Who came up with decepticon/autobot term?

Discussion in 'Transformers General Discussion' started by brucewayne, Dec 4, 2014.

  1. brucewayne

    brucewayne Active Member

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    As the title suggest, who coined the term decepticons and autobots? And what was the inspiration behind these names?

    Also it'd be nice if someone could point the origin of the name optimus prime and megatron.

    appreciate your input.
     
  2. Bumblebee765

    Bumblebee765 Wrecker

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    Optimus Prime comes from Latin, Optimus meaning "best", and Prime coming from "primus", meaning "best". Also, Orion Pax comes from the mythological hunter, Orion, and the Latin word "pax", meaning "peace". :wink:  Sorry I don't have anything for the others! That's just a little piece of trivia I've always loved. I think the names of most of the Primes come from Latin, actually.
     
  3. Autovolt 127

    Autovolt 127 Get In The Titan, Prime!

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    Megatron came from Megaton as in bombs. Hasbro almost nixed the name suggestion until Budiansky reminded them that he's the villain.
     
  4. brucewayne

    brucewayne Active Member

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    I meant to ask, who came up with these terms? Was it Hasbro or someone in particular?
     
  5. The Barracuda

    The Barracuda Retro, bitches.

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    Probably Bob Budiansky, who created most of the original characters names and bios, but I could be mistaken.
     
  6. Purple Heart

    Purple Heart Some other time..

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    Yep, He was going to be Guzzle.
    Mainly the guys at Hasbro, theres one man who wrote the bible in pretty much a week (but I can't remember his name.)

    But yeah, Hasbro came up with them. Of course all the names are derived from prexisting words, Like Megatron being a mix of Megaton and Electronic.
    Soundwave and Ratchet are pretty self explanatory.
    Somes names were borrowed from Hasbro other franchises and vice gersa like BeachComber, Sea Spray, Discord, Roadblock. ETC.

    Yeah, this guy. They talked about him in the 25th anniversary DVD sets.
     
  7. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    The names "Autobots" and "Decepticons" came from Griffin Bacal, the advertising agency that worked with Hasbro at the time.

    The name "Autobot" might have been derived from the name "Auto Robot" that was used by GiG, the Italian licensee of Takara's Diaclone toys.

    http://tfsource.com/blog/the-chicken-or-the-gig-part-1/
     
  8. moreprimeland

    moreprimeland Optimus told me to do it!

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  9. G1Prowl

    G1Prowl Prick, apparently

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    Didn't Denny O'Neill come up with the name Optimus Prime? And maybe one or two other things that they kept from when he worked on it?
     
  10. Thelonicon

    Thelonicon Well-Known Member

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    Budiansky attributed the name to O'Neil, but O'Neil himself doesn't actually remember coming up with it. I can actually confirm that bit first hand when I lucked out and got to go to dinner with him and the organizers of a local con back in October. I thanked him for coming up with the name, and he replied "People keep telling me that, but I just don't remember it."
     
  11. brucewayne

    brucewayne Active Member

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    thanks for your input guys. is there a documentary on the origins of transformers? that would be nice.

    i've been a fan since little and just recently it occured to me, where did all these iconic, fantastic and fitting names came from?

    if you think about it, it's truly amazing. you'd have to come up with names that are
    unique, yet readily identifiable with certain character and conjures a certain image. And these names are timeless. 50 years from now, I'm certain Optimus Prime will remain Optimus prime, even if his looks evolve.

    What were the inspiration behind these names? You might take it for granted but a name gives something "life" and meaning. Can you imagine Optimus Prime being called sth else? I can't. For that, I am very thankful to Mr. O'Neil. His spark of inspiration behind the name may have well gave Optimus his spark that inspire us all.