On the surface, Transformers is a series about robots fighting robots. The focus is heavily on the fun and action-fueled scenes of Autobots versus Decepticons. However, an often overlooked and otherwise hated aspect of the Transformers series is that of the human characters. These human characters are essential for the live-action films, and the subsequent cartoons and comics, to help audiences latch to real-world drama.
It's hard to have entire arcs dedicated to Optimus Prime fighting Megatron. Sometimes, human characters are essential to the story and help the characters see the good in organic life. Their drama can make for quite the intrigue too.
8 Sir Edmund Burton
Known as the Last of the Order of the Witwiccans, Sir Edmund Burton exploded audiences’ minds with the bountiful knowledge of just how long Cybertronians have existed on planet Earth. His character is a lot of fun in this wild universe, and he fears no politician nor Decepticon, no matter the risk and power before him.
There isn’t anything that Sir Edmund Burton does not know when it comes to the Autobots and Decepticons, and he even has many grand artifacts. One of these artifacts is the Cybertronian watch that killed Adolf Hitler, an entirely bizarre concept that only works in Transformers.
7 Robert Epps
Robert Epps’ first meeting with a living machine from the stars was not a pleasant one. Upon a return to the SOCCENT Forward Operations Base, Robert Epps and his fellow soldiers in the US Army Ranger squad were attacked by a Decepticon known as Blackout. The next day, another ambush saw a fight with the Decepticon known as Scorponok.
Throughout the Transformers films, Robert Epps has come to terms with the evil of the Decepticons, and their much-needed demise, whilst maintaining a friendship with the Autobots. He’s a heroic character, who can be funny and charismatic at times.
6 Mikaela Banes
The introduction to Mikaela Banes was as the typical pretty girlfriend of the bully, yet she quickly proved herself as more. She’s incredibly intellectual and knowledgeable about cars and knows how to fix them. Her compassion for others also shines, as she further develops an intimate relationship with Sam Witwicky, and a close friendship with the Autobots, especially Bumblebee.
Mikaela is not afraid to get into the action and has even gone on her adventures to try and help Sam and the Autobots. She’s seen explosions, gunfire, and death, whilst actively being involved in many. She’s courageous, and a great ally to have for a war against the Decepticons.
5 Colonel William Lennox
Few human characters have come into contact with a Decepticon and lived, and even fewer have a job of killing them. William Lennox is a proud US army member who has been in four of the Transformers movies. His role progresses in each, as a veteran of the Autobots versus Decepticons war.
He’s straight edge, loyal, and very knowledgeable of the Decepticons thanks to his experience. Lennox will always prioritize the right thing, rather than what his superiors command him to do. Lennox is brave, brave enough to battle Decepticons with nothing but a machine gun at hand.
4 Charlie Watson
As the human protagonist in the Bumblebee movie, Charlie Watson receives a decent amount of screen time. Charlie is a young woman, who feels lost in a large world, and craves the freedom that an adult is not shackled to. However, when she finds Bumblebee, she’s thrown into a spiral of a larger galaxy than she could ever expect.
Charlie’s relationship with Bumblebee is the standout of the movie, and she treats him with the love and cares the damaged Autobot deserves. She’s the type of human character that Transformers benefits from, due to her real-world drama, and love of Bumblebee.
3 Seymour Simmons
The chief agent of Sector Seven’s field agents has quite the showmanship. Seymour Simmons is a fun character in the Transformers series, and his introduction to audiences is less than flattering, as he was urinated on by Bumblebee. However, it’s just one of the many funny scenes involving Simmons, as he is rather eccentric and weird, but serious when it calls for it.
Despite initial appearances as somewhat of a jerk, Simmons is a true patriot of his country, who takes his work professionally and seriously. He is very knowledgeable of the threat of both Autobots and Decepticons and isn’t afraid to stand against them.
2 Cade Yeager
A hopeless and broke inventor from Texas finds quite the payload when he stumbles upon Optimus Prime in hiding. Cade Yeager may invent some strange things, but it comes from a good place. Cade is a loving father, who just wants to sell his inventions to make enough money to pay his debts and put his young daughter, Tessa, through college.
As a family man, there’s nothing Cade won’t do for the safety of his daughter. However, over the events of the Transformers films, his loyalty extends past his blood, and to that of the Autobots in hiding. With Cade’s help, the Autobots can free themselves from extinction.
1 Sam Witwicky
The first live-action Transformers trilogy featured Sam Witwicky as the human protagonist. Sam frequently ends up in dangerous situations, where he will be caught amid the crossfire of a war between Autobots and Decepticons. Despite his unadventurous personality, he has the makings of a brilliant leader.
Sam Witwicky did everything in his power to bring Optimus Prime back from the dead, whilst also dying himself in the process. His character may not seem like the most heroic, but that’s what makes him so special. “LadiesMan217” is a great friend to the Autobots, and has even faced Decepticons by himself.