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Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!

2010-05-26T05:36:39Z

125.237.60.191: /* Featured characters */

{{episode|
|series=zone
|ep=1
|prev=Echo Across the Galaxy! Bell of Love!!
|title="Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!"
|japanese=新総司令官ダイアトラス登場!
|romaji=Shin Sōshireikan Dai Atlas Tōjō!
|translation=
|image=ZonePoster1.jpg
|caption=Zone is the Enders
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Columbia Music Entertainment|Nihon Columbia]]
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Hiromichi Matano]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|airdate=[[July 21|21 July]] 1990
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''When nine of the most powerful Decepticons are gathered together under the rule of Violen Jiger, Autobot Powered Master Dai Atlas must step forward to prevent them from acquiring the power of the mystical Zodiac.'''

==Synopsis==
Seeking to conquer the universe, the mysterious, demonic [[Violen Jiger]] gathers together the [[Decepticon]]s [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], [[Predaking]], [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]], [[King Poseidon]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] as his [[Nine Great Demon Generals]]. To remove the threat the [[Autobot]]s pose to his goal, he has the generals devastate the planet [[Feminia]], drawing the attention of Autobot [[Supreme Commander]] [[Star Saber (G1)|Victory Saber]] and his troops, who arrive to save the planet's populace. Victory Saber saves the life of a young boy named [[Cain]], but is unable to escape the planet's destruction himself and is left missing in action when Feminia explodes.

With the Autobots in disarray following the loss of Victory Saber, Violen Jiger charges his generals with obtaining the Autobots' new energy source [[Energon Z]], and the [[Zodiac]], the enigmatic energy force responsible for the creation of the universe, which he intends to fuse together to create the super-energy that will fuel his dreams of conquest.

Meanwhile, Cain and his pet [[Emusa]] are brought to [[Micro|Planet Zone]], the fortified defence base of the Autobot [[Micromaster]]s, where [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] and [[Rabbicrater]] give him the lowdown on its history. Zone was created by the [[Powered Master]]s, early Transformer pioneers of space, and the [[Zone Base]] is powered by [[Energon Z]]—which makes the planet the next target for the Demon Generals. Overlord, Menasor, Bruticus and Abominus attack the planet and steal the Energon Z, escaping into space as [[Moon Radar]] leads the [[Super Car Patrol Team]] and the [[Battle Patrol|Battle Patrol Team]] in pursuit. Their way is barred by BlackZarak, who impedes their progress with an energy net. The [[Jet Patrol Team]] free their companions, and [[Sunrunner]] tracks the Generals with his radar, discovering that the capsule of Energon Z has been handed off to the other half of the group, who are on their way to Earth.

Back on Zone, as the [[Rescue Patrol Team]] cleans up, the Powered Masters [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] and [[Sonic Bomber]] return from their search for Victory Saber, bringing the wounded commander back safely. The two Powered Masters briefly watch over Victory Saber in the infirmary, then set out for Earth, where Devastator, King Poseidon, Trypticon and Predaking are already wreaking havoc. The Micromasters, meanwhile, have already arrived on the planet, just in time to save a young boy named [[Akira Serikawa|Akira]], who... ''befriends''... Cain as the Micromasters do the best they can to hold off the Generals. In the nick of time, Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber arrive, and the battle goes underground as Devastator and Dai Atlas race to find the Zodiac, buried in a cavern beneath the Earth's surface. As Devastator is dispatched by a river of lava, King Poseidon attempts to escape with the Zodiac, but is stopped by Sonic Bomber, and tosses it to his fellow Generals. Dai Atlas is able to snatch it from their grasp, but the enraged Trypticon then unleashes a beam of Energon Z from the capsule directly at him. Sonic Bomber valiantly takes the hit for Dai Atlas and is nearly killed by the beam, but Trypticon simply fires off another shot. In desperation, Dai Atlas holds aloft the Zodiac and petitions it for help, and as the Energon Z washes over it, its power is unleashed. Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber are transformed into "Zone Modes", heavily-armed base forms that dispense with King Poseidon and Trypticon. Attempting to flee, Predaking is cleaved in two by Dai Atlas's Zone Sword Cutter attack, and the Zodiac is retrieved.

[[Image:CainAkiraPetals.jpg|left|200px|thumb|And as the cherry blossoms lowered, so did our expectations.]]
The Autobots, Cain and Akira then discuss the nature of the Zodiac amongst themselves, with Akira revealing that he learned about the existence of Zodiac from his father, but he wants to know more about space and the Transformers. Conversely, Cain and Moonradar want to learn about Earth, and they all agree to teach each other about their respective subjects. Emusa then invites Akira to Zone, and Dai Atlas approves; Akira is ecstatic, but stops to pull something from his backpack — he presents Cain and Emusa with some flowers, and wants to bring plenty along for the trip!

Returning to Zone, Victory Saber appoints Dai Atlas as the new Supreme Commander of the Autobots. The flying Emusa throws a bouquet into the air that falls apart, and as the petals rain down on the laughing boys and nearby Autobots, the crowd cheers Dai Atlas' name.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Star Saber (G1)|Victory Saber]] (6)
* [[Galaxy Shuttle]] (7)
* [[Holi]] (8)
* [[Pīpō]] (9)
* [[Fire]] (10)
* [[Boater]] (11)
* [[Moon Radar]]
* [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] (17)
* [[Rabbicrater]] (18)
* [[Starcloud]] (20)
* [[Windrim]] (21)
* [[Big Shot]] (22)
* [[Whisper (Zone)|Whisper]] (23)
* [[Nightflight (Zone)|Nightflight]] (24)
* [[Sidetrack]] (25)
* [[Flak]] (26)
* [[Gingham]] (27)
* [[Black Heat]] (28)
* [[Sunrunner]] (29)
* [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] (31)
* [[Sonic Bomber]] (32)
* [[Tailspin]] (33)
* [[Swindler]] (34)
* [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (35)
* [[Deadhour]] (37)
* [[Road Hugger (Zone)|Road Hugger]] (38)
* [[Road Caesar]] (39)
* [[Grand Maximus]] (40)
* [[Landcross (Victory)|Landcross]] (41)
* [[Metalhawk]] (42)
* [[Lander]] (43)
* [[Lightfoot]] (44)
* [[Ranger]] (45)
* [[Road King]] (46)
|c2=
* [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (3)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (4)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (5)
* [[Violen Jiger]] (12)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (13)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (14)
* [[Predaking]] (15)
* [[King Poseidon]] (16)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (19)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] (30)
|c3=
* [[Cain]] (1)
* [[Akira Serikawa|Akira]] (36)
|c4=
* [[Emusa]] (2)
}}

==Notes==
*Opening song is "[[Transformer Z no Theme]]" and ending song is "[[Ashita no Kimi e]]".
===Transformers references===
*The Transformers previously visited Planet Feminia in [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|issue 5]] of the 1986 manga, ''[[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers]]''. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] also mentioned it in "[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime]]".
*Planet Zone is an overhauled, upgraded version of [[Micro]], seen previously in the ''[[Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' animated series.
*The core of the Zone Base, referred to as the "Rocket Base" in the toyline and ''[[TV Magazine]]'' spreads, is identical to the [[Shuttle Base]] from ''Victory''. While it is unclear if the Shuttle Base and the Rocket Base were originally intended to be the same structure, [[The Ark II — A Compendium of Japanese Character Designs|The Ark II]] has declared them to be so.
*The [[fire station]], [[gas station]], [[airport]] and [[construction station]] Micromaster Bases belonging to [[Hot House]], [[Glasspit]], [[Overair]] and [[Ironworks]], respectively, all appear as part of the Zone Base, although their Micromaster owners do not.

===Trivia===
*This is the only episode of ''Zone'' in existence. Although rumors have always circulated that as many as five could have been completed, only this first episode was released, and serves as the final animated installment of the Japanese Generation 1 cartoon. The episode is an adaptation of the single chapter of ''Zone'' [[Zone (manga)|manga]], or perhaps vice-versa—the manga was released three months before the OVA, although it's not totally clear which media the story was first conceived for. There are some small differences between the anime and the manga: most notably, in the manga, Predaking is blasted by Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber's Zone Modes along with King Poseidon and Trypticon, while the anime sees him make a run for it and wind up getting bisected. [[Zone (story page)|Story pages]] in ''[[TV Magazine]]'' would later establish that all three generals survived the Zone Mode blast in the manga, whereas they rather definitively died in the anime. As such, the story pages are, in the strictest sense, not in-continuity with the anime, although the official 2007 [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|timeline]] established that their events, in broad strokes, also occurred in animated continuity.
[[Image:CainAkiraBlush.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cain really looks like he stepped out of ''[[wikipedia:Saint Seiya|Knights of the Zodiac]]'', doesn't he?]]
*The ''Zone'' VHS came packaged with the [[exclusive]] figure, [[Rabbicrater]].
*Four complete Micromaster teams appear in this episode: the [[Rescue Patrol|Rescue Patrol Team]], the [[Battle Patrol|Battle Patrol Team]], the [[Jet Patrol Team]] and the [[Super Car Patrol Team]]. The latter two use the molds from the [[Air Strike Patrol]] and the [[Sports Car Patrol]], who were Decepticons in the West.
*Only three members of the [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol Team]] appear in this episode—in cameos from behind, nonetheless. The missing member is [[Free Wheeler]], who can briefly be spotted in the opening sequence.
*So, uh... yeah. Cain and Akira are pretty gay. Aside from both being very effeminate in design, there's a scene in the story where, during Predaking and Trypticon's attack on the base-mode Galaxy Rocket, Akira is shaken up and falls back into Cain's arms, and they linger on the pair in close-up as both of them blush. Then, the whole closing sequence is about them running through a field of [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LoveBubbles shōjo bubbles] and watching the sunrise together. Quite why Takara caved in to the use of such ghastly anime cliché visuals after having stayed away from anything even ''close'' to this in Transformers before, we may never know.
*Devastator totally knocks down the World Trade Center. That dastardly terrorist.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
[[Image:Columbia Zone DVD.jpg|thumb|100px|]]
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1990 — ''Transformers: Zone'' ([[Columbia Music Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Victory'' — DVD Box 02 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Zone'' (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection ([[Metrodome]]) — Optional commentary by [[Chris McFeely]]. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Victory'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
{{-}}

==External Link==
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BCZ ''Transformers Zone'' article at the Japanese Wikipedia]

[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Zone]]

Planet Micro - The Mysterious Warrior

2010-05-26T05:31:09Z

125.237.60.191: /* Transformers references */

{{episode
|series=Victory
|ep=17
|image=Planetmicro mysteriouswarrior.jpg
|caption=Transformers: Bringing a sword to a gunfight for more than twenty years!
|title="Planet Micro - The Mysterious Warrior"
|japanese=マイクロ星・謎の戦士
|romaji=Micro-sei - Nazo no Senshi
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[August 1|1 August]] 1989
|writer=[[Yoshihisa Araki]]
|director=[[Hiromichi Matano]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''On the planet Micro, Star Saber and the Rescue Team join forces with the wandering warrior Greatshot to foil Hellbat's latest plan.'''

:''Omni Productions dub name:'' "'''Battle on the Planet Miclot'''"
:''Also known as:'' "'''The Warriors of Planet Micro'''"

==Synopsis==
[[Image:PlanetMicro mocking Holi.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Ha ha! Holi likes girls!]]
The homeworld of the [[Micromaster|Micromasters]], planet [[Micro]], has come under attack from [[Decepticon|Decepticons]]. Despite the fact that the planet is in the sector protected by his arm of the Galactic Defense Force, [[Ginrai|God Ginrai]] and his forces are occupied battling [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s army in [[G Nebula 89]], necessitating the assistance of [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], who quickly heads for Micro. Accompanying him aboard [[Galaxy Shuttle]] are the [[Rescue Patrol Team|Rescue Team]], who are thrilled to be returning home, and [[Jean Minakaze|Jean]], who nearly chokes on a soda when the Rescues inform him that the reason [[Holi]] is being so serious is because he's worried about his girlfriend down on Micro. As Star Saber and Galaxy Shuttle enter the planet's atmosphere, their arrival is observed by a mysterious figure…

Star Saber, the Rescue Team and Jean meet with [[Governor Riker]], who informs them that there have been no further reports of Decepticon attacks. After checking in with God Ginrai via video communication, Star Saber decides to give the Rescue Team a little "shore leave" while he investigates on his own. After Holi's girlfriend, [[Clipper]], fails to show up at the planned meeting place, he and the others go searching for her, and spot her coming up an escalator, just as they're travelling down the adjacent one. She tells Holi that he should have called first, and practically ignores him as she carries on with her work, much to the amusement of Jean and the other Rescues.

[[Image:PlanetMicro Holi Jean and Clipper after tea.jpg|thumb|right|200px|How long have you had that weird growth on your shoulder?]]
Meanwhile, Star Saber is shown around the attacked areas by Governor Riker, and is surprised to discover that the areas were completely levelled, even after energy was successfully stolen. He realizes that this is not traditional Decepticon behaviour, and deduces that mercenaries must be involved. He soon rejoins Jean and the Rescue Team for tea with Clipper (who's quite impressed with the dashing [[Supreme Commander]]), but they are interrupted by an alarm which alerts them to a three-man Decepticon attack on the plasma energy plant that provides Micro with a third of its energy. Holi gets particularly fired up for battle when Clipper wishes him good luck, but the Micromasters don't manage to get more than a few feet through the exit before their way is barred by the mysterious figure who observed their arrival on the planet. This towering, samurai-like warrior introduces himself as [[Greatshot]], reveals that he is an old acquaintance of Star Saber, and informs the Autobots that they do not need to involve themselves in the battle, as it is his responsibility. At Star Saber's inquiry, Greatshot explains that he has fought with two of the attackers – mercenaries named [[Blue Bacchus]] and [[Black Shadow]] – before, and has been trying to track them down to settle an old score. Star Saber offers to help, and confronts the third attacker while Greatshot deals with the mercenaries and Jean and the Micromasters handle rescue operations with the [[V-Star]].

[[Image:PlanetMicro menacing Crossformers.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
The third villain turns out to be [[Hellbat]], who has hired the mercenaries to help him raise his standing in the Decepticon ranks, but finds that he has to triple their cut of the stolen energy in order to convince them to take on Star Saber. Before the two mercs can step in, Greatshot attacks them, and it is revealed that he is seeking revenge for a past betrayal from when he used to work with them. The two battles rage simultaneously, with Star Saber reflecting Hellbat's hypnotism waves back at him, and Greatshot deceiving his old allies with his "Disappearing Dust" trick, appearing to self-destruct and then appearing behind them. Realizing that he has no chance against Star Saber, Hellbat opens fire on the energy plant, causing a chain reaction that threatens to reduce a third of the planet to ashes. Hellbat calls to the mercenaries to pull out, but they don't manage to get away without being badly injured by Greatshot. As the trio takes to the sky, a parting shot from Greatshot hits the energy containers Hellbat is carrying, and they explode in his grip, robbing him of the plasma energy he had gathered (although the mercenaries are still quite insistent that Hellbat will be paying them somehow).

[[Image:PlanetMicro Star Saber lifts energy plant.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
As fire begins to consume the energy plant, Jean returns with the V-Star just in time. Star Saber reconnects with the V-Star and transforms into his super robot mode, and, knowing that it's too late to stop the plant from exploding, has to think quickly. Swinging his Saber Blade, he severs the base of the energy plant, separating it from the planet, and seizes it in his mighty grip, flying it out of the planet's atmosphere. As everyone watches, the plasma energy explodes in a white fireball, and everyone holds their breath... until Star Saber reappears in the sky above, unharmed. Star Saber and Greatshot shake hands, but Holi is surprised when Greatshot departs, thinking that he would make a good addition to the Autobot forces. Star Saber explains that Greatshot doesn't like being tied down by formalities, but Holi's attention is a bit more caught up in Clipper, who wants to know when he's coming back to Micro. Holi says he isn't sure, but asks if it even matters, since he knows she'll just say she's busy. Clipper says that next time, she wants Holi to tell her everything about his adventures and about the Earth, and Holi blushes... but of course, the little guy can't win either way, since Jean just keeps on teasing him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Galaxy Shuttle]] (1)
* [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] (2)
* [[Road King]] (3)
* [[Ranger]] (4)
* [[Lightfoot]] (5)
* [[Ginrai|God Ginrai]] (6)
* [[Fire]] (12)
* [[Pīpō]] (13)
* [[Boater]] (14)
* [[Holi]] (15)
* [[Greatshot]] (17)
* [[Governor Riker]] (18)
* [[Clipper]] (19)

|c2=
* [[Buster (Masterforce)|Buster]] (7)
* [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (8)
* [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]] (9)
* [[Cancer]] (10)
* [[Bullhorn]] (11)
* [[Blue Bacchus]] (20)
* [[Hellbat]] (21)
* [[Black Shadow]] (22)

|c3=
* [[Jean Minakaze]] (16)

|h4=[[Breast Animal]]s|c4=
*[[Kōmoribreast]] (23)
}}

==Quotes==

{{Note|The following quotes are from the Omni Productions dub}}

"Okay! Well, things are getting pretty hot here, I must go now. Take care all of you! Okay? See you later!"
:—Just end the call already, '''Ginrai'''!

"Could they be the Space Mercenaries?!"
:—'''Star Saber'''

"I'm here to get rid of you evil men!"
:—'''Greatshot''' to the Crossformers.

==Notes==
===Lost in translation===
Among the changes made by the [[Omni Productions]] dub:
* In the Japanese version, Star Saber is surprised by the devastation and concludes from the unusual methods that they're dealing with different Decepticons to those active on Earth. In the English dub, he sees nothing out of the ordinary and just laments that the Decepticons have totally destroyed everything.
* When Hellbat tells the Crossformers to attack Star Saber, they're reluctant to do so because of the risk of explosion rather than demanding additional payment.
* Greatshot's speech about how he defected because Star Saber treated him right, becomes generic hero-type speechifying in the dub.
* The dialogue establishing that Greatshot has destroyed the energy Hellbat stolen is changed in the English dub to remove references to the fact.

===Animation and technical errors===
* It'd have been nice if the Micromasters boarding the V-Star had actually been animated, but they just stand there...

===Transformers references===
*God Ginrai and Overlord's forces are battling in G Nebula 89, the nebula in which the [[Godmaster|Godmasters]]' [[Transtector|Transtectors]] were created. It is here noted that this nebula (and planet Micro) are in "Sector 2", which Ginrai departed to become head of the Galactic Defense Force for back in "[[The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber]]".
*plus this is the first time we have seen God Ginrai in 16 episodes

===Trivia===
*This episode does not feature either of ''Victory'''s two stock title cards, presenting the title as white text on a black background.
* Failing to advertise toy gimmicks is nothing new for ''Victory'', and the trend continues here, as it is never explicitly stated that Blue Bacchus and Black Shadow are [[Pretender|Pretenders]]. There is an allusion to it, though, in their final scene, in which they are slashed by Greatshot and they fall out of the shot. Two streaks of energy then rise up from where they fell, off-screen, after which, two explosions are seen bursting into shot from where they fell. The streaks of energy then coalesce into the vehicle modes of their small robots. The implication, of course, is that Greatshot has just destroyed their shells, but that the interior robots have been able to escape. Additionally, their sub-group name, [[Crossformer|Crossformers]], is never used in dialogue, and—you guessed it—they never appear in the series again.
[[Image:PlanetMicro Riker's ride.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
* This is another episode where the English dub narration on the next episode preview is intact on the R4 DVD set.
* Both Holi and Star Saber [[Humanization|blush]] at various points while talking to Clipper. At one point, Holi's entire face glows red.
* Though Governor Riker is small enough to fit inside Star Saber's cockpit, he instead rides on top (minds out of the gutter, please), probably because Star Saber's smallest component, the Brain of Courage is inside.
* Likewise, as Micro has no water, Boater is forced to get around by riding on Fire's vehicle mode.
* Do Star Saber and Greatshot really expect to be able to put out the massive fire by stamping on it?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Victory'' — DVD Box 01 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 3 — ''Transformers: Victory'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Victory'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) — Optional [[Omni Productions|Omni]] dub. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) — Optional Omni dub.

[[Category:Victory episodes]]