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 2009 reference book Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac by Jim Sorenson and Bill Forster features multiple references to Farscape. Page 139 features "feutritional facts" for the cereal Garbage-O's, and chakan oil is listed among the material components. On page 144, the text behind the devices, written in Cybertronian, is John Crichton's monologue from the series' opening theme.

• Its 2010 follow-up, Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II, includes the planets Thra and Hyneria on a map of the Milky Way. Thra is noted to have "valuable crystals."

• "Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur," a Facebook page operated by Hasbro licensee Fun Publications, made a post in the lead-up to BotCon 2014 about acquiring a Lukythian Warp Star, describing the Lukythians as a species that specialize in miniaturization. Tornado then remarks he's been "jabbering like a Banik."^[1]

• 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 voiced Jules Verne on Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016) and Mandroid in Transformers: EarthSpark (2022-2025)
• Jon Bailey voiced Soundwave in Transformers One (2024 film)
• Dee Bradley Baker voiced Noble, Poopsie, & Wi-Fido in Transformers: Rescue Bots (2014) and Bludgeon & Clout in Transformers: Robots In Disguise (2015)
• Eric Bauza played Maven Danger & Skip Scobble in Transformers: Rescue Bots (2015-2016), Drift and numerous characters on Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015-2017), and Prowl & Hot Rod in Transformers EarthSpark (2024-2025)
• 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 voiced Rewind on Transformers (1984-1987) and Sentinel Prime on Transformers: Animated (2007-2009).
• Peter Cullen voiced Optimus Prime on Transformers (1984-1987, also Ironhide) and in Transformers: The Movie (1986), Transformers: Prime (2010-2013), Rescue Bots (2012-2016), Transformers: Robots in Disguise series (2015-2017), and seven live-action films
• Tim Curry played Doctor Morocco in the first season of Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016)
• Peter Dinklage voiced Scourge in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
• Laurence Fishburne voiced Alpha Trion in Transformers One (2024 film)
• Sandy Fox voiced T-AI on Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001-2002)
• Brad Garrett voiced Trypticon on Transformers (1984-1987)
• 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)
• Jon Hamm voiced Sentinel Prime in Transformers One (2024 film)
• Jess Harnell voiced Ironhide and Barricade in the live-action films
• John Hostetter voiced Ramhorn on Transformers (1984-1987)
• Cissy Jones voiced Elita-1 and Val in Transformers EarthSpark (2022-2025)
• Casey Kasem voiced Cliffjumper and others 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)
• Keegan-Michael Key voiced B-127/Bumblebee in Transformers One (2024 film)
• Mona Marshall voiced numerous bit roles on Transformers (1984-1987)
• John Moschitta Jr. voiced Blurr on Transformers (1984-1987), in Transformers: The Movie (1986), and Transformers: Animated (2007-2009)
• Leonard Nimoy voiced 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 voiced Shrapnel on Transformers (1984-1987) and in Transformers: The Movie (1986)
• Clive Revill voiced Kickback on Transformers (1984-1987) and in Transformers: The Movie (1986)
• Martin P. Robinson puppeteered Optimus Prime in live-action bumpers produced for the rerun based fifth season of Transformers (1984-1987)
• Ben Schwartz voiced Bumblebee in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
• Robert Stack voiced Ultra Magnus in Transformers: The Movie (1986)
• Hailee Steinfeld played Charlie Watson in Bumblebee (2018)
• John Stephenson voiced 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 voiced Megatron, Skywarp, Soundwave, Rumble, Wheelie and others on Transformers and in Transformers: The Movie (1986) and reprised Megatron and Soundwave in various spin-offs and live-action films starting with Transformers: Age of Extinction
• Orson Welles voiced Unicron in Transformers: The Movie (1986).
• "Weird Al" Yankovic voiced 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" was featured in Transformers: The Movie (1986).

Sources