Springer (ROTF)

The name or term "Springer" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Springer (disambiguation).

Springer is an Autobot from the Movie continuity family.

Up, up, and awaaaaaayyyy!

Springer is not one of the more skillful bots, and in a fight he only has his formidable brute force to rely on. That might be a disadvantage but, while he's only ever risen to the middle of the Autobots ranks, he's still got smarts. Using his smarts, he's able to come up with ways of using his strength and firepower that the enemy won't see coming. This has given him one hell of a reputation, one that makes him sound more monstrous and stubborn that he really is. Don't believe everything you hear though: he's not an ogre, he's just a soldier. A soldier's soldier, having a combat record to be proud of!

First rule of engagement: know your enemy. Second rule of engagement... do the unexpected!Springer, "Rules of Engagement"

Fiction

Titan Revenge of the Fallen comic

Springer was summoned to Earth to finish training the cadets Jolt, Dune Runner, and Rollbar; he taught them his two ground rules, to know your enemy and to do the unexpected (as the enemy would know you!). While Rollbar and Dune Runner would be too intimidated to say anything, Jolt spoke up and requested they be given real combat duties, and Springer duly got them on some. When Tankor tried to raid a NEST facility at the Alamo, Springer headed for the area and brought the cadets with him.

Knowing Tankor wouldn't expect a direct assault when he had hostages, Springer duly made such an assault, giving the cadets cover to free hostages. However, he learnt too late that Tankor was partnered with Dirge and was badly crippled. He would've been shot down if Jolt hadn't disobeyed orders and attacked Tankor. Afterwards, Springer tried to chew out the cadet for disobeying orders... but Jolt just replied that he'd been doing the unexpected. Springer had expected him to follow orders, so he hadn't! The chopper could only sigh at this. Rules of Engagement

During a Decepticon jailbreak in South Africa, Springer was sent to assist the local Autobots... but once they were saved, his team had to let the Decepticons leave to prevent civilian deaths. Inside Out!

Springer would back up Bumblebee's deniable stealth unit, quietly picking up its members and the remains of defeated Decepticons so humans would remain unaware. Shadow War Thanks to intell gained from that op, the Autobots were able to locate Bludgeon's command hub in Russia and Springer joined the Autobot/NEST strike team there. However, their mission was betrayed: the Decepticons ambushed the team and Springer was shot out of the sky. Divided Loyalties

Toys

Revenge of the Fallen

Ditched to make room for a redeco.

• Autobot Springer (Legends Class, 2009)

• Takara ID number: EZ-08
• Takara release date: June 27, 2009
• Known designers: Andrew Scribner (deco artist)

Part of the first wave of Revenge of the Fallen Legends Class figures, Springer is an olive drab and dark gray V-22 Osprey helicopter. He has "5PR1N63R" printed on the tops of his wings. His twin engines do not pivot upward like a real Osprey, but the propellers themselves can be flipped up to approximate VTOL capability. In a surprising bit of attention to detail, the port and starboard rotors have opposite "handedness", just like a real aircraft.

The stock photography for this toy is considerably brighter in color, with a bright base green colors and rich forest green, instead of the final version's far more muted palette.

This mold was also used to make Blades from the Kmart-exclusive "War for the Skies" battlepack, as well as the Transformers (2010) Duststorm. It is also the model for the non-toy character Tachikawa Prime.

• More information on Springer at TFU.info

EZ Collection Real

Springer, Agent of HYDRA

• Springer (Real Color Ver) (2011)

• Springer (Metallic Color Ver) (2011)

Released as part of The blindpacked EZ Collection Real by TakaraTomy's "TakaraTomy A.R.T.S", this Springer is a redeco of the Revenge of the Fallen Legends Class figure. Like his EZ Collection Real brethren, Springer comes with two different variants: The "Real Color" features a flat shade on the plastic colors and paint, while the "Metallic Color" features metallic paint and plastic instead.

Merchandise

Robot Heroes

I'm in the first wave! I must be important!

• Autobot Springer & Starscream (Two-pack, 2009)

• Known designers: Marcelo Matere (concept artist)

Springer is part of the first wave of Revenge of the Fallen Robot Heroes figures, packaged with a redecoed Starscream. He has articulation at both shoulders.

• More information on Robot Heroes Springer at TFU.info

Notes

I've got better things to do tonight than appear in the actual movie!

• According to Hasbro's Saturday panel at BotCon 2009, Springer was to be an on-screen character in Revenge of the Fallen, but was later dropped. Ben Procter—who designed the character then dubbed "Osprey"—clarifies on his online portfolio that Springer would have transported Jetfire to Egypt in an earlier version of the script, only to be dropped once the old man's space bridge ability was written in.
• The decision to drop Springer from the movie must have come somewhat late in the development process—both his toys were released in the first wave of the respective assortments!
• "Osprey" also strongly influenced Alex Milne's design for Incinerator (another Osprey Transformer) in IDW Publishing's Alliance comic, as well as toyline Autobot Blazemaster.
• Springer is the third Osprey Transformer in the movieverse, the other two being Incinerator and Ruination. (Only three Osprey helicopters were part of the United States Air Force inventory at the time of the first film's release, two of them appearing in the film itself. As of May 2009, there's four of 'em...but the Marines have, like, 150 of 'em.)
• Given that the real Osprey is 60 feet long, Springer (like most aircraft Transformers) would be rather large if scale was attended to. Yet his only toys are in the smallest size classes. He's actually in pretty good scale with the Legends version of Devastator.