MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Brain Problem Situation

2025-05-18T12:53:40Z

Eyacorkett: /* Synopsis */

{{comicstory
|series=
|image=BrainProblemSituationAVP.jpg
|prev=
|next=
|caption=
|title="Brain Problem Situation"
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|date=[[September 30, 2015]]
|writer=[[Jim Sorenson]]
|illustrator=[[Christopher Colgin]]
|pagecount=
|price=
}}

'''Six mysterious travelers unexpectedly end up on Strata 22.'''

==Synopsis==
Twenty-one strata away from GoBotron, the peaceful [[Autobot]]s of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] begin experiencing planetary disasters. Their scientists identify it as a bizarre side effect of quantum harmonics, where a world called [[Moebius]] on another dimension is overwriting Cybertron's existence. A [[Sky Spy]] is sent through the Reality Bridge and observes the [[GoBot]]s of [[Gobotron|GoBotron]], very similar to the Autobots' own designs.

[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] chooses a team of "[[Spychanger|Spy Changers]]" to accompany him to Strata 22, with altered bodies designed to more easily blend in to the new surroundings. Once they arrive, however, their first encounter is with the overly-suspicious [[Guardian (GoBots)|Guardian]] called [[Turbo (GoBots)|Turbo]], who believes them to be a new group of [[Renegade]]s. A fight breaks out, and Turbo summons other Guardians to help him battle the Spy Changers. This catches the attention of [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]] and his Renegades, who arrive to aid the Spy Changers. The Renegades and Spy Changers escape together, but [[Bluestreak (G1)|Silverstreak]] is captured by the Guardians.

Cy-Kill attempts to manipulate the Autobots to his advantage, but Optimus Prime quickly recognizes his host's true nature. After learning about the Renegade bases on Moebius, he dispatches [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] to contact [[Leader-1 (GoBots)|Leader-1]] and form an alliance against the Renegades. Silverstreak has already explained the Spy Changers' mission to his captors, and Scooter and A.J. believe the Autobots' purpose is benevolent.

[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] discover the Renegade bases on Moebius are acting like a crude [[Dimensional Interfacer]], draining Cybertron for power across the dimensional barriers. They destroy the bases, and the Spy Changers and Guardians join forces against the Renegades. Once Cy-Kill is driven off, Leader-1 and Optimus Prime shake hands respectfully and the Spy Changers depart back to their home reality.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Guardian (GoBots)|Guardians]]
|c1=
* [[Turbo (GoBots)|Turbo]] (8)
* [[Ace (GoBots)|Ace]] (9)
* [[Hans-Cuff]] (10)
* [[Wrong Way]] (11)
* [[Royal-T]] (12)
* [[Good Knight]] (13)
* [[Bolt (GoBots)|Bolt]] (14)
* [[Heat Seeker (GoBots)|Heat Seeker]] (15)
* [[Leader-1 (GoBots)|Leader-1]] (23)
* [[Scooter (GoBots)|Scooter]] (24)

|h2=[[Renegade]]s
|c2=
* [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]] (16)
* [[Cop-Tur (GoBots)|Cop-Tur]] (17)
* [[Crasher (GoBots)|Crasher]] (18)
* [[Fitor (GoBots)|Fitor]] (19)
* [[Tank (GoBots)|Tank]] (20)
* [[Geeper-Creeper]] (21)

|h3=[[Autobot]]s
|c3=
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (4)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (5)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (6)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Silverstreak]] (7)

|h4=Others
|c4=
* [[Gog]] (22)
* [[A.J. Foster]] (25)
* [[Zebediah Braxis|Doctor Braxis]] (26)
}}

==Notes==
* Information about this story comes from [[Ask Vector Prime]] on September 30, 2015. The title of the story and cover art comes from a subsequent post on December 21.
* According to [[Vector Prime]], this story was virtually published in another reality where the ''Transformers'' franchise collapsed in the 1980s and ''GoBots'' became the decades-spanning media empire. Parallel to our own history, Fun Publications took over Go-Con in 2004, publishing exclusive ''GoBots'' magazines and fiction for Tonka as part of their collector's club. "Brain Problem Situation" is therefore that reality's inverted version of "[[Withered Hope]]", and shares many similarities. Notably, the story's "title page" by Christopher Colgin (see above) is a direct homage to one of the illustrations for "Withered Hope" by [[Matt Kuphaldt]] (specifically, the one seen at the top of TFWiki's article for "Withered Hope").

===Continuity notes===
* The ''[[Transformers: TransTech|TransTech]]'' universe numbering system indicates this reality is the same as the ''Challenge of the GoBots'' video game for the [[Commodore 64]].
* Other ''GoBots'' and ''Transformers'' terminology is revisited or inverted for this story. The [[Dimensional Interfacer]] and [[Sky Spy]] are referenced, while the Spy Changers cross over on a Reality Bridge (instead of the traditional [[space bridge]]) to "Strata 22", based on the "Level" terminology used in ''GoBots'' fiction in the past for other dimensions.
* The Autobot Spy Changers briefly took over the [[Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric]] broadcasts in July 2016. Fun Publications' final releases from December 31, 2016 indicated the Spy Changers would hop realities to the Renegade Rhetoric continuity for season 3 of that series, had it continued.

===Real-world references===
*The title of this story is taken from the {{w|They Might Be Giants}} song of the same name, in reference to the fact that "Withered Hope" was also named after a TMBG song.

[[Category:Generation 1 media]]
[[Category:GoBots media]]

The Transformers: The Movie

2025-03-02T11:48:07Z

Eyacorkett: /* Reception and box office */

{{disambig3|Transformers: The Movie}}
{{movie|
|seriess=[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]
|prev=B.O.T. (episode)
|next=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1
|seriess2=[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]
|prev2=Scramble City: Mobilization
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1
|title=''The Transformers: The Movie''
|image=Transformersanimatedfilmposter.jpg
|caption=A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....
|production code=4034
|production companies=[[Sunbow Productions]] [[Marvel Productions]]
|distributor=[[Dino De Laurentiis|De Laurentiis Entertainment Group]]
|executive producer=[[Tom Griffin]] [[Joe Bacal]]
|screenplay by=[[Ron Friedman]]
|directed by=[[Nelson Shin]]
|cinematography by=[[Masatoshi Fukui]]
|edited by=[[David Hankins]]
|music by=[[Vince DiCola]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|release date=[[August 8]], [[1986]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|runtime=85 minutes
|budget=$5–6 million
|box office=$2.6–5.8 million
|credits=The Transformers: The Movie/credits
}}
{{quote|Conceived in the epic tradition of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]''...|[[Victor Caroli]] ain't just whistling Dixie|[[The Transformers: The Movie promo|''The Transformers: The Movie'' promo]]}}

'''''The Transformers: The Movie''''' is an animated feature film based on the original ''Transformers'' toyline. It was released in the United States on Friday, August 8, 1986.

The film's storyline follows the same continuity as the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Transformers]]'' cartoon. It introduces a [[Scale|planet-sized Transformer]] called [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] who eats other planets, and is approaching [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. As part of their continuing wars, the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s have a [[Battle of Autobot City|fierce battle]] on [[Earth]] which sees both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] mortally wounded. Prime passes the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and dies, and Megatron is transformed by Unicron into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (briefly) assumes leadership of the Decepticons, but is killed when Galvatron arrives at Cybertron. Galvatron then chases the surviving Autobots on Earth across space, splitting them up and taking the Matrix. The Autobots find their way back to each other, and follow Galvatron to Cybertron just as Unicron transforms into [[robot mode]] and begins to eat their world. Travelling inside Unicron, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] recovers the Matrix, transforms into Rodimus Prime, and uses the Matrix to destroy Unicron.

Often referred to by fans simply as "the movie" or "TFTM", the movie was a step up in almost every area from the television series, with a more sophisticated plot, more serious treatment of war and violence, a hugely ambitious scope and a greatly increased animation budget with well-known celebrities providing voice work. For these reasons, the film remains very popular with children of the 1980s.

The film opens with characters who had been featured in the first two years of the toyline and associated media (cartoons, comic books, etc.), but quickly introduces new characters and kills many of the old ones to make room. Of particular note, Optimus Prime and Starscream are both destroyed during the course of the film.

{{quote|The Japanese have funded a full-length animated cartoon about the doings of these toys, which is all bad outer-space stuff. I play a planet. I menace somebody called Something-or-other. Then I'm destroyed. My plan to destroy Whoever-it-is is thwarted and I tear myself apart on the screen.|Orson Welles<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=KlqsYy512WIC&source=gbs_navlinks_s "Orson Welles: A Biography"] page 522</ref>}}

==Synopsis==
[[File:TFTM Unicron Lithone.jpg|left|thumb|That's no moon.]]
[[Unicron/Generation 1|A mechanical planet]] travels through the depths of space, attacking [[Lithone (planet)|a metal planet]] which has [[Lithone (species)|robotic inhabitants]]. Robots, vehicles, buildings, and even large chunks of rock are sucked off the surface and devoured by the monstrous planet.

It is the year [[2005]], and the [[Decepticon]]s are now in control of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The [[Autobot]]s are preparing to launch an assault to retake the planet from hidden bases on two of Cybertron's moons. The Autobots launch a [[Autobot shuttle|shuttle]] to pick up a final shipment of [[energon]] from [[Earth]] before they strike.

[[File:Tftm1986a.jpg|thumb|Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans. And bring me the passengers; I want them alive!]]
Plans for the attack are overheard by [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]], who reports back to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. The Decepticons attack the Autobot shuttle en route to Earth, wiping out its crew (including [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]). Using the Autobots' own shuttle, the Decepticons are able to get very close to the Autobots' base on Earth, [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], before they are detected, and begin a devastating surprise attack on the unprepared city.

During the [[Battle of Autobot City|battle at Autobot City]], both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and Megatron suffer mortal injuries, and a number of others are also killed. Eventually the Decepticons retreat, but the damage suffered by the Autobots is severe.

[[File:Tftm1986b.jpg|left|thumb|If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.]]
Shortly after the battle, Prime lies on his deathbed. He passes the reins of leadership to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and gives him the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. (Though [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] actually touches the Matrix before Magnus does.) Prime relates a prophecy: "One day, an Autobot shall rise from our ranks, and use the power of the Matrix to light our [[darkest hour]]." He then gives the oath, "[['Til all are one]]", and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|dies]]. This sequence of events is observed remotely by Unicron, the monstrous planet, who appears unusually concerned by the survival of the Matrix.

The Decepticons are making their escape aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], but are too heavy for him to get them all home under his own power. After putting the matter to a fair vote, the Decepticons decide to throw their injured members off the ship to better the chance of survival for the rest, including the mortally wounded Megatron. Too injured to save himself, Megatron is tossed out into space by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who claims leadership of the Decepticon army.

[[File:TFTM Starscream chucks Megatron.jpg|thumb|Into the garbage chute, flyboy.]]
Megatron and the other adrift Decepticons then encounter Unicron in interstellar space. Unicron offers to rebuild Megatron and his minions in exchange for their service. After some coercion on the planetoid's part, Megatron agrees, and is [[Reformatting|reformatted]] into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. The other Decepticons are turned into [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. Unicron provides them with a [[Revenge (G1)|ship]], and sends them to kill Ultra Magnus and destroy the Matrix, stating that the Matrix is the only thing which can stand in his way.

[[File:Tftm1986c.jpg|left|thumb|Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed.]]
Galvatron first stops at Cybertron to take his revenge by killing Starscream and reclaiming leadership of the Decepticons. Almost immediately afterwards, Unicron arrives in Cybertron's vicinity and devours at least two moons—both of the Autobots' moon bases are destroyed. Under coercion by Unicron, Galvatron finally heads to Earth to kill Ultra Magnus, but Magnus and the other surviving Autobots flee in a pair of shuttles. Eventually Galvatron manages to cause one shuttle to crash on yet another metal planet ([[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]]), and detonates the other with a volley of missiles. However, the Autobots in the second shuttle escape unnoticed by separating the front portion of their shuttle just before impact.

The Autobots in the crashed shuttle, Hot Rod, [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], find themselves separated and in a hostile environment. Hot Rod and Kup battle a [[Sea squid|giant squid]], are captured by a pack of [[Allicon]]s and taken before a [[Quintesson]] [[Quintesson#Judges|judge]] and his court. While being held there, they learn the name and nature of Unicron from [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]], a survivor of the planet destroyed in the opening of the film, which he calls [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]]. Meanwhile, the Dinobots encounter and befriend a young, wild Autobot named [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] who has been living alone on Quintessa. Together, they crash the trial just as Hot Rod and Kup are fighting losing odds against the Quintessons' [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]]. The tide is turned, and the Autobots commandeer a [[Quintesson Cruiser]].

[[File:Tftm1986d.jpg|thumb|What an incredible smell you've discovered!]]
The other group of Autobots has landed on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to make repairs, but are attacked yet again by Galvatron, who was tipped off to their survival by Unicron. During the battle, Ultra Magnus tries to open the Matrix to use its power, but is unable to do so, and instead is killed. Galvatron absconds with the Matrix, taking it away to Unicron. The remaining Autobots—[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]]'s son [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]]—are then ambushed by [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], the eponymous natives of Junkion, who are also giant transforming robots. This battle is cut short, however, by the arrival of Hot Rod's group in their Quintesson ship. After exchanging the [[universal greeting]] they all make friends, and the Junkions restore Ultra Magnus to life. Together, the whole group travels to Cybertron to try to recover the Matrix and destroy Unicron.

[[File:TFTM Unicron smashes cybertron.jpg|thumb|left|Rebel base in range. You may fire when ready.]]
Galvatron attempts to open the Matrix to use its power against Unicron and force his master into submission, but is unable to open it. Unicron, not pleased with this attempted treachery, shocks Galvatron by transforming from a planet into a [[Scale|planet-sized robot]]. Unicron plucks Galvatron off his chest and swallows him, Matrix and all, and then begins attacking Cybertron itself. [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]] scrambles the Decepticon forces to defend the planet, but they are ineffective against so large an enemy. Shortly the Autobots arrive from Junkion, and fly the Quintesson ship straight through Unicron's eye. This impact destroys the ship, and the Autobots fall out inside Unicron. Hot Rod, separated from the others, eventually runs into Galvatron. During their fight, Hot Rod gets his hands on the Matrix and hears Optimus's voice speak the words, "Arise, Rodimus Prime." Hot Rod grows in stature, adopts a much sterner demeanor, and quickly dispatches Galvatron by tossing him through Unicron's hull out into space. He then opens the Matrix, which fills Unicron with light and begins destroying him.

[[File:Tftm1986e.jpg|thumb|Use the Force, Luke.]]
In the meantime, the other Autobots inside Unicron have located some of their comrades from the moon bases who had been presumed dead, including [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and Daniel's father, Spike. The Autobots, including Rodimus, escape through Unicron's remaining eye just as he begins to fall apart and explode. The scene then immediately shifts to the surface of Cybertron, where—for unclear reasons—the Autobots seem to be in charge again. Rodimus predicts an era of peace and prosperity, and the film closes with a shot of Unicron's severed head still floating in orbit around Cybertron.

[['Til all are one]].
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]] ([[Judd Nelson]])
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] ([[Robert Stack]])
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] ([[Lionel Stander]])
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] ([[Susan Blu]])
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] ([[John Moschitta]])
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] ([[Gregg Berger]])
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] ([[Paul Eiding]])
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] ([[Buster Jones]])
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (Neil Ross)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (Peter Cullen)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (Michael Bell)<ref group="fc" name="crednolines">Credited and appeared, but had no speaking lines.</ref>
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] ([[Scatman Crothers]])
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] ([[Dan Gilvezan]])
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] ([[Casey Kasem]])
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] ([[Corey Burton]])
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] ([[Don Messick]])<ref group="fc" name="creduncertain">Credited, but may or may not have appeared through an animation error.</ref>
*[[Auto-combatant]] (Frank Welker)
*[[Eject (G1)|Eject]]
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]]
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]]
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]<ref group="fc" name="crednoapp">Credited, but did not appear.</ref> ([[Walker Edmiston]])
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (Frank Welker)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] ([[Leonard Nimoy]])
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] ([[Chris Latta]])
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] ([[Roger C. Carmel]])
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] ([[Stan Jones]])
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (Frank Welker)
*[[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]] ([[Arthur Burghardt]])
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (Michael Bell)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (Neil Ross)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (Neil Ross)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (Don Messick)<ref group="fc" name="appearnocredit">Appeared and had speaking lines, but not credited.</ref>
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] ([[Hal Rayle]])
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] ([[Clive Revill]])
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] ([[Jack Angel]])
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]] (Corey Burton)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] ([[Bud Davis]])<ref group="fc" name="crednolines"/>
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] ([[Ed Gilbert]])
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (Frank Welker)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (Frank Welker)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (Chris Latta)<ref group="fc" name="appearnocredit">Appeared and had speaking lines, but not credited.</ref>
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (Frank Welker)<ref group="fc" name="appearnocredit">Appeared and had speaking lines, but not credited.</ref>
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]]
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]
*[[Cyclonus's Armada]]
|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] ([[Eric Idle]])
*[[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] (Bell)
*[[Scrapheap (G1)|Scrapheap]] (Welker)
*[[Rubbish]]
*[[Re-Cycle]]
*[[Trashbin]]
*[[HAZMAT]]
*[[Ashtray]]
*[[Wasteoid Gamma]]
*[[Greasestain]]
|h4=Others|c4=
'''[[Human]]s'''
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (Corey Burton)
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] ([[David Mendenhall]])

'''[[Lithone (species)|Lithones]]'''
*[[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] ([[Norman Alden|Norm Alden]])
*[[Arblus]]

'''[[Quintesson]]s'''
*[[Quintesson Prosecutor|Quintesson leader]] (Roger C. Carmel)
*[[Quintesson Judge]] ([[Regis Cordic]])
*[[Quintesson Executioner]]
*[[Quintesson Bailiff]]
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]]
*[[Allicon]]s

'''Other'''
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] ([[Orson Welles]])
|nonumbering=true
}}
<references group="fc"/>

==Quotes==
[[File:TFTM European intro.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.4|It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.]]
"Now all we need is a little energon and a lot of luck." 
"More than you imagine, Optimus Prime."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' tempt fate.

"Such heroic nonsense."
:—'''Megatron''' coldly finishes off Ironhide. The 'Cons always get the best lines.

"First, we crack the shell... then we crack the nuts inside."
:—'''Rumble''' bravely raids Autobot City.

"I've got better things to do tonight than die!"
:—'''Springer''', telling it like it is.

"One shall stand. One shall fall."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' uttering the most quoted line of the Movie. An ass kicker cometh.

"Why throw your life away so recklessly?" 
"That's a question you should ask yourself, Megatron." 
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''', about to engage in one last battle to the death.

"You, who are without mercy, now plead for it? I thought you were made of '''''sterner stuff'''''."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s trash talk is actually [http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/sterner-stuff a lot cooler than it sounds].

"I would have waited an eternity for this! It's over, Prime." 
"'''''NEVER!'''''"
:—'''Megatron''' is about to learn that a wounded '''Optimus Prime''' has enough strength left for one good hit.

"Until that day...'til all are one..."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''{{'}}s final words.

"Oh, how it ''pains'' me to do this." 
"Wait! I still function!" 
"Wanna ''bet''?"
:—'''Starscream''' fights back the tears as he throws '''Megatron''' out of Astrotrain.

"Soundwave superior, Constructicons inferior."
:—'''Soundwave''' insults the combiner team.

"I have summoned you here for a purpose." 
"Nobody summons Megatron!" 
"Then it pleases me to be the first."
:—'''Unicron''' shows '''Megatron''' who's the boss.

"Who disrupts my coronation?" 
"Coronation, Starscream? This is bad comedy." 
"Megatron? Is that you?" 
"Here's a hint!"
:—'''Galvatron''' drops "hints" for '''Starscream''' like others drop anvils.

"Oh shit! What are we gonna do now!"
:—'''Spike''' says the movie’s most infamous line.

"Kup and Hot Rod just bought it!" 
"I can't deal with that now!"
:—'''Springer''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' assess the situation.

"Did we ''have'' to let them detonate three quarters of the ship?" 
"Seeing as how they would have detonated ''four'' quarters, I think it was a good choice."
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Springer''', debating the launch of their emergency shuttle.

"Spare me this mockery of justice!"
:—'''Kranix''' is upset at being found innocent.

"You check in, but you don't check out."
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' making a reference to the tagline from the "Roach Motel." commercials

"For a time... I considered ''sparing'' your wretched little planet Cybertron. But now... you shall witness... its ''dismemberment''!"
:—'''Unicron''' really needs to work on his anger management skills...

"Destiny... You cannot... destroy... my... destiny!"
:—'''Unicron'''{{'}}s final words.

"Let this mark the end of the Cybertronian Wars as we march forward into a new era of peace and happiness! 'Til all are one!" 
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' announces the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]...for now.

==Season 5==
When ''The Movie'' was broadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it was broken into 5 parts (designated "Days") and given new bookending segments with original story material.

===Day One===
[[File:TommyPrimeSeason5BumperMovie.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|You just watch yourself. We're wanted men. I have the death sentence on twelve systems.]]
[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] meets up with [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] in the barren wasteland and Prime is concerned with the black eye and many bruises Tommy is sporting. Tommy explains that some "big guys" at school tried to rough him up (and by all visual evidence, succeeded). Tommy asks Prime if he'd ever faced any "big guys" in his many adventures and Prime decides to tell him about the time he faced the "biggest guy" of them all, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]...

Optimus leaves off at the point during the [[Battle of Autobot City]] when Megatron broke their defenses to let the slaughter begin. Optimus gruesomely teases his own death scene to a very confused and concerned Tommy, but reassures him that until he can be revived as a Powermaster, the Matrix must be passed on to someone else who is worthy. Tommy wants to hear all about it, but Optimus doesn't have the time. Apparently, he needs to meet up with [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] and help him [[Space bridge technician|repair]] the [[Space bridge]]. Tommy asks if he can tag along and Optimus tells him that if he can lift one of their two-ton screwdrivers, he can even help. They summarily blast off into space.
{{-}}

===Day Two===
[[File:PrimeExplodingMemoryChip.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|I've lost R2!]]
Tommy and Optimus meet up in the barren wasteland, though Prime isn't sure what Tommy wants. Tommy reminds him that he promised to tell him more about Unicron and Prime concedes that he's been having trouble with his memory chip, lately. Tommy tells him all about the Battle of Autobot City, but none of it rings a bell for Optimus. Prime asks Tommy to open up an access panel in the back of his head and check the circuit. Tommy repairs the circuit, jogging Prime's memory...

Prime leaves off at the point where [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] are eaten by Unicron. Tommy demands to hear more of the story, but Prime's memory chip explodes and smoke pours from the side of his head. All he sees are brief flashes of the further adventures of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and the rest. The furthest he can see, though, is the "death" of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] when his shuttle is blown up by [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. Tommy expresses discontent, citing that the Autobots are "too cool to die". Prime says he knows there's more to the story, but with his faulty memory chip, he can't access the details. Tommy insists they get his chip fixed and so they blast off into space to do just that.
{{-}}

===Day Three===
[[File:TommyKennedyTraumatized.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|I can't even see. How am I supposed to fight?]]
Tommy finishes the repairs on Prime's memory chip, much to Prime's relief. Tommy asks Prime to test it out by continuing his story about the battle against Unicron. Prime indulges Tommy's request...

Prime leaves off at the point where [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] and Hot Rod are taken to the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] pits and watch as the survivors of [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]] are executed. Tommy begs Prime to stop, claiming that the story thus far is too intense and depressing for him to handle. Prime asks if he wants to hear about how Kup and Hot Rod are fed to the Sharkticons, how the Autobots are menaced by "aliens made of junk" or how Ultra Magnus is blown to pieces by [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. Tommy suddenly changes his mind and demands to hear all the gory, macabre details. Prime sets Tommy back down in the barren wasteland and promises to return soon to transform his day into an adventure. He then blasts off into space.
{{-}}

===Day Four===
[[File:PrimeTommyStopMotion.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|If there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the planet it's farthest from.]]
Tommy and Optimus meet up once again in the barren wasteland. Tommy asks why Prime is so late for their appointment and Prime confesses that [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] took a wrong turn on the way over. Prime wishes he hadn't let the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] fly the shuttle. Tommy asks if Prime has enough time to tell him more of the story and Prime assures him there's time enough...

Prime leaves off at the point where the Autobots team up with the [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]]s to battle Unicron. Tommy is incredulous, wondering what a bunch of aliens made of junk could possibly contribute to the battle against Unicron. Prime informs him that great adversities often bring out the best in people, citing Hot Rod as an example. Tommy begs to hear how the story ends, but Prime says that he must first take Grimlock to have his "brain circuits" upgraded. Setting Tommy down, Prime promises to be back soon to transform his day into an adventure. Then he blasts off into space.
{{-}}

===Day Five===
[[File:StanBushTheTouchMusicVideoRecordLabelNotes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|He made a fair move. Screaming about it won't help you.]]
Meeting again in the barren wasteland, Optimus asks Tommy if he's ready to hear the end of the story. Contrary to all the enthusiasm Tommy has shown during past storytimes, the human child laments that he's forgotten most of the tale thus far (offering the flimsy excuse that his lack of an electronic brain makes remembering so many details impossible). Prime gives him "a quick rundown" (that takes ''four minutes'') and then proceeds to finish the epic yarn...

Prime finishes the story with the destruction of Unicron, the ascension of Rodimus Prime and the exile of the Decepticons. Prime asks Tommy if he's satisfied, but Tommy just has more questions. Like what was up with the [[Quintesson]]s? Did they drop Grimlock on his head when he was a kid? And how did they ever bring Prime back to life? Prime tells Tommy to slow down. He has to attend an interstellar peace conference, but until he returns, he leaves Tommy with... [[The Touch|THE TOUCH!!!]]
{{--}}

==Production timeline==
* First script outline by Ron Friedman: revisions from 15th August 1984 to 19th September 1984
* [[The Transformers: The Movie (first draft)|First draft script]] by Ron Friedman: submitted November 12th 1984. Revised February 13th 1985.
* Reference photos of Powered Convoy toy designated as Ultra Magnus, provided to Ron Friedman: Taken 18th March 1985
* Second script outline by Ron Friedman: revised 28th March 1985
* [[The Transformers: The Movie (second draft)|Second draft script]] by Ron Friedman: completed 27th April 1985. Revised 2nd May 1985
* Model sheets approved 14th June 1985: Cyclonus, Galvatron (Marvel model with revised head), Hot Rod, Kranix (the pre-final model, can be seen with Granix name on it), Quintesson Judge (colour approved on 18th November 1985 by J. Bacal), Rodimus Prime, Scourge/Sweep, Sharkticon, Unicron robot mode, Wheelie, Wreck-gar
* Model sheets approved 24th June 1985: Ultra Magnus robot mode(first Powered Convoy version)
* Model sheets approved 2nd July 1985: Ultra Magnus (Initial Toei design. Colour revised on 20th July 1985)
* Model sheets approved 19th July 1985: Arblus robot mode, Spike (final model), Ultra Magnus vehicle mode(first Powered Convoy version)
* Model sheets approved 29th July 1985: Quintesson Prosecutor (a.k.a Quintesson leader. Approved by J. Bacal on 18th December 1985)
* Model sheets approved 31st July 1985: Arblus spaceship mode
* Model sheets approved 6th September 1985: Rewind flip side of the cassette mode
* Dialogue recording (main sessions): 10th and 11th September 1985
* Model sheets approved 3rd October 1985: Rewind and Eject
* Model sheets approved 8th October 1985: Lithonian Scientist, Lithonian Woman no.1

* Storyboard sequence 1 (Attack on Lithone): Final 31st October 1985
* Storyboard sequence 2 (Title sequence): Final 31st December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 3 (2005): Final 31st October 1985
* Storyboard sequence 4 (More Than You Imagine): Final 31st October 1985. Revised Final 14th November 1985.
* Storyboard sequence 5 (Attack On The Shuttle): Final 31st October 1985
* Storyboard sequence 6 (Gone Fishin'/Dare): Final 4th November 1985. Revised Final 14th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 7 (Battle Of Autobot City, part 1): Final 14th November 1985. Revised Final 25th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 8 (Battle Of Autobot City, part 2): Final 31st October 1985. Revised Final 14th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 9 (Death Of Optimus Prime): Final 7th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 10 (Witness To A Funeral): Final 7th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 11 (Contest For Leadership): Final 4th November 1985. Revised Final 13th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 12 (Transformation): Final 11th November 1985. Revised Final 26th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 13 (Coronation): Final 10th December 1985. Revised Final 18th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 14 (Destruction Of Moonbase One): Final 10th December 1985. Revised Final 19th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 15 (Escape): Final 16th December 1985. Revised Final 24th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 16 (Pursuit): Final 12th December 1985. Revised Final 26th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 17 (Nothin's Gonna Stand In Our Way): Final 11th November 1985. Revised Final 25th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 18 (Arrival On Junk): Final 12th November 1985. Revised Final 25th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 19 (Unwelcome Visitors): Final November 14th 1985. Revised Final 27th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 20 (The Matrix Survives): Final 12th November 1985. Revised Final 25th November 1985
* Storyboard sequence 21 (An Unexpected Friend): Final 18th December 1985. Revised Final 26th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 22 (Destruction Of Moonbase Two): Final 17th December 1985. Revised Final 26th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 23 (Ambush): Final 11th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 24 (Judgement/Rescue): Final 12th December 1985. Revised Final 26th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 25 (Another Leader Dies): Final 9th December 1985. Revised Final 26th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 26 (Unusual Allies): Final 19th December 1985. Revised Final 31st December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 27 (The Enemy Revealed): Final 12th December 1985. Revised Final 26th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 28 (Confrontation): Final 19th November 1985. Revised Final 6th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 29 (United Against The Enemy): Final 20th November 1985. Revised 4th December 1985. Revised Final 6th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 30 (In The Belly Of The Monster): Final 20th November 1985. Revised 3rd December 1985. Revised Final 6th December 1985
* Storyboard sequence 31 (Their Darkest Hour): Final 2nd December 1985. Revised 19th December 1985. Revised Final 31st December 1985

==Animation errors==
[[File:TFTM Unicron Small.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|We’re doomed.]]
*When Unicron is approaching Lithone at the start of the movie, at the line "Look, it's Unicron!", a [[Animation error#Sizing errors|cel stacking error]] results in Unicron's ring appearing in front of a building arch, [[Distribution|making Unicron look very tiny]] in that shot. In the next shot, it is clear that Unicron is several times larger than the entire planet of Lithone.
*The inside of one of the Lithonian ships being devoured by Unicron is visible for a couple of frames. The pilot of the ship appears to be Kranix, even though he apparently screams out Kranix's name, and Kranix appears later in the Quintesson prison.
*When Optimus Prime asks Jazz to report security status, it shows both Jazz and Cliffjumper. Cliffjumper is seen twiddling knobs above the actual drawn computer, as if a section was supposed to be present.
*Coloring errors:
**When the closeup of Cliffjumper doing his countdown is shown, his shoulders are blue (like his windows) instead of red.
**Scavenger's head is white instead of black as he ducks from Prowl's shot aboard the shuttle.
**Blaster's forehead is red instead of white after his "look out and shout!" line, and again after he returns to [[robot mode]].
**In the big lineup of firing Decepticons in Autobot City, Soundwave's cheek guards are blue instead of white.
**When Blaster asks Perceptor "What's shakin'?", a Dirge-colored Seeker flies by the window. However, it appears to be the standard Starscream/Thundercracker/Skywarp design, instead of having Dirge's unique wings.
**As Devastator lays into the walls, Shrapnel is white where he should be black.
**Megatron's pelvis is white instead of black as he gives the "let the slaughter begin!" order.
**When the Dinobots jump out of Optimus Prime's Shuttle, the shuttle is colored like the first shuttle, which Megatron boarded, instead of red-highlighted scheme of Prime's shuttle.
**When Prime says "No matter the cost", the shuttle is painted completely orange, when the front should have red and white highlights.
**In the shot of Decepticons running in Autobot City prior to them being crashed through by Optimus, Ramjet can be seen sporting Dirge's wings, albeit in red just like Ramjet's. Or maybe this is Dirge incorrectly painted in Ramjet's colours. Who knows?
**When Prime drives up behind the Decepticons, Blitzwing's helmet is purple instead of yellow. Prime's trailer is missing its Autobot symbol as well.
**After Megatron asks, "Why throw away your life so recklessly?", Optimus' left hand is colored red instead of blue when he replies "That's a question you should ask yourself, Megatron".
**The gun Megatron uses to fatally injure Optimus is blue and white for most of the shots it is seen in, but when Megatron screams "Fall! FALL!" while shooting Prime again, it is black.
**Prime's antennae are white as he tries to stand after knocking Megatron off the ledge.
**Starscream's whole nosecone, rather than just the canopy, is yellow as he looms over the fallen Megatron.
**In the shot of the Decepticons jettisoning Thundercracker, Skywarp and the Insecticons from Astrotrain, Ramjet and Dirge have their colours swapped.
**As Starscream prepares to toss Megatron out the door, Soundwave's eyes are painted white like his mask rather than red. (Maybe he was sleeping, his excuse for not stopping Starscream)
**Starscream's cockpit shell nearest his head is colored like a canopy rather than gray, as he nominates himself for leadership. Man, even the A-list animation team couldn't keep this straight.
**The red stripes on Starscream's wings are noticeably absent during most of the Coronation scene.
**When dragging Arcee into the shuttle and two shots later when flying into space Magnus's Shuttle has Blue highlights instead of Red.
**After Springer runs past him, Perceptor's gun changes from red to white for a few frames.
**When Cyclonus is strafing what appears via editing to be Hot Rod's shuttle, it has red highlights instead of blue.
**When Hot Rod's ship is being watched by Galvatron trailing smoke it has red highlights instead of blue.
**In the shot after Magnus announces that he cannot deal with that now, his ship has blue highlights instead of red.
**Shrapnel's lower legs are white when he lands on Junk, instead of black. Must be a side effect of being dead.
**When Hot Rod tells the Junkions the universal greeting, the Autobot insignia on his chest is colored black.
**After transforming, Unicron has all-white hands (instead of white with gold knuckles) and a white, rectangular chin (instead of the double-triangular chin with a goatee) he has later.
**As the Autobots fly through space after exiting Unicron's eye, Rodimus is painted in Ultra Magnus' colors (inverted).
*When the Decepticons blow a hole through the Autobot shuttle to get in, it is a clean break. However, Megatron is still shown ripping through random ship components to get in.
*When the Decepticons are killing the Autobot shuttle crew, there is one of the common Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker miscolors. Megatron transforms into gun mode and Starscream catches him, killing Brawn. When they cut back to the Decepticons, Starscream moves back to avoid the Autobots' fire, and a ''second'' Starscream is in front of the Constructicons without Megatron and is firing one of his arm rifles (this was probably meant to be Skywarp, as he flies into the shuttle and takes a seat at the controls once the Autobots are defeated). When they cut back to the Decepticons for the third time, Starscream has Megatron again and is finishing off the rest of the Autobots. In the shot of Starscream firing his own lasers, his wings are red instead of gray.
*When Brawn is shot, it can be seen for one frame that he is initially hit in the top of his chest. As he falls, the wound has moved to the front rounded part of his chest. Additionally, the wound changes from black to red for one frame.
*Per his standard cartoon appearance, Ratchet should have a [[Red Cross]] symbol on each shoulder. When he turns in his seat as Brawn is shot down, we can see one on his right shoulder, but when he stands to return fire on the Decepticons, the right shoulder's cross has vanished, and he's only got one on his left shoulder. Then, when he falls, the cross is missing from ''both'' shoulders.
*When the Decepticons fly to the shuttle's controls:
**All of the Autobots have changed positions from when they fell—Brawn is now on his back, for example, while Prowl is now face-down.
**Ironhide's chest is completely intact, despite having a bunch of holes blown in it.
**Prowl, who turned gray as he fell (evidently dead before he even hit the floor) seems to be back in his normal colors.
*The reflections of Hot Rod and Daniel in the lake rarely line up with where they should be.
*When Hot Rod catches a fish, it is barely the size of his finger. When he releases it, it's [[Scale|suddenly huge]].
*Hot Rod has at least two totally different transformation schemes during the course of the film.
*When Hot Rod begins to shoot at the hijacked Autobot shuttle, the yellow light on his forehead is misaligned.
*When Kup and several Autobots at the roadblock react to Hot Rod's attack on the hijacked Autobot shuttle, Bluestreak is represented by Prowl's [[Character model|animation model]], in Bluestreak's gray and black colors.
*Hound and Sunstreaker appear in Kup's group at the foot of Lookout Mountain as they observe Hot Rod firing on Ironhide's shuttle. Sunstreaker later appears as Optimus Prime's co-pilot when they arrive on Earth with the Dinobots, and is seen disembarking the shuttle along with Optimus Prime and Hound.
**In the movie's storyboard, only Hound is shown present with Kup during the roadblock scene. Sunstreaker's only appearance in the storyboard is when he exits the shuttle, meaning that his presence during the roadblock scene is purely an animation addition. Hound being in both places ''is'', however, an error in both the movie and the storyboard—''unless'', Optimus Prime and the Dinobots picked up Hound and Sunstreaker from Lookout Mountain enroute to Autobot City? Now there's an idea for the old [[Personal canon|headcanon]]!
**In a deleted scene from the storyboard that would've shown Hot Rod and Kup meeting up with Ultra Magnus inside Autobot City, Sideswipe is shown running alongside Wheeljack in the background. However, Sideswipe is mistakenly referred to as "Sunstreaker" in the script (how ''[[Sideswipe (G1)#Notes|ironic]]''). Whether this mislabelling had any bearing over Sunstreaker being present with the roadblock crew is anyone's guess.
[[File:ShockwaveBattleAutobotcity.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|We've picked up a new group of signals... enemy fighters heading your way.]]
*In a wide aerial shot of the city under attack, a Reflector flies by in Ironhide's color scheme. Shockwave also makes his only appearance in the battle; considering both his role as Cybertron's guardian and his absence from any other scenes during the battle, his presence is probably an animation error. Rumble also flies past, despite being inside Soundwave at this point.
*When Shrapnel and Kickback are eating the door, Shrapnel only has one antenna.
*A laser blast that should be behind Blaster is instead layered in front of him as he acknowledges Perceptor's orders.
[[File:TFTMRumbleFrenzytwored.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|[[FIRRIB|What]] about that [[R2-D2|blue one]]? We'll take that one.]]
*When [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] sends out his cassette troops, [[FIRRIB|Rumble is the same color as Frenzy]].
*Blaster first ejects what looks like Eject, who stays blue up until he gets to the edge of the screen. He then turns black like Rewind. Then Blaster ejects another blue cassette, which after about a second turns black. This one gets through half his transformation colored black, then turns blue for a split second then turns black again. Then, when the cassettes are fighting each other, Eject runs in from the left and jumps over Perceptor. And then he runs in from the left ''again'' to shoot Ravage.
*As Springer runs up to the launcher, Wheeljack's body is visible, but he's in the red, white and blue color scheme of Smokescreen - who, in the storyboards of this sequence, was intended to be the one lying there dead.
*While Springer and Arcee are trying to move the launcher into place, Springer's face is the same color as his helmet.
*During Devastator's combination sequence in Autobot City, his chest plate, portions of his pelvis, his forearms, and Bonecrusher's treads are all green. The chestplate and pelvis should be purple, as should Bonecrusher's treads (they're ''normally'' green when Bonecrusher is separate, but they turn purple when he combines), and his forearms should be black.
*For almost the entirety of his screen time during the battle in Autobot City, the "jet engine" on top of Devastator's chest plate is misinterpreted as a trapezoidal block. The only time it appears in its proper shape is when he high-kicks Grimlock. It appears as it should during the scuffle on Astrotrain.
*While Perceptor and Grapple are shooting, Swoop's lower half runs by in the foreground, long before the rest of him gets there.
*Prime's dramatic transformation sequence far outlasts the transformation sound that's supposed to go with it. It's also the wrong sound (ascending pitch) for his robot-to-vehicle transformation. His trailer is also missing the Autobot logo, which reappears for the rest of the scene.
*Prime is missing the transformation sound as he blasts back to robot mode.
*The gun Megatron fires uses the same sound effect as his fusion cannon.
*When Optimus Prime takes the Matrix out of his chest to give to Ultra Magnus, the animators forgot to remove the cel of the Matrix inside his chest, as it's still in there even as he's holding it in his hands. Since it's not supposed to be there, the luminous effect for the Matrix's core is missing from the duplicate in his chest, creating a visual trick that makes it look like Optimus might just have removed the core itself. (The [[Matrix of Leadership#Universe|''Universe'' comic]] would later use this error as a springboard to reconcile the visuals of Optimus's chest interior with their depiction in ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.)
*When Ultra Magnus accepts the Matrix, he's seen inserting it into his chest twice, or at best readjusting its "fit".
*As the other Decepticons prepare to push him out, Bombshell's chest is rendered as a shapeless gray mass, rather than with its yellow canopy.
*The voice that says, "Brothers! Don't!" is nowhere close to the voices of any of the five Decepticons shown getting thrown out of Astrotrain.
*When Megatron says "Nobody summons Megatron" his chest emblem is colored gray like his chest. It looks like it should have been painted as a darker shade of purple, as it's the shadowed section. But was painted gray instead.
[[File:TFTMStarscreamCoronationErrors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4| *''trumpet fanfare''*]]
*Even after the [[Battle of Autobot City]], characters who are supposedly dead continue to appear in crowd shots and battles. Shrapnel's role in the fight on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]] is the most noticeable (and he was called for by name in the original script), but Thundercracker, Skywarp and Kickback can all be seen at Starscream's coronation. The two jets are later seen again, flying into Unicron's mouth.
*In the establishing shot of Starscream's coronation, there are only five Constructicons (Bonecrusher had better things to do tonight) and they are miscolored as purple and white rather than their usual purple and green color scheme.
*Hook has two eyes instead of his normal visor as he looks around in confusion during the trumpet scene.
*An early establishing shot clearly shows Cybertron with two and ''only'' two moons in low orbit. Yet a third moon is visible right after Unicron finishes eating the two Autobot bases.
*When Galvatron introduces himself to the Coronation party, Soundwave's chest window is drawn far too small.
*When Galvatron says "Decepticons, to Earth!", aside from his mouth being partially open, his mouth doesn't move. I guess being reformatted by Unicron gives you the ability to talk without moving your mouth?
*In the scene where Bumblebee and Spike are in the [[Autobot frigate]] and escaping Moonbase Two's destruction, when the two are cheering after believing that Unicron has been destroyed, Bumblebee's on the left side of Spike's seat. However, after Spike expresses his "colorful" reaction to Unicron remaining completely unscathed, and when the frigate is about to get sucked into Unicron, Bumblebee is on the right side of Spike's seat.
*When Cyclonus is strafing the Autobot shuttle in space, he briefly flies offscreen, and during that time his laser blasts come from a point that in no way matches his flight path.
*During the wide shot of the Autobots in the crashed ship on Junk, Blurr's entire head is white. Also so is Daniels head, which is drawn as an indistinct incomplete circle.
*Daniel's lips don't purse when he whistles.
*Wreck-Gar's mouth doesn't move at all during his first lines, despite the camera pushing in all close on his face.
*The pistol Ultra Magnus fires uses the same sound effect as Optimus Prime's rifle.
*During the Junkion chase scene, Trashbin attacks Arcee. When she fights him off his motorcycle, his model is switched for Junkyard's when he falls down. And his head then flickers between colors when mounting Junkyard.
*When Grimlock gets kissed, his eyes are round instead of triangular.(Probably intentional expression)
*As Hot Rod falls off one of Unicron's inner spikes, his lower body isn't drawn in. It looks like it should be blocked by our view of the spike, but is layered above it instead.
*Hot Rod's missing his Autobot symbol as he regains his footing inside Unicron.
*As the Dinobots fly around Unicron, both his eyes are intact. (The left one had at this point been shattered.)
*The third smelting victim (who looks a lot like another Bumblebee) doesn't fall from the conveyor belt; he simply vanishes.

== Continuity errors ==
[[File:G1TFTM Snarl cameo.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4|He used to bulls-eye womp-rats in his T16 back home.]]

*The Dinobot [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] is mysteriously absent from almost the entire movie, even though the Dinobots as a group are featured prominently. Copies of the script which have come into fans' hands repeatedly list the Dinobots, but never make mention of Snarl by name. In fact, at one point the script refers to "the four Dinobots". Despite this, Snarl does appear in three very brief shots—in which at least one other Dinobot (Swoop in one, Sludge in another) is entirely absent. Hmm.
** On the other hand, the original production ''storyboards'' for the scene where Snarl first appears in the movie only mentions "the Dinobots", not a specific amount of them. Additionally, Snarl also seems to have been in the scene with Kup telling the Dinobots a story in at least ''one'' version of the film; the Japanese trailer for the movie has finished footage of this scene...but it's very different from the one in the film; the Dinobots are all in their robot modes, and Snarl is present in the scene instead of Slag. It's completely unknown why Snarl's appearance in this scene was cut.
*Also curiously absent are the 1985 Autobot cars and Mini-Vehicles, such as Inferno, Smokescreen, Cosmos, Warpath, etc. It would seem that these characters were available at the time of the movie:
**Perceptor and Blaster both debuted at the same time in the cartoon as the 1985 cars, and both play prominent roles in the movie.
**Grapple is [[:File:BattleAutobotCity.jpg|seen ''very'' briefly]] during the battle for Autobot City. Or maybe it's [[Hauler]].
**The 1985 Decepticons (Astrotrain, Dirge, etc.) appear in the film.
**[[:File:TFTM-SideswipeRedAlertTracks.jpg|Tracks]], [[:File:TFTM-RedAlertDown.jpg|Red Alert]] (who was shot in the back by the Constructicons; his gun is the one Megatron uses against Optimus), and Smokescreen (who was supposed to be the corpse in place of Wheeljack next to Windcharger, Wheeljack instead surviving the battle and being part of a scrapped Earth-based subplot) all appeared in storyboards but not the finished film.
*Devastator is treated as ''the'' ultimate threat, while in the cartoon, his role (and apparent power) was already being [[Starscream's Brigade|severely diminished]], presumably because several other combiners had been introduced. In story terms, the absence of these newer combiners, not to mention the mighty Omega Supreme, is inexplicable. In real-life terms, those characters didn't exist when the film commenced production. (The ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' adaptation shows Omega Supreme, Superion and Defensor guarding the Ark against an attack by Bruticus and Menasor, attempting to [[retcon]] the problem away.)
*Possibly the biggest example of the film's tonal shift from the cartoon, shots from firearms that would previously knock another character down at best have since become lethal, best demonstrated when Brawn and Prowl are each killed with a single shot by the Decepticons during the movie's first act.
[[File:Cyclonus armada tftf.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|We'll be safe enough once we make the jump into lightspeed.]]
*The existence of Cybertron's moons is contentious ''at best''.
**On the one hand, in numerous close and distant shots of the planet throughout the first two seasons, not a single moon was seen. Ever. Even after it got knocked out of Earth's orbit.
**On the other hand, Megatron ''does'' refer to Cybertron as "land of the metal moon" (note the singular) during "[[Microbots]]", suggesting otherwise. The fact that he was overenergized at the time and lost consciousness in mid-sentence - just before he ''might'' have specified a plural number of moons, (in)conveniently enough - makes it unclear just how much credence we should lend this statement.
**The movie promptly introduces two (possibly three) moons over the planet. In continuity terms, they must either have highly elliptical orbits with periapsides (points in their orbits that bring them closest to the planet) that just happened to coincide with the timeframe of the movie or they were constructed sometime after 1986.
*During the Battle of Autobot City, Starscream gets his leg caught. He shoots downward and gets away while screaming "My foot!", but it's his shin that's smoking while his foot looks fine. Later he kicks Megatron with the same foot. Shouldn't that hurt, according to him?
*So Ultra Magnus just happens to have a ready-made Matrix chamber installed in his chest cavity? Is this standard issue for all Autobots?
*The cartoon had already established that Astrotrain increases his size when he transforms to shuttle mode, being large enough to carry a pair of Decepticons in his cockpit. However, within the movie itself, his size is [[scale|noticeably inconsistent]]: When he leaves Autobot City, he's just large enough for the Decepticon army to cram themselves in; later, he's so huge that the Constructicons can quite comfortably form Devastator inside him. Perhaps he continued expanding when transforming from train to shuttle mode?
*Speaking of which, Astrotrain's entire body flips over when he transforms from train to space shuttle to escape from Autobot City. While ''we'' applaud the [[Show-accuracy|toy-accuracy]], the Decepticons inside probably didn't.
*The damage suffered by Skywarp, Thundercracker, and the Insecticons basically appears out of nowhere when it's time for them to be jettisoned. While Shrapnel and Kickback are shown taking a beating early on, they appear shiny and new later in the battle, as do the two Seekers.
*Soundwave is loyal enough to pick up a wounded Megatron and save him, but then votes "aye" to jettisoning the wounded Decepticons, and when Starscream goes to throw Megatron out, Soundwave doesn't try to intervene. He even tries to steal the leadership once Megatron is gone. The "loyalty" attribute that has pertained so strongly to Soundwave seems to be alienated from the character in this scene.
*The number of minions created by Unicron changes throughout the film, with more Sweeps appearing as the story progresses. A second Cyclonus ("Cyclonus, the warrior, and [[Cyclonus's Armada|his armada]]") is shown being created but disappears shortly thereafter. At least ''seven'' new characters are shown at one point, created from only ''six'' Decepticons thrown from the shuttle.
*How can the Constructicons blow on those trumpets? Only [[Hook (G1)|three]] [[Bonecrusher (G1)|of]] [[Mixmaster (G1)|them]] have mouths.
*Given his relative position, Starscream's single shot through the trumpets defies all geometry.
[[File:SSBQ.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." "Yes, I bet you have."]]
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is capable of reducing [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] to ashes with a single shot from his cannon mode. Though in later episodes Galvatron is shown blowing up even small ''[[Thrull|planets]]'' and being able to take down [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] with one shot from his cannon, his extraordinary killing power seems to be gone—like when he scores a direct hit in cannon mode on Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" and Magnus isn't especially hurt at all, or how a similar blast against Scourge in "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]" only leaves the latter temporarily incapacitated. [[Marvel Comics]] bios explain this by suggesting that Galvatron had nearly limitless power through Unicron... but then again, Galvatron himself claims to be "more powerful than ever" after Unicron is dead in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". [[To sell toys|Who knows.]]
*Why didn't the Autobots notice Unicron until he was within devouring distance of Cybertron's moons? Why doesn't Shockwave, who is ''on Cybertron,'' react until after Unicron has eaten these moons, transformed into a giant robot, and ''smashed his hand into the planet's surface?''
*Despite running out of energon goodies on Quintessa, Hot Rod has at least one to offer to the Junkions.
*How did Hot Rod and Kup know to fly from Quintessa to Junk?
[[File:TFTMStarscreamVsUnicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Let me see your identification.]]
*When the Decepticons on Cybertron launch a counterattack on Unicron, all three of the first-year Seekers are seen fighting alongside the Coneheads. Given that all three were either explicitly killed earlier in the movie (Starscream) or have been turned into Galvatron's troops by this point (Thundercracker and Skywarp), they're obviously not supposed to be ''around'' in these forms anymore; of course, they could also just be [[generic]]s reusing their colors...but, as noted above, Thundercracker and Skywarp ''also'' appear at Starscream's coronation.
*Daniel, who was just learning how to use his exo-suit, had to knock down the acid cover inside Unicron to save his loved ones. Why couldn't the more experienced Spike do the same with his suit from above? He had both of his arms free and a clear shot at the cover.
*It's not clear how Rodimus Prime (carrying two humans) and the other Autobots survived their jump out of Unicron's eye and their plunge towards the surface of Cybertron.
*It's also unclear just how the dozen or so Autobots (and one shipload of Junkions) managed to retake the whole planet of Cybertron. Did Unicron really wipe out ''that'' many Decepticons?
* Unicron's invincibility is extremely inconsistent; Moments before becoming Galvatron, Megatron creates visible damage to Unicron's horns simply by attempting to hold into something. Later, he doesn't suffer even a dent when one of Cybertron's moons is detonated in his mouth. Near the end, the Dinobots are capable of punching their way through his "skin", and Rodimus Prime just casually throws Galvatron into space through Unicron's side. Even without the Matrix, the small group of Autobots did pretty well against him.

===Not necessarily errors===
*Fans have noted throughout the years that Astrotrain, in his flight through zero-gravity space, should not have needed to "jettison some weight" in the literal sense. However, since the ejected Decepticons quickly fall behind Astrotrain instead of floating alongside him, he must still have been accelerating and thus would have needed to burn a greater amount of fuel in order to push a larger payload. Perhaps he should have said "jettison some ''mass''", but then again, just being a spaceship doesn't make him a rocket scientist.
*Springer escapes from Unicron's eye by transforming into helicopter mode and flying through outer space, where there shouldn't be an atmosphere for his rotors to provide lift. Maybe Unicron was still within Cybertron's atmosphere?

==Continuity notes==
*''The Transformers: The Movie'' has had a huge effect in shaping the mythos. Among the elements and characters which would reappear in many other iterations of ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' are:
**The notion that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has moons.
**The [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] as a physical object, rather than the computer program previously depicted in the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comics]]. Even the Marvel comics would eventually shoehorn this one in.
**[[Autobot City (disambiguation)|Autobot City]].
**[[Unicron]].
**The notion of [[Megatron (disambiguation)|Megatron]] becoming [[Galvatron (disambiguation)|Galvatron]].
**The idea of "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]" being a rank rather than simply a given name.
**[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|And it killed off Optimus Prime before it was cool]]!
*Cybertron's appearance in the post-titles establishing shot shows some major changes to the planet since our last look at it in Season 2. Many of the same buildings from the cartoon's stock image of the planet are there, but the giant pit near the planet's equator is mostly covered over, and the shredded portion of its southern hemisphere has been completely rebuilt.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Springer deploys a small flip-out twin laser from his wrist during the Autobot City battle.
**Arcee and Hot Rod both activate a long-distance scanner of some sort by lowering a red visor from under their helmets over their eyes.
**Megatron uses an "[[Lightsaber|Energy Dagger]]"<ref>[https://twitter.com/walruslaw/status/1204860124898181123 Reference sheets for various weapons used or planned for use in ''The Transformers: The Movie''] - TFRaw.com on Twitter</ref> during his one-on-one battle with Optimus Prime.
**Hot Rod uses a saw blade that extends from his retracted wrist.
**Blurr has the same kind of hooked welding tip used by various Autobots as far back as "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
**Arcee unleashes a nasty barbed post from her fender to fend off a Junkion.
**Grimlock shows the never-before seen ability to [[GoBots|shoot lasers from his fists]].
*'''[[The Revenge of Bruticus|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's <s>dead</s> almost dead!

==Real-world references and Easter eggs==
[[File:TFTMUnicronSkyscrapers.jpg|thumb|I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.]]
*When the inside of Unicron is shown after he devours Lithone, the "blinking energy" effect of Unicron's innards shows, for a split second, what appear to be several images of post-apocalyptic buildings. These images look to be recycled background paintings from ''{{w|Fist of the North Star (1986 film)|Fist of the North Star}}'', a film [[Toei Animation|Toei]] had animated the same year. Regardless of animation efficiency/corner-cutting, the flashing images of ruined civilizations are eerily appropriate for Unicron.
[[File:TFTM Sludge Devastator.jpg|thumb|Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them.]]
*When Sludge gets haymakered by Devastator, his eyes pop out of their sockets in ''{{w|Looney Tunes}}'' fashion.
*Kup's storytelling sequence aboard the shuttle is drawn from the novel ''{{w|Of Mice and Men}}'', complete with Grimlock in the Lenny role asking Kup to "tell Grimlock about petrorabbits again".
*The Junkions speak almost entirely in pop culture quotes and pastiches. Littered among the generic phrases like "operators are standing by!", "Film at eleven" and "eliminate even the toughest stains" are more specific references, such as:
**"Don't look behind door #2, Monty!" - a reference to the game show ''[[Let's Make a Deal]]'' and its host, [[Monty]] Hall.
**"Ger-ronny-doo-ron-ron-ronny-mo!" - both the famous "{{w|Geronimo (exclamation)|Geronimo!}}" war cry, and the 1963 hit "{{w|Da Doo Ron Ron}}".
**"You check in, but you don't check out" - a parody of the tagline for {{w|Roach Motel (insect trap)|Roach Motel}} insect traps.
**"Breep, drit, aw rootie!" - part of {{w|Tutti Frutti (song)|"Tutti Frutti, aw rooty!"}}, from the 1955 song.
**"Happy motoring!" - the slogan of gas company [[Esso]].
**"Kill the Grand Poobah!" - a {{w|Grand Poobah|satirical term}} originating from {{w|Gilbert and Sullivan}}'s ''{{w|The Mikado}}'', likely referencing its use as the title of leaders of pseudo-Masonic lodges in ''{{w|The Flintstones}}'' and ''{{w|Happy Days}}''.
[[File:Tftm rosencrantz-and-guildenstern.jpg|thumb|Easy? You call that ''easy!?'']]
*The Quintesson jail cell includes robot debris ''strongly'' resembling [[:File:Tftm rosencrantz-and-guildenstern.jpg#parts|several mobile suits]] from 1985 Japanese animation ''{{w|Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam}}''.
*''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects (yes, even the high-budget Movie uses them):
**The ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst noise is used extensively throughout the film, over and over and over, almost any time a Decepticon takes flight.

**[[Luke Skywalker]]'s deactivating [[lightsaber]] is used as the sound of the Quintesson ship's ramp extending.
**Clashing lightsabers are used as Unicron fires eye-blasts at the attacking Transformers.

**An igniting lightsaber is used as Rodimus opens the Matrix.
**An AT-AT foot stomp sound is heard as the Autobot shuttle crash lands on Junk.
**The whir of an AT-AT's leg hydraulics can be heard part way through Unicron's transformation.
*The ''[[Star Trek]]'' sliding door sound is used as Wreck-Gar pulls out his <s>iPhone</s> mini-TV.
*The sound used for the communicators on ''Star Trek'' is used when Daniel activates his blaster to save Spike.

==Adaptations==
*[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|A comic adaptation of the movie]] was published by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986, concurrently with the movie's theater run. It was based off a non-finalized version of the script, and differs in many details from the final film. Additionally, most of the major character models (and possibly their unedited original character write-ups) appear in issue #4 of the ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' series.
*[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|A storybook adaptation]] was released in the UK by [[Ladybird Books]].
*A four-part adaptation was released in 2006/2007 by [[IDW Publishing]], as part of the film's 20th anniversary celebration. It was titled ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' to differentiate it from the [[Michael Bay]] [[Transformers (film)|live-action film]]. Unlike its predecessor, it adheres rigidly to the script and plot of the finished movie.

==Soundtrack==
{{main|The Transformers: The Movie - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack}}

==Promotions==
*Early in the movie's production, a [[The Transformers: The Movie promo|promotional trailer]] was made to sell the project to potential investors.
*The movie was advertised on related 1986 toy packages via the [[Decipher the Decepticon]] Sweepstakes, which included a pack-in poster and contest.
*The movie was heavily advertised directly by TV [[commercial]]s, and tail-end segments on Transformer toy ads. Portions of its story were also retold in altered fashion by animation segments of commercials for the movie character toys, such as a spot showing Springer doing battle with Wreck-Gar.
*[[Ziploc]] sandwich bags featuring an iron-on patch in boxed to advertise the movie. Each box contained one of eight potential characters.

==In the comic continuity==
The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK comic]] made extensive use of the Movie as the basis for a series of stories involving the Transformers in the future. However, there are several differences between the events seen on screen and those referenced in the comic:

*The comic always dates the movie to [[2006]], following the date given in a treatment that was all [[Simon Furman]] had when he wrote "[[Target: 2006]]".
*In "Target: 2006", [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] states that he was previously "[[Life Spark]]".
*The Matrix is always called the "Creation Matrix" in the comic, a name that predates the "Matrix of Leadership" but which is now used for the same physical object.
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] both survive the events, both later appearing in "[[Space Pirates!]]" (set in [[2008]]).

In addition, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] definitely survives the attack by Unicron.

The US comic almost completely ignored the events of the Movie, though later in the run an alternative future is briefly shown in "[[Rhythms of Darkness!]]" and "[[A Savage Circle]]". In this timeline at least some of the events of the Movie took place such as the creation of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] from [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], which is dated to 2005, though [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s death was overlooked. [[Prowl (TM2)|Wouldn't be the first time. Or the last.]]
*The US version of the future story "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" implicitly has the events of the movie as part of its backstory. However, since the rest of the US series ignored the movie, this issue's place in the continuity is questionable.

==Edits==
Several English-language versions of the film exist, with the following differences in content from the American theatrical run:

*In some versions (notably the European version) the opening credits are replaced with a scrolling text ("''Star Wars'' style") which provides backstory.
*In some versions (notably the European version) the film ends with [[Victor Caroli|a narrator]] reassuring the audience that Optimus Prime will return.
*Instances of swearing in the film (there are two) were edited out; sometimes one, sometimes both. Those instances are: Spike yelling, "Oh shit, what are we gonna do now?" after the self-destructing Moon Base 2 fails to scratch Unicron, and Ultra Magnus growling, "Open, damn it, open!" while trying to open the Matrix to fend off Galvatron and the Sweeps on Junkion. The United Kingdom cinema version had the swearing included but, when it was released on VHS in the United Kingdom, Spike's line was cut ("damn" not being considered especially offensive in the UK). However it has been restored on all United Kingdom DVD releases.
*In some early FHE video releases, the shot of the Matrix falling out of Optimus Prime's hand and being caught by Hot Rod is edited so that it appears that Ultra Magnus simply takes the Matrix from Prime. Why this was done is not known, and the replay of the Hot Rod catch on Unicron's monitors was left intact.
*The original FHE video release of the film painted out all instances of Megatron's green-colored "bleeding" from the end of the battle of Autobot City up to his meeting with Unicron.
*Instead of DEG, the {{w|Rank Organisation|Rank Film}} "{{w|Gongman}}" appears before the British release of the film, as Rank were the United Kingdom distributors. Ironically, the DEG logo at the beginning uses the "Gongman" sounds, rather than its own fanfare, possibly due to a plastering mistake.

None of these edits significantly affect the story. They should not be confused with various other sequences which were changed before the film's final release:

*Originally, Ultra Magnus's "death sequence" on Junkion called for him to be lassoed and drawn and quartered by the Sweeps' energy beams, but this was deemed too graphic for audiences, hence the less disturbing "shot to death" sequence seen instead. There is evidence that the original sequence had been fully animated when the decision was made, however; the Sweeps still kept their solid energy lassos when they fire upon Magnus, and Magnus is seen visibly straining against what appears to be said lassos (edited out and replaced with laser fire) before exploding. This also explains why the Junkions only have to put his limbs back on to repair him.
*A number of other sequences were illustrated as [[storyboard]]s but dropped, presumably without ever being animated. Among them were:
**A short scene showing Ironhide piloting the Autobot shuttle through ''huge chunks of ice'' from the tail of a passing comet, explaining how the Decepticons caught them unawares. In response to a reprimand by Prowl who prickishly disapproves of Ironhide's piloting shenanigans, Ironhide exclaims, "I can sure as shootin' dodge a couple of ice chunks". When the Autobots are suddenly jolted by the Decepticon strike force as Megatron and his troops attempt to enter the shuttle, Ironhide tells the others on board, "That was no ice chunk...". Heroic nonsense ensues...
**An extended sequence with Hot Rod and Daniel outside the city.
**A sequence of Mirage blasting Bombshell and being fired on by Megatron.
**The Autobots finally bringing down Devastator with a barrage of missiles (and the Constructicons subsequently shooting Red Alert in the back).
**The Decepticons dogpiling Optimus Prime, explaining why he seems to be standing up just before his fight with Megatron, and no longer holding his rifle. According to storyboards, Prime gets bum-rushed by Blitzwing (who causes Prime to drop his gun), Starscream, Astrotrain, and Skywarp. While it is not clear how Prime defeated the first four hand-to-hand combatants, Dirge is later shown attempting one final sneak attack (and gets his can handed back to him) as Prime is talking to Megatron before the two leaders' final fight.
**Trailbreaker is shown dead among the wreckage of Autobot City as the Decepticons begin their retreat.
:Some of these concepts were in earlier versions of the script, and hence made it into the comic adaptation.
*Rumors have occasionally circulated in the fandom of additional animated footage that was dropped from the film, such as ultra-violent battle scenes.<ref>https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.transformers/c/B0ZMv7tdDMk?hl=en#8aee0b30765b2b4a</ref> No evidence has ever surfaced to back these claims; the only known edits of any storyline or character importance are those listed in this section.
:{{see|Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers#The Transformers: The Movie|Urban legends about ''The Transformers: The Movie''}}

==Reception and box office==
{{quote|''The Transformers'', in which Orson Welles plays a planet, is pure headache material. Target audience of cartoon-watchers also will probably find the film unintelligible, noisy and unoriginal. Boxoffice prospects are dismal.|2=[http://books.google.com/books?id=DHNZAAAAMAAJ&q=Hasbro+Transformers&dq=Hasbro+Transformers&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1983&as_maxm_is=12&as_maxy_is=2005&num=50&as_brr=0&cd=69 Variety's Film Reviews 1985-1986, Volume 19]}}

{{quote|Obnoxious animated feature about the title good guys, who defend the universe against an evil planet (which has a voice of its own... provided by Orson Welles.) That deafening rock score certainly doesn't help. Little more than a feature-length toy commercial.|Leonard Maltin, ''1987 Movie & Video Guide''}}

{{quote|While all this action may captivate young children, the animation is not spectacular enough to dazzle adults, and the Transformers have few truly human elements to lure parents along, even when their voices are supplied by well-known actors. |2=[http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/09/movies/screen-transformers-animation-for-children.html The New York Times]}}

{{quote|Transformers -- The Movie, a feature-length animated film inspired by the syndicated TV cartoon series inspired by the Hasbro toy imported from Japan, is utterly uninspired entertainment. |2=[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3CE8EA8D40CCA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM The Dallas Morning News]}}

{{quote|If you can swallow, without gagging, a large measure of sentimental and offensive religiosity - lines like "Do not grieve. Soon I will be one with the Matrix," whispered by a failing hunk of Autobot metal - then you have a better than even chance of leaving the theatre on your own two feet. |2=[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=01kiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W6gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2445,1286000&dq=transformers&hl=en The Montreal Gazette]}}

{{quote|Everything is poorly drawn and - when it's in focus - one dimensional. It is terribly hard to separate the robots from the backgrounds, and there is no easy way to tell the good guys from the bad guys. In an earlier movie based on the same sort of robot toys - "Go-Bots: The Battle of the Rock Lords" - the good guys were either white or colorful and the bad guys were dreary, and they had distinct personalities. Not this movie; everyone looks and sounds alike, except one pink robot who is a female good guy. Her tin voluptuousness makes her stand out. |2=[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kw4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OgMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6957,6334152&dq=transformers&hl=en The Toledo Blade]}}

{{quote|Even with an all-star cast doing the voice overs... and a rock music score, this is still nothing more than a ripoff of a successful toy line. |2=[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AYckAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dtsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4192,1494652&dq=transformers&hl=en The Palm Beach Post]}}

{{quote|The great animated villains, like the Wicked Queen in Disney's "Snow White," had motivations as compelling as any live-action character. Unicron apparently destroys entire worlds because it has nothing else to do. |2=[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/57996397.html?dids=57996397:57996397&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+8%2C+1986&author=CHARLES+SOLOMON&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=8&desc=%60THE+TRANSFORMERS%27%3A+STRETCHING+A+POINT The LA Times]}}

{{quote|A surprisingly dark, emotional, and almost excessively cynical experience for Transformers fans.|2=[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_the_the_movie/ Rotten Tomatoes]}}

''The Transformers: The Movie'' was almost universally panned by professional critics upon its release.

Well-known film critic and animation enthusiast, Leonard Maltin, gave it a rating below 1 1/2 stars in his ''1987 Movie & Video Guide'', regarding it as a "bomb", then proceeded to write an unflattering blurb denouncing the film as a "feature-length toy commercial".

Caryn James of the ''New York Times'' admitted in the [[August 9]], 1986, edition of the paper that the film was intended for young children, pointing out that the kids in the audience were having a grand ole time with the ''Transformer'' toys and comics they brought with them to the theater, but derided the film as having little to no appeal to adults.

''Variety's Film Reviews 1985-1986, Volume 19 '' was far less even-handed in their review, claiming the film had no appeal to adults ''or'' children. They predicted the film would perform poorly in the box office (and were correct, in that regard).

Carrie Rickey of the ''Dallas Morning News'' chided the film in the [[August 13]], 1986, issue of the paper, describing it as "essentially a cartoon ''Star Wars'' about robots from a toybox galaxy far, far away". She then went on to say that the film "never takes off" and derided it as "uninspired".

Janice Kennedy of the ''Montreal Gazette'' verbally disemboweled the film in the [[August 23]], 1986, edition of the paper, criticizing it as overly commercial, profane, loud, violent, humorless, heavy-handed in its religious messages and chaulk-full of gratuitous celebrity voice-overs. Her only compliment: "But ''The Transformers: The Movie'' does have at least one good thing going for it, a howlingly appropriate song by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]. It's title? ''Dare to be Stupid''." ''Ouch''.

Nanciann Cherry in the August 13, 1986, edition of the ''Toledo Blade'' claimed the robots in the movie had little personality and faded into the background. She even went on to say that ''[[GoBots]]: {{gb|GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords|Battle of the Rock Lords}}'' was a superior film! Her review was filled with inaccuracies, however, citing characters such as "Unicon" and claiming that the destruction of Cybertron's moons by "Unicon" is what caused the Autobots to travel to Autobot City, at which point Megatron attacked. To be fair, she readily admits, "About 20 minutes into the film, I gave up on the plot and tried to count all the ideas that were stolen from other sources. Now that kept me busy." So she wasn't really paying attention, anyway.

Kathryn Buxton in the [[August 22]], 1986, edition of the ''Palm Beach Post'' gave the film a whopping ''one'' star, calling it "a ripoff of a successful toyline", whatever ''that'' means. In the same article, she also gave David Cronenberg's ''[[Fly|The Fly]]'' one star, just for reference.

In the August 8, 1986, edition of the ''LA Times'', critic Charles Solomon made clear his dislike for the film centered primarily on the fact that none of the characters had interesting or believable motivation. He stated, "Not even the best actor can create a character out of nothing. Not one of the robots has a reason for doing what he does." Solomon then pointed to Unicron specifically as an example of the lack of deep, multi-dimensional motivations in the characters.

Over time, however, the movie has acquired something of a cult following beyond the core base of [[fandom|Transformers fans]], particularly among children of the '80s. It is sometimes screened as a midnight movie at colleges. Online, it is not hard to find amateur reviews lauding everything about it as utterly awesome, from the premise to the soundtrack, and dismissing more critical views out of hand. ''The Transformers: The Movie'' currently holds a 62% "fresh" rating based on 25 professional reviews at online review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_the_the_movie/</ref> In response to the film's cult following, several reviewers have compared the film in a favourable light to the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]]s (prior to the unprecedented critical success of ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]''), stating that they lack the heart or nostalgia of the '86 movie.<ref>https://www.inverse.com/article/7309-6-enduring-legacies-of-1986-s-animated-the-transformers-the-movie</ref><ref>https://slate.com/culture/2007/07/transformers-why-the-original-animated-movie-is-still-the-best.html</ref><ref>https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Sorry-Michael-Bay-Why-1986-Transformers-Movie-Best-43582.html</ref>

===Box office===
An [[August 30]]th, 1987 ''Los Angeles Times'' article on the decline and fall of the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group listed ''The Transformers: The Movie'' as grossing $2.6 million in the United States on a $5 million budget.<ref>https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-30-fi-5144-story.html</ref> Both it and ''My Little Pony: The Movie'' (which earned $2.8 million on a $5.5 million budget per that same article) were financial failures, together losing Hasbro about $10 million in an otherwise profitable year.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=... we just accidentally found the budget for The Transformers: The Movie while skimming a book about My Little Pony. Thanks, @sherilyn! https://t.co/epw3GW83lE|link=https://twitter.com/tfwiki/status/895169922678042625|name=TFWiki|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=08|day=09|(defunct=)}}</ref>

Confusingly, in comparison to the ''Los Angeles Times'' article, modern box office tracking sites<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers.htm</ref><ref>http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1986/0TRTM.php</ref> list ''The Transformers: The Movie'' as having made $5,849,647 in domestic (e.g., United States) theaters. Comparing this with the other online box office takes from animated films of 1986, the results are not particularly charitable; while it did better financially than ''{{gb|GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords}}''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gobots.htm</ref> ($1,338,264) and ''Heathcliff: The Movie''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=heathcliff.htm</ref> ($2,610,686), it performed worse than the 1986 ''[[My Little Pony]]'' movie<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mylittlepony.htm</ref> ($5,958,456) and the '''second''' ''Care Bears'' movie<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=carebearsmovie2.htm</ref> ($8,540,346). Bringing up ''The Great Mouse Detective''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=greatmousedetective.htm</ref> ($25,336,794) and ''An American Tail''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=americantail.htm</ref> ($47,483,002) would really just be overkill.

==Significance in Transfandom==
''The Transformers: The Movie'' remains one of the most important elements of the entire Transformers brand, both within the fiction and from the perspective of the brand's popularity and "mindshare".

Fictionally, it established several story concepts that have been used repeatedly in the years since 1986, some of which—such as Unicron and the Matrix—are now central to the entire Transformers mythos. The movie is also the centerpiece of the most well-known Transformers continuity: the Generation 1 animated universe. The ''Transformers'' cartoon is split into "pre-movie" and "post-movie" sections which feature different characters and settings, and even somewhat different visual styles. (Most pre-movie episodes were animated by the studio [[Toei Animation|Toei]], while most post-movie episodes were animated by [[AKOM]].)

On a practical note, it was widely available on videotape, and remained so long after the ''The Transformers'' cartoon had gone off the air. Only a [[Family Home Entertainment|handful of series episodes]] were available on video, making ''The Transformers: The Movie'' the logical choice for someone looking to pick up a ''Transformers'' cartoon; this made it far more well known among fans than any particular cartoon episode.

To an entire generation of young fans, the movie was the most visually spectacular and narratively epic ''Transformers'' experience of their entire youth. Events such as the death of Optimus Prime are widely reported to have reduced many kids to tears. It is hardly a surprise that these emotional experiences embedded themselves deeply in many fans' memories.

Latter-day ''Transformers'' stories have made uncountable references (though [[The Transformers: The Movie/references|we're trying]]) to the movie, lifting or borrowing elements of its [[Minus One|dialogue]], [[The Transformers: Autocracy|fight sequences]], [[A Flash Forward|subplots]], [[Heavy Is the Head|details]], [[Less Than Zero|settings]] and more, as writers have discovered that a shout-out to the movie is a quick and easy way to win cheers from [[GEEWUN|some segments]] of [[Fandom|their audience]]. Even Hasbro and Takara themselves have gotten in on the act, producing a variety of toys based on the minutia of the film: [[Starscream (Armada)#Cybertron|Starscream's crown]], [[Galvatron (G1)/toys#United|Galvatron's creation]], the awakening of [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Rodimus Prime]], and more. The fandom, for their part, pores over new ''Transformers'' fiction, often latching on to even the most tangential of details as a [[The Search for Alpha Trion#Quotes|"reference"]] to the movie, [[The Burden Hardest to Bear|coincidental or not]]. Call-outs, real or perceived, were once a rare treat - but now are so common that many fans are more likely to groan than cheer whenever some version of Optimus Prime declares that "[[One Shall Fall|One shall stand...]]" or a damaged character states that "[[Unfinished|I still function]]" or a vengeful blast is preceded by "[[The Illusion of Control|Here's a hint]]" or yet another Soundwave says yet another variation of "[[Human Error, Part II|Soundwave superior]]", or... well... this:

<center><gallery>
File:Transformersanimatedfilmposter.jpg|'86
File:TFTM1.jpg|'86 again
File:Botcon2000-movieposter.jpg|2000
File:TFvol1 31cvrRI.jpg|2010
File:Timelines10 diamonded.jpg|2014
File:Echoes and Fragments cover.jpg|2016
File:LL1 Riptcvr.jpg|2018
</gallery></center>

In 2016, thirty years after the release of the film, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] gave us perhaps one of the most meta comeback lines in franchise history. When [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] declares that "Today — one shall stand, and two shall fall!", Optimus simply punches him in the face with a flat "No cliches, Galvatron", voicing once and for all just how sick we've gotten of '86 quotes. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}}

{{quote|...wait, I only just noticed something. Did they actually manage to go the entire episode without quoting the 86 movie?|[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/94625-episode-65-beast-hunters-episode-13/page-4#entry2360303 Allspark poster Unit Eleven]}}

==Criticisms==
[[File:TFTM Ratchet dies.jpg|left|thumb|Only [[Stormtrooper (SW)|Imperial Stormtroopers]] are so precise.]]
All this is not all to say that the movie is a "masterpiece", exactly. The film met with extremely harsh critical reviews on its release, and some of those criticisms still ring true today.

The film displays an arguably cynical attitude towards itself as [[To sell toys|a vehicle for advertising toys]], especially in the way [[The Transformers (cartoon)/cast|beloved characters]] are killed—sometimes gratuitously—for sake of justifying the story's focus on a new group of toys. (Note that with the exception of Laserbeak and possibly Buzzsaw, the poster at the top of this article features ''only'' new characters.)

Further, the two primary plot devices—[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]—have no prior establishment in the fiction. Unicron is given no backstory ([[Call of the Primitives|until season 3]]) or justification; he simply exists, is very dangerous, and is afraid of the Matrix, all for no adequately explained reason. The introduction of the Matrix itself is a heavy [[retcon]]. The story asks the audience to accept that this cosmically powerful artifact has been in Optimus Prime's possession all along (even though Prime's open-chested repair scene in "[[Divide and Conquer]]" and his X-ray scene in "[[A Prime Problem]]" show absolutely no signs of said Matrix), but has somehow never been relevant before. In fact, this lack of prior establishment is what led [[Simon Furman]] to develop the divinity backstory of Unicron and [[Primus]] in the UK comics run.

[[File:Megatronlightsaber.jpg|thumb|Your powers are weak, old man!]]
The movie bears many similarities to ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'': There are several character-parallels ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]] is a [[Han Solo]]-type and [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] even has Princess Leia's hairdo!), the primary threat is similar (it's the [[Death Star]]... [[Unicron/Generation 1|but it transforms!]]), and both feature a climactic battle where the [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|young hero]] hears the voice of his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|dead, wise mentor]] one last time before saving the day.

To be a bit more fair to ''The Transformers: The Movie'', however, most of these similarities are either superficial (Arcee's Leia-hair; Megatron's "lightsaber" he briefly uses in his duel against Optimus Prime) or can be seen as elements common to thousands of years' worth of epic storytelling through human history, not just common to ''Star Wars''. As a simple example, the phenomenon of two charismatic leaders dealing each other mortal injuries in battle hearkens back to some versions of the "[[King Arthur]]" myth; in their final battle, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arthur]] and his arch-enemy [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sir Mordred]] deal one another lethal injuries and both apparently expire—though Arthur according to the legend will [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|return]] when [[Cybertron (planet)|England]]'s need [[Darkest hour|is greatest]].
{{--}}

==Formatting==
[[File:Tftm widescreenesque.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|The "widescreen" picture (left) actually ''cuts off'' the top and bottom of the fullscreen picture (right). Your eyes can deceive you; don't trust them.]]
Although it was billed in some advertisements before its theatrical release as being "widescreen", the movie was in fact animated in a 4:3 (fullscreen) aspect ratio. For its theatrical screenings, the film was matted down in the projector by the projectionist to a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen), chopping the top and bottom off the picture, but all video transfers of the movie were done without mattes, meaning that there was actually more picture visible in the fullscreen video and DVD releases than there would have been in theaters. Across 2006 and 2007, new editions of the DVD of the film were released by Sony BMG and [[Metrodome]] which applied the mattes in order to replicate the original theatrical presentation of the film for the first time in home entertainment. Some fans, however, didn't realize that the film wasn't actually ''animated'' in widescreen, and, hearing that the DVD was to be in widescreen, expected to see the fullscreen image with additional footage at the sides, causing them to complain that the top and bottom were cut off, thereby totally missing the point.
{{--}}

==International versions==
{{main|The Transformers: The Movie/dubs}}

==Commercial releases==
[[File:TFTM LaserDisc cover.jpg|thumb|The cover image from the original Japanese home media release of the movie.]]
*The movie was originally released in North America on VHS and Beta on [[September 17]], 1987<ref>http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1964&dat=19870911&id=YhAuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ls8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3198,2881581</ref> by [[Family Home Entertainment]], minus Spike's swear. Just days before, on [[September 14]], 1987<ref>https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003579/19870910/016/0016</ref>, it was released in the UK by [[Video Gems]]. This version featured the opening text crawl and closing narration inherent to the UK version of the film. In Australia, the film was released on video by RCA/Columbia Pictures/Hoyts. In Japan, [[Sohbi Kikaku|Hill Crane]] released a {{w|LaserDisc}} version alongside a VHS copy, both sporting a gorgeous painted cover that decorated many a fan's desktop back in the day.
*The movie was released spottily in the '90s, beginning with a budget VHS by Avid Home Entertainment in 1991. [[Malofilm]] released a VHS in Canada in 1995, notable for being the first home entertainment version to include Spike's swear. In 1998, Japanese company Pioneer produced another pair of LaserDisc and VHS releases. In 1999, things kicked off when American company [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] secured the Transformers license and released the film on VHS once again.
*The 21st century's flirtation with ''The Transformers: The Movie'' started with a UK budget VHS release of that country's version by [[Sony|Sony Wonder]], distributed by [[Maverick Entertainment]]. A Japanese company called CatCo followed this up with a VideoCD, and Malofilm—now Seville—were the first to release a DVD version of the film, though it was just a dump of their VHS version.
*In November 2000, ''The Transformers: The Movie'' got its first, full professional DVD release from Kid Rhino. This edition, labelled a "Special Collector's Edition", is the first to feature remastered video and audio, and several special features, including storyboards and an interview with [[Vince DiCola]]. Rhino concurrently released this version on VHS, sans extras.
*In 2001 in the UK, Sony Wonder released their own much-delayed DVD version of the film. It was the UK version of the film, but included Spike's swear. However, the release was burdened by badly interlaced video, though it notably included the [[Omni Productions]] dub version of the ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|Headmasters]]'' episode "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]" as an extra. This version (including the ''Headmasters'' episode) was simultaneously released on VHS.
*The movie was released on DVD in Australia in 2003 by [[Madman Entertainment]], using the same video as the Maverick version, but distinguished by some nifty new cover art by [[Don Figueroa]], and special features not seen on other editions, such as ''[[Stan Bush|The Touch]]'' music video and 80s TV spots.
[[File:Tftm uk covers.jpg|thumb|The UK poster art (left) has been the most common DVD and VHS cover in its home country, but the Ultimate Edition featured new art by Andy Wildman (right).]]
*After acquiring the license to release ''Transformers'' DVDs in the UK, [[Metrodome]] focused on completing their run of series box sets before turning their attention to the movie properly, releasing only a cheap budget DVD of the UK version through Prism Leisure with no extras, and a [[PlayStation|UMD]] of the same version.
*In 2005, Metrodome released ''Transformers: The Movie - Reconstructed'', a new version of the film designed to expose as much of the animated picture as possible. This, however, only resulted in exposing the rough, unfinished edges of the animation, and an overly pale remaster was compounded by excessive interlacing due to an unnecessary NTSC to PAL transfer. This, coupled with a 5.1 remix from [[Magno Sound & Video]], featuring the same extra sound effects that they added to Rhino's season box sets, made this release both controversial and disappointing to many. This was the first time that the US version of the movie was released in the UK, and the first to feature the US poster art as a cover (although a Silverscreen store exclusive version of the disc included a reversible cover with the UK poster art as well). Extras include trailers, TV spots, the character biographies from the Madman release, a looped version of the Lion ''Transformers'' theme on the main menu, and a subtitled version of "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]".
[[File:Tftm sony covers.jpg|thumb|Sony's covers, by Don Figueroa.]]
*For the movie's 20th anniversary in 2006, new license holder [[Sony|Sony BMG]] released a two-disc special edition of the film, featuring both a high-quality widescreen remaster and the original fullscreen version, audio commentaries from crew and fans, several new featurettes interviewing those involved in the movie's production, storyboards, TV spots, American and Japanese commercials and more. Most notably, this version included the first Western release of "[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]", albeit silent and unsubtitled, featuring only audio commentary. Also very notable is that this version includes an actual deleted scene from the animated film as an extra, though it is more of interest as a curiosity than anything it actually contains, being an approximately 2-second-long aerial view of the Autobots running towards the critically damaged Optimus Prime. This release featured two covers by Don Figueroa: one is of the '84-'85 cast that appear in the movie, and one is of the movie's new characters, available either as a lenticular hologram that switches between the two, or as a reversible sleeve with the images printed on either side.
[[File:Tftm madman covers.jpg|thumb|Madman's 2003 DVD cover (left), and their 2007 Special Edition cover (right).]]
*Delayed a bit to coincide with the hype for the 2007 [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]], Metrodome also released a two-disc "Ultimate Edition" with a different widescreen master. Like "Reconstructed", this version used the US edition of the film, but this time, the UK version was also included, in fullscreen, on the second disc. Extras include TV spots, commercials, the Madman biographies, storyboards, commentary, "Scramble City" (with audio and subtitles), featurettes with [[Flint Dille]] and [[Peter Cullen]], and more. The double-disc edition was sold in a steel case featuring new art by [[Andrew Wildman]], with the UK poster art adorning the standard case inside. Various store exclusives were available, including postcards from Play.Com, a reversible cover with the US poster art from HMV, art cards from Virgin Megastore and [[posters]] from Woolworths and [[Toys"R"Us]]. It was also available in an extra-less single-disc version. This version was premiered at the Mid Ulster Film Festival in Ireland which was the only cinema showing of the remastered version of the film to date.
[[File:ShoutFactory TFTM BluDVD.jpg|thumb|Shout! Factory's 2016 Blu-ray cover.]]
*The film was released in Full HD 1080p on Blu-ray in the UK in October 2007. The Blu-ray is not region-locked, so it will play anywhere in the world. It features a 2.0 soundtrack, 5.1 Dolby Digital track, and a full bitrate DTS 5.1 track. The master used was the same used by Sony for their US DVD. Sadly, there are no extras on the DVD. The version of the film on the Blu-ray is the US one, complete with curse words.
*Madman produced their two-disc special edition through some collaboration with Metrodome, and consequently it features much of the same content, with additional extras taking the form of The Touch music video and a bonus episode of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. This release again features cover artwork by Don Figueroa, specifically the cover of [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' adaptation.
*For the film's 30th Anniversary, and after being out of print in the US for 10 years, the film was rereleased on Region 1 DVD and given its first Region A Blu-ray release on [[September 13]], [[2016]] by [[Shout! Factory]]. Both versions are sourced from a brand-new 4K transfer which underwent extensive color-correction and remastering, and a Steelbook packaging variant of the Blu-ray was also made available.<ref>[https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/action-adventure/the-transformers-the-movie-limited-edition-30th-anniversary-steelbook The Transformers: The Movie Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Steelbook]</ref> The Steelbook Blu-ray was released in the UK by [[Manga Entertainment]] as a limited edition on December 12, 2016, followed by a standard edition release a year later.
*On September 27, 2018, Fathom Events screened the movie at select theaters in the United States. The movie was preceded by an interview with [[Travis Knight]] and [[Hailee Steinfeld]] and a preview of a scene from ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'', and followed by a short featurette of Stan Bush discussing the music he contributed to the movie and performing acoustic versions of ''The Touch'' and ''Dare''.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/08/01/1986-transformers-movie-hitting-theaters-one-night-only-369314 1986 Transformers Movie Hitting Theaters One Night Only!]</ref> Cineplex would later show the movie in Canadian theaters on October 4.
*For the 35th anniversary, Shout! Factory produced the first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of the movie — presented in widescreen only — and a remastered fullscreen 1080p Blu-ray. Feature-length storyboards and the Stan Bush featurette from the 2018 Fathom Events screening were added as new bonus features. The two discs were first made available in a limited edition SteelBook with four art cards on [[August 3]], [[2021]]<ref>[https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/the-transformers-the-movie-35th-anniversary-limited-edition-steelbook?product_id=7636 The Transformers: The Movie [35th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook]]</ref>; a wide release in standard packaging followed on [[September 28]]<ref>[https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/the-transformers-the-movie-35th-anniversary-edition?product_id=7668 The Transformers: The Movie [35th Anniversary Edition]]</ref>, as did a third set comprised of the new fullscreen Blu-ray and a widescreen DVD<ref>[https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/the-transformers-the-movie-35th-anniversary-edition-1?product_id=7667 The Transformers: The Movie [35th Anniversary Edition]]</ref>. Cover art for the new releases was created by [[Matt Ferguson]].
**Region B versions of the Shout! Factory 35th Anniversary discs were distributed by Funimation and released on [[October 25]], and an additional collector's edition set was made exclusive to Zavvi, packaging the 4K and Blu-ray discs with an art book, poster and six art cards.<ref>[https://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/the-transformers-the-movie-35th-anniversary-zavvi-exclusive-4k-ultra-hd-limited-collectors-edition-includes-blu-ray/13169855.html The Transformers: The Movie 35th Anniversary - Zavvi Exclusive 4K Ultra HD Limited Collectors Edition (Includes Blu-ray)]</ref> Zavvi also partnered with Ferguson to release a line of art prints and apparel featuring his cover art.
*Fathom Events once again returned the film to select theaters on [[September 26]]–[[September 27|27]], 2021, accompanied by a set of [[The Transformers: The Movie 35th Anniversary Stop Motions|stop-motion comedy videos]] inspired by the film.

==Television broadcasts==
Following a segmented, five-part broadcast during [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season of ''The Transformers'']], the complete feature film was aired on American television in 1989 via Fox stations. Air dates and times were June 17 at Noon, July 30 at 11 A.M. and September 2 at 10 A.M. Of course, this was the language-edited video release from Family Home Entertainment.

The movie was aired on [[Hub Network|The Hub]] on February 18, 2012, following [[Orion Pax, Part 1|the Season 2 premiere]] of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' on what was called "Transformers Mega Saturday". Uniquely, this version combined the European opening narration with the US scrawl-free opening credits, muted the two swear words (rendering the lines as "It isn't even dented! ...What do we do now?!" and "Open... ''Open!''"), used the European closing narration at the end, and sped up the scroll of the end credits to cut it down for time, ending the lyrics of the [[theme song]] around the beginning of its second verse ("Strong enough to break the bravest heart..."). Subsequent re-airings on The Hub aired this version of the movie.

The American television airing of the feature film adds one extra sound effect, and it has never been heard in any other release. During the scene when Arcee is racing to jump aboard the departing Autobot shuttle, there is a distinctive sound effect when she jumps. In all other releases there is no sound effect.

A July 4, 2014 Hub broadcast of the movie markets it as ''Transformers: The Animated Movie'', distinguishing it from that computer animation/live action [[Transformers (film)|hybrid film]] with the similar title made two decades and one year later.

==Notes==
*According to [[Buzz Dixon]], Hasbro's decision to kill off Optimus Prime was actually an attempt to maintain some brand-storytelling parity with ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'', as Dixon had just convinced them to allow the death of [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] in ''{{w|G.I. Joe: The Movie}}'' and both films were in production at the same time.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151215034944/http://www.joeheadquarters.com/interviews_dixon.shtml</ref>

*After reading [[Ron Friedman]]'s [[The Transformers: The Movie (first draft)|first draft]] of the movie's script, [[Flint Dille]] and [[Jay Bacal]] hastily wrote and proposed a script of their own, "[[The Secret of Cybertron]]", which later informed the cartoon five-parter "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]". Elements of this script also supposedly made it into the finished film, but no copy of the script has ever surfaced.

*This film was the last professional performance by [[Orson Welles]], who died only a month later. According to production materials shown at [[BotCon 2000]] by Tim Finn, the voice recording sessions for ''The Transformers: The Movie'' were done on [[September 10]] and [[September 11|11]] of 1985. Welles died on [[October 10]] of that same year. It has often been speculated that Unicron's last line ("Destiny… you cannot destroy my destiny!") was recorded by another actor—possibly [[Leonard Nimoy|Nimoy]]—because it sounds different than the other lines. This speculation has been quashed by statements by Transformers voice director [[Wally Burr]].<ref>http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/60-astrominutes/wally-burr/wally-burr-3.html</ref>
[[File:Windcharger wheeljack otp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!!]]

*With the exception of Starscream and possibly Shockwave, only the Autobots suffered fatalities in the movie. All of the other "dead" Decepticons from the Autobot City battle were rebuilt into Galvatron's new troops, and although more Decepticons were shown taking heavy damage and suffering huge casualties while fighting Unicron, their identities and their final condition are uncertain. Additionally, both Starscream and Unicron survived in the post-movie series in some form or another. Shockwave's death in the finished film is highly uncertain, although in the script it is fairly strongly implied. Regardless, Shockwave was originally intended to appear in the immediate post-movie story "Five Faces of Darkness", serving in the role that was ultimately given to Blitzwing, before an internal [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] memo clarified that his character had been dropped from the series.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bid3TK_q2HxH7NR5MDAlGsKe5AlcbBnU/view Partial outline of "Five Faces of Darkness", covering Parts 3 to 5]</ref> Shockwave does make some miscolored appearances in crowd shots in later cartoon episodes, but these are probably examples of the fairly common animation errors in those episodes.

*Somewhat ironically, though only three of the original eighteen Autobots — [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] — are definitively shown to have survived the movie, two would quite literally never be heard from again: [[Scatman Crothers]] passed away (though this didn't stop Jazz from making any number of background cameos) while Casey Kasem [[Casey Kasem#Notes|quit the show early in the third season]]. Fate's finger is fickle indeed.

*The Dinobots spend the majority of the film in their dinosaur modes, a practice that would eventually carry into season 3 of the cartoon. Swoop is the only one to spend extended amounts of time in robot mode, due to the anatomical issues of walking in a flight-based mode. However, there are some instances where they're briefly shown in robot mode for blink-and-you-miss-it moments, for no reason whatsoever. Additionally, despite his constant presence among the Dinobots, Sludge has no lines in the film at all.

*Unicron's roars in the movie were stock vocalizations originally created for Marvel Productions' 1982 ''The Incredible Hulk'' animated series and performed by voice actor Bob Holt, who voiced the [[Hulk]] in that show. Holt otherwise never voiced a character in the Marvel/Sunbow Transformers series (although he was a regular member of the ''{{gb|Challenge of the GoBots (cartoon)|Challenge of the GoBots}}'' cast as the original voice of [[Cop-Tur (GoBots)|Cop-Tur]]), and had passed away the year before ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was released in 1986. Thus, Unicron has the distinction of featuring ''two'' posthumous performances for the same Transformers character in a single production.

*[[:File:TFTM-MaybeBeachcomber.jpg|A robot resembling Beachcomber]] appears alongside Spike and the Autobots inside Unicron seconds before Daniel blasts the acid cover. Whether this was actually meant to be Beachcomber or just coincidental coloring is unknown, but regardless, Beachcomber shows up alive and well in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".

*Pieces of music from the movie would later be used in the [[Commodore 64]] version of ''Turrican''. For instance, basically unaltered bits of "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWFx-Go6Y6A Escape]" make up [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6jjpwpDVNY Subsong Two of the game's title theme].
{{--}}

===Foreign names===
*''German:'' '''''Transformers: Der Kampf um Cybertron''''' ("Transformers: The Battle for Cybertron", TV airings only)
*''French:'' '''''La Guerre des Robots''''' ("The War of the Robots")
*''Japanese:'' '''''トランスフォーマーザ・ムービー''''' ("Transformers: The Movie")

==External links==
*[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3212281345/weekend/ ''The Transformers: The Movie''{{'}}s box office domestic gross]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/mp-4034-transformers-movie-sunbow.html ''The Transformers: The Movie'' outlines, scripts, storyboards, concept art and model sheets]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20211021062746/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/movie/movie.html ''The Transformers: The Movie'' Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20080426020409/http://www.tftm.net/ ''The Transformers: The Movie'' "Unofficial Fansite", an extremely thorough site about the movie] (archived)
*[http://zobovor.tripod.com/transformers_the_movie_bloopers.html ''The Transformers: The Movie'' bloopers]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers: The Movie}}

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 1 media]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Arcee (Movie)

2025-03-02T09:39:30Z

Eyacorkett: /* Arcee triplets */

{{disambig3|Arcee}}
{{factions|autobot|NEST|hofsilver}}

:''Arcee is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Movie continuity family]].''

[[File:Arceemovie.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|She's got legs, she knows how to use them. Temporarily, anyway.]]
Originally a member of the Autobots' science team, '''Arcee''' never stood out as being the "soldier" type until the war broke out. Though small compared to many of her peers and adversaries, she compensates with speed and aggressive maneuvers. Quickly developing hunter skills to be reckoned with, Arcee became one of the most dangerous Autobots around.<ref>''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' trade paperback bonus material</ref> She is a crack shot with her crossbow weapon, and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] has trained her to use her speed to her advantage in battle, striking suddenly and swiftly and then vanishing away again as fast as she appeared.

The events at [[Tyger Pax]] created a nagging doubt in Arcee about her abilities. She carries some guilt about [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]'s injuries, and part of what drives her is the desire to prove herself, not only in the optics of her friends, comrades, and even her sisters [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]], but most importantly in her own.

For a time, Arcee used experimental technology that allowed her mind to control ''three'' bodies at once! When two of these bodies were destroyed, she stayed out of sight to adjust to the return to single-body status.<ref>Hasbro's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/cybertronian-database.cfm#/characters/arcee Vector Sigma: Arcee profile]</ref>
{{bigquote|Did someone call for backup?!|Arcee|''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Movies===
{{note|The seven movies are the primary component of the live-action movie continuity family. Their events should be taken as canon for all other pieces of fiction listed below, unless otherwise specified.}}
====''Revenge of the Fallen'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[Grey Griffin]] (English), [[Masako Katsuki]] (Japanese)|[[Chen Qian]] (Chinese), [[Martina Treger]] (German), [[Chiara Colizzi]] (Italian), [[Gabriela Bicalho]] (Brazil), [[Erica Edwards]] (Latin American-Spanish), [[Gemma Ibáñez]] (Spanish-Spain), [[Özlem Abacı]] (Turkish)}}
:''Holographic rider:'' [[Erin Naas]]

[[File:Arcee-ROTFshoot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Why couldn't she be the other kind of motormaid, with the motorcycle part on top and the lady part on the bottom?"]]

{{note|The film goes into no detail on whether or not Arcee is one entity, or three separate beings. See [[#Arcee triplets|Notes]] at the bottom of this article for a thorough dissection; for the purposes of this section, all three bike-bots are collectively referred to as "Arcee".}}

Arcee was held in reserve as NEST entered Shanghai to deal with Demolishor, only being called into action when the presence of a second Decepticon, [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], was detected. Together with the twins, Arcee pursued the sneaky speedster through the streets of Shanghai, smashing through buildings and everything else in her way, but ultimately, none of her three components were able to do much damage, so Sideswipe was brought up to bat, and he quickly put the Decepticon down.

[[File:Arcee-ROTFthreebikes.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|The [[Chromia (ROTF)|blue one]] likes to sit next to [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] for [[transformer romance|some reason]].]]

While not on missions, Arcee was parked with the other Autobots in their hangar at [[Diego Garcia]]. It was here that the Autobots received word from the [[President of the United States]], via [[Theodore Galloway|Director Galloway]], that the White House was concerned that the Autobots' living on Earth was the reason for the Decepticon activity, and that if need be, they would ask the Autobots to leave. Later, after Optimus Prime died in battle and [[The Fallen]] issued an ultimatum to Earth, the US government decided that the Autobots would be shipped back to Diego Garcia.
[[File:ROTF Arcee shot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Michael Bay displays his usual attitude towards women.]]
NEST had a different idea, and instead shipped Arcee and the other Autobots to [[Egypt]] on the advice of [[Sam Witwicky]], who had the means to resurrect Optimus Prime. During the climactic battle between NEST and The Fallen's Decepticons, Sam and Mikaela attempted to make their way through the bombed-out Egyptian town that had become the battlefield. Arcee arrived with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to escort them through the warzone, but unfortunately, two of her bodies were shot down by enemy forces, with only the blue component remaining operational when last seen. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{note|Arcee's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the novel ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]''; the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation]]'' and ''[[Movie Trilogy]]'' comics; and the storybook "[[The Last Prime]]".}}

====''Age of Extinction'' film====
Five years after the Battle of Chicago, Arcee was listed as deceased by the CIA task force, [[Cemetery Wind]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

====''Bumblebee'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[Grey Griffin]] (English)|[[Danann Huicochea]] (Latin-American Spanish)}}
[[File:BumblebeeMovieArcee.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|You think you're impressed now? Just wait until she turns into a motormaid.]]
Arcee was among the Autobots fending off a wave of Decepticon forces led by [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], where Arcee tried to contact the capital of the last remaining Autobot city for reinforcements only to fail in establishing a connection. She was eventually ordered to retreat by [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]. Tasked with finding other Autobots scattered throughout the galaxy and rendezvous on [[Earth]], they left Cybertron in various escape pods. {{storylink|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}}

====''Rise of the Beasts'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[Liza Koshy]] (English), [[Fairouz Ai]] (Japanese)|[[Michelle Rodríguez]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Cristina Boscá]] (Spain Spanish), [[Sophia Flörsch]] (German), [[Fernanda Paes Leme]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Ophélie Winter]] (European French), [[Martina Felli]] (Italian), [[Karolina Kalina]] (Polish)}}

Arcee was among the crew of Autobots that had become stranded on Earth after arriving in 1987. Seven years later in 1994, she and the others were in [[New York City]] when Optimus witnessed the activation of the transwarp key. The Autobots regrouped in a warehouse to find [[Mirage (Movie)|Mirage]] had taken in a stowaway, [[Noah Díaz]], who Arcee researched and discovered his past as a soldier. Arcee confirmed the existence of the transwarp key in the museum on Ellis Island, and the group realized they could use it to return to Cybertron. Arcee pointed out they couldn't take the key themselves without evading detection, but Mirage convinced Noah to steal the key for them, despite the group's misgivings. Arcee helped stakeout the museum during Noah's infiltration, only for the Terrorcons to arrive in force. Arcee was knocked out of the fight by the burly [[Battletrap (ROTB)|Battletrap]], and the group lost Bumblebee to [[Scourge (ROTB)|Scourge's]] blade. The group was saved by the timely arrival of Airazor, who explained Scourge had only taken half of the key, and Arcee convinced [[Elena Wallace]] to help lead them to the remaining half in Peru after encouraging her with the knowledge she'd be saving two worlds in the process.

On the flight to Peru aboard [[Stratosphere]], Arcee wondered if the slain Bumblebee could be revived with an Energon treatment, but Optimus lamented that they likely couldn't without returning to Cybertron. The group linked up with Wheeljack and Arcee rode inside his vehicle mode as they took positions keeping watch while Noah and Elena hunted for the key. The Terrorcons arrived and engaged the Autobots in battle. While Wheeljack drove, Arcee provided some firepower in her robot mode, but once again Battletrap took her and Wheeljack out of the fight by making them tumble down a mountainside in the ensuing car chase. Arcee regrouped with the others when they confronted the Maximals, aiming at [[Cheetor (ROTB)|Cheetor]] until Airazor defused the stand-off. When Scourge obtained the complete key and began to bring [[Unicron]] to Earth, Arcee took part in the battle against the Terrorcons and their Predacon reinforcements. Though Arcee's speed and blasters served her well, things looked grim when Unicron appeared in the sky and the Autobot-Maximal alliance began to be submerged by the sheer numbers of their enemy. Arcee was aghast when Optimus declared his intention to sacrifice himself to destroy the portal bringing forth Unicron, but luckily, Noah and [[Optimus Primal (ROTB)|Optimus Primal]] saved Optimus and the day from the Chaos Bringer.
{{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts}}
{{note|Arcee's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the books "[[Mission at the Museum]]" and "[[The Search Is On]]".}}
{{--}}

===IDW movie comics===
[[File:Foudnation2 ArceeChromiaElita.jpg|thumb]]
Thousands of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Arcee lived in [[Metrotitan (ROTF)|Metrotitan]] with her sister Chromia, while their eldest sibling, Elita-One, became a follower of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1|Foundation #1}} Following Sentinel's successful unification of the warring tribes of Cybertron, Arcee and Chromia came to [[Trypticon (Movie)|Trypticon]] to hear his speech for the future. It was announced that the planet would be governed by a [[Science Division]] headed by [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], and a [[Defense Force]] led by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]; while Chromia elected to join the latter, Arcee, intrigued at the prospect of investigating the legacy of the [[Dynasty of Primes]], signed up with Optimus's team. The Science Division began an archaeological excavation of the area around [[Simfur]], uncovering a strange object that they believed to be connected to the Dynasty. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}}

[[File:Defiance1 Arcee vehicle.jpg|thumb|left|"I transform into a vacuum cleaner!"]]

Some time later, while Optimus was showing Megatron around their work, Arcee's team discovered a mysterious relic with a [[Decepticon|strange symbol]] etched into it. She led her superiors to the ancient relic and watched as Megatron and Optimus began to argue when the former demanded the relic be relocated to his private quarters, with Optimus relenting due to a sudden alien attack. Arcee assisted with its evacuation from the dig site. {{storylink|Defiance issue 1|Defiance #1}}

After the attack, Arcee tried to save the life of one of the aliens, but was unsuccessful. She and [[Clocker (Movie)|Clocker]] moved the bodies to [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s lab, where they discovered that the beings were similar in structure to the Cybertronians, only lacking the ability to [[transformation|transform]]. Before they could speculate further about the common ancestry of the two races, [[Signal Flare (Movie)|Signal Flare]] arrived with orders from Optimus to assemble at the Simfur excavation site for a meeting. There, Arcee and the other scientists learned of Protector Megatron's demand for war and Optimus's thoughts on the issue. After most of the scientists agreed to follow Optimus, they travelled to [[Trypticon (Movie)|Trypticon]] to watch Megatron deliver his saber-rattling war rally. {{storylink|Defiance issue 2|Defiance #2}}

[[File:Foundation4Arceechromiaknockeoutbymegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|That's not how you treat 2 ladies, Megatron.]]

Ratchet, Arcee and Elita-One returned to the lab to analyze the other relic fragments recovered from the Simfur excavation, while Optimus, [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and [[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]] broke into Megatron's quarters to examine the intact relic. Before Optimus could explain to Ratchet the strange condition of the artifact, Arcee reported finding a symbol that appeared in the same place on all the different fragments: the same symbol that was on Optimus's head. Ratchet theorised that the legend of the [[Dynasty of Primes]] was true, and that Optimus was somehow connected to all of this. Later, at the dig site near [[Burthov]], Arcee, Ratchet and Optimus were arrested by Prowl's security forces on orders from Megatron for treason. What they didn't know was they were all being led into a trap, and the assassins Megatron sent would only take Optimus alive. After [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]'s initial attack, Optimus ordered the group to escape to Burthov while he took care of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and his soldiers. {{storylink|Defiance issue 3|Defiance #3}}{{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}}

Arcee was part of the team who captured the disenchanted soldier [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and brought him before Optimus Prime. Ironhide pledged allegiance to Prime and brought news of the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', a massive starship that Megatron was building. While observing its construction and taking images of the ship, Arcee remarked that she had never seen its like before. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}} From [[Tyger Pax]], she witnessed the departure of the ''Nemesis'' with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}}

[[File:MoviePrequel1 Arcee Bumblebee.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"Can I say something?" "Whatever it is, now is not the right time!"]]

During the subsequent civil war, Arcee defended civilians who were being targeted by Megatron's Decepticons for refusing to join in the war against Optimus Prime's Autobots. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}} As the war raged on, Sentinel invented a "[[pillar|torch]]" that he promised would end the war, which required the [[AllSpark]] to be activated. Arcee and Chromia flanked Ironhide at the lead of the assault on Simfur Temple. As the battle raged, Arcee and Chromia were swatted aside by Megatron, but Optimus attacked, allowing Elita to activate the torch and deliver it to Sentinel. Sentinel arrived in the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]], but Starscream blew up the ship. Ironhide picked up Arcee and Chromia as the Autobots retreated. However, the assault had weakened Decepticon morale and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]] commanded another [[Ark (Movie)|Ark]] for Arcee and Chromia to steal the AllSpark itself! {{storylink|Foundation issue 4|Foundation #4}}

Later, Arcee fought the Decepticons during an attempt to reclaim the Cube at Tyger Pax. However, Arcee and the rest of those under Bumblebee's command didn't know the true purpose of their battle: they were a diversion to keep Megatron busy while other Autobots readied the AllSpark for launch from Cybertron. She was captured and interrogated by the Decepticons but survived the ordeal. She recounted to their Autobot rescuers Bumblebee's heroics in delaying Megatron, which prevented the Decepticon from intercepting the wormhole-bound AllSpark. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 1|Movie Prequel #1}}

[[File:ReignofStarscream4 Arcee.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]

Following the Autobots' victory in Mission City, which culminated in the death of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and the destruction of the AllSpark on [[Earth]], Arcee was in command of an Autobot assault team on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] and led [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]] and others in an attack on [[Nemesis (Movie)|Starscream's ship]]. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream #2}} While her team made short work of the [[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle]], [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]], and [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]] drones the Decepticons sent against them, Arcee killed the Decepticon sniper [[Hardtop (Movie)|Hardtop]] before he could take out [[Smokescreen (Movie)|Smokescreen]]. Her teammates were unprepared for the arrival of [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], however, and he quickly slew [[Camshaft (Movie)|Camshaft]] and wounded [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]]. Remembering her failure at Tyger Pax, Arcee leapt into action, and soon she and Cliffjumper had Thundercracker at their mercy. The arrival of Starscream changed that, as he killed Smokescreen and Air Raid and badly damaged Cliffjumper. As she attempted to pull the last surviving member of her team to safety, Arcee was kicked aside by Starscream. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 3|The Reign of Starscream #3}}

However, Arcee recovered an instant later. The Decepticon starship was already taking off, but she jumped and grabbed onto a piece of landing gear, holding on tight... through the [[space bridge]]. Wow. Later, she made her way back to an Autobot facility, where she unexpectedly met Clocker and [[Crosshairs (Movie)|Crosshairs]]. Along with a large force of Autobots, the three moved in on the Simfur temple, where Starscream was using captured Autobots for a strange project of his. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 4|The Reign of Starscream #4}}

She split her troops into two forces: One would attack the city of Trypticon as a diversion, while the other moved in on Simfur. Arcee and her team could only watch helplessly as Starscream drained the life out of the Autobot prisoners strapped onto the [[replica AllSpark]], despite her sister Elita-One's pleas for mercy. An opportunity to cause havoc presented itself when [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]]'s forces attempted a coup. Arcee lined up her sights on the generator holding the life energy of the deceased prisoners, dedicated the shot to Elita, and destroyed it, annihilating the Cube and sending the Decepticons into disarray. Arcee's team fought their way through the disorganised Decepticons, linked up with [[Wingblade]]'s team, and rolled out just as the crippled starship came crashing down on the city. With the destruction of the capitol and the defeat of a significant portion of the Decepticon drone army, Arcee considered this to be the turning point of the war, but as long as Starscream was alive, he was a threat that she had to track down. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 5|The Reign of Starscream #5}}

[[File:TalesoftheFallen6-Arceeprotoforms.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The best part of waking up is ... still being in your own body.]]

Some time later, a ship carrying Arcee and her crew was shot down over an unidentified planet, and when Arcee managed to escape the wreckage, she saw that the culprit was her old nemesis, Thundercracker. She blacked out, and an indeterminate amount of time later, she awoke on an operating table—or rather, next to her old body on an operating table. Her [[spark]] had been transplanted into a new body by the Decepticon mad scientist [[Flatline (ROTF)|Flatline]], as part of a twisted plan to create a new breed of tripartate soldier by using her spark to reignite those of her deceased sisters, Elita-One and Chromia. Flatline had not considered Arcee's strong will, however, and her original programming persisted. She broke free and escaped with two of Flatline's other experiment victims, the twins [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], but was surprised to learn that Flatline's experiment had worked: her sisters lived again in two bodies similar to her own new form, but now, they were connected at the spark, sharing the thoughts, feelings and memories of one another, thinking with one mind yet still retaining a degree of autonomy and recollection of their previous selves. [[File:TalesoftheFallen6-whereishe.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|WASSSS A MAAANNN (now three man)]] The united sisters defeated Flatline, and with the Twins, headed for the exit, but Thundercracker and some Decepticon drones blocked them. Thundercracker laughed, since Arcee hadn't fared too well the last time they tangled, but... that was then. Thundercracker was easily bested by the new and improved Arcee, and escaped while Flatline's headquarters detonated by remote. Arcee wondered whether her weird new existence was a mistake, or if she was merely destined for greater things. Regardless, she refused to become bent on revenge against Thundercracker for the deaths of her crew, so she and the Twins made plans to join the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 6|Tales of the Fallen #6}} {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 1|Rising Storm #1}}

A short time later, Arcee and her sisters, along with [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]], [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], [[Topspin (DOTM)|Topspin]], [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] and [[Roadbuster (DOTM)|Roadbuster]] arrived on Earth on the [[Wreckers]] ship [[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]. (While the ship and the Wreckers stayed behind in [[NASA]]) {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}{{storylink|Dark of the Moon issue 3}} in response to a summons beamed into space by Optimus Prime Joining the allied Autobot-human strikeforce [[NEST]], the new recruits received some training, and were soon called upon to put it into use: the Decepticon [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] had been sighted in [[Shanghai]], [[China]]. {{Storylink|Alliance issue 4|Alliance #4}}

[[File:ArceeROTFIDWCombo.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Remember what [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] did with [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and the [[Duocon]]s?]]
Arcee participated in the [[Shanghai]] battle. When [[Twins (ROTF)|the Twins]] botched their chase of [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], the Arcee motorcycles gave chase before [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] finished the job. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 1|Revenge of the Fallen #1}} When the Autobots were on the move to the US East Coast investigating on multiple detected Decepticon contacts, at least one of the Arcee bikes was seen alongside [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. Later, while Optimus was fighting [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] in the forest, at least two Arcee bikes were approaching the battle site alongside [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]. An Arcee robot was also seen with [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and Ironhide when the latter was firing at Starscream and Megatron who were fleeing from the site. The Arcee robot was the first one to notice Optimus Prime's severe damage before Ratchet pronounced him "nearly gone". {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 2|Revenge of the Fallen #2}} All three Arcee robots were with the other Autobots when they were facing the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] in the desert of Egypt. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 3|Revenge of the Fallen #3}}

[[File:TFSpaceCase-SpaceCasehitsArcee.jpg|thumb|right]]
Sometime later after [[Operation: Firestorm]], Arcee joined Bumblebee and Sam for a picnic, which was cut short when they went to investigate an energy signal that had appeared after an earthquake. The trio proceeded deep underground and, just as Arcee was admonishing Sam to be careful, Space Case ambushed them. Despite their numeric superiority, the Autobots had trouble with their enemy because they were afraid firing weapons might cause their unstable surroundings to collapse. Space Case, angry at what he perceived as persecution from the Autobots, activated his plasma afterburners and rocketed out of the cave, triggering the feared cave-in and burying Sam and the Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers: Space Case}} Arcee managed to send out a distress signal, to which Ratchet responded. The medic fended off Space Case and managed to free Arcee from a pile of rubble, allowing her to go after Space Case a fleeing Space Case. {{storylink|Transformers: Ratchet}} The chase took them towards a densely populated city. Despite Space Case's engine damage, he still had a significant speed advantage over Arcee. As she paused to consider her options, she received a holographic communication from Ratchet. The Autobot medic reported that Sam Witwicky and Bumblebee had survived their encounter with Space Case with no serious injuries, and suggested that Arcee meet back up with them. Arcee cut him off abruptly, inwardly observing that while Ratchet thought she continued to chase Space Case out of a misplaced sense of pride, that's not really what she was doing at all. Arcee then caught up with Space Case. Panicking, Space Case threw Arcee through a storefront and took to the air in another attempt to escape. Arcee, determined not to let anything keep her down, sped after Space Case, used a building to ramp up to his altitude, and destroyed his other engine. Space Case went plummeting into the distance, headed for the waterfront. As he vanished from sight, he promised to be back. Arcee knew she'd be ready for his eventual return. {{storylink|Transformers: Arcee}}

[[File:RisingStorm1 ArceeInjured.jpg|thumb|left]]
When NEST discovered that Starscream was selling Transformer weaponry to humans, a sting operation was staged in which [[Theodore Galloway]] would pose as a buyer to lure the Decepticons in. When [[Skystalker (ROTF)|Skystalker]], [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]] and [[Fearswoop (ROTF)|Fearswoop]] took the bait, Arcee and her sisters joined the twins and the human forces of NEST in tackling them. The sisters did not take kindly to Skystalker's incredulity about the Autobots "sending their women" to do their fighting for them, and killed him with practised ease. The battle aggravated the wounds Arcee had taken in Egypt the previous year, however, and she was brought back to Diego Garcia for medical attention courtesy of Ratchet. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 1|Rising Storm #1}}

After Sam Witwicky contacted Optimus Prime as Philadelphia was being attacked by Decepticons, Optimus decided that the sisters should be left out of the fight due to Arcee's wounds. Arcee wanted to go despite Chromia's attempt to let her stay behind while her two sisters went. In the end, Optimus decided to allow her to go with Chromia and Elita-1. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 2|Rising Storm #2}}

[[File:RisingStorm 3 Arcee, Ravage and Ratbat.jpg|thumb|Ravage and Ratbat teach you how to get dates]]

She and her sisters went to New York thinking they would get information on Starscream selling his weapons to humans, but instead they found Astrotrain and a monster. And they also found out that Shockwave was on earth, so they tried to inform Optimus, but [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] jammed their communication and sent his minions after the girls. Arcee and Chromia told Elita-1 to find Optimus. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3|Rising Storm #3}}

As Ravage was attacking her. Arcee began to feel the pain of her wounds (and Chromia began to feel them too), later Elita-1 died and Arcee and Chromia felt her death. Despite Arcee's attempts to stop her, Chromia activated some bombs they brought with them (which possibly killed Soundwave's minions). Arcee and Chromia survived the explosion. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4|Rising Storm #4}}

====''Transformers: Beginnings''====
{{note|Transformers: Beginnings is a condensed, flash-animated retelling of the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]] that is detailed above this section.}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Beginnings (Movie)|Transformers: Beginnings}}
{{--}}

===Titan movie comics===
Originally, Arcee didn't serve either faction, working alone to solve injustices in her own way. [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] personally decided to make an example of her, and only an Autobot extraction team led by [[Kup (Movie)|Kup]] saved her life. This debt saw her join the Autobots. She's chimerical in nature and is constantly changing her [[Alternate mode|altmode]] in an effort to go as fast as possible (maybe that's why her [[robot mode]] always looks different!). She [[Arcee (G1)|previously had a hover-car form]], but on Earth takes a modified bike mode. Once you earn her trust, she's [[Rick Astley|never going to let you down]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|Arcee bio}}

During the AllSpark launch, she led the six-bot team that drew Megatron's attention to Tyger Pax. And Optimus only told ''Bumblebee'' that's what their mission was! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2|#2's reprint of Movie Prelude}}

[[File:Titan5 Sidewayssideswipes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I'm such good friends that I all dress alike!]]

Arcee had been on Earth for some time before [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] arrived. When using all three of her bodies, she refers to her collective self as "we". Back then, she was keeping her pink paint job!

She went on to assist Optimus Prime in a [[NEST]] mission in [[Australia]], and so was in a perfect position to capture the Decepticon [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]]. Pursuing him in bike(s) mode, she found it near impossible to blow out his tyres and kept getting sideswiped by him during the pursuit. When a stunned Optimus ordered her to stay on the Decepticon's tail, she responded that the Decepticon's alt mode was far better suited for the terrain... inspiring Optimus to ''blow up'' that terrain.
[[File:Titan2-8 dronesurrender.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Geez, this just getting ''confusing''.]]
With Sideways stunned and taking robot form, Arcee sent one bike in to take him down but almost got hit before human military helicopters arrived to back her up. The mission over, she and Optimus took their prisoner back to [[Diego Garcia]], with Arcee escorting him to a cell. But surprise, [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] was waiting to free him! She was quickly stunned and unable to stop the Decepticons escaping. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}}

She later decided it'd be fun to switch back to her older, single-form body! Her old body got a good workout when she was part of the strike team on the Decepticon's [[Mars (planet)|Phobos]] base. After a brief but violent battle, the [[Purple generic drone|drone hordes]] surrendered to her and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}

====Alternate timeline====
[[File:Titan13 Arcee.jpg|thumb|"I don't ''want'' to look retro!!"]]
In an [[Tyran 208.28 Gamma|alternate timeline]] where the Decepticons won the battle of [[Mission City]], Arcee was a member of a small group of reinforcements summoned to Earth by the remaining Autobots on the planet. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 2}} Touching down on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]] to await contact from Earth, they were attacked by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], but the quick-thinking Arcee took command and rallied the troops. When this still failed to work, she ordered them to Earth (following [[Strongarm (Movie)|Strongarm]]'s initiative) and their prearranged targets. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 11|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3}} Joining up with the Earth-bound Autobots, Arcee refused to accept defeat, and helped [[Armorhide (Movie)|Armorhide]] defend [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] while he destroyed the AllSpark, foiling the Decepticons' plan to cyberform Earth using its power. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 12|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 4}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5}}

Arcee was left bewildered by the idea that Humanity would not trust and love the Autobots, and Optimus explained to her that, from a human point of view, all the Transformers are alien horrors fighting on their planet. Following this, she guarded the [[Savannah]], [[Georgia]] shelter and was caught in an ambush staged by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 14|Aftermath Part 1}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|Aftermath Part 2}}

[[File:Titan22 Arcee.jpg|left|thumb|"''That's'' better!"]]

Later, after serving with Bumblebee in protecting an Alaskan pipeline, among other engagements to protect the American infrastructure, {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}} Arcee was part of Ironhide's team in retrieving [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] from Cybertron, which ran afoul of [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 17|Return to Cybertron: Part 1}} She acted as Bumblebee's distraction, drawing [[Storm Surge (Movie)|Storm Surge]] and [[Fracture (Movie)|Fracture]] away, {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 18|Return to Cybertron: Part 2}} and doubled back to regroup with Ironhide (and pull him out of rubble) when [[Unicron]] arrived. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|Return to Cybertron: Part 3}} Later, she got Optimus Prime up to speed on the situation. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 20|Return to Cybertron: Part 4}}

Following the Decepticon re-conquest of Savannah, Arcee was part of the raid to rescue [[Mikaela Banes]]. She got off one bit of bravado about how hitting things was her kind of shindig before [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] hit ''her''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself}}

When the Autobots launched their final strike, Arcee was part of the spearhead team hitting the [[Decepticon Heartland]]. She started off the 'tagging' of Decepticons to teleport them away from Earth, getting [[Incinerator (Movie)|Incinerator]] in the back and looking very happy about it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|Revolution Part Three}}
{{--}}

===Toy bios===
Arcee was well trained by Ironhide, making her one of the most dangerous Autobots. She believes without question that the Decepticons must be stopped at all costs. {{storylink|#Scout Class toys|Arcee (Scout)}}

Arcee honed her speed by hunting [[turbofox]]es with other speedsters, challenging herself to get as close as possible before tagging them with her bow. Arriving on [[Earth]] at some point in the early 21st Century, she would spend her days stalking unsuspecting Decepticons until she drew them close enough to strike. {{storylink|#2007dlx|Arcee (Movie Deluxe)}} However, when the situation on Earth began to ramp up into out-and-out combat, Arcee was reassigned to the [[Charii system]]. It was there where her stealth skills would be of more use, fighting against a Decepticon splinter cell working on a star-breaking weapon. {{storylink|Robo-Vision|Arcee (Robo-Vision)}}

Nevertheless, Arcee jumped at the chance to get back on Earth and was soon handed control of her own strike team, made up of robots similar to her in attitude and design. She stalked Decepticons and killed them on the quiet. {{storylink|#Deluxe Class toys 2|Arcee (ROTF Deluxe)}} She also started following the tradition of inscribing Cybertronian words on your chassis: while she wasn't superstitious, the ''Decepticons'' sure were! It also gave her a nice confidence boost. {{storylink|#Deluxe Class toys 4|Arcee (DOTM Deluxe)}}

Whenever Arcee partook in a fight, she was fighting to win. She always made sure her weapons were fully charged and her engine was tuned to perfection. By the time Decepticons saw Arcee in their rearview mirrors, there was no escape for them. {{storylink|#Fast Action Battlers|Cyber Pursuit Arcee}}

While fighting the dread [[Tailwhip]], Arcee was trapped in his vortex and her only chance was to shoot out the blades of the evil robot above her. {{storylink|#Deluxe Class toys 3|Rotorwash Rumble}} Her closest comrade was Ratchet, as they both carried a standing feud with [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] for [[The Thrill of the Hunt|unknown reasons]].<ref name="battlebio">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Hasbro Arcee Battle Bio]</ref>

Arcee and her sisters have hunted [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] in the past, but he always got away. After begging [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], the three of them got another shot at bringing him down. {{storylink|#SidewaysSneakAttack|Sideways Sneak Attack}}

===''Legends'' comic===
Arcee was among the heroic female Transformers who appeared in one of [[Tigatron]]'s dreams to protect him from the evil female Transformers. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 11|Bonus Edition Vol. 11}}

==Toys==
===''Transformers'' (2007)===
====Scout Class toys====
[[File:Movie-toy Arcee-TargetScout.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Not Chrom- Well, maybe I am!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Target exclusive Scout Class, [[2007]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Launcher, missile, scope, 2 tailpipes, "Energon" star

: Arcee is a [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]], replacing her pinks and most of her whites and blacks with blue, and her translucent red with smoky brown plastic. She transforms into a "superbike"-type racing motorcycle. Unusually for a Transformer, she does not hold her weapon in her hands as most figures do. Instead, her Energon Bow mounts on a peg on either arm, with her hands being positioned to give the appearance of her using the bow. The bow itself is spring-loaded, firing a grey "arrow" missile.

:Arcee (and the rest of the Scout wave) were [[exclusive]] to [[Target]] stores, where they were all part of a [[Robo-Vision]] promotion. Arcee came with a Robo-Vision Decoder which allows you to see the Robo-Vision Code ("BULLSEYE") printed on her cardback. Starting [[June 2]], 2007, Target's website allowed users to input those codes to access exclusive content, a concept similar to the online [[Cyber Planet Key]] info from the [[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'' toyline]].

:This toy was also sold as a Farmers exclusive in [[New Zealand]], and was [[repurposing|repurposed]] as [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]]'s Cybertronian form in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] movie comics.

:This mold was also used to make ''Superlink'' Ariel Paradron Type, as well as the [[BotCon 2005]] "[[Descent into Evil]]" set's [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]], [[Flareup (G1)|Flareup]], and the fellow Target-exclusive [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|movieverse]] [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]], which was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' [[Arcee (SG)|Arcee]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/TargetArcee/arcee.htm More information on Scout Arcee at TFU.info]''
{{EnergonArceeMold}}
{{--}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
{{anchor|2007dlx}}
[[File:Movie Deluxe Arcee toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Pretty in...purple?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Deluxe Class, [[2007]])}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''MA-11'''
:*''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile
{{toydesigner|[[Eric Siebenaler]] (Hasbro), [[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Deluxe Arcee transforms into a purple 2006 Buell Firebolt XB12R motorcycle, genericised to get around licensing issues. Arcee has references [[tampograph]]ed on her [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], such as her motorcycle's fictional model name, "RC 1100" (Get it? "RC" as in "Arcee"), and her [[Massachusetts]] [[license plate]] marked TF7407, the original release date of the movie.

: Arcee's [[Automorph Technology|Automorphing]] feature is located in her crossbow weapon (formed out of the seat/storage area of the bike), activated when the projectile (the bike's tailpipe) is inserted, which pushes out the recurved lath parts on the sides of the weapon. The rectangular peg which is supposed to be used to attach her weapon to her forearm in [[robot mode]] is sometimes a poor fit, and the weapon may pop off. As an alternative, the round peg by which the weapon is attached in ''vehicle'' mode can also be used in robot mode, with a little rearranging of parts.

: Undocumented in the instructions, the two shoulder-mounted half-wheels contain a small niche on the edge of the tires. By folding the wheels down with the hubcaps pointing towards the chest and turning the tires towards the shoulders, one can feel the wheels gently click into place via the tire niches and hidden tabs in the shoulders, allowing the wheels to remain in place and more closely resemble the figure as pictured on its packaging. Probably coincidentally, Arcee is almost perfectly scaled to 3.75 inch figures like Hasbro's own ''G.I. Joe'', though this would put her vehicle mode more in line with the size of the larger Kawasaki Ninja than the Firebolt.

: As with most larger Transformers toys that become motorcycles, Arcee has a kickstand on the left side of the bike; unfortunately, it's mounted so low that she will fall in the opposite direction if it is fully extended.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/Arcee/arcee.htm More information on Deluxe Arcee at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Battle3pack}}
[[File:Movietoy-Arceebattledamaged.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|She's a dirty girl.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Arcee, Starscream & Optimus Prime''' (Sam's Club exclusive three-pack, 2007)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile

: A three-pack, [[exclusive]] to Sam's Club stores, consisting of redecos of Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and Deluxe Class Arcee, both with battle damage deco, and an unchanged Voyager Class [[Starscream (Movie)/toys|Starscream]].

{{anchor|Battlesingle}}
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Deluxe Class, 2007)}}</ul>

: A single release of the battle damaged redeco of Deluxe Class Arcee from the Sam's Club exclusive three-pack, sold in the same packaging as the non-redecoed original release. This version was officially available in Hasbro's Southeast Asian markets, but sightings hailing from a US [[Walmart]] store and retail in Belgium (!) suggest it might have been available there in small quantities as well... however, whereas the Asian release sports an additional sticker on the packaging highlighting the "Exclusive! Battle-damage!", the version found at US retail lacks the sticker, yet has a different UPC bar code than the original version, suggesting an isolated flub rather than an official release.<ref name="arceewm">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/168922-battle-damaged-deluxe-arcee-found-california-walmart.html "Battle-damaged Deluxe Arcee found at California Walmart"] at TFW2005.</ref>

{{-}}{{anchor|BlackArcee}}
[[File:Movie Arcee Black toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I shall go back...]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Black Arcee''' (Deluxe Class, [[2008]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''MA-20'''
:*''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, AllSpark cube

: This Japan-only [[redeco]] of Deluxe Class Arcee is cast in black in an attempt to match the look of the motorcycle [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] rides near the end of the film. Surprisingly, it is not [[Black redeco|evil]].

: Like all Japanese "[[AllSpark Power]]" toys, Black Arcee comes with a small AllSpark cube accessory.

{{-}}{{anchor|PinkArcee}}
[[File:Movie Arcee Wonder Festival G1 redeco.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|...all the way to 1986...!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee G1 Color Edition''' (Deluxe Class, 2008)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile

:Arcee G1 Color Edition (アーシーG1カラーエディション) is decoed in pink and white, in homage to Generation 1 [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and debuted at [[Wonder Festival]] 2008 Winter in Tokyo, Japan.
{{--}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
====Legends Class toys====
{{anchor|Legends}}
[[File:ROTFtoy-ArceeLegends.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|If you wanted Legends Class figures of the other two, you'd have needed to buy Arcee again. And Sideways. Geez, thanks!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Legends Class, [[2010]])}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Kyde]] (Hasbro)}}

:Legends Arcee is a pink and black motorcycle that transforms into a pink and black robot. Black chunks are strategically placed on her two wheels so she can stand up in robot mode. There's an odd jointed piece above her rear wheel that has a [[Powerlinx]]-like [[5 mm post|hardpoint]] and a peg hole on the other side; since the entire piece serves no function, it may have been designed with a combined form similar to the Deluxes in mind.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Autobot/LegArcee/arcee.htm More information on Legends Arcee at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
{{anchor|RA11}}
[[File:ROTF Deluxe Chromia.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Hey, I'm Arcee too, sometimes! Well, actually most times.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Chromia''' ([[2009]])}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''RA-11'''
:*''Accessories:'' Missile, figure stand/cycle cannons

:[[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] converts from an unlicensed approximation of a {{w|Suzuki B-King}} to a robot with a unicycle for legs. Her vehicle mode weapon can attach as a display stand for either mode, ironically making a unicycle-bot one of the more stable robot-modes. In robot mode, there is a spring-loaded missile between the tailpipes on Chromia's left hand in addition to the aforementioned non-firing blaster-stand. There is also a piece on the bottom of the vehicle mode (or back of the robot mode) that folds out, but there is no indication in the instructions as to what this piece is for. However, the piece can slide into a similar piece in the later Arcee toy, starting the supposed combined mode.

:While the instructions depict the motorcycle seat remaining flat so that it ends up covering the bottom wheel, the robot mode more closely resembles the movie design if the seat is folded in and locked into a slot on the motorcycle's bottom, as shown on the back of the packaging. The packaging photo also shows Chromia's front wheel resting behind the robot's shoulders, while the instructions leave it above her head. Furthermore, while it is not mentioned either in the instructions or shown on the box, the stand can be attached backwards and rotated with the guns facing up so that it acts as a prop for the toy, allowing the wheel to actually touch the ground, and letting the toy look from the front like it is unsupported. In addition, the stand can also be attached to right arm as an inordinately large handgun by sliding the two pegs inside the gun into two slots on the inside of the arm.

:The stand has sculpted tank treads on the bottom, most likely to make it look that she's still mobile while using it.

:Though the instructions do not explain it, the back of the blister card mentions she has a [[Mech Alive]] gimmick in her left arm. While it isn't quite the "spinning gears" the card refers to, swinging her left forearm towards and away from her body makes a blue piston slide back and forth inside the large gun.

{{-}}{{anchor|RA23}}
[[File:ROTF Deluxe Arcee toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Help! I have scoliosis, and I can't stand on my own.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (2009)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''RA-23'''
:*''Accessories:'' Sidecar/blaster/figure stand
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Scribner]] (deco artist)}}

:Deluxe class ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Arcee converts from an unlicensed {{w|Ducati 848}} to a robot mode that can look quite awkward if not properly aligned. The figure has a sidecar which can become a Dual Sniper Pistol<ref name="battlebio"/> or a display stand. In robot mode, she is equipped with a small cannon on her right wrist that can deploy a spring-loaded energy blade. Small [[Cyberglyphics]] inscriptions are molded onto the surface of the blade.

:Her [[Mech Alive]] feature is located not in her elbow, as the packaging would suggest, but instead in her chest; tilting her neck up and down causes a pair of exposed gears to turn.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/Arcee/arcee.htm More information on Deluxe Arcee at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

====''Fast Action Battlers''====
{{anchor|FAB}}
[[File:ROTF-toy FAB CyberPursuitArcee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I still have scoliosis, but now I can stand up!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Cyber Pursuit Arcee''' (Fast Action Battler, 2010)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Exhaust pipes/missile

:A simplified version of her ''Revenge of the Fallen'' toy, [[Fast Action Battlers]] Arcee is targeted at the age 5 and under demographic, being a simplified version of her Deluxe-Class toy and having more limited articulation (that's better than most Fast Action Battlers toys). This version does away with the sidecar/stand in favor of a built-in, fully retractable stand, as well as featuring a kickstand and free spinning wheels. Her main gimmick is the ability to fire her dual exhaust pipes as a single missile in both robot and vehicle mode. She features fully working suspension, but due to the transformation locking both wheels in place, it is not available in vehicle mode.

:Despite being intended for a sub-line that focuses on fast and fairly easy transformations, the design of the shoulder joints and the nature of the transformation can make transforming from robot to vehicle mode frustrating. Ironic.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Autobot/FABArcee/arcee.htm More information on Cyber Pursuit Arcee at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

====''Human Alliance''====
{{anchor|HAArcee}}
[[File:ROTFtoy-ArceeHumanAlliance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I'm the red bike, but I transform into the blue bike's robot, but with the red bike's colors - look, women are complicated, okay?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Skids / Arcee / Mikaela Banes''' (Human Alliance, 2009)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''RA-25'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Coming with [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mikaela Banes]], ''[[Human Alliance]]'' Arcee is a robot that transforms into a motorcycle. As with the other Human Alliance vehicles, Mikaela can ride her in her vehicle mode.

: This figure, which is somewhere in between [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends]] and [[size class|Scout Class]] size, has a motorcycle mode that is slightly similar to Arcee's Ducati 848, with some elements resembling the Aprilia RS125 Mikaela is riding at one point in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie]], and some elements entirely made up. The robot mode, meanwhile, is clearly that of the blue motorcycle, [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]]. Hasbro explained in their monthly Q&A that it ''is'' meant to resemble Mikaela's bike, and they called it "Arcee" so kids wouldn't be confused by two separate red/pink bikes.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65426 Hasbro December 09 Q&A, AllSpark]</ref> Also, the face, which is mostly unpainted save for a few small details, doesn't resemble ROTF Arcee's movie design at all. In fact, the head design bears some resemblance to [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]].

: Despite being larger than a Legends Class figure, Arcee features less [[articulation]] than most of them. While her right elbow features a swivel joint, the left arm is sculpted in one piece, and the elbow fixed in a permanent position.

: This mold was later redecoed into ''Dark of the Moon'' Human Alliance [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-1]].

{{-}}{{anchor|HAChromia}}
[[File:Humanalliancechromiatoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|Red repaint in 3... 2... 1...]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Mudflap / Chromia / Agent Simmons''' (Human Alliance, 2010)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''RA-31'''

: Coming with [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] and [[Seymour Simmons]], Human Alliance Chromia is, you guessed it, a robot that transforms into a motorcycle. Simmons can ride her in her vehicle mode as well.

: Aside from the colour scheme, this "Chromia" is clearly meant to be Arcee as it has the main component's robot mode, and its vehicle mode is closer to Arcee's than either the motorcycle included with Human Alliance Skids or the Deluxe Chromia. Its higher level of movie-accuracy includes a much more accurate head sculpt, and although its left arm is also cast in one piece, the extra articulation in the shoulders, waist and hips makes the figure more posable than the other HA motorcycle.

: The transformation is surprisingly complex and fiddly for a figure this size, which is basically a non-autotransforming version of the larger FAB. In robot mode the figure has a piece than the wheels can stand on to support them, or be rotated behind to prop the figure up with some care. The kickstand is too short to hold the bike upright in vehicle mode, although this is easily fixed by gluing a small piece of black plastic to its base to lengthen it. She suffers from balance issues in robot mode as well, since her robot-mode stand ends up placed more towards her left side instead of at the center, meaning she tends to fall to her right side often.

: She also comes packaged incompletely transformed, with her (difficult to open) right hand left untransformed as the motorbike's seat. Good luck getting ''that'' out.
{{--}}

===''Transformers'' (2010)===
{{anchor|TF2010Elita}}
[[File:Hunt for the Decepticons Deluxe Elita-1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|(''Hasbro version pictured'')]]
[[File:TakaraTomyAutobotAllianceElita.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|(''TakaraTomy version pictured'')]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Elita-1''' (Deluxe Class, 2010)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''AA-08'''
:*''Accessories:'' Missile, figure stand/cannons

:Elita-1 is a black, white and metallic pink [[redeco]] of Chromia, transforming from a unicycle-robot into a {{w|Suzuki B-King}} motorcycle. Her vehicle mode weapon can attach as a display stand for either mode, ironically making a unicyclebot one of the most stable robot-modes. In robot mode, there is a spring-loaded missile between the tailpipes on Chromia's left hand in addition to the aforementioned non-firing blaster-stand. She is slightly retooled from the original Chromia figure, sporting an extra tab that allows her chest to lock together more securely. She was released as part of the [[Hunt for the Decepticons]] promotion.

:Elita-1 features a small [[Mech Alive]] gimmick: swinging her left forearm towards and away from her body makes a blue piston slide back and forth inside the large gun. Her stand has sculpted tank threads on the bottom, most likely to make it look that she's still mobile while using it. Her license plate has ''3L 174'' written on it as an stylish way of spelling her own name. [[Headmaster (Animated)|A certain fellow]] would approve of that.

:[[TakaraTomy]] initially mistakenly solicited their release of Elita-1 using the purple Arcee redeco from the "Rotorwash Rumble" pack. The actual released toy uses the Chromia mold just like Hasbro, with a more [[show-accuracy|screen accurate]] deco that uses more purple paint.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Autobot/Elita-1/elita-1.htm More information on Elita-1 at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|RotorwashRumble}}
[[File:HFTD rotorwash arcee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Rotorwash Rumble''' ([[Target]] exclusive multi-pack, 2010)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Sidecar/cannons/figure stand

:A pink redeco of the ''ROTF'' Arcee mold. She is packaged with the Decepticon [[Blazemaster]]-redeco [[Tailwhip]]. Her packaging successfully identifies her Mech Alive gimmick as being in her chest, rather than her left elbow.

:As noted above, TakaraTomy mistakenly used this figure in solicitation images of their Elita-1.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Autobot/TargetArcee/arcee.htm More information on Rotorwash Rumble Arcee at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|SidewaysSneakAttack}}
[[File:TF2010toy sideways sneak attack.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Sideways Sneak Attack''' (Multi-pack)}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Scribner]] (deco artist)}}

:This [[Target]] exclusive multi-pack was to contain redecos of the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Legends class Arcee mold as Chromia and Elita-1, plus an Arcee possibly lacking the black [[paint operation]]s on the handles from the single ''ROTF'' release ([[prototype|samples]] on display at [[BotCon 2010]] came in both flavors) plus ''possibly'' a different paint mask for the face. The set furthermore includes a redeco of Deluxe class [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], whose painted battle damage evokes the scene in the film where he's been cut in half. Ouchies.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

===''Animated''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (EZ Collection, 2010)}}</ul>
:*''Release date'': [[April 24]] 2010
:*''ID number'': '''EZ-24'''

: Yes, you read that correctly. The Legends-class Arcee was released under the ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Transformers Animated]]'' brand in Japan, as part of the first assortment of [[blindpacking|blind-packed]] "[[EZ Collection]]" toys, which was half-''Animated'', half-movie. This version of Arcee appears to be identical to the [[#Legends Class toys|original Hasbro release]].
{{--}}

===''Dark of the Moon''===
{{anchor|DA11}}
[[File:DOTM MechTech Deluxe Arcee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (MechTech Deluxe Class, [[May 14|5-14]]-[[2011]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''DA11'''
:*''Accessories:'' Missile, figure stand/cannons, MechTech Blaster/Sonic Blade

:Originating from [[TakaraTomy]], this ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' Deluxe class Arcee is a redeco and minor retool of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Chromia, adding two [[5 mm post]] hole MechTech ports on her sculpted engine, which end up on her arms in robot mode. She comes with a retool of [[Roadbuster (DOTM)|Roadbuster]]'s [[MechTech]] weapon, replacing the chainsaw with a new Sonic Blade sword.

:Unlike the official image(left),the figure uses white plastic on more pieces, specially in the arms, noticeable in both modes, as well as clear orange instead of blue of the same official image.

:Arcee comes packed with a character card and an accompanying transparent plastic card of her MechTech weapon for the MechTech Wars online game.

{{-}}{{anchor|Cyberglyph}}
[[File:Arcee DOTM Deluxe Target.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Deluxe Class, 2011)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Sidecar/blaster/figure stand
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Scribner]] (deco artist)}}

:A redeco of the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Arcee figure, this version is mostly cast in smoky clear pink plastic, with her sidecar being white this time. Liberally scattered across her body are opaque pink [[Cyberglyphics]]. The packaging callouts return to falsely indicating that her left elbow contains moving gears.

:As with the other [[Target]] [[exclusive]] "Cyberglyph" redecos ([[Space Case (DOTM)#Dark of the Moon|Space Case]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Cyberglyph|Bumblebee]] and [[Jazz (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Autobot Jazz]]), she comes with a comic book by [[IDW Publishing]], ''[[Transformers: Arcee]]''.

: She was also made available in Canada as a Zellers exclusive, in New Zealand as a Farmers exclusive (both in English-only US-style packaging minus the "only at Target" sticker), in the United Kingdom as a Tesco exclusive, and in Germany as a Müller exclusive (both in typical [[multilingual packaging|multilingual European packaging]] including a multilingual comic).

:At both [[BotCon 2011]] and [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2011, the Hasbro slide presentation referred to this figure as Elita-1. Alrighty then.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2011/Autobot/TargetArcee/arcee.htm Dark of the Moon Arcee at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|HAElita}}
[[File:Humanallianceelitaone.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Ugh! Wrong body again, Hasbro!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Skids / Elita-1 / Sergeant Epps''' (Human Alliance, 2011)}}</ul>

: A purple redeco of ''Human Alliance'' Arcee, ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' Elita-1 comes with a redeco of ''Human Alliance'' [[Skids (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Skids]] and [[Robert Epps#Dark of the Moon|Sergeant Epps]]. Epps can ride her in vehicle mode.

:The mold Elita-1 is redecoed from actually uses Chromia's robot design (similarly to Elita-1's Deluxe-class toy) despite originally being named and colored like Arcee, meaning that the purple bike is a recolor of the red bike who somehow had the blue bike's body. Confused yet?

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2011/Autobot/HAElita-1/elita-1.htm Human Alliance Elita-1 at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Movie Edition''===
[[File:TTC-toy Arcee.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Tiny Turbo Changer, [[2019]])}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''5'''
:*''Bag Code:'' '''D'''

: Released in the fifth Series of [[Tiny Turbo Changers]] under the ''Movie Edition'' banner, Arcee is a small soft-plastic figure that turns from wheel-footed robot into a pink sports motorcycle in a few short steps, based on her ''Revenge of the Fallen'' design.

: For reasons unknown, some Arcee figures came without instructions, though that may be a small sample size because Series 5 of the movie-based Tiny Turbo Changers only barely made it to retail. Very few retailers and virtually no online outlets offered this Series, and the few places they could be found, like [[Target]], apparently got very very few of them.
{{-}}

===''Studio Series''===
[[File:Studio_Series_52_Arcee_toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Wait, why do I get second billing?!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Chromia / Arcee / Elita-1''' (Deluxe Class, 2019)}}</ul>
:*''Movie'': '''''Revenge of the Fallen'''''
:*''Hasbro ID number'': '''52'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''SS-41'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[January 25]], [[2020]]
:*''Accessories'': 3 wheel stands, cannon, sword, shoulderpad, "[[Shanghai]] Pursuit" backdrop

[[File:Studio_Series_52_Arcee_combiner.JPG|upright=0.9|thumb|left|Team carry!]]
:''[[Studio Series]]'' Arcee is a Legion Class-sized mold accurate to her appearance in ''Revenge of the Fallen'', transforming into a pink approximation of a Ducati 848 sportbike unlike her previous toys, which were generally colored bright red. She comes packaged with [[Chromia (ROTF)#Studio Series|Chromia]] and [[Elita-One (Movie)#Studio Series|Elita-1]] in a three-pack priced at the standard Deluxe Class price value, making the trio the smallest transforming figures in the ''Studio Series'' line to date. The set includes three unique stands for each sister's bottom wheels, helping them stay upright, and a cardboard backdrop display of their pursuit of [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] through Shanghai's streets.

:Though not included in the toys' instructions, the three sisters can combine into a kind of motorcycle-centaur form, as originally proposed for (but cut from) the movie (see "[[#Notes|Notes]]," below). The combined form is assembled using special tabs on Elita-1 and Chromia's stands to link the figures together, and its appearance is completed with three accessories: a pink cannon, a blue sword, and a blue shoulder pad, which all attach to Arcee. Arcee can also wear the parts while in her individual robot mode (as can Chromia), but neither they nor the sisters' stands store anywhere in vehicle mode.

{{-}}{{anchor|SS85}}
[[File:Studio-Series-BB-Arcee.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Sideswipe (Movie)|A look so good]], even the girls want it.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Deluxe Class, [[2022]])}}</ul>
:*''Movie'': '''''Bumblebee'''''
:*''Hasbro ID number'': '''85'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''SS-86'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[August 27]], [[2022]]
:*''Accessories'': 2 pistols, "Cybertron Falls" backdrop (2nd version)
{{toydesigner|[[Sam Smith]] (Hasbro), [[Shuhei Umezu]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Emiliano Santalucia]] (concept art)}}<ref>Sam Smith's [https://www.instagram.com/p/CbV7vwqrnjK/ Instagram post] about ''Studio Series Bumblebee'' Arcee</ref>

:Part of the 16th wave of ''[[Studio Series]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Arcee is an extremely accurate depiction of her appearance in ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' and transforms into a Cybertronian motorcycle that incorporates significant visual cues from [[Arcee (G1)|G1 Arcee]]'s Cybertronian convertible mode. Like most of ''Bumblebee'''s Cybertronian characters in the toyline, her alternate mode was created by Hasbro and TakaraTomy for the toy as the film model was not designed to transform.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=-SS BB intro figures all have altmodes designed post-film by Hasbro/TT for this line, only Ravage had an ILM-side design for an altmode since he uses it on-screen -these wouldn't have been SS candidates due to lack of altmodes but there was lots of internal love for the designs|link=https://twitter.com/Vangelus/status/1466819619063308289|name=Chris Ho|site=Twitter|year=2021|month=12|day=03|(defunct=)}}</ref>

:She comes with two pistols based on her weapon in the film, itself a shrunken down version of the larger blaster the other Autobots used. Since she only used one in the film, the other can be given to ''Studio Series'' [[Cliffjumper (Movie)#Studio Series|Cliffjumper]], who did not include the smaller blaster he had in the movie. The blasters can store on tabs molded onto her thrusters/backpack in robot mode. In vehicle mode, they are meant to be held in her hands at the rear of the vehicle. The tabs on her thrusters can also be used, but doing so will leave her hands ''very'' exposed. The heels can fold down to become wheels for Arcee to skate on in robot mode. There are molded gaps in the front wheels that are meant to line up with other parts of her feet; forgetting about them means the feet will not collapse all the way.

:Oddly, Arcee has no blue paint for her optics, giving her a very dead-eyed look. On some copies, it can be difficult to keep her neck tabbed into the front of her torso.

:Like all other ''Studio Series'' toys, the interior of the package forms a display backdrop. As with most ''Bumblebee'' ''Studio Series'' figures, this backdrop depicts a war-torn Cybertron as it appears in the beginning of the film.

:Arcee was officially revealed during the [[December 3]], [[2021]] ''Transformers'' team roundtable with fans.

:This figure was retooled to make ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' [[Javelin]].

::''[https://www.instagram.com/p/CbV7vwqrnjK/ Design notes on ''Bumblebee'' Arcee from Hasbro designer Sam Smith]''

{{-}}{{anchor|SSCore}}
[[File:TF-Studio-Series-SS-Core-ROTB-Arcee.jpg|thumb|300px|She's lost some weight and gone down a size since the 80's thanks to all her core training.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Core Class, [[2023]])}}</ul>
:*''Movie'': '''''Rise of the Beasts'''''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''SS-106'''
:*''Accessories'': Blaster, front wheel
{{toydesigner|[[Sam Smith]] (Hasbro), [[Koki Yamada]] (TakaraTomy)}}

:Part of the fifth wave of ''[[Studio Series]]'' Core Class figures, Arcee is based on her appearance in ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]'' and transforms into an unlicensed approximation of a {{w|Ducati 916}} motorcycle in 11 steps. Her small size is to scale with other characters from the movie. She comes with her blaster, which stores underneath the motorcycle to form a kickstand. Like her ''Bumblebee'' toy above, the wheels on her legs can be flipped down as roller skates, but good luck getting her to stay upright, as she lacks any sort of support in this position.

:Her front wheel is on detachable 3 mm peg, and comes as such in the box. It can be removed and wielded in her hands or just to clean up her back. The rest of her back kibble can also be removed if so desired, due to it using a friction hinge.

:Her head has sculpted in pigtails, accurate to her CG model.

:The stock photo of her motorcycle mode is badly mistransformed, neglecting to transform the rear entirely. According to Sam Smith, this Arcee's face is pink and her wheels are on her legs based on an earlier version of the movie design.

:Notably, Arcee is packaged with her waist swiveled so that her legs are facing to her left, due to the size of the wheels on the back of her legs. Her packaging is decorated with the artwork of the "Cliffside Chase" backdrop.

:Arcee and her wavemate [[Freezer]] were officially revealed by Hasbro on [[January 10]], 2023.

::''[https://www.instagram.com/p/CnRya1UOE2j/ Design notes on ''Rise of the Beasts'' Arcee from Hasbro designer Sam Smith]''
{{--}}

{{-}}{{anchor|SSROTF15th}}
* '''''Revenge of the Fallen'' 15th Anniversary Autobot Multipack''' (Multi-pack, [[2024]])
:*''Movie'': '''''Revenge of the Fallen'''''
:*''Hasbro ID number'': '''52'''
:*''Accessories'': 3 wheel stands, cannon, sword, shoulderpad, "Race to Protect Earth" backdrop

:"''Revenge of the Fallen'' 15th Anniversary" Arcee is a re-release of the 2019 Arcee figure, featuring very little, if any deco differences. As to be expected, Arcee can still combine with Chromia and Elita-1 to form their merged form.

:As well as Chromia and Elita-1, this version of Arcee comes in an [[Amazon_(website)|Amazon]] exclusive pack alongside ''Studio Series'' [[Optimus_Prime_(Movie)/toys#SSROTF15th|Optimus Prime]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)#SSROTF15th|Jetfire]], released in commemoration of ''Revenge of the Fallen'''s 15th anniversary. The set also includes a unique reversible backdrop with the first version of the "Pyramid Desert Battle" scene on one side and the other side featuring the "Shanghai Pursuit" scene.
{{--}}

===''Rise of the Beasts''===
[[File:TF-ROTB-Beast-Combiners-Arcee-and-Silverfang.jpg||thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1m1|'''Arcee & Silverfang''' (Beast Combiners, 2023)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy name'': '''Kakusei Change Armor Set Arcee & Silverfang'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''BCAS-02'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': April 15, 2023
{{toydesigner|[[Koki Yamada]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Part of the "Beast Alliance" subline for ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (toyline)|Rise of the Beasts]]'', Beast Combiners Arcee is a simplified figure that transforms into a motorcycle in 13 steps. One of the earliest designed toys for the line, this Arcee borrows a lot from her ''Bumblebee'' design, notably the arms and lower legs.

:She comes with [[Silverfang#toys|Silverfang]], who transforms into her armor mode in 8 steps. She is compatible with other armor mode partners in the Beast Combiner assortment.

{{-}}{{anchor|BeastWeaponizer}}
[[File:TF-ROTB-Weaponizer-Arcee.jpg||thumb|upright=1.66|Hi, I look better than the Studio Series version!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1m1|'''Arcee & Cheetor''' (Beast Weaponizers, 2023)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy name'': '''Kakusei Change Set Arcee & Cheetor'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''BCS-04'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': October 28, 2023
{{toydesigner|[[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: The "Beast Weaponizer" Arcee toy converts from a 5-inch robot to a motorcycle in 9 steps. She comes packaged with a slight redeco of the [[Cheetor (ROTB)#BeastWeaponizer|Cheetor]] Battlemaster.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''Robot Heroes''===
[[File:Chromia and megs robot heroes.jpg‎|thumb|upright=1.66|And now she's using Elita-1's robot mode. WTF?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Chromia & Megatron''' (Two-pack, 2009)}}</ul>

:Part of the third wave of ''Robot Heroes'' two-packs for ''Revenge of the Fallen'', [[Chromia (ROTF)#Robot Heroes|Chromia]] comes packaged versus [[Megatron (Movie)/toys#RHChromia|Megatron]]. Her robot mode design is actually [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-1]]'s, since Hasbro can't tell their bike chicks apart.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/RHChromia/chromia.htm More information on ''Robot Heroes'' Chromia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===Burger King===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Launchin' Arcee''' (free [[Burger King]] toy, 2009)}}</ul>

:Part of [[Burger King]]'s 2009 promotion of ''Revenge Of The Fallen'', Arcee is a non-transformable motorcycle that launches out of a purple base when a button in the shape of the Autobot symbol is pushed on the top. When she whooshes out of the front, which has her face on it, it only goes a few feet until it stops.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/BKArcee/arcee.htm More information on Launchin' Arcee at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Trumpeter===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (Smart Kit, 2023)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Stand, Visored Head, Hands, Pistol
[[File:Trumpeter-Arcee.jpg‎||thumb|upright=1.25|Pocket sized!]]
:Released by [[Trumpeter]], Arcee is a pre-painted model kit based on her Cybertronian body from the ''Bumblebee'' movie. She comes with three sets of hands, an alternate visored head, a pistol, and a base.

{{-}}

===Figural Bag Clip===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (2023)}}</ul>
:Released by Monogram, this 2.5" 3D foam bag clip takes the form of a chibi ''Rise of the Beasts'' Arcee.

:It was available only as part of a [[Blindpacking|mystery blind bag]] collection.
{{-}}

===''Pop!''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (2023)}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''1374'''
[[File:ROTB_Pop_Arcee.jpg‎|thumb|upright=1.66|Pucker up, buttercup!]]

:Released as part of a ''Rise of the Beasts''-themed batch of the ''Pop! Movies'' segment, [[Funko Pop!|Funko]]'s ''Pop!'' Arcee is a super deformed vinyl figure based on her appearance in said movie and is molded skating on a small translucent plate with her wheels on her feet.

{{-}}
===Threezero===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''DLX Arcee''' (Q4 2023)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': eight hands, two pistols, base, stand

:DLX scale Arcee is a highly articulated and detailed figure based off her appearance in the prologue of ''Bumblebee''. She also features LED-enabled optics (batteries not included), interchangeable hands and comes with a dynamic display stand.
{{toystub}}
{{-}}

===Blokees===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Arcee''' (2024)}}</ul>
{{toystub}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:Movie scale chart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|In the time before time...]]
===Single Arcee===
*Arcee was originally going to be a member of the live-action movie's Autobot cast, but was later replaced by [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], they would have needed to explain the point behind female robots, which there wasn't any time for in the movie.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/02/exclusive-interview-robert-orci?page=3 Roberto Orci explaining the reasons for Arcee's removal from the script in an interview with IGN.]</ref> Oddly enough, there was no attempt to do so when she debuted in ''Revenge of the Fallen''. By the time of ''Bumblebee'' and ''Rise of the Beasts'', no comment is made on her gender either, the concept of [[female Transformer]]s having long since become a common, accepted part of the franchise; as well as the film industry and general audience now being open to virtually any concept put to film compared to the movie landscape of 2007.
*In another interview, Alex Kurtzman cited "scale issues" as an additional reason for dropping Arcee; allegedly, Michael Bay simply considered her too small as compared to the rest of the Autobots.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070714214451/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/movies/transformersmovie/005082421.cfm?page=1 Wizard interview with Kurtzman and Orci]</ref> The Arcee that appears in ''Rise of the Beasts'' is almost as small as she was planned to be in the 2007 film, but she isn't completely dwarfed this time as the other Autobots are scaled down compared to the 2007 roster.
*As part of [[BotCon 2007]]'s Hasbro tour, fans viewed "Robot Scale Chart v03", dated 11.22.05, which showed Arcee's height as 9' (2.7m). However, all of the designs on this chart were very early and later heavily revised (though [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] was revised far less than the others).
*It's commonly assumed that Arcee's big part in the movie would have been the scene in which [[William Lennox]] starts his solo assault on [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] using an abandoned motorcycle. However, the screenwriters rejected that notion, stating that this scene wasn't written until ''after'' Arcee had already been dropped from the script—but if she ''had'' remained in the movie, that scene ''would'' have probably featured her as the motorcycle.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/2288318-post539.html Orci once again clearing up the story between Arcee and the motorcycle Lennox uses during the final battle]</ref>
*Arcee came close to being killed off in ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'', as the trade states that two revisions of the plot had her dying.
*Arcee was the host of a "Lonely Hearts" letter column in the Titan comic's [[letters page]].
[[File:BB-Arcee-model.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Ok, her legs were too skinny before, but now we're exaggerating..]]
*Arcee's Cybertronian design in ''Bumblebee'' is heavily inspired by her Generation 1 [[Arcee (G1)|namesake]].

===Arcee triplets===
[[File:ROTFConceptArceeCombinerDVD.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|So apparently Chromia and Elita-1 were green and silver at some point? Okay.]]
*It's not especially clear whether ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Arcee is one consciousness controlling three bodies, or three separate individuals. Writer [[Roberto Orci]] explained that she was written as a singular entity, but that [[Michael Bay]] "kept them as individuals".<ref>[http://transformerslive.blogspot.com/2009/07/ask-orci-final-edition.html Roberto Orci answers questions on the Transformers Live blogspot, July 13, 2009.]</ref> If this was Bay's intention, it does not particularly come across in the movie (as the trio doesn't really ''do'' anything), beyond perhaps Arcee referring to her components in the plural form in one instance. The novelization of the film adheres to the script's intent, describing Arcee as a "[[Multi-component Transformer|Tripartite Cybertronian]]", while the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' toyline chose instead to identify Arcee as only ''one'' of the bikes (the pink/red one), and characterize the other two as the separate characters [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] and [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-1]], who were characterised as Arcee's sisters.
**IDW Publishing's ''[[Transformers: Tales of the Fallen|Tales of the Fallen]]'' mini-series, complimented a few years later by ''[[Transformers: Rising Storm|Rising Storm]]'', goes to some lengths to marry the two concepts, depicting Arcee, Elita-1 and Chromia as a trio of robots animated by one spark, sharing thoughts and feelings but still possessing some degree of autonomy from one another.
**[[Titan Books|Titan]]'s comics, on the other hand, depict Arcee as having three bodies in their comic strips (sometimes even forgetting about ''that'' and drawing her in her original first movie toyline body), only to have their letters pages make the contradictory claims that a) they ''were'' separate robots who aren't related and Arcee's just the only one namechecked, and b) that ''nobody knows'' and that it depends "on who you ask".
**Hasbro's ''Dark of the Moon'' website adheres to the original idea for Arcee, identifying her as a "a single mind that operates three bodies". Further, it follows through on the events of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' by stating that two of her components were destroyed during the battle at Giza. That, of course, is in fairly complete contradiction to previous Hasbro bios that have Elita-One still operating in the post-movie [[Hunt for the Decepticons]] setting.
[[File:ROTFAnimaticBikerGroups.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|SIX! SIX BIKE GIRLS! ah ha ha ha *sob*]]
*It seems that there were originally intended to have 5 or 6 motorcycles with at least 3 out of them would combine into a singular, larger robot in the film,<ref>[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/transformers-concept-art-thread.1221724/page-72#post-22772327 ROTF preproduction concept art scale chart]</ref> but Michael Bay chose to drop the idea for fear of the confusion it would cause given how much else was already going on in the film.<ref>[http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/computer_animation_festival/sessions/details/?id=131 Q&A session with ILM effects supervisor Scott Farrar at Siggraph 2009]</ref> The idea evidently remained until comparatively late in production; both an unknown designer (see right) and [[Steve Jung]] [http://web.archive.org/web/20160323144936/http://stevejung.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=4&pos=0 created a model] for the combined robot, and it appears in both the film's novelization and in the animatic for the Shanghai battle scene included on the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' DVD.
**The animatics of the Shanghai battle scene included on the ROTF DVD supports this as the "Lamborghini Jump" animatic depicts a trio of three female motorcycle Transformers (two red, one either silver or black) chasing Sideways, similar to the scene with Arcee and her compatriots as it appears in the final film. However, as the animatic continues, at least two of the bike-girls jump on Sideways in mid-pursuit, who he manages to throw off and into a building by swerving. Sideways is then confronted by ''another'' trio of bikes (pink, yellow and blue), who merge into a single robot and flip towards him, only to inexplicably disappear immediately afterwards.
**A vestigial reference to the combination even exists in the finished Arcee, Chromia and Elita-1 toys in the form of a fold-out tab on each that allows them to link up back-to-back. Despite claims made by Hasbro that instructions for the trio's combined form would be made available online, the eventual relegation of Elita to a simple redeco of Chromia neutralized any real chance of the figures attaining any true combination capability, though this was returned to in ''Studio Series''.
**The combined form of the ''Studio Series'' toy appears to be based on [[:File:Rotf-scale-autobots2-1-.jpg|concept art used in the Autobot scale chart]] that appeared on the film's second DVD, rather than any of the other concepts that can be found online.
*The toy [[bio]] for ''Revenge of the Fallen''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s other motorbike Autobot [[Knock Out (ROTF)|Knock Out]] seems to refer to Arcee's change in form between the first and second movie toylines, claiming that he wants to undergo the new "combiner retrofit" he's been hearing about, strongly implying that Arcee underwent the same process. The absence of Arcee's combined mode from the film and IDW's own later explanation for her change in form never matched this implication, though.
*At some point between the film and the concept art stages of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', Arcee's body was flipped horizontally; this resulted in all of her toys (at the time) being based on the concept art, making them inaccurate to her appearance in the film. Many years later, the ''Studio Series'' toy would correct this to be more in line with her CGI model used in the film.
*While ''Revenge of the Fallen'' is wholly apathetic on whether or not the shots that take down Arcee are fatal, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman would later claim that all three Arcee components were killed<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/274058-dvd-blu-ray-commentary-4.html#post4226117 DVD/Blu-Ray Commentary - Page 4 - TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards]</ref> at the behest of director Michael Bay.<ref>[https://www.mtv.com/news/1608508/michael-bay-reveals-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-death/ Michael Bay Reveals 'Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen' Death]</ref> IDW's comics ignored this and continued to feature the three sisters in ''Rising Storm''.
**[[Harold Attinger|Attinger]]'s playing card of Arcee lists her as "deceased", indicating that Orci and Kurtzman's claim has been supported. Of course, said card uses an image of Elita-1.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Arcee''' (アーシー ''Āshī'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Arcee''' (China, 阿尔茜 ''Āěrxī''; Taiwan, 雅希, ''Yǎxī'')
{{--}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Age of Extinction Autobots]]
[[Category:Bumblebee Autobots]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Autobots]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Human Alliance]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Movie Autobots]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:NEST]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Autobots]]
[[Category:Rise of the Beasts Autobots]]
[[Category:Sam's Club exclusives]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Studio Series Autobots]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Autobots]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4

2025-03-01T11:00:12Z

Eyacorkett: /* Production information */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=69
|series2=2010
|ep2=4
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
|image=FFOD4 Rodimus journey.JPG
|caption=What the hell did [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] give me?
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4"
|season=3
|season ep=4
|production code=#700-89
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 18]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE49Ym3jhVE
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Seeking answers about their mysterious new foes, Rodimus Prime takes a journey through the Matrix to learn the truth about the Quintessons... and the origins of the Transformers.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FFOD4 Autobots no hit.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|It's like they're being shot at by Decepticon Targetmasters.]]

On [[Goo 8739-B|Goo]], the [[Decepticon]]s open fire on the [[Autobot]]s (and miss spectacularly). [[Deliberata|Judge Deliberata]] cheers them on, until Grimlock slams him into the goo. As they get closer, Galvatron arrives, intending to punish the Decepticons for their "disloyalty". Upon seeing (and being shot by) their long-lost leader, the Decepticons repledge their loyalty to Galvatron and tell him that they were bribed into following the [[Quintesson]]s for [[energon]]. Galvatron is not happy and decides to punish the Quintessons for their usurpation.

On Goo, the Autobots find the control center, and Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus find out that the planet is a garbage collection system for the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. Contacting Wreck-Gar, they request assistance after managing to "talk [[Television|Teevee]]".

On [[Io]], Blurr and Wheelie are under attack by the [[lightpole]]s, who are ferociously flapping their wings in the two Autobots' faces. Wheelie is overtaken, but tells Blurr to leave him and take Metroplex's [[transformation cog]]. Instead of leaving his comrade to die, Blurr heads right into the thick of the swarm. [[Marissa Faireborn]] arrives and manages to drive off the lightpoles, but a number of them transform into missiles and destroy her ship. The three begin a search through the ship's wreckage, hoping that the communications are still working.

[[File:FFOD4 Autobots lightpoles.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"I'm Batman." "No, I'm Batman." "Hey, I'm Batman!" "I'm Man-bat."]]

Galvatron introduces himself by firing on the Quintesson ship. Realizing that Galvatron must be handled differently, the Quintessons offer an alliance with the Decepticons against the Autobots, but Galvatron says he never asked for their help. They offer Galvatron the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], but Galvatron simply demands it in exchange for letting them live. The Quintessons say that their lives are not enough, and that the Autobots must be destroyed.

Galvatron attacks the Autobots, but the Junkions arrive and melt the goo out from under the Autobots, sucking them right through the planet. Judge Deliberata winds up getting ejected in the process. Galvatron destroys Goo, but by the time he's done, the Junkions and Autobots have fled.

Heading back to the ship, Galvatron rants at the Quintessons, who counter that they would be powerful allies. Galvatron demands to know why the Quintessons haven't destroyed the Autobots themselves. They explain that the Autobots have been made unpredictable by their interactions with the [[human]]s. Sneering at the Quintessons' fear of the flesh creatures, Galvatron agrees to an alliance. The Decepticons cry "Hail Galvatron!" to affirm their support of their leader, and even the Quintessons give out a shout.

[[File:RodimusBack.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|No thanks, I can hold down this pile by myself.]]

On [[Junkion (planet)|the Planet of Junk]], Wreck-Gar restores Springer to life. However, Rodimus is not as cheered up as expected. He has questions about the Quintessons—about their hostility towards the Autobots, how they know so much about them, and about their intentions. Rodimus has become convinced that the answers behind the Quintessons lie in the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], but he still doesn't know how to consult the wisdom of the ages. Springer makes a sarcastic suggestion, saying that he should just come close to death again. Although Arcee says not to do that, Springer assures her that Rodimus is not as stupid as he looks. Wandering off, the [[Supreme Commander|Autobot commander]] short-circuits himself and falls unconscious.

[[File:Ancientrobot ffod.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Luke, you must go to the Dagobah system.]]

Rodimus enters the Matrix, where he is greeted by the spirits of the [[Ancient Autobots]], who show him the face of the creators of the Transformers... the Quintessons! Eons ago, the Quintessons used [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as a factory to build two lines of robots: consumer goods and military hardware, who evolved into the Autobots and the Decepticons, respectively. Millennia of torturous abuse led the Autobots to rebel and drive the Quintessons off Cybertron. Afterwards, the Cybertronians warred with each other for control, which was ended when the Autobots developed the art of [[transformation]]. A [[Golden Age]] followed, which was ended when the Decepticons mastered transformation and created a new leader: [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. He killed the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Matrix-bearer]], who passed the Matrix to [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], one of the oldest among them. However, Alpha Trion did not take the Matrix for himself, but gave it another who would challenge Megatron. This was [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], who became the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] for the [[Great War (G1)|Third Cybertronian War]], which has raged for nine million years and continues to rage even now.

Rodimus reactivates to find Springer and Arcee seriously freaked out. Dismissing their concerns, he tells them that they need to get to Cybertron as soon as possible.

[[File:FFOD4 Trypticon lives.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|When a guy has cannons for a tongue, it's time to panic.]]

Near Cybertron, Galvatron and the Quintessons plot their strategy. They will attack on two fronts: [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] and Cybertron. On [[Earth]], the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] are making changes to a human city. At dawn, they activate a transformation sequence, and the city begins to change. As the humans flee, the dust settles to the ground. In the place of the city now stands... Trypticon!

On Cybertron, an [[Earth Defense Command]] ship requests emergency landing clearance. Perceptor warns that it might be a trick, but Kup refuses to allow a ship full of innocents to perish, giving them clearance to land. But the ship instead crashes into [[Cybertron Central Power Facility]], shutting down the planet's defenses. Storming from the Quintesson ships, Galvatron leads the Decepticons in an attack. Aboard the vessels, the Quintessons are pleased, for soon the Autobots will be destroyed, and then they will deal with the Decepticons.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|To be concluded...]]

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in the episode's Matrix-guided history flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (8)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (10)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (11)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (19)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (21)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (22)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (23)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (25)
*[[Hood Transformer]] (26)
*[[Pole vault Transformer]] (27)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (30)
*''[[Primon|Ancient Robot]]'' (31)
*''[[Prima|Powerful Robot]]'' (32)
*''[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]]'' (33)
*''[[Prime Nova|Brooding Robot]]'' (34)
*''[[Guardian Prime|Pre-Transformer]]'' (36)
*''[[Zeta Prime (G1)|New Narrator]]'' (38)
*''[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'' (48)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (49)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (52)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (53)

|c2=
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (1)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (2)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (3)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (12)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (13)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (14)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (15)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (16)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (17)
*[[Octane]] (28)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (29)
*''[[Trannis|Early Decepticon leader]]'' (35)
*''[[ASD-324-ddd-3e3c1 model Decepticon|Ancient Decepticons]]'' (37)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (39)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (40)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (41)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (42)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (43)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (44)
*''[[Hauler]]?'' (45)
*''[[Gravedigger]]?'' (46)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'' (47)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (50)
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (51)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (20)

|c4=
*[[Deliberata]] (9)
*Various [[Quintesson]]s (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Last big party of the summer, folks! Let's go out with a bang!" 
"Just once, couldn't your attitude reflect the gravity of the situation?!" 
"Not if I can help it!"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' have rather different leadership styles.

"Yes! Yes! Even if it means my life is forfeit, destroy them! Destroy th—ooh!" 
''[Tail smack]'' 
"Me Grimlock say shut your faces!"
:—'''Judge Deliberata''' annoys '''Grimlock'''.

'''Galvatron''': Now, Decepticons, learn the price of your disloyalty! Attack! 
'''Cyclonus''': Attack whom? 
''[Galvatron shoots Cyclonus]'' 
'''Galvatron''': EVERYONE!
:—Galvatron isn't so good with specifics.

'''Wreck-Gar''': Bulletin: You are in danger of being canceled or losing your time slot. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': What's he talking about? 
'''Rodimus Prime''': We're gonna get killed.
:—Rodimus shows the value of knowing a second language.

"He ran right back into the danger! My digital watch is smarter than that!"
:—'''Marissa Faireborn''' isn't impressed with Blurr's tactics.

"If you're going to panic, panic productively."
:—'''Marissa Faireborn''', life coach.

[[File:Ffod4 rodimus in matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Through all these centuries, they have waited for the proper moment to strike, to reclaim the planet that we Transformers took from them." 
"And now they're going for the gusto, right?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' is an iconic figure. '''Rodimus Prime''' is the one you'd have a beer with.

"Are you crazy?! Why'd you short-circuit yourself?! Wake up, you - you ''moron''!" 
"It was the only way... into the Matrix." 
"I was wrong. He ''is'' as dumb as he looks." 
:—'''Springer''' has a love-hate thing goin' on with '''Rodimus Prime'''

'''Mixmaster''': Trypticon ''lives!'' 
'''Galvatron''': And Autobot City ''dies!''

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:SadTommy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right]]

[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland and Tommy seems troubled. He asks Prime if he's remembering the story correctly. Prime thinks Tommy's calling him a liar, but Tommy elaborates, saying that the odds are so stacked against the Autobots that there's no way they could've come out on top. Prime tells him that he hasn't exaggerated or misremembered a thing; times really ''were'' that bad...

{{bigquote|And Springer... was he ''really'' ground up into little pieces?}}
{{bigquote|Yes, Tommy.}}

After hearing the tale, Tommy is more disturbed than ever; he can't fathom how the Autobots will make it out alive. Optimus tells him that things will look up, as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] enters the fray. Unfortunately, the Autobots on Earth still have to deal with [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], so it doesn't look ''that'' hopeful after all. Prime tells Tommy not to lose all hope, as the Autobots still have an ace up their sleeves... which he'll learn next time, when Optimus returns to transform his day into an adventure.

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Miniseries outline revised: 18th February 1986 (edited by [[Steve Gerber]])
* Revised script submitted: 22nd April 1986
* Final script approved: 24th April 1986
* Dialogue recording: 29th April 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Pretransformer ffod.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Some looks never go out of style!]]
*This episode's act-long history lesson fills us in on the history of the Transformers in general and the Great Wars in particular. It jibes pretty well with the (extremely vague) history we saw in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]".
*It also gives us good, long looks at lots of early Transformers and Autobot leaders. Apart from Optimus Prime and Alpha Trion, these ancient (pre-)Autobots were only given descriptive names in the episode's shooting script. More than 20 years later, ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The Allspark Almanac II]]'' would assign them identities derived from the many past Primes mentioned in various different continuities. Those descriptors and their ''Almanac''-assigned names are:
**[[Primon|Ancient Robot]] (Primon)
**[[Prima|Powerful Robot]] (Prima)
**[[Prime Nova|Brooding Robot]] (Prime Nova)
**[[Guardian Prime|Pre-Transformer]] (Guardian Prime)
**[[Zeta Prime (G1)|New Narrator]] (Zeta Prime)
**[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]] (Sentinel Prime)
*It also portrays the origin of Megatron, though all we really learn is that he was created after the Decepticons had figured out how to transform.
*Trypticon is seemingly brought to life without the use of [[Vector Sigma]], which we were [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|previously assured]] is the only way to grant life and/or sentience and/or "cybernetic personalities" to new Transformers. Of course, it's not as if he is unique in that respect: the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were also made without the use of the computer, and Trypticon wound up being as dim as they are. The Technobots would likewise be created without Vector Sigma.
*A green Grapple and another Constructicon coloured vehicle can be seen helping the Autobots on building work prior to the War starting. This green Grapple could be interpreted as being [[Hauler]].
*This episode features the second and final instance of Rodimus referring to Springer with the nickname "Springo".

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**The [[Prima|Powerful Robot]] attacks the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]] with the sound of [[Obi-Wan Kenobi|Ben Kenobi]] and [[Darth Vader]]'s [[lightsaber]]s clashing aboard the [[Death Star]], and [[Luke Skywalker]]'s lightsaber deflecting seeker bolts aboard the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]''.
**The Powerful Robot launches against his Quintesson overseers with the same Death Star firing/Alderaan exploding sound effect that Galvatron used in Part 2.
*Wreck-Gar's lines are mostly based on generic sales pitches ("Batteries not included", "for a limited time, your money back," "Doors closing at midnight!" hilariously timed to coincide with Galvatron confronting a closing donut hole of goo). A few lines have more specific origins, though:
**"Glad you used the dial, wish everybody would." parodies the "Aren't you glad you used Dial?" soap ad campaign.
**"Why'd you come on down to Goo?" is based on the famous "Come on down, you're the next contestant on..." catch phrase of ''The Price is Right''.
**"Wild Bill, wait for me!" is a reference to the opening of the 1951-58 Western TV series ''[[w:The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok|The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok]]''.
**"Wreck-Gar will put you in good hands" references the "You're in good hands with Allstate" insurance ad campaign.
**"You'll have Springer back faster than Snap Crackle Pop", the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.
**"I believe in me" would reoccur as a Junkion mantra in "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]".
*Rodimus Prime's own fluency in TV/Junkion-speak is likewise mostly generic, however his request to "let's all be there?" references [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhk7Vw1PROA a mid-80s NBC television network slogan].
*Galvatron gives the thumbs-down as he declares war on the Junkions, a gesture used by Roman gladatorial audiences to decide a defeated gladiator's fate.

===Animation and technical errors===
*[[Victor Caroli]]'s opening recap narration says that Quintessa "was detonated by the deadly Quintesson". Maybe a single Quint really did push the button all by himself, but the use of the singular is a bit odd.
*Like all AKOM episodes, this one features some incorrect color models:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's shoulder indentations are red instead of white, his pelvis-windshield details are white instead of light burgundy, and his gun is red instead of black, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants."
**The characters introduced in the Movie almost all have colored mouth interiors: Blurr and Magnus's mouths are blue, Galvatron and Cyclonus's are purple, Wreck-Gar's is red, Springer's is (very dark) green, and Kup's is slate blue.
[[File:FFOD4 mass mistakes.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Dead End, are we the only ones here NOT colored wrong?" "Who cares? We're doomed either way."]]
[[File:Generic palette swap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Hey, I don't remember seeing two Shockwaves and a seeker with Onslaught's color scheme, are they new recruits?"]]
*The [[generic]] Decepticon army:
**The first two shots, of the Decepticons pouring out of the Quintesson ship and firing at the Autobots, are loaded with too many screwups to count, as a mixture of made-up characters and off-model characters with the wrong color scheme pads out the background. An off-model Blitzwing colored like Air Raid is just one example.
**A subsequent shot gives us a better look at the crowd-filler Decepticons. In addition to Air Raid/Blitzwing, we have Ramjet missing most of his wings, with a black head, and one of his lasers on backwards. Every other character in the shot is entirely made up, though two of them appear to be using Octane's wing design.
**In the next shot, as [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] are discussing how easy it is to destroy the Autobots, [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] is colored like Kup, [[Octane]] is colored like Grimlock, and an off-model [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] shows up colored like Rodimus Prime. Also there is an early version of [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'s [[character model]] with Cyclonus' color scheme right behind Kup-colored Motormaster. What's more, standing near the miscoloured Snarl is a Decepticon coloured like Wheelie. Yikes.
**As the wimpy-sounding Decepticons hail Galvatron, two [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwaves]] are shown colored like [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], alongside a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] colored like [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]].
**More Decepticon generics and off-models after Galvatron arrives. A shot of the tail end of the mob includes Soundwave, Scavenger, Swindle, and Onslaught all in white, a generic with Octane's wings, a generic with what looks like Rodimus's spoiler, and several totally made-up generic guys.
**When Motormaster is blasted by Galvatron, Onslaught is in the background, with Six Gun's white-and-red color scheme.
**The horde of miscolored generic Decepticons is recycled for the attack on Cybertron.
*In the wide shot of the Autobots, Kup, Magnus, Arcee, and Rodimus are in front. Grimlock and Deliberata are in back, and behind them are two guys that don't look like any of the Aerialbots (who remain AWOL throughout the sequence.)
*Just before Magnus starts to chastise Rodimus, Rodimus's torso is orange instead of red, and his waistline has climbed half way up his stomach, kinda like an old man being swallowed by his trousers.
*In the closeup shot of Rodimus and Magnus, yellow lasers are flying past them, despite the Decepticon lasers being pink in all the other scenes.
*How long do the Autobots intend to stand there without shooting back at the Decepticons? Why are they just strolling along without defending themselves?
*When Judge Deliberata is celebrating the impending destruction of the Autobots, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] is shown with them, despite not being part of the group that landed on Goo.
*Coloring errors:
**Galvatron's lower helmet rim is gray instead of purple as he first appears. Man, AKOM sure does that a lot.
**Rodimus's spoiler ridge is so often colored yellow instead of orange that it's almost more noteworthy when they get it ''right''.
**Galvatron is colored with a gray "goatee" after he blasts the Decepticon ship, and again as he climbs aboard. As he scoffs at the Quintessons, the whole area around his mouth is gray; the gray disappears as he turns and fires. The goatee returns as he rants at the Quintessons after destroying Goo. Then the beard returns as well.
**As Galvatron accepts the Quintessons as allies, his left hand goes from purple to gray and back.
**When Rodimus deactivates himself, the Matrix is all-gray rather than silver and gold.[[File:FFODHaul.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Not the A-list animation team. Not the B-list either. In fact they'd run out of letters by this point.]]
**When the Decepticons assemble Trypticon, [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] is colored like Octane and [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] is colored like the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]]. Seriously. Just Long Haul. Surrounded by the other, correctly colored Constructicons. How did AKOM miss that?
**When the Constructicons celebrate Trypticon's awakening, they're drawn as generics and colored like the core Movie Autobots: Magnus, Kup, Wheelie, and Arcee's color schemes are all visible.
**As Kup, Perceptor and Cosmos watch the incoming ship, Perceptor is colored like Grimlock, and Cosmos's arms are on backwards.
**The Aerialbots who fly to intercept the ship are all colored the same light gray and medium blue. Only Silverbolt and Skydive are on-model.
*Galvatron ''literally'' jogging through space right after the above shot.
*The audio of Motormaster reacting to Galvatron's return has been replaced with audio from the next (deleted) scene of Galvatron delivering a mocking imitation of Motormaster's statement. He has the right voice in his next line ("Spare me and I'm yours to command!")
*When Swindle and Motormaster fly up to pledge their allegiance to Galvatron, the Autobot [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] is with them for two different consecutive shots.
*During his "Sloppiness. Disorganization." line, Magnus has much smaller eyes than usual.
*After the Decepticons break off their assault, Rodimus and Magnus once again just walk right out of the inescapable goo.
*As Marissa's ship enters the Jovian system, it passes over what looks like a post-Movie Cybertron!
*Improbable viewpoints:
**Marissa's screen shows Blurr and Wheelie from a surface point of view, even though she's still high above the moon's surface. She reacts to this full-screen image of the two by saying "I think I've spotted them", as if there were some doubt.
*As Blurr charges back into the lightpole swarm, most of the creatures aren't animated, despite being in the air.
*No wing-flapping in the shot of the lightpoles surrounding Wheelie, either. They just magically bob up and down in the air.
*How does Marissa's [[jet pack]] support her in mid-air when she's upside-down?
*The jetpack's flames change from non-existent, to blue, to orange when Marissa lands.
*Marissa loses her Mid-Atlantic accent for one line, when she says "Help me find out if the radio's still working!"
*"Tell me? What?" The Quintesson in this shot is missing his energy beam.
*The Quintessons are pretty clearly mechanical, yet one of them makes a squishy noise when Galvatron slams him into the ship's deck, and again when Galvatron smacks Deliberata out of his way.
*Deliberata is missing his energy beam as Kup takes aim at Galvatron.
*As Kup and company open fire on Galvatron, Bonecrusher is firing with them! In the background are two pipe-cleaner-thin generics.
*Galvatron rises back into the frame after destroying Goo, as if he just returned to [[robot mode]], but there's no transformation noise.
*We see seven Sweeps aboard the Quintesson ship, the most we've seen so far in the whole mini-series. Some previous shots have indicated that there are as few as three.
*Seriously. No combination of known Decepticon voices would result in that lame-o chorus of "Hail Galvatron."
*And while they hail him, Galvatron's Decepticon logo is just a red square.
*On Junkion, Arcee continues to be without the bridgeline of her nose.
*When Arcee and the repaired Springer speak with Rodimus, the latter is drawn in his [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] form.
*The sprawled, unconscious Rodimus changes positions between the end of Act 2 and the opening of Act 3; specifically, his arms move from eagle-spread to down by his sides.
*The [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]]'s barbed mace phases through the foot of the [[Prima|Powerful Robot]] after it hits the ground.
*Vehicles based on Hook and Scavenger are used as generic construction vehicles during a shot showing the Transformers' freedom from the Quintessons (prior to inventing transformation). Or maybe all construction vehicles are green and purple on Cybertron.
*The "Matrix" Alpha Trion holds looks like a giant gold football rather than the sphere with handles; it was shown correctly earlier in the flashback.
*When he wakes up, Rodimus says that "''Ctyber''tron's in deadly danger."
*As Rodimus gets up and walks away, Arcee's Autobot symbol is missing (with only the outline of a square in its place).
*Cosmos's voice lacks its usual reverberated echo.
*Really makes you wonder how [[AKOM]] actually gets work, doesn't it?

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Lightpole missiles from Five Faces of Darkness.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Dead End and Blast Off's conversation is screwed up more ways than one:
**"We owe this grand opportunity entirely to our new allies" is about as obvious a statement as one could make, yet Blast Off has to ask for an explanation.
**The explanation seems to come from Swindle, but he's not in the shot.
**The pointless explanation ("He means what other opportunities—") is suddenly truncated by Galvatron's arrival. Maybe he sensed the scene was going nowhere.
*The lightpoles have totally changed size since the last episode. Instead of a deep-throated growl, they now give off high-pitched squeaks. They aren't glowing anymore, either.
*The animation does absolutely nothing to tell us what's so bad about being swarmed by lightpoles. From what we see in this episode, it would seem to be little more than a mild annoyance.
*Why doesn't Wheelie transform and drive to escape the lightpoles?
*The animators and writers alike seem to have forgotten that Blurr's defining physical trait is that he's ''fast''. In this episode, he runs like a grandmother.
*Marissa's space suit has no visor or anything covering her face.
*Speaking of which, how can these creatures fly by flapping their wings when Io has only the thinnest of atmospheres?
*Marissa's demand that the lightpoles "eat null rays" doesn't make much sense, as an actual [[null-ray]] affects electronic circuits. Marissa's gun instead causes the lightpoles to violently explode.
*On the other hand, her assertion that they are "bags of protoplasm" doesn't make much since either, since they can ''transform'' (complete with the transforming noise) into ''rocket-propelled missiles''.
*There appears to be some missing lines in the [[Primon|Ancient Robot]]'s monologue: "Now, the machines could manufacture themselves. And before long, they grew too lazy and greedy even for that. There were simpler ways to wring performance out of their slaves." The "they" in the second sentence clearly refers to the Quintessons, not the machines.
*How does one recycle a robot by dumping it into a molten vat?
*Where did those dancing robots get the cloth sheet things they're waving around?
*The ancient Autobot that gets knocked off of the motorcycle is a recycled character model; he was last seen standing alongside Wreck-Gar on the Junkion ship, just a few scenes ago!
[[File:Megatronffod.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Ve must have ze brain on ze table! Chop chop!]]
*One of the most famous continuity gaffs of the entire series comes as the Matrix journey wraps up. A scene showing Megatron's creation millions of years ago is illustrated with him surrounded by Constructicons. It's problematic because, according to "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]", the Constructicons weren't actually ''evil'' until ''Megatron himself'' reprogrammed them to be Decepticons. And according to a one-off line in "[[Heavy Metal War]]", Megatron and the other Decepticons built the Constructicons on Earth in 1984!
*On top of that, there's eight Constructicons! None of them are really on-model; three appear to be entirely made up. Many years later, Japanese continuity would retroactively assign the identities of [[Hauler]] and [[Gravedigger]] to the two extra members of the group, while [[Fun Publications]]' "[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]" would present all eight as being new, unnamed characters who belonged to the same pre-Decepticon faction as the main six.
[[File:Alphatrionagesbackwards.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
*Somebody forgot that we'd already seen a 9-million-years-younger Alpha Trion, back in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]"... and he looked visibly different than the elderly Trion of 1985! He is shown in his "elderly" design when he receives the matrix from the dying Autobot leader; chronologically, the events of "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" happen after this, but in that episode he's portrayed with a much younger look.
*The Constructicons build (or rebuild, depending on whether you're watching ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]]'', see below) [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] out of a human city overnight. And no one notices.
*Vortex's appearance among the Constructicons remaking the human city was called for in the [[dialogue script]]. Vortex, the Combaticon interrogator, known for... his building skills...?
*The idea of rebuilding a human city into a Transformer only makes any sense if the city was made ''entirely of metal''.
*Cybertron appears to have gotten a remodel since we saw it in the Movie. Who had time to patch up all those holes?

===Trivia===
*The [[dialogue script]] for the episode spells out TV gibberish that should play when Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus enter the Goo control center. Lines include "hurry on down to Merv Forlosh Motors for a great deal" (seemingly not a reference), then the "[[w:Veg-O-Matic|Vegematic]]" and "the magic of [[w:Gheorghe Zamfir|Zamfir]]". Between the music and character dialogue, none of the gibberish is actually intelligible.
*The original video cassette release of this episode featured some odd audio edits to the final scene: all of Cosmos's lines were missing, as were the fake pilot's claim that their "engines have just gone critical", and the Quintesson's declaration that their decoy worked and that Cybertron is helpless. The [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] DVD of this episode restores all the missing lines, but they are all once again missing on the subsequent [[Shout! Factory]] release.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les cinq visages du mal, partie 4'''" ("The Fives Faces of Evil, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*The narrator still does not want to talk about Blurr and Wheelie, his first phrase is "In previous episodes of ''Five Faces of Darkness'', we saw what difficulty the Autobots were struggling with".
:::*Despite usually not translating names (almost not using them at all, actually), the Autobots call Wreck-Gar "Attilus" in this episode. This name will most likely never be used again in other episodes.
:::*While in the original version, Blurr hesitates about what he should do for Wheelie, the French dub says "So what is he waiting for over there? Hurry up, I don't want to stay here".
:::*Marissa's line "My digital watch is smarter than that!" is dubbed by "Even my coffee maker has more brains than him!".
:::*For some reason, the Quintesson's probability of 79.9% becomes 82% in the dub.
:::*In order to not pronounce Springer's name, Arcee says "Is that you? Oh yes, it's you!".
:::*Mixmaster's line "Constructicons to Galvatron! Trypticon is ready!" is dubbed by "Earth vanguard to Galvatron! We are ready, whenever you want!". Constructicons used to be one of the few exceptions to be named in previous seasons.
:::*The second part of the human message is missing ("Cybertron, do you read? Our engines have just gone critical!").
:::*Cosmos' panic lines are missing.
:::*Consequently, instead of answering him, Silverbolt says "It's a trick! It's too late, the shuttle is about to crash on-" before the explosion.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 4'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''I cinque volti del male, Parte 4'''" ("The Five Faces of Evil, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*For some reasons, in this episode Springer speaks in rhymes. This would later happen in other episodes too, while Wheelie never does.
::*The dialogue between Rodimus, Arcee and Springer before the first one tries to almost kill himself to enter the Matrix sports a lot of majour differences, the biggest one being that Springer never actually suggests to almost die to enter the Matrix, making the next scene pretty weird. Springer also says that Optimus "died years ago", while in reality not much time should have passed.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Le cinque facce dell'oscurità, Parte 4'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Matrix no Himitsu'''" (マトリクスの秘密, "The Secrets of the Matrix")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 5]], [[1986]]
::*Optimus Prime mentions the [[Unicron War]] during his appearance in Rodimus' Matrix vision instead of the Third Cybertronian War.
::*The scene of Trypticon's creation includes some extra lines from the narrator that vaguely describe the city-bot as being "revived" or "resurrected," as a way to paper over the continuity error introduced earlier in the year when ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization|Scramble City]]'' showed him to be active in the 1980s. It would take over twenty years before the specifics of what had happened to Trypticon and why he ''needed'' to be "revived" would be explained by the [[LG-43 Trypticon Project Chapter|''Transformers: Legends'' manga]].

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wǔmiànguài (4)'''" (五面怪 (四), "Five-Faced Monsters (4)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Desforra, Quarta Parte'''" ("The Rematch, Fourth Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20230326215356/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-89.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bid3TK_q2HxH7NR5MDAlGsKe5AlcbBnU/view?usp=sharing Miniseries outline, covering parts 3 to 5]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8_MSI8-eiVlZ-bCLgS4KnHrTYQ4it8j/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Sentinel Prime (One)

2024-09-22T08:04:20Z

Eyacorkett: /* Notes */

{{factions|}}
{{disambig3|Sentinel Prime}}
:''Sentinel Prime is a Transformer from [[Transformers One (franchise)|One]].''

[[File:ONE-Sentinel Prime in Iacon.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2|Surely he must be more trustworthy than [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|the other]] [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|ones, right?]]]]

'''Sentinel Prime''' is the sovereign leader of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Sadly the last survivor of [[Thirteen|the original Primes]], he has nonetheless carried on the legacy of his fallen comrades by leading Cybertron into an era of peace and prosperity. He always encourages the mining class to work harder and harder, because they're those kind of good guys who don't mind working hard for everybody else, right?

Sentinel is the kind of leader who inspires everybody with his tales of bravery and heroism. He fended off those nasty [[Quintesson]]s and now his main goal is finding the [[Matrix of Leadership]] so Cybertron can thrive even more than it already is under his rule. He loves workers who can think for themselves, though! They're just what a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] needs to motivate his workers into keeping up the hard work. After all, a Prime is nothing if he cannot inspire his people to stick to protocol and produce for their planet. No siree.

==Fiction==
===''One'' film===
{{voiceactor|[[Jon Hamm]] (English), [[Junichi Suwabe]] (Japanese)|[[Tom Beck]] (German)}}
{{spoiler|Transformers One (film)|October 21, 2024}}

Sentinel was the chief advisor of the Primes but always craved power and control. Jealous of the glory of the Primes, Sentinel approached the Quintessons who had been attacking Cybertron with a deal. If he led the Primes into an ambush to be slaughtered, the Quintessons would allow him to appoint himself the new leader of Cybertron under their thumb who could provide them with a constant supply of [[energon]]. The Quintessons agreed, and Sentinel reported to the Primes that he'd intercepted a message about an important meeting of the high command of the Quintessons in a distant cave on the planet's surface. The Primes, eager to decapitate the leadership of the Quintessons, followed Sentinel to the cave only to be besieged by the aliens. The Primes nearly triumphed over their attackers until Sentinel chose a critical moment to turn on his superiors, slaying several including [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]] himself. After killing [[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]], the battle was over. Sentinel went to claim his prize of the Matrix of Leadership, but it faded to dust due to his not being worthy. Down but not out, Sentinel declared himself Sentinel '''Prime''', took the deceased Megatronus' [[transformation cog]] as his own, and announced to Cybertron that the Quintessons were defeated and that he was the last survivor of the Primes. With the planet failing to produce fresh energon in the absence of the Matrix, Sentinel removed the transformation cogs of most of Cybertron's lower classes and put them to work mining for energon to produce a tribute to the Quintessons.

Sentinel entertained the masses with races such as the [[Iacon 5000]] and regularly claimed that he had been on searches for the Matrix to keep up morale for 50 cycles. During one Iacon 5000, Sentinel was surprised when he noticed two miners, [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]] and [[Megatron (One)|D-16]], blast their way into the race and nearly triumph before losing at the last second. Sentinel was amused by the display but was pleasantly surprised when miner production of energon ramped up during the next worker shift. Sentinel approached the two miners and thanked them for inspiring the mining class to work harder and invited them to patch themselves up in his personal quarters, but also instructed them to make a publicity tour among the miners to hype up production even further. However, unbeknownst to Sentinel, [[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]], nursing a wounded ego from the pair interrupting him during the race, reassigned them to waste management.

The time came for the next tribute to the Quintessons, and Sentinel delivered a portion of the required tribute alongside his lieutenant [[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] and some troopers. The [[Quintesson High Commander]] was very displeased with the unmet quota and threatened Sentinel, who promised to work his miners harder to make up for it. Sentinel ordered the mining shifts to work triple-time until they finally met the quota, unaware the whole exchange had been witnessed by Orion, D-16, [[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]], and [[Bumblebee_(One)|B-127]]. Sentinel sent Airachnid to investigate their trail, and Airachnid eventually found and delivered the weakened [[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]], who had told the four young 'bots the truth, to him. Sentinel mocked the old-timer for his pontificating and killed him after learning that others had witnessed his true nature, and once again dispatched Airachnid to hunt down the threats to his lies.

Eventually, Airachnid returned with D-16, B-127, [[Starscream (One)|Starscream]], and a chunk of the High Guard as prisoners to Sentinel's tower. D-16 angrily confronted Sentinel for his treachery, but Sentinel laughed him off and insisted the truth would be whatever he declared it would be for Cybertron, and plotted to publicly execute his prisoners. When D-16 refused to kneel and continued to challenge him, Sentinel noticed his Megatronus decal and sadistically welded the symbol into his chest. Soon, however, an army consisting of Orion, Elita-1, and the remaining High Guard invaded and Sentinel soon faced a freed D-16 in combat. As the situation spiraled out of control, Sentinel was able to best D-16 in combat but noticed too late that Orion, Elita-1, and B-127 were using Airachnid's memories to broadcast his true nature to all of Cybertron, leading to a mass uprising. D-16 turned the tables on Sentinel and had him at his mercy until Orion took a [[fusion cannon]] blast meant for him. D-16 allowed Orion to fall to his apparent death and turned his attention back to Sentinel, tearing the false Prime in half with his bare hands and finally killing him for his atrocities. Shortly afterwards, D-16 took back Megatronus' cog from Sentinel's corpse, renaming himself Megatron.{{storylink|Transformers One (film)|One}}

==Toys==
===''One''===
{{anchor|RobotBattlers}}
[[File:TF-One-Robot-Battlers-Sentinel-Prime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Don't forget.. ''you'' guys are the real heroes.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Sentinel Prime''' (Robot Battlers, [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Energon sword, base
:[[Transformers One (film)|''Transformers One'']], Sentinel Prime transforms from a robot to a Cybertronian jet. The figure can be placed on a base in order to perform action moves with his included Energon sword by sliding the finger slots.

{{-}}{{anchor|PrimeChanger}}
[[File:TFOne Deluxe Sentinel.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I don't make mistakes. I'm not like the rest of you. I'm stronger, I'm smarter, I'm better! '''I AM BETTER!''']]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Sentinel Prime''' (Prime Changer, [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': 2 small blasters, 2 shoulder guns, blade/shield
:[[Transformers One (film)|''Transformers One'']], "Prime Changer" Sentinel Prime is a Deluxe-sized figure and transforms into a Cybertronian jet. He comes with two small dual-barreled blasters that attach to his wings via [[5 mm post]]s or be held in his hands, a blade/shield accessory (with molded turret detail) that can be held in his hand or forearm or store on top of his jet mode, as well as two longer [[Fire Blast effect|blast effect]]-compatible guns that can attach to the tops of his shoulders. He also features 5 mm posts on the underside of each wing, which his shoulder blasters can be attached to but otherwise don't serve a purpose. His wings are hinged to fold backwards for robot mode, but also have swivels that allow them to point his smaller blasters over his shoulders.
{{--}}

===''Studio Series''===
*'''Sentinel Prime''' (Voyager Class, [[2025]])
[[File:SS_TFOne_Sentinal.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Yummers.]]
**''Movie'': '''''Transformers One'''''
**Accessories: Beam Sword, 2 Blasters
{{toydesigner|[[Evan Brooks]] (Hasbro), [[Takashi Kunihiro]] (TakaraTomy)}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/live/52ddGYMyvpE?si=7l7OP6YeEB9W82xR&t=9841 Transformers Panel] at [[Hasbro Pulse Con 2024]] with [[Ben MacCrae]], [[Evan Brooks]], [[Mark Maher]], [[Marcelo Matere]], and [[Nate Purswell]].</ref>

: Part of an undetermined wave of ''Studio Series'' Voyagers, Sentinel Prime is based on his appearance in ''Transformers One''. He transforms into a Cybertronian jet, as well as a battle mode from his fight against Megatron near the end of the film.

: Sentinel Prime was revealed at [[Hasbro Pulse Con 2024]] and went up for pre-order on [[September 17]], [[2024]].
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Sentinel Prime is a pastiche of his different, often distant incarnations. His colors, flare for dramatics and penchant for subterfuge strongly resemble his [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]], while his wings and collapsible dual-bladed sword call back to his [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|live-action film counterpart]]. Meanwhile, his heavily armed battle mode appears to be inspired by his [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#2005_IDW_continuity|IDW comics counterpart]], specifically his [[Apex Armor (G1)|Apex Armor]]-clad form in ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' [[Megatron Origin issue 4|issue 4]].
* His wings also bear some resemblance to [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]]'.
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sentinel Prime''' (センチネルプライム ''Senchineru Puraimu'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:One Transformers]]
[[Category:Studio Series characters]]

Aligned timeline

2024-09-22T05:34:41Z

Eyacorkett: /* Present day */

The '''timeline of the [[Aligned continuity family]]''' has its roots in the so-called "[[Binder of Revelation]]", a brand bible assembled by [[Hasbro]] with the aim of drawing from the very best of previous ''Transformers'' fiction. This document lays out much of the backstory and important concepts for this new "Aligned" universe, and as such, the fiction derived from the Binder can in theory be assembled to paint a broader picture of the history of this world.

In actuality, the leeway with the source material afforded to licensees by Hasbro, in the name of good storytelling, means that certain details fail to match up between separate pieces of fiction. Indeed, Hasbro has stated that they merely expect fiction to match up under a "squint test"<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2011-hasbro-story-building-panel-172316/ BotCon 2011 Hasbro story building panel]</ref> – so long as the main bullet-points pass inspection, some contradiction in specific details is not a concern. Consequently, this timeline follows the same approach: when a discrepancy arises, the relevant events are related in terms general enough that the inconsistencies can be ignored.

{{bigquote|Cybertron, our home. For generations, it has been a peaceful world. Until pride and a lust for power divided us. Now we fight - enemies who were once our brothers.|Optimus Prime|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

==In the beginning==
[[File:OneShallRise1-TheThirteen.jpg|thumb|upright=2.8|Solus, Unicron has escaped! Recruit a team of Cybertronians with attitude!]]

A single omnipotent being of unknown origin travels the galaxy, discovering life along the way. With no other creatures equaling its power, the being begins to converse with itself, and in time two unique personas form. The first is [[Primus]], a reassuring presence that accepts the universe at is; the second is [[Unicron/Aligned|Unicron]], who discovers and seeks to correct perceived flaws in the order of the universe. The two personas grow increasingly divergent from one another, and begin to argue. In time, the being splits physically, creating two separate bodies for each half of its warring psyche. Unicron grows increasingly rapacious and destructive, while Primus grows increasingly withdrawn. Eventually, Primus takes up arms to stop Unicron from devouring the galaxy. This struggle lasts for eons, with neither side able to gain an advantage over the other. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

==The Age of the Thirteen==
To try and turn the tide, Primus creates the [[Thirteen]], each given a unique role, nature, and artifact of power to aid the struggle. In order of their creation, they are [[Prima]], [[Vector Prime]], [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]], [[Solus Prime]], [[Micronus Prime]], [[Alchemist Prime]], [[Nexus Prime]], [[Onyx Prime]], [[Amalgamous Prime]], [[Quintus Prime]], [[Liege Maximo]], [[The Fallen|Megatronus]], and [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|the Thirteenth Prime]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

===The Expulsion of Unicron===
The newly created Primes begin training and strategizing for the upcoming conflict. Solus Prime, the artificer of the Thirteen, creates many [[Artifacts of the Primes|weapons and icons of power]] for them to use. At the urging of Megatronus, she creates a [[Requiem Blaster (Megatronus)|great weapon]] to fight Unicron, although Solus herself worries that this power could corrupt them. The Thirteen vote seven to six to keep the Requiem Blaster and not destroy it. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} Ultimately, the Primes defeat Unicron, and the Chaos Bringer's inert form drifts off into space, where it later forms the core of [[Earth]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} His fossilized blood, spilled in this conflict, becomes known as [[Dark Energon]]. Following the defeat of Unicron, Primus becomes one with the [[Core]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he gives life to future [[Transformer]]s through the [[AllSpark]], within the [[Well of All Sparks]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} Although the Primes stand triumphant, Unicron's influences has tainted all of them with a touch of darkness. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

===The War of the Primes===
After a period of peaceful building and construction, tensions between the Primes slowly grow. Secretly manipulated by Liege Maximo, Megatronus kills Solus Prime, causing the first schism in the Primes. After Megatronus is defeated, the Liege Maximo makes his own play for power, but is defeated in the process. After this great battle, Nexus Prime fragments himself into five robots, each one carrying and guarding a fragment of the [[Cyber Caliber]]. His components are dubbed [[Clocker (Prime)|Clocker]], [[Mainspring]], [[Chaindrive]], [[Cannonspring]], and [[Pinion]]. The fight has lasting repercussions for the Thirteen—Megatronus, now "The Fallen", and the Liege have left the Primes for good, the once idealistic Vector Prime despairs and seals himself away in a pocket dimension, and Solus Prime is dead. Onyx Prime, Micronus Prime, and the Thirteenth Prime willingly enter the Well of All Sparks and sacrifice their lives in order to jump-start its creative processes, with the intent of creating a new race to inhabit the world.

[[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Alchemist Prime]] vow to remain on Cybertron and nurture this new civilization. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} [[Quintus Prime]] travels into deep space with his [[Emberstone]], with the intention of creating new races that will ally with future Cybertronian civilizations. Meanwhile, far out in space, the forgotten Requiem Blaster gradually accrues a collection of space junk around it. As its gravitational pull increases, more and more drifting shipwrecks and space junk gather around it, eventually forming an artificial planetoid. This artificial planet will later become known as [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Sealed away in a parallel dimension, the Fallen swears revenge for his humiliation and exile. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 1}}

==The Age of Evolution==
The three Primes that entered the Well activate the AllSpark, which in turns emits a great burst of energy. From this beam of energy comes a wide variety of mechanical life, including precursors to modern Cybertronians. Among them is a robot named Orion Pax; in reality, he is the Thirteenth Prime reborn in a humbler shape, unaware of his origins or true heritage.
On the last stellar cycle, the Allspark's largest and most powerful creations of all, the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]]s emerge. [[Predaking (COP)|Predaking]], their leader, is the first of their kind, followed by [[Lazerback (COP)|Lazerback]] and [[Twinstrike (COP)|Twinstrike]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} Many more follow, and some of them come into conflict with humanoid Cybertronians.

Cybertron's fledgling ecosystems continue to grow and prosper for many thousands of years. Eventually, however, a passing {{w|red giant}} star interferes with Cybertron's own sun, causing meteor strikes and solar flares. While many humanoid Transformers take shelter underground in [[stasis lock]], the Predacons remain unshielded on the surface. They do not survive, though they leave behind a multitude of fossils containing extractable [[CNA]]. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

==The Age of Origins==
The surviving Cybertronians are quick to rebuild their wounded world. In the era that follows, many small settlements and villages form as protection from marauding warlords and barbarian armies. One such settlement, known as [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], becomes home to an influential group known as the [[Patterner]]s. Composed of survivors from the Great Cataclysm, this group of rationalists and philosophers rallies under the leadership of [[Azimuth (COP)|Azimuth]]. Their quest for knowledge leads them to study the movements and patterns of the stars, and eventually carve great geometric symbols into the face of Cybertron. Their movement eventually spawns many splinter groups and counter-cults, such as the cult of [[Random]] led by [[Galvatron (COP)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

At some point during this time, the [[Dark Spark]] is discovered and studied by the Patterners and [[Disciples of the Thirteen]], with some debate as to its origins. After witnessing its dark power, the [[Crystal Guardian]]s decided that it was too powerful for study to be allowed to continue, and locked it away in vaults deep beneath [[Crystal City|their city]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark}}

Eventually, the [[Quintesson]]s - creations of Quintus Prime - discover the world of Cybertron. Remotely observing the world by a system of probes secretly inserted into Cybertronians, the aliens begin preparing to invade the world, secretly intending to turn Cybertronians into mindless workers and selling them into slavery.

==The [[Age of Wrath]]==
A young [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] discovers a Quintesson probe inside the worker [[Coldwelder]]. Not long afterwards, the first Quintesson ships descend from the sky in a grand arrival, setting themselves up as benevolent emissaries sent to "uplift" Cybertron into the galactic community. They win the public support of Cybertronians by "teaching" them how to transform - in reality, they are simply activating the dormant [[transformation cog]]s in the bodies of all Transformers.

Buoyed by popular opinion, the Quintessons soon establish a globalized puppet government ruled by [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]] and a [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] of thirteen Transformers. Under Quintesson guidance, Cybertronians rapidly develop both public and private infrastructure, and eventually master spaceflight and dimensional travel. Before long, however, cracks begin to show in their benign façade. The Quintessons establish a new [[Supreme Court]] in line with their twisted ideals of justice, while other Quintessons siphon off the fruit of Cybertron's labour for their own ends. Some Transformers are even modified to serve as transportation for their rulers, such as installing cockpits on the bodies of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The Quintesson occupation has a negative effect on the Well itself; Cybertronians begin emerging from the Allspark without names or personalities. One such Transformer is the newly born [[Megatron (WFC)|D-16]], who is assigned a position in Cybertron's mines.

When a resistance movement finally exposes the many lies of the Quintessons, they are overthrown and routed from the system in a war effort headed by Sentinel Prime himself, the [[Elite Guard]], and the aforementioned resistance. D-16 is one of the many working-class Cybertronians called to arms. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} With new [[space bridge]]s engineered from the Quintesson's half-completed projects, Cybertron enters its [[Golden Age]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

==The Golden Age==
The [[Golden Age]] brings sweeping changes to Cybertronian social structure and hierarchy. Sentinel Prime takes full control over the ex-Quintesson bureauccracy with the support of the High Council. The Well of All Sparks brings forth many new sparks, many of which are eventually harnessed as part of Cybertron's colonization efforts. Under Sentinel's rule, the new [[space bridge]] network allows trailblazing Cybertronians to colonize more than two hundred faraway planets, including [[Archon]], [[Neutronia]], [[Gigantion]], [[Velocitron]], [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]], [[Aquatron]], and the [[Hub (G2)|Hub]]. Concerted construction and cyberforming efforts turn many of these worlds into miniature Cybertrons. While these new colony worlds are initially supported by Cybertronian energon, many of them harness "torches" to create miniature Wells, rendering them completely independent from Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The construction of the spaceport on the [[Hydrax Plateau]] begins, and [[Moonbase One|Moonbases One]] and [[Moonbase Two|Two]] are constructed on the [[Mini-Con]] inhabited moons of Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

[[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] Station is put into orbit as well, and a crew of Seekers are tasked with defending the Dark Energon stored within, remnants of Unicron's attack on the planet. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The High Council encouraged the gathering and storage of Dark Energon aboard the vessel. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The first [[Cybertronian data cylinder]]s are created, which store and preserve the accumulated knowledge of Cybertronian civilization. {{storylink|T.M.I.}}

At some point during the Golden Age, a civilization known only as the [[Ancient]]s arises. A civilization of explorers and astronomers, they travel the galaxy using Space Bridge technology, gather treasures from many worlds, and chart the known universe in their [[Ancient map room|stellar cartography chamber]]. Among the planets visited by the Ancients is Earth.<ref>In its brief appearance in ''Fall of Cybertron'', an intact {{w|Pangaea}} is present on Earth's surface, indicating that the Ancients arrived on Earth between the {{w|Late Permian}} and {{w|Early Jurassic}} periods, approximately 250-175 million years ago. The ''Fall of Cybertron'' comic, and its assertion that Space Bridges can warp time as well as space, make it impossible to tell whether or not Cybertron's Golden Age occurred concurrently during this time period.</ref> The Ancients are undone by a mysterious cataclysm that also devastates the nearby region, creating the lifeless, inhospitable region known as the [[Rust Sea]]. Many of their structures survive intact- albeit forgotten- including the large tomb that also houses their maps. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

After 8,000 years of prosperity and exploration, the Golden Age draws to a close. The Well of All Sparks begins slowing down its production of new life, and other cracks begin to show in Cybertronian civilization. Meanwhile, among the colonies, the dreaded [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Rust Plague]] sweeps from star system to star system via the space bridge network, devastating some worlds and completely sterilizing others. In desperation, Sentinel orders the destruction of the space bridge network entirely to prevent the spread of the contagion. Cybertron is spared from destruction, at the cost of its many colony worlds. Millions of Transformers stranded across the galaxy continue adapting to their homeworlds, and many forget their origins entirely. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

As time goes by, various crises on the ex-colony worlds lead to drastic changes among their inhabitants. Velocitron's inhabitants, plagued by resource shortages, slip deeper and deeper into their racing obsession as a form of cultural diversion. The Junkions begin building cities and structures entirely out of their planetoid's bountiful supplies of garbage and trash, forming a stable and productive society. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} The Neutronians discover Amalgamous Prime's mythical transformation cog, changing the entire population into omnicombinational [[shifter]]s known as [[Mutacon]]s. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} Aquatron is re-colonized by Quintessons, who forcefully incorporate the planet into their Imperium while simultaneously tampering with the planet's inhabitants to create the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]]s. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

==The Age of Rust==
[[File:WFCcomicD16.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]] strikes again.]]

In the waning years of the Golden Age, the [[caste system]] is implemented, where civilian guilds oversee and assign newly created Transformers to jobs, and it eventually becomes a major social institution under the urging of Sentinel. Alpha Trion grows troubled with the increasingly oppressive social system, and consults the supercomputer [[Vector Sigma]] for guidance, hoping to use the Matrix to revitalize Cybertron's culture. Vector Sigma declines his request, but reassures him that the time will soon be right for the Matrix's reactivation. Instead, Vector Sigma gives him the [[Badge of Vector Prime]], a gift for Sentinel Prime. While Alpha Trion waits for the Matrix, he retreats further and further into the [[Hall of Records]], eventually becoming a recluse.

Cybertron abandons many ancient traditions, such as travelling through the Underworld. These controversial reorganizations do not go unnoticed, though, and many newly born Transformers become dissatisfied with their lot in life, some seeking change. Cybertron's culture and society stagnates greatly as a result; the dynamic architecture and artwork that characterize older eras of society are replaced by dull, drab buildings. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The city-states of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] and [[Slaughter City]], populated mostly by low-caste miners and workers, soon turn to gladiatorial combat as a way to escape from the drudgery of their lives. The High Council, aware of why the games began, does nothing to stop them. D-16 begins a prosperous career of pit fighting, and eventually takes on the name Megatronus in honor of the Prime of the same name. He later shortens it to [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. Megatron uses his newfound publicity to denounce the stifling caste system. His rhetoric inspires a group of followers that includes fellow gladiator and spymaster [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] and the sadistic scientist [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} Realizing the threat that this upstart poses, Sentinel Prime sends his agents [[Bumper (WFC)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (WFC)|Fastback]] to infiltrate his organization. Megatron soon discovers the duo and has them executed.

At the same time, a young data clerk named [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]], monitoring transmissions from across Cybertron, befriends Megatron, and the two of them begin a secret correspondence. Alpha Trion encourages his protégé, in the hopes that Orion's ideals will temper Megatronus's extremism. They have intense but friendly debates over the nature of free will and the dangerousness of their ideals, and soon Orion begins training with [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]], learning to fire an ion-cannon and to fashion his arms into an axe and a sword. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

An energon thief named [[Drift (RID)|Drift]] comes to Megatron's attention who rebrands him "Deadlock". {{storylink|Drift's Samurai Showdown}} Deadlock trains under [[Shadow Raker]]. {{storylink|Out of the Shadows}}

[[File:OneShallRise3-corresponding.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|And so the fangirls leapt to their computers, and produced horrible things.]]

Before long, Orion visits Megatron in person in Kaon. Terrorists, calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s", begin bombings in Megatron's name, attacking such popular spots as [[Six Lasers Over Cybertron]]. Megatron himself makes his first public announcement on the Grid, stating he is not responsible for the attacks and will bring the perpetrators to justice. In reality, however, Megatron had heard rumors about the bombings and terrorist attacks but did nothing to prevent them. Megatron and Orion are eventually granted a meeting with the High Council. In his speech, Megatron demands that he be named the next Prime, and threatens to violently overthrow the Council if they do not comply. Orion, does not believe in violence, and follows him up with a speech of his own. He argues that the members of Cybertron should be autonomous robots, or "[[Autobot]]s", and that everyone should be able to make their own choices in life. Orion's speech moves the Council and inspires them to appoint Orion a Prime. They give him the new name of "Optimus". Megatron is incensed by the fact that his speech went unnoticed. In a fit of anger, he kills the Council member [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]] and spitefully severs all ties with his former friend. At Optimus's urging, the two sides retreat for now to avoid further bloodshed in the Council halls. However, the Council itself has fragmented; [[Contrail (WFC)|Contrail]], [[Ratbat (WFC)|Ratbat]], and [[Drivetrain (WFC)|Drivetrain]] now support the Decepticon cause. Megatron officially declares war on Optimus Prime and his followers, sparking the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

==Great War==
[[File:WarforCybertron-OptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Yeah, why don't ya come over and say that to my face, tough guy? Bonk!]]

The war quickly spreads beyond the High Council, and before long battle lines are drawn as various city-states declare their allegiances. Autobots and their allies control the most important locations on Cybertron, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and [[Kalis]]. Shortly after the declaration of war, the Allspark stops producing new Cybertronians; some interpret this as an act of divine rebellion. Undeterred, the Decepticons launch their first strike by seizing [[Fort Scyk]]. [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] and his Council Guardians manage to hold the line long enough for the Autobots to send reinforcements. The Decepticons then attack and occupy the [[Hydrax Plateau]]. With this crucial region under Decepticon control, Megatron quickly takes over the majority of Cybertron's eastern hemisphere, which remains in Decepticon hands for the majority of the war. Decepticons then capture the [[Satellite Command Center]] at [[Polyhex]]. The battle of [[Crystal City]] sees the [[Constructicon (WFC)|Constructicons]] deploy their combined [[Devastator (WFC)|Devastator]] against the Autobots, razing the city. Many of its scientific treasures survive the destruction. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} Many dangerous weapons, such as the [[Cybonic plague]], are developed by the [[Decepticon Biological Warfare Program]]. {{storylink|Sick Mind}}

The Autobots win their first major victory at [[Kalis]], where Optimus Prime, Sideswipe, and Jazz topple the Decepticon [[combiner]] [[Bruticus (WFC)|Bruticus]]. Kalis remains in Autobot hands and the Autobots begin using long-range combat against Decepticons. Shockwave's armies occupy the cities of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] and [[Vos (polity)|Vos]]. Shockwave manipulates the two cities and turns them against one another, destroying them both. The Decepticon campaign reaches [[Praxus]], where they encounter stiff Autobot resistance. The city-state is ultimately leveled by the fighting, and to this day the outcome is unclear. [[Prowl (WFC)|Prowl]] and [[Ironhide (WFC)|Ironhide]], citizens of Praxus, join the Autobot cause and become part of Optimus Prime's inner circle of confidants. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

Megatron, still stinging from the loss of Praxus, orders Bruticus Maximus to spearhead a massacre at [[Nova Cronum]]. In the meantime, Minicon saboteurs manage to steal and reverse-engineer Shockwave's secrets, and before long the Autobots create their own combiners. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} Optimus Prime assigns Ultra Magnus to lead the unruly squadron known as the [[Wreckers]] in the hopes of instilling discipline into their ranks {{storylink|Project Predacon}}, and with the aid of the newly created [[Defensor (WFC)|Defensor]] the team defends the Tagan Heights against the Constructicons, although the fighting between Defensor and Devastator demolishes the area. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

At some point during the war, Optimus Prime survives an assassination attempt by [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] at the [[Battle of Technahar]]. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

After centuries of stasis, the [[AllSpark]] creates a final generation of Transformers, most of whom side with the Autobots. Among them is the Autobot [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], who distinguishes himself on the battlefield and becomes one of Optimus Prime's closest compatriots. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} Another young Autobot named [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] enters the boot camp of the Elite Guard with hopes of becoming a full-fledged soldier. {{storylink|New Recruit}}

[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and her combat partner [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]] serve in [[Delta Team]] for most of the war. After a raid on a Decepticon munitions depot, both of them are captured and interrogated by the Decepticon [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. Although Arcee is rescued by Bumblebee and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]], they are too late to save Tailgate. {{storylink|Predatory}} At least some battles take place off Cybertron with the [[Wreckers]] having an adventure on [[Sandokan]]. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}

As the war continues, the Autobots are gradually outnumbered and outgunned. Optimus Prime makes the painful decision to eject the AllSpark from Cybertron, so that Megatron cannot create more Transformers. In the ensuing battle, the Allspark is fired into deep space from [[Tyger Pax]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The Autobots also decide to eject the data cylinders from Cybertron to prevent Decepticons from using the vital knowledge within. {{storylink|T.M.I.}} With the Allspark gone, the Decepticons focus their attention on Iacon, one of the last regions still under Autobot control.

At some unspecified time, Primus warned [[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] of a rising evil, and sent her to Earth after modifying her body and enhancing her sensors. {{storylink|The Buzz on Windblade}}

Seeking a new edge in the war, Megatron storms Trypticon Station and wrests control of it from [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], empowering himself and other Decepticons with the Dark Energon stored there. As part of their next strike, the Decepticon-allied Seekers travel deep underneath Cybertron in search of the long-abandoned [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]] beneath the ruins of Crystal City, which will allow the manufacture of new Dark Energon for the Decepticons' use.

Megatron leads a group of Decepticons into Iacon, to find a means of travelling to the very core of Cybertron to spread the Dark Energon. Though Sentinel Prime attempts to stand in his way, he is soon defeated by the vengeful Decepticon—but unbeknownst to Megatron, [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] is reactivated due to these events, and is intent on stopping the Decepticons. The Decepticon forces manage to cripple the Guardian's alternate mode, and Megatron and his troops soon defeat him on ground level. Because of this, the Decepticon leader manages to reach Cybertron's core and corrupt it with Dark Energon—a critical blow against the Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War For Cybertron}}

The Autobots, however, are not yet defeated, and muster a counter-attack to rout the remaining Decepticons from Iacon. Sentinel, now imprisoned in Kaon, is able to send a transmission, and a small group of Autobots, lead by Optimus, soon launch an incursion into the prison to recover him. However, the former Prime perishes just as he has been rescued. The Autobots return the body to Iacon, and Optimus officially comes to accept that he is a Prime and must take up his role as leader. From then on, he fully becomes known as Optimus Prime, the last of the Primes. Optimus's first task as true Prime is to cleanse the infected core. Heading down through Cybertron's inner layers, Optimus finds much of the planet is thoroughly infected by Dark Energon. The core tells Prime that Cybertron is so greatly corrupted that it will take millions of years of shutdown in order to undo the grievous damage done by Megatron's Dark Energon. Optimus is given the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by the Core, a fragment of [[Prima]]'s powerful sword that contains a portion of Cybertron's spark. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War For Cybertron}}

With the core's shutdown, Windblade is left in stasis on Earth. {{storylink|The Buzz on Windblade}}

==Great Exodus ("A few thousand years ago"<ref name="greatexodustime" />)==
[[File:WFCgalactic transports.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Just a little while back<ref name="greatexodustime">Assorted promotional material for the ''Fall of Cybertron'' video game dates this period to 70 million years ago. This seems ''particularly'' excessive, even for a race that normally measures its history in millions of years, and is clearly only employed to justify the presence of dinosaurs on Earth, so Shockwave can create the Dinobots by studying them. IDW's ''Fall of Cybertron'' comic addressed this by making it clear that Shockwave was looking through ''time'' as well as space, as he makes mention of the dinosaurs' extinction by meteorite, establishing that this era is ''after'' the dinosaurs died out. This is also reinforced (perhaps unintentionally) by the fact that Snarl and Sludge transform into a ''Stegosaurus'' and an ''Apatosaurus''- dinosaur species that lived almost a hundred million years before ''T. rex'', ''Pteranodon'', and ''Triceratops''. Later, solicitations for IDW's first ''Beast Hunters'' comic issue would establish that series's setting as "a few thousand years" after this era, and that comic's exact point in time would be spelled out in the final two ''Beast Hunters'' issues, placing it towards the end of the ''Prime'' cartoon in the present day era.</ref>]]

As soon as Prime reaches the surface, he orders that an exodus from Cybertron will take place immediately. Preparations are made to flee the planet, but many of the escaping [[galactic transport]]s are shot down by Trypticon Station before they can leave Cybertron's orbit. Trypticon itself comes to life, thanks to multiple sparks implanted by Shockwave, and Optimus Prime leads his forces in a battle to knock it out of orbit. The ensuing battle results in Trypticon hurtling towards Cybertron's surface. However, Trypticon is not killed, and it transforms into its robot form. After another battle with it, Optimus and his forces regroup at the site of the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', a deep-space interceptor and the flagship of the makeshift Autobot fleet. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War For Cybertron}}

With the Decepticons in control of most of Cybertron, the remaining Autobots begin fuelling the ship with scavenged Energon. Both factions develop an interest in the ancient, powerful artifact known as the [[Dark Spark]], and the Decepticons manage to locate and open the vault below Crystal City that contains it. Shockwave makes contact with the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s, subterranean creatures that have been driven to the surface after Cybertron's core shut down. The Decepticon scientist manages to form an alliance with these creatures, and their sentient representatives- [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]], [[Hardshell]], and [[Sharpshot]]- join the Decepticons, pledging the support of their numerous feral brethren.

However, the Decepticons and Insecticons are tailed by the Autobots, and a running battle ensues, with both groups trying to return the artifact to their respective strongholds. Eventually, the Decepticons succeed in bringing the Dark Spark to Megatron at [[Kolkular]], where he places the artifact in his chest in imitation of the Matrix of Leadership. Optimus Prime arrives to confront the Decepticon leader, but is set upon by a horde of undead Autobots reanimated by the Dark Spark's power. The Autobot leader overcomes these corrupted foes and engages Megatron, and the two combatants unleash the powers of the artifacts in their chests. The power of the Matrix of Leadership wins out, violently ejecting the Dark Spark from the Decepticon leader and into space. With the artifact no longer a threat, Optimus orders the Autobots to fall back to Iacon and the Ark. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark}}

While most of the Autobots ready the ''Ark'' for liftoff, the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] warrior [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] discovers a massive reserve of untainted Energon in the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]]. He tries to contact [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and the other Autobots, but is captured by Shockwave before he can reveal the nature of his discovery. Grimlock and the rest of his squadron disobey Prime's orders and hijack an Autobot dropship to rescue him. Grimlock, [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]], [[Slug (FOC)|Slug]], and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] reach the outskirts of Shockwave's tower, but are overwhelmed by Shockwave's [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s and taken captive by Shockwave, who has plans for the quintet of warriors. Inspired by [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|alien lifeforms]] he has viewed with ancient Space Bridge technology, he begins experimenting on them. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}} {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}} {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)|Fall of Cybertron}}

Shockwave uses the critically injured Sludge as a test run, successfully rebuilding his alternate mode into a sauropod dinosaur, before ordering [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] to dump his body in the tunnels underneath the Rust Sea. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}} Shockwave rebuilds the rest into powerful berserkers with saurian alternate modes and imprisons them in his tower, intending to use them as his own personal warriors. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}} {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}} {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)|Fall of Cybertron}}

With Grimlock missing in action, Optimus leads his warriors to buy time for the Autobots to shut down Iacon and launch the Ark. Optimus discovers the existence of [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]], an enormous Autobot incorporated into Iacon's structure who has lain dormant for millions of years. Optimus and Metroplex team up to help fight the Decepticons, and despite suffering numerous injuries Metroplex manages to deal a lethal blow to Megatron, grievously injuring him. However, the attack depletes all of the Autobot's remaining supplies of energon. With Megatron out of commission, Starscream takes advantage of the situation and declares himself the new leader of the Decepticons.

Jazz and Cliffjumper go searching for Grimlock and his forces in the Sea of Rust, where they find Shockwave's tower, Sludge's body in [[stasis lock]] and the uncorrupted Energon Swoop had discovered earlier. However, on Starscream's orders, the [[Combaticon (WFC)|Combaticons]] attack the Autobot convoy, then combine into Bruticus and crash the transport, recovering half of the Energon. Starscream is unimpressed with their performance and orders their imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Soundwave has recovered Megatron's remains and rebuilds his body, using an infusion of [[Dark Energon]] to revive him. Megatron confronts Starscream and resumes control of the Decepticons. Seeking use of Trypticon, Megatron heads for his location in Iacon and successfully scavenges many of his components.

In Shockwave's lab, a disgraced Starscream discovers Grimlock, who he attempts to recruit to his cause. Grimlock throws Starscream into the wall and escapes. As he fights his way through Shockwave's cadre of Decepticons and Insecticons, Grimlock reunites with the surviving members of the Lightning Strike Coalition, although he believes Sludge is dead. Now operating as the "[[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobot]]s", Grimlock confronts Shockwave and destroys his space bridge. Both are caught in the ensuing explosion.

Metroplex sacrifices his life to ensure that the ''Ark'' can launch. Optimus and many of the Autobots escape aboard the Ark. They are pursued, however, by Megatron aboard Trypticon, now a [[Trypticon (WFC)|spacecraft]] dubbed the ''Nemesis''. The two vehicles and their respective crews battle as they race for the space bridge above the planet, which explodes, scattering the two vessels across the galaxy. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

==After the Great Exodus==
Grimlock, having fallen to the ground from the collapsing space bridge tower, is found by his Dinobot comrades. {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} Four cycles after the launch of the Ark, an Autobot cleanup crew discovers Sludge's abandoned body and manage to bring him back online. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

Sludge, Grimlock, and the other Dinobots all join up with Ultra Magnus's Wreckers, and together they continue to fight against Shockwave's forces for control of Cybertron, even as the planet commences its shutdown sequence.

The Space Bridge detonation takes the ''Ark'' and ''Nemesis'' to the outskirts of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy, where Optimus detects a faint signal left behind by the Allspark's passage. Prime and his crew are guided by the Matrix to nearby Velocitron, teetering on the brink of civil war. However, [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]], having infiltrated the crew, manages to provoke enough civil unrest among the Velocitronians that [[Ransack (Prime)|Ransack]] and his group of political malcontents attack Override, sparking a civil war. The Autobots manage to escape through a space bridge, Optimus having recovered two pieces of the Blades of Time on Velocitron's surface, though he mistakenly believes they are pieces of the Star Saber. The Autobots next travel to Junkion, where they befriend the native Junkions and begin repairs on the ''Ark''. However, Makeshift once again sabotages the repair effort, but is caught. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Meanwhile, Alpha Trion is put under house arrest by Shockwave, but manages to send the Autobot Chaindrive to Optimus with another piece of the Blades of Time. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} Armed with a hazy knowledge of the future from the [[Covenant of Primus]] that [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] would eventually end up on Earth, [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] launches Cybertronian relics located within the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] [[Hall of Records]] to Earth, not to keep them from the Decepticons, but to ensure that Optimus would eventually find them. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}} Smokescreen, having ended up on security detail for Alpha Trion, is taken by Decepticon forces during their attacking the Hall of Records, {{storylink|New Recruit}} but not before Alpha Trion secretly manages to hide [[Omega Key|one of the relics]] within the young Autobot. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}}

The ''Nemesis'', following the trail of the ''Ark'', lands on Velocitron and later Junkion. Axer, an ex-Decepticon, recovers the Requiem Blaster from the core of Junkion, causing the demi-planet to tear apart. Prime, meanwhile, manages to contact Vector Prime in his pocket dimension, who also helps to reunite five bots the Autobots have met (Chaindrive among them) into Nexus Prime. A climatic battle takes place on Junkion, with the Autobots triumphant and the Blaster destroyed. However, the Junkions themselves are enslaved by space-pirate expatriate Transformers called the [[Star Seeker]]s and taken to places unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

With Autobot control over the planet steadily weakening, Shockwave and the remaining Decepticons take control of Iacon, forcing the Wreckers to retreat to Cybertron's comparatively barren polar regions to launch hit-and-run attacks on Decepticon convoys. Shockwave builds his newest tower in the center of Iacon and continues his experiments, studying the effects of Dark Energon on the city's beleaguered inhabitants. He eventually kidnaps Alpha Trion and tries to use him to access [[Vector Sigma]] to forge a [[Decepticon Matrix]] that will further enhance his control over Cybertron. The Wreckers team up with Omega Supreme to launch a rescue mission.

Simultaneously, out in space, Optimus Prime and company discover the seemingly utopic world of [[Aquatron]], inhabited by friendly amphibious robots. In reality, the Aquatronians are subjugated servants of the Quintessons, and their leader [[Inquirata (Prime)|Inquirata]] manipulates both Optimus Prime and Shockwave to further his own ends. The ''Nemesis'' arrives not long afterwards, following a skirmish with Thundertron, but the two sides are forced into a temporary truce by the Quintessons. When the Quintessons reveal their true colours, Optimus Prime and Megatron are forced to work together to escape from the Quintesson's twisted courtrooms Thanks to Shockwave's experiments with Dark Energon on Vector Sigma, the Quintessons are able to launch a second invasion of Cybertron using their [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] shock troops. Although the Wreckers manage to save Alpha Trion, they are too late to stop the invasion. General [[Tyrannicon]] storms Iacon, takes down both Omega Supreme and Devastator, and allies with Senator Ratbat to gain access to the Hall of Records. The invasion is only stopped when Megatron, still on Aquatron, discovers the [[Sharkticon Matrix of Leadership]] and uses it to override Tyrannicon's command over his troops. The Wreckers manage to keep the Hall of Records in Cybertronian hands while [[Rack n' Ruin]] splits off from the group and rigs Shockwave's tower to explode. In the ensuing fight underneath Aquatron, Tyrannicon and Inquirata are killed, while Optimus and Megatron barely manage to escape the detonation of the Space Bridge. The two factions depart the now-freed Aquatron while Optimus continues his search for the Allspark. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

Cybertron's conditions continue to deteriorate, and eventually Ultra Magnus puts out the call for the final Autobot evacuation of the planet. A convoy of ships escapes, but Magnus's personal craft is shot down, and the Wrecker leader is captured by the [[Forged]], a faction of ex-Decepticons serving under Shockwave. {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 1|Rage of the Dinobots #1}} The Dinobots mount a rescue mission to a Forged prison in the Sea of Rust, where they find not only Magnus, but scores of other Autobot prisoners. They stage a prison break, but are confronted by the leader of the group, [[Ser-Ket (Prime)|Ser-Ket]], who has been altered with [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[CNA]] in much the same way that they were altered with [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaur]] DNA. {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 2|Rage of the Dinobots #2}} Grimlock is able to defeat her in battle, but Shockwave arrives soon afterwards, {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 3|Rage of the Dinobots #3}} and Magnus and the Dinobots are recaptured.

The Decepticon scientist attempts to complete his work on Grimlock and erase the Dinobot's free will, but his teammates and Ultra Magnus are able to escape their cell in time to intervene, violently decapitating Shockwave. However, a hologram message reveals that Shockwave is in fact alive and well, and what the Dinobots just killed was merely a remote avatar. With the immediate threat passed, Magnus sets off to join the leaving fleet, whilst the Dinobots resolve to remain on Cybertron, seeking to hunt down their nemesis Shockwave and help the few Autobots that remain. {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}}

Eventually, energon shortages force Cybertron's remaining population into the tunnels under the surface, where they scavenge fuel from underground deposits and by hunting the planet's subterranean fauna. Survivors group together to establish underground cities, one of which is led by "king" Grimlock, and the surface is left desolate and ruined. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}}

Across the galaxy, the Great War continues on other planets. A battle sees the Decepticon Deadlock nearly destroyed before he is taken in by the [[Circle of Light]] and taught the ways of the warrior and blade. Retaking his original name, Drift abandons the Decepticon cause and defects. {{storylink|Drift's Samurai Showdown}}

Another alien world to see combat is the planet [[Earth]], which is seeded with energon by Cybertronians. During Earth's Stone Age, a group of Autobots rescues a tribe of primitive humans from a meteor shower. {{storylink|Did You See What I Thaw?}}. Among the Decepticon combatants are a group of genetically engineered Predacons created by Shockwave. Their presence inspires the human legends of [[dragon]]s, although they eventually die, leaving behind remains. {{storylink|Project Predacon}} Other Decepticons include Skyquake, dispatched to Earth to guard its energon resources. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} At some point, a group of Autobots visits ancient [[Greece]], where they leave behind an [[Energon Harvester]]. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}} The Cybertronians on Earth eventually leave, die, or enter stasis lock, leaving Earth abandoned... for the time being.

==Modern Era==
===1649===
[[File:ReignOfMorocco Horace Burns statue.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
A North American island off the coast of Maine is founded by a group of settlers, led by [[Horace Burns]], from the mainland. The island becomes the town of [[Griffin Rock]], and a lighthouse with a [[Settlers' Bell|bell]] is erected in the town's port. {{storylink|The Reign of Morocco}} {{storylink|The Lost Bell}} Though [[King Charles]] offers to make Burns the king of the island, he declines via placing the proclamation into a bottle and throwing it into the sea. {{storylink|King Burns}}

===1800s===
In 1812, Griffin Rock is raided and looted by the pirates of the ''[[Oaken Crow]]''. The pirates set the town ablaze and make off with their booty, including the Settlers' Bell. Their ship gets caught in a storm and becomes trapped within a cave on an unknown island.{{storylink|The Lost Bell}}

At some point, [[Doctor Morocco|Thaddeus Morocco]] is born, who would go on to make a career in science by stealing the works of others, including a [[Chamber of Youth|rejuvenation chamber]] that would extend his life artificially with each use. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

===1939===
The [[World's Fair]] takes place, which features the artificial volcano [[Mount Magma]]. Afterward, the volcano is relocated to Griffin Rock.{{storylink|Under Pressure}}

The [[Griffin Rock Technology Expo]] also occurs, during which Griffin Rock scientists attempt to create a [[Temporal Station|time machine]], but are incapable of powering it up.{{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

On [[August 17]], the day after the Temporal Station's decommissioning, a group of time-displaced individuals consisting of four Rescue Bot Autobots, the human children [[Cody Burns]] and [[Frankie Greene]], and the Helper Bot [[Dither]], accidentally travels through the time machine from the future. They are discovered by Dr. Thaddeus Morocco, who takes interest in the robots and begins to study them. The two kids are sent away, but escape and, along with Dither, recover the Autobots in Morocco's captivity. A surprise intervention by Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, who subsequently followed the Rescue Bots through the time machine to help them, along with some assistance from [[Elma Hendrickson]], gives all of the time-travelers the chance to escape back to the future. However, a damaged Dither is accidentally left behind, and comes into Morocco's possession. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

{{Note|It is from here that the timeline is split in two, as the time travel incident creates an alternate timeline (see below), but then erases it and has history put back on its corrected course.}}

Morocco starts to open up Dither to begin studying him, but the previous group of time travelers returns once again to retrieve their forgotten robot before returning to their own time, leaving Morocco unable to study the future technology. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

===1940s===
Around the late 1940s, the [[Cold War (history)|Cold War]] likely begins, in which a [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|missile silo]] is constructed inside a mountain in [[Jasper]], [[Nevada]], and a bunker is built under Griffin Rock. Both locations would eventually become occupied by the Autobots in the present day. {{storylink|Darkness Rising}} {{storylink|Family of Heroes}}

In 1949, Griffin Rock celebrates its tricentennial, which features holograms of some of its most prominent citizens, including its first female scientist Elma Hendrickson, on display in historical exhibits. {{storylink|The Haunting of Griffin Rock}}

===1950s===
Griffin Rock scientists experiment with [[unspace|subspace]] technology as part of the [[Sanctuary Plan]], in which the insect-like [[Tracer (RB)|tracers]] would transport the island's entire populace to a safe haven during the condition of a crisis. The plan is abandoned due to instability of the shelter, with the tracers being locked away in storage.{{storylink|Countdown (RB)|Countdown}}

===1960s===
The scientists of Griffin Rock install a magnetic pulse generator to disable all circuitry at [[Griffin Crest]], setting it as a safe zone in case an experimental machine ever went haywire on the island.{{storylink|Rules and Regulations}}

In [[1966]], the ''[[S.S. Isolde]]'' transports experimental technology to Griffin Rock from the mainland. During one of its voyages to the island, however, a piece of its cargo, the [[Sub-Zero Expander]], is accidentally damaged and activated. After contacting the island for advice, the ship's captain, [[Zachary Burns]], and crew are ordered to abandon the vessel and all of its cargo, leaving it to be encased completely within an iceberg. {{storylink|Tip of the Iceberg}}

===1980s===
A small group of Cybertronians return to Earth, unaware of its true nature. Bumblebee is the first Autobot to land on Earth, sent ahead of the others to scout out the planet.<ref>Bumblebee's [http://www.hubworld.com/hubworld/specials/transformers-prime-downloadables/printables/tprime-bumblebee-coloring-page.pdf online coloring page] at hubworld.com</ref> He is later joined by Optimus Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet, who set up a base inside the dormant volcano [[Mount St. Hilary]]. {{storylink|Strongarm's Big Score}}

===28 years ago===
Professor [[Anna Baranova]] begins an investigation of the [[Griffin Rock Triangle]] with [[Midgard|Project Midgard]]. Her mobile undersea laboratory, the ''Midgard'', fails in its mission and is rendered permanently submerged. {{storylink|The Griffin Rock Triangle}}

===Present day===
At some earlier point, Dr. Morocco, who had become Griffin Rock's lead scientist, is dismissed from his position due to his technology proving dangerous and inferior. He is replaced by [[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]]. {{storylink|The Other Doctor}} {{storylink|The Reign of Morocco}}

[[File:CliffArcee ognpreview.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|At long last destinies gather to awaken a new tale.]]
The Decepticons begin mining the energon deposits left on earth with the intention of using it to restore Cybertron. Starscream is tasked by Megatron with recreating space bridge technology, so that the energon can be quickly transferred between planets. After scouring the galaxy on this mission, the Air Commander returns to their home planet with a number of troops to construct a space bridge. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|''Prime'' comic}}

The earthbound Autobots obtain terrestrial alternate modes and secretly ally themselves with the United States government. They are assigned [[William Fowler]] as a government liaison, and provided with an abandoned missile silo to use as a [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]] in exchange for keeping the Decepticon threat contained. A great deal of Cybertronian technology is installed there, including a [[GroundBridge]] of Ratchet's design. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}}

Optimus Prime sends a message into space, calling all Autobots to the new battleground. Arcee and Cliffjumper are both investigating the Decepticon activity on the desolate Cybertron when they receive the message. They hijack a Decepticon space bridge to travel to Earth. {{storylink|Out of the Past}} {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|''Prime'' comic}} The Air Commander follows them through, but, after a brief confrontation, the two Autobots are able to join up with [[Team Prime]] and [[scanning|scan]] new terrestrial alternate modes. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|''Prime'' comic}} Subsequently, Megatron leaves Earth with the intention of gathering a new army. The Decepticons under Starscream avoid conflict with the Autobots, and continue to secretly mine the planet's energon, along with constructing a new space bridge in orbit. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} During his three-year journey, meanwhile, Megatron finds a far greater prize than new troops: solidified crystals of Dark Energon. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

At some unspecified time, Optimus Prime sets up a [[Rescue Force Sigma-17|team]] of [[Rescue Bot]]s on Griffin Rock, in which they live with a local family to better understand humanity and serve as their protectors. {{storylink|Family of Heroes}}

On Earth, hostilities between the Autobots and Decepticons resurface when Cliffjumper is executed by Starscream; later, he is reanimated by Megatron with the power of Dark Energon. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} A series of accidents draws three [[human]]s—[[Jack Darby]], [[Raf Esquivel]], and [[Miko Nakadai]]—into the mayhem. Megatron's plan is to reanimate the thousands of dead Transformers on Cybertron and transport them to Earth via the orbital space bridge, but this is ultimately foiled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}} Megatron himself is caught in the explosion of the bridge as it is destroyed, but survives thanks to the Dark Energon in his body. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Megatron's wounded form is discovered by Starscream after a failed attempt to bring Skyquake under his control. Starscream attempts to kill him, but Soundwave's presence compels him to put the Decepticon leader in stasis in the ''Nemesis''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sick bay instead. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Wheeljack, now an interstellar nomad, briefly arrives on Earth, but after a run-in with [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]], he leaves. {{storylink|Con Job}}

An encounter with the mysterious human terrorist organization [[MECH]] introduces a second antagonistic party for the Autobots. {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}} [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and his partner [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] arrive on Earth to aid with Megatron's repairs. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}} Airachnid, too, lands on Earth to rekindle her standing grudge against Arcee and collect some "specimens", but she is stranded on Earth when her ship is destroyed by Jack and Arcee. {{storylink|Predatory}}

Events come to a head when Optimus Prime and Ratchet detect an ancient Autobot distress signal, and come across an abandoned Autobot ship infected with cybonic plague. Optimus is contaminated, and so to find a cure for the sickness Bumblebee and Arcee are forced to infiltrate the ''Nemesis'' and enter Megatron's mind. {{storylink|Sick Mind}} However, Megatron manages to download himself into Bumblebee's consciousness, and by taking control of the Autobot's body he restores his original body with Dark Energon and uploads his mind into it, restoring himself to life. {{storylink|Out of His Head}} Megatron grievously wounds Starscream sometime after this as punishment, but Starscream makes another play for power by reanimating Skyquake's corpse, which ends in failure. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}}

MECH enters the picture again, first capturing and mutilating Breakdown {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}} and later teaming up with Airachnid to lure Arcee into a trap. {{storylink|Crisscross (episode)|Crisscross}} Both of these ostensibly end in failure for MECH, but they are unperturbed as they gather valuable information for their forthcoming agenda.

After Megatron and Starscream are trapped in the energon mine due to the actions of the Autobots {{storylink|Rock Bottom}}, Starscream renounces Megatron's command and tries to join the Autobots, but this ends in failure when Starscream lets slip that he killed Cliffjumper. {{storylink|Partners (Prime)|Partners}}. Starscream becomes an independent faction in the war. Ratchet manages to devise a formula for synthetic energon from a retrieved data cylinder, but it proves to be incomplete and unsafe. {{storylink|T.M.I.}} {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}}.

[[File:OneShallRise2-bigdude.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Hades Cup - 1st seed '''Rock Titan''' Rock Titan]]

Megatron seeks more power from the Dark Energon, and refers to an ancient prophecy in the [[Covenant of Primus]] that a "rising darkness" will come when the planets in the Solar System align. In reality, the "rising darkness" is Unicron's slumbering form, and the alignment of the planets will create the correct gravitational pull sufficient to awaken him. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}}. As Unicron gradually awakens, the Dark Energon rising from his body causes several natural disasters to occur across the world. Optimus Prime confronts an avatar of Unicron head on, but diplomacy ends in failure when the chaos bringer decides to wipe out the many [[Human|"parasites"]] on his surface. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} After another battle with Unicron, Megatron and the Autobots make a truce, as the Dark Energon in Megatron's system allows him to locate Unicron's spark core and provide the Autobots with a way to destroy him. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} After the five Transformers bridge their way into Unicron, Megatron and Prime attempt to destroy Unicron's spark core with the Matrix of Leadership. The plan works- but Optimus loses many of his memories, believing that he is Orion Pax once again and that Megatron is his friend. Megatron takes him on board the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

Megatron decides to use the fact that Orion Pax lost his memory to the Decepticon's advantage, and lies to Orion Pax about certain facts. He tells Orion that he was taken captive by the Autobots and kept in stasis long enough for the war to have moved to [[Earth|another planet]]. He then shows Orion a picture of a lifeless Cybertron, and informs him that [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] is responsible for the damage. Orion Pax vows to do his part to help the Decepticons, by completing [[Project Iacon]]. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Soon however, Orion Pax starts to see through Megatron's lies. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}}

Eventually, with the help of [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], Orion Pax rebels against Megatron before completing Project Iacon. Using [[Vector Sigma]], [[Jack Darby]] is able to restore Prime's memory. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}
[[File:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's operation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Remember to go deep with this operation, soldier... wait, oh God not THAT deep!]]

Soon, [[Team Prime]] is back to business. When [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] is investigating an ancient Autobot signal, [[MECH]] stuns him into temporary stasis, and removes his [[Transformation cog|T-cog]]. They use it to try to craft their own transformer, and seem to be making progress with [[Starscream (WFC)|help]]. Bumblebee starts to question his usefulness, as he has lost his speed, which is his primary attribute. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

Megatron, still working with the information from Project Iacon, manages to find the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. He sends Knock Out to recover it, and with a fight, manages to accomplish his mission. However, Ratchet is able to restore Bumblebee's T-cog. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] returns to Earth, in pursuit of [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake's]] twin, [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]. After an intense fight between [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], Wheeljack, and Dreadwing, Wheeljack finally gets an [[Earth]] mode, and Dreadwing pledges his allegiance to [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}

Airachnid's [[One Shall Rise, Part 3|earlier]] remarks about leaving Megatron finally catch up to her, and Megatron decides to have Dreadwing execute her, something that Megatron would normally do himself, but will be his interview for replacing her as second-in-command. Dreadwing meets up with Airachnid and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] to investigate a suspected energon deposit. Airachnid succeeds in making Breakdown very angry, and the two go at it. Airachnid cuts up Breakdown, and leaves his remains for [[MECH]].

Airachnid finally goes for Megatron, and issues him a challenge. He accepts, and forbids Dreadwing to follow him. However, Dreadwing disobeys, and gets caught in the middle of the fight, and suddenly the Autobots appear. Prime, as always, does the honorable thing and lets Dreadwing go in return for his word that he would not kill any of the Autobots. Megatron, however, disagrees, and fires at the Autobots. Later, Megatron remarks that Dreadwing will make a fine first lieutenant. {{storylink|Crossfire (Prime)|Crossfire}}
[[File:NemesisPrime-NemesisPrime.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Punk ass Decepticon! Oh, wait...]]

After [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] seemingly tries to run [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] off the road and attacks a military base, the U.S. military gives orders to fire at any bot on sight. However, [[Team Prime]] finds out that [[MECH]] has succeeded with [[Project Chimera]], and that the bot that attacked the base was actually designed and built by MECH. [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] dubs this drone "Nemesis Prime". Optimus Prime and Nemesis Prime have a climatic battle on top of MECH's base of operations, and Nemesis falls on top of Silas, seemingly killing him. However, in an undisclosed location, Silas lays on an operating table, with Breakdown's corpse seemingly ready to transplant. {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}}

Agent Fowler is called into [[Bryce|General Bryce's]] office to explain [[Nemesis Prime (episode)|recent events]]. Bryce tells Fowler that people higher up on the chain of command are questioning [[Team Prime|Team Prime's]] loyalty. Some are suggesting Team Prime's termination and a military tribunal for Fowler, who assures General Bryce that Prime, and the rest of the Autobots, are completely and totally loyal to the [[United States of America|United States]], and to humanity. {{storylink|Grill (episode)|Grill}}

Dual plots against Megatron's life, one orchestrated by Airachnid and her Insecticons and the other by Starscream and an army of clones, are hatched while Bulkhead found himself aboard the ''Nemesis''. The clones are destroyed, Arachnid is apprehended by the Autobots, the surviving Insecticons are integrated into Megatron's forces, and Bulkhead busts the ship's power core on his way out. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}} After [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] infuses the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' with Dark Energon in an attempt to repair it, the ship becomes sentient and puts all the Decepticons on board into stasis. The ship starts to head toward the first set of new Iacon coordinates that it has decoded. Jack, Miko, Raf, and Fowler bridge aboard the ship and download the coordinates. In the process, Jack undoes the dark energon infusion, returning the ship to its normal state. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

[[Team Prime]] splits up, and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] travel to [[New York City]] to search for the first of the new Iacon relics. The new relic turns out to be a [[phase shifter]]. The Autobots are successful in recovering the device. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}} Meanwhile, in the Antarctic, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] goes hunting for the second relic. It turns out to be the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] built by [[Solus Prime]]. After [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] takes the relic for his own, Optimus and [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] form a brief alliance, and force Starscream below the ice. {{storylink|Triangulation}}
[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] travel to search for the third relic, which turns out to be a [[Resonance Blaster|resonance blaster]]. [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] manages to recover the relic, Ratchet returns to base, and Wheeljack sets about repairing the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]''. {{storylink|Triage (episode)|Triage}}
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] sets out to locate and retrieve the final relic. It turns out to be [[Tox-En]], a toxic form of energon. Bulkhead fights with the Insecticon named [[Hardshell]]. Though Bulkhead is initially victorious, Hardshell shoots him in the back just as he heads through the [[GroundBridge]]. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

As [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] tries to stabilize [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] arrives to base, having been alerted by [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] to what had transpired. In the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'', he goes looking for whoever injured Bulkhead. As normal, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] secretly tags along. After reaching an understanding, Miko and Wheeljack go looking for Hardshell, destroying an energon mine in the process. After an intense fight with Hardshell, Wheeljack emerges victorious. However, the rest of the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] hive pursues him and Miko as they take off in the ''Jackhammer''. Wheeljack uses a portion of his stash of grenades to dispatch them. However, the happiness doesn't last, as Ratchet reports that Bulkhead will survive, but will not likely be fully functional again. Wheeljack leaves again, stating that he is unable to see Bulkhead like this. {{storylink|Hurt}} Arcee comforts Miko by telling her the story of how she and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] became partners and joined [[Team Prime]]. {{storylink|Out of the Past}}

A [[Decepticon]] escape pod is discovered on [[Earth]] at the same time as [[Red Energon]], a rare and volatile type of energon that gives the user hyperspeed. The escape pod turns out to belong to [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], a former member of the [[Elite Guard]]. Although he appears to be [[Wheeljack (Prime)|another hotshot]], he proves himself by retrieving the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] from [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], who manages to make off with the Red Energon. {{storylink|New Recruit}}

[[MECH]] reawakens their leader, [[Silas]], by integrating his body into Breakdown's corpse. Renaming himself "Cylas", he dispatches the MECH technical team and goes to [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] with a new weapon: the [[Project Damocles]] satellite. Megatron tries to utilize the Damocles satellite, but is foiled by the hacking efforts of [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]. Angered with the satellite's failure, Megatron allows [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to dissect Cylas. {{storylink|The Human Factor}}

[[File:Legacy-PrimeStarSaber.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Voldemort is ''evil'', [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Prime]]. Stop trying to be him. [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Unless...]]]]

The [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s both find the location of the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]]. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] is forced to try and retrieve it for the Autobots, while Megatron has an entire army of workers trying to get at it. However it takes the power of a [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Prime]] for the sword to finally come free from the rock that encases it. After almost crashing the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' with the sword, Optimus and the Autobots emerge victorious. {{storylink|Legacy (episode)|Legacy}}

[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] receives a prerecorded message from [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] telling him to locate the four [[Omega Key]]s. [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] uses a [[space bridge]] to travel to Cybertron to retrieve the arm of a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. He attaches it to his body and uses his new limb to craft the [[Dark Star Saber]] from the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. The Dark Star Saber breaks the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] in half, but the Autobots come away with the first Omega Key. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}}

Optimus dispatches [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to go after the second relic, and [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to go after the third. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] wins over the second relic for the [[Decepticon]]s, while [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] beats out Bulkhead, Smokescreen, and [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] to get the third. Smokescreen is captured by the Decepticons when he is revealed to be the fourth and final key. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}}

Knock Out uses Smokescreen's phase shifter to remove the final Omega Key from within his body. However, Smokescreen manages to escape with the two Omega Keys that were in Megatron's possession, leaving the fourth one with Starscream. Starscream manages to invade the Autobot base and steal all three of theirs, acquiring all four. He then goes to Megatron on the ''Nemesis'' with the Omega Keys as bargaining chips. {{storylink|Inside Job}}

[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] uses a [[cortical psychic patch]] on [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] in order to find out his ''true'' motives for coming back to Megatron. However, he decides that Starscream is of more value fighting ''with'' Megatron, not against him, and welcomes him back to the [[Decepticon]]s. While viewing the results of the patch, [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] learns of his [[Skyquake (Prime)|twin's]] fate in the [[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]. {{storylink|Patch (episode)|Patch}}

Knock Out operates on Starscream and repairs him, giving him a new T-cog. Infuriated by Starscream's treatment of Skyquake and Megatron's nonchalance, Dreadwing presents the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] to the [[Autobot]]s so that they can avenge his twin's death. After traveling back to the ''Nemesis'', he attempts to kill Starscream, but Megatron strikes him down before he gets the chance. Megatron and Starscream travel to Cybertron with a detachment of Vehicons to reactivate the planet. Using the Forge, Optimus modifies the Ground Bridge into a Space Bridge, and the Autobots launch an attack on the Vehicons using the gathered Iacon relics. They manage to retrieve the Omega Keys and reach the [[Omega Lock]]. However, Megatron reveals that the three kids have been captured by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}}

[[File:DarkestHour-Basedestroyed.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.4|We didn't even pay off the rent for this place!]]
The Autobots are forced to turn over the Omega Keys in exchange for the kids, and Megatron reveals his master plan includes [[cyberforming]] Earth as well. Optimus uses the Star Saber to destroy the Omega Lock, and the Autobots return to Earth, only for the Decepticons to attack their base. The Autobots abandon base, scattering across country, except for Optimus who is still in the base when the Decepticons destroy it. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] spirits the badly damaged Optimus Prime away from the wreckage of [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]] using the [[phase shifter]]. Megatron sends [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to search for the rest of the relics. He returns with the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], and something even better...[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] and his latest creation, a Predacon cloned from recovered CNA. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}} {{storylink|Scattered}}

[[File:Rebellion-Autobotgroupshot.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]

Concurrently, [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] lands on Earth and begins to reunite the disparate Autobot forces, who have gone into hiding. Among them are Raf and Bumblebee, who have turned the ''Harbinger'' into a new temporary base of operations with Ratchet's aid {{storylink|Scattered}}. Smokescreen, still in hiding, breaks into the ''Nemesis'' and recovers the Forge of Solus Prime. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} The Autobots launch a final assault on the Decepticon fortress. With the help of Optimus Prime, given a new lease on life thanks to the Forge, their combined efforts bring down Darkmount for good, forcing the Decepticons into a retreat. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}}

[[File:PlusOne-snatched.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]

Agent Fowler brings Optimus a new, beefed up truck to scan for his alternate mode, couresty of [[M.A.S.K.]] He also brings news of Decepticon activity in Texas and Scotland. He sends the Wreckers to Scotland, and brings Bumblebee and Smokescreen to Texas with him. Both parties discover the Decepticons transporting ancient Predacon fossils. Although the Autobots try to recover the fossils, both missions fail. Wheeljack drives off alone alone, fed up with Ultra Magnus and worried Bulkhead has gone soft. {{storylink|Project Predacon}} {{storylink|Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command}}

Wheeljack bridges back to base without Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead. He and Arcee track down Decepticon activity in New Mexico, but end up having to rescue Fowler and [[June Darby|June]] after the latter two get themselves kidnapped by Knock Out. After returning to base, Wheeljack and Bulkhead make up. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}}

Wanting Megatron's favor back, Starscream orders Knock Out to inject the imprisoned Cylas with a mix of Dark and Synthetic Energon, turning him into a vampiric Terrorcon who brings his plague upon the ''Nemesis''. Cylas ends up freeing Airachnid before being killed by her, and she retakes control of the Insecticons, but their attempt at a coup is halted when Soundwave bridges them to a desolate moon of Cybertron. Starscream ends up facing Megatron's wrath for losing them the Insecticons and more than half of the Vehicons while Shockwave speeds up progress on Project Predacon to make up for the extensive loss of manpower. {{storylink|Thirst}}

[[File:Evolution Predaking Stand.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Anyone wanna make a ''Dragon Ball Z'' joke?]]
On the verge of the project's completion, the Predacon reveals his newfound ability to transform as well as his sentience, and though he pledges loyalty to Megatron, his ambition does not go unnoticed, and the Decepticons decide to let the Autobots wipe out the Predacons for them. Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack end up facing off against Predaking, putting aside their past grievances with each other and forging a mutual respect, but are ultimately bested by the Predacon, who also destroys the Forge of Solus Prime and Magnus's hand. Optimus is able to save his men in the nick of time, while Shockwave finds the destruction of his lab and the presence of Synthetic Energon has produced [[Living metal|cyber-matter]]. {{storylink|Evolution}} Megatron decides to use this newfound discovery to rebuild the Omega Lock to cyberform Earth and restore Cybertron, believing the two planets to be two halves of one. While Starscream procures Earth technology for the project, the recently captured Soundwave brings Ratchet to Megatron to perfect the synthetic Energon formula. {{storylink|Minus One}} Raf and Wheeljack build a probe using Laserbeak's transponder that was broken off while capturing Ratchet, which will lead them to the ''Nemesis''. Megatron is able to persuade Ratchet to help produce the formula, having played to Ratchet's love for his home planet to override his justified reservations. {{storylink|Persuasion}} While the probe is destroyed by Starscream, it does not take long for Ratchet, Knock Out, and Shockwave to produce the formula, but Ratchet tries to make a run for it, only to be stopped by Megatron and tossed to Predaking for execution. Having caught Knock Out's slip of the tongue, Ratchet reveals Megatron's plot to exterminate the Predacons to Predaking, who goes on a rampage. Ratchet disables the ''Nemesis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> cloaking field, allowing the Autobots to storm the ship, just as Megatron is able to scrape a victory against Predaking by knocking him out of an airlock. {{storylink|Synthesis}}

[[File:Deadlock-Megatron-Decepticons-extinguished.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Soundwave, what's happening to my glow in the dark tattoo?!?]]
The Autobots wage their final battle to defeat the forces of the Decepticons, with Megatron facing Optimus with his Dark Star Saber, Ratchet fighting Shockwave, the Wreckers aiming to secure the bridge, and Arcee's Stealth Team bringing the Star Saber to Optimus. When the Wreckers are bridged away by Soundwave, Jack and an Apex Armor-clad Miko banish him to the Shadowzone. As the Omega Lock is activated, Bumblebee tries to get the Saber to Optimus, but is blasted to death by Megatron and falls into the pool of Cybermatter created by the Omega Lock. Though enraged by his scout's death, Optimus is beaten and is soon hanging off the edge of the Lock by Megatron... who is then run through with the Star Saber by the revived Bumblebee, whose voices has been restored as well. Megatron dies and his corpse falls to Earth, while Starscream, Shockwave, and the surviving Vehicons abandon ship. After a failed attempt at abandoning ship as well, Knock Out receives little welcome from the Autobots when he tries to switch sides as well. Now in command of the ''Nemesis'', Optimus has it journey to Cybertron, where the Omega Lock is fired into the core, reviving the planet at last. The Autobots bid farewell to their human family, with Ratchet staying on Earth to support Unit:E, and depart to rebuild their home. Meanwhile, Predaking, having clung to the warship's hull, flies off into the distance of this new world with intentions unknown... {{storylink|Deadlock (episode)|Deadlock}}

Sensing Primus's reawakening, Unicron returns and possesses Megatron's corpse as a new vessel to destroy his eternal nemesis. Optimus and Wheeljack set off to retrieve the [[AllSpark]], whilst Starscream and Shockwave brought online two new Predacons, [[Darksteel (Prime)|Darksteel]] and [[Skylynx (Prime)|Skylynx]] in an effort to defeat the Autobots with a new army of beasts. The two are successful in heavily damaging Ultra Magnus, prompting Ratchet to return to Cybertron to treat him and leadership falling upon Bumblebee's shoulders. Unicron makes his presence known, and following a battle with Predaking, learns of an ancient burial ground of Predacons. Predaking takes command over Darksteel and Skylynx, while Knock Out defects to the Autobots after tiring of Starscream's abuse. At the burial ground, the Chaos Bringer raises a new army of the undead to destroy Primus, prompting a desperate last stand from the united Autobots, Decepticons, and Predacons. Their efforts buy enough time for Optimus to return and take on Unicron, but after being defeated, takes the drastic measure of taking the AllSpark into the Matrix of Leadership. Unicron is tricked into having his ethereal form sealed into the AllSpark's container, finally ridding Megatron of his torturous possession. Now knowing what oppression truly is, Megatron officially disbands the Decepticons and departs, leaving Starscream as the last active Decepticon. His reign is short-lived, as the Predacons trap him to enact revenge for all the trouble he's caused them. The Autobots gather at the Well of All Sparks, where Optimus announces that merging the AllSpark with the Matrix means he must sacrifice his life to restore Cybertron's ability to create new life, assuring his saddened comrades that this is not an end, but only a new beginning - another transformation. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

Before Optimus can properly pass into the afterlife, his Spark is separated from the AllSpark by the [[Thirteen]] and brought to the [[Realm of the Primes]]. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}}

==After Cybertron's revival==
===Immediate fallout===
With Cybertron rejuvenated, the remainder of Team Prime meet up with the Dinobots and work together to subdue a rogue Predacon. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 8|Beast Hunters #8}}

Though his ''natural cunning and guile'', Starscream is able to kill both Skylynx and Darksteel via [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]'s intruder defence system. Exploring the fortress, he discovers the [[Weaponizer (RID)|Weaponizer]] Mini-Cons and makes plans to harvest their power before he reformats himself to his old body-style. After freeing the Mini-Cons, they manage to escape. {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} Starscream is subsequently presumed deceased by the Autobots but records of him survive. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}}

As Cybertron rebuilds itself, a new High Council comes to govern the planet before [[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]] and his troops overthrow them and take their place. Intending to restart the war and bring about the rebirth of the [[Decepticon Empire]], the five isolate Cybertron from the larger galaxy and blacklist any Autobot supporting Optimus Prime. Misinterpreting these actions as the will of the people, the Autobots do not protest and are subsequently given low positions in society. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy (RID)|Enemy of My Enemy}} {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}} Ratchet's vocal protests of these actions results in him being <s>exiled</s> given a job hunting war criminals that causes him to spend a substantial amount of time off Cybertron. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}}

The prison ship ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' is launched, housing dangerous Decepticon criminals, such as [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]] and [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]]. {{storylink|Pilot (Part 1)}} As a result of [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] pulling the strings from his prison dimension, {{storylink|Lockout}} the ship eventually crashes on Earth, deactivating its [[Stasis pod|stasis cells]] and unleashing hundreds of rogue Decepticons on the unsuspecting planet. {{storylink|Pilot (Part 1)}} Though the bow of the ship breaks off, the drive section remains largely intact and crashes in the bay outside [[Crown City]]. In the chaos, the freed Decepticons are able to overthrow the Mini-Con guards and seize control of the ship. Three Decepticons – [[Scorponok (WFC)|Scorponok]], [[Saberhorn]] and [[Glowstrike]] – manage to emerge as leaders and begin restoring the ''Alchemor'', intending to use the craft to plunder planets across the galaxy. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}}

===Post-''Alchemor'' crash===
Three years after Cybertron's rebirth, {{storylink|Uninvited Guest}} Bumblebee, now a lieutenant, was working as a beat cop while mentoring the Elite Guard cadet [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]]. While chasing down the hoodlum [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]], Bumblebee receives a vision from Optimus Prime urging him to travel back to Earth. Bumblebee hijacks a space bridge, but finds himself burdened by the two young Autobots. The trio encounters the wreckage of the ''Alchemor'' and the Minicon [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]], who informs them about the dire circumstances. They eventually befriend the humans Denny and Russell Clay and, with the aid of [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]], successfully recapture the Decepticon [[Underbite]]. {{storylink|Pilot (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Pilot (Part 2)}}

The ambitious Steeljaw sees in Earth a chance to forge his own [[Decepticon Empire]]. His initial attempts at recruitment are thwarted by Strongarm and Sideswipe, {{storylink|Trust Exercises}} before he later recruits crime boss, [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]]. {{storylink|As the Kospego Commands!}} Through the skills of [[Minitron]], Steeljaw recruits Underbite soon after. {{storylink|True Colors}}

The Autobot warrior [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] is eventually dispatched to Earth to investigate the ''Alchemor'' crash who discovers Bumblebee's team. After aiding them in subduing the Decepticon [[Ped (RID)|Ped]], Jazz returns to Cybertron, promising to smooth over Bumblebee's actions with the High Council. {{storylink|Can You Dig It?}} The High Council responds to Jazz's report by placing a bounty on Bumblebee's head with bounty hunters [[Drift (RID)|Drift]] and [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] travelling to Earth in an attempt to claim the Autobot. After becoming indebted to Bumblebee, Drift leaves Earth in peace. Fracture meanwhile is recruited into Steeljaw's Decepticon cell. {{storylink|Hunting Season}}

In the Realm of the Primes, Optimus Prime begins training, under [[Micronus Prime]], to combat the return of the Fallen. {{storylink|W.W.O.D.?}} {{storylink|Out of Focus}} {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 1}}

Steeljaw recruits the Decepticon blackmailer [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]] who is instantly targeted by Thunderhoof in pursuit of revenge. The feud ends in all of [[Steeljaw's Pack]] being taken captive by the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] only for Steeljaw to endanger human lives, allowing the Decepticons to escape. {{storylink|Sideways (episode)|Sideways}}

After improperly polishing Drift's sword, [[Jetstorm (RID)|Jetstorm]] begins to fear for his life and hops in an escape pod back to Earth. Drift follows, eventually deciding to stay and help the Bee Team. {{storylink|One of Our Mini-Cons Is Missing}} Approximately one month after the ''Alchemor'' crash, the team meets Windblade, who has been probably reactivated by [[Primus]] following Cybertron's rebirth. {{storylink|The Buzz on Windblade}} After a failed attempt at freeing the Decepticons captured by the Bee Team, Steeljaw is contacted by Megatronus and forced into servitude. {{storylink|Lockout}}

The ancient Prime forces Steeljaw to construct a modified GroundBridge into the [[Crown City Colossus]] via which he can escape his prison. The Thirteen return Optimus Prime to the physical world to the deal with the threat but he arrives too late to prevent Megatronus from escaping. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 1}} After dispatching Optimus, Megatronus attempts to merge the [[AllSpark]] with the remnants of the Anti-Spark in an attempt to destroy both Primus and Unicron before Optimus Prime destroys his [[spark fuser]]. After his destruction, Steeljaw's Pack is arrested while their leader, having been hurled away by the corrupt Prime, remains at large. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 2}}

The threat passed, Micronus Prime strips Optimus of the power the other Primes bestowed upon him. This act leaves Optimus severely weakened with the exotic energies in his frame taking the GroundBridge offline separating the Earth-bound Autobots for a time. {{storylink|Overloaded, Part 1}} {{storylink|Overloaded, Part 2}} Running across [[Kickback (RID)|Kickback]], Steeljaw attempts to recruit him once again only to be rebuked. Tailing the race car, Steeljaw discovers the Decepticon group operating out of the ''Alchemor''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s drive section and smooth talks his way into the upper echelons of command, {{storylink|Metal Meltdown}} eventually setting up Scorponok for a fall so he can accumulate more influence. {{storylink|Misdirection}}

Fixit's attempts to repair the GroundBridge accidentally result in Soundwave managing to free himself from the Shadowzone. Instantly subduing the Bee Team, and sending Bumblebee to the Shadowzone as revenge, Soundwave begins construction of a galactic transmitter to contact Megatron. Once again exploiting Soundwave's penchant for combat via GroundBridge portals, the Autobots are able to free Bumblebee from the Shadowzone and send Soundwave back into his prison. {{storylink|Portals}}

After the two Autobot teams reunite, they cross paths with Ratchet, inviting him to stay and aid them in figuring out the mystery of "Decepticon Island". Though the Autobots initially attempt to interrogate Clampdown, intelligence comes from the escaped [[Toolbox]] who reveals the Decepticons' plan and location. Concurrently, Steeljaw overthrows Glowstrike and Saberhorn, intending to make the capital in his reborn Decepticon Empire. The Autobots makes plans to detonate a [[stasis bomb]] and render all convicts into stasis lock. Though confronted by Steeljaw, now empowered by the power of three [[Decepticon Hunter]]s, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are able to detonate the bomb. With the ''Alchemor'' flight worthy once again, Ratchet and Windblade elect to join the Mini-Con crew in returning to Cybertron. Optimus Prime accompanies them, feeling a need to investigate the new regime on Cybertron. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 2)}}

During the flight back, Optimus makes contacts with several of his friends. {{storylink|Worthy}}

The Weaponizers, still fleeing Starscream, fall in line with a group of [[Scavengers (RID)|Scavengers]] eventually winding up on Earth. With Earth now largely Decepticon-free, Bumblebee takes time to show his team around his adopted homeworld. While on an educational field trip to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], the Bee Team runs across [[Paralon (RID)|Paralon]] and [[Buzzstrike]]. {{storylink|History Lessons}} To track the Scavengers and Mini-Cons, the Autobots begin investigating sites of previous Cybertronian activity on Earth eventually coming to blows with [[Scatterspike (RID)|Scatterspike]] and [[Sawtooth (RID)|Sawtooth]] at [[Mount St. Hilary]]. {{storylink|Strongarm's Big Score}}

The Scavengers eventually strike gold when they retrieve the [[Dark Star Saber]] but while they argue over their latest prize, the Weaponizers steal their shuttle. Concurrently, Starscream returns to Earth hunting down the Mini-Cons and claims the Dark Star Saber right out from under the Scavengers. Still seeking to possess the Mini-Cons, he has minions track down their signals and bring them to him. His minions bring him the wrong Mini-Cons but Fixit accidentally reveals Bumblebee is back on Earth. Using the Autobot Mini-Cons as hostages, Starscream is able to take Bumblebee hostage. Optimus Prime returns to Earth to provide aid. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} While tracking Starscream, the Autobots come across the Weaponizers and form a tentative alliance before the Scavengers return. The power unleashed during their battle alerts Starscream to their position and he manages to abduct six out of the seven Weaponizers. {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} The last of them, [[Tricerashot]] helps the Autobots defeat the Scavengers before he leads them to [[Starscream's ship]]. No sooner do they arrive does Starscream abduct him and merge himself with all seven Weaponizer Mini-Cons. An analysis of the machinery utilized reveals a way to undo this allowing the Autobots to free [[Aerobolt]] who [[powerlinx]]es with Optimus. With his power augmented, Optimus is able to hold Starscream off long enough for the other Mini-Cons to be freed though doing so leaves Starscream in vegetative state. Optimus departs back to Cybertron but not before revealing he is working with "old friends" to change the political situation on their home planet. {{storylink|Worthy}}

On Cybertron, the High Council's plans near completion. To keep the Bee Team occupied, they free Steeljaw and his pack, sending back to Earth with orders to kill, in exchange for a full pardon. {{storylink|Exiles}} Desiring to summon [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] back home, the Council genetically engineers a quartet of Activator Mini-Cons and sends them to Earth to free Soundwave from the shadowzone for his skills in communications. {{storylink|Collateral Damage}}

Concurrently, the Bee Team runs afoul of the unambitious [[Stunticon (Prime)|Stunticons]] who seek to "control [Earth's] roads" via automotive mayhem. {{storylink|King of the Hill (Part 1)}} {{storylink|King of the Hill (Part 2)}}

The team briefly cross paths with [[Blurr (Prime)|Blurr]] {{storylink|Blurred}} who aids them for a while {{storylink|Sphere of Influence}} before returning to Griffin Rock. {{storylink|Bee Cool}} Drift's former mentor, [[Shadow Raker]], arrives on Earth seeking to reclaim Slipstream and Jetstorm. The two Mini-Cons feign loyalty to their old master who lowers his guard enough to be defeated and imprisoned. Afterwards, Drift promises his students more autonomy. {{storylink|Out of the Shadows}} Strongarm's old classmate, [[Nightra]] briefly stops by only to be imprisoned by [[Blastwave]] for her many crimes. {{storylink|Guilty As Charged}}

In their next confrontation, the Bee Team is met by the Stuncticon's combined form of [[Menasor (RID)|Menasor]] whom they manage to defeat with their own combined form, [[Ultra Bee]]. {{storylink|Combine and Conquer}} Optimus Prime then returns to Earth to seek Drift's aid in his quest, taking the defeated Stunticons back to Cybertron with them. {{storylink|Moon Breaker}}

Steeljaw's pack then strikes, decimating the scrapyard and forcing the Bee Team into hiding. {{storylink|Exiles}} The pack goes to work stealing the needed components for Soundwave but all but Steeljaw wind up captured following battles with the Autobots. In his anger, Steeljaw demands that Soundwave come collect the final components personally. {{storylink|Prisoner Principles}}

Acquiescing, Soundwave meets Steeljaw and reveals he is building a [[trans-galactic beacon generator]] to summon Megatron, which will irradiate Earth to the point of uninhabitability when activated. Though Steeljaw attempts to fight for his desired world, he is soundly defeated and sent running. With the aid of Optimus Prime, the Bee Team manages to defeat Soundwave before he can send his signal. Optimus returns to Cybertron, taking Soundwave as his prisoner. {{storylink|Collateral Damage}} Optimus then makes contact with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and orders him to Earth. {{storylink|Sick as a Bot}}

On Cybertron, the High Council develops mind control technology so as to use the Autobots as their new military force in rebuilding the [[Decepticon Empire]]. Using this technology, they send [[Dropforge]] and three of his officers to Earth to arrest the Bee Team only for Strongarm to free her mentor free of the signal. {{storylink|Five Fugitives}} Now far too recognizable to confront the Council directly, Optimus, and his team of All Stars, travel to Earth and inform the Bee Team that the High Council is preparing an invasion of Earth. The Bee Team travels to Cybertron, with Steeljaw as a stowaway, while Optimus's team hunts for the [[Space bridge|Space Bridge]] receiver. Though the Bee Team touches down on their homeworld, they are soon surrounded by the Council's forces. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy (RID)|Enemy of My Enemy}}

Dropforge then arrives to free them and directs them to the [[High Council Tower]]. Breaking into the Council chambers, the Bee Team discovers the Council's true Decepticon bodies and engages their combined form of [[Galvatronus (RID)|Galvatronus]] with Ultra Bee. On Earth, Optimus's team manages to destroy the Space Bridge much to Galvatronus's rage who rants off the Council's plans of conquest as Steeljaw and Fix-It disable the mind control. As a result of the hesitations of [[Cyberwarp]], the Bee Team is able to triumph and return Cybertron to Autobot control. Optimus declines rulership of Cybertron, instead placing the All Stars, as temporary rulers while the Bee Team returns to Earth as Cybertron's first ambassadors to the planet. {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}

{{stub|All of Rescue Bots Academy}}

==Future==
At some point, all of humanity learns of the existence of Cybertronians.

[[Jules Verne]] returns to the future and brings an apparently amnesic [[Doctor Morocco|Thaddeus Morocco]] with him to [[Paris]] to show him the sights. {{storylink|The Last of Morocco}}

==Alternate timeline==
{{Note|The events of this timeline diverge from the main timeline at 1939 of the Modern Era, in which a great time travel incident both created and subsequently erased this new timeline. As the exact extent of all that was changed beyond the borders of Griffin Rock is not known, this section will only cover the known divergences.}}

===1939===
The [[Griffin Rock Technology Expo]] occurs, during which Griffin Rock scientists attempt to create a [[Temporal Station|time machine]], but are incapable of powering it up.{{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

On [[August 17]], the day after the Temporal Station's decommissioning, a group of time-displaced individuals consisting of four Rescue Bot Autobots, the human children [[Cody Burns]] and [[Frankie Greene]], and the Helper Bot [[Dither]], accidentally travels through the time machine from the future. They are discovered by Dr. Morocco, who takes interest in the robots and begins to study them. The two kids are sent away, but escape and, along with Dither, recover the Autobots in Morocco's captivity. A surprise intervention by Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, who subsequently followed the Rescue Bots through the time machine to help them, along with some assistance from [[Elma Hendrickson]], gives all of the time-travelers the chance to escape back to the future. However, a damaged Dither is accidentally left behind, and comes into Morocco's possession. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

Studying Dither's future technology, Morocco falsely takes credit as the robot's inventor, redubbing it the MorBot 1.1. From this robot, Morocco gains great fame and power with the promise of technological prosperity for Griffin Rock. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

===Present day===
Morocco, having come to gain power over Griffin Rock, rules the now-dystopian island of "Moropolis" with an army of transformable MorBot mechanoids. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}} {{storylink|Bot to the Future}} The Burns family are a family of mechanics, with Charlie Burns being a janitor at the [[Hall of Inspiration]], while all secretly heading a resistance movement against Morocco. Huxley Prescott is a taxi driver, Mr. Luskey owns a restaurant, no Cody Burns exists in this timeline, and no "Doc Greene" lives on the island. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

When the group of time-traveling Autobots and humans return from 1939 to the present, they find themselves in this timeline. The team splits up as Optimus and Bumblebee fend off the MorBots while the others seek answers. Learning of the altered history from the Hall of Inspiration, the group meets this timeline's Charlie Burns, who is suspicious of them at first, but eventually comes to aid them. The team accompanies Charlie back to his home, but Morocco has caught wind of their arrival. The Burns siblings are also initially skeptical of the newcomers, but agree to help once their home is attacked. As Morocco is about to destroy the fire house, the Burns family unveil its new secret weapon: The [[Mobile Headquarters]]. After a great battle, all six Autobots and the Burns family arrive at the Temporal Station. The departing time travelers are given the MHQ as a parting gift and vanish through the portal back to 1939, just as Morocco arrives and crashes his MorBot. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

{{Note|From here, the team retrieves Dither from 1939 and returns to the present in their corrected timeline, thus erasing this timeline from existence.}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Aligned history]]
[[Category:Chronologies]]

The Invisibility Factor

2024-09-22T05:13:25Z

Eyacorkett:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Find Your Fate Junior]] #9
|prev=Project Brain Drain
|title="The Invisibility Factor"
|image=FYF Invisibility Factor Cover.jpg
|caption=Man, that sure is Galvatron's [[package art|box art]] coming out of the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' there.
|publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]
|imprint=[[Find Your Fate Junior]]
|date=1986
|writer=[[Josepha Sherman]]
|illustrator=[[William Schmidt]] (interior pencils and cover painting)
|pagecount=73pp
|ISBN=ISBN 978034533391 ISBN 0-345-33391-8
}}
While driving through the desert outside [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] one night, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] come upon a battered ship that can become invisible. Who controls this ship, and what are their intentions for Earth? How are the Autobots to deal with this potential threat? [[You]] decide!

==Synopsis==
{{anchor|Page 1}}'''(PAGE_1)''' [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] are enjoying a quiet drive in the desert at night. Admiring Earth's beauty, Kup is reminded of reminded of the desert world of [[Sonacron V]], homeworld of the [[Sonite]]s. As he begins to recount the story of his time there to Hot Rod, he is interrupted when Hot Rod spots what appears to be a shooting star, heading directly towards them. {{anchor|Page 2}}'''(PAGE_2)''' Hot Rod observes that the "star" is blinking on and off. Their curiosity piqued, the two Autobots drive forwards to meet what turns out to be a spacecraft. Observing it more closely, Hot Rod notes that the ship is barely holding together, and is patched together by scrap metal and odd parts. Stranger still, one moment the ship is visible, then it becomes invisible, then visible again. Curious to see who operates this bizarre vessel, Hot Rod suggests they look inside. {{anchor|Page 69}}'''(PAGE_69)''' But Kup is wary of the strange vessel, and suspects it might be a Decepticon trap. He suggests that they should return to the Autobot City of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] for some back-up before investigating further.

'''''Should Kup and Hot Rod investigate the spaceship immediately?'' (>>[[#Page 54|PAGE_54]]>>)'''

'''''Should Kup and Hot Rod fetch a backup team of Autobots before proceeding?'' (>>[[#Page 20|PAGE_20]]>>)'''

[[File:InvisibilityFactorHotRodKupmeetSarah.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
:'''(<<From_[[#Page 69|PAGE_69]]<<)''' '''''Kup and Hot Rod decide to stick around and investigate the ship by themselves.'' {{anchor|Page 54}}(>>PAGE_54>>)''' Concealing themselves behind nearby rocks, the pair witness the ship's hatch opening. Out of the craft steps out a human woman, who turns to look at her spacecraft in disgust. Before Kup can stop him, Hot Rod reveals himself, startling the woman. Kup steps out into the open as well, and reassures her, explaining that they are Autobots, friends to humankind. The woman says that she has heard of the Autobots before, but admits that she believed them to merely be part of fantastic stories children told one another. The woman introduces herself as [[Sarah Sanders]], a scientist working on a research grant funded project. Hot Rod points to a box in Sarah's grasp, and asks if it's her invention. {{anchor|Page 19}}'''(PAGE_19)''' Sarah explains that the machine she holds is the [[Invisibility Device]], or rather, it will be after she has it working properly. Kup and Hot Rod look at one another in amazement. An invisibility device would be instrumental in defeating the Decepticons. What should they do?

:'''''Should Hot Rod simply take the device from Sarah, considering it would ultimately serve to benefit mankind in defeating the Decepticons?'' (>>[[#Page 45|PAGE_45]]>>)'''

:'''''Should they try to convince Sarah to use the device to help the Autobot cause instead?'' (>>[[#Page 25|PAGE_25]]>>)'''

::'''(<<From_[[#Page 19|PAGE_19]]<<)''' '''''Hot Rod, unable to control himself, snatches the device away from Sarah.'' {{anchor|Page 45}}(>>PAGE_45>>)''' He begins to giddily talk on how easy it will be to defeat the Decepticons with this new invention. Sarah protests her invention being taken away from her forcibly. Kup agrees with Sarah, and tells Hot Rod to return the device to its proper owner. But Hot Rod is too caught up in his dream of becoming a hero, and zooms off with the device, eager to present it to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. But Hot Rod is unaware that the Invisibility Device has a self-destruct mechanism, which he accidentally triggers when he hits a bump. The device goes up in smoke, as do Hot Rod's dreams of becoming a hero.

::'''THE END'''

::'''(<<From_[[#Page 19|PAGE_19]]<<)''' '''''Hot Rod and Kup attempt to coax Sarah into helping the Autobots with her invention.'' {{anchor|Page 25}}(>>PAGE_25>>)''' But Sarah refuses, explaining that she does not wish her device to be used for any kind of warfare. Though Kup and Hot Rod attempt to politely convince her that the Autobots would use her device for a just cause, they are interrupted by the sound of jet engines drawing near. The Decepticons have seen the flickering spaceship in the distance, and are now raining down explosives onto Sarah and the Autobots! One blasts nearly hits Sarah, and sends her flying, causing her to lose her grip on the Invisibility Device. Prioritizing Sarah's safety above everything else, Hot Rod transforms to vehicle mode, and whisks her out of the Decepticons' firing range. Kup follows the young Autobot, but takes a look back to see what the Decepticons are doing. {{anchor|Page 26}}'''(PAGE_26)''' Kup sees that the Decepticons aren't following them, but are investigating Sarah's spacecraft instead. He instructs Hot Rod to hide behind nearby rocks so they can spy on their adversaries. [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] is amongst the Decepticons, and questions why they aren't chasing down the Autobots. [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] orders his minion to forget about the Autobots, and admits he is deeply curious about the spacecraft. Galvatron spots the Invisibility Device lying on the ground, and begins to mull over it. Sarah gasps in horror as her device is being prodded by such an evil creature. What should Kup and Hot Rod do?

::'''''Should Hot Rod and Kup attack the Decepticons immediately?'' (>>[[#Page 8|PAGE_8]]>>)'''

::'''''Should Hot Rod and Kup attempt to steal the Invisibility Device back from Galvatron?'' (>>[[#Page 18|PAGE_18]]>>)'''

::'''''Should Hot Rod and Kup assume the Decepticons will leave Earth with the spacecraft, and return to Autobot City with reinforcements and an Autobot spaceship?'' (>>[[#Page 52|PAGE_52]]>>)'''

:::'''(<<From_[[#Page 26|PAGE_26]]<<)''' '''''Hot Rod and Kup decide to attack the Decepticons immediately.'' {{anchor|Page 8}}(>>PAGE_8>>)''' Leaping out from behind their cover, Hot Rod manages to land a hit on Thrust, and Kup manages to injure Galvatron. But no matter how valiantly they fight, they are only two Autobots against a whole squad of Decepticons. Hot Rod and Kup's gruesome fate is better left to the imagination.

:::'''THE END'''

:::'''(<<From_[[#Page 26|PAGE_26]]<<)''' '''''Hot Rod and Kup decide it would be best to attempt stealing the Invisibility Device back from Galvatron.'' {{anchor|Page 18}}(>>PAGE_18>>)''' They watch as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] rolls the device in the palm of his hand, and moves away from Autobots, towards the Decepticon base, along with the rest of the Decepticons. Hot Rod and Kup give the Decepticons a small head start, and then tell Sarah to wait for them in hiding while they go off to trail the evil robots. The Autobots follow the Decepticon squadron until their quarry head down into a canyon. Hot Rod is ready to follow, but Kup advises him against it. Kup has been in a similar situation when he was stationed on the planet [[Renerian]], he explains, and his experience there will help him formulate a plan of attack. {{anchor|Page 28}}'''(PAGE_28)''' After briefing Hot Rod on what to do, Kup and the young Autobot quickly go into action. The pair race back and forth along the canyon's rim, and fire at the Decepticons from a variety of angles. Thrust, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] are caught by surprise by the attack, and are unable to tell how many Autobots they're up against. Panicked and angry, the Decepticons attempt to return fire, but only manage to make shattered rocks rain down upon themselves. {{anchor|Page 64}}'''(PAGE_64)''' The Decepticons begin to bicker amongst themselves as they fire in all directions, and are too distracted to spot Hot Rod sneaking up on them. Hot Rod moves into position to retrieve the Invisibility Device from Shockwave, but notices that Galvatron's back is turned to him. He thinks to himself that this might be the perfect opportunity to wipe out Galvatron once and for all!

:::'''''Should Hot Rod risk attacking Galvatron?'' (>>[[#Page 13|PAGE_13]]>>)'''

:::'''''Should Hot Rod stick to the plan and concentrate on retrieving the Invisibility Device?'' (>>[[#Page 71|PAGE_71]]>>)'''

::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 64|PAGE_64]]<<)''' '''''Hot Rod decides to use this opportunity to attack Galvatron.'' {{anchor|Page 13}}(>>PAGE_13>>)''' But as he charges towards the unsuspecting Decepticon leader, he is spotted by Starscream, who fires first! Hot Rod is an easy target, and for him this turn of events spells…

::::'''THE END'''

::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 64|PAGE_64]]<<)''' '''''Hot Rod decides focus on retrieving the Invisibility Device from Shockwave.'' {{anchor|Page 71}}(>>PAGE_71>>)''' He dashes forwards, and snatches the device from the Decepticon. Shockwave yells for help, and points out Hot Rod to the rest of the Decepticon squadron. The Decepticons race to capture Hot Rod, but Kup is observing the whole development from atop the canyon ridge. Kup fires a powerful laser blast behind Hot Rod, which triggers a rockslide that buries Hot Rod's pursuers under a pile of rubble. Hot Rod rejoins Kup, and exclaims that now that Sarah has seen how evil the Decepticons are, she is sure to lend her technology to help the Autobots in their fight against them. Kup is happy to say that Sarah's help might not even been necessary, as the Decepticons appear to be out of commission at the moment.

::::'''THE END'''

:::'''(<<From_[[#Page 26|PAGE_26]]<<)''' '''''Hot Rod and Kup decide to return to Autobot City for reinforcements and an Autobot spaceship, in case Galvatron boards Sarah's vessel.'' {{anchor|Page 52}}(>>PAGE_52>>)''' Sure enough, the Decepticons board the spacecraft to be able to study the Invisibility Device without having to deal with any Autobot interference. Ultra Magnus is quick to mobilize his troops upon learning of these developments from Hot Rod, and the Autobots lift off from Metroplex in one of their own spaceships. [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], acting as the ship's pilot, muses about the vastness of space, and asks his fellow Autobots if any of them might know where the Decepticons might have disappeared to. {{anchor|Page 59}}'''(PAGE_59)''' Kup reasons that the Decepticons couldn't have gotten too far, relatively speaking, as they did not have much of a head start on the Autobots. He proposes that the Decepticons might be hiding on [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] suggests that they could be heading for the [[Asteroid belt]] beyond [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. Springer adds that the Decepticons might have already figured out how to work the Invisibility Device, and might be lying in wait for an attack on the Autobots.

:::'''''Do you think the Decepticons are hiding on the dark side of the moon?'' (>>[[#Page 10|PAGE_10]]>>)'''

:::'''''Do you think the Decepticons are headed for the asteroid belt?'' (>>[[#Page 17|PAGE_17]]>>)'''

:::'''''Do you think the Decepticons are invisibly lying in wait for the Autobots?'' (>>[[#Page 48|PAGE_48]]>>)'''

::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 59|PAGE_59]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to investigate the dark side of the moon.'' {{anchor|Page 10}}(>>PAGE_10>>)''' They are unable to see whether or not the Decepticons are there as no sunlight shines on the area in question. The ship's sensors aren't picking up any Decepticon activity in the area either, making it unclear whether the Decepticons are well hidden or not there at all. Hot Rod suggests the open fire, in an attempt to goad the Decepticons in firing back, revealing their position in the process. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] dismisses the idea, saying it is too risky, as it would reveal their position first. Jazz suggests he might have a better plan in mind. What should Ultra Magnus do?

::::'''''Should Ultra Magnus give Hot Rod's plan a shot, even though it may be risky?'' (>>[[#Page 40|PAGE_40]]>>)'''

::::'''''Should Ultra Magnus listen to what Jazz has in mind?'' (>>[[#Page 46|PAGE_46]]>>)'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 10|PAGE_10]]<<)''' '''''Ultra Magnus decides to go along with Hot Rod's plan.'' {{anchor|Page 40}}(>>PAGE_40>>)''' He orders Springer to fire the ship's gun's at the moon's surface, and the flashes the lasers produce allows Jazz to briefly spot something metallic. But before the Autobots can properly coordinate another attack, their ship is rocked by Decepticon fire. The Autobots have made themselves a perfect target, and are soon reduced to space junk by the Decepticons' relentless assault.

:::::'''THE END'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 10|PAGE_10]]<<)''' '''''Ultra Magnus decides to listen to Jazz's plan before taking any further action.'' {{anchor|Page 46}}(>>PAGE_46>>)''' Following Jazz's stratagem, the Autobots are ordered to keep silent, and to shut off all power in the ship, so that the Decepticons won't be able to detect them on their scanners. Hiding in the moon's shadow, the Autobots launch a small probe. When the Decepticons spot the probe's rocket, they mistake it for the Autobots' ship, and open fire upon it, revealing their position. Powering back up their ship, the Autobots begin their attack on the Decepticons. But the Decepticons manage to strike back with a lucky shot. {{anchor|Page 60}}'''(PAGE_60)''' The Autobot ship receives damage, but remains functional. Hot Rod spots the Decepticons attempting to escape the moon, and Springer manages to land a direct hit on their fleeing target. The Decepticons' craft lights up in a huge explosion, and is no more. Kup is relieved that it's over, though he is pained to see the Invisibility Device destroyed in the process. Ultra Magnus admits that the device's loss is unfortunate, but is happy that the Decepticon menace has been destroyed… for now.

:::::'''THE END'''

::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 59|PAGE_59]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to investigate the asteroid belt beyond Mars.'' {{anchor|Page 17}}(>>PAGE_17>>)''' Soon enough, the Autobot ship comes in danger of being smashed to bits by all of the debris around it. Jazz suggests that the Autobots should hurry out of the Asteroid belt. Springer argues that if the Decepticons made it through the asteroids, so should they. Hot Rod retorts that they don't even know for sure that the Decepticons did go through the asteroid belt. What should the Autobots do?

::::'''''Listen to Jazz and retreat from the asteroid belt?'' (>>[[#Page 11|PAGE_11]]>>)'''

::::'''''Continue to maneuver through this treacherous environment?'' (>>[[#Page 27|PAGE_27]]>>)'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 17|PAGE_17]]_OR_[[#Page 56|PAGE_56]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to retreat from the asteroid belt.'' {{anchor|Page 11}}(>>PAGE_11>>)''' The Autobots return to Earth safely, but have lost all trace of the Decepticons. Telling one another that the Decepticons surely perished in the asteroid belt, the Autobots are caught unawares days later when Metroplex comes under attack from an unseen enemy. Ultra Magnus regrets having given up pursuit so easily, as they are now defenceless against the Decepticons with a fully functional Invisibility Device. Though they Autobots attempt fighting back, they are at too great a disadvantage, and soon all of Metroplex is reduced to ruins.

:::::'''THE END'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 17|PAGE_17]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to push on through the asteroid belt.'' {{anchor|Page 27}}(>>PAGE_27>>)''' Springer cruises through the ever shifting environment, and manages to safely avoid the asteroids until two huge asteroids come zooming towards the ship. With an asteroid on each side, the Autobots must blast them apart. But they only have time for one try, and if they only manage to blow up one of the asteroids, the other will still destroy the ship. The ship's weapons are controlled by a series of buttons, label 1 through 10. Which button should Springer hit?

:::::'''''Button 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9?'' (>>[[#Page 30|PAGE_30]]>>)'''

:::::'''''Button 2, 4, 6, or 8?'' (>>[[#Page 56|PAGE_56]]>>)'''

:::::'''''Button 10?'' (>>[[#Page 53|PAGE_53]]>>)'''

::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 27|PAGE_27]]<<)''' '''''Springer pushes one of the odd-numbered buttons.'' {{anchor|Page 30}}(>>PAGE_30>>)''' Two blasts shoot out and blow both asteroids to pieces! The Autobots' ship is battered by bits of flying rocks, but Prowl reports that it has only received a few dents and scratches. Springer then spots an open space before them, and continues to wonder where the Decepticons might be. '''(>>[[#Page 48|PAGE_48]]>>)'''

::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 30|PAGE_30]]_OR_[[#Page 59|PAGE_59]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots are now in a vast, empty expanse of space...'' {{anchor|Page 48}}(>>PAGE_48>>)'''...but Hot Rod has an unshakeable feeling that they are being spied upon. Jazz concurs with Hot Rod's sense of foreboding. Kup suggests that the Decepticons might have figured out how to work the Invisibility Device. Just then, Kup's hunch is proven correct when the Autobot ship is shaken by fire from an unseen opponent. Another shot hits them from another angle, and Jazz concludes that the Decepticons have indeed worked out the Invisibility Device, and are now circling them. Jazz says the Autobots should make a run for it. {{anchor|Page 49}}'''(PAGE_49)''' Kup however, suggests that they might yet be able to fight back. He recalls that Sarah said she hadn't been able to make the device function perfectly yet.

::::::'''''Should the Autobots retreat?'' (>>[[#Page 51|PAGE_51]]>>)'''

::::::'''''Should they instead listen to Kup, as the old Autobot devises a new strategy?'' (>>[[#Page 58|PAGE_58]]>>)'''

:::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 49|PAGE_49]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to retreat.'' {{anchor|Page 51}}(>>PAGE_51>>)''' But the Autobots are unable to shake off their invisible enemies. Again and again, the Autobots are helpless as their ship is rocked by energy blasts. Soon enough, the ship is torn apart from all the punishment it's forced to endure, and the Autobots are reduced to nothing more than space junk, drifting aimlessly in the void.

:::::::'''THE END'''

:::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 49|PAGE_49]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots listen to Kup's new plan of action.'' {{anchor|Page 58}}(>>PAGE_58>>)''' Ultra Magnus instructs the Autobots to stand ready at their battle stations, but to only open fire at his command. The Autobots obey their leader, and are steadfast as the ship is hit over and over by Decepticon fire. But just as things seem bleak, the Decepticons ship flickers into view. Just as Sarah had said, the Invisibility Device is still not completely reliable. As soon the Autobots see the Decepticon ship, they concentrate all of their weapons onto it at once. The Decepticon ship is blown into space dust! The Invisibility Device has been lost in the carnage, but the Decepticons have now been rendered invisible… forever!

:::::::'''THE END'''

[[File:Sarah sanders ship.jpg|thumb|right|200px|20 years before [[Transformers: Crossovers|Crossovers]].]]
::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 27|PAGE_27]]<<)''' '''''Springer pushes the button numbered 2, 4, 6, or 8.'' {{anchor|Page 56}}(>>PAGE_56>>)''' The asteroid hurtling towards the Autobots from the left is blown into space dust, but Springer is unable to destroy the other asteroid on a collision course with their ship. The Autobot shuttle takes heavy damage from the impact. The Autobots can't risk another hit from an asteroid, and must retreat. Though the damaged controls aren't always responsive to Springer's commands, and the Autobots flinch every time another space rock grazes their ship, they manage to escape the asteroid belt. After hearing the ship's damage report, Ultra Magnus has no choice but to return to Earth. '''(>>[[#Page 11|PAGE_11]]>>)'''

::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 27|PAGE_27]]<<)''' '''''Springer pushes the button labelled "10".'' {{anchor|Page 53}}(>>PAGE_53>>)''' Two bursts of energy fire out from the Autobot ship, but both of them miss the asteroids completely! Springer attempts to get another shot out, but he is too late. The Autobot ship is crushed into nothingness by the two asteroids, along with all of its passengers.

::::::'''THE END'''

:'''(<<From_[[#Page 69|PAGE_69]]<<)''' '''''Kup and Hot Rod decide to return to Autobot City for reinforcements.'' {{anchor|Page 20}}(>>PAGE_20>>)''' The two Autobots race out of the desert, and back to Metroplex. Reporting what they witnessed to Ultra Magnus, the Autobot leader concurs that it bears an investigation, and sends Hot Rod and Kup back into the desert, along with a team of Autobots. But once they've arrived where Kup and Hot Rod say they've seen the strange ship, there is nothing there waiting for them. Both Springer and Jazz doubt that there ever was a ship, and blame sand in their comrades' circuits for the strange things they saw. Hot Rod is bewildered, being certain that he wasn't hallucinating.

:'''''Should the Autobots return to Metroplex to check Hot Rod and Kup for loose wiring?'' (>>[[#Page 68|PAGE_68]]>>)'''

:'''''Should the Autobots continue to search the desert for the spacecraft?'' (>>[[#Page 31|PAGE_31]]>>)'''

::'''(<<From_[[#Page 20|PAGE_20]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide it would be best for Hot Rod and Kup to return to base and have their systems checked.'' {{anchor|Page 68}}(>>PAGE_68>>)''' [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] inspects the two of them, but can't find anything wrong. The spacecraft is forgotten— for a few days. Then the Autobots are caught off guard as a fleet of identical spacecrafts descend upon Autobot City, and lay waste to Metroplex with [[neuron beam]]s. When the massacre is over, Galvatron comes to survey the aftermath. He thinks aloud to himself that it was lucky the Autobots never found the Decepticon craft the night it broke down. Because the Autobots never returned, the Decepticons were able to retrieve the craft, perfect it, and built a whole fleet! Now that the Decepticons are victorious, Galvatron sets his sights on the entirety of both the Earth and Cybertron!

::'''THE END'''

::'''(<<From_[[#Page 20|PAGE_20]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to continue searching for the spacecraft.'' {{anchor|Page 31}}(>>PAGE_31>>)''' Though Springer insists that Hot Rod and Kup both have their systems check if their search yields no results. The Autobots split up, and at first there is no sign of anything unusual, until Hot Rod calls the Autobots over to his position. The young Autobot has discovered a trail in the sand where something heavy has been dragged away. Jazz apologizes for having jumped to conclusions about Hot Rod's state of mind. Kup points out that the only beings on Earth powerful enough to drag away a spaceship, other than the Autobots, are the Decepticons! The Autobots follow the trail in the sand until it comes to an abrupt end as the terrain becomes rocky. {{anchor|Page 32}}'''(PAGE_32)''' The Autobots once more spread out to pick up the spacecraft's trail, to no avail. But something catches Kup's eye, and he warns the rest of the Autobots to take cover. {{anchor|Page 14}}'''(PAGE_14)''' The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]] [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] is rolling along the desert in his steam shovel form. And in the jaws of his shovel, he's holding an Earth woman captive! What should the Autobots do?

::'''''Should the Autobots attack Scavenger to rescue the woman immediately?'' (>>[[#Page 21|PAGE_21]]>>)'''

::'''''Should the Autobots follow Scavenger to try and discover why he's kidnapping the woman, before rescuing her?'' (>>[[#Page 4|PAGE_4]]>>)'''

:::'''(<<From_[[#Page 14|PAGE_14]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to rescue the woman immediately.'' {{anchor|Page 21}}(>>PAGE_21>>)''' Springer transforms to robot mode and leaps before Scavenger, startling the Decepticon. Scavenger drops the woman and transforms, ready to fight, until he sees the other Autobots coming out from their hiding spots. The Constructicon then yells for help and begins to run away.

:::'''''Should the Autobots pursue Scavenger?'' (>>[[#Page 33|PAGE_33]]>>)'''

:::'''''Should the Autobots allow Scavenger to escape while they tend to the woman?'' (>>[[#Page 65|PAGE_65]]>>)'''

::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 21|PAGE_21]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots pursue Scavenger.'' {{anchor|Page 33}}(>>PAGE_33>>)''' But before they can catch him, Scavenger reaches a whole squadron of Decepticons, crowded around the spacecraft. Scavenger alerts the rest of the Decepticons of the Autobots' presence.

::::'''''Should the Autobots run away?'' (>>[[#Page 41|PAGE_41]]>>)'''

::::'''''Should the Autobots stand their ground and fight?'' (>>[[#Page 5|PAGE_5]]>>)'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 33|PAGE_33]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots run away from the Decepticons.'' {{anchor|Page 41}}(>>PAGE_41>>)''' When it becomes apparent that the Decepticons cannot be outrun, Hot Rod suggests the Autobots should split up. All six of them then head into a different direction, confusing the Decepticons. [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and Thrust begin to bicker on which direction they should take to hunt down their enemies, before Galvatron berates the both of them for allowing the Autobots to gain ground. At that moment, Hot Rod makes a U-turn and blinds the Decepticons with his high-beams, allowing the Autobots to avoid pursuit. Once the Autobots are sure they've lost the Decepticons, they regroup, and set out to search for the woman, who they find wandering the desert alone. '''(>>[[#Page 65|PAGE_65]]>>)'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 21|PAGE_21]]_OR_[[#Page 41|PAGE_41]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots ask the woman what her story is.'' {{anchor|Page 65}}(>>PAGE_65>>)''' At first she is hesitant, asking whether or not the Autobots are allied with the other robots she has encountered. The Autobots assure the woman that they are her friends, and introduce themselves. The woman tells them her name is Sarah Sanders, and explains that she is a scientist, working on a college grant, that has invented a spaceship with an Invisibility Device built into the control panel. She had been followed by what she assumed were foreign spies. She goes on to say that she considers her invention too dangerous, and was planning to crash the ship, containing all of her notes, into the ocean to destroy them all. But the ship broke down in the desert, and has now fallen into the evil hands of the Decepticons. Prowl is none too pleased that the Decepticons have now access to both the ship and the Invisibility device. What should the Autobots do?

:::::'''''Should the Autobots ask Sarah to build them an Invisibility Device, to fight back against the Decepticons?'' (>>[[#Page 3|PAGE_3]]>>)'''

:::::'''''Should the Autobots redouble their effort to retrieve Sarah's craft?'' (>>[[#Page 44|PAGE_44]]>>)'''

[[File:InvisibilityFactorHotRodKupSunstreakerLaughing.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 65|PAGE_65]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots ask Sarah to build them an Invisibility Device.'' {{anchor|Page 3}}(>>PAGE_3>>)''' But Sarah refuses to build a weapon of war, no matter how much Prowl, Springer and Hot Rod insist that the weapon would not be used against humankind. Frustrated by the Autobots' demands, Sarah takes off on her own. {{anchor|Page 70}}'''(PAGE_70)''' But overhead flies the Decepticon jet [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. Galvatron has sent him out on a mission to destroy Sarah, so that the Decepticons will be the only ones with access to the Invisibility Device. Dirge drops a missile, aimed towards Sarah. But Hot Rod, having heard the sound of Dirge's engine, warns Sarah of the incoming explosive. {{anchor|Page 34}}'''(PAGE_34)''' Sarah is able to evade the missile just in time, but is thrown off her feet by the explosion. Hot Rod drives up to the woman, and urges her to hop into his vehicle mode. Dirge pursues Hot Rod and Sarah, but they, along with the rest of the Autobots, are able to avoid his shots until they reach Metroplex. Once in the safety of Autobot City, Sarah expresses her gratitude towards the Autobots. Though she is still unwilling to build another Invisibility Device for them, she does show them how to build a device that will counter it, an [[Invisibility Scrambler]]. Two days later, the sound of fighter jets fill the seemingly empty sky above the Autobot city. Ultra Magnus takes out the Invisibility Scrambler. {{anchor|Page 72}}'''(PAGE_72)''' When the odd-looking machine is turned on and pointed at the sky, the air begins to shimmer. The Decepticons appear overhead, but they are unaware that the Autobots can now see them. The Decepticons are blown out of the air and taken prisoners by the Autobots.

::::::'''THE END'''

::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 65|PAGE_65]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots attempt once more to retrieve Sarah's ship.'' {{anchor|Page 44}}(>>PAGE_44>>)''' They all come to the conclusion that they can't afford to allow the Decepticons to study the device. They soon find the Decepticons working busily around the spacecraft in a narrow canyon. If the Autobots linger for too long, the Decepticons might detect them! Hot Rod suggests they attack immediately! But Prowl might be able to come up with a better plan if given time to think.

::::::'''''Should the Autobots attack while they still have the element of surprise?'' (>>[[#Page 61|PAGE_61]]>>)'''

::::::'''''Should the Autobots instead allow Prowl time to come up with a better idea?'' (>>[[#Page 22|PAGE_22]]>>)'''

:::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 44|PAGE_44]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots attack while the element of surprise is still on their side.'' {{anchor|Page 61}}(>>PAGE_61>>)''' Blaring down the canyon walls, the Autobots startle the Decepticons! Confused by what's happening, the Decepticons are powerless as Hot Rod swoops down, snatches the Invisibility Device away from them, and drive away. The Decepticons begin to mobilize, but the Autobots already have them surrounded. The Decepticons are trapped as the Autobots open fire on their enemies. Once Hot Rod has put enough distance between himself and the battle, the rest of the Autobots follow him, leaving the immobilized Decepticons behind. Hot Rod is proud of his accomplishment, and Kup announces that when he tells the story of this battle, he will title it "The Decepticon Dazzle!"

:::::::'''THE END'''

[[File:InvisibilityFactorGalvatronShockwaveandScavenger.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
:::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 44|PAGE_44]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots pause to give Prowl time to come up with a plan of action.'' {{anchor|Page 22}}(>>PAGE_22>>)''' Since there are too many Decepticons for them to take on, Prowl sends out Hot Rod to distract the bulk of them. Hot Rod drives down and taunts the Decepticons for having let him escape once already, then drives away. Most of the Decepticons take the bait, and take off after Hot Rod. Galvatron realizes that this is a trap, but is powerless to stop most of his troops from running off. The only ones who stay behind are Scavenger and Shockwave, but Prowl and the rest of the Autobots take them out quickly, forcing Galvatron to retreat. Once the spacecraft is secure, Springer asks what has become of Hot Rod… {{anchor|Page 37}}'''(PAGE_37)''' The young Autobot is still racing through the desert with the angry Decepticons in pursuit. Though they are unable to catch him at first, Hot Rod finds himself unable to continue when the ground before him becomes interrupted by a canyon. What is Hot Rod to do?

:::::::'''''Should Hot Rod try climbing down the canyon wall?'' (>>[[#Page 42|PAGE_42]]>>)'''

:::::::'''''Should Hot Rod try to leap the canyon?'' (>>[[#Page 50|PAGE_50]]>>)'''

:::::::'''''Should Hot Rod attempt to trick the pursuing Decepticons?'' (>>[[#Page 6|PAGE_6]]>>)'''

::::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 37|PAGE_37]]<<)''' '''''Hot Shot attempts to scale down the canyon wall.'' {{anchor|Page 42}}(>>PAGE_42>>)''' As he begins his descent, a sudden blast hits a rock near him. Looking up, Hot Rod sees Starscream firing down upon him. Hot Shot scrambles to get a shot back at his aggressor, and manages a clean hit, causing Starscream to spiral down into the canyon. To his surprise, once Starscream crashes at the bottom of the canyon, a secret door opens besides the fallen Decepticon. From the door emerges a rescue team of Decepticons, who hose down Starscream, and pull him back into the secret door. Hot Rod radios in his location and his discovery, before hiding in a small cave. Moments later, an army of Autobots arrive on scene and blast through the secret door. Within they find an underground Decepticon base. After the Autobots have destroyed the base, Ultra Magnus congratulates Hot Rod. Thanks to him, not only has Sarah's spaceship been retrieved, but the Autobots have dealt a mighty blow to the Decepticons' operation. Though Hot Rod accepts the congratulations with grace, he is beaming with pride on the inside.

::::::::'''THE END'''

::::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 37|PAGE_37]]<<)''' '''''Hot Shot attempts to leap the canyon.'' {{anchor|Page 50}}(>>PAGE_50>>)''' revving up his engine, the young Autobot drives forward at full speed, and clears the gap! The Decepticons come to a halt behind him, as they are less confident of their jumping abilities. While the Decepticons transform so they can simply fly over the canyon, Hot Rod wastes no time increasing the distance between himself and his pursuers. Once he feels safe, he decides to find Sarah and his Autobot friends. '''(>>[[#Page 9|PAGE_9]]>>)'''

::::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 50|PAGE_50]]_OR_[[#Page 6|PAGE_6]]<<)''' '''{{anchor|Page 9}}(>>PAGE_9>>)''' When Hot Rod finds the others with the spaceship, he is happy to see they did fine without him. But just as he's arrived, Sarah runs off towards her spaceship. As she climbs aboard, Sarah explains that what she has witnessed has convinced her that the Invisibility Device is simply too dangerous an invention. Sarah's ship takes off before the Autobots can stop her. Ultra Magnus muses that the scientist may be right, such an invention would be too easily abused for sinister purposes. As the Autobots drive off, Kup begin recounting the story of the time he saw a similar device on the planet [[Serton]].

::::::::'''THE END'''

::::::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 37|PAGE_37]]<<)''' '''''Hot Shot attempts trick the Decepticons.'' {{anchor|Page 6}}(>>PAGE_6>>)''' He wheels about as he reaches the canyon's edge, and races full speed back towards the incoming Decepticons! The Decepticons attempt to shoot him, but Hot Rod moves too quickly to be hit. As Hot Rod comes closer towards the Decepticons without slowing down, the Decepticons realize he is ready to crash right into them. The Decepticons scramble out of the way and trip over one another. By the time they've righted themselves, Hot Rod is long gone. As Hot Rod drives away laughing, he should find Sarah and the other Autobots. '''(>>[[#Page 9|PAGE_9]]>>)'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 33|PAGE_33]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to hold their ground and fight...'' {{anchor|Page 5}}(>>PAGE_5>>)''' which costs them their lives as they are hopelessly outnumbered. The spacecraft, it turns out, was a messenger craft from the planet [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintesson]]. The message it carries informs the Decepticons that the [[Quintesson]]s will come to aid them in their conquest of Earth. If the message had been intercepted by the Autobots, they might have been able to stop the invasion. Alas, the Decepticons and the Quintessons will soon turn Earth into one big fuelling station.

:::::'''THE END'''

:::'''(<<From_[[#Page 14|PAGE_14]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots decide to trail Scavenger before jumping into action.'' {{anchor|Page 4}}(>>PAGE_4>>)''' They follow the Constructicon all the way back to Decepticon Headquarters. Once he arrives before the mass of buildings, Scavenger transforms and forces his prisoner through a door. The Autobots transform and continue to quietly trail the pair. Making their way through a maze of long dark corridors, the entire group soon find themselves before Galvatron himself! The Autobots quickly hide behind some fuel tanks, and listen in on what Galvatron says to the woman. {{anchor|Page 12}}'''(PAGE_12)''' Galvatron demands the woman's name, and she answers that she is called "Sarah Sanders." Galvatron explains that his spy, Ravage, saw Sarah's craft out in the desert, and witnessed it become invisible for a time. He then commands Sarah to reveal to the Decepticons the technology behind this power of invisibility. When Sarah refuses to divulge any information, Galvatron tells her that her cooperation is not necessary, as [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s [[cerebro-shell]]s will make her the Decepticons' mental slave anyways. Bombshell then steps out of the shadows, and mutters to Sarah: "I want you mind!" The Autobots know now is the time to step in!

:::'''''Should the Autobots attempt to rescue Sarah through a direct attack?'' (>>[[#Page 36|PAGE_36]]>>)'''

:::'''''Should the Autobots attempt to rescue Sarah through trickery?'' (>>[[#Page 62|PAGE_62]]>>)'''

::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 12|PAGE_12]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots attempt to rescue Sarah through a direct attack.'' {{anchor|Page 36}}(>>PAGE_36>>)''' But within the Decepticon halls, the Autobots soon find themselves outnumbered! Soon the Autobots pay the price of their rashness, and are torn apart by their enemies. Galvatron is now free to use Sarah's technology to attack the entire planet! For the people of Earth, it is certainly…

::::'''THE END'''

::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 12|PAGE_12]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots attempt to rescue Sarah through trickery.'' {{anchor|Page 62}}(>>PAGE_62>>)''' Prowl quickly formulates a plan, and instructs Jazz on what to do. Just as Bombshell is about to rob Sarah of her mind, Jazz leaps out from his hiding spot, and creates a dazzling sound a light show, producing illusions of Autobots, space monsters, and blaring out a confusion of different sounds. The Decepticons reel in confusion, allowing Sarah to run from her captors. She bumps into the Autobots, and Kup informs her that they are friends, and that she should follow them. Seeing little choice in the matter, Sarah agrees. {{anchor|Page 24}}'''(PAGE_24)''' Sarah is scooped up into Prowl's arms, and the Autobots run down the hall. But the Decepticons soon regain their bearings, and give chase to the group. Sarah points to a hallway, and tells the Autobots that she overheard the Decepticons say her spaceship was at the end of it. But the hallway ends in two doors. [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] asks Sarah if she knows which door leads to her ship, but Sarah has no idea. With the Decepticons hot on their tails, the Autobots must make a quick decision! [Flip a coin]

::::'''''[If the coin comes up heads.] The Autobots take the door to the left.'' (>>[[#Page 67|PAGE_67]]>>)'''

::::'''''[If the coin comes up tails.] The Autobots take the door to the right.'' (>>[[#Page 43|PAGE_43]]>>)'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 24|PAGE_24]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots take the door to the left.'' {{anchor|Page 67}}(>>PAGE_67>>)''' The passage opens onto a courtyard, with Sarah's ship in the middle of it. Unfortunately, the ship is guarded by Decepticon droids, who immediately recognize the Autobots as intruders. At such close range, the droids make short work of the Autobots, and Sarah is recaptured by the Decepticons. She is in turn enslaved by Bombshell. With the power of invisibility at the disposal of the Decepticons, Earth soon falls to their tyrannical reign.

:::::'''THE END'''

:::::'''(<<From_[[#Page 24|PAGE_24]]<<)''' '''''The Autobots take the door to the right.'' {{anchor|Page 43}}(>>PAGE_43>>)''' The door opens into a closet, filled with Decepticon spare parts, including spare Decepticon insignias. Striking upon another idea, Prowl tells the others to don the emblems and "look mean." The Autobots then try the door on the left. This door opens onto a courtyard, with Sarah's ship in the middle of it. But the ship is guarded by drones, who scan the Autobots as they approach. {{anchor|Page 16}}'''(PAGE_16)''' The drones scan the Decepticon emblems, and grant the Autobots safe passage onto the spaceship.Once aboard, Sarah turns on the Invisibility Device, but tells the Autobots that her invention has not yet been perfected, and will only allow for a few minutes of invisibility. Prowl hopes that it will be enough time for them to repair the ship's engines and be on their way. Prowl and Kup busy themselves fixing the ship's circuitry. But just as the Invisibility Device begins to fail, Decepticons begin to swarm into the courtyard and spot the ship! {{anchor|Page 38}}'''(PAGE_38)''' But Prowl and Kup have finished their work, and Sarah manages to get the ship engines to fire. But Hot Rod notes that they are moving too slowly, and they will soon be in the range of the encroaching Decepticons. Sarah turns the thrusters to full power, though she fears doing so might simply burn out the engines… {{anchor|Page 66}}'''(PAGE_66)''' The engines struggle, and blasts from the Decepticons begin to blaze closer towards their mark. But the Invisibility Device flickers back on, robbing the Decepticons of a clear target. The engines then reach full power, and Sarah's spaceship zooms away. Soon the whole group find themselves safely within Metroplex. After having seen the Decepticons up close, Sarah wants to help the Autobots in any way she can in defeating them. She gives the Autobots the plans to her Invisibility Device. For the evil Decepticons, this is the beginning of…

:::::'''THE END'''

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|nonumbering=true
|c1=

* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (Only featured in illustrations)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (Only featured in illustrations)

|c2=
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (Only featured in illustrations)

|c3=
* [[Sarah Sanders]]
}}

==Notes==
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] is alive in this book, as is [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]].
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] have the power of speech.
* Seriously. That is totally the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' on the cover. If that weren't enough, the illustrations also make use of an [[Imperial Shuttle]].

==External links==
*[http://www.gamebooks.org/show_item.php?id=1152 Review on Demian's Gamebook Web Page]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Invisibility Factor}}
[[Category:Generation 1 multipath adventures]]

Sentinel Prime (One)

2024-09-21T15:50:31Z

Eyacorkett: Paragraph break

{{factions|}}
{{disambig3|Sentinel Prime}}
:''Sentinel Prime is a Transformer from [[Transformers One (franchise)|One]].''

[[File:ONE-Sentinel Prime in Iacon.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2|Surely he must be more trustworthy than [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|the other]] [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|ones, right?]]]]

'''Sentinel Prime''' is the sovereign leader of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Sadly the last survivor of [[Thirteen|the original Primes]], he has nonetheless carried on the legacy of his fallen comrades by leading Cybertron into an era of peace and prosperity. He always encourages the mining class to work harder and harder, because they're those kind of good guys who don't mind working hard for everybody else, right?

Sentinel is the kind of leader who inspires everybody with his tales of bravery and heroism. He fended off those nasty [[Quintesson]]s and now his main goal is finding the [[Matrix of Leadership]] so Cybertron can thrive even more than it already is under his rule. He loves workers who can think for themselves, though! They're just what a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] needs to motivate his workers into keeping up the hard work. After all, a Prime is nothing if he cannot inspire his people to stick to protocol and produce for their planet. No siree.

==Fiction==
===''One'' film===
{{voiceactor|[[Jon Hamm]] (English), [[Junichi Suwabe]] (Japanese)|[[Tom Beck]] (German)}}
{{spoiler|Transformers One (film)|October 21, 2024}}

Sentinel was the chief advisor of the Primes but always craved power and control. Jealous of the glory of the Primes, Sentinel approached the Quintessons who had been attacking Cybertron with a deal. If he led the Primes into an ambush to be slaughtered, the Quintessons would allow him to appoint himself the new leader of Cybertron under their thumb who could provide them with a constant supply of [[energon]]. The Quintessons agreed, and Sentinel reported to the Primes that he'd intercepted a message about an important meeting of the high command of the Quintessons in a distant cave on the planet's surface. The Primes, eager to decapitate the leadership of the Quintessons, followed Sentinel to the cave only to be besieged by the aliens. The Primes nearly triumphed over their attackers until Sentinel chose a critical moment to turn on his superiors, slaying several including [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]] himself. After killing [[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]], the battle was over. Sentinel went to claim his prize of the Matrix of Leadership, but it faded to dust due to his not being worthy. Down but not out, Sentinel declared himself Sentinel '''Prime''', took the deceased Megatronus' [[transformation cog]] as his own, and announced to Cybertron that the Quintessons were defeated and that he was the last survivor of the Primes. With the planet failing to produce fresh energon in the absence of the Matrix, Sentinel removed the transformation cogs of most of Cybertron's lower classes and put them to work mining for energon to produce a tribute to the Quintessons.

Sentinel entertained the masses with races such as the [[Iacon 5000]] and regularly claimed that he had been on searches for the Matrix to keep up morale for 50 cycles. During one Iacon 5000, Sentinel was surprised when he noticed two miners, [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]] and [[Megatron (One)|D-16]], blast their way into the race and nearly triumph before losing at the last second. Sentinel was amused by the display but was pleasantly surprised when miner production of energon ramped up during the next worker shift. Sentinel approached the two miners and thanked them for inspiring the mining class to work harder and invited them to patch themselves up in his personal quarters, but also instructed them to make a publicity tour among the miners to hype up production even further. However, unbeknownst to Sentinel, [[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]], nursing a wounded ego from the pair interrupting him during the race, reassigned them to waste management.

The time came for the next tribute to the Quintessons, and Sentinel delivered a portion of the required tribute alongside his lieutenant [[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] and some troopers. The [[Quintesson High Commander]] was very displeased with the unmet quota and threatened Sentinel, who promised to work his miners harder to make up for it. Sentinel ordered the mining shifts to work triple-time until they finally met the quota, unaware the whole exchange had been witnessed by Orion, D-16, [[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]], and [[Bumblebee_(One)|B-127]]. Sentinel sent Airachnid to investigate their trail, and Airachnid eventually found and delivered the weakened [[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]], who had told the four young 'bots the truth, to him. Sentinel mocked the old-timer for his pontificating and killed him after learning that others had witnessed his true nature, and once again dispatched Airachnid to hunt down the threats to his lies.

Eventually, Airachnid returned with D-16, B-127, [[Starscream (One)|Starscream]], and a chunk of the High Guard as prisoners to Sentinel's tower. D-16 angrily confronted Sentinel for his treachery, but Sentinel laughed him off and insisted the truth would be whatever he declared it would be for Cybertron, and plotted to publicly execute his prisoners. When D-16 refused to kneel and continued to challenge him, Sentinel noticed his Megatronus decal and sadistically welded the symbol into his chest. Soon, however, an army consisting of Orion, Elita-1, and the remaining High Guard invaded and Sentinel soon faced a freed D-16 in combat. As the situation spiraled out of control, Sentinel was able to best D-16 in combat but noticed too late that Orion, Elita-1, and B-127 were using Airachnid's memories to broadcast his true nature to all of Cybertron, leading to a mass uprising. D-16 turned the tables on Sentinel and had him at his mercy until Orion took a [[fusion cannon]] blast meant for him. D-16 allowed Orion to fall to his apparent death and turned his attention back to Sentinel, tearing the false Prime in half with his bare hands and finally killing him for his atrocities. {{storylink|Transformers One (film)|One}}

==Toys==
===''One''===
{{anchor|RobotBattlers}}
[[File:TF-One-Robot-Battlers-Sentinel-Prime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Sentinel Prime''' (Robot Battlers, [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Energon sword, base
:[[Transformers One (film)|''Transformers One'']], Sentinel Prime transforms from a robot to a Cybertronian jet. The figure can be placed on a base in order to perform action moves with his included Energon sword by sliding the finger slots.

{{-}}{{anchor|PrimeChanger}}
[[File:TFOne Deluxe Sentinel.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Sentinel Prime''' (Prime Changer, [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': 2 small blasters, 2 shoulder guns, blade/shield
:[[Transformers One (film)|''Transformers One'']], "Prime Changer" Sentinel Prime is a Deluxe-sized figure and transforms into a Cybertronian jet. He comes with two small dual-barreled blasters that attach to his wings via [[5 mm post]]s or be held in his hands, a blade/shield accessory (with molded turret detail) that can be held in his hand or forearm or store on top of his jet mode, as well as two longer [[Fire Blast effect|blast effect]]-compatible guns that can attach to the tops of his shoulders. He also features 5 mm posts on the underside of each wing, which his shoulder blasters can be attached to but otherwise don't serve a purpose. His wings are hinged to fold backwards for robot mode, but also have swivels that allow them to point his smaller blasters over his shoulders.
{{--}}

===''Studio Series''===
*'''Sentinel Prime''' (Voyager Class, [[2025]])
**''Movie'': '''''Transformers One'''''
**Accessories: Beam Sword, 2 Blasters
{{toydesigner|[[Evan Brooks]] (Hasbro), [[Takashi Kunihiro]] (TakaraTomy)}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/live/52ddGYMyvpE?si=7l7OP6YeEB9W82xR&t=9841 Transformers Panel] at [[Hasbro Pulse Con 2024]] with [[Ben MacCrae]], [[Evan Brooks]], [[Mark Maher]], [[Marcelo Matere]], and [[Nate Purswell]].</ref>

: Part of an undetermined wave of ''Studio Series'' Voyagers, Sentinel Prime is based on his appearance in ''Transformers One''. He transforms into a Cybertronian jet as well as a battle mode.

: Sentinel Prime was revealed at [[Hasbro Pulse Con 2024]] and went up for pre-order on [[September 17]], [[2024]].
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Sentinel Prime is a pastiche of his different, often distant incarnations. His colors, flare for dramatics and penchant for subterfuge strongly resemble his [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]], while his wings and collapsable dual-bladed sword call back to his [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|live-action film counterpart]].
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sentinel Prime''' (センチネルプライム ''Senchineru Puraimu'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:One Transformers]]
[[Category:Studio Series characters]]

Comics

2024-09-09T12:19:04Z

Eyacorkett:

[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|'''''The Transformers''''' #1. Interestingly ''not'' the most replicated & referenced cover ever.]]

As a multi-decade multinational multimedia franchise, ''Transformers'' has naturally had a huge '''comics''' presence over its lifetime. And since it's not a property owned by a comic company, the comic rights have bounced across multiple publishers over the years.

==A Brief History of Major ''Transformers'' Comics==
In the beginning, [[Marvel Comics]] held the rights to ''Transformers'' comics in the US and UK, owing to their hand in developing the characters and story for [[Hasbro]]. The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original ''The Transformers'' comic]] ultimately ran monthly from 1984 to 1991, spanning 80 issues with multiple extra mini-series in the US. The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|UK ''The Transformers'' comic]] was ''weekly'', and added a ton of extra stories woven into and around the reprinted US stories but it too ended not long after the US series did.

In Japan, the rights to ''Transformers'' comics were granted to [[Kodansha]], who would split content among several publications, but the serialized ''manga'' stayed with ''[[TV Magazine]]'', first telling side-stories woven around the accompanying cartoons, then telling completely new-timeline tales for later lines. However, by the late 80s, the comics were reduced to one-shots, then bare-bones "[[story page]]s", with the final genuine ''manga'' chapter releasing in 1991.

When Hasbro attempted to revive ''Transformers'' with ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'', Marvel once again produced the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|accompanying comic]] in the US, though the story actually ''started'' in the pages of the still running [[G.I. Joe (comic)|''G.I. Joe'' comics]]. But a combination of low faith from Marvel and poor sales ended the book after twelve issues, but with enough forewarning for the story to properly end. The UK got a modified version of Marvel ''Generation 2'' through [[Fleetway]] (replacing any bits involving G.I. Joe with original content) that similarly fizzled out. Japan would skip "major" comic outlets, with [[Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|its "''G-2''" story]] told through [[pack-in material|mini-comics packed in with the toys]]. Which also didn't last long.

Mass-market ''Transformers'' comics more or less took a hiatus in English-language markets until after the turn of the century, but Japan would see a brief resurgence in the late 90s. Following the success of their imported version of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'', Kodansha published serialized manga in their ''[[Comic Bom Bom]]'' monthly anthology book for the Japanese sequel series ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Beast Wars II]]'', ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals (manga)|Beast Wars Metals]]'' (Takara's version of the latter half of Hasbro's ''Beast Wars'' franchise). But sales of all three series were low and getting lower all the time, and Takara took another break from mainstream ''Transformers'' comics for a few years.

In 2002, the comics got a ''major'' rebirth when Hasbro granted comic rights to [[Dreamwave Productions]], who capitalized heavily on the current "nostalgia boom" that saw renewed (and short-lived) interest in many 80's toy-based properties. Dreamwave made ongoing ''[[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|Generation 1]]'' comics in a more "adult" tone, as well as ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Energon (comic)|Energon]]'' books for the then-running kids' series. Though they were a huge success, the Dreamwave era was very short, as the company imploded in 2004 owing a lot of people a lot of money.

But ''Transformers'' comics rebounded quickly as Hasbro granted the rights to [[IDW Publishing]], who took the property in a new direction, with a [[2005 IDW continuity|"hard" reboot]]. Told at first through a series of connected mini-series and eventually moving to multiple ongoing titles (supplemented by even ''more'' mini-series and one-shots), IDW would go on to produce the single longest continuous run of ''Transformers'' comics in the brand's history, with their original storyline ultimately spanning ''thirteen years'' and hundreds of books, crossing over with multiple other Hasbro properties as a "shared universe", before being brought to a voluntary close in late 2018. Throughout that run, IDW also put out mini-series based on other then-current ''Transformers'' media, including the [[live-action film series|live-action movies]], ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'', ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' and the 2015 ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''. And on top of ''that'', numerous out-of-continuity mini-series crossovers with non-Hasbro properties. [[2019 IDW continuity|A new, rebooted ongoing continuity]] subsequently began with the publication of [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|a new ''Transformers'' #1]] in March 2019, starting shortly before the beginning of the war, which eventually concluded in 2022 due to the expiration of IDW's ''Transformers'' license.

In 2023, ''Transformers'' comics came back in a big way with the announcement that not only had [[Skybound Entertainment]] picked up the license, but they would be launching the "[[Energon Universe]]", a new shared comic universe that combined ''Transformers'' with ''G.I. Joe'' and an original property, ''[[Void Rivals]]''.

In the UK, [[Titan Magazines]] put out a [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|''Transformers'' comic magazine]] to coincide with the [[Transformers (film)|2007 live-action movie]]. This book would run for seven years, containing new stories set not only in the live-action film continuity (all the way up to ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (franchise)|Age of Extinction]]''), but for ''[[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Transformers Animated]]'' and ''Transformers: Prime'' as well.

Japan's "mainstream" comic output through this period, and to this day, remains scattershot. The majority of Japanese ''Transformers'' comics would come in the form of [[pack-in material|comics packed in with toys]], short comic stories included in larger books, and a ''lot'' of online exclusive comics. There have been a few serialized comics over the years in several "mainstream" publications from different publishers, each usually ending after a year or so.

==A More Involved History of ''Transformers'' Comics==
===US-market ''Transformers'' comics===
====Marvel Comics (1984–1994)====
[[File:MarvelUS-05.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''The Transformers''''' #5. ''This'' is the most replicated & referenced cover ever.]]
{{Main|Marvel Comics}}

Duplicating the successful formula of having [[Marvel Comics]] develop the story and characters for ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'', as well as producing a comic book and having a major hand in other tie-in media, [[Hasbro]] had them do the same for their new ''Transformers'' line. What was originally planned to be a four-part mini-series quickly ballooned into an 80-issue monthly ongoing series, and that's ''not'' counting several in-continuity mini-series, including a [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|crossover with ''G.I. Joe'']] (which would happen a ''lot'' over the years).

After a couple years' hiatus with the end of the original series, Marvel was once again tapped to produce the comic tie-in for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Transformers: Generation 2]]'' in the US, which actually started with a five-issue setup crossover in the still-ongoing [[G.I. Joe (comic)|''G.I. Joe'' comics]]. But limping sales (and not much faith from Marvel's higher-ups out of the gate) meant the series only lasted a year before cancellation. And that was the end of Marvel's run of ''Transformers''... except for a weird ''[[Avengers]]'' crossover miniseries co-produced with [[IDW Publishing]] over a decade later.

:'''Major titles'''
:* [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]]
:* ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
:* ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]''

Much of Marvel's ''Transformers'' output has been collected into volumes by [[Titan Books]] and IDW, which is a fair bit easier than tracking down all those individual issues.

{{-}}

====Blackthorne Publishing (1987)====
[[File:TF3D-1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Transformers in 3-D''''' #1. Feel the excitement.]]
{{Main|Blackthorne Publishing}}

In a very sneaky move, [[Blackthorne Publishing]] finagled the rights to make ''Transformers'' comics in the US and UK at the same time as Marvel, as Blackthorne's books were gimmicky 3-D comics and therefore different enough from Marvel's output in Hasbro's (and various lawyers') view for both to exist. However, the series was ''incredibly'' short-lived, lasting all of three issues. Marvel didn't have a lot to worry about there.

Story-wise, these seem to take place in some variant of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon's]] continuity, though inter-issue continuity itself is... shaky at best. Oh, it also ended on a major cliffhanger. *''thumbs up''*

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Transformers in 3-D]]''

{{-}}

====3H Productions (1997–2004)====
[[File:Beastwarscriticalmass.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Ground Zero'''''. The first ''Transformers'' comic in years, and boy, were folks happy about that.]]
{{Main|3H Productions}}

Following the end of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' and the emergence of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'', no major (or minor) comics publisher had the rights to make ''Transformers'' comics. [[3H Productions]], the original producers of the [[BotCon]] conventions, negotiated a limited license to make convention-exclusive comics centered on their exclusive toys and stories. Taking place mostly in the same continuity as the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoons, the series spun its own side-stories, even continuing the timeline following the end of ''Beast Machines'' and tying into the [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'' toyline]].

This series can be a bit confusing to follow, as much of the early story was continued/supplemented with text stories both online and printed in convention booklets, web pages, and more, and usually on a slow, slow drip-feed. On top of that, the removal of the convention license in 2004 left multiple stories in cliffhanger limbo. Several years later, convention-license-recipient [[Fun Publications]] would "finish" most of these unresolved plotlines in one form or another.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Ground Zero]]'' (aka ''Critical Mass'')
:* ''[[Reaching the Omega Point]]'' (multi-part multi-media story)
:* ''[[Transformers: The Wreckers|The Wreckers / Primeval Dawn]]''
:* ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]''

{{-}}

====Dreamwave Productions (2002–2004)====
[[File:G1 Vol.1 Issue1 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Prime Directive''''' #1. Don't stare directly at it.]]
{{Main|Dreamwave Productions}}

Following a renewed interest in the brand, coinciding with the big "nostalgia boom" of the early-Oughts, Hasbro granted the rights to produce ''Transformers'' comics to up-and-coming Canadian comics house [[Dreamwave Productions]], a decision based heavily on a piece of "concept art" by [[Pat Lee]] (well, theoretically by him, at least. He was given credit for it. But... well....)

Dreamwave first produced a six-issue mini-series based on the "Generation 1" franchise that sold amazingly, then another, then made that storyline an ongoing title, supplemented by extra mini-series. They also produced ongoing tie-in comics for Hasbro's then-current iteration of ''Transformers'' for kids, ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]].'' On top of that, both series got extensive multi-issue [[profile]] books, which gave personalities to many toys that had gone character-less for over a decade.

That all came to a crashing end in late 2004 as the company basically imploded, with creators going unpaid, numerous license-granters going unpaid (not just Hasbro!), and Dreamwave head honchos going somewhere far away with wads of cash to try and pull it off again. This left multiple storylines in cliffhanger limbo, but unlike with 3H's stories, nobody bothered to cap them off later (well, with one [[Revelations Part 2#Continuity notes|minor exception]]), though some scripts for unproduced issues have since surfaced.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Prime Directive]] / [[War and Peace]]''
:* ''[[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|Transformers: Generation 1]]''
:* ''[[Transformers: The War Within]]''
:* ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' (profile series)
:* ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Transformers: Armada]]''
:* ''[[Transformers: Energon (comic)|Transformers: Energon]]''
:* ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe]]''

{{-}}

====Devil's Due Press (2003–2007)====
[[File:GI Joe vs Transformers 1a.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''''' #1. The contents are ''way'' more interesting than the cover, thankfully.]]
{{Main|Devil's Due Press}}

While Dreamwave held the ''Transformers'' comic rights in 2003, the rights to ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' were held by [[Devil's Due Press]] (later moved to [[IDW Publishing]], see below). As part of a cooperative project with Dreamwave, both companies made their own Transformers / G.I.Joe crossover miniseries in 2003. Devil's Due would go on to make three more of these minis well after Dreamwave's demise, all in a single continuity that got crazier and crazier the longer it went.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers]]''
:* ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II]]''
:* ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: The Art of War]]''
:* ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: Black Horizon]]''

{{-}}

====IDW Publishing (2005–2022)====
[[File:Infiltration 0a.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Infiltration''''' #0. The beginning of an era.]]
{{Main|IDW Publishing}}

Following Dreamwave's ignoble end, Hasbro gave the US/Canada comics license to [[IDW Publishing]]. Though they briefly (very briefly) flirted with the idea of continuing Dreamwave's story, they instead decided upon a ground-up restart, focused on the "Generation 1" cast, different in tone, different in look. It started with a series of six-issue mini-series following one after the other (although not always in chronological order), and would eventually balloon into multiple ongoing titles, soft reboots, side-story mini-series, one-shots, a ''major'' multi-brand crossover... all in all, IDW would produce the longest continuous run of ''Transformers'' comics in the brand's history, the largest number of issues published, and longest ongoing single storyline.

The initial ''thirteen-year'' "[[2005 IDW continuity|Generation 1" continuity]] ended in late 2018, with [[2019 IDW continuity|a new continuity reboot]] (one based on the franchise's concurrent heavily-"Generation 1" styling) running from 2019 to 2022.

In addition to its main "Generation 1" based series, IDW put out mini-series based on other then-current ''Transformers'' media, including the [[live-action film series]], ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'', the [[Aligned continuity family|"Aligned" continuity]] (primarily ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'')... and even a "sequel" series to the original Marvel comics continuity, separate from ''Generation 2'' because... reasons. And on top of ''that'', numerous out-of-continuity mini-series crossovers with non-Hasbro properties.

Due to the ''heavy'' reliance on the miniseries format for vast swathes of story, as well as the books hopping around their respective timelines rather willy-nilly, it is highly recommended to look at the [[IDW Publishing|main "IDW Publishing" page]] for a complete list of their books, as well as the "[[2005 IDW continuity]]" page for assistance in detangling ''that'' whole deal.

{{-}}
{| style="margin-left:3em;" width="90%"
|width="30%" valign="top"|'''Major "Generation 1" (2005–2018) titles'''
* ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]] / [[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]] / [[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]] / [[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''
* ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]] / The Transformers vol. 2 / [[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]] / [[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]] / [[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''
* ''[[Revolution]] / [[First Strike]] / [[Transformers: Unicron|Unicron]]''
|
|width="30%" valign="top"|'''Major live-action film titles'''
* ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]''
* ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Destiny|Destiny]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Tales of the Fallen|Tales of the Fallen]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Rising Storm|Rising Storm]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|Bumblebee Movie Prequel]]''
|
|width="30%" valign="top"|'''Other major titles'''
* ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|Beast Wars: The Gathering]] / [[Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending|The Ascending]]''
* ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival]]''
* ''[[Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic)|Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Robots in Disguise]]'' (2015)
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]''
* ''[[Transformers '84 issue 0|Transformers '84 #0]] / ''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies|Secrets & Lies]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars]]''
|
|width="10%" valign="top"|
|-
|width="30%" valign="top"|'''Major non-main crossover titles'''
* ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]''
* ''[[Angry Birds Transformers (comic)|Angry Birds Transformers]]''
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]''
* ''[[Star Trek vs. Transformers]]''
* ''[[Transformers/Ghostbusters]]''
|
|width="30%" valign="top"| 
* ''[[Transformers vs. The Terminator]]''
* ''[[My Little Pony/Transformers: Friendship in Disguise!]]''
* ''[[Transformers/Back to the Future]]''
* ''[[My Little Pony/Transformers: The Magic of Cybertron]]''
|
|width="30%" valign="top"|'''2019 ongoing titles'''
* ''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Escape]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Wreckers—Tread & Circuits]]''
* ''[[Transformers: War's End]]''
|}

IDW also produced ''tons'' of trade paperbacks of both their own comics, and reprints of the Marvel comics from both the US and UK runs, as well as a fair amount of Dreamwave material... though that company's stories were interspersed among "theme" books along with Marvel and IDW tales, rather than given their own separate collections.

{{-}}

====Fun Publications (2005–2016)====
[[File:Descentintoevil-cover.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|'''''Timelines''''' #1. The first Collector's Club issue predates this, but that's [[:File:Htcc-1.jpg|not as interesting visually]].]]
{{Main|Fun Publications}}

After the convention and "fan club" rights were taken from 3H, they were transferred to [[Fun Publications]], the company that had been producing the official ''G.I. Joe'' convention and newsletter for many years prior. Like with 3H, the focus of Fun Publications' comics (and other media) was primarily to promote their current selection of convention- and club-[[exclusive]] toys. As they were not beholden to any single franchise or continuity (basically anything but the [[live-action film series]] was fair game, fictionally), Fun Publications had perhaps the broadest range of story settings of any "comics" publisher. Virtually all of their media was put under the umbrella name ''Timelines''.

Their comic output started with the bi-monthly ''Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club'' magazine, which featured a multi-page ongoing comic story at the back end of each issue. These stories were serialized and could span several years. These issues would also sometimes feature comic strips and single-page comic "previews" of prose stories to be published online later. Some comic previews were posted exclusively online rather than within the magazine's pages.

Each year's [[BotCon]] box set of toys also included a full comic issue, telling a story featuring that year's crop of toy exclusives. Many were "jumping off" points for later prose stories or magazine comics, and even included all-new continuities, most notably the "Shattered Glass" "mirror universe" series. Most years, these comics were reprinted with extra ancillary material and sold in comic shops later in the year.

''Timelines'' ended in 2016 when Hasbro dissolved its ''Transformers'' relationship with Fun Publications. The rights to the ''G.I. Joe'' convention and club continued with Fun Publications another two years, but that too came to an end.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club]]''
:* ''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Timelines]]''
:* ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]''
{{-}}

====Skybound Entertainment (2023–current)====
{{Main|Skybound Entertainment}}

[[File:Transformers 2023 1 cvr.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85|'''''Transformers''''' #1. Nothing says "new universe" like a Sunbow design!]]

Several months after IDW formally relinquished the ''Transformers'' license, [[Skybound Entertainment]] announced the launch of a new science fiction comic, ''Void Rivals'', which followed a pair of shipwrecked aliens stranded on a barren planet. Partway into the story, the pair discover a derelict spacecraft—only to discover that this is really the Cybertronian [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] in disguise. Off the back of this surprise reveal came the announcement that Skybound had acquired the ''Transformers'' and ''G.I. Joe'' licenses, and used them to springboard the "[[Energon Universe]]", a new shared universe setting that would encompass ''Void Rivals'', ''Transformers'', and several ''G.I. Joe'' miniseries.

:'''Major titles'''
* ''[[Void Rivals]]''
* ''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]''
* ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]''
* ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]''
* ''[[Scarlett (comic)|Scarlett]]''
* ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]''
{{-}}

===European-market ''Transformers'' comics===
====Marvel Comics (1984–1991)====
[[File:MarvelUK-001.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Transformers''''' #1. UK-tastic!]]
{{Main|Marvel Comics}}

Marvel also held the rights to publish ''Transformers'' in the UK from the start, but that market's books were... a bit different. Most importantly, the book was ''weekly'', and had a shorter pagecount to boot. This meant that the reprinted and recolored US stories needed to be chopped in half, and more stories needed to be created to fill out the other weeks each month. Thus, the UK got twice the content, with wholly unique stories interwoven into the continuity of the US series (not always gracefully, and occasionally a royal continuity headache), omitting the ''G.I. Joe'' bits as needed. On top of this were several "Annuals" and text stories full of original content.

:'''Major titles'''
:* [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]]

Much of the UK ''Transformers'' output has been collected into volumes by [[Titan Books]] and IDW, which is a fair bit easier than tracking down all those individual issues, ''especially'' for US fans.

{{-}}

====Fleetway (1994)====
[[File:FleetwayUKG2-01.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Generation 2''''' #1. Yikes.]]
{{Main|Fleetway}}

While Marvel produced the ''Generation 2'' tie-in comic in the US, for the UK the rights ended up with [[Fleetway]], mainly because Marvel UK was dying/dead at the time. It started with its own similar-but-different take on the US comic's story, featuring some of the toys that had only been released in European markets, and in the process excising G.I. Joe's involvement from the series. But soon it would move on to reprinting the US comics, with extra character [[bio]]s and other ancillary material.

But this series was even ''more'' short-lived than the US comic, only releasing a whopping ''five'' issues, ending mid-story.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''

{{-}}

====Panini (2003)====
[[File:Panini01.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Armada''''' #1. Get used to the look of this cover, you'll see it again soon.]]
{{Main|Panini}}

Italian comic publisher [[Panini]], mainly known for their [[The Transformers Sticker Book (1986)|sticker books]] in many countries, acquired the rights to produce comics based on ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' in the UK. This book would take the form of a "comics magazine"; mainly a magazine with two comic stories inside and multiple other features, plus a small pack-in gift in every issue. Poor sales led to its cancellation after nine issues.

The series was in its own continuity separate from Dreamwave's concurrently running ''Armada'' comic, even though it was written by the [[Simon Furman|same author]] (and shared a few story beats here and there).

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Transformers: Armada (Panini)|Transformers: Armada]]''

{{-}}

====Titan Magazines (2007–2014)====
[[File:Tf mag 01 2007.JPG|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Transformers''''' #1. Told you you'd be seeing that style of cover again.]]
{{Main|Titan Magazines}}

After obtaining the rights to produce ''Transformers'' comics in the UK, [[Titan Magazines]] (part of the same company as Marvel comics reprinter [[Titan Books]]) went nuts producing its own stories based on numerous then-current franchises, but all under the singular ''Transformers'' title (with one super-short-lived exception). Like Panini's book (see above), Titan's ''Transformers'' was more of a magazine-with-comics-in-it than a proper comic book, but again, it's a ''lot'' of original comic content. It bounced heavily from franchise to franchise, changed prices, pagecount and physical size seemingly at random, "relaunched" numerous times... it was a real mess, but it did last an admirable seven years!

:'''''[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers]]'' comics'''
:* ''Transformers'' (2007 movie)
:* ''[[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Transformers Animated]]''
:* ''Revenge of the Fallen''
:* ''Dark of the Moon''
:* ''Transformers: Prime''
:* ''Age of Extinction''

{{-}}

====Eaglemoss (2012–2013)====
[[File:TFPrimeRU issue 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Transformers: Prime''''' #1. And again! But Russian!]]
{{Main|Eaglemoss}}

Did you know that there was a ''Prime'' comic in Russia? Yeah, we were shocked too. As with Panini and Titan, [[Eaglemoss]]'s ''Transformers: Prime'' is a magazine full of features that also includes original comics. Though the book only lasted a year, it published weekly for the overwhelming majority of its run, totaling 65 issues by the end.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Transformers: Prime (Eaglemoss)|Transformers: Prime]]''

{{-}}

====Ades Media (2018–present)====
[[File:Target2006 SWECover.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''I siktet: 2006'''''.]]

Starting in 2018, Swedish publisher [[Ades Media]] began publishing ''Transformers'' books in Swedish for the first time since the early 2000s. This came about due to an increased interest in the franchise within the Nordic region in recent years. Sweden in particular has had a relatively big appreciation for the Transformers franchise and has seen publication of material from both the Marvel US and UK comics in the 1980s and '90s, as well as some of the Dreamwave books during the 2000s. These books were initially done in more-or-less connection with the [[unofficial conventions|unofficial convention]] [https://retcon.se/retcon/ RetCon: The Nordic Transformers Convention], that launched in 2017. Beginning with ''I siktet: 2006'', their Transformers books would be published through imprint Retrobokklubben. On [[March 2]] [[2024]], they announced on [https://www.facebook.com/svenskaretrobokklubben/posts/pfbid0YBTtpYCfSBRXWY1FmkEYj8ivXbmdnuFZy4FSsW1vpqAKPKmRB7n4roNzmFy38ZYBl Facebook] that they had worked out a deal with Skybound and will continue publishing Transformers titles after their time with IDW had ended the previous year.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''Wreckers sista strid'' - collection of ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', "[[Bullets]]", ''[[Spotlight: Kup]]'', and "[[All Hail Megatron issue 15|Everything in Its Right Place]]", along with all the bonus material originally featured in each publication's original TPB releases, as well as "[[Wreckers: Sweclassified]]" - a short article written by translator [[Johan Boström]].
:* ''Mer än ögat kan se'' - a collection of the first eight issues of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', along with "[[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations]]", "[[The Reluctant Specialist]]", and "[[The Waiting Game]]" - as well as the bonus material and cover gallery from each of those publications, an interview with author [[James Roberts]], and a reprint of "[[Bullets]]," correcting spelling-errors and mistakes present in ''Wreckers sista strid'', featuring new and exclusive illustrations to go along with the story by famed ''Transformers'' artists [[Nick Roche]], [[Jeff Anderson]], and [[Stephen Baskerville]], and non-pros [[Winston Chan]] and [[Thomas Sjöström]].
:* ''Jakten på Matrixen'' - a translation of the "[[Matrix Quest]]" storyline from the Marvel comics run, based on the IDW reprints found in ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'', and about 100 pages of supplementary material taken from the Marvel UK comics, as well as an assortment of translated [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]] profiles.
:* ''Kaos och Skuggor'' - a collection of issues #22, #23, #24, #26, #28 and #30 of ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'', "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]" and issues #9-#13 of ''More than Meets the Eye'' including "[[Signal to Noise]]". Bonus material includes original pages, a cover gallery and an afterword from James Roberts.
:* ''Krig och hågkomst'' - a translation of #14-#22 of ''More Than Meets the Eye'' as well as [[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]] and a special illustrated version of [[The Sound of Breaking Glass]], in the same vein as "Bullets". Bonus material is once again original pages, cover gallery and an afterword from James Roberts as well as some sketches from [[Alex Milne]].
:* ''I siktet: 2006'' - a translation of various Marvel UK materials, mainly [[Target: 2006]] and other related storylines. Bonus material includes more translated Transformers: Universe profiles, four articles from James Roberts, all translated from the pages of [[The Transformers Classics UK]], an article on Atlantic's original Swedish reprints of the Marvel comic from the 1980s and various emphemera.
:* ''Transformers & Action Force: Vedergällning'' - Mainly the very first collection of Marvel UK's original weekly [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] strips, this hardcover also includes the [[Ancient Relics!|Ancient Relics]] crossover, as well as [[Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night]], [[What's in a Name?|What's in a Name]] and [[Grudge Match!|Grudge Match]].
:* ''Du sköna nya värld'' - a translation of issues #28-38 and #40 of ''More Than Meets the Eye''. Bonus material this time consists of a preliminary sketches and finished pencils from [[Atilio Rojo]] with commentary by Roberts.
:* ''Optimus Prime - Tillbaka till jorden'' - a translation of issues #28-32 and #34-38 of [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]] and the [[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]] mini-series. Bonus material consists of an afterword by [[Andrew Griffith]].

{{-}}

===Japanese-market ''Transformers'' comics===
{{note|For an exhaustive list of published Japanese Transformers comics, see [[Manga]].}}
====Kodansha (1985–2005)====
[[File:TVMag-May1985cover.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''TV Magazine''''' May 1985. The first issue with ''Transformers'' content. Crowded!]]
{{Main|Kodansha}}

In Japan, the rights to produce comic material for this new ''Transformers'' line went to [[Kodansha]], the publisher of several different monthly comic compilations and magazines for kids.

The bulk of the ongoing, serialized fiction in the original series was in the pages of ''[[TV Magazine]]'', a mix of multi-page advertising spreads for the newest, flashiest kids' TV shows and associated merchandise (well, those that paid for space in the magazine) as well as exclusive black-and-white ''manga'' (comics). The ''Transformers'' manga started as side-stories to the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|imported cartoon series]] and the Japan-exclusive [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]], but later series would tell their own stories separate from the cartoons. By the late 80s, ''TV Magazine''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ''Transformers'' content was heavily reduced; without any new cartoons to shill for, only a few one-shot manga were produced, and the last years of Japan's "Generation 1" story were represented only in super-truncated "[[story page]]" form. Over a decade later, ''TV Magazine'' would feature an ongoing ''Transformers'' comic again... in the form of a "toy photos" comic for the short ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' series.

Kodansha's other big publication, ''[[Comic Bom Bom]]'', was primarily made up of comics both original and based on popular kids' licences from multiple companies. While it featured ''Transformers'' content right from the beginning, it was mainly a series of one-shots, with very little after the first couple years of the franchise. ''Comic Bom Bom'' would not get a regular serialized ''Transformers'' comic until the late Nineties, with the Japan-original ''Beast Wars II'' manga, and the following series. These stories were, like the later ''TV Magazine'' comics, unique stories in a separate-but-sometimes-similar continuity from their cartoon counterparts. But as the Beast series did not end well for [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], there was another long gap in ''Transformers'' manga until a brief resurgence with ''Galaxy Force'', the Japanese version of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]''... but that too did not last. And neither did ''Comic Bom Bom'' itself, as the book was ended in 2007 after poor sales.

{| style="margin-left:3em;" width="90%"
|width="33%" valign="top"|'''Major ''TV Magazine'' titles'''
* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''
* ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (manga)|Transformers: The Headmasters]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|Transformers: Super-God Masterforce]]''
* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory]]''
* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone]]''
* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars]]''
* ''[[Robotmasters (3D diorama comic)|Robotmasters]]''
* ''[[Transformers Go! Go!]]''
|
|width="33%" valign="top"|'''Major ''Comic Bom Bom'' titles'''
* ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers]]''
* ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo]]''
* ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals (manga)|Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Galaxy Force (manga)|Transformers: Galaxy Force]]''
|
|width="34%" valign="top"|
|}
Following the end of Takara's relationship with Kodansha, Japanese ''Transformers'' comics tended to be ''very'' scattered, focusing mostly on [[pack-in material|comics packed in with toys]], and mini-comics in larger books or published online. But some serialized content did pop up here and there.

{{-}}

====Media Works (2005–2007)====
[[File:Teletraan15-jul.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.85|No, we're not giving you the full singular page of '''''Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!''''' #1.]]
{{Main|Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!}}

To advertise Takara's ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' series of "Generation 1" [[Generation 1 reissues|reissues]], an ongoing single-page manga was produced for ''[[Dengeki Hobby Magazine|Dengeki Hobby]]'' magazine, a light humor series where the humanoid computer [[Teletraan 15]] would journey through space and time to gather data on various Cybertronians. However, as the reissue line could go months without a new release, filler had to be created, so some "missions" spanned several issues. Towards the end of its run, with the ''Collection'' line effectively dead, the story began highlighting new ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' toys instead, and eventually entire installments were given over to hypercondensed "pre-caps" of the [[Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|weekly ''Kiss Players'' radio shows]] rather than 15's adventures. (As in, they recapped the events of the radio plays, ''before'' the plays actually aired. Oops!) But 15's story was brought back to conclude in the final few months.

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!]]''

The entire run of ''Go! Go!'' was collected together in the ''[[Kiss Players/15 Go! Go!]]'' compilation book.

{{-}}

====Poplar (2008–2009)====
[[File:Henkei chpt 01 title.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Henkei! Henkei! Transformers''''' #1's "splash page". We don't have a pic of the book it came in, sorry.]]
{{Main|Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (Comic Bun Bun)}}



:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (Comic Bun Bun)|Henkei! Henkei! Transformers]]''
{{comicstub}}

{{-}}

====Kadokawa Shoten Publishing (2010–2013)====
[[File:Kerokero ace cover.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.85|'''''Kerokero Ace''''' #1... which came out 3 years prior to it getting ''Transformers'' comics. Um. We're working on that.]]
{{Main|Kerokero Ace}}

''Transformers'' eventually settled down at ''[[Kerokero Ace]]'', a boys' magazine that actually dedicated a ''lot'' of its pagecount to Takara's rival toy company [[Bandai]], particularly their ''Gundam'' toys. But ''Kerokero'' ran two serialized year-long ''Transformers'' comics, as well as some one-shot stories (including a [[Keroro Gunsō × Transformers|crossover]] with the magazine's other major focus, the ''[[Keroro|Sgt. Frog]]'' manga/anime). However, ''Kerokero'' closed down in 2013, the final issue also containing the final episode of its second serialized ''Transformers'' manga.

Every ''Transformers'' comic to appear in ''Kerokero'' was done by the [[Naoto Tsushima|same author/artist]], who also did plenty of ''Gundam'' art for the magazine. Busy man!

From this point on, TakaraTomy would pretty much stick to "in house" manga with pack-in and web-based comics (see below).

:'''Major titles'''
:* ''[[Transformers Animated: The Cool]]''
:* ''[[Transformers: All Spark]]''
{{-}}

==Pack-in comics==
{{Main|Pack-in material}}

As noted above, a lot of original comic material has been produced to be packed in with toys Hasbro/TakaraTomy are selling. Takara has historically used this outlet more frequently than Hasbro.

Hasbro's most active time of ''original'' pack-in comics was during ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'', adding small booklets in with every Deluxe-and-above-size toy. These booklets were half comic (usually created by [[Dreamwave Productions]]), half catalog for other toys in the line. The practice slipped out of favor quickly after the collapse-and-plundering of Dreamwave, and not helped by rising production costs.

In 2013, Hasbro and [[IDW Publishing]] worked together to add reprints of IDW's currently-running series in with the deluxe-level ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Transformers: Generations]]'' and ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toys. These comics were ''usually'' coordinated to feature the relevant toy character... but sometimes the toy would merely be a cameo, and sometimes ''not even in the issue at all''. These reprints also had various edits for content, emphasizing the use of [[trademark]]ed names and replacing "harsher" words like "kill" with "destroy". But by ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' this too would end.

{{comicstub}}

==See also==
* [[List of Generation 1 comics]]
* [[Manga]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Comics| ]]

Real Gear Robot

2024-06-06T10:36:53Z

Eyacorkett: /* Toys */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon}}
:''Real Gear Robots are [[AllSpark Mutation]]s from the [[Movie continuity family]].''

[[File:Mov-toy RGR SpyShot6.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Spy Shot 6]]
'''Real Gear Robots''' are a subgroup of [[AllSpark Mutation]]s—machinery brought to life as [[Transformer]]s by the [[AllSpark]].

{{quote|Uncover one of the most closely held secrets on Earth, known only to very few humans. The power of the Allspark{{sic}} has been unleashed, and machines all over the world have come alive. Unlock their secrets and join the battle!|Real Gear Robots toyline summary}}

{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
===Toy packaging===
Very few [[human]]s are actually aware of it, but the unleashing of the power of the [[AllSpark]] has given life to machines world-wide. By purchasing a Real Gear ROBOTS product, [[you]] too now know this secret. Congratulations! Now, join the battle!<ref>Real Gear Robots [[packaging]] blurb.</ref>

After coming to life, each Real Gear Robot chose sides, joining either the Autobots or Decepticons. They each seemed to find a niche to fill within their respective factions and simply joined in the regular ranks.<ref>Real Gear Robot toy [[bio]]s.</ref>

==Toys==
{|border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" class="wikitable"
|-
!Object
!Autobots
!Decepticons
|-
|'''Binoculars'''
|
* [[Farsight T-20]]
* [[Longview (Movie)|Longview]]
|
|-
|'''Cell phone'''
|
* [[Highline 1070]]
* [[Speed Dial 800]]
|
* [[Wire Tap V20]]
|-
|'''Digital camera'''
|
* [[Spy Shot 6]]
|
* [[Photon T-34]]
|-
|'''Digital watch'''
|
|
* [[Meantime (Movie)|Meantime]]
* [[Midnighter XR-4]]
|-
|'''MP3 player'''
|
* [[Night Beat 7]]
|
* [[Booster X10]]
|-
|'''Portable game system'''
|
* [[Hacker X-3]]
|
* [[Power Up VT6]]
|-
|'''Video camera'''
|
|
* [[Zoom Out 25X]]
|-
|'''Video game controller'''
|
* [[High Score 100]]
|
* [[Twitcher F451]]
|}

==Notes==
* The '''Real Gear Robots''' toyline is the long-in-coming return of "mechanical device" Transformers along the lines of the original [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], whose [[Alternate mode|altmodes]] are all common hand-held electric devices.
* For some bizarre reason, despite being a movie tie-in line, some of the earlier Real Gear Robots have stickers for displays showing characters from ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: Cybertron]]''. Later [[redeco]]es of those molds received different stickers with movie characters on them, while the Japanese versions released by [[TakaraTomy]] all had stickers showing movie characters from the get-go. There are two conflicting accounts of the conception of the Real Gear Robots line, which shed light on this oddity:
** According to a user of this wiki at the time, a [[Hasbro]] representative at [[BotCon 2007]] claimed that the Real Gear Robots toys were created in line with the designs of the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toyline, only for their release to be held back—which resulted in serendipity with the [[Movie (franchise)|movie]]'s marketing blitz, since cell phones and other electronic devices become Transformers in the film. For years, this was the accepted story behind the line's creation. Coverage of this convention's panels from the time is spotty, but in the two extant comprehensive recaps of the relevant panel, no mention is made of this titbit, with both instead supporting the idea that development of these toys only kicked off after inspiration from the movie itself.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Asked what heritage characters they would have put in the movie, Hasbro sidestepped and said they had been focused on developing toy concepts using the G1-type models before the movie went into production. Once word was received about the movie, the company started working on Robot Heroes, CyberStompers, and Real Gear to see how broad they could make the brand once they received the green light.|link=https://tformers.com/BotCon-Hasbro-and-Paramount-Parnership-Panel/8001/news.html|name=BaCon|site=TFormers|title=BotCon Hasbro and Paramount Parnership Panel|year=2007|month=07|day=01}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote='''Real gear subline is great!''' In doing the movie in a realistic setting, a great opportunity to bring the connection home, bring the robots in disguise to a personal level with technology... lots of fun to work on, new characters, new asthetic '''Design team was working before movie got off the ground, if you were in full creative control, who else would you have put in the movie?''' Weren't thinking about the movie until it started to happen - don't know about other characters, just thrilled that the right people were making the movie; were not developing new designs for the movie, but were designing robot heroes, real gear, the helmet-- to figure out how broad we could get the brand|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/botcon-2007-panel-hasbro-transformers-movie-partnership.139263/|name=ams|site=TFW2005|title=BOTCON 2007 - PANEL: HASBRO TRANSFORMERS MOVIE PARTNERSHIP|year=2007|month=06|day=30}}</ref> Another wiki user who attended the convention [[Talk:Real Gear Robot#Chevy Autobots|explicitly stated]] that they heard no such comment.
** In [[2023]], Hasbro designer [[Aaron Archer]] would give the contradictory account that the Real Gear Robots were conceived from the very start as an opportunistic movie tie-in assortment inspired by [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]], which were never part of the ''Cybertron'' toyline.<ref>{{citesocial|quote="'I've been wondering what the original intent for the ''Real Gear Robots'' toyline was. Were they meant for ''Transformers Cybertron''? How could they have fit in the toyline's ecosystem?' So when you do a movie, you have an opportunity to sell to more retailers, because you're going to get the buzz, the lift of the movie, and the marketing campaign is going to lift that property up over one that doesn't have it—or just has basic TV animation or something—so a wider group of buyers across the wider spectrum of stores are going to buy product. So in order for you not to get overrun with the same stuff everywhere, or maybe making bigger molds in doubling them up than you want to, you're going to offer different assortments, different types of assortments different price points. So ''Real Gear'' gave us an opportunity to quote-unquote make a "movie" assortment, take the Frenzy concept of gear and kind of blow that out, like, what if there was more of that in the film? And we can offer a low price point that the movie otherwise didn't really have, and take that as permission to do a whole line of game controllers and watches and all that stuff. So that's really what ''Real Gear'' was, it was not part of ''Cybertron'', it was an opportunistic assortment to put more stuff out into the market, and that's what it was. And it was in the movie vernacular, but also we were able to say, Soundwave and Megatron and Perceptor and Blaster and characters before that had this... it's an element of ''Transformers'' the the "gear" bots, if you look at the car bots and the army bots or whatever, gear was also an element of the G1 experience, so we wanted to blow that out. Simple as that, it was an opportunity.|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSXaInBmtIk&t=3401s|name=Aaron Archer|site=''The Toy Armada''|title=Toy Armada Friday night LIVE: Toy Talk Q&A|year=2023|month=05|day=12}}</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Techno-Robots''' (Canada)
*''Spanish:'' '''Robots Aparatos''' (America)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Real Gear Robots| ]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]

Real Gear Robot

2024-06-06T10:33:22Z

Eyacorkett:

{{factions|autobot|decepticon}}
:''Real Gear Robots are [[AllSpark Mutation]]s from the [[Movie continuity family]].''

[[File:Mov-toy RGR SpyShot6.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Spy Shot 6]]
'''Real Gear Robots''' are a subgroup of [[AllSpark Mutation]]s—machinery brought to life as [[Transformer]]s by the [[AllSpark]].

{{quote|Uncover one of the most closely held secrets on Earth, known only to very few humans. The power of the Allspark{{sic}} has been unleashed, and machines all over the world have come alive. Unlock their secrets and join the battle!|Real Gear Robots toyline summary}}

{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
===Toy packaging===
Very few [[human]]s are actually aware of it, but the unleashing of the power of the [[AllSpark]] has given life to machines world-wide. By purchasing a Real Gear ROBOTS product, [[you]] too now know this secret. Congratulations! Now, join the battle!<ref>Real Gear Robots [[packaging]] blurb.</ref>

After coming to life, each Real Gear Robot chose sides, joining either the Autobots or Decepticons. They each seemed to find a niche to fill within their respective factions and simply joined in the regular ranks.<ref>Real Gear Robot toy [[bio]]s.</ref>

==Toys==
{|border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" class="wikitable"
|-
!
!'''Autobots'''
!'''Decepticons'''
|-
|'''binoculars'''
|
* [[Farsight T-20]]
* [[Longview (Movie)|Longview]]
|
|-
|'''cell phone'''
|
* [[Highline 1070]]
* [[Speed Dial 800]]
|
* [[Wire Tap V20]]
|-
|'''digital camera'''
|
* [[Spy Shot 6]]
|
* [[Photon T-34]]
|-
|'''digital watch'''
|
|
* [[Meantime (Movie)|Meantime]]
* [[Midnighter XR-4]]
|-
|'''MP3 player'''
|
* [[Night Beat 7]]
|
* [[Booster X10]]
|-
|'''portable game system'''
|
* [[Hacker X-3]]
|
* [[Power Up VT6]]
|-
|'''video camera'''
| 
|
* [[Zoom Out 25X]]
|-
|'''videogame controller'''
|
* [[High Score 100]]
|
* [[Twitcher F451]]
|}

==Notes==
* The '''Real Gear Robots''' toyline is the long-in-coming return of "mechanical device" Transformers along the lines of the original [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], whose [[Alternate mode|altmodes]] are all common hand-held electric devices.
* For some bizarre reason, despite being a movie tie-in line, some of the earlier Real Gear Robots have stickers for displays showing characters from ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: Cybertron]]''. Later [[redeco]]es of those molds received different stickers with movie characters on them, while the Japanese versions released by [[TakaraTomy]] all had stickers showing movie characters from the get-go. There are two conflicting accounts of the conception of the Real Gear Robots line, which shed light on this oddity:
** According to a user of this wiki at the time, a [[Hasbro]] representative at [[BotCon 2007]] claimed that the Real Gear Robots toys were created in line with the designs of the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toyline, only for their release to be held back—which resulted in serendipity with the [[Movie (franchise)|movie]]'s marketing blitz, since cell phones and other electronic devices become Transformers in the film. For years, this was the accepted story behind the line's creation. Coverage of this convention's panels from the time is spotty, but in the two extant comprehensive recaps of the relevant panel, no mention is made of this titbit, with both instead supporting the idea that development of these toys only kicked off after inspiration from the movie itself.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Asked what heritage characters they would have put in the movie, Hasbro sidestepped and said they had been focused on developing toy concepts using the G1-type models before the movie went into production. Once word was received about the movie, the company started working on Robot Heroes, CyberStompers, and Real Gear to see how broad they could make the brand once they received the green light.|link=https://tformers.com/BotCon-Hasbro-and-Paramount-Parnership-Panel/8001/news.html|name=BaCon|site=TFormers|title=BotCon Hasbro and Paramount Parnership Panel|year=2007|month=07|day=01}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote='''Real gear subline is great!''' In doing the movie in a realistic setting, a great opportunity to bring the connection home, bring the robots in disguise to a personal level with technology... lots of fun to work on, new characters, new asthetic '''Design team was working before movie got off the ground, if you were in full creative control, who else would you have put in the movie?''' Weren't thinking about the movie until it started to happen - don't know about other characters, just thrilled that the right people were making the movie; were not developing new designs for the movie, but were designing robot heroes, real gear, the helmet-- to figure out how broad we could get the brand|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/botcon-2007-panel-hasbro-transformers-movie-partnership.139263/|name=ams|site=TFW2005|title=BOTCON 2007 - PANEL: HASBRO TRANSFORMERS MOVIE PARTNERSHIP|year=2007|month=06|day=30}}</ref> Another wiki user who attended the convention [[Talk:Real Gear Robot#Chevy Autobots|explicitly stated]] that they heard no such comment.
** In [[2023]], Hasbro designer [[Aaron Archer]] would give the contradictory account that the Real Gear Robots were conceived from the very start as an opportunistic movie tie-in assortment inspired by [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]], which were never part of the ''Cybertron'' toyline.<ref>{{citesocial|quote="'I've been wondering what the original intent for the ''Real Gear Robots'' toyline was. Were they meant for ''Transformers Cybertron''? How could they have fit in the toyline's ecosystem?' So when you do a movie, you have an opportunity to sell to more retailers, because you're going to get the buzz, the lift of the movie, and the marketing campaign is going to lift that property up over one that doesn't have it—or just has basic TV animation or something—so a wider group of buyers across the wider spectrum of stores are going to buy product. So in order for you not to get overrun with the same stuff everywhere, or maybe making bigger molds in doubling them up than you want to, you're going to offer different assortments, different types of assortments different price points. So ''Real Gear'' gave us an opportunity to quote-unquote make a "movie" assortment, take the Frenzy concept of gear and kind of blow that out, like, what if there was more of that in the film? And we can offer a low price point that the movie otherwise didn't really have, and take that as permission to do a whole line of game controllers and watches and all that stuff. So that's really what ''Real Gear'' was, it was not part of ''Cybertron'', it was an opportunistic assortment to put more stuff out into the market, and that's what it was. And it was in the movie vernacular, but also we were able to say, Soundwave and Megatron and Perceptor and Blaster and characters before that had this... it's an element of ''Transformers'' the the "gear" bots, if you look at the car bots and the army bots or whatever, gear was also an element of the G1 experience, so we wanted to blow that out. Simple as that, it was an opportunity.|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSXaInBmtIk&t=3401s|name=Aaron Archer|site=''The Toy Armada''|title=Toy Armada Friday night LIVE: Toy Talk Q&A|year=2023|month=05|day=12}}</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Techno-Robots''' (Canada)
*''Spanish:'' '''Robots Aparatos''' (America)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Real Gear Robots| ]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]