Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Transformers One!TheTransformersfranchise returned to animation in 2024 to explore the origins of Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Cybertron, and that means plenty ofTransformers OneEaster eggs and references to different characters and pieces of lore. By moving away from the continuity of the live-actionTransformersmovies, the animated film exists as a relaunch of the property that completely harkens back to the original G1 designs and borrows much of the lore. That is one of many reasons whyTransformers One’s Rotten Tomatoes scoreis so high; it feels like a true love letter to longtime fans of the Hasbro toys.
Even before the movie’s release,director Josh Cooley promised thatTransformers Onewould be loaded with Easter eggsfor audiences to spot. The movie’s references to key parts of the franchise range from teasing the existence of various characters, including references to elements from the live-action films, and connecting to key parts of the series' overall history. The result is anyone whowatchesTransformers Oneneeding to watch and listen closely to catch various details. Here are theTransformers OneEaster eggs we’ve caught so far.
10The Iacon 5000 Racers Are All Easter Eggs
Several Notable Characters Are Referenced
The Iacon 5000 race is one of the biggest moments inTransformers Onefor Easter eggs. Orion Pax and D-16 decide to race against Cybertron’s most powerful Transformers even though they cannot transform. And while many of the racers they compete with speed by without being able to tell who is who, the Iacon 5000 leaderboard includes the names of various participants. This is used to drop Easter eggs for wellover a dozen Transformers who are now confirmed to existinTransformers One’s timeline.
Wheeljack
Hound
There are hundreds of Transformers who race in the Iacon 5000, and the leaderboard flashes on screen repeatedly to provide an update on the standings. The names shown as racers include characters who have been in the live-action movies, like Jetstream and Mirage, but most of them are those who have never been featured on screen before. There are even some additional cameos as crowd shots are shown, with Sunstreaker, Ironhide, and Sideswipe featured.
9Dr. Ratchet
Ratchet Is Mentioned After The Iacon Race
Transformers Oneincludes a brief audible Easter egg for Ratchet too. After the conclusion of the Iacon 5000, an intercom speakertells any injured racers to visit Dr. Ratchet. This is direct connection to Ratchet’s role in the typical franchise lore, as he is the Chief Medical Officer for the Autobots.
Every Autobot & Decepticon Who Appears In Transformers One
Ahead of its release date later this year, Transformers One confirms the return of familiar Autobots and Decepticons from the franchise.
Ratchet is never shown on screen inTransformers One, but the Easter egg is enough to confirm his existence in this universe. Furthermore, he is already in a position of power thanks to his medical expertise.Ratchet was a major character in the live-action franchise, appearing inTransformers,Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,Transformers: Dark of the Moon, andTransformers: Age of Extinction- where he died. He also had a cameo inBumblebee.
8B-127 References A Famous Key & Peele Sketch
Keegan-Michael Key Brings A Familiar Joke To Transformers
Transformers One’s castincludes Keegan-Michael Key as B-127, better known as Bumblebee, and the inclusion of the comedian goes beyond the bot’s propensity to make jokes. This is clear from when Orion Pax and D-16 meet B-127 and are introduced to his “friends” in sublevel 50. B-127 shows them homemade, makeshift robots built from scrap parts and trash, and he introduces them by name. This is whenTransformers Onereferences a famous joke from Keegan-Michael Key’s time onKey & Peele.
One of B-127’s “friends” is named A-A-tron, which is a clear reference to the hilarious Substitute Teacher sketch fromKey & Peele. The sketch has Keegan-Michael Key play a substitute teacher who incorrectly pronounces the names of his students. This includes calling for A-A-ron instead of Aaron.Transformers Onedoes not pass up the opportunity to repeat the joke, providing a laugh for anyKey & Peelefan checking out the film.
7GoBots
The Transformers Rivals Are An Insult
WhileTransformers Oneincludes several references to its own lore, the movie also includes an Easter egg for the GoBots. Created by Tonka in 1983, GoBots predate Hasbro’s Transformers toys by one year. But as Hasbro continued to gain popularity through the Autobots and Decepticons, Tonka struggled to keep the Guardians and Renegades as equally desired toys. This led to the end of manufacturing new GoBot toys in 1987, with Hasbro acquiring the property in 1991.
Transformers Onereferences the GoBots during an exchange between Elita-1, Orion Pax, and D-16.Elita calls them"two idiot GoBots,“turning the Transformer rivals into an insult. This also could indicate that GoBots exist in theTransformers Oneuniverse, but Transformers must look at them as lesser, dumber robots based on Elita’s comment.
6Arcee
The Popular Autobot Has A Cameo
Arcee is one of the Autobots inTransformers One, but her appearance is nothing more than a cameo or Easter egg. She is briefly seen in the crowd during the Iacon 5000 and returns once Optimus Prime returns to Iacon City to rally the miners to support him. Arcee is even seen once more inTransformers One’s endingas she receives her transformation cog, enabling her to evolve and gain her first alt-mode.
The presence of Arcee inTransformers Onecomes aftershe was featured as one of the main Autobots inTransformers: Rise of the Beasts. The pink Autobot also previously had cameos inTransformers: Revenge of the FallenandBumblebee, while she was an Easter egg inTransformers: Age of Extinctiontoo. There is not much to Arcee’s role inTransformers One, although she could now be poised for a bigger future.
5Jazz
Jazz Is Saved By Optimus Prime
Jazz is another Autobot who has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role inTransformers One. During the first sequence with Orion Pax and D-16 working as miners, the tunnel they are mining begins to collapse, leaving everyone to run for safety. Orion Pax stops to help a trapped coworker, who loses his leg in the process of the rescue. It is revealed thatthe miner Orion saved was Jazz, a significant member of the Autobots in most iterations.
Jazz’s history in theTransformersmovie franchise is rather limited. He was included in Michael Bay’s first 2007 movie, but a fight with Megatron did not end well. Megatron killed Jazz in the final act. This left him unable to return in any future films, whileBumblebeeandTransformers: Rise of the Beastsalso opted against using him in the rebooted timeline. Now, Jazz has sustained a notable injury inTransformers One.
4Sentinel Prime’s Sword
It’s A Familiar Weapon For The Movie Franchise
Sentinel Prime proves to be a powerful villain inTransformers One, and this includes repeatedly wielding a massive double-bladed sword during combat scenes. Although the animated movie’s version of Sentinel Prime looks quite different in design and color scheme, the sword is a direct callback to the character’s history in the live-action movies.Sentinel previously was inTransformers: Dark of the Moonand also had a double-bladed swordin that film.Transformers Onereminds viewers of that through the weapon’s return.
Sentinel Prime’s sword is far from the only similarity he has inTransformers OnetoTransformers: Dark of the Moon. Both movies have the character become a villain in a twist reveal, and he’s killed in the finale in each too.
3The Touch
A Callback To Transformers: The Movie’s Song
There is also a direct callback toThe Transformers: The Movieand the recognizable song “The Touch” inTransformers One. Created by Stan Bush, “The Touch” is a major song inThe Transformers: The Movie, as it plays when Optimus Prime fights multiple Decepticons on his own and again in the ending once Hot Rod opens the Matrix of Leadership. WhileTransformers Onedoes not play “The Touch” at any point, it does feature an Easter egg to the song in a different way.
This is done thanks to Elita-1 as she talks to Orion Pax in the movie.She tells him in the mines,“You don’t have the touch or the power.“This should instantly connect with anyone familiar with “The Touch” and its lyrics, as the song says,“You got the touch. You got the power,“as part of the intro and hook. In this instance, Elita flips the lyrics around to tell Orion that he does not have the touch or the power.
2More Than Meets The Eye
Orion Pax Uses The Transformers Tagline
Transformers Onedirectlyrefers to the toyline’s original tagline,“Transformers! More than meets the eye,“as another Easter egg. This tagline is used by Orion Pax as he explains to D-16 why he wants to participate in the Iacon 5000. They are just miners at this point in the story and are not that valued by the Transformers with transformation cogs. Orion wants to prove that himself and the other miners are just as important and meaningful as the larger Transformers and that there’s more to them than meets the eye.
Although the Transformers might be more so known for the"Robots in disguise"tagline, the"More than meets the eye"tagline was the other most popular one. It was even used as the subtitle of a comic series from 2012 to 2016. Now,Transformers Onereminds fans of the tagline thanks to Orion Pax’s view of himself and the others.
1Megatron Kills Sentinel In A Familiar Fashion
Sentinel Prime’s Death Mirrors Another Megatron Kill
Sentinel Prime’s death inTransformers Oneis another reference to the franchise’s history thanks to how it happens. While Optimus Prime wasresponsible for killing Sentinel Prime inTransformers: Dark of the Moon, Megatrongets that honor here. But instead of shooting Sentinel in the chest and face like Optimus did, Megatron decides to tear him in half, splitting the former Cybertron leader in two.
Whether intentional or not, this isexactly the same way that Megatron kills Jazz in 2007’sTransformers. He tells the Autobot that he wants all of him, not just a piece, right before he rips into two pieces. Jazz’s death is now replicated with Sentinel Prime inTransformers One, giving Megatron somewhat of a favorite finishing move across theTransformersfranchise.
