[[File:Soundwave shrinks.gif|thumb|upright=1.4|A little known fact, but {{w|Wasp (comics)|Wasp}} is Soundwave's cousin.]]

Although [[Scale|scale has never exactly been a deep concern]] when it comes to Transformers, given that the series has featured F-15 jets not much larger than sports cars, it is not uncommon for certain Transformers to clearly and deliberately '''change size''' when transforming from one mode to the next. The methods employed for this startling alteration in physicality have differed from timeline to timeline, and have long been a heavily debated aspect of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] technology.

{{quote|Decepticons Skywarp and Thundercracker transform and land. A tape player, three cassette tapes and a Walther P-38 fly forth from the towering twin titans. And astonishingly they enlarge hundreds of times over and change into Soundwave, Megatron, Frenzy, and Ravage!|[[Narrator]]|[[Prisoner of War!]]}}

==Examples==
Note that many of the Transformers named here have also transformed at certain times ''without'' shrinking or enlarging, retaining an [[alternate mode]] to scale with their [[robot mode]]. It doesn't help mass-shifting logic though. If anything it only results in ''more'' questions.

===Shrinking===
[[File:DarknessRising3-Arceesizechange.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Where does she ''keep'' it all?]]
The most famous examples of size-changing Transformers are [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who becomes a pistol, and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], who both become stereo cassette players. These Transformers visibly shrink as they transform, assuming one of two sizes—one that allows another Transformer to wield or operate them, and another, even smaller size scaled to humans.

Other shrinking Transformers include [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], the [[Mini-Cassette]]s, the three mechs who make up [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], and in some continuities, the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s. Reflector could be considered one of the worst, since that's ''three'' Transformers slightly over human-size combining into ''one'' form that's small enough for other robots - or humans - to take photographs with.

[[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]'s ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' bio notes that he has a defect in his transformation circuitry, which often results in him not being able to complete his transformation by not growing back to his robot mode's full size.

One of [[Deep Cover]]'s [[ability|abilities]] is being able to shrink to 1/40th his size for brief periods of time.

Shrinking into altmode is a property also shared by [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'']] [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Prime'']] [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]. They both transform from motorcycles, which are about the size of a human, into full-sized Autobot warriors. In Prowl's case, he grows to be taller than [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who's a car, although he is much slimmer. ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' [[Signal Lancer]] is another fine example, since Signal Lancer transforms from a normal-size traffic light into a robot big enough to wield the light-pole as a [[lance]].

''Animated'' [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was deployed undercover within [[Autobot boot camp|the Autobot ranks]] by [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] specifically due to his stated size-changing abilities, allowing him to adopt a smaller Autobot-sized form in the guise of Longarm.<ref>[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]</ref>

The ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]]'' video game and its [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|sequel]] mostly avoided this with most of the cast using animation models that stayed the same size. One exception occurred in the original game, a very blatant one, with [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]]. While his robot mode is undeniably huge, his alt mode, an orbital space station converted into a gun, was big enough to have an entire level set in it. Another case occurred in the sequel's multiplayer with a [[Titan (FOC)|Titan]] using the Beast body type, where going into the character's alt mode has them shrinking down while transforming so by the end they're still the same size as in robot mode. This was an obvious choice made for balancing, since doubling in size like [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] does in the campaign mode would make the Titan too big a target.

===Enlarging===
Conversely, Transformers have been known to grow in size when assuming their alternate modes—the most prominent example is surely [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], whose space shuttle mode could become large enough to convey a whole contingent of Decepticon warriors, and even allow [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to form inside him without even bumping his head. Similarly, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from a robot of roughly average size (occasionally depicted as somewhat tall, but never ''huge'') into a jet and then into an entire aircraft carrier, of the type used to transport '''dozens''' of jets. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] is another good example, who has been able to transport whole Autobots in the back of his ambulance form during the cartoon, even [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], who turns into a jet. Other Transformers that enlarge in such a manner also generally do so for the purposes of transporting others; they include [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], and [[Grand Maximus]].

[[Combiner]]s are often larger in their combined form than their robot modes would otherwise indicate—in fact, in the episode "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]," [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] is explicitly shown to enlarge after his combination is complete. In the IDW continuity, the Constructicons (and [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]) are explicitly shown to change size whenever they form Devastator. [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] mentions that not even Prowl's brain can grow large enough to fully accommodate Devastator's [[w:Brain-to-body mass ratio|brain-to-body-mass ratio]].

In the original animated series many of the Transformers arguably enlarged or shrank in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] to a lesser extent, this is most notable among groups such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Decepticon]] [[Conehead|jets]] and [[Mini Vehicle|minibots]], whose altmodes [[Scale|could not possibly turn into robots that are the size they are depicted otherwise]]. Whether this was truly intended to indicate actual size changes, was merely "lazy animation", or was simply a stylistic choice designed to emphasize the awesome stature of robot mode Cybertronians, is a matter of individual opinion.

While later continuities tried to tone this down, it was still present with instances like [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] seen above, and [[Slug (FOC)|Slug]], who goes from a [[Infiltrator (FOC)|Infiltrator]]-sized character to the size of an Insecticon bruiser, and is clearly seen growing bigger after he transforms. Particularly notable is the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] incarnation of [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]], whose horns alone in dragon form are taller than most Transformers, but who "only" stands head-and-shoulders above [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] in robot mode.

[[Magnificus (G1)|Magnificus]] has a matter-enlarging scope, which he used to make [[Ga'mede]] fit in in the macroverse.

Another similar thing happened with [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] when transforming from his Marmon 97 and back in the ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'' film because it is needed to be tall enough due to transforming into a small truck.

===Implicit size changing===
[[File:MakeHoistHuffer.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Mass displacement my boron compressor.]]
Transformers that act as transport for other Transformers often implicitly change size to do so. However, size changing is rarely explicitly depicted in these cases. Instead, the following method is used: A character such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] transforms in-frame from robot to shuttle with no visible expansion of size relative to his surroundings. Cut. [[File:Loading_Ironhide.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|Vanception.]]In the following shot his fellow Decepticons are shown running into frame, suddenly relatively tiny in stature so that they can board the shuttle. Although Astrotrain has not been shown to actually grow, one has to infer that this is more likely than that all his confederates have individually shrunk.

The same change-in-scale-via-implicit-size-changing is used with [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and other characters used as transport. For example, in the episode "[[Make Tracks]]", [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], who is depicted as one of the larger Autobots in robot mode, is shown riding inside [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], a Minibot whose truck mode is usually depicted as being smaller than Optimus Prime's. So either Huffer is extremely large in that scene, or Hoist is suddenly the size of a human. Likewise, an injured [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] has been shown [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|being loaded into]] [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet's]] rear medical bay, despite both having the ''exact same [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]''.

(The other explanation is that the animators simply hoped no one would notice the sudden change in scale. Since ''Transformers'' is usually targeted at kids, there's probably some truth to this.)

The ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' cartoon had two entirely different [[Scale charts#Cybertron cartoon|scale chart]]s made as a reference for the animators to work from; one for robot mode scale and the other for vehicle mode scale. While the robot mode scale was mostly based on the toys ([[Metroplex (Cybertron)|aside]] [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|from]] [[Menasor (Cybertron)|a few]] [[Primus|exceptions]]), the vehicle modes were based on a more realistic scale. This resulted in the [[Gigantion|Giant Planet]] [[Mini-Con]]s turning into larger vehicles that scaled with their fellow Autobots, unlike the Mini-Cons of ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' who remained miniscule in either mode. Smaller characters like [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], who transformed into an armored missile truck, would often transform into vehicles larger than taller characters like [[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]], who transformed into a car. Any character transforming into an aircraft (e.g. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]) would grow to an enormous size in order to accurately scale with their fellow team members, who would ''usually'' be rescaled based on [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]—or the next largest character's vehicle mode; with everyone else nearby following the largest robot's robot mode scale. Unfortunately, the results of these two different scales would often lead to [[:File:Vector Prime-Landmine.jpg|over and undersized characters before and after transformation]].

Most Transformers in the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' cartoon employ some visible mass-displacement when transforming into their alternate modes, compressing their robot-mode mass into their vehicle mode forms. This is most visible with [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]], whose vehicle mode is roughly half the size of her robot form, and [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]], who is noted to be liable to tear the Decepticon's ship apart in beast mode, but is small enough to easily roam the halls in robot mode.

===Pretenders===
Although the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original American cartoon]] was cancelled before the [[Pretender]]s were created, the Japanese-only continuity featured them in their series ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]''. Here the Pretenders did not have outer shells so much as ill-defined holistic transformations which explicitly involved size-changing, allowing the Autobots to convincingly pass themselves off as humans. Also, Autobot Pretenders' shells are able to perform size changing in the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' manga. The Decepticons, by comparison, chose to retain their gigantic proportions when in Pretender mode.

Although never depicted in any of their actual fiction, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia stated that Pretender shells use shrinking technology to achieve the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Masterforce]]''-like capacity to pass the wearer off as a real human (or other small lifeform of choice). (Intriguingly, the profile also obliquely implies that Pretender technology would later lead to the development of the faux-organic [[beast mode]]s of the [[Beast Era]].)

==Explanations==
Although size-changing has been evident in Transformers from the very beginning, the original animated series and comic books never address the topic, and it was regarded as simply being the way of things. Fandom debate on the topic has seemingly inspired later fiction to offer varying explanations on how it functions.

===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===
Surprisingly, one of the first, if not the very first, attempts of providing an official explanation for an instance of size-changing occurred in the Japanese-original ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' cartoon.

Upon being upgraded from his smaller, average-sized "Megastorm" form, [[Megastorm|Gigastorm]] had become too large to enter the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s' ship, the ''[[Galvaburg II]]''. In order for him to fit, he would first have to be exposed to an '''[[Elemental Particle Control Beam]]''' that would shrink his body down to a more accommodating size every time he wished to enter the ship. He would then remain in his scaled-down size inside the ship for seemingly-indefinite periods of time, until returning to his original size whenever he'd be back outside of the ship.

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] offered two explanations for size-changing within its continuity.

The first, to explain enlarging, was '''parts compression'''—the notion that the Transformers in question, such as Astrotrain and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], had many dense layers of armor in robot mode, which then slid out, expanding to create a much larger, but less-strongly-armored vehicle mode. Fans have referred to this as the "origami Transformers" explanation, and it appeared in their ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia.

The second explanation, to justify shrinking, was '''mass conversion'''. This method put it that Transformers like Soundwave were genetically endowed with the ability to transform not simply their bodies, but their entire molecular structure. This ability, not under their conscious control, only activates when they transform, shifting their atoms according to a predetermined schematic.

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:Escalation3-Massdisplacement.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Shrinky-dink.]]
In the ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' miniseries sees [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] employ a '''mass-displacement sequence''', physically discarding a portion of his bodily mass to allow himself to shrink to a human-scaled pistol of appropriate weight and density. What with E equalling mc², the loss of this amount of mass (shunted to an undisclosed location in space and time) results in a volatile energy discharge, requiring bystanders to step away lest they be injured by the forces released—not that Megatron would care.

Due to the energy shortage (and seeming near-total depletion of Transformers' primary fuel source, [[Energon]]) caused by their war, mass displacement hasn't been commonplace for a very long time. Since it requires a huge amount of energy, the technology had practically vanished until the discovery of [[Ore-13]] on [[Earth#2005 IDW continuity|Earth]].

Mass displacement in [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] [[2005 IDW continuity|original comic book series]] went unmentioned for several years until ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' used it to explain why the [[Constructicon (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|Constructicons]] look much larger when they're forming [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' introduced the '''[[mass-displacement gun]]''', a weapon capable of shrinking ''other'' people, while Megatron would shrink in ''robot mode'' - explaining that the spark modifications to enable mass-displacement, once done, could not be undone - as part of saving the living version of the ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}.

The [[Chimeracon]]s, a faction of experimental warrriors created by [[Tarantulas (BW)#2005 IDW continuity|Mesothulas]], used body-frames augmented with [[obtenteum]]. This super-fuel gave them the necessary energy required to regularly shift size when converting to and from their [[beast mode]]s. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3}}

In an attempt to destroy a [[Moonbase Two|Functionist-controlled moon]], [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] from an [[Functionist Universe|alternate universe]] was voluntarily mass displaced into the size of a moon, and was killed by this soon afterwards. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}}

===2007 ''Transformers'' film===
The creators of the [[Transformers (film)|2007 live-action movie]] explicitly avoided including any Transformers who could change size, wishing to avoid the necessary suspension of disbelief. Therefore, any observed [[scale]] problems are genuine scale problems. (And there are a few, most notably human-sized [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s head turning into a tiny cell phone. But then again, his head is basically made of shards with a ''lot'' of space in between.) That said, size-changing technology clearly exists in ''some'' form in the movie continuity, as [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] somehow shrinks the [[AllSpark]] down to a manageable size and mass. The [[Staff of Merlin]] has also been shown to be capable of changing size in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', capable of shrinking and growing to be held by both Cybertronians and humans.

===''Rescue Bots Academy'' cartoon===
When questioned how [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] was able to turn into a tiny cassette tape, [[Perceptor (Prime)|Perceptor]] explained certain Transformers could use a technique callehyyggd '''molecular compression''', allowing them to achieve alternate modes much smaller than their robot mode would seemingly permit. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (RBA)|More Than Meets The Eye}}

===Fandom explanations===
[[File:No mass shifting here.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Just when you thought you had it all figured out...]]
The issue of shrinking and enlarging was, in the early days of the online ''Transformers'' fandom, a frequently debated subject. The Transformers were clearly displacing their mass, to allow their shrunken forms to be operable—so where was that mass going? The postulated answer to this question was the invention of "[[unspace|subspace]]", the void of extradimensional space between realities. Subspace proved a handy answer to various other questions as well—see the concept's own article for details. IDW's "mass displacement" rationale essentially ''is'' the subspace explanation, without actually using the term.

And hey, if any of that doesn't grab you, a [[Beorht|wizard]] did it.

==Note==
*When you see a character's size is [[:File:Tinybluestreak.jpg|smaller]] [[:File:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|than]] [[:File:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|usual]], well, it's just [[Animation error|a technical issue]].

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Technology]]