Alternate mode
From Transformers Wiki
| This article is about the non-robot mode of a Transformer. For the line of super-deformed Transformers toys, see Alt-Modes. |
An alternate mode (commonly shortened to "altmode", "alt mode", or "alt-mode", also known as a "trans-form", "transform", "changeform", or "alt-form"[1]) is a term used to describe a Transformer's non-robot form, whether it be vehicle, animal, or otherwise. Various more specific terms are also sometimes used—vehicle mode ("v. mode"), gun mode, tank mode, etc.
Some Transformers don't have a humanoid form, so in those special cases, the altmode is perceived to be the mode which is more geared towards utility or disguise while their robot mode is the one geared more towards interaction with other Transformers. For example, for the G1 characters Laserbeak and Ravage, their animal forms are their primary mode, and the cassettes their alternate modes. Even Grand Slam and Raindance, who transform from cassettes to vehicles, would be thought of as having a cassette alternate mode, as their vehicle forms—while not humanoid or animalistic—are at least self-mobile.
Transformers with more than two modes are usually considered to have multiple altmodes. (Punch/Counterpunch, on the other hand, has one altmode and two robot modes.)
In the cartoon episode "The Killing Jar", the Quintesson scientist refers to the Quintesson guard's transformation as his alternate mode, the first such use of this term in the official fiction.
The earliest recorded use in the fandom of the shortened term "alt mode" is an alt.toys.transformers post from March 1994.[2] From the context, it appears that the term was already understood by fans at that time, as the post's author does not explain what he means.
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Beast mode
Fiction
Generation 1 continuity family
When a Transformer takes on an alternate mode for the purpose of disguise, they are mimicking that form, they don't actually become what that form represents. They are "robots in disguise". To accomplish this, they physically alter their forms, and when necessary, use holograms to help maintain the disguise illusion, especially when battle damage or lack of a driver might otherwise give them away.[3]
The Transformers cartoon
After the Ark was reactivated in 1984, Teletraan I rebuilt all the Autobots and Decepticons with terrestrial alternate modes. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
Optimus Prime reversed the polarity of his windshield to clear his vision during a bad thunderstorm, indicating he sees out of his windows. The Ultimate Doom, Part 2
Marvel Comics continuity
Getaway lost complete vision in his right headlights and partial vision in his left headlights during the Armornecking Incident. Getaway's Universe profile
2005 IDW continuity
According to legend, alternate modes came about after Primus decreed that every Cybertronian should provide for their brethren and blessed his creations with secondary forms. You, Me, and Other Revelations
In Forged Cybertronians, alt-modes develop naturally during the protoform stage. Silent Light Shining Armor #1 The Dead Come Home, Part 2 In those Constructed Cold, the alt-mode is determined by the pre-built nature of the chassis. Stet Your First Mistake Some Cybertronians developed an irrational attachment to their current alternate mode, a condition known as mode attachment, and resisted upgrades to or changing their alternate modes even if circumstances merited it. Spotlight: Kup Omega's Conundrum Signal to Noise
Alternate modes have long been highly significant in Cybertronian society and politics. In the days of the Thirteen, the various tribes were often (but not exclusively) defined by their alt-mode such as Onyx Prime's bestial tribe of Maximals. Origin Myths Another Mine
Following the departure of the surviving Primes and the rise of Functionism, The Crucible alternate modes determined one's position in society with common forms lowering your social class and rare ones elevating it. Post Hoc The Functionist Council painted themselves as interpreters of Primus' will, decreeing that everyone's alternate form was chosen by god to meet specific needs. They cultivated a stigma against certain alternate modes being employed in certain fields such as tanks being medics or microscopes being miners. Births, Deaths, and Interventions
Bestial Cybertronians were considered among the lowest-ranked individuals and suffered extreme limitations. Soundwaves Relinquishment Clinics sprung up, allowing the rich to 'borrow' another body so they could enjoy another alt mode, with flying forms being among the most popular. Post Hoc A brave few like Whirl were able to convince the Functionists to let them do a job that had nothing to do with what they transformed into, although this frequently led to underhanded retribution. Interiors Another group of Cybertronians, known as the Militant Monoform Movement rejected their alternate modes via the surgical removal of their transformation cogs. This condition resulted in them being victims of shapism. Life After the Big Bang
The iron grip of Functionism waned during Zeta Prime's reign but the prejudice against certain alt-modes was still strong enough to blacklist some people for jobs such as Jetfire being banned from the sciences due to his aerial alternate mode. A Lonely Pillar on the Plain The Next Day, and the Next
In the post-Functionist era, alt-modes remained a touchy subject but people were now defined by their abilities more than their biology. It was now possible to freely change one's alt-mode using CR chambers, regardless of their alternate mode of birth. Life After the Big Bang Owing to the pan-galactic nature of the Great War, new alternate modes were regularly adopted by combatants to better blend in on alien planets. Infilitration Spotlight: Nightbeat Shining Armor #1
The Functionist Universe
In a timeline where Megatron was never born, the Functionists remained in control of Cybertron with alt-mode segregation growing ever stronger. Cybertronians from the lower rungs of society began attaching false kibble to themselves so they could pass themselves off as jets or microscopes and gain more energon. These people were dubbed the Pretenders. The Custom-Made Now
Beast Wars: Uprising
The new generation of Cybertronians, the Maximals and Predacons, inherited the vehicular alternate modes of their ancestors. The barren state of post-War Cybertron meant that they were victims to the energon supply lines of the Builders. Alone Together Head Games After Megatron discovered that the mechanimals were capable of metabolizing their own energon, he ordered his people to cast off their vehicle modes in favor of beast modes. Not All Megatrons
2019 IDW continuity
Cybertronians were not born with alternate modes, The World In Your Eyes Part One having to scan them during their rearing. On Rubble's forty-second cycle of existence, Bumblebee educated him on alternate modes and brought several dummies for his protege to try only to find the youth's attention captured by the Winged Moon. Amused, Bumblebee pointed out Leviathan, herself having remained in her alternate mode for kilocycles. Before Rubble could try scanning an alt, Windblade arrived telling Bumblebee to report to the Senate building while she took Rubble home. The World In Your Eyes Part Three
Aligned continuity
Aligned novels
Scanning new alternate modes whenever the mood struck was not a privilege all Cybertronians enjoyed prior to the toppling of the caste system, some in fact took pride in retaining only one alternate mode throughout their lifetime. Exodus
While on Junkion, Prowl briefly considered scanning a new alternate mode to better cope with the rough terrain. Exiles
Fall of Cybertron
The Lightning Strike Coalition, formerly a collection of conventional war vehicles, were reformatted into alternate modes based on alien creatures by Shockwave. Fall of Cybertron
Prime cartoon
Upon awakening on Earth in the modern day, Skyquake did not possess a vehicle mode. When William Fowler investigated the battle, the Decepticon scanned Fowler's V-tol. Masters & Students The same plane was later scanned by Skyquake's brother Dreadwing for an Earth alternate mode. Loose Cannons A helicopter of Fowler's was likewise scanned by Airachnid as her new alternate mode. Crisscross By contrast, Megatron Darkness Rising, Part 1 and Shockwave retained their Cybertronian alternate modes while on Earth. Scattered
After scanning an Earthly vehicle and reformatting accordingly, Smokescreen referred to it as his "v. mode" New Recruit Being revived by the Forge of Solus Prime reset Optimus Prime's alternate mode, forcing him to scan a new one. Project Predacon
2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon
Soon after arriving back on Earth, Bumblebee refused to allow the exposure of Cybertronian vehicles and made Strongarm and Sideswipe scan Earth alternate modes. Bumblebee by contrast had retained his Earth mode even while on Cybertron. Pilot (Part 1)
EarthSpark cartoon
When Megatron came to Optimus Prime with his desire to work with the Autobots, a skeptical Prime challenged his opposite to prove it by scanning a terrestrial alternate mode. Though resisting the idea at first, Megatron eventually scanned an Earth helicopter so he could evacuate human soldiers. Outtakes
The Terrans were not born with alternate modes. While Twitch scanned hers largely by accident, Thrash scanned his after getting some inspiration from Mo Malto. Secret Legacy, Part 2
Later, Hashtag acquired her alt mode by scanning the first thing she saw when Twitch took her out in search of one... which just so happened to be a G.H.O.S.T. surveillance van. Hashtag: Oops Nightshade later acquired their alt mode from an owl statue and was able to use it to hold their own against the veteran Decepticon Tarantulas. Missed Connection Jawbreaker struggled to decide on an alt-mode, Outtakes but eventually scanned a Stygimoloch skeleton. According to Elita-1, scanning a skeleton shouldn’t have worked the way it did, suggesting the Terrans may have different limitations that ordinary Cybertronians. A Stygi Situation
Toys
In addition to toys having altmodes since before they were Transformers, there is a price point under the Generations banner actually named "Alt-Modes". Figures in this line-up change from super deformed robots, with large plume-like Autobot or Decepticon faction symbols you can flip up on top of their heads, into chibi v. modes with their robot heads still on top.[4]
Notes
Foreign names
- Japanese: Altmode (オルトモード Orutomōdo)
References
- ↑ "Bot-form" and "alt-form" were used to describe a Transformer's two modes in Transformers: Exiles.
- ↑ alt.toys.transformers, Fanfic: GoTP Plot Blurb!
- ↑ This is true across all continuities. Hasbro Q&A/August 2009: Answers.
- ↑ In Hand Images and Review for Transformers Alt Modes Toys from Seibertron.com
