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Ramjet (G1)

2010-05-11T20:27:49Z

142.32.208.234: /* Cartoon continuity */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2}}
{{disambig3|Ramjet}}
:''Ramjet is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:RamjetG1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Ramjet likes toast.]]
What can really be said about someone whose only idea of strategy is to smash into things with his head? In '''Ramjet''''s defense he's specifically built to survive such midair collisions and his prey most definitely is not. The strategy can be frighteningly effective, since no one expects a fighter jet to ram them. Ramjet has a tendency to regard the sky as belonging only to him, and will frequently ram even neutral or friendly targets. Though he is built to take such hits frequent collisions and crashes can still take their toll on his internal mechanisms.

:''Portuguese name (Portugal comics):'' '''Motor'''
:''Italian name'': '''Nibbio'''
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comics):'' '''Rajada''' (but started out as Ramjet)
:''French-Canadian name'': '''Statoréacto'''

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jack Angel]] (English), [[Toshio Ishii]] (Japanese)
Curiously enough, Ramjet often seemed to act as de facto leader of the [[Conehead]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Though only borderline competent, he was a serious enough warrior that it often fell on him to keep the two whiners [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] in line.

[[Image:DinobotIsland2 Ramjet Thrust with cubes.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Ramjet was first seen on Earth when Megatron and his ilk raided [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] for its energy resources. He and his fellow Decepticons went to work filling their energon cubes to maximum capacity. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} They were eventually opposed by the Autobots, however, and engaged in a heavy metal war for control of the island. Eventually, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s turned their fellow dinosaurs against the Decepticons. Ramjet and Thrust were run down by a stampeding herd of dinosaurs before Megatron finally called it quits. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

[[Image:AutoBerserk Megatron and Ramjet watching surveillance.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Later, Ramjet was sent into battle by Megatron to intercept the Autobots' sole aerial ace, [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], before he interfered with [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] guarding the solar power tower that Megatron had rightfully stolen. Ramjet tried to ram Powerglide out of the sky, but flew too close to his massive comrade, and was swatted down by Devastator himself. {{storylink|The Master Builders}} When [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his Cassettes failed to steal the [[Negavator]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and Ramjet led the Seekers in an aerial raid. Once [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] triggered an avalanche to trap the Autobots in a box canyon, it should have been easy pickings. Unfortunately, [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] unleashed his magnetic clouds and then electro-disrupted the jets' radar, leaving them completely blind-flying and Yoda-talking. Ramjet tried to make his crash count by landing on an Autobot, but comically managed to land right on top of Megatron, just after the Decepticon leader had secured the all-powerful Negavator machine for himself.'' "I've got morons on my team!",'' Megatron screamed, and it was hard to disagree. {{storylink|Auto Berserk}}

[[Image:MMP1 Ramjet rams Tracks.jpg|thumb|left|200px|That's either a tiny jet or a big-ass car!]]
When a new solar energy facility opened up in [[Central City (G1)|Central City]], Starscream led Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust to steal its power. The facility proved to be a trap, however, set by Shawn Berger to elevate himself in the public eye by taking down the Decepticons with his private militia. Berger's operatives failed, but the Autobots soon arrived to engage the Decepticons as well. [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] took to the air and zapped Dirge with his blackout beam. Luckily for Dirge, Ramjet managed to pull off a loopity-loop and ram the flying Autobot into the ground. Megatron then "requested" the pleasure of Shawn Berger's presence, not to punish him, but to play a subtler game. He attempted to convince the industrialist that the Decepticons were good, and the Autobots evil. Ramjet was one of the key players in Megatron's staged videos to tarnish the Autobots' reputation. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} Later, after the Autobots were successfully vilified in the public eye and exiled to deep space, the Seekers turned on the people of Central City, opening fire in the middle of the streets. Ramjet in particular expressed his frustrations over having to act "good", even for a little while, by flying straight ''through'' a building, bringing the whole mess down. Although the Seekers fared well against an attack by the Air Force, the eventual return of the Autobots proved to be more than the Decepticons could handle. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

After Megatron took over Earth's airwaves from the moon, Ramjet and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] did their bit to speed the chaos along, attacking the Autobots during their various rescue missions. Ramjet even got a chance to pay back Powerglide for an old injury, shooting down the Autobot flier over the airport. Very nearly got rid of two [[Carly|annoying]] [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|humans]], too. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}}

[[Image:Ramjetinpast.gif|right|200px|thumb|Ramjet could have been a great soccer player.]]
Once, Ramjet was working with Starscream, Rumble and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in the United Kingdom, when they got low on energon fighting the Autobots. Sensing energy inside the mysterious [[Dragon Mound]], the Decepticons accidentally activated a timewarp and were transported back to the days of Camelot. Running across a pair of errant knights, Ramjet found that lasers could not function in the Dark Ages, so he merely headbutted his opponent into submission. After a brief exchange, Starscream realized the situation and made a pact with the knight, [[Sir Wigend du Blackthorne|Sir Wigend]], to aid him against his enemies. At a pre-arranged tournament the next afternoon, Rumble and Ramjet acted as knight and steed in Sir Wigend's stead, against the [[Sir Aetheling the Red|Red Knight]]. The Decepticons' coup was cut short, however, due to the arrival of the Red Knight's champions, [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]. With Warpath serving as the Red Knight's steed, Ramjet ended up ruining his nose in the joust. Although the Decepticons tried to build their own kingdom after that by inventing gunpowder and the electric dynamo before their time, they were eventually defeated, and all the Transformers returned to the 20th century through the Dragon Mound. {{storylink|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court}}

On one occasion, Ramjet and Thrust joined [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in an air strike on an Autobot geological survey near the rocky coastline. Ramjet attempted to engage [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] over the open seas, and was trading firepower pretty well until his instincts got the best of him and he tried to ram the Autobot hovercraft. Seaspray easily dodged the knuckleheaded Decepticon, who plummeted into the briny deep. During this exchange, though, Thrust discovered a pool of [[electrum]], and soon all the Decepticons were rendered completely invulnerable. Ramjet and the others relished in their invincibility for a time, but soon the Autobots discovered the pool as well, and the supply of electrum was quickly exhausted by both factions. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} Ramjet was involved in the strike on the [[Morphobot]]s, but was driven off by the Autobots after the [[robotic insecticide]] was destroyed. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}}

[[Image:Gambler Gyconi Ramjet and Dirge.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Later on, Dirge, Ramjet and [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] came to [[Monacus]] to look after Megatron's interests in [[Sheol]], and his less than reputable partner, [[Lord Gyconi]]. They were putting the squeeze on Gyconi when a program caught Dirge's optic, inviting one-and-all to see the Autobots in pit battle against Gyconi's [[animalien]]s. They decided to take in a show while on Monacus, but quickly realized what was going on when Smokescreen flooded the arena with smoke to stop the games and save his friends. Dirge and Ramjet set off after the Autobot in jet mode, and very nearly destroyed him before the bounty hunting Autobot named [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]] stepped in to blast them out of the air. There's nothing a Decepticon fears more than a fair fight, and the two Seekers skedaddled as soon as they were able to get back in the sky. They retreated back to Astrotrain with their share of Gyconi's energon, and eventually fled the planet, with Devcon chasing their smoke trail. {{storylink|The Gambler}}

When the [[Triple Changer]]s temporarily disposed of Megatron and Starscream, Decepticon leadership became a free-for-all. Instead of choosing sides like the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, Ramjet and the Seekers were mostly content just to watch the hilarity ensue, like Blitzwing's football antics and Astrotrain's army of idiot trains. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}}

[[Image:SearchForAlphaTrion Ramjet and Shockwave cower.jpg|thumb|right|200px| Quickly, our arms will protect us from lasers!]]
One day, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] found himself under siege from a lost tribe of [[Female Autobots]] on Cybertron, and so Megatron sent Ramjet and a small group of Decepticons via the [[Space Bridge]] to assist him. He tried to take down the team leader [[Elita One]] with a missile, only to have her grab it in mid-flight and hurl it back at him. Ramjet survived that, only to have a tower dropped on him later by [[Moonracer]]'s sharpshooting skills. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}

Ramjet and his buddies tried to kidnap [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz]], CEO of [[Hybrid Technologies]] but failed, miserably and repeatedly. Although they eventually captured her, it's hard to call anyone who ended up with Astoria the "winner". {{storylink|The Girl Who Loved Powerglide}} They proved to be just as hapless when Megatron sent them on an ultra-secret mission to recover a mysterious cargo when even he didn't know what it was. {{storylink|Hoist Goes Hollywood}} In the latest in a long series of ineptitudes, Ramjet and his flying partners were outmaneuvered by the Autobots on the ground while trying to steal an experimental superfuel. Dirge and Thrust were taken out of action when Prime and the others tricked them into flying into the side of a mountain above the road. Ramjet was too quick for them but, when the Autobots pulled the exact same maneuver moments later, he ran into the mountain just as hard as his buddies did. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

[[Image:AerialAssault Ramjet crashed.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]
Dirge and Ramjet were briefly seen using Megatron's [[Lightning Bug]] in defense of the Decepticons' undersea base. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} The two were later captured by Starscream and the renegade [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s, and pilfered for their energy absorbers. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}} Still, Ramjet was repaired rather quickly, and was seen helping Megatron and the Insecticons in another joint scheme soon thereafter. He and Dirge were commissioned to find the Insecticons when [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] stole a vital part of the Space Bridge machinery. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}} During a Decepticon mission in the Middle East, Ramjet helped the Decepticons create an army of drone jets out of stolen parts, commanding them as his own personal flight wing against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s. Even with back-up, however, Ramjet was tossed out of the sky by [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}} He was briefly seen as part of Megatron's scheme to throw the moon out of orbit. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

Ramjet later participated in the [[Battle of Autobot City]], where he was shot by a high-jumping [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. Luckily he wasn't damaged enough by the blast to be tossed into space for being dead weight later on, and was present at [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] crowning as the new Decepticon leader. Ramjet, or a random Decepticon jet with his color scheme, later flew into [[Unicron|Unicron's]] mouth and exploded. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

[[Image:FFOD1 Dirge and Ramjet shot down.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Ramjet and Dirge were later hiding in [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]], but were found out by [[Outback]] and his "[[Decepticon detector]]", and the two Seekers were interrogated to reveal the location of [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Ramjet was able to rendezvous with the other Decepticons on Chaar, before the [[Quintesson]]s arrived to bribe them all with energon cubes and take them to attack a group of Autobots on the planet [[Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} The attack was halted when [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] arrived an reclaimed his army. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Ramjet took part in the assault on Cybertron, and was totally blownuptified when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] decided to deal with him by chucking the conehead into a wall. Dude. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

Somehow still alive and well, Ramjet was among the group of Decepticons who Galvatron lead to Carbombya to find [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and [[Octane]], only to discover that the country's oil supply produced high quality energon. When [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]] tried to send a warning to the Autobots, Ramjet lead him away and locked him up. Ramjet survived the inevitable battle, and was seen retreating with the other Decepticons. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}

Until [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] was assassinated, Ramjet worked under the Decepticon overlord on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} ''He was one of the most feared and deadly killers on Cybertron, and would have been a key target in [[Operation: Volcano]] if he hadn't been abruptly ordered to Earth by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], along with [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}''

[[Image:Thetorquerifle.jpg|left|250px|thumb|I HATE it when I get my Schwartz twisted!]]
They were given Earth jet forms specified by Megatron and provided air support when the Decepticons attempted to exploit [[Hoover Dam]] for energy. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived to deal with them, but Ramjet scored first blood for the Decepticons by ramming [[Slingshot]] right out of the sky. His early victory didn't help Ramjet in his fight with [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]], however, as the Autobot's torque rifle twisted his beautiful nosecone all out of shape. As the Aerialbots successfully reorganized, Ramjet led the Decepticon jets in a swift tactical advance to the rear. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

Ramjet was shuffled into the background as a series of revolving leaders left the Decepticon forces in constant chaos. Honestly, it was like they had to be nice to everyone, because you never knew who would decide to take over command next.

Ramjet was seen to be shot down in flames during battle against the combined forces of [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]]. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}} ''Later, he was among the Decepticons present when [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked their [[Club Con|new underwater headquarters]], and appeared none-too-impressed with how [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] handled the matter. {{storylink|Enemy Action!}}'' Under [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], he was put to work transporting humans to the Decepticon's holiday resort for humans. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

{{note|Ramjet isn't seen after this, but ''Classics'' later claimed that he was deactivated by Starscream during the [[Underbase Saga]].}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''In 2008, Ramjet was seen among the Decepticon fliers being led into battle by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his flagship, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}''

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Ramjetg2comics.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Shouldn't he be teal now?]]

=====US comics=====
When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] returned and overthrew [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon's]] command, Ramjet was aggravated that Megatron brought a revived [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] with him. Starscream was arrogant, loud, and would never shut up, so why didn't Megatron leave him dead? Seriously, what was Megatron's problem? {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}}

Ramjet was among the Decepticons killed in the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm's]] final attack on [[Autobase: Earth]]. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

=====UK comics=====
Ramjet was sporting a new paintjob and an odd lack of cone when he joined Bludgeon's forces in attacking Earth. He was shot down in battle by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|War Without End (issue)|War Without End}}

====Classics====
{{note|The ''Classics'' stories take place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a [[splinter timeline]] that does not include the events of the Marvel UK-exclusive stories or Generation 2.}}

He left Starscream at [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s mercy to claim the [[Rarified Energon]]. Was blasted by a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] bomb for his troubles. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}

He recovered very quickly. And was [[cerebro-shell]]ed by [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] for his troubles. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}
{{--}}
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[Image:DWvol2 BrothersBurden Ramjet.jpg|left|250px|thumb|YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.]]
''In the early days of the Decepticon offensive, Ramjet participated in the annihilation of the city-state known as [[Praxus]] and its inhabitants. At [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s behest, Ramjet shielded an unwitting Autobot named [[Bluestreak]] from harm during the devastation, ensuring that one living survivor would live to tell the tale of the fall of Praxus... and the might of Megatron. {{storylink|Hardwired}}''

Ramjet was under the command of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in his assault on the Autobot stronghold in [[Iacon]] shortly after the death of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and the rise of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3}} After Megatron disappeared in a [[space bridge]] accident with Optimus Prime, Ramjet came to serve under Shockwave. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

After the [[Great Shutdown]], he continued working for Shockwave as one of his top agents, and joined his expedition to Earth to forcibly collect the crews of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|New World Order}} After Ultra Magnus arrived to take command of the team attempting to arrest the Optimus Prime's Autobots, Ramjet disobeyed orders and made a foolhardy dash for the Ark, only to be cut down in a hail of autogun fire. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}}

After Shockwave was dethroned, Ramjet escaped capture by Autobot authorities and met with Shockwave's remaining troops in the [[Wastelands]]. They remained there until the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] overthrew Shockwave in the name of Megatron, and Ramjet and the [[Conehead]]s returned to his control. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}}
{{--}}
===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
Along with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], Ramjet was one [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s personal bodyguards. After a failed attempt to stop [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] from stealing [[energon cube]]s from them, the Decepticons tried to take control of [[Teletran 3]], but were stopped by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1}}

Eventually Magnus's force field around Teletran 3 went down, and Ramjet helped capture the Autobots and shoot [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] in the back. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3}} He later attacked the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in his Cybertronian jet mode, but how he fared in the battle is unknown. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Ramjet joined Megatron's unit on Earth as it was going into [[mirror response mode]] in [[Latveria]]. Due to his late arrival, Megatron didn't trust him yet, and thus refused to power him up using [[Spider-Man]]'s blood. Instead, Ramjet was assigned to guard the [[Psycho-Prism]]. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} Disgruntled that Megatron didn't respect him, he seemingly ignored his duties and let [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] pass by on his way to the prism... and into [[Doctor Doom]]'s trap. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} However, Doom soon betrayed the Decepticons and led [[Wolverine]] and some more Autobots to the Psycho-Prism. This time, Ramjet abandoned his duties for real and left without a fight, telling the heroes that causing Megatron's plans to fail was great, since it'd bring ''him'' one step closer to becoming [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}

Ramjet had aspirations to rule the universe and began to carry out a very ambitious plan to achieve this. With the help of duped humans, a [[Harrison|sub-par facsimile]], and his [[Mini-Constructicon]] units, he planned to acquire an [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] substitute, kill Megatron, destroy the United States, track and enslave all Cybertronians, mind-control the entire human race, and use a superstring [[space bridge]] to dominate the galaxy. Unfortunately, Megatron had a simpler plan: beat Ramjet to death, tear out his spark, scatter his dismembered corpse across the world, and keep his severed head as a trophy. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
{{--}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4|Henkei! Henkei! #4}} {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 5|Henkei! Henkei! #5}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}} {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} {{storylink|Wataru's Power}} {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}}
{{--}}
===3D Battle-Card Game===
Ramjet serves under [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] as one of his Decepticon soldiers, battling [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}
{{--}}
==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Ramjet toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|'Conehead' or 'Not Conehead']]
* '''Ramjet''' (1985, 1986, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-56'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 "Cluster Bombs", 2 fists (left & right), 2 wings (left & right), 2 tail fins (left & right), front landing gear

: The original Ramjet toy was a [[retool]] of the ''[[Diaclone]]'' "Jet Robo Acrobat-Type" F-15 Eagle that was used for Starscream, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], with new wings that seem to be inspired by the prototype [[wikipedia:F-16XL|F-16XL]], and new "Cluster Bombs". He is otherwise identical to the other Decepticon jets aside from color.

: In robot mode his official instructions have the user pulling down his nose cone to complete his head transformation, like Starscream. However, Ramjet, as well as Thrust and Dirge's television incarnations depict them as having their heads untransformed, leaving a distinctive "conehead" shape to their appearance. This has led many owners to do the same thing, to differentiate the three later Decepticon jets from the three earlier ones.
{{--}}
===Generation 2===
[[Image:G2 Ramjet toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|'90s fashion victim.]]
* '''Ramjet''' (1993, 1994)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, 2 fists (left & right), 2 wings (left & right), 2 tail fins, front landing gear, sound effects box

: For the ''[[Generation 2]]'' line, Ramjet was [[redeco]]ed with the purple replacing white, black replacing burgundy and sky blue replacing the original black, leaving him to appear as if he were Skeletor's personal aircraft. Still, he features new firing missile launchers and a sound effects box which is mounted above his engines. These parts were also used on the ''Generation 2'' release of Starscream.

: Of note is the fact that his sky blue parts are extremely prone to [[Photodegradation|''yellowing'']], or in this case ''greening''. Many G2 Ramjets can be found with their blue parts in a teal color.
{{--}}
<includeonly></includeonly>

===Classics===
[[Image:Classics Ramjet toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The flared pants craze strikes again]]
* '''Ramjet''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left & right), 2 missiles

: ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' Ramjet transforms into a modified fighter jet based off the hull of an F-15 Eagle. Like his original Generation 1 toy, he is a retool of Starscream, with a new nose cone/head, new F-16XL inspired wings and new projectiles for his missile launchers. Unlike Starscream, his shoulder movement is unimpeded due to a lack of wings behind his shoulders.

:As with most ''Classics'' toys, he features a heat-sensitive [[rubsign]].

:Ramjet's instructions neglect a couple of features on his toy; the wings can swivel back and forth and up and down in robot mode, to better balance the figure, and the circular air intakes on his chest can swivel out in either mode. The latter is used to form landing gear in his vehicle mode, as it was in both Starscream and Skywarp.

:Ramjet was redecoed into [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and retooled into [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] for the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]''-themed [[BotCon 2007]]-exclusive ''[[Games of Deception]]'' box set.
{{--}}
===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Ramjet toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Beware the man in white]]
*'''Ramjet''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID Number:'' '''D-04'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left & right), 2 missiles

:''[[Henkei! Henkei! (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]] Transformers'' Ramjet is a redeco of ''Classics'' Ramjet. He features a significantly altered colour scheme, generally to make the toy even more closely resemble his appearance in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. His wings are molded in bright red plastic instead of gray plastic with red paint. His hands and feet are molded in white plastic instead of gray, to match more closely the cartoon model. Despite the figure's appearance, ''Henkei!'' Ramjet features no gray plastic at all, only white or red plastic painted gray. Ramjet, like the other figures in the line features vaccum-metalized parts, his jet boosters and vertical stabilizers on his wings and his cockpit seat are chrome plated. Since ''Henkei!'' toys do not feature a heat-sensitive rubsign, ''Henkei'' Ramjet has five Decepticon sigils tampographed total, one each on the top side and under side of his two wings and one in front of his canopy.

:Ramjet was retooled into ''Gentei! Gentei!'' Thrust and Dirge.
{{--}}
===Universe (2008)===
====Classic Series====
*'''Aerial Rivals''' (multi-pack, 2008)

: A redeco of the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] ''[[Legends of Cybertron]]'' figure, Ramjet was only available in a set with [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. He transforms into a Cybertronic starfighter, and has flip-out weapons (one sword, one non-firing blaster).

: This mold was used to make ''Legends of Cybertron'' [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]], [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (LOC)|Sunstorm]], and ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]].
{{--}}
==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
* '''Ramjet''' (2003)

[[Image:SCFRamjet.jpg|right|111px|thumb|But he wasn't really the Pope, just an alien robot with a funny hat.]]
: During Act 6 of [[Takara|Takara's]] ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' line, Ramjet was released as a limited articulation PVC figurine not actually based upon his cartoon model, as he is a retool of Starscream with new wings and a new head. He also came with one of the parts to for a Build-a-Figure PVC figurine of [[Grand Maximus]].
{{--}}
===MyClone===
[[Image:MyCloneRamjet.jpg|right|80px|thumb|Ever been headbutted by a chibi? It HURTS!]]
* '''Ramjet''' (2003)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''MTF016'''

: ''[[MyClone]]'' Ramjet was released in the fifth series of the ''MyClone'' trading figure line, which was third and final series to feature ''Transformers'' characters. Following the ''MyClone'' aesthetic, he is a cutesy representation of Ramjet's animation model in super-deformed proportions. He features articulation in his head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips and knees, all of the parts capable of being removed, then mixed and matched with any other ''MyClone'' figure.
{{--}}
===3D Battle-Card Game===
*'''Ramjet''' (2007)

: A 34-point "common" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game|3D Battle-Card Game's]] "Energon Wars" expansion, Ramjet "transforms" into a white and red jet, generally following his ''Classics'' deco scheme. He uses the same parts layout as [[Transformers (2007)|Movie]] [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]].
{{--}}
===Transformers - Mini Bust===
[[Image:Ramjet statue.jpg|right|175px|thumb|More fragile than his tech spec would have you believe.]]
* '''Ramjet''' (Diamond Select, 2008)

: Ramjet was released by [[Diamond Select Toys]] in 2008 and exclusive to online retailer Big Bad Toy Store. He was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 250 pieces. The sculpt features Ramjet's distinctive wings. Strangely enough his motto on the box is "The skies are my castle, and I like to live alone" as found *in* his tech spec as opposed to "If it flies, crash it" as it was in both his tech spec and Transformers Universe profile.
{{--}}
==Trivia==
* Ramjet's name makes sense for the character, as he's a jet that rams into things. However, real-world [[wikipedia:Ramjet|ramjets]] are a specialized kind of jet engine with no moving parts. They have nothing to do with jets ramming into each other. And F-15s don't have 'em. His French-Canadian name is a [[wikipedia:fr:Stator%C3%A9acteur|reference to this kind of engine]] and totally misses the English pun.
* Ramjet was supposed to appear in the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] episode "[[Nemesis Part 2]]", alongside [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and have a kickass mid-air fight scene with the [[Maximal]]s, but this didn't happen due to budget constraints.
*IDW Ramjet was robbed of his conehead in [[New Avengers / Transformers|Man and Machine]]. However, this proved to just be a mistake of the artist, as [[Spotlight: Ramjet]] depicted him in a form closely resembling his Classics toy.
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] once called Ramjet "'''RJ'''". {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}

==External links==
*[http://tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Ramjet/ramjet.htm Ramjet at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Ramjet Ramjet's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Classics characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! characters]]
[[Category:Masterforce characters]]
[[Category:MyClone]]
[[Category:Seekers]]
[[Category:Toys with sound]]

Dispensor

2010-05-11T20:16:10Z

142.32.208.234: /* Trivia */

{{Factions|decepticonfilm}}
:''Dispensor is an [[Allspark Mutation]] and [[Decepticon]] from the [[Movie (franchise)|2007 movie franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:MtDewBot-BPart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I am a seething cauldron of freon and caffeine!]]
'''Dispensor''' is one of several robots who transform into [[Mountain Dew]] vending machines. This particular one came online during the battle of [[Mission City]].

==Fiction==
===Transformers (2007)===
[[Image:Mountaindewrobot.jpg|left|180px|thumb|I've got a big, big thirst for human blood!]]
When [[Sam Witwicky]] accidentally activated the [[AllSpark (Movie)|All Spark]] during his flight from the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] in [[Mission City]], the artifact's radiation animated an SUV [[Steering wheel robot|steering wheel]], an [[Xbox 360 robot|Xbox 360]], and a Mountain Dew soda machine into robots. This Mountain Dew robot, named Dispensor, has an arm-mounted can-[[cannon]]. You might think this is pretty ridiculous, but unopened soda cans are much less delicious and refreshing when used as high-speed projectiles. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers}}
{{-}}
===IDW ''Transformers'' Movie sequel comics===
[[Image:Dispensorsquooshalliance.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Slew the Dew.]]
Shortly after the Mission City battle's conclusion, Dispensor attacked Sam Witwicky, only to be crushed to death by [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]. The Autobot medic strongly disapproved of his soft drink of choice. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance #1}}
{{-}}
==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Robot Heroes====
[[Image:Rhironhidedispensor.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's all hands.]]
*'''Ironhide vs. Dispensor''' (2008)

:Dispensor is included in a ''Robot Heroes'' two-pack along with a somersaulting Mission City battle [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. He is branded as a Decepticon, and of course, has no Mountain Dew markings on him at all. All four of his arms have swivel articulation at the shoulder (or equivalent).

{{-}}
== Trivia ==
* The name "Dispensor" was first suggested to [[Greg Lombardo]], [[Hasbro]]'s head of Marketing for ''Transformers'', by Daniel "Suspsy" Suh during a tour of Hasbro's offices at [[BotCon 2007]]. Later that same weekend, Suh shouted out the name during one of the Hasbro panels.

* According to ''CineFex'' magazine issue 111, the inclusion of Dispensor into the film was a last minute addition and all the modeling and animation for it was done in only four weeks!

[[Image:StarscreamsMilitiaSodaMachine.jpg|thumb|200px| [[Straxus| Mercy is not dispensed here fools, only soft drinks!]]]]

*Titan Magazines' ''[[Transformers Comic issue 7]]'' features an Allspark-animated soda can machine, but it's not clear if it is supposed to be Dispensor, or if it's another one that we didn't see before that was just inspired by Dispensor's appearance in the film. It sure as heck doesn't ''look'' like Dispensor, but with this art...

*Dispensor's place as a member of the [[Mountain Dew Robot|Mountain Dew Robots]] is unclear. He may qualify simply by being a, uh, Mountain Dew robot. However, what little we know about the Mountain Dew Robots comes from [[Dewbot]], whose origin is unknown. The MDRs may be a group of alien robots who took on Mountain Dew disguises, whereas Dispensor is an [[Allspark Mutation]] who was born on Earth.

{{-}}

==External links==
* [http://www.transformyoursummer.com The Transform Your Summer Webpage]
* [http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/RHDispensor/dispensor.htm Dispensor at TFU.info]

[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Movie characters]]
[[Category:Allspark Mutations]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]

Reflector (G1)

2010-04-28T19:35:54Z

142.32.208.234: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{picsneeded|other fictional appearances}}
{{disambig3|Reflector}}
:''Reflector is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ReflectorG1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|It's a Kodak moment. Top down: Viewfinder, Spyglass, Spectro]]
'''Reflector''' likes to watch. He lives (they live?) to observe anything and everything, from scenery, to wildlife, to architecture. But above all else, Reflector likes to watch his (their?) comrades, learn their dark secrets, and profit from them. Reflector is also very impressed with his (their) own abilities both in the fields of observation and blackmail.

Reflector is generally composed of three separate robots—[[Spectro]], [[Spyglass]] and [[Viewfinder]]—who combine into the one single-lens-reflex camera [[alternate mode|altmode]] that is Reflector.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Chris Latta]] (English), [[Yoku Shioya]] (Japanese)

[[Image:ReflectorCartoon1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I (we?) see EVERYTHING!]]
There's very little about Reflector that isn't unusual at best (or downright strange and unexplained at worst). He takes the form of three robots who all walk, talk and act with a single mind and voice. The three individual robots are never named; they are all simply "Reflector" and are all entirely identical, save for the lens aperture visible in the chest of the robot who forms the center of their camera mode. Although there are ''normally'' three Reflectors active at any one time (this being the number required to form their camera mode), there are documented instances of significantly more operating at once, and even cases where only one Reflector has been seen on its own. A clue to the mystery of the multiplying Reflectors was given during one battle for control of the Decepticons' [[space bridge]]: During this clash, a Reflector was seen colliding with one of its other components, which vanished in a flash of light, leaving only one Reflector robot standing in place of two. This Reflector then proceeded to collide with the remaining, third robot, and it too disappeared. Although never directly addressed by any characters and never displayed at any other time, this unusual instance suggests that Reflector is one robot capable of producing duplicates of himself, explaining the varying numbers of Reflector robots seen throughout the conflict on Earth. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

{{note|The real-world explanation for Reflector's initial overabundance, of course, is that he made a handy [[generic]] with which the animators could pad out the meager Decepticon ranks. The scene described above in "Divide and Conquer", however, came later and added an intriguing slant to the proceedings.}}

[[Image:MTME1_Reflector_camera.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]
Reflector was among the warriors who accompanied [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] aboard the Decepticons' [[Nemesis (G1)|space cruiser]] during its assault on the Autobots' [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] four million years ago. When the Ark crashed on Earth, Reflector was entombed in stasis with the other Transformers and awoke with the other Decepticons on Earth in 1984. Withdrawing from the Ark, the Decepticons immediately set about constructing a temporary base for themselves, and Reflector and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] were assigned to patrol the perimeter. As they surveyed the desert landscape, Reflector expressed his disbelief that the Autobots had also survived the crash. Thundercracker then spotted something off in the distance, and Reflector transformed to camera mode so that Thundercracker could use him to zoom in on the mystery object. Reflector dispensed a Polaroid photograph of the truck that had caught their attention, and Thundercracker reported the intruder to Megatron as a possible Autobot (which it wasn't). {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

[[Image:GenericDecepticons MTMTE.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Anything you need reflected? I (we?) gotcha covered.]]
Reflector later battled the Autobot forces on an offshore oil rig, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} and joined in the Decepticons' attack on [[Sherman Dam]]. Soon after, numerous Reflector robots were seen pillaging energy all across the world and helping stack [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] in the [[Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}} Reflector participated in the battle royale with the Autobots shortly before the Decepticons' failed attempt at returning to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard a new space cruiser. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

While the Decepticons were in the midst of testing their new intergalactic "[[space bridge]]" transport system, Reflector took part in two battles with the Autobots when the heroic robots tried to interfere with the test run. The battle ended badly when Megatron was sucked through the space bridge and back to Cybertron, {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} but Reflector seemed unfazed by the apparent loss of his leader, as he went on to carry out orders that had previously been given to him and began staking out the laboratory of [[antimatter]] researcher [[Doctor Alcazar]]. Using his photographic abilities to obtain the entry code for the laboratory's security system in secret, Reflector concluded his stakeout just as Megatron returned to Earth, and he quickly reported his findings to the Decepticon leader. Reflector subsequently followed Megatron back to the lab and entered the entry code for him, allowing the villains to enter the complex stealthily. Reflector was no doubt rather cheesed off to learn that his spying had been for naught when it turned out that Alcazar had gotten rid of the antimatter formula by transmitting it to [[Chip Chase]]. When the Decepticons acquired the formula from Chip, Reflector helped charge energon cubes with the antimatter they created, and then participated in the subsequent battle with the Autobots, which ended when the antimatter cubes Megatron was using to power himself threatened to overload. {{storylink|Roll for It}}

[[Image:DivideandConquer_SympatheticDecepticon.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]
Reflector later worked with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] on another attempt to transport energon cubes to Cybertron via the space bridge. In addition to the normal three Reflector robots, a fourth robot sharing their body type was present for this operation, and when Starscream required a pilot for the space bridge vessel, this unfortunate warrior was selected. He begged that he not be chosen, but his words fell on deaf ears as Starscream picked him up and dropped him into the transport craft. Fortunately for this robot, his piloting skills allowed him to traverse the space bridge, and he safely arrived on Cybertron with his energon payload.

{{note|Given that this robot was voiced by [[Ken Sansom]], rather than Reflector's normal voice actor, Chris Latta, it's probable (nay, likely) that this hapless little guy was just supposed to be a generic Decepticon that the animators happened to draw using Reflector as reference.}}

A group of Autobots soon arrived to investigate the Decepticon goings-on, but Reflector was quick to act and dazzled them with a blinding flash from his central lens. The Autobots soon got themselves together, though, and Reflector was dispatched in the aforementioned colliding-and-disappearing incident. Reflector's component selves later took part in a Decepticon attack on [[Autobot Headquarters]] and were fired upon by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], but the three robots were confident that the Earth germ couldn't hit all of them at once. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

[[Image:FireintheSky_Reflector_formation.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
Reflector did most of the grunt work when the Decepticons sought to drain the energy of the Earth's core via a crystal shaft in the Arctic, operating machinery and gathering energon cubes. When their digging unearthed the frozen Autobot [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], Reflector tried attacking the towering robot by running at him in a sort of cheerleader-pyramid formation, only to be—unsurprisingly—knocked to the ground with a swipe of Skyfire's arm. {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}}

Along with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], Reflector gathered valuable intelligence on the [[Great Falls]] hydroelectric power station, and he took part in the attack that their information-gathering helped facilitate. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}} Soon after, Reflector went with the other Decepticons on a mission to Peru in another attempt to seize the power of the Earth's core. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}} Later still, Reflector was part of the Decepticon team who tried harnessing energy from an unstable meteorite. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}}

When the Decepticons used their space bridge to pull Cybertron itself into Earth's orbit in order to reap the energy released by the natural disasters that would result, Reflector was at Megatron's side as the Decepticon leader watched the construction of a hydroelectric energy collector. When an unexpectedly strong tidal wave demolished the structure, Megatron and Reflector escaped aboard a transport ship, though Reflector was given pause to wonder on the fate of the Decepticons' human ally, [[Doctor Arkeville]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} Cybertron was soon blasted out of Earth's proximity, but some robots of Reflector's body design were seen on the plant not long after, carrying the wounded Arkeville to a medical bay. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}}

After taking part in another energy-raiding attempt with the help of new arrivals the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} Reflector joined the other Decepticons in relinquishing his [[power chip rectifier]] to a machine that would transfer all of the Decepticons' special abilities to Megatron, enabling him to best [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] easily in a one-on-one duel. During the combat, Megatron employed Reflector's power to generate a brilliant flash of light to blind Optimus Prime. When Megatron's deception was exposed, Reflector and the other Decepticons were sent tumbling into a river of lava by the enraged Autobots. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

Learning that the Autobots had transferred Spike's mind into a robot body, Megatron had Reflector watch over Autobot Headquarters, and his spying soon bore fruit when the unstable "Autobot Spike" came bursting through a wall and flew off. Reflector followed and summoned the other Decepticons to his position. Megatron proceeded to try and turn Spike against the Autobots, but the attempt ultimately ended in failure. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}}

Following the "Autobot Spike" affair, Reflector's role in the war suddenly began to drop off; he became less and less visible on the battlefield, and he was never heard to speak again. Throughout 1985, he was glimpsed only a few times: He joined in the Decepticons' attempt to conquer [[Washington, D.C.]], {{storylink|City of Steel}} he followed Megatron in an attempt to hijack a rocket, {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}} and he clashed with the Insecticons over stolen [[Electro-cell|electro-cells]]. {{storylink|Traitor}} A little later, he helped battle the Autobots for control of [[korlonium crystal]]s. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}} After being absent for a prolonged period after this, Reflector reappeared as part of a group of Decepticons on the rampage in [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]], {{storylink|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court}} and soon after, he was among the Decepticons who coated themselves with [[electrum]] to cause havoc. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} Reflector then disappeared from the field of battle for quite some time, returning for one final appearance that year, battling the mutinous Starscream and his [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

Reflector put in his final, very brief appearances in 2005, when he could be spotted at both the [[Battle of Autobot City]] and the coronation of Starscream soon afterward. He was later killed by Unicron. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

{{note|The real-world reason behind Reflector's steady disappearance from the show lies with the troubled release of this toy, as discussed further down this article. In accordance with Hasbro's decision not to release the figure, the [[Production bible|series story bible]] specifically discouraged writers from use of the character after season one ended.<ref>[http://transformers.winterchill.com/bible/biblepage43.html Reflector's page in the series bible]</ref>. Indeed, following "Autobot Spike", Reflector is never called for by an episode script again, and appears only in group shots of the Decepticons at the animators' discretion.}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] photographed the incomplete [[Autobot City]] with the aid of Reflector's camera mode, so that Megatron could decipher whether or not it was powerful enough to stand up to [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Reflectormarvel.jpg|right|100px|thumb|A [[To sell toys#Hi-and-die|hi-then-die]] who didn't even get to say hi!]]
[[Spectro]], [[Spyglass]] and [[Viewfinder]] worked with the [[Decepticon medic (Marvel Comics)|Decepticon medic]] to repair their fellow Decepticons. Subsequently an oddly colored Viewfinder was seen decorating the cavern floor of [[Mount St. Hilary]] after all the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] were rendered inoperable by [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]'s poisoned fuel. They didn't even get to introduce themselves in [[Introdump|painfully lengthy exposition]]. Alas, Reflector was taken away from us before his prime. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}
{{-}}
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
''Reflector was part of Megatron's crew, active on Earth in the 1980s before the ''[[Ark II]]'' incident. When Megatron was snatched up by the Keepers, not all Decepticons fell into line under Starscream's maniacal command. [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and the three Reflector robots chose to make a stand against Starscream's leadership at [[Hoover Dam]], outside the Decepticon's new base in [[Las Vegas]]. Spyglass and Skywarp drew [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s electronic attention, prompting Starscream and his communications officer to make an appearance at the Dam. As Skywarp rejected Starscream's rule, the other Reflector robots leapt out of hiding to attack the usurper. The battle quickly turned against Skywarp and Reflector, though, as Soundwave's sonic attack ripped Spectro apart, sending him over the edge of the dam and into stasis lock. Once Skywarp was disabled as well, Spyglass and Viewfinder wisely chose to abdicate to Starscream. {{storylink|Hardwired}}''

''The surviving two Reflector parts remained under Starscream's command only as long as necessary, and left Las Vegas with Megatron's splinter faction of Decepticons soon after their former leader returned to Earth. {{storylink|Annihilation}} After the Decepticons reunited, Reflector was instrumental in several attempts at blackmail and media manipulation against the [[President of the United States]], first recording him whimpering helplessly in Megatron's massive hand during an attack on the White House, and later sending the media outlets footage of the U.S. Armed Forces attempting to assassinate Autobots AND Decepticons in the Nevada desert. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

[[Image:BrothersBurden_Reflector.jpg|thumb|left|250px|]]
''A duplicate of'' Reflector remained on Cybertron and worked for [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], monitoring the planet and its inhabitants for him from a central mainframe. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} They were seemingly destroyed by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] when he broke ranks with Shockwave's command structure. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} ''The true Reflector, on Earth, was heard to dismiss this duplicate as an inferior copy.'' {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}

{{note|The presence of two Reflectors originally arose as a continuity error, when the "Annihilation" novel depicted Reflector on Earth while the concurrently published comics showed him to be on Cybertron. Like a couple of other errors in the novels, this was paved over in the third book, "Fusion", with the true, Earth-bound Reflector making the above "inferior copy" remark. Coincidentally, the situation echoes the body-duplication theme seen in the Generation 1 cartoon, discussed above, but regardless, what happened to the so-called true Reflector after the Keepers Trilogy remains a mystery.}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. The Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:GIJoevsTF4 Reflector.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
The three Reflector components were among the Transformers who crashed on Earth millions of years in the past, and upon being discovered by humans, they were reprogrammed to serve the terrorist organization [[Cobra]]. The Autobot [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] eventually restored everyone's original programming, and the angry Reflector trio broke into Cobra's control center to teach the fleshlings a thing or two about messing with their heads. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4}} Reflector was then ordered by Megatron to assist [[Doctor Mindbender]] and [[Firefly]] while they used the [[SPS Satellite]] to create [[energon cube]]s. When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] arrived to halt their scheme, the three Reflectors attacked him, but were easily swatted aside. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5}}

[[Image:ArtofWar4_Reflector_message.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
In a dark alternate future where the Decepticons had conquered Earth, three black Reflectors guarded human slaves imprisoned near a factory, but were killed by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Tomax and Xamot]]. As this future was also full of multiple [[Sweep]]s, [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon swarms]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage packs]], it is possible these Reflectors were some sort of [[Cloning|clones]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3}}

Viewfinder was present for a Decepticon gathering on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], during which [[Serpent O.R.]] took control of the Decepticon army. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3}} During a subsequent Decepticon assault on an Autobot peace ceremony, the Reflector trio were charged with delivering a message to Optimus Prime. After being carried to Prime in [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]'s palm, Viewfinder used his chest lens to project a hologram of Serpent O.R., allowing the Decepticon leader to negotiate with Prime. Reflector came under attack by [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] during the negotation, but Viewfinder managed to continue the transmission despite being injured. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4}}

{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Spectro and Spyglass were seen aboard a Decepticon orbital outpost, terrified of walking down the same hallway as [[Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sixshot}}

{{note|In Spotlight: Sixshot, Spyglass and Spectro appear in their toy based character models.}}

[[Image:AHM3_Reflector_Rumble.jpg|right|thumb|275px|]]
All three Reflector units (speaking entirely in unison), eventually joined Megatron on [[Earth]], and helped defeat the Autobots there. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Following this victory, the Reflector trio help destroy [[New York City]] along with the other Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} Spectro and Spyglass enjoyed "playing games" with the city's fleshy inhabitants, but were disappointed about how easily they came apart. Viewfinder preferred to brood by himself, while still echoing the other two's dialogue. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} Reflector stayed with Megatron when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] rebelled against his leader {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}, and fought back against the Autobots when they returned to Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} The Decepticons were ultimately defeated {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} and Viewfinder and Spectro left the planet aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|All Hail Megatron #13}}

Spyglass was left behind, however, and was still trying to get off the planet three years later. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

Years later, the three Reflector units found themselves on a ship, which crashed on [[LV-117]]. Viewfinder was killed in the crash when a large piece of the bridge's canopy shattered and impaled him through the chest. Spectro and Spyglass survived and eventually they located [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], who had previously crashed on the same planet and had been building an escape vessel with a [[Varta|friendly alien]]. They managed to hijack the vessel shortly before it launched by threatening to kill Wheelie's friend, but the tiny Autobot removed the safety catch from his energon converter before disembarking, causing it to explode violently shortly after takeoff. {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

===Alternity===

[[Image:Worldisflat alternity bumblebee.jpg|left|thumb]]

Three Reflector units hailing from an unknown [[universal stream]] were among the minions serving under [[Megatron (G1)#Alternity|Megatron]] during his complicated, cross-dimensional war with the Autobot [[Alternity (species)|Alternity]]. This incarnation of Reflector was a [[Pretender]], with each of his components able to disguise themselves as an ordinary-sized human being.

Reflector was dispatched to [[Binaltech Asterisk|universal stream 905.0 Beta]] to search for the source of a new dimensional flux of previously unheard type. In their Pretender guises, the trio tracked the source of the disruption to the Otsuka Museum of Art, and found that it was a strange tablet. Reflector was about to make off with the tablet when he was accosted by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Energon)|Elita Seven]], and his components promptly dropped their Pretender forms to battle the little Autobot. Unfortunately for Reflector, he was no match for the unearthly powers of an Alternity: Bumblebee snatched the tablet away, and with a snap of his fingers, reduced Reflector to a nearly two-dimensional state. From across the dimensions, Megatron saw his minions collapse like paper, and lashed out with his tesseractal swords, destroying the museum and the tablet, and wounding Bumblebee. By the time Bumblebee came to, Reflector was long gone. {{storylink|The World Is Flat!}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1 Reflector toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|We three kings of orient are... Left to right: Spectro, Viewfinder, Spyglass]]
* '''Reflector''' (Mail-away, 1986/1987; wide release in Japan, 1985)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''21'''
**''Accessories:'' Spectro's "Shutter Gun", Viewfinder's "Lens Laser", Spyglass' "Optic Blaster", flash cube/missile launcher, 3 missiles, telephoto lens.

: Reflector was first sold in Japan in 1985 as an ordinary retail item. However, [[Hasbro]] delayed selling him in the US until 1986, and only then via mail-order from a [[The Autobots Have a Special Mission for:|direct-mail flyer promoting ''The Transformers: The Movie'']]''.'' (Oddly, this came just as the character was being fully phased out of the fiction.) The toy would be a common offering in [[Pack-in material|pack-in flyers]] from then on, at a cost of $10 and two [[Robot Point|Robot Points]].

: Reflector is composed of three distinct robots that combine to form a camera: Viewfinder as the central component with the lens, Spectro as the right-side component with the shutter button, and Spyglass as the left-side component with the flash. It includes a telephoto lens and old-style flashcube that doubles as a missile launcher, but of course, the Hasbro version has the spring-loaded mechanism neutered [[for safety reasons]]. Undocumented in the instructions is that the telephoto lens is supposed to fit onto Viewfinder's gun to reduce kibble.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Spectro/spectro.htm More information on (part of) Reflector at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/SpyGlass/spyglass.htm More info on another part of Reflector at TFU'info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Viewfinder/viewfinder.htm More info on yet another part of Reflector at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Merchandise===
[[Image:ReflectorDecoy1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"HI! I'M SUPPOSED TO BE CONSPICUOUS! AM I DOING IT RIGHT? HI!"]]
* '''Reflector''' (Decoy, 1986)

: Reflector was one of the many characters represented by a small plastic [[decoy]] included with certain Transformers for a brief time. The decoy is based on the cartoon design of Viewfinder. Most commonly, it was made with purple plastic, but a red rare version is known to exist and goes for a lot more on the secondary market.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Decoys/Reflector/reflector.htm More information on Reflector at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:PreReflector.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Say "Cheese" and die.]]
* Reflector was originally the "Camera Robo" from Takara's ''[[Micro Change]]'' sub-series of the ''[[Microman|New Microman]]'' line. The only noteworthy difference between the two releases, besides the whole missile-launcher-neuter-in-the-United-States thing, is that the ''Microman'' release has "MICROX" emblazoned on the center unit's decals instead of "REFLECTOR".

* Not so surprisingly, the Camera Robo was first designed as a single unit. Apparently, the primary designer of the final toy, and possibly this initial design, was mecha designer [[Shinji Aramaki]], who designed the robots for ''[[wikipedia:Megazone_23|Megazone 23]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Genesis_Climber_Mospeada|Genesis Climber Mospeada]]''.

* Reflector's role early in the cartoon makes it seem likely his toy was originally planned for inclusion in the original 1984 line. Why Hasbro decided not to release it so late in the game is unknown, as is the reason why they later reversed that decision to make it a viable mail-away.

{{-}}

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Alternity characters]]
[[Category:Combined forms]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance specialists]]

Terror on Two Worlds!

2010-04-28T19:34:10Z

142.32.208.234: /* Differences between the film and comic */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' #3
|prev=To the Death—and Beyond!
|next=Matrix Quest!
|title="Terror on Two Worlds!"
|image=TAM 3.jpg
|caption=What does '''this''' remind you of, you old fart?
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 13]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=December 2006
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|designer=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|artist=[[Don Figueroa]]
|colorist=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letterer=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|editor=[[Chris Ryall]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Hot Rod and Kup encounter the Quintessons and Sharkticons while Ultra Magnus' group meets the Junkions.'''

== Synopsis ==
Hot Rod is trapped in metallic seaweed and facing aggressive fish in the strange ocean. He retracts his hand for a [[saw]] blade and frees himself before rescuing Kup from a giant octopus. After repairing Kup, they travel for a bit before they are captured by a strange group of robots who lock them up in a cell. There they meet Kranix, who tells them about the Quintessons and Sharkticons of this planet, as well as the fact that Unicron destroyed his planet. Kranix is soon sentenced to death. As the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s search for Kup and Hot Rod, they encounter Wheelie, who agrees to lead them to their friends.

Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus' crew crash lands on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]] while Unicron informs Galvatron that Ultra Magnus is on Junk and orders him to destroy Magnus and the Matrix. Galvatron's forces attack and blow up Magnus, allowing him to retrieve the Matrix, which he plans to use to enslave Unicron.

Hot Rod and Kup are sentenced to death and dropped in the Sharkticons' pool, but they use their speed to escape attack the Sharkticons. When things look grim, the Dinobots arrive with Wheelie and eliminate the remaining Sharkticons. Together they find the Quintessons' ship, which they take to Junk and save Ultra Magnus' crew from the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. They make peace with the Junkions, who repair Magnus. Unfortunately he reports that Galvatron has the Matrix.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (1)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (2)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (6)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (7)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (9)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (13)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (14)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (15)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (16)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (17)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (20)
|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (19)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (21)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (22)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (23)
|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky]] (5)
|c4=
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (8)
* [[Quintesson]]s (10)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (11)
* [[Kranix]] (12)
* [[Unicron]] (18)
}}

== Errors ==
* Daniel is drawn way too small on the last page — at that scale it's hard to imagine him having done any damage when he runs Scavenger down.
* What happens to all the Sharkticons? One second they're fighting the Dinobots hard, the next they've all buggered off (thanks to the loss of the "Me Grimlock say..." sequence.)

==Differences between the film and comic==
* Hot Rod has some more exposition dialogue when fighting the fish in order to bring people who haven't been smart enough to read the recap on the first page up to speed.
* The "Beryllium Baloney" exchange between the Dinobots is cut short, Grimlock doesn't refer to himself as a king (here, or later in the issue) and thankfully doesn't join in the rhyming thanks to the "Me Grimlock say we're on our way!" being dropped.
* Grimlock encouraging the Sharkticons to start a revolution is gone. Instead, he and the Dinobots just kill them all.
* For obvious reasons, there is no song and dance on Junk.

== Items of note ==
===Covers (2)===
* '''Regular Cover:''' Hot Rod and Kup vs. the Sharkticons by Don Figueroa and Josh Burcham.
* '''Retailer Incentive:''' Uncolored sketch of regular cover

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Infiltration]]'' TPB
* ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' 20th Anniversary DVD
* ''[[Spotlight (comics)|Transformers: Spotlight]]'', first 5 issues
* Transformers posters
* IDW trade paperbacks (''Infiltration'', ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]]'', ''[[The Gathering]]'', ''[[Prime Directive]]'', ''[[War and Peace]]'', ''[[Generations (comic reprints)|Generations]]'')
* ''[[Escalation (IDW)|Escalation]]''
* Manga editions of ''The Gathering'' and ''Stormbringer''
* ''Generations'' series
* ''CSI: Dying In the Gutter''
* ''24: Nightfall''
* [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] with Kung Fu Grip toy (back cover)

[[Category:IDW issues]]

The Gathering Storm

2010-04-28T19:32:47Z

142.32.208.234: /* Differences between the film and comic */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' #1
|next=To the Death—and Beyond!
|title="The Gathering Storm"
|image=TAM 1.jpg
|caption=Watch where you point that thing, Arcee!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 25]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=October 2006
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|designer=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|artist=[[Don Figueroa]]
|colorist=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letterer=[[Robbie Robbins]], Neil Uyetake
|editor=[[Chris Ryall]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''As a deadly universal threat looms, two leaders fight their final battle—one shall stand and one shall fall.'''

== Synopsis ==
[[Image:IDWG1Movie_TheGatheringStorm_UnicrondevoursLithone.jpg|thumb|left|250px|]]
Unicron attacks a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-like planet and only two scientists—Kranix and Arblus—manage to escape in a ship before the planet is destroyed.

Elsewhere, the [[Autobot]]s plan to retake Cybertron from the [[Decepticon]]s. Optimus Prime tells Ironhide to make a special trip to [[Autobot City]] on [[Earth]] to obtain the energon needed for an assault, but unfortunately the conversation was recorded by Laserbeak. After Laserbeak relays the information to Megatron, he leads a team to attack the shuttle, killing the crew, and continuing to Earth in the shuttle to take the Autobots by surprise.

Outside Autobot City, Hot Rod and Daniel enjoy a peaceful day of fishing. They take a break to watch the shuttle land, but discover that it's full of Decepticons, who exit and attack Autobot City. Perceptor also notices the attack and warns Ultra Magnus, who gives orders for his team to transform Autobot City to battle mode and for Blaster to contact Prime for reinforcements. Starscream's foot gets trapped in the transforming city, forcing him to blast it to escape.

Hot Rod and Daniel make it inside the city, along with Kup, running over some [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] in the process. When Blaster begins to broadcast to get help from Prime, Soundwave unleashes his minions to stop the transmission. Blaster, however, has his own team to fight back.

The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] merge into Devastator to breach the city's defenses, which takes an entire day. But as it seems that all hope is lost, Prime arrives in another shuttle and immediately orders the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to attack Devastator. On his way to battle Megatron, Prime singlehandedly takes out a large group of Decepticons. Prime and Megatron battle fiercely and both are injured. Megatron fakes a surrender and attempts to use a nearby gun to attack Optimus, but Hot Rod sees what's going on and attempts to intervene. Megatron grabs Hot Rod, though, and uses him as a shield while he mortally wounds Optimus Prime. Prime, however, still has the strength for a blow that sends Megatron over a cliff.

Starscream orders the Decepticons to board Astrotrain and retreat, while Soundwave takes the gravely injured Megatron aboard. Prime is dying though, telling those around him that he is soon to be one with the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (6)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (7)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (9)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (10)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (16)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (18)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (19)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (21)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (22)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (30)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (31)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (32)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (33)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (34)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (35)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (40)
* [[Eject]] (41)
* [[Rewind]] (42)
* [[Ramhorn]] (43)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (45)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (46)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (47)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (50)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (51)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (52)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (53)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (54)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (55)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (56)
|c2=
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (11)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (12)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (13)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (14)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (15)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (17)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (23)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (24)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (25)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (26)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (27)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (28)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (29)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (36)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (37)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (38)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (39)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (44)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (48)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (49)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (57)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (8)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (20)
|c4=
* [[Unicron]] (1)
* [[Arblus]] (2)
* [[Kranix]] (3)
}}

== Errors ==
* Many, many speech bubbles are misplaced — resulting in Perceptor speaking to himself, Hot Rod proclaiming Prime's wounds terminal (a bit suspect that...), and Ironhide finishing Jazz's call to Moonbase Two. Also, Shrapnel and Kickback's speech bubbles are reversed in one panel, as are Perceptor and Ultra Magnus' in another panel.

==Differences between the film and comic==
* The reference to the year the story is set in is gone.
* Ironhide no longer says his last line, and Megatron's response of "such heroic nonsense!" is also absent.
* Lookout Mountain isn't named. The entire sequence with Megatron destroying the mountain, Hot Rod's encounter with Blitzwing and his team-up with Kup is gone as well.
* When he sees the purple gun, Megatron says "one last chance to snatch victory from defeat" — a somewhat silly thing to do, as it must surely tell Optimus he's up to something...
* See below for the scene with the Combiners and Omega Supreme.

== Items of note ==
[[Image:TAM TPB Gestalt Fight.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Okay, sure, but where's [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]?]]
* In the trade paperback, after the cassette battle in the communications tower, a bonus scene is included in which [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] battle [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] outside the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', intended to serve as an explanation for why the characters were not present at Autobot City in the movie.
* Cover A of this issue was reused as one side of the DVD cover for [[Madman Entertainment]]'s special edition DVD of the movie.
*Beachcomber is dead on the floor next to Wheeljack and Windcharger.
*Snarl is with the Dinobots in each appearance.

===Covers (2)===
* '''Cover A''': Ultra Magnus and the Autobots vs Unicron and the Decepticons (based upon the original US movie poster), by Don Figueroa and Josh Burcham
* '''Cover RI-A''': Uncolored sketch of cover A

===Advertisements===
* Optimus Prime [[Alternators]] toy
* ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]'', including a 6-page preview
* Transformers posters
* ''[[Infiltration]]'' TPB
* ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' 20th Anniversary DVD (back cover)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gathering Storm}}
[[Category:IDW issues]]

Sideswipe (G1)

2010-04-28T19:28:26Z

142.32.208.234: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Sideswipe}}
:''Sideswipe is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Continuity family|continuity family]]. His name is also sometimes parsed '''Side Swipe'''.''

[[Image:NYSideswipeCardart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I've never done anything important, but people love me anyway! Sweet!]]
'''Sideswipe''' is not nearly as much of a sociopath as his [[Relatives|brother]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], but he is every bit as skillful. He's more into battle for the sport of it. A bit of a jock, Sideswipe most craves a glorious fight to the finish as a test of his mettle.

There is a reckless edge to Sideswipe's tactics. He makes rash decisions that may endanger him, all in the name of possible victory. Cheating is also not out of the question. When everything is on the line, for Sideswipe, nothing is out of the question. Over time, his reckless attitude has not changed; however, his cause has—once in it solely for the glory, now he's driven by the desire to defend freedom and the innocent.

His [[Action Master partner]] is [[Vanguard]].

:''Japanese name:'' '''[[Wikipedia:Lamborghini|Lambor]]''' (ランボル ''Ranboru'')
:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Frérot''' (Bro)
:''Hungarian name'': '''Csatár''' ("Striker")
:''Italian name:'' '''Freccia''' ("Arrow")
:''Portuguese name (Portugal comic):'' '''Esgalhador'''
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Tsè Sǎu''' (側掃, "Side Swipe")
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Heng Pao''' (横炮, "Horizontal Cannon")
:''Cantonese name:'' '''Swipe''' (斯韋伯 ''Si Wai Baak'', literally "This Soft-leather Elder")
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comic):'' '''Surrupio'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
Sideswipe, along with his brother Sunstreaker, was part of the original crew of Optimus Prime's Ark. When the Decepticons attacked the ship it crashed on Earth and Sideswipe, along with the rest of the combatants, lay dormant for 4 million years. When the volcano that housed the Ark erupted, the Ark's internal mechanisms revived all Transformers, making no distinction between [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]]. Sideswipe was alive again. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

When the Autobots went to retrieve their fallen comrade [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] from [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]'s garage, they were attacked by Decepticons. Against his brother's better judgment, Sideswipe employed his energon-gobbling rocket pack to take the fight right to the Decepticon jets. The 'Cons were driven off, but without a source of fuel to recharge on, several Autobots, including Sideswipe, were left virtually empty after the battle, and were sidelined. {{storylink|Power Play!}} ''Though he could not go on missions, Sideswipe was still able to defend the Ark from invasion when the Decepticons came right to his doorstep. He was confronted by that junk-punk [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s earthquake-making ability and turned the tables on him, overpowering Rumble with his pile-driver punches. {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}''

Sideswipe's inactivity continued even longer after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] took over the Ark and deactivated all the Autobots in the ship. After [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] regained control of the Ark for the Autobots, he was able to revive Sideswipe to full functionality in short order, and their new deal for fuel with [[G.B. Blackrock]] kept them energized. ''During the Dinobot Hunt, Sideswipe traveled to [[Doonstown]] with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Bluestreak]] on a mission to capture the feral [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. It... didn't go so well, and the various gnawed-upon pieces of Sideswipe were not seen again for some time. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}''

Sideswipe would eventually be seen again at the feud fight between [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and Grimlock on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

====''Generation 2''====
Sideswipe was part of Grimlock's firestormers, a group of Autobots unable to stand the peace and who searched for new wars to fight. With them, he worked as a raider against territories controlled by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]] and operation to cyberform inhabited worlds. He now sported a black paintjob, and stated happily that he loved his job (i.e. gunning people down by the dozen). {{storylink|War Without End!}}

He had a more prominent role in subsequent events than he had had in the past. Sideswipe was present for the last battle against the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], but his final fate is uncertain. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

====''Generation 2'' (UK)====
Sideswipe was part of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s Special Commando Unit, summoned to Earth along with Optimus Prime by Grimlock when [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] began open war on the humans. {{storylink|Generation 2 (Fleetway comic)}}

====''Classics''====

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe joined Optimus Prime's crew on Earth after Megatron resurfaced. They braved the Ark's defenses in order to break inside and recover their lost comrade, Ratchet. Sideswipe unsealed him from the [[CR Chamber]] Megatron had left the medic in, and together the twins carried him away to safety. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Bell]] (English), [[Kōki Kataoka]] (Japanese)

{{charstubfiction}}
[[Image:Sideswipejetpack.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Oh, you want my rocket pack? The one that I've never had until just now?"]]
Sideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crash-landed on [[Earth]] four million years ago. He awoke along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and his brother being reformatted into Lamborghini sports cars. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

{{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

Sideswipe loaned [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] the use of his rocket pack when the Decepticons nearly escaped from Earth with a starship full of [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

[[Image:Sideswipe FakeBreakdown.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Maybe someday [[E-Hobby|there]] will be a Sideswipe toy [[Redeco|redeco]] with [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'s color scheme.]]
{{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}}

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker often operated together. When [[antimatter]]-fueled [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] attacked the Ark on one occasion, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker took to the air to battle with the incoming [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] jets, in a rambunctious, if ultimately ineffective, display of "[[jet judo]]". {{storylink|Roll for It}}

{{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

When investigating tremors that were shaking the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'s scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe, using his piston-like arms, helped [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] remove the rock wall and found a cave full of dinosaur bones, the discovery of which would lead to the development of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

Sideswipe helped Wheeljack by recovering their frozen comrade [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], and came with the rest of the group to [[Peru]], where he assisted in shooting a rock slide into rubble. After Wheeljack captured the fire stream with one of his new inventions, Sideswipe flashed his lights on with the other Autobots to celebrate. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}} Sideswipe was chosen by Wheeljack to test [[Snarl (G1)|the two]] [[Swoop (G1)|new Dinobots]]. Though he smashed Swoop out of the air, Snarl was able to get in a counterattack. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}}

{{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}} {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}} {{storylink|Autobot Spike}} {{storylink|Changing Gears}} {{storylink|City of Steel}} {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}}

Sideswipe seemed to have a penchant for wrestling jets to the ground. {{storylink|City of Steel}}{{storylink|The Immobilizer}} When Optimus Prime took the Autobots to test [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s latest invention, the Immobilizer, Sideswipe came with them. Decepticons attacked soon after, with Sideswipe leaping at Starscream in midflight. When the Decepticons retreated, Sideswipe returned to Autobot headquarters with his comrades while Wheeljack recovered from his immobilization. Once Wheeljack was back to normal, Sideswipe was part of Optimus Prime's team to recover the Immobilizer. [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] began immobilizing various Autobots, and Sideswipe decided that he was going to defeat Rumble shortly before being immobilized himself. When [[Carly]] was able to reroute the Immobilizer, Sideswipe and the other Autobots were freed. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}}

{{storylink|The Autobot Run}} {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!}} {{storylink|Day of the Machines}} {{storylink|A Prime Problem}} {{storylink|The Core}} {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}} {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}} {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} {{storylink|Make Tracks}} {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}} {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} {{storylink|Kremzeek!}} {{storylink|Trans-Europe Express}} {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

Sideswipe once disguised himself as [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] in order to stop [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s evil plan, along [[Windcharger (G1)|with]] [[Jazz (G1)|four]] [[Mirage (G1)|other]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Autobots]]. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

Later, during the [[Battle of Autobot City]] Swideswipe was killed. His body was seen laying near [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====

When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] sent [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to raid [[Tokyo]] for energy, Sideswipe accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and a unit of Autobot vehicles to defend the city. Sideswipe didn't perform very well, immediately getting slugged in the face by Menasor's humongous fist. Luckily, his pummelling made the perfect distraction for Optimus Prime, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], who drove up a ramp and slammed Menasor and the Seekers directly in their faces, sending them into retreat. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1}}

Later, during an attack on [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]] in [[Arizona]], Sideswipe yet again failed to perform very well in battle. Attempting to confront the Decepticons in the sky on his jetpack, he wound up instead getting bombed by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and damaged badly in the resulting explosion. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 2}}

Maintaining his image as a punching bag, Sideswipe was once again trounced in battle, this time at Yokohama against Starscream, Blitzwing and the Super Megatron Gun (Megatron in gun-mode but not shrunken down). Unable to stand up to the might of the Decepticon attack, Sideswipe was blasted many, ''many'' times before [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived to save the day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4}}

=====Full Throttle Scramble Power!=====

After the Decepticons' [[Omega Whip]] base was demolished, Sideswipe assembled with the Autobot cars to prevent their foes from escaping. They were soon joined by the might of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], and a full Autobot battalion. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
Sideswipe was one of many Autobots who suffered from the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] virus when [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] unleashed it upon them. Working together with the humans, the Autobots created the [[Binaltech|Binaltech Project]] as a means of transferring the injured Autobots' sparks into super-powered new bodies created from human technology. Along with [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Bluestreak]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], Sideswipe was part of the first wave of Binaltech warriors, who assembled on Earth under the command of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Story of Binaltech, Chapter 1}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
When the Decepticons found a way to reactivate their old [[Space Bridge]] on Cybertron, the Autobots found themselves under siege from within. Sideswipe was on Earth with Ultra Magnus, and was one of the soldiers gathered to the Autobot Space Bridge to reinforce their allies on Cybertron. On their way to the Space Bridge, however, Sideswipe and the others were attacked by the new Decepticon lieutenant, [[Sixshot]], and a battle was joined. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

===3H comics===
Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]] returned to the [[technorganic]] [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after a prolonged journey and were welcomed by the [[Maximal]]s. [[Unicron]] abducted these newly-returned Transformers, in addition to many others from different times and universes, to start a final confrontation against [[Primus]]. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rebuilt into new forms, corrupted by Unicron's influence, and set against one another in the [[Cauldron]]. Before either brother could land a killing blow, however, the fight was broken up by [[Optimus Primal]]. Sideswipe then fought his way out of Unicron alongside many other Transformers rescued by Primal and returned to Cybertron.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
Sideswipe was one of the few Autobots to continue operating under that title during the [[Dreamwave timeline#The Dark Ages|Dark Ages]] of Cybertron. Sideswipe was one of the elite warriors serving under [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and as such was chosen for the mission that sent him against the newly constructed Decepticon battle station, [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Of course the mission was a failure, but that isn't likely to have discouraged Sideswipe. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[Image:DWPrimeDirective2 SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|left|300px|thumb|"This is what [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] was whining about? Pansy."]]
Sideswipe was part of Operation Liberation in 1998, a joint human-Autobot effort to defeat the Earth-bounded Decepticons. At the end it was a success, and the captured Decepticons along with the Autobots and a human crew departed Earth en route to Cybertron in the ''[[Ark II]]''. The ship, however, was sabotaged and exploded upon liftoff.

A few years later, Megatron and other Transformers, including Autobots, were seen causing havoc. It was discovered that [[Lazarus]], a scientist who participated in the ''Ark II'' project, was responsible for the sabotage of the ship and the resurrection of several Transformers under his control via technological tampering. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1}}

[[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] of the [[United States military|US military]] contacted [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to ask him if he could do something to help them reactivate Optimus Prime, whom they had recovered locked in a state of stasis. Spike managed to reactivate Optimus with a portion of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] that Optimus had given him prior the ill-fated journey of the ''Ark II''. Optimus subsequently went to the Arctic and used the Matrix to reactivate several Transformers, including Sideswipe. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2}}

[[Image:DWPrimeDirective5 SideswipeSunstreaker Devastator.jpg|right|250px|thumb|We're trying to look dynamic, but all these [[Pat Lee|puffy proportions]] are putting a stop to that.]]
Sideswipe accepted the new task at hand and fought alongside his brother when the Autobots faced the Decepticons at Lazarus' ruined base (punching Starscream in the face for attacking Wheeljack) before Hallo betrayed the Autobots by attempting to destroy both factions with a nuclear weapon. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3}} The Autobots survived when Megatron's technovirus absorbed the blast, and Sideswipe helped his comrades recover the captive Autobots imprisoned inside the base. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4}}

As Jazz's unit worked on Megatron's virus, Sideswipe followed Optimus Prime to [[San Francisco]] for the last battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. When [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] was taken down, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker heroically (though foolishly) charged at [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and they were smashed between the giant Constructicon's palms for their trouble. After Optimus Prime brought Devastator down with a blast to the head, Sideswipe was restrained by the surviving Decepticons. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5}} However, through [[human]] intervention, Optimus Prime freed his Autobots and the battle was rejoined. Sideswipe tag-teamed with his brother to pummel [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], though the Decepticons eventually escaped when Superion sacrificed his life to save the city from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear missile launch. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6}}

''Months later, after Optimus Prime, Megatron, and an assortment of other Transformers and humans vanished in a flash of light from Tokyo, Japan, the world went on high alert. When the U.S. military detected [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] in the Nevada canyons, Sideswipe accompanied a flight of jets in confronting the Decepticon. Their battle led down a tight box canyon, and Sideswipe had some difficulty chasing Starscream while also coordinating with his military wingmen, as he tried to limit the human casualties. Eventually, Sideswipe was led straight into Devastator, who had been hiding in the canyon on Starscream's order. The combined surprise firepower of Starscream's arsenal and a near-pointblank blast from Devastator's solar energy rifle left Sideswipe in several charred pieces. {{storylink|Hardwired}}''

''Sideswipe was eventually repaired by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and returned to duty just in time to fight in Nevada once more. This time, the Autobots and Decepticons had joined forces against an ambush arranged by the President of the United States, who hoped to rid his country of the Transformers. Sideswipe waded through General [[Michelle Grajkowski]]'s troops, heavily routing her Delta Team, but the [[deconstructionite]] weapons being used by the U.S. Armed Forces were too much of a surprise for the Cybertronians—they were clearly on the losing end of the battle as many of their number fell before the severity of the weaponized nanites became evident. Sideswipe and Prowl helped load the injured Autobots into Prime's trailer as they made their getaway. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

[[Image:G1 Sideswipe Sunstreaker DWissue7.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Hi, I'm a jock.]]
When agents from the united Cybertron arrived on Earth, Optimus Prime split his forces in order to ensure Earth would not be left undefended. As Prime and many other Autobots travelled back to Cybertron with Shockwave, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and their crew, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker remained on Earth with several other Autobots under Jazz's command. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} Sideswipe was deactivated in battle with [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] when Starscream and his followers returned to Earth, and was left to rust at the bottom of a lake. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] later dredged him and the others up, only to be taken into custody by [[Earth Defense Command]]. Jazz, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker were reactivated to help [[Marissa Faireborn]] and [[EDC Night Force Unit|her team]] in investigating an outbreak of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] in small-town America. {{storylink|Infestation}} After routing and capturing the Decepticons, Sideswipe and the other Autobots joined up with the returning team from Cybertron under Prowl's command, and began construction of [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

{{-}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
Along with several other Transformers, the dormant Sideswipe was found on the crashed ''Ark'' by [[Cobra]], a human terrorist organization who soon reprogrammed the alien robots to serve them. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rebuilt into Cobra [[Stinger (G.I. Joe)|Stingers]] and sent to assault the [[SPS Research Facility]] alongside [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|minions]]. The two brothers didn't succeed in their mission, though, as they were rammed aside by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] while charging at the building and were eventually ordered to retreat. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3}} Wheeljack later freed Sideswipe and the others from Cobra's control, and he helped Sunstreaker and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] fight back against the similarly freed Decepticons and their former captors. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5}}

Two years later, [[Serpent O.R.]] took control of the Decepticon forces on Cybertron and captured Optimus Prime. Sideswipe joined a team of Autobots led by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] who were planning on charging in and rescuing their leader as soon as the opportunity came up. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4}} After reinforcements arrived in the form of [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], the Autobots made their move and attacked Serpent O.R.'s Decepticon army, ultimately defeating it. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5}}

Sideswipe returned to Earth a few months later, where he worked to keep Cybertronian technology from being misused by humans. During one mission to [[Cuba]], he helped stop [[Destro]] from selling [[S.N.A.K.E.]]s to one Mr. [[Calandero]], but failed to capture the arms dealer and returned to the Autobots' base, the ''[[Arc II]]''. When the ship was attacked by the [[Pretender Monster]]s, Sideswipe was the first to fall. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}} The crew later received medical attention at [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|the Pit]], where they'd eventually recover from their injures. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegsOrigin3 Sunstreak Sideswipe glory.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Sideswipe's feeling small standing under [[Nova Prime]]'s crotch. [[Sunstreaker (G1)#Dreamwave_comics_continuity|Sunstreaker, on the other hand, seems strangely excited]].]]
[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was Sideswipe's P-3 Training Officer and strike partner, and constantly looked down on him as the rookie. Nothing Sideswipe did was seen as good enough, and he was left under Sunstreaker's shadow, something that left a deep mark on him. He's forever been resentful and wanting to be seen by others as a skilled, notable warrior. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Before the war, the two of them attended illegal underground arena [[Gladiatorial combat|deathmatches]] and witnessed [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s 54th victory. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} When Sunstreaker wanted to join Megatron's underground fighting team, Sideswipe went along to try and talk him out of it. Whether they stuck around and were caught up in the Autobot security raid is unknown. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Later, as war engulfed [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Sideswipe was one of the many Autobots trained by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

In more recent times, Sideswipe was part of an Autobot squad lead by Sunstreaker, and helped liberate an unnamed planet from the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|Replay}}

[[Image:SpotlightGalvatron Sideswipe rocketfist.jpg|left|300px|thumb|This hand of mine glows with an awesome power!]]
Much to his dismay, Sideswipe was later stationed at [[Thunderhead Pass]] on Cybertron to guard [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s remains. Sideswipe wanted action, something he wasn't going to get standing guard over comatose Decepticons. His desire to "bust some heads" became even stronger after Sunstreaker was apparently kidnapped during his duties on [[Earth]], and Sideswipe began actively disregarding his squadron leader, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], to routinely contact High Command and demand a transfer; unknown to everyone else, this wasn't down to brothers-in-arms loyalty, this was down to him wanting to save Sunstreaker so his former strike partner would have to recognise his skills. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

His need for action was alleviated, however, when [[Galvatron (G1)|a mysterious and powerful Transformer]] attacked Cybertron. Sideswipe blew off part of the being's head, but he recovered almost immediately and knocked Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots offline, then stole Thunderwing away. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}}

Soon after, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] apparently caved in to Sideswipe's pleading and put [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] in charge of Thunderhead Pass, transferring Hound's entire team, including Sideswipe, to Earth once Megatron began breaking [[Infiltration protocol]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} However, once word of the break-in at [[Garrus-9]] reached his audio sensors, Prime directed his team and Hound's to head there instead of Earth. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[Image:SpotlightSideswipe_Sideswipe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He can punch ''and'' angst at the same time!]]

Sideswipe took the reassignment pretty harshly, and had pushed Hound well to the edge of his tolerance. He got a minor diversion from worrying about Sunstreaker when another mysterious and powerful Transformer, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] attacked their ship.

Surprisingly, he wanted to find out who Cyclonus was, but Hound felt that time was a factor and hit Cyclonus with a full volley. It was enough to slow him down, but not enough to stop him. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]' arrival forced a retreat, and the two Autobot ships followed. When they caught up to Cyclonus, Sideswipe goaded him into battle, and made no apologies for it. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

When his unit finally reached Earth, he personally took on both [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]] ''and'' [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] so the others could reach the Space Bridge. This earned him recognition and an apology from Hound, and the battle against superior foes gave Sideswipe the chance to prove to ''himself'' that he was better than Sunstreaker thought. This exorcised, he realised he didn't actually care if Sunstreaker was alive or dead, and turned away from his obsession without looking back. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

One year later, the Decepticons ambushed the Autobots in a crippling assault, during which Skywarp ripped off Sideswipe's arm. The Autobots were subsequently tossed through a [[space bridge]] to the lifeless shell of Cybertron, where they would be finished off by the [[Insecticon swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Along with the others, Sideswipe stood around brooding about the situation, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} occasionally staring at the similarly one-armed [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} When the crew of the ''[[Trion]]'' ended up on Cybertron, Sideswipe listened to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] explain what had happened. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

Later, Sideswipe tried to talk to Sunstreaker and tell him to stop picking on [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], only to learn of the horrible things the [[Machination]] had done to him. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Later, after Sunstreaker sacrificed himself, Sideswipe declared that all the Autobots deserved to die for carrying on the senseless war. His speech was interrupted by the return of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} Sideswipe later defended the Autobot base against a massive swarm attack, but the Autobots were overrun and only saved by the arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who took them all back to Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

As the Autobots confronted the Decepticons in [[New York City]], Sideswipe beat up [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] with a street light and was jumped by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who gleefully told the Autobot how he had dissected [[Hunter O'Nion]], Sunstreaker's [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]], and used his knowledge to toy with Sunstreaker's mind. Following the defeat of the Decepticons, Sideswipe found Hunter, strung up and mutilated in Bombshell's lab. Horrified at the sight, he decided to end the human's tortured existence by shutting off the machines keeping him alive. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Three years later, Sideswipe was still serving with the Autobots on Earth under Optimus Prime's command. He was present when Prime abdicated leadership of the Autobots and surrendered to [[Skywatch]]. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} When [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] left the Autobots to form a splinter faction, Sideswipe chose to remain in the desert caverns with the majority of Autobots under [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s new leadership. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} He was seen standing at strict attention when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived to address the Earth troops, although he was confused by Magnus's over-use of Earth idioms and "lingo". {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}}

Under Bumblebee, Sideswipe was part of the Transformer hunters clandestinely employed by [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. He was present when Bumblebee announced the Autobots' intention to break free from Horiuchi's unyielding directives. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} Later, Sideswipe was one of the Autobots assembled by Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee to confront Hot Rod's faction about collaborating with the Decepticons. {{storylink|Enemies of the System}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
Sideswipe participated in the pursuit of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and partially transformed from artillery boxcar mode to robot mode in order to shoot down [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. He stated, "The name is Sideswipe." {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4}}

{{note|For unclear reasons, in the original comic book issue, the Autobot who shoots down Scourge identifies himself as [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], not Sideswipe. Sideswipe only appears in the trade paperback collection.}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===

{{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 6|Henkei! Henkei! #6}}

==Commercial appearances==
Sideswipe appeared in the following [[commercial]]s:
* The very first Transformers animation, advertising the Marvel comic book. He drives out of a base alongside Jazz and Prowl; the three arrive at a power plant and counter-attack the Decepticons.

* Again alongside Jazz and Prowl, he transforms and takes off, on what appears to be Cybertron, in a commercial for Soundwave.

* He can be glimpsed trying to stop Astrotrain from escaping, in a 1985 commercial for the Decepticon Triple Changers.

* He is briefly visible driving alongside Jazz in a CGI ''Generation 2'' commercial for the Decepticon jets and Autobot cars.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1sideswipe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He had the look before it was [[Spy Changer|trendy]].]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Autobot Car, 1984/1985, 1991, 2001/2002/2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''04''', '''TFC-07'''
**''Accessories:'' "Laser gun", rocket launcher, 3 rockets

: Originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "New [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Lamborghini_Countach|Countach LP500S]]", Sideswipe transforms... well, into that. In robot mode he is armed with a white rifle and a missile launcher that can clip onto either of his shoulders. The launcher can fire one of three included white missiles, in theory, as the springs were weakened for the US release [[for safety reasons]]. The original 1984 US release did not have the [[Rubsign|rubsign]] found on later releases.

: He was rereleased in Europe in 1990 as part of the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] line.

: In 2001, Sideswipe was re-released by [[Takara]], bundled with the mold-sharing [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], as a show-[[exclusive]] set, but his license plate decal was changed from the infringing "COUNTACH" to "CAR MACHINE". Sideswipe and Red Alert were re-re-released together in 2002 as an [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] "New Year" set, with several factory-applied decals replaced with [[Paint operation|paint applications]], the "CAR MACHINE" plate-decal now blank, plus an additional recolored alternate sticker sheet for each one. This version, minus the extra decal sheet, was re-re-''re''-released as part of the [[Transformers Collection]] "book-box series". Finally, this version, albeit with its spring-loaded launcher de-sprung [[for safety reasons]], was released in the US as part of [[Hasbro]]'s [[Commemorative Series]] VIII line, one of the last American reissues. In fact, despite the Commemorative Series' exclusivity to Toys "R" Us stores, Commemorative Series Sideswipe ultimately ended up at Kay-Bee stores, and at heavy discount.

: This mold was also used to make [[Clamp Down]], [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]].


[[Image:ActionmasterSideswipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I have a hat!]]
*'''Sideswipe w/ Vanguard''' (Action Master, 1991)
**''Accessories:'' "Photon laser" rifle

: A non-transforming action figure that combines elements form both his original toy and his [[Character model|animation model]], [[Action Master]] Sideswipe is compatible with any other Action Master weapon or vehicle. His [[Action Master partner|partner]]-unit [[Vanguard]] forms a backpack and battle helmet, and complements Sideswipe's color scheme quite well.

:Action Master Sideswipe was only available in [[Generation 1 Europe (toyline)|European]] (and certain Australian) markets.

{{-}}

===Generation 2===
[[Image:G2Sideswipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He got dressed in the dark and accidentally put his colors on backwards.]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Autobot Heroic, 1993)
**''Accessories:'' Gun, missile launcher, 1 missile

: Part of the first assortment of Autobot cars, Sideswipe's original toy had his colors re-arranged to a black car mode with red and white robot parts, plus new [[Neon|neon]] green "racing" decals were added to the mix. His original rocket launcher was removed, and replaced with a large spring-loaded launcher that could be hand-held or mounted on his [[Retool|retooled]] car-mode roof.

:His new spring-loaded missile launcher was taken from [http://www.yojoe.com/action/91/snowserpent2.shtml Snow Serpent] from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' toyline.


[[Image:G2GobotSideswipe.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Then he shrank and faded in the wash.]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Go-Bot, 1995)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: A redeco of [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[Firecracker]], Sideswipe transforms into a blue [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Lamborghini_Diablo|Lamborghini Diablo]] with through-axle construction for super-fast rolling on smooth surfaces in car mode. He is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox"-brand racetrack sets.

: This mold was also used to make Go-Bot Optimus Prime and ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[R.E.V.]].

{{-}}
===Universe===
[[Image:UniverseSideswipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I should've had a [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]] retool!]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Deluxe, 2003)
**''Accessories:'' 2 launchers (left & right), 2 flame missiles

: One of several [[Exclusive|exclusives]] to [[OTFCC 2003]], ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Side Swipe is a redeco of the ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] mold, once again transforming into a Lamborghini Diablo. A pair of add-on thrusters become arm-mounted launchers for robot mode; each one being a pressure-launch missile launcher.

: It is notable that the part that connects the toy's windshield to the main body uses a red decal rather than paint, as that part is made out of [[Unpaintable plastic|unpaintable plastic]]. The police lights from the original mold were removed, leaving this area bare.

: This mold was also used to make ''Universe'' [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] and Sunstreaker.

{{note|While the toy's name was spelled "Sideswipe" (one word) on its own packaging, the cross-sell on the packaging for the OTFCC 2003 [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]]/[[Roulette]] two-pack spelled it "Side Swipe" (two words) instead. See Trivia for more.}}

===Smallest Transforming Transformers===
[[Image:STFLambor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yet another release Sunstreaker just wasn't cool enough for.]]
*'''Lambor''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''GTF-02'''

: ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' Lambor is a very small-scale, extensively simplified replica of the original Sideswipe toy. He has very little articulation, he has no weapons, and his vehicle mode wheels cannot roll.

: This mold was [[Retool|retooled]] to make ''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' [[Red Alert (G1)|Alert]].

{{-}}
===Alternators===
[[Image:AlternatorsSide Swipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Just think, he was [[#Trivia|almost Tracks]].]]
*'''Side Swipe''' (2003, 2004)
**''Alternator ID number:'' '''2'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-02'''
**''Accessories:'' Dodge Viper Engine/gun

: The second ''[[Alternators]]'' toy released, Side Swipe transforms into a licensed 1:24 scale [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Dodge_Viper_.28Chrysler.29|Dodge Viper]] featuring opening doors, a detailed interior, and a hood that opens to reveal an engine bay holding a replica Viper V-10 engine. The vehicle mode also features movable steering and rubber tires with vacuum-metalized wheels. His removable engine becomes a blaster.

: The main difference between the American ''Alternators'' and the Japanese ''Binaltech'' releases is that the Japanese version has die-cast metal parts for most of the car's outer body shell, with the exception of the rear end, and the entire red exterior of the car is fully painted, unlike the ''Alternator's'' flat red plastic.

: This mold was [[Retool|retooled]] to make [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]].

===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Universe2008 SideSwipe toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Better red than...]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' "Flare Launcher", engine supercharger intakes

:Sideswipe is a [[Retool|retool]] of ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Sunstreaker. He not only features a new head sculpt, but he has a slightly altered transformation scheme and assembly; his upper body, from the neck to the hips, is rotated 180 degrees from Sunstreaker's, giving him the "classic" hood-chest. His fists are also "backwards" from Sunstreaker's to keep them in the right places in robot mode. He transforms into a modified [[wikipedia:Lamborghini_Gallardo|Lamborghini Gallardo]]. Though the car is mostly based upon the Gallardo, to avoid legal problems, it also features modified headlights and elements taken from other cars—most of them are taken from other Lamborghini models, such as a front bumper that appears to be based on a 2004 [[wikipedia:Lamborghini Murciélago|Murciélago]] R-GT and a rear end that is basically a cross between a Murciélago and a [[wikipedia:Lamborghini_Diablo|Diablo]]; however, the split side windows and the ridges on the door vents are based on a [[wikipedia:McLaren F1|McLaren F1]]. Sideswipe also comes with the same roof-mounted engine assembly as Sunstreaker.

: His Flare Launcher (essentially just a redeco of Sunstreaker's Electron Pulse Blaster) can be combined with the removable engine assembly and mounted in either of the holes on his shoulders to simulate Sideswipe's ''Generation 1'' missile launcher. Of course, this leaves him without a hand-held weapon. The engine can also be mounted on Sideswipe's back as his jet pack.

: Sideswipe's online PDF instructions as well as the final printed instructions incorrectly give him Sunstreaker's transformation and head, despite the picture above the instructions showing him with the hood as the chest and a new head.<ref>[http://hasbro.com/common/instruct/83685.pdf Official Universe Sideswipe instructions PDF file on Hasbro.com]</ref> Unfortunately, Hasbro's own stock photography for distribution to websites retains this incorrect transformation, and throws in some additional mistakes as well. Oy.

: The Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold was also retooled into ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] and [[BotCon 2010]] [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]].

{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Lambor toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Whoever does Takara's photography seriously needs to be outsourced to Hasbro.]]
*'''Lambor''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-09'''
**''Accessories:'' "Flare Launcher"

:The Japanese version of ''Universe'' Sideswipe has [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum metallized]] silver on his flare launcher and his spoiler, but does not come with the dual-engine backpack that Henkei Sunstreaker and ''Universe'' Sunstreaker/Sideswipe included. He also has correct, personalised instructions that aren't just Sunstreaker's. Like Sunstreaker, the Japanese version's hood is a much closer match to the red colored plastic. The Japanese version also features a glossier black paint and the white has yellow tint compared the white plastic used for Hasbro version. His license plate says "LAMBOR" rather than "SWIPE".

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Titanium Series===
[[Image:TitaniumRM Side Swipe.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Sideswipe turns small a lot.]]
*'''Side Swipe''' (Robot Master, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Engine blaster

:''[[Titanium Series]]'' Side Swipe is based upon Sideswipe's ''Alternators'' toy. Constructed partially of die cast metal, Side Swipe has limited articulation located in his shoulders and neck. He comes with a removable engine blaster and an Autobot symbol display stand.

: This mold was going to be redecoed to be ''Titanium'' Sunstreaker, but that release was canceled.

{{-}}
===Attacktix===
*'''Sideswipe''' (2007)

: ''[[Attacktix]]'' Sideswipe was to be a missile-firing "blaster" style playing piece, presumably part of a third wave of "Booster" packs. He was revealed at the [[Star Wars]] "Celebration IV" convention alongside many other ''Attacktix'' pieces that would ultimately never see release.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
==Notes==
* Sideswipe's [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|TFU]] bio text describes features of Sunstreaker's toy, leading many to believe Sideswipe's original toy was supposed to be created from Sunstreaker's mold and vice-versa, with the colors swapped between the molds. The [[Diaclone]] Sunstreaker toy was available in red<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia036/index.html "Countach-LP500S/Super Tuning" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref> and police<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia038/index.html "Countach-LP500S/Super Tuning Policecar Type" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref> versions, but not yellow (hence the red shoulder stickers on an otherwise yellow car). The mold used for Sideswipe, on the other hand, was released in ''Diaclone'' in police, yellow and red decos.<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia050/index.html " New Countach-LP500S" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref>

* Sideswipe's Japanese name, "Lambor" is derived from the name of his vehicle mode, a Lamborghini. It may also be a word play on the Japanese word "Ranbō", which means "reckless, violent, rough". Wouldn't be the [[Autorooper|last]] [[Nine Great Demon Generals|time]] Takara's done such [[Romanization|word puns]]. By the way, it's ''Lambor'', not ''[[wikipedia:Rambo|Rambo]]''.

* According to a [[story page]] in the October 1985 issue of ''[[TV Magazine]]'', Sideswipe and [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] are brothers, with Sideswipe being slightly older than Red Alert. This connection may have been invented because, aside from Sideswipe and Red Alert sharing the same mold, Sunstreaker was not sold on the Japanese market outside of a special "versus" set with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]. However, the familial dynamic between Sideswipe and Sunstreaker was '''not''' changed in the Japanese dub of the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, leading some Japanese fans to consider the three Lamborghini characters as triplets.

* During the 1990s, another company held the "Sideswipe" trademark in the "toys" field, even though Hasbro still released two toys using that name as part of the [[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]] line (it's unclear if this resulted in any legal repercussions for Hasbro). When Hasbro finally managed to reclaim the name for the [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|''Robots in Disguise'' line]], the name was now parsed as "[[Side Swipe (RID)|Side Swipe]]", in two words, for whatever reason. The only two toys since then to spell "Sideswipe" as one word again were the [[OTFCC 2003]] [[Exclusive|exclusive]] and the [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Armada Super-Con]]. However, the former was referred to as "Side Swipe" when featured as a cross-sell on the packaging for the OTFCC 2003 [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]]/[[Roulette]] two-pack, whereas a packaging variant for the latter released as part of the "[[The Unicron Battles|Unicron Battles]]" refresh of the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'']] line also saw the name changed to "Side Swipe". Hasbro ''finally'' decided to re-file the name "Sideswipe" (as one word) as a trademark in 2008, presumably because a [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|character]] in the upcoming movie ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' and the accompanying [[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|toy line]] was going to sport that name, and Hasbro were using that as an opportunity to re-introduce the spelling of the name as one word. As a result, the ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Deluxe Class toy was the first toy to "properly" sport the name "Sideswipe" as one word.

* The ''Alternators'' Dodge Viper mold was originally designed to be a new body for [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] after the first attempt to secure the Corvette license had fallen through. Eventually, though, Chevrolet had a change of mind and granted Hasbro and Takara the license for the Corvette design after all. As a result, the Viper mold was slightly redesigned, was given a new head sculpt and released as Sideswipe (or "Side Swipe") instead. This explains why, unlike most of the early Alternators toys, Side Swipe's robot mode bears little resemblance to his G1 self. The most noticeable redesign from the "Tracks" design was the vehicle mode's doors being moved from the "backpack" [[Kibble|kibble]] (where they would have resembled the G1 Tracks toy's wings) to the sides of the arms, thus being the most obvious visual cue taken from the G1 Sideswipe toy. The doors are, however, still splayed out to the sides in the Alternators box art and can be moved to match Tracks' wing configuration, which implies that the redesign may have been done before the switch from Tracks to Sideswipe was made.

[[Image:SunstreakerSideswipeSDCC2007.jpg|thumb|250px|Universe [[Tigertrack]]. Fortunately, this didn't happen.]]
*Sideswipe has the dubious distinction of being the only one of the European Autobot Classic Heroes range not to feature in Marvel UK's [[Earthforce]] stories, not even making a late appearance like fellow 1991 addition Tracks.

* Hasbro's early plans for ''Universe'' Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had the two as straight [[redeco]]s of each other, only differing in their head sculpts besides their colors—namely, Sunstreaker would have just been Sideswipe in yellow with a different head. It was [[TakaraTomy]] designer [[Hisashi Yuki]] who suggested an alternate transformation by turning the upper body by 180 degrees, thus providing more individual robot mode looks for the two characters that resemble their respective ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' designs more.<ref name="generations2009">Interview with Hisashi Yuki in [[Transformers Generations 2009|''Transformers Generations 2009'' vol. 1]], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/223379-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-2009-vol-1-translation.html English translation] at TFW2005.</ref> In addition, Hasbro originally intended the [[alternate mode]]'s supercharger to split into two halves which would then become the handgun and a spring-loaded shoulder launcher for the robot mode.
* Along the same vein, Takara also made the willful decision to omit the supercharger from their ''Henkei! Henkei!'' version of Lambor (Universe Sideswipe) to differentiate further between him and Sunstreaker. That's right: Takara ''deliberately omitted an optional piece of accessory'' to make the toy more "G1-accurate".<ref name="generations2009"/>
{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Sideswipe/sideswipe.htm Sideswipe at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Sideswipe Sideswipe's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:E-Hobby]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category: Henkei! Henkei! characters]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:MyClone]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]

The Transformers: The Movie

2010-04-28T19:23:44Z

142.32.208.234: /* Featured characters */

{{disambig3|Transformers: The Movie}}

{{quote|Conceived in the epic tradition of ''"[[Star Wars]]"''...|[[Victor Caroli]] ain't just whistling Dixie, [[The Transformers: The Movie promo|''The Transformers: The Movie'' promo]]}}

{{episode|
|seriess=[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]
|prev=B.O.T. (episode)
|next=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1
|seriess2=[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]
|prev2=Scramble City
|title=''The Transformers: The Movie''
|image=Transformersanimatedfilmposter.jpg
|caption=Featuring the deaths of all your favorite Transformers characters.
|production code=
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|writer=[[Ron Friedman]]
|directed by=[[Nelson Shin]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|release date=[[August 8]], 1986
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''''The Transformers: The Movie''''' is an animated feature film based on the original Transformers toyline. It was released in the United States on August 8, 1986.

The film's storyline follows the same continuity as the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Transformers]]'' cartoon. It introduces a [[Scale|planet-sized Transformer]] called [[Unicron]] who eats other planets, and is approaching [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. As part of their continuing wars, the Autobots and Decepticons have a [[Battle of Autobot City|fierce battle]] on Earth which sees both Optimus Prime and Megatron mortally wounded. Prime passes the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to Ultra Magnus and dies, and Megatron is transformed by Unicron into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (briefly) assumes leadership of the Decepticons, but is killed when Galvatron arrives at Cybertron. Galvatron then chases the surviving Autobots on Earth across space, splitting them up and taking the Matrix. The Autobots find their way back to each other, and follow Galvatron to Cybertron just as Unicron transforms into robot mode and begins to eat their world. Travelling inside Unicron, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] recovers the Matrix, transforms into Rodimus Prime, and uses the Matrix to destroy Unicron.

Often referred to by fans simply as "the movie" or "TFTM", the movie was a step up in almost every area from the television series, with a more sophisticated plot, more serious treatment of war and violence, a hugely ambitious scope and a greatly increased animation budget with well-known celebrities providing voice work. For these reasons the film remains very popular with children of the 1980s.

The film opens with characters who had been featured in the first two years of the toyline and associated media (cartoons, comic books, etc.), but quickly introduces new characters and kills many of the old ones to make room. In particular, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] are all destroyed during the course of the film.

{{quote|The Japanese have funded a full-length animated cartoon about the doings of these toys, which is all bad outer-space stuff. I play a planet. I menace somebody called Something-or-other. Then I'm destroyed. My plan to destroy Whoever-it-is is thwarted and I tear myself apart on the screen.|Orson Welles<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=KlqsYy512WIC&source=gbs_navlinks_s "Orson Wells: A Biography"] page 522</ref>}}

==Synopsis==
[[Image:TFTM_Unicron_Lithone.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That's no moon.]]

A mechanical planet travels through the depths of space, attacking [[Lithone (planet)|a metal planet]] which has [[Lithone (species)|robotic inhabitants]]. Robots, vehicles, buildings, and even large chunks of rock are sucked off the surface and devoured by the monstrous planet.

It is the year 2005, and the [[Decepticon]]s are now in control of Cybertron. The [[Autobot]]s are preparing to launch an assault to retake the planet from hidden bases on two of Cybertron's moons. The Autobots launch a [[Autobot shuttle|shuttle]] to pick up a final shipment of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] from [[Earth]] before they strike.

[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I have a bad feeling about this.]]

Plans for the attack are overheard by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who reports back to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. The Decepticons attack the Autobot shuttle en route to Earth, wiping out its crew (including [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and the [[Brawn (G1)|guy in the picture over there]]). Using the Autobots' own shuttle, the Decepticons are able to get very close to the Autobots' base on Earth, [[Autobot City]], before they are detected, and begin a devastating surprise attack on the unprepared city.

During the battle at Autobot City, both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and Megatron suffer mortal injuries, and a number of other characters are also killed. Eventually the Decepticons retreat, but the damage suffered by the Autobots has been severe.

{{note|For an extensive synopsis of the battle, see [[Battle of Autobot City]].}}

[[Image:Tftm1986b.jpg|left|200px|thumb|If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.]]

Shortly after the battle, Prime lies on his deathbed. He passes the reins of leadership to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and gives him the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. (Though Hot Rod actually touches the Matrix before Magnus does.) Prime relates a prophecy: "One day, an Autobot shall rise from our ranks, and use the power of the Matrix to light our [[darkest hour]]." He then gives the oath, "[['Til all are one]]", and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|dies]]. This sequence of events is observed remotely by Unicron, who appears unusually concerned by the survival of the Matrix.

The Decepticons are making their escape aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], but are too heavy for him to get them all home under his own power. After putting the matter to a fair vote, the Decepticons decide to throw their injured members off the ship to better the chance of survival for the rest. One of the most severely injured Decepticons is Megatron. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] tosses him out and claims leadership of the Decepticon army.

Megatron and the other adrift Decepticons then encounter Unicron in interstellar space. Unicron offers to rebuild Megatron and his minions in exchange for their service. Megatron agrees, and is [[Reformatting|reformatted]] into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. The other Decepticons are turned into [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep]]s. Unicron provides them with a [[Revenge (G1)|ship]], and sends them to kill Ultra Magnus and destroy the Matrix, stating that the Matrix is the only thing which can stand in his way.

[[Image:Tftm1986c.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed.]]
Galvatron first stops at Cybertron to take his revenge by killing Starscream and reclaiming leadership of the Decepticons. Almost immediately afterwards, Unicron arrives in Cybertron's vicinity and devours at least two moons—both of the Autobots' moon bases are destroyed. Under coercion by Unicron, Galvatron finally heads to Earth to kill Ultra Magnus, but Magnus and the other surviving Autobots flee in a pair of shuttles. Eventually Galvatron manages to cause one shuttle to crash on yet another metal planet ([[Quintessa]]), and detonates the other with a volley of missiles. However, the Autobots in the second shuttle escape unnoticed by separating the front portion of their shuttle just before impact.

The Autobots in the crashed shuttle, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], find themselves separated and in a hostile environment. Hot Rod and Kup are captured by a squad of [[Allicon]]s and taken before a [[Quintesson]] [[Quintesson#Judges|judge]] and his court. While being held there, they learn the name and nature of Unicron from [[Kranix]], a survivor of the planet destroyed in the opening of the film, which he calls [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]]. Meanwhile, the Dinobots encounter and befriend a young, wild Autobot named [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] who has been living alone on Quintessa. Together, they crash the trial just as Hot Rod and Kup are fighting losing odds against the Quintessons' [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. The tide is turned, and the Autobots commandeer a [[Quintesson spacecraft#Quintesson_Cruiser|Quintesson Cruiser]].

[[Image:Tftm1986d.jpg|left|200px|thumb|What an incredible smell you've discovered!]]
The other group of Autobots has landed on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to make repairs, but are attacked yet again by Galvatron, who was tipped off to their survival by Unicron. During the battle, Ultra Magnus tries to open the Matrix to use its power, but is unable to do so, and instead is killed. Galvatron absconds with the Matrix, taking it away to Unicron. The remaining Autobots—[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike's]] son [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]]—are then ambushed by [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], the eponymous natives of Junkion, who are also giant transforming robots. This battle is cut short, however, by the arrival of Hot Rod's group in their Quintesson ship. After exchanging the [[universal greeting]] they all make friends, and the Junkions restore Ultra Magnus to life. Together, the whole group travels to Cybertron to try to recover the Matrix.

[[Image:TFTM Unicron smashes cybertron.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rebel base in range. You may fire when ready.]]
Galvatron attempts to open the Matrix to use its power against Unicron, but is also unable to get it open. Unicron, not pleased with this attempted treachery, shocks Galvatron by transforming from a planet into a [[Scale|planet-sized robot]]. Unicron plucks Galvatron off his chest and swallows him, Matrix and all, and then begins attacking Cybertron itself. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] scrambles the Decepticon forces to defend the planet, but they are ineffective against so large an enemy. Shortly the Autobots arrive from Junkion, and fly the Quintesson ship straight through Unicron's eye. This impact destroys the ship, and the Autobots fall out inside Unicron. Hot Rod, separated from the others, eventually runs into Galvatron. During their fight, Hot Rod gets his hands on the Matrix and hears Optimus's voice speak the words, "Arise, Rodimus Prime." Hot Rod grows in stature, adopts a much sterner demeanor, and quickly dispatches Galvatron by tossing him through Unicron's hull out into space. He then opens the Matrix, which fills Unicron with light and begins destroying him.

[[Image:Tftm1986e.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Use the Force, Luke.]]
In the meantime, the other Autobots inside Unicron have located some of their comrades from the moon bases who had been presumed dead, including [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and Daniel's father, Spike. The Autobots, including Rodimus, escape through Unicron's remaining eye just as he begins to fall apart and explode. The scene then immediately shifts to the surface of Cybertron, where—for unclear reasons—the Autobots seem to be in charge again. Rodimus predicts an era of peace and prosperity, and the film closes with a shot of Unicron's severed head still floating in orbit around Cybertron.

[['Til all are one]].
{{-}}

==Quotes==
"Such heroic nonsense."
:—'''Megatron''' coldly finishes off Ironhide. The 'Cons always get the best lines.

"I've got better things to do tonight than die!"
:—'''Springer''', telling it like it is.

"One shall stand. One shall fall."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' uttering the most quoted line of the Movie. An ass kicker cometh.

"Until the day...'til all are one..."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s final words

"Oh, how it ''pains'' me to do this." 
"Wait! I still function!" 
"Wanna ''bet''?"
:—'''Starscream''' fights back the tears as he throws '''Megatron''' out of Astrotrain.

"I have summoned you here for a purpose." 
"Nobody summons Megatron!" 
"Then it pleases me to be the first."
:—'''Unicron''' shows '''Megatron''' who's the boss.

"Who disrupts my coronation?" 
"Coronation, Starscream? This is bad comedy." 
"Megatron? Is that you?" 
"Here's a hint!"
:—'''Galvatron''' drops "hints" for '''Starscream''' like others drop anvils.

"Did we ''have'' to let them detonate three quarters of the ship?" 
"Seeing as how they would have detonated ''four'' quarters, I think it was a good choice."
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Springer'''

"For a time… I considered ''sparing'' your wretched little planet of Cybertron. But now... you shall witness... its ''dismemberment''!"
:—'''Unicron''' really needs to work on his anger management skills…

"Me Grimlock kick butt!" 
:—'''Grimlock''' isn't speaking figuratively.

"Let this mark the end of the Cybertronian Wars as we march forward into a new era of peace and happiness! 'Til all are one!" 
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' announces the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]... yeah, right.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]/Rodimus Prime ([[Judd Nelson]])
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] ([[Robert Stack]])
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] ([[Lionel Stander]])
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] ([[Susan Blu]])
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] ([[John Moschitta]])
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] ([[Gregg Berger]])
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] ([[Paul Eiding]])
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] ([[Buster Jones]])
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] ([[Scatman Crothers]])
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] ([[Dan Gilvezan]])
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Casey Kasem]])
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] ([[Corey Burton]])
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] ([[Don Messick]])
*[[Auto-combatant]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Eject]]
*[[Rewind]]
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
*[[Ramhorn]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
*[[Grapple]]
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Bluestreak]]
*[[Sideswipe (G1)| Swidewipe]]
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]* ([[Walker Edmiston]])
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] ([[Leonard Nimoy]])
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] ([[Chris Latta]])
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] ([[Roger C. Carmel]])
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] ([[Stan Jones]])
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] ([[Arthur Burghardt]])
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] ([[Neil Ross]])
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] ([[Don Messick]])
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] ([[Hal Rayle]])
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] ([[Clive Revill]])
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] ([[Jack Angel]])
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] ([[Corey Burton]])
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] ([[Bud Davis]])
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] ([[Ed Gilbert]])
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Sweep]]s
*[[Cyclonus's Armada]]
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] ([[Corey Burton]])
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] ([[David Mendenhall]])
|c4=
*[[Unicron]] ([[Orson Welles]])
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] ([[Eric Idle]])
*[[Kranix]] ([[Norman Alden|Norm Alden]])
*[[Junkion]] ([[Michael Bell]])
*[[Junkion]] ([[Frank Welker]])
*[[Quintesson]] leader ([[Roger C. Carmel]])
*[[Quintesson judge]] ([[Regis Cordic|Rege Cordic]])
*[[Arblus]] ([[Norman Alden|Norm Alden]])
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s
*[[Allicon]]s
|nonumbering=true
}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Credited, but did not appear.

==Animation errors==
* When Unicron is approaching Lithone at the start of the movie, at the line "Look, it's Unicron!", a [[Animation error#Sizing errors|cel stacking error]] results in Unicron's ring appearing in front of a building arch, [[Distribution|making Unicron look very tiny]] in that shot. In the next shot, it is clear that Unicron is several times larger than the entire planet of Lithone.
* The inside of one of the Lithonian ships being devoured by Unicron is visible for a couple of frames. The pilot of the ship appears to be Kranix, even though he apparently screams out Kranix's name, and Kranix appears later in the Quintesson prison.
* When the inside of Unicron is shown after he devours Lithone, the "blinking energy" effect of Unicron's innards was apparently achieved by recycling backgrounds from other animated TV shows or movies. A frame by frame viewing reveals what appear to be several images of post-apocalyptic buildings inside Unicron.
* When Optimus Prime asks Jazz to report security status, it shows both Jazz and Cliffjumper. Cliffjumper is seen twiddling knobs above the actual drawn computer, as if a section was supposed to be present.
* When the Decepticons blow a hole through the Autobot shuttle to get in, it is a clean break. However, Megatron is still shown ripping through random ship components to get in.
* Scavenger's head is white instead of black as he ducks from Prowl's shot.
* When the Decepticons are killing the Autobot shuttle crew, there is one of the common Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker miscolors. Megatron transforms into gun mode and Starscream catches him and kills Brawn. When they cut back to the Decepticons, Starscream is in front of the Constructicons without Megatron and is firing one of his arm rifles (this probably should have been Skywarp or Thundercracker). When they cut back to the Decepticons for the third time, Starscream has Megatron again and is finishing off the rest of the Autobots. In the shot of Starscream firing his own lasers, his wings are red instead of gray.
* When the Decepticons fly to the shuttle's controls, all of the Autobots have changed positions from when they fell—Brawn is now on his back, for example, while Prowl is now face-down. Ironhide's chest is also completely intact, despite having a bunch of holes blown in it.
* Hot Rod has at least two totally different transformation schemes during the course of the film.
* When Kup and several Autobots at the roadblock react to Hot Rod's attack on the hijacked Autobot shuttle, Bluestreak is represented by Prowl's [[Character model|animation model]], in Bluestreak's grey and black colours.
* Sunstreaker appears with Kup's group on Earth as they observe Hot Rod firing on Ironhide's shuttle. Sunstreaker later appears as Optimus Prime's co-pilot when they arrive on Earth with the Dinobots, and is seen disembarking the shuttle along with Optimus Prime and Hound.
* In a wide aerial shot of the city under attack, a Reflector flies by in Ironhide's color scheme. Shockwave also makes his only appearance in the battle; considering both his role as Cybertron's guardian and his absence from any other scenes during the battle, his presence is probably an animation error. Rumble also flies past, despite being inside Soundwave at this point.
* Blaster's forehead is red instead of white after his "look out and shout!" line, and again after he returns to robot mode.
* A laser blast that should be behind Blaster is instead layered in front of him as he acknowledges Perceptor's orders.
* In the big lineup of firing Decepticons, Soundwave's cheek guards are blue instead of white.
* When [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] sends out his cassette troops, [[FIRRIB|Rumble is the same color as Frenzy]].
* Blaster first ejects what looks like Eject, who stays blue up until he gets to the edge of the screen. He then turns black like Rewind. Then Blaster ejects another blue cassette, which after about a second turns black. This one gets through half his transformation colored black, then turns blue for a split second then turns black again. Then, when the cassettes are fighting each other, Eject runs in from the left and jumps over Perceptor. And then he runs in from the left ''again'' to shoot Ravage. Suddenly [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl/Devastator]] doesn't look so bad, does he?
* As Springer runs up to the launcher, Wheeljack's body is visible, but he's in red, white and blue colors.
* While Springer and Arcee are trying to move the launcher into place, Springer's face is the same color as his helmet.
* When Devastator forms in Autobot City, his chest plate is the same green as the rest of him. In the next shot, it's the usual purple. However, it promptly turns green again in the next shot.
* As Devastator lays into the walls, Shrapnel is white where he should be black.
* While Perceptor and Grapple are shooting, Swoop's lower half runs by in the foreground, long before the rest of him gets there.
* Megatron's pelvis is white instead of black as he gives the "let the slaughter begin!" order.
* Prime's dramatic transformation sequence far outlasts the transformation sound that's supposed to go with it. It's also the wrong sound (ascending pitch) for his robot-to-vehicle transformation.
* When Prime drives up behind the Decepticons, Blitzwing's head is tan instead of purple. It becomes purple when he turns it, then goes back to tan again as he turns it back.
* The gun Megatron uses to fatally injure Optimus is blue and white for most of the shots it is seen in, but when Megatron screams "Fall! FALL!" while shooting Prime again, it is black.
* Prime's antennae are white as he tries to stand after knocking Megatron off the ledge.
* Starscream's whole nosecone, rather than just the canopy, is yellow as he looms over Megatron.
* When Optimus Prime takes the Matrix out of his chest to give to Ultra Magnus, there is another Matrix beneath it in his chest. (On which note, see also ''[[Matrix of Leadership#Universe|Matrix of Leadership, Universe comic]].'')
* When Ultra Magnus accepts the Matrix, he's seen inserting it into his chest twice, or at best readjusting its "fit".
* As the other Decepticons prepare to push him out, Bombshell's chest is rendered as a shapeless gray mass, rather than with its yellow canopy.
* The voice that says "Don't!" is nowhere close to the voices of any of the five Decepticons shown getting thrown out of Astrotrain.
* Starscream's got an extra yellow segment on his canopy as he nominates himself for leadership. Man, even the A-list animation team couldn't keep this straight.
* Most of Megatron's chest emblem isn't colored in as he first speaks to Unicron. It might pass for battle damage, but a few shots later it's fully purple.
[[Image:Coronation .jpg|thumb|right|250px| *''trumpet fanfare''* ]]
* Even after the [[Battle of Autobot City]], characters who are supposedly dead continue to appear in crowd shots and battles. Shrapnel's role in the fight on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]] is the most noticeable (and he was called for by name in the original script), but Thundercracker, Skywarp and Kickback can all be seen at Starscream's coronation. The two jets are later seen again, flying into Unicron's mouth.
* Hook has two eyes instead of a visor as he looks around in confusion during the trumpet scene.
* An early establishing shot clearly shows Cybertron with two and ''only'' two moons in low orbit. Yet a third moon is visible right after Unicron finishes eating the two Autobot bases.
* When Cyclonus is strafing the Autobot shuttle in space, he briefly flies offscreen, and during that time his laser blasts come from a point that in no way matches his flight path.
* Daniel's lips don't purse when he whistles.
* Wreck-Gar's mouth doesn't move at all during his first lines, despite the camera pushing in all close on his face.
* When Hot Rod tells the Junkions the universal greeting, the Autobot insignia on his chest is coloured black.
* Shrapnel's lower legs are white when he lands on Junk, instead of black. Must be a side effect of being dead.
* When Unicron transforms, the first hand we see (his right) is backwards relative to how the arm is shown on screen.
* Hot Rod's missing his Autobot symbol as he regains his footing inside Unicron.
* The third smelting victim doesn't fall from the conveyor belt; he simply vanishes.

== Continuity errors ==
[[Image:G1TFTM Snarl cameo.JPG|thumb|right|250px|He used to bulls-eye womp-rats in his T16 back home.]]

* The Dinobot [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] is mysteriously absent from almost the entire movie, even though the Dinobots as a group are featured prominently. Copies of the script which have come into fans' hands repeatedly list the Dinobots, but never make mention of Snarl by name. In fact, at one point the script refers to "the four Dinobots". Despite this, Snarl does appear in three very brief shots{{m-}}in which at least one other Dinobot (Swoop in one, Sludge in another) is entirely absent. Hmm.
* Also curiously absent are the 1985 Autobot cars and Mini-Vehicles, such as Inferno, Smokescreen, Cosmos, Warpath, etc. It would seem that these characters were available at the time of the movie:
** Perceptor and Blaster both debuted at the same time in the cartoon as the 1985 cars, and both play prominent roles in the movie.
** Grapple is [[:Image:BattleAutobotCity.jpg|seen ''very'' briefly]] during the battle for Autobot City.
** The 1985 Decepticons (Astrotrain, Dirge, etc.) appear in the film.
** [[:Image:TFTM-SideswipeRedAlertTracks.jpg|Tracks]], [[:Image:TFTM-RedAlertDown.jpg|Red Alert]] and Smokescreen all appeared in storyboards but not the finished film.
* Devastator is treated as ''the'' ultimate threat, while in the cartoon, his role (and apparent power) was already being [[Starscream's Brigade|severely diminished]], presumably because several other combiners had been introduced. In story terms, the absence of these newer combiners, not to mention the mighty Omega Supreme, is inexplicable. In real-life terms, those characters didn't exist when the film commenced production. (The [[Transformers: The Animated Movie]] adaptation shows Omega Supreme, Superion and Defensor guarding the Ark against an attack by Bruticus and Menasor, attempting to [[retcon]] the problem away.)
[[Image:Cyclonus armada tftf.jpg|thumb|right|250px|We'll be safe enough once we make the jump into lightspeed.]]
* The cartoon had made it abundantly clear that Cybertron had no moons. In numerous close and distant shots of the planet throughout the first two seasons, no moon was seen. Ever. The movie promptly introduces two (and possibly a third) moons in close orbit over the planet. In continuity terms, they must have been built or brought into orbit after 1986.
* During the Battle of Autobot City, Starscream gets his leg caught. He shoots downward and gets away while screaming "My foot!", but it's his shin that's smoking while his foot looks fine. Later he kicks Megatron with the same foot. Shouldn't that hurt, according to him? Note there is a time lapse between the "foot shooting" and the kicking, leaving the option of a battlefield repair.
* So Ultra Magnus just happens to have a ready-made Matrix chamber installed in his chest cavity? Is this standard issue for all Autobots?
* The cartoon had already established that Astrotrain increases his size when he transforms to shuttle mode, being large enough to carry a pair of Decepticons in his cockpit. However, within the movie itself, his size is [[scale|noticeably inconsistent]]: When he leaves Autobot City, he's just large enough for the Decepticon army to cram themselves in; later, he's so huge that the Constructicons can quite comfortably form Devastator inside him.
* The number of minions created by Unicron changes throughout the film, with more Sweeps appearing as the story progresses. A second Cyclonus ("Cyclonus, the warrior, and [[Cyclonus's Armada|his armada]]") is shown being created but disappears shortly thereafter. At least ''seven'' new characters are shown at one point, created from only ''six'' Decepticons thrown from the shuttle.

[[Image:SSBQ.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." "Yes, I bet you have."]]
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is capable of reducing [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] to ashes with a single shot from his cannon mode. Though in later episodes Galvatron is shown blowing up even small ''[[Thrull|planets]]'' with his cannon, his extraordinary killing power seems to be gone—like when he scores a direct hit in cannon mode on Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" and Magnus isn't especially hurt at all, or how a similar blast against Scourge in "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]" only leaves the latter temporarily incapacitated. [[Marvel Comics]] bios explain this by suggesting that Galvatron had nearly limitless power through Unicron... but then again, Galvatron himself claims to be "more powerful than ever" after Unicron is dead. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} [[To sell toys|Who knows.]]
* Why didn't anyone notice Unicron until he was within devouring distance of Cybertron's moons?
* Despite running out of energon goodies on Quintessa, Hot Rod has at least one to offer to the Junkions. Maybe he got some on the ship. It's also possible that, when he told the Allicons "No more," he meant that he wasn't going to ''feed'' them any more energon goodies, not that he didn't ''have'' anymore.
* Daniel, who was just learning how to use his exo-suit, had to knock down the acid cover inside Unicron to save his loved ones. Why couldn't the more experienced Spike do the same with his suit from above? He had both of his arms free and a clear shot at the cover. On the other hand, the clamp holding him may well disable his exo-suit's weapons and movement abilities-if it didn't, Unicron probably wouldn't have eaten half as many victims by now...
* It's not clear how Rodimus Prime (carrying two humans) and the other Autobots survived their jump out of Unicron's eye and their plunge towards the surface of Cybertron.
* It's also unclear just how the dozen or so Autobots (and one shipload of Junkions) managed to retake the whole planet of Cybertron. Did Unicron really wipe out ''that'' many Decepticons?

===Not Necessarily Errors===
* Fans have noted throughout the years that Astrotrain, in his flight through zero-gravity space, should not have needed to "jettison some weight" in the literal sense. However, since the ejected Decepticons quickly fall behind Astrotrain instead of floating alongside him, he must still have been accelerating and thus would have needed to burn a greater amount of fuel in order to push a larger payload. Perhaps he should have said "jettison some ''mass''", but then again, just being a spaceship doesn't make him a rocket scientist.
* Starscream is shown just inside Astrotrain's cargo bay when he commands him to take off, but in the next shot (Astrotrain's door closing as his rocket engines ignite), Starscream is nowhere to be seen. It's possible that he walked further in, but he should still be at least partially visible.

==Continuity notes==
* The Movie has had a huge effect in shaping the mythos:
** It was the first story to establish that Cybertron had moons.
** It introduced the Matrix as a physical object, Autobot City, Unicron, the notion of Megatron becoming Galvatron, and it killed off Optimus Prime before it was cool!

* Gadgets and powers:
** Springer deploys a small flip-out twin laser from his wrist during the Autobot City battle.
** Arcee activates a long-distance scanner of some sort by lowering a red visor from under her helmet over her eyes.
** Hot Rod uses a saw blade that extends from his retracted wrist.
** Blurr has the same kind of hooked welding tip used by various Autobots as far back as "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
** Arcee unleashes a nasty barbed post from her fender to fend off a Junkion.
** Grimlock shows the never-before seen ability to shoot lasers from his fists.

==Real-world references and Easter eggs==
* When Sludge gets haymakered by Devastator, his eyes pop out of their sockets in Looney Tunes fashion.
* Kup's storytelling sequence aboard the shuttle is drawn from the novel ''Of Mice and Men'', complete with Grimlock in the Lenny role asking Kup to "tell Grimlock about petrorabbits again".
* The Quintesson jail cell includes robot debris ''strongly'' resembling the RX-178 Gundam MK II and the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam mobile suits from 1985's ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam''.
* The Junkions speak almost entirely in pop culture quotes and pastiches. Littered among the generic phrases like "operators are standing by!", "Film at eleven" and "eliminate even the toughest stains" are more specific references, such as:
** "Don't look behind door #2, Monty!" - a reference to the game show ''Let's Make a Deal'' and its host, Monty Hall.
** "Ger-ron-ron-doo-ron-ronny-mo!" - both the famous "Geronimo!" war cry, and the 1963 hit "Da Do Ron Ron".
** "You check in, but you don't check out" - a parody of the tagline for Roach Motel insect traps.
** "Happy motoring!" - a 1970s slogan of gas company Exxon.

* ''[[Star Wars]]'' sound effects (yes, even the high-budget Movie uses them):
** The ''Millenium Falcon'' engine burst noise is used extensively throughout the film, over and over and over, almost any time a Decepticon takes flight.

** Luke's deactivating lightsaber is used as the sound of the Quintesson ship's ramp extending.
** Clashing lightsabers are used as Unicron fires eye-blasts at the attacking Transformers.

** An igniting lightsaber is used as Rodimus opens the Matrix.
* The ''Star Trek'' sliding door sound is used as Wreck-Gar pulls out his <s>iPhone</s> mini-TV.

==Adaptations==
*[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel Comics)|A comic adaptation of the movie]] was published by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986, concurrently with the movie's theater run. It was based off a non-finalized version of the script, and differs in many details from the final film. Additionally, most of the major character models (and possibly their unedited original character write-ups) appear in Issue #4 of the ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' series.
* [[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|A storybook adaptation]] was released in the UK by [[Ladybird Books]].
*A four-part adaptation was released in 2006/2007 by [[IDW Publishing]], as part of the film's 20th anniversary celebration. It was titled ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' to differentiate it from the [[Michael Bay]] [[Transformers (2007)|live-action film]]. Unlike its predecessor, it adheres rigidly to the script and plot of the finished movie.

==Soundtrack==
{{main|The Transformers: The Movie - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack}}

==Promotions==
* Early in the movie's production, a [[The Transformers: The Movie promo|promotional trailer]] was made to sell the project to potential investors.
* The movie was advertised on related 1986 toy packages via the [[Decipher the Decepticon]] Sweepstakes, which included a pack-in poster and contest.
* The movie was heavily advertised directly by TV [[commercial]]s, and tail-end segments on Transformer toy ads. Portions of its story were also retold in altered fashion by animation segments of commercials for the movie character toys, such as a spot showing Springer doing battle with Wreck-Gar.

==In the comic continuity==
The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK comic]] made extensive use of the Movie as the basis for a series of stories involving the Transformers in the future. However there are several differences between the events seen on screen and those referenced in the comic:

*The comic always dates the move to 2006, following the date given in a treatment that was all [[Simon Furman]] had when he wrote [[Target: 2006]].
*In Target: 2006, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] states that he was previously "[[Life Spark]]".
*The Matrix is always called the "Creation Matrix" in the comic, a name that predates the "Matrix of Leadership" but which is now used for the same physical object.
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] both survive the events, both later appearing in [[Space Pirates!]] (set in 2008).

In addition, Shockwave definitely survives the attack by Unicron.

The US comic almost completely ignored the events of the Movie, though later in the run an alternative future is briefly shown in "[[Rhythms of Darkness!]]" and "[[A Savage Circle]]". In this timeline at least some of the events of the Movie took place such as the creation of Galvatron from Megatron, which is dated to 2005, though Prowl's death was overlooked. [[Prowl II|Wouldn't be the first time. Or the last.]]
*The US version of the future story [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]] implicitly has the events of the movie as part of its backstory. However, since the rest of the US series ignored the movie, this issue's place in the continuity is questionable.

==Edits==
Several English-language versions of the film exist, with the following differences in content from the American theatrical run:

* In some versions (notably the European version) the opening credits are replaced with a scrolling text ("''Star Wars'' style") which provides backstory.
* In some versions (notably the European version) the film ends with [[Victor Caroli|a narrator]] reassuring the audience that Optimus Prime will return.
* Instances of swearing in the film (there are two) were edited out; sometimes one, sometimes both. Those instances are: Spike yelling, "Oh shit, what are we gonna do now?" after the self-destructing Moon Base 2 fails to scratch Unicron, and Ultra Magnus growling, "Open, damn it, open!" while trying to open the Matrix to fend off Galvatron and the Sweeps on Junkion. The United Kingdom cinema version had the swearing included but, when it was released on VHS in the United Kingdom, Spike's line was cut ("damn" not being considered offensive in the UK). However it has been restored on all United Kingdom DVD releases.
* In some early FHE video releases, the shot of the Matrix falling out of Optimus Prime's hand and being caught by Hot Rod is edited so that it appears that Ultra Magnus simply takes the Matrix from Prime. Why this was done is not known, and the replay of the Hot Rod catch on Unicron's monitors was left intact.
*Instead of DEG, the Rank Film "gong man" appears before the film, as Rank were the United Kingdom distributors.

None of these edits significantly affect the story. They should not be confused with various other sequences which were changed before the film's final release:

* Originally, Ultra Magnus's "death sequence" on Junkion called for him to be lassoed and drawn and quartered by the Sweeps' energy beams, but this was deemed too graphic for audiences, hence the less disturbing "shot to death" sequence seen instead. There is evidence that the original sequence had been fully animated when the decision was made, however; the Sweeps still kept their solid energy lassos when they fire upon Mags, and Mags is seen visibly straining against what appears to be said lassos (edited out and replaced with laser fire) before exploding.
* A number of other sequences were illustrated as [[storyboard]]s but dropped, presumably without ever being animated. Among them were:
** A short scene showing the Autobot shuttle veering around some meteors, explaining how the Decepticons caught them unawares.
** An extended sequence with Hot Rod and Daniel outside the city.
** A sequence of Mirage blasting Bombshell and being fired on by Megatron.
** The Autobots finally bringing down Devastator with a barrage of missiles (and the Constructicons subsequently shooting Red Alert in the back).
** The Decepticons dogpiling Optimus Prime, explaining why he seems to be standing up just before his fight with Megatron.
:Some of these concepts were in earlier versions of the script, and hence made it into the comic adaptation.
* Rumors have occasionally circulated in the fandom of additional animated footage that was dropped from the film, such as ultra-violent battle scenes. No evidence has ever surfaced to back these claims; the only known edits are those listed in this section.
:{{see|Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers#The Transformers: The Movie|Urban legends about ''The Transformers: The Movie''}}

==Reception==
{{quote|''The Transformers'', in which Orson Welles plays a planet, is pure headache material. Target audience of cartoon-watchers also will probably find the film unintelligible, noisy and unoriginal. Boxoffice prospects are dismal.|2=[http://books.google.com/books?id=DHNZAAAAMAAJ&q=Hasbro+Transformers&dq=Hasbro+Transformers&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1983&as_maxm_is=12&as_maxy_is=2005&num=50&as_brr=0&cd=69 Variety]}}

{{quote|Obnoxious animated feature about the title good guys, who defend the universe against an evil planet (which has a voice of its own... provided by Orson Welles.) That deafening rock score certainly doesn't help. Little more than a feature-length toy commercial.|Leonard Maltin, ''1987 Movie & Video Guide''}}

{{quote|While all this action may captivate young children, the animation is not spectacular enough to dazzle adults, and the Transformers have few truly human elements to lure parents along, even when their voices are supplied by well-known actors. |2=[http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/09/movies/screen-transformers-animation-for-children.html New York Times]}}

''The Transformers: The Movie'' was almost universally panned by professional critics upon its release.

Well-known film critic and animation enthusiast, Leonard Maltin, gave it a rating below 1 1/2 stars in his ''1987 Movie & Video Guide'', regarding it as a "bomb", then proceeded to write an unflattering blurb denouncing the film as a "feature-length toy commercial" (well, he was ''right'').

Caryn James of the ''New York Times'' admitted that the film was intended for young children, pointing out that the kids in the audience were having a grand ole time with the ''Transformer'' toys and comics they brought with them to the theater, but derided the film as having little to no appeal to adults (''man-children'', on the other hand...).

''Variety'' magazine was far less even-handed in their review, claiming the film had no appeal to adults ''or'' children. They predicted the film would perform poorly in the box office (and were correct, in that regard).

Over time, however, the movie has acquired something of a cult following beyond the core base of [[fandom|Transformers fans]], particularly among children of the 80s. It is sometimes screened as a midnight movie at colleges. Online, it is not hard to find amateur reviews lauding everything about it as utterly awesome, from the premise to the soundtrack, and dismissing more critical views out of hand.

To date, the budget of the film has not been disclosed—at least, not in any place the [[fandom]] has found. According to most box office tracking sites,<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers.htm</ref><ref>http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1986/0TRTM.php</ref> ''The Transformers: The Movie'' made $5,849,647 in domestic (e.g., United States) theaters. Comparing this with other animated films of 1986, the results are not particularly charitable; while it did better financially than ''[[Tonka GoBots|GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords]]''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gobots.htm</ref> ($1,338,264) and ''Heathcliff: The Movie''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=heathcliff.htm</ref> ($2,610,686), it performed worse than the ''[[My Little Pony]]'' movie<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mylittlepony.htm</ref> ($5,958,456) and the '''second''' ''Care Bears'' movie<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=carebearsmovie2.htm</ref> ($8,540,346). Bringing up ''The Great Mouse Detective''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=greatmousedetective.htm</ref> ($25,336,794) and ''An American Tail''<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=americantail.htm</ref> ($47,483,002) would really just be overkill.

==Significance in Transfandom==
''The Transformers: The Movie'' remains one of the most important elements of the entire Transformers brand, both within the fiction and from the perspective of the brand's popularity and "mindshare".

Fictionally, it established several story concepts that have been used repeatedly in the years since 1986, some of which—such as Unicron and the Matrix—are now central to the entire Transformers mythos. The movie is also the centerpiece of the most well-known Transformers continuity: the Generation 1 animated universe. The ''Transformers'' cartoon is split into "pre-movie" and "post-movie" sections which feature different characters and settings, and even somewhat different visual styles. (Most pre-movie episodes were animated by the studio [[Toei]], while most post-movie episodes were animated by [[AKOM]].)

On a practical note, it was widely available on videotape, and remained so long after the ''The Transformers'' cartoon had gone off the air. Only a [[Family Home Entertainment|handful of series episodes]] were available on video, making ''The Transformers: The Movie'' the logical choice for someone looking to pick up a ''Transformers'' cartoon; this made it far more well-known among fans than any particular cartoon episode.

To an entire generation of young fans, the movie was the most visually spectacular and narratively epic ''Transformers'' experience of their entire youth. Events such as the death of Optimus Prime are widely reported to have reduced many kids to tears. It is hardly a surprise that these emotional experiences embedded themselves deeply in many fans' memories.

==Criticisms==
[[Image:TFTM Ratchet dies.jpg|180px|left|thumb|Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise.]]

All this is not all to say that the movie is a "masterpiece", exactly. The film met with extremely harsh critical reviews on its release, and some of those criticisms still ring true today.

The film displays an arguably cynical attitude towards itself as [[To sell toys|a vehicle for advertising toys]], especially in the way beloved characters are killed—sometimes gratuitously—for sake of justifying the story's focus on a new group of toys. (Note that with the exception of Laserbeak and possibly Buzzsaw [http://www.flickr.com/photos/42232106@N06/3893688802] the poster at the top of this article features ''only'' new characters.)

Further, the two primary plot devices—[[Unicron]] and the [[Matrix]]—have no prior establishment in the fiction. Unicron is given no backstory or justification; he simply exists, is very dangerous, and is afraid of the Matrix, all for no adequately explained reason. The introduction of the Matrix itself is a heavy [[retcon]]. The story asks the audience to accept that this cosmically powerful artifact has been in Prime's possession all along (even though an X-ray of Optimus Prime's innards in the second season episode "[[A Prime Problem]]" show absolutely no signs of said Matrix), but has somehow never been relevant before. In fact, this lack of prior establishment is what led [[Simon Furman]] to develop the divinity backstory of Unicron and [[Primus]] in the UK comics run.

[[Image:Megatronlightsaber.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Your powers are weak, old man!]]
The movie bears many similarities to ''[[Star Wars]]'': There are several character-parallels ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]] is a [[Han Solo]]-type and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] even has Princess Leia's hairdo!), the primary threat is similar (it's the [[Death Star]]... [[Unicron|but it transforms!]]), and both feature a climactic battle where the [[Hot Rod (G1)|young hero]] hears the voice of his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|dead, wise mentor]] one last time before saving the day.

To be a bit more fair to ''The Transformers: The Movie'', however, most of these similarities are either superficial (Arcee's Leia-hair; Megatron's "lightsaber" he briefly uses in his duel against Optimus Prime) or can be seen as elements common to thousands of years worth of epic storytelling through human history, not just common to ''Star Wars''. As a simple example, the phenomenon of two charismatic leaders dealing each other mortal injuries in battle hearkens back to some versions of the "King Arthur" myth; in their final battle, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arthur]] and his arch-enemy [[Megatron (G1)|Sir Mordred]] deal one another lethal injuries and both apparently expire—though Arthur according to the legend will [[The Return of Optimus Prime|return]] when [[Cybertron (planet)|England's]] need [[Darkest hour|is greatest]].

==Formatting==
[[Image:Tftm widescreenesque.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The "widescreen" picture (left) actually ''cuts off'' the top and bottom of the fullscreen picture (right).]]
Although it was billed in some advertisements before its theatrical release as being "widescreen", the movie was in fact animated in a 4:3 (fullscreen) aspect ratio. For its theatrical screenings, the film was matted down in the projector by the projectionist to a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen), chopping the top and bottom off the picture, but all video transfers of the movie were done without mattes, meaning that there was actually more picture visible in the fullscreen video and DVD releases than there would have been in theaters. Across 2006 and 2007, new editions of the DVD of the film were released by Sony BMG and [[Metrodome]] which applied the mattes in order to replicate the original theatrical presentation of the film for the first time in home entertainment. Some fans, however, didn't realize that the film wasn't actually ''animated'' in widescreen, and, hearing that the DVD was to be in widescreen, expected to see the fullscreen image with additional footage at the sides, causing them to complain that the top and bottom were cut off, thereby totally missing the point.

==International versions==
{{main|The Transformers: The Movie/dubs}}

==Commercial Releases==
* The movie was originally released in North America on home video in 1987 by [[Family Home Entertainment]], minus Spike's swear. Not long after, it was releasd in the UK by [[Video Gems]]. This version featured the opening text crawl and closing narration inherent to the UK version of the film. In Australia, the film was releaed on video by RCA/Columbia Pictures/Hoyts. In Japan, Hillcrane released a Laserdisc version alongside a VHS copy.
*The movie was released spottily in the '90s, beginning with a budget VHS by Avid Home Entertainment in 1991. [[Malofilm]] released a VHS in Canada in 1995, notable for being the first home entertainment version to include Spike's swear. In 1998, Japanese company Pioneer produced another pair of Laserdisc and VHS releases. In 1999, things kicked off when American company [[Kid Rhino]] secured the Transformers license and released the film on VHS once again.
*The 21st century's flirtation with ''The Transformers: The Movie'' started with a UK budget VHS release of that country's version by [[Sony|Sony Wonder]], distributed by [[Maverick Entertainment]]. A Japanese company called CatCo followed this up with a VideoCD, and Malofilm—now Seville—were the first to release a DVD version of the film, though it was just a dump of their VHS version.
*In November 2000, ''The Transformers: The Movie'' got its first, full professional DVD release from Kid Rhino. This edition, labelled a "Special Collector's Edition", is the first to feature remastered video and audio, and several special features, including storyboards and an interview with [[Vince DiCola]]. Rhino concurrently released this version on VHS, sans extras.
*In 2001 in the UK, Sony Wonder released their own much-delayed DVD version of the film. It was the UK version of the film, but included Spike's swear. However, the release was burdened by badly interlaced video, though it notably included the [[Omni Productions]] dub version of the ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|Headmasters]]'' episode "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]" as an extra. This version (including the ''Headmasters'' episode) was simultaneously released on VHS.
*The movie was released on DVD in Australia in 2003 by [[Madman Entertainment]], using the same video as the Maverick version, but distinguished by some nifty new cover art by [[Don Figueroa]], and special features not seen on other editions, such as ''[[Stan Bush|The Touch]]'' music video and 80s TV spots.
[[Image:Tftm uk covers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The UK poster art (left) has been the most common DVD and VHS cover in its home country, but the Ultimate Edition featured new art by Andy Wildman (right).]]
*After acquiring the license to release ''Transformers'' DVDs in the UK, [[Metrodome]] focused on completing their run of series box sets before turning their attention to the movie properly, releasing only a cheap budget DVD of the UK version through Prism Leisure with no extras, and a UMD of the same version.
*In 2005, Metrodome released ''Transformers: The Movie - Reconstructed'', a new version of the film designed to expose as much of the animated picture as possible. This, however, only resulted in exposing the rough, unfinished edges of the animation, and an overly pale remaster was compounded by excessive interlacing due to an unnecessary NTSC to PAL transfer. This, coupled with a 5.1 remix from [[Magno Sound & Video]], featuring the same extra sound effects that they added to Rhino's season box sets, made this release both controversial and disappointing to many. This was the first time that the US version of the movie was released in the UK, and the first to feature the US poster art as a cover (although a Silverscreen store exclusive version of the disc included a reversible cover with the UK poster art as well). Extras include trailers, TV spots, the character biographies from the Madman release, and a subtitled version of "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]".
[[Image:Tftm sony covers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Sony's covers, by Don Figueroa.]]
*For the movie's 20th anniversary in 2006, new license holder [[Sony|Sony BMG]] released a two-disc special edition of the film, featuring both a high-quality widescreen remaster and the original fullscreen version, audio commentaries from crew and fans, several new featurettes interviewing those involved in the movie's production, storyboards, tv spots, American and Japanese commercials and more. Most notably, this version included the first Western release of "[[Scramble City]]", albeit silent and unsubtitled, featuring only audio commentary. This release featured two covers by Don Figueroa: one is of the '84-'85 cast that appear in the movie, and one is of the movie's new characters, available either as a lenticular hologram that switches between the two, or as a reversible sleeve with the images printed on either side.
[[Image:Tftm madman covers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Madman's 2003 DVD cover (left), and their 2007 Special Edition cover (right).]]
*Delayed a bit to coincide with the hype for the 2007 [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]], Metrodome also released a two-disc "Ultimate Edition" with a different widescreen master. Like "Reconstructed", this version used the US edition of the film, but this time, the UK version was also included, in fullscreen, on the second disc. Extras include TV spots, commercials, the Madman biographies, storyboards, commentary, Scramble City (with audio and subtitles), featurettes with [[Flint Dille]] and [[Peter Cullen]], and more. The double-disc edition was sold in a steel case featuring new art by [[Andrew Wildman]], with the UK poster art adorning the standard case inside. Various store exclusives were available, including postcards from Play.Com, a reversible cover with the US poster art from HMV, art cards from Virgin Megastore and [[posters]] from Woolworths and [[Toys"R"Us]]. It was also available in an extra-less single-disc version. This version was premiered at the Mid Ulster Film Festival in Ireland which was the only cinema showing of the remastered version of the film to date.
*The film was released in Full HD 1080p on Blu-ray in the UK in October 2007. The Blu-ray is not region-locked, so it will play anywhere in the world. It features a 2.0 soundtrack, 5.1 Dolby Digital track, and a full bitrate DTS 5.1 track. The master used was the same used by Sony for their US DVD. The picture is quite stunning and the sound very good. Sadly, there are no extras on the DVD. The version of the film on the Blu-ray is the US one, complete with swear word.
*Madman produced their two-disc special edition through some collaboration with Metrodome, and consequently it features much of the same content, with additional extras taking the form of The Touch music video and a bonus episode of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. This release again features cover artwork by Don Figueroa, specifically the cover of [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' adaptation.

==Notes==
* This film was one of the last professional performances by [[Orson Welles]], if not the very last. According to production materials shown at [[BotCon 2000]] by Tim Finn, the voice recording sessions for ''The Transformers: The Movie'' were done on September 10 and 11 of 1985. Welles died on October 10 of that same year. It has often been speculated that Unicron's last line ("Destiny… you cannot destroy my destiny!") was recorded by another actor—possibly [[Leonard Nimoy|Nimoy]]—because it sounds different than the other lines. This speculation has been quashed by statements by Transformers voice director [[Wally Burr]].<ref>http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/60-astrominutes/wally-burr/wally_burr_3.html</ref>
[[Image:Windcharger wheeljack otp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!!]]

* With the exception of Starscream and possibly Shockwave, only the Autobots suffered fatalities in the movie. All of the other "dead" Decepticons from the Autobot City battle were rebuilt into Galvatron's new troops, and although more Decepticons were shown taking heavy damage and suffering huge casualties while fighting Unicron, their identities and their final condition are uncertain. Additionally, both Starscream and Unicron survived in the post-movie series in some form or another. Shockwave's death in the finished film is highly uncertain, although in the script it is fairly strongly implied. He does make some miscolored appearances in crowd shots in later cartoon episodes, but these are probably examples of the fairly common animation errors in those episodes.

* Somewhat ironically, though only three of the original eighteen Autobots - [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] - are definitively shown to have survived the movie, two would quite literally never be heard from again: [[Scatman Crothers]] passed away (though this didn't stop Jazz from making any number of background cameos) while Casey Kasem [[Casey Kasem#Trivia|quit the show early in the third season]]. Fate's finger is fickle indeed.

*[[:Image:TFTM-MaybeBeachcomber.jpg|A robot resembling Beachcomber]] appears alongside Spike and the Autobots inside Unicron seconds before Daniel blasts the acid cover. Whether this was actually meant to be Beachcomber or just coincidental coloring is unknown, but regardless, Beachcomber shows up alive and well in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".

==External links==
* [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers.htm ''The Transformers: The Movie'''s box office domestic gross.]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080426020409/http://www.tftm.net/ ''The Transformers: The Movie'' "Unofficial Fansite", an extremely thorough site about the movie]
* [http://www.wombatking.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=4 ''The Transformers: The Movie'' deleted storyboards]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers: The Movie}}

[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Universal stream

2009-09-28T21:37:34Z

142.32.208.234: /* Deciphering the terminology */

The Transformers [[Continuity| multiverse]] consists of at least 15,962,782 cataloged '''universal streams''' (1,176,325 of which have "come to termination"), according to the [[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTech]] Cybertronians' exhaustive records. <ref>This information, and most of the bulk of the article, comes from the text story "[[Withered Hope]]."</ref> There are at least 59,927,225 realities that the TransTech Cybertronians have yet to catalog. <ref>In [[Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4| "Worlds Collide, Part 4"]], the Autobots scanned 75,890,007 realities in addition to their own before locating [[Optimus Prime (Armada)| Optimus Prime]], adrift in the multiverse.</ref>

These are the handful of as-yet officially-named universal streams and the [[continuity family]] or individual [[Continuity|continuities]] they refer to:

* Malgus-the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated continuity family]]
:*Malgus 1207.26 Alpha—the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] cartoon continuity.

* Primax—the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]:
:* Primax 984.0 Gamma—the [[Marvel Comics]] US continuity
:* Primax 207.0 Epsilon—the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' continuity, a [[splinter timeline]] of the [[Marvel Comics]] continuity
:* Primax 1291.0 Zeta—the "[[Another Time and Place]]" text story continuity, a dead-end splinter thread of the Marvel Comics continuity
:* Primax 095.0 Beta—the universal stream that's home to ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' [[Bulletbike (G2)|Bullet Bike]]'s [[tech spec]] bio
:* Primax 787.3 Alpha—the Japanese [[The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]] continuity.
:* Primax 109.0 Beta—Original home of ''[[Alternity (toyline)|Alternity]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Convoy]].
:* Primax -408.24 Epsilon—if you "breach the dimensional barrier between the Positive Polarity Universes" and the Negative, you can reach the [[Shattered Glass]] universe.
:* Primax 903.0 Beta—the [[Alternators|Alternators/Binaltech]] continuity.

* Quadwal—a [[Transformers timeline|strangely divergent]] continuity family.
:* Quadwal -3760.925 Theta—The world in which [[Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster]] were recruited to write the [[AllSpark Almanac]].

* Tyran—the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] continuity family
:* Tyran 707.04 Delta—The [[Transformers (2007)|2007 film]] itself.

==Deciphering the terminology==
Each universal stream's name consists of three parts, beginning with a noun which refers to the continuity family of origin, a number that indicates the "real world" date of creation, and a Greek letter that denotes the form of media. For example, "Primax 984.0 Gamma" refers to the Generation 1 Marvel Comics continuity, with "Primax" referring to the Generation 1 continuity family, "984.0" indicating a publication date of September 1984 (with "0" indicating an unknown day of publication), and "Gamma" denoting a comic book or manga series.

List of known continuity family indicators:

: '''Primax'''—the Generation 1 continuity family
: '''Tyran'''—the live-action movie continuity family
: '''Malgus'''—the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' continuity family <ref>Mentioned in "[[Withered Hope]]", but confirmed as ''Animated'' in "[[Bee in the City]]" and ''[[AllSpark Almanac]].''</ref>
: '''Aurex'''—the [[Unicron Trilogy]] continuity family <ref>Mentioned in "[[I, Lowtech]]" as the origin cluster of the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]].</ref>
: '''Quadwal'''-the "real world".

Supplied by writers [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]], a list of Greek letters and the media to which they refer:

: '''Alpha'''—animated series
: '''Beta'''—tech spec/toy/pack-in comic only ("box")
: '''Gamma'''—comic book series
: '''Delta'''—motion picture/live action
: '''Epsilon'''—club/convention fiction
: '''Zeta'''—text stories, storybooks and other prose works (printed)
: '''Eta'''—radio/audiocentric universes, books on tape
: '''Theta'''—live performance/spoken word
: '''Iota'''—Internet-only information (not involved with club/convention)
: '''Kappa'''—games (video and otherwise)

Using this information, we could, in theory, determine the names of yet-unnamed universes on our own. For example, the ''Unicron Trilogy'' cartoon continuity would be Aurex 0802.23 Alpha.

==See also==
*[[continuity family]]
*[[continuity]]
*[[micro-continuity]]
*[[splinter timeline]]
*"[[Withered Hope]]"

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Dimensions]]
[[Category:Timelines]]