History Main / LeaderFormsTheHead

** For ''Series/DoubutsuSentaiZyuohger''[='s=] Wild Tousai Dodeka King, the Red Ranger's Zord makes up the majority of the formation above the waist (non-Red components are either mostly hidden inside or are non-Ranger-specific {{Mecha Expansion Pack}}s), and ''all'' of the other Rangers chip their Zords in to collectively form the legs.

** ''Series/HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger''/''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'': [=GaoKentaurus=]/the Pegasus Megazord is a one-time combination where Red's Falcon Zord is used as the head and torso and his Lion is the legs. Other Rangers supplied only the arms.

** For ''Series/DoubutsuSentaiZyuohger''[='s=] Wild Tousai Dodeka King, the Red Ranger's Zord makes up the majority of the formation above the waist (non-Red components are either mostly hidden inside or non-Ranger-specific), and ''all'' of the other Rangers chip their Zords in to collectively form the legs.

** ''Series/BakuageSentaiBoonboomger'': Like in ''Ryusoulger'', the Red Ranger's Zord can act as a whole Megazord by itself, with the other Zords providing weaponry on its shoulders and arms. Downplayed a bit since the Zord is primarily ''white'', matching the color scheme of the team as a whole, but it still has red accents and its default head matches Red's helmet, indicating who it really belongs to.

* Averted in ''Series/RescueSentaiGoGoFive''/''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'' with the second 5-piece combination Grand Liner/Supertrain Megazord, with the Green Ranger forming the head and torso, though this was due to it being the middle train car, which allowed for an easier transition when the cars split up to combine. %%Please don't list Victory Robo/the Lightspeed Megazord, as Red forms its torso and it's therefore considered a straight example where we're only listing ones where the trope is played with.

** For ''Series/DoubutsuSentaiZyuohger''[='s=] Wild Tousai Dodeka King, non-Red Rangers make the legs, and unlike previous examples, each individual Ranger only gets to make ''part'' of a limb instead of the whole thing.
** ''Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger''/''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'': Red makes a whole Megazord all by himself; and most combinations are just "Red with some extra bits of armor". Only the late-series super combinations start to pull away from this, as they split Red's Zord equally with a second and sometimes third Zord.
** ''Series/MashinSentaiKiramager'': While Green technically forms the head of Kiramazin, Red forms nearly everything else below the neck save for one arm which is Yellow's. Pink is mainly cosmetic as a chestplate and Blue's Zord is used as a sword.

* Played with in ''Series/ChourikiSentaiOhranger''/''Series/PowerRangersZeo'', as while the head of Ohranger Robo/the Zeo Megazord was made by the Red Zord, it wore interchangeable helmets: the Red Phoenix helmet would usually be on top, but when another team member had a feature episode, ''they'd'' take the lead and equip the robot with the helmet from their own Zord to finish off the enemy. ''Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger''/''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'' has something similar, where [=KishiRyuuOh=] Three Knights/the Dino Fury Megazord has alternate forms for each of the five Rangers where they form the head and chestplate.

* ''Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger''/''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'' has a unique variation, as Shurikenjin/the Ninja Steel Megazord is a MetaMecha with a cockpit "throne" set in the chest that the Red Zord sits in. However, other Zords can sit in the throne instead in other combinations, in which case the Red Zord becomes an arm; one of these alternate formations features the ''Blue'' Zord front-and-center and the others are {{Mecha Expansion Pack}}s.
** ''Series/{{Avataro Sentai DonBrothers}}'' has a similar setup for [=ToraDragonJin=], but in this case it's the ''outer'' Zord that's dominant. It represents the SixthRanger's primary dragon theme, while the tiger Zord strapped in the center reflects his secondary theme and isn't portrayed as the dragon's pilot, but its ''captive''.

->''Y'all can do the treading \\
Swing energy machete \\
If combination’s ready, \\

-->--'''Music/MCFrontalot''' (feat. Dr. Awkward and [=ZeaLouS1=]): "I'll Form The Head"

** Played straight in the later IDW comics. Following Scrapper's death in the aftermath of ''ComicBook/TransformersAllHailMegatron'', Devastator was eventually modified so that that Hook (the former head) took his place as the right leg while a BrainwashedAndCrazy Prowl took over as the head (while it was possible for Devastator to form even with Scrapper dead, the resulting combiner was not as powerful). After Prowl was removed from the team, Hook returned to being the head while newcomer Scoop (who also turned into a front-end loader) took Scrapper's place in time for ''ComicBook/TransformersCombinerWars''.

** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger''/''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'': The only parts of Kyoryuzin/the Dino Charge Megazord that Red doesn't provide are the arms.

** Muteki Shokun/the Shogun Megazord had the Red Ranger form the head and torso, while the actual leaders were White Rangers who formed an arm. (And things got messy in ''Power Rangers'' since the White Zord was co-piloted by the Pink Ranger and the toy was recolored to match ''her'' -- and [[OffTheShelfFX these toys were used in some shots in the show]], [[SpecialEffectFailure clashing badly with]] the existing ''Kakuranger'' footage and leaving the actual team leader's color out entirely.)

** ''Series/GoseiSentaiDairanger'' / ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers''season 2: The red Zord has both a dragon form and a humanoid form. The rest of the core zords are animals that can either form a hoverboard that the red zord rides or they can become a suit of armor for the red zord. When all seven zords combine they form a tower with red standing on top and they attack by flying into the air and then falling on top of enemies.

** ''Series/{{Avataro Sentai DonBrothers}}'': Don Zenkaioh is composed of one Zord belonging to the Red Ranger, and one Zord on loan from the Red Ranger of the ''previous'' team, ''Series/KikaiSentaiZenkaiger''. The rest of the [=DonBrothers=] don't even ''have'' Zords of their own for some time.

[[folder:Films]]

* ''Anime/CombattlerV'' plays the trope straight. TheLeader forms the head, TheLancer is the chest and arms, TheBigGuy is the rest of the torso, TheChick forms the legs, and TheSmartGuy makes up the feet.

* In the Anime/UnicronTrilogy Powerlinx has [[AccidentalInnuendo whichever Transformer is on top be in control]].

* In ''ComicBook/TheBeastWithin'' comic, G1's Dinobots force a combiner out of themselves, [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_%28G1%29 Beast]], which is intentionally poorly designed, with everyone else just grafted on to Grimlock's beast mode form. This, however, only exists in a one-off microcontinuity that [[FanonDiscontinuity most fans prefer to ignore]]. Thankfully for them, the ''Power of the Primes'' line has provided an alternative with [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Volcanicus Volcanicus]], which forms like a more traditional combiner, and is not a [[AxCrazy completely insane]] murder machine like the Beast. The ''Legacy'' version of Volcanicus averts this with the head being formed by Slug rather than Grimlock, though that and the combiner being formed from six rather than five Dinobots has led some fans to believe that ''Legacy'' Volcanicus will be retooled into a new version of the abovementioned Dinoking (who has the same layout).

''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' does this across all of its media.

* Partially averted in the [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Combiner#Terms_for_combiners "Scramble City type"]] Combiners[[note]]which exist across multiple media, but this is mostly noticeable in the toys[[/note]], where the hands, feet and head ''may'' come from extra parts in the toy (out of nowhere in the cartoon). The leader of most teams is the torso. Limbs are thus completely interchangeable, between arrangement and even whole transformers (Scramble Power). In some cases, the leader of a team may actually be in one of those limbs, and thus the combined form could be configured without them.

* In ''ComicBook/TheBeastWithin'' comic, G1's Dinobots force a combiner out of themselves, [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_%28G1%29 Beast]], which is intentionally poorly designed, with everyone else just grafted on to Grimlock's beast mode form. This, however, only exists in a one-off microcontinuity that [[FanonDiscontinuity most fans prefer to ignore]]. Thankfully for them, the ''Power of the Primes'' line has provided an alternative with [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Volcanicus Volcanicus]], which forms like a more traditional combiner, and is not a [[AxCrazy completely insane]] [[KillEmAll murder machine]] like the Beast. The ''Legacy'' version of Volcanicus averts this with the head being formed by Slug rather than Grimlock, though that and the combiner being formed from six rather than five Dinobots has led some fans to believe that ''Legacy'' Volcanicus will be retooled into a new version of the abovementioned Dinoking (who has the same layout).

** In ''Series/HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger''/''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'', the SixthRanger's theme animal was the wolf, but Gao Hunter/the Predazord was formed mostly from an alligator Zord and the wolf Zord was only an arm.

* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' does this across all of its media.
** Actually averted with The Constructicons, the ''first'' of the combiners. Scrapper, the leader front-end loader of the six warriors actually forms the ''right leg'' of Devastator, whereas it is actually Hook the crane who forms the head instead. This discrepancy in placement is actually played out cleverly in Transformers fiction: Scrapper is actually a modest individual who [[ThinkNothingOfIt dismisses actual well-deserved praise]] in favor of being a very capable and [[BewareTheQuietOnes completely]] [[HumanResources psychotic]] engineer. Hook, on the other hand, is a GloryHound and InsufferableGenius with [[SmallNameBigEgo a massive ego]], and demands attention the same way black holes demand nearby matter. With personalities like these, it is only natural the work-a-day Scrapper is a leg and the self-important Hook is the chest and head.
** In the Anime/UnicronTrilogy Powerlinx has [[AccidentalInnuendo whichever Transformer is on top be in control]].
** ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' Magnaboss has Prowl, the lion (whole bunch of leader archetype imagery there) form the face and center of the torso. Silverbolt, a horribly out of scale eagle, wraps around prowl and forms the wings. Pretty much every other visible part, including the arms, legs, and rest of the torso, comes from Ironhide, a downsized elephant, to compensate for this. This results in Ironhide being rather confusingly built and prone to damage in his standalone form and Silverbolt being excessively simple.
** In ''ComicBook/TheBeastWithin'' comic, G1's Dinobots force a combiner out of themselves, [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_%28G1%29 Beast]], which is intentionally poorly designed, with everyone else just grafted on to Grimlock's beast mode form. This, however, only exists in a one-off microcontinuity that [[FanonDiscontinuity most fans prefer to ignore]]. Thankfully for them, the ''Power of the Primes'' line has provided an alternative with [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Volcanicus Volcanicus]], which forms like a more traditional combiner, and is not a [[AxCrazy completely insane]] [[KillEmAll murder machine]] like the Beast.
** Partially averted in the [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Combiner#Terms_for_combiners "Scramble City type"]] Combiners[[note]]which exist across multiple media, but this is mostly noticeable in the toys[[/note]], where the hands, feet and head ''may'' come from extra parts in the toy (out of nowhere in the cartoon). The leader of most teams is the torso. Limbs are thus completely interchangeable, between arrangement and even whole transformers (Scramble Power). In some cases, the leader of a team may actually be in one of those limbs, and thus the combined form could be configured without them.
*** The ''Combiner Wars''[[note]]''[[DubNameChange Unite Warriors]]'' in Japan[[/note]] versions of the "Scramble City" characters do have the combiner head integrated into the torso-forming team leader's body. There are also several torso-forming characters who are ''not'' established leaders of specific sub-teams. The ''Power of the Primes'' line adds even more new combiner torso-forming characters (fully compatible with ''Combiner Wars'') without defined sub-teams.

* In ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'', of the two known Toa Kaita combo-configurations (Akamai and Wairuha, both made up of three individual Toa), Akamai's Kanohi mask is that of Tahu, the leader of the group (Tahu's true head actually ends up on his hands). Wairuha's mask, however, is Lewa's, who is just about the bottom of the command chain, but his Kanohi was the most generic-looking, thus the most suitable for a combo model. As a subversion, in the storyline, these aren't really the masks of Tahu and Lewa specifically, nor are they a Kanohi Hau and a Kanohi Miru in general, but other types of masks that happen to look like a Hau and a Miru -- out of sheer necessity, as the designers only had these pieces to work with. They're actually called Kanohi Aki and Rua, respectively. But as a DoubleSubversion (for Wairuha, at least), a special edition chromed Rua was at one point made available for purchase... and it used the mold of a Kanohi Hau, Tahu's mask type!
** The Turaga Nui figure also has Vakama's head for its real head (the other five are built into various parts of its body). Vakama is often considered the "main" Turaga of the initial six.

** ''Series/MashinSentaiKiramager'': While Green technically forms the head of Kiramazin, Red forms nearly everything else below the neck save for one arm which is Yellow's. Pink is mainly cosmetic as a chestplate and Blue's mecha is used as a sword.

* Averted in the third season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', when the Red Ranger formed ''neither'' the head or torso of the Ninja Megazord. Instead, the Pink Ranger was the head and the Yellow Ranger was the torso. (This was a straight example with its counterpart Kakure Daishogun ''Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger'', where the Pink Ranger's counterpart ''was'' the official leader.) Played straight in both ''Power Rangers'' and ''Kakuranger'' by the Shogun Megazord/Muteki Shogun, the team's ''other'' Megazord, where the Red Zord ''did'' form the head and torso (as even when he's not the leader, Red's still TheHero).
** That said, Tommy the White Ranger was essentially the team leader at this point with Rocky, the Red Ranger, as TheLancer, carrying over from season 2...and ''Kakuranger'' didn't have a full SixthRanger (unless you count Ninjaman/Ninjor). They dealt with this by giving Tommy the Falconzord, which was a sentient, unpiloted Zord in the Sentai; the Falconzord formed a set of wings for the Ninja Megazord and a bank of massive chest cannons for the Shogun Megazord. However, thanks to ''Kakuranger'' having a female White Ranger, this meant he and the Pink Ranger (Kimberly at first, then Kat) would co-pilot the White Shogunzord. And then the Shogun Ultrazord footage ([[OffTheShelfFX created using the modified American toys]]) [[SpecialEffectFailure would suddenly have the]] White Shogunzord turning ''pink'' (as Bandai of America decided to recolor it for the Pink Ranger despite that not matching what the show was doing).
* Played with in ''Series/ChourikiSentaiOhranger''/''Series/PowerRangersZeo'', as Ohranger Robo/the Zeo Megazord had interchangeable helmets (although the helmets were worn by the head which was formed by the Red Ranger's Zord): the Red Phoenix helmet would usually be on top, but when another team member had a feature episode, ''they'd'' take the lead and equip the robot with the helmet from their own Zord to finish off the enemy. ''Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger''/''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'' has something similar, where [=KishiRyuuOh=] Three Knights/the Dino Fury Megazord has alternate forms for each of the five Rangers where they form the head and chestplate.

** Very bizarre example when [[spoiler: Prowl, pro team leader of the Autobots after Optimus Prime stepped down (Bumblebee was allegedly in charge, but everyone followed Prowl's orders over his), is [[BrainwashedAndCrazy cerebro-shelled]] by the Insecticon Bombshell and forced to act as the head of ''Devastator'', who had been believed permanently out of action ever since the Constructicons' former leader Scrapper was [[ObligatoryWarCrimeScene executed by humans after he had surrendered while injured]].]] He later takes this role in a more willing capacity when he takes over [[spoiler: the Constructicons following their defection from the Decepticons]].

** In ''Series/KikaiSentaiZenkaiger'', both team leader Zenkaizer and SixthRanger Twokaizer get {{Super Mode}}s that let them turn into HumongousMecha themselves; and when they combine into [=ZenKaijuOh=], Zenkaizer makes most of the body while Twokaizer is the head.