The Forgotten Animatics That Helped Bring The Transformers Movies to Life

In this video, we explore a forgotten aspect of the Transformers movie making process: the animatics. These rough draft animations were created by the talented animation team behind the films and played a crucial role in refining the story, pacing, and overall look and feel of each movie. Despite their importance, these animatics are often overlooked or forgotten, scattered throughout the special features for each film. In this video, I've compiled every publicly available animatic for the Transformers movies, showcasing how they helped bring the robots to life on the big screen!
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[@godzillaisbetterthenyou9762]

I really hope the unreleased animatcs are shown to us one day but amazing work man; you really are dedicated to your work and it shows

[@Theorymus]

Thanks dude that really means a lot ^_^ I always try to do my best to present fun concepts and forgotten media 👍

[@anneboonchuy17]

And..... there goes my pin :,) Was good while it lasted

[@domlewis9259]

Imagine they have a cinematic for the cut ending of dark of the moon I know theorymus already have one up But still

[@WalkBesideMe]

The day he covers all the unused concept art for The Last Knight will be insane, that's a multi part series waiting to happen

[@vain3207]

​​@@anneboonchuy17 Transformers 2 offscreen deaths , Transformers 3 offscreen deaths like literally just stop. Arcee twins can combine at 1:51

[@ThisIsCyber]

It’s crazy to think this legend will never run out of Bayverse content.

[@MrWaSpY-Trn]

🌌☄️✨👽Dope Fax's >:D🤖✨☄️🌌

[@nytroxenos]

That’s what made the Bayverse so legendary.

[@aup960]

@@MrWaSpY-Trn are you high?

[@amyawolford]

@@aup960 Ikr

[@LordMegatron05]

@@aup960 no I’m low low low low low low

[@KadenKenz]

Animatics are an underappreciated thing. The ideas and dynamic shots are 90% produced by animatics.

[@Theorymus]

Indeed, that's why their soo cool 👍

[@amyawolford]

I do like the idea of animatics, and I already saw the one of reedman going back into ravage when I watched: “what happened to reedman”.

[@chillysea1]

What comes first? The animatics or the shots?

[@amyawolford]

@@chillysea1 I’m pretty sure it’s the animatics

[@darylemerson2957]

Only FIVE? We once had hundreds!

[@darkshinethakid4463]

Man was cappin so hard

[@bkp1st]

​@@darkshinethakid4463 it's a joke

[@StarDoritoYt]

​@@darkshinethakid4463 It's a joke Do you not know what a joke is?

[@stemi67]

Hundred what

[@StarDoritoYt]

@stemi67 It's suppose to be the line from sentinel prime when he found out there was only five pillars and this comment made it a joke

[@GetHexedNerd]

Damn, that devastator death was brutal! Maybe even more brutal than the actual movie.

[@rickalonso1502]

He was supposed to get killed by the destroyer wich is a massive autobot but they changed the script

[@joncaplan75]

at least overload survived

[@amyawolford]

@@joncaplan75 and scrapper

[@frozarburst6350]

Perhaps one of the few transformers fans who discusses Bayformers positively. Also i have a feeling the blue eyes on some decepticons is so the artists can see them since depending on the scene and the colors of the characters, you may not quite see the eyes

[@christianparrish3292]

I thank transformers 2007 for introducing me to the transformers franchise.

[@blueraccoon1088]

It expanded mine

[@shadow105720]

I was already into it during armada energon and cybertron but the cartoons and toys were rough as far as following the constant changes in art style and story. The movies and especially the first one really set an iconic style that they could expand instead of redoing everything every few years. I still liked animated and prime but the toys also felt flimsier due to their skinny designs they used a lot of ball joins and not great ones at that. The movie toys used a lot more ratchets and rotators for joints and usually locked into alt mode better as well.

[@_midddnight_]

It introduced me to characters such as Bumblebee since I grew up with HotShot

[@christianparrish3292]

@@_midddnight_ I got introduced to hot shot in transformers energon.

[@amyawolford]

2007 was the great original bayverse movie, but the generation 1 cartoon is the reason it even exists

[@Bronson_07]

Theorymus, you still make the best transformers content to this day, I’ve watched all your vids at least 4 times

[@Theorymus]

Thx my dude 👍

[@amyawolford]

Agreed

[@ryanenzokana3584]

16 years since the first film and Theorymus is still finding littles tiny details we didn't even notice. keep it up dude😁

[@javivaki]

That scrapped Ratchet design at 12:00 is so cool. Could've been like an Inferno or something. And it's cool too on how some of these animatics were reworked into different scenes, so it's like they were never lost. However, it does suck that the animatics for the later movies aren't archived in these features for our viewing pleasure. It would've been so cool to see stuff like Lockdown's original model, Galvatron with a Nemesis Prime head, and TLK Megatron's dragon mode.

[@nachonaitor5535]

I think they ll never made animaticsof tf 4 and 5 cause michael bay didnt care anymore

[@javivaki]

@@nachonaitor5535 That seems a bit impractical as Bay considers them as something like storyboards to keep track of what the Transformers are doing on screen. So it'd be weird if most of the action didn't have rough animatics to accompany them even if aoe and tlk aren't regarded as the best. Cuz those movies still got a ton of robot action.

[@Funnyfrenchie28]

I thought it was Arcee because I didn’t see ironhide

[@westernengine11]

51:14 that's because in the novel, wheeljack gets separated from the other autobots when the driller first attacked, and later got killed by a bunch of protoforms

[@anneboonchuy17]

The dedication you took up to make this is surprising...

[@Theorymus]

I strive to be the best ^_^

[@amyawolford]

@@metal_fusion we meet again, Metal Fusion

[@KeyanCarlile]

I love the topics you cover. I’ve never seen any of the TF movies’ pre-viz stuff.

[@Theorymus]

Thanks dude that truly means a lot coming from you, I always try to bring up concepts people don't typically talk about or rember.

[@amyawolford]

@@Theorymus I appreciate how you said “rember” instead of “remember”

[@JimmyNGX]

Man… I really want to see what has happened after Megs ripped Jazz in half, if he’s eating the spark for a dark moment.

[@Smit202]

20:09 The construction site appeared in the Transformers Game (2007) where bumblebee fights deception troops.

[@capsey_]

50:57 DAMN didn't know Sam got the whole bakery back there!

[@GarrettIngallJr]

💀 ayo.pause

[@AlyxiaLidell]

A Decepticon that i've always loved and is my favorite in the TF2 game is Sideways, just because how he looks and plays, so obviously knowing that atleast at some point in the movie animatics he was going to have some more badass scenes is kinda nice to know.

[@MogusMasterSaikawa22]

it's funny how he has such an aggressive voice for a tiny little decepticon

[@AlyxiaLidell]

@@MogusMasterSaikawa22 ikr 😂

[@MogusMasterSaikawa22]

@@AlyxiaLidell mhmm XD

[@mr.whoopsie1849]

Amazing work dude! The animatics are so cool, even unfinished they look so good and it really helps to show just how ahead of its time the vfx of the transformers movies were

[@Blastertronus]

I remember when you showed one of Grindors death along time ago! Ah, good times!

[@kasonkennedy5714]

11:47 In the animatic where it shows bumblebee saving Sam and Michaela from falling that car bumblebee looks like a old 79 trans am from the back tail lights with a 75 trans am front end on bumblebees shoulder but the 74-77 Camaro had a similar front end . 18:45 and at this time mark he has the 77 trans am front end . So maybe at one point he was gonna be a trans am firebird or his concept models was a mix between the Camaro and trans am

[@estelagarcia4861]

Why nobody talk's about this

[@westernengine11]

52:58 a friend of mine theorized that the director for need for speed was the one who bought the last orange bugatti, since there was a black and orange Bugatti seen in need for speed, causing bay to get a black and blue one instead

[@awesomeproductions7755]

*_HOT DANG!_* That deleted Soundwave death! Bee’s a frickin’ savage there! Also, it’s a *_CARDINAL SIN_* that the choreography at 28:24 - 28:37 was cut, as well as a powerful kick Megatron uses afterward to send Prime flying. Btw, will you be doing any “What If I Survived” videos anymore? I’d really like to see your alternate scenarios for Soundwave, Sideswipe, Nitro Zeus, Sentinel Prime, Que, Jolt, Blackout, Stinger and the Arcee sisters.

[@Theorymus]

I think I will bring it back at some point, it just kinda got stale since it was the same formula over and over

[@awesomeproductions7755]

@@Theorymus Yeah, they did pretty much all end with the character in question dying anyway… 😂

[@marialopez-ql9ec]

@@Theorymus Pleas don’t do “If I survived Sentinal” Nothing personal, I just hate him

[@rgal69]

@theorymus at 4:05 What if Frenzy was like Jetfire and switched from the Autobot's side to the Decepticons? I have a head cannon that Barricade used to be Prowl and Frenzy having blue eyes could support that since I believe he's his mini-con. I know Prowl appears in the comics but it would be interesting either way. It could also explain why Bumblebee spared Barricade's life in the movie since they may have a history. Besides that, love your channel btw.

[@teamstarbreaker9929]

Barricade and prowl are two different character. And frenzy is not barricade's minicon. He is another one of soundwave's minicons just like ravage,laserbeak and many others

[@rgal69]

@@teamstarbreaker9929 I know that. I was just combining the two characters for an idea I had. As for Frenzy, you have to admit, switching sides would explain the blue eyes. Jetfire kept his red eyes after he joined the Autobots.

[@teamstarbreaker9929]

@@rgal69 that is slightly........ logical

[@rgal69]

@@teamstarbreaker9929 love the shockwave reference👌

[@teamstarbreaker9929]

@@rgal69 I am literally very happy over the fact that you noticed it 😊. Thanks bro

[@r0n1nemp1re4]

24:52 Dark of the moon the protoform Dumpster long Haul recolor did use his eyes to scan the dumpster truck

[@Theorymus]

You're totally right I only ofc remembered that after the video was posted

[@jovan3612]

Till now, all these years, i didn't know that in forest battle Optimus threw his sword at Grindor.

[@jovan3612]

@vikingspirit me 2

[@rubie_gubie]

behind the scenes stuff like this is always a joy to learn about. definitely a favorite video of mine from you!

[@Theorymus]

Aww thanks man I'm glad you liked it 👍

[@Jude-72]

I'm always sad Jazz died in the 07 film I love all the autobots in that movie so it's a shame he did. Another great one Theorymus!

[@logiprime]

Some of bumblebees head concept art looks awesome

[@jamespaulovitch9160]

In the clip where bumblebee is fighting a red version of himself I’m surprised you didn’t say the red bumblebee was stinger or cliffjumper

[@Theorymus]

You know I made a joke where I called the red bumblebee singer but it was cut last minute

[@primestudios2007]

@@Theorymus That red bee is just Evil Bumblebee from the 07 game. A lot of people speculate that he was a cut character from the film and that he's a clone of bee but in reality, he's just a placeholder for the other characters and drones. Michael Bay didn't let the designers have a look at any of the character designs in case they got leaked so they just recolored Bumblebee red and called him Evil Bumblebee. That's the game version though, I wouldn't be surprised if the same situation happened with that specific animatic, either that or Bumblebee was the only one completed at the time.

[@amyawolford]

@@primestudios2007 the evil bumblebee is either Barricade or Stinger

[@HelenaSan425]

Heyoooo Theorymus! Awesome to see you uploading!

[@Theorymus]

This is where I've been haha

[@DillonTrinhProductions]

Nice video as always Theorymus!

[@Theorymus]

Thx 👍

[@optimusprimefanboy]

Thanks for the you guys and the other guys and glad to hear you're having a good time

[@announcementsandsongs9274]

Can you make a video on the original seven primes and unicorn; (bay verse)

[@poket5489]

Thank you for working hard to make us this amazing video, your a king, no, a prime 🗿

[@Theorymus]

Thx dude 😁

[@MrFear-vn4bu]

I always loved these. Gives me motivation to create stuff like this.

[@Theorymus]

Go for it man, I would love to see what you create ^_^

[@Archwave39]

I think Optimus Prime got more aggressive and violent after he was revived by the Matrix of Leadership in Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen. He seemed to have lost his iconic moral values. He was a little aggressive in Transformers 2007 during the fight with Bonecrusher because he had no other option but to stop him from harming humans. The same thing also happened during the forest fight in Transformers Revenge of the Fallen with Megatron, Starscream and Grindor because he was trying to protect Sam Witwicky. Keep up your Great Work.

[@shadow105720]

I would be pissed too honestly if I were him. He was willing to sacrifice his own life to save the humans and after that they all betrayed him. Mikayla was the only character that was really written to even like them or be interesting at all and she left. Sam was over it by the second movie until he had to get involved for his own good. The US government he was working with and the world in general sold him out several times. The military team/NEST team from 1 and 2 also get a mention for being nice to him and interesting but they're written out after 2 as well.

[@Archwave39]

Very true.

[@just_koop]

@@shadow105720 NEST is in 3.

[@Ryno-en4qp]

The disappointment in your voice when you only found 5 animatics throughout 3 hours of dotm special features just shows how dedicated you are to this. It’s amazing the things you pump out for us

[@christianparrish3292]

If rumble was in the bayverse, what would he look like and transform into?

[@NexusProductions-rz1sv]

The original colour scheme of Demolishor was changed in order to avoid confusion from having a near identical bot to one of the constructicons who form Devastator dying at the beginning of the film.

[@frogqueen1587]

I think red was also just hard to film at the time wasn’t it?

[@marialopez-ql9ec]

“It would have made Shockwave more of a force to be reckoned with, which they fumbled at pretty hard” he’s not lying, bro got killed by a parachute lol

[@julianvillarreal1450]

Nice! Congratulations On Reaching 203K Subscribers! 🥳 🍾 🎉 🎈 🎊

[@Jay25176]

Very amazing video and this really shows the behind the scenes of the animation which looks very good

[@Renaldo900gamer]

Thank you for another amazing video Theorymus, you're really awesome and you always make my days better!!!

[@Theorymus]

Awww thx my dude

[@SenatorSpamton]

Take a drink everytime Theorymus says concept art.

[@user-ri4zr3be9y]

Speaking of Animatics, are you going to cover the Transformers: Cyber Missions show for the Bayverse continuity that came out after Revenge of the Fallen?

[@rickalonso1502]

The c17 in rotf dropping optimus was stratosphere

[@royalepurpledude947]

26:16 Judging from animatic I feel like this was an early concept involving Barricade as a placeholder then turned into the Bumblebee VS Rampage fight in Egypt (especially that mask shot and the kick to the side of Barricade's chest, it really reminds me of the shots in the movie)

[@Dreamybloo101]

Good idea for the producers to do to visualize

[@merafirewing6591]

As much as some people hate the Michael Bay Transformers, but goddamn the cgi is God tier.

[@Theorymus]

Indeed

[@amyawolford]

As oppose to the (sometimes) horrible Star Wars CGI, the transformers CGI is WAY better.

[@Firstaidfan]

These are crazy! Thanks for showing us and explaining them and have a great day theorymus :)

[@Edformers]

Just Admit it Theorymus that you are working with Michael bay in the Past 😂 Anyways Thankyou for this amazing video I cant imagine your time and effort doing this ! I cant wait to see more !!

[@Theorymus]

Thx dude 😁

[@teamstarbreaker9929]

You're right. I think theorymus and Michael bay are in this together. Maybe Michael bay told theorymus to create a KZbin channel based on his tf movies.😂😂

[@christianparrish3292]

You should cover the deleted scenes of the bayverse. If you want.

[@directorforplastic7929]

Your best video by far! Great video dude, I like your more in-depth videos that explore the behind-the-scenes of these movies. Can’t wait for all the Rise of the Beasts content soon

[@dannydelgado3095]

When do you think the Loader will be released? It is one of the oldest videos we have been waiting for.

[@Theorymus]

Thats a great question

[@puppywaldo]

Jason the redstone master, I miss you. I am so proud of what you have created. Continue your great work. You deserve the world.

[@christianparrish3292]

I actually saw the animation thing on the special features of revenge of the fallen.

[@Nightshade-uj5xg]

Take a shot every time he says the design was based on early concept art

[@dylerturden8018]

This is why the cinematography in transformers is so good, conceptualising every view point, like sketching to figure out building elements in architecture

[@Lord_Galvatron]

Omg I’m living under a rock how did I miss this video? 👁️👄👁️ it’s almost an *HOUR* long even better

[@add_in]

If I take a shot everytime he says "that's because his design was based off his early concept art" I'd be dead

[@astroworld2626]

Preciate the effort u put in to these videos

[@nachonaitor5535]

9:36 in the preqyel comics he was a soldier of megatron but he choose to help the autobots..... So jetfire isnt the only one who betrayed the decepticons

[@LiterallyEveryone217]

Time to grab myself some snacks, maybe a drink or 2

[@scarface406]

the fact you went trough it all makes you a legend

[@Theorymus]

Thx man, I have a no stone unturned mentality

[@agent_bumblebee]

It’s crazy how most of the animatics shown are somehow better than what we got in the films.

[@Eva01-jy2qu7pu9r]

Tbh I prefer how the animatics portray the actions scenes more than how they turn out in the movies. Shockwave's eye zooming onto that helpless soldier is way more creative than Shockwave just looking up at nothing lol.

[@viper596]

WOO! Can't wait to watch this

[@newchangeunlisted_viewer5594]

I wanna see all the love and work put into the movies I wanna see all the animatics

[@crdbtmn8232]

Only a few minutes in and I cannot hold back the joy the 2007 movie animatics give me, got to thank you for your amazing work

[@Theorymus]

Anytime man! I had a huge smile on my face watching these for the first time!

[@costa2794]

A lot of them for me are a lot better than what we actually got for the movies, hope to see back ilm after rotb

[@eletriczstormedits]

Awesome Video! You can also probably also use some of these clips for your behind-the-scenes channel!

[@Theorymus]

Thats a great idea

[@nachonaitor5535]

​@@Theorymus name of your other channel?

[@Theorymus]

Transformers behind the scenes

[@mineking2345]

Very cool

[@Theorymus]

Thx

[@travhuber10.]

Love the new editing style you're experimenting with, man!

[@Theorymus]

Thanks ^_^

[@jayytyt]

Dude this is an amazing video with amazing information and forgotten media. Ma man your truly great at what you do! What a great video, absolutely fantastic brotha❗️

[@Theorymus]

Thanks Jay!

[@Transformers_nerd_stop_motions]

I loved this, and the quality of your vids keep getting better ❤

[@optisprimusproductions]

The longer I wait, the juicier it gets

[@StarscreamSupreme]

W video big fan btw, also video idea: lockdowns ship size inconsistencies

[@mikoajryniak2644]

So... how many discs (Blu-Ray and DVD) you have with Bayformers movies overall?

[@Theorymus]

All of them haha several different versions too

[@TACTIK00L]

Goes to show how hard they really did work on the tf films CGI

[@thirdteenth-prime]

In the forest battle in the movie maybe Optimus couldn’t hear him because of the kick in the face

[@henrydesroches7608]

"Sit back, relax, and grab your favorite snacks." I loved hearing, niiice man

[@sqweeps.03]

So much work went into these movies man

[@Theorymus]

Definitely

[@gabdlc_]

It's still funny to me that Starscream was crying his eyes out (literally) when Sam popped it out, but when Megatron pulled his entire arm off to smack him with it, he just shrugged it off like it was nothing.

[@Jman92854]

From what I remember, in the DOTM novel, which was based on an early version of the script, Wheeljack/Que died earlier than Mirage/Dino, so that explains why he wasn't present when they were captured. The Autobots were driving through Chicago, being chased by the Driller. Wheeljack/Que was knocked into the river as they crossed the bridge, and there were Decepticons lying in wait beneath the surface, and they ripped him to pieces. Gotta say, I'm glad they didn't go with that, because that sounds really cheap and quick for the death of an Autobot. Even if you don't care for him, his execution scene in the final film really makes you feel for him on some level. Granted, I never saw him as Wheeljack, but Que. An old bot inventor, not much of a fighter, so of course he doesn't stand a chance. Kinda wish we saw him do SOMETHING with all those things on his back, I think isn't one of them a staff or a sniper rifle?

[@cool12jack]

Awesome video

[@Theorymus]

Thx ^_^

[@cool12jack]

@@Theorymus your welcome

[@boarcroc79]

You have done enough my guy,after all that get some well deserved rest.

[@christianparrish3292]

Do a video of what if the bayverse had other combiners other than devastator.

[@Jazzys.Prime.Chilling.Time127]

1:08 CGI render of yellow robot kinda looks like Sunstreaker

[@qhoul6473]

Theorymus never misses

[@DeadstreaK_]

Ngl I dig IROC Camaro Bumblebee Edit: as much as I love crosshairs’ final design, I much prefer the vehicle mode of the concept since it makes complete sense as to why he has a cape. Basically; he’s a drag-spec c6 corvette with parachutes to help slow him down, in the concept, the cape is black and has key features especially on the shoulders alluding to the shape of the parachutes. I remember him having those parachutes in the final design but they’re only used regularly and not as a cape. Tbh it would’ve been ideal for crosshairs to have the c6 corvette alt mode with the final design robot mode having a few tweaks, namely; the cape being at least one parachute while the other is used for “that” amazing scene.

[@Ericspil790]

Thanks for the video bro I really enjoyed it !

[@ElDonte420]

2:03 My Dissapointment Was Immesurable and My Day Is Ruined

[@TiberiusTheLivingLegend]

29:43 actually it does make sense he couldn't hear Megatron behind him because he was too full of rage and concerns for sam as if he had like that call of duty sound grenade

[@twistedaxles9126]

Absolutely amazing video once again Theorymus! Great to see how much stuff was left out of the movies Also, Sam is ballin at 50:58

[@mikeydavid4500]

Maybe it wasn't Stone, maybe it was a different character who was played by the same actor, I'm basically claiming this because in TF1 the Defense Secretary(I forgot who said it i need to watch the movie again) said there were no survivers after Blackout attacked the military base, which means that Colonel Sharp didn't survive, but in ROTF his actor (Glenn Morshower) played a totally new character named General Morshower, so there's proof that they did it before, the only problem is there's no scenes that show Stone and his doppelganger together, so it still could be anyone's guess

[@coltoninfinity2968]

Hey theorymus I want to be a comic book writer and artist and i might want to make transformer comics and I want to know is transformers lore hard to keep track of?

[@Theorymus]

I don't think transformers lore is hard to keep track of, It really depends on the continuity you plan on writing, For the bayverse for example if you're just going off the films it can get confusing but when you incorporate the comics and other media this time line. And story gets a lot easier to understand

[@coltoninfinity2968]

@@Theorymus thanks theorymus I want to make comics and manga for a lot of things and transformers seems like it would be fun to do and I might or might not make it but if I do i will make it awesome

[@TitaniumPrimeOFFICIAL]

I’d like to think that one day sideswipe or someone else called up BB and said “hey dude come hang with the boys” And BB said “sorry bro gotta take care of my pe- I mean my friend”

[@matthewgarner7215]

I think that the Decepticons had blue eyes early in production because they thought it was unnecessary. I mean, the Decepticons already have very inhuman designs when compared to the Autobots.

[@DanielGarcia-od1bs]

Theorymus after this video: now I'm gonna take a break 🥱 Me: take it you earned it have a nice break

[@ignitedmotion5807]

As someone who despises the bay movies these animatics are pretty cool. And the effort into this video is spectacular. I salute you sir