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henshin
What does henshin mean?
The act of a character transforming — magical girls into costume, or heroes into their super forms — usually via a stock animated sequence. A defining beat of magical-girl and tokusatsu-inspired shows.
"Her henshin sequence gets a little long by season three."
Origin
Japanese 変身 (henshin), 'transformation / metamorphosis'.
Frequently asked questions
What does henshin mean?
Henshin is Japanese for 'transformation'. In anime it refers to a character changing into a powered or hero form, such as a magical girl transforming into costume.
Where do you see henshin sequences?
They're a defining beat of magical-girl and tokusatsu-inspired shows, usually shown through a recurring stock animated transformation sequence.
Why are henshin sequences often reused?
Studios animate a detailed transformation once and replay it each episode to save time and budget while keeping the iconic moment consistent.
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