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City of Steel (episode)

2008-03-30T19:51:20Z

70.246.220.108:

[[Image:AutobotsNYC.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Start spreading the news...]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|3|prev=Changing Gears|next=Attack of the Autobots}}
{{episodenav|SRLFtoon|23|prev=A Prime Problem|next=Auto Berserk}}

'''The Decepticons invade New York City.'''

*'''Japanese title:''' "Steel City"

==Detailed synopsis==
[[Image:CityofSteel ESB sinking.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Where will you be... the Day after Tommorow.]]
Over New York City, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] flies into the [[Decepticon]]s' underground base. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s are digging a hole in the ceiling and the Autobots don't have a clue. After hours of digging, the Constructicons manage to sink the Empire State building underground.
The [[Autobot]]s finally get wind of this and head to the city. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] plan to meet the rest of the Autobots at Central Park. However, Laserbeak spots them and reports back to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. He plans to give the Autobots a surprising welcome.

At Central Park, the Autobots are ambushed by Soundwave and his crew whilst underground the Constructicons inform Megatron that they're underneath Optimus Prime. Megatron orders them to dig while Optimus Prime is fighting [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. Taken by surprise, Prime falls into the Decepticons' underground base where Megatron severs his motor relays, making him powerless. Megatron then threatens the remaining Autobots that unless they leave he will melt the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] down to scrap. He also shows them his master plan, which is to rebuild New York into New Cybertron. The Constructicons raise the Empire State building back up, but now it looks like a Cybertronian fortress. Forced to leave the city, the Autobots are gloomy until [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] comes up with a plan to get into the city undetected.

[[Image:CityofSteel Prime head.JPG|thumb|150px|Aquaman to all sea creatures.]]
Seemingly victorious, Megatron gloats over Prime's still body. However, Megatron is still worried that Optimus Prime might try something and orders [[Hook]] to disassemble him, which he does with a handy <strike>[[starwars:Lightsaber|ligthsaber]]</strike> energy blade. After Optimus is turned into a pile of parts, Megatron picks up his head and reactives Optimus so he can gloat. Prime responds that even though he's in pieces he will still fight. Prime then activates his arms and trips up Megatron. Megatron orders the Constructicons to dispose of Prime's body, but he gets to keep the head.

Meanwhile Spike, Bumblebee, Ratchet, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] enter the City through the sewers in the hope of rescuing Prime undetected. The scene then changes to the Constructicons who are very pleased with themselves for what they did with Prime's left over body parts. They have special plans for his right arm and weapon.

[[Image:Alligatorprime.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Crikey!]]
While scanning for Prime, Hound is confused because his scans show Prime was behind them when before he was ahead. Mirage then spots a giant robot alligator (dubbed the Alligatorcon) and the Autobots run away. They trap it in a train and send it and the train packing. When they reach the underground base they find Prime's head and reattach his circuits so he can speak. Prime then activates his legs remotely to come to him and the rest of the Autobots figure out that the [[Alligatorcon]] was made up of Prime's parts. After capturing it, Ratchet reassembles Prime, minus the right arm. Now that Optimus is safe the Autobots attack. The Decepticons have turned half of New York city into New Cybertron, complete with killer [[Battle Taxi|taxis]], and they're using Prime's arm as a weapon on top of their fortress. The taxis go for Bumblebee, [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Sunstreaker]], but Prime runs them down.

After breaking through the Decepticon defenses, Optimus Prime, Ironhide and Ratchet plan to scale the fortress to reclaim Prime's arm. Bumblebee and Spike plan to help by distracting Megatron and Soundwave. Megatron orders an air strike, but when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] is downed, the Constructicons become [[Devastator]] and he follows Prime's team up the building. Meanwhile, Spike and Bumblebee manage to sneak in and annoy Megatron, by calling him Megaklutz, and tricking him into destroying the device that controlled Prime's arm. Outside Devastator captures Prime and knocks Ironhide and Ratchet into the fortress. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] then comments that the whole thing reminded him of King Kong as he tried to assist with his remote controlled helicopters. Spike then informs Prime that his arm is no longer controlled by Megatron in which Prime uses this opportunity to use against Devastator. After Devastator gets hit Prime falls but is saved by Ironhide and Ratchet and as usual the Decepticons retreat.

[[Image:BumblebeelovesNY.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Of course you do...]]
Now the city is saved, Prime is back together and Bumblebee got a souvenir (a 'I heart NY' bumper sticker). The Autobots [[roll out]] and return home.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' ???

'''Written by:''' ???

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (23)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (30)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (4)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (7)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (10)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (26)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (27)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (29)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (31)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (32)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] (15)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] (16)

'''Guests'''
*

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
*Alligatorcon (28)

|}

==Notable quotes==
"I didn't join this outfit to be a dump truck!"
:{{m-}}'''Long Haul,''' commenting on his alternate mode.

"It sickens me to say it, Reflector, but this one time I have to hand it to Megatron. The place is starting to feel like home."
:{{m-}}'''Starscream''' agrees with one of Megatron's plans, which heralds the coming of [[Unicron|the apocalypse]].

"I feel like I'm in some messy swamp, not underneath the largest city in North America."
:{{m-}}'''Ratchet''', trudging through the sewers of New York.

"O-hoo-hoo-hoo, here they come! Auto-Auto-Autobots!"
:{{m-}}'''Mix-Mix-Mixmaster!'''

"I may not have a weapon, but I can still transform and roll!"
:{{m-}}'''Optimus Prime''', preparing to crush the battle taxis.

"You'll never catch us, Megaklutz!"<br>
"Megaklutz! You dare to insult me in my own command post?!"
:{{m-}}'''Spike Witwicky''' daring to insult '''Megatron''' in his own command post.

"Say 'uncle' or I'll shove your nose in your afterburner!"<br>
"Uncle, UNCLE!"
:{{m-}}'''Sideswipe''' lovingly deals with '''Starscream'''. He's obviously been practicing his [[Jet judo]].

"It will take more than your puny arm to stop Devastator!"<br>
"Right. Which is why it's lucky that the hand on the end of that arm... is holding a gun!"
:{{m-}}'''Devastator''' reels as '''Optimus Prime''' points out the single flaw in the gestalt's otherwise brilliant tower-climbing plan.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* In a long-shot of the Autobot/Decepticon battle in Central Park, Bumblebee is inexplicably grappling with Bluestreak while Ratchet fights Reflector.
* When Scavenger is beating the bucket of his vehicle mode against the ceiling below Central Park, a misplaced cel means the cracks that are supposed to be forming in the ceiling appear ''in front'' of his arm instead.
* In the Central Park sequence, Scavenger's vehicle mode is ''huge'', towering over Megatron and with a bucket significantly larger than Optimus.
* When Megatron is looking at Optimus through the monitor, Prime has both arms. The camera switches to Megatron and then back to Optimus, who now has only one arm.
* The scene freezes for several seconds as the rebuilt Empire State Building is about to be raised above ground, complete with non-moving clouds of dust and smoke.
* The Empire State Building is depicted as ''far'' too small in relation to the Transformers in several scenes.
* At one point, Megatron's helmet appears in white rather than grey giving the impression that he is wearing a white wig. Earlier in the episode his face and helmet are both coloured in the same shade of dark grey.
* Why didn't the Constructicons find the Matrix when they took apart Prime?
* Prime "activating" his legs consists of somehow making them come magically tumbling through the air to him.
* There's an odd moment when Mirage and Ratchet say, in perfect synch, "This alligator is big and heavy!" Prime then responds with the sage observation: "From the looks of it, I'd say a little of both." The scene appears to be the result of an editing and directorial snafu. Prime should be responding to the Autobots' previous lines: "Now we've got him!" "Or should I say, we've got ''you''?" And the combined Ratchet and Mirage line was likely intended to be a series of ad libs as the Autobots struggle with the Aligaticon, rather than a straight line.
* Let's not even get into the plausibility of lowering a thousand-foot building into the ground, rebuilding it for beings several times the size of a human, and then rebuilding it ''again'' into its original form.
[[Image:Devastatorkingkong.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Giant: check. Empire State Building: check. But no [[Female Transformers|beauty]].]]
*When Frenzy tries to ram Hound and Prowl in the subway with a train, it first shows him as blue, it then cuts to another angle of him being red. Then again, it could be Rumble who was driving the train. [[FIRRIB|Who knows.]]

===Real-world references===
* [[Devastator]] climbs the Decepticons' "improved" version of the Empire State Building, very similarly to King Kong, as Wheeljack points out.
* The alligatorcon is likely an allusion to the persistent rumors of alligators living in New York City's sewers.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Along with "[[The Core]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]", this episode is one of a trio featuring distinctively bright and "cartoonish" art and animation, a somewhat more juvenile plot and script than normal, and a common set of animation model oddities, such as [[Chip Chase]]'s blue jacket and Optimus Prime's white backpack.
* Though it is widely regarded in the fandom as his normal way of speaking, this is in fact the only time Mixmaster's speech oddity ever shows up. Then again, Scrapper and Hook were the real talkers of the group.
* The final shot in this episode shows Bumblebee with an "I [heart] NY" bumper sticker.
* This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 2000]].

{{epstub}}

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category: MSTF]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Changing Gears

2008-03-30T19:48:51Z

70.246.220.108: /* Animation and/or technical glitches */

{{picsneeded}}

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|2|prev=Autobot Spike|next=City of Steel}}
{{episodenav|SRLFtoon|12|prev=Autobot Spike|next=Traitor}}

[[image:Changing Gears title shot.JPG|thumb|350px|Not starring Vin Diesel]]
'''In a plot to drain the sun for power, the Decepticons capture and alter the grumpy Autobot Gears.'''

'''Japanese title:''' "Steal the Solar Energy!"

==Detailed synopsis==

The Decepticons attack humans working in a gold mine (literally) and take them prisoner. Just as Starscream is about to blast a human calling for help on a radio, Megatron backhands him, saying that he wants the human to bring the Autobots.

At the Ark, Optimus Prime orders the Autobots to assemble at once, which they do with lots of hustle. The only exception is Gears who complains the whole way. Prime orders his troops to head out to the mine to engage their enemies.

When they arrive a battle ensues, but Megatron lets the miners get in the way. Unwilling to endanger humans, Prime orders the Autobots to hold their fire. Megatron uses this chance to get the drop on the Autobots, then takes Gears captive for purposes unknown and retreats.

In Africa, Megatron has Starscream zap Gears with the null-ray, then takes out a special circuit from Gears’ body. The Decepticon leader explains that this circuit is the final component he needs for his energy absorbing [[Solar Needle]], a solar collector which his Decepticons have constructed to harness energy from the heart of the sun. With the circuit in place in the needle, the device activates and causes world-wide earthquakes. Unbeknownst to Megatron, the Solar Needle is flawed, causing a dangerous instability within the core of the sun.

The effect on Gears is profound as well. The removal of this component from Gears corrupts his personality, turning him from a surly grump into a happy-go-lucky, ultra-polite guy who'll do absolutely anything for anyone. This allows Megatron to manipulate and control him. Mentally, Gears still knows the Decepticons are evil and doesn't want to help them, but he's been rendered so "nice" that he can't refuse any request.

The Autobots blast through the jungle and start firing at the Solar Needle, but it’s protected by a forcefield. Prime concocts a dangerous plan to circumvent the field by jumping through the hole at the top where the sun’s energy is coming through. Ratchet and Ironhide say it’s too dangerous, but Cliffjumper drives past them, makes the attempt and shatters the forcefield.

The ‘bots battle. Megatron gets the drop on Prime and orders the Autobots to surrender or he’ll shoot their leader. Prime orders them to fight on, but the Autobots capitulate. Prime asks for one last request, which Megatron allows. The chief Autobot turns and asks Gears to do him a favor now. Gears obliges and shoots a component of the needle. Inspired by his change of heart, the Autobots fight back against the ‘Cons, who retreat. Prime orders Wheeljack and Ratchet to deactivate the device, but they argue over the correct solution. Out of time and with the sun about to explode, Optimus just grabs at a wire inside the device and pulls. The needle shuts down and the sun returns to normal.

Prime removes Gears’ circuit card from the needle and hands it back to him, but Trailbreaker interrupts, saying that the rest of the Autobots like the new Gears over the old. Gears isn’t too happy about that, so Optimus returns the card and the surly, cranky hypochondriac is back. The Autobots roll on back to HQ leaving Gears to complain to himself.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' October 1, 1985

'''Written by:''' Larry Parr

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (10)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (14)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (15)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (16)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (18)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (19)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (20)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (21)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (22)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (2)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (4)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (5)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (6)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (7)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*

'''Guests'''
*

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |

|}

==Notable quotes==
"Megatron is behind this. I’d bet my titanium torsion bars on it."
:–That's probably a safe bet, '''Optimus Prime'''

"Go ding your diodes and get defunct Megatron. I’m not helping you do zilch."
:–Cranky, gutsy '''Gears'''

"I should be very angry with you Megatron. You ''are'' an evil son of a [[retrorat]], but for some reason, I just can't get too upset."
:—Cheery, nice '''Gears'''

"How can I help you, Megatron, heh heh, you rotten hunk of scrap."
:—'''Gears''', piling on the flattery.

"What did you do to Gears, you monster? You turned him...nice!"
:—'''Ironhide''', at Gear's sudden change in personality.

"All right, now let's blast that Solar Needle and roll out."<br>
"I suppose you want me to do that."<br>
"Be my guest."<br>
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Gears''', grumpy once again.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
*When Starscream says the line "Oh, no, you don't. Your circuits stay right here," the voice saying the line is Thundercracker's.
*When the Autobots show up at the quarry to rescue the humans, Megatron "energizes" a number of boulders at the top of a cliff. The Autobots have their backs to the cliff, meaning the boulders should hit them from behind or land on top of them. The boulders actually hit the Autobots from all directions, including Sunstreaker, who is hit by a boulder traveling in the ''opposite direction'' of where it should have come from.
*In the sequence where the Autobots are running down the hallway, Sunstreaker runs past Gears twice. He's ''fast!''

===Continuity errors===
*The Autobots somehow '''drove''' from their base in the Western United States to the '''"geographic center of Africa"''' in '''"slightly less than 2 Earth hours"'''. After traveling through at least eight time zones, it appears to be roughly the '''same time of day''' as when the Autobots left their base.
*Throughout the latter half of the episode, Optimus Prime and Megatron argue that the Solar Needle may/may not destroy the universe. While the sun's exploding would obliterate our solar system, it couldn't destroy the universe in its entirety, unless the Solar Needle is some of the most advanced technology ever wielded by the Decepticons.

===Transformers references===
* Gears' change in personality is brought on by the absence of his personality component as well as Starscream's null ray. This may imply that Starscream has the ability to nullify specific electronics/processes of his choosing, or that Gears' personality is a major part of his ability to function.

===Real-world references===
* References

===Miscellaneous trivia===
*Gears's special circuit board looks like an audio cassette tape. Whether it can [[Mini-Cassette|transform]] is not yet known.

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

{{epstub}}

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Changing Gears

2008-03-30T19:47:43Z

70.246.220.108:

{{picsneeded}}

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|2|prev=Autobot Spike|next=City of Steel}}
{{episodenav|SRLFtoon|12|prev=Autobot Spike|next=Traitor}}

[[image:Changing Gears title shot.JPG|thumb|350px|Not starring Vin Diesel]]
'''In a plot to drain the sun for power, the Decepticons capture and alter the grumpy Autobot Gears.'''

'''Japanese title:''' "Steal the Solar Energy!"

==Detailed synopsis==

The Decepticons attack humans working in a gold mine (literally) and take them prisoner. Just as Starscream is about to blast a human calling for help on a radio, Megatron backhands him, saying that he wants the human to bring the Autobots.

At the Ark, Optimus Prime orders the Autobots to assemble at once, which they do with lots of hustle. The only exception is Gears who complains the whole way. Prime orders his troops to head out to the mine to engage their enemies.

When they arrive a battle ensues, but Megatron lets the miners get in the way. Unwilling to endanger humans, Prime orders the Autobots to hold their fire. Megatron uses this chance to get the drop on the Autobots, then takes Gears captive for purposes unknown and retreats.

In Africa, Megatron has Starscream zap Gears with the null-ray, then takes out a special circuit from Gears’ body. The Decepticon leader explains that this circuit is the final component he needs for his energy absorbing [[Solar Needle]], a solar collector which his Decepticons have constructed to harness energy from the heart of the sun. With the circuit in place in the needle, the device activates and causes world-wide earthquakes. Unbeknownst to Megatron, the Solar Needle is flawed, causing a dangerous instability within the core of the sun.

The effect on Gears is profound as well. The removal of this component from Gears corrupts his personality, turning him from a surly grump into a happy-go-lucky, ultra-polite guy who'll do absolutely anything for anyone. This allows Megatron to manipulate and control him. Mentally, Gears still knows the Decepticons are evil and doesn't want to help them, but he's been rendered so "nice" that he can't refuse any request.

The Autobots blast through the jungle and start firing at the Solar Needle, but it’s protected by a forcefield. Prime concocts a dangerous plan to circumvent the field by jumping through the hole at the top where the sun’s energy is coming through. Ratchet and Ironhide say it’s too dangerous, but Cliffjumper drives past them, makes the attempt and shatters the forcefield.

The ‘bots battle. Megatron gets the drop on Prime and orders the Autobots to surrender or he’ll shoot their leader. Prime orders them to fight on, but the Autobots capitulate. Prime asks for one last request, which Megatron allows. The chief Autobot turns and asks Gears to do him a favor now. Gears obliges and shoots a component of the needle. Inspired by his change of heart, the Autobots fight back against the ‘Cons, who retreat. Prime orders Wheeljack and Ratchet to deactivate the device, but they argue over the correct solution. Out of time and with the sun about to explode, Optimus just grabs at a wire inside the device and pulls. The needle shuts down and the sun returns to normal.

Prime removes Gears’ circuit card from the needle and hands it back to him, but Trailbreaker interrupts, saying that the rest of the Autobots like the new Gears over the old. Gears isn’t too happy about that, so Optimus returns the card and the surly, cranky hypochondriac is back. The Autobots roll on back to HQ leaving Gears to complain to himself.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' October 1, 1985

'''Written by:''' Larry Parr

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (10)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (14)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (15)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (16)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (18)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (19)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (20)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (21)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (22)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (2)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (4)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (5)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (6)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (7)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*

'''Guests'''
*

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |

|}

==Notable quotes==
"Megatron is behind this. I’d bet my titanium torsion bars on it."
:–That's probably a safe bet, '''Optimus Prime'''

"Go ding your diodes and get defunct Megatron. I’m not helping you do zilch."
:–Cranky, gutsy '''Gears'''

"I should be very angry with you Megatron. You ''are'' an evil son of a [[retrorat]], but for some reason, I just can't get too upset."
:—Cheery, nice '''Gears'''

"How can I help you, Megatron, heh heh, you rotten hunk of scrap."
:—'''Gears''', piling on the flattery.

"What did you do to Gears, you monster? You turned him...nice!"
:—'''Ironhide''', at Gear's sudden change in personality.

"All right, now let's blast that Solar Needle and roll out."<br>
"I suppose you want me to do that."<br>
"Be my guest."<br>
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Gears''', grumpy once again.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
*When Starscream says the line "Oh, no, you don't. Your circuits stay right here," the voice saying the line is Thundercracker's.
*When the Autobots show up at the quarry to rescue the humans, Megatron "energizes" a number of boulders at the top of a cliff. The Autobots have their backs to the cliff, meaning the boulders should hit them from behind or land on top of them. The boulders actually hit the Autobots from all directions, including Sunstreaker, who is hit by a boulder traveling in the ''opposite direction'' of where it should have come from.
*In the sequence where the Autobots are running down the hallway, Sunstreaker runs past Gears twice.

===Continuity errors===
*The Autobots somehow '''drove''' from their base in the Western United States to the '''"geographic center of Africa"''' in '''"slightly less than 2 Earth hours"'''. After traveling through at least eight time zones, it appears to be roughly the '''same time of day''' as when the Autobots left their base.
*Throughout the latter half of the episode, Optimus Prime and Megatron argue that the Solar Needle may/may not destroy the universe. While the sun's exploding would obliterate our solar system, it couldn't destroy the universe in its entirety, unless the Solar Needle is some of the most advanced technology ever wielded by the Decepticons.

===Transformers references===
* Gears' change in personality is brought on by the absence of his personality component as well as Starscream's null ray. This may imply that Starscream has the ability to nullify specific electronics/processes of his choosing, or that Gears' personality is a major part of his ability to function.

===Real-world references===
* References

===Miscellaneous trivia===
*Gears's special circuit board looks like an audio cassette tape. Whether it can [[Mini-Cassette|transform]] is not yet known.

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

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[[Category: Generation 1 episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>