Commercial

This article is about TV advertisements. For the bits between the show and the ads, see Commercial bumper.

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And watch the cartoon, too! It's not nearly this pretty, but it gives you time to blink.

Despite the existence of comics, cartoons, and other media intended to advertise Transformers toys, Hasbro has routinely commissioned standard television commercials to promote their current toy lines.

Commercials for Transformers typically use a combination of animation and live-action film featuring the characters/toys in question.

Beast Machines

2000

That kid in the back? Way too excited.

• Deluxe Jetstorm and Optimus Primal [1]

Animation: Cartoon excerpts showing Jetsorm firing at Optimus Primal and Optimus Primal jumping down from somewhere.

Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!

Toy segment: Two boys at school fight in the only honorable way—badly transforming Optimus Primal and Jetstorm.

"Three o'clock at the flag pole." "I'll BE there!"

• Deluxe Jetstorm and Optimus Primal [2] - Edited down from the previous commercial.

• Supreme Cheetor [3]

Animation: Two excerpts featuring Cheetor transforming.

Narration: None, apart from "New Beast Machines Electronic Cheetor Supreme sold separately" by the Cheetor Kid.

Toy segment: two kids face off in a gymnasium, surrounded by cheering friends. Megatron Kid makes threats to the other kid, who whips out Supreme Cheetor. Megatron Kid congratulates Cheetor Kid after losing their match.

The challenge is in the change!

• Nightscream and Ultra Jetstorm [4]

  

  "Nightscream likes EXTRA ketchup on his fries!" (Actual dialog)

Animation: Excerpts of Jetstorm and Nightscream transforming.

Narration: None, apart from "New Beast Machines Electronic Jetstorm and Electronic Nightscream sold separately" by Jetstorm Kid.

Toy segment: Two kids ordering food are informed by the lady behind the counter that there are only one order of fries left, so they decide to fight it out with their Transformers. The "bad" kid grabs Ultra Jetstorm and shows it off for viewers' benefit, while the "good" kid transforms his Ultra Nightscream and shoots Jetty with his disk launcher. Nightscream Kid wins and tells Jetstorm Kid that "Nightscream likes EXTRA ketchup on his fries!" Jetstorm Kid warns him not to push it.

"You're grounded Jetlag!"

Animorphs

• A brief explanation of the Animorphs story, ending with one of the characters saying "Animorphs, Transformers!" Features Jake and Tobias, plus one of the Yeerks. The synthesized "Transformers!" digital voice plays at the end.

Robots in Disguise

2001

Neither golden retriever, nor lawn mower, nor white picket fence, nor bright of day, shall stay these kids from the swift completion of their appointed Prime.

• Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus [5]

Animation: Megatron transforms, and Optimus Prime finds himself surrounded by the Predacons.

Narration: Guy who sounds like he's talking from behind a door.

Toy segment: Two kids who live next door to each other grab their respective Autobot Super figures and run into each other at full speed; as soon as they touch, they combine!

Notes: One of the kids had a poster for the 1986 animated movie in his room. The whole commercial has a dubbed over feel, as Megatron and Optimus Prime sound nothing like the voices used for the show (presumably because casting had not yet been done) and the sound quality of the narration seems below that of the rest of the commercial.

• Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus [6] - Same as previous commercial, but Neil Kaplan voices Optimus Prime and the narration is the actor used for the rest of the Robots in Disguise commercials. Also, the background music doesn't stop while the kids shout to each other from their windows.

Nope, still not fearsome or impressive.

• Megatron, Sky-Byte and Deluxe Cars [7]

Animation: CGI Optimus Prime transforms from truck to super-mode; Cartoon excerpts of Megatron (with correct voice) talking, Optimus transforming, and Sky-Byte taking a chunk out of the rear of a moving vehicle.

Narration: Unknown

Toy segment: Kids yell the names of the toys while showing them off or transforming them. They do this in what appears to be a poorly lit basement of some sort.

Notes: "Prowl" just does not sound fearsome or impressive no matter how much you growl when you yell it.

• Team Bullet Train and Galvatron [8]

Animation: Cartoon excerpts - Team Bullet Train finishes forming Rail Racer; Galvatron says "Foolish Autobots! Bring it on!".

Narration: Unknown

Toy segment: Two kids play with the bullet trains aboard a subway car.

• Team Bullet Train and Galvatron [9] - Edited from the previous commercial.

• Landfill and Ruination

Animation:

Narration:

Toy segment:

Go-Bots

2002

• Transformers: Go-Bots [10]

Animation: Cartoon excerpt of Aero-Bot transforming while Beast-Bot and Speed-Bot look on.

Narration: Rap Guy

Toy segment: The toys turn around on invisible turntables and transform.

Notes: The rap is back! This commercial is the (presumably one shot) return of rap in Transformers commercials.

Aero-Bot, Beast-Bot, and Speed-Bot go! They only change, when you say so!

Armada

2002

• Armada cartoon [11]

Toonami ad, made of excerpts from the first three episodes of Armada. Narrated by Peter Cullen.

Walking in the saaaaand...REMEMBER!

• Mini-Cons, Red Alert, Starscream, Megatron [12]

Animation: From a sand background, CGI Sonar emerges from a Mini-Con storage panel. Sped-up cartoon footage of Megatron transforming.

Narration: Even Keel

Toy segment: Kids play with the toys in a sandy environment with a sunset background. Woo woo woo woo. "Swindle. Starscream. Missiles away. Powerlink Mini-Cons for maximum firepower!"

Kidmation: Terrifyingly large-mouthed kids hold the toys and mouth "robots in disguise" while the camera bobs drunkenly.

Newww Transformers Armada. With powerlinking Mini-Con warriors!

• Megatron and Optimus Prime [13]

Animation: From a watery background, CGI Grindor emerges from a storage panel. Cartoon excerpt: Optimus Prime stock footage.

Narration: Even Keel

Toy segment: Kids play with the toys in a sand-laden diorama environment. That can't be good for Prime's electronic innards.

Kidmation: The large-mouthed kids again, with different toys.

Walky's dream job.

• Laserbeak, Hot Shot, Demolishor [14]

Narration: Even Keel

Animation: From an ice background, CGI Jolt emerges from a storage panel. Cartoon excerpts: Hot Shot stock footage; Demolishor and Cyclonus running and firing.

Toy segment: Kids play with the toys in a snowy diorama environment.

Kidmation: The large-mouthed kids yet again, with different toys.

• Laserbeak, Hot Shot, Demolishor [15] - Edited down from previous commercial.

2003

The Decepticon menace.

• Galvatron, Scavenger, Jetfire, Optimus Prime [16]

Narration: Even Keel

Animation: Cartoon stock footage of Optimus Prime

Toy segment: In what looks like a Santiago Calatrava building, Scavenger takes on Galvatron; Jetfire and Prime combine to counterattack.

Kidmation: Two kids stand with their toys, back-to-back as if to make a final stand, while mouthing along with "robots in disguise!"

• Blurr, Sideways, Thrust, Sideswipe [17]

Narration: Even Keel

Toy segment: Kids play with the toys in some kind of modernist corporate office setting.

Kidmation: Back-to-back for the final stand again, this time against the corporate office's windows.

Another battle for ultimate control! "Blurr attacks!" And Sideways betrays.

Johnny didn't do so well on his science project this year.

• Unicron [18]

Animation: Excerpt from The Transformers: The Movie of Unicron slamming his hand down on Cybertron's surface, accompanied by a newly recorded voice-over proclaiming "The universe is mine!". Also has an excerpt of Optimus Prime stock footage with Optimus telling Unicron to "fight someone your own size."

Narration: Even Keel

Toy segment: A kid plays with the toys, first in front of a projected space background, then in something resembling an empty warehouse.

"Obviously, Optimus Prime, that would not be you!"

• Unicron [19] — Edited down from the previous commercial.

2004

• Playstation 2 Armada game [20]

Starscream: "There's no escape. Soundtrack is "Wishbone" by the band Dropbox, who are actually shown rocking out between excerpts of game footage.

The ultimate conflict begins.

Robot Masters

2004

• Robot Masters toyline

Toy segment: The Decepticons and Autobots each transform through the magic of stop motion, then stand around as the camera pans and laser fire is superimposed between them.

Animation: G1 Starscream fights Optimus Primal as G1 Optimus Prime takes on Beast Megatron. Megatron's dino head bites Prime on the hand.

The commercial ends with a group shot of around half of the line's figures, followed by a money shot of one character spotlighted in both their robot and alt. mode. The spotlighted character depends on which DVD you're watching.

Energon

2004

Energon Unicron? Where you been!?

• Scorponok and Optimus Prime [21]

Narration: Even Keel, with the cartoon's theme music.

Toy segment: Kids playing with the toys in what looks like a basement or maybe a warehouse.

Notes: Energon Unicron appears in the static shot of the toys at the end, as well as in the background of some of the other toy scenes. This suggests that a longer version of the commercial, which would feature Energon Unicron along with the other two toys, exists.

Eachsoldseparatelybatteriesnotincludedactualchangetimewillvary.

• Shockblast, Energon Ironhide, Jetfire [22]

Narration: Even Keel, with the cartoon's theme music.

Toy segment: Kids play with the toys on a tabletop.

Shockblast is on the hunt but Powerlinx Jetfire prepares for attack.

• Starscream, Terrorcons, Deluxe Autobots [23]

Narration: Even Keel.

Toy segment: Various kids on viewscreens are rotoscoped into the frame like members of some sinister corporation's executive board.

Kidmation: The three kids drop separately into the rotoscope and mouth along to the song while holding up Hot Shot powerlinxed with Rodimus, Starscream and Inferno powerlinxed with Prowl.

Decepticons attack with Hyper Power.

• Starscream, Terrorcons, Deluxe Autobots [24] — Edited down from the previous commercial.

• Omega Supreme and Megatron [25]

Animation: Cartoon excerpt: Omega Supreme spins around in space.

Narration: Even Keel

Kidmation: Two serious-faced kids on a split screen hold up Omega and Megatron, while mouthing along with the hard rock theme song.

"Your weapons are useless against Prince of Space him!"

2005

• Air Team and Optimus Prime [26]

Animation: Cartoon excerpts: Optimus Prime forms his super mode; The Air Team forms Superion Maximus, then attacks Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus.

Narration: Dramatic Guy

Toy segment: Various shots of the toys in their robot modes.

Notes: This commercial appears to represent an alternate continuity. Optimus Prime is implied to have created either combiners in general or just the Air Team in particular.

Transformers: Energon. You can join the Powerlinx Battles.

Cybertron

2005

And you thought Sari's AllSpark Key was impressive.

• Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream [27]

Narration: Dramatic Guy

Live-action segment: A kid runs down a laser-lit passageway with a frisbee-sized Cyber Planet Key, which he uses to unlock a giant door, which open to reveal a giant CG Cybertron Optimus Prime!

Toy segment: Optimus Prime uses his Cyber Key Power to take down Megatron, but the giant Starscream has his own Cyber Key!

You can go to Transformers.com! Ask your parents first.

• Starscream [28] - Edited down from previous commercial, with new narration focusing solely on Starscream.

2006

Somehow more exciting than the tv show.

• Crumplezone, Downshift, Evac [29]

Narration: Dramatic Guy

Toy segment: A whole little plot plays out in a impressive-looking diorama environment. Dark Crumplezone steals a silver-bordered Earth Cyber Key! He transforms into vehicle mode, uses the Cyber Key Power and races off with the heroic Autobots Downshift and Evac in hot pursuit! Oh noes! Crumplezone shoves Downshift off the cliff-edge road they are racing on. Downshift is transformed and grabs Evac's rescue rope, then blasts Crumplezone into oblivion. The Key is saved!

Notes: Oddly, and in contrast to previous commercials, Paul Oakenfold's Cybertron theme song is not used. Instead, an alternate theme rendition is featured.

Ask your parents to take you to Transformers.com!

Star Wars Transformers

2006

• Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi [30]

Narration: 2006-2007 Guy

Toy segment: Two kids, one dressed as a Sith Lord and the other a Jedi Knight, play with their respective toys.

Features excerpts of Darth Vader from Episode IV: A New Hope and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

NEW! Star Wars Transformers. Mech mode or vehicle mode. The battle for the universe rages on!

Attacktix

2006

I don't know. I think Prime could take him.

• Attacktix Intergalactic Showdown [31]

Narration: 2006-2007 Guy

Toy segment: Group of kids battle with Star Wars and Transformers Attacktix figures upon a table top.

"Optimus Prime beat Darth Vader? No. Way." Find out with Attacktix.

Animated

Toys

Bulkhead isn't small! He's just faaaar away.

2008

• Wave 1 & 2 Voyagers and Deluxes [32]

Animation: Cartoon excerpt of Starscream swooping down and firing.

Narration: Dynamic!

Toy Segment: The evil Starscream prepares to attack, with the evil Decepticons Blackarachnia and... Lockdown? Luckily, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl, and Bulkhead are there to save the day. Notice how Bulkhead is SHORTER than 'Bee.

Notes: Has an end tag advertising the 'Battle Begins' Optimus Prime/Megatron two-pack.

• Wave 1 & 2 Voyagers and Deluxes [33] - Edited down from the previous commercial.

• Leader Megatron and Rollout Command Optimus Prime [34]

Animation: None.

Narration: Dynamic!

Toy Segment: Optimus Prime races through a city diorama to meet Megatron and show off his "amazing auto-spin technology!" gimmick.

• McDonald's Happy Meal toys [35] (Partial)

Kids play with Animated Happy Meal Toys inside a giant, Happy Meal Box-shaped Spaceship. Inexplicably, MOVIE Optimus Prime appears in the background.

• Transformers Animated: The Game [36]

Various excerpts of gameplay and animation from the game are shown, interspersed with text narration and voice over clips from Megatron, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and Prowl.

In this time of war, victory...depends on teamwork.

2009

• Jetstorm and Jetfire

Animation: None.

Narration: Unknown.

Toy Segment:

War for Cybertron

2009

• Teaser Trailer [37]

A brief trailer showing a transmission from Cybertron before first contact with Earth. Optimus Prime speeds into battle, transforms in mid-air and charges with his fellow Autobots - slicing a Decepticon in half - and stopping as Omega Supreme launches his energy weapon.

External links

• Generation 2 commercial compilation. Yes, it includes the rap songs!