Tailkinker

16th Nov 2010

Transformers (2007)

Question: If Seibertron/Cybertron is an alien planet where the transformers originated from, why are some named after earth things, like Bumblebee? Are there earth insects there too? Bumblebee was called that even before he came to earth. Bonecrusher is another example, Transformers do not have what we call bones. Do they also listen to 'Jazz' music?

StreetHAWK76

Chosen answer: No definitive answer has ever been given, but it seems reasonable to conjecture that their "Earth" names are simply the closest available English translations of their true Cybertronian names.

Tailkinker

30th Aug 2007

Transformers (2007)

Question: Why do the transformers blink and move their mouths when talking? Obviously this is unnecessary for robots, and I found it quite annoying. Is there any rationale behind this?

Rosco

Chosen answer: They're metal-based lifeforms, not just "robots". Presumably the blinking and mouth movements serve some purpose, we just don't know anything about Transformer physiology to know why it's necessary. They're also designed, by their nature, to take on the characteristics of things around them (as proved by how their forms change quite radically from the bland appearance they have when they first land). This generally applies to other machines, but it's not entirely unreasonable to speculate that, in the case of the Autobots at least, they might also configure themselves to take on certain human mannerisms, to better interact with the humans that they need to deal with.

Tailkinker

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