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File:TF2023 no. 16 â€“ Devastator and Bruticus fighting.jpeg

2025-08-31T20:59:28Z

Kickassatron: Welcome back, folks, to CWF Monday Night Raw! Kicking off the night, we have a long-awaited clash between two absolute titans. Please, welcome to the ring, Devastator and Bruticus!

Welcome back, folks, to CWF Monday Night Raw! Kicking off the night, we have a long-awaited clash between two absolute titans. Please, welcome to the ring, Devastator and Bruticus!

File:TF2023 no. 16 â€“ Devastator and Bruticus duke it out in a forest.JPG

2025-08-31T20:44:22Z

Kickassatron: Welcome, folks, to CWF Monday Night Raw. Kicking off the night, we have the long-awaited showdown between two absolute titans. Please welcome to the ring Devastator and Bruticus!

Welcome, folks, to CWF Monday Night Raw. Kicking off the night, we have the long-awaited showdown between two absolute titans. Please welcome to the ring Devastator and Bruticus!

Combaticon (G1)

2025-08-17T21:55:29Z

Kickassatron: /* Energon Universe */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Combaticon}}
:''The Combaticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:TVMGuideCombaticons.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|The Dirty Half-Dozen Minus One—from left to right Swindle, Vortex, Onslaught, Blast Off and Brawl.]]
The '''Combaticons''' are a unit of fierce Decepticon soldiers, operating with (mostly) military precision under the watchful eye of the tactically brilliant Onslaught. They sometimes operate out of [[Combaticons' headquarters|their own headquarters]].

The Combaticons consist of:
*The tactician [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (leader)
*The violent [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*The egotistical [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*The con man [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*The unhinged [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

They combine to form the highly powerful, but extremely stupid [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].

{{quote|We aim to maim!|Brawl tells us the basic gist of the team|"[[Spotlight: Arcee]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Starscreams brigade 5 letsgo.jpg|upright=2.0|thumb|Dad's Army]]
When [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] was banished from the Decepticons for Yet Another Failed Coup Against [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], he was deposited on the island of [[Guadalcanal]], the site of one of the major battles between the [[United States of America]] and [[Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[World War II]]. There he found and rebuilt several abandoned US military vehicles to pass the time. After he finished, he decided that if Megatron can have a Decepticon army, then so can he!

After bluffing his way past [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to use the [[space bridge]], he travelled to a [[Decepticon Detention Center|detention center]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and liberated the [[personality component]]s of several [[Renegade Decepticon|Decepticon political prisoners]] before destroying the rest. Back on [[Earth]], Starscream installed the components into the rusting military vehicles and ordered them to transform.

The reborn Combaticons were less than pleased with their "new," primitive bodies, nor were they particularly thankful to Starscream for freeing them after millions of years of imprisonment. That is, until the former Decepticon Air Commander revealed that he had neglected to install [[energy absorber]] units into their bodies, so they would have no way of refueling. As he was the only one with the knowledge and expertise to install them, he demanded their allegiance in his aim to overthrow Megatron. The Combaticons agreed to obey Starscream, for now.

[[File:Combaticons group.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Swindle suddenly becomes a fervent opponent of [[scale]].]]
Under Starscream's leadership, the Combaticons managed to capture several prisoners, then used their energy absorbers to recharge themselves at a power plant. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked, while the Autobots rescued their comrades. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who was quickly defeated by the Combaticons' much more powerful, but dull-witted combined form, Bruticus. Starscream ordered Bruticus to grab Megatron, forcing his former commander to acknowledge Starscream as the new leader of the Decepticons. Under duress, Megatron did so as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] watched nearby. The latter group, deciding that Starscream would be too dangerous as a leader, quickly formed [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and defeated Bruticus with a single attack. Starscream and the Combaticons were banished from Earth on a small asteroid, left to wallow in their own misery and blame each other for their failures. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

Starscream and the Combaticons quickly had a falling-out. After Starscream left, the Combaticons attacked Cybertron, easily defeating [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his [[Sentinel (G1)|drones]]. Thirsting for revenge, Onslaught reprogrammed the space bridge to pull Earth closer to the [[Sun]], in the hopes of destroying it and every Transformer there. The Autobots and Decepticons temporarily joined forces to retake Cybertron and prevent Earth's destruction, and with Starscream's help, they deactivated the Combaticons once they formed Bruticus through a failsafe device built into the treacherous giant's back. Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that Bruticus must be destroyed, but the Decepticon leader fooled the Autobots by using Shockwave's [[holographic projector]] to make it appear as though Bruticus was destroyed, when in reality the combiner was reprogrammed to be loyal only to Megatron. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[File:BOT-Road.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Uh, boss, why are Blast Off and I on the-" "DON'T QUESTION MY BRILLIANT PLAN, VORTEX!"]]
Soon afterwards, during Megatron's latest scheme on Earth involving the theft of fighter aircraft using Middle-Eastern criminals, the Combaticons were called into service to defend Megatron's [[Giant Purple Griffin]], a large... thing that apparently pumped [[oil]]. Or something. Struggling against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Combaticons formed Bruticus, yet were still knocked over when the Aerialbots twisted a tow cable around his legs. The Decepticon combiner was finally defeated when the Aerialbots ignited the nearby oil wells, causing a massive explosion that sent Megatron, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], Bruticus and gas prices flying away. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

While attacking a human city, Bruticus was destroyed in battle with [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (man, this guy can't seem to catch a break). Only Swindle survived, and he sold the remains of his comrades to various mercenaries and [[El Presidente|third-world dictator-types]], only to be forced to locate and rebuild the Combaticons by Megatron. The reformed Bruticus was then defeated when Megatron's disruptor cannon was overloaded by the human-built [[B.O.T. (G1)|B.O.T.]], once again sending the Decepticon flying into the sky. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[File:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Not often you can get a view of the whole team AND their combined form in a single screencap.]]
After the great battle at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Swindle was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with the [[Quintesson]]s; {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} the Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on the Autobots on [[Goo Number 8739-B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

A lone Blast Off later attacked a [[Skuxxoid]] who was using [[death crystal]]s to blow stuff up in Decepticon territory, and forced the alien to tell him where he got the ammunition. When a group of Autobots tried to find the crystals as well, Blast Off attacked them alongside [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} The Combaticons later failed to assassinate Decepticon exile [[Octane]] at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} then succeeded in shooting up a shuttle meant to take human delegates to an interstellar peace conference. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a Decepticon attack on the [[Netherlands]], Swindle infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and stole his [[transformation cog]], whilst Vortex was charged with guarding [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} The Combaticons later participated in the assault on [[Paradron]], where they guarded the imprisoned Paradronians, among other things. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} When the Earth was infected by the [[Hate Plague]], the Combaticons (Bruticus) were among those infected. Brawl was seen driving along the road and infecting [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] who, in turn, infected [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] while Vortex attacked a civilian plane on a runway. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

Under [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s directions, the Combaticons constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. Once Scorponok and Fortress Maximus began to fight the Combaticons ran away. They presumably left Cybertron with Galvatron in Scorponok {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}
====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====Scramble City=====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were attacked by the Aerialbots and did not fare too well. The Combaticons arrived to help, and together Bruticus and Menasor easily overpowered Superion. However, Scramble City itself soon arrived and blasted both combiners away. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
The Combaticons participated in an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} until [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] arrived and drove them away. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shortly afterwards, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] set out to find the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bring it to Optimus Prime, and the Combaticons were among the troops sent out to stop him. They were ambushed by the Protectobots, and defeated when Defensor buried Bruticus in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Not long after that, the Combaticons defended [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] against [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]]'s attempted infiltration, but failed when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived and distracted them. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[File:UltraMagnusDies Combaticons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"All six Combaticons present and accou... Wait! Why are [[Snapdragon (G1)|YOU]] with us?"]]
The Combaticons were later part of ''another'' attack on Cybertron, during which they killed plenty of [[Generic|soldiers]] before getting into another fight with Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They lost. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} When the Decepticons planted a giant carnivorous plant in [[San Francisco]], the Combaticons and Stunticons were ordered to with attack any Autobots who arrived to kill it. When the Aerialbots and [[Trainbot]]s did just that, Bruticus got into an energy-sword fight with [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Sixshot later sent the Combaticons, [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon (G1)|Horrorcons]] to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Florida|Miami]], in order to lure Autobot troops away from [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

The Combaticons were present when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] held a speech about Galvatron's recent death and took control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} Bruticus was later part of a small group of Decepticons who tried to lead Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} He then stood by and laughed as [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] sank the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' in the Atlantic Ocean, before being stationed at one of Scorponok's [[Death Tower]]s in Canberra, [[Australia]]. He defended the tower against Defensor until it activated, at which point [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] ordered him to withdraw. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}

Bruticus participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the North Pole, and fought [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] alongside [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. As Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart, Bruticus retreated into the atmosphere to watch the results alongside the rest of the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

=====''Zone'' OVA, manga, and story pages=====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violengiguar]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Combaticons were of those summoned, but only in the form of Bruticus. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

====''TV Magazine'' comic continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
[[File:FSRLmanga08-title.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

Bruticus arrived to help the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] fight [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] at a baseball stadium in [[Japan]]. He quickly defeated Defensor, injuring [[Hot Spot (G1)|his torso]] and preventing him from combining. In response, Superion disabled Brawl and Swindle using his [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], allowing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] to steal their places as Bruticus's legs. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus as [[Kenji]] cheered at them to drop the Combaticons into the sea. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}} Onslaught later joined the Stunticons in a scheme to defame the Autobots by destroying factories around Japan whilst wearing Autobot [[insignia]]s. When confronted by the real Autobots, he "combined" with fellow [[Decepticon Trailer Corps]] member [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], but they were defeated and sent packing by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

The Combaticons' next mission was to hunt down [[Battle Dog|an escaped dog]] that Megatron had experimented on, imbuing it with powerful energy. Brawl managed to fatally injure the animal, much to Onslaught's annoyance as they were supposed to capture it alive. The Autobot [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] soon arrived to put a halt to their activities, and the dog expressed its gratitude by using its powers to energize Powerglide with [[Scramble Power]]. As Powerglide used the power to combine with his fellow [[Mini-Vehicle|Minibots]], the Combaticons responded by forming Bruticus. He proved weaker than this new [[Minibot combiner]], however, as it used the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack" to drill straight through Bruticus' chest, defeating him.

The dog still died, though. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''=====
The Combaticons emerged as Bruticus alongside the other Decepticon super-warriors, ready to storm the Autobot energy tower on the planet [[Feminia]]. Galvatron and his men laughed off the presence of Superion, Defensor and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]... but the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]]? Carrying a length of thread?! Oh, the horror. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

=====''The Great Transformer War''=====
The Combaticons and Stunticons were working out of Trypticon where the kidnapped scientist Doctor [[Dalton]] was being forced to work for Galvatron's evil ends. When the Aerialbots and Protectobots arrived to save the scientist, Onslaught and Motormaster combined with Trypticon in their deployment launcher modes. Hurtling their fellow Decepticons at Superion did such damage that the Aerialbots were forced to disassemble. Somehow, however, the remaining Protectobots managed to hold off both Bruticus and Menasor long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to repair the Aerialbots, and for [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] to sneak past the Decepticons and retrieve Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

=====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic=====
Brawl and Blast Off participated in an attack on [[Athenia]] by forming the right limbs of [[Scramble 7]], a Decepticon combiner using various combiner team members in a supposedly "ideal" configuration. Despite being so great, however, Scramble 7 was defeated by [[Ginrai (human)|Super Ginrai]], [[Lightfoot (G1)|Lightfoot]], and [[Ranger]] thanks to their use of [[Chōkon Power]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Buster combaticons second generation.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
''The Combaticons and their fellow [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[File:Onslaught afterdeath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
On their first mission on Earth, the Combaticons followed [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] to retrieve the human [[hydrothermocline]] plant. When they arrived, they faced Optimus Prime and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] waiting for them. The Combaticons formed Bruticus and stared down [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] when a nearby human named [[Ethan Zachary]] suggested that they play a [[Multi-World|video game]] over the plant instead. Optimus Prime and Megatron both agreed, and the Combaticons were sent into the game to attack the Protectobots. However, they lost every battle due to not taking the "wildlife" AI into account. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} ''These events were observed by the [[time travel]]ling [[Dicet Alpha-zero]].'' {{storylink|The Quest!}} After this, the Combaticons didn't do much but follow Megatron around, even when their mentally unstable leader heavily damaged Brawl for mouthing off. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

''Later, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] led the Combaticons to kill [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]—and co-incidentally [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]—while they were trapped in the cooled lava flow of [[Mount Verona]]. After making short work of the human military encamped on the site, the Combaticons set up explosive charges around the volcano to obliterate the entire area but their operation was met with resistance thanks to [[Cindy Newell|three]] [[Susan Hoffman|human]] [[Joy Meadows|women]], as well as [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s. When the Combaticons retreated to detonate their explosives, their remote signal was jammed by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]].'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} ''In response to that humiliation,'' the Combaticons would later attack the [[Throttlebot]]s in a used car lot, only for the Protectobots and Blaster to interfere and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Shortly afterwards, the group decided to ambush the Protectobots on their way to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. This time, Bruticus claimed victory over Defensor by hitting him with a train, but was soon tricked and broken into his component parts by Blaster. After this, Blaster took control of Blast Off and flew into space, separating the shuttle from the other Combaticons. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Along with most of the Decepticon army, the Combaticons later ambushed the Autobots on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], only to be beaten back by Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

''At some point thereafter, the Combaticons worked with [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] under the command of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to steal a backup of the [[floppy disk]] containing Optimus Prime's personality.'' {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Totalwar-combaticons.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Grrrrrr... feisty!]]
After Bludgeon's defeat, Swindle took the returning Decepticon leader Megatron on a tour of the [[Warworld]] battleship he had inherited. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Soon after, Brawl and Blast Off were among the Decepticons preparing to charge into battle against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}} Vortex was seen with various other Decepticons attacking the [[Ethos raiding party|Cybertronians]] on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} As the alliance progressed, Onslaught was struck by empathic pains as his apparent spawn [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

During the final battle at [[Earth]], all the Combaticons later attempted to defend the Warworld against a Cybertronian boarding party led by the treacherous Starscream. Despite Onslaught's emphatic orders of "maximum firepower", they didn't do so well. {{storylink|Total War!}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|Transformers in Action: He Who Laughs Last ...}}}}

===Young Corgi continuity===
[[File:BBTI-Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right]]
When the fleshlings discovered a mysterious lost civilization buried underneath the ice, the Combaticons Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off joined [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in seeking whatever treasures the hidden city might have. They were confronted by the Aerialbots named [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]], and fought on the surface over the city. Little did they know that the [[city-dweller]]s were robots themselves, remotely storing and copying images of the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, imprinting themselves with the skills of warfare. They were only stopped by the unlikely duo of Ravage and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. After the city-dwellers were defeated, the Autobots granted safe passage to their one-time Decepticon allies. Blast Off expanded to his maximum size to transport his fellow 'Cons back to Decepticon headquarters. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
The five soldiers who would one day become the Combaticons were early participants in the Decepticons' war effort. While Onslaught and the others joined Shockwave in attacking [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and the [[High Council Pavilions]] being protected by the Autobots, Swindle chose to throw in with Starscream, helping him to disable [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and assume temporary control over Megatron's planetary juggernaut project. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

At some later date, these five warriors were officially brought together as a combiner team, given the ability to form Bruticus. Like the other Combiners, they were banned from operating together on any given faction during the Dark Ages, by decree of the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] to prevent any more devastation to the planet at the hands of the super-robot combiners.{{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} The Combaticons were still authorized to operate individually and separately among the various Decepticon factions. Given his previous efforts helping [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and the [[Battlecharger]]s with Starscream's coup, Swindle may have joined them as a member of the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]], although this was never stated. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[File:Onslaught G1DW routeofallevil.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|"YOOOOOO CON!"]]
By the modern era, the Combaticons had been declared war criminals by the united Cybertronian government under Shockwave and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The details of their crimes and why they were singled-out for imprisonment is unclear—Shockwave may have been intentionally eliminating [[Ratbat (G1)|potential rivals]] or [[Stunticon (G1)|loose cannons]], or may simply have allowed their imprisonment as a token showing of cooperation with the Autobot High Council. Once the Transformers from Earth were contacted, and uprisings began taking place on Cybertron, Starscream managed to worm his way into the [[Detention Banks]] and recover the five stasis pods containing the Combaticons. He loaded them onto his stolen transport and brought them back to Earth with him and the rest of his hand-picked crew. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

On Earth, Starscream reactivated the Combaticons as his personal "brigade", scanning Earth military vehicles for their alternate modes. Using the Combaticons as shock troops, he made a two-staged assault on the Ark, and successfully took five of the seven remaining Autobots off-line. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Starscream and Bruticus' efforts to complete their set were interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], Starscream's crazed clone-brother, and Bruticus was damaged in the melee. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After the battle with Sunstorm, Starscream attempted to train the Combaticons into better military shape, using the Autobot prisoner [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as a "tackling dummy". His training efforts were interrupted by the return of Megatron and his combiner team, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Even as Bruticus, the Combaticons quickly fell before the might of [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
The Combaticons were among the Decepticons under control of "the Son of Megatron", [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]]. Onslaught tried to protect his leader from a vengeful Optimus Prime while Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off were seen fighting against a combined Autobot-[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] army. Swindle, however, was nowhere to be found. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:SpotlightArcee AimToMaim.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|]]
Early in the [[Great War (G1)|war]], Brawl and Onslaught were part of an armored division led by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. They participated in the defense of the [[Citadel (building)|Citadel]] but were overwhelmed by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]]. {{storylink|Endgame}} When [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] was overthrown by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], the Combaticons were among the Decepticons who refused to their new leader and left Cybertron to do their own thing. While breaking into an armory at the [[Presidium (planet)|Presidium]], they were approached by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] and offered ample payment for their return to the frontlines. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} They accepted, and Onslaught and Brawl were later seen participating in Megatron's attack on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

During the war [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] became one of the worst violators of the [[Tyrest Accord]], constantly selling Transformers technology to alien races, and had gone AWOL from the Decepticons, hunted by both sides of the war. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The other four remained Combaticons, and were a dangerous tactical unit capable of taking on and beating superior numbers (even ones backed up by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|total loonies]]). Under orders from [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], they successfully raided the [[Garrus-9]] Autobot prison and abducted [[Pretender Monster|the six newest inmates]], the gestalt Transformers, despite taking some damage from a high threat convict, Arcee, who was released to stop them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} Soon afterwards, the Combaticons were among the only survivors of an attack by the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, who activated the gestalt combined form, [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], inside Banzaitron's base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron; the Combaticons, remaining [[Decepticon Secret Service|DSS]] members and the crazed Autobot fought Monstructor on [[Rotan]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, the Combaticons were among the Decepticons left behind on Earth. Swindle joined up with a small band of roaming Decepticons, {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} while Onslaught was one of many Transformers captured by [[Skywatch]] using their reverse-engineered energon and Cybertronian technology. He and several other Decepticons were rescued from Skywatch custody by Swindle's team, who removed the mode-locks placed on them by Skywatch's restraint tech. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} After Swindle failed to take advantage of some rebellious Autobots in an attempt to get off Earth, he disappeared. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

[[File:RanksOfBronze CombaticonsRelax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|The Relaxicons.]]
Fleeing to [[North Korea]], Swindle made a deal with [[Kim Jong Du]], the leader of the nation, offering him the Combaticons as an invasion force in exchange for energon. He left when he got the energy he needed, but the other Combaticons remained. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} Soon enough, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex were invading [[South Korea]] for their employer (Blast Off's whereabouts were unknown: Skywatch noted that the Koreans had enough energon for five Transformers, but he might just have left Earth on his own). {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|"The Land Ironclads"}} They ended up in a brawl with both the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] (allied with [[China]]), but were ultimately defeated. Luckily for them, the Autobots didn't have the resources at hand to take them captive. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|"All My Sins Remembered"}}

Brawl later tried to kill [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] on Swindle's behalf, but failed and was captured by the Autobots. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Swindle himself was taken in shortly afterwards when his latest scheme failed. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} The captured Combaticons, and likely the others as well, ended up being forced to work for the Autobots on a restored Cybertron once the war was declared over. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} The Decepticons felt oppressed under a provisional government of Autobots, Non-Aligned Cybertronians, and Starscream. Starscream approached Onslaught to buy the Combaticons' services as he made his play for Iacon's leadership. In exchange for protecting him from those like the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] or unruly bots, Starscream would allow the group a position of power when the time came. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

Blast Off and Brawl were among those brought by Starscream to pressure Prowl into revealing one of his secret discoveries below ground. Later underground, they witnessed a Titan declare that Starscream was the Cybertronian destined to unite their whole race. They and the other Cybertronians celebrated afterwards with Starscream. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} Later, most of the Combaticons were involved in the rioting that began when Megatron returned, although Swindle, along with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], offered their testimony on Prowl's murder of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. {{storylink|City on Fire}} {{storylink|The Verge}} Some time later, when Starscream successfully became the ruler of Iacon, he reneged on his deal with Onslaught, who was furious over the betrayal. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

After Megatron's defection to the Autobots, [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] took command of the Decepticons and led a contingent back to Earth, which included Brawl, where they formed an alliance with the [[Earth Defense Command]] against the Autobots. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World}} Back on Cybertron, with Metroplex's installation as Cybertron's new capital, Onslaught and many other disgruntled Decepticons chose to live in slums outside the city instead. When they caught Optimus Prime making his way through their territory, many of them formed a mob and attacked him. {{storylink|City of Steel (issue)|City of Steel}} Blast Off joined the riot for Metroplex's space bridge under Swindle's claims that a better life was possible on [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} Swindle himself would be blasted in the back by Starscream in order to keep him from revealing his role in the attack on Caminus, and apparently expired. {{storylink|All That Remains}}

[[File:ChooseMe OnslaughtGrenade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"Where's the pin?" "What pin?" ''*BOOM*'']]
Onslaught later skulked by as a group of Camiens were passing out fliers regarding Optimus Prime's divinity in the district. Brawl returned from Earth at this time to help rally the Decepticons for Galvatron's campaign. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} The Combaticons soon reunited and stewed over Starscream's leadership. Upon throwing an energon canister at a viewscreen promoting Starscream's success in uniting some of the lost colonies, Onslaught declared that they wouldn't let Starscream forget the past, not without having to go through them first. They sprayed "SWINDLE LIVES" on a wall {{storylink|The Will of the Few}} thanks to Onslaught being informed by an anonymous informant, "[[Rattrap (BW)|DC-357]]", that Swindle was alive and had damaging info on Starscream. {{storylink|07:00:00}} Brawl, Blast Off, and Vortex got Onslaught a new grenade in light if the newly declared "Chosen One Day". {{storylink|Choose Me}}

Brawl rejoined [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] to prepare for Galvatron's conquest of Earth. Brawl and Needlenose led a team of Decepticons, including Onslaught, to the Space Bridge nexus, where they transported aboard the ''[[Ark-7]]'' to overpower the Autobots in Earth orbit. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}} Brawl, Onslaught and the Decepticons engaged Arcee, [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Alpha Trion]] before the ship crashed into Shanghai, China. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} The Earth Defense Command's "mindbomb" felled several of the Decepticons within the first minute of the battle. After the Chinese Mecha Force began tearing through the Decepticons, Brawl was taken through the space bridge by Ironhide, but began fighting his way through the Autobots in a panic and reignited the fight at the other end. Barely surviving an attack by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], he and several Decepticons were able to slip away. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}}

Onslaught continued to search the underbelly of Cybertron for the missing Swindle, and as the [[Badgeless]] began to brutalise Decepticons for information, he became sure DC-357 was onto something. However, the other Combaticons, particularly Blast Off, became worried he was too focused on finding Swindle, costing them paying jobs. The idea of dropping the search made Onslaught storm off in a huff, failing to notice a new message from DC-357. Blast Off did catch it, however, and soon he donned a Badgeless disguise, joined a patrol, and as soon as he got a chance he shot a Decepticon dead and sent footage of it to the press. {{storylink|07:00:00}} With riots breaking out, Vortex and Brawl were eager to join in, but Onslaught held them back until Blast Off returned. Onslaught suspected the situation was orchestrated by Starscream so that the colonists would be made to turn against their cause, until Blast Off admitted to doing the killing by following DC-357's suggestion to provoke an uprising. Onslaught hit upon a sneaky plan: he started a large protest that marched on Starscream to shake the tree and see what happened, and when what happened was Ironhide was made head of the cops and opened them up to anyone who wanted. Onslaught then started a fight so that Blast Off could 'stop him' and 'denounce' his plans, thus getting into the police as someone Ironhide would trust. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

[[File:TheLineBetweenUs CombaticonsAntespace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0|Blast Off's the designated driver.]]
Blast Off was able to use his position to eventually uncover surveillance footage of [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] taking Swindle. While Onslaught took Brawl and went to Rattrap's, Blast Off and Vortex barged into Wheeljack's home, and ultimately threatened to kill [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] unless Wheeljack talked. Wheeljack admitted that he and Rattrap had tried to save Swindle, but he was currently brain dead. Onslaught was unperturbed by Swindle's condition, and forced Rattrap to retrieve the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} Onslaught used the Enigma on himself and his team, forming [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], hoping that he might be able to access the dirt Swindle had on Starscream. As Bruticus rampaged through Iacon, within the combiner's psyche, Vortex reveled in the power that they wielded as Bruticus, Brawl was wallowing in pain after feeling Swindle's death, and Blast Off struggled to keep them all together. Eventually Onslaught found what he was looking for, and he, Brawl and Vortex began reveling in their path of destruction despite Blast Off's protests. Though [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] tried to appeal to the Combaticon combiner to help her take down Starscream with their evidence, it was to no avail. Eventually Ironhide was forced to fire a rocket at Bruticus' head, and the shock forced the Combaticons to disconnect. Windblade frantically tried to get the Combaticons to wake up to share what they had learned, but failed. {{storylink|The Line Between Us}}

The Combaticons were imprisoned and awaiting trial, though Ironhide was reluctant to prosecute them if their mental scarring proved too great. {{storylink|Ping}} They were still comatose when Starscream told the [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukarian]] [[Mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]] to turn them to his side as one of his combiners. Though the Combaticons minds had imprinted on each other during their combination, making them susceptible to the process, one of the Combaticons was required to be aware of the deception in order to cover any holes in their story should the others get suspicious. Blast Off was chosen and bribed into accepting the deal after Starscream reminded him that Onslaught would never let the past go or ever take any real interest in him. As a result, the others Combaticons were made to believe that Onslaught's original deal with Starscream had worked out, with them having been his secret and loyal bodyguards, and that their forming of Bruticus had been a last-ditch attempt to save Swindle's life with Starscream's approval. Starscream informed Ironhide that Airachnid would be testifying that the Combaticons had not been responsible for their actions as Bruticus. {{storylink|The Price of You}} Soon the Combaticons "resumed" their work of protecting Starscream, and Onslaught and Blast Off arranged a date. Shortly afterwards, Swindle was restored, with his memories manipulated as well. {{storylink|If I Know You}}

[[File:TheChosenOne CombaticonsImprisoned.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|They finally get Swindle back, then kick Blast Off out.]]
The Combaticons later provided security for the ceremony to welcome Earth into the Council of Worlds. When [[Iron Ring|a group of human assailants]] attacked, the Combaticons mobilized to fight back and evacuate Starscream. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}}

Onslaught and Vortex later ushered Circuit and Longtooth out of the Council chambers during Windblade's official return to her post, with Vortex daring the two reporters to resist. When Windblade invited people to speak with her one-on-one during her campaign to become the new leader of Cybertron, Brawl was an unexpected supporter of her war-free vision. Vortex and Blast Off later stood guard outside Starscream's office as Windblade confronted Starscream, and Blast Off was disturbed at Vortex's ideas for what they were doing. During the final debate, Starscream revealed all of his crimes to the public, including the manipulation of the Combaticons. As a result, all of the Combaticons were imprisoned for their rampage as Bruticus, and Blast Off was ostracized by the others for his role in their manipulation. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

===''Wings Universe''===
{{Wingsnote}}
[[File:EliteGuardCombaticons TheComingStorm2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1| DUM DUM DUUUUUUM!]]
The Combaticons were an [[Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}} After they ended up getting captured by [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], the silver-tongued Decepticon manipulated the Combaticons to join him so they could prove their superiority over the rest of the Elite Guard. In return, he modified them so they could combine into Bruticus. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 4}}

They attacked Elite Guard HQ, using their new combined form {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 5}} and managed to slaughter most of the Elite Guard defenders, until [[Dion (G1)|Dion]] injured the giant, forcing them to separate. They departed the scene, assuming everyone to be dead. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 6}} Returning to Deathsaurus's base, they underwent repairs, though they were startled to learn that Deathsaurus could control their merging remotely. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} As the remnants of the Elite Guard tried to attack the base, the Combaticons joined the other Decepticons in defending it. However, as they tried to merge into Bruticus, they were blasted by some new arrivals {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 3}} who were, it turned out, even more survivors of the massacre. Blast Off was captured and bound by [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]], meaning the Combaticons were unable to form Bruticus for the rest of the battle. After Deathsaurus called a retreat, the team was slow to comply, and as a result were captured by the Elite Guard. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 4}}

In the hands of the compromised [[Gyronian Sentry|Gyronian Sentry Team]], the Combaticons were whisked away to Deathsaurus's fortress, now under Megatron's control. Though Megatron gave them the option, none of them cared to help Deathsaurus, and they were imprisoned and their personality components subsequently interred in the Decepticon Detention Center. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
[[File:Kre-O Combaticons.jpg|thumb]]

Summoned by [[Starscream (Kre-O)|Starscream]] to act as his elite squad (whose first mission, of course, was to overthrow [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]), Onslaught, Brawl, Swindle, and a repainted Vortex rolled onto the scene. After they all declared their specialties, Onslaught, Brawl, and Swindle were irritated when Vortex offered to stay behind and guard the base. Even though the Combaticons combined into Bruticus, Vortex's constant worry for the base's safety compelled the team to withdraw. When Starscream, under imminent threat of a beating from Megatron, contacted the team to demand to know where they were, the Combaticons happily informed their illustrious leader they were all protecting the base together. Aww. {{Storylink|New Military Unit Combaticon! Bruticus, Combine!}}

Swindle was able to steal [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[transformation cog]], but his looking forward to being rewarded was interrupted when the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] tracked him down to take back his loot. The Combaticons combined to form Bruticus, but were defeated by the Protectobots' own combined form, [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and taken back to the Autobot base to have his injuries treated by the gentle [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]. {{storylink|Bad at Fighting? Rescue Team Protectobots, Dispatch!}}
{{-}}
===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===

[[Swindle (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Swindle]] was following [[Megatron (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Megatron]] before the Decepticon movement even existed, and was one of few Decepticons to survive every second of the Great War. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

The Combaticons fought multiple tours together. On the first one, [[Blast Off (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Blast Off]] changed his Cybertronian spaceship mode into an Earth-styled space shuttle. It's likely that this was when the other Combaticons changed their alternate modes as well. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

[[Onslaught (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Onslaught]] was the team's commander, and had shaped it into a nearly unstoppable strike force. He had high expectations for them, putting exacting precision in both his planning and orders. {{storylink|Onslaught (G1)#Combiner Wars|Onslaught's bio}}

[[Soundwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Soundwave]] remarked that [[Vortex (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Vortex]] was unique in that he had no preferred form, being equally comfortable in helicopter and robot modes, and an effective interrogator in both. In the former he liked to pick up victims magnetically in order to scare them into spilling their secrets, and in the latter his rotors were an effective threat... but he could also weasel information out of fellow Decepticons with his charming, disarming personality. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}

[[Brawl (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Brawl]] was often needled and frustrated by his fellow Combaticons in order to make better use of his focused battlefield fury. He often needed to be told important information multiple times, but he ''was'' learning from Onslaught. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

Swindle had a real reputation for being the most famous con-man on Cybertron, to the point where the Combaticons only get along with him because they knew better than to trust him with ''anything''. He also had a bad habit of trading Cybertronian technology with other species, which put him on the wrong side of the [[Tyrest Accord]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Ultra Magnus]]. As a result, he stuck close to his teammates. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

[[Bruticus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Bruticus]] as a combined form was created by [[Shockwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Shockwave]] for the express purpose of pummeling Autobots. {{storylink|Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Decepticon Shockwave's bio}}

Blast Off's preferred fighting style from a distance left him isolated, easy to capture and imprison on Cybertron so the Autobots could take Bruticus out of the picture.

He was eventually reunited with the rest of the team. Onslaught subsequently mandated that he switch his alternate mode once again in order to stay close, so - much to Blast Off's anger - he reformatted into a fighter jet. Onslaught welcomed this new temperment because he considered his subordinate to be a more effective soldier afterwards. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}} He was equally happy blasting Autobots from space as he was planet-side, so this anger was likely a form of [[mode attachment]]. {{storylink|Blast Off (G1)#PWTSE|''Special Edition'' Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

The Combaticons were posted on Cybertron during the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:ConstructiconsRisingPart4 Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Swindle? He's busy running [[Swindle's|his casino]]. Who needs him?]]
During the interwar period between the [[War of the Threefold Spark]] and the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Combaticons; Onslaught, Blast Off, Vortex and Brawl; were agents of [[The Rise]] under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s command. After the devastation of [[Mayalx]], the Combaticons were sent to the colony to collect a bounty of [[energon cube]]s. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 4}}

When [[Exarchon]] returned, the Combaticons were summoned to Shockwave's bunker to meet with the ancient warlord. Though Blast Off had rocketed away after receiving a message, the other three pledged their loyalty to the Threefold Spark. {{storylink|War's End Part One}} No sooner had they arrived to reinforce him at his fortress in the [[Sonic Canyons]] did the Decepticons arrive and the Combaticons engaged them with the help of Exarchon's swarm of [[Skywarp drone]]s. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} The [[Companion]]s showed up to try and stop Exarchon only for all hostiles to retreat when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] arrived. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}} When the Autobots and Decepticons returned for a united attack, the Combaticons rushed to Exarchon's defense only for the Threefold Spark to ultimately be trapped and destroyed. In the aftermath, Onslaught, Vortex and Brawl surrendered and were taken into Decepticon custody. {{storylink|War's End Part Four}}

Having been invited to join him on the damaged [[Winged Moon]] by [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], Blast Off helped his friend repair the satellite, managing to get the lights on by the time the Autobots arrived to seek refuge. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 9 – The Combaticons Corner Elita One.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right]]
Stationed in [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's fortress]], {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}} the Combaticons pursued [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] when she tried to rescue Ultra Magnus. After gunning down Vortex, Elita managed to flee with Magnus through a [[space bridge]] to Earth. Giving chase, Onslaught ordered the Combaticons to combine only for Elita to damage the space bridge, resulting in Brawl being bisected at the waist and him and Onslaught being cut off from the other Combaticons as the portal shut down. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 9|Transformers #9}}

Dragging Brawl out of the way, Onslaught largely kept to himself as he waited for repairs to be effected to the space bridge. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}}

After the space bridge was repaired, Shockwave briefly returned to Cybertron, being greeted by Vortex, Blast Off and Swindle. Shockwave quickly brushed aside their concerns and ordered them to battle stations in anticipation of the fortress' high energon signature attracting Autobot rebels. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}}

Standing guard at the space bridge, the Combaticons were at ground zero when [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was kicked through. After Shockwave returned, he ordered the three to dispose of Cliffjumper before Optimus Prime arrived. Finding themselves outmatched by the Autobot leader, the Combaticons quickly fled the area. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}}

After Optimus Prime had severed the space bridge link between Cybertron and Earth, a chunk of Cybertron broke off and landed in Earth's oceans, causing a tidal wave. Caught up in the event, Onslaught and Brawl were rescued by Starscream and Astrotrain. Landing at the fragment of Cybertron, the two reunited with the other Combaticons, the group pledging fealty to Starscream. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 14|Transformers #14}}

After being fully repaired, the Combaticons were deployed into battle against Soundwave's faction, forming Bruticus as their opening salvo. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}}

Bruticus then engaged in combat with the Constructicons (having formed Devastator), before they (along with the rest of the Decepticons fighting in the city) were both washed away by a flood after Optimus destroyed a nearby dam. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

Both factions of Decepticons then took their fight to the city of [[Seattle]], where the two Combiners’ fighting caused immense destruction throughout the city, {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} which climaxes in Devastator following Bruticus up a high-rise building they scale to come to the aid of a wounded Starscream, grabbing them by the head and jumping off the building, taking Bruticus with them, engulfing the surrounding area in dust as a result of the impact. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
The Combaticons were a tight-knit unit of elite soldiers. {{storylink|Decepticon Directive}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1Onslaught toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"How come the other Combaticons aren't as tall as I am? Because I'm a natural-born leader, HAH!"]]
[[File:G1Vortex toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Ride the whirlwind! Slag, I got it wrong!"]]
[[File:Bruticus toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Rargh... humans transform Bruticus wrong... and blame Bruticus's design..."]]
*'''Combaticons''' (1986/1991)
**[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
**[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
**[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
**[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-69'''

:As a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style [[combiner]] team, the Combaticon team includes four small toys, sold carded at the $5 price point, and one large leader toy, sold boxed for $12 or so and including all the combiner [[kibble]]. They were available as part of the 1986 and 1987 assortments. In most markets, the Combaticons were only sold as individuals; the combined [[giftset]] was only available in Japan and Italy.

:Like their counterparts, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], the four small Combaticons feature unique transformation schemes. All have attachable weapons for their vehicle modes. Posability varies from figure to figure; Brawl and Swindle have knee and "elbow" joints (their shoulder joints are halfway down their arms), but their legs are conjoined at the knees. Blast Off and Vortex feature an early use of [[ball joint]]s in their shoulders, giving them near-universal range of motion, but are otherwise similarly limited.

:Like the other three original Scramble City teams, the small limbs can attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s robot mode, while the leader can be used to make an additional ramp/platform for Metroplex or [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].

:All five Combaticons were later available as part of the [[Europe]]an ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line in 1991.

:The Combaticon molds have been frequently redecoed (and slightly retooled) over the years; they have been used to make ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Battle Gaia]], [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]], and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ruination. They are also a favorite for [[Knockoff|bootleg]] toy manufacturers to copy, sometimes sold with bizarre new names like [[Onslaught (G1)|Tugging Gun]], [[Swindle (G1)|Copter]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secpmdary]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Steel Generals]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secondary Brain]], [[Brawl (G1)|Panzer]], [[Vortex (G1)|Armament]], and [[Bruticus (G1)|Steel Hetman]].
{{--}}

===''Generation 2''===
*'''Combaticons''' (1993)
**Onslaught
**Brawl
**Blast Off
**Swindle
**Vortex

:A redeco of the Generation 1 molds that looks like they just went through a paintball war... and lost. They all combine and kick Superion's behind as the big, bad, battling Bruticus.

*'''Bruticus''' (Box set, 2012)
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Franks]] (deco artist)}}
[[File:Generationstoy-G2Bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"You all laughed when I wore these colors before.
WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!?"]]
: Bruticus is a G2-styled giftset [[exclusive]] to [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] and [[BigBadToyStore]], containing [[redeco]]es of the ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Combaticons in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' colors with G2-style Decepticon insignia. This may be considered a tie-in to Amazon's preorder bonus for the game: a "''Generation 2''"-themed skin for Bruticus.

{{--}}

===''Alternators''===
*'''Swindle''' (2004)

{{main|Swindle (G1)#Alternators}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
*'''Onslaught''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
*'''Onslaught''' (Ultra, 2008)

{{main|Onslaught (G1)#Universe (2008)}}

[[File:Universe-ROTF-toy BruticusMaximus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)

: The ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Combaticons are [[redeco]]s of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Destruction Team]]. In this incarnation, Swindle is a helicopter and Blast Off is a tank, while their combined form is known as Bruticus Maximus for [[trademark]] reasons. They were only available as a Bruticus Maximus multi-pack.

: The Combaticons are identical to the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]].
{{--}}

===''United''===
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2012)

:Released exclusively in Takara's Asian markets, this redeco of the ''Energon'' Bruticus Maximus set has colours similar to the previous ''Universe'' (2008)/''Revenge of the Fallen'' release, but with a much greater emphasis on G1-accuracy. Additionally, the hand/feet/weapons previously cast in translucent coloured plastic are now opaque grey.

===''Kre-O''===
*'''Decepticon Bruticus''' (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013)
**''Set number'': '''A2225'''

:One of the first ''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Micro-Changer]] combiner sets, Bruticus includes four [[Kreon]]s: [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. These four component Kreons can be rebuilt into their alternate modes or taken apart and combined into Bruticus. While he is not included in the set, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] was made available through the first wave of blind-bagged Micro-Changers and can be built onto Bruticus if you're feeling creative.

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:CWBruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Peace]] [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|at]] [[Bruticus (WFC)#Generations|last.]] [[Transformers Unite Warriors|(Just kidding.)]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Onslaught''' (Voyager Class, [[2016]])}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Brawl''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Swindle''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Vortex''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Shockwave''' (Legends Class, 2016)}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Designed in the "Scramble City" style, all four Deluxe Combaticons can each become either an arm or a leg, and come with double-barrelled guns that can transform into either a foot or a fist to complete the limb. The stock photography shows Blast Off and Vortex as arms and Swindle and Brawl as legs. Notably, he is the first 'classic' combiner in the [[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]] series to not have a 'replacement' member. Continuing the aforementioned theme, however, Blast Off is a jet (a redeco of [[Slingshot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]]) instead of a space shuttle or a tank. Shockwave transforms into the combiner robot's handheld weapon.

: Originally there were plans to have a running change in Onslaught's colors; initial shipments were to feature the Bruticus chest cast in silver for a Bruticus-accurate color scheme, while a tan Onslaught-accurate color scheme was also revealed. However, the tan variant never made it to retail.

:Like [[Defensor (G1)#Generations|Defensor]] before them, all four limbs were released in the same wave, making it much easier to complete a set.

{{-}}{{anchor|CWG2}}{{anchor|CombinerWarsG2}}
[[File:CW-toy Bruticus G2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|TASTE THE RAINBOW. TASTE IT!!!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Bruticus''' (Collection Pack, 2016)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Weapons/combiner extremities, Onslaught's two guns, Blast Off's gun, Vortex's gun, Brawl's barrel rifle, Swindle's gun

: The whole <s>metamorphin' Dudicus</s> big, bad, battlin' Bruticus team was redecoed in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' colors, packed with a sorta-generically ''Generation 2''-esque, vaguely-[[Action Master]]-version-ish deco'd version of [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Shockwave]]. However, despite being (broadly) accurate in their base colors, all of the Combaticons have Generation 1 insignias, while Shockwave comes with the movie version of the Decepticon faction symbol.

: There is no ''Generation 2''-colored version of the Space Shuttle Blast Off toy, sorry. You only get the jet.

: Weirdly, the ''backs'' of the antennae on Bruticus's head are painted silver, rather than the front where they'd be far more noticeable/make any amount of sense. On the other hand, the original ''Generation 2'' Bruticus had unpainted antennae, so hey.

: This version of the combiner was only sold as a complete team in a big box set, which also included a poster and a collector card based on the packaging art. This set was sold "exclusively" through multiple online outlets, though it eventually found its way to closeout retailers like TJ Maxx and Ross the following holiday season for well below its original price, alongside more or less all of the other "Collection Pack" semi-exclusives in the line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2016/Decepticon/CWG2Bruticus/bruticus.htm More information on Generation 2 ''Combiner Wars'' Bruticus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:Combiner-Wars-Special-Edition-Deluxe-Blast-Off.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Special Edition Deluxe, [[2018]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Blaster, gun/fist/foot, [[The Fallen/toys#SpecialEdition|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]]

:''Combiner Wars'' Special Edition Blast Off is a redeco of his [[#Unite Warriors 2|''Unite Warriors'' mold]], featuring a dark brown deco more accurate to his original toy (essentially, plastic colors almost identical to the original ''Combiner Wars'' jet figure), as well as Shuttler's reverse chest as compared to the ''Unite Warriors'' release. If desired, his torso can be disassembled and reassembled in the same configuration as the ''Unite Warriors'' release. As part of a trio of "Special Edition" toys celebrating the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'', he is packaged in a premium window box and includes a redeco of the [[The Fallen/toys#Generations|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]] (sans [[Bomb-Burst (G1)#Generations|Bomb-Burst]] decoy suit) cast in translucent red plastic.

:Blast Off was first publicly revealed via preorder listings on Amazon and several Asia-based toy retailers without prior announcement from Hasbro.
{{-}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TF-UW07-Bruticus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Combatron Combined Soldier Bruticus''' (giftset, [[June 25]], [[2016]])
**''ID number:'' '''UW-07'''
**''English name:'' '''Decepticon Combaticons Combiner Bruticus'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] (TakaraTomy)}}

:The ''Unite Warriors'' release of the set includes a cartoon-accurate color scheme, and a new Blast Off mold.
{{-}}

===''Age Of The Primes''===
[[File:AOTP-Vortex-Stock.jpg|upright=1.75|thumb|Age Of The Primes Vortex]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''1 of 5: [[Vortex_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Vortex]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2025]])}}
{{Bp-d1|''' [[Blast_Off_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Blast Off]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''[[Onslaught_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Onslaught]]'''
(Commander Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''[[Brawl_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Brawl]]'''
(Voyager Class, [[2026]])}}
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Updated renditions of the Combaticons were released in the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' toyline, marking the most animation-accurate represention of the characters to date. Their combined form, [[Bruticus (G1)#Age of the Primes|Bruticus]], employs a similar limb combination method to that of ''Age Of The Primes'' [[Superion (G1)#Age of the Primes|Superion]] and ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' [[Menasor (G1)#Legacy|Menasor]].
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers Character Card''===
[[File:Transformers Character Card Bruticus and Defensor.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb]]
*'''Guardian & Bruticus Set''' ([[December]], [[2023]])
**''ID number:'' '''71 & 72'''

:Released as part of the tenth wave of the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive ''[[Transformers Character Card]]'' series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of "[[Defensor (G1)|Guardian]]" (with his components [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]) and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (with ''his'' components [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]) along with [[bio|character profiles]] and [[Tech Spec|tech specs]].
::*''[[Source:Transformers Character Card#71|Translation of Defensor's Transformers Character Card]]''

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1OddCombat.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Floro Dery does odd things.]]
*The Generation 1 cartoon [[character model]]s for the Combaticons look ''very'' little like their toys, much like the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. This would seem to have spawned from [[:File:G1-Combaticon-early-patent-sketches.jpg|early patent drafts]] that featured the ''bare'' minimum of details, which were then used as the basis for the early, non-final Combaticon models (pictured at right). From there, the models were revised to the point where the finished character designs and toys had very little in common. Unlike the Stunticons, however; the finished Combaticon models ''do'' replace the original head designs with toy-accurate ones, which were likely based on the figures' [[package art]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Combatron''' (コンバットロン ''Konbattoron''), '''Combaticon''' (コンバッティコン ''Konbattikon'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhàn Chē Duì''' (China, 战车队, "Combat Vehicles Team")
*''French:'' '''Combatican''' (Europe, "Combaticon")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Csatarobot''' ("Battle-robot")
*''Italian:'' '''Combacticon'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Combatantes'''
*''Russian:'' '''Boevikon''' (Боевикон, "Thrillercon")

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Combaticons| Combaticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) subgroups]]
[[Category:Kre-O subgroups]]
[[Category:Transformers Character Card Decepticons]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors subgroups]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

Combaticon (G1)

2025-08-17T21:53:23Z

Kickassatron: /* Energon Universe */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Combaticon}}
:''The Combaticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:TVMGuideCombaticons.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|The Dirty Half-Dozen Minus One—from left to right Swindle, Vortex, Onslaught, Blast Off and Brawl.]]
The '''Combaticons''' are a unit of fierce Decepticon soldiers, operating with (mostly) military precision under the watchful eye of the tactically brilliant Onslaught. They sometimes operate out of [[Combaticons' headquarters|their own headquarters]].

The Combaticons consist of:
*The tactician [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (leader)
*The violent [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*The egotistical [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*The con man [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*The unhinged [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

They combine to form the highly powerful, but extremely stupid [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].

{{quote|We aim to maim!|Brawl tells us the basic gist of the team|"[[Spotlight: Arcee]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Starscreams brigade 5 letsgo.jpg|upright=2.0|thumb|Dad's Army]]
When [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] was banished from the Decepticons for Yet Another Failed Coup Against [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], he was deposited on the island of [[Guadalcanal]], the site of one of the major battles between the [[United States of America]] and [[Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[World War II]]. There he found and rebuilt several abandoned US military vehicles to pass the time. After he finished, he decided that if Megatron can have a Decepticon army, then so can he!

After bluffing his way past [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to use the [[space bridge]], he travelled to a [[Decepticon Detention Center|detention center]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and liberated the [[personality component]]s of several [[Renegade Decepticon|Decepticon political prisoners]] before destroying the rest. Back on [[Earth]], Starscream installed the components into the rusting military vehicles and ordered them to transform.

The reborn Combaticons were less than pleased with their "new," primitive bodies, nor were they particularly thankful to Starscream for freeing them after millions of years of imprisonment. That is, until the former Decepticon Air Commander revealed that he had neglected to install [[energy absorber]] units into their bodies, so they would have no way of refueling. As he was the only one with the knowledge and expertise to install them, he demanded their allegiance in his aim to overthrow Megatron. The Combaticons agreed to obey Starscream, for now.

[[File:Combaticons group.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Swindle suddenly becomes a fervent opponent of [[scale]].]]
Under Starscream's leadership, the Combaticons managed to capture several prisoners, then used their energy absorbers to recharge themselves at a power plant. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked, while the Autobots rescued their comrades. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who was quickly defeated by the Combaticons' much more powerful, but dull-witted combined form, Bruticus. Starscream ordered Bruticus to grab Megatron, forcing his former commander to acknowledge Starscream as the new leader of the Decepticons. Under duress, Megatron did so as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] watched nearby. The latter group, deciding that Starscream would be too dangerous as a leader, quickly formed [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and defeated Bruticus with a single attack. Starscream and the Combaticons were banished from Earth on a small asteroid, left to wallow in their own misery and blame each other for their failures. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

Starscream and the Combaticons quickly had a falling-out. After Starscream left, the Combaticons attacked Cybertron, easily defeating [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his [[Sentinel (G1)|drones]]. Thirsting for revenge, Onslaught reprogrammed the space bridge to pull Earth closer to the [[Sun]], in the hopes of destroying it and every Transformer there. The Autobots and Decepticons temporarily joined forces to retake Cybertron and prevent Earth's destruction, and with Starscream's help, they deactivated the Combaticons once they formed Bruticus through a failsafe device built into the treacherous giant's back. Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that Bruticus must be destroyed, but the Decepticon leader fooled the Autobots by using Shockwave's [[holographic projector]] to make it appear as though Bruticus was destroyed, when in reality the combiner was reprogrammed to be loyal only to Megatron. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[File:BOT-Road.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Uh, boss, why are Blast Off and I on the-" "DON'T QUESTION MY BRILLIANT PLAN, VORTEX!"]]
Soon afterwards, during Megatron's latest scheme on Earth involving the theft of fighter aircraft using Middle-Eastern criminals, the Combaticons were called into service to defend Megatron's [[Giant Purple Griffin]], a large... thing that apparently pumped [[oil]]. Or something. Struggling against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Combaticons formed Bruticus, yet were still knocked over when the Aerialbots twisted a tow cable around his legs. The Decepticon combiner was finally defeated when the Aerialbots ignited the nearby oil wells, causing a massive explosion that sent Megatron, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], Bruticus and gas prices flying away. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

While attacking a human city, Bruticus was destroyed in battle with [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (man, this guy can't seem to catch a break). Only Swindle survived, and he sold the remains of his comrades to various mercenaries and [[El Presidente|third-world dictator-types]], only to be forced to locate and rebuild the Combaticons by Megatron. The reformed Bruticus was then defeated when Megatron's disruptor cannon was overloaded by the human-built [[B.O.T. (G1)|B.O.T.]], once again sending the Decepticon flying into the sky. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[File:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Not often you can get a view of the whole team AND their combined form in a single screencap.]]
After the great battle at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Swindle was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with the [[Quintesson]]s; {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} the Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on the Autobots on [[Goo Number 8739-B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

A lone Blast Off later attacked a [[Skuxxoid]] who was using [[death crystal]]s to blow stuff up in Decepticon territory, and forced the alien to tell him where he got the ammunition. When a group of Autobots tried to find the crystals as well, Blast Off attacked them alongside [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} The Combaticons later failed to assassinate Decepticon exile [[Octane]] at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} then succeeded in shooting up a shuttle meant to take human delegates to an interstellar peace conference. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a Decepticon attack on the [[Netherlands]], Swindle infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and stole his [[transformation cog]], whilst Vortex was charged with guarding [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} The Combaticons later participated in the assault on [[Paradron]], where they guarded the imprisoned Paradronians, among other things. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} When the Earth was infected by the [[Hate Plague]], the Combaticons (Bruticus) were among those infected. Brawl was seen driving along the road and infecting [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] who, in turn, infected [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] while Vortex attacked a civilian plane on a runway. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

Under [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s directions, the Combaticons constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. Once Scorponok and Fortress Maximus began to fight the Combaticons ran away. They presumably left Cybertron with Galvatron in Scorponok {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}
====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====Scramble City=====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were attacked by the Aerialbots and did not fare too well. The Combaticons arrived to help, and together Bruticus and Menasor easily overpowered Superion. However, Scramble City itself soon arrived and blasted both combiners away. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
The Combaticons participated in an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} until [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] arrived and drove them away. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shortly afterwards, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] set out to find the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bring it to Optimus Prime, and the Combaticons were among the troops sent out to stop him. They were ambushed by the Protectobots, and defeated when Defensor buried Bruticus in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Not long after that, the Combaticons defended [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] against [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]]'s attempted infiltration, but failed when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived and distracted them. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[File:UltraMagnusDies Combaticons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"All six Combaticons present and accou... Wait! Why are [[Snapdragon (G1)|YOU]] with us?"]]
The Combaticons were later part of ''another'' attack on Cybertron, during which they killed plenty of [[Generic|soldiers]] before getting into another fight with Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They lost. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} When the Decepticons planted a giant carnivorous plant in [[San Francisco]], the Combaticons and Stunticons were ordered to with attack any Autobots who arrived to kill it. When the Aerialbots and [[Trainbot]]s did just that, Bruticus got into an energy-sword fight with [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Sixshot later sent the Combaticons, [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon (G1)|Horrorcons]] to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Florida|Miami]], in order to lure Autobot troops away from [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

The Combaticons were present when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] held a speech about Galvatron's recent death and took control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} Bruticus was later part of a small group of Decepticons who tried to lead Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} He then stood by and laughed as [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] sank the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' in the Atlantic Ocean, before being stationed at one of Scorponok's [[Death Tower]]s in Canberra, [[Australia]]. He defended the tower against Defensor until it activated, at which point [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] ordered him to withdraw. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}

Bruticus participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the North Pole, and fought [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] alongside [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. As Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart, Bruticus retreated into the atmosphere to watch the results alongside the rest of the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

=====''Zone'' OVA, manga, and story pages=====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violengiguar]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Combaticons were of those summoned, but only in the form of Bruticus. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

====''TV Magazine'' comic continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
[[File:FSRLmanga08-title.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

Bruticus arrived to help the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] fight [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] at a baseball stadium in [[Japan]]. He quickly defeated Defensor, injuring [[Hot Spot (G1)|his torso]] and preventing him from combining. In response, Superion disabled Brawl and Swindle using his [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], allowing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] to steal their places as Bruticus's legs. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus as [[Kenji]] cheered at them to drop the Combaticons into the sea. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}} Onslaught later joined the Stunticons in a scheme to defame the Autobots by destroying factories around Japan whilst wearing Autobot [[insignia]]s. When confronted by the real Autobots, he "combined" with fellow [[Decepticon Trailer Corps]] member [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], but they were defeated and sent packing by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

The Combaticons' next mission was to hunt down [[Battle Dog|an escaped dog]] that Megatron had experimented on, imbuing it with powerful energy. Brawl managed to fatally injure the animal, much to Onslaught's annoyance as they were supposed to capture it alive. The Autobot [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] soon arrived to put a halt to their activities, and the dog expressed its gratitude by using its powers to energize Powerglide with [[Scramble Power]]. As Powerglide used the power to combine with his fellow [[Mini-Vehicle|Minibots]], the Combaticons responded by forming Bruticus. He proved weaker than this new [[Minibot combiner]], however, as it used the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack" to drill straight through Bruticus' chest, defeating him.

The dog still died, though. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''=====
The Combaticons emerged as Bruticus alongside the other Decepticon super-warriors, ready to storm the Autobot energy tower on the planet [[Feminia]]. Galvatron and his men laughed off the presence of Superion, Defensor and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]... but the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]]? Carrying a length of thread?! Oh, the horror. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

=====''The Great Transformer War''=====
The Combaticons and Stunticons were working out of Trypticon where the kidnapped scientist Doctor [[Dalton]] was being forced to work for Galvatron's evil ends. When the Aerialbots and Protectobots arrived to save the scientist, Onslaught and Motormaster combined with Trypticon in their deployment launcher modes. Hurtling their fellow Decepticons at Superion did such damage that the Aerialbots were forced to disassemble. Somehow, however, the remaining Protectobots managed to hold off both Bruticus and Menasor long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to repair the Aerialbots, and for [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] to sneak past the Decepticons and retrieve Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

=====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic=====
Brawl and Blast Off participated in an attack on [[Athenia]] by forming the right limbs of [[Scramble 7]], a Decepticon combiner using various combiner team members in a supposedly "ideal" configuration. Despite being so great, however, Scramble 7 was defeated by [[Ginrai (human)|Super Ginrai]], [[Lightfoot (G1)|Lightfoot]], and [[Ranger]] thanks to their use of [[Chōkon Power]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Buster combaticons second generation.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
''The Combaticons and their fellow [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[File:Onslaught afterdeath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
On their first mission on Earth, the Combaticons followed [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] to retrieve the human [[hydrothermocline]] plant. When they arrived, they faced Optimus Prime and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] waiting for them. The Combaticons formed Bruticus and stared down [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] when a nearby human named [[Ethan Zachary]] suggested that they play a [[Multi-World|video game]] over the plant instead. Optimus Prime and Megatron both agreed, and the Combaticons were sent into the game to attack the Protectobots. However, they lost every battle due to not taking the "wildlife" AI into account. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} ''These events were observed by the [[time travel]]ling [[Dicet Alpha-zero]].'' {{storylink|The Quest!}} After this, the Combaticons didn't do much but follow Megatron around, even when their mentally unstable leader heavily damaged Brawl for mouthing off. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

''Later, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] led the Combaticons to kill [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]—and co-incidentally [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]—while they were trapped in the cooled lava flow of [[Mount Verona]]. After making short work of the human military encamped on the site, the Combaticons set up explosive charges around the volcano to obliterate the entire area but their operation was met with resistance thanks to [[Cindy Newell|three]] [[Susan Hoffman|human]] [[Joy Meadows|women]], as well as [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s. When the Combaticons retreated to detonate their explosives, their remote signal was jammed by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]].'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} ''In response to that humiliation,'' the Combaticons would later attack the [[Throttlebot]]s in a used car lot, only for the Protectobots and Blaster to interfere and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Shortly afterwards, the group decided to ambush the Protectobots on their way to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. This time, Bruticus claimed victory over Defensor by hitting him with a train, but was soon tricked and broken into his component parts by Blaster. After this, Blaster took control of Blast Off and flew into space, separating the shuttle from the other Combaticons. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Along with most of the Decepticon army, the Combaticons later ambushed the Autobots on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], only to be beaten back by Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

''At some point thereafter, the Combaticons worked with [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] under the command of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to steal a backup of the [[floppy disk]] containing Optimus Prime's personality.'' {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Totalwar-combaticons.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Grrrrrr... feisty!]]
After Bludgeon's defeat, Swindle took the returning Decepticon leader Megatron on a tour of the [[Warworld]] battleship he had inherited. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Soon after, Brawl and Blast Off were among the Decepticons preparing to charge into battle against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}} Vortex was seen with various other Decepticons attacking the [[Ethos raiding party|Cybertronians]] on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} As the alliance progressed, Onslaught was struck by empathic pains as his apparent spawn [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

During the final battle at [[Earth]], all the Combaticons later attempted to defend the Warworld against a Cybertronian boarding party led by the treacherous Starscream. Despite Onslaught's emphatic orders of "maximum firepower", they didn't do so well. {{storylink|Total War!}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|Transformers in Action: He Who Laughs Last ...}}}}

===Young Corgi continuity===
[[File:BBTI-Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right]]
When the fleshlings discovered a mysterious lost civilization buried underneath the ice, the Combaticons Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off joined [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in seeking whatever treasures the hidden city might have. They were confronted by the Aerialbots named [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]], and fought on the surface over the city. Little did they know that the [[city-dweller]]s were robots themselves, remotely storing and copying images of the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, imprinting themselves with the skills of warfare. They were only stopped by the unlikely duo of Ravage and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. After the city-dwellers were defeated, the Autobots granted safe passage to their one-time Decepticon allies. Blast Off expanded to his maximum size to transport his fellow 'Cons back to Decepticon headquarters. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
The five soldiers who would one day become the Combaticons were early participants in the Decepticons' war effort. While Onslaught and the others joined Shockwave in attacking [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and the [[High Council Pavilions]] being protected by the Autobots, Swindle chose to throw in with Starscream, helping him to disable [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and assume temporary control over Megatron's planetary juggernaut project. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

At some later date, these five warriors were officially brought together as a combiner team, given the ability to form Bruticus. Like the other Combiners, they were banned from operating together on any given faction during the Dark Ages, by decree of the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] to prevent any more devastation to the planet at the hands of the super-robot combiners.{{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} The Combaticons were still authorized to operate individually and separately among the various Decepticon factions. Given his previous efforts helping [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and the [[Battlecharger]]s with Starscream's coup, Swindle may have joined them as a member of the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]], although this was never stated. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[File:Onslaught G1DW routeofallevil.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|"YOOOOOO CON!"]]
By the modern era, the Combaticons had been declared war criminals by the united Cybertronian government under Shockwave and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The details of their crimes and why they were singled-out for imprisonment is unclear—Shockwave may have been intentionally eliminating [[Ratbat (G1)|potential rivals]] or [[Stunticon (G1)|loose cannons]], or may simply have allowed their imprisonment as a token showing of cooperation with the Autobot High Council. Once the Transformers from Earth were contacted, and uprisings began taking place on Cybertron, Starscream managed to worm his way into the [[Detention Banks]] and recover the five stasis pods containing the Combaticons. He loaded them onto his stolen transport and brought them back to Earth with him and the rest of his hand-picked crew. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

On Earth, Starscream reactivated the Combaticons as his personal "brigade", scanning Earth military vehicles for their alternate modes. Using the Combaticons as shock troops, he made a two-staged assault on the Ark, and successfully took five of the seven remaining Autobots off-line. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Starscream and Bruticus' efforts to complete their set were interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], Starscream's crazed clone-brother, and Bruticus was damaged in the melee. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After the battle with Sunstorm, Starscream attempted to train the Combaticons into better military shape, using the Autobot prisoner [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as a "tackling dummy". His training efforts were interrupted by the return of Megatron and his combiner team, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Even as Bruticus, the Combaticons quickly fell before the might of [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
The Combaticons were among the Decepticons under control of "the Son of Megatron", [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]]. Onslaught tried to protect his leader from a vengeful Optimus Prime while Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off were seen fighting against a combined Autobot-[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] army. Swindle, however, was nowhere to be found. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:SpotlightArcee AimToMaim.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|]]
Early in the [[Great War (G1)|war]], Brawl and Onslaught were part of an armored division led by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. They participated in the defense of the [[Citadel (building)|Citadel]] but were overwhelmed by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]]. {{storylink|Endgame}} When [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] was overthrown by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], the Combaticons were among the Decepticons who refused to their new leader and left Cybertron to do their own thing. While breaking into an armory at the [[Presidium (planet)|Presidium]], they were approached by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] and offered ample payment for their return to the frontlines. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} They accepted, and Onslaught and Brawl were later seen participating in Megatron's attack on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

During the war [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] became one of the worst violators of the [[Tyrest Accord]], constantly selling Transformers technology to alien races, and had gone AWOL from the Decepticons, hunted by both sides of the war. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The other four remained Combaticons, and were a dangerous tactical unit capable of taking on and beating superior numbers (even ones backed up by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|total loonies]]). Under orders from [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], they successfully raided the [[Garrus-9]] Autobot prison and abducted [[Pretender Monster|the six newest inmates]], the gestalt Transformers, despite taking some damage from a high threat convict, Arcee, who was released to stop them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} Soon afterwards, the Combaticons were among the only survivors of an attack by the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, who activated the gestalt combined form, [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], inside Banzaitron's base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron; the Combaticons, remaining [[Decepticon Secret Service|DSS]] members and the crazed Autobot fought Monstructor on [[Rotan]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, the Combaticons were among the Decepticons left behind on Earth. Swindle joined up with a small band of roaming Decepticons, {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} while Onslaught was one of many Transformers captured by [[Skywatch]] using their reverse-engineered energon and Cybertronian technology. He and several other Decepticons were rescued from Skywatch custody by Swindle's team, who removed the mode-locks placed on them by Skywatch's restraint tech. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} After Swindle failed to take advantage of some rebellious Autobots in an attempt to get off Earth, he disappeared. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

[[File:RanksOfBronze CombaticonsRelax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|The Relaxicons.]]
Fleeing to [[North Korea]], Swindle made a deal with [[Kim Jong Du]], the leader of the nation, offering him the Combaticons as an invasion force in exchange for energon. He left when he got the energy he needed, but the other Combaticons remained. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} Soon enough, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex were invading [[South Korea]] for their employer (Blast Off's whereabouts were unknown: Skywatch noted that the Koreans had enough energon for five Transformers, but he might just have left Earth on his own). {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|"The Land Ironclads"}} They ended up in a brawl with both the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] (allied with [[China]]), but were ultimately defeated. Luckily for them, the Autobots didn't have the resources at hand to take them captive. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|"All My Sins Remembered"}}

Brawl later tried to kill [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] on Swindle's behalf, but failed and was captured by the Autobots. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Swindle himself was taken in shortly afterwards when his latest scheme failed. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} The captured Combaticons, and likely the others as well, ended up being forced to work for the Autobots on a restored Cybertron once the war was declared over. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} The Decepticons felt oppressed under a provisional government of Autobots, Non-Aligned Cybertronians, and Starscream. Starscream approached Onslaught to buy the Combaticons' services as he made his play for Iacon's leadership. In exchange for protecting him from those like the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] or unruly bots, Starscream would allow the group a position of power when the time came. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

Blast Off and Brawl were among those brought by Starscream to pressure Prowl into revealing one of his secret discoveries below ground. Later underground, they witnessed a Titan declare that Starscream was the Cybertronian destined to unite their whole race. They and the other Cybertronians celebrated afterwards with Starscream. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} Later, most of the Combaticons were involved in the rioting that began when Megatron returned, although Swindle, along with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], offered their testimony on Prowl's murder of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. {{storylink|City on Fire}} {{storylink|The Verge}} Some time later, when Starscream successfully became the ruler of Iacon, he reneged on his deal with Onslaught, who was furious over the betrayal. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

After Megatron's defection to the Autobots, [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] took command of the Decepticons and led a contingent back to Earth, which included Brawl, where they formed an alliance with the [[Earth Defense Command]] against the Autobots. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World}} Back on Cybertron, with Metroplex's installation as Cybertron's new capital, Onslaught and many other disgruntled Decepticons chose to live in slums outside the city instead. When they caught Optimus Prime making his way through their territory, many of them formed a mob and attacked him. {{storylink|City of Steel (issue)|City of Steel}} Blast Off joined the riot for Metroplex's space bridge under Swindle's claims that a better life was possible on [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} Swindle himself would be blasted in the back by Starscream in order to keep him from revealing his role in the attack on Caminus, and apparently expired. {{storylink|All That Remains}}

[[File:ChooseMe OnslaughtGrenade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"Where's the pin?" "What pin?" ''*BOOM*'']]
Onslaught later skulked by as a group of Camiens were passing out fliers regarding Optimus Prime's divinity in the district. Brawl returned from Earth at this time to help rally the Decepticons for Galvatron's campaign. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} The Combaticons soon reunited and stewed over Starscream's leadership. Upon throwing an energon canister at a viewscreen promoting Starscream's success in uniting some of the lost colonies, Onslaught declared that they wouldn't let Starscream forget the past, not without having to go through them first. They sprayed "SWINDLE LIVES" on a wall {{storylink|The Will of the Few}} thanks to Onslaught being informed by an anonymous informant, "[[Rattrap (BW)|DC-357]]", that Swindle was alive and had damaging info on Starscream. {{storylink|07:00:00}} Brawl, Blast Off, and Vortex got Onslaught a new grenade in light if the newly declared "Chosen One Day". {{storylink|Choose Me}}

Brawl rejoined [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] to prepare for Galvatron's conquest of Earth. Brawl and Needlenose led a team of Decepticons, including Onslaught, to the Space Bridge nexus, where they transported aboard the ''[[Ark-7]]'' to overpower the Autobots in Earth orbit. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}} Brawl, Onslaught and the Decepticons engaged Arcee, [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Alpha Trion]] before the ship crashed into Shanghai, China. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} The Earth Defense Command's "mindbomb" felled several of the Decepticons within the first minute of the battle. After the Chinese Mecha Force began tearing through the Decepticons, Brawl was taken through the space bridge by Ironhide, but began fighting his way through the Autobots in a panic and reignited the fight at the other end. Barely surviving an attack by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], he and several Decepticons were able to slip away. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}}

Onslaught continued to search the underbelly of Cybertron for the missing Swindle, and as the [[Badgeless]] began to brutalise Decepticons for information, he became sure DC-357 was onto something. However, the other Combaticons, particularly Blast Off, became worried he was too focused on finding Swindle, costing them paying jobs. The idea of dropping the search made Onslaught storm off in a huff, failing to notice a new message from DC-357. Blast Off did catch it, however, and soon he donned a Badgeless disguise, joined a patrol, and as soon as he got a chance he shot a Decepticon dead and sent footage of it to the press. {{storylink|07:00:00}} With riots breaking out, Vortex and Brawl were eager to join in, but Onslaught held them back until Blast Off returned. Onslaught suspected the situation was orchestrated by Starscream so that the colonists would be made to turn against their cause, until Blast Off admitted to doing the killing by following DC-357's suggestion to provoke an uprising. Onslaught hit upon a sneaky plan: he started a large protest that marched on Starscream to shake the tree and see what happened, and when what happened was Ironhide was made head of the cops and opened them up to anyone who wanted. Onslaught then started a fight so that Blast Off could 'stop him' and 'denounce' his plans, thus getting into the police as someone Ironhide would trust. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

[[File:TheLineBetweenUs CombaticonsAntespace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0|Blast Off's the designated driver.]]
Blast Off was able to use his position to eventually uncover surveillance footage of [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] taking Swindle. While Onslaught took Brawl and went to Rattrap's, Blast Off and Vortex barged into Wheeljack's home, and ultimately threatened to kill [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] unless Wheeljack talked. Wheeljack admitted that he and Rattrap had tried to save Swindle, but he was currently brain dead. Onslaught was unperturbed by Swindle's condition, and forced Rattrap to retrieve the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} Onslaught used the Enigma on himself and his team, forming [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], hoping that he might be able to access the dirt Swindle had on Starscream. As Bruticus rampaged through Iacon, within the combiner's psyche, Vortex reveled in the power that they wielded as Bruticus, Brawl was wallowing in pain after feeling Swindle's death, and Blast Off struggled to keep them all together. Eventually Onslaught found what he was looking for, and he, Brawl and Vortex began reveling in their path of destruction despite Blast Off's protests. Though [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] tried to appeal to the Combaticon combiner to help her take down Starscream with their evidence, it was to no avail. Eventually Ironhide was forced to fire a rocket at Bruticus' head, and the shock forced the Combaticons to disconnect. Windblade frantically tried to get the Combaticons to wake up to share what they had learned, but failed. {{storylink|The Line Between Us}}

The Combaticons were imprisoned and awaiting trial, though Ironhide was reluctant to prosecute them if their mental scarring proved too great. {{storylink|Ping}} They were still comatose when Starscream told the [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukarian]] [[Mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]] to turn them to his side as one of his combiners. Though the Combaticons minds had imprinted on each other during their combination, making them susceptible to the process, one of the Combaticons was required to be aware of the deception in order to cover any holes in their story should the others get suspicious. Blast Off was chosen and bribed into accepting the deal after Starscream reminded him that Onslaught would never let the past go or ever take any real interest in him. As a result, the others Combaticons were made to believe that Onslaught's original deal with Starscream had worked out, with them having been his secret and loyal bodyguards, and that their forming of Bruticus had been a last-ditch attempt to save Swindle's life with Starscream's approval. Starscream informed Ironhide that Airachnid would be testifying that the Combaticons had not been responsible for their actions as Bruticus. {{storylink|The Price of You}} Soon the Combaticons "resumed" their work of protecting Starscream, and Onslaught and Blast Off arranged a date. Shortly afterwards, Swindle was restored, with his memories manipulated as well. {{storylink|If I Know You}}

[[File:TheChosenOne CombaticonsImprisoned.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|They finally get Swindle back, then kick Blast Off out.]]
The Combaticons later provided security for the ceremony to welcome Earth into the Council of Worlds. When [[Iron Ring|a group of human assailants]] attacked, the Combaticons mobilized to fight back and evacuate Starscream. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}}

Onslaught and Vortex later ushered Circuit and Longtooth out of the Council chambers during Windblade's official return to her post, with Vortex daring the two reporters to resist. When Windblade invited people to speak with her one-on-one during her campaign to become the new leader of Cybertron, Brawl was an unexpected supporter of her war-free vision. Vortex and Blast Off later stood guard outside Starscream's office as Windblade confronted Starscream, and Blast Off was disturbed at Vortex's ideas for what they were doing. During the final debate, Starscream revealed all of his crimes to the public, including the manipulation of the Combaticons. As a result, all of the Combaticons were imprisoned for their rampage as Bruticus, and Blast Off was ostracized by the others for his role in their manipulation. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

===''Wings Universe''===
{{Wingsnote}}
[[File:EliteGuardCombaticons TheComingStorm2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1| DUM DUM DUUUUUUM!]]
The Combaticons were an [[Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}} After they ended up getting captured by [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], the silver-tongued Decepticon manipulated the Combaticons to join him so they could prove their superiority over the rest of the Elite Guard. In return, he modified them so they could combine into Bruticus. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 4}}

They attacked Elite Guard HQ, using their new combined form {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 5}} and managed to slaughter most of the Elite Guard defenders, until [[Dion (G1)|Dion]] injured the giant, forcing them to separate. They departed the scene, assuming everyone to be dead. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 6}} Returning to Deathsaurus's base, they underwent repairs, though they were startled to learn that Deathsaurus could control their merging remotely. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} As the remnants of the Elite Guard tried to attack the base, the Combaticons joined the other Decepticons in defending it. However, as they tried to merge into Bruticus, they were blasted by some new arrivals {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 3}} who were, it turned out, even more survivors of the massacre. Blast Off was captured and bound by [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]], meaning the Combaticons were unable to form Bruticus for the rest of the battle. After Deathsaurus called a retreat, the team was slow to comply, and as a result were captured by the Elite Guard. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 4}}

In the hands of the compromised [[Gyronian Sentry|Gyronian Sentry Team]], the Combaticons were whisked away to Deathsaurus's fortress, now under Megatron's control. Though Megatron gave them the option, none of them cared to help Deathsaurus, and they were imprisoned and their personality components subsequently interred in the Decepticon Detention Center. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
[[File:Kre-O Combaticons.jpg|thumb]]

Summoned by [[Starscream (Kre-O)|Starscream]] to act as his elite squad (whose first mission, of course, was to overthrow [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]), Onslaught, Brawl, Swindle, and a repainted Vortex rolled onto the scene. After they all declared their specialties, Onslaught, Brawl, and Swindle were irritated when Vortex offered to stay behind and guard the base. Even though the Combaticons combined into Bruticus, Vortex's constant worry for the base's safety compelled the team to withdraw. When Starscream, under imminent threat of a beating from Megatron, contacted the team to demand to know where they were, the Combaticons happily informed their illustrious leader they were all protecting the base together. Aww. {{Storylink|New Military Unit Combaticon! Bruticus, Combine!}}

Swindle was able to steal [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[transformation cog]], but his looking forward to being rewarded was interrupted when the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] tracked him down to take back his loot. The Combaticons combined to form Bruticus, but were defeated by the Protectobots' own combined form, [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and taken back to the Autobot base to have his injuries treated by the gentle [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]. {{storylink|Bad at Fighting? Rescue Team Protectobots, Dispatch!}}
{{-}}
===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===

[[Swindle (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Swindle]] was following [[Megatron (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Megatron]] before the Decepticon movement even existed, and was one of few Decepticons to survive every second of the Great War. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

The Combaticons fought multiple tours together. On the first one, [[Blast Off (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Blast Off]] changed his Cybertronian spaceship mode into an Earth-styled space shuttle. It's likely that this was when the other Combaticons changed their alternate modes as well. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

[[Onslaught (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Onslaught]] was the team's commander, and had shaped it into a nearly unstoppable strike force. He had high expectations for them, putting exacting precision in both his planning and orders. {{storylink|Onslaught (G1)#Combiner Wars|Onslaught's bio}}

[[Soundwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Soundwave]] remarked that [[Vortex (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Vortex]] was unique in that he had no preferred form, being equally comfortable in helicopter and robot modes, and an effective interrogator in both. In the former he liked to pick up victims magnetically in order to scare them into spilling their secrets, and in the latter his rotors were an effective threat... but he could also weasel information out of fellow Decepticons with his charming, disarming personality. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}

[[Brawl (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Brawl]] was often needled and frustrated by his fellow Combaticons in order to make better use of his focused battlefield fury. He often needed to be told important information multiple times, but he ''was'' learning from Onslaught. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

Swindle had a real reputation for being the most famous con-man on Cybertron, to the point where the Combaticons only get along with him because they knew better than to trust him with ''anything''. He also had a bad habit of trading Cybertronian technology with other species, which put him on the wrong side of the [[Tyrest Accord]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Ultra Magnus]]. As a result, he stuck close to his teammates. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

[[Bruticus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Bruticus]] as a combined form was created by [[Shockwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Shockwave]] for the express purpose of pummeling Autobots. {{storylink|Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Decepticon Shockwave's bio}}

Blast Off's preferred fighting style from a distance left him isolated, easy to capture and imprison on Cybertron so the Autobots could take Bruticus out of the picture.

He was eventually reunited with the rest of the team. Onslaught subsequently mandated that he switch his alternate mode once again in order to stay close, so - much to Blast Off's anger - he reformatted into a fighter jet. Onslaught welcomed this new temperment because he considered his subordinate to be a more effective soldier afterwards. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}} He was equally happy blasting Autobots from space as he was planet-side, so this anger was likely a form of [[mode attachment]]. {{storylink|Blast Off (G1)#PWTSE|''Special Edition'' Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

The Combaticons were posted on Cybertron during the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:ConstructiconsRisingPart4 Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Swindle? He's busy running [[Swindle's|his casino]]. Who needs him?]]
During the interwar period between the [[War of the Threefold Spark]] and the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Combaticons; Onslaught, Blast Off, Vortex and Brawl; were agents of [[The Rise]] under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s command. After the devastation of [[Mayalx]], the Combaticons were sent to the colony to collect a bounty of [[energon cube]]s. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 4}}

When [[Exarchon]] returned, the Combaticons were summoned to Shockwave's bunker to meet with the ancient warlord. Though Blast Off had rocketed away after receiving a message, the other three pledged their loyalty to the Threefold Spark. {{storylink|War's End Part One}} No sooner had they arrived to reinforce him at his fortress in the [[Sonic Canyons]] did the Decepticons arrive and the Combaticons engaged them with the help of Exarchon's swarm of [[Skywarp drone]]s. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} The [[Companion]]s showed up to try and stop Exarchon only for all hostiles to retreat when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] arrived. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}} When the Autobots and Decepticons returned for a united attack, the Combaticons rushed to Exarchon's defense only for the Threefold Spark to ultimately be trapped and destroyed. In the aftermath, Onslaught, Vortex and Brawl surrendered and were taken into Decepticon custody. {{storylink|War's End Part Four}}

Having been invited to join him on the damaged [[Winged Moon]] by [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], Blast Off helped his friend repair the satellite, managing to get the lights on by the time the Autobots arrived to seek refuge. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 9 – The Combaticons Corner Elita One.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right]]
Stationed in [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's fortress]], {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}} the Combaticons pursued [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] when she tried to rescue Ultra Magnus. After gunning down Vortex, Elita managed to flee with Magnus through a [[space bridge]] to Earth. Giving chase, Onslaught ordered the Combaticons to combine only for Elita to damage the space bridge, resulting in Brawl being bisected at the waist and him and Onslaught being cut off from the other Combaticons as the portal shut down. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 9|Transformers #9}}

Dragging Brawl out of the way, Onslaught largely kept to himself as he waited for repairs to be effected to the space bridge. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}}

After the space bridge was repaired, Shockwave briefly returned to Cybertron, being greeted by Vortex, Blast Off and Swindle. Shockwave quickly brushed aside their concerns and ordered them to battle stations in anticipation of the fortress' high energon signature attracting Autobot rebels. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}}

Standing guard at the space bridge, the Combaticons were at ground zero when [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was kicked through. After Shockwave returned, he ordered the three to dispose of Cliffjumper before Optimus Prime arrived. Finding themselves outmatched by the Autobot leader, the Combaticons quickly fled the area. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}}

After Optimus Prime had severed the space bridge link between Cybertron and Earth, a chunk of Cybertron broke off and landed in Earth's oceans, causing a tidal wave. Caught up in the event, Onslaught and Brawl were rescued by Starscream and Astrotrain. Landing at the fragment of Cybertron, the two reunited with the other Combaticons, the group pledging fealty to Starscream. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 14|Transformers #14}}

After being fully repaired, the Combaticons were deployed into battle against Soundwave's faction, forming Bruticus as their opening salvo. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}}

Bruticus then engaged in combat with the Constructicons (having formed Devastator), before they (along with the rest of the Decepticons fighting in the city) were both washed away by a flood after Optimus destroyed a nearby dam. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

Both factions of Decepticons then took their fight to the city of Seattle, where the two Combiners’ fighting caused immense destruction throughout the city, {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} which climaxes in Devastator following Bruticus up a high-rise building they scale to come to the aid of a wounded Starscream, grabbing them by the head and jumping off the building, taking Bruticus with them, engulfing the surrounding area in dust as a result of the impact. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
The Combaticons were a tight-knit unit of elite soldiers. {{storylink|Decepticon Directive}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1Onslaught toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"How come the other Combaticons aren't as tall as I am? Because I'm a natural-born leader, HAH!"]]
[[File:G1Vortex toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Ride the whirlwind! Slag, I got it wrong!"]]
[[File:Bruticus toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Rargh... humans transform Bruticus wrong... and blame Bruticus's design..."]]
*'''Combaticons''' (1986/1991)
**[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
**[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
**[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
**[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-69'''

:As a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style [[combiner]] team, the Combaticon team includes four small toys, sold carded at the $5 price point, and one large leader toy, sold boxed for $12 or so and including all the combiner [[kibble]]. They were available as part of the 1986 and 1987 assortments. In most markets, the Combaticons were only sold as individuals; the combined [[giftset]] was only available in Japan and Italy.

:Like their counterparts, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], the four small Combaticons feature unique transformation schemes. All have attachable weapons for their vehicle modes. Posability varies from figure to figure; Brawl and Swindle have knee and "elbow" joints (their shoulder joints are halfway down their arms), but their legs are conjoined at the knees. Blast Off and Vortex feature an early use of [[ball joint]]s in their shoulders, giving them near-universal range of motion, but are otherwise similarly limited.

:Like the other three original Scramble City teams, the small limbs can attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s robot mode, while the leader can be used to make an additional ramp/platform for Metroplex or [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].

:All five Combaticons were later available as part of the [[Europe]]an ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line in 1991.

:The Combaticon molds have been frequently redecoed (and slightly retooled) over the years; they have been used to make ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Battle Gaia]], [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]], and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ruination. They are also a favorite for [[Knockoff|bootleg]] toy manufacturers to copy, sometimes sold with bizarre new names like [[Onslaught (G1)|Tugging Gun]], [[Swindle (G1)|Copter]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secpmdary]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Steel Generals]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secondary Brain]], [[Brawl (G1)|Panzer]], [[Vortex (G1)|Armament]], and [[Bruticus (G1)|Steel Hetman]].
{{--}}

===''Generation 2''===
*'''Combaticons''' (1993)
**Onslaught
**Brawl
**Blast Off
**Swindle
**Vortex

:A redeco of the Generation 1 molds that looks like they just went through a paintball war... and lost. They all combine and kick Superion's behind as the big, bad, battling Bruticus.

*'''Bruticus''' (Box set, 2012)
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Franks]] (deco artist)}}
[[File:Generationstoy-G2Bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"You all laughed when I wore these colors before.
WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!?"]]
: Bruticus is a G2-styled giftset [[exclusive]] to [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] and [[BigBadToyStore]], containing [[redeco]]es of the ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Combaticons in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' colors with G2-style Decepticon insignia. This may be considered a tie-in to Amazon's preorder bonus for the game: a "''Generation 2''"-themed skin for Bruticus.

{{--}}

===''Alternators''===
*'''Swindle''' (2004)

{{main|Swindle (G1)#Alternators}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
*'''Onslaught''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
*'''Onslaught''' (Ultra, 2008)

{{main|Onslaught (G1)#Universe (2008)}}

[[File:Universe-ROTF-toy BruticusMaximus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)

: The ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Combaticons are [[redeco]]s of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Destruction Team]]. In this incarnation, Swindle is a helicopter and Blast Off is a tank, while their combined form is known as Bruticus Maximus for [[trademark]] reasons. They were only available as a Bruticus Maximus multi-pack.

: The Combaticons are identical to the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]].
{{--}}

===''United''===
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2012)

:Released exclusively in Takara's Asian markets, this redeco of the ''Energon'' Bruticus Maximus set has colours similar to the previous ''Universe'' (2008)/''Revenge of the Fallen'' release, but with a much greater emphasis on G1-accuracy. Additionally, the hand/feet/weapons previously cast in translucent coloured plastic are now opaque grey.

===''Kre-O''===
*'''Decepticon Bruticus''' (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013)
**''Set number'': '''A2225'''

:One of the first ''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Micro-Changer]] combiner sets, Bruticus includes four [[Kreon]]s: [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. These four component Kreons can be rebuilt into their alternate modes or taken apart and combined into Bruticus. While he is not included in the set, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] was made available through the first wave of blind-bagged Micro-Changers and can be built onto Bruticus if you're feeling creative.

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:CWBruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Peace]] [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|at]] [[Bruticus (WFC)#Generations|last.]] [[Transformers Unite Warriors|(Just kidding.)]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Onslaught''' (Voyager Class, [[2016]])}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Brawl''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Swindle''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Vortex''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Shockwave''' (Legends Class, 2016)}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Designed in the "Scramble City" style, all four Deluxe Combaticons can each become either an arm or a leg, and come with double-barrelled guns that can transform into either a foot or a fist to complete the limb. The stock photography shows Blast Off and Vortex as arms and Swindle and Brawl as legs. Notably, he is the first 'classic' combiner in the [[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]] series to not have a 'replacement' member. Continuing the aforementioned theme, however, Blast Off is a jet (a redeco of [[Slingshot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]]) instead of a space shuttle or a tank. Shockwave transforms into the combiner robot's handheld weapon.

: Originally there were plans to have a running change in Onslaught's colors; initial shipments were to feature the Bruticus chest cast in silver for a Bruticus-accurate color scheme, while a tan Onslaught-accurate color scheme was also revealed. However, the tan variant never made it to retail.

:Like [[Defensor (G1)#Generations|Defensor]] before them, all four limbs were released in the same wave, making it much easier to complete a set.

{{-}}{{anchor|CWG2}}{{anchor|CombinerWarsG2}}
[[File:CW-toy Bruticus G2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|TASTE THE RAINBOW. TASTE IT!!!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Bruticus''' (Collection Pack, 2016)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Weapons/combiner extremities, Onslaught's two guns, Blast Off's gun, Vortex's gun, Brawl's barrel rifle, Swindle's gun

: The whole <s>metamorphin' Dudicus</s> big, bad, battlin' Bruticus team was redecoed in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' colors, packed with a sorta-generically ''Generation 2''-esque, vaguely-[[Action Master]]-version-ish deco'd version of [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Shockwave]]. However, despite being (broadly) accurate in their base colors, all of the Combaticons have Generation 1 insignias, while Shockwave comes with the movie version of the Decepticon faction symbol.

: There is no ''Generation 2''-colored version of the Space Shuttle Blast Off toy, sorry. You only get the jet.

: Weirdly, the ''backs'' of the antennae on Bruticus's head are painted silver, rather than the front where they'd be far more noticeable/make any amount of sense. On the other hand, the original ''Generation 2'' Bruticus had unpainted antennae, so hey.

: This version of the combiner was only sold as a complete team in a big box set, which also included a poster and a collector card based on the packaging art. This set was sold "exclusively" through multiple online outlets, though it eventually found its way to closeout retailers like TJ Maxx and Ross the following holiday season for well below its original price, alongside more or less all of the other "Collection Pack" semi-exclusives in the line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2016/Decepticon/CWG2Bruticus/bruticus.htm More information on Generation 2 ''Combiner Wars'' Bruticus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:Combiner-Wars-Special-Edition-Deluxe-Blast-Off.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Special Edition Deluxe, [[2018]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Blaster, gun/fist/foot, [[The Fallen/toys#SpecialEdition|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]]

:''Combiner Wars'' Special Edition Blast Off is a redeco of his [[#Unite Warriors 2|''Unite Warriors'' mold]], featuring a dark brown deco more accurate to his original toy (essentially, plastic colors almost identical to the original ''Combiner Wars'' jet figure), as well as Shuttler's reverse chest as compared to the ''Unite Warriors'' release. If desired, his torso can be disassembled and reassembled in the same configuration as the ''Unite Warriors'' release. As part of a trio of "Special Edition" toys celebrating the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'', he is packaged in a premium window box and includes a redeco of the [[The Fallen/toys#Generations|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]] (sans [[Bomb-Burst (G1)#Generations|Bomb-Burst]] decoy suit) cast in translucent red plastic.

:Blast Off was first publicly revealed via preorder listings on Amazon and several Asia-based toy retailers without prior announcement from Hasbro.
{{-}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TF-UW07-Bruticus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Combatron Combined Soldier Bruticus''' (giftset, [[June 25]], [[2016]])
**''ID number:'' '''UW-07'''
**''English name:'' '''Decepticon Combaticons Combiner Bruticus'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] (TakaraTomy)}}

:The ''Unite Warriors'' release of the set includes a cartoon-accurate color scheme, and a new Blast Off mold.
{{-}}

===''Age Of The Primes''===
[[File:AOTP-Vortex-Stock.jpg|upright=1.75|thumb|Age Of The Primes Vortex]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''1 of 5: [[Vortex_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Vortex]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2025]])}}
{{Bp-d1|''' [[Blast_Off_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Blast Off]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''[[Onslaught_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Onslaught]]'''
(Commander Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''[[Brawl_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Brawl]]'''
(Voyager Class, [[2026]])}}
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Updated renditions of the Combaticons were released in the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' toyline, marking the most animation-accurate represention of the characters to date. Their combined form, [[Bruticus (G1)#Age of the Primes|Bruticus]], employs a similar limb combination method to that of ''Age Of The Primes'' [[Superion (G1)#Age of the Primes|Superion]] and ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' [[Menasor (G1)#Legacy|Menasor]].
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers Character Card''===
[[File:Transformers Character Card Bruticus and Defensor.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb]]
*'''Guardian & Bruticus Set''' ([[December]], [[2023]])
**''ID number:'' '''71 & 72'''

:Released as part of the tenth wave of the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive ''[[Transformers Character Card]]'' series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of "[[Defensor (G1)|Guardian]]" (with his components [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]) and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (with ''his'' components [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]) along with [[bio|character profiles]] and [[Tech Spec|tech specs]].
::*''[[Source:Transformers Character Card#71|Translation of Defensor's Transformers Character Card]]''

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1OddCombat.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Floro Dery does odd things.]]
*The Generation 1 cartoon [[character model]]s for the Combaticons look ''very'' little like their toys, much like the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. This would seem to have spawned from [[:File:G1-Combaticon-early-patent-sketches.jpg|early patent drafts]] that featured the ''bare'' minimum of details, which were then used as the basis for the early, non-final Combaticon models (pictured at right). From there, the models were revised to the point where the finished character designs and toys had very little in common. Unlike the Stunticons, however; the finished Combaticon models ''do'' replace the original head designs with toy-accurate ones, which were likely based on the figures' [[package art]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Combatron''' (コンバットロン ''Konbattoron''), '''Combaticon''' (コンバッティコン ''Konbattikon'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhàn Chē Duì''' (China, 战车队, "Combat Vehicles Team")
*''French:'' '''Combatican''' (Europe, "Combaticon")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Csatarobot''' ("Battle-robot")
*''Italian:'' '''Combacticon'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Combatantes'''
*''Russian:'' '''Boevikon''' (Боевикон, "Thrillercon")

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Combaticons| Combaticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) subgroups]]
[[Category:Kre-O subgroups]]
[[Category:Transformers Character Card Decepticons]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors subgroups]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

Combaticon (G1)

2025-08-17T21:52:56Z

Kickassatron: /* Energon Universe */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Combaticon}}
:''The Combaticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:TVMGuideCombaticons.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|The Dirty Half-Dozen Minus One—from left to right Swindle, Vortex, Onslaught, Blast Off and Brawl.]]
The '''Combaticons''' are a unit of fierce Decepticon soldiers, operating with (mostly) military precision under the watchful eye of the tactically brilliant Onslaught. They sometimes operate out of [[Combaticons' headquarters|their own headquarters]].

The Combaticons consist of:
*The tactician [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (leader)
*The violent [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*The egotistical [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*The con man [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*The unhinged [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

They combine to form the highly powerful, but extremely stupid [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].

{{quote|We aim to maim!|Brawl tells us the basic gist of the team|"[[Spotlight: Arcee]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Starscreams brigade 5 letsgo.jpg|upright=2.0|thumb|Dad's Army]]
When [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] was banished from the Decepticons for Yet Another Failed Coup Against [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], he was deposited on the island of [[Guadalcanal]], the site of one of the major battles between the [[United States of America]] and [[Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[World War II]]. There he found and rebuilt several abandoned US military vehicles to pass the time. After he finished, he decided that if Megatron can have a Decepticon army, then so can he!

After bluffing his way past [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to use the [[space bridge]], he travelled to a [[Decepticon Detention Center|detention center]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and liberated the [[personality component]]s of several [[Renegade Decepticon|Decepticon political prisoners]] before destroying the rest. Back on [[Earth]], Starscream installed the components into the rusting military vehicles and ordered them to transform.

The reborn Combaticons were less than pleased with their "new," primitive bodies, nor were they particularly thankful to Starscream for freeing them after millions of years of imprisonment. That is, until the former Decepticon Air Commander revealed that he had neglected to install [[energy absorber]] units into their bodies, so they would have no way of refueling. As he was the only one with the knowledge and expertise to install them, he demanded their allegiance in his aim to overthrow Megatron. The Combaticons agreed to obey Starscream, for now.

[[File:Combaticons group.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Swindle suddenly becomes a fervent opponent of [[scale]].]]
Under Starscream's leadership, the Combaticons managed to capture several prisoners, then used their energy absorbers to recharge themselves at a power plant. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked, while the Autobots rescued their comrades. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who was quickly defeated by the Combaticons' much more powerful, but dull-witted combined form, Bruticus. Starscream ordered Bruticus to grab Megatron, forcing his former commander to acknowledge Starscream as the new leader of the Decepticons. Under duress, Megatron did so as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] watched nearby. The latter group, deciding that Starscream would be too dangerous as a leader, quickly formed [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and defeated Bruticus with a single attack. Starscream and the Combaticons were banished from Earth on a small asteroid, left to wallow in their own misery and blame each other for their failures. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

Starscream and the Combaticons quickly had a falling-out. After Starscream left, the Combaticons attacked Cybertron, easily defeating [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his [[Sentinel (G1)|drones]]. Thirsting for revenge, Onslaught reprogrammed the space bridge to pull Earth closer to the [[Sun]], in the hopes of destroying it and every Transformer there. The Autobots and Decepticons temporarily joined forces to retake Cybertron and prevent Earth's destruction, and with Starscream's help, they deactivated the Combaticons once they formed Bruticus through a failsafe device built into the treacherous giant's back. Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that Bruticus must be destroyed, but the Decepticon leader fooled the Autobots by using Shockwave's [[holographic projector]] to make it appear as though Bruticus was destroyed, when in reality the combiner was reprogrammed to be loyal only to Megatron. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[File:BOT-Road.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Uh, boss, why are Blast Off and I on the-" "DON'T QUESTION MY BRILLIANT PLAN, VORTEX!"]]
Soon afterwards, during Megatron's latest scheme on Earth involving the theft of fighter aircraft using Middle-Eastern criminals, the Combaticons were called into service to defend Megatron's [[Giant Purple Griffin]], a large... thing that apparently pumped [[oil]]. Or something. Struggling against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Combaticons formed Bruticus, yet were still knocked over when the Aerialbots twisted a tow cable around his legs. The Decepticon combiner was finally defeated when the Aerialbots ignited the nearby oil wells, causing a massive explosion that sent Megatron, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], Bruticus and gas prices flying away. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

While attacking a human city, Bruticus was destroyed in battle with [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (man, this guy can't seem to catch a break). Only Swindle survived, and he sold the remains of his comrades to various mercenaries and [[El Presidente|third-world dictator-types]], only to be forced to locate and rebuild the Combaticons by Megatron. The reformed Bruticus was then defeated when Megatron's disruptor cannon was overloaded by the human-built [[B.O.T. (G1)|B.O.T.]], once again sending the Decepticon flying into the sky. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[File:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Not often you can get a view of the whole team AND their combined form in a single screencap.]]
After the great battle at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Swindle was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with the [[Quintesson]]s; {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} the Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on the Autobots on [[Goo Number 8739-B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

A lone Blast Off later attacked a [[Skuxxoid]] who was using [[death crystal]]s to blow stuff up in Decepticon territory, and forced the alien to tell him where he got the ammunition. When a group of Autobots tried to find the crystals as well, Blast Off attacked them alongside [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} The Combaticons later failed to assassinate Decepticon exile [[Octane]] at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} then succeeded in shooting up a shuttle meant to take human delegates to an interstellar peace conference. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a Decepticon attack on the [[Netherlands]], Swindle infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and stole his [[transformation cog]], whilst Vortex was charged with guarding [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} The Combaticons later participated in the assault on [[Paradron]], where they guarded the imprisoned Paradronians, among other things. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} When the Earth was infected by the [[Hate Plague]], the Combaticons (Bruticus) were among those infected. Brawl was seen driving along the road and infecting [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] who, in turn, infected [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] while Vortex attacked a civilian plane on a runway. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

Under [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s directions, the Combaticons constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. Once Scorponok and Fortress Maximus began to fight the Combaticons ran away. They presumably left Cybertron with Galvatron in Scorponok {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}
====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====Scramble City=====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were attacked by the Aerialbots and did not fare too well. The Combaticons arrived to help, and together Bruticus and Menasor easily overpowered Superion. However, Scramble City itself soon arrived and blasted both combiners away. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
The Combaticons participated in an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} until [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] arrived and drove them away. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shortly afterwards, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] set out to find the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bring it to Optimus Prime, and the Combaticons were among the troops sent out to stop him. They were ambushed by the Protectobots, and defeated when Defensor buried Bruticus in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Not long after that, the Combaticons defended [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] against [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]]'s attempted infiltration, but failed when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived and distracted them. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[File:UltraMagnusDies Combaticons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"All six Combaticons present and accou... Wait! Why are [[Snapdragon (G1)|YOU]] with us?"]]
The Combaticons were later part of ''another'' attack on Cybertron, during which they killed plenty of [[Generic|soldiers]] before getting into another fight with Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They lost. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} When the Decepticons planted a giant carnivorous plant in [[San Francisco]], the Combaticons and Stunticons were ordered to with attack any Autobots who arrived to kill it. When the Aerialbots and [[Trainbot]]s did just that, Bruticus got into an energy-sword fight with [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Sixshot later sent the Combaticons, [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon (G1)|Horrorcons]] to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Florida|Miami]], in order to lure Autobot troops away from [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

The Combaticons were present when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] held a speech about Galvatron's recent death and took control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} Bruticus was later part of a small group of Decepticons who tried to lead Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} He then stood by and laughed as [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] sank the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' in the Atlantic Ocean, before being stationed at one of Scorponok's [[Death Tower]]s in Canberra, [[Australia]]. He defended the tower against Defensor until it activated, at which point [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] ordered him to withdraw. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}

Bruticus participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the North Pole, and fought [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] alongside [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. As Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart, Bruticus retreated into the atmosphere to watch the results alongside the rest of the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

=====''Zone'' OVA, manga, and story pages=====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violengiguar]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Combaticons were of those summoned, but only in the form of Bruticus. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

====''TV Magazine'' comic continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
[[File:FSRLmanga08-title.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

Bruticus arrived to help the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] fight [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] at a baseball stadium in [[Japan]]. He quickly defeated Defensor, injuring [[Hot Spot (G1)|his torso]] and preventing him from combining. In response, Superion disabled Brawl and Swindle using his [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], allowing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] to steal their places as Bruticus's legs. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus as [[Kenji]] cheered at them to drop the Combaticons into the sea. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}} Onslaught later joined the Stunticons in a scheme to defame the Autobots by destroying factories around Japan whilst wearing Autobot [[insignia]]s. When confronted by the real Autobots, he "combined" with fellow [[Decepticon Trailer Corps]] member [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], but they were defeated and sent packing by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

The Combaticons' next mission was to hunt down [[Battle Dog|an escaped dog]] that Megatron had experimented on, imbuing it with powerful energy. Brawl managed to fatally injure the animal, much to Onslaught's annoyance as they were supposed to capture it alive. The Autobot [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] soon arrived to put a halt to their activities, and the dog expressed its gratitude by using its powers to energize Powerglide with [[Scramble Power]]. As Powerglide used the power to combine with his fellow [[Mini-Vehicle|Minibots]], the Combaticons responded by forming Bruticus. He proved weaker than this new [[Minibot combiner]], however, as it used the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack" to drill straight through Bruticus' chest, defeating him.

The dog still died, though. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''=====
The Combaticons emerged as Bruticus alongside the other Decepticon super-warriors, ready to storm the Autobot energy tower on the planet [[Feminia]]. Galvatron and his men laughed off the presence of Superion, Defensor and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]... but the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]]? Carrying a length of thread?! Oh, the horror. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

=====''The Great Transformer War''=====
The Combaticons and Stunticons were working out of Trypticon where the kidnapped scientist Doctor [[Dalton]] was being forced to work for Galvatron's evil ends. When the Aerialbots and Protectobots arrived to save the scientist, Onslaught and Motormaster combined with Trypticon in their deployment launcher modes. Hurtling their fellow Decepticons at Superion did such damage that the Aerialbots were forced to disassemble. Somehow, however, the remaining Protectobots managed to hold off both Bruticus and Menasor long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to repair the Aerialbots, and for [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] to sneak past the Decepticons and retrieve Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

=====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic=====
Brawl and Blast Off participated in an attack on [[Athenia]] by forming the right limbs of [[Scramble 7]], a Decepticon combiner using various combiner team members in a supposedly "ideal" configuration. Despite being so great, however, Scramble 7 was defeated by [[Ginrai (human)|Super Ginrai]], [[Lightfoot (G1)|Lightfoot]], and [[Ranger]] thanks to their use of [[Chōkon Power]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Buster combaticons second generation.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
''The Combaticons and their fellow [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[File:Onslaught afterdeath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
On their first mission on Earth, the Combaticons followed [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] to retrieve the human [[hydrothermocline]] plant. When they arrived, they faced Optimus Prime and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] waiting for them. The Combaticons formed Bruticus and stared down [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] when a nearby human named [[Ethan Zachary]] suggested that they play a [[Multi-World|video game]] over the plant instead. Optimus Prime and Megatron both agreed, and the Combaticons were sent into the game to attack the Protectobots. However, they lost every battle due to not taking the "wildlife" AI into account. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} ''These events were observed by the [[time travel]]ling [[Dicet Alpha-zero]].'' {{storylink|The Quest!}} After this, the Combaticons didn't do much but follow Megatron around, even when their mentally unstable leader heavily damaged Brawl for mouthing off. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

''Later, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] led the Combaticons to kill [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]—and co-incidentally [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]—while they were trapped in the cooled lava flow of [[Mount Verona]]. After making short work of the human military encamped on the site, the Combaticons set up explosive charges around the volcano to obliterate the entire area but their operation was met with resistance thanks to [[Cindy Newell|three]] [[Susan Hoffman|human]] [[Joy Meadows|women]], as well as [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s. When the Combaticons retreated to detonate their explosives, their remote signal was jammed by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]].'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} ''In response to that humiliation,'' the Combaticons would later attack the [[Throttlebot]]s in a used car lot, only for the Protectobots and Blaster to interfere and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Shortly afterwards, the group decided to ambush the Protectobots on their way to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. This time, Bruticus claimed victory over Defensor by hitting him with a train, but was soon tricked and broken into his component parts by Blaster. After this, Blaster took control of Blast Off and flew into space, separating the shuttle from the other Combaticons. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Along with most of the Decepticon army, the Combaticons later ambushed the Autobots on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], only to be beaten back by Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

''At some point thereafter, the Combaticons worked with [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] under the command of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to steal a backup of the [[floppy disk]] containing Optimus Prime's personality.'' {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Totalwar-combaticons.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Grrrrrr... feisty!]]
After Bludgeon's defeat, Swindle took the returning Decepticon leader Megatron on a tour of the [[Warworld]] battleship he had inherited. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Soon after, Brawl and Blast Off were among the Decepticons preparing to charge into battle against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}} Vortex was seen with various other Decepticons attacking the [[Ethos raiding party|Cybertronians]] on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} As the alliance progressed, Onslaught was struck by empathic pains as his apparent spawn [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

During the final battle at [[Earth]], all the Combaticons later attempted to defend the Warworld against a Cybertronian boarding party led by the treacherous Starscream. Despite Onslaught's emphatic orders of "maximum firepower", they didn't do so well. {{storylink|Total War!}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|Transformers in Action: He Who Laughs Last ...}}}}

===Young Corgi continuity===
[[File:BBTI-Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right]]
When the fleshlings discovered a mysterious lost civilization buried underneath the ice, the Combaticons Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off joined [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in seeking whatever treasures the hidden city might have. They were confronted by the Aerialbots named [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]], and fought on the surface over the city. Little did they know that the [[city-dweller]]s were robots themselves, remotely storing and copying images of the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, imprinting themselves with the skills of warfare. They were only stopped by the unlikely duo of Ravage and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. After the city-dwellers were defeated, the Autobots granted safe passage to their one-time Decepticon allies. Blast Off expanded to his maximum size to transport his fellow 'Cons back to Decepticon headquarters. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
The five soldiers who would one day become the Combaticons were early participants in the Decepticons' war effort. While Onslaught and the others joined Shockwave in attacking [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and the [[High Council Pavilions]] being protected by the Autobots, Swindle chose to throw in with Starscream, helping him to disable [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and assume temporary control over Megatron's planetary juggernaut project. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

At some later date, these five warriors were officially brought together as a combiner team, given the ability to form Bruticus. Like the other Combiners, they were banned from operating together on any given faction during the Dark Ages, by decree of the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] to prevent any more devastation to the planet at the hands of the super-robot combiners.{{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} The Combaticons were still authorized to operate individually and separately among the various Decepticon factions. Given his previous efforts helping [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and the [[Battlecharger]]s with Starscream's coup, Swindle may have joined them as a member of the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]], although this was never stated. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[File:Onslaught G1DW routeofallevil.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|"YOOOOOO CON!"]]
By the modern era, the Combaticons had been declared war criminals by the united Cybertronian government under Shockwave and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The details of their crimes and why they were singled-out for imprisonment is unclear—Shockwave may have been intentionally eliminating [[Ratbat (G1)|potential rivals]] or [[Stunticon (G1)|loose cannons]], or may simply have allowed their imprisonment as a token showing of cooperation with the Autobot High Council. Once the Transformers from Earth were contacted, and uprisings began taking place on Cybertron, Starscream managed to worm his way into the [[Detention Banks]] and recover the five stasis pods containing the Combaticons. He loaded them onto his stolen transport and brought them back to Earth with him and the rest of his hand-picked crew. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

On Earth, Starscream reactivated the Combaticons as his personal "brigade", scanning Earth military vehicles for their alternate modes. Using the Combaticons as shock troops, he made a two-staged assault on the Ark, and successfully took five of the seven remaining Autobots off-line. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Starscream and Bruticus' efforts to complete their set were interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], Starscream's crazed clone-brother, and Bruticus was damaged in the melee. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After the battle with Sunstorm, Starscream attempted to train the Combaticons into better military shape, using the Autobot prisoner [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as a "tackling dummy". His training efforts were interrupted by the return of Megatron and his combiner team, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Even as Bruticus, the Combaticons quickly fell before the might of [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
The Combaticons were among the Decepticons under control of "the Son of Megatron", [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]]. Onslaught tried to protect his leader from a vengeful Optimus Prime while Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off were seen fighting against a combined Autobot-[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] army. Swindle, however, was nowhere to be found. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:SpotlightArcee AimToMaim.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|]]
Early in the [[Great War (G1)|war]], Brawl and Onslaught were part of an armored division led by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. They participated in the defense of the [[Citadel (building)|Citadel]] but were overwhelmed by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]]. {{storylink|Endgame}} When [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] was overthrown by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], the Combaticons were among the Decepticons who refused to their new leader and left Cybertron to do their own thing. While breaking into an armory at the [[Presidium (planet)|Presidium]], they were approached by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] and offered ample payment for their return to the frontlines. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} They accepted, and Onslaught and Brawl were later seen participating in Megatron's attack on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

During the war [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] became one of the worst violators of the [[Tyrest Accord]], constantly selling Transformers technology to alien races, and had gone AWOL from the Decepticons, hunted by both sides of the war. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The other four remained Combaticons, and were a dangerous tactical unit capable of taking on and beating superior numbers (even ones backed up by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|total loonies]]). Under orders from [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], they successfully raided the [[Garrus-9]] Autobot prison and abducted [[Pretender Monster|the six newest inmates]], the gestalt Transformers, despite taking some damage from a high threat convict, Arcee, who was released to stop them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} Soon afterwards, the Combaticons were among the only survivors of an attack by the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, who activated the gestalt combined form, [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], inside Banzaitron's base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron; the Combaticons, remaining [[Decepticon Secret Service|DSS]] members and the crazed Autobot fought Monstructor on [[Rotan]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, the Combaticons were among the Decepticons left behind on Earth. Swindle joined up with a small band of roaming Decepticons, {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} while Onslaught was one of many Transformers captured by [[Skywatch]] using their reverse-engineered energon and Cybertronian technology. He and several other Decepticons were rescued from Skywatch custody by Swindle's team, who removed the mode-locks placed on them by Skywatch's restraint tech. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} After Swindle failed to take advantage of some rebellious Autobots in an attempt to get off Earth, he disappeared. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

[[File:RanksOfBronze CombaticonsRelax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|The Relaxicons.]]
Fleeing to [[North Korea]], Swindle made a deal with [[Kim Jong Du]], the leader of the nation, offering him the Combaticons as an invasion force in exchange for energon. He left when he got the energy he needed, but the other Combaticons remained. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} Soon enough, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex were invading [[South Korea]] for their employer (Blast Off's whereabouts were unknown: Skywatch noted that the Koreans had enough energon for five Transformers, but he might just have left Earth on his own). {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|"The Land Ironclads"}} They ended up in a brawl with both the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] (allied with [[China]]), but were ultimately defeated. Luckily for them, the Autobots didn't have the resources at hand to take them captive. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|"All My Sins Remembered"}}

Brawl later tried to kill [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] on Swindle's behalf, but failed and was captured by the Autobots. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Swindle himself was taken in shortly afterwards when his latest scheme failed. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} The captured Combaticons, and likely the others as well, ended up being forced to work for the Autobots on a restored Cybertron once the war was declared over. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} The Decepticons felt oppressed under a provisional government of Autobots, Non-Aligned Cybertronians, and Starscream. Starscream approached Onslaught to buy the Combaticons' services as he made his play for Iacon's leadership. In exchange for protecting him from those like the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] or unruly bots, Starscream would allow the group a position of power when the time came. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

Blast Off and Brawl were among those brought by Starscream to pressure Prowl into revealing one of his secret discoveries below ground. Later underground, they witnessed a Titan declare that Starscream was the Cybertronian destined to unite their whole race. They and the other Cybertronians celebrated afterwards with Starscream. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} Later, most of the Combaticons were involved in the rioting that began when Megatron returned, although Swindle, along with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], offered their testimony on Prowl's murder of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. {{storylink|City on Fire}} {{storylink|The Verge}} Some time later, when Starscream successfully became the ruler of Iacon, he reneged on his deal with Onslaught, who was furious over the betrayal. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

After Megatron's defection to the Autobots, [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] took command of the Decepticons and led a contingent back to Earth, which included Brawl, where they formed an alliance with the [[Earth Defense Command]] against the Autobots. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World}} Back on Cybertron, with Metroplex's installation as Cybertron's new capital, Onslaught and many other disgruntled Decepticons chose to live in slums outside the city instead. When they caught Optimus Prime making his way through their territory, many of them formed a mob and attacked him. {{storylink|City of Steel (issue)|City of Steel}} Blast Off joined the riot for Metroplex's space bridge under Swindle's claims that a better life was possible on [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} Swindle himself would be blasted in the back by Starscream in order to keep him from revealing his role in the attack on Caminus, and apparently expired. {{storylink|All That Remains}}

[[File:ChooseMe OnslaughtGrenade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"Where's the pin?" "What pin?" ''*BOOM*'']]
Onslaught later skulked by as a group of Camiens were passing out fliers regarding Optimus Prime's divinity in the district. Brawl returned from Earth at this time to help rally the Decepticons for Galvatron's campaign. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} The Combaticons soon reunited and stewed over Starscream's leadership. Upon throwing an energon canister at a viewscreen promoting Starscream's success in uniting some of the lost colonies, Onslaught declared that they wouldn't let Starscream forget the past, not without having to go through them first. They sprayed "SWINDLE LIVES" on a wall {{storylink|The Will of the Few}} thanks to Onslaught being informed by an anonymous informant, "[[Rattrap (BW)|DC-357]]", that Swindle was alive and had damaging info on Starscream. {{storylink|07:00:00}} Brawl, Blast Off, and Vortex got Onslaught a new grenade in light if the newly declared "Chosen One Day". {{storylink|Choose Me}}

Brawl rejoined [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] to prepare for Galvatron's conquest of Earth. Brawl and Needlenose led a team of Decepticons, including Onslaught, to the Space Bridge nexus, where they transported aboard the ''[[Ark-7]]'' to overpower the Autobots in Earth orbit. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}} Brawl, Onslaught and the Decepticons engaged Arcee, [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Alpha Trion]] before the ship crashed into Shanghai, China. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} The Earth Defense Command's "mindbomb" felled several of the Decepticons within the first minute of the battle. After the Chinese Mecha Force began tearing through the Decepticons, Brawl was taken through the space bridge by Ironhide, but began fighting his way through the Autobots in a panic and reignited the fight at the other end. Barely surviving an attack by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], he and several Decepticons were able to slip away. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}}

Onslaught continued to search the underbelly of Cybertron for the missing Swindle, and as the [[Badgeless]] began to brutalise Decepticons for information, he became sure DC-357 was onto something. However, the other Combaticons, particularly Blast Off, became worried he was too focused on finding Swindle, costing them paying jobs. The idea of dropping the search made Onslaught storm off in a huff, failing to notice a new message from DC-357. Blast Off did catch it, however, and soon he donned a Badgeless disguise, joined a patrol, and as soon as he got a chance he shot a Decepticon dead and sent footage of it to the press. {{storylink|07:00:00}} With riots breaking out, Vortex and Brawl were eager to join in, but Onslaught held them back until Blast Off returned. Onslaught suspected the situation was orchestrated by Starscream so that the colonists would be made to turn against their cause, until Blast Off admitted to doing the killing by following DC-357's suggestion to provoke an uprising. Onslaught hit upon a sneaky plan: he started a large protest that marched on Starscream to shake the tree and see what happened, and when what happened was Ironhide was made head of the cops and opened them up to anyone who wanted. Onslaught then started a fight so that Blast Off could 'stop him' and 'denounce' his plans, thus getting into the police as someone Ironhide would trust. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

[[File:TheLineBetweenUs CombaticonsAntespace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0|Blast Off's the designated driver.]]
Blast Off was able to use his position to eventually uncover surveillance footage of [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] taking Swindle. While Onslaught took Brawl and went to Rattrap's, Blast Off and Vortex barged into Wheeljack's home, and ultimately threatened to kill [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] unless Wheeljack talked. Wheeljack admitted that he and Rattrap had tried to save Swindle, but he was currently brain dead. Onslaught was unperturbed by Swindle's condition, and forced Rattrap to retrieve the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} Onslaught used the Enigma on himself and his team, forming [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], hoping that he might be able to access the dirt Swindle had on Starscream. As Bruticus rampaged through Iacon, within the combiner's psyche, Vortex reveled in the power that they wielded as Bruticus, Brawl was wallowing in pain after feeling Swindle's death, and Blast Off struggled to keep them all together. Eventually Onslaught found what he was looking for, and he, Brawl and Vortex began reveling in their path of destruction despite Blast Off's protests. Though [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] tried to appeal to the Combaticon combiner to help her take down Starscream with their evidence, it was to no avail. Eventually Ironhide was forced to fire a rocket at Bruticus' head, and the shock forced the Combaticons to disconnect. Windblade frantically tried to get the Combaticons to wake up to share what they had learned, but failed. {{storylink|The Line Between Us}}

The Combaticons were imprisoned and awaiting trial, though Ironhide was reluctant to prosecute them if their mental scarring proved too great. {{storylink|Ping}} They were still comatose when Starscream told the [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukarian]] [[Mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]] to turn them to his side as one of his combiners. Though the Combaticons minds had imprinted on each other during their combination, making them susceptible to the process, one of the Combaticons was required to be aware of the deception in order to cover any holes in their story should the others get suspicious. Blast Off was chosen and bribed into accepting the deal after Starscream reminded him that Onslaught would never let the past go or ever take any real interest in him. As a result, the others Combaticons were made to believe that Onslaught's original deal with Starscream had worked out, with them having been his secret and loyal bodyguards, and that their forming of Bruticus had been a last-ditch attempt to save Swindle's life with Starscream's approval. Starscream informed Ironhide that Airachnid would be testifying that the Combaticons had not been responsible for their actions as Bruticus. {{storylink|The Price of You}} Soon the Combaticons "resumed" their work of protecting Starscream, and Onslaught and Blast Off arranged a date. Shortly afterwards, Swindle was restored, with his memories manipulated as well. {{storylink|If I Know You}}

[[File:TheChosenOne CombaticonsImprisoned.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|They finally get Swindle back, then kick Blast Off out.]]
The Combaticons later provided security for the ceremony to welcome Earth into the Council of Worlds. When [[Iron Ring|a group of human assailants]] attacked, the Combaticons mobilized to fight back and evacuate Starscream. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}}

Onslaught and Vortex later ushered Circuit and Longtooth out of the Council chambers during Windblade's official return to her post, with Vortex daring the two reporters to resist. When Windblade invited people to speak with her one-on-one during her campaign to become the new leader of Cybertron, Brawl was an unexpected supporter of her war-free vision. Vortex and Blast Off later stood guard outside Starscream's office as Windblade confronted Starscream, and Blast Off was disturbed at Vortex's ideas for what they were doing. During the final debate, Starscream revealed all of his crimes to the public, including the manipulation of the Combaticons. As a result, all of the Combaticons were imprisoned for their rampage as Bruticus, and Blast Off was ostracized by the others for his role in their manipulation. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

===''Wings Universe''===
{{Wingsnote}}
[[File:EliteGuardCombaticons TheComingStorm2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1| DUM DUM DUUUUUUM!]]
The Combaticons were an [[Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}} After they ended up getting captured by [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], the silver-tongued Decepticon manipulated the Combaticons to join him so they could prove their superiority over the rest of the Elite Guard. In return, he modified them so they could combine into Bruticus. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 4}}

They attacked Elite Guard HQ, using their new combined form {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 5}} and managed to slaughter most of the Elite Guard defenders, until [[Dion (G1)|Dion]] injured the giant, forcing them to separate. They departed the scene, assuming everyone to be dead. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 6}} Returning to Deathsaurus's base, they underwent repairs, though they were startled to learn that Deathsaurus could control their merging remotely. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} As the remnants of the Elite Guard tried to attack the base, the Combaticons joined the other Decepticons in defending it. However, as they tried to merge into Bruticus, they were blasted by some new arrivals {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 3}} who were, it turned out, even more survivors of the massacre. Blast Off was captured and bound by [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]], meaning the Combaticons were unable to form Bruticus for the rest of the battle. After Deathsaurus called a retreat, the team was slow to comply, and as a result were captured by the Elite Guard. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 4}}

In the hands of the compromised [[Gyronian Sentry|Gyronian Sentry Team]], the Combaticons were whisked away to Deathsaurus's fortress, now under Megatron's control. Though Megatron gave them the option, none of them cared to help Deathsaurus, and they were imprisoned and their personality components subsequently interred in the Decepticon Detention Center. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
[[File:Kre-O Combaticons.jpg|thumb]]

Summoned by [[Starscream (Kre-O)|Starscream]] to act as his elite squad (whose first mission, of course, was to overthrow [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]), Onslaught, Brawl, Swindle, and a repainted Vortex rolled onto the scene. After they all declared their specialties, Onslaught, Brawl, and Swindle were irritated when Vortex offered to stay behind and guard the base. Even though the Combaticons combined into Bruticus, Vortex's constant worry for the base's safety compelled the team to withdraw. When Starscream, under imminent threat of a beating from Megatron, contacted the team to demand to know where they were, the Combaticons happily informed their illustrious leader they were all protecting the base together. Aww. {{Storylink|New Military Unit Combaticon! Bruticus, Combine!}}

Swindle was able to steal [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[transformation cog]], but his looking forward to being rewarded was interrupted when the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] tracked him down to take back his loot. The Combaticons combined to form Bruticus, but were defeated by the Protectobots' own combined form, [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and taken back to the Autobot base to have his injuries treated by the gentle [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]. {{storylink|Bad at Fighting? Rescue Team Protectobots, Dispatch!}}
{{-}}
===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===

[[Swindle (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Swindle]] was following [[Megatron (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Megatron]] before the Decepticon movement even existed, and was one of few Decepticons to survive every second of the Great War. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

The Combaticons fought multiple tours together. On the first one, [[Blast Off (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Blast Off]] changed his Cybertronian spaceship mode into an Earth-styled space shuttle. It's likely that this was when the other Combaticons changed their alternate modes as well. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

[[Onslaught (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Onslaught]] was the team's commander, and had shaped it into a nearly unstoppable strike force. He had high expectations for them, putting exacting precision in both his planning and orders. {{storylink|Onslaught (G1)#Combiner Wars|Onslaught's bio}}

[[Soundwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Soundwave]] remarked that [[Vortex (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Vortex]] was unique in that he had no preferred form, being equally comfortable in helicopter and robot modes, and an effective interrogator in both. In the former he liked to pick up victims magnetically in order to scare them into spilling their secrets, and in the latter his rotors were an effective threat... but he could also weasel information out of fellow Decepticons with his charming, disarming personality. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}

[[Brawl (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Brawl]] was often needled and frustrated by his fellow Combaticons in order to make better use of his focused battlefield fury. He often needed to be told important information multiple times, but he ''was'' learning from Onslaught. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

Swindle had a real reputation for being the most famous con-man on Cybertron, to the point where the Combaticons only get along with him because they knew better than to trust him with ''anything''. He also had a bad habit of trading Cybertronian technology with other species, which put him on the wrong side of the [[Tyrest Accord]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Ultra Magnus]]. As a result, he stuck close to his teammates. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

[[Bruticus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Bruticus]] as a combined form was created by [[Shockwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Shockwave]] for the express purpose of pummeling Autobots. {{storylink|Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Decepticon Shockwave's bio}}

Blast Off's preferred fighting style from a distance left him isolated, easy to capture and imprison on Cybertron so the Autobots could take Bruticus out of the picture.

He was eventually reunited with the rest of the team. Onslaught subsequently mandated that he switch his alternate mode once again in order to stay close, so - much to Blast Off's anger - he reformatted into a fighter jet. Onslaught welcomed this new temperment because he considered his subordinate to be a more effective soldier afterwards. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}} He was equally happy blasting Autobots from space as he was planet-side, so this anger was likely a form of [[mode attachment]]. {{storylink|Blast Off (G1)#PWTSE|''Special Edition'' Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

The Combaticons were posted on Cybertron during the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:ConstructiconsRisingPart4 Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Swindle? He's busy running [[Swindle's|his casino]]. Who needs him?]]
During the interwar period between the [[War of the Threefold Spark]] and the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Combaticons; Onslaught, Blast Off, Vortex and Brawl; were agents of [[The Rise]] under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s command. After the devastation of [[Mayalx]], the Combaticons were sent to the colony to collect a bounty of [[energon cube]]s. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 4}}

When [[Exarchon]] returned, the Combaticons were summoned to Shockwave's bunker to meet with the ancient warlord. Though Blast Off had rocketed away after receiving a message, the other three pledged their loyalty to the Threefold Spark. {{storylink|War's End Part One}} No sooner had they arrived to reinforce him at his fortress in the [[Sonic Canyons]] did the Decepticons arrive and the Combaticons engaged them with the help of Exarchon's swarm of [[Skywarp drone]]s. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} The [[Companion]]s showed up to try and stop Exarchon only for all hostiles to retreat when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] arrived. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}} When the Autobots and Decepticons returned for a united attack, the Combaticons rushed to Exarchon's defense only for the Threefold Spark to ultimately be trapped and destroyed. In the aftermath, Onslaught, Vortex and Brawl surrendered and were taken into Decepticon custody. {{storylink|War's End Part Four}}

Having been invited to join him on the damaged [[Winged Moon]] by [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], Blast Off helped his friend repair the satellite, managing to get the lights on by the time the Autobots arrived to seek refuge. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 9 – The Combaticons Corner Elita One.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right]]
Stationed in [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's fortress]], {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}} the Combaticons pursued [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] when she tried to rescue Ultra Magnus. After gunning down Vortex, Elita managed to flee with Magnus through a [[space bridge]] to Earth. Giving chase, Onslaught ordered the Combaticons to combine only for Elita to damage the space bridge, resulting in Brawl being bisected at the waist and him and Onslaught being cut off from the other Combaticons as the portal shut down. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 9|Transformers #9}}

Dragging Brawl out of the way, Onslaught largely kept to himself as he waited for repairs to be effected to the space bridge. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}}

After the space bridge was repaired, Shockwave briefly returned to Cybertron, being greeted by Vortex, Blast Off and Swindle. Shockwave quickly brushed aside their concerns and ordered them to battle stations in anticipation of the fortress' high energon signature attracting Autobot rebels. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}}

Standing guard at the space bridge, the Combaticons were at ground zero when [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was kicked through. After Shockwave returned, he ordered the three to dispose of Cliffjumper before Optimus Prime arrived. Finding themselves outmatched by the Autobot leader, the Combaticons quickly fled the area. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}}

After Optimus Prime had severed the space bridge link between Cybertron and Earth, a chunk of Cybertron broke off and landed in Earth's oceans, causing a tidal wave. Caught up in the event, Onslaught and Brawl were rescued by Starscream and Astrotrain. Landing at the fragment of Cybertron, the two reunited with the other Combaticons, the group pledging fealty to Starscream. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 14|Transformers #14}}

After being fully repaired, the Combaticons were deployed into battle against Soundwave's faction, forming Bruticus as their opening salvo. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}}

Bruticus then engaged in combat with the Constructicons (having formed Devastator), before they (along with the rest of the Decepticons fighting in the city) were both washed away by a flood after Optimus destroyed a nearby dam. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

Both factions of Decepticons then took their fight to the city of Seattle, where the two Combiners’ fighting caused immense destruction throughout the city, {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} which climaxes in Devastator following Bruticus up a high-rise building they scale to come to the aid of a wounded Starscream, grabbing them by the head and jumping off the building, taking Bruticus with them, engulfing the surrounding area in dust as a result of the impact {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
The Combaticons were a tight-knit unit of elite soldiers. {{storylink|Decepticon Directive}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1Onslaught toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"How come the other Combaticons aren't as tall as I am? Because I'm a natural-born leader, HAH!"]]
[[File:G1Vortex toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Ride the whirlwind! Slag, I got it wrong!"]]
[[File:Bruticus toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Rargh... humans transform Bruticus wrong... and blame Bruticus's design..."]]
*'''Combaticons''' (1986/1991)
**[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
**[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
**[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
**[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-69'''

:As a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style [[combiner]] team, the Combaticon team includes four small toys, sold carded at the $5 price point, and one large leader toy, sold boxed for $12 or so and including all the combiner [[kibble]]. They were available as part of the 1986 and 1987 assortments. In most markets, the Combaticons were only sold as individuals; the combined [[giftset]] was only available in Japan and Italy.

:Like their counterparts, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], the four small Combaticons feature unique transformation schemes. All have attachable weapons for their vehicle modes. Posability varies from figure to figure; Brawl and Swindle have knee and "elbow" joints (their shoulder joints are halfway down their arms), but their legs are conjoined at the knees. Blast Off and Vortex feature an early use of [[ball joint]]s in their shoulders, giving them near-universal range of motion, but are otherwise similarly limited.

:Like the other three original Scramble City teams, the small limbs can attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s robot mode, while the leader can be used to make an additional ramp/platform for Metroplex or [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].

:All five Combaticons were later available as part of the [[Europe]]an ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line in 1991.

:The Combaticon molds have been frequently redecoed (and slightly retooled) over the years; they have been used to make ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Battle Gaia]], [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]], and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ruination. They are also a favorite for [[Knockoff|bootleg]] toy manufacturers to copy, sometimes sold with bizarre new names like [[Onslaught (G1)|Tugging Gun]], [[Swindle (G1)|Copter]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secpmdary]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Steel Generals]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secondary Brain]], [[Brawl (G1)|Panzer]], [[Vortex (G1)|Armament]], and [[Bruticus (G1)|Steel Hetman]].
{{--}}

===''Generation 2''===
*'''Combaticons''' (1993)
**Onslaught
**Brawl
**Blast Off
**Swindle
**Vortex

:A redeco of the Generation 1 molds that looks like they just went through a paintball war... and lost. They all combine and kick Superion's behind as the big, bad, battling Bruticus.

*'''Bruticus''' (Box set, 2012)
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Franks]] (deco artist)}}
[[File:Generationstoy-G2Bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"You all laughed when I wore these colors before.
WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!?"]]
: Bruticus is a G2-styled giftset [[exclusive]] to [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] and [[BigBadToyStore]], containing [[redeco]]es of the ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Combaticons in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' colors with G2-style Decepticon insignia. This may be considered a tie-in to Amazon's preorder bonus for the game: a "''Generation 2''"-themed skin for Bruticus.

{{--}}

===''Alternators''===
*'''Swindle''' (2004)

{{main|Swindle (G1)#Alternators}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
*'''Onslaught''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
*'''Onslaught''' (Ultra, 2008)

{{main|Onslaught (G1)#Universe (2008)}}

[[File:Universe-ROTF-toy BruticusMaximus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)

: The ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Combaticons are [[redeco]]s of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Destruction Team]]. In this incarnation, Swindle is a helicopter and Blast Off is a tank, while their combined form is known as Bruticus Maximus for [[trademark]] reasons. They were only available as a Bruticus Maximus multi-pack.

: The Combaticons are identical to the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]].
{{--}}

===''United''===
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2012)

:Released exclusively in Takara's Asian markets, this redeco of the ''Energon'' Bruticus Maximus set has colours similar to the previous ''Universe'' (2008)/''Revenge of the Fallen'' release, but with a much greater emphasis on G1-accuracy. Additionally, the hand/feet/weapons previously cast in translucent coloured plastic are now opaque grey.

===''Kre-O''===
*'''Decepticon Bruticus''' (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013)
**''Set number'': '''A2225'''

:One of the first ''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Micro-Changer]] combiner sets, Bruticus includes four [[Kreon]]s: [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. These four component Kreons can be rebuilt into their alternate modes or taken apart and combined into Bruticus. While he is not included in the set, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] was made available through the first wave of blind-bagged Micro-Changers and can be built onto Bruticus if you're feeling creative.

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:CWBruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Peace]] [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|at]] [[Bruticus (WFC)#Generations|last.]] [[Transformers Unite Warriors|(Just kidding.)]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Onslaught''' (Voyager Class, [[2016]])}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Brawl''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Swindle''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Vortex''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Shockwave''' (Legends Class, 2016)}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Designed in the "Scramble City" style, all four Deluxe Combaticons can each become either an arm or a leg, and come with double-barrelled guns that can transform into either a foot or a fist to complete the limb. The stock photography shows Blast Off and Vortex as arms and Swindle and Brawl as legs. Notably, he is the first 'classic' combiner in the [[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]] series to not have a 'replacement' member. Continuing the aforementioned theme, however, Blast Off is a jet (a redeco of [[Slingshot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]]) instead of a space shuttle or a tank. Shockwave transforms into the combiner robot's handheld weapon.

: Originally there were plans to have a running change in Onslaught's colors; initial shipments were to feature the Bruticus chest cast in silver for a Bruticus-accurate color scheme, while a tan Onslaught-accurate color scheme was also revealed. However, the tan variant never made it to retail.

:Like [[Defensor (G1)#Generations|Defensor]] before them, all four limbs were released in the same wave, making it much easier to complete a set.

{{-}}{{anchor|CWG2}}{{anchor|CombinerWarsG2}}
[[File:CW-toy Bruticus G2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|TASTE THE RAINBOW. TASTE IT!!!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Bruticus''' (Collection Pack, 2016)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Weapons/combiner extremities, Onslaught's two guns, Blast Off's gun, Vortex's gun, Brawl's barrel rifle, Swindle's gun

: The whole <s>metamorphin' Dudicus</s> big, bad, battlin' Bruticus team was redecoed in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' colors, packed with a sorta-generically ''Generation 2''-esque, vaguely-[[Action Master]]-version-ish deco'd version of [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Shockwave]]. However, despite being (broadly) accurate in their base colors, all of the Combaticons have Generation 1 insignias, while Shockwave comes with the movie version of the Decepticon faction symbol.

: There is no ''Generation 2''-colored version of the Space Shuttle Blast Off toy, sorry. You only get the jet.

: Weirdly, the ''backs'' of the antennae on Bruticus's head are painted silver, rather than the front where they'd be far more noticeable/make any amount of sense. On the other hand, the original ''Generation 2'' Bruticus had unpainted antennae, so hey.

: This version of the combiner was only sold as a complete team in a big box set, which also included a poster and a collector card based on the packaging art. This set was sold "exclusively" through multiple online outlets, though it eventually found its way to closeout retailers like TJ Maxx and Ross the following holiday season for well below its original price, alongside more or less all of the other "Collection Pack" semi-exclusives in the line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2016/Decepticon/CWG2Bruticus/bruticus.htm More information on Generation 2 ''Combiner Wars'' Bruticus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:Combiner-Wars-Special-Edition-Deluxe-Blast-Off.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Special Edition Deluxe, [[2018]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Blaster, gun/fist/foot, [[The Fallen/toys#SpecialEdition|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]]

:''Combiner Wars'' Special Edition Blast Off is a redeco of his [[#Unite Warriors 2|''Unite Warriors'' mold]], featuring a dark brown deco more accurate to his original toy (essentially, plastic colors almost identical to the original ''Combiner Wars'' jet figure), as well as Shuttler's reverse chest as compared to the ''Unite Warriors'' release. If desired, his torso can be disassembled and reassembled in the same configuration as the ''Unite Warriors'' release. As part of a trio of "Special Edition" toys celebrating the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'', he is packaged in a premium window box and includes a redeco of the [[The Fallen/toys#Generations|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]] (sans [[Bomb-Burst (G1)#Generations|Bomb-Burst]] decoy suit) cast in translucent red plastic.

:Blast Off was first publicly revealed via preorder listings on Amazon and several Asia-based toy retailers without prior announcement from Hasbro.
{{-}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TF-UW07-Bruticus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Combatron Combined Soldier Bruticus''' (giftset, [[June 25]], [[2016]])
**''ID number:'' '''UW-07'''
**''English name:'' '''Decepticon Combaticons Combiner Bruticus'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] (TakaraTomy)}}

:The ''Unite Warriors'' release of the set includes a cartoon-accurate color scheme, and a new Blast Off mold.
{{-}}

===''Age Of The Primes''===
[[File:AOTP-Vortex-Stock.jpg|upright=1.75|thumb|Age Of The Primes Vortex]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''1 of 5: [[Vortex_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Vortex]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2025]])}}
{{Bp-d1|''' [[Blast_Off_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Blast Off]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''[[Onslaught_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Onslaught]]'''
(Commander Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''[[Brawl_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Brawl]]'''
(Voyager Class, [[2026]])}}
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Updated renditions of the Combaticons were released in the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' toyline, marking the most animation-accurate represention of the characters to date. Their combined form, [[Bruticus (G1)#Age of the Primes|Bruticus]], employs a similar limb combination method to that of ''Age Of The Primes'' [[Superion (G1)#Age of the Primes|Superion]] and ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' [[Menasor (G1)#Legacy|Menasor]].
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers Character Card''===
[[File:Transformers Character Card Bruticus and Defensor.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb]]
*'''Guardian & Bruticus Set''' ([[December]], [[2023]])
**''ID number:'' '''71 & 72'''

:Released as part of the tenth wave of the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive ''[[Transformers Character Card]]'' series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of "[[Defensor (G1)|Guardian]]" (with his components [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]) and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (with ''his'' components [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]) along with [[bio|character profiles]] and [[Tech Spec|tech specs]].
::*''[[Source:Transformers Character Card#71|Translation of Defensor's Transformers Character Card]]''

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1OddCombat.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Floro Dery does odd things.]]
*The Generation 1 cartoon [[character model]]s for the Combaticons look ''very'' little like their toys, much like the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. This would seem to have spawned from [[:File:G1-Combaticon-early-patent-sketches.jpg|early patent drafts]] that featured the ''bare'' minimum of details, which were then used as the basis for the early, non-final Combaticon models (pictured at right). From there, the models were revised to the point where the finished character designs and toys had very little in common. Unlike the Stunticons, however; the finished Combaticon models ''do'' replace the original head designs with toy-accurate ones, which were likely based on the figures' [[package art]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Combatron''' (コンバットロン ''Konbattoron''), '''Combaticon''' (コンバッティコン ''Konbattikon'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhàn Chē Duì''' (China, 战车队, "Combat Vehicles Team")
*''French:'' '''Combatican''' (Europe, "Combaticon")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Csatarobot''' ("Battle-robot")
*''Italian:'' '''Combacticon'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Combatantes'''
*''Russian:'' '''Boevikon''' (Боевикон, "Thrillercon")

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Combaticons| Combaticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) subgroups]]
[[Category:Kre-O subgroups]]
[[Category:Transformers Character Card Decepticons]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors subgroups]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

The Need for Read

2025-06-12T22:14:03Z

Kickassatron: /* Real-world references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|Transformers: EarthSpark]]'' ep 37
|image=TheNeedForRead-BreakdownBB.jpg
|caption=
|prev=Witwicky, Part 2
|next= Attack of the Drive-In Movie
|title="The Need for Read"
|season=3
|season ep=1
|airdate=[[October 25]], [[2024]] (Paramount+) [[TBA]], [[2024]] (Nickelodeon)
|production company=[[Hasbro Entertainment]] [[Nickelodeon]]
|writer=[[Dale Malinowski]]
|animation studio=[[88 Pictures]]
|director=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|video=https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/video/t0qSxyOYrqvacVNjcCPM_xIy7_xbLDVQ/
|videosite=Paramount+
}}

'''Bumblebee and Breakdown’s friendship is put to the test when he, Mo, and Thrash enter the dome.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] and [[Breakdown (ES)|Breakdown]] fire fruitlessly at the [[Chaos Dome]] enclosing [[Terratronus]], but are unable to breach it. Bumblebee regrets that he can't free his friend — getting [[Robby Malto|Robby]] and [[Mo Malto|Mo]] to bring down the dome would free all of the Decepticons after all. Promising to try again tomorrow, Bee drives off.

At the Malto farm, Robby, Mo, [[Twitch]] and [[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] are reading [[Transformers (fictional comic)|''Transformers'' comics]]. Robby discovers he's missing the vital last issue in the series due to being busy saving the world at the time, and the issue is now sold out. As Robby and Twitch head off to find something else to do, Bumblebee rolls up and Mo fills him in on the problem. She suddenly has an idea — the comic shop inside the dome must have the issue Robby is after and she can get them into the dome to get it. Sensing an opportunity to free Breakdown, Bee is all for this idea.

The trio arrive at a remote part of the Chaos Dome where Mo uses her [[cyber-sleeve]] to create an opening so they can head inside. Within, they discover some of the hazards — red lightning coming from the sky and [[Skywarp (ES)|Skywarp]] and [[Nova Storm (ES)|Nova Storm]] making futile attempts to escape the dome. They stop to admire Terratronus and also [[Starscream (ES)|Starscream]], still trapped inside her noggin. Bee touches Terratronus and absorbs a charge of chaos energy, flinging him back and causing his blaster to fire wildly, which inevitably attracts Decepticon attention. [[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]] and Breakdown quickly arrive, with the latter expressing disappointment that Bee knows how to get in but didn't tell him. Bee manages to talk Breakdown around while the pair duel, and Breakdown cooperates with taking down Soundwave and the cassettes, allowing the trio to escape.

Bee and Thrash head down the road towards [[Witwicky (town)|Witwicky]], attempting to avoid the patches of chaos fog on the road. Bee's admission he's never beaten Breakdown in a fight or race distracts Thrash long enough that he hits a patch of fog and for a few moments is diving out of control, but fortunately Bumblebee is able to prevent him flying off the road. They continue on to [[Ultramega Comics & Collectables|the comic store]], only to find that [[Skullcruncher (ES)|Skullcruncher]] is running rampant outside it. Mo and Thrash are startled when Breakdown arrives ready to help, and then disappointed in Bee when they realize this is why he came on the mission, but he manages to convince them Breakdown is on their side. While Bee and Breakdown keep Skullcruncher busy, Thrash and Mo retrieve the comic from the store. Skullcruncher charges them as they emerge, but Bumblebee and Breakdown cooperate to defeat the Con before the four of them head to the edge of the dome.

[[File:ESShockwaveComic.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Guys, look! A Birdie!]]

Just as they're celebrating their victory, the comic is snatched from Mo's hands by [[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]]. To Bee's shock, Breakdown moves to stand with Shockwave, Soundwave and Skullcruncher, explaining that while Bee is his friend, the Cons are his family. Shockwave offers them the comic book back, but only if Mo frees the Decepticons from the dome. Mo is not willing to do that or to leave the comic behind, but Bumblebee has a better idea and challenges Breakdown to a race, winner take all. Knowing Bee has never beaten Breakdown in a race, Shockwave sees the logic in accepting, so soon Bumblebee and Breakdown are lined up for a no-rules race around "Chaos County". [[Laserbeak (ES)|Laserbeak]] provides footage and commentary as the pair take off. As expected, Breakdown employs all manner of cheating to try to slow Bumblebee down, but as they approach the finish line, Bumblebee intentionally drives into a bolt of chaos energy, temporarily supercharging him so he finishes first. Shockwave reluctantly concedes and allows Bumblebee, Mo and Thrash to leave with the comic.

Later, they present the comic to an overjoyed Robby, who immediately reads through it and reacts with shock at the ending.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] (1)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (ES)|Breakdown]] (2)
*[[Skywarp (ES)|Skywarp]] (8)
*[[Nova Storm (ES)|Nova Storm]] (9)
*[[Starscream (ES)|Starscream]] (10)
*[[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Frenzy (ES)|Frenzy]] (12)
*[[Ravage (ES)|Ravage]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (ES)|Laserbeak]] (14)
*[[Skullcruncher (ES)|Skullcruncher]] (15)
*[[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]] (16)
|c3=
*[[Robby Malto]] (4)
*[[Mo Malto]] (6)

|h4=[[Terran]]s||c4=
*[[Twitch]] (3)
*[[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] (5)
*[[Terratronus]] (7)

}}

==Quotes==
"Why can't my life be normal again?" 
"Because it's not scripted like comics?" 
"I wish someone was writing my life. I bet I'd have it pretty sweet for saving the world twice."
:—'''Robby''' and '''Twitch'''

"Sis, you know Thrash loves the wacky. ''(gasp)'' Maybe that's my catchphrase. I should practice that!"
:—'''Thrash'''

"Thrash does not like the wacky. No longer my catchphrase."
:—Also '''Thrash'''

"The terms of this negotiation are simple. Open an exit or deconstruct this prison altogether, and in return, you can have your precious ''pulp magazine.'' Ugh. As tasteless as it is."
:—'''Shockwave''' is not impressed by the use of his likeness.

"Your logic suggests a stalemate, and I will not accept an inconclusive outcome."
:—'''Shockwave'''

"Good luck! Sorry, you kinda need it. ...What?"
:—'''Thrash''' has utmost confidence in Bumblebee.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===

===Transformers references===
*[[The Last Stand|The 4th issue]] of a Transformers comic ending on a massive cliffhanger.
*The cover of the comic the Maltos are after is partly based on the famous cover for ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' [[The New Order|#5]], featuring [[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]] striking the same pose as his [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel counterpart]].

===Real-world references===
* The opening scene evokes a stereotypical Old West film gunfight until it's revealed Bumblebee and Breakdown are firing at the dome.
* In addition to the aforementioned Shockwave homage, Robby's comic also takes heavy inspiration from the [https://comicbookinvest.com/2015/03/20/uncanny-x-men-141/ oft-homaged] cover to [[wikia:Marvel:Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 141|''Uncanny X-Men'' #141]], which features a similar "wanted poster" of multiple deceased or captured [[X-Men]]. The poster takes the place of the text reading “Are all dead” burned onto the wall on the original cover, presumably because the original cover with the writing was unable to get pass the network censors.

===Errors===
*In a geographical inconsistency, for this episode the town hall(?) at the center of Witwicky is shown to be within the dome. During the scene in "[[Witwicky, Part 2]]" during which the dome is created and in subsequent episodes, the town hall's shown to be just outside the dome perimeter.
*This whole episode's plot really hinges on a lack of digital comic purchasing in the 2020s, unless Robby prefers to only collect physical copies of comic books.
*At the beginning of the episode when Twitch sits up while in the tree, the comic she's holding has it's cover clip through the pages inside it for a few frames. This occurs again during the last scene with two comics in the pile in front of Twitch.
**Additionally one of the comics in front of Twitch turns into a blank sheet of paper after the first shot.

* [[Roger Craig Smith]] is listed in the credits as "Roger Cr'''ia'''g Smith".

===Trivia===

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Necessidade de Ler'''" ("The Need for Read")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 25]], 2024
::*Shockwave calls the comic book "realistic" instead of "tasteless".

'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vive la lecture'''" ("Long Live Reading")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 11]], 2025

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Auf der Jagd nach dem Comic'''" ("On the Hunt for the Comic")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 30]], 2024

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kebutuhan Membaca'''" ("The Need for Read")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 18]], 2025

[[Category:EarthSpark episodes]]

Whirl (RBA)

2025-06-10T22:12:42Z

Kickassatron: /* Rescue Bots Academy cartoon */

{{faction|autobot|rescuebot}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3.5|the ''Rescue Bots Academy'' Autobot|the ''Fall of Cybertron'' Autobot|Whirl (FOC)|Whirl}}
:''Whirl the Flight-Bot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (franchise)|Rescue Bots Academy]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[File:RBA Whirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Whirly Whirly Whirly Whirly girl'']]

'''Whirl''' aspires to be a [[Rescue Bot]] police officer like [[Chase (RB)|Chase]], though while her senior has a no-nonsense approach, Whirl is all optimism and heavily into [[Earth]] culture like fellow copter-bot [[Blades (RB)|Blades]]. Her enthusiasm for the work can be overwhelming, and her sense of judgement may lead to some simply ''ridiculous'' theories and quotes, giving her fellow recruits pause; more often than not she's proven right, though it may take some time for her friends to follow her advice.

{{quote|To be fair, I am not certain one can ''ever'' be as excited as Whirl.|[[Medix (RB)|Medix]]|"[[Mount Botmore]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Rescue Bots Academy'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Courtney Shaw]] (English)|[[Martina Tamburello]] (Italian), [[Marie Braam]] (French)}}
[[File:RecruitsI Whirl welcomes Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|280px|"What whirley great arms you've got!"]]
Whirl was among those selected to be a recruit at the [[Rescue Bot Training Center]] on [[Earth]]. She was first to enthusiastically greet [[Hot Shot (Prime)|Hot Shot]] when he arrived. She and the rest of the team subsequently took part in a rescue drill overseen by [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] but were unsuccessful in putting out a house fire thanks to the newcomer. {{storylink|Recruits Part I}} Whirl and [[Hoist (RB)|Hoist]] tried unsuccessfully to find Hot Shot when it looked like he'd given up, but he later returned with two new alternate modes. The team went on to successfully carry out a cave rescue exercise. {{storylink|Recruits Part II}} When [[Blades (RB)|Blades]] was summoned to the academy to help Hot Shot perfect his flying, Whirl enthusiastically volunteered to take part as well, and later took part in a rescue in [[Griffin Rock]] during which Hot Shot put the lessons into practice. {{storylink|The Secret of Flight}}

Following a rescue in [[Griffin Rock]], the recruits persuaded Hoist to make new rescue tools for them all. Whirl got new rotors on her arms, and though the initial test went horribly wrong, she and the other recruits enlisted the help of Boulder, and Hoist eventually perfected the tools. {{storylink|If at first...}} After Hot Shot badly damaged [[Tough Luck Chuck]] and was assigned the task of looking after the robot, he tried to foist the duty onto Whirl, who was trying to do some rescue research, only for Chuck to slip past them. They attempted to hunt him down, and eventually pursued him to [[Milford]]. {{storylink|Tough Luck Chuck (episode)|Tough Luck Chuck}} Whirl enthusiastically memorised all of the police codes Chase was teaching the recruits, and as a result, when the other recruits persuaded Chase to let them try a rescue and instead got stuck in the snow, Whirl was able to rescue them. {{storylink|Whirl'd View}} When the recruits didn't understand why Boulder was having them plant flowers, the Rescue Bot set them a task which taught them that all parts of nature are important. {{storylink|Plan Bee}}

[[File:MissionInaudible Whirl copter mode.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"I can hover like a bird. Don't you wish you could hover?"]]
Whirl and the other recruits were bugged when [[Wedge (RBA)|Wedge]] borrowed the trigger for the rescue alarm and had them constantly running drills to get their response time down. {{storylink|The Bot Who Cried Rescue}} The recruits had to contend with a runaway rock sculpture of Hot Shot's head when he decided to carve it into a mountain alongside the likenesses of the Rescue Bots. {{storylink|Mount Botmore}} When Hoist was put in charge of a rescue exercise, Whirl was the only one who actually followed any of his orders, and ended up dangling over a chasm with Hot Shot, Wedge and [[Medix (RB)|Medix]] dangling from her until Hoist successfully rescued them. {{storylink|Mission Inaudible}} After completing a simulated rescue, despite a glitch occurring, the recruits took part in a real rescue in Griffin Rock which was only successful because the glitch gave [[Medix (RB)|Medix]] an idea to complete it safely. {{storylink|Glitch (episode)|Glitch}}

[[File:RescuePromo Whirl filmmaker.jpg|thumb|left|270px|"I think railways are slow. They're not much use, and are quite out of date."]]
After a ride on the ''[[Sigma]]'', the recruits assumed the four command chairs meant one of their number wouldn't graduate. The team went on to botch a volcano rescue drill after staying up all night worrying, until Heatwave told them they'd assumed wrong. {{storylink|Five into Four}} Whirl took over filming a recruitment video for the training center, but all the footage she got was terrible and it wasn't until she told the other recruits that they were able to pitch in and help her make a workable video. {{storylink|Rescue Promo}} After a botched rescue had the recruits blaming each other, Heatwave assigned them to cleaning duties. Hot Shot sneaked out to do a rescue, and as a result, the rest of the recruits had to go help him when he hit trouble. {{storylink|Blame Game}} Whirl and the other recruits set up a surprise rescue mission for Medix, who didn't get the appeal of surprises. Unfortunately the mission did not go well, and the other recruits promised to stop with the surprises. {{storylink|Medix Surprise}}

The recruits got to try out some [[TX3000]]s on loan to the rescue center, and even used them during an actual rescue. {{storylink|The TX3000}} They had to round up a lost flock of sheep, but were hampered by Hoist malfunctioning. {{storylink|Little Bot Peep}} When [[Lad Pioneer|Teen Pioneer]] [[Wes]] visited the base and Wedge was reluctant to spend time with the boy due to low self-confidence, Whirl pointed out that Wedge was Wes's favorite Rescue Bot. {{Storylink|Driving a Wedge}} Boulder accompanied the recruits to the planet [[Parvus]] where they rescued the last surviving [[Galax]]. {{storylink|Big Small Rescue}}

[[File:RBA-Fright At The Museum-Shades.jpg|thumb|right|350px|She likes to watch reruns of ''CSI: Miami.'']]
When Hot Shot and Wedge decided to compete over who was qualified to get into the [[Heroes of Cybertron (cards)|Heroes of Cybertron]] card game, Medix and Whirl acted as commentators for the building and Cube challenges they undertook. {{storylink|Battle of the Bots}} After Hot Shot is blamed by his friends for stealing a space rock, Whirl sticks up for him and suggests they find the rock to prove his innocence. Discovering the rock to actually be an alien loose in the academy, Whirl gives chase but winds up temporarily trapped in her locker. {{storylink|About A Rock}} The recruits tried to keep secret the fact a dog had followed them home after the last rescue, only to discover that the dog was actually trying to alert them to the fact they'd missed someone who needed rescuing. {{storylink|Dog Stray Afternoon}} Whirl took part in rescuing [[Dr. Hart]] from a runaway iceberg. {{storylink|Lucky Ducky}}

Inspired by Blades, Whirl took it upon herself to get into cheerleading. Though the other recruits weren't as enthused, they soon discovered that the skills they were learning were helpful during rescues, and began practicing in earnest. {{storylink|Go Team, Go!}} When Boulder assigned the recruits smartphones so they could familiarize themselves with the devices, they began neglecting their lessons and chores, until they realized it was causing problems with their rescues. {{storylink|Screen Time}} During a trip to a museum in Milford, Whirl naturally assumed they'd encounter a heist in progress, and turned out to be right. Her policing skills resulted in her catching a thief in the act, and she was able to ferry him to the Griffin Rock jail. {{storylink|Fright At The Museum}}

[[File:AllAtSea Whirl mermaid.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"My job is to stay at sea in case of other emergencies."]]
When their teachers went missing on a space mission, the recruits worked together to pilot the ''Sigma'' and mount a rescue. {{storylink|Space Case (episode)|Space Case}} Boulder had the recruits cleaning up a park, though as Whirl spent the whole time chasing a rogue plastic bag, she didn't get much trash. The same thing happened during the follow up mission at the bottom of the sea, though Whirl did accidentally make herself look like a mermaid using seaweed. She and the other recruits later had to rescue Medix from a shark. {{storylink|All At Sea}} With the teachers on another off-planet mission, the recruits were left to tidy up the Academy, and had to deal with Hoist's [[Scrub-A-Dubber]] when it went rogue. {{storylink|All Washed Up}}

Heatwave suggested that the bored students try their hands at being teachers for the day. None of the recruits seemed to do well, with Whirl's lecture on transforming boring Heatwave and Cody, but their teachers later put what they'd learned to use during a real rescue. {{storylink|Who's Teaching Who?}} An attempt to rescue a balloon from a tree turned into a major disaster when the recruits went in without a plan. {{storylink|Balloon Up A Tree}} A fantasy simulation saw the recruits trying to corral a dragon, until they worked out that the dragon was actually trying to help, {{storylink|The Mystery of Dragon Mountain}} and yet another sim turned into chaos thanks to Hot Shot combining it with his game, forcing the recruits to deal with giant hedgehogs. {{storylink|Hack Attack}}

Whirl and the other recruits found their rescues complicated by Medix's attempts to loosen up after they suggested he was a stick in the mud. {{storylink|Life of the Party}} Whirl learned that the recruits were getting a new teacher, but was too excited to find out who. It turned out to be [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]]! {{storylink|Tyrannosaurus Wrecked}} Grimlock took Whirl and the others on a field trip to [[Wayward Island|Dino Island]]. After the GroundBridge was damaged, Whirl had to tow Grimlock back to the mainland. {{storylink|Dino Hard}} Assigned a stealth mission by Chase, Whirl and Hoist managed to find Tough Luck Chuck hiding in a barn, but were caught by Chase after Whirl accidentally demolished the structure. {{storylink|Buddy Cop}}

[[File:DigFest Whirl signalling.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Flag girl Whirl]]
The recruits had to rescue some penguins from an island, and Whirl came up with the idea of building a raft after their ability to transform was disabled by an electrical storm. {{storylink|Escape From Penguin Island}} Whirl was surprised to learn Hoist had cheated during a search and rescue test that led to the recruits taking part in an Old West simulation. {{storylink|All that Glitters}} A hunt for a downed satellite resulted in the recruits hiding out backstage at [[Dig Fest (event)|Dig Fest]] while trying to signal Wedge. {{storylink|Dig Fest (episode)|Dig Fest}} The recruits took part in [[Halloween]] festivities and ended up having to deal with a house fire. {{storylink|Trick or Treat}}

Medix's confusion over a television commercial meant that the recruits had to mount a hasty coverup so he wouldn't blow their secret to all of Milford {{storylink|Monster Savings}} Whirl and the others got a tune stuck in their heads, impairing their performance on a training exercise. They managed to forget the tune, but this caused problems on a mission to the planet [[Herboo]], as it was the code needed for the [[Virtual Sonic Fence]] Hoist needed to use to stop the [[karknoid beetle]]. {{storylink|Tune Out}} A trip to survey a geyser field saw the recruits having to deal with a swarm of [[Scraplet]]s. {{storylink|Metal Munchers}}

[[File:WhirlsWiseBotQuest Whirl rotor blades.jpg|thumb|left|350px]]
Whirl and the other recruits took part in essential maintenance as directed by [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], unlike Wedge who spent the whole time trying to impress his hero, and they were therefore fully functional for the following rescue drill. {{Storylink|Bee Prepared}} After Whirl failed to master a tricky maneuver, Blades told her about a Rescue Bot guru who had once helped him. Whirl set out to find the guru, unaware that Blades had made the story up, and along the way made a series of rescues. The rescues gave her the skills to master the maneuver, which she was later able to use to rescue her fellow recruits. {{storylink|Whirl's Wise-Bot Quest}}

Hot Shot's careless actions in ejecting his junk into space had Whirl and the others following his lead, resulting an a huge junk meteor that threatened the satellite they were trying to repair. {{Storylink|Flying Hunk-A-Junk}} A mission deep undersea forced the recruits to rely on each other as they rescued an automated drone from deep sea wildlife. {{storylink|Into The Depths}} Whirl joined the hunt for some dogs when Hoist's new comms system turned out to annoy animals. {{storylink|Milford Goes To The Dogs}} The recruits struggled to complete a rescue sim until Hot Shot realized they'd been trying to stop the disaster instead of saving the people. {{storylink|The Ice Wave}}

As graduation drew closer, the recruits successful competed against their teachers in a relay race carrying a pretend rescue victim. Whirl and the others were surprised and saddened when Hot Shot opted to abandon his Rescue Bot training and return to Cybertron to compete in the Cube finals. {{storylink|Best Bots Forever Part 1}} The remaining recruits decided to tune in to the final using the [[space bridge]] to boost the holo-emitter screen. Unfortunately this led to the creation of a slowly growing energon bubble which engulfed the academy. It was only when Hot Shot returned that the recruits were able to burst the bubble. The recruits were able to graduate from year one of their learning. {{storylink|Best Bots Forever Part 2}}

[[File:BackToSchool Whirl gets excited.jpg|thumb|right|260px]]
After the recruits returned to the Academy for year two, they were given personal areas—in Whirl's case a wind tunnel—and the news they'd be paired with mentors. Whirl was worried that [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s [[Aptitude Analyzer]] wouldn't find her worthy of a mentor, but it ended up pairing her with Chase. {{storylink|Back To School}} She and the other recruits got some new training simulations courtesy of Ratchet. {{Storylink|Mission Dinobot}} Whirl got to work with Chase ticketing jaywalkers. She and the other recruits later rescued some foxes from a tree in a forest fire. {{storylink|In Training}} The recruits went on a trip to Cybertron to visit Ratchet's lab, which ended up being disrupted by Medix's bat [[Mister Flappy]]. {{Storylink|Medix Steps Up To The Bat}}

When the recruits thought Cody was unhappy because he wasn't a giant robot like them, they built him a robotic suit which caused chaos during their mission to rescue a rogue bull. Cody later clarified that he was just missing hanging out with the recruits. {{storylink|Robo-Cody}} Heatwave tasked the recruits with acting in the play [[Jack and the Beanstalk]]. Whirl was assigned the role of Jack. Unfortunately the play ended when the stage almost collapsed, but Whirl stayed in character throughout. {{storylink|Acting Out}} Whirl and the others found Wedge's boredom was interfering with their study time. Wedge later surprised them by being enthusiastic about studying. {{storylink|Need to Know}}

[[File:ActingOut Whirl climbs beanstalk.jpg|thumb|left|290px]]
After Hot Shot and Hoist turned Grimlock's Cube into an unstoppable escaping machine, the other three recruits attempted to help them recapture it but eventually had to call on Grimlock's help. {{storylink|Trouble Cubed}} When Heatwave let the recruits pick their favorite rescue to do, Whirl's was a rain of meteors in a desert, from which they would need to rescue a bunch of animals. The disagreement over which simulation to run resulted in the recruits accidentally breaking the control unit and plunging the sim into chaos until they worked together to fix the unit. {{storylink|My Favorite Rescue}}

After Ratchet got trapped in an ancient sim, the five recruits entered the sim as well. They successfully negotiated their way through a tower full of traps and rescued their teacher, completing the sim and opening the vault to find four Mul-T-Cogs and an ancient artifact. {{storylink|The Vault Of The Primes}} Chase assigned Whirl the task of investigating the [[Charlotte Wayne|Lady of Griffin Rock]], so she enlisted Medix as a sidekick. They ended up locating Wayne's run-down mansion, but all they found inside was a family of opossums which they were able to rescue before the mansion collapsed. {{storylink|Wild Ghost Chase}} Following a soil-sampling mission on some dwarf planets, Whirl and the others found Medix had replanted the Galax in the academy garden, which it had promptly taken over, forcing them to relocate it to a more suitable home. {{storylink|Little Plot of Horrors}}

[[File:WildGhostChase Whirl Polyvisor.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Whirl and Chase were setting up security measures at the [[Museum of Future Tech Art]] when the prize sculpture [[Mano e Nano]] went missing. Though Chase suspected former criminals [[Evan (RB)|Evan]] and [[Myles]], Whirl consulted [[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]], who determined that the nanotech statue had simply reverted to a shapeless form. {{storylink|Mystery Museum}} Whirl and Chase also took part in the rescue of Doc Greene and [[Frankie Greene|Frankie]] when a force field dome trapped the two humans in the lab. {{storylink|Partners (RBA)|Partners}}

Medix's overly-harsh criticism of the other recruits made them upset at him, however his overcompensation then led them to believe they had mastered a rescue technique when they had not. {{storylink|Critical Condition}} During a visit to [[Mechapark]], Whirl and Medix discovered that everything was malfunctioning, resulting in Whirl having to rescue the other recruits from the rides. {{Storylink|Fun Droids}} The [[Sparksayer]] gifted Whirl with a polyvisor which she put to good use during a volcano rescue. {{storylink|Power Up And Energize}} Cody had the five recruits learn some ballet to improve their poise and balance during rescues. {{storylink|Shall We Dance?}}

[[File:FiveLittleRescueBots Whirl and Chase.jpg|thumb|left|320px]]
Whirl and the others helped Hot Shot overcome his one-alternate-mode-per-day limitation by tricking him into thinking a sim rescue was real. {{storylink|Mul-T-Change of Pace}} Whirl's final exam on deductive reasoning was to take place during a camping trip on [[Natura Island]], and when her fellow recruits started disappearing, she correctly worked out the island's tech defense system was still active and transporting people to a junk yard. She and Chase successfully rescued everyone, only to discover that the actual test Heatwave had devised was to find him in his tree disguise. {{storylink|Five Little Rescue Bots}} After Hot Shot accidentally messed up Hoist's museum, Medix persuaded Whirl to help clean up. A diagnostic tool interfered with Whirl's wind tunnel and caused it to go crazy, which she actually extremely enjoyed. {{storylink|Good Advice}}

After a campout, the recruits noticed Hot Shot was acting oddly and eventually worked out his comm transmitter had fallen out, resulting in them having to go back for it and rescuing a bear cub in the process. {{storylink|Campfire Fright}} Hot Shot persuaded the other recruits to test out the new Mul-T-Cogs from the vault, only for them to discover that the cogs weren't charged enough and they could no longer transform. Hot Shot successfully fully activated them at the cost of his own ability to transform, at least until Whirl and the others found they could return the favor and use their cogs to reactivate his. {{storylink|Small Cogs}} Whirl quickly selected a police car as her new alternate mode, and was particularly pleased with the cupholders. {{storylink|Big Wheels}}

The recruits' first solo off-world mission took them to a deserted city, where they rescued Scorch and his Cube team from an arena and discovered the whole place was a long-lost [[Titan (group)|Titan]], [[Citadel Secundus]]. {{storylink|The Empty City}} After taking part in Mentor Training Day with Chase, Whirl teamed up with her mentor again for a "rescue-athon". {{storylink|First Responder}}

Boulder assigned the recruits the task of training Scraplets, which they attempted unsuccessfully for a while before giving up. During a subsequent mission to prevent a power plant from exploding down, it turned out Medix had managed to train the Scraplets after all, saving the day. {{storylink|How To Train Your Scraplet}} After Medix showed her up during a training sim, Whirl became worried that he was a better helicopter than her. She later realized during a fire fighting mission that he really was inexperienced and helped him to get the hang of his helicopter mode. {{storylink|Helicopter Heroes}}

[[File:RBA TheTiesThatBind towline.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
During a sim mission, Whirl didn't feel confident enough in her own decision making to switch a lever, resulting in the sim being failed. She and the rest of the recruits were dispatched to [[Australia]] to help [[Brushfire (RB)|Brushfire]], and being teamed up with the loner bot helped Whirl learn to be more self reliant, resulting in her rescuing a [[kangaroo]] from the fires they were fighting. {{storylink|Brushfire (episode)|Brushfire}} Whirl continued to have trouble getting used to her police car mode, which caused her trouble when racing with Hot Shot. When she was forced to tow Scorch back to base in car mode, she was at first irritated by his constant chatter, but he helped her get used to her car mode and even put himself in [[stasis lock]] to save her from being crushed by a falling boulder. She airlifted him back to base where Medix was able to revive him, and the two firm friends went racing. {{storylink|The Ties That Bind (episode)|The Ties That Bind}}

[[File:RBA Whirl Bus Push.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
While the recruits were doing a sim mission where they had to rescue a crashed charter bus, Whirl tried to push the bus but she was too weak and needed help from Wedge. After their training, Whirl uploaded an embarrassing video of Hot Shot to the Rescue Network without consulting him, and later realized she'd made a mistake. She confessed what she'd done to him during a mission to prevent a sandstone butte from falling on a tree, but fortunately he liked that the video had gone viral. {{storylink|Bot Blog}} She, Medix and Heatwave were subjected to [[H.B. Luskey|Mayor Luskey]]'s comedy routine when the ice blocks needed for an ice sculpture contest failed to show up on time. Fortunately for all present, Whirl hit on the idea of using other materials to sculpt. {{storylink|The Icebot Cometh}}

After the recruits rescued the [[Decepticon]] [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] from a stricken spaceship, Whirl and the others learned that Wedge had originally been created as a Decepticon, and helped him track down the injured Laserbeak. {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye (RBA)|More Than Meets the Eye}} Whirl helped Hoist carry out an investigation into who had trashed the lab, with the pair coming to the erroneous conclusion that Sludge and Snarl were the culprits. {{storylink|Things That Go Bot in the Night}} Whirl and the others participated in a series of physics-related exercises set by Perceptor, and later had to rescue Medix when their fellow recruit ran into trouble trying to impress the teacher. {{Storylink|Medix Gets Schooled}} She and the other recruits experienced jealousy when a group of teens began carrying out rescues in Milford and getting press. {{storylink|Rescue TEENS}}

[[File:TheTracker Whirl resets trap.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Perceptor sent the recruits to [[Sifrolicous-5]] to discover why the planet changed color, and they found [[mudlubber]]s, who turned out to be exactly suited to the environment. {{storylink|Enter the Flood}} Worried about spoiling her perfect score, Whirl avoided meeting with Optimus for her review. She was knocked out during a rescue and experienced a ''Wizard of Oz'' inspired dream which gave her the courage to meet with Optimus and discover she aced her review again anyway. {{Storylink|Wizard of Botz}} When Chase sent Whirl to the [[Amazon]] to hunt for [[Huxley Prescott]], she teamed up with the Dinobot [[Slash (RBA)|Slash]]. Though Slash was not keen on having company, Whirl rescued her and Prescott from an ancient trap and she conceded company might be a good thing. {{storylink|The Tracker}} Heatwave assigned Whirl the task of checking the wind turbine, as part of doing maintenance on the academy. She and the others later had to cover up a holographic dragon when Hot Shot and Hoist let it escape Hero Hall and menace Milford. {{storylink|One of Our Dragons is Missing}}

[[File:DontBeAlarmed Whirl dashboard.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Whirl and the other recruits were taken on a field trip by Perceptor to a tropical island to study volcanoes. {{storylink|Dino-mite Duo}} They joined Heatwave in responding to a vague message from Citadel Secundus, only to find the Titan was just in need of some company. {{storylink|The Lonely Titan}} The recruits teamed up with [[Finn O'Reilly]] to follow the clues on a [[Holokey]]. They expected treasure, but instead found a hidden cache of [[Tox-En]]. {{Storylink|X Marks the Bot}} Whirl, Hoist, and Medix helped Hot Shot modify the racing track so they could help Wedge get used to moving at speed. {{storylink|Making Tracks (RBA)|Making Tracks}} During a mission to the planet [[Krimol]], Whirl realized the loud sirens the other recruits had made themselves were aggravating the life forms. Unfortunately her warnings came too late and she had to rescue the others from annoyed tentacles so they could rescue Hoist from a crevasse. {{Storylink|Don't be Alarmed}} Heatwave had Whirl and the other recruits retrieve toxic barrels from the seabed and rescue Jerry in order to teach them to exercise more restraint in using their power up tools. {{Storylink|Powerless}}

[[File:CrashOfTheTitan Hot Shot pilots Secundus.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
After discovering that Medix was into DJ Mechmaster's electronic music, the recruits joined him in rescuing the DJ during a charity concert in Griffin Rock, and even took part in the show masquerading as stage props. {{storylink|Griffin Rock Rocks!}} Whirl and the other recruits watched from the Academy as Chuck and Hot Shot entered the Bot Battle event at Dig Fest. {{storylink|Bot Battle}}

Following the successful completion of the last test of year two, the recruits were rewarded with a party aboard Citadel Secundus. When Hot Shot opted not to go in favor of building a nanobot sculpture to thank the teachers, Whirl also stayed back to help. The sculpture didn't turn out as planned, however the pair found they had a new emergency as Secundus had been hit by an asteroid, knocking out him and everyone on board except Wedge, and was on a crash course for Earth. {{storylink|Space Party}} Being short a few teammates, Whirl and Hot Shot rounded up some of the friends they'd made and with their help, were able to remotely take control of Secundus, landing the Titan safely near the Academy. Afterwards, the recruits finally got to have their graduation ceremony. {{storylink|Crash of the Titan}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Rescue Bots Academy''===
[[File:RBA-Whirl-toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot''' (2019)

: Whirl's first toy is sized similarly to the previous Megabots line, at about 11 inches tall, transforming into a helicopter in a couple of "Easy 2 Do Conversion" steps. In either bot or vehicle mode, pressing a button on her rotor causes it to spin. She comes packaged in robot mode, and helpfully, a cutout in the package allows this gimmick to be tried in-store without removing her from the package. Her engineering and transformation pattern are based on the [[Blades (RB)#RescanCopter|Rescan helicopter version of Blades]].

{{-}}

{{anchor|Racecar}}
[[File:RBA-RaceCarWhirl-carded.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot''' (2019)

: Revealed at Toy Fair 2019,<ref name="RBToyFair2019">[https://www.seibertron.com/events/gallery.php?event_id=621 Seibertron.com - Toy Fair 2019: Transformers Rescue Bots Academy Photogallery]</ref> this Whirl is a redeco of the [[Heatwave (RB)#RescanRaceCar|race-car version of Heatwave]] - itself derived from the [[Blurr (Prime)#Rescue Bots|Blurr]]/[[MorBot]] mold - with a new head and some subtle retooling, mostly located in the chest and legs. She is curiously still identified as a "Flight-Bot" despite her new land-based alt-mode.

{{-}}

{{anchor|AcadRescTeam}}
[[File:RBA-AcademyRescueTeam-boxed.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|Medix drew the short straw.]]
*'''Academy Rescue Team''' (2019)

: First previewed at Toy Fair 2019,<ref name="RBToyFair2019" /> this version of Whirl is a new-head redeco of the [[Blades (RB)#RescanVTOL|VTOL jet version of Blades]] (itself a retool of VTOL Bumblebee). As such, she is one of the very few figures in the ''Rescue Bots'' franchise to have articulation unrelated to transformation. She comes in a set of four, similar to the previous "[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (toyline)#Rescan Series|Griffin Rock Rescue Team]]", with [[Hot Shot (Prime)#AcadRescTeam|Hot Shot]] (retool of Rock Rescue Team Bumblebee), [[Wedge (RBA)#AcadRescTeam|Wedge]] (retool of cement mixer Salvage) and [[Hoist (RB)#AcadRescTeam|Hoist]] (retool of ''Rescan'' Hoist). This version of Whirl was later [[#WhirlVTOL|released singly]].

{{-}}

{{anchor|FlipRacers}}
[[File:RBA-Flip-Racers-Whirl.JPG|thumb|right]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot Flip Racers''' (2018)

: Released (apparently) as the only new toy in the fifth and final wave of Flip Racers Single Packs.

{{-}}

{{anchor|WhirlVTOL}}
[[File:Whirl-VTOL-Single-2020W5.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot''' (2020)

: The [[#AcadRescTeam|VTOL version of Whirl]] from the Academy Rescue Team boxset was released singly in 2020's Wave 5, with no notable changes.
{{-}}
====Mini Bot Racers====
{{-}}{{anchor|MBR}}
*'''Whirl'''
[[File:RBA Mini Bot Racers Whirl.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1|]]
{{charstubtoys}}
{{--}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:Whirl-RBA-early design.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|right]]
*''Rescue Bots Academy'' Whirl is the first incarnation of the character to be portrayed as a female ([[Whirl (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|IDW Whirl's]] [[holomatter]] avatar notwithstanding).
*Whirl's animation model was slightly modified from her [[:File:Rescue Bots Academy Whirl.jpg|initial promotional image]] by shifting the silver patch to the center of her head while recoloring the yellow chest harness sky blue.
*Early show concept art (at right) by character designer [[Francesco Giglio]] features a very different Whirl design much more closely based on that of her [[Whirl (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xzaZX4 ArtStation post by Francesco Giglio, April 2020]</ref>
* If the recruits were to have an official age order, [[Pete Slattery]] would write Whirl as the second oldest.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Okay, a few questions! The Bots are mid teens if they were human-like. Say 14 in year 1,15 year 2. We never got into who's older but if I were to write it, I'd say Wedge oldest, then Whirl, Hot Shot, Hoist and Medix the youngest!|link=https://twitter.com/PeteSlatteryIE/status/1276778456659918848|name=Pete Slattery|site=Twitter|month=06|day=27|year=2020}}</ref>
*Whirl's locker features a [[Media:RBA-Ep20-TwoWhirls.jpg|drawing]] of her and [[Whirl (FOC)|another Whirl]], using the character's [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More than Meets the Eye'']] [[Whirl (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|design]].

===Foreign names===
*''Mandarin:'' '''Xuányì''' (旋翼, "Rotor")<ref>This name is different from the usual Mandarin translation for [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], ''Xuánrèn'' (旋刃).</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Rescue Bots Academy Autobots]]

Whirl (RBA)

2025-06-10T22:07:31Z

Kickassatron: /* Rescue Bots Academy cartoon */

{{faction|autobot|rescuebot}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3.5|the ''Rescue Bots Academy'' Autobot|the ''Fall of Cybertron'' Autobot|Whirl (FOC)|Whirl}}
:''Whirl the Flight-Bot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (franchise)|Rescue Bots Academy]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[File:RBA Whirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Whirly Whirly Whirly Whirly girl'']]

'''Whirl''' aspires to be a [[Rescue Bot]] police officer like [[Chase (RB)|Chase]], though while her senior has a no-nonsense approach, Whirl is all optimism and heavily into [[Earth]] culture like fellow copter-bot [[Blades (RB)|Blades]]. Her enthusiasm for the work can be overwhelming, and her sense of judgement may lead to some simply ''ridiculous'' theories and quotes, giving her fellow recruits pause; more often than not she's proven right, though it may take some time for her friends to follow her advice.

{{quote|To be fair, I am not certain one can ''ever'' be as excited as Whirl.|[[Medix (RB)|Medix]]|"[[Mount Botmore]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Rescue Bots Academy'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Courtney Shaw]] (English)|[[Martina Tamburello]] (Italian), [[Marie Braam]] (French)}}
[[File:RecruitsI Whirl welcomes Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|280px|"What whirley great arms you've got!"]]
Whirl was among those selected to be a recruit at the [[Rescue Bot Training Center]] on [[Earth]]. She was first to enthusiastically greet [[Hot Shot (Prime)|Hot Shot]] when he arrived. She and the rest of the team subsequently took part in a rescue drill overseen by [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] but were unsuccessful in putting out a house fire thanks to the newcomer. {{storylink|Recruits Part I}} Whirl and [[Hoist (RB)|Hoist]] tried unsuccessfully to find Hot Shot when it looked like he'd given up, but he later returned with two new alternate modes. The team went on to successfully carry out a cave rescue exercise. {{storylink|Recruits Part II}} When [[Blades (RB)|Blades]] was summoned to the academy to help Hot Shot perfect his flying, Whirl enthusiastically volunteered to take part as well, and later took part in a rescue in [[Griffin Rock]] during which Hot Shot put the lessons into practice. {{storylink|The Secret of Flight}}

Following a rescue in [[Griffin Rock]], the recruits persuaded Hoist to make new rescue tools for them all. Whirl got new rotors on her arms, and though the initial test went horribly wrong, she and the other recruits enlisted the help of Boulder, and Hoist eventually perfected the tools. {{storylink|If at first...}} After Hot Shot badly damaged [[Tough Luck Chuck]] and was assigned the task of looking after the robot, he tried to foist the duty onto Whirl, who was trying to do some rescue research, only for Chuck to slip past them. They attempted to hunt him down, and eventually pursued him to [[Milford]]. {{storylink|Tough Luck Chuck (episode)|Tough Luck Chuck}} Whirl enthusiastically memorised all of the police codes Chase was teaching the recruits, and as a result, when the other recruits persuaded Chase to let them try a rescue and instead got stuck in the snow, Whirl was able to rescue them. {{storylink|Whirl'd View}} When the recruits didn't understand why Boulder was having them plant flowers, the Rescue Bot set them a task which taught them that all parts of nature are important. {{storylink|Plan Bee}}

[[File:MissionInaudible Whirl copter mode.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"I can hover like a bird. Don't you wish you could hover?"]]
Whirl and the other recruits were bugged when [[Wedge (RBA)|Wedge]] borrowed the trigger for the rescue alarm and had them constantly running drills to get their response time down. {{storylink|The Bot Who Cried Rescue}} The recruits had to contend with a runaway rock sculpture of Hot Shot's head when he decided to carve it into a mountain alongside the likenesses of the Rescue Bots. {{storylink|Mount Botmore}} When Hoist was put in charge of a rescue exercise, Whirl was the only one who actually followed any of his orders, and ended up dangling over a chasm with Hot Shot, Wedge and [[Medix (RB)|Medix]] dangling from her until Hoist successfully rescued them. {{storylink|Mission Inaudible}} After completing a simulated rescue, despite a glitch occurring, the recruits took part in a real rescue in Griffin Rock which was only successful because the glitch gave [[Medix (RB)|Medix]] an idea to complete it safely. {{storylink|Glitch (episode)|Glitch}}

[[File:RescuePromo Whirl filmmaker.jpg|thumb|left|270px|"I think railways are slow. They're not much use, and are quite out of date."]]
After a ride on the ''[[Sigma]]'', the recruits assumed the four command chairs meant one of their number wouldn't graduate. The team went on to botch a volcano rescue drill after staying up all night worrying, until Heatwave told them they'd assumed wrong. {{storylink|Five into Four}} Whirl took over filming a recruitment video for the training center, but all the footage she got was terrible and it wasn't until she told the other recruits that they were able to pitch in and help her make a workable video. {{storylink|Rescue Promo}} After a botched rescue had the recruits blaming each other, Heatwave assigned them to cleaning duties. Hot Shot sneaked out to do a rescue, and as a result, the rest of the recruits had to go help him when he hit trouble. {{storylink|Blame Game}} Whirl and the other recruits set up a surprise rescue mission for Medix, who didn't get the appeal of surprises. Unfortunately the mission did not go well, and the other recruits promised to stop with the surprises. {{storylink|Medix Surprise}}

The recruits got to try out some [[TX3000]]s on loan to the rescue center, and even used them during an actual rescue. {{storylink|The TX3000}} They had to round up a lost flock of sheep, but were hampered by Hoist malfunctioning. {{storylink|Little Bot Peep}} When [[Lad Pioneer|Teen Pioneer]] [[Wes]] visited the base and Wedge was reluctant to spend time with the boy due to low self-confidence, Whirl pointed out that Wedge was Wes's favorite Rescue Bot. {{Storylink|Driving a Wedge}} Boulder accompanied the recruits to the planet [[Parvus]] where they rescued the last surviving [[Galax]]. {{storylink|Big Small Rescue}}

[[File:RBA-Fright At The Museum-Shades.jpg|thumb|right|350px|She likes to watch reruns of ''CSI: Miami.'']]
When Hot Shot and Wedge decided to compete over who was qualified to get into the [[Heroes of Cybertron (cards)|Heroes of Cybertron]] card game, Medix and Whirl acted as commentators for the building and Cube challenges they undertook. {{storylink|Battle of the Bots}} After Hot Shot is blamed by his friends for stealing a space rock, Whirl sticks up for him and suggests they find the rock to prove his innocence. Discovering the rock to actually be an alien loose in the academy, Whirl gives chase but winds up temporarily trapped in her locker. {{storylink|About A Rock}} The recruits tried to keep secret the fact a dog had followed them home after the last rescue, only to discover that the dog was actually trying to alert them to the fact they'd missed someone who needed rescuing. {{storylink|Dog Stray Afternoon}} Whirl took part in rescuing [[Dr. Hart]] from a runaway iceberg. {{storylink|Lucky Ducky}}

Inspired by Blades, Whirl took it upon herself to get into cheerleading. Though the other recruits weren't as enthused, they soon discovered that the skills they were learning were helpful during rescues, and began practicing in earnest. {{storylink|Go Team, Go!}} When Boulder assigned the recruits smartphones so they could familiarize themselves with the devices, they began neglecting their lessons and chores, until they realized it was causing problems with their rescues. {{storylink|Screen Time}} During a trip to a museum in Milford, Whirl naturally assumed they'd encounter a heist in progress, and turned out to be right. Her policing skills resulted in her catching a thief in the act, and she was able to ferry him to the Griffin Rock jail. {{storylink|Fright At The Museum}}

[[File:AllAtSea Whirl mermaid.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"My job is to stay at sea in case of other emergencies."]]
When their teachers went missing on a space mission, the recruits worked together to pilot the ''Sigma'' and mount a rescue. {{storylink|Space Case (episode)|Space Case}} Boulder had the recruits cleaning up a park, though as Whirl spent the whole time chasing a rogue plastic bag, she didn't get much trash. The same thing happened during the follow up mission at the bottom of the sea, though Whirl did accidentally make herself look like a mermaid using seaweed. She and the other recruits later had to rescue Medix from a shark. {{storylink|All At Sea}} With the teachers on another off-planet mission, the recruits were left to tidy up the Academy, and had to deal with Hoist's [[Scrub-A-Dubber]] when it went rogue. {{storylink|All Washed Up}}

Heatwave suggested that the bored students try their hands at being teachers for the day. None of the recruits seemed to do well, with Whirl's lecture on transforming boring Heatwave and Cody, but their teachers later put what they'd learned to use during a real rescue. {{storylink|Who's Teaching Who?}} An attempt to rescue a balloon from a tree turned into a major disaster when the recruits went in without a plan. {{storylink|Balloon Up A Tree}} A fantasy simulation saw the recruits trying to corral a dragon, until they worked out that the dragon was actually trying to help, {{storylink|The Mystery of Dragon Mountain}} and yet another sim turned into chaos thanks to Hot Shot combining it with his game, forcing the recruits to deal with giant hedgehogs. {{storylink|Hack Attack}}

Whirl and the other recruits found their rescues complicated by Medix's attempts to loosen up after they suggested he was a stick in the mud. {{storylink|Life of the Party}} Whirl learned that the recruits were getting a new teacher, but was too excited to find out who. It turned out to be [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]]! {{storylink|Tyrannosaurus Wrecked}} Grimlock took Whirl and the others on a field trip to [[Wayward Island|Dino Island]]. After the GroundBridge was damaged, Whirl had to tow Grimlock back to the mainland. {{storylink|Dino Hard}} Assigned a stealth mission by Chase, Whirl and Hoist managed to find Tough Luck Chuck hiding in a barn, but were caught by Chase after Whirl accidentally demolished the structure. {{storylink|Buddy Cop}}

[[File:DigFest Whirl signalling.jpg|thumb|right|300px|”Flag girl Whirl”
The recruits had to rescue some penguins from an island, and Whirl came up with the idea of building a raft after their ability to transform was disabled by an electrical storm. {{storylink|Escape From Penguin Island}} Whirl was surprised to learn Hoist had cheated during a search and rescue test that led to the recruits taking part in an Old West simulation. {{storylink|All that Glitters}} A hunt for a downed satellite resulted in the recruits hiding out backstage at [[Dig Fest (event)|Dig Fest]] while trying to signal Wedge. {{storylink|Dig Fest (episode)|Dig Fest}} The recruits took part in [[Halloween]] festivities and ended up having to deal with a house fire. {{storylink|Trick or Treat}}

Medix's confusion over a television commercial meant that the recruits had to mount a hasty coverup so he wouldn't blow their secret to all of Milford {{storylink|Monster Savings}} Whirl and the others got a tune stuck in their heads, impairing their performance on a training exercise. They managed to forget the tune, but this caused problems on a mission to the planet [[Herboo]], as it was the code needed for the [[Virtual Sonic Fence]] Hoist needed to use to stop the [[karknoid beetle]]. {{storylink|Tune Out}} A trip to survey a geyser field saw the recruits having to deal with a swarm of [[Scraplet]]s. {{storylink|Metal Munchers}}

[[File:WhirlsWiseBotQuest Whirl rotor blades.jpg|thumb|left|350px]]
Whirl and the other recruits took part in essential maintenance as directed by [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], unlike Wedge who spent the whole time trying to impress his hero, and they were therefore fully functional for the following rescue drill. {{Storylink|Bee Prepared}} After Whirl failed to master a tricky maneuver, Blades told her about a Rescue Bot guru who had once helped him. Whirl set out to find the guru, unaware that Blades had made the story up, and along the way made a series of rescues. The rescues gave her the skills to master the maneuver, which she was later able to use to rescue her fellow recruits. {{storylink|Whirl's Wise-Bot Quest}}

Hot Shot's careless actions in ejecting his junk into space had Whirl and the others following his lead, resulting an a huge junk meteor that threatened the satellite they were trying to repair. {{Storylink|Flying Hunk-A-Junk}} A mission deep undersea forced the recruits to rely on each other as they rescued an automated drone from deep sea wildlife. {{storylink|Into The Depths}} Whirl joined the hunt for some dogs when Hoist's new comms system turned out to annoy animals. {{storylink|Milford Goes To The Dogs}} The recruits struggled to complete a rescue sim until Hot Shot realized they'd been trying to stop the disaster instead of saving the people. {{storylink|The Ice Wave}}

As graduation drew closer, the recruits successful competed against their teachers in a relay race carrying a pretend rescue victim. Whirl and the others were surprised and saddened when Hot Shot opted to abandon his Rescue Bot training and return to Cybertron to compete in the Cube finals. {{storylink|Best Bots Forever Part 1}} The remaining recruits decided to tune in to the final using the [[space bridge]] to boost the holo-emitter screen. Unfortunately this led to the creation of a slowly growing energon bubble which engulfed the academy. It was only when Hot Shot returned that the recruits were able to burst the bubble. The recruits were able to graduate from year one of their learning. {{storylink|Best Bots Forever Part 2}}

[[File:BackToSchool Whirl gets excited.jpg|thumb|right|260px]]
After the recruits returned to the Academy for year two, they were given personal areas—in Whirl's case a wind tunnel—and the news they'd be paired with mentors. Whirl was worried that [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s [[Aptitude Analyzer]] wouldn't find her worthy of a mentor, but it ended up pairing her with Chase. {{storylink|Back To School}} She and the other recruits got some new training simulations courtesy of Ratchet. {{Storylink|Mission Dinobot}} Whirl got to work with Chase ticketing jaywalkers. She and the other recruits later rescued some foxes from a tree in a forest fire. {{storylink|In Training}} The recruits went on a trip to Cybertron to visit Ratchet's lab, which ended up being disrupted by Medix's bat [[Mister Flappy]]. {{Storylink|Medix Steps Up To The Bat}}

When the recruits thought Cody was unhappy because he wasn't a giant robot like them, they built him a robotic suit which caused chaos during their mission to rescue a rogue bull. Cody later clarified that he was just missing hanging out with the recruits. {{storylink|Robo-Cody}} Heatwave tasked the recruits with acting in the play [[Jack and the Beanstalk]]. Whirl was assigned the role of Jack. Unfortunately the play ended when the stage almost collapsed, but Whirl stayed in character throughout. {{storylink|Acting Out}} Whirl and the others found Wedge's boredom was interfering with their study time. Wedge later surprised them by being enthusiastic about studying. {{storylink|Need to Know}}

[[File:ActingOut Whirl climbs beanstalk.jpg|thumb|left|290px]]
After Hot Shot and Hoist turned Grimlock's Cube into an unstoppable escaping machine, the other three recruits attempted to help them recapture it but eventually had to call on Grimlock's help. {{storylink|Trouble Cubed}} When Heatwave let the recruits pick their favorite rescue to do, Whirl's was a rain of meteors in a desert, from which they would need to rescue a bunch of animals. The disagreement over which simulation to run resulted in the recruits accidentally breaking the control unit and plunging the sim into chaos until they worked together to fix the unit. {{storylink|My Favorite Rescue}}

After Ratchet got trapped in an ancient sim, the five recruits entered the sim as well. They successfully negotiated their way through a tower full of traps and rescued their teacher, completing the sim and opening the vault to find four Mul-T-Cogs and an ancient artifact. {{storylink|The Vault Of The Primes}} Chase assigned Whirl the task of investigating the [[Charlotte Wayne|Lady of Griffin Rock]], so she enlisted Medix as a sidekick. They ended up locating Wayne's run-down mansion, but all they found inside was a family of opossums which they were able to rescue before the mansion collapsed. {{storylink|Wild Ghost Chase}} Following a soil-sampling mission on some dwarf planets, Whirl and the others found Medix had replanted the Galax in the academy garden, which it had promptly taken over, forcing them to relocate it to a more suitable home. {{storylink|Little Plot of Horrors}}

[[File:WildGhostChase Whirl Polyvisor.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Whirl and Chase were setting up security measures at the [[Museum of Future Tech Art]] when the prize sculpture [[Mano e Nano]] went missing. Though Chase suspected former criminals [[Evan (RB)|Evan]] and [[Myles]], Whirl consulted [[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]], who determined that the nanotech statue had simply reverted to a shapeless form. {{storylink|Mystery Museum}} Whirl and Chase also took part in the rescue of Doc Greene and [[Frankie Greene|Frankie]] when a force field dome trapped the two humans in the lab. {{storylink|Partners (RBA)|Partners}}

Medix's overly-harsh criticism of the other recruits made them upset at him, however his overcompensation then led them to believe they had mastered a rescue technique when they had not. {{storylink|Critical Condition}} During a visit to [[Mechapark]], Whirl and Medix discovered that everything was malfunctioning, resulting in Whirl having to rescue the other recruits from the rides. {{Storylink|Fun Droids}} The [[Sparksayer]] gifted Whirl with a polyvisor which she put to good use during a volcano rescue. {{storylink|Power Up And Energize}} Cody had the five recruits learn some ballet to improve their poise and balance during rescues. {{storylink|Shall We Dance?}}

[[File:FiveLittleRescueBots Whirl and Chase.jpg|thumb|left|320px]]
Whirl and the others helped Hot Shot overcome his one-alternate-mode-per-day limitation by tricking him into thinking a sim rescue was real. {{storylink|Mul-T-Change of Pace}} Whirl's final exam on deductive reasoning was to take place during a camping trip on [[Natura Island]], and when her fellow recruits started disappearing, she correctly worked out the island's tech defense system was still active and transporting people to a junk yard. She and Chase successfully rescued everyone, only to discover that the actual test Heatwave had devised was to find him in his tree disguise. {{storylink|Five Little Rescue Bots}} After Hot Shot accidentally messed up Hoist's museum, Medix persuaded Whirl to help clean up. A diagnostic tool interfered with Whirl's wind tunnel and caused it to go crazy, which she actually extremely enjoyed. {{storylink|Good Advice}}

After a campout, the recruits noticed Hot Shot was acting oddly and eventually worked out his comm transmitter had fallen out, resulting in them having to go back for it and rescuing a bear cub in the process. {{storylink|Campfire Fright}} Hot Shot persuaded the other recruits to test out the new Mul-T-Cogs from the vault, only for them to discover that the cogs weren't charged enough and they could no longer transform. Hot Shot successfully fully activated them at the cost of his own ability to transform, at least until Whirl and the others found they could return the favor and use their cogs to reactivate his. {{storylink|Small Cogs}} Whirl quickly selected a police car as her new alternate mode, and was particularly pleased with the cupholders. {{storylink|Big Wheels}}

The recruits' first solo off-world mission took them to a deserted city, where they rescued Scorch and his Cube team from an arena and discovered the whole place was a long-lost [[Titan (group)|Titan]], [[Citadel Secundus]]. {{storylink|The Empty City}} After taking part in Mentor Training Day with Chase, Whirl teamed up with her mentor again for a "rescue-athon". {{storylink|First Responder}}

Boulder assigned the recruits the task of training Scraplets, which they attempted unsuccessfully for a while before giving up. During a subsequent mission to prevent a power plant from exploding down, it turned out Medix had managed to train the Scraplets after all, saving the day. {{storylink|How To Train Your Scraplet}} After Medix showed her up during a training sim, Whirl became worried that he was a better helicopter than her. She later realized during a fire fighting mission that he really was inexperienced and helped him to get the hang of his helicopter mode. {{storylink|Helicopter Heroes}}

[[File:RBA TheTiesThatBind towline.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
During a sim mission, Whirl didn't feel confident enough in her own decision making to switch a lever, resulting in the sim being failed. She and the rest of the recruits were dispatched to [[Australia]] to help [[Brushfire (RB)|Brushfire]], and being teamed up with the loner bot helped Whirl learn to be more self reliant, resulting in her rescuing a [[kangaroo]] from the fires they were fighting. {{storylink|Brushfire (episode)|Brushfire}} Whirl continued to have trouble getting used to her police car mode, which caused her trouble when racing with Hot Shot. When she was forced to tow Scorch back to base in car mode, she was at first irritated by his constant chatter, but he helped her get used to her car mode and even put himself in [[stasis lock]] to save her from being crushed by a falling boulder. She airlifted him back to base where Medix was able to revive him, and the two firm friends went racing. {{storylink|The Ties That Bind (episode)|The Ties That Bind}}

[[File:RBA Whirl Bus Push.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
While the recruits were doing a sim mission where they had to rescue a crashed charter bus, Whirl tried to push the bus but she was too weak and needed help from Wedge. After their training, Whirl uploaded an embarrassing video of Hot Shot to the Rescue Network without consulting him, and later realized she'd made a mistake. She confessed what she'd done to him during a mission to prevent a sandstone butte from falling on a tree, but fortunately he liked that the video had gone viral. {{storylink|Bot Blog}} She, Medix and Heatwave were subjected to [[H.B. Luskey|Mayor Luskey]]'s comedy routine when the ice blocks needed for an ice sculpture contest failed to show up on time. Fortunately for all present, Whirl hit on the idea of using other materials to sculpt. {{storylink|The Icebot Cometh}}

After the recruits rescued the [[Decepticon]] [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] from a stricken spaceship, Whirl and the others learned that Wedge had originally been created as a Decepticon, and helped him track down the injured Laserbeak. {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye (RBA)|More Than Meets the Eye}} Whirl helped Hoist carry out an investigation into who had trashed the lab, with the pair coming to the erroneous conclusion that Sludge and Snarl were the culprits. {{storylink|Things That Go Bot in the Night}} Whirl and the others participated in a series of physics-related exercises set by Perceptor, and later had to rescue Medix when their fellow recruit ran into trouble trying to impress the teacher. {{Storylink|Medix Gets Schooled}} She and the other recruits experienced jealousy when a group of teens began carrying out rescues in Milford and getting press. {{storylink|Rescue TEENS}}

[[File:TheTracker Whirl resets trap.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Perceptor sent the recruits to [[Sifrolicous-5]] to discover why the planet changed color, and they found [[mudlubber]]s, who turned out to be exactly suited to the environment. {{storylink|Enter the Flood}} Worried about spoiling her perfect score, Whirl avoided meeting with Optimus for her review. She was knocked out during a rescue and experienced a ''Wizard of Oz'' inspired dream which gave her the courage to meet with Optimus and discover she aced her review again anyway. {{Storylink|Wizard of Botz}} When Chase sent Whirl to the [[Amazon]] to hunt for [[Huxley Prescott]], she teamed up with the Dinobot [[Slash (RBA)|Slash]]. Though Slash was not keen on having company, Whirl rescued her and Prescott from an ancient trap and she conceded company might be a good thing. {{storylink|The Tracker}} Heatwave assigned Whirl the task of checking the wind turbine, as part of doing maintenance on the academy. She and the others later had to cover up a holographic dragon when Hot Shot and Hoist let it escape Hero Hall and menace Milford. {{storylink|One of Our Dragons is Missing}}

[[File:DontBeAlarmed Whirl dashboard.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Whirl and the other recruits were taken on a field trip by Perceptor to a tropical island to study volcanoes. {{storylink|Dino-mite Duo}} They joined Heatwave in responding to a vague message from Citadel Secundus, only to find the Titan was just in need of some company. {{storylink|The Lonely Titan}} The recruits teamed up with [[Finn O'Reilly]] to follow the clues on a [[Holokey]]. They expected treasure, but instead found a hidden cache of [[Tox-En]]. {{Storylink|X Marks the Bot}} Whirl, Hoist, and Medix helped Hot Shot modify the racing track so they could help Wedge get used to moving at speed. {{storylink|Making Tracks (RBA)|Making Tracks}} During a mission to the planet [[Krimol]], Whirl realized the loud sirens the other recruits had made themselves were aggravating the life forms. Unfortunately her warnings came too late and she had to rescue the others from annoyed tentacles so they could rescue Hoist from a crevasse. {{Storylink|Don't be Alarmed}} Heatwave had Whirl and the other recruits retrieve toxic barrels from the seabed and rescue Jerry in order to teach them to exercise more restraint in using their power up tools. {{Storylink|Powerless}}

[[File:CrashOfTheTitan Hot Shot pilots Secundus.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
After discovering that Medix was into DJ Mechmaster's electronic music, the recruits joined him in rescuing the DJ during a charity concert in Griffin Rock, and even took part in the show masquerading as stage props. {{storylink|Griffin Rock Rocks!}} Whirl and the other recruits watched from the Academy as Chuck and Hot Shot entered the Bot Battle event at Dig Fest. {{storylink|Bot Battle}}

Following the successful completion of the last test of year two, the recruits were rewarded with a party aboard Citadel Secundus. When Hot Shot opted not to go in favor of building a nanobot sculpture to thank the teachers, Whirl also stayed back to help. The sculpture didn't turn out as planned, however the pair found they had a new emergency as Secundus had been hit by an asteroid, knocking out him and everyone on board except Wedge, and was on a crash course for Earth. {{storylink|Space Party}} Being short a few teammates, Whirl and Hot Shot rounded up some of the friends they'd made and with their help, were able to remotely take control of Secundus, landing the Titan safely near the Academy. Afterwards, the recruits finally got to have their graduation ceremony. {{storylink|Crash of the Titan}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Rescue Bots Academy''===
[[File:RBA-Whirl-toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot''' (2019)

: Whirl's first toy is sized similarly to the previous Megabots line, at about 11 inches tall, transforming into a helicopter in a couple of "Easy 2 Do Conversion" steps. In either bot or vehicle mode, pressing a button on her rotor causes it to spin. She comes packaged in robot mode, and helpfully, a cutout in the package allows this gimmick to be tried in-store without removing her from the package. Her engineering and transformation pattern are based on the [[Blades (RB)#RescanCopter|Rescan helicopter version of Blades]].

{{-}}

{{anchor|Racecar}}
[[File:RBA-RaceCarWhirl-carded.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot''' (2019)

: Revealed at Toy Fair 2019,<ref name="RBToyFair2019">[https://www.seibertron.com/events/gallery.php?event_id=621 Seibertron.com - Toy Fair 2019: Transformers Rescue Bots Academy Photogallery]</ref> this Whirl is a redeco of the [[Heatwave (RB)#RescanRaceCar|race-car version of Heatwave]] - itself derived from the [[Blurr (Prime)#Rescue Bots|Blurr]]/[[MorBot]] mold - with a new head and some subtle retooling, mostly located in the chest and legs. She is curiously still identified as a "Flight-Bot" despite her new land-based alt-mode.

{{-}}

{{anchor|AcadRescTeam}}
[[File:RBA-AcademyRescueTeam-boxed.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|Medix drew the short straw.]]
*'''Academy Rescue Team''' (2019)

: First previewed at Toy Fair 2019,<ref name="RBToyFair2019" /> this version of Whirl is a new-head redeco of the [[Blades (RB)#RescanVTOL|VTOL jet version of Blades]] (itself a retool of VTOL Bumblebee). As such, she is one of the very few figures in the ''Rescue Bots'' franchise to have articulation unrelated to transformation. She comes in a set of four, similar to the previous "[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (toyline)#Rescan Series|Griffin Rock Rescue Team]]", with [[Hot Shot (Prime)#AcadRescTeam|Hot Shot]] (retool of Rock Rescue Team Bumblebee), [[Wedge (RBA)#AcadRescTeam|Wedge]] (retool of cement mixer Salvage) and [[Hoist (RB)#AcadRescTeam|Hoist]] (retool of ''Rescan'' Hoist). This version of Whirl was later [[#WhirlVTOL|released singly]].

{{-}}

{{anchor|FlipRacers}}
[[File:RBA-Flip-Racers-Whirl.JPG|thumb|right]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot Flip Racers''' (2018)

: Released (apparently) as the only new toy in the fifth and final wave of Flip Racers Single Packs.

{{-}}

{{anchor|WhirlVTOL}}
[[File:Whirl-VTOL-Single-2020W5.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*'''Whirl the Flight-Bot''' (2020)

: The [[#AcadRescTeam|VTOL version of Whirl]] from the Academy Rescue Team boxset was released singly in 2020's Wave 5, with no notable changes.
{{-}}
====Mini Bot Racers====
{{-}}{{anchor|MBR}}
*'''Whirl'''
[[File:RBA Mini Bot Racers Whirl.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1|]]
{{charstubtoys}}
{{--}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:Whirl-RBA-early design.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|right]]
*''Rescue Bots Academy'' Whirl is the first incarnation of the character to be portrayed as a female ([[Whirl (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|IDW Whirl's]] [[holomatter]] avatar notwithstanding).
*Whirl's animation model was slightly modified from her [[:File:Rescue Bots Academy Whirl.jpg|initial promotional image]] by shifting the silver patch to the center of her head while recoloring the yellow chest harness sky blue.
*Early show concept art (at right) by character designer [[Francesco Giglio]] features a very different Whirl design much more closely based on that of her [[Whirl (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xzaZX4 ArtStation post by Francesco Giglio, April 2020]</ref>
* If the recruits were to have an official age order, [[Pete Slattery]] would write Whirl as the second oldest.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Okay, a few questions! The Bots are mid teens if they were human-like. Say 14 in year 1,15 year 2. We never got into who's older but if I were to write it, I'd say Wedge oldest, then Whirl, Hot Shot, Hoist and Medix the youngest!|link=https://twitter.com/PeteSlatteryIE/status/1276778456659918848|name=Pete Slattery|site=Twitter|month=06|day=27|year=2020}}</ref>
*Whirl's locker features a [[Media:RBA-Ep20-TwoWhirls.jpg|drawing]] of her and [[Whirl (FOC)|another Whirl]], using the character's [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More than Meets the Eye'']] [[Whirl (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|design]].

===Foreign names===
*''Mandarin:'' '''Xuányì''' (旋翼, "Rotor")<ref>This name is different from the usual Mandarin translation for [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], ''Xuánrèn'' (旋刃).</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Rescue Bots Academy Autobots]]

Bumblebee (film)

2025-03-31T18:56:29Z

Kickassatron: /* Real-life references */

{{disambig3.5|the feature film|the Autobot it features|Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee}}
{{Nav-Bumblebee}}
{{movie|
|seriess=[[Live-action film series]]
|prev=Transformers: The Last Knight (film)
|next=Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)
|title=''Bumblebee''
|image=BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg
|caption=According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.
|production companies=[[Allspark Pictures]] [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura|di Bonaventura Pictures]] [[Tencent Pictures]] [[Michael Bay|Bay Films]]
|distributor=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|executive producer=[[Steven Spielberg]]
|producer=[[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] [[Tom DeSanto]] [[Don Murphy]] [[Michael Bay]] [[Mark Vahradian]]
|written by=[[Christina Hodson]]
|directed by=[[Travis Knight]]
|cinematography by=[[Enrique Chediak]]
|edited by=[[Paul Rubell]]
|music by=[[Dario Marianelli]]
|release date=[[December 21]], [[2018]]
|continuity=[[Live-action film series]]
|runtime=114 minutes
|budget=$102–135 million
|box office=$468 million
}}
'''''Bumblebee''''' is the sixth movie in the [[live-action film series]]. A "reset" of the film series as a whole,<ref name="reboot">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/02/16/transformers-cinematic-universe-current-movie-series-rebooted-358641 Transformers Cinematic Universe Is Over: Current Movie Series To Be Rebooted] at TFW2005</ref> ''Bumblebee'' acts as a prequel to the previous five movies, albeit [[retcon|taking some liberties]] with continuity. The film is directed by [[Travis Knight]] rather than [[Michael Bay]] (who still pitches in as producer), written by newcomer [[Christina Hodson]], and produced on a far lower budget of around $100–137 million.<ref>[https://screenrant.com/bumblebee-movie-budget-cost/ "The film's budget is reportedly in the range of $100-137 million..." -Screenrant article on the film's budget and profit]</ref> The film was released in the U.S. on [[December 21]], [[2018]].

When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] is sent to [[Earth]] to establish a base for the [[Autobot]]s, he finds himself hunted by both [[Sector Seven]] and the [[Decepticon]]s. With his memory and voice lost in battle, he is found by [[Charlie Watson]], a young woman in search of a direction in life. The pair work together to try to discover who Bumblebee is and why he's on Earth, but ultimately they'll find themselves with the fate of the planet in their hands...

{{bigquote|Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice.|[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]}}

==Synopsis==
[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Bumblebee-Earth.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"In tennis, you attack at the point of weakness!"]]
War rages on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and things look bad for the [[Autobot]]s. The [[Decepticon]]s have broken through the front lines, contact has been lost with the capital, and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]], [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]], [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and several other survivors are pinned down under Decepticon assault until [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] arrives to momentarily repel their foes. Prime looks for scout [[Bumblebee (Movie)|B-127]], who appears only a moment after. The arrival of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] on the battlefield, as well as the surge in Decepticon forces, prompts Prime to order the Autobots to fall back to a launchpad. He instructs the Autobots to board escape pods and flee from the planet. He also gives B-127 a secret mission: go to [[Earth]], a well-hidden planet Prime has identified, and establish a base for the Autobots to regroup and strike back. As the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s under Shockwave's command begin attacking the launchpad directly, Prime leaps into the horde of Decepticons to buy B-127's pod some time to escape.

[[File:BBfilm-Burns-meets-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"This isn't a goodfella. This is a ''bad''fella!"]]
The year is [[1987]], and Agent [[Jack Burns]]' team of [[Sector Seven]] agents emerge victorious from a mock battle after leading [[Danny Bell]] and his team into an ambush. As Burns good-naturedly chides his unlucky opponent, however, an unknown projectile appears overhead and plows into their midst, injuring many agents. Burns, believing his team to be under projectile assault after confirming that no other military practices using live ammo are occurring nearby, immediately calls for backup... upon which he comes face to face with B-127 rising from the crater. He immediately orders his forces to give chase, and the Autobot flees after [[scanning]] and [[transformation|transforming]] into a nearby military jeep.

Even though the military attempts to capture him with [[harpoon]]s and [[machine gun]]s, B-127 evades them and emerges into a clearing leading to an empty mineshaft. Burns gives the order to cut it off from escaping into the mine, which one of his soldiers executes by blindsiding B-127 with his jeep. However, B-127 begins talking to the humans in [[United States of America|English]], assuring them of his peaceful intentions and that he is not here to hurt anyone. Burns orders the soldiers to stand down, only for a jet to appear overhead. Burns is baffled that the Air Force was alerted this early, but the robot corrects him—the plane is, in fact, the Decepticon [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]], who bombards the clearing with missiles and swoops in to attack the yellow Autobot!

[[File:Bumblebee-BeeVsBlitz.jpg|300px|thumb|left|"I have been felled by a winged beast of destruction!"]]
B-127 puts up a valiant effort against Blitzwing and even manages to damage his opponent's flight systems, but is soon subdued and dangled over a cliff. Blitzwing interrogates the scout about Optimus Prime and the Autobots' whereabouts; the scout valiantly refuses and asserts that he will "never talk," a move that prompts Blitzwing to "make it official" by ripping out his voice synthesizer. Badly injured, he is thrown off the cliff and prepared for execution. But B-127 uses a moment of quick thinking to rip a missile from the Decepticon's arm and shove it into his chest. B-127 takes advantage of the Decepticon's momentary confusion to kick himself away before opening fire on the missile, detonating it, and killing Blitzwing. As he limps away, Burns watches him leave trapped under a destroyed jeep. The Autobot crawls to a riverbank before collapsing from his injuries, with his memory cells critically damaged. His systems scan a nearby [[Volkswagen]] Beetle before he finally fades away to unconsciousness...

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-finds-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"What about you?" "He really is dead."]]
In [[Brighton Falls]], [[Charlie Watson]], a 17-year-old girl one day away from turning 18, awakens from her slumber. Since Charlie isn't over [[Charlie's dad|her father's]] death yet, she brushes off her annoying younger brother [[Otis Watson|Otis]], and her mother [[Sally Watson|Sally]]'s infatuation with her new boyfriend [[Ron (BB)|Ron]]. Charlie bikes to her job at the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk|boardwalk]], where she is utterly humiliated in an encounter with [[Tina Lark]] and her posse. She visits [[Hank's Marine Repair and Parts]] after hours to look for car parts, discovering an old V.W. Beetle under a tarmac after accidentally knocking over some motorboats. She finds the key in the ignition and attempts to start it, but is surprised when the car emits an unintelligible signal...

On one of [[Saturn]]'s moons, Decepticon hunters [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] interrogate Cliffjumper about Optimus Prime's whereabouts. The Autobot remains resolute, which angers his interrogators, until B-127's signal, activated on Earth by Charlie, reaches the three [[Transformer]]s. The two Decepticons agree to go to Earth and hunt down B-127 instead, and Dropkick vertically bisects Cliffjumper, killing the Autobot.

In a [[Texas]] trailer park, the dysfunctional couple, [[Roy (BB)|Roy]] and [[Amber]], argue about Roy spending the down payment for their house on a tricked-out new car, among other things. Their spiel is interrupted when a meteor crashes mere feet from them, missing Roy's new car, much to his relief. However, he's not so lucky when a second one falls as it obliterates both his prized car and their house. Headlights shining from inside the inferno give the irresponsible man some hope until Shatter and Dropkick reveal themselves and transform before them. As Roy attempts to greet the newcomers, Dropkick kills the unlucky man and leaves Amber before the Decepticons drive off to the West Coast following B-127's signal.

Failing to make progress on repairing her late father's Corvette and feeling left out by her family, Charlie wakes up to the worst 18th birthday imaginable. The disappointing presents from Sally and Ron (a pink bicycle helmet and a book about smiling more, respectively) only worsen the feeling. She fumes in her bedroom before storming over to the auto repair and asking [[Uncle Hank|Hank]] for the Beetle. She even offers to work at the shop for a year in exchange for the car, but Hank refuses since he isn't hiring employees, and Charlie can take the car for free if she can get it to start. Charlie gets to work and soon triumphantly drives her new car home.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-garage.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You like jazz?"]]
Charlie parks her new Beetle in the garage but is surprised when a part falls out from its undercarriage. She's even more surprised when an inspection of the vehicle reveals what appears to be a ''face'' under the car... moments before B-127 transforms and reveals himself to her. However, Charlie's only momentarily terrified as her fear turns to compassion upon seeing that the Autobot is about as afraid of her as she is of him. She manages to soothe the scared scout and emotionally connect with him, giving him the name "Bumblebee" after the warbled beeps and buzzes he makes.

[[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] relays the news of the Decepticons' landfall to Burns, who immediately prepares a team to travel to Texas and intercept them.

[[File:BBfilm-Bumblebee-pat-pat.jpg|thumb|300px|"You're flying outside the hive, talking to humans that attack our homes with power washers and M-80s!"]]
Charlie awakens the next day and goes straight to the garage, but discovers to her horror that Bumblebee has vanished without a trace. A quick interrogation of Otis reveals Sally has appropriated Charlie's car to take their dog [[Conan]] to the vet, as Ron needed to use the family station wagon. Charlie frantically chases her mother on her moped and manages to pull her over, despite Bumblebee almost blowing his cover by extending an arm out from his trunk and waving at her. She later takes the Autobot to a secluded beach, where she teaches him that he should always assume [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]] unless the two of them are alone.

[[File:ShatterDropkickhologram.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Mr. Bee, I'm going to ask what I think the entire court here would like to know... what exactly is your relationship to that woman?"]]
Burns' team and [[Dr. Powell]] intercept the two Decepticons in Texas and ask them to state their business. Dropkick wants to eliminate the humans, but Shatter comes up with a better idea; lying to the humans that they are a "peacekeeping Decepticon patrol." She asks Sector Seven's aid in tracking down the "dangerous escaped criminal" B-127. While Burns is doubtful, Powell, enthusiastic at the prospect of first contact with an [[alien]] species, eagerly agrees to talk to his superiors about the matter.

Bumblebee and Charlie bond in a secluded forest, but when Bee's chest starts sparking from the damage he took during his fight with Sector Seven, Charlie attempts to fix it, only to activate a holographic message sent by Optimus Prime accidentally. While the message is garbled and incomplete, hearing it jolts a memory in Bumblebee...

''Leaping from the collapsing launchpad and latching onto a Seeker to make his way down, Optimus fights his way through several Seekers before Soundwave deploys [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to attack him. Prime manages to fight off the feline minion with some effort, but his distraction has allowed dozens of Decepticons, including Soundwave, Shockwave, and Starscream, to surround him. The Decepticons move in to attack the Autobot leader even as B-127 watches, unable to help, from his departing escape pod...''

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-hugs.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Charlie realizes that Bumblebee is on the run from something serious. When he attempts to use his broken radio, she decides she can at least fix that, and they return to her garage, where she sets about extracting the radio from the Corvette. Bumblebee starts playing a video, which turns out to be footage of her last dive meet made by her father shortly before his death. She installs the radio in Bumblebee, though he forcefully ejects the music tapes she inserts into him. While she's looking through her tapes, he starts thumbing through her father's L.P.s, and she scolds him. However, after she notices a specific record, her mood changes, and she starts playing it, recalling how she and her father used to listen to it while working on the Corvette. She tells Bee how her father died of a heart attack, and she's continued working on the car in his memory.

At Sector Seven, [[General Whalen]] leads a discussion over whether to allow the Decepticons access to their equipment. Burns believes they can't trust the Decepticons, but Whalen promises to turn them over to him once they track down B-127. Shatter and Dropkick are duly introduced to Sector Seven's array of computers, though they're more interested in the telephone network.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Memo-ride-in-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
As Bumblebee plays with his new radio, Charlie's neighbor [[Memo]] stumbles into the garage, intending to ask Charlie on a date, and is shocked at the sight of the giant robot. Charlie swears him to secrecy, and the pair go for a drive in Bumblebee. Charlie borrows Memo's shirt so she can show off by "driving" blindfolded, and they hang out of Bumblebee's sunroof.

Dr. Powell marvels over the radio at the massive worldwide interconnected web the Decepticons are constructing using the computers and telephone network to track [[energon]] signatures. Burns still has his misgivings, but Whalen believes they can turn the technology on the Decepticons.

Still driving in Bumblebee, Charlie and Memo realize that the reason the Autobot has been playing with his radio is to teach himself to speak with it. They arrive at a cliff by the seaside, where [[Tripp Summers]] challenges Charlie to dive off the cliff. When she's unable, despite urging from Bumblebee, she's cruelly mocked by Tina. Though Charlie claims not to be bothered, Memo and Bumblebee both want revenge. That night, they head to Tina's house and attempt to educate Bumblebee on the art of throwing toilet paper and eggs; this doesn't go well, culminating in Bumblebee enthusiastically jumping on Tina's car and the trio making a quick getaway before she emerges to find the damage. Their frantic driving is spotted by [[Sheriff Lock]], who gives chase in his cruiser. Bumblebee is easily able to outmaneuver Lock's vehicle, which ends up totaled as a result. The three fugitives return to Charlie's home, where they say their goodnights.

[[File:Bumblebee vs sofa.jpg|thumb|300px|"I told you, stop flying in the house!"]]
The next morning, Charlie tells Bumblebee he needs to stay in the garage as the authorities will be looking for him, and leaves for her job. Bumblebee instead ends up following Conan into the house, and his curious exploration ends up demolishing just about everything in the living room and kitchen. Finally, he ends up plugging himself into a wall socket, causing an energon-infused power surge that travels down nearby power lines. The equipment at Sector Seven detects the surge, and the Decepticons roll out, closely followed by Burns and his men. Memo also notices the commotion, so he calls Charlie, who returns home where the pair survey the devastation. Memo manages to get Bumblebee back into the garage, but Charlie realizes she's screwed. Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reached Brighton Falls.

Sally returns home with Otis to find the destruction. An argument ensues between her and Charlie, who ends up storming out. Charlie and Memo go driving to cool off, but they run into a roadblock set up by Sector Seven. Charlie tries to keep Bumblebee calm, but when the Sector Seven soldiers seize her, Bumblebee transforms and carries her off. Unfortunately, they immediately run into Shatter and Dropkick, who attempt to interrogate Bumblebee but are perplexed when the Autobot doesn't try to fight back. Burns and his men arrive and start zapping Bee with electrical guns, and Charlie gets knocked out when she attempts to help him.

[[File:BBfilm-interrogation.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Remember what Van said, why is your life more valuable than mine?" "Funny, I just can't seem to recall that!"]]
Charlie wakes up in her bed and emerges from her room to find Agent Burns telling her parents that she had stolen valuable government equipment. Despite her protests, her mom banishes her back to her room. She promptly slips out through her window, and Otis catches her trying to get Memo's attention by throwing rocks at his window. She manages to stop him from alerting her mother. Joining Memo in his house, they watch a news report about Sector Seven setting up shop at [[McKinnon Air Base]], and Charlie reasons that's where they're holding Bumblebee. Otis is assigned to keep the plan secret while Charlie and Memo head to the base.

At the airbase, Powell watches the two Decepticons interrogate Bumblebee. Charlie and Memo sneak into the base in time to watch as the Decepticons inadvertently trigger Optimus Prime's recording, revealing that the Autobots are coming to Earth. As the Decepticons discuss the presented opportunity, Powell realizes their mistake in cooperating with the giant evil robots and tries to radio a warning to Burns before Dropkick kills him.

Sally and Ron pick over the debris in their house, and Otis is entirely unsuccessful at convincing them that Charlie is still in her room.

[[File:BBFilm-Charlie-Bee-touch-hands.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Shatter locates a nearby communications tower they can use to call in the Decepticon army. Once Dropkick blasts Bumblebee, the pair depart, and Charlie and Memo run to the lifeless Autobot's side. Charlie believes they can still revive him using the electrical guns, and though at first, it seems as though she's unsuccessful, Bumblebee sits up, and his memories start to restore. Agent Burns and his men arrive outside and blow up the exterior door before advancing inside. Charlie tells Bumblebee to run as the troops attempt to take her and Memo away, but the soldiers harpoon Bee. It's not until Burns throws Charlie to the ground that Bumblebee finds the strength to get up and start blasting, unfazed by anything the humans throw at him. Sector Seven retreats, but Charlie has to talk Bumblebee down. Charlie tries to persuade him that they need to hide, but Bumblebee is set on stopping the Decepticons. While Charlie leaves in Bee, Memo tries unsuccessfully to slow down the pursuing Sector Seven vehicles.

As Bumblebee and Charlie race through Brighton Falls, pursued by Sector Seven, they're joined by Sally and Ron in the station-wagon. Though Ron manages to obstruct Burns's vehicle successfully, he ends up spinning out as they approach a set of traffic lights, and there's an almost-pileup as multiple vehicles skid to a halt just inches from hitting each other. Shatter and Dropkick blend their technology into the communications tower at the port in preparation to send their message. Bumblebee arrives and has Charlie hide in a garbage bin for protection before he begins shooting the tower, prompting Dropkick to descend and engage the Autobot in a fierce fight. An errant missile throws Charlie from her hiding place, and, seeing Bumblebee occupied, she heads for the tower. Narrowly avoiding Bumblebee and Dropkick's fight, she starts ascending a nearby crane. Burns also arrives in a helicopter, ordering the pilot to open fire on the communications tower. The battle below moves into a dry dock, with Dropkick transforming to helicopter mode to fire at Bumblebee. Bumblebee throws a chain that hits the Decepticon's rotors, wrapping around Dropkick as he changes to robot mode and allowing Bumblebee to terminate him.

Charlie reaches the top of the crane and jumps across to the tower. Above her, Shatter shoots down the Sector Seven helicopter, sending it plunging towards the ground. Bumblebee manages to grab it before it can crash, saving Burns's life. Charlie moves to disconnect the Cybertronian power source, and when Shatter transforms into jet mode to stop her, Bumblebee shoots down the Decepticon. During the ensuing fight on the ground, Charlie successfully disconnects the tower's power source.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bee-underwater.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You snap out of it!" "''You'' snap out of it!"]]
An enraged Shatter pounds on Bumblebee, who shoots the wall of the dry dock. Shatter mocks him for missing until the wall gives way, and Shatter gets crushed between a ship and the side of the dock. As Bumblebee sinks to the bottom of the flooded dock, Charlie overcomes her fear and dives in, finding Bumblebee at the bottom and helping him to get back to the surface. Finally seeing Bumblebee's true nature, Burns tells the pair they need to make their escape before the rest of Sector Seven arrives, and as they leave, Memo turns up just slightly too late to save the world.

[[File:BB-GoldenGateBridge.jpg|thumb|300px|"Beautiful day to fly." "Sure is."]]
Bumblebee and Charlie end up on a hill overlooking the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], where Charlie tells the Autobot that she can't interfere with his greater purpose, and they have to go their separate ways. After a tearful farewell, Bumblebee scans a passing Camaro as his new alternate mode and drives off to rendezvous with Optimus Prime on the bridge, leaving to continue his mission. Charlie returns home and reunites with her family and Memo.

That night in a nearby forest, Optimus commends Bumblebee on keeping Earth safe, as the two watch more Autobot refugees appear in the sky over Earth. Not far away, Charlie successfully gets the Corvette running and takes it for a first drive.
{{-}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters|
h1=[[Autobot]]s|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] ([[Dylan O'Brien]])
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Andrew Morgado]])
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] ([[Dennis Singletary]])
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] ([[Grey Griffin]])
*[[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]] ([[Kirk Baily]])
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]
*Autobot soldiers

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
*[[Shatter]] ([[Angela Bassett]])
*[[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] ([[Justin Theroux]])
*[[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] ([[David Sobolov]])
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] (Jon Bailey)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
*[[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]†
*[[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]]†
*[[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]]†
*[[Seeker (Movie)|Seekers]] (Kirk Baily; [[#Transformers references|see below]])

|h3=[[Human]]s|c3=
*[[Charlie Watson]] ([[Hailee Steinfeld]])
*[[Memo]] ([[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]])
*[[Sally Watson]] ([[Pamela Adlon]])
*[[Otis Watson]] ([[Jason Drucker]])
*[[Ron (BB)|Ron]] ([[Stephen Schneider]])
*[[Uncle Hank]] ([[Len Cariou]])
*[[Craig (BB)|Craig]] ([[Kollin Holtz]])
*[[Tina Lark]] ([[Gracie Dzienny]])
*[[Tina's girlfriends]] ([[Isabelle Ellingson]], [[Mika Kubo]])
*[[Tripp Summers]] ([[Ricardo Hoyos]])
*[[Sheriff Lock]] ([[Fred Dryer]])
*[[Roy (BB)|Roy]] ([[Lenny Jacobson]])
*[[Amber]] ([[Megyn Price]])
*[[Charlie's dad]] ([[Tim Martin Gleason]])
*[[Bill (BB)|Bill]] ([[Antonio D. Charity]])
'''[[Sector Seven]]'''
*[[Jack Burns]] ([[John Cena]])
*[[Dr. Powell]] ([[John Ortiz]])
*[[General Whalen]] ([[Glynn Turman]])
*[[Seymour Simmons]] ([[Nick Pilla]])
*[[Danny Bell]] ([[Edwin Hodge]])

|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Conan]] ([[Sterling (dog)|Sterling]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

† The individual Seekers are identified as such in packaging bios for ''Studio Series'' toys of characters featured in the film.

==Quotes==
"I'll never talk." 
"Is that right? Then let's make it official."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Blitzwing''', right before the latter destroys the former's voice box.

"If ''you'' won't tell us where Prime is, perhaps your young friend will." 
"''Never''." 
"You're a brave warrior. You deserve a better death...then again..."
:—'''Shatter''' and '''Cliffjumper''', right before Dropkick executes the latter.

"I like the way they ''pop.''" 
"''Focus,'' comrade."
:—'''Dropkick''' and '''Shatter''', after the former kills a human bystander.

"I say this with all due respect...have you lost your damn mind?!" 
"''That'' was with all due respect?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' and '''Dr. Powell''' debate.

"They literally call themselves Decepticons. That doesn't set off any red flags?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' doesn't trust the giant alien robots.

"Look, I know what you saw is a little crazy. I can explain. ... Yeah, I can't explain, but here's the deal: If you tell anyone what you just saw, I'm going to have to run you over with my car." 
"...Jeez!" 
"...I don't mean that in a mean way, okay?"
:—'''Charlie''' and '''Memo'''

"Ron! We have a kid in the car!" 
"I was trying to save the other kid! What was I...It was a lose-lose!"
:—'''Sally''' and '''Ron'''

"You think these little chains can hold-"
:—'''Dropkick''' before being sliced to pieces by said little chains.

"Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice." 
"Thank you for...for making me feel like me again."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Charlie''' say their goodbyes.

"No way. You kidding me? You're telling me you could've been a Camaro this whole time?"
:—'''Charlie''' sees Bumblebee has one last trick up his sleeve.

"Old friend, you kept this planet safe. Because of you, we have a future, B-127." 
"My name... is... Bumblebee."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' thanks the newly-rechristened '''Bumblebee'''.

==Continuity notes==
As a prequel to the rest of the live-action film series, ''Bumblebee'' includes set-up elements for several of them:

* Ancillary media dating back to [[2007]] has primarily credited [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with inflicting the injuries that caused Bumblebee to lose his voice (with both the [[Aligned continuity family]] and the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|''Cyberverse'' cartoon]] adapting the idea for their continuities), but internal to the films themselves, no specifics were ever provided, with "damage in battle" being the only reason given for the little Autobot's muteness. ''Bumblebee'' tells the on-screen version of the story, revealing that Blitzwing was the culprit.
* Meanwhile, Megatron himself is notably absent from the film's Cybertron-set prelude since, per the first movie's events, he is frozen on Earth at the time.
* The first film introduced Sector 7 and their [[Hoover Dam]] headquarters. A young [[Seymour Simmons]] (played by [[John Turturro]] in the present-day films) appears among the organization's ranks.
* Thanks to Charlie fitting him with a working radio, Bumblebee learns how to "speak" by using snippets of music to express himself, which is, of course, how he communicates in all the other films.
* Burns warns Whalen of the potential for Decepticon attacks on Earth, citing [[Washington, D.C.]], [[New York City]] and [[Chicago]] as possible targets. All three of these cities experienced Decepticon activity in other ''Transformers'' films: New York in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', and D.C. and Chicago in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.
* At the end of the movie, Bumblebee scans the [[1977]] Camaro mode that he had at the start of the original ''Transformers'' film.

Despite its notional "prequel" status, the film underwent significant reshoots ([[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]) that resulted in the deletion, alteration, and addition of scenes that create disjointedness between ''Bumblebee'' and the rest of the film series, even by the standard of the film series' usual ''laissez-faire'' approach to continuity, including:

* The ''big'' principal continuity-breaker is that the film completely throws out ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'''s premise that Bumblebee and the Autobots were active on Earth during significant periods throughout history, such as the {{w|American Revolutionary War}}, the {{w|Napoleonic Wars}}, [[World War I]], [[World War II]] and so on, and instead shows Bumblebee to have first come to Earth in [[1987]]. By extension, this also throws the film's [[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|prequel comic]], which also operated on ''The Last Knight''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s premise, out the window.
* More circumstantially, the film's aesthetics are notably different, hewing much closer to Generation 1. Cybertron itself closely resembles its Generation 1 design instead of the "honeycomb" design seen in ''Dark of the Moon'' and ''The Last Knight''. Bumblebee's '77 Camaro robot-mode body, seen in the film's mid-credits sequence, is entirely different from his 2007 film appearance, instead depicted as a variation of the body used through the rest of this film.
* Sector 7 refers to their meeting with Shatter and Dropkick as "first contact," which feels a little off since, according to the first film, they've kept the AllSpark and the frozen Megatron in their Hoover Dam base since the early 20th century. Neither Megatron nor the AllSpark are mentioned in the movie's final cut, with Dropkick and Shatter showing no awareness of them despite being allowed into the base where Sector 7 keeps them—but these aren't really true inter-movie continuity-breaking discrepancies, as the same thing happened in the ''original'' cut of the film, where Megatron ''did'' appear in Sector Seven's possession in a mid-credits scene (again [[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]).
* In-keeping with the AllSpark going unmentioned, the Autobots leave Cybertron because they are on the losing end of the war, with Bumblebee going to Earth to establish a fallback position for his comrades, rather than to search for the cube. This isn't particularly incompatible what we see of 'Bee in the first film; the fact that the Autobots are seen arriving on Earth at the end in 1987 when the first film showed them coming in 2007 is more incongruous, but no more so than ''The Last Knight'' claiming that they'd already been there for centuries. Reconciling either ''The Last Knight'' or ''Bumblebee'' with the first film requires assuming that the Autobots will leave Earth again at some point in the next 20 years to search other planets and systems for the AllSpark, as mentioned in the first film's prologue, only to return when Bumblebee discovers it was on Earth all along—but as we said, this movie doesn't mention that. Notably, having Bumblebee lose his voice ''after'' coming to Earth actually ''necessitates'' a meeting between 'Bee and the other Autobots before the first movie. Ratchet noted in that film that he'd been trying to fix Bumblebee's voice for a while, meaning his arrival in 2007 couldn't be the first time he'd seen Bumblebee since he lost his voice.

These breaks in continuity have led to a debate among fans over whether the film constitutes a "hard reboot" of the movie universe (beginning a new run of films that are fully separate from the timeline of the five Michael Bay films) or if it's merely a "soft reboot" (comparable to ''{{w|X-Men: First Class}}'', another "prequel" movie that had irreconcilable continuity discrepancies with the film series it was meant to be part of, but was nonetheless treated as "canon"). The filmmakers have used made vague and contradictory statements referring to the movie's place in continuity; director Travis Knight said the film was "essentially (...) restarting the franchise and (...) rebooting these characters,"<ref>[https://www.moviefone.com/news/bumblebee-director-travis-knight-interview/ Interview with Travis Knight at Moviefone.com]</ref> (note the non-definitive "essentially"), while associate producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura said it was "neither a reboot nor a remake."<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/03/24/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-highlights-the-future-direction-of-the-transformers-movie-series-385782 Di Bonaventura interview at TFW2005.com]</ref> Hasbro themselves referred to the film as "the start of a new storytelling universe",<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/02/16/transformers-brand-info-from-new-york-toy-fair-2019-fan-media-panel-hasbrotoyfair-383106 Transformers Brand Info From New York Toy Fair 2019 Fan Media Panel, TFW2005.com]</ref> but when asked about that, Di Bonventura interpreted the ill-defined phrase as simply meaning the creators had "freedom" to tell new stories that didn't necessarily follow the rules of the other films. Many movie news sites have pounced on these statements to declare the film an unambiguous reboot, leading to that sentiment being widely repeated across other sites, but ultimately, it has to be understood that the word "reboot" does not always mean to filmmakers and executives what it means to continuity-minded fans, and that they don't really think about "continuity" and "canon" that same precise way we do. The 2023 sequel, ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]'', was promoted with similar fuzzy statements and mixed-messaging about whether the film truly constituted a total reboot or not.

==Transformers references==

[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Prime-leaps-into-battle.jpg|thumb|300px|"All right, scramble, jocks! It's time to fly."]]
*During the opening battle on Cybertron, the Autobots' weapons fire orange laser blasts, while the Decepticons' fire blue ones, replicating the color-coded blaster fire of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] (though there, the Decepticons' weapons fire ''purple'' blasts).
*Optimus Prime's entrance into the battle on Cybertron is a direct reference to his famous leap into action from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In another seeming ''The Movie'' homage, Brawn is downed by a shot to the shoulder during his cameo. This time, however, he survives and is seen among the Autobots getting into the escape pods.
*The well-known Autobots are accompanied by [[generic]] recolors of Ironhide with one of two new heads.<ref name="ILM">[https://www.ilm.com/visual_development/bumblebee-developing-an-epic-set-piece BUMBLEBEE: DEVELOPING AN EPIC SET PIECE] at ILM</ref>
*The Seekers' Cybertronian alternate modes are loosely inspired by their "tetrajet" modes from the [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|first Generation 1 episode]].
*Starscream is the only "unique" Seeker to appear during the film's Cybertron sequences. The rest of their forces are made up of countless robots that recycle five generic designs: blue-and-white (based on [[Thundercracker (G1)|Generation 1 Thundercracker]]), [[:File:BB-Skywarp-concept.jpg|purple-and-grey]] (based on [[Skywarp (G1)|Generation 1 Skywarp]]), [[:File:BB-Thrust-concept.jpg|green-and-grey]] (based on [[Thrust (Armada)|''Armada'' Thrust]]),<ref name="ILM" /> teal-and-white, and grey-and-red. The "Thrust" model has a triangular protrusion position behind its head, loosely replicating the character's "[[Conehead]]" appearance without actually giving him a genuine conehead.
**While it is hard to determine which (if any!) of these generic robots are the ''actual'' movie universe incarnations of [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]], and [[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]], ''Studio Series'' toy bios help clear matters up: the ''real'' Skywarp and Thrust are stated to be the ones who joins Starscream in "blast[ing] the Autobot[s'] launchpad with missile fire to stop their escape from Cybertron".
*As Optimus calls retreat, Arcee and Cliffjumper wield pistols that are a direct design match to the "generic" pistol design used for Autobots in season 2 of the Generation 1 cartoon.
*The Cybertron tower containing the launchpad is based on the [[Great Dome]].<ref name="ILM" />
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave's]] eye flickers very subtly during his brief line of dialogue like his [[Shockwave (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].
*[[Shatter]], according to Travis Knight, is based on [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]].
*The concept of Cybertron falling into Decepticon hands and the Autobots initiating a mass exodus originates from the Aligned continuity family, although in this case, the Autobots depart in individual escape pods instead of [[Ark (disambiguation)|a single gargantuan starship]].
*[[Teletraan-I]] can be sighted in the background as the Autobots enter their escape pods.
*The [[Transformation#The noise|classic transformation noise]] is used ''liberally'' throughout the entire film. Some variant of it can be heard whenever a Transformer goes through a full-body transformation sequence onscreen, as well as whenever Bumblebee draws his arm blaster.
*Blitzwing drops a well-known [[Furmanism]] as he fights B-127, stating that the Autobot will "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]... like [B-127's] friends!"
[[File:BBFilm-Optimus-as-Freightliner.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Memo is reading a copy of [[GoBots|''GoBots Magazine'']], which he tosses aside when he sees Charlie. Though ''GoBots Magazine'' was a real publication, the issue Memo reads isn't one of the five real-life issues that exist; however, it faithfully emulates their cover style, down to the "Collector Poster Inside" cover tag. In a deleted scene, Memo even theorizes that Bumblebee is a GoBot.
*A snippet of "[[The Touch]]" plays when Bumblebee is "encouraging" Charlie to dive from the cliff.
*The fight between Bumblebee and Dropkick includes a sequence where Dropkick picks up Bumblebee and throws him. Then the Autobot lands in car mode, veers around, and jumps to punch him in the face—which harkens back to the fight choreography between [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from the G1 cartoon's season 1 opening credits.
*Optimus' vehicle mode at the end of the film is a Freightliner cab-over truck ''very'' similar to his G1 counterpart. He's even pulling the classic trailer, which has the signature 'stripe' on its side!

==Real-life references==
*One of the vehicles Bumblebee rejects scanning is the Urban Assault Vehicle from ''{{w|Stripes (film)|Stripes}}''.
*Charlie has a poster for the rock band {{w|The Pretenders}}, which coincidentally is the name of a Transformers [[Pretender|sub group]] involving the robots disguising themselves as human.
*Throughout the film, Charlie wears band shirts for {{w|Elvis Costello and the Attractions}}, {{w|Motörhead}}, {{w|The Damned (band)|The Damned}}, {{w|The Rolling Stones}}, and {{w|The Smiths}}.
*Charlie eats {{w|Mr. T Cereal}}.
*The Watson family dog, Conan, is named after {{w|Conan the Barbarian}}.
*Uncle Hank and Charlie's family watch ''[[ALF]]'', a sitcom from the '80s about an alien taking refuge in a human home. Fitting. However, see Errors.
*The station wagon Charlie's family drives is based on the one in ''{{w|National Lampoon's Vacation}}''.
*Cliffjumper repeats his name and rank while being interrogated by Shatter and Dropkick, which references a real-life rule in the {{w|Geneva Convention}} that states these are the only things soldiers have to divulge under interrogation. More specifically, this references a typical exaggeration in film and TV in which soldiers ''only recite these'' in response to their captors.
*The transmission that Cliffjumper and the Decepticons pick up from B-127 is the theme song to ''[[Cheers]]''.
*Dropkick and Shatter's arrival on Earth almost mirrors the appearance of the Bug in ''{{w|Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black}}''.
*Bumblebee watches ''{{w|The Breakfast Club}}'', leading to him emulating [[Judd Nelson]]'s iconic fist pump several times throughout the rest of the film. Nelson voiced [[Hot Rod]] (and later [[Rodimus Prime]]) in the ‘86 movie.
*After repairing Bumblebee's radio, Charlie inserts a cassette of The Smiths' album ''{{w|Strangeways, Here We Come}}'' and "{{w|Girlfriend in a Coma (song)|Girlfriend in a Coma}}" briefly plays before Bee ejects the tape.
*Charlie also tries inserting a cassette of the [[Rick Astley]] album ''{{w|Whenever You Need Somebody}}'', causing it to play a snippet from "{{w|Never Gonna Give You Up}}".
[[File:BBfilm-cassette-drawer.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Other musicians featured in Charlie's drawer of cassettes include {{w|Joan Jett}}, {{w|Adam and the Ants}}, {{w|Guns N' Roses}}, {{w|Talking Heads}}, {{w|INXS}}, {{w|Pink Floyd}}, {{w|Oingo Boingo}}, {{w|Huey Lewis and the News}}, and {{w|Prism (band)|PRiSM}}. She also mentions {{w|Stevie Nicks}} and The Rolling Stones while searching for tapes.
*The record Charlie takes from her father's collection is {{w|Sam Cooke}}'s 1961 album ''Sam's Songs'', and when she puts it on, Sam Cooke's version of "{{w|Unchained Melody}}" plays. However, see Errors. Also seen in the collection of records is {{w|Roxy Music}}'s ''{{w|For Your Pleasure}}''.
*Shatter asks Powell to "take [the Decepticons] to your leader," referencing the ages-old trope from early alien-related science fiction.
*The letters 'BFG' are written on Charlie's jean jacket, a reference to ''{{w|The BFG}}'', a children's book about a young girl befriending a big, friendly giant and defeating a group of evil giants together. Also quite fitting.
*Sector Seven uses a variant of the WOPR supercomputer from ''{{w|WarGames}}''.
*While looking around the Watsons' house, Bumblebee is briefly intrigued by a can of {{w|Tab (drink)|Tab}} soda and a game of ''{{w|Pong}}'' running on an [[Atari, Inc.|Atari 2600]]. However, see Errors.
*Otis wears a {{w|Bruce Lee}} T-shirt during the third act.
*Memo's room has posters for ''{{w|The Thing (1982 film)|The Thing}}'', ''[[Indiana Jones|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', Tom Baker-era ''[[Doctor Who]]'', and a {{w|Heather Thomas}} pin-up.
*Bumblebee's rampage is a direct nod to the 1999 [[Warner Bros.]] animated film ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}'', in which the titular robot protagonist assaults the U.S. military with glowing red optics in retaliation for them harming his human best friend.
*Ron claims he learned his driving skills from ''{{w|Miami Vice}}''.

==Errors==
*The episode of ''ALF'' that Charlie's family watch is episode 20 of season 2, "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog". The episode originally aired on February 29, 1988, a year after the movie is meant to occur.
*Charlie starts playing the first track on Sam Cooke's album ''Sam's Songs'', which ought to have been "Little Things You Do" rather than "Unchained Melody". The latter song doesn't even appear on the album, being the last track on side A of Cooke's earlier release ''Hits of the 50's''.
*Powell remarks that the Decepticon modifications to the S7 computers have created an "interconnected web of information," implying that the Internet's technology originated from the Decepticons. However, the idea of an interconnected network of computers for communications and data transfer was developing for decades before the film's setting in the late 1980s. The term "Internet" first appeared in the mid-1970s.
*Bumblebee watches a game of ''Pong'' running on the Atari 2600 plugged into the Watsons' television. However, ''Pong'' was never released as a standalone game for the 2600, only appearing as part of the ''{{w|Video Olympics}}'' game compilation, which featured a colorized remake that looked entirely different from the classic black-and-white version shown on the screen. The paddles are also seen moving on their own, despite no one touching the controllers and the game lacking any paddles in its attract mode.
*Simmons identifies Brighton Falls as a "coastal town." However, both the {{w|Richmond–San Rafael Bridge}} and {{w|Marin Islands|East Marin Island}} can be seen in the background of the Watsons' house establishing shots, which would place Brighton Falls within the San Francisco Bay, not quite on the coast. Furthermore, this causes problems with the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk]], which faces the ocean... maybe Brighton Falls is just a ''very'' large town?

==Other editions==
*The version of the film available for streaming on [[Paramount+]] features a badly edited smash cut from the scene where Bumblebee and Charlie meet for the first time to Roy and Amber leaving their home to have an argument outside instead of the smooth night sky transition featured in other versions. This cut removes the presence of the country song "[[All My Ex's Live in Texas]]" from the film, suggesting some rights issues with it were most likely the reason the cut was made.

==Tie-in material==
*''[[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel]]''
During the lead-up to the release of the movie [[IDW Publishing]] released a four-issue limited series detailing an adventure set in the 60s, during which Bumblebee works with British intelligence to foil the plans of a group of Decepticons, including Blitzwing. It seems likely that author [[John Barber]] was working off an earlier draft of the film, which simply began with Bumblebee already on Earth in the time frame between ''The Last Knight'' and ''Bumblebee''.

*"[[Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome]]"
A one-shot promotional comic, that was released as [[pack-in material]] with the home video release and as a motion comic among the film's special features. The comic follows [[Seymour Simmons]] two years after the film's events, and serves to help bridge the gap between ''Bumblebee'' and the 2007 film.

==Music==
Two albums were released for the film:
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Score)]]'' - showcasing composer [[Dario Marianelli]]'s score for the film.
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Soundtrack)]]'' - featuring the film's diegetic music as well as Hailee Steinfeld's end credits song, "Back to Life."

==Home video releases==
{{main|Bumblebee (film)/home video}}
''Bumblebee'' was released on digital platforms on [[March 19]]; and on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K on [[April 2]]. A limited edition VHS copy was sent out as a promotional item, but was not available at retail.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/04/01/transformers-bumblebee-movie-out-now-on-vhs-real-vhs-promo-copy-with-pics-386407 TFW2005 VHS coverage]</ref>

==Theatrical posters==
<center><gallery>
File:BumblebeeCharlieSilhouettePoster.jpg|Yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeCrouchingPoster.jpg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeUSMoviePoster.jpeg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg|yellow-black...
File:BumblebeePosingPoster.jpg|Ooh, black and yellow!
File:BumblebeeBurnsDecepticons.jpg|Yeah, let's shake it up a little.
</gallery></center>

==Reception==
{{quote|Mankind has split the atom, sent a man to the moon, and now, in arguably its most unlikely achievement, it has produced a watchable ''Transformers'' movie.|Scott Tobias|[http://www.npr.org/2018/12/20/677501424/flight-of-the-bumblebee-transformers-flick-soars-over-low-franchise-expectations NPR review]}}

Coming off the notoriously poor reception to ''The Last Knight,'' ''Bumblebee'' had a ways to go in terms of redeeming the ''Transformers'' film franchise for both Paramount and the general movie-going public. However, the film was positively received by critics, who generally praised Travis Knight's restrained directorial approach, Hailee Steinfeld's acting, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]]-styled robot designs, and Charlie and Bumblebee's dynamic, comparing the film to its spiritual predecessors, ''{{w| E.T. the Extraterrestrial|E.T.}}'' and ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}''. The film currently holds a 90% and a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest score of any film in the franchise to date.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bumblebee/ ''Bumblebee'' review on Rotten Tomatoes]</ref>

After making $500,000 at 325 theaters from its December 8 preview screenings,<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-sneak-preview-box-office-amazon-prime-1202521144/ ‘Aquaman’ Amazon Prime Previews Hook Near $3M Besting ‘Jumanji 2’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' made its domestic opening alongside ''{{w|Aquaman (film)|Aquaman}}'', ''{{w|Welcome to Marwen}}'', and ''{{w|Second Act (film)|Second Act}}'', and proceeded to gross $21 million over its first weekend, finishing third behind ''Aquaman'' and ''{{w|Mary Poppins Returns}}''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-bumblebee-christmas-thursday-night-previews-weekend-box-office-1202524462/ 'Aquaman’ Unwraps $22M+ On Christmas For $105M+ Cume; ‘Holmes & Watson’ Opens To $6M+; ‘Vice’ $4M+]</ref> In its second weekend, ''Bumblebee'' grossed another $20.5 million, remaining in third place.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-mary-poppins-returns-bumblebee-new-years-weekend-box-office-1202526812/ 'Aquaman’ Sailing To $52M+ 2nd Weekend; $189M+ Cume Pacing Ahead Of ‘Doctor Strange’ & ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' ended its domestic box office run on March 7, 2019, with a total domestic gross of $127.2 million, and earned an additional $340.8 million overseas (including $170.8 million from China) for a worldwide total gross of $468 million.<ref>[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4701182/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 Bumblebee - Box Office Mojo]</ref> While that total makes it the second lowest-grossing entry in the live-action film series to date, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish stated in January 2019 that ''Bumblebee'' was "solidly profitable," praising the film's performance as a turnaround for Paramount following the money-losing ''The Last Knight'',<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-says-hes-mulling-small-acquisition-targets-1175029 Viacom CEO Says He's Mulling Small Acquisition Targets]</ref> which ''did'' make more money but not enough to recoup its monstrous budget.

In 2019, ''Bumblebee'' became the first ''Transformers'' film since the 2007 film not to be nominated for any {{w|Golden Raspberry Award}}s. Indeed, the film was one of those selected as a candidate for a {{w|The Razzie Redeemer Award|Razzie Redeemer Award}}, with the website praising the film's more "innocent and endearing" approach to the franchise.<ref>[https://razzies.com/razz-newz.html Razz Newz]</ref>

==Production staff==
{{stub}}

==Development details==
*March 27, 2015 — [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" with the intention of building a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[http://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Goldsman goes on to hire a number of writers over the next few months: [[Steven DeKnight]] (''Daredevil''),<ref>[http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-cinematic-universe/35696/transformers-cinematic-details-more-writers-over-10-films Transformers cinematic details]</ref> [[Robert Kirkman]] (''The Walking Dead''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-writers-robert-kirkman-zak-penn-art-marcum-matt-holloway-jeff-pinkner-1201430601/ 'Transformers' Spinoff & Sequel Scribes Set] on Deadline.com</ref> [[Art Marcum]] and [[Matt Holloway]] (''Iron Man''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> Christina Hodson (''Shut In'', ''The Fugitive''),<ref name="hodsonbeer">[http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/446175-christina-hodson-and-lindsey-beer-join-transformers-writing-team Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer Join the Transformers Writing Team]</ref> [[Lindsey Beer]] (''Dig''),<ref name="hodsonbeer" /> [[Zak Penn]] (''Pacific Rim 2''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Jeff Pinkner]] (''The Amazing Spider-Man 2'', ''Lost''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] (''Ant-Man''),<ref name="barrerferrari">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref> [[Ken Nolan]] (''Black Hawk Down''), and [[Geneva Robertson-Dworet]].<ref name="nolandworet">[http://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-writers-room/ Akiva Goldsman Teases 'Transformers' Franchise Plans]</ref> Involved in the pitching process are [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Michael Bay]], [[Brian Goldner]], [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]], [[Mark Vahradian]], and [[Don Murphy]].<ref name="deadlinereveal">[http://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref>
*October 3, 2015 — During his keynote speech at the MIP Junior Conference, [[Allspark (company)|Allspark]]'s [[Stephen J. Davis]] notes that the writing team has come up with film concepts for Transformers 5, 6, 7, and 8.<ref name="stephendaviskeynote">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_P2fw_DlS4?t=812 Stephen Davis's keynote speech] at MIPJunior.</ref>[[File:TransformersUniverseBumblebeePoster.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"My sweater is Ralph Lauren, and I have no pants."]]
*February 12, 2016 — At ToyFair, Hasbro reveals the projected release date of Transformers 6, along with those of its predecessor and [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers 7]], as well as the fact that Transformers 6 will focus on Bumblebee.<ref name="toyfairreveal">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/transformers-5-transformers-6-bumblebee-spin-off-movie-revealed-309503 Transformers 5, Transformers 6 And Bumblebee Spin-Off Movie Revealed] ToyFair news at TFW2005</ref>
*December 29, 2016 — Lorenzo di Bonaventura names Christina Hodson as the screenwriter in an interview.<ref name="hodson">[http://collider.com/transformers-5-plot-characters-dinobots-details/ 'The Last Knight' Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Reveals How a 'Transformers' Movie Is Made] on Collider</ref>
*March 3, 2017 — [[Travis Knight]] is appointed director.<ref name="deadlinedirector">[https://deadline.com/2017/03/bumblebee-movie-travis-knight-director-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1202034882/ Travis Knight To Direct ‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ At Paramount]</ref>
*May 26, 2017 — A poster at Licensing Expo 2017 gives the name of the film as ''Transformers Universe: Bumblebee''.<ref name="expoposter">[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo "The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo"]</ref>
*June 10, 2017 — [[Hailee Steinfeld]] reveals in an interview that she's been cast in the film.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/pitch-perfect-pop-star-hailee-steinfeld-hits-charts-with-most-girls-single-and-lands-transformers-role/news-story/47a238f0e75bf06a0ffc34a18e9906e4 Pitch Perfect pop star Hailee Steinfeld hits charts with Most Girls single and lands Transformers role]</ref>
*July 11, 2017 — [[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]] is reported by The Hollywood Reporter to have been cast as the male lead.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-casts-jorge-lendeborg-jr-as-male-lead-1017547 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Casts Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Male Lead (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref>
*July 13, 2017 — More actors including [[Jason Drucker]], [[Abby Quinn]], [[Rachel Crow]], [[Ricardo Hoyos]], and [[Gracie Dzienny]] join the cast.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-rounds-cast-1019823 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 23, 2017 — [[Pamela Adlon]] joins the cast.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/07/pamela-adlon-bumblebee-movie-transformers-casting-1202133812/ Pamela Adlon Joins Cast Of 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee']</ref>
*July 31, 2017 — [[John Cena]] is announced as a cast member. Also, Bumblebee is a Volkswagen this time. The film is pushed back to December 2018. Production begins,<ref name="cenareveal">[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-cena-joins-transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-1025411 John Cena Joins 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref> with the filming going under the codename "Brighton Falls".<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-bumblebee-working-title-filming-start/ Bumblebee Spinoff Working Title & Filming Start Date Revealed] on Screenrant</ref>
*August 6, 2017 — Hailee Steinfeld reveals on Twitter that her character's name is [[Charlie Watson]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Meet Charlie Watson. #BumblebeeTheMovie https://t.co/Z8kA8DGRk3|link=https://twitter.com/haileesteinfeld/status/894296888643432448|name=Hailee Steinfeld|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=8|day=6|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*September 9, 2017 — At [[HasCon 2017]], di Bonaventura discusses some hints on the film, including that the movie is set in [[1986]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/09/hascon-2017-bumblebee-movie-tidbits-348630 Hascon 2017: The Bumblebee Movie Tidbits] on TFW2005</ref>[[File:BumblebeeMovie firstlook.jpg|thumb|350px|"There's a bee in the car!"]]
*September 12, 2017 — Actor and stuntman [[Rory Markham]] reveals on Instagram that he is playing a [[Sector Seven]] agent named [[Agent Adams|Adams]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/12/sector-7-returns-transformers-universe-bumblebee-movie-348886 Sector 7 Returns in Transformers Universe: Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*September 20, 2017 — Travis Knight reveals the first Decepticon vehicle mode in the form of a 1971 Plymouth GTX.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=LAIKA Pres & CEO Travis Knight on the set of his live-action film BUMBLEBEE. Travis will have more news on this & the next LAIKA film soon! https://t.co/SatTvufvhO|link=https://twitter.com/LAIKAStudios/status/910549230602788864|name=LAIKA Studios|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=9|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*October 2, 2017 — [[Peter Cullen]] has a role in the movie.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/10/02/peter-cullen-confirmed-bumblebee-movie-351131 Peter Cullen Confirmed In The Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*October 26, 2017 — [[John Ortiz]] is revealed to be a cast member.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/10/john-ortiz-paramount-bumblebee-spinoff-peppermint-stxfilms-1202195412/ John Ortiz Cast In 'Bumblebee' Spinoff & 'Peppermint'] on Deadline.com</ref>
*November 12, 2017 — A wrap party for the movie reveals the movie's title as ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo] on Cinema Blend</ref>
*December 11, 2017 — {{w|Martin Short}} is revealed to be doing some voice work for the film.<ref>[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/attheshore/headliners/steve-martin-and-martin-short-head-to-borgata-for-an/article_7d516048-de98-11e7-9fa4-c7175ccf2b9d.html Steve Martin and Martin Short head to Borgata for an unforgettable evening] on pressofatlanticcity.com</ref>
*December 29, 2017 — A "first look" photo is released showing Hailee Steinfeld and Bumblebee's Volkswagen alternate mode.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=First Look at "Bumblebee" from @ParamountPics with Hailee Steinfeld! #Bumblebee hits theaters on Dec. 21, 2018! https://t.co/6ROMvWRrML|link=https://twitter.com/AwardsCircuit/status/946794788988293121|name=Clayton Davis|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=12|day=29}}</ref>
*January 28, 2018 — During an interview at the Grammys, Hailee Steinfeld suggests Bumblebee may sing during the movie.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/8096803/hailee-steinfeld-hair-waves-2018-grammys-how-to Interview on Billboard.com]</ref>
*February 16, 2018 — At [[Toy Fair 2018]], Hasbro states that the film series will be reset after ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref name="reboot" />
*April 24, 2018 — Footage of the film is shown at Cinemacon.<ref>[http://comicbook.com/movies/2018/04/26/first-bumblebee-footage-transformers-cinemacon/ First 'Bumblebee' Footage Previews the 'Transformers' Spinoff at CinemaCon] at comicbook.com</ref>
[[File:BumblebeeMovieShatter&Dropkick.jpeg|thumb|300px|"Thanks for the coffee. Sorry, I couldn't finish it. If I did, I'd be up the rest of my life."]]
*June 5, 2018 — The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAIX12F6958 official teaser trailer] is posted by Paramount Pictures, also revealing the film's title has been shortened to just ''Bumblebee''.
*June 6, 2018 — [[Charlie Adler]] reveals he is not in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Sadly no . But I’m sure whoever is doing it is wonderful ! It’s been a wonderful franchise for me for a long time and now some else’s turn !! Break a leg !|link=https://twitter.com/charlie_adler/status/1004401979597025280|name=Charlie Adler|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=06|day=06}}</ref>
*June 8, 2018 — [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] is initially stated to be in the film in a blog post on Paramount's parent company before his name is later scrubbed from the post afterward.<ref>[http://blog.viacom.com/2018/06/bumblebee-transforms-hailee-steinfelds-life-in-first-trailer/ Original text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does dreaded Decepticon Starscream." Revised text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does a dreaded Decepticon."]</ref>
*July 13, 2018 — Entertainment Weekly reveals [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Justin Theroux]] will voice new Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] respectively.<ref>[http://ew.com/movies/2018/07/13/bumblebee-decepticon-trackers-first-look/ First Look: Bumblebee unveils two new Decepticon muscle cars]</ref>
*July 20, 2018 — A ''Bumblebee'' panel at the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2018 reveals more information on the film, such as details regarding the characters.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-bumblebee-movie-panel-in-hall-h-at-sdcc2018-jointhebuzz/41645/ Seibertron's coverage on the SDCC'18 Bumblebee panel.]</ref> Also, John Cena dressed as Bumblebee.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I asked the fine folks @IGN to help me find the true meaning of robot existence at #SDCC. But did I, as John Cena, find the answers to living as a Bumblebee? Let’s find out. @bumblebeemovie https://t.co/j4RJde71Cg https://t.co/nEqBtuVgL2|link=https://twitter.com/JohnCena/status/1020800460125605890|name=John Cena|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=7|day=21|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*August 26–30, 2018 — [[David Sobolov]] confirms he is part of the cast of ''Bumblebee'' as the voice of [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]].{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... @ParamountPics has given me the ok to reveal I’m playing a role in the upcoming epic @bumblebeemovie! As of now I’m not authorized to tell you my character’s name. More news about that soon! Who do you think it is? @transformers @tfw2005 @seibertroncom https://t.co/XNeyuvmqQT|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1033867788824309760|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=27|(defunct=)}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... It's time to reveal I'm the voice of Blitzwing in @bumblebeemovie ! Thank you TravisKnight and @ParamountPics for this exciting chance to work on another epic @transformers adventure.|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1035346211392368640|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=30|defunct=y}}</ref> 
*September 22–23, 2018 — Three teasers were released on various platforms with many different languages, revealing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]'s appearance in the movie. Additionally, shots were revealed of Optimus Prime's design, the three major Decepticons in the movie, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-and-optimus-prime-featured-in-teaser-for-next-bumblebee-movie-trailer/42075/ Seibertron's article including the two of the teasers released] and [https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-bumblebee-movie-teaser-with-blitzwing-and-barricade/42078/ an article with one of the teasers.]</ref>
*September 24, 2018 — The official trailer is uploaded by Paramount Pictures' YouTube channel, revealing (among other things) [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s' appearances in the movie. A second international trailer is released, showcasing some more scenes. An interview with Travis Knight on the new trailer is also published, revealing Starscream (''now'' it's legitimate) and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]'s appearance in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwmDAYt22k Bumblebee (2018) - New Official Trailer] and [https://www.cbr.com/bumblebee-international-trailer-optimus-prime-cybertron/ an article showcasing the international trailer.] [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/bumblebee-trailer-breakdown-travis-knight/ Interview with Knight.]</ref>
*September 27, 2018 - Before a special showing of [[The Transformers: The Movie|the animated movie]], another interview with Travis Knight and Hailee Steinfeld was seen AND a brief scene of Charlie and Bee's first interaction.
*November 13, 2018 - ''Bumblebee'' is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/11/13/transformers-bumblebee-movie-rated-pg-13-376496]</ref>
*November 23, 2018 - A new trailer is released showcasing some new scenes, namely, Bumblebee's Cybertronian robot mode. Another trailer is released animated with...[[Play-Doh]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebees-cybertronian-mode-shown-in-a-new-movie-trailer-playdoh-trailer/42450/ Seibertron's article on the 2 new trailers]</ref>
*November 27, 2018 - A new featurette demonstrates the more G1-inspired designs of the Transformers, including a proper look at Optimus's model and brief shots of [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], Wheeljack and [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFv6JVFApk Bumblebee - First Generation Design - Paramount Pictures UK]</ref>
*December 2, 2018 - Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirms [[Dylan O'Brien]] as the voice of Bumblebee.<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/03/transformers-bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-dylan-obrien</ref>
*December 4, 2018 - New footage of the movie drops, showing Soundwave's voice, as well as many new shots of Cybertron and the battle between Bumblebee and Blitzwing.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-speaks-more-footage-china-release-date-and-sponsor-and-more-bumblebee-news-roundup/42538/ Seibertron's coverage of the new trailer, as well as a general roundup of new footage.]</ref>
*December 8, 2018 - Special early screenings of the film take place in specific areas. Fans who attend are given free [[Tiny Turbo Changers]] toys, and short behind-the-scenes featurettes are shown before and after the film.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/early-reactions-and-impressions-for-2018-live-action-transformers-bumblebee-film/42550/ Seibertron's roundup of people's thoughts on the early screening.]</ref>
*December 10, 2018 - Hailee Steinfeld discloses at a premiere event that [[Kelly Fremon Craig]], who directed her in ''The Edge of Seventeen'', performed uncredited script rewrites on the movie.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bumblebee-hailee-steinfeld-got-a-surprise-birthday-party-at-premiere-1168147/ THR: Hailee Steinfeld Gets Surprise Birthday Party at ‘Bumblebee’ Premiere]</ref>
{{--}}

===Changes before, during, and after production===
Initially, ''Bumblebee'' would have served as a more direct prequel to the 2007 movie, bridging the gap between Bumblebee's [[World War II]] adventures in ''The Last Knight'' and setting up some plot points from the original ''Transformers'' film. Many of these elements were subsequently dropped during reshoots following test screenings in 2018; this may have been a result of feedback from the test screenings, Paramount's concerns over the negative commercial and critical reception to ''The Last Knight'', or a desire to take the franchise in a new direction. Some of these changes include:
[[File:ANewCarForCharlie-deletedscene.jpg|thumb|300px|"TiVo. You can just freeze live TV? That's insane!"]]
*The film's original cut didn't include any scenes set on Cybertron, opening instead on a shot of Earth, where Bumblebee (who narrates in voiceover) is fleeing from Sector Seven in his Jeep mode.<ref name="opening">{{citesocial|quote=The Entire Opening was new and the earth sequence was reshot scene to have john cena and his crew in training excersize in a random forest rather than already hunting bumblebee in a forest bee is hiding in. In the prescreener it opened with a shot of earth from space with a quick few lines of exposition from bee before we cut to the jeeps and humvees already chasing bee. We never see him crashland or have a cybertronian mode.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> This setup maintained continuity with ''The Last Knight''. In this original opening, Bumblebee laments that the humans are now hunting him despite his being sent to protect them, and comes to the embittered conclusion that mankind isn't worth fighting for. This sets up the character arc Bumblebee is intended to undergo in the film, learning through his friendship with Charlie that not all humans are alike, and that there is good in them after all, culminating in his decision to fight Shatter and Dropkick in order to save the Earth from a Decepticon invasion after he regains his memories in the film's final act. This arc becomes diluted in the finished film, even though this climactic scene remains, since Bumblebee does not experience this loss of faith in the first place. This original opening is included among the deleted scenes on the home release.
**For the final cut of the film, the scene was reshot to have Bumblebee's escape pod crash-land near Burns's Sector Seven squad—who are in the woods because of a training exercise—by pure coincidence.<ref name="opening" /> Unfortunately, this creates some new discrepancies: Sector Seven is ''already'' driving SUVs equipped with anti-Transformer harpoon weaponry; a mid-1980s special forces unit keeps a WWII-era Willys Jeep around for some reason; and Bumblebee can speak English not more than a few minutes after landing on Earth.
**Blitzwing's scene was unchanged from the test screening, though at the time production had not settled on a name for the character.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Yep he died in the prescreener as well as the full film. As far as i remember he had a placeholder name on our little survey at the end that wasnt starscream or blitzwing though. I think he was given the name later through production. We also never hear said it in either version of the film, just in the credits and on the toy?|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18508352|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=11|day=10}}</ref>
*Burns was originally going to have a markedly different personality. In the test cut, he was depicted as a far grimmer character who had lost someone close to him in a prior Transformer attack. In the final version of the film, he became more eccentric, though remnants of his original personality still appear at times.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A majority of cena and powells dialogue has been reshot to remove sector 7s prior knowledge of transformers and cena being xenophobic towards them due to a person close to him being killed by one at some point has also been removed from the final version. Cenas dialogue was also reshot in this to make him funnier when in the pre screener he was much more serious and cut throat. Some of these more intense lines still come through like when he and the general are listening to powell gush about the decepticons creating the internet. The first line about “powell being weird” is reshot but the rest is the original scene hence why he seems a bit more serious. This shift in his performance may be whats throwing some people off about him as there are are two distinct performances being twisted together.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=The only character who was wildly different in the prescreener was John Cena. In the original cut he was much more cut throat and had a history with the transformers. Almost no jokes except the “Why do they always run?” Line. He had alot more levity added to his character with reshoots. Everyone else was exactly the same.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-7#post-18110584|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=19}}</ref>
*Otis appeared more frequently in the original cut of the film, particularly in the first act. Deleted scenes include: Charlie "dropping him off" at karate practice by having him ride a skateboard while clinging to the back of her bike [[Marty McFly]]-style; Charlie leaving to buy Bumblebee while she is meant to be watching Otis, warning him that she will kill him if he dies while she is away; Charlie coercing Otis into helping her clean the new Beetle when she returns; and Bumblebee breaking down on the road while the two are taking it for a test drive, leading Otis to abandon Charlie and walk off while a passing Tina taunts her. All of these scenes are among the deleted scenes included in the home release.
*Originally, Charlie was to have two friends named [[Liz]] and [[Brenda]] "Bren" (played by [[Rachel Crow]] and [[Abby Quinn]] respectively), who worked with her at Hot Dog on a Stick. The two originally appeared in the first Boardwalk scene where they tell Charlie they "aren't a match anymore," following her personality change after her father's death, upsetting her. They later reappear at the cliffside party, having bribed their way into Tina's friendship by giving her free corn dogs and abandoning Charlie for their new "cool" status. Both scenes are present as extras on the home release, and the characters still appear in the [[Transformers: Bumblebee: The Junior Novel|Junior Novel adaptation]].
*In the test cut, Cliffjumper was not part of the scene in which Shatter and Dropkick detect Bumblebee on Earth.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In our cut Shatter and Dropkick just happened to be on the moon and receive the signal from bee. Cliffjumper wasn't there at all.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-2#post-16444221|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref> Cliffjumper's inclusion was made because his similarities to Bumblebee would set the stakes of the story: "You have to understand that if Shatter and Dropkick encounter Bumblebee, things are not going to end well."<ref>[https://uproxx.com/hitfix/travis-knight-interview-bumblebee/ Travis Knight ''UPROXX'' interview]</ref>
*Similarly, the extended flashback to Optimus Prime on Cybertron when Bumblebee watches Prime's holographic message was missing from the test cut, only added alongside the Cybertron opening which the assets were produced for.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The flashback with prime fighting the cons on cybertron when bee sees his hologram was newly added. It originally just played the message.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> The G1-style CGI model for Optimus was present in the original cut.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I think that no matter what the team behind this movie were thinking of redesigns from the get go, bee was already the cuddly pudgier more g1 version in the cut i witnessed rather than the studio series boxart and figure with the more pronounced door wings. Along with Optimuss hologram being the g1 style cybertronian design. Heck our cut still had Optimus as a flat nosed at the end. Regardless of if the cybertron scene was a way later addition or not the film was still going to be a stylistic reboot at the very least, making the designs easier on the eyes.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-4#post-16452606|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=31}}</ref>
*The scene where Bumblebee explores Charlie's house originally had the Autobot inadvertently bring the house's electronics to life with his [[energon radiation]], necessitating a slapstick fight sequence in which Bumblebee, Charlie, and Memo had to unplug the hostile Transformers to deactivate them. {{w|Martin Short}} would have featured in the scene, presumably as the voice of at least one of the mutations. This scene was cut ''very'' late in production, enough so that a version of it would find its way into both the junior novel and [[A New Car for Charlie|Junior Reader adaptations]]. As a result, the movie's corresponding scene features an unusually high number of rapid-fire jump cuts to mask the missing footage, including a strange, swaying "POV" shot that originally belonged to the mutant washing machine as it watched Charlie and Memo enter the house. Eagle-eyed viewers will realize that the house's television is gone from its usual spot. At the same time, the washing machine is, for no apparent reason, sitting in the middle of the family carpet, the "real" reason being that these appliances had been brought to life and summarily dispatched in the original cut of the movie. Another remnant of the sequence surfaces when Sally asks why the television's cord was cut—something of a ''non sequitur'' in this version. The complete sequence is included as one of the deleted scenes on the home release, though it does not feature Short's voice.
*Shatter and Dropkick's goal was unchanged from the test cut, but their plan actually hinged on this deleted scene with the Energon mutations: seeing how Bumblebee was able to bring the human technology to life, they decide to use the satellite to send out an Energon pulse to awaken an army, with Charlie needing to disable the Energon device they hook up to the tower.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=in the cut we had [Shatter and Dropkick] were hunting bee to find the location of optimus prime so their plot stayed largely the same as did their dialogue. The inly thing different that i can place right now is dropkicks death scream was much more intense and panicked in the prescreening, which was probably way too brutal for the kids so they altered it to be quick.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-3#post-16444738|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=i wanna say they claimed he was an escaped fugitive. Someone dangerous? I think most of the dialogue had generally thensame focus. The major change was with their plan. They discover that Bumblebee brought stuff to life in the original cut and plan to use and energon source and the satellite dish to send a pulse out across the city bringing all the appliances to life as an army for the decepticons rather than just sending out a signal to call the army. Thats why Charlie needs to climb the tower to get to the energon device thats hooked into the tower. She has to remove it before it sends the pulse out and theres a timer on it ticking down until its charged.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18117235|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=21}}</ref> In the final cut, they're just calling Decepticon reinforcements.
*The test cut of the film featured a post-credit scene with Burns, Simmons, and Whalen discussing that the Autobots can never learn of "N.B.E.-01:" [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], frozen in ice as per the 2007 movie, albeit redesigned to have a more [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1-styled appearance]]. This scene was replaced in the final cut by entirely new scenes of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee watching more Transformers arrive on Earth and Charlie finishing her and her father's car repair project.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A scene that was cut from the end in final version was a sector 7 scene between Cena, Simmons, and the General talking about how the autobots must never know about NBE1 which is revealed to be a frozen G1 styled megatron, fusion cannon and all, that has the same aesthetic as the cybertonian bots from the new opening sequence. Both post credits scenes were brand new in the final release, those being Bee and Prime walking along and watching more Autobots coming to earth and Charlie finishing her fathers car. Everything else was essentially the same between both versions, just cut slightly faster in some places to keep the pacing steady.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=[Megatron's Tiny Turbo Changers design is] actually really close to what i saw! Essentially the design i saw in the film for a split second was like a blend of g1 and movie 1 megs. Had the general shape of g1 megs but with movie 1 megs detailing and definitely the movie 1 megs face|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/travisformer-megatron.1161108/page-5#post-16720715|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=Travisformer Megatron|year=2019|month=03|day=23}}</ref>
**The scene where Bumblebee joins Optimus Prime on the Golden Gate Bridge was, however, the same in both versions and would've been the last on-screen appearance of Bee in the original cut. With that cut being more closely aligned with the live-action continuity at large, it seems likely that the scene was intended to be a bit more ambiguous—the audience at large would've been able to read it as "Bumblebee goes off to join Optimus Prime", while the filmmakers would've retained some plausible deniability in the form of "it's just a truck that ''looks'' like Optimus Prime"—thus better allowing for the arrival of the Autobots to occur as seen in the 2007 movie.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The final shot at the golden gate bridge with Bee turning into a camaro and following optimus on the golden gate was the same in both cuts|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref>
*A scene of Bumblebee being on the run in Vietnam in his World War II body made it to concept art stage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/the-big-bumblebee-concept-art-thread.1167241/#post-16487632 Vietnam fields concept art]</ref>
{{-}}

[[File:TF-BB-Movie-Murderbee-Trailer-vs-Final-Cut.jpg|250px|thumb|"You see? You can't treat them
like equals! They're striped savages! Stinging's the only thing they know! ''It's their way!''"]]
Additional changes, some of which took place ''after'' the introduction of the film's Cybertron scenes, include:
*The first trailer to include Cybertron scenes featured Blitzwing among Shockwave's Seekers. In later trailers and the final film, he was replaced with Starscream, sporting his traditional color scheme and seemingly a new head lacking the 'flight mask' design motif.
*In a statement for Seibertron.com, Jon Bailey noted that he auditioned for [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], suggesting the character was originally intended to have dialogue.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-jon-bailey-talks-about-his-experience/42553/ Seibertron article on Bailey's experience]</ref> This was confirmed in a Seibertron.com podcast, in which he also said [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was supposed to yell "Die Autobots!", in a slightly reworked version of his appearance. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was also supposed to say "Operation: Destruction" and/or "Operation: Annihilation" after ejecting [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] as a direct reference to the original cartoon.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/twincast-podcast-episode-214-bumblebee/42674/ Seibertron.com Twincast Podcast Episode #214 "Bumblebee"]</ref>
*The Cybertron tower was supposed to look more [[Great Dome]]-like before opening up to display the launchpad, with concept art to boot, though it was cut for time.<ref name="ILM" />
*Optimus Prime was to have an extended role in the opening scene, having a Cybertronian vehicle mode, though it was cut for time. Concept art for a more Cybertronian robot mode and vehicle mode was created by [[Alex Jaeger]], though the film ultimately uses a model closer to his Earthen robot form.<ref name="ILM" />
*An additional render and a deleted scene depict Shatter and Dropkick inside Sector 7 with their car-only robot forms, indicating they may have been supposed to scan their aerial modes later in the film.<ref name="ILM" />
*Travis Knight initially wanted to feature Megatron during the Cybertron scenes. However, the Decepticon leader was ultimately omitted, specifically because continuity dictated he was still frozen on Earth at the time,<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/12/19/bumblebee-deleted-megatron-decepticon-scene/ 'Bumblebee' Deleted A Megatron Scene] on comicbook.com</ref> despite the removal of the scene mentioned earlier showing this.
*When Bumblebee's memories are restored and he fights against Sector 7, his eye color is red, as opposed to the blue in the trailer (right).
*Very early stock art for the film depicted Bumblebee with his now-traditional "wings" formed from his car's doors alternate mode. This was changed late in production to give his final C.G. model a more humanoid appearance, but not early enough to change his [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|concurrently-released toys]], which almost unanimously depict Bumblebee with said door-wings.
*Shatter went under the working name '''[[Fracture (disambiguation)|Fracture]]'''.<ref name="ILM" />
{{-}}

==Notes==
*During production, the film was referred to in presentational material under a variety of names, including "Transformers 6", "Bumblebee: The Movie," "The Bumblebee Movie," and "Transformers Universe: Bumblebee."
*[[Hasbro Pulse]] occasionally refers to the movie as "Transformers: Bumblebee" or "Bumblebee Movie".<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-studio-series-65-voyager-bumblebee-movie-blitzwing]
</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (バンブルビー ''Banburubī'')
*''Arabic:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (بامبلبي ''Bamblibi'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''''Daai Wong Fung''''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Greek:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Μπάμπλμπι ''Bámplmpi'')
*''Hindi:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (बुमबलेबी ''Bumabalebee'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''''ŰrDongó''''' ("Space Bumblebee")
*''Korean:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (범블비 ''Beombeulbi'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Dàhuángfēng''''' (大黃蜂, 大黄蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблби ''Bamblbi'')
*''Tamil:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (பம்பல்பீ ''Pampalpī'')
*''Telugu:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (బంబుల్బీ ''Bambulbī'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблбі ''Bamblbi'')

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

==External links==
*{{w|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}} on Wikipedia
*[[IMDB:tt4701182|Bumblebee]] on IMDB

[[Category:Bumblebee| ]]
[[Category:Bumblebee media| ]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Bumblebee (film)

2025-03-31T18:55:52Z

Kickassatron: /* Real-life references */

{{disambig3.5|the feature film|the Autobot it features|Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee}}
{{Nav-Bumblebee}}
{{movie|
|seriess=[[Live-action film series]]
|prev=Transformers: The Last Knight (film)
|next=Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)
|title=''Bumblebee''
|image=BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg
|caption=According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.
|production companies=[[Allspark Pictures]] [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura|di Bonaventura Pictures]] [[Tencent Pictures]] [[Michael Bay|Bay Films]]
|distributor=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|executive producer=[[Steven Spielberg]]
|producer=[[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] [[Tom DeSanto]] [[Don Murphy]] [[Michael Bay]] [[Mark Vahradian]]
|written by=[[Christina Hodson]]
|directed by=[[Travis Knight]]
|cinematography by=[[Enrique Chediak]]
|edited by=[[Paul Rubell]]
|music by=[[Dario Marianelli]]
|release date=[[December 21]], [[2018]]
|continuity=[[Live-action film series]]
|runtime=114 minutes
|budget=$102–135 million
|box office=$468 million
}}
'''''Bumblebee''''' is the sixth movie in the [[live-action film series]]. A "reset" of the film series as a whole,<ref name="reboot">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/02/16/transformers-cinematic-universe-current-movie-series-rebooted-358641 Transformers Cinematic Universe Is Over: Current Movie Series To Be Rebooted] at TFW2005</ref> ''Bumblebee'' acts as a prequel to the previous five movies, albeit [[retcon|taking some liberties]] with continuity. The film is directed by [[Travis Knight]] rather than [[Michael Bay]] (who still pitches in as producer), written by newcomer [[Christina Hodson]], and produced on a far lower budget of around $100–137 million.<ref>[https://screenrant.com/bumblebee-movie-budget-cost/ "The film's budget is reportedly in the range of $100-137 million..." -Screenrant article on the film's budget and profit]</ref> The film was released in the U.S. on [[December 21]], [[2018]].

When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] is sent to [[Earth]] to establish a base for the [[Autobot]]s, he finds himself hunted by both [[Sector Seven]] and the [[Decepticon]]s. With his memory and voice lost in battle, he is found by [[Charlie Watson]], a young woman in search of a direction in life. The pair work together to try to discover who Bumblebee is and why he's on Earth, but ultimately they'll find themselves with the fate of the planet in their hands...

{{bigquote|Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice.|[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]}}

==Synopsis==
[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Bumblebee-Earth.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"In tennis, you attack at the point of weakness!"]]
War rages on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and things look bad for the [[Autobot]]s. The [[Decepticon]]s have broken through the front lines, contact has been lost with the capital, and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]], [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]], [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and several other survivors are pinned down under Decepticon assault until [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] arrives to momentarily repel their foes. Prime looks for scout [[Bumblebee (Movie)|B-127]], who appears only a moment after. The arrival of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] on the battlefield, as well as the surge in Decepticon forces, prompts Prime to order the Autobots to fall back to a launchpad. He instructs the Autobots to board escape pods and flee from the planet. He also gives B-127 a secret mission: go to [[Earth]], a well-hidden planet Prime has identified, and establish a base for the Autobots to regroup and strike back. As the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s under Shockwave's command begin attacking the launchpad directly, Prime leaps into the horde of Decepticons to buy B-127's pod some time to escape.

[[File:BBfilm-Burns-meets-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"This isn't a goodfella. This is a ''bad''fella!"]]
The year is [[1987]], and Agent [[Jack Burns]]' team of [[Sector Seven]] agents emerge victorious from a mock battle after leading [[Danny Bell]] and his team into an ambush. As Burns good-naturedly chides his unlucky opponent, however, an unknown projectile appears overhead and plows into their midst, injuring many agents. Burns, believing his team to be under projectile assault after confirming that no other military practices using live ammo are occurring nearby, immediately calls for backup... upon which he comes face to face with B-127 rising from the crater. He immediately orders his forces to give chase, and the Autobot flees after [[scanning]] and [[transformation|transforming]] into a nearby military jeep.

Even though the military attempts to capture him with [[harpoon]]s and [[machine gun]]s, B-127 evades them and emerges into a clearing leading to an empty mineshaft. Burns gives the order to cut it off from escaping into the mine, which one of his soldiers executes by blindsiding B-127 with his jeep. However, B-127 begins talking to the humans in [[United States of America|English]], assuring them of his peaceful intentions and that he is not here to hurt anyone. Burns orders the soldiers to stand down, only for a jet to appear overhead. Burns is baffled that the Air Force was alerted this early, but the robot corrects him—the plane is, in fact, the Decepticon [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]], who bombards the clearing with missiles and swoops in to attack the yellow Autobot!

[[File:Bumblebee-BeeVsBlitz.jpg|300px|thumb|left|"I have been felled by a winged beast of destruction!"]]
B-127 puts up a valiant effort against Blitzwing and even manages to damage his opponent's flight systems, but is soon subdued and dangled over a cliff. Blitzwing interrogates the scout about Optimus Prime and the Autobots' whereabouts; the scout valiantly refuses and asserts that he will "never talk," a move that prompts Blitzwing to "make it official" by ripping out his voice synthesizer. Badly injured, he is thrown off the cliff and prepared for execution. But B-127 uses a moment of quick thinking to rip a missile from the Decepticon's arm and shove it into his chest. B-127 takes advantage of the Decepticon's momentary confusion to kick himself away before opening fire on the missile, detonating it, and killing Blitzwing. As he limps away, Burns watches him leave trapped under a destroyed jeep. The Autobot crawls to a riverbank before collapsing from his injuries, with his memory cells critically damaged. His systems scan a nearby [[Volkswagen]] Beetle before he finally fades away to unconsciousness...

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-finds-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"What about you?" "He really is dead."]]
In [[Brighton Falls]], [[Charlie Watson]], a 17-year-old girl one day away from turning 18, awakens from her slumber. Since Charlie isn't over [[Charlie's dad|her father's]] death yet, she brushes off her annoying younger brother [[Otis Watson|Otis]], and her mother [[Sally Watson|Sally]]'s infatuation with her new boyfriend [[Ron (BB)|Ron]]. Charlie bikes to her job at the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk|boardwalk]], where she is utterly humiliated in an encounter with [[Tina Lark]] and her posse. She visits [[Hank's Marine Repair and Parts]] after hours to look for car parts, discovering an old V.W. Beetle under a tarmac after accidentally knocking over some motorboats. She finds the key in the ignition and attempts to start it, but is surprised when the car emits an unintelligible signal...

On one of [[Saturn]]'s moons, Decepticon hunters [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] interrogate Cliffjumper about Optimus Prime's whereabouts. The Autobot remains resolute, which angers his interrogators, until B-127's signal, activated on Earth by Charlie, reaches the three [[Transformer]]s. The two Decepticons agree to go to Earth and hunt down B-127 instead, and Dropkick vertically bisects Cliffjumper, killing the Autobot.

In a [[Texas]] trailer park, the dysfunctional couple, [[Roy (BB)|Roy]] and [[Amber]], argue about Roy spending the down payment for their house on a tricked-out new car, among other things. Their spiel is interrupted when a meteor crashes mere feet from them, missing Roy's new car, much to his relief. However, he's not so lucky when a second one falls as it obliterates both his prized car and their house. Headlights shining from inside the inferno give the irresponsible man some hope until Shatter and Dropkick reveal themselves and transform before them. As Roy attempts to greet the newcomers, Dropkick kills the unlucky man and leaves Amber before the Decepticons drive off to the West Coast following B-127's signal.

Failing to make progress on repairing her late father's Corvette and feeling left out by her family, Charlie wakes up to the worst 18th birthday imaginable. The disappointing presents from Sally and Ron (a pink bicycle helmet and a book about smiling more, respectively) only worsen the feeling. She fumes in her bedroom before storming over to the auto repair and asking [[Uncle Hank|Hank]] for the Beetle. She even offers to work at the shop for a year in exchange for the car, but Hank refuses since he isn't hiring employees, and Charlie can take the car for free if she can get it to start. Charlie gets to work and soon triumphantly drives her new car home.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-garage.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You like jazz?"]]
Charlie parks her new Beetle in the garage but is surprised when a part falls out from its undercarriage. She's even more surprised when an inspection of the vehicle reveals what appears to be a ''face'' under the car... moments before B-127 transforms and reveals himself to her. However, Charlie's only momentarily terrified as her fear turns to compassion upon seeing that the Autobot is about as afraid of her as she is of him. She manages to soothe the scared scout and emotionally connect with him, giving him the name "Bumblebee" after the warbled beeps and buzzes he makes.

[[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] relays the news of the Decepticons' landfall to Burns, who immediately prepares a team to travel to Texas and intercept them.

[[File:BBfilm-Bumblebee-pat-pat.jpg|thumb|300px|"You're flying outside the hive, talking to humans that attack our homes with power washers and M-80s!"]]
Charlie awakens the next day and goes straight to the garage, but discovers to her horror that Bumblebee has vanished without a trace. A quick interrogation of Otis reveals Sally has appropriated Charlie's car to take their dog [[Conan]] to the vet, as Ron needed to use the family station wagon. Charlie frantically chases her mother on her moped and manages to pull her over, despite Bumblebee almost blowing his cover by extending an arm out from his trunk and waving at her. She later takes the Autobot to a secluded beach, where she teaches him that he should always assume [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]] unless the two of them are alone.

[[File:ShatterDropkickhologram.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Mr. Bee, I'm going to ask what I think the entire court here would like to know... what exactly is your relationship to that woman?"]]
Burns' team and [[Dr. Powell]] intercept the two Decepticons in Texas and ask them to state their business. Dropkick wants to eliminate the humans, but Shatter comes up with a better idea; lying to the humans that they are a "peacekeeping Decepticon patrol." She asks Sector Seven's aid in tracking down the "dangerous escaped criminal" B-127. While Burns is doubtful, Powell, enthusiastic at the prospect of first contact with an [[alien]] species, eagerly agrees to talk to his superiors about the matter.

Bumblebee and Charlie bond in a secluded forest, but when Bee's chest starts sparking from the damage he took during his fight with Sector Seven, Charlie attempts to fix it, only to activate a holographic message sent by Optimus Prime accidentally. While the message is garbled and incomplete, hearing it jolts a memory in Bumblebee...

''Leaping from the collapsing launchpad and latching onto a Seeker to make his way down, Optimus fights his way through several Seekers before Soundwave deploys [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to attack him. Prime manages to fight off the feline minion with some effort, but his distraction has allowed dozens of Decepticons, including Soundwave, Shockwave, and Starscream, to surround him. The Decepticons move in to attack the Autobot leader even as B-127 watches, unable to help, from his departing escape pod...''

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-hugs.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Charlie realizes that Bumblebee is on the run from something serious. When he attempts to use his broken radio, she decides she can at least fix that, and they return to her garage, where she sets about extracting the radio from the Corvette. Bumblebee starts playing a video, which turns out to be footage of her last dive meet made by her father shortly before his death. She installs the radio in Bumblebee, though he forcefully ejects the music tapes she inserts into him. While she's looking through her tapes, he starts thumbing through her father's L.P.s, and she scolds him. However, after she notices a specific record, her mood changes, and she starts playing it, recalling how she and her father used to listen to it while working on the Corvette. She tells Bee how her father died of a heart attack, and she's continued working on the car in his memory.

At Sector Seven, [[General Whalen]] leads a discussion over whether to allow the Decepticons access to their equipment. Burns believes they can't trust the Decepticons, but Whalen promises to turn them over to him once they track down B-127. Shatter and Dropkick are duly introduced to Sector Seven's array of computers, though they're more interested in the telephone network.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Memo-ride-in-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
As Bumblebee plays with his new radio, Charlie's neighbor [[Memo]] stumbles into the garage, intending to ask Charlie on a date, and is shocked at the sight of the giant robot. Charlie swears him to secrecy, and the pair go for a drive in Bumblebee. Charlie borrows Memo's shirt so she can show off by "driving" blindfolded, and they hang out of Bumblebee's sunroof.

Dr. Powell marvels over the radio at the massive worldwide interconnected web the Decepticons are constructing using the computers and telephone network to track [[energon]] signatures. Burns still has his misgivings, but Whalen believes they can turn the technology on the Decepticons.

Still driving in Bumblebee, Charlie and Memo realize that the reason the Autobot has been playing with his radio is to teach himself to speak with it. They arrive at a cliff by the seaside, where [[Tripp Summers]] challenges Charlie to dive off the cliff. When she's unable, despite urging from Bumblebee, she's cruelly mocked by Tina. Though Charlie claims not to be bothered, Memo and Bumblebee both want revenge. That night, they head to Tina's house and attempt to educate Bumblebee on the art of throwing toilet paper and eggs; this doesn't go well, culminating in Bumblebee enthusiastically jumping on Tina's car and the trio making a quick getaway before she emerges to find the damage. Their frantic driving is spotted by [[Sheriff Lock]], who gives chase in his cruiser. Bumblebee is easily able to outmaneuver Lock's vehicle, which ends up totaled as a result. The three fugitives return to Charlie's home, where they say their goodnights.

[[File:Bumblebee vs sofa.jpg|thumb|300px|"I told you, stop flying in the house!"]]
The next morning, Charlie tells Bumblebee he needs to stay in the garage as the authorities will be looking for him, and leaves for her job. Bumblebee instead ends up following Conan into the house, and his curious exploration ends up demolishing just about everything in the living room and kitchen. Finally, he ends up plugging himself into a wall socket, causing an energon-infused power surge that travels down nearby power lines. The equipment at Sector Seven detects the surge, and the Decepticons roll out, closely followed by Burns and his men. Memo also notices the commotion, so he calls Charlie, who returns home where the pair survey the devastation. Memo manages to get Bumblebee back into the garage, but Charlie realizes she's screwed. Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reached Brighton Falls.

Sally returns home with Otis to find the destruction. An argument ensues between her and Charlie, who ends up storming out. Charlie and Memo go driving to cool off, but they run into a roadblock set up by Sector Seven. Charlie tries to keep Bumblebee calm, but when the Sector Seven soldiers seize her, Bumblebee transforms and carries her off. Unfortunately, they immediately run into Shatter and Dropkick, who attempt to interrogate Bumblebee but are perplexed when the Autobot doesn't try to fight back. Burns and his men arrive and start zapping Bee with electrical guns, and Charlie gets knocked out when she attempts to help him.

[[File:BBfilm-interrogation.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Remember what Van said, why is your life more valuable than mine?" "Funny, I just can't seem to recall that!"]]
Charlie wakes up in her bed and emerges from her room to find Agent Burns telling her parents that she had stolen valuable government equipment. Despite her protests, her mom banishes her back to her room. She promptly slips out through her window, and Otis catches her trying to get Memo's attention by throwing rocks at his window. She manages to stop him from alerting her mother. Joining Memo in his house, they watch a news report about Sector Seven setting up shop at [[McKinnon Air Base]], and Charlie reasons that's where they're holding Bumblebee. Otis is assigned to keep the plan secret while Charlie and Memo head to the base.

At the airbase, Powell watches the two Decepticons interrogate Bumblebee. Charlie and Memo sneak into the base in time to watch as the Decepticons inadvertently trigger Optimus Prime's recording, revealing that the Autobots are coming to Earth. As the Decepticons discuss the presented opportunity, Powell realizes their mistake in cooperating with the giant evil robots and tries to radio a warning to Burns before Dropkick kills him.

Sally and Ron pick over the debris in their house, and Otis is entirely unsuccessful at convincing them that Charlie is still in her room.

[[File:BBFilm-Charlie-Bee-touch-hands.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Shatter locates a nearby communications tower they can use to call in the Decepticon army. Once Dropkick blasts Bumblebee, the pair depart, and Charlie and Memo run to the lifeless Autobot's side. Charlie believes they can still revive him using the electrical guns, and though at first, it seems as though she's unsuccessful, Bumblebee sits up, and his memories start to restore. Agent Burns and his men arrive outside and blow up the exterior door before advancing inside. Charlie tells Bumblebee to run as the troops attempt to take her and Memo away, but the soldiers harpoon Bee. It's not until Burns throws Charlie to the ground that Bumblebee finds the strength to get up and start blasting, unfazed by anything the humans throw at him. Sector Seven retreats, but Charlie has to talk Bumblebee down. Charlie tries to persuade him that they need to hide, but Bumblebee is set on stopping the Decepticons. While Charlie leaves in Bee, Memo tries unsuccessfully to slow down the pursuing Sector Seven vehicles.

As Bumblebee and Charlie race through Brighton Falls, pursued by Sector Seven, they're joined by Sally and Ron in the station-wagon. Though Ron manages to obstruct Burns's vehicle successfully, he ends up spinning out as they approach a set of traffic lights, and there's an almost-pileup as multiple vehicles skid to a halt just inches from hitting each other. Shatter and Dropkick blend their technology into the communications tower at the port in preparation to send their message. Bumblebee arrives and has Charlie hide in a garbage bin for protection before he begins shooting the tower, prompting Dropkick to descend and engage the Autobot in a fierce fight. An errant missile throws Charlie from her hiding place, and, seeing Bumblebee occupied, she heads for the tower. Narrowly avoiding Bumblebee and Dropkick's fight, she starts ascending a nearby crane. Burns also arrives in a helicopter, ordering the pilot to open fire on the communications tower. The battle below moves into a dry dock, with Dropkick transforming to helicopter mode to fire at Bumblebee. Bumblebee throws a chain that hits the Decepticon's rotors, wrapping around Dropkick as he changes to robot mode and allowing Bumblebee to terminate him.

Charlie reaches the top of the crane and jumps across to the tower. Above her, Shatter shoots down the Sector Seven helicopter, sending it plunging towards the ground. Bumblebee manages to grab it before it can crash, saving Burns's life. Charlie moves to disconnect the Cybertronian power source, and when Shatter transforms into jet mode to stop her, Bumblebee shoots down the Decepticon. During the ensuing fight on the ground, Charlie successfully disconnects the tower's power source.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bee-underwater.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You snap out of it!" "''You'' snap out of it!"]]
An enraged Shatter pounds on Bumblebee, who shoots the wall of the dry dock. Shatter mocks him for missing until the wall gives way, and Shatter gets crushed between a ship and the side of the dock. As Bumblebee sinks to the bottom of the flooded dock, Charlie overcomes her fear and dives in, finding Bumblebee at the bottom and helping him to get back to the surface. Finally seeing Bumblebee's true nature, Burns tells the pair they need to make their escape before the rest of Sector Seven arrives, and as they leave, Memo turns up just slightly too late to save the world.

[[File:BB-GoldenGateBridge.jpg|thumb|300px|"Beautiful day to fly." "Sure is."]]
Bumblebee and Charlie end up on a hill overlooking the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], where Charlie tells the Autobot that she can't interfere with his greater purpose, and they have to go their separate ways. After a tearful farewell, Bumblebee scans a passing Camaro as his new alternate mode and drives off to rendezvous with Optimus Prime on the bridge, leaving to continue his mission. Charlie returns home and reunites with her family and Memo.

That night in a nearby forest, Optimus commends Bumblebee on keeping Earth safe, as the two watch more Autobot refugees appear in the sky over Earth. Not far away, Charlie successfully gets the Corvette running and takes it for a first drive.
{{-}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters|
h1=[[Autobot]]s|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] ([[Dylan O'Brien]])
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Andrew Morgado]])
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] ([[Dennis Singletary]])
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] ([[Grey Griffin]])
*[[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]] ([[Kirk Baily]])
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]
*Autobot soldiers

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
*[[Shatter]] ([[Angela Bassett]])
*[[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] ([[Justin Theroux]])
*[[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] ([[David Sobolov]])
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] (Jon Bailey)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
*[[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]†
*[[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]]†
*[[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]]†
*[[Seeker (Movie)|Seekers]] (Kirk Baily; [[#Transformers references|see below]])

|h3=[[Human]]s|c3=
*[[Charlie Watson]] ([[Hailee Steinfeld]])
*[[Memo]] ([[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]])
*[[Sally Watson]] ([[Pamela Adlon]])
*[[Otis Watson]] ([[Jason Drucker]])
*[[Ron (BB)|Ron]] ([[Stephen Schneider]])
*[[Uncle Hank]] ([[Len Cariou]])
*[[Craig (BB)|Craig]] ([[Kollin Holtz]])
*[[Tina Lark]] ([[Gracie Dzienny]])
*[[Tina's girlfriends]] ([[Isabelle Ellingson]], [[Mika Kubo]])
*[[Tripp Summers]] ([[Ricardo Hoyos]])
*[[Sheriff Lock]] ([[Fred Dryer]])
*[[Roy (BB)|Roy]] ([[Lenny Jacobson]])
*[[Amber]] ([[Megyn Price]])
*[[Charlie's dad]] ([[Tim Martin Gleason]])
*[[Bill (BB)|Bill]] ([[Antonio D. Charity]])
'''[[Sector Seven]]'''
*[[Jack Burns]] ([[John Cena]])
*[[Dr. Powell]] ([[John Ortiz]])
*[[General Whalen]] ([[Glynn Turman]])
*[[Seymour Simmons]] ([[Nick Pilla]])
*[[Danny Bell]] ([[Edwin Hodge]])

|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Conan]] ([[Sterling (dog)|Sterling]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

† The individual Seekers are identified as such in packaging bios for ''Studio Series'' toys of characters featured in the film.

==Quotes==
"I'll never talk." 
"Is that right? Then let's make it official."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Blitzwing''', right before the latter destroys the former's voice box.

"If ''you'' won't tell us where Prime is, perhaps your young friend will." 
"''Never''." 
"You're a brave warrior. You deserve a better death...then again..."
:—'''Shatter''' and '''Cliffjumper''', right before Dropkick executes the latter.

"I like the way they ''pop.''" 
"''Focus,'' comrade."
:—'''Dropkick''' and '''Shatter''', after the former kills a human bystander.

"I say this with all due respect...have you lost your damn mind?!" 
"''That'' was with all due respect?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' and '''Dr. Powell''' debate.

"They literally call themselves Decepticons. That doesn't set off any red flags?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' doesn't trust the giant alien robots.

"Look, I know what you saw is a little crazy. I can explain. ... Yeah, I can't explain, but here's the deal: If you tell anyone what you just saw, I'm going to have to run you over with my car." 
"...Jeez!" 
"...I don't mean that in a mean way, okay?"
:—'''Charlie''' and '''Memo'''

"Ron! We have a kid in the car!" 
"I was trying to save the other kid! What was I...It was a lose-lose!"
:—'''Sally''' and '''Ron'''

"You think these little chains can hold-"
:—'''Dropkick''' before being sliced to pieces by said little chains.

"Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice." 
"Thank you for...for making me feel like me again."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Charlie''' say their goodbyes.

"No way. You kidding me? You're telling me you could've been a Camaro this whole time?"
:—'''Charlie''' sees Bumblebee has one last trick up his sleeve.

"Old friend, you kept this planet safe. Because of you, we have a future, B-127." 
"My name... is... Bumblebee."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' thanks the newly-rechristened '''Bumblebee'''.

==Continuity notes==
As a prequel to the rest of the live-action film series, ''Bumblebee'' includes set-up elements for several of them:

* Ancillary media dating back to [[2007]] has primarily credited [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with inflicting the injuries that caused Bumblebee to lose his voice (with both the [[Aligned continuity family]] and the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|''Cyberverse'' cartoon]] adapting the idea for their continuities), but internal to the films themselves, no specifics were ever provided, with "damage in battle" being the only reason given for the little Autobot's muteness. ''Bumblebee'' tells the on-screen version of the story, revealing that Blitzwing was the culprit.
* Meanwhile, Megatron himself is notably absent from the film's Cybertron-set prelude since, per the first movie's events, he is frozen on Earth at the time.
* The first film introduced Sector 7 and their [[Hoover Dam]] headquarters. A young [[Seymour Simmons]] (played by [[John Turturro]] in the present-day films) appears among the organization's ranks.
* Thanks to Charlie fitting him with a working radio, Bumblebee learns how to "speak" by using snippets of music to express himself, which is, of course, how he communicates in all the other films.
* Burns warns Whalen of the potential for Decepticon attacks on Earth, citing [[Washington, D.C.]], [[New York City]] and [[Chicago]] as possible targets. All three of these cities experienced Decepticon activity in other ''Transformers'' films: New York in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', and D.C. and Chicago in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.
* At the end of the movie, Bumblebee scans the [[1977]] Camaro mode that he had at the start of the original ''Transformers'' film.

Despite its notional "prequel" status, the film underwent significant reshoots ([[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]) that resulted in the deletion, alteration, and addition of scenes that create disjointedness between ''Bumblebee'' and the rest of the film series, even by the standard of the film series' usual ''laissez-faire'' approach to continuity, including:

* The ''big'' principal continuity-breaker is that the film completely throws out ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'''s premise that Bumblebee and the Autobots were active on Earth during significant periods throughout history, such as the {{w|American Revolutionary War}}, the {{w|Napoleonic Wars}}, [[World War I]], [[World War II]] and so on, and instead shows Bumblebee to have first come to Earth in [[1987]]. By extension, this also throws the film's [[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|prequel comic]], which also operated on ''The Last Knight''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s premise, out the window.
* More circumstantially, the film's aesthetics are notably different, hewing much closer to Generation 1. Cybertron itself closely resembles its Generation 1 design instead of the "honeycomb" design seen in ''Dark of the Moon'' and ''The Last Knight''. Bumblebee's '77 Camaro robot-mode body, seen in the film's mid-credits sequence, is entirely different from his 2007 film appearance, instead depicted as a variation of the body used through the rest of this film.
* Sector 7 refers to their meeting with Shatter and Dropkick as "first contact," which feels a little off since, according to the first film, they've kept the AllSpark and the frozen Megatron in their Hoover Dam base since the early 20th century. Neither Megatron nor the AllSpark are mentioned in the movie's final cut, with Dropkick and Shatter showing no awareness of them despite being allowed into the base where Sector 7 keeps them—but these aren't really true inter-movie continuity-breaking discrepancies, as the same thing happened in the ''original'' cut of the film, where Megatron ''did'' appear in Sector Seven's possession in a mid-credits scene (again [[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]).
* In-keeping with the AllSpark going unmentioned, the Autobots leave Cybertron because they are on the losing end of the war, with Bumblebee going to Earth to establish a fallback position for his comrades, rather than to search for the cube. This isn't particularly incompatible what we see of 'Bee in the first film; the fact that the Autobots are seen arriving on Earth at the end in 1987 when the first film showed them coming in 2007 is more incongruous, but no more so than ''The Last Knight'' claiming that they'd already been there for centuries. Reconciling either ''The Last Knight'' or ''Bumblebee'' with the first film requires assuming that the Autobots will leave Earth again at some point in the next 20 years to search other planets and systems for the AllSpark, as mentioned in the first film's prologue, only to return when Bumblebee discovers it was on Earth all along—but as we said, this movie doesn't mention that. Notably, having Bumblebee lose his voice ''after'' coming to Earth actually ''necessitates'' a meeting between 'Bee and the other Autobots before the first movie. Ratchet noted in that film that he'd been trying to fix Bumblebee's voice for a while, meaning his arrival in 2007 couldn't be the first time he'd seen Bumblebee since he lost his voice.

These breaks in continuity have led to a debate among fans over whether the film constitutes a "hard reboot" of the movie universe (beginning a new run of films that are fully separate from the timeline of the five Michael Bay films) or if it's merely a "soft reboot" (comparable to ''{{w|X-Men: First Class}}'', another "prequel" movie that had irreconcilable continuity discrepancies with the film series it was meant to be part of, but was nonetheless treated as "canon"). The filmmakers have used made vague and contradictory statements referring to the movie's place in continuity; director Travis Knight said the film was "essentially (...) restarting the franchise and (...) rebooting these characters,"<ref>[https://www.moviefone.com/news/bumblebee-director-travis-knight-interview/ Interview with Travis Knight at Moviefone.com]</ref> (note the non-definitive "essentially"), while associate producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura said it was "neither a reboot nor a remake."<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/03/24/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-highlights-the-future-direction-of-the-transformers-movie-series-385782 Di Bonaventura interview at TFW2005.com]</ref> Hasbro themselves referred to the film as "the start of a new storytelling universe",<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/02/16/transformers-brand-info-from-new-york-toy-fair-2019-fan-media-panel-hasbrotoyfair-383106 Transformers Brand Info From New York Toy Fair 2019 Fan Media Panel, TFW2005.com]</ref> but when asked about that, Di Bonventura interpreted the ill-defined phrase as simply meaning the creators had "freedom" to tell new stories that didn't necessarily follow the rules of the other films. Many movie news sites have pounced on these statements to declare the film an unambiguous reboot, leading to that sentiment being widely repeated across other sites, but ultimately, it has to be understood that the word "reboot" does not always mean to filmmakers and executives what it means to continuity-minded fans, and that they don't really think about "continuity" and "canon" that same precise way we do. The 2023 sequel, ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]'', was promoted with similar fuzzy statements and mixed-messaging about whether the film truly constituted a total reboot or not.

==Transformers references==

[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Prime-leaps-into-battle.jpg|thumb|300px|"All right, scramble, jocks! It's time to fly."]]
*During the opening battle on Cybertron, the Autobots' weapons fire orange laser blasts, while the Decepticons' fire blue ones, replicating the color-coded blaster fire of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] (though there, the Decepticons' weapons fire ''purple'' blasts).
*Optimus Prime's entrance into the battle on Cybertron is a direct reference to his famous leap into action from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In another seeming ''The Movie'' homage, Brawn is downed by a shot to the shoulder during his cameo. This time, however, he survives and is seen among the Autobots getting into the escape pods.
*The well-known Autobots are accompanied by [[generic]] recolors of Ironhide with one of two new heads.<ref name="ILM">[https://www.ilm.com/visual_development/bumblebee-developing-an-epic-set-piece BUMBLEBEE: DEVELOPING AN EPIC SET PIECE] at ILM</ref>
*The Seekers' Cybertronian alternate modes are loosely inspired by their "tetrajet" modes from the [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|first Generation 1 episode]].
*Starscream is the only "unique" Seeker to appear during the film's Cybertron sequences. The rest of their forces are made up of countless robots that recycle five generic designs: blue-and-white (based on [[Thundercracker (G1)|Generation 1 Thundercracker]]), [[:File:BB-Skywarp-concept.jpg|purple-and-grey]] (based on [[Skywarp (G1)|Generation 1 Skywarp]]), [[:File:BB-Thrust-concept.jpg|green-and-grey]] (based on [[Thrust (Armada)|''Armada'' Thrust]]),<ref name="ILM" /> teal-and-white, and grey-and-red. The "Thrust" model has a triangular protrusion position behind its head, loosely replicating the character's "[[Conehead]]" appearance without actually giving him a genuine conehead.
**While it is hard to determine which (if any!) of these generic robots are the ''actual'' movie universe incarnations of [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]], and [[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]], ''Studio Series'' toy bios help clear matters up: the ''real'' Skywarp and Thrust are stated to be the ones who joins Starscream in "blast[ing] the Autobot[s'] launchpad with missile fire to stop their escape from Cybertron".
*As Optimus calls retreat, Arcee and Cliffjumper wield pistols that are a direct design match to the "generic" pistol design used for Autobots in season 2 of the Generation 1 cartoon.
*The Cybertron tower containing the launchpad is based on the [[Great Dome]].<ref name="ILM" />
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave's]] eye flickers very subtly during his brief line of dialogue like his [[Shockwave (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].
*[[Shatter]], according to Travis Knight, is based on [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]].
*The concept of Cybertron falling into Decepticon hands and the Autobots initiating a mass exodus originates from the Aligned continuity family, although in this case, the Autobots depart in individual escape pods instead of [[Ark (disambiguation)|a single gargantuan starship]].
*[[Teletraan-I]] can be sighted in the background as the Autobots enter their escape pods.
*The [[Transformation#The noise|classic transformation noise]] is used ''liberally'' throughout the entire film. Some variant of it can be heard whenever a Transformer goes through a full-body transformation sequence onscreen, as well as whenever Bumblebee draws his arm blaster.
*Blitzwing drops a well-known [[Furmanism]] as he fights B-127, stating that the Autobot will "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]... like [B-127's] friends!"
[[File:BBFilm-Optimus-as-Freightliner.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Memo is reading a copy of [[GoBots|''GoBots Magazine'']], which he tosses aside when he sees Charlie. Though ''GoBots Magazine'' was a real publication, the issue Memo reads isn't one of the five real-life issues that exist; however, it faithfully emulates their cover style, down to the "Collector Poster Inside" cover tag. In a deleted scene, Memo even theorizes that Bumblebee is a GoBot.
*A snippet of "[[The Touch]]" plays when Bumblebee is "encouraging" Charlie to dive from the cliff.
*The fight between Bumblebee and Dropkick includes a sequence where Dropkick picks up Bumblebee and throws him. Then the Autobot lands in car mode, veers around, and jumps to punch him in the face—which harkens back to the fight choreography between [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from the G1 cartoon's season 1 opening credits.
*Optimus' vehicle mode at the end of the film is a Freightliner cab-over truck ''very'' similar to his G1 counterpart. He's even pulling the classic trailer, which has the signature 'stripe' on its side!

==Real-life references==
*One of the vehicles Bumblebee rejects scanning is the Urban Assault Vehicle from ''{{w|Stripes (film)|Stripes}}''.
*Charlie has a poster for the rock band {{w|The Pretenders}}, which coincidentally is the name of a Transformers [[Pretender|sub group]] involving the robots disguising themselves as human.
*Throughout the film, Charlie wears band shirts for {{w|Elvis Costello and the Attractions}}, {{w|Motörhead}}, {{w|The Damned (band)|The Damned}}, {{w|The Rolling Stones}}, and {{w|The Smiths}}.
*Charlie eats {{w|Mr. T Cereal}}.
*The Watson family dog, Conan, is named after {{w|Conan the Barbarian}}.
*Uncle Hank and Charlie's family watch ''[[ALF]]'', a sitcom from the '80s about an alien taking refuge in a human home. Fitting. However, see Errors.
*The station wagon Charlie's family drives is based on the one in ''{{w|National Lampoon's Vacation}}''.
*Cliffjumper repeats his name and rank while being interrogated by Shatter and Dropkick, which references a real-life rule in the {{w|Geneva Convention}} that states these are the only things soldiers have to divulge under interrogation. More specifically, this references a typical exaggeration in film and TV in which soldiers ''only recite these'' in response to their captors.
*The transmission that Cliffjumper and the Decepticons pick up from B-127 is the theme song to ''[[Cheers]]''.
*Dropkick and Shatter's arrival on Earth almost mirrors the appearance of the Bug in ''{{w|Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black}}''.
*Bumblebee watches ''{{w|The Breakfast Club}}'', leading to him emulating [[Judd Nelson]]'s iconic fist pump several times throughout the rest of the film. Nelson voiced the future Prime [[Hot Rod]] (and later [[Rodimus Prime]]) in the ‘86 movie.
*After repairing Bumblebee's radio, Charlie inserts a cassette of The Smiths' album ''{{w|Strangeways, Here We Come}}'' and "{{w|Girlfriend in a Coma (song)|Girlfriend in a Coma}}" briefly plays before Bee ejects the tape.
*Charlie also tries inserting a cassette of the [[Rick Astley]] album ''{{w|Whenever You Need Somebody}}'', causing it to play a snippet from "{{w|Never Gonna Give You Up}}".
[[File:BBfilm-cassette-drawer.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Other musicians featured in Charlie's drawer of cassettes include {{w|Joan Jett}}, {{w|Adam and the Ants}}, {{w|Guns N' Roses}}, {{w|Talking Heads}}, {{w|INXS}}, {{w|Pink Floyd}}, {{w|Oingo Boingo}}, {{w|Huey Lewis and the News}}, and {{w|Prism (band)|PRiSM}}. She also mentions {{w|Stevie Nicks}} and The Rolling Stones while searching for tapes.
*The record Charlie takes from her father's collection is {{w|Sam Cooke}}'s 1961 album ''Sam's Songs'', and when she puts it on, Sam Cooke's version of "{{w|Unchained Melody}}" plays. However, see Errors. Also seen in the collection of records is {{w|Roxy Music}}'s ''{{w|For Your Pleasure}}''.
*Shatter asks Powell to "take [the Decepticons] to your leader," referencing the ages-old trope from early alien-related science fiction.
*The letters 'BFG' are written on Charlie's jean jacket, a reference to ''{{w|The BFG}}'', a children's book about a young girl befriending a big, friendly giant and defeating a group of evil giants together. Also quite fitting.
*Sector Seven uses a variant of the WOPR supercomputer from ''{{w|WarGames}}''.
*While looking around the Watsons' house, Bumblebee is briefly intrigued by a can of {{w|Tab (drink)|Tab}} soda and a game of ''{{w|Pong}}'' running on an [[Atari, Inc.|Atari 2600]]. However, see Errors.
*Otis wears a {{w|Bruce Lee}} T-shirt during the third act.
*Memo's room has posters for ''{{w|The Thing (1982 film)|The Thing}}'', ''[[Indiana Jones|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', Tom Baker-era ''[[Doctor Who]]'', and a {{w|Heather Thomas}} pin-up.
*Bumblebee's rampage is a direct nod to the 1999 [[Warner Bros.]] animated film ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}'', in which the titular robot protagonist assaults the U.S. military with glowing red optics in retaliation for them harming his human best friend.
*Ron claims he learned his driving skills from ''{{w|Miami Vice}}''.

==Errors==
*The episode of ''ALF'' that Charlie's family watch is episode 20 of season 2, "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog". The episode originally aired on February 29, 1988, a year after the movie is meant to occur.
*Charlie starts playing the first track on Sam Cooke's album ''Sam's Songs'', which ought to have been "Little Things You Do" rather than "Unchained Melody". The latter song doesn't even appear on the album, being the last track on side A of Cooke's earlier release ''Hits of the 50's''.
*Powell remarks that the Decepticon modifications to the S7 computers have created an "interconnected web of information," implying that the Internet's technology originated from the Decepticons. However, the idea of an interconnected network of computers for communications and data transfer was developing for decades before the film's setting in the late 1980s. The term "Internet" first appeared in the mid-1970s.
*Bumblebee watches a game of ''Pong'' running on the Atari 2600 plugged into the Watsons' television. However, ''Pong'' was never released as a standalone game for the 2600, only appearing as part of the ''{{w|Video Olympics}}'' game compilation, which featured a colorized remake that looked entirely different from the classic black-and-white version shown on the screen. The paddles are also seen moving on their own, despite no one touching the controllers and the game lacking any paddles in its attract mode.
*Simmons identifies Brighton Falls as a "coastal town." However, both the {{w|Richmond–San Rafael Bridge}} and {{w|Marin Islands|East Marin Island}} can be seen in the background of the Watsons' house establishing shots, which would place Brighton Falls within the San Francisco Bay, not quite on the coast. Furthermore, this causes problems with the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk]], which faces the ocean... maybe Brighton Falls is just a ''very'' large town?

==Other editions==
*The version of the film available for streaming on [[Paramount+]] features a badly edited smash cut from the scene where Bumblebee and Charlie meet for the first time to Roy and Amber leaving their home to have an argument outside instead of the smooth night sky transition featured in other versions. This cut removes the presence of the country song "[[All My Ex's Live in Texas]]" from the film, suggesting some rights issues with it were most likely the reason the cut was made.

==Tie-in material==
*''[[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel]]''
During the lead-up to the release of the movie [[IDW Publishing]] released a four-issue limited series detailing an adventure set in the 60s, during which Bumblebee works with British intelligence to foil the plans of a group of Decepticons, including Blitzwing. It seems likely that author [[John Barber]] was working off an earlier draft of the film, which simply began with Bumblebee already on Earth in the time frame between ''The Last Knight'' and ''Bumblebee''.

*"[[Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome]]"
A one-shot promotional comic, that was released as [[pack-in material]] with the home video release and as a motion comic among the film's special features. The comic follows [[Seymour Simmons]] two years after the film's events, and serves to help bridge the gap between ''Bumblebee'' and the 2007 film.

==Music==
Two albums were released for the film:
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Score)]]'' - showcasing composer [[Dario Marianelli]]'s score for the film.
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Soundtrack)]]'' - featuring the film's diegetic music as well as Hailee Steinfeld's end credits song, "Back to Life."

==Home video releases==
{{main|Bumblebee (film)/home video}}
''Bumblebee'' was released on digital platforms on [[March 19]]; and on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K on [[April 2]]. A limited edition VHS copy was sent out as a promotional item, but was not available at retail.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/04/01/transformers-bumblebee-movie-out-now-on-vhs-real-vhs-promo-copy-with-pics-386407 TFW2005 VHS coverage]</ref>

==Theatrical posters==
<center><gallery>
File:BumblebeeCharlieSilhouettePoster.jpg|Yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeCrouchingPoster.jpg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeUSMoviePoster.jpeg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg|yellow-black...
File:BumblebeePosingPoster.jpg|Ooh, black and yellow!
File:BumblebeeBurnsDecepticons.jpg|Yeah, let's shake it up a little.
</gallery></center>

==Reception==
{{quote|Mankind has split the atom, sent a man to the moon, and now, in arguably its most unlikely achievement, it has produced a watchable ''Transformers'' movie.|Scott Tobias|[http://www.npr.org/2018/12/20/677501424/flight-of-the-bumblebee-transformers-flick-soars-over-low-franchise-expectations NPR review]}}

Coming off the notoriously poor reception to ''The Last Knight,'' ''Bumblebee'' had a ways to go in terms of redeeming the ''Transformers'' film franchise for both Paramount and the general movie-going public. However, the film was positively received by critics, who generally praised Travis Knight's restrained directorial approach, Hailee Steinfeld's acting, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]]-styled robot designs, and Charlie and Bumblebee's dynamic, comparing the film to its spiritual predecessors, ''{{w| E.T. the Extraterrestrial|E.T.}}'' and ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}''. The film currently holds a 90% and a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest score of any film in the franchise to date.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bumblebee/ ''Bumblebee'' review on Rotten Tomatoes]</ref>

After making $500,000 at 325 theaters from its December 8 preview screenings,<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-sneak-preview-box-office-amazon-prime-1202521144/ ‘Aquaman’ Amazon Prime Previews Hook Near $3M Besting ‘Jumanji 2’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' made its domestic opening alongside ''{{w|Aquaman (film)|Aquaman}}'', ''{{w|Welcome to Marwen}}'', and ''{{w|Second Act (film)|Second Act}}'', and proceeded to gross $21 million over its first weekend, finishing third behind ''Aquaman'' and ''{{w|Mary Poppins Returns}}''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-bumblebee-christmas-thursday-night-previews-weekend-box-office-1202524462/ 'Aquaman’ Unwraps $22M+ On Christmas For $105M+ Cume; ‘Holmes & Watson’ Opens To $6M+; ‘Vice’ $4M+]</ref> In its second weekend, ''Bumblebee'' grossed another $20.5 million, remaining in third place.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-mary-poppins-returns-bumblebee-new-years-weekend-box-office-1202526812/ 'Aquaman’ Sailing To $52M+ 2nd Weekend; $189M+ Cume Pacing Ahead Of ‘Doctor Strange’ & ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' ended its domestic box office run on March 7, 2019, with a total domestic gross of $127.2 million, and earned an additional $340.8 million overseas (including $170.8 million from China) for a worldwide total gross of $468 million.<ref>[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4701182/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 Bumblebee - Box Office Mojo]</ref> While that total makes it the second lowest-grossing entry in the live-action film series to date, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish stated in January 2019 that ''Bumblebee'' was "solidly profitable," praising the film's performance as a turnaround for Paramount following the money-losing ''The Last Knight'',<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-says-hes-mulling-small-acquisition-targets-1175029 Viacom CEO Says He's Mulling Small Acquisition Targets]</ref> which ''did'' make more money but not enough to recoup its monstrous budget.

In 2019, ''Bumblebee'' became the first ''Transformers'' film since the 2007 film not to be nominated for any {{w|Golden Raspberry Award}}s. Indeed, the film was one of those selected as a candidate for a {{w|The Razzie Redeemer Award|Razzie Redeemer Award}}, with the website praising the film's more "innocent and endearing" approach to the franchise.<ref>[https://razzies.com/razz-newz.html Razz Newz]</ref>

==Production staff==
{{stub}}

==Development details==
*March 27, 2015 — [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" with the intention of building a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[http://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Goldsman goes on to hire a number of writers over the next few months: [[Steven DeKnight]] (''Daredevil''),<ref>[http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-cinematic-universe/35696/transformers-cinematic-details-more-writers-over-10-films Transformers cinematic details]</ref> [[Robert Kirkman]] (''The Walking Dead''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-writers-robert-kirkman-zak-penn-art-marcum-matt-holloway-jeff-pinkner-1201430601/ 'Transformers' Spinoff & Sequel Scribes Set] on Deadline.com</ref> [[Art Marcum]] and [[Matt Holloway]] (''Iron Man''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> Christina Hodson (''Shut In'', ''The Fugitive''),<ref name="hodsonbeer">[http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/446175-christina-hodson-and-lindsey-beer-join-transformers-writing-team Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer Join the Transformers Writing Team]</ref> [[Lindsey Beer]] (''Dig''),<ref name="hodsonbeer" /> [[Zak Penn]] (''Pacific Rim 2''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Jeff Pinkner]] (''The Amazing Spider-Man 2'', ''Lost''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] (''Ant-Man''),<ref name="barrerferrari">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref> [[Ken Nolan]] (''Black Hawk Down''), and [[Geneva Robertson-Dworet]].<ref name="nolandworet">[http://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-writers-room/ Akiva Goldsman Teases 'Transformers' Franchise Plans]</ref> Involved in the pitching process are [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Michael Bay]], [[Brian Goldner]], [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]], [[Mark Vahradian]], and [[Don Murphy]].<ref name="deadlinereveal">[http://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref>
*October 3, 2015 — During his keynote speech at the MIP Junior Conference, [[Allspark (company)|Allspark]]'s [[Stephen J. Davis]] notes that the writing team has come up with film concepts for Transformers 5, 6, 7, and 8.<ref name="stephendaviskeynote">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_P2fw_DlS4?t=812 Stephen Davis's keynote speech] at MIPJunior.</ref>[[File:TransformersUniverseBumblebeePoster.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"My sweater is Ralph Lauren, and I have no pants."]]
*February 12, 2016 — At ToyFair, Hasbro reveals the projected release date of Transformers 6, along with those of its predecessor and [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers 7]], as well as the fact that Transformers 6 will focus on Bumblebee.<ref name="toyfairreveal">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/transformers-5-transformers-6-bumblebee-spin-off-movie-revealed-309503 Transformers 5, Transformers 6 And Bumblebee Spin-Off Movie Revealed] ToyFair news at TFW2005</ref>
*December 29, 2016 — Lorenzo di Bonaventura names Christina Hodson as the screenwriter in an interview.<ref name="hodson">[http://collider.com/transformers-5-plot-characters-dinobots-details/ 'The Last Knight' Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Reveals How a 'Transformers' Movie Is Made] on Collider</ref>
*March 3, 2017 — [[Travis Knight]] is appointed director.<ref name="deadlinedirector">[https://deadline.com/2017/03/bumblebee-movie-travis-knight-director-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1202034882/ Travis Knight To Direct ‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ At Paramount]</ref>
*May 26, 2017 — A poster at Licensing Expo 2017 gives the name of the film as ''Transformers Universe: Bumblebee''.<ref name="expoposter">[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo "The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo"]</ref>
*June 10, 2017 — [[Hailee Steinfeld]] reveals in an interview that she's been cast in the film.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/pitch-perfect-pop-star-hailee-steinfeld-hits-charts-with-most-girls-single-and-lands-transformers-role/news-story/47a238f0e75bf06a0ffc34a18e9906e4 Pitch Perfect pop star Hailee Steinfeld hits charts with Most Girls single and lands Transformers role]</ref>
*July 11, 2017 — [[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]] is reported by The Hollywood Reporter to have been cast as the male lead.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-casts-jorge-lendeborg-jr-as-male-lead-1017547 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Casts Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Male Lead (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref>
*July 13, 2017 — More actors including [[Jason Drucker]], [[Abby Quinn]], [[Rachel Crow]], [[Ricardo Hoyos]], and [[Gracie Dzienny]] join the cast.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-rounds-cast-1019823 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 23, 2017 — [[Pamela Adlon]] joins the cast.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/07/pamela-adlon-bumblebee-movie-transformers-casting-1202133812/ Pamela Adlon Joins Cast Of 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee']</ref>
*July 31, 2017 — [[John Cena]] is announced as a cast member. Also, Bumblebee is a Volkswagen this time. The film is pushed back to December 2018. Production begins,<ref name="cenareveal">[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-cena-joins-transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-1025411 John Cena Joins 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref> with the filming going under the codename "Brighton Falls".<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-bumblebee-working-title-filming-start/ Bumblebee Spinoff Working Title & Filming Start Date Revealed] on Screenrant</ref>
*August 6, 2017 — Hailee Steinfeld reveals on Twitter that her character's name is [[Charlie Watson]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Meet Charlie Watson. #BumblebeeTheMovie https://t.co/Z8kA8DGRk3|link=https://twitter.com/haileesteinfeld/status/894296888643432448|name=Hailee Steinfeld|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=8|day=6|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*September 9, 2017 — At [[HasCon 2017]], di Bonaventura discusses some hints on the film, including that the movie is set in [[1986]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/09/hascon-2017-bumblebee-movie-tidbits-348630 Hascon 2017: The Bumblebee Movie Tidbits] on TFW2005</ref>[[File:BumblebeeMovie firstlook.jpg|thumb|350px|"There's a bee in the car!"]]
*September 12, 2017 — Actor and stuntman [[Rory Markham]] reveals on Instagram that he is playing a [[Sector Seven]] agent named [[Agent Adams|Adams]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/12/sector-7-returns-transformers-universe-bumblebee-movie-348886 Sector 7 Returns in Transformers Universe: Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*September 20, 2017 — Travis Knight reveals the first Decepticon vehicle mode in the form of a 1971 Plymouth GTX.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=LAIKA Pres & CEO Travis Knight on the set of his live-action film BUMBLEBEE. Travis will have more news on this & the next LAIKA film soon! https://t.co/SatTvufvhO|link=https://twitter.com/LAIKAStudios/status/910549230602788864|name=LAIKA Studios|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=9|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*October 2, 2017 — [[Peter Cullen]] has a role in the movie.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/10/02/peter-cullen-confirmed-bumblebee-movie-351131 Peter Cullen Confirmed In The Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*October 26, 2017 — [[John Ortiz]] is revealed to be a cast member.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/10/john-ortiz-paramount-bumblebee-spinoff-peppermint-stxfilms-1202195412/ John Ortiz Cast In 'Bumblebee' Spinoff & 'Peppermint'] on Deadline.com</ref>
*November 12, 2017 — A wrap party for the movie reveals the movie's title as ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo] on Cinema Blend</ref>
*December 11, 2017 — {{w|Martin Short}} is revealed to be doing some voice work for the film.<ref>[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/attheshore/headliners/steve-martin-and-martin-short-head-to-borgata-for-an/article_7d516048-de98-11e7-9fa4-c7175ccf2b9d.html Steve Martin and Martin Short head to Borgata for an unforgettable evening] on pressofatlanticcity.com</ref>
*December 29, 2017 — A "first look" photo is released showing Hailee Steinfeld and Bumblebee's Volkswagen alternate mode.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=First Look at "Bumblebee" from @ParamountPics with Hailee Steinfeld! #Bumblebee hits theaters on Dec. 21, 2018! https://t.co/6ROMvWRrML|link=https://twitter.com/AwardsCircuit/status/946794788988293121|name=Clayton Davis|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=12|day=29}}</ref>
*January 28, 2018 — During an interview at the Grammys, Hailee Steinfeld suggests Bumblebee may sing during the movie.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/8096803/hailee-steinfeld-hair-waves-2018-grammys-how-to Interview on Billboard.com]</ref>
*February 16, 2018 — At [[Toy Fair 2018]], Hasbro states that the film series will be reset after ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref name="reboot" />
*April 24, 2018 — Footage of the film is shown at Cinemacon.<ref>[http://comicbook.com/movies/2018/04/26/first-bumblebee-footage-transformers-cinemacon/ First 'Bumblebee' Footage Previews the 'Transformers' Spinoff at CinemaCon] at comicbook.com</ref>
[[File:BumblebeeMovieShatter&Dropkick.jpeg|thumb|300px|"Thanks for the coffee. Sorry, I couldn't finish it. If I did, I'd be up the rest of my life."]]
*June 5, 2018 — The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAIX12F6958 official teaser trailer] is posted by Paramount Pictures, also revealing the film's title has been shortened to just ''Bumblebee''.
*June 6, 2018 — [[Charlie Adler]] reveals he is not in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Sadly no . But I’m sure whoever is doing it is wonderful ! It’s been a wonderful franchise for me for a long time and now some else’s turn !! Break a leg !|link=https://twitter.com/charlie_adler/status/1004401979597025280|name=Charlie Adler|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=06|day=06}}</ref>
*June 8, 2018 — [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] is initially stated to be in the film in a blog post on Paramount's parent company before his name is later scrubbed from the post afterward.<ref>[http://blog.viacom.com/2018/06/bumblebee-transforms-hailee-steinfelds-life-in-first-trailer/ Original text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does dreaded Decepticon Starscream." Revised text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does a dreaded Decepticon."]</ref>
*July 13, 2018 — Entertainment Weekly reveals [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Justin Theroux]] will voice new Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] respectively.<ref>[http://ew.com/movies/2018/07/13/bumblebee-decepticon-trackers-first-look/ First Look: Bumblebee unveils two new Decepticon muscle cars]</ref>
*July 20, 2018 — A ''Bumblebee'' panel at the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2018 reveals more information on the film, such as details regarding the characters.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-bumblebee-movie-panel-in-hall-h-at-sdcc2018-jointhebuzz/41645/ Seibertron's coverage on the SDCC'18 Bumblebee panel.]</ref> Also, John Cena dressed as Bumblebee.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I asked the fine folks @IGN to help me find the true meaning of robot existence at #SDCC. But did I, as John Cena, find the answers to living as a Bumblebee? Let’s find out. @bumblebeemovie https://t.co/j4RJde71Cg https://t.co/nEqBtuVgL2|link=https://twitter.com/JohnCena/status/1020800460125605890|name=John Cena|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=7|day=21|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*August 26–30, 2018 — [[David Sobolov]] confirms he is part of the cast of ''Bumblebee'' as the voice of [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]].{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... @ParamountPics has given me the ok to reveal I’m playing a role in the upcoming epic @bumblebeemovie! As of now I’m not authorized to tell you my character’s name. More news about that soon! Who do you think it is? @transformers @tfw2005 @seibertroncom https://t.co/XNeyuvmqQT|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1033867788824309760|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=27|(defunct=)}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... It's time to reveal I'm the voice of Blitzwing in @bumblebeemovie ! Thank you TravisKnight and @ParamountPics for this exciting chance to work on another epic @transformers adventure.|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1035346211392368640|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=30|defunct=y}}</ref> 
*September 22–23, 2018 — Three teasers were released on various platforms with many different languages, revealing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]'s appearance in the movie. Additionally, shots were revealed of Optimus Prime's design, the three major Decepticons in the movie, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-and-optimus-prime-featured-in-teaser-for-next-bumblebee-movie-trailer/42075/ Seibertron's article including the two of the teasers released] and [https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-bumblebee-movie-teaser-with-blitzwing-and-barricade/42078/ an article with one of the teasers.]</ref>
*September 24, 2018 — The official trailer is uploaded by Paramount Pictures' YouTube channel, revealing (among other things) [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s' appearances in the movie. A second international trailer is released, showcasing some more scenes. An interview with Travis Knight on the new trailer is also published, revealing Starscream (''now'' it's legitimate) and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]'s appearance in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwmDAYt22k Bumblebee (2018) - New Official Trailer] and [https://www.cbr.com/bumblebee-international-trailer-optimus-prime-cybertron/ an article showcasing the international trailer.] [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/bumblebee-trailer-breakdown-travis-knight/ Interview with Knight.]</ref>
*September 27, 2018 - Before a special showing of [[The Transformers: The Movie|the animated movie]], another interview with Travis Knight and Hailee Steinfeld was seen AND a brief scene of Charlie and Bee's first interaction.
*November 13, 2018 - ''Bumblebee'' is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/11/13/transformers-bumblebee-movie-rated-pg-13-376496]</ref>
*November 23, 2018 - A new trailer is released showcasing some new scenes, namely, Bumblebee's Cybertronian robot mode. Another trailer is released animated with...[[Play-Doh]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebees-cybertronian-mode-shown-in-a-new-movie-trailer-playdoh-trailer/42450/ Seibertron's article on the 2 new trailers]</ref>
*November 27, 2018 - A new featurette demonstrates the more G1-inspired designs of the Transformers, including a proper look at Optimus's model and brief shots of [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], Wheeljack and [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFv6JVFApk Bumblebee - First Generation Design - Paramount Pictures UK]</ref>
*December 2, 2018 - Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirms [[Dylan O'Brien]] as the voice of Bumblebee.<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/03/transformers-bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-dylan-obrien</ref>
*December 4, 2018 - New footage of the movie drops, showing Soundwave's voice, as well as many new shots of Cybertron and the battle between Bumblebee and Blitzwing.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-speaks-more-footage-china-release-date-and-sponsor-and-more-bumblebee-news-roundup/42538/ Seibertron's coverage of the new trailer, as well as a general roundup of new footage.]</ref>
*December 8, 2018 - Special early screenings of the film take place in specific areas. Fans who attend are given free [[Tiny Turbo Changers]] toys, and short behind-the-scenes featurettes are shown before and after the film.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/early-reactions-and-impressions-for-2018-live-action-transformers-bumblebee-film/42550/ Seibertron's roundup of people's thoughts on the early screening.]</ref>
*December 10, 2018 - Hailee Steinfeld discloses at a premiere event that [[Kelly Fremon Craig]], who directed her in ''The Edge of Seventeen'', performed uncredited script rewrites on the movie.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bumblebee-hailee-steinfeld-got-a-surprise-birthday-party-at-premiere-1168147/ THR: Hailee Steinfeld Gets Surprise Birthday Party at ‘Bumblebee’ Premiere]</ref>
{{--}}

===Changes before, during, and after production===
Initially, ''Bumblebee'' would have served as a more direct prequel to the 2007 movie, bridging the gap between Bumblebee's [[World War II]] adventures in ''The Last Knight'' and setting up some plot points from the original ''Transformers'' film. Many of these elements were subsequently dropped during reshoots following test screenings in 2018; this may have been a result of feedback from the test screenings, Paramount's concerns over the negative commercial and critical reception to ''The Last Knight'', or a desire to take the franchise in a new direction. Some of these changes include:
[[File:ANewCarForCharlie-deletedscene.jpg|thumb|300px|"TiVo. You can just freeze live TV? That's insane!"]]
*The film's original cut didn't include any scenes set on Cybertron, opening instead on a shot of Earth, where Bumblebee (who narrates in voiceover) is fleeing from Sector Seven in his Jeep mode.<ref name="opening">{{citesocial|quote=The Entire Opening was new and the earth sequence was reshot scene to have john cena and his crew in training excersize in a random forest rather than already hunting bumblebee in a forest bee is hiding in. In the prescreener it opened with a shot of earth from space with a quick few lines of exposition from bee before we cut to the jeeps and humvees already chasing bee. We never see him crashland or have a cybertronian mode.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> This setup maintained continuity with ''The Last Knight''. In this original opening, Bumblebee laments that the humans are now hunting him despite his being sent to protect them, and comes to the embittered conclusion that mankind isn't worth fighting for. This sets up the character arc Bumblebee is intended to undergo in the film, learning through his friendship with Charlie that not all humans are alike, and that there is good in them after all, culminating in his decision to fight Shatter and Dropkick in order to save the Earth from a Decepticon invasion after he regains his memories in the film's final act. This arc becomes diluted in the finished film, even though this climactic scene remains, since Bumblebee does not experience this loss of faith in the first place. This original opening is included among the deleted scenes on the home release.
**For the final cut of the film, the scene was reshot to have Bumblebee's escape pod crash-land near Burns's Sector Seven squad—who are in the woods because of a training exercise—by pure coincidence.<ref name="opening" /> Unfortunately, this creates some new discrepancies: Sector Seven is ''already'' driving SUVs equipped with anti-Transformer harpoon weaponry; a mid-1980s special forces unit keeps a WWII-era Willys Jeep around for some reason; and Bumblebee can speak English not more than a few minutes after landing on Earth.
**Blitzwing's scene was unchanged from the test screening, though at the time production had not settled on a name for the character.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Yep he died in the prescreener as well as the full film. As far as i remember he had a placeholder name on our little survey at the end that wasnt starscream or blitzwing though. I think he was given the name later through production. We also never hear said it in either version of the film, just in the credits and on the toy?|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18508352|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=11|day=10}}</ref>
*Burns was originally going to have a markedly different personality. In the test cut, he was depicted as a far grimmer character who had lost someone close to him in a prior Transformer attack. In the final version of the film, he became more eccentric, though remnants of his original personality still appear at times.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A majority of cena and powells dialogue has been reshot to remove sector 7s prior knowledge of transformers and cena being xenophobic towards them due to a person close to him being killed by one at some point has also been removed from the final version. Cenas dialogue was also reshot in this to make him funnier when in the pre screener he was much more serious and cut throat. Some of these more intense lines still come through like when he and the general are listening to powell gush about the decepticons creating the internet. The first line about “powell being weird” is reshot but the rest is the original scene hence why he seems a bit more serious. This shift in his performance may be whats throwing some people off about him as there are are two distinct performances being twisted together.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=The only character who was wildly different in the prescreener was John Cena. In the original cut he was much more cut throat and had a history with the transformers. Almost no jokes except the “Why do they always run?” Line. He had alot more levity added to his character with reshoots. Everyone else was exactly the same.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-7#post-18110584|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=19}}</ref>
*Otis appeared more frequently in the original cut of the film, particularly in the first act. Deleted scenes include: Charlie "dropping him off" at karate practice by having him ride a skateboard while clinging to the back of her bike [[Marty McFly]]-style; Charlie leaving to buy Bumblebee while she is meant to be watching Otis, warning him that she will kill him if he dies while she is away; Charlie coercing Otis into helping her clean the new Beetle when she returns; and Bumblebee breaking down on the road while the two are taking it for a test drive, leading Otis to abandon Charlie and walk off while a passing Tina taunts her. All of these scenes are among the deleted scenes included in the home release.
*Originally, Charlie was to have two friends named [[Liz]] and [[Brenda]] "Bren" (played by [[Rachel Crow]] and [[Abby Quinn]] respectively), who worked with her at Hot Dog on a Stick. The two originally appeared in the first Boardwalk scene where they tell Charlie they "aren't a match anymore," following her personality change after her father's death, upsetting her. They later reappear at the cliffside party, having bribed their way into Tina's friendship by giving her free corn dogs and abandoning Charlie for their new "cool" status. Both scenes are present as extras on the home release, and the characters still appear in the [[Transformers: Bumblebee: The Junior Novel|Junior Novel adaptation]].
*In the test cut, Cliffjumper was not part of the scene in which Shatter and Dropkick detect Bumblebee on Earth.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In our cut Shatter and Dropkick just happened to be on the moon and receive the signal from bee. Cliffjumper wasn't there at all.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-2#post-16444221|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref> Cliffjumper's inclusion was made because his similarities to Bumblebee would set the stakes of the story: "You have to understand that if Shatter and Dropkick encounter Bumblebee, things are not going to end well."<ref>[https://uproxx.com/hitfix/travis-knight-interview-bumblebee/ Travis Knight ''UPROXX'' interview]</ref>
*Similarly, the extended flashback to Optimus Prime on Cybertron when Bumblebee watches Prime's holographic message was missing from the test cut, only added alongside the Cybertron opening which the assets were produced for.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The flashback with prime fighting the cons on cybertron when bee sees his hologram was newly added. It originally just played the message.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> The G1-style CGI model for Optimus was present in the original cut.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I think that no matter what the team behind this movie were thinking of redesigns from the get go, bee was already the cuddly pudgier more g1 version in the cut i witnessed rather than the studio series boxart and figure with the more pronounced door wings. Along with Optimuss hologram being the g1 style cybertronian design. Heck our cut still had Optimus as a flat nosed at the end. Regardless of if the cybertron scene was a way later addition or not the film was still going to be a stylistic reboot at the very least, making the designs easier on the eyes.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-4#post-16452606|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=31}}</ref>
*The scene where Bumblebee explores Charlie's house originally had the Autobot inadvertently bring the house's electronics to life with his [[energon radiation]], necessitating a slapstick fight sequence in which Bumblebee, Charlie, and Memo had to unplug the hostile Transformers to deactivate them. {{w|Martin Short}} would have featured in the scene, presumably as the voice of at least one of the mutations. This scene was cut ''very'' late in production, enough so that a version of it would find its way into both the junior novel and [[A New Car for Charlie|Junior Reader adaptations]]. As a result, the movie's corresponding scene features an unusually high number of rapid-fire jump cuts to mask the missing footage, including a strange, swaying "POV" shot that originally belonged to the mutant washing machine as it watched Charlie and Memo enter the house. Eagle-eyed viewers will realize that the house's television is gone from its usual spot. At the same time, the washing machine is, for no apparent reason, sitting in the middle of the family carpet, the "real" reason being that these appliances had been brought to life and summarily dispatched in the original cut of the movie. Another remnant of the sequence surfaces when Sally asks why the television's cord was cut—something of a ''non sequitur'' in this version. The complete sequence is included as one of the deleted scenes on the home release, though it does not feature Short's voice.
*Shatter and Dropkick's goal was unchanged from the test cut, but their plan actually hinged on this deleted scene with the Energon mutations: seeing how Bumblebee was able to bring the human technology to life, they decide to use the satellite to send out an Energon pulse to awaken an army, with Charlie needing to disable the Energon device they hook up to the tower.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=in the cut we had [Shatter and Dropkick] were hunting bee to find the location of optimus prime so their plot stayed largely the same as did their dialogue. The inly thing different that i can place right now is dropkicks death scream was much more intense and panicked in the prescreening, which was probably way too brutal for the kids so they altered it to be quick.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-3#post-16444738|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=i wanna say they claimed he was an escaped fugitive. Someone dangerous? I think most of the dialogue had generally thensame focus. The major change was with their plan. They discover that Bumblebee brought stuff to life in the original cut and plan to use and energon source and the satellite dish to send a pulse out across the city bringing all the appliances to life as an army for the decepticons rather than just sending out a signal to call the army. Thats why Charlie needs to climb the tower to get to the energon device thats hooked into the tower. She has to remove it before it sends the pulse out and theres a timer on it ticking down until its charged.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18117235|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=21}}</ref> In the final cut, they're just calling Decepticon reinforcements.
*The test cut of the film featured a post-credit scene with Burns, Simmons, and Whalen discussing that the Autobots can never learn of "N.B.E.-01:" [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], frozen in ice as per the 2007 movie, albeit redesigned to have a more [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1-styled appearance]]. This scene was replaced in the final cut by entirely new scenes of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee watching more Transformers arrive on Earth and Charlie finishing her and her father's car repair project.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A scene that was cut from the end in final version was a sector 7 scene between Cena, Simmons, and the General talking about how the autobots must never know about NBE1 which is revealed to be a frozen G1 styled megatron, fusion cannon and all, that has the same aesthetic as the cybertonian bots from the new opening sequence. Both post credits scenes were brand new in the final release, those being Bee and Prime walking along and watching more Autobots coming to earth and Charlie finishing her fathers car. Everything else was essentially the same between both versions, just cut slightly faster in some places to keep the pacing steady.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=[Megatron's Tiny Turbo Changers design is] actually really close to what i saw! Essentially the design i saw in the film for a split second was like a blend of g1 and movie 1 megs. Had the general shape of g1 megs but with movie 1 megs detailing and definitely the movie 1 megs face|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/travisformer-megatron.1161108/page-5#post-16720715|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=Travisformer Megatron|year=2019|month=03|day=23}}</ref>
**The scene where Bumblebee joins Optimus Prime on the Golden Gate Bridge was, however, the same in both versions and would've been the last on-screen appearance of Bee in the original cut. With that cut being more closely aligned with the live-action continuity at large, it seems likely that the scene was intended to be a bit more ambiguous—the audience at large would've been able to read it as "Bumblebee goes off to join Optimus Prime", while the filmmakers would've retained some plausible deniability in the form of "it's just a truck that ''looks'' like Optimus Prime"—thus better allowing for the arrival of the Autobots to occur as seen in the 2007 movie.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The final shot at the golden gate bridge with Bee turning into a camaro and following optimus on the golden gate was the same in both cuts|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref>
*A scene of Bumblebee being on the run in Vietnam in his World War II body made it to concept art stage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/the-big-bumblebee-concept-art-thread.1167241/#post-16487632 Vietnam fields concept art]</ref>
{{-}}

[[File:TF-BB-Movie-Murderbee-Trailer-vs-Final-Cut.jpg|250px|thumb|"You see? You can't treat them
like equals! They're striped savages! Stinging's the only thing they know! ''It's their way!''"]]
Additional changes, some of which took place ''after'' the introduction of the film's Cybertron scenes, include:
*The first trailer to include Cybertron scenes featured Blitzwing among Shockwave's Seekers. In later trailers and the final film, he was replaced with Starscream, sporting his traditional color scheme and seemingly a new head lacking the 'flight mask' design motif.
*In a statement for Seibertron.com, Jon Bailey noted that he auditioned for [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], suggesting the character was originally intended to have dialogue.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-jon-bailey-talks-about-his-experience/42553/ Seibertron article on Bailey's experience]</ref> This was confirmed in a Seibertron.com podcast, in which he also said [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was supposed to yell "Die Autobots!", in a slightly reworked version of his appearance. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was also supposed to say "Operation: Destruction" and/or "Operation: Annihilation" after ejecting [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] as a direct reference to the original cartoon.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/twincast-podcast-episode-214-bumblebee/42674/ Seibertron.com Twincast Podcast Episode #214 "Bumblebee"]</ref>
*The Cybertron tower was supposed to look more [[Great Dome]]-like before opening up to display the launchpad, with concept art to boot, though it was cut for time.<ref name="ILM" />
*Optimus Prime was to have an extended role in the opening scene, having a Cybertronian vehicle mode, though it was cut for time. Concept art for a more Cybertronian robot mode and vehicle mode was created by [[Alex Jaeger]], though the film ultimately uses a model closer to his Earthen robot form.<ref name="ILM" />
*An additional render and a deleted scene depict Shatter and Dropkick inside Sector 7 with their car-only robot forms, indicating they may have been supposed to scan their aerial modes later in the film.<ref name="ILM" />
*Travis Knight initially wanted to feature Megatron during the Cybertron scenes. However, the Decepticon leader was ultimately omitted, specifically because continuity dictated he was still frozen on Earth at the time,<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/12/19/bumblebee-deleted-megatron-decepticon-scene/ 'Bumblebee' Deleted A Megatron Scene] on comicbook.com</ref> despite the removal of the scene mentioned earlier showing this.
*When Bumblebee's memories are restored and he fights against Sector 7, his eye color is red, as opposed to the blue in the trailer (right).
*Very early stock art for the film depicted Bumblebee with his now-traditional "wings" formed from his car's doors alternate mode. This was changed late in production to give his final C.G. model a more humanoid appearance, but not early enough to change his [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|concurrently-released toys]], which almost unanimously depict Bumblebee with said door-wings.
*Shatter went under the working name '''[[Fracture (disambiguation)|Fracture]]'''.<ref name="ILM" />
{{-}}

==Notes==
*During production, the film was referred to in presentational material under a variety of names, including "Transformers 6", "Bumblebee: The Movie," "The Bumblebee Movie," and "Transformers Universe: Bumblebee."
*[[Hasbro Pulse]] occasionally refers to the movie as "Transformers: Bumblebee" or "Bumblebee Movie".<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-studio-series-65-voyager-bumblebee-movie-blitzwing]
</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (バンブルビー ''Banburubī'')
*''Arabic:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (بامبلبي ''Bamblibi'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''''Daai Wong Fung''''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Greek:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Μπάμπλμπι ''Bámplmpi'')
*''Hindi:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (बुमबलेबी ''Bumabalebee'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''''ŰrDongó''''' ("Space Bumblebee")
*''Korean:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (범블비 ''Beombeulbi'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Dàhuángfēng''''' (大黃蜂, 大黄蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблби ''Bamblbi'')
*''Tamil:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (பம்பல்பீ ''Pampalpī'')
*''Telugu:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (బంబుల్బీ ''Bambulbī'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблбі ''Bamblbi'')

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

==External links==
*{{w|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}} on Wikipedia
*[[IMDB:tt4701182|Bumblebee]] on IMDB

[[Category:Bumblebee| ]]
[[Category:Bumblebee media| ]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Bumblebee (film)

2025-03-31T18:51:05Z

Kickassatron: /* Transformers references */

{{disambig3.5|the feature film|the Autobot it features|Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee}}
{{Nav-Bumblebee}}
{{movie|
|seriess=[[Live-action film series]]
|prev=Transformers: The Last Knight (film)
|next=Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)
|title=''Bumblebee''
|image=BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg
|caption=According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.
|production companies=[[Allspark Pictures]] [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura|di Bonaventura Pictures]] [[Tencent Pictures]] [[Michael Bay|Bay Films]]
|distributor=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|executive producer=[[Steven Spielberg]]
|producer=[[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] [[Tom DeSanto]] [[Don Murphy]] [[Michael Bay]] [[Mark Vahradian]]
|written by=[[Christina Hodson]]
|directed by=[[Travis Knight]]
|cinematography by=[[Enrique Chediak]]
|edited by=[[Paul Rubell]]
|music by=[[Dario Marianelli]]
|release date=[[December 21]], [[2018]]
|continuity=[[Live-action film series]]
|runtime=114 minutes
|budget=$102–135 million
|box office=$468 million
}}
'''''Bumblebee''''' is the sixth movie in the [[live-action film series]]. A "reset" of the film series as a whole,<ref name="reboot">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/02/16/transformers-cinematic-universe-current-movie-series-rebooted-358641 Transformers Cinematic Universe Is Over: Current Movie Series To Be Rebooted] at TFW2005</ref> ''Bumblebee'' acts as a prequel to the previous five movies, albeit [[retcon|taking some liberties]] with continuity. The film is directed by [[Travis Knight]] rather than [[Michael Bay]] (who still pitches in as producer), written by newcomer [[Christina Hodson]], and produced on a far lower budget of around $100–137 million.<ref>[https://screenrant.com/bumblebee-movie-budget-cost/ "The film's budget is reportedly in the range of $100-137 million..." -Screenrant article on the film's budget and profit]</ref> The film was released in the U.S. on [[December 21]], [[2018]].

When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] is sent to [[Earth]] to establish a base for the [[Autobot]]s, he finds himself hunted by both [[Sector Seven]] and the [[Decepticon]]s. With his memory and voice lost in battle, he is found by [[Charlie Watson]], a young woman in search of a direction in life. The pair work together to try to discover who Bumblebee is and why he's on Earth, but ultimately they'll find themselves with the fate of the planet in their hands...

{{bigquote|Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice.|[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]}}

==Synopsis==
[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Bumblebee-Earth.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"In tennis, you attack at the point of weakness!"]]
War rages on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and things look bad for the [[Autobot]]s. The [[Decepticon]]s have broken through the front lines, contact has been lost with the capital, and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]], [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]], [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and several other survivors are pinned down under Decepticon assault until [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] arrives to momentarily repel their foes. Prime looks for scout [[Bumblebee (Movie)|B-127]], who appears only a moment after. The arrival of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] on the battlefield, as well as the surge in Decepticon forces, prompts Prime to order the Autobots to fall back to a launchpad. He instructs the Autobots to board escape pods and flee from the planet. He also gives B-127 a secret mission: go to [[Earth]], a well-hidden planet Prime has identified, and establish a base for the Autobots to regroup and strike back. As the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s under Shockwave's command begin attacking the launchpad directly, Prime leaps into the horde of Decepticons to buy B-127's pod some time to escape.

[[File:BBfilm-Burns-meets-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"This isn't a goodfella. This is a ''bad''fella!"]]
The year is [[1987]], and Agent [[Jack Burns]]' team of [[Sector Seven]] agents emerge victorious from a mock battle after leading [[Danny Bell]] and his team into an ambush. As Burns good-naturedly chides his unlucky opponent, however, an unknown projectile appears overhead and plows into their midst, injuring many agents. Burns, believing his team to be under projectile assault after confirming that no other military practices using live ammo are occurring nearby, immediately calls for backup... upon which he comes face to face with B-127 rising from the crater. He immediately orders his forces to give chase, and the Autobot flees after [[scanning]] and [[transformation|transforming]] into a nearby military jeep.

Even though the military attempts to capture him with [[harpoon]]s and [[machine gun]]s, B-127 evades them and emerges into a clearing leading to an empty mineshaft. Burns gives the order to cut it off from escaping into the mine, which one of his soldiers executes by blindsiding B-127 with his jeep. However, B-127 begins talking to the humans in [[United States of America|English]], assuring them of his peaceful intentions and that he is not here to hurt anyone. Burns orders the soldiers to stand down, only for a jet to appear overhead. Burns is baffled that the Air Force was alerted this early, but the robot corrects him—the plane is, in fact, the Decepticon [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]], who bombards the clearing with missiles and swoops in to attack the yellow Autobot!

[[File:Bumblebee-BeeVsBlitz.jpg|300px|thumb|left|"I have been felled by a winged beast of destruction!"]]
B-127 puts up a valiant effort against Blitzwing and even manages to damage his opponent's flight systems, but is soon subdued and dangled over a cliff. Blitzwing interrogates the scout about Optimus Prime and the Autobots' whereabouts; the scout valiantly refuses and asserts that he will "never talk," a move that prompts Blitzwing to "make it official" by ripping out his voice synthesizer. Badly injured, he is thrown off the cliff and prepared for execution. But B-127 uses a moment of quick thinking to rip a missile from the Decepticon's arm and shove it into his chest. B-127 takes advantage of the Decepticon's momentary confusion to kick himself away before opening fire on the missile, detonating it, and killing Blitzwing. As he limps away, Burns watches him leave trapped under a destroyed jeep. The Autobot crawls to a riverbank before collapsing from his injuries, with his memory cells critically damaged. His systems scan a nearby [[Volkswagen]] Beetle before he finally fades away to unconsciousness...

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-finds-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"What about you?" "He really is dead."]]
In [[Brighton Falls]], [[Charlie Watson]], a 17-year-old girl one day away from turning 18, awakens from her slumber. Since Charlie isn't over [[Charlie's dad|her father's]] death yet, she brushes off her annoying younger brother [[Otis Watson|Otis]], and her mother [[Sally Watson|Sally]]'s infatuation with her new boyfriend [[Ron (BB)|Ron]]. Charlie bikes to her job at the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk|boardwalk]], where she is utterly humiliated in an encounter with [[Tina Lark]] and her posse. She visits [[Hank's Marine Repair and Parts]] after hours to look for car parts, discovering an old V.W. Beetle under a tarmac after accidentally knocking over some motorboats. She finds the key in the ignition and attempts to start it, but is surprised when the car emits an unintelligible signal...

On one of [[Saturn]]'s moons, Decepticon hunters [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] interrogate Cliffjumper about Optimus Prime's whereabouts. The Autobot remains resolute, which angers his interrogators, until B-127's signal, activated on Earth by Charlie, reaches the three [[Transformer]]s. The two Decepticons agree to go to Earth and hunt down B-127 instead, and Dropkick vertically bisects Cliffjumper, killing the Autobot.

In a [[Texas]] trailer park, the dysfunctional couple, [[Roy (BB)|Roy]] and [[Amber]], argue about Roy spending the down payment for their house on a tricked-out new car, among other things. Their spiel is interrupted when a meteor crashes mere feet from them, missing Roy's new car, much to his relief. However, he's not so lucky when a second one falls as it obliterates both his prized car and their house. Headlights shining from inside the inferno give the irresponsible man some hope until Shatter and Dropkick reveal themselves and transform before them. As Roy attempts to greet the newcomers, Dropkick kills the unlucky man and leaves Amber before the Decepticons drive off to the West Coast following B-127's signal.

Failing to make progress on repairing her late father's Corvette and feeling left out by her family, Charlie wakes up to the worst 18th birthday imaginable. The disappointing presents from Sally and Ron (a pink bicycle helmet and a book about smiling more, respectively) only worsen the feeling. She fumes in her bedroom before storming over to the auto repair and asking [[Uncle Hank|Hank]] for the Beetle. She even offers to work at the shop for a year in exchange for the car, but Hank refuses since he isn't hiring employees, and Charlie can take the car for free if she can get it to start. Charlie gets to work and soon triumphantly drives her new car home.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-garage.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You like jazz?"]]
Charlie parks her new Beetle in the garage but is surprised when a part falls out from its undercarriage. She's even more surprised when an inspection of the vehicle reveals what appears to be a ''face'' under the car... moments before B-127 transforms and reveals himself to her. However, Charlie's only momentarily terrified as her fear turns to compassion upon seeing that the Autobot is about as afraid of her as she is of him. She manages to soothe the scared scout and emotionally connect with him, giving him the name "Bumblebee" after the warbled beeps and buzzes he makes.

[[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] relays the news of the Decepticons' landfall to Burns, who immediately prepares a team to travel to Texas and intercept them.

[[File:BBfilm-Bumblebee-pat-pat.jpg|thumb|300px|"You're flying outside the hive, talking to humans that attack our homes with power washers and M-80s!"]]
Charlie awakens the next day and goes straight to the garage, but discovers to her horror that Bumblebee has vanished without a trace. A quick interrogation of Otis reveals Sally has appropriated Charlie's car to take their dog [[Conan]] to the vet, as Ron needed to use the family station wagon. Charlie frantically chases her mother on her moped and manages to pull her over, despite Bumblebee almost blowing his cover by extending an arm out from his trunk and waving at her. She later takes the Autobot to a secluded beach, where she teaches him that he should always assume [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]] unless the two of them are alone.

[[File:ShatterDropkickhologram.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Mr. Bee, I'm going to ask what I think the entire court here would like to know... what exactly is your relationship to that woman?"]]
Burns' team and [[Dr. Powell]] intercept the two Decepticons in Texas and ask them to state their business. Dropkick wants to eliminate the humans, but Shatter comes up with a better idea; lying to the humans that they are a "peacekeeping Decepticon patrol." She asks Sector Seven's aid in tracking down the "dangerous escaped criminal" B-127. While Burns is doubtful, Powell, enthusiastic at the prospect of first contact with an [[alien]] species, eagerly agrees to talk to his superiors about the matter.

Bumblebee and Charlie bond in a secluded forest, but when Bee's chest starts sparking from the damage he took during his fight with Sector Seven, Charlie attempts to fix it, only to activate a holographic message sent by Optimus Prime accidentally. While the message is garbled and incomplete, hearing it jolts a memory in Bumblebee...

''Leaping from the collapsing launchpad and latching onto a Seeker to make his way down, Optimus fights his way through several Seekers before Soundwave deploys [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to attack him. Prime manages to fight off the feline minion with some effort, but his distraction has allowed dozens of Decepticons, including Soundwave, Shockwave, and Starscream, to surround him. The Decepticons move in to attack the Autobot leader even as B-127 watches, unable to help, from his departing escape pod...''

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-hugs.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Charlie realizes that Bumblebee is on the run from something serious. When he attempts to use his broken radio, she decides she can at least fix that, and they return to her garage, where she sets about extracting the radio from the Corvette. Bumblebee starts playing a video, which turns out to be footage of her last dive meet made by her father shortly before his death. She installs the radio in Bumblebee, though he forcefully ejects the music tapes she inserts into him. While she's looking through her tapes, he starts thumbing through her father's L.P.s, and she scolds him. However, after she notices a specific record, her mood changes, and she starts playing it, recalling how she and her father used to listen to it while working on the Corvette. She tells Bee how her father died of a heart attack, and she's continued working on the car in his memory.

At Sector Seven, [[General Whalen]] leads a discussion over whether to allow the Decepticons access to their equipment. Burns believes they can't trust the Decepticons, but Whalen promises to turn them over to him once they track down B-127. Shatter and Dropkick are duly introduced to Sector Seven's array of computers, though they're more interested in the telephone network.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Memo-ride-in-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
As Bumblebee plays with his new radio, Charlie's neighbor [[Memo]] stumbles into the garage, intending to ask Charlie on a date, and is shocked at the sight of the giant robot. Charlie swears him to secrecy, and the pair go for a drive in Bumblebee. Charlie borrows Memo's shirt so she can show off by "driving" blindfolded, and they hang out of Bumblebee's sunroof.

Dr. Powell marvels over the radio at the massive worldwide interconnected web the Decepticons are constructing using the computers and telephone network to track [[energon]] signatures. Burns still has his misgivings, but Whalen believes they can turn the technology on the Decepticons.

Still driving in Bumblebee, Charlie and Memo realize that the reason the Autobot has been playing with his radio is to teach himself to speak with it. They arrive at a cliff by the seaside, where [[Tripp Summers]] challenges Charlie to dive off the cliff. When she's unable, despite urging from Bumblebee, she's cruelly mocked by Tina. Though Charlie claims not to be bothered, Memo and Bumblebee both want revenge. That night, they head to Tina's house and attempt to educate Bumblebee on the art of throwing toilet paper and eggs; this doesn't go well, culminating in Bumblebee enthusiastically jumping on Tina's car and the trio making a quick getaway before she emerges to find the damage. Their frantic driving is spotted by [[Sheriff Lock]], who gives chase in his cruiser. Bumblebee is easily able to outmaneuver Lock's vehicle, which ends up totaled as a result. The three fugitives return to Charlie's home, where they say their goodnights.

[[File:Bumblebee vs sofa.jpg|thumb|300px|"I told you, stop flying in the house!"]]
The next morning, Charlie tells Bumblebee he needs to stay in the garage as the authorities will be looking for him, and leaves for her job. Bumblebee instead ends up following Conan into the house, and his curious exploration ends up demolishing just about everything in the living room and kitchen. Finally, he ends up plugging himself into a wall socket, causing an energon-infused power surge that travels down nearby power lines. The equipment at Sector Seven detects the surge, and the Decepticons roll out, closely followed by Burns and his men. Memo also notices the commotion, so he calls Charlie, who returns home where the pair survey the devastation. Memo manages to get Bumblebee back into the garage, but Charlie realizes she's screwed. Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reached Brighton Falls.

Sally returns home with Otis to find the destruction. An argument ensues between her and Charlie, who ends up storming out. Charlie and Memo go driving to cool off, but they run into a roadblock set up by Sector Seven. Charlie tries to keep Bumblebee calm, but when the Sector Seven soldiers seize her, Bumblebee transforms and carries her off. Unfortunately, they immediately run into Shatter and Dropkick, who attempt to interrogate Bumblebee but are perplexed when the Autobot doesn't try to fight back. Burns and his men arrive and start zapping Bee with electrical guns, and Charlie gets knocked out when she attempts to help him.

[[File:BBfilm-interrogation.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Remember what Van said, why is your life more valuable than mine?" "Funny, I just can't seem to recall that!"]]
Charlie wakes up in her bed and emerges from her room to find Agent Burns telling her parents that she had stolen valuable government equipment. Despite her protests, her mom banishes her back to her room. She promptly slips out through her window, and Otis catches her trying to get Memo's attention by throwing rocks at his window. She manages to stop him from alerting her mother. Joining Memo in his house, they watch a news report about Sector Seven setting up shop at [[McKinnon Air Base]], and Charlie reasons that's where they're holding Bumblebee. Otis is assigned to keep the plan secret while Charlie and Memo head to the base.

At the airbase, Powell watches the two Decepticons interrogate Bumblebee. Charlie and Memo sneak into the base in time to watch as the Decepticons inadvertently trigger Optimus Prime's recording, revealing that the Autobots are coming to Earth. As the Decepticons discuss the presented opportunity, Powell realizes their mistake in cooperating with the giant evil robots and tries to radio a warning to Burns before Dropkick kills him.

Sally and Ron pick over the debris in their house, and Otis is entirely unsuccessful at convincing them that Charlie is still in her room.

[[File:BBFilm-Charlie-Bee-touch-hands.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Shatter locates a nearby communications tower they can use to call in the Decepticon army. Once Dropkick blasts Bumblebee, the pair depart, and Charlie and Memo run to the lifeless Autobot's side. Charlie believes they can still revive him using the electrical guns, and though at first, it seems as though she's unsuccessful, Bumblebee sits up, and his memories start to restore. Agent Burns and his men arrive outside and blow up the exterior door before advancing inside. Charlie tells Bumblebee to run as the troops attempt to take her and Memo away, but the soldiers harpoon Bee. It's not until Burns throws Charlie to the ground that Bumblebee finds the strength to get up and start blasting, unfazed by anything the humans throw at him. Sector Seven retreats, but Charlie has to talk Bumblebee down. Charlie tries to persuade him that they need to hide, but Bumblebee is set on stopping the Decepticons. While Charlie leaves in Bee, Memo tries unsuccessfully to slow down the pursuing Sector Seven vehicles.

As Bumblebee and Charlie race through Brighton Falls, pursued by Sector Seven, they're joined by Sally and Ron in the station-wagon. Though Ron manages to obstruct Burns's vehicle successfully, he ends up spinning out as they approach a set of traffic lights, and there's an almost-pileup as multiple vehicles skid to a halt just inches from hitting each other. Shatter and Dropkick blend their technology into the communications tower at the port in preparation to send their message. Bumblebee arrives and has Charlie hide in a garbage bin for protection before he begins shooting the tower, prompting Dropkick to descend and engage the Autobot in a fierce fight. An errant missile throws Charlie from her hiding place, and, seeing Bumblebee occupied, she heads for the tower. Narrowly avoiding Bumblebee and Dropkick's fight, she starts ascending a nearby crane. Burns also arrives in a helicopter, ordering the pilot to open fire on the communications tower. The battle below moves into a dry dock, with Dropkick transforming to helicopter mode to fire at Bumblebee. Bumblebee throws a chain that hits the Decepticon's rotors, wrapping around Dropkick as he changes to robot mode and allowing Bumblebee to terminate him.

Charlie reaches the top of the crane and jumps across to the tower. Above her, Shatter shoots down the Sector Seven helicopter, sending it plunging towards the ground. Bumblebee manages to grab it before it can crash, saving Burns's life. Charlie moves to disconnect the Cybertronian power source, and when Shatter transforms into jet mode to stop her, Bumblebee shoots down the Decepticon. During the ensuing fight on the ground, Charlie successfully disconnects the tower's power source.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bee-underwater.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You snap out of it!" "''You'' snap out of it!"]]
An enraged Shatter pounds on Bumblebee, who shoots the wall of the dry dock. Shatter mocks him for missing until the wall gives way, and Shatter gets crushed between a ship and the side of the dock. As Bumblebee sinks to the bottom of the flooded dock, Charlie overcomes her fear and dives in, finding Bumblebee at the bottom and helping him to get back to the surface. Finally seeing Bumblebee's true nature, Burns tells the pair they need to make their escape before the rest of Sector Seven arrives, and as they leave, Memo turns up just slightly too late to save the world.

[[File:BB-GoldenGateBridge.jpg|thumb|300px|"Beautiful day to fly." "Sure is."]]
Bumblebee and Charlie end up on a hill overlooking the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], where Charlie tells the Autobot that she can't interfere with his greater purpose, and they have to go their separate ways. After a tearful farewell, Bumblebee scans a passing Camaro as his new alternate mode and drives off to rendezvous with Optimus Prime on the bridge, leaving to continue his mission. Charlie returns home and reunites with her family and Memo.

That night in a nearby forest, Optimus commends Bumblebee on keeping Earth safe, as the two watch more Autobot refugees appear in the sky over Earth. Not far away, Charlie successfully gets the Corvette running and takes it for a first drive.
{{-}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters|
h1=[[Autobot]]s|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] ([[Dylan O'Brien]])
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Andrew Morgado]])
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] ([[Dennis Singletary]])
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] ([[Grey Griffin]])
*[[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]] ([[Kirk Baily]])
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]
*Autobot soldiers

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
*[[Shatter]] ([[Angela Bassett]])
*[[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] ([[Justin Theroux]])
*[[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] ([[David Sobolov]])
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] (Jon Bailey)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
*[[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]†
*[[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]]†
*[[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]]†
*[[Seeker (Movie)|Seekers]] (Kirk Baily; [[#Transformers references|see below]])

|h3=[[Human]]s|c3=
*[[Charlie Watson]] ([[Hailee Steinfeld]])
*[[Memo]] ([[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]])
*[[Sally Watson]] ([[Pamela Adlon]])
*[[Otis Watson]] ([[Jason Drucker]])
*[[Ron (BB)|Ron]] ([[Stephen Schneider]])
*[[Uncle Hank]] ([[Len Cariou]])
*[[Craig (BB)|Craig]] ([[Kollin Holtz]])
*[[Tina Lark]] ([[Gracie Dzienny]])
*[[Tina's girlfriends]] ([[Isabelle Ellingson]], [[Mika Kubo]])
*[[Tripp Summers]] ([[Ricardo Hoyos]])
*[[Sheriff Lock]] ([[Fred Dryer]])
*[[Roy (BB)|Roy]] ([[Lenny Jacobson]])
*[[Amber]] ([[Megyn Price]])
*[[Charlie's dad]] ([[Tim Martin Gleason]])
*[[Bill (BB)|Bill]] ([[Antonio D. Charity]])
'''[[Sector Seven]]'''
*[[Jack Burns]] ([[John Cena]])
*[[Dr. Powell]] ([[John Ortiz]])
*[[General Whalen]] ([[Glynn Turman]])
*[[Seymour Simmons]] ([[Nick Pilla]])
*[[Danny Bell]] ([[Edwin Hodge]])

|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Conan]] ([[Sterling (dog)|Sterling]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

† The individual Seekers are identified as such in packaging bios for ''Studio Series'' toys of characters featured in the film.

==Quotes==
"I'll never talk." 
"Is that right? Then let's make it official."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Blitzwing''', right before the latter destroys the former's voice box.

"If ''you'' won't tell us where Prime is, perhaps your young friend will." 
"''Never''." 
"You're a brave warrior. You deserve a better death...then again..."
:—'''Shatter''' and '''Cliffjumper''', right before Dropkick executes the latter.

"I like the way they ''pop.''" 
"''Focus,'' comrade."
:—'''Dropkick''' and '''Shatter''', after the former kills a human bystander.

"I say this with all due respect...have you lost your damn mind?!" 
"''That'' was with all due respect?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' and '''Dr. Powell''' debate.

"They literally call themselves Decepticons. That doesn't set off any red flags?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' doesn't trust the giant alien robots.

"Look, I know what you saw is a little crazy. I can explain. ... Yeah, I can't explain, but here's the deal: If you tell anyone what you just saw, I'm going to have to run you over with my car." 
"...Jeez!" 
"...I don't mean that in a mean way, okay?"
:—'''Charlie''' and '''Memo'''

"Ron! We have a kid in the car!" 
"I was trying to save the other kid! What was I...It was a lose-lose!"
:—'''Sally''' and '''Ron'''

"You think these little chains can hold-"
:—'''Dropkick''' before being sliced to pieces by said little chains.

"Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice." 
"Thank you for...for making me feel like me again."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Charlie''' say their goodbyes.

"No way. You kidding me? You're telling me you could've been a Camaro this whole time?"
:—'''Charlie''' sees Bumblebee has one last trick up his sleeve.

"Old friend, you kept this planet safe. Because of you, we have a future, B-127." 
"My name... is... Bumblebee."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' thanks the newly-rechristened '''Bumblebee'''.

==Continuity notes==
As a prequel to the rest of the live-action film series, ''Bumblebee'' includes set-up elements for several of them:

* Ancillary media dating back to [[2007]] has primarily credited [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with inflicting the injuries that caused Bumblebee to lose his voice (with both the [[Aligned continuity family]] and the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|''Cyberverse'' cartoon]] adapting the idea for their continuities), but internal to the films themselves, no specifics were ever provided, with "damage in battle" being the only reason given for the little Autobot's muteness. ''Bumblebee'' tells the on-screen version of the story, revealing that Blitzwing was the culprit.
* Meanwhile, Megatron himself is notably absent from the film's Cybertron-set prelude since, per the first movie's events, he is frozen on Earth at the time.
* The first film introduced Sector 7 and their [[Hoover Dam]] headquarters. A young [[Seymour Simmons]] (played by [[John Turturro]] in the present-day films) appears among the organization's ranks.
* Thanks to Charlie fitting him with a working radio, Bumblebee learns how to "speak" by using snippets of music to express himself, which is, of course, how he communicates in all the other films.
* Burns warns Whalen of the potential for Decepticon attacks on Earth, citing [[Washington, D.C.]], [[New York City]] and [[Chicago]] as possible targets. All three of these cities experienced Decepticon activity in other ''Transformers'' films: New York in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', and D.C. and Chicago in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.
* At the end of the movie, Bumblebee scans the [[1977]] Camaro mode that he had at the start of the original ''Transformers'' film.

Despite its notional "prequel" status, the film underwent significant reshoots ([[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]) that resulted in the deletion, alteration, and addition of scenes that create disjointedness between ''Bumblebee'' and the rest of the film series, even by the standard of the film series' usual ''laissez-faire'' approach to continuity, including:

* The ''big'' principal continuity-breaker is that the film completely throws out ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'''s premise that Bumblebee and the Autobots were active on Earth during significant periods throughout history, such as the {{w|American Revolutionary War}}, the {{w|Napoleonic Wars}}, [[World War I]], [[World War II]] and so on, and instead shows Bumblebee to have first come to Earth in [[1987]]. By extension, this also throws the film's [[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|prequel comic]], which also operated on ''The Last Knight''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s premise, out the window.
* More circumstantially, the film's aesthetics are notably different, hewing much closer to Generation 1. Cybertron itself closely resembles its Generation 1 design instead of the "honeycomb" design seen in ''Dark of the Moon'' and ''The Last Knight''. Bumblebee's '77 Camaro robot-mode body, seen in the film's mid-credits sequence, is entirely different from his 2007 film appearance, instead depicted as a variation of the body used through the rest of this film.
* Sector 7 refers to their meeting with Shatter and Dropkick as "first contact," which feels a little off since, according to the first film, they've kept the AllSpark and the frozen Megatron in their Hoover Dam base since the early 20th century. Neither Megatron nor the AllSpark are mentioned in the movie's final cut, with Dropkick and Shatter showing no awareness of them despite being allowed into the base where Sector 7 keeps them—but these aren't really true inter-movie continuity-breaking discrepancies, as the same thing happened in the ''original'' cut of the film, where Megatron ''did'' appear in Sector Seven's possession in a mid-credits scene (again [[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]).
* In-keeping with the AllSpark going unmentioned, the Autobots leave Cybertron because they are on the losing end of the war, with Bumblebee going to Earth to establish a fallback position for his comrades, rather than to search for the cube. This isn't particularly incompatible what we see of 'Bee in the first film; the fact that the Autobots are seen arriving on Earth at the end in 1987 when the first film showed them coming in 2007 is more incongruous, but no more so than ''The Last Knight'' claiming that they'd already been there for centuries. Reconciling either ''The Last Knight'' or ''Bumblebee'' with the first film requires assuming that the Autobots will leave Earth again at some point in the next 20 years to search other planets and systems for the AllSpark, as mentioned in the first film's prologue, only to return when Bumblebee discovers it was on Earth all along—but as we said, this movie doesn't mention that. Notably, having Bumblebee lose his voice ''after'' coming to Earth actually ''necessitates'' a meeting between 'Bee and the other Autobots before the first movie. Ratchet noted in that film that he'd been trying to fix Bumblebee's voice for a while, meaning his arrival in 2007 couldn't be the first time he'd seen Bumblebee since he lost his voice.

These breaks in continuity have led to a debate among fans over whether the film constitutes a "hard reboot" of the movie universe (beginning a new run of films that are fully separate from the timeline of the five Michael Bay films) or if it's merely a "soft reboot" (comparable to ''{{w|X-Men: First Class}}'', another "prequel" movie that had irreconcilable continuity discrepancies with the film series it was meant to be part of, but was nonetheless treated as "canon"). The filmmakers have used made vague and contradictory statements referring to the movie's place in continuity; director Travis Knight said the film was "essentially (...) restarting the franchise and (...) rebooting these characters,"<ref>[https://www.moviefone.com/news/bumblebee-director-travis-knight-interview/ Interview with Travis Knight at Moviefone.com]</ref> (note the non-definitive "essentially"), while associate producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura said it was "neither a reboot nor a remake."<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/03/24/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-highlights-the-future-direction-of-the-transformers-movie-series-385782 Di Bonaventura interview at TFW2005.com]</ref> Hasbro themselves referred to the film as "the start of a new storytelling universe",<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/02/16/transformers-brand-info-from-new-york-toy-fair-2019-fan-media-panel-hasbrotoyfair-383106 Transformers Brand Info From New York Toy Fair 2019 Fan Media Panel, TFW2005.com]</ref> but when asked about that, Di Bonventura interpreted the ill-defined phrase as simply meaning the creators had "freedom" to tell new stories that didn't necessarily follow the rules of the other films. Many movie news sites have pounced on these statements to declare the film an unambiguous reboot, leading to that sentiment being widely repeated across other sites, but ultimately, it has to be understood that the word "reboot" does not always mean to filmmakers and executives what it means to continuity-minded fans, and that they don't really think about "continuity" and "canon" that same precise way we do. The 2023 sequel, ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]'', was promoted with similar fuzzy statements and mixed-messaging about whether the film truly constituted a total reboot or not.

==Transformers references==

[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Prime-leaps-into-battle.jpg|thumb|300px|"All right, scramble, jocks! It's time to fly."]]
*During the opening battle on Cybertron, the Autobots' weapons fire orange laser blasts, while the Decepticons' fire blue ones, replicating the color-coded blaster fire of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] (though there, the Decepticons' weapons fire ''purple'' blasts).
*Optimus Prime's entrance into the battle on Cybertron is a direct reference to his famous leap into action from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In another seeming ''The Movie'' homage, Brawn is downed by a shot to the shoulder during his cameo. This time, however, he survives and is seen among the Autobots getting into the escape pods.
*The well-known Autobots are accompanied by [[generic]] recolors of Ironhide with one of two new heads.<ref name="ILM">[https://www.ilm.com/visual_development/bumblebee-developing-an-epic-set-piece BUMBLEBEE: DEVELOPING AN EPIC SET PIECE] at ILM</ref>
*The Seekers' Cybertronian alternate modes are loosely inspired by their "tetrajet" modes from the [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|first Generation 1 episode]].
*Starscream is the only "unique" Seeker to appear during the film's Cybertron sequences. The rest of their forces are made up of countless robots that recycle five generic designs: blue-and-white (based on [[Thundercracker (G1)|Generation 1 Thundercracker]]), [[:File:BB-Skywarp-concept.jpg|purple-and-grey]] (based on [[Skywarp (G1)|Generation 1 Skywarp]]), [[:File:BB-Thrust-concept.jpg|green-and-grey]] (based on [[Thrust (Armada)|''Armada'' Thrust]]),<ref name="ILM" /> teal-and-white, and grey-and-red. The "Thrust" model has a triangular protrusion position behind its head, loosely replicating the character's "[[Conehead]]" appearance without actually giving him a genuine conehead.
**While it is hard to determine which (if any!) of these generic robots are the ''actual'' movie universe incarnations of [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]], and [[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]], ''Studio Series'' toy bios help clear matters up: the ''real'' Skywarp and Thrust are stated to be the ones who joins Starscream in "blast[ing] the Autobot[s'] launchpad with missile fire to stop their escape from Cybertron".
*As Optimus calls retreat, Arcee and Cliffjumper wield pistols that are a direct design match to the "generic" pistol design used for Autobots in season 2 of the Generation 1 cartoon.
*The Cybertron tower containing the launchpad is based on the [[Great Dome]].<ref name="ILM" />
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave's]] eye flickers very subtly during his brief line of dialogue like his [[Shockwave (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].
*[[Shatter]], according to Travis Knight, is based on [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]].
*The concept of Cybertron falling into Decepticon hands and the Autobots initiating a mass exodus originates from the Aligned continuity family, although in this case, the Autobots depart in individual escape pods instead of [[Ark (disambiguation)|a single gargantuan starship]].
*[[Teletraan-I]] can be sighted in the background as the Autobots enter their escape pods.
*The [[Transformation#The noise|classic transformation noise]] is used ''liberally'' throughout the entire film. Some variant of it can be heard whenever a Transformer goes through a full-body transformation sequence onscreen, as well as whenever Bumblebee draws his arm blaster.
*Blitzwing drops a well-known [[Furmanism]] as he fights B-127, stating that the Autobot will "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]... like [B-127's] friends!"
[[File:BBFilm-Optimus-as-Freightliner.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Memo is reading a copy of [[GoBots|''GoBots Magazine'']], which he tosses aside when he sees Charlie. Though ''GoBots Magazine'' was a real publication, the issue Memo reads isn't one of the five real-life issues that exist; however, it faithfully emulates their cover style, down to the "Collector Poster Inside" cover tag. In a deleted scene, Memo even theorizes that Bumblebee is a GoBot.
*A snippet of "[[The Touch]]" plays when Bumblebee is "encouraging" Charlie to dive from the cliff.
*The fight between Bumblebee and Dropkick includes a sequence where Dropkick picks up Bumblebee and throws him. Then the Autobot lands in car mode, veers around, and jumps to punch him in the face—which harkens back to the fight choreography between [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from the G1 cartoon's season 1 opening credits.
*Optimus' vehicle mode at the end of the film is a Freightliner cab-over truck ''very'' similar to his G1 counterpart. He's even pulling the classic trailer, which has the signature 'stripe' on its side!

==Real-life references==
*One of the vehicles Bumblebee rejects scanning is the Urban Assault Vehicle from ''{{w|Stripes (film)|Stripes}}''.
*Charlie has a poster for the rock band {{w|The Pretenders}}, which coincidentally is the name of a Transformers [[Pretender|sub group]] involving the robots disguising themselves as human.
*Throughout the film, Charlie wears band shirts for {{w|Elvis Costello and the Attractions}}, {{w|Motörhead}}, {{w|The Damned (band)|The Damned}}, {{w|The Rolling Stones}}, and {{w|The Smiths}}.
*Charlie eats {{w|Mr. T Cereal}}.
*The Watson family dog, Conan, is named after {{w|Conan the Barbarian}}.
*Uncle Hank and Charlie's family watch ''[[ALF]]'', a sitcom from the '80s about an alien taking refuge in a human home. Fitting. However, see Errors.
*The station wagon Charlie's family drives is based on the one in ''{{w|National Lampoon's Vacation}}''.
*Cliffjumper repeats his name and rank while being interrogated by Shatter and Dropkick, which references a real-life rule in the {{w|Geneva Convention}} that states these are the only things soldiers have to divulge under interrogation. More specifically, this references a typical exaggeration in film and TV in which soldiers ''only recite these'' in response to their captors.
*The transmission that Cliffjumper and the Decepticons pick up from B-127 is the theme song to ''[[Cheers]]''.
*Dropkick and Shatter's arrival on Earth almost mirrors the appearance of the Bug in ''{{w|Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black}}''.
*Bumblebee watches ''{{w|The Breakfast Club}}'', leading to him emulating [[Judd Nelson]]'s iconic fist pump several times throughout the rest of the film.
*After repairing Bumblebee's radio, Charlie inserts a cassette of The Smiths' album ''{{w|Strangeways, Here We Come}}'' and "{{w|Girlfriend in a Coma (song)|Girlfriend in a Coma}}" briefly plays before Bee ejects the tape.
*Charlie also tries inserting a cassette of the [[Rick Astley]] album ''{{w|Whenever You Need Somebody}}'', causing it to play a snippet from "{{w|Never Gonna Give You Up}}".
[[File:BBfilm-cassette-drawer.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Other musicians featured in Charlie's drawer of cassettes include {{w|Joan Jett}}, {{w|Adam and the Ants}}, {{w|Guns N' Roses}}, {{w|Talking Heads}}, {{w|INXS}}, {{w|Pink Floyd}}, {{w|Oingo Boingo}}, {{w|Huey Lewis and the News}}, and {{w|Prism (band)|PRiSM}}. She also mentions {{w|Stevie Nicks}} and The Rolling Stones while searching for tapes.
*The record Charlie takes from her father's collection is {{w|Sam Cooke}}'s 1961 album ''Sam's Songs'', and when she puts it on, Sam Cooke's version of "{{w|Unchained Melody}}" plays. However, see Errors. Also seen in the collection of records is {{w|Roxy Music}}'s ''{{w|For Your Pleasure}}''.
*Shatter asks Powell to "take [the Decepticons] to your leader," referencing the ages-old trope from early alien-related science fiction.
*The letters 'BFG' are written on Charlie's jean jacket, a reference to ''{{w|The BFG}}'', a children's book about a young girl befriending a big, friendly giant and defeating a group of evil giants together. Also quite fitting.
*Sector Seven uses a variant of the WOPR supercomputer from ''{{w|WarGames}}''.
*While looking around the Watsons' house, Bumblebee is briefly intrigued by a can of {{w|Tab (drink)|Tab}} soda and a game of ''{{w|Pong}}'' running on an [[Atari, Inc.|Atari 2600]]. However, see Errors.
*Otis wears a {{w|Bruce Lee}} T-shirt during the third act.
*Memo's room has posters for ''{{w|The Thing (1982 film)|The Thing}}'', ''[[Indiana Jones|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', Tom Baker-era ''[[Doctor Who]]'', and a {{w|Heather Thomas}} pin-up.
*Bumblebee's rampage is a direct nod to the 1999 [[Warner Bros.]] animated film ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}'', in which the titular robot protagonist assaults the U.S. military with glowing red optics in retaliation for them harming his human best friend.
*Ron claims he learned his driving skills from ''{{w|Miami Vice}}''.

==Errors==
*The episode of ''ALF'' that Charlie's family watch is episode 20 of season 2, "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog". The episode originally aired on February 29, 1988, a year after the movie is meant to occur.
*Charlie starts playing the first track on Sam Cooke's album ''Sam's Songs'', which ought to have been "Little Things You Do" rather than "Unchained Melody". The latter song doesn't even appear on the album, being the last track on side A of Cooke's earlier release ''Hits of the 50's''.
*Powell remarks that the Decepticon modifications to the S7 computers have created an "interconnected web of information," implying that the Internet's technology originated from the Decepticons. However, the idea of an interconnected network of computers for communications and data transfer was developing for decades before the film's setting in the late 1980s. The term "Internet" first appeared in the mid-1970s.
*Bumblebee watches a game of ''Pong'' running on the Atari 2600 plugged into the Watsons' television. However, ''Pong'' was never released as a standalone game for the 2600, only appearing as part of the ''{{w|Video Olympics}}'' game compilation, which featured a colorized remake that looked entirely different from the classic black-and-white version shown on the screen. The paddles are also seen moving on their own, despite no one touching the controllers and the game lacking any paddles in its attract mode.
*Simmons identifies Brighton Falls as a "coastal town." However, both the {{w|Richmond–San Rafael Bridge}} and {{w|Marin Islands|East Marin Island}} can be seen in the background of the Watsons' house establishing shots, which would place Brighton Falls within the San Francisco Bay, not quite on the coast. Furthermore, this causes problems with the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk]], which faces the ocean... maybe Brighton Falls is just a ''very'' large town?

==Other editions==
*The version of the film available for streaming on [[Paramount+]] features a badly edited smash cut from the scene where Bumblebee and Charlie meet for the first time to Roy and Amber leaving their home to have an argument outside instead of the smooth night sky transition featured in other versions. This cut removes the presence of the country song "[[All My Ex's Live in Texas]]" from the film, suggesting some rights issues with it were most likely the reason the cut was made.

==Tie-in material==
*''[[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel]]''
During the lead-up to the release of the movie [[IDW Publishing]] released a four-issue limited series detailing an adventure set in the 60s, during which Bumblebee works with British intelligence to foil the plans of a group of Decepticons, including Blitzwing. It seems likely that author [[John Barber]] was working off an earlier draft of the film, which simply began with Bumblebee already on Earth in the time frame between ''The Last Knight'' and ''Bumblebee''.

*"[[Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome]]"
A one-shot promotional comic, that was released as [[pack-in material]] with the home video release and as a motion comic among the film's special features. The comic follows [[Seymour Simmons]] two years after the film's events, and serves to help bridge the gap between ''Bumblebee'' and the 2007 film.

==Music==
Two albums were released for the film:
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Score)]]'' - showcasing composer [[Dario Marianelli]]'s score for the film.
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Soundtrack)]]'' - featuring the film's diegetic music as well as Hailee Steinfeld's end credits song, "Back to Life."

==Home video releases==
{{main|Bumblebee (film)/home video}}
''Bumblebee'' was released on digital platforms on [[March 19]]; and on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K on [[April 2]]. A limited edition VHS copy was sent out as a promotional item, but was not available at retail.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/04/01/transformers-bumblebee-movie-out-now-on-vhs-real-vhs-promo-copy-with-pics-386407 TFW2005 VHS coverage]</ref>

==Theatrical posters==
<center><gallery>
File:BumblebeeCharlieSilhouettePoster.jpg|Yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeCrouchingPoster.jpg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeUSMoviePoster.jpeg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg|yellow-black...
File:BumblebeePosingPoster.jpg|Ooh, black and yellow!
File:BumblebeeBurnsDecepticons.jpg|Yeah, let's shake it up a little.
</gallery></center>

==Reception==
{{quote|Mankind has split the atom, sent a man to the moon, and now, in arguably its most unlikely achievement, it has produced a watchable ''Transformers'' movie.|Scott Tobias|[http://www.npr.org/2018/12/20/677501424/flight-of-the-bumblebee-transformers-flick-soars-over-low-franchise-expectations NPR review]}}

Coming off the notoriously poor reception to ''The Last Knight,'' ''Bumblebee'' had a ways to go in terms of redeeming the ''Transformers'' film franchise for both Paramount and the general movie-going public. However, the film was positively received by critics, who generally praised Travis Knight's restrained directorial approach, Hailee Steinfeld's acting, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]]-styled robot designs, and Charlie and Bumblebee's dynamic, comparing the film to its spiritual predecessors, ''{{w| E.T. the Extraterrestrial|E.T.}}'' and ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}''. The film currently holds a 90% and a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest score of any film in the franchise to date.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bumblebee/ ''Bumblebee'' review on Rotten Tomatoes]</ref>

After making $500,000 at 325 theaters from its December 8 preview screenings,<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-sneak-preview-box-office-amazon-prime-1202521144/ ‘Aquaman’ Amazon Prime Previews Hook Near $3M Besting ‘Jumanji 2’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' made its domestic opening alongside ''{{w|Aquaman (film)|Aquaman}}'', ''{{w|Welcome to Marwen}}'', and ''{{w|Second Act (film)|Second Act}}'', and proceeded to gross $21 million over its first weekend, finishing third behind ''Aquaman'' and ''{{w|Mary Poppins Returns}}''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-bumblebee-christmas-thursday-night-previews-weekend-box-office-1202524462/ 'Aquaman’ Unwraps $22M+ On Christmas For $105M+ Cume; ‘Holmes & Watson’ Opens To $6M+; ‘Vice’ $4M+]</ref> In its second weekend, ''Bumblebee'' grossed another $20.5 million, remaining in third place.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-mary-poppins-returns-bumblebee-new-years-weekend-box-office-1202526812/ 'Aquaman’ Sailing To $52M+ 2nd Weekend; $189M+ Cume Pacing Ahead Of ‘Doctor Strange’ & ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' ended its domestic box office run on March 7, 2019, with a total domestic gross of $127.2 million, and earned an additional $340.8 million overseas (including $170.8 million from China) for a worldwide total gross of $468 million.<ref>[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4701182/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 Bumblebee - Box Office Mojo]</ref> While that total makes it the second lowest-grossing entry in the live-action film series to date, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish stated in January 2019 that ''Bumblebee'' was "solidly profitable," praising the film's performance as a turnaround for Paramount following the money-losing ''The Last Knight'',<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-says-hes-mulling-small-acquisition-targets-1175029 Viacom CEO Says He's Mulling Small Acquisition Targets]</ref> which ''did'' make more money but not enough to recoup its monstrous budget.

In 2019, ''Bumblebee'' became the first ''Transformers'' film since the 2007 film not to be nominated for any {{w|Golden Raspberry Award}}s. Indeed, the film was one of those selected as a candidate for a {{w|The Razzie Redeemer Award|Razzie Redeemer Award}}, with the website praising the film's more "innocent and endearing" approach to the franchise.<ref>[https://razzies.com/razz-newz.html Razz Newz]</ref>

==Production staff==
{{stub}}

==Development details==
*March 27, 2015 — [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" with the intention of building a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[http://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Goldsman goes on to hire a number of writers over the next few months: [[Steven DeKnight]] (''Daredevil''),<ref>[http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-cinematic-universe/35696/transformers-cinematic-details-more-writers-over-10-films Transformers cinematic details]</ref> [[Robert Kirkman]] (''The Walking Dead''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-writers-robert-kirkman-zak-penn-art-marcum-matt-holloway-jeff-pinkner-1201430601/ 'Transformers' Spinoff & Sequel Scribes Set] on Deadline.com</ref> [[Art Marcum]] and [[Matt Holloway]] (''Iron Man''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> Christina Hodson (''Shut In'', ''The Fugitive''),<ref name="hodsonbeer">[http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/446175-christina-hodson-and-lindsey-beer-join-transformers-writing-team Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer Join the Transformers Writing Team]</ref> [[Lindsey Beer]] (''Dig''),<ref name="hodsonbeer" /> [[Zak Penn]] (''Pacific Rim 2''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Jeff Pinkner]] (''The Amazing Spider-Man 2'', ''Lost''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] (''Ant-Man''),<ref name="barrerferrari">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref> [[Ken Nolan]] (''Black Hawk Down''), and [[Geneva Robertson-Dworet]].<ref name="nolandworet">[http://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-writers-room/ Akiva Goldsman Teases 'Transformers' Franchise Plans]</ref> Involved in the pitching process are [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Michael Bay]], [[Brian Goldner]], [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]], [[Mark Vahradian]], and [[Don Murphy]].<ref name="deadlinereveal">[http://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref>
*October 3, 2015 — During his keynote speech at the MIP Junior Conference, [[Allspark (company)|Allspark]]'s [[Stephen J. Davis]] notes that the writing team has come up with film concepts for Transformers 5, 6, 7, and 8.<ref name="stephendaviskeynote">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_P2fw_DlS4?t=812 Stephen Davis's keynote speech] at MIPJunior.</ref>[[File:TransformersUniverseBumblebeePoster.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"My sweater is Ralph Lauren, and I have no pants."]]
*February 12, 2016 — At ToyFair, Hasbro reveals the projected release date of Transformers 6, along with those of its predecessor and [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers 7]], as well as the fact that Transformers 6 will focus on Bumblebee.<ref name="toyfairreveal">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/transformers-5-transformers-6-bumblebee-spin-off-movie-revealed-309503 Transformers 5, Transformers 6 And Bumblebee Spin-Off Movie Revealed] ToyFair news at TFW2005</ref>
*December 29, 2016 — Lorenzo di Bonaventura names Christina Hodson as the screenwriter in an interview.<ref name="hodson">[http://collider.com/transformers-5-plot-characters-dinobots-details/ 'The Last Knight' Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Reveals How a 'Transformers' Movie Is Made] on Collider</ref>
*March 3, 2017 — [[Travis Knight]] is appointed director.<ref name="deadlinedirector">[https://deadline.com/2017/03/bumblebee-movie-travis-knight-director-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1202034882/ Travis Knight To Direct ‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ At Paramount]</ref>
*May 26, 2017 — A poster at Licensing Expo 2017 gives the name of the film as ''Transformers Universe: Bumblebee''.<ref name="expoposter">[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo "The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo"]</ref>
*June 10, 2017 — [[Hailee Steinfeld]] reveals in an interview that she's been cast in the film.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/pitch-perfect-pop-star-hailee-steinfeld-hits-charts-with-most-girls-single-and-lands-transformers-role/news-story/47a238f0e75bf06a0ffc34a18e9906e4 Pitch Perfect pop star Hailee Steinfeld hits charts with Most Girls single and lands Transformers role]</ref>
*July 11, 2017 — [[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]] is reported by The Hollywood Reporter to have been cast as the male lead.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-casts-jorge-lendeborg-jr-as-male-lead-1017547 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Casts Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Male Lead (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref>
*July 13, 2017 — More actors including [[Jason Drucker]], [[Abby Quinn]], [[Rachel Crow]], [[Ricardo Hoyos]], and [[Gracie Dzienny]] join the cast.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-rounds-cast-1019823 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 23, 2017 — [[Pamela Adlon]] joins the cast.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/07/pamela-adlon-bumblebee-movie-transformers-casting-1202133812/ Pamela Adlon Joins Cast Of 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee']</ref>
*July 31, 2017 — [[John Cena]] is announced as a cast member. Also, Bumblebee is a Volkswagen this time. The film is pushed back to December 2018. Production begins,<ref name="cenareveal">[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-cena-joins-transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-1025411 John Cena Joins 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref> with the filming going under the codename "Brighton Falls".<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-bumblebee-working-title-filming-start/ Bumblebee Spinoff Working Title & Filming Start Date Revealed] on Screenrant</ref>
*August 6, 2017 — Hailee Steinfeld reveals on Twitter that her character's name is [[Charlie Watson]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Meet Charlie Watson. #BumblebeeTheMovie https://t.co/Z8kA8DGRk3|link=https://twitter.com/haileesteinfeld/status/894296888643432448|name=Hailee Steinfeld|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=8|day=6|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*September 9, 2017 — At [[HasCon 2017]], di Bonaventura discusses some hints on the film, including that the movie is set in [[1986]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/09/hascon-2017-bumblebee-movie-tidbits-348630 Hascon 2017: The Bumblebee Movie Tidbits] on TFW2005</ref>[[File:BumblebeeMovie firstlook.jpg|thumb|350px|"There's a bee in the car!"]]
*September 12, 2017 — Actor and stuntman [[Rory Markham]] reveals on Instagram that he is playing a [[Sector Seven]] agent named [[Agent Adams|Adams]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/12/sector-7-returns-transformers-universe-bumblebee-movie-348886 Sector 7 Returns in Transformers Universe: Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*September 20, 2017 — Travis Knight reveals the first Decepticon vehicle mode in the form of a 1971 Plymouth GTX.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=LAIKA Pres & CEO Travis Knight on the set of his live-action film BUMBLEBEE. Travis will have more news on this & the next LAIKA film soon! https://t.co/SatTvufvhO|link=https://twitter.com/LAIKAStudios/status/910549230602788864|name=LAIKA Studios|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=9|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*October 2, 2017 — [[Peter Cullen]] has a role in the movie.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/10/02/peter-cullen-confirmed-bumblebee-movie-351131 Peter Cullen Confirmed In The Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*October 26, 2017 — [[John Ortiz]] is revealed to be a cast member.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/10/john-ortiz-paramount-bumblebee-spinoff-peppermint-stxfilms-1202195412/ John Ortiz Cast In 'Bumblebee' Spinoff & 'Peppermint'] on Deadline.com</ref>
*November 12, 2017 — A wrap party for the movie reveals the movie's title as ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo] on Cinema Blend</ref>
*December 11, 2017 — {{w|Martin Short}} is revealed to be doing some voice work for the film.<ref>[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/attheshore/headliners/steve-martin-and-martin-short-head-to-borgata-for-an/article_7d516048-de98-11e7-9fa4-c7175ccf2b9d.html Steve Martin and Martin Short head to Borgata for an unforgettable evening] on pressofatlanticcity.com</ref>
*December 29, 2017 — A "first look" photo is released showing Hailee Steinfeld and Bumblebee's Volkswagen alternate mode.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=First Look at "Bumblebee" from @ParamountPics with Hailee Steinfeld! #Bumblebee hits theaters on Dec. 21, 2018! https://t.co/6ROMvWRrML|link=https://twitter.com/AwardsCircuit/status/946794788988293121|name=Clayton Davis|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=12|day=29}}</ref>
*January 28, 2018 — During an interview at the Grammys, Hailee Steinfeld suggests Bumblebee may sing during the movie.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/8096803/hailee-steinfeld-hair-waves-2018-grammys-how-to Interview on Billboard.com]</ref>
*February 16, 2018 — At [[Toy Fair 2018]], Hasbro states that the film series will be reset after ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref name="reboot" />
*April 24, 2018 — Footage of the film is shown at Cinemacon.<ref>[http://comicbook.com/movies/2018/04/26/first-bumblebee-footage-transformers-cinemacon/ First 'Bumblebee' Footage Previews the 'Transformers' Spinoff at CinemaCon] at comicbook.com</ref>
[[File:BumblebeeMovieShatter&Dropkick.jpeg|thumb|300px|"Thanks for the coffee. Sorry, I couldn't finish it. If I did, I'd be up the rest of my life."]]
*June 5, 2018 — The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAIX12F6958 official teaser trailer] is posted by Paramount Pictures, also revealing the film's title has been shortened to just ''Bumblebee''.
*June 6, 2018 — [[Charlie Adler]] reveals he is not in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Sadly no . But I’m sure whoever is doing it is wonderful ! It’s been a wonderful franchise for me for a long time and now some else’s turn !! Break a leg !|link=https://twitter.com/charlie_adler/status/1004401979597025280|name=Charlie Adler|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=06|day=06}}</ref>
*June 8, 2018 — [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] is initially stated to be in the film in a blog post on Paramount's parent company before his name is later scrubbed from the post afterward.<ref>[http://blog.viacom.com/2018/06/bumblebee-transforms-hailee-steinfelds-life-in-first-trailer/ Original text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does dreaded Decepticon Starscream." Revised text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does a dreaded Decepticon."]</ref>
*July 13, 2018 — Entertainment Weekly reveals [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Justin Theroux]] will voice new Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] respectively.<ref>[http://ew.com/movies/2018/07/13/bumblebee-decepticon-trackers-first-look/ First Look: Bumblebee unveils two new Decepticon muscle cars]</ref>
*July 20, 2018 — A ''Bumblebee'' panel at the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2018 reveals more information on the film, such as details regarding the characters.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-bumblebee-movie-panel-in-hall-h-at-sdcc2018-jointhebuzz/41645/ Seibertron's coverage on the SDCC'18 Bumblebee panel.]</ref> Also, John Cena dressed as Bumblebee.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I asked the fine folks @IGN to help me find the true meaning of robot existence at #SDCC. But did I, as John Cena, find the answers to living as a Bumblebee? Let’s find out. @bumblebeemovie https://t.co/j4RJde71Cg https://t.co/nEqBtuVgL2|link=https://twitter.com/JohnCena/status/1020800460125605890|name=John Cena|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=7|day=21|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*August 26–30, 2018 — [[David Sobolov]] confirms he is part of the cast of ''Bumblebee'' as the voice of [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]].{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... @ParamountPics has given me the ok to reveal I’m playing a role in the upcoming epic @bumblebeemovie! As of now I’m not authorized to tell you my character’s name. More news about that soon! Who do you think it is? @transformers @tfw2005 @seibertroncom https://t.co/XNeyuvmqQT|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1033867788824309760|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=27|(defunct=)}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... It's time to reveal I'm the voice of Blitzwing in @bumblebeemovie ! Thank you TravisKnight and @ParamountPics for this exciting chance to work on another epic @transformers adventure.|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1035346211392368640|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=30|defunct=y}}</ref> 
*September 22–23, 2018 — Three teasers were released on various platforms with many different languages, revealing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]'s appearance in the movie. Additionally, shots were revealed of Optimus Prime's design, the three major Decepticons in the movie, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-and-optimus-prime-featured-in-teaser-for-next-bumblebee-movie-trailer/42075/ Seibertron's article including the two of the teasers released] and [https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-bumblebee-movie-teaser-with-blitzwing-and-barricade/42078/ an article with one of the teasers.]</ref>
*September 24, 2018 — The official trailer is uploaded by Paramount Pictures' YouTube channel, revealing (among other things) [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s' appearances in the movie. A second international trailer is released, showcasing some more scenes. An interview with Travis Knight on the new trailer is also published, revealing Starscream (''now'' it's legitimate) and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]'s appearance in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwmDAYt22k Bumblebee (2018) - New Official Trailer] and [https://www.cbr.com/bumblebee-international-trailer-optimus-prime-cybertron/ an article showcasing the international trailer.] [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/bumblebee-trailer-breakdown-travis-knight/ Interview with Knight.]</ref>
*September 27, 2018 - Before a special showing of [[The Transformers: The Movie|the animated movie]], another interview with Travis Knight and Hailee Steinfeld was seen AND a brief scene of Charlie and Bee's first interaction.
*November 13, 2018 - ''Bumblebee'' is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/11/13/transformers-bumblebee-movie-rated-pg-13-376496]</ref>
*November 23, 2018 - A new trailer is released showcasing some new scenes, namely, Bumblebee's Cybertronian robot mode. Another trailer is released animated with...[[Play-Doh]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebees-cybertronian-mode-shown-in-a-new-movie-trailer-playdoh-trailer/42450/ Seibertron's article on the 2 new trailers]</ref>
*November 27, 2018 - A new featurette demonstrates the more G1-inspired designs of the Transformers, including a proper look at Optimus's model and brief shots of [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], Wheeljack and [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFv6JVFApk Bumblebee - First Generation Design - Paramount Pictures UK]</ref>
*December 2, 2018 - Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirms [[Dylan O'Brien]] as the voice of Bumblebee.<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/03/transformers-bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-dylan-obrien</ref>
*December 4, 2018 - New footage of the movie drops, showing Soundwave's voice, as well as many new shots of Cybertron and the battle between Bumblebee and Blitzwing.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-speaks-more-footage-china-release-date-and-sponsor-and-more-bumblebee-news-roundup/42538/ Seibertron's coverage of the new trailer, as well as a general roundup of new footage.]</ref>
*December 8, 2018 - Special early screenings of the film take place in specific areas. Fans who attend are given free [[Tiny Turbo Changers]] toys, and short behind-the-scenes featurettes are shown before and after the film.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/early-reactions-and-impressions-for-2018-live-action-transformers-bumblebee-film/42550/ Seibertron's roundup of people's thoughts on the early screening.]</ref>
*December 10, 2018 - Hailee Steinfeld discloses at a premiere event that [[Kelly Fremon Craig]], who directed her in ''The Edge of Seventeen'', performed uncredited script rewrites on the movie.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bumblebee-hailee-steinfeld-got-a-surprise-birthday-party-at-premiere-1168147/ THR: Hailee Steinfeld Gets Surprise Birthday Party at ‘Bumblebee’ Premiere]</ref>
{{--}}

===Changes before, during, and after production===
Initially, ''Bumblebee'' would have served as a more direct prequel to the 2007 movie, bridging the gap between Bumblebee's [[World War II]] adventures in ''The Last Knight'' and setting up some plot points from the original ''Transformers'' film. Many of these elements were subsequently dropped during reshoots following test screenings in 2018; this may have been a result of feedback from the test screenings, Paramount's concerns over the negative commercial and critical reception to ''The Last Knight'', or a desire to take the franchise in a new direction. Some of these changes include:
[[File:ANewCarForCharlie-deletedscene.jpg|thumb|300px|"TiVo. You can just freeze live TV? That's insane!"]]
*The film's original cut didn't include any scenes set on Cybertron, opening instead on a shot of Earth, where Bumblebee (who narrates in voiceover) is fleeing from Sector Seven in his Jeep mode.<ref name="opening">{{citesocial|quote=The Entire Opening was new and the earth sequence was reshot scene to have john cena and his crew in training excersize in a random forest rather than already hunting bumblebee in a forest bee is hiding in. In the prescreener it opened with a shot of earth from space with a quick few lines of exposition from bee before we cut to the jeeps and humvees already chasing bee. We never see him crashland or have a cybertronian mode.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> This setup maintained continuity with ''The Last Knight''. In this original opening, Bumblebee laments that the humans are now hunting him despite his being sent to protect them, and comes to the embittered conclusion that mankind isn't worth fighting for. This sets up the character arc Bumblebee is intended to undergo in the film, learning through his friendship with Charlie that not all humans are alike, and that there is good in them after all, culminating in his decision to fight Shatter and Dropkick in order to save the Earth from a Decepticon invasion after he regains his memories in the film's final act. This arc becomes diluted in the finished film, even though this climactic scene remains, since Bumblebee does not experience this loss of faith in the first place. This original opening is included among the deleted scenes on the home release.
**For the final cut of the film, the scene was reshot to have Bumblebee's escape pod crash-land near Burns's Sector Seven squad—who are in the woods because of a training exercise—by pure coincidence.<ref name="opening" /> Unfortunately, this creates some new discrepancies: Sector Seven is ''already'' driving SUVs equipped with anti-Transformer harpoon weaponry; a mid-1980s special forces unit keeps a WWII-era Willys Jeep around for some reason; and Bumblebee can speak English not more than a few minutes after landing on Earth.
**Blitzwing's scene was unchanged from the test screening, though at the time production had not settled on a name for the character.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Yep he died in the prescreener as well as the full film. As far as i remember he had a placeholder name on our little survey at the end that wasnt starscream or blitzwing though. I think he was given the name later through production. We also never hear said it in either version of the film, just in the credits and on the toy?|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18508352|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=11|day=10}}</ref>
*Burns was originally going to have a markedly different personality. In the test cut, he was depicted as a far grimmer character who had lost someone close to him in a prior Transformer attack. In the final version of the film, he became more eccentric, though remnants of his original personality still appear at times.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A majority of cena and powells dialogue has been reshot to remove sector 7s prior knowledge of transformers and cena being xenophobic towards them due to a person close to him being killed by one at some point has also been removed from the final version. Cenas dialogue was also reshot in this to make him funnier when in the pre screener he was much more serious and cut throat. Some of these more intense lines still come through like when he and the general are listening to powell gush about the decepticons creating the internet. The first line about “powell being weird” is reshot but the rest is the original scene hence why he seems a bit more serious. This shift in his performance may be whats throwing some people off about him as there are are two distinct performances being twisted together.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=The only character who was wildly different in the prescreener was John Cena. In the original cut he was much more cut throat and had a history with the transformers. Almost no jokes except the “Why do they always run?” Line. He had alot more levity added to his character with reshoots. Everyone else was exactly the same.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-7#post-18110584|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=19}}</ref>
*Otis appeared more frequently in the original cut of the film, particularly in the first act. Deleted scenes include: Charlie "dropping him off" at karate practice by having him ride a skateboard while clinging to the back of her bike [[Marty McFly]]-style; Charlie leaving to buy Bumblebee while she is meant to be watching Otis, warning him that she will kill him if he dies while she is away; Charlie coercing Otis into helping her clean the new Beetle when she returns; and Bumblebee breaking down on the road while the two are taking it for a test drive, leading Otis to abandon Charlie and walk off while a passing Tina taunts her. All of these scenes are among the deleted scenes included in the home release.
*Originally, Charlie was to have two friends named [[Liz]] and [[Brenda]] "Bren" (played by [[Rachel Crow]] and [[Abby Quinn]] respectively), who worked with her at Hot Dog on a Stick. The two originally appeared in the first Boardwalk scene where they tell Charlie they "aren't a match anymore," following her personality change after her father's death, upsetting her. They later reappear at the cliffside party, having bribed their way into Tina's friendship by giving her free corn dogs and abandoning Charlie for their new "cool" status. Both scenes are present as extras on the home release, and the characters still appear in the [[Transformers: Bumblebee: The Junior Novel|Junior Novel adaptation]].
*In the test cut, Cliffjumper was not part of the scene in which Shatter and Dropkick detect Bumblebee on Earth.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In our cut Shatter and Dropkick just happened to be on the moon and receive the signal from bee. Cliffjumper wasn't there at all.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-2#post-16444221|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref> Cliffjumper's inclusion was made because his similarities to Bumblebee would set the stakes of the story: "You have to understand that if Shatter and Dropkick encounter Bumblebee, things are not going to end well."<ref>[https://uproxx.com/hitfix/travis-knight-interview-bumblebee/ Travis Knight ''UPROXX'' interview]</ref>
*Similarly, the extended flashback to Optimus Prime on Cybertron when Bumblebee watches Prime's holographic message was missing from the test cut, only added alongside the Cybertron opening which the assets were produced for.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The flashback with prime fighting the cons on cybertron when bee sees his hologram was newly added. It originally just played the message.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> The G1-style CGI model for Optimus was present in the original cut.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I think that no matter what the team behind this movie were thinking of redesigns from the get go, bee was already the cuddly pudgier more g1 version in the cut i witnessed rather than the studio series boxart and figure with the more pronounced door wings. Along with Optimuss hologram being the g1 style cybertronian design. Heck our cut still had Optimus as a flat nosed at the end. Regardless of if the cybertron scene was a way later addition or not the film was still going to be a stylistic reboot at the very least, making the designs easier on the eyes.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-4#post-16452606|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=31}}</ref>
*The scene where Bumblebee explores Charlie's house originally had the Autobot inadvertently bring the house's electronics to life with his [[energon radiation]], necessitating a slapstick fight sequence in which Bumblebee, Charlie, and Memo had to unplug the hostile Transformers to deactivate them. {{w|Martin Short}} would have featured in the scene, presumably as the voice of at least one of the mutations. This scene was cut ''very'' late in production, enough so that a version of it would find its way into both the junior novel and [[A New Car for Charlie|Junior Reader adaptations]]. As a result, the movie's corresponding scene features an unusually high number of rapid-fire jump cuts to mask the missing footage, including a strange, swaying "POV" shot that originally belonged to the mutant washing machine as it watched Charlie and Memo enter the house. Eagle-eyed viewers will realize that the house's television is gone from its usual spot. At the same time, the washing machine is, for no apparent reason, sitting in the middle of the family carpet, the "real" reason being that these appliances had been brought to life and summarily dispatched in the original cut of the movie. Another remnant of the sequence surfaces when Sally asks why the television's cord was cut—something of a ''non sequitur'' in this version. The complete sequence is included as one of the deleted scenes on the home release, though it does not feature Short's voice.
*Shatter and Dropkick's goal was unchanged from the test cut, but their plan actually hinged on this deleted scene with the Energon mutations: seeing how Bumblebee was able to bring the human technology to life, they decide to use the satellite to send out an Energon pulse to awaken an army, with Charlie needing to disable the Energon device they hook up to the tower.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=in the cut we had [Shatter and Dropkick] were hunting bee to find the location of optimus prime so their plot stayed largely the same as did their dialogue. The inly thing different that i can place right now is dropkicks death scream was much more intense and panicked in the prescreening, which was probably way too brutal for the kids so they altered it to be quick.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-3#post-16444738|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=i wanna say they claimed he was an escaped fugitive. Someone dangerous? I think most of the dialogue had generally thensame focus. The major change was with their plan. They discover that Bumblebee brought stuff to life in the original cut and plan to use and energon source and the satellite dish to send a pulse out across the city bringing all the appliances to life as an army for the decepticons rather than just sending out a signal to call the army. Thats why Charlie needs to climb the tower to get to the energon device thats hooked into the tower. She has to remove it before it sends the pulse out and theres a timer on it ticking down until its charged.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18117235|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=21}}</ref> In the final cut, they're just calling Decepticon reinforcements.
*The test cut of the film featured a post-credit scene with Burns, Simmons, and Whalen discussing that the Autobots can never learn of "N.B.E.-01:" [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], frozen in ice as per the 2007 movie, albeit redesigned to have a more [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1-styled appearance]]. This scene was replaced in the final cut by entirely new scenes of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee watching more Transformers arrive on Earth and Charlie finishing her and her father's car repair project.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A scene that was cut from the end in final version was a sector 7 scene between Cena, Simmons, and the General talking about how the autobots must never know about NBE1 which is revealed to be a frozen G1 styled megatron, fusion cannon and all, that has the same aesthetic as the cybertonian bots from the new opening sequence. Both post credits scenes were brand new in the final release, those being Bee and Prime walking along and watching more Autobots coming to earth and Charlie finishing her fathers car. Everything else was essentially the same between both versions, just cut slightly faster in some places to keep the pacing steady.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=[Megatron's Tiny Turbo Changers design is] actually really close to what i saw! Essentially the design i saw in the film for a split second was like a blend of g1 and movie 1 megs. Had the general shape of g1 megs but with movie 1 megs detailing and definitely the movie 1 megs face|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/travisformer-megatron.1161108/page-5#post-16720715|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=Travisformer Megatron|year=2019|month=03|day=23}}</ref>
**The scene where Bumblebee joins Optimus Prime on the Golden Gate Bridge was, however, the same in both versions and would've been the last on-screen appearance of Bee in the original cut. With that cut being more closely aligned with the live-action continuity at large, it seems likely that the scene was intended to be a bit more ambiguous—the audience at large would've been able to read it as "Bumblebee goes off to join Optimus Prime", while the filmmakers would've retained some plausible deniability in the form of "it's just a truck that ''looks'' like Optimus Prime"—thus better allowing for the arrival of the Autobots to occur as seen in the 2007 movie.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The final shot at the golden gate bridge with Bee turning into a camaro and following optimus on the golden gate was the same in both cuts|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref>
*A scene of Bumblebee being on the run in Vietnam in his World War II body made it to concept art stage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/the-big-bumblebee-concept-art-thread.1167241/#post-16487632 Vietnam fields concept art]</ref>
{{-}}

[[File:TF-BB-Movie-Murderbee-Trailer-vs-Final-Cut.jpg|250px|thumb|"You see? You can't treat them
like equals! They're striped savages! Stinging's the only thing they know! ''It's their way!''"]]
Additional changes, some of which took place ''after'' the introduction of the film's Cybertron scenes, include:
*The first trailer to include Cybertron scenes featured Blitzwing among Shockwave's Seekers. In later trailers and the final film, he was replaced with Starscream, sporting his traditional color scheme and seemingly a new head lacking the 'flight mask' design motif.
*In a statement for Seibertron.com, Jon Bailey noted that he auditioned for [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], suggesting the character was originally intended to have dialogue.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-jon-bailey-talks-about-his-experience/42553/ Seibertron article on Bailey's experience]</ref> This was confirmed in a Seibertron.com podcast, in which he also said [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was supposed to yell "Die Autobots!", in a slightly reworked version of his appearance. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was also supposed to say "Operation: Destruction" and/or "Operation: Annihilation" after ejecting [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] as a direct reference to the original cartoon.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/twincast-podcast-episode-214-bumblebee/42674/ Seibertron.com Twincast Podcast Episode #214 "Bumblebee"]</ref>
*The Cybertron tower was supposed to look more [[Great Dome]]-like before opening up to display the launchpad, with concept art to boot, though it was cut for time.<ref name="ILM" />
*Optimus Prime was to have an extended role in the opening scene, having a Cybertronian vehicle mode, though it was cut for time. Concept art for a more Cybertronian robot mode and vehicle mode was created by [[Alex Jaeger]], though the film ultimately uses a model closer to his Earthen robot form.<ref name="ILM" />
*An additional render and a deleted scene depict Shatter and Dropkick inside Sector 7 with their car-only robot forms, indicating they may have been supposed to scan their aerial modes later in the film.<ref name="ILM" />
*Travis Knight initially wanted to feature Megatron during the Cybertron scenes. However, the Decepticon leader was ultimately omitted, specifically because continuity dictated he was still frozen on Earth at the time,<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/12/19/bumblebee-deleted-megatron-decepticon-scene/ 'Bumblebee' Deleted A Megatron Scene] on comicbook.com</ref> despite the removal of the scene mentioned earlier showing this.
*When Bumblebee's memories are restored and he fights against Sector 7, his eye color is red, as opposed to the blue in the trailer (right).
*Very early stock art for the film depicted Bumblebee with his now-traditional "wings" formed from his car's doors alternate mode. This was changed late in production to give his final C.G. model a more humanoid appearance, but not early enough to change his [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|concurrently-released toys]], which almost unanimously depict Bumblebee with said door-wings.
*Shatter went under the working name '''[[Fracture (disambiguation)|Fracture]]'''.<ref name="ILM" />
{{-}}

==Notes==
*During production, the film was referred to in presentational material under a variety of names, including "Transformers 6", "Bumblebee: The Movie," "The Bumblebee Movie," and "Transformers Universe: Bumblebee."
*[[Hasbro Pulse]] occasionally refers to the movie as "Transformers: Bumblebee" or "Bumblebee Movie".<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-studio-series-65-voyager-bumblebee-movie-blitzwing]
</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (バンブルビー ''Banburubī'')
*''Arabic:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (بامبلبي ''Bamblibi'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''''Daai Wong Fung''''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Greek:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Μπάμπλμπι ''Bámplmpi'')
*''Hindi:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (बुमबलेबी ''Bumabalebee'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''''ŰrDongó''''' ("Space Bumblebee")
*''Korean:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (범블비 ''Beombeulbi'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Dàhuángfēng''''' (大黃蜂, 大黄蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблби ''Bamblbi'')
*''Tamil:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (பம்பல்பீ ''Pampalpī'')
*''Telugu:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (బంబుల్బీ ''Bambulbī'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблбі ''Bamblbi'')

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

==External links==
*{{w|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}} on Wikipedia
*[[IMDB:tt4701182|Bumblebee]] on IMDB

[[Category:Bumblebee| ]]
[[Category:Bumblebee media| ]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Bumblebee (film)

2025-03-31T18:49:36Z

Kickassatron: /* Transformers references */

{{disambig3.5|the feature film|the Autobot it features|Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee}}
{{Nav-Bumblebee}}
{{movie|
|seriess=[[Live-action film series]]
|prev=Transformers: The Last Knight (film)
|next=Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)
|title=''Bumblebee''
|image=BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg
|caption=According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.
|production companies=[[Allspark Pictures]] [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura|di Bonaventura Pictures]] [[Tencent Pictures]] [[Michael Bay|Bay Films]]
|distributor=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|executive producer=[[Steven Spielberg]]
|producer=[[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] [[Tom DeSanto]] [[Don Murphy]] [[Michael Bay]] [[Mark Vahradian]]
|written by=[[Christina Hodson]]
|directed by=[[Travis Knight]]
|cinematography by=[[Enrique Chediak]]
|edited by=[[Paul Rubell]]
|music by=[[Dario Marianelli]]
|release date=[[December 21]], [[2018]]
|continuity=[[Live-action film series]]
|runtime=114 minutes
|budget=$102–135 million
|box office=$468 million
}}
'''''Bumblebee''''' is the sixth movie in the [[live-action film series]]. A "reset" of the film series as a whole,<ref name="reboot">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/02/16/transformers-cinematic-universe-current-movie-series-rebooted-358641 Transformers Cinematic Universe Is Over: Current Movie Series To Be Rebooted] at TFW2005</ref> ''Bumblebee'' acts as a prequel to the previous five movies, albeit [[retcon|taking some liberties]] with continuity. The film is directed by [[Travis Knight]] rather than [[Michael Bay]] (who still pitches in as producer), written by newcomer [[Christina Hodson]], and produced on a far lower budget of around $100–137 million.<ref>[https://screenrant.com/bumblebee-movie-budget-cost/ "The film's budget is reportedly in the range of $100-137 million..." -Screenrant article on the film's budget and profit]</ref> The film was released in the U.S. on [[December 21]], [[2018]].

When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] is sent to [[Earth]] to establish a base for the [[Autobot]]s, he finds himself hunted by both [[Sector Seven]] and the [[Decepticon]]s. With his memory and voice lost in battle, he is found by [[Charlie Watson]], a young woman in search of a direction in life. The pair work together to try to discover who Bumblebee is and why he's on Earth, but ultimately they'll find themselves with the fate of the planet in their hands...

{{bigquote|Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice.|[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]}}

==Synopsis==
[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Bumblebee-Earth.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"In tennis, you attack at the point of weakness!"]]
War rages on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and things look bad for the [[Autobot]]s. The [[Decepticon]]s have broken through the front lines, contact has been lost with the capital, and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]], [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]], [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and several other survivors are pinned down under Decepticon assault until [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] arrives to momentarily repel their foes. Prime looks for scout [[Bumblebee (Movie)|B-127]], who appears only a moment after. The arrival of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] on the battlefield, as well as the surge in Decepticon forces, prompts Prime to order the Autobots to fall back to a launchpad. He instructs the Autobots to board escape pods and flee from the planet. He also gives B-127 a secret mission: go to [[Earth]], a well-hidden planet Prime has identified, and establish a base for the Autobots to regroup and strike back. As the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s under Shockwave's command begin attacking the launchpad directly, Prime leaps into the horde of Decepticons to buy B-127's pod some time to escape.

[[File:BBfilm-Burns-meets-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"This isn't a goodfella. This is a ''bad''fella!"]]
The year is [[1987]], and Agent [[Jack Burns]]' team of [[Sector Seven]] agents emerge victorious from a mock battle after leading [[Danny Bell]] and his team into an ambush. As Burns good-naturedly chides his unlucky opponent, however, an unknown projectile appears overhead and plows into their midst, injuring many agents. Burns, believing his team to be under projectile assault after confirming that no other military practices using live ammo are occurring nearby, immediately calls for backup... upon which he comes face to face with B-127 rising from the crater. He immediately orders his forces to give chase, and the Autobot flees after [[scanning]] and [[transformation|transforming]] into a nearby military jeep.

Even though the military attempts to capture him with [[harpoon]]s and [[machine gun]]s, B-127 evades them and emerges into a clearing leading to an empty mineshaft. Burns gives the order to cut it off from escaping into the mine, which one of his soldiers executes by blindsiding B-127 with his jeep. However, B-127 begins talking to the humans in [[United States of America|English]], assuring them of his peaceful intentions and that he is not here to hurt anyone. Burns orders the soldiers to stand down, only for a jet to appear overhead. Burns is baffled that the Air Force was alerted this early, but the robot corrects him—the plane is, in fact, the Decepticon [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]], who bombards the clearing with missiles and swoops in to attack the yellow Autobot!

[[File:Bumblebee-BeeVsBlitz.jpg|300px|thumb|left|"I have been felled by a winged beast of destruction!"]]
B-127 puts up a valiant effort against Blitzwing and even manages to damage his opponent's flight systems, but is soon subdued and dangled over a cliff. Blitzwing interrogates the scout about Optimus Prime and the Autobots' whereabouts; the scout valiantly refuses and asserts that he will "never talk," a move that prompts Blitzwing to "make it official" by ripping out his voice synthesizer. Badly injured, he is thrown off the cliff and prepared for execution. But B-127 uses a moment of quick thinking to rip a missile from the Decepticon's arm and shove it into his chest. B-127 takes advantage of the Decepticon's momentary confusion to kick himself away before opening fire on the missile, detonating it, and killing Blitzwing. As he limps away, Burns watches him leave trapped under a destroyed jeep. The Autobot crawls to a riverbank before collapsing from his injuries, with his memory cells critically damaged. His systems scan a nearby [[Volkswagen]] Beetle before he finally fades away to unconsciousness...

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-finds-bee.jpg|thumb|300px|"What about you?" "He really is dead."]]
In [[Brighton Falls]], [[Charlie Watson]], a 17-year-old girl one day away from turning 18, awakens from her slumber. Since Charlie isn't over [[Charlie's dad|her father's]] death yet, she brushes off her annoying younger brother [[Otis Watson|Otis]], and her mother [[Sally Watson|Sally]]'s infatuation with her new boyfriend [[Ron (BB)|Ron]]. Charlie bikes to her job at the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk|boardwalk]], where she is utterly humiliated in an encounter with [[Tina Lark]] and her posse. She visits [[Hank's Marine Repair and Parts]] after hours to look for car parts, discovering an old V.W. Beetle under a tarmac after accidentally knocking over some motorboats. She finds the key in the ignition and attempts to start it, but is surprised when the car emits an unintelligible signal...

On one of [[Saturn]]'s moons, Decepticon hunters [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] interrogate Cliffjumper about Optimus Prime's whereabouts. The Autobot remains resolute, which angers his interrogators, until B-127's signal, activated on Earth by Charlie, reaches the three [[Transformer]]s. The two Decepticons agree to go to Earth and hunt down B-127 instead, and Dropkick vertically bisects Cliffjumper, killing the Autobot.

In a [[Texas]] trailer park, the dysfunctional couple, [[Roy (BB)|Roy]] and [[Amber]], argue about Roy spending the down payment for their house on a tricked-out new car, among other things. Their spiel is interrupted when a meteor crashes mere feet from them, missing Roy's new car, much to his relief. However, he's not so lucky when a second one falls as it obliterates both his prized car and their house. Headlights shining from inside the inferno give the irresponsible man some hope until Shatter and Dropkick reveal themselves and transform before them. As Roy attempts to greet the newcomers, Dropkick kills the unlucky man and leaves Amber before the Decepticons drive off to the West Coast following B-127's signal.

Failing to make progress on repairing her late father's Corvette and feeling left out by her family, Charlie wakes up to the worst 18th birthday imaginable. The disappointing presents from Sally and Ron (a pink bicycle helmet and a book about smiling more, respectively) only worsen the feeling. She fumes in her bedroom before storming over to the auto repair and asking [[Uncle Hank|Hank]] for the Beetle. She even offers to work at the shop for a year in exchange for the car, but Hank refuses since he isn't hiring employees, and Charlie can take the car for free if she can get it to start. Charlie gets to work and soon triumphantly drives her new car home.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-garage.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You like jazz?"]]
Charlie parks her new Beetle in the garage but is surprised when a part falls out from its undercarriage. She's even more surprised when an inspection of the vehicle reveals what appears to be a ''face'' under the car... moments before B-127 transforms and reveals himself to her. However, Charlie's only momentarily terrified as her fear turns to compassion upon seeing that the Autobot is about as afraid of her as she is of him. She manages to soothe the scared scout and emotionally connect with him, giving him the name "Bumblebee" after the warbled beeps and buzzes he makes.

[[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] relays the news of the Decepticons' landfall to Burns, who immediately prepares a team to travel to Texas and intercept them.

[[File:BBfilm-Bumblebee-pat-pat.jpg|thumb|300px|"You're flying outside the hive, talking to humans that attack our homes with power washers and M-80s!"]]
Charlie awakens the next day and goes straight to the garage, but discovers to her horror that Bumblebee has vanished without a trace. A quick interrogation of Otis reveals Sally has appropriated Charlie's car to take their dog [[Conan]] to the vet, as Ron needed to use the family station wagon. Charlie frantically chases her mother on her moped and manages to pull her over, despite Bumblebee almost blowing his cover by extending an arm out from his trunk and waving at her. She later takes the Autobot to a secluded beach, where she teaches him that he should always assume [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]] unless the two of them are alone.

[[File:ShatterDropkickhologram.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Mr. Bee, I'm going to ask what I think the entire court here would like to know... what exactly is your relationship to that woman?"]]
Burns' team and [[Dr. Powell]] intercept the two Decepticons in Texas and ask them to state their business. Dropkick wants to eliminate the humans, but Shatter comes up with a better idea; lying to the humans that they are a "peacekeeping Decepticon patrol." She asks Sector Seven's aid in tracking down the "dangerous escaped criminal" B-127. While Burns is doubtful, Powell, enthusiastic at the prospect of first contact with an [[alien]] species, eagerly agrees to talk to his superiors about the matter.

Bumblebee and Charlie bond in a secluded forest, but when Bee's chest starts sparking from the damage he took during his fight with Sector Seven, Charlie attempts to fix it, only to activate a holographic message sent by Optimus Prime accidentally. While the message is garbled and incomplete, hearing it jolts a memory in Bumblebee...

''Leaping from the collapsing launchpad and latching onto a Seeker to make his way down, Optimus fights his way through several Seekers before Soundwave deploys [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to attack him. Prime manages to fight off the feline minion with some effort, but his distraction has allowed dozens of Decepticons, including Soundwave, Shockwave, and Starscream, to surround him. The Decepticons move in to attack the Autobot leader even as B-127 watches, unable to help, from his departing escape pod...''

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bumblebee-hugs.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Charlie realizes that Bumblebee is on the run from something serious. When he attempts to use his broken radio, she decides she can at least fix that, and they return to her garage, where she sets about extracting the radio from the Corvette. Bumblebee starts playing a video, which turns out to be footage of her last dive meet made by her father shortly before his death. She installs the radio in Bumblebee, though he forcefully ejects the music tapes she inserts into him. While she's looking through her tapes, he starts thumbing through her father's L.P.s, and she scolds him. However, after she notices a specific record, her mood changes, and she starts playing it, recalling how she and her father used to listen to it while working on the Corvette. She tells Bee how her father died of a heart attack, and she's continued working on the car in his memory.

At Sector Seven, [[General Whalen]] leads a discussion over whether to allow the Decepticons access to their equipment. Burns believes they can't trust the Decepticons, but Whalen promises to turn them over to him once they track down B-127. Shatter and Dropkick are duly introduced to Sector Seven's array of computers, though they're more interested in the telephone network.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Memo-ride-in-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
As Bumblebee plays with his new radio, Charlie's neighbor [[Memo]] stumbles into the garage, intending to ask Charlie on a date, and is shocked at the sight of the giant robot. Charlie swears him to secrecy, and the pair go for a drive in Bumblebee. Charlie borrows Memo's shirt so she can show off by "driving" blindfolded, and they hang out of Bumblebee's sunroof.

Dr. Powell marvels over the radio at the massive worldwide interconnected web the Decepticons are constructing using the computers and telephone network to track [[energon]] signatures. Burns still has his misgivings, but Whalen believes they can turn the technology on the Decepticons.

Still driving in Bumblebee, Charlie and Memo realize that the reason the Autobot has been playing with his radio is to teach himself to speak with it. They arrive at a cliff by the seaside, where [[Tripp Summers]] challenges Charlie to dive off the cliff. When she's unable, despite urging from Bumblebee, she's cruelly mocked by Tina. Though Charlie claims not to be bothered, Memo and Bumblebee both want revenge. That night, they head to Tina's house and attempt to educate Bumblebee on the art of throwing toilet paper and eggs; this doesn't go well, culminating in Bumblebee enthusiastically jumping on Tina's car and the trio making a quick getaway before she emerges to find the damage. Their frantic driving is spotted by [[Sheriff Lock]], who gives chase in his cruiser. Bumblebee is easily able to outmaneuver Lock's vehicle, which ends up totaled as a result. The three fugitives return to Charlie's home, where they say their goodnights.

[[File:Bumblebee vs sofa.jpg|thumb|300px|"I told you, stop flying in the house!"]]
The next morning, Charlie tells Bumblebee he needs to stay in the garage as the authorities will be looking for him, and leaves for her job. Bumblebee instead ends up following Conan into the house, and his curious exploration ends up demolishing just about everything in the living room and kitchen. Finally, he ends up plugging himself into a wall socket, causing an energon-infused power surge that travels down nearby power lines. The equipment at Sector Seven detects the surge, and the Decepticons roll out, closely followed by Burns and his men. Memo also notices the commotion, so he calls Charlie, who returns home where the pair survey the devastation. Memo manages to get Bumblebee back into the garage, but Charlie realizes she's screwed. Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reached Brighton Falls.

Sally returns home with Otis to find the destruction. An argument ensues between her and Charlie, who ends up storming out. Charlie and Memo go driving to cool off, but they run into a roadblock set up by Sector Seven. Charlie tries to keep Bumblebee calm, but when the Sector Seven soldiers seize her, Bumblebee transforms and carries her off. Unfortunately, they immediately run into Shatter and Dropkick, who attempt to interrogate Bumblebee but are perplexed when the Autobot doesn't try to fight back. Burns and his men arrive and start zapping Bee with electrical guns, and Charlie gets knocked out when she attempts to help him.

[[File:BBfilm-interrogation.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"Remember what Van said, why is your life more valuable than mine?" "Funny, I just can't seem to recall that!"]]
Charlie wakes up in her bed and emerges from her room to find Agent Burns telling her parents that she had stolen valuable government equipment. Despite her protests, her mom banishes her back to her room. She promptly slips out through her window, and Otis catches her trying to get Memo's attention by throwing rocks at his window. She manages to stop him from alerting her mother. Joining Memo in his house, they watch a news report about Sector Seven setting up shop at [[McKinnon Air Base]], and Charlie reasons that's where they're holding Bumblebee. Otis is assigned to keep the plan secret while Charlie and Memo head to the base.

At the airbase, Powell watches the two Decepticons interrogate Bumblebee. Charlie and Memo sneak into the base in time to watch as the Decepticons inadvertently trigger Optimus Prime's recording, revealing that the Autobots are coming to Earth. As the Decepticons discuss the presented opportunity, Powell realizes their mistake in cooperating with the giant evil robots and tries to radio a warning to Burns before Dropkick kills him.

Sally and Ron pick over the debris in their house, and Otis is entirely unsuccessful at convincing them that Charlie is still in her room.

[[File:BBFilm-Charlie-Bee-touch-hands.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Shatter locates a nearby communications tower they can use to call in the Decepticon army. Once Dropkick blasts Bumblebee, the pair depart, and Charlie and Memo run to the lifeless Autobot's side. Charlie believes they can still revive him using the electrical guns, and though at first, it seems as though she's unsuccessful, Bumblebee sits up, and his memories start to restore. Agent Burns and his men arrive outside and blow up the exterior door before advancing inside. Charlie tells Bumblebee to run as the troops attempt to take her and Memo away, but the soldiers harpoon Bee. It's not until Burns throws Charlie to the ground that Bumblebee finds the strength to get up and start blasting, unfazed by anything the humans throw at him. Sector Seven retreats, but Charlie has to talk Bumblebee down. Charlie tries to persuade him that they need to hide, but Bumblebee is set on stopping the Decepticons. While Charlie leaves in Bee, Memo tries unsuccessfully to slow down the pursuing Sector Seven vehicles.

As Bumblebee and Charlie race through Brighton Falls, pursued by Sector Seven, they're joined by Sally and Ron in the station-wagon. Though Ron manages to obstruct Burns's vehicle successfully, he ends up spinning out as they approach a set of traffic lights, and there's an almost-pileup as multiple vehicles skid to a halt just inches from hitting each other. Shatter and Dropkick blend their technology into the communications tower at the port in preparation to send their message. Bumblebee arrives and has Charlie hide in a garbage bin for protection before he begins shooting the tower, prompting Dropkick to descend and engage the Autobot in a fierce fight. An errant missile throws Charlie from her hiding place, and, seeing Bumblebee occupied, she heads for the tower. Narrowly avoiding Bumblebee and Dropkick's fight, she starts ascending a nearby crane. Burns also arrives in a helicopter, ordering the pilot to open fire on the communications tower. The battle below moves into a dry dock, with Dropkick transforming to helicopter mode to fire at Bumblebee. Bumblebee throws a chain that hits the Decepticon's rotors, wrapping around Dropkick as he changes to robot mode and allowing Bumblebee to terminate him.

Charlie reaches the top of the crane and jumps across to the tower. Above her, Shatter shoots down the Sector Seven helicopter, sending it plunging towards the ground. Bumblebee manages to grab it before it can crash, saving Burns's life. Charlie moves to disconnect the Cybertronian power source, and when Shatter transforms into jet mode to stop her, Bumblebee shoots down the Decepticon. During the ensuing fight on the ground, Charlie successfully disconnects the tower's power source.

[[File:BBfilm-Charlie-Bee-underwater.jpg|thumb|300px|left|"You snap out of it!" "''You'' snap out of it!"]]
An enraged Shatter pounds on Bumblebee, who shoots the wall of the dry dock. Shatter mocks him for missing until the wall gives way, and Shatter gets crushed between a ship and the side of the dock. As Bumblebee sinks to the bottom of the flooded dock, Charlie overcomes her fear and dives in, finding Bumblebee at the bottom and helping him to get back to the surface. Finally seeing Bumblebee's true nature, Burns tells the pair they need to make their escape before the rest of Sector Seven arrives, and as they leave, Memo turns up just slightly too late to save the world.

[[File:BB-GoldenGateBridge.jpg|thumb|300px|"Beautiful day to fly." "Sure is."]]
Bumblebee and Charlie end up on a hill overlooking the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], where Charlie tells the Autobot that she can't interfere with his greater purpose, and they have to go their separate ways. After a tearful farewell, Bumblebee scans a passing Camaro as his new alternate mode and drives off to rendezvous with Optimus Prime on the bridge, leaving to continue his mission. Charlie returns home and reunites with her family and Memo.

That night in a nearby forest, Optimus commends Bumblebee on keeping Earth safe, as the two watch more Autobot refugees appear in the sky over Earth. Not far away, Charlie successfully gets the Corvette running and takes it for a first drive.
{{-}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters|
h1=[[Autobot]]s|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] ([[Dylan O'Brien]])
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Andrew Morgado]])
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] ([[Dennis Singletary]])
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] ([[Grey Griffin]])
*[[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]] ([[Kirk Baily]])
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]
*Autobot soldiers

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
*[[Shatter]] ([[Angela Bassett]])
*[[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] ([[Justin Theroux]])
*[[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] ([[David Sobolov]])
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] (Jon Bailey)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
*[[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]†
*[[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]]†
*[[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]]†
*[[Seeker (Movie)|Seekers]] (Kirk Baily; [[#Transformers references|see below]])

|h3=[[Human]]s|c3=
*[[Charlie Watson]] ([[Hailee Steinfeld]])
*[[Memo]] ([[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]])
*[[Sally Watson]] ([[Pamela Adlon]])
*[[Otis Watson]] ([[Jason Drucker]])
*[[Ron (BB)|Ron]] ([[Stephen Schneider]])
*[[Uncle Hank]] ([[Len Cariou]])
*[[Craig (BB)|Craig]] ([[Kollin Holtz]])
*[[Tina Lark]] ([[Gracie Dzienny]])
*[[Tina's girlfriends]] ([[Isabelle Ellingson]], [[Mika Kubo]])
*[[Tripp Summers]] ([[Ricardo Hoyos]])
*[[Sheriff Lock]] ([[Fred Dryer]])
*[[Roy (BB)|Roy]] ([[Lenny Jacobson]])
*[[Amber]] ([[Megyn Price]])
*[[Charlie's dad]] ([[Tim Martin Gleason]])
*[[Bill (BB)|Bill]] ([[Antonio D. Charity]])
'''[[Sector Seven]]'''
*[[Jack Burns]] ([[John Cena]])
*[[Dr. Powell]] ([[John Ortiz]])
*[[General Whalen]] ([[Glynn Turman]])
*[[Seymour Simmons]] ([[Nick Pilla]])
*[[Danny Bell]] ([[Edwin Hodge]])

|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Conan]] ([[Sterling (dog)|Sterling]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

† The individual Seekers are identified as such in packaging bios for ''Studio Series'' toys of characters featured in the film.

==Quotes==
"I'll never talk." 
"Is that right? Then let's make it official."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Blitzwing''', right before the latter destroys the former's voice box.

"If ''you'' won't tell us where Prime is, perhaps your young friend will." 
"''Never''." 
"You're a brave warrior. You deserve a better death...then again..."
:—'''Shatter''' and '''Cliffjumper''', right before Dropkick executes the latter.

"I like the way they ''pop.''" 
"''Focus,'' comrade."
:—'''Dropkick''' and '''Shatter''', after the former kills a human bystander.

"I say this with all due respect...have you lost your damn mind?!" 
"''That'' was with all due respect?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' and '''Dr. Powell''' debate.

"They literally call themselves Decepticons. That doesn't set off any red flags?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' doesn't trust the giant alien robots.

"Look, I know what you saw is a little crazy. I can explain. ... Yeah, I can't explain, but here's the deal: If you tell anyone what you just saw, I'm going to have to run you over with my car." 
"...Jeez!" 
"...I don't mean that in a mean way, okay?"
:—'''Charlie''' and '''Memo'''

"Ron! We have a kid in the car!" 
"I was trying to save the other kid! What was I...It was a lose-lose!"
:—'''Sally''' and '''Ron'''

"You think these little chains can hold-"
:—'''Dropkick''' before being sliced to pieces by said little chains.

"Thank you...so much...for giving me...my voice." 
"Thank you for...for making me feel like me again."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Charlie''' say their goodbyes.

"No way. You kidding me? You're telling me you could've been a Camaro this whole time?"
:—'''Charlie''' sees Bumblebee has one last trick up his sleeve.

"Old friend, you kept this planet safe. Because of you, we have a future, B-127." 
"My name... is... Bumblebee."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' thanks the newly-rechristened '''Bumblebee'''.

==Continuity notes==
As a prequel to the rest of the live-action film series, ''Bumblebee'' includes set-up elements for several of them:

* Ancillary media dating back to [[2007]] has primarily credited [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with inflicting the injuries that caused Bumblebee to lose his voice (with both the [[Aligned continuity family]] and the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|''Cyberverse'' cartoon]] adapting the idea for their continuities), but internal to the films themselves, no specifics were ever provided, with "damage in battle" being the only reason given for the little Autobot's muteness. ''Bumblebee'' tells the on-screen version of the story, revealing that Blitzwing was the culprit.
* Meanwhile, Megatron himself is notably absent from the film's Cybertron-set prelude since, per the first movie's events, he is frozen on Earth at the time.
* The first film introduced Sector 7 and their [[Hoover Dam]] headquarters. A young [[Seymour Simmons]] (played by [[John Turturro]] in the present-day films) appears among the organization's ranks.
* Thanks to Charlie fitting him with a working radio, Bumblebee learns how to "speak" by using snippets of music to express himself, which is, of course, how he communicates in all the other films.
* Burns warns Whalen of the potential for Decepticon attacks on Earth, citing [[Washington, D.C.]], [[New York City]] and [[Chicago]] as possible targets. All three of these cities experienced Decepticon activity in other ''Transformers'' films: New York in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', and D.C. and Chicago in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.
* At the end of the movie, Bumblebee scans the [[1977]] Camaro mode that he had at the start of the original ''Transformers'' film.

Despite its notional "prequel" status, the film underwent significant reshoots ([[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]) that resulted in the deletion, alteration, and addition of scenes that create disjointedness between ''Bumblebee'' and the rest of the film series, even by the standard of the film series' usual ''laissez-faire'' approach to continuity, including:

* The ''big'' principal continuity-breaker is that the film completely throws out ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'''s premise that Bumblebee and the Autobots were active on Earth during significant periods throughout history, such as the {{w|American Revolutionary War}}, the {{w|Napoleonic Wars}}, [[World War I]], [[World War II]] and so on, and instead shows Bumblebee to have first come to Earth in [[1987]]. By extension, this also throws the film's [[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|prequel comic]], which also operated on ''The Last Knight''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s premise, out the window.
* More circumstantially, the film's aesthetics are notably different, hewing much closer to Generation 1. Cybertron itself closely resembles its Generation 1 design instead of the "honeycomb" design seen in ''Dark of the Moon'' and ''The Last Knight''. Bumblebee's '77 Camaro robot-mode body, seen in the film's mid-credits sequence, is entirely different from his 2007 film appearance, instead depicted as a variation of the body used through the rest of this film.
* Sector 7 refers to their meeting with Shatter and Dropkick as "first contact," which feels a little off since, according to the first film, they've kept the AllSpark and the frozen Megatron in their Hoover Dam base since the early 20th century. Neither Megatron nor the AllSpark are mentioned in the movie's final cut, with Dropkick and Shatter showing no awareness of them despite being allowed into the base where Sector 7 keeps them—but these aren't really true inter-movie continuity-breaking discrepancies, as the same thing happened in the ''original'' cut of the film, where Megatron ''did'' appear in Sector Seven's possession in a mid-credits scene (again [[#Changes before, during, and after production|see below]]).
* In-keeping with the AllSpark going unmentioned, the Autobots leave Cybertron because they are on the losing end of the war, with Bumblebee going to Earth to establish a fallback position for his comrades, rather than to search for the cube. This isn't particularly incompatible what we see of 'Bee in the first film; the fact that the Autobots are seen arriving on Earth at the end in 1987 when the first film showed them coming in 2007 is more incongruous, but no more so than ''The Last Knight'' claiming that they'd already been there for centuries. Reconciling either ''The Last Knight'' or ''Bumblebee'' with the first film requires assuming that the Autobots will leave Earth again at some point in the next 20 years to search other planets and systems for the AllSpark, as mentioned in the first film's prologue, only to return when Bumblebee discovers it was on Earth all along—but as we said, this movie doesn't mention that. Notably, having Bumblebee lose his voice ''after'' coming to Earth actually ''necessitates'' a meeting between 'Bee and the other Autobots before the first movie. Ratchet noted in that film that he'd been trying to fix Bumblebee's voice for a while, meaning his arrival in 2007 couldn't be the first time he'd seen Bumblebee since he lost his voice.

These breaks in continuity have led to a debate among fans over whether the film constitutes a "hard reboot" of the movie universe (beginning a new run of films that are fully separate from the timeline of the five Michael Bay films) or if it's merely a "soft reboot" (comparable to ''{{w|X-Men: First Class}}'', another "prequel" movie that had irreconcilable continuity discrepancies with the film series it was meant to be part of, but was nonetheless treated as "canon"). The filmmakers have used made vague and contradictory statements referring to the movie's place in continuity; director Travis Knight said the film was "essentially (...) restarting the franchise and (...) rebooting these characters,"<ref>[https://www.moviefone.com/news/bumblebee-director-travis-knight-interview/ Interview with Travis Knight at Moviefone.com]</ref> (note the non-definitive "essentially"), while associate producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura said it was "neither a reboot nor a remake."<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/03/24/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-highlights-the-future-direction-of-the-transformers-movie-series-385782 Di Bonaventura interview at TFW2005.com]</ref> Hasbro themselves referred to the film as "the start of a new storytelling universe",<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/02/16/transformers-brand-info-from-new-york-toy-fair-2019-fan-media-panel-hasbrotoyfair-383106 Transformers Brand Info From New York Toy Fair 2019 Fan Media Panel, TFW2005.com]</ref> but when asked about that, Di Bonventura interpreted the ill-defined phrase as simply meaning the creators had "freedom" to tell new stories that didn't necessarily follow the rules of the other films. Many movie news sites have pounced on these statements to declare the film an unambiguous reboot, leading to that sentiment being widely repeated across other sites, but ultimately, it has to be understood that the word "reboot" does not always mean to filmmakers and executives what it means to continuity-minded fans, and that they don't really think about "continuity" and "canon" that same precise way we do. The 2023 sequel, ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]'', was promoted with similar fuzzy statements and mixed-messaging about whether the film truly constituted a total reboot or not.

==Transformers references==

[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Prime-leaps-into-battle.jpg|thumb|300px|"All right, scramble, jocks! It's time to fly."]]
*During the opening battle on Cybertron, the Autobots' weapons fire orange laser blasts, while the Decepticons' fire blue ones, replicating the color-coded blaster fire of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] (though there, the Decepticons' weapons fire ''purple'' blasts).
*Optimus Prime's entrance into the battle on Cybertron is a direct reference to his famous leap into action from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In another seeming ''The Movie'' homage, Brawn is downed by a shot to the shoulder during his cameo. This time, however, he survives and is seen among the Autobots getting into the escape pods.
*The well-known Autobots are accompanied by [[generic]] recolors of Ironhide with one of two new heads.<ref name="ILM">[https://www.ilm.com/visual_development/bumblebee-developing-an-epic-set-piece BUMBLEBEE: DEVELOPING AN EPIC SET PIECE] at ILM</ref>
*In the scene where Charlie is introduced, a poster can be spotted on her wall for a band called The [[Pretenders]], a possible nod to the Cybertronian subspecies of the same name
*The Seekers' Cybertronian alternate modes are loosely inspired by their "tetrajet" modes from the [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|first Generation 1 episode]].
*Starscream is the only "unique" Seeker to appear during the film's Cybertron sequences. The rest of their forces are made up of countless robots that recycle five generic designs: blue-and-white (based on [[Thundercracker (G1)|Generation 1 Thundercracker]]), [[:File:BB-Skywarp-concept.jpg|purple-and-grey]] (based on [[Skywarp (G1)|Generation 1 Skywarp]]), [[:File:BB-Thrust-concept.jpg|green-and-grey]] (based on [[Thrust (Armada)|''Armada'' Thrust]]),<ref name="ILM" /> teal-and-white, and grey-and-red. The "Thrust" model has a triangular protrusion position behind its head, loosely replicating the character's "[[Conehead]]" appearance without actually giving him a genuine conehead.
**While it is hard to determine which (if any!) of these generic robots are the ''actual'' movie universe incarnations of [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]], and [[Thrust (Movie)|Thrust]], ''Studio Series'' toy bios help clear matters up: the ''real'' Skywarp and Thrust are stated to be the ones who joins Starscream in "blast[ing] the Autobot[s'] launchpad with missile fire to stop their escape from Cybertron".
*As Optimus calls retreat, Arcee and Cliffjumper wield pistols that are a direct design match to the "generic" pistol design used for Autobots in season 2 of the Generation 1 cartoon.
*The Cybertron tower containing the launchpad is based on the [[Great Dome]].<ref name="ILM" />
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave's]] eye flickers very subtly during his brief line of dialogue like his [[Shockwave (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].
*[[Shatter]], according to Travis Knight, is based on [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]].
*The concept of Cybertron falling into Decepticon hands and the Autobots initiating a mass exodus originates from the Aligned continuity family, although in this case, the Autobots depart in individual escape pods instead of [[Ark (disambiguation)|a single gargantuan starship]].
*[[Teletraan-I]] can be sighted in the background as the Autobots enter their escape pods.
*The [[Transformation#The noise|classic transformation noise]] is used ''liberally'' throughout the entire film. Some variant of it can be heard whenever a Transformer goes through a full-body transformation sequence onscreen, as well as whenever Bumblebee draws his arm blaster.
*Blitzwing drops a well-known [[Furmanism]] as he fights B-127, stating that the Autobot will "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]... like [B-127's] friends!"
[[File:BBFilm-Optimus-as-Freightliner.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Memo is reading a copy of [[GoBots|''GoBots Magazine'']], which he tosses aside when he sees Charlie. Though ''GoBots Magazine'' was a real publication, the issue Memo reads isn't one of the five real-life issues that exist; however, it faithfully emulates their cover style, down to the "Collector Poster Inside" cover tag. In a deleted scene, Memo even theorizes that Bumblebee is a GoBot.
*A snippet of "[[The Touch]]" plays when Bumblebee is "encouraging" Charlie to dive from the cliff.
*The fight between Bumblebee and Dropkick includes a sequence where Dropkick picks up Bumblebee and throws him. Then the Autobot lands in car mode, veers around, and jumps to punch him in the face—which harkens back to the fight choreography between [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from the G1 cartoon's season 1 opening credits.
*Optimus' vehicle mode at the end of the film is a Freightliner cab-over truck ''very'' similar to his G1 counterpart. He's even pulling the classic trailer, which has the signature 'stripe' on its side!

==Real-life references==
*One of the vehicles Bumblebee rejects scanning is the Urban Assault Vehicle from ''{{w|Stripes (film)|Stripes}}''.
*Charlie has a poster for the rock band {{w|The Pretenders}}, which coincidentally is the name of a Transformers [[Pretender|sub group]] involving the robots disguising themselves as human.
*Throughout the film, Charlie wears band shirts for {{w|Elvis Costello and the Attractions}}, {{w|Motörhead}}, {{w|The Damned (band)|The Damned}}, {{w|The Rolling Stones}}, and {{w|The Smiths}}.
*Charlie eats {{w|Mr. T Cereal}}.
*The Watson family dog, Conan, is named after {{w|Conan the Barbarian}}.
*Uncle Hank and Charlie's family watch ''[[ALF]]'', a sitcom from the '80s about an alien taking refuge in a human home. Fitting. However, see Errors.
*The station wagon Charlie's family drives is based on the one in ''{{w|National Lampoon's Vacation}}''.
*Cliffjumper repeats his name and rank while being interrogated by Shatter and Dropkick, which references a real-life rule in the {{w|Geneva Convention}} that states these are the only things soldiers have to divulge under interrogation. More specifically, this references a typical exaggeration in film and TV in which soldiers ''only recite these'' in response to their captors.
*The transmission that Cliffjumper and the Decepticons pick up from B-127 is the theme song to ''[[Cheers]]''.
*Dropkick and Shatter's arrival on Earth almost mirrors the appearance of the Bug in ''{{w|Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black}}''.
*Bumblebee watches ''{{w|The Breakfast Club}}'', leading to him emulating [[Judd Nelson]]'s iconic fist pump several times throughout the rest of the film.
*After repairing Bumblebee's radio, Charlie inserts a cassette of The Smiths' album ''{{w|Strangeways, Here We Come}}'' and "{{w|Girlfriend in a Coma (song)|Girlfriend in a Coma}}" briefly plays before Bee ejects the tape.
*Charlie also tries inserting a cassette of the [[Rick Astley]] album ''{{w|Whenever You Need Somebody}}'', causing it to play a snippet from "{{w|Never Gonna Give You Up}}".
[[File:BBfilm-cassette-drawer.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*Other musicians featured in Charlie's drawer of cassettes include {{w|Joan Jett}}, {{w|Adam and the Ants}}, {{w|Guns N' Roses}}, {{w|Talking Heads}}, {{w|INXS}}, {{w|Pink Floyd}}, {{w|Oingo Boingo}}, {{w|Huey Lewis and the News}}, and {{w|Prism (band)|PRiSM}}. She also mentions {{w|Stevie Nicks}} and The Rolling Stones while searching for tapes.
*The record Charlie takes from her father's collection is {{w|Sam Cooke}}'s 1961 album ''Sam's Songs'', and when she puts it on, Sam Cooke's version of "{{w|Unchained Melody}}" plays. However, see Errors. Also seen in the collection of records is {{w|Roxy Music}}'s ''{{w|For Your Pleasure}}''.
*Shatter asks Powell to "take [the Decepticons] to your leader," referencing the ages-old trope from early alien-related science fiction.
*The letters 'BFG' are written on Charlie's jean jacket, a reference to ''{{w|The BFG}}'', a children's book about a young girl befriending a big, friendly giant and defeating a group of evil giants together. Also quite fitting.
*Sector Seven uses a variant of the WOPR supercomputer from ''{{w|WarGames}}''.
*While looking around the Watsons' house, Bumblebee is briefly intrigued by a can of {{w|Tab (drink)|Tab}} soda and a game of ''{{w|Pong}}'' running on an [[Atari, Inc.|Atari 2600]]. However, see Errors.
*Otis wears a {{w|Bruce Lee}} T-shirt during the third act.
*Memo's room has posters for ''{{w|The Thing (1982 film)|The Thing}}'', ''[[Indiana Jones|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', Tom Baker-era ''[[Doctor Who]]'', and a {{w|Heather Thomas}} pin-up.
*Bumblebee's rampage is a direct nod to the 1999 [[Warner Bros.]] animated film ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}'', in which the titular robot protagonist assaults the U.S. military with glowing red optics in retaliation for them harming his human best friend.
*Ron claims he learned his driving skills from ''{{w|Miami Vice}}''.

==Errors==
*The episode of ''ALF'' that Charlie's family watch is episode 20 of season 2, "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog". The episode originally aired on February 29, 1988, a year after the movie is meant to occur.
*Charlie starts playing the first track on Sam Cooke's album ''Sam's Songs'', which ought to have been "Little Things You Do" rather than "Unchained Melody". The latter song doesn't even appear on the album, being the last track on side A of Cooke's earlier release ''Hits of the 50's''.
*Powell remarks that the Decepticon modifications to the S7 computers have created an "interconnected web of information," implying that the Internet's technology originated from the Decepticons. However, the idea of an interconnected network of computers for communications and data transfer was developing for decades before the film's setting in the late 1980s. The term "Internet" first appeared in the mid-1970s.
*Bumblebee watches a game of ''Pong'' running on the Atari 2600 plugged into the Watsons' television. However, ''Pong'' was never released as a standalone game for the 2600, only appearing as part of the ''{{w|Video Olympics}}'' game compilation, which featured a colorized remake that looked entirely different from the classic black-and-white version shown on the screen. The paddles are also seen moving on their own, despite no one touching the controllers and the game lacking any paddles in its attract mode.
*Simmons identifies Brighton Falls as a "coastal town." However, both the {{w|Richmond–San Rafael Bridge}} and {{w|Marin Islands|East Marin Island}} can be seen in the background of the Watsons' house establishing shots, which would place Brighton Falls within the San Francisco Bay, not quite on the coast. Furthermore, this causes problems with the [[Brighton Falls Boardwalk]], which faces the ocean... maybe Brighton Falls is just a ''very'' large town?

==Other editions==
*The version of the film available for streaming on [[Paramount+]] features a badly edited smash cut from the scene where Bumblebee and Charlie meet for the first time to Roy and Amber leaving their home to have an argument outside instead of the smooth night sky transition featured in other versions. This cut removes the presence of the country song "[[All My Ex's Live in Texas]]" from the film, suggesting some rights issues with it were most likely the reason the cut was made.

==Tie-in material==
*''[[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel]]''
During the lead-up to the release of the movie [[IDW Publishing]] released a four-issue limited series detailing an adventure set in the 60s, during which Bumblebee works with British intelligence to foil the plans of a group of Decepticons, including Blitzwing. It seems likely that author [[John Barber]] was working off an earlier draft of the film, which simply began with Bumblebee already on Earth in the time frame between ''The Last Knight'' and ''Bumblebee''.

*"[[Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome]]"
A one-shot promotional comic, that was released as [[pack-in material]] with the home video release and as a motion comic among the film's special features. The comic follows [[Seymour Simmons]] two years after the film's events, and serves to help bridge the gap between ''Bumblebee'' and the 2007 film.

==Music==
Two albums were released for the film:
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Score)]]'' - showcasing composer [[Dario Marianelli]]'s score for the film.
*''[[Bumblebee (Motion Picture Soundtrack)]]'' - featuring the film's diegetic music as well as Hailee Steinfeld's end credits song, "Back to Life."

==Home video releases==
{{main|Bumblebee (film)/home video}}
''Bumblebee'' was released on digital platforms on [[March 19]]; and on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K on [[April 2]]. A limited edition VHS copy was sent out as a promotional item, but was not available at retail.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/04/01/transformers-bumblebee-movie-out-now-on-vhs-real-vhs-promo-copy-with-pics-386407 TFW2005 VHS coverage]</ref>

==Theatrical posters==
<center><gallery>
File:BumblebeeCharlieSilhouettePoster.jpg|Yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeCrouchingPoster.jpg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeUSMoviePoster.jpeg|yellow-black,
File:BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg|yellow-black...
File:BumblebeePosingPoster.jpg|Ooh, black and yellow!
File:BumblebeeBurnsDecepticons.jpg|Yeah, let's shake it up a little.
</gallery></center>

==Reception==
{{quote|Mankind has split the atom, sent a man to the moon, and now, in arguably its most unlikely achievement, it has produced a watchable ''Transformers'' movie.|Scott Tobias|[http://www.npr.org/2018/12/20/677501424/flight-of-the-bumblebee-transformers-flick-soars-over-low-franchise-expectations NPR review]}}

Coming off the notoriously poor reception to ''The Last Knight,'' ''Bumblebee'' had a ways to go in terms of redeeming the ''Transformers'' film franchise for both Paramount and the general movie-going public. However, the film was positively received by critics, who generally praised Travis Knight's restrained directorial approach, Hailee Steinfeld's acting, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]]-styled robot designs, and Charlie and Bumblebee's dynamic, comparing the film to its spiritual predecessors, ''{{w| E.T. the Extraterrestrial|E.T.}}'' and ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}''. The film currently holds a 90% and a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest score of any film in the franchise to date.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bumblebee/ ''Bumblebee'' review on Rotten Tomatoes]</ref>

After making $500,000 at 325 theaters from its December 8 preview screenings,<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-sneak-preview-box-office-amazon-prime-1202521144/ ‘Aquaman’ Amazon Prime Previews Hook Near $3M Besting ‘Jumanji 2’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' made its domestic opening alongside ''{{w|Aquaman (film)|Aquaman}}'', ''{{w|Welcome to Marwen}}'', and ''{{w|Second Act (film)|Second Act}}'', and proceeded to gross $21 million over its first weekend, finishing third behind ''Aquaman'' and ''{{w|Mary Poppins Returns}}''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-bumblebee-christmas-thursday-night-previews-weekend-box-office-1202524462/ 'Aquaman’ Unwraps $22M+ On Christmas For $105M+ Cume; ‘Holmes & Watson’ Opens To $6M+; ‘Vice’ $4M+]</ref> In its second weekend, ''Bumblebee'' grossed another $20.5 million, remaining in third place.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-mary-poppins-returns-bumblebee-new-years-weekend-box-office-1202526812/ 'Aquaman’ Sailing To $52M+ 2nd Weekend; $189M+ Cume Pacing Ahead Of ‘Doctor Strange’ & ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’]</ref> ''Bumblebee'' ended its domestic box office run on March 7, 2019, with a total domestic gross of $127.2 million, and earned an additional $340.8 million overseas (including $170.8 million from China) for a worldwide total gross of $468 million.<ref>[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4701182/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 Bumblebee - Box Office Mojo]</ref> While that total makes it the second lowest-grossing entry in the live-action film series to date, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish stated in January 2019 that ''Bumblebee'' was "solidly profitable," praising the film's performance as a turnaround for Paramount following the money-losing ''The Last Knight'',<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-says-hes-mulling-small-acquisition-targets-1175029 Viacom CEO Says He's Mulling Small Acquisition Targets]</ref> which ''did'' make more money but not enough to recoup its monstrous budget.

In 2019, ''Bumblebee'' became the first ''Transformers'' film since the 2007 film not to be nominated for any {{w|Golden Raspberry Award}}s. Indeed, the film was one of those selected as a candidate for a {{w|The Razzie Redeemer Award|Razzie Redeemer Award}}, with the website praising the film's more "innocent and endearing" approach to the franchise.<ref>[https://razzies.com/razz-newz.html Razz Newz]</ref>

==Production staff==
{{stub}}

==Development details==
*March 27, 2015 — [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" with the intention of building a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[http://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Goldsman goes on to hire a number of writers over the next few months: [[Steven DeKnight]] (''Daredevil''),<ref>[http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-cinematic-universe/35696/transformers-cinematic-details-more-writers-over-10-films Transformers cinematic details]</ref> [[Robert Kirkman]] (''The Walking Dead''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-writers-robert-kirkman-zak-penn-art-marcum-matt-holloway-jeff-pinkner-1201430601/ 'Transformers' Spinoff & Sequel Scribes Set] on Deadline.com</ref> [[Art Marcum]] and [[Matt Holloway]] (''Iron Man''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> Christina Hodson (''Shut In'', ''The Fugitive''),<ref name="hodsonbeer">[http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/446175-christina-hodson-and-lindsey-beer-join-transformers-writing-team Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer Join the Transformers Writing Team]</ref> [[Lindsey Beer]] (''Dig''),<ref name="hodsonbeer" /> [[Zak Penn]] (''Pacific Rim 2''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Jeff Pinkner]] (''The Amazing Spider-Man 2'', ''Lost''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] (''Ant-Man''),<ref name="barrerferrari">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref> [[Ken Nolan]] (''Black Hawk Down''), and [[Geneva Robertson-Dworet]].<ref name="nolandworet">[http://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-writers-room/ Akiva Goldsman Teases 'Transformers' Franchise Plans]</ref> Involved in the pitching process are [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Michael Bay]], [[Brian Goldner]], [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]], [[Mark Vahradian]], and [[Don Murphy]].<ref name="deadlinereveal">[http://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref>
*October 3, 2015 — During his keynote speech at the MIP Junior Conference, [[Allspark (company)|Allspark]]'s [[Stephen J. Davis]] notes that the writing team has come up with film concepts for Transformers 5, 6, 7, and 8.<ref name="stephendaviskeynote">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_P2fw_DlS4?t=812 Stephen Davis's keynote speech] at MIPJunior.</ref>[[File:TransformersUniverseBumblebeePoster.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"My sweater is Ralph Lauren, and I have no pants."]]
*February 12, 2016 — At ToyFair, Hasbro reveals the projected release date of Transformers 6, along with those of its predecessor and [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers 7]], as well as the fact that Transformers 6 will focus on Bumblebee.<ref name="toyfairreveal">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/transformers-5-transformers-6-bumblebee-spin-off-movie-revealed-309503 Transformers 5, Transformers 6 And Bumblebee Spin-Off Movie Revealed] ToyFair news at TFW2005</ref>
*December 29, 2016 — Lorenzo di Bonaventura names Christina Hodson as the screenwriter in an interview.<ref name="hodson">[http://collider.com/transformers-5-plot-characters-dinobots-details/ 'The Last Knight' Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Reveals How a 'Transformers' Movie Is Made] on Collider</ref>
*March 3, 2017 — [[Travis Knight]] is appointed director.<ref name="deadlinedirector">[https://deadline.com/2017/03/bumblebee-movie-travis-knight-director-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1202034882/ Travis Knight To Direct ‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ At Paramount]</ref>
*May 26, 2017 — A poster at Licensing Expo 2017 gives the name of the film as ''Transformers Universe: Bumblebee''.<ref name="expoposter">[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo "The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo"]</ref>
*June 10, 2017 — [[Hailee Steinfeld]] reveals in an interview that she's been cast in the film.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/pitch-perfect-pop-star-hailee-steinfeld-hits-charts-with-most-girls-single-and-lands-transformers-role/news-story/47a238f0e75bf06a0ffc34a18e9906e4 Pitch Perfect pop star Hailee Steinfeld hits charts with Most Girls single and lands Transformers role]</ref>
*July 11, 2017 — [[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]] is reported by The Hollywood Reporter to have been cast as the male lead.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-casts-jorge-lendeborg-jr-as-male-lead-1017547 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Casts Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Male Lead (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref>
*July 13, 2017 — More actors including [[Jason Drucker]], [[Abby Quinn]], [[Rachel Crow]], [[Ricardo Hoyos]], and [[Gracie Dzienny]] join the cast.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-rounds-cast-1019823 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 23, 2017 — [[Pamela Adlon]] joins the cast.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/07/pamela-adlon-bumblebee-movie-transformers-casting-1202133812/ Pamela Adlon Joins Cast Of 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee']</ref>
*July 31, 2017 — [[John Cena]] is announced as a cast member. Also, Bumblebee is a Volkswagen this time. The film is pushed back to December 2018. Production begins,<ref name="cenareveal">[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-cena-joins-transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-1025411 John Cena Joins 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref> with the filming going under the codename "Brighton Falls".<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-bumblebee-working-title-filming-start/ Bumblebee Spinoff Working Title & Filming Start Date Revealed] on Screenrant</ref>
*August 6, 2017 — Hailee Steinfeld reveals on Twitter that her character's name is [[Charlie Watson]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Meet Charlie Watson. #BumblebeeTheMovie https://t.co/Z8kA8DGRk3|link=https://twitter.com/haileesteinfeld/status/894296888643432448|name=Hailee Steinfeld|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=8|day=6|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*September 9, 2017 — At [[HasCon 2017]], di Bonaventura discusses some hints on the film, including that the movie is set in [[1986]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/09/hascon-2017-bumblebee-movie-tidbits-348630 Hascon 2017: The Bumblebee Movie Tidbits] on TFW2005</ref>[[File:BumblebeeMovie firstlook.jpg|thumb|350px|"There's a bee in the car!"]]
*September 12, 2017 — Actor and stuntman [[Rory Markham]] reveals on Instagram that he is playing a [[Sector Seven]] agent named [[Agent Adams|Adams]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/12/sector-7-returns-transformers-universe-bumblebee-movie-348886 Sector 7 Returns in Transformers Universe: Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*September 20, 2017 — Travis Knight reveals the first Decepticon vehicle mode in the form of a 1971 Plymouth GTX.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=LAIKA Pres & CEO Travis Knight on the set of his live-action film BUMBLEBEE. Travis will have more news on this & the next LAIKA film soon! https://t.co/SatTvufvhO|link=https://twitter.com/LAIKAStudios/status/910549230602788864|name=LAIKA Studios|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=9|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*October 2, 2017 — [[Peter Cullen]] has a role in the movie.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/10/02/peter-cullen-confirmed-bumblebee-movie-351131 Peter Cullen Confirmed In The Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*October 26, 2017 — [[John Ortiz]] is revealed to be a cast member.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/10/john-ortiz-paramount-bumblebee-spinoff-peppermint-stxfilms-1202195412/ John Ortiz Cast In 'Bumblebee' Spinoff & 'Peppermint'] on Deadline.com</ref>
*November 12, 2017 — A wrap party for the movie reveals the movie's title as ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo] on Cinema Blend</ref>
*December 11, 2017 — {{w|Martin Short}} is revealed to be doing some voice work for the film.<ref>[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/attheshore/headliners/steve-martin-and-martin-short-head-to-borgata-for-an/article_7d516048-de98-11e7-9fa4-c7175ccf2b9d.html Steve Martin and Martin Short head to Borgata for an unforgettable evening] on pressofatlanticcity.com</ref>
*December 29, 2017 — A "first look" photo is released showing Hailee Steinfeld and Bumblebee's Volkswagen alternate mode.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=First Look at "Bumblebee" from @ParamountPics with Hailee Steinfeld! #Bumblebee hits theaters on Dec. 21, 2018! https://t.co/6ROMvWRrML|link=https://twitter.com/AwardsCircuit/status/946794788988293121|name=Clayton Davis|site=Twitter|year=2017|month=12|day=29}}</ref>
*January 28, 2018 — During an interview at the Grammys, Hailee Steinfeld suggests Bumblebee may sing during the movie.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/8096803/hailee-steinfeld-hair-waves-2018-grammys-how-to Interview on Billboard.com]</ref>
*February 16, 2018 — At [[Toy Fair 2018]], Hasbro states that the film series will be reset after ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref name="reboot" />
*April 24, 2018 — Footage of the film is shown at Cinemacon.<ref>[http://comicbook.com/movies/2018/04/26/first-bumblebee-footage-transformers-cinemacon/ First 'Bumblebee' Footage Previews the 'Transformers' Spinoff at CinemaCon] at comicbook.com</ref>
[[File:BumblebeeMovieShatter&Dropkick.jpeg|thumb|300px|"Thanks for the coffee. Sorry, I couldn't finish it. If I did, I'd be up the rest of my life."]]
*June 5, 2018 — The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAIX12F6958 official teaser trailer] is posted by Paramount Pictures, also revealing the film's title has been shortened to just ''Bumblebee''.
*June 6, 2018 — [[Charlie Adler]] reveals he is not in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Sadly no . But I’m sure whoever is doing it is wonderful ! It’s been a wonderful franchise for me for a long time and now some else’s turn !! Break a leg !|link=https://twitter.com/charlie_adler/status/1004401979597025280|name=Charlie Adler|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=06|day=06}}</ref>
*June 8, 2018 — [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] is initially stated to be in the film in a blog post on Paramount's parent company before his name is later scrubbed from the post afterward.<ref>[http://blog.viacom.com/2018/06/bumblebee-transforms-hailee-steinfelds-life-in-first-trailer/ Original text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does dreaded Decepticon Starscream." Revised text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does a dreaded Decepticon."]</ref>
*July 13, 2018 — Entertainment Weekly reveals [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Justin Theroux]] will voice new Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] respectively.<ref>[http://ew.com/movies/2018/07/13/bumblebee-decepticon-trackers-first-look/ First Look: Bumblebee unveils two new Decepticon muscle cars]</ref>
*July 20, 2018 — A ''Bumblebee'' panel at the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2018 reveals more information on the film, such as details regarding the characters.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-bumblebee-movie-panel-in-hall-h-at-sdcc2018-jointhebuzz/41645/ Seibertron's coverage on the SDCC'18 Bumblebee panel.]</ref> Also, John Cena dressed as Bumblebee.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I asked the fine folks @IGN to help me find the true meaning of robot existence at #SDCC. But did I, as John Cena, find the answers to living as a Bumblebee? Let’s find out. @bumblebeemovie https://t.co/j4RJde71Cg https://t.co/nEqBtuVgL2|link=https://twitter.com/JohnCena/status/1020800460125605890|name=John Cena|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=7|day=21|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*August 26–30, 2018 — [[David Sobolov]] confirms he is part of the cast of ''Bumblebee'' as the voice of [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]].{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... @ParamountPics has given me the ok to reveal I’m playing a role in the upcoming epic @bumblebeemovie! As of now I’m not authorized to tell you my character’s name. More news about that soon! Who do you think it is? @transformers @tfw2005 @seibertroncom https://t.co/XNeyuvmqQT|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1033867788824309760|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=27|(defunct=)}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=#Transformers fans... It's time to reveal I'm the voice of Blitzwing in @bumblebeemovie ! Thank you TravisKnight and @ParamountPics for this exciting chance to work on another epic @transformers adventure.|link=https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1035346211392368640|name=David Sobolov|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=30|defunct=y}}</ref> 
*September 22–23, 2018 — Three teasers were released on various platforms with many different languages, revealing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]'s appearance in the movie. Additionally, shots were revealed of Optimus Prime's design, the three major Decepticons in the movie, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-and-optimus-prime-featured-in-teaser-for-next-bumblebee-movie-trailer/42075/ Seibertron's article including the two of the teasers released] and [https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-bumblebee-movie-teaser-with-blitzwing-and-barricade/42078/ an article with one of the teasers.]</ref>
*September 24, 2018 — The official trailer is uploaded by Paramount Pictures' YouTube channel, revealing (among other things) [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s' appearances in the movie. A second international trailer is released, showcasing some more scenes. An interview with Travis Knight on the new trailer is also published, revealing Starscream (''now'' it's legitimate) and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]'s appearance in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwmDAYt22k Bumblebee (2018) - New Official Trailer] and [https://www.cbr.com/bumblebee-international-trailer-optimus-prime-cybertron/ an article showcasing the international trailer.] [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/bumblebee-trailer-breakdown-travis-knight/ Interview with Knight.]</ref>
*September 27, 2018 - Before a special showing of [[The Transformers: The Movie|the animated movie]], another interview with Travis Knight and Hailee Steinfeld was seen AND a brief scene of Charlie and Bee's first interaction.
*November 13, 2018 - ''Bumblebee'' is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/11/13/transformers-bumblebee-movie-rated-pg-13-376496]</ref>
*November 23, 2018 - A new trailer is released showcasing some new scenes, namely, Bumblebee's Cybertronian robot mode. Another trailer is released animated with...[[Play-Doh]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebees-cybertronian-mode-shown-in-a-new-movie-trailer-playdoh-trailer/42450/ Seibertron's article on the 2 new trailers]</ref>
*November 27, 2018 - A new featurette demonstrates the more G1-inspired designs of the Transformers, including a proper look at Optimus's model and brief shots of [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], Wheeljack and [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFv6JVFApk Bumblebee - First Generation Design - Paramount Pictures UK]</ref>
*December 2, 2018 - Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirms [[Dylan O'Brien]] as the voice of Bumblebee.<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/03/transformers-bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-dylan-obrien</ref>
*December 4, 2018 - New footage of the movie drops, showing Soundwave's voice, as well as many new shots of Cybertron and the battle between Bumblebee and Blitzwing.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-speaks-more-footage-china-release-date-and-sponsor-and-more-bumblebee-news-roundup/42538/ Seibertron's coverage of the new trailer, as well as a general roundup of new footage.]</ref>
*December 8, 2018 - Special early screenings of the film take place in specific areas. Fans who attend are given free [[Tiny Turbo Changers]] toys, and short behind-the-scenes featurettes are shown before and after the film.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/early-reactions-and-impressions-for-2018-live-action-transformers-bumblebee-film/42550/ Seibertron's roundup of people's thoughts on the early screening.]</ref>
*December 10, 2018 - Hailee Steinfeld discloses at a premiere event that [[Kelly Fremon Craig]], who directed her in ''The Edge of Seventeen'', performed uncredited script rewrites on the movie.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bumblebee-hailee-steinfeld-got-a-surprise-birthday-party-at-premiere-1168147/ THR: Hailee Steinfeld Gets Surprise Birthday Party at ‘Bumblebee’ Premiere]</ref>
{{--}}

===Changes before, during, and after production===
Initially, ''Bumblebee'' would have served as a more direct prequel to the 2007 movie, bridging the gap between Bumblebee's [[World War II]] adventures in ''The Last Knight'' and setting up some plot points from the original ''Transformers'' film. Many of these elements were subsequently dropped during reshoots following test screenings in 2018; this may have been a result of feedback from the test screenings, Paramount's concerns over the negative commercial and critical reception to ''The Last Knight'', or a desire to take the franchise in a new direction. Some of these changes include:
[[File:ANewCarForCharlie-deletedscene.jpg|thumb|300px|"TiVo. You can just freeze live TV? That's insane!"]]
*The film's original cut didn't include any scenes set on Cybertron, opening instead on a shot of Earth, where Bumblebee (who narrates in voiceover) is fleeing from Sector Seven in his Jeep mode.<ref name="opening">{{citesocial|quote=The Entire Opening was new and the earth sequence was reshot scene to have john cena and his crew in training excersize in a random forest rather than already hunting bumblebee in a forest bee is hiding in. In the prescreener it opened with a shot of earth from space with a quick few lines of exposition from bee before we cut to the jeeps and humvees already chasing bee. We never see him crashland or have a cybertronian mode.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> This setup maintained continuity with ''The Last Knight''. In this original opening, Bumblebee laments that the humans are now hunting him despite his being sent to protect them, and comes to the embittered conclusion that mankind isn't worth fighting for. This sets up the character arc Bumblebee is intended to undergo in the film, learning through his friendship with Charlie that not all humans are alike, and that there is good in them after all, culminating in his decision to fight Shatter and Dropkick in order to save the Earth from a Decepticon invasion after he regains his memories in the film's final act. This arc becomes diluted in the finished film, even though this climactic scene remains, since Bumblebee does not experience this loss of faith in the first place. This original opening is included among the deleted scenes on the home release.
**For the final cut of the film, the scene was reshot to have Bumblebee's escape pod crash-land near Burns's Sector Seven squad—who are in the woods because of a training exercise—by pure coincidence.<ref name="opening" /> Unfortunately, this creates some new discrepancies: Sector Seven is ''already'' driving SUVs equipped with anti-Transformer harpoon weaponry; a mid-1980s special forces unit keeps a WWII-era Willys Jeep around for some reason; and Bumblebee can speak English not more than a few minutes after landing on Earth.
**Blitzwing's scene was unchanged from the test screening, though at the time production had not settled on a name for the character.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Yep he died in the prescreener as well as the full film. As far as i remember he had a placeholder name on our little survey at the end that wasnt starscream or blitzwing though. I think he was given the name later through production. We also never hear said it in either version of the film, just in the credits and on the toy?|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18508352|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=11|day=10}}</ref>
*Burns was originally going to have a markedly different personality. In the test cut, he was depicted as a far grimmer character who had lost someone close to him in a prior Transformer attack. In the final version of the film, he became more eccentric, though remnants of his original personality still appear at times.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A majority of cena and powells dialogue has been reshot to remove sector 7s prior knowledge of transformers and cena being xenophobic towards them due to a person close to him being killed by one at some point has also been removed from the final version. Cenas dialogue was also reshot in this to make him funnier when in the pre screener he was much more serious and cut throat. Some of these more intense lines still come through like when he and the general are listening to powell gush about the decepticons creating the internet. The first line about “powell being weird” is reshot but the rest is the original scene hence why he seems a bit more serious. This shift in his performance may be whats throwing some people off about him as there are are two distinct performances being twisted together.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=The only character who was wildly different in the prescreener was John Cena. In the original cut he was much more cut throat and had a history with the transformers. Almost no jokes except the “Why do they always run?” Line. He had alot more levity added to his character with reshoots. Everyone else was exactly the same.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-7#post-18110584|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=19}}</ref>
*Otis appeared more frequently in the original cut of the film, particularly in the first act. Deleted scenes include: Charlie "dropping him off" at karate practice by having him ride a skateboard while clinging to the back of her bike [[Marty McFly]]-style; Charlie leaving to buy Bumblebee while she is meant to be watching Otis, warning him that she will kill him if he dies while she is away; Charlie coercing Otis into helping her clean the new Beetle when she returns; and Bumblebee breaking down on the road while the two are taking it for a test drive, leading Otis to abandon Charlie and walk off while a passing Tina taunts her. All of these scenes are among the deleted scenes included in the home release.
*Originally, Charlie was to have two friends named [[Liz]] and [[Brenda]] "Bren" (played by [[Rachel Crow]] and [[Abby Quinn]] respectively), who worked with her at Hot Dog on a Stick. The two originally appeared in the first Boardwalk scene where they tell Charlie they "aren't a match anymore," following her personality change after her father's death, upsetting her. They later reappear at the cliffside party, having bribed their way into Tina's friendship by giving her free corn dogs and abandoning Charlie for their new "cool" status. Both scenes are present as extras on the home release, and the characters still appear in the [[Transformers: Bumblebee: The Junior Novel|Junior Novel adaptation]].
*In the test cut, Cliffjumper was not part of the scene in which Shatter and Dropkick detect Bumblebee on Earth.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In our cut Shatter and Dropkick just happened to be on the moon and receive the signal from bee. Cliffjumper wasn't there at all.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-2#post-16444221|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref> Cliffjumper's inclusion was made because his similarities to Bumblebee would set the stakes of the story: "You have to understand that if Shatter and Dropkick encounter Bumblebee, things are not going to end well."<ref>[https://uproxx.com/hitfix/travis-knight-interview-bumblebee/ Travis Knight ''UPROXX'' interview]</ref>
*Similarly, the extended flashback to Optimus Prime on Cybertron when Bumblebee watches Prime's holographic message was missing from the test cut, only added alongside the Cybertron opening which the assets were produced for.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The flashback with prime fighting the cons on cybertron when bee sees his hologram was newly added. It originally just played the message.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref> The G1-style CGI model for Optimus was present in the original cut.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I think that no matter what the team behind this movie were thinking of redesigns from the get go, bee was already the cuddly pudgier more g1 version in the cut i witnessed rather than the studio series boxart and figure with the more pronounced door wings. Along with Optimuss hologram being the g1 style cybertronian design. Heck our cut still had Optimus as a flat nosed at the end. Regardless of if the cybertron scene was a way later addition or not the film was still going to be a stylistic reboot at the very least, making the designs easier on the eyes.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-4#post-16452606|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=31}}</ref>
*The scene where Bumblebee explores Charlie's house originally had the Autobot inadvertently bring the house's electronics to life with his [[energon radiation]], necessitating a slapstick fight sequence in which Bumblebee, Charlie, and Memo had to unplug the hostile Transformers to deactivate them. {{w|Martin Short}} would have featured in the scene, presumably as the voice of at least one of the mutations. This scene was cut ''very'' late in production, enough so that a version of it would find its way into both the junior novel and [[A New Car for Charlie|Junior Reader adaptations]]. As a result, the movie's corresponding scene features an unusually high number of rapid-fire jump cuts to mask the missing footage, including a strange, swaying "POV" shot that originally belonged to the mutant washing machine as it watched Charlie and Memo enter the house. Eagle-eyed viewers will realize that the house's television is gone from its usual spot. At the same time, the washing machine is, for no apparent reason, sitting in the middle of the family carpet, the "real" reason being that these appliances had been brought to life and summarily dispatched in the original cut of the movie. Another remnant of the sequence surfaces when Sally asks why the television's cord was cut—something of a ''non sequitur'' in this version. The complete sequence is included as one of the deleted scenes on the home release, though it does not feature Short's voice.
*Shatter and Dropkick's goal was unchanged from the test cut, but their plan actually hinged on this deleted scene with the Energon mutations: seeing how Bumblebee was able to bring the human technology to life, they decide to use the satellite to send out an Energon pulse to awaken an army, with Charlie needing to disable the Energon device they hook up to the tower.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=in the cut we had [Shatter and Dropkick] were hunting bee to find the location of optimus prime so their plot stayed largely the same as did their dialogue. The inly thing different that i can place right now is dropkicks death scream was much more intense and panicked in the prescreening, which was probably way too brutal for the kids so they altered it to be quick.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-3#post-16444738|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=29}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=i wanna say they claimed he was an escaped fugitive. Someone dangerous? I think most of the dialogue had generally thensame focus. The major change was with their plan. They discover that Bumblebee brought stuff to life in the original cut and plan to use and energon source and the satellite dish to send a pulse out across the city bringing all the appliances to life as an army for the decepticons rather than just sending out a signal to call the army. Thats why Charlie needs to climb the tower to get to the energon device thats hooked into the tower. She has to remove it before it sends the pulse out and theres a timer on it ticking down until its charged.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/page-8#post-18117235|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2020|month=07|day=21}}</ref> In the final cut, they're just calling Decepticon reinforcements.
*The test cut of the film featured a post-credit scene with Burns, Simmons, and Whalen discussing that the Autobots can never learn of "N.B.E.-01:" [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], frozen in ice as per the 2007 movie, albeit redesigned to have a more [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1-styled appearance]]. This scene was replaced in the final cut by entirely new scenes of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee watching more Transformers arrive on Earth and Charlie finishing her and her father's car repair project.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A scene that was cut from the end in final version was a sector 7 scene between Cena, Simmons, and the General talking about how the autobots must never know about NBE1 which is revealed to be a frozen G1 styled megatron, fusion cannon and all, that has the same aesthetic as the cybertonian bots from the new opening sequence. Both post credits scenes were brand new in the final release, those being Bee and Prime walking along and watching more Autobots coming to earth and Charlie finishing her fathers car. Everything else was essentially the same between both versions, just cut slightly faster in some places to keep the pacing steady.|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=[Megatron's Tiny Turbo Changers design is] actually really close to what i saw! Essentially the design i saw in the film for a split second was like a blend of g1 and movie 1 megs. Had the general shape of g1 megs but with movie 1 megs detailing and definitely the movie 1 megs face|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/travisformer-megatron.1161108/page-5#post-16720715|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=Travisformer Megatron|year=2019|month=03|day=23}}</ref>
**The scene where Bumblebee joins Optimus Prime on the Golden Gate Bridge was, however, the same in both versions and would've been the last on-screen appearance of Bee in the original cut. With that cut being more closely aligned with the live-action continuity at large, it seems likely that the scene was intended to be a bit more ambiguous—the audience at large would've been able to read it as "Bumblebee goes off to join Optimus Prime", while the filmmakers would've retained some plausible deniability in the form of "it's just a truck that ''looks'' like Optimus Prime"—thus better allowing for the arrival of the Autobots to occur as seen in the 2007 movie.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The final shot at the golden gate bridge with Bee turning into a camaro and following optimus on the golden gate was the same in both cuts|link=https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/|name=Optimus_Prowl|site=TFW2005|title=PRE-SCREENER DIFFERENCES: WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD|year=2018|month=12|day=28}}</ref>
*A scene of Bumblebee being on the run in Vietnam in his World War II body made it to concept art stage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/the-big-bumblebee-concept-art-thread.1167241/#post-16487632 Vietnam fields concept art]</ref>
{{-}}

[[File:TF-BB-Movie-Murderbee-Trailer-vs-Final-Cut.jpg|250px|thumb|"You see? You can't treat them
like equals! They're striped savages! Stinging's the only thing they know! ''It's their way!''"]]
Additional changes, some of which took place ''after'' the introduction of the film's Cybertron scenes, include:
*The first trailer to include Cybertron scenes featured Blitzwing among Shockwave's Seekers. In later trailers and the final film, he was replaced with Starscream, sporting his traditional color scheme and seemingly a new head lacking the 'flight mask' design motif.
*In a statement for Seibertron.com, Jon Bailey noted that he auditioned for [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], suggesting the character was originally intended to have dialogue.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-jon-bailey-talks-about-his-experience/42553/ Seibertron article on Bailey's experience]</ref> This was confirmed in a Seibertron.com podcast, in which he also said [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was supposed to yell "Die Autobots!", in a slightly reworked version of his appearance. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was also supposed to say "Operation: Destruction" and/or "Operation: Annihilation" after ejecting [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] as a direct reference to the original cartoon.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/twincast-podcast-episode-214-bumblebee/42674/ Seibertron.com Twincast Podcast Episode #214 "Bumblebee"]</ref>
*The Cybertron tower was supposed to look more [[Great Dome]]-like before opening up to display the launchpad, with concept art to boot, though it was cut for time.<ref name="ILM" />
*Optimus Prime was to have an extended role in the opening scene, having a Cybertronian vehicle mode, though it was cut for time. Concept art for a more Cybertronian robot mode and vehicle mode was created by [[Alex Jaeger]], though the film ultimately uses a model closer to his Earthen robot form.<ref name="ILM" />
*An additional render and a deleted scene depict Shatter and Dropkick inside Sector 7 with their car-only robot forms, indicating they may have been supposed to scan their aerial modes later in the film.<ref name="ILM" />
*Travis Knight initially wanted to feature Megatron during the Cybertron scenes. However, the Decepticon leader was ultimately omitted, specifically because continuity dictated he was still frozen on Earth at the time,<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/12/19/bumblebee-deleted-megatron-decepticon-scene/ 'Bumblebee' Deleted A Megatron Scene] on comicbook.com</ref> despite the removal of the scene mentioned earlier showing this.
*When Bumblebee's memories are restored and he fights against Sector 7, his eye color is red, as opposed to the blue in the trailer (right).
*Very early stock art for the film depicted Bumblebee with his now-traditional "wings" formed from his car's doors alternate mode. This was changed late in production to give his final C.G. model a more humanoid appearance, but not early enough to change his [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|concurrently-released toys]], which almost unanimously depict Bumblebee with said door-wings.
*Shatter went under the working name '''[[Fracture (disambiguation)|Fracture]]'''.<ref name="ILM" />
{{-}}

==Notes==
*During production, the film was referred to in presentational material under a variety of names, including "Transformers 6", "Bumblebee: The Movie," "The Bumblebee Movie," and "Transformers Universe: Bumblebee."
*[[Hasbro Pulse]] occasionally refers to the movie as "Transformers: Bumblebee" or "Bumblebee Movie".<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-studio-series-65-voyager-bumblebee-movie-blitzwing]
</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (バンブルビー ''Banburubī'')
*''Arabic:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (بامبلبي ''Bamblibi'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''''Daai Wong Fung''''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Greek:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Μπάμπλμπι ''Bámplmpi'')
*''Hindi:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (बुमबलेबी ''Bumabalebee'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''''ŰrDongó''''' ("Space Bumblebee")
*''Korean:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (범블비 ''Beombeulbi'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Dàhuángfēng''''' (大黃蜂, 大黄蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблби ''Bamblbi'')
*''Tamil:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (பம்பல்பீ ''Pampalpī'')
*''Telugu:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (బంబుల్బీ ''Bambulbī'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''''Bumblebee''''' (Бамблбі ''Bamblbi'')

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

==External links==
*{{w|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}} on Wikipedia
*[[IMDB:tt4701182|Bumblebee]] on IMDB

[[Category:Bumblebee| ]]
[[Category:Bumblebee media| ]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Transformers One (film)

2025-03-29T13:36:11Z

Kickassatron: /* Changes before, during, and after production */

{{Nav-one}}
{{movie|
|seriess=Transformers One
|prev=
|next=
|title=''Transformers One''
|image=Transformers One New Theatrical Poster.jpg
|caption=The motion picture you are about to see is an adaptation of the [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]] story. While artistic and historical license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for [[fandom|millions of people worldwide]].
|production companies=[[Hasbro Entertainment]] [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura|di Bonaventura Pictures]] Bayhem Films [[Paramount Animation]] New Republic Pictures
|distributor=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|executive producer=[[Steven Spielberg]] [[Zev Foreman]] [[Olivier Dumont]] [[Brian Oliver]] [[B.J. Farmer]] [[Matt Quigg]] [[Greg Moordain]]
|producer=[[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] [[Tom DeSanto]] [[Don Murphy]] [[Michael Bay]] [[Mark Vahradian]] [[Aaron Dem]]
|story by=[[Andrew Barrer]] [[Gabriel Ferrari]]
|screenplay by=[[Eric Pearson]] Andrew Barrer Gabriel Ferrari
|directed by=[[Josh Cooley]]
|cinematography by=
|edited by=
|music by= [[Brian Tyler]]
|release date=[[September 20]], [[2024]]
|runtime=104 minutes
|budget= $75 million
|box office=$129 million<ref>https://the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-One-(2024)#tab=summary</ref>
|credits=Transformers One (film)/credits
}}
'''''Transformers One''''' is an animated film released on [[September 20]], [[2024]]. It is written by [[Eric Pearson]], [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] from a story by Barrer and Ferrari,<ref name="deadlinereveal">[https://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref> and directed by [[Josh Cooley]].<ref name="cooleyreveal">[https://deadline.com/2020/04/transformers-animated-movie-paramount-hasbro-toy-story-4-director-josh-cooley-1202921100/ Animated 'Transformers' Prequel Activated; 'Toy Story 4's Josh Cooley To Direct For Hasbro/eOne & Paramount]</ref> The movie is an origin story set on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] three billion years ago<ref name="collidercinemacon">[https://collider.com/transformers-one-animated-movie-title/ New ‘Transformers’ Animated Movie Rolls Out a New Title at CinemaCon] on Collider</ref><ref name="screenrantsandiegocomiccon">[https://screenrant.com/transformers-one-timeline-setting-takes-place// When Transformers One Takes Place In The Franchise Timeline] on Screen Rant</ref> in the days before the Autobot-Decepticon war, and focuses on [[Optimus Prime (One)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (One)|Megatron]] as they go from brothers-in-arms to enemies.<ref name="cooleyreveal" />

{{bigquote|The line between friend and enemy is not as clear as I once believed. Once it's crossed, there is no going back. Because some transformations... are permanent.|[[Optimus Prime (One)|Optimus Prime]]}}

==Synopsis==
Long ago, the benevolent [[Primus]] sacrificed his life essence to become the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and created the [[Thirteen|first generation of Transformers]], the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]s. Through the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], [[energon]] flowed freely from the planet's core, and the Primes ruled justly for a time. However, when the alien [[Quintesson]]s began a long war of invasion, the Primes were eventually slain, and the Matrix of Leadership was lost, leaving only [[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] to rule the planet in their absence after the Cybertronians relocated to massive underground cities, abandoning the dangerous surface.

[[File:TFOne Orion caught.jpg|left|thumb|300px|She's exhausted from the day's work. Uh, not that it was too much! We-we quite enjoyed it!]]
Fifty cycles after the war, Cybertronian society now relies on an [[Cogless|underclass]] of manual laborers born without [[transformation cog]]s, including a caste of miners who physically extract what few veins of usable energon remain from the tunnels beneath the subterranean [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] City, while Sentinel Prime makes periodic journeys to the surface in search of the missing Matrix. One impulsive miner named [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]] has been searching for information regarding the Matrix, in the hopes that finding the artifact will restore Cybertron to prosperity and allow him and his fellow miners to choose their own path in life. Unfortunately, this search for information has led him to repeatedly break into the city's data archives without authorization. His latest attempt draws the unwanted attention of two [[Guard (One)|guards]] who have caught him several times in the past already, leading to a wild (and nearly lethal) chase through the skyways, through buildings, and eventually into the ground-level public transport station. Though the guards eventually catch up to Orion, the miner's friend [[Megatron (One)|D-16]] provides a distraction and sends the guards off on a wild goose chase. On the train to work, the pair discuss Orion's latest life-endangering adventure, and Orion, knowing that his friend idolizes the strongest Prime, gifts D-16 a rare first-edition decal of [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]]'s helmet he'd found.

[[File:TFOne Mine Explosion.jpg|right|thumb|300px|We're trying to get the funny man out of the well!]]
In the mines, D-16 and Orion work under the supervision of their go-getting captain [[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]], using [[jet pack]]s and deployable support poles to keep Cybertron's shifting geology stable long enough for them to extract raw energon. However, [[Wheeljack (One)|Wheeljack]] accidentally hits a vein of unstable energon, and the ensuing explosions trap [[Jazz (One)|Jazz]] under a rockfall. Orion and D-16 defy protocol and use a jet pack to save their coworker, but the chaos ends up damaging and destroying a lot of mine equipment. One of the mine's guards, [[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]], blames Elita for the disaster, and informs her she's been demoted to waste management duty, despite Orion sticking up for her and taking the blame.

That evening, Sentinel Prime returns to Iacon to announce that he still has not found the Matrix; to take the blow off this bad news, Sentinel declares that the prestigious [[Iacon 5000]] race will be held the next day. Orion tries to persuade D-16 to join him in the race, hoping that they can prove to the rest of Cybertron that mining bots deserve respect, but D-16 has no interest in the idea. On the day of the race, Orion discreetly leads D-16 to the maintenance area inside the giant starting signal above the race's starting line; while D-16 is initially excited to watch from a perfect vantage point, Orion reveals his true intention as he straps jet packs to the two just as the race begins and they're dropped into the thick of a throng of racing robots. Using their jet packs and some quick thinking to compensate for their inability to transform, the two dodge the numerous traps and obstacles and briefly manage to take the lead, sending bots across the city into a frenzy, especially their fellow cogless miners. The pair are just about to limp across the finish line and take first place, but end up being run down by [[Chromia (One)|Chromia]], who snags victory for herself. The pair figure they can still be proud of second place... until several dozen other racers whip by them in vehicle mode.

[[File:TFOne Sentinel visits.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I seek to build an empire, and your only goal is to amuse yourselves by tearing it down. Have I taught you nothing?]]
In Iacon's medical center, where many, many racers have ultimately ended up, Sentinel Prime meets with Orion and D-16; the pair are immediately certain they are in ''massive'' trouble, especially when they're scanned by Sentinel's creepy aide [[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] before his arrival, but it turns out it's quite the opposite. Sentinel ''loved'' their little stunt, and tells them that the miners' productivity after that showing was already at 150%. Sentinel offers them a chance to tour the mines and help inspire their comrades to work harder, with promises of some pampering along the way, and the pair quickly agree. However, Darkwing arrives before Airachnid can escort them to Sentinel's private quarters; infuriated that he nearly lost the race to the pair after they humiliated him, he drags them to the planet's fiftieth sub-level (ten levels below what they ''thought'' was the lowest level of the planet) and locks them in a trash incineration station.

The two bots soon meet the eccentric and exceptionally talkative [[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]], who has been trapped at the job of "look at garbage and take anything of value out before it's burned" for years, with only garbage statues for "company". When one of B's pals "[[Steve (One)|Steve]]" utters some electronic gibberish, Orion accidentally beheads the "bot", but discovers within the wreckage an old beacon from the Quintesson war, still broadcasting a set of coordinates located somewhere on the planet's surface. Orion, B-127, and D-16 decide to investigate, escaping the only way they can: by climbing up the dump chute. Ew. The trio stow away aboard an automated surface-bound garbage train but coincidentally encounter Elita-1, who now works the refuse line. She handily clobbers the three but ends up locked in the train with them as it departs. She heads for the front, intending to report them to security, a mad dash that gets all the harder as the train starts moving vertically towards its destination. She manages to pop a hatch and make it out of the train, and the trio gives chase, but all four are stopped cold as they're enveloped in light and they find themselves traveling along Cybertron's surface.

The four are stunned by the planet's natural beauty, only to become horrified as said natural beauty starts violently heaving upwards behind them, tearing up the self-building rail and scattering train cars. They run for it but are thrown off, waking in just enough time to completely miss another train, the rail un-building behind it. Elita is furious, but agrees to join Orion's search for the Matrix, on the conditions that 1) she's in command, 2) she holds the map, and 3) if the quest turns out to be a wild goose chase, then the other three will turn themselves in for their idiotic plan and paint her in a very positive light to the authorities. Orion very quickly agrees, and the four head off, confused by the weird not-metal life growing on the surface. They spy a group of [[Robo-deer|robotic quadrupedal lifeforms]], which suddenly snap to attention and run for it as the ground begins to tremble. It's soon apparent the cause of their panic: a massive Quintesson spaceship! As the ship scans for any lifeforms (obliterating one of the Cybertronian fauna with a massive cannon blast when it ends up in the tracking beams), the four barely evade detection and the ship moves on.

[[File:TransformersOne-AlphaTrionTransformationCogs.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|Take the staff in your hand, Moses. With it, you shall do My wonders.]]
Soon they find themselves at the end of the map's trail, a [[Mouth of Unicron|hidden and extremely creepy cave]]. Inside they find a scene of absolute horror: the spot where the ancient Primes made their final stand against the Quintessons, their bodies lying broken and covered in overgrowth. Although the Matrix is nowhere to be found, Orion discovers that [[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]]'s spark still pulses and uses an [[energon cube]] provided by B to revive him. The four attempt to bring Trion up to speed on recent events, but their mention of "Sentinel Prime" causes Trion to reveal the terrible truth: Sentinel is an imposter, a traitorous aide who led the Primes into a Quintesson ambush in exchange for "ruling" Cybertron under the invaders' command. However, when Sentinel tried to claim the Matrix after prying it from [[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]]'s corpse, the artifact judged him unworthy and disappeared. To appease his new masters, Sentinel has deliberately stolen transformation cogs from newborn Transformers to keep them producing energon in the mines; at Trion's urging, the four emerge from the cave to witness Sentinel pledging servitude to the [[Quintesson High Commander]] and learn the city's garbage trains are actually transporting Cybertron's dwindling energon supplies to Quintesson ships, leaving barely enough for the people of Cybertron. These revelations leave the bots horrified, but D-16 takes it the worst of all, having also looked up to Sentinel for years. Alpha Trion decides to give the team hope by gifting them the transformation cogs from four of the fallen Primes, as well as a recording of Sentinel's treachery. However, Airachnid spotted the four when they were watching Sentinel's meeting with the Quintessons, and a squad of Sentinel's [[Tracker]]s arrive. Despite his disrepair, Alpha Trion uses his leonine alternate mode to wipe out the squad, allowing Orion and the others to escape, but is quickly incapacitated by Airachnid.

The four bots have a very rocky time learning to transform in the middle of fleeing a squad of Trackers, tumbling downhill with only ''parts'' of them shifting into their new vehicle modes, but desperation forces them to adapt ''very'' quickly. Each one finds new abilities and an aptitude for combat, and soon they're able to destroy their pursuers. Overjoyed at their victory, they make the plan to use the incriminating information Trion gave them by returning to Iacon and exposing Sentinel as a traitor. In their excitement, they fail to notice a Tracker about to shoot them from behind until D-16 uses his new tank mode to kill him first... and then starts laughing at what he just did. D-16 snatches the evidence and takes the lead, his ever-growing intensity and openly stated desire to kill Sentinel leaving Orion more and more unnerved.

Back in Iacon, Alpha Trion is brought before Sentinel, who mocks the "old-timer" and gloats about his station, complaining to Airachnid about the Primes' stuffiness and boring speeches. Trion's word of warning that Sentinel's time will soon be over only annoys the false Prime further, and in a fit of rage he kills the ancient Prime before sending Airachnid back to the surface to hunt down the wayward miners.

[[File:TFoneStarscreamSoundwaveShockwaveInterrogation.jpg|left|thumb|300px|You're playing with the big boys now!]]
Along the path to Iacon, a series of shots ring out, and each bot slips into stasis... Orion and the others are brought back online, bound (and gagged in B's case) as prisoners of the former members of Cybertron's [[High Guard]], who have been fighting a guerrilla war against the Quintessons ever since the fall of the Primes, led by [[Starscream (One)|Starscream]]. D-16 is not impressed, and giving into his growing rage, challenges Starscream's authority, and the two quickly end up in a brawl. While Starscream plays it tough even as D-16 crushes his neck and damages his speech module, his attitude soon changes as D-16 manifests a massive cannon on his arm, aimed directly at Starscream's head. The Guard quickly rallies behind their new leader, ready to take the fight to Sentinel... but Airachnid's forces arrive and ambush them.

[[File:TFOne Airachnid attacks.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Not much of a snake-charmer, are you?]]
Orion, having been buried in the battle, awakens when Elita drags him from the rubble to find that D-16, B-127, and much of the Guard have been taken prisoner, and the data crystal containing the evidence of Sentinel's betrayal has been shattered. Orion despairs, believing their quest to be hopeless now, but Elita won't have it. Though she's still not above taking some digs at Orion, she points out that it is the bot's endless ''optimism'' that makes him a true leader, one that can make bots do amazing (and occasionally amazingly ''stupid'') things. Orion takes the praise (and insults) and decides it's time to rally, and the two quickly formulate a plan; the Guard may be strong, but the last battle proved they aren't enough on their own, they need a true army... and Orion knows exactly where to get one. After Elita quickly shuts down any dissent from the remaining Guard (thanks to a very swift punch to [[Shockwave (One)|Shockwave's]] eye), Orion primes the warriors for the coming battle, with a cry of "''[[Roll out|Transform and ROLL OUT]]!''"

The captives have been brought to [[Hall of Primes|Sentinel's tower]], where the puppet leader gloats over them, mocking Starscream's scrambled voice and sneering at D-16. But the miner does not cower or balk at all, declaring that he is not afraid of Sentinel, as he has nothing left to lose. Noticing the worn Megatronus decal, Sentinel reveals that he took Megatronus's transformation cog when he killed him, ripping the decal from the miner's arm before slapping it back onto his chest... and then, knocking the miner on his back, using a mining tool to crudely ''carve'' the Prime's face into D-16's chest.

Orion uses his new form to rocket-glide into the depths of Iacon City, entering the miners' quarters (and bodily hurling Darkwing aside in the process). Orion reveals the truth to the miners and rallies them to join forces with the High Guard and rebel against Sentinel's regime. Meanwhile, Elita, Shockwave, and [[Soundwave (One)|Soundwave]] have commandeered a returning "garbage" train, transporting the Guard into the city in a sneak attack. But the sudden appearance of hundreds of Trackers makes things look very bad for the plan... until Orion and the miners leap into the fray and cut a swath through the incoming horde, armed with their jet packs and mining tools. Airachnid attempts to kill Orion, slamming him into the train engine, and revealing the ''incredibly horrifying'' array of optics hidden in the back of her head. But her multi-scanning abilities give Orion a sudden idea as the train plows towards Sentinel's tower.

[[File:TFOneSentinelvsD16.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I will not be dictated to. I will not be threatened. I am the morning and the evening star. I am Pharaoh!]]
Sentinel, angered as D-16 once again attempts to rise up, is just about to blow the miner's head off when the train slams into his tower. Soundwave frees the prisoners and the fight spills across the city. Sentinel transforms into combat mode, but D-16 will not be deterred, the two launch into battle. Elita leaps into action, tackling Airachnid and attempting to take her prisoner (with only ''some'' gratuitously satisfying pummeling along the way). She drags the semi-conscious bot to one of Iacon's broadcast stations, and B makes a ''very'' over-enthusiastic entrance. Airachnid's memory banks are quickly scanned, and her memories of Sentinel's most recent meeting with the Quintessons are broadcast throughout the city, leading the populace to also join the fight.

Sentinel fares badly in his fight with D-16, and seeing his cowering before the Quintessons on dozens of screens, his empire in ruins, tries to flee, and when that fails, begs D-16 to spare him, claiming they can co-rule Cybertron. D-16 insists that Sentinel must die for his crimes, but Orion tries to convince his friend that they can be better than their enemies. D-16 violently disagrees, knocking his friend aside and readying the kill shot... only for Orion to leap in the path, the cannon blast tearing through his torso and sending him tumbling over the edge. D-16 grabs Orion's one good arm, horrified... ''that Orion would stop him from killing Sentinel''. With this betrayal, he vows he is ''done'' saving Orion from his mistakes and lets his dying friend plummet into Cybertron's depths. As Orion falls, D-16, insistent that there will be no more Primes, kills Sentinel by bisecting him with his hands. He then seizes Megatronus' cog from Sentinel's chest, replacing the one gifted to him by Trion, which transforms him into an even ''more'' battle-ready form. Declaring himself "Megatron", he commands the High Guard to destroy everything Sentinel built... in other words, what's left of the city.

[[File:One-Megs-Prime-face-to-face.jpg|thumb|300px|Goodbye... brother.]]
Meanwhile, the mortally wounded Orion falls through the planetary strata, which slides and shifts out of his way, until he finally reaches Cybertron's core. There, he encounters the spirits of the Primes as Trion announce that Primus has deemed him worthy for the future of Cybertron and to carry the Matrix of Leadership, reformatting Orion and restoring his spark to declare him the newest of the Primes: "Optimus Prime", before being sent rocketing back to the surface in a blaze of blue light.

Elita and B try and fail to stop Megatron's rampage, their former friend ready to kill them too, but Optimus smashes onto the scene. Megatron is incensed at this new betrayal both by his former friend ''and'' the Matrix itself, and launches himself at Optimus. During their fight, Optimus manifests an energy battle axe to fight against Megatron along with Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave before using it to destroy Megatron's new cannon, ultimately winning their fight. Unwilling to kill his oldest friend, Optimus reluctantly banishes Megatron and his new allies to the surface. Megatron seethes but decides that now is not the time, and takes his new army to the surface.

With the return of the Matrix of Leadership, Cybertron is restored to life: energon flows once again from the planet's core to the surface, and ''all'' of the cogless bots receive transformation cogs, becoming fully autonomous "[[Autobot]]s" who vow to defend Cybertron from any future Quintesson incursions. However, the Quintessons are not the only looming threat—though banished from Iacon, Megatron and his followers rechristen themselves the "[[Decepticon]]s" and swear revenge.
{{-}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=Miners
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax / Optimus Prime]] ([[Chris Hemsworth]])
*[[Megatron (One)|D-16 / Megatron]] ([[Brian Tyree Henry]])
*[[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]] ([[Scarlett Johansson]])
*[[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]] ([[Keegan-Michael Key]])
*[[Jazz (One)|Jazz]] ([[Evan Michael Lee]])
*[[Arcee (One)|Arcee]] ([[Jinny Chung]])
*[[Bluestreak (One)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Brawn (One)|Brawn]]
*[[Firestar (One)|Firestar]]<ref group=note name="uncredited">Denotes a character, or unidentified members of a group, who speaks, but has no credited voice actor. The performance was likely done by an ADR voice cast member.</ref>
*[[Hound (One)|Hound]]
*[[Huffer (One)|Huffer]]
*[[Ironhide (One)|Ironhide]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Mirage (One)|Mirage]]
*[[Moonracer (One)|Moonracer]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Prowl (One)|Prowl]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Ratchet (One)|Ratchet]]
*[[Red Alert (One)|Red Alert]]
*[[Sideswipe (One)|Sideswipe]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Smokescreen (One)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Sunstreaker (One)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Wheeljack (One)|Wheeljack]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Windcharger (One)|Windcharger]]

|h2=[[High Guard]]
|c2=
*[[Starscream (One)|Starscream]] ([[Steve Buscemi]])
*[[Soundwave (One)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
*[[Shockwave (One)|Shockwave]] ([[Jason Konopisos-Alvarez]])
*[[Skywarp (One)|Skywarp]] (Josh Cooley)
*[[Thundercracker (One)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Dirge (One)|Dirge]]
*[[Ramjet (One)|Ramjet]]
*[[Thrust (One)|Thrust]]
*[[Slipstream (One)|Slipstream]]
*[[Redwing (One)|Redwing]]

|h3=[[Thirteen#One film|Primes]]
|c3=
*[[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]] ([[Laurence Fishburne]])
*[[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]] ([[James Remar]])
*[[The Fallen#One film|Megatronus Prime]]
*[[Alchemist Prime#One film|Alchemist Prime]]
*[[Amalgamous Prime#One film|Amalgamous Prime]]
*[[Liege Maximo#One film|Liege Maximo]]
*[[Micronus Prime#One film|Micronus Prime]]
*[[Nexus Prime#One film|Nexus Prime]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Onyx Prime#One film|Onyx Prime]]
*[[Prima#One film|Prima Prime]]
*[[Quintus Prime#One film|Quintus Prime]]
*[[Solus Prime#One film|Solus Prime]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Vector Prime#One film|Vector Prime]]

|c4=
*[[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] ([[Jon Hamm]])
*[[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] ([[Vanessa Liguori]])
*[[Quintesson High Commander]]
*[[Quintesson Soldier]]s
*[[Primus]]
*[[Tracker]]s<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Guard (One)|Guards]] ([[Steve Blum]], Jason Konopisos-Alvarez)
*[[Announcer Bot]] (Steve Blum)
*[[Control Room Guys]] (Josh Cooley)

'''Racers'''
*[[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]] ([[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]])
*[[Chromia (One)|Chromia]] (Jinny Chung)
*[[Injured Racer]] ([[Dillon Bryan]])

|nonumbering=true
}}
<references group=note/>

==Quotes==
"I had to jump out of a window this time. Almost died. It was wild." 
"And digging through ancient data is worth dying for?" 
"Yes, it is." 
"Oh, I need a new best friend..."
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''D-16''' meet up before their shift.

"Are you ''crazy?!''" 
"Sure feels like it!"
:—'''D-16''' and '''Orion Pax''' summing up their initial relationship.

"Hey, look, I know it's all a big joke to you. But not me. I was paying my dues. I was going places. And now they're gonna bust me down I-- I don't even know how many tiers!" 
'"I'm sorry, D. But come on, didn't you feel it? Even for just a second, didn't you feel liberated? Didn't you feel like you were something else? Like you could be more than what they say you are?" 
"Yeah, I felt it. I did. But it doesn't matter. We're going to get punished ''and'' demoted. Ugh, Sentinel Prime saw the whole thing, this is so ''embarrassing''."
:—"'''D-16''' knows his place, despite what '''Orion Pax''' tries.

"Sentinel Prime. [laughs] '''THE''' Sentinel Prime!" 
"You still mad at me?" 
"I am less mad at you."
:—'''D-16''' meets his idol, and '''Orion Pax''' kills the mood.

"Don't you want to stop him?" 
"NO, '''I WANT TO KILL HIM!''' I wanna put Sentinel in chains and march him through the mines so everyone can see him for the '''FALSE PRIME''' that he is! I want him to '''suffer''', and then to ''die'' in ''darkness.'' But we all know it doesn't matter what I want, ''right'', Pax? The fact is, we're just cogless bots. Right? We had limited options, and now... now we have ''none''."
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''D-16'''

"What defines a Transformer is not the cog in his chest, but the spark in that resides in their core. A spark that gives you the will to make your world better. My fellow Primes had that spark. And I see their strength in you. Take their cogs and access your full potential. Prima. Onyx. Alchemist. Micronus. Warriors of noble spirit, loyalty, strength. Their uniqueness enhanced by these. They were one. ''You'' are one. '''ALL''' are one!" 
"Wait. We have... You-- You gave us..." 
"The ability to change your world. How you choose to use that power is up to you."
:—'''Alpha Trion''' inaugurates '''Orion Pax''' and our heroes with the tried and true phrase.

"Stand down, old timer." 
"Ah... ''old'' you say?"
:—'''Alpha Trion''' shows the foot soldiers that he prefers the word "experienced".

'''Starscream''': Now, are you spies, or incompetent lackeys? 
'''Orion Pax''': We're not spies. 
'''Elita-1''': But he is incompetent.
:—Elita-1 on her boss-to-be

"Uh... why is he gagged?" 
"He wouldn't stop talking." 
"Even when he was unconscious?" 
"''ESPECIALLY'' WHEN HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS!"
:—'''Elita-1''' asks '''Shockwave''' about B-127's restraints.

"Hey! What are you doing?" 
"I'll tell you what I'm not doing. I'm not cowering in some busted ship, playing king of the throne. I'm not pretending like I'm making a difference by throwing one punch and then running away to hide. I found out that Sentinel is rotten today, and I'm going to make him pay for it! TODAY!" 
"You think you can insult me and just walk away? No one leaves here unless I say so." 
"Is that right? Well, how can you say so... with my head in your teeth?"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''D-16''', right before he beats the living scrap out of him.

"Bear witness! ''This'' is the '''last''' time I show mercy! Decide right now! You can stay here in hiding, bowing before your pathetic leader, or follow me as we march on Iacon and I take down Sentinel '''ONCE AND FOR ALL!'''"
:—'''D-16''', as he usurps the High Guard's leadership from Starscream.

"If we want to be in control of our own destiny, we will have to fight for it. Now is the time for us to stand up. For ourselves. Stand up for this injustice! I promise you, this fight will be worth it. Follow me. Nothing can stop us when we stand together! Together as one!"
:—With the miners chanting his name, '''Orion Pax''' delivers his first heroic speech.

''(Airachnid opens the back of her head to reveal'' dozens ''of eyes.)'' 
"You can't win, miner! ''I see '''everything!'''''" 
"That's right, you do... Except the tower we're about to crash into."
:—'''Airachnid''' gets creepy and '''Orion Pax''' gets an idea.

"You pathetic little twits! Did you really think that you could knock down everything I've built?!" 
"It's over, Sentinel! You can't escape the truth!" 
"What truth? That I plucked the cogs from your newborn chests? Forced you to mine so that I could pay off the Quintessons and live like a king? None of that matters! Because the truth... Is. ''WHAT. I. '''MAKE IT!'''''"
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' teaches '''Orion Pax''' that he won't go down without a fight.

"What's wrong, D-16? ''Rise up!''"
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' mockingly gives D-16 his future slogan.

"I'm ''done'' saving you."
:—'''D-16''' lets his ''former'' friend fall.

"The Age of Primes has ended! '''NO MORE FALSE PROPHETS'''! Follow me, and you will ''never again'' be ''deceived!'' '''RISE UP!''' ''I'' will lead us all into the future! ''I...'' '''AM...''' '''''MEGATRON!'''''"
:—With the death of Sentinel Prime, '''D-16''' renames himself as '''Megatron'''

"''Orion Pax.'' Your noble sacrifice for the greater good has proven you worthy in the eyes of Primus. He entrusts in you the future of Cybertron, and... the Matrix of Leadership! '''Arise...''' '''''Optimus Prime.'''''"
:—Speaking for Primus, '''Alpha Trion''' and the Primes rebuild Orion Pax.

"We could have built the future ''together!"'' 
"I'll build it myself. After I tear down everyone '''''IN MY WAY!'''''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' set the stage for eons of conflict to come.

"We were given the power to change our world, and you chose to destroy it. Just like Sentinel. You have betrayed Cybertron and its citizens, and you betrayed... ''me.'' Go. Take the High Guard, and leave. You are banished from Iacon. It didn't have to end this way." 
"This isn't over... ''Prime.''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' share one final exchange.

"This is the greatest day of my life... I get to work for the ''government''!"
:—'''B-127''' knows a good benefits package when he sees one.

"And now we stand here together as one, proving we all have the power to transform; to become who we were destined to be; to right wrongs; to make our world better. Because here, freedom and autonomy are the right of all sentient beings. Here, all are truly ''Autobots''. This message is a warning to all Quintessons: If you dare return to Cybertron, the Autobots will be waiting. ''I'' will be waiting. I... am ''Optimus Prime''."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gives his first dramatic ending monologue...

"Sentinel, the betrayer, is dead. But his death has given life to a new enemy...a stronger enemy... a ''personal'' enemy. We will ''not'' be blinded by his deception! We are the ones who are... '''DECEPTICONS! ''RISE UP!'''''"
:—...and '''Megatron''' gives the coming darkness its new name.

==Continuity notes==
The movie that would ultimately become ''Transformers One'' entered preliminary development in early 2015, when the project was first pitched as part of a writer's room that would lay out a number of sequels, prequels, and spinoff films that would turn the ongoing [[live-action film series|slate of live-action movies]] into a proper "cinematic universe", an attempt to cash in on the then-meteoric hype of the {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe}}. Like pretty much all the other "cinematic universes" pitched at around this time, this ambitious vision was not to be: following the box-office bomb that was ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', most of these projects were shelved, while others were heavily reworked—perhaps most infamously, ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' was recut into a film that contradicted ''The Last Knight'' and its depictions of Bumblebee fighting in [[World War II]], shifting the film and [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|its sequel]] into a more ambiguous "soft reboot" that only loosely connect to the five Bay films.

It appears that a similar conceptual drift occurred over the course of ''Transformers One'''s production. When the film entered full production in mid-2020, ''One'' was said to be "separate and apart" from the ongoing live-action films, though at the time just ''how'' distinct the film would be from its predecessors remained a mystery.<ref name="cooleyreveal" /> When later asked if the film was a prequel to the live-action films, a reboot, or its own universe, director Josh Cooley answered "yes" to all of the above.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/transformers-one-director-confirms-new-movies-canon-status/ Transformers ONE Director Confirms New Movie's Canon Status - ComicBook.com]</ref> While a few details and visual nods—such as Bumblebee's original name of "B-127", the function of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in which it dissolves into dust if it deems someone unworthy to wield it and the incorporation of a closing monologue delivered by Optimus—referenced the live-action films, the film otherwise draws heavily upon the mythology first laid down in the [[Aligned continuity family|"Aligned" continuity family]] and has gone on to inform just about every major ''Transformers'' universe afterwards, particularly in its depiction of Orion Pax and D-16 as former allies fighting against a corrupt Cybertronian government.

As the film's release date drew closer, multiple comments from the film's creatives indicated that the filmmakers viewed the movie as something entirely separate from the ongoing live-action films. In July, Josh Cooley stated that the film was set in a "new Transformers continuity"<ref>{{citesocial|quote= "Hey little nerd in my profile picture, what if I told you someday you'll create a new Transformers continuity, that begins earlier than anything you've seen on the Transformers lore timeline, with the greatest crew and cast ever assembled?"|link= https://twitter.com/CooleyUrFaceOff/status/1817235351095894510 |name=Josh Cooley|site=Twitter|year=2024|month=7|day=27}}</ref>; in another interview from a week before release, di Bonaventura ultimately admitted that ''One'' didn't fit into the chronology of the live-action films, and described ''One'' and the live-action films as "two universes" that would be "[kept] separate".<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/is-transformers-one-a-prequel-optimus-prime-origin-story-exclusive/ Is Transformers One a Prequel or Reboot? The Animated Movie's Origin Story Is Both, Director Says]</ref> These statements were ultimately borne out by the movie itself, which featured multiple plot points that are pretty much irreconcilable with the live-action films—early on, the film establishes that [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] is long dead, negating his appearance in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''; additionally, the movie ends with the newly christened Megatron killing Sentinel Prime, leaving no wiggle room for the events of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' to occur. As a result, the wiki has opted to treat ''One'' and any potential sequels as a new [[continuity family]] entirely separate from the ongoing live-action films.

==Transformers references==
* As with pretty much every major ''Transformers'' project since 2010, ''Transformers One'' is the latest interpretation of the modernized ''Transformers'' backstory that originated with [[Binder of Revelation|Hasbro's internal design documents]] and was first laid down in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''—the story of [[Primus]], the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]], and the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron as former friends who fought against inequality on pre-war Cybertron until Megatron's extremism drove them apart. Notably, this version of the story portrays both Orion and Megatron as [[energon]] miners on the bottom of Cybertron's caste system—most other interpretations have instead depicted Orion as a somewhat higher-ranking data clerk. While other tellings of the story have Orion advocating for non-violent social change, this take on the origin ends with Orion Pax working alongside the future Decepticons to directly overthrow the reigning Prime, evoking [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' miniseries.
* Many contemporary works of pre-war ''Transformers'' fiction have established that pre-war Cybertronians organized themselves under a job-based [[Functionism|caste system]], with miners and other manual laborers occupying the lowest ranks of Transformer society. ''One'' features a very simplified version of this hierarchy, where Cybertronians without transformation cogs are an oppressed underclass while other Transformers receive additional rights and job opportunities.
* With the exception of D-16—whose origins as a low-ranking miner date back to IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]''—all of the other miners shown in the film go on to join the Autobots, while the forerunners of the Decepticons are depicted as ex-members of the elite [[High Guard]]. This specific class divide dates back to the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" and, to a lesser extent, "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", which explained the war between the Autobots and Decepticons as an entrenched conflict between civilian laborers and military robots.
* All the character designs are far closer to their Generation 1 designs (both the cartoon and the original toys) than the previous films. Characters also earn their iconic design traits in pivotal scenes, such as Optimus Prime's [[Energon-axe]] and [[mouthplate]], or Megatron's [[fusion cannon]]. In the final scene, many miners gain details to match their Generation 1-selves even closer after they receive their cogs; in particular, Arcee gains her pink visor from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Starscream, Soundwave, and Megatron's newly applied insignias in the post-credits scene are also in the same place as their original counterparts, with Starscream's even being upside-down!
* Optimus Prime's original identity of "Orion Pax" is a name taken from the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". Notably, the cartoon's version of Orion Pax was also a manual laborer, although the film does seemingly pay homage to Orion Pax's other famous job by having him sneak into the Cybertronian Archives at the very beginning of the film. D-16 takes [[Dion (G1)|Dion]]'s place as his best friend and co-worker.
* The 'bot who will one day be known as "Megatron" initially goes by the name "D-16", a moniker lifted from ''Exodus'' and itself based on the [[TakaraTomy]] ID number of the [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original Megatron toy]]. D-16's original body—with a black, dome-shaped helmet and yellow eyes—references Megatron's [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel Comics appearance]], which in turn was based on concept art for an unproduced prototype version of the original Takara Micro Change figure. Much like Orion Pax, his modern gladiator job is paid homage in his fight with Starscream.
* B-127 is heavily based on his [[Bumblebee (Movie)|live-action film series counterpart]]: his helmet design and blasters bear a resemblance to his appearance in those films; additionally, his overly-talkative nature is a meta-gag about his "future" self being best known for not being able to speak. The name "B-127" derives from the [[Bumblebee (film)|''Bumblebee'' movie]], where, much like this film, he did not receive the name "Bumblebee" on Cybertron. B-127's battle mask resembles his [[Bumblebee (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart's]] [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original toy]]; towards the end of the film, he fights with a pair of "knife hands" seemingly based on ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]]'' Bumblebee's melee weapons.
* In general, Elita-1 doesn't draw upon as many specific references as her co-stars, although her purplish-pink color scheme and motorcycle [[alternate mode]] may be a reference to her [[Elita-One (Movie)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' design]]. Notably, of the four main protagonists, Elita's the only one who ''doesn't'' have an alternate alias—especially odd given that her [[Elita One (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] originally went by "Ariel" in the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". (This exclusion is perhaps less odd when one considers that subsequent to 1985, [[Disney]] secured a near-stranglehold on toys named "{{w|Ariel (The Little Mermaid)|Ariel}}".)
* Sentinel Prime is based on [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]], the former leader of Cybertron in the [[Aligned continuity family|"Aligned" continuity]]. Like that version of the character, this take on Sentinel Prime is explicitly a "false" Prime who never carried the Matrix of Leadership, and a puppet ruler who was appointed to the position by the Quintessons. Design-wise, this take on Sentinel draws from his "Aligned" counterpart, his [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|''Dark of the Moon'' appearance]], and has details from his [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' toy]] and the thematically similar character, [[Nominus Prime]]. Sentinel's battle mode is inspired by his [[Apex Armor (G1)|Apex Armor]] from the ''Megatron Origin'' comic. He also has his [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]]'s glorious chin, as well as carrying on his 'arrogant jerkwad' personality rather than the more stoic attitude of other Sentinels. His double-bladed weapon takes specific inspiration from DOTM Sentinel's [[Primax Blade]], now with the additional ability to retract one or both of its blades when required.
* Airachnid is derived from the ''Prime'' [[Airachnid (Prime)|character of the same name]]—a notable inclusion given the primarily G1-based main cast—sharing a similar design, alternate mode as a helicopter, and antagonistic personality. Role-wise, however, she draws from her [[Airachnid (G1)|IDW 2005 counterpart]] being a subordinate of the [[Starscream_(G1)/2005_IDW_continuity|shady sovereign ruler of Cybertron]].
* Like Sentinel Prime, the Quintessons are primarily based on their depiction in the "Aligned" lorebook [[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|''The Covenant of Primus'']], which depicted them as shadowy manipulators who ruled Cybertron and exploited its natural resources through a proxy government; notably, the Quintessons in the ''Covenant'' helped maintain their hold on Transformer civilization by withholding the power to transform from the general populace. In a notable deviation from traditional ''Transformers'' lore, the bodies and starships of the film's Quintessons appear to be organic in nature.
** It is ambiguous to what the origin of the Quintessons actually is. In most modern media, the Quintessons are the renegade creations of Quintus Prime (such as in ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark]]''). While they do share some similarities, such as part of their names, multiple appendages, need for Energon, and their coloration, nothing is ever stated that Quintus Prime created them. They aren't the creators of the Cybertronian race like in media before Primus was created, either. It is possible that the Quintessons are simply an alien race unrelated to the Cybertronians.
* Primus' design seen in the hologram Orion plays is largely based on the [[IP infringement|"third party"]] 01 Studio Seed figure, itself inspired by the oft-referenced [[:File:UltimateGuidePrimus.jpg|original character model]] for his planet-body from [[DK Publishing|DK]]'s [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|''The Ultimate Guide'']]. His head and chest are closer to his ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' appearance, also pulling a simplified version of [[Primus#Cybertron|that toy]]'s transformation scheme. Primus' willing sacrifice of his locomotion and birthing of the Thirteen pulls from his appearance in the eponymous ''Covenant of Primus''.
* The Thirteen are similarly based on their "Aligned"' incarnations for their backstory and designs. Nexus, Megatronus, Solus, and Alchemist Prime also draw from their ''[[:File:NexusPrimeflankedbyotherPrimes.jpg|Timelines]]'', ''[[:File:Megatronus.jpeg|Titans Return]]'', ''[[:File:SolusPrime-PowerofthePrimes.jpg|Power of the Primes]]'', and ''[[:File:TheCitizen IaconusCitizens.jpg|Cyberverse]]'' designs, respectively, while Vector Prime is based squarely on his original ''Cybertron'' design.
* Megatronus is also inspired by his ''Revenge of the Fallen'' design, including his face being based on the Decepticon symbol (or vice versa in-universe), although it is far more obvious in this movie, coincidentally evoking [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]]. Megatronus' face becoming the in-universe inspiration for the Decepticon symbol reflects the real life story of [[Soundwave (G1)|Generation 1 Soundwave]]'s face inspiring the iconic symbol.
* Alpha Trion's abilities to recreate and store memories as information calls back to the archival role of his [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Aligned counterpart]]. His alternate mode being a leonine beast with a unicorn-esque horn is a direct homage to his [[Alpha Trion (G1)#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' toy]], itself based on his [[Alpha Trion (G1)#Toys|cancelled BotCon toy]].
* The mysterious [[Thirteenth Prime]] is replaced with Zeta Prime, who also takes [[Prima]]'s role as leader and Matrix-bearer, though Prima himself is still present. Zeta's design is also based on "Aligned" Sentinel Zeta Prime, as he appears in the ''War for Cybertron'' video game.
* The Thirteen are not actually referred to as the "Thirteen", but rather the Primes or the "Council of Elders", a term that originated in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''. This is likely because it would contradict Sentinel's narrative painting himself as a fourteenth Prime. Notably, none of the archives or displays of the Thirteen include Sentinel.
* The cameo miners mostly draw from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)/cast#Season 1|1984 Autobot cast of the original cartoon]], along with the [[Female Autobots]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and recolors such as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The background High Guard characters, meanwhile, are based on the endless Starscream recolors that have appeared throughout ''Transformers'', commonly known as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Notably, one of their helmet variations is based on [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity#Cybertron cartoon|''Cybertron'' Starscream]]'s, while some Seekers including [[Thundercracker (One)|Thundercracker]] sport triple-barreled weapons on their arms that resemble the [[neutron assault rifle]] from ''Fall of Cybertron'' – specifically the split-in-half configuration seen in the [[Starscream (WFC)/toys#Generations|''Fall of Cybertron'' Starscream toy]] and its redecoes, even including a gear-shaped detail behind the barrels echoing the gears on the toy's accessories.
* Shockwave, Soundwave, Starscream/the Seekers, and the cogged versions of Ironhide, Ratchet, and Arcee have details based on their ''Bumblebee'' designs.
*The jet modes of Starscream/the Seekers are also based on ''Bumblebee'', while Soundwave's vehicle mode is based on his [[Soundwave (ROTF)/toys#SS83|''Studio Series Bumblebee'' toy]]. Shockwave's alternate mode resembles his [[Shockwave (WFC)|''War for Cybertron'' counterpart]], and both he and Starscream/the Seekers have details from their [[War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' toys]].
*When Orion "transforms" to run away from the guards, he moves his limbs in a way that evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Toys|his original toy]]'s transformation.
* The Matrix causing Energon to flow and 'killing' the planet when lost calls back to the [[AllSpark]].
* When discussing their mining ability, Elita says Orion "[doesn't] have the touch or the power," a reference to the [[The Touch|beloved song]] from ''The Transformers: The Movie.''
* The Iacon 5000 derives from the Marvel UK ''The Transformers'' [[Source:Darn 'n' Blast#Issue 326|issue 326's "Darn 'n' Blast" letter page]]. Many of the racers in the Iacon 5000 are characters from Generation 1 and ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'', with their colors and vehicle modes next to their names on the leaderboard, though they do not correspond to specific models except for the miners, Darkwing, and Chromia.
** Racers based on their Generation 1 counterparts include [[Mirage (One)|Mirage]], [[Clampdown (One)|Clampdown]], [[Silverbolt (One)|Silverbolt]], "[[Deadend (One)|Deadend]]", [[Slingshot (One)|Slingshot]], [[Cliffjumper (One)|Cliffjumper]], [[Dragstrip (One)|Dragstrip]], [[Swerve (One)|Swerve]], [[Powerglide (One)|Powerglide]], [[Jetstorm (One)|Jetstorm]], [[Windblade (One)|Windblade]], [[Afterburner (One)|Afterburner]], [[Blurr (One)|Blurr]], [[Fireflight (One)|Fireflight]], [[Cordon (One)|Cordon]], [[Breakdown (One)|Breakdown]], [[Swindle (One)|Swindle]], [[Tailgate (One)|Tailgate]], [[Lightspeed (One)|Lightspeed]], "[[Spinout (One)|Spinout]]", [[Greasepit (One)|Greasepit]], [[Scattershot (One)|Scattershot]], [[Inferno (One)|Inferno]], [[Motormaster (One)|Motormaster]], and "[[Hotrod (One)|Hotrod]]".
** Racers based on their ''Generation 2'' counterparts include [[Blowout (One)|Blowout]], [[High Beam (One)|High Beam]], [[Double Clutch (One)|Double Clutch]], [[Meanstreak (One)|Meanstreak]], [[Motormouth (One)|Motormouth]], [[Speedstream (One)|Speedstream]], "[[Roadrocket (One)|Roadrocket]]", and [[Staxx (One)|Staxx]].
** [[Jolt (One)|Jolt]] and [[Leadfoot (One)|Leadfoot]] are the only racers based on their [[Jolt_(ROTF)|Bayverse ]] [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|counterparts]].
** [[Override (One)|Override]] and [[Tankor (One)|Tankor]] are based on their ''[[Override (Cybertron)|Cybertron]]'' and ''[[Tankor (BM)|Beast Machines]]'' counterparts, respectively.
**Racers that are only named through dialogue are [[Tailwind (One)|Tailwind]], [[Strafe (One)|Strafe]] (spelled "Streak" in the Spanish subtitles), [[Skyfire (One)|Skyfire]], and original characters [[Thunderglide]] and [[Behemoth]]. Phew!
* After being knocked off the train and stranded on the surface, Elita-1 calls Orion, D-16, and B-127 a bunch of "idiot [[GoBots|go-bots]]" as if referring to their previous toy shelf rivals (although it's spelled the way that Hasbro does for their own figures).
* The film's themes, "Resting Place of the Primes" and "The Fall", include a leitmotif from the main theme of ''Transformers: Prime'', which was also composed by Brian Tyler. "The Fall" also plays a motif lifted from ''The Transformers: The Movie'''s "[[Death of Optimus Prime]]" in a different key. More specifically, the motif is from when [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] flatlines and dies. Fitting, as "The Fall" plays when Orion Pax is dropped into Cybertron's [[core]] and Optimus Prime is born. Incidentally, this scene and the music are also quite similar to when Megatron fatally shoots Bumblebee in the ''Transformers: Prime'' series finale "[[Deadlock (episode)|Deadlock]]".
*D-16's eye color gradually shifting from yellow to red upon declaring himself "Megatron" is similar to how his [[Megatron (WFC)|Aligned counterpart]]'s eye color changed from blue to red after being denied the rank of Prime (and given to his friend Orion, which he viewed as a "betrayal") as seen in the flashbacks of "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
*The part of "The Fall" that plays when Megatron rips Sentinel in half also includes a leitmotif from [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron's]] "The Great Exodus".
* The notion of the Matrix actively rejecting an "unworthy" candidate and disintegrating was a plot point in ''Revenge of the Fallen''.
* Alpha Trion announces "All are one!" as he bequeaths the main quartet their new transformation cogs, a reference to the classic slogan "[['Til all are one]]!" originating from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* An empty Matrix chamber is visible behind Orion's chest window after receiving his cog, even before finding the actual Matrix.
* The throne Starscream sits on is loosely based on the crown his [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] wore during his coronation in ''The Transformers: The Movie''.<ref>[https://youtu.be/fo7EwIlSNAs?si=8y1UWHCLv46WKzE7&t=190 Brian Tyree Henry & Josh Cooley Dissect The Evolution Of Megatron | Transformers One Behind The Shot]</ref>
*Soundwave scans Orion's electrical impulses to check if he is lying, a rarely referenced ability from his [[Soundwave (G1)|original toy's bio]].
*Shockwave's eye flickers when he speaks, just as it did in the original Generation 1 cartoon. Similarly, Optimus Prime's faceplate bobs up and down when he speaks.
* Starscream has a normal-sounding voice (for Steve Buscemi, anyway) when he first appears, but after D-16 crushes his [[voice box]] during their duel, his voice becomes shriller and scratchier in the style of [[Chris Latta]]'s portrayal of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]].
*Shockwave and Elita have a small rivalry, reflecting their Generation 1 versions in Elita's introduction episode, "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]".
* Soundwave orders the High Guard to "[[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|eject]]" when descending on Sentinel's tower.
[[File:TFoneOrionJump.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Let my people go!]]
* During the battle in Sentinel Prime's tower, Orion leaps into the air and shoots one of the Trackers, with his midair pose homaging Optimus Prime's famous midair shooting pose from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* Megatron is the 'bot who shoots Orion and leaves him on the brink of death until he is resurrected as Optimus Prime in what is likely a reference to the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". However, the specific framing of the scene—in which Megatron shoots Orion and drops him into the depths of the planet, only for him to find the Matrix and return as Optimus—is, however coincidentally, nearly identical to the events of [[Transformation (issue)|issue #9]] of ''Autocracy''. Orion finding the Matrix in the planet's core also evokes the climax of the ''War for Cybertron'' games.
* The fatal wounds Orion Pax sustained from D-16 before his descent into Cybertron's core strongly resemble the wounds Optimus Prime sustained at the end of the ''The Transformers'' episode "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]".
* Megatron disposes of Sentinel Prime in the same manner that his [[Megatron (Movie)|live-action counterpart]] killed [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]—by bisecting the bot with his bare hands. Similarly, this is also how the [[Rainmaker]]s disposed of Sentinel in the [[2019 IDW continuity]].
** Likewise, a damaged Sentinel pleaded mercy and tried to reason to his soon-to-be executioner, the one 'bot who trusted him the most. In ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'', it was Optimus; here, it was Megatron. Also, Sentinel offers Megatron to work together, which they did in ''Dark of the Moon'' until Sentinel briefly usurped Megatron's leadership.
* When both Orion Pax and Sentinel Prime die, [[aggressive depigmentation|their bodies turn grey]].
* Orion is caught by a beam and brought to Primus to be reformatted into Optimus Prime, much like how Megatron was caught by [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] and reformatted into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]].
* "Arise, Optimus Prime", intones Alpha Trion as Orion receives the Matrix, evoking the climax of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', in which a ghostly Optimus Prime said the same to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] as he transformed into Rodimus Prime.
* When the energy burst from Optimus' return to the surface blows Megatron off his feet, he crashes to the ground in a [https://www.reddit.com/r/transformers/s/QRpmFJRCXz pose] identical to his G1 self after Optimus threw him off during their duel in ''The Transformers: The Movie.''
* Megatron using a long piece of sharp, orange shrapnel to attack Optimus also comes from the iconic fight in ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* Optimus using a defeated Shockwave's cannon to attack another enemy is a fighting move Optimus made in ''Dark of the Moon''.
* After Optimus and Megatron's fight concludes, Megatron is shown with "tear stains" of mech fluid under his eyes, precisely matching the fluid-streaks the original Megatron had running down ''his'' face after his fight with Optimus in ''The Transformers: The Movie''. In ''One'', Megatron then declares "This isn't over, Prime," mirroring his line from ''The Movie'': "It's over, Prime."
* When restoring Cybertron's Energon supply, Optimus holds the Matrix in the same pose Hot Rod holds it when transforming into Rodimus at the end of ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* The restoration of Cybertron's Energon supply is somewhat similar to the planet's revitalization at the end of "[[The Rebirth, Part 3]]".
* Optimus' concluding narration is presented as a "message" being sent into space, continuing the recurring concept of the ''Transformers'' films ending in such a way, introduced in the [[Transformers (film)|first live-action movie]]. This also happens at the end of "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".
*Optimus' transformation during his ending monologue is accompanied by the original transformation noise.
* In the post-credits scene, Megatron brands the Decepticon insignia onto his troops much like his [[Megatron (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]] did in "[[A Bridge Too Close, Part I]]". Megatron also orders the Decepticons to "[[Roll out#Transformers_Animated|rise up]]", quoting his ''Animated'' counterpart who originated the phrase "transform and rise up" in "[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]".
* While the newly christened Decepticons fire into the sky, the glow of the laser beams shines on Megatron's insignia in a way that homages the metallic effect of the [[:File:TF-G1-HD-Logo-Evil-Decepticon.png|original Decepticon ''The Transformers'' logo]], and many a [[scene transition]].

==Real-life references==
* The design of the arcade cabinet in the miners' quarters is based on the {{w|Neo Geo (system)|Neo Geo MVS}}.
* One of B-127's "friends" is named [https://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw?t=104 A-A-Tron].
* As Orion Pax and D-16 approach the finish line in the Iacon 5000, the announcer quotes verbatim Joe Starkey's call of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Play_(American_football) The Play] from the 1982 Cal-Stanford game. "The most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heart-rending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of—" It can be assumed he would say "The Iacon 5000" in place of "college football," had Chromia not sped past to win the race.

==Errors==
* The history record about Primus, the Primes, and the Matrix that Orion Pax watches in the archives is recorded by [[Laurence Fishburne|a voice]] that clearly belongs to Alpha Trion. Yet, the events described in the history record include the disappearance of the Matrix, which happened after the Primes were killed and Alpha Trion went offline. So how could Alpha Trion have made that recording when he was lying comatose in a cave during that time?
** That said, synthesizing voices isn't all that hard. Considering the record's content, it was likely created by Sentinel Prime as propaganda.
* Many of the miners based on recognizable characters appear multiple times in the background or between shots, with many, such as Ironhide, having numerous occupations and being in multiple places at the same time.
* The High Guard has the same issue. Slipstream is shown to have been captured by the Death Trackers, but is later shown to take part in the attack on Sentinel's tower. Thundercracker is sliced in half by Airachnid, but is present the rest of the film.
* Mirage, with the colors and land-based vehicle mode of his [[Mirage (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]], appears on the leaderboard of the Iacon 5000, but one of the cogless miners is clearly based on Generation 1 Mirage.
* Chromia is the racer that wins the Iacon 5000, but a bot that better resembles [[Chromia (G1)|Generation 1 Chromia]] appears as a miner too. Production designer Jason Scheier would confirm the miner bot is just a bot that resembles Chromia, while the one in the Iacon 5000 is the 'real' Chromia.
* One of the cogless miners is clearly meant to be [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], with a black crest, red pelvis, and red pips on his shoulders. However, the scene after the Iacon 5000 in Iacon's medical center has a voice on the intercom paging a "Dr. Ratchet".
* Airachnid's legs are floating behind her back in her conversation with Sentinel Prime after he murders Alpha Trion.
* When Starscream interrogates the main quartet in the High Guard lair, Slipstream's hands are [https://www.reddit.com/r/Transformemes/comments/1gw87v2/something_feels_missing/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1 positioned] as if she is holding a blaster but the blaster itself is not present at all, resulting in a rather awkward pose.
* The incriminating clips of Sentinel replayed from Airachnid's mind reuse clips from previous scenes of the movie instead of being from Airachnid's point of view. She wasn't exaggerating when she said "I see ''everything''"!
* Additionally, one of Sentinel’s lines in Airachnid’s mind isn’t present in the scene it should come from; her memory of the meeting with the Quintessons includes Sentinel saying “I’m working my miners as hard as I can”, a line that’s never said in the original scene.
* During the long take of Optimus Prime using his Energon axe to fight off Megatron, Starscream, Shockwave, and Soundwave at the end of the film, Soundwave's shoulder cannon is on his left shoulder. In every other shot of the film, he is depicted with the cannon over his right shoulder like his G1 counterpart usually does.

==Music==
A score album, ''[[Transformers One (Music from the Motion Picture)]]'', features the original music by composer [[Brian Tyler]] and was released concurrently with the film. It notably repurposes a leitmotif from his work on [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'']] into this film's main theme. The score also has other Transformers references, both in the melodies and titles of the tracks. The composer, under his electronic side project "Are We Dreaming", also produced the end credits song, "[[If I Fall]]", featuring rappers [[W:Quavo|Quavo]] (of Migos fame) and [[W:Ty Dolla Sign|Ty Dolla $ign]].

Canadian DJ {{w|Excision_(musician)|Excision}} released the dubstep song "Together As One", which samples numerous lines from the film's cast, as part of the film's marketing campaign. Many of the lines in this song would go unused in the film's final cut. Chinese artist {{w|Yuqi}} released the song "ONE" as part of the film's Chinese marketing campaign. Neither song is present in the film.

==Reception==
{{quote|Just when you’re about to give up on stories that endlessly repackage the same trademarked properties, along comes a movie like Josh Cooley’s “Transformers One.” As its subtly confident title suggests, it carries itself as if nobody had ever made a Transformers movie before.|Matt Zoller Seitz|[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-one-film-review Rogerebert.com]}}

While [[Michael Bay]]'s ''Transformers'' films were notable for their record-breaking profits despite mixed to overwhelmingly negative reviews, ''Transformers One'' faced the opposite problem. While [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|the previous theatrical ''Transformers'' film]] met with mixed reviews, ''Transformers One'' enjoyed an almost universally positive reception from both film critics and casual moviegoers. Critics praised the film's visual design, its nuanced approach to characterization and worldbuilding, and the performances of the film's voice actors, with many singling out Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry for their portrayals of Orion Pax and D-16. As of October 2024, its RottenTomatoes rating sits at 89% positive critical reviews and 98% positive audience reviews.

In the United States and Canada, ''Transformers One'' was originally projected to gross between $30-$40 million on its opening weekend. Ultimately, the film only made $24.6 million and finished second in the box office behind ''{{w|Beetlejuice Beetlejuice}}'' (which had been released ''two weeks'' prior) in a surprise upset. <ref> [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-can-transformers-one-borrow-a-page-from-spider-verse-and-recover-1236009559/ "Box Office: Can Transformers One Borrow a Page From Spider-Verse and Recover?"] </ref> In its second weekend, the film lost out to rival animated robot movie ''{{w|The Wild Robot}}'', and ultimately took in a mere $9.2 million after suffering a 62.8% drop.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/09/box-office-megalopolis-the-wild-robot-1236101618/ "'Wild Robot' Powers To Third Best September Animated Pic Debut With $35M; 'Megalopolis' Collapses With $4M & D+ CinemaScore; 'Saturday Night' Alive In Limited Release -- Box Office Update"]</ref>

The film's theatrical run was finished on November 22, 2024, grossing $128.7 million worldwide, making it the lowest-earning Paramount-released ''Transformers'' film.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/11/22/transformers-one-ends-its-theatrical-run-how-much-did-it-make/ "‘Transformers One’ Ends Its Theatrical Run. How Much Did It Make? - Forbes"]</ref>

==Development timeline==
[[File:Transformers-One-Teaser-Poster.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''There can be miracles when you believe Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill Who knows what miracles you can achieve When you believe, somehow you will You will when you believe'']]
*March 27, 2015 — As part of the development of ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|Transformers: The Last Knight]]'', [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" to build a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[https://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Among the writers hired are ''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' scribes [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]], who pitch the concept of an animated ''Transformers'' prequel set in the [[Live-action film series|live-action series universe]].<ref name="barrerferrari">[https://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref>
*December 20, 2018 — Following the release of ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'', [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] hints in an interview that the animated prequel is still in the works.<ref>[https://www.metro.us/will-there-be-a-bumblebee-2-whats-the-future-for-the-transformers-universe-heres-what-its-producer-told-us/ Lorenzo di Bonaventura interview for Metro USA]</ref>
*April 29, 2020 — Director [[Josh Cooley]] (''Toy Story 4'') is reported to have been brought into the project to oversee a final draft, which is said to be "separate and apart" from the live-action films.<ref name="cooleyreveal" />
*May 18, 2021 — [[Allspark Pictures]] President [[Greg Mooradian]] credits the animated ''Transformers'' film on his Linkedin page with a 2023 release.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-mooradian-4a5062200/ Greg Mooradian's Linkedin:] "TRANSFORMERS (Animated Feature), with Oscar-winner Josh Cooley directing (2023 release)"</ref>
*May 24, 2021 — Hasbro CEO [[Brian Goldner]] confirms the animated feature is in development, and will be released at some point after ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]''.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2021/05/24/tfw2005-coverage-of-49th-j-p-morgan-conference-434088 TFW2005 Coverage Of 49th J.P. Morgan Conference]</ref>
*January 21, 2022 — Paramount announces an untitled animated Transformers movie will be released on July 19, 2024.<ref>[https://collider.com/new-transformers-animated-movie-release-date/ Collider: New 'Transformers' Animated Movie Release Date Set For 2024]</ref>
*April 20, 2023 — di Bonaventura reveals that the entire film takes place on Cybertron, and the setting explores how they begin to question the hierarchy of how their society has gotten stratified, and how the common man doesn't have the voice that they want to have.<ref name=collider2023>[https://collider.com/transformers-animated-movie-characters-plot-cybertron-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ Here’s What the New Animated ‘Transformers’ Movie Is About (Exclusive)]</ref>
*April 21, 2023 — A day after the previous interview, di Bonaventura confirms [[Industrial Light & Magic]]'s involvement as the film's animation studio, bringing the company back to the franchise for the first time since ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://collider.com/new-transformers-animated-movie-ilm-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ The New 'Transformers' Animated Movie Is Partnering With an Industry Giant for the CGI (Exclusive)]/</ref>
*April 27, 2023 — The first members of the film's voice cast are revealed, consisting of [[Chris Hemsworth]] as Optimus Prime, [[Brian Tyree Henry]] as Megatron, [[Scarlett Johansson]] as Elita, [[Keegan-Michael Key]] as Bumblebee, [[Jon Hamm]] as Sentinel Prime, and [[Laurence Fishburne]] as Alpha Trion.<ref>[https://variety.com/2023/film/news/transformers-animated-prequel-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235596692/ ‘Transformers’ Animated Prequel Sets Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and More Voice Cast]</ref>
*May 24, 2023 — Paramount moves the film's release date to September 13, 2024.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2023/05/transformers-one-release-date-pushed-by-paramount-1235379167/ ‘Transformers One’: Paramount Pushes Date For Animated Feature]</ref>
*June 7, 2023 — di Bonaventura teases how the film stands out from previous entries in the franchise, praises Chris Hemsworth's casting as Optimus Prime, and mentions a vocal transition from Hemsworth's voice to [[Peter Cullen]]'s as the character for audiences to witness. [[Steve Desmond]] and [[Michael Sherman]] (''Knock at the Cabin'') were revealed to be additional writers for the film, but where uncredited when the final credit came in.<ref>[https://collider.com/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-optimus-prime-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ 'Transformers One' Producer Is Already Hyped for Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime]</ref>
*June 15, 2023 — Scarlett Johansson discusses the film's animation and praises Cooley as director.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWqG5mlRxzs Scarlett Johansson Says Transformers One Looks So Cool]</ref> Chris Hemsworth later brings details on voicing Optimus Prime for the film and his reasoning he joined the project through his love of the script. He confirms that he will not use his regular voice for the character.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWrsvSzWHoE Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime Sadly Won't Be Australian in Transformers One]</ref>
*July 20, 2023 — di Bonaventura confirms Optimus Prime and Megatron in the film will be depicted under their Orion Pax and D-16 identities.<ref>[https://onetakenews.com/2023/07/20/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-transformers-one/ Lorenzo di Bonaventura Teases Upcoming Film ‘Transformers: One’: “It’s Something I’ve Wanted To Do For A Long Time” (Exclusive)]</ref>
*December 15, 2023 — Keegan-Michael Key mentions his voice for Bumblebee is closer to his regular speaking voice.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLM71B5xmFY Transformers One: Keegan-Michael Key Reveals What Bumblebee Sounds Like in New Animated Film]</ref>
*April 11, 2024 — The cast of the movie previews the trailer and reveals a new logo for the film at Cinemacon 2024, The Hollywood Reporter also confirms [[Steve Buscemi]] has joined the cast.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/transformers-one-animated-movie-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235871998/ Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Brian Tyree Henry Debut Origin Story 'Transformers One' - The Hollywood Reporter]</ref> During the presentation, Hemsworth revealed that Cullen served as a consultant on the getting the voice down.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-one-news-film-is-testing-very-well-and-peter-cullen-consulted-chris-hemsworth-on-voice/48127/ Transformers One News: Film is Testing Very Well and Peter Cullen Consulted Chris Hemsworth on Voice]</ref>
*April 16, 2024 — Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry announce the date of the film's first trailer being on Thursday, April 18, 2024, as it will be launched into space.<ref>[https://collider.com/transformers-one-trailer-premiered-from-space/ The 'Transformers One' Trailer Will Be Premiered From Space - Collider]</ref>
[[File:TransformersOne-weatherballoon.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''So how do you judge what a man is worth? By what he [[Toy|builds or buys]]? You can never see with your eyes on Earth Look through Heaven's eyes Look at your life. Look at your life Look at your life through Heaven's eyes'']]
*April 18, 2024 — A livestream hosted by Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry follows a small craft launched towards space, with a screen that plays the trailer once it reaches 125,000 feet. The movie's release date has been pushed back by one week, to September 20, reportedly to avoid the release conflicting with that of ''{{w|Beetlejuice Beetlejuice}}''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/04/transformers-one-trailer-release-date-1235889037/ ‘Transformers One’ Launches Trailer In Space, A First For A Movie Studio; Pic Going Later In September]</ref> When asked whether the film is a fresh start, a prequel to the live-action films, or its own thing, Cooley replies "yes to all of the above".<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/transformers-one-director-confirms-new-movies-canon-status/ Transformers ONE Director Confirms New Movie's Canon Status - ComicBook.com]</ref>
*May 20, 2024 — [[Brian Tyler]] is attached as the film's composer.<ref>[https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/05/20/brian-tyler-scoring-josh-cooleys-transformers-one/ Brian Tyler Scoring Josh Cooley’s ‘Transformers One’ - Filmmusicreporter.com]</ref>
*June 7, 2024 — Production for the film is revealed to be finished in the following month.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2024/06/07/work-on-transformers-one-animated-movie-is-set-to-wrap-up-in-july-513038 Work On Transformers: One Animated Movie Is Set To Wrap Up In July - TFW2005]</ref>
*June 10, 2024 — A work-in-progress cut of the film was screened at the {{w|Annecy International Animation Film Festival}} to a standing ovation.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235918820/ Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Transformers One’ Draws Laughs, Cheers in Its Annecy Debut - Hollywood Reporter]</ref>
*June 12, 2024 — Several media outlets, including representatives from TFWiki, are invited to an [[Transformers One London advance screening|advance screening]] hosted by di Bonaventura and Cooley.
*June 18, 2024 — Production designer Jason Scheier confirms animation for the film is finished.<ref>[https://twitter.com/ScheierJason/status/1803227407404638226/ Production Designer Jason Scheier's post on Twitter]</ref>
*June 27, 2024 — Sound-mixing for the film is finished, with production finally now complete around three months in advance of release.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/C8vPCEUS3Bs/ @CooleyYourFaceOff - Instagram]</ref>
*July 9, 2024 — A panel for the film has been announced for [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2024 on Thursday, July 25 at 11:45 am PST at Hall H.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/07/transformers-one-comic-con-1236004636/ Paramount Animation & Hasbro Entertainment’s ‘Transformers One’ Will Be More Than Meets The Eye At San Diego Comic-Con]</ref>
*July 13, 2024 — Chris Hemsworth, Bryan Tyree Henry, and Keegan-Michael Key reveal a new clip of the main cast transforming for the first time at the Kids' Choice Awards 2024.<ref>[https://twitter.com/transformers/status/1812285185427431646/ Post from the official Transformers account on Twitter]</ref>
*July 23, 2024 — Cooley discusses how ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' influenced ''One''.<ref>[https://ew.com/transformers-one-comic-con-preview-optimus-prime-megatron-origin-story-8676886 Transformers One director reveals how infamous 1986 animated movie influenced new prequel film]</ref> A screening of the finished film was shown at a fan-event at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles and in New York City.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/anime/news/transformers-one-review-first-reactions/ Transformers One First Reactions are Raving Over "Best Transformers Film to Date"]</ref> Hemsworth talks about voicing Optimus Prime in the film and how his depiction stands out.<ref>[https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-optimus-prime-orion-pax/ Chris Hemsworth on Becoming Optimus Prime for Transformers One (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 24, 2024 — Several new posters are released, along with the announcement of a new trailer the following day at the SDCC panel.<ref>[https://twutter.com/transformers/status/1816111093917573615/ Second trailer announcement on Twitter]</ref>
*July 25, 2024 — Details at the SDCC panel were revealed, along with the debut of the second trailer and Bucsemi's role announced to be Starscream.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/07/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-comic-con-1236022134/ ‘Transformers One’ Ignites Comic-Con With Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry & Keegan-Michael Key: How Two Best Friends Became Immortal Enemies]</ref> [[Eric Pearson]] was revealed to be an additional writer.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/news/paramount-drops-transformers-one-trailer-2 Paramount Drops ‘Transformers One’ Trailer #2]</ref>
*August 21, 2024 — A new clip of Orion Pax and D-16 competing in the Iacon 5000 race is released on Paramount's YouTube channel.<ref>[https://youtu.be/7o-bGIBZxdc?feature=shared/ TRANSFORMERS ONE Film Clip IACON Race Begins (2024)]</ref>
*August 23, 2024 — Evan Michael Lee is revealed to be voicing Jazz.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Evanmichaellee/status/1826960202920530306/ Evan Michael Lee on Twitter]</ref>
*August 24, 2024 — [[Jon Bailey]], [[Jason Konopisos-Alvarez]], [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] and [[Vanessa Liguori]] are revealed to be voicing Soundwave, Shockwave, Darkwing and Airachnid respectively, with Bailey reprising his role from ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]''.<ref>[https://punto.com.ph/paramount-pictures-our-crew-rolls-deep-meet-the-voice-cast-behind-the-characters-in-transformers-one-in-cinemas-september-18/ PARAMOUNT PICTURES : OUR CREW ROLLS DEEP: MEET THE VOICE CAST BEHIND THE CHARACTERS IN “TRANSFORMERS ONE,” IN CINEMAS SEPTEMBER 18 on Punzo.com]</ref>
*September 6, 2024 — The film's credits song, '[[If I Fall]]' by [[Quavo]], is released.<ref>[https://youtu.be/M3FCIf0HFnk?si=NB1J3bT9XNPOpKCc/ If I Fall (Music from the Motion Picture Transformers One / Lyric Video)]</ref>
*September 12, 2024 — In an interview, Lorenzo di Bonaventura clarifies that ''One'' doesn't directly connect to the live-action films, and describes them as "two universes" that will be "[kept] separate". However, he notes that ''One'' will likely have an influence on future live-action projects.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/is-transformers-one-a-prequel-optimus-prime-origin-story-exclusive/ Is Transformers One a Prequel or Reboot? The Animated Movie's Origin Story Is Both, Director Says]</ref> The film's review embargo is also lifted, and the film debuts with an 89% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-one-critic-reviews-are-out-currently-89-on-rotten-tomatoes/48337/ Transformers One Critic Reviews are Out, Currently 89% on Rotten Tomatoes]</ref>
*September 13, 2024 — The film's main theme is released.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFnuXrOH0fs/ Brian Tyler - Transformers One Theme | Transformers One (Music from the Motion Picture)]</ref>
*September 17, 2024 — In an interview with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Josh Cooley, when asked again about ''One''{{'}}s relation to any of the live-action movies, di Bonaventura stated, "It was like 300 million years before the [[Transformers (film)|first Michael Bay movie]], so if that's a prequel, that's a prequel."<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-one-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-and-josh-cooley-interview/ Transformers One Producer Hopes For Sequel & Confirms G.I. Joe Crossover]</ref>
*September 18, 2024 — An early fan event screening is held, preceded by a seven-minute featurette consisting of interview segments with Hemsworth, Henry, and Key, footage of main cast recording their dialogue, and some [https://twitter.com/damnyouwillis/status/1836584462341054907 hilarious trivia]. Attendees receive one of four exclusive keychains and poster prints featuring Orion Pax, D-16, B-127, or Elita-1.<ref>https://bleedingcool.com/movies/transformers-one-4-new-posters-tickets-go-on-sale-fan-screenings/</ref>
*September 20, 2024 — The first 300 ticket holders at participating theaters receive a poster print of {{w|Shadow the Hedgehog}} to promote the upcoming release of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''.<ref>https://kotaku.com/sonic-3-shadow-print-transformers-one-theater-showtimes-1851649010</ref>

===Changes before, during, and after production===
[[File:DecepticonReflectorEvanConcept.jpg|thumb|right|300px|I will not be the weak link!]]
*Although the broad story beats of ''One'' remained more or less consistent over the course of the film's development, the first draft—written before Josh Cooley's involvement—was a silly, joke-heavy script that was very different in tone from the final product. When first brought on to direct, Cooley pushed for a more serious treatment to bring the film closer in line to the usual tone of the ''Transformers'' franchise.<ref name="gizmodo">[https://gizmodo.com/transformers-one-director-interview-josh-cooley-easter-eggs-2000489187 ''Transformers One'' Director Josh Cooley Talks Lore, Easter Eggs, and Alternate Versions] </ref>
*At one point, a bird robot based on ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Aerobolt]] would've played a role in the story.<ref>{{citesocial|quote= "In an older version of the story we explored Aerobolt being part of the story. It never made it into the final."|link=https://twitter.com/ScheierJason/status/1840624306465755358|name=Jason Scheier|site=Twitter|year=2024|month=9|day=30}}</ref>
*An early draft had a scene where Orion and D-16 played an arcade game together, which would've featured an 8-bit version of "The Touch". The gag was eventually dropped, although the arcade machine and a different reference to the song made it into the final film.<ref name="gizmodo" />
*Another draft had D-16 as a gladiator, alluding to another part of the character's standard origin story, but ultimately this concept was cut for time.<ref>[https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/transformers-one-star-wars-old-republic-interview-1235017651/ ‘Transformers One’ Director Talks Bringing the Franchise to Its ‘Old Republic’ Era - Indiewire]</ref>
*Originally, the film would've ended on a smash cut to the film's title, accompanied by a rendition of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]]. However, Cooley decided that the scene would be overly self-referential, and instead [[Brian Tyler]] scored an original composition to close out the film.<ref name="gizmodo" />
*A shot of Orion, Elita, Soundwave, and Shockwave exiting the train after crashing into Sentinel's tower is not in the final film, and only appears in promotional material.
*Concept art for Airachnid reveals she was initially planned to transform into a spider rather than a drone, which is reflected in her Cog Changers toy.
*Alpha Trion's death at the hands of Sentinel Prime was originally planned to show the old sage getting decapitated by the false Prime.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=|link=https://twitter.com/TFHypeGuy/status/1886386574083944876|name=TFHypeGuy|site=Twitter|year=2025|month=2|day=3}}</ref>
*A bot resembling [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] was also present in concept art, but makes no appearance in the film proper. Unless he was the cameraman.
*An earlier draft of the film featured a scene where Orion, D-16, Elita and B-127 fight the triple changer [[Astrotrain]], who would’ve acted as the conductor of the train that the characters hijack to the surface of Cybertron <ref> [https://youtu.be/Zylb-uXYLRM?si=lYuVOGYyWdq8oV7a

==Notes==
*As seen in the cast list above, Arcee and Chromia are voiced by Jinny Chung, the film's story / script coordinator. The Injured Racer is voiced by Dillon Bryan, Josh Cooley's assistant. Cooley himself cameos as Skywarp, the "Control Room Guys", and the PA system.
*Several international releases of the film are edited to cut away from Orion's "finger transformation" a few seconds earlier, as well as changing any mention of Bee's "knife hands" to refer to them as "sword hands" instead.
*The credits feature a dedication to former Hasbro CEO [[Brian Goldner]], who passed away in October 2021.
*Darkwing was named by Hasbro designer [[Mark Maher]], when his boss asked him "If this was a Decepticon flyer, who would it be?"<ref>{{citesocial|link=https://www.instagram.com/stories/markclonus/|name=Mark Maher|site=Instagram|year=2024|month=09|day=08}}</ref>
*The Autobot [[Insignia]] never appears within the story, only appearing at the beginning of the end credits.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Transformers/One''''' (トランスフォーマー/ONE ''Toransufōmā Wan'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''''Bin Ying Gam Gong: Choh Chi Pin''''' (變形金剛：初始篇, "Transformers: The Beginning")
*''French:'' '''''Transformers : Le Commencement''''' (France, "Transformers: The Beginning"), '''''Transformers : Un''''' (Canada, "Transformers: One")
*''Hungarian:'' '''''Transformers Egy''''' ("Transformers One")
*''Korean:'' '''''Transformer ONE''''' (트랜스포머 ONE ''Teuraenseupomeo ONE'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Biànxíng Jīngāng: Qǐyuán''''' (变形金刚：起源, "Transformers: The Origin")
*''Portuguese:'' '''''Transformers: O Início''''' ("Transformers: The Beginning")
*''Russian:'' '''''Transformery: Nachalo''''' (Трансформеры: Начало, "Transformers: The Beginning")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Transformers One''''' (Spain), '''''Transformers : Uno''''' (Latin America, "Transformers: One")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''''Transformery: Pochatok''''' (Трансформери: Початок, "Transformers: The Beginning")

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

[[Category:One| ]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Transformers One (film)

2025-03-29T13:29:14Z

Kickassatron: /* Changes before, during, and after production */

{{Nav-one}}
{{movie|
|seriess=Transformers One
|prev=
|next=
|title=''Transformers One''
|image=Transformers One New Theatrical Poster.jpg
|caption=The motion picture you are about to see is an adaptation of the [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]] story. While artistic and historical license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for [[fandom|millions of people worldwide]].
|production companies=[[Hasbro Entertainment]] [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura|di Bonaventura Pictures]] Bayhem Films [[Paramount Animation]] New Republic Pictures
|distributor=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|executive producer=[[Steven Spielberg]] [[Zev Foreman]] [[Olivier Dumont]] [[Brian Oliver]] [[B.J. Farmer]] [[Matt Quigg]] [[Greg Moordain]]
|producer=[[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] [[Tom DeSanto]] [[Don Murphy]] [[Michael Bay]] [[Mark Vahradian]] [[Aaron Dem]]
|story by=[[Andrew Barrer]] [[Gabriel Ferrari]]
|screenplay by=[[Eric Pearson]] Andrew Barrer Gabriel Ferrari
|directed by=[[Josh Cooley]]
|cinematography by=
|edited by=
|music by= [[Brian Tyler]]
|release date=[[September 20]], [[2024]]
|runtime=104 minutes
|budget= $75 million
|box office=$129 million<ref>https://the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-One-(2024)#tab=summary</ref>
|credits=Transformers One (film)/credits
}}
'''''Transformers One''''' is an animated film released on [[September 20]], [[2024]]. It is written by [[Eric Pearson]], [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] from a story by Barrer and Ferrari,<ref name="deadlinereveal">[https://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref> and directed by [[Josh Cooley]].<ref name="cooleyreveal">[https://deadline.com/2020/04/transformers-animated-movie-paramount-hasbro-toy-story-4-director-josh-cooley-1202921100/ Animated 'Transformers' Prequel Activated; 'Toy Story 4's Josh Cooley To Direct For Hasbro/eOne & Paramount]</ref> The movie is an origin story set on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] three billion years ago<ref name="collidercinemacon">[https://collider.com/transformers-one-animated-movie-title/ New ‘Transformers’ Animated Movie Rolls Out a New Title at CinemaCon] on Collider</ref><ref name="screenrantsandiegocomiccon">[https://screenrant.com/transformers-one-timeline-setting-takes-place// When Transformers One Takes Place In The Franchise Timeline] on Screen Rant</ref> in the days before the Autobot-Decepticon war, and focuses on [[Optimus Prime (One)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (One)|Megatron]] as they go from brothers-in-arms to enemies.<ref name="cooleyreveal" />

{{bigquote|The line between friend and enemy is not as clear as I once believed. Once it's crossed, there is no going back. Because some transformations... are permanent.|[[Optimus Prime (One)|Optimus Prime]]}}

==Synopsis==
Long ago, the benevolent [[Primus]] sacrificed his life essence to become the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and created the [[Thirteen|first generation of Transformers]], the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]s. Through the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], [[energon]] flowed freely from the planet's core, and the Primes ruled justly for a time. However, when the alien [[Quintesson]]s began a long war of invasion, the Primes were eventually slain, and the Matrix of Leadership was lost, leaving only [[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] to rule the planet in their absence after the Cybertronians relocated to massive underground cities, abandoning the dangerous surface.

[[File:TFOne Orion caught.jpg|left|thumb|300px|She's exhausted from the day's work. Uh, not that it was too much! We-we quite enjoyed it!]]
Fifty cycles after the war, Cybertronian society now relies on an [[Cogless|underclass]] of manual laborers born without [[transformation cog]]s, including a caste of miners who physically extract what few veins of usable energon remain from the tunnels beneath the subterranean [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] City, while Sentinel Prime makes periodic journeys to the surface in search of the missing Matrix. One impulsive miner named [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]] has been searching for information regarding the Matrix, in the hopes that finding the artifact will restore Cybertron to prosperity and allow him and his fellow miners to choose their own path in life. Unfortunately, this search for information has led him to repeatedly break into the city's data archives without authorization. His latest attempt draws the unwanted attention of two [[Guard (One)|guards]] who have caught him several times in the past already, leading to a wild (and nearly lethal) chase through the skyways, through buildings, and eventually into the ground-level public transport station. Though the guards eventually catch up to Orion, the miner's friend [[Megatron (One)|D-16]] provides a distraction and sends the guards off on a wild goose chase. On the train to work, the pair discuss Orion's latest life-endangering adventure, and Orion, knowing that his friend idolizes the strongest Prime, gifts D-16 a rare first-edition decal of [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]]'s helmet he'd found.

[[File:TFOne Mine Explosion.jpg|right|thumb|300px|We're trying to get the funny man out of the well!]]
In the mines, D-16 and Orion work under the supervision of their go-getting captain [[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]], using [[jet pack]]s and deployable support poles to keep Cybertron's shifting geology stable long enough for them to extract raw energon. However, [[Wheeljack (One)|Wheeljack]] accidentally hits a vein of unstable energon, and the ensuing explosions trap [[Jazz (One)|Jazz]] under a rockfall. Orion and D-16 defy protocol and use a jet pack to save their coworker, but the chaos ends up damaging and destroying a lot of mine equipment. One of the mine's guards, [[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]], blames Elita for the disaster, and informs her she's been demoted to waste management duty, despite Orion sticking up for her and taking the blame.

That evening, Sentinel Prime returns to Iacon to announce that he still has not found the Matrix; to take the blow off this bad news, Sentinel declares that the prestigious [[Iacon 5000]] race will be held the next day. Orion tries to persuade D-16 to join him in the race, hoping that they can prove to the rest of Cybertron that mining bots deserve respect, but D-16 has no interest in the idea. On the day of the race, Orion discreetly leads D-16 to the maintenance area inside the giant starting signal above the race's starting line; while D-16 is initially excited to watch from a perfect vantage point, Orion reveals his true intention as he straps jet packs to the two just as the race begins and they're dropped into the thick of a throng of racing robots. Using their jet packs and some quick thinking to compensate for their inability to transform, the two dodge the numerous traps and obstacles and briefly manage to take the lead, sending bots across the city into a frenzy, especially their fellow cogless miners. The pair are just about to limp across the finish line and take first place, but end up being run down by [[Chromia (One)|Chromia]], who snags victory for herself. The pair figure they can still be proud of second place... until several dozen other racers whip by them in vehicle mode.

[[File:TFOne Sentinel visits.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I seek to build an empire, and your only goal is to amuse yourselves by tearing it down. Have I taught you nothing?]]
In Iacon's medical center, where many, many racers have ultimately ended up, Sentinel Prime meets with Orion and D-16; the pair are immediately certain they are in ''massive'' trouble, especially when they're scanned by Sentinel's creepy aide [[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] before his arrival, but it turns out it's quite the opposite. Sentinel ''loved'' their little stunt, and tells them that the miners' productivity after that showing was already at 150%. Sentinel offers them a chance to tour the mines and help inspire their comrades to work harder, with promises of some pampering along the way, and the pair quickly agree. However, Darkwing arrives before Airachnid can escort them to Sentinel's private quarters; infuriated that he nearly lost the race to the pair after they humiliated him, he drags them to the planet's fiftieth sub-level (ten levels below what they ''thought'' was the lowest level of the planet) and locks them in a trash incineration station.

The two bots soon meet the eccentric and exceptionally talkative [[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]], who has been trapped at the job of "look at garbage and take anything of value out before it's burned" for years, with only garbage statues for "company". When one of B's pals "[[Steve (One)|Steve]]" utters some electronic gibberish, Orion accidentally beheads the "bot", but discovers within the wreckage an old beacon from the Quintesson war, still broadcasting a set of coordinates located somewhere on the planet's surface. Orion, B-127, and D-16 decide to investigate, escaping the only way they can: by climbing up the dump chute. Ew. The trio stow away aboard an automated surface-bound garbage train but coincidentally encounter Elita-1, who now works the refuse line. She handily clobbers the three but ends up locked in the train with them as it departs. She heads for the front, intending to report them to security, a mad dash that gets all the harder as the train starts moving vertically towards its destination. She manages to pop a hatch and make it out of the train, and the trio gives chase, but all four are stopped cold as they're enveloped in light and they find themselves traveling along Cybertron's surface.

The four are stunned by the planet's natural beauty, only to become horrified as said natural beauty starts violently heaving upwards behind them, tearing up the self-building rail and scattering train cars. They run for it but are thrown off, waking in just enough time to completely miss another train, the rail un-building behind it. Elita is furious, but agrees to join Orion's search for the Matrix, on the conditions that 1) she's in command, 2) she holds the map, and 3) if the quest turns out to be a wild goose chase, then the other three will turn themselves in for their idiotic plan and paint her in a very positive light to the authorities. Orion very quickly agrees, and the four head off, confused by the weird not-metal life growing on the surface. They spy a group of [[Robo-deer|robotic quadrupedal lifeforms]], which suddenly snap to attention and run for it as the ground begins to tremble. It's soon apparent the cause of their panic: a massive Quintesson spaceship! As the ship scans for any lifeforms (obliterating one of the Cybertronian fauna with a massive cannon blast when it ends up in the tracking beams), the four barely evade detection and the ship moves on.

[[File:TransformersOne-AlphaTrionTransformationCogs.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|Take the staff in your hand, Moses. With it, you shall do My wonders.]]
Soon they find themselves at the end of the map's trail, a [[Mouth of Unicron|hidden and extremely creepy cave]]. Inside they find a scene of absolute horror: the spot where the ancient Primes made their final stand against the Quintessons, their bodies lying broken and covered in overgrowth. Although the Matrix is nowhere to be found, Orion discovers that [[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]]'s spark still pulses and uses an [[energon cube]] provided by B to revive him. The four attempt to bring Trion up to speed on recent events, but their mention of "Sentinel Prime" causes Trion to reveal the terrible truth: Sentinel is an imposter, a traitorous aide who led the Primes into a Quintesson ambush in exchange for "ruling" Cybertron under the invaders' command. However, when Sentinel tried to claim the Matrix after prying it from [[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]]'s corpse, the artifact judged him unworthy and disappeared. To appease his new masters, Sentinel has deliberately stolen transformation cogs from newborn Transformers to keep them producing energon in the mines; at Trion's urging, the four emerge from the cave to witness Sentinel pledging servitude to the [[Quintesson High Commander]] and learn the city's garbage trains are actually transporting Cybertron's dwindling energon supplies to Quintesson ships, leaving barely enough for the people of Cybertron. These revelations leave the bots horrified, but D-16 takes it the worst of all, having also looked up to Sentinel for years. Alpha Trion decides to give the team hope by gifting them the transformation cogs from four of the fallen Primes, as well as a recording of Sentinel's treachery. However, Airachnid spotted the four when they were watching Sentinel's meeting with the Quintessons, and a squad of Sentinel's [[Tracker]]s arrive. Despite his disrepair, Alpha Trion uses his leonine alternate mode to wipe out the squad, allowing Orion and the others to escape, but is quickly incapacitated by Airachnid.

The four bots have a very rocky time learning to transform in the middle of fleeing a squad of Trackers, tumbling downhill with only ''parts'' of them shifting into their new vehicle modes, but desperation forces them to adapt ''very'' quickly. Each one finds new abilities and an aptitude for combat, and soon they're able to destroy their pursuers. Overjoyed at their victory, they make the plan to use the incriminating information Trion gave them by returning to Iacon and exposing Sentinel as a traitor. In their excitement, they fail to notice a Tracker about to shoot them from behind until D-16 uses his new tank mode to kill him first... and then starts laughing at what he just did. D-16 snatches the evidence and takes the lead, his ever-growing intensity and openly stated desire to kill Sentinel leaving Orion more and more unnerved.

Back in Iacon, Alpha Trion is brought before Sentinel, who mocks the "old-timer" and gloats about his station, complaining to Airachnid about the Primes' stuffiness and boring speeches. Trion's word of warning that Sentinel's time will soon be over only annoys the false Prime further, and in a fit of rage he kills the ancient Prime before sending Airachnid back to the surface to hunt down the wayward miners.

[[File:TFoneStarscreamSoundwaveShockwaveInterrogation.jpg|left|thumb|300px|You're playing with the big boys now!]]
Along the path to Iacon, a series of shots ring out, and each bot slips into stasis... Orion and the others are brought back online, bound (and gagged in B's case) as prisoners of the former members of Cybertron's [[High Guard]], who have been fighting a guerrilla war against the Quintessons ever since the fall of the Primes, led by [[Starscream (One)|Starscream]]. D-16 is not impressed, and giving into his growing rage, challenges Starscream's authority, and the two quickly end up in a brawl. While Starscream plays it tough even as D-16 crushes his neck and damages his speech module, his attitude soon changes as D-16 manifests a massive cannon on his arm, aimed directly at Starscream's head. The Guard quickly rallies behind their new leader, ready to take the fight to Sentinel... but Airachnid's forces arrive and ambush them.

[[File:TFOne Airachnid attacks.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Not much of a snake-charmer, are you?]]
Orion, having been buried in the battle, awakens when Elita drags him from the rubble to find that D-16, B-127, and much of the Guard have been taken prisoner, and the data crystal containing the evidence of Sentinel's betrayal has been shattered. Orion despairs, believing their quest to be hopeless now, but Elita won't have it. Though she's still not above taking some digs at Orion, she points out that it is the bot's endless ''optimism'' that makes him a true leader, one that can make bots do amazing (and occasionally amazingly ''stupid'') things. Orion takes the praise (and insults) and decides it's time to rally, and the two quickly formulate a plan; the Guard may be strong, but the last battle proved they aren't enough on their own, they need a true army... and Orion knows exactly where to get one. After Elita quickly shuts down any dissent from the remaining Guard (thanks to a very swift punch to [[Shockwave (One)|Shockwave's]] eye), Orion primes the warriors for the coming battle, with a cry of "''[[Roll out|Transform and ROLL OUT]]!''"

The captives have been brought to [[Hall of Primes|Sentinel's tower]], where the puppet leader gloats over them, mocking Starscream's scrambled voice and sneering at D-16. But the miner does not cower or balk at all, declaring that he is not afraid of Sentinel, as he has nothing left to lose. Noticing the worn Megatronus decal, Sentinel reveals that he took Megatronus's transformation cog when he killed him, ripping the decal from the miner's arm before slapping it back onto his chest... and then, knocking the miner on his back, using a mining tool to crudely ''carve'' the Prime's face into D-16's chest.

Orion uses his new form to rocket-glide into the depths of Iacon City, entering the miners' quarters (and bodily hurling Darkwing aside in the process). Orion reveals the truth to the miners and rallies them to join forces with the High Guard and rebel against Sentinel's regime. Meanwhile, Elita, Shockwave, and [[Soundwave (One)|Soundwave]] have commandeered a returning "garbage" train, transporting the Guard into the city in a sneak attack. But the sudden appearance of hundreds of Trackers makes things look very bad for the plan... until Orion and the miners leap into the fray and cut a swath through the incoming horde, armed with their jet packs and mining tools. Airachnid attempts to kill Orion, slamming him into the train engine, and revealing the ''incredibly horrifying'' array of optics hidden in the back of her head. But her multi-scanning abilities give Orion a sudden idea as the train plows towards Sentinel's tower.

[[File:TFOneSentinelvsD16.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I will not be dictated to. I will not be threatened. I am the morning and the evening star. I am Pharaoh!]]
Sentinel, angered as D-16 once again attempts to rise up, is just about to blow the miner's head off when the train slams into his tower. Soundwave frees the prisoners and the fight spills across the city. Sentinel transforms into combat mode, but D-16 will not be deterred, the two launch into battle. Elita leaps into action, tackling Airachnid and attempting to take her prisoner (with only ''some'' gratuitously satisfying pummeling along the way). She drags the semi-conscious bot to one of Iacon's broadcast stations, and B makes a ''very'' over-enthusiastic entrance. Airachnid's memory banks are quickly scanned, and her memories of Sentinel's most recent meeting with the Quintessons are broadcast throughout the city, leading the populace to also join the fight.

Sentinel fares badly in his fight with D-16, and seeing his cowering before the Quintessons on dozens of screens, his empire in ruins, tries to flee, and when that fails, begs D-16 to spare him, claiming they can co-rule Cybertron. D-16 insists that Sentinel must die for his crimes, but Orion tries to convince his friend that they can be better than their enemies. D-16 violently disagrees, knocking his friend aside and readying the kill shot... only for Orion to leap in the path, the cannon blast tearing through his torso and sending him tumbling over the edge. D-16 grabs Orion's one good arm, horrified... ''that Orion would stop him from killing Sentinel''. With this betrayal, he vows he is ''done'' saving Orion from his mistakes and lets his dying friend plummet into Cybertron's depths. As Orion falls, D-16, insistent that there will be no more Primes, kills Sentinel by bisecting him with his hands. He then seizes Megatronus' cog from Sentinel's chest, replacing the one gifted to him by Trion, which transforms him into an even ''more'' battle-ready form. Declaring himself "Megatron", he commands the High Guard to destroy everything Sentinel built... in other words, what's left of the city.

[[File:One-Megs-Prime-face-to-face.jpg|thumb|300px|Goodbye... brother.]]
Meanwhile, the mortally wounded Orion falls through the planetary strata, which slides and shifts out of his way, until he finally reaches Cybertron's core. There, he encounters the spirits of the Primes as Trion announce that Primus has deemed him worthy for the future of Cybertron and to carry the Matrix of Leadership, reformatting Orion and restoring his spark to declare him the newest of the Primes: "Optimus Prime", before being sent rocketing back to the surface in a blaze of blue light.

Elita and B try and fail to stop Megatron's rampage, their former friend ready to kill them too, but Optimus smashes onto the scene. Megatron is incensed at this new betrayal both by his former friend ''and'' the Matrix itself, and launches himself at Optimus. During their fight, Optimus manifests an energy battle axe to fight against Megatron along with Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave before using it to destroy Megatron's new cannon, ultimately winning their fight. Unwilling to kill his oldest friend, Optimus reluctantly banishes Megatron and his new allies to the surface. Megatron seethes but decides that now is not the time, and takes his new army to the surface.

With the return of the Matrix of Leadership, Cybertron is restored to life: energon flows once again from the planet's core to the surface, and ''all'' of the cogless bots receive transformation cogs, becoming fully autonomous "[[Autobot]]s" who vow to defend Cybertron from any future Quintesson incursions. However, the Quintessons are not the only looming threat—though banished from Iacon, Megatron and his followers rechristen themselves the "[[Decepticon]]s" and swear revenge.
{{-}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=Miners
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax / Optimus Prime]] ([[Chris Hemsworth]])
*[[Megatron (One)|D-16 / Megatron]] ([[Brian Tyree Henry]])
*[[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]] ([[Scarlett Johansson]])
*[[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]] ([[Keegan-Michael Key]])
*[[Jazz (One)|Jazz]] ([[Evan Michael Lee]])
*[[Arcee (One)|Arcee]] ([[Jinny Chung]])
*[[Bluestreak (One)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Brawn (One)|Brawn]]
*[[Firestar (One)|Firestar]]<ref group=note name="uncredited">Denotes a character, or unidentified members of a group, who speaks, but has no credited voice actor. The performance was likely done by an ADR voice cast member.</ref>
*[[Hound (One)|Hound]]
*[[Huffer (One)|Huffer]]
*[[Ironhide (One)|Ironhide]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Mirage (One)|Mirage]]
*[[Moonracer (One)|Moonracer]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Prowl (One)|Prowl]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Ratchet (One)|Ratchet]]
*[[Red Alert (One)|Red Alert]]
*[[Sideswipe (One)|Sideswipe]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Smokescreen (One)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Sunstreaker (One)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Wheeljack (One)|Wheeljack]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Windcharger (One)|Windcharger]]

|h2=[[High Guard]]
|c2=
*[[Starscream (One)|Starscream]] ([[Steve Buscemi]])
*[[Soundwave (One)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
*[[Shockwave (One)|Shockwave]] ([[Jason Konopisos-Alvarez]])
*[[Skywarp (One)|Skywarp]] (Josh Cooley)
*[[Thundercracker (One)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Dirge (One)|Dirge]]
*[[Ramjet (One)|Ramjet]]
*[[Thrust (One)|Thrust]]
*[[Slipstream (One)|Slipstream]]
*[[Redwing (One)|Redwing]]

|h3=[[Thirteen#One film|Primes]]
|c3=
*[[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]] ([[Laurence Fishburne]])
*[[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]] ([[James Remar]])
*[[The Fallen#One film|Megatronus Prime]]
*[[Alchemist Prime#One film|Alchemist Prime]]
*[[Amalgamous Prime#One film|Amalgamous Prime]]
*[[Liege Maximo#One film|Liege Maximo]]
*[[Micronus Prime#One film|Micronus Prime]]
*[[Nexus Prime#One film|Nexus Prime]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Onyx Prime#One film|Onyx Prime]]
*[[Prima#One film|Prima Prime]]
*[[Quintus Prime#One film|Quintus Prime]]
*[[Solus Prime#One film|Solus Prime]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Vector Prime#One film|Vector Prime]]

|c4=
*[[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] ([[Jon Hamm]])
*[[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] ([[Vanessa Liguori]])
*[[Quintesson High Commander]]
*[[Quintesson Soldier]]s
*[[Primus]]
*[[Tracker]]s<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Guard (One)|Guards]] ([[Steve Blum]], Jason Konopisos-Alvarez)
*[[Announcer Bot]] (Steve Blum)
*[[Control Room Guys]] (Josh Cooley)

'''Racers'''
*[[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]] ([[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]])
*[[Chromia (One)|Chromia]] (Jinny Chung)
*[[Injured Racer]] ([[Dillon Bryan]])

|nonumbering=true
}}
<references group=note/>

==Quotes==
"I had to jump out of a window this time. Almost died. It was wild." 
"And digging through ancient data is worth dying for?" 
"Yes, it is." 
"Oh, I need a new best friend..."
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''D-16''' meet up before their shift.

"Are you ''crazy?!''" 
"Sure feels like it!"
:—'''D-16''' and '''Orion Pax''' summing up their initial relationship.

"Hey, look, I know it's all a big joke to you. But not me. I was paying my dues. I was going places. And now they're gonna bust me down I-- I don't even know how many tiers!" 
'"I'm sorry, D. But come on, didn't you feel it? Even for just a second, didn't you feel liberated? Didn't you feel like you were something else? Like you could be more than what they say you are?" 
"Yeah, I felt it. I did. But it doesn't matter. We're going to get punished ''and'' demoted. Ugh, Sentinel Prime saw the whole thing, this is so ''embarrassing''."
:—"'''D-16''' knows his place, despite what '''Orion Pax''' tries.

"Sentinel Prime. [laughs] '''THE''' Sentinel Prime!" 
"You still mad at me?" 
"I am less mad at you."
:—'''D-16''' meets his idol, and '''Orion Pax''' kills the mood.

"Don't you want to stop him?" 
"NO, '''I WANT TO KILL HIM!''' I wanna put Sentinel in chains and march him through the mines so everyone can see him for the '''FALSE PRIME''' that he is! I want him to '''suffer''', and then to ''die'' in ''darkness.'' But we all know it doesn't matter what I want, ''right'', Pax? The fact is, we're just cogless bots. Right? We had limited options, and now... now we have ''none''."
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''D-16'''

"What defines a Transformer is not the cog in his chest, but the spark in that resides in their core. A spark that gives you the will to make your world better. My fellow Primes had that spark. And I see their strength in you. Take their cogs and access your full potential. Prima. Onyx. Alchemist. Micronus. Warriors of noble spirit, loyalty, strength. Their uniqueness enhanced by these. They were one. ''You'' are one. '''ALL''' are one!" 
"Wait. We have... You-- You gave us..." 
"The ability to change your world. How you choose to use that power is up to you."
:—'''Alpha Trion''' inaugurates '''Orion Pax''' and our heroes with the tried and true phrase.

"Stand down, old timer." 
"Ah... ''old'' you say?"
:—'''Alpha Trion''' shows the foot soldiers that he prefers the word "experienced".

'''Starscream''': Now, are you spies, or incompetent lackeys? 
'''Orion Pax''': We're not spies. 
'''Elita-1''': But he is incompetent.
:—Elita-1 on her boss-to-be

"Uh... why is he gagged?" 
"He wouldn't stop talking." 
"Even when he was unconscious?" 
"''ESPECIALLY'' WHEN HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS!"
:—'''Elita-1''' asks '''Shockwave''' about B-127's restraints.

"Hey! What are you doing?" 
"I'll tell you what I'm not doing. I'm not cowering in some busted ship, playing king of the throne. I'm not pretending like I'm making a difference by throwing one punch and then running away to hide. I found out that Sentinel is rotten today, and I'm going to make him pay for it! TODAY!" 
"You think you can insult me and just walk away? No one leaves here unless I say so." 
"Is that right? Well, how can you say so... with my head in your teeth?"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''D-16''', right before he beats the living scrap out of him.

"Bear witness! ''This'' is the '''last''' time I show mercy! Decide right now! You can stay here in hiding, bowing before your pathetic leader, or follow me as we march on Iacon and I take down Sentinel '''ONCE AND FOR ALL!'''"
:—'''D-16''', as he usurps the High Guard's leadership from Starscream.

"If we want to be in control of our own destiny, we will have to fight for it. Now is the time for us to stand up. For ourselves. Stand up for this injustice! I promise you, this fight will be worth it. Follow me. Nothing can stop us when we stand together! Together as one!"
:—With the miners chanting his name, '''Orion Pax''' delivers his first heroic speech.

''(Airachnid opens the back of her head to reveal'' dozens ''of eyes.)'' 
"You can't win, miner! ''I see '''everything!'''''" 
"That's right, you do... Except the tower we're about to crash into."
:—'''Airachnid''' gets creepy and '''Orion Pax''' gets an idea.

"You pathetic little twits! Did you really think that you could knock down everything I've built?!" 
"It's over, Sentinel! You can't escape the truth!" 
"What truth? That I plucked the cogs from your newborn chests? Forced you to mine so that I could pay off the Quintessons and live like a king? None of that matters! Because the truth... Is. ''WHAT. I. '''MAKE IT!'''''"
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' teaches '''Orion Pax''' that he won't go down without a fight.

"What's wrong, D-16? ''Rise up!''"
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' mockingly gives D-16 his future slogan.

"I'm ''done'' saving you."
:—'''D-16''' lets his ''former'' friend fall.

"The Age of Primes has ended! '''NO MORE FALSE PROPHETS'''! Follow me, and you will ''never again'' be ''deceived!'' '''RISE UP!''' ''I'' will lead us all into the future! ''I...'' '''AM...''' '''''MEGATRON!'''''"
:—With the death of Sentinel Prime, '''D-16''' renames himself as '''Megatron'''

"''Orion Pax.'' Your noble sacrifice for the greater good has proven you worthy in the eyes of Primus. He entrusts in you the future of Cybertron, and... the Matrix of Leadership! '''Arise...''' '''''Optimus Prime.'''''"
:—Speaking for Primus, '''Alpha Trion''' and the Primes rebuild Orion Pax.

"We could have built the future ''together!"'' 
"I'll build it myself. After I tear down everyone '''''IN MY WAY!'''''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' set the stage for eons of conflict to come.

"We were given the power to change our world, and you chose to destroy it. Just like Sentinel. You have betrayed Cybertron and its citizens, and you betrayed... ''me.'' Go. Take the High Guard, and leave. You are banished from Iacon. It didn't have to end this way." 
"This isn't over... ''Prime.''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' share one final exchange.

"This is the greatest day of my life... I get to work for the ''government''!"
:—'''B-127''' knows a good benefits package when he sees one.

"And now we stand here together as one, proving we all have the power to transform; to become who we were destined to be; to right wrongs; to make our world better. Because here, freedom and autonomy are the right of all sentient beings. Here, all are truly ''Autobots''. This message is a warning to all Quintessons: If you dare return to Cybertron, the Autobots will be waiting. ''I'' will be waiting. I... am ''Optimus Prime''."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gives his first dramatic ending monologue...

"Sentinel, the betrayer, is dead. But his death has given life to a new enemy...a stronger enemy... a ''personal'' enemy. We will ''not'' be blinded by his deception! We are the ones who are... '''DECEPTICONS! ''RISE UP!'''''"
:—...and '''Megatron''' gives the coming darkness its new name.

==Continuity notes==
The movie that would ultimately become ''Transformers One'' entered preliminary development in early 2015, when the project was first pitched as part of a writer's room that would lay out a number of sequels, prequels, and spinoff films that would turn the ongoing [[live-action film series|slate of live-action movies]] into a proper "cinematic universe", an attempt to cash in on the then-meteoric hype of the {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe}}. Like pretty much all the other "cinematic universes" pitched at around this time, this ambitious vision was not to be: following the box-office bomb that was ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', most of these projects were shelved, while others were heavily reworked—perhaps most infamously, ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' was recut into a film that contradicted ''The Last Knight'' and its depictions of Bumblebee fighting in [[World War II]], shifting the film and [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|its sequel]] into a more ambiguous "soft reboot" that only loosely connect to the five Bay films.

It appears that a similar conceptual drift occurred over the course of ''Transformers One'''s production. When the film entered full production in mid-2020, ''One'' was said to be "separate and apart" from the ongoing live-action films, though at the time just ''how'' distinct the film would be from its predecessors remained a mystery.<ref name="cooleyreveal" /> When later asked if the film was a prequel to the live-action films, a reboot, or its own universe, director Josh Cooley answered "yes" to all of the above.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/transformers-one-director-confirms-new-movies-canon-status/ Transformers ONE Director Confirms New Movie's Canon Status - ComicBook.com]</ref> While a few details and visual nods—such as Bumblebee's original name of "B-127", the function of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in which it dissolves into dust if it deems someone unworthy to wield it and the incorporation of a closing monologue delivered by Optimus—referenced the live-action films, the film otherwise draws heavily upon the mythology first laid down in the [[Aligned continuity family|"Aligned" continuity family]] and has gone on to inform just about every major ''Transformers'' universe afterwards, particularly in its depiction of Orion Pax and D-16 as former allies fighting against a corrupt Cybertronian government.

As the film's release date drew closer, multiple comments from the film's creatives indicated that the filmmakers viewed the movie as something entirely separate from the ongoing live-action films. In July, Josh Cooley stated that the film was set in a "new Transformers continuity"<ref>{{citesocial|quote= "Hey little nerd in my profile picture, what if I told you someday you'll create a new Transformers continuity, that begins earlier than anything you've seen on the Transformers lore timeline, with the greatest crew and cast ever assembled?"|link= https://twitter.com/CooleyUrFaceOff/status/1817235351095894510 |name=Josh Cooley|site=Twitter|year=2024|month=7|day=27}}</ref>; in another interview from a week before release, di Bonaventura ultimately admitted that ''One'' didn't fit into the chronology of the live-action films, and described ''One'' and the live-action films as "two universes" that would be "[kept] separate".<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/is-transformers-one-a-prequel-optimus-prime-origin-story-exclusive/ Is Transformers One a Prequel or Reboot? The Animated Movie's Origin Story Is Both, Director Says]</ref> These statements were ultimately borne out by the movie itself, which featured multiple plot points that are pretty much irreconcilable with the live-action films—early on, the film establishes that [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] is long dead, negating his appearance in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''; additionally, the movie ends with the newly christened Megatron killing Sentinel Prime, leaving no wiggle room for the events of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' to occur. As a result, the wiki has opted to treat ''One'' and any potential sequels as a new [[continuity family]] entirely separate from the ongoing live-action films.

==Transformers references==
* As with pretty much every major ''Transformers'' project since 2010, ''Transformers One'' is the latest interpretation of the modernized ''Transformers'' backstory that originated with [[Binder of Revelation|Hasbro's internal design documents]] and was first laid down in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''—the story of [[Primus]], the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]], and the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron as former friends who fought against inequality on pre-war Cybertron until Megatron's extremism drove them apart. Notably, this version of the story portrays both Orion and Megatron as [[energon]] miners on the bottom of Cybertron's caste system—most other interpretations have instead depicted Orion as a somewhat higher-ranking data clerk. While other tellings of the story have Orion advocating for non-violent social change, this take on the origin ends with Orion Pax working alongside the future Decepticons to directly overthrow the reigning Prime, evoking [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' miniseries.
* Many contemporary works of pre-war ''Transformers'' fiction have established that pre-war Cybertronians organized themselves under a job-based [[Functionism|caste system]], with miners and other manual laborers occupying the lowest ranks of Transformer society. ''One'' features a very simplified version of this hierarchy, where Cybertronians without transformation cogs are an oppressed underclass while other Transformers receive additional rights and job opportunities.
* With the exception of D-16—whose origins as a low-ranking miner date back to IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]''—all of the other miners shown in the film go on to join the Autobots, while the forerunners of the Decepticons are depicted as ex-members of the elite [[High Guard]]. This specific class divide dates back to the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" and, to a lesser extent, "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", which explained the war between the Autobots and Decepticons as an entrenched conflict between civilian laborers and military robots.
* All the character designs are far closer to their Generation 1 designs (both the cartoon and the original toys) than the previous films. Characters also earn their iconic design traits in pivotal scenes, such as Optimus Prime's [[Energon-axe]] and [[mouthplate]], or Megatron's [[fusion cannon]]. In the final scene, many miners gain details to match their Generation 1-selves even closer after they receive their cogs; in particular, Arcee gains her pink visor from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Starscream, Soundwave, and Megatron's newly applied insignias in the post-credits scene are also in the same place as their original counterparts, with Starscream's even being upside-down!
* Optimus Prime's original identity of "Orion Pax" is a name taken from the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". Notably, the cartoon's version of Orion Pax was also a manual laborer, although the film does seemingly pay homage to Orion Pax's other famous job by having him sneak into the Cybertronian Archives at the very beginning of the film. D-16 takes [[Dion (G1)|Dion]]'s place as his best friend and co-worker.
* The 'bot who will one day be known as "Megatron" initially goes by the name "D-16", a moniker lifted from ''Exodus'' and itself based on the [[TakaraTomy]] ID number of the [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original Megatron toy]]. D-16's original body—with a black, dome-shaped helmet and yellow eyes—references Megatron's [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel Comics appearance]], which in turn was based on concept art for an unproduced prototype version of the original Takara Micro Change figure. Much like Orion Pax, his modern gladiator job is paid homage in his fight with Starscream.
* B-127 is heavily based on his [[Bumblebee (Movie)|live-action film series counterpart]]: his helmet design and blasters bear a resemblance to his appearance in those films; additionally, his overly-talkative nature is a meta-gag about his "future" self being best known for not being able to speak. The name "B-127" derives from the [[Bumblebee (film)|''Bumblebee'' movie]], where, much like this film, he did not receive the name "Bumblebee" on Cybertron. B-127's battle mask resembles his [[Bumblebee (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart's]] [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original toy]]; towards the end of the film, he fights with a pair of "knife hands" seemingly based on ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]]'' Bumblebee's melee weapons.
* In general, Elita-1 doesn't draw upon as many specific references as her co-stars, although her purplish-pink color scheme and motorcycle [[alternate mode]] may be a reference to her [[Elita-One (Movie)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' design]]. Notably, of the four main protagonists, Elita's the only one who ''doesn't'' have an alternate alias—especially odd given that her [[Elita One (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] originally went by "Ariel" in the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". (This exclusion is perhaps less odd when one considers that subsequent to 1985, [[Disney]] secured a near-stranglehold on toys named "{{w|Ariel (The Little Mermaid)|Ariel}}".)
* Sentinel Prime is based on [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]], the former leader of Cybertron in the [[Aligned continuity family|"Aligned" continuity]]. Like that version of the character, this take on Sentinel Prime is explicitly a "false" Prime who never carried the Matrix of Leadership, and a puppet ruler who was appointed to the position by the Quintessons. Design-wise, this take on Sentinel draws from his "Aligned" counterpart, his [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|''Dark of the Moon'' appearance]], and has details from his [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' toy]] and the thematically similar character, [[Nominus Prime]]. Sentinel's battle mode is inspired by his [[Apex Armor (G1)|Apex Armor]] from the ''Megatron Origin'' comic. He also has his [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]]'s glorious chin, as well as carrying on his 'arrogant jerkwad' personality rather than the more stoic attitude of other Sentinels. His double-bladed weapon takes specific inspiration from DOTM Sentinel's [[Primax Blade]], now with the additional ability to retract one or both of its blades when required.
* Airachnid is derived from the ''Prime'' [[Airachnid (Prime)|character of the same name]]—a notable inclusion given the primarily G1-based main cast—sharing a similar design, alternate mode as a helicopter, and antagonistic personality. Role-wise, however, she draws from her [[Airachnid (G1)|IDW 2005 counterpart]] being a subordinate of the [[Starscream_(G1)/2005_IDW_continuity|shady sovereign ruler of Cybertron]].
* Like Sentinel Prime, the Quintessons are primarily based on their depiction in the "Aligned" lorebook [[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|''The Covenant of Primus'']], which depicted them as shadowy manipulators who ruled Cybertron and exploited its natural resources through a proxy government; notably, the Quintessons in the ''Covenant'' helped maintain their hold on Transformer civilization by withholding the power to transform from the general populace. In a notable deviation from traditional ''Transformers'' lore, the bodies and starships of the film's Quintessons appear to be organic in nature.
** It is ambiguous to what the origin of the Quintessons actually is. In most modern media, the Quintessons are the renegade creations of Quintus Prime (such as in ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark]]''). While they do share some similarities, such as part of their names, multiple appendages, need for Energon, and their coloration, nothing is ever stated that Quintus Prime created them. They aren't the creators of the Cybertronian race like in media before Primus was created, either. It is possible that the Quintessons are simply an alien race unrelated to the Cybertronians.
* Primus' design seen in the hologram Orion plays is largely based on the [[IP infringement|"third party"]] 01 Studio Seed figure, itself inspired by the oft-referenced [[:File:UltimateGuidePrimus.jpg|original character model]] for his planet-body from [[DK Publishing|DK]]'s [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|''The Ultimate Guide'']]. His head and chest are closer to his ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' appearance, also pulling a simplified version of [[Primus#Cybertron|that toy]]'s transformation scheme. Primus' willing sacrifice of his locomotion and birthing of the Thirteen pulls from his appearance in the eponymous ''Covenant of Primus''.
* The Thirteen are similarly based on their "Aligned"' incarnations for their backstory and designs. Nexus, Megatronus, Solus, and Alchemist Prime also draw from their ''[[:File:NexusPrimeflankedbyotherPrimes.jpg|Timelines]]'', ''[[:File:Megatronus.jpeg|Titans Return]]'', ''[[:File:SolusPrime-PowerofthePrimes.jpg|Power of the Primes]]'', and ''[[:File:TheCitizen IaconusCitizens.jpg|Cyberverse]]'' designs, respectively, while Vector Prime is based squarely on his original ''Cybertron'' design.
* Megatronus is also inspired by his ''Revenge of the Fallen'' design, including his face being based on the Decepticon symbol (or vice versa in-universe), although it is far more obvious in this movie, coincidentally evoking [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]]. Megatronus' face becoming the in-universe inspiration for the Decepticon symbol reflects the real life story of [[Soundwave (G1)|Generation 1 Soundwave]]'s face inspiring the iconic symbol.
* Alpha Trion's abilities to recreate and store memories as information calls back to the archival role of his [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Aligned counterpart]]. His alternate mode being a leonine beast with a unicorn-esque horn is a direct homage to his [[Alpha Trion (G1)#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' toy]], itself based on his [[Alpha Trion (G1)#Toys|cancelled BotCon toy]].
* The mysterious [[Thirteenth Prime]] is replaced with Zeta Prime, who also takes [[Prima]]'s role as leader and Matrix-bearer, though Prima himself is still present. Zeta's design is also based on "Aligned" Sentinel Zeta Prime, as he appears in the ''War for Cybertron'' video game.
* The Thirteen are not actually referred to as the "Thirteen", but rather the Primes or the "Council of Elders", a term that originated in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''. This is likely because it would contradict Sentinel's narrative painting himself as a fourteenth Prime. Notably, none of the archives or displays of the Thirteen include Sentinel.
* The cameo miners mostly draw from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)/cast#Season 1|1984 Autobot cast of the original cartoon]], along with the [[Female Autobots]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and recolors such as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The background High Guard characters, meanwhile, are based on the endless Starscream recolors that have appeared throughout ''Transformers'', commonly known as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Notably, one of their helmet variations is based on [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity#Cybertron cartoon|''Cybertron'' Starscream]]'s, while some Seekers including [[Thundercracker (One)|Thundercracker]] sport triple-barreled weapons on their arms that resemble the [[neutron assault rifle]] from ''Fall of Cybertron'' – specifically the split-in-half configuration seen in the [[Starscream (WFC)/toys#Generations|''Fall of Cybertron'' Starscream toy]] and its redecoes, even including a gear-shaped detail behind the barrels echoing the gears on the toy's accessories.
* Shockwave, Soundwave, Starscream/the Seekers, and the cogged versions of Ironhide, Ratchet, and Arcee have details based on their ''Bumblebee'' designs.
*The jet modes of Starscream/the Seekers are also based on ''Bumblebee'', while Soundwave's vehicle mode is based on his [[Soundwave (ROTF)/toys#SS83|''Studio Series Bumblebee'' toy]]. Shockwave's alternate mode resembles his [[Shockwave (WFC)|''War for Cybertron'' counterpart]], and both he and Starscream/the Seekers have details from their [[War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' toys]].
*When Orion "transforms" to run away from the guards, he moves his limbs in a way that evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Toys|his original toy]]'s transformation.
* The Matrix causing Energon to flow and 'killing' the planet when lost calls back to the [[AllSpark]].
* When discussing their mining ability, Elita says Orion "[doesn't] have the touch or the power," a reference to the [[The Touch|beloved song]] from ''The Transformers: The Movie.''
* The Iacon 5000 derives from the Marvel UK ''The Transformers'' [[Source:Darn 'n' Blast#Issue 326|issue 326's "Darn 'n' Blast" letter page]]. Many of the racers in the Iacon 5000 are characters from Generation 1 and ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'', with their colors and vehicle modes next to their names on the leaderboard, though they do not correspond to specific models except for the miners, Darkwing, and Chromia.
** Racers based on their Generation 1 counterparts include [[Mirage (One)|Mirage]], [[Clampdown (One)|Clampdown]], [[Silverbolt (One)|Silverbolt]], "[[Deadend (One)|Deadend]]", [[Slingshot (One)|Slingshot]], [[Cliffjumper (One)|Cliffjumper]], [[Dragstrip (One)|Dragstrip]], [[Swerve (One)|Swerve]], [[Powerglide (One)|Powerglide]], [[Jetstorm (One)|Jetstorm]], [[Windblade (One)|Windblade]], [[Afterburner (One)|Afterburner]], [[Blurr (One)|Blurr]], [[Fireflight (One)|Fireflight]], [[Cordon (One)|Cordon]], [[Breakdown (One)|Breakdown]], [[Swindle (One)|Swindle]], [[Tailgate (One)|Tailgate]], [[Lightspeed (One)|Lightspeed]], "[[Spinout (One)|Spinout]]", [[Greasepit (One)|Greasepit]], [[Scattershot (One)|Scattershot]], [[Inferno (One)|Inferno]], [[Motormaster (One)|Motormaster]], and "[[Hotrod (One)|Hotrod]]".
** Racers based on their ''Generation 2'' counterparts include [[Blowout (One)|Blowout]], [[High Beam (One)|High Beam]], [[Double Clutch (One)|Double Clutch]], [[Meanstreak (One)|Meanstreak]], [[Motormouth (One)|Motormouth]], [[Speedstream (One)|Speedstream]], "[[Roadrocket (One)|Roadrocket]]", and [[Staxx (One)|Staxx]].
** [[Jolt (One)|Jolt]] and [[Leadfoot (One)|Leadfoot]] are the only racers based on their [[Jolt_(ROTF)|Bayverse ]] [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|counterparts]].
** [[Override (One)|Override]] and [[Tankor (One)|Tankor]] are based on their ''[[Override (Cybertron)|Cybertron]]'' and ''[[Tankor (BM)|Beast Machines]]'' counterparts, respectively.
**Racers that are only named through dialogue are [[Tailwind (One)|Tailwind]], [[Strafe (One)|Strafe]] (spelled "Streak" in the Spanish subtitles), [[Skyfire (One)|Skyfire]], and original characters [[Thunderglide]] and [[Behemoth]]. Phew!
* After being knocked off the train and stranded on the surface, Elita-1 calls Orion, D-16, and B-127 a bunch of "idiot [[GoBots|go-bots]]" as if referring to their previous toy shelf rivals (although it's spelled the way that Hasbro does for their own figures).
* The film's themes, "Resting Place of the Primes" and "The Fall", include a leitmotif from the main theme of ''Transformers: Prime'', which was also composed by Brian Tyler. "The Fall" also plays a motif lifted from ''The Transformers: The Movie'''s "[[Death of Optimus Prime]]" in a different key. More specifically, the motif is from when [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] flatlines and dies. Fitting, as "The Fall" plays when Orion Pax is dropped into Cybertron's [[core]] and Optimus Prime is born. Incidentally, this scene and the music are also quite similar to when Megatron fatally shoots Bumblebee in the ''Transformers: Prime'' series finale "[[Deadlock (episode)|Deadlock]]".
*D-16's eye color gradually shifting from yellow to red upon declaring himself "Megatron" is similar to how his [[Megatron (WFC)|Aligned counterpart]]'s eye color changed from blue to red after being denied the rank of Prime (and given to his friend Orion, which he viewed as a "betrayal") as seen in the flashbacks of "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
*The part of "The Fall" that plays when Megatron rips Sentinel in half also includes a leitmotif from [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron's]] "The Great Exodus".
* The notion of the Matrix actively rejecting an "unworthy" candidate and disintegrating was a plot point in ''Revenge of the Fallen''.
* Alpha Trion announces "All are one!" as he bequeaths the main quartet their new transformation cogs, a reference to the classic slogan "[['Til all are one]]!" originating from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* An empty Matrix chamber is visible behind Orion's chest window after receiving his cog, even before finding the actual Matrix.
* The throne Starscream sits on is loosely based on the crown his [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] wore during his coronation in ''The Transformers: The Movie''.<ref>[https://youtu.be/fo7EwIlSNAs?si=8y1UWHCLv46WKzE7&t=190 Brian Tyree Henry & Josh Cooley Dissect The Evolution Of Megatron | Transformers One Behind The Shot]</ref>
*Soundwave scans Orion's electrical impulses to check if he is lying, a rarely referenced ability from his [[Soundwave (G1)|original toy's bio]].
*Shockwave's eye flickers when he speaks, just as it did in the original Generation 1 cartoon. Similarly, Optimus Prime's faceplate bobs up and down when he speaks.
* Starscream has a normal-sounding voice (for Steve Buscemi, anyway) when he first appears, but after D-16 crushes his [[voice box]] during their duel, his voice becomes shriller and scratchier in the style of [[Chris Latta]]'s portrayal of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]].
*Shockwave and Elita have a small rivalry, reflecting their Generation 1 versions in Elita's introduction episode, "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]".
* Soundwave orders the High Guard to "[[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|eject]]" when descending on Sentinel's tower.
[[File:TFoneOrionJump.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Let my people go!]]
* During the battle in Sentinel Prime's tower, Orion leaps into the air and shoots one of the Trackers, with his midair pose homaging Optimus Prime's famous midair shooting pose from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* Megatron is the 'bot who shoots Orion and leaves him on the brink of death until he is resurrected as Optimus Prime in what is likely a reference to the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". However, the specific framing of the scene—in which Megatron shoots Orion and drops him into the depths of the planet, only for him to find the Matrix and return as Optimus—is, however coincidentally, nearly identical to the events of [[Transformation (issue)|issue #9]] of ''Autocracy''. Orion finding the Matrix in the planet's core also evokes the climax of the ''War for Cybertron'' games.
* The fatal wounds Orion Pax sustained from D-16 before his descent into Cybertron's core strongly resemble the wounds Optimus Prime sustained at the end of the ''The Transformers'' episode "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]".
* Megatron disposes of Sentinel Prime in the same manner that his [[Megatron (Movie)|live-action counterpart]] killed [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]—by bisecting the bot with his bare hands. Similarly, this is also how the [[Rainmaker]]s disposed of Sentinel in the [[2019 IDW continuity]].
** Likewise, a damaged Sentinel pleaded mercy and tried to reason to his soon-to-be executioner, the one 'bot who trusted him the most. In ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'', it was Optimus; here, it was Megatron. Also, Sentinel offers Megatron to work together, which they did in ''Dark of the Moon'' until Sentinel briefly usurped Megatron's leadership.
* When both Orion Pax and Sentinel Prime die, [[aggressive depigmentation|their bodies turn grey]].
* Orion is caught by a beam and brought to Primus to be reformatted into Optimus Prime, much like how Megatron was caught by [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] and reformatted into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]].
* "Arise, Optimus Prime", intones Alpha Trion as Orion receives the Matrix, evoking the climax of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', in which a ghostly Optimus Prime said the same to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] as he transformed into Rodimus Prime.
* When the energy burst from Optimus' return to the surface blows Megatron off his feet, he crashes to the ground in a [https://www.reddit.com/r/transformers/s/QRpmFJRCXz pose] identical to his G1 self after Optimus threw him off during their duel in ''The Transformers: The Movie.''
* Megatron using a long piece of sharp, orange shrapnel to attack Optimus also comes from the iconic fight in ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* Optimus using a defeated Shockwave's cannon to attack another enemy is a fighting move Optimus made in ''Dark of the Moon''.
* After Optimus and Megatron's fight concludes, Megatron is shown with "tear stains" of mech fluid under his eyes, precisely matching the fluid-streaks the original Megatron had running down ''his'' face after his fight with Optimus in ''The Transformers: The Movie''. In ''One'', Megatron then declares "This isn't over, Prime," mirroring his line from ''The Movie'': "It's over, Prime."
* When restoring Cybertron's Energon supply, Optimus holds the Matrix in the same pose Hot Rod holds it when transforming into Rodimus at the end of ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* The restoration of Cybertron's Energon supply is somewhat similar to the planet's revitalization at the end of "[[The Rebirth, Part 3]]".
* Optimus' concluding narration is presented as a "message" being sent into space, continuing the recurring concept of the ''Transformers'' films ending in such a way, introduced in the [[Transformers (film)|first live-action movie]]. This also happens at the end of "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".
*Optimus' transformation during his ending monologue is accompanied by the original transformation noise.
* In the post-credits scene, Megatron brands the Decepticon insignia onto his troops much like his [[Megatron (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]] did in "[[A Bridge Too Close, Part I]]". Megatron also orders the Decepticons to "[[Roll out#Transformers_Animated|rise up]]", quoting his ''Animated'' counterpart who originated the phrase "transform and rise up" in "[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]".
* While the newly christened Decepticons fire into the sky, the glow of the laser beams shines on Megatron's insignia in a way that homages the metallic effect of the [[:File:TF-G1-HD-Logo-Evil-Decepticon.png|original Decepticon ''The Transformers'' logo]], and many a [[scene transition]].

==Real-life references==
* The design of the arcade cabinet in the miners' quarters is based on the {{w|Neo Geo (system)|Neo Geo MVS}}.
* One of B-127's "friends" is named [https://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw?t=104 A-A-Tron].
* As Orion Pax and D-16 approach the finish line in the Iacon 5000, the announcer quotes verbatim Joe Starkey's call of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Play_(American_football) The Play] from the 1982 Cal-Stanford game. "The most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heart-rending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of—" It can be assumed he would say "The Iacon 5000" in place of "college football," had Chromia not sped past to win the race.

==Errors==
* The history record about Primus, the Primes, and the Matrix that Orion Pax watches in the archives is recorded by [[Laurence Fishburne|a voice]] that clearly belongs to Alpha Trion. Yet, the events described in the history record include the disappearance of the Matrix, which happened after the Primes were killed and Alpha Trion went offline. So how could Alpha Trion have made that recording when he was lying comatose in a cave during that time?
** That said, synthesizing voices isn't all that hard. Considering the record's content, it was likely created by Sentinel Prime as propaganda.
* Many of the miners based on recognizable characters appear multiple times in the background or between shots, with many, such as Ironhide, having numerous occupations and being in multiple places at the same time.
* The High Guard has the same issue. Slipstream is shown to have been captured by the Death Trackers, but is later shown to take part in the attack on Sentinel's tower. Thundercracker is sliced in half by Airachnid, but is present the rest of the film.
* Mirage, with the colors and land-based vehicle mode of his [[Mirage (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]], appears on the leaderboard of the Iacon 5000, but one of the cogless miners is clearly based on Generation 1 Mirage.
* Chromia is the racer that wins the Iacon 5000, but a bot that better resembles [[Chromia (G1)|Generation 1 Chromia]] appears as a miner too. Production designer Jason Scheier would confirm the miner bot is just a bot that resembles Chromia, while the one in the Iacon 5000 is the 'real' Chromia.
* One of the cogless miners is clearly meant to be [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], with a black crest, red pelvis, and red pips on his shoulders. However, the scene after the Iacon 5000 in Iacon's medical center has a voice on the intercom paging a "Dr. Ratchet".
* Airachnid's legs are floating behind her back in her conversation with Sentinel Prime after he murders Alpha Trion.
* When Starscream interrogates the main quartet in the High Guard lair, Slipstream's hands are [https://www.reddit.com/r/Transformemes/comments/1gw87v2/something_feels_missing/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1 positioned] as if she is holding a blaster but the blaster itself is not present at all, resulting in a rather awkward pose.
* The incriminating clips of Sentinel replayed from Airachnid's mind reuse clips from previous scenes of the movie instead of being from Airachnid's point of view. She wasn't exaggerating when she said "I see ''everything''"!
* Additionally, one of Sentinel’s lines in Airachnid’s mind isn’t present in the scene it should come from; her memory of the meeting with the Quintessons includes Sentinel saying “I’m working my miners as hard as I can”, a line that’s never said in the original scene.
* During the long take of Optimus Prime using his Energon axe to fight off Megatron, Starscream, Shockwave, and Soundwave at the end of the film, Soundwave's shoulder cannon is on his left shoulder. In every other shot of the film, he is depicted with the cannon over his right shoulder like his G1 counterpart usually does.

==Music==
A score album, ''[[Transformers One (Music from the Motion Picture)]]'', features the original music by composer [[Brian Tyler]] and was released concurrently with the film. It notably repurposes a leitmotif from his work on [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'']] into this film's main theme. The score also has other Transformers references, both in the melodies and titles of the tracks. The composer, under his electronic side project "Are We Dreaming", also produced the end credits song, "[[If I Fall]]", featuring rappers [[W:Quavo|Quavo]] (of Migos fame) and [[W:Ty Dolla Sign|Ty Dolla $ign]].

Canadian DJ {{w|Excision_(musician)|Excision}} released the dubstep song "Together As One", which samples numerous lines from the film's cast, as part of the film's marketing campaign. Many of the lines in this song would go unused in the film's final cut. Chinese artist {{w|Yuqi}} released the song "ONE" as part of the film's Chinese marketing campaign. Neither song is present in the film.

==Reception==
{{quote|Just when you’re about to give up on stories that endlessly repackage the same trademarked properties, along comes a movie like Josh Cooley’s “Transformers One.” As its subtly confident title suggests, it carries itself as if nobody had ever made a Transformers movie before.|Matt Zoller Seitz|[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-one-film-review Rogerebert.com]}}

While [[Michael Bay]]'s ''Transformers'' films were notable for their record-breaking profits despite mixed to overwhelmingly negative reviews, ''Transformers One'' faced the opposite problem. While [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|the previous theatrical ''Transformers'' film]] met with mixed reviews, ''Transformers One'' enjoyed an almost universally positive reception from both film critics and casual moviegoers. Critics praised the film's visual design, its nuanced approach to characterization and worldbuilding, and the performances of the film's voice actors, with many singling out Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry for their portrayals of Orion Pax and D-16. As of October 2024, its RottenTomatoes rating sits at 89% positive critical reviews and 98% positive audience reviews.

In the United States and Canada, ''Transformers One'' was originally projected to gross between $30-$40 million on its opening weekend. Ultimately, the film only made $24.6 million and finished second in the box office behind ''{{w|Beetlejuice Beetlejuice}}'' (which had been released ''two weeks'' prior) in a surprise upset. <ref> [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-can-transformers-one-borrow-a-page-from-spider-verse-and-recover-1236009559/ "Box Office: Can Transformers One Borrow a Page From Spider-Verse and Recover?"] </ref> In its second weekend, the film lost out to rival animated robot movie ''{{w|The Wild Robot}}'', and ultimately took in a mere $9.2 million after suffering a 62.8% drop.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/09/box-office-megalopolis-the-wild-robot-1236101618/ "'Wild Robot' Powers To Third Best September Animated Pic Debut With $35M; 'Megalopolis' Collapses With $4M & D+ CinemaScore; 'Saturday Night' Alive In Limited Release -- Box Office Update"]</ref>

The film's theatrical run was finished on November 22, 2024, grossing $128.7 million worldwide, making it the lowest-earning Paramount-released ''Transformers'' film.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/11/22/transformers-one-ends-its-theatrical-run-how-much-did-it-make/ "‘Transformers One’ Ends Its Theatrical Run. How Much Did It Make? - Forbes"]</ref>

==Development timeline==
[[File:Transformers-One-Teaser-Poster.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''There can be miracles when you believe Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill Who knows what miracles you can achieve When you believe, somehow you will You will when you believe'']]
*March 27, 2015 — As part of the development of ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|Transformers: The Last Knight]]'', [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" to build a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[https://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Among the writers hired are ''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' scribes [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]], who pitch the concept of an animated ''Transformers'' prequel set in the [[Live-action film series|live-action series universe]].<ref name="barrerferrari">[https://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref>
*December 20, 2018 — Following the release of ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'', [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] hints in an interview that the animated prequel is still in the works.<ref>[https://www.metro.us/will-there-be-a-bumblebee-2-whats-the-future-for-the-transformers-universe-heres-what-its-producer-told-us/ Lorenzo di Bonaventura interview for Metro USA]</ref>
*April 29, 2020 — Director [[Josh Cooley]] (''Toy Story 4'') is reported to have been brought into the project to oversee a final draft, which is said to be "separate and apart" from the live-action films.<ref name="cooleyreveal" />
*May 18, 2021 — [[Allspark Pictures]] President [[Greg Mooradian]] credits the animated ''Transformers'' film on his Linkedin page with a 2023 release.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-mooradian-4a5062200/ Greg Mooradian's Linkedin:] "TRANSFORMERS (Animated Feature), with Oscar-winner Josh Cooley directing (2023 release)"</ref>
*May 24, 2021 — Hasbro CEO [[Brian Goldner]] confirms the animated feature is in development, and will be released at some point after ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]''.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2021/05/24/tfw2005-coverage-of-49th-j-p-morgan-conference-434088 TFW2005 Coverage Of 49th J.P. Morgan Conference]</ref>
*January 21, 2022 — Paramount announces an untitled animated Transformers movie will be released on July 19, 2024.<ref>[https://collider.com/new-transformers-animated-movie-release-date/ Collider: New 'Transformers' Animated Movie Release Date Set For 2024]</ref>
*April 20, 2023 — di Bonaventura reveals that the entire film takes place on Cybertron, and the setting explores how they begin to question the hierarchy of how their society has gotten stratified, and how the common man doesn't have the voice that they want to have.<ref name=collider2023>[https://collider.com/transformers-animated-movie-characters-plot-cybertron-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ Here’s What the New Animated ‘Transformers’ Movie Is About (Exclusive)]</ref>
*April 21, 2023 — A day after the previous interview, di Bonaventura confirms [[Industrial Light & Magic]]'s involvement as the film's animation studio, bringing the company back to the franchise for the first time since ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://collider.com/new-transformers-animated-movie-ilm-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ The New 'Transformers' Animated Movie Is Partnering With an Industry Giant for the CGI (Exclusive)]/</ref>
*April 27, 2023 — The first members of the film's voice cast are revealed, consisting of [[Chris Hemsworth]] as Optimus Prime, [[Brian Tyree Henry]] as Megatron, [[Scarlett Johansson]] as Elita, [[Keegan-Michael Key]] as Bumblebee, [[Jon Hamm]] as Sentinel Prime, and [[Laurence Fishburne]] as Alpha Trion.<ref>[https://variety.com/2023/film/news/transformers-animated-prequel-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235596692/ ‘Transformers’ Animated Prequel Sets Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and More Voice Cast]</ref>
*May 24, 2023 — Paramount moves the film's release date to September 13, 2024.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2023/05/transformers-one-release-date-pushed-by-paramount-1235379167/ ‘Transformers One’: Paramount Pushes Date For Animated Feature]</ref>
*June 7, 2023 — di Bonaventura teases how the film stands out from previous entries in the franchise, praises Chris Hemsworth's casting as Optimus Prime, and mentions a vocal transition from Hemsworth's voice to [[Peter Cullen]]'s as the character for audiences to witness. [[Steve Desmond]] and [[Michael Sherman]] (''Knock at the Cabin'') were revealed to be additional writers for the film, but where uncredited when the final credit came in.<ref>[https://collider.com/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-optimus-prime-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ 'Transformers One' Producer Is Already Hyped for Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime]</ref>
*June 15, 2023 — Scarlett Johansson discusses the film's animation and praises Cooley as director.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWqG5mlRxzs Scarlett Johansson Says Transformers One Looks So Cool]</ref> Chris Hemsworth later brings details on voicing Optimus Prime for the film and his reasoning he joined the project through his love of the script. He confirms that he will not use his regular voice for the character.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWrsvSzWHoE Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime Sadly Won't Be Australian in Transformers One]</ref>
*July 20, 2023 — di Bonaventura confirms Optimus Prime and Megatron in the film will be depicted under their Orion Pax and D-16 identities.<ref>[https://onetakenews.com/2023/07/20/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-transformers-one/ Lorenzo di Bonaventura Teases Upcoming Film ‘Transformers: One’: “It’s Something I’ve Wanted To Do For A Long Time” (Exclusive)]</ref>
*December 15, 2023 — Keegan-Michael Key mentions his voice for Bumblebee is closer to his regular speaking voice.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLM71B5xmFY Transformers One: Keegan-Michael Key Reveals What Bumblebee Sounds Like in New Animated Film]</ref>
*April 11, 2024 — The cast of the movie previews the trailer and reveals a new logo for the film at Cinemacon 2024, The Hollywood Reporter also confirms [[Steve Buscemi]] has joined the cast.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/transformers-one-animated-movie-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235871998/ Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Brian Tyree Henry Debut Origin Story 'Transformers One' - The Hollywood Reporter]</ref> During the presentation, Hemsworth revealed that Cullen served as a consultant on the getting the voice down.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-one-news-film-is-testing-very-well-and-peter-cullen-consulted-chris-hemsworth-on-voice/48127/ Transformers One News: Film is Testing Very Well and Peter Cullen Consulted Chris Hemsworth on Voice]</ref>
*April 16, 2024 — Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry announce the date of the film's first trailer being on Thursday, April 18, 2024, as it will be launched into space.<ref>[https://collider.com/transformers-one-trailer-premiered-from-space/ The 'Transformers One' Trailer Will Be Premiered From Space - Collider]</ref>
[[File:TransformersOne-weatherballoon.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''So how do you judge what a man is worth? By what he [[Toy|builds or buys]]? You can never see with your eyes on Earth Look through Heaven's eyes Look at your life. Look at your life Look at your life through Heaven's eyes'']]
*April 18, 2024 — A livestream hosted by Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry follows a small craft launched towards space, with a screen that plays the trailer once it reaches 125,000 feet. The movie's release date has been pushed back by one week, to September 20, reportedly to avoid the release conflicting with that of ''{{w|Beetlejuice Beetlejuice}}''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/04/transformers-one-trailer-release-date-1235889037/ ‘Transformers One’ Launches Trailer In Space, A First For A Movie Studio; Pic Going Later In September]</ref> When asked whether the film is a fresh start, a prequel to the live-action films, or its own thing, Cooley replies "yes to all of the above".<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/transformers-one-director-confirms-new-movies-canon-status/ Transformers ONE Director Confirms New Movie's Canon Status - ComicBook.com]</ref>
*May 20, 2024 — [[Brian Tyler]] is attached as the film's composer.<ref>[https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/05/20/brian-tyler-scoring-josh-cooleys-transformers-one/ Brian Tyler Scoring Josh Cooley’s ‘Transformers One’ - Filmmusicreporter.com]</ref>
*June 7, 2024 — Production for the film is revealed to be finished in the following month.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2024/06/07/work-on-transformers-one-animated-movie-is-set-to-wrap-up-in-july-513038 Work On Transformers: One Animated Movie Is Set To Wrap Up In July - TFW2005]</ref>
*June 10, 2024 — A work-in-progress cut of the film was screened at the {{w|Annecy International Animation Film Festival}} to a standing ovation.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235918820/ Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Transformers One’ Draws Laughs, Cheers in Its Annecy Debut - Hollywood Reporter]</ref>
*June 12, 2024 — Several media outlets, including representatives from TFWiki, are invited to an [[Transformers One London advance screening|advance screening]] hosted by di Bonaventura and Cooley.
*June 18, 2024 — Production designer Jason Scheier confirms animation for the film is finished.<ref>[https://twitter.com/ScheierJason/status/1803227407404638226/ Production Designer Jason Scheier's post on Twitter]</ref>
*June 27, 2024 — Sound-mixing for the film is finished, with production finally now complete around three months in advance of release.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/C8vPCEUS3Bs/ @CooleyYourFaceOff - Instagram]</ref>
*July 9, 2024 — A panel for the film has been announced for [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2024 on Thursday, July 25 at 11:45 am PST at Hall H.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/07/transformers-one-comic-con-1236004636/ Paramount Animation & Hasbro Entertainment’s ‘Transformers One’ Will Be More Than Meets The Eye At San Diego Comic-Con]</ref>
*July 13, 2024 — Chris Hemsworth, Bryan Tyree Henry, and Keegan-Michael Key reveal a new clip of the main cast transforming for the first time at the Kids' Choice Awards 2024.<ref>[https://twitter.com/transformers/status/1812285185427431646/ Post from the official Transformers account on Twitter]</ref>
*July 23, 2024 — Cooley discusses how ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' influenced ''One''.<ref>[https://ew.com/transformers-one-comic-con-preview-optimus-prime-megatron-origin-story-8676886 Transformers One director reveals how infamous 1986 animated movie influenced new prequel film]</ref> A screening of the finished film was shown at a fan-event at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles and in New York City.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/anime/news/transformers-one-review-first-reactions/ Transformers One First Reactions are Raving Over "Best Transformers Film to Date"]</ref> Hemsworth talks about voicing Optimus Prime in the film and how his depiction stands out.<ref>[https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-optimus-prime-orion-pax/ Chris Hemsworth on Becoming Optimus Prime for Transformers One (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 24, 2024 — Several new posters are released, along with the announcement of a new trailer the following day at the SDCC panel.<ref>[https://twutter.com/transformers/status/1816111093917573615/ Second trailer announcement on Twitter]</ref>
*July 25, 2024 — Details at the SDCC panel were revealed, along with the debut of the second trailer and Bucsemi's role announced to be Starscream.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/07/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-comic-con-1236022134/ ‘Transformers One’ Ignites Comic-Con With Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry & Keegan-Michael Key: How Two Best Friends Became Immortal Enemies]</ref> [[Eric Pearson]] was revealed to be an additional writer.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/news/paramount-drops-transformers-one-trailer-2 Paramount Drops ‘Transformers One’ Trailer #2]</ref>
*August 21, 2024 — A new clip of Orion Pax and D-16 competing in the Iacon 5000 race is released on Paramount's YouTube channel.<ref>[https://youtu.be/7o-bGIBZxdc?feature=shared/ TRANSFORMERS ONE Film Clip IACON Race Begins (2024)]</ref>
*August 23, 2024 — Evan Michael Lee is revealed to be voicing Jazz.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Evanmichaellee/status/1826960202920530306/ Evan Michael Lee on Twitter]</ref>
*August 24, 2024 — [[Jon Bailey]], [[Jason Konopisos-Alvarez]], [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] and [[Vanessa Liguori]] are revealed to be voicing Soundwave, Shockwave, Darkwing and Airachnid respectively, with Bailey reprising his role from ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]''.<ref>[https://punto.com.ph/paramount-pictures-our-crew-rolls-deep-meet-the-voice-cast-behind-the-characters-in-transformers-one-in-cinemas-september-18/ PARAMOUNT PICTURES : OUR CREW ROLLS DEEP: MEET THE VOICE CAST BEHIND THE CHARACTERS IN “TRANSFORMERS ONE,” IN CINEMAS SEPTEMBER 18 on Punzo.com]</ref>
*September 6, 2024 — The film's credits song, '[[If I Fall]]' by [[Quavo]], is released.<ref>[https://youtu.be/M3FCIf0HFnk?si=NB1J3bT9XNPOpKCc/ If I Fall (Music from the Motion Picture Transformers One / Lyric Video)]</ref>
*September 12, 2024 — In an interview, Lorenzo di Bonaventura clarifies that ''One'' doesn't directly connect to the live-action films, and describes them as "two universes" that will be "[kept] separate". However, he notes that ''One'' will likely have an influence on future live-action projects.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/is-transformers-one-a-prequel-optimus-prime-origin-story-exclusive/ Is Transformers One a Prequel or Reboot? The Animated Movie's Origin Story Is Both, Director Says]</ref> The film's review embargo is also lifted, and the film debuts with an 89% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-one-critic-reviews-are-out-currently-89-on-rotten-tomatoes/48337/ Transformers One Critic Reviews are Out, Currently 89% on Rotten Tomatoes]</ref>
*September 13, 2024 — The film's main theme is released.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFnuXrOH0fs/ Brian Tyler - Transformers One Theme | Transformers One (Music from the Motion Picture)]</ref>
*September 17, 2024 — In an interview with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Josh Cooley, when asked again about ''One''{{'}}s relation to any of the live-action movies, di Bonaventura stated, "It was like 300 million years before the [[Transformers (film)|first Michael Bay movie]], so if that's a prequel, that's a prequel."<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-one-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-and-josh-cooley-interview/ Transformers One Producer Hopes For Sequel & Confirms G.I. Joe Crossover]</ref>
*September 18, 2024 — An early fan event screening is held, preceded by a seven-minute featurette consisting of interview segments with Hemsworth, Henry, and Key, footage of main cast recording their dialogue, and some [https://twitter.com/damnyouwillis/status/1836584462341054907 hilarious trivia]. Attendees receive one of four exclusive keychains and poster prints featuring Orion Pax, D-16, B-127, or Elita-1.<ref>https://bleedingcool.com/movies/transformers-one-4-new-posters-tickets-go-on-sale-fan-screenings/</ref>
*September 20, 2024 — The first 300 ticket holders at participating theaters receive a poster print of {{w|Shadow the Hedgehog}} to promote the upcoming release of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''.<ref>https://kotaku.com/sonic-3-shadow-print-transformers-one-theater-showtimes-1851649010</ref>

===Changes before, during, and after production===
[[File:DecepticonReflectorEvanConcept.jpg|thumb|right|300px|I will not be the weak link!]]
*Although the broad story beats of ''One'' remained more or less consistent over the course of the film's development, the first draft—written before Josh Cooley's involvement—was a silly, joke-heavy script that was very different in tone from the final product. When first brought on to direct, Cooley pushed for a more serious treatment to bring the film closer in line to the usual tone of the ''Transformers'' franchise.<ref name="gizmodo">[https://gizmodo.com/transformers-one-director-interview-josh-cooley-easter-eggs-2000489187 ''Transformers One'' Director Josh Cooley Talks Lore, Easter Eggs, and Alternate Versions] </ref>
*At one point, a bird robot based on ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Aerobolt]] would've played a role in the story.<ref>{{citesocial|quote= "In an older version of the story we explored Aerobolt being part of the story. It never made it into the final."|link=https://twitter.com/ScheierJason/status/1840624306465755358|name=Jason Scheier|site=Twitter|year=2024|month=9|day=30}}</ref>
*An early draft had a scene where Orion and D-16 played an arcade game together, which would've featured an 8-bit version of "The Touch". The gag was eventually dropped, although the arcade machine and a different reference to the song made it into the final film.<ref name="gizmodo" />
*Another draft had D-16 as a gladiator, alluding to another part of the character's standard origin story, but ultimately this concept was cut for time.<ref>[https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/transformers-one-star-wars-old-republic-interview-1235017651/ ‘Transformers One’ Director Talks Bringing the Franchise to Its ‘Old Republic’ Era - Indiewire]</ref>
*Originally, the film would've ended on a smash cut to the film's title, accompanied by a rendition of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]]. However, Cooley decided that the scene would be overly self-referential, and instead [[Brian Tyler]] scored an original composition to close out the film.<ref name="gizmodo" />
*A shot of Orion, Elita, Soundwave, and Shockwave exiting the train after crashing into Sentinel's tower is not in the final film, and only appears in promotional material.
*Concept art for Airachnid reveals she was initially planned to transform into a spider rather than a drone, which is reflected in her Cog Changers toy.
*Alpha Trion's death at the hands of Sentinel Prime was originally planned to show the old sage getting decapitated by the false Prime.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=|link=https://twitter.com/TFHypeGuy/status/1886386574083944876|name=TFHypeGuy|site=Twitter|year=2025|month=2|day=3}}</ref>
*A bot resembling [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] was also present in concept art, but makes no appearance in the film proper. Unless he was the cameraman.
*An earlier draft of the film featured a scene where Orion, D-16, Elita and B-127 fight the triple changer [[Astrotrain]], who would’ve acted as the conductor of the train that the characters hijack to the surface of Cybertron

==Notes==
*As seen in the cast list above, Arcee and Chromia are voiced by Jinny Chung, the film's story / script coordinator. The Injured Racer is voiced by Dillon Bryan, Josh Cooley's assistant. Cooley himself cameos as Skywarp, the "Control Room Guys", and the PA system.
*Several international releases of the film are edited to cut away from Orion's "finger transformation" a few seconds earlier, as well as changing any mention of Bee's "knife hands" to refer to them as "sword hands" instead.
*The credits feature a dedication to former Hasbro CEO [[Brian Goldner]], who passed away in October 2021.
*Darkwing was named by Hasbro designer [[Mark Maher]], when his boss asked him "If this was a Decepticon flyer, who would it be?"<ref>{{citesocial|link=https://www.instagram.com/stories/markclonus/|name=Mark Maher|site=Instagram|year=2024|month=09|day=08}}</ref>
*The Autobot [[Insignia]] never appears within the story, only appearing at the beginning of the end credits.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Transformers/One''''' (トランスフォーマー/ONE ''Toransufōmā Wan'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''''Bin Ying Gam Gong: Choh Chi Pin''''' (變形金剛：初始篇, "Transformers: The Beginning")
*''French:'' '''''Transformers : Le Commencement''''' (France, "Transformers: The Beginning"), '''''Transformers : Un''''' (Canada, "Transformers: One")
*''Hungarian:'' '''''Transformers Egy''''' ("Transformers One")
*''Korean:'' '''''Transformer ONE''''' (트랜스포머 ONE ''Teuraenseupomeo ONE'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Biànxíng Jīngāng: Qǐyuán''''' (变形金刚：起源, "Transformers: The Origin")
*''Portuguese:'' '''''Transformers: O Início''''' ("Transformers: The Beginning")
*''Russian:'' '''''Transformery: Nachalo''''' (Трансформеры: Начало, "Transformers: The Beginning")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Transformers One''''' (Spain), '''''Transformers : Uno''''' (Latin America, "Transformers: One")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''''Transformery: Pochatok''''' (Трансформери: Початок, "Transformers: The Beginning")

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

[[Category:One| ]]
[[Category:Real world films]]