Goku's first time becoming a Super Saiyan is easily one of the most iconic transformations in all of anime. Goku's guttural outburst of rage after seeing his friend Krillin killed at the hands of Frieza always sends chills down the spines of any Dragon Ball fan. Everything from the shots, the effects, and the dialogue are all instantly recognizable to viewers, from hardcore anime lovers to the general watcher. But as memorable as the scene is, it's not the first time an anime character has undergone a major transformation.

Plenty of anime from the 70s and 80s have characters undergoing iconic transformations in their own right. Like the Super Saiyan transformation, these sequences are as memorable as they are iconic. With how popular Dragon Ball continues to be, it can be easy to forget that other anime helped lay the foundation for the series' use of breathtaking displays of power.