Downshift (G1)

The name or term "Downshift" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, seeDownshift (disambiguation).

Downshift is anAutobotfrom theGeneration 1 continuity family.

Downshiftis anOmnibotwho's dedicated to his job, but sometimes his superiors wish he wasn't somuchso. As both a security agent^[1][2]and a scout,^[3]he tends to think that guarding something means not just securing the object of his duty, but also actively seeking out foesbeforethey strike, whatever entanglements this may produce and however vulnerable this may actually leave his charges.

He keeps up-to-date on all the latest law enforcement and military security tactics, and his disarmament techniques are at an expert level.^[2]He takes great pride in being on the cutting edge of anti-Decepticon spy warfare, but his excitability can lead to mistakes.^[3]

He and the other Omnibots aredimension-hoppers,^[1][4]so it's unclear whether his appearances in variousrealitiesare separate entities or the same individual.

Contents 1Fiction 1.1S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers 1.2Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity 1.2.1Legendscomic 1.2.2Wars comics 1.3The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers 1.4DreamwaveGeneration Onecontinuity 1.52005 IDW continuity 2Toys 2.1The Transformers 2.2Generations(Japan) 3Merchandise 3.1Transformers Trading Card Game 4Notes 4.1Foreign names 5References

Fiction

S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers

Downshift and the other two Omnibots were featured in severalrecruitment messagesdirected athumanallies. The first message detailed the Omnibots' arrival onEarth:TheAutobotsmarooned on that planet had sent an S.O.S. toCybertron,despite not knowing if anyone would be there to receive it. Luckily, their plea was answered in the form of the Omnibots,Powerdashers,andTime Warriors.The Omnibots quickly adapted to Earth's highways, scouting for and attackingDecepticons.Reinforcements from Cybertron!This message was later repeated almost verbatim, with minor changes made to accommodate a recruitment drive forS.T.A.R.S.The battle is far from over!

The OmnibotOverdrivepersonally narrated the next message, describing how he and his comrades had turned the tide in the Autobots' favor and were gearing up to strike at hidden Decepticon bases. However,Optimus Primewas holding back until human allies had been mobilized. Overdrive seemed to be speaking specifically to military personnel, and his message segued into the activities ofG.I. JoeandCobra.Earthlings: THE S.T.A.R.S. need your help now!

The next pair of messages told the story ofJohnny,a young S.T.A.R.S. member whose town came underThundercracker's energy-draining attack. He summoned a squad ofAutobot carsas well as the Omnibots, but it is unknown how the presumed battle unfolded.Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?

The final message involving the Omnibots was delivered fromUltra Magnusto the potential new S.T.A.R.S. Commander. Magnus provided the first glimpse into Downshift's personality (that he was a security agent), then claimed that the Omnibots were "destined to fight a war in another universe on March 31, 1987" if the S.T.A.R.S. Commander did not requisition them.You Have Been Chosen.And, indeed, they were absent from all future messages.

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Legendscomic

Downshift was among the Autobots who defendedAutobot headquarterswhen the Decepticons came to steal theTransform Super Cog.Slugslinger's Ambition

Wars comics

WhenThe FallenattackedCybertronin the hopes of merging withVector Sigma,Overdrivesought additional help using the power of hisQuantum Dial.Further empowering the dial with the help of the Oracle, Overdrive reached across space and time to recruit inter-dimensional warriors, as well as his fellow Omnibots, Downshift and Camshaft.Train WarsThe Fallen assumed a combination form, however, and managed to impale Downshift and the reinforcements using energy spikes.Metroplex,theTrainbots,theTrain Team,and theLiner Teamsoon arrived to turn the tide, and the Fallen was ultimately defeated. In the aftermath, Downshift and the Omnibots returned the foreign warriors home after the battle.Train Wars 2

The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers

During a massive battle on Cybertron, Galvatron introduced his latest combining warrior,Predaking.Predaking simultaneously took outDefensor,Omega Supreme,andSuperionwith a single punch, causing much worry for the Autobots, asSky Lynxwas already engaged in battle on Earth.

From out of nowhere cameCamshaft,Downshift and Overdrive. They swiftly shifted into vehicle mode(s) and circled Predaking, tying up his legs with cable. Predaking swatted at them to no avail!

Then the Omnibots transformed into their battle modes and...droveat Predaking, which caused him to topple backwards ontoBruticus,Devastator,andMenasor,taking them all out.

The assembled Autobots cheered for these three mighty warriors of great justice.The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5

DreamwaveGeneration Onecontinuity

Downshift and his fellow Omnibots acted as guards outside the detention facility on Cybertron.Cold WarAfterShockwaveunleashed Menasor onIacon,the Omnibots were sent byUltra Magnusto stop him. They did not succeed and may have been killed by the rampaging giant.Passive Aggression

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance:Stormbringer#1

Downshift hung out with fellow Omnibot Overdrive on theAutobot Orbital Command Hubunder the command ofOptimus Prime.Stormbringer #1He remained on the Hub underSilverbolt's command, whenBlasterwas brought to them byKu'arn.Spotlight: BlasterWhenNemesis Primebroke into the Hub, Downshift was part of the defensive line to keep him at bay, but he and his teammates were called off the assault by Optimus Prime.Spotlight: Doubledealer

He later served as the security chief at theKimia Facility,and was quite proud of the "top-notch" defenses he oversaw. WhenCloudburstandGrotusquearrived for a routine inspection of the space station, Downshift took personal offense to their presence, assuming his job performance was under scrutiny. He was in the midst of telling the two to take a hike whenCyclonusand an army ofSweepsbegan laying siege to the place. Downshift managed to lament the cruel irony of the situation right before Cyclonus caved his face in.Lamentations

Toys

The Transformers

• Downshift(Omnibot,1984)

• Takara name:Camshaft
• Accessories:2 "Magnetic-Guided Rocket Launchers", "Rust Rifle"
• Known designers:Kōjin Ōno(TakaraTomy)

The TransformersDownshift (aka Camshaft in Japan) transforms into a white Toyota Celica Supra (or as it was known in Japan at the time, Celica XX) sports car. He also has a third "flight/attack" mode, which flips down his side panels, revealing mounting points for his "Magnetic-Guided Rocket Launchers", plus reveals a rooftop double-barreled blaster (which can also serve as a clip for his "Rust Rifle" ).

Early releases of Downshift have "CELICA" printed on his license plate decal. Later releases blanked this out for obvious reasons.

BothHasbroandTakarareleased him only through mail-order promotions rather than at regular retail (though in the US, some grocery store chains ultimately got bins full of them at discount). In the US, Downshift cost $5 and 4Robot Points;they first appeared in the vey first mail-away offer, "Reinforcements from Cybertron!".In Japan, he cost 980 yen and 2 Robot Points.

• More information on Downshift at TFU.info

Generations(Japan)

• Camshaft(2015)
  • Accessories:Presumably 2 wrenches, 1 shoulder launcher

A mock-up of a new Japanese "Camshaft" toy in the form of aGenerationsDeluxe ClassWheeljackredeco was shown inTransformers Generations 2014 Volume 1as one of ten potential exclusives forVol. 2.The mock-up promised that if produced, the final product would make use of someTurbo Trackstooling. During thefan pollheld to determine which of the ten would be produced, however, Downshift placed dead last, having claimed only 1% of the votes. The indignity!^[5]

Transformers(2010)mold:Tracks
Hasbro: Reveal the ShieldTurbo Tracks GenerationsWheeljack Fun Publications: TimelinesRunamuck Over-Run Turbo Tracks (Shattered Glass) TakaraTomy: UnitedUN-13Autobot Tracks UN-19Wheeljack

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Private Downshift, Special Ops•Security Agent(2019)
  • Wave 3C: Convention Pack 2019
  • Rarity:RT
  • Card Number:T02/T03
  • Stars:8

Notes

• The road to having a personality has been a long and rocky one for Downshift.
  • The bio included with his North American toy was buried in his instructions, and all it said was that the Omnibots were in the early stages of their evolution and had not yet been tested.^[6]
  • He was given his "Security Agent" function in thelast mail-in flyer that offered him,just in time for him to venture off into "another dimension." That would be the long and short of his official English-language characterization for almost twenty years.
  • In Japan,Takaradidrelease a bio with the toy, though his function of "Scout" did not match up with the American one.^[3]
  • None of this reflected the profile found in theMarvel comicbible,which was written in bothTransformers Universeform and in the pared-down style of an on-package bio (withTech Specs,even!), giving him a very different personality from any other portrayal: His function wasn't "Security Agent" or "Scout," but rather "Air Defense," and he was said to be depressed and war-weary, only grudgingly following orders. His one joy came from Earth and human children, since they were something fresh and new that had nothing to do with the millennia of war he had known.^[7]This was never officially released to the public, only seeing the light of day on The Allspark Forums in2007thanks toJim Sorenson.
  • The English-speaking public finally got an official profile for Downshift inDreamwave's 2003More Than Meets the Eyecomic.This naturally presentedanotherpersonality, which seemed to take Takara's overeagerness and apply it to Hasbro's security-agent function.
• Downshift was originally aDiaclone"Double Changer Celica XX". There are no notable differences between theTransformersandDiacloneversions, save the obvious addition offaction symbolsand the aforementioned sticker variation.

Foreign names

• Japanese:Camshaft(カムシャフトKamushafuto),Downshift(ダウンシフトDaunshifuto)

References