An episode that’s more than meets the eye!
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:
In this episode, Matt gears up for a major info dump, breaking down the origins of the Transformers franchise—turns out, it’s a bot-tastic blend of autism and lore!
We uncover that there are two canonically autistic Transformers characters—Transmutate and Geomotus. Not only are they explicitly identified as neurodivergent in the franchise, but they also embody classic autistic traits like sensory sensitivity, heightened empathy, naivety, bluntness, and difficulty with conventional social cues.
Matt and Angela also dive into the work of autistic voice actor Corey Burton, who voiced Shockwave (and also brings the Disneyland monorail and buses to life)! They explore how Shockwave’s character carries autistic coding as well.
Our two hosts transform the conversation as they explore how the franchise navigates the intersection of gender, sexuality, gender fluidity, and carving out a place in a society that can often feel a bit ableist.
“Shockwave is ultra-logical. Canonically, he has had his emotions removed so he can be more logical. He doesn’t have a face, he just has a light-up eye because you can’t read his facial expressions. Because he has a very flat face, a very flat affect, completely logical. So he is autistic coded from the start, voiced by an autistic actor [Cory Burton]. ” - Matt
“Geomotus is one of Cybertron’s most proficient geologists. A dedicated scientist, he’s happiest when he’s outdoors exploring the vast and ever-changing vistas of his home world, whether that’s spelunking into the sonic canyons or surveying the Rust Sea with the assistance of his onboard radar systems, rather than fighting the Decepticons. Unlike most Cybertronians, Geomotus is neurodivergent. In practice, this means that he’s blunt, occasionally withdrawn, and sometimes struggles with social cues.” - Matt
Did you notice how the Transformers franchise shifts gears to connect with the autistic experience? Roll out your thoughts in the comments, and use #AutisticCultureCatch to connect with fellow fans! Which traits revved up your engines in this episode?
Resources:
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transmutate_(BW)
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Perceptor_(G1)
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Geomotus
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Lost_Light
Related Episodes:
Beauty and the Beast is Autistic
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Transformers are Autistic (Episode 79)