Since the franchise’s TV inception, Megatron has served as the top villain ofTransformers. A powerful, dastardly Decepticon, the classic rogue has led the sinister machines into all kinds of villainous shenanigans over the years.
With so many animated series and cinematic adaptations of the beloved toy line over the years, Megatron has enjoyed a variety of interesting designs. From surprisingly humanoid shapes to the monstrous, rust and bolts aesthetic of the Michael Bay films,Optimus Prime’s nemesishas come in many shapes and sizes. What is a constant across all of his looks is his penchant for chaos and destruction, adding to his status as Transformers’ most recognizable antagonist.
6Transformers: Animated
An Intimidating, Excessive Take On The Classic Look
The over-the-top anatomy ofTransformers: Animated’s animation style suitsthe often wild villainy of Megatronperfectly. The series sees a neat combination of G1 elements with a sleeker style for the Decepticon head honcho.
Sporting an enormous cannon, a spikier take on the classic helmet, and baleful, red eyes,Megatron is a suitably imposing figure here. This rendition can transform into both a tank and a jet, sporting notable similarities to the Cybertronian vehicles the character used in the Michael Bay movies, the first of which had proven to be a big hit earlier that year.
5Transformers: The War for Cybertron Trilogy
A Richly-Detailed, Emotive Take On Megatron.
This surprisingly human aesthetic brought Megatron’s facial expressions to life in a way no other series has managed.War for Cybertronprovides fans with a slick update on the classicG1design.
Along with the more detailed, humanized face, Megatron’s armoralso gets an update. Rich in line work and signs of battle damage,the classic villain’s appearancehere conveys his status as a battle-hardened leader. Overall, this aesthetic is a fine middle ground between old and new, serving as a unique greatest hits collection of Megatron’s looks and styles over the years.
4Transformers: The Unicron Trilogy (Armada, Energon, Cybertron)
A Powerful, Heavily Weaponized Upgrade.
The Unicron trilogyprovided viewers with a colorful re-imagining of Megatron’s appearance. Instead of the classic silver get-up, the arch Decepticon was given a surprising, eye-catching, fresh coat of purple.
When powered up, Megatron’s larger-than-life aesthetic is cranked up to 11 as he reaches his Galvatron form. Galvatron, in this instance, is a far less dark and grim situation for the classicTransformersvillain than in the controversial ‘80s film. Serving as a peak-power level Megatron, the powerhouse Galvatron is a whole new level of trouble for the Autobots to contend with. Full of armor and weapon updates, this rendition of the character proved to be both off-beat and explosively memorable.
3Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The Bayverse Offered Fans An Especially Monstrous Megatron.
In 2007,the long-awaited live action treatmentof the beloved franchise finally arrived. With it came a new, incredibly detailed, surprisingly realistic take on how the Transformers might look in reality.
For Megatron, this meant an enormous, spiky, dark silver exterior. With red eyes and sharp teeth, this suitably evil Megatron is bolstered by Hugo Weaving’s distinctive voice work for the character. With his angular helmet and alien spacecraft transformation, this Megatron is one of the most memorable, imaginative takes on the character out there. While the nuts and bolts style was met with a polarized reception from fans at the time,the quality of the effects and actionhere are undeniable.
2Transformers G1
The First Animated Megatron Remains Influential To This Day.
The classic original can transform into two very different forms. On his home planet of Cybertron,the always dangerous frontman of the Decepticonstakes the relatively conventional form of a battle tank.
On Earth, however, he’ll shrink down into a Walther P38 pistol. This surprising transformation allows him to be wielded by other Transformerswith suitably deadly force. Aesthetically, the silver and black design is simple but distinctive, ensuring a straightforward, appropriate style of armor for the villainous machine. His devastating fusion cannon and distinctive helmet add more menace to his exterior, helping him to further stand out as the show’s lead bad guy.
1Transformers: Prime
The Most Sinister, Impactful Design Of The Character Yet.
This more alien-like design proved tobe a big hit with audiences. The appearance bears several similarities to theG1classic, including silver armor, a helmet, and a fusion cannon.
Where the original looked relatively humanoid in shape, however,thePrimeversion is more of a monster. With a sharp-toothed, angry scowl and over-the-top physical anatomy, this rendition of Megatron is considerably more beastly to look at. Considering the character’s general cruelty and style, the horror-esque updates bring a lot more villainous life to the classic Decepticon. The character further benefits from his fallen hero origin in the series, adding a surprising level of tragic nuance to his intimidating style and presence.
