Top 5 Ugliest Transformers Toys
Saturday, October 31st, 2015 12:44am CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top ListsPosted by: william-james88 Views: 87,732
Topic Options: View Discussion · Sign in or Join to reply
Top 5 Ugliest Transformers Toys
While being aesthetically ugly is a big factor, what is important here is that it cannot be overly intentional (like Beast Wars Injector, who revels in his aesthetic). This is a list of toys that would repulse kids and adults from playing with them. Not necessarily the worst Transformers ever (although none of these are great toys, far from it), but definitely the kind that, were they alive Toy Story style, would just hang out in a corner whispering "kill me". It was actually really hard not to simply include all movie designs. The overly alien look does render several of them quite ugly, like this one...
5. Transformers (2007) Arcee
ROTF Arcee might be ugly and look as female as a big bearded guy cosplaying as Princess Leia, but the design was just so odd that it became interesting. Couldn’t say the same about 2007 Arcee. Her face and the addition of the lipstick and alien robot hair done that way makes her step right into the uncanny valley (and don't get me started on the wheel boobs). The reason she isn’t any higher is because she actually has an amazing alt mode and the transformation is pretty great too. It doesn’t take away from the fact that Springer would only date this Arcee if she put a bag over her head.

4. Transformers G1 1984 Ratchet Gallery and Ironhide
These could have been cool toys, and they were once. Back before Transformers existed, you had Diaclone, which dealt with small pilots that rode in vehicles which became mechs. Think Mighty Max, Hotwheels and power rangers all rolled into one


At least your childhood toy was initially comic accurate, not that it's a great consolation prize.
A fellow board member said it best:
Lockdownhunter wrote:Show accuracy:0%
Awesomeness:0%
Ugliness:100%
Conclusion:These toys are garbage.
By...Computron

3. Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Mixmaster and Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Demolishor
More times than needed, you'll get an almost unrecognizable alt mode in order to get a pretty cool robot mode. The reverse has not been seen as much since G1 (see above) but Mixmaster certainly fills that spot in nicely. His truck mode is great and very nicely done but it gives way to a mess of a robot. This design looks far more alien than robotic and while it may work for some people, it looks quite ugly to me. The proportions are all over the place, on purpose, and that makes the robot look like it is made up of a pile of junk (not in a good Wreck-Gar way) and you cant make heads or tails of what you are seeing at certain angles.
The same can be said for Demolishor who's robot mode is beyond bizarre. He looks like a one legged alien just begging for his life to end (a wish Optimus kindly obliged).


2. Transformers Robots In Disguise Bruticus Gallery
Oh man, speak of a face only a mother could love, here is the greatest abomination to the Bruticus name yet. It really looks like Satan and Cerebus had a child and aborted it. Both modes are atrocious and I don't get what the smart thinking was behind using the same head for the beast mode but wrapping it in ... muscle whiskers ?


1. Beast Wars Optimus Minor
Speaking of just wrapping the robot head... urgh. Here is Optimus Minor. While he is insulting to me as a Transformer, where all you have to do is turn him 180 and move his head up, it's even worse with the way you turn him from a robot to a monkey. Here is a question for you, which is which? Look at the pics. Both heads look like robot monkey heads. And the supposed Beast Mode head is worse since it has an alien edge to it both in looks and the fact that it wraps around the "robot head" like an inverse facehugger. It is like an ugly version of those mutant heads of old instead this time, the mutant head is the head of one of the modes.



I would like to thank fellow Seibertronian Cobotron for these awesome pictures.
Honourable Metions: People find Omega Supreme ugly, but I don’t get it. He is clunky, sure, but he has a fun 80s robot look to him. You know, the ones that go “beep doop beep doop” and spin their heads, like the robot in Toy Story.
Also, I would have loved to include Animated Voyager Megatron simply for his alt mode and failed cannon, but I can’t say he is uglier than those on the list. He might be a worse toy though.
Here are some other ugly faces that I think actually work in the favor of aesthetic and add rather than take away (hence why they didnt make the cut). The best examples are from beast Wars, like Injector, Iguanus and Transquitto as well as G1's Transformers G1 Repugnus who's name suggests he takes pride in his looks.

Transformers Beast Wars Metals Iguanus Gallery

This article was last modified on Thursday, March 24th, 2016 9:48pm CDT
Got Transformers News? Let us know here!
Most Popular Transformers News
Most Recent Transformers News
Posted by Hellscream9999 on October 31st, 2015 @ 1:04am CDT
I loved the cgi counterpart to demolisher, and I also think that it is a highly efficient robot mode for getting construction work done (and mangling autobots), a pair of giant arms/hands, a head to navigate, and huge wheels to get places using less energy to do it

Although my favorite movie design is the pogo stick bulldozer guy, he looked crazy awesome

Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on October 31st, 2015 @ 1:12am CDT
Don't judge me.

Posted by Grahf_ on October 31st, 2015 @ 2:14am CDT
Did nobody care about this these past 19 years or so or did nobody really notice that the hips are switched? Oh well.
And I guess I'm weird that I like the look of Demolishor and even Mixmaster in robot mode. Not all alien robots have to have human proportions or shapes for me. I think that's why I like the looks of Ax, Vixer Three and Taxxon from the Animorphs line. Centaurish robot modes needs to be a thing more often. I think the only other ones that can really do that are, coincidentally, RID Bruticus and Beast Machines Blackarachnia. I do also like the look of Bruticus although I don't have one so my opinion might change if I did. Even though I like and want that Arcee, I do agree that the "hair" or whatever that is off putting and weird.
I guess I have a thing for generally ugly Transformers.
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on October 31st, 2015 @ 3:08am CDT
I love Mixmaster too. He's got a very cool monstrous form and is highly articulaed. He's one of my fave Decepticons and I still need to re-buy that one (Another casualty of a mass selling I had to do some years ago for funds). His proportions are fine. I don't think all TFs should have strictly human-ish proportions and even then so many fail more so because they're trying but then have oddly stumpy forearms and stupidly long legs or something which really stand out as bad. Love Mixy.
So yeah those two wouldn't come anywhere near an 'ugliest' list for me. There's plenty more deserving G1, Animated (I hate the faces on those toys and the aesthetic), Unicorn Trilogy and especially Beast Wars/Machines. And then there's all those ugly toys that don't fit any main line such as the Prime & Megs that turn into shoes and stuff. The movie style is generally my fave aesthetic by far (not saying I like ALL the figures but generally most of the designs such as Prime, Bumblebee, Hound and others I find to be the coolest and most impressive incarnations of the characters) and is why I feel a bit stuck in a lull til the next film comes out and brings new toys. Yeah I buy the odd G1 update for nostalgia reasons (and even then I generally pass on most cos they're often bland or uninspired) but the movie stuff is pretty much THE Transformers line I had wanted since childhood (one reason why I never cared for the overly simplified cartoon designs and didn't much like the cartoon itself. Always liked when the earlier comics put a lil bit of the toy detail into them too like Grimlock's dino form ALWAYS looked far better when done like the toy).
I gonna go cuddle my 2007 Arcee now...

Posted by Rainmaker on October 31st, 2015 @ 4:12am CDT
Posted by RhA on October 31st, 2015 @ 6:38am CDT
Posted by ZeroWolf on October 31st, 2015 @ 7:52am CDT

TMII Igranus always screamed to me experienced warrior with that face, especially with the one good eye thing he works and the gladiator ascetic he's got going on.
Posted by Ominous Prime-Evil on October 31st, 2015 @ 8:02am CDT
Posted by Railbomb on October 31st, 2015 @ 10:17am CDT
Posted by william-james88 on October 31st, 2015 @ 11:27am CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:Poor op minor, Will you always give him a bum deali didn't realise that first movie arced wheels were supposed to represent her boobs...i always thought they were supposed to hang off her shoulders.
TMII Igranus always screamed to me experienced warrior with that face, especially with the one good eye thing he works and the gladiator ascetic he's got going on.
Well Iguanus and the others mentionned in the honourable mentions are more like the flipside to the list where they are purposely grotesque and it works. I like him quite a bit.
As for Arcee, the toy was designed to reflect the CG model below, where the wheels double as boobs. My guess is that closer to the toy's release, they realized it didnt work well and thus the marketing material for this toy had an altered transformation from the original conception.


Transformers (2007) Arcee Gallery
I will also never stop hating Optimus Minor, that toy is an abomination to the TF brand on so many facets.
Posted by Cobotron on October 31st, 2015 @ 12:33pm CDT

The monkey loves the list! He's just psyched to be #1 of something.
Posted by Deadput on October 31st, 2015 @ 1:54pm CDT
william-james88 wrote:
Well Iguanus and the others mentionned in the honourable mentions are more like the flipside to the list where they are purposely grotesque and it works. I like him quite a bit.
As for Arcee, the toy was designed to reflect the CG model below, where the wheels double as boobs. My guess is that closer to the toy's release, they realized it didnt work well and thus the marketing material for this toy had an altered transformation from the original conception.
Transformers (2007) Arcee Gallery
I will also never stop hating Optimus Minor, that toy is an abomination to the TF brand on so many facets.
Those really don't look like boobs to me yeah yeah they are aliens but they really don't.
Looks more like armor or shoulder pads to me.
Posted by Deadput on October 31st, 2015 @ 1:57pm CDT
Demolishor was one of my top 5 transformers toys when I was younger (about 13 years old then) due to how much fun to play around he was.
Posted by Optimutt on October 31st, 2015 @ 3:21pm CDT
Ironhide/Ratchet is a surprise to see on it, but in many ways, yeah, they do belong.
That Arcee... woof! What a mish-mash of crap, refuse, junk, and garbage. Sure, her transformation might be cool, and her vehicle might be beautiful, but that robot mode... Does anyone have a sword that I can use to gouge out my eyes?
I'm also really happy to see Bruticus on this list. He reminds me of a bulldog (which, oddly, my wife has an obsession with), in that he's grotesque, but there's something oddly charming about his horrendous color scheme, terrible execution, and overall ability to make you want to throw up your arms and scream "Run fer dem hills!"
Excellent list!
Posted by Nemesis Destron on October 31st, 2015 @ 3:22pm CDT

Oh yeah lets not forget Toaster-bot.


Posted by Noideaforaname on October 31st, 2015 @ 4:22pm CDT

But a good majority of this list? Ick. Bruticus and Optimus Minor just aren't done very well (which is a shame, since a Dante's Satan/Cerberus and Optimus Primal Jr. had amazing potential), and Arcee's some really weird mix of dominatrix and alien robot.
I have to wonder what everybody's favorite Autobot medic would look like today had the G1 cartoon went with a more toy-like design.
My personal "Top 5 Ugly (but not monstrously so) Transformers" would basically consist of the Beast Machines Maximal cast.
That Iguanus looks rad as hell, though, like a hired mercenary or space pirate or something. Gonna have to track one down one of these days.
Posted by BERSEKAEL on October 31st, 2015 @ 4:22pm CDT
every single beast wars transformers should be in this list.
Mixmaster and scavenger are amazing by the way, love them.
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on October 31st, 2015 @ 5:26pm CDT

Hell,
Nemesis Destron wrote:
Oh yeah lets not forget Toaster-bot.![]()
Now that is a lot uglier than 2007-Arcee!


Posted by Hellscream9999 on October 31st, 2015 @ 5:29pm CDT
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Sorry, but i gotta disagree on Arcee. her robot mode's sleek and well-proportioned. Her head, eh, I just really don't find it be all that bad, especially compared to other heads I've seen. I just see her wearing a kicky beret. And tire boobs? Not the way I've got her transformed/posed.
Hell,Nemesis Destron wrote:
Oh yeah lets not forget Toaster-bot.![]()
Now that is a lot uglier than 2007-Arcee!![]()
But he's a toaster, the troll value overpowers your well reasoned argument

Posted by RAR on October 31st, 2015 @ 5:42pm CDT
Anyway any list like this should perhaps have the Powermasters (Powered-masters) on it - those pull back and go toys were more than a bit gormless looking especially bullet bike.
Beast Machines Deluxe Optimus Primal is also a toy I always thought was somewhat unpleasant looking too . mainly the use of the clear blue - but any merits the mould might have are really hidden by the poor colour choices.
But in general something that is weird isn't always bad I think Beast Machines Basic class Scavanger is a good example of that yes he's a bit odd but he's also really good fun too.
Oh and I happen to think ROTF Skystalker is kinda Beautiful _ so much so that I own 2 blue (Smokescreen) ones and 4 of the Blackish Xbox green ones and I hope one day to track down Laserbeak too.
If you want to talk about unloved toys though I would say poor ol' 3rd Party TFC Phantom Ray is a good example of an under appreciated toy.
-------
ROTF Mixmaster suffers from the same problem as the Blazemaster mould in that you can never be quite sure when you are finished with him - how the parts are "officially" supposed to go isn't the same as what looks right - and some parts as shown seem to contradict the way the toy is designed even.
That said I do find Mixmasters oddly snail like artilllary mode sort of interesting - not that it's ever really shown or used by anyone especially but it looks like a hermit crab a bit and I find the idea interesting of a Transformer who hunkers down swings out armour plates to cover itself and then a huge cannon to fire back - that the toy can replicate that design so well interests me - even if yes Mixmasters robot mode is often more of a vague approximation than a finished defined effect.
I still find him more fiddly than ROTF Leader Optimus though less so than Leader Sentinel Prime - I can at least Transform him - where as Jetfire I've never once actually been able to get him in jet mode (and store the kibble at the same time)