Transformers are a line of toys produced by Hasbro and Takara Tomy beginning in 1984, a year after Tonka's Go-Bots debuted. The franchise has expanded in cartoons, comics, movies, and various other media.
References[]
- The Fall 1985 issue of Muppet Magazine features a comic called "The Mup-Bots Transform" parodying both Transformers and Go-Bots.
- Baby Scooter's Trans-Go JoBot from the Muppet Babies episode "Muppets in Toyland" takes its name from an amalgamation of Transformers and Go-Bots. The episode features an epilogue in which Baby Gonzo expresses frustration with "these toys that change from one thing to another" just before Baby Piggy transforms him into a car.
- In Episode 4261 of Sesame Street Rosita, Elmo, and Telly portray the "Shape-O-Bots" and can transform into any shape (or try to). Before they transform they all sing a parody of the Transformers theme song. Caricatures of Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox also make appearances in reference to the Transformers movies from the 2000s.
- In a promo for The Hub's Fraggle Rock-A-Thon, partially themed around the then-current Transformers: Prime series, Red attempts the Silly Creature art of "transforming" by contorting herself into a Doozer tower. The background uses a pattern of the franchise's Autobot emblem, and the promo ends with an animation of Bumblebee morphing into a car, with a shot of a bumper sticker reading "I ♥ Fraggles."
- Big Bird's pop culture heavy rendition of "Sing After Me" performed at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con includes the line, "robots in disguise", quoting a lyric from the Transformers theme song.
Mentions[]
- The second printing cover for the Transformers comic Void Rivals #1 (written by Robert Kirkman) features art by Marz Jr spoofing Michael J. Smollin's cover for the 1971 Sesame Street book The Monster at the End of This Book.
Connections[]
- Diedrich Bader played Jules Verne on Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016).
- Eric Bauza played numerous characters on Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015-2017).
- Gregg Berger played Grimlock on Transformers (1984-1987), Transformers: The Movie (1986), and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (2012).
- LeVar Burton voiced Doc Greene, Helper Bot, and Trex on Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016).
- John Cena played Jack Burns in Bumblebee (2018).
- Townsend Coleman played Rewind on Transformers (1984-1987) and Sentinel Prime on Transformers: Animated (2007-2009).
- Peter Cullen played Optimus Prime and Ironhide on Transformers (1984-1987) and in Transformers: The Movie (1986). He also played the former role in the live-action films, Transformers: Prime (2010-2013), Rescue Bots (2012-2016) and the 2015 Transformers: Robots in Disguise series (2015-2017).
- Tim Curry played Doctor Morocco in the first season of Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016).
- Peter Dinklage voiced Scourge in in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).
- Sandy Fox voiced T-AI on Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001-2002).
- John Goodman voiced Hound in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).
- Kelsey Grammer played Harold Attinger in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014).
- Jess Harnell voiced Ironhide and Barricade in the live-action films.
- John Hostetter played Ramhorn on Transformers (1984-1987).
- Casey Kasem played Cliffjumper (and other roles) on Transformers (1984-1987) and in Transformers: The Movie (1986).
- Maurice LaMarche voiced Six-Gun on Transformers (1984-1987), Charlie Burns and numerous bit roles on Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016), and Drag Strip and Dragbreak on Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015-2017).
- Mona Marshall played numerous bit roles on Transformers (1984-1987).
- John Moschitta Jr. played Blurr on Transformers (1984-1987), in Transformers: The Movie (1986), and in Transformers: Animated (2007-2009).
- Leonard Nimoy played Galvatron in Transformers: The Movie (1986) and Sentinel Prime in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011).
- Rob Paulsen voiced Air Raid, Haywire, Fastlane, and Slingshot on Transformers (1984-1987).
- Anthony Ramos played Noah Diaz in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).
- Hal Rayle played Shrapnel on Transformers (1984-1987) and in Transformers: The Movie (1986).
- Clive Revill played Kickback on Transformers (1984-1987) and in Transformers: The Movie (1986).
- Ben Schwartz voiced Bumblebee in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014).
- Robert Stack played Ultra Magnus in Transformers: The Movie (1986).
- Hailee Steinfeld played Charlie Watson in Bumblebee (2018).
- John Stephenson played Windcharger, Huffer, Thundercracker, Kup, Alpha Trion, and numerous bit parts on Transformers (1984-1987).
- Tabitha St. Germain voiced Alexis Thi Dang on Transformers: Armada (2002-2003) and Transformers: Energon (2003-2004), and Lucy Suzuki on Transformers: Cybertron (2005-2006).
- Tara Strong voiced Sari Sumdac, Slipstream, Red Alert, Strika, and numerous bit parts on Transformers: Animated (2007-2009).
- Cree Summer voiced Blackarachnia/Elita-1 on Transformers: Animated (2007-2009), and Maura the Magnificent on Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016).
- Stanley Tucci played Joshua Joyce in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Merlin in Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).
- Mark Wahlberg played Cade Yeager in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).
- Frank Welker played Megatron, Skywarp, Soundwave, Rumble, Wheelie and others on Transformers and in Transformers: The Movie (1986). He has also reprised Megatron and Soundwave in various spin-offs and the live-action films starting with Transformers: Age of Extinction.
- Orson Welles played Unicron in Transformers: The Movie (1986).
- "Weird Al" Yankovic played a Sumdac Systems technician in the Transformers: Animated episode "Garbage In, Garbage Out" (2008) and Wreck-Gar in two episodes. His song "Dare to Be Stupid" also featured in Transformers: The Movie (1986).