In the fictional world of the Transformers, protoforms are "basic frames" of a Cybertronian placed in stasis until a suitable form can be found. Cybertron is the fictional home planet of the Transformers. In the Japanese series the planet is also referred to as "Cybertron" (first shown on Japanese Galaxy

Origin of the term

"Beast Wars: Transformers" (1996-1999)

The future Maximal Airazor as a protoform. Airazor is the name of three Fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.

Protoforms played a major part in the Beast Wars saga, as the Axalon was carrying several dozen protoforms in stasis, which were ejected before crashing to Earth. Beast Wars Transformers ( Beasties on YTV, due to YTV discomfort over the name is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro The Axalon is the name of the Maximal ship in the Beast Wars cartoon and comic books

Protoforms are usually already imbued with a spark (self-awareness, life essence) before being placed into a stasis pod; those without a spark are referred to as "blanks". Transformers Generation 1 Although not officially the soul of a Transformer at this point Marvel comics would occasionally refer to the "spark of life" given to a Transformer During the Axalon's journey, the Quantum Wave possibly destroyed these sparks while leaving the bodies intact. It is also possible that these blanks were intended to be used as spare bodies for the crew in case their own were damaged or destroyed.

Stasis pods are also rather delicate, and the slightest damage can erase the protoform's memories. As a result, of the protoforms activated during the Beast Wars, only Rampage (and Packrat in the comic series) has any memory of life before going into stasis. Rampage is the name of two different Fictional characters in the Transformers universes Transformers Generation 1 Rampage was a member of the Packrat is the name of a Fictional character in the various Transformers universes. It is likely that the others also had lives on Cybertron, as all Transformers who emerge from the pods seem more mature than Cheetor. Cybertron is the fictional home planet of the Transformers. In the Japanese series the planet is also referred to as "Cybertron" (first shown on Japanese Galaxy Cheetor is the name of several Fictional characters from the Transformers toyline.

It is unknown in what era of Cybertronian history that protoform technology became available. Cybertron is the fictional home planet of the Transformers. In the Japanese series the planet is also referred to as "Cybertron" (first shown on Japanese Galaxy In the Dreamwave comics, protoforms exist in the Micromasters series, which is set on Cybertron after the Ark and Nemesis were launched and lost in space. Dreamwave Productions is a Canadian art design studio and Comic book publisher best known for their multiple Transformers comic book series Micromasters is a Transformers subline composed of small figures that came packaged in groups and with bases that interacted with the figures The Ark is an Autobot spacecraft in the fictional Transformers Universe. The Nemesis is a Decepticon spaceship in the fictional Transformers Generation One universe

It was implied in the television series and Wreckers comic book that some of the protoforms were criminals shipped off planet. This was the case with Packrat (a master thief) and Protoform X (aka Rampage, a serial killer). Rampage is the name of two different Fictional characters in the Transformers universes Transformers Generation 1 Rampage was a member of the

In the IDW Publications mini-series, Beast Wars: The Gathering, the Predacon Magmatron and his troops arrived on Earth on a mission to follow up on the failure of Ravage. IDW Publishing (a division of Idea and Design Works is an American Comic book company. Beast Wars The Gathering is a four-issue Comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing. Magmatron is a Transformers character who first appeared in the Japanese Beast Wars Neo series was later released in the American Beast Machines Ravage is the name of several Fictional characters in the Transformers universes Magmatron had his own agenda to convert many of the unused protoforms in stasis pods into Predacon soldiers under his command, but the Maximal under cover agent Razorbeast sabotaged the plan, resulting in many of the protoforms emerging as Maximals. Razorbeast is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers toyline that appeared in the Beast Wars The Gathering. Magmatron also recovered the remains of Ravage and used a blank protoform to bring him back as a Transmetal. Transmetals are a subgroup of Beast Wars in the Fictional Transformers Universe featuring toys with mechanical animal modes and techno-organic

On Film

"Transformers" (2007)

Protoform Optimus Prime after hard-landing, as depicted in the 2007 film

In the 2007 live-action film Transformers, Autobots en route to Earth change their alternate modes into structures resembling solid comets or burning meteorites for space travel (a possible homage to the stasis pods plot device from Beast Wars). This refers to the original character For other uses see Optimus Prime (disambiguation Optimus Prime (known as Convoy in Japan Transformers is a 2007 Live-action Film adaptation of the ''Transformers'' franchise, directed by Michael Bay and Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Transformers is a 2007 Live-action Film adaptation of the ''Transformers'' franchise, directed by Michael Bay and The Autobot, a faction of Sentient Robots from the planet Cybertron are the main Protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 A comet is a small Solar System body that orbits the Sun and when close enough to the Sun exhibits a visible coma (atmosphere or a tail — A meteorite is a natural object originating in Outer space that survives an impact with the Earth 's surface Once they arrive, they will transform into an equally detailed yet generic & undefined robot mode to allow them more stable ground mobility in order to search for an adaptable disguised form (aka vehicle mode); upon which scanning and replication are initiated and completed within seconds, giving them their now-unique physical characteristics. These near-identical transformable skeleton-like forms are referred to by fans as "protoforms" due to their generally similar appearance and function to the Beast Wars versions, though they are not specifically named such in the film. Also, a protoform retains the same mass as the final appearance of a Cybertronian with a chosen vehicle mode after scanning & replication are complete, so one protoform can be larger and/or smaller than another. Whether-or-not a protoform has [usable] weapons is not shown or mentioned of in the film. In the Transformers: Movie Prequel book, protoforms are the base forms for all transformers on Cybertron, hence their skeletal look; all armor, weapons, sensors, transformation, etc. Transformers Movie Prequel, published by IDW Publishing, is a 2007 Comic book Limited series that serves as a Prequel to the 2007 are integrated into this later when landfall is made. (Bumblebee is portrayed on Cybertron as a protoform and later in the book Starscream, Barricade, and Blackout are seen as protoforms on Mars). Bumblebee is the name of several Fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. Starscream Barricade is the name of several Fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Blackout is the name of four different Fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. It should also be noted that a Transformer can apparently turn into a protoform as much as it needs to. Bumblebee first landed on Mars and then went to Earth after finding a Mars rover, evidencing the theory.

Much unlike those in Beast Wars, protoforms in the live-action film are shown to be extremely tough and durable, obviously withstanding the atmospheric reentry and hard landing as they arrive on Earth, as said by the Transformers Movie Guide; whereas in Beast Wars, protoforms (see above) are portrayed as fragile and delicate. Transformers is a 2007 Live-action Film adaptation of the ''Transformers'' franchise, directed by Michael Bay and The term hard landing is used to describe an especially rapid or steep Descent.

The toys of protoforms of Optimus Prime and Starscream were available for sale before their normal Earth forms were; this may be the first time a protoform of any kind was available as a toy. This refers to the original character For other uses see Optimus Prime (disambiguation Optimus Prime (known as Convoy in Japan Starscream