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Survival of the Fittest

2008-03-21T15:04:11Z

152.18.33.195: /* Miscellaneous trivia */

[[Image:Road appear.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Warehouse sweet warehouse.]]
{{episodenav|animated|12|season=1|prev=Lost and Found (Animated episode)|next=Headmaster (episode)}}
'''Sari is kidnapped and the evidence points to the Dinobots. So Prowl and Bulkhead head to a mysterious island to investigate—with a highly suspicious Captain Fanzone on their tail.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Window sari.jpg|left|thumb|200px|How much is that Sari in the window?]]
Concerned for [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]]'s safety as possessor of the [[Sari Sumdac's key|All Spark Key]] and knowing they can't be around every minute to protect her, the [[Autobot]]s decide to give her self-defense lessons. She doesn't do so well, but undaunted, she continues to practice alone in her room that night. She then goes to bed, but a shadow passing by her window makes her curious enough to get up again. She opens the window and is confronted by the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobot]] [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]]. [[Image:SwoopSari.JPG|right|thumb|200px|I will make you one of my children of the night.]]
Shortly afterward, [[Isaac Sumdac|her father]] stops by to deliver a bedtime snack and is shocked to find her missing.

He immediately contacts the police and the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] orders everyone to [[Roll out|roll out]] immediately. Come morning, the police search Sari's room and question Doctor Sumdac. [[Captain Fanzone]] coordinates operations from the lobby of [[Sumdac Tower]], checking security video footage and struggling with the operation of his mobile phone. The Autobots arrive, and he asks if anything unusual happened yesterday. [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] mentions her self-defense lessons, to which Fanzone raises some objection, noting that hanging around Autobots might just be, oh, dangerous for a little girl. Just then, Prime spots Swoop on the security footage replay. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] doesn't think it's possible, but Prime notes they never did find out what happened to the escaped Dinobots. Behind him, Bulkhead and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] hold a quiet conversation about whether to tell Prime about their role in the Dinobots' escape, but decide to investigate the Dinobots' island themselves first. Fanzone notices them whispering, figures they must be discussing something relevant, and decides to follow this new lead on his own.
[[Image:Before and after.jpg|left|thumb|150px|It's [[Kremzeek]]! He's in the phone!]]
That night, Prowl and Bulkhead take a cargo ship out to the Dinobots' island, with Fanzone pursuing them in a police department mini-sub. By daylight, the Autobots arrive on the island and start exploring, with Fanzone coming ashore shortly afterward. Suddenly, Prowl spots tracks, indicating someone besides the Dinobots is on the island. As they arrive at the edge of the central crater, Bulkhead expresses second thoughts about setting the Dinobots free. What if someone were to find them there? Prowl deactivates his holographic generator and notes that currently won't be an issue, as the Dinobots appear to be gone.

From within his new headquarters, [[Prometheus Black|Meltdown]] observes the two visitors and sends the Dinobots, who are waiting behind him, to deal with the pair.

Back outside in the valley, an outraged Bulkhead growls that they should have melted down the Dinobots as Dr. Sumdac wanted, but Prowl insists the Dinobots are more than just machines, that they are truly alive and so had to be saved. Bulkhead counters by asking who's going to save Sari. The two then leave to explore the island further, with Fanzone pursuing close behind—well, as close behind as possible after dealing with various mishaps.
[[Image:Donkey Fanzone.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Donkey Fanzone.]]
In Meltdown's control room, [[Colossus Rhodes]] offers to pound the Autobots to scrap, but Meltdown stays him. Sari figures they're both as good as arrested and taunts them until Rhodes bulks up and scares her into silence.

Outside, Bulkhead and Prowl discover Captain Fanzone sinking in quicksand and haul him out. Prowl asks why he's following them, but Fanzone counters by asking what they're doing on an abandoned island research facility in the middle of Lake Erie, and they fall silent.

Still watching the proceedings, Meltdown decides it's time to greet his guests personally and leaves Rhodes to guard Sari. Rhodes taunts Sari for a change, but Sari just asks to go to the toilet.

On the surface, Fanzone continues to question Bulkhead about the situation, wondering if there's something he's not being told. Bulkhead abruptly points out the Dinobots behind Fanzone as the possible missing piece of info. Prowl offers to deal with the Dinobots, as they trust him, but [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] orders the Dinobots to attack. Prowl is confused, but Bulkhead figures it's pretty straightforward: The Dinobots kidnapped Sari and now want to destroy them. He also lets slip that he and Prowl helped the Dinobots escape. During the skirmish, Prowl notes acid burns on Swoop's leg plating and deduces that someone with the ability to burn the Dinobots is forcing them to act this way. The Autobots and Fanzone manage to make a run for it, only to find themselves in a dead-end canyon. When Meltdown confronts them, Prowl finally puts it all together, realizing that the villain is behind the Dinobots capturing Sari and attacking them. Meltdown gleefully monologues about finding an island with its own security system just when he needed a place for private experiments, and how Sari will now be his latest subject. An enraged Bulkhead charges, but Meltdown's acid blasts a painful hole in the Autobot's chest.

Prowl and Fanzone run to help him, but Meltdown touches a remote-control button and sends the pair plummeting through a trap door down into a steel-lined holding pen. There, he pits them against two of his less successful experiments in creating transforming humans, people capable of taking on any shape at will. He notes that the failures were a result of using adult test subjects, whereas a still-growing human should prove much more promising. And what better choice than the daughter of his arch-rival, Isaac Sumdac? He then leaves to administer his formula to Sari while his two mutants take care of Prowl and Fanzone.

Elsewhere in the base, Sari tricks Cyrus Rhodes into checking out the rest room toilet, then uses her key to flood water on him, shorting out the electrode/pistons that let him bulk up. When he turns to attack her, she trips him, then locks him in the bathroom and takes off. Somehow, she finds the controls to turn off the laser barrier keeping Prowl and Fanzone trapped in the holding pit. Freed just in time, they take off and quickly locate Sari. Informed of Bulkhead's predicament, she guides them out the way she was brought in. As they start down the hall, Fanzone spots a rack of spare protective suits for Meltdown and grabs one.

[[image:Dinobotsrobotmode.JPG|left|thumb|200px|"Your death will be swift."]]
Prowl gets the two humans past a closing steel door and outside, where Sari quickly uses her key to heal Bulkhead. Before they can celebrate, Meltdown shows up with the Dinobots. Sari launches into a flying kick which totally misses Meltdown, but serves as the distraction needed for Prowl to score a hit. Before a stunned Meltdown can recover, Fanzone tackles him and wraps him up in a spare protective suit he grabbed. Meltdown orders the Dinobots to attack, but Prowl points that that Meltdown has no power over them any more. In preparation for revenge, the Dinobots [[transformation|transform]] into robot mode, surprising the others. Prowl offers the panicking Meltdown a choice: going to prison or being left to the Dinobots' (lack of) mercies. Just then, Colossus Rhodes (whose electronics apparently dried out) and the two mutants burst out of the entrance into the underground facility, only to draw the Dinobots' attention to themselves. The mighty mechanical trio ignite their weapons and quickly trounce the three mutants.

That evening, Fanzone and the Autobots take Sari and the captive Meltdown and Rhodes back to Detroit. Fanzone calls Dr. Sumdac to give him the good news, and Bulkhead and Prowl wonder if they should admit about the Dinobots to Prime. Fanzone assures Prowl that as long as the Dinobots stay on the island and out of Detroit, he doesn't have a problem with them. Prowl thanks him for all his help, and the two acknowledge they make a decent team, despite their different physical compositions. Watching Sari try out another kick on Bulkhead, Fanzone expresses continuing doubts about teaching ninja moves to eight-year-olds. Prowl agrees, noting Sari can apparently take care of herself in her own unique fashion.

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Steven Granat]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]] & [[Makoto Fuchigami]]
*'''Original airdate:''' March 8, 2008

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s

! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (6)
*[[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] (7)
*[[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] (10)
*[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (11)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (8)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (9)
*[[Prometheus Black|Meltdown]] (12)
*[[Colossus Rhodes]] (13)

'''Guests'''

|}

==Quotes==

"This is why I hate machines!" 
"No need to be such a technophobe, Captain." 
"A technophobe is someone who ''fears'' technology. ''(Smashes cell phone)'' Does '''''this''' look like'' '''FEAR TO YOU?!'''" 
"Um...my mistake."
:—'''Captain Fanzone''' straightens out '''Prowl'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s perceptions of him.

'''Fanzone:''' You're teaching an eight-year-old ''nerve blows''? 
'''Ratchet:''' You want her to pick it up in the street? 
'''Prowl:''' This is part of every protoform's elemental programming. 
'''Fanzone:''' Say what? 
'''Bulkhead:''' Yeah, it's not like we're having her fight [[Decepticon]]s. 
'''Prowl:''' Yet.
:—'''Captain Fanzone''' and the Autobots debate the finer points of child education.

"Wait a minute—roll that back." 
"Sure thing, dollface."
:—The '''Reception Bot''' gets sassy with '''Optimus'''.

"Help!" 
"That sounded like Captain Fanzone." 
"Y-Yeah, hey, I—I do a really good impression of myself '''screaming for help!'''"
:—Even in mortal danger, '''Captain Fanzone''' zings '''Prowl'''.

"Who better than the daughter of my arch-rival, the bane of my existence, the simpering fool who is unworthy to lick the mud off the heels of my platform shoes—booga-looga-looga-looz—Professor Isaac Sumdac?"
:—'''Meltdown''' gets down with his bad self while monologuing.

"Dibs on Lefty—I hate lawyers." 
:{{m-}}'''Captain Fanzone''' actually hates something besides machines.

"Meltdown not hurt Dinobots...Dinobots hurt Meltdown."
:{{m-}}'''Grimlock'''. Run far, run fast, Melty.

'''Fanzone''': "What the...?!" 
'''Sari''': "Whoa...!" 
'''Bulkhead''': "Uh, they couldn't do that before. Right?" 
:{{m-}}The gang learns that the Dinobots are [[Transformer|more than meets the eye]].

==Other notes==

===Animation errors===
* Fanzone ''presses buttons'' on a ''rotary-dial'' cell phone. Of course, he also manages to get touch-tone sounds from them, so perhaps the rotary dial is just simulated. Y'know, to make him feel more familiar with the device.

===Continuity errors===
* When Sari is kidnapped by Swoop, she's just wearing socks on her feet (having crawled out of bed). When she's imprisoned in Meltdown's lair, she has her boots on again.

* The passage of time between Sari's kidnapping and the arrival on the island is wonky. Isaac appears to arrive at Sari's room with a snack mere minutes after she's gone to bed not too late in the evening, but the police and Autobots show up once the sun has risen. The "search party" heads for the Dinobots' island that ''night''... and arrive in the daylight. Did nearly ''forty-eight hours'' really pass all this time, and Meltdown did nothing?

* Apparently, there's nothing wrong with cutting a cargo ship free of its moorings and sailing it out into the middle of Lake Erie without permission. (Prowl and Bulkhead must have convinced either the ship's captain or its computerized pilot system to make an unscheduled trip.)

* Why does Meltdown bother to send the Dinobots, then go to handle his guests himself several minutes later? Sure, it works out, but was it planned that way?

* Why does Prowl think that Sari can defend herself against the Decepticons by ''kicking'' them?

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Meltdownexperiments.jpg|right|thumb|200px|They've got the power to surprise.]]

* Meltdown's genetically engineered minions (previous failed attempts at producing "human transformers") bear a striking resemblance to the ''[[Generation 1]]'' [[Pretender]]s [[Submarauder]]/[[Gilmer]] and [[Bomb-Burst]]/[[Blood]].

* The notion of creating non-mechanical or organic Transformers [[Savage/Noble|is not new]] in Transformers lore.



===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This is the first episode in which Snarl and Swoop transform. They still haven't spoken, however.

* This is also the first episode in which Fanzone refers to any of the Autobots by name, suggesting he's getting used to them being more than machines.

* Bumblebee appears in this episode, but doesn't speak.

* Part of Grimlock's transformation is recycled animation from "[[Blast from the Past]]".

* Captain Fanzone's phone seems remarkably outdated compared to the mobile phone his subordinate is shown using; it's the size of a brick, has a permanently extended antenna and amazingly features a rotary dial (or at least a simulated one; he still punches touch tones on it) to ring in the numbers...and even then Fanzone can't figure out how to use it. The man was clearly born a century after his time and presumably would be more comfortable around gramophones and [[Hearts of Steel|steam]] [[Secret Weapon: D-5|locomotives]].

* Fanzone's dialog suggests that a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Erie is not as preposterous as it might seem, as the island was formerly a research facility of some shape or form.

* Bulkhead seems to be more then a match for all three Dinobots here, yet they make incredibly short work of the mutants and Colossus Rhodes. (Colossus had previously proven to be a decent enough challenge for Bulkhead, Prime, Prowl and Ratchet.) Maybe their sparks just weren't in it? Or they were holding back?

* A lawyer turned into a blood-sucking monster...surely there's no deeper message here.

* Do we really want to know what that key slot was doing on the controls for a toilet?

* The two mutants are conspicuously absent in the final scene (Fanzone notes "got 'em both," indicating only two prisoners), so it appears they were either destroyed or left imprisoned on the island, subject to the Dinobots' whims. If so, this seems harsh, given the two were (presumably) innocent victims of Meltdown's experiments. If they're somehow being held on ship, not mentioning or showing them seems to be quite an oversight.

* Although most human villains in the series to date have been shown in a comedic light, Meltdown seems the odd man out with some rather disturbing, more adult-oriented themes. He attempts murder (of rival Isaac Sumdac); he experiments to create mutants, which constitutes crimes against Humanity; he tortures the Dinobots into submission by burning them with his acidic touch; and he kidnaps a prepubescent girl for purposes of experimentation... but he darn sure can ''dance''.

* Speaking of adult themes, when the police learn that Sari is missing, they question the father and send divers into the river. ''HARSH.''

[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Blast from the Past

2008-03-21T15:00:21Z

152.18.33.195: /* Quotes */

{{episodenav|animated|6|season=1|prev=Total Meltdown|next=The Thrill of the Hunt}}

[[Image:DinobotsAnimated.jpg|thumb|400px|"When they opened Disneyland in 1955, nothing worked." "Yes, but, [[wikipedia:John Hammond (Jurassic Park character)|John]], when Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists."]]

'''Professor Sumdac upgrades a trio of animatronic dinosaurs from a local theme park, but the creatures develop minds of their own and become rampaging Dinobots, bent on destroying the Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==

[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] takes the [[Autobot]]s to "[[Dino Drive]]", a [[dinosaur]]-based theme park, in order to teach them about [[Earth]]'s history. On the way, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] accidentally destroys every car in the parking lot. Once inside, [[Tutor Bot]] gives an impromptu lesson on dinosaurs. The Autobots see the animatronic dinosaurs and become amazed by the replicas, especially Bulkhead, who becomes so fascinated that he tries to get the robot ''Pteranodon'' to fly. This only succeeds in having the robot fall and cause a ''Triceratops'' and ''Tyrannosaurus'' robot to collide and break each other, crushing Tutor Bot in the process. The Autobot take the broken animatronics to [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] for repair.

At the lab, [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] views the power of dinosaurs through the damaged Tutor Bot and seems very impressed by their destructive potential. Sumdac enters the lab and berates himself for programming the Tutor Bot with such simple information that everyone already knows. Megatron reveals his consciousness by saying ''he'' never knew these things. Sumdac is shocked, and Megatron, pretending that he has just come back online, asks where he is. Professor Sumdac rambles a bit, then says it's a long story. Megatron reassures him that he can listen, as he is not going anywhere. After Sumdac gives a brief history of Megatron's discovery and how he relates to modern technology, Megatron convinces Sumdac that he is an old friend of the Autobots and that they'll be more forgiving of Sumdac keeping his secrets if he helps repair their old comrade. However, it would be best to keep it quiet for now. As a sign of good faith, he offers to help Sumdac repair the dinosaur displays and provide information on how to upgrade their technology so they'll be even more convincing. He conveniently forgets to tell Sumdac that he plans on using them for prototype attack drones.

Meanwhile, at the Autobot base, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] is trying to teach Bulkhead how to control his strength. This, of course, ends with Bulkhead falling on Prowl. He then tries a new tactic and moves the training to an island in Lake Erie. This results in Bulkhead causing some trees to drop on Prowl.

At Dino Drive, Sumdac reveals his and Megatron's creations to the gathered press and Autobots—the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]]!

After a short display, Megatron takes control, and the Dinobots go on a rampage. As the Autobots fight them, Bulkhead tries to recreate Prowl's teaching, but to no effect other than falling into Prowl and knocking him flat on his back. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] then combine their powers to create an electromagnetic pulse to shut down the Dinobots, but Sari's key is somehow drawn to the creatures. She decides to help and plugs the key into Bumblebee. The blast intensifies, blowing the dinosaurs' skins off and revealing the robot bodies beneath. Professor Sumdac is confused as to why they malfunctioned and brings them back to his lab for maintenance.

At Sumdac's lab, Megatron becomes perplexed as to why the key activated, thinking it sensed something Cybertronian about the Dinobots. He dismisses this idea and curses the drones for being useless. Then something very surprising happens{{m-}}the ''Tyrannosaurus'' starts to talk, and the other dinosaurs begin to move. On top of that, Megatron finds he can't control them!

Megatron then surmises that the Autobots must have done something to them, declaring that, somehow, they have [[spark]]s of their own. The ''Tyrannosaurus'' then dubs himself "[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]]" and, without fail, Megatron declares that he is the Dinobots' leader. Grimlock doesn't approve of this concept and announces that ''he'' is the leader, and [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] and [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] seem to agree. The Tutor Bot activates, much to Megatron's annoyance, and explains how dinosaur fossils create fossil fuel, which powers cars and trucks. Grimlock takes this to mean cars and trucks "eat" dinosaurs and announces that cars and trucks are bad. Megatron takes advantage of their low intelligence and tells them to destroy the "fossil feeders", and, of course, that the only things worse than cars and trucks are "car robots". He shows them how to use one of their more destructive powers, [[fire-breath]], and they use it to destroy the Tutor Bot. Grimlock is pleased with this, but does not know how he did it. Megatron explains how he designed them, then tells them that the fossil feeders want them dead, so the Dinobots go to defend themselves.

As they start on their rampage, [[Captain Fanzone]] and assembled emergency crews try to stop them. Suddenly, Snarl whips a car with his tail, and Captain Fanzone's car becomes the first casualty of the Dinobots' war on the fossil feeders as the thrown car lands on it. Fanzone, not missing a beat, takes a bazooka and shoots Snarl in the face, but he just swallows the incoming missile.

The Autobots arrive and, at Bulkhead's suggestion, lure the Dinobots to a park in order to avoid any more collateral damage. As Grimlock sees them transform, he remembers something he'd forgotten: Car robots are worse than cars and trucks. Furious, he orders the Dinobots to attack. As the battle goes on, the Autobots are seriously outmatched, especially since Bulkhead is trying to "access the situation" before acting, as Prowl tried to teach him to do. Prowl, realizing their disadvantage, hollers for Bulkhead not to try and be like Prowl, but to be like ''Bulkhead''. Reassured, Bulkhead quickly drops Snarl and Swoop.

At the lab, Sumdac and Megatron are watching the events unfold on the news, and Sumdac is unable to comprehend why the Dinobots malfunctiooned again. Suddenly, the professor realizes that the fire-breath was part of Megatron's design specifications. Megatron feigns shame, claiming that he wanted a body again, so he experimented with the Dinobots by adding "features". Sumdac sympathizes with Megatron, promising not to tell the Autobots and to restore Megatron one day.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee and Ratchet are pinned down by Grimlock's fire-breath. Snarl and Swoop get up and join in, the heat melting the parking lot behind the two Autobots. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] remembers the tar lesson from Dino Drive, and Bulkhead throws all three Dinobots into the newly formed pool. The Dinobots use their flames in an attempt to free themselves from the "black, sticky stuff", but only make things worse for themselves.

The Dinobots are trapped with only their heads sticking out. Professor Sumdac promises to melt them down due to their unpredictableness and the danger they therefore pose. Optimus approves of this, but Prowl does not, feeling that they have shown they have minds and sparks of their own. When Sumdac returns the next morning, he finds the Dinobots have escaped from their tar prison.

On the [[Dinobot Island|deserted island]] where Prowl and Bulkhead trained, the Dinobots are freed into a large crater which houses a beautiful natural environment. Prowl and Bulkhead see how happy they are and decide to keep it their little secret. With that, Prowl sets a hologram up to keep them hidden and safe from the world.

After they leave, Grimlock dubs cars and trucks bad, but Nature good. Two birds promptly defecate on him, which makes him rethink his claim and dub Nature stupid. He orders the birds to come down and "fight like Dinobot" and spits out a flame at them, but they simply fly away. Furious, Grimlock suddenly activates another of Megatron's "features" and transforms! Snarl and Swoop stare in amazement as Grimlock draws a [[Energo-sword|giant, flaming sword]]. Grimlock like...

{{-}}

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Kevin Hopps]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]], [[Ben Jones]], & [[Kentaro Mizuno]]
*'''Original airdate:''' January 12, 2008

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s

|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (6)
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (9)
* [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (4)
* [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] (10)
* [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] (11)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
* [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (7)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
* [[Captain Fanzone]] (12)
* [[Isaac Sumdac]] (8)
* [[Sari Sumdac]] (1)

|}

==Quotes==
"Sorry I'm late, guys. Uh, did I miss anything?" 
"No, I'd say you hit just about every car in the lot."
:—'''Bulkhead''' can't seem to catch a break, certainly not from '''Bumblebee'''.

"Nice, Prowl. Maybe next you can teach an engine block to float."
:—'''Ratchet''' being a crotchety old goat

"This island will be the ideal place to train [[Bulkhead|you]]: quiet, peaceful, and nothing around for you to damage."
:-'''Prowl''', who is wrong

"The primitive materials available on this planet are useless. It will take countless solar cycles to create attack drones capable of ''my'' needs, and without more substantial robotics for my own body, my prospects are grim, locked in this prison of a lab." 
"Grim...lock...Grim...lock."
:—'''Megatron''' learns why '''Grimlock'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s name doesn't start with an "S".

"Me Grimlock." 
"Then listen well, Grimlock. I am Megatron, your leader." 
"[[Grimlock (G1)|Me Grimlock leader.]]"
:—'''Grimlock''' and '''Megatron'''. Some things never change.

"Bulkhead...what are you ''doing''?" 
"I'm doing what you do!" 
"...better idea! Do what ''you'' do!" 
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Bulkhead''' discuss strategy.

"You call breathing fire a glitch in the programming?!?"
:—'''Ratchet'''

"I should be more careful when I try to reverse-engineer alien technology."
:{{m-}}'''Isaac Sumdac's''' entry in the "Gee, You Think?" competition.

"Just because something's big and lumbering and destructive doesn't mean you give up on it." 
:—'''Prowl''' delivering the most backhanded compliment ever

"Cars and trucks bad. Nature...good."
:-'''Grimlock''' appears to support the Green Party after being placed on [[Dinobot Island]].

"Me Grimlock...like."
:—'''Grimlock''' upon transforming. And the world trembled.

{{-}}

==Other notes==

===Animation errors===

*In one scene, Snarl's head is coloured grey instead of gold.

*Prowl removes his Autobot symbol because of its hologram emitter. However, in the next shot, he still has it.

===Transformers references===
*A far-off island that becomes a training ground for a lumbering warrior to hone his skills without causing collateral damage to the Autobots' base? Gee, [[Dinobot Island|that sure sounds familiar...]]

*After smashing into Snarl, Bulkhead cheerfully apologizes with "Excuse me!" in much the same way that ''Generation 1'' [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] did after stomping on a [[Quintesson]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

* Grimlock's line "Cars and trucks bad! Car Robots worse!!!" may be taken as a subtle jab at ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Transformers: RiD]]'', which was called ''Car Robots'' in Japan.

*Only two other anamatronic dinosaurs are seen in Dino Drive, a ''Stegosaurus'' and an unidentified sauropod. These may be references to [[Sludge]] and the original [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]. And/or potential future Dinobots.

*Grimlock's robot mode resembles his look in the Generation One series. However, in this series, he wields a flaming sword just like his G1 toy and depiction in several comic series including Transformers War Within.

*This is not the first series to use a tar pit to entrap the Dinobots. In the original G1 cartoon episode [[Dinobot Island, Part 1|"Dinobot Island,"]] Megatron used the island's residents to drive the Dinobots into a tar pit to get them out of the Decepticon's way. In the G1 Marvel comic series, the Decepticon Shockwave defeated the Dinobots by entombing them in tar (before falling in himself).

===Real-world references===
* The gate of Dino Drive is remarkably similar to the gate of Jurassic Park in the movie of the same name (and thus, by extension, to the gate from ''King Kong'', to which JP's design was an [[homage]]). Music reminiscent of the ''Jurassic Park'' theme can be heard during some of the Dino Drive scenes.

* Speaking of Jurassic Park, Grimlock's roar sound a lot like the one from the ''T. Rex'' in that movie.

* The droning sountrack that accompanies the Dinobots is similar in tone to the theme that accompanies the T-1000 in ''[[Wikipedia:Terminator 2: Judgment Day|Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''.

===Miscellaneous trivia===

* This marks the first time the Dinobots have been used in a ''Transformers'' TV series since Generation 1. There is much joy. Grimlock is particularly happy.

* Alas, the [[trademark]] on "Slag" could not be secured, so the Triceratops character is officially "Snarl", unlike the Generation 1 Dinobot Triceratops.

* The Dinobots' color schemes are lifted directly from the Generation 1 cartoon, with some minor variations. This is most obvious in Swoop's torso being blue, rather then the red featured in Generation 1 Swoop's comic and toy incarnations. The ''[[Diaclone]]'' version of [[Swoop (G1)|Generation 1 Swoop]]'s toy likewise had a blue chest, so this is possibly an homage, but is more likely coincidence.

* For the first time in a Transformers TV show, the Dinobots' alt modes match closely with how dinosaurs are depicted in the fossil record (no sluggishness, more mammal/bird-like, Grimlock bent over horizontally, no bowleggedness, etc.). There was still a lack of feathers before they were de-skinned, though. (However, since it's doubtful ''T. Rex''es had a feather covering like smaller therapods, and pterosaurs only had down, it's not really an issue)

*In this episode, Tutor Bot actually teaches Sari and the Autobots about dinosaurs and fossil fuels. He's back on form, however, when the pre-Transformer Grimlock squashes him.

* It seems somewhat odd (but not terribly surprising) that humanity has developed advanced robotics and such, but still uses fossil fuels in cars.

* According to Ratchet, the Transformer race is over 10 billion years old. Considering that the Earth as a planet is predicted to be only 4 billion years old, Ratchet may have meant 'million'.

*Tutor Bot makes statements of questionable factual accuracy in this episode:
**Despite what Tutor Bot says, fossil fuels are ''not'' made from dinosaur fossils. Fossil fuels are made from various [[wikipedia:Hydrocarbon|hydrocarbon]]s, which are mostly formed from plant matter that has long since settled in the Earth's crust. For more, see [[wikipedia:Fossil fuel|this]].
**Tutor Bot claims that the [[wikipedia:Jurassic|Jurassic]] era is over 200 million years old. It lasted from circa 199.6 million years ago to 145.4 million years ago.
**Tutor Bot claims that many of the creatures lived during the Jurassic period, but ''Tyrannosaurus'', ''Triceratops'' and the pterosaur ''Pteranodon'' hail from the Late [[wikipedia:Cretaceous|Cretaceous]], not the Jurassic. The only dinosaurs actually from that time period are the ''Stegosaurus'' and the sauropod mentioned above. This makes Tutor Bot blind, vague, or incapable of teaching about dinosaurs, fossil fuels, and (depending on how literally you take him) basic math. The fact that Professor Sumdac continues to fix him is almost amazing.

[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Blast from the Past

2008-03-21T14:58:46Z

152.18.33.195: /* Miscellaneous trivia */

{{episodenav|animated|6|season=1|prev=Total Meltdown|next=The Thrill of the Hunt}}

[[Image:DinobotsAnimated.jpg|thumb|400px|"When they opened Disneyland in 1955, nothing worked." "Yes, but, [[wikipedia:John Hammond (Jurassic Park character)|John]], when Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists."]]

'''Professor Sumdac upgrades a trio of animatronic dinosaurs from a local theme park, but the creatures develop minds of their own and become rampaging Dinobots, bent on destroying the Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==

[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] takes the [[Autobot]]s to "[[Dino Drive]]", a [[dinosaur]]-based theme park, in order to teach them about [[Earth]]'s history. On the way, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] accidentally destroys every car in the parking lot. Once inside, [[Tutor Bot]] gives an impromptu lesson on dinosaurs. The Autobots see the animatronic dinosaurs and become amazed by the replicas, especially Bulkhead, who becomes so fascinated that he tries to get the robot ''Pteranodon'' to fly. This only succeeds in having the robot fall and cause a ''Triceratops'' and ''Tyrannosaurus'' robot to collide and break each other, crushing Tutor Bot in the process. The Autobot take the broken animatronics to [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] for repair.

At the lab, [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] views the power of dinosaurs through the damaged Tutor Bot and seems very impressed by their destructive potential. Sumdac enters the lab and berates himself for programming the Tutor Bot with such simple information that everyone already knows. Megatron reveals his consciousness by saying ''he'' never knew these things. Sumdac is shocked, and Megatron, pretending that he has just come back online, asks where he is. Professor Sumdac rambles a bit, then says it's a long story. Megatron reassures him that he can listen, as he is not going anywhere. After Sumdac gives a brief history of Megatron's discovery and how he relates to modern technology, Megatron convinces Sumdac that he is an old friend of the Autobots and that they'll be more forgiving of Sumdac keeping his secrets if he helps repair their old comrade. However, it would be best to keep it quiet for now. As a sign of good faith, he offers to help Sumdac repair the dinosaur displays and provide information on how to upgrade their technology so they'll be even more convincing. He conveniently forgets to tell Sumdac that he plans on using them for prototype attack drones.

Meanwhile, at the Autobot base, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] is trying to teach Bulkhead how to control his strength. This, of course, ends with Bulkhead falling on Prowl. He then tries a new tactic and moves the training to an island in Lake Erie. This results in Bulkhead causing some trees to drop on Prowl.

At Dino Drive, Sumdac reveals his and Megatron's creations to the gathered press and Autobots—the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]]!

After a short display, Megatron takes control, and the Dinobots go on a rampage. As the Autobots fight them, Bulkhead tries to recreate Prowl's teaching, but to no effect other than falling into Prowl and knocking him flat on his back. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] then combine their powers to create an electromagnetic pulse to shut down the Dinobots, but Sari's key is somehow drawn to the creatures. She decides to help and plugs the key into Bumblebee. The blast intensifies, blowing the dinosaurs' skins off and revealing the robot bodies beneath. Professor Sumdac is confused as to why they malfunctioned and brings them back to his lab for maintenance.

At Sumdac's lab, Megatron becomes perplexed as to why the key activated, thinking it sensed something Cybertronian about the Dinobots. He dismisses this idea and curses the drones for being useless. Then something very surprising happens{{m-}}the ''Tyrannosaurus'' starts to talk, and the other dinosaurs begin to move. On top of that, Megatron finds he can't control them!

Megatron then surmises that the Autobots must have done something to them, declaring that, somehow, they have [[spark]]s of their own. The ''Tyrannosaurus'' then dubs himself "[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]]" and, without fail, Megatron declares that he is the Dinobots' leader. Grimlock doesn't approve of this concept and announces that ''he'' is the leader, and [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] and [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] seem to agree. The Tutor Bot activates, much to Megatron's annoyance, and explains how dinosaur fossils create fossil fuel, which powers cars and trucks. Grimlock takes this to mean cars and trucks "eat" dinosaurs and announces that cars and trucks are bad. Megatron takes advantage of their low intelligence and tells them to destroy the "fossil feeders", and, of course, that the only things worse than cars and trucks are "car robots". He shows them how to use one of their more destructive powers, [[fire-breath]], and they use it to destroy the Tutor Bot. Grimlock is pleased with this, but does not know how he did it. Megatron explains how he designed them, then tells them that the fossil feeders want them dead, so the Dinobots go to defend themselves.

As they start on their rampage, [[Captain Fanzone]] and assembled emergency crews try to stop them. Suddenly, Snarl whips a car with his tail, and Captain Fanzone's car becomes the first casualty of the Dinobots' war on the fossil feeders as the thrown car lands on it. Fanzone, not missing a beat, takes a bazooka and shoots Snarl in the face, but he just swallows the incoming missile.

The Autobots arrive and, at Bulkhead's suggestion, lure the Dinobots to a park in order to avoid any more collateral damage. As Grimlock sees them transform, he remembers something he'd forgotten: Car robots are worse than cars and trucks. Furious, he orders the Dinobots to attack. As the battle goes on, the Autobots are seriously outmatched, especially since Bulkhead is trying to "access the situation" before acting, as Prowl tried to teach him to do. Prowl, realizing their disadvantage, hollers for Bulkhead not to try and be like Prowl, but to be like ''Bulkhead''. Reassured, Bulkhead quickly drops Snarl and Swoop.

At the lab, Sumdac and Megatron are watching the events unfold on the news, and Sumdac is unable to comprehend why the Dinobots malfunctiooned again. Suddenly, the professor realizes that the fire-breath was part of Megatron's design specifications. Megatron feigns shame, claiming that he wanted a body again, so he experimented with the Dinobots by adding "features". Sumdac sympathizes with Megatron, promising not to tell the Autobots and to restore Megatron one day.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee and Ratchet are pinned down by Grimlock's fire-breath. Snarl and Swoop get up and join in, the heat melting the parking lot behind the two Autobots. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] remembers the tar lesson from Dino Drive, and Bulkhead throws all three Dinobots into the newly formed pool. The Dinobots use their flames in an attempt to free themselves from the "black, sticky stuff", but only make things worse for themselves.

The Dinobots are trapped with only their heads sticking out. Professor Sumdac promises to melt them down due to their unpredictableness and the danger they therefore pose. Optimus approves of this, but Prowl does not, feeling that they have shown they have minds and sparks of their own. When Sumdac returns the next morning, he finds the Dinobots have escaped from their tar prison.

On the [[Dinobot Island|deserted island]] where Prowl and Bulkhead trained, the Dinobots are freed into a large crater which houses a beautiful natural environment. Prowl and Bulkhead see how happy they are and decide to keep it their little secret. With that, Prowl sets a hologram up to keep them hidden and safe from the world.

After they leave, Grimlock dubs cars and trucks bad, but Nature good. Two birds promptly defecate on him, which makes him rethink his claim and dub Nature stupid. He orders the birds to come down and "fight like Dinobot" and spits out a flame at them, but they simply fly away. Furious, Grimlock suddenly activates another of Megatron's "features" and transforms! Snarl and Swoop stare in amazement as Grimlock draws a [[Energo-sword|giant, flaming sword]]. Grimlock like...

{{-}}

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Kevin Hopps]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]], [[Ben Jones]], & [[Kentaro Mizuno]]
*'''Original airdate:''' January 12, 2008

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s

|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (6)
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (9)
* [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (4)
* [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] (10)
* [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] (11)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
* [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (7)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
* [[Captain Fanzone]] (12)
* [[Isaac Sumdac]] (8)
* [[Sari Sumdac]] (1)

|}

==Quotes==
"Sorry I'm late, guys. Uh, did I miss anything?" 
"No, I'd say you hit just about every car in the lot."
:—'''Bulkhead''' can't seem to catch a break, certainly not from '''Bumblebee'''.

"Nice, Prowl. Maybe next you can teach an engine block to float."
:—'''Ratchet''' being a crotchety old goat

"This island will be the ideal place to train [[Bulkhead|you]]: quiet, peaceful, and nothing around for you to damage."
:-'''Prowl''', who is wrong

"The primitive materials available on this planet are useless. It will take countless solar cycles to create attack drones capable of ''my'' needs, and without more substantial robotics for my own body, my prospects are grim, locked in this prison of a lab." 
"Grim...lock...Grim...lock."
:—'''Megatron''' learns why '''Grimlock'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s name doesn't start with an "S".

"Me Grimlock." 
"Then listen well, Grimlock. I am Megatron, your leader." 
"[[Grimlock (G1)|Me Grimlock leader.]]"
:—'''Grimlock''' and '''Megatron'''. Some things never change.

"Bulkhead...what are you ''doing''?" 
"I'm doing what you do!" 
"...better idea! Do what ''you'' do!" 
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Bulkhead''' discuss strategy.

"You call breathing fire a glitch in the programming?!?"
:—'''Ratchet'''

"I should be more careful when I try to reverse-engineer alien technology."
:{{m-}}'''Isaac Sumdac's''' entry in the "Gee, You Think?" competition.

"Just because something's big and lumbering and destructive doesn't mean you give up on it." 
:—'''Prowl''' delivering the most backhanded compliment ever

"Me Grimlock...like."
:—'''Grimlock''' upon transforming. And the world trembled.

{{-}}

==Other notes==

===Animation errors===

*In one scene, Snarl's head is coloured grey instead of gold.

*Prowl removes his Autobot symbol because of its hologram emitter. However, in the next shot, he still has it.

===Transformers references===
*A far-off island that becomes a training ground for a lumbering warrior to hone his skills without causing collateral damage to the Autobots' base? Gee, [[Dinobot Island|that sure sounds familiar...]]

*After smashing into Snarl, Bulkhead cheerfully apologizes with "Excuse me!" in much the same way that ''Generation 1'' [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] did after stomping on a [[Quintesson]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

* Grimlock's line "Cars and trucks bad! Car Robots worse!!!" may be taken as a subtle jab at ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Transformers: RiD]]'', which was called ''Car Robots'' in Japan.

*Only two other anamatronic dinosaurs are seen in Dino Drive, a ''Stegosaurus'' and an unidentified sauropod. These may be references to [[Sludge]] and the original [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]. And/or potential future Dinobots.

*Grimlock's robot mode resembles his look in the Generation One series. However, in this series, he wields a flaming sword just like his G1 toy and depiction in several comic series including Transformers War Within.

*This is not the first series to use a tar pit to entrap the Dinobots. In the original G1 cartoon episode [[Dinobot Island, Part 1|"Dinobot Island,"]] Megatron used the island's residents to drive the Dinobots into a tar pit to get them out of the Decepticon's way. In the G1 Marvel comic series, the Decepticon Shockwave defeated the Dinobots by entombing them in tar (before falling in himself).

===Real-world references===
* The gate of Dino Drive is remarkably similar to the gate of Jurassic Park in the movie of the same name (and thus, by extension, to the gate from ''King Kong'', to which JP's design was an [[homage]]). Music reminiscent of the ''Jurassic Park'' theme can be heard during some of the Dino Drive scenes.

* Speaking of Jurassic Park, Grimlock's roar sound a lot like the one from the ''T. Rex'' in that movie.

* The droning sountrack that accompanies the Dinobots is similar in tone to the theme that accompanies the T-1000 in ''[[Wikipedia:Terminator 2: Judgment Day|Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''.

===Miscellaneous trivia===

* This marks the first time the Dinobots have been used in a ''Transformers'' TV series since Generation 1. There is much joy. Grimlock is particularly happy.

* Alas, the [[trademark]] on "Slag" could not be secured, so the Triceratops character is officially "Snarl", unlike the Generation 1 Dinobot Triceratops.

* The Dinobots' color schemes are lifted directly from the Generation 1 cartoon, with some minor variations. This is most obvious in Swoop's torso being blue, rather then the red featured in Generation 1 Swoop's comic and toy incarnations. The ''[[Diaclone]]'' version of [[Swoop (G1)|Generation 1 Swoop]]'s toy likewise had a blue chest, so this is possibly an homage, but is more likely coincidence.

* For the first time in a Transformers TV show, the Dinobots' alt modes match closely with how dinosaurs are depicted in the fossil record (no sluggishness, more mammal/bird-like, Grimlock bent over horizontally, no bowleggedness, etc.). There was still a lack of feathers before they were de-skinned, though. (However, since it's doubtful ''T. Rex''es had a feather covering like smaller therapods, and pterosaurs only had down, it's not really an issue)

*In this episode, Tutor Bot actually teaches Sari and the Autobots about dinosaurs and fossil fuels. He's back on form, however, when the pre-Transformer Grimlock squashes him.

* It seems somewhat odd (but not terribly surprising) that humanity has developed advanced robotics and such, but still uses fossil fuels in cars.

* According to Ratchet, the Transformer race is over 10 billion years old. Considering that the Earth as a planet is predicted to be only 4 billion years old, Ratchet may have meant 'million'.

*Tutor Bot makes statements of questionable factual accuracy in this episode:
**Despite what Tutor Bot says, fossil fuels are ''not'' made from dinosaur fossils. Fossil fuels are made from various [[wikipedia:Hydrocarbon|hydrocarbon]]s, which are mostly formed from plant matter that has long since settled in the Earth's crust. For more, see [[wikipedia:Fossil fuel|this]].
**Tutor Bot claims that the [[wikipedia:Jurassic|Jurassic]] era is over 200 million years old. It lasted from circa 199.6 million years ago to 145.4 million years ago.
**Tutor Bot claims that many of the creatures lived during the Jurassic period, but ''Tyrannosaurus'', ''Triceratops'' and the pterosaur ''Pteranodon'' hail from the Late [[wikipedia:Cretaceous|Cretaceous]], not the Jurassic. The only dinosaurs actually from that time period are the ''Stegosaurus'' and the sauropod mentioned above. This makes Tutor Bot blind, vague, or incapable of teaching about dinosaurs, fossil fuels, and (depending on how literally you take him) basic math. The fact that Professor Sumdac continues to fix him is almost amazing.

[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>