Generic

File:Generic.jpg

His existence is about a millisecond, but that millisecond KICKED ASS!

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 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.

• Reflector - At times, there were more than three. Though to be fair, it's speculated that Relector was just one guy who could clone himself...

• 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

• Generation 1 character models created for the Beast Wars episode "The Agenda (Part III)" were modified to represent various generic Cybertronian citizens who were infected with Megatron's transformation lock virus.

Armada

"I had a bigger role than Overload!"

• Autobot and Decepticon forces were filled out using Generation 1 character models, creating several odd instances of classic characters getting remarkably awkward (and often randomly-colored) cameos.

• Depending on who was animating the episode, the masses of Mini-Cons combined toy-characters with either randomly-colored toy-based models or entirely-new designs... or, in one notable instance, Wheelie's character model!

Energon

"Absolutely, positively not made of the corpses of other more important characters, SIR!"

• 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.

External links

• Generics at the Obscure Transformers Website
• Armada Background Characters at insecticons.com
• Generic G1 Decepticons list

From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.