History Main / ByThePowerOfGrayskull

* ''The Lathe of Heaven'' has Doctor Haber use hypnosis so that George Orr will begin his "magic" dream state whenever Haber says "Antwerp".

* In Scott Meyer's ''[[Literature/Magic20 Off to Be the Wizard]]'', adding a new wizard to the shell involves said wizard saying a series of phrases in a bastardized version of [[UsefulNotes/EsperantoTheUniversalLanguage Esperanto]]: "Supren supren. Malsupren suben. Maldekstra dekstra maldekstra dekstra[[note]]The original phrasing was "Lasis dekstra lasis dekstra", but "lasis" means "left" only as a past form of "leave". "Left" as a direction is "maldekstra" (literally means "the opposite of right"). Later editions have corrected this error.[[/note]]. Bee aye komenco." This translates, roughly, to "Up up. Down down. Left right left right. B A Start." Yep, that's the KonamiCode. Also, activating spells (i.e. macros) involves gestures and commands (usually, in Esperanto). Martin's salutation during his "graduation" dinner is activated by saying "EH NEEEK CHOCK!" (a ShoutOut to Apache Chief from ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}''), which involves Martin growing into a giant composed of flying boxes. Later, he changes the activation phrase to a simpler "Groovy". In a later book, he creates a teleportation macro tied to a small bag that he throws to wherever he wants to appear. The macro is triggered by Martin saying "[[Franchise/XMen Bamf!]]", with the sound and visual effects being copied from Nightcrawler.

* ''WesternAnimation/SuperTed'' had the phrase "I'll just say my secret magic word...", which the teddy bear would then whisper, turning into [=SuperTed=]. The word itself was never revealed on-screen, and in fact a lot of people think "I'll just say my secret magic word..." ''was'' the magic word. However, in one episode [[BigBad Texas Pete's]] [[MinionWithAnFInEvil dim and not particularly villainous henchman]] Bulk overheard it and used it to turn into Super-Bulk. The same episode had [=SuperTed=] [[EasyAmnesia forget the word himself]]. This seemed to ignore the fact that Mother Nature hadn't ever given Bulk a magic potion to become super powered... [[EpilepticTrees that we know of]].

* "WesternAnimation/DragonBooster": "Release the Dragon!"
* "WesternAnimation/Egyxos": "Power of Egyxos!"

** "WesternAnimation/DragonBooster": "Release the Dragon!"
** "WesternAnimation/Egyxos": "Power of Egyxos!"

* ''Webcomic/Beeserker'': The Ambroses use these phrases for transformation sequences. Other characters play off their phrases, especially in Chapter 10.

* Spoofed in ''Manga/OnePiece'': Franky the shipwright is a SchizoTech cyborg who activates his powers by shouting "{{Hentai}}!" (abnormality) instead of the traditional {{Toku}} phrase "Henshin!" (transform). While "hentai" can also mean "metamorphosis", its more common meaning of "weirdo" or "pervert" creates [[HilarityEnsues obvious humor]], as other characters comment he ''is'' a weirdo/pervert for running around in nothing but a speedo and a Hawaiian shirt. However, he doesn't even activate his powers this way, and just likes saying the word.

** [[Creator/FourKidsEntertainment The]] [[{{Macekre}} "dub"]] changed it to "Power Pendant, Mew-tamorphosis!"

** [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway "Heart!"]]

Lots of {{Phlebotinum}} is voice activated: [[Franchise/StarTrek Kirk]] talked to the computer, [[Series/KnightRider Michael]] talked to KITT, Series/{{Automan}} talked to Cursor. But there is no place where a voice activation is more universally required than when triggering a TransformationSequence.

* In ''Anime/MyOtome'', the Otome's {{Phlebotinum}}-based powers require a vocal authorization from the Otome's bonded master before the Otome herself can verbally invoke her TransformationSequence.

** In the first season of the English dub of ''Anime/YuGiOh'', Yugi's transformation into the pharaoh is usually precipitated by his shouting the title of the series (''Yu-Gi-Oh'' is one of the pharaoh's titles, which translates to "king of games".) Although the scene itself exists, the shouting part does not occur in the Japanese version and was added for the dub, although not used in the uncut duh.

** In the first season of the English dub of ''Anime/YuGiOh'', Yugi's transformation into the pharaoh is usually precipitated by his shouting the title of the series (''Yu-Gi-Oh'' is one of the pharaoh's titles, which translates to "king of games".) Although the scene itself exists, the shouting part does not occur in the Japanese version and was added for the dub.

* PlayedWith in ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''. The TitleCharacter usually shouts out "Going Ghost", but it isn't necessary since he can transform without saying it.

You are, more or less, not allowed to transform to your super-powered alter-ego without ranting some special key-phrase. This phrase may or may not be descriptive, but it should almost certainly be pithy. If your transformation CatchPhrase is lame, you will not be allowed to keep transforming.

* In Scott Meyer's ''[[Literature/{{Magic20}} Off to Be the Wizard]]'', adding a new wizard to the shell involves said wizard saying a series of phrases in a bastardized version of [[UsefulNotes/EsperantoTheUniversalLanguage Esperanto]]: "Supren supren. Malsupren suben. Maldekstra dekstra maldekstra dekstra[[note]]The original phrasing was "Lasis dekstra lasis dekstra", but "lasis" means "left" only as a past form of "leave". "Left" as a direction is "maldekstra" (literally means "the opposite of right"). Later editions have corrected this error.[[/note]]. Bee aye komenco." This translates, roughly, to "Up up. Down down. Left right left right. B A Start." Yep, that's the KonamiCode. Also, activating spells (i.e. macros) involves gestures and commands (usually, in Esperanto). Martin's salutation during his "graduation" dinner is activated by saying "EH NEEEK CHOCK!" (a ShoutOut to Apache Chief from ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}''), which involves Martin growing into a giant composed of flying boxes. Later, he changes the activation phrase to a simpler "Groovy". In a later book, he creates a teleportation macro tied to a small bag that he throws to wherever he wants to appear. The macro is triggered by Martin saying "[[Franchise/XMen Bamf!]]", with the sound and visual effects being copied from Nightcrawler.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesKuroNoKiseki'' has “Shadow Release, Take the Grendel!”[[note]]Written as “Shadow Release! Clad the Nightmare!”[[/note]] everytime Van has to adorn his Grendel form. Though in this case it was Mare who said this instead of the protagonist because ''she'' is the one who initiate the sequence. The sequel has “Shard Erosion! Boot the Grendel!”[[note]]“Shadow Erosion! Stain with Nightmare!”[[/note]] for Grendel Zolga triggered by Altera, [[spoiler:who is actually the corrupted Lapis]].

The trope originated with [[ComicBookTropes comic-book character]] Billy Batson, who first used the CatchPhrase "Shazam!" to transform into [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] in [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks 1940]].

This is the magic CatchPhrase that actually causes or facilitates the transformation. For one that is simply a cool kind of rallying cry or way to get the adrenaline pumping ("Flame On!", for example), see {{Invocation}}. When either of these contains (or is) the ''name'' of the hero's new form, it's TransformationNameAnnouncement.

** The [[EmpathicWeapon Empathic Weapons]] need their wielder to say the magic CatchPhrase in order to switch into a more powerful form. The CatchPhrase is unique to each weapon (though always including the weapon's name) and must be learned from the weapon itself. The phrase can range from the short ("Snap", "Shatter", "Dance") to longer ("Reign over the frosted heavens", "Shoot to kill", "Sting all enemies to death") to ''very'' long ("Flower wind rage and flower god roar, heavenly wind rage and heavenly demon sneer", "All waves rise now and become my shield, lightning, strike now and become my blade", "All things in the universe turn to ashes").

** A crossover with WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo temporarily granted Shaggy and Velma with Captain Marvel-like powers, though they were summoned by saying their respective CatchPhrase, "Zoinks!" and "Jinkies!" Like the Shazam call, [[FunWithAcronyms the words corresponded with certain gods/heroes]] (Zeus, Odin, Icarus, Neptune, Kronos, and Sisyphus for Shaggy; Juno, Isis, Nemesis, Kali, Ishtar, Electra, and Sibyl for Velma).

** This trope takes its title from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', where that CatchPhrase changed unassuming Prince Adam into his titular alter-ego. In ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfHeMan'' it was changed to "By the power of Eternia..." In one episode of the original series, where he ventures to Orko's planet, where everything seems to work backwards (e.g. Orko's magic works correctly, and Adam's flame-throwing wrist gun spits out water instead), he had to recite the whole phrase backwards ("Grayskull of power the by!") to transform (he didn't transform when he said the phrase as normal early in the episode, then figured it out after some observing and analysis). There is also the much less known power-''down'' phrase (used once each in the 1980s series and [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2002 the 2000s series]]) that is "Let the power return!"

* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'', BunglingInventor Gyro Gearloose programs the Gizmoduck suit to be activated by the phrase "blatherskite", chosen for its obscurity and because Scrooge told him to pick a nonsense word, so [[LiteralMinded he went with an obscure synonym for "nonsense"]]. [[LittleDidIKnow Little did he know]] that "blathering blatherskite" was the CatchPhrase of mild-mannered accountant Fenton Crackshell, and indeed, Fenton first dons the suit by complete accident, saying his catchphrase while standing too close to the suit. From then on, Fenton always exclaims, "Blathering blatherskite!" when summoning the suit, never realizing that he only needs to say the second half. In another episode, Launchpad starts using the expression, leading to some SecretIdentity close calls. And in a later episode, the suit somehow shrinks in the wash... and its activation word (somehow) becomes "blab".

* ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'': Captain Marvel's "Shazam!". Along with Cap, the entire Marvel Family uses this magic transformation word. (Except for Captain Marvel Jr., who uses "Captain Marvel!", making him possibly the only superhero who cannot introduce himself[[note]]Aside from [[ComicBook/TheInhumans Black Bolt]] for [[MakeMeWannaShout different]] [[PowerIncontinence reasons]][[/note]]) The Captain Marvel villain IBAC changes back and forth from his identity by saying his own "super" name, as does Junior's villain Sabbac.

** ''Anime/YuGiOhVRAINS'' has the protagonist shouts "Deck, Set! Into the VRAINS!" while inserting their cards inside their Duel Disk to enter Link VRAINS and undergo change in appearance. In case they were already set beforehand or the person uses a newer type, the "Deck, Set!" part was omitted.

* In ''LightNovel/IsThisAZombie'' Ayumu and Haruna transform into a Masou Shoujo their keyword is, Nomobuyo, Oshi, Hashitawa, Dokeda, Gunmicha, De, Ribura." [[note]]"I'm Lovely and Charming but I Summon Death" in reversed Japanese.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/ShantaeAndThePiratesCurse'': "Hey guys, we should go get matching purses! No reason they should just be for ladies anymore! Am I right, hey fellas don't leave, fellas come baaaaaack!"

** [[WebVideo/SailorMoonAbridged this]] counts: "I call upon the powers of Zeus himself, infuse me with your heavenly thunder, which is actually lightning, but no one seems to notice. ''[[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pika-chuuu!]]''"

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesKuroNoKiseki'' has “Shadow Release, Take the Grendel!”[[note]]Written as “Shadow Release! Clad the Nightmare!”[[/note]] everytime Van has to adorn his Grendel form. Though in this case it was Mare who says this instead of the protagonist because ''she'' is the one who initiate the sequence. The sequel has “Shard Erosion! Boot the Grendel!”[[note]]“Shadow Erosion! Stain with Nightmare!”[[/note]] for Grendel Zolga triggered by Altera, [[spoiler:who is actually the corrupted Lapis]].