Commercial

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


Let's see what you can see...

This article is in need of images.

Specifics: One of those morph-faced kids before/during/after
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.

Generation 1

And if I had a hammer....

Generation 1's stylized and somewhat dated commercials became nearly as famous as the cartoon and toyline itself. They would commonly start with a short animated sequence, then cut to two or more boys in the 7 to 10-year-old range playing with the toys. Victor Caroli and another narrator provided voice-overs to describe just how exciting the incredible new toys were. Various show characters narrated some spots, including Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime.

Transforms from robot to lawsuit right before your eyes!

Background music would feature the show's theme song, but with new lyrics about the toys in question, often rather stretched to fit the cadence of the song, or else jammed into a different melody altogether. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the commercials featured one of the young actors staring very seriously into the camera, mouthing "Robots in disguise!" as his eyes glowed and/or his face transformed into that of a robot (based on Galvatron or Ultra Magnus.)

The animated segments often featured high-quality art and animation. Some of the 1986 and 1987 animation was combined into a title sequence for "The Rebirth", the final three-part episode of the Generation 1 cartoon. The short length of television commercials meant the animated sections were very rushed, with characters speaking their lines very rapidly; within the context of the fictional world they portray, this could lead to some hilarious results, such as Jazz taking about 1/4th of a second to decide to become an Action Master. The animated segments would sometimes feature the voice actors from the cartoon; however, some such as Blaster had not been assigned a voice actor yet. Later segments required soundalikes for characters whose voice actors had died (Jazz) or were unavailable (Megatron). These spots were the only American animation produced for dozens of characters from the toyline's later years.

Many commercials were reedited into even shorter versions, without the animation segments.

1984

You've got to get up preeeetty early in 1984 to catch Megs with a black head.
  • The Transformers #1.
The very first Transformers commercial was for the then-upcoming first issue from Marvel comics. It begins with fast pan-ins swooping over Cybertron and Earth, and moves on to Transformers fighting, including an early, black-helmeted version of Megatron landing and firing his fusion cannon. Optimus Prime charges out of an explosion cloud, transforms and fires his gun repeatedly, and an image of the first issue cross-fades and spins into view.


  • Transformers
Animation: In the desert, the Seekers strafe Prowl, Sideswipe and Jazz, who transform and fire back; the three jets transform, land, and grapple with the Autobots, while three more Seekers fly past in robot mode. Also features some very early 80s streaking as the toys are shown instantly changing from vehicle to robot.
Narration: almost none, apart from "The Transformers, from Hasbro", by The Other Guy. The one who's not Victor Caroli. The show's season 1 theme song plays over most of the commerical.
Kidmation: bowl haircut kid mouths robotic "Robots in disguise!"


  • Optimus Prime
Animation: recycled from the Transformers #1 commercial and the cartoon opening, including animation model Megatron leading his troops, immediately followed by pre-animation model Megatron landing. Whoops!
Narration: The Other Guy.
Kidmation: Buck-toothed kid mouths robotic "Robots in disguise!"
"Attack the Autobot commander!" Yep, Optimus Prime's name is never actually mentioned in the commercial.
  • Soundwave
Animation:
Narration:
Kidmation:


Homeland security falls to a kid on a Big Wheel. You know, it must be said that NSA really is failing here.
  • Mini-Spies
Animation: a Mini-Spy enters Autobot Headquarters and starts messing with the computer; Huffer and Cliffjumper check his faction symbol. It's a Decepticon! After him!
Narration: unknown.
Kidmation: kid points urgently at the camera: "It's an Autobot!"


Advertising a Coleco-made Big Wheel.
Animation: Recycled from the first Transformers commercial, including black helmet Megatron, and some cuts between the live-action and animated footage that has the kid blasting some Autobots. Oops.
Narration: some wussy dude.


1985

  • Jetfire and Shockwave.
Animation: Jetfire (with a toy-based animation model) steps out of a mountain and takes on the Decepticon jets; Shockwave transforms halfway and fires, then transforms the rest of the way and fires.
Narration: an incredibly mellow Victor Caroli.
Kidmation: a buck-toothed kid mouths the robotic "Robots in disguise!"


  • Dinobots.
Animation: Amid a raging thunderstorm on Earth, Grimlock, Slag and Sludge take on Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak.
Narration: the other guy.
Kidmation: buck-toothed kid with freaky glowing green eyes mouths robotic "Robots in disguise!"
* Dinobots - a re-soundtracked version of the previous commercial, with the Transformers theme song, Victor Caroli narrating, and the non-glowing-eyes kid.


  • Insecticons plus Swoop.
Animation: a horde of Insecticons attacks a farm.
Narration: the other guy.
Kidmation: glowing green eyes kid.


  • Constructicons/Devastator.
Animation: the Constructicons, working on a building site, suddenly transform and combine.
Narration: Megatron, the other guy.
Kidmation: kid's face fold-morphs into Ultra Magnus-like generic robot.
It's Devastator — six Constructicons in one!


  • Autobot cars.
Animation: As Optimus Prime and Jazz fight a battle, Smokescreen, Tracks, Hoist, Inferno, Red Alert and Grapple drive up and transform, prompting Megatron to summon Thrust and Dirge.
Narration: unknown.
Kidmation: Beatles haircut kid mouths robotic "Robots in diguise!"


  • Triple Changers and Perceptor.
Animation: the Autobot blast a trestle out from under train-mode Astrotrain, who transforms and flies away; Perceptor examines some debris.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: Kid face to generic Magnus face.
Autobot - triple changers battling - the triple changers of - the Decepticons!


"Hey Soundwave, check out this new radio I found!" (actual dialogue)
  • Blaster.
Animation: Rumble merrily walks into a Decepticon base carrying Blaster in boom box mode; Blaster transforms, prompting Soundwave to send Laserbeak and Ravage at him.
Narration: the other guy.
Kidmation: glowing green eyes kid.
Not a working radio!


  • Omega Supreme.
Animation: in the desert, Starscream and Thrust attack the new Autobot defense base, not realizing it's Omega Supreme. Omega transforms and attacks. Includes Transformers: The Movie stinger at the end.
Narration: Optimus Prime.
"It's the Autobot defense base!" "But where are the Autobots?"


  • Christmas spot
Alex Karras calmly promotes the virtues of Perceptor (a working microscope!) and urges you to shop now if you want one for your kid for Christmas.


To distinguish real Transformers from bootlegs and other brands such as Tonka GoBots. We are conquerors. No one is like us. Only we have the right to be called by the name. Only we have the right to wear this symbol, or THIS symbol. Only WE are Autobots and Decepticons. And only WE are the Transformers! Only the Transformers are REAL Transformers!

1986

  • Transformers: The Movie trailer.
Animation: clips from the movie, starting with the Autobot shuttle launching and the Sharkticon guard pulling the feed-them-to-the-Sharkticon lever. "The Touch" plays across the first half, then Lion's rendition of the theme song.
Narration: Victor Caroli introduces the characters and expounds on how great the movie is.
Hold on tight. The most incredible rock and roll adventure ever is here!


  • Hot Rod, Kup, and Blurr; Cyclonus and Scourge; and Rrrrrodimus Prime.
Animation: a running battle with each character charging in as the narrator identifies him.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: kid face to Galvatron face.
No one can take on the Decepticons like Rrrrrodimus Prime!


  • Ultra Magnus.
Animation: With Optimus on Cybertron, it's up to Ultra Magnus! Magnus loads up some 'bots in Autobot City, then rolls out into the desert to fight the Decepticons, plowing through the Combaticons en route.
Narration: Optimus Prime; Victor Caroli (each sold separately.)
Kidmation: kid face to generic Magnus face.


  • Ultra Magnus and Galvatron.
Animation: Magnus and Galvatron, along with others, do battle on a highway. Starscream and Skywarp can be glimpsed flying into battle alongside Galvatron!
Narration: Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Kidmation: kid face to Galvatron face.
Includes tail-end ad for The Transformers: The Movie, narrator unknown. Does Prime die?!


It sorta happened like this in the movie. A little.
  • Springer and Wreck-Gar.
Animation: Draws heavily from The Transformers: The Movie. Springer's shuttle is destroyed by the Decepticon mothership; he flies to the surface of Junkion and battles Wreck-Gar and another Junkion. Wreck-Gar's voice is nearly the same as Megatron's.
Narration: Optimus Prime describes Springer; Megatron gleefully describes Wreck-Gar as though he were a Decepticon; Victor Caroli (each sold separately.)
Kidmation: kid face to generic Magnus face.


  • Sharkticons, Kup, Hot Rod and Wheelie.
Animation: like the previous commercial, heavily based on the movie. Hot Rod and Kup battle a group of Sharkticons, and Wheelie (sounding like Scrappy Doo) arrives to help.
Narration: Prime and Megatron; Victor Caroli (sold separately).
Kidmation: kid face to Galvatron face.
Autobots never faced an evil force worse as the terror of - the Sharkticons! (??)


  • Aerialbots and Stunticons.
Animation: the two teams both arrive in the desert and transform; both combine, and Superion bashes Menasor into a cliff. Menasor's legs are on backwards.
Narration: Optimus and Megatron.
Kidmation: kid face to generic Magnus face.
Only the Stunticons! ...only the Stunticons what?


  • Combaticons/Bruticus and Metroplex.
Animation: the Combaticons fly through a canyon, combine, and attack Metroplex, who transforms to his enormous robot mode and fires at them.
Narration: Megatron, Optimus Prime; Victor Caroli (from Hasbro.)
Kidmation: kid face to Galvatron face.
"But the Combaticons can combine to form Bruticus!"


  • Protectobots/Defensor and Trypticon.
Animation: The Protectobots drive down a road towards the Decepticons' massive new base, transform and attack. At Astrotrain's command, the base transforms into battle station mode; the Protectobots become Defensor and fire back. Trypticon changes to dinosaur mode and blasts fire-breath at Defensor.
Narration: Megatron and Optimus Prime; Victor Caroli (batteries not included.)
Kidmation: kid face to Galvatron face.
Two kids playing with the toys are very affected by the sight of toy Trypticon knocking over Defensor.


  • Predacons.
Animation: the Predacons charge in to counter the Dinobots.
Narration: Megatron; Victor Caroli (each sold separately.)
Kidmation: kid face to generic Magnus face.
Few Decepticons can stand up to the Dinobots, but the Predacons can!


  • Sky Lynx.
Animation: Sky Lynx swoops in to save the Dinobots from Predaking.
Narration: Optimus Prime; Victor Caroli (batteries not included.)
Kidmation: kid face to generic Magnus face.


  • Triple Changers - Sandstorm, Broadside and Octane.
Animation: Blitzwing and Astrotrain attack Powerglide and Warpath; Sandstorm and Broadside change repeatedly as they travel over land and water.
Narration: Victor Caroli.
Kidmation: kid face to generic Magnus face.
File:LiveActionJazz-Skywarp01.jpg
This socially awkward scene could be all yours!


  • Battlechargers.
Animation: Amid a field of erupting volcanoes, Ultra Magnus and a team of Autobots march forward in lock-step, prompting Runabout to drive off a cliff, transform and fire.
Narration: Megatron; Victor Caroli (each sold separately.)
Kidmation: kid face to Galvatron face. The toy portion also features repeated cuts of a kid's head/eyes following the rolling Battle Charger toys.
Nobody jumps into action - faster than - Battlechargers!


Animation: Jazz and Cosmos shine their headlights to reveal that a group of humans are wearing Transformers reflective patches, thus gaining entry to the Autobot base.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: kid face to generic Magnus face; also, a kid saying "Robots in Disguise" through the Voice Changer.
You could win a party with life-sized Transformers!


1987

Many of the live-action segments for the 1987 toy commercials showed kids playing with the toys in a rocky, doom-laden environment, replete with constant flashes of lightning illuminating the toys.

"Research that planet, Magnus! We've got to help them but they're helping us fight the Decepticons!" Rodimus actually says this, or something like it. True story.
  • Headmasters.
Animation: The Headmaster Nebulans climb into their respective partners, who are parked in vehicle mode; they roll out and clash with the Headmaster Decepticons.
Narration: Rodimus and Ultra Magnus narrate (well, Rodimus actually spews out a series of basically incomprehensible lines.)
Kidmation: a kid leaps and flips, turning into a stop-motion version of Ultra Magnus's toys.
Head. MasterTransformers—more muchmore than meets the eyes! [sic]
I think pulling my head off is a pretty good idear.
  • Decepticon Headmasters.
Animation: At the secret base of the Headmaster Decepticons, the "trainers" are putting Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf and Mindwipe through their paces, having them jump through hoops and smash through rock statues of the Autobot Headmasters. Yes, the "trainer" concept actually made it into animation. They even carry whips!
Narration: Galvatron, Victor Caroli
Kidmation: kid to stop-motion Magnus toy.
Nothing's better than going into battle with these Transformers!


  • Headmaster Horrorcons.
Animation: Apeface and Snapdragon fly into a canyon and transform to robot mode, then change to beast mode and charge, spewing fire and swinging rocks around.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: extreme closeup of a kid's eye, with a camera pull-out emerging from the pupil.
The jaws of the beast become the pilot of the plane, and the pilot of the plane becomes the head of the robot!


  • Targetmasters
Animation: live-action set of a rocky planet explodes. Cel: on Cybetron(?), Sureshot gets straffed by Triggerhappy, who transforms; the two grapple, and their guns do the same. Crosshairs drives forward; he and Pinpointer transform and run, then both get tackled by Misfire and Aimless.
Narration: Galvatron, Ultra Magnus, Victor Caroli
Kidmation: Kid flips and becomes stop-motion Ultra Magnus toy.
Two Trans-for-mers, all in one! The vehicle transforms and so does the gun!


  • Six Shot.
Animation: Rodimus and Galvatron lead their teams in battle; Six Shot attacks and runs through his various modes, as Galvatron describes them and Cyclonus counts them off.
Narration: Victor Caroli
The most challenging Transformer of them all!


Revenge of the nerds!
  • Technobots/Computron and Scorponok.
Animation: Galvatron runs down a ramp as Scorponok transforms from base to scorpion to repulse the Technobots; the Technobots combine, and get hit with a rock thrown by Scorponok.
Narration: Galvatron, Victor Caroli
And now it's a beast with capture claws and a trainer who becomes... the HEAD of its robot!


  • Technobots and Terrorcons.
Animation: the two teams battle on Earth, while Rodimus and Magnus narrate. Includes Decoy ending.
Narration: Ultra Magnus, Rodimus Prime, Victor Caroli
Kidmation: Kid to stop-motion Ultra Magnus.
Those hi-tech heroes are in for one horrific battle!


  • Punch/Counterpunch and Clones.
Animation: Punch informs Rodimus that he can trust him, transforms to car mode, rolls out of the base and promptly transforms to Counterpunch and tells the waiting Galvatron that he can trust ‘’him’’. The Decepticon clones run through a rocky landscape in perfect step and open fire on the Autobot clones, then both groups transform. Includes Decoy ending.
Narration: Victor Caroli.
Kidmation: Kid to stop-motion Ultra Magnus.


  • The Monsterbots.
Animation: Blurr and Rodimus Prime arrive; Kup tells them that there's been an accident, and the new Autobots are monsters! The Monsterbots trash a lab, then burst through a wall and fight some Decepticons.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: Kid to stop-motion Ultra Magnus.
The new Autobots are Monsterbots!


  • Duocons/Throttlebots.
Animation: Flywheels’s jet portion swoops down out of the sky and links up with his tank, transforming to robot mode before being jumped on by Rodimus Prime. That jet is going to crash into that tank!
Narration: Galvatron, Victor Caroli
Kidmation: Kid to stop-motion Ultra Magnus.
They think they’re twice as tough as any Autobot - and MAYBE THEY ARE.


  • Fortress Maximus. "FOR-TRESS MAX-I-MUHUUUS!"
Animation: Fortress Maximus transforms to base mode and blows away the Terrorcons, who combine and attack him.
Narration: Victor Caroli, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus.


Animation: The post-Movie Autobots and Decepticons shoot it out on Cybertron -- Galvatron and Scourge fire on Blurr and Rodimus; Springer grapples with Soundwave; Ultra Magnus... stands there. Two teams "blast" their way to Nebulos. The Autobots detach their heads, which are replaced by "the intelligent Nebulons". The Decepticons do the same. Scorponok and Fortress Maximus slug it out; the Targetmasters charge at each other and transform. Features completely random, made-up heads for the pre-Headmaster robots.
Narration: Victor Caroli.

1988

Many of the 1988 commercials began with a still shot of several animation frames, arranged as if in a photo album. The camera would zoom in on one as the animation began.

  • Pretenders
Animation: The Autobot Headmasters and Decepticons battle, then the three Autobot Pretenders are created (nekkid!). Dreadwind and Darkwing attack and the armored Pretenders split to reveal their robots, forcing the Decepticons to flee. The Decepticon Pretenders burst through the wall and both groups split.
Narration:
* Pretenders.
Animation: The Autobot Pretenders splitting, re-used from the above commercial.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: A bizarre segment of kids proclaiming what they "are" {"I’m a video gamer!" "I’m a skateboarder!"), only for the skateboarder to split Pretender-style, revealing a generic CGI robot who announces "I’m a Transformer!"


  • Powermasters
Animation: amid desert canyons, the various Powermaster partners transform to engine form and combine with their partners, including Optimus Prime transforming his trailer to base mode.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Includes tail-end ads spot for the relevant Marvel Comics issue. Their engine’s the key that unlocks their Transformer en-er-geeee!


Truck? What truck?
  • Powermaster Optimus Prime
Animation: Recycled footage of Prime transforming from the Powermasters commercial; Powermaster Optimus Prime firing Quickswitch.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: A kid's crackles with energy, which surrounds and replaces his head with very, and we mean very, crude CGI Optimus Prime head.
* Powermaster Optimus Prime - edited down from the previous commercial.


  • Powermaster Prime and Doubledealer
Animation: Footage of Prime reused from other commercials featuring him, then a new segment with Doubledealer in robot mode standing with Prime. Doubledealer transforms to vehicle mode, then Skar flies out of Piranacon’s hand and locks into place, transforming Doubledealer to falcon mode.
Narration: Victor Caroli
"Who’s that new Transformer with Optimus Prime?"
HOOKA chaka HOOKA HOOKA HOOKA chaka


  • Small Headmasters
Animation: the small Autobot Headmasters drive on a rocky world and transform; the small Decepticon Headmasters burst through a wall and transform.
Narration: Galvatron, who's obviously never met Fangry, Squeezeplay or Horri-Bull: "Our new Decepticon Headmasters will give us more brainpower than ever!"
Kidmation: a kid flips through the air, converting to a robot and folding up to become the head of a larger (stop motion?) robot.
And when the head enters the robot's body you get a readout of its power!


  • Pretender Beasts/Pretender Vehicles
Animation: Snarler and Chainclaw battle in beast mode… then… are suddenly in their shells… and then come out of their shells…? Gunrunner emerges from his vehicle and transforms to jet mode; Roadgrabber emerges and transforms his vehicle to battle mode, opening fire on the flying Gunrunner.
Narration:
Kidmation:


  • Quickswitch. "It's Quickswitch, Sixshot's son! And he's on our side!"
Animation: in the midst of a moon battle, Getaway spots Quickswitch incoming and mistakes him for a Decepticon, urging the others to destroy him, until someone says he's an Autobot. Quickswitch runs through his modes, beating up Horri-Bull and Snaptrap, then goes to gun mode and lands in Powermaster Optimus Prime's hand.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: a kid holding the toy mouths a synthesized "How quick can you all six" [sic], while his head flops around disturbingly.
Determined to make good where his Decepticon father went bad, Quickswitch joins the Autobots!


  • Double Targetmasters
Animation: the small Targetmasters fight it out on a barren world.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Kidmation: kid flips over and turns into a gun for a very crude CGI robot.
Targetmaster Transformers—theeeeeey've got the power to surprise.


Now auditioning for Gamera vs. The Firecons
  • Firecons
Animation:
Narration:
Kidmation:


  • Triggerbots/Triggercons
Animation: despite not being the toys advertised by this commercial, Dreadwind and Darkwing chase Getaway and Slapdash around the rim of a crater.
Narration: Victor Caroli.
And when the Triggerbots battle the Triggercons, there's no doubt there'll be a real shoot-out! KERRUNCH.


Sadly, Dreamwave never learned that what works in animation doesn't always go over so well as a still image.
  • Seacons
Animation: Beneath the ocean, the Seacons take bites out of a submarine.
Narration: unknown.
Kidmation: a kid leaps over the top of a generic stop-animated robot and transforms into his gun, which he fires.

1989

Animation: A cel spot featuring Prime, Dreadwind and Darkwing, and a stop-motion toy portion featuring a bizarre light and dark gray Scorponok.
Narration:


  • Micromaster vehicles and bases.
Animation: Prime opens his palm to reveal a Micromaster city; a horde of Micromasters swarms over an attacking Giant Decepticon Warrior; Red Hot transforms and flies at the camera. Stop-motion spots show a fleet of Micromaster vehicles driving around the combined playsets.
Narration: Victor Caroli
The most incredible "Micro"-s of all! They're not just small; they're Tranzzforrrmerrzzz!
* Micromaster battle stations, edited down from the previous commercial. Narration: Victor Caroli. The only Micros that transform!
* Micromaster transports, edited down from the previous commercial.


Bumblebee, you fool!
  • Micromaster micro bases.
Animation: Bumblebee drags two captured Decepticon vehicles into an Autobot base, only to have them transform and attack.
Narration: Victor Caroli
You can connect them to form whole cities!
* Micromaster micro bases, edited down from the previous commercial. Narration by Victor Caroli.


  • Classic Pretenders.
Animation: As Prime transforms and comes under attack in a nighttime city, the Autobot Pretenders arrive to help out. "Jazz, you're back!"
Narration: Victor Caroli
And the eeeevil Starscream is here too!
* Classic Pretenders, edited down from the previous commercial.


  • Mega and Ultra Pretenders.
Animation: Crossblades and Vroom slowly drift out of their shells and transform; Roadblock's two robot forms both pop out of his vehicle shell and fire.
Narration: Victor Caroli.
Who's more than they pretend to be? Mega Pretender Transformers, Mega Pretenders!
* Mega Pretenders, edited down from the previous commercial. Inside one, there's the other; then they both transform and combine to form another!
* Ultra Pretenders, edited down from the previous commercial.


Decades later, their melting shells let you re-enact this scene.
Animation: Starscream dunks Wildfly, Icepick and Scowl into colorful vats; they and the others emerge as Pretenders and charge at the camera. BEYOND (beyond) anything you've EVER SEEN before: Monster Pretenders!
Narration: Victor Caroli
Now, the Decepticons have Monster Pretenders. Monster Pretenders with rubbery skin!

1990

"Sure, Prime, I'll give up the alternate mode that I never had."
File:GutcruncherG1.jpg
"Estroy them!" Actual dialogue. We're not making this up.

The Action Master commercials began and ended with a metal fist bursting through a wall, with "ACTION MASTERS" emblazoned across its knuckles. Some of the animation was screened against real-world backgrounds, with poorly animated characters morphing into the real toys.

  • Action Masters.
Animation: inside a base, Prime invites a circle of Autobots to join him.
Narration: Victor Caroli
"Who will give up the power to transform to become stronger faster more alive?" [sic]


  • Action Master vehicles—Starscream, Prowl, and Overrun.
Animation: a short battle sequence (on Cybertron?) with the three featured characters.
Narration: Victor Caroli
And look! The Action Master vehicles transform into powerful battle stations!


  • Action Master vehicles—Wheeljack, Sprocket, and Gutcruncher.
Animation: Gutcruncher takes to the sky in the Stratojet; Wheeljack and Sprocket drive out of a tunnel.
Narration: Victor Caroli
"Estroy them!" [again, sic]
* Action Master vehicles— edited down from the previous commercial.
Micromasters melt in your mouth, not in your hand.


  • Hot Rod Patrol and Construction Patrol.
Animation: Cel: Jazz and Prime pick up the Hot Rod Patrol and examine them. Stop-motion toys: The Construction Patrol destroys a bridge, making Scorponok fall into a ravine. Rawr!
Narration: Victor Caroli
* Hot Rod Patrol / Construction Patrol—abbreviated (and accelerated) version of the previous commercial. Neil Ross jibbers his lines at hilariously high speed: "Micromasterconstructionpatroldestroythebridge!"


  • Micromaster Combiners/Combiner Transports.
Animation: Megatron grabs at a couple of combiner vehicles (Roadburner/Wheel Blaze and Missile Master/Moonrock), only to have them split apart, reconnect, and shoot him in the face. Cement Head and Terror Tread, along with their transport, transform from vehicle to robot/base. A rather wussy Frank Welker soundalike voices Megatron; Roadburner somehow fires a laser from the short end of his cherry picker crane.
Narration: Victor Caroli
* Micromaster Combiners—edited down from the previous commercial.

Generation 2

Advertisements for Generation 2 were totally hip to what the hep cats were digging. First they started with a more theatrical, orchestrated version of the original theme song. But that background-music-singing jive was totally bogus, so it was replaced by the "rap music" that all the kids listen to these days. Cel animation was so five minutes ago; these commercials used graphical images made with a hi-tek com-pu-tor.

1993

Animation: Prime drives down a road and transforms; Ramjet swoops down and transforms to robot mode, then runs and fires. Prime and Ramjet shoot each other and grapple; Prime sends Ramjet flying. There are TWO moons in the sky.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Going ballistic to destroy the Autobots and conquer mankind, Ramjet IS an eevil Decepticon!"


  • Optimus Prime.
Animation: Highway/vs. Ramjet, recycled from the Generation 2 comics commercial.
Narration: Victor Caroli
"Uhmmm Mmptms Prmmm!"
* Optimus Prime. Edited from the previous commercial.


  • Color Changers.
Animation: Deluge (Decepticon) drives down a race track; Drench pops up in robot mode to attack him; Deluge transforms and fires back.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Blast 'em with hot water to create disturbing imagery find out whose side they're on!
* Color Changers. Edited down from the previous commercial.


  • Megatron.
Animation: Prime drives and transforms, but something targets his head with a computer readout. Megatron rolls up, transforms and fires, tackling Prime.
Narration: Victor Caroli.
Listen to the voice of DOOM! "Megatronattack." [sic]
* Megatron. Edited from the previous commercial.


  • Jets and cars (Starscream, Ramjet, Inferno, Jazz, Sideswipe.)
Animation: Starscream and Ramjet fly over rocky desert; Ramjet transforms and lands. Jazz drives through a roller coaster city highway and transforms.
Narration: Victor Caroli
Inferno's water cannon is rainin' pain!
* Jets and cars. Edited from the previous commercial.


  • Constructicons / Dinobots.
Animation: The Constructicons drive at the camera, scraping and tearing up the ground, Bonecrusher transforms into a very off-model robot mode and smashes an electrical box. Devastator smashes the ground, but the three Dinobots emerge from a fissure and attack. Dino-mode Grimlock grabs Devastator by the leg and throws him aside.
Narration: Victor Caroli
They'll blast those Decepticons into extinction!
* Dinobots. Edited from the previous commercial.
* Constructions. Edited from the previous commercial.

1994

  • Aerialbots / Combaticons.
Animation: Five jets soar over a live-action neighborhood; Silverbolt transforms and lands before a hyper-excited kid. "Jet formation!" "Jet transformation!" Superion and Bruticus slug it out in the kid's neighborhood; Superion moves the kid to "safety" five feet away. "That was brutal!" "No, that's BRUTICUS!"
Narration: Victor Caroli (each sold separately)
Sample lyrics: The Combaticons are WARRING / Onslaught is ROARING / He is one metamorphing DUDICUS / They all combine / and kick Superion's behind / as the big bad battling BRUTICUS!


  • Rotor Force / Laser Rods.
Animation: At a race track, a kid watches some of the Laser Rods race; Sizzle transforms and punches a pole aside. A moment later, Leadfoot also transforms, and fires a rotor blade.
Narration: Victor Caroli (each sold separately)
Sample lyrics: Flying all around / On the air and on the ground / Transformer rotors are SPINNIN'! / They can change before your eyes / into rotor-shooting guys / When they get into a battle they be winnin'!
Holy crap, did Sizzle kill that kid?


  • Combat Heroes
Animation: A kid whines about a "battle tank" driving down his street; it changes into Megatron. Fortunately, Prime is parked right behind the kid, and transforms to fight Megatron. "Battle THIS!" A moment later, the kid cheers for truck-mode Prime, only to have another truck transform into Prime -- "Uh, over here." Includes Peter Cullen voicing Optimus Prime.
Narration: Victor Caroli (each sold separately)
Sample lyrics: It's heavy metal crunchin' time / as Optimus Prime / goes toe-to-toe with Combat Megatron / Prime is one tough dude / underneath his hood / he's a transformin' missile firin' phenomenon!
* Combat Heroes. Edited from the previous commercial.


  • Dreadwing and Smokescreen.
Animation: A kid runs down a city street, fleeing Dreadwing, who strafes the street before transforming to tank mode while Smokescreen flies overhead. On a downtown street, the kid cries for help as Dreadwing and Smokescreen transform to robot mode in front of him ("No one can save you... from triple-changing Dreadwing!") Electro and Sizzle (yes, Sizzle the Decepticon) drive up and transform, fighting the pair, but in the end they get picked up and smashed into each other by their foes.
Narration:
Sample lyrics: DreadWING / is punishING / his Gatling gun is ILLIN'!
* Dreadwing. Edited from the previous commercial. The evil Dreadwing is a triple changer!
"Autobots! HALP! me." [sic]


  • Cyberjets.
Animation:
Narration: Victor Caroli
Sample lyrics:

Beast Wars

1996

  • Wave 1 Deluxe class toys.
Animation: CGI Bat Optimus Primal and Crocodile Megatron transform slug it out in a swamp.
Toy segment: New MAXIMALS! Dinobot vs. Terrorsaur. "Evil Waspinator, full of venom, changes like never before, from insect — to high-tech — and puts the sting on Cheetor! But treacherous Tarantula mutates and counter-attacks!" Includes tail-end bit for the free 2-pack comic.
Narration: Victor Caroli
In the beginning, came the beasts, and all that creeps, crawls and flies. But nature lies, they're robots in disguise!
* Cheetor and Waspinator - edited from the previous commercial. Under the skin... lurks a robot within!
* Dinobot, Waspinator, Tarantulas - edited from the previous, with narration by SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!! and cartoon excerpts of both changing to robot mode.


Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!
A robot in disguise with a bee inside!


Animation: Cartoon excerpts, with both changing to robot mode.
Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!
This commercial remained on television even into Beast Wars' third or fourth year, long after production stopped on the toys shown in the commercial.

1997

Animation: Cartoon excerpt - Inferno transforms, as rendered in "Spider's Game". A crude CGI Cybershark emerges from a shoreline, changes to robot mode and fires.
Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!
New Inferno is evil king of the anthill! With stinger missiles he's the ultimate surprise!

1998

  • Fuzors
Animation: An eagle and a wolf scream in horrifying agony as they're sucked inexoribly toward their searing, fiery death in a lava pit. The lava explodes and beast-mode Silverbolt flies out.
Toy segment: Noble Fuzor Silverbolt fights the evil Predacons Aquasting and Sky Shadow!
Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!


  • Mega class Transmetals (Megatron versus Optimus Primal)
Animation: Cartoon excerpt - Transmetal Megatron transforms to robot mode; Primal flies past camera.
Toy segment: Optimus Primal battles the evil Megatron and knocks over a few tin cans.
Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!
Mechanized, metalized, in disguise, BEAST WARS! Metalized machines with three modes of mean! TRANSMETALS!


1999

Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!


  • Deluxe and Mega class Transmetals II
Animation: Cartoon excerpt - Cheetor breaks out of his room, from "Feral Scream Part 2".
Toy segment: Evil Dinobot battles the heroic missile maned feline Cheetor and Cybershark!
Narration: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!
"Dinobot's gonna whip your robot!"


Animation:
Toy segment:
Narration:

Beast Machines

1999

Robots in Disguise

2001

  • Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus. Two kids who live nextdoor to each other grab their respective Autobot Super figures and run into each other at full speed; as soon as they touch, they combine! One of the kids had a poster for the 1986 animated movie in his room.
  • Deluxe Cars. "Prowl" just does not sound fearsome or impressive no matter how much you growl when you yell it.

Armada

2003

  • Unicron.

The commercial for the new Unicron toy featured footage of the toy (of course) followed by a brief clip from 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!").

Energon

Cybertron

Somehow more exciting than the tv show.
  • Deluxe and Voyager class toys.

Animation: None. Child actors transform and manipulate the toys in a impressive-looking diorama environment. Notably, Paul Oakenfold's Cybertron theme music is not used.
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!

Transformers (2007) movie

The 2007 live-action movie saw a merchandising blitz that surpassed even Generation 1's commercial onslaught. Numerous trailers were edited together, and tie-in commercials ranged from Burger King to Chevrolet.

Trailers

  • Teaser trailer: Premiered 29 June 2006 in front of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." In 2003, the Beagle 2 Mars Rover was launched. Features "blurry footage" from the Mars lander, being destroyed by a shadowy robotic figure. It was the only warning we would ever get. Included as a DVD extra.
  • Theatrical trailer #1: Premiered 20 December 2006. "Whatever fell out of the sky ended up right here behind me..." On July 4... Our world... will be TRANSFORMED. Notable for the horrifically grating electronic "music" of the second half. Included as a DVD extra (oddly labeled as Trailer #2.)
  • Theatrical trailer #2: Premiered 8 January 2007. Humanoids of Planet Earth... surrender... or be TRANSFORMED. Decepticon-centered trailer. Includes the horrible scraping electronic non-music.
  • Theatrical trailer #3: Premiered 30 March 2007. They are already here... hiding in plain sight. "You gotta get in the car. Trust me!"
  • Theatrical trailer #4: Premiered 18 May 2007. "Got a little surprise for ya, son." Starts off with various boy-and-his-car clips, then the Autobots arriving to Earth. Most have come to destroy us... some have come to protect us. Additional focus points include Prime transforming in the alley, Sector 7 capturing Bumblebee, and Bonecrusher tackling Prime. "Bring it!!" Included as a DVD extra.

TV spots

  • Hidden: Air date 31 March 2007. They are already here... hiding in plain sight.
  • Destiny: Air date 30 March 2007. "Driver don't pick the car." Some will come to defend us. Most will come to destroy us.
  • ?: Air date 16 May 2007. From Director Michael Bay.. and executive producer Steven Spielberg...
  • Declare: Air date 21 May 2007. They are like nothing we've ever seen... and they've come to take our planet.
  • Vibration: Air date 21 May 2007. They can take any shape... they can hide anywhere.
  • Nickelodeon spot: Air date 29 May 2007. On July 4th... they're teaming up... to transform our world. Focus on Sam and Bumblebee. Has two endings: "Not so tough without a head, are you?" and "If my parents see you they're gonna freak out!"
  • ?: focus on Bonecrusher.
  • Superevent: Air date 24 June 2007. "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"

TV tie-in commercials

General Motors

  • Chevy Transform Your Ride Sale
    • In the city, a guy leads his ladyfriend to where his car is parked. Unfortunately, Blackout lands nearby and blasts the car to scrap before stalking off, prompting the guy to shriek like a girl.
    • Optimus Prime comes crashing down onto the street, crushing a man's car. "My bad," he apologizes. "You better believe it's your bad. It's real bad -- my wheels!!"
    • A man hands his ticket to a valet drive, but Megatron comes soaring out of the sky and crushes the man's SUV under his foot and throwing vehicles aside. "Wow! Look at your car! Eh, he just kinda BIUM!! chucked it outta-- uh...I don't think we're liable for that."
    • A woman repeats the valet experience. "Look at that! AWESOME! ....not for you."

Need a new car or truck?

Burger King

  • Optimus Prime walks up to the drive-thru and orders a Whopper, only to be told that he needs a vehicle. He promptly transforms to truck mode, only to be informed that he also needs a driver. "Oh, come on!" Includes tail-end promo for Burger King freebie Transformer toys. Additional tie-ins were available through Burger King's web site.

Lunchables

Transformers The Game

  • No narration: Prime and Megatron face off. Summer 2007.
  • Optimus Prime narrates: "Protect... or destroy. Good... or evil. Where you stand is a question of choice."

Verizon FiOS

  • Michael Bay commands things to be AWESOME. Walking around his massive estate, Bay cues up tigers, life-size Bumblebee props, and explosions on demand. In an extended version, Bay bashes aside the Nokia robot.

Toy commercials

  • Movie characters.
Narration: unknown
Features: Megatron, Prime, and other movie guys.
"The Transformers' war... has invaded our wold. And the Earth is no match for the evil Decepticons!"
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