Death - Revision history

AzimuthAcolyte: Requiem Blaster (Megatronus) -> Requiem Blaster (Thirteen) update

2025-09-22T00:25:05Z

Requiem Blaster (Megatronus) -> Requiem Blaster (Thirteen) update

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:25, 22 September 2025
Line 219:		Line 219:
	* '''[[Sentinel Prime (disambiguation)\|Sentinel Prime]]''': As a holder of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Sentinel usually winds up falling to [[Megatron (G1)\|Megatron]] or his followers, setting up Megatron as a genuine threat capable of taking down a [[Prime (rank)\|Prime]] and forcing Optimus to take up an active role in the story as he inherits the Matrix and sets about cleaning up his predecessor's mess. This sequence of events isn't ''always'' the case, however: in [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)\|one notable story]], it's ''Optimus'' who must put down Sentinel after his predecessor goes too far.		* '''[[Sentinel Prime (disambiguation)\|Sentinel Prime]]''': As a holder of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Sentinel usually winds up falling to [[Megatron (G1)\|Megatron]] or his followers, setting up Megatron as a genuine threat capable of taking down a [[Prime (rank)\|Prime]] and forcing Optimus to take up an active role in the story as he inherits the Matrix and sets about cleaning up his predecessor's mess. This sequence of events isn't ''always'' the case, however: in [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)\|one notable story]], it's ''Optimus'' who must put down Sentinel after his predecessor goes too far.
	* '''[[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)\|Cy-Kill]]''': Throughout the early 2000s, many ''Transformers'' comics would take a pop at the defunct ''[[GoBots]]'' franchise by having Transformers murder other Cybertronians designed to resemble ''GoBots'' antagonist [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)\|Cy-Kill]], sometimes accompanied by [[Scooter (GoBots)\|Scooter]] or [[Leader-1 (GoBots)\|Leader-1]]. Eventually, however, this "running gag" garnered backlash from fans, who came to view the joke as overdone and unnecessarily mean-spirited; Hasbro's various licensees picked up on the criticism,<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=And right here, right now, I will officially declare a moratorium on the killing of Gobots. The funny thing is though, it was done more as a homage to days gone by than as a "Boo, we hate gobots"... Cause actually, we don't hate gobots, I think we in fact had a Prose story that embraced them, so yes, there is Gobot love at the TCC...\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015153222/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53396&st=20&p=1078308&#entry1078308\|name=Pete Sinclair\|site=The Allspark\|year=2008\|month=12\|day=06}}</ref> and the joke has largely fallen off in recent years.		* '''[[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)\|Cy-Kill]]''': Throughout the early 2000s, many ''Transformers'' comics would take a pop at the defunct ''[[GoBots]]'' franchise by having Transformers murder other Cybertronians designed to resemble ''GoBots'' antagonist [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)\|Cy-Kill]], sometimes accompanied by [[Scooter (GoBots)\|Scooter]] or [[Leader-1 (GoBots)\|Leader-1]]. Eventually, however, this "running gag" garnered backlash from fans, who came to view the joke as overdone and unnecessarily mean-spirited; Hasbro's various licensees picked up on the criticism,<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=And right here, right now, I will officially declare a moratorium on the killing of Gobots. The funny thing is though, it was done more as a homage to days gone by than as a "Boo, we hate gobots"... Cause actually, we don't hate gobots, I think we in fact had a Prose story that embraced them, so yes, there is Gobot love at the TCC...\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015153222/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53396&st=20&p=1078308&#entry1078308\|name=Pete Sinclair\|site=The Allspark\|year=2008\|month=12\|day=06}}</ref> and the joke has largely fallen off in recent years.
	* '''[[Solus Prime]]''': The ''Transformers: Prime'' tie-in compendium ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus\|The Covenant of Primus]]'' told the story of the [[Thirteen]] original Transformers for the first time—a tale that culminated with [[The Fallen\|Megatronus]] accidentally killing Solus Prime in a fit of rage using the [[Requiem Blaster (~~Megatronus~~)\|Requiem Blaster]] she created for him. According to the Covenant, her fallen body became the [[Well of All Sparks]], a physical passageway by which new [[Spark]]s could travel into the physical realm. For the next decade or so, basically ''every'' new incarnation of Solus Prime leaned on this backstory to varying degrees, depicting or alluding to her death over and over again, with it taking nine years to have authors take the character in new directions—in [[Transformers (2019 comic)\|IDW's ''Transformers'' reboot]], for instance, she and [[Maccadam\|Alchemist Prime]] are the ''last'' remaining members of the Thirteen, having outlived their siblings and surviving into the early years of primitive Cybertronian civilization.		* '''[[Solus Prime]]''': The ''Transformers: Prime'' tie-in compendium ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus\|The Covenant of Primus]]'' told the story of the [[Thirteen]] original Transformers for the first time—a tale that culminated with [[The Fallen\|Megatronus]] accidentally killing Solus Prime in a fit of rage using the [[Requiem Blaster (Thirteen)\|Requiem Blaster]] she created for him. According to the Covenant, her fallen body became the [[Well of All Sparks]], a physical passageway by which new [[Spark]]s could travel into the physical realm. For the next decade or so, basically ''every'' new incarnation of Solus Prime leaned on this backstory to varying degrees, depicting or alluding to her death over and over again, with it taking nine years to have authors take the character in new directions—in [[Transformers (2019 comic)\|IDW's ''Transformers'' reboot]], for instance, she and [[Maccadam\|Alchemist Prime]] are the ''last'' remaining members of the Thirteen, having outlived their siblings and surviving into the early years of primitive Cybertronian civilization.

	==References==		==References==

AzimuthAcolyte: Link update

2025-06-11T18:28:10Z

Link update

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:28, 11 June 2025
Line 219:		Line 219:
	* '''[[Sentinel Prime (disambiguation)\|Sentinel Prime]]''': As a holder of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Sentinel usually winds up falling to [[Megatron (G1)\|Megatron]] or his followers, setting up Megatron as a genuine threat capable of taking down a [[Prime (rank)\|Prime]] and forcing Optimus to take up an active role in the story as he inherits the Matrix and sets about cleaning up his predecessor's mess. This sequence of events isn't ''always'' the case, however: in [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)\|one notable story]], it's ''Optimus'' who must put down Sentinel after his predecessor goes too far.		* '''[[Sentinel Prime (disambiguation)\|Sentinel Prime]]''': As a holder of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Sentinel usually winds up falling to [[Megatron (G1)\|Megatron]] or his followers, setting up Megatron as a genuine threat capable of taking down a [[Prime (rank)\|Prime]] and forcing Optimus to take up an active role in the story as he inherits the Matrix and sets about cleaning up his predecessor's mess. This sequence of events isn't ''always'' the case, however: in [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)\|one notable story]], it's ''Optimus'' who must put down Sentinel after his predecessor goes too far.
	* '''[[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)\|Cy-Kill]]''': Throughout the early 2000s, many ''Transformers'' comics would take a pop at the defunct ''[[GoBots]]'' franchise by having Transformers murder other Cybertronians designed to resemble ''GoBots'' antagonist [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)\|Cy-Kill]], sometimes accompanied by [[Scooter (GoBots)\|Scooter]] or [[Leader-1 (GoBots)\|Leader-1]]. Eventually, however, this "running gag" garnered backlash from fans, who came to view the joke as overdone and unnecessarily mean-spirited; Hasbro's various licensees picked up on the criticism,<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=And right here, right now, I will officially declare a moratorium on the killing of Gobots. The funny thing is though, it was done more as a homage to days gone by than as a "Boo, we hate gobots"... Cause actually, we don't hate gobots, I think we in fact had a Prose story that embraced them, so yes, there is Gobot love at the TCC...\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015153222/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53396&st=20&p=1078308&#entry1078308\|name=Pete Sinclair\|site=The Allspark\|year=2008\|month=12\|day=06}}</ref> and the joke has largely fallen off in recent years.		* '''[[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)\|Cy-Kill]]''': Throughout the early 2000s, many ''Transformers'' comics would take a pop at the defunct ''[[GoBots]]'' franchise by having Transformers murder other Cybertronians designed to resemble ''GoBots'' antagonist [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)\|Cy-Kill]], sometimes accompanied by [[Scooter (GoBots)\|Scooter]] or [[Leader-1 (GoBots)\|Leader-1]]. Eventually, however, this "running gag" garnered backlash from fans, who came to view the joke as overdone and unnecessarily mean-spirited; Hasbro's various licensees picked up on the criticism,<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=And right here, right now, I will officially declare a moratorium on the killing of Gobots. The funny thing is though, it was done more as a homage to days gone by than as a "Boo, we hate gobots"... Cause actually, we don't hate gobots, I think we in fact had a Prose story that embraced them, so yes, there is Gobot love at the TCC...\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015153222/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53396&st=20&p=1078308&#entry1078308\|name=Pete Sinclair\|site=The Allspark\|year=2008\|month=12\|day=06}}</ref> and the joke has largely fallen off in recent years.
	* '''[[Solus Prime]]''': The ''Transformers: Prime'' tie-in compendium ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus\|The Covenant of Primus]]'' told the story of the [[Thirteen]] original Transformers for the first time—a tale that culminated with [[The Fallen\|Megatronus]] accidentally killing Solus Prime in a fit of rage using the [[Requiem Blaster (Megatronus)\|Requiem Blaster]] she created for him. According to the Covenant, her fallen body became the [[Well of All Sparks]], a physical passageway by which new [[Spark]]s could travel into the physical realm. For the next decade or so, basically ''every'' new incarnation of Solus Prime leaned on this backstory to varying degrees, depicting or alluding to her death over and over again, with it taking nine years to have authors take the character in new directions—in [[Transformers (2019 comic)\|IDW's ''Transformers'' reboot]], for instance, she and [[Alchemist Prime]] are the ''last'' remaining members of the Thirteen, having outlived their siblings and surviving into the early years of primitive Cybertronian civilization.		* '''[[Solus Prime]]''': The ''Transformers: Prime'' tie-in compendium ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus\|The Covenant of Primus]]'' told the story of the [[Thirteen]] original Transformers for the first time—a tale that culminated with [[The Fallen\|Megatronus]] accidentally killing Solus Prime in a fit of rage using the [[Requiem Blaster (Megatronus)\|Requiem Blaster]] she created for him. According to the Covenant, her fallen body became the [[Well of All Sparks]], a physical passageway by which new [[Spark]]s could travel into the physical realm. For the next decade or so, basically ''every'' new incarnation of Solus Prime leaned on this backstory to varying degrees, depicting or alluding to her death over and over again, with it taking nine years to have authors take the character in new directions—in [[Transformers (2019 comic)\|IDW's ''Transformers'' reboot]], for instance, she and [[Maccadam\|Alchemist Prime]] are the ''last'' remaining members of the Thirteen, having outlived their siblings and surviving into the early years of primitive Cybertronian civilization.

	==References==		==References==

Locoman: /* Hasbro and death */

2025-05-08T03:08:58Z

Hasbro and death

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 8 May 2025
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	After this point, most mainline ''Transformers'' television shows put less of an emphasis on death, and largely reserved it for various background [[generic]]s, the occasional villain, or one-off characters like [[Cliffjumper (WFC)\|''Prime'' Cliffjumper]] or [[Blurr (Cyberverse)\|''Cyberverse'' Blurr]] who perished in their debut episodes. When one of the good guys ''did'' die, they were more often than not returned to life after an episode or two—in really extreme cases, they might even return to life less than five minutes after biting the dust. Part of this comes down to Hasbro's comparatively cautious approach to contemporary brand management: after what happened last time, does anyone ''really'' think they'd permanently kill Optimus again? That said, many of these rules go out the window when it comes to series finales: as writers and showrunners strike the proverbial sets and tie up their stories without any real Hasbro input, basically ''anyone'' can die, including series mainstays. [[Endgame, Part II\|The final ''Animated'' episode]] ends with [[Prowl (Animated)\|Prowl]] giving up his own Spark to complete the [[AllSpark]], the [[The Perfect Decepticon\|''Cyberverse'' finale]] features the death of on-again-off-again protagonist [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)\|Soundwave]], while the ''Prime'' movie ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)\|Predacons Rising]]'' ends with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] sacrificing himself to reignite the [[Well of All Sparks]]... although he returns to life in [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)\|the sequel series]].		After this point, most mainline ''Transformers'' television shows put less of an emphasis on death, and largely reserved it for various background [[generic]]s, the occasional villain, or one-off characters like [[Cliffjumper (WFC)\|''Prime'' Cliffjumper]] or [[Blurr (Cyberverse)\|''Cyberverse'' Blurr]] who perished in their debut episodes. When one of the good guys ''did'' die, they were more often than not returned to life after an episode or two—in really extreme cases, they might even return to life less than five minutes after biting the dust. Part of this comes down to Hasbro's comparatively cautious approach to contemporary brand management: after what happened last time, does anyone ''really'' think they'd permanently kill Optimus again? That said, many of these rules go out the window when it comes to series finales: as writers and showrunners strike the proverbial sets and tie up their stories without any real Hasbro input, basically ''anyone'' can die, including series mainstays. [[Endgame, Part II\|The final ''Animated'' episode]] ends with [[Prowl (Animated)\|Prowl]] giving up his own Spark to complete the [[AllSpark]], the [[The Perfect Decepticon\|''Cyberverse'' finale]] features the death of on-again-off-again protagonist [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)\|Soundwave]], while the ''Prime'' movie ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)\|Predacons Rising]]'' ends with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] sacrificing himself to reignite the [[Well of All Sparks]]... although he returns to life in [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)\|the sequel series]].

	All this said, death remains a fixture in older-skewing works of ''Transformers'' fiction. The [[Movie continuity family\|live-action films]] take a relatively cavalier approach to the concept, as do the comics published by [[Dreamwave Productions]] ~~and~~ [[IDW Publishing]]. With no fixed cast to build the series around, nor any specific toylines to advertise, creators have the freedom to kill off as many characters as they want: indeed, plenty of works positively ''revel'' in the opportunity to depict violent, over-the-top gorefests where dozens of characters meet their ends, and a few stories like ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One\|Regeneration One]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Last Bot Standing\|Last Bot Standing]]'' have stretched the concept to its ultimate endpoint by depicting the final extinction of the Cybertronian race. That said, Hasbro still has some say over who lives and who dies—while writing the [[...For All Mankind\|first issue]] of IDW's [[The Transformers (IDW)\|2009 ''Transformers'' ongoing]], for instance, Hasbro vetoed author [[Mike Costa]]'s suggestion to kill off [[Bumblebee (G1)\|Bumblebee]], the most shocking death he could think of, and Ironhide ultimately wound up taking his place.<ref>[http://moonbase2.libsyn.com/webpage/the-underbase-reviews-ongoing-31 Moonbase 2 interview with Mike Costa ("Special Guest")]</ref> Of course, these attitudes can change with time and circumstance, as evidenced by Hasbro having ''no'' qualms with [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] killing off Bumblebee in the [[Transformers (2023) issue 1\|very first issue]] of the [[Energon Universe]] ''[[Transformers (2023 comic)\|Transformers]]'' series. <ref> {{citesocial\|quote=And this is actually funny, our contact over at Hasbro was also a little tired of seeing Bumblebee everywhere, and he actually asked, before he saw my script, he's like, "is there any way we can not use Bumblebee in the main line?" And I told him, I was like, "I got good news for you!" He had to go, he had to go. Sorry Bumblebee fans, sorry to let you down like that, I am so sorry.\|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUZgObXmU0&t=2545s\|name=Daniel Warren Johnson\|site=YouTube\|title=TRANSFORMERS Issue 1 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY\|year=2023\|month=10\|day=06}}</ref>		All this said, death remains a fixture in older-skewing works of ''Transformers'' fiction. The [[Movie continuity family\|live-action films]] take a relatively cavalier approach to the concept, as do the comics published by [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[IDW Publishing]], and [[Skybound Entertainment]]. With no fixed cast to build the series around, nor any specific toylines to advertise, creators have the freedom to kill off as many characters as they want: indeed, plenty of works positively ''revel'' in the opportunity to depict violent, over-the-top gorefests where dozens of characters meet their ends, and a few stories like ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One\|Regeneration One]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Last Bot Standing\|Last Bot Standing]]'' have stretched the concept to its ultimate endpoint by depicting the final extinction of the Cybertronian race. That said, Hasbro still has some say over who lives and who dies—while writing the [[...For All Mankind\|first issue]] of IDW's [[The Transformers (IDW)\|2009 ''Transformers'' ongoing]], for instance, Hasbro vetoed author [[Mike Costa]]'s suggestion to kill off [[Bumblebee (G1)\|Bumblebee]], the most shocking death he could think of, and Ironhide ultimately wound up taking his place.<ref>[http://moonbase2.libsyn.com/webpage/the-underbase-reviews-ongoing-31 Moonbase 2 interview with Mike Costa ("Special Guest")]</ref> Of course, these attitudes can change with time and circumstance, as evidenced by Hasbro having ''no'' qualms with [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] killing off Bumblebee in the [[Transformers (2023) issue 1\|very first issue]] of the [[Energon Universe]] ''[[Transformers (2023 comic)\|Transformers]]'' series. <ref> {{citesocial\|quote=And this is actually funny, our contact over at Hasbro was also a little tired of seeing Bumblebee everywhere, and he actually asked, before he saw my script, he's like, "is there any way we can not use Bumblebee in the main line?" And I told him, I was like, "I got good news for you!" He had to go, he had to go. Sorry Bumblebee fans, sorry to let you down like that, I am so sorry.\|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUZgObXmU0&t=2545s\|name=Daniel Warren Johnson\|site=YouTube\|title=TRANSFORMERS Issue 1 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY\|year=2023\|month=10\|day=06}}</ref>
	{{--}}		{{--}}

Ookalf: /* Hasbro and death */

2025-04-28T21:23:23Z

Hasbro and death

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:23, 28 April 2025
Line 20:		Line 20:
	The most infamous massacre of all, however, would be ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'''s decision to sideline vast swathes of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|concurrent cartoon]]'s cast. Within the first half hour of the film's runtime, ''many'' characters who'd starred in the show's first two seasons suffer abrupt, violent deaths, sometimes not even on camera: notable casualties include [[Prowl (G1)\|Prowl]], [[Brawn (G1)\|Brawn]], [[Ironhide (G1)\|Ironhide]], [[Wheeljack (G1)\|Wheeljack]], [[Ratchet (G1)\|Ratchet]], and, most notoriously of all, [[Optimus Prime (G1)\|Optimus Prime]] himself. Having cleared the proverbial deck, the film then pivots to follow multiple new characters with new toys to sell. In what could be called a microcosm of Hasbro's cynical approach to marketing, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)\|Ultra Magnus]] is ambushed, blasted and subsequently ripped to pieces by [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]] and the other Decepticons... but because he's a new character with a new toy to sell, the Autobots and some friendly [[Junkion (species)\|Junkion]]s repair him a few minutes later, and he returns to life none the worse for wear. Ultimately, however, Hasbro underestimated Optimus's pull: the decision to kill him off sparked a massive letter-writing campaign from young fans; Hasbro eventually backtracked, and the season three episode "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]" ended with Optimus's resurrection. However, the fiasco had taught Hasbro a valuable lesson: their target audience saw these characters as more than just interchangeable merchandise, and this, in turn, would lead to a ''much'' tighter approach to how Hasbro would advertise its characters going forward.		The most infamous massacre of all, however, would be ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'''s decision to sideline vast swathes of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|concurrent cartoon]]'s cast. Within the first half hour of the film's runtime, ''many'' characters who'd starred in the show's first two seasons suffer abrupt, violent deaths, sometimes not even on camera: notable casualties include [[Prowl (G1)\|Prowl]], [[Brawn (G1)\|Brawn]], [[Ironhide (G1)\|Ironhide]], [[Wheeljack (G1)\|Wheeljack]], [[Ratchet (G1)\|Ratchet]], and, most notoriously of all, [[Optimus Prime (G1)\|Optimus Prime]] himself. Having cleared the proverbial deck, the film then pivots to follow multiple new characters with new toys to sell. In what could be called a microcosm of Hasbro's cynical approach to marketing, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)\|Ultra Magnus]] is ambushed, blasted and subsequently ripped to pieces by [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]] and the other Decepticons... but because he's a new character with a new toy to sell, the Autobots and some friendly [[Junkion (species)\|Junkion]]s repair him a few minutes later, and he returns to life none the worse for wear. Ultimately, however, Hasbro underestimated Optimus's pull: the decision to kill him off sparked a massive letter-writing campaign from young fans; Hasbro eventually backtracked, and the season three episode "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]" ended with Optimus's resurrection. However, the fiasco had taught Hasbro a valuable lesson: their target audience saw these characters as more than just interchangeable merchandise, and this, in turn, would lead to a ''much'' tighter approach to how Hasbro would advertise its characters going forward.

	When the ''Transformers'' property returned to the airwaves in 1996, the decision to use [[computer-generated imagery]] restricted ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)\|Beast Wars]]'' to a limited pool of characters, and the introduction of "new product" meant permanently eliminating other cast members. To this end, [[Terrorsaur (BW)\|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)\|Scorponok]] unceremoniously plunged into lava in the [[Aftermath\|second season premiere]] to make room for the arrival of [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)\|Silverbolt]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)\|Quickstrike]]; not long afterwards, [[Optimus Primal (BW)\|Optimus Primal]] returned to life in a new body a mere three episodes after meeting his end in [[Other Voices, Part 2\|the first season finale]]. Anticipating that ''someone'' on the main cast would have to be swapped out for new product, the producers of the show had enough time to craft a meaningful farewell arc to [[Dinobot (BW)\|Dinobot]], a long-time series mainstay; his final episode, "[[Code of Hero]]", is widely hailed as one of the best ''Transformers'' episodes of all time.		When the ''Transformers'' property returned to the airwaves in 1996, the decision to use [[computer-generated imagery]] restricted ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)\|Beast Wars]]'' to a limited pool of characters, and the introduction of "new product" meant permanently eliminating other cast members. To this end, [[Terrorsaur (BW)\|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)\|Scorponok]] unceremoniously plunged into lava in the [[Aftermath (BW episode)\|second season premiere]] to make room for the arrival of [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)\|Silverbolt]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)\|Quickstrike]]; not long afterwards, [[Optimus Primal (BW)\|Optimus Primal]] returned to life in a new body a mere three episodes after meeting his end in [[Other Voices, Part 2\|the first season finale]]. Anticipating that ''someone'' on the main cast would have to be swapped out for new product, the producers of the show had enough time to craft a meaningful farewell arc to [[Dinobot (BW)\|Dinobot]], a long-time series mainstay; his final episode, "[[Code of Hero]]", is widely hailed as one of the best ''Transformers'' episodes of all time.

	After this point, most mainline ''Transformers'' television shows put less of an emphasis on death, and largely reserved it for various background [[generic]]s, the occasional villain, or one-off characters like [[Cliffjumper (WFC)\|''Prime'' Cliffjumper]] or [[Blurr (Cyberverse)\|''Cyberverse'' Blurr]] who perished in their debut episodes. When one of the good guys ''did'' die, they were more often than not returned to life after an episode or two—in really extreme cases, they might even return to life less than five minutes after biting the dust. Part of this comes down to Hasbro's comparatively cautious approach to contemporary brand management: after what happened last time, does anyone ''really'' think they'd permanently kill Optimus again? That said, many of these rules go out the window when it comes to series finales: as writers and showrunners strike the proverbial sets and tie up their stories without any real Hasbro input, basically ''anyone'' can die, including series mainstays. [[Endgame, Part II\|The final ''Animated'' episode]] ends with [[Prowl (Animated)\|Prowl]] giving up his own Spark to complete the [[AllSpark]], the [[The Perfect Decepticon\|''Cyberverse'' finale]] features the death of on-again-off-again protagonist [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)\|Soundwave]], while the ''Prime'' movie ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)\|Predacons Rising]]'' ends with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] sacrificing himself to reignite the [[Well of All Sparks]]... although he returns to life in [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)\|the sequel series]].		After this point, most mainline ''Transformers'' television shows put less of an emphasis on death, and largely reserved it for various background [[generic]]s, the occasional villain, or one-off characters like [[Cliffjumper (WFC)\|''Prime'' Cliffjumper]] or [[Blurr (Cyberverse)\|''Cyberverse'' Blurr]] who perished in their debut episodes. When one of the good guys ''did'' die, they were more often than not returned to life after an episode or two—in really extreme cases, they might even return to life less than five minutes after biting the dust. Part of this comes down to Hasbro's comparatively cautious approach to contemporary brand management: after what happened last time, does anyone ''really'' think they'd permanently kill Optimus again? That said, many of these rules go out the window when it comes to series finales: as writers and showrunners strike the proverbial sets and tie up their stories without any real Hasbro input, basically ''anyone'' can die, including series mainstays. [[Endgame, Part II\|The final ''Animated'' episode]] ends with [[Prowl (Animated)\|Prowl]] giving up his own Spark to complete the [[AllSpark]], the [[The Perfect Decepticon\|''Cyberverse'' finale]] features the death of on-again-off-again protagonist [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)\|Soundwave]], while the ''Prime'' movie ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)\|Predacons Rising]]'' ends with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] sacrificing himself to reignite the [[Well of All Sparks]]... although he returns to life in [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)\|the sequel series]].

Ookalf: /* Melting */

2025-03-13T22:59:07Z

Melting

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:59, 13 March 2025
Line 98:		Line 98:
	Most Cybertronians are made out of metal. Although the [[Living metal\|exotic alloys]] that constitute their biology can withstand extremes of heat, cold, and pressure, prolonged exposure to extremely high temperatures—such as the molten rock found in active volcanoes, or the searing cauldron of liquid metals that constitute the dreaded [[smelting pool]]s—will fatally reduce the average Transformer to a smouldering heap of white-hot liquid. More insidiously, Cybertronians have also demonstrated a susceptibility to certain acidic compounds strong enough to punch their way through Cybertronian armor plating; given enough time to fester, they can seep into vital internal components, compromise their structural integrity, and fatally damage their targets.		Most Cybertronians are made out of metal. Although the [[Living metal\|exotic alloys]] that constitute their biology can withstand extremes of heat, cold, and pressure, prolonged exposure to extremely high temperatures—such as the molten rock found in active volcanoes, or the searing cauldron of liquid metals that constitute the dreaded [[smelting pool]]s—will fatally reduce the average Transformer to a smouldering heap of white-hot liquid. More insidiously, Cybertronians have also demonstrated a susceptibility to certain acidic compounds strong enough to punch their way through Cybertronian armor plating; given enough time to fester, they can seep into vital internal components, compromise their structural integrity, and fatally damage their targets.

	Much like disintegration, melting a Transformer is generally regarded as a foolproof way to kill them for good—after all, many forms of resurrection hinge on piecing their broken bodies back together again, so liquefying their remains ensures that there simply won't ''be'' anything left to repair. On the other hand, sending a character plummeting to an uncertain doom ''can'' open the road for a later writer to reveal that they somehow escaped their predicament; when [[Terrorsaur (BW)\|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)\|Scorponok]] perished in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)\|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Aftermath]]", the writers deliberately showed them beginning to change into [[Transmetal]] forms, a convenient "out" in case they decided to bring them back, even though this possibility never came to pass.		Much like disintegration, melting a Transformer is generally regarded as a foolproof way to kill them for good—after all, many forms of resurrection hinge on piecing their broken bodies back together again, so liquefying their remains ensures that there simply won't ''be'' anything left to repair. On the other hand, sending a character plummeting to an uncertain doom ''can'' open the road for a later writer to reveal that they somehow escaped their predicament; when [[Terrorsaur (BW)\|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)\|Scorponok]] perished in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)\|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Aftermath (BW episode)\|Aftermath]]", the writers deliberately showed them beginning to change into [[Transmetal]] forms, a convenient "out" in case they decided to bring them back, even though this possibility never came to pass.
	{{--}}		{{--}}

Cyberlink420 at 03:48, 6 January 2025

2025-01-06T03:48:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:48, 6 January 2025
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	[[File:TFTM-DeathofOptimusPrime.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright=2\|And lo, the children did weep~~. They wept hard too~~.]]		[[File:TFTM-DeathofOptimusPrime.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright=2\|And lo, the children did weep.]]

	''Transformers'' is a children's franchise, but most works of ''Transformers'' fiction are stories of war. This means that the '''death''' of major and minor characters often figures into the fiction.		''Transformers'' is a children's franchise, but most works of ''Transformers'' fiction are stories of war. This means that the '''death''' of major and minor characters often figures into the fiction.

Cyberlink420: Undo revision 1740998 by LordGalvatronYT (talk) Energon eaters have never been actually shown to kill a Transformer; just put them into stasis.

2024-01-16T23:56:21Z

Undo revision 1740998 by LordGalvatronYT (talk) Energon eaters have never been actually shown to kill a Transformer; just put them into stasis.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:56, 16 January 2024
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	It may seem strange that robotic beings like Transformers could contract illnesses of their own, but different works of ''Transformers'' fiction have established that Cybertronians are living mechanical beings whose systems more closely mimic a living organism's than a mundane machine. As a result, they are susceptible to a range of illnesses and ailments; if not properly treated, these diseases can gradually sap away their strength, impede the functionality of their bodies, and, in the worst case scenario, even prove fatal. Ailments like [[Red Rust]], [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], and [[Corrodia Gravis]] painfully oxidize their metallic bodies, more aggressive pathogens can immediately corrode them to nothing, and some diseases like [[Cybercrosis]] attack the spark itself.		It may seem strange that robotic beings like Transformers could contract illnesses of their own, but different works of ''Transformers'' fiction have established that Cybertronians are living mechanical beings whose systems more closely mimic a living organism's than a mundane machine. As a result, they are susceptible to a range of illnesses and ailments; if not properly treated, these diseases can gradually sap away their strength, impede the functionality of their bodies, and, in the worst case scenario, even prove fatal. Ailments like [[Red Rust]], [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], and [[Corrodia Gravis]] painfully oxidize their metallic bodies, more aggressive pathogens can immediately corrode them to nothing, and some diseases like [[Cybercrosis]] attack the spark itself.

	While rare, some life-forms prey upon or parasitize Cybertronians—and some Transformers who adopt a [[beast mode]] might well indulge their new instincts by hunting down and devouring other members of their species. Alien predators like [[Scraplet]]s, [[rust worm]]s, or the [[Mecannibal]]s can devour Cybertronians in a matter of minutes; more exotic creatures like [[limbo parasite]]s can telepathically attack them. Even organic creatures can pose a threat to an unwary Transformer; alien predators like the [[chaosteros]] or Earth [[dinosaur (dinosaur)\|dinosaur]]s have displayed the capability to bite through Cybertronian armor~~. [[Energon eater\|Energom Eaters]] can drain their Energon to the point of dying of loss Energon~~.		While rare, some life-forms prey upon or parasitize Cybertronians—and some Transformers who adopt a [[beast mode]] might well indulge their new instincts by hunting down and devouring other members of their species. Alien predators like [[Scraplet]]s, [[rust worm]]s, or the [[Mecannibal]]s can devour Cybertronians in a matter of minutes; more exotic creatures like [[limbo parasite]]s can telepathically attack them. Even organic creatures can pose a threat to an unwary Transformer; alien predators like the [[chaosteros]] or Earth [[dinosaur (dinosaur)\|dinosaur]]s have displayed the capability to bite through Cybertronian armor.
	{{--}}		{{--}}

LordGalvatronYT: /* Diseases and predators */ Cleared it up. Energon Eaters could kill them if they drain their energy to point of dying of lack of Energon.

2024-01-16T23:49:33Z

Diseases and predators: Cleared it up. Energon Eaters could kill them if they drain their energy to point of dying of lack of Energon.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:49, 16 January 2024
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	It may seem strange that robotic beings like Transformers could contract illnesses of their own, but different works of ''Transformers'' fiction have established that Cybertronians are living mechanical beings whose systems more closely mimic a living organism's than a mundane machine. As a result, they are susceptible to a range of illnesses and ailments; if not properly treated, these diseases can gradually sap away their strength, impede the functionality of their bodies, and, in the worst case scenario, even prove fatal. Ailments like [[Red Rust]], [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], and [[Corrodia Gravis]] painfully oxidize their metallic bodies, more aggressive pathogens can immediately corrode them to nothing, and some diseases like [[Cybercrosis]] attack the spark itself.		It may seem strange that robotic beings like Transformers could contract illnesses of their own, but different works of ''Transformers'' fiction have established that Cybertronians are living mechanical beings whose systems more closely mimic a living organism's than a mundane machine. As a result, they are susceptible to a range of illnesses and ailments; if not properly treated, these diseases can gradually sap away their strength, impede the functionality of their bodies, and, in the worst case scenario, even prove fatal. Ailments like [[Red Rust]], [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], and [[Corrodia Gravis]] painfully oxidize their metallic bodies, more aggressive pathogens can immediately corrode them to nothing, and some diseases like [[Cybercrosis]] attack the spark itself.

	While rare, some life-forms prey upon or parasitize Cybertronians—and some Transformers who adopt a [[beast mode]] might well indulge their new instincts by hunting down and devouring other members of their species. Alien predators like [[Scraplet]]s, [[rust worm]]s, or the [[Mecannibal]]s can devour Cybertronians in a matter of minutes; more exotic creatures like [[limbo parasite]]s can telepathically attack them. Even organic creatures can pose a threat to an unwary Transformer; alien predators like the [[chaosteros]] or Earth [[dinosaur (dinosaur)\|dinosaur]]s have displayed the capability to bite through Cybertronian armor.		While rare, some life-forms prey upon or parasitize Cybertronians—and some Transformers who adopt a [[beast mode]] might well indulge their new instincts by hunting down and devouring other members of their species. Alien predators like [[Scraplet]]s, [[rust worm]]s, or the [[Mecannibal]]s can devour Cybertronians in a matter of minutes; more exotic creatures like [[limbo parasite]]s can telepathically attack them. Even organic creatures can pose a threat to an unwary Transformer; alien predators like the [[chaosteros]] or Earth [[dinosaur (dinosaur)\|dinosaur]]s have displayed the capability to bite through Cybertronian armor. [[Energon eater\|Energom Eaters]] can drain their Energon to the point of dying of loss Energon.
	{{--}}		{{--}}

Cyberlink420: Energon eaters drain their energon; they don't eat them.

2024-01-16T23:30:18Z

Energon eaters drain their energon; they don't eat them.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:30, 16 January 2024
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	With the right weapons and technical know-how, one can damage a Transformer's physical structure, and even take them out of action for a prolonged period. However, thanks to their durable physiologies and their capability to pull themselves back together from even the most grievous injuries, it's difficult—and, depending on the universe, sometimes nearly impossible—to permanently ''keep'' them down; sometimes, the only way to permanently put a Cybertronian down for good is to completely obliterate their physical body in one go, reducing them to nothing but atoms, ash, and a few metal flakes.		With the right weapons and technical know-how, one can damage a Transformer's physical structure, and even take them out of action for a prolonged period. However, thanks to their durable physiologies and their capability to pull themselves back together from even the most grievous injuries, it's difficult—and, depending on the universe, sometimes nearly impossible—to permanently ''keep'' them down; sometimes, the only way to permanently put a Cybertronian down for good is to completely obliterate their physical body in one go, reducing them to nothing but atoms, ash, and a few metal flakes.

	This is easier said than done, however: across the vast [[multiverse]], there are very few beings who wield the kind of high-powered weapons required to instantly atomize a Cybertronian ~~such as [[Antimatter]]~~. Some pathogens such as [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], [[Ore-2]], and [[alchemical virus]]es cause fatal damage by gradually decaying their bodies from within; however, most Transformers who perish in this way are killed by astronomically powerful beings of supernatural origin, who can channel vast amounts of power required to instantly disintegrate a Cybertronian: common culprits include [[Unicron]], [[Primus]], and the [[Vok]], and empowered servants such as [[Tigerhawk]] and [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]], who can channel a fraction of their creator's power. Additionally, Cybertronians have demonstrated a marked weakness to [[magic]] and other forms of paranormal energy; even brief exposure to certain spells or artifacts can cause a Cybertronian to fatally crumble away.		This is easier said than done, however: across the vast [[multiverse]], there are very few beings who wield the kind of high-powered weapons required to instantly atomize a Cybertronian. Some pathogens such as [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], [[Ore-2]], and [[alchemical virus]]es cause fatal damage by gradually decaying their bodies from within; however, most Transformers who perish in this way are killed by astronomically powerful beings of supernatural origin, who can channel vast amounts of power required to instantly disintegrate a Cybertronian: common culprits include [[Unicron]], [[Primus]], and the [[Vok]], and empowered servants such as [[Tigerhawk]] and [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]], who can channel a fraction of their creator's power. Additionally, Cybertronians have demonstrated a marked weakness to [[magic]] and other forms of paranormal energy; even brief exposure to certain spells or artifacts can cause a Cybertronian to fatally crumble away.

	{{--}}		{{--}}

Line 115:		Line 114:
	It may seem strange that robotic beings like Transformers could contract illnesses of their own, but different works of ''Transformers'' fiction have established that Cybertronians are living mechanical beings whose systems more closely mimic a living organism's than a mundane machine. As a result, they are susceptible to a range of illnesses and ailments; if not properly treated, these diseases can gradually sap away their strength, impede the functionality of their bodies, and, in the worst case scenario, even prove fatal. Ailments like [[Red Rust]], [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], and [[Corrodia Gravis]] painfully oxidize their metallic bodies, more aggressive pathogens can immediately corrode them to nothing, and some diseases like [[Cybercrosis]] attack the spark itself.		It may seem strange that robotic beings like Transformers could contract illnesses of their own, but different works of ''Transformers'' fiction have established that Cybertronians are living mechanical beings whose systems more closely mimic a living organism's than a mundane machine. As a result, they are susceptible to a range of illnesses and ailments; if not properly treated, these diseases can gradually sap away their strength, impede the functionality of their bodies, and, in the worst case scenario, even prove fatal. Ailments like [[Red Rust]], [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], and [[Corrodia Gravis]] painfully oxidize their metallic bodies, more aggressive pathogens can immediately corrode them to nothing, and some diseases like [[Cybercrosis]] attack the spark itself.

	While rare, some life-forms prey upon or parasitize Cybertronians—and some Transformers who adopt a [[beast mode]] might well indulge their new instincts by hunting down and devouring other members of their species. Alien predators like [[Scraplet]]s, [[rust worm]]s, ~~[[Energon Eater\|Energon Eaters]]~~or the [[Mecannibal]]s can devour Cybertronians in a matter of minutes; more exotic creatures like [[limbo parasite]]s can telepathically attack them. Even organic creatures can pose a threat to an unwary Transformer; alien predators like the [[chaosteros]] or Earth [[dinosaur (dinosaur)\|dinosaur]]s have displayed the capability to bite through Cybertronian armor.		While rare, some life-forms prey upon or parasitize Cybertronians—and some Transformers who adopt a [[beast mode]] might well indulge their new instincts by hunting down and devouring other members of their species. Alien predators like [[Scraplet]]s, [[rust worm]]s, or the [[Mecannibal]]s can devour Cybertronians in a matter of minutes; more exotic creatures like [[limbo parasite]]s can telepathically attack them. Even organic creatures can pose a threat to an unwary Transformer; alien predators like the [[chaosteros]] or Earth [[dinosaur (dinosaur)\|dinosaur]]s have displayed the capability to bite through Cybertronian armor.
	{{--}}		{{--}}

LordGalvatronYT: /* Disintegration */

2024-01-16T23:21:06Z

Disintegration

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:21, 16 January 2024
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	With the right weapons and technical know-how, one can damage a Transformer's physical structure, and even take them out of action for a prolonged period. However, thanks to their durable physiologies and their capability to pull themselves back together from even the most grievous injuries, it's difficult—and, depending on the universe, sometimes nearly impossible—to permanently ''keep'' them down; sometimes, the only way to permanently put a Cybertronian down for good is to completely obliterate their physical body in one go, reducing them to nothing but atoms, ash, and a few metal flakes.		With the right weapons and technical know-how, one can damage a Transformer's physical structure, and even take them out of action for a prolonged period. However, thanks to their durable physiologies and their capability to pull themselves back together from even the most grievous injuries, it's difficult—and, depending on the universe, sometimes nearly impossible—to permanently ''keep'' them down; sometimes, the only way to permanently put a Cybertronian down for good is to completely obliterate their physical body in one go, reducing them to nothing but atoms, ash, and a few metal flakes.

	This is easier said than done, however: across the vast [[multiverse]], there are very few beings who wield the kind of high-powered weapons required to instantly atomize a Cybertronian. Some pathogens such as [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], [[Ore-2]], and [[alchemical virus]]es cause fatal damage by gradually decaying their bodies from within; however, most Transformers who perish in this way are killed by astronomically powerful beings of supernatural origin, who can channel vast amounts of power required to instantly disintegrate a Cybertronian: common culprits include [[Unicron]], [[Primus]], and the [[Vok]], and empowered servants such as [[Tigerhawk]] and [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]], who can channel a fraction of their creator's power. Additionally, Cybertronians have demonstrated a marked weakness to [[magic]] and other forms of paranormal energy; even brief exposure to certain spells or artifacts can cause a Cybertronian to fatally crumble away.		This is easier said than done, however: across the vast [[multiverse]], there are very few beings who wield the kind of high-powered weapons required to instantly atomize a Cybertronian such as [[Antimatter]]. Some pathogens such as [[Cosmic Rust (disease)\|Cosmic Rust]], [[Ore-2]], and [[alchemical virus]]es cause fatal damage by gradually decaying their bodies from within; however, most Transformers who perish in this way are killed by astronomically powerful beings of supernatural origin, who can channel vast amounts of power required to instantly disintegrate a Cybertronian: common culprits include [[Unicron]], [[Primus]], and the [[Vok]], and empowered servants such as [[Tigerhawk]] and [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]], who can channel a fraction of their creator's power. Additionally, Cybertronians have demonstrated a marked weakness to [[magic]] and other forms of paranormal energy; even brief exposure to certain spells or artifacts can cause a Cybertronian to fatally crumble away.

	{{--}}		{{--}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:23, 28 April 2025
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	The most infamous massacre of all, however, would be ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'''s decision to sideline vast swathes of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|concurrent cartoon]]'s cast. Within the first half hour of the film's runtime, ''many'' characters who'd starred in the show's first two seasons suffer abrupt, violent deaths, sometimes not even on camera: notable casualties include [[Prowl (G1)\|Prowl]], [[Brawn (G1)\|Brawn]], [[Ironhide (G1)\|Ironhide]], [[Wheeljack (G1)\|Wheeljack]], [[Ratchet (G1)\|Ratchet]], and, most notoriously of all, [[Optimus Prime (G1)\|Optimus Prime]] himself. Having cleared the proverbial deck, the film then pivots to follow multiple new characters with new toys to sell. In what could be called a microcosm of Hasbro's cynical approach to marketing, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)\|Ultra Magnus]] is ambushed, blasted and subsequently ripped to pieces by [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]] and the other Decepticons... but because he's a new character with a new toy to sell, the Autobots and some friendly [[Junkion (species)\|Junkion]]s repair him a few minutes later, and he returns to life none the worse for wear. Ultimately, however, Hasbro underestimated Optimus's pull: the decision to kill him off sparked a massive letter-writing campaign from young fans; Hasbro eventually backtracked, and the season three episode "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]" ended with Optimus's resurrection. However, the fiasco had taught Hasbro a valuable lesson: their target audience saw these characters as more than just interchangeable merchandise, and this, in turn, would lead to a ''much'' tighter approach to how Hasbro would advertise its characters going forward.		The most infamous massacre of all, however, would be ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'''s decision to sideline vast swathes of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|concurrent cartoon]]'s cast. Within the first half hour of the film's runtime, ''many'' characters who'd starred in the show's first two seasons suffer abrupt, violent deaths, sometimes not even on camera: notable casualties include [[Prowl (G1)\|Prowl]], [[Brawn (G1)\|Brawn]], [[Ironhide (G1)\|Ironhide]], [[Wheeljack (G1)\|Wheeljack]], [[Ratchet (G1)\|Ratchet]], and, most notoriously of all, [[Optimus Prime (G1)\|Optimus Prime]] himself. Having cleared the proverbial deck, the film then pivots to follow multiple new characters with new toys to sell. In what could be called a microcosm of Hasbro's cynical approach to marketing, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)\|Ultra Magnus]] is ambushed, blasted and subsequently ripped to pieces by [[Galvatron (G1)\|Galvatron]] and the other Decepticons... but because he's a new character with a new toy to sell, the Autobots and some friendly [[Junkion (species)\|Junkion]]s repair him a few minutes later, and he returns to life none the worse for wear. Ultimately, however, Hasbro underestimated Optimus's pull: the decision to kill him off sparked a massive letter-writing campaign from young fans; Hasbro eventually backtracked, and the season three episode "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]" ended with Optimus's resurrection. However, the fiasco had taught Hasbro a valuable lesson: their target audience saw these characters as more than just interchangeable merchandise, and this, in turn, would lead to a ''much'' tighter approach to how Hasbro would advertise its characters going forward.

	When the ''Transformers'' property returned to the airwaves in 1996, the decision to use [[computer-generated imagery]] restricted ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)\|Beast Wars]]'' to a limited pool of characters, and the introduction of "new product" meant permanently eliminating other cast members. To this end, [[Terrorsaur (BW)\|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)\|Scorponok]] unceremoniously plunged into lava in the [[Aftermath\|second season premiere]] to make room for the arrival of [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)\|Silverbolt]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)\|Quickstrike]]; not long afterwards, [[Optimus Primal (BW)\|Optimus Primal]] returned to life in a new body a mere three episodes after meeting his end in [[Other Voices, Part 2\|the first season finale]]. Anticipating that ''someone'' on the main cast would have to be swapped out for new product, the producers of the show had enough time to craft a meaningful farewell arc to [[Dinobot (BW)\|Dinobot]], a long-time series mainstay; his final episode, "[[Code of Hero]]", is widely hailed as one of the best ''Transformers'' episodes of all time.		When the ''Transformers'' property returned to the airwaves in 1996, the decision to use [[computer-generated imagery]] restricted ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)\|Beast Wars]]'' to a limited pool of characters, and the introduction of "new product" meant permanently eliminating other cast members. To this end, [[Terrorsaur (BW)\|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)\|Scorponok]] unceremoniously plunged into lava in the [[Aftermath (BW episode)\|second season premiere]] to make room for the arrival of [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)\|Silverbolt]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)\|Quickstrike]]; not long afterwards, [[Optimus Primal (BW)\|Optimus Primal]] returned to life in a new body a mere three episodes after meeting his end in [[Other Voices, Part 2\|the first season finale]]. Anticipating that ''someone'' on the main cast would have to be swapped out for new product, the producers of the show had enough time to craft a meaningful farewell arc to [[Dinobot (BW)\|Dinobot]], a long-time series mainstay; his final episode, "[[Code of Hero]]", is widely hailed as one of the best ''Transformers'' episodes of all time.

	After this point, most mainline ''Transformers'' television shows put less of an emphasis on death, and largely reserved it for various background [[generic]]s, the occasional villain, or one-off characters like [[Cliffjumper (WFC)\|''Prime'' Cliffjumper]] or [[Blurr (Cyberverse)\|''Cyberverse'' Blurr]] who perished in their debut episodes. When one of the good guys ''did'' die, they were more often than not returned to life after an episode or two—in really extreme cases, they might even return to life less than five minutes after biting the dust. Part of this comes down to Hasbro's comparatively cautious approach to contemporary brand management: after what happened last time, does anyone ''really'' think they'd permanently kill Optimus again? That said, many of these rules go out the window when it comes to series finales: as writers and showrunners strike the proverbial sets and tie up their stories without any real Hasbro input, basically ''anyone'' can die, including series mainstays. [[Endgame, Part II\|The final ''Animated'' episode]] ends with [[Prowl (Animated)\|Prowl]] giving up his own Spark to complete the [[AllSpark]], the [[The Perfect Decepticon\|''Cyberverse'' finale]] features the death of on-again-off-again protagonist [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)\|Soundwave]], while the ''Prime'' movie ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)\|Predacons Rising]]'' ends with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] sacrificing himself to reignite the [[Well of All Sparks]]... although he returns to life in [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)\|the sequel series]].		After this point, most mainline ''Transformers'' television shows put less of an emphasis on death, and largely reserved it for various background [[generic]]s, the occasional villain, or one-off characters like [[Cliffjumper (WFC)\|''Prime'' Cliffjumper]] or [[Blurr (Cyberverse)\|''Cyberverse'' Blurr]] who perished in their debut episodes. When one of the good guys ''did'' die, they were more often than not returned to life after an episode or two—in really extreme cases, they might even return to life less than five minutes after biting the dust. Part of this comes down to Hasbro's comparatively cautious approach to contemporary brand management: after what happened last time, does anyone ''really'' think they'd permanently kill Optimus again? That said, many of these rules go out the window when it comes to series finales: as writers and showrunners strike the proverbial sets and tie up their stories without any real Hasbro input, basically ''anyone'' can die, including series mainstays. [[Endgame, Part II\|The final ''Animated'' episode]] ends with [[Prowl (Animated)\|Prowl]] giving up his own Spark to complete the [[AllSpark]], the [[The Perfect Decepticon\|''Cyberverse'' finale]] features the death of on-again-off-again protagonist [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)\|Soundwave]], while the ''Prime'' movie ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)\|Predacons Rising]]'' ends with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] sacrificing himself to reignite the [[Well of All Sparks]]... although he returns to life in [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)\|the sequel series]].