The first episode ofTransformers: Cyberworldofficially premiered on YouTube in July 2025. Produced by Omens Studios and Hasbro Entertainment, the series introduces fan-favorite characters into a new, game-like universe. However, what fans might not have noticed is a hidden Easter Egg in a quick, easily missed scene in the pilot episode.
In the middle of the episode, fans can see an oddly familiar scene fromDragon Ballthat references a moment that became one of anime’s most well-known memes. During the Saiyan Saga, Yamcha is left lifeless in a crater after a Saibaman self-destructs. It’s an image that, despite its tragic context, quickly became one of the series’ most popular memes.
The Transformers Reimagined the Iconic Dragon Ball Z Meme
Bumblebee’s Introduction References Yamcha’s Death Scene
Transformers: Cyberworldfollows Optimus Prime, Megatron, and other classic characters, including Bumblebee, after they’re isekai’d into a new realm called Cyberworld. The series primarily targets a younger audience but can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages.
Tucked into the first episode, with just a few frames, is theDragon Ball Zvisual gag that anime fans will recognize instantly. When Bumblebee is introduced to the series, he is briefly shown lying motionless in a crater with limbs curled inward, in the same pose Yamcha was in when he was taken down early on in battle.
Down to the placement and posture,Transformers: Cyberworldrecreates the moment Yamcha begins to lose relevance and becomes one of the most circulated memes in anime.Although it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene, its inclusion speaks toDragon Ball’sinfluence on pop culture.The animators clearly knew what they were doing, and the shot is a deliberate nod to the anime.
Yamcha’s Death Has Been Referenced in Countless Media
Yamcha Isn’t the Most Powerful Fighter, but He’s the Most Meme-Worthy
Yamcha’s early exit in the Saiyan Saga marked a turning point in the series as it began to shift to higher stakes and galactic battles. However, it also became a moment that anime fans have embraced and shared, eventuallyturning it into one of the most recognizable anime memesand still images in the genre.
Since then, the pose has been parodied and recreated across a range of media from other anime and manga to video games and Western animation like the newTransformersweb series. Its presence in so many different forms of media is proof thatDragon Ball’sinfluence extends well beyond anime and manga fans.
Unfortunately, this alsoturned Yamcha’s character into the punchlinefor many jokes. Although he started as a prominent and skilled martial artist, he is most often remembered for his failures inDragon Ball Z, from the Saibaman incident to being defeated by Doctor Gero. However, the meme has helped keep him relevant and was even self-parodied inDragon Ball Super.
The reference to Yamcha’s death scene inTransformers: Cyberworldshows how ingrained anime culture is becoming across other genres, and its influence will only continue to grow. Fans always appreciate the nod to Yamcha’s crater inDragon Ball Z, and with anime’s rising popularity, it might become even more common to see.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
Transformers
Transformers is a multimedia franchise consisting of movies, TV Shows, video games, and comics. The franchise centers on a race of humanoid robots called the autobots who must protect Earth from the Decepticons. Some of the most popular characters include Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee. In 2007, the first live-action movie in the franchise was released starring Shia Labeouf.
