Ratchet (TFA)


 * Ratchet is an Autobot in the Transformers Animated continuity family.



Ratchet is the oldest Autobot on Optimus Prime's team. He's also second-in-command. Though sporting a bit of paunch, he's a true veteran. Having served as a medibot millions of years ago in the Great War, he's the only one of the group to have seen real combat before. Old wounds, both physical and mental, have made him bitter, mostly in regards to heroism. A leader figure for his comrades, he's got a bit of a military drill sergeant aura to him. He also likes bashing Bumblebee on the head when 'Bee's being a smart-ass.

His special power is based on magnetism; he can move metal-based objects and create shields. He enjoys grumbling about almost everything, being sarcastic, and having war flashbacks, just like any old man.

He's not Kup. Honestly.

"Young bots—can't live with 'em, can't melt 'em down for spare parts."

- Ratchet, grumbling and moaning

Animated cartoon

 * Voice actor: Corey Burton (English), Horst Lampe (German)

Ratchet suffered constant flashbacks of a mission during the war in which he was sent by Ultra Magnus to recover Autobot intelligence officer Arcee, who was carrying important security codes in her memory. Shortly after finding her, the pair were captured by the Decepticon-affiliated bounty hunter Lockdown. The hunter made a habit of collecting the powers of defeated enemies as trophies and did so with Ratchet's medical EMP device. Before he could attach it, Arcee was able to pass the device to Ratchet and begged him to use it on herself to wipe the codes and preserve their safety. In the ensuing skirmish with Lockdown, the device accidentally produced a wider blast, erasing Arcee's entire memory.

In the present, Lockdown captured Optimus Prime and intended to hand him over to the vengeful remaining Decepticons for the bounty offered against him. The Autobots attempted a rescue, with Ratchet initially absent due to haunting flashbacks over his last encounter with the bounty hunter. He was forced to intervene after Lockdown eliminated Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Prowl. Ratchet was able to free his commanding officer and retrieve his EMP device, using it to send Lockdown's ship crashing back to Earth. After reinstalling Prime's stolen gadgets, the veteran finally opened up to the younger soldier.

After receiving a report on increased Decepticon activity from Teletran 1, Optimus ordered Ratchet to forcibly remove the Allspark key from Sari's possession, as it was no longer safe in the hands of a dumb stubby. Ratchet was hesitant to take the object from the girl, but followed his superior's orders with a gruff, professional "Yessir." After Sari fled the base in tears, Optimus then told Ratchet to get the key to the Autobots' ship, under Lake Erie, in order to protect the AllSpark from the Decepticons. Unfortunately, the medibot was intercepted by Decepticons Blitzwing and Lugnut, who demanded that he hand over the key. He stoically refused, challenging them to take it from his "cold, offline servo." Calm Blitzwing complied by blasting Ratchet and the surrounding scenery with an ice beam. He switched to Crazy Blitzwing, made a smart remark, and wrenched the key (and the arm holding it) from Ratchet.

Despite this handicap, the mechanic was able to break free from his icy prison, report the key's theft to Optimus, single-handedly bring the ship online (pun intended), and still participate later in the final battle against Megatron and his forces. If nothing else, Ratchet sure is determined. That or senile.

Animated
This toy is fairly accurate to the show model, right down to the chopped-off head-crest horn and the dents in the chin. It also features a veritable arsenal of fixit tools for Ratchet to hold, so you too can experience the glee of having the old coot savagely beat someone with a servo-wrench. Most notably, the "war wound" on his arm is actually a socket into which one may peg the EMP generator included with the deluxe Lockdown toy.
 * Autobot Ratchet (Deluxe, 2008)


 * Autobot Ratchet (Activators, 2008)

Trivia

 * He's not Kup.


 * The "war wound" on his left arm (seen in his main picture, above) was briefly gone after "The Thrill of the Hunt", apparently representing the replacement of his arm-mounted EMP generator. However, it has since returned in several instances.  The "real world" reason is probably the animators sticking to the original animation model.  Within story context, he could be leaving off the EMP generator so he continues to remember (on behalf of those who can't) how he originally lost it.


 * The Autobot medical officer was originally conceived as a female robot named Red Alert. The reason for the rather drastic change is unrevealed although it may have something to do with his slightly more vigorous relative as was the case with that yellow speedster.


 * He can pinch with his magnet things.