MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

MediaWiki:Policies

2009-04-21T17:40:46Z

146.95.224.176: /* In articles */

{{officialpolicy}}

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| {{quote|From now on, I'm only editing the wiki while I'm off my meds!|Don't do what [[User:Derik|Donny Don't]] does}}
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=={{SITENAME}} is not Wikipedia==
===No Wikipedia Articles===
'''{{SITENAME}}''''s users have decided against using ''Transformers'' articles from [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]. There are several reasons.

# '''Audience''' — Wikipedia is general ''Transformers'' information for people interested in Transformers in a general way. {{SITENAME}} is incredibly specific, detailed and comprehensive ''Transformers'' information for fans and creators who love to wallow in the strange, obscure and disturbing back corners of ''Transformers''.
# '''Formatting''' — Wikipedia has completely different article formatting, markup and structure than we do. An article literally ''cannot'' simply be cut-and-pasted from Wikipedia. It will end up with little, red invalid links and error messages all over because the ''Transformers'' articles on Wikipedia use layout templates for presenting information that would be impossible to use on {{SITENAME}} without simplifying the information to the point it it would no longer be useful.
#:'''Example:''' The Wikipedia <tt><nowiki>{{character box}}</nowiki></tt> allows you to list a character's 'Alternate Modes'. Optimus Prime's box lists 6 (one of which is "a variety of Cybertronian trucks.") He's had over 30.<ref>See [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|various articles in this wiki.]]</ref>
# '''Quality''' — Bluntly, a lot of Wikipedia's ''Transformers'' content is vaguely worded summaries of how the writer ''remembers'' it happened, sections of slavish detail alternating with glossed-over simplification and lists. (We hate lists.)
# '''Copyright''' — Though Wikipedia's articles are available for anyone to use or edit under a GNU Free Documentation License, we still require that all article content be written specifically for {{SITENAME}} to meet {{SITENAME}}'s different standards and unique needs. Taking a Wikipedia article and reformatting it to match our layout and structure does not change the fact it was written to a different standard of quality for a different audience. To prevent this, '''{{SITENAME}} requires that the copyright on all submitted article content be held solely by the uploader.'''<ref>You may notice a few articles on {{SITENAME}} (such as [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]) that appear very similar to their [[Wikipedia:Cyclonus|Wikipedia counterparts]]. They are ''not'' based on the Wikipedia articles; the Wikipedia articles are based on original text written by and {{c}} people who gave Wikipedia permission to use it, and but also rewrote that text for {{SITENAME}}. '''Lawyer-to-English Translation:''' The complete content of the original Wikipedia article was written by a user (probably [[User:Chris McFeely|McFeely]]) who subsequently took the time to rewrite it to {{SITENAME}}'s standards. That user holds the copyright on his original work, and though he has given Wikipedia the right to fold, spindle and reuse it, he has given the ''same right'' to {{SITENAME}} separately, and our use of that text is is no way beholden to the terms of redistribution of Wikipedia's GNU License. They are instead subject to the ''identical'' terms of redistribution of ''our'' GNU License. Confused? Good!</ref>

''Mostly this is a legal justification for a policy motivated by reasons stated above, however.

{{SITENAME}} uses some Wikipedia layout templates we've judged to be useful, but layout is a question of form rather than content, and the above policy is about content.

===Humor===
The most fundamental guiding principle of Wikipedia is [[Wikipedia:WP:NPOV|WP:NPOV]], requiring all articles to be written in a '''neutral point of view''' in order to represent the subject fairly and accurately, which Wikipedia founder [[Wikipedia:Jimmy Wales]] calls "absolute and non-negotiable."

That is a laudable goal. Unfortunately, the scope of WP:NPOV has been expanded far beyond its original intent, and it is now used to require that all articles be not just neutral and fair, but humorless and boring.<ref>It is worth noting that nowhere in WP:NPOV, WP:NOR, or WP:VERIFY (Wikipedia's 3 guiding principles) is humor mentioned, let alone proscribed.</ref> Wikipedia even includes a notice in its [[wikipedia:Template:Humor|Humor template]] warning users that this template should never appear in an article because articles should contain only factual and encyclopedic information.

{{SITENAME}} has chosen to allow humor within its articles, '''provided that it does not get in the way of delivering accurate information'''.

====In Images====
: Most of this humor is restricted to the captions of images because the consensus was that '''it is fundamentally pointless to caption of picture of Megatron in [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron's article]] with "A picture of Megatron." That is ''obvious to anyone with two neurons to run a spark between''.'''

: A joke or humorous observation is better than a needlessly redundant description. Jokes can be about the article text, some element of the character, his toy, an actor who has portrayed him/her, an obscure or notorious event, song lyrics (usually source uncredited), puns, in-jokes, snark, an unrelated familiar or obscure quote that is humorous juxtaposed against the image (also usually source uncredited), meta-commentary about fans or fandom, or simply [[Phoenix|something completely random]].

{{see|Project:Caption}}

: '''Important Distinction:''' Humorous captions are encouraged because 95% of the time a descriptive caption is considered redundant. However in the 5% of the time when captions are actually used to convey useful information they should '''never be replaced''' because it makes the article less useful and is considered vandalism. Use your head.

====In articles====
: Humor is much less tolerated in the articles themselves. In general, humor in an article can be:

:# ''An ironic contrast'' — such as creating a link to another article with a humorous or whimsical connotation. '''Example:''' The [[Forbidden Zone]] article links to the out-universe article about safety testing.
:# ''Inappropriate or selective detail'' — The [[Skids (G1)#Cartoon_continuity|Skids]] article includes a lengthy write-up of his role in the animated series, where he was a non-speaking background character that appeared ''twice''. Alternately, the [[Sunstreaker]] article goes to great lengths to point out every instance of Sunstreaker being a jerk, no matter how small, since being a colossal jerk is his distinguishing character trait.
:# ''Restricted to the opening write-up'' — [[Scattershot|Scattershot's]] profile contains an extended joke about the coloring book ''[[Decepticon Patrol]]'', but it is used in a manner that still illustrates his personality.
:# ''Non-intrusive'' — The [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] article is written entirely in rhyme, to reflect the character's speaking style. It is a completely functional article, covering all his appearances, abilities and distinguishing characteristics...written entirely in rhymed couplets.

: In summation, humor should be used with great restraint (if at all) in an article body. If it misleads, confuses or gets in the way, it has to go. The article's functionality comes first.

{{-}}

==We Hate Lists==
Lists are barely a form of content. Would you read the phone book to learn what the people in your neighborhood were like?

Lists may sometimes be a necessary evil, tolerated because they are useful, but they are never a virtue (except on year pages).

==Multiple user names==
Contributors are ''strongly'' encouraged to register their account on {{SITENAME}}, creating a permanent username to identify themselves instead of being an anonymous [[Transformers Wiki:Policies#IP user|IP User]]. This allows other users to keep track of who's doing what more easily.

Registering ''multiple'' user accounts? ...not so cool. Virtually ''every'' instance of multiple accounts in {{SITENAME_SHORT}}'s history has been used for [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppet (Internet)|Sockpuppet]] abuse—typically pretending to be another person who supports support your own point of view, verbally attacking others, or simply evading a ban. (Often all three at once.)

[[Wikipedia:]] has a exhaustive exploration of the issues surrounding Sockpuppets on their [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Sock Puppetry|policy page]]. While {{SITENAME}} is not necessarily bound by the policies and due process outlined there (they apply only to Wikipedia) it does present an accurate picture of our general feelings on the manner.

[[Project:Administrators|Sysop]]s are expected act unilaterally in dealing with sock puppets, often a permanent ban of all accounts associated with that user. Evading this ban by registering ''another'' account or editing anonymously is, needless to say, ''also'' punishable by ban.

If a Sysop banned you for using multiple accounts ''by mistake'', you can attempt to convince them you aren't the other person by posting on your own [[Special:Mytalk|talk page]], which you can edit even while banned.

If your talk page has been '''locked from editing''' because you were being abusive... then '''you do not have our sympathy'''.

The only ''officially sanctioned'' duplicate account on {{SITENAME_SHORT}} is [[User:DiagnosticDrone]], a maintenance bot run by Sysop [[User:Steve-o]].

No other multiples are officially given permission to exist. If for some reason you ''have'' registered multiple accounts, their user pages should include a '''highly visible notice''' indicating they belong the same person. Sysops will will deal with such accounts as they see fit.

==Profanity==
Because ''{{SITENAME_SHORT}}'' does not follow [[Wikipedia:WP:POV|WP:POV]], Wikipedia's policy that all articles be dry and humorless, the language used in articles can sometimes become somewhat...''spirited''.

Generally speaking ''{{SITENAME_SHORT}}'' permits language which is coarse, vulgar, or indecent, but not offensive. Since language's "offensiveness" is highly subjective, the [http://www.randomhouse.com/words/language/oq_chart.html Random House Offensiveness Quotient for Sensitive Language] is recommended for resolving disputes.

Common swear words are not automatically offensive. 
:'''Rule of thumb:''' If you can say it in prime time or a PG-13 movie, you can say it here.
:'''Having said that:''' Profanity is the last resort of an ignorant man. You can probably say it better ''and'' funnier without the 4-letter words.

Language '''always inappropriate''' for articles includes<ref>Includes—but is not limited to!</ref> the [[Wikipedia:fuck|f-bomb]], the [[Wikipedia:cunt|c-bomb]], and their derivatives.

The above applies to '''articles only'''. Talk pages, user pages, etc., not being intended for general viewing, have no language restrictions. But please, at least ''try'' to be civil with one another.

==Glossary==
===De-snarking===
'''De-snarking''' refers to the process of curbing or altogether removing [[Wiktionary:snark|humor or sarcasm]] from an article.

De-snarking is necessary when excessive humor or sarcasm in an article interferes with the information the article is supposed to be delivering. Examples include:
* Sarcastic statements (saying the opposite of what they mean) open to being taken literally.
* Unnecessary, convoluted section structure in service of a joke.
* So much humor that the [[Transformers Wiki:Policies#Signal-to-Noise|signal-to-noise]] ratio of the article drops.

Humor should be used sparingly, if at all, in articles outside of image captions (where it is usually encouraged.)

The #1 cause of de-snarking is new users. New users often become so excited by {{SITENAME}}'s policy of allowing/encouraging appropriately humorous tone (unlike many wikis) that they add many more jokes to articles without adding any content to go along with it. The #2 cause is [[Transformers Wiki:Policies#Dogpile|dogpile edits]].

Reverting an edit when the only change was to replace one joke caption with a new, unfunny one is also commonly called de-snarking.

===Dogpile===
'''Dogpiling''' (verb or noun) occurs when multiple users make successive edits to an article (usually in a short period of time) that causes ''one aspect'' of the article to grow, then bloat, then spread like cancer. That which was once a ''good'' part of a balanced article has grown out of control and become unpleasant.

Dogpiling can cause one joke to spread through an article (each user only adding one or two instances of it) until it becomes unreadable. Less frequently, gentle jabs can turn nastier and unpleasant, and eventually toxic. The [[Fandom]] article began as a light-hearted poke at fans' sillier (and stupider) tendencies and slowly became a hate-fest that caused considerable conflict. (The entire article was cauterized down to a stub and has re-emerged in its present, dryly factual form.)

===IP user===
Activity by unregistered users on {{SITENAME}} shows up as an '''[[Wikipedia:IP address|IP address]]''', an anonymous string of numbers. Some internet service providers don't provide their users with "fixed" addresses, so many different addresses can represent a single user.

Dubious or unsupported claims by IP users ("Optimus Prime (Animated) will have a different voice actor in Australia") are usually deleted out-of-hand without asking why. IP users include the lion's share of {{SITENAME}}'s cranks and trolls. While their contributions are appreciated when helpful, there is very little patience towards them when annoying.

IP users involved in heated discussions on talk pages will often be told to register for an account (they never ''do'', but we keep asking) because it's very difficult to tell who's who, and arguing with "a number" makes regular users cranky. This is not merely elitism on the part of regulars; changing IP addresses and making unsigned posts can make it ''incredibly confusing'' to sort out to whom an anonymous post belongs.

===SIGN YOUR POSTS===
The all-caps request that another user '''SIGN YOUR POSTS''' on talk pages indicates that they've probably been asked before, and it's beginning to get annoying. Simply type four ~'s (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>) at the end of a post, and Mediawiki will convert it to a name and timestamp. ([[User:Derik|Derik]]02:57, 30 August 2007 (UTC)) It makes ''everyone's'' life much, much easier, so please do it.

===Signal-to-Noise===
'''Signal-to-Noise''' is the measure of:
# How much information an article conveys per its length.
# A user's contributions to site content vs. their non-content edits. (Jokes, etc.)

Ideally, articles should have a high signal-to-noise ratio, being very informative. An article which is a stub with a joke image caption ('''Example:''' [[Phoenix]]) has a low signal-to-noise ratio.

{{SITENAME}} wants its users to contribute to the wiki. Writing or expanding articles, checking facts, making corrections, sorting, categorizing and generally increasing the ''informativeness'' of {{SITENAME}} is good. Adding (or removing) jokes, making funny edits, and complaining about wiki policy on talk pages without regard for the consensus are both deconstructive and bad.

{{-}}

==Definitions==
This is somehow distinct from the above glossary section despite having a similar title.
===Toy-only/Comic-only...===
{{SITENAME}} has a category for [[:Category:Toy-only characters|Toy-only characters]], as well as several other single-media categories.

A toy-only character is defined as having never appeared in a story, anywhere. The character may have a ''place'' in fiction, but a tech-spec/profile book/box-back is not, for the purposes of this category, considered an "appearance". Meanwhile, a non-speaking, single-panel cameo ''is'', and would disqualify them from this category.

:''('''Note''': The jury is currently out as to whether or not a character being merely '''mentioned''' but not '''seen''' would count as an appearance. (Probably yes.))''

==Basic Conduct==
{{see|Help:Introduction}}

{{-}}

==Legal Issues==
===Copyrights===
{{see|Transformers Wiki:Copyrights}}

{{-}}
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Help]]

Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)

2009-04-21T17:33:37Z

146.95.224.176: /* Trivia */

{{disambigr|Battle for the Spark|the online game in the [[Live-action film series|live action film]] continuity|Battle for the Allspark}}

{{nav-BM}}

'''''Beast Machines''''' is a 26-episode cartoon that aired in the US from 1999 to 2000, in support of the [[Beast Machines (toyline)|toyline]] of the same name. It is a direct follow-up to ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', set in the same G1 continuity and featuring many of the same characters. Like ''Beast Wars'', its [[CGI|computer animation]] was created by [[Mainframe Entertainment]].

==Overview==
[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The Maximals, in a rare moment of Not Running Away.]]
The show follows the adventures of the core ''Beast Wars'' cast upon their return home to Cybertron; there, Optimus Primal and his crew find that the whole planet is abandoned, and the streets are patrolled by mindless [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] serving [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who somehow escaped his captivity.

Worse still, they learn that they are infected with a deadly [[Transformation virus|virus]] that will kill them in a matter of hours. Salvation comes from the mysterious supercomputer known as the Oracle, who sees them fit to complete its mission of a planetwide "reformatting", and turns them into [[technorganic]] warriors, a perfect blend of organic and technological matter.

As the show progresses, Primal and his fellow Maximals learn to balance their technological side with their newly introduced organic aspects, mastery coming in slow stages. Unlike the previous [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|conflict]], where sides had been roughly equal, the four original Maximals were quite outnumbered by their Vehicon enemies, and the battles took on a "guerilla warfare" feel, with the Maximals using sewers and underground levels to their advantage and avoiding surface levels unless for combat purposes. As the show progresses, two brand-new Maximals and a returning face boost their number and together, the Maximals eventually turn Cybertron into an [[technorganic]] paradise, though at the cost of their [[Optimus Primal|leader]]'s life.

===Reception===
Controversial even by the standards of other Transformers [[Unicron Trilogy|reinventions]] (!), ''Beast Machines'' is remembered by some as a series which tried to tackle heavy philosophical concepts with mixed results, discussing such issues like what it meant to live in an increasingly technological society and the dichotomy between the desires of the individual and the needs of society and the paradox of a living technological world. Story editor [[Bob Skir]] describes the series as a "religious epic novel for television." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAkRF4QBKew]

The series' detractors complained about the show's alleged "hippie" agenda, claiming it would [[Ruined FOREVER|ruin Transformers]]; a few went so far as to send Skir death threats, causing him to cancel a convention appearance in 2000. Even more sympathetic fans have commented that the show lacks the campy, lighthearted humor of ''Beast Wars''. The show also featured seemingly endless scenes of the good guys running away, and that the requirements of the overall plot structure leave it treading water story-wise at times. Many characters had radically different personalities and goals than in Beast Wars ([[Rattrap|Rattrap's]] being the strongest example). The show was and remains the darkest and most thought-provoking Transformers animation to date, and the final animated entry into the Generation 1 story canon, bringing the events in that universe to a rather conclusive ending.

Despite all the criticisms, the show continued the high production values of ''Beast Wars'', with solid scripting, excellent voice acting, and CGI that was a considerable step up in quality even from ''Beast Wars''. Mainframe's animators showed their considerable talents in giving highly emotive expression to such alien characters as the [[Vehicon general]]s and even the [[Diagnostic Drone]], which ''didn't have a face at all''. As with ''Beast Wars'', [[Robert Buckley]] provided the series background music, this time creating a stylized electronic music in keeping with the mechanical environment of Cybertron.

With ''Beast Machines'' perhaps not quite living up to Hasbro's hopes, the [[Transtech|followup line]] to Beast Machines was subsequently scrapped. Hasbro's next foray into animation would be to bring over a [[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|year-old Japanese show]] for consumption in the US, until a [[Unicron Trilogy|new story]] could be concocted. In [[Armada (cartoon)|light]] [[Energon (cartoon)|of the]] [[Cybertron (cartoon)|results]], some fans have found themselves re-evaluating ''Beast Machines'' more favorably, though the newfound positive reception is still not universal by any means.

==Episodes==
{{note|For a detailed list including airdates and production stats, see [[List of Beast Machines episodes]].}}
===Season 1===
[[Image:Tankor flames.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Tankor, YOU'RE FIRED!]]
Season 1 largely centers on the Maximals' efforts to find out what has happened to them, as they arrive on Cybertron with no memories. In addition to Megatron and the core Maximal cast, three new Vehicon generals are introduced, as well as the new Maximal Nightscream. By the end of the season, Optimus Primal has been driven down a road of extremism, and an apocalyptic confrontation marks the season finale...

#[[The Reformatting]]
#[[Master of the House]]
#[[Fires of the Past]]
#[[Mercenary Pursuits]]
#[[Forbidden Fruit]]
#[[The Weak Component]]
#[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]
#[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
#[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]
#[[Survivor]]
#[[The Key]]
#[[The Catalyst]]
#[[End of the Line]]

===Season 2: Battle for the Spark===
[[Image:Botanica5.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This freakish, tentacled, multi-limbed creature is one of the kid-friendly good guys!]]
The ultimate face-off at the end of Season 1 is resolved in a most unusual and cerebral manner, setting the tone for Season 2 as Primal realizes his mission is one of balance, not extremism. Silverbolt rejoins the Maximal ranks, a new Maximal arrives from off-world, and two dangerous new generals join Megatron's side as the Maximals search for the lost Sparks of their brethren and battle to regain control of Cybertron.

#[[Fallout]]
#[[Savage Noble]]
#[[Prometheus Unbound]]
#[[In Darkest Knight]]
#[[A Wolf in the Fold]]
#[[Home Soil]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]
#[[Spark of Darkness]]
#[[Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral]]
#[[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall]]
#[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]

==Characters==
[[Image:Rattrap bm robotmode.jpg|right|200px|thumb|There's a caption under me?!]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of named on-screen characters in ''Beast Machines'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (Most drones are not listed, and neither are incidental flashback characters.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged Beast Machines characters, having appeared in other media.

===[[Maximal]]s===
*[[Optimus Primal]]
*[[Rattrap]]
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]
*[[Noble|Savage/Noble]]
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Botanica]]

===[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]===
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] ([[Spark|sparkless]], hence not a Transformer, but had a speaking role and a personality)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]]
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (nominally the same character as Tankor)
*[[Waspinator]] (nominally the same character as Thrust)
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]]

===Other===
*[[Vector Sigma|The Oracle]] (not much of a personality, but definitely a major speaking role)

==Trivia==
* [[Mainframe Entertainment]] executive [[Dan DiDio]] explicitly told Bob Skir and [[Marty Isenberg]] to ignore all previous Transformers cartoons when writing ''Beast Machines'', because "''Beast Wars'' was too continuity-heavy". It clearly did not work out that way.
* In the May 2008 "DC Nation" editorial appearing in [[wikipedia:DC Comics|DC Comics]] publications, Dan DiDio recounted that writer [[Steve Gerber]] had once pitched a "wildly original take on ''Transformers''" as part of the development of ''Beast Machines''.
* The theme tune for the show was Leftfield's "Phat Planet". This was also used for a famous Guinness advert. The latter proved a more popular TV slot.
* Inexplicably, Season 2, Volume 1 of the R2 DVD release of the series has screen captures from ''Beast Wars'' on the back of the case.
*Apart from flashbacks, visions and such, ''Beast Machines'' takes place entirely on (or in orbit of) Cybertron, thus making it the only television series ''not'' to feature any [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|annoying]] [[Kicker Jones|human]] [[Bud Hansen|companions]].

[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]
[[Category:Mainframe]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Human Error, Part I

2009-04-21T17:24:14Z

146.95.224.176: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|image=TFA Human Error Part 1 Automen.jpg
|caption=''Humans Animated'' is a very popular show on Cybertron.
|ep=37
|title="Human Error, Part 1"
|airdate=[[April 18]], 2009
|written by=[[Henry Gilroy]]
|directed by=[[Kalvin Lee]] [[Christopher Berkeley]] [[Naoto Hashimoto]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
}}
'''With the Christmas season upon them, the Autobots are not quite themselves following a run-in with Porter C. Powell's new mass-produced Soundwave action figures.'''

==Synopsis==

[[Image:TFAni Human Error Part 1 Powell Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|180px|He's actually worse than [[wikipedia:Billy Mays|Billy Mays]].]]
It's [[Christmas]] in Detroit, but [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] is not in a festive mood. The hottest toy of the year is Soundwave, being marketed by [[Porter C. Powell]], who acquired the schematics and patent when he ran [[Sumdac Systems]]. Observing a commercial for the new toy, Optimus notices a Soundwave running across the plaza near the trains. Trying to follow it, he is nearly run over by a train and finally decides that he may be obsessing.

At the plant, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] are interested in what they got for Christmas, but [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] tells them that Santa will know if they try to peek. As the two help Sari decorate, a Soundwave toy breaks out of the present and does something to the oilnog that Sari made for the Autobots. The toy is barely able to hide as Optimus, [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] weigh in on Santa's ability to deliver presents to all the children. Sari tells them to just accept the holiday magic and be thankful for what they have, like family, leading to a toast of the spiked oil. Soon, the Autobots all begin to feel tired and decide to call it a night, as Sari heads back to [[Sumdac Tower]].

[[Image:TFAni Human Error Part 1 Optimus Human.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Who would want to be a human in ''Transformers''? The [[Fandom|fans]] all hate them.]]
The next morning, Optimus wakes up, still woozy, and discovers something frightening—his hands are made of flesh! Falling off his bed in shock, Optimus looks into a mirror and discovers the horrifying truth: He's become a human! Optimus hears Bumblebee and Bulkhead cry out and discovers that all the other Autobots are human as well. A few scans by Ratchet are unable to determine the cause of the change. Looking for Prowl, the Autobots head outside, where they find the ninja is mostly at home with the situation, except he feels that something is wrong. Since they're unable to contact Sari, the Autobots decide to [[roll out|<s>roll ou—</s>]] er, walk to Sumdac Tower.

[[Image:TFA Human Error Sumdac dance.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Truly fun for all ages.]]
The Sumadcs, meanwhile, are exchanging Christmas presents, although Sari is less than impressed with the Soundwave toy she receives, having less-than-fond memories of her previous experience with the musical menace. The next present, a scooter, likewise fails to excite, until her father reveals that it also transforms into a jetpack! Thrilled at the gift, Sari takes off to show the Autobots, leaving her dad dancing and singing along with Soundwave.

On their way to Sumdac Tower, the Autobots stop at [[Burger Bot]] when Bulkhead experiences the odd sensation of "hunger". Before long, he is also experiencing the thrills and spills of "the bathroom", while Prowl makes the most of his new human form to play peek-a-boo with a greatly amused [[Jennifer Witwicky|baby]]. The light-heartedness is brought to an end by a sudden explosion outside, and the Autobots race onto the street to see an armada of airborne [[Decepticon]]s, with [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] in the lead, opening fire on the city! As chaos erupts around them, more Decepticons led by [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] come stomping up the street . A blast from Shockwave sets a nearby building on fire, and Prime orders the Autobots into action despite their frail new forms. While Bulkhead and Bumblebee fight the fire, Prime and Ratchet rescue a woman, and Prowl heads upstairs to save her [[Gary|son]]. At the last minute, Prowl dives out a window several stories up with the boy in his arms and lands with ease, prompting Bulkhead to wonder exactly how he accomplished such a seemingly impossible feat. Before any thought can go into the matter, Starscream transforms to robot mode and lands in front of them!

Carried by her new jetpack to the Autobot plant, Sari is surprised to discover it locked up tight, and even more surprised when the Autobots don't respond to her knocking. She flies into the plant through a skylight, but the whole building seems deserted, so she uses the computer to scan for the Autobots' energy signatures, which turn out to be coming from...inside the plant?

[[Image:TFAni Human Error Part 1 Starscream Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|180px|GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!]]
As Starscream tears up the street and sends humans scattering in fear, Bulkhead and Bumblebee rather foolishly attempt to attack him, and the results are rather predictable. When Optimus tries slashing the Decepticon with an axe, Starscream backhands him into a wall, breaking his leg. Hearing the Autobots refer to each other by name, Starscream realizes who his opponents are, but is so busy smirking over things that he loses sight of them and finds that he can't tell one human from another! Dismissing them, he departs for more destruction elsewhere, leaving the Autobots to have their injuries tended to by paramedics. Requiring some of Professor Sumdac's technology to fight the Decepticons, the Autobots board a bus to get to the tower quickly.

Back at the Autobots' plant, Sari is still searching for her friends, when suddenly, a [[Laserbeak (Animated)|large, robotic bird]] flies out of a shaft in the floor, followed by a small army of Soundwave action figures! Sari blasts the evil toys and heads down the shaft to investigate.

[[Image:TFAni Human Error Part 1 Bumblebee vs Blitzwing.jpg|thumb|180px|left|''You spin my head right 'round, right 'round''.]]
At the foot of Sumdac Tower, the Autobots have just stepped off the bus when suddenly, a huge shadow falls over Detroit. Looking up, the stunned Autobots see the entire planet of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself hanging in the sky. Sumdac tower is obliterated by a huge planetary laser weapon, and a full-scale Decepticon invasion force swarms the sky, led by [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] himself! The sheer impossibility of everything that is happening finally hits Optimus Prime and Prowl, who realize that whatever may be happening to them, none of it is real. Megatron seizes Prowl, but amazingly, the Autobot breaks free of his grip, and with a single swipe of his hand, severs Megatron's arm. Blitzwing attempts to crush Prowl beneath his foot, but Bulkhead runs forward and smashes straight through the [[Triple Changer]]'s leg. As Bumblebee pummels Blitzwing's faces and Prowl knocks out Starscream by phasing into his head, Optimus Prime beats Megatron with his own arm, then hurls his axe into the barrel of the Decepticon leader's cannon, causing it to explode. As the dust cloud fades, Cybertron and all of the Decepticons have vanished, and the Autobots come to the realization that they are trapped in some kind of virtual reality.

[[Image:TFA Human Error Part 1 Soundwave Superior.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Giant virtual "Shattered Glass" ''Animated'' Soundwave?]]
Sari makes the same discovery as the Autobots when she reaches the bottom of the secret shaft and discovers their bodies, plugged into machinery being operated by the full-size Soundwave, who is planning to use the illusion to reprogram the Autobots into Decepticons. Within the virtual world, the Autobots are able to will themselves back into robotic form (although Bulkhead has a little trouble), but before they can take any further actions, a gigantic arm bursts out of the ground beneath them, scooping them up in its hand. Soundwave's giant face looks down upon the Autobots, declaring escape impossible and shocking them all with blasts of purple energy. Soundwave also has his hands full in the real world, as Sari blasts a chunk out of his shoulder with one of her energy-balls,. Soundwave summons Laserbeak, the robotic bird Sari saw earlier, into his arms, where it transforms into a guitar and hits Sari with a powerful sonic shock wave. The wounded Sari retreats, promising to come back for her friends and leaving Soundwave to resume the final phase of his Autobot reprogramming with [[Ratbat (Animated)|another musical instrument]] that bathes the heroic robots in waves of sonic energy. As Soundwave gloats, Optimus Prime's eyes open and begin glowing Decepticon-red...

[[Human Error, Part 2|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==
{{note|Characters in italics appear only as part of Soundwave's virtual reality scenario.}}
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (9)
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] (5)
*''[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'' (12)
*''[[Lugnut]]'' (13)
*''[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'' (14)
*''[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]]'' (15)
*''[[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]'' (16)
*''[[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]]'' (17)
*''[[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]]'' (18)
*''[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]'' (22)
*[[Laserbeak (Animated)|Laserbeak]] (23)
*[[Ratbat (Animated)|Ratbat]] (24)
|c3=
*[[Porter C. Powell]] (6)
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (7)
*''[[Jennifer Witwicky]]'' (10)
*''[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly Witwicky]]'' (11)
*''[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]]'' (19)
*''[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike Witwicky]]'' (20)
*''[[Gary]]'' (21)
|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (8)
}}

==Quotes==

'''Ratchet''': And I'm telling you, there is no way that this "Santa Claus" could deliver billions of presents in one night. 
'''Prowl''': I can think of at least one. Ho. Ho. Ho. 
''[Prowl projects holograms of himself]'' 
'''Optimus''': A sound theory, Prowl. I did see multiple Santas in the shopping district tonight.
:—The Autobots weigh in on the debate of how Santa does his job.

"We need to get to Sumdac Tower. Auto—er, men. Transfo—er, uh, roll—er, uh, oh, let's just go."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' has a few slips on his "[[roll out]]" command.

"Why would ze Autobots choose to be human?" 
"Not for the fashion sense, I can tell you that. A-ha-ha-ha!"
:—'''Icy Blitzwing''' and '''Random Blitzwing''', the next [[wikipedia:Tim Gunn|Tim Gunn]].

"Not a creature was stirring, not even a—''[Laserbeak flies out of the Autobrand on the floor]'' creepy robot bird?" 
:—'''Sari Sumdac''' adds a new twist to a classic Christmas tale.

"Oh, look! I have a hole in my rocket!"
:—Even horrible injury cannot faze '''Random Blitzwing'''.

"Hey, we're baaaaack!" 
"Not all of us!" 
"It might help you if you make the noise with your mouth like this: ''Choo-chuh-chah-chik''!" 
"Sounds silly... But, okay. Choo-chuh-chah-chah-chik! ''Choo-chuh-chah-chah-chik''!"
:— '''Bumblebee''' and '''Bulkhead''', making the transformation noise like so many of us do—DID. As children. Yeah.

"Escape is impossible. Autobots inferior; Soundwave superior."
:—'''Soundwave''', homaging like it's [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986]].

==Notes==

===Animation or technical errors===
* When Bulkhead sets down his Christmas present, the box is missing the horizontal ribbon it has in the preceding and following shots.
* When Ratchet scans Optimus, all the equipment is human-sized, instead of the much larger, Transformer-scaled size. Of course, it's not actually ''real'', but still.
[[Image:HumanError-DanielSpike.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The popular "Invisible Booster Seat" image from Lolbots.com.]]
* In the bus tram scene, Daniel is shown levitating over his seat.
* We first see [[Jennifer Witwicky]] for a few frames in the background next to a mom who isn't Carly. She's Carly later, though.
* After the explosion is heard outside the Burger Bot, Bulkhead's previously half-eaten burger is now whole.
* Bulkhead punches Starscream with his right hand...then screams and clutches his ''left'' hand...then after a scene cut, he is shown clutching his ''right'' hand...and later he gets a bandage put on his ''left'' hand. Of course, it's...oh, you get the idea.
* Of course, if this was real, we'd point out that the force with which Starscream smashed Optimus into the wall should probably have killed him, or at least caused a lot more damage than a broken leg. Good thing it's not, then.
* The elevator platform in the Autobots' base shrinks from Autobot-sized at the top (such that Sari is shown to be tiny in comparison to it) to human-sized at the bottom (such that Laserbeak couldn't fit through the door even if it had been open).
* Blitzwing's face changes from Icy to Random when he lifts up his leg, only to be Icy again when he's looking through the hole after the shot changes.
* When Optimus beats Megatron with his own severed arm, the arm is ''freaking colossal'', nearly as big as the rest of Megatron's body (Megatron's face also goes significantly off-model in the same scene).
* When being held by the giant Soundwave, Prowl is briefly missing his armor.
* The hole Sari blows in Soundwave's backpack comes and goes. Hey, this bit is real!

===Continuity errors===
*Presumably Soundwave tapped into the Autobots' memories in order to create images of the Decepticons. But if that's the case, what's [[Team Chaar]] doing there, as well as a full-body view of Shockwave (whom they only saw in facial close-up in "[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]]")? The one who would be actually there would be Oil Slick, due to his past history with Prowl and Ratchet.
*Where did Sari's jetpack go while she was on the lift? (For that matter, why did she transform out of her robot mode at all?)
*Lugnut disappears with the other Decepticons, despite the fact none of the Autobots fought him.

===Transformers references===
*[[Derrick Wyatt]] stated this episode was a partial homage to a [[Only Human|"classic" Generation 1 episode]].
*Sari's transforming scooter-jetpack was an early idea that didn't make it into the series, but which was featured in a promotional reel for the ''Animated'' series (seen on the convention circuit in mid-2007 and featured on the DVD included with the "Optimus Prime and Megatron: The Battle Begins" action figure set). The version introduced with this episode is somewhat different from the original concept, which was a pedal-powered tricycle that transformed using the power of the [[Key]].
* The scooter's jetpack form is, in turn, based on the backpacks worn by the Acroyear/Acroyer, the villains from Takara's [[Microman]] toyline.
[[Image:HydraMartyCancer.jpg|right|thumb|150px|This is a winning sitcom concept right here.]]
*The [[Burger Bot]] patrons include series head writer [[Marty Isenberg]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly Witwicky]], her baby daughter [[Jennifer Witwicky|Jennifer]] (who was close to being born during the Season 2 episode "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]"), and ''Animated'' homages to the ''[[Super-God Masterforce]]'' characters [[Cancer]] and [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]]. Hydra, Marty, and Cancer are sitting together at one table, indicating a very interesting family.
*Speaking of Masterforce, this episode also features [[Pretender|Transformers turning into people & back]], though in this case it actually makes some kinda sense.
*Starscream's missiles feature the shark-toothed smiley faces sculpted into his Voyager-class toy's missile accessories.
*Cybertron was brought into Earth orbit twice in the [[Generation 1]] series: first in the multipart episode "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1|The Ultimate Doom]]", and then in the series finale, "[[The Rebirth, Part 3]]".
*Soundwave's declaration that the Autobots are "inferior" while he is "superior" is a paraphrase of his Generation 1 namesake's famous line of dialogue from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'': "Soundwave superior, Constructicons inferior."
*The colors on the giant Soundwave in the virtual world come from Takara's "Sonic White" Soundwave MP3 player.
*The little boy Prowl saves from the fire appears to have a [[Optimus Prime (G1)|familiar face]] on his shirt.

===Real-world references===
*Appropriately enough, the first act of this episode incorporates traditional Christmas songs "[[Wikipedia: Carol of the Bells|Carol of the Bells]]" and "[[Wikipedia:God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen|God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen]]" into the background music.
*Sari quotes from the Christmas poem, "[[Wikipedia: A Visit from St. Nicholas|A Visit from St. Nicholas]]" (more commonly known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"), replacing the word "mouse" with "[[Laserbeak (Animated)|creepy robot bird]]".
*When Laserbeak chases Sari into the elevator, he makes sounds like a seagull.
*Bumblebee says "We're not in Detroit anymore," which is another twist on an oft-paraphrased line from ''The Wizard of Oz''.
* The scene of Cybertron blowing up [[Sumdac Tower]] is straight out of the mid-90s summer blockbuster ''Independence Day'', in which an alien mothership blows up the White House in a similar manner while using the [[Death Star]] sound effect from [[Star Wars]].
*The whole idea of the heroes acting in a virtual world where only those aware of its true nature can break the laws of physics is similar to [[Wikipedia: The Matrix (series)|the Matrix series]].

===Trivia===
*This episode features an unusually high amount of [[stock footage]] by ''Animated'' standards. Starscream's sequence is a few seconds longer than when it was last seen in "[[Megatron Rising - Part 1]]". Of course, all the sequences of the "human" Autobots transforming have been re-edited.
*Apparently, in future Detroit, you are allowed to use public transportation while bearing a giant axe. Well, it ''is'' Detroit...
*Back in "[[Sound and Fury]]", Soundwave's voice was modulated using only one tone, meaning it never rose or fell. With this episode, more tones are introduced into his voice, allowing it to rise and fall in the same manner as his [[Generation 1]] [[Soundwave (G1)|counterpart]].
*Sari's abilities include being capable of holding a full barrel of oil on each hand and surviving getting slammed into a wall by Laserbeak and Soundwave. Plus she makes a mean oilnog.
*Man, Professor Sumdac sure can ''dance''.
*Technically, since most of this episode wasn't real, most of the errors above can be dismissed. So nyah!

[[Category:Animated episodes]]