History Main / HenshinHero

* ''WesternAnimation/AtomicPuppet'': Neither Joey nor AP have powers until they perform their FusionDance and become the eponymous superhero, as Joey is the only one who can unlock Captain Atomic's lost powers from his BalefulPolymorph.

* When the five main characters from ''WesternAnimation/SuperWhy'' are not transformed, they're normal kids and a dog without powers. Princess Pea does have her magic wand untransformed, but it doesn't seem to be capable of spelling to make things appear like it does as Princess Presto.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan'', the two organic heroes summon their PoweredArmor with a wrist mounted transformation device.

* The fairies from ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub''. They have some magic when un-transformed, but behave and look mostly like humans. Then, when is time for ass-kicking, they transform into full fairy form, where having fully functional wings is the least of their abilities. The show is a MagicalGirlWarrior series [[{{Animesque}} heavily influenced by maho-shojo anime]], and the main girls have their own set of StockFootage Sailor Moon-esque transformation sequence.

* [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]] is theoretically this; in human form Bruce Banner is just a regular guy (though fairly smart), while in Hulk form he's extremely strong and tough, but he's also ''really'' stupid (usually). Because the comic is called The Incredible Hulk instead of The Average Banner, he tends to spend about 90% of the time as the Hulk, with the writers before the 00s reverting him to human form to have him angst for a while. Since ComicBook/PlanetHulk and its follow up stories, [[SplitPersonalityTeam Banner has been given more control/a partnership with Hulk's personality that allows them to transform back and forth at will]], with Green Hulk taking on a more intelligent form of speech, making them more a classical version of the trope, though both still see each other as the "other guy" to some extent.

* ''Anime/PowerpuffGirlsZ'' gave this treatment to ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' with Hyper Blossom, Rolling Bubbles, and Powered Buttercup.

* In ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Manaketes]], [[LittleBitBeastly Lag]][[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent uz]], [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Wolfseggner]], {{Kitsune}}, and [[KillerRabbit Taguel]] all transform into animal forms for combat, and are unable to fight without transforming.

** ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverseRevelation'' establishes that this was the case for past Champions of Eternia as well. He-Man is unique because [[spoiler in the WarriorHeaven of Preternia, he chooses to be Prince Adam. That's just how much of a HumbleHero he is.]]

* In one novel of ''Radio/TheShadow'' it was declared that The Shadow had most of his powers (i.e. his ordinary powers) in any of his forms, including Lamont Cranston. However, only when fully garbed as The Shadow in his cloak and hat, could he "cloud men's minds".

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'', and its sequels ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'', ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'', and ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse''. Interestingly, Ben has multiple hero forms to choose from (10 initially, then he gets more forms as each series progresses).
** Oh so is the rest of the PowerTrio, the LoveInterest and plenty of bit characters as well. For example, [[EnergyBeing Gwen]], [[EnergyAbsorption Ke]][[ElementalShapeshifter vin]], [[PowerArmor Ju]][[EquippableAlly lie]].

* ''VideoGame/YsIXMonstrumNox'' has titular Monstrums. Upon bein hit by a magic bullet person gets an ability to transform into superpowered alter-ego, which is basically just them, but with ImpossiblyCoolClothes, [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair outlandish hair color]] and a minor case of RedRightHand. They also get a single superpower, like SuperStrength or WallRun, called "Gift", that they can share with other Monstrums. While exploring [[CityOfAdventure city of Balduq]], they constantly transform, using Monstrum forms for RoofHopping and normal identities for talking with civilians.

* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' is one of the best-known MagicalGirl-based examples of the trope. Young schoolgirl Usagi Tsukino discovers she's the reincarnation of the titular ancient lunar warrior from the Moon Kingdom and uses her newfound powers to protect Earth from the force s of evil. It also had a live-action adaptation called ''Series/PrettyGuardianSailorMoon'' from the folks behind ''Franchise/KamenRider'' and ''Franchise/SuperSentai''.

%%* The other [[ComicBook/CaptainMarVell Captain Marvel]] was one for awhile when he was bonded to Rick Jones.

%%* ''Manga/YuGiOh'': Yugi Muto, courtesy of his SuperPoweredAlterEgo. Without him, Yugi's basically helpless (at first).

* In ''VideoGame/KuroNoKiseki'', eleventh installment of ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'', some characters, including TheHero, can summon some kind of magical armor, complete with TransformationSequence. Que jokes that after [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel Erebonia's]] ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' we're going to play Calvard's ''Franchise/KamenRider''.

* The ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' series, in which fairies bestow their powers onto ordinary schoolgirls to battle monsters and save both their world and that of the fairies.

* This trope is also a staple of ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series, as well as their American ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' adaptations. Many Sentai needed {{Transformation Trinket}}s to do their stuff (the Power Morphers from ''Power Rangers'' being the biggest example.)
* ''Series/MetalHeroes'', being from the same folks behind ''Kamen Rider'' and ''Super Sentai'' and running from 1982 to 1999 (with some movie revivals in the 2010s).

* The eponymous WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong, who transforms into a dragon to battle monsters and supernatural creatures. Though some episodes shows that he ''can'' be [[BadassNormal a badass in human form]].

The Henshin Hero is a variation or subtrope of the {{Superhero]] in which super-powered characters only have their special powers some of the time. A Henshin Hero has distinct normal and powered "forms," and needs to actively switch between the two. In essence, the character's powers are all turned off while they are in their SecretIdentity.

The Henshin Hero is a variation or subtrope of the SuperHero in which super-powered characters only have their special powers some of the time. A Henshin Hero has distinct normal and powered "forms," and needs to actively switch between the two. In essence, the character's powers are all turned off while they are in their SecretIdentity.

* ''Advertising/MetroManners'': Super Kind is an ordinary transit rider who becomes a super hero (complete with costume and TransformationSequence) after saying a key phrase when she sees bad behavior on the Metro. She seems to have NewPowersAsThePlotDemands in order to combat Rude Dude.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Centurions}}'': A downplayed example. The Centurions fuse with their assault weapons by shouting "Power extreme!" and performing an X-pose, but have to call in the weapons to be beamed to them first. It's portrayed as InstantArmor in-universe, though a transformation sequence accompanies it in earlier episodes (but not always).

The Henshin Hero is a variation or subtrope of the SuperHero in which super-powered characters only have their special powers some of the time. A Henshin Hero has distinct normal and powered "forms," and needs to actively switch between the two. In essence, the character's powers are all turned off while they is in their SecretIdentity.