Cybertronian Database

neoyi:

I’m not going to make this long because I would need to delve deeper into the show, but this has been something I’ve wanted to discuss for a while. Names in Transformers Animated is a minor, but curiously reoccurring element throughout the show. Here are a few of the things off the top of my head that TFA did concerning names…

*In Autobot culture, names seem to be given based on where you are and by who. In “Autoboot Camp”, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and a slew of rookies got their names from drill sergeant Sentinel Minor based on their characteristics (the good and the bad if Bee’s name is anything to go by.) Not only does this add to Cybertron culture, but it brilliantly explains why their names conveniently connect to their specific skills and personality. Optimus mentions in the second Allspark Almanac that he was named by his Minor Kup (for his cheerful personality) and subsequently named Elita and Sentinel because she was a bit of a snob and he was ever vigilant. It also indicates the Autobots (and possibly Cybertronians in general) do not necessary get their names the minute they’re born; it’s something they earn based on their traits and likely where they were at the time (the ones I listed for example strictly comes from military camps.)

There are other episodes where Bots gain names in different ways: Scrapper and Mixmaster improvised and named themselves because no one else did. Wreck-Gar got his through an insult due to his reckless nature, only to have Angry Archer shorten it down for him. Grimlock got his name while Megatron laments to himself, more or less working it out for his own. And so on and on.

*Y’all know Sumdac’s last name is Cadmus backwards, ‘nuff said.

*In layman’s term, “Omega” means the end. Project Omega can be taken in as a literal last step in the Great War. It was considered a final desperate measure for the Autobots against the Decepticon war (and ultimately ended it), hence the name Project Omega., hence the name Project Omega. One can only wonder what would have happened if this plan failed. This may be why Omega Supreme got his name because despite being the first to be built; he’s the last resort of an ever increasingly desperate war. Omega Supreme was also utilized as kind of a “last step” measure in a number of other places, too. He was activated by Ratchet (somewhat) to stop Blitzwing and Lugnut in “Lost and Found” because there was literally no other way to get rid of those two. He was the bot who sacrificed himself so the other Autobots wouldn’t get sucked in the Space Bridge into the middle of nowhere in the Season 2 finale. And of course, he was the catalyst for Megatron’s final plan in the Season 3 finale.

*Another interesting thing from the Allspark Almanac II; during Project Omega, there are identical worker bots that helped to built the Omega Sentinels. Blitzwing stated they have no individuality or names. He states this in disgust, saying it’s part of the Autobot’s “blind conformity”. Another keen look at the politics and culture between Autobots and Decepticons. Hmm…

*If you’re used to other TF franchises, there might be some of you questioning why Optimus’ crew often calls him “Prime” instead of just “Optimus Prime” or just “Optimus” like most of the franchise does. I mean, the TFA crew does occasionally spout an “Optimus” or the more endearing “Boss Bot”, but more often than not, they’ll address him as “Prime.” They do this a lot. It may sound like a weird quirk, but then you realize in Animated, “Prime” is a military rank. Optimus’ crew is literally calling him their Captain (or whatever equivalent rank “Prime” is); they are acknowledging him as their official leader.

*Megatron and Optimus are usually worthy rivals to each other in other incarnations; connected through a shared history. This is not the case in Transformers Animated where the two are total strangers at the start of the show. Optimus only knows Megatron through history vids and Bee even goes as far as spouting urban myths about the big guy to indicate unfamiliarity with the actual Con. In fact, Megatron views Optimus as just a tiny Autobot speck and disregards him as a pest more than anything. Megatron doesn’t know who Optimus is nor his name – he’s just an Autobot. It isn’t until the final episode when Megatron finally spouts Optimus’ name for the first time, indicating that yes, this “pest” has finally pissed him off enough that he simply cannot be ignored anymore. Now Optimus carries some sort of significance for Megatron. It’s a really subtle way of showing how much Optimus has grown; he started out as an unknown washout and eventually became a hero of both worlds.

There probably is a lot more, but these are all I can think about for now, but I hope you see where I’m going with this. They’re often minor and don’t draw much attention to the overall plot, but it’s a tremendously good use of world-building and adds to the overall TFAverse. The show has always been good adding these little touches. Welp, I hope you enjoyed the analysis I did over a show that ended like four years ago. This ended up a lot longer than I expected and I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface. O_O