#technobots

[rinovarka]

Grimlock, Technobots, and Purpose

The G1 Transformers cartoon is mainly episodic and not indepth with its characters opting to focus on a wide cast and adventures. Some may say it was solely just to sell more toys and merchandise, and I can wholly disagree. But I can't wholly agree either. There are some ideas that stay ideas, or fleeting moments of the heart that make me tear up, or have stood the test of time as other people are able to recall.

And for me personally, one of said concepts is Grimlock and the Technobots.

Grimlock and the other dinobots were built by Ratchet and Wheeljack. In both cases, introduced to them by people of Earth, in enthusiasm to help the cause, as well as a general appreciation of the former rulers of Earth.

Sure, they were built to be Autobots to be brute force warriors, but also for the pure joy of an appreciation to the creatures of Earth's past. But purposely made with the assumption that dinosaurs were stupid, therefore they must be made stupid too. And it wasn't the grandest of starts for the first three.

Throughout the series the Dinobots are belittled and seen as lesser beings. Their intelligence and way of speaking mocked. Their loyalty shakey. They occasionally make remarks about their relation to the Autobots. They were made this way. And not even Wheeljack and Ratchet are immune to making jabs at them — and they MADE the Dinobots. To focus on what in front of you, to have innate instincts, to dig into the Earth, to be animalistic— primitive, less than a person, even.

Then fast forward past the Transformers movie where their creators get BBQd because Hasbro needs a new set of toys! And just so happens that the Dinobots are in good standing as far as sell-ability goes.

Then there is the episode, Grimlock's New Brain.This episode begins by really hammering it in how Grimlock wants to help but since he doesn't know as much as the other characters, is prone to mess things up. Something is missing. A brain. Que another scheme by Galvatron and co, and the bots are on the case.

He alone from the other Dinobots wants to take an active role in the Autobot ranks. And throughout, the Autobots let Grimlock know directly how they think the Dinobots lowly, Perceptor saying this with no shame to his face. And Grimlock affirms this by saying he bashes brains instead of having one. Because how else would he think, being told this time after time?

Grimlock in his pride, messes up their navigating device, exclaiming his frustration and accuses the bots of thinking him stupid and not wanting him.

Eventually, Grimlock gets hit with a spark of intelligence. And he sees the world beyond the way of his fellow Dinobots, able to problem solve and come up with plans, filled with the worries of the average Autobot and more. And his fellow Dinobots are dumbstruck with how different Grimlock is.

And he goes on to help the Autobots. Even at a point having Perceptor remark about being confused as to why he didnt think of what Grimlock had, the dino retorting Perceptor" having limited thinking "Because your mental abilities are so limited". Which of course is in regard to the situation at hand, but to me? Can be interpreted in how he regarded Grimlock beforehand.

The other Dinobots look for Grimlock. He goes and tries to get his Dinobot companions to help, to no avail. They dont like this new Grimlock, who looks down on them with big words and claws on hips.

And once more, he left, but not by the other Autobots but his fellow Dinobots.

Eventually in the heat of battle, Grimlock finds that his words and explanations have no time, no one can understand his plan in the situation he is in, and has no choice but to leave the Autobots and go Alone. And in this scene, he takes spare parts and creates a new bot, Nosecone. Who first remarks "Are you my father?"

Locking in, Grimlock has him transform, blah blah episode plot stuff. And Grimlock creates the other Technobots, designating Scattershot as leader, for "I wont be of use to you much longer", as if in knowledge of what he must do. And Scattershot is scared, rightfully so — he was just woken to life, unsure of the situation and not ready for whats to come. But the time has come and He Must.

And the Technobots go to battle against the Terrorcons, seeing the might of Abominus and fleeing. They return to Grimlock, and Grimlock lets them know — they are more than they think! And they transform into Computron. Who all intents an purposes is a big nerd with not enough brain power. Computron recognizes his unlimited potential but that even that is not enough. And Grimlock knows this. He always did.

Computron kneels. Grimlock dons on the helm without hesitation, placing it on the giants head. The manifestation of the "children" he has created. And Computron tries to refuse but is cut off by Grimlock. And for the greater good of all, for the Technobots' survival and success in life, he transfers all he had gained in one fell swoop. And in his waning intelligence, he says

"Me Grimlock says you smart now, me can no can help you anymore".

The Grimlock who made him is now gone, and the combiner goes and does what he needs to do.

And to me, it reminds me that of the Parent's Sacrifice. Grimlock gives up the potential of rising in rank, being seen as an equal or more than by his fellow Autobots. As some parents in life live and love and struggle against and rise against adversities. And midway, be it by plan or not, in non ideal circumstances, come to bear children. And in healthy situations, give their all, "giving up" their time money and freedom to raise them. But it is not truely "giving up" , done in loving sacrifice, to see that those before go much farther, and shine bigger and brighter.

And in the end of it all, we see Grimlock fishing with his fellow Dinobots in a lake, remarking how being smart isnt what its cracked up to be, and he likes being good ol Grimlock. And for once, the Autobots cheer.

And theres many ways one can interpret -- or rather, overthink this.

On a different path, Im reminded of the Love, Death, and Robots short, Zima Blue, which is one of the best sci-fi stories of ever in my opinion. I recommend watching the video before reading what I have to say, as I spoil the grand premise.

Anyway, its the story of artist named Zima Blue, known throughout the world for his poignant pieces and focus on the color blue. The art pieces get grander, yet his yearning for... something grows wider, and he sheds his humanity, revealing himself to a journalist that he is, in fact, a robot. One with origins of a simple pool cleaning—tile cleaning robot—whose job was to scrub pool tiles into the specific shade of blue, Zima Blue. Who was tinkered by a bright young mind, surpassing other robotic projects, over time evolving into the man he is today. Accepted in awe by all the world.

And yet, something was still missing.

"I will slowly shut down my higher brain functions, unmaking myself, my search for truth is finished at last. Im going home."

And to the world, he reveals his true nature, dons off his attire, and swims as a man one last time. The audience looks on with excitement for what was to be his final art work, only to look on with shock and horror as he begins to fall apart. And what would emerge? A little pool cleaning robot, a tile scrubber to be exact. And the crowd leaves, leaving the robot to scrub for the rest of his days. Alone.

And in the end, our main character, despite all the wisdom and experience acquired... chose to revert back to the simple pool cleaner, to spend his days scrubbing along the walls in what some may is a glorified container.

Some would be confused or balk at the decision, for why would he choose to live such a simple, dare I say primitive life, to that of a high elite of world reknown?

There is no shame in finding joy —purpose — in being what one is. Yes, there is the fact of being a tile scrubber whose objective is to scrub, of being a brute strong dinosaur who likes to fight and fish can be seen shame. Of not being as intelligent, of not being as certain way as society seems fit. And while one has the capacity to change, there is no shame of being happy of who one is and embracing it with those who understand--

--To have that dont cheer/look on from a distance

--and To be what one is and am, and that is enough.

In the end, the Technobots are their own people, functionally adults with knowledge and fighting prowess. Grimlock shows no real attachment or regard to the Technobots, as they also do the same. As I said, G1 tends not to be super character focused and is episodic, the next episodes never following up on this. And while I havent seen all of G1, I can assume that they dont really interact after this episode, Grimlock having the Dinobots, the Technobots having each other, both groups being loud and proud about themselves.

But I have to wonder, if Grimlock ever looks at the Technobots from a distance, just for a little moment. Or if Wheeljack and Ratchet would be proud, if they could've been there, to see how far their creations have gone, with nerd dork grandchildren to boot.

[they-hermes]

combiners support eachother

[mechaking789]

Computron is voiced by... Matpat? - Transformers Combiner Wars ( I found this on YouTube)

[arceespinkgun]

Valentine's Day comic with my favorite Combiners!

Afterburner: I don't know how, but I know this is your fault, Scattorshot!

Scattorshot: Pipe down, this is all Computron. But he's never reached the wrong conclusion before!

Strafe: Yuck! How could he want to mack on those Decepti-creeps?! We should be pummeling 'em! That's the enemy!!!

Lightspeed: I think Computron just wants to dream of something better. After all, if Sandstorm and Octane can be best friends...

Nosecone: ...Hm.

Hun-Gurr: Yesss, we should join forces with Computron, think of how much more food—resources we'd have access to.

Cutthroat: But only two of the Technobots are any fun!

Sinnertwin: If Computron and Abominus destroy everything together, it will be fun anyway.

Rippersnapper: What are your malfunctions?! You can't seriously be considering this—it's disgusting!

Blot: *sobbing* I know Computron just loves Abominus, but I've never felt so loved!!!

[syunsoku-gusokumushi]

ワンドロ

[elfdragon12]

No one talks enough about the fact that Grimlock is a single dad.

His kids even throw him a Father's Day celebration.

The sign in the back even says "thank you, our father" with cute little drawings of their heads. They live their daddy!

[indragonsaur]

Transformers: cybertron chronicles: Scattershot

Name: Scattershot Gender: Male Species: Cybertronian Status: Online Faction: Autobots (Technobots)

Alt-Mode: space cruiser/ Canon Voice actor: Richard Ian Cox - Scattershot. From Fall of cybertron

[askvectorprime]

Dear Vector Prime,

How did Gnaw and Cindersaur become members of the Predacons and Terrorcons, respectively?

Dear Legends Leftover,

In the case of the former, it was more by accident than anything. Gnaw had been the leader of a team of Sharkticons sent into the depths of Cybertron to pull the large switch controlling the Exponential Null Generator. When that plan went awry, he ended up following Galvatron to the surface, and from there to Chaar, without being noticed.

When Galvatron finally stumbled across Gnaw (chewing on the base of his makeshift throne), the Decepticon leader threw him to the Predacons—declaring that since they were both spawn of the Quintessons, they should get along fine.

Razorclaw knew better than to argue with Galvatron when he was in one of his moods, and reluctantly accepted the Sharkticon. When the Predacons went on their hunts, they would toss the scraps to Gnaw, keeping him around as a living waste disposal machine.

Cindersaur, by contrast, was deliberately headhunted. Hun-Gurr had been keeping his watchful eyes on the Combiner Wars, and had seen the other combiner teams picking up new members to replace fallen ones or to increase their number. The Terrorcons' rivals, the Technobots, had acquired two new members even, which stirred envy in the Terrorcon leader. Still, Hun-Gurr was not about to recruit just anyone to join his squad; he wanted an outcast—someone whose loyalty would lie with him over any other Decepticon. He found the perfect bot with Cindersaur. The Firecons had recently broken up, and Cindersaur had found themself lost without their teammates... literally. They had gone on a rampage, ending up completely disoriented in Chaar’s wilderness. Their usual means of retracing their steps, by blazing a trail behind them, had completely failed them in a landscape where everything was already burned and blackened, and they'd been wandering in circles for months.

Hun-Gurr tracked them down, and offered Cindersaur a place in the Terrorcons. He had a quick recruitment form for Cindersaur to incinerate, and that was that! The other Terrorcons were hesitant at first, but they soon came around, after realizing that the smell of smoldering metal helped mask Blot’s stench.

[they-hermes]

autobot combiner leader trio

[robodino93]

For the 40th anniversary of the Transformers, I referenced a DBZ manga panel to draw some of the characters, and I also found some old Transformers comics I made when I remembered them, and even found a WIP featuring Cheetor and Rattrap.

[arceespinkgun]

Finally finished my Valentine's Day fanart as much as I'm going to and I just have to say that I love the Technobots and Terrorcons so much even though I like never talk about them.

The Technobots are a bunch of poorly-socialized maniac nerds (shout-out to Strafe's amazing quote, "Shoot everywhere—since that's where the enemies are") who were made from Unicron's brain goop, who combine to turn into a giant guy with a supercomputer for a brain whose calculations are always right... but he takes forever to process anything so by the time he reaches a conclusion it's often too late, and then their rivals the Terrorcons are a bunch of bloodthirsty monsters led by a brilliant strategist who's so hungry all the time his appetite completely eclipses that (relatable), and they combine to turn into a giant guy who just snarls and makes animal noises. And basically every character on both of these teams has some sort of condition that's difficult for them to manage in some way (relatable)! Also this cursed thing happened once

[joonisstrange]

My friends made me do it.

[countkeny]

Imagine this you were just born and ur father is a fucking genius who just constructed you, he then tells you that you will have to lead your siblings he guides you to defeat a danger the danger you were made to help with and he sacrifices his intelligence for it by giving it to you and your siblings. And this is him.

[braveseeker3]

🧠 for devastator and computron?

ooh hello! admittedly i only have a little for both of these guys

devastator is by far the oldest of all the combiners, with superion as the next oldest. this is because they're both forged combiners, while the rest are enigma-born and those combined forms are younger than their teams. (brawl is older than basically every other person in a gestalt lol. he was middle aged by the time onslaught was born)

computron is The Baby. superion and defensor adore him. computron wants hugs from his dad (grimlock. i am a Firm Supporter of technobot dad grimlock), but that's hard when his dad fits in the palm of his hand. his fellow older combiners will gladly give him hugs but sometimes you just want Parent Hugs and nothing else will suffice, you know?

thank you for the ask!!