Downshift (Energon)

2009-11-11T21:59:19Z

98.92.75.121: /* Energon */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Downshift}}
{{picsneeded|Fiction, Universe releases}}
: ''Downshift is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:EnerDownshiftCard.jpg|right|250px|thumb|No, I'm not [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]. Or [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Or [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]].]]
'''Downshift''' doesn't say much, but apparently he's really easy to confuse for other guys. He's all about action, learning what he can from [[Earth]]'s kung-fu movies. Apparently this has done well for him, as he even has a [[Female Transformers|femmebot]] "lifebond partner".

:''Japanese name:'' '''Wheeljack'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''Lejtő''' ("Slope" (once)), '''Sziklamászó''' ("Cliff-climber")

==Fiction==
===''Energon'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ty Olsson]] (English), [[Makoto Yasumura]] (Japanese), [[Carl Utbult]] (Swedish)

Downshift was a rookie solder sent into the rift, along with his partner [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]], to locate Optimus Prime and his scattered crew. Characteristically gruff and headstrong. Cliffjumper and Downshift were both pupils of the teacher [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], and of the two, Downshift is easily the more irritated by Bulkhead's infectious laughter.

He is erroneously known as Cliffjumper at times.

====''Cybertron'' comic====
After the evacuation of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] due to the threat of the [[Unicron Singularity]], some soldiers chose to stay behind. Downshift was one of these brave souls, and he guarded the tunnels leading to the inner workings of Cybertron. While on duty, Downshift was attacked by the agent [[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] and impaled to a wall by one of his harpoon missiles. After these grave injuries, Downshift was repaired and reformatted by a worker drone into a new muscle car form.

During Downshift's maturation between the [[Powerlinx Battles]] and the arrival of the Unicron Singularity, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] has become his new mentor. Eventually, Downshift becomes a civilian on Earth, living with his unnamed female "lifebond partner" in [[Rhode Island]].<ref>Cyber Key code info</ref>

{{-}}
==Toys==
===Energon===
*'''Downshift''' (Deluxe, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''SC-19'''
**''Accessories'': Spoiler, missile launcher, missile, rifle

[[Image:Energon downshift toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Hi, I'm Cliffjumper!"]]
: Downshift transforms into white rally-deco sports car of undetermined (possibly fictional) model with red and green stripes as a homage to [[Wheeljack (G1)| Wheeljack]] from generation one. He has a pair of clear-plastic guns, one a spring-loaded missile launcher, one non-firing. These can be hand-held or attached to Downshift in various ways in both modes. He can also form the top or bottom half of any silver or bronze "[[Powerlinx]]" combiner.

: For his [[Takara]] releases, the pale-olive plastic of his robot parts was replaced with a medium silver.

: Downshift's deco and sculpt are a clear [[homage]] to the [[Generation 1 (toyline)|Generation 1]] Autobot [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]. His robot mode has Wheeljack's head, a simulated car roof on his chest, and even the "Lancia" grill-feet.

: Downshift was first released as part of the final wave of "normal" ''Energon'' black-backed cards, a shipment that appears to have been very brief, mostly showing up in Kohl's department stores and Canada. This naturally caused a panic. He was later released in much greater numbers in the "[[Powerlinx Battles]]" packaging.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/Downshift/downshift.htm More information on ''Energon'' Downshift at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Universe===
*'''Downshift''' (Deluxe, 2005)
**''Accessories'': Spoiler, missile launcher, missile, rifle

: For ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'', the original ''Energon'' Downshift was [[Redeco|redecoed]], with blue stripes and a large Autobot sigil on his car mode, which, strangely enough,has the "eyes" filled in. However, his robot mode was almost totally unchanged, save yellow plastic replacing the pale-olive.

: A [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] alongside [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], the pair were released during a time when Kay-Bee was having great financial difficulty, closing multiple stores nationwide. Few Kay-Bees appear to have actually received these. The bulk of these exclusives appear to have been sent instead to "Kay-Bee Toy Works" outlet stores.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/Downshift/downshift.htm More information on ''Universe'' Downshift at TFU.info]''

===Cybertron===
*'''Downshift''' (Deluxe-Class, 2006)
**''Accessories'': Left & right missile launchers, 2 missiles, Earth-type Cyber Key

[[Image:Cybertron Downshift toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Am I Wheeljack now?"]]
: ''Cybertron'' Downshift is a green sports car that uses elements from various 1970s era pony cars. According to Hasbro's designers, the main inspirations were a 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the front section and a 1970 Dodge Challenger for the rear end.<ref name="bwtfrev">[http://www.bwtf.com/toyreviews/unicrontrilogy/cybertron/downshift BWTF review of Cybetrron Downshift], vehicle mode inspirations identified by Hasbro designers</ref> The car features a black hood and a texturing like vinyl roof applications from the 1960s and 70s.

: Inserting a [[Cyber Planet Key]] into a flip-up slot in his rear window activates a claw from the car's grill. This feature is also available in robot mode. He comes with two large spring-loaded missile launchers, which can be mounted on his side-panels in car mode, or be used in robot mode as hand-held blasters or mounted on his shoulders.

: While Downshift's Wheeljack-modeled head in this form is not surprising, he still retains his Lancia-grill feet. Funky.

: This mold was also used to make the [[Movie (toyline)|live-action movie continuity]] [[Big Daddy (Movie)|Big Daddy]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/Downshift/downshift.htm More information on ''Cybertron'' Downshift at TFU.info]''

*'''Search for the [[Pirate Moon]]''' (Multi-pack, 2007)

: During [[Christmas|Christmastime]] in 2007, Wal-Mart got several ''Universe''-branded multi-packs of ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toys. The ''Cybertron'' version of Downshift was packaged with [[Cannonball]], with a cardback story about Downshift hunting Cannonball's gang of pirates... in a setting that had nothing to do with a moon. Oh well. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.
{{-}}

==Notes==
* As referenced above, the ''Energon'' cartoon switched [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] and Downshift's names around for the majority of the series. More often than not, the white robot would end up being called Cliffjumper, in defiance of the toy names. It also seemed as if the two characters randomly switched voice actors from episode to episode.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Martial artists]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Downshift (Energon)