Transformer

2007-08-29T02:07:55Z

124.185.240.254: /* The Arts */

[[Image:Bumblebeeg1.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], a Transformer, transforming. Savvy?]]

'''The Transformers''' are a species of [[wikipedia:sentience|sentient]], living robotic beings (mostly) originating from the distant machine world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The stories of their lives, their histories, and most especially their wars have been chronicled across many different [[Continuity|Continuities]] in the vast [[Multiverse]].

The designation "Transformer" stems from the species' generally-shared ability to [[Transformation|"transform,"]], to change their bodies at will, rearranging their component parts from a robotic primary mode (usually, but not always, humanoid) into an alternate form; generally vehicles, weapons, machinery, or animals. In some continuities this ability to transform is innate to all members of the species, in others it was a wartime innovation that was adopted by most, but not all, of the populance.

Although "Transformer" is the most common term for these beings there are others, mainly "'''Cybertron'''" as a reference to ''any'' being whose origin traces back to the planet in question (the adjective form being the more frequently used "'''Cybertronian'''").

==Origin==

The origin of the Transformers species differs according to continuity, and not all continuities have given the race a specific stated origin at all, but of those that exist the most prominent are:

* '''[[Atechnogenesis]]''' - Spontaneous evolution from "naturally occurring gears and pulleys" on Cybertron's surface. This rather questionable origin was given in the first [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Comic]] and then promptly (and thankfully) ignored.

* '''[[Quintesson|Quintesson made]]''' - Created as consumer goods and military hardware by the alien Quintessons. This was the origin given for the Transformers in the original Generation 1 cartoon. Though well known because of the cartoon's prominence it has been given relatively little attention in subsequent media.

* '''[[Primus|Primus created]]''' - Created by the god-like "Lord of the Light" Primus to carry on his age old battle with the "dark god" [[Unicron]]. This origin sprang from [[Simon Furman]]'s UK comics and then carried back to the later US Marvel books. It is also the origin that has been embraced and adopted by pretty much every Transformers work/continuity since then. A [[retcon]] created by the Transformers [[Universe]] and [[Fun Publications]] [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] comics and related fiction has unilaterally applied the Primus and Unicron backstory to 'all' Transformers continuities in the Multiverse, past and future. How this works in light of the original cartoon's Quintesson backstory has not been explained.

==Biology==

===Physical construction===
[[Image:Spark.gif|left|100px|thumb|Sparks retail for $29.95 at [http://www.sharperimage.com/ Sharper Image]]]

Traditionally, Transformers are living, sentient, emotional, and fully-mechanical beings. Many continuities portray Transformer "life" as being granted by a soul-like [[spark]] residing within their mechanical frames.

The [[Generation 2]] comic books established that Transformers possess both "genetic material" (useful when [[Reproduction|"budding"]]) and a distinct cellular structure, assumably both of a somehow mechanical nature.
[[Image:G1Bw.gif|right|250px|thumb|Original, or extra-fleshy.]]
By the [[Beast Era]] of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]] synthetic flesh had become increasingly incorporated into their construction, often to aid in disguise or survival on worlds inhabited by organic lifeforms. (A version of this technology had been introduced earlier with [[Pretender]] Transformers, though in that instance the synthetic flesh was a removable outer "shell").

In the era of ''[[Beast Machines]]'', events lead to true organics being infused into Transformers biology down to the cellular level, making them "[[technorganic]]" with an increased range of powers resulting. (The "[[ParasiTech]]" technology introduced in the Generation-1-based [[Kiss-Player]] series seems to have an organic component to it as well.)

Being mechanical creatures, Transformers possess a number of distinct mechanical parts that make up their anatomy. For a list see: [[:Category:Transformer_anatomy|Transformers Anatomy]].

Transformers are also known to be suffer from the following diseases:[[:Category:Diseases|Transformers Diseases]].

First generation Transformers shared the same computational matrix as [[Vector Sigma]] making their power source compatible with the mega computer. Such Transformers are thus capable of reactivating the sleeping computer intelligence. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

===Size===

[[Image:BigSmall.gif|thumb|130px|right|Unicron is quite big, Browning is quite small. The contrast scares this poor little boy something mighty.]] Transformers are ''generally'' large in comparison to Earth lifeforms, (two or three times the height of a human seems to be about average, though depictions vary wildly even for the same character), but a Transformer can be much, much smaller or much, much larger. There are some small enough to fit in a human's palm (see [[Browning]] and the [[Real Gear Robots]]). While the [[Micromaster]]s and [[Mini-Con]]s are two groups whose size range is within normal human standards at a time when most Transformers are larger. Human-sized appears to be the norm for Transformers altogether in the Beast Era.

The upper range of size can be a good deal larger, if you include planet-formers like [[Unicron]] and [[Primus]] or even the colossal city-bots [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] or [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (the latter's gigantism depending on the continuity). In the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series, the planet [[Gigantion]] is populated by both extremes: robots who tower over "normal"-sized Transformers, aided by their tiny Mini-Con partners.

===Variance in form===

[[Image:Ravageboxart.jpg|left|thumb|100px|A classic example of a non-humanoid Transformer]]
While many Transformers possess a "humanoid" form with two arms, two legs and a head atop their torso, it is not uncommon at all for there to be extensive variations. Some Transformers do not have a "humanoid" mode at all, rather their "primary" form is that of an animal or vehicle. [[Generation 1]]'s [[Ravage]], [[Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]], for example, or the ''Beast Wars'' [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]].

[[Image:Scorponok-Annual.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Unconventional limbs make Scorponok a slow typist.]]

Some have unconventional limbs, their hands (or whole arm) replaced with tools, claws, weapons, or some other form of manipulator (like a beast-mode's head!). Some Transformers' lower bodies feature digitigrade legs, or wheels/treads instead of feet, or no discernible separate legs at all. Some even have more (or less!) than the normal number of limbs altogether. This design style became much more common in the Beast Era (''Beast Wars'' [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and ''Beast Machines'' [[Thrust]], for example), and is also common among the Mini-Cons, but Generation 1 is not without its examples (like [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and [[Octus]]).

[[Image:MCA-ElitaOne.jpg|thumb|left|50px|Elita 1 - Boys 0]]

Transformers' faces also run the gamut of design, from looking like a metal human in a helmet, to faces that can only be described as robotic (again, like Generation 1 Shockwave, whose face consists of little more than a single glowing eye) or animalistic (again, the Beast Era). The Mini-Cons are also notable for more commonly having non-humanoid faces.

The existence and appearance of [[Female Transformers]] in most continuities seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism to the species as well (the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see [[Reproduction]] for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as more graceful of form and more rounded and curved in general, often with a more than passing resemblance to an attractive metal human female wearing armor and kibble. There are rare exceptions to this rule (notably [[Strika]] and [[Discharge]], though the latter is said to be wearing armor that obscures her true appearance.)

===Energy===

[[Image:EnergonCubesCartoon1.jpg |right|100px|thumb|Energon - the food, drink, and primary currency of Cybertron. (It's like if chocolate coins had a valid exchange rate...)]] Unlike humans who need air and water as well as food, generally the Transformer's only major biological need to assure their continued functioning is fuel (though again, even this can vary depending on the fiction).

[[Energon]] is the most common and preferred form of Transformer fuel, but other alternatives may be substituted if it is unavailable.

In the Marvel Comics Earth fuel needed to be treated with a special additive (invented by [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]) to be made usable by Transformer life. In the Cartoon, on the other hand, human energy sources were converted into energon simply by being condensed inside Energon Cubes.

In the original cartoon the [[Insecticons]] alone among Transformers seemed to be able to fuel themselves by ingesting organic matter, but by the Beast Era, the abillity to ingest organic substances to supplement their fuel needs seems more comonplace.

The [[Action Master]] line introduced a new type of Transformer fuel called [[Nucleon]] which was extremely powerful but prone to unpredictable and destructive side-effects.

===New bodies===

It is not uncommon at all for a single Transformer to change body form many times across their life-span. The ease of which they can do so depends on the continuity's technology level. In some, changing bodies requires an extensive full-body rebuild and tends to be resource draining and even dangerous. Sometimes, however, all it takes it to transplant their brain or personality program into a compatible new body. Other times, the existing body itself will be "reformatted" on the spot using a scan of a local compatible alt-mode (this is most prevalent during the [[Unicron Trilogy]] AND [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] material).

While not entirely 'new bodies' themselves, the [[Transmetal]] bodies - caused by exposure to a [[Transwarp]] quantum surge - somehow 'mutated' the bodies of Transformers in the Beast Era. How this was done on-the-fly with no harm to the Transformer is unknown.

===See also===
For more information on Transformer biology see:

* '''[[Life cycle]]'''

* '''[[Reproduction]]'''

==Culture==
Regardless of continuity, the most distinctive facet of Transformers society has been its near-continuous state of planetary Civil War. The two major factions in these wars are the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s. The conflict is mostly defined by what each faction believes is the "destiny" of the Transformers: the Autobots believe in a peaceful society where Cybertron is a place of culture and justice, while the Decepticons believe in a "might makes right" philosophy where Cybertron would be the center of a [[Decepticon Empire|mighty empire]]. The fact that the vast majority of what we know about Transformers has been shaped by this constant, corrosive warfare should not be overlooked. What a theoretical Transformer society would be like in peacetime is mostly unknown, glimpsed mainly during its disintegration into war or via brief flashbacks and asides. That said, there are some things we do know.

===Sociology===
The Cybertronian society of wartime is portrayed as heavily polarized between Autobot and Decepticon. When there are neutrals they generally fare poorly, becoming victims of Decepticon abuse and destruction.

What little we know of the society before the war suggests it was stratified economically between "haves" (like the aristocratic [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]) and [[Empties|have-nots]]. Other facets of society were similarly Earth-like with [[Needlenose|fads and fashions]], [[Chromedome|schools]] and [[Crankcase|lousy jobs]], [[Rook (Universe)|news]] [[Slamdance|media]] and so on.

===Politics===
In many continuities Transformers seem to prefer a non-democratic autocratic government centered around a single powerful hero-leader called a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. In the Generation 1 cartoon continuity the Autobots determine this leadership by possession of the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]] which is passed from each leader to his chosen successor. The Decepticons however bow only to the supremacy of the most powerful.

In contrast, it should be noted that in the Marvel comic continuity possession of the Matrix does not denote political leadership as it was more of a religious icon or military leader. Here instead, Cybertron appears to have traditionally been governed by a [[Council of Autobot Elders|group of elders]], [[Emirates]] and a senate (how Senators and Emirates are chosen is unrevealed), all overseen by a Caesar-like [[Overlord (Autobot)|Overlord]]. The last of the Overlords passed away as the Great War was just beginning and the remaining government powers foundered for years before finally turning political authority and military leadership over to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].

===The Arts===
The Transformers have been shown to have a very active [[Transformers music|musical tradition]]. The [[Matrix]] itself has an archive of 11 million traditional Cybertronian songs. Many Transformers such as [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and Blaster have shown great interest in music and [[Squawkbox]] is one prominent example of a Cybertronian musician.

Furthermore, sculpture seems to be one of the primary art forms of Cybertron, with many Transformers dedicated to it. One notable (and gruesome) school of sculpture, practiced by a startling number of Transformers involves makin art out of the bodies of other Transformers. The [[Slogism]] movement is a part of this school.

Before the war Cybertron also featured many marvels of architecture. See: [[Crystal City]]

===See also===
For more information on Transformer culture see:

*'''[[Cybertron Civil Wars]]'''

*'''[[Religion]]'''

==Toys==
The Transformers were introduced by [[Hasbro]] in 1984 with the toyline now known as [[Generation 1]] and have gone through numerous incarnations since, with the latest being the tie-in [[Movie (toyline)|movie line]] .

[[Category:Transformers| ]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category: Transformer culture]]
[[Category: Biology]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

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Transformer