Generic
From MediaWiki
A "Generic" is the fan-coined, unofficial term for any unnamed background Transformer that is clearly not intended to represent any previously existing and named toy/character. Generics are frequently used to fill out crowd scenes and battles, and often (though not always) employ repeated standardized designs (especially in the older material such as the Generation 1 cartoon).
It is rare that a generic gets a speaking part, but it has happened from time to time. However, if the character is given a name he/she ceases to be a generic and becomes a regular old character (see Sunstorm or Big Red for an example of such an apotheosis).
Notable generics
Generation 1 cartoon
- Seekers - The comparatively low number of Decepticons in the early episodes of the cartoon led to the filling out of the ranks with numerous generics based on the existing cast, and most notably the Seekers.
- Junkions - Hordes of generic Junkions tended to appear whenever the Cartoon visited that planet.
- Paradrons - The entire population of Paradron save for Sandstorm were generics, especially their medics.
- Lithonians - Lithone designs featured many background generics of strange design, some of which were later recycled as members of The Hive.
Beast Machines
Armada
- Autobot and Decepticon forces were filled out using Generation 1 character models, creating several odd instances of classic characters getting remarkably awkward cameos.
Energon
- Due to the computer generated nature of the graphics, both Autobot and Decepticon forces were filled out with generics assembled from parts of other existing or unused character models. Wing Saber's original "Wing Dagger" form is one such example of a mixed-and-matched generic character model.
