Ratchet (Movie)


 * Ratchet is an Autobot from the Movie continuity family.

Ratchet, the Autobots' medic, is probably the bravest of them all. He'll risk his life to pull any wounded comrade from the battlefield. Indeed, he did not join Optimus Prime's team to be a soldier; rather, he's there to save lives, and thinks Prime is the best chance the universe has for peace.

A medic who dislikes violence, Ratchet's well-armed appearance is more due to being an improviser with surgical tools, such as his buzzsaw. When combat is unavoidable, he can employ these makeshift weapons with surprising agility for his size.

8:Hungarian name: Racsni
 * Chinese name (Taiwan): Fēi Lúen (飛輪, "Flying Wheel")

Transformers Magazine
Ratchet used to be a politician, Optimus Prime's chief liaison to the High Council of Ancients. He tried to find a peaceful solution to the civil war, and when this failed, he became a battlefield medic.

He would later be one of three Autobots who tried to prevent Megatron from reaching the All Spark. However, they hadn't expected Devastator to be demented enough to set off a foldspace warhead at pointblank range, a weapon that warped everyone to different parts of the galaxy. Ratchet found himself stuck in the middle of a genocidal alien war that uncomfortably mirrored Cybertron's own. By challenging and defeating the local tyrant, he became ruler of the Thraal faction. He then ordered a ceasefire and oversaw an interim alliance, effectively bringing peace to the planet single-handed. He then set up a homing beacon in the hope of getting rescued.

Ironhide eventually detected the beacon, and the two began searching for Jazz when he didn't show. They rescued him from a predatory alien planet and then returned to Cybertron.

Decades later and immediately following the death of Megatron, Ratchet and his comrades were attacked by zombie Decepticons. After being briefly smacked aside in the fight, it occurred to Ratchet that the corpses were being animated by All Spark energy stolen from the animated human machines, and this knowledge turned the tide before the Autobots were wiped out.

In an alternate timeline in which the Decepticons won at Mission City, Ratchet was part of the outnumbered human-Autobot resistance in the conquered United States of America. Along with Ironhide, he infiltrated a Decepticon facility to stop them using the All Spark to transform Earth, and he reluctantly decided to let the All Spark be destroyed if it was the only way to save Earth. Unfortunately, Bonecrusher let them into the facility to kill them! Ratchet's quick tactical thinking (absorbing nearby ore to reform his offensive weaponry and armour) immediately turned the tide against the Decepticon, but only the arrival of Arcee and her crew stopped him from being gunned down by Swindles. Despite this, drone numbers were against them, and Ratchet didn't believe they could pull off a victory until he noticed a way to bypass the All Spark's defensive forcefield and destroy the Cube with regular weaponry. Ratchet did this, saving Earth at the cost of the All Spark, though he begged for forgiveness as he destroyed it.

To his relief, a fragment of the All Spark had survived. Optimus, worried about the fragment being corrupted by exposure to Megatron, made Ratchet its guardian. However, in the face of great Decepticon numbers, Ratchet took an unauthorised risk and used the fragment to bring Jazz back to life. The fragment's corruption meant Jazz was brought back amoral and self-serving, and Ratchet was left distraught at what he'd done.

Transformers (2007 film)

 * Voice actor: Robert Foxworth (English) Jin Urayama (Japan), Jan Spitzer (German), Alain Dorval (french)

Hearing Bumblebee's call for assistance, Ratchet and the other Autobots under Optimus Prime's direct command came to Earth, with Ratchet crashing into a storefront. As emergency crews and bystanders observed the wreckage, Ratchet assumed the vehicle mode of a nearby Hummer H2 rescue vehicle and drove away.

Ratchet linked up with Ironhide and Jazz, then made their way to a deserted alley to meet up with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and their new human friends. After being introduced as the unit's medical officer, Ratchet remarked that his sensors indicated that Sam's pheromone levels suggested he wanted to mate with Mikaela. (Neither Sam nor Mikaela appreciated this comment.) He also explained how Bumblebee's voicebox was damaged and that he had been having trouble fixing it for some time.

Following Sam to his house, Ratchet and their other Autobots unwittingly caused much destruction to the Witwicky yard and stress to Sam when they attempted to help the boy look for his grandfather's glasses. After Sam told them to hide, Ratchet accidentally walked into some power lines, which shocked him enough to make him fall onto a greenhouse. Ratchet found the experience tingly and suggested to Ironhide that he try it, and Ironhide sarcastically mused that it looked fun, but unfortunately, it had caused a neighborhood-wide blackout, making the search for the glasses much more difficult. Ratchet attempted to help by activating his powerful floodlights, which only succeeded in making the parents investigate Sam's room. When Ironhide remarked that Sam's parents were annoying and requested Prime's permission to "take them out", the normally peaceful Ratchet nodded vigorously and pointed Ironhide's left cannon at the house. Maybe that power surge did more damage than suspected.

Soon, Sam, Mikaela and his parents were captured by the mysterious Sector Seven. Ratchet and the other Autobots totally outclassed the S7 agents by instantly disarming them of their weapons, then rescuing the boy and his girl. Their dramatic escape was to be short-lived, and Bumblebee was captured while saving his human friends' lives. The next morning, the remaining Autobots gathered to discuss their options. Whether through intuition or some technological means, Ratchet announced that the Decepticons were preparing to make their move. Optimus Prime declared that if they could not defeat the Decepticons, he would fuse the All Spark with his own spark, hopefully destroying it. Ratchet cautioned him against this action, as the raw power of the artifact would likely kill him. Prime replied that it was his own choice, and to save the humans from destruction and the mistakes of the Transformers, it was a sacrifice that he was willing to make. Inspired by his words, the Autobots headed to Hoover Dam, before encountering Bumblebee leading a column of Sector Seven vehicles headed in the opposite direction.

As the large group arrived in Mission City, it was attacked by Starscream, with the explosion crippling Bumblebee. At the same time, Devastator attacked the surviving human soldiers, prompting Ratchet and Jazz to engage the large Decepticon. As Jazz destroyed one of Brawl's rocket pods, Ratchet used his buzzsaw to slice off the tank's left arm.

Captain Lennox ordered Sam to take the All Spark to the rooftop of a nearby, run-down building so he could pass the cube to a military helicopter that would soon arrive. Ratchet and Ironhide volunteered themselves to protect Sam as he made his escape. Unfortunately, the villainous Starscream swooped down to block Sam's path, forcing the Autobots to engage him in a rather one-sided battle that left them both damaged. Ratchet and Ironhide collapsed, and Sam had to continue on his own.

After the defeat of Megatron and the destruction of the All Spark, Ratchet somberly informed Optimus Prime that he could not save the fallen Jazz. Later, as Optimus declared that Earth was their new home and that his team would be waiting for any surviving Autobots to gather there, Ratchet spent the remainder of the day observing Sam and Mikaela making out on the hood of Bumblebee's vehicle mode.

On-package bio
Ratchet, despite what he said previously, fixed Jazz up just fine. He also learned a little more about Earth and decided to change to what he felt was a more typical "rescue" deco. The new look feels more natural to him.

Transformers The Game (console)
Voice actor: Fred Tatasciore

Autobot Campaign
The only non-playable Autobot, he shows up in movie sequences from time to time. He's completely absent in the Decepticon campaign.

Transformers Autobots
A part of Optimus Prime's force on Earth, Ratchet stayed on the sidelines until Bumblebee came racing into Tranquility with Blackout on his tail. Intercepting him from a skyscraper's rooftop, Ratchet managed to defeats Blackout, sending him crashing down. However, he tells Bumblebee that Blackout is out "for a little while", which implies that Blackout survived.

Transformers Decepticons
Ratchet does very little. (Noticing a trend here?) He comes in to attack the Decepticon Create-a-bot in the Army base. After a short fight, he escapes. He makes no other appearances, and so is one of the three characters (the other two being Megatron and Brawl) to survive the game. He's in a spot of bother now, then.

Transformers (PSP)
Ratchet appears at the beginning to train Optimus Prime in how to be a robot, and then disappears for the remainder of the game. Plus, he sounds about a millennium younger.

Legends Class toys

 * Autobot Ratchet (Legends Class, 2007)
 * Japanese name: EZ Collection Ratchet




 * An inexpensive, small-scale version of Ratchet, he remains relatively faithful to his vehicle mode (though highly simplified), but transforms very differently due to his simplicity. In robot mode he has a faux truck-front chest that's more faithful to the CGI design than the Voyager toy's chest, but the rest of his robot mode is (understandably) inaccurate and limited in articulation.


 * The original production run of the toy sported a significantly wrong shade of green. A running change variant that quickly replaced the original version corrected the error, now sporting the same shade of green as the Voyager Class toy. Still, the color variant was not limited to the US market, as both versions also popped up in Europe. Japan, however, got stuck with the original, off-color version.


 * Rescue Ratchet vs. Decepticon Brawl (Legends "Allspark Battles" two-pack, 2007)


 * Released as part of the AllSpark Battles refresh of the Movie toyline, Legends class Rescue Rarchet is, naturally, a redeco of the previously-released Legends class Ratchet in his white Generation 1-inspired colours. He comes packed with an all-new sculpt Legends class Brawl.

Voyager Class toys

 * Autobot Ratchet (Voyager Class, 2007)
 * Japanese ID number: MA-02




 * One of the most inaccurate Voyager-class toys, Voyager Movie Ratchet transforms into a AM General Hummer H2, customised as a fire search and rescue vehicle. Mostly accurate to the prop vehicle (though the wheels and emergency light bar are incorrect), Ratchet is missing some sculpted detailing for the rear doors and lights, as this is where his knee joints are situated. Ratchet is also missing significant amounts of paint applications, with unpainted wheels, emergency tools, and light details, as well as a underpainted face, resulting in a rather monochromatic toy.


 * During transformation, unfolding his legs will activate his Automorphing feature, which folds out his kneepads and feet, and 'bulges' out two small panels along his inner calves. In robot mode, Ratchet is bulkier than his CGI movie design, with larger, blockier limbs, evoking a more 'traditional' Transformers appearance. As such, his chest does not compress into the slimmer CGI model. He features a reasonable amount of articulation, though his windshield halves and the rear brush guards may occassionally interfere with his arms and legs.


 * The only Autobot to not feature a ranged weapon, Ratchet's right forearm unfolds into an axe (based upon a weapon concept study), and the removable rollbar/roof rack can either be mounted on his left arm as a shield, or stored on his back, but it is mainly used as a claw when the switch on it slides back and forth.


 * Oddly, although Ratchet's thumbs are articulated, space is so restricted that they are all but useless. His left thumb can only move a millimeter due to his wrist armour getting in the way. His right thumb does have more space to move, but pushing it will invariably disengage the fold-out axe from his forearm.


 * Rescue Ratchet (Voyager Class, 2007)




 * Rescue Ratchet is an extensive redeco based in part upon Generation 1 Ratchet's Marvel comics appearance. Aside from the deco and name change, the toy is otherwise the same in functionality to the previous Voyager class release.


 * Oddly for a deco described as being more likely for the type of vehicle, Rescue Ratchet's vehicle mode--a fire search and rescue vehicle--is prominently labeled "AMBULANCE."


 * Autobot Ratchet (Best Buy exclusive "Premium Series" Voyager Class, 2007)




 * Ratchet was one of the first figures in the Premium Series, released on October 16th, 2007 exclusively at Best Buy for the lauch of the Transformers movie DVD. Ratchet's main plastic has been changed to a metallic yellow, with an additional coat of metallic yellow paint over the top of those parts (and others), resulting in a much more accurate colour scheme in relation to the actual Movie character and prop vehicle.


 * Ratchet was presented in robot mode, within a special display package similar in shape to the packaging for the Hasbro release of Generation 1 Masterpiece Starscream. Even though Hasbro officially considers him as part of the Premium Series, this is not indicated anywhere on the packaging, as the Premium Series wasn't officially announced until after Ratchet and Megatron had already been released to stores.

Fast Action Battlers

 * Axe Attack Autobot Ratchet (Fast Action Battler, 2007)
 * Japanese ID number: QC-03




 * Rescue Torch Ratchet (Fast Action Battler, 2008)



Cyber Slammers

 * Autobot Ratchet (Cyber Slammer, 2007)




 * Cyber Slammers Ratchet is a cute little super-deformed Hummer H2 that transforms into a cute little super-deformed Autobot medical officer. 'Slam' his robot mode down into van mode and he rolls along, slowly transforming back up into vehicle mode. Like most Cyber Slammers, Ratchet manages to cram most of his vehicle mode's major details into a compact, super-deformed version of that mode.

Titanium Series

 * Autobot Ratchet (3" Robot Masters, 2007)




 * Titanium Ratchet is a die-cast metal and plastic figurine, with an accurate sculpt based on the CG model owing to the fact he doesn't need to transform. Being a figurine, he only has articulation in his shoulders, neck and waist. For some odd reason most of his face is left unpainted. Ratchet comes with a Movie-style Autobot symbol display stand.

Merchandise

 * Ratchet AllSpark Blaster (2008)



Unleashed

 * Autobot Ratchet and Autobot Jazz (2008)


 * The Ratchet and Jazz turnaround is a 3D sculpture of the two characters, both in robot mode, emerging from rubble and explosions, with a movie-accurate sculpt (compared to the various transforming toys). The 'turnaround' aspect of these sculptures simply means one can turn the piece around to display a raised-relief of the movie-style Autobot sigil instead.


 * This product's release was cancelled for the US market, but was released in Australia and in Asia.

Trivia

 * According to Meet the Autobots, Ratchet has X-ray vision, which lets him see for miles.


 * He also has the Autobot logo on his vehicle form, seen on both doors.


 * He apparently has Mickey ears on his chest.


 * In the hardcover Movie Guide, it is noted that Ratchet can cannibalize his own parts for emergency treatment of a patient. (He carries within him redundant systems for such situations.) He can also tow up to 300 lbs over his own weight in vehicle form, and his specialization isn't listed as being a medic, but in actually getting to the wounded.


 * In the hardcover Movie Guide it is noted that Ratchet is one of the few Autobots that could conceivably give Megatron a decent fight one-on-one before being dismembered and fed upon.


 * Although Ratchet is enlisted as medic, he has a variety of weapons. His Voyager-class toy has an axe and a forearm claw. His Fast Action Battler toy has an axe that fires missiles. And in the movie, he is shown as having a buzzsaw and two machine guns (though the second only appears in one scene). Huh. Surprisingly well armed for someone who doesn't like to fight.


 * In the Transformers guide to the movie, the book proclaims that "Ratchet carefully chose his landing site to avoid loss of human life." Yet he is seen crashing in the middle of the street, causing fires and several minor explosions. Maybe Ratchet thought he was avoiding loss of human life.


 * Ratchet's toy packaging proclaims he has an "Automorph Forearm Cannon". However, the toy obviously lacks this weapon.  At the Hasbro Tour during Botcon 2007, an early resin prototype of Ratchet was displayed during a slide show, with similar callouts.  Presumably, the forearm cannon was attempted, but dropped due to either engineering issues or cost.


 * In the film, a part of Ratchet's transformation involves his entire upper body rotating around. The toy does not do this, but Ironhide's does.


 * According to this chart, Ratchet was originally going to be a red and white GMC ambulance. This was probably changed as to allow Optimus Prime to be the predominantly red robot.


 * Robert Foxworth, as Ratchet, is credited in the film just after Mojo. Harsh. Especially as Ratchet had the film's best line.


 * Contrary to what is implied or outright stated by everything from the Rescue Ratchet deco to the words of the moviemakers themselves, Ratchet is not, in fact, an ambulance.