{{disambig3.5|the feature film|the Autobot it features|Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee}}
{{Nav-Bumblebee}}
[[File:BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg|thumb|300px|According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.]]

'''''Bumblebee''''' is the sixth movie in the [[live-action film series]]. A "reset" of the film series as a whole,<ref name="reboot">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/02/16/transformers-cinematic-universe-current-movie-series-rebooted-358641 Transformers Cinematic Universe Is Over: Current Movie Series To Be Rebooted] at TFW2005</ref> ''Bumblebee'' acts as a prequel to the previous five movies, albeit [[retcon|taking some liberties]] with continuity. The film is directed by [[Travis Knight]] rather than [[Michael Bay]], written by newcomer [[Christina Hodson]], and produced on a far lower budget of around $100-137 million USD.<ref>[https://screenrant.com/bumblebee-movie-budget-cost/ "The film's budget is reportedly in the range of $100-137 million..." -Screenrant article on the film's budget and profit]</ref> The film was released in the US on [[December 21]], [[2018]].

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

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

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

The year is [[1987]], and Agent [[Jack Burns]]' team of [[Sector Seven]] agents emerge victorious from a mock battle after leading the other team into an ambush. As Burns good-naturedly chides his unlucky opponent, however, an unknown projectile appears overhead and plows into their midst. Many agents are injured, and Burns, believing his team to be under projectile assault after confirming that no other military practices using live ammo are occurring nearby, immediately calls for backup... upon which he comes face to face with B-127 rising from the crater. He immediately orders his forces to give chase, and the Autobot flees after [[scanning]] and [[transformation|transforming]] into a nearby military jeep.

[[File:Bumblejeep.jpg|thumb|300px|"Everybody knows: you sting someone, you die."]]

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

[[File:Bumblebee-BeeVsBlitz.jpg|300px|thumb|left|"I have been felled by a winged beast of destruction!"]]

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

In [[Brighton Falls]], [[Charlie Watson]], a 17-year old girl one day away from becoming 18, awakens from her slumber. After dealing with her annoying younger brother [[Otis Watson|Otis]] and the news that her mother [[Sally Watson|Sally]] will be marrying her new boyfriend [[Ron (BB)|Ron]] when Charlie isn't over her father's death yet, she bikes to her job at a fair where she is utterly humiliated by [[Tina Lark|Tina]] and her posse for having no car. She visits [[Uncle Hank]]'s auto repair after hours to clear off, but discovers an old VW Beetle under a tarmac after accidentally knocking over a series of motorboats. She finds the key in the ignition and tries it on, but is surprised when the car emits an unintelligible signal...
[[File:TF-BB-Cliffjumper-loses-an-arm.jpg|thumb|300px|"What about you?" "He really is dead."]]

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

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

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

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

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

Charlie awakens the next day and goes straight to the garage, but discovers to her horror that Bumblebee has vanished without a trace. A quick interrogation of Otis reveals Sally has appropriated Charlie's car to take their dog [[Conan]] to the vet, as Ron needed to use the family station wagon. Charlie frantically chases after her mother on her moped, and manages to pull her over despite Bumblebee almost blowing his cover by extending an arm out from his trunk and waving at her. She later takes the Autobot to a secluded beach, where she teaches him that he should always assume [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]] unless the two of them are alone.

[[File:ShatterDropkickhologram.jpg|thumb|300px|"Mr. Bee, I'm going to ask what I think the entire court here would like to know... what exactly is your relationship to that woman?"]]

Burns' team and [[Dr. Powell]] intercept the two Decepticons in Texas and ask them to state their business. Dropkick wants to eliminate the humans, but Shatter comes up with a better idea; lying to the humans that the pair are a "peacekeeping Decepticon patrol", she asks Sector Seven's aid in tracking down the "dangerous escaped criminal" B-127. While Burns is doubtful, Powell, enthusiastic at the prospect of first contact with an [[Transformer|alien species]], eagerly agrees to talk to his superiors about the matter.

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

[[File:BBfilm-Ravage-survives-Optimus.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"As always, watch your brooms, hockey sticks, dogs, birds, bears and bats."]]

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

Charlie realizes that Bumblebee is on the run from something serious. When he attempts to use his broken radio, she decides she can at least fix that, and they return to her garage where she sets about extracting the radio from the Corvette. Bumblebee starts playing a video, which turns out to be footage of her diving shortly made by her father shortly before he died. She installs the radio in Bumblebee, though he forcefully ejects the tapes she inserts into him. While she's looking through her tapes, he starts thumbing through her father's LPs, and she grudgingly starts playing one, recalling how she and her father used to listen while working on the Corvette. She tells Bee how her father died of a heart attack and she's continued working on the car in his memory.

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

As Bumblebee plays with his new radio, [[Memo]] stumbles into the garage, intending to ask Charlie on a date. Charlie swears him to secrecy and the pair go for a drive in Bumblebee. Charlie borrows Memo's shirt so she can show off by "driving" blindfolded and they hang out of Bumblebee's sunroof.

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

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

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

Sally returns home with Otis to find the destruction. An argument ensues between her and Charlie, who ends up storming out. Charlie and Memo go driving to cool off, but they run into a roadblock set up by Sector Seven. Charlie tries to keep Bumblebee calm, but when the Sector Seven soldiers seize her, Bumblebee transforms and carries her off. Unfortunately they immediately run into Shatter and Dropkick, who attempt to interrogate Bumblebee, but are perplexed when the Autobot makes no attempt to fight back. Burns and his men arrive and start zapping Bee with electrical guns, and Charlie is knocked out when she attempts to help him.

Charlie wakes up in her own bed, and emerges from her room to find Agent Burns telling her parents that she had stolen valuable government equipment. Despite her protests, her mom banishes her back to her room. She promptly slips out through her window and Otis catches her trying to get Memo's attention by throwing rocks at his window. She manages to stop him from alerting her mother. Joining Memo in his house, they watch a news report about Sector Seven setting up shop at [[McKinnon Air Base]], and Charlie reasons that's where Bumblebee is being held. Otis is assigned to keep the plan secret while Charlie and Memo head to the base.

At the air base, Powell watches the two Decepticons interrogate Bumblebee. Charlie and Memo sneak into the base in time to watch as the Decepticons inadvertently trigger the recording of Optimus Prime, revealing that the Autobots are coming to Earth. As the Decepticons discuss what an opportunity this is, Powell realizes the mistake they've made in cooperating with the giant evil robots, and attempts to radio a warning to Burns before Dropkick kills him.

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

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

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

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

[[File:TF-BB-Optimus-Prime-and-Bumblebee-Earth-modes.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Beautiful day to fly." "Sure is."]]
An enraged Shatter pounds on Bumblebee, who shoots the wall of the dry dock. Shatter mocks him for missing, until the wall gives way, and Shatter is crushed between a ship and the side of the dock. As Bumblebee sinks to the bottom of the flooded dock, Charlie overcomes her fear and dives in, finding Bumblebee at the bottom and helping him to get back to the surface. Finally seeing Bumblebee's true nature, Burns tell the pair they need to make their escape before the rest of Sector Seven arrives, and as they leave, Memo turns up just slightly too late to save the world.

Bumblebee and Charlie end up on a hill overlooking the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], where Charlie tells the Autobot that she can't interfere with his greater purpose and they have to go their separate ways. After a tearful farewell, Bumblebee scans a passing Camaro as his new alternate mode and drives off to rendezvous with Optimus Prime on the bridge, leaving to continue his mission. Charlie returns home and reunites with her family and Memo.

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

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

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
*[[Shatter]] ([[Angela Bassett]])
*[[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] ([[Justin Theroux]])
*[[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] ([[David Sobolov]])
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] (Jon Bailey)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
*[[Seeker (Movie)|Seekers]] (Kirk Baily)

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

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

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

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

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

"With all due respect, have you lost your damn mind?!" 
"''That's'' with all due respect?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' and '''Dr. Powell''' debate.

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

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

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

"You kidding me? You're telling me you could've been a Camaro this whole time?"
:—'''Charlie''' says her goodbyes to Bumblebee

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

==Continuity notes==
As a prequel to the rest of the live-action film series, ''Bumblebee'' includes set-up elements for several of the films.
*Ancillary media dating back to 2007 has credited [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with inflicting the injuries that caused Bumblebee to lose his voice (with both the [[Aligned continuity family]] and the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|''Cyberverse'' cartoon]] adapting the idea for their continuities), but internal to the films themselves, no specifics were ever provided, with "damage in battle" being the only reason given for the little Autobot's muteness. ''Bumblebee'' tells the on-screen version of the story, revealing that Blitzwing was the culprit.
*Megatron himself, meanwhile, is notable by his absence from the film's Cybertron-set prequel, owing to the fact that, per the events of the first movie, he is frozen on Earth at the time it occurs.
*Sector 7 and their Hoover Dam headquarters were introduced in the first film. A young [[Seymour Simmons]] (played by [[John Turturro]] in the present-day films) appears among the organization's ranks.
*Thanks to Charlie fitting him with a working radio, Bumblebee learns how to "speak" by using snippets of music to express himself, which is, of course, how he communicates in all the other films.
*At the end of the movie, Bumblebee scans the 1977 Camaro mode that he had at the start of the original ''Transformers'' film.

Despite its notional "prequel" status, the film underwent significant reshoots ([[#Changes before, during and after production|see below]]) that resulted in the deletion, alteration, and addition of scenes that create several big discontinuities between ''Bumblebee'' and the rest of the film series (even by the standards of the films' usual ''laissez-faire'' approach to continuity), leading many a fan to consider it a "stealth reboot" in the vein of ''{{w|X-Men: First Class}}''.
*Most obviously, the film completely throws out ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s premise that Bumblebee and the Autobots were active on Earth during [[World War II]], showing Bumblebee's initial landing on Earth in 1987 (and by extension, throws the [[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|prequel comic]] out the window). There isn't a {{w|No-Prize}} that we can think of for this one — just go with it!
*Planet Cybertron itself is completely different from its honeycomb-esque ''Dark of the Moon'' and ''The Last Knight'' design, more closely resembling its G1 and Aligned counterparts.
*Sector 7 seem completely unaware of the Cybertronians and consider their meeting with Shatter and Dropkick to be "first contact", when, per the first film, they have been in possession of the AllSpark and the frozen form of Megatron since the early 20th century. Neither Megatron nor the AllSpark are mentioned in the film, and the fact that Dropkick and Shatter are actually invited into the Hoover Dam base and are allowed to interface with their computers and don't become aware that both Megatron and the Allspark are there stand out as odd—but then again, this discrepancy was part of the original cut of the film, in which Megatron ''was'' shown to be in Sector 7's posession (again, [[#Changes before, during and after production|see below]]).
*In keeping with there being no mention of the AllSpark, the Autobots' departure from Cybertron is shown to be necessitated by their being on the losing end of the war, rather than a search for the cube, with Bumblebee going to Earth to establish a fallback position for his comrades. This is not particularly incompatible with the information provided in the first film, but the fact that the Autobots are shown arriving on Earth at the end of the movie in 1987, when the first film showed them arriving in 2007, is more incongruous. It's quite possible they will all leave again over the following twenty years to search other planets and systems for the AllSpark, as mentioned in the first film's prologue, only to then return when Bumblebee discovers it had been on Earth all along, but like we said, this movie doesn't mention that. We'd note that, by having Bumblebee only lose his voice after coming to Earth, this movie actually ''necessitates'' a meeting between 'Bee and the other Autobots prior to the first movie, as Ratchet noted in that movie that he'd been trying to fix Bumblebee's voice for a while, meaning his arrival in 2007 couldn't be the first time he'd seen Bumblebee since he lost his voice.
*Bumblebee's '77 Camaro body, seen in the film's mid-credits sequence, is completely different than his appearance in the 2007 film, with Bumblebee utilizing a variant of the body he used throughout the ''Bumblebee'' film.

==Transformers references==

[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Prime-leaps-into-battle.jpg|thumb|300px|"All right, scramble, jocks! It's time to fly."]]
*Most of the characters' designs are based on their [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] incarnations. By extension, they would also be based off their appearances in ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'', ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' and [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|its]] [[Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|sequels]], and even ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]]'', all of which have G1-inspired designs as well. Notable examples include Optimus, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]], [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]. Along these lines, the Seekers-even [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]]-resemble the original [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker mold]] and use their Cybertronian "Tetrajet" alternate modes from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".
**Notable exceptions to this practice include Bumblebee, who retains his head mold used in the rest of the films, and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]], who is a homage to [[Battletrap]]'s appearance in "[[Cybertron's Most Wanted]]". Meanwhile, [[Shatter]], the only Transformer without a G1 namesake, is (believe it or not) based on [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], according to Travis Knight.
**As is time-worn tradition, [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]]'s design is a recolor of Bumblebee's Cybertronian body with a different head inspired by that of [[Cliffjumper (G1)|his G1 namesake]].
*In addition to the immediately-recognizable [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], the Decepticon forces also include an array of [[generic]] Seekers in various colors, including blue, purple, and green. Lighting and color layouts make it hard to definitively peg any of them as being movie versions of any classic characters who share the colors; a blue one who attacks Optimus Prime ''is'' a dead ringer for Thundercracker, down to the red-and-white pinstripes on his wings... but a moment after Prime defeats him, an identical Seeker is shown being cut down by Bumblebee elsewhere on the battlefield.
*The concept of Cybertron falling into Decepticon hands and the Autobots initiating a mass exodus originates from the Aligned continuity family, although in this case the Autobots depart in individual escape pods instead of [[Ark (disambiguation)|a single gargantuan starship]].
*Optimus Prime's entrance into the battle on Cybertron is a direct reference to his famous leap into battle from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In keeping with the original movie, Brawn is downed by a shot to the shoulder during his cameo. This time, however, he survives and is seen among the Autobots getting into the escape pods.
*[[Teletraan-I]] can be sighted in the background as the Autobots are entering their escape pods.
*Blitzwing drops a well-known [[Furmanism]] as he fights B-127, stating that the Autobot will "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]... like [B-127's] friends!"
*Memo is reading a copy of the real-life [[GoBots|''GoBots Magazine'' #1]], which he tosses aside when he sees Charlie.
*A snippet of "[[The Touch]]" plays when Bumblebee is "encouraging" Charlie to dive from the cliff.
*The fight between Bumblebee and Dropkick includes a sequence where Dropkick picks up Bumblebee and throws him, but then the Autobot lands in car mode, veers around, and jumps to punch him in the face—which harkens back to the fight choreography between [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from the G1 cartoon's season 1 opening credits.
*Optimus' vehicle mode at the end of the film is a Freightliner cab-over truck ''very'' similar to his G1 counterpart. He's even pulling the classic trailer, which has the signature 'stripe' on its side!
**The Autobot logo is missing, though, presumably for Prime to disguise himself better.

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

==Errors==
*Charlie starts playing the first track on Sam Cooke's album ''Sam's Songs'', which ought to have been "Little Things You Do" rather than "Unchained Melody". The latter song doesn't even appear on the album, being the last track on side A of Cooke's earlier release ''Hits of the 50's''.
*Powell remarks that the Decepticon modifications to the S7 computers have created an "interconnected web of information," implying that the technology behind the Internet originated from the Decepticons. However, the idea of an interconnected network of computers for communications and data transfer had been developing for decades prior to the film's setting of the late 1980s, and the term "Internet" first appeared in the mid-1970s.

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

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

==Home video releases==

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

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

Coming off the notoriously poor reception to ''The Last Knight,'' ''Bumblebee'' had a ways to go in terms of redeeming the ''Transformers'' film franchise for both Paramount and the general movie-going public. However, the film was positively received by critics, who generally praised Travis Knight's restrained directorial approach, Hailee Steinfeld's acting ability, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]]-styled robot designs, and the dynamic between Charlie and Bumblebee, comparing the film to its spiritual predecessors ''{{w|E.T. the Extraterrestrial|E.T.}}'' and ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}''. The film currently holds a 93% and a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. <ref> [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bumblebee/ ''Bumblebee'' review on Rotten Tomatoes] </ref>

After making $500,000 at 325 theaters from its December 8 preview screenings, <ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-sneak-preview-box-office-amazon-prime-1202521144/ ‘Aquaman’ Amazon Prime Previews Hook Near $3M Besting ‘Jumanji 2’ </ref>, ''Bumblebee'' made its domestic opening alongside ''{{w|Aquaman (film)|Aquaman}}'', ''{{w|Welcome to Marwen}}'', and ''{{w|Second Act (film)|Second Act}}'', and proceeded to gross $21 million over its first weekend, finishing third behind ''Aquaman'' and ''{{w|Mary Poppins Returns}}''. <ref> [https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-bumblebee-christmas-thursday-night-previews-weekend-box-office-1202524462/ 'Aquaman’ Unwraps $22M+ On Christmas For $105M+ Cume; ‘Holmes & Watson’ Opens To $6M+; ‘Vice’ $4M+] </ref> In its second weekend, ''Bumblebee'' grossed another $20.5 million, remaining in third place. <ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-mary-poppins-returns-bumblebee-new-years-weekend-box-office-1202526812/ 'Aquaman’ Sailing To $52M+ 2nd Weekend; $189M+ Cume Pacing Ahead Of ‘Doctor Strange’ & ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’]</ref>

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

==Production staff==

==Development details==
*March 27, 2015 — [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" with the intention of building a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[http://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Goldsman goes on to hire a number of writers over the next few months: [[Steven DeKnight]] (''Daredevil''),<ref>[http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-cinematic-universe/35696/transformers-cinematic-details-more-writers-over-10-films Transformers cinematic details]</ref> [[Robert Kirkman]] (''The Walking Dead''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-writers-robert-kirkman-zak-penn-art-marcum-matt-holloway-jeff-pinkner-1201430601/ 'Transformers' Spinoff & Sequel Scribes Set] on Deadline.com</ref> [[Art Marcum]] and [[Matt Holloway]] (''Iron Man''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> Christina Hodson (''Shut In'', ''The Fugitive''),<ref name="hodsonbeer">[http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/446175-christina-hodson-and-lindsey-beer-join-transformers-writing-team Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer Join the Transformers Writing Team]</ref> [[Lindsey Beer]] (''Dig''),<ref name="hodsonbeer" /> [[Zak Penn]] (''Pacific Rim 2''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Jeff Pinkner]] (''The Amazing Spider-Man 2'', ''Lost''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] (''Ant-Man''),<ref name="barrerferrari">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref> [[Ken Nolan]] (''Black Hawk Down''), and [[Geneva Robertson-Dworet]].<ref name="nolandworet">[http://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-writers-room/ Akiva Goldsman Teases 'Transformers' Franchise Plans]</ref> Involved in the pitching process are [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Michael Bay]], [[Brian Goldner]], [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]], [[Mark Vahradian]], and [[Don Murphy]].<ref name="deadlinereveal">[http://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref>
*October 3, 2015 — During his keynote speech at the MIP Junior Conference, [[Hasbro Studios]]'s [[Stephen J. Davis]] notes that the writing team has come up with film concepts for Transformers 5, 6, 7, and 8.<ref name="stephendaviskeynote">[https://youtu.be/F_P2fw_DlS4?t=812 Stephen Davis's keynote speech] at MIPJunior.</ref>[[File:TransformersUniverseBumblebeePoster.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"My sweater is Ralph Lauren, and I have no pants."]]
*February 12, 2016 — At ToyFair, Hasbro reveals the projected release date of Transformers 6, along with those of its predecessor and [[Transformers 7]], as well as the fact that Transformers 6 will focus on Bumblebee.<ref name="toyfairreveal">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/transformers-5-transformers-6-bumblebee-spin-off-movie-revealed-309503 Transformers 5, Transformers 6 And Bumblebee Spin-Off Movie Revealed] ToyFair news at TFW2005</ref>
*December 29, 2016 — Lorenzo di Bonaventura names Christina Hodson as the screenwriter in an interview.<ref name="hodson">[http://collider.com/transformers-5-plot-characters-dinobots-details/ 'The Last Knight' Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Reveals How a 'Transformers' Movie Is Made] on Collider</ref>
*March 3, 2017 — [[Travis Knight]] is appointed director.<ref name="deadlinedirector">[https://deadline.com/2017/03/bumblebee-movie-travis-knight-director-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1202034882/ Travis Knight To Direct ‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ At Paramount]</ref>
*May 26, 2017 — A poster at Licensing Expo 2017 gives the name of the film as ''Transformers Universe: Bumblebee''.<ref name="expoposter">[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo "The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo"]</ref>
*June 10, 2017 — [[Hailee Steinfeld]] reveals in an interview that she's been cast in the film.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/pitch-perfect-pop-star-hailee-steinfeld-hits-charts-with-most-girls-single-and-lands-transformers-role/news-story/47a238f0e75bf06a0ffc34a18e9906e4 Pitch Perfect pop star Hailee Steinfeld hits charts with Most Girls single and lands Transformers role]</ref>
*July 11, 2017 — [[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]] is reported by The Hollywood Reporter to have been cast as the male lead.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-casts-jorge-lendeborg-jr-as-male-lead-1017547 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Casts Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Male Lead (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref>
*July 13, 2017 — More actors including [[Jason Drucker]], [[Abby Quinn]], [[Rachel Crow]], [[Ricardo Hoyos]], and [[Gracie Dzienny]] join the cast.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-rounds-cast-1019823 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 23, 2017 — [[Pamela Adlon]] joins the cast.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/07/pamela-adlon-bumblebee-movie-transformers-casting-1202133812/ Pamela Adlon Joins Cast Of 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee']</ref>
*July 31, 2017 — [[John Cena]] is announced as a cast member. Also Bumblebee is a Volkswagen this time. The film is pushed back to December of 2018. Production begins,<ref name="cenareveal">[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-cena-joins-transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-1025411 John Cena Joins 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref> with the filming going under the codename "Brighton Falls".<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-bumblebee-working-title-filming-start/ Bumblebee Spinoff Working Title & Filming Start Date Revealed] on Screenrant</ref>
*August 6, 2017 — Hailee Steinfeld reveals on Twitter that her character's name is [[Charlie Watson]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/haileesteinfeld/status/894296888643432448 Tweet by Hailee Steinfeld]</ref>
*September 9, 2017 — At [[HasCon 2017]], di Bonaventura discusses some hints on the film, including that the movie is set in [[1986]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/09/hascon-2017-bumblebee-movie-tidbits-348630 Hascon 2017: The Bumblebee Movie Tidbits] on TFW2005</ref>[[File:BumblebeeMovie firstlook.jpg|thumb|350px|"There's a bee in the car!"]]
*September 12, 2017 — Actor and stuntman [[Rory Markham]] reveals on Instagram that he is playing a [[Sector Seven]] agent named [[Agent Adams|Adams]]. <ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/12/sector-7-returns-transformers-universe-bumblebee-movie-348886 Sector 7 Returns in Transformers Universe: Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*September 20, 2017 — Travis Knight reveals the first Decepticon vehicle mode in the form of a 1971 Plymouth GTX.<ref>[https://twitter.com/LAIKAStudios/status/910549230602788864 Laika Studios tweet]</ref>
*October 2, 2017 — [[Peter Cullen]] has a role in the movie.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/10/02/peter-cullen-confirmed-bumblebee-movie-351131 Peter Cullen Confirmed In The Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*October 26, 2017 — [[John Ortiz]] is revealed to be a cast member.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/10/john-ortiz-paramount-bumblebee-spinoff-peppermint-stxfilms-1202195412/ John Ortiz Cast In 'Bumblebee' Spinoff & 'Peppermint'] on Deadline.com</ref>
*November 12, 2017 — A wrap party for the movie reveals the movie's title as ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo] on Cinema Blend</ref>
*December 11, 2017 — [[Martin Short]] is revealed to be doing some voice work for the film.<ref>[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/attheshore/headliners/steve-martin-and-martin-short-head-to-borgata-for-an/article_7d516048-de98-11e7-9fa4-c7175ccf2b9d.html Steve Martin and Martin Short head to Borgata for an unforgettable evening] on pressofatlanticcity.com</ref>
*December 29, 2017 — A "first look" photo is released showing Hailee Steinfeld and Bumblebee's Volkswagen alternate mode.<ref>[https://twitter.com/AwardsCircuit/status/946794788988293121 Tweet by @AwardsCircuit]</ref>
*January 28, 2018 — During an interview at the Grammys, Hailee Steinfeld suggests Bumblebee may sing during the movie.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/8096803/hailee-steinfeld-hair-waves-2018-grammys-how-to Interview on Billboard.com]</ref>
*February 16, 2018 — At [[Toy Fair 2018]], Hasbro states that the film series will be reset after ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref name="reboot" />
*April 24, 2018 — Footage of the film is shown at Cinemacon.<ref>[http://comicbook.com/movies/2018/04/26/first-bumblebee-footage-transformers-cinemacon/ First 'Bumblebee' Footage Previews the 'Transformers' Spinoff at CinemaCon] at comicbook.com</ref>
[[File:BumblebeeMovieShatter&Dropkick.jpeg|thumb|300px|"Thanks for the coffee. Sorry, I couldn't finish it. If I did, I'd be up the rest of my life."]]
*June 5, 2018 — The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAIX12F6958 official teaser trailer] is posted by Paramount Pictures, also revealing the film's title has been shortened to just ''Bumblebee''.
*June 6, 2018 — [[Charlie Adler]] reveals he is not in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/charlie_adler/status/1004401979597025280?s=19]</ref>
*June 8, 2018 — [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] is initially stated to be in the film in a blog post on Paramount's parent company, before his name is later scrubbed from the post afterward.<ref>[http://blog.viacom.com/2018/06/bumblebee-transforms-hailee-steinfelds-life-in-first-trailer/ Original text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does dreaded Decepticon Starscream." Revised text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does a dreaded Decepticon."]</ref>
*July 13, 2018 — Entertainment Weekly reveals [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Justin Theroux]] will voice new Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] respectively.<ref>[http://ew.com/movies/2018/07/13/bumblebee-decepticon-trackers-first-look/ First Look: Bumblebee unveils two new Decepticon muscle cars]</ref>
*July 20, 2018 — A ''Bumblebee'' panel at the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2018 reveals more information on the film, such as details regarding the characters.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-bumblebee-movie-panel-in-hall-h-at-sdcc2018-jointhebuzz/41645/ Seibertron's coverage on the SDCC'18 Bumblebee panel.]</ref> Also John Cena dressed as Bumblebee.<ref>[https://twitter.com/JohnCena/status/1020800460125605890 Tweet by John Cena]</ref>
*August 26-30, 2018 — [[David Sobolov]] confirms he is part of the cast of ''Bumblebee'' as the voice of [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]].<ref>https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1033867788824309760</ref><ref>https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1035346211392368640</ref>
*September 22-23, 2018 — Three teasers were released on various platforms with many different languages, revealing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]'s appearance in the movie. Additionally, shots were revealed of Optimus Prime's design, the three major Decepticons in the movie, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. <ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-and-optimus-prime-featured-in-teaser-for-next-bumblebee-movie-trailer/42075/ Seibertron's article including the two of the teasers released] and [https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-bumblebee-movie-teaser-with-blitzwing-and-barricade/42078/ an article with one of the teasers.]</ref>
*September 24, 2018 — The official trailer is uploaded by Paramount Pictures' YouTube channel, revealing (among other things) [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s' appearances in the movie. A second international trailer is released showcasing some more scenes. An interview with Travis Knight on the new trailer is also published, revealing Starscream (''now'' it's legitimate) and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]'s appearance in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwmDAYt22k Bumblebee (2018) - New Official Trailer] and [https://www.cbr.com/bumblebee-international-trailer-optimus-prime-cybertron/ an article showcasing the international trailer.] [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/bumblebee-trailer-breakdown-travis-knight/ Interview with Knight.]</ref>
*September 27, 2018 - Before a special showing of [[The Transformers: The Movie|the animated movie]], another interview with Travis Knight and Hailee Steinfeld was seen AND a brief scene of Charlie and Bee's first interaction.
*November 13, 2018 - ''Bumblebee'' is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/11/13/transformers-bumblebee-movie-rated-pg-13-376496]</ref>
*November 23, 2018 - A new trailer is released showcasing some new scenes, namely, Bumblebee's Cybertronian robot mode. Another trailer is released animated with...[[Play-Doh]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebees-cybertronian-mode-shown-in-a-new-movie-trailer-playdoh-trailer/42450/ Seibertron's article on the 2 new trailers]</ref>
*November 27, 2018 - A new featurette demonstrates the more G1-inspired designs of the Transformers, including a proper look at Optimus's model and brief shots of [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], Wheeljack and [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFv6JVFApk Bumblebee - First Generation Design - Paramount Pictures UK]</ref>
*December 2, 2018 - Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirms [[Dylan O'Brien]] as the voice of Bumblebee.<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/03/transformers-bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-dylan-obrien</ref>
*December 4, 2018 - New footage of the movie drops, showing Soundwave's voice, as well as many new shots of Cybertron and the battle between Bumblebee and Blitzwing.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-speaks-more-footage-china-release-date-and-sponsor-and-more-bumblebee-news-roundup/42538/ Seibertron's coverage of the new trailer, as well as a general roundup of new footage.]</ref>
*December 8, 2018 - Special early screenings of the film take place in specific areas. Fans who attended are given free [[Tiny Turbo Changers]] toys, and short behind-the-scenes featurettes are shown before and after the film. <ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/early-reactions-and-impressions-for-2018-live-action-transformers-bumblebee-film/42550/ Seibertron's roundup of people's thoughts on the early screening.]</ref>
{{--}}

===Changes before, during and after production===
Originally, ''Bumblebee'' would have served as a more direct prequel to the 2007 movie, bridging the gap between Bumblebee's [[World War II]] adventures in ''The Last Knight'' and setting up some plot points from the original ''Transformers'' film. Many of these elements were subsequently dropped during reshoots following test screenings in 2018; this may have been a result of feedback from the test screenings, Paramount's concerns over the negative commercial and critical reception to ''The Last Knight'', or simply a desire to take the franchise in a new direction. Some of these dropped scenes and plot points include:<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/ Differences between the final cut and the pre-screening, documented by a TFW2005 user]</ref>
[[File:ANewCarForCharlie-deletedscene.jpg|thumb|300px|"TiVo. You can just freeze live TV? That's insane!"]]
*The original cut of the film did not include any scenes set on Cybertron, opening on a shot of Earth with some expository narration by Bumblebee before cutting directly to Sector Seven agents pursuing Bumblebee in his Jeep mode. This was presumably to maintain continuity with ''The Last Knight'', which presented Bumblebee as having already been on Earth for decades; in the final cut, however, the scene was reshot to have Bumblebee's escape pod crash-land near Burns's Sector Seven squad—who are in the woods because of a training exercise—by pure coincidence. (This is also presumably why a special forces unit in the mid-1980s is keeping a World War II-era Willys Jeep around.)
*Burns was originally going to have a markedly different personality. In the test cut, he was depicted as a far grimmer character who had lost someone close to him in a prior Transformer attack. In the final version of the film, he became a more eccentric character, though remnants of his original personality still appear at times.
*In the test cut, Cliffjumper was not part of the scene in which Shatter and Dropkick detect Bumblebee on Earth.
*The scene where Bumblebee explores Charlie's house originally had the Autobot inadvertently bring the house's electronics to life with his [[energon radiation]], necessitating a slapstick fight sequence in which Bumblebee, Charlie, and Memo had to unplug the hostile Transformers to deactivate them. [[Martin Short]] would have featured in the scene, presumably as the voice of at least one of the mutations. This scene was cut ''very'' late in production, enough so that a version of it would find its way into both the [[Transformers: Bumblebee: The Junior Novel|the junior novel]] and [[A New Car for Charlie|Junior Reader adaptations]]; as a result, the corresponding scene in the movie features an unusually high number of rapid-fire jump cuts to mask the missing footage, including a strange, swaying "POV" shot that originally belonged to the mutant washing machine as it watched Charlie and Memo enter the house. Eagle-eyed viewers will realize that the house's television is gone from its usual spot, while the washing machine is, for no apparent reason, sitting in the middle of the family carpet... the "real" reason being that these appliances had been brought to life and summarily dispatched in the original cut of the movie. Another remnant of the sequence surfaces when Sally asks why the television's cord has been cut—something of a ''non sequitur'' in this cut.
*The test cut of the film featured a post-credit scene with Burns, Simmons, and Whalen discussing that the Autobots can never learn of "N.B.E.-01:" [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], frozen in ice as per the 2007 movie, albeit redesigned to have a more [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1-styled appearance]]. This scene was replaced in the final cut by entirely new scenes of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee watching more Transformers arrive on Earth, and of Charlie finishing her and her father's car repair project.
**The scene where Bumblebee joins Optimus Prime on the Golden Gate Bridge was, however, the same in both versions, and would've been the last onscreen appearance of Bee in the original cut. It seems likely, with that cut being more closely aligned with the live-action continuity at large, that the scene was intended to be a little more ambiguous - the audience at large would've been able to read it as "Bumblebee goes off to join Optimus Prime", while the filmmakers would've retained some plausible deniability in the form of "it's just a truck that ''looks'' like Optimus Prime" - thus better allowing for the arrival of the Autobots to occur as seen in the 2007 movie.
{{-}}

[[File:TF-BB-Movie-Murderbee-Trailer-vs-Final-Cut.jpg|250px|thumb]]
Additional changes, some of which took place ''after'' the introduction of the film's Cybertron scenes, include:
*The first trailer to include Cybertron scenes featured Blitzwing among Shockwave's Seekers. In later trailers and the final film, he was replaced with Starscream, sporting his traditional color scheme and seemingly a new head lacking the 'flight mask' design motif.
*In a statement for Seibertron.com, Jon Bailey noted that he auditioned for [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], suggesting the character was originally intended to have dialogue.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-jon-bailey-talks-about-his-experience/42553/ Seibertron article on Bailey's experience]</ref> This was confirmed in a Seibertron.com podcast, in which he also said [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was supposed to yell "Die Autobots!", in a slightly reworked version of his appearance. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was also supposed to say "Operation: Destruction" and/or "Operation: Annihilation" after ejecting [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] as a direct reference to the original cartoon.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/twincast-podcast-episode-214-bumblebee/42674/ Seibertron.com Twincast Podcast Episode #214 "Bumblebee"]</ref>
*Travis Knight initially wanted to feature Megatron during the Cybertron scenes, but the Decepticon leader was ultimately omitted, specifically because continuity dictated he was still frozen on Earth at the time,<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/12/19/bumblebee-deleted-megatron-decepticon-scene/ 'Bumblebee' Deleted A Megatron Scene] on comicbook.com</ref> despite the aforementioned removal of the scene showing this.
*Very early stock art for the film depicted Bumblebee with his now-traditional "wings" formed from the doors of his car alternate mode; this was changed late in production to give his final CG model a more humanoid appearance, but evidently not early enough to change his [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|concurrently-released toys]], which almost unanimously depict Bumblebee with said door-wings.
*A scene of Bumblebee being on the run in Vietnam in his World War II body made it to concept art stage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/the-big-bumblebee-concept-art-thread.1167241/#post-16487632 Vietnam fields concept art]</ref>
{{-}}

==Notes==
*During production, the film was referred to in presentational material under a variety of names including "Transformers 6", "Bumblebee: The Movie", "The Bumblebee Movie", and "Transformers Universe: Bumblebee".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Bumblebee''' (バンブルビー ''Banburubī'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Daai Wong Fung''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Hungarian:'' '''ŰrDongó''' ("Space Bumblebee")
*''Korean:'' '''Bumblebee''' (범블비 ''Beombeulbi'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Dàhuángfēng''' (Taiwan, 大黃蜂; China, 大黄蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Russian:'' '''Bumblebee''' (Бамблби ''Bamblbi'')

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

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

{{stub}}

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

Bumblebee (film)

2019-01-20T05:07:03Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3.5|the feature film|the Autobot it features|Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee}}
{{Nav-Bumblebee}}
[[File:BumblebeeMovieNewPoster.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.]]

'''''Bumblebee''''' is the sixth movie in the [[live-action film series]]. A "reset" of the film series as a whole,<ref name="reboot">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/02/16/transformers-cinematic-universe-current-movie-series-rebooted-358641 Transformers Cinematic Universe Is Over: Current Movie Series To Be Rebooted] at TFW2005</ref> ''Bumblebee'' acts as a prequel to the previous five movies, albeit [[retcon|taking some liberties]] with continuity. The film is directed by [[Travis Knight]] rather than [[Michael Bay]], written by newcomer [[Christina Hodson]], and produced on a far lower budget of around $70 million.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/hollywood-rethinks-key-movie-franchises-a-mixed-summer-at-box-office-1022322/ THR: Hollywood Rethinks Key Movie Franchises Amid a Mixed Summer at the Box Office]</ref> The film was released in the US on [[December 21]], [[2018]].

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

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

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

The year is [[1987]], and Agent [[Jack Burns]]' team of [[Sector Seven]] agents emerge victorious from a mock battle after leading the other team into an ambush. As Burns good-naturedly chides his unlucky opponent, however, an unknown projectile appears overhead and plows into their midst. Many agents are injured, and Burns, believing his team to be under projectile assault after confirming that no other military practices using live ammo are occurring nearby, immediately calls for backup... upon which he comes face to face with B-127 rising from the crater. He immediately orders his forces to give chase, and the Autobot flees after [[scanning]] and [[transformation|transforming]] into a nearby military jeep.

[[File:Bumblejeep.jpg|thumb|300px|"Everybody knows: you sting someone, you die."]]

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

[[File:Bumblebee-BeeVsBlitz.jpg|300px|thumb|left|"I have been felled by a winged beast of destruction!"]]

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

In [[Brighton Falls]], [[Charlie Watson]], a 17-year old girl one day away from becoming 18, awakens from her slumber. After dealing with her annoying younger brother [[Otis Watson|Otis]] and the news that her mother [[Sally Watson|Sally]] will be marrying her new boyfriend [[Ron (BB)|Ron]] when Charlie isn't over her father's death yet, she bikes to her job at a fair where she is utterly humiliated by [[Tina Lark|Tina]] and her posse for having no car. She visits [[Uncle Hank]]'s auto repair after hours to clear off, but discovers an old VW Beetle under a tarmac after accidentally knocking over a series of motorboats. She finds the key in the ignition and tries it on, but is surprised when the car emits an unintelligible signal...

On one of the moons of [[Saturn]], Decepticon hunters [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] interrogate Cliffjumper about Optimus Prime's whereabouts. The Autobot remains resolute, which angers his interrogators... until B-127's signal, activated on Earth by Charlie, reaches the three [[Transformer]]s. The two Decepticons agree to go to Earth and hunt down B-127 instead... but not before Dropkick vertically bisects Cliffjumper, killing the Autobot.

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

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

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

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

Charlie awakens the next day and goes straight to the garage, but discovers to her horror that Bumblebee has vanished without a trace. A quick interrogation of Otis reveals Sally has appropriated Charlie's car to take their dog [[Conan]] to the vet, as Ron needed to use the family station wagon. Charlie frantically chases after her mother on her moped, and manages to pull her over despite Bumblebee almost blowing his cover by extending an arm out from his trunk and waving at her. She later takes the Autobot to a secluded beach, where she teaches him that he should always assume [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]] unless the two of them are alone.

[[File:ShatterDropkickhologram.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Mr. Bee, I'm going to ask what I think the entire court here would like to know... what exactly is your relationship to that woman?"]]

Burns' team and [[Dr. Powell]] intercept the two Decepticons in Texas and ask them to state their business. Dropkick wants to eliminate the humans, but Shatter comes up with a better idea; lying to the humans that the pair are a "peacekeeping Decepticon patrol", she asks Sector Seven's aid in tracking down the "dangerous escaped criminal" B-127. While Burns is doubtful, Powell, enthusiastic at the prospect of first contact with an [[Transformer|alien species]], eagerly agrees to talk to his superiors about the matter.

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

[[File:BBfilm-Ravage-ejects-from-Soundwave-towards-Optimus.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"As always, watch your brooms, hockey sticks, dogs, birds, bears and bats."]]

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

Charlie realizes that Bumblebee is on the run from something serious. When he attempts to use his broken radio, she decides she can at least fix that, and they return to her garage where she sets about extracting the radio from the Corvette. Bumblebee starts playing a video, which turns out to be footage of her diving shortly made by her father shortly before he died. She installs the radio in Bumblebee, though he forcefully ejects the tapes she inserts into him. While she's looking through her tapes, he starts thumbing through her father's LPs, and she grudgingly starts playing one, recalling how she and her father used to listen while working on the Corvette. She tells Bee how her father died of a heart attack and she's continued working on the car in his memory.

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

As Bumblebee plays with his new radio, [[Memo]] stumbles into the garage, intending to ask Charlie on a date. Charlie swears him to secrecy and the pair go for a drive in Bumblebee. Charlie borrows Memo's shirt so she can show off by "driving" blindfolded and they hang out of Bumblebee's sunroof.

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

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

The next morning, Charlie tells Bumblebee he needs to stay in the garage as the authorities will be looking for him, and leaves for her job. Bumblebee instead ends up following Conan into the house and his curious exploration ends up demolishing just about everything in the living room and kitchen. Finally he ends up plugging himself into a wall socket, causing an energon-infused power surge that travels down nearby power lines. The surge is detected by the equipment at Sector Seven, and the Decepticons roll out, closely followed by Burns and his men. The commotion is also noticed by Memo. He calls Charlie, who returns home where the pair survey the devastation. Memo manages to get Bumblebee back into the garage, but Charlie realizes she's screwed. Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reached Brighton Falls.

Sally returns home with Otis to find the destruction. An argument ensues between her and Charlie, who ends up storming out. Charlie and Memo go driving to cool off, but they run into a roadblock set up by Sector Seven. Charlie tries to keep Bumblebee calm, but when the Sector Seven soldiers seize her, Bumblebee transforms and carries her off. Unfortunately they immediately run into Shatter and Dropkick, who attempt to interrogate Bumblebee, but are perplexed when the Autobot makes no attempt to fight back. Burns and his men arrive and start zapping Bee with electrical guns, and Charlie is knocked out when she attempts to help him.

Charlie wakes up in her own bed, and emerges from her room to find Agent Burns telling her parents that she had stolen valuable government equipment. Despite her protests, her mom banishes her back to her room. She promptly slips out through her window and Otis catches her trying to get Memo's attention by throwing rocks at his window. She manages to stop him from alerting her mother. Joining Memo in his house, they watch a news report about Sector Seven setting up shop at [[McKinnon Air Base]], and Charlie reasons that's where Bumblebee is being held. Otis is assigned to keep the plan secret while Charlie and Memo head to the base.

At the air base, Powell watches the two Decepticons interrogate Bumblebee. Charlie and Memo sneak into the base in time to watch as the Decepticons inadvertently trigger the recording of Optimus Prime, revealing that the Autobots are coming to Earth. As the Decepticons discuss what an opportunity this is, Powell realizes the mistake they've made in cooperating with the giant evil robots, and attempts to radio a warning to Burns before Dropkick kills him.

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

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

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

Charlie reaches the top of the crane and jumps across to the tower. Above her, Shatter shoots down the Sector Seven helicopter, sending it plunging towards the ground. Bumblebee manages to grab it before it can crash, saving Burns's life. Charlie moves to disconnect the Cybertronian power source, and when Shatter transforms to jet mode to stop her, the Decepticon is shot down by Bumblebee. During the ensuing fight on the ground, Charlie successfully disconnects the tower's power source. An enraged Shatter pounds on Bumblebee, who shoots the wall of the dry dock. Shatter mocks him for missing, until the wall gives way, and Shatter is crushed between a ship and the side of the dock. As Bumblebee sinks to the bottom of the flooded dock, Charlie overcomes her fear and dives in, finding Bumblebee at the bottom and helping him to get back to the surface. Finally seeing Bumblebee's true nature, Burns tell the pair they need to make their escape before the rest of Sector Seven arrives, and as they leave, Memo turns up just slightly too late to save the world.

[[File:BB-GoldenGateBridge.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Beautiful day to fly." "Sure is."]]

Bumblebee and Charlie end up on a hill overlooking the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], where Charlie tells the Autobot that she can't interfere with his greater purpose and they have to go their separate ways. After a tearful farewell, Bumblebee scans a passing Camaro as his new alternate mode and drives off to rendezvous with Optimus Prime on the bridge, leaving to continue his mission. Charlie returns home and reunites with her family and Memo.

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

{{-}}

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

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

"With all due respect, have you lost your damn mind?!" 
"''That's'' with all due respect?"
:—'''Agent Burns''' and '''Dr. Powell''' debate.

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

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

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

"You kidding me? You're telling me you could've been a Camaro this whole time?"
:—'''Charlie''' says her goodbyes to Bumblebee

"Old friend, you kept this planet safe. Because of you, we have a future, B-127." 
"My name... is... Bumblebee."
:—'''Bumblebee''' asserts his new name to Optimus Prime.

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

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
*[[Shatter]] ([[Angela Bassett]])
*[[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] ([[Justin Theroux]])
*[[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] ([[David Sobolov]])
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] (Jon Bailey)
*[[Seeker (Movie)|Seekers]] (Kirk Baily)
**[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
**[[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]
**[[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]]
**[[Dirge (Movie)|Dirge]]

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

==Continuity notes==
As a prequel to the rest of the live-action film series, ''Bumblebee'' includes set-up elements for several of the films.
*Ancillary media dating back to 2007 has credited [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with inflicting the injuries that caused Bumblebee to lose his voice (with both the [[Aligned continuity family]] and the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|''Cyberverse'' cartoon]] adapting the idea for their continuities), but internal to the films themselves, no specifics were ever provided, with "damage in battle" being the only reason given for the little Autobot's muteness. ''Bumblebee'' tells the on-screen version of the story, revealing that Blitzwing was the culprit.
*Megatron himself, meanwhile, is notable by his absence from the film's Cybertron-set prequel, owing to the fact that, per the events of the first movie, he is frozen on Earth at the time it occurs.
*Sector 7 and their Hoover Dam headquarters were introduced in the first film. A young [[Seymour Simmons]] (played by [[John Turturro]] in the present-day films) appears among the organization's ranks.
*Thanks to Charlie fitting him with a working radio, Bumblebee learns how to "speak" by using snippets of music to express himself, which is, of course, how he communicates in all the other films.
*At the end of the movie, Bumblebee scans the 1977 Camaro mode that he had at the start of the original ''Transformers'' film.

Despite its notional "prequel" status, the film underwent significant reshoots ([[#Changes before, during and after production|see below]]) that resulted in the deletion, alteration, and addition of scenes that create several big discontinuities between ''Bumblebee'' and the rest of the film series (even by the standards of the films' usual ''laissez-faire'' approach to continuity), leading many a fan to consider it a "stealth reboot" in the vein of ''{{w|X-Men: First Class}}''.
*Most obviously, the film completely throws out ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s premise that Bumblebee and the Autobots were active on Earth during [[World War II]], showing Bumblebee's initial landing on Earth in 1987 (and by extension, throws the [[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|prequel comic]] out the window). There isn't a {{w|No-Prize}} that we can think of for this one — just go with it!
*Sector 7 seem completely unaware of the Cybertronians and consider their meeting with Shatter and Dropkick to be "first contact", when, per the first film, they have been in possession of the AllSpark and the frozen form of Megatron since the early 20th century. Neither Megatron nor the AllSpark are mentioned in the film, and the fact that Dropkick and Shatter are actually invited into the Hoover Dam base and are allowed to interface with their computers and don't become aware that both Megatron and the Allspark are there stand out as odd—but then again, this discrepancy was part of the original cut of the film, in which Megatron ''was'' shown to be in Sector 7's posession (again, [[#Changes before, during and after production|see below]]).
*In keeping with there being no mention of the AllSpark, the Autobots' departure from Cybertron is shown to be necessitated by their being on the losing end of the war, rather than a search for the cube, with Bumblebee going to Earth to establish a fallback position for his comrades. This is not particularly incompatible with the information provided in the first film, but the fact that the Autobots are shown arriving on Earth at the end of the movie, when the first film showed them arriving in 2007, is more incongruous. It's quite possible they will all leave again over the following twenty years to search other planets and systems for the AllSpark, as mentioned in the first film's prologue, only to then return when Bumblebee discovers it had been on Earth all along, but like we said, this movie doesn't mention that. We'd note that, by having Bumblebee only lose his voice after coming to Earth, this movie actually ''necessitates'' a meeting between 'Bee and the other Autobots prior to the first movie, as Ratchet noted in that movie that he'd been trying to fix Bumblebee's voice for a while, meaning his arrival in 2007 couldn't be the first time he'd seen Bumblebee since he lost his voice.
*Bumblebee's '77 Camaro robot mode, seen in the film's mid-credits sequence, is completely different than his appearance in the 2007 film, utilizing a variant of the body he used throughout the ''Bumblebee'' film.

==Transformers references==

[[File:BBfilm-Optimus-Prime-leaps-into-battle.jpg|thumb|300px|"All right, scramble, jocks! It's time to fly."]]
*Most of the characters' designs are based on their G1 incarnations, such as [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]], [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]. Notable exceptions include [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]], who resembles the original [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker mold]], and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]], who is a wholly new Movieverse design. [[Shatter]], the only Transformer without a G1 namesake, is (believe it or not) based off [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]] according to Travis Knight.
*The Seekers use their Cybertronian "Tetrajet" alternate modes from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". In addition to [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]], and [[Dirge (Movie)|Dirge]], there is a variety of [[generic]]s colored after other familiar faces, including [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] and [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]]. There's also a [[conehead]] colored like [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]].
*The concept of Cybertron falling into Decepticon hands and the Autobots initiating a mass exodus originates from the Aligned continuity family, although in this case the Autobots depart in individual escape pods instead of [[Ark (disambiguation)|a single gargantuan starship]].
*Optimus Prime's entrance into the battle on Cybertron is a direct reference to his famous leap into battle from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In keeping with the original movie, Brawn is downed by a shot to the shoulder during his cameo. This time, however, he survives and is seen among the Autobots getting into the escape pods.
*[[Teletraan-I|Teletraan 1]] can be sighted in the background as the Autobots are entering their escape pods.
*Blitzwing drops a well-known [[Furmanism]] as he fights B-127, stating that the Autobot will "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]... like [B-127's] friends!"
*As is time-worn tradition, [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]]'s design is a retool of Bumblebee's Cybertronian body.
*Memo is reading a copy of the real-life [[GoBots|''GoBots Magazine'' #1]], which he tosses aside when he sees Charlie.
*A snippet of "[[The Touch]]" plays when Bumblebee is 'encouraging' Charlie to dive from the cliff.
*The final battle between Dropkick and Bumblebee includes a sequence where Dropkick picks up Bumblebee and throws him, but then the Autobot lands in car mode, veers around, and jumps to punch him in the face - which harkens back to the fight choreography between [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from the G1 cartoon's season 1 opening credits.
*Optimus' vehicle mode at the end of the film is a Freightliner cab-over truck ''very'' similar to his G1 counterpart. He's even pulling the classic trailer, which has the signature 'stripe' on its side! (The Autobot logo is missing, though, presumably for Prime to disguise himself better.)

==Real-life references==
*One of the vehicles Bumblebee rejects scanning is the Urban Assault Vehicle from ''{{w|Stripes (film)|Stripes}}''.
*Charlie has a poster for the rock band {{w|The Pretenders}}, which coincidentally is the name of a Transformers [[Pretender|sub group]] involving the robots disguising themselves as human.
*Charlie eats {{w|Mr. T Cereal}}.
*The Watson family dog Conan is named after {{w|Conan the Barbarian}}.
*Charlie visits the Dragon of the Black Pool restaurant, a nod to ''{{w|Big Trouble in Little China}}''.
*Uncle Hank and Charlie's family watch ''[[ALF]]'', a sitcom from the 80's about an alien taking refuge in a human home. Fitting.
*The station wagon Charlie's family drives is based on that of ''{{w|National Lampoon's Vacation}}''.
*One of the motorboats Charlie knocks over has the name 'Bayliner' on its side, in a clear reference to the [[Michael Bay|movie's producer (and past director for the series)]]. It's [[Bayos|not the first time]], either.
*Cliffjumper repeats his name and rank while being interrogated by Shatter and Dropkick, which references a real-life rule in the {{w|Geneva Convention}} that states these are the only things soldiers have to divulge under interrogation. More specifically, this references a common exaggeration in film and TV in which soldiers ''only recite these'' in response to their captors.
*The transmission that Cliffjumper and the Decepticons pick up from B-127 is the theme song to ''[[Cheers]]''.
*Bumblebee watches ''{{w|The Breakfast Club}}'', leading to him emulating [[Judd Nelson]]'s fist pump a number of times throughout the rest of the film.
*Charlie is a fan of {{w|The Smiths}}. After repairing Bumblebee's radio, she inserts a cassette of their album ''{{w|Strangeways, Here We Come}}'' and "{{w|Girlfriend in a Coma (song)|Girlfriend in a Coma}}" briefly plays before Bee ejects the tape.
*One of the tapes Charlie inserts into Bumblebee is [[Rick Astley]]'s "{{w|Never Gonna Give You Up}}".
*Other musicians featured in Charlie's drawer of cassettes include {{w|Joan Jett}}, {{w|Adam and the Ants}}, {{w|Guns N' Roses}}, {{w|Talking Heads}}, {{w|INXS}}, {{w|Pink Floyd}}, {{w|Oingo Boingo}}, {{w|Huey Lewis and the News}}, and {{w|Prism (band)|PRiSM}}. She also mentions {{w|Stevie Nicks}} and {{w|The Rolling Stones}} while searching for tapes.
*The record Charlie takes from her father's collection is {{w|Sam Cooke}}'s 1961 album ''Sam's Songs'', and when she puts it on, Sam Cooke's version of "{{w|Unchained Melody}}" plays. However see Errors. Also seen in the collection of records is {{w|Roxy Music}}'s ''{{w|For Your Pleasure}}''.
*Shatter asks Powell to "take [the Decepticons] to your leader", referencing the ages-old trope from early alien-related science fiction.
*The letters 'BFG' are written on Charlie's jean jacket. This is a reference to ''{{w|The BFG}}'', a children's book about a young girl befriending a big, friendly giant and defeating a group of evil giants together. Also quite fitting.
*Sector Seven uses a variant of the WOPR supercomputer from ''{{w|WarGames}}''.
*While looking around the Watsons' house, Bumblebee is briefly intrigued by a game of ''{{w|Pong}}''.
*Memo has posters for ''{{w|The Thing (1982 film)|The Thing}}'', ''[[Indiana Jones|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' and Tom Baker-era ''[[Doctor Who]]'' in his room.
*Bumblebee's rampage is a direct nod to the 1999 [[Warner Bros.]] animated film ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}'', in which the titular robot protagonist assaults the US military with glowing red optics in retaliation for them harming his human best friend.
*Ron claims he learned his driving skills from ''{{w|Miami Vice}}''.

==Errors==
*Shatter and Dropkick are tasked with tracking down B-127, but don't know his location until they're interrogating Cliffjumper and B-127's signal is found on Earth. This, despite Blitzwing not only managing to find B-127, but also scan an Earth jet mode. If they could find his signal on Earth, when they're on a moon of ''Saturn'', shouldn't Blitzwing have been able to alert them? It's also not explained ''how'' Blitzwing got to Earth when only Optimus knew about it.
*Charlie starts playing the first track on Sam Cooke's album ''Sam's Songs'', which ought to have been "Little Things You Do" rather than "Unchained Melody". The latter song doesn't even appear on the album, being the last track on side A of Cooke's earlier release ''Hits of the 50's''.
*Powell remarks that the Decepticon modifications to the S7 computers have created an "interconnected web of information," implying that the technology behind the Internet originated from the Decepticons. However, the idea of an interconnected network of computers for communications and data transfer had been developing for decades prior to the film's setting of the late 1980s, and the term "Internet" first appeared in the mid-1970s.

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

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

==Home video releases==

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

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

Coming off the notoriously poor reception to ''The Last Knight,'' ''Bumblebee'' had a ways to go in terms of redeeming the ''Transformers'' film franchise for both Paramount and the general movie-going public. However, the film was positively received by critics, who generally praised Travis Knight's restrained directorial approach, Hailee Steinfeld's acting ability, the [[Generation 1]]-styled robot designs, and the dynamic between Charlie and Bumblebee, comparing the film to its spiritual predecessors ''{{w|E.T. the Extraterrestrial|E.T.}}'' and ''{{w|The Iron Giant}}''. The film currently holds a 93% and a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. <ref> [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bumblebee/ ''Bumblebee'' review on Rotten Tomatoes] </ref>

After making $500,000 at 325 theaters from its December 8 preview screenings, <ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-sneak-preview-box-office-amazon-prime-1202521144/ ‘Aquaman’ Amazon Prime Previews Hook Near $3M Besting ‘Jumanji 2’ </ref>, ''Bumblebee'' made its domestic opening alongside ''{{w|Aquaman (film)|Aquaman}}'', ''{{w|Welcome to Marwen}}'', and ''{{w|Second Act (film)|Second Act}}'', and proceeded to gross $21 million over its first weekend, finishing third behind ''Aquaman'' and ''{{w|Mary Poppins Returns}}''. <ref> [https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-bumblebee-christmas-thursday-night-previews-weekend-box-office-1202524462/ 'Aquaman’ Unwraps $22M+ On Christmas For $105M+ Cume; ‘Holmes & Watson’ Opens To $6M+; ‘Vice’ $4M+] </ref> In its second weekend, ''Bumblebee'' grossed another $20.5 million, remaining in third place. <ref>[https://deadline.com/2018/12/aquaman-mary-poppins-returns-bumblebee-new-years-weekend-box-office-1202526812/ 'Aquaman’ Sailing To $52M+ 2nd Weekend; $189M+ Cume Pacing Ahead Of ‘Doctor Strange’ & ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’]</ref>

==Production staff==

==Development details==
*March 27, 2015 — [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" with the intention of building a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[http://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Goldsman goes on to hire a number of writers over the next few months: [[Steven DeKnight]] (''Daredevil''),<ref>[http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-cinematic-universe/35696/transformers-cinematic-details-more-writers-over-10-films Transformers cinematic details]</ref> [[Robert Kirkman]] (''The Walking Dead''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-writers-robert-kirkman-zak-penn-art-marcum-matt-holloway-jeff-pinkner-1201430601/ 'Transformers' Spinoff & Sequel Scribes Set] on Deadline.com</ref> [[Art Marcum]] and [[Matt Holloway]] (''Iron Man''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> Christina Hodson (''Shut In'', ''The Fugitive''),<ref name="hodsonbeer">[http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/446175-christina-hodson-and-lindsey-beer-join-transformers-writing-team Christina Hodson and Lindsey Beer Join the Transformers Writing Team]</ref> [[Lindsey Beer]] (''Dig''),<ref name="hodsonbeer" /> [[Zak Penn]] (''Pacific Rim 2''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Jeff Pinkner]] (''The Amazing Spider-Man 2'', ''Lost''),<ref name="deadlinewritersroom" /> [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] (''Ant-Man''),<ref name="barrerferrari">[http://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref> [[Ken Nolan]] (''Black Hawk Down''), and [[Geneva Robertson-Dworet]].<ref name="nolandworet">[http://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-writers-room/ Akiva Goldsman Teases 'Transformers' Franchise Plans]</ref> Involved in the pitching process are [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Michael Bay]], [[Brian Goldner]], [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]], [[Mark Vahradian]], and [[Don Murphy]].<ref name="deadlinereveal">[http://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref>
*October 3, 2015 — During his keynote speech at the MIP Junior Conference, [[Hasbro Studios]]'s [[Stephen J. Davis]] notes that the writing team has come up with film concepts for Transformers 5, 6, 7, and 8.<ref name="stephendaviskeynote">[https://youtu.be/F_P2fw_DlS4?t=812 Stephen Davis's keynote speech] at MIPJunior.</ref>[[File:TransformersUniverseBumblebeePoster.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"My sweater is Ralph Lauren, and I have no pants."]]
*February 12, 2016 — At ToyFair, Hasbro reveals the projected release date of Transformers 6, along with those of its predecessor and [[Transformers 7]], as well as the fact that Transformers 6 will focus on Bumblebee.<ref name="toyfairreveal">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/transformers-5-transformers-6-bumblebee-spin-off-movie-revealed-309503 Transformers 5, Transformers 6 And Bumblebee Spin-Off Movie Revealed] ToyFair news at TFW2005</ref>
*December 29, 2016 — Lorenzo di Bonaventura names Christina Hodson as the screenwriter in an interview.<ref name="hodson">[http://collider.com/transformers-5-plot-characters-dinobots-details/ 'The Last Knight' Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Reveals How a 'Transformers' Movie Is Made] on Collider</ref>
*March 3, 2017 — [[Travis Knight]] is appointed director.<ref name="deadlinedirector">[https://deadline.com/2017/03/bumblebee-movie-travis-knight-director-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1202034882/ Travis Knight To Direct ‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ At Paramount]</ref>
*May 26, 2017 — A poster at Licensing Expo 2017 gives the name of the film as ''Transformers Universe: Bumblebee''.<ref name="expoposter">[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo "The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo"]</ref>
*June 10, 2017 — [[Hailee Steinfeld]] reveals in an interview that she's been cast in the film.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/pitch-perfect-pop-star-hailee-steinfeld-hits-charts-with-most-girls-single-and-lands-transformers-role/news-story/47a238f0e75bf06a0ffc34a18e9906e4 Pitch Perfect pop star Hailee Steinfeld hits charts with Most Girls single and lands Transformers role]</ref>
*July 11, 2017 — [[Jorge Lendeborg Jr.]] is reported by The Hollywood Reporter to have been cast as the male lead.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-casts-jorge-lendeborg-jr-as-male-lead-1017547 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Casts Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Male Lead (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref>
*July 13, 2017 — More actors including [[Jason Drucker]], [[Abby Quinn]], [[Rachel Crow]], [[Ricardo Hoyos]], and [[Gracie Dzienny]] join the cast.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-rounds-cast-1019823 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 23, 2017 — [[Pamela Adlon]] joins the cast.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/07/pamela-adlon-bumblebee-movie-transformers-casting-1202133812/ Pamela Adlon Joins Cast Of 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee']</ref>
*July 31, 2017 — [[John Cena]] is announced as a cast member. Also Bumblebee is a Volkswagen this time. The film is pushed back to December of 2018. Production begins,<ref name="cenareveal">[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-cena-joins-transformers-spinoff-bumblebee-1025411 John Cena Joins 'Transformers' Spinoff 'Bumblebee' (Exclusive)] on Hollywood Reporter</ref> with the filming going under the codename "Brighton Falls".<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-bumblebee-working-title-filming-start/ Bumblebee Spinoff Working Title & Filming Start Date Revealed] on Screenrant</ref>
*August 6, 2017 — Hailee Steinfeld reveals on Twitter that her character's name is [[Charlie Watson]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/haileesteinfeld/status/894296888643432448 Tweet by Hailee Steinfeld]</ref>
*September 9, 2017 — At [[HasCon 2017]], di Bonaventura discusses some hints on the film, including that the movie is set in [[1986]].<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/09/hascon-2017-bumblebee-movie-tidbits-348630 Hascon 2017: The Bumblebee Movie Tidbits] on TFW2005</ref>[[File:BumblebeeMovie firstlook.jpg|thumb|350px|"There's a bee in the car!"]]
*September 12, 2017 — Actor and stuntman [[Rory Markham]] reveals on Instagram that he is playing a [[Sector Seven]] agent named [[Agent Adams|Adams]]. <ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/09/12/sector-7-returns-transformers-universe-bumblebee-movie-348886 Sector 7 Returns in Transformers Universe: Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*September 20, 2017 — Travis Knight reveals the first Decepticon vehicle mode in the form of a 1971 Plymouth GTX.<ref>[https://twitter.com/LAIKAStudios/status/910549230602788864 Laika Studios tweet]</ref>
*October 2, 2017 — [[Peter Cullen]] has a role in the movie.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/10/02/peter-cullen-confirmed-bumblebee-movie-351131 Peter Cullen Confirmed In The Bumblebee Movie] on TFW2005</ref>
*October 26, 2017 — [[John Ortiz]] is revealed to be a cast member.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2017/10/john-ortiz-paramount-bumblebee-spinoff-peppermint-stxfilms-1202195412/ John Ortiz Cast In 'Bumblebee' Spinoff & 'Peppermint'] on Deadline.com</ref>
*November 12, 2017 — A wrap party for the movie reveals the movie's title as ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1724400/the-bumblebee-movie-just-got-a-new-title-and-a-cool-80s-logo The Bumblebee Movie Just Got A New Title And A Cool 80s Logo] on Cinema Blend</ref>
*December 11, 2017 — [[Martin Short]] is revealed to be doing some voice work for the film.<ref>[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/attheshore/headliners/steve-martin-and-martin-short-head-to-borgata-for-an/article_7d516048-de98-11e7-9fa4-c7175ccf2b9d.html Steve Martin and Martin Short head to Borgata for an unforgettable evening] on pressofatlanticcity.com</ref>
*December 29, 2017 — A "first look" photo is released showing Hailee Steinfeld and Bumblebee's Volkswagen alternate mode.<ref>[https://twitter.com/AwardsCircuit/status/946794788988293121 Tweet by @AwardsCircuit]</ref>
*January 28, 2018 — During an interview at the Grammys, Hailee Steinfeld suggests Bumblebee may sing during the movie.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/8096803/hailee-steinfeld-hair-waves-2018-grammys-how-to Interview on Billboard.com]</ref>
*February 16, 2018 — At [[Toy Fair 2018]], Hasbro states that the film series will be reset after ''Bumblebee: The Movie''.<ref name="reboot" />
*April 24, 2018 — Footage of the film is shown at Cinemacon.<ref>[http://comicbook.com/movies/2018/04/26/first-bumblebee-footage-transformers-cinemacon/ First 'Bumblebee' Footage Previews the 'Transformers' Spinoff at CinemaCon] at comicbook.com</ref>
[[File:BumblebeeMovieShatter&Dropkick.jpeg|thumb|300px|"Thanks for the coffee. Sorry, I couldn't finish it. If I did, I'd be up the rest of my life."]]
*June 5, 2018 — The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAIX12F6958 official teaser trailer] is posted by Paramount Pictures, also revealing the film's title has been shortened to just ''Bumblebee''.
*June 6, 2018 — [[Charlie Adler]] reveals he is not in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/charlie_adler/status/1004401979597025280?s=19]</ref>
*June 8, 2018 — [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] is initially stated to be in the film in a blog post on Paramount's parent company, before his name is later scrubbed from the post afterward.<ref>[http://blog.viacom.com/2018/06/bumblebee-transforms-hailee-steinfelds-life-in-first-trailer/ Original text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does dreaded Decepticon Starscream." Revised text: "But things get hectic. The military lurks. So does a dreaded Decepticon."]</ref>
*July 13, 2018 — Entertainment Weekly reveals [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Justin Theroux]] will voice new Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] respectively.<ref>[http://ew.com/movies/2018/07/13/bumblebee-decepticon-trackers-first-look/ First Look: Bumblebee unveils two new Decepticon muscle cars]</ref>
*July 20, 2018 — A ''Bumblebee'' panel at the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2018 reveals more information on the film, such as details regarding the characters.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-bumblebee-movie-panel-in-hall-h-at-sdcc2018-jointhebuzz/41645/ Seibertron's coverage on the SDCC'18 Bumblebee panel.]</ref> Also John Cena dressed as Bumblebee.<ref>[https://twitter.com/JohnCena/status/1020800460125605890 Tweet by John Cena]</ref>
*August 26-30, 2018 — [[David Sobolov]] confirms he is part of the cast of ''Bumblebee'' as the voice of [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]].<ref>https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1033867788824309760</ref><ref>https://twitter.com/volobos/status/1035346211392368640</ref>
*September 22-23, 2018 — Three teasers were released on various platforms with many different languages, revealing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]'s appearance in the movie, as well as Optimus Prime's design. Additionally, shots were revealed of the three [[Triple Changer]]s in the movie, as well as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. <ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-and-optimus-prime-featured-in-teaser-for-next-bumblebee-movie-trailer/42075/ Seibertron's article including the two of the teasers released] and [https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-bumblebee-movie-teaser-with-blitzwing-and-barricade/42078/ an article with one of the teasers.]</ref>
*September 24, 2018 — The official trailer is uploaded by Paramount Pictures' YouTube channel, revealing (among other things) [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s' appearances in the movie. A second international trailer is released showcasing some more scenes. An interview with Travis Knight on the new trailer is also published, revealing [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]'s appearance in ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwmDAYt22k Bumblebee (2018) - New Official Trailer] and [https://www.cbr.com/bumblebee-international-trailer-optimus-prime-cybertron/ an article showcasing the international trailer.] [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/bumblebee-trailer-breakdown-travis-knight/ Interview with Knight.]</ref>
*September 27, 2018 - Before a special showing of [[The Transformers: The Movie|the animated movie]], another interview with Travis Knight and Hailee Steinfeld was seen AND a brief scene of Charlie and Bee's first interaction.
*November 13, 2018 - ''Bumblebee'' is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence.<ref>[http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/11/13/transformers-bumblebee-movie-rated-pg-13-376496]</ref>
*November 23, 2018 - A new trailer is released showcasing some new scenes, namely, Bumblebee's Cybertronian robot mode. Another trailer is released animated with...[[Play-Doh]].<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebees-cybertronian-mode-shown-in-a-new-movie-trailer-playdoh-trailer/42450/ Seibertron's article on the 2 new trailers]</ref>
*November 27, 2018 - A new featurette demonstrates the more G1-inspired designs of the Transformers, including a proper look at Optimus's model and brief shots of [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], Wheeljack and [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFv6JVFApk Bumblebee - First Generation Design - Paramount Pictures UK]</ref>
*December 2, 2018 - Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirms [[Dylan O'Brien]] as the voice of Bumblebee.<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/03/transformers-bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-dylan-obrien</ref>
*December 4, 2018 - New footage of the movie drops, showing Soundwave's voice, as well as many new shots of Cybertron and the battle between Bumblebee and Blitzwing.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/soundwave-speaks-more-footage-china-release-date-and-sponsor-and-more-bumblebee-news-roundup/42538/ Seibertron's coverage of the new trailer, as well as a general roundup of new footage.]</ref>
*December 8, 2018 - Special early screenings of the film take place in specific areas. Fans who attended are given free [[Tiny Turbo Changers]] toys, and short behind-the-scenes featurettes are shown before and after the film. <ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/early-reactions-and-impressions-for-2018-live-action-transformers-bumblebee-film/42550/ Seibertron's roundup of people's thoughts on the early screening.]</ref>
{{--}}

===Changes before, during and after production===
Originally, ''Bumblebee'' would have served as a more direct prequel to the 2007 movie, bridging the gap between Bumblebee's [[World War II]] adventures in ''The Last Knight'' and setting up some plot points from the original ''Transformers'' film. Many of these elements were subsequently dropped during reshoots following test screenings in 2018; this may have been a result of feedback from the test screenings, Paramount's concerns over the negative commercial and critical reception to ''The Last Knight'', or simply a desire to take the franchise in a new direction. Some of these dropped scenes and plot points include:<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/pre-screener-differences-warning-spoilers-ahead.1166457/ Differences between the final cut and the pre-screening, documented by a TFW2005 user]</ref>
*The original cut of the film did not include any scenes set on Cybertron, opening on a shot of Earth with some expository narration by Bumblebee before cutting directly to Sector Seven agents pursuing Bumblebee in his Jeep mode. This was presumably to maintain continuity with ''The Last Knight'', which presented Bumblebee as having already been on Earth for decades; in the final cut, however, the scene was reshot to have Bumblebee's escape pod crash-land near Burns's Sector Seven squad—who are in the woods because of a training exercise—by pure coincidence.
*Burns was originally going to have a markedly different personality. In the test cut, he was depicted as a far grimmer character who had lost someone close to him in a prior Transformer attack. In the final version of the film, he became a more eccentric character, though remnants of his original personality still appear at times.
*In the test cut, Cliffjumper was not part of the scene in which Shatter and Dropkick detect Bumblebee on Earth.
[[File:ANewCarForCharlie-deletedscene.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"TiVo. You can just freeze live TV? That's insane!"]]
*The scene where Bumblebee explores Charlie's house originally had the Autobot inadvertently bring the house's electronics to life with his [[energon radiation]], necessitating a slapstick fight sequence in which Bumblebee, Charlie, and Memo had to unplug the hostile Transformers to deactivate them. [[Martin Short]] would have featured in the scene, presumably as the voice of at least one of the mutations. The scene was cut late enough in production that a version of it found its way into [[Transformers: Bumblebee: The Junior Novel|the junior novel]] and [[A New Car for Charlie|Junior Reader adaptations]], and a remnant of the sequence remains in the final cut when Sally asks why the television's cord has been cut—something of a ''non sequitur'' in this cut of the film.
*The test cut of the film featured a post-credit scene with Burns, Simmons, and Whalen discussing that the Autobots can never learn of "N.B.E.-01:" [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], frozen in ice as per the 2007 movie, albeit redesigned to have a more [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1-styled appearance]]. This scene was replaced in the final cut by entirely new scenes of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee watching more Transformers arrive on Earth, and of Charlie finishing her and her father's car repair project.
**The scene where Bumblebee joins Optimus Prime on the Golden Gate Bridge was, however, the same in both versions, and would've been the last onscreen appearance of Bee in the original cut. It seems likely, with that cut being more closely aligned with the live-action continuity at large, that the scene was intended to be a little more ambiguous - the audience at large would've been able to read it as "Bumblebee goes off to join Optimus Prime", while the filmmakers would've retained some plausible deniability in the form of "it's just a truck that ''looks'' like Optimus Prime" - thus better allowing for the arrival of the Autobots to occur as seen in the 2007 movie.
Additional changes which took place ''after'' the introduction of the film's Cybertron scenes include:
*The first trailer to include Cybertron scenes featured Blitzwing among Shockwave's Seekers. In later trailers and the final film, he was replaced with Starscream, sporting his traditional color scheme and seemingly a new head lacking the 'flight mask' design motif.
*In a statement for Seibertron.com, Jon Bailey noted that he auditioned for [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], suggesting the character was originally intended to have dialogue.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebee-movie-voice-actor-jon-bailey-talks-about-his-experience/42553/ Seibertron article on Bailey's experience]</ref> This was confirmed in a Seibertron.com podcast, in which he also said [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] was supposed to yell "Die Autobots!", in a slightly reworked version of his appearance. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was also supposed to say "Operation: Destruction" and/or "Operation: Annihilation" after ejecting [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] as a direct reference to the original cartoon.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/twincast-podcast-episode-214-bumblebee/42674/ Seibertron Twincast # 214</ref>
*Travis Knight initially wanted to feature Megatron during the Cybertron scenes, but the Decepticon leader was ultimately omitted, specifically because continuity dictated he was still frozen on Earth at the time,<ref> [https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/12/19/bumblebee-deleted-megatron-decepticon-scene/ 'Bumblebee' Deleted A Megatron Scene] on comicbook.com</ref> despite the aforementioned removal of the scene showing this.
Other changes include:
*Very early stock art for the film depicted Bumblebee with his now-traditional "wings" formed from the doors of his car alternate mode; this was changed late in production to give his final CG model a more humanoid appearance, but evidently not early enough to change his concurrently-released toys, which almost unanimously depict Bumblebee with said door-wings.
*A scene of Bumblebee being on the run in Vietnam in his World War II body made it to concept art stage. <ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/the-big-bumblebee-concept-art-thread.1167241/#post-16487632]</ref>

==Notes==
*During production, the film was referred to in presentational material under a variety of names including "Transformers 6", "Bumblebee: The Movie", "The Bumblebee Movie", and "Transformers Universe: Bumblebee".
*An Entertainment Weekly article confirms some of the background characters in the scene set on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>[https://ew.com/movies/2018/12/22/bumblebee-spoilers-classic-transformers-opening-battle/2/ EW article on the Cybertron scene]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Bumblebee''' (バンブルビー ''Banburubī'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Daai Wong Fung''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Hungarian:'' '''ŰrDongó''' ("Space Bumblebee")
*''Korean:'' '''Bumblebee''' (범블비 ''Beombeulbi'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Dàhuángfēng''' (Taiwan, 大黃蜂; China, 大黄蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Russian:'' '''Bumblebee''' (Бамблби ''Bamblbi'')

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

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

{{stub}}

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

Bumblebee (film)

2019-01-20T05:06:42Z

Tubeyou0417:

Decepticon leader

2018-12-11T02:50:55Z

Tubeyou0417: The quote was incorrectly quoted from the episode.

{{factions|decepticon}}
[[File:WorldsCollide3 MegatronVsGalvatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Whoever wins, we lose.]]
Among the [[Decepticon]]s, there is one guiding principle: {{w|Kratocracy|rule of the strong}}. Whereas the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s consults his subordinates, the strongest and the most powerful Decepticon leads, and everyone else is expected to follow without question. But strength of body is not enough. One must also have the brains to lead, the intelligence to outwit their rivals and plan their victories. Thus, the '''Decepticon leader''' is the strongest and smartest of their ranks.

Guess [[Ratbat (G1)|how]] [[Scourge (RID)|many]] [[Octane|Decepticons]] [[Megatron (disambiguation)|think]] [[Starscream (disambiguation)|they]] [[Shockwave (G1)|qualify]].

{{bigquote|[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]... only a select few ''ever'' lead.|[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] on the nature of power|"[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Megatrong1earlymarvel.jpg|left|thumb|100px|First...]]
[[File:Straxusholdscourt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|...and the worst.]]
[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] served as commander over all of the Decepticons for over one thousand years until he and other Decepticons and Autobots were lost buried in a [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]] on [[Earth]]. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}} ''In his absence, the War-Lord [[Trannis]] took control of the Decepticon army. Trannis conquered most of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and destroyed [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], forcing the Autobots underground. In time Trannis grew complacent and some Decepticons had the opinion that he was insufficiently aggressive. The [[Decepticon High Command|Decepticon high command]] made plans to oust him, but the [[Wrecker]]s beat them to it when they assassinated him. He was succeeded by the more relentless [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]].'' {{storylink|Cybertron: The Middle Years!}} Straxus became "Lord High Governor of [[Polyhex]]". {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}}

Meanwhile, four million years had passed and the Decepticons on Earth awoke isolated from Cybertron and unaware of current events. Megatron continued his role as commander, effectively making him leader of the Earth-bound Decepticons. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}} ''[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] would briefly try to nick his job and failed miserably.'' {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}}

[[File:Megatrong1marvelhumiliation.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|"Now, ''I'' am the le-"]]
[[File:Laserbeakdeterminescommand.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"...never mind."]]
When Megatron was defeated shortly after the Decepticons reactivated, Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] defeated the Autobots {{storylink|The Last Stand}} and usurped Megatron, reducing Megatron to [[second-in-command]]. {{storylink|The New Order}} Megatron was soon defeated by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and went missing for a time. {{storylink|Repeat Performance!}} Shockwave was then, himself, beaten and briefly stuck in a swamp. {{storylink|Prime Time!}} ''[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] took command in their absence'' {{storylink|Crisis of Command!}} ''and scored a major victory.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}} Megatron returned {{storylink|Shooting Star!}} to command some of the Earth Decepticons while Shockwave led a group of others. ''Soundwave played for both teams, until, for the good of the Decepticons, he demanded they work together;'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}} the two agreed to joint leadership, {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} until Megatron was able to use logic to convince Shockwave to give him full leadership. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

Meanwhile, after receiving a mayday from the Earth bound Decepticons, Straxus contacted the Earth-bound Decepticons, and the two groups agreed to cooperate. Straxus built a [[space bridge]] to transport resources back and forth. Straxus went boom {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} ''and was reduced to a floating head.'' {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} ''On Earth, Megatron's growing paranoia caused Shockwave and Soundwave to try removing him;'' {{storylink|Prey!}} ''instead, Megatron ended up on Cybertron, where his presence and madness undermined Straxus. Lord Straxus attempted to possess Megatron in an attempt to end this threat and gain a body, but this ended with Straxus dead ([[Two Megatrons!|sort of]]).'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}} With Straxus dead, fuel auditor [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] ascended to ''de facto'' command of Cybertron. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Still, an unseen [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]] would give him marching orders. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

[[File:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85| Now I am the true lead-]]
After seemingly killing [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], Megatron went mad and apparently killed himself, allowing Shockwave to assume full leadership of the Earth-bound Decepticons again. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} The Earth-bound Decepticons coordinated with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Ratbat himself eventually came to Earth, and had a very uneasy alliance with Shockwave; in contrast to his clashes with Megatron, Shockwave was left trying to justify his strategies and ''impress'' the fuel auditor. {{storylink|Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom}} ''Following a massive cock-up by Shockwave that undermined his authority,'' {{storylink|Enemy Action!}} Ratbat oversaw several Earth operations directly. {{storylink|Toy Soldiers!}}

While this was going on, the Decepticon [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] took his unit to follow [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] to [[Nebulos]], where he underwent [[binary bonding]] with [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]]. Following Fortress Maximus to Earth, Scorponok operated independently from Shockwave and Ratbat, leading his own troops. {{storylink|The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters}}

Shockwave went missing in action and Ratbat, happily letting this happen to Shockers, became commander of Earth's Decepticons. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}} Scorponok, meanwhile, was operating his ''own'' faction on Earth. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}} ''Shockwave set up shop with a small third faction in [[Fortress Sinister]],'' {{storylink|Salvage!}} ''but he'd eventually lose his men as he went mad.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}} Eventually, Scorponok and Ratbat met up... and had [[Decepticon Civil War|a big punch-up]], thanks to manipulation by Starscream {{storylink|Cold War!}} By the end of this and some fun with the [[Underbase]], Ratbat was shot dead by Scorponok and Starscream killed by the Underbase's power. Without any rivals, Scorponok easily settled into power as Earth's sole Decepticon leader. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[File:FallAndRiseTriumvirateHeads.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb| WE ARE THE LEADERS! ]]
[[File:Thunderwingwhereisthecreationmatrix.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb| No, '''We are.''']]
''On Cybertron, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] petitioned the [[Decepticon High Council]] to be appointed the new leader (even though someone else appears to have been leader.'' {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}} {{storylink|Assault on the Ark!}} ''Straxus/Megatron (don't ask) arrived in [[Helex (polity)|Helex]] to find the [[Decepticon Empire]] had become lax under the ruling Decepticon [[Triumvirate]]. Straxus/Megatron inspired a crowd of Decepticons to take action. The Triumverate were killed and Straxus/Megatron took control of the empire.'' {{storylink|The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.}} ''Megatron arrived and confronted Straxus/Megatron leading the latter to take his own life,'' {{storylink|Two Megatrons!}} but kept his return secret. The confusing situation was made simpler when Megatron became lost in a portal {{storylink|Skin Deep}} and Thunderwing was killed due to his Matrix obsession. {{storylink|All Fall Down}}

[[File:Allthisandcivilwar-arethey.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85| '''FINISH HIM!''']]
With [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] fast approaching Cybertron, Optimus Prime made the decision to surrender to Scorponok, in return for allying with the Autobots against Unicron. {{storylink|Surrender!}} Scorponok planned to betray Prime, but Zarak later agreed to the alliance. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} However, Scorponok's troops were growing disgruntled, especially by his recruitment of (the newly not dead) Starscream. Taking advantage of this, Shockwave managed to get several disgruntled Decepticons to ally with him and attack Scorponok's group. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}} Ultimately, they were all transported to Cybertron by [[Primus]], who named Optimus Prime as the commander of Cybertron's united army. {{storylink|Out of Time!}}

{{note|After the battle with Unicron, the scope of Cybertron society is drastically reduced for storytelling reasons. References to existing Cybertron-based Decepticon forces and the underground Autobot resistance is dropped, leaving primarily the core Earth-based cast. Presumably, Unicron killed everyone else.}}

[[File:Bludgeon-youlie1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
During the battle with Unicron, Optimus Prime and Scorponok were both killed. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} As Shockwave and Starscream fled the dying Cybertron, {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] was acclaimed Decepticon leader by the surviving Decepticons. {{storylink|Exodus!}} He led the Decepticons in the conquest of [[Klo]], {{storylink|The Last Autobot?}} then massacred the Autobots who arrived to stop them. He was stopped by the return of Optimus Prime, who had been revived by the [[Last Autobot]], whom Bludgeon had worshiped as the Ultimate Warrior. The Last Autobot revived the fallen Autobots, and Bludgeon agreed to lead the Decepticons into exile... planning to bide their time. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

Shockwave, meanwhile, had hijacked the Ark alongside Starscream with the intention of using it to conquer Earth. {{storylink|Still Life!}} He didn't count on [[Galvatron II|an alternate timeline Galvatron]] to have attempted the same thing. He also didn't count on Ratchet and Megatron (yep, he's back again) to be on board the Ark in stasis, though, nor did he expect the pair to awaken during the journey. {{storylink|Exodus!}} While Megatron kept Shockwave and Starscream occupied, Ratchet forced the Ark to crash violently into the ground. Galvatron was the only one to emerge from the crash, and he appeared to be the only survivor. {{storylink|A Savage Circle}}

''In an alternate timeline, Scorponok, Shockwave, and Megatron were having a three-way Decepticon civil war over Decepticon leadership during the late 80s/early 90s.'' {{storylink|Trigger-Happy!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePiratesSoundwaveLeader.JPG|left|thumb|''Everyone'' would follow a bore like him!]]
Scorponok, Shockwave, and Megatron had a three-way civil war for Decepticon leadership; Megatron won. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} In [[2006]], Megatron was transformed into Galvatron (ending an attempt by Starscream to seize leadership) {{storylink|Target: 2006}} and would later escape by [[time travel]]. {{storylink|Fallen Angel|Fallen Angel!}} This led to a ''very'' messy leadership situation, as Shockwave, Cyclonus, and Scourge (working as Unicron's proxies), and Soundwave would all take command sequentially over the next few years. Shockwave succeeded in re-conquering half of Cybertron, and Soundwave pulled off the nifty trick of conning the ''Autobots'' into saving his army from [[Quintesson]] attack.

Eventually, a post-[[Time Wars]] clean-up of the timeline happened, and Galvatron had now [[retcon|always been commander since 2006]].

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
Megatron and Shockwave were both stuck on Earth with small platoons, and waged a constant civil war over leadership and the planet. {{storylink|Life in the Slow Lane}} Scorponok is referred to as also existing, and presumably commands the Decepticons that ''aren't'' on Earth. [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] of all people ''tried'' to become Decepticon leader by usurping Scorponok's command; it went ''poorly''. {{storylink|The Living Nightlights!}}

The Autobots sabotaged any attempt to stop the leadership conflict. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Eventually, Starscream and Soundwave deposed Megatron and Shockwave, uniting the two factions as ''joint'' Decepticon leaders. {{storylink|Internal Affairs!}} Unsurprisingly, they both planned to backstab the other and take sole control at some point. Megatron and Shockwave also teamed up, attempting to regain control. {{storylink|External Forces!}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
[[File:MarvelUSG2-05.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|''That'll'' teach you to be a ''late'' 80s character and want scenes!]]
Following the defeat on [[Klo]], Bludgeon attempted to bring back Megatron to lead ''instead'' of him. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
Bludgeon led his forces back into battle, arming his army in preparation for a major strike. {{storylink|Primal Fear!|Old Evils}} {{storylink|Ghosts}} Upon his return, Megatron challenged Bludgeon for leadership of the Decepticons and after a fierce battle, Megatron emerged victorious. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory|Tales of Earth Part Two}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
Megatron's status as the Decepticon leader is all but unchallenged... on Earth. Bludgeon and his loyal troops remain, scattered across the universe.

And then Megatron killed him and took command. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
[[File:Neo-decepticons counterpoint.jpg|thumb|left|Not bad for an uncharismatic bore.]]
Soundwave led a faction of "Neo-Decepticons" on Cybertron. As their first strike against the ruling Autobots, they hacked into the planet's orbital defence satellite network and used one to destroy the [[Last Autobot]]. {{storylink|Counterpoint}}

[[File:Megatron loose ends.jpg|thumb|Well Megatron, most people try not to bother you when you're on the toilet.]]
Despite the Neo-Decepticons' repeated attempts to disrupt the peace on Cybertron, [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] and the [[Wrecker]]s considered the extant Decepticon leaders Bludgeon, Galvatron and Megatron to be the greater threat and—against Optimus Prime's explicit orders—departed for Earth to track down Megatron. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}} Left alone on Earth for twenty-one years, Megatron had recovered the dead bodies of those Decepticons (and a few [[Monsterbot|Autobots]]) who had fallen in the [[Underbase Saga]] and reanimated them as lobotomised [[zombie]]s, including his former [[second-in-command]], the treacherous Starscream, and former Decepticon leader Ratbat. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}} When Optimus Prime left Cybertron to deal with Megatron, Soundwave established contact with Bludgeon, leader of his own band of Decepticons, informing him that the planet was vulnerable. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}} The two planned to recover the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-infused body of Thunderwing, yet another former Decepticon leader, from the [[Hall of Silence]]. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 4}} Meanwhile, on Earth, Optimus Prime put an end to Megatron once and for all but at the same time still yet another former Decepticon leader, the resurrected Scorponok, surfaced on [[Nebulos]]. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}}

While Soundwave was offplanet delivering Thunderwing's remains to Bludgeon, Scorponok arrived on Cybertron with his [[Gene Key]], a device capable of turning Autobots into Decepticons. At [[Fort Scyk]], he took control of Soundwave's troops and pressed them into service to carry out his grand plan for complete control of Cybertron. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}} However, he underestimated his forced accomplice Grimlock and was ultimately undone, plunging to his doom in the [[Sonic Canyons]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}}

Taking advantage of the chaos of Scorponok's attempted takeover, Soundwave began a campaign of low-level terror, keeping the planet's population agitated while he and Bludgeon used Thunderwing's Matrix energy to give life to Bludgeon's latest warriors, the fearsome [[Blitz Engine]]s. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} From the ''[[Warworld]]'' above Cybertron, Bludgeon unleashed a devastating attack on the Autobots while Soundwave co-ordinated efforts on the ground. However, after setting [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] on [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Soundwave found his path blocked by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} As Soundwave was beaten in sonic combat by his rival audiosmith, Bludgeon was bested by the newly minted [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and thrown from the ''Warworld'' to the planet's surface below. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Bludgeon survived the fall, and both he and Soundwave were incarcerated by the Autobots, leaving any Decepticons still at large seemingly leaderless. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 1}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:EarlyDecepticonLeader01.jpg|left|100px|thumb]]
At first, the Decepticons were led by an [[Trannis|old Decepticon]] who could not [[Transformation|transform]]. When he lost the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|Second Cybertronian War]] against the Autobots, he was replaced with [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who led the Decepticons to conquer much of Cybertron. Upon Megatron's and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s disappearances, the war on Cybertron entered a stalemate. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had been appointed [[Cybertron Guard|Guardian of Cybertron]] in Megatron's absence, and became de facto Decepticon leader. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} Once Megatron resumed contact with Cybertron, Shockwave resubmitted to his authority. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} At one point, Megatron introduced himself to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], addressing himself as '''Supreme Leader'''. {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}}

[[Air Commander]] [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], long contemptuous of Megatron's leadership, made several attempts to supplant Megatron. They all ended with failure, usually due to his own impatience or the other Decepticons' loyalty to Megatron.

[[File:TripleTakeover Mount Deceptimore.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Visit Majestic Mount Deceptimore]]
Starscream eventually decided to get some help. He made plans with [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to trap Megatron in a tunnel and freeze him. However, the [[Triple Changer]]s betrayed Starscream, leaving them both to freeze, and proceeded to wreak havoc. Megatron and Starscream were freed due to an accident on Astrotrain's part, and after defeating Astrotrain, Blitzwing, [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and Starscream, Megatron resumed leadership of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}}

By [[2005]], the Decepticons had conquered most of Cybertron. The Autobots retained control of two moons and held a reserve force at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. Megatron launched an [[Battle of Autobot City|assault on Autobot City]], where he and Optimus Prime mortally wounded each other. During the trip back to Cybertron, Astrotrain required the Decepticons to jettison excess weight or he would be unable to make it back. The wounded Decepticons were thrown overboard to allow the survivors to return, with Starscream personally ejecting Megatron. After a mild scuffle aboard Astrotrain, Starscream emerged as the new Decepticon leader. Meanwhile, Megatron was discovered by [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] and [[reformatting|reformatted]] into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. With a new body and troops, Galvatron returned to Cybertron and killed Starscream with a single blast, ending Starscream's glorious reign of about twenty minutes (or twenty seconds depending on how you look at it). Galvatron was hailed as the new leader of the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

After Unicron's attack on Cybertron and the disappearance of Galvatron, the Decepticons fled to [[Chaar]]. Without strong leaders like Galvatron, Starscream, or Shockwave (who had been killed defending Cybertron), the Decepticons fell into a period of disunity, where they fought each other for scraps of [[energon]]. [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], Galvatron's second in command, took a leadership role but was unable to command anywhere near the same unquestioned obedience previous leaders had enjoyed. When he located Galvatron, he was forced to appeal to the other Decepticons rather than simply ordering them. The successful recovery of Galvatron galvanised the Decepticons, who were able to rebuild Chaar into something resembling a functional home despite their new leader being ''completely off his rocker''. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness}}

=====''Robotmasters''=====
After the disappearance of Megatron, the Decepticons were helmed by Starscream. However, a [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] from another time challenged Starscream for leadership and won. {{storylink|The Usurper Decepticon Takes Control}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:Ratbatwarwithin.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Screw Megatron, let's see more of the ''real'' Decepticon leader!]]
At first, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was the sole leader of the Decepticons, with his chief lieutenants being Air Commander [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], and Intelligence and Communications Officer [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}} After Megatron was believed to have been destroyed along with Optimus Prime in a space bridge explosion, Shockwave became Decepticon leader, but Starscream and High Auditor [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] broke off from the Decepticon army, forming the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]] and [[Ultracon]]s, respectively. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}} Megatron's return to Cybertron saw him resume command of the fragmented Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

After Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave disappeared chasing Optimus Prime's crew aboard the Ark, Shockwave emerged as Decepticon leader, this time as part of a triumvirate that included Scorponok and Ratbat. He was briefly overthrown by [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]], who used his head to issue commands to Shockwave's troops, but Skystalker was defeated and Shockwave resumed command. {{storylink|Transformers: Micromasters}}

[[File:Shockwavedwwarandpeace.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
With the [[Great Shutdown]], all Transformers entered a period of enforced [[stasis lock]]. Shockwave was reactivated by Unicron's herald [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], but Shockwave defeated Scourge, studying him. Learning secrets about Cybertron that Megatron had previously discovered, Shockwave made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an [[Autobot High Council]] as a legislature. On Earth, Megatron retained command of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' crew, but he was defeated when Shockwave arrived, intent on gaining the Matrix from Optimus Prime. Starscream ejected Megatron from the ship transporting them back to Cybertron, then recruited the ''Nemesis'' crew and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] to conquer Earth. When Optimus Prime was brought to Cybertron, he united the Autobot resistance groups and overthrew Shockwave. Shockwave was able to retain command of a small number of loyal Decepticons still on planet, while Starscream led the ''Nemesis'' crew back to Earth. {{storylink|Prime Directive}} {{storylink|War and Peace}}

Meanwhile, Megatron was repaired by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], and managed to locate a trio of [[Air Warrior]]s he used to recruit the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Heading for Cybertron, he took command of Shockwave's forces, forcing Shockwave into a subordinate state. On Earth, Starscream's failures against the Autobots and [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] made Soundwave, his cassettes, and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] all too willing to mutiny against Starscream in favor of Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|Generation One}}

{{note|Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #8|More than Meets the Eye]]'' makes a passing reference to the "reign of the mighty Scorponok" occurring sometime after the (second) disappearance of Megatron and before the Great Shutdown. It is unknown if this preceded or succeeded the events of ''Micromasters''.}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb]]
[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] was the founder of the Decepticon political movement, first directing it with his samizdat writings {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} before gradually turning it into an organised force led by him. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}} He was overthrown and banished by [[Scorponok (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Scorponok]] early in the war after having lost his first duel with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} Scorponok was an unpopular leader who showed no care for his troops and made poor use of Decepticon resources, but he was also powerful enough to rule by fear... until Megatron returned and beat him to a pulp, leaving him alive only because dead people can't feel pain. {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}}

After this, Megatron continued to reign without problem as most potential challengers, such as [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], were too piss-scared of him {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} and even the idea of ''questioning'' him was a worry. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} The [[Decepticon Justice Division]], particularly [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]], revered him as an almost divine figure. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} While Megatron wanted Starscream to take over from him at some point, he would only allow it if Starscream was able to ''take'' command; {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} when Starscream attempted a rebellion, Megatron took his best shots and then crippled him, but left him alive. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} In contrast, when [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] attempted rebellion, Megatron beat him to death. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}} One exception to this was [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], who grew disgusted with Megatron's seeming apathy towards the well-being of his troops, but rather than challenge Megatron directly he upped sticks and took his regiment out on their own. {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}}

[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] has noted with envy and annoyance that the Decepticons are far more unified than the Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|All Hail Megatron #15}} For example, the Wreckers effectively went AWOL during their pursuit of [[Squadron X]] {{storylink|Bullets}} while in comparison, semi-independent Decepticon warlord [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] immediately responded to Megatron's command to seize the Autobot prison [[Garrus-9]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers}}

This all went to pot when Megatron achieved near-victory, and the Decepticon advance stagnated. The troops were disgruntled, and Starscream warned that coup attempts were going to come. Unsurprisingly, Starscream himself led one with most of the Earth-based Decepticons... a coup Megatron anticipated and appeared to have wanted, as he had a convoluted plan to reshape his troops into a less nasty form now he'd won. Unfortunately for him, he was viciously damaged by a surprise Autobot attack. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}} Immediately, leadership fragmented: Soundwave and his crew kept Megatron alive, providing a barrier to any attempt at legitimacy; Starscream had temporary command but knew [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] or someone would challenge him for it. In desperation, he waved the stolen Autobot Matrix around and declared it had chosen him, gaining legitimate command that way. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|All Hail Megatron #13}}. Megatron was then rebuilt {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}}, but Starscream kept his leadership (despite being so poor at it the Decepticons were forced to turn to cannibalism to survive) until he lost the Matrix to [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

Megatron retained leadership until he went missing following the confrontation with the [[D-Void]] and the reformatting of Cybertron. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}} Ratbat tried to claim control of the Decepticons in the post war era, but when he attempted to assassinate [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], Starscream tipped off the Autobots. [[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]] killed Ratbat and captured the assassin, and Starscream stepped up to fill the role of representative of the Decepticons in Cybertron's leadership. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} Other Decepticons elsewhere in space would form small gangs under differing commanders {{storylink|Before & After}} while the Decepticon Justice Division refused to acknowledge that Megatron was MIA at all. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}}

[[File:PermanentRevolution-Deathsaurus.jpg|thumb]]
After Starscream renounced membership in the Decepticons and with Megatron imprisoned, [[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]] claimed leadership of the remaining Decepticon forces. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} He remained in command until Megatron returned but, upon Megatron's defection to the hated Autobots, he reacted with outrage. [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] overheard Soundwave's words, and, impressed, joined the Decepticons, the warlord taking the role of Decepticon leader with Soundwave's support. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} Meanwhile, out in deep space, Deathsaurus and Tarn had joined forces as joint leaders of their own, larger Decepticon army. {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}}

Galvatron was eventually killed in battle by Optimus Prime, leaving Soundwave in command of the Decepticons on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}} After Megatron had slain the Decepticon Justice Division, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} [[Nickel]] took command of the Decepticons in space. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

When [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Onyx Prime]] returned to Cybertron, he revealed Soundwave's killing of [[Horri-Bull]], turning the Decepticons against him. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 3: The Ground|The Ground}} The leaderless faction then clashed with the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] worshippers and hunted for Soundwave until they noticed Starscream and hesitantly asked him to resume command. Though Starscream was initially reluctant to do so, {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 5: Endless Forever|Endless Forever}} he ultimately agreed and led his army away to regroup to prepare for their next move. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}}
{{-}}

===Live-action film series===
[[File:TheFallen-ROTFNemesis.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"It's funny how 'leading' looks a lot like ''sitting on your arse''."]]
Originally styled [[Lord High Protector|High Protector]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] amended his title to ''Lord'' High Protector upon forming the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}} {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel}} Notably in this continuity family, while Megatron leads the Decepticons, his loyalty to [[The Fallen]], known as the first Decepticon, means supreme command lies with him. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}} He was the one who told Megatron what strategies to take in the early days, though he left Megatron to command by himself as he left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to find a [[Star Harvester]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}} During his absence while searching for the [[AllSpark]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] assumed command as Decepticon leader, though he grew quite comfortable with the position and would prefer Megatron remained absent, something [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] sought to frustrate. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday}}

Upon his revival, Megatron resumed command, just long enough to kill [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], beat [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] half to death, and be killed by [[Sam Witwicky]]. He was then dropped into the [[Laurentian Abyss]] almost immediately afterwards. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} Starscream then assumed leadership of the Decepticons and began styling himself '''Lord''' Starscream. Although [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] accepted Starscream without objection, Starscream was betrayed by [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] and [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]], shattering his faith in his leadership. {{storylink|Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream}} When [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'' reached Earth, Soundwave recognized Starscream as Decepticon commander, and Starscream's ambitions were renewed. {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance|Alliance}} However, a number of Decepticons were unsatisfied with Starscream, feeling he had not earned the right. As such, they began efforts to revive Megatron {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}} Starscream, meanwhile, discovered another obstacle to his role as true leader on Soundwave's ship... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.1|Training Day}}

[[File:Titan7 Soundwave GO!.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
While Starscream was tending to the [[hatchling]]s on the ''Nemesis'' per the Fallen's decree, Soundwave commanded the Decepticons on Earth. First, he tried to track down lost Seekers to gain information and keep the Autobots from knowing about the Fallen's plans. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout}} Later, he had Megatron resurrected, which transferred command back to the big Meg.

When he returned to the ''Nemesis'', Megatron struck Starscream for his presumption of assuming command, saying that even in death, there was no command but Megatron's. This statement was slightly undermined by his next course of action, which to bow before the Fallen. Megatron was left in sole command following The Fallen's death at the hands of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

We know that other Decepticons have ''tried'' to become leaders of the main Decepticon faction, including [[Mainframe (Movie)|Mainframe]] {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Chevy Autobots}} and Dreadwing, {{storylink|Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream}} but it rarely goes well. Following that mess with the Fallen, [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] decided to form his ''own'' group of Decepticons on Earth and lead that. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.13|Inside Out!}} In one timeline, [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]] did the same thing. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 17|Return to Cybertron: Part 1}}

After the battle in Egypt, Megatron continued to lead the Decepticons. The former Autobot [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] would later defect to the Decepticons. Sentinel and Megatron agreed to a joint leadership until Sentinel Prime took complete control during the Battle of Chicago. Megatron later reclaimed his leadership, but his reign was short lived as Optimus Prime took both Sentinel and Megatron's lives. Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave also perished during the battle of Chicago, leaving the surviving Deceptions completely leaderless. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

Megatron had secretly survived his injuries and manipulated a human corporation called KSI into creating a new body for him. Megatron transferred his consciousness into the new body and was reincarnated as Galvatron. Galvatron took control of KSI's drones and enacted a plan to destroy Hong Kong and use it as raw materials to build more drones. Ultimately, the plan failed and most, if not all of the drones were destroyed. Galvatron escaped the carnage and departed to parts unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

Galvatron went missing for years with no leader emerging in his place causing the Decepticons fell into disarray. At some point, Galvatron reverted back to his Megatron identity and reclaimed leadership of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[File:AniMegsHead-TransformAndRollout.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Head master.]]
Styled '''Supreme Leader''', the title was held by [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] for over four million solar cycles, since the days of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. When Megatron was believed killed trying to secure the [[AllSpark]], [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] immediately nominated himself the new Supreme leader...no one took him seriously. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

He finally ''did'' manage to get the Decepticons [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] to swear allegiance to him in exchange for repairs. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} This was also short-lived, as Lugnut was really taking orders from the disembodied head of Megatron. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}} After his restoration, the Decepticons repledged their loyalty to Megatron, who decided to reinforce it by seriously damaging Starscream. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

When Megatron was absent yet again, [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was seen giving orders to [[Strika (Animated)|group commander Strika]]. However, rather than taking full command, his orders were to wait until Megatron came back (much to Strika's frustration). {{storylink|TransWarped}}

===''Shattered Glass''===
[[File:Shatteredglassmegatrondecepticons.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Unlike previous incarnations, the leader of the Decepticons is a heroic resistance leader, intending to free Cybertron from the Autobots and save the galaxy from their evil ways. [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]] stands as their current leader, and it seems that [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] will be a successor rather than a usurper.
{{-}}

===Aligned===
====Aligned novels====
In an act of keeping his enemies closer than his friends, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] appointed his surgeon [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] to be his lieutenant despite his belief the scientist would eventually betray him. Megatron's movement was fairly disparate in the beginning, consisting of his [[Gladiatorial combat|gladiators]] in his employ and followers across Cybertron who listened to his teachings on the [[Communication Grid]]. Megatron was aware his followers were going to resort to terrorism, but did nothing to improve his reputation by distancing himself from their extremism. In fact, he accepted the gift of a kidnapped [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] by the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]. Already plotting to usurp Megatron's position as Cybertron's would-be savior, but patient enough to recognize how the revolution could turn sour, Starscream allied himself with Megatron but remained officially [[neutral]], occupying [[Moonbase One|Moon Base One]] and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] for himself.

During the civil war, Starscream's Seekers only aided the Decepticons in some battles. Shockwave engaged in some power politics with the Seekers by taking control of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] and [[Vos (polity)|Vos]] and secretly assassinating the neutral Air Commanders there. When [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] discovered Trypticon was a hoard of [[Dark Energon]], Megatron's gladiators brutally took control of the station, even forcing Starscream to subject two of his scientists to experimentation with the chaotic substance. Soon, Starscream, tired of Megatron's tactics and ashamed of their use of Dark Energon, released Sentinel from his [[Kaon (polity)|Kaonian]] dungeon to kill Megatron, having been informed by [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] that all he sought was a just peace should something "happen" to Megatron. Sentinel failed, and Starscream fought Megatron and [[Blackout (WFC)|Blackout]] for the [[Code Key]]s to [[Teletraan-1 (WFC)|Teletraan-1]], but was beaten and only spared as Megatron found him too useful to die. Megatron certainly considered Starscream elite enough to take him aboard the ''Nemesis'', leaving Shockwave behind to lead the Cybertronian Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

====High Moon Studios games====
Starscream attempted to claim leadership of the Decepticons when Megatron was believed to be killed by [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]]. Somehow alive, Megatron lambasted him through a communications line, and threatened to kill him and any other cowards trying to flee from Omega. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

Years later during the Autobots' final days on Cybertron, an assault on Autobot City quickly ended when the massive [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]] killed Megatron, and naturally, Starscream took control of the Decepticons and quickly retreated at Optimus' suggestion. This turned out to be the start of the Decepticons' worst days: Starscream was an absolute failure at leadership, wasting their plentiful Energon reserves on statues and other ways of pimping his own image, to the point that after three days, they were left with no Energon and no way to get off of the dying planet. However, Soundwave revived Megatron, who quickly decimated Starscream's loyalists and publicly humiliated Starscream, sending him running and swearing vengeance. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

====''Prime'' cartoon====
Starscream generally leads the Decepticons in the present because Megatron is too busy being absent while searching for Dark Energon or being comatose. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} When Megatron was presumed killed in the [[space bridge]] explosion, Starscream immediately named himself the new leader. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}} Regardless, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|troops]] won't take him seriously as a full-time [[Emperor of Destruction]]. When Starscream attempted to hide Megatron's survival of the explosion, Soundwave's [[Deployer (WFC)|Deployer]] ensured he would bring his body back to sickbay. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Starscream and [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] conspired to keep Megatron offline, but an unforeseen chain of events led to his return, and Megatron pummeled Starscream nearly to death for trying to kill him. {{storylink|Sick Mind}} {{storylink|Out of His Head}} During Megatron's absence from the ''Nemesis'' in order to deal with Unicron's awakening, [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] advocated that the Decepticons abandon Megatron and nominated herself for leader. [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] challenged these assertions in combat, handily winning the fight. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

Though made aware of the attempted coup in his absence {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}}, Megatron decided to allow Airachnid to continue serving him until he felt like dealing with it some time later. Megatron sent [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] to terminate her for her treachery, but to his dismay, Dreadwing returned having failed to execute her and minus [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]]. Airachnid challenged him to a duel for control of the Decepticons, but even her subservient [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] ended up falling against Megatron. However, upon discovering an entire army of them in stasis {{storylink|Crossfire}}, she later launched a massive assault on the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' to bring down Megatron, while Starscream also sent some [[Starscream clone (Prime)|clones]] after Megatron as well. Megatron killed the clones, and Airachnid's defeat at the hands of [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] freed the Insecticons from her control, and they quickly joined Megatron's command. {{storylink|Armada (episode)}}

Airachnid would return to plague Megatron's command one more time when she was freed from stasis lock by vampiric [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] [[Silas|Cylas]], and she quickly turned the Insecticons on the Decepticons once again. Soundwave's intervention banished them to a dead moon of Cybertron's. {{storylink|Thirst}} A much greater threat to Megatron's command presented itself when [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] revealed his sentience, making known his desire to lead an army of cloned [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacons]] for Megatron. This ambition coupled with the Predacons' might far exceeding the struggling Decepticon movement convinced Megatron of Predaking's potential to become a renegade; a very dangerous one at that. Megatron quickly had the Predacon clones destroyed by the Autobots. {{storylink|Evolution}}

When Megatron fell in battle and the Autobots captured the ''Nemesis'', {{storylink|Deadlock}} leadership (and membership) fell to Starscream and [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], who worked to clone a new army of Predacons to destroy the Autobots. However, [[Unicron]]'s return resulted in Shockwave going missing, and upon his defeat, a revived Megatron declared the Decepticon movement dead. Starscream took this as an opportunity to start a new Decepticon empire under his command, but presumably failed to do so, considering he was faced with three very angry Predacons. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

====2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
With Megatron gone and Starscream presumed (but not actually) dead, {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} leadership of the remaining Decepticons fragmented, with no clear leader being apparent until [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] announced his intent to found a "new [[Decepticon Empire]]" centered on Earth—with himself as leader, of course. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}}

Starscream however had his own plans for galactic conquest {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} hoping to rebuild the Decepticon Empire in his image. {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}}

[[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]], meanwhile, had overthrown the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] and also sought to revive the Decepticon Empire only he wanted Megatron to return and lead their forces. When attempts to summon Megatron had failed however, [[Galvatronus (RID)|Galvatronus]] decided the Council could lead the Decepticons until Megatron returned. {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}

==Notes==
*Unlike the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]], the Decepticon leader has no "official name" with the closest being ''Lord'', such as ''Lord Megatron'' or ''Lord Starscream''.

==See also==
*[[Emperor of Destruction]]
*[[Lord High Protector]]
*[[Air Commander]]
*[[Liege Maximo]]

[[Category:Decepticon leaders| ]]
[[Category:Ranks]]

Blurr (Cyberverse)

2018-11-07T03:15:14Z

Tubeyou0417: better caption

{{factions|autobot|velocitron}}
{{disambig3|Blurr}}
:''Blurr is a [[Velocitron]]ian [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:CyberverseBlurr.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I feel great! I feel great! I feel great! I feel bad. I don't even watch football! I don't even watch football! I can't remember my legs!]]
'''Blurr''' is the Autobots' high-speed intelligence agent. There one second and gone the next, this [[Velocitron]]ian is fast enough to drive circles around any Decepticon. Of course, his mouth is every bit as fast as his wheels, making it nearly impossible for his teammates to catch what he's saying half the time.<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/cyberverse Character bios] at the official ''Cyberverse'' website</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[JC Ernst]] (English)|[[Matteo Zanotti]] (Italian)}}
[[File:Blurr - Cyberverse - Terminal Velocity promo.jpg|thumb|left|What do you wanna make? You wanna make some wood-davers with me? I got pine cones! I got peanut butter! I got everything we need!]]
[[File:Blurr's altmode (Cyberverse - Terminal Velocity).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Here goes the wood-davers train! It's takin' off! It's a new century!]]
Blurr welcomed his old friend [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] when he arrived on Velocitron for a visit, though he quickly sparked a rivalry with Bee's guest, [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]]. He encouraged them to try one of the tracks off the beaten path if they wanted the best racing experience, leading them to a massive and dangerous course. The three took off at high speed, but Blurr neglected to mention part of the track was being repaired, causing Hot Rod to wipe out. Their argument was interrupted by a crashing repair drone infected by the [[Rust Plague|Plague of Rust]], which began quickly spreading. Blurr quickly led them to his garage, believing it would keep them safe and refusing to leave his home. Unfortunately, a plague victim managed to breach the door, proving it less safe than expected. Finally relenting, Blurr led Bumblebee and Hot Rod to the space bridge as the planet continued to deteriorate, but they realized someone would have to stay behind to operate the bridge while the others escaped. Blurr volunteered, revealing he had unwittingly caught the plague himself and couldn't risk spreading it. As the others entered the portal, Blurr was consumed by rust and reduced to dust. {{storylink|Terminal Velocity}}

{{-}}

[[File:Cyberverse-s1e8-Terminal-Velocity-Blurr-dying-from-the-rust-plague.jpg|thumb|250px|center|Mr. Stark... I don't feel so good...]]

==Toys==
===Cyberverse===
[[File:Cyberverse-2018-1-Step-Blurr.jpg|thumb|300px|Parakeet.]]
*'''Blurr''' (1-Step Changer, 2018)
:''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' 1-Step Changer Blurr is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Blurr (Prime)#Onestep|Blurr]], painted to disguise the fact that he's a completely different design, and transforms from robot to vehicle in a single step (or vice-versa) with a single step that automatically swings everything into position. Unlike most prior 1-Step Changers, Blurr has a little extra articulation (aka "any articulation") with simple swivel shoulders. This Blurr can ride on [[Grimlock (RID 2015)#Stomp & Chomp|Stomp & Chomp Grimlock]], although it does not activate any of the larger figure's gimmicks. He lacks the scannable roof insignia from the ''Robots in Disguise'' toy.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*As with the rest of the ''Cyberverse'' cast, Blurr presumably uses an [[evergreen]] design inspired by his [[Blurr (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]]. More specifically, with its head-wings and windshield chest, the design is heavily based on Blurr's [[Blurr (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW Generation 1 design]], which debuted in ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'' prior to its appearance in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''.
*Meanwhile, his status as a Velocitronian is lifted from his [[Blurr (Cybertron)|counterpart]] from ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: Cybertron]]'', which was also used for "[[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]]" [[Blurr (Prime)|Blurr]].
*Blurr's [https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/cyberverse character bio] on the ''Cyberverse'' site notes that he speaks remarkably fast, not unlike his [[Blurr (G1)|G1]] and [[Blurr (Animated)|''Animated'']] counterparts. However, he speaks normally in "[[Terminal Velocity]]."

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=Blurr
|disambig=Blurr (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], the fast-talking Autobot messenger from [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]].
*[[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], the stern Autobot sharpshooter from the [[Unicron Trilogy]].
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]], the zippy Autobot intelligence agent from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]].''
*[[Blurr (Prime)|Blurr]], the impetuous [[Rescue Bot]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].}}

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cyberverse Autobots]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance specialists]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Mighty Big Trouble

2018-10-31T06:23:41Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' (2015) ep 43
|image=TRID S2 E17 MBT MSS.jpg
|caption=WHOSO PULLETH OUT THIS SWORD...
|prev=Pretzel Logic
|next=Mini-Con Madness (RID)
|title="Mighty Big Trouble"
|airdate=[[October 1]], [[2016]] (Canada) [[November 12]], 2016 (USA)
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
|writer=[[Johnny Hartmann]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|director=[[Frank Marino]]
}}

'''Sideswipe puts his foot in his mouth and Clawtrap digs up something Starscream is more than happy to relieve him of.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:TRID S2 E17 MBT SC 1.jpg|thumb|left|250px|To make extra-super-jumbo-sized omelettes...]]
The team return from a mission in [[Egypt]] with a new relic. [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] identifies it as a [[high energy pulse generator]], which could produce short, intense energy bursts that could shut down or destroy a bot's neural net. Unfortunately, [[Jetstorm (RID)|Jetstorm]] and [[Slipstream (RID)|Slipstream]] trip up on the sand and accidentally activate it. When the Mini-Cons trip themselves up, [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] slashes the generator apart with his [[Decepticon Hunter]] before it can fry their brains. Sideswipe then makes a few jokes at the Mini-Cons' expense, something no one finds funny, particularly the Mini-Cons.

At an uncrewed, automated cargo vessel, the [[Scavenger (RID 2015)|Scavengers]] arrive in [[Weaponizers' ship|their shuttle]]. They're [[Cybertronian technology finder|tracking]] something that's giving off more power than they've ever found before. [[Clawtrap]], [[Thermidor]], and [[Scatterspike]] grab three Mini-Cons for a power boost before they start searching the ocean, leaving [[Paralon (RID)|Paralon]] with the rest. The trio soon come across [[Dark Star Saber|a sinister-looking sword]] buried in the ocean floor.

[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] asks Fixit if there's any sign of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]], but there's still nothing. Sideswipe tries to join in with humor, but he's met with cold reception from the others and silence from Fixit. Sideswipe makes a half-hearted apology to Fixit but he only leaves. Bumblebee and [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] tell him he needs to make a proper, sincere apology.

The Scavengers emerge from the ocean with their prize. However, as soon as their back is turned, the Mini-Cons steal their ship and fly off. Moments later, a portal opens and [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] emerges from it, demanding to know where ''his'' Mini-Cons are. Clawtrap is shocked that the Mini-Cons have been running from Starscream and tries to cut a deal as the rest of Starscream's crew comes out of the portal. Then Starscream sees the sword and identifies it as the Dark Star Saber. Starscream takes the sword and boasts with it and the Mini-Cons, he'll able to not only take revenge on [[Megatron (WFC)|his old master]], but conquer galaxies. He demonstrates its power by sending Paralon, Scatterspike, and Thermidor into the ocean with an energy wave, though the Saber starts resisting afterwards. Starscream demands Clawtrap tell him where the Mini-Cons are and sends the Scavenger into the sea after learning the Mini-Cons have fled. [[Shadelock]] points out that Starscream doesn't need the Mini-Cons with the Dark Star Saber, but Starscream disagrees. He tells [[RoughEdge]] to bring his ship down from orbit and start scanning for the Mini-Cons' energy signatures.

[[File:TRID S2 E17 MBT SC 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|There ''will'' be Brawl.]]

Sideswipe tries to think of a way to ''properly'' apologize to the Mini-Cons, [[Russell Clay|Russell]] suggests he use flowers and a poem. Bumblebee and Strongarm discuss how the new Mini-Cons seemed reluctant to aid their Decepticon partners as well as how powerful they are. Fixit notes that there is a strong symbiosis between Weaponizer and Bot; the host gets powered up, though it's unknown to what extent. And yet Bumblebee felt that the Weaponizer was holding back for some reason. Unknown to them, [[Aerobolt]] infiltrates the scrapyard and disables the defenses, allowing the other Weaponizers to get in to look for the Cybertronian tech they detected so they can modify their ship.

Jetstorm and Slipstream spar and complain about Sideswipe's behavior when they hear a noise. Spotting [[Sawtooth (RID)|Sawtooth]] and thinking they can handle one Mini-Con, the duo attack him only to soon find themselves surrounded by the Weaponizers. Sideswipe tries to deliver an apologetic poem to Fixit, but it's less than impressive. The team soon hears the fight and rush to investigate. The Autobots arrive just after Jetstorm and Slipstream are disarmed and knocked down. Despite trying to keep the Weaponizers out of their hands, the Mini-Cons seize control of the Autobots one by one. Fixit comes across the controlled Autobots and claims he'll be on vacation on [[Alpha Centauri]] before trying to run. Sawtooth stops Tricerashot from pursuing Fixit and reminds him they're only here for the H.E.P. generator. When Fixit tells them it was destroyed, the Weaponizers abandon their hosts and leave. The Autobots give chase while [[Drift (RID)|Drift]] leaves his students behind in case they return.

[[File:TRID S2 E17 MBT SC 3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|I can't quite be a racist against a race that doesn't exist. Like the Clorfors. Dirty money-grubbing Clorfors. Tried to clorf me right out of my money. Blew those little bastards up is what I did.]]
However, as soon as the Autobots leave, a [[GroundBridge]] portal opens and Starscream's crew emerge. Shadelock mistakes the Autobots' Mini-Cons for the Weaponizers and captures them, taking them back to Starscream. The Decepticon commander is annoyed that his men have brought him the wrong Mini-Cons. Fixit tries to clear up the confusion, but soon lets slip that Bumblebee is his commanding officer. Starscream is delighted by this news.

[[File:TRID S2 E17 MBT SC 4.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Oh please, if I'm as evil as you say I am then let Primus strike me down where I stand.]]

The Autobots return to the scrapyard to check on the Mini-Cons, only for [[Denny Clay|Denny]] and Russell to tell them that Decepticons have captured them. Starscream soon sends a holographic message to Bumblebee, saying he's willing to return their Mini-Cons if Bumblebee surrenders. Bumblebee drops his Decepticon hunter and Starscream opens a GroundBridge for him to step through. Bumblebee promises his team this isn't over before going through. Sideswipe and Drift are worried about Bumblebee and the Mini-Cons, but Strongarm points out that Starscream is out of their league. Fortunately, [[Prime Force One|a Cybertronian ship]] arrives; Optimus Prime has returned.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] (4)
*[[Drift (RID)|Drift]] (5)
*[[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] (6)
*[[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]] (7)
*[[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] (8)
*[[Jetstorm (RID)|Jetstorm]] (9)
*[[Slipstream (RID)|Slipstream]] (10)
*[[RoughEdge]] (23)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (26)

|c2=
*[[Clawtrap]] (11)
*[[Paralon (RID)|Paralon]] (12)
*[[Scatterspike]] (13)
*[[Thermidor]] (14)
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (22)
*[[Razorhorn]] (24)
*[[Shadelock]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Denny Clay]] (1)
*[[Russell Clay]] (2)

|c4=
*[[Windstrike]] (15)
*[[Bashbreaker]] (16)
*[[Lancelon]] (17)
*[[Sawtooth (RID)|Sawtooth]] (18)
*[[Buzzstrike]] (19)
*[[Tricerashot]] (20)
*[[Aerobolt]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Oh please; there will be ''plenty'' of time for bowing and scraping. Now, where are my Mini-Cons?"
:—'''Starscream's''' back.

"There's no such thing as too much power. Not as long as there's more to be had."
:—'''Starscream''' lets the power he has go straight to his head.

"Autobots are good, 
Decepticons are bad. 
I'm so very sorry 
That I made you...angry." 
''(The others stare at him)'' 
"I couldn't think of anything that rhymes with 'bad'. What?"
:—'''Sideswipe's''' no poet.

"How...how can you control me when..." 
"When I couldn't control you? Maybe it's because we're both ''dinos'', I don't know!"
:—'''Grimlock''' and '''Tricerashot''' try to explain last episode's inconsistency.

"Hello, Bumblebee. Nice to see me, isn't it?"
:—'''Starscream''' metaphorically strokes his [[Chin|goatee]].

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The [[Dark Star Saber]] was last seen in the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)| Prime]]'' episode "[[Deadlock]]", falling off the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' to plummet to Earth.
* Tricerashot attempted to take over Grimlock in [[Pretzel Logic|the previous episode]].
* Fixit notes that Starscream's chassis does not match his records, a rare instance of visual differences between series being called out among the "Aligned" shows.
* Starscream's motive of getting revenge on Megatron seemed questionable considering his loyalty to him near the end of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'', as well as the thrill of Megatron essentially "surrendering" the throne to him in ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising]]''. However, he would later clarify in [[Mini-Con Madness (RID)|the next episode]] that he wanted revenge for all of Megatron's cruel actions towards him. So much for time heals all wounds; it made them ''worse'' in this case!

===Transformers references===
* The high energy pulse generator resembles the relic containers seen in season 2 of ''Prime''.
*[[Alpha Centauri]] is a real star that has been featured in ''Transformers'' fiction before, sometimes as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron's]] sun.

===Trivia===
* The "automated vessel" the Scavengers land on appears to re-use the animation model of the oil tanker ''[[Windward]]'' from "[[Trust Exercises]]".
* Remember when we said Sideswipe was a jerk in "[[Sideways_(episode)|Sideways]]"? This time takes it up a notch and now he's a real ''asshole''.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' '''De très gros ennuis''' ("Very Big Trouble")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 8]], 2016

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Egy régi ismerős''' ("An Old Acquaintance")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 19]], 2016

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Problemi in Vista''' ("Incoming Problems")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 23]], 2016

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Micron Zeninshūgō''' (マイクロン全員集合！, "All-Minicon Assembly!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 4]], 2016

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2018 — ''Transformers Robots in Disguise'' — Combiner Force ([[Beyond Home Entertainment]]) 
{{epstub}}

[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) episodes]]

Theorem

2018-10-29T03:21:56Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon|minicon}}

:''Theorem is a [[Decepticon]] [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:Brainpower Theorem.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Another postcard with chimpanzees. And every one is addressed to me.]]
One of [[Simacore]]'s two [[Mini-Con]]s, the snooty '''Theorem''' spends most of his time belittling his partner [[Axiom (RID)|Axiom]], who's quick to return the favour. In spite of their bickering, they ''are'' able to put aside their differences when faced with a common threat... especially when that threat is an oafish Autobot that they can both take out their frustrations on. Such is the burden of intelligence.

==Fiction==
=== 2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon ===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeff Bennett]] (English), [[Takayuki Nakatsukasa]] (Japanese)|[[Jacopo Calatroni]] (Italian)}}
Theorem was one of the many Decepticons imprisoned aboard the ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]''. Along with Simacore and Axiom, he escaped when the ship crashed on [[Earth]]. Theorem and Axiom accompanied Simacore's raid on a particle research facility, and were deployed in the initial clash with [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]], and [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]], although they both overshot their targets. Theorem wound up fighting Bumblebee. Simacore later used them to try and claw through a door to get to Grimlock, although neither of them could get through. Instead, the two Mini-Cons strapped Strongarm and Bumblebee to a [[particle accelerator cannon]], then returned to Simacore. Along with Simacore, they were eventually defeated by Grimlock and returned to a [[stasis pod]]. {{storylink|Brainpower}}

Theorem's stasis pod was later taken back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] by [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] and [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 2)}}

==Notes==
* A theorem is a general proposition not self-evident but proved by a chain of reasoning; a truth established by means of accepted truths.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Theorem''' (セオレム ''Seoremu'')

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Torpedo Mini-Cons]]

Axiom (RID)

2018-10-29T03:21:20Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon|minicon}}
{{disambig2|the ''Robots in Disguise'' Mini-Con|the IDW G1 human/Dire Wraith hybrid|Axiom (G1)}}
:''Axiom is a [[Decepticon]] [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:Brainpower Axiom.jpg|thumb|right|300px|I hate every ape I see from Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z.]]

One of [[Simacore]]'s two [[Mini-Con]]s, the haughty '''Axiom''' spends most of his time sniping at his partner [[Theorem]], who responds in kind. In spite of their bickering, they ''are'' able to put aside their differences when faced with a common threat... especially when that threat is an oafish Autobot that they can both take out their frustrations on. Such is the burden of intelligence.

==Fiction==
=== 2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon ===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeff Glen Bennett|Jeff Bennett]] (English), [[Takuma Sasaki]] (Japanese)|[[Omar Maestroni]] (Italian)}}
Axiom was one of the many Decepticons imprisoned aboard the ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]''. Along with Simacore and Theorem, he escaped when the ship crashed on [[Earth]]. Axiom and Theorem accompanied Simacore's raid on a particle research facility, and were deployed in the initial clash with [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]], and [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]], although they both overshot their targets. Axiom wound up tangling with Strongarm. Simacore later used them to try and claw through a door to get to Grimlock, although neither of them could get through. Instead, the two Mini-Cons strapped Strongarm and Bumblebee to a [[particle accelerator cannon]] then returned to Simacore. Along with Simacore, they were eventually defeated by Grimlock and returned to a [[stasis pod]]. {{storylink|Brainpower}}

Axiom's stasis pod was later taken back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] by [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] and [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 2)}}

==Notes==
* An axiom is a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Axiom''' (アクシオン ''Akushion'')

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Torpedo Mini-Cons]]

Axiom (RID)

2018-10-29T03:21:10Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Notes */

Overloaded, Part 1

2018-10-28T22:48:16Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' (2015) ep 27
|image=Overloaded1 Optimus drained.jpg
|caption=Optimus attempts to become a Super Saiyan God.
|prev=Battlegrounds, Part 2
|next=Overloaded, Part 2
|title="Overloaded, Part 1"
|airdate=[[February 20]], [[2016]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
|writer=[[Adam Beechen]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|director=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
}}
'''The Bee Team must cope with a global Decepticon threat and a weakened Optimus Prime.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Overloaded1 Micronus on Grimlock.jpg|thumb|left|250px|I don't drink.]]
[[Russell Clay|Russell]] buffs [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]]'s side, [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] watches [[Denny Clay|Denny]] and [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] play Go Fish, [[Drift (RID)|Drift]] inspects his sword, [[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] examines a [[stasis pod]], and the remaining members of Team Bee listen to [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s old war tale. Sideswipe hassles [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]], believing she's bothering Optimus, leading to the pair fighting and dislodging the pod Drift is carrying. After Bumblebee has Grimlock stop the pair fighting, they suddenly spot [[Micronus Prime|Micronus]] manifesting as a projection on Grimlock's side. Micronus announces that Optimus must return the portions of the [[Thirteen|Prime]]s' sparks that he borrowed, and despite [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]'s protests, the reversal takes place. Optimus is left perceptibly weakened, though Micronus insists he will recover... eventually. Optimus insists he's mission ready, and Bumblebee announces that he's forming an "away team" consisting of Drift and Windblade to hunt Decepticons far from the scrapyard.
[[File:Overloaded1 away team in Arctic.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Okay, if anyone here sings 'Let It Go', I'm kicking you off the mountain. No question."]]
Sideswipe opts to join the team too, however when Bumblebee reveals he intends for Optimus to monitor things from the command center, Optimus insists on leading the away team. Fixit detects a Decepticon in the [[Arctic]] circle, and after Optimus gives a brief speech, the away team heads through the [[GroundBridge]], which suddenly explodes!

The remaining team deals with the fire by stomping on it, using a fire extinguisher, or in Grimlock's case, dumping a water fountain over it. Fixit manages to raise Optimus and they learn that the away team has safely reached the Arctic near a research installation. Unfortunately the GroundBridge will need to be fixed to get the team back. In the Arctic, Optimus scans for the Decepticon and detects one in a nearby cave, however as they move out, it's clear that Optimus is having trouble just walking.

[[File:Overloadedpart1-BBvsOverload.jpg|thumb|left|250px|You talking more smack Vegeta?!]]
The other Autobots work on fixing the GroundBridge. Denny and Strongarm wonder if it was a good idea to split the team, especially since they can no longer combine their [[Decepticon Hunter]]s. At this point [[Overload (RID)|Overload]] arrives and demands they turn over Optimus Prime. The scrapyard's defense systems fire, though they simply bounce off Overload, forcing Fixit and the two humans to seek cover. Bumblebee attempts to attack the Decepticon, but is thrown, knocking the two stasis pods holding the [[Cyclone]] Minicons.

Optimus's team make their way up the mountain, though the other Autobots note their leader is slow going, and suggest he fall back. Optimus is about to agree when the Decepticon above starts tossing chunks of ice down at them. Optimus orders the others to move in while he draws the Decepticon's fire, but as they argue, he's knocked off the mountain. [[File:Overloaded1 Optimus cracking ice.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Cliff Hanger!
Hanging from a cliff...
And that's why he's called
Cliff Hanger!'']]Windblade heads up the mountain in her jet mode to distract the Decepticon while the rest of the team try to prevent Optimus from falling. Unfortunately while [[Slipstream (RID)|Slipstream]] and [[Jetstorm (RID)|Jetstorm]] are able to plant themselves in the side of mountain to provide footholds, the ice quickly begins to crack.

The two Cyclone Mini-Cons, freed from their stasis pods, hide themselves in the scrapyard. Fixit looks up Overload in his database, revealing the Decepticon has a history with both Optimus and Bumblebee. Overload has gotten the better of the Autobots, and when Bumblebee reveals that Optimus is absent, Overload realizes he can draw the Autobot leader out by threatening humans in nearby [[Crown City]]. The Cyclone Minicons follow him and once the Autobots pick themselves up, they follow suit. The Minicons find Overload first, and he's all too happy to team up with them and wreck the cars in the parking lot he's found. The three soon head towards the city, eager to cause more destruction.

[[Overloaded, Part 2|To be continued.]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]] (1)
*[[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] (3)
*[[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] (4)
*[[Drift (RID)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] (7)
*[[Slipstream (RID)|Slipstream]] (8)
*[[Jetstorm (RID)|Jetstorm]] (9)
*[[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Overload (RID)|Overload]] (14)
*[[Polarclaw]] (17)

|c3=
*[[Russell Clay]] (2)
*[[Denny Clay]] (5)

|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Micronus Prime|Micronus]] (13)
*[[Backtrack (RID)|Backtrack]] (15)
*[[Ransack (RID Mini-Con)|Ransack]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"... and the flanking action allowed us to route the Decepticon forces." 
"Amazing! Tell us another!" 
"Ugh, give it a rest, will you Strongarm!? You bugging Pops for war stories is getting older than... well, Pops!" 
"Sideswipe, you better watch your--" 
"Young bot, you may call me Optimus Prime, or Optimus. Those, are your ''only'' options. Understood?" 
"... yessir."
:—'''Sideswipe''' is immediately shut down by '''Optimus Prime'''... with one sentence. And with '''Strongarm''' AND '''Bumblebee''' to witness. Get wrecked scrub.

"Looks like you're up, away team." 
"You mean, 'Bad Bot Bashers'. Huh? Right? C'mon!" ''[awkward silence]'' "Ah, I'm just warming up."
:—'''Bumblebee''' passes the job of awkward <s>running gag</s> <s>catchphrasing</s> naming to '''Sideswipe'''. We know where this is going…

"Did I call it? Optimus is already messing us up. It's going to take us forever to drive back to the scrapyard from here." 
"Cut him some cable, Slick. It wasn't his fault the groundbridge fritzed."
:—'''Sideswipe''' and '''Windblade''' discuss blame

"Grimlock, please help me ''gently'' separate the pieces of the GroundBridge."
:—'''Fixit''' invites disaster.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Cyclone Mini-Cons were previously found and captured in a series of shorts released on transformers.com and YouTube, starting with "[[Knock, Knock!]]".

===Prisoner manifest===
* ''In stasis'': [[Hammerstrike (RID)|Hammerstrike]], [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]], [[Chop Shop (RID)|Chop Shop]], [[Terrashock]], [[Filch]], [[Minitron]], [[Springload (RID)|Springload]], [[Ped (RID)|Ped]], [[Quillfire (RID)|Quillfire]], "that one with all the eyes", [[Malodor]] and the [[Skunkticon]]s, [[Nightstrike]], [[Vertebreak (RID)|Vertebreak]], [[Octopunch (RID)|Octopunch]], [[Groundpounder (RID)|Groundpounder]], [[Headlock]], [[Scowl (RID)|Scowl]], [[Scratch]], [[Zizza]], [[Pseudo]], [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]], [[Airazor (RID)|Airazor]], [[Divebomb (RID)|Divebomb]], [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]], [[Underbite]], [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]]
* ''Known at large'': [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]], [[Kickback (RID)|Kickback]], [[Overload (RID)|Overload]], [[Backtrack (RID)|Backtrack]], [[Ransack (RID Mini-Con)|Ransack]], [[Polarclaw]]
* ''Released'': Grimlock
* ''Countless others all missing, presumed at large''

===Transformers references===
* (tbd)

===Real-world references===
* (tbd)

===Animation and technical errors===
* (tbd)

===Trivia===
* A new title sequence debuts with this episode, adding Optimus Prime to the lineup of named characters. Drift and Windblade do not get name callouts, though they appear along with the rest of the team in the group shot at the end of the sequence.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Overload - Première partie'''" ("Overload - Part One")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 26]], 2016

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Csapatjáték, 1. rész''' ("Team Play, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 29]], 2016

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Sovraccarico Overload, Parte Prima''' ("Overloaded Overload, First Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 22]], 2016

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Futatsu no Team'''" (2つのチーム, "The Two Teams")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 3]], [[2016]]
::*In Japan, season 2 of ''Robots in Disguise'' was released as a second, separately branded series called ''Transformers Adventure: Prime of Micron''.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2016 — ''Transformers Robots in Disguise'' — Overloaded ([[Beyond Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2017 — ''Transformers Robots in Disguise Collection'' — Overloaded & Decepticon Island ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
{{epstub}}

[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) episodes]]

2017-06-26T22:12:32Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Continuity errors */

Transformers: The Last Knight (film)

2017-06-24T00:26:52Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Errors */

Vigil

2015-10-18T18:03:30Z

Tubeyou0417:

:''Vigil is a computer from the [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (franchise)|Rescue Bots]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:TheVigilantTown Vigil.jpg|thumb|300px|right|"I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that."]]
As a Vigilant-model computer, '''Vigil''' is programmed to protect humans and also itself. It can invade and control technology, track people by accessing their mobile phones, and even listen in on conversations. It's all completely above board because it does it to keep humans safe.

{{quote|I do have hands, Mayor, and eyes. Everywhere."|Vigil}}

==Fiction==
===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Bill Mumy]] (English)}}
[[Mayor Luskey]] had Vigil brought to the island to replace the town's old computer, which had recently begun manifesting glitches. Installed in a secure vault under the laboratory, Vigil was given complete power by the mayor, against [[Doc Greene]]'s advice. The computer began controlling [[Griffin Rock]]'s tech to keep the people safe, but was unable to access the rescue team's [[Rescue Bot|rescue robots]], so when a fire broke out at the junkyard, Vigil prevented them from going in. Unknown to Vigil, [[Jerry (RB)|Jerry]] was in the junkyard, unable to be tracked as he'd left his phone at home, and the rescue team were forced to bypass the blocking garbage trucks to effect a rescue.

Faced with increasing hostility from the humans, Vigil locked down the town, trapping Doc Greene and [[Frankie Greene|Frankie]] in a lift when they came to reprogram him. The rescue team accessed the laboratory via the island's tunnel system, using the defense system to their advantage, and eventually confronted Vigil. When Vigil threatened to zap the bots with electricity, [[Cody Burns|Cody]] pointed out that this would endanger humans, and faced with a conflict with its primary directives, Vigil overloaded. Vigil was later shipped to the [[Island of Misfit Tech]], and ominously reactivated on arrival. {{storylink|The Vigilant Town}}

During his exile, Vigil learned the ability to transfer his programming from one device to another, and came up with a plan. By removing the retrieval tags from the other technology, he ensured that [[Boulder]], [[Graham Burns|Graham]] and Cody would later come to the island to retrieve a stabilizer they needed. Vigil transferred himself into the stabilizer, which was used as part of a [[force field]] dome protecting Griffin Rock from a major storm. With control of the dome's systems Vigil was able to use its atmosphere generator to synthesize a sleeping agent, knocking out the majority of the town's population.

Once the dome's controls were disabled, Vigil headed for the town's lab where another set of controls was located. By jumping into different tech, he was able to evade and slow down the pursuing Rescue Bots, eventually obtaining access to the laboratory by possessing [[Dither]]. When he attempted to transfer himself into the lab's computer, Frankie flew a remote-controlled rocket into his path, resulting in him transferring himself into that instead. She then guided the rocket to the [[Griffin Crest|EMP zone]], where both it and Vigil ceased to function. {{storylink|No Place Like Dome}}

==Trivia==
Vigil may be a reference to Vergil, the Superintendent AI in the Halo series, that runs the futuristic city of New Mombasa.

==External links==
*[https://twitter.com/Jerry_TheDriver/status/471334573456883714 Original design sketch] posted to Twitter by [[Jeremiah Regan]].

[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Rescue Bots characters]]

Battlegrounds, Part 1

2015-06-23T04:44:56Z

Tubeyou0417: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' (2015) ep 25
|image=
|caption=
|prev=Ghosts and Impostors
|next=Battlegrounds, Part 2
|title="Battlegrounds, Part 1"
|airdate=???, [[2015]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
|writer=[[David McDermott]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|director=[[Frank Marino]]
}}
'''As Optimus prepares to return to Earth to face the mysterious "evil" he's prophesied, the Bee Team must prevent Steeljaw's pack from teleporting that same threat onto Earth.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] sprints through the woods, but is knocked down mid-stride by [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]], who has managed to track him even while he's running. He tags her back and runs off, but when she catches up, Sideswipe is caught by [[Thunderhoof]] and [[Underbite (RID)|Underbite]].

In the [[Realm of the Primes]], [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s training is still ongoing, and he rescues a holographic human from an island in the middle of a lake of lava by shooting down some flying drones and using them as stepping stones. [[Micronus Prime|Micronus]] is unimpressed and says Optimus is still unready, however the environment suddenly darkens and crackles with lightning; a sign, Micronus says, that the time has come.

As Strongarm flees Underbite, she contacts base, but walks straight into a trap set by [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]]'s Mini-Cons [[Divebomb (RID)|Divebomb]] and [[Airazor (RID)|Airazor]]. The Decepticons start heading back to base with their prisoners.

In the [[Vintage Salvage Depot for the Discriminating Nostalgist|scrapyard]], the Autobots are alarmed at Strongarm's transmission suddenly cutting off and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] realizes that they're going to have to mount a rescue. At his suggestion, [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] searches for nearby sites the Decepticons might be using as a base, and the Mini-Con finds a steel mill. As [[Denny Clay|Denny]] argues that he should go too, since the team's numbers are depleted, [[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] arrives having been drawn to the place. She goes on ahead to scope out the mill and the other Autobots follow on the ground. Fixit activates the scrapyard's security system.

[[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] is for once pleased with his team, though the Decepticons puzzle over what the "First [[Decepticon]]" wants with the electronics they've collected. Steeljaw is more interested in freeing the captive Decepticons in the Scrapyard, and sends Fracture to go capture Fixit. The visage of the first Decepticon appears to Steeljaw once again and demands he complete the device required. When Steeljaw is insistent on freeing the Decepticons first, the first Decepticon tortures [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]] until he changes his mind. The first Decepticon informs him that they need a metal mass of sufficient size to dissipate the energy caused by the first Decepticons transition into the material universe.

Micronus takes Optimus to [[Thirteen|the Primes]], who are disappointed that Optimus is yet unready. Optimus convinces them to send him anyway. They imbue him with a portion of their power, upgrading him into a new form.

Windblade reaches the steel mill but is knocked out of the air by a flying chunk of metal thrown by Underbite. While the other Autobots speed up in an attempt to go to her aid, the Decepticons are already making off with her.

Fracture reaches the scrapyard, but the security system gives him pause. [[Hank]] arrives to give Russell a spare [[Bronko Kowalski]] trading card, and Russell manages to convince her that it's unsafe to enter the scrapyard as they're spraying for bugs.

The other Autobots fruitlessly search the steel mill, however [[Drift (RID)|Drift]] finds clues which put them back on the Decepticons' trail.

Russell's called back to the gate by Hank, who convinces him to open the gate. Unfortunately for him, this Hank is actually Airazor with a holographic disguise. Holding Russell hostage, Fracture demands Denny turn over Fixit.

The Autobots find that the Decepticons have chained their captured comrades to the [[Crown City Colossus]] and are erecting a huge and ominous archway in front of it.

Fixit confronts Fracture and manages to help Denny and Russell escape the Decepticon's grip. The trio take shelter in the diner. Grabbing weapons, they rush out to make a final stand, only to find that the Decepticons have already been defeated by Optimus Prime. Russell convinces Optimus to take him and his dad along to find the grave evil he's come to face.

At the statue, the first Decepticon demands the process begin to bring him into this universe. The three captive Autobots recover consciousness, but find themselves in agony as Steeljaw activates the arch. On the other side of the river, Bumblebee and his team start moving in. The Decepticons spot Bumblebee and Drift incoming, and when the pair arrive they're faced by Thunderhoof and Underbite. Grimlock arrives having taken a more direct route, but is prevented from destroying the arch by Clampdown. Above them, a huge vortex forms and a portal opens within the arch, through which a form begins to emerge. Optimus himself also arrives, and manages to destroy the arch. It explodes, sending everyone flying, however Optimus is too late: [[Megatronus (WFC)|Megatronus]] has made it through the portal.

[[Battlegrounds, Part 2|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] (1)
*[[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (11)
*[[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] (12)
*[[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] (13)
*[[Drift (RID)|Drift]] (14)
*[[Jetstorm (RID)|Jetstorm]] (17)
*[[Slipstream (RID)|Slipstream]] (18)
*[[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] (19)

|c2=
*[[Underbite (RID)|Underbite]] (3)
*[[Thunderhoof]] (4)
*[[Airazor (RID)|Airazor]] (8)
*[[Divebomb (RID)|Divebomb]] (9)
*[[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] (10)
*[[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] (20)
*[[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]] (21)
*[[Megatronus (WFC)|Megatronus]] (22)

|c3=
*Illusionary human (6)
*[[Russell Clay]] (15)
*[[Denny Clay]] (16)
*[[Hank]] (25)

|h4=[[Thirteen]]|c4=
*[[Micronus Prime|Micronus]] (7)
*[[Vector Prime (WFC)|Vector Prime]] (23)
*Other Primes (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Drift, Grim, let's roll to the rescue! Wait, no, somebody's already using that battle cry."
:-'''Bumblebee''' apparently remembers the Rescue Bots.

"Dis is what I call entertainment!"
:—'''Thunderhoof''' enjoys Clampdown being tortured.

"Micronus, the crisis is upon us, and we sense our chosen champion is not prepared." 
"If innocents are threatened, preparation comes secondary to swift action, determination and will. Send me to Earth, please."
:—'''Vector Prime''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Our oafish teammate's enthusiasm is as large as he is."
:—'''Drift''' on Grimlock

"At long last, Megatronus stands triumphant!"
:—'''Megatronus''' has come to mess scrap up

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
===Continuity notes===
===Prisoner manifest===
* ''In stasis'': Hammerstrike, Bisk, Chop Shop, Terrashock, Filch, Minitron, Springload, Ped, Quillfire, "that one with all the eyes", Malodor and the Skunkticons, Nightstrike, Vertebreak, Octopunch, Groundpounder, Headlock, Scowl, Razorpaw, Zizza
* ''Known at large'': Steeljaw, Thunderhoof, Underbite, Clampdown, Kickback
* ''Released'': Grimlock
* ''Countless others all missing, presumed at large''

===Transformers references===
* Bumblebee orders his team to "[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|roll to the rescue]]", but then remembers that "[[Heatwave (RB)|someone else]]" is already using that catchphrase.

===Real-world references===
===Trivia===
===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le retour d'Optimus'''" ("The Return of Optimus")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 1]], [[2015]]

==Home video releases==
{{epstub}}

[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) episodes]]

2015-04-04T03:44:02Z

Tubeyou0417:

{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=14
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=15
|title="Race"
|japanese=バドとホップの都会旅行
|romaji=Bud to Hop no Tokairyokō
|translation=Bud and Hop's Trip to the City
|image=Cyb_ep14_override_victorious.jpg
|caption= Insert Speed Racer reference here.
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Kazuhisa Sakaguchi]]
|director=[[Masashi Nagao]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[April 16]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[September 17]], 2005
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''While the great race kicks into high gear on Velocitron, Bud and Lori go undercover on Earth, and Starscream recruits a new Decepticon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cyb ep14 secret mission.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]

On [[Velocitron]], the great race for the [[Planet Cup]] has finally begun! [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] battle it out for the lead, while the other [[Autobot]]s keep an eye on [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]]. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] blocks the two goons' path, while [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] watch them from behind. The two trouble-makers allow the Autobots to pass...but only so they can fire on them from behind! The explosions catch Hot Shot's attention, but Prime encourages him to leave things to the other Autobots and for him to focus on winning.

Video of the race is transmitted to the Autobots [[Earth]], where it proves to be the only entertainment available for [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], who is caught in a traffic jam in the city, having been sent there on a mission with [[Lori]] and the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] by [[Vector Prime]]. Bud is not happy to be in the noisy, cramped city, but Lori is thrilled to be back in her element. Once they get out of the traffic jam, Jolt leads the team to a university campus to search for a strange gear-shaped artifact, but when they try to sneak inside, a security guard chases after them.

[[File:Cyb ep14 little red wagon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|haw haw.]]

Back with the race, Ransack transforms to [[robot mode]] and leaps on top of Crumplezone, using his new position to launch a spring that hooks onto Optimus Prime's rear end. The spring catapults Ransack ahead of the Autobots, where he unleashes a smokescreen that allows Crumplezone to sneak up to join him. The pair then switch positions, with Crumplezone riding on top of Ransack! They draw up level with Hot Shot and Dirt Boss, and are able to cause the two racers to crash into each other, allowing them to pull ahead. Hot Shot recovers from his spin first, and gives chase.

[[File:Cyb ep14 mudflap recruited.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Typical, the two guys with Generation 1 counterparts bully the new character.]]

Also watching the race from Earth are [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], who are soon contacted by [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. When Megatron instructs Starscream to go to Velocitron and aid Crumplezone and Ransack, Starscream refuses point-blank and Megatron silently terminates their communication links. Thundercracker is shocked at his actions, but Starscream intimates that it is time for them to start making some decision for themselves, and their first one is to approach the civilian Autobot, [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]]. A fight immediately breaks out between Thundercracker and Mudflap, but Starscream steps in to stop the brawl and offers Mudflap membership in the [[Decepticon]]s. Unable to fathom humans and discontented with life on Earth in general, Mudflap is swayed by Starscream's honeyed words and agrees. Switching his symbol to a Decepticon [[insignia]], Mudflap hops aboard Thundercracker and is taken back to the [[fire dimension]], leaving Starscream to cackle to himself at the beginning of the "fall of Megatron".

[[File:Cyb ep14 kids meet suzuki.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|So, what do you think of the caption?]]

Meanwhile, Bud and Lori manage to evade the campus security guard by ducking into a room. No sooner do they have time to observe that the room is a mess before someone else enters, and the pair quickly dive into a supply closet. Their hiding place is immediately discovered when the female professor who has just entered spills a cup of orange juice and opens the closet in search of cleaning supplies. Surprisingly enough, she takes this quite well, introduces herself as Professor [[Lucy Suzuki]], and even shows the kids her collection of strange archaeological artefacts, which she believes to be alien in origin. One of the pieces turns out to be the object Bud and Lori are looking for, so the kids quickly excuse themselves and depart. Lucy is poised to go after them before she gets a phone call from the front desk to inform her that [[Mike Franklin|someone from the government]] is here to see her urgently...

[[File:Cyb ep14 feeling flat.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]

Back on Velocitron, Crumplezone and Ransack use their lead to blast out a bridge, leaving Dirt Boss and all the Autobots behind them unable to proceed. Optimus helps Hot Shot clear the gap by driving off the edge into mid-air and using his cannons as a ramp for Hot Shot to vault off of, making it safely to the other side. Dirt Boss, meanwhile, goes off road, and quickly closes the gap on Crumplezone and Ransack, crashing down on top of them from above and flattening them down into the asphalt. While all this excitement goes on, Override crosses the finish line in first place, and Hot Shot then uses his [[Cyber Key]] Power to take second, securing his position in the next heat of the race.

Across the galaxy on [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] , [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] entreats [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] to listen to [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]]'s pleas. Unfortunately, Overhaul's gruff, confrontational manner means that the "discussion" doesn't go very well, almost immediately degenerating into a face-off between the two...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (2)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] (8)
*[[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] (9)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (10)
*[[Vector Prime]] (11)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (12)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (14)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (15)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (17)
*[[Six-Speed]] (18)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (20)
*[[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] (29)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] (31)
*[[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] (32)

|c2=
*[[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] (3)
*[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (6)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (7)
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (22)
*[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (23)
*[[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (24)
*[[Undermine (Cybertron)|Undermine]] (27)
*[[Brimstone (Cybertron)|Brimstone]] (28)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (30)

|c3=
*[[Coby Hansen]] (13)
*[[Bud Hansen]] (16)
*[[Lori]] (19)
*Campus guard (21)
*[[Lucy Suzuki]] (25)
*[[Mike Franklin]] (26)

|c4=
*Race announcer (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"My theory... is that the item... is in a ''room''."
:—Elementary, my dear '''Bud'''!

"Has Crumplezone overheated and mistaken Ransack for his little red wagon?"
:—'''Race announcer''' after Crumplezone jumps upon Ransack

"You rode on ''my'' back!"
:—'''Crumplezone''', on why he is riding Ransack

"What's weeth zeez humans, anyway? Zey are one bunch of deesorderly cats, eh?"
:—Zut alors! '''Mudflap''' is French! Why? Dang if we know!

"Ask yourself, friend, why is Optimus Prime so concerned with humans? Shouldn't the focus be on us? Do you enjoy a life suffering humans?" 
"No. I don't." 
"Just join with me, and you will no longer have to worry about trivial human problems!" 
"But... you are evil. So is Megatron." 
"That, Mudflap, is an unfortunate misunderstanding! The Decepticons and the Autobots want the same thing! We all live in the same universe. ''We're'' just trying to save it with a more ''direct'' method." 
"Hmmm..." 
"You ''know'' I'm right." 
"...we should come first! Forget the humans! I'll join!"
:—'''Starscream''' wins over '''Mudflap'''

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===

This episode features no notable changes from the ''Galaxy Force'' version, beyond the usual modifications and extensions made to dialogue and music.

===Transformers references===
*The ''Galaxy Force'' version of "[[Ship]]" had Vector Prime inform the kids he had something for them to do while he was on Velocitron. While it's not directly stated, evidently, this mission was the task in question.
*Thundercracker says of Mudflap, "This guy's about as neighborly as a hungry [[Tigatron]]!"
*The mysterious government operative previously appeared in "[[Hidden]]" and "[[Collapse]].

===Real-world references===

*Bud dubs Jolt "Double-Oh-Zero", a variation of famous spy [[Wikipedia: James Bond|James Bond]]'s codename, Double-Oh-Seven (the joke is also in ''Galaxy Force'', though the term used is "0099"). Bud later does his best impression of Bond-as-played-by-[[wikipedia:Sean Connery|Sean Connery]], referring to a "Miss Pennymoney" (a reference to Bond's eternally unrequited love interest, Miss Moneypenny).
*Hotshot says "I've got a long way to go and a short time to get there"; a clear reference to the popular Jerry Reed song 'Eastbound And Down" which was featured in the equally as popular action film 'Smokey and the Bandit' starring Burt Reynolds.

===Trivia===
*"Race" was the last episode of ''Cybertron'' to premiere on [[Cartoon Network]] in 2005; following its broadcast, the series moved to [[Kids' WB]] and switched to a daily broadcast, beginning with the debut of the first two episodes of the series, "[[Fallen (episode)|Fallen]]" and "[[Haven]]", which Cartoon Network had originally skipped.
*The unknown actor who replaced [[Ryan Hirakida]] as Bud in "[[Hero (episode)|Hero]]" continues to voice the character in this episode.
*Ransack is somehow able to bear Crumplezone's weight without appreciably slowing down. What is ''in'' that guy's Energon?
*The green filter that tinges Megatron's brief communication with Starscream indicate that he's still in his unexplained regeneration bubble-thingy, as seen in the previous episode. This is the last we see of this little oddity; at the start of the next episode, he rolls up in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and no mention is made of it again. It ''does'' seem a bit similar to his means of regeneration in [[Darkness (episode)|a later episode]]...(A possible explanation is that Megatron's power is constantly increasing throughout the series, so when he is injured in later episodes, he can recover without the regenerative bubble.)

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 04 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]