Web Video / Transformers Have Weird Names

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"Transformers Have Weird Names" is a The Transformers fan video by Tom Schalk, released on his YouTube channel on November 22, 2023. The video format is that of an original joke story being voice-overed to the cartoon's stock footage^*Except Bumblebee is depicted using a still image of his Transformers (Film Series) incarnation for no real reason with Impact font subtitles like the one usually used in memes. The voices are mostly provided by Schalk with Solid jj providing the voices of Cliffjumper and Buttplug. Now, if you're wondering where that last name comes from...

Optimus Prime is preparing an assault on the Decepticons' outpost and assigns Cliffjumper with role of scouting ahead. To do this, Cliffjumper is partnered with a new recruit named Reacharound. While Optimus doesn't notice anything wrong with the assignment, Cliffjumper questions why is there an Autobot with a somewhat innuendo-like name, only to find out that the names of Optimus's other new recruits are even worse.

See also Tom Schalk's 2025 video "Who's the REAL Optimus Prime?".

"Transformers Have Weird Names" contains examples of:

• Ambiguously Jewish: Optimus uses the Yiddish expression "oy vey" and is implied to observe the Sabbath, but there's no explicit confirmation of him being Jewish.
• The Comically Serious: The video's humor is primarily derived from Optimus taking names like Handjob and Buttplug completely seriously.
• Euphemistic Names: Cliffjumper finds out about Autobots named Reacharound, Handjob, and finally Buttplug. The first two have a logical job-related explanation; the last one is apparently a family name. Nobody realizes the sexual nature of the names besides Cliffjumper.
• The Ghost: Although they're two of the main topics of Optimus and Cliffjumper's conversation, Reacharound and Handjob never actually appear.
• Here We Go Again!: After Cliffjumper has his breakdown, it transitions to the Decepticon outpost where Megatron reveals his newest soldier: Cock-and-Ball-Torture, a name which gives Starscream pause.
• Hypocrisy Callout: Optimus argues that Cliffjumper doesn't even have the right to call other Autobots' names weird when his name is literally "Cliffjumper" as if he jumps off cliffs all the time.
  Optimus: I've seen you drive on airstrips. Why don't we just call you Stripper??
• Innocent Innuendo: Due to his unfamiliarity with human sex slangs, Optimus keeps using Reacharound, Handjob and Buttplug's names in serious sentences as if it is normal to say things like, "Didn't have to tug Handjob like that." The only one of them to show up, Buttplug, isn't so much better.
  Buttplug: My creator was a Buttplug, his creator was a Buttplug, there's been a Buttplug in my family for centuries!
  Cliffjumper: That— that's definitely a long line of Buttplugs.
• Meaningful Name:
  • Played for laughs as Optimus technically correctly points out that Reacharound and Handjob's names are actually pretty fitting: Reacharound is a scout, someone who finds a way to "reach around" something, while Handjob is someone who "works with his hands", but completely missing the sexual alternative meaning of the names.
  • Discussed as well by Cliffjumper who tries to argue his point by pointing out the fitting meanings of Optimus, Ratchet, and Bumblebee's names (Optimus is optimistic, Ratchet fixes them up like the tool, and Bumblebee is yellow like the animal).
• Medium Blending: Played for laughs with Bumblebee being depicted with a still 3D image of his Transformers (Film Series) incarnation instead of being a 2D cartoon like everything else for no reason except to make him unnecessarily stick out.
• Non-Indicative Name: Discussed. Optimus points out that for all his complaints about names, Cliffjumper isn't someone who jumps off cliffs a lot either.^note He lives up to his name exactly once in the original cartoon, during the early season two episode, "Changing Gears", by hurling himself into a forcefield the Decepticons have set up around their device-of-the-week, an energy-gathering tower that'll blow up the sun.
• Original Character: In case you're unfamiliar with the franchise, Reacharound, Handjob, and Buttplug aren't actual Transformers character but created specifically for the video, although the last one is depicted using a Palette Swap of Windcharger.
• Palette Swap: Buttplug is depicted using Windcharger's footage but with his red parts recolored to green.
• Shout-Out: When Cliffjumper says Bumblebee is named as such because he is yellow, a brief snippet of "Black and Yellow" is suddenly played.
• Unfortunate Names: Cliffjumper becomes increasingly mortified at the existence of Autobots with names like Reacharound, Handjob and Buttplug. Optimus Prime, who's less familiar with human culture, doesn't see the problem. The ending reveals that there's a similar problem with the Decepticons, as Megatron introduces one named Cock and Ball Torture, much to Starscream's confusion.
• You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: By the time he hears there's an Autobot named "Buttplug", Cliffjumper's reaction is "Are you fucking joking?"
• You Need to Get Laid: Optimus accidentally tells Cliffjumper this when trying to assure him fellow Autobot Handjob is a nice guy he would be glad to meet, saying "You could use a Handjob in your life."