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Ratchet (Animated)

2009-04-07T22:41:33Z

67.10.236.249: /* Animated */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Ratchet}}
:''Ratchet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:AniRatchetPromoModel.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Rassa-frassa [[Sari Sumdac|KIDS]] with their [[Bumblebee (Animated)|loud music]] and their [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|rocket-powered axes]]...]]
Before the Great Wars, '''Ratchet''' was a civilian mechanic, and one of the best on all of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. But war is [[Pit|hell]], and Ratchet learned that all too well. It left him bitter and cynical. After the war, he got himself placed in a dead end position of repairing [[Space bridge|space bridges]], seeing it as a chance to get away from what he had experienced. And in his experience, "hero" is another word for casualty, because that's what most of the heroes ended up being. Still, he knows one when he sees it, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] definitely is one.

His main "weapons" are two electromagnets that can extend from his forearms. With them, he can move metal-based objects, levitate downward from high heights, manipulate or tear apart metallic objects in midair, or create magnetic shields. More recently, he won his [[electromagnetic pulse]] generator back from [[Lockdown]] the bounty hunter, a device capable of knocking out a [[Transformer]].

He enjoys grumbling about almost everything, being sarcastic, and having war flashbacks, just like any old man.

But he's not [[Kup]].

Honestly.

{{bigquote|Young bots—can't live with 'em, can't melt 'em down for spare parts.|Ratchet, grumbling and moaning|"[[Transform and Roll Out!]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon continuity===
{{ongoing}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[Corey Burton]] (English), [[Horst Lampe]] (German), [[Dariusz Stach]] (Polish)

{{note|Events from [[IDW Publishing]] comics are in italics}}
''Millions of years ago, Ratchet arrived at [[Hydrax Plateau]] looking for survivors of a Decepticon chemical attack, which had slaughtered soldiers from both sides. The only survivor was a Decepticon named [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]]. Against orders, Ratchet tried to save his life. Oil Slick, however, revealed he had the formula for an antidote to the chemical, known to the grunts as "[[Cosmic Rust (disease)|cosmic rust"]], but he lacked the equipment to create it. Ratchet warily agreed to help, and as they worked, tried to learn a little bit more about who was fighting. Once the cure was complete, Ratchet used it on Oil Slick, who promptly revealed he had created the cosmic rust, didn't care if his own soldiers got killed, and infected Ratchet before driving off. However, Ratchet had managed to snag some of the antidote, so he used a little on himself and took the rest back to headquarters for mass production, regretfully realizing he'd learned a little bit about a good deception that day.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 3}}

[[Image:Ratchetanimatedthrill.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Before the gut.]]
Some time later, Ratchet was sent by [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] on a wartime mission to recover Autobot intelligence officer [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]], who was carrying important security codes in her memory core. Shortly after he found her, the pair were captured by the [[Decepticon]]-affiliated bounty hunter [[Lockdown]]. The hunter made a habit of collecting the powers of defeated enemies as trophies and did so with Ratchet's medical EMP device. Before he could attach it, Arcee was able to pass the device to Ratchet, and she begged him to use it on her to wipe the codes and preserve their safety. In the ensuing skirmish with Lockdown, the device accidentally produced a wider blast, erasing Arcee's entire memory. Ratchet would have flashbacks of the incident for centuries to come. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

During a routine repair assignment with Optimus Prime's crew, Ratchet was with the group when they found the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]]. His first reaction upon seeing it was to urge the others to throw it through the space bridge. However, events soon overtook them when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] arrived and tried to claim the AllSpark. The Autobots took their ship through the space bridge, where Prime defeated Megatron, and the crew was forced to go into stasis to avoid injury in a crash-landing on [[Earth]].

Awakening fifty years later, the Autobots went to help battle a renegade nanomachine construct, while Ratchet studied a specimen of the construct on the ship. Learning that it was vulnerable in its command centers, Ratchet sent a kill program to the Autobots to place in the monster. His program worked.

Ratchet had the most difficulty getting used to Earth's customs, as the humans kept interrupting his stasis naps to put parking tickets on him. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out!}} To make things more complicated, those annoying camera bots followed the Autobots everywhere. Always watching, waiting... {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}}

To Ratchet's horrified disbelief, Lockdown appeared on Earth and captured Optimus Prime, intending to hand him over to the vengeful remaining Decepticons for the bounty offered against him. The Autobots attempted a rescue, with Ratchet initially absent due to haunting flashbacks over his last encounter with the bounty hunter. He was forced to intervene after Lockdown eliminated [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]. Ratchet was able to free his commanding officer and retrieve his EMP device, using it to send Lockdown's ship crashing back to Earth. After reinstalling Prime's stolen gadgets, the veteran finally opened up to the younger soldier. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

When the Decepticons [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and [[Lugnut]] arrived on Earth, the Autobots were quickly bested by the duo. Prime realized that the AllSpark was no longer safe on the planet and decided that they should leave Earth and return to Cybertron. [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] was not pleased by this, but Ratchet's response was a gruff, "Grow up". When Optimus asked Sari to help, Ratchet was displeased with the thought of working with a "[[protoform]]", but Optimus silenced them by making it an order. Once aboard the Autobots' ship, Sari accidentally opened an airlock, nearly flooding the hold, then admitted that she had tried to sabotage the ship, not wanting them to leave. In a moment of empathy, Ratchet told her the Autobots didn't want to leave either, but they had to, or else the Decepticons would wipe out the humans, including Sari, and Ratchet couldn't live with himself if that happened. With the help of a now-willing Sari, Ratchet brought the ship's weapons back online, defeating Lugnut and Blitzwing. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}}

[[Image:Megatron Rising 1 Ratchet Blitzwing Key.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hey! I'm still using that!]]
After receiving a report on increased Decepticon activity from [[Teletran 1]], Optimus ordered Ratchet to remove the [[Key]] from Sari's possession forcibly, as it was no longer safe in the hands of a [[Human|dumb stubby]]. Ratchet was hesitant to take the object from the girl, but followed his superior's orders with a gruff, professional "Yessir." After Sari fled the base in tears, Optimus then told Ratchet to take the Key to the Autobots' ship, under [[Lake Erie]], in order to protect the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] from the Decepticons. Unfortunately, the medibot was intercepted by Blitzwing and Lugnut, who demanded that he hand over the Key. He stoically refused, challenging them to take it from his "cold, offline servo." Icy Blitzwing complied by blasting Ratchet and the surrounding scenery with an ice beam. He switched to Random Blitzwing, made a smart remark, and wrenched the Key (and the arm holding it) from Ratchet.

Despite this handicap, the mechanic was able to break free from his icy prison, report the Key's theft to Optimus, single-handedly bring the ship online (pun intended), and still participate later in the [[Megatron Rising - Part 2|final battle]] against [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] and his forces. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

While helping to dispose of garbage in the city, Ratchet's crotchety attitude became such a problem that Optimus asked Sari and Bumblebee to help him work on developing a more positive attitude. His experience in helping a [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|young]] [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|couple]] who were in the process of making a protoform did not help with his attitude, and things got even worse when some trash-toting nuisance named [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] came along, spouting that he was an Autobot. Telling the newly sentient [[Transformer]] that he was only good for garbage, Ratchet unwittingly inspired him to deliver garbage to the people of Detroit. Unfortunately, Wreck-Gar also had a sample of [[Sumdac Systems]]' new and improved nanobots, designed to disintegrate garbage. Fearing what the AllSpark-infused nanites might do, Ratchet apologized to Wreck-Gar, saying that the befuddled newcomer could be whatever he wanted, including a hero. Wreck-Gar did become a hero—after he vacuumed up the microbots, they exploded, causing Wreck-Gar to fall into the river. Ratchet assumed he was dead. When [[Porter C. Powell]] said that Ratchet had ruined his presentation, Ratchet forced him and [[Mayor Edsel]] to make a compromise by threatening to have them join Wreck-Gar in the river. They came to an agreement, and Ratchet assumed that the bystanders were cheering for him, leaving him with the assumption that he ''did'' have people skills. {{storylink|Garbage In, Garbage Out}}

When Bulkhead was kidnapped by Megatron, Bumblebee brought Autobot intelligence agent [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] to the plant, who revealed that Megatron was building a space bridge to conquer Cybertron from within. Realizing they'd need more firepower, Prime ordered Ratchet and Sari to get the ship operational. Unfortunately, their efforts failed to get it back online. Running out of time, Ratchet decided that they'd need to perform open [[spark]] surgery. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

After placing the remaining AllSpark fragments in the ship's spark core, Ratchet explained that the ship was once a living Autobot who sacrificed himself to help win the wars. Ratchet's gamble succeeded, and the ship was brought back to life. Getting it to the Decepticons' base, Ratchet and Sari provided enough power (and encouragement) to allow the ship to transform into [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]. Omega defeated the Decepticons, but sacrificed himself to save the Autobots by being sucked into a blind space bridge portal. Once the Autobots escaped, Ratchet was left to mourn Omega Supreme a second time, but Bulkhead was optimistic that he was still alive, somewhere out in space.

Unfortunately, any effort to locate Omega Supreme was put on hold when Sari noticed that the skin of her right arm had been torn...revealing robotic circuitry underneath! {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

===Titan Magazines===
He was the only person to realise the earthquakes plaguing Detroit couldn't be natural as it wasn't on a fault-line. He got to zap the villain responsible, [[Quake-Maker]], once everyone else had done all the hard work. {{storylink|Burnout|Burnout}}

Ratchet oversaw a mission to Dinobot Island with Sari, Bumblebee and [[Afterburn]], to investigate a Rage virus infection in the Dinobots. Soon after landing, the group were jumped by [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] and Ratchet was soon pinned; luckily, Sari reminded him of the magnetic powers he uses all the time, and he was able to get Snarl off.

The Dinobot had stolen his spare oil thermos in the process though and, wanting to see if Afterburn was really up to joining them, lied to his friends and told them a vital component had been ripped out and ''he was dying''. They risked their lives getting the thermos back on top of curing the Dinobots, and after hearing why they'd been made to do it, Afterburn shook Ratchet's hand for being an emotionally manipulative bastard. {{storylink|Ratchet & Grimlock Are DEAD?|Ratchet & Grimlock Are DEAD?}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
[[Image:Ratchetanimatedeluxe.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Gut doesn't fold down as well as it used to...]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories'': Hammer, wrench, screwdriver, can opener

: First shipping in Wave 2, Ratchet transforms into a stylized ambulance. In robot mode, his "magnets" are simulated by spring-loaded pieces in the underside of his forearms that flip up through his open hands. He also features a veritable arsenal of fixit tools that attach to the undeployed magnets to simulate him holding them, so you too can experience the glee of having the old coot savagely beat someone with a servo-wrench. These tools can store in his backpack in robot mode, but cannot be stored in his vehicle mode, a rare (but not unheard-of) instance of a toy made in the last decade with accessories that cannot be "stored" in all modes. Unless you're okay with the Vehicle Mode looking like the top was ripped open.

: Unfolding his toes in vehicle mode, however, reveals hollows in the soles of his feet that are small enough to hold the clips on the ends of the tools quite snugly, with room for all four. But then he looks like he stuffed all his tools in his back pockets, so hey.

: Notably, the "war wound" on his left forearm is actually a socket into which one may peg the EMP generator included with the deluxe [[Lockdown]] toy. Early releases of the Ratchet toy had the peg slightly too long, forcing the EMP to pop out of the socket. Later releases (basically most everything beyond the original "test market" release) had a shorter peg, allowing the EMP to clip in just fine.

: The original instruction sheet for this toy has an error in step 5, where it depicted the front wheels as staying immobile (i.e., the visible wheel isn't tinted orange), whereas in fact they are part of the front bumper assembly, and swing back in that step along with the bumper.

: This toy would later be [[Redeco|redecoed]] to make <a href="#Rescue" title="">"Rescue Ratchet"</a>.



[[Image:BumperBattlers Ratchet toy.JPG|right|250px|thumb|]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Bumper Battlers, 2008)

: An even ''more'' simplified version of Ratchet, the [[Bumper Battlers]] version also features a spring-loaded transformation from ambulance to robot. However, in this instance, when the front bumper of the ambulance mode is pushed in, the spring-loaded roof/sides of the vehicle flip up to reveal a relief of Ratchet's robot mode (complete with magnet-clamps), as well as activating electronic sound effects.

: Pressing his Autobot sigil activates numerous randomly-selected sound effects and original voice samples, including a very disturbing laugh.



*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (McDonald's Happy Meal Toy, 2008)

: A simple version of Ratchet with a very simple transformation sequence, this toy was (naturally) part of the McDonald's ''Transformers Animated'' Happy Meal promotion.



[[Image:Ratchetanimatedactivators.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Grampulance.]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Activators, 2008)

: A smaller, simpler version of Ratchet, the [[Activators]] Ratchet toy has a spring-loaded [[autotransform]] [[gimmick]] that springs him from ambulance mode to robot mode in one easy step.

: Pre-release samples of the toy (used for the stock photography seen on the packaging and in online solicitations) show Activators Ratchet to have an unbroken right crest on his head, contrary to his [[character model]]. The final released version of the toy has the broken crest as he should.

{{-}}


*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Multi-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories'': Hammer, wrench, screwdriver, can opener

: A Target-[[exclusive]] [[redeco]] of Deluxe Ratchet in a yellow and light gray. The photo of the toy on the back of the packaging shows a fairly obvious [[homage]] to the [[Movie (franchise)|live-action movie]] incarnation of [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], with bright green instead of yellow and movie-inspired zig-zagged stripes, but the toy-as-released is in yellow, using the same tampos as the original ''Animated'' deluxe. He comes in a set with two [[Legends of Cybertron|Legends-class]] figures, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. He retains all of his original toy's [[Gimmick|gimmickry]].

{{-}}

*'''Sunstorm VS Autobot Ratchet''' (multipack)

: Activators Ratchet packaged with Voyager [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] in a Target-exclusive multipack.

{{comingsoontoy}}

*'''Cybertron Mode Ratchet''' (Deluxe, not yet released)

A deluxe sized figure depicting his mode from "Transform And Roll Out!" and "The Thrill Of The Hunt." It will be coming in May.

==Trivia==
* The Autobot medical officer was originally conceived as a female robot named [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]].[http://tformers.com/transformers-interview-transformers-animated/8992/news.html] Even after it was decided to make the character male later in development, he retained the name "Red Alert" until executive producer [[Sam Register]] was able to convince Hasbro that "Ratchet" was a more identifable name for the character. However, Ratchet's final design still carries influences from various [[Red Alert]] incarnations. In particular, [[Derrick Wyatt]] was inspired by the box art for [[Red Alert (G1)|G1 Red Alert's]] [[Red Alert (G1)|Binaltech Asterisk]] incarnation. [http://community.livejournal.com/tf_animated/271043.html#cutid1"]

*In "The Thrill of the Hunt", Ratchet declares that he's a "medi-bot, not a field commander"; it seems that "medi-bot" may in fact be his "model type". The series description sent out in the original [[Cartoon Network]] press release for ''Transformers Animated'' described Optimus Prime's crew as consisting of: ''... BULKHEAD a lovable, gentle-giant "strong-bot"; BUMBLEBEE a wise-cracking, over-eager "hyper-bot"; PROWL an instinctual, intense "ninja-bot"; and RATCHET a crusty, battle-hardened "medi-bot".''

* The "war wound" on his left arm (seen in his main picture, above) was briefly gone after "The Thrill of the Hunt", apparently representing the replacement of his arm-mounted EMP generator. However, it has since returned in several instances. The "real world" reason is probably the animators sticking to the original animation model. Within story context, he could be leaving off the EMP generator so he continues to remember (on behalf of [[Arcee (Animated)|those who can't]]) how he originally lost it.

* There is a potential contradiction between "[[The Thrill of the Hunt]]" and "[[The Arrival issue 3|Bots of Science]]", as both stories depict Ratchet's right-hand chevron being broken off - by Lockdown's haymaker in the former and Oil Slick's roundhouse in the latter. This could be a continuity error, or it could be the case that Ratchet had his chevron broken on one occasion, repaired it, and then after it was broken a ''second'' time he allowed it to remain broken. It would certainly appear that the comic story took place before the Lockdown encounter, since Ratchet still has his EMP generator in ''Bots of Science''. Curiously though, Ratchet's chevron is shown to already have some kind of crack or weld-line running across it prior to Oil Slick's kick, which could indicate that it was already on the verge of breaking.

* The toys of ''Animated'' Ratchet, [[Ratchet (G1)|Generation 1 Ratchet]] and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Movie Ratchet]] are caught in a web of cross-referencing [[Redeco|redecos]]:
** In 2008, the original Generation 1 Ratchet mold got a green redeco as "Ratchet Emergency Green" in obvious reference to his yellowy-green [[Ratchet (Movie)|movie cousin]].
** About the same time, two of movie Ratchet's toys got a red and white ambulance redeco as "Rescue Ratchet" to ape [[Ratchet (G1)|Generation 1 Ratchet]].
** ''Animated'' Ratchet, his original design already referencing both predecessors with Generation 1 Ratchet's chevron and coloring and movie Ratchet's squiggly EEG symbol, had a further homage to the latter with a yellow redeco as (another) "Rescue Ratchet". You'd think they'd all be too busy patching up wounded 'bots to get so much personal detailing done.

* He can pinch with his magnet-clamps.

* He has microscope lenses which can be activated in either eye.

* Seriously, he's not Kup.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/Ratchet/ratchet.htm Ratchet at TFU.info]

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Medics]]
[[Category:Elderly Transformers]]
[[Category:Toys with sound]]

Ratchet (Animated)

2009-04-07T22:41:07Z

67.10.236.249: /* Animated */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Ratchet}}
:''Ratchet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:AniRatchetPromoModel.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Rassa-frassa [[Sari Sumdac|KIDS]] with their [[Bumblebee (Animated)|loud music]] and their [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|rocket-powered axes]]...]]
Before the Great Wars, '''Ratchet''' was a civilian mechanic, and one of the best on all of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. But war is [[Pit|hell]], and Ratchet learned that all too well. It left him bitter and cynical. After the war, he got himself placed in a dead end position of repairing [[Space bridge|space bridges]], seeing it as a chance to get away from what he had experienced. And in his experience, "hero" is another word for casualty, because that's what most of the heroes ended up being. Still, he knows one when he sees it, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] definitely is one.

His main "weapons" are two electromagnets that can extend from his forearms. With them, he can move metal-based objects, levitate downward from high heights, manipulate or tear apart metallic objects in midair, or create magnetic shields. More recently, he won his [[electromagnetic pulse]] generator back from [[Lockdown]] the bounty hunter, a device capable of knocking out a [[Transformer]].

He enjoys grumbling about almost everything, being sarcastic, and having war flashbacks, just like any old man.

But he's not [[Kup]].

Honestly.

{{bigquote|Young bots—can't live with 'em, can't melt 'em down for spare parts.|Ratchet, grumbling and moaning|"[[Transform and Roll Out!]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon continuity===
{{ongoing}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[Corey Burton]] (English), [[Horst Lampe]] (German), [[Dariusz Stach]] (Polish)

{{note|Events from [[IDW Publishing]] comics are in italics}}
''Millions of years ago, Ratchet arrived at [[Hydrax Plateau]] looking for survivors of a Decepticon chemical attack, which had slaughtered soldiers from both sides. The only survivor was a Decepticon named [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]]. Against orders, Ratchet tried to save his life. Oil Slick, however, revealed he had the formula for an antidote to the chemical, known to the grunts as "[[Cosmic Rust (disease)|cosmic rust"]], but he lacked the equipment to create it. Ratchet warily agreed to help, and as they worked, tried to learn a little bit more about who was fighting. Once the cure was complete, Ratchet used it on Oil Slick, who promptly revealed he had created the cosmic rust, didn't care if his own soldiers got killed, and infected Ratchet before driving off. However, Ratchet had managed to snag some of the antidote, so he used a little on himself and took the rest back to headquarters for mass production, regretfully realizing he'd learned a little bit about a good deception that day.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 3}}

[[Image:Ratchetanimatedthrill.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Before the gut.]]
Some time later, Ratchet was sent by [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] on a wartime mission to recover Autobot intelligence officer [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]], who was carrying important security codes in her memory core. Shortly after he found her, the pair were captured by the [[Decepticon]]-affiliated bounty hunter [[Lockdown]]. The hunter made a habit of collecting the powers of defeated enemies as trophies and did so with Ratchet's medical EMP device. Before he could attach it, Arcee was able to pass the device to Ratchet, and she begged him to use it on her to wipe the codes and preserve their safety. In the ensuing skirmish with Lockdown, the device accidentally produced a wider blast, erasing Arcee's entire memory. Ratchet would have flashbacks of the incident for centuries to come. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

During a routine repair assignment with Optimus Prime's crew, Ratchet was with the group when they found the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]]. His first reaction upon seeing it was to urge the others to throw it through the space bridge. However, events soon overtook them when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] arrived and tried to claim the AllSpark. The Autobots took their ship through the space bridge, where Prime defeated Megatron, and the crew was forced to go into stasis to avoid injury in a crash-landing on [[Earth]].

Awakening fifty years later, the Autobots went to help battle a renegade nanomachine construct, while Ratchet studied a specimen of the construct on the ship. Learning that it was vulnerable in its command centers, Ratchet sent a kill program to the Autobots to place in the monster. His program worked.

Ratchet had the most difficulty getting used to Earth's customs, as the humans kept interrupting his stasis naps to put parking tickets on him. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out!}} To make things more complicated, those annoying camera bots followed the Autobots everywhere. Always watching, waiting... {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}}

To Ratchet's horrified disbelief, Lockdown appeared on Earth and captured Optimus Prime, intending to hand him over to the vengeful remaining Decepticons for the bounty offered against him. The Autobots attempted a rescue, with Ratchet initially absent due to haunting flashbacks over his last encounter with the bounty hunter. He was forced to intervene after Lockdown eliminated [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]. Ratchet was able to free his commanding officer and retrieve his EMP device, using it to send Lockdown's ship crashing back to Earth. After reinstalling Prime's stolen gadgets, the veteran finally opened up to the younger soldier. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

When the Decepticons [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and [[Lugnut]] arrived on Earth, the Autobots were quickly bested by the duo. Prime realized that the AllSpark was no longer safe on the planet and decided that they should leave Earth and return to Cybertron. [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] was not pleased by this, but Ratchet's response was a gruff, "Grow up". When Optimus asked Sari to help, Ratchet was displeased with the thought of working with a "[[protoform]]", but Optimus silenced them by making it an order. Once aboard the Autobots' ship, Sari accidentally opened an airlock, nearly flooding the hold, then admitted that she had tried to sabotage the ship, not wanting them to leave. In a moment of empathy, Ratchet told her the Autobots didn't want to leave either, but they had to, or else the Decepticons would wipe out the humans, including Sari, and Ratchet couldn't live with himself if that happened. With the help of a now-willing Sari, Ratchet brought the ship's weapons back online, defeating Lugnut and Blitzwing. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}}

[[Image:Megatron Rising 1 Ratchet Blitzwing Key.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hey! I'm still using that!]]
After receiving a report on increased Decepticon activity from [[Teletran 1]], Optimus ordered Ratchet to remove the [[Key]] from Sari's possession forcibly, as it was no longer safe in the hands of a [[Human|dumb stubby]]. Ratchet was hesitant to take the object from the girl, but followed his superior's orders with a gruff, professional "Yessir." After Sari fled the base in tears, Optimus then told Ratchet to take the Key to the Autobots' ship, under [[Lake Erie]], in order to protect the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] from the Decepticons. Unfortunately, the medibot was intercepted by Blitzwing and Lugnut, who demanded that he hand over the Key. He stoically refused, challenging them to take it from his "cold, offline servo." Icy Blitzwing complied by blasting Ratchet and the surrounding scenery with an ice beam. He switched to Random Blitzwing, made a smart remark, and wrenched the Key (and the arm holding it) from Ratchet.

Despite this handicap, the mechanic was able to break free from his icy prison, report the Key's theft to Optimus, single-handedly bring the ship online (pun intended), and still participate later in the [[Megatron Rising - Part 2|final battle]] against [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] and his forces. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

While helping to dispose of garbage in the city, Ratchet's crotchety attitude became such a problem that Optimus asked Sari and Bumblebee to help him work on developing a more positive attitude. His experience in helping a [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|young]] [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|couple]] who were in the process of making a protoform did not help with his attitude, and things got even worse when some trash-toting nuisance named [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] came along, spouting that he was an Autobot. Telling the newly sentient [[Transformer]] that he was only good for garbage, Ratchet unwittingly inspired him to deliver garbage to the people of Detroit. Unfortunately, Wreck-Gar also had a sample of [[Sumdac Systems]]' new and improved nanobots, designed to disintegrate garbage. Fearing what the AllSpark-infused nanites might do, Ratchet apologized to Wreck-Gar, saying that the befuddled newcomer could be whatever he wanted, including a hero. Wreck-Gar did become a hero—after he vacuumed up the microbots, they exploded, causing Wreck-Gar to fall into the river. Ratchet assumed he was dead. When [[Porter C. Powell]] said that Ratchet had ruined his presentation, Ratchet forced him and [[Mayor Edsel]] to make a compromise by threatening to have them join Wreck-Gar in the river. They came to an agreement, and Ratchet assumed that the bystanders were cheering for him, leaving him with the assumption that he ''did'' have people skills. {{storylink|Garbage In, Garbage Out}}

When Bulkhead was kidnapped by Megatron, Bumblebee brought Autobot intelligence agent [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] to the plant, who revealed that Megatron was building a space bridge to conquer Cybertron from within. Realizing they'd need more firepower, Prime ordered Ratchet and Sari to get the ship operational. Unfortunately, their efforts failed to get it back online. Running out of time, Ratchet decided that they'd need to perform open [[spark]] surgery. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

After placing the remaining AllSpark fragments in the ship's spark core, Ratchet explained that the ship was once a living Autobot who sacrificed himself to help win the wars. Ratchet's gamble succeeded, and the ship was brought back to life. Getting it to the Decepticons' base, Ratchet and Sari provided enough power (and encouragement) to allow the ship to transform into [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]. Omega defeated the Decepticons, but sacrificed himself to save the Autobots by being sucked into a blind space bridge portal. Once the Autobots escaped, Ratchet was left to mourn Omega Supreme a second time, but Bulkhead was optimistic that he was still alive, somewhere out in space.

Unfortunately, any effort to locate Omega Supreme was put on hold when Sari noticed that the skin of her right arm had been torn...revealing robotic circuitry underneath! {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

===Titan Magazines===
He was the only person to realise the earthquakes plaguing Detroit couldn't be natural as it wasn't on a fault-line. He got to zap the villain responsible, [[Quake-Maker]], once everyone else had done all the hard work. {{storylink|Burnout|Burnout}}

Ratchet oversaw a mission to Dinobot Island with Sari, Bumblebee and [[Afterburn]], to investigate a Rage virus infection in the Dinobots. Soon after landing, the group were jumped by [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] and Ratchet was soon pinned; luckily, Sari reminded him of the magnetic powers he uses all the time, and he was able to get Snarl off.

The Dinobot had stolen his spare oil thermos in the process though and, wanting to see if Afterburn was really up to joining them, lied to his friends and told them a vital component had been ripped out and ''he was dying''. They risked their lives getting the thermos back on top of curing the Dinobots, and after hearing why they'd been made to do it, Afterburn shook Ratchet's hand for being an emotionally manipulative bastard. {{storylink|Ratchet & Grimlock Are DEAD?|Ratchet & Grimlock Are DEAD?}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
[[Image:Ratchetanimatedeluxe.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Gut doesn't fold down as well as it used to...]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories'': Hammer, wrench, screwdriver, can opener

: First shipping in Wave 2, Ratchet transforms into a stylized ambulance. In robot mode, his "magnets" are simulated by spring-loaded pieces in the underside of his forearms that flip up through his open hands. He also features a veritable arsenal of fixit tools that attach to the undeployed magnets to simulate him holding them, so you too can experience the glee of having the old coot savagely beat someone with a servo-wrench. These tools can store in his backpack in robot mode, but cannot be stored in his vehicle mode, a rare (but not unheard-of) instance of a toy made in the last decade with accessories that cannot be "stored" in all modes. Unless you're okay with the Vehicle Mode looking like the top was ripped open.

: Unfolding his toes in vehicle mode, however, reveals hollows in the soles of his feet that are small enough to hold the clips on the ends of the tools quite snugly, with room for all four. But then he looks like he stuffed all his tools in his back pockets, so hey.

: Notably, the "war wound" on his left forearm is actually a socket into which one may peg the EMP generator included with the deluxe [[Lockdown]] toy. Early releases of the Ratchet toy had the peg slightly too long, forcing the EMP to pop out of the socket. Later releases (basically most everything beyond the original "test market" release) had a shorter peg, allowing the EMP to clip in just fine.

: The original instruction sheet for this toy has an error in step 5, where it depicted the front wheels as staying immobile (i.e., the visible wheel isn't tinted orange), whereas in fact they are part of the front bumper assembly, and swing back in that step along with the bumper.

: This toy would later be [[Redeco|redecoed]] to make <a href="#Rescue" title="">"Rescue Ratchet"</a>.



[[Image:BumperBattlers Ratchet toy.JPG|right|250px|thumb|]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Bumper Battlers, 2008)

: An even ''more'' simplified version of Ratchet, the [[Bumper Battlers]] version also features a spring-loaded transformation from ambulance to robot. However, in this instance, when the front bumper of the ambulance mode is pushed in, the spring-loaded roof/sides of the vehicle flip up to reveal a relief of Ratchet's robot mode (complete with magnet-clamps), as well as activating electronic sound effects.

: Pressing his Autobot sigil activates numerous randomly-selected sound effects and original voice samples, including a very disturbing laugh.



*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (McDonald's Happy Meal Toy, 2008)

: A simple version of Ratchet with a very simple transformation sequence, this toy was (naturally) part of the McDonald's ''Transformers Animated'' Happy Meal promotion.



[[Image:Ratchetanimatedactivators.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Grampulance.]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Activators, 2008)

: A smaller, simpler version of Ratchet, the [[Activators]] Ratchet toy has a spring-loaded [[autotransform]] [[gimmick]] that springs him from ambulance mode to robot mode in one easy step.

: Pre-release samples of the toy (used for the stock photography seen on the packaging and in online solicitations) show Activators Ratchet to have an unbroken right crest on his head, contrary to his [[character model]]. The final released version of the toy has the broken crest as he should.

{{-}}


*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Multi-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories'': Hammer, wrench, screwdriver, can opener

: A Target-[[exclusive]] [[redeco]] of Deluxe Ratchet in a yellow and light gray. The photo of the toy on the back of the packaging shows a fairly obvious [[homage]] to the [[Movie (franchise)|live-action movie]] incarnation of [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], with bright green instead of yellow and movie-inspired zig-zagged stripes, but the toy-as-released is in yellow, using the same tampos as the original ''Animated'' deluxe. He comes in a set with two [[Legends of Cybertron|Legends-class]] figures, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. He retains all of his original toy's [[Gimmick|gimmickry]].

{{-}}

*'''Sunstorm VS Autobot Ratchet''' (multipack)

: Activators Ratchet packaged with Voyager [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] in a Target-exclusive multipack.

{{comingsoontoy}}

*'''Cybertron Mode Ratchet''' (Deluxe, not yet released)

A deluxe sizecd figure depicting his mode from "Transform And Roll Out!" and "The Thrill Of The Hunt." It will be coming in May.

==Trivia==
* The Autobot medical officer was originally conceived as a female robot named [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]].[http://tformers.com/transformers-interview-transformers-animated/8992/news.html] Even after it was decided to make the character male later in development, he retained the name "Red Alert" until executive producer [[Sam Register]] was able to convince Hasbro that "Ratchet" was a more identifable name for the character. However, Ratchet's final design still carries influences from various [[Red Alert]] incarnations. In particular, [[Derrick Wyatt]] was inspired by the box art for [[Red Alert (G1)|G1 Red Alert's]] [[Red Alert (G1)|Binaltech Asterisk]] incarnation. [http://community.livejournal.com/tf_animated/271043.html#cutid1"]

*In "The Thrill of the Hunt", Ratchet declares that he's a "medi-bot, not a field commander"; it seems that "medi-bot" may in fact be his "model type". The series description sent out in the original [[Cartoon Network]] press release for ''Transformers Animated'' described Optimus Prime's crew as consisting of: ''... BULKHEAD a lovable, gentle-giant "strong-bot"; BUMBLEBEE a wise-cracking, over-eager "hyper-bot"; PROWL an instinctual, intense "ninja-bot"; and RATCHET a crusty, battle-hardened "medi-bot".''

* The "war wound" on his left arm (seen in his main picture, above) was briefly gone after "The Thrill of the Hunt", apparently representing the replacement of his arm-mounted EMP generator. However, it has since returned in several instances. The "real world" reason is probably the animators sticking to the original animation model. Within story context, he could be leaving off the EMP generator so he continues to remember (on behalf of [[Arcee (Animated)|those who can't]]) how he originally lost it.

* There is a potential contradiction between "[[The Thrill of the Hunt]]" and "[[The Arrival issue 3|Bots of Science]]", as both stories depict Ratchet's right-hand chevron being broken off - by Lockdown's haymaker in the former and Oil Slick's roundhouse in the latter. This could be a continuity error, or it could be the case that Ratchet had his chevron broken on one occasion, repaired it, and then after it was broken a ''second'' time he allowed it to remain broken. It would certainly appear that the comic story took place before the Lockdown encounter, since Ratchet still has his EMP generator in ''Bots of Science''. Curiously though, Ratchet's chevron is shown to already have some kind of crack or weld-line running across it prior to Oil Slick's kick, which could indicate that it was already on the verge of breaking.

* The toys of ''Animated'' Ratchet, [[Ratchet (G1)|Generation 1 Ratchet]] and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Movie Ratchet]] are caught in a web of cross-referencing [[Redeco|redecos]]:
** In 2008, the original Generation 1 Ratchet mold got a green redeco as "Ratchet Emergency Green" in obvious reference to his yellowy-green [[Ratchet (Movie)|movie cousin]].
** About the same time, two of movie Ratchet's toys got a red and white ambulance redeco as "Rescue Ratchet" to ape [[Ratchet (G1)|Generation 1 Ratchet]].
** ''Animated'' Ratchet, his original design already referencing both predecessors with Generation 1 Ratchet's chevron and coloring and movie Ratchet's squiggly EEG symbol, had a further homage to the latter with a yellow redeco as (another) "Rescue Ratchet". You'd think they'd all be too busy patching up wounded 'bots to get so much personal detailing done.

* He can pinch with his magnet-clamps.

* He has microscope lenses which can be activated in either eye.

* Seriously, he's not Kup.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/Ratchet/ratchet.htm Ratchet at TFU.info]

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Medics]]
[[Category:Elderly Transformers]]
[[Category:Toys with sound]]

Blackout (Animated)

2009-04-02T19:23:04Z

67.10.236.249: /* Animated */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Blackout}}
:''Blackout is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TranswarpedBlackout.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Not Shown: The fleeing US Army.]]
'''Blackout''' is a monstrous brute of titanic proportions. Larger than any other Decepticon, few have survived an encounter with this hulking behemoth and lived to tell the tale. But those who have survived have added his story to Decepticon lore, which tells of him as having single-handedly obliterated vast amounts of [[Omega Sentinel (Animated)|Omega Sentinels]], before finally falling himself at the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]]'s end.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Image:TransWarpedBlackoutAttacks.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Now to the server, I mean...Space Bridge.]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Bumper Robinson]] (English)

Blackout, along with the other members of [[Team Chaar]] assaulted a [[Space Bridge]] in an attempt to capture it and conquer [[Cybertron]]. During the battle, he descended from above, sending [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]] flying and disabling the Space Bridge with a massive shockwave. After being berated by [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] for his mistake, he apologized and reactivated the Space Bridge with another shockwave. Later, he retreated from the looming battle against the [[Elite Guard]] under the orders of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] and Strika. {{Storylink|TransWarped|TransWarped}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
*'''Blackout''' (Voyager, 2009)
Blackout will be released with Rodimus and Arcee.

{{comingsoontoy}}

[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]

Plasma dynamic thruster

2009-04-02T19:20:12Z

67.10.236.249: New page: A plasmadynamic thruster is a Space Bridge part that when activated alone, causes the victim to endlessly warp across space.

A plasmadynamic thruster is a Space Bridge part that when activated alone, causes the victim to endlessly warp across space.

Hot Shot (Animated)

2009-03-31T20:41:48Z

67.10.236.249:

{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshot Animated.jpg|thumb|right|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomer_Pyle,_U.S.M.C. "Well Gaaw-aawl-ly, Sarge!"]]]

'''Hot Shot''' is an Autobot under the command of [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]]. He is a young, inexperienced bot who lives for speed. His quick motion has led him to strive to live life in the fast lane. This usually lands him right in the middle of a battle, carelessly acting without thinking. As a <s>pyromaniac</s> pyrotechnician, his arms can convert into welding torches specialized for construction and repair. But, when duty calls, these tools also come in handy for barbecuing a bunch of no-good Decepti-creeps. Hot Shot transforms into a sports car.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
:'''Voice actor:''' [[Bill Fagerbakke]] (English), ??? (German)

[[Image:Hotshotanimatedfire.jpg|thumb|left|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_That_Ends_Well "ENIS!"]]]At [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]'s orders, Decepticons from hidden corners of the galaxy attacked [[Autobot]] [[Space Bridge]] terminals. One such terminal was guarded by [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]]'s team, which included Hot Shot. The terminal was under attack from Decepticons led by [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]], and despite Hot Shot's attempts to use his flamethrowers to vaporize her shots, one connected with his leg. He called for [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]], and after examining his busted leg, she told him it'd have to be amputated, but there was no need to worry! A new one would be delivered in 6-8 [[Units of time|solar cycles]]. She ignored his pleas for a second opinion. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

==Trivia==
* Hot Shot was part of the original treatment for ''Animated'', taking the main-character role that would eventually go to [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. But, well, what with that [[Transformers (2007)|mega-blockbuster live-action movie]] with a [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] in a starring role....

* Sadly, Hot Shot's appearance in season three was written long before any of the writers got a chance to read the [[JaAm]] comic.<ref>[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/11/and-my-other-desk-also-messy.html#c302580230653499383 Derrik J. Wyatt, replying to a comment on his blog.]</ref>

* ''Animated'' Hot Shot was designed by [[Irineo Maramba]], loosely based on head sketches by [[Derrick Wyatt]], with some help from [[Eric Siebenaler]].<ref>[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/12/marty-isenberg-interview.html Marty Isenberg Interview comments section.]</ref>

* Hot Shot makes [[User:ItsWalky|certain people]] very happy in the pants region.

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
[[Category: Animated characters]]
[[Category: Autobots]]

Wheeljack (Animated)

2009-03-31T20:36:38Z

67.10.236.249: /* Animated cartoon */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Wheeljack}}
:''Wheeljack is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:AnimatedWheeljack.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Today on Mythbusters: is it really possible to build a machine that builds machines that build catapults?]]
'''Wheeljack''' is a scientist working with the Autobot [[Ministry of Science]]. Skilled at solving engineering issues, he is frequently paired for special projects with the scientific wunderbot [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]].

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{ongoing}}
{{Note|Events from [[IDW Publishing]] comics are in italics}}

During the Great War, Wheeljack was present when [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] was activated. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

''After the orders came down from [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] to initiate operation [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]], Wheeljack put his nose to the grindstone to make sure the bodies of the test subjects would withstand the stresses of the data-merge of Decepticon flight codes. When asked about the dangers, he discussed the possibility that the test subjects would have increased size, strength, and an overwhelming desire to reduce Autobots to wreckage. He was kidding about that last part, he hoped. Thankfully with a bit of help from [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] to coordinate the data-merge, the process was a success, producing [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Rise of Safeguard|Rise of Safeguard}}''

[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Scientists]]