All Seasons

Season 1

  • SPECIAL 0x2 The Invention of the Transformers

    • June 20, 2020
    • YouTube

    Celebrating 100,000 subscribers with a return to the very beginning - from G.I. Joe to Henshin Cyborg, Microman to Micronauts, Diaclone to Micro Change, we look at the real-life history behind the invention of the Transformers!

  • S01E01 Continuity

    • June 3, 2017
    • YouTube

    The first episode of a new series designed to help new Transformers fans get to grips with complicated concepts and lore! This episode gives you a basic overview of the history of the Transformers franchise and how it breaks down into different continuities.

  • S01E02 Characters

    • June 10, 2017
    • YouTube

    Episode #2 of a new series designed to help new Transformers fans get to grips with complicated concepts and lore! Lots of Transformers share the same name - so why are some similar, and some totally unrelated?

  • S01E03 Biology

    • June 17, 2017
    • YouTube

    Episode #3 of a new series designed to help new Transformers fans get to grips with complicated concepts and lore! Where do new Transformers come from? What are they made of? How do they transform? What's a spark? What happens when they die? All these questions and more answered!

  • S01E04 Creation Myths

    • June 24, 2017
    • YouTube

    Episode #4 of a new series designed to help new Transformers fans get to grips with complicated concepts and lore! Where do Transformers come from? What's the origin behind their race? THE LAST KNIGHT has some answers... but so does the rest of Transformers history!

  • S01E05 IDW Comics

    • July 1, 2017
    • YouTube

    Get THE BASICS on IDW Publishing's line of Transformers comic books! What is each series about? Where should you start reading?

  • S01E06 BUMBLEBEE

    • July 15, 2017
    • YouTube

    Get The Basics on BUMBLEBEE with this complete history of everyone's favorite little yellow guy, from G1 right the way up to today!

  • S01E07 SHOCKWAVE

    • July 29, 2017
    • YouTube

    Get The Basics on SHOCKWAVE with this complete history of the Decepticons' one-eyed, one-handed, flying purple people-pleaser!

  • S01E08 ULTRA MAGNUS

    • August 12, 2017
    • YouTube

    Get The Basics on ULTRA MAGNUS with this complete history of one of the Autobots' mightiest warriors!

  • S01E09 THE PRIMES

    • September 2, 2017
    • YouTube

    With POWER OF THE PRIMES on the way, it's time to get The Basics on the THIRTEEN, the original PRIMES of Cybertron... plus, just what IS a Prime, anyway?

  • S01E10 the G1 CARTOON

    • September 16, 2017
    • YouTube

    This weekend marks the anniversary of the premiere of "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1," the first episode of the GENERATION 1 CARTOON - so what better subject for this mini-documentary episode of The Basics?

  • S01E11 the DINOBOTS

    • September 30, 2017
    • YouTube

    With the classic DINOBOTS soon to make a return in the upcoming "Power of the Primes" toyline, this episode gives you the Basics on the history of the team, and all the others who have shared their name!

  • S01E12 The Matrix

    • October 14, 2017
    • YouTube

    One of the most important objects in all of Transformers, and one was on the list of planned episodes from the very start of this series - it's time to get The Basics on THE MATRIX!

  • S01E13 Terrorcons

    • October 28, 2017
    • YouTube

    Halloween is a time for terror... TERRORCONS, that is! Three very different types of 'bot from throughout Transformers history have used this name, and this Halloween special episodes gives you The Basics on all of them!

  • S01E14 Headmasters

    • November 11, 2017
    • YouTube

    On the anniversary of "The Rebirth," and just in time for the TITANS RETURN cartoon, it's time to get The Basics on HEADMASTERS, one of Transformers' most diverse and varied concepts!

  • S01E15 Cyclonus

    • November 25, 2017
    • YouTube

    Hot on the heels of his role in the Robots in Disguise cartoon, it's time to get THE BASICS on one of the most popular characters in Transformers comics today - CYCLONUS!

  • S01E16 Shattered Glass

    • December 2, 2017
    • YouTube

    Going for a deeper cut on this week's episode as we take a look at one of the most famous convention-exclusive concepts in Transformers, which has slowly begun to influence mainstream parts of the franchise. Time to get THE BASICS on SHATTERED GLASS!

  • S01E17 Soundwave

    • December 16, 2017
    • YouTube

    It's Christmas, so I figured what better present than to give in to popular demand? Everyone's been asking for it, so this week, we're diving into The Basics on one of the all-time greats - SOUNDWAVE!

  • S01E18 Getaway

    • December 30, 2017
    • YouTube

    To coincide with the release of this week's LOST LIGHT #12, we're going to ring in the New Year with The Basics on GETAWAY! Watch out for spoilers!

  • S01E19 Skywarp

    • January 6, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E20 Pretenders

    • January 13, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E21 Beast Era

    • January 21, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E22 Combiners

    • February 10, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E23 Beast Wars: Uprising

    • February 17, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E24 Jetfire

    • February 24, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E25 Beast Modes

    • March 3, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E26 Hoist

    • March 17, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E27 Gobots

    • April 1, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E28 Beast Wars Megatron

    • April 7, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E29 Titans

    • April 21, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E30 Mini-Cons

    • May 5, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E31 Nemesis Prime

    • May 19, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E32 Insecticons

    • May 26, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E33 Windblade

    • June 9, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E34 Hearts Of Steel

    • June 23, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E35 Prowl

    • June 30, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E36 Optimus Primal

    • July 14, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E37 Female Transformers

    • July 28, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E38 Beachcomber

    • August 4, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E39 Perceptor

    • August 18, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E40 Unicron Trilogy

    • September 15, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E41 Combaticons

    • September 29, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E42 Wreckers

    • October 13, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E43 Grimlock

    • October 27, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E44 Overlord

    • November 3, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E45 Wheeljack

    • November 17, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E46 Blackarachnia

    • December 1, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E47 Micromasters

    • December 15, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E48 Blitzwing

    • December 22, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E49 Punch/Counterpunch

    • January 5, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E50 Acid Storm

    • January 12, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E51 Quickswitch

    • January 19, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E52 Bludgeon

    • February 2, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E53 Slipstream

    • February 4, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E54 Predacons

    • February 9, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E55 Robots In Disguise (2001)

    • February 16, 2018
    • YouTube

  • S01E56 Omega Supreme

    • February 23, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E57 Quintessons

    • March 2, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E58 Star Saber

    • March 9, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E59 Galvatron

    • March 23, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E60 Ironhide

    • March 30, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E61 Unicron

    • April 13, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E62 Decepticon Justice Division

    • April 20, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E63 Blaster

    • April 27, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E64 Around The World

    • May 11, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E65 Cheetor

    • May 18, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E66 Hound

    • May 25, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E67 The Japanese Series

    • June 8, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E68 Starscream

    • June 22, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E69 Seacons

    • June 29, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E70 Inferno

    • July 13, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E71 Sentinel Prime

    • July 20, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E72 Targetmasters

    • August 3, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E73 Elita One

    • August 10, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E74 Sky-Byte

    • August 17, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E75 Transformers Animated

    • September 7, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E76 Springer

    • September 14, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E77 Sixshot

    • September 28, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E78 Jazz

    • October 12, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E79 Lockdown

    • August 26, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E80 Humans

    • November 9, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E81 Straxus

    • November 16, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E82 Drift

    • November 23, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E83 Thundercracker

    • December 7, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E84 Sideswipe

    • December 14, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E85 Waspinator

    • December 21, 2019
    • YouTube

  • S01E86 Reflector

    • January 4, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E87 Ricochet

    • January 11, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E88 Nightbird

    • January 18, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E89 Hauler

    • January 25, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E90 Energon

    • February 1, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E91 Blurr

    • February 8, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E92 Romance

    • February 14, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E93 Scorponok

    • February 22, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E94 Jumpstarters

    • February 29, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E95 Constructicons

    • March 14, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E96 Vector Sigma

    • March 21, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E97 Bulkhead

    • March 28, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E98 Spinister

    • April 4, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E99 The Fallen

    • April 11, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E100 The Invention of the Transformers

    • June 20, 2020
    • YouTube

    Celebrating 100,000 subscribers with a return to the very beginning - from G.I. Joe to Henshin Cyborg, Microman to Micronauts, Diaclone to Micro Change, we look at the real-life history behind the invention of the Transformers!

  • S01E101 Optimus Prime

    • April 25, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E102 Ratbat

    • May 2, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E103 Maccadam's Old Oil House

    • May 9, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E104 Arcee

    • May 23, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E105 Warpath

    • May 30, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E106 Primus

    • June 6, 2020
    • YouTube

    Patreon supporter FaceMan sponsors an episode that takes us back in time, to the dawn of creation and the beginning of the Transformer race, with The Basics on the god of the Transformers, PRIMUS!

  • S01E107 Ravage

    • June 27, 2020
    • YouTube

    Patreon supporter Arixmethes sponsors this look at the Decepticons' feline master of stealth - RAVAGE!

  • S01E108 Sideways

    • July 11, 2020
    • YouTube

    Don't believe everything you hear - especially if the one you hear it from is this two-faced trickster! These are The Basics on the one Transformer you should never trust, SIDEWAYS!

  • S01E109 Rhinox

    • July 18, 2020
    • YouTube

    Time for another visit to the kingdom of the beasts this week, as The Basics takes a look at the toughest, smartest member of the Maximals - RHINOX!

  • S01E110 Cosmic Rust

    • July 25, 2020
    • YouTube

    If Cybertron be your home, far away, never roam! Watch this video, listen and fear, danger comes, the end is near! A disease that turns Transformers to dust... these are The Basics on COSMIC RUST!

  • S01E111 The Allspark

    • August 1, 2020
    • YouTube

    As the Autobots and Decepticons once again go to war over it in Netflix's new WAR FOR CYBERTRON TRILOGY, learn the history of the relic that granted life to Cybetron and the Transformer race, with The Basics on THE ALLSPARK!

  • S01E112 Red Alert

    • August 15, 2020
    • YouTube

    From paranoid security director to serious-minded medic, these are The Basics on the emergency-services Autobot for whom caution is the watchword - RED ALERT!

  • S01E113 Barricade

    • August 29, 2020
    • YouTube

    From street-racing punk to bad cop - these are The Basics on the many 'bots who have gone by the name BARRICADE!

  • S01E114 Box Art

    • September 12, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E115 Omega Sentinels

    • September 19, 2020
    • YouTube

    Unfortunately for the Decepticons, the gigantic Autobot Omega Supreme isn't the only one of his kind! This week, it's The Basics on Cybertron's gigantic, ancient protectors, the Guardian Robots - aka, the OMEGA SENTINELS!

  • S01E116 Ratchet

    • September 26, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E117 Teletraan 1

    • October 10, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E118 Transforming

    • October 17, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E119 Monsterbots

    • October 31, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E120 Knock Out

    • November 7, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E121 Smokescreen

    • November 14, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E122 Action Masters

    • November 28, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E123 Alpha Trion

    • December 5, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E124 Hot Rod

    • December 19, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E125 Bug Bite

    • January 2, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E126 Bumper

    • September 26, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E127 Flamewar

    • January 16, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E128 Moonracer

    • January 23, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E129 Soundblaster

    • January 30, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E130 Space Bridges

    • February 6, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E131 Doubledealer

    • February 13, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E132 Scraplets

    • February 20, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E133 Sky Lynx

    • February 27, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E134 Scourge

    • March 13, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E135 Cybertronian Colonies

    • March 20, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E136 Seaspray

    • March 27, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E137 Triple Changers

    • April 17, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E138 Aerialbots

    • April 24, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E139 Liege Maximo

    • May 1, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E140 Beast Wars in Japan

    • May 15, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E141 Blackout

    • May 22, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E142 Rubsigns

    • May 29, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E143 Chromdome

    • June 12, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E144 Circuit Breaker

    • June 19, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E145 The Great War

    • June 26, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E146 Chliffjumper

    • July 10, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E147 G.I JOE CROSSOVERS

    • July 24, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E148 Beast Wars DINOBOT

    • July 31, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E149 SHARKTICONS

    • August 7, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E150 MEGATRON

    • August 14, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E151 The Golden Disk

    • September 11, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E152 Trypticon

    • September 18, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E153 Whirl

    • September 25, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E154 The Ark

    • October 9, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E155 Tidal Wave

    • October 16, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E156 The Horrorcons

    • October 30, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E157 Skids

    • November 6, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E158 Kiss Players

    • November 13, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E159 Swindle

    • November 27, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E160 Astrotrain

    • December 4, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E161 The Aligned Continuity

    • December 18, 2021
    • YouTube

  • S01E162 Road Rage

    • January 1, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E163 Enemy

    • January 8, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E164 Transmutate

    • January 15, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E165 Shadow Striker

    • January 23, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E166 Rack 'n' Ruin

    • January 29, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E167 Protoforms

    • February 5, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E168 Slug

    • February 12, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E169 Tigatron

    • February 19, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E170 The Protectobots

    • March 5, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E171 Brawn

    • March 12, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E172 Sandstorm

    • March 19, 2020
    • YouTube

  • S01E173 KREMZEEK!

    • April 2, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E174 Dreadwing

    • April 16, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E175 Lio Convoy

    • April 23, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E176 The Marvel Comic

    • May 7, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E177 Jhiaxus

    • May 14, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E178 Powermasters

    • May 21, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E179 Thrust

    • May 28, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E180 The Underbase Saga

    • June 4, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E181 Bumblebee (Updated for 2022!)

    • June 18, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E182 Shockwave

    • July 2, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E183 Vector Prime

    • July 9, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E184 Deathsaurus

    • July 23, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E185 The Vok

    • August 6, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E186 The Primus Vanguard

    • August 20, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E187 Rattrap

    • September 3, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E188 IDW's Robots in Disguise

    • September 17, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E189 Steeljaw

    • October 1, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E190 Liokaiser

    • October 15, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E191 Starscream's Ghost

    • October 29, 2022
    • YouTube

  • S01E192 Dreamwave

    • November 12, 2022
    • YouTube

    For the first decade of the Tranformers franchise, Marvel Comics were king... but after "Generation 2" ended in 1994, "Transformers" comics went away. Then, in the early 2002, a new company took the reigns, producing wildly successful new series... that, in just a few short years, inexperienced, egotistical business owners drove straight into the friggin' ground. Patreon supporter Luke Wood sponsors this look at the history of DREAMWAVE!

  • S01E193 Laserbeak

    • November 26, 2022
    • YouTube

    This week, we're taking it back to 1984 once more for a look at another of the Transformers franchise's founding characters - Soundwave's favourite cassette, LASERBEAK!

  • S01E194 Iguanus

    • December 3, 2022
    • YouTube

    Obscure Characters Month begins with a look at the reptilian Decepticon given new life by this year's Transformers: Legacy toyline - IGUANUS!

  • S01E195 Dion

    • December 10, 2022
    • YouTube

    This year brought us a new toy of Orion Pax, the young robot who was fated to become Autobot leader Optimus Prime... but before he was Prime, Pax had a best friend, and that's the bot we're looking at today! It's The Basics on DION!

  • S01E196 Skullgrin

    • December 17, 2022
    • YouTube

    Obscure Characters Month continues with another 'bot who got a new toy in this year's "Transformers: Legacy" toyline - the monstrous mechanoid that Marvel made a movie star, SKULLGRIN!

  • S01E197 Crasher

    • December 24, 2022
    • YouTube

    Crashing through the snow, this Go-Bot's out to slay, stomping as she goes, laughing all the way! This year's Obscure Characters Month comes to a close with the basics on that riotous renegade who's gone from GoBotron to Cybertron and back again - It's The Basics on CRASHER!

  • S01E198 The Seekers

    • January 28, 2023
    • YouTube

    And we're back! For first first video of 2023, it's time to look at one of the most iconic aspects of the entire Transformers franchise - the lookalike Decepticon jets known as the SEEKERS!

  • S01E199 Death's Head

    • February 11, 2023
    • YouTube

    He's met the Transformers, Doctor Who, and the heroes of the Marvel Universe... but if YOU ever meet this mercenary mechanoid, just be sure you DON'T call him a bounty hunter! These are The Basics on DEATH'S HEAD!

  • S01E200 Hot Shot

    • February 25, 2023
    • YouTube

    Kids today have Bumblebee... but twenty years ago, the audience of the early 2000s had this 'bot! Episode #200 finally looks at The Basics on the poster boy of the Unicron Trilogy, HOT SHOT!

  • S01E201 Stunticons

    • March 11, 2023
    • YouTube

    Celebrating 200,000 subscribers with a long-demanded episode looking at The Basics on those Decepticon road-hogs, the STUNTICONS!

  • S01E202 Nova Prime

    • March 25, 2023
    • YouTube

    This episode takes another dive into Cybertron's ancient history, with The Basics on another of the robots who carried the Matrix of Leadership before Optimus Prime: NOVA PRIME!

  • S01E203 Cosmos

    • April 8, 2023
    • YouTube

    The Basics reaches for the stars this week, with a look at the history of the Autobots' outer space lookout, COSMOS!

  • S01E204 Crosshairs

    • April 22, 2023
    • YouTube

    This week, The Basics sets its sights on a popular request from the comments section - Targetmasters, sharpshooter, paratrooper, movie star, it's CROSSHAIRS!

  • S01E205 Dark Energon - The Power of Unicron!

    • May 6, 2023
    • YouTube

    UNICRON IS COMING! Ahead of the chaos-bringer's return to the big screen in this summer's "Rise of the Beasts," get primed with this history of his evil energy and its many unearthly abilities in The Basics on DARK ENERGON!

  • S01E206 Vehicons

    • May 20, 2023
    • YouTube

    From "Beast Machines" to "Transformers: Prime" and beyond, these are the Basics on the endless, faceless, mass-produced armies of evil - the VEHICONS!

  • S01E207 Metalhawk

    • June 3, 2023
    • YouTube

    As we await the release of "Rise of the Beasts," and its introduction of a new team of Transformers who have been living in secret on Earth for centuries, The Basics looks at the Autobot who did it before it was cool! It's Earth's original secret protector, METALHAWK!

  • S01E208 Mirage

    • June 10, 2023
    • YouTube

    "Rise of the Beasts" is in cinemas now - and that means that, at long, long last, it's finally time for me to deliver the episode you've been asking for! It's the Basics on the movie's new leading 'bot, the Autobot illusion-caster, MIRAGE!

  • SPECIAL 0x3 Transformers comics are BACK in VOID RIVALS #1!

    • June 14, 2023
    • YouTube

    Exciting news for comic fans today as Robert Kirkman launches a new shared universe starring the Transformers, G.I. Joe, and more in VOID RIVALS #1!

  • S01E209 The Maximals

    • June 17, 2023
    • YouTube

    Creeping, crawling, and flying out of the world of "Beast Wars," get ready to go Beast Mode with this look at the history of the animal-form Transformers who have just set screens alight with their live-action debut in "Rise of the Beasts"!

  • S01E210 Airazor

    • June 24, 2023
    • YouTube

    Wrapping up our "Rise of the Beasts" theme month with a look at the history of the high-flying Maximal who just made her big-screen debut! It's The Basics on AIRAZOR!

  • S01E211 Fortress Maximus

    • July 8, 2023
    • YouTube

    Patreon supporter Devin Brimhall sponsors this episode about the biggest Autobot of them all!

  • S01E212 Generation 2

    • July 22, 2023
    • YouTube

    Patreon Supporter Dad Brad sponsors this episode of the relaunched cartoon and toyline.

  • S01E213 Mini-Bots

    • August 5, 2023
    • YouTube

    Patreon supporter @KeyanCarlileTF sponsors this episode! Keyan requested a look at the Transformers franchise's long history of retooling and recolouring Bumblebee to create new characters - and to tell that story in full, we need to go right back to the start, and look at The Basics on the short-statured members of the Autobot army - the MINI-BOTS!

  • S01E214 Trainbots

    • August 19, 2023
    • YouTube

    Tickets please! Hop aboard for another journey to the Japanese side of the world of the Transformers, with a look at the history of some of the country's first original TF characters - the TRAINBOTS!

  • S01E215 Battle Beasts

    • September 2, 2023
    • YouTube

    Transformers wasn't the only toyline created through the partnership of Hasbro and Takara - these are The Basics on one of their other big collaborations, the BEASTFORMERS, aka BATTLE BEASTS! Patreon supporter Greg Sepelak sponsors this look at the surprising and long-lived connection between the robots in disguise and these armoured animal warriors!

  • S01E216 The Nemesis

    • September 16, 2023
    • YouTube

    Hot on the heels of its long-awaited released in toy form in the "Legacy" line this summer, we're finally taking a look at the Decepticon space cruiser that serves as the evil counterpart to the Autobot's iconic Ark: THE NEMESIS!

  • S01E217 Strongarm

    • September 30, 2023
    • YouTube

    Sometimes Transformers history takes an unexpected left turn, and a 'bot who started out as one thing becomes something entirely different - as you'll find out in the story of the 'bot who went from energon-sculpting Omnicon to rule-obsessed police cadet! These are The Basics on STRONGARM!

  • S01E218 Bombshell

    • October 14, 2023
    • YouTube

    Spooky season is just around the corner, so let's warm up with The Basics on at one of the creepiest 'cons around, the Insecticon master of mind control, BOMBSHELL!

  • S01E219 Mindwipe

    • October 28, 2023
    • YouTube

    This year's Halloween special takes a look at the history of the Decepticons' batty black magician, Mindwipe!

  • S01E220 Rescue Bots

    • November 11, 2023
    • YouTube

    Transformers toys are generally intended for kids aged 5+, but over the years, Hasbro has made several attempts to target the preschool market with big, simple figures for little hands. This is the story of their most successful endevaour - it's time to Roll to the Rescue with The Basics on RESCUE BOTS!

  • S01E221 Soundwave - Updated for 2023!

    • November 25, 2023
    • YouTube

    Updated and expanded, revised and re-written, it's time for a fresh look at The Basics on Megatron's loyal spymaster SOUNDWAVE, now including all the new toys, cartoons, and comics and movies that have come out since the original episode six years ago!

  • S01E222 Toxitron

    • December 2, 2023
    • YouTube

    Kicking off Obscure Characters Month 2023 with a look at the story of that lean, green, pollution-spewing machine, TOXITRON!

  • S01E223 Apelinq

    • December 9, 2023
    • YouTube

    Obscure Characters Month continues with the history of a Maximal science-hero who this year made a very unexpected appearance in live-action! It's The Basics on APELINQ!

  • S01E224 Antagony

    • December 6, 2023
    • YouTube

    Obscure Characters Month continues with more BotCon Beast Wars content, as we look at The Basics on ANTAGONY! Pain is her friend - allow her to introduce YOU to it!

  • S01E225 Transit

    • December 26, 2023
    • YouTube

    Obscure Characters Month plumbs new depths with the paragon of public transport, the duke of the deleted scene, the maestro of memes - It's The Basics on how a very under-represented alternate mode has slowly grown in prominence to inspire TRANSIT!

  • S01E226 Kranix

    • December 30, 2023
    • YouTube

    2023's "Rise of the Beasts" saw the return of Unicron to cinema screens, so to wrap up Obscure Characters Month for this year, we're looking at The Baiscs on KRANIX - a 'bot from the world that was the planet-eater's first victim, when he made his debut in 1986's "The Transformers: The Movie"!

  • S01E227 The Golden Age of Cybertron

    • January 27, 2024
    • YouTube

    Cybertron wasn't always a world at war - once, long ago, the Transformers' home planet was a world without conflict, when energy flowed freely, and peace reigned. These are The Basics on the history of Cybertron and it's harmonious GOLDEN AGE!

  • S01E228 Kup

    • February 10, 2024
    • YouTube

    If you're looking for some history and lore from the world of the Transformers, there's no 'bot better suited to spin you a tale than the one we're looking at in this episode - curmugeonly old Autobot KUP!

  • S01E229 Snarl

    • February 24, 2024
    • YouTube

    This week, The Basics turns the spotlight on another of those prehistoric powerhouses, the Dinobots - the surly stegosaurus whose name got away from him, SNARL!

  • S01E230 Sparks

    • March 9, 2024
    • YouTube

    This episode takes a long-overdue dive into the mysteries of Transformer life itself, with a look at the concept of the Cybertronian soul - the SPARK, the mystical lifeforce that makes Autobots and Decepticons more than mere machines!

  • S01E231 Breakdown

    • March 23, 2024
    • YouTube

    Don't let this episode's subject know I've made a video about him - he wouldn't like the idea of being watched by so many people! It's The Basics on the paranoid Stunticon, BREAKDOWN!

  • S01E232 Magmatron

    • April 6, 2024
    • YouTube

    This week's episode is about the prehistoric powerhouse of a Predacon thrust back into the spotlight by the Legacy toyline this year! Blazing in from the Japanese side of the world of "Beast Wars," these are The Basics on MAGMATRON!

  • S01E233 Rock Lords

    • April 20, 2024
    • YouTube

    Today we explore the secret origins of the Armorizers with a look back at what's often thought of as one of the oddest toylines of the 80s, a spin-off of the Transformers' direct rivals, the GoBots! Shaking, quaking, crashing, breaking: it's The Basics on ROCK LORDS - powerful living rocks!!

  • S01E234 Omega Prime

    • May 4, 2024
    • YouTube

    From one of the more overlooked "Transformers" cartoons to HasLab success story - these are The Basics on the combined form of Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus, OMEGA PRIME! Plus - the story of the time Optimus Prime was a girl! Who is... YELLOW SPLENDID CONVOY?

  • SPECIAL 0x5 Transformers ONE Trailer Breakdown - All the Hidden History and Lore!

    • April 21, 2024
    • YouTube

    Poring over the new TRANSFORMERS ONE trailer and shining a light on all the different history, lore, and easter eggs this film is pulling together from all over Transformers history!

  • S01E235 Chromia

    • May 11, 2024
    • YouTube

    This week, it's time for The Basics on one of the very first female Transformers - Elita One's second-in-command, Ironhide's lady, and Windblade's best galpal, CHROMIA!

  • S01E236 Technobots

    • May 25, 2024
    • YouTube

    Finally! This week, we're taking a look at the history of the last of the classic G1 Autobot combiner teams - fearless, futuristic warriors unappreciated in their own time - the bots whose combined form was once voiced by *MatPat* of all people! - those often-overlooked high-tech heroes, the TECHNOBOTS!

  • S01E237 Minerva

    • June 8, 2024
    • YouTube

    Sponsored by Patreon supporter El Coronna, this week we're looking at the first female Transformer toy ever produced! From the Japanese-original series "Super-God Masterforce," these are The Basics on MINERVA!

  • S01E238 Roadbuster

    • June 22, 2024
    • YouTube

    Patreon supporter Brigadier Darman sponsors this look at a prennial member of the Wreckers - the down and dirty ROADBUSTER!

  • S01E239 TRIPREDACUS COUNCIL

    • July 6, 2024
    • YouTube

    They're the rulers of the evil Predacons and masters of the long game, preferring to bide their time, scheming in the shadows until the moment is right for them to strike! It's The Basics on the TRIPREDACUS COUNCIL!

  • S01E240 TRANSFORMERS: PRIME

    • July 20, 2024
    • YouTube

    As the 2000s were reaching their end, "Transformers" underwent a huge surge in popularity and success thanks the first live-action movie, which Hasbro were quick to capitalise on with the launch of their own TV network, which served as home to a prestigious new high-budget TF cartoon! Patreon supporter Dom Verzi sponsors this look at the making and legacy of their favourite TF show, "TRANSFORMERS: PRIME"!

  • S01E241 RAPTORICONS

    • August 3, 2024
    • YouTube

    Delving into the obscure this week with an episode sponsored by official Transformers artist Matt Frank, who wanted The Basics to look at the fanged foursome of ferocious females he created for the Transformers Collectors Club - the RAPTORICONS!

  • S01E242 STAR SEEKERS

    • August 17, 2024
    • YouTube

    Arr, matey! Back in the spotlight thanks to a new range of toys in this year's LEGACY line, it's The Basics on vengeful pirate captain THUNDERTRON and his crew of scurvy space-dogs, the Star Raiders - better known as the STAR SEEKERS!

  • S01E243 MAYHEM ATTACK SQUAD

    • August 31, 2024
    • YouTube

    Autobots beware! This week, The Basics dishes out doom 'n' destruction with a look at the worst of the worst, the Decepticons' MAYHEM ATTACK SQUAD!

  • S01E244 METROPLEX

    • September 14, 2024
    • YouTube

    This week it's a popular request from the comments, as we break down the history of the original Autobot city-former, greatest of all the Titans, Scramble City himself - METROPLEX!

  • S01E245 ORION PAX

    • October 5, 2024
    • YouTube

    Discover the origins of OPTIMUS PRIME with this special TRANSFORMERS ONE tie-in episode, unpacking the full story of the Autobot leader's early life, and the 'bot he used to be - ORION PAX!

  • S01E246 D-16

    • October 19, 2024
    • YouTube

    Discover the origins of MEGATRON with this special TRANSFORMERS ONE tie-in episode, exploring the full story of the Decepticon leader's rise to power from his humble beginnings as an ordinary 'bot named D-16!

  • S01E247 MONSTRUCTOR

    • October 26, 2024
    • YouTube

    Time for another peek into the creepy corners of the Transformers universe in a Halloween Basics about the monstrous Decepticon formed by the combination of the Pretender Monsters Birdbrain, Bristleback, Icepick, Scowl, Slog, and Wildfly - MONSTRUCTOR! Plus get the lowdown on his Japanese counterpart from "Victory,", DINOKING and the DINOFORCE, back in the headlines this year thanks to the Legacy toyline!

  • S01E248 ELITA ONE - Updated for 2024

    • November 9, 2024
    • YouTube

    Revised and re-written for 2024! Things have changed a lot for the leader of the female Autobots in the five years since The Basics originally look at her history, not least of all her recent big-screen starring role in TRANSFORMERS ONE!

  • S01E249 ULTRA MAGNUS - Updated for 2024

    • November 23, 2024
    • YouTube

    Celebrating 250 episodes with an overhauled and updated version of one of my very first character spotlight videos from over seven years ago! It's The Basics on the Autobots' greatest warrior, ULTRA MAGNUS!

  • S01E250 DEVCON

    • December 7, 2024
    • YouTube

    Obscure Characters Month 2024 kicks off with the story of the Autobot bounty hunter created for the original cartoon and kept alive by conventions!

  • S01E251 HARDTOP

    • December 14, 2024
    • YouTube

    Obscure Characters Month continues! He's far from one of the best-known Decepticons there is, but this little-heard-of Decepticon sniper has a tendency to pop up in roles of surprisingly significance just when you're least expecting him!

  • S01E252 XAARON

    • December 21, 2024
    • YouTube

    The penultimate entry in this year's Obscure Character Month returns us to the world of the original Marvel "Transformers" comic book! He's an Autobot councillor turned resistance leader turned avatar of Primus, who just this year, after nearly four decades, recieved his first ever toy. These are The Basics on EMIRATE XAARON!

  • S01E253 QUAKE

    • December 28, 2024
    • YouTube

    Bringing Obscure Characters Month 2024 to an end with the Decepticon Targetmaster whose biggest claim to fame is the fact he tends to die at the end of nearly every story he appears in! Back in the spotlight currently with his little buddies Tiptop and Heater thanks to the Legacy toyline, it's The Basics on QUAKE!

  • S01E254 SUNSTREAKER

    • January 25, 2025
    • YouTube

    Let's get back to Basics for 2025 with a video you've been asking me to do for ages! We're going right back to where it all began with the first Transformer, the coolest Countach, the self-lovin' lambo, the Autobot egotist who thinks he's the most beautiful machine to ever roll off the line -- SUNSTREAKER!

  • S01E255 HATE PLAGUE

    • February 8, 2025
    • YouTube

    This week we're looking at another of the deadly diseases of the Transformers universe, from it's introduction in "The Return of Optimus Prime" to its recent return to TV in "EarthSpark" - the roiling red rage that is THE HATE PLAGUE!

  • S01E256 TARANTULAS

    • February 22, 2025
    • YouTube

    Arachnophobes beware! This popular request from the comments returns us to the world of "Beast Wars" for a look at the history of the evil Predacon scientist, TARANTULAS!

  • S01E257 BONECRUSHER

    • March 8, 2025
    • YouTube

    From construction to destruction, from Constructicon to Beast Warrior, tiny Mini-Con to giant Combiner, bulldozer to buffalo - this 'bot does it all! Arriving just in time for his new Studio Series release, it's The Basics on the many different Transformers who have shared the name BONECRUSHER!

  • S01E258 PRIMA PRIME

    • March 22, 2025
    • YouTube

    The Age of the Primes is upon us! Come with me now back to the very dawn of Cybertron itself, for a look at the story of the first Transformer ever created by Primus! Wielder of the Star Saber, bearer of the Matrix, leader of the Thirteen Primes - these are The Basics on PRIMA!

  • S01E259 VICTORY

    • April 5, 2025
    • YouTube

    After yet another successful HasLab campaign, I thought it was time we took a closer look at the series Star Saber, Deathsaurus, and Liokaiser came from! These are The Basics on "Brave No. 0," the most popular of the Japanese-original Generation 1 anime, TRANSFORMERS: VICTORY!

  • S01E260 RAMJET

    • April 19, 2025
    • YouTube

    Keepin' it classic this week, with a look at another of the iconic Decepticon jets!

  • S01E261 TBA

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Additional Specials

  • SPECIAL 0x1 Transformers: THE BASICS trailer 2019

    • January 1, 2019
    • YouTube

    Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=284426 Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/184XB8TPQFCP Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrismcfeely Follow me on Tumblr: http://chrismcfeely.tumblr.com/

  • SPECIAL 0x4 The Untold Story of Transformers: The Movie

    • October 7, 2023
    • YouTube

    Slowly uncovered piece by piece over two decades, this special extra-length video unpacks the contents of the various draft to the original animated Transformers movie script, and charts the evolution of its story and characters! 00:00 - INTRO 00:44 - PART 1: The First Draft 22:24 - PART 2: The Secret of Cybertron 24:19 - PART 3: The Second Draft 37:58 - PART 4: Writing and Re-Writing 44:27 - PART 5: From Script to Screen