp-ready hairdos. Flora and Bloom feature a one-piece mini dress while the rest of the gang work with skirts and tops.
Neptune's Transformation From Hyperdimension Neptunia
Based on the video game of the same name, Hyperdimension Neptunia features a futuristic story with the protagonists in a world where beings called Goddesses rule over various countries. The show's protagonist, Neptune, is a carefree girl until she transforms into a fighter called Purple Heart with longer hair and a more confident attitude.
As a result of her transformation, Neptune's eyes turn blue while her hair grows very long and is styled in twin-tail braids. Her outfit is a sort of skintight leotard with black, purple and silver segments. She has armored knee-high boots and lilac-colored mechanical wings to complete the look.
Vividred's Operation Blue Transformation
Vividred Operation takes place in a futuristic world where an invention called the Manifestation Engine has brought peace to Earth. However, the planet is soon attacked by alien forces, and only a group of girls who have access to a power called the Vivid System stand in the way. While the protagonists have their individual transformations, the one that stands out is the dual transformation between Isshiki Akane and Aoi Futuba called Vivid Blue.
Futuba wields a rocket-powered hammer called the Naked Impact, which becomes immensely powerful after transforming with Akane. When the girls combine their powers, they transform into a sleeker, more grown-up body with long blue hair. Since it's a mech-girl transformation, blue mechanical armor is fused with parts of the one-piece outfit, including knee-high thick-armored boots, a unique headpiece and mechanical cuffs.