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Mini-Con

2007-08-03T05:42:42Z

74.103.46.185: /* Gigantion Mini-cons */

:''Mini-Cons are a [[faction]]/type of [[Transformers]]. They exist in both the [[Unicron Trilogy]] and in the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]''

[[Image:Minicon symbol.png|250px|right]]

'''Mini-Cons''' are a race of small Transformers capable of [[powerlink|powerlinking]] with a larger Transformer and to impart extra abilities or greatly increase their strength. They share some of their history with the planet [[Gigantion]] and may have links to the cosmic origins of Transformers. In some timelines they are creations of [[Unicron]], while in others, they are creations of the [[Last Autobot]]. Their minds are very similar to those of [[human]]s.

:''Japanese term: '''Micron''' ''<br>
:''French-Canadian/Spanish term: '''Minimodus'''

==Fiction==
===''Universe: The Wreckers'' comics===
[[Ramulus]] uses "Mini-Con" as a term of derision, implying that [[CatSCAN]] is timid or insufficiently assertive.

===Unicron Trilogy===
====Animated continuity====
[[Unicron]] created the Mini-Cons to be mindless tools, sent to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as an agitating element to the Transformers' civil war. The power-enhancing "smart tools" would be unleashed upon the populace, who would snap them up, bond with them, and the war would only get more destructive, as Unicron drank in the negative psychic energies from the death and destruction. Once he'd gathered the power he needed, the Mini-Cons would turn on their supposed masters, incapacitating them, and Unicron would fully awaken to devour the planet and all Transformers on it, eliminating his biggest obstacle to devouring all of existance.

But through a strange warp in space and time that no one really bothered to explain, three [[human]] children from the future -[[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and [[Alexis]]- were sent to the Mini-Cons' birthing chamber on Cybertron just seconds before the small robots emerged from their pods. As the Mini-Cons had been designed to form mental bonds with other life forms, when Rad touched the Mini-Con who he knew from the future as [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]], High Wire apparently formed his bond then, with Rad... and through the Mini-Cons' shared "soul dimension", the [[Linkage (dimension)|Linkage]], sentience and free will spread throughout the Mini-Cons, forming "souls", and crippling Unicron's plans drastically.

====Dreamwave comics continuity====
[[Image:Mini-cons.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Gotta catch 'em all!]]
Mini-Cons are a second race of Transformer, mostly living in designated sectors by themselves, which left them open to attack when [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] led his Decepticons on capture raids. Mini-Cons are capable of adding their power (disproportionate to their size) to a Transformer with whom they [[Powerlinx]]. Mini-Cons are also capable of tapping an extradimensional energy source of unknown origin, but are wary of doing this, and most have inhibitors installed to prevent this from happening.

[[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]], a Mini-Con refugee from another dimension led Cybertron's collected Mini-Cons in tapping that dimension's energies and channeling them into an attack on Unicron which left him stranded on the far fringes of space.
After Unicron's defeat, most Mini-Cons re-established their villages in the Mini-Con sector. When Unicron appeared again 10 years later, no one went to fetch the Mini-Cons to battle Unicron again, so it seems likely the Mini-Cons connection to their extradimensional power source was severed.

:('''Note''': ''There is no indication that Mini-Cons are related to Unicron in Dreamwave continuity.)''

====Powerlinx and Evolution====
Mini-cons have the special ability to actually evolve other machines. From transforming simple cars into jet-powered assault vehicles, to upgrading Transformers to have new weapons spring from their body. The nature of Powerlinking is emphasized more in the Japanese [[Micron Legend]] counterpart to Transformers [[Armada]]. Once powerlinked, the Autobot would call out "EVOLUTION!" and a portion of their body would literally reconfigure to become a new weapon. Afterwards, they retained this new ability without the powerlinking of the mini-con which granted it. Linking to that mini-con again simply enhances their firepower. The mini-con is not required in order to use the evolved weaponry afterwards. This has caused some confusion in the Armada viewing audience due to dub issues and the downplaying of the "Evolution" theme. Despite this, the term is used twice in the American series by Megatron.

====Gigantion Mini-cons====
The exact origin of the Gigantion Mini-Cons is questionable as presented within the context of the show itself. The show offers little to nothing on their genesis, merely their function as "little detail" workers whose brains developed similarly to human children because of this (uh, yeah). In ''Galaxy Force'', they are stated to have existed since ancient times and controlled the larger Transformers. There are even ancient ruins discovered with inscriptions using ''Armada'' Mini-Con model sheets.

The [[Fun Publications]] fiction has linked these Mini-Cons to those of ''Armada'', which simply has them migrating to Gigantion (as well as the other colony worlds) with the Transformers carrying the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, and offering the only definitive origin of those Mini-Cons. This would also make them creations of Unicron. However, this does not line fully with the fiction, as the Mini-Cons in Armada are shown appearing in the time of Optimus Prime, years after the world colonization - so the matter is left more than a bit vague.

===Generation 1===
====Classics====

Nothing much is known yet about the presence of the Mini-Cons in this portion of continuity, where they came from, or what significance they have.

==Toys==
''This section talks about toys representing Mini-Cons in general. For toys representing '''specific''' Mini-Cons, see their individual pages.''
===Micron Legend===
*'''Big green Unicron exclusive redeco thing'''

===Attacktix===
[[Image:AttacktixMiniConS1.jpg|left|thumb|125px|Goooood.]]

*'''Mini-Con''' (Booster, 2006)
: ''Attacktix ID number'': '''TF01'''

: The first assortment of Transformers ''[[Attacktix]]'' figures included a "generic" Mini-Con, based on [[Skyboom (Energon)|Skyboom]]. Available only in blind-packed 2-piece Booster Packs, the Mini-Con carries a launcher which fires a standard ''Attacktix'' missile. A "Rare" 10-point "Trooper"-class piece, its Special Power "Attackback" allows a free move and attack for any of your in-play Autobot pieces.
{{-}}

[[Image:AttackitxMiniConS2.jpg|right|thumb|125px|Eeeevil.]]

*'''Mini-Con''' (Booster, 2007)
: ''Attacktix ID number'': '''TF03'''

: The ''Attacktix'' Mini-Con piece was redecoed for the second series' Booster Packs, though this time as a Decepticon-aligned piece. It features a color scheme not on any incarnation of the actual [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]]/Skyboom toy, but wouldn't that be neat? A 10-point "Trooper"-class piece, its Special Power "Attackback" allows a free move and attack for the listed piece, though what one is currently unknown (likely any in-play Decepticon, to counterpoint the Autobot-aligned Mini-Con's Attackback).

: This piece was later characterized as "[[Bunker-Buster]]" in the members-only portion of the [[Fun Publications]] [[Official Transformers Collectors' Club]] website.

::''('''Note''': As of this update, series 2 has not been released yet.)''

{{-}}
==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/faction/minicon.htm Mini-Cons at TFU.info]
*[http://www.tfarchive.com/toys/references/mini-cons_microns.php TFArchive's complete Mini-Con/Micron list]

{{stub}}
[[Category: Armada]]
[[Category: Attacktix]]
[[Category: Classics]]
[[Category: Cybertron]]
[[Category: Energon]]
[[Category: Mini-Cons | Mini-Cons ]]
[[Category: Universe]]<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>

Over-Run (Armada)

2007-07-26T00:05:25Z

74.103.46.185: /* Universe */

{{disambig2|the Mini-Con jet/spaceship thing|the Autobot Action Master|Over-Run (G1)}}

:''Over-Run is a [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]].''

[[Image:Over-RunDW01.jpg|thumb|250px|Turbo! Scooter! I'll see you avenged!]]

:''Japanese name:'' '''Surge'''

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
====Armada cartoon====

[[Image:Over_Run_Armadacartoon.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]

At some point Over-Run powerlinxed to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] back and let him perform an awesome power punch.

''Actually, this was a piece of stock animation which was never used in the series proper, though it appeared in the first Japanese intro.''

{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Armada====
Over-Run came to this universe after his own was destroyed by [[Unicron]]. With him he brought the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], an artifact into which all the Mini-Cons of his universe had placed their spark essences. Upon arriving, he immediately set up a beacon which attracted the attention of [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] alike. [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] arrived first, but was shot down by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], who attempted to claim Over-Run for himself, seeing him merely as another Mini-Con to be used for battle and not realizing his origins. As Starscream bent over to capture him, though, he was attacked by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], one of Unicron's heralds who had been sent to destroy Over-Run and the Matrix. Mirage, however, took advantage of Galvatron's distraction with Starscream and cloaked both himself and Over-Run. Believing his quarry to have eluded him, Galvatron left, and Over-Run was brought back to the Autobot base.

When Over-Run arrived, he learned that his appearance in this universe had shunted [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] into his own. Over-Run suggested using his inter-dimensional pod to retrieve him, but unfortunately it was now in the custody of the Decepticons. Over-Run and several other Mini-Cons departed for the Decepticon base at [[Silver Ridge]] to retrieve it. After evading Unicron's other heralds and locating the pod, Over-Run, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], and [[Comettor]] activated the pod and transported themselves to the Cybertron of Over-Run's universe, which was mere moments away from becoming Unicron's next meal. They located Optimus Prime (as well as [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who had arrived on this Cybertron as well by jumping into a space bridge portal), and used the Mini-Con Matrix to power up all five of their forms. Optimus Prime and Jetfire combined, and the Mini-Cons linked with them, and they blasted Unicron hard enough to make him notice them before warping back to their own universe.

After bringing together all of [[Earth]]'s Mini-Cons, Over-Run led them through a space bridge portal to Cybertron, where they channeled all of their spark essences through the Mini-Con Matrix, allowing them to defeat Unicron.
{{storylink|Armada_%28Dreamwave_comic%29#Volume_3:_Worlds_Collide|Worlds Collide}}

====Energon====
Years later, Over-Run had (seemingly permanently) connected himself directly to Cybertron. He created the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]] by nurturing the natural evolution processes on Cybertron. When Optimus Prime was unable to convince the Council that Unicron was not truly destroyed, Over-Run told him how he could interface with Cybertron himself to learn the truth.
{{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

''Unfortunately, [[Dreamwave Productions]] declared bankruptcy before Over-Run's story could be expanded on. However, the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (comic)|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club comic]] alluded to the fact that Starscream, revived as an [[energon]] ghost, would have destroyed him.''

===Fun Publications comic continuity===

====Cybertron====
Over-Run has spent the last 20 years in silence, having uploaded his internal spark into Cybertron itself. Just as Starscream killed him in Energon, the upload was complete. He made his presense known while the dimension-hopping Autobots were trying to find a way to keep the damaged Vector Sigma online. Over-Run assisted in relaying messages and studying Cybertron's physical state while facing the [[Unicron Singularity]]. It was he who discovered that Skyfall shared traits with the ancient combiners depicted on the walls and ceiling of the Energon temple below Cybertron's surface.

==Toys==
===Armada===
*'''Optimus Prime with Mini-Con Over-Run''' (Super-Con, 2003)
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''MC-06'''

: Over-Run transforms into a Cybertronic starship. He also has a third "rifle" mode that can be held by most toys that use 5mm-wide accessory pegs. He was only available with the Deluxe-scaled version of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]

: This mold was also used to make [[Run-Over]].

*'''Crystal Convoy (with Spark Surge)''' (Super-Con, 2003)

: Over-Run was cast in entirely-clear plastics (but retained his normal [[paint application]]s) and came with the clear-plastic version of Deluxe Optimus, a mail-away offer from the Japanese ''Tele-V Magazine'' limited to 5000 pieces.

===Universe===
*'''Ultra Magnus with Over-Run vs. Treadshot with Nightbeat''' (Battle in a Box, 2004)

: The Over-Run toy was [[redeco]]ed as part of a "[[Battle in a Box]]" multi-pack along with ''Universe'' Ultra Magnus, ''Universe'' [[Treadshot (Universe)|Treadshot]], and [[Nightbeat (Universe)|Nightbeat]]. This set was only available in "[[market six]]" stores like Kohl's.

==Extrenal links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Mini-Con/Over-Run/over-run.htm Over-Run at TFU.info]

[[Category: Armada characters]]
[[Category: Cybertron characters]]
[[Category: Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category: Energon characters]]
[[Category: Mini-Cons]]
[[Category: Universe characters]]<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>

Female Transformer

2007-07-25T23:01:34Z

74.103.46.185: /* Romance */

[[Image:ArceeManga1.jpg|right|300px|thumb| [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], the most famous female Transformer, poses for the boys. Way to set an example there.]]

Despite being robotic lifeforms with generally non-sexual methods of [[Reproduction | reproduction]], the [[Transformer]] species has almost always been shown to include both male and female gender analogues, at least mentally if not physically. '''Female Transformers''' are usually portrayed as comparatively rare, but are considered an official part of the Transformers franchise in pretty much every continuity.

Click here for a '''[[List of female Transformers]]''' from all continuities.

==Appearence==

The appearence of Female Transformers in most continuities would seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism is present in at least the more humanoid members of the Transformers species (the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see the reproduction link above for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as comparatively more gracile of form, and more rounded and curved in general, than their male counterparts. Often they have a more than passing resemblance to an attractive human female made of metal and wearing armor and kibble.

There are exceptions to this rule, and bulky, less overtly human-female-like characters have become more common, particularly among those who have toys. These are especially common in the [[Unicron Trilogy]] series and in latter expansions of the [[Generation 1]] series out of Japan, when the characters are often assigned to pre-existing "male"-designed toys.

==Romance==

Despite their robotic nature and likely non-sexual means of reproduction, romance between male and female Transformers is a well-established factor in pretty much every continuity in which both appear (which is pretty much every continuity).

Regardless of the whys and wherefores many romantic male-female Transformer pairings have appeared over the years, including:

*[[Beta]] - [[Alpha Trion]]
*[[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (Ariel) - [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (Orion Pax)
*[[Firestar]] - [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
*[[Chromia]] - [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*[[Moonracer]] - [[Powerglide]]
*Arcee - [[Hot Rod]]
*Arcee - [[Springer]]
*Arcee (she gets around)- [[Chromedome]]
*[[Nancy]] - [[Wreck-Gar]]
*[[Esmeryl]] - [[Deathsaurus]]
*[[Clipper]] - [[Holi]]
*[[Rahge]] - [[Stampy]]
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] - [[Tigatron]]
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] - [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Botanica]] - [[Rattrap]]
*[[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] has a female "life partner" whose name has yet to be revealed.

[[San Diego (G1)|San Diego]] once had plans to marry [[Discharge]], apparently directly inspired by that aspect of [[human]] culture. Whether there was an actual romantic relationship involved is unknown.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 animated series===
[[Image:G1femmes.jpg|right|450px|thumb|A bunch of [[Female Autobots]] from the G1 toon and [[Alpha Trion]]. His pimp cane was removed in post-production.]]

This continuity makes female Transformers out to be a rarity, once thought extinct. Given the appearance of Beta back in the slave days under [[Quintesson]] rule, it seems clear they were produced alongside the male [[Autobot]]s as part of the Quintessons' domestic product line. There are no [[Decepticon]] females in American continuity, however.

[[Wreck-Gar]] has a "[[Nancy|Junkion lady]]" companion in one episode. Just how relationships function in this isolated, media-based Transformers society is unclear, although it's notable that Wreck-Gar and his lady friend "slept" sitting up next to eachother on giant thrones between television broadcast cycles.

(It's also worth noting that the lady's character model is actually that of a female [[Lithone]], another mechanical race, but whether this is meaningful in any way or simple model recycling is uncertain.)

===Generation 1 Marvel Comic===
No female Transformers are ever seen or referred to in the US stories. The UK stories specifically establish that the Transformers as having no gender naturally, and there, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is created as the sole female Transformer in an attempt to placate [[human]] feminists (See her picture above for a hint of how well that went over).

(This continuity has, historically, been surprisingly alone in declaring Transformers to be naturally gender free.)

===Transformers: Victory===
[[Image:Esmeryl-manga.jpg|thumb|150px|left|This is an official ''Transformers'' character. No, really.]]

[[Decepticon]] females make their first (yet still to this day very rare) appearance in official fiction as [[Esmeryl]] ([[Deathsaurus]]' wife) and [[Lyzack]] ([[Leozack]]'s sister) both show up to show the Autobots just what it is Deathsaurus and his crew have been fighting for all this time: their poor female counterparts and countless children back home. This spares the Decepticons' lives in the final battle between the two forces. This certainly casts an odd light on the matter of Transformer [[reproduction]] (and on the manga author).

Meanwhile, in the animated series, the [[Micromaster]] [[Holi]] is shown to have a girlfriend on the planet [[Micro]], [[Clipper]]. There doesn't seem to be much special about her, aside from her being fairly competant and not subservient to guys at all. However, she ''is'' predominantly pink, so, well, baby steps.
{{-}}

===Beast Wars===
[[Blackarachnia]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] both engage in romances with male [[Maximal]]s, the former blatantly and the latter far more subtly.

Over the course of the show Rattrap makes numerous innuendos, especially involving Silverbolt and Blackarchnia's relationship, that suggest that, at least by that era, there may have been something sex-like between Transformers. He also makes references to a bar on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the wait-staff go "without their torso-plates on"... whch frankly sounds like it'd be really messy.

===Beast Wars II===
[[Scylla]] is the impetus for a big ridiculous love triangle of hilarity and embarrassment in both the animated and manga continuities. She is in love with the squid-bot [[Scuba]], who wants nothing to do with her. Meanwhile, the [[Maximal]] [[Bighorn]] is in love with Scylla, who wants nothing to do with him.

It's also worth noting that non-Transformer female robot [[Artemis]] harbors a crush on both Scuba (poor guy) and [[Starscream (BWII)|Starscream]].

===Beast Machines===
''Beast Machines''<nowiki>'</nowiki> [[technorganic]] reformatting raises even further questions about what it means to be a "female transformer". It is possible that the Technorganic female Transformers, being merged organic and technological life to a cellular level, might actually be ''physically'' female.

[[Rattrap]] and [[Botanica]] end up in a romantic relationship towards the end of ''[[Beast Machines]]'' ("So, I'm a tree-hugger!" Rattrap remarks). What this means for his bar-hopping days is never explored.

The [[Vehicon]] [[Strika]] is referred to as the "consort" of [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], and has been serving by his side, seemingly as an equal, for centuries. Some have taken this to mean the two have a romantic interest in each other, but the show itself does not offer any hints to this.

===Dreamwave comic continuity===
According to DK's ''Transformers: The Ultimate Guide'', "Transformers are inherently non-gender specific, and only some quirk of their timelost origins can account for [female Transformers'] difference in appearance and attitude." Dreamwave was in the process of introducing more female Transformers and explicating their links to the Quintessons in this continuity when it went out of business.

===Unicron Trilogy===
[[Image:Twirl-Baby.jpg|left|thumb|250px|But she's got your altmode!]]

The existance of female Transformers throughout the [[Unicron Trilogy]] is portrayed as slightly uncommon (it is a fiction aimed at young boys, after all), but hardly remarkable. They just exist, as do "males", and no special attention is called to them. Quite a few appear in various places in "[[Motorcycle refugee|civilian]]" roles, as [[Autobot nurse|nurses]], and even on [[Velocitron band|colony worlds]].

There are examples and hints of romantic interest between males and females in both ''[[Armada]]'' ([[Redline]] and [[Falcia]] in the [[Linkage (comic)|''Linkage'' comics]], plus [[Nightscream (Armada)|Nightscream's]] eagerness to appease and defend his [[bulk]] partner [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]]), and ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' stories (most obviously [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast's]] intense infatuation with [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack's]] secret crush on [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]], plus [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] reportedly has an unnamed female "life partner" lost somewhere on [[Earth]]). This too is treated as a fairly common event.

There are female Transformers in positions of very high power as well: in the [[Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]], [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] is the leader of the entire [[Omnicon]] race, while in ''Cybertron'', Override is the leader of the planet [[Velocitron]]. So far, the Unicron Trilogy is the only ''Transformers'' continuity to ''give'' female Transformers that level of responsibility.

:''('''Note''': In the French version of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Arcee is dubbed by a man. ''Why'' she was is currently unknown.)''

===IDW Comic continuity===
[[Simon Furman]] has stated that he will not use female Transformers in the IDW continuity untill or unless he comes up with a reason/way for them to exist that makes logical sense to him. He did not rule out doing so however, as he said he had found a similar justification for the [[Pretender]]s, which lead to the [[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]] miniseries.

[[Category: Female Transformers| ]]
[[Category: Biology]]
[[Category: Transformer culture]]
[[Category: Generation 1]]<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>