Saturn has only one transformation in the series and that is “Saturn Crystal Power! Make Up!” which transforms her into Super Sailorsaturn in Act 40 of the manga. After she gives her three companions their crystals, they run to help Venus and the other Senshi who are having difficulty fighting the Dark Moon Circus. There are no other scenes in the manga or anime in which Saturn transforms in a typical manner.

In both the manga and the anime, her initial transformation into Sailorsaturn takes place without a traditional invocation. In the manga she is summoned by the talismans glowing and she appears out of the darkness that was Mistress 9. In the anime she appears when Hotaru finally breaks free from Mistress 9’s control and Saturn’s symbol shatters and replaces the black star of the Death Busters. 9’s body disappears and Saturn materializes.

There is a video clip which shows Saturn’s henshin, but it is not from the series but from a Sega Saturn video game. Hotaru grasps her wand (which is also absent from the series) with her well manicured hand and invokes the transformation saying, “Saturn Planet Power! Make-up!” Purple light erupts from her wand and surrounds her body, quickly becoming her uniform. She twirls around a bit, showing off her beautiful black hair, than stands with her Silence Glaive before an image of planetary symbol for Saturn. It’s a fairly typical henshin, but nice in its own, simple way.

It is hardly surprising that Sailorsaturn has no anime henshin. She does not appear as a Sailor Senshi in most of the episodes and is absent from the day to day battles. In fact, Saturn only appears in major, final battles where there is little need for the filler henshin sequences represent. Still, it would be nice to see a series transformation, if only because it would mean seeing Sailorsaturn more often.

Too Black to be Dawn