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Scale

2014-12-04T14:02:44Z

OmnipotentOne: Yes, we need that. This is wikipedia, every case of Size Changing should be noted.

[[Image:OptimusSnakeEyes.jpg|right|300px|thumb|And the truck's how big...?]]
'''Scale''' in ''Transformers'' is, not to put too fine a point on it, screwed.

Virtually no era, franchise, fiction, [[Toy|toyline]] or other incarnation of ''Transformers'' has presented scale in a logical or believable fashion. (There are, of course, a few [[#Intentional attempts at a consistent scale|rare exceptions]], detailed below.) Most fans agree that one must either ignore it or accept it, lest they be tempted to explain these problems and in the process [[fanon|fanwank]] themselves into oblivion.

However, the considerable and varied scale problems of ''Transformers'' still merit description.

{{bigquote|Clearly, the pitiful humans at Hasbro are so overwhelmed by the awesomeness of Cybertronian life forms that they can't get the scale right.|[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]|[[Transformers Comic issue 23|Star Screams #23]]}}

==Scale within toylines==

===Toys out of scale with others in the same line===
[[Image:DiacloneScale.jpg|right|350px|thumb|That little guy — who comes from the same toyline as all those vehicles — is supposed to be a normal-sized human. Yeeeah.]]
The early [[The Transformers (toyline)|''Generation 1'' toy line]], especially the pre-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] releases, were [[rebranding|rebranded]] and [[redeco]]ed toys from several different Japanese toy lines. The crucial point is that the toy lines were initially unrelated. The characters ''should'' be in scale with each other as they all have real-world [[alternate mode]]s that (should) pass for real vehicles. However, since ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys were not part of the same line as ''[[Microman]]'' toys, scale issues arose. ''Diaclone'' figures such as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] are more-or-less in correct scale with each other (though problems already arise with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], whose alternate modes are based on ''the same car'' yet are not quite the same size), but many of the [[Mini Vehicle]]s from the ''New Microman'' line are clearly far too small by comparison. Even aside from their deformed penny-racer proportions, a [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Generation 1 2|Porsche 924]] ''[[Micro Change]]'' toy is disproportionately tiny when compared to a [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Porsche 935]] ''Diaclone'' toy. The disparity becomes even more obvious with Minibots such as [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (a tank) and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (a hovercraft), who should be many times their actual size.

Another glaring scale problem comes in the form of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], who turn into F-15 Eagles which, in real life, are 19.4 m (63.8 feet) long. Correctly scaled, this would make their robot modes ''colossal'' compared to most Autobots. Similarly, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], despite also coming from the ''Diaclone'' line, are too small, in particular [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], whose alternate mode is an "earth mover" type of dump truck, which are ''gigantic'' in real life. Far worse is the other ''Diaclone'' combiner team, the [[Trainbot]]s, who have train engine altmodes, yet their toys are among the ''smallest'' of the ''Diaclone'' releases.

Transformers are currently formalised to a variety of [[size class|size classes]], which dictate the approximate cost and dimensions of a figure. Consequently, if the powers that be release toys of two characters in the same line in the same size class, they're going to come out in the same size. Even if one character's a [[Starscream (Movie)|twenty-metre fighter jet]] and the other's a [[Ironhide (Movie)|five-metre pickup truck]]. So don't expect this one to go away any time soon.

===Toys slightly out of scale with others in the same assortment===
Sometimes toys that ship in the same assortment or [[size class]] have similar [[alternate mode]]s (i.e. two cars or two planes), but are not ''quite'' in scale with each other. One possible reason for this is that one of them would be considerably smaller than the other one in real life if they were perfectly in scale. For example, ''[[Movie (franchise)|Movie]]'' [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]'s Pontiac Solstice alternate mode is a ''tiny'' car, and any size class that includes both him and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] (a Chevrolet Camaro) will result in scale problems between the toys. Hasbro ''could'' have made Jazz smaller, but since the main limit for a size class is the ''weight'' of a toy, not its size (as long as it fits into the standardized packaging, that is), they decided that scale problems are more acceptable than selling a tiny Deluxe Class toy when there's still room in the budget for more plastic. With the [[Human Alliance]] assortment, Hasbro have taken a different approach by trying to keep the vehicles in scale (roughly 1:24) and adding accessories and other characters that turn into motorcycles for smaller cars such as Jazz, [[Skids (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Mudflap]].

Other toys with comparable alternate modes that are slightly out of scale with each other are ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Sunstreaker (G1)#Generation 1 2|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)#Generation 1 2|Sideswipe]] (mentioned above), who have the ''same'' basic alternate mode (with a few differences), and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Legends Class [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Autobot Jazz]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Rodimus]].

===Toys out of scale within teams===
[[Image:Bruticus toy.jpg|right|130px|thumb|Wait till you see the artist's rendition of a scale-accurate version.]]
Even toys specifically [[combiner|designed to interact with each other]] suffer from this problem. The [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] are wildly out of scale to each other—[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]'s [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Space Shuttle Orbiter|Space Shuttle]] mode should dwarf [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]], with the others somewhere in between. Instead, they're about the same size. Among the Constructicons, [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] is designed to look like a gigantic [[Wikipedia:Image:Liebherr t282 1.jpg|"earth-mover" mining truck]]. He should be able to carry all his teammates in his bed, with some crowding. Similarly, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (a [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Concorde|Concorde jet]]) is dramatically undersized compared to his fighter-jet [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]] teammates. These scale problems are necessary to avoid misproportioned gestalt forms.

Don't even ask about the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] with their [[Groove (G1)|motorcycle]] and [[Blades (G1)|helicopter]] limbs...

This problem isn't just limited to the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' combiners either: ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Supreme [[Devastator (ROTF)|Constructicon Devastator]] has a massive [[Scavenger (ROTF)|mining excavator]] form the lower portion of the torso, with your everyday type of [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|cement mixer truck]] that's ''almost the same size'' forming the upper portion of the torso. An [[Long Haul (ROTF)|"earth mover"-type dump truck]] that should be about the same size as the excavator forms one tiny leg, while the other leg is formed by a [[Rampage (ROTF)|bulldozer]] that should be slightly smaller. The [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie]] circumvents this problem by adding additional construction vehicles in the mix, which are ignored by the toy line. The [[Legends Class]] version of Devastator only adds another [[Overload (ROTF)|dump truck]] for the torso, which doesn't really improve things since all the individual components are still more or less the same size.
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===Same alternate mode, different sizes===
Other scale problems come from characters who transform into the same (or similar) [[alternate mode]]s, but whose toys are different sizes. For example, [[Air Raid (G1)#Toys|the original Air Raid]] transforms into an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-15 Eagle|F-15 Eagle]], but his toy is half the size of [[Starscream (G1)/toys|the original Starscream]]'s. The same can be said for the [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Lamborghini Countach|Lamborghini Countach]] [[Breakdown (G1)#Toys|Breakdown]], who should be the same size as [[Sunstreaker (G1)#Toys|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)#Toys|Sideswipe]], not significantly smaller. These discrepancies are also seen in the other [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style combiners with Earth altmodes, whose toys are all smaller than similar earlier toys.

===Multiple scales of same character===
[[Image:Animated-toy MultipleSizeOptimusPrimes.jpg|right|270px|thumb|Oh great. And I thought ''Bulkhead'' was confused...]]

Starting with ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'', many franchises have released multiple versions of the same character in different [[size class]]es, most often the leader characters. Originally, the intent was apparently to make the popular [[Optimus (disambiguation)|Optimus]] and [[Megatron (disambiguation)|Megatron]] characters available at lower price points than just the large and expensive "Leader" class, so that children with less money would not miss out, and perhaps persuading [[completist]]-minded [[User:ItsWalky|collectors]] to buy multiple versions of one character.

While this introduces a nice range of options for the discerning collector, it can also lead to some problems. ''Beast Machines'', for example, featured three different [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor toys]]. The [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#BMSupreme|Supreme size toy]] was so large it could not interact with most of the other toys from the line (based on [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|the cartoon]], he's maaaaybe in scale with [[Nightscream (BM)#Toys|Nightscream]] and [[Optimus Primal/toys#Robots in Disguise|Air Attack Optimus Primal]], the later of whom wasn't released until three years later). The [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#BMNSC|Deluxe Cheetor]], on the other hand, was too ''small'' to match scales with most of the other toys (again, using the cartoon as a yardstick). Anyone looking ''within'' the toyline for notions of a "correct" scale between the characters would be stymied by the multiple size classes and the lack of real-world scale references.

Other instances of multiple-size characters are more clear cut; the [[Spy Changer]] incarnations of various ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' characters, for instance, are simply scaled-down representations of the same characters in the same bodies, not meant to interact with the much larger "main" toys, as are the later "Legends of Cybertron" toys in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]''. Other multiple-toy scale differences include intentionally simplified forms, such as the [[Fast Action Battlers]], which simply make all the characters the same size, with no attempt at matching scales.

Multiple-scale characters usually aren't meant to cross-interact. A rare exception is [[Movie (franchise)|live-action]] [[Blackout (Movie)#Voyager Class toys|Blackout]], who came with a [[Scorponok (Movie)#Voyager Class Blackout companions|tiny (and correctly scaled) version of Scorponok]]. A much larger [[Scorponok (Movie)#Deluxe Class toys|Deluxe version of Scorponok]] is ''also'' meant to interact with the same Blackout toy, despite the ridiculous scale disparity (and the fact that this means Blackout can have ''two'' Scorponoks of radically different size clipped to him simultaneously.)

Multiple toy sizes are generally irrelevant to the fiction, though the [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]] featured [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] inflating to planetary size, presumably in response to the [[Starscream (Armada)#Supreme|super-large "King Starscream" toy]] available at the time.

===Toys out of scale with themselves===
[[Image:G1 Broadside toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Kill me. Just... kill me now.]]

[[Triple Changer]]s create a whole new set of problems. The original [[Astrotrain (G1)#Toys|Astrotrain]] transforms from a 21-meter (70-foot) locomotive to a 56-meter (184-foot) [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Space Shuttle Orbiter|Space Shuttle]]. [[Octane (G1)#Toys|Octane]]'s original body transforms from a 20-meter (60-foot) tanker truck into a 65-meter (200-foot) jumbo jet. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from an Earth fighter jet of indeterminate model (let's pretend for the sake of argument that he's supposed to be an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-14 Tomcat|F-14]] and say he's 18 meters (61 feet) long) into an entire ''aircraft carrier'', approximately 333 meters (1,092 feet) long.

The newer versions of Astrotrain and Octane (aka "[[trademark|Tankor]]"), while changing the specifics of their alternate modes, really don't improve on the general size disparity all that much.

Even a two-mode toy can have this problem. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary/Masterpiece|20th Anniversary Optimus Prime]] has wheels which are pretty tiny for a Freightliner truck, while his rear hitch section is too thick. These out-of-proportion vehicle parts were necessary to give his robot mode [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] proportions. The original G1 Optimus Prime toy also has scale issues. His cab is 1/48 scale, but his trailer is closer in scale to the Autobot Cars, which fall more in the neighborhood of 1/35 to 1/40 scale-wise.
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===Toys with roleplay alternate modes===
The characters with roleplay altmodes such as Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]], [[Perceptor (G1)#Toys|Perceptor]], or [[Laserbeak (Armada)#Toys|''Armada'' Laserbeak]] are scaled to be real-world [[human]]-scale (well, kid-scale). Since the [[size changing]] seen in the fiction is not possible for real toys (at least, that's what [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''wants'' us to think), this human-scaling makes in some cases for inordinately large robot modes. E.g., [[Blaster (G1)#Toys|Blaster]]'s toy, in robot mode, is taller than most other Transformers.

The opposite problem is seen with [[Megatron (G1)/toys#MasterpieceMegs|Masterpiece Megatron]], whose robot mode is in scale with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary/Masterpiece|Masterpiece Optimus Prime]]. The result is that, while he may transform into a very accurately-proportioned handgun, it's unmistakably much larger than the real thing. (Not that this has stopped him being widely banned as a "realistic firearm replica"....)

===Fanciful altmodes===
Characters with alternate modes that are not meant to be replicas of real-world things (or at least, close enough to while being legally-distinct from said things) are difficult to accurately scale, as they generally transform into futuristic or Cybertronian vehicles whose size we don't really know... or, indeed, they don't transform into vehicles at all. The scale of characters such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|original Dinobots]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]] or [[Overhaul (Cybertron)#Voyager|Leobreaker]] is fairly arbitrary and can only be estimated by their relative size to other characters within the fiction, although most fiction is highly inconsistent in this regard (see below). Nevertheless, if one assumes that most vehicle altmodes are intended for [[human]]-sized passengers, comparing toys such as [[Chromedome (G1)#Toys|Chromedome]] with [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)#Toys|Lightspeed]] suggests the scale problem continues.

===Big toys===
It goes without saying that the [[city-bot]] and planetformer toys (such as [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Toys|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]]) are not remotely to scale with normal Transformer toys. While they are indeed ''large'' toys, they're only two to five times bigger than typical Transformer toys, and thus transform into "cities" and "planets" about the (relative) size of a bungalow. The scale problems extend to the details. Some of the citybot toys have visible windows, which are too large for a city, suggesting instead a medium-sized building.

However, it's hard to begrudge [[Hasbro]] not offering us a [[Primus]] toy the size of an asteroid. Where would we keep it?

Additionally, Fortress Maximus's main adversary [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] is considerably smaller as a toy. Whereas Fort Max includes a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] figure of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Generation 1 2|Spike]], who turns into the head of [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (whose toy is roughly the same size as the regular 1987 Headmasters toys), who in turn becomes the head of Fortress Maximus, Scorponok merely comes with [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] (whose figure is the same size as Fort Max's Spike), who turns into a tiny head for Scorponok, covered up by a large helmet. So either Fortress Maximus is supposed to tower over Scorponok, or Zarak [[size changing|grows in size]] during his transformation into Scorponok's head.

===Action Masters===
[[Image:Turbo Racer art.jpg|right|300px|thumb|A car riding inside a car. Wheeljack, you are either a genius or completely nuts.]]

The [[:Category:Action Master vehicles|Action Master vehicles]] were designed to take advantage of the fact that the [[Action Master]] figures were all the same size. They can each pilot each other's vehicles or ride as a passenger. With the vehicles as a frame of reference, it seems we should take it as fact that all of the Action Masters are literally the same size, even characters such as [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Did Devastator shrink?

Then again, the vehicles pose even more problems: [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], who still sports car [[kibble]], rides a [[Turbo Cycle (G1)|motorcycle]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (who used to transform into a car himself) drives a [[Turbo Racer|sports car]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] steers a massive [[Armored Convoy|18-wheeler truck]], despite his own chest still being the front end of a truck cab. Did [[Nucleon]] shrink the Transformers to ''[[human]]'' size, or are these just ''gargantuan'' vehicles?

Of particular note, Wheeljack's Turbo Racer is based on a Ferrari Testarossa, and the Action Master [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] figure (a new [[character]] created specifically for the Action Masters lineup) sports kibble that indicates he once used to transform into a Ferrari Testarossa himself!
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===Size class cross-compatibility===
[[Image:ROTF-toy FuryOfFearswoopBox.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Finally, toys that are more or less in scale with each other... yet Hasbro insists they are ''not''.]]

With standardized [[size class]]es and mixed-faction assortments being the norm these days, scale issues are a given. For example, the first [[wave]] of ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Deluxes featured Autobots [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Classics|Bumblebee]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Rodimus]], two cars, and Decepticons [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Starscream]], a modified F-15 Eagle fighter jet, and [[Astrotrain (G1)#Classics 2|Astrotrain]], a [[Triple Changer]] who turns into a bullet train locomotive and a modified NASA Space Shuttle orbiter, all roughly the same size in robot mode but obviously not the same scale in their alternate modes.

However, with the increasing prevalence of multiple toys of the same [[character]] in different size classes, particularly enforced by the [[live-action film series]], it is technically possible to have somewhat more accurate scale combinations. The [[Legends Class]] and its successor, [[Cyberverse]], allow Autobots with cars as their alternate modes to be roughly in scale with Deluxe or Voyager-sized Decepticons that turn into aircraft. Likewise, the Legends Class version of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Arcee (Movie)#Legends Class toys|Arcee]], a motorcycle, is more or less in scale with Deluxe-sized Autobots with car alternate modes.

Hasbro does not often take advantage of this possible compatibility with store [[exclusive]] [[giftset]]s and "bonus" packs. Even when toys with considerable size differences are sold in the same pack, combinations such as a Leader-sized [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys|Optimus Prime]] (which would be in scale with Deluxe-sized Autobots with car alternate modes) with the ''much'' smaller Legends Class versions of [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Legends Class toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Jazz (Movie)#Legends Class toys|Jazz]] or the large Ultimate Bumblebee toy with the much smaller Deluxe-sized toys of [[Scorponok (Movie)#Deluxe Class toys|Scorponok]] (who should be roughly the same size as Bumblebee) and [[Brawl (Movie)#Deluxe Class toys|Brawl]] (who should be considerably larger than either of them) are fairly common. The ''Revenge of the Fallen'' "Shanghai Showdown" multi-pack with [[Demolishor (ROTF)#Voyager Class toys|Demolishor]]'s Voyager-sized toy and the ice cream truck versions of [[Skids (ROTF)#Deluxe Class toys|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)#Deluxe Class toys|Mudflap]] (whose combined alternate mode is Deluxe-sized) is closer, but truly scale-accurate multi-packs like the (unreleased) [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'' (2010)]] "Sideways Sneak Attack" pack with a Deluxe-sized [[Sideways (ROTF)#Deluxe Class toys|Sideways]] (who transforms into a car) and the aforementioned Legends Class version of Arcee and two [[redeco]]s of her as [[Chromia (ROTF)#Transformers (2010)|Chromia]] and [[Elita-One (Movie)#Transformers (2010)|Elita-1]] are rare exceptions. A particularly odd example is the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' "[[The Fury of Fearswoop]]" three-pack, which features a Deluxe-sized [[Fearswoop (ROTF)|Fearswoop]] (who transforms into a plane) and Legends Class versions of [[Sideswipe_(Movie)#Fearswoop|Sideswipe]] and Mudflap (who turn into cars), making them more or less in scale with each other... yet the on-packaging [[bio]] states that Fearswoop has "grown to immense size".

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===Intentional attempts at a consistent scale===
[[Image:DOTM Tailpipe Pinpointer SgtNoble.jpg|right|thumb|300px|That sure is one big motorcycle...]]There have been precious few exceptions to all of this scale weirdness in the toys. However, the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' toyline, where every toy is a 1:24-scale representation of a real car, and thus in perfect scale with each other, was the first to buck the trend. Unfortunately, for practical reasons this limits the choice of altmodes. A [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (Space Shuttle) toy in scale with the ''Alternator''s toys would be 1.6 meters (5.1 feet) long, while a [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (aircraft carrier) toy at that scale would be over 12 meters (40 feet)! Hasbro actually displayed [[Prototype|mock-ups]] for an unproduced line of "military" Transformers in scale with ''Alternators'' during the [[BotCon 2007]] Hasbro Tour; two of them recycled parts of ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Unicron/toys#Armada|Unicron]], and were thus [[Size class|Supreme-sized]], which made said potential toyline not particularly commercially viable for Hasbro.

The direct—and indirect—successors to ''Alternators'' also maintained a mostly consistent internal scale. ''[[The Transformers: Binaltech Asterisk]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' made use of the same sculpts, only with added [[human]] female driver figures... which were woefully small compared to the cars they came with. This would repeat itself with the "[[Human Alliance]]" toys for ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'': The cars/robots are all roughly the right size compared to each other ([[Skids (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Mudflap]] are even smaller, squatter toys and come with sub-[[size class|Scout]]-sized [[Arcee (Movie)#Human Alliance|motorcycle]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)#HumanAlliance|robots]] to make up for it), but their human drivers are all too small. (Amusingly, [[Frenzy (Movie)#Human Alliance|Frenzy]] seems to be about right.) In fact, the size differences have even ''increased'': The [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'']] line introduced an even ''smaller'' scale for the driver figures, including new versions of [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]] and [[Mikaela Banes]] that are smaller than their ''Revenge of the Fallen'' predecessors. The new scale for the driver figures continues with ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'', which introduced Scout-sized robot figures that had one-man vehicle modes in a slightly larger scale, resulting in [[Sergeant Noble|undersized drivers]] riding [[Tailpipe (DOTM)|oversized motorcycles]]. Conversely, the [[Kmart]] [[exclusive]] ''Dark of the Moon'' "Autobot Daredevil Squad" multi-pack couples a redeco of the original ''Revenge of the Fallen'' version of Sam with a redeco of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Deluxe Class [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Cannon|Cannon Bumblebee]], resulting in a large human with a small Chevrolet Camaro he couldn't possibly fit into even if the Bumblebee toy had its crude interior redesigned to house a driver.

''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]'' would follow in ''Alternators''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s footsteps with a series of smaller 1:32-scale licensed cars... as well as stuffing [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Alternity|characters who traditionally don't have automobile alternate modes]] into modern-day civilian vehicles. That these toys represent [[Alternity|hyper-evolved beings]] most of the time make it all the more head-scratch-inducing.

== Scale within fictions ==
Scale issues abound within the fiction, especially the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]. Some can be attributed to [[animation error]]s, such as layering problems,[[:Image:Tinybluestreak.jpg|1]][[:Image:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|2]][[:Image:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|3]] but some "errors" were deliberate choices, for a variety of reasons.

===Fictional scale vs. toy scale===
[[Image:TeenyCliff.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Frighteningly toy-accurate.]]
[[Image:Powerglide Astoria Marygoaround.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Actually, disturbing ''fiction'' is probably more of a concern than scale issues.]]

The original ''Transformers'' fictions often depict characters to the same relative scale as the toys, which duplicates the intra-toyline problems described above. The cartoon, for example, shows [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] as about the same height, [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s and Autobot cars as slightly shorter (though not as much as the toys are), and [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]] as smaller yet. This scale was carried over to their vehicle forms, resulting in differently-sized cars that, based on real world measurements, should be virtually the same size.

For another example, the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comics portrayed the [[Pretender]]s as literal interpretations of their toys: 60-foot humans with full-scale Transformers inside. The "disguise" aspect of this was later explained by having [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] and [[Cloudburst]] encounter [[Femax|giant, transformer-sized humanoids on an alien planet]] which made them appear to be of a "normal" scale.

[[Image:Omegasupreme astrotrain.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I know he's meant to be big, but holy ''crap'', dude!]]

Transformers fiction commonly shrinks or inflates characters, relative to their toy sizes. "Giant" characters such as [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] are, even aside from any [[size changing]] for transport purposes, clearly not in the same scale in toy form as they are depicted on screen. [[Mini-Cassette|Cassette characters]] such as [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s toys are roughly the same height as most Minibots, while in the show they are usually portrayed as human-sized.

[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are usually shown to be of a fairly similar height (although Magnus is much bulkier), whereas there is a considerable difference between the size of their toys. By the same token, Rodimus is always depicted as being an equal stature to his opposing leader [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], whereas the [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|toy Galvatron]] is instead the same size as Magnus. Optimus Prime is also usually shown as only a head or so shorter than Magnus (if that), which gets very strange when you realize that a [[redeco]] of Prime's toy forms but a small part of Magnus' robot mode.

[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Airazor picks the Ultra-class figure.]]

The cast of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' were size-tweaked quite a bit, relative to the toyline. The most noticeable problem is [[Optimus Primal]], who has an Ultra toy (the "level four" size, almost twice the size of the "level three" Mega next-largest Maximal toys), but is shorter than both [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (both of whom are "level two" Deluxe sized toys). Further, [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron#Toys|Tigatron]]'s toys use the same (Deluxe) mold, but Tigatron is a head taller in the show (both because tigers are larger than cheetahs, and because Cheetor is "a kid"). New and altered characters in later seasons were generally more consistent in size (and appearance) with the toys. This problem was magnified when the Generation 1 characters cameoed in the series. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is a ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' but is shown in "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", as being much smaller than Optimus Prime.
[[Image:G1Prime BWMegs.jpg|right|250px|thumb|An example of how small Beast Wars Megatron is compared to Optimus Prime.]]

The ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]''' toyline was ''far'' worse in size discrepancies with the cartoon. Of the [[Maximal]]s featured in the show, the tallest character, [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], is [[Silverbolt (BW)#Beast Machines|the ''shortest'' toy]], while the diminutive [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] is a [[Nightscream (BM)#Toys|massive Ultra-class toy]]. And, sadly, the most show-accurate toy, [[Optimus Primal/toys#Robots in Disguise|Air Attack Optimus Primal]], is a ''ginormous'' Supreme figure, towering over the other toys. (Weirdly, the [[King Kong]]-like size of this toy became [[canon]] in one specific [[micro-continuity]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark (story)|Prime Spark}})

[[Image:ShrinkingHeavy.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I lost thirty tons, thanks to the Jump-Cut! Thank you, Jump-Cut!]]
In the otherwise fairly toy-scale-savvy [[Unicron Trilogy]], [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Metroplex]] and the other citizens of [[Gigantion]] are depicted as gargantuan in animation, whereas the toys are merely among the normal boxed size-classes. Within the animation, this causes problems with their [[Mini-Con]] partners, who are depicted as human-sized in robot mode by themselves, but when shown directly interacting with their larger partners, are scaled up right along with their partner... resulting in some temporarily gigantic Mini-Cons!

The Japanese ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)#Galaxy Force|Galaxy Force]]'' release of [[Metroplex (Cybertron)#Toys|Metroplex]], dubbed "Megalo Convoy", included an exclusive [[redeco]] of the [[Legends Class|Legends of Cybertron]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#MegaloConvoy|Optimus Prime toy]] to indicate the "correct" scale.

The ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' franchise has its share of scale problems when comparing its toyline to the cartoon (not helped by multiple releases of some characters in different sizes—see above), with several characters seeming roughly one [[size class]] too small, such as the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] being a mix of one Voyager size and two Deluxes, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)#Toys|Sentinel Prime]] looking rather diminutive as a Deluxe, and, most egregiously, [[Lugnut (Animated)#Toys|Lugnut]] as a ''very'' squat Voyager who's shorter than even some Deluxes. (As with [[Bulkhead (Animated)#Toys|Voyager-class Bulkhead]], more of his mass went into his width, plus his weapon takes away some from his robot mode.) Conversely, the traditionally stunted [[Bumblebee (Animated)#Toys|Bumblebee]] is marginally too tall and bulky to be in correct scale to his otherwise fairly accurate core teammates, assuming one includes [[Optimus Prime (Animated)#Voyager|Voyager Optimus]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)#Leader|Leader Bulkhead]] in their lineup. In fact, ''Animated'' is one of those toylines where you're not quite sure who you're supposed to base correct scale on.

===Inconsistent portrayal===
[[Image:OmegaSupremeintro.jpg|left|175px|thumb|No! Don't wash him in hot water! He'll...]]
[[Image:Omegasupreme-blasterandgrimlock.jpg|right|200px|thumb|...too late.]]
Even if a size was decided on, it often didn't remain consistent. The height of the cartoon's [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], just to name one, frequently varied between episodes.

The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 Marvel comic]] is notorious for changing the relative sizes of various characters. A single Transformer's size is rarely consistent between artists. For example, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] vary in height relative to [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. A panel in the "[[Time Wars]]" shows [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]], and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] all the same height. [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], titanic in his original appearance, {{storylink|Command Performances!}} shrunk steadily in subsequent issues until he was not much taller than the average Transformer. [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] suffered a similar problem, shrinking in size even though he was explicitly rebuilt to be twice as tall as the average Transformer. Super-mode Powermaster [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] was originally about Fortress Maximus-sized, until he too shrunk to the size of his inner robot—which was never seen again.

Scale can even be inconsistent within the same story thanks to changing artists: In the Marvel UK story "[[Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night]]", a ginormous [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] picks up a tiiiiny military Jeep with one hand, implying that he grew to humongous proportions when he transformed (as his alternate mode is ''also'' depicted as a Jeep in fiction), but in the second part of the story, Swindle is hit by a burning Jeep (possibly even the same one) that is now in scale with his robot mode. {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} It can even happen within the same issue without an artist change: In [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]'', there's a scene where a [[Hiro|human]] picks up [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] in his tape deck mode, which is smaller than a thick comic book slipcase in his hands. A few pages later, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] picks up Soundwave out of the human's hands, being barely able to hold the tape deck in his mouth, making Laserbeak about the size of a large dog (not counting the wings). Yet when [[Skywatch]] discovers Laserbeak at the end of the story, his ''head'' alone is suddenly the size of an adult human. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

[[Image:Beastwarriors scale.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Beast Megatron's size vs. Optimus Prime's in America... and Japan. Looks like the Blasty Zone adds on a few tons to Beast Era characters.]]
Between the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and the [[Beast Era]], the majority of the Cybertronian race considerably downgraded in size at the [[Great Upgrade]]. When entering the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the Beast Warriors are quite small compared to the dormant Generation 1 characters, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]—but just ''how'' much bigger varies quite a bit from scene to scene and episode to episode. When interacting with the Autobot technology of the Ark and the [[Autobot shuttle]], the [[Maximal]]s are often dealing with equipment grossly oversized for them (standing on the chairs to reach the controls, turning knobs the size of their heads); yet the Ark also seems to feature some human-sized computer control panels. {{storylink|Master Blaster|Master Blaster}} Without any height booster, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] can interface well with these controls.

On the other hand, ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' depicted Generation 1 and ''Beast Wars'' characters like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Primal]] as being exactly the same size. Lovely. It's possible that passage through the [[Blasty Zone]] may somehow [[Wikipedia:Boom tube#Later additions to the concept|account for this discrepancy]].

===Explicit size changes===
{{main|size changing}}

Numerous characters are explicitly shown to shrink or expand at various times.

====Human-scaled alternate modes====
[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] becomes a human-scale radio; [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] shrinks into a handgun scaled for either Transformer or human hands, depending on the situation. The cartoons and comics typically show this without explanation, leaving the audience to attribute it to advanced alien technology.

====Pretenders====
Some versions of the [[Pretender]]s are shown to explicitly shrink when hiding in their human-sized outer shells. In the U.S. toy commercials, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] in their new Pretender forms were small enough to fit in [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s hand. So, at least in that [[micro-continuity]], they were human-sized or Powermaster Optimus Prime is the size of Devastator. ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' featured Pretenders who did not have outer shells but rather an ill-defined holistic transformation which explicitly involved size changing. A vaguely similar explanation appeared in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' encyclopedia.

===Implicit size changes===
Characters often change size in a less explicit fashion when transforming. These changes in scale are usually attributed to size-changing by that portion of the fan base who like to find explanations for things. The other explanation is that the artists hoped the audience wouldn't notice. It can also be supposed that they are hiding their mass somewhere (car style Transformers storing mass in their passenger compartments when in humanoid form, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] folding his wings flat, the buildings in a city-bot collapsing to eliminate the spaces normally occupied by humans, boat-bots filling up or getting rid of the vast empty areas used to provide buoyancy) or puffing up with empty space, but at a certain point, things just get silly. Some Transformers are smaller than solid blocks of the mass contained in their alt modes: [[Unicron]] would have to be about as thick as the [[Earth]]'s crust while in planetary form, and [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Prime]] would probably be blown away by a stiff breeze in his larger incarnations.

====Transport characters====
[[Image:MakeHoistHuffer.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Definitely ''not'' toy-accurate.]]
[[Image:Ironhide carried into Ratchet.jpg|thumb|right|180px|...And not to [[Ironhide (G1)|mention]] [[Ratchet (G1)|this]].]]

In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]], Transformers that act as transport for other Transformers, such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], will often dramatically change size relative to their compatriots between one shot and the next. For example, Cosmos is ''much'' shorter than [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in robot form; yet Blaster easily fits within his spacecraft mode. Likewise, a whole squad of Decepticons can fit into Astrotrain's shuttle mode easily (including the combined-form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]!), yet he's an ordinary-sized trooper in his robot form.

Sometimes the cartoon would show ordinarily-scaled characters such as [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] or [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] carrying another Transformer in their cockpit, implying either a tiny passenger or a huge vehicle. Even [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who is supposed to be huge, would have to have a greatly expanded scale for his rocket ship component to accommodate passengers as shown on the cartoon.

The Marvel comics commonly sidestepped this issue by not using Transformers as transport characters, or else requiring the passengers to transform into their explicitly smaller forms to be carried. Yet they were not immune to this problem. In one story, the Pretender [[Cloudburst]] exited his shell, transformed into jet mode, and then his shell (and [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]]) boarded him as a passenger. The fact that his ''outer'' shell was now much smaller than the ''inner'' robot was quietly ignored. {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}}

[[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' series of [[bio]] comics tried to explain this for characters such as Astrotrain and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] by saying they're able to expand themselves to increase cargo space in vehicle mode, though their armor becomes thinner as it is spread out more. Conversely, the series notes, in robot mode, all that armor and structure being compressed into a smaller form makes that mode stronger and more durable for combat.

This concept is lampshaded in the credits of ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'', where [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] pulls up, and the entire Autobot cast of the game step out of his passenger door, clown car style.

====Combiner characters====
[[Image:DreamwaveCover6.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Since when is a sedan nine stories tall?]]
[[Combiner]] characters are often depicted as far larger than the sum of their parts. Characters such as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] are frequently shown as [[Godzilla]]-sized. Given that their limbs are mere cars and construction vehicles, this is patently absurd. ([[Superion (G1)|Superion]], by contrast, ''would'' be building-sized, given that his torso is a 100-seat jetliner.)

Combiners are also often out-of-scale with other Transformers; a combiner with cars for legs and another car for its torso should be slightly less than three times as tall as a one-car Transformer, even when taking the alteration of their body parts into account, but they are routinely drawn as five to dozens of times taller than their comrades. In the video game [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]], [[Bruticus (WFC)|Bruticus]] towers at least ten times as tall as any Protectobot, crushing them under his feet. In fact when the Combaticons form him in Chapter X they are clearly swelling in size.

Sometimes, they are even out of scale in their own team; [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]'s torso is an [[Onslaught (G1)|anti-aircraft truck]], while one of his limbs is a [[Blast Off (G1)|Space Shuttle]] and another is a [[Swindle (G1)|two-person offroad vehicle]]. For this to work, either Blast Off has to shrink, or Swindle needs to grow.

====Scale problems and size-changing====
Some fans interpret the many otherwise-unexplained scale issues above to all be the result of [[size changing]], but this is debatable. If virtually all characters use mass-shifting (or whatever) to gain or drop a few feet of height for no logical reason, the technology would be pointlessly mundane. There's also no known reason for (e.g.) the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s to choose to get ''shorter'' when going into battle. A to-scale Starscream in robot mode could kick Bumblebee around like a soccer ball. There's simply no positive evidence that size-changing is so widespread.

===Undersized alternate modes===
Many Transformers are portrayed in fiction as having alternate modes that are smaller than the real-life objects they are imitating. Sometimes this is deliberate, allowing them to match their toy scale and/or be of a similar size to other characters; in other cases, it is essentially an artistic error.

Toys at the lowest price points usually include "mini" or "micro" in their name. [[Mini Vehicle]]s [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] are usually depicted as smaller than other Transformers in fiction, even though their alternate modes should have them towering over other characters. This often results in minuscule vehicle forms; Seaspray is a tiny hovercraft, despite being covered with doors and windows. (Conversely, if a new toy based on such a [[character]] is designed to be more in scale with other toys, such as [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'']] Ultra Class Powerglide or [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'']] Voyager Class [[Sea Spray]], some [[fandom|fans]] complain ''because they expect those new toys to reflect the original toys' sizes'' and, by extension, the [[show-accuracy|depiction in fiction]].)

[[Image:Hotrodpatrolcommercial.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you have change for four hot rods?]]
The [[Micromaster]]s are explicitly downsized Transformers, roughly the size of a human in the comics, meaning that they ''should'' have explicitly tiny vehicle modes... which wouldn't make for very convincing disguises. The Micromasters are about the same height in robot mode, but they transform into equally tiny cars, trucks, planes, tanks, and other vehicles that should be vastly different sizes.

Despite this, the Marvel comic featured [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] carrying a human passenger in his vehicle form, as though he were a full-sized car. The Dreamwave miniseries ''[[Transformers: Micromasters|Micromasters]]'' suggested that the Micromasters were scaled down to interact more easily with "smaller beings". Whether that meant creatures of human scale or even smaller stature is never clarified, but the Micromasters' passenger compartments are presumably too small to accommodate human passengers.

The [[Mini-Con]]s of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] are another race of small robots who stand approximately the same height as humans and, like the Micromasters before them, are clearly modeled to carry passengers. Really teeny passengers. (Notable exceptions are [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]] (in his original body), [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]], and [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]], who become small one-man conveyances.) This results from the Mini-Cons scanning normal vehicles and then resizing them to fit, retaining now-useless passenger compartments. In the [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]], the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] have slightly-larger-than-human robot modes, but their alternate modes are large enough for a single human passenger, implying either a little size-changing or that their cockpits are kinda cramped. Though the Recon Team all originate from Gigantion, and seeing how partnered Mini-Cons seem to change size to fit their larger companions, a little size shift to accommodate a passenger doesn't seem too far-fetched compared to other scale issues.

Likewise, the [[Beast Era]] Maximals and Predacons possess roughly human-size bodies; yet when portrayed as vehicles on Cybertron ("[[Dawn of Future's Past]]", the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''), they feature seats and cockpits that, at their size, should be basically useless.

====Citybots====
[[Image:EarlyGalvatronTVMagazine1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|If you were ever this big in the cartoon, then we might call you a city.]]
[[Image:HeadmastersScale.jpg|right|200px|thumb|See above. Way, way, way above.]]
[[City-bot|A few characters]] have "city" alternate modes. As actual real-life cities can sprawl for many miles, a [[city-bot]] that can notionally house a population of humans, ''let alone'' Transformers, should have a robot-mode that'd make Godzilla look like a gecko. Suffice to say, almost no fiction even ''begins'' to approximate the logical size of a true "city-bot". In the American and Japanese cartoons, all four were shown as massive robots capable of housing many normal-sized Transformers. Even so, it would take something along the lines of the grossly undersized depictions of [[Unicron]] (see below) even to begin to represent reasonably the colossal size of a transformed city; so in the context of Transformers, "city" is perhaps better read as "building" or "fortress".

These city-bots often have "small" robots forming vital components. Scorponok has a "human-sized" being forming his head. [[Full-Tilt]], [[Six-Gun (G1)|Six-Gun]], and [[Slammer]] must logically be building-sized in robot-mode to be in-scale with Trypticon and Metroplex, but, again, are not drawn as such.

The Marvel Generation 1 comic sidestepped this issue by depicting Trypticon, Fortress Maximus and Scorponok as merely "large-standard" characters. However, Metroplex, during his one, brief appearance, was depicted as being immensely larger, crushing Quintesson attack cruisers under foot without batting an eyelid. He was still considerably smaller than a city, however, but this was justified by him merely serving as the 'transformation core' for Autobot City: Earth, not the actual city itself.

In ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'', [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]] is portrayed not so much as the city, but a part of the city; apparently several dozen buildings fused together, with one hand being large enough to carry Optimus or crush Megatron. That's probably not so bad, since we never see his entire, untransformed mode.
{{-}}

====Planets and planetbots====
[[Image:Cybertronplanet.jpg|left|250px|thumb|If we're generous and assume Cybertron is 'only' the size of Earth's moon, then the larger visible buildings are roughly the size of Massachusetts stood on end, and you could wedge France into that gash. (Which would probably improve both Cybertron and France.)]]
Scale when it comes to planets is so fraught it's painful. The problems of describing citybots as "cities" is a thousand times worse if [[Unicron]] is supposed to have a planet alternate mode, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is in turn supposed to be of similar size. Though different stories have compared Cybertron/Primus and Unicron to drastically different real planets, the fact remains that they are ''planets'', and yet are shown in such insane scale to characters as to suggest they are the size of a ''very'' small moon (or [[Darth Vader|space station]]).

To start with, Cybertron was shown throughout ''Generation 1'' with buildings visible from space. Although this was intended to show that the planet was technological in nature, it makes little sense, as the structures would have to be the size of small ''nations'' to be visible. If the buildings were in fact supposed to be skyscrapers (or even ''2000 A.D.''-style arcologies) sized for 10 m (30') robots, Cybertron would still be less than 150km (100 miles) across. The rather [http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Coruscant Coruscant]-like shots of Cybertron in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' may be less distinctive or "Cybertronian", but are ''far'' more believable. (Some people reason that the Transformers' advanced technology, along with their large size and their not needing to breathe, means that buildings actually CAN be that big.)

Unicron is a more extreme problem. Assuming no [[size changing]] occurs during his transformation (and really, what possible reason would he have to become ''smaller''?), in robot mode he would be so massive that any shot featuring a recognizable ''part'' of his body, let alone the whole thing, would be on a scale such that no normal Transformer would even be visible. [[Image:UnicronEatsGalvyMmmm.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Either Galvy is humungo, or Lithone is tiiinyyy!!!]]Scenes in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] in which he directly interacts with normal Cybertronians are blatantly absurd (though totally phat-looking). Shots such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] fleeing his grasping hand, a starship penetrating his eye, impaling [[Brainstorm]] on his fingernail, {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} or ''especially'' him picking up Galvatron between his fingers before swallowing him, break any concept of "planetary" scale. Not to mention that he's described as a "''ginormous'' weird-lookin' planet," which would lead one to assume that he is ''significantly'' larger than your average-sized weird-lookin' planet. Thank you, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. Thank you so much.

If Cybertron is the size of Earth's moon (and that's generous), and Unicron is about the size of Cybertron, his hands would be about the size of Europe and Galvatron (to the right) would be about the size of Denmark.

There is no explanation for any of this. Just go with it.

The depiction of Unicron's scale in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' was (debatably) a slight improvement, in that physical interaction with normal beings was not attempted. He preferred instead to communicate with normal Transformers by possessing one of them. {{storylink|Sideways (RID)|Sideways}} Nevertheless, shots featuring [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] standing on his neck are still ''farcically'' out of scale.

The depiction of Unicron in ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' is another improvement - he is explicitly said to be the ''core'' of the planet Earth, which would be about 3470 km. Furthermore only manifestations of him are seen (these vary in size), and his eyeball, which is in comparison to the Transformers about the size of a small town. It also helps that there are no regular transformers in the shot of his eyeball. It's not perfect but hey, what're you going to do?

As a side note, Unicron has been established in some continuities as having already devoured approximately 22.56% of known universes which is truly ridiculous if one takes actual planetary/galactic scale into consideration. Assuming that Unicron is ''generously'' close to the size of our moon, when compared to other stellar bodies he shows up as an all but invisible speck. Imagine him trying to devour a star the size of [http://www.kiroastro.com/writings/perspective.html Betelgeuse!]

===Oversized alternate modes===
[[Image:RattrapLOVEScheetor.jpg|right|180px|thumb|I'm tellin' ya, all da rats in Brooklyn are dis big!]]
Much less common are instances of a Transformer turning into an overscaled real-world object. Most such instances occur in the ''Beast Wars'' era.

Although the Beast Warriors are consistent day-to-day in their relative size to each other (a consistency made more easy to achieve thanks to CGI used to animate), their scale in relation to their real-world animal equivalents is more complex. While the bug characters such as [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] are obviously scaled-up, other characters are more subtly not quite the right size.

[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]] are shown standing next to real members of their species, and they are both the same size as the animals in question. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}} This makes them (and Cheetor in particular, since he's around more) the measuring sticks for the other characters. Therefore, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] is a rather small rhinoceros, and [[Optimus Primal]] is a roughly normal gorilla. However despite being by far the shortest of the Maximals, [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is still a monstrously huge rat, the size of a Labrador dog (indeed, the writers stated that Season 1 Rattrap was 5' (1.5 m) tall<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/8227a6ca84c0238d Bob Forward gives Rattrap's height from the show bible]</ref>). Likewise [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] is considerably larger than a real ''Velociraptor''. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], however, is a pitifully tiny specimen of a ''T. rex''. In their interactions with adult [[protohuman]]s, the Transformer characters seem between twice and three times their height. Considering our ancestors really were smaller than modern humans, this is not extremely wrong, but it deserves noting.

However, thanks to the scaling up of the arthropod characters, it is relatively safe to assume that the Transformers generally scanned only animal ''forms'' and then rescaled them to fit their own size - additionally, they were not so much attempting to ''disguise'' themselves, as to ''protect'' themselves from an excess of Energon. This is actually slightly more believable than all other series, in which the Transformers use mass shifting to make their alt modes the ''right'' size.

===Artistic license===
====Variation for characterization====
[[Image:Prime has a huge head.jpg|left|150px|thumb|With 20th Anniversary Prime and Smallest Transformers Bumblebee, you can actually recreate this scene.]]
Some scale problems are for the sake of characterization. For example, Optimus Prime is routinely shown as thoroughly gargantuan, several stories in height, and capable of cradling humans in his palm. If he's the size of a real truck, Prime in robot mode should be 8–10 m (25'–30') tall, at best. He's drawn large because he's a leader character.

Conversely, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] is sometimes shown only a few feet taller than an average human, while in reality he would be 3–5 m (10'–15') tall (the Marvel comic actually states he's 15' tall {{storylink|Plight of the Bumblebee!}}). He's drawn small because he's a human-friendly character, and a junior member of the Autobots.

With fighter jet alternate modes, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] should be among the largest everyday Transformers and would ''tower'' over their Autobot adversaries; instead, the animation depicts characters such as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] as about the same height. Though jets are much larger than cars, they're drawn the same height so the battles appear fair. (And also to make it easier to animate; blocking a shot where characters differ radically in height is difficult.)

In a related vein, sometimes Transformers are able to enter human buildings, fitting through their doors and running up their staircases without crashing through. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}} A cast that couldn't enter buildings would be grossly inconvenient for telling some stories, so the animators fudge things.

{{-}}

====Intentionally strange scale====
[[Image:MarvelUS-01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One side makes you larger, one side makes you small. (Op's been noshing on the first side too much.)]]
Sometimes artists draw a character at a different size [[Authorial intent|intentionally]]. For example, on the cover of the [[The Transformers (issue)|first issue]] of [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|the original ''Transformers'' comics series]], Optimus Prime is extremely huge compared to the highway, bridge, and normal cars. ([[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is bigger than usual, too.) This is purely for dramatic effect.

Another notable example is the splash screen for the "[[World of the Transformers]]" website, which depicts [[Optimus Primal]] (in his original gorilla body) as the same size as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|G1 Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Movie Optimus Prime]], directly contradicting the size difference seen in "[[Optimal Situation]]" and elsewhere (except for ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'').

Artwork for the [[:Image:VaderVsPrime.jpg|''Star Wars'']] subline features [[:Image:Megatronvsluke.jpg|humans from another galaxy]] standing at the same height as Transformers, although this is simply because most of the figures in [[Attacktix|the tabletop game advertised by this artwork]] are the same size.

[[Image:World of the Transformers ent.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Meet the Supreme class <s>[[Trukk not munky|Munky]]</s> Optimus Primal.]]
{{-}}

===The live-action film series===
[[Image:Moviescale1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Scale is absolutely not an issue in the movie. Riiight.]]
The creators of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]] took great pains to avoid out-of-scale issues. (Well, greater than previous franchises.) This is sometimes reflected in the choice of vehicle or the design of their robot mode. E.g., [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] is an extended-hood cab in order to have more mass with which to make a taller robot mode. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s robot mode is nearly as wide as it is tall, with shorter, digitigrade legs, so the massive jet-former won't end up twice as tall as Optimus. In the case of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], his huge alternate mode simply results in a hulking, towering robot mode.

There are still minor scale issues to be found, though. For example, Optimus Prime can hold both [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam]] and [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] in one hand. Comparing this shot with when he picks up [[Archibald Witwicky]]'s glasses a few minutes later, it seems the glasses have lenses a foot (30cm) in diameter. This is a visual cheat so the glasses are visible to the audience, and other visual cheats to make the robots seem shorter or taller were used in the movies. There's also debate about whether [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s head could compact itself into a slim mobile phone, although it's possible that he compacted himself ''a lot''. The [[Movie (toyline)|movie-franchise toys]], meanwhile, are only intermittently consistent (particularly since some of the secondary ones are redecos of toys from previous lines), with the largest contrast among the "primary" toys being between Deluxe Class [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], a motorcycle, and Voyager Class Decepticons with helicopters as their [[Alternate mode|alternate modes]], such as [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Incinerator (Movie)|Incinerator]]. However, many of the wheeled vehicles are close to 1:35 scale, although Deluxe Class [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and Classic Camaro [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|Bumblebee]] are ''obviously'' not the same scale, as noted above.

[[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] is another point of topic here. Whilst in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|film]], they worked on keeping his size relative to those of his components, in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|game]] he was far larger. Also note that the alternate mode of [[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]], who forms his right leg, is a massive Caterpillar 773B dump truck, which is considerably larger than a Caterpillar D9L bulldozer, the alternate mode of [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] who turns into Devastator's left leg. The movie tries to circumvent the size differences between Devastator's individual components by adding [[unknown Constructicon dump truck|more]] [[unknown Constructicon shovel|construction vehicles]] into the Devastator combination. The toy line, on the other hand, [[Overload (ROTF)|mostly]] ignores those additional components, resulting in massive scale discrepancies ([[#Toys out of scale within teams|see above]]).

Another interesting example is [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]]. Despite transforming into a Lamborghini Aventador (which stands at less than four feet, but at least fifteen feet in length), Lockdown contains a massive robot mode that stands at a least 24 feet. ''In other words'', Lockdown is pretty much the size of Optimus, being at most only few feet shorter than him. And that's pretty awkward, considering Optimus is a Western Star Truck concept, and Lockdown transforms into a Lambo. His relatively small alt-mode affected the toy line, too. Instead of making a Leader class sized figure of him (which would anyways have the side effect of an oversized Lambo), a Deluxe was made, seriously making him out-of-scale with Leader Prime.

Also, you can notice that Soundwave's giant body can compact in small Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Same can be seen when Laserbeak transformed to flat LCD TV.
{{-}}

==Official scale guides ==
[[Image:Tfcartoonscaleguideic1.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Official Scale Guides of ''The Transformers'']]
[[Image:Beastwarsscalepreliminary.jpg|right|250px|thumb|''Beast Wars'' Season 1 scale guide]]
Animators and comic book artists received official scale guides showing relative and (in some cases) absolute heights. Some of these were published in the character model guides ''[[Transformers: The Ark|The Ark]]'' and ''[[Transformers: The Ark II|The Ark II]]''. Though they were sometimes ignored, they still give insight into the official scale of characters in Generation 1. However, even here, there are problems. Devastator in the Season One scale guide was approximately 2.5 times the height of Optimus Prime, but by Season Two he was somewhat less than twice Prime's height.

''Beast Wars'' likewise had an official scale guide, which appeared as a bonus on the DVD set of Season 2. Despite this guide, the series writers have indicated some measure of disregard for relative scale, when it suited the needs of dramatic tension.<ref>[http://builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html BotCon 98 report - see "ON THE SIZES OF CHARACTERS"]</ref> Thus, Optimal Optimus is ''ungodly'' tall in his first appearance, later reduced to perhaps two times the height of the rest of the cast.

[[Image:ROTF Autobot scale guide 1.jpg|thumb|right|''ROTF'' scale guide]]

''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' had scale guides featured in the ''25 years of Transformers'' feature for the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)/home video|DVD release]] which showed official heights for both the Autobots and the Decepticons. Meaning [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] gains an extra twelve feet when he wears [[Jetfire (ROTF)|a corpse]].

{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6db411e03e75a342?dmode=source Estimated "real-life" heights for several Transformers, derived from the size of their alt-modes, archived from alt.toys.transformers on groups.google.com]

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Things that don't exist]]

Scale

2014-12-04T14:00:19Z

OmnipotentOne: /* The live-action film series */

User:OmnipotentOne

2014-12-03T18:51:31Z

OmnipotentOne: Created page with "Greetings people, beings based on carbon, from planet Earth, galaxy Milky Way. In my world, I am universe. I am Alpha and Omega. Everything, what is for you impossible, is f..."

Greetings people, beings based on carbon, from planet Earth, galaxy Milky Way.

In my world, I am universe. I am Alpha and Omega.

Everything, what is for you impossible, is for me already accomplished.

I am the Dreamer. I am the Omnipotent One.

Scale

2014-12-03T18:50:33Z

OmnipotentOne: /* The live-action film series */

[[Image:OptimusSnakeEyes.jpg|right|300px|thumb|And the truck's how big...?]]
'''Scale''' in ''Transformers'' is, not to put too fine a point on it, screwed.

Virtually no era, franchise, fiction, [[Toy|toyline]] or other incarnation of ''Transformers'' has presented scale in a logical or believable fashion. (There are, of course, a few [[#Intentional attempts at a consistent scale|rare exceptions]], detailed below.) Most fans agree that one must either ignore it or accept it, lest they be tempted to explain these problems and in the process [[fanon|fanwank]] themselves into oblivion.

However, the considerable and varied scale problems of ''Transformers'' still merit description.

{{bigquote|Clearly, the pitiful humans at Hasbro are so overwhelmed by the awesomeness of Cybertronian life forms that they can't get the scale right.|[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]|[[Transformers Comic issue 23|Star Screams #23]]}}

==Scale within toylines==

===Toys out of scale with others in the same line===
[[Image:DiacloneScale.jpg|right|350px|thumb|That little guy — who comes from the same toyline as all those vehicles — is supposed to be a normal-sized human. Yeeeah.]]
The early [[The Transformers (toyline)|''Generation 1'' toy line]], especially the pre-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] releases, were [[rebranding|rebranded]] and [[redeco]]ed toys from several different Japanese toy lines. The crucial point is that the toy lines were initially unrelated. The characters ''should'' be in scale with each other as they all have real-world [[alternate mode]]s that (should) pass for real vehicles. However, since ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys were not part of the same line as ''[[Microman]]'' toys, scale issues arose. ''Diaclone'' figures such as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] are more-or-less in correct scale with each other (though problems already arise with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], whose alternate modes are based on ''the same car'' yet are not quite the same size), but many of the [[Mini Vehicle]]s from the ''New Microman'' line are clearly far too small by comparison. Even aside from their deformed penny-racer proportions, a [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Generation 1 2|Porsche 924]] ''[[Micro Change]]'' toy is disproportionately tiny when compared to a [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Porsche 935]] ''Diaclone'' toy. The disparity becomes even more obvious with Minibots such as [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (a tank) and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (a hovercraft), who should be many times their actual size.

Another glaring scale problem comes in the form of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], who turn into F-15 Eagles which, in real life, are 19.4 m (63.8 feet) long. Correctly scaled, this would make their robot modes ''colossal'' compared to most Autobots. Similarly, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], despite also coming from the ''Diaclone'' line, are too small, in particular [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], whose alternate mode is an "earth mover" type of dump truck, which are ''gigantic'' in real life. Far worse is the other ''Diaclone'' combiner team, the [[Trainbot]]s, who have train engine altmodes, yet their toys are among the ''smallest'' of the ''Diaclone'' releases.

Transformers are currently formalised to a variety of [[size class|size classes]], which dictate the approximate cost and dimensions of a figure. Consequently, if the powers that be release toys of two characters in the same line in the same size class, they're going to come out in the same size. Even if one character's a [[Starscream (Movie)|twenty-metre fighter jet]] and the other's a [[Ironhide (Movie)|five-metre pickup truck]]. So don't expect this one to go away any time soon.

===Toys slightly out of scale with others in the same assortment===
Sometimes toys that ship in the same assortment or [[size class]] have similar [[alternate mode]]s (i.e. two cars or two planes), but are not ''quite'' in scale with each other. One possible reason for this is that one of them would be considerably smaller than the other one in real life if they were perfectly in scale. For example, ''[[Movie (franchise)|Movie]]'' [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]'s Pontiac Solstice alternate mode is a ''tiny'' car, and any size class that includes both him and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] (a Chevrolet Camaro) will result in scale problems between the toys. Hasbro ''could'' have made Jazz smaller, but since the main limit for a size class is the ''weight'' of a toy, not its size (as long as it fits into the standardized packaging, that is), they decided that scale problems are more acceptable than selling a tiny Deluxe Class toy when there's still room in the budget for more plastic. With the [[Human Alliance]] assortment, Hasbro have taken a different approach by trying to keep the vehicles in scale (roughly 1:24) and adding accessories and other characters that turn into motorcycles for smaller cars such as Jazz, [[Skids (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Mudflap]].

Other toys with comparable alternate modes that are slightly out of scale with each other are ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Sunstreaker (G1)#Generation 1 2|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)#Generation 1 2|Sideswipe]] (mentioned above), who have the ''same'' basic alternate mode (with a few differences), and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Legends Class [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Autobot Jazz]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Rodimus]].

===Toys out of scale within teams===
[[Image:Bruticus toy.jpg|right|130px|thumb|Wait till you see the artist's rendition of a scale-accurate version.]]
Even toys specifically [[combiner|designed to interact with each other]] suffer from this problem. The [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] are wildly out of scale to each other—[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]'s [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Space Shuttle Orbiter|Space Shuttle]] mode should dwarf [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]], with the others somewhere in between. Instead, they're about the same size. Among the Constructicons, [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] is designed to look like a gigantic [[Wikipedia:Image:Liebherr t282 1.jpg|"earth-mover" mining truck]]. He should be able to carry all his teammates in his bed, with some crowding. Similarly, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (a [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Concorde|Concorde jet]]) is dramatically undersized compared to his fighter-jet [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]] teammates. These scale problems are necessary to avoid misproportioned gestalt forms.

Don't even ask about the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] with their [[Groove (G1)|motorcycle]] and [[Blades (G1)|helicopter]] limbs...

This problem isn't just limited to the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' combiners either: ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Supreme [[Devastator (ROTF)|Constructicon Devastator]] has a massive [[Scavenger (ROTF)|mining excavator]] form the lower portion of the torso, with your everyday type of [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|cement mixer truck]] that's ''almost the same size'' forming the upper portion of the torso. An [[Long Haul (ROTF)|"earth mover"-type dump truck]] that should be about the same size as the excavator forms one tiny leg, while the other leg is formed by a [[Rampage (ROTF)|bulldozer]] that should be slightly smaller. The [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie]] circumvents this problem by adding additional construction vehicles in the mix, which are ignored by the toy line. The [[Legends Class]] version of Devastator only adds another [[Overload (ROTF)|dump truck]] for the torso, which doesn't really improve things since all the individual components are still more or less the same size.
{{-}}

===Same alternate mode, different sizes===
Other scale problems come from characters who transform into the same (or similar) [[alternate mode]]s, but whose toys are different sizes. For example, [[Air Raid (G1)#Toys|the original Air Raid]] transforms into an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-15 Eagle|F-15 Eagle]], but his toy is half the size of [[Starscream (G1)/toys|the original Starscream]]'s. The same can be said for the [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Lamborghini Countach|Lamborghini Countach]] [[Breakdown (G1)#Toys|Breakdown]], who should be the same size as [[Sunstreaker (G1)#Toys|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)#Toys|Sideswipe]], not significantly smaller. These discrepancies are also seen in the other [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style combiners with Earth altmodes, whose toys are all smaller than similar earlier toys.

===Multiple scales of same character===
[[Image:Animated-toy MultipleSizeOptimusPrimes.jpg|right|270px|thumb|Oh great. And I thought ''Bulkhead'' was confused...]]

Starting with ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'', many franchises have released multiple versions of the same character in different [[size class]]es, most often the leader characters. Originally, the intent was apparently to make the popular [[Optimus (disambiguation)|Optimus]] and [[Megatron (disambiguation)|Megatron]] characters available at lower price points than just the large and expensive "Leader" class, so that children with less money would not miss out, and perhaps persuading [[completist]]-minded [[User:ItsWalky|collectors]] to buy multiple versions of one character.

While this introduces a nice range of options for the discerning collector, it can also lead to some problems. ''Beast Machines'', for example, featured three different [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor toys]]. The [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#BMSupreme|Supreme size toy]] was so large it could not interact with most of the other toys from the line (based on [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|the cartoon]], he's maaaaybe in scale with [[Nightscream (BM)#Toys|Nightscream]] and [[Optimus Primal/toys#Robots in Disguise|Air Attack Optimus Primal]], the later of whom wasn't released until three years later). The [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#BMNSC|Deluxe Cheetor]], on the other hand, was too ''small'' to match scales with most of the other toys (again, using the cartoon as a yardstick). Anyone looking ''within'' the toyline for notions of a "correct" scale between the characters would be stymied by the multiple size classes and the lack of real-world scale references.

Other instances of multiple-size characters are more clear cut; the [[Spy Changer]] incarnations of various ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' characters, for instance, are simply scaled-down representations of the same characters in the same bodies, not meant to interact with the much larger "main" toys, as are the later "Legends of Cybertron" toys in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]''. Other multiple-toy scale differences include intentionally simplified forms, such as the [[Fast Action Battlers]], which simply make all the characters the same size, with no attempt at matching scales.

Multiple-scale characters usually aren't meant to cross-interact. A rare exception is [[Movie (franchise)|live-action]] [[Blackout (Movie)#Voyager Class toys|Blackout]], who came with a [[Scorponok (Movie)#Voyager Class Blackout companions|tiny (and correctly scaled) version of Scorponok]]. A much larger [[Scorponok (Movie)#Deluxe Class toys|Deluxe version of Scorponok]] is ''also'' meant to interact with the same Blackout toy, despite the ridiculous scale disparity (and the fact that this means Blackout can have ''two'' Scorponoks of radically different size clipped to him simultaneously.)

Multiple toy sizes are generally irrelevant to the fiction, though the [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]] featured [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] inflating to planetary size, presumably in response to the [[Starscream (Armada)#Supreme|super-large "King Starscream" toy]] available at the time.

===Toys out of scale with themselves===
[[Image:G1 Broadside toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Kill me. Just... kill me now.]]

[[Triple Changer]]s create a whole new set of problems. The original [[Astrotrain (G1)#Toys|Astrotrain]] transforms from a 21-meter (70-foot) locomotive to a 56-meter (184-foot) [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Space Shuttle Orbiter|Space Shuttle]]. [[Octane (G1)#Toys|Octane]]'s original body transforms from a 20-meter (60-foot) tanker truck into a 65-meter (200-foot) jumbo jet. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from an Earth fighter jet of indeterminate model (let's pretend for the sake of argument that he's supposed to be an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-14 Tomcat|F-14]] and say he's 18 meters (61 feet) long) into an entire ''aircraft carrier'', approximately 333 meters (1,092 feet) long.

The newer versions of Astrotrain and Octane (aka "[[trademark|Tankor]]"), while changing the specifics of their alternate modes, really don't improve on the general size disparity all that much.

Even a two-mode toy can have this problem. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary/Masterpiece|20th Anniversary Optimus Prime]] has wheels which are pretty tiny for a Freightliner truck, while his rear hitch section is too thick. These out-of-proportion vehicle parts were necessary to give his robot mode [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] proportions. The original G1 Optimus Prime toy also has scale issues. His cab is 1/48 scale, but his trailer is closer in scale to the Autobot Cars, which fall more in the neighborhood of 1/35 to 1/40 scale-wise.
{{--}}

===Toys with roleplay alternate modes===
The characters with roleplay altmodes such as Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]], [[Perceptor (G1)#Toys|Perceptor]], or [[Laserbeak (Armada)#Toys|''Armada'' Laserbeak]] are scaled to be real-world [[human]]-scale (well, kid-scale). Since the [[size changing]] seen in the fiction is not possible for real toys (at least, that's what [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''wants'' us to think), this human-scaling makes in some cases for inordinately large robot modes. E.g., [[Blaster (G1)#Toys|Blaster]]'s toy, in robot mode, is taller than most other Transformers.

The opposite problem is seen with [[Megatron (G1)/toys#MasterpieceMegs|Masterpiece Megatron]], whose robot mode is in scale with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary/Masterpiece|Masterpiece Optimus Prime]]. The result is that, while he may transform into a very accurately-proportioned handgun, it's unmistakably much larger than the real thing. (Not that this has stopped him being widely banned as a "realistic firearm replica"....)

===Fanciful altmodes===
Characters with alternate modes that are not meant to be replicas of real-world things (or at least, close enough to while being legally-distinct from said things) are difficult to accurately scale, as they generally transform into futuristic or Cybertronian vehicles whose size we don't really know... or, indeed, they don't transform into vehicles at all. The scale of characters such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|original Dinobots]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]] or [[Overhaul (Cybertron)#Voyager|Leobreaker]] is fairly arbitrary and can only be estimated by their relative size to other characters within the fiction, although most fiction is highly inconsistent in this regard (see below). Nevertheless, if one assumes that most vehicle altmodes are intended for [[human]]-sized passengers, comparing toys such as [[Chromedome (G1)#Toys|Chromedome]] with [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)#Toys|Lightspeed]] suggests the scale problem continues.

===Big toys===
It goes without saying that the [[city-bot]] and planetformer toys (such as [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Toys|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]]) are not remotely to scale with normal Transformer toys. While they are indeed ''large'' toys, they're only two to five times bigger than typical Transformer toys, and thus transform into "cities" and "planets" about the (relative) size of a bungalow. The scale problems extend to the details. Some of the citybot toys have visible windows, which are too large for a city, suggesting instead a medium-sized building.

However, it's hard to begrudge [[Hasbro]] not offering us a [[Primus]] toy the size of an asteroid. Where would we keep it?

Additionally, Fortress Maximus's main adversary [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] is considerably smaller as a toy. Whereas Fort Max includes a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] figure of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Generation 1 2|Spike]], who turns into the head of [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (whose toy is roughly the same size as the regular 1987 Headmasters toys), who in turn becomes the head of Fortress Maximus, Scorponok merely comes with [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] (whose figure is the same size as Fort Max's Spike), who turns into a tiny head for Scorponok, covered up by a large helmet. So either Fortress Maximus is supposed to tower over Scorponok, or Zarak [[size changing|grows in size]] during his transformation into Scorponok's head.

===Action Masters===
[[Image:Turbo Racer art.jpg|right|300px|thumb|A car riding inside a car. Wheeljack, you are either a genius or completely nuts.]]

The [[:Category:Action Master vehicles|Action Master vehicles]] were designed to take advantage of the fact that the [[Action Master]] figures were all the same size. They can each pilot each other's vehicles or ride as a passenger. With the vehicles as a frame of reference, it seems we should take it as fact that all of the Action Masters are literally the same size, even characters such as [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Did Devastator shrink?

Then again, the vehicles pose even more problems: [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], who still sports car [[kibble]], rides a [[Turbo Cycle (G1)|motorcycle]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (who used to transform into a car himself) drives a [[Turbo Racer|sports car]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] steers a massive [[Armored Convoy|18-wheeler truck]], despite his own chest still being the front end of a truck cab. Did [[Nucleon]] shrink the Transformers to ''[[human]]'' size, or are these just ''gargantuan'' vehicles?

Of particular note, Wheeljack's Turbo Racer is based on a Ferrari Testarossa, and the Action Master [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] figure (a new [[character]] created specifically for the Action Masters lineup) sports kibble that indicates he once used to transform into a Ferrari Testarossa himself!
{{--}}

===Size class cross-compatibility===
[[Image:ROTF-toy FuryOfFearswoopBox.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Finally, toys that are more or less in scale with each other... yet Hasbro insists they are ''not''.]]

With standardized [[size class]]es and mixed-faction assortments being the norm these days, scale issues are a given. For example, the first [[wave]] of ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Deluxes featured Autobots [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Classics|Bumblebee]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Rodimus]], two cars, and Decepticons [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Starscream]], a modified F-15 Eagle fighter jet, and [[Astrotrain (G1)#Classics 2|Astrotrain]], a [[Triple Changer]] who turns into a bullet train locomotive and a modified NASA Space Shuttle orbiter, all roughly the same size in robot mode but obviously not the same scale in their alternate modes.

However, with the increasing prevalence of multiple toys of the same [[character]] in different size classes, particularly enforced by the [[live-action film series]], it is technically possible to have somewhat more accurate scale combinations. The [[Legends Class]] and its successor, [[Cyberverse]], allow Autobots with cars as their alternate modes to be roughly in scale with Deluxe or Voyager-sized Decepticons that turn into aircraft. Likewise, the Legends Class version of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Arcee (Movie)#Legends Class toys|Arcee]], a motorcycle, is more or less in scale with Deluxe-sized Autobots with car alternate modes.

Hasbro does not often take advantage of this possible compatibility with store [[exclusive]] [[giftset]]s and "bonus" packs. Even when toys with considerable size differences are sold in the same pack, combinations such as a Leader-sized [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys|Optimus Prime]] (which would be in scale with Deluxe-sized Autobots with car alternate modes) with the ''much'' smaller Legends Class versions of [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Legends Class toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Jazz (Movie)#Legends Class toys|Jazz]] or the large Ultimate Bumblebee toy with the much smaller Deluxe-sized toys of [[Scorponok (Movie)#Deluxe Class toys|Scorponok]] (who should be roughly the same size as Bumblebee) and [[Brawl (Movie)#Deluxe Class toys|Brawl]] (who should be considerably larger than either of them) are fairly common. The ''Revenge of the Fallen'' "Shanghai Showdown" multi-pack with [[Demolishor (ROTF)#Voyager Class toys|Demolishor]]'s Voyager-sized toy and the ice cream truck versions of [[Skids (ROTF)#Deluxe Class toys|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)#Deluxe Class toys|Mudflap]] (whose combined alternate mode is Deluxe-sized) is closer, but truly scale-accurate multi-packs like the (unreleased) [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'' (2010)]] "Sideways Sneak Attack" pack with a Deluxe-sized [[Sideways (ROTF)#Deluxe Class toys|Sideways]] (who transforms into a car) and the aforementioned Legends Class version of Arcee and two [[redeco]]s of her as [[Chromia (ROTF)#Transformers (2010)|Chromia]] and [[Elita-One (Movie)#Transformers (2010)|Elita-1]] are rare exceptions. A particularly odd example is the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' "[[The Fury of Fearswoop]]" three-pack, which features a Deluxe-sized [[Fearswoop (ROTF)|Fearswoop]] (who transforms into a plane) and Legends Class versions of [[Sideswipe_(Movie)#Fearswoop|Sideswipe]] and Mudflap (who turn into cars), making them more or less in scale with each other... yet the on-packaging [[bio]] states that Fearswoop has "grown to immense size".

{{--}}

===Intentional attempts at a consistent scale===
[[Image:DOTM Tailpipe Pinpointer SgtNoble.jpg|right|thumb|300px|That sure is one big motorcycle...]]There have been precious few exceptions to all of this scale weirdness in the toys. However, the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' toyline, where every toy is a 1:24-scale representation of a real car, and thus in perfect scale with each other, was the first to buck the trend. Unfortunately, for practical reasons this limits the choice of altmodes. A [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (Space Shuttle) toy in scale with the ''Alternator''s toys would be 1.6 meters (5.1 feet) long, while a [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (aircraft carrier) toy at that scale would be over 12 meters (40 feet)! Hasbro actually displayed [[Prototype|mock-ups]] for an unproduced line of "military" Transformers in scale with ''Alternators'' during the [[BotCon 2007]] Hasbro Tour; two of them recycled parts of ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Unicron/toys#Armada|Unicron]], and were thus [[Size class|Supreme-sized]], which made said potential toyline not particularly commercially viable for Hasbro.

The direct—and indirect—successors to ''Alternators'' also maintained a mostly consistent internal scale. ''[[The Transformers: Binaltech Asterisk]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' made use of the same sculpts, only with added [[human]] female driver figures... which were woefully small compared to the cars they came with. This would repeat itself with the "[[Human Alliance]]" toys for ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'': The cars/robots are all roughly the right size compared to each other ([[Skids (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)#Human Alliance|Mudflap]] are even smaller, squatter toys and come with sub-[[size class|Scout]]-sized [[Arcee (Movie)#Human Alliance|motorcycle]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)#HumanAlliance|robots]] to make up for it), but their human drivers are all too small. (Amusingly, [[Frenzy (Movie)#Human Alliance|Frenzy]] seems to be about right.) In fact, the size differences have even ''increased'': The [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'']] line introduced an even ''smaller'' scale for the driver figures, including new versions of [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]] and [[Mikaela Banes]] that are smaller than their ''Revenge of the Fallen'' predecessors. The new scale for the driver figures continues with ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'', which introduced Scout-sized robot figures that had one-man vehicle modes in a slightly larger scale, resulting in [[Sergeant Noble|undersized drivers]] riding [[Tailpipe (DOTM)|oversized motorcycles]]. Conversely, the [[Kmart]] [[exclusive]] ''Dark of the Moon'' "Autobot Daredevil Squad" multi-pack couples a redeco of the original ''Revenge of the Fallen'' version of Sam with a redeco of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Deluxe Class [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Cannon|Cannon Bumblebee]], resulting in a large human with a small Chevrolet Camaro he couldn't possibly fit into even if the Bumblebee toy had its crude interior redesigned to house a driver.

''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]'' would follow in ''Alternators''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s footsteps with a series of smaller 1:32-scale licensed cars... as well as stuffing [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Alternity|characters who traditionally don't have automobile alternate modes]] into modern-day civilian vehicles. That these toys represent [[Alternity|hyper-evolved beings]] most of the time make it all the more head-scratch-inducing.

== Scale within fictions ==
Scale issues abound within the fiction, especially the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]. Some can be attributed to [[animation error]]s, such as layering problems,[[:Image:Tinybluestreak.jpg|1]][[:Image:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|2]][[:Image:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|3]] but some "errors" were deliberate choices, for a variety of reasons.

===Fictional scale vs. toy scale===
[[Image:TeenyCliff.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Frighteningly toy-accurate.]]
[[Image:Powerglide Astoria Marygoaround.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Actually, disturbing ''fiction'' is probably more of a concern than scale issues.]]

The original ''Transformers'' fictions often depict characters to the same relative scale as the toys, which duplicates the intra-toyline problems described above. The cartoon, for example, shows [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] as about the same height, [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s and Autobot cars as slightly shorter (though not as much as the toys are), and [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]] as smaller yet. This scale was carried over to their vehicle forms, resulting in differently-sized cars that, based on real world measurements, should be virtually the same size.

For another example, the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comics portrayed the [[Pretender]]s as literal interpretations of their toys: 60-foot humans with full-scale Transformers inside. The "disguise" aspect of this was later explained by having [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] and [[Cloudburst]] encounter [[Femax|giant, transformer-sized humanoids on an alien planet]] which made them appear to be of a "normal" scale.

[[Image:Omegasupreme astrotrain.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I know he's meant to be big, but holy ''crap'', dude!]]

Transformers fiction commonly shrinks or inflates characters, relative to their toy sizes. "Giant" characters such as [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] are, even aside from any [[size changing]] for transport purposes, clearly not in the same scale in toy form as they are depicted on screen. [[Mini-Cassette|Cassette characters]] such as [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s toys are roughly the same height as most Minibots, while in the show they are usually portrayed as human-sized.

[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are usually shown to be of a fairly similar height (although Magnus is much bulkier), whereas there is a considerable difference between the size of their toys. By the same token, Rodimus is always depicted as being an equal stature to his opposing leader [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], whereas the [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|toy Galvatron]] is instead the same size as Magnus. Optimus Prime is also usually shown as only a head or so shorter than Magnus (if that), which gets very strange when you realize that a [[redeco]] of Prime's toy forms but a small part of Magnus' robot mode.

[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Airazor picks the Ultra-class figure.]]

The cast of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' were size-tweaked quite a bit, relative to the toyline. The most noticeable problem is [[Optimus Primal]], who has an Ultra toy (the "level four" size, almost twice the size of the "level three" Mega next-largest Maximal toys), but is shorter than both [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (both of whom are "level two" Deluxe sized toys). Further, [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron#Toys|Tigatron]]'s toys use the same (Deluxe) mold, but Tigatron is a head taller in the show (both because tigers are larger than cheetahs, and because Cheetor is "a kid"). New and altered characters in later seasons were generally more consistent in size (and appearance) with the toys. This problem was magnified when the Generation 1 characters cameoed in the series. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is a ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' but is shown in "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", as being much smaller than Optimus Prime.
[[Image:G1Prime BWMegs.jpg|right|250px|thumb|An example of how small Beast Wars Megatron is compared to Optimus Prime.]]

The ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]''' toyline was ''far'' worse in size discrepancies with the cartoon. Of the [[Maximal]]s featured in the show, the tallest character, [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], is [[Silverbolt (BW)#Beast Machines|the ''shortest'' toy]], while the diminutive [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] is a [[Nightscream (BM)#Toys|massive Ultra-class toy]]. And, sadly, the most show-accurate toy, [[Optimus Primal/toys#Robots in Disguise|Air Attack Optimus Primal]], is a ''ginormous'' Supreme figure, towering over the other toys. (Weirdly, the [[King Kong]]-like size of this toy became [[canon]] in one specific [[micro-continuity]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark (story)|Prime Spark}})

[[Image:ShrinkingHeavy.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I lost thirty tons, thanks to the Jump-Cut! Thank you, Jump-Cut!]]
In the otherwise fairly toy-scale-savvy [[Unicron Trilogy]], [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Metroplex]] and the other citizens of [[Gigantion]] are depicted as gargantuan in animation, whereas the toys are merely among the normal boxed size-classes. Within the animation, this causes problems with their [[Mini-Con]] partners, who are depicted as human-sized in robot mode by themselves, but when shown directly interacting with their larger partners, are scaled up right along with their partner... resulting in some temporarily gigantic Mini-Cons!

The Japanese ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)#Galaxy Force|Galaxy Force]]'' release of [[Metroplex (Cybertron)#Toys|Metroplex]], dubbed "Megalo Convoy", included an exclusive [[redeco]] of the [[Legends Class|Legends of Cybertron]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#MegaloConvoy|Optimus Prime toy]] to indicate the "correct" scale.

The ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' franchise has its share of scale problems when comparing its toyline to the cartoon (not helped by multiple releases of some characters in different sizes—see above), with several characters seeming roughly one [[size class]] too small, such as the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] being a mix of one Voyager size and two Deluxes, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)#Toys|Sentinel Prime]] looking rather diminutive as a Deluxe, and, most egregiously, [[Lugnut (Animated)#Toys|Lugnut]] as a ''very'' squat Voyager who's shorter than even some Deluxes. (As with [[Bulkhead (Animated)#Toys|Voyager-class Bulkhead]], more of his mass went into his width, plus his weapon takes away some from his robot mode.) Conversely, the traditionally stunted [[Bumblebee (Animated)#Toys|Bumblebee]] is marginally too tall and bulky to be in correct scale to his otherwise fairly accurate core teammates, assuming one includes [[Optimus Prime (Animated)#Voyager|Voyager Optimus]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)#Leader|Leader Bulkhead]] in their lineup. In fact, ''Animated'' is one of those toylines where you're not quite sure who you're supposed to base correct scale on.

===Inconsistent portrayal===
[[Image:OmegaSupremeintro.jpg|left|175px|thumb|No! Don't wash him in hot water! He'll...]]
[[Image:Omegasupreme-blasterandgrimlock.jpg|right|200px|thumb|...too late.]]
Even if a size was decided on, it often didn't remain consistent. The height of the cartoon's [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], just to name one, frequently varied between episodes.

The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 Marvel comic]] is notorious for changing the relative sizes of various characters. A single Transformer's size is rarely consistent between artists. For example, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] vary in height relative to [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. A panel in the "[[Time Wars]]" shows [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]], and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] all the same height. [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], titanic in his original appearance, {{storylink|Command Performances!}} shrunk steadily in subsequent issues until he was not much taller than the average Transformer. [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] suffered a similar problem, shrinking in size even though he was explicitly rebuilt to be twice as tall as the average Transformer. Super-mode Powermaster [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] was originally about Fortress Maximus-sized, until he too shrunk to the size of his inner robot—which was never seen again.

Scale can even be inconsistent within the same story thanks to changing artists: In the Marvel UK story "[[Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night]]", a ginormous [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] picks up a tiiiiny military Jeep with one hand, implying that he grew to humongous proportions when he transformed (as his alternate mode is ''also'' depicted as a Jeep in fiction), but in the second part of the story, Swindle is hit by a burning Jeep (possibly even the same one) that is now in scale with his robot mode. {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} It can even happen within the same issue without an artist change: In [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]'', there's a scene where a [[Hiro|human]] picks up [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] in his tape deck mode, which is smaller than a thick comic book slipcase in his hands. A few pages later, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] picks up Soundwave out of the human's hands, being barely able to hold the tape deck in his mouth, making Laserbeak about the size of a large dog (not counting the wings). Yet when [[Skywatch]] discovers Laserbeak at the end of the story, his ''head'' alone is suddenly the size of an adult human. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

[[Image:Beastwarriors scale.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Beast Megatron's size vs. Optimus Prime's in America... and Japan. Looks like the Blasty Zone adds on a few tons to Beast Era characters.]]
Between the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and the [[Beast Era]], the majority of the Cybertronian race considerably downgraded in size at the [[Great Upgrade]]. When entering the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the Beast Warriors are quite small compared to the dormant Generation 1 characters, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]—but just ''how'' much bigger varies quite a bit from scene to scene and episode to episode. When interacting with the Autobot technology of the Ark and the [[Autobot shuttle]], the [[Maximal]]s are often dealing with equipment grossly oversized for them (standing on the chairs to reach the controls, turning knobs the size of their heads); yet the Ark also seems to feature some human-sized computer control panels. {{storylink|Master Blaster|Master Blaster}} Without any height booster, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] can interface well with these controls.

On the other hand, ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' depicted Generation 1 and ''Beast Wars'' characters like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Primal]] as being exactly the same size. Lovely. It's possible that passage through the [[Blasty Zone]] may somehow [[Wikipedia:Boom tube#Later additions to the concept|account for this discrepancy]].

===Explicit size changes===
{{main|size changing}}

Numerous characters are explicitly shown to shrink or expand at various times.

====Human-scaled alternate modes====
[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] becomes a human-scale radio; [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] shrinks into a handgun scaled for either Transformer or human hands, depending on the situation. The cartoons and comics typically show this without explanation, leaving the audience to attribute it to advanced alien technology.

====Pretenders====
Some versions of the [[Pretender]]s are shown to explicitly shrink when hiding in their human-sized outer shells. In the U.S. toy commercials, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] in their new Pretender forms were small enough to fit in [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s hand. So, at least in that [[micro-continuity]], they were human-sized or Powermaster Optimus Prime is the size of Devastator. ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' featured Pretenders who did not have outer shells but rather an ill-defined holistic transformation which explicitly involved size changing. A vaguely similar explanation appeared in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' encyclopedia.

===Implicit size changes===
Characters often change size in a less explicit fashion when transforming. These changes in scale are usually attributed to size-changing by that portion of the fan base who like to find explanations for things. The other explanation is that the artists hoped the audience wouldn't notice. It can also be supposed that they are hiding their mass somewhere (car style Transformers storing mass in their passenger compartments when in humanoid form, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] folding his wings flat, the buildings in a city-bot collapsing to eliminate the spaces normally occupied by humans, boat-bots filling up or getting rid of the vast empty areas used to provide buoyancy) or puffing up with empty space, but at a certain point, things just get silly. Some Transformers are smaller than solid blocks of the mass contained in their alt modes: [[Unicron]] would have to be about as thick as the [[Earth]]'s crust while in planetary form, and [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Prime]] would probably be blown away by a stiff breeze in his larger incarnations.

====Transport characters====
[[Image:MakeHoistHuffer.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Definitely ''not'' toy-accurate.]]
[[Image:Ironhide carried into Ratchet.jpg|thumb|right|180px|...And not to [[Ironhide (G1)|mention]] [[Ratchet (G1)|this]].]]

In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]], Transformers that act as transport for other Transformers, such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], will often dramatically change size relative to their compatriots between one shot and the next. For example, Cosmos is ''much'' shorter than [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in robot form; yet Blaster easily fits within his spacecraft mode. Likewise, a whole squad of Decepticons can fit into Astrotrain's shuttle mode easily (including the combined-form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]!), yet he's an ordinary-sized trooper in his robot form.

Sometimes the cartoon would show ordinarily-scaled characters such as [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] or [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] carrying another Transformer in their cockpit, implying either a tiny passenger or a huge vehicle. Even [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who is supposed to be huge, would have to have a greatly expanded scale for his rocket ship component to accommodate passengers as shown on the cartoon.

The Marvel comics commonly sidestepped this issue by not using Transformers as transport characters, or else requiring the passengers to transform into their explicitly smaller forms to be carried. Yet they were not immune to this problem. In one story, the Pretender [[Cloudburst]] exited his shell, transformed into jet mode, and then his shell (and [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]]) boarded him as a passenger. The fact that his ''outer'' shell was now much smaller than the ''inner'' robot was quietly ignored. {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}}

[[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' series of [[bio]] comics tried to explain this for characters such as Astrotrain and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] by saying they're able to expand themselves to increase cargo space in vehicle mode, though their armor becomes thinner as it is spread out more. Conversely, the series notes, in robot mode, all that armor and structure being compressed into a smaller form makes that mode stronger and more durable for combat.

This concept is lampshaded in the credits of ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'', where [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] pulls up, and the entire Autobot cast of the game step out of his passenger door, clown car style.

====Combiner characters====
[[Image:DreamwaveCover6.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Since when is a sedan nine stories tall?]]
[[Combiner]] characters are often depicted as far larger than the sum of their parts. Characters such as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] are frequently shown as [[Godzilla]]-sized. Given that their limbs are mere cars and construction vehicles, this is patently absurd. ([[Superion (G1)|Superion]], by contrast, ''would'' be building-sized, given that his torso is a 100-seat jetliner.)

Combiners are also often out-of-scale with other Transformers; a combiner with cars for legs and another car for its torso should be slightly less than three times as tall as a one-car Transformer, even when taking the alteration of their body parts into account, but they are routinely drawn as five to dozens of times taller than their comrades. In the video game [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]], [[Bruticus (WFC)|Bruticus]] towers at least ten times as tall as any Protectobot, crushing them under his feet. In fact when the Combaticons form him in Chapter X they are clearly swelling in size.

Sometimes, they are even out of scale in their own team; [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]'s torso is an [[Onslaught (G1)|anti-aircraft truck]], while one of his limbs is a [[Blast Off (G1)|Space Shuttle]] and another is a [[Swindle (G1)|two-person offroad vehicle]]. For this to work, either Blast Off has to shrink, or Swindle needs to grow.

====Scale problems and size-changing====
Some fans interpret the many otherwise-unexplained scale issues above to all be the result of [[size changing]], but this is debatable. If virtually all characters use mass-shifting (or whatever) to gain or drop a few feet of height for no logical reason, the technology would be pointlessly mundane. There's also no known reason for (e.g.) the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s to choose to get ''shorter'' when going into battle. A to-scale Starscream in robot mode could kick Bumblebee around like a soccer ball. There's simply no positive evidence that size-changing is so widespread.

===Undersized alternate modes===
Many Transformers are portrayed in fiction as having alternate modes that are smaller than the real-life objects they are imitating. Sometimes this is deliberate, allowing them to match their toy scale and/or be of a similar size to other characters; in other cases, it is essentially an artistic error.

Toys at the lowest price points usually include "mini" or "micro" in their name. [[Mini Vehicle]]s [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] are usually depicted as smaller than other Transformers in fiction, even though their alternate modes should have them towering over other characters. This often results in minuscule vehicle forms; Seaspray is a tiny hovercraft, despite being covered with doors and windows. (Conversely, if a new toy based on such a [[character]] is designed to be more in scale with other toys, such as [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'']] Ultra Class Powerglide or [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'']] Voyager Class [[Sea Spray]], some [[fandom|fans]] complain ''because they expect those new toys to reflect the original toys' sizes'' and, by extension, the [[show-accuracy|depiction in fiction]].)

[[Image:Hotrodpatrolcommercial.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you have change for four hot rods?]]
The [[Micromaster]]s are explicitly downsized Transformers, roughly the size of a human in the comics, meaning that they ''should'' have explicitly tiny vehicle modes... which wouldn't make for very convincing disguises. The Micromasters are about the same height in robot mode, but they transform into equally tiny cars, trucks, planes, tanks, and other vehicles that should be vastly different sizes.

Despite this, the Marvel comic featured [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] carrying a human passenger in his vehicle form, as though he were a full-sized car. The Dreamwave miniseries ''[[Transformers: Micromasters|Micromasters]]'' suggested that the Micromasters were scaled down to interact more easily with "smaller beings". Whether that meant creatures of human scale or even smaller stature is never clarified, but the Micromasters' passenger compartments are presumably too small to accommodate human passengers.

The [[Mini-Con]]s of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] are another race of small robots who stand approximately the same height as humans and, like the Micromasters before them, are clearly modeled to carry passengers. Really teeny passengers. (Notable exceptions are [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]] (in his original body), [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]], and [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]], who become small one-man conveyances.) This results from the Mini-Cons scanning normal vehicles and then resizing them to fit, retaining now-useless passenger compartments. In the [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]], the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] have slightly-larger-than-human robot modes, but their alternate modes are large enough for a single human passenger, implying either a little size-changing or that their cockpits are kinda cramped. Though the Recon Team all originate from Gigantion, and seeing how partnered Mini-Cons seem to change size to fit their larger companions, a little size shift to accommodate a passenger doesn't seem too far-fetched compared to other scale issues.

Likewise, the [[Beast Era]] Maximals and Predacons possess roughly human-size bodies; yet when portrayed as vehicles on Cybertron ("[[Dawn of Future's Past]]", the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''), they feature seats and cockpits that, at their size, should be basically useless.

====Citybots====
[[Image:EarlyGalvatronTVMagazine1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|If you were ever this big in the cartoon, then we might call you a city.]]
[[Image:HeadmastersScale.jpg|right|200px|thumb|See above. Way, way, way above.]]
[[City-bot|A few characters]] have "city" alternate modes. As actual real-life cities can sprawl for many miles, a [[city-bot]] that can notionally house a population of humans, ''let alone'' Transformers, should have a robot-mode that'd make Godzilla look like a gecko. Suffice to say, almost no fiction even ''begins'' to approximate the logical size of a true "city-bot". In the American and Japanese cartoons, all four were shown as massive robots capable of housing many normal-sized Transformers. Even so, it would take something along the lines of the grossly undersized depictions of [[Unicron]] (see below) even to begin to represent reasonably the colossal size of a transformed city; so in the context of Transformers, "city" is perhaps better read as "building" or "fortress".

These city-bots often have "small" robots forming vital components. Scorponok has a "human-sized" being forming his head. [[Full-Tilt]], [[Six-Gun (G1)|Six-Gun]], and [[Slammer]] must logically be building-sized in robot-mode to be in-scale with Trypticon and Metroplex, but, again, are not drawn as such.

The Marvel Generation 1 comic sidestepped this issue by depicting Trypticon, Fortress Maximus and Scorponok as merely "large-standard" characters. However, Metroplex, during his one, brief appearance, was depicted as being immensely larger, crushing Quintesson attack cruisers under foot without batting an eyelid. He was still considerably smaller than a city, however, but this was justified by him merely serving as the 'transformation core' for Autobot City: Earth, not the actual city itself.

In ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'', [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]] is portrayed not so much as the city, but a part of the city; apparently several dozen buildings fused together, with one hand being large enough to carry Optimus or crush Megatron. That's probably not so bad, since we never see his entire, untransformed mode.
{{-}}

====Planets and planetbots====
[[Image:Cybertronplanet.jpg|left|250px|thumb|If we're generous and assume Cybertron is 'only' the size of Earth's moon, then the larger visible buildings are roughly the size of Massachusetts stood on end, and you could wedge France into that gash. (Which would probably improve both Cybertron and France.)]]
Scale when it comes to planets is so fraught it's painful. The problems of describing citybots as "cities" is a thousand times worse if [[Unicron]] is supposed to have a planet alternate mode, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is in turn supposed to be of similar size. Though different stories have compared Cybertron/Primus and Unicron to drastically different real planets, the fact remains that they are ''planets'', and yet are shown in such insane scale to characters as to suggest they are the size of a ''very'' small moon (or [[Darth Vader|space station]]).

To start with, Cybertron was shown throughout ''Generation 1'' with buildings visible from space. Although this was intended to show that the planet was technological in nature, it makes little sense, as the structures would have to be the size of small ''nations'' to be visible. If the buildings were in fact supposed to be skyscrapers (or even ''2000 A.D.''-style arcologies) sized for 10 m (30') robots, Cybertron would still be less than 150km (100 miles) across. The rather [http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Coruscant Coruscant]-like shots of Cybertron in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' may be less distinctive or "Cybertronian", but are ''far'' more believable. (Some people reason that the Transformers' advanced technology, along with their large size and their not needing to breathe, means that buildings actually CAN be that big.)

Unicron is a more extreme problem. Assuming no [[size changing]] occurs during his transformation (and really, what possible reason would he have to become ''smaller''?), in robot mode he would be so massive that any shot featuring a recognizable ''part'' of his body, let alone the whole thing, would be on a scale such that no normal Transformer would even be visible. [[Image:UnicronEatsGalvyMmmm.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Either Galvy is humungo, or Lithone is tiiinyyy!!!]]Scenes in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] in which he directly interacts with normal Cybertronians are blatantly absurd (though totally phat-looking). Shots such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] fleeing his grasping hand, a starship penetrating his eye, impaling [[Brainstorm]] on his fingernail, {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} or ''especially'' him picking up Galvatron between his fingers before swallowing him, break any concept of "planetary" scale. Not to mention that he's described as a "''ginormous'' weird-lookin' planet," which would lead one to assume that he is ''significantly'' larger than your average-sized weird-lookin' planet. Thank you, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. Thank you so much.

If Cybertron is the size of Earth's moon (and that's generous), and Unicron is about the size of Cybertron, his hands would be about the size of Europe and Galvatron (to the right) would be about the size of Denmark.

There is no explanation for any of this. Just go with it.

The depiction of Unicron's scale in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' was (debatably) a slight improvement, in that physical interaction with normal beings was not attempted. He preferred instead to communicate with normal Transformers by possessing one of them. {{storylink|Sideways (RID)|Sideways}} Nevertheless, shots featuring [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] standing on his neck are still ''farcically'' out of scale.

The depiction of Unicron in ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' is another improvement - he is explicitly said to be the ''core'' of the planet Earth, which would be about 3470 km. Furthermore only manifestations of him are seen (these vary in size), and his eyeball, which is in comparison to the Transformers about the size of a small town. It also helps that there are no regular transformers in the shot of his eyeball. It's not perfect but hey, what're you going to do?

As a side note, Unicron has been established in some continuities as having already devoured approximately 22.56% of known universes which is truly ridiculous if one takes actual planetary/galactic scale into consideration. Assuming that Unicron is ''generously'' close to the size of our moon, when compared to other stellar bodies he shows up as an all but invisible speck. Imagine him trying to devour a star the size of [http://www.kiroastro.com/writings/perspective.html Betelgeuse!]

===Oversized alternate modes===
[[Image:RattrapLOVEScheetor.jpg|right|180px|thumb|I'm tellin' ya, all da rats in Brooklyn are dis big!]]
Much less common are instances of a Transformer turning into an overscaled real-world object. Most such instances occur in the ''Beast Wars'' era.

Although the Beast Warriors are consistent day-to-day in their relative size to each other (a consistency made more easy to achieve thanks to CGI used to animate), their scale in relation to their real-world animal equivalents is more complex. While the bug characters such as [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] are obviously scaled-up, other characters are more subtly not quite the right size.

[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]] are shown standing next to real members of their species, and they are both the same size as the animals in question. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}} This makes them (and Cheetor in particular, since he's around more) the measuring sticks for the other characters. Therefore, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] is a rather small rhinoceros, and [[Optimus Primal]] is a roughly normal gorilla. However despite being by far the shortest of the Maximals, [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is still a monstrously huge rat, the size of a Labrador dog (indeed, the writers stated that Season 1 Rattrap was 5' (1.5 m) tall<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/8227a6ca84c0238d Bob Forward gives Rattrap's height from the show bible]</ref>). Likewise [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] is considerably larger than a real ''Velociraptor''. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], however, is a pitifully tiny specimen of a ''T. rex''. In their interactions with adult [[protohuman]]s, the Transformer characters seem between twice and three times their height. Considering our ancestors really were smaller than modern humans, this is not extremely wrong, but it deserves noting.

However, thanks to the scaling up of the arthropod characters, it is relatively safe to assume that the Transformers generally scanned only animal ''forms'' and then rescaled them to fit their own size - additionally, they were not so much attempting to ''disguise'' themselves, as to ''protect'' themselves from an excess of Energon. This is actually slightly more believable than all other series, in which the Transformers use mass shifting to make their alt modes the ''right'' size.

===Artistic license===
====Variation for characterization====
[[Image:Prime has a huge head.jpg|left|150px|thumb|With 20th Anniversary Prime and Smallest Transformers Bumblebee, you can actually recreate this scene.]]
Some scale problems are for the sake of characterization. For example, Optimus Prime is routinely shown as thoroughly gargantuan, several stories in height, and capable of cradling humans in his palm. If he's the size of a real truck, Prime in robot mode should be 8–10 m (25'–30') tall, at best. He's drawn large because he's a leader character.

Conversely, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] is sometimes shown only a few feet taller than an average human, while in reality he would be 3–5 m (10'–15') tall (the Marvel comic actually states he's 15' tall {{storylink|Plight of the Bumblebee!}}). He's drawn small because he's a human-friendly character, and a junior member of the Autobots.

With fighter jet alternate modes, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] should be among the largest everyday Transformers and would ''tower'' over their Autobot adversaries; instead, the animation depicts characters such as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] as about the same height. Though jets are much larger than cars, they're drawn the same height so the battles appear fair. (And also to make it easier to animate; blocking a shot where characters differ radically in height is difficult.)

In a related vein, sometimes Transformers are able to enter human buildings, fitting through their doors and running up their staircases without crashing through. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}} A cast that couldn't enter buildings would be grossly inconvenient for telling some stories, so the animators fudge things.

{{-}}

====Intentionally strange scale====
[[Image:MarvelUS-01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One side makes you larger, one side makes you small. (Op's been noshing on the first side too much.)]]
Sometimes artists draw a character at a different size [[Authorial intent|intentionally]]. For example, on the cover of the [[The Transformers (issue)|first issue]] of [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|the original ''Transformers'' comics series]], Optimus Prime is extremely huge compared to the highway, bridge, and normal cars. ([[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is bigger than usual, too.) This is purely for dramatic effect.

Another notable example is the splash screen for the "[[World of the Transformers]]" website, which depicts [[Optimus Primal]] (in his original gorilla body) as the same size as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|G1 Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Movie Optimus Prime]], directly contradicting the size difference seen in "[[Optimal Situation]]" and elsewhere (except for ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'').

Artwork for the [[:Image:VaderVsPrime.jpg|''Star Wars'']] subline features [[:Image:Megatronvsluke.jpg|humans from another galaxy]] standing at the same height as Transformers, although this is simply because most of the figures in [[Attacktix|the tabletop game advertised by this artwork]] are the same size.

[[Image:World of the Transformers ent.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Meet the Supreme class <s>[[Trukk not munky|Munky]]</s> Optimus Primal.]]
{{-}}

===The live-action film series===
[[Image:Moviescale1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Scale is absolutely not an issue in the movie. Riiight.]]
The creators of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]] took great pains to avoid out-of-scale issues. (Well, greater than previous franchises.) This is sometimes reflected in the choice of vehicle or the design of their robot mode. E.g., [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] is an extended-hood cab in order to have more mass with which to make a taller robot mode. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s robot mode is nearly as wide as it is tall, with shorter, digitigrade legs, so the massive jet-former won't end up twice as tall as Optimus. In the case of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], his huge alternate mode simply results in a hulking, towering robot mode.

There are still minor scale issues to be found, though. For example, Optimus Prime can hold both [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam]] and [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] in one hand. Comparing this shot with when he picks up [[Archibald Witwicky]]'s glasses a few minutes later, it seems the glasses have lenses a foot (30cm) in diameter. This is a visual cheat so the glasses are visible to the audience, and other visual cheats to make the robots seem shorter or taller were used in the movies. There's also debate about whether [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s head could compact itself into a slim mobile phone, although it's possible that he compacted himself ''a lot''. The [[Movie (toyline)|movie-franchise toys]], meanwhile, are only intermittently consistent (particularly since some of the secondary ones are redecos of toys from previous lines), with the largest contrast among the "primary" toys being between Deluxe Class [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], a motorcycle, and Voyager Class Decepticons with helicopters as their [[Alternate mode|alternate modes]], such as [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Incinerator (Movie)|Incinerator]]. However, many of the wheeled vehicles are close to 1:35 scale, although Deluxe Class [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and Classic Camaro [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|Bumblebee]] are ''obviously'' not the same scale, as noted above.

[[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] is another point of topic here. Whilst in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|film]], they worked on keeping his size relative to those of his components, in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|game]] he was far larger. Also note that the alternate mode of [[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]], who forms his right leg, is a massive Caterpillar 773B dump truck, which is considerably larger than a Caterpillar D9L bulldozer, the alternate mode of [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] who turns into Devastator's left leg. The movie tries to circumvent the size differences between Devastator's individual components by adding [[unknown Constructicon dump truck|more]] [[unknown Constructicon shovel|construction vehicles]] into the Devastator combination. The toy line, on the other hand, [[Overload (ROTF)|mostly]] ignores those additional components, resulting in massive scale discrepancies ([[#Toys out of scale within teams|see above]]).

Another interesting example is [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]]. Despite transforming into a Lamborghini Aventador (which stands at less than four feet, but at least fifteen feet in length), Lockdown contains a massive robot mode that stands at a least 24 feet. ''In other words'', Lockdown is pretty much the size of Optimus, being at most only few feet shorter than him. And that's pretty awkward, considering Optimus is a Western Star Truck concept, and Lockdown transforms into a Lambo. His relatively small alt-mode affected the toy line, too. Instead of making a Leader class sized figure of him (which would anyways have the side effect of an oversized Lambo), a Deluxe was made, seriously making him out-of-scale with Leader Prime.
Also, you can observe that Soundwave, big, probably about 7 meters (if not more) tall Decepticon can compact himself in (small compared to him) Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
{{-}}

==Official scale guides ==
[[Image:Tfcartoonscaleguideic1.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Official Scale Guides of ''The Transformers'']]
[[Image:Beastwarsscalepreliminary.jpg|right|250px|thumb|''Beast Wars'' Season 1 scale guide]]
Animators and comic book artists received official scale guides showing relative and (in some cases) absolute heights. Some of these were published in the character model guides ''[[Transformers: The Ark|The Ark]]'' and ''[[Transformers: The Ark II|The Ark II]]''. Though they were sometimes ignored, they still give insight into the official scale of characters in Generation 1. However, even here, there are problems. Devastator in the Season One scale guide was approximately 2.5 times the height of Optimus Prime, but by Season Two he was somewhat less than twice Prime's height.

''Beast Wars'' likewise had an official scale guide, which appeared as a bonus on the DVD set of Season 2. Despite this guide, the series writers have indicated some measure of disregard for relative scale, when it suited the needs of dramatic tension.<ref>[http://builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html BotCon 98 report - see "ON THE SIZES OF CHARACTERS"]</ref> Thus, Optimal Optimus is ''ungodly'' tall in his first appearance, later reduced to perhaps two times the height of the rest of the cast.

[[Image:ROTF Autobot scale guide 1.jpg|thumb|right|''ROTF'' scale guide]]

''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' had scale guides featured in the ''25 years of Transformers'' feature for the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)/home video|DVD release]] which showed official heights for both the Autobots and the Decepticons. Meaning [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] gains an extra twelve feet when he wears [[Jetfire (ROTF)|a corpse]].

{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6db411e03e75a342?dmode=source Estimated "real-life" heights for several Transformers, derived from the size of their alt-modes, archived from alt.toys.transformers on groups.google.com]

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Things that don't exist]]

Energon

2014-11-25T16:48:06Z

OmnipotentOne: I added green colour of energon in Age of Extinction and fact about inconsistency of energon colours in movie continuity. Please, don't delete. Finally, it's true. Thank you.

{{disambig3|Energon}}
{{featured}}
[[File:EnergonCubesCartoon1.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Taste the not-so-rainbow-but-shiny-pink]]
'''Energon''' (sometimes spelled with a capital letter, sometimes not<ref>Original Sunbow documentation from the production of the Generation 1 cartoon series (as seen on the [[Metrodome]] DVD collections, among other places) alternates between spelling the fuel's name with an upper- and a lower-case "e", with the lower-case option appearing more frequently—a standard reflected in other contemporary media such as the [[Action Cards]], and even publications as recent as the [[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|''Timelines'' stories]] written by [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]]. Only in recent years, beginning in force around the time of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' franchise, has the upper-case "Energon" become more pervasive, with perhaps the earliest example being its intermittent use in ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[instructions]] sheets (in reference to the line's [[rubsign]]s, which would alternately be called "Energon Chips", "Energon chips" and "energon chips". Most recently, the novel ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'' and the ''Timelines'' stories by [[Jesse Wittenrich]] have used the capital-E spelling. This article opts to use the original lower-case as the default, using the upper-case for continuities where it has been explicitly spelled that way.</ref>) is the preferred fuel of the [[Transformer]] race. It takes many forms, including ore, crystal, gas, and raw energy, but it is most commonly used by Transformers in its liquid state, which is stored in many different mediums, most famously the [[energon cube]]. It is ubiquitous in [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] culture; in addition to being the Transformers' primary "foodstuff", it also serves as the default power source for their machines and weapons, and is even used as a currency, a catch-all fuel of life, technology, war and commerce on Cybertron and beyond. This widespread use also comes in defiance of its extreme volatility: energon is prone to detonating explosively if mishandled, and is even used as ammunition in order to exploit this attribute.

True energon is an emanation of [[Primus]], the creator-god of the Transformers, and is, in its most [[Rarified Energon|rareified state]], the basic building block of Transformers' bodies and [[spark]]s. A highly coveted substance, it is sometimes capable of inducing remarkable transformations in Cybertronians, [[spontaneous recoloration|reshaping and otherwise altering]] their bodies while imbuing great strength and other powers, either temporary or permanent depending on the duration or strength of exposure. True energon is, however, extremely rare: in most [[universal stream]]s, the Transformers' long [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|war]] has left Cybertron drained of all but the smallest fraction of the substance, and although it ''has'' been known to exist on a small sampling of other planets throughout the multiverse (usually [[Earth]]), its paucity leaves the Transformers usually subsisting on artificially-generated substitutes created from other local energy sources.

{{bigquote|They're all after this stuff called Energon, which is kinda like food and gas and blood and electricity all mixed into one.|[[Raf Esquivel]]|[[Raf's Notes]]}}

==Conceptual history==
Energon has undergone extensive redefinition and reimagination over the past 25+ years of Transformers fiction.

[[File:Energon cube design evolution.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Layered, iridescent cubes alternated their screentime with non-layered ones before being supplanted entirely by purple ones.]]

When it was originally introduced in the [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|first episode]] of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon series]], energon was a liquid fuel used by the [[Decepticon]]s and stored in [[Energon cube|cubes]], which was created by processing virtually any available energy resource; in the opening mini-series alone, [[oil]], [[Sherman Dam|hydro-electric power]], [[ruby crystal]]s and rocket fuel were all converted into energon, and many more types of energy would be used by the villains throughout the show's run. The cubes themselves began a visual evolution almost immediately: in "More than Meets the Eye", they were stacked high and filled with the energy in question, then compressed, taking on a layered appearance and an iridescent rainbow coloration, though they also appeared as solid cubes without the layered effect. Immediately following the mini-series, however, in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]", the stacking-and-compressing idea was omitted, and the cubes were instead colored a glowing purple-pink. This was the only time the cubes were depicted this way in season one; otherwise, they remained rainbow-hued, and alternated between layered and non-layered, for the remainder of the season and the early portion of season two, until the purple-pink cubes reappeared in "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]", and suddenly became the standard depiction of energon for the remainder of the cartoon—and indeed, the default coloration for energon in much future media.

It was very rarely overtly stated, but at this point in time, energon was treated as an exclusively-Decepticon energy; [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] had never heard of it in the pilot episode, while "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]" presented the Autobots as using [[recharging chamber]]s to re-energize, and "[[Traitor]]" involved [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] puzzling over where [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] would have acquired energon from. This standard began to slip towards the end of the second season, presumably by accident rather than a deliberate change in policy—[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] spoke of having an "[[energon pump]]" in his body in "[[Sea Change]]", while "[[Masquerade]]" had the Autobots using [[energon bar]]s to hold the captive [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], and frustratingly, "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" depicted energon in use on Cybertron millions of years beforehand. The divide was eventually broken in a more conscious way by ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', which had the Autobots using energon cubes and [[energon goodie|goodies]]. The movie's original script justified this change by explaining that [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] had been built to harness renewable, natural energy sources, thus supplying the Autobots with energon. The Autobots continued to use energon throughout the third season, and far beyond, with the idea of it being of Decepticon purview alone never revisited in any subsequent fiction.

[[File:Raw energon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The raw form of natural energon has taken several different forms in different continuities, including crystals and ore.]]

The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comic]] treated energon much like the cartoon did, depicting it as cubes produced by the processing of other energy sources, albeit freely used by both Autobots and Decepticons. The first piece of fiction to re-examine energon was, surprisingly, the short-lived and comparatively obscure 1987 comic ''[[Transformers in 3-D]]'' by [[Blackthorne Publishing]]. The first issue of the series, "[[The Test (issue)|The Test]]", was the first story to explicitly present energon as something other than an artificially-generated fuel, establishing that it also existed as a unique natural element. Through pleasant coincidence, the idea of natural energon returned and gained widespread acknowledgement in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon in 1996, where it was depicted as a highly unstable, naturally-occurring [[energon crystal|crystalline mineral]] that emitted dangerous radiation. In 2003, [[Dreamwave Productions]] directly incorporated the ''Beast Wars'' depiction of energon into its continuity, reconciling it with the liquid energon of Generation 1 by explaining that the liquid could be created by processing either the crystals, or, as seen in the cartoon, other natural resources. Later still, [[IDW Publishing]]'s continuity would specifically refer to energon created from sources other than natural energon as "artificial".

The series to truly redefine energon was, fittingly enough, the ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' franchise. Taking its cue from ''Beast Wars'', the energon of ''Energon'' also existed naturally and was dangerous to Transformers before being processed into a usable form. Beyond these facts, however, it was scarcely recognizable as any of the substances seen in previous fiction, possessed as it was of several strange, unusual, and indeed, nigh-on ''magical'' powers, including the ability to cause full-body reconfiguration. Perhaps this was not so surprising, however, as ''Energon'' was the first series to depict the fuel as the creation of the nigh-magical Primus, who appeared in this series as a glowing orb of energon itself, and who had produced energon as part of a grand destiny for the Cybertronian race.

The 2007 live-action movie universe revisited the importance ''Energon'' had placed upon the titular fuel, establishing it as the source of Transformer life itself. It wasn't name-checked in the [[Transformers (film)|first film]] itself, but rather in the [[Transformers The Game|video game adaptation]] of the movie, where it was revealed to be the energy emitted by the life-giving [[AllSpark]]; unsurprising, given that the AllSpark was originally to be called the "Energon Cube". Soon after, in 2008, the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (Comic Bun Bun)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' [[manga]] published in ''[[Comic Bun Bun]]'' combined some of the movie's ideas with the more "magical" concepts of ''Energon'', creating the power-boosting, body-transforming, vision-inducing [[Energon Cube]]. And while all this was going on, the ongoing comic book story published in the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Hasbro Transformers Collectors Club]] magazine introduced [[Rarified Energon]], revealing that it was not merely a ''fuel'', but actually the base substance from which Transformers were ''created'' at the molecular level. The fuel being a product of Primus and the base material of Transformer life were key points in the 2010 novel, ''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]''. With this knowledge, it might be safely theorized that the life-giving energy of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] is also a form of energon; something that had actually been claimed by the anomalous-at-the-time ''[[The Transformers Trilogy|Transformers Trilogy]]'' novels.

[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]] gave further varieties of energon including a [[Tox-En|highly toxic form]] and a [[Red Energon|speed inducing form]]. The [[Aligned continuity family]] as a whole also introduced and capitalized on [[Dark Energon|dark energon]], the blood of [[Unicron]] and counter to the substance associated with Primus.

And that's where we are on understanding energon right now. The natural version of it comes from Primus himself, usually just on Cybertron but sometimes on other planets, while the liquid cubes we've been seeing since 1984 are an artificial substitute. Phew. Now, for specifics on energon in all of this various fiction, read on.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
:''For further information, see: [[Energon cube]], [[energon-axe]], [[energon mace]], [[energon chains]], [[Energon Transfer Device]], [[energon convertor]], [[energon pump]], [[energon bar]], [[energon goodie]], [[energon infuser]]''
=====''The Transformers'' cartoon=====
[[File:Mtmte1 prepare the energon cubes.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Soundwave tests out a 'tapedeck enhancement' pill. Ahem.]]
The history of energon in this universe is confusing at best. It appears to have been in use on Cybertron in the distant past: the inhabitants of the colony world of [[Paradron]] were aware of it in the year 2006, despite fleeing Cybertron during [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|civil wars]] millions of years beforehand, {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} and nine million years ago, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]] and his [[Autobot]] dockworker companions were seen loading and transporting what very much appeared to be energon cubes as part of their daily routine. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}} These accounts, then, seem to stand in complete contradiction to the Autobots subsequent apparent ignorance and disuse of the fuel during their early years on Earth and the Decepticons' monopolization of it—but this would not be only time that Transformers were shown to have poor memories of their personal histories.<ref>Optimus Prime and [[Elita One]] completely forgot that Alpha Trion was their creator, for instance.</ref>

Over 1984 and 1985, energon cubes were solely seen being used by the Decepticons. The cubes were a self-sustaining forcefield framework with no internal mechanisms, which was capable of converting virtually any form of energy that entered it into liquid energon. The empty cubes initially had to be generated by [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} but other Decepticons eventually gained the ability to manifest them. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} The Autobots' lack of knowledge about energon was displayed almost immediately after Transformers awoke on [[Earth]] in 1984; upon learning of Megatron's plan to convert Earthly resources into the fuel, Hound could only report back to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] that the villains were intending to create "some kind of cube". {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} Indeed, even [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] showed a lack of familiarity with the cubes, driven as he was to test them so he could make sure they worked. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[File:TransporttoOblivion fillingcubes.jpg|225px|thumb|Filling up the tanks... err... I mean cubes...]]
The Decepticons created energon from a massive amount of varied resources during their time on earth, ranging from conventional electricity, oil and geothermal to more esoteric, extra-dimensional sources like [[antimatter]]. The exact nature of the conversion process was never detailed, but usually simply involved taking an empty energon cube and attaching it to, or placing it next to, the energy source to be drained. The cube itself then carried out the conversion, processing the energy into liquid energon that filled the cube. Sometimes, the process required an [[Energon Transfer Device]]. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}} Energon was occasionally influenced by the source materials used to create it, sometimes taking on its properties: Cubes created with anti-matter, for instance, reacted violently due to prolonged exposure to normal matter {{storylink|Roll for It}} while the especially pure oil of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]] yielded a particularly potent "super-energon" that "smelled" different (according to [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]) and created an instantly perceptible increase in vigor and strength in those who consumed it. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}} In addition to powering them personally, the Decepticons occasionally used energon for even more nefarious means; Megatron's arsenal included an [[energon mace]], {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}} and the Decepticons once forged [[energon chains]] to bind the Autobots with. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

[[File:Gamblersmokescreenbets.jpg|left|thumb|225px|"Wait a minute." "What?" "Well, we're supposed to haggle."]]

Energon was first seen being used as a currency in the form of chips—by non-Cybertronians, no less—in the den of iniquity known as [[Sheol]], on the asteroid of [[Monacus]], where the Decepticons were running a protection racket, forcing local crime boss [[Gyconi|Lord Gyconi]] to pay them a cut of his profits. This dank place was also home to the first documented instance of Autobots running on energon, when Gyconi powered up a group of Autobots he had captured with an unstable brew that quickly depleted and left them defenseless during pit fights. {{storylink|The Gambler}}

Other than this forced instance, the Autobots refrained from using energon during their first year on Earth: [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] was heard to balk at the notion of Mirage having energon cubes, {{storylink|Traitor}} while the Autobots used [[recharging chamber]]s to re-energize themselves, rather than drinking energon. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots}} Evidently, however, they began experimenting and using energon some time in 1985; when describing his physiology to the [[Tlalakan]] [[Alana]], [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] noted that he had an [[energon pump]] inside him, {{storylink|Sea Change}} and when they captured the Stunticons, the Autobots used [[energon bar]]s to imprison them. {{storylink|Masquerade}} By the year 2005, they had fully embraced energon as their own fuel, and began creating and storing it at Autobot City on Earth, using it to power their attempt to retake Cybertron after the planet fell entirely into Decepticon hands. The Autobots followed the Decepticons' lead in their use of energon cubes, but also created the bite-sized "[[energon goodie]]". {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}} By 2006, use of energon had become widespread enough in the galaxy that it was on the menu at a neutral alien space station visited by [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and [[Octane (G1)|Octane]], although their energon was served in the unique form of small orange wedges. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}}

[[File:Microbots overenergizing.jpg|thumb|275px|"''Red solo cup....I fill you up.....Lets have a partyyyyyyyyyy....''"]]

Liquid energon is measured in [[astroliter]]s. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} Transformers consume energon in the same manner as [[human]]s eat or drink: by simply putting it in their open mouths. The liquid can be drunk from a whole cube, leaving the empty framework behind, {{storylink|Microbots}} but the framework itself is obviously safe to "eat" as well, as Transformers have also been seen biting into cubes, breaking pieces off to chew on, and in the case of particularly large individuals, eating them whole. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}. Notably, breaking a chunk off a cube does not damage the structural integrity of either the cube or the removed piece; evidently, the forcefield resolves itself around the broken area to prevent spillage of the precious contents. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} Once consumed, energon is passed through an [[energon convertor]] within the Transformer's systems. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}} Excessive consumption of energon results in "over-energizing", a state of inebriation accompanied by all the singing, burbling and reminiscing that you might expect. {{storylink|Microbots}} In emergency cases, a shot of energon can be injected directly into a Transformer's system with an [[energon infuser]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

{{note|Later media has classified the energy axe Optimus Prime wields in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]" as an "[[energon-axe]]", but this is something of a misnomer as far as cartoon continuity goes, as the only time he was seen to use the axe in this continuity was when the Autobots were not supposedly ''using'' energon.}}{{-}}

=====Japanese cartoon continuity=====
:''For further information, see: [[energon wine]], [[Energon Z]]''
[[File:Sixshot energon.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|When Sixshot is on the road, he carries his liquid energon in a Transformers lunchbox.]]
By the year 2011, Earth had also embraced the potential that energon held to solve its own energy crisis. Earth's ambassador to Cybertron, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], worked closely with the Autobots and teams of human scientists to develop new sources of energon, which was closely stockpiled, guarded and rationed between Cybertron, Earth and the Autobots' secondary headquarters on the planet [[Athenia]]. [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] had little tolerance for [[energon wine]], over-energizing after a single glass, {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} while Spike viewed the energon as so important that when the energy-starved planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]] sent a request for aid, he had to crunch the numbers to see if it was viable to share any! {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

The Decepticons also continued energon production, spreading their reach to more and more planets, raiding the worlds of [[Hive (planet)|Hive]], {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!}} [[Twin Star]], {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} [[Daros]], {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} [[Paradise]] {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} and the [[Pirate Planet]] {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}} as part of a master plan by [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] to accumulate a huge quantity of the fuel, which he would then use to help him integrate the very Earth into his body. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

[[File:EnergonZ.jpg|thumb|I love... lava lamp.]]
Galvatron's rival for leadership, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], did not place nearly as much significance on energon, instead experimenting with the deadly [[plasma energy]] to achieve his goals. He still drank it, though, and being an evil mastermind, he did enjoy swishing it around in a snifter, because he was classy like that. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] also enjoyed taking his energon in a glass, and was less prone to crushing them in fits of melodramatic rage than Scorponok was. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

Energon fell out of focus after Scorponok's Decepticons were forced off Earth; the forces of [[Devil Z]] who terrorized the planet a few years later were not interested in gathering energy, {{storylink|Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce}} while [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s campaign against Earth in 2025 targeted a wide array of different energy types, not bothering with the energon conversion process. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory}} The Autobots did continue to experiment with the fuel on the planet [[Micro]], however, and developed an even more potent version known as "[[Energon Z]]", which became a target for [[Violen Jiger]] and his [[Nine Great Demon Generals]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone}}
{{-}}

====Marvel Comics continuity====
:''For further information, see: [[Transformer fuel]], [[Energon Stick]]''

[[File:Energoncubesrockandrollout.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb]]
[[File:FinalBattle-energonsticks.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|Stick, cube, whatever!]]

Although energon was not mentioned by name until the Transformers had been on Earth for a while, it ''was'' quickly established that Earthly fuels were incompatible with Cybertronian systems and needed to undergo ''some'' kind of conversion process before they were consumable. {{storylink|Power Play!}} This [[Transformer fuel]] was the subject of several struggles between the Autobots and Decepticons, and was also shown to be intrinsic to several important cultural ceremonies like the [[Rite of Oneness]] and the [[Rite of the Autobrand]]. {{storylink|Warrior School!}} {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

Energon made its first named appearance with the debut of a [[power siphon]] invented by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], which was capable of converting multiple energy sources into energon cubes. After testing it out on oil from a captured [[Blackrock Enterprises]] offshore oil platform, the villains then took it to a [[Brick Springhorn]] concert and used it to make cubes from the raucous sonic energy of the singer's performance. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

The Autobots also went on to make smart use of energon: [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] invented a [[Geothermal Generator]] to transform the [[Earth]]'s underground heat into energon cubes, successfully producing so many that the Autobots were able to power the entire [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and get the ship airborne again. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} They were also seen using a [[:File:Marvel52 concentratedenergoncubes.jpg|concentrated form of energon]], green in color and much smaller and less-explosive than normal cubes, which was employed as currency when dealing with alien races. {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}}

[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] complained to himself about an energon shortage on Earth and planned to use [[Dynamo|Hector Dialonzo]] as some kind of super-[[Powermaster]]. {{storylink|The Human Factor!}}

In an alternate future timeline, when the Autobots were stranded on the [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] tried making peace with the native [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] using the [[universal greeting]] and the offering of [[Energon Stick|energon sticks]]. Junkion leader [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] was most enthralled by the "tasty sticks". {{storylink|The Final Battle!}}

{{note|Energon sticks were called for by the script of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', but were replaced in the finished film by energon goodies. The sticks appear in the comic book adaptation of the film (albeit ''called'' "energon cubes", even though they are not drawn as such), as well as other works based on the script like the [[Sticker Adventures]] book, ''[[Battle on the Junk Planet]]''.}}

In a different alternate future, [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] conquered the western hemisphere of Earth and planned on allowing the [[European Crisis Coalition]] to nuke North and [[South America]] to smithereens. He would have hid behind the shield generated at the East Coast [[Decepticon Powerbase]] while various powerbases converted the resulting radiation into energon. It didn't work out that way. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

====''Transformers in 3D''====
[[File:Energon molecule.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Energon is alien poop? We guess Primus works in mysterious ways...]]

This universe is home to the first documented appearance of the true element of energon. The conversion process for transforming the element into a consumable form involves combining it with various other molecules, resulting in what is termed "pure energon". While not discussed explicitly, this would imply the existence of an "impure" energon that can be manufactured without use of the element.

True energon was evidently rare enough that its discovery was cause for immediate action, as evidenced when both the Autobots and Decepticons mobilized with haste to investigate a potential source of it on a barren asteroid far from Cybertron. Puzzlingly, their quest led to some small, organic alien creatures, and each faction took one back to their base for study. It was [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], studying the creatures' biological processes, who realized that their ''excrement'' was true energon! Before anything could be done with this information, however, a battle broke out between the two faction, and the two aliens wandered off, revealed to actually be supremely intelligent lifeforms who had been employed to spy on the Transformers by the [[Quintesson]]s! {{storylink|The Test (issue)|The Test}}{{-}}

====European toy bio continuity====

[[File:Energonfigures.jpg|thumb]]

{{see|Energon figure}}

The many deadly functions of the dimension-traversing [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s body were controlled by "[[Energon figure]]s", small humanoid forms that could transform into engines and connect to his body. To stop this monolithic horror, the Autobots stole and duplicated the technology, providing the trio known as the [[Motorvator]]s with Energon Figures that gave them new powers: [[Flame (Motorvator)|Flame]]'s Energon Figure had an analytical compu-unit that gave him enhanced problem solving abilities, [[Gripper (G1)|Gripper]]'s provided the dual functions of wide-sweep radar and sonic scanner, while [[Lightspeed (Motorvator)|Lightspeed]]'s was equipped with micro lens photo-record equipment.<ref>Overlord, Gripper, Flame and Lightspeed's [[bio]]s and packaging blurbs.</ref>

====Beast Era====
=====''Beast Wars'' cartoon=====
:''For further information, see: [[Energon crystal]], [[energon radiation]], [[energon discharge virus]], [[energon storm]], [[energon armor]], [[furmanite|anti-energon]]''
[[File:PowerSurge energon crystals.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
Following the information on the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] to prehistoric Earth, the teams of [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] under the command of [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] discovered the planet to be teeming with natural crystalline energon. In fact, the element was in such abundance that it had blanketed the planet with an all-encompassing field of [[energon radiation]], which threatened to overload the Transformers' unprotected bodies and send them into [[stasis lock]]. As the organic creatures of the planet were unaffected by the radiation, the Maximals and Predacons adopted beast modes with organic skins in order to shield themselves from its harmful effects, able only to transform into robot mode outside of their shielded headquarters for comparatively short periods of time before the energon build-up in their systems became dangerous. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} Manipulation of the crystals was a particularly challenging task, given their explosive instability; among the Predacons, only [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] had the skill to carve them up safely. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 2)}} If a significant mass of crystals exploded, the radiation could interact with the local atmosphere and induce an [[energon storm]] that would see energon lance from the sky as lightning. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} While it was experimented with, used to power various machines and even weaponized on occasion, neither the Maximals nor the Predacons were ever seen actually ''consuming'' any energon during their [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] on Earth, but it certainly did run through their bodies, as demonstrated rather violently when [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] was infected with an [[energon discharge virus]] that left him sneezing and...''otherwise'' shooting energon out of his body. {{storylink|The Low Road}}
[[File:TangledWeb energon cubes.jpg|thumb|225px]]
By all accounts, the existence of natural energon on a planet other than Cybertron was not uncommon in this universe, but it was eventually revealed that the energon was not there naturally: Earth had been ''seeded'' with the crystals by the mysterious aliens known as the [[Vok]].<ref>''Beast Wars'' writer [[Larry DiTillio]] envisioned the Vok as placing the energon on Earth for future generations of humanity to find and use as a clean energy source.</ref> Viewing the intrusion of the Transformers onto the planet as a disruption to enigmatic experiments they were conducting on Earth, the Vok attempted to "sterilize" their work-surface by activating their orbital [[Planet Buster]] weapon, and blasting the planet with its energy beam. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}} This beam caused most of the planet's energon crystals to explode before it was destroyed by Optimus Primal, but a not-insubstantial portion of them remained, some of which were transformed into a more stable form referred to as "energon cubes". {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}} These rarely-seen "natural" cubes are different to the artificial energon cubes seen in other universes; they remain composed of crystal, but are much safer to handle and to generally be around, unless they are cracked, at which point the radiation locked within them will be violently released. {{storylink|Tangled Web}}
{{-}}

=====Japanese cartoon continuity=====
{{see|Energon Matrix}}
[[File:PrimalLeadershipMatrix1.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
At some point over the three centuries that followed the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], a new energon-powered device was created: the [[Energon Matrix]]. Sculpted in the likeness of the legendary [[Matrix of Leadership]], these objects of power were given to [[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]]-ranked [[Maximal]]s, and were capable of supplying huge boosts of energon to their wielders in moments of desperate need, which could be further magnified if more than one Energon Matrix was used together. These power boosts could massively enhance the wielder's physical attributes, usually accompanied by [[spontaneous recoloration]], such as when Optimus Primal and Lio Convoy used theirs to become the super-strong "Burning Convoy" and super-fast "Flash Lio Convoy", {{storylink|Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!}} or be released as mighty energy blasts, as when [[Big Convoy (BWN)|Big Convoy]] combined his with his [[Big Cannon]] to create a weapon powerful enough to obliterate [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|The Final Battle (BWN)|The Final Battle}} The Matrices may also have some connection to [[Vector Sigma]], the mega-computer at the heart of Cybertron, since it was able to communicate through Big Convoy's Matrix, making him say what it wanted. {{storylink|Big Convoy, Move Out}}

When Optimus Primal and Lio Convoy were caught up in the dimensional fissure known as the [[Blasty Zone]], they found themselves teleported from their respective time periods to Earth circa 2004. Here, they teamed up with Optimus Prime, and their Energon Matrices apparently unlocked the power of an Energon Matrix within Prime himself, as he was soon using his in tandem with theirs to create shatteringly powerful attacks like the "Double Convoy Tornado" {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}} and the "Lio Typhoon Arrow". {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}
{{-}}

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
{{see|Energon Pools}}
[[File:OriginalSin PushButton.jpg|thumb|160px]]
{{note|The Dreamwave continuity specifically incorporates the depiction of energon as seen in the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon.}}
Natural Energon exists in crystalline form both on Cybertron and select other planets throughout the galaxy, with Earth being home to a particularly high concentration of it. Transformers can power themselves off the crystals by using ambient absorption circuits in their body to soak up their energy, but this is always a dicey prospect, given the explosive nature of the mineral. For safety's sake, the crystals are usually processed into a liquid state before they consumed by Transformers, at which point the Energon can be taken orally in robot mode or loaded directly into the Transformer's fuel tank in alternate mode. This processed, liquid Energon can also be synthesised from other energy resources—an unfortunate necessity, given the rarity of the natural crystals on Cybertron after the Transformers' war took its toll on the planet. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye #8}}

Approximately 3.5 million years ago, Cybertron's supply of Energon was completely depleted, and the entire planet and all the Transformers on it were deactivated for a long, pre-programmed period known as the [[Great Shutdown]]. During this time, Cybertron slowly regenerated, and by the time the Transformers came back online around 3000 years ago, Energon was back in supply. With Cybertron restored to peace, the fuel was no longer a scarcity; by 2003, the [[High Council Pavilions]]' [[Energon Pools]] were recharged {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} and the Transformers had even started canning the fuel in [[Kremzeek]]-branded cans, which were enjoyed by [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] in a moment of riverside relaxation {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} and served at Autobot strategy meetings along with small Energon cubes. {{storylink|Original Sin}}

{{note|A large pool of purple-pink goop was uncovered beneath the surface of the Earth by [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] in "Original Sin", but it was never explained if this was actually energon or not, since Dreamwave went bankrupt and ceased publication before this plot thread could be revisited.}}

=====''The Transformers Trilogy''=====
{{note|Although they are notionally part of the Dreamwave continuity, the depiction of energon in ''[[The Transformers Trilogy]]'' of novels stands in complete contradiction to Dreamwave's writings.}}
Pure energon is a silvery-yellow liquid that exists naturally on certain planets, and is the power source of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. During a battle with the alien [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] in [[Las Vegas]], a subterranean reservoir of the fuel was discovered beneath the city that was of such size that Optimus Prime claimed he had never seen so much of it in one place before. With an American nuclear missile streaking towards Vegas in order to eliminate both the Keepers and the Transformers, Prime immersed himself in the energon pool, supercharging the Matrix and suffusing his entire body with the energon's power. With this added power, Prime used the Matrix to contain and redirect the nuclear blast, apparently destroying the Keepers while protecting the rest of the city. {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}}

====IDW Generation 1 continuity====
:''For further information, see: [[Regenesis]], [[Ore-13]], [[Innermost energon]]
[[File:Stormbringer1 ultra energon.jpg|left|thumb]]
In this universe, natural energon is known only to exist on Cybertron, {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} and in the pre-war days, [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] was among the workers that mined it. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}} Unfortunately for the Transformers, their war stripped Cybertron of its resources, energon included, precipitating a cataclysm that ultimately rendered the planet sterile and uninhabitable. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} With their homeworld lost to them, the Autobots and Decepticons subsequently scattered across the galaxy, seeking new sources of fuel, subsisting on "artificial energon derivatives" and "foul local brews" {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} that [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] described as "nowhere near as good as the real thing". {{storylink|Spotlight: Cliffjumper}} Several seemingly dead and empty planetoids contained underground reservoirs of liquid "pseudo-energon", which according to a [[Guardminder]] was about 20-25% as fuel efficient as proper energon. {{storylink|The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party}}

Millennia beforehand, the Decepticon logician [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] correctly predicted that Cybertron's resources would eventually dry up, and formulated the [[Regenesis]] program as a countermeasure to the inevitable energon drought. Distilling energon, he created a series of thirteen ores with which he seeded specially-selected planets—including Earth—where energon would then flourish and grow, so that he could harvest it in the centuries to come. [[File:Infiltration6 starscream on ultraenergon.jpg|thumb|Hepped up on goofballs.]] As Shockwave visited each of the planets, he observed that some ores had failed to take root, and others had mutated and gained bizarre properties over time, life, death and more. On one world, however—Earth—the [[Ore-13|thirteenth ore]] had flourished to the point that the planet had begun to undergo geological collapse, generating an atmosphere that was hazardous to Transformer life. Intending to regulate the process with [[global damper]]s, Shockwave was stopped by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] and buried in a volcanic eruption and leaving the ore to mature into an exceptionally powerful energon variant. {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}

Investigating Shockwave's research, the scheming [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] learned of the Regenesis program, and travelled to Earth in the 1980s to harvest a sample of the super-powerful energon. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} Using this "Ultra-Energon", as he termed it, Bludgeon reactivated the monstrous [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] to facilitate his agenda of conquest. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer}} Meanwhile, a team of Decepticons led by Starscream independently discovered the existence of Ore-13, and initiated [[infiltration protocol]] to conquer the planet and harvest it. Seeing in Ore-13 the potential power to help him overthrow Megatron, Starscream powered himself up with the energon and staged his own coup. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} It was the instability of the Ultra-Energon that was the downfall of both Starscream and Thunderwing: although the additional power it provided them was undeniable, it burnt out very quickly, at which point they were left extremely weakened and easily bested.

The methods by which energon is distilled and absorbed in this universe are not particularly detailed. Natural energon is mined as ore, and undergoes processing into an unknown state, after which it has only been shown being absorbed via a [[delivery capsule]], a large full body capsule which the Transformer enters. Even what goes on inside the capsule is unknown; all that can be discerned is that when the process is over, a cloud of gas colored in energon's traditional purple-pink escapes as the capsule re-opens. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} In contrast, Cliffjumper required no capsule to take in artificial energon from a convertor; it was simply transferred through a tube that ran from the device into a port in his forearm. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cliffjumper}} Energon flows within Transformers' bodies in purple-pink liquid form, which is prone to splattering ''eeeeverywhere'' if the Transformer receives serious injury. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin}} {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers}}

Following a failed Decepticon invasion of Earth, humans learned to produce yellow-colored energon, but it was a difficult and costly process and the substance could only be stored for a few months before growing unstable, making it nonviable as an alternate energy source. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|The Land Ironclads}} [[Skywatch]] ran experiments on energon and used it to power their [[crash suit]]s, which were based on Cybertronian technology. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} [[North Korea]] was able to produce 7,000 cubic feet of energon per month, which according to Skywatch was enough to power [[Combaticon (G1)|five Transformers]]. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|The Land Ironclads}}
{{-}}

====''Henkei! Henkei! Comic Bun Bun'' manga====

{{see|Energon Cube}}
[[File:Henkei chpt 03 energon-cube chase.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
This universe's Cybertron gained its supply of energon from the colossal "Energon Cube", a solid mass of energon bigger than a starship. When it was lost to the reaches of space, [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Megatron]] each led two small teams in pursuit of it, but they were unable to intercept the Cube before it crash-landed on Earth and shattered into innumerable fragments that were scattered all across the planet. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}} Additionally, the release of energy caused by the cube's shattering endowed a special ability in some newborn babies within range of the impact wave: they became [[Booster]]s, legendary beings able to generate and control energon. {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

The Autobots and Decepticons hid themselves amongst human society to search for the cube shards and the Boosters. Both sides were able to accumulate substantial portions of energon, but only the Autobots were able to locate any Boosters: first was [[Akira Kihara]], who sadly died using his powers to save Optimus Prime, {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}} and second was [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]]. When they first met Wataru, the Autobots were unaware that he was a Booster, but Optimus Prime soon realized the truth after showing Wataru the chunk of the Energon Cube that they had recovered. [[File:Henkei8 megatron energon bath.jpg|thumb|225px]] When Wataru touched the shard, a wave of energon swept over the Autobots, healing their wounds and offering them a mystic, cross-dimensional vision of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|another time and place]]. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

As a Booster, Wataru was able to aid his Autobot allies by temporarily increasing their strength, healing their injuries, generating protective forcefields and powering up their weapons, as he did when he transformed Optimus Prime's [[energon-axe]] into a sword that the Autobot leader used to grievously wound Megatron. {{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}} [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] sought to heal his leader by placing him in a bath of molten energon cubes, but Optimus Prime tracked him down while he was still recovering. Megatron flew into a rage at the sight of Prime, and the energon began reacting to his furious emotions, levitating and whirling around. The maddened Megatron seized one of the cubes and bit deeply into it, triggering an explosive release of power. Consumed by the explosion, Megatron emerged, transformed by the power of energon into [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Galvatron]]! {{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}}
{{-}}

===Robots in Disguise===
:''For further information, see: [[Energon chains]].''

[[File:Sideburnsobsession energon chains.jpg|left|thumb]]
Energon played only a minimal role in this universe, as the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]] came to Earth in search of [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]], rather than for more traditional energy theft. It did crop up from time to time, though: the Predacons' craft, the [[Megastar]], ran on energon cubes, and they carried out a few heists to gather up Earthly energy sources they could process to create them—though flashlight batteries were not an especially viable option for conversion. {{storylink|An Explosive Situation}} Either the conversion or the process by which the cubes powered the ship involved a smelter. {{storylink|The Fish Test}} At one point, the Predacons created chains from energon and staged a trap for the Autobots using them. {{storylink|Sideburn's Obsession}}

Energon is ingested through an "energon intake" {{storylink|The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus}} and comes in "leaded" and "unleaded" varieties—[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] swore off the latter when he found he didn't have the energy to keep up with the speedy [[Skid-Z (RID)|Skid-Z]]. {{storylink|Skid Z's Choice}}
{{note|In the original Japanese version of ''Robots in Disguise'', Optimus Prime wields an Energon Matrix (see [[#Beast Era|Beast Era]], above) rather than the Matrix of Leadership.}}

===Unicron Trilogy===
:''For further information, see: [[energon star]], [[energon weapon]], [[Energon Sword]], [[Energon Saber]], [[energon tower]], [[energon grid]], [[Energon Blaster]], [[Energon band]], [[Energon Orb]], [[energon gas]], [[Super Energon]], [[Energon Volant Accumulator]], [[energon tomato]]

====''Energon'' cartoon====

[[File:Energonep1 omnicons and energon.jpg|thumb|220px]]

Energon exists naturally on multiple planets throughout the universe in the form of glowing golden ore. Following the end of [[The Unicron Battles]] in 2010, the allied forces of the Autobots and Decepticons united with humankind to mine Energon for the betterment of both their species. The Transformers' reawakened creator-god Primus—manifesting in this universe as a glowing white orb of Energon itself—bestowed upon the young human [[Kicker Jones]] the ability to sense the location of Energon, {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}} and Kicker's father, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Brian Jones]], used his son's new power to find Energon deposits on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], in the [[asteroid belt]] and on multiple locations on Earth. The Transformers and humans set up [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron Cities]] in all these various locations to mine the ore: [[Mars City]], [[Asteroid City]], [[Ocean City]], [[Plains City]] in [[United Kingdom|England]], [[Jungle City]] in [[Mexico]], [[Desert City]] in [[Egypt]], [[Blizzard City]] in the [[Arctic]], {{storylink|Unicron Trilogy guidebooks#Energon|Transformers Energon Official Guidebook}} and later [[Lunar City]] on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}}

[[File:Energonep2 energon stars.jpg|left|thumb|220px]]

In its unprocessed form, Energon ore is bursting with raw energy, and hence hazardous to normal Transformer life. The only Transformers capable of safely handling energon are the [[Omnicon]]s, whose bodies became immunized to the ore's hazardous effects after years of mining it in space, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}} These master Energon sculptors can absorb the energy from Energon ore into their bodies, and then generate sold-state [[Energon star]]s that can be given to other Autobots to temporarily boost their strength. The Stars are also capable of generating [[Energon weapon]]s like spears and axes, though these drastically shorten the Star's lifespan. {{storylink|Scorpinok}} In one particularly puzzling instance, the interaction of multiple Energon Stars with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s [[Matrix of Leadership#Unicron Trilogy|Matrix of Leadership]] led to the creation of the [[Energon Blaster]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} Energon can also be processed into a liquid form that can be used as a medicinal bath capable of incredible feats like limb regeneration. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}} This refined, positively-charged "Autobot" Energon is typically red in color.

[[File:Energonep3 shock shock shock.jpg|thumb|220px]]

In 2020, trapped in the ruined, deactivated body of Unicron, the insane alien [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] realized Energon's immense potential to create, and using what little Energon remained in the planet-eater's husk, created the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] from the very substance of Unicron to raid the Autobots' Energon mines. It was Alpha Q's intention to use indefinable, mystic properties of the Energon they would gather to recreate all the worlds that Unicron had consumed over the millennia. {{storylink|A Tale of Two Heros}} To rally the disenfranchised Decepticons to his side, Alpha Q forged an [[Energon Sword]] from the Spark of [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who had been trapped in Unicron's body for a decade. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Megatron, however, was able to siphon off some of the Energon the Terrorcons returned with and crafted a new body for himself, ousting Alpha Q (who escaped in Unicron's disembodied head) and taking control of the Terrorcons. Under Megatron's directions, the Terrorcons gathered Energon to rebuild Unicron himself, so that Megatron could use him as a weapon. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} The Terrorcons were created to be immune to the harmful effects of raw Energon; they consume it orally, and convert it into green, negatively-charged "Decepticon" Energon Stars internally. Like the Autobots' Omnicon-made stars, these could be used by the Decepticons as power-enhancers, but they apparently remained unsafe to touch directly: When [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] tried to grab one, he received a debilitating jolt of energy that scarred his body with jagged lightning patterns. {{storylink|Scorpinok}} The Terrorcons were also not the only thing Alpha Q used Energon to create: using the small supply he had left after escaping from Megatron, he restored the deceased [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] to life. Unfortunately, he ran out halfway through the process, leaving Starscream incomplete, a sort of Energon "ghost", whose body constantly shifted from physical to incorporeal. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}

[[File:Energonep14 energon grid.jpg|left|thumb|220px]]

Setting off into space to stop Megatron's plans, the Autobots left Earth protected by Doctor Jones' newest Energon innovation: the [[Energon grid]], a protective field of plasma-state Energon generated by [[energon tower]]s positioned at each of the Cybertron Cities. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} The mechanism was later duplicated on Cybertron, where the towers were fuelled by [[Energon gas|gaseous green Energon]]. {{storylink|Battle Stations}} Earth's defense had to be sacrificed for the greater good, however, when Kicker convinced his father to beam all of Earth's Energon to Alpha Q, who used it to charge Unicron's head. Alpha Q rammed the positively-charged head into Unicron's body, causing the release of the "sparks" of all the planets Unicron had destroyed. {{storylink|Open Fire!}} Trying to destroy Alpha Q, Megatron triggered the release of all the negatively-charged Energon in Unicron's body, causing a violent reaction between the two kinds of Energon that tore open a fissure in space. {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

[[File:Energonep28 energon sun.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Red sun at night, sailor’s delight. Red sun in morning, sailor’s warning.]]

In the [[Alpha Q's universe|newly created dimension]] this fissure led to, Unicron's head became a glowing [[Energon Orb|sun]], nurturing all the reborn planets with its life-giving Energon light. Consequently, however, all of the planets were rich in Energon themselves, making them ripe targets for Decepticon pillaging. {{storylink|Protection}} Alas, the villains were able to gather enough Energon to restore and reactivate Unicron's body, and even reclaimed his head, extinguishing the Energon sun it had become and killing Alpha Q in the process. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}} To stop Megatron's schemes, Primus transmitted Energon from Cybertron to the Autobots, [[burning justice|recoloring and powering them up]], and transforming the combined Optimus Prime and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] into a planetary-scale giant. {{storylink|Optimus Supreme}} Prime and Omega were able to destroy Unicron's body, but Alpha Q's planets were in danger of dying due to the destruction of Energon sun. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}} Salvation came in the form of Primus' greatest creation: a reservoir of liquid blue [[Super Energon]], sealed away beneath Cybertron's surface, from a time when Autobots and Decepticons were allies, intended to usher in a new era of peace. {{storylink|Ambition}} This Energon had incredibly potent transformational abilities: it transformed Megatron into Galvatron, recolored and powered up [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], {{storylink|Wishes}} and turned [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticon]] Terrorcons into giants. {{storylink|Decepticon Army}} A second immersion transformed Galvatron into a giant as well, at which point he was possessed by Unicron's still-living [[Spark]], but Primus orchestrated his downfall by gathering up the entire reservoir of Super-Energon and transforming it into a new foundling sun. Struggling against Unicron's control, Megatron flung himself into the sun, and both he and the planet-eater were seemingly destroyed as it burst into life. This new Energon sun took up position in Alpha Q's universe, nurturing his planets once more. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[File:Energon22 terrorcons power up.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

In this universal stream, Energon's raw form is a green gas. It normally undergoes processing before use for optimal efficiency, but even in its crude gaseous form, it remains a very effective power source. [[Energon Volant Accumulator]] planes are used to collect Energon vapour before it is lost to the atmosphere. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

The existence of pockets of energon gas on Earth was discovered by the alternative energy research and development company [[Alterenergy]], who dubbed it "01 Source". Unknown the public, the discovery was the work of Alterenergy consultant Brian Jones, whose son Kicker had the unexplained ability to detect Energon. This made Alterenergy a target for the Terrorcons, a cell of Decepticons who had been recruited by the evil alien [[Alpha Quintesson]], who bade them gather Energon to reactivate his master Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} Attacking Alterenergy's [[Australia|Western Australia]] facility, the Terrorcons stole Energon using siphons that condensed the gas into green liquid form, which they then used to power themselves up with. [[File:Energon29 energon weapons.jpg|thumb|350px]] Thankfully, the Autobots arrived, able to take on their Energon-empowered foes thanks to their new [[Spark of Combination|combining abilities]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} Following the Autobots' victory, {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} they entered into an alliance with the humans, and began setting up drilling sites around the Earth to replenish their own dwindling supplies of Energon. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

Energon can be shaped and moulded by the small group of evolved [[Mini-Con]]s known as Omnicons, who can fire it as blasts, create energy-constructs from it and sculpt it into powerful weapons. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} Kicker also discovered that his energon-manipulating powers had evolved when he was attacked by Decepticons over an Energon pocket in [[Turkey]] and was able to channel and redirect the energy into the Omnicons. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Live-action film series===
:''For further information see: [[AllSpark]], [[Energon drone]], [[Dual Energon Swords]], [[Energon detector]]

{{quote|Without it, we'd all perish, oxidize and rust, ''like my wretched self!'' Do you have any idea what it's like to slowly fall apart and die?!|[[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] explains the importance of Energon|''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''}}

[[File:Defiance4 allspark creates primes.jpg|left|thumb|165px]]

Cybertron's source of Energon in this universe was the legendary, life-giving [[AllSpark]] cube, which sustained the planet and the Transformer race through its constant generation of the fuel, presumably in the form of crystals or ore. It was the Energon produced by the AllSpark that gave life to the first Cybertronians, the [[Dynasty of Primes]], creating them from Cybertron's metal surface itself. The Primes were soon to learn that the AllSpark's supply of Energon was not infinite: it required periodic recharging to continue Energon generation, and the only source of energy viable enough was that of suns. Using [[Star Harvester]]s, the Primes converted the suns of lifeless star systems into Energon, which fuelled the AllSpark, in turn allowing it to generate exponentially greater amounts of the energy, thereby allowing Cybertron to thrive, and more and more Transformers to be given life. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}}

Millions of years later, at the height of the civil war between the Autobots and Decepticons, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] had the AllSpark blasted into space, to put its power beyond the reach of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. Without the AllSpark's constant supply of Energon, however, Cybertron began to atrophy, eventually becoming a ruin of a planet, uninhabitable by the Transformers. They too took to the stars, searching for the lost cube: the Autobots to reinvigorate Cybertron, Megatron planning to use its Energon to bring to life the machinery of other worlds, forging an even greater army. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} Without true Energon from the Allspark, the Transformers were forced instead to subsist on a manufactured brew processed out of other natural resources on the other worlds they visited. Although much more stable that the Energon of most universes, if this artificial Energon ''were'' hypothetically detonated, the resultant explosion would be large enough to obliterate most of a good-sized continent. {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

[[File:MovieAdaptation4 nokia bot.jpg|thumb|275px]]

The AllSpark landed on Earth in what would become Colorado, directly on top of an entrance into a mysterious network of subterranean caves that criss-crossed the entire planet. The cube's Energon radiation was funnelled into the tunnels for thousands of years, stimulating the growth of Energon ore, and mutating the animals that lived there into huge monstrosities. The Energon was discovered in caves in the Sierra Nevada mountains by gentleman adventurers [[Walter Simmons]] and [[Theodore Joseph Wells]] in the late 19th Century, {{storylink|Original}} but while these two men would go on to found the organization [[Sector Seven]], dedicated to protecting the Earth against the Transformers, they would not realize that this discovery was connected to their larger mission until they found the AllSpark and excavated it in 1913, uncovering more of the substance in the caves beneath it. They also discovered the abandoned [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]] [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]], who was looking for the cube himself, and who accidentally triggered a surge of Energon from it that overloaded his systems and brought a nearby crane, car, gun and radio to life. {{storylink|Irreplaceable}} Energon was the subject of some study on Earth in later years; scientist [[Dina Morgan]] experimented with the energy potential of converting the crystals into liquid, and a memo about her research was later discovered by [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] during his advance recon on the planet in the early 21st century. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Chevy Autobots}}

In 2007, Bumblebee was joined on the planet by more representatives of both factions, leading to a battle for possession of the AllSpark in [[Mission City]], during which a wave of Energon was released that brought [[Dispensor|several]] [[Xbox 360 robot|Earth]] [[steering wheel robot|machines]] to life. Ultimately, the cube was destroyed when [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]] plunged it into Megatron's Spark, overloading and apparently destroying him. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} Following the destruction of the cube and the defeat of the Decepticons, the Autobots allied with humankind, and, lacking the time to confirm the presence of true Energon on Earth, instead began stockpiling manufactured Energon at [[NEST]] base on [[Diego Garcia]]. When questioned about the substance by [[Robert Epps]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] explained that it was basically useless to humanity; they could not use it to power weapons the way the Transformers did (like Optimus Prime's [[Dual Energon Swords]]) because its chemical composition was far beyond their ability to master. {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

[[File:ROTF jetfire awakens.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

In 2009, the small fragments that remained of the AllSpark cube were revealed to still possess Energon-generating powers when one was stolen by the Decepticons and used to restore Megatron to life. At the bidding of his master, a renegade member of the Dynasty of Primes known as [[The Fallen]], Megatron uncovered a hidden Star Harvester The Fallen had built in Egypt nineteen thousand years beforehand, planning to use it to convert Earth's sun into Energon that could be used to sire a new race of Decepticon [[hatchling]]s. Another shard brought a group of [[Appliancebot|kitchen appliances]] in Sam Witwicky's home to life; Sam later used it to rouse Jetfire from his years-long slumber. Jetfire was living proof of the fact that without regular consumption of Energon of any kind, a Transformer's body and mind begin to slowly break down, rusting away in a kind of robotic senility. By combining with Jetfire, Optimus Prime gained the power to stop Megatron and The Fallen and destroy the Star Harvester. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
[[File:ROTF fallen leaks energon.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The [[Tony Todd|Candyman]] can, 'cause he mixes it with love, and makes the world taste good...]]
Not long after the Autobot victory in Egypt, [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] stumbled across a cave full of natural Energon, and was nearly brainwashed by the Decepticon [[Mindwipe (ROTF)|Mindwipe]] into harvesting it for the Decepticons. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 5}} Later still, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] were seen transporting a cargo of Energon ''cubes'', but whether they were created from the natural Energon Ironhide found or just more manufactured Energon is unknown. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 10}} Within a few years, NEST developed [[Energon detector]]s that could alert them to the approach of Cybertronian lifeforms, and had them stationed around major cities, forcing the Decepticons to withdraw to unmonitored regions of the planet like [[Namibia]], [[Africa]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

Energon flows inside Transformers' bodies in a liquid form through a structure akin to a human's circulatory system. It is prone to gushing out when a Transformer receives debilitating injuries—glowing blue Energon showered from the wounds sustained by several Transformers during the battle of [[Mission City]], {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} while a golden form of liquid Energon oozed from The Fallen's dying frame<ref>Hasbro's online [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref> when Optimus Prime killed him. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}} In fact, quite a ''lot'' of differently-colored fluids were seen slooshing and squirting from the Transformers during the quest for the Matrix of Leadership and the battles over [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]'s space bridge, including a disturbingly blood-like red liquid, but whether or not any of these were Energon is unclear. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}} {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}} Also, in Age of Extinction, green liquid can be seen from injuries of Grimlock, KSI robots and Lockdown.
Colour of Energon in movie continuity isn't much consistent. But blue colour of sparks suggests that energon should be blue in movie continuity.
{{-}}

===Transformers Collectors' Club comics===
{{see|Rarified Energon}}
[[File:CrossingOver5 rarified energon.jpg|left|thumb|165px|"The formula is water! Pure, ordinary water!"]]
On the second leg of their multiverse-hopping journey, amnesiac Transformers [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]] discovered a pool of liquid energon beneath the jungles of South America, being watched over a similar Transformer named [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]]. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 5}} They were informed by Breakway's assistant, the computer system known as the [[Caretaker]], that the pool was no ordinary energon: it was [[Rarified Energon]], the base substance that made up Transformers' bodies and sparks. Skyfall, Landquake and Breakway were, in fact, components of [[Nexus Prime (Classics)|Nexus Prime]], one of the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]], who had been tasked with guarding Rarified Energon by Primus eons in the past. When Nexus Prime had been divided into five separate robots in order to protect the secret of [[Prima (G1)|Prima]]'s [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]], Rarified Energon was left without a guardian, and was consequently secreted away in the corners of the multiverse—for if it should be destroyed, then it would be impossible for more Transformer life to be created. The Caretaker opened a cross-dimensional portal to take the three Transformers to the universe where they would find the [[Topspin (Classics)|fourth of their number]], assuring them that the Rarified Energon would be teleported away to a new safe location once they had left. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}
{{-}}

===Animated===
{{see|Energon farm}}
[[File:Ani07 sllsparkinfusedenergon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Mine mine mine! All mine!"]]
Crystalline formations of natural energon are cultivated on Cybertron at [[energon farm]]s, a menial task that earns workers a reputation as hayseeds despite its extreme importance, {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}} {{storylink|The Stunti-Con Job}} and stored in energon cubes. Despite the Autobots being in full control of Cybertron and no excess energon being expended in a war effort, the substance remains extremely precious, as evidenced by the risks cadet [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] took when he and fellow cadets [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] attempted to recover a huge stockpile of it from a starship that had crashed on the planet [[Archa Seven]] centuries beforehand. Sentinel called this "AllSpark-infused energon", but there was nothing to indicate that it was any different from normal energon, suggesting that the energies of the life-giving [[AllSpark]] are known to be shared by energon in this universe, as they are in [[#live-action film series|others]]. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}}

Contrary to the hardships faced by Transformers in other universes, when [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]'s teams were stranded on Earth with no energon, they proved quite able to survive on simple [[oil]]. Back on Cybertron, though, energon remained on the menu at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where varieties served included Z and Ultra blends from various different planets, as well as energon-on-a-stick for the little 'bots. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} Energon is used to power the machines and weapons of Cybertron, like those of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]]'s [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]], {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}} and small energon cubes are used as blasting charges in construction. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

{{note|The episode title "[[A Fistful of Energon]]", parodying the Western movie "A Fistful of Dollars", suggests energon is employed as a currency in this universe, though nothing that occurs in-universe addresses this use.}}

===Shattered Glass===
[[File:Cliffjumper&SGGoryu Dungeons&Dinobots.jpg|left|thumb|100px|[[Steven Spielberg]] takes the directorial reins.]]
{{see|Energon rod}}
The energon of this twisted mirror universe is superficially different to the more recognizable fuel of most worlds. Here, it is a sickly green-yellow in color, is stored primarily in [[energon rod|rod]]s, and is considered by the dimensionally-displaced [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to have a strange aftertaste when compared to the energon of his home dimension. It remains used as a form of currency among Transformers.

Among the natural sources of energon on this universe's Cybertron are bright blue crystalline deposits that form on the shores of the [[Rust Sea]], when the sea's innate trace energon content is solidified by evaporation. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}
{{-}}

===Aligned===
:''For further information, see: [[Energon battle pistol]], [[Energon grenade]], [[Energon repair ray]], [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]], [[Dark Energon]], [[Energon prod]], [[Energon Harvester]], [[Synthetic Energon]], [[Energon shard]], [[Tox-En]], [[Red Energon]]
[[File:Wfc energon cubes.jpg|thumb|250px]]
[[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] explained that Energon is an emanation of Primus, and a different form of that which makes up a [[Transformer]] and everything else on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}} Energon occurs naturally in the form of blue crystals, {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} though these sometimes resemble normal rocks. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}} It is stored within Energon cubes, {{storylink|Masters & Students}} the framework for which can be produced by the Decepticon [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron}} and is fashioned into smaller ingots for oral ingestion by Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

In Cybertronian prehistory, the ancients moved Energon by reconstituting and concentrating it into its most rarefied form, that of pure energy, which is transmitted between arrays such as the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}} [[File:Starscreamharvestingcrystals.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Starscream harvesting raw Energon.]] Similarly, they used [[Energon Harvester]]s to draw this energy right out of Energon crystals. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}} Later, during the [[Golden Age]], a formula for a synthetic version of Energon was developed; apparently never put into production, this formula was programmed into a [[Cybertronian data cylinder|data cylinder]] and sent into space. {{storylink|T.M.I.}}

When war broke out on Cybertron, Energon was weaponized in the form of the [[Energon battle pistol]] and the [[Energon prod]] (the latter an instrument of torture that would later prove to have a particularly deleterious, if temporary, effect on the human neural system {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}), but also found use on the battlefield as an implement of healing in medical tools like the [[Energon grenade]], which releases a localized aura of Energon that restores the vigor of Transformers within the grenade's range. Medics were also known to carry [[Energon repair ray]]s, more focused tools that fire a beam of Energon to heal the injured. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}} As the war depleted Energon supplies on Cybertron, both sides tried hiding their stockpiles of this valuable commodity on many other planets, including [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}} The Decepticons even began experimenting with Energon's poisonous counterpart, [[Dark Energon]], a product of [[Unicron]] in the same way that true Energon is a product of Primus. Using it, the Decepticons corrupted the [[core]] of Cybertron, and although the Autobots restored it, the planet's Energon supply had been crippled, necessitating that the Transformers depart Cybertron so that it would be able to recharge and regenerate enough Energon to once again support life. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron}}

By coincidence or design, the Transformers' war eventually carried them back to Earth in the 21st century. After an undetailed initial clash, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] retreated into space to gather up an army, and [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], left in charge of the Decepticons on Earth, set about mining the Energon that had flourished on the planet, claiming there was enough there to repower Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)}} The shifting geology of Earth occasionally stymied his attempts, as some deposits had become unmineable since originally being stored; the largest of these was labelled "ND-7 Class". {{storylink|Out of His Head}} After three years, however, Megatron returned, having recovered more Dark Energon from the depths of space {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}, but he was fortunately stopped by the Autobots from using it to reanimate Cybertron's dead. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

[[File:Crossfire Insecticon holding energon.jpg|thumb|250px]]
[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s Autobots later discovered the data cylinder containing the synthetic Energon formula, but its contents were beamed directly into [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'s brain. The formula threatened to wipe his mind, so he was only able to transcribe a portion of it before it was necessary to remove it shoot it off into space. {{storylink|T.M.I.}} [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] then attempted to complete the formula, but the result of experiments was a green liquid form of Energon which supercharged his physical attributes at the loss of his mental stability. In the throes of this rage, Ratchet attacked a Decepticon mine and was wounded by Megatron, allowing [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to obtain for the Decepticons a sample of the synthetic Energon that drained from his wounds. {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}}

Having gone rogue, Starscream was forced to either steal energon from the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} or scavenge for it in abandoned mines. {{storylink|Crossfire}} After [[MECH]] stole [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]'s [[transformation cog|T-cog]] in an attempt to get their own creation working, Starscream pointed out that it required Energon to properly function. He used a small amount of his own as a demonstration. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} With Starscream's help, they were able to track down a sizable deposit. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}} [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] later found an [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] which searched for energon for her. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

A sample of [[Tox-En]] was stored in the Iacon Vaults, and eventually made its way to Earth, which was found by Bulkhead. After a fight with [[Hardshell (Prime)|Hardshell]], Bulkhead began to drip liquefied Energon, which Bulkhead figured was leaking from a loose gasket. Bulkhead used the leak to make a false trail of Energon puddles to lead the Insecticons away while he carried the Tox-En to a nearby volcano for disposal. At one point, Hardshell took time out to taste an Energon puddle. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

A chunk of [[Red Energon]] was uncovered on Earth, and during the race to get hold of it, Starscream managed to secure a chunk. {{storylink|New Recruit}}

A bizarre interaction with the Energon of Earth was responsible for bringing many weapons, including the Transformers' personal armaments, to life as the [[Arms Micron]]s.

{{--}}

==Toys and merchandise==
===''Beast Wars''===

[[File:BWNtoy-BigConvoy-Matrix.jpg|left|thumb]]

The [[rubsign]]s introduced into the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toyline in 1997 were called "Energon Chips". On the Japanese side of things, Energon Matrices were included with [[Lio Convoy (BWII)|Lio Convoy]] and [[Big Convoy (BWN)|Big Convoy]]'s toys; while the former's was merely sculpted detail beneath a panel on his chest, the latter's was fully removable.
{{-}}

===Generation 1===

[[File:G1 energon toys.jpg|thumb|275px|Foooood Fiiight!!!]]
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]'s energon-axe and energon mace were the first toys that represented physical energon. [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] has enjoyed a long love affair with these weapons, which up until their release in plastic form, had only been ''very'' rarely seen. After several ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' PVC figurines depicted Prime and Megatron with the weapons deployed, the armaments made the jump to true toys with the ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'' line of reissues, which featured new axe and mace accessories for the 2003 re-releases of the original Generation 1 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Transformers Collection|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Transformers Collection|Megatron]] toys. These weapons were also included with the ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' versions of the characters, and on Prime's ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' and ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' figures as well. Prime's axe in particular has gotten a lot of face-time, having been recolored with each new [[redeco]] of these various Prime toys—and that's been quite a few! See the [[energon-axe]] article for a full listing of this weapon's releases.

''The Transformers Collection'' also featured the first, and to-date only, toys made of energon cubes, three of which came packaged with the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] giftset. The translucent pink cubes are made of soft rubbery plastic, and are quite small; fairly in-scale with the Insecticons themselves, but undeniably dinky next to any larger toys. The reason for their small size is so that they can fit into the Insecticons' opening cockpits, left over from their days as ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys. Three cubes were also included with the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive [[Insecticon clone]] [[redeco]] of this set.
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===''Energon''===

[[File:Energon weapons.jpg|left|thumb|275px]]

All the Omnicon and Terrorcon toys released in the ''Energon'' toyline came packaged with an Energon star (called an "Energon chip" in the toyline) which could attach to the Spark crystals that most of the toys in the series feature, and an Energon weapon, itself formed from several modular pieces that could be mixed and matched with other figures and other Energon weapon components through the miracle of [[5mm post]]s. The Autobot stars and weapons were various shades of red, while the Decepticons' were green, with each faction sporting a different design for their Energon stars. These weapons included [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]]'s '''Energy Axe''' (formed from a boom arm and a spare tire) [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]]'s '''Energy Spear''' (the merging of a cannon and two rocket boosters), [[Signal Flare (Energon)|Signal Flare]]'s '''Energy Cutter''' (made up of a projecting dish and two shield panels), [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]]'s compound bow (built from fuel tanks and exhaust pipes), [[Battle Ravage]]'s twin cannons, [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]]'s '''Energy Raiden''' (the united form of two blades) [[Cruellock]]'s '''Energy Blade''' (a large sword made even larger with the addition of a small gun as a handle) and [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticon]]'s '''Energy Drill''' (a dagger and gatling cannon combined). In addition to being recolored and sold in the ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' and live-action movie toylines along with the figures who wielded them, many of these weapons were released in new colors as exclusives in Japan, sometimes on their own, sometimes packaged with different toys. See the [[Energon weapon|Energon weapon article]] for a full list. One other set of modular Energon weapons was available as part of the line: the rifle and sword which came with Starscream, owing to the character's status as an "Energon ghost". This pair of weapons could combine to form a ''huge'' sword.

[[File:Energontoy sword and combiner.jpg|thumb|250px]]

The limb components of the three "Maximus" [[Combiner]]s released during ''Energon'' also each came with a translucent blue "Super Energon" star and an Energon weapon. Rather than follow the modular mix-and-match pattern of the earlier toys, however, these Energon weapons converted into either a hand or foot for their combined super robot mode. From [[Superion Maximus]], [[Treadshot (Energon)|Treadshot]] and [[Windrazor (Energon)|Windrazor]] came with twin double-ended cannons, while [[Sky Shadow (Energon)|Sky Shadow]] and [[Terradive (Energon)|Terradive]] were armed with double-barrelled blasters; from [[Constructicon Maximus]], [[Sledge (Energon)|Sledge]] and [[Bonecrusher (Energon)|Bonecrusher]] wielded odd clawed cudgels that were particularly strange next to [[Duststorm (Energon)|Duststorm]] and [[Wideload (Energon)|Wideload]]'s pincer-claws; and from [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]], [[Kickback (Energon)|Kickback]] and [[Blight (Energon)|Blight]] bore combined double-barrelled cannon radar arrays, while [[Blackout (combiner)|Blackout]] and [[Stormcloud (Energon)|Stormcloud]] brandished modular quintuple-barrelled arsenals. These figures were redecoed across the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'', ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' toylines, and select limbs were chosen by the Transformers Collectors' Club to become components of their exclusive combiner figure, the energon-manipulating Nexus Prime.

[[Megatron (Armada)/toys|Megatron]]'s Energon Sword was his perennial accessory throughout the ''Energon'' toyline, available in various sizes and colors with his toys, and also with a ''Super Link'' exclusive Kicker figure and as a rather large role-play weapon. See the [[Energon Sword|Energon Sword article]] for a full list of releases. By contrast, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]]'s Energon Blaster was ''only'' released as a role-play weapon, its role in the toyline about as memorable as its brief, puzzling appearance in the cartoon.

Energon took another form for a small line of European-exclusive [[List of Transformers restaurant promotions|McDonald's Happy Meal ''Energon'' toys]]. The four figures in the series each came with a large, translucent "Energon cube", which could be inserted inside their body and featured various effects: Optimus Prime and [[Ironhide (Energon)#Toys|Ironhide]]'s had electronic sounds, while Megatron and [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]]'s featured LED lights.

===Live-action movies===
[[File:ROTF energon swords.jpg|left|thumb|225px| Now... where's that face?]]

The first [[subline imprint]] of the [[Movie (toyline)|live-action movie toyline]] was the "[[AllSpark Power]]" series, in which all the figures sported bright blue parts to represent the glowing blue Energon power of the AllSpark. The AllSpark itself was also rendered in plastic form: it came as a small accessory packaged with the Japanese releases of the "AllSpark Power" figures, or as more esoteric objects like a Rubik's Cube, a paperweight and a candy container. We guess that would make the candy itself the Energon! See the [[AllSpark|AllSpark article]] for a complete listing of merchandise.

[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys|Optimus Prime]]'s original live-action movie toy did not include the Energon Sword he was seen deploying in the feature film, but the blade was soon added when the figure was retooled for the "[[Premium Series]]" subline imprint. A second sword was added to Prime's arsenal in the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie, and given that the swords played a major part in one of the film's set-piece battles, they were quickly established as a fixture on almost all of the line's Optimus Prime toys, from his large-scale Leader-class figure, all the way down to his ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' figurine. See the [[Dual Energon Swords|Dual Energon Swords article]] for a full listing of toys wielding these face-taking blades.

===G.I. Joe and the Transformers===
An [[exclusive]] toy set released for [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2012, was a [[redeco]] of the 2012 new-[[mold]] ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: Retaliation]]'' [[HISS tank]] meant to represent Shockwave, with an additional cannon piece meant to emulate ''Generation 1'' Shockwave's gun barrel. It includes the [[Cobra]]s [[Destro|James McCullen Destro XXIV]] and a [[Battle Android Trooper]]<ref>[http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/12/shockwavehiss/ Shockwave H.I.S.S. page at yojoe.com]</ref> with a trolley for carrying a trio of [[Energon cube]]s. The three cubes, clearly inspired by the ''Generation 1'' cartoon version, are clear pink plastic with inserts to make them appear to be partially filled with liquid.

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==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Energon''' (エネルゴン ''enerugon'')
*''Russian:'' '''Energon''' (Энергон)

==Footnotes==
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[[Category:Animated substances]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars substances]]
[[Category:Drink]]
[[Category:Energon| ]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Generation 1 substances]]
[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Power sources]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]
[[Category:Substances]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]