Starscream (Animated)

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

Starscream is a Decepticon from the Animated continuity family.

Special skills: barefist fighting backstabbing, aggressive negotiation, dramatic oratory, self-resurrection, clone production, chin-stroking.

Starscream is easily as accomplished, powerful and deserving of leadership as Megatron. At least, that's what he thinks. Power-hungry and driven by jealousy, Starscream operates through three ideals: lying, manipulation, and deception. And when all else fails, a bit of sabotage never goes astray. Wise bots are careful about turning their backs on Starscream, just in case it's the day he finally decides to shove in the knife.

Though not as powerful as Megatron (despite what he thinks of himself), Starscream is by no means a wimp. His weapons can demolish large buildings, and he can fly around so fast that he can break free of Ratchet's magnetic powers. Unfortunately, all these abilities are offset by an enormous ego and the tendency to make long, overbearing speeches when he should just get on with it and fight. More than once, his leanings towards bombast have caused him to miss a golden opportunity. Sadly, he doesn't seem to be learning from these mistakes.

“	Fools! I am Starscream!...Hold your applause! Kneel and worship the TRUE leader of the Decepticons!...assuming I can ever dispose of that accursed Megatron.	”
—Starscream, The AllSpark Almanac

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Animated cartoon

Events from IDW Publishing or Fun Publications books are in italics.

Voice actor: Tom Kenny (English), Jin Yamanoi (Japanese), Alexander Kovrizhnykh (Russian), Stefan Staudinger (German), Szymon Kuśmider (Polish, 1st voice), Krzysztof Korzeniowski (Polish, 2nd voice), Daniele Demma (Italian), Alexis Quiroz (Latin American Spanish, season 1 and 2), Leonardo Salas (Latin American Spanish, season 3), Francisco Barreiro (Castilian Spanish), Ricardo Sawaya (Brazilian Portuguese Seasons 1 and 2), Armando Tiraboschi (Brazilian Portuguese, Season 3), Kari Tamminen (Finnish), Sylvain Lemarié (French), Lee Sang-heon (Korean)

He gained strength and speed and shiny teeth and as the Huntsman was reboo-oorn!

During the Great War, Starscream destroyed Theta Supreme while he was being towed away for repairs. The AllSpark Almanac II

Starscream was aboard the Nemesis when it came across an Autobot repair ship that appeared to be emitting the energy signature of the fabled AllSpark. Starscream's doubt of the AllSpark's very existence and his dismissal of Megatron's millennia-long search did not sit well with Lugnut, and an argument broke out on the bridge until Megatron himself arrived and all fell silent. Starscream was forced to eat his words when Blackarachnia confirmed that the energy coming off the ship was indeed that of the AllSpark, but quickly volunteered to secure it for his leader. Seeing through his lieutenant's greed, Megatron put a dent in Starscream's wing and rose to obtain it for himself. As he was leaving, however, Starscream arrived at the airlock to wish Megatron luck and patted him on the back, planting a shatter bomb on him in the process. As Megatron attacked the Autobot ship, the device overloaded his circuits and caused an explosion that led Starscream to believe that Megatron was no more. In the aftermath of the blast, Starscream got so caught up in his own greatness that he didn't notice that his comrades had left him on the ship, hurtling towards an exploding space bridge.

Surviving the explosion, Starscream spent the next fifty stellar cycles searching for the AllSpark on his own, using the damaged ship as a base (and probably getting a few screws loose in his central processor in the meantime). Detecting the faint signal of the AllSpark on Earth, Starscream tapped into television broadcasts from the planet and discovered that the Autobot ship had landed there. Transform and Roll Out While heading for the planet, Starscream was approached by Blackarachnia, who was also seeking the AllSpark for her own purposes and proposed an alliance. Starscream was unsurprisingly unwilling to share power, and he booted Blackarachnia out into space just before the ship warped away. Starscream was so occupied by the task, however, that he failed to notice Earth's moon appearing in the ship's path. Dispatches

Those clouds don't scare me they can't disguise.

One crash-landing later, Starscream abandoned the ruined hulk of the ship and headed down to Earth, immediately drawing the attention of military jets. After a brief dogfight, Starscream scanned one of the jets as an alternate mode in order to continuing searching incognito. The search did not go on long, as Starscream found the Autobots watching a Crimson Angels air show, and he quickly joined in the proceedings. Upon revealing himself to the Autobots, he quickly thrashed each of them individually, mocking their belief that they had defeated "the great Megatron" while boldly admitting to planting the bomb. Though his arrogance initially trumped his physical power, a sustained blast allowed Starscream to claim the AllSpark. Optimus Prime managed to recover and grabbed Starscream in midair. The two's struggle for the AllSpark opened its container, unleashing a burst of its energy that sent Starscream hurtling off. Transform and Roll Out

Oh, so that's what happened to Whatisname...

Starscream landed in the wilderness where he lay, unconscious and undisturbed, for an unspecified period of time. Eventually, Starscream came back online, only to discover that his body had succumbed to stasis lock, leaving him immobile. As "luck" would have it, it was at this moment that he was happened upon by the villainous Professor Princess, whom Starscream attempted to sweet-talk into triggering his manual reset. She was insistent upon "fixing up" Starscream first, plastering him with makeup and a wig, but when the horrified Starscream screamed at her, she just decided to blast him. Her rainbow-blast jumpstarted Starscream's systems, and he seized the Professor, but before he could reduce her to a pink stain, she threatened to broadcast an image of the prettified Starscream all over the world and perhaps the galaxy. Preferring not to be hideously embarrassed, Starscream let her live and quickly departed, unaware that she'd worked her fashion magic on his wings, too. Whatever Happened To Whatisname?

"Do you have any idea how long I spent preparing that speech!?"

Starscream laid low on Earth, until he found a badly damaged Blitzwing and Lugnut, offering them help in exchange for their loyalty. Lost and Found After some threats that won their loyalty, Starscream repaired the two. As the Decepticons bickered, Lugnut began prostrating himself to an outside communication. Sending Lugnut and Blitzwing to do as the caller commanded and find the AllSpark Key, Starscream traced the call to Sumdac Tower. Blasting his way in, Starscream found Megatron still alive, though reduced to nothing but his head. Unaware that Megatron was aware of Starscream's betrayal, the Seeker launched into the smug monologue to end all smug monologues, to savour his victory before he was interrupted by the senseless heroics of the Autobot Bumblebee. Enraged at his speech being interrupted, Starscream turned his attention on the Autobot, allowing Megatron to remotely take control of the Tower's hardware to attack Starscream. The brawl being taken to the roof of the building, Starscream prepared to execute a cornered Bumblebee before a repaired Megatron burst from the tower roof. Megatron Rising - Part 1

Ghost in three...two...one...

Observing Megatron's fight with the Autobots, Starscream debated his options, aiding the Autobots to kill Megatron now or serving until a better opportunity presented itself, before Megatron decidedly won the fight. Deciding that his decision had been made for him, Starscream dramatically landed atop Lugnut. Being cordially greeted by Megatron, Starscream's guard was sufficiently lowered for Megatron to take his revenge, jabbing the AllSpark Key into Starscream's chest and draining the traitor's spark. Megatron Rising - Part 2

One way or another, Starscream's body ended up on a garbage barge where an AllSpark fragment became embedded into his forehead. Resurrected, Starscream swore revenge on Megatron. Tracking Lugnut and Blitzwing, Starscream made his way to the Decepticon base. Though quicker on the draw, Starscream was soundly defeated and executed by Megatron. Reawakening in a ditch, Starscream discovered the AllSpark fragment. Using this newfound immortality to his advantage, he made several more attempts on Megatron's life but was soundly defeated each time. Deciding that he needed a new approach, Starscream found a second AllSpark fragment and used it to draw out Megatron. Embedding the shard in a train, Starscream watched with glee as the Autobot Elite Guard struggled with the shard before they managed to claim it. Cursing his luck, Starscream was confronted by Megatron who knocked him out of the sky. Recovering again, Starscream blasted Ultra Magnus and took back the second fragment. Though shrugging off all the Autobots' attacks, he was put in stasis lock when Optimus outmaneuvered him and bound him in stasis cuffs. Gagged and immobilized, he was loaded aboard the Elite Guard vessel. Mission Accomplished

While in transit on said vessel, Starscream somehow blasted his way out, once again vowing revenge against Megatron. First (and Second) in Flight Magnus sent word to Optimus Prime, warning him that Starscream was most likely on his way back to Earth. Megatron, eavesdropping on the conversation, offered a substantial reward for bringing Starscream to him.

Making his way back to the wreckage of the Nemesis, Starscream turned his focus to the protoforms aboard and the cloning potential. Concocting a new plan, Starscream cloned himself several times before bringing two of them, one embodying his cowardliness and the other his sycophancy, online. When confronted by Prowl, Starscream again found himself in stasis cuffs before Lockdown arrived to try and claim the bounty on Starscream. Freed by his one of his minions, Starscream sent them both to Earth to enact his latest plan to kill Megatron.

Megs is gonna have a field day.

When both clones were brought before the Decepticon leader, Starscream activated their self-destruct protocols but his dramatic countdown and speech allowed the Autobots to send the immobile clones high into the sky, where they exploded without harming anyone. On the Nemesis, Starscream watched Megatron increasing the bounty on him, this time stipulating that it had to be the real one. Cursing Megatron (again), Starscream dismissed his failure, noting he had plenty more clones. A Fistful of Energon

Technically, she is my sister, and therefore unable to take me as her lover. After much soul searching, I have reluctantly decided, "What the hell", I just won't tell her.

Starscream later produced five more clones of himself, each embodying one aspect of his personality: cowardice, ego, sycophancy, deception, and...something else. After his egotistical clone usurped his speech, Starscream led his armada to Megatron's base, blasting through the roof just as the Decepticon space bridge came online. A Bridge Too Close, Part I

There can be only one!

Upon reaching the base, the clone army attacked, leading to a free-for-all against Megatron's forces and the Autobots who'd assembled to stop the Decepticon leader's plan. After briefly duelling Megatron, who demanded that Starscream fall into line, the clones overwhelmed and restrained the Decepticon leader. Seizing Megatron's discarded sword, Starscream, after wryly assuring Megatron that he'd tell everyone that he died fighting valiantly while naming Starscream as his successor, prepared to kill his former leader before he was suddenly head-jacked by Isaac Sumdac in a Headmaster unit.

The shock of the act allowed Megatron to shake himself free of the clones whereupon he blasted the Headmaster off Starscream's body which landed on, and pinned down, Starscream's head. Panicking, he told his clones to attack, but was outraged when they all sided with Megatron instead. Starscream's head was then glued to one of the walls by Mixmaster's concrete.

So, Megatron, how've you been?

When the space bridge ran out of power to maintain the portal to Cybertron, Megatron replaced the AllSpark fragment with Starscream's head, which overloaded the power systems. As the space bridge collapsed, Starscream was transwarped to a distant sector of the galaxy without his body but in the company of a stasis-locked Megatron. A long night of bickering commenced. A Bridge Too Close, Part II

How... literal. And disturbingly yonic.

Manoeuvring himself, Starscream began using his teeth to chip away at Megatron's stasis cuffs. When Megatron began offering notes on Starscream's performance, the Seeker's rage reacted with the AllSpark fragment to generate a sonic cannon in his mouth. Before the two could take stock, Omega Supreme materialized in front of them, though immobile. The two managed to enter the colossus only for the act to revive him. Though Omega was ready to execute them both, Megatron convinced the Sentinel that they should be transported back to Cybertron to stand trial. When repeated transwarp jumps sent Omega back into stasis, Megatron plugged Starscream into the Sentinel's systems, revitalizing Omega and allowing Megatron to bend the giant to his will.

Take me to ATARI!

Megatron used Omega Supreme to attack the Autobots on Earth only for Prowl to gain access to the giant's systems and help him overpower Megatron's control. With no paying attention to him, Starscream took the opportunity to possess Omega's systems. Though ready to use Omega to kill Megatron, the Decepticon leader convinced Starscream to conquer Cybertron instead. Agreeing, Starscream reverted to starship mode and jumped to Cybertron, unaware that the Autobots had planted a plasma dynamic thruster on his new body. No sooner had Starscream made it back home did the thruster cause his new body to start randomly warping around the galaxy. TransWarped

When the Autobots became trapped in Soundwave's virtual reality, Starscream was among the Decepticons who invaded and attack Detroit. However, Prowl was able to phase into his head, knocking him out.Human Error, Part I

At some point during Starscream and Megatron's warping adventures, Starscream stopped controlling Omega Supreme's body, again reduced to a sarcastic head. After one of the warp jumps, Lugnut suddenly smacked into their windshield and joined their merry group. Decepticon Air After Lugnut had removed the plasma dynamic thruster, the Decepticons managed to steer Omega Supreme to Cybertron, though the journey left the Sentinel drained of energon. Though Starscream repeatedly advocated evacuation before the Autobot military descended on them, noting their lack of access to the weapon systems, Megatron refused to evacuate until they picked up Shockwave, who had obtained the Autobot Arcee, the original holder of Omega's activation codes. Transwarping back to Earth's moon, Starscream noted Lugnut's anger at Megatron complimenting Shockwave. This Is Why I Hate Machines

Megs has his field day.

Goading Lugnut into fighting Shockwave, Starscream used the distraction to roll himself back to his old headquarters, the wrecked Nemesis, where he used a protoform and one of his many clone bodies to restore his body. Megatron then arrived and destroyed the remainder of Starscream's inactive clones. Though Starscream tried to squirm out of punishment by offering the clones as a new Decepticon army, Megatron revealed his bold ambition of making Decepticon clones of Omega Supreme. Endgame, Part I Seeing another chance to dispose of Megatron, Starscream surreptitiously wired large scale shatter bombs into the clones. Endgame, Part II

When Shockwave forced Arcee to beam the activation code, Starscream made another power grab and knocked down Megatron. However, he was in turn tackled by the eternally loyal Lugnut, who ended up becoming the template of the three "Lugnut Supremes".

"It’s incredible! I can feel, I can touch, I’m alive! I can fondle, I can fiddle! Phwooar! I am ali—"

Though Starscream smugly pointed out that the clones were but sparkless shells without slivers of his AllSpark fragment, Megatron revealed that he'd found more AllSpark fragments in Omega Supreme's spark chamber. Deeming Starscream of no further use to him, Megatron blasted Starscream's lower body to smithereens with his a point-blank round from his fusion cannon and left him on the surface of the Moon. Endgame, Part I

Still sustained by the AllSpark fragment, Starscream physically pulled himself back together and flew back to Earth to bear witness to his clone gambit. When he arrived in Detroit however, his AllSpark fragment was telekinetically snagged by Prowl and Jazz's processor-over-matter as they attempted to reassemble the AllSpark. Though he frantically opened fire, Starscream failed to deter the two. His AllSpark fragment removed, Starscream's second life ended and his sparkless corpse fell to the Earth, finally dead.

The seventh time's the charm.

Despite passing, Starscream's gambit took hold when Lugnut was ejected from Omega Supreme's systems. Though his clones built up to detonation, risking the destruction of everything in a five hundred mile radius, Omega Supreme managed to destroy one of them, deactivating its explosive, while the other was encased in an AllSpark-powered force field and failed to destroy anything, even Megatron who was still inside the force field and somehow survived. Endgame, Part II

Titan Animated comic

"They're not singing
they're not singing
they're not singing any morrrre!"

Megatron kept uncovering Starscream's hide-outs, so Starscream took his clone army and seized control of the Autobots' own base, reasoning the Decepticons would never look for him there. His plan was undone by the Dinobots. Dino-MIGHT!

He later acted as the backer for the supervillain Crossroads, giving him a sliver of Megatron (no, it wasn't explained how he got it) that completed the man's robot-controlling gauntlets. Starscream didn't care that Crossroads was going to hurt robots, as long as he made sure to turn the city against the Autobots. Boo, hiss! Crossroads!

Later still, he appeared out of nowhere to hack into the Wraith-X stealth bomber and send it off to bomb Detroit to bits, seemingly just for shits and giggles. Divebomb It turned out he'd been let back into the Decepticons for... some reason, joining their massed attack on the Autobot base. Of course, he used that as a way to ensure Megatron had an "accident", and then "saved him"; as a result, Megatron became stupid and believed he could be trusted with temporary command of the Decepticons... Megatron's Revenge

Legends comic

During her time in the Legends World, Slipstream confirmed to Rattrap that she was a clone of Starscream but admitted that she had no idea what happened to him. She then mistook "Armada Starscream" for her own Starscream, assuming that he'd remodeled his body like she had. LG-16 Slipstream Sequel Later, Starscream was revived by an AllSpark fragment provided by Swindle, and they both joined Slipstream in her plan to sneak in and break the Decepticons out of Trypticon Prison. Epiloge

Animated shorts

I am the master of ceremonies!
So let me set you straight!
With just a wave of my magic wand
I’m master of your fate!

Starscream mocked Megatron during a speech by the latter. His butt regrets the ordeal now. Starscream Heckles Megatron

Starscream later went on to defeat all the Autobots singlehandedly, declaring himself supreme Decepticon leader. The other Decepticons gladly accepted this, prostrating themselves before him and eagerly offering servitude to their new leader...until Megatron punched Starscream awake, threatening harsh penalties should he ever start dozing off during a staff meeting again. Starscream's Fantasy

The Cool comic

Starscream was part of Megatron's band of Decepticons, chasing down the Autobots who had rediscover the long-lost Allspark. He was visibly frustrated when Megatron along with the Autobots disappeared through a Space Bridge gate. The Cool Extra #3

Leading Blackarachnia and Lockdown, Starscream lead the Decepticons in an attack on Detroit against the Autobots. Clashing directly with Optimus Prime, Starscream's ultimate goal was to seize the AllSpark. The Cool Episode 1

So was this supposed to be funny or horrifying?

Starscream ultimately succeeded, snatching the AllSpark out of Bulkhead's hands. He announced to the stunned Autobots that he had destroyed Megatron with his own hands and would now use the power of the AllSpark to cull the weak from the universe. Optimus Prime had other ideas, however, and falling down from the sky in vehicle mode, transformed to robot mode and grabbed one side of the AllSpark. Refusing to let Starscream use its power for evil, Prime opened the AllSpark, unleashing all its energy. Starscream took the energy square to the face, apparently getting vaporized. The Cool Episode 2

Starscream survived the blast and was present fighting Bumblebee at Sumdac Systems headquarters when Megatron was reborn. Annoyed, Starscream declared he'd make the most of it and attempted to brown-nose up to his old boss. Megatron was aware of his previous attempt to assassinate him, however, and promptly tore a hole through his torso, killing him. The Cool Episode 5

Having survived his apparent "death", Starscream proceeded to create a pair of clones (Clone #3370318 and Clone #2716057), rigged them with explosives and devised a convoluted plot to use them to destroy Megatron. When the plan failed due to Autobot interference, Starscream registered his annoyance, but calmly promised that there was more to come from his Clone Army. The Cool Episode 6

This magic that's happened right before my eyes.

More indeed, as Starscream lead his Clone Army into battle to seize the Decepticon Space Bridge. Starscream was shocked at the sight of Megatron and Optimus Prime fighting side by side against him, and was then infuriated when Megatron proceeded to regard his troops as little more than an annoyance and laughed at Starscream's aspirations of universal conquest.The Cool Episode 7

At some point, Starscream had his head severed by Professor Sumdac and a Headmaster unit. Clutching Starscream's whimpering noggin, Megatron proceeded to mock his ambitions of universal conquest, then ordered Mixmaster to install Starscream into the Space Bridge in order to power the device. Starscream screamed in horror as the Space Bridge activated, but the power of his AllSpark fragment proved too much and caused the Space Bridge to overload.The Cool Episode 8

Luckily, Starscream found himself warped through the Space Bridge to the same coordinates as Omega Supreme and Megatron. Unluckily, Megatron decided to power the deactivated Omega with Starscream's spark. Luckily, this proved fortuitous, as the link allowed Starscream to seize control of Omega's systems. Clutching and taunting Megatron, Starscream returned to Earth for revenge against the Autobots. Megatron and Optimus were forced to join forces to defeat him. Megatron plunged his sword into the main chip of Starscream's link system, then ordered Optimus to incinerate it. Optimus did so with the "Magnus Hammer Thunder Attack", deactivating Omega Supreme. Optimus then ordered Prowl to find whatever traces of Starscream were left in Omega and remove them. The Cool Episode 9

Starscream's head had landed in a pile of debris which, unfortunately for him, happened to be located right next to Megatron's missing fusion cannon. Plucking up the cannon and Starscream, Megatron powered his cannon with Starscream's head and AllSpark fragment, creating a blast powerful enough to blow Optimus Prime to pieces. Prime survived, however, and the AllSpark fragment leapt from Starscream's forehead and into Prime's hand, empowering him with awesome energy. The loss of the AllSpark fragment, however, killed Starscream. The Cool Episode Final

Commercial appearances

• Starscream was summoned to his Generation 1 counterpart's home dimension when the latter fumbled a "continuum transmorpher" while attempting to upload his toy review online. The two Starscreams then discussed how awesome BotCon was. They also teamed up to blast Megatron, but argued over which one of them was now the new Decepticon leader. Not that it mattered, since Megatron was far from being defeated... Who is the Greatest Starscream Of All Time?

Games

Transformers Animated: Action Packs

Starscream is featured as a playable game card. He is a silver card, has a value of 5 points, and has the following power: "+1 to all villains."

Transformers Animated: Action Packs

Toys

Animated

Voyager Class

What? Decepticon sigil not upside down? HERESY! HERESYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! (Hasbro Version Pictured)

(TakaraTomy Version Pictured)

• Starscream (Voyager, 2008)

• Takara ID number: TA-07
• Takara release date: March 27 2010
• Accessories: 2 missiles
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Part of the first wave of Transformers Animated Voyagers, Starscream transforms into a futuristic, forward-swept wing jet fighter based upon the Su-47 (S-37) Berkut Experimental Fighter and the YF-19 "Alpha One" from the series Macross Plus. He is cast in matte plastics and decoed with matte paint meant to invoke the look of the show's animation cels.

His twin "sonic shock blaster" spring-loaded missile launchers can slide forward, opening panels on his forearms (referred to as blasters on the packaging). Landing gear in his vehicle mode flip down from his undercarriage, and his blasters flip forward or back for a "hidden" attack. He also features two automorph gimmicks. When his nose cone is pushed in, his undercarriage folds into his hips. Folding his shoulders down also pushes up his head. Though not really an "automorph", with the arms and legs out of the way, his spring loaded wings fold down by themselves. His arms are also just poseable enough to stroke that enormous chin.

For an added piece of Show-accuracy, one could mistransform his arms and leave them out to the side in vehicle mode so that his blasters sit underneath the wings, although this would result in his arms and hands being exposed.

His missiles have tiny shark faces molded into them.

The TakaraTomy release of the figure does not try for a more "show accurate" representation, in fact going in the opposite direction to make him extra-shiny. While using the same base plastic colors and (mostly) paint layouts, this version has rich metallic blue paint on the top half of his nosecone and wings that does not match the bluish-gray plastic, plus metallic red paint on his chest. Don't ask us. His faction symbols are also purple with white outlines as opposed to the Hasbro version's gold... which is more show-accurate, we'll give them that.

As with past incarnations, Starscream was redecoed as Animated Skywarp and Animated Sunstorm, and would have been used for Animated Thundercracker had that release not been cancelled.

• More information on Voyager Starscream at TFU.info

• Speed of Sound Showdown: Bumblebee / Starscream (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: March 27, 2010
• Accessories: 2 missiles

In the Takara Animated line, Voyager-class Starscream available both as an individual toy, and in a "Speed of Sound Showdown" (音速の対決, onsoku no taiketsu two-pack (also called "Blazing Bullets" on English on the box-back) with Deluxe Bumblebee. Released in the first wave of Animated product, both toys are identical to their individual (Takara) releases.

Activators

I shall call him Screamer and he shall be mine and he shall be my Screamer. Come here, Screamer!

• Starscream (Activators, 2008)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro), Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy)

A smaller, simpler version of Starscream was released in the first line of Animated Activators. This version of Starscream has a spring-loaded autotransformation gimmick that springs him from Harrier jet mode to robot mode in one easy step by pressing the bright red button located at the jet's upper section (although some minor adjustments are still needed to complete the robot mode), although robot to Harrier jet is still that good old manual click-it-up yourself transformation, giving you the best of both worlds.

Activators Starscream greatly resembles Voyager Starscream, especially when compared to several other Activators and their respective larger toys, with the only discernible difference between Activators and Voyager Starscream is that Activator Starscream's wings sit lower on his back. Most notably, this toy possesses more show-accurate weapons than its Voyager counterpart, due to the lack of a launching mechanism. Unlike the Voyager, his arms are not poseable enough to do a chin-stroking stance.

The instructions did not mention that you need to flip out the landing gears on his pair of legs, which allows the jet mode to become least prone to falling down and more balanced while standing on a flat surface.

This mold was also used to make Animated Dirge, Ramjet, Skywarp, and Thundercracker.

• More information on Activators Starscream at TFU.info

• Animated Super Collection Vol. 2 (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: October 2, 2010

In Japan, the "Animated Super Collection Vol. 2" giftset contained slight redecos of Activators Starscream, Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Grimlock. Starscream's insignia went from gold to a more traditional purple and white, but is otherwise mostly identical to the Hasbro release.

While the stock photography of the individual toys showed Animated Super Collection Starscream as being brighter than its American counterpart, this seems to have been a trick of the lighting, as the released toy remained its standard colors.

Legends Class

The Decepticon formerly-known-as-Starscream.

• Rescue Ratchet (Multi-pack, 2008)

An even smaller, simpler Legends-class version of Starscream! He features an oddly sparkly purple base plastic, and a very sparsely-painted head.

He was only available in a Target-exclusive box set with Deluxe-class "Rescue Ratchet", as well as a Legends-class Prowl.

This mold was also used to make Ramjet Clear White Version, Skywarp Clear Purple Version, Sunstorm Clear Orange Version, Thundercracker Clear Blue Version, and Starscream Clone Black Version.

• More information on Legends Starscream at TFU.info

Everybody stop calling me "Cyclonus"!

• Starscream Clear Purple Version (EZ Collection, 2010)

A Takara EZ Collection redeco of Legends Starscream in mostly translucent purple plastics, opaque lavender nylon parts, a a complete lack of paint applications.

He was only available at JUSCO stores in Japan (but not at ones in their Ryukyu branch, who knows why), a promotional giveaway to customers who purchased Voyager-class Optimus Prime or Megatron.

• EZ Collection Limited Clear Version (Multi-pack, 2010)

The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set included a redeco of Legends Starscream in mostly translucent purple with opaque purple parts. Unlike the above "Clear Purple Version", this toy retained the normal version's paint operations.

The set was given away at Family Mart stores in Japan as part of their raffle token promotion. The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set was prize D (he most common and easily-won prize), and included four different translucent EZ Collection figures, the other three being Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and Prowl.

McDonald's

Alt-mode or nap time?

• Starscream (McDonald's Happy Meal Toy, 2008)

• McNumber: 4

An even simpler (but not smaller) version of Starscream with a very simple transformation sequence was released in the McDonald's Animated Happy Meal promotion. A tad unique among the Animated Happy Meal toys, he has given up an accurate vehicle mode for an accurate robot mode.

• More information on McDonald's Starscream at TFU.info

"I'm sensing a pattern here..."

• Starscream (McDonald's Happy Meal toys, 2008)

McDonald's restaurants in Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela got a completely different Happy Meal Starscream toy. This version is a very very simplistic version of Starscream, converting from non-articulated robot mode to a "folded" robot with three wheels (which is a very non-show-accurate alt-mode). Like the Jumpstarter toys, he features a pull-back motor in vehicle mode that propels him forward on smooth surfaces; after a short run the latch that keeps his spring-loaded legs releases, causing him to flip forward and into upright robot mode.

Universe (2008)

And yet, his ego remains as big as ever.

• Starscream (Legends, 2008)

• Series: Animated Series
• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro)

Legends-class Starscream transforms surprisingly similarly to his larger counterparts. He is notable for being the only version of the character to have his weapons mounted correctly on his upper arms, rather than his lower arms (though this is largely because he completely lacks elbows). However, as with his past versions, he is again not gray, but apparently a shade of blue.

This figure was redecoed in the Animated line, in a Target exclusive three-pack with Rescue Ratchet and Prowl.

EZ Collection

• Starscream (EZ Collection, 2010)

• ID Number: EZ-20

In Japan, The Universe Animated Starscream toy was re-released (without significant differences) as part of the third volume of EZ Collection, in blindpacked packaging.

Mini EZ Collection

Definitely not his Best Day Ever.

• Starscream (Mini EZ Collection, 2010)

Intended to be released as part of TakaraTomy's new Mini EZ Collection line, this Starscream was to be an all new, 2-inch mold that converted from robot into a jet, with improved robot mode proportions, though the jet mode was a bit wonky.

The figures were set for a November 2010 release, but they were quietly canceled.

Your bargaining posture is highly dubious. Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Notes

• In a podcasted audio interview, Marty Isenberg revealed that he originally wanted to play Starscream's name ironically — he wanted the character to have a quiet, whispery tone, as he really didn't like the screechy voice of the original Starscream (though, at the same time, he pointed out that he has nothing against his actor). Derrick J. Wyatt argued against this idea, and Tom Kenny's reading finally won Marty over.
• There is some confusion as to precisely what weapons Starscream has. According to the Decepticon character descriptions sent out in the initial Cartoon Network press release for Transformers Animated, Starscream "can affect a sonic scream and produce powerful blasts of sound that can send enemies spinning through the atmosphere". His toy packaging declares that he has "twin sonic shock blasters" rather than the null-rays of his Generation 1 counterpart, while a bio on the Hasbro website declares that Animated Starscream does have null-rays... while otherwise being a direct copy of the press release text, which doesn't mention them anywhere. What is unquestionably Starscream's "sonic scream" appears in the season three episode "TransWarped", apparently a modification created by the AllSpark fragment in his head. Similarly, in the same episode, Blurr tells Skywarp and Thundercracker to use alternating sonic pulses to destabilise the concrete the trio are trapped in. This could point to Starscream's arm-mounted cannons being sonic shock blasters, as he was addressing Skywarp, but also could be a reference to Generation 1 Thundercracker and his ability to create sonic booms.
• Several times in the series, Starscream's alt-mode is called a "harrier jet". In the real world, this term actually refers to just one specific jet type — the British-designed V/STOL-capable Harrier Jump Jet — which very clearly is not Starscream's altmode. Then again, the series is set about 100 years in the future, so perhaps the jet designs or terminology could have changed.
• Originally, Starscream was to be revived once again near the end of "Endgame, Part II", courtesy of Slipstream and another AllSpark fragment. This scene was cut for time, but was shown in Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II in storyboard format.
• Starscream holds the unique distinction of writing his own character profile in the first AllSpark Almanac.
• Likewise, he is the only one to introduce himself in the Transformers Animated profile short "Meet Starscream." Everyone else is introduced by a different character in their respective featurettes.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Starscream (スタースクリーム Sutāsukurīmu)
• Mandarin: Hóng Zhīzhū (China, 红蜘蛛, "Red Spider")
• Russian: Skandalist (Скандалист, "Troublemaker")