While the battles between the Autobots and Decepticons have always been a great source of story and drama for The Transformers, it was never the main pull. As the name of the franchise would explain, what has always brought in its fans has been the ability for robots to hide in plain sight as any type of vehicle. This also translated well into toy form and brought a whole new level of play for its fans that have never been topped. But the franchise was put to the test in The Transformers: The Movie and affected future entries for decades to come.
The Transformers: The Movie was a feat in animation and proved that even beloved cartoons could make the leap into a big blockbuster. However, it also had the unforgiving task of killing off many of its classic characters to introduce new ones. This included the death of Optimus Prime, which impacted a whole generation. As a result, creators had to make up entirely new characters and alt-modes that were both original and futuristic. And doing so changed a trend with alt-modes that lasted for years and only recently changed for the movies.
The Transformers: The Movie Changed Car Designs for Decades
When The Transformers first appeared, the alt-modes of the Autobots and Decepticons were inspired by real vehicles and objects. For example, Bumblebee was a VW bug, while Starscream was an F-15 fighter jet. These nods to original vehicles helped make the entire Transformers toyline feel more real, as the vehicles could resemble cars that kids saw every day. However, The Transformers: The Movie, set in the future of 2005, had to do something different and imagined entirely new vehicles that blended Cybertronian style with Earth. As a result, there were hovercars, sleeker pickup trucks and powerful sports cars. But creating these new cars introduced changes that were felt in future shows.
A great example of this could be seen in shows like Transformers: Armada and Transformers: Cybertron. While many of the Autobots had alt-mods that resembled cars and SUVs, they had no connection to real-life vehicles. Even modern shows like Transformers: Earthspark features stylized alt-modes that may look like real trucks and muscle cars but aren't. This also helped create more stylized robot modes, such as Armada's Hot Shot, which had a perfect balance between a distinct robot design without forgetting the alt-mode influences. In the end, original concepts helped the Transformers brand expand but also pushed it further away from a world that could be outside a fan's front door.
2007's Transformers Brought the Franchise Back to Basics
When Michael Bay directed 2007's Transformers, there was a heavy influence on realism that could be felt throughout the movie. For example, the transformation was dictated by gravity, and it made the changes feel distinct and exciting every time. But most importantly, it brought back the idea that alt-modes should be based on real vehicles. As a result, Bumblebee became a Chevy Camaro, while Starscream became an F-22 Raptor fighter jet. In a way, this brought the franchise back to basics and allowed for the mystique of what made the franchise special to reach a whole new generation.
The Transformers always toyed with the idea of changing the world as its fans saw it. To see a sports car and have the lingering thought that it could be an Autobot like Bumblebee or a Decepticon is a fun concept. However, as the franchise veered away from realistic cars, this feeling faded. That said, when Transformers brought the franchise back to basics, at least on the big screen, it brought that old concept back. Now, the franchise can walk in both worlds by creating shows that celebrate the styles of animation while having movies that embrace a real world where a semi just might be Optimus Prime in disguise. But none of that could've been possible without The Transformers: The Movie.