Transformation

You put your right leg out...

Transformation (also known as conversion) refers to the overall process by which a Transformer changes from one mode into another—this usually refers to their ability to shift between robot and alternate modes. In most realities, transformation is a purely mechanical process in which many interlinked parts shift and move in relation to each other; this process is largely reflexive and separate from a Transformer's higher functions, allowing them to transform back and forth between forms with a minimum of effort. Transformation is generally a very rapid affair; for most Transformers, it takes only a few seconds to change form. However, the speed of transformation is usually inversely proportional to a Cybertronian's overall size and mass. Very large Transformers, such as the Guardian robots or Titans, can take longer to fully change form.

While this kind of robot-to-altmode conversion is by far the most common form of transformation seen in most Transformers fiction, other variations on the process exist. Many Cybertronians can access additional weapons or gadgets while in one specific shape; others can combine with other Transformers to form a larger robot or vehicle, necessitating a unique transformation sequence. These should not be confused with reformatting, a type of once-off, full body upgrade.

Many works of Transformers fiction tie the ability to transform to the transformation cog or "T-cog", a sophisticated biomechanical "organ" ^[1] that powers and coordinates the various subsystems that autonomously handle a Cybertronian's transformation. Sufficient damage—either to the transformation cog or any other part of the body—can temporarily prevent a Transformer from transforming until their injuries are repaired.

Transformation is not a trait limited to Cybertronians; various robotic alien races have exhibited similar powers. In many realities, humans who gain access to Cybertronian technology have been able to reverse-engineer transforming robots of their own.

Conceptual history

The origins and technical details of transformation vary drastically between various continuities. Most early works of Transformers fiction did not explore the origins of transformation, beyond the vague implication that it was an innate ability that all Cybertronians possessed. A few picture books published around the same time, most notably the Big Looker Storybooks, implied that the Transformers only developed this ability after being rebuilt on Earth, and that this trait was not endemic to the rest of the species.

The "Five Faces of Darkness" miniseries was the first work of Transformers fiction to take a serious stab at explaining the origins and mechanisms behind transformation. "Part 4" revealed that, while the first generations of Cybertronians lacked the power to transform, the ancestors of the Autobots had invented the technology during a previous conflict with the Decepticons at some point after overthrowing their Quintesson creators. The miniseries is also notable for introducing transformation cogs to the Transformers canon, although this early iteration treated the device as a one-off plot device, seemingly unique to large Transformers such as Metroplex and Trypticon. The Marvel comic eventually developed its own backstory for the ability; in this universe, Transformers were created with this innate ability by their benevolent creator Primus. As the cartoon had long gone off the air at this point, the final few issues of the Marvel comic set up a storyline involving the Action Masters, a unique group of Cybertronians who'd given up their ability to transform altogether; ancillary advertising material tied this mutation to the loss of their "Figure Alteration System".

The Beast Wars cartoon established that the Maximals and Predacons transformed via onboard computers that coordinated the reconfiguration of their bodies. Its sequel series, Beast Machines, is famous for its highly unusual approach to transformation—in this story, the Maximals were reformatted into technorganic bodies, and were forced to relearn the "lost art" of transformation through a period of intense meditation and training. The Robots in Disguise and Unicron Trilogy television shows featured many elaborate stock footage sequences of characters transforming, but otherwise did not emphasize on transformation as a plot point.

In 2010, the War for Cybertron resurrected the concept of transformation cogs; however, in keeping with Hasbro's increasingly restrictive trademark protection, they were now known as either "conversion cogs" or "trans-cogs". The Prime cartoon used the term "T-Cog"; it extended the idea to encompass the notion that all Transformers possessed a T-Cog, a biomechanism used not just for transformation, but also to access weapons and scan new alternate modes—this idea persisted into older-skewing works of fiction such as More than Meets the Eye, which connected the transformation cog to the brain module and spark as one of three vital organs. 2013's The Covenant of Primus introduced Amalgamous Prime, a member of the Thirteen credited with introducing the power of transformation to the Cybertronian race through his supernatural transformation cog. However, this explanation never really caught on; most subsequent works of fiction have rarely touched on the origins of transformation. Some stories such as EarthSpark, however, have broadly drawn upon the mythology surrounding transformation and T-cogs first laid down in Prime.

The noise

Overview

In many Transformers television shows, transformation is often accompanied by a distinct noise—an 8 Hz pulse, repeated five times, with each pulse lasting a roughly equal amount of time, whose pitch can be represented by the absolute value of a declining (for alt mode to robot mode) or increasing (for robot mode to alt-mode) sine wave. In the G1 series, the sine wave generally increased when a Transformer changed to their robot mode, and declined when they converted to vehicle form (or whichever mode was smaller/shorter.) In general, the larger the robot, the deeper the pitch of the sound, and the longer the duration of the pulses. Combiner teams have been shown to transform one component at a time, or simultaneously, into their gestalt forms. When transforming simultaneously, the pulses may sound as though they are looping over each other for one or more cycles, depending on how quickly the team members complete their combination.

The noise was first heard in the original Transformers commercial that advertised #1 of the Marvel comic, but only as part of the music track; actual on-screen transformations were depicted with a series of generic mechanical sounds. The Transformers cartoon and The Movie made heavy use of the noise for pretty much all forms of transformation; The Headmasters began with most Transformers still retaining the Noise, but around a third of the way into the series, its use became more intermittent, particularly for the Autobot Headmasters themselves. Super-God Masterforce still used the sound for the Pretenders' transformations in robot mode, but the Autobot Headmaster Juniors and Autobot Godmasters had new sounds, with most of the Decepticons retaining the original. The noise was dropped completely for Victory and Zone.

The specific instance of the sound of Optimus Prime transforming during the Battle of Autobot City in the animated film would go on to become the "standard" sound used in many post-G1 series: as the only instance of the sound available that had been recorded with no dialogue, music, or sound effects, it could be edited in more cleanly by subsequent production studios.

Beast Wars didn't use the noise when its characters transformed, with the notable exception of Generation 1 guest star Ravage, who played the noise as he transformed into his classic cassette alternate mode.

The noise next appeared in the 2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon, where it was heard uniformly among all Transformers at the very beginning of transformation sequences. Armada used two new versions of the noise, which primarily saw use during stock footage transformation sequences; the second carried into Energon. The original version of the noise was heard briefly in Armada as part of one of the background music tracks, and in Energon on occasion whenever part of the Japanese sound effects track was not completely dubbed over. The live-action films use noise as a semi-recurring easter egg. It appeared during Blackout's first on-screen transformation in Transformers; it can also be prominently heard during Bumblebee's final transformation in Dark of the Moon, and when Optimus scans a new alternate mode in Age of Extinction.

The noise accompanies all transformations in Transformers Animated, even minor ones including mouthplates, pop-out weapons, or Sari Sumdac's AllSpark Key. In the case of smaller, specific parts, the Noise is sometimes played sped up or higher pitched. In Transformers: Fall of Cybertron game, each character was given a unique transformation noise that was personalised for them. For example, Optimus Prime's version of the noise was very similar to the original version while Jazz's version incorporates kick drums.^[2] Beginning with Prime, all future Transformers shows have used only the ascending variant of the noise for all transformations.

Onomatopoeia

Japanese manga often uses the onomatopoeia "gi-go-ga-go-go" (ギゴガゴゴ) to represent the noise. The Go! Go! manga shortens this to just "gi-go-ga-go" (ギゴガゴ) when characters transform into robot mode, and reverses the order of syllables for robot-to-altmode conversions (ギガゴガ, "gi-ga-go-ga")

In "The Arrival", the noise is consistently spelled "whrr-tschzz-tschzz-tschzz-chk". The Arrival issue 4

The 2005 IDW continuity rendered the noise with the spelling "tsche-chu-chu-chu-tsche" How to Say Goodbye and Mean It and "tsche-tsche-tk-tk-tk"; Your Fierce Tears the 2021 Beast Wars comic uses "tsche-tsch-tsch-tsche-tsch". Savage Landing Part 2 The 2019 IDW continuity used many different sound effects to accompany characters transforming, sometimes even within the same issue—it's somewhat debatable whether any of them are meant to be a version of the noise. Tremors

The Angry Birds Transformers comic uses "whk-whek-whek-whk-whk". Angry Birds Transformers #1

The first issue of Void Rivals has Jetfire transform with a "Ch-chi chi-chu-chik chu-chi-ii"; Void Rivals #1 Skybound's Transformers ongoing instead goes with "kheekhakhoukhee". Transformers #1

In the Overwatch 2 collaboration, Bastion's Bumblebee skin features a license plate reading "T-C-C-C-T", an abbreviation of one of the IDW onomatopoeias. Overwatch 2

In fiction

According to Soundwave, the sound is an energon tracking signal sent during the quantum-shift of their atoms' position and purpose. Decepticons Burn

The sound designers of Fall of Cybertron envisioned it as the sound of energon moving through their bodies.^[2]

Cy-Kill once claimed that the noise was a product of inferior Cybertronian engineering, and noted that Go-Bots made no such noise when they transform. Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric

Unusual transformations

Mass-shifting

Main article: Size changing

Many Transformers, including Megatron, Soundwave, or the many Mini-Cassettes, can transform into handheld objects many times smaller than themselves. To pull off a convincing disguise, these Cybertronians can physically shrink as they transform to better fit the dimensions of their alternate modes. Some sources have attempted to justify these unusual powers: one common explanation is that the transformation process allows them to either compress their molecular structure into a more compact form, or somehow exert a tremendous amount of energy to "shunt" their excess mass somewhere else. Notably, a number of Transformers with this power have occasionally demonstrated some degree of control over their size changing powers—for instance, Megatron has frequently turned himself into a gun capable of being wielded by other Cybertronians. In one universe, Megatron was even able to change size while in robot mode. ^[3]

Rather than shrinking, a handful of Cybertronians grow when transforming. These include Astrotrain, who transforms from an average-sized robot into an enormous Space Shuttle, Broadside, who transforms from a fighter jet into an entire aircraft carrier, and many combiner team members, whose overall gestalt form is usually many times larger than the sum of their individual components. Notably, a handful of Transformers, such as Deep Cover, possess innate size-changing abilities entirely separate from their alternate modes, which they can freely access in either shape.

Multiple alternate modes

Main articles: Duocon, Triple Changer, Six Changer, and :Category:Transformers with multiple modes

Most Transformers can only maintain two forms: a base robot mode and a single alternate mode. However, some Cybertronians have demonstrated the ability to take on two or more distinct alternate forms, best exemplified by the Triple Changers and Six Changers. Very few continuities have ever attempted to provide a concrete explanation as to why some Transformers possess these unique abilities, while most don't. Transformers: More than Meets the Eye tied the origins of the Triple Changers to the unique "genetic potential" embedded within their sparks, implying that they would one day—whether through natural mutation or artificially-induced experimentation—evolve into a triple-changing form. 2016's "Of Masters and Mayhem" storyline tied Punch's unique espionage abilities to a rare "one-in-a-trillion" defect in his transformation cog.

Other stories have interpreted taking on an extra alternate modes as a mental barrier to be overcome, rather than a purely physical limitation: in these stories, a suitably motivated Transformer can adopt a second alternate form through a period of intense training and deep meditation. Legends introduced the mysterious Six Clan, who'd all gained their powers this way; in Rescue Bots, Heatwave gained the ability to "rescan" a third mode after learning how to focus his energies through a sustained period of concentration. The Aligned continuity also introduced the Mul-T-Cogs, external devices which allowed the young Cybertronians at the Rescue Bot Training Center to adopt more than one alternate mode.

A small number of Transformers, such as the Duocons, Magmatron, Sky Lynx, or Overlord, are made up of two or more alternate forms that combine into a single robot. Some fiction has tied this ability to the presence of a unique "mitotic spark" that allows them to control multiple components at a time; Dreamwave's fiction, meanwhile, reconceptualized the Duocons as flawed prototype Triple Changers.

Some Cybertronians can initiate a kind of secondary transformation, which allows them to access additional equipment or weaponry, but these ad-hoc "transportation" and "attack modes" are generally not distinct enough to count as a dedicated third form. Robots in Disguise Galvatron holds the record for the largest number of distinct alternate modes exhibited by any single individual, with a whopping ten separate forms.

Combiners

Main articles: Combiner and Powerlinx

Many Transformers posses the ability to combine with one another. Members of a combiner team traditionally possess three potential configurations--a robot mode, an alternate mode, and a component of a larger combined form. Usually, robots with a combiner form cannot individually transform into a gestalt limb; only together can each Cybertronian involved in the combination trigger the combination. A handful of Transformers, including the Micromaster Combiners and the members of the Functionist Council, lack their own dedicated alternate modes, and can only transform between their individual robot forms and a combined alternate mode. Some Transformers can transform into a component for other Cybertronians to combine with, such as Leobreaker's ability to form a "Savage Claw" power fist for Optimus Prime.

In this regard, the Seacons are unique—each one can transform between a robot mode, a beast mode, a combiner component, and a potential weapon for their combined form to wield!

The Mini-Cons of the Armada franchise offer a different spin on the concept: they display the ability to powerlinx with larger Transformers and spontaneously reconfigure their partner's anatomies into new weapons and equipment. The Japanese Legends of the Microns identified this unique form of transformation as "Evolution", but this was downplayed in the American dub.

High-speed transformation

A number of real-life Transformers toys were designed with unique auto-transforming abilities—the Battlechargers and Jumpstarters transformed using a spring-loaded pull-back motor. These unique play features were contextualized as a unique, ultra-fast form of transformation; as described in both the Marvel comic and More than Meets the Eye, 'bots with this ability can switch from vehicle to robot faster than the human eye can follow, in less than half a second. ^[4] More than Meets the Eye also attributed a similar ability to the Triple Changers, who are noted to transform twice as fast as an ordinary Cybertronian.

Super modes

Main article: Super Mode

A small number of Transformers have displayed the ability to transform into a larger, more powerful robot form—in most cases, accessing this form involves combining with external hardware, such as a transforming trailer or a custom-built suit of armour. In many cases, this secondary transformation grants Cybertornians access to greater strength and firepower while in robot mode—across the multiverse, many incarnations of Optimus Prime can combine with their vehicle-mode trailers to access a markedly stronger robot mode. In other cases, such as the Pretenders, their armour grants them the ability to move unnoticed among certain organic populations. Under most circumstances, however, a Transformer must disengage from this form in order to assume their regular alternate mode.

Technorganic transformation

Main article: Technorganic

One of the best-remembered plot points from the Beast Machines was its radical reinvention of the "transforming robot" trope. Although Megatron and his Vehicon minions transformed in the usual fashion, the show's Maximal cast discovered that their new technorganic bodies could only transform when they found their "emotional still point"; these transformations now took the form of fluid shapeshifting rather then mechanically rearranging their components. Mastering these new forms took time and effort, and learning to find the emotional balance required to transform became a significant part of the show's overall narrative.

Some technorganic Transformers possess their own unique transformation sequences. Botanica, for instance, grew a ring of technorganic plants around her body whenever she transformed.

This unique transformation does not apply to all characters who have been described as "technorganic". Cybertronians in other universes, such as Sari Sumdac, transform in a more conventional method.

Adaptable bodies

Some groups of transforming robots, such as the Go-Bots, use a process similar to reformatting to take on multiple alternate forms. This ability to start with one robot and alternate form and transform easily to entirely different variations without extensive mechanical work comes from unique metals in the Go-Bots' bodies.

In some realities, Optimus Prime carries the Reconfiguration Matrix, a miraculous device that allows him to reshape his body into many different robot and vehicle forms. ^[5]

Supplementary material from the first live-action Transformers film applied a similar ability to the Transformers themselves—one early idea seemed to be that the Autobots and Decepticons of the movie universe could voluntarily switch between different alternate forms on the fly; narration in The Movie Guide notes that a Transformer's base protoform state can spontaneously assume any shape of roughly equivalent mass, and narration in Ghosts of Yesterday describes Bumblebee's "internal memory database" of potential vehicle forms. The Nintendo DS games applied a similar ability to the game's "Create-A-Bot" protagonists; in the case of the Autobot player character, this is noted to be a unique ability developed by Wheeljack. As time went on, however, this conceit was quietly dropped, and the scanning capabilities of the characters were gradually brought into line with other contemporary depictions of transformation.

Unlimited alternate modes

Main articles: Shifter, Mutacon, and Infinite

Most Transformers can only transform into a preset alternate mode, but a few rare specimens take this talent to the next level—they can instantly reconfigure their bodies into any conceivable shape, to the point where they can even convincingly mimic other Cybertronians. The "Aligned" continuity first introduced the concept with the Shifters, a rare subspecies capable of masquerading as other Cybertronians. 2013's The Covenant of Primus tied them back to Amalgamous Prime, the first Cybertronian ever to possess a transformation cog, and also introduced the Mutacons, a wandering tribe of nomads who'd been inadvertently mutated into Shifters after accidental exposure to the energies of Amalgamous's unique transformation cog.

IDW Publishing's Lost Light ongoing also touched upon the topic with the Infinites—while the Mutacons and Shifters owe their abilities to the supernatural power of Amalgamous Prime, the Infinites are a genetically-engineered subspecies created by Adaptus.

Hypno-transformation

Main article: Living metal

In Age of Extinction, the man-made Transformers constructed by Kinetic Solutions Incorporated transform in a most unusual fashion: rather than mechanically reshaping their body components, they simply explode into a free-flowing cloud of transformium, then reassemble themselves into their other form. Transformers with this ability can maintain this amorphous shape for an unlimited period of time; they can use it to dodge explosions or simply to reach otherwise inaccessible locations. Inanimate objects constructed using transformium, such as a number of prototype stealth weapons, display these same powers.

This unique form of transformation was not named on-screen. However, the Titan Magazine Transformers magazine used the term "hypno-transformation" to describe the process, canonizing a term used by Industrial Light & Magic animators during the film's development.

Loss of transformation

Main articles: Action Master, Monoformer, Militant Monoform Movement, and Transformation paralysis

Although the Transformers are renowned for their shapeshifting abilities, not all Cybertronians possess this power. Over the course of their long lifetimes, a Transformer may somehow lose their ability to transform, leaving them stranded in one shape. Various weapons such as the Transfixatron or the Transformation Lock Lens can temporarily freeze a Cybertronian in one form, while exposure to exotic fuel sources such as Nucleon can permanently rob Cybertronians of their ability to transform. Marketing material for the Action Masters explained that exposure to nucleon converted their "Figure Alteration Systems" into "Energy Storage Reactors"; Cybertronians who chose to become Action Masters thus traded their ability to transform for a dramatically stronger and more powerful robot form. In most Transformers stories, this mutation is more-or-less permanent: to regain their ability to transform, afflicted Cybertronians must undergo a battery of experimental medical procedures or otherwise endure a ground-up rebuild into a new, Nucleon-free body.

The 2005 IDW continuity coined the term "monoformer" to describe a Transformer who'd voluntarily or involuntarily lost their ability to transform.

In most modern Transformers stories, damage, loss, or deliberate removal of the transformation cog will cause a Transformer to lose their ability to change forms. Other tales have connected a loss of transformation to low energy or age-related complications: Marvel's Emirate Xaaron is unable to transform as a result of his advanced age; many Autobots and Decepticons in Beast Wars: Uprising wound up locked in their vehicle modes after centuries of energy depletion; in Last Bot Standing, an underfuelled Riotgear struggles to transform into robot mode.

Fiction

Generation 1 continuity family

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comic

After sealing both himself and Unicron within metallic planetoids, Primus created the Transformers, a race of warriors with the power to reshape their bodies into alternate forms. The Primal Scream During the subsequent Great War between the Autobots and Decepticons, both sides made use of transformation technology; when Optimus Prime and Megatron's forces crash-landed on Earth, the Ark's computer rebuilt the deactivated Cybertronians so that they transformed into terrestrial machines instead. The Transformers

While battling Flame, Emirate Xaaron was well aware that, having failed to transform for hundreds of years, the shock to his system upon transforming to combat mode had a good chance of killing him. Meltdown! Neglecting to have all one's body parts connected at the time of attempting transformation was also a very painful, if not impossible, process. Deadly Games! While searching for a means to revive the ailing Dinobots, Grimlock discovered a dangerous, unpredictable fuel source called Nucleon on the planet Hydrus Four. Exposure to nucleon caused Grimlock's body to gradually seize up; eventually, he entered an immobile "chrysalis state" that preceded his rapid mutation into a non-transforming Action Master. Still Life! Blaster explained that long-term Nucleon exposure converted a Transformer's Figure Alteration Systems into Energy Storage Reactors; as a result, Transformers who became Action Masters traded their ability to transform for enhanced strength and speed. Issue #300 letters section

Another Time & Place

Following the end of the Great War, many Autobots of the "nucleon generation", depressed and emasculated by their inability to transform, recused themselves from society. A repentant Grimlock returned to Hydrus Four in search of a rumoured cure for their condition; during a battle to stop the Decepticons from resurrecting Megatron, Grimlock successfully used an improved version of Nucleon to flush his systems and restore his transformative capabilities.Another Time & Place

Regeneration One

Following the end of the war, Grimlock came to resent his new life as an Action Master. Seeking a way to restore his ability to transform and cure his fellow Autobots of their various Nucleon-related afflictions, he travelled to the planet Nebulos. Ultimately, Grimlock regained his ability to transform when Scorponok implanted his spark into a new body. Natural Selection, Part Two Other Cybertronians suffering from Nucleon-induced mutations were transferred to the Garage, where they received new, Nucleon-free bodies. Destiny, Part Two

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Just lying down is a transformation.

Transformation was invented by the Autobots during the first war against the Decepticons, when it became apparent that they could not master their firepower and strength. Their newfound ability to ambush their foes met with great success, and the defeat of the Deceptions ushered in a Golden Age of peace and prosperity. However, the Decepticons subsequently adopted transformation technology; under Megatron's leadership, the empowered Decepticons then kicked off the Third Cybertronian War between the two factions. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4

Transformation takes a sufficient amount of energy and mental focus; in cases where Transformers have suffered severe physical injuries, transformation can become difficult. More than Meets the Eye, Part 3 Maintaining an alternate mode can drain energy; Warpath once reverted to robot mode when he found his alternate mode to be too much on his energy stores. A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court While on Earth, Megatron developed the Transfixatron, a device which could trap Cybertronian in their alternate mode and prevent them from transforming. The Autobot Run

When the Earth-bound Transformers began malfunctioning due to Cybertonium depletion, they began uncontrollably transforming. Some partially transformed, while others involuntarily changed modes or were unable to fully manifest attachments. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1

Metroplex Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 and Trypticon The Ultimate Weapon possessed transformation cogs that controlled their transformation processes, and were essential to allow them to transform at all. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1

Transformers with dinosaur-based alternate modes possess unique "dinosaur electrons". When they transform, they release a burst of "dinosaur transform static". Thief in the Night

The Headmasters cartoon

Ow.

Millions of years ago, a group of Cyberdroids fled Cybertron and settled on the desolate planet Master. These small robots were so young that they had not learned how to transform yet; to survive the harsh climate of their new home, they developed Transtectors—normal-sized Transformer bodies that they would be able to connect to—and underwent a period of prolonged, intensive training so that they could learn to transform and link up with them. Even the most promising candidates struggled when they first connected with their Transtectors, spasming and becoming stuck between modes as they attempted to trigger the conversion. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery

Legends comic

Transformers wishing to take on a third configuration can directly modify their transformation cogs; this was the case with the five Autobots who adopted tertiary combiner configurations as part of the "Masquerade Project". Slugslinger's Ambition

Nightbird trained with the Six Clan, who taught her how to transform into an alternate mode. LG-15 Nightbird Shadow Sequel

Big Looker Storybooks

After reactivating in 1984, the Ark's computer rebuilt the unconscious Autobots and Decepticons to resemble Earth machines and gave them the ability to transform into their original robot shapes. Battle for Cybertron

Beast Wars cartoon continuity

The earliest Cybertronians had to learn the art of transformation, which involved discipline, purity of spark, and years of practice. The Reformatting By the era of the Maximals and Predacons, the introduction of onboard computers had largely automated the process, to the point where a Cybertronian merely needed to speak a command code that automatically triggered their transformation. Master of the House

Beast Wars cartoon

The Maximals and Predacons who participated in the Beast Wars typically transformed from beast mode to robot mode by triggering a unique command code—"maximize" or "terrorize", respectively. Beast Wars (Part 1) While trapped in Tarantulas's stasis web, Cheetor was unable to transform; The Web later, Tarantulas invented the Transformation Lock Lens, which was capable of forcibly preventing afflicted Cybertronians from transforming. The Probe Maximals who adopted beast modes separated their bestial instincts from their higher functions with a programming block. If stuck in beast mode for too long, the Maximals would devolve into feral creatures. Call of the Wild

Fully organic in nature, Clone One was unable to transform. Double Dinobot

Cybertronians who were mutated into Transmetal forms gained the ability to trigger a secondary transformation while in beast mode, allowing them to deploy accessories such as rocket engines and wheels. Aftermath Transmutate, a defective Transformer spawned from a malfunctioning stasis pod, lacked the ability to transform. Transmutate

Exposure to the energies of the Transmetal driver caused Cheetor to undergo a strange metamorphosis, which temporarily caused him to morph back and forth between his Transmetal body and a monstrous Transmetal 2 form. Feral Scream Part 1 Eventually, Cheetor permanently mutated into a Transmetal 2 in a moment of stress, which unleashed a burst of spark energy that destroyed his Transmetal form. Feral Scream Part 2

Beast Machines cartoon

When Megatron returned to Cybertron, he engineered a paralyzing virus that allowed him to easily conquer the planet. When the Maximals reached Cybertron, those with Transmetal upgrades were able to partly resist its effects; instead, the virus "devolved" them back into their original beast configurations Revelations Part II: Descent and left them unable to transform. The Reformatting

The Oracle reformatted four of the Maximals into new, technorganic bodies; however, these new forms lacked onboard computers, and the Maximals discovered that they could only transform into robot mode when they found their emotional still point, and adopted the mantra "I am transformed" to assist them. Remaining in robot form now required conscious effort; losing concentration or consciousness caused them to revert back into beast mode, Master of the House although with time and effort maintaining their transformation seemed to become easier. Fallout Later technorganic Maximals, such as Nightscream, Forbidden Fruit, Silverbolt, In Darkest Knight, and Botanica, all displayed the ability to transform without any kind of prior tutelage. Home Soil

Rattrap struggled to adjust to this new form of transformation. Eventually, he discovered the laboratory when Megatron had developed the virus, along with a transformation-enhancing counter-virus; when he used the latter on himself, however, the transformation enhancer reacted strangely with his new body, and caused him to uncontrollably shift between robot and beast forms. Mercenary Pursuits

The strange, wholly-organic being known as Noble was nevertheless able to transform into a hulking draconic creature called "Savage". Savage Noble

Timelines

The Maximal Nitrostreak was left temporarily unable to transform as a result of damage to his transformation cog while in vehicle mode. Dawn of Future's Past

Dreamwave Generation 1 continuity

Shockwave's goals of accelerating the evolutionary development of the Cybertronian race led to a mounting obsession with the idea of a Cybertronian with more than one alternate mode. The Duocons were an early attempt at bringing these theories to fruition, but most of his test subjects didn't survive the process; those that did wound up extremely unstable. Nevertheless, Shockwave took what he'd learned and used it to create the first generation of Triple Changers, singling out those with great "genetic potential" and augmenting them further so that they could accept a third alternate form. More than Meets the Eye

2005 IDW continuity

All Cybertronians are born with a functioning transformation cog, an alternate mode, and the ability to transform: "forged" Cybertronians develop alternate forms based on the genetic material embedded in their spark, Silent Light, while "constructed cold" 'bots have their sparks implanted into a mass-produced chassis with a predetermined alternate form. Your First Mistake A Transformer changes forms by spinning their cog at a certain velocity, which controls the overall speed of transformation. By shutting down all safety valves and spinning their transformation cog, a Cybertronian could achieve near-instantaneous transformation, but doing this repeatedly would result in the cog breaking beyond repair. Omega's Conundrum Some Transformers can become addicted to the sensation of transforming, but this is a dangerous problem: too much transforming in too short a space of time can burn out the transformation cog and increase the risk of sudden death. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It Following the Great War, a treatment for this condition became available. How Ratchet Got His Hands Back Conversely, a few rare Cybertronians are born with an inborn aversion to transformation; one Cybertronian with this condition had his transformation cog surgically removed, along with all components relating to his alternate mode. Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots Diseases such as cybercrosis could destroy a Transformer's transformation cog and prevent them from transforming. The Fecund Moon

It is possible for a Cybertronian to transform involuntarily—an impact to the neural cluster can trigger an "involuntary mode spasm". Little Victories Under certain circumstances, a recently deceased Transformer may experience rigor morphis, where the dead body will reflexively transform into their preferred shape. Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It The serial killer Sunder could use his remote mnemosurgery powers to force other Cybertronians to transform after first making their bodies "forget" how to properly change shape, causing them turn themselves inside out. Speak, Memory! (Part 2)

According to legend, the first Cybertronian realized he could transform some twelve million years ago in the land that would one day become Rivets Field. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It Early religions attributed the gift of transformation to the mythological pantheon known as the Guiding Hand; according to the Clavis Aurea sect, Primus decreed that his creations should take on a second shape to carry out their duties more efficiently. Religious Cybertronians associated transformation with Adaptus, god of change; conventional Cybertronian mythology holds that it was Adaptus who became the first transformation cog, ensuring that all future Cybertronians would be able to adapt to any situation. You, Me, and Other Revelations Rewind possessed a recording of an ancient Cybertronian transforming, which took roughly ten minutes. Interiors

After the First Cybertronian Civil War, Nova Prime instituted a political philosophy known as Functionism, which segregated Cybertronians into distinct classes based on the versatility and ubiquitousness of their alternate modes, Life After the Big Bang which included a "disposable" underclass who possessed overwhelmingly common alternate modes. Before & After A group known as the Militant Monoform Movement became infamous for their decision to symbolically reject Adaptus by surgically removing their transformation cogs and becoming "monoformers". Chaos Theory Part 2

While some Cybertronians possessed the ability to mass-shift into smaller alternate forms, wartime energy rationing meant that few Cybertronians could enjoy this privilege. Escalation #3 Even after the Great War, asking what someone transformed into was considered gauche, How Ratchet Got His Hands Back and many got defensive over the function of their alternate modes. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It While under the influence of Tarantulas, Roadbuster forced Autobot cadets through a regimen of brutal "mode-drilling" exercises, forcing them to transform over and over until their bodies gave out. Sins of the Wreckers #4

Chromedome could identify an Autobot just by their transformation sound. Rewind could do the same and judge their emotional state by the sound of their transformation. Interiors

The ability to transform was not exclusive to Cybertronians: other transforming mechanical races included the Stentarians, Little Victories the Junkions, and the Sharkticons. Future Glories Lost

Beast Wars: Uprising

When Trypticon was gravely wounded in the Great Push of 2033, Full-Tilt modified himself to act as the giant Transformer's T-cog, which involved permanently wiring himself into Trypticon's systems. Intersectionality Post-war Cybertron had such a high premium on energon that most Builders lacked the power reserves necessary to transform. Broken Windshields Head Games While most remained in robot mode, some, such as Black-Out, wound up locked in their vehicle modes. Derailment

The smaller, energy-efficient Maximals and Predacons retained the ability to transform, Alone Together as did the Micromasters. Broken Windshields The Cyberdroids retained their ability to transform; when they were drafted into an increasingly desperate military towards the end of the Grand Uprising, their commanders were generally frustrated by the fact that none of them turned into anything useful. Derailment

Of Masters and Mayhem

An advanced alien race on the planet Chicxulania studied Cybertronian physiology and reverse-engineered their biology to create an advanced "techno-organic hybrid transformation" that allowed Cybertronians to adopt organic beast modes. Life Finds a Way

Punch's transformation cog contained a rare, "one-in-a-trillion" mutation that allowed him to assume a second robot form. The Truth We Make

2019 IDW continuity

Cybertronians were the only known species with the ability to transform. The World In Your Eyes Part Two However, they were not naturally born with this ability; early in their lifetime, a freshly-forged Transformer would have to first scan a suitable alternate mode of their choosing. The World In Your Eyes Part Three Some rare Transformers, such as Sixshot, possessed the ability to transform into more than one shape; The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three by the time of the Great War, Blitzwing was widely regarded as the best Triple Changer on Cybertron. Titans

The enormous Leviathan developed a strong attachment to her alternate mode, to the point where she refused to transform into robot mode except in the most dire circumstances. Tremors

Splice-thieves made a living by selling Cybertronian parts, including transformation cogs, on the galactic black market. Storm Horizon Part 1

Alternate future

In a potential future where Exarchon had conquered Cybertron, Bumblebee's small resistance group had been forced to subsist on Nucleon for so long that they'd lost their ability to transform. Test Flight II

My Little Pony/Transformers

The evil Queen Chrysalis cast a magic spell to summon changelings from other worlds; however, the Transformers' innate ability to change shape meant that they counted as "changelings" for the purposes of the spell. When Chrysalis's magic interfered with a malfunctioning spacebridge, several Autobots and Decepticons were duly summoned to the land of Equestria as a result. Transformation Is Magic

When Discord attempted to befriend Soundwave by turning himself into a Cybertronian, he amused himself by flipping through a variety of potential alternate modes. Pet Sounds

2021 Beast Wars comic

Tarantulas used his transformation lock lens to prevent Nyx from transforming into her beast mode, so that she would eventually perish from overexposure to energon radiation. However, Dinobot destroyed the device and allowed Nyx to escape. Savage Landing Part 3

Last Bot Standing

When underfuelled, Riotgear had a tendency to get stuck between modes, necessitating a kick in the transformation cog to fully transform. Last Bot Standing #2

Movie continuity

Live-action film series

Transformation is the process by which a Cybertronian's exo-structure reconfigures itself, based upon the schematics programmed into their self-generating molecular armor when a Cybertronian scans an object or vehicle to serve as a disguise. Age of Extinction The process requires a suitable alternate mode of similar mass to a Cybertronian's robot mode; after adopting a shape, a Transformer can reorganize their physical structure at will. The Movie Guide

The artificial Transformers created by Kinetic Solutions Incorporated transform via "hypno-transformation", a process by which their bodies dissolve into the Transformium particles of which they are composed and reconstitute into their alternate form. As with Cybertronian Transformers, this process does not allow arbitrary forms to be taken, as each must have its forms programmed into them. Age of Extinction

Animated continuity

Sentinel Minor had recruits perform transform-ups, rapidly switching from their robot to their vehicle form while in a prone position. Autoboot Camp

Shattered Glass

Transformation was invented by the rebel leader Megatron to counter the numerical superiority of the Autobots. As a result of their ability to hide in plain sight, his followers dubbed themselves the Decepticons, and successfully stalled the Autobot advance for a time. However, it didn't take long until the evil Optimus Prime replicated the technology and bestow it upon his own warriors; with both sides once again on an even footing, the Autobots were able to score a string of victories over their Decepticon foes. Optimus Prime believed that he could use the camouflage skills afforded by transformation to conquer other planets, and had many of the Autobots rebuilt with human vehicle forms in anticipation of an Earth invasion. Shattered Glass

The dimwitted Grimlock gained the ability to transform into an intelligent robot form when the Omega Terminus supercomputer gave him an ember. Dungeons & Dinobots

Aligned continuity

The Covenant of Primus

The first Cybertronian blessed with the power of transformation was Amalgamous Prime, whose miraculous T-Cog allowed him to not only change shape, but also state, from solid to liquid and back. Following the fall of the Thirteen and the creation of the Well of All Sparks, the remaining Primes decided that they would populate the planet with a race of lesser beings, using Onyx Prime's Triptych Mask to establish suitable templates upon which to base the nascent Cybertronian species. As part of this effort, Amalgamous Prime donated a schematic of his T-Cog to Onyx Prime, so that all future Cybertronians would inherit a simplified version of his shapeshifting ability. However, Prima ultimately chose not to inform the newly-created Cybertronian race about the T-cogs they all possessed, for fear that this powerful ability could lead to trouble. While emerging from the Well of All Sparks, newborn Cybertronians would sometimes experience dreams and visions relating to their future alternate mode, even if they did not yet know what they transformed into.

After discovering Cybertron, the Quintessons spent years abducting primitive Cybertronians and analyzing their physiology. Finally, when they publicly revealed themselves, they claimed that they had been sent to uplift the Cybertronian race by bestowing upon them the "gift" of transformation--in reality, all they were doing was remotely activating the T-Cog. A number of Cybertronians used their new alternate modes to become personal transports, who ferried their Quintesson benefactors from place to place. As the rule of the Quintessons grew crueler and more decadent, a growing resistance movement intercepted the newborn Silverbolt at the Well of All Sparks; a cursory examination revealed that the presence of the T-Cog and the ability to transform was a natural part of Cybertronian biology. This revelation was broadcast live to the entire planet, and kicked off the full-fledged revolt that ultimately ended with the overthrow of the Quintesson regime.

During the Great War, the mad scientist Shockwave captured Grimlock and the other members of the Lightning Strike Coalition and subjected them to a battery of brutal experiments where they received new dinosaur-based alternate modes. During these experiments, Grimlock wound up half-transformed; it took a week of repeatedly shocking his T-Cog until the Decepticon scientist was able to push him into his alternate mode. After this, Shockwave affixed a restrainer to Grimlock's T-Cog.

The legendary T-Cog of Amalgamous Prime was eventually found in orbit of a black hole by a group of refugees fleeing the destruction of Neutronia. Exposure to the energies of the artifact gave the colonists the potential for infinite transformation and they rebranded themselves as the Mutacons. The Covenant of Primus

Aligned novels

After emerging from the Well of All Sparks, newborn Cybertronians had to learn how to transform. Exodus A rare sub-species of Cybertronians, the Shifters, were able to transform into anything of roughly equivalent size and mass, an ability which made them highly valued as spies. Exiles

Prime cartoon

A Cybertronian's ability to transform was controlled via their T-Cog. Damage to, or loss of, the T-Cog left Cybertronians unable to transform. Operation Bumblebee, Part 1

After MECH had determined the purpose of the organ, they baited a trap for any Cybertronian and harvested Bumblebee's T-Cog, depriving him of his ability to transform or even access his internal weapons. Operation Bumblebee, Part 1 After the scout reclaimed his T-Cog, MECH harvested Starscream's leaving the Seeker stuck in his robot mode. Operation Bumblebee, Part 2

After cloning himself, Starscream was shocked to find his CNA had provided the clones with working T-Cogs and transformation abilities. Armada In exchange for the Omega Keys and a return to the Decepticon ranks, Patch Megatron had Starscream's T-Cog reinstalled much to his delight. Regeneration

After witnessing several Vehicons transforming, Predaking began to wonder if he too could transform and access a robot mode. He could. This was little surprise to Shockwave who knew transformation to a be a fundamental aspect of Cybertronian biology. Nonetheless, this was enough for Megatron to terminate Project: Predacon in the fear the beasts would turn on him. Evolution Optimus Prime was equally troubled by Predaking's transformation. Minus One

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

After reformatting the Lightning Strike Coalition Force with alien alternate modes, Shockwave deliberately barred Grimlock's ability to transform, wanting the Autobot to figure that he could now transform only when sufficiently angry. The other members of the group still retained their full transformation potential however. Fall of Cybertron

TransTech

"Interpretive morphing", in which performers transformed in novel and artistic methods, was a popular form of self-expression and a regular feature on Cybertron’s Got Talent. Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2015/05/14

Go-Bots comic

The GoBots were designed to transform as a means to solve the parking problem, originally being cars that could assume a robot mode so they could walk with their owners. Go-Bots #1

Cyberverse cartoon

After the Quintessons had invaded Cybertron, they locked the populace in a virtual reality that could be broken only if the subject transformed. The Dead End Perceptor successfully freed everyone trapped in the simulation by using a simulated flock of Air Hammers to startle everyone into transforming. The Scientist

EarthSpark cartoon

The Terrans Twitch and Thrash had to learn how to transform by training in an environment where they felt safe and calm. Moo-ving in

Notes

"Transform" as a verb

Famous quote of Optimus Prime.

For reasons relating to intellectual property law, and the need to preserve "Transformers" as a trademark, Hasbro and TakaraTomy do not use "transform" as a verb to describe this ability of Transformers in printed materials describing products. Instead synonyms such as "convert" and "morph" are used. Products that are not able to change modes are given a disclaimer such as "product does not convert". This disclaimer extends to the Kre-O Transformers and Kreon Micro-Changers, indicating that "convert" is used in a technical sense that does not apply to the "disassemble and rebuild" play pattern of Kre-O toys.

For some time, this restriction didn't extend to in-fiction dialogue. However, since 2010, Hasbro has preferred to err on the safe side; the novel Transformers: Exodus used "proto-form" and "alt-form" as verbs to describe transforming from vehicle to robot and vice versa, while James Roberts has said that Hasbro has asked that other terms be used when writing IDW comics such as More Than Meets the Eye. Exceptions have been made, though, when dialogue or drama strongly called for it, such as the NAIL who transformed himself to death. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It^[6]

All this has proven troublesome given that one of the most famous phrases associated with the Transformers brand is "transform and roll out!". In Fall of Cybertron, Ratchet actually commands Bumblebee to "change form and roll out", and Optimus Prime only ordered his team to "transform and roll out" twice during the Prime cartoon, opting instead for a "roll out" for the majority of the series; sister series Rescue Bots and sequel Robots in Disguise had their protagonists use alternative catchprases, "roll to the rescue!" and "rev up and roll out!". Somewhat infamously, the 2022 LEGO Creator Expert Optimus Prime set just gave up and had "Autobots, convert and roll out!" in its instruction booklet.

When Magic: The Gathering produced Transformers, a small bonus set of cards featuring Transformers characters release alongside The Brothers' War, this was invoked yet again, as despite the game having a thematically-appropriate "Transform" mechanic, the cards in that set "Convert" instead. In addition to being mechanically redundant and disappointingly flavorless, it raised questions about rule interactions with cards that referenced "Transform" (and precise wording is crucial in such a rules-strict game such as Magic). An article by Magic's head designer soon confirmed that the use of "Convert" was entirely a matter of conforming with the Transformers IP, and it's exactly the same as "Transform" in every possible way.^[7]

References