Roll out
| The name or term "Rollout" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Rollout (disambiguation). |
"Roll out" is a common command among Transformers (primarily the Autobots), essentially meaning to move out, deploy or otherwise embark on a mission. Its literal meaning, to start rolling in one's ground-based, wheel-equipped vehicle mode, appears to have become diluted over time, to the point that Transformers who don't even have vehicular alternate forms (and have to run to where they're going) still give/receive the order.
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
The Transformers cartoon
The phrase in its most iconic form was uttered by Optimus Prime; it typically signified the start of a mission, as the group transformed and deployed to counter the Decepticons' latest scheme.
After Hot Rod opened the Matrix and became Rodimus Prime, his first act as Autobot leader was to order the Autobots to "transform and roll out"... through space (and Unicron's remaining unsmashed eye)! The Transformers: The Movie
It was such a famous command that, in the months following Optimus Prime's death, Pipes rallied his troops to defend Autobot Headquarters thus: "As Optimus Prime used to say, transform and roll out!" Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
Wings Universe
Even back in the days before the Prime initiative, at least part of the phrase was already popular enough for Thunder Clash to have given an "Autobots, roll out" order to his squad upon planetfall for a mission. Wings of Honor
Marvel The Transformers comics
The phrase here was less associated with Optimus Prime, though he did use it to start off several missions in the months after he was returned from Shockwave's captivity. In fact, the first known utterance of the phrase was by Wheeljack, as he and Jazz left the Ark on a mission. DIS-Integrated Circuits!
Later it would be used to command all sorts of Transformers to do all sorts of things, such as running to one's destination, Brothers in Armor!! or leaping out of a starship into space. Spacehikers!
When Prime first returned to command Autobots on a mission, he used the phrase so gratuitously that it wasn't even a command to go anywhere; it essentially just meant "turn around and fight." Since Prime was nothing more than a computer-generated program at the time, maybe we can cut him a little slack. Pretender to the Throne!
Beast Wars
While briefly holding the spark of Optimus Prime, Maximal leader Optimus Primal told the Maximals that it was "time to transform and roll out!" Optimal Situation
Though it would seem logical, nobody has ever told Retrax to "roll out". Not too many other Beast Warriors are much equipped to do so.
Live-action film series
Optimus Prime used a version of the catchphrase twice in the movie, once at the observatory, shortened to "Autobots, roll out!", and earlier when transforming to escape from Sector Seven as just "Roll out!". "Transforming" in either case must have seemed too obvious to mention. Transformers He would later declare "Let's roll", as he blasted off, newly upgraded, to defeat The Fallen. He didn't seem to be saying it to anyone in particular, but Lennox apparently took it literally and had everyone run towards the impending battle. Revenge of the Fallen Optimus later yells "Roll out!" to Crosshairs, Drift, and the Dinobots after successfully proving his strength to Grimlock. They then traveled to Hong Kong to stop Galvatron and his army. Age of Extinction
IDW Generation 1 continuity
After a mission to Nyon to apprehend Swindle, Orion Pax ordered his squad of Autobots to roll out... back to base. Law and Disorder Not long afterwards, he ordered them to roll out and hunt for Soundwave. The Hunt for Soundwave Back in Nyon, he ordered them to roll out and ambush one of Zeta Prime's Omega Destructors. Purge
Much later on Earth, Optimus Prime had Wheeljack hold the fort at their base while he ordered the rest of the Autobots to roll out... to Latveria. Man and Machine, Part One
Much later, following Megatron's conversion to the Autobot cause and a couple of years' "rehabilitation" aboard the Lost Light, Rodimus allowed him to give the order after a successful mission against the Rust Giants on Miliarium. Unbeknownst to them at the time, this reconciliatory gesture would prove to be the final straw for the dissatisfied Autobots under their command, pushing them into open mutiny and abandoning Megatron along with Team Rodimus on the Necroworld. How Bright Their Frail Deeds
While searching for the missing Jazz, Aileron ordered her team to roll out. Slide, who had recently lost the ability to transform, wasn't pleased to hear it. Primeless, Part 1
Transformers Animated
Repair crew captain Optimus Prime, once settled/stranded on Earth, typically used the command "Transform and roll out!" to have his squad deploy on a mission. Transform and Roll Out It became such a catchphrase for him that his adoring young fans among the population of Detroit requested that he say the phrase for them. Sound and Fury Ultra Magnus later told Jazz to "Transform and roll out" when he decided that the two of them should deal with a runaway train. Mission Accomplished
When the Autobots found themselves turned into humans temporarily, Optimus at one point reflexively ordered his team to "transform". When he realized that didn't work any more, he moved on to "roll out". Upon realizing that didn't apply either, he finally lamely settled on "let's just go". Poor guy. Human Error, Part I
While training the newly enlisted Jetfire and Jetstorm, Sentinel Prime ordered them to "Transform and roll out". When the twins pointed out that their new jet modes no longer had wheels for rolling, Sentinel adjusted his command to "Transform and fly out" which the duo promptly did. First (and Second) in Flight
The Decepticons have their own version of the command: "Transform and rise up!" Megatron Rising - Part 2 Most of the Animated Decepticons (Megatron, Blitzwing, Lugnut and Starscream) have flying vehicle modes, hence the reason for the variation on the command.
Shattered Glass
In one of the few things that isn't opposite, the phrase still seems to mainly be favored by the Autobots.
Optimus Prime ordered the Seekers to transform and roll out to defend the Ark platform from the Decepticons' raid. Shattered Glass Much later, in a sinister variation, Rodimus ordered the Autobots to "transform and roll over" some humans while taking over an Earth military base. Eye in the Sky
One of the less-frequent Decepticon usages of the phrase cropped up when, while escaping from Alpha Trion, Landquake ordered Breakaway and Topspin to transform and roll out. (Despite Landquake being the only one of the three who rolls, and Breakaway being unable to transform due to carrying Skyfall...) Reunification: Part 2
Aligned continuity family
In Aligned continuities, individual Autobot leaders seemingly have their own unique "catchphrases", with "Autobots, roll out" being the phrase used by Optimus Prime.
Prime
Most of the time, Optimus Prime simply commands the Autobots to roll out, but on two very rare occasions he's used the full "Transform and roll out" phrase. Legacy Minus One Megatron would later borrow his Animated counterpart's catchphrase, ordering his armada to mobilize and attack the Autobot base with it. Darkest Hour
Rescue Bots
Shortly after Rescue Force Sigma-17 first landed on Earth and met with Optimus Prime, Heatwave asked when they could be expected to "roll out" with Optimus into combat, in a way that suggested familiarity with the common phrase.
The Rescue Bots also had their own rallying cry: "Rescue Bots, roll to the rescue!". Family of Heroes
When Optimus Prime and Bumblebee reunited with the bots while they were running from Morocco, Optimus used a variation of his own catchphrase: "Rescue Bots, roll out". Bot to the Future
Robots in Disguise
Bumblebee struggled to coin an appropriate catchphrase of his own while leading the Earth Autobots, usually testing a cry before his team deployed on each mission, and rarely getting a favorable response. Pilot (Part 1)To Catch a PhraseMore or less every Season 1 episode He finally came up with one that the rest of his team responded well to in the form of "Rev up and roll out!" after the defeat of Megatronus. Battlegrounds, Part 2
Notes
Foreign phrases
- Japanese: Shutsugeki (出撃, "Sally-forth, mobilize, move out, etc.")
