History Franchise / Transformers

* [[KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect Decepticon Scientists Get No Respect]]: You don't see many Decepticon scientists, outside of Shockwave. The number of named medics we've seen can be counted on one hand. That is, until we find out in ''Generation 1'' and the ''Aligned'' continuities that ''Starscream'' of all bots is a scientist [[note]]"Fire In The Sky" and ''War for Cybertron'' respectively[[/note]]. The comics then start introducing a number of medics, no actually get no respect because they "waste their time" patching up "weaklings" who had the audacity to get hit in a firefight. Then there are the MadScientist[=s=] like Rossum, [[WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise Vertibreak]], and [[NamesToRunAwayFrom Vivisector]].

* AwesomeButImpractical: The Dinobots. Even bigger robots that can turn into robo-dinosaurs? Awesome! Only problem is Transformers are Transformers (mostly) because they blend into Earth machines and since humans don't drive around in giant robot t-rexs this makes it a bit trickier to work in the Dino-bots. It is most likely why The Wreckers were made to be alternate heavy hitters.

* ArmiesAreEvil: If a character turns into a military vehicle, like a tank or a jet fighter, they're probably a Decepticon. Autobot's with military vehicle modes exist, but they're nowhere near as common.

The Robots in Disguise. Those that are More than Meets the Eye.

'''[[TropeCodifier The]]''' {{Transforming Mecha}}

A [[LongRunners long-running]] franchise consisting of dozens of toy lines, many AnimatedSeries and ComicBooks, and a series of live-action movies. Reduced to its simplest terms, ''Transformers'' is the story of an eons-old battle between two factions of a race of sentient TransformingMecha, usually called the Autobots and Decepticons, whose battles frequently take them to [[EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Earth]]. Traditionally the Autobots transform into civilian automobiles, while the Decepticons transform into military hardware, though this distinction has grown less obvious over time.

** A comic published by IDW, published since 2006; as of 2016, it's part of the ComicBook/HasbroComicUniverse. Notable stories include:

* MerchandiseDriven: ...but, as the entry on that page states, Transformers fans generally embrace the merchandising aspects.

* ''Anime/TransformersGo'' is an animated series [[DirectToVideo direct-to-dvd]] with the Samurai Team and the Isami Tatewaki to find Laserdiscs and awake more transformers.
* VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron is a video game that dives into the basic history of the Autobot[=/=]Decepticon war and meant to be a stepping stone showing how that war finds its way to Earth. It takes major mythology points from various sources and re-presents them to the audience, setting up the greater franchise (such as why Starscream is TheStarscream and how come [[BondVillainStupidity Megatron doesn't just shoot him]]). It was built from the [[Creator/EpicGames Unreal engine]] and was released on PC, UsefulNotes/XBox360, [[strike:UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}]], UsefulNotes/{{DS}}, and [=PS3=] in July 2010.

In 2017, Hasbro announced a series titled: ''WesternAnimation/TransformersCyberverse'', which started in 2018. Hasbro also stated that each season is dubbed as a chapter, and focuses on the characters and lore of the Transformers Universe. It is likely yet another ContinuityReboot for the franchise, showing no ties to the Aligned Universe.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tflogo2.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Tagline}} More than meets the eye.]]]]

%% Caption selected per discussion in the Caption Repair thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900&page=198#comment-4930
%% Please do not replace or remove without further discussion in the thread.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Tagline}} More that meets the eye.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:'' [[BootstrappedTheme You've got]] [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie The Touch!]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS6RvWE8KdY You've got the power!]]'']]

->''"The Transformers! More than meets the eye!"''

* ''[[Film/Transformers2007 Transformers]]'' (2007) introduces the new continuity, featuring an origin of the Transformers in a mystical artifact known as the [=AllSpark=], with the Autobots and Decepticons arriving on Earth and humanity having to learn which side are the good guys.

** Several names became highly popular thanks to an original take on the character; among these are [[WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated Slipstream, Bulkhead]], [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime Knock Out, Dreadwing]], and [[Film/{{Transformers}} Barricade]].

* TheColoredCross: In the original toyline, [[ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel comic book]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers cartoon]], the Red Cross symbol was used on ambulance-mode Transformers like Ratchet and Red Alert. Ratchet in particular had two such symbols on his shoulders in robot mode. However, since the 80s Hasbro has opted to use all sorts of workarounds instead due to this trope. For example, both the ''[[WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated Animated]]'' and [[Film/{{Transformers}} Live Action Film]] incarnations of Ratchet instead have circles with zigzag lines invoking a heartbeat monitor screen. Even modern toys of the original G1 Ratchet (e.g. in the high-end ''Masterpiece'' line, 2016's ''Combiner Wars'' and 2022's ''Studio Series'') no longer use the cross: one attempt had the cross shifted to instead become an X while another added diamonds at the end of each cross arm, but now the consistent one is having the Autobot emblem at the center of the cross.

* GrumpyOldMan: [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers Ironhide]], [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie Kup]], [[Film/{{Transformers}} Jetfire]] and [[WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated Ratchet]] usually qualify.

** In ''Film/{{Transformers}}'', the Noise was homaged with one inclusion of the alt-mode-to-robot sound played just before [[https://youtu.be/ATRmESixBBc?t=44 Blackout's first transformation at the army base]]. It is also audible during Bumblebee's off-screen transformation as he saves Mikaela and Sam while fleeing Sector Seven, and a modified version of the Noise is used during Ironhide's slow-motion transformation during the climax. The live action films otherwise used generic whirring sounds to represent transformation, though in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'' the Noise is heard when Bumblebee transforms from vehicle mode to robot at the end of the film.

** In some of the live action films, like the above animated examples sometimes Transformers will transform off-screen before stepping on-screen in their robot modes. In [[Film/{{Transformers}} the first film]], there was at least one sequence where Bumblebee is shown driving towards the screen, followed by the next shot depicting him doing a leap in robot mode.

* ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' (2007) introduces the new continuity, featuring an origin of the Transformers in a mystical artifact known as the [=AllSpark=], with the Autobots and Decepticons arriving on Earth and humanity having to learn which side are the good guys.

** Though in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' some of the Autobots are selfish, corrupt, or incompetent, though not in the main cast. [[TheNeidermeyer Sentinel Prime]],we are looking at ''you''. Likewise, while "sympathetic" might be stretching the portrayal of the Decepticons as a whole, they are at least clearly motivated (most of them want to reconquer Cybertron, but some have other motivations).

* ''End of G1 Universe'': Taking place even further into the distant future than Neo, this series follows a mysterious maximal named Dark Lio Convoy as he finds his destiny in an aging Universe [[ApocalypseHow that's about to reach it's end]].

* ''Kiss Players'' (2006-2007) was a short-lived incarnation of the franchise, depicting Transformers given power-ups when kissed by human girls. It consisted of a toyline, a weekly radio drama series, and a three-issue manga by Yuki Ohshima. It was universally reviled by both Western and Japanese fans for overly gratouitous fanservice that felt unfitting for the brand. It was followed up by a sequel series, ''Kiss Players Position'', which portrays the three main girls of the first story as an [[IdolSinger idol group]] and severely tones down the fanservice.

* ''Kiss Players'' (2006-2007) was a short-lived incarnation of the franchise, depicting Transformers given power-ups when kissed by human girls. It consisted of a toyline, a weekly radio drama series, and a three-issue manga by Yuki Ohshima. It was universally reviled by both Western and Japanese fans for overly gratouitous fanservice that felt unfitting for the brand.

In February 2021, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} ordered a 26-episode animated series titled: ''WesternAnimation/TransformersEarthSpark''. In this action-comedy series, a new species of Transformers must find their place and purpose among Autobots, Decepticons, and the human family that adopts them. The series is set to be released in Fall 2022.

** ''Transformers '84'': [=IDW's=] one-shot prequel to the Marvel continuity from 2019.

* ''[[Anime/TransformersRobotsInDisguise Robots in Disguise]]'' (2001-02) rebooted the series continuity, with the Autobots facing off against their perennial rivals, the Predacons (the Decepticons in this continuity are a group of Autobots subverted by the Predacons). The first Japanese Transformers series to have major Western distribution. ''[=RiD=]'' is also notable due to several episodes of the series being pulled from American airwaves after the September 11th attacks, as they featured footage of collapsing buildings. Also one of last new original animated series to air on Creator/FoxKids prior to its demise.

Although, it was initially a separate [[DuelingWorks rival franchise]], Hasbro gained the rights to it after their buyout of Tonka during the 90s. As such, the ''Gobots'' stories were [[CanonWelding retconned]] into being a distant part of the ''Transformers'' multiverse.

* ''Toys/RockLords'' (1986) A SpinOff series that was accompanied by TheMovie ''Gobots: Battle of the Rock Lords''.

A Japanese-exclusive toyline consisting of figures from multiple eras of the franchise's history. The line was promoted by [[Webcomic/TransformersLegends a webcomic]] that can be viewed on the official Takara Tomy website, with Bonus Edition chapters included as pack-in comics that come with the toys.