The Dinobots are an Autobot team that transforms into mechanical dinosaurs. In the classic cartoon they were built by Wheeljack, the Autobots' engineer and inventor.
The idea
In the episode 'S.O.S. Dinobots' (1985), Wheeljack, inspired by fossils of Earth's dinosaurs, builds robots meant to be invincible warriors. Optimus doubts the plan, and rightly so: the Dinobots prove too strong and too stubborn to follow orders.
Who's on the team
The classic line-up is Grimlock (tyrannosaurus), Slag (triceratops), Sludge (brontosaurus), Snarl (stegosaurus) and Swoop (pteranodon). Names and species change slightly between versions, but Grimlock always remains the leader.
Father and children
Wheeljack's relationship with the Dinobots is often shown as a creator with unruly children: he's responsible for them though he can't control them. That gives the inventor drama — his greatest achievement is also his biggest problem.
In the films
The Dinobots debuted in live action in Age of Extinction (2014), though with a different origin. Wheeljack himself appeared in Dark of the Moon as a scientist nicknamed 'Que'.
