Drift (AOE)
| The name or term "Drift" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Drift (disambiguation). |
- Drift is an Decepticon-turned-Autobot from the from the Revenge of the Fallen and Age of Extinction portions of the live-action film continuity family.
A former Decepticon turned Autobot commando, Drift's strength lies not only in his mastery of ancient swords, but in his composure in battle. Drift highly respects Optimus Prime, referring to him as his sensei, and knows there is hope when the Autobot leader is around. An extremely polite and loyal Triple Changer, Drift will follow Optimus to the bitter end. He doesn't think much of Bumblebee, due to his youth and "childishness."
He is sometimes partnered with Slug.
Fiction
How to Ride your Dinobot cartoon
Drift and Slug had cornered Lockdown inside a barn, but alas, Drift had to learn how to attack with his Dinobot steed. Due to a lack of accurate instructions, Drift activated pretty much every button on Slug, activating everything but the weaponry. Some time later, Drift finally struck gold and activated the heavy weaponry... only to be immediately fried, much to his and Slug's disappointment. How to Fight
Titan Magazines Age of Extinction comics
Five years before the battle of Chicago[1], Drift led a three-Con team on Cybertron with his friend Knucklehead and so-not-a-friend Lockdown as his subordinates. His task was to capture an Autobot stronghold, which—to Knucklehead's glee—he planned to do by storming it, in attempt to minimise bloodshed. Lockdown sneered at him for being soft and advocated bombing the place flat, which Drift pointed out was why Megatron put them in charge: so they'd have something left to rule. The three sneaked up the wall, surprised the Autobot guards, and with martial arts skill they disabled every one without a shot being fired. However, Lockdown tried to execute prisoners and when Drift stopped him, Lockdown gleefully took the opportunity to label Drift a traitor and try to whack him. Knucklehead backed up his friend and the two of them sent Lockdown falling into the fort's molten moat, swearing revenge on them both; Drift knew that he could never take revenge as long as Megatron was in charge. He then let the prisoners retreat with their wounded and was told that he'd make a fine Autobot.
By the time of Chicago, Drift had indeed switched sides and he was annoyed to be cleaning up Ark debris on the moon instead of tracking down remaining Decepticons. Optimus was bemused that Drift was so eager to fight his former allies. While grousing that the Ark was their last memories of Cybertron laid waste, the samurai was horrified to find Knucklehead's corpse: recently killed by Lockdown without Megatron to stop him. Drift made a grave for his friend and Prime told him that they'd stand against Lockdown together. Adrift in Time and Space
Age of Extinction film
- Voice actor: Ken Watanabe (English), Jorge Badillo (Latin American Spanish)
 Spoiler warning: Plot details for Transformers: Age of Extinction (film) follow. |
Drift was among the Autobots who had gone into hiding on Earth after humanity turned against the Autobots. To his disgruntlement, Bumblebee took command of the Autobots in the absence of Optimus Prime. Drift was overjoyed at the return of his sensei, declaring there was hope after all. Drift sadly recited a haiku regarding the humans' betrayal, which didn't sit right with Hound. The two nearly came to blows before Optimus broke it up. Later that night, Drift sadly reported that they were the last five Autobots, and expressed his distaste of Bumblebee's immaturity aloud. The two bots quickly came to blows with Drift gaining the upper hand and claiming the "puppy dog eyes" act was beneath Bumblebee. The mood soon was dampened further when Cade Yeager revealed footage of Ratchet and Leadfoot's demises.
Drift took part in Cade's mission to infiltrate KSI, and joined in the subsequent assault on the facility when the news came of Ratchet's brutal demise and dismemberment. Drift used his helicopter mode to lift Bumblebee through the upper levels of the building to Rescue Cade. The Autobots soon fled once again, and Drift was unable to intervene in the battle between Optimus and Galvatron. When Lockdown captured Optimus and Tessa Yeager, Drift infiltrated the bounty hunter's ship with the rest of the group. Drift advocated stealth and a lack of violence, but immediately hacked an alien captive of Lockdown's to death when it startled him. Drift went to free his sensei with Hound and Crosshairs, and remained aboard the commandeered ship of Lockdown's with him and Hound.
Drift later remained with Optimus and Crosshairs when their ship was shot down by the rogue KSI Transformers over Hong Kong. Crashing in a nearby valley, Optimus revealed his trump card: the ancient Dinobots. While Optimus beat some authority into Grimlock, Drift followed Crosshairs' lead and evacuated to the sidelines to avoid the Dinobot's wrath. After expressing surprise at Grimlock's saurian alternate mode, having expected "a giant car", Drift was impressed to see his sensei take dominance over the Dinobots, and was ordered to mount one to race to Hong Kong. Though Crosshairs grumbled about Optimus' dynamic leadership, Drift simply smiled and knew it was innate in their leader. Drift quickly mounted Slug and together they fought off many of Galvatron's army in Hong Kong. Drift later helped escort the Yeager family and Joyce away from the city, but Lockdown intervened and nearly captured them all. Optimus, Bumblebee and the Yeager's soon defeated Lockdown, and Drift was assigned by his sensei to watch over the Yeager family while he left Earth. Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)
Toys
Age of Extinction
Robots in Disguise
- Autobot Drift (One Step Changers, 2014)
- Part of the first wave of Age of Extinction: Robots in Disguise One Step Changers toys, "Autobot Drift" is a simplified toy that transforms into a blue 2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. He transforms by being folded inside-out/outside-in, very much like a switchblade. His sword blades are molded onto his arms, and his hands are compatible with 5mm posts.
- He's quite addictive to transform.
- Autobot Drift & Dinobot Slug (Dino Sparkers, 2014)
- Autobot Drift (Titan Heroes, 2014)
- Drift (Flip & Change, 2014)
- Autobot Drift (Power Battlers, 2014)
- Autobot Drift (One Step Changers, 2014)
Generations
- Autobot Drift (Deluxe, 2014)
- Accessories: Two daggers, two swords
- Japanese ID number: AD23
- Part of the second wave of Age of Extinction: Generations Deluxe Class toys, this figure of Drift features a more complex transformation and a much more articulated and proportionate robot mode. He comes with two daggers and two swords, all of which he can wield via 5mm post. All four of his weapons can store on his roof/back in various ways in robot mode, while his swords stow underneath in vehicle mode.
- Autobot Drift (Voyager, 2014)
- Accessories: Two missile pods, two swords
- Japanese ID number: AD30
- Part of the second wave of Age of Extinction: Generations Voyager Class toys, this Drift is a retool of Voyager Skyhammer, transforming into a made-up assault helicopter that resembles a cross between a Eurocopter Tiger and a Mil Mi-24. He features a new head and includes Skyhammer's original missile pods as well as two new swords that can combine with each other to form a larger sword. The pods can attach to 5mm peg-holes on his hands, one on each of his forearms, a pair under each of his wings, a port on the backs/insides of each of his shoulder cockpit halves, and a port underneath his cockpit.
- The original version of this mold was also used to make BotCon 2013 Sandstorm.
Merchandise
Revenge of the Fallen
RPMs - Robot Powered Machines
- Autobot Drift (2010)
- Series: Double Siders
- Number: ?
- Robot Powered Machines Mini-Vehicle Autobot Drift is a small, non-transforming, die-cast car based on his mainstream counterpart's vehicle mode. His robot mode is sculpted underneath the vehicle, and his wheels use through-axle construction that lets the toy zip around at high speeds on smooth surfaces. Thanks to his oversized tires, he can slide along rightside-up or upside-down.
- The intended RPM release of "Double Siders" Drift never came out. Though it was going to be recycled into Speed Stars, the RPM version had more paint operations, including having his name printed on his hood and bumper. The only image of the toy comes from a downloadable poster that was on the official Transformers website of Turkey.
- This mold was also used to make Speed Stars Breakdown.
 End of the road. |
- Autobot Drift (2010)
- Series: Allspark
- Number: 04
- "Allspark" Drift was presumably a redeco of "Double Siders" Drift. Though listed on the back of the Asian market release of RPM "Allspark" Starscream, it has never officially been depicted. However, an otherwise unknown redeco of the Drift mold with blue detailing was displayed at Toy Fair 2010, amongst a mix of cancelled RPM and planned Speed Stars vehicles. It is possible that this mystery redeco was the aborted "Allspark" Drift.
End of the road. |
Speed Stars
- Drift (Mini-Vehicle, 2011?)
- Series: Double Siders
- Number: ?
- A redeco of the unreleased RPM "Double Siders" Drift, Speed Stars Drift is a small non-transforming die-cast car. He features notably fewer paint operations than the RPM version.
- Like its RPM predecessor, Speed Stars Drift was never released.
End of the road. |
Notes
- Not counting Mixmaster's battle mode, Drift is the first Triple Changer seen on-screen in the live action films, transforming from a helicopter to a sports car at will.
- While the original Drift and other incarnations of the character have had Japanese motifs, this Drift's appearance is heavily based upon that of a samurai.
References
- ↑ Dark of the Moon has no explicit date but as Sam has graduated, it's set in 2012 at the earliest
