Transformers One: 10 New Additions to the Transformers Lore

Main Highlights

Megatron and Optimus Prime shared a friendship in their early days, altering the traditional understanding of their conflict.
Both characters have been reimagined as miners, significantly shifting their narratives.
Contrary to popular belief, Cybertron features organic life, such as plants and animals, alongside its metallic landscapes.

Transformers One presents a fresh and visually stunning interpretation of the Transformers saga. While it retains many established truths, the film introduces innovative elements that modify the established mythology, creating a unique realm of rules and storylines that enhance the excitement leading to the impending civil war between Autobots and Decepticons.

By excluding human characters and concentrating exclusively on the origins of Orion Pax and D-16 before they assumed the identities of Optimus Prime and Megatron, fans familiar with Transformers’ extensive lore from comics, films, and television will encounter several noteworthy adjustments.

**Warning: Spoilers for Transformers One Ahead**

10 Megatron and Optimus Prime Were Once Friends

Once Allies, Not Enemies

In Transformers One, we learn that Megatron and Optimus Prime, originally known as Orion Pax and D-16, were not merely acquaintances but rather best friends. Previous lore suggested a lack of closeness and inherent differences in their beliefs, particularly when Orion ascended to the rank of Prime and Megatron did not.

This new portrayal complicates their rivalry by illustrating a past friendship, introducing an intriguing dynamic to their well-known antagonism as they evolve into iconic adversaries in media history.

9 Megatron and Optimus Prime Were Miners

Significant Changes to Their Backstories

Traditionally, Orion Pax was a scientist who earned the prestigious Matrix of Leadership, transforming into the beloved Optimus Prime. However, Transformers One redefines his background, casting him as a miner of Energon.

Similarly, Megatron’s origin as a gladiatorial rebel seeking dominion over Cybertron is also altered; he is now depicted as a miner, establishing a common starting point that emphasizes how their paths diverged into vastly different destinies.

8 Cybertron Is Not Just Metal

Revealing Organic Life on Cybertron

While much of the Transformers narrative unfolds on Earth, fans often envision Cybertron as entirely a metallic environment, lacking any organic life. The assumption that it solely consists of metal is reconsidered in Transformers One, where vegetation and distinct fauna, including deer-like creatures, are discovered, showcasing a more diverse perspective of the planet.

7 Bumblebee Didn’t Always Know Optimus

The Timing of Their Meeting Was Different

Recent representations have suggested a long-standing friendship and partnership between Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, with some instances portraying Optimus as a paternal figure. However, Transformers One reveals that their acquaintance began later than previously believed.

When Orion Pax and D-16 are exiled to the depths of Iacon City, they encounter Bumblebee and together explore the origins of the Matrix of Leadership, just before Optimus’ ascension to the Autobot leadership role. This timeline challenges earlier assumptions of their history side-by-side.

6 Sentinel Prime Betrayed Cybertron Sooner

Formerly Respected Autobot Now A Traitor

Historically, Sentinel Prime was portrayed as an esteemed Autobot leader who either meets his demise or betrays the Autobots to side with the Decepticons, a pivotal element in the narrative of the third live-action film, Dark of the Moon.

However, Transformers One reshapes this premise, depicting Sentinel Prime as a villain from the outset, who never truly embodied the ideals of a Prime. His eventual downfall at the hands of Megatron emerges as a consequence of D-16’s anger directed at Sentinel’s treachery and the suppression of transformation abilities in younger Cybertronians.

5 Starscream Led the Decepticons

Starscream’s Leadership Role Explored

Traditionally considered Megatron’s second-in-command, Starscream was often depicted as scheming to usurp leadership. Transformers One nuances this dynamic, revealing that Starscream held command over the High Guard, a predecessor to the Decepticons, during Megatron’s rise to power.

This twist enriches the Decepticons’ origin story, shedding light on Starscream’s role and laying a foundation for the complex rivalry he shares with Megatron.

4 Some Transformers Couldn’t Transform

Transformation Cogs and the Miners

A notable plot point reveals that certain Transformers lack the ability to transform, contrary to established lore where all Cybertronians possess this skill. Transformers One introduces the idea that Sentinel Prime stripped the cores from these beings, rendering them unable to transform and forcing them into servitude as miners in his quest for Energon.

This fresh concept adds depth to the Transformers’ narrative and supports the notion that transformation is tied to their inherent nature.

3 Airachnid Was Active on Cybertron

A New Transformer Takes Center Stage

Airachnid, initially introduced in the Transformers Prime animated series, makes her cinematic debut in Transformers One. Unlike previous portrayals where her character played a minor role, she holds a significant position as second-in-command during Sentinel’s reign in Iacon.

Her unique traits present intriguing possibilities for future storylines, especially if a sequel explores her rivalry with fellow Autobots like Arcee or Elita-1.

2 Megatronus Prime Inspired Megatron

The Dark Legacy Of His Idols

D-16 idolizes Megatronus Prime, a notable warrior of Cybertron, and even receives a sticker featuring his likeness in the film. This emblem remarkably mirrors the Decepticon insignia. Later in the story, Sentinel Prime inscribes this design onto his chest as an act of mockery.

Megatron ultimately adopts the name Megatron, taking inspiration from Megatronus Prime after vanquishing Sentinel and appropriating his transformation cog. This connection provides a rationale for the name and logo associated with the Decepticons that was previously unexplored in the franchise.

1 The Quintessons Do Not Play a Role in Transformer Creation

The Quintessons Tied to Cybertron’s Fate

In various iterations, the Quintessons were depicted as the creators of the Transformers, especially noted in Transformers: The Last Knight. However, in the narrative of Transformers One, this element is notably absent. Instead, Transformers are shown to emerge from Primus, the massive Transformer that forms Cybertron.

Though the Quintessons make a brief appearance, they are depicted as adversaries to Cybertron, leading to the defeat of the Primes and colluding with Sentinel Prime for an unending supply of Energon. This narrative shift invites further exploration of how these elements will intertwine within this new storyline.

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