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Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)

2010-06-12T20:21:47Z

173.61.13.61: /* Beast Wars Special */

{{Nav-bwii}}
'''''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers''''' (ビーストウォーズII 超生命体トランスフォーマー ''Beast Wars II: Chō Seimeitai Transformer'') is a Japanese-exclusive spin-off series to ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' broadcast from [[April 1]], 1998, to [[January 20]], 1999, between ''Beast Wars'' (American season 1) and ''[[Beast Wars Metals (franchise)|Beast Wars Metals]]'' (American seasons 2 and 3). Conventional 2D animation was used for ''Beast Wars II'', as opposed to the 3D CGI of ''Beast Wars''. While based on the ''Beast Wars'' series, the show had a more humorous tone which was aimed towards a younger audience. "[[Get My Future|GET MY FUTURE]]" plays as the first opening song with "[[Super Voyager|SUPER VOYAGER]]" as its second, and the ending song being "[[Yume no Iru Basho]]".

==Overview==
{{stub}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
'''Main Cast'''
*[[Lio Convoy]] ([[Hozumi Gōda]])
*[[Apache]] ([[Sanryō Odaka]])
*[[Bighorn]] ([[Masami Iwasaki]])
*[[Tasmania Kid]] ([[Katashi Ishizuka]])
*[[Diver (BWII)|Diver]] ([[Kenji Nakano]])
*[[Scuba]] ([[Yūji Kishi]])

'''[[Insectron]]s'''
*[[Bigmos]] ([[Takeshi Watanabe]])
*[[Powerhug (BWII)|Powerhug]] ([[Takashi Matsuyama]])
*[[Tonbot]] ([[Kenichirō Tanabe]])
*[[Mantis]] ([[Hiroki Takahashi]])
*[[Drill Nuts]] ([[Yūji Kishi]])
*[[Scissor Boy]] ([[Norihisa Mori]])

'''[[Jointron]] Bros.'''
*[[Tripledacus]] ([[Ryō Naitō]])
**[[DJ (BWII)|DJ]] ([[Ryō Naitō]])
**[[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]] ([[Daisuke Ishikawa]])
**[[Gimlet]] ([[Takeshi Maeda]])

'''Magnaboss Team'''
*[[Magnaboss II|Magnaboss]]
**[[Lio Junior]] ([[Yumiko Kobayashi]])
**[[Skywarp (BWII)|Skywarp]] ([[Mantarō Iwao]])
**[[Santon]] ([[Hiroaki Harakawa]])

'''Other'''
*[[Ikard]] ([[Ryō Naitō]])

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s|c2=
'''Main Cast'''
*[[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] ([[Tetsuo Komura]])

*'''[[Cyborg Beast]]s'''
**[[Megastorm|Megastorm/Gigastorm]] ([[Takashi Matsuyama]])
**'''[[Combatron (BWII)|Combatrons]]
***[[Starscream (BWII)|Starscream/Hellscream]] ([[Hiroki Takahashi]])
***[[BB|BB/Max-B]] ([[Takeshi Watanabe]])
***[[Dirge (BWII)|Dirge/Dirgegun]] ([[Eiji Takemoto]])
***[[Thrust (BWII)|Thrust/Thrustor]] ([[Junji Sanechika]])

'''[[Autoroller]]s'''
*[[Autostinger]] ([[Tadashi Miyazawa]])
*[[Autocrasher|Autocrusher]] ([[Hitoshi Bifu]])
*[[Autojetter]] ([[Kōhei Kowada]])
*[[Autolauncher]] ([[Hiroki Takahashi]])

'''[[Seacon (BWII)|Seacon Space Pirates]]'''
*[[God Neptune]] ([[Kazuhiko Nishimatsu]])
**[[Halfshell]] ([[Kazuhiko Nishimatsu]])
**[[Sea Phantom]] ([[Hiroaki Ichinowatari]])
**[[Terrormander]] ([[Hitoshi Bifu]])
**[[Coelagon]] ([[Tadashi Miyazawa]])
**[[Scylla]] ([[Miwa Matsumoto]])

|c4=
'''[[Moon (moon)|Moon]]'''
*[[Artemis]] ([[Chieko Higuchi]])
*[[Moon (BWII)|Moon]] ([[Junko Takeuchi]])

'''Computer'''

*[[NAVI-chan]] ([[Haruhi Terada]])

'''Clone'''
*[[Black Lio Convoy]] (?)

'''Movie Exclusive'''
*[[Majin Zarak]]
*[[Optimus Primal]] ([[Takehito Koyasu]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

==Episodes==
{{see|List of Beast Wars II episodes}}
[[Image:Bw2 credits.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Beast Wars II: Electric Boogaloo]]
{{collist|2|
#[[The New Forces Arrive!]]
#[[White Lion, Run!]]
#[[Bighorn's Rage]]
#[[The Lake Trap]]
#[[Galvatron Revived]]
#[[Mystery of the Ancient Ruins]]
#[[The Insect Corps Arrive]]
#[[The Insect Robos—Friend or Foe?]]
#[[The Strongest Tag Team?]]
#[[Autorollers Roll Out!]]
#[[Danger, Scissor Boy!]]
#[[Galvatron Rampages]]
#[[Predacon General Offensive!]]
#[[The Combined Giant, Tripledacus]]
#[[The Festive Jointrons]]
#[[A Fearsome Combination Plan?]]
#[[Who Is the Leader!?]]
#[[The Black Lio Convoy]]
#[[The Space Pirate Seacons!]]
#[[Who Is the Strongest Warrior!?]]
#[[The Tentacular Scuba]]
#[[Megastorm's Reckoning]]
#[[Underwater Showdown]]
#[[Face the Setting Sun]]
#[[The Final Battle (BWII)|The Final Battle]]
#[[Enter Lio Junior]]
#[[Megastorm Reborn]]
#[[The New Weapon, Tako Tank]]
#[[The Artificial Planet Nemesis]]
#[[Gigastorm's Treachery]]
#[[The End of Starscream]]
#[[The Lio Convoy Assassination Plot]]
#[[The Great Angolmois Freezing Tactic]]
#[[Knock Out Nemesis]]
#[[Lio Junior's Revolt!]]
#[[Emissary of the Fourth Planet]]
#[[The Crisis of Planet Gaea]]
#[[Fly Out! Planet Gaea]]
#[[Assemble, Thirty-Nine Warriors]]
#[[Revenge of the Space Pirates]]
#[[Breaking into Nemesis]]
#[[Legend! The Green Warrior]]
#[[Farewell, Lio Convoy!]]
}}

==Home video releases==
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 1 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 2 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 3 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 4 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 5 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 6 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 7 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 8 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 9 (1998)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 10 (1999)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 11 (1999)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 12 (1999)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 13 (1999)
*''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — ACT. 14 (1999)
{{-}}

==''Beast Wars Special''==
An additional animated short, "[[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!]]", was produced for the ''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'' theatrical movie. Its events take place between episodes 32 and 38.

==External links==
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%93%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BAII_%E8%B6%85%E7%94%9F%E5%91%BD%E4%BD%93%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC ''Beast Wars II'' on the Japanese Wikipedia]

[[Category:Beast Wars II]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Transformers: Energon (cartoon)

2010-06-07T03:14:49Z

173.61.13.61:

{{nav-energon}}
[[Image:TransEnergonTitle.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Bringing you pain for far too long.]]

The '''''Energon''''' cartoon series was produced by [[Actas Inc.]] and [[Studio A-CAT]]. It aired in the US from January 2004 to June 2005 for <strike>52</strike> 51 episodes, in support of the toyline of the same name. It is a direct sequel to ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' and forms the second part of the "[[Unicron Trilogy]]".

The show takes place ten years after the finale of ''Armada'', opening in an age of peace on Cybertron and Earth which is destined not to last long. ''Energon'' pits the Autobots against an array of villains: the reborn [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], the barely functional [[Unicron]], and the mysterious [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] minions.

''Energon'', like ''Armada'', was written and animated in Japan and dubbed for US consumption. The series introduced to Transformers cartoons the technique of combining cel-shaded [[Computer-generated imagery|computer animation]] with 2D cel-animation, creating a fusion between the CGI of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''/''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Machines]]'' and traditionally animated series such as ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]''.

For ''Super Link'', "[[Taiyō no Transform!!]]" plays as its opening [[Japanese themes|theme]] and "[[Calling You]]" for its ending theme.

:''Preceded by: [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]''
:''Followed by: [[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]''

==Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
'''Main Cast'''

* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] ([[Brent Miller]])
* [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno/Roadblock]] ([[Michael Daingerfield]])
* [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] ([[Matt Hill]])
* [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
* [[Wing Saber]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
* [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] (Scott McNeil)

'''Team Rodimus'''

* [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
* [[Prowl (Energon)|Prowl]] ([[Alistair Abell]])
* [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] ([[Ward Perry]])

'''Team Bulkhead'''

* [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] ([[French Tickner]])
* [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Doron Bell Jr.]])
* [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] ([[Ty Olsson]])

'''Omnicons'''

* [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] ([[Sharon Alexander]])
* [[Signal Flare (Energon)|Signal Flare]] ([[Michael Dobson]])
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] ([[Terry Klassen]])
* [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (Scott McNeil)

'''Combiner teams'''

*[[Air Team]]
** [[Superion Maximus]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
** [[Storm Jet (Energon)|Storm Jet]]
** [[Sky Shadow (Energon)|Sky Shadow]]
** [[Terradive (Energon)|Terradive]]
** [[Treadshot (Energon)|Treadshot]]
** [[Windrazor (Energon)|Windrazor]]

'''Others'''
* [[Padlock]] ([[Ron Halder]])
* [[Autobot nurse]]s (?)
* [[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys]] ([[Tony Sampson]])

|c2=
'''Main Cast'''

* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron/Galvatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
* [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus/Snow Cat]] ([[Don Brown]])
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] ([[Alvin Sanders]])
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] ([[Michael Dobson]])
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave/Mirage]] ([[Doug Parker]])
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] ([[Brian Drummond]])
* [[Six Shot]] ([[Terry Klassen]])

'''Combiner teams'''

* [[Construction Team]]
** [[Constructicon Maximus]] (Don Brown)
** [[Steamhammer (Energon)|Steamhammer]]
** [[Bonecrusher (Energon)|Bonecrusher]]
** [[Duststorm]]
** [[Sledge (Energon)|Sledge]]
** [[Wideload (Energon)|Wideload]]

* [[Destruction Team]]
** [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]] ([[Trevor Devall]])
** [[Barricade (Energon)|Barricade]]
** [[Blackout (combiner)|Blackout]]
** [[Blight (Energon)|Blight]]
** [[Kickback (Energon)|Kickback]]
** [[Stormcloud (Energon)|Stormcloud]]

|c3=
'''Regulars'''
* [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] ([[Brad Swaile]])
* [[Misha Miramond]] ([[Ellen Kennedy]])
* [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Brian Jones]] ([[Ron Halder]])
* [[Alexis]] ([[Tabitha St. Germain]])
* [[Carlos Lopez]] ([[Matt Hill]])
* [[Miranda Jones]] ([[Nicole Oliver]])
* [[Rad White]] ([[Kirby Morrow]])
* [[Sally Jones]] (Nicole Oliver)

|c4=
* [[Alpha Quintesson]] ([[Trevor Devall]])
* [[Primus]] ([[Ron Halder]])
* [[Unicron]] ([[Mark Acheson]])

'''Terrorcons'''

* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
* [[Battle Ravage]]/[[Command Ravage]]
* [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]]/[[Blackout (Terrorcon)|Blackout]]
* [[Cruellock]]
* [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticon]]
|nonumbering=true
}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Energon episodes}}

{{collist|4|
#[[Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City]]
#[[Energon Stars]]
#[[Scorpinok]]
#[[Megatron's Sword]]
#[[The New Cybertron City]]
#[[Megatron Resurrected]]
#[[Megatron Raid]]
#[[Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary]]
#[[Battle of the Asteroid Belt]]
#[[Energon Tower (episode)|Energon Tower]]
#[[The Legend of Rodimus]]
#[[Crisis in Jungle City]]
#[[Kicker Beware!]]
#[[Energon Grid]]
#[[Rodimus: Friend or Foe?]]
#[[Go for Unicron!]]
#[[The Return of Demolishor]]
#[[A Tale of Two Heros]]
#[[Battle Stations]]
#[[Alpha Q: Identity]]
#[[Shockblast: Rampage]]
#[[Survival Instincts]]
#[[Each One Fights...]]
#[[Unicron Unleashed]]
#[[Open Fire!]]
#[[Ripped Up Space]]
#[[Team Optimus Prime]]
#[[Protection]]
#[[Imprisoned Inferno|Improsoned Inferno]]
#[[Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet]]
#[[Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead]]
#[[Farewell Inferno]] [[Return! Our Scorponok]]
#[[Crash Course]]
#[[Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme]]
#[[A Heroic Battle]]
#[[The Power]]
#[[Optimus Supreme]]
#[[Unicron Perishes]]
#[[Ambition]]
#[[Wishes]]
#[[Galvatron!]]
#[[Break Through]]
#[[Distribution]]
#[[The Omega Train]]
#[[Decepticon Army|Deception Army]]
#[[Ironhide Team]]
#[[Formidable]]
#[[Galvatron Terror]]
#[[Destructive Power]]
#[[Spark (episode)|Spark]]
#[[The Sun]]
}}
"Return! Our Scorponok" was to be "Scorponok's Scars", but it never aired and was probably never dubbed. It is not considered to exist in the English version of the series.

==Criticisms==
{{bigquote|Something cool ''finally'' happened!|[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] announces that the series is over.<ref>No, really! In every preview for ''Super Link'', Alpha Q promised the audience that "Something cool might happen" in the next episode. When the series ended, he finally declared that the promised coolness had, at last, come to pass. He might be crazy, but he's not ''entirely'' wrong in the head.</ref>}}

The [[Unicron Trilogy]] was a franchise that got off to a poor start, fictionally speaking. ''Armada'' (the predecessor to ''Energon'') suffered from a bad beginning that, in the eyes of many, condemned the entire show. Although it improved as it went along (with the "Unicron Battles" story arc regarded as fairly good in comparison), the sub-par start left it laboring under a bad reputation that it never escaped. Many fans had hopes that ''Energon'' would be a return to glory.

It was quite the proverbial [[brick]] to the testicles, then, that ''Energon'', the televisual representation of Transformers for its 20th anniversary year, turned out to be just the opposite — a series with a strong beginning, which slowly but surely degenerated into what is widely considered the worst Transformers cartoon broadcast in the U.S. In retrospect, the fans' positive initial reaction may have been simply because it wasn't ''Armada.''

===Conceptual and storytelling flaws===
====Plotting====
The primary flaw of ''Energon'' is that it simply does not have enough plot to fill 52 episodes. The first half of the series moves at a respectable pace, and around episode #20, the villains achieve their objective — the restoration of Unicron. However, because there are another 30 episodes to fill, an attack by the Autobots and their allies [[Battle Stations|deactivates Unicron]]. The storyline is then essentially ''repeated'' for twenty more episodes, until Unicron is reactivated ''again'' and [[Unicron Perishes|destroyed ''again'']]. But even then, there are ''still'' thirteen more episodes to go, and with the ''driving aspect of the plot'' destroyed, viewers are served up a virtually pointless storyline full of [[To sell toys|repaints and combiners]], which added nothing to what had already taken place.

Individual episodes are likewise padded out with time-killing scenes such as [[stock footage]] sequences, generally a minimum of three per episode. An ''incredible'' amount of time is consumed in communication and report scenes, in which the characters stand around in front of video screens and [[Team Optimus Prime|tell one another things that the viewers already know]].

====Character de-evolution====
The series takes a ''very'' dismissive attitude towards characters and their development. With the exception of [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (who survives the series and resolves his long-running feud with [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]), the writers seemed unable to carry personal sub-plots and conflicts through to any conclusion. Instead, they would either quietly drop these opportunities for character development, or (much more gallingly) the characters would die and/or get mindwiped, so the stories would not ''have'' to be resolved. Examples:

* Demolishor's uncertainty in the Decepticon cause? "Resolved" by having him sacrifice himself to save Megatron, then having Megatron resurrect him with no memories.
* Inferno's struggle against Megatron's Decepticon programming? Brought to an end by having him kill himself, then be resurrected, only to do ''absolutely nothing'' for the rest of the series.
* Kicker's hatred of Transformers? Vanishes with no explanation after roughly two episodes, save for the occasional kick to Ironhide.
* Rodimus and Optimus Prime's ideological feud over whether Unicron should be destroyed? Rodimus puts himself under Optimus's command for the mission to defeat Galvatron, and the argument never comes up again.
* Wing Saber's dedication to capturing Shockblast? Well, he captures him . . . but when Shockblast escapes again, Wing Saber doesn't say a word.

Many similar examples exist.

====Promoting toys====
Of course, any Transformers series exists [[to sell toys]], but in promoting the abilities and gimmicks of its toyline, ''Energon'' frequently ignored common sense to the most amazing degree in order to shoehorn these concepts into a setting and story where they didn't make sense.

[[Image:Carsinspace.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Their wheels spin and everything.]]
In choosing to set most of its action in the void of space, ''Energon'' foolishly robbed the Transformers of any real reason to ''transform.'' They can all happily fly in robot mode (in space, on planets, anywhere), inviting the question of why transformation is necessary. But, to promote the fact that the toys transform, characters would routinely change to vehicle mode anyway, even in outer space. Cue innumerable scenes of cars, trucks, and snowmobiles ''driving through space.'' Characters would even transform to vehicle mode on the ground, and then ''drive away into the air''. Everyone could control their flight with no problem in either form, completely invalidating the need for any variety in [[alternate mode]]. Conversely, on occasions when it might actually make sense to transform to a speedy vehicle form for fast or long-distance travel, characters often choose to run to where they're going instead.

Whereas the English version of the series takes its name from the central plot element (the collection of Energon) the Japanese version, ''Super Link,'' takes its name from the main thematic concept/[[gimmick]]: Autobots [[Powerlinx|powerlinxing]]. The Japanese version of the show contained a lot of waffling about the symbolic nature of this ("Even when one heart is weak, together, we are strong!"). Unfortunately, the fact remains that, almost without exception, these combinations are used in straight firefights, where combining two soldiers into one means ''fewer guns to fire at the enemy.'' Further, the resulting combined soldier rarely shows any sign of enhanced firepower.

Further failing to advertise the combining gimmick are the "Maximus" combiner teams. For about 90% of their screen time, the three giants are seen in ''only'' their combined super robot modes, rarely splitting into individual vehicles. The central torso units are seen as individual robots for perhaps 5 seconds in the entire series, and the show doesn't even acknowledge that the limbs could ''be'' individuals.

===Production flaws===
====Art and animation====

[[Image:Scorponok blacklines.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Rescale what now?]]
''Energon'', animated by [[Actas Inc.]] and [[Studio A-CAT]], introduced a new concept to Transformers cartoons: the blending of CGI with traditional cel animation. The animators rendered the Transformer characters in cel-shaded CGI, while animating humans and other aspects of the show through traditional means. On the plus side, this allowed for a consistently high level of cel animation quality (especially enjoyable after the often scattershot quality of ''Armada''). In particular, the show uses the CGI to show many characters in motion at once, often with a high frame rate that gives them a very fluid appearance (for example, the many charges of the [[Battle Ravage]] Terrorcon drones, replete with numerous stamping legs and bobbing heads and tails.)

On the other hand, the CGI animation is positively primitive. Characters possess no sense of weight and can not move in any manner but the most basic. Even ''walking'' is a challenge for characters with bulky models, like Ironhide, who is often reduced to swinging his arms and legs back and forth while sliding along a predetermined path. The black-line outlines of character models were often not rescaled for different shots, resulting in the characters sometimes appearing as indecipherable masses of heavy black lines.

[[Image:GuessIronhidesEmotion.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The above images feature: A horrified Ironhide witnessing Demolishor's death; a surprised Ironhide asking a question; a determined Ironhide charging into battle; and a fighting-mad Ironhide striking a decisive blow. Can you figure out which is which?]]
[[Image:Energon InfernoImprisoned torture.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Are you @&#%$ kidding me?!]]

Additionally, "emotion" is nonexistent; the blank-faced CGI models could not easily display any [[Dull surprise|facial expressions beyond "mouth open" and "mouth closed."]] Numerous characters don't ''have'' facial animation, even ones with mouths. Most prominent among these is Alpha Q, who has ''no facial animation at all'' despite the fact that he's basically nothing but four faces. In some cases, when it was necessary for a character to emote visibly (Megatron's pronounced yawning, Inferno's [[Imprisoned Inferno|tortured screaming]]), or to do something visually dynamic ([[Jungle Planet (episode)|acrobatic transformation]]), the CGI would actually be ''replaced'' with cel animation, because it just ''looked more impressive''. Does that seem ''right'' to you?

In addition, the show's CGI compares very poorly with ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines,'' both of which came out ''years'' previously, both of which were ''fully'' CGI (without the crutch of cel animation to fall back on), and both of which had characters who boasted complex, nuanced facial expressions and fluid, constant body language — even [[Diagnostic Drone|the ones with utterly inhuman faces and bodies]]. The only way to spare the animators' reputation is to assume that Energon's budget was miniscule in comparison.

Even within the limits of the animation, many bad editing, design, and lighting choices make the series difficult to follow visually. Unicron's body — primarily black, to match his ''Energon'' redeco toy — is frequently lost against the blackness of space. When Alpha Q energizes Unicron's head, it becomes the [[Energon Orb]], with no visual indication as to what it used to be. Scenes set underground or within Unicron's body are commonly underlit, to the point that the characters can't even be distinguished. Strange elements such as the [[Rift (Energon)|rift in space]] are inconsistently animated and described by the characters, making it difficult to figure out what they are.

====Editing====
At times, ''Energon'' tends to flow like a single feature-length film... a film that has been mercilessly chopped up into 22 minute segments. Thus, confusing, unclear elements like the [[Rift (Energon)|rift in space]] and [[Unicron]]'s dark, partially re-energized body are routinely shown in closeup without any introductory establishing shots, making it extraordinarily unclear what's happening or where for the viewer who's just watching one particular episode by itself. To be a ''little'' bit fairer, this "chopped-up film" sensation is not exactly uncommon in Japanese animated series with a defined length, but ''Energon'' is a good example of the method at its very worst.

The show's scene editing also tends to be very abrupt and choppy. Battle animation in particular routinely cuts between numerous, very short scenes, showing several simultaneous but unrelated events as if the viewer must be kept up to date on ''all'' of them in real time. This makes it difficult to grasp the significance of ''any'' of the events shown. When boiled down, this editing style often serves to mask the fact that not much is actually happening.

To make things worse for the credibility of the editors, "[[Scorpinok]]", "[[A Tale of Two Heros]]", "[[Imprisoned Inferno|Improsoned Inferno]]", and "[[Decepticon Army|Deception Army]]" all have blatant spelling errors '''''in the titles!''''' Making it more annoying is that only the latter two of those four were corrected for the DVD release.

====Scripting and dubbing====
The original Japanese version of the show is, in short, sluggish and confusing... but at least the conversations make sense. Even that got lost when the show was ported for North American consumption.

The dub of ''Energon'' seems even ''more'' rushed than ''Armada,'' which was already known for being so hurried that dubbers were working with unfinished animation, got names wrong, and had moments of dialogue that didn't jibe with the action. ''Energon'' [[Battle of the Asteroid Belt|generally]] got completed animation, and ''usually'' got names right—but [[Misha Miramond|Misha]] gets three different names during the course of the show, and [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] are constantly confused.

The rushed dub script is full of mistranslations. Though some elements obviously needed to be altered to suit a Western audience, it seems that many portions of the dub were never checked to see if they made logical sense. As a result, the script is stilted, perfunctory, and repetitive, constantly throwing in cliche, time-killing phrases like "We've gotta [repeat the plot which everyone already knows]", "Let's do it!", and "It's time to [perform some action that's already blatantly obvious]". There is arbitrary new dialogue (that seems to exist purely due to writers' carelessness) which ''does not match what is occurring onscreen''. The final result is a show with some bizarre non-sequiturs and more than a few moments of ''genuine nonsense.''

To cite just one example: at the start of "[[Team Optimus Prime]]", Dr. Jones says, in a frustrated tone, "I ''can't'' get back the energon I sent to Kicker. That's ''impossible!''" The entire notion of "getting it back" is absurd on the surface, akin to trying to get back water that went down a drain; saying that not getting it back is ''impossible'' is even more ridiculous; and further, the original dialog is a passive lament, more along the lines of "It's not like that energon I sent is ever coming back." Similar examples exist in nearly every single episode of the show.

Outside of these accidents, there are also some strange ''deliberate'' changes, chief among them the tendency for [[Primus]] to be intermittently ignored. In one episode, Primus would be dubbed accurately, talking with other characters normally, while in the next, he would be deliberately edited out, with his lines erased or given to other characters, and references to him replaced with "the core". Other odd instances include Terrorcon drones having spoken lines randomly inserted in some scenes, never attributed to any one Terrorcon.

Given all of this, the quality of voice acting frequently suffers throughout the show. This can be a common result of the antiseptic [[ADR]] (Additional Dialogue Recording) environment, where actors perform solo, with no one to play off. But ''Energon'' is particularly bad in this regard. Lead talents such as [[Garry Chalk]] and [[David Kaye]] still turn in strong performances, but actors for many of the secondary characters clearly struggle to make something of the material they're given, often sounding flat and uninspired, or just confused. There are many times when ''all'' the actors clearly have no idea what their lines mean in the greater scheme of things, nor any idea of what they're really talking about; the Dr. Jones quote cited above is also an example of this problem.

There's also a pronounced amount of "filling dead air," with characters talking from offscreen simply to make noise where there was none originally. Take a drink every time someone goes "Uhh?" to break the silence, and you'll be hammered by the first commercial break.

{{bigquote|I really wish they would put this terrible series out on DVD. Not because I really want to watch it again, but because it would fill that unsightly gap between Armada and Cybertron with unsightly content.|The nicest words ever spoken about the Energon cartoon, [http://tinyurl.com/5tuucc "Gustavo!", August 2008]}}

==Home video releases==
===''Super Link''===
{{main|Interchannel}}
The ''Super Link'' version of ''Energon'' was released on DVD by Interchannel in [[Japan]] while the series was still on air.
[[Image:Tf superlink vol 01.jpg|thumb|150px|]]
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 001 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 002 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 003 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 004 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 005 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 006 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 007 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 008 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 009 (2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 010 (2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 011 (2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 012 (2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 013 (2005)
{{-}}

===''Energon''===
[[Image:Energon Ultimate Collection DVD.jpg|thumb|100px|]]
{{main|Paramount Pictures}}
When Paramount Home Entertainment released a handful of ''Energon'' collections on VHS and DVD in 2004 and 2005, several episodes were re-dubbed to fix numerous mistakes that occurred in the episodes that were broadcast, as well as throwing in some new dialogue.
*''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 1: The Battle for Energon (2004)
*''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 2: The Return of Megatron (2004)
*''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 3: Shockblast Unleashed (2005)
*''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 4: Omega Supreme (2005)
*''Transformers: Energon'' — The Ultimate Collection (2008)
{{-}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC_%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%91%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AF ''Transformers: Super Link'' at the Japanese Wikipedia]

[[Category:Energon| Energon (cartoon)]]
[[Category:Television series]]

User talk:Fortress Minimus

2010-06-05T23:30:14Z

173.61.13.61:

Hey, the Energon screen caps you uploaded are stretched horizontally. Can you please correct the aspect ratio? --[[User:Abates|abates]] 18:09, 29 April 2010 (EDT)
* The caps I got were in widescreen format; I've cropped them to a more sensible size. Hope that works. [[User:Fortress Minimus|Fortress Minimus]] 08:04, 30 April 2010 (EDT)
::Awesome, thanks! --[[User:Abates|abates]] 08:06, 30 April 2010 (EDT)

:::Is it just me or are [[:Image:Energon-Cruellock-1st-Appearance.jpg|these]] [[:Image:Energon-Demolishor-New-Body.jpg|screencaps]] incredibly tiny? --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 15:22, 1 May 2010 (EDT)
::::They look fine to me... [[User:Fortress Minimus|Fortress Minimus]] 15:24, 1 May 2010 (EDT)
:::::Perhaps you don't realize, but you don't need to actually make the screencap the size it needs to be in order to appear on the article page. You can make it big, and then use "thumb" (not "frame", the way you are) to shrink it down to size on the article. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 16:54, 1 May 2010 (EDT)
::::::I actually did not realise that. Thanks for the tip!
::::::And, I have to say, you guys are all being really helpful and friendly. Thanks a lot -- [[User:Fortress Minimus|Fortress Minimus]] 17:08, 2 May 2010 (EDT)
:::::::Happy to help! Gotta ask, though - what program are you using to make these Energon caps? Because they're still coming out stretched - compare [http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/archive/1/11/20100503212053!Energon-Demolishor-VS-Inferno.jpg your upload] with the [[:Image:Energon-Demolishor-VS-Inferno.jpg|new version]] I've just replaced it with. Your caps aren't even full-screen sized - they're stretched horizontally, and yet they're still taller than they are wide. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 17:24, 3 May 2010 (EDT)
::::::::Because I'm a filthy cheapskate, I watch the episodes on YouTube and take the caps using the PrtScr button, then I crop them into squares using GIMP. I would like to improve; do you use a particular program, or it just that you got that shot from a DVD? --[[User:Fortress Minimus|Fortress Minimus]] 17:34, 3 May 2010 (EDT)
:::::::::That's from a DVD, but don't worry, I'm a cheapskate when it comes to Energon as well, I just borrowed them from a friend. ;) These YouTube caps definitely need to have their aspect ratio changed, though, which you can do with most image-editing programs. I use Photoshop personally. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 18:25, 3 May 2010 (EDT)
::::::::::OK, I've got my resize fu down, but I figured that to be on the safe side I'd run my latest batch by you before uploading. If you have a minute, could you have a look at these: [http://s801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/FortMin/?action=view&current=E20_titlecard.jpg] [http://s801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/FortMin/?action=view&current=Energon-Alpha-Q-Palace.jpg] [http://s801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/FortMin/?action=view&current=Energon-Megatron-Resurrection-Hand-.jpg] [http://s801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/FortMin/?action=view&current=Energon-Prowl-And-Landmine-Cockpit.jpg] [http://s801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/FortMin/?action=view&current=Energon-Shockwave-Prison.jpg]? Much obliged. --[[User:Fortress Minimus|Fortress Minimus]] 18:11, 4 May 2010 (EDT)
:::::::::::Now you're cooking, sir! - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 18:45, 4 May 2010 (EDT)
::::::::::::Excellent! I'll be sure to do it right from now on. And once again, thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. --[[User:Fortress Minimus|Fortress Minimus]] 08:04, 5 May 2010 (EDT)
:::::::::::::Also, don't forget a period at the end of the description's sentence. --[[User:Lonegamer78|Lonegamer78]] 14:05, 5 May 2010 (EDT)

after the last episode, are you going to go back and add screencaps for episodes 13 - 17? 13 and 14 have no pictures at all, 15/16/17 have no title cards

Cybertron City (episode)

2010-06-04T00:39:39Z

173.61.13.61:

{{disambig2|the first episode of the Energon cartoon|the Autobot bases in the Energon cartoon|Cybertron City (city)}}
{{episode|
|series=Energon
|ep=1
|next=Energon Stars
|title=Cybertron City
|japanese=浮上! オーシャンシティ
|romaji=Fujō! Ocean City
|translation=Arise! Ocean City
|image=E1_titlecard.jpg
|caption=
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Yutaka Satō]], [[Jun Kawagoe]]
|animation studio=[[Actas Inc.|Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[January 9|9 January]] 2004 (Japanese) [[January 31]], 2004 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''Ten years after the defeat of Unicron, a new threat arises...'''

==Synopsis==
Deep within the shattered remains of the giant Transformer Unicron, Alpha Q—one of Unicron's many victims—is resurrected, to gather energon to revive Unicron. Alpha Q releases a horde of [[energon (Energon)|energon]]-eating [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]]s, which will scavenge [[Earth]]'s abundant supplies of the power source.

[[Image:Energon Ocean City rises.jpg|thumb|left|230px|We built this city on rock and roll!]]As [[Ocean City]] and bridge rise and unfold from one of Earth's oceans, Demolishor narrates: it has been ten years since Megatron and Unicron disappeared in the depths of space. He and the other surviving [[Decepticon]]s have had to suffer through working with the [[Autobot]]s and [[human]]s in search of energon, and he's ''not'' happy about it.

The city has surfaced so that the human known as Kicker can go out on his motorbike and get some fresh air, much to Demolishor's consternation. Hot Shot shows up too, and berates Demolishor for neglecting his work before running off in pursuit of the wayward Kicker. Kicker's tired of being cooped up in the submerged city and taking orders from 'bots. Suddenly, his hair flashes golden.

Below the waves, the [[Omnicon]]s are hard at work mining; they suddenly hit a golden glowing seam.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Rad pays a visit to Earth's [[Extraterrestrial Research and Development Center]], where he communicates briefly with Sally. Rad tells Kicker's father, Dr. Jones, that the Omnicons have hit a big vein of energon right where Dr. Jones predicted. Energon is a clean energy source, needed to get Earth through an energy crisis, as well as the Transformers' requirements for the repair of Cybertron.
[[Image:Cybertron City Optimus and Ironhide train.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Primedouken!]]
On an asteroid colony, two 'bots give the stoic Tidal Wave a hard time about his terminal silence. Suddenly, a barrage of lights from the depths of space pound the colony, as the Terrorcon drones attack.

In a training arena, Ironhide spars with Optimus Prime, and is ready to go again despite getting put down. Optimus comments that the young 'bot reminds him a lot of Hot Shot, which Ironhide regards as about the best compliment ever.

Rad and Dr. Jones report the attack to Optimus, telling him that their [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] depot is under attack, as reported by Carlos. Prime speaks with [[Primus|a great glowing light]] about the strange development. Prime rounds up Jetfire and Inferno to check out the situation, and Ironhide insists on coming too. Rad activates a [[space bridge]] gate, and the four Autobots roll out.

Arriving on Mars, the four find the smoking ruins of [[Mars City|the planet's Cybertron city]]. The team detects no life, even though there were many Transformers working there. They quickly head to Earth.

[[Image:E01 shinjiface.jpg|left|230px|thumb|This is my "Shinji" face.]]
At Ocean City, Sally and her mom observe the Omnicons' energon research, and squabble with Kicker. Kicker recalls arriving on planet Cybertron as a very young boy with his father, and meeting the gargantuan and rather terrifying Autobots. Present-day Kicker grumbles that he doesn't need any [[Transformer]]s to protect him.

Carlos reports that the Mars base was destroyed by asteroids. Kicker urgently tells Hot Shot that they're under attack, and he must submerge the city. He and Hot Shot race outside.

[[Image:E01 hentai iminent.jpg|right|230px|thumb|'''Finding God:''' Yer doing it wrong!]]
:''Optimus Prime searches for young Kicker, who, driven by his robot hatred, has run away and hidden in a restricted zone. Falling into a void, Kicker is snared by a glowing light. The voice of Primus speaks, wondering what energy source powers humans.''

And thus began Kicker's strange powers.

Hot Shot and Kicker observe as a huge swarm of Terrorcons appear in the sky, opening fire. Hot Shot returns fire. Demolishor soon finds himself against a pile of the creatures. The timely arrival of Optimus's crew saves Kicker from another group. Prime unleashes his [[Prime Force]] drones, then gives Hot Shot a [[Spark of Combination]], allowing him to [[Powerlinx]] with Inferno. Prime merges with his drones, and blows away ton of the Terrorcons.

Kicker leaps aboard Ironhide and makes good use of his cannon, but ultimately has to be saved by Prime, who grants him a suit from his father to protect him. Kicker is furious—this is his planet and nobody can tell him what to do!

Alpha Q observes that the first attack was a failure, but there are many hands yet to be played.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (7)
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] (8)
* [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (9)
* [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (14)
* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (15)
* [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (16)
* [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] (17)

|c2=
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (4)
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Kicker Jones]] (5)
* [[Rad White]] (10)
* [[Sally Jones]] (11)
* [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]] (12)
* [[Carlos Lopez]] (18)
* [[Miranda Jones]] (20)
* [[Alexis]] (21)

|c4=
* [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] (1)
* [[Battle Ravage|Battle Ravage drones]] (2)
* [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb drones]] (3)
* [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] (6)
* [[Primus]] (19)
* [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"You're not the boss of me, Hot Shot!"
:—'''Demolishor''' apparently liked taking orders from [[Megatron (Armada)|his last boss]] more.

"She said our Earth station has detected molecular activity at the precise coordinates where you suspected energon to be."
:—'''Rad''' begins the grand ''Energon'' tradition of things making no sense at all.

"Is that energon?" 
"Yes. It's the energy source that all life forms need to survive, Sally." 
"I'm not sure I get it, Mom."
:—'''Sally''' and '''Mrs. Jones''', who doesn't know much about biology

"Kicker! Don't be an idiot!"
:—'''Hot Shot''' is a real optimist

==Notes==
===Lost in Translation===
* There are two distinct English-language dubs of this episode—a version broadcast on television, which is a straight dub of the Japanese edition of the episode, and the substantially-altered version released on DVD. In addition to a ''heavily'' re-written script, the DVD version re-orders several scenes, chief among them the opening sequence with Alpha Q and Kicker's flashbacks, and inserts a new opening monologue from Optimus Prime, along with clips from ''Armada''.
* The prolonged sequence of Ocean City rising up from beneath the waves differs across the various editions of this episode. The original Japanese version features only music and sound effects. The English TV-broadcast version features a monologue from Demolishor touching upon the events of the last ten years, to cement the series as a continuation of ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''. The English DVD version replaces this monologue with an argument between Kicker and [[Misha Miramond|Misha]] about raising the city. Misha does not actually appear in the episode, though, and shouldn't actually ''be'' in Ocean City anyway.
* In the opening sequence of this episode, Alpha Q states that Unicron has brought him back on-line, in order to stop Unicron from going offline—a claim that is totally at odds with what we will learn of the character and his history as the series progresses. As an error, it's entirely confined to the English dub, but unlike the multitude of errors that would come to populate the dub, this one was ''not'' a product of stupidity, but instead, a very deliberately inserted line. This "minion of Unicron" role was Hasbro's intention for the character, and it's how he is portrayed in the [[Energon (comic)|Dreamwave comic]], but the Japanese production staff wound up creating an entirely different story for the character that contradicted it. To get things back in order, the line was deleted from the DVD release of the dubbed episode.
* Curiously, the DVD version of this episode removed the cameos of young Alexis, Carlos and Rad departing the Autobot starship [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']] from Kicker's flashback sequence, instead jumping straight to Dr. Jones and Kicker leaving the vessel.

===Pain Count===
The "Uh?"s start very early:

* "Uh?": 9
* Stock footage: just 2, but one of them is Prime's ultra-dull drone combination sequence.

===Animation or technical errors===
* In the version broadcast on television, there is an audio synch mistake when Rad and Dr. Jones watch Prime's Autobots depart for Mars; their dialogue begins too soon, cringingly causing their lip movements to lag behind it. Surprisingly, this was fixed for the DVD release.
* During the attack on Ocean City, Sally wonders where her brother is, and her mother adds "Where's Kicker?" in Sally's voice. Oops. This was ''not'' fixed for the DVD release.

===Continuity errors===
*In Optimus Prime's opening monologue on the DVD version of the episode, he refers to the series as taking place 20 years after the Unicron Battles of Armada, rather than 10.
*Optimus Prime is somehow able to identify the Terrorcons by name, before he has any way to know what they are. Again, this line was not in the original Japanese version, and was removed for the DVD release of the dub.

===Transformers references===
*The corpse of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] is briefly seen in the opening scene, when the camera is moving through Unicron's body.

===Trivia===
* Compared to later episodes, this one is ''astonishingly'' well-animated and acted.
* Kicker is seriously annoying.
* Primus sounds ''creepily'' like the late Megatron.

===Miscellaneous Trivia===

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 1: The Battle for Energon ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 1: The Battle for Energon (Paramount) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 1: The Battle for Energon (Paramount)
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2004 — ''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 001 ([[Interchannel]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 1: The Battle for Energon (Paramount) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 1: The Battle for Energon (Paramount) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 1: The Battle for Energon (Paramount) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — The Ultimate Collection (Paramount)

[[Category:Energon episodes]]

Jungle

2010-05-28T22:11:32Z

173.61.13.61:

{{episode|
|series=Armada
|series2=Micron Legend
|ep=6
|prev=Soldier
|next=Carnival
|title=Jungle
|japanese=保護 (まもり) - jungle
|romaji=Hogo [Mamori]
|translation=Safeguard (Protection)
|image=Jungle-Forest.jpg
|caption=Not a jungle
|production code=TF: A-06
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Isao Shizuya]]
|director=[[Shin'ichirō Aoki]]
|animation studio=[[Actas]]
|airdate=[[October 4]], 2002 (English) [[February 14|14 February]] 2003 (Japanese)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''Another Mini-Con is located in a forest, where the battle causes a fire to threaten the local flora and fauna.'''

:''Polish title'': "'''Dżungla'''"

==Synopsis==
[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] exchange fire with the [[Autobot|Autobots]] in a rocky area, while discussing which tactics they should use. While the other two move around to the sides, Starscream takes to the air and attacks, but is promptly shot down by [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and crashes into Demolishor. Dismissing it as a lucky shot, Starscream looks up to see Optimus towering over him. The Autobot prepares to make the final shot, right to his forehead... when [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] halts the training simulator, haranguing his men, particularly his "right-hand man". The [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] begin blaming each other. Starscream promises Megatron to fight more effectively if the latter gives him a [[Mini-Con]]. The conversation is interrupted by the detection of a new Mini-Con; all the Decepticons leave for Earth.

[[Image:Jungle-Butterfingers.jpg|left|200px|thumb|We are ready… Sure, we are ready… We need only an ice-box… and, maybe, a little sewing machine…]]
Meanwhile, on a suburban street, [[Alexis]] and [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] are waiting patiently for [[Rad White|Rad]] to arrive. He turns up carrying three backpacks stuffed with camping supplies, and the trio continue on to the Autobot base, where the Autobots are still trying to activate the [[Mini-Con storage panel|Mini-Con panel]] they found in [[Antarctica]]. As Hot Shot notes with amusement the amount of equipment the kids have brought, the alarm goes off to notify them that another Mini-Con has been detected. The kids accompany the Autobots to a forest. Hot Shot sends Jolt up to take a look around, and the Mini-Con soon spots a glint of light in the distance. Optimus orders that they move out, and Hot Shot transforms to vehicle mode, but, as Red Alert points out, they're going to have to walk. Optimus leaves his [[trailer]] behind with [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] in charge.

[[Image:Jungle-Slapstick.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Mind that tree." "What tree?" *thwack*]]
Soon the Autobots are trudging through the forest with Hot Shot complaining loudly. He breaks out a buzzsaw to cut his way through, which earns a scolding from his companions. Carlos alerts them to a path ahead and, sure enough, there's a wide path where the trees have been cleared. As they drive along, Rad tells the others that the path has been cut by illegal loggers and delivers a lecture on the importance of plants to Earth's biosphere.

Elsewhere the Decepticons are also heading towards the Mini-Con, and, of course, bickering. Starscream is determined to get the Mini-Con himself, having missed out on the one in Antarctica.

[[Image:Jungle-Forest Fire.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Spoiler Alert: BAMBI'S MOTHER DIES!!]]
The Autobots abruptly halt as a tree falls across their path and they find themselves face-to-face with the Decepticons. Although the Decepticons open fire, Optimus is concerned for the welfare of the trees and orders his men not to fire back unless they have a clear shot. Starscream and Cyclonus transform for an aerial attack and end up getting in each other's way. Cyclonus's missile then touches down amongst the trees, where it starts a fire. The alarmed kids begin shooing forest animals away from the blaze and are only saved from a falling tree by Optimus. At Rad's urging, Optimus orders the Autobots to fall back to contain the fire. The surprised Decepticons resume their search for the Mini-Con.

The Autobots fight the fire, but the kids observe that it's a losing battle and they really need water to put it out. Rad sends Laserbeak out, and the tiny Autobot soon locates a nearby lake. Red Alert says they can use Prime's trailer, so Optimus contacts Sparkplug and gets the Mini-Con to bring the trailer to them.

Meanwhile the Decepticons have located the Mini-Con panel in a huge old tree. Although Starscream asks for it, Megatron denies his request and claims it himself. Starscream doesn't dare to argue further, but he has a plan of his own...

[[Image:Jungle-Null Ray Cannon.jpg|right|200px|thumb|An airborne Decepticon attacks! Tr-r-remble ever-r-rybody-y-y!]]
Having hooked up the pipes, the Mini-Cons begin putting out the fire, and Rad lets Optimus know the Autobots can go on and stop the Decepticons. The three Autobots interrupt their foe attempting to cut down the tree the Mini-Con is perched in, and both sides clash. Starscream winds up with no enemy to fight, and seizes his chance. While the other three Decepticons are occupied, Starscream slices the tree with his sword and snatches the Mini-Con panel. Hurrah! He has a partner at last! Megatron only grits his teeth as Starscream gloats over his acquisition, revealing the Mini-Con [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]].

After zipping among the trees, Swindle merges with Starscream, unlocking two Null laser cannons on his shoulders. Starscream decides to demonstrate his new extraordinary power immediately. The single blast from the cannons sends both the Autobots and Decepticons flying and creates a huge crater. Promising Starscream will pay, a none-too-pleased Megatron orders a retreat. Before following his chief to warp gate, Starscream warns the 'Bots that they must not to take their eyes off him from now on. Optimus Prime figures he's right.

While the Autobots are standing around shell-shocked, the kids run up with the news that they've put the fire out. Although Rad suggests perhaps they should have left the fire and helped the Autobots obtain the Mini-Con, Optimus assured him that they did the right thing.

Back on the Moon, the Decepticons try their training simulation again, and Starscream uses his new laser cannons to obliterate the Autobot forces completely. He begins to wonder if he's stronger than Megatron himself. Megatron has a rather different opinion on the matter.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (3)
*[[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] (17)

|c2=
*[[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (4)
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (5)
*[[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] (6)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (7)

|c3=
*[[Alexis]] (8)
*[[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] (9)
*[[Rad White|Rad]] (12)

|h4=[[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]|c4=
*[[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]] (10)
*[[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] (11)
*[[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] (13)
*[[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] (14)
*[[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] (15)
*[[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]] (16)
*[[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==

[[Image:Jungle-Not quite fist bump.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Get away, you rusty hell-'e-copped-'er!"]]
"Megatron, please! I promise to do better if you let me have the next Mini-con!" 
"I think he's gonna start to cry! Hahahaha!"

:—'''Starscream''' and '''Cyclonus''' bickering like schoolchildren.

"You know, I really wish people would understand that the future of the human race depends on what we do to protect the environment today."

:—'''Rad''' auditions for a new series of ''Captain Planet''.

"Nothing, I was just talking to myself." 
"Keep talkin', cause no one else is listening to you any more."

:—'''Starscream''' and '''Demolisher''' bickering like schoolchildren.

"We came for the Mini-Con." 
"Not if you're going to use it for evil purposes!"

:—'''Demolisher''' and '''Optimus''', begging the question, "What if the Decepticons promised to use it strictly for good purposes?"

"I'll show them how it's done!" 
"Outta my way!" 
"Cyclonus!" 
"You're out of your league! Stand back and let a pro show you how to do some real destruction!" 
"You're blocking my target!"

:—'''Starscream''' and '''Cyclonus''' ''still'' bickering.

[[Image:Jungle-Minicon Got.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Well, beware, you mad metal woodpecker!"]]
"Oh my, it's so easy! I must be the most powerful Decepticon in the universe! Even more powerful than Megatron! Hahahahaha!" 
"Oh, we'll just see about that, Starscream."

:—'''Starscream''', with delusions of grandeur, and '''Megatron'''.
{{-}}

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Micron Legend''===
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
*Optimus calls his Mini-con "Leader-1" again, but finally gets it right when he contacts Sparkplug to bring the trailer to them (and then Red Alert promptly refers to him as Leader-1 again).

===Miscellaneous trivia===
*This episode totally should be named "Forest".

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Micron Legend'' — Volume 2 ([[Columbia Music Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Armada'' — Vol:02 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Armada'' — Vol:02 ([[Warner Bros.|Warner Music Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Armada'' — Power of the Mini-Cons ([[Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Armada'' — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Armada'' — Triple Collection (Universal) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Armada'' — Bumper Double DVD Collection (Universal) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Armada'' — Volume One ([[New KSM]]) — English and German audio.

[[Category:Armada episodes]]