With Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hitting theaters this month, nostalgia for the franchise is at an all-time high. But as much as we love the original animated series, it wasn't without its flaws (especially in the logic department). We don't expect much realism from a cartoon about space-robots that camouflage themselves as vehicles but you've got to admit that some of the Robots In Disguise were kinda silly. Here's StreetLevel's in-depth look at the Transformers' ten most absurd characters.

Read more after the jump.



10) The Dinobots

In the minds of young boys throughout the 80s, the Dinobots were akin to a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, because like chocolate and peanut butter, they combined the better elements of two awesome worlds; dinosaurs and robots. But in hindsight they served no purpose other than to fuel toy sales. If we're really to believe the "Robots in Disguise" premise, then what the hell are Grimlock his merry band of half-witted robots supposed to be disguised as? Fixtures from a retro-futuristic amusement park?

9) The Seekers (Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge)

If you can already fly in robot mode (as The Seekers frequently did), then why you need to transform into a jet? It wasn't like there was ever an occasion where any of The Seekers infiltrated an air-craft carrier, stayed dormant and then attacked at the right time in order to ensure Decepticon victory over mankind. Had that been the case, Hasbro could have wrapped up the series after a few episodes.


8) Reflector

Transformers are massive sentient robots that crash-landed millions of years ago on Earth. They have the ability to manipulate their forms, change their mass and build other functioning robots. And how do they perform reconnaissance? By using three transformers that combine to form one quasi-capable camera.



7 )The Insecticons

The Insecticons were much like the Dinobots, except they were insects that terrorized farms and nowhere as cool. Seriously, the only kids who enjoy playing with bugs when given the choice of playing with dinosaurs are the ones that grew up to become serial killers.

6) Optimus Prime's Trailer

Prime's trailer raises many points about how much the creators of the show liked to insult the intelligence of their audience. Every time Optimus Prime went from truck to robot, the trailer just disappeared off screen. Where it went, no one knows. Our best guess is that it went off to a cheap, knock off world where logic was deemed irrelevant. In other words, it went to chill with the GoBots.

5) Scorponok

According to The Bombay Natural History Society, the largest scorpion in the world is about 9.75 inches in length. Scorponok, who was part of the Headmasters series and doubled as a Decepticon base, is the size of a large military outpost. If you're that size, you don't need to transform into anything – especially not a bug. And while we're on the subject, what was the deal with the Headmasters? We're all for the humans going the cyborg route, but folding like a paper clip to take on the Headmasters form only works if you've taken out many ribs, Marilyn Manson style.


4) Blaster

Like the Autobot Jazz, Blaster was a classic combination of late 70s/early 80s black stereotypes. Speaking in rhyme and really into funky music, Blaster reinforced the notion that Japanese toy designers and animators regarded the African-American population as nothing more than extensions of the cast of Dolomite.


3) Sharkticons

Part of the Quintesson army, the Sharkticons were one of the Transfomers that reinforced the notion of Transfomers: The Movie, well, jumping the shark. Shaped the like Rick Ross of the Transformers universe, they were only somewhat effective on land in their robot form. If you were unfortunate to encounter them in the water, you could simply move to the shallow end, where they'd probably grow tired of chasing you and go back to being the most irrelevant/ambiguous animal characters in the series.


2) Rodimus Prime

When Optimus Prime was laid to rest in Transformers: The Movie as a way to clear out old toys and sell new ones advance the series, the writers turned race-car Hot Rod into a recreational vehicle Rodimus Prime. Because the best way to succeed the most loved figured in the history of 80s cartoons is by replacing him with leader whose alternate form was a flaming mobile home.

1) Megatron

The quintessential robotic personification of bad-ass, the original Decepticon leader was ruthless, cunning and led a fearless army. In robot form, he was nearly unstoppable. In his alternate form as a Walther P38 handgun, he was just the opposite. Somehow, Megatron was able to shrink down and in order to be effective, had to be fired by another robot. It's almost like his transformation was a reverse erection coupled with circuitry impotence.

UPDATE: If you need to brush up on your Autobot and Decepticon knowledge prior to seeing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, check out Moviefone's Guide to the Robots.

BONUS: If you thought those Transformers were ridiculous, check out these new Transformer-based tech gadgets:
Transformers Qosmio Netbook USB Hub
Ravage Transformer USB Flash Drive