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Prime Target (G1)

2010-09-27T09:34:38Z

90.222.43.97: /* Real-world references */

{{episode
|image=Lord chumley plaque.jpg
|caption=...This pretty much speaks for itself.
|series=G1toon
|ep=51
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=51
|prev2=Blaster Blues
|next2=Auto-Bop
|title="Prime Target"
|written by=[[Flint Dille]] [[Buzz Dixon]]
|production code=700-50
|airdate=[[November 14]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The big-game hunter Lord Chumley begins hunting Autobots, and he's gunning for Optimus Prime.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ターゲットはコンボイ (''Target wa Convoy'', "The Target is Convoy")
:''German ''Generation 2'' title:'' "'''Jagd auf Prime'''" ("Hunt for Prime")

==Synopsis==
Over the [[Arctic]], [[Daina|Oktober Guard One]] is flying an experimental jet, when it is suddenly speared by a submarine under the ice. She ejects, but the plane is captured. It turns out that the plane was stolen by [[Lord Chumley]], a game hunter, who tells his manservant [[Dinsmoore]] that he needs one more thing to complete his collection...the head of Optimus Prime.

[[Image:Primetargetchumleydinsmore.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Dinsmoore, I believe the Autobots are about to suffer a series of unfortunate events!"]]

Heading into town, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] spot [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and head after them. However, it is actually a trap set by Chumley. Back at the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], the Autobots are watching a soap opera which is interrupted by a news broadcast about the theft of the plane. Apparently, the [[Soviet Union]] is accusing the [[United States of America]] of the theft, which the United States denies, and the two countries are ready to go to war. Having not heard back from Bumblebee and Tracks, Prime orders the Autobots to search for their friends. However, Chumley has devised several traps for the Autobots and manages to capture [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Grapple]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], the latter of whom sends a message to Prime about the capture. Not wanting to risk the others, Prime orders the Autobots to return to base.

[[Image:Primetargetbotsintraps.jpg|right|200px|thumb|And you thought Hasbro safety tests were tough.]]

While they regroup, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] sends a message to Prime, saying that he's found the missing bots, who are being held in (poorly designed) traps intended to prevent them from escaping. Chumley himself contacts Prime and requests his presence. Pissed at seeing his friends tortured, Prime overloads Chumley's screen and orders the Autobots to remain at the base.

However, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] has been keeping an eye on the events and feels that Chumley, though a flesh creature, may be useful...especially since he's done more in two days than Megatron has done in two years, which [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] takes the time to point out. Unaware that Chumley is only after Prime, Megatron sends Blitzwing and Astrotrain (surprise, surprise) to make a deal between Chumley and the [[Decepticon]]s.

Arriving at Chumley's castle, Prime finds himself in a "well researched" mock-up of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He unleashes a monster on Prime, but Prime is able to defeat it. Heading down a corridor, Prime finds a young woman imprisoned, but leaves. Blitzwing investigates, and gets trapped in a goo-net intended for Prime, much to Astrotrain's irritation. Finally, Chumley sends out a mechanical scorpion (no, not [[Scorponok (G1)|that one]]), but Prime is shot in the back by Astrotrain and apparently killed. Furious that his prize has been ruined, Chumley takes the Decepticons prisoner and defuses their energy weapons.

[[Image:PrimetargetOPvsspider.jpg|left|200px|thumb|[[Blackarachnia (disambiguation)|Blackarachnia]]'s debut was not the most glamorous.]]

Knowing that Prime is alive, Bumblebee sends their coordinates to the Autobot leader, who enters the castle. A mechanical spider is dispatched, but Prime destroys it and heads into Chumley's control room. Dinsmoore hides in a tank while Chumley frees the Decepticons on the promise that they'll fight the Autobot. Instead Astrotrain and Blitzwing go after Chumley to "See how he likes being hunted." The Autobots are freed by Prime, and Blitzwing and Astrotrain retreat after realizing that they are unarmed. Chumley is left at the mercy of Prime.

The Autobots return the plane to the Soviet Union, with Chumley strapped to its nose. The world thanks Optimus Prime for his efforts in solving the mystery.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (9)
* [[Grapple]] (10)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (11)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (14)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (15)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (16)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (18)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (19)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (20)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (21)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (24)
* [[Bluestreak]] (25)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (26)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (27)

|c2=
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (7)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (8)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (22)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (23)

|c3=
* [[Daina|Oktober Guard One]] (1)
* [[Dinsmoore]] (2)
* [[Lord Chumley]] (3)
* [[Hector Ramirez (G1)|Hector Ramirez]] (6)
* Russian sentry (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"She's a lovely specimen, Lord Chumley, but, there's a frightful international row brewing over it." 
"Ahhh. These things blow over... Remember the [[Boer War]]?" 
"Painfully, sir." 
"Oh, yes, well. Everybody else has forgotten it."
:—'''Dinsmoore''' and '''Chumley''' are older'n hell, apparently.

'''News Announcer''': "We interrupt 'As the Kitchen Sinks' for this special news bulletin." 
'''Jazz, Blaster, Beachcomber''' and '''Grapple''' in unison: "Awwwwwwwww..."
:—The Autobots do not like to miss their soaps.

"Amazing. A booby trap that actually captures boobies."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' says "boobies".

"Bah! Impenetrable! Blitzwing, how do you get into these messes?!"
:—'''Astrotrain''' vainly tries to free Blitzwing

"Decepticons! Trust them to spoil the hunt." 
"Yes, sir. Just like the Humane Society, in a way."
:—'''Chumley''' and '''Dinsmoore'''

'''Chumley''': I say, old chaps. If I free you, will you fight Optimus Prime? 
'''Astrotrain''': Trust us! 
'''Chumley''': There he is, lads! Ha ha! Give him a good thrashing! 
[''Astrotrain immediately tries to stomp Chumley''] 
'''Astrotrain''': See how ''you'' like being hunted! 
'''Chumley''': But—you said— 
'''Blitzwing''': Never trust Decepticons, flesh creature!
:—Chumley gets a lesson in Decepticon ethics.

==Notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] is standing alongside Megatron and Starscream. And we all thought [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was the one who would end up defecting. [[Sideswipe (SG)|But then again...]]
* During the scene when [[Lord Chumley|Chumley]] contacts Optimus at the Autobots headquarters, both [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] can be seen standing next to Optimus even though earlier, they got captured by Chumley.
* A large number of sound effects are missing or oddly truncated throughout the episode. Inferno smashes his way into the burning building without any smashy-smashy-type noises, and a second later his wrist communicator is snipped off in total silence. Prime shoots a bear trap with only about a fourth of his usual blaster sound effect; a second later he throws open a castle gate, which only makes half of a clang.
* Likewise, there are a few lines of dialogue present in the episode's shooting script that are dropped from the final version. This in and of itself is hardly unusual, except in one instance, an odd technical glitch results. In the script, after Prime flattens Chumley's robotic scorpion, Chumley entreats Astrotrain to "help [his] machine to its feet," and Astrotrain replies "Certainly!" In the finished episode, however, Chumley's request is removed but Astrotrain's response is ''not'', leaving the Decepticon randomly saying "Certainly!" for no apparent reason.
* A billboard urging viewers to "Don't drink and drive" has a second message to "Don't fly drive".
* When Blitzwing says "Never trust Decepticons, flesh creature", Chumley mouths along. A few seconds later Blitzwing says "Look out, the Autobots are free!" in Astrotrain's voice.

===Continuity errors===
* Oktober Guard One received a sonar reading from beneath the ice while flying over in her jet. Sonar doesn't work that way.
* Any other cartoon (or real-life) jet would have completely exploded either upon being struck, or upon smashing nose-first into the ice.
* Why is footage of the "top secret Russian jet fighter" being shown on the American nightly news?
* When Bumblebee radios Prime, the blades swinging at him conveniently disappear.
* Chumley's devices seem to change from "capture" to "kill" about the time Prime recalls the Autobots to base. Both Windcharger and Huffer narrowly escape traps that seem likely to inflict major damage, at the very least (an onrushing train and a drill descending from a streetlight, respectively).

===Real-world references===
* Dinsmoore was apparently alive for the [[wikipedia:Second_Boer_War|Second Boer War]]. At least, we're assuming it's the second one, since the [[wikipedia:First_Boer_War|first one]] happened in the 1880s. If he was alive and could remember that one, he must be some sort of super human.
* Chumley boasts of having hunted [[wikipedia:Javan_Tiger|Javanese tigers]].... which were actually hunted to extinction by the late 1970s. ''Bastard.''
* The show ''As The Kitchen Sinks'' the Autobots were watching is a reference to the show ''As The World Turns''.
*Dinsmoore bears some resemblance to Major Minor from Snagglepuss cartoons (even down to having a head plaque ready for his next target), just ''hugely'' more resourceful and effective.

===Trivia===
* The Oktober Guard are a Soviet special operations force from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' cartoons and comics.
* Several of the Autobots are revealed to be fans of an Earth soap opera entitled ''[[As the Kitchen Sinks]]''. Clearly, they've been away from Cybertron too long.
* Chumley has several ''unfathomably'' improbable traps and devices. The most hilarious are a pair of giant hands that come to life from a billboard to fold up Blaster into his tape mode (somehow forcing him to shrink at the same time). The list also includes a giant fully-animated mechanical scorpion that is impervious to Optimus Prime's laser fire, some sort of instant-hardening liquid which is ''also'' impervious to Astrotrain's blaster, a [[Ms. Black Widow|giant mechanical black widow]], a "holographic projection rifle" that projects fully-animated 3D images of Astrotrain and Blitzwing, giant mechanical tentacle arms (which can somehow be transported by a comparatively tiny forklift), a set of heavy steel girders which can assemble themselves into a cage while in freefall, and some kind of dragon.
* Furthermore, he's somehow worked quite a few of his traps and gadgets right into publicly-owned infrastructure. A suction clamp comes snaking out of a toll booth; a giant drill comes out of a street lamp while clamps emerge from a manhole; and railroad crossing gates descend at his command.
* Obviously, he's ''insanely'' rich. In addition to all the crazy technology he uses for recreational purposes, he's seen to own a submarine, a sprawling clifftop castle, a fully operational steam locomotive, a custom-modified car wash, an apartment building (which he casually burns), a veritable fleet of flatbed and other trucks, a heavy construction crane (and presumably the entire construction site where it's located), a taxi cab, a fire truck, and a barge.
* He also has the money to build a replica of part of Cybertron just to hunt Optimus in, and gets it alarmingly accurate for a guy who's never been there.
* Seriously. What does this guy ''do'' for a living??

==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 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.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/prime_target.html Dossier on the Cybertron Chronicle]

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

Sea Change

2010-09-27T09:01:58Z

90.222.43.97: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|image=SeaChange Alana riding Seaspray.jpg
|caption=Taking inter-species relationships to the next level.
|series=G1toon
|ep=49
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=44
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
|next2=Hoist Goes Hollywood
|title="Sea Change"
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=700-48
|airdate=[[November 20]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Seaspray turns into a merman with robot feet and falls in love.'''

... '''wait, what?!'''

:''Japanese title:'' 変身の泉 (''Henshin no Izumi'', "The Spring of Transformation")

==Synopsis==
[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] is pulling a water skiing [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] around a lake, but Bumblebee wipes out while trying to jump a ramp. 'Bee decides to call it a day, as the first star comes out. Seaspray makes a wish on the star, but keeps it a secret, otherwise it won't come true.

Meanwhile, on another planet, the [[Tlalakan]]s are all wishing for one thing... freedom from [[Deceptitran]], who has enslaved them. He has developed a unique method of gathering [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] by directly harvesting it from the Tlalakans themselves. However, the Tlalakans have finally had enough, and revolt. As his droids appear incapable of stopping them, Deceptitran sends out a distress signal.

[[Image:SeaChange Autobots in Cosmos.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

Back on [[Earth]], Seaspray is still wishing on stars, when he suddenly receives a signal. Heading back to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], the two [[Autobot|Autobots]] show it to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. Perceptor can't identify any specifics, but he is sure that it's a distress signal. Optimus sends the three in [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], but the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] himself is too large to come. The Autobots depart, as Optimus wishes them luck. Before they reach the planet, Perceptor discovers that the distress signal is similar to ones intercepted during the [[Third Cybertron War]]. Seaspray suddenly realizes that they're responding to a distress signal intended for the [[Decepticon]]s. Before they can abort, Deceptitran detects them, and orders the droids to open fire. As the Autobots emerge from the crash, the droids swoop in to finish the job, when the Tlalakans suddenly attack. Seaspray manages to save one, who calls herself [[Alana]]... and Seaspray appears a little shy.

Meanwhile, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] enters the planet's atmosphere and lands in the city. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] has come with [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] to assist. After Deceptitran briefs Megatron on the situation, the Decepticons go Autobot hunting.

[[Image:SeaChange Seaspray Bumblebee at pool.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Meanwhile, the Autobots are being taken to the [[Well of Transformation]], which the Tlalakans describe as the one secret that they have kept from Deceptitran. Unfortunately, a pair of droids have followed them in. Bumblebee downs one, while Seaspray throws another into the Well...where it dissolves. Alana explains that the Well dissolves the body, leaving only the lifeforce, which the Tlalakans use to change into whatever they want. Alana warns them not to get in, fearing that they will die just like the droid. After turning into a mermaid, Alana bids them farewell, blowing Seaspray a [[kiss]]. Bumblebee has to drag a babbling Seaspray out of the cave.

Heading to the river, the Autobots are discovered by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], and the rest of the Decepticons swoop in. Seaspray [[Transformation|transforms]] and takes the Autobots down the river—and right over the waterfall. Perceptor, Seaspray, and Cosmos are rescued by the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee is captured. The Autobots are taken to the Tlalakans underwater city, the only place that the Decepticons have not conquered. They meet [[Tlaloc]], their king, who loans them some warriors to rescue Bumblebee and storm the city. However, Cosmos and Perceptor are too damaged. It's just Seaspray and his men. Er, mermen. After the mermen and Alana change back into humans, some of the mermen set bombs under the city, heralding the start of the attack. The Decepticons go to attack the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee activates a homing beam. He signals Seaspray, who rescues Bumblebee and damages Deceptitran. The Tlalakans withdraw, taking Bumblebee with them, while Seaspray and Alana go to the well. Unfortunately, Laserbeak follows Bumblebee underwater...

In the control room, Deceptitran is having a panic attack, causing Megatron to simply turn him off (why he doesn't do that with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] is beyond anyone's guess). Megatron receives a signal from Laserbeak, and promises to join their little friend in a short while...

[[Image:SeaChange Mermaid Seaspray and Alana.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Robo-Conan & Robo-Sonya]]

In the forest, the Tlalakans are being chased by the droids, but manage to reach the Well of Transformation. Seaspray asks if Alana really believes he would die if he went in, but Alana points out that they're both machines. Feeling dejected, Seaspray resolves to go into the Well, as Alana cries out in horror. Believing him dead, Alana muses that she ''did'' love Seaspray...only for Seaspray to emerge as a blond muscle man, but with robot feet (and for some reason, still a gargling voice). The two jump into the Well and change into merpeople. They discover that the city is under attack by the Decepticons, but Seaspray doesn't have any weapons systems as a merman. Spotting them, Megatron orders Rumble to follow. Rumble begins firing, only for his body to also be affected by the Well. Alana begins to tell Rumble to think of a big tree, or become lost. Rumble survives...as a tree. Seaspray resumes his old robot mode, while Alana takes one of her own, as a measure for fighting Decepticons, but she likes her color (guess what [[Elita One|it]] [[Arcee (G1)|is]]). On the surface, Seaspray and Alana head to the above water city (with Alana transforming into a gondola) and attack Deceptitran's forces.

[[Image:SeaChange Alana Deceptitran.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Underwater, the Decepticons are overwhelming the Autobots and Tlalakans, when Megatron receives a mayday from Deceptitran. Megatron is willing to leave Deceptitran to die, but the energon must be protected. Heading back for the city, the Decepticons spot Seaspray, and follow him into the energon warehouse. However, the droids fire on the Decepticons, as Alana has reprogrammed Decepitran to serve her. The explosion causes a massive tremor, destroys the city and causes Rumble, back in the caves, to fall into the Well of Transformation, allowing him to change back. Megatron orders Astrotrain to transform and take them off the planet.

As the Tlalakans celebrate, Alana has retaken her human form, but tells Seaspray that they won't let it ruin their relationship. As the two sail off into the sunset, Bumblebee notices the first star, and asks if anyone wants to make a wish. Perceptor asks why, and Bee says that it's merely a [[human]] superstition he heard...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Deceptitran]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
|c3=
* [[Chac]] (3)
* [[Alana]] (4)
* [[Mok]] (5)
* [[Tlaloc]] (16)
* [[Rarto]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"Oh no...my paint job's ruined."
:—'''Cosmos''' sweating the small stuff before collapsing

"She kissed me! She kissed me!"
:—'''Seaspray''' on foreplay (Ha ha! Making cyborgs!)

"Ah, dream on, bubble-brain."
:—'''Bumblebee''' on Seaspray's love life

"Maybe that is all I am, a bunch of transistors and bolts, but I don't believe it! My heart may look like an energon pump but that doesn't mean it can't feel."
:—'''Seaspray'''

"Transform, you sponge, and get us out of here!"
:—'''Megatron''' destroys Astrotrain's self-esteem with what appears to be a sea-related insult. Mercy.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
*When Alana runs to assist Chac, the first cell is reversed, making her appear to be on the wrong side of the screen for an instant.
*While analyzing the distress signal, Perceptor's helmet is red.

[[Image:G1-Cartoon-SeaChange-Rumble-Tree.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Rumble's plan to attract hot tree huggers goes awry.]]

*When Rumble is changed into a tree, he appears to be simply a tree with a mouth and eye holes, but during his close-up, his face is its regular, robotic self, apart from the fact his visor is now two separate eyes.
* When Deceptitran radios Megatron to tell him the energon supplies are in jeopardy, Soundwave's visor is white.
* When the droids first start firing on the Decepticons, the walls are pink.
* Megatron tells Dirge and the droids to chase Seaspray and Alana, but only the droids go.

===Continuity errors===
*In all of its other appearances, Cosmos's interior is shown to have light grey walls with a dark grey floor. For this episode only, his interior is the same burnt orange color as the interior of Autobot HQ.
*Although Tlaloc appears to be among the mer-Tlalakans leading the escaping prisoners away, he later expresses surprise that Alana and Mok are free.
*It's implied that the Tlalakans can only change form while in the Well of Transformation, yet Alana's transformation between robot and gondola modes uses the same effect as a Tlalakan changing, rather than a traditional Transformer transformation (as you would expect from her having imitated Cosmos's species) and she's nowhere near the Well.

===Transformers references===
*Much of this episode takes place underwater, yet Bumblebee does not display any kind of special aptitude for underwater operations like his toy-packaging [[bio]] suggests he should.
*Rumble is frigging stupid.

===Real-world references===
* The term "sea change" simply means [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20change a significant transformation,] though [[Wikipedia:Full Fathom Five|when Shakespeare coined it]], he was talking about the substance of a body literally being changed by the sea (such as bone being replaced with coral).
* The vaguely Meso-American aesthetic of the natives and the word "Tlalakan" itself suggests that the planet is meant to evoke [[wikipedia:Tlalocan|Tlalocan]], the "heaven" in Aztec cosmology reserved for those who died by drowning or had an otherwise water-related death. That's, uh, actually pretty morbid!
* One of the Tlalakan natives is even named [[wikipedia:Tlaloc|Tlaloc]], after the Aztec god of rain and water who ruled Tlalocan. Hopefully, he didn't demand child sacrifices like the real one...
*Conversely, another of the natives is named Chac, which is very similar to [[wikipedia:Chaac|Chaac]], who was a Mayan god of rain.

==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 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.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/sea_change.html Dossier on the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Child's Play (episode)

2010-09-26T13:34:16Z

90.222.43.97: /* Other notes */

{{disambig2|the episode of the Generation 1 cartoon|issue #35 of the Marvel US comic|Child's Play (issue)}}
{{episode
|image=Child's Play Aron Autobots telescope.jpg
|caption=Aron soon realised he was addicted to collecting Robot Heroes.
|series=G1toon
|ep=44
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=40
|prev2=Triple Takeover
|next2=The Search for Alpha Trion
|title="Child's Play"
|written by=[[Beth Bornstein]]
|production code=700-43
|airdate=[[November 7]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Transformers find themselves on an alien planet where they're no bigger than toys to the inhabitants!'''

:''Japanese title:'' チルドレン・プレイ (''Children Play'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Child's Play Decepticons catch.JPG|left|200px|thumb|There's nothing in the rule book that says a Decepticon can't pitch!]]

At a baseball stadium on [[Earth]], the [[Decepticon]]s are setting up a [[space bridge]], over the objections of the [[human]]s. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] decides to let his troops have some fun: [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] fires baseballs at people from his cannons, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] play catch (using a human), [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] chases a player around the field, and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] starts grabbing people in [[Alternate mode|jet mode]]. The unwholesome family fun is ended when the [[Autobot]]s arrive. As [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots attack, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] tries to run a scan on the space bridge, but Megatron shoots the controls. However, Optimus Prime, Perceptor, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], Soundwave, Ravage, Thrust, and Starscream are within the space bridge's confines at the time, and they are sucked into a portal along with the [[energon cube]]s. As Megatron laments the loss of the energon (and fails to notice the bright side of Optimus and Starscream probably being dead), the space bridge self-destructs. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] leads the remaining Autobots back to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], hoping that [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] can figure out where the others were sent.

Meanwhile, the lost Transformers awaken to find themselves somewhere else. All of a sudden, a large sphere lands atop Starscream. Then a monster attacks, chasing Soundwave. Thrust tries to fly away, but lands in a body of water. Also, Ravage is caught by some plant life. Convinced the Decepticons are no longer a threat, Optimus has the Autobots load the energon into his trailer, and they roll out. They find a building made of relatively poor materials, only to discover something quite shocking: They're in the bedroom of a gargantuan alien child.

[[Image:Child's Play Aron Decepticons bowl.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"If you let us out, we'll give you free candy! Decepticon promise!"]]

The boy, [[Aron]], places Starscream, Soundwave, Ravage, and Thrust in a small bowl, while [[Nitro]] (his pet and the creature that was chasing Soundwave) smells the Autobots. As Aron tells him to stop, the Decepticons escape. Thrust is tied down with a piece of string, Ravage is chased down like a mouse and locked in a small cage with a rodent-like pet to run on a wheel (how embarrassing), and Soundwave is locked in a toy box. Starscream manages to hide in the small toy building and sees the Autobots. Naturally, Screamer fires his [[null-ray]] at the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], causing a fire. Starscream is quickly recaptured, and Inferno douses the fire. Optimus introduces the Autobots to Aron, when the boy's parents arrive. Hiding the Autobots in a desk drawer, Aron shows the Decepticons to his parents. However, Aron is also compelled to show the Autobots.

The Transformers are taken to a lab, where scientists intend to dissect them (starting with the Decepticons). However, Aron steals the Autobots away, with the authorities in pursuit. Aron hides behind a trash can, dodging his pursuers, but a local bully named [[Marty]] comes along. The Autobots hide within a trashcan, and Marty wanders off. Meanwhile, Ravage has picked his locks and frees the other Decepticons. Aron is still being chased by the authorities, so he intends to hide the Autobots at his house. However, Optimus tells Aron that they have to return to Earth, a planet far from this one. Aron wonders if he could see it through his telescope, and Perceptor happens upon an idea. However, Soundwave has overheard them.

[[Image:Child's Play Autobots sewer ride.JPG|left|200px|thumb|''Mr. Toad's Wildrider''—er, ''Wild Ride'']]

The authorities spot Aron, so the Autobots decide to escape by traveling to Aron's house through the sewers. The Decepticons see the Autobots and follow them below. As the two groups fight it out within the sewer, a wave comes along. (Let's not ponder what the wave is made of.) The Decepticons hightail it out, while the Autobots ride the wave in a teacup. Escaping out through a drainage pipe, the Autobots head to Aron's house.

[[Image:Child's Play Starscream alligators.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Crikey! They're REALLY mad now!]]

Using Nitro as a way into Aron's room, Perceptor explains that they can use the energon, along with modifications to his [[light cannon]], to propel them to Earth through the telescope. Once he's ready, however, the Decepticons arrive and grab Bumblebee. Starscream orders Optimus to let them pass, and just as the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] is prepared to let them go, Nitro pounces, freeing Bumblebee but allowing the Decepticons to escape back to Earth...and land right in a lake filled with alligators.
Back on...whatever Aron's planet is called, Aron suggests using his toy rocket ship to go home. Perceptor is able to modify it for interstellar transport, and the Autobots depart, with Optimus telling Aron that whenever he looks into the sky, he'll be seeing them.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (10)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (11)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (12)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (15)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (16)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (24)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (4)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (6)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (8)

|c3=
*Spectators (1)
*Baseball players (2)
*[[Chip Chase]] (25)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (26)
|c4=
*[[Nitro]] (17)
*[[Aron]] (19)
*Aron's parents (20)
*Alien authorities (27)
*[[Marty]] (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"Skywarp, think fast!"
:—'''Soundwave''' playing catch with Skywarp...using a human.

"Strike three, Megatron. You're out."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', umpire.

''[The Decepticons return to Earth, landing in a lake]'' 
'''Thrust''': This isn't the type of welcome I had in mind. 
'''Starscream''': Who cares, as long as there aren't any green monsters around. 
''[Alligators converge and attack the Decepticons]'' 
'''Starscream''': AHHH! GET THESE THINGS OFF OF ME! AHHHH! 
:—Starscream just can't win.

'''Smokescreen''': A rocket ship! 
'''Inferno''': A ''toy'' rocket ship. 
'''Perceptor''' Well, anything's worth a try. With some modifications to the propulsion core— 
'''Optimus''': Perceptor, just do it. 
:—Perceptor exhausts Optimus Prime's patience.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Megatron's opening lines ("Since the humans are so eager to play, this stadium will make a perfect space bridge. Why don't you accommodate them?") don't quite flow together, as if something got cut after the first part of the first sentence, or as if the first two clauses should be switched around.
* Thrust gets Optimus Prime's laser sound effect when he's firing baseballs from his arm guns.
* When Skywarp flies up to catch the human Soundwave just threw, he is colored like Starscream.
* Though both of the people Starscream picks up at the baseball game are male, one of the voices screaming for help is distinctly female.
* As Starscream is flying around, the stands keep switching back and forth from being completely full to completely empty.
* As Optimus arrives at the stadium and transforms, his trailer simply vanishes into thin air, with Inferno appearing in its place.
* Starscream's face is the same dark gray as his helmet after he's crushed by the giant ball, rather than its usual light gray.
* Thrust makes no transformation noise after he's swatted out of the air by the cat creature.
* The Autobots driving across Aron's floor are moving ''incredibly'' slowly.
* The Autobots make the "wrong" transformation noise (descending pitch) as they arrive at the "building" and convert to robot mode.
* As Inferno knocks on the "building"'s walls, the intended comedic effect of the wall falling and hitting him and Perceptor is animated as if it were a tidal wave bursting through the wall. After about 1/2 of the "metallic clang" sound effect, the scene instantly cuts to the Autobots walking along as if nothing happened.
* Starscream has Skywarp's colors when Aron drops him in the glass jar. And again when Soundwave joins him. And ''again'' as he and Soundwave break out.
* Starscream swats Ravage aside after Aron drops him in the jar, but Ravage just hangs in mid-air, unmoving.
* As Soundwave is being dropped into the cylinder, some parts of his head are white when they should be dark blue.
* As the Decepticons fly over the city, Starscream's face is obscured by his left arm blaster. But since the view is from the right, the blaster should be ''behind'' his head. The layers are corrected when the shot is re-used a few scenes later, as the Decepticons hunt for Aron's house.
* Like Thrust before him, Starscream gets Prime's laser sound effect when he fires on the Autobots inside the building set.
* In fact, ''nobody'' gets the right sound effects. Ravage has the same 1950s-sounding blast effect used all over the place in "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]" (when he, uh, fires lasers out of his missiles.) So does Prime when he blasts the sewer rat. Inferno gets a Decepticon sound effect when he blasts Starscream in the sewer.
* The spinning animation of the razor the aliens try to dissect Ravage with is screwed up. While there are clear spinning effects on the side of the blade, the teeth around the edge remain motionless.
[[Image:ChildsPlay Starscream's magic leg.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
* As Optimus reaches the sewer and finds Starscream standing atop the pipe he's coming out of, a number of odd things happen: He grabs at Starscream, who stands motionless, and his hands disappear as though they're meant to be blocked by something. Then he starts falling spontaneously, and a moment later a giant half-drawn leg kicks him. It seems as though this shot was meant to be animated with a different background.
* As Perceptor is knocked down by Soundwave, the rim of his chest is grey instead of white.
* As Inferno rushes to save Bumblebee, the water has not been animated around the characters, thus making them look like half-robots floating in midair.
* ''Flying Autobots:'' The Autobots emit a rocket sound effect as they leap from the tea cup, as if they had flight capabilities.
* As the Decepticons fly to Aron's house, Starscream is colored like Thundercracker.
* The Autobots are supposed to be running toward Nitro, but they aren't actually shown to be moving forward.
* Smokescreen's head crest is colored blue instead of yellow as Bumblebee asks about the cubes.
* When Aron removes the energon cubes from his drawer, his head and left arm disappear.
* As Inferno blasts the energon cubes, his energy beam isn't given a proper glow effect; it's colored black instead.
* Bumblebee vanishes from the shot as the Decepticons flee from Nitro.
* Starscream is colored like Thundercracker (''again'') as they fly up to the light beam.
* As the alligators approach the Decepticons, the back of Starscream's head is the same light gray as his body, instead of its usual dark gray.
* The alligators of the lake the Decepticons landed in are unnaturally huge. They seem as big as Starscream, who is over twenty feet tall, mind you.
* As the Autobots board the rocket from Aron's hands, the cell layering is ''completely'' screwed up. The Autobots just appear out of nowhere in Aron's hands. Bumblebee appears to be growing right out of Aron's skin. Prime walks ''past'' the rocket rather than into it, then phases through its skin to enter it (there's no actual hatchway shown.) Nitro ''also'' phases through the rocket to lick Bumblebee, and both of them sit there, half-submerged in the rocket. Wow!
* The audio seems to slow down for a second as the rocket lifts off.

===Continuity errors===
* Although continuity sets this directly before "[[The Gambler]]", the next episode broadcast was "[[Quest for Survival]]". Strange, that is.
* Nobody thinks to ''flee in a panic'' when the stadium is taken over by giant evil alien robots?
* Thrust confidently declares that "one of my missiles can stop anything!", while firing his... lasers.
* Awful convenient that the Transformers landed on a distant alien planet where the locals speak English. There's not the slightest attempt to explain how the two races can instantly communicate.
* Why doesn't Soundwave shrink when he transforms inside Aron's cylindrical box? He'd have been undetectable!
*The Aliens recognize the Autobots' alt-modes; strange that they have the same vehicles as we do.
* A representative of Aron's seemingly modestly-advanced civilization decides that, to figure out ''where'' the Transformers came from, they'll have to ''cut them open''? They thought of this before, say... ''asking them''?
* The physics of Perceptor's improvised space bridge seem a little dodgy. For one thing, shooting energon cubes usually causes them to ''blow up''; in fact, that's exactly what happens earlier in the episode. Second, there doesn't seem to be any mechanism for channeling their energy into the telescope, or for controlling when the beam launches. Third, could that dinky little telescope really be reliably sighted ''exactly'' on Earth, a small (and moving!) planet that's a minimum of several light years away?

===Continuity notes===
* [[Enter the Nightbird|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''': Round 4 goes to Brawn. Tally: Brawn 3, Soundwave 1. Final winner: Brawn!
* Perceptor demonstrates his rarely-used ability to roll along as a giant vehicular microscope.
* When the Decepticons are flying through the air, Ravage is shown to be "running" next to them. So cute.

===Other notes===
* Somebody ''must'' have been killed when Thrust knocks the huge and explosive scoreboard into the stands.
* Right before Brawn throws him, Soundwave appears to be... stomping on one of the bases?
* Optimus forgets to name Smokescreen when he introduces the Autobots to Aron. Smokescreen doesn't seem to mind. In fact, Smokescreen barely speaks in this episode and disappears at times. Perhaps the writers held him back in light of his upcoming starring role in "[[The Gambler]]"?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 12: Size Matters ([[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. 5 (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'' — 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/child's_play.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]