Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) was the sequel to the blockbuster 2007 live action Transformers film. The toyline continued and expanded upon many trends and ideas present in the 2007 movie line, including the complexity of the figures, licenced, realistic alternate modes, and intricate robot mode detailing. The line was massive, even by the standards of the previous movie, which it rivaled in terms of both number of waves and new molds. Because of the sheer size, the line had many aspects and introduced new toy and aesthetic concepts, many of which would go on to heavily influence, not only subsequent movie lines, but arguably Generations as well. As a result of its scope, faithfulness to and expansion of concepts found in the first movie, its wide influence, and its willingness to take risks and experiment ROTF is one of the most fascinating movie lines overall.
The aesthetics of the designs in ROTF have a great deal in common with those of the previous film. The handful of new Autobot designs have blocky heads, that are human enough to be sympathetic but alien enough to be intriguing. Deceptions are once again spikey, alien and monstrous. These elements are not simply recycled, but expanded upon. ROTF Sideswipe in particular is one of the most visible deviation from standard Autobot designs. He features the decidedly inhuman elements of wheel feet and sword arms.(Abates, Sideswipe) Such dramatic alien elements are largely not found in the previous movie, despite the presence of such details as Jazz’s claws and visor, or Ironhide’s arm cannons. Mudflap and Skids also feature more inhuman designs. Skids has buck teeth and a left arm larger than his right, and both of them feature disproportionately large eyes, ears, and deformed heads.(FFN, Mudflap;Skids) These more cartoony designs are likely to reinforce their status as comic relief characters. Alien design elements are also apparent in the wildly inhuman designs of the trio of female bike transformers. These characters use a single wheel for robot mode locomotion instead of legs.(FFN, Arcee) Their waists are remarkably thin, and their backs often feature serpentine jointing.
Most of the new Decepticons introduced in ROTF were Constructicons. The spiky, triangular detailing of 2007 movie Decepticons continues to be present in the Constructicons, but carried to an extreme degree. The already insectile heads feature even more and smaller parts, increasing their detailed appearance. Moreover, none of the Constructicons that received scout class toys or above or who had significant screen time in the film had anything approaching human proportions. Mixmaster has squat legs (when transformed correctly) and long, lanky arms.(FFN, Mixmaster) Long Haul’s toy, which does differ somewhat from his character model, has long, beefy arms and is quite tall.(FFN, Long Haul) Devastator himself is more dog-like than human, often portrayed shambling on all fours rather than walking upright. His head is much narrower than a human’s, and his forelimbs are much longer than his hind ones.(Abates, Devastator)
Demolishor and Rampage in particular are not even humanoid; Rampage has massive forearms and claws, and a pogo stick instead of legs.(FFN, Rampage) Demolishor has two wheels stacked one on top of the other, and nothing that could even meaningfully be called a torso.(Apoc) These design choices, combined with the already alien heads, make the Constructicons not only inhuman, but actively monstrous. Much like Bonecrusher in the first film, the proportions of Mixmaster and Long Haul in particular use the fact that they are humanoid, but twisted and distorted, to telegraph their monstrosity.
The Decepticons also explored a design avenue opened by Megatron and the protoforms of the 2007 film, namely cybertronians without an earth based alternate mode. The robot modes of these figures feature the elaborate metal plating found on other characters, but have no smooth sections of alternate mode kibble to interrupt it. Moreover, their vehicle modes are also largely comprised of this layered plating, leading some of them, particularly Soundwave and Ravage, to have somewhat unfocused alternate modes. (Servitor 2152, Soundwave) Many of the non-Constructicon characters introduced in ROTF fall into this category; Megatron himself, Soundwave, the Fallen, and Ravage all lack earth based alternate modes. The Fallen in particular was not actually designed to have a CG alternate mode, and never actually transforms in the film.(ChrisMcFeely) This results in his vehicle mode largely being a rearrangement of robot mode pieces to form something that vaguely looks like a jet.
Much as aesthetic choices in the 2007 film dictated complexity in the toyline, the extension of those choices in ROTF resulted in a completely unprecedented level of complexity. Many of the new designs featured very little alternate mode integration, requiring the toys to perform involved contortions to conceal robot mode pieces. Some of the complexity also stems from attempts to produce more screen accurate toys of 2007 movie characters. In particular, ROTF Leader Class Optimus Prime is a famously complex mold that uses many little design tricks and moving pieces to create an impressively accurate robot. (MasterX2447) Unfortunately, as with RID SideBurn, some of these toys became infamous for their unintuitive and fiddly transformation schemes. The aforementioned Leader Class Optimus is featured on both of Seibertron.com’s most complex transformer of all time lists.(william-james88) It takes me about ten minutes to transform mine. Voyager Mixmaster is the most complicated non leader, non masterpiece toy that I have personally transformed or encountered, and also makes it on the Seibertron list.(william-james88) Even simpler toys, such as Demolishor and Lockdown, have an incredible number of joints and employ transformation schemes that often completely depart from traditional design choices. (Apoc;TX55)
ROTF was, in some senses, a very experimental toy line. This is primarily true about three aspects of the line. First, there was a remarkably high density of toy only characters in ROTF. Second, the range of alternate modes was hugely diverse, featuring everything from antique planes to Japanese tanks to household appliances. Third, the line occasionally hybridized Movieverse and other aesthetics, namely those of Animated and G1.
ROTF features a remarkable proportion of toy only characters, both new molds and redecos. Indeed, almost the entire Scout Class assortment is toy only characters, perhaps because of scale issues. Many toy only figures feature some variation on the theme of the softer, toyline unique movieverse aesthetic, as discussed in the 2007 movie essay. Figures such as Breakaway and Blazemaster feature remarkably high proportions of alt mode integration for movieverse figures, although their transformation schemes are quite complex.(Seichi) Similarly, Dirge, who features a similar amount of integration but a less complex transformation scheme, derives much of his visual busyness from detailing, rather than being intrinsically complicated. (Seichi)
In the previous movie toyline, redecos of molds used for on screen characters were largely confined to being a different or more accurate version of the character themselves, perhaps because characters like Barricade and Jazz were so recognizable. In ROTF, HasTak demonstrated a willingness to reuse these molds as toy only characters. Dead End’s deluxe toy is retooled from Sideways, and Swerve from Sideswipe.(Abates, Sideways;Sideswipe) There are also several redecos of 2007 line toys, some, such as Gears, are toy only, and some, such as Grindor, actually appear in the film.(Seichi)
ROTF features a tremendous and novel range of alternate modes. Stratosphere is the only transformer that has a mode approximating a commercial jet liner, Ransack turns into a biplane, Depthcharge is a realistic military boat, Brawn is a humvee, Bludgeon turns into a Type 90, Scalpel turns into a microscope that doesn’t look like Perceptor, and Dirt Boss (happily, based on a Ken Christiansen design for the 2007 Activision game) turns into a forklift.(Seichi) None of these alternate modes had been used previously. More remarkably, these alternate modes don’t fall within one of the traditional categories of Transformer alternate modes, such as sports car or fighter jet; boat is in and of itself a fairly neglected group. Stratosphere and Brawn in particular continue the tradition, established in the first movie line by Incinerator, Stockade, and Landmine, of turning into non-transforming vehicles seen in the films themselves.
However, perhaps the single most outlandish altmode is held by Ejector, who turns into a toaster. This is one of the best things to happen in transformers, ever.(Your own eyes, with which you see the truth) It is plausible that this diversity represents HasTak playing with the opportunities afforded to them by a hugely successful toyline based on realistic vehicles and devices. It almost seems like they used the public’s willingness to purchase anything associated with the movies to experiment with novel directions for the brand. Many of these figures are Scout class or toy only characters; for these, HasTak seemingly leveraged the design freedom afforded to them by the lack of an existing character model.
ROTF also featured a remarkable hybridization of movieverse and other aesthetics, namely those of Animated and G1. Unlike the 2007 line, ROTF featured many deluxe class figures who were references to G1 characters and who were not in the movie . Thrust, Dirge, Gears, Brawn, Blazemaster and Smokescreen were all references to G1 toys. (Seichi) The voyager figures Long Haul and Mixmaster are also references, although they were involved in the film.(FFN, Long Haul; Mixmaster)
However, Deluxe Lockdown and Voyager Bludgeon are the most intriguing reference figures. Deluxe Lockdown is a very direct reference to the Animated character of the same name.(TX55) Both his robot and vehicle mode appearances are heavily based on the appearance of his namesake. Indeed, he shares even absurdly specific traits with the Animated toy; both are significantly taller than the rest of the toyline, and both can exchange weapons with the deluxe Ratchet of the same line.(TX55) Although his intricate detailing indicates a movieverse origin, he also features traits from animated. Lockdown has large blocks of a flat color, mostly on his legs, and the front end of the car, especially the headlights and the grey spikes at the front, are more cartoonish than standard for a movie figure.(TX55)
Voyager Bludgeon, on the other hand, is often considered the definitive “Generations” version of the character, even by HasTak themselves; the design heavily inspires many of his appearances in the first IDW G1 comics, and is the direct basis of his G1 self’s appearance in Transformers: Legends, Earth Wars, and Forged to Fight.(Octopus Prime, Bludgeon) Moreover, while there have been many other homages in the form of a Timelines figure, a RID 2015 figure, and even a Prime Master, there has not been another attempt at a Generations Bludgeon.(Octopus Prime, Bludgeon) However, retools of the figure have been used in the Generations line, and in Generations inspired lines like Takara’s Cloud and the 2010 line, to represent various characters.(Octopus Prime, Bludgeon) While the toy features a comparatively complex transformation, and, in places, intense mechanical detailing, it also features many Generations style elements. These include detailing designed to evoke the lines between plates of metal found in real vehicles like airplanes. Most significantly, his torso, limbs, and head sculpt mostly lack the signature movieverse Decepticon sharp/triangular bits. They are instead simply generically robotic, and therefore able to fit within Generations. It is intriguing to note that the figure resembles a concept submitted by artist Don Figueroa during the Unicron Trilogy, perhaps explaining its somewhat incongruous aesthetics.(Octopus Prime, Bludgeon)
ROTF broke with the previous movie line in terms of size class. The Real Gear robots assortment was replaced by more conventional scout class figures, meant to represent smaller robots that largely transformed into traditional vehicles. Scalpel and Ejector are reminiscent of the Real Gear Robots line, in the sense that both their alternate modes are real life appliances. Moreover, Ejector is a reference to a scene in the film where the Allspark once again animates household objects, much as the Real Gear robots were. On the other end of the size spectrum, ROTF introduced the Supreme Combiner class, only used for a toy of Devastator. It was formed from six vehicles without independent alternate modes.(Abates, Devastator) It retailed for 100 USD, and paved the way for the subsequent Titan class, introduced in 2013 with Metroplex.(Octopus Prime, Metroplex)
Another novel size class introduced during ROTF was the Human Alliance class. A touch larger than voyagers, these figures were somewhat in the style of Alternators, having accurate car modes, detailed interiors, and opening doors.(Sunjumper) In a new twist, these figures came with roughly to scale, articulated human minifigures, based on characters from the film.(Sunjumper) These figures also came with weapons that the human figures could sit on or interact with. Since there was some effort made at scale, smaller figures like Mudflap and Skids came with supplemental transforming figures, namely small versions of Chromia and Arcee.(Sunjumper)
Like in the previous movie line, HasTak moved to have figures of several core cast members at various size classes. Ratchet got a new mold deluxe toy and a reissue of his first movie voyager, Optimus got the aforementioned leader figure and two reissues of his first movie toy, and Bumblebee received three releases of a single deluxe mold, one of which was a heavy retool, a Human Alliance figure, and the Ultimate Bumblebee figure, which was full of lights and sounds and had a size class unique to itself.(Servitor 2152, Bumblebee) All of these characters also received legends class figures, which fall below the scope of this survey.
ROTF featured a gimmick somewhat similar to the Automorph of the first movie toyline, Mech Alive.(Deceptitram) In essence, if part of the figure was moved, another part would move. Generally, this was achieved by adding gearing to the elbows of figures, which would move exposed gearing elsewhere, or by designing the thigh swivels to function off rods, which were exposed and had detailing. Examples include the Sideways mold and the Lockdown mold.(Abates,Sideways;TX55) The gimmick tended to be minimally invasive, and was present on a great many of the new mold figures.
As evidenced by its many mentions throughout this article, ROTF Leader Class Optimus Prime is one of the most influential molds to come out of ROTF, if not in general. For many years the definitive incarnation of the character, this toy was redecoed, retooled slightly, and reissued countless times with a huge number of different accessories.(MasterX2447) The most recent release of the figure occurred in 2017, under the Movie the Best line. (MasterX2447) Design elements of the figure influenced many subsequent attempts to create a very screen accurate Optimus Prime, including the masterpiece figure. The combination of the remarkably screen accurate robot mode and the challenging transformation sequence served to make this figure a long time fan favorite. It is frequently mentioned on lists of the best figures of all time.
In 2008, the economy crashed, both in the United States and around the world. This had some financial impacts on Hasbro, and they were forced to tweak much of the ROTF line.(FFN,Rampage) Jolt lost paint applications, Demolishor’s treads were changed from being linked pieces connected by pins to a piece of rubber, and Leader Optimus lost planned finger articulation.(MasterX2447) Prices also climbed a few dollars at every size class, a change that would be permanent.(Singularity) It is unclear how much of this was because of the recession, and how much was because of other financial considerations at HasTak.
ROTF builds on themes established by the 2007 movie line such as the aesthetic, complexity, and realistic vehicle modes, and carries it to new heights. The aesthetics evolved, featuring more of their traditional hallmarks in a more exaggerated way. The figures went from remarkably complex to legendarily so, with some figures standing out as among the most complex of all time. Realistic vehicle modes were also extrapolated to include highly unconventional alternate modes, such as a biplane or a toaster. The line introduced several elements, such as the reintroduction of Scout Class toys, and the Human Alliance assortment, which would have a profound impact on later lines of movie toys. More than that, the willingness of ROTF to experiment, both in terms of new, toy only characters, new alternate modes, and novel fusions of radically different aesthetics, set the stage for some of the most interesting lines in history of the brand, namely the 2010 line, and allowed a movie toyline to have design influences that reached even Generations figures. ROTF is certainly one of the most interesting and influential movie lines.
Works Cited
Abates et al. “Devastator (ROTF)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Devastator_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
Abates et al. “Sideswipe (Movie)”. TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sideswipe_(Movie) Accessed 5/8/2020
Abates et al. “Sideways (ROTF)” TFWiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sideways_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
Apoc et al. “Demolishor (ROTf)” TFwiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Demolishor_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
ChrisMcfeely et al. “The Fallen/Toys” TFwiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Fallen/toys Accessed 5/8/2020
Deceptitran et al. “Mech Alive” TFwiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Mech_Alive Accessed 5/6/2020
FFN et al. “Arcee (Movie)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Arcee_(Movie) Accessed 5/6/2020
FFN et al. “Long Haul (ROTF)” TFwiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Long_Haul_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
FFN et al. “Mixmaster (ROTF)” TFwiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Mixmaster_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
FFN et al. “Mudflap (ROTF)” TFwiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Mudflap_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
FFN et al. “Rampage (ROTF)” TFwiki.https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Rampage_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
FFN et al. “Skids (ROTF)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Skids_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
MasterX2447 et al. “Optimus Prime (Movie)/Toys” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Optimus_Prime_(Movie)/toys Accessed 5/8/2020
Octopus Prime et al. “Bludgeon (G1)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bludgeon_(G1) Accessed 5/8/2020
Octopus Prime et al. “Metroplex (G1)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Metroplex_(G1) Accessed 5/8/2020
Seichi et al. “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toy)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Revenge_of_the_Fallen_(toyline) Accessed 5/8/2020
Servitor 2152 et al, “Bumblebee (Movie)/Toys”, TFwiki,https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bumblebee_(Movie)/toys#Deluxe_Class_toys Accessed 5/6/2020
Servitor 2152 et al. “Soundwave (ROTF)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Soundwave_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
Singularity et al, “Size Class”, TFwiki, https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Size_class Accessed 5/5/2020
Sunjumper et al. “Human Alliance” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Human_Alliance Accessed 5/8/2020
TX55 et al. “Lockdown (ROTF)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Lockdown_(ROTF) Accessed 5/8/2020
william-james88 . “Top 5 Most Difficult Transformers Toys” Seibertron. https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/top-5-most-difficult-transformers-toys/36811/ Accessed 5/8/2020
Transformers Aesthetics 