TRANSFORMERS: THE BASICS on PROTOFORMS

How are new Transformers made? It's a question that's had many answers over the years, and this episode looks at The Basics on the concept that's risen to become the go-to solution: Protoforms!
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[@rossmonasweebro]

Love how often we get "The aligned continuity gave us a single, definitive version of... aaaaand they've branched again."

[@stephencastro4723]

There are many TF Universes depending on the number of story writers.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

Classic franchise issue, at least it is in different universes and not in one canon.

[@RiverWilliamson]

Heterodoxy is inevitable

[@demonking86420]

Most of its caused by TFP wanting to do their own thing

[@Zerodarkwolf01]

In my head cannon the protoforms when they are full on big robots there eyes are white and when they become either an autobot or decepticon they go through a process that when they get the insignia there eyes turn red or blue like what happen with the constructicons of animated

[@galvatron1585]

The fact that there's a lot of quotes about protoforms make sense why they are the best part of the lore

[@user-tc7lc5hp7q]

Yeah protoforms so logicaly nice and normal.

[@Gaia_BentosZX5]

@@user-tc7lc5hp7q It's unfortunate that they were dropped given that lasted quite a long time, slowly being phased out in favor of the original method. Aligned tried it's best, but a lot of good shit was cut after they pulled the plug on it, now going through a soft reset instead of a hard one like they usually do, since newer media takes place in cybertron's past (IDW and Netflix) as well as the toys. What an unusual way for a long-running IP to spend it's existence.

[@thesonofallmemes5094]

Nice .

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@Gaia_BentosZX5 I do think it would be cool if they expanded conflict of naturally born and protoform in society.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Hail Galvatron!

[@noppornwongrassamee8941]

Given all of Transformers media, I tend to view the Spark as the true Transformer, their soul as well as their life force. The physical body including protoforms are just shells that the Spark wears so that it can survive in and interact with the rest of the universe. Protoforms are just ideal starter shells for fresh Sparks because they can include things like knowledge packs and language databases and everything else a beginning lifeform would need to know about living. But protoforms aren't strictly necessary for Sparks since you can build purpose designed bodies for them, or even shove Sparks into random machines. Or in more sci fi buzzword terms, Transformers are really energy beings (aka, their Sparks) that need to inhabit a physical body in order to survive in the universe (unless they're Starscream). Purpose designed shells meant to hold Sparks are ideal, but not strictly necessary.

[@chheinrich8486]

I dont like this view, primus was more than a spark and the cybertronian race is in his Image

[@monkeywrench1290]

Your view somehow manages to match mine

[@jeremytung1632]

I don’t know, I feel like needing a physical form kind of defeats the purpose of being and energy being.

[@thehighfox3926]

@@jeremytung1632how is an energy being suppose to interact with the physical world if it can’t touch it?

[@LinkiePup]

We as humans are just a brain piloting a meat mech. The only difference is that a spark is immortal.

[@yyzkakit]

Stasis pods were such an ingenious creation in Beast Wars. I can still recall the excitement it brought everytime one popped up in an episode amongst my friends and I back in the day. It was such a convenient way to introduce new characters especially for the non-show toys for creative play. I always thought Blanks from "Call of the Fuzors" could also result from a pod that lost its spark, it made for great subjects of intrigue created by Larry and Bob's sci-fi first approach to storytelling and an aspect I sorely missed in more modern mythological takes

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

In Transformers: Animated, it was shown that it was possible to transfer the Spark of a Cybertronian from their old body into a Protoform, which would then perfectly copy the Spark's previous body. This was shown during a flashback scene where Prowl found his master Yoketron, who was fatally injured by Lockdown. In order to save his life, Prowl took a Protoform and placed Yoketron's spark within it. Yoketron scolded Prowl for his rash decision, as the Protoforms were meant to ensure Cybertron's future, not to hold onto the past. Thus, Yoketron released his own Spark and the Protoform body died.

[@thunderstudent]

It was a dumb decision, instead continuing to share his knowledge and wisdom in a time that desperately needs it and teaching prowl the error of what he did, he SNUFFED HIS OWN SPARK OUT to teach him a lesson. Even though protoforms are sometimes blank for that exact purpose! Yoketron was an ungrateful moron who ACTIVELY HARMED the autobot causes because of his pride! I’m sorry but Yoketron was just wrong there!

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

@@thunderstudent Prowl essentially sacrificed a baby to bring him back, tho. I know for a fact that I'd be horrified to know a newborn was denied a chance at life just because someone wanted me back.

[@zakkmylde1712]

@@HunhowsShadowStalker what good would that protoform have been if the Decepticons won and destroyed Cybertron though?

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

@@zakkmylde1712 What do you mean "destroyed Cybertron"? Last I checked, Megatron only decided to try and destroy Cybertron in the final episodes of the cartoon. Before that, he settled on simply conquering the galaxy.

[@mandoris8387]

@@HunhowsShadowStalker Even if that's true, I'd hope you'd be logical enough to not have your horror cause you to make a stupid decision. At that point, there are two versions of the story. 1. Dead baby, alive you. 2. Dead baby, dead you. Its not like killing yourself undoes what has already occurred. You just waste it.

[@collincutler4992]

I like the idea of both. Some are born, some are built. Gives a nuanced point where ideals might collide.

[@terrortaste6389]

One thing I'm surprised you didn't mention all too much in this vid was protoforms secondary role: cloning. Protoforms have been shown to be able to clone not just bodies of existing transformers, but also their minds and consciousnesses entirely, as shown by Starscream in Animated and Prime.

[@ReligiousPrime]

I think that's only in Prime. In Animated, he actually built them himself. You can see him put the head on one of the 5 clones, as the finishing touch, and he says "never before have I seen a group of such lethal fighting machines." (that may or may not be the exact line, but it's something like that) Then he takes a small piece of the Allspark Fragment in his forehead and puts it in the spark chamber to bring it to life. And each one represents a part of his personality: egotistical maniac, such up, coward, liar (5th, female, clone: unknown) However in Prime, Starscream makes his clones by putting some of his own blood into the protoforms, which makes them all exactly like him. And when they're hurt in any way, he feels it himself. I do see and understand where you're coming from, but there is a difference between the 2.

[@billybones627]

Actually, in Animated, Starscream DID use Protoforms to create his clones. In the series finale, Starscream was just a living head, that was powered by The Allspark fragment. He had the mold needed to reconstruct a body for himself because he stated that he used the stolen Protoforms to create his clones. Megatron did the same thing when he had the Lugnut Supremes built. Long story short, (Too Late!) Protoforms WERE used in the cloning process in Animated.

[@andrewmalinowski6673]

While the concept for protoforms wasn't introduced until Beast Wars I like to think that any mention of "protoforms" in TF media is based more on either retconning history or because it's from a post-Beast Wars timeline and thus explaining why in Prime they'd make mention of Bantor. It's interesting though to hear how the concept of Transformers biology has included some version of a "birth" state

[@8ball180]

Bantor was more reference than an indicator as many events in prime contradict G1 which is the continuity beast wars is set in

[@lazaruscain3424]

As I recall there was actually an episode in Beast Wars where the pod's formation systems were damaged in its landfall, resulting in the pod selecting the protoform state as the final model, and as it does with all final models, added the final touches (including weaponry) to the protoform.

[@allhailme8457]

I never believed the Quintessons when they said they were the creators. In my own head cannon they found Cybertron after the great Shutdown and as they learned from dissecting them they learned how to create something similar (Sharkticons) and woke up the ones already there and tricked them to believe they created them.

[@matthewreynoso6904]

That’s a great modern origin for the Quintessons!

[@captainmega6310]

That's actually really soild origin for the Quintessons. I like it.

[@adawnicusautocon]

I agree with your logic on this, the Quintessons are trickers, manipulators and theives. So of course they would fabricate themselves as creators but in truth Primus is the true creator

[@ganados0]

Well in Sunbow it's just the quntessons built the cybertronians and sold them for profit but then the freed cybertronians developed the art of transformation and the Quintessons may have built Sharkticons and allicons afterwards. However, it's implied the Quintessons are actually a Cybertronian faction themselves created by Quintis Prime.

[@markmatthews2391]

Honestly all methods are amazing and bring something cool to the table

[@stevieturner9338]

I am a Vector Sigma fan myself. But watching one of my favourite franchises grow and become more. And enjoying some of the newer takes. Its great to watch ajd learn more.

[@cameronstone4495]

In Transformers Cyberverse they kind of bridged the two concepts were, the Allspark can create new Transformers, but Vector Sigma can program the Allspark to create Transformers to specification.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@cameronstone4495 yeah, which is clever.

[@KuddlesbergTheFirst]

So "Cons" are the bad guys? - Decepticon - Predacon - Offendercons - Shotacons - Lolicons

[@marxjester9802]

Today on The Basics On: Chris gives us the talk of the Laserbeaks and the Bumblebees

[@russellharrell2747]

When two Cybertronians love each other very much they go in search of Alpha Trion and and share energy. And that’s how Hot Rod was born.

[@multivewer]

Personally I like the idea or prefer the idea of the naturally occurring liquid metal infused with a spark idea. But that could just be my bias considering Beast Wars was one of my first introductions to the Transformers franchise 😋

[@UniversalChallenge4454]

Same here although that it has a basic awareness is good too

[@NikkiTheOtter]

The McDonalds happy meal toys. I had Rattrap

[@JackieMReacts]

i actually use protoforms as part of a stage of cybertronian development in a few series i work on, and also as a term for part of a cybertronian's body that doesn't have a protected shell on it, kinda like when a crab molts and their skin is mushy until the shell rehardens

[@tatsu280]

I like that. I'm doing something similar where the many Autobots who left on the Ark had to go into protoform stasis to conserve the limited energon remaining amongst the Autobot fleet. Pulling a page from Beast Wars, when the ship goes crashing to Earth, Optimus ejects the stasis pods into orbit fearing they'd be destroyed on ship impact. Thus, creating a "new character of the week" kind of plotline with a way to introduce nearly everyone from the G1 series without making them regulars.

[@voltronimusprime3833]

Both of your ideas sound great! Do either of you have a place you upload your works, or is it still private WIP's?

[@JackieMReacts]

@@voltronimusprime3833 most of mine i work on in my head when i'm bored, but i plan on using them in my fanfics

[@tatsu280]

@@voltronimusprime3833 same, never really sat down to write more than notes in word or notepads. Been wanting to start my own personal series with an artist or animator

[@voltronimusprime3833]

@@tatsu280 I wish you luck in finding a partner for your ideas.

[@lizzymatheson6487]

I was about to be like “what’s so hard to explain about those? They’re like blank floppy disks” and then I remembered I’m old and I am sad now

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

I remember floppy disks too.

[@jimflagg4009]

I have always liked the idea that Cybertron was originally Earth like and the Biological people uploaded their minds to the Super computer that they built into the planet. Eventually they made robot bodies that these souls would be downloaded into.

[@SadikiStGeorgeangemon44]

I think a “Basics on the theme songs” would be an interesting episode

[@scripted_valor]

You mean a basics on literally just saying transformers robots in disguise In about 50 different versions.

[@SadikiStGeorgeangemon44]

@@scripted_valor no all of the themes Japanese included

[@cyber774]

there isnt much to the theme songs

[@ShinGallon]

@@cyber774 Covering the songwriters and bands who performed them all would definitely make for enough material for an episode, though.

[@scripted_valor]

@@SadikiStGeorgeangemon44 ok the Japanese are always going to bring it, that can't count.

[@ricotheskunk3062]

4:18 that’s a good transition from show to comic!

[@RexBlazer1]

I actually like the idea of them being born, as it does help elevate them from just pure manufactured machines.

[@explodingdynamite7319]

So Close!

[@jasonhoff2704]

My preferred method is that the body is made by other transformers, including the spark chamber, but not the spark itself. That is born of Primus/Cybertron, and is basically the transformer's soul. It's fairly close to the G1 method as I understood it, so it makes sense that's my favorite since I grew up with it.

[@akiramomoiro3083]

So, to begin with, just want to say outright, I'm no longer transformers fan, although, I am very much a pushover when it comes to anything that feels nostalgic to my youth, especially at times of stress. I've happened to be going through a slightly tumultuous time of my life, AKA moving to a new town, and one of the ways I've been coping, is going to the transformers series that touched me the most in my early years, transformers prime. Well, I guess to begin with, it all started with g1, I watched that as a kid, but in early puberty, I delved head first into the transformers prime fandom. To this day, as many things I find uncomfortable with the series now with a different worldview than I used to, it's still on some level has a special place in my heart, and I have found over time just how much it's influenced me as a person, the way I think, as well as my story writing as well as my art style, even though I was a part of the fandom about 10 years ago. So, all that being said, I tend to feel real nostalgic when it comes to anything specifically addressing G1 or transformers prime. Why am I mentioning all of this? Even though transformers prime follows the whole protoform thing, and seems to carry along that whole idea that the transformers just kind of morphed out of Cybertron due to basically a robot god, I too also agree, that the G1 explanation is more comfortable. It makes more sense to me, and actually, something I've contemplated as potentially possible for the story, and maybe could be added on later on maybe? Is perhaps, with the whole thing that there were organic beings that built them, and would explain why they are able to transform into vehicles that are fully operatable and rideable, is perhaps, the original intention was, to coexist with these robot beings. Maybe, they started out as Gundam like, as in they we're nonsentient, and simply complicated machines. Perhaps as the technology got more advanced, they became sentient, and coexisted with the organic life forms that predecessed them. Perhaps eventually, slowly but surely over time, the original life forms that built them, died off, and or perhaps integrated with the transformers, transmitting their own consciousness to them, which would explain why they have such a deep sense of sentientness and humanity to them, because they might actually have some amount of organic aspects to them internally, and or they transmitted their consciousness millions of years ago, to this transformer body that they live in now. Just a theory

[@Carcharodon]

I thought Protoforms came from the Diaclone toyline, appeared in Headmasters, were in a UK sequel comic, were supposed to be in Animated S4 but never happened, appeared in the Unicorn trilogy but was unrecognizable and were taken offline by a Cosmically powered Starscream

[@KRJayster]

As always, amazing video and it's always interesting seeing where these core concepts of the franchise come from and where they start. I'm going to be honest, I'm not a fan of the more mystical elements of Transformers lore like Primus basically being a literal god or sparks being these eternal physical things, so I like the Quintesson origin the most. Transformers basically being a rebelled race of robots built as a worker class justifies their vehicle modes (for their masters to ride in) and the tendency for them to be delineated into military and civilian types (obviously not perfect, but Decepticons tend to be military hardware and Autobots lean towards civilian vehicles) and how they sort of reproduce by building/budding more of themselves. Unique quantum computer brains with patterns that cannot be transferred without losing something inherently "them" explains the mystical notations they give to the "spark", like how a lot of humans talk about souls and stuff along those lines.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

I do love some mystique of protoforms, while I think we can leave Primus out.

[@Eucep]

The protoforms and the sparks as in Animated did make me wonder if there was an intend to link Earth and Cybertron. Considering how compatible they were in the creation of Sari.

[@Ground_Dirty]

I like the "living" aspect of the liquid metal hot spots.

[@speelshare]

Great summary! Would be interesting to hear how the age of extinction start fits into protoforms after we see a pink alien hand in a UFO ship releasing technomatter all over the dinosaurs.

[@ChrisMcFeely]

Well, extremely dodgy continuity of the movies notwithstanding, we have to assume that the "creators" took the metals they harvested from Earth off to Cybertron, where the AllSpark brought them to life. The question would be if the creators actually BUILT robots from the metals (and if so, if they began as protoforms or were fully-designed), or if - as the panels included in the video from movie tie-in comics from before AoE turned the continuity on its head - the AllSpark was responsible for shaping the formless metal into robots...

[@speelshare]

@@ChrisMcFeely 🤣 extremely dodgy - very much so he he. Maybe it will be answered in the upcoming animated Transformer film in 2024

[@kira-dk2mx]

@@speelshare Dude, you have a better chance at finding water on the moon. Even I'm not that optimistic about getting answers from the movies.

[@Lneti_VT]

Personally like IDW's first take, hotspots and constructed cold methods. MTMTE and Lost Light, added so much to the lore.

[@Emerald501st]

I would LOVE to see a hotspot in live action! I could see a movie starting out with a Transformer we already know walking through one by accident and suddenly bursts of blue light go off all around them. They move towards one and kneel down, extending a hand out to touch it, and the metal around the light 'reverse falls' to cover it and a tiny hand reaches back. Realizing what's happening, the adult Transformer lets the small hand wrap around one of their fingers and begins pulling up - then it cuts to black and we get a title card :D

[@pranavghantasala6808]

@@Emerald501st But not before we see a little shine of _green_

[@Emerald501st]

@@pranavghantasala6808 Why green tho? Aren't Sparks blue?

[@robotlorekeeper9880]

@@Emerald501st Green sparks in IDW are ultra-rare and give you superpowers

[@pranavghantasala6808]

@@Emerald501st Green sparks belong to point one percenters

[@caseyp8173]

My preferred version on how the Transformers are created from protoform to fully mature is from the Well of All Sparks in the Transformers Prime continuity as well as the version in the live-action films. I still want to see the basics episode that explores on either one of my cult-favorite Mindwipe or Thunderwing. 👍

[@andhrimnir04]

Never thought I’d be watching something like this. Fascinating lore there, this video has a very “How it’s made” vibe to it.

[@lexxstrum]

I found in my swimming the vast internet seas, rules for Beast Wars based off of White Wolf's role playing games. What fascinated me was the depth of the lore the writer put in there; that transformers used to be built, but the modern (Beast Wars Era) cybertronians are more fuel efficient, which is why they're smaller. And Protoforms are generated in 2 places: the matrix (not the leadership one, a different one) and the Pit (a third place was the Maw of Unicron for his disciples). It was all so interesting.

[@bilal_MH-907]

To be honest,i really love the protoforms,to me they have such a unique design and concept and the fact that transmutate was one of them make sense why she killed so easily in her beast wars episode,my favourite protoforms will be probably the dotm ones,the protoforms is one of the best parts of TF lore thier idea were amazing,and in my opinion the protoforms reminds me of the bionicle characters without thier kanohi masks,without the basics on transmutate episode and the dotm movie i will be never get a ideas about the protoforms and i hope we can get the protoforms toys because for customize with colors etc..... and the protoforms is have a unique gray color like the prototypes in my opinion,thank you as always chris,i hope you can do the basics on demolisher or mirage,wing saber and mindwipe,the cyber keys from cybertron (galaxy force force chips) or the energon star from energon/superlink

[@aaronspain3387]

2:45 There's a possibility that in OG Transformers, the two ships that crashed on Earth had depleted their supply of whatever was used on Cybertron to spawn both new bodies and a spark concurrently in a single unit. I believe that the Gen1/Gen2 Transformers had to build their own bodies because they simply didn't have the raw materials to do otherwise, but may have had 'just' enough advanced materials to make the joints, the weapons, the repair systems controllers, etc.

[@daltonb23]

I think the aligned continuity is the best to base transformers lore off of in my opinion I like it the best

[@jaxideus6941]

Thank you, I was literally thinking about this last week, since it varies from series through series

[@CaptainXJ]

Stardrive is one of my favorite characters. A Protoform found by ROM who became a Space Knight.

[@dinodude5302]

I like the idea of protoforms that the beast Wars gave us but I also like aligned continuity version.

[@Ragnarok_1218]

I hope we get to see a special video on Omnibots. They're a subspecies (i guess) of cybertronians that can have an infinite number of alternate modes and can become literally anything

[@DrBeastMcCoy]

my head canon was that they began as organic life and evolved into energy but created giant mechinoid bodies to preform tasks and enteract with unevolved progenitors. as the entire species shifted to energy riding mech bodies they stagnated into physical machine life forms kinda like the starriors who were organic minds transfered to mech bodies

[@stevenhamilton5427]

Good summary,also The basics on transforners Proroforms are incredible also The Aligned Continuity is the best bet to feature Protoforms,also Thank You Chris 👌 them coming and have a superb Wednesday.☺💪☺👊💪

[@marcusblackwell2372]

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen's Decepticons game for DS is my first exposure to Protoforms

[@clogs4956]

Johnny Flash had an embarrassed Megatron explain where Transformers come from, but thanks for this rather broader consideration, Chris!

[@irishdrunk525]

I don't think megs was too embarrassed explaining it everyone else was but megs said straight up how in the johhnyverse they come to be

[@ltb1345]

LMAO.

[@taikowolf]

Beast Wars was the series that got me into Transformers, and as such protoforms are the ones that make the most sense to me... kind of.

[@olnerdyblackstard]

Chris McFeely, the professor on The Bots and the Bees.

[@Husker.88]

🤣

[@saltbombcreations8336]

We all know who the Bee is

[@VAULT-TEC_INC.]

@10:20 Wait, you’re saying EACH of the colony worlds have a copy of the All Spark or the Well of All Sparks to generate new life on those planets?

[@aaronsheppard6246]

I love Protoforms design in the movies so finallyyyyyyyyyy thank you so much for doing this episode Chris

[@lightyearpig12]

So which came first, the protoform or the Cybertronian?

[@khansasayed2843]

The mother who gave birth to them

[@MasterArchfiend]

So wait…does that mean in Aligned that new Transformers were still being born in the colonies while Cybertron was basically a hunk of scrap?

[@djxzgalaxylang7703]

Thank you for showing this

[@Vidya-James]

I'm new to the channel but I'm starting see that the Transformers version of "two things are inevitable in life: death and taxes" is basically "everything was combined in the Aligned Continuity, only to be off-lined by a Cosmically-Powered Starscream"

[@j4878]

Downloaded! Will totally watch!

[@DameSaiyan]

I thought it was tribal when they were on Cybertron and each part of Cybertron determines how they will be born and as they go to different planets due to the atmosphere and natural resources (metals,minerals and stone whatever it is they need to form) that's what they would use.Example G1 had limited resources on earth so they built them with what was available until the space bridge was built and resources from Cybertron was available again.

[@aircraftcarrierwo-class]

When a spark comes online, there is great joy. When one is extinguished, the universe weeps.

[@baconator_x4098]

It was literally today and I thought "If I was a Patreon Sponsor what episode would I request" and I thought protoforms and here we are

[@tigerhook45]

The transition at 4:18 was amazing

[@ProfSir1]

I never realized there was so much lore around protoforms

[@TheAnimationStationTAS]

Thank you for telling us how Babies are made, Chris.

[@micahthezilla9432]

Best comment

[@foxyaus]

Cool I have always wonder how transformers came to be !! Very cool !!

[@coreyleader6206]

In the case of beast wars I always seen it as a dormant state to fit in the pod.

[@kuitaranheatmorus9932]

Great video

[@Vexcenot]

0:57 the internet: I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that

[@MulToyVerse]

A Transformer version of the old saying, "What came first? The chicken or the egg?"

[@hallows9865]

I would like to hear about the evolution of the decepticon thrust

[@k45hc1ll4]

I’d love to see the basics on hotshot I don’t see too much KZbin videos about him that are almost a decade old by now

[@Narutonarutonaruto85]

I had wondered why the Axalon had so many protoforms aboard. I could of sworn in the first episode they said they were crew. I wasn't sure why they were all in pods. I guess this was a plot device so they could introduce new characters every so often.

[@goodputin4324]

Axalon was a Maximal expedition shuttle.

[@glenngriffon8032]

Well it _was_ a plot device but it was also a good addition to the lore. So good that it just fit the missing role of "where do baby transformers come from" that other writers ran with it.

[@russellharrell2747]

The Maximals wanted to explore the universe and created trans warp ships to seed various planets with protoforms that would scan indigenous life (mechanical, organic or otherwise) and take on inconspicuous alternate modes that allowed them to observe life and eventually return to Cybertron or report back their findings. I guess the Axalon or another ship would have even go back to retrieve the maximal explorers after their missions were complete.

[@Narutonarutonaruto85]

@@goodputin4324 True, but that didn't explain why they had a bunch of protoforms ready to be ejected. I don't recall anywhere in the show they said they were planing on seeding planets with them. The pods themselves didn't even work for that purpose, as they often just sat there waiting for the others to come find them or something else screwy happened. Granted they weren't released under ideal circumstances.

[@clogs4956]

@@Narutonarutonaruto85 The Axalon was going down, so the pods ejected or simply torn from the hull. It’s a take on the standard sci-fi trope of a small crew managing a ship full of sleepers who can be awakened in a crisis, reaching their eventual goal or parasitised/brainwashed by the villain etc. The Predacon ship was carrying no protoforms, possibly because we find out, during the storylines of Beast Wars, that every Cybertronian in their time is ‘born’ a Maximal (a nod to G1 comics that suggested all Cybertronians were created as Autobots).

[@kira-dk2mx]

I may be biased towards the IDWverse, but James Roberts' explanation on Transformer births is both simple and clean.

[@JackBlack-qn7us]

They were also in the first movie and would get their machine-like appearance by scanning a vehicle. We actually see that happen, don't remember which transformer was it, pretty sure it was Optimus or maybe Bumblebee.

[@justinrobertson9116]

Kind of surprised u didn’t Touch On the earlier but great video as all ways.

[@bjscorpio4041]

The origins of Transformers life is a convoluted subject. Thanks for tackling it.

[@jedmerton5966]

Could you please make your next video about the basics on Sparks? I like how in generation 1 Vector Sigma (aka Primus, aka the Oracle) is required to give Transformers Sparks, and Transformers built without Vector Sigma lack Sparks (example the Dinobots), but how do Protoforms gain Sparks? Do they flow up from the Oracle to the Protoform factories? Also Prowl and Ironhide died in the Movie, yet return with Silverbolt of the Aerialbots as the Maximal Elders who form Magnaboss, did they reemerge from the Oracle itself? And when Grimlock becomes a Maximal would he start as a protoform?

[@arx3516]

Here's my theory about cybertronian reproduction: during its life a cybertronian accumulates memories and emotions wich are stored on its "hard disk", at some point the HD gets full and the cybertronian needs to clean up space, by combining this data with a fragment of its own spark it can create a new spark, a new soul, at this point it's just a matter of installing this new spark into a body and a new cybertronian is born. The memories and emotions given by the parent will determine the personality of the new cybertronian, a parent could act selfishly and get rid of bad memories, creating an evil transformer, or could instead sacrifice happy memories to create a good teansformer. A new spark could also be created by having 2 or more transformers combining their memories and spark fragments into a new one.

[@crazybunny1134]

Sounds good

[@SlimeBeast-xp7xf]

I like how frequently cybertronians are just kinda, insect like

[@Mr.Possums]

I didn't know I needed to know this

[@coyraig8332]

You didn't mention how in TFA the spark from one Transformer could be put into an empty protoform, reformatting into a new body, though it can't be used to save their life.

[@Gree0041]

Just wanted to add it can be used to save their life master yoketron was completely fine after being transferred to the protoform he simply choose to die as he felt that the protoforms should be used to build new cybertronians

[@coyraig8332]

@@Gree0041 I guess I didn't remember him doing it willingly . I thought his spark was too damaged to come back.

[@thunderstudent]

@@Gree0041 “Instead of continuing to share my knowledge and wisdom in a time that desperately needs it to teach you why what you did was wrong, I’m going to kill myself to teach you a lesson!” Yoketron was an ungrateful moron.

[@ilyte1]

@@thunderstudent I think the biggest issue with that is that now the protoform is unusable and the Autobots are down another guy and he didn't teach prowl anything

[@thunderstudent]

@@ilyte1 But that still doesn’t change the fact that instead continuing to share his knowledge and wisdom in a time that desperately needs it and teaching prowl the error of what he did, he SNUFFED HIS OWN SPARK OUT to teach him a lesson. Even though protoforms are sometimes blank for that exact purpose! Yoketron was an ungrateful moron who ACTIVELY HARMED the autobot causes because of his pride!

[@anonymoususer208]

I like the idea that natural born transformers would Cease to continue and lost the time, than the rest of the transformers would have to building new recruitments

[@Tazpa]

Have you make a video on Laserbeak since in the transformers energon cartoon it's a completely different bot from OG

[@jeremytung1632]

I hope this means we’re getting an episode on the concept of sparks soon. Okay so it wasn’t *soon* but it did happen.

[@thegeneralperry]

I love Protoforms! It adds that sense of life to transformers

[@haydenreviewscustomcombos]

Does anyone remember the comet Optimus prime figure?

[@dannyk.]

Inconceivable

[@vassa1972]

Good stuff

[@towzone]

Beast Wars Rampage was the first Transformer showing the ability to return to protoform mode, as he was set to protoform and stored in a pod by the ones who created him from Starscream’s spark after he proved uncontrollable. And I not sure that mature transformers weren’t using the form as a suspended animation for travel.

[@dynamosaurusimperious2718]

Epic video

[@frankd4581]

Please make a video about the basics on beast wars ii Scylla please

[@user-hg5wd9zj6w]

Very interesting video.

[@superscaryguy01]

I kind of want the idea of "hatchlings" to be explored again. It would at least explain the logic behind the existence of male and female cybertronians, and even offer a unique spin on the lore for Solus Prime.

[@Cor82]

They should make one last Transformers movie with Primus in it but like Bumblebee he has to communicate using an MP3 player that only has Primus songs loaded on it. "Primus! You're hurt, do you think you can make it?" 🎵"My name is Mud"🎵 "...I think that's a "no"."

[@user-fu7gu6wb9t]

I've been hoping for many years that the protoform toy will come out.

[@kerrygligorovic9758]

I might be the only who cares but I've notice on Beast Wars season 2 all the Statis Pods have landed/ crash on earth since the last episode from season 1 and none of the Maximal and Predacons try to find where they all are since Tigertron and Airazor were kidnapped from the Alien since then?🤔

[@danielgreenwood793]

In season 3 there are atleast 3 pods. Rampage, transmutate, and dinobot 2

[@matthewreynoso6904]

Too bad we never got a toy for a protoform from Beast Wars! Who cares if it’s a non transforming figure, it’s still be cool if it comes with a capsule and you can put the figure in there! It’d make a beautiful display piece!

[@rpuxa]

Good video, but I still don't get many important details. What about Eddy currents? What's the difference between single phase and three phase transformers? Should I use Delta or Wye configuration for power and lights? What equipment is needed for power factor testing, and how do I calculate the desired primary-to-secondary ratio based on spec'd voltages? Could you elaborate on oil-filled vs dry-type xfmrs? Please advise. -G.

[@DrCocofruit]

I'd like to headcanon that the birth, destruction and death of the Transformers race and their home planet is cyclic in each rebirth of the universe/multiverse. The state of the planet caused by the previous war dictates how Cybertronians will be born in the next rebirth

[@joeshmoe6930]

Voltron is Bumblebees dadmom - confirmed.

[@SkyDude1256]

So going by TFP lore. Dead cybertronians could be "brought back to life" with the original bot's CNA added in blank protoforms with the same memory and personality.

[@trainelekid]

I had no clue there was even such thing as Transformers lore :0

[@thenerdbeast7375]

Everyone thank Beast Wars for once again revolutionizing the franchise and introducing another series staple!

[@SableSeraph17]

I feel the need to point out that the featureless humanoids in Beast Wars II are actually a separate concept called "Predacon Common Soldier", representing faceless goons who filled out the Predacon ranks and are akin to the 'foot soldier' archetype in tokusatsu shows.

[@shaldurprime7154]

i am really surprised he showed ALL the footage of the TfP protoform blanks, but never mentioned them at all, they seem pretty significant to worldbuilding despite only being mentioned a handful of times in the show

[@cameronstone4495]

It WAS worldbuilding, in other series, my guess is by then the writers felt it was a fairly established part of the lore they didn't really need to expand upon it. Protoforms in TfP just seen to be things that were common before the great war but are scare now like most Cybertronian technology.

[@Gearoidmcnaught]

Awesome video and I’ve been waiting a long time for this and I always loved the Protoforms in Beast Wars.

[@skvltdmedia]

Who built the very first trasnformers? Why Takara Tomy of course!