Henshin

Japanese for "transformation" (metamorphosis or disguise).A "henshin anime" is any anime, where the characters or their costumes transform, such as Sailor Moon. The henshin switches on the character's special powers, and is frequently accompanied by a costume change. Often the change of clothing is the only outward indicator that the character has changed and yet nobody seems to notice the hero's true self.Most henshin heroes have a special item which they use to change into their heroic form. These items are usually activated by a command phrase (which is often in Engrish, for some reason), triggering a transformation sequence.