MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Dinobot Island, Part 1

2012-02-17T18:59:31Z

92.15.166.140: /* Featured characters */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=30
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=18
|prev2=Enter the Nightbird
|next2=Dinobot Island, Part 2
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=8
|prev3=The Core
|next3=Dinobot Island, Part 2
|image=DinobotIsland1 Spikevsdinosaur.jpg
|caption=Think they'll have that on the tour?
|title="Dinobot Island, Part 1"
|production code=#700-29
|airdate=[[September 25]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Dinobots are sent to a mysterious, prehistoric island for training. But the Decepticons intend to plunder its energy resources.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 対決!! ダイノボット PART I (''Taiketsu!! Dinobot PART I'', "Showdown!! Dinobots PART I"
:''German ''Generation 2'' title:'' "'''Die Insel der Dinobots, Teil 1'''" ("Island of the Dinobots, Part 1")
:''Italian title, dub 1:'' '''L'isola dei Dinorobot-Prima parte''' ("Dinobot Island-Part One")
:''Italian title, dub 2:'' '''L'isola dei Dinobots - I''' ("Dinobots Island - I")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DinobotIsland1 Landing on Dinobot Island.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Powerglide, I've a feeling we're not in the Ark any more.]]

[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] are dispatched to investigate mysterious energy readings emanating from the sea. What they discover is an island filled with lifeforms thought to be long extinct, including [[dinosaur]]s. Further investigation is cut short, however, when the Autobots are attacked by the natives, and they decide to retreat.

[[Image:Dinobotislandgrimlockslipup.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"And now," cried Grimlock, "Let the wild rumpus start!"]]

Returning to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], they inform [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s of their findings. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] is fascinated, but [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] dismisses it, what with the problems the Dinobots cause them. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] defends the Dinobots, and brings [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] out to show them.

Grimlock displays his "finesse" by using his fire breath to turn on [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], impressing Prime and causing [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] to grimace in pain. Hearing the commotion, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] investigate, and cause Grimlock to mess up, sending his fire breath all over the place.

[[Image:Dinobotislandratch%26spark.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"I can't get Jurassic Park back online without Dennis Nedry."]]

Grimlock angrily orders his subordinates to go away, but Sludge steps on Slag's tail, causing him to breathe fire. [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] also come to investigate, and the Dinobots collide with each other, resulting in a brawl. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] is nearly destroyed, but Trailbreaker's force field manages to protect the computer, while [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] put out the fires.

The Autobots are prepared to fight the Dinobots to a standstill, but Optimus orders Grimlock to bring the other Dinobots under control. Grimlock succeeds, and apologizes to Prime. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] accepts, but also realizes that the base is too small for the Dinobots to train in, and decides to have Powerglide lead them to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], as Spike has called the island. However, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] overhears this, and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] sends [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to follow them.

[[Image:Dinobotislandspikeinnest2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Hurry boys! The eggs are hatching!"]]

Arriving at the island, the Dinobots are impressed with the wide open spaces. However, Spike gets into trouble with the local fauna, nearly getting eaten twice. Spike decides to go home with Powerglide, while the Dinobots work on their skills, such as Slag's "fire stuff", Snarl's "tail stuff" and Swoop's "flying stuff". However, Laserbeak reports his findings back to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who decides to plunder the island's multiple energy sources.

[[Image:Dinobotislandmammoth.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Conan the Barbarian was really confused when he came on modern day Earth.]]

Spike, having had enough of real dinosaurs, decides to check out [[Ere Cenozoique Periode Tertiaire|some books]] with Bumblebee. However, while at the library, they see a temporal distortion, out of which comes barbarians riding woolly mammoths. They begin randomly attacking things, destroying the library and burying Spike and Bumblebee under a ton of rubble. At Dinobot Island, the Dinobots discover the Decepticon presence, and attack. However, Megatron causes the native dinosaurs to stampede toward the Dinobots, causing them to fall into a tar pit, which they sink into.

[[Dinobot Island, Part 2|To be continued...]]
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (4)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (5)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (6)
*[[Grapple]] (7)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (10)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (11)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (12)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (15)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (16)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (17)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (18)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (19)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (20)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (22)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (23)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (24)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (25)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (26)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (27)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (28)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (29)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (30)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (31)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (32)

|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (34)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (35)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (36)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (37)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (38)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (39)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (40)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (41)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (43)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (13)
*Barbarian (42)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hang in there, Bumblebee. Prepare for a daring rescue maneuver!" 
"Can't he just save a guy without doing a commercial?"
:—'''Powerglide''' narrates his rescue of '''Bumblebee'''. He must want [[Victor Caroli]]'s job.

"Beryllium baloney, Wheeljack. Once a dino-klutz, always a dino-klutz."
:—'''Huffer''' being both hungry and skeptical at the same time.

"What that is, Sludge?" 
"Uh, Sludge not know. Maybe time to do our thing?"
:—'''Slag''' and '''Sludge'''.

"Very impressive, Wheeljack. But what about the other Dinobots?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', about to regret what he said.

"Slag, Sludge, go away! Me Grimlock demonstrating finesse. Whatever that mean."
:—'''Grimlock''' really needs a thesaurus. Get it? Thesaurus?

"It's a jet, it's a rocket, no! It's Powergliiiiiide!"
:—'''Powerglide''' being Powerglide.

"Oh wow! I think I'll call it... Dinobot Island."
:—'''Spike''', showing an incredible lack of creativity.

"What is this bird planning on hatching out of these eggs... battleships?"
:—Yes, '''Spike'''. The pterosaur is planning on hatching tiny, human-sized battleships.

"Bye, Grimlock! Bye, guys! I'd write, but you can't read." 
:—'''Spike Witwicky'''. He should be thankful that the Dinobots didn't take offense.

"Swoop! Do flying stuff!" 
"...Slag! Do fire stuff!" 
"...Snarl! Do tail stuff!" 
"...Getting better... but still not more better enough."
:—'''Grimlock''' shows his mastery of both military tactics and grammar.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:DinobotIsland1 jetpack Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Bumblebee's nose is yellow instead of white as he reacts to his first sighting of the island.
* Bumblebee's vocal reaction to the T. Rex doesn't line up with the animation; he doesn't go "yee-ah!" until after it's been menacing him for several seconds.
* There's no crunch sound effect when the ''Rex'' crushes Bumblebee's jetpack.
* Blaster's voice lacks the reverb effect that it would have in nearly all his later appearances.
* Grimlock's robot head is white instead of black when he transforms to "end this chaos".
* Wheeljack's launcher is orange instead of light gray during the pan of him and Ratchet repairing equipment.
* Swoop gets a Decepticon laser effect when he scares off the Pterosaur that's trying to eat Spike.
* Look! There's one of those [[Shattered Glass (franchise)|red Decepticon faction symbols]] again (Megatron's [[insignia]] when the Decepticons review Laserbeak's recordings).
* The Dinobots get the ascending-pitch transformation noise when they convert to dino mode for Grimlock's "harder tests", rather than the normal descending-pitch version. The same miscue happens as they move out to "get rid of Decepticons".
* The reptile that growls at Slag for burning away its cover has the same synthetic electronic growl as the Dinobots themselves. So does one of the dinosaurs in Megatron's stampeding herd.
* Sludge's dino-mode back is red when he gets hit by Snarl's tail-stuff debris.
*When Megatron unleashes the dinosaur stampede, the Dinobots are facing the Decepticons, who are perched on the edge of a cliff. Grimlock looks back at the dinosaurs, and in the immediate next frame the Dinobots are suddenly standing on the edge of the cliff themselves. After the Dinobots sink into the tar pit, the Decepticons and their energon cubes are back on the edge of the cliff.

===Continuity errors===
* Prime uses his wrist radio to communicate with Bumblebee. It would really make more sense to use Teletraan I, since he's inside Autobot Headquarters. Megatron does the same thing with Soundwave, using his wrist communicator instead of the resources of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]].
* Powerglide has a proper single-seater cockpit in this episode, like a real A-10. Later episodes like "[[Blaster Blues]]" show him with a much larger side-by-side two-seater cockpit (technically, ''those'' episodes are the ones with the error.)
* Superhuman Spike:
** Shouldn't the pterosaur's claws leave some kind of mark on Spike?
** After getting picked up, tossed, thrown, jerked around, and held in the toothy mouth of the plesiosaur, Spike should really be a sack of broken bones and bloody pulp; instead, he's totally fine.
* The energon cube that Thundercracker fills shows a bizarre ability, sending out a pink energy beam into the lava stream even though it's ''empty'', before being filled with energy ''from'' the lava.
* There's pretty much no reason for Swoop to have fallen into the tar pit with the other Dinobots; he's not even near them in the last shot before they fall.

===Jurassic errors===
Paleontology weeps in the presence of this episode:
*An unnamed Pterosaur (with an appearance that fits the description of a ''Dimorphodon'', only much, much larger) somehow manages to catch Spike and fly with him to her nest. There, Spike founds himself among three giant eggs... that are bigger than the animal that laid them. The mother actually looks like a newly hatched chick next to them.
* A plesiosaur grabs Spike, but it seems pretty unlikely that it would actually seek such large prey. It is also highly unlikely a plesiosaur would occur in an inland lake, as the animals have only been found in marine environments. The above-water gymnastics that the plesiosaur performs with its neck are debatable, as while the neck possessed a huge number of vertebrae and must therefore have been highly flexible, there is some uncertainty over whether the vertical posture the animal assumes here would have been possible.
* The dinosaurs in general seem to be oversized. This is so much more noticeable in part II.
* A sauropod is shown wading in a lake while feeding on aquatic plants. Sauropods were almost certainly terrestrial animals that acted as grazers or browsers. The neck posture would also have been considered wrong, but recent studies support the notion that at least some could have held their necks vertically.
* A theropod (presumably ''Ceratosaurus'', only over-sized) is shown in an upright pose. In order to achieve this pose in museums, curators frequently broke the backs of their specimens. They can't even claim the true posture wasn't known at the time either, as books showing horizontal bipedal dinosaurs had begun appearing in the late '70s. A similar situation is seen with the hadrosaurs, who are now believed to be facultative quadrupeds (primarily four-legged, with a two-legged option).

===Continuity notes===
* Gadgets and powers:
** Bumblebee and Optimus Prime communicate by small pop-up radios that emerge from their wrists. Soundwave and Megatron use similar devices.
** Powerglide can shoot a light beam from his forehead that fixes things. Convenient.
** Blaster transforms into boom box mode without shrinking at all.
** Trailbreaker "fires" his force field from his gun arm, and uses it to protect Teletraan I without actually being near it.
** Ratchet replaces his right pointer finger with a large welding tip.
** Laserbeak uses one of the series' few recurring gadgets, a video camera that emerges from the top of his head (most famously used in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''). He also demonstrates the ability to fire lasers from his eyes, nonchalantly scaring off an inquisitive reptile.
** Swoop also fires lasers from his beast-mode eyes.
* Flying Autobots:
** In this episode, Bumblebee pretty explicitly requires a jetpack to fly; the convention of "Autobots can't fly" was pretty well solidified by this point in the series.
** Despite this, Powerglide appears to fly a short distance in robot mode when he hears Spike calling for help, complete with jet sound effects.
** The Dinobots fly in robot mode, an ability they consistently retain throughout the show.
* Bumblebee makes mention of the images of prehistoric Earth that he and the other Autobots viewed back in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]", prior to the construction of the Dinobots.
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] uses the term "[[beryllium baloney]]" in this episode, which would later be used again by Slag in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]], in much the same way.
* This is the ''second'' episode in which the Dinobots nearly destroy [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], the first being "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".
* First appearances:
** Autobots [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Grapple]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
** Decepticons [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]].

===Real-world references===
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak flies into Megatron's hand with the ''Millennium Falcon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engine burst noise.
** Swoop takes off for his "flying stuff" with the [[Death Star]] firing/Alderaan exploding sounds, then flies through a grove of trees with the sound of the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' flying past.
** As he spots the Decepticons, Swoop gets some combined X-Wing fighter and TIE fighter engine noises from the battle over the Death Star.
* The title of one of Spike's books is ''[[Ere Cenozoique Periode Tertiaire]]'', derived from an actual paleontology text.

===Trivia===
* This episode and [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|its conclusion]] introduce a large number of new characters from the 1985 toy assortment, and seem to have been written [[To sell toys|specifically to do so]]. Many of them have short but fairly explicit [[Introdump|introductory lines/scenes, seemingly intended to sum up their personalities or abilities]], and thus help sell their toys. Given this, it's a bit odd that several random members of the 1985 cast started showing up in earlier episodes (in terms of production order) which otherwise featured the Season One cast (Beachcomber and Inferno in "[[The Insecticon Syndrome]]"; Powerglide and Warpath in "[[A Prime Problem]]"), particularly since those same characters each get their own scenes in this episode.
* So the Autobots discover a unique island, with undisturbed natural beauty and filled with species that have been extinct for millions of years... and they unleash the Dinobots on it? Considering how choked up [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] got over a [[The Golden Lagoon|couple of trees]], you'd think they'd be a little more environmentally conscientious...

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Dinobot Island, also includes The Revenge of Bruticus ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — 1: The Revenge of Bruticus / 2: Dinobot Island (Parts 1 and 2) ([[Entertainment UK|Starvision]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Revenge of Bruticus and Dinobot Island Parts 1 & 2 ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — 1: The Revenge of Bruticus / 2: Dinobot Island (Parts 1 and 2) ([[Entertainment UK|The Fun House]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Dinobot Island ([[Malofilm|Behaviour]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/dinobot_island_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

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

The Insecticon Syndrome

2012-02-17T18:49:04Z

92.15.166.140: /* Featured characters */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=29
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=21
|prev2=The Master Builders
|next2=A Prime Problem
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=32
|prev3=A Prime Problem
|next3=Microbots
|image=Insectsyndromefeeding.jpg
|caption=I think they have a special shampoo for that.
|title="The Insecticon Syndrome"
|production code=#700-28
|airdate=[[October 9]], 1985
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Insecticons feed on a source of power which causes them to grow... and will cause them to explode if not cured.'''

:''Japanese title:'' インセクトロン・シンドローム (''Insectron Syndrome'')
:''Italian title:'' '''La sindrome degli Insecticons''' ("The Insecticons Syndrome")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:InsecticonSyndrome Beachcomber branch.jpg|left|200px|thumb|J'ACCUSE!]]

At a park, [[Jeff (ranger)|Jeff]], a park ranger has called for help. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] respond, driving along a rocky road (and Bumblebee is especially having trouble). The ranger shows the Autobots some trees that appeared to have been chewed on by something. Beachcomber quickly realizes that something ''did'' chew on the trees, but not by an animal—it was the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Meanwhile, the Insecticons are hiding in their current lair/hive/base thingy. They complain that the trees didn't fill them up the way that they wanted to, so the Insecticons decide to go feast on some redwoods. Meanwhile, Jeff is having trouble accepting the possibility of giant robotic insects (even though he's talking to a trio of [[Transformer|giant robotic cars]]). Suddenly, another ranger calls him, saying he's seeing giant robotic insects. The [[Autobot]]s proceed to [[roll out]].

Meanwhile, the [[Decepticon]]s are searching for their Insecticon "allies". [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] has come up with a plan that will require their unique abilities. As [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] spots the Autobots, Megatron takes it as a chance to observe them in action. As the other ranger barely dodges a falling tree, the Autobots arrive. The Autobots and Insecticons throw down, until the Insecticons push a log down a hill that nearly crushes the Autobots. Our heroes jump into a river to avoid death, but they then fall over a waterfall...at least, that's what the Insecticons believe, for Hound used his [[Hologram|holograms]] to make it appear that the Autobots and humans fell over. After that, Megatron and the Decepticons arrive. He explains that he intends to attack [[Iron Mountain]], a human military base, but offers the Insecticons to gorge themselves at the [[Nova Power Plant]] if they help them. Overhearing this, the Autobots contact the [[Ark (G1)|base]].

[[Image:G1 InsecticonSyndrome Bombshell Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Here's your problem, ma'am. See that? Termites.]]

Receiving their signal, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] leads a strike force to the Nova Power Plant. Unfortunately, the Decepticons are already there. The [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] quickly down the helicopters the humans have to defend the base, while Megatron, Soundwave, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] go to stop the Autobots. The Insecticons reach the [[Nova Power Core]], which they proceed to drain. However, the [[proton]]s within the core cause them to [[Size changing|grow in size]], making them as [[Scale|large]] as Optimus Prime and Megatron. Soundwave overhears what is happening, but [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] implants him with a [[cerebro-shell]]. The Insecticons proceed to kick the [[Slag (slang)|slag]] out of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and the Autobots are forced to retreat with their fallen comrades. Megatron is pleased with the Insecticons' new power, unaware that the Insecticons plan to off him.

At the base, the [[Autobot]]s use [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to calculate what will happen to the Insecticons. It says that the energy from the Power Core will cause the Insecticons to explode unless something is done. However, the Autobots receive a distress signal from Iron Mountain, where the Decepticons are attacking. If the Insecticons explode there, they'll kill everyone there. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and Wheeljack quickly work on an antidote.

[[Image:InsecticonSyndrome Inferno on hound.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Hound's a bottom? Who'da thunk it?]]

At Iron Mountain, the Decepticons attack. However, the human defenses are surprisingly advanced for simple flesh creatures. Finally, [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] takes control of the human weapons, causing them to attack the base. The Autobots arrive, but are quickly buried in rubble by the Insecticons. Entering the base, Soundwave manages to access the computer. Megatron declares that it's time to eliminate the Insecticons, only to discover that his army has been taken over by the Insecticons. Bombshell fires a cerebro-shell into [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], but Megatron manages to grab the shell fired at him and destroy it. Having finally dug themselves out, the Autobots explain the explosive situation to Megatron. Fortunately, Ratchet and Wheeljack have arrived with an antidote.

[[Image:InsecticonSyndrome Shrapnel explode.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ahhh, my head asplode. Asplode.]]

Heading into Iron Mountain, the Insecticons begin to reach critical mass, and will explode at any minute. As Megatron [[Transformation|transforms]] into [[Alternate mode|gun mode]] for Optimus to use, the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] uses the Decepticon leader to fire the antidotes into Bombshell and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]. However, Shrapnel manages to avoid his cure, so Spike bravely manages to get the cure into Shrapnel...who blows up anyway. The cures cause the cerebro-shells to deactivate, but also erase the information Soundwave downloaded. Bombshell uses a special shell to cause Shrapnel to reassemble, and the Insecticons run away, with the angry Decepticons in pursuit. With the Decepticons defeated, the day is saved.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (1)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (15)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (16)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (20)

|c2=
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (6)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (7)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (12)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (13)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (14)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (21)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Jeff (ranger)|Jeff]], the young park ranger (4)
*[[Mike]], the old park ranger (9)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"Gigantic robot insects that eat trees? YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING!"
:—'''Jeff the Park Ranger's''' suspension of disbelief is ruined.

"The Insecticons have done well." 
"Yes...perhaps they should lead us." 
"You test my patience, Starscream."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' after the Insecticons defeat some Autobots.

"Why, if it isn't Megatron, and his merry mechanical men!"
:—'''Bombshell'''

"Oh boy, a robotoid turkey shoot!"
:—'''Inferno''' takes aim at Laserbeak and Buzzsaw.

"Power has made the Insecticons obnoxious." 
"''And'' invincible."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"What's the matter, Megatron? Weakling humans too tough for you, for you?"
:—'''Shrapnel''' to Megatron, after the latter has been shot by a human weapon.

"Ohhhh....that Nova Power Core is giving me heartburn...that is, if I have a heart." 
"If you have a ''brain'', you'll realize that we've got a battle to fight!"
:—'''Bombshell''' and '''Megatron'''

"Guys, you all right?" 
"Just great...if you don't mind two tons of Inferno sitting on your head plates." 
"Look, you get ten tons of boulders off my shoulder struts, and I'll get off your noggin."
:—'''Spike''', '''Hound''' and '''Inferno'''

"No one gets into my [[cranial chamber]]!" 
"Auugh, my cerebro-shell! My precious shell!" 
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Bombshell'''

"We Insecticons, know how to get... it... together!!"
:—'''Bombshell''' delivers a cheesy line after reassembling Shrapnel.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Jeff's pointing hand is layered behind Beachcomber when saying his "What kind of animals can devour trees this size?" line.
* In the second binocular view of the Insecticons, Shrapnel's "cockpit" isn't colored yellow.
* Shrapnel's transformation to robot mode gets only half a transformation noise, and it's not timed to line up with the animation.
* Kickback is supposed to be in insect mode when he lands to kick the log after the Autobots, but he's drawn in robot mode, lying on his back!
* Starscream's Decepticon insignias are incorrectly the right way up when the Decepticons first approach the Insecticons.
* Megatron is missing his chest insignia during the line "At the Nova Power Plant".
* Two Skywarps are shown flying against the human helicopters.
* Buzzsaw and Laserbeak both leave Soundwave's chest with no chest-opening sound effect and no transformation noise.
* Bombshell is shown during Kickback's "making me grow" line, though given the lack of lip flap for the insect-mode Insecticons, it's not an incontrovertible mistake.
* The animation is not especially consistent about how much the Insecticons have grown. Inside the power core, they're gargantuan; when they enslave Soundwave, they're only a few heads taller than him. During the attack on Iron Mountain they're the same size as the other Decepticons.
* As Shrapnel gets Soundwave into a full nelson, Soundwave has a purple Autobot insignia.
* A trace of Ironhide's accent slips into Peter Cullen's delivery as Optimus Prime orders Bumblebee, Inferno, Beachcomber, and Jazz to help him.
* Jazz has a Decepticon insignia during a shot in Autobot Headquarters after they discover the Insecticons are time bombs, just before the second commercial break.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Teletraan I supplies a 3/4 view of the Decepticons attacking Iron Mountain. The view travels with them as they fly.
* Starscream's wings are mounted much too high on his shoulders as he watches Soundwave absorb the computer info.
* When Bombshell turns to order his slaves to fire, he gets a whirring sound effect as if he were sitting on a moving platform.
* Megatron's upper gun body is black instead of light gray after he transforms in Prime's arms.
* Shrapnel loses his last-word-repeating gimmick as he summons the lightning.
* As he watches Spike run up to Shrapnel, Optimus calls him "Pike". Or maybe "Bike". [[A Prime Problem|For real]].
* When Beachcomber is in the foreground watching Spike get back up, his head inexplicably twists to the other side in a clip.
* Bumblebee's nose is yellow instead of white as Spike makes his awful, horrible joke.

===Continuity errors===
* Soundwave eavesdrops on the Insecticons ''with a Transformer-sized stethoscope''. As if this weren't implausible enough, he's wearing and using it in proper human fashion ''even though he doesn't have ears''.
* Wheeljack and Ironhide climbing the transmission towers does not appear to serve any rational purpose.
* Spike [[The Immobilizer|once again]] gets a wrist watch that shows up only in the shots where he needs to tell the time.
* From the time Spike looks at his watch and issues the 30-second warning to the point where Shrapnel explodes, about 1 minute and 46 seconds pass. As well, when he gives Shrapnel his 10-second warning, it takes about 47 seconds until he detonates. (On a minor note, it takes Spike 6 out of the available 10 seconds to ''say'' that Shrapnel is going to explode.) Either their estimates on when the Insecticons would explode were off, or seconds are longer in this episode than they are elsewhere.
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] disappears from the episode after a quick appearance inside of Iron Mountain, just before Shrapnel's big explosion. He doesn't even get to laugh with the other Autobots at the end.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode features the first appearances of [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. However, no explanation of their origins is given.
* Where's the trailer go?
** At the start of the Nova Power Plant attack, in a head-on shot, Prime's trailer just rolls off behind him and disappears over the horizon. This shot is recycled for the Autobots' arrival at Iron Mountain.
* Bombshell sure gets upset when one of his (presumably limitless) cerebro-shells is destroyed. This is the closest the cartoon ever got to showing his tech spec weakness, which notes that the shells can be used against him.
* This is not [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|the first time]] that Optimus Prime has fired Megatron in gun mode, nor [[The Core|the first time]] that they've teamed up to save their skins. Nor would it be [[The Revenge of Bruticus|the last time]].
* It's also not the first time that the Decepticons have [[A Plague of Insecticons|chased the Insecticons off into the sunset]].
* According to Spike, the Insecticons have "[[trilithium stomach]]s".
* After he climbs up the electrical tower and gets electrocuted, Ironhide's forearm panel pops open and the word "Ironhide" is written on the circuits inside.

===Real-world references===
* The episode's title is likely to be a reference to the movie ''[[wikipedia:The China Syndrome|The China Syndrome]]'', which also deals with a pending meltdown and potential catastrophic explosion.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** During the battle in the park, Bombshell and Kickback both launch and fly with ''Millennium Falcon'' engine noises.
** The sound of a lightsaber igniting is used as Prime blasts away the rocks pinning down the other Autobots.

===Trivia===
[[Image:Insectsyndromespikeshoot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Remember kids, guns are awesome!]]
* Spike totally gets his own laser gun in this ep.
* Amongst the text that comes up on the Iron Mountain computer is a mess of BASIC programming commands and repeated "Syntax error"s.
This is one of three episodes were the Autobots and Decepticons team up, the others being The Core, and The Revenge of Bruticus.

==Home video releases=
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers — Volume 6: Evolution Revolution ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Insecticon Syndrome}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]