MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Primax 787.3 Alpha

2012-02-07T04:09:13Z

174.57.254.146: New page: Can this continuity be retconned to include 2010 happening in a different year than the US cartoon continuity Primax 984. Alpha?

Can this continuity be retconned to include 2010 happening in a different year than the US cartoon continuity Primax 984. Alpha?

Transformers (Armada PS2)

2012-01-25T04:51:51Z

174.57.254.146: /* Mini-Cons */

{{disambig3.5|the English PlayStation 2 game|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game|The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}
{{Nav-armada}}
{{videogame
|title=''Transformers''
|image=TF atari.jpg
|caption=[[The Transformers (PS2)|That]]'s not a game. ''shhhhhlink'' '''This''' is a game!
|developer=[[Melbourne House]]
|publisher=[[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]
|date=[[April 7]], 2004 (EU) [[April 11]], 2004 (NA)
|platform=PlayStation 2
|ratings=ESRB: T
}}
'''''Transformers''''' is a 2004 video game for Sony's PlayStation 2, developed by the Australian-based [[Melbourne House]], and published by [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]. It is based on the ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' series, though it does not follow any pre-established storyline. It was released in the United States on [[April 11]], [[2004]], and in the European market on [[April 7]] of the same year. In September 2005, Atari released a "Director's Cut" of the game exclusively in the UK. The only difference between this and the original was a bonus DVD containing a "Making Of Documentary".

==Gameplay and cast==
In the game, players take control of one of three [[Autobot|Autobots]] ([[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] or [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]) to battle [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his vast army of [[Decepticlone]]s over the recently-discovered [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] on [[Earth]].

Decepticons who appear in the game include Megatron, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. The Mini-Cons [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] join their toy-partners after the player completes the first level, acting as support fighters. The Decepticons' Mini-Con partners [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] and [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]] do not appear as individuals, but are seen attached to their partners. The final boss of the game is [[Unicron]] in planet mode; a colossal [[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]] in "moon" mode can be seen attached to him.

As well as allowing players to transform into vehicles whenever they wish, the game uses Mini-Con collecting as a way to acquire new weapons and abilities, introducing multiple new (non-toy) Mini-Con characters. Some combinations of Mini-Cons also have additional synergistic effects, such as faster weapon recharging or a larger life meter. In addition, the main partner Mini-Cons follow the player, shooting at enemies. The player can also "Powerlinx" with their partner Mini-Con, allowing for a Max Payne-style "bullet time" mode, though this drains the player's health.

As well as Mini-Cons, players collect [[Data-Con|Data-Cons]] that unlock bonus features in the game's main menu, ranging from game artwork (development sketches, renders, and the like), toy instructions, toy prototype photos, the toy pack-in mini-comics, and five previously-unavailable-elsewhere [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]-era PSAs (in the same style as the old [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] cartoon PSAs).

Every level in the game is a very large, detailed environment which allows free exploration rather than short, linear maps. Players can leave levels without completing them through warp gates, and return to any previously-played level to discover more areas using their newly collected Mini-Cons. The game engine used is unknown, but appears to use technology similar to that of Croteam's Serious Engine to allow large, detailed outdoor levels with no slowdown. One part of the game is the fact that if one is hit hard enough, the character will be blown back and crumple, rag-doll-style.

The reasoning behind the inclusion of a small cast of playable characters was a simple matter of gameplay logistics. By having only three distinctly different characters, the game provides a different experience to players and forces them to adjust their strategy according to whomever they chose. A larger roster of characters would have made it difficult for Melbourne House to create different styles of gameplay, especially considering most of the Armada Autobots were cars and other land vehicles. The noticeable exclusion of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was down to the fact his flight capability would negate much of the challenge in exploring each level whilst using different Mini-Con loadouts.

==Mini-Cons==
{{collist|4|
* [[Aftershock (Armada) | Aftershock]]
* [[Airburst]]
* [[Aurora]]
* [[Buildup]]
* [[Bulletproof]]
* [[Claymore]]
* [[Comeback]]
* [[Corona]]
* [[Covert]]
* [[Deflector]]
* [[Discord]]
* [[Failsafe]]
* [[Firefight]]
* [[Flashbang]]
* [[Fullspeed]]
* [[Hailstorm (Armada) | Hailstorm]]
* [[Hawkeye]]
* [[Highgear]]
* [[Highjump (Armada) | Highjump]]
* [[Jumpstart]]
* [[Kickback (Armada) | Kickback]]
* [[Knockdown (Armada) | Knockdown]]
* [[Lock-On]]
* [[Lookout]]
* [[Overwatch]]
* [[Pressurepoint]]
* [[Rangefinder]]
* [[Safeguard (Armada) | Safeguard]]
* [[Shepherd]]
* [[Shieldwall]]
* [[Shockpunch]]
* [[Skirmish]]
* [[Slapshot]]
* [[Slipstream (Armada) | Slipstream]]
* [[Smackdown]]
* [[Sparkjump]]
* [[Stronghold]]
* [[Tractor]]
* [[Twister]]
* [[Watchdog (Armada) | Watchdog]]
}}

==Voice actors==
*[[Garry Chalk]] as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Daran Norris]] as [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dublin James]] as [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]
*[[David Kaye]] as [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]
*[[Matt Hetherington]] as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]
*[[Matthew King]] as [[Unicron]]

==Screenshots==
<gallery>
Image: Optimus_Truck_Form_Crash_Enemies.jpg|Sometimes, vehicles are the most effective weapon.
Image: Optimus_Prime_Destroyed_Bunker_Transformers_Screenshot.jpg|[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] destroyed one of the Decepticon Bunker in the Pacific Island.
Image: Transformers_2004_Video_Game_Slipstream_Released.jpg|"Finally, the egg cracks open!"
Image: Optimus_Prime_Ragdoll_Effect.jpg|Ouch.
Image: Transformers_2004_Tidal_Wave.jpg|Your biggest nightmare.. Literally.
Image: Tidal_Wave_Snipe_Head.jpg|GIVE ME YOUR FACE!
Image: Red_Alert_Deep_Amazon.jpg|Is that ship carrying.. Sun? [[The Fallen|It has claimed Earth's Sun!?]]
Image: Autobots_HQ_Iacon_City_Gate.jpg|"Home, finally!" The Autobots have been homesick.
Image: Mini_Con_Forming_Matrix_Cannon.jpg|All the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] merge, to form the [[Matrix Cannon]].
Image: Matrix_Cannon_Versus_Unicron.jpg|So, this did not exist in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|past]], or no one knows? Things can go easier!
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Core.jpg‎|So, this is what a planet-eater's stomach looks like.
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Destroyed.jpg|[[Unicron]]'s final moment.
Image: Transformers_2004_Cybertron_Ending.jpg|[['Til all are one|'Til All Are One!]]
</gallery>

==Soundtrack==
Melbourne House's [[Gavin Parker]] composed much of the in-game music while [[Ric Formosa]] provided the music for the cinematic sequences. American band [[Dropbox]] and Australian band [[Regurgitator]] were recruited to create their versions of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]] to promote the game, while funk band [[The Brown Hornet]] sung over the end credits.

===Tracks===
*1. Amazon Theme 1
*2. Amazon Theme 2
*3. Antarctica Theme
*4. Starscream Fight Theme 1
*5. Deep Amazon Theme 1
*6. Deep Amazon Theme 2
*7. Cyclonus Fight Theme (by Regurgitator)
*8. Mid-Atlantic Theme
*9. Tidal Wave Fight Theme
*10. Alaska Theme 1
*11. Alaska Theme 2
*12. Starship Theme 1
*13. Starship Theme 2
*14. Starscream Fight Theme 2
*15 Pacific Island Theme
*15. Megatron Fight Theme
*13. Cybertron 1
*14. Cybertron 2

===Themes===
*1. ''Transformers: Armada'' television theme
*2. ''Transformers'' theme 1 arranged by Ric Formosa
*3. ''Transformers'' theme 2 by Dropbox
*4. ''Transformers'' theme 3 by The Brown Hornet
*5. ''Transformers'' theme 4 by Regurgitator
*6. ''Wishbone'' by Dropbox

==Impressions & sales==
The game was well-received by critics and fans alike, and at the time was often considered to be the best of all ''Transformers'' video games, despite this being damning with faint praise. Some review sites and magazines [[Ruined FOREVER|seemed to reject the game outright]] for [[GEEWUN|not being based]] on the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] series, though some seemed to begrudgingly accept it due to the gameplay and graphic flair.

The most common actual ''gameplay-related'' complaints are the disappointingly small roster of characters, sometimes stiff control, high difficulty level (not born of bad design, the game is just set too ''tough''), and a lack of a "directional" guide resulting in players getting lost in the vast environments.

''Transformers'' was the #7 top-selling game across all consoles for the month of May 2004... and that's only because the incredibly popular "Red Dead Revolver" was on two different consoles. On the Playstation 2 alone, ''Transformers'' ranked #6. It sold over 600,000 copies by the time the "Directors Cut" was released, although the total was ultimately less than what Atari had hoped for.

In 2010, ''Transformers'' was ranked #83 in the Top 100 Playstation 2 Games list by IGN. <ref>[http://www.ign.com/top-ps2-games/83 Transformers - #83 Top PS2 Games - IGN]</ref>

==Sequel status==
Melbourne House had begun work on a sequel based in part upon the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series. However, according to a member of the Melbourne House team, the ''Cybertron'' game was a few months into development but Atari moved the studio onto a different project, effectively nixing the sequel.

Dang.

==Errors==
* Somehow Starscream is able to use his wing-sword with both wings still attached.

==Notes==
[[Image:Mini-con drinks.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Drunk with power]]
* At the game's launch party, Atari's venue served several [[Mini-Con Madness|signature drinks]] named for the game-exclusive Mini-Cons.
* One of the game's working titles was ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''. Another one, used in pack-in [[catalog]]s during the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' line, was ''Transformers Armada: Battle for Energon''.
* Development sketches unlocked in the game show that several characters were ultimately dropped from the original plans. [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] was to be a level-boss in the caves, and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]'s partner Mini-Con [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] was going to harass players before they could board the Decepticon battleship.
* These same sketches also show that the levels Amazon and Deep Amazon were a single level at one stage, as were Antarctic, Alaska and Starship, and Pacific Island and Mid Atlantic. This is why the latter levels start in areas very similar to the ends of the preceding ones; for example, Amazon ends with a hike up a mountain, while Deep Amazon begins with a trip ''down'' the side of a mountain.
* It is possible to get an alternate 'Bad Ending'. This ending can be achieved if Cybertron's health meter gets to zero. The full motion video of this ending will be unlocked (as well in the gallery), showing Cybertron's destruction by [[Unicron]].
*At the end credits of the game, Tidal Wave is doing push-ups while the Decepticlones are all doing jumping jacks and side-bends. So that's how Decepticons keep in shape.
*Much of the dialog used in cutscenes is recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In the 'Recruit' difficulty, you need to collect 30 Mini-Cons to form the Matrix Cannon, 35 in the 'Veteran' difficulty, and 40 in the 'Commander' difficulty.. Which means all of them. All hail the cheats.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.atari.com/transformers/ Official ''Transformers'' game page at Atari.com]
*[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6101516.html?q=chartspot%202004 ''Transformers'' game rankings for May 2004 at Gamespot]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-ps2-soundtrack-news/2441/ News post from Seibertron.com for Atari's announcement of Regurgitator's involvement]

{{Stub}}

[[Category:Armada media]]
[[Category:Video games]]

Transformers (Armada PS2)

2012-01-25T04:20:16Z

174.57.254.146: /* Mini-Cons */

{{disambig3.5|the English PlayStation 2 game|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game|The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}
{{Nav-armada}}
{{videogame
|title=''Transformers''
|image=TF atari.jpg
|caption=[[The Transformers (PS2)|That]]'s not a game. ''shhhhhlink'' '''This''' is a game!
|developer=[[Melbourne House]]
|publisher=[[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]
|date=[[April 7]], 2004 (EU) [[April 11]], 2004 (NA)
|platform=PlayStation 2
|ratings=ESRB: T
}}
'''''Transformers''''' is a 2004 video game for Sony's PlayStation 2, developed by the Australian-based [[Melbourne House]], and published by [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]. It is based on the ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' series, though it does not follow any pre-established storyline. It was released in the United States on [[April 11]], [[2004]], and in the European market on [[April 7]] of the same year. In September 2005, Atari released a "Director's Cut" of the game exclusively in the UK. The only difference between this and the original was a bonus DVD containing a "Making Of Documentary".

==Gameplay and cast==
In the game, players take control of one of three [[Autobot|Autobots]] ([[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] or [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]) to battle [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his vast army of [[Decepticlone]]s over the recently-discovered [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] on [[Earth]].

Decepticons who appear in the game include Megatron, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. The Mini-Cons [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] join their toy-partners after the player completes the first level, acting as support fighters. The Decepticons' Mini-Con partners [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] and [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]] do not appear as individuals, but are seen attached to their partners. The final boss of the game is [[Unicron]] in planet mode; a colossal [[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]] in "moon" mode can be seen attached to him.

As well as allowing players to transform into vehicles whenever they wish, the game uses Mini-Con collecting as a way to acquire new weapons and abilities, introducing multiple new (non-toy) Mini-Con characters. Some combinations of Mini-Cons also have additional synergistic effects, such as faster weapon recharging or a larger life meter. In addition, the main partner Mini-Cons follow the player, shooting at enemies. The player can also "Powerlinx" with their partner Mini-Con, allowing for a Max Payne-style "bullet time" mode, though this drains the player's health.

As well as Mini-Cons, players collect [[Data-Con|Data-Cons]] that unlock bonus features in the game's main menu, ranging from game artwork (development sketches, renders, and the like), toy instructions, toy prototype photos, the toy pack-in mini-comics, and five previously-unavailable-elsewhere [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]-era PSAs (in the same style as the old [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] cartoon PSAs).

Every level in the game is a very large, detailed environment which allows free exploration rather than short, linear maps. Players can leave levels without completing them through warp gates, and return to any previously-played level to discover more areas using their newly collected Mini-Cons. The game engine used is unknown, but appears to use technology similar to that of Croteam's Serious Engine to allow large, detailed outdoor levels with no slowdown. One part of the game is the fact that if one is hit hard enough, the character will be blown back and crumple, rag-doll-style.

The reasoning behind the inclusion of a small cast of playable characters was a simple matter of gameplay logistics. By having only three distinctly different characters, the game provides a different experience to players and forces them to adjust their strategy according to whomever they chose. A larger roster of characters would have made it difficult for Melbourne House to create different styles of gameplay, especially considering most of the Armada Autobots were cars and other land vehicles. The noticeable exclusion of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was down to the fact his flight capability would negate much of the challenge in exploring each level whilst using different Mini-Con loadouts.

==Mini-Cons==
[[Aftershock (Armada) | Aftershock]] 
[[Airburst]] 
[[Aurora]] 
[[Buildup]] 
[[Bulletproof]] 
[[Claymore]] 
[[Comeback]] 
[[Corona]] 
[[Covert]] 
[[Deflector]] 
[[Discord]] 
[[Failsafe]] 
[[Firefight]] 
[[Flashbang]] 
[[Fullspeed]] 
[[Hailstorm (Armada) | Hailstorm]] 
[[Hawkeye]] 
[[Highgear]] 
[[Highjump (Armada) | Highjump]] 
[[Jumpstart]] 
[[Kickback (Armada) | Kickback]] 
[[Knockdown (Armada) | Knockdown]] 
[[Lock-On]] 
[[Lookout]] 
[[Overwatch]] 
[[Pressurepoint]] 
[[Rangefinder]] 
[[Safeguard (Armada) | Safeguard]] 
[[Shepherd]] 
[[Shieldwall]] 
[[Shockpunch]] 
[[Skirmish]] 
[[Slapshot]] 
[[Slipstream (Armada) | Slipstream]] 
[[Smackdown]] 
[[Sparkjump]] 
[[Stronghold]] 
[[Tractor]] 
[[Twister]] 
[[Watchdog (Armada) | Watchdog]] 

==Voice actors==
*[[Garry Chalk]] as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Daran Norris]] as [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dublin James]] as [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]
*[[David Kaye]] as [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]
*[[Matt Hetherington]] as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]
*[[Matthew King]] as [[Unicron]]

==Screenshots==
<gallery>
Image: Optimus_Truck_Form_Crash_Enemies.jpg|Sometimes, vehicles are the most effective weapon.
Image: Optimus_Prime_Destroyed_Bunker_Transformers_Screenshot.jpg|[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] destroyed one of the Decepticon Bunker in the Pacific Island.
Image: Transformers_2004_Video_Game_Slipstream_Released.jpg|"Finally, the egg cracks open!"
Image: Optimus_Prime_Ragdoll_Effect.jpg|Ouch.
Image: Transformers_2004_Tidal_Wave.jpg|Your biggest nightmare.. Literally.
Image: Tidal_Wave_Snipe_Head.jpg|GIVE ME YOUR FACE!
Image: Red_Alert_Deep_Amazon.jpg|Is that ship carrying.. Sun? [[The Fallen|It has claimed Earth's Sun!?]]
Image: Autobots_HQ_Iacon_City_Gate.jpg|"Home, finally!" The Autobots have been homesick.
Image: Mini_Con_Forming_Matrix_Cannon.jpg|All the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] merge, to form the [[Matrix Cannon]].
Image: Matrix_Cannon_Versus_Unicron.jpg|So, this did not exist in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|past]], or no one knows? Things can go easier!
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Core.jpg‎|So, this is what a planet-eater's stomach looks like.
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Destroyed.jpg|[[Unicron]]'s final moment.
Image: Transformers_2004_Cybertron_Ending.jpg|[['Til all are one|'Til All Are One!]]
</gallery>

==Soundtrack==
Melbourne House's [[Gavin Parker]] composed much of the in-game music while [[Ric Formosa]] provided the music for the cinematic sequences. American band [[Dropbox]] and Australian band [[Regurgitator]] were recruited to create their versions of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]] to promote the game, while funk band [[The Brown Hornet]] sung over the end credits.

===Tracks===
*1. Amazon Theme 1
*2. Amazon Theme 2
*3. Antarctica Theme
*4. Starscream Fight Theme 1
*5. Deep Amazon Theme 1
*6. Deep Amazon Theme 2
*7. Cyclonus Fight Theme (by Regurgitator)
*8. Mid-Atlantic Theme
*9. Tidal Wave Fight Theme
*10. Alaska Theme 1
*11. Alaska Theme 2
*12. Starship Theme 1
*13. Starship Theme 2
*14. Starscream Fight Theme 2
*15 Pacific Island Theme
*15. Megatron Fight Theme
*13. Cybertron 1
*14. Cybertron 2

===Themes===
*1. ''Transformers: Armada'' television theme
*2. ''Transformers'' theme 1 arranged by Ric Formosa
*3. ''Transformers'' theme 2 by Dropbox
*4. ''Transformers'' theme 3 by The Brown Hornet
*5. ''Transformers'' theme 4 by Regurgitator
*6. ''Wishbone'' by Dropbox

==Impressions & sales==
The game was well-received by critics and fans alike, and at the time was often considered to be the best of all ''Transformers'' video games, despite this being damning with faint praise. Some review sites and magazines [[Ruined FOREVER|seemed to reject the game outright]] for [[GEEWUN|not being based]] on the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] series, though some seemed to begrudgingly accept it due to the gameplay and graphic flair.

The most common actual ''gameplay-related'' complaints are the disappointingly small roster of characters, sometimes stiff control, high difficulty level (not born of bad design, the game is just set too ''tough''), and a lack of a "directional" guide resulting in players getting lost in the vast environments.

''Transformers'' was the #7 top-selling game across all consoles for the month of May 2004... and that's only because the incredibly popular "Red Dead Revolver" was on two different consoles. On the Playstation 2 alone, ''Transformers'' ranked #6. It sold over 600,000 copies by the time the "Directors Cut" was released, although the total was ultimately less than what Atari had hoped for.

In 2010, ''Transformers'' was ranked #83 in the Top 100 Playstation 2 Games list by IGN. <ref>[http://www.ign.com/top-ps2-games/83 Transformers - #83 Top PS2 Games - IGN]</ref>

==Sequel status==
Melbourne House had begun work on a sequel based in part upon the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series. However, according to a member of the Melbourne House team, the ''Cybertron'' game was a few months into development but Atari moved the studio onto a different project, effectively nixing the sequel.

Dang.

==Errors==
* Somehow Starscream is able to use his wing-sword with both wings still attached.

==Notes==
[[Image:Mini-con drinks.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Drunk with power]]
* At the game's launch party, Atari's venue served several [[Mini-Con Madness|signature drinks]] named for the game-exclusive Mini-Cons.
* One of the game's working titles was ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''. Another one, used in pack-in [[catalog]]s during the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' line, was ''Transformers Armada: Battle for Energon''.
* Development sketches unlocked in the game show that several characters were ultimately dropped from the original plans. [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] was to be a level-boss in the caves, and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]'s partner Mini-Con [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] was going to harass players before they could board the Decepticon battleship.
* These same sketches also show that the levels Amazon and Deep Amazon were a single level at one stage, as were Antarctic, Alaska and Starship, and Pacific Island and Mid Atlantic. This is why the latter levels start in areas very similar to the ends of the preceding ones; for example, Amazon ends with a hike up a mountain, while Deep Amazon begins with a trip ''down'' the side of a mountain.
* It is possible to get an alternate 'Bad Ending'. This ending can be achieved if Cybertron's health meter gets to zero. The full motion video of this ending will be unlocked (as well in the gallery), showing Cybertron's destruction by [[Unicron]].
*At the end credits of the game, Tidal Wave is doing push-ups while the Decepticlones are all doing jumping jacks and side-bends. So that's how Decepticons keep in shape.
*Much of the dialog used in cutscenes is recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In the 'Recruit' difficulty, you need to collect 30 Mini-Cons to form the Matrix Cannon, 35 in the 'Veteran' difficulty, and 40 in the 'Commander' difficulty.. Which means all of them. All hail the cheats.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.atari.com/transformers/ Official ''Transformers'' game page at Atari.com]
*[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6101516.html?q=chartspot%202004 ''Transformers'' game rankings for May 2004 at Gamespot]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-ps2-soundtrack-news/2441/ News post from Seibertron.com for Atari's announcement of Regurgitator's involvement]

{{Stub}}

[[Category:Armada media]]
[[Category:Video games]]

Transformers (Armada PS2)

2012-01-25T04:16:27Z

174.57.254.146: /* Gameplay and cast */

{{disambig3.5|the English PlayStation 2 game|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game|The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}
{{Nav-armada}}
{{videogame
|title=''Transformers''
|image=TF atari.jpg
|caption=[[The Transformers (PS2)|That]]'s not a game. ''shhhhhlink'' '''This''' is a game!
|developer=[[Melbourne House]]
|publisher=[[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]
|date=[[April 7]], 2004 (EU) [[April 11]], 2004 (NA)
|platform=PlayStation 2
|ratings=ESRB: T
}}
'''''Transformers''''' is a 2004 video game for Sony's PlayStation 2, developed by the Australian-based [[Melbourne House]], and published by [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]. It is based on the ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' series, though it does not follow any pre-established storyline. It was released in the United States on [[April 11]], [[2004]], and in the European market on [[April 7]] of the same year. In September 2005, Atari released a "Director's Cut" of the game exclusively in the UK. The only difference between this and the original was a bonus DVD containing a "Making Of Documentary".

==Gameplay and cast==
In the game, players take control of one of three [[Autobot|Autobots]] ([[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] or [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]) to battle [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his vast army of [[Decepticlone]]s over the recently-discovered [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] on [[Earth]].

Decepticons who appear in the game include Megatron, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. The Mini-Cons [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] join their toy-partners after the player completes the first level, acting as support fighters. The Decepticons' Mini-Con partners [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] and [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]] do not appear as individuals, but are seen attached to their partners. The final boss of the game is [[Unicron]] in planet mode; a colossal [[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]] in "moon" mode can be seen attached to him.

As well as allowing players to transform into vehicles whenever they wish, the game uses Mini-Con collecting as a way to acquire new weapons and abilities, introducing multiple new (non-toy) Mini-Con characters. Some combinations of Mini-Cons also have additional synergistic effects, such as faster weapon recharging or a larger life meter. In addition, the main partner Mini-Cons follow the player, shooting at enemies. The player can also "Powerlinx" with their partner Mini-Con, allowing for a Max Payne-style "bullet time" mode, though this drains the player's health.

As well as Mini-Cons, players collect [[Data-Con|Data-Cons]] that unlock bonus features in the game's main menu, ranging from game artwork (development sketches, renders, and the like), toy instructions, toy prototype photos, the toy pack-in mini-comics, and five previously-unavailable-elsewhere [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]-era PSAs (in the same style as the old [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] cartoon PSAs).

Every level in the game is a very large, detailed environment which allows free exploration rather than short, linear maps. Players can leave levels without completing them through warp gates, and return to any previously-played level to discover more areas using their newly collected Mini-Cons. The game engine used is unknown, but appears to use technology similar to that of Croteam's Serious Engine to allow large, detailed outdoor levels with no slowdown. One part of the game is the fact that if one is hit hard enough, the character will be blown back and crumple, rag-doll-style.

The reasoning behind the inclusion of a small cast of playable characters was a simple matter of gameplay logistics. By having only three distinctly different characters, the game provides a different experience to players and forces them to adjust their strategy according to whomever they chose. A larger roster of characters would have made it difficult for Melbourne House to create different styles of gameplay, especially considering most of the Armada Autobots were cars and other land vehicles. The noticeable exclusion of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was down to the fact his flight capability would negate much of the challenge in exploring each level whilst using different Mini-Con loadouts.

==Mini-Cons==
[[Aftershock (Armada) | Aftershock]]
[[Airburst]]
[[Aurora]]
[[Buildup]]
[[Bulletproof]]
[[Claymore]]
[[Comeback]]
[[Corona]]
[[Covert]]
[[Deflector]]
[[Discord]]
[[Failsafe]]
[[Firefight]]
[[Flashbang]]
[[Fullspeed]]
[[Hailstorm (Armada) | Hailstorm]]
[[Hawkeye]]
[[Highgear]]
[[Highjump (Armada) | Highjump]]
[[Jumpstart]]
[[Kickback (Armada) | Kickback]]
[[Knockdown (Armada) | Knockdown]]
[[Lock-On]]
[[Lookout]]
[[Overwatch]]
[[Pressurepoint]]
[[Rangefinder]]
[[Safeguard (Armada) | Safeguard]]
[[Shepherd]]
[[Shieldwall]]
[[Shockpunch]]
[[Skirmish]]
[[Slapshot]]
[[Slipstream (Armada) | Slipstream]]
[[Smackdown]]
[[Sparkjump]]
[[Stronghold]]
[[Tractor]]
[[Twister]]
[[Watchdog (Armada) | Watchdog]]

==Voice actors==
*[[Garry Chalk]] as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Daran Norris]] as [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dublin James]] as [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]
*[[David Kaye]] as [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]
*[[Matt Hetherington]] as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]
*[[Matthew King]] as [[Unicron]]

==Screenshots==
<gallery>
Image: Optimus_Truck_Form_Crash_Enemies.jpg|Sometimes, vehicles are the most effective weapon.
Image: Optimus_Prime_Destroyed_Bunker_Transformers_Screenshot.jpg|[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] destroyed one of the Decepticon Bunker in the Pacific Island.
Image: Transformers_2004_Video_Game_Slipstream_Released.jpg|"Finally, the egg cracks open!"
Image: Optimus_Prime_Ragdoll_Effect.jpg|Ouch.
Image: Transformers_2004_Tidal_Wave.jpg|Your biggest nightmare.. Literally.
Image: Tidal_Wave_Snipe_Head.jpg|GIVE ME YOUR FACE!
Image: Red_Alert_Deep_Amazon.jpg|Is that ship carrying.. Sun? [[The Fallen|It has claimed Earth's Sun!?]]
Image: Autobots_HQ_Iacon_City_Gate.jpg|"Home, finally!" The Autobots have been homesick.
Image: Mini_Con_Forming_Matrix_Cannon.jpg|All the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] merge, to form the [[Matrix Cannon]].
Image: Matrix_Cannon_Versus_Unicron.jpg|So, this did not exist in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|past]], or no one knows? Things can go easier!
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Core.jpg‎|So, this is what a planet-eater's stomach looks like.
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Destroyed.jpg|[[Unicron]]'s final moment.
Image: Transformers_2004_Cybertron_Ending.jpg|[['Til all are one|'Til All Are One!]]
</gallery>

==Soundtrack==
Melbourne House's [[Gavin Parker]] composed much of the in-game music while [[Ric Formosa]] provided the music for the cinematic sequences. American band [[Dropbox]] and Australian band [[Regurgitator]] were recruited to create their versions of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]] to promote the game, while funk band [[The Brown Hornet]] sung over the end credits.

===Tracks===
*1. Amazon Theme 1
*2. Amazon Theme 2
*3. Antarctica Theme
*4. Starscream Fight Theme 1
*5. Deep Amazon Theme 1
*6. Deep Amazon Theme 2
*7. Cyclonus Fight Theme (by Regurgitator)
*8. Mid-Atlantic Theme
*9. Tidal Wave Fight Theme
*10. Alaska Theme 1
*11. Alaska Theme 2
*12. Starship Theme 1
*13. Starship Theme 2
*14. Starscream Fight Theme 2
*15 Pacific Island Theme
*15. Megatron Fight Theme
*13. Cybertron 1
*14. Cybertron 2

===Themes===
*1. ''Transformers: Armada'' television theme
*2. ''Transformers'' theme 1 arranged by Ric Formosa
*3. ''Transformers'' theme 2 by Dropbox
*4. ''Transformers'' theme 3 by The Brown Hornet
*5. ''Transformers'' theme 4 by Regurgitator
*6. ''Wishbone'' by Dropbox

==Impressions & sales==
The game was well-received by critics and fans alike, and at the time was often considered to be the best of all ''Transformers'' video games, despite this being damning with faint praise. Some review sites and magazines [[Ruined FOREVER|seemed to reject the game outright]] for [[GEEWUN|not being based]] on the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] series, though some seemed to begrudgingly accept it due to the gameplay and graphic flair.

The most common actual ''gameplay-related'' complaints are the disappointingly small roster of characters, sometimes stiff control, high difficulty level (not born of bad design, the game is just set too ''tough''), and a lack of a "directional" guide resulting in players getting lost in the vast environments.

''Transformers'' was the #7 top-selling game across all consoles for the month of May 2004... and that's only because the incredibly popular "Red Dead Revolver" was on two different consoles. On the Playstation 2 alone, ''Transformers'' ranked #6. It sold over 600,000 copies by the time the "Directors Cut" was released, although the total was ultimately less than what Atari had hoped for.

In 2010, ''Transformers'' was ranked #83 in the Top 100 Playstation 2 Games list by IGN. <ref>[http://www.ign.com/top-ps2-games/83 Transformers - #83 Top PS2 Games - IGN]</ref>

==Sequel status==
Melbourne House had begun work on a sequel based in part upon the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series. However, according to a member of the Melbourne House team, the ''Cybertron'' game was a few months into development but Atari moved the studio onto a different project, effectively nixing the sequel.

Dang.

==Errors==
* Somehow Starscream is able to use his wing-sword with both wings still attached.

==Notes==
[[Image:Mini-con drinks.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Drunk with power]]
* At the game's launch party, Atari's venue served several [[Mini-Con Madness|signature drinks]] named for the game-exclusive Mini-Cons.
* One of the game's working titles was ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''. Another one, used in pack-in [[catalog]]s during the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' line, was ''Transformers Armada: Battle for Energon''.
* Development sketches unlocked in the game show that several characters were ultimately dropped from the original plans. [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] was to be a level-boss in the caves, and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]'s partner Mini-Con [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] was going to harass players before they could board the Decepticon battleship.
* These same sketches also show that the levels Amazon and Deep Amazon were a single level at one stage, as were Antarctic, Alaska and Starship, and Pacific Island and Mid Atlantic. This is why the latter levels start in areas very similar to the ends of the preceding ones; for example, Amazon ends with a hike up a mountain, while Deep Amazon begins with a trip ''down'' the side of a mountain.
* It is possible to get an alternate 'Bad Ending'. This ending can be achieved if Cybertron's health meter gets to zero. The full motion video of this ending will be unlocked (as well in the gallery), showing Cybertron's destruction by [[Unicron]].
*At the end credits of the game, Tidal Wave is doing push-ups while the Decepticlones are all doing jumping jacks and side-bends. So that's how Decepticons keep in shape.
*Much of the dialog used in cutscenes is recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In the 'Recruit' difficulty, you need to collect 30 Mini-Cons to form the Matrix Cannon, 35 in the 'Veteran' difficulty, and 40 in the 'Commander' difficulty.. Which means all of them. All hail the cheats.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.atari.com/transformers/ Official ''Transformers'' game page at Atari.com]
*[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6101516.html?q=chartspot%202004 ''Transformers'' game rankings for May 2004 at Gamespot]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-ps2-soundtrack-news/2441/ News post from Seibertron.com for Atari's announcement of Regurgitator's involvement]

{{Stub}}

[[Category:Armada media]]
[[Category:Video games]]

Sparkplug Witwicky

2012-01-23T22:22:27Z

174.57.254.146: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|{{factions/icons|custom=Skywatch Logo.png|cSize=30px|cLink=Skywatch|cPretty=Skywatch}}}}{{disambig3|Sparkplug}}
:''Sparkplug [[Witwicky]] is a [[human]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:SparkplugG1.jpg|right|320px|thumb|"I fought in wars, kid."]]
'''Sparkplug Witwicky''' is many things, but first and foremost a father. He's gruff and no-nonsense in a working-class manner, but he loves his son(s) dearly—a sentiment very much reciprocated. His experiences with the [[Transformer|Transformers]] aren't always smooth, but his down-to-earth approach serves him well. He is very mechanically inclined, which is an obvious asset when dealing with robots.

His several incarnations throughout the [[Continuity|multiverse]] have a varying number of sons with names like "[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]", "[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]]", and "[[Butch Witwicky (G1)|Butch]]".

{{bigquote|I'm a mechanic! I know what I'm doing!|A mind-controlled Sparkplug states his credentials|"[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{quote|Y'know, son, if my hands aren't coated with an inch of motor grease, they may as well not be on my wrists!|{{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}}}

[[Image:LastStand-Sparkplugflashback.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Car monkey have boring weekend, boring manager Rob.]]

In his younger days, '''"Sparkplug" Witwicky''' was a Sergeant in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. A P.O.W. during the [[Wikipedia:Korean War|Korean War]], Sparkplug was forced to repair the [[North Korea]]ns' equipment. However, he secretly sabotaged that same equipment, leading to personnel and material losses for the North Koreans. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

Later in life, he was a mechanic who owned [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service]], his own auto service shop in [[Portland]], [[Oregon]]. He had a teenage son, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]], who didn't share his interest in auto repair. Buster was more interested in reading, learning, and his work in the literary scholarship program, which he hoped would help pay for his college. This caused Sparkplug to worry, because this wouldn't "lead to a job one day"? What?

[[Image:TheTransformers-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Like any good father, Sparkplug believes education is a tragic waste of time.]]

Sparkplug was rudely awoken one night by noise in his garage, and when he rushed down there to investigate, he was incredibly pleased to see Buster inspecting a damaged Volkswagen Beetle. Finally his son had begun carrying on his father's work! Buster explained that Sparkplug was mistaken, and that this car was ''alive''. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

Buster told his dad that while he, [[Jesse (G1)|Jessie]], and [["O"]] were at the drive-in movie that night, they were attacked by [[Seeker (body-type)|three jet fighters]] and during the confusion that followed, Buster ended up driving the Volkswagen home. Sparkplug, though he disbelieved Buster's story, nonetheless began working on repairing the car. Hours later, what repairs Sparkplug could manage were finished, and the car transformed into the alien robot, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee!]] He explained to the two humans that he was an Autobot who had crash landed on Earth along with several others, and that they were in the middle of a civil war. When Buster asked to return with Bumblebee to the [[Ark (G1)|Autobots' spaceship]], at first Sparkplug refused, but then Buster reminded him that Sparkplug had always wanted Buster to stop reading and start living. Sparkplug let his son leave.

But the two quickly returned when Bumblebee realized his damage was more widespread than he realized. Using some materials from Sparkplugs garage, they constructed a communicator. Soon the rest of the Autobots arrived, and their leader, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], introduced himself to them and addressed their group's dire fuel needs. Their introductions were interrupted by an attack by the [[Decepticon]]s, the Autobots' enemies. As the battlefield consumed the neighborhood, Sparkplug hid with his son in the cab of a wreck in the lot's junkyard. However, the Decepticon leader, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] located Sparkplug and grabbed him, intent on getting the human to make fuel for the Decepticons. Megatron dropped him ("Geronimo!") momentarily to fight Optimus Prime, only for Sparkplug to be scooped up again by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. The Decepticons immediately fled with their prize. {{storylink|Power Play!}}

After being kidnapped by the Decepticons, he was instructed by Megatron to develop a process that would convert Earthen gasoline into fuel they could consume. Sparkplug drew on his memories of his time as a mechanic in the Korean War, recalling an instance where he had sabotaged the enemy vehicles' fuel and brake lines, and did the same to the Decepticons, poisoning their fuel and hopefully allowing the Autobots to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Finally, Sparkplug was rescued from the [[Fortress Sinister|Decepticons' fortress]] by the Autobot [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and the mysterious [[Spider-Man]].

[[Image:LastStand-heartattack.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Suffer a heart attack, Sparkplug, courtesy of my [[photon rifle]]!]]

However, before Sparkplug's heroic act could come to light, many of the Autobots believed that Sparkplug had betrayed them by making fuel for the Decepticons, and an over-reactive [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] let loose with his flamethrower. Although Sparkplug wasn't injured by the weapon itself, he did suffer a mild heart attack. Startled, the Autobots allowed [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] to drive Sparkplug and his son to [[Greater Portland Medical Center|the nearest hospital]]. Much later, Sparkplug's condition was stablized, and he woke up in the hospital surrounded by Buster, Jessie, and "O". He smiled, knowing that ultimately, his plan to poison the Decepticons' fuel would spell their doom. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

''The alien history student [[Dicet Alpha-zero]] traveled through time to witness key moments in the Autobot/Decepticon civil war, and thus he observed Sparkplug poison the Decepticons' fuel and suffer his heart attack. {{storylink|The Quest!}}''

From his hospital bed, he asked Buster to promise to cut his ties with the Autobots, as an alien civil war was no place for a high school teenager. {{storylink|The New Order}} As Sparkplug was kept in the hospital, his customers grew irate with his disappearance and threatened to take their business to [[Scarpatoni's Garage]]. {{storylink|DIS-Integrated Circuits!}} Finally, Sparkplug was sent home, muttering about how the doctors demanded to keep him there a week for "only a little" heart attack. He couldn't wait to get back to fixing cars, but amazingly, when he opened the garage, there were none inside. Buster explained that he had somehow fixed them all. Ecstatic, Sparkplug noted that it wasn't too late to change the sign to say "Witwicky and Son." {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

[[Image:Brainstorm-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Uh, dad, when [[Jesse (G1)|Jessie]] says she's going to apologize, that's code for "[[kiss|make out]]." You're not gonna...?"]]

Convinced his son enjoyed auto repairs as much as he did, Sparkplug asked Buster to accompany him in the tow-truck when he learned about a breakdown on the interstate. They returned to their service shop to find Buster's girlfriend Jessie. Sparkplug told Buster to forget about the car repairs and have fun with Jessie on their bicycles, so long as they returned in time for dinner. But the repairs were interrupted when Bumblebee arrived and told Sparkplug that his son was in grave danger, for Buster had broken his promise to avoid the Transformers and had somehow come into possession of the [[Creation Matrix]]. The Decepticons would stop at nothing to take it for themselves. Despite Bumblebee's warning, Sparkplug shooed the Autobot away, insisting that he didn't need help taking care of his son. Once Bumblebee left, Sparkplug left the shop in his tow truck, hoping to find Buster before the Autobots did. Though Sparkplug was able to notice Bumblebee tailing him and subsequently lose him, he didn't notice Bumblebee's colleague [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. And thankfully so, because once Buster and Jessie were spotted, the group was under attack first by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and then the mindless Decepticon creation, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. Both Bumblebee and Bluestreak were damaged in the battle, so it fell to Buster Witwicky and his command of the Creation Matrix to save them. After Sparkplug watched Buster take apart Jetfire with his mind, he realized that Buster was becoming an adult and didn't need him to tell him what to do anymore - his son could decide what was best for himself. {{storylink|Brainstorm!}}

[[Image:Specialteamssense.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I'm just a caveman. Your "Defensor" and "Superion" frighten and confuse me.]]

''Buster eventually returned the Creation Matrix to Optimus Prime, but residual energy persisted within his mind. Late one night, Sparkplug rushed into Buster's room when he heard his son screaming from nightmares. During his sleep, Buster had somehow carved an image of [[Superion (G1)|a strange Transformer]] into his bedroom door. Righfully so, the next day Sparkplug insisted Buster join Jessie to a local demolition derby to help clear his head. After they left, Sparkplug detached the door and brought it to the Autobots in the hope that they could diagnose Buster's problem. Worried that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] would come after Buster, Sparkplug and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] followed Buster and Jessie to the derby. After the Decepticons attacked as suspected and Buster was knocked into a coma, Sparkplug's misgivings about interacting with the Transformers were strengthened. {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} Against his father's wishes, Buster and Optimus Prime traveled into Buster's dreams in order to decipher the meaning of them. After learning about the Second Generation of Transformers known as the "[[Special Team]]s," Buster and Optimus came to, and Buster's nightmares were excised. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

Years later, Sparkplug had opened up a [[Wash and Roll]] car wash franchise adjacent to his service shop. Nothing pleased Sparkplug more than filling up cars, except maybe all the extra money that was coming in. It was later revealed that the car wash had put Sparkplug and countless other humans under hypnotic suggestion to surrender their fuel to [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons and become their slaves. While under Decepticon control, Sparkplug and an angry mob attacked Buster while the teenager was attempting to defeat Ratbat. Once the source of the hypnotic control was destroyed by Buster, Sparkplug and the other slaves were mentally released, and Ratbat and Laserbeak were attacked by their former slaves. Sparkplug promised his son that he'd have more free time from then on, as the Wash and Roll franchise had until then swallowed their lives whole. Sure, he was out half his business, but it beat being a "rich zombie." {{storylink|Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom}}

[[Image:TrialByFire-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px|"Something more like a stream of flames or something, maybe, but not a collapsing building."]]

Some months later, Sparkplug received a letter from his other son, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], who had been away at college "back east" and was going to come visit his family for break. Sparkplug went to tell Buster the great news, but Buster was too busy thinking about the Autobots he recently saw executed on the news; one of them looked like Bumblebee. Sparkplug reminded Buster that there wasn't anything ordinary folks like them could do. The next morning, the Witwickies received a surprise visit from [[Walter Barnett (G1)|Walter Barnett]], who carried a briefcase containing the brains of the executed Autobots attached to remote control cars. When Barnett said Buster must come with him on a matter of national security, Sparkplug happily handed over the keys to the pickup. But unfortunately for Sparkplug, once Barnett and Buster had departed, he was confronted by Ratbat and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. When Sparkplug refused to give up their location, the Decepticons tore the Witwicky service garage apart, collapsing it on top of the mechanic. {{storylink|Toy Soldiers!}}

Needless to say, a day or two later when Spike arrived from college and saw the collapsed building, he feared for his father's life. Sparkplug appeared behind him, laughing, saying that it "takes more than a garage collapsing on top of him to keep old Sparkplug Witwicky down!" It had taken over a day for the authorities to dig him out, but he was no worse for wear. Once Sparkplug told Spike that his younger brother Buster was last seen heading off to the Ark, Spike worried for Buster as well, and left Sparkplug to go find him. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}}

[[Image:DesertIslandofSpace-Spikereveals.jpg|left|thumb|400px|"Oh, thank god, I thought you were coming out."]]

With his home demolished, Sparkplug took up residence in the [[Cascade Vista Motel]]. Several days later, Spike returned, telling his father that he was going to go find Buster. Their conversation was interrupted by a phone call from Walter Barnett, who said that he had located Buster and was keeping an eye on him, but couldn't tell them where he was. When Spike ran his fingers over the phone cord to track the call, Sparkplug's eldest son was forced to admit the cause of his recent departure: he had become an Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], [[binary bond]]ed to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. Sparkplug was understandably shocked, and when Spike combined with [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] and then combined with Fortress Maximus, the mechanic wondered audibly what the Autobots had done to his son. After being introduced to the Autobot [[Targetmaster]]s, Fortress Maximus bid farewell to his father, and the Autobots left him. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}}

[[Image:PretendertotheThrone-Sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Sparkplug's tired of Prime's prank calls.]]

Ethan Zachary, trying to help his digital copy of the dead Optimus Prime get through some personality issues, called every Witwicky in Portland, hoping to get in contact with one of Prime's former human friends. By then, Sparkplug was living in a boarding house in a run-down section of the city. When Zachary told Sparkplug that he was calling on behalf of Optimus Prime, Sparkplug fumed.

{{quote|My family's destroyed, my home is gone, I'm forced to live in this rat-hole -- all because of those robots -- '''and now you ask me to help them again?!'''}}

Sparkplug slammed the phone. "Some game players are sorer losers than others," Prime observed. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}}

Since his auto repair business had been destroyed, Sparkplug didn't get much practice fixing cars, so he was grateful when Jessie stopped by to have her car's transmission looked at. He bemoaned the loss of his business and both of his sons to the Autobots. Suddenly, an egg landed, shot from orbit, and opened to reveal the Autobot [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. Blaster offered to help them get Buster back... if one of them snuck him onto the Decepticons' island resort, [[Club Con]], in his stereo mode. Jessie noted that Sparkplug was too old and might be too conspicuous and volunteered herself. Sparkplug forbade it, not wishing harm to befall Jessie as well, but Jessie insisted, mentioning that with Buster back, she wouldn't be around to annoy him so much anymore. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

Though Blaster failed, Buster was rescued from the Decepticons via other means, and Sparkplug was happy to have both of his sons back home with him. Spike was off to pick up his friend [[Cliff Dietz]] in [[San Francisco]] to go skiing, and Sparkplug told his eldest son to be careful, as he would be returning to college soon.
{{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}}

{{note|In "[[The Last Stand]]", Sparkplug had a dream sequence where he identified his first name as William. Later, in "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]", while hypnotized, he identified his first name as Irving. Additionally, the name of his service shop is "S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service", which was revealed at [[Bob Budiansky]]'s [[BotCon 2010]] slideshow to stand for "Stanislas Piotr" Witwicky.<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref>}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Chris Latta]] (English), [[Toshio Ishii]] (Japanese), [[Edgar Fruitier]] (Canadian French), [[Gerd Wiedenhofen]] (German), [[Gerd Rigauer]] (German, ''Generation 2'')

At some unspecified point in the past, Sparkplug Witwicky worked as a [[Ruby crystal mines of Burma|ruby crystal miner in Burma]], of all things. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|left|230px|thumb|"Another crumpet, Mr. Car?"]]
In 1984, he and his son Spike were working on an offshore oil rig. The day was like any other day, with Sparkplug asking his son to help him flush out a drill bit. Before they could carry out their task, [[Decepticon|giant robots]] descended from the sky and landed on the oil rig, and with no provocation, were almost immediately attacked by Sparkplug's coworkers. Regardless, their intentions became clear when Sparkplug himself was pinned against a wall by [[Rumble (G1)|a small purple robot]], who then threw Spike overboard when he tried to help his father. Freeing himself from the robot's clutches, Sparkplug dived into the water after his son. While the rig workers hid in the ocean, [[Autobot|another group of giant robots]] arrived and fought with the group of robots who were stealing oil from the rig. The leader of the evil robots destroyed the rig and set fire to the oil tanks as a diversion while he escaped. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

The good robots, calling themselves the Autobots, saved the oil rig workers from a fate exactly the same as death. Grateful, Sparkplug and Spike happily latched on to the friendly alien robots, offering up their expertise and knowledge about planet Earth in exchange for joining the team. After the Autobots failed to stop the evil Decepticons at [[Sherman Dam]], Sparkplug, Spike and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had a tea party in the woods, ostensibly so they could eavesdrop on the nearby Decepticon base. After finding out that the evil robots intended to attack the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma, Sparkplug opined that he preferred being a spy to his old job at the oil rig, which was just as well, given the fact he was now unemployed. Later, Sparkplug's prior experience in the Burma mines came in handy when the Autobots needed to plant an explosive device inside the mine. As he left with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], Sparkplug declared that their mission was for both the fortunes of Cybertron and Earth. Moments later, they were caught in the explosion and buried alive. Oops. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:G1 Transport RatchetSparkplug fixingIronhide.jpg|right|240px|thumb|"Now where is that tumor?"]]
Fortunately, they were saved. Later, both father and son volunteered for the Autobot attack on the Decepticon space cruiser. After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] failed to stop the cruiser, Sparkplug tried to reassure the Autobot leader that he'd done all that anybody could do. Subsequently, the Decepticons were apparently defeated when their ship crashed into the sea, so Sparkplug and Spike were to join the Autobots as they went home to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], with fuel from the grateful nations of Earth. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

For some reason, this did not pan out, and neither the Autobots nor Sparkplug and his son went anywhere. As their livelihoods had been destroyed, the Witwickys seemed to move into the ''Ark'' and were almost constantly hanging out with the Autobots. After the Autobots failed to stop the Decepticons at the local solar power station, Sparkplug helped [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] repair the stubborn old [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. Later, Sparkplug stopped the trigger-happy Ironhide from blowing up a shuttle full of Decepticon [[Energon cube|energon cubes]], as he was the only one who bothered to remember the fact that Spike had been captured to pilot the shuttle through the [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}}

After Optimus Prime was mortally wounded in battle, Sparkplug watched Ratchet and Wheeljack attempt repairs, but couldn't lend much more than moral support. Though a team was sent to Cybertron to pick up a replacement [[Cosmitron]] provided some hope, Sparkplug cautioned Spike that sometimes things just don't turn out like you'd hope. Spike continued to hope and, despite his father's wishes, went to help the Autobot defend headquarters against a Decepticon attack. Sparkplug's earlier caution was proved unnecessary when [[Chip Chase]] and the Autobots returned with a new Cosmitron. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

[[Image:WaroftheDinobots Sparkplug with plans.jpg|left|220px|thumb|"Wait, the anklebone's connected to the hipbone? That can't be right."]]
Spike and Sparkplug accompanied the Autobots to the [[Arctic]], to investigate Decepticon activity there. They couldn't do much more than run for cover when the giant Decepticon [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] fired on them. After Sparkplug rescued his son from the water, the pair became stranded on a chuck of ice, and captured by Skyfire. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s treatment of the two humans, imprisoning them in an ice case, clued Skyfire in that the Decepticons weren't what they seemed. Spike and Sparkplug were soon rescued by the Autobots, and cheered on Skyfire as he dealt with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}}

Sparkplug helped out with the construction of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, and was present for their unveiling and subsequent rampage. Fortunately neither him nor his son were injured, but he was concerned when Spike and Bumblebee went after [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}} When Chip came up with two more Dinobots to build, Sparkplug professed his ignorance of the prehistoric beasts, but helped build them anyway. The Autobots lost contact with Optimus, who had gone to check on [[Meteorini Chipperoni|a potentially explosive meteorite]], and Wheeljack informed the humans that the meteorite had been moved. The two new Dinobots were sent to investigate, and by the time Sparkplug and the others arrived, Grimlock and Optimus were making up after an earlier falling out. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}}

[[Image:UltimateDoom1 SparkplugslapsSpike.jpg|right|240px|thumb|"Disrespecting little brat! OBEY YOUR DADDY!"]]
Sparkplug was kidnapped by the Decepticons as a test subject for [[Doctor Arkeville]] and turned to their side by the doctor's [[hypno-chip]]s. The Decepticons allowed the Autobots to free Sparkplug so he could sabotage [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], which gave them an easy means to attack the Autobot headquarters. Spike confronted his father over the apparent betrayal, and Sparkplug appealed to his son to join the Decepticons. When Spike refused, Sparkplug declared that the next time they met, it would be as enemies. Sparkplug and a number of other controlled humans were used as a shield by the Decepticons, while they set up a huge space bridge. During the battle, Spike was able to momentarily reach his father, before Arkeville increased the power of the hypno-chip, once again overriding Sparkplug's will. Sparkplug later activated one of the massive pylons, bringing Cybertron into Earth's orbit and imperiling both worlds. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}}

[[Image:UltimateDoom3 Sparkplug and Spike hug.jpg|left|220px|thumb]]
In the aftermath, a celebratory Sparkplug left aboard [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. When the Decepticons started using the slaves as human shields for their energon shipments, Sparkplug ended up on Cybertron. Spike mounted a rescue mission, eventually stumbling on the hypno-chip control center. There he encountered Sparkplug, who immediately trigged an alarm. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} On [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s orders, Sparkplug prevented Spike from escaping, but with the arrival of more Autobots, Spike got away. Once Wheeljack had rigged up disruption device to disable the hypno-chips, they returned to Decepticon HQ and used it to free Sparkplug. The reunited family returned to Earth in Skyfire to help defeat Megatron and remove Cybertron from orbit. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}}

[[Image:PlagueofInsecticons distress call.jpg|right|260px|thumb|"Let's see if I remember my morse. Y. O. M. A. M. M. A. ... Hey!"]]
Sparkplug listened in on a distress call from [[Bali]] about [[Insecticon (G1)|giant monster insects]]. While Spike and several of the Autobots went to investigate, Sparkplug contacted Optimus Prime and alerted him to the problem. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} After Megatron challenged Optimus to a one-on-one duel, Sparkplug, Spike, Chip and the Autobots all turned out to watch and cheer Optimus on. To their horror, Megatron bested Prime, meaning the Autobots would have to leave Earth. Fortunately, when they got back to Headquarters, they discovered that Megatron had cheated, rendering the result void. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

In an effort to show his friend Wheeljack that the Autobot wasn't the only inventor in the Ark, Sparkplug once managed to take spare Autobot parts and put them together to make a functioning robot called [[Autobot X]]. Once activated, the mindless robot immediately bashed in everything and everyone in sight. After Spike was injured in a battle with the Decepticons, they formulated a plan to transfer Spike's mind into Autobot X while his human body was worked upon by surgeons. Sparkplug regretted this decision, as it drove Spike insane. Spike was on the verge of joining the Decepticons when his own actions sent his father plummeting from a clifftop. The threat to Sparkplug caused Spike to regain his senses, and he was later restored to his own body. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}}

[[Image:AttackOfTheAutobots Attitude Exchanger.jpg|left|240px|Sparkplug Witwicky, Quidditch enthusiast.|thumb]]
Sparkplug was at Autobot HQ when new reports indicated Decepticon activity in [[New York City]]. As he left, Optimus told Sparkplug to tell the other Autobots to head there. {{storylink|City of Steel}} After "enjoying" a test of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s new speaker system, Spike and Sparkplug returned to HQ with the Autobot, to find [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] acting strangely. Once Sparkplug had patched up Teletraan I, they discovered that Megatron had modified the [[recharging chamber]]s to turn the Autobots evil. Sparkplug created an [[attitude exchanger]] and, after testing it on Bluestreak, built enough to cure the rest of the Autobots as well. He and Jazz daringly rescued [[Harding|Doctor Harding]] from Ratchet and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], then headed to an air field to hunt down everyone else. Later there was a brief argument over who should claim the credit, before Spike reminded them that there were a bunch of planes busted by the Autobots that needed fixing. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}}

Sparkplug alerted Ironhide after [[Sky Spy]] witnessed [[Carly]] being captured by the Decepticons. Though Ironhide figured Spike would handle it, Sparkplug talked him into lending a hand. Sparkplug was pleased as punch when his son went out with [[Carly]], because she was clearly out of Spike's league. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} When the Autobots were called to [[Quantum Laboratories]] to fight out-of-control machinery, Sparkplug found a [[Remote Control Circuit Linker]] card on one of the devices. He accompanied the Autobots on a hydrofoil to the oil platform which the Decepticons were using to steal energy from [[oil tanker]]s. He was useful in alerting the Autobots when he spotted the Decepticons making a swift retreat, and everyone evacuated before it exploded. {{storylink|Day of the Machines}}

During a demonstration of the training Wheeljack had given the Dinobots, Sparkplug was impressed with their progress, but it turned out he'd spoken too soon, as the Dinobots began another rampage. He and Ratchet made the mistake of starting to try to fix thing ''before'' the Dinobots had been reigned in. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Repairs were completed in record time, however the repaired Teletraan alerted them to strange energy readings in town, which Sparkplug realised were near where Spike had gone. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}} He helped out with one of the stranger plans by loading a box containing [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and Bumblebee onto [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]]. {{storylink|Microbots}}

[[Image:MMP2 Sparkplug Chip enjoy Decepticon Day.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"No, I'm mad 'cause I wanted one of those flags!"]]
Sparkplug, Spike and Chip were part of the cheering crowds that greeted the Autobots on [[Autobot Day]]. Unfortunately the crowd turned nasty after incriminating video was played of the Autobots raiding oil refineries, but the trio stuck by their Autobot friends, returning to Headquarters with them. To Sparkplug's bewilderment, the Autobots were rapidly found guilty and commanded to leave the planet. As they did so, Sparkplug wondered where Spike had gone. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} The humans put on [[Decepticon Day]], a celebration that Sparkplug found sickening. Spike turned up with evidence exonerating the Autobots, but as he, Sparkplug and Chip tried to present it, the other shoe dropped — the Decepticons revealed their true intent and took over the city. The trio was put to work with other humans in a power plant. Just when all hope seemed lost, the Autobots returned and freed everyone. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

[[Image:DesertionDinos1 SparkpluginaSuit.jpg|left|230px|thumb|"A suit? Who are you, and what have you done with my father?"]]
Later, Sparkplug left on a ''mysterious'' trip that required him to wear a suit. Upon his arrival at the airport, he was greeted by Spike, Carly and Bumblebee. The three humans were remarkably unharmed after Megatron blew up a nearby plane, though the Dinobots were badly damaged, and Sparkplug helped repair them, only for the ingrates to leave the Autobots. When the Autobots suffered from [[Cybertonium]] depletion, Sparkplug managed to persuade the Dinobots to steal some from the Decepticon space bridge. Instead they went to Cybertron. Spike and Carly opted to follow them, so Sparkplug supplied Spike with a two-way radio. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} He monitored the pair as they explored Cybertron, providing guidance until they went too deep into the planet to communicate with. He somehow set up a space bridge platform right outside Headquarters, and was waiting by it when Spike, Carly and the Dinobots returned with a supply of Cybertonium. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

Blaster's broadcast of a human concert managed to annoy Sparkplug as well as the Autobots when it came through the comms system at Headquarters. When Megatron subsequently stole the [[Voltronic Galaxer]] and blocked radio transmissions worldwide, Sparkplug wondered what they could do and quickly [[Roll out|got an answer]]. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} As the Autobots expanded their operations, they installed a small urban base in [[New York City|New York]] City, concealed behind an auto-repair garage operated by Sparkplug. In the aftermath of the failed Decepticon plan to use stolen cars as robot drones, Sparkplug bemoaned the fact it would take weeks for himself, [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], Ratchet and Wheeljack to return the cars to normal functionality. {{storylink|Make Tracks}}

[[Image:CosmicRust Spike Carly Sparkplug at awards.jpg|thumb|right|240px|"How is it that ''Sparkplug Witwicky'' of all people owns more than one suit?" muses guy-in-front-who-is-totally-G.B.-Blackrock.]]
When Megatron unleashed [[Kremzeek]] onto the Autobots, Sparkplug was the first to realize the electrically based creature scrambled Autobot circuits and would thus be repelled by an insulating compound sprayed on the remaining Autobots. While those few left for [[Japan]] to chase after the creature, the hapless Sparkplug was left with the unenviable task of reactivating the other Autobots left behind. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}} Spike and Sparkplug were running a workshop when Powerglide was assigned to protect [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz]]. Sparkplug observed with amusement that Powerglide appeared to have fallen in love with Astoria, provoking laughter from Ratchet and Ironhide, and a threat of violence from Powerglide. {{storylink|The Girl Who Loved Powerglide}} After [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] was critically damaged, Sparkplug worked hard to help repair him. His toiling and support of Ratchet helped to show the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s that the Autobot cause was worthier than the Decepticon one. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}} Sparkplug got all gussied up again for a [[National Scientific Achievement]] ceremony during which Perceptor was presented with an award. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
Sparkplug worked alongside Spike, [[Chip Chase]] and [[Carly]] to help to construct [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

===''Find Your Fate Junior'' novels===
Sparkplug discovered a critical weakness in the Decepticons' circuits that would allow the Autobots to destroy them once and for all. However, the Decepticons discovered this and came after Sparkplug, who fled to the hills to hide. This eventually led to an Alamo-like standoff with a small group of Autobots holding off the Decepticon army from the shelter of a cave for two days while they waited for relief to arrive, with Sparkplug performing the makeshift repair work to keep them running.

The paper on which Sparkplug had the specifics of the weakness was ruined in the battle. He could re-create the research, but the Decepticons would be able to change the design of their circuits while he did so. Still, at least it would keep them out of trouble for a while! {{storylink|Battle Drive}}

While tinkering in his lab, Sparkplug invented the [[Sun-Pak]], a powerful solar battery that threatened to change the balance of power between the Autobots and the Decepticons. [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] spies forced them to flee the testing range through a series of caves, and Sparkplug later rescued [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] from [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], using a gun that caused Kickback to short out and return to tiny size.

Sparkplug suffered memory damage and was unable to re-create the Sun-Pak after the prototype was destroyed.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

{{storylink|Project Brain Drain}}

{{charstubfiction}}

===Marvel Books===
[[Image:Battle-for-earth sparkplug.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
When Sparkplug and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] were inspecting the damage wrought by a volcano's eruption, they spotted an ancient buried spacecraft from which came [[Decepticon|giant robots]]. The pair hid, and after the Decepticons left, they approached the ship and encountered [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. After helping the Autobots get back on their feet, Sparkplug suggested they tap into the volcano's thermal energy as a power supply. On their way back to their home city of [[Kimball]] in [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], Spike and Sparkplug spotted the Decepticons attacking the nuclear power plant and alerted the Autobots. During the ensuing battle, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was hit, and it was only Sparkplug's quick work that got him functioning again, ensuring an Autobot victory. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}} The Autobots entered a car rally to win free gas and Sparkplug and Spike turned out as spectators to cheer them on. Despite Decepticon interference, [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] got to the finishing line first, to cheers from the two humans. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}}

Shortly after the Autobots arrived on Earth, they met Sparkplug and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], who befriended them. One morning Buster pointed out to his father the new [[Freedom Sports Arena]] being built in [[Beacon (city)|Beacon]], and Sparkplug said the company building it was well known for its great buildings. He wasn't to know that the reason for that was because [[Global Building Corporation]] was a front for the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, and the buildings it had created were all cunning traps! {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

===Marvel coloring books===
[[Image:Bumblebeetotherescue-sparkplug.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"You got a real purty mouth, boy!"]]
Sparkplug and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] spied on the Autobots from behind rocks, but were grabbed by the Decepticons. Fortunately the Autobots noticed their predicament and came to their aid. In return, Sparkplug repaired all the damaged Autobots and declared his intent to help the Autobots defend Earth. When the Decepticons attacked [[Hoover Dam]], Sparkplug went along and, with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'s help, carried out battlefield repairs on [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}} Sparkplug was serving as referee for a race between [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] when Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] trapped them with [[Sleep Net]]s. When all of the Autobots except Bumblebee were captured by the foe, a plan was devised and implemented — Sparkplug and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] constructed a giant cut-out Autobot which was placed outside Decepticon headquarters as a diversion while Bumblebee slipped in and freed everyone. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Sparkplug and Spike accompanied the Autobots on a ship [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] built, when the Decepticons were searching for undersea treasure. The humans were safe inside [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] when the missiles started flying. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}} Sparkplug and [[Butch Witwicky (G1)|Butch]] went fishing in the forest with the Autobots, or at least Butch fished while Sparkplug polished Bumblebee. During a battle with the Decepticons, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] made a grab for Sparkplug and Butch... but came up empty-handed because he'd been fooled by one of [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s holograms. Afterwards, the Autobots fixed the forest, and Sparkplug and Butch thanked them. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}}

While Optimus and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] prepared a one-bot ship for launch to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Sparkplug put together a device to track the ship's journey, though he didn't see why they needed to leave a lovely planet like Earth. Optimus patiently explained that they needed to see what had been happening there in their absence. The Decepticons picked that point to attack. After Optimus recovered, he related the dream of returning to Cybertron he'd had, and Sparkplug said he was glad Optimus was still with them, for now. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron}} Optimus and Sparkplug went on a road trip together to find parts for the Autobot spaceship. When they returned, they found that the Decepticons had stolen the Autobots' fuel supply and were attacking. Luckily the pair had picked up lots of fuel on their way back, and the Autobots used it to recharge and chase the Decepticons off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books===
{{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}
{{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}
{{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}
{{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}
{{storylink|Decepticon Hideout}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Dreamwave comics===
[[Image:DWPrimeDirective1 Sparkplug newspaper.jpg|right|180px|thumb|No, not taken the day before Daniel was born.]]
Sparkplug, along with his sons Spike and Buster, befriended the Autobots shortly after the Transformers reawoke in 1984. After [[Operation: Liberation]] and the defeat of the Decepticons, Sparkplug was one of the humans chosen to accompany the Autobots back to Cybertron. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the [[Magnificent Seven]] was killed in 1999 when the ''[[Ark II]]'' exploded.

His death caused Spike and Buster to turn into jerks towards the Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 comics===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Danielwitwickyidw.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Sparkplug sucks the blood off his toothpick as Chad gasps wordlessly, organs spilling out of his lacerated belly. It tastes of tapioca and shame.]]
'''Colonel Daniel "Sparkplug" Witwicky''' was grinning and bearing a cocktail party with his wife's environmentally-conscious associates, fantasizing about killing them with his toothpick, when an army helicopter suddenly landed on the lawn. At the [[President of the United States|president]]'s request, Sparkplug was whisked to [[New York City]] to lead troops against a Decepticon onslaught. On the way, he repeatedly mouthed off at CIA [[Grant (G1)|Agent Grant]] and later had him assaulted by another soldier because the member of ''the CIA'' was big on secrecy. Once in New York, he gathered all the senior officers for a briefing, but when the Decepticons began targeting the city's bridges and tunnels, he just stood there open-mouthed and said, "Good God." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}}

As the Decepticons overtook New York City, the now-General Witwicky had his troops pulled back into the residential areas, given that the last batch was annihilated by [[Frenzy (G1)|one robot]], to better protect them from raids. He sat in his command tent powerless as he got updates on the death toll, the flooding of the tunnels, and how the Decepticons had begun invasions of [[San Francisco]], [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Diego]]. He was then informed of how the Decepticons had completely wasted the US Navy, and that Air Force One had been destroyed. The president dead, Witwicky was left as speechless as the "snooty elite" he'd harped on earlier. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}}

Witwicky would later send his son, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] on a special mission to take out Megatron, but was disheartened when Spike's team was attacked by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and thought dead. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[Image:Dropshot down AHM.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Anyway, tomorrow I'm gonna go back to trying to kill you guys."]]

Later, when the Autobots returned to Earth and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] battled [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], Witwicky was astounded but continued to lead an evacuation. Unfortunately one of his vehicles happened to be [[Dropshot (Universe)|Dropshot]], who transformed and started mowing down his men. The colonel was not amused. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Sparkplug fired a bazooka at Dropshot, but only slightly injured him. Luckily [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] showed up. Afterwards, Sparkplug and Kup had a chat about outer space and Kup's "[[cy-gar|cigar]]" while sitting on the fallen body of Dropshot. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

In the aftermath of the invasion, the covert alien investigation organization [[Skywatch]] was reworked into a Transformer-hunting military force working under the [[United Nations]]. General Witwicky was put in charge of the organization, replacing the very ineffective [[Joshua Red|Agent Red]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 16|The Man of Steel}}

{{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}
{{storylink|A Rude Awakening}}
{{storylink|Earthworks}}
{{storylink|All His Engines}}
{{storylink|Scrapper (issue)|Scrapper}}
{{-}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Notes==
[[Image:FFoD01CastSparkplug.jpg|right|100px|thumb|He was sick that day, so the Skuxxoid filled in.]]
*Although the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow cartoon]] [[production bible]] states that Sparkplug is a widower,<ref>[http://transformers.winterchill.com/bible/biblepage7.html Sparkplug's bio] in the G1 cartoon bible.</ref> the cartoon itself never mentions him having a wife - or ''anything'' whatsoever about Spike's mom.

*Speaking of love interests, in addition to revealing Sparkplug's real name to be Stanislas Piotr Witwicky, [[Marvel Comics]]' original treatment mentions Sparkplug's "ladyfriend", "Toots". She's kept out of the loop on the Transformers' arrival from Cybertron and wonders why Sparkplug's suddenly so busy all the time.<ref name="BC10"/>

*Sparkplug is mentioned in the [[Sunbow]] cast list for "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]"—and the relevant [[dialogue script]] for the episode reveals that he was indeed supposed to make an appearance! He would have been with [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] aboard the [[E.D.C.]] shuttle sent to investigate reports of Decepticon activity in [[Carbombya]]. His one line—"How're we gonna find the Decepticons? It's like a needle in a haystack."—was reassigned to Blaster in the final cut of the episode.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sparkplug Witwicky''' (スパークプラグ・ウィトウィッキー ''Supākupuragu Witowikkī'')
*''French:'' '''Malabar''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''William "Gyertya" Witwicky'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Vela-de-Ignição Witwicky''' (Portugal comics), '''Bob Centelha''' (Brazil comics)

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witwicky, Sparkplug}}
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Skywatch]]
[[Category:United States military officers]]
[[Category:United States military personnel]]
[[Category:Witwicky family|Sparkplug Witwicky]]

Chromebite

2011-12-21T03:28:30Z

174.57.254.146:

{{factions|minicon|predacon}}
:''Chromebite is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1-toy Chromebite.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Put "Yessss" in this caption and I will stab you, yessss!]]

'''Chromebite''' (クロムバイト ''Kuromubaito'') believes that "The light of honor heralds shining destruction!" Woe be to the 'bot that tells him otherwise.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Chromebite''' (Micron Booster, 2007)
**''Booster ID number'': '''11'''

: Chromebite is a chromed [[redeco]] of the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' Mini-Con [[Terrorsaur (Classics)|Terrorsaur]], transforming into a robotic ''Tyrannosaurus rex''. He was only available in the fifth "[[Micron Booster]]" assortment in Japan, where each figure came in its own blind-packed, individual box. Chromebite was one of two "chase" figures in the set; each case of twelve Mini-Cons contained one of either Chromebite or [[Detectas|Detectus]], but never both.

: This mold was also used to make [[Gnashteeth]], ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Ransack (Universe 2008)|Ransack]] and ''[[Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'' [[Dualor (DOTM)|Dualor]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Destron/Chromebite/chromebite.htm More information on Chromebite at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* Chromebite's name did not appear on any promotional materials for this assortment, where he was simply called "Gnashteeth Chromed Version". However, the actual packaging for the toys supplies his name, establishing him as a separate character.

* Chromebite's dark purple chrome and metallic bronze coloration is a likely [[homage]] to ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s [[Transmetal]] ''T. rex'' body.

[[Category:Generation 1 Mini-Cons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Predacons]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Micron Boosters]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

The Search for Alpha Trion

2011-11-27T22:29:18Z

174.57.254.146: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|image=Search4atelita%26prime.jpg
|caption=Disco didn't die. It just went into stasis lock.
|series=G1toon
|ep=53
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=41
|prev2=Child's Play (episode)
|next2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=36
|prev3=Sea Change
|next3=Autobot Spike
|title="The Search for Alpha Trion"
|written by=[[Beth Bornstein]]
|production code=700-52
|airdate=[[November 12]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Discovering that his long-thought-dead love, Elita One, is in the hands of the Decepticons, Optimus Prime speeds to Cybertron on a rescue mission, only to end up discovering something about his own history in the process.'''

:''Japanese title:'' アルファートリンを探せ! (''Alpha Trin o Sagase!'', "Finding Alpha Trin!")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''À Procura de Alpha Trion''' ("Looking for Alpha Trion")
:''Italian title, dub 1:'' '''Le donne Autorobot''' ("The Autobot women")
:''Italian title, dub 2:'' '''Alla ricerca di Alpha Trion''' ("In search of Alpha Trion")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Search4atmoonracer.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Oi! You! Cut it out!]]

On Cybertron, three [[Female Autobots]] ([[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], [[Moonracer]] and [[Firestar]]) sneak into [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] headquarters under orders of [[Elita One]]. They raid Shockwave's stockpile of [[energon cube]]s to power their fight against the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], but on the way out, Moonracer accidentally trips an alarm. Shockwave, surprised to see female Autobots still alive, sends a [[Sentinel (G1)|sentinel]] after them.

[[Image:Search4atelitaandalpha.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I see a bearded man in your future.]]

The Female Autobots escape the sentinel and return to Elita One, though Shockwave deduces the approximate location of their underground headquarters. Shockwave contacts [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] who sends [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] to assist in the apprehension of the Female Autobots. Rumble starts an earthquake which damages their headquarters. Elita One attempts to lure them away from the base by attacking, but is captured. Rumble continues shaking things up until Starscream believes the base is suitably destroyed.

[[Image:Search4atelitakicks.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Self Defense against sexual harassment.]]

Megatron contacts [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and shows him the imprisoned Elita One. Optimus rushes to her rescue, even though he knows it's a trap. Apparently, 4 million years ago, Optimus and Elita had a thing going. Right before boarding the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], Elita begged to go with him, but Optimus told her it was too dangerous. As they spoke, the Decepticons attacked [[Great Dome|Iacon]] and Elita vanished in the chaos, leaving Optimus to think she had perished. Not wishing to lose her a second time, Optimus heads for Cybertron via the Decepticon space bridge. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] become curious as to why Optimus is heading to Cybertron alone and follow in secret.

As soon as Optimus arrives, he is taken prisoner by Starscream, who dangles him over a barrel of acid. Rumble drops Optimus, but before he lands in the barrel, Elita uses her special power, which stops time. Elita rescues Prime, but at the cost of her own life force, as the special power uses up so much energy. Prime loads Elita into his trailer and races to find [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], the only Autobot who can save her.

Back at Shockwave's headquarters, the Decepticons believe Optimus has perished. Just then, the three Autobots arrive and attack. In the Female Autobots' underground headquarters, Moonracer comes up with a plan to dig their way out. They detonate the energon cubes they had just stolen, freeing up their exit. Moonracer, Chromia and Firestar meet up with their friends Powerglide, Ironhide and Inferno, and together they take on the Decepticons.

[[Image:SearchAlphaTrion Prime Elita Autobots.JPG|right|150px|thumb|You're lucky my chick's here, m—oh, hey, so's yours.]]

Optimus eventually finds [[Alpha Trion's base‎]], and the old Autobot uses his skill to repair Elita One as best he can. In the end, Alpha Trion instructs Prime to interface with her for a power transfusion, as he is the only Autobot compatible with her design. Prime remarks that only his creator should know that. After the transfusion, Elita One recovers, and the two then return to help the Autobots fight off the Decepticons. Outnumbered, the Decepticons retreat. Alpha Trion then sets the Female Autobots up with a new secret base, and the two Autobot groups bid each other farewell when one returns to Earth.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (1)
* [[Moonracer]] (2)
* [[Firestar]] (3)
* [[Elita One]] (4)
* [[Greenlight]] (7)
* [[Lancer]] (8)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (13)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (15)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (16)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (17)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (20)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (5)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (9)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (10)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (11)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (12)
}}

==Notable Quotes==
"Female Autobots? I thought they were extinct."
:—'''Shockwave''' obviously hasn't kept up to date on Cybertron's Discovery Channel.

"Such noble nonsense."
:—'''Shockwave''' disses Chromia and [[The Transformers: The Movie|gives Megatron material to rip off]].

"Elita One knows no fear!"
:—'''Elita One''' need not worry about Man-Thing, then.

"Optimus Prime, something rather exciting has been discovered on Cybertron. I thought you might like to know about it."
:—'''Megatron''' calls to say he's discovered girls.

[[Image:Searchforatprimehanging.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I can feel the heat!]]
"Please, let him go." 
"Very well, my dear...let him go...into the acid!"
:—'''Elita One'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s plea to '''Starscream''' to free Optimus Prime doesn't have the expected result.

"How quaint! The girls have come to rescue their boyfriends!"
:—Jealous, '''Starscream'''?

"Alpha Trion...I never expected to see you again."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' doesn't have much faith in his deadbeat dad.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Optimus prime nomouthplate.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Megatron has stolen my mouthplate! This time he's gone too far...]]
*In the very first shots of the episode, the wall Firestar cuts through has details on it then suddenly turns blank gray, and the area behind the Female Autobots is drawn as a very plain area with light gray walls (which should be purple).

*In a few shots, Shockwave's gun uses the sound effect of Prime's rifle.

*As the trio escapes from Shockwave, Moonracer's transformation sound effect is cut in half (missing the first part).

*Chromia's gun uses the same sound effect Shockwave's cannon made a moment earlier. At the beginning of the show, it used the sound effect normally associated with Starscream's weapons.

*As Shockwave speaks to Megatron, one of the shots of the display shows a background with a purple-squared ceiling behind Megatron, but the rest show him to be outside.

*Also, the console configuration is totally different in the last shot (as Megatron ends the communication).

*In several shots before the first commercial break, Rumble has only one gun on his back. For the remainder of the episode, he has two.

*When Ramjet delivers the line "Maybe Shockwave made an error in his calculations", he has Astrotrain's voice. It is the same voice actor, but it has the space-echo effect that is used for Astrotrain.

*In what is perhaps one of the most infamous mistakes in Transformers history, as Prime speaks with Megatron over [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], he's missing his [[mouthplate]] for a few frames leaving him with a blank slate for a face.

*When Megatron tells Optimus about the Female Autobots and shows him "proof", as he asks "How's this Prime?", Elita One appears to talk along with him.

*When the Autobots are trying to work out where Prime had gone, standing at [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]'s control panel is a [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] in a red and gray color scheme.

*When Chromia says "Oh, we need more than hope", Moonracer is shown as the one speaking.

*Observing the spacebridge from afar, Ironhide notes that "if Prime got past those guards" so could his team. The thing is, there ''are'' no guards, and there weren't any when Prime used the bridge, either.

*Prime is hanging precariously over the vat of acid in one scene, but when the perspective changes to a view from above the vat is missing.

*When Elita revives Optimus from her stasis field, he fades from his normal colors to green, rather than the other way around. Once the fade is complete, mind you, he jumps back to his normal colors when he starts to move.

*As the Decepticons are freed from Elita's stasis field, Starscream cheers, "But Prime has disintegrated!" as if responding to some unspoken line from one of the others. The missing line is also absent from the episode's shooting script.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/5821789ca800431a/68758ddf3993e5ac Secrets of the Original Scripts, Part Five]</ref> It would seem likely that the missing line covered Elita One's sudden disappearance.

*Inferno gasps "It can't be!" in response to Prime's apparent demise, but Ironhide is shown speaking.

*Ironhide's finger lasers use the sound effect of Megatron's fusion cannon.

*As Ironhide says, "Hold it right there, Starscream. You've taken your last step.", his cheeks are white when they should be red.

*Chromia's eyes are red during her line of "Ladies first."

*Alpha Trion says he will do what he can for Elita One, but he barely looks for 5 seconds while Prime walks away! There probably should have been a dissolve to show some passage of time.

*As Alpha Trion says, "Now it's your turn to help her," Prime's mouthplate is moving as if he's speaking the words.

*As Prime charges Elita One, the shot shows a wall behind him where the hallway was a moment earlier (unless her bed suddenly turned 90 degrees).

*Prime's gun has a different sound effect as he shoots at Starscream.

*The area around Alpha Trion's eyes changes from white to gray several times in the episode, sometimes from shot to shot. Powerglide's mouthplate sometimes changes from gray to dark gray in a similar manner.

*When Optimus and Elita are saying their goodbyes to each other, the space bridge of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] is up. When Optimus leaves, it is down.

===Continuity errors===
*When the Ark launched back in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", there was no indication of a Decepticon attack on [[Great Dome|Iacon]], as this episode's flashback shows.
*Perceptor, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper are shown in Autobot HQ, yet they don't transform or join Ironhide's team heading for the space bridge.
*Speaking of the space bridge, ''why'' are there no guards around it during this episode?
*As usual, Rumble's pylons bust up the ground (several feet away from him) but don't shake up the Decepticons standing right next to him.
* Optimus Prime apparently had no idea that Alpha Trion was his creator, despite the fact that in "[[War Dawn]]" after being rebuilt, he was fully conscious and actually met the guy and even knew that Elita One was built by him.
*As Starscream announces Prime's destruction, we see a bunch of parts in the vat of acid (what Starscream later calls Prime's "melted carcass"). Where did they come from? Prime escaped without a scratch!
*"Wrong, Autobot. Not unless you can fly." Powerglide ''can'' fly. [[Microbots|Like a bird]], even.
*Why doesn't Shockwave shoot Prime and One instead of just floating there?

===Transformers references===
*The episode marked the first appearance of genuine [[female Transformer]]s in official fiction.

*Alpha Trion's relationship to Optimus Prime would be touched upon again in "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]]", and explained more fully in "War Dawn".

*"War Dawn" would also go on to explain precisely why only Prime's power supply would interface with Elita's, as seen in this episode (because she was rebuilt using his schematics).

===Trivia===
*Proof that Prime's trailer exists in subspace: He goes over the space bridge to Cybertron and transforms, and his trailer (complete with a platform for Elita One) rolls in from out of nowhere!

*This episode is the fourth and final appearance of Prime's trailer's "artillery robot" in the animated series.

[[Image:G1 Prime Elita energy transfer.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I can't wait for you to operate...When I get this feeling, I need Sexual Healing...]]

*This episode contains the rather infamous scene in which Prime connects a cable from his midriff to Elita's, and utters an audible, not-entirely-unpleasant-sounding groan as energy is transmitted through it, to her. Sexy.

*Ironhide must hate the wall in Shockwave's base, this is at least the second time he has blown through it!

*The only male Transformers seen to have 'girlfriends' in this episode ALL have red as part of their color schemes.

*Moonracer seems to be calling Powerglide "Carglide" upon seeing him again.

*If we think about it, since Optimus Prime and Elita One have the same creator, they are, in some way, brother and sister, which just makes their relationship look plain weird. (Well, maybe [[Jean Minakaze|not]] [[Patty Minakaze|in]] [[Solon Kitakaze (Victory)|Japan]].) The events of "War Dawn" show that Orion Pax and Ariel existed as non-siblings before they were remade into Optimus Prime and Elita One, though Transformers has demonstrated somewhat [[Relatives|puzzling definitions of siblings]].

*Greenlight and Lancer went nameless for 25 years until they finally got their monikers in the [[Timelines (fiction)|Timelines]] text story ''[[Flames of Yesterday]]''.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 2: Revenge of the Decepticons ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_search_for_alpha_trion.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Search for Alpha Trion}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Auto-Bop

2011-11-27T21:30:54Z

174.57.254.146: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|image=Auto-bop 4.jpg
|caption=Go ahead and mock '80s clothing, but in twenty years, they'll be mocking what we wear.
|series=G1toon
|ep=52
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=52
|prev2=Prime Target (episode)
|next2=Starscream's Brigade
|title="Auto-Bop"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-51
|airdate=[[November 13]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Tracks and Blaster uncover a hypnosis plot. A ''funky'' hypnosis plot.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ブロードキャストVSサウンドウェーブ (''Broadcast VS Soundwave'')
:''German title:'' "'''Gefährliche Hypnosekraft'''" ("Dangerous Hypnosespower")
:''Italian title, dub 1:'' '''Linee di raggruppamento''' ("Meeting up lines")
:''Italian title, dub 2:'' '''Auto-rock'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DancitronGang.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Just the usual Manhattan commuter crowd.]]

[[Raoul]] and his friends [[Poplock]] and [[Rocksteady]] are trying to make some spare cash, breakdancing on the sidewalks of [[New York City]]. Unfortunately, the management of the [[Dancitron]] nightclub doesn't like competition, and sends a mob after them. The trio grab their tape deck and flee, riding a wheeled dumpster until it's brought to a sudden halt. They're soon surrounded by armed thugs, but luckily [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] are in the city, and come to the trio's aid. While fighting the thugs off, Tracks is surprised to notice one of them is a man in a business suit.

Raoul introduces the rest of the [[Bop Crew]] to the two [[Autobot]]s, who say they're monitoring Decepticon activity, and now suspect there's something strange going on at the Dancitron. The pair enter the club and admire the immense sound system. Soon Blaster is dancing with an apparently blissed-out patron, while Tracks notes a number of oddly-dressed dancers—a garbage man, a middle-aged woman in a bathrobe and curlers, and a man dressed to the nines. In an upstairs booth, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] observe the two Autobots.

[[Image:AutoBop Blaster surfing on Tracks.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Mind the paint job.]]

Meanwhile, the Bop Crew are taking an elevated subway train when it unexpectedly begins gathering speed. The driver, entering a hypnotised state, pulls the accelerator lever to full and smashes the control panel with an iron bar. Raoul pulls the emergency cord until it breaks, but the brakes are ineffective at stopping the train. Fortunately Tracks and Blaster happen to be walking nearby, and are able to halt the train. They find the sabotaged control panel, however the driver has already fled.

Tracks sends Blaster, Poplock and Rocksteady to check with [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] while he and Raoul go to check out the Dancitron again. On the way, the pair spot an active building site—somewhat of an odd sight at 1am, and even odder when they notice the workers are more inappropriately-dressed people, including some of those previously seen at the Dancitron. They're quickly spotted by the workers, and Tracks drags the gate shut to prevent the humans from attacking them, though that doesn't stop a workman on the building itself from firing red-hot rivets at them.

[[Image:Trackscruc2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Passion of the Chrysler. ''Alternate joke'': Radio killed the video star.]]

Poplock and Rocksteady are offered free tickets into the Dancitron and eagerly accept, believing they'll be able to investigate on their own. The duo enter the club and are soon hypnotised by the music. Arriving at the club, Tracks leaves Raoul outside and encounters the boy's two friends inside. They lead him to two Decepticons, who use the club's hypnotized patrons to ensnare him and bind him to the club's sound system. Starscream reports to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] that the building construction is on schedule.

Having consulted Teletraan I, Blaster arrives at the Dancitron to find Raoul waiting outside. The pair enter to find Tracks, with Blaster tracking an ultrasound signal. Raoul encounters his two friends and, remembering Blaster's warning about the hypnotic sound, plugs his ears with a paper napkin. They chase him, and he soon finds Tracks, but is overwhelmed by the hypnotized dancers. As he soon discovers, the hypnosis can be broken by simply getting the victim [[Water|wet]], so he triggers the club's sprinkler systems, freeing the patrons from their trance. The Bop Crew swiftly frees Tracks and they pursue Starscream.

[[Image:Auto-Bop Blaster Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Soundwave and Blaster in a two-bot reenactment of You Got Served.]]

Blaster squares off with Soundwave at the club in a sonic "battle of the boom boxes"; the two are nearly evenly matched, until Blaster uses the club's sound system to amplify his abilities and drive Soundwave off. Tracks engineers a rain cloud which de-hypnotises the humans working at the building site. This also flushes out Starscream, who chases Tracks. The Autobot flies through the partially completed building, and the larger Decepticon damages his wing trying to follow, forcing him to retreat. Blaster arrives and uses the Dancitron speakers to bring down the building.

Tracks offers grateful thanks to Raoul and his buddies for saving his life, saying that if there's anything he can do for them... and it turns out there is. The trio lost their radio in all the chaos, and until they earn enough street cash to get a new one, poor Blaster will make an ideal replacement.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (6)
*[[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (10)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)

|c3=
* [[Raoul]] (1)
* [[Poplock]] (2)
* [[Rocksteady]] (3)
* [[Furg]] (4)
* [[Stylish man]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==

"I've got to french-fry your circuits."
-'''Raoul''' shows his gratefulness to '''Blaster'''

"That's what I call a riveting experience!" 
"I don't know why I hang out with you, man."
:—'''Tracks''' makes a terrible pun after being shot at by a guy with a rivet gun, and '''Raoul''' calls him out on it.

"Foo on this jive! My main machine's in trouble!"
:—'''Raoul'''

"I've been waiting a long time for this, you poor excuse for a sound system." 
"All talk...no shock."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Soundwave''', right as their sonic duel begins.

"Yo, the dude's gone crazy!" 
"Yeah... like a fox!"
:—'''Poplock''' and '''Tracks'''.

"Heeheeheehaahaahaahaahaahaahaaaaa...."
:—'''Soundwave''', as he momentarily gets the upper hand in the sonic duel between himself and Blaster. This is one of the few times in the series that Soundwave is heard actually laughing, and coming from him in that quiet, metallic monotone of his, and in this context, it is actually kinda scary.

"I'd say your nightclub just went out of style."
:—'''Blaster''' to '''Soundwave''', after he won the sonic duel.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* In this episode, Raoul's skin color is colored slightly lighter than his last appearance in "[[Make Tracks]]".

* Despite Rocksteady breakdancing and being thrown around quite a lot, his hat always remains firmly on his head.

* Throughout the episode, when people run, it sounds like they're wearing tapdancing shoes (over-exaggerated sound effect).

* "Let's beat it!" - Raoul is supposed to be saying it, but Rocksteady mouths the words.

* Before the Bop Crew jump onto the dumpster, it's standing against a wall, but shifts out into the middle of the sidewalk as they jump onto it.

* As the thugs first start firing at Blaster, the edges of his helmet are white instead of red.

[[Image:Autobop Blaster's putting on weight.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This scene was actually filmed while Blaster was pregnant with [[Eject]] and [[Rewind]]. That's his baby bump!]]
* As Blaster aims his electro-scrambler, he looks a little... fat.

* Raoul is missing a row of studs on the left-hand side of his jacket when he claims he had things under control.

* When Raoul introduces Poplock and Rocksteady, they're both suddenly at least a head shorter than him.

* As Tracks says "Mellow kind of place", the edges of Blaster's helmet are white again.

* After that [[Stylish man|one fellow]] leaves the bar to ask Tracks a question, his hair color changes from brown to white.

* Shortly after Tracks notices the out-of-place people, there's a shot of Blaster and Tracks walking — Tracks's Autobot insignia is outlined in white instead of black, and Blaster's insignia blinks out of existence every few frames.

* In the first shot of Soundwave, his faceplate is dark grey, and his eject button is blue. Then it pans over to Starscream, who has a dark grey face.

* Every shot of the train interior shows it devoid of passengers other than the Bop Crew, but several exterior shots show panicked people climbing out the windows.

* As Blaster says he didn't spy anything unusual at the club, his forehead is red instead of white, and Tracks's wings are missing. The same two errors occur in the next shot but one.

* Blaster walks along Tracks's grappling line a couple of steps too far, and appears to be walking on the side of the train.

* The location names on the side of the train change configuration between shots.

* As Tracks stands up after they halt the train, a cel ordering error results in the windows on the rear of the train appearing on top of him.

* When the two Autobots open the door of the train to see the Bop Crew, Tracks's helmet is mostly blue instead of white.

* The voice that says "Sabotage!" doesn't sound like Tracks, though it's him speaking.

* When Raoul enters Tracks after the train incident, Tracks' interior is glowing the same yellow as his windows (and the seat gets cut off in a yellow stripe as Raoul sits).

* Tracks's wings are blue when he flips them out to take off after he and Raoul leave the building site.

[[Image:Autobop Tracks holding bouncer.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ah crap, he deflated.]]
* The bouncer appears to halve in body weight when Tracks picks him up.

* Tracks has grey wings, both when the door to the DJ booth opens and as Starscream gloats he'll never get out of the club alive.

* Soundwave's faceplate is oddly shaped and his eject button is blue as he announces he's ready for the ultra-sound transmission.

* After Tracks climbs up onto a catwalk, the shots of hypnotized club patrons approaching him from either side are the same shot, just mirrored.

* When Starscream contacts Megatron, Megatron's insignia is red instead of purple.

* When Blaster enters the club, in a couple of frames the chest portion of a female dancer's costume flashes flesh-colored.

* When Raoul attempts to free Tracks, the club patrons go into their zombie hypnotized state again. This is the same shot repeated from when the same thing happened earlier, only mirrored.

* Starscream's mouth is missing as he indignantly shouts "What?!"

* Right before Starscream jumps through the window, an exterior shot of the Dancitron (with motionless identically-dressed couples leading in a line out of it) can be seen through it, before panning swiftly to the right. As this is supposed to be an exterior window of the Dancitron itself... this shot doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

* After Tracks blasts a hole in the wall, the cels aren't properly aligned, so he appears to drive through a point in the wall slightly to the side of the hole.

* Directly after Soundwave jumps through the DJ booth window, the right-hand edge of Blaster's helmet is white, and his forehead is red.

* A moment later, the sides of Soundwave's head are blue instead of white, as he reels from Blaster's first attack.

* After Tracks causes rain to wake up the hypnotized humans at the building site, there's a shot of dozens of men fleeing it, all clad in identical outfits.

* Tracks' bumper gun sounds like Optimus' rifle.

* As Soundwave laughs, the walking animation makes him appear to be moonwalking forwards.

* After Soundwave knocks Blaster into the Dancitron sound system, Blaster sits up, and the piece of debris behind him winks out of existence.

* The sides of Soundwave's head are blue again when he's sent flying from Blaster's attack with the sound system speakers, and his eject button is blue again a moment later, when he stands up in the rubble.

* During a shot of Tracks flying through a building, his wings are blue. This shot is followed by one of Starscream colored as [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]].

* When Tracks shoots the half-constructed building, the flames wash across the ground about a foot too high.

* The pattern of creases in the Bop Crew's dance mat varies depending on the angle.

* The crowd gathered to watch Poplock and Rocksteady breakdance are completely motionless, despite some of them being in running poses (and check out the oddly "Old West" dressed people by the coffee shop!)

===Continuity errors===
* Rocksteady takes off his jacket in order to breakdance, but somehow is suddenly wearing it again when Raoul announces they should beat it.

* Apparently there are still people who don't know about the Autobots, as that one fellow in the club appears to think that Tracks and Blaster are <strike>Pretenders</strike> ordinary (gigantic!) humans wearing elaborate costumes.

* Presumably the train which the Bop Crew were riding on was heading away from the Dancitron, and at high speed. Yet Tracks and Blaster just happen to be walking in exactly the right place to see it speeding along when they were in the club the last time we saw them.

* Tracks and Blaster actually open fire on humans!

* How did Poplock and Rocksteady get to the Dancitron ahead of Raoul and Tracks, who were driving? The scuffle at the building site didn't hold Tracks up ''that'' long.

* Superhuman <s>Spike</s>humans:
** The hypnotized humans are somehow able to throw Tracks off the catwalk.

* Why do Tracks and Blaster destroy what looks to be a perfectly good building? Why not keep it?

===Continuity notes===
* This episode is one of four pre-movie episodes to not feature [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].

* Gadgets and Powers:
** Blaster uses his electro-scrambler to disable the Dancitron thugs' guns.
** Tracks has a grappling hook in his vehicle mode hood, and a laser which he uses to blast a hole in the wall of the Dancitron.
** The back of Blaster's cassette cover functions as a monitor for his ultra-sound detector.
** Tracks "seeds" clouds (using some kind of special smoke) to make it rain.

*This episode features the second of only two instances in the series in which Soundwave ''laughs''. The first was in "[[Quest for Survival]]". It is possibly the scariest thing ever.

* The location the Autobots are using as a base has "SPARKPLUGS" over the door, though it's different from [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s shop in "Make Tracks".

===Real-world references===
* The episode in general features then-relevant (or slightly past-relevant) cultural touchstones - [[wikipedia:Breakdancing|breakdancing]] and the paranoia over [[wikipedia:Subliminal_message#Audio|subliminal messages hidden in popular music]].

* When confronted by the gang of thugs employed by Dancitron, Raoul suggests they "pull a [[Michael Jackson]]" and [[wikipedia:Beat It|beat it]].

* While fleeing from the thugs, Raoul wishes their blaster (boom box) was "THE [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]". Rocksteady retorts that Raoul "knows the Autobots like I know [[Prince]]".

*When first meeting Blaster and Tracks, Rocksteady responds to Blaster's implication of trouble-making with "Hey! We were just breakin' in front of the Dancitron (''shifts from two open palms and a shrug to one thumb extended pointing behind him'') and these '''Road Warrior''' rejects tried to bounce us out."

* The sound effect of the DJ booth door opening and closing is the door sound effect from ''Star Trek''. This occurs in plenty of other episodes, along with other Star Trek sound effects (phasers, photon torpedoes...).

===Trivia===
*When Tracks and Blaster enter Dancitron, the song playing is an instrumental version of the song performed by [[Cold Slither]] from the ''G.I. Joe'' episode of the same name.

* This episode is also noteworthy for pitting the two tape decks, Soundwave and Blaster, against each other, in an intense sonic duel. It turns out that Soundwave is actually somewhat the more powerful of the two, and Blaster had to augment his output with some nearby additional speakers to best his opponent... the cheater...

* One major plot point is that Tracks realises that there's something wrong when he notices middle-aged housewives and fancy-dressed people at the club, but as the Decepticons are hypnotising people with the music at the club, how did those people get there in the first place in order to be hypnotised?

* It is never established within the episode itself just what the Decepticons are trying to '''accomplish''' with their hypnotize-people-to-construct-a-building plot. However, according to the official [[Sunbow]] synopsis included in [[Metrodome]]'s DVD release: "... the boys and the Autobots pursue Starscream to the skyscraper—a new Decepticon headquarters being constructed by the hypnotized patrons from Dancitron." Oh. Well then.

* At one point, the show does a flashback to a warning that Blaster gave Raoul ''less than a minute earlier''. Just to make sure nobody forgot.

* When leaving the building site to head to the Dancitron, Tracks inserts Raoul into his chest ''before'' transforming to vehicle mode. Weird.

*This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (3DVDs) ([[Flex Media]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External Links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/auto-bop.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Blaster Blues

2011-11-27T03:41:09Z

174.57.254.146: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=39
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=50
|prev2=The Core
|next2=Prime Target (episode)
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=34
|prev3=Microbots
|next3=Sea Change
|image=BlasterBlues Megatron threatens Blaster.jpg
|caption=
|title="Blaster Blues"
|production code=#700-38
|airdate=[[October 23]], 1985
|written by=[[Larry Strauss]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons hijack Earth's airwaves. Yet somehow, you are still able to watch this episode.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ブロードキャスト・ブルース (''Broadcast Blues'')
:''Italian title, dub 1:'' '''La città delle stelle''' ("City of the stars")
:''Italian title, dub 2:'' '''Il Blues di Blaster''' ("Blaster's blues")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Blasterbluesconcertcrowd.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Did Spike and Carly take an Autobot on all of their dates?]]

[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly]] are at a rock concert, having taken [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] along for the music. Enjoying the concert, Spike wishes that the rest of the [[Autobot]]s could hear the music, so Blaster begins transmitting to all of them. Off in space, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] gets a real kick out of the music.

At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] are observing [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s target practice on [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], when Blaster's music from the concert begins playing on their channel. Sparkplug and most of the Autobots are not enjoying the overwhelming volume, but [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] gets the chance to show off his dancing skills.

At the [[Haley Observatory]], [[Haley|Professor Haley]] introduces his new creation, the [[Voltronic Galaxer]], to his fellow scientists. The device is intended to translate Earth's recordings into other languages and broadcast them into space, in search of intelligent life. Seemingly, the Transformers don't count. During his first test of the device, the scientist is quite surprised when he gets a response... which turns to horror when he sees it's the Decepticons. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], as he is oft wont to do, begins firing randomly, but [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] orders him to stop, saying that they need the Voltronic Galaxer.

At the Autobot base, Optimus Prime is so annoyed by the music that he outright tells Blaster to "shut up", but to no avail. Only a distress call from the scientist finally gets Blaster to stop. After the Autobots arrive at the observatory, they find that the Decepticons have already fled with their prize. Optimus Prime vows to find it and bring the Voltronic Galaxer back.

[[Image:Blasterbluesprimedirectstraffic.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Prime's day job]]

Splitting up into groups, the Autobots begin the search. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], Spike and Carly have already searched half the hemisphere, while Cosmos and Blaster are searching outer space. They locate the Decepticons in a [[Decepticon moonbase|base]] on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], where Megatron is plotting to take control of Earth's radio airwaves. Blaster and Cosmos are caught, however, before they can contact the Autobots. Blaster is forced into use as a transcrambler, while Cosmos powers the device. Megatron orders the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] to return to Earth as the radio blackout commences.

On Earth, the communications blackout is scrambling even the Autobots' radio channels. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] barely manage to stop a forest fire, while [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] free motorists trapped on a frozen highway, where [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] attack.

[[Image:Blasterbluespgcarriesprime.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I'm not paid enough to carry this around.]]

At an airport, Powerglide is attempting to land, when Starscream and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] attack, damaging both Powerglide and Optimus Prime. Spike manages to strap a jet pack onto Powerglide, giving him some extra boost. As Megatron begins broadcasting his demands to Earth, Blaster plays music from the concert on the same channel. Carly recognizes the tunes and manages to track the transmission back to the Moon. They head for the Autobot base. Carly does some quick repairs on Optimus then the two teens and Powerglide load Prime onto Omega, who takes them to space.

Once Omega lands on the Moon, Megatron and Astrotrain attack him. Omega manages to get his hand on Megatron, but Astrotrain rams Omega in train mode, causing him to release Megatron. Astrotrain then flees and Omega transforms into rocket mode and follows. Seeing Optimus Prime defenseless, Megatron decides to hit him while he's down, only for the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] to reactivate just in time to defend himself.

[[Image:Blasterbluesop%26mdance.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One shall stand and one shall... oh, you know the drill.]]

With no one to guard them, Blaster and Cosmos cause the voltronic galaxer to receive feedback and explode. Seeing his latest technology ruined, Megatron retreats. After freeing them, Blaster mentions that he could rebuild the Decepticon moonbase into a new Autobot base. Cosmos likes the idea, as it would give him some company. Optimus agrees, but orders him to keep an eye on his volume.

Soon, however, Blaster is back to transmitting loud rock music over the air waves again. Some stereos never learn.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (6)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (9)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (14)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (16)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (21)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (22)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (24)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (25)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (26)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (30)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (31)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (12)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (13)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (23)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (35)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (36)

|c3=
*[[Carly]] (1)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (2)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
*[[Haley]] (10)
*Air Traffic Controllers (27)
*Pilot (28)
*Railroad workers (29)
*Meteorologist (31)
*Motorists (34)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Optimus''': My audio receptors! What is that noise?! 
'''Hoist''': Humans call it 'music'. 
'''Sparkplug''': Not ''this'' human! 
'''Jazz''': Sounds all right to me!
:—Sparkplug and the Autobots share their opinions on Blaster's choice in music.

"The Earth is but a speck on the arm of the universe."
:—'''Human scientist''' bolstering his race's importance in the cosmos.

"Blaster! Decrease volume! ... Blaster! '''SHUT UP!'''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' in another fine example of subordinate management.

'''Ironhide''': Where did the call originate? 
'''Optimus''': I don't know! All I can hear is that blasted Blaster!
:—[[Peter Cullen]]'s annoyance at Blaster's loud music.

"Hey, talk about no place. I can't even get a bottom 40 station out here."
:—'''Blaster''' doesn't enjoy outer space duty inside Cosmos.

"It's Blaster!" 
"Why that son of an 8-track."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Trailbreaker'''

"Release Autobots, Megatron!" 
"Never!" 
"Reeeelease them!"
:—'''Omega Supreme''' adds some "hands on" pressure to dealing with '''Megatron'''

"Looks like the big boy needs a little training!"
:—'''Astrotrain''', proving the pun is indeed mightier than the sword. Unfortunately, it's not as mighty as Omega Supreme.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The rock band at the concert is playing ''two songs at once'', both "[[Cold Slither]]" and the generic big band/hard rock song. "Cold Slither" is missing a moment later when Blaster sends the music to the Autobots.
* The arena's seats have more than a seat's width between them. The owners must've been expecting some ''seriously'' fat patrons.
* Cosmos's voice in his first couple of lines lacks his usual self-echo.
* As Megatron gloats on top of the observatory, his laugh plays over itself (ie, the same laugh twice).
* Improbable viewpoints:
** So Blaster sends the music from the concert to the Autobots. How does he manage to send a 3rd-person view of ''himself'' at the same time?
** Do Tracks and Huffer have a video camera with them to report in to Prime?
** Does Prime have a camera stationed at the city docks to show Powerglide flying in aimless circles?
* The reporter at the observatory has already written down Professor Haley's words before he's finished saying them.
* Recycled footage:
** Prime's trailer rolling in from offscreen seems to be recycled from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]".
** The shot of Ironhide, Trailbreaker and Hound converting to vehicle mode is lifted from "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"
** The pan of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe transforming comes right out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".
** The same "MTMTE1" scene is mined again to show Trailbreaker transforming as the Autobots deploy to deal with the loss of radio communications.
* Astrotrain has no transformation sound effect as he leaves the tunnel and converts from train to shuttle.
* Trailbreaker's eyeband is black instead of blue as Optimus quizzes the professor about the Voltronic Galaxer. The points of his cheeks are colored blue instead.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots: Prime's initial squad fluctuates all over the place.
** The initial group receiving the transmission is Prime, Jazz, Ratchet, Ironhide, Hoist & Cliffjumper.
** Mirage, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Hound show up to transform prior to rolling out, and are not seen again. Trailbreaker shows up at the same time.
** Bumblebee, Wheeljack, and Prowl (or maybe Bluestreak) show up as the Autobots depart.
** The group that finally arrives at the observatory is Prime, Jazz, Ratchet, Ironhide, Hoist, Bumblebee & Trailbreaker, which means we've lost seven guys.
* Powerglide's cockpit has changed from a fighter-plane-like single-seater (seen in "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1]]"), to a side-by-side like a passenger jet.
* Cosmos's "cap" is green instead of red as he lands on the Moon.
* "This your idea of a joke?" Blaster's line lacks the usual processing.
* Red Alert's "horns" flash orange. Last time, they flashed blue.
* Despite knowing about the pending attack, Red Alert keeps shooting at the trees. It seems likely that the animators recycled previous footage, perhaps not realizing he should be aiming skyward.
* Prowl's head crest is white instead of red as he closes Ratchet's passenger compartment (and can't Ratchet do that himself?)
* Whatever damage Powerglide sustained from Ramjet pretty much disappears after Spike puts the jetpack on him.
* Blaster first pushes his left-most button. Later, it's the middle two that are deployed. After Megatron kicks him, all but one are engaged.
* The whole sequence of Megatron discovering Blaster's subterfuge is a bit wonky. Blaster sniggers loudly, Megatron suddenly says "What was that?", then there's a beep and the rock music is heard. The animators/sound guys seem to have not quite gotten the sequence of events down correctly.
* Blaster's forehead is red instead of white as Megatron threatens him.
* When Spike cheers on Omega Supreme, both his lips ''and'' Carly's are moving.
* When Astrotrain rams Omega Supreme's leg, Omega holds still for two seconds, then drops Megatron.
[[Image:Omegasupreme astrotrain.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Pretty damn big, that's how much.]]
* If Astrotrain is big enough to hold all the Decepticons, then how big does that make Omega Supreme in the picture to the right here?
* One gun, many lasers:
** When Optimus fires at the fleeing Megatron, he only has one gun, yet four or five lasers streak past Megatron.
* Blaster has four small switches on his chest for most of the episode (clearly seen as when Megatron kicks him towards the end), but is drawn with three large ones after Prime frees him.
* Cosmos's helmet is green instead of red as Prime frees Blaster (which, by the way, seems to consist of just helping him to his feet, rather than freeing him from any "welding" done by Astrotrain.)
* At the end of the episode, Blaster seemingly is supposed to be playing his rock tune yet again, complete with Prime yelling at him for it and the other Autobots chasing Blaster off into the sunset... but the music is missing. Oops!

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Blasterbluesonthemoon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"No no, it is totally worth risking the complete failure of the plan to have gloating rights over a couple of guys whose names I probably can't remember!"]]
* You have to wonder if Megatron thought out all the parts to this plan, given that it would be a lot easier for human society to adapt to life without radio, than life without electricity, petroleum and fossil fuels, and so on... Actually, how would we ''use'' said radio waves, without the power resources the 'Cons would strip out of the planet in exchange for ceasing their jamming?
* Furthermore, one might question the wisdom of leaving two conscious Autobots right across from the critical device... with one of them ''fully armed''.
* In a world full of Transformers running around on the evening news (and showing up in arcades, research labs, dams, power plants, and basically everywhere), why would a scientist still speak of alien life as though it were some unproved hypothesis?
[[Image:BlasterBlues Megatron voltronic galaxer.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit!]]
* In a rare instance of a falling human seeming to incur some actual injury, Professor Haley is apparently knocked unconscious by falling off the Voltronic Galaxer. Of course, he's up and (literally) running by the time the Autobots arrive (and still hanging out inside the burning building, apparently).
* The passenger jets at the airport are shown swerving and maneuvering as though they were small-scaled fighters.
* Maybe Astrotrain's alternate mode ''does'' make sense in the bizarre world of cartoon Earth... because the railroad workers are trying to clear the track for a ''steam locomotive''.
* One of the railroad men says he will "radio [the train] to the auxiliary track", but no other track is actually shown.
* Only one guy leaps clear of the steam engine. Where's the fireman?
* Okay, so it's great that Optimus is directing traffic at this one airport, but... what about the hundreds of other airports out there? Much like "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]", the Autobots seem to lack a plan to deal with the actual ''cause'' of the problems.
* If Powerglide's jet pack is ''out of fuel'', then ''how does he keep flying??''
* Ratchet's team was mostly in robot mode when they were buried. They emerge from the snow in vehicle mode. Also, all the buried and exploded cars have vanished.
* Does Omega Supreme just keep some human-sized space suits handy? 'Cause Spike and Carly suddenly pop up in space suits when it's time to go to the Moon.
* Did stadium security not notice the recording device that is Blaster? Or did they want the live concert all over the <strike>internet</strike> Autobot broadcast channels?

===A loony lunar lineup of astronomical errors===
* Cosmos, Astrotrain, and all the rest get full sound effects in outer space. Of course, media of far higher caliber than ''The Transformers'' have made the same error, generally because it'd be pretty boring to watch a bunch of silent ships fly around, so we'll let this one slide.
* The depicted activities of any Transformer on the Moon do not bear any resemblance to the movements of creatures under gravity one-sixth that of Earth's own.
* Cosmos really shouldn't have to switch off his engines once he reaches the Moon; he should have just switched them off as soon as he escaped Earth's gravity well.
* Blaster somehow manages to ''listen'' in on the Decepticons across the airless surface of the Moon.
* The burning [[Decepticon moonbase]] continues burning and trailing smoke as if it were in an atmosphere.
* Carly: "I've never been to the Moon before!" NO. REALLY??

===Continuity notes===
[[Image:Blasterbluestrailerchase.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Last one out of the parking lot gets stuck with the check.]]
[[Image:Trailbreakerdance.jpg|thumb|right|200px|I... AM... '''''TRAILBREAKER!!!''''']]
* Jazz has righteous moves, but they are limited by his bulky body.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Blaster's boom box mode in the opening scenes is as tall as a human.
** Red Alert's "horns" flash to indicate Decepticon activity, just like in "[[Auto Berserk]]". This time they're orange, though.
** Ratchet and the rest can deploy tire studs to deal with snow-covered roads.
** Hoist deploys a long snakey tentacle with a claw at the end to catch a falling motorist. How many devices can he [[Auto Berserk|carry]], anyway??
** This time, Trailbreaker's forcefield just kind of radiates out of thin air in front of his head. He's able to form it into a dome, which he can then place where he wants it... but, to his later misfortune, he remains outside the dome himself.
** Powerglide can deploy a suction cup line capable of carrying wounded Autobots around like limp ragdolls, leaving them flapping in the breeze.... say, aren't you supposed to ''not move'' the injured?
** Omega Supreme clearly leaves most of himself behind when he launches for the Moon. When he arrives there, he lands in rocket mode amid a cloud of smoke... and when the smoke clears, the left-behind bits have appeared. Later, he transforms out of just the rocket (conveniently off-screen) while in mid-flight.
* Where's the trailer go?:
** During the scene at the observatory, Optimus transforms and drives away, and there is an extended moment where his trailer drives off after him to catch up.
* The joy of size changing: Blaster rides inside Cosmos to the Moon, and in the next scene Cosmos and Blaster are side by side and Blaster is almost twice as tall as Cosmos.
* Omega Supreme actually uses whole sentences in this episode. That's just crazy.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''Millennium Falcon'' engine burst is strangely repurposed as the burning fires at the observatory as the Decepticons close in.
** X-Wings diving, ''Falcon'' engine burst, and Death Star superlaser all in a row as the Decepticons launch from the observatory.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Megatron takes off from Astrotrain
** X-Wings diving as the 'cons fly aboard Astrotrain
** Death Star superlaser as Astrotrain pursues Cosmos.
** TIE Fighter engine as Cosmos evades.
** The Death Star door slide is used as a steam engine sound effect.
** A Stormtrooper's laser gun is used to soundtrack Ramjet and Thundercracker's attack on Inferno and Red Alert, possibly taken from when Luke & Han ambush the stormtroopers aboard the ''Falcon''.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Megatron launches from the Moon.
* Trailbreaker mentions 8-tracks. Did kids in 1985 even know what an 8-track is?
* "Bang, zoom, to the Moon!" - Powerglide's line is a play on a signature line of Ralph Kramden from ''[[The Honeymooners]]''...whose actor Jackie Gleason was also the inspiration for Powerglide's voice.
* "Parting is such sweet sorrow!" - Megatron prepares to kill Prime while quoting one of Shakespeare's most famous lines.

===Trivia===
* Seriously. "I've never been to the Moon before!"
** Although, to her credit, she did just come back from Cybertron in the previous episode. Maybe she is expecting to be taken to inter-planetary destinations every episode?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 4 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/blaster_blues.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Blaster Blues

2011-11-27T03:23:36Z

174.57.254.146: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=39
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=50
|prev2=The Core
|next2=Prime Target (episode)
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=34
|prev3=Microbots
|next3=Sea Change
|image=BlasterBlues Megatron threatens Blaster.jpg
|caption=
|title="Blaster Blues"
|production code=#700-38
|airdate=[[October 23]], 1985
|written by=[[Larry Strauss]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons hijack Earth's airwaves. Yet somehow, you are still able to watch this episode.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ブロードキャスト・ブルース (''Broadcast Blues'')
:''Italian title, dub 1:'' '''La città delle stelle''' ("City of the stars")
:''Italian title, dub 2:'' '''Il Blues di Blaster''' ("Blaster's blues")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Blasterbluesconcertcrowd.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Did Spike and Carly take an Autobot on all of their dates?]]

[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly]] are at a rock concert, having taken [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] along for the music. Enjoying the concert, Spike wishes that the rest of the [[Autobot]]s could hear the music, so Blaster begins transmitting to all of them. Off in space, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] gets a real kick out of the music.

At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] are observing [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s target practice on [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], when Blaster's music from the concert begins playing on their channel. Sparkplug and most of the Autobots are not enjoying the overwhelming volume, but [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] gets the chance to show off his dancing skills.

At the [[Haley Observatory]], [[Haley|Professor Haley]] introduces his new creation, the [[Voltronic Galaxer]], to his fellow scientists. The device is intended to translate Earth's recordings into other languages and broadcast them into space, in search of intelligent life. Seemingly, the Transformers don't count. During his first test of the device, the scientist is quite surprised when he gets a response... which turns to horror when he sees it's the Decepticons. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], as he is oft wont to do, begins firing randomly, but [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] orders him to stop, saying that they need the Voltronic Galaxer.

At the Autobot base, Optimus Prime is so annoyed by the music that he outright tells Blaster to "shut up", but to no avail. Only a distress call from the scientist finally gets Blaster to stop. After the Autobots arrive at the observatory, they find that the Decepticons have already fled with their prize. Optimus Prime vows to find it and bring the Voltronic Galaxer back.

[[Image:Blasterbluesprimedirectstraffic.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Prime's day job]]

Splitting up into groups, the Autobots begin the search. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], Spike and Carly have already searched half the hemisphere, while Cosmos and Blaster are searching outer space. They locate the Decepticons in a [[Decepticon moonbase|base]] on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], where Megatron is plotting to take control of Earth's radio airwaves. Blaster and Cosmos are caught, however, before they can contact the Autobots. Blaster is forced into use as a transcrambler, while Cosmos powers the device. Megatron orders the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] to return to Earth as the radio blackout commences.

On Earth, the communications blackout is scrambling even the Autobots' radio channels. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] barely manage to stop a forest fire, while [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] free motorists trapped on a frozen highway, where [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] attack.

[[Image:Blasterbluespgcarriesprime.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I'm not paid enough to carry this around.]]

At an airport, Powerglide is attempting to land, when Starscream and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] attack, damaging both Powerglide and Optimus Prime. Spike manages to strap a jet pack onto Powerglide, giving him some extra boost. As Megatron begins broadcasting his demands to Earth, Blaster plays music from the concert on the same channel. Carly recognizes the tunes and manages to track the transmission back to the Moon. They head for the Autobot base. Carly does some quick repairs on Optimus then the two teens and Powerglide load Prime onto Omega, who takes them to space.

Once Omega lands on the Moon, Megatron and Astrotrain attack him. Omega manages to get his hand on Megatron, but Astrotrain rams Omega in train mode, causing him to release Megatron. Astrotrain then flees and Omega transforms into rocket mode and follows. Seeing Optimus Prime defenseless, Megatron decides to hit him while he's down, only for the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] to reactivate just in time to defend himself.

[[Image:Blasterbluesop%26mdance.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One shall stand and one shall... oh, you know the drill.]]

With no one to guard them, Blaster and Cosmos cause the voltronic galaxer to receive feedback and explode. Seeing his latest technology ruined, Megatron retreats. After freeing them, Blaster mentions that he could rebuild the Decepticon moonbase into a new Autobot base. Cosmos likes the idea, as it would give him some company. Optimus agrees, but orders him to keep an eye on his volume.

Soon, however, Blaster is back to transmitting loud rock music over the air waves again. Some stereos never learn.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (6)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (9)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (14)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (16)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (21)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (22)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (24)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (25)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (26)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (30)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (31)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (12)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (13)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (23)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (35)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (36)

|c3=
*[[Carly]] (1)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (2)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
*[[Haley]] (10)
*Air Traffic Controllers (27)
*Pilot (28)
*Railroad workers (29)
*Meteorologist (31)
*Motorists (34)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Optimus''': My audio receptors! What is that noise?! 
'''Hoist''': Humans call it 'music'. 
'''Sparkplug''': Not ''this'' human! 
'''Jazz''': Sounds all right to me!
:—Sparkplug and the Autobots share their opinions on Blaster's choice in music.

"The Earth is but a speck on the arm of the universe."
:—'''Human scientist''' bolstering his race's importance in the cosmos.

"Blaster! Decrease volume! ... Blaster! '''SHUT UP!'''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' in another fine example of subordinate management.

'''Ironhide''': Where did the call originate? 
'''Optimus''': I don't know! All I can hear is that blasted Blaster!
:—[[Peter Cullen]]'s annoyance at Blaster's loud music.

"Hey, talk about no place. I can't even get a bottom 40 station out here."
:—'''Blaster''' doesn't enjoy outer space duty inside Cosmos.

"It's Blaster!" 
"Why that son of an 8-track."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Trailbreaker'''

"Release Autobots, Megatron!" 
"Never!" 
"Reeeelease them!"
:—'''Omega Supreme''' adds some "hands on" pressure to dealing with '''Megatron'''

"Looks like the big boy needs a little training!"
:—'''Astrotrain''', proving the pun is indeed mightier than the sword. Unfortunately, it's not as mighty as Omega Supreme.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The rock band at the concert is playing ''two songs at once'', both "[[Cold Slither]]" and the generic big band/hard rock song. "Cold Slither" is missing a moment later when Blaster sends the music to the Autobots.
* The arena's seats have more than a seat's width between them. The owners must've been expecting some ''seriously'' fat patrons.
* Cosmos's voice in his first couple of lines lacks his usual self-echo.
* As Megatron gloats on top of the observatory, his laugh plays over itself (ie, the same laugh twice).
* Improbable viewpoints:
** So Blaster sends the music from the concert to the Autobots. How does he manage to send a 3rd-person view of ''himself'' at the same time?
** Do Tracks and Huffer have a video camera with them to report in to Prime?
** Does Prime have a camera stationed at the city docks to show Powerglide flying in aimless circles?
* The reporter at the observatory has already written down Professor Haley's words before he's finished saying them.
* Recycled footage:
** Prime's trailer rolling in from offscreen seems to be recycled from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]".
** The shot of Ironhide, Trailbreaker and Hound converting to vehicle mode is lifted from "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"
** The pan of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe transforming comes right out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".
** The same "MTMTE1" scene is mined again to show Trailbreaker transforming as the Autobots deploy to deal with the loss of radio communications.
* Astrotrain has no transformation sound effect as he leaves the tunnel and converts from train to shuttle.
* Trailbreaker's eyeband is black instead of blue as Optimus quizzes the professor about the Voltronic Galaxer. The points of his cheeks are colored blue instead.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots: Prime's initial squad fluctuates all over the place.
** The initial group receiving the transmission is Prime, Jazz, Ratchet, Ironhide, Hoist & Cliffjumper.
** Mirage, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Hound show up to transform prior to rolling out, and are not seen again. Trailbreaker shows up at the same time.
** Bumblebee, Wheeljack, and Prowl (or maybe Bluestreak) show up as the Autobots depart.
** The group that finally arrives at the observatory is Prime, Jazz, Ratchet, Ironhide, Hoist, Bumblebee & Trailbreaker, which means we've lost seven guys.
* Powerglide's cockpit has changed from a fighter-plane-like single-seater (seen in "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1]]"), to a side-by-side like a passenger jet.
* Cosmos's "cap" is green instead of red as he lands on the Moon.
* "This your idea of a joke?" Blaster's line lacks the usual processing.
* Red Alert's "horns" flash orange. Last time, they flashed blue.
* Despite knowing about the pending attack, Red Alert keeps shooting at the trees. It seems likely that the animators recycled previous footage, perhaps not realizing he should be aiming skyward.
* Prowl's head crest is white instead of red as he closes Ratchet's passenger compartment (and can't Ratchet do that himself?)
* Whatever damage Powerglide sustained from Ramjet pretty much disappears after Spike puts the jetpack on him.
* Blaster first pushes his left-most button. Later, it's the middle two that are deployed. After Megatron kicks him, all but one are engaged.
* The whole sequence of Megatron discovering Blaster's subterfuge is a bit wonky. Blaster sniggers loudly, Megatron suddenly says "What was that?", then there's a beep and the rock music is heard. The animators/sound guys seem to have not quite gotten the sequence of events down correctly.
* Blaster's forehead is red instead of white as Megatron threatens him.
* When Spike cheers on Omega Supreme, both his lips ''and'' Carly's are moving.
* When Astrotrain rams Omega Supreme's leg, Omega holds still for two seconds, then drops Megatron.
[[Image:Omegasupreme astrotrain.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Pretty damn big, that's how much.]]
* If Astrotrain is big enough to hold all the Decepticons, then how big does that make Omega Supreme in the picture to the right here?
* One gun, many lasers:
** When Optimus fires at the fleeing Megatron, he only has one gun, yet four or five lasers streak past Megatron.
* Blaster has four small switches on his chest for most of the episode (clearly seen as when Megatron kicks him towards the end), but is drawn with three large ones after Prime frees him.
* Cosmos's helmet is green instead of red as Prime frees Blaster (which, by the way, seems to consist of just helping him to his feet, rather than freeing him from any "welding" done by Astrotrain.)
* At the end of the episode, Blaster seemingly is supposed to be playing his rock tune yet again, complete with Prime yelling at him for it and the other Autobots chasing Blaster off into the sunset... but the music is missing. Oops!

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Blasterbluesonthemoon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"No no, it is totally worth risking the complete failure of the plan to have gloating rights over a couple of guys whose names I probably can't remember!"]]
* You have to wonder if Megatron thought out all the parts to this plan, given that it would be a lot easier for human society to adapt to life without radio, than life without electricity, petroleum and fossil fuels, and so on... Actually, how would we ''use'' said radio waves, without the power resources the 'Cons would strip out of the planet in exchange for ceasing their jamming?
* Furthermore, one might question the wisdom of leaving two conscious Autobots right across from the critical device... with one of them ''fully armed''.
* In a world full of Transformers running around on the evening news (and showing up in arcades, research labs, dams, power plants, and basically everywhere), why would a scientist still speak of alien life as though it were some unproved hypothesis?
[[Image:BlasterBlues Megatron voltronic galaxer.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit!]]
* In a rare instance of a falling human seeming to incur some actual injury, Professor Haley is apparently knocked unconscious by falling off the Voltronic Galaxer. Of course, he's up and (literally) running by the time the Autobots arrive (and still hanging out inside the burning building, apparently).
* The passenger jets at the airport are shown swerving and maneuvering as though they were small-scaled fighters.
* Maybe Astrotrain's alternate mode ''does'' make sense in the bizarre world of cartoon Earth... because the railroad workers are trying to clear the track for a ''steam locomotive''.
* One of the railroad men says he will "radio [the train] to the auxiliary track", but no other track is actually shown.
* Only one guy leaps clear of the steam engine. Where's the fireman?
* Okay, so it's great that Optimus is directing traffic at this one airport, but... what about the hundreds of other airports out there? Much like "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]", the Autobots seem to lack a plan to deal with the actual ''cause'' of the problems.
* If Powerglide's jet pack is ''out of fuel'', then ''how does he keep flying??''
* Ratchet's team was mostly in robot mode when they were buried. They emerge from the snow in vehicle mode. Also, all the buried and exploded cars have vanished.
* Does Omega Supreme just keep some human-sized space suits handy? 'Cause Spike and Carly suddenly pop up in space suits when it's time to go to the Moon.
* Did stadium security not notice the recording device that is Blaster?

===A loony lunar lineup of astronomical errors===
* Cosmos, Astrotrain, and all the rest get full sound effects in outer space. Of course, media of far higher caliber than ''The Transformers'' have made the same error, generally because it'd be pretty boring to watch a bunch of silent ships fly around, so we'll let this one slide.
* The depicted activities of any Transformer on the Moon do not bear any resemblance to the movements of creatures under gravity one-sixth that of Earth's own.
* Cosmos really shouldn't have to switch off his engines once he reaches the Moon; he should have just switched them off as soon as he escaped Earth's gravity well.
* Blaster somehow manages to ''listen'' in on the Decepticons across the airless surface of the Moon.
* The burning [[Decepticon moonbase]] continues burning and trailing smoke as if it were in an atmosphere.
* Carly: "I've never been to the Moon before!" NO. REALLY??

===Continuity notes===
[[Image:Blasterbluestrailerchase.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Last one out of the parking lot gets stuck with the check.]]
[[Image:Trailbreakerdance.jpg|thumb|right|200px|I... AM... '''''TRAILBREAKER!!!''''']]
* Jazz has righteous moves, but they are limited by his bulky body.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Blaster's boom box mode in the opening scenes is as tall as a human.
** Red Alert's "horns" flash to indicate Decepticon activity, just like in "[[Auto Berserk]]". This time they're orange, though.
** Ratchet and the rest can deploy tire studs to deal with snow-covered roads.
** Hoist deploys a long snakey tentacle with a claw at the end to catch a falling motorist. How many devices can he [[Auto Berserk|carry]], anyway??
** This time, Trailbreaker's forcefield just kind of radiates out of thin air in front of his head. He's able to form it into a dome, which he can then place where he wants it... but, to his later misfortune, he remains outside the dome himself.
** Powerglide can deploy a suction cup line capable of carrying wounded Autobots around like limp ragdolls, leaving them flapping in the breeze.... say, aren't you supposed to ''not move'' the injured?
** Omega Supreme clearly leaves most of himself behind when he launches for the Moon. When he arrives there, he lands in rocket mode amid a cloud of smoke... and when the smoke clears, the left-behind bits have appeared. Later, he transforms out of just the rocket (conveniently off-screen) while in mid-flight.
* Where's the trailer go?:
** During the scene at the observatory, Optimus transforms and drives away, and there is an extended moment where his trailer drives off after him to catch up.
* The joy of size changing: Blaster rides inside Cosmos to the Moon, and in the next scene Cosmos and Blaster are side by side and Blaster is almost twice as tall as Cosmos.
* Omega Supreme actually uses whole sentences in this episode. That's just crazy.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''Millennium Falcon'' engine burst is strangely repurposed as the burning fires at the observatory as the Decepticons close in.
** X-Wings diving, ''Falcon'' engine burst, and Death Star superlaser all in a row as the Decepticons launch from the observatory.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Megatron takes off from Astrotrain
** X-Wings diving as the 'cons fly aboard Astrotrain
** Death Star superlaser as Astrotrain pursues Cosmos.
** TIE Fighter engine as Cosmos evades.
** The Death Star door slide is used as a steam engine sound effect.
** A Stormtrooper's laser gun is used to soundtrack Ramjet and Thundercracker's attack on Inferno and Red Alert, possibly taken from when Luke & Han ambush the stormtroopers aboard the ''Falcon''.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Megatron launches from the Moon.
* Trailbreaker mentions 8-tracks. Did kids in 1985 even know what an 8-track is?
* "Bang, zoom, to the Moon!" - Powerglide's line is a play on a signature line of Ralph Kramden from ''[[The Honeymooners]]''...whose actor Jackie Gleason was also the inspiration for Powerglide's voice.
* "Parting is such sweet sorrow!" - Megatron prepares to kill Prime while quoting one of Shakespeare's most famous lines.

===Trivia===
* Seriously. "I've never been to the Moon before!"
** Although, to her credit, she did just come back from Cybertron in the previous episode. Maybe she is expecting to be taken to inter-planetary destinations every episode?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 4 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/blaster_blues.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Seizan

2011-01-13T04:16:15Z

174.57.254.146: /* The Headmasters */

{{Picsneeded|Toy}}
{{factions|autobot}}
:''Seizan is an [[Autobot]] [[Trainbot]] from the [[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1 - Seizan - Boxart.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I got skill.]]
Normally, one wouldn't expect a train on a mountain, but that's where you'll find '''Seizan''' (セイザン). The more drastic and dangerous the slope, the more Seizan enjoys using it in battle to drop down on [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], barreling along at full speed.

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
In 2011, Seizan and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the [[Space Bridge]]. Shōki intervened on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s first fight with [[Sixshot]], knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], but [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] drove them off. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] collapsed a building on them using his [[Sonic stun-gun|sonic stun gun]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Seizan and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} In their train mode, Seizan and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the [[Monsterbot]]s to planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]] as reinforcements for the Headmasters. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} They also carried him into battle again on the planet [[Praum]], where [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] had set a trap for Fortress and his team. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

Back on Earth, Seizan and the Trainbots took Danny and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. When <s>Sixshot</s> a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Seizan and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]. After fruitlessly chasing behind the bandit in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Seizan and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.

When the robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, Seizan and the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight Sixshot. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], piloted by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off, and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as [[Cybertonuron]]. Seizan and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} Seizan and the Trainbots confronted the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] in defense of their home planet. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

Seizan and the Trainbots defended the [[Solar 1]] satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with [[Predaking]] and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Next, Seizan's team joined the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] on an emergency rescue mission to [[Peru]], where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Seizan and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown [[San Francisco]], prompting the Autobots to respond. Seizan and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

On a geological expedition to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] with Danny and Spike, Seizan and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Seizan and his teammates ran into the Predacons, and soon they learned of a plot to blow up Mars. Passing off the investigation to Chromedome and the Headmasters, Seizan and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} They were almost immediately called back, however -- the Decepticon Headmasters had used [[plasma energy]] to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Seizan and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

Seizan and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Seizan and his teammates were next used for a relief mission. The planet [[Sandra]] was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. Seizan and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}} Seizan and the Trainbots also ferryed the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the discussions went sour, they helped the Headmasters defeat the [[Horrorcon]]s and make it to safety. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}}

After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the [[Twin Star]] planets, Seizan and the Trainbots ferryed [[Brainstorm]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] down to the barren world of [[Toruin]]. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, [[Sperity]], to battle the Decepticon invaders. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} On [[Daros]], Seizan and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} They also appeared on [[Paradise]], escorting [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} On [[Pirate Planet]], Seizan and the Trainbots defended the pirates' pyramid from Galvatron, so that Highbrow and the [[Clone (subgroup)|Autobot Clones]] could unlock its secrets first. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

After returning to Earth, Seizan and the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to [[Miami]], where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Seizan and his partners returned to Autobot City once it was attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. They tried to enter the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Seizan and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Seizan and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. They later defended the Kamchatka Peninsula from Scorponok's attack. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Seizan and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the [[Master Sword]], Seizan and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the [[Scorponok (G1)|MegaZarak]] base for a rescue attempt. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Seizan's team joined the [[Targetmaster]]s in searching for him. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} They also transported the Headmasters to the [[Pallas]] asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

Upon returning to Earth, Seizan and the Trainbots ferryed Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and [[Carly]] crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} As part of Raiden, Seizan participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====

==Toys==
===The Headmasters===
*'''Seizan''' (Trainbot, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-129'''
**''Accessories'': "Plain laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, right Raiden fist

: Seizan transforms into a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/485_series 485 Series Limited Express Electric Locomotive]. He also forms the right arm of the team's combined mode [[Raiden]]... though he can also form the left arm if you're so inclined.

*'''Raiden''' (Gift set, 1987)

: The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. All six toys in this set were identical to their individual releases.

*'''Raiden''' (TF Jr set, 1987)

: An exceedingly simplified version of the entire Trainbot team was made available as part of the [[Transform Jr]] series. Each individual has a (stumpy) representation of their larger robot modes, and could combine to form a stumpy Raiden.

===Zone===
*'''Seizan''' (Trainbot, 1990)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-358'''
**''Accessories'': "Plain laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, right Raiden fist

: The Trainbots were re-released during ''[[Zone (toyline)|Zone]]'' in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original ''Headmasters'' incarnations.

==Notes==
* Though it is a little tricky to tell the true meaning of Seizan's name since it is "spelled" in phonetic katakana rather than kanji, the most likely translation to English is "Blue Mountain".

* The Trainbots are all originally ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys, which came in two different color schemes. There are several mold differences between the ''Diaclone'' and ''Transformers'' versions. Seizan's most notable difference is that the connector-peg for his robot-mode backpack went from a long, detailed antenna (as seen on his box-art) to a shorter and far less breakable peg. The ''Transformers'' releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Seizan/seizan.htm Seizan at TFU.info]
* [http://www.diaclone.net/orid/diatr/d072.html ''Diaclone'' Seizan at Diaclone.net (Japanese-language site)]

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]

Getsuei

2011-01-13T04:06:09Z

174.57.254.146: /* The Headmasters */

{{Picsneeded|Toys}}
{{factions|autobot}}
:''Getsuei is an [[Autobot]] [[Trainbot]] from the [[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Getsuei-card.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Oh, wow, man. Maybe you should have that hump looked at.]]
'''Getsuei''' (ゲツエイ) is the [[Trainbot|Trainbots]]' "night fighter". When the lights get low, Getsuei really shines (ha ha), able to sneak up and take out opponents easily even under the worst visibility conditions. On the other hand, he's not so good in the daytime. In fact, he tends to get a little sluggish and daydreamy when the sun is out.

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Kazuo Oka]] (Japanese)

In 2011, Getsuei and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the [[Space Bridge]]. Shōki intervened on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s first fight with [[Sixshot]], knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, but [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] drove them off. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] collapsed a building on them using his [[Sonic stun-gun|sonic stun gun]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Getsuei and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} In their train mode, Getsuei and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the [[Monsterbot]]s to planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]] as reinforcements for the Headmasters. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} They also carried him into battle again on the planet [[Praum]], where [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] had set a trap for Fortress and his team. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

Back on Earth, Getsuei and the Trainbots took Danny and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. When <s>Sixshot</s> a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Getsuei and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]. After fruitlessly chasing behind the bandit in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Getsuei and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.

When the robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, Getsuei and the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight Sixshot. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], piloted by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off, and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as [[Cybertonuron]]. Getsuei and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} Getsuei and the Trainbots confronted the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] in defense of their home planet. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. Getsuei and [[Suiken]] tricked [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and [[Tantrum]] into crashing into one another by leaping out of the way at just the right moment. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

Getsuei and the Trainbots defended the [[Solar 1]] satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with [[Predaking]] and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Next, Getsuei's team joined the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] on an emergency rescue mission to [[Peru]], where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Getsuei and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown [[San Francisco]], prompting the Autobots to respond. Getsuei and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

On a geological expedition to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] with Danny and Spike, Getsuei and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Getsuei and his teammates ran into the Predacons, and soon they learned of a plot to blow up Mars. Passing off the investigation to Chromedome and the Headmasters, Getsuei and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} They were almost immediately called back, however -- the Decepticon Headmasters had used [[plasma energy]] to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Getsuei and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

Getsuei and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Getsuei and his teammates were next used for a relief mission. The planet [[Sandra]] was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. Getsuei and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}} Getsuei and the Trainbots also ferryed the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the discussions went sour, they helped the Headmasters defeat the [[Horrorcon]]s and make it to safety. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}}

After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the [[Twin Star]] planets, Getsuei and the Trainbots ferryed [[Brainstorm]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] down to the barren world of [[Toruin]]. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, [[Sperity]], to battle the Decepticon invaders. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} On [[Daros]], Getsuei and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} They also appeared on [[Paradise]], escorting [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} On [[Pirate Planet]], Getsuei and the Trainbots defended the pirates' pyramid from Galvatron, so that Highbrow and the [[Clone (subgroup)|Autobot Clones]] could unlock its secrets first. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

After returning to Earth, Getsuei and the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to [[Miami]], where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Getsuei and his partners returned to Autobot City once it was attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. They tried to enter the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Getsuei and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Getsuei and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. They later defended the Kamchatka Peninsula from Scorponok's attack. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Getsuei and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the [[Master Sword]], Getsuei and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the [[Scorponok (G1)|MegaZarak]] base for a rescue attempt. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Getsuei's team joined the [[Targetmaster]]s in searching for him. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} They also transported the Headmasters to the [[Pallas]] asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

Upon returning to Earth, Getsuei and the Trainbots ferryed Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and [[Carly]] crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} As part of Raiden, Getsuei participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
[[Image:Getsuei question.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Gesundheit!" "Getsuei!" "Har har har."]]

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Getsuei was part of a big crowd of unhappy Cybertronians who made [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] look really stupid when he tried to make a speech assuring them that everything would be okay after the collapse of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s supposedly-benevolent rule. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}}

==Toys==
===The Headmasters===
*'''Getsuei''' (Trainbot, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-126'''
**''Accessories'': "Night laser" pistol, 3 "joint part" connectors, "Train bazooka" cannon, Raiden backpack

: Getsuei transforms into an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EF65 EF65-1000 Electric Locomotive]. He also forms the right leg of the team's combined mode [[Raiden]]... though he can really form the left leg if you're so inclined.

*'''Raiden''' (Gift set, 1987)

: The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. All six toys in this set were identical to their individual releases.

*'''Raiden''' (TF Jr set, 1987)

: An exceedingly simplified version of the entire Trainbot team was made available as part of the [[Transform Jr]] series. Each individual has a (stumpy) representation of their larger robot modes, and could combine to form a stumpy Raiden.

===Zone===
*'''Getsuei''' (Trainbot, 1990)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-355'''
**''Accessories'': "Night laser" pistol, 3 "joint part" connectors, "Train bazooka" cannon, Raiden backpack

: The Trainbots were re-released during ''[[Zone (toyline)|Zone]]'' in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original ''Headmasters'' incarnations.

==Notes==
* Though it is a little tricky to tell the true meaning of Getsuei's name since it is "spelled" in phonetic katakana rather than kanji, the most likely translation to English is "Moonshadow".

* The Trainbots are all originally ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys, which came in two different color schemes. However, there are several mold differences between the ''Diaclone'' and ''Transformers'' versions, though Getsuei really doesn't change much at all. The ''Transformers'' releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Getsuei/getsuei.htm Getsuei at TFU.info]
* [http://www.diaclone.net/orid/diatr/index.html ''Diaclone'' "Train Robo" at Diaclone.net (Japanese-language site)]

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]

Kaen

2011-01-13T03:49:40Z

174.57.254.146: /* The Headmasters */

{{picsneeded|Toy.}}

{{factions|autobot}}
:''Kaen is an [[Autobot]] [[Trainbot]] from the [[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1 - Kaen - Boxart.jpg|right|250px|thumb|My gun will blow you away.]]
He's the strongest of the [[Trainbot|Trainbots]], and '''Kaen''' (カエン) is extremely proud of this fact. He's got the punch, and he can really bring on the heat, literally. This sometimes puts him at odds with his cold-loving teammate [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]], especially since they have to physically link together when they form [[Raiden]].

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
In 2011, Kaen and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the [[Space Bridge]]. Shōki intervened on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s first fight with [[Sixshot]], knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], but [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] drove them off. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] collapsed a building on them using his [[Sonic stun-gun|sonic stun gun]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Kaen and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} In their train mode, Kaen and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the [[Monsterbot]]s to planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]] as reinforcements for the Headmasters. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} They also carried him into battle again on the planet [[Praum]], where [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] had set a trap for Fortress and his team. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

Back on Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots took Danny and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. When <s>Sixshot</s> a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Kaen and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]. After fruitlessly chasing behind the bandit in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Kaen and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.

When the robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, Kaen and the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight Sixshot. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], piloted by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as [[Cybertonuron]]. Kaen and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} Kaen and the Trainbots confronted the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s in defense of their home planet. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

Kaen and the Trainbots defended the [[Solar 1]] satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with [[Predaking]] and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Next, Kaen's team joined the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s on an emergency rescue mission to [[Peru]], where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Kaen spoke loudly about the bravery and virtues of the Trainbots while caving [[Tantrum]]'s head in. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Kaen and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown [[San Francisco]], prompting the Autobots to respond. Kaen and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

On a geological expedition to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] with Danny and Spike, Kaen and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Kaen and his teammates ran into the Predacons, and soon they learned of a plot to blow up Mars. Passing off the investigation to Chromedome and the Headmasters, Kaen and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} They were almost immediately called back, however -- the Decepticon Headmasters had used [[plasma energy]] to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Kaen and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

[[Image:Hmep18_mindwipe_pull_my_tail.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]
Kaen and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Kaen and his teammates were next used for a relief mission. The planet [[Sandra]] was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. Kaen and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. Unable to take off, Kaen instead ended up serving as cover for the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s as they fired back on the Decepticons. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}} Kaen and the Trainbots also ferryed the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the discussions went sour, they helped the Headmasters defeat the [[Horrorcon]]s and make it to safety. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}}

After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the [[Twin Star]] planets, Kaen and the Trainbots ferryed [[Brainstorm]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] down to the barren world of [[Toruin]]. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, [[Sperity]], to battle the Decepticon invaders. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} On [[Daros]], Kaen and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} They also appeared on [[Paradise]], escorting [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} On [[Pirate Planet]], Kaen and the Trainbots defended the pirates' pyramid from Galvatron, so that Highbrow and the [[Clone (subgroup)|Autobot Clones]] could unlock its secrets first. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

After returning to Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to [[Miami]], where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Kaen and his partners returned to Autobot City once it was attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. They tried to enter the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Kaen and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Kaen and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. They later defended the Kamchatka Peninsula from Scorponok's attack. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the [[Master Sword]], Kaen and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the [[Scorponok (G1)|MegaZarak]] base for a rescue attempt. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Kaen's team joined the [[Targetmaster]]s in searching for him. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} They also transported the Headmasters to the [[Pallas]] asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

Upon returning to Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots ferryed Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and [[Carly]] crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} As part of Raiden, Kaen participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Kaen.jpg|right|80px|thumb|Can you see me,can you?! Can you?!]]
Kaen was part of a big crowd of unhappy Cybertronians who made [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] look really stupid when he tried to make a speech assuring them that everything would be okay after the collapse of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s supposedly benevolent rule. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===The Headmasters===
*'''Kaen''' (Trainbot, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-130'''
**''Accessories'': "Power laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, left & right "wing lasers"

: Kaen transforms into a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DE10_diesel_locomotive DE10 diesel locomotive]. He also forms the lower torso and head of the team's combined mode [[Raiden]].

*'''Raiden''' (Gift set, 1987)

: The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. The box-set versions are identical to their individual releases.

*'''Raiden''' (TF Jr set, 1987)

: An exceedingly simplified version of the entire Trainbot team was made available as part of the [[Transform Jr]] series. Each individual has a (stumpy) representation of their larger robot modes, and could combine to form a stumpy Raiden.

===Zone===
*'''Kaen''' (Trainbot, 1990)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-359'''
**''Accessories'': "Power laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, left & right "wing lasers"

: The Trainbots were re-released during ''[[Zone (toyline)|Zone]]'' in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original ''Headmasters'' incarnations.

==Notes==
* Though it is a little tricky to tell the true meaning of Kaen's name since it is "spelled" in phonetic Katakana rather than Kanji, the most likely translation to English is "Blaze".

* The Trainbots are all originally ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys, which came in two different color schemes. However, there are several mold differences between the ''Diaclone'' and ''Transformers'' versions. Kaen didn't change much. The ''Transformers'' releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Kaen/kaen.htm Kaen at TFU.info]
* [http://www.diaclone.net/orid/diatr/d073.html ''Diaclone'' Kaen at Diaclone.net (Japanese-language site)]

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]

Yukikaze (G1)

2011-01-13T03:41:00Z

174.57.254.146: /* The Headmasters */

{{picsneeded|Toy; train mode}}
{{disambig2|the Autobot Trainbot from Headmasters|the starship from Beast Wars II|Yukikaze (BWII)}}
{{factions|autobot}}
:''Yukikaze is an [[Autobot]] [[Trainbot]] from the [[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1 - Yukikaze - Boxart.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Brrr... I'm not cold!]]
'''Yukikaze''' (ユキカゼ) is the younger [[Relatives|brother]] of the [[Trainbot]] leader [[Shōki]]. Cold-weather operations is Yuki's gig, and in the snow, there's no stopping him. Naturally, he doesn't like heat at all. So much, in fact, that it severely hampers his ability to work with [[Kaen]], who apparently puts out a lot of it.

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ken Yamaguchi]]

In 2011, Yukikaze and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the [[Space Bridge]]. Shōki intervened on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s first fight with [[Sixshot]], knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, but [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] drove them off. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] collapsed a building on them using his [[Sonic stun-gun|sonic stun gun]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Yukikaze and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} In their train mode, Yukikaze and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the [[Monsterbot]]s to planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]] as reinforcements for the Headmasters. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} They also carried him into battle again on the planet [[Praum]], where [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] had set a trap for Fortress and his team. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

Back on Earth, Yukikaze and the Trainbots took Danny and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. When <s>Sixshot</s> a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Yukikaze and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]. After fruitlessly chasing behind the bandit in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Yukikaze and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.

When the robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, Yukikaze and the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight Sixshot. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], piloted by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off, and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as [[Cybertonuron]]. Yukikaze and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} Yukikaze and the Trainbots confronted the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] in defense of their home planet. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

Yukikaze and the Trainbots defended the [[Solar 1]] satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with [[Predaking]] and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Next, Yukikaze's team joined the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s on an emergency rescue mission to [[Peru]], where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Yukikaze and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown [[San Francisco]], prompting the Autobots to respond. Yukikaze and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

On a geological expedition to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] with Danny and Spike, Yukikaze and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Yukikaze and his teammates ran into the Predacons, and soon they learned of a plot to blow up Mars. Passing off the investigation to Chromedome and the Headmasters, Yukikaze and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} They were almost immediately called back, however -- the Decepticon Headmasters had used [[plasma energy]] to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Yukikaze and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

Yukikaze and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Yukikaze and his teammates were next used for a relief mission. The planet [[Sandra]] was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. Yukikaze and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}} Yukikaze and the Trainbots also ferryed the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the Autobots learned Galvatron was actually a fake, Yukikaze and his brother Shōki distracted the Decepticons by sumo wrestling each other, giving their comrades a chance to secure the Witwickys safety. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}}

After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the [[Twin Star]] planets, Yukikaze and the Trainbots ferryed [[Brainstorm]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] down to the barren world of [[Toruin]]. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, [[Sperity]], to battle the Decepticon invaders. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} On [[Daros]], Yukikaze and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} They also appeared on [[Paradise]], escorting [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}}

On [[Pirate Planet]], Shōki and Yukikaze helped Highbrow unlock the secret of the proton energy. They transported him to an abandoned pirate ship in space, where they recovered a signal transmitting skull that served as a key to the pirates' pyramid hiding place. They were almost caught flatfooted by Soundblaster, but Danny Witwicky managed to surprise the Decepticon and give them a chance to escape. At the pyramid, the train brothers reunited with their fellow Trainbots and formed Raiden to keep Galvatron from interfering. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

After returning to Earth, Yukikaze and the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to [[Miami]], where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Yukikaze and his partners returned to Autobot City once it was attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. They tried to enter the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Yukikaze and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Yukikaze and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. They later defended the Kamchatka Peninsula from Scorponok's attack. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Yukikaze and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the [[Master Sword]], Yukikaze and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the [[Scorponok (G1)|MegaZarak]] base for a rescue attempt. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Yukikaze's team joined the [[Targetmaster]]s in searching for him. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} They also transported the Headmasters to the [[Pallas]] asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

Upon returning to Earth, Yukikaze and the Trainbots ferryed Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and [[Carly]] crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} As part of Raiden, Yukikaze participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
{{charstubfiction}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Yukikaze.jpg|right|100px|thumb|"I can fit a human in my backpack!"]]
Yukikaze was part of a big crowd of unhappy Cybertronians who made [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] look really stupid when he tried to make a speech assuring them that everything would be okay after the collapse of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s supposedly-benevolent rule. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}}

{{-}}
==Toys==
===The Headmasters===
*'''Yukikaze''' (Trainbot, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-127'''
**''Accessories'': "Snow laser" pistol, 3 "joint part" connectors, left & right Raiden "leg beam" cannons, 2 "leg beam" connectors

: Yukikaze transforms into a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/200_Series_Shinkansen 200 Series Shinkansen] bullet train engine. He also forms the left leg of the team's combined mode [[Raiden]], though he can also form the right leg instead if you're so inclined.

*'''Raiden''' (Gift set, 1987)

: The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. All six toys in this set were identical to their individual releases.

*'''Raiden''' (TF Jr set, 1987)

: An exceedingly simplified version of the entire Trainbot team was made available as part of the [[Transform Jr]] series. Each individual has a (stumpy) representation of their larger robot modes, and could combine to form a stumpy Raiden.

===Zone===
*'''Yukikaze''' (Trainbot, 1990)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-356'''
**''Accessories'': "Snow laser" pistol, 3 "joint part" connectors, left & right Raiden "leg beam" cannons, 2 "leg beam" connectors

: The Trainbots were re-released during ''[[Zone (toyline)|Zone]]'' in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original ''Headmasters'' incarnations.

==Notes==
* Though it is a little tricky to tell the true meaning of Yukikaze's name since it is "spelled" in phonetic Katakana rather than Kanji, the most likely translation to English is "Snowy Breeze". The name isn't all that uncommon for wind or snow-themed anime characters and vehicles.

* The Trainbots are all originally ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys, which came in two different color schemes. There are several mold differences between the ''Diaclone'' and ''Transformers'' versions. The ''Transformers'' releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Yukikaze/yukikaze.htm Yukikaze at TFU.info]
* [http://www.diaclone.net/orid/diatr/index.html ''Diaclone'' "Train Robo" at Diaclone.net (Japanese-language site)]

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]

Shouki

2011-01-13T03:28:49Z

174.57.254.146: /* The Headmasters */

{{picsneeded|Toy; train mode}}
{{faction|autobot}}
:''Shōki is an [[Autobot|Autobot]] [[Trainbot|Trainbot]] from the [[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1 - Shouki - Boxart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Went so fast, he left his feet behind.]]

'''Shōki''' (ショウキ) is the [[Trainbot|Trainbots]]' leader, and elder brother to [[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]]. He's among the fastest of the team, especially when he's linked to Yukikaze in train mode. Unfortunately, he's also occasionally brash and irresponsible in his duties.

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
[[Image:FourWarriors_Shoki_rescues_Magnus.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]
In 2011, Shōki and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the [[Space Bridge]]. Shōki intervened on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s first fight with [[Sixshot]], knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, but [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] drove them off. On Cybertron, Shōki saved [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] from [[Tantrum]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] collapsed a building on them using his [[Sonic stun-gun|sonic stun gun]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shōki and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} In their train mode, Shōki and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the [[Monsterbot]]s to planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]] as reinforcements for the Headmasters. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} They also carried him into battle again on the planet [[Praum]], where [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] had set a trap for Fortress and his team. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

Back on Earth, Shōki and the Trainbots took Danny and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. Shōki was very proud of the country, which was his birthplace on Earth. When <strike>Sixshot</strike> a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Shōki and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]. After fruitlessly chasing behind <strike>Sixshot</strike> the mystery robot in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Shōki and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.

When <strike>Sixshot</strike> the mystery robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight <strike>Sixshot</strike> their mysterious opponent. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], piloted by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as [[Cybertonuron]]. Shōki and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} Shōki and the Trainbots confronted the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s in defense of their home planet. Shōki clearly told [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] what's what, warning him to leave the planet or suffer the consequences. As the fighting began, Shōki belted [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] hard across the mouth and flipped the bestial Razorclaw over his back, showing off his fighting skills. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

Shōki and the Trainbots defended the [[Solar 1]] satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with [[Predaking]] and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Next, Shōki's team joined the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] on an emergency rescue mission to [[Peru]], where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Shōki and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown [[San Francisco]], prompting the Autobots to respond. Shōki and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

On a geological expedition to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] with Danny and Spike, Shōki and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Shōki took Danny and Wheelie with him, and they happened across [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grrr]] and [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] of the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]]. Although they informed Spike of what they had seen, they were then captured by [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] on sentry duty. After they were rescued by the Headmasters and uncovered the Decepticons' plan to blow up Mars, Shōki and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} They were almost immediately called back, however -- the Decepticon Headmasters had used [[plasma energy]] to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Shōki and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

Shōki and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Shōki and his team were next used for a relief mission. The planet [[Sandra]] was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Shōki worked with Magnus to make sure his soldiers were properly packed with energon. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. When the firefight started, Ultra Magnus told Shōki to forget about them and get the energon to Sandra. But Shōki and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. After being shot out of the air by Sixshot, Shōki bravely challenged the much larger Decepticon to battle. He later joined Magnus and the Technobots in using his large vehicle mode teammates as cover to fire back upon the Decepticons. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

Shōki and the Trainbots also ferryed the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the Autobots learned Galvatron was actually a fake, Shōki and his brother Yukikaze distracted the Decepticons by sumo wrestling each other, giving their comrades a chance to secure the Witwickys safety. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}} After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the [[Twin Star]] planets, Shōki and the Trainbots ferryed [[Brainstorm]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] down to the barren world of [[Toruin]]. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, [[Sperity]], to battle the Decepticon invaders. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} On [[Daros]], Shōki and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} They also appeared on [[Paradise]], escorting [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}}

On [[Pirate Planet]], Shōki and Yukikaze helped Highbrow unlock the secret of the proton energy. They transported him to an abandoned pirate ship in space, where they recovered a signal transmitting skull that served as a key to the pirates' pyramid hiding place. They were almost caught flatfooted by Soundblaster, but Danny Witwicky managed to surprise the Decepticon and give them a chance to escape. At the pyramid, the train brothers reunited with their fellow Trainbots and formed Raiden to keep Galvatron from interfering. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

After returning to Earth, the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to [[Miami]], where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Shōki believed Ultra Magnus should alert Fortress to the attack, but Magnus wanted to handle things on his own without bothering the commander. The conflict escalated, however, as Sixshot and Trypticon besieged Autobot City itself. Shōki and the Trainbots returned to the city, and Shōki again pleaded for Ultra Magnus to ask for help. Magnus relented this time, and Shōki sent word to Athenia. The Trainbots returned to the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Shōki and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Shōki and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. At Autobot City, Shōki and [[Suiken]] heard a commotion outside and investigated, finding Spike injured in a battle between Metroplex and Trypticon. Shōki rushed him back to Athenia for treatment. He then went BACK to Earth to defend the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]] from the Decepticons. Shōki's Cybertronian frequent flier miles must have been ''massive'' after the Space Bridge broke down. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Shōki and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the [[Master Sword]], Shōki and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the [[Scorponok (G1)|MegaZarak]] base for a rescue attempt. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Shōki's team joined the [[Targetmaster]]s in searching for him. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} They also transported the Headmasters to the [[Pallas]] asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

Upon returning to Earth, Shōki and the Trainbots ferryed Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and [[Carly]] crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} As part of Raiden, Shōki participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
[[Image:Shouki.jpg|right|100px|thumb|"So I asked her... 'Want to get hitched in Vegas?'"]]

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Shōki was part of a big crowd of unhappy Cybertronians who made [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] look really stupid when he tried to make a speech assuring them that everything would be okay after the collapse of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s supposedly-benevolent rule. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}}

==Toys==
===The Headmasters===
*'''Shōki''' (Trainbot, 1987)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-126'''
**''Accessories'': "Mach laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, Raiden breast panel, Raiden waist panel

: Getsuei transforms into a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0_Series_Shinkansen Type 0 Shinkansen] bullet train. He also forms the upper torso of the team's combined mode [[Raiden]].

*'''Raiden''' (Gift set, 1987)

: The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. All six toys in this set were identical to their individual releases.

===Transform Jr===
*'''Raiden''' (1987)

: An exceedingly simplified version of the entire Trainbot team was made available as part of the ''[[Transform Jr]]'' series. Each individual has a (stumpy) representation of their larger robot modes, and could combine to form a stumpy Raiden.

===Zone===
*'''Shōki''' (Trainbot, 1990)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-355'''
**''Accessories'': "Mach laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, Raiden breast panel, Raiden waist panel

: The Trainbots were re-released during ''[[Zone (toyline)|Zone]]'' in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original ''Headmasters'' incarnations.

==Notes==
* Though it is a little tricky to tell the true meaning of Shōki's name since it is "spelled" in phonetic katakana rather than kanji, it most likely comes from a type of Japanese WWII fighter plane of the [[wikipedia:Nakajima Ki-44|same name]]. 'Shōki', loosely translated, means 'Devil-Queller'.

* The Trainbots are all originally ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys, which came in two different color schemes. However, there are several mold differences between the ''Diaclone'' and ''Transformers'' versions. Shōki is the most changed of all, though it's by the addition of the "waist plate" accessory for Raiden, which was not present in the ''Diaclone'' versions. The ''Transformers'' releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Shouki/shouki.htm Shōki at TFU.info]
* [http://www.diaclone.net/orid/diatr/d068.html ''Diaclone'' Shōki at Diaclone.net (Japanese-language site)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoki}}
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Japanese-original characters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]