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File:MtMtEpt2 Megatron BigBack.jpg

2025-08-14T22:06:50Z

Artifex Prime:

{{G1cap|[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s back-mounted barrel is drawn overlarge as he battles
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] atop [[Sherman Dam]].|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|4}}

[[Category:Megatron images]]

More than Meets the Eye, Part 2

2025-08-14T22:03:26Z

Artifex Prime: New to this, had to fix formatting and image.

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=2
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=2
|prev2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=2
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|image=More Than Meets Part 2.jpg
|caption=[[Oil]] is a burnin' thing, and it makes a fiery ring.
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"
|season=1
|season ep=2
|production code=4024
|airdate=[[September 18]], 1984
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Ashi Productions]], [[Nakamura Production]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdskAJwHdLw
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Decepticons continue raiding Earth's energy sources, including Sherman Dam and the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMtE Part2 Greetings.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Are you Samuel James Witwicky, descendant of Archibald Witwicky?" "No." "Oops, sorry, my bad." [Throws him back in the water]]]
The fire at the off-shore [[oil rig]] continues to grow. Poor [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] is caught in some girders, but is freed by [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Not so easy to extricate are the humans [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. As [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] grapples with the debris trapping the workers, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] put out the fire. Rescued by Prime, Spike and Sparkplug introduce themselves to the [[Autobot]]s, offering their terrestrial knowledge to help them.

[[File:Mtmte2 spike finds soundwave.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|A legacy of Stupid Human Tricks begins here.]]
Their newfound human friends return with the Autobots to their headquarters. As Spike explores the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he finds a small cassette player and brings it in with him, setting it aside. Little does he realize he has brought [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] into Autobot Headquarters. Soundwave and his minion [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] begin using [[Teletraan I]] to locate [[Earth]]'s most plentiful energy resources. Meanwhile, Spike enjoys a tour of the headquarters and some sunset joyriding with [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]]. Returning to the base, Spike spots Soundwave's intrusion and sounds the alarm. Soundwave escapes, but the Autobots catch Ravage, thanks to [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]' infrared light.

Soundwave briefs [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] on his findings. Megatron decides to attack [[Sherman Dam]], causing a tidal wave to increase the dam's output. The next day, the [[Decepticon]]s arrive at the dam. [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] dives into the river and activates his piledrivers to whip the river into dangerous rapids. The energy output is detected by Teletraan I, and the Autobots rush there to stop the Decepticons.

[[File:MTMte Part2 Autobotsrally.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Raise your hand, raise your haaaand—if you're sure!]]
With the river at its peak, the Decepticons begin producing [[energon cube]]s. The Autobots arrive, and a battle ensues. Hound dives into the river to stop Rumble's quaking, and the two scuffle in the depths, with the Autobot coming off worse. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] help divert the course of the river to save a nearby neighborhood from being flooded. Megatron and Optimus Prime duel with energy [[Energon-axe|melee]] [[Energon mace|weapons]] atop Sherman Dam while exchanging insults. Megatron knocks Prime into the rapids (the latter was distracted by Spike's shouts for help) and he and his Decepticons escape with their spoils.

[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] helps pull Prime from the river. The Autobots regroup and vow to stop the Decepticons as they continue their activities across the land... but apparently don't do a very good job of it at ''all''. The space cruiser they are developing is almost complete, and they are one more energy raid away from having enough fuel to return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Unfortunately, the impudent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] feels the need to test some of the energon cubes. His wasteful experimenting forces the Decepticons to now make two trips. Their first destination, the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]]. These plans are overheard by Trailbreaker, Spike and Sparkplug, who are eavesdropping on the Decepticons.

[[File:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Trailbreaker deploys his combat bird bath.]]
As Trailbreaker returns to Autobot headquarters to relay the news, the trio are attacked by a pair of generic [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Sparkplug radios for help, which comes in the form of [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]]. Sunstreaker uses a [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] cannon to give one of the Seekers a small scratch on its wing, prompting the two jets to retreat.

The Decepticons are soon in Burma, pulling [[Ruby crystal|energetic rubies]] from the Earth's crust. The Autobots wait for them outside the mine. Wheeljack has developed a powerful and compact explosive. Bumblebee and Sparkplug volunteer to plant the charge in the mine. They do so, but are caught by [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] as they make their escape.

Concerned that Sparkplug and Bumblebee haven't returned, Optimus Prime drives up the mine's entrance and dispatches [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] into the mine. The explosive detonates, and the blast knocks Prime off his wheels, sending him tumbling down the mountainside.

'''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|To be continued...]]'''
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (1)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (6)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (11)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] (12)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (13)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (14)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (18)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (26)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (27)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (28)
*[[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (29)
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (20)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (21)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (22)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (23)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"For someone who doesn't like to fight, heh, you're not bad, Mirage!"
:—'''Cliffjumper''' complimenting Mirage after he helped fight off Skywarp and Thundercracker

"You destroy everything you touch, Megatron!" 
"Because everything I touch is food for my hunger, my hunger for power!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' banter while fighting on top of Sherman Dam

"You're old, Megatron. Yesterday's model—ready for the scrap heap!" 
"We'll see who's ready for the scrap heap!" 
"Junk! That's what you are, ''junk''!" 
"''Silence''!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' insults '''Megatron''' during their battle

"Don't push me, Megatron, my desire for power is as great as yours!" 
"Power flows to the one who knows ''how''. Desire alone is not enough." 
"Time makes all things possible. I can wait."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''', foreshadowing several repetitive scenes in the future

"Let's give Megatron a little present." 
"Heh. Maybe we oughtta wrap him up and put a little bow on him."
:—'''Skywarp''' and '''Thundercracker''' on capturing Bumblebee. Not seen: Bumblebee's humiliated weeping.

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:PrimeLandsInTheBarrenWasteland.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy]] once again runs out into the middle of the barren wastelands and summons help from [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime arrives via rocket-boots and lifts him up to his face, inquiring if he's still working on his "special project" for school. Tommy says that it's a time-consuming effort, so Prime continues his story of how the Transformers first came to Earth without delay...

After concluding the story, Tommy remarks that the "tumble" Prime took sure was something. Prime starts to tell him about the tumble he took when he pursued Megatron into outer space, but Tommy laughs, telling Optimus, "Next time, take a spaceship". Prime passive aggressively replies, "What would I do without you, Tommy?" Prime's eyes then narrow as he demands to know what Tommy's "special project" is. Tommy once again withholds the information, but vows to bare all next time, when he "transforms" Prime's day "into an adventure". Prime then blasts off into space, giving Tommy a ride back to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Script revisions: 13 March 1984
* First draft storyboards completed: 7th April 1984 (Artists: [[Wendell Washer]], [[Don Sheppard]], [[Paul Gruwell]], [[Jim Fletcher]])
* Storyboards revised: April 16th and 19th, 1984
* Telecine: 27 August 1984

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Mtmte2 ironhide diverting river.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Gadgets and powers:
**Brawn uses a retractable welding tip to cut Huffer free. This same hooked welding tip seems to be fairly standard Autobot equipment, showing up in many future episodes, attached to many different 'bots.
**Trailbreaker's "force shield" is fired from a three-pronged wrist-gun.
**Wheeljack can shoot a fire extinguishing chemical of some sort from his retracted wrist.
**Jazz uses a retractable grappling hook that slides out of his wrist (with a little pulse-glow of energy, no less.) This gadget will show up a couple more times in this and the next episode.
**Soundwave gives us the most overt instance of size-changing we've yet seen.
**A couple of stock powers make their debut, as Hound demonstrates his holograms and Mirage turns invisible.
**Gears displays his infrared. Well, actually, it's just a red light. Don't tell anyone.
**Jazz and Prowl can both fire energy-net things out of their wrists. Prowl will repeat this ability in "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]".
**"The <s>noal</s> null ray" actually does what it's supposed to this time, shutting down some generators when Starscream shoots them with it.
**When Hound submerges to pursue Rumble, he drops a face shield into place, implying he may be susceptible to water.
**Ironhide has a mounted cannon in the back of his van. It's heavily based on the similar cannon that his toy's repair bay has.
**Starscream owns a [[Slingshot (weapon)|slingshot]] and uses some unidentified crystal as ammunition.
**In one of the series' most inexplicably well-remembered scenes, Megatron and Optimus both deploy glowing, semi-solid energy weapons from their wrists: a [[Energon mace|morning star]] and an [[Energon-axe|axe]], respectively.
**Trailbreaker can deploy a roof-mounted radar dish to listen in remotely on the 'cons.
[[File:Roller deploy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Early in the episode, the scene is shown changing from the Ark to a similar-looking shack nearby. This shack appears to have the same construction as the Ark itself, but is not a part of the ship. It is almost never seen again, except in the episodes "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]".
*As he returns to tape mode to enter Teletraan I, Ravage's missiles disappear in a glowing flash.
*According to Starscream, 1,750,000 KiloWatts is not enough electrical power to make energon cubes!
*The script that Teletraan I displays differs significantly from the Ancient Autobot language the Decepticons find in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]". It's also rather different from the Ancient Cybertronian that [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] finds on the control panel of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] in "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]". One might reasonably fanwank it by saying that Jazz is reading the modern version of these languages.
*Optimus calling Megatron old lines up quite well with the later episode "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]". In it, Orion Pax is portrayed as a much more youthful bot than Megatron.
*Optimus deploys Roller for the first time. He's gray, based on an earlier iteration of the toy, rather than the blue of the US release.
*While Soundwave and Ravage are using Teletraan I, a shot of the oil rig from Part 1 was briefly shown.

===Non-final premises===
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobots fly.JPG|thumb]]
As part of the series pilot, this episode features some conventions and details which would be changed for the series proper:
*The Autobots can all fly in [[robot mode]].
*[[Corey Burton]] employs a different voice for Brawn, one that is higher and more hoarse-sounding than the "correct" version that will appear in later episodes. The same voice pops up again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" (after Skyfire catches a falling Brawn).
*Mirage gets a different sound effect for his disappearing abilities (which would actually be used again in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]").
*Wheeljack acquires a bit of southern accent in the third act of this episode. Oddly, he already had his finalized voice in the previous episode, and indeed, shows no real signs of the accent in his sparing lines during this episode's first two acts. Consequently, fans have speculated that voice actor [[Chris Latta]] was trying to differentiate the voice from his Sparkplug voice, as they ''are'' pretty identical, and he only begins to affect the accent when Wheeljack and Sparkplug share a scene.
*The "next time" preview refers to the three episodes collectively as "The Transformers". They would later be rechristened "More than Meets the Eye" (obviously!)

===Real-world references===
*[[Burma]] is a country in southeast Asia, currently known to the [[United Nations]] as Myanmar. It is, indeed, particularly rich in rubies, and is the source of 90% of the world's supply of the gems.

===Animation and technical errors===
*In the recap of "Part 1" at the beginning of the episode, a scene is shown in which Optimus Prime is trying to lift a grate trapping Spike and Sparkplug. However, in "Part 1", the grate was orange, while in the recap that same grate is shown as gray.
*Huffer's trapped arm does not appear to actually connect to his torso.
*As Huffer and Brawn converse, Brawn's lips move for Huffer's line, "Let's take off."
*Prime's running lights are drawn as rectangular instead of round as he explains the Decepticons to Spike and Sparkplug.
*Soundwave commands Ravage to "enter Teltraan I", omitting the second syllable from the computer's name.
*After picking up Soundwave, Spike runs into the Ark carrying his rucksack slung over his shoulder. In the next shot, the rucksack has vanished.
[[File:Reflector in red.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hey! That's my color scheme!]]
[[File:Weirdstreak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Ratchet and Bluestreak just came back from the helmet salon.]]
*Coloring errors:
**Soundwave's eject button is one of the most common coloring errors of the whole series. Based on his toy, it's supposed to be white in the cartoon, but almost as often as not, the colorists simply colored it the same blue as the rest of him:
***Soundwave's eject button and cheek guards are both blue instead of white as he returns to robot mode.
***Blue button as he swipes at Spike.
***And after he plays back the Sherman Dam info.
***And as Megatron pontificates about the [[ruby crystal]]s. (Cheek guards too.)
**Brawn's helmet is a bit too light as he watches Soundwave retreat.
**When Gears transforms, his blue parts change to red, leaving him as an all-red truck.
**Soundwave is missing all his yellow stripes as he plays back Teletraan I's info on Sherman Dam.
**When Optimus orders his troops to head to the power plant, he has a gray eyeband instead of two blue optics. In the next shot, the Autobots who take off beside him include Windcharger coloured like Cliffjumper, Brawn coloured like Sunstreaker, and Gears coloured like Brawn.
**As the Autobots blast into the power plant, they shoot down both Starscream and a Reflector colored like Starscream.
**Soundwave's visor switches from white to red and back as he and Megatron ride the elevator.
**Starscream's collar is yellow as he asks "What's the difference?"
**Half of Starscream's collar is yellow again during "I can wait".
**In the establishing shot of the Autobots outside the Burma ruby mines, Ratchet's head is black and gray. When the shot is repeated, Bluestreak's head is yellow, making his head resemble Bumblebee's.
**As Thundercracker faces Sparkplug, his wing insignia are rendered as purple rectangles. As he joins Skywarp to double-team Bumblebee, they're missing completely.
**Sideswipe's helmet is red instead of black as Bumblebee transforms in front of him.
**Bumblebee's midsection flickers between grey and yellow as he walks down the mine with Sparkplug.
**Starscream's face is white instead of gray as Bumblebee and Spike spy on the 'cons.
**Jazz's helmet and hand are mostly white instead of black as he worries about Bumblebee.
*When Optimus and Megatron confront each other atop Sherman Dam, Optimus is slightly miscolored; his helmet, hands, lower legs and skidplate are all dark gray...which makes him look a heck of a lot like Sideswipe, funnily.
[[File:mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Maybe it's Sideswipe cosplaying as Optimus Prime?]]
*During the opening dialogue of Prime and Megatron's showdown, the gun barrel on Megatron's back is extremely... thick.
[[File:MtMtEpt2 Megatron BigBack.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|He's VERY excited about this fight.]]

*As the Autobots try to capture Ravage, their miscellaneous shouts were scripted simply as being collectively delivered by the group and were not attributed to any individual 'bots. As such, they were performed by a random collection of actors, not using any of their standard Transformers character voices, but the animation would then depict mismatched Autobots speaking the lines in voices that are not their own. We hear "There he is!" (voiced by [[Chris Latta]], but delivered by Sideswipe), "Get him!" ([[Ken Sansom]], Jazz), "Fire!" ([[Frank Welker]], Sideswipe again), "It's too dark!" (Latta again, from offscreen) and "Can't see him!" (Welker again, also from offscreen). Another example of this problematic practice would crop up next episode; it would mostly be avoided in the series proper, but another instance can be heard in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".
*Gears and Hound are extremely tiny in their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s in the next shot, as a titanic Optimus Prime walks up behind them. This is the result of an earlier height chart which depicted Optimus and Megatron as towering over their troops. The miniseries' storyboards were revised to match the two leaders' finalised scale, however this scene remained unaltered.
*When arriving at the dam, Optimus Prime speaks the line "We've got to work fast", but Prowl is shown talking.
*When Optimus orders the Autobots "to the air," Hound is part of the group that takes off, but in the very next shot, he's on the ground by the river with Spike. Per the script of episode, he ''is'' actually meant to take off with the group, but a shot of the Autobots then splitting up and going in different directions to deal with different threats was cut from the episode; as intimated by the cloud of dust visible around Hound's feet, he's meant to have just landed again after his brief flight.
*One of the neighbors that Ironhide and Bumblebee rescue appears to be a woman in a pink dress...who is waving and moving as a ''man''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s voice says, "Thanks, neighbors!"
*When the Autobots are first confronting the Decepticons at the power plant, Sideswipe and Optimus appear to have Decepticon logos on them. (See the flying picture above.)
*As Megatron is taunts Prime during their battle on the dam, Optimus disappears for a couple of frames at the beginning of the wide shot after the closeup of Megatron.
*The camera is strangely blurry as two Seekers attach two wires together at the snowy oil refinery before it quickly refocuses. This is explained by a deleted shot in the storyboards that shows one of the generic Seekers ripping open a gas pipeline with his bare hands, before connecting one end to a hose attached to the empty energon cubes.
*As Starscream prepares his strange slingshot thing, one of his wing stripes becomes transparent. His wings are also mounted much higher on his back than normal.
*As Soundwave and the Reflectors fill Energon cubes in a grassy meadow, there is a registration error that causes Soundwave's lower half to vanish several frames before the foreground content is meant to block it.
*The second purple jet to leave the Black Diamond mine does so alone, but when he drifts back into the shot, he's got a Rumble and a Reflector with him.
*Both he and Megatron are missing their insignia as the elevator reaches the bottom.
*While the Reflectors are stacking Energon cubes, the Energon cubes are translucent enough to see the background (and to see that the Reflectors' legs weren't animated).
[[File:G1toon starscream laser turret.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They were only counting on having to fight three Autobots back home.]]
*Starscream's leg is disconnected from his body as he fires his cannon.

*The microphone that Sparkplug uses to radio the Autobots changes appearance between shots; it looks like a microphone in closeup, but more like a {{w|Simon (game)|Simon}} toy when Sparkplug is holding it.
*In the "strike force" lineup, all of the Reflectors have gray lower legs, rather than the lavender they're supposed to.
*One gun, many lasers:
**The two generics who attack Trailbreaker shower him with a dozen or more lasers, despite having only two guns apiece.
*After Sunstreaker shoots one of the generics and Spike's comment, Sideswipe's shown to have a weapon in the same place as Sunstreaker's, with smoke pouring from the end.
*The ends of the ruby collection tubes are closed like test tubes, leaving the falling crystals nowhere to go.
*Prime's right antenna disappears as he points at the mine entrance.
*Only the front of Wheeljack's "ears" flash as he shows off his new explosive.
*[[Norm McCabe]] is again credited as Nor M McCabe.
*Like the previous episode, Frank Welker's name was accidentally omitted from the credits.

===Continuity errors===
*Brawn uses a blow torch to free Huffer's oil-soaked arm, and somehow, it doesn't catch fire.
*All the other humans from the oil-rig disappear. (Or drowned, [[Titanic|DiCaprio-style]].)
*For some reason, Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper are just sitting around in the repair bay in automotive form.
[[File:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|We don't know where we came from, either.]]
[[File:GenericDecepticons MTMTE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, eject. Operation: crowd filler."]]
*This episode totally shatters the previous episode's consistent cast of Decepticons, which was clearly shown to be Megatron, Soundwave, 3 jets, 3 Reflectors, and 3 tapes. To pad out the Decepticon ranks, a horde of generic Decepticons just starts appearing out of nowhere:
**A light purple-gray jet is standing behind Thundercracker after the Decepticons land at the dam.
**As Reflector compresses the energon cubes, there are ''four'' Reflector robots, as well as three Rumbles. The real Rumble is, at this point, still underwater, fighting with Hound. Rumble shows up in two more subsequent shots as well, including one where he's the only guy in the shot!
**And then it all goes to hell after the Sherman Dam sequence. Two purplish jets are with Thundercracker in the snow. Then a subsequent pan shot shows ''four'' light blue jets, ''three'' light purple jets, and ''two Thundercrackers''.
**At the Black Diamond mine: three purple jets, and a slate blue Rumble.
**The assembled strike force: one Skywarp, two Thundercrackers, another lavender jet, four Rumbles in yellow, orange, bright blue and slate blue, and ''seven'' Reflectors.
**Two lavender and one slate blue jet answer Megatron's order to "Scramble!"
**A shot of the Decepticons in flight shows a total of ''twenty-seven'' robots.
**Two generics even get their own scripted appearance, attacking Trailbreaker, complete with speaking parts!
**After all that, there's not much point in noting 2 blues and 2 lavenders loading ruby crystals, is there?
**6 generic jets plus Starscream as Bumblebee and Spike observe the 'cons mining the crystals.
*Megatron's definition of "tidal wave" is a bit wonky, considering that Rumble doesn't really make one huge wave. Of course, we wouldn't expect ''aliens'' to have a perfect grasp of the English language.
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobot letters.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Okay, Spike, here's your next Cybertronian lesson!" "Uh...for a...good...time...call..." "Whoops! Wrong screen!"]]
*When Spike tells Jazz that there's trouble at Sherman Dam, the screen shows what is presumably Cybertronian text. Spike shouldn't be able to read this.
*Likewise, the dam worker says "she's gonna blow" (twice!) in reference to the crumbling dam. The dam might crack, fail, or give way, but neither the dam nor the generators are likely to ''explode''.
*Megatron lacks his signature [[fusion cannon]] when battling Prime atop Sherman Dam.
*Superhuman Spike:
**A shot of Sherman Dam shows us that the water behind it (where Rumble is making his earthquake) is clearly hundreds of feet deep. Somehow, Spike just leaps right into it to rescue Hound. The water is also ''ragingly'' turbulent in the previous shot, yet perfectly still once Spike is actually in it.
**He then has no trouble at all moving a big boulder that's pinning Hound in place.
**It must be hereditary. Sparkplug survives being punched directly in the ribcage and into a stone wall by Thundercracker. He should be wall-pizza after that. Spike also is no worse for wear after Rumble whacks him across the face. A blow like the one Rumble gives Spike should have shattered Spike's skull.
[[File:Rubycrystalminesofburma.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Thus explaining why Burma was the dominant world superpower in 1984.]]
*Megatron yells to his troops from offscreen to "Follow me!" when he's getting bashed around by Prime; according to the dialogue script, this line was supposed to be spoken by Starscream.
*One of the shots of filling energon cubes appears to take place in a forest, with no machinery of any type in sight. Are they stealing energy from trees?
*A few shots from Starscream's little cannon drain a whole gigantic stack of energon cubes. Are the cubes really ''that'' paltry?
*The likelihood of rubies being a viable power source, let alone "the richest source of energy on the face of the Earth", is questionable. Apparently Megatron is not yet familiar with the bizarre physics of cartoon Earth, where all kinds of super-powered crystals are just sitting around waiting for someone to sap energy out of them.
*Sparkplug claims to have previously worked in the ruby mine, which, while not thoroughly implausible, seems unlikely for an American [[oil]] rig worker/mechanic.
*Wheeljack tells Sparkplug that the bomb timer is 60 seconds. All the views of the countdown timer show it decreasing at approximately two units per second, meaning that the bomb would go off in about 30 seconds.

===Trivia===
*Deleted scenes from the original script to this episode include Spike and Jazz tapping Teletraan I into "the Emergency Alert System" (thirteen years before the real world system of that name would exist), leading to it detecting the trouble at Sherman Dam; Trailbreaker covering Ironhide as the older 'bot uses his adhesives to seal the cracks in the dam; the two nameless Decepticon jets appearing in robot mode, standing guard at the Decepticon base, where they spot Trailbreaker and the Witwickys driving by and decide to pursue them; and Bumblebee and Sparkplug facing two Decepticon guards at the mine entrance, who Bumblebee paralyzes with a stun ray from his headlights. Other differences include Bumblebee teaming up with ''Wheeljack'', rather than Ironhide, to carve the trenches that break up the raging river; in accordance, Wheeljack's alternate mode is described as a "van", which, coupled with several other awkward or incorrect alternate mode descriptions in the "More than Meets the Eye" scripts, suggests that complete finalized details on the Transformers' alternate modes hadn't been provided to the writer yet.
*The dam sequence was adapted for the UK comic story "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" in issues #29-30, and also released as a set of [[View-Master]] reels. The weapons used by Prime and Megatron would be immortalized in toy form several times, and even get a bit of an [[homage]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action movies]], where Prime thrice wields orange-glowing bladed [[Dual Energon Swords|energy]] [[Energon Hooks|weapons]] in all three films, including an [[Energon-axe|axe]], while Megatron uses a [[Mace|flail]] in the first film.
*Much of the character animation in this episode is pleasingly fluid, with some rather dynamic transformations. Decepticons in particular do lots of flips as they transform.
*Bumblebee's mission is hilarious. He transforms to car mode, drives about twenty feet, returns to robot mode, stands outside the mine and says "Come on, let's go inside." Well, what ''else'' were you planning there, 'Bee?

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Plein la vue - Partie 2'''" ("Show off - Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*In the European French dub, Jazz's line "Catch!" is replaced by "D'accord !" ("Okay!"), which does not really make sense in the scene.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Rückkehr'''" (''Generation 2'', "The Return")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 7]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La miniera di rubini'''" ("The Ruby Mine")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Molto più di quel che appare - Seconda parte'''" ("Much More than What Appears - Second Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ruby Crystal no Himitsu'''" (ルビークリスタルの秘密, "Secret of the Ruby Crystals")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 13]], [[1985]]
::*'''Cut:''' After Spike picks up Soundwave outside and runs off, a few seconds are shaved off of him disappearing off screen. The long shot of him running through the entrace of the Ark is cut, as are the first few seconds of him running down the hall of the Ark with Soundwave clutched in his right hand.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dì'èr Tiān'''" (第二天, "The Second Day")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem, Parte 2'''" ("More than Meets the Eye, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode did not air in the 1980s and was first released on DVD with a different dub from the rest of the show.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ne vsjo tak prosto (Chast' 2)'''" (Не всё так просто (Часть 2), "Not All Is So Simple (Part 2)")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 26]], [[1995]]

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види други део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 2"), "'''Sile zla drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла други део, "Forces of Evil Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:Tf collection 0 convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|Takara, setting trends since 2000.]]
*'''''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' 0 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Convoy]] ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]], 2003)'''
:A reissue of the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]] toy that includes a new accessory, an [[Energon-axe]] based on the one he wields in this episode that can be swapped out for one of his fists. A plethora of other Optimus Prime toys (including various ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' figures) also include the axe, either as an optional accessory or as a permanently affixed hand replacement, which includes a ''[[Heroes of Cybertron#SCF|Super Collection Figure]]'' (later released by Hasbro under the name "Heroes of Cybertron") that predates the ''Transformers Collection'' line.

*'''''The Transformers Collection'' 6 [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Megatron]] (Takara, 2003)
:A reissue of the original ''Generation 1'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Megatron]] toy that includes a new accessory, an [[Energon mace]] based on the one he wields in this episode that plugs over one of his hands. Like with Optimus Prime's Energon-axe, the mace has also become a standard accessory or permanent feature of numerous additional Megatron toys, again including an SCF figure that predates the ''Transformers Collection'' line.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-47 [[Hound (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Hound]] (2019)'''
:This figure includes, among its accessories, a Spike figure to represent their friendship through the 3-parter and the holographic driver he briefly shows to Spike in this episode. His head also features a flip-out face shield to recreate his underwater scenes.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-56 [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Trailbreaker]] (2022)'''
:This figure features accessories based on this episode, such as the multi-nozzle forcefield generator that attaches to his left hand and the satellite dish that attaches to the car roof.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1985 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' ([[VAP]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://zobovor.tripod.com/more_than_meets_the_eye_part_2_bloopers.html Zobovor's Bloopers list]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c8F3_ZrSADyU7EVIYH2xJjcSXRYXHZZM/view?usp=drive_link Full episode script with revision pages dated 13th March 1984]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-4024-more-than_5.html Full storyboards for Act I and samples for Act III of this episode]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

File:MtMtEpt2 Megatron BigBack.jpg

2025-08-14T21:58:34Z

Artifex Prime: {{G1cap|Megatron's back-mounted barrel is drawn overlarge as he battles Optimus Prime. |More than Meets the Eye, Part 2 (episode) |5 |eptitle=More ...

{{G1cap|[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s back-mounted barrel is drawn overlarge as he battles
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].
|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2 (episode)
|5
|eptitle=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

More than Meets the Eye, Part 2

2025-08-14T21:42:39Z

Artifex Prime:

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=2
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=2
|prev2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=2
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|image=More Than Meets Part 2.jpg
|caption=[[Oil]] is a burnin' thing, and it makes a fiery ring.
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"
|season=1
|season ep=2
|production code=4024
|airdate=[[September 18]], 1984
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Ashi Productions]], [[Nakamura Production]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdskAJwHdLw
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Decepticons continue raiding Earth's energy sources, including Sherman Dam and the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMtE Part2 Greetings.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Are you Samuel James Witwicky, descendant of Archibald Witwicky?" "No." "Oops, sorry, my bad." [Throws him back in the water]]]
The fire at the off-shore [[oil rig]] continues to grow. Poor [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] is caught in some girders, but is freed by [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Not so easy to extricate are the humans [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. As [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] grapples with the debris trapping the workers, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] put out the fire. Rescued by Prime, Spike and Sparkplug introduce themselves to the [[Autobot]]s, offering their terrestrial knowledge to help them.

[[File:Mtmte2 spike finds soundwave.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|A legacy of Stupid Human Tricks begins here.]]
Their newfound human friends return with the Autobots to their headquarters. As Spike explores the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he finds a small cassette player and brings it in with him, setting it aside. Little does he realize he has brought [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] into Autobot Headquarters. Soundwave and his minion [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] begin using [[Teletraan I]] to locate [[Earth]]'s most plentiful energy resources. Meanwhile, Spike enjoys a tour of the headquarters and some sunset joyriding with [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]]. Returning to the base, Spike spots Soundwave's intrusion and sounds the alarm. Soundwave escapes, but the Autobots catch Ravage, thanks to [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]' infrared light.

Soundwave briefs [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] on his findings. Megatron decides to attack [[Sherman Dam]], causing a tidal wave to increase the dam's output. The next day, the [[Decepticon]]s arrive at the dam. [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] dives into the river and activates his piledrivers to whip the river into dangerous rapids. The energy output is detected by Teletraan I, and the Autobots rush there to stop the Decepticons.

[[File:MTMte Part2 Autobotsrally.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Raise your hand, raise your haaaand—if you're sure!]]
With the river at its peak, the Decepticons begin producing [[energon cube]]s. The Autobots arrive, and a battle ensues. Hound dives into the river to stop Rumble's quaking, and the two scuffle in the depths, with the Autobot coming off worse. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] help divert the course of the river to save a nearby neighborhood from being flooded. Megatron and Optimus Prime duel with energy [[Energon-axe|melee]] [[Energon mace|weapons]] atop Sherman Dam while exchanging insults. Megatron knocks Prime into the rapids (the latter was distracted by Spike's shouts for help) and he and his Decepticons escape with their spoils.

[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] helps pull Prime from the river. The Autobots regroup and vow to stop the Decepticons as they continue their activities across the land... but apparently don't do a very good job of it at ''all''. The space cruiser they are developing is almost complete, and they are one more energy raid away from having enough fuel to return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Unfortunately, the impudent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] feels the need to test some of the energon cubes. His wasteful experimenting forces the Decepticons to now make two trips. Their first destination, the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]]. These plans are overheard by Trailbreaker, Spike and Sparkplug, who are eavesdropping on the Decepticons.

[[File:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Trailbreaker deploys his combat bird bath.]]
As Trailbreaker returns to Autobot headquarters to relay the news, the trio are attacked by a pair of generic [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Sparkplug radios for help, which comes in the form of [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]]. Sunstreaker uses a [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] cannon to give one of the Seekers a small scratch on its wing, prompting the two jets to retreat.

The Decepticons are soon in Burma, pulling [[Ruby crystal|energetic rubies]] from the Earth's crust. The Autobots wait for them outside the mine. Wheeljack has developed a powerful and compact explosive. Bumblebee and Sparkplug volunteer to plant the charge in the mine. They do so, but are caught by [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] as they make their escape.

Concerned that Sparkplug and Bumblebee haven't returned, Optimus Prime drives up the mine's entrance and dispatches [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] into the mine. The explosive detonates, and the blast knocks Prime off his wheels, sending him tumbling down the mountainside.

'''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|To be continued...]]'''
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (1)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (6)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (11)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] (12)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (13)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (14)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (18)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (26)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (27)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (28)
*[[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (29)
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (20)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (21)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (22)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (23)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"For someone who doesn't like to fight, heh, you're not bad, Mirage!"
:—'''Cliffjumper''' complimenting Mirage after he helped fight off Skywarp and Thundercracker

"You destroy everything you touch, Megatron!" 
"Because everything I touch is food for my hunger, my hunger for power!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' banter while fighting on top of Sherman Dam

"You're old, Megatron. Yesterday's model—ready for the scrap heap!" 
"We'll see who's ready for the scrap heap!" 
"Junk! That's what you are, ''junk''!" 
"''Silence''!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' insults '''Megatron''' during their battle

"Don't push me, Megatron, my desire for power is as great as yours!" 
"Power flows to the one who knows ''how''. Desire alone is not enough." 
"Time makes all things possible. I can wait."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''', foreshadowing several repetitive scenes in the future

"Let's give Megatron a little present." 
"Heh. Maybe we oughtta wrap him up and put a little bow on him."
:—'''Skywarp''' and '''Thundercracker''' on capturing Bumblebee. Not seen: Bumblebee's humiliated weeping.

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:PrimeLandsInTheBarrenWasteland.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy]] once again runs out into the middle of the barren wastelands and summons help from [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime arrives via rocket-boots and lifts him up to his face, inquiring if he's still working on his "special project" for school. Tommy says that it's a time-consuming effort, so Prime continues his story of how the Transformers first came to Earth without delay...

After concluding the story, Tommy remarks that the "tumble" Prime took sure was something. Prime starts to tell him about the tumble he took when he pursued Megatron into outer space, but Tommy laughs, telling Optimus, "Next time, take a spaceship". Prime passive aggressively replies, "What would I do without you, Tommy?" Prime's eyes then narrow as he demands to know what Tommy's "special project" is. Tommy once again withholds the information, but vows to bare all next time, when he "transforms" Prime's day "into an adventure". Prime then blasts off into space, giving Tommy a ride back to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Script revisions: 13 March 1984
* First draft storyboards completed: 7th April 1984 (Artists: [[Wendell Washer]], [[Don Sheppard]], [[Paul Gruwell]], [[Jim Fletcher]])
* Storyboards revised: April 16th and 19th, 1984
* Telecine: 27 August 1984

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Mtmte2 ironhide diverting river.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Gadgets and powers:
**Brawn uses a retractable welding tip to cut Huffer free. This same hooked welding tip seems to be fairly standard Autobot equipment, showing up in many future episodes, attached to many different 'bots.
**Trailbreaker's "force shield" is fired from a three-pronged wrist-gun.
**Wheeljack can shoot a fire extinguishing chemical of some sort from his retracted wrist.
**Jazz uses a retractable grappling hook that slides out of his wrist (with a little pulse-glow of energy, no less.) This gadget will show up a couple more times in this and the next episode.
**Soundwave gives us the most overt instance of size-changing we've yet seen.
**A couple of stock powers make their debut, as Hound demonstrates his holograms and Mirage turns invisible.
**Gears displays his infrared. Well, actually, it's just a red light. Don't tell anyone.
**Jazz and Prowl can both fire energy-net things out of their wrists. Prowl will repeat this ability in "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]".
**"The <s>noal</s> null ray" actually does what it's supposed to this time, shutting down some generators when Starscream shoots them with it.
**When Hound submerges to pursue Rumble, he drops a face shield into place, implying he may be susceptible to water.
**Ironhide has a mounted cannon in the back of his van. It's heavily based on the similar cannon that his toy's repair bay has.
**Starscream owns a [[Slingshot (weapon)|slingshot]] and uses some unidentified crystal as ammunition.
**In one of the series' most inexplicably well-remembered scenes, Megatron and Optimus both deploy glowing, semi-solid energy weapons from their wrists: a [[Energon mace|morning star]] and an [[Energon-axe|axe]], respectively.
**Trailbreaker can deploy a roof-mounted radar dish to listen in remotely on the 'cons.
[[File:Roller deploy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Early in the episode, the scene is shown changing from the Ark to a similar-looking shack nearby. This shack appears to have the same construction as the Ark itself, but is not a part of the ship. It is almost never seen again, except in the episodes "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]".
*As he returns to tape mode to enter Teletraan I, Ravage's missiles disappear in a glowing flash.
*According to Starscream, 1,750,000 KiloWatts is not enough electrical power to make energon cubes!
*The script that Teletraan I displays differs significantly from the Ancient Autobot language the Decepticons find in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]". It's also rather different from the Ancient Cybertronian that [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] finds on the control panel of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] in "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]". One might reasonably fanwank it by saying that Jazz is reading the modern version of these languages.
*Optimus calling Megatron old lines up quite well with the later episode "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]". In it, Orion Pax is portrayed as a much more youthful bot than Megatron.
*Optimus deploys Roller for the first time. He's gray, based on an earlier iteration of the toy, rather than the blue of the US release.
*While Soundwave and Ravage are using Teletraan I, a shot of the oil rig from Part 1 was briefly shown.

===Non-final premises===
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobots fly.JPG|thumb]]
As part of the series pilot, this episode features some conventions and details which would be changed for the series proper:
*The Autobots can all fly in [[robot mode]].
*[[Corey Burton]] employs a different voice for Brawn, one that is higher and more hoarse-sounding than the "correct" version that will appear in later episodes. The same voice pops up again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" (after Skyfire catches a falling Brawn).
*Mirage gets a different sound effect for his disappearing abilities (which would actually be used again in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]").
*Wheeljack acquires a bit of southern accent in the third act of this episode. Oddly, he already had his finalized voice in the previous episode, and indeed, shows no real signs of the accent in his sparing lines during this episode's first two acts. Consequently, fans have speculated that voice actor [[Chris Latta]] was trying to differentiate the voice from his Sparkplug voice, as they ''are'' pretty identical, and he only begins to affect the accent when Wheeljack and Sparkplug share a scene.
*The "next time" preview refers to the three episodes collectively as "The Transformers". They would later be rechristened "More than Meets the Eye" (obviously!)

===Real-world references===
*[[Burma]] is a country in southeast Asia, currently known to the [[United Nations]] as Myanmar. It is, indeed, particularly rich in rubies, and is the source of 90% of the world's supply of the gems.

===Animation and technical errors===
*In the recap of "Part 1" at the beginning of the episode, a scene is shown in which Optimus Prime is trying to lift a grate trapping Spike and Sparkplug. However, in "Part 1", the grate was orange, while in the recap that same grate is shown as gray.
*Huffer's trapped arm does not appear to actually connect to his torso.
*As Huffer and Brawn converse, Brawn's lips move for Huffer's line, "Let's take off."
*Prime's running lights are drawn as rectangular instead of round as he explains the Decepticons to Spike and Sparkplug.
*Soundwave commands Ravage to "enter Teltraan I", omitting the second syllable from the computer's name.
*After picking up Soundwave, Spike runs into the Ark carrying his rucksack slung over his shoulder. In the next shot, the rucksack has vanished.
[[File:Reflector in red.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hey! That's my color scheme!]]
[[File:Weirdstreak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Ratchet and Bluestreak just came back from the helmet salon.]]
*Coloring errors:
**Soundwave's eject button is one of the most common coloring errors of the whole series. Based on his toy, it's supposed to be white in the cartoon, but almost as often as not, the colorists simply colored it the same blue as the rest of him:
***Soundwave's eject button and cheek guards are both blue instead of white as he returns to robot mode.
***Blue button as he swipes at Spike.
***And after he plays back the Sherman Dam info.
***And as Megatron pontificates about the [[ruby crystal]]s. (Cheek guards too.)
**Brawn's helmet is a bit too light as he watches Soundwave retreat.
**When Gears transforms, his blue parts change to red, leaving him as an all-red truck.
**Soundwave is missing all his yellow stripes as he plays back Teletraan I's info on Sherman Dam.
**When Optimus orders his troops to head to the power plant, he has a gray eyeband instead of two blue optics. In the next shot, the Autobots who take off beside him include Windcharger coloured like Cliffjumper, Brawn coloured like Sunstreaker, and Gears coloured like Brawn.
**As the Autobots blast into the power plant, they shoot down both Starscream and a Reflector colored like Starscream.
**Soundwave's visor switches from white to red and back as he and Megatron ride the elevator.
**Starscream's collar is yellow as he asks "What's the difference?"
**Half of Starscream's collar is yellow again during "I can wait".
**In the establishing shot of the Autobots outside the Burma ruby mines, Ratchet's head is black and gray. When the shot is repeated, Bluestreak's head is yellow, making his head resemble Bumblebee's.
**As Thundercracker faces Sparkplug, his wing insignia are rendered as purple rectangles. As he joins Skywarp to double-team Bumblebee, they're missing completely.
**Sideswipe's helmet is red instead of black as Bumblebee transforms in front of him.
**Bumblebee's midsection flickers between grey and yellow as he walks down the mine with Sparkplug.
**Starscream's face is white instead of gray as Bumblebee and Spike spy on the 'cons.
**Jazz's helmet and hand are mostly white instead of black as he worries about Bumblebee.
**When Optimus and Megatron confront each other atop Sherman Dam, Optimus is slightly miscolored; his helmet, hands, lower legs and skidplate are all dark gray...which makes him look a heck of a lot like Sideswipe, funnily.
[[File:mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Maybe it's Sideswipe cosplaying as Optimus Prime?]]
**During the opening dialogue of Prime and Megatron's showdown, the gun barrel on Megatron's back is extremely... thick.
[[File:Megatron_BigBack.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.1|He's VERY excited about this fight.]]

*As the Autobots try to capture Ravage, their miscellaneous shouts were scripted simply as being collectively delivered by the group and were not attributed to any individual 'bots. As such, they were performed by a random collection of actors, not using any of their standard Transformers character voices, but the animation would then depict mismatched Autobots speaking the lines in voices that are not their own. We hear "There he is!" (voiced by [[Chris Latta]], but delivered by Sideswipe), "Get him!" ([[Ken Sansom]], Jazz), "Fire!" ([[Frank Welker]], Sideswipe again), "It's too dark!" (Latta again, from offscreen) and "Can't see him!" (Welker again, also from offscreen). Another example of this problematic practice would crop up next episode; it would mostly be avoided in the series proper, but another instance can be heard in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".
*Gears and Hound are extremely tiny in their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s in the next shot, as a titanic Optimus Prime walks up behind them. This is the result of an earlier height chart which depicted Optimus and Megatron as towering over their troops. The miniseries' storyboards were revised to match the two leaders' finalised scale, however this scene remained unaltered.
*When arriving at the dam, Optimus Prime speaks the line "We've got to work fast", but Prowl is shown talking.
*When Optimus orders the Autobots "to the air," Hound is part of the group that takes off, but in the very next shot, he's on the ground by the river with Spike. Per the script of episode, he ''is'' actually meant to take off with the group, but a shot of the Autobots then splitting up and going in different directions to deal with different threats was cut from the episode; as intimated by the cloud of dust visible around Hound's feet, he's meant to have just landed again after his brief flight.
*One of the neighbors that Ironhide and Bumblebee rescue appears to be a woman in a pink dress...who is waving and moving as a ''man''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s voice says, "Thanks, neighbors!"
*When the Autobots are first confronting the Decepticons at the power plant, Sideswipe and Optimus appear to have Decepticon logos on them. (See the flying picture above.)
*As Megatron is taunts Prime during their battle on the dam, Optimus disappears for a couple of frames at the beginning of the wide shot after the closeup of Megatron.
*The camera is strangely blurry as two Seekers attach two wires together at the snowy oil refinery before it quickly refocuses. This is explained by a deleted shot in the storyboards that shows one of the generic Seekers ripping open a gas pipeline with his bare hands, before connecting one end to a hose attached to the empty energon cubes.
*As Starscream prepares his strange slingshot thing, one of his wing stripes becomes transparent. His wings are also mounted much higher on his back than normal.
*As Soundwave and the Reflectors fill Energon cubes in a grassy meadow, there is a registration error that causes Soundwave's lower half to vanish several frames before the foreground content is meant to block it.
*The second purple jet to leave the Black Diamond mine does so alone, but when he drifts back into the shot, he's got a Rumble and a Reflector with him.
*Both he and Megatron are missing their insignia as the elevator reaches the bottom.
*While the Reflectors are stacking Energon cubes, the Energon cubes are translucent enough to see the background (and to see that the Reflectors' legs weren't animated).
[[File:G1toon starscream laser turret.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They were only counting on having to fight three Autobots back home.]]
*Starscream's leg is disconnected from his body as he fires his cannon.

*The microphone that Sparkplug uses to radio the Autobots changes appearance between shots; it looks like a microphone in closeup, but more like a {{w|Simon (game)|Simon}} toy when Sparkplug is holding it.
*In the "strike force" lineup, all of the Reflectors have gray lower legs, rather than the lavender they're supposed to.
*One gun, many lasers:
**The two generics who attack Trailbreaker shower him with a dozen or more lasers, despite having only two guns apiece.
*After Sunstreaker shoots one of the generics and Spike's comment, Sideswipe's shown to have a weapon in the same place as Sunstreaker's, with smoke pouring from the end.
*The ends of the ruby collection tubes are closed like test tubes, leaving the falling crystals nowhere to go.
*Prime's right antenna disappears as he points at the mine entrance.
*Only the front of Wheeljack's "ears" flash as he shows off his new explosive.
*[[Norm McCabe]] is again credited as Nor M McCabe.
*Like the previous episode, Frank Welker's name was accidentally omitted from the credits.

===Continuity errors===
*Brawn uses a blow torch to free Huffer's oil-soaked arm, and somehow, it doesn't catch fire.
*All the other humans from the oil-rig disappear. (Or drowned, [[Titanic|DiCaprio-style]].)
*For some reason, Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper are just sitting around in the repair bay in automotive form.
[[File:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|We don't know where we came from, either.]]
[[File:GenericDecepticons MTMTE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, eject. Operation: crowd filler."]]
*This episode totally shatters the previous episode's consistent cast of Decepticons, which was clearly shown to be Megatron, Soundwave, 3 jets, 3 Reflectors, and 3 tapes. To pad out the Decepticon ranks, a horde of generic Decepticons just starts appearing out of nowhere:
**A light purple-gray jet is standing behind Thundercracker after the Decepticons land at the dam.
**As Reflector compresses the energon cubes, there are ''four'' Reflector robots, as well as three Rumbles. The real Rumble is, at this point, still underwater, fighting with Hound. Rumble shows up in two more subsequent shots as well, including one where he's the only guy in the shot!
**And then it all goes to hell after the Sherman Dam sequence. Two purplish jets are with Thundercracker in the snow. Then a subsequent pan shot shows ''four'' light blue jets, ''three'' light purple jets, and ''two Thundercrackers''.
**At the Black Diamond mine: three purple jets, and a slate blue Rumble.
**The assembled strike force: one Skywarp, two Thundercrackers, another lavender jet, four Rumbles in yellow, orange, bright blue and slate blue, and ''seven'' Reflectors.
**Two lavender and one slate blue jet answer Megatron's order to "Scramble!"
**A shot of the Decepticons in flight shows a total of ''twenty-seven'' robots.
**Two generics even get their own scripted appearance, attacking Trailbreaker, complete with speaking parts!
**After all that, there's not much point in noting 2 blues and 2 lavenders loading ruby crystals, is there?
**6 generic jets plus Starscream as Bumblebee and Spike observe the 'cons mining the crystals.
*Megatron's definition of "tidal wave" is a bit wonky, considering that Rumble doesn't really make one huge wave. Of course, we wouldn't expect ''aliens'' to have a perfect grasp of the English language.
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobot letters.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Okay, Spike, here's your next Cybertronian lesson!" "Uh...for a...good...time...call..." "Whoops! Wrong screen!"]]
*When Spike tells Jazz that there's trouble at Sherman Dam, the screen shows what is presumably Cybertronian text. Spike shouldn't be able to read this.
*Likewise, the dam worker says "she's gonna blow" (twice!) in reference to the crumbling dam. The dam might crack, fail, or give way, but neither the dam nor the generators are likely to ''explode''.
*Megatron lacks his signature [[fusion cannon]] when battling Prime atop Sherman Dam.
*Superhuman Spike:
**A shot of Sherman Dam shows us that the water behind it (where Rumble is making his earthquake) is clearly hundreds of feet deep. Somehow, Spike just leaps right into it to rescue Hound. The water is also ''ragingly'' turbulent in the previous shot, yet perfectly still once Spike is actually in it.
**He then has no trouble at all moving a big boulder that's pinning Hound in place.
**It must be hereditary. Sparkplug survives being punched directly in the ribcage and into a stone wall by Thundercracker. He should be wall-pizza after that. Spike also is no worse for wear after Rumble whacks him across the face. A blow like the one Rumble gives Spike should have shattered Spike's skull.
[[File:Rubycrystalminesofburma.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Thus explaining why Burma was the dominant world superpower in 1984.]]
*Megatron yells to his troops from offscreen to "Follow me!" when he's getting bashed around by Prime; according to the dialogue script, this line was supposed to be spoken by Starscream.
*One of the shots of filling energon cubes appears to take place in a forest, with no machinery of any type in sight. Are they stealing energy from trees?
*A few shots from Starscream's little cannon drain a whole gigantic stack of energon cubes. Are the cubes really ''that'' paltry?
*The likelihood of rubies being a viable power source, let alone "the richest source of energy on the face of the Earth", is questionable. Apparently Megatron is not yet familiar with the bizarre physics of cartoon Earth, where all kinds of super-powered crystals are just sitting around waiting for someone to sap energy out of them.
*Sparkplug claims to have previously worked in the ruby mine, which, while not thoroughly implausible, seems unlikely for an American [[oil]] rig worker/mechanic.
*Wheeljack tells Sparkplug that the bomb timer is 60 seconds. All the views of the countdown timer show it decreasing at approximately two units per second, meaning that the bomb would go off in about 30 seconds.

===Trivia===
*Deleted scenes from the original script to this episode include Spike and Jazz tapping Teletraan I into "the Emergency Alert System" (thirteen years before the real world system of that name would exist), leading to it detecting the trouble at Sherman Dam; Trailbreaker covering Ironhide as the older 'bot uses his adhesives to seal the cracks in the dam; the two nameless Decepticon jets appearing in robot mode, standing guard at the Decepticon base, where they spot Trailbreaker and the Witwickys driving by and decide to pursue them; and Bumblebee and Sparkplug facing two Decepticon guards at the mine entrance, who Bumblebee paralyzes with a stun ray from his headlights. Other differences include Bumblebee teaming up with ''Wheeljack'', rather than Ironhide, to carve the trenches that break up the raging river; in accordance, Wheeljack's alternate mode is described as a "van", which, coupled with several other awkward or incorrect alternate mode descriptions in the "More than Meets the Eye" scripts, suggests that complete finalized details on the Transformers' alternate modes hadn't been provided to the writer yet.
*The dam sequence was adapted for the UK comic story "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" in issues #29-30, and also released as a set of [[View-Master]] reels. The weapons used by Prime and Megatron would be immortalized in toy form several times, and even get a bit of an [[homage]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action movies]], where Prime thrice wields orange-glowing bladed [[Dual Energon Swords|energy]] [[Energon Hooks|weapons]] in all three films, including an [[Energon-axe|axe]], while Megatron uses a [[Mace|flail]] in the first film.
*Much of the character animation in this episode is pleasingly fluid, with some rather dynamic transformations. Decepticons in particular do lots of flips as they transform.
*Bumblebee's mission is hilarious. He transforms to car mode, drives about twenty feet, returns to robot mode, stands outside the mine and says "Come on, let's go inside." Well, what ''else'' were you planning there, 'Bee?

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Plein la vue - Partie 2'''" ("Show off - Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*In the European French dub, Jazz's line "Catch!" is replaced by "D'accord !" ("Okay!"), which does not really make sense in the scene.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Rückkehr'''" (''Generation 2'', "The Return")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 7]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La miniera di rubini'''" ("The Ruby Mine")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Molto più di quel che appare - Seconda parte'''" ("Much More than What Appears - Second Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ruby Crystal no Himitsu'''" (ルビークリスタルの秘密, "Secret of the Ruby Crystals")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 13]], [[1985]]
::*'''Cut:''' After Spike picks up Soundwave outside and runs off, a few seconds are shaved off of him disappearing off screen. The long shot of him running through the entrace of the Ark is cut, as are the first few seconds of him running down the hall of the Ark with Soundwave clutched in his right hand.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dì'èr Tiān'''" (第二天, "The Second Day")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem, Parte 2'''" ("More than Meets the Eye, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode did not air in the 1980s and was first released on DVD with a different dub from the rest of the show.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ne vsjo tak prosto (Chast' 2)'''" (Не всё так просто (Часть 2), "Not All Is So Simple (Part 2)")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 26]], [[1995]]

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види други део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 2"), "'''Sile zla drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла други део, "Forces of Evil Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:Tf collection 0 convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|Takara, setting trends since 2000.]]
*'''''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' 0 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Convoy]] ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]], 2003)'''
:A reissue of the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]] toy that includes a new accessory, an [[Energon-axe]] based on the one he wields in this episode that can be swapped out for one of his fists. A plethora of other Optimus Prime toys (including various ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' figures) also include the axe, either as an optional accessory or as a permanently affixed hand replacement, which includes a ''[[Heroes of Cybertron#SCF|Super Collection Figure]]'' (later released by Hasbro under the name "Heroes of Cybertron") that predates the ''Transformers Collection'' line.

*'''''The Transformers Collection'' 6 [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Megatron]] (Takara, 2003)
:A reissue of the original ''Generation 1'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Megatron]] toy that includes a new accessory, an [[Energon mace]] based on the one he wields in this episode that plugs over one of his hands. Like with Optimus Prime's Energon-axe, the mace has also become a standard accessory or permanent feature of numerous additional Megatron toys, again including an SCF figure that predates the ''Transformers Collection'' line.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-47 [[Hound (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Hound]] (2019)'''
:This figure includes, among its accessories, a Spike figure to represent their friendship through the 3-parter and the holographic driver he briefly shows to Spike in this episode. His head also features a flip-out face shield to recreate his underwater scenes.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-56 [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Trailbreaker]] (2022)'''
:This figure features accessories based on this episode, such as the multi-nozzle forcefield generator that attaches to his left hand and the satellite dish that attaches to the car roof.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1985 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' ([[VAP]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://zobovor.tripod.com/more_than_meets_the_eye_part_2_bloopers.html Zobovor's Bloopers list]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c8F3_ZrSADyU7EVIYH2xJjcSXRYXHZZM/view?usp=drive_link Full episode script with revision pages dated 13th March 1984]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-4024-more-than_5.html Full storyboards for Act I and samples for Act III of this episode]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

More than Meets the Eye, Part 2

2025-08-14T21:40:41Z

Artifex Prime: Added animation error.

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=2
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=2
|prev2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=2
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|image=More Than Meets Part 2.jpg
|caption=[[Oil]] is a burnin' thing, and it makes a fiery ring.
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"
|season=1
|season ep=2
|production code=4024
|airdate=[[September 18]], 1984
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Ashi Productions]], [[Nakamura Production]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdskAJwHdLw
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Decepticons continue raiding Earth's energy sources, including Sherman Dam and the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMtE Part2 Greetings.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Are you Samuel James Witwicky, descendant of Archibald Witwicky?" "No." "Oops, sorry, my bad." [Throws him back in the water]]]
The fire at the off-shore [[oil rig]] continues to grow. Poor [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] is caught in some girders, but is freed by [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Not so easy to extricate are the humans [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. As [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] grapples with the debris trapping the workers, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] put out the fire. Rescued by Prime, Spike and Sparkplug introduce themselves to the [[Autobot]]s, offering their terrestrial knowledge to help them.

[[File:Mtmte2 spike finds soundwave.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|A legacy of Stupid Human Tricks begins here.]]
Their newfound human friends return with the Autobots to their headquarters. As Spike explores the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he finds a small cassette player and brings it in with him, setting it aside. Little does he realize he has brought [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] into Autobot Headquarters. Soundwave and his minion [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] begin using [[Teletraan I]] to locate [[Earth]]'s most plentiful energy resources. Meanwhile, Spike enjoys a tour of the headquarters and some sunset joyriding with [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]]. Returning to the base, Spike spots Soundwave's intrusion and sounds the alarm. Soundwave escapes, but the Autobots catch Ravage, thanks to [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]' infrared light.

Soundwave briefs [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] on his findings. Megatron decides to attack [[Sherman Dam]], causing a tidal wave to increase the dam's output. The next day, the [[Decepticon]]s arrive at the dam. [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] dives into the river and activates his piledrivers to whip the river into dangerous rapids. The energy output is detected by Teletraan I, and the Autobots rush there to stop the Decepticons.

[[File:MTMte Part2 Autobotsrally.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Raise your hand, raise your haaaand—if you're sure!]]
With the river at its peak, the Decepticons begin producing [[energon cube]]s. The Autobots arrive, and a battle ensues. Hound dives into the river to stop Rumble's quaking, and the two scuffle in the depths, with the Autobot coming off worse. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] help divert the course of the river to save a nearby neighborhood from being flooded. Megatron and Optimus Prime duel with energy [[Energon-axe|melee]] [[Energon mace|weapons]] atop Sherman Dam while exchanging insults. Megatron knocks Prime into the rapids (the latter was distracted by Spike's shouts for help) and he and his Decepticons escape with their spoils.

[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] helps pull Prime from the river. The Autobots regroup and vow to stop the Decepticons as they continue their activities across the land... but apparently don't do a very good job of it at ''all''. The space cruiser they are developing is almost complete, and they are one more energy raid away from having enough fuel to return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Unfortunately, the impudent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] feels the need to test some of the energon cubes. His wasteful experimenting forces the Decepticons to now make two trips. Their first destination, the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]]. These plans are overheard by Trailbreaker, Spike and Sparkplug, who are eavesdropping on the Decepticons.

[[File:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Trailbreaker deploys his combat bird bath.]]
As Trailbreaker returns to Autobot headquarters to relay the news, the trio are attacked by a pair of generic [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Sparkplug radios for help, which comes in the form of [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]]. Sunstreaker uses a [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] cannon to give one of the Seekers a small scratch on its wing, prompting the two jets to retreat.

The Decepticons are soon in Burma, pulling [[Ruby crystal|energetic rubies]] from the Earth's crust. The Autobots wait for them outside the mine. Wheeljack has developed a powerful and compact explosive. Bumblebee and Sparkplug volunteer to plant the charge in the mine. They do so, but are caught by [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] as they make their escape.

Concerned that Sparkplug and Bumblebee haven't returned, Optimus Prime drives up the mine's entrance and dispatches [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] into the mine. The explosive detonates, and the blast knocks Prime off his wheels, sending him tumbling down the mountainside.

'''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|To be continued...]]'''
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (1)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (6)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (11)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] (12)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (13)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (14)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (18)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (26)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (27)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (28)
*[[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (29)
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (20)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (21)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (22)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (23)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"For someone who doesn't like to fight, heh, you're not bad, Mirage!"
:—'''Cliffjumper''' complimenting Mirage after he helped fight off Skywarp and Thundercracker

"You destroy everything you touch, Megatron!" 
"Because everything I touch is food for my hunger, my hunger for power!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' banter while fighting on top of Sherman Dam

"You're old, Megatron. Yesterday's model—ready for the scrap heap!" 
"We'll see who's ready for the scrap heap!" 
"Junk! That's what you are, ''junk''!" 
"''Silence''!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' insults '''Megatron''' during their battle

"Don't push me, Megatron, my desire for power is as great as yours!" 
"Power flows to the one who knows ''how''. Desire alone is not enough." 
"Time makes all things possible. I can wait."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''', foreshadowing several repetitive scenes in the future

"Let's give Megatron a little present." 
"Heh. Maybe we oughtta wrap him up and put a little bow on him."
:—'''Skywarp''' and '''Thundercracker''' on capturing Bumblebee. Not seen: Bumblebee's humiliated weeping.

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:PrimeLandsInTheBarrenWasteland.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy]] once again runs out into the middle of the barren wastelands and summons help from [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime arrives via rocket-boots and lifts him up to his face, inquiring if he's still working on his "special project" for school. Tommy says that it's a time-consuming effort, so Prime continues his story of how the Transformers first came to Earth without delay...

After concluding the story, Tommy remarks that the "tumble" Prime took sure was something. Prime starts to tell him about the tumble he took when he pursued Megatron into outer space, but Tommy laughs, telling Optimus, "Next time, take a spaceship". Prime passive aggressively replies, "What would I do without you, Tommy?" Prime's eyes then narrow as he demands to know what Tommy's "special project" is. Tommy once again withholds the information, but vows to bare all next time, when he "transforms" Prime's day "into an adventure". Prime then blasts off into space, giving Tommy a ride back to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Script revisions: 13 March 1984
* First draft storyboards completed: 7th April 1984 (Artists: [[Wendell Washer]], [[Don Sheppard]], [[Paul Gruwell]], [[Jim Fletcher]])
* Storyboards revised: April 16th and 19th, 1984
* Telecine: 27 August 1984

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Mtmte2 ironhide diverting river.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Gadgets and powers:
**Brawn uses a retractable welding tip to cut Huffer free. This same hooked welding tip seems to be fairly standard Autobot equipment, showing up in many future episodes, attached to many different 'bots.
**Trailbreaker's "force shield" is fired from a three-pronged wrist-gun.
**Wheeljack can shoot a fire extinguishing chemical of some sort from his retracted wrist.
**Jazz uses a retractable grappling hook that slides out of his wrist (with a little pulse-glow of energy, no less.) This gadget will show up a couple more times in this and the next episode.
**Soundwave gives us the most overt instance of size-changing we've yet seen.
**A couple of stock powers make their debut, as Hound demonstrates his holograms and Mirage turns invisible.
**Gears displays his infrared. Well, actually, it's just a red light. Don't tell anyone.
**Jazz and Prowl can both fire energy-net things out of their wrists. Prowl will repeat this ability in "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]".
**"The <s>noal</s> null ray" actually does what it's supposed to this time, shutting down some generators when Starscream shoots them with it.
**When Hound submerges to pursue Rumble, he drops a face shield into place, implying he may be susceptible to water.
**Ironhide has a mounted cannon in the back of his van. It's heavily based on the similar cannon that his toy's repair bay has.
**Starscream owns a [[Slingshot (weapon)|slingshot]] and uses some unidentified crystal as ammunition.
**In one of the series' most inexplicably well-remembered scenes, Megatron and Optimus both deploy glowing, semi-solid energy weapons from their wrists: a [[Energon mace|morning star]] and an [[Energon-axe|axe]], respectively.
**Trailbreaker can deploy a roof-mounted radar dish to listen in remotely on the 'cons.
[[File:Roller deploy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Early in the episode, the scene is shown changing from the Ark to a similar-looking shack nearby. This shack appears to have the same construction as the Ark itself, but is not a part of the ship. It is almost never seen again, except in the episodes "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]".
*As he returns to tape mode to enter Teletraan I, Ravage's missiles disappear in a glowing flash.
*According to Starscream, 1,750,000 KiloWatts is not enough electrical power to make energon cubes!
*The script that Teletraan I displays differs significantly from the Ancient Autobot language the Decepticons find in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]". It's also rather different from the Ancient Cybertronian that [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] finds on the control panel of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] in "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]". One might reasonably fanwank it by saying that Jazz is reading the modern version of these languages.
*Optimus calling Megatron old lines up quite well with the later episode "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]". In it, Orion Pax is portrayed as a much more youthful bot than Megatron.
*Optimus deploys Roller for the first time. He's gray, based on an earlier iteration of the toy, rather than the blue of the US release.
*While Soundwave and Ravage are using Teletraan I, a shot of the oil rig from Part 1 was briefly shown.

===Non-final premises===
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobots fly.JPG|thumb]]
As part of the series pilot, this episode features some conventions and details which would be changed for the series proper:
*The Autobots can all fly in [[robot mode]].
*[[Corey Burton]] employs a different voice for Brawn, one that is higher and more hoarse-sounding than the "correct" version that will appear in later episodes. The same voice pops up again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" (after Skyfire catches a falling Brawn).
*Mirage gets a different sound effect for his disappearing abilities (which would actually be used again in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]").
*Wheeljack acquires a bit of southern accent in the third act of this episode. Oddly, he already had his finalized voice in the previous episode, and indeed, shows no real signs of the accent in his sparing lines during this episode's first two acts. Consequently, fans have speculated that voice actor [[Chris Latta]] was trying to differentiate the voice from his Sparkplug voice, as they ''are'' pretty identical, and he only begins to affect the accent when Wheeljack and Sparkplug share a scene.
*The "next time" preview refers to the three episodes collectively as "The Transformers". They would later be rechristened "More than Meets the Eye" (obviously!)

===Real-world references===
*[[Burma]] is a country in southeast Asia, currently known to the [[United Nations]] as Myanmar. It is, indeed, particularly rich in rubies, and is the source of 90% of the world's supply of the gems.

===Animation and technical errors===
*In the recap of "Part 1" at the beginning of the episode, a scene is shown in which Optimus Prime is trying to lift a grate trapping Spike and Sparkplug. However, in "Part 1", the grate was orange, while in the recap that same grate is shown as gray.
*Huffer's trapped arm does not appear to actually connect to his torso.
*As Huffer and Brawn converse, Brawn's lips move for Huffer's line, "Let's take off."
*Prime's running lights are drawn as rectangular instead of round as he explains the Decepticons to Spike and Sparkplug.
*Soundwave commands Ravage to "enter Teltraan I", omitting the second syllable from the computer's name.
*After picking up Soundwave, Spike runs into the Ark carrying his rucksack slung over his shoulder. In the next shot, the rucksack has vanished.
[[File:Reflector in red.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hey! That's my color scheme!]]
[[File:Weirdstreak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Ratchet and Bluestreak just came back from the helmet salon.]]
*Coloring errors:
**Soundwave's eject button is one of the most common coloring errors of the whole series. Based on his toy, it's supposed to be white in the cartoon, but almost as often as not, the colorists simply colored it the same blue as the rest of him:
***Soundwave's eject button and cheek guards are both blue instead of white as he returns to robot mode.
***Blue button as he swipes at Spike.
***And after he plays back the Sherman Dam info.
***And as Megatron pontificates about the [[ruby crystal]]s. (Cheek guards too.)
**Brawn's helmet is a bit too light as he watches Soundwave retreat.
**When Gears transforms, his blue parts change to red, leaving him as an all-red truck.
**Soundwave is missing all his yellow stripes as he plays back Teletraan I's info on Sherman Dam.
**When Optimus orders his troops to head to the power plant, he has a gray eyeband instead of two blue optics. In the next shot, the Autobots who take off beside him include Windcharger coloured like Cliffjumper, Brawn coloured like Sunstreaker, and Gears coloured like Brawn.
**As the Autobots blast into the power plant, they shoot down both Starscream and a Reflector colored like Starscream.
**Soundwave's visor switches from white to red and back as he and Megatron ride the elevator.
**Starscream's collar is yellow as he asks "What's the difference?"
**Half of Starscream's collar is yellow again during "I can wait".
**In the establishing shot of the Autobots outside the Burma ruby mines, Ratchet's head is black and gray. When the shot is repeated, Bluestreak's head is yellow, making his head resemble Bumblebee's.
**As Thundercracker faces Sparkplug, his wing insignia are rendered as purple rectangles. As he joins Skywarp to double-team Bumblebee, they're missing completely.
**Sideswipe's helmet is red instead of black as Bumblebee transforms in front of him.
**Bumblebee's midsection flickers between grey and yellow as he walks down the mine with Sparkplug.
**Starscream's face is white instead of gray as Bumblebee and Spike spy on the 'cons.
**Jazz's helmet and hand are mostly white instead of black as he worries about Bumblebee.
**When Optimus and Megatron confront each other atop Sherman Dam, Optimus is slightly miscolored; his helmet, hands, lower legs and skidplate are all dark gray...which makes him look a heck of a lot like Sideswipe, funnily.
[[File:mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Maybe it's Sideswipe cosplaying as Optimus Prime?]]
**During the opening dialogue of Prime and Megatron's showdown, the gun barrel on Megatron's back is extremely... thick.
[[File:Megatron_thicc.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.1|He's VERY excited about this fight.]]

*As the Autobots try to capture Ravage, their miscellaneous shouts were scripted simply as being collectively delivered by the group and were not attributed to any individual 'bots. As such, they were performed by a random collection of actors, not using any of their standard Transformers character voices, but the animation would then depict mismatched Autobots speaking the lines in voices that are not their own. We hear "There he is!" (voiced by [[Chris Latta]], but delivered by Sideswipe), "Get him!" ([[Ken Sansom]], Jazz), "Fire!" ([[Frank Welker]], Sideswipe again), "It's too dark!" (Latta again, from offscreen) and "Can't see him!" (Welker again, also from offscreen). Another example of this problematic practice would crop up next episode; it would mostly be avoided in the series proper, but another instance can be heard in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".
*Gears and Hound are extremely tiny in their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s in the next shot, as a titanic Optimus Prime walks up behind them. This is the result of an earlier height chart which depicted Optimus and Megatron as towering over their troops. The miniseries' storyboards were revised to match the two leaders' finalised scale, however this scene remained unaltered.
*When arriving at the dam, Optimus Prime speaks the line "We've got to work fast", but Prowl is shown talking.
*When Optimus orders the Autobots "to the air," Hound is part of the group that takes off, but in the very next shot, he's on the ground by the river with Spike. Per the script of episode, he ''is'' actually meant to take off with the group, but a shot of the Autobots then splitting up and going in different directions to deal with different threats was cut from the episode; as intimated by the cloud of dust visible around Hound's feet, he's meant to have just landed again after his brief flight.
*One of the neighbors that Ironhide and Bumblebee rescue appears to be a woman in a pink dress...who is waving and moving as a ''man''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s voice says, "Thanks, neighbors!"
*When the Autobots are first confronting the Decepticons at the power plant, Sideswipe and Optimus appear to have Decepticon logos on them. (See the flying picture above.)
*As Megatron is taunts Prime during their battle on the dam, Optimus disappears for a couple of frames at the beginning of the wide shot after the closeup of Megatron.
*The camera is strangely blurry as two Seekers attach two wires together at the snowy oil refinery before it quickly refocuses. This is explained by a deleted shot in the storyboards that shows one of the generic Seekers ripping open a gas pipeline with his bare hands, before connecting one end to a hose attached to the empty energon cubes.
*As Starscream prepares his strange slingshot thing, one of his wing stripes becomes transparent. His wings are also mounted much higher on his back than normal.
*As Soundwave and the Reflectors fill Energon cubes in a grassy meadow, there is a registration error that causes Soundwave's lower half to vanish several frames before the foreground content is meant to block it.
*The second purple jet to leave the Black Diamond mine does so alone, but when he drifts back into the shot, he's got a Rumble and a Reflector with him.
*Both he and Megatron are missing their insignia as the elevator reaches the bottom.
*While the Reflectors are stacking Energon cubes, the Energon cubes are translucent enough to see the background (and to see that the Reflectors' legs weren't animated).
[[File:G1toon starscream laser turret.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They were only counting on having to fight three Autobots back home.]]
*Starscream's leg is disconnected from his body as he fires his cannon.

*The microphone that Sparkplug uses to radio the Autobots changes appearance between shots; it looks like a microphone in closeup, but more like a {{w|Simon (game)|Simon}} toy when Sparkplug is holding it.
*In the "strike force" lineup, all of the Reflectors have gray lower legs, rather than the lavender they're supposed to.
*One gun, many lasers:
**The two generics who attack Trailbreaker shower him with a dozen or more lasers, despite having only two guns apiece.
*After Sunstreaker shoots one of the generics and Spike's comment, Sideswipe's shown to have a weapon in the same place as Sunstreaker's, with smoke pouring from the end.
*The ends of the ruby collection tubes are closed like test tubes, leaving the falling crystals nowhere to go.
*Prime's right antenna disappears as he points at the mine entrance.
*Only the front of Wheeljack's "ears" flash as he shows off his new explosive.
*[[Norm McCabe]] is again credited as Nor M McCabe.
*Like the previous episode, Frank Welker's name was accidentally omitted from the credits.

===Continuity errors===
*Brawn uses a blow torch to free Huffer's oil-soaked arm, and somehow, it doesn't catch fire.
*All the other humans from the oil-rig disappear. (Or drowned, [[Titanic|DiCaprio-style]].)
*For some reason, Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper are just sitting around in the repair bay in automotive form.
[[File:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|We don't know where we came from, either.]]
[[File:GenericDecepticons MTMTE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, eject. Operation: crowd filler."]]
*This episode totally shatters the previous episode's consistent cast of Decepticons, which was clearly shown to be Megatron, Soundwave, 3 jets, 3 Reflectors, and 3 tapes. To pad out the Decepticon ranks, a horde of generic Decepticons just starts appearing out of nowhere:
**A light purple-gray jet is standing behind Thundercracker after the Decepticons land at the dam.
**As Reflector compresses the energon cubes, there are ''four'' Reflector robots, as well as three Rumbles. The real Rumble is, at this point, still underwater, fighting with Hound. Rumble shows up in two more subsequent shots as well, including one where he's the only guy in the shot!
**And then it all goes to hell after the Sherman Dam sequence. Two purplish jets are with Thundercracker in the snow. Then a subsequent pan shot shows ''four'' light blue jets, ''three'' light purple jets, and ''two Thundercrackers''.
**At the Black Diamond mine: three purple jets, and a slate blue Rumble.
**The assembled strike force: one Skywarp, two Thundercrackers, another lavender jet, four Rumbles in yellow, orange, bright blue and slate blue, and ''seven'' Reflectors.
**Two lavender and one slate blue jet answer Megatron's order to "Scramble!"
**A shot of the Decepticons in flight shows a total of ''twenty-seven'' robots.
**Two generics even get their own scripted appearance, attacking Trailbreaker, complete with speaking parts!
**After all that, there's not much point in noting 2 blues and 2 lavenders loading ruby crystals, is there?
**6 generic jets plus Starscream as Bumblebee and Spike observe the 'cons mining the crystals.
*Megatron's definition of "tidal wave" is a bit wonky, considering that Rumble doesn't really make one huge wave. Of course, we wouldn't expect ''aliens'' to have a perfect grasp of the English language.
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobot letters.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Okay, Spike, here's your next Cybertronian lesson!" "Uh...for a...good...time...call..." "Whoops! Wrong screen!"]]
*When Spike tells Jazz that there's trouble at Sherman Dam, the screen shows what is presumably Cybertronian text. Spike shouldn't be able to read this.
*Likewise, the dam worker says "she's gonna blow" (twice!) in reference to the crumbling dam. The dam might crack, fail, or give way, but neither the dam nor the generators are likely to ''explode''.
*Megatron lacks his signature [[fusion cannon]] when battling Prime atop Sherman Dam.
*Superhuman Spike:
**A shot of Sherman Dam shows us that the water behind it (where Rumble is making his earthquake) is clearly hundreds of feet deep. Somehow, Spike just leaps right into it to rescue Hound. The water is also ''ragingly'' turbulent in the previous shot, yet perfectly still once Spike is actually in it.
**He then has no trouble at all moving a big boulder that's pinning Hound in place.
**It must be hereditary. Sparkplug survives being punched directly in the ribcage and into a stone wall by Thundercracker. He should be wall-pizza after that. Spike also is no worse for wear after Rumble whacks him across the face. A blow like the one Rumble gives Spike should have shattered Spike's skull.
[[File:Rubycrystalminesofburma.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Thus explaining why Burma was the dominant world superpower in 1984.]]
*Megatron yells to his troops from offscreen to "Follow me!" when he's getting bashed around by Prime; according to the dialogue script, this line was supposed to be spoken by Starscream.
*One of the shots of filling energon cubes appears to take place in a forest, with no machinery of any type in sight. Are they stealing energy from trees?
*A few shots from Starscream's little cannon drain a whole gigantic stack of energon cubes. Are the cubes really ''that'' paltry?
*The likelihood of rubies being a viable power source, let alone "the richest source of energy on the face of the Earth", is questionable. Apparently Megatron is not yet familiar with the bizarre physics of cartoon Earth, where all kinds of super-powered crystals are just sitting around waiting for someone to sap energy out of them.
*Sparkplug claims to have previously worked in the ruby mine, which, while not thoroughly implausible, seems unlikely for an American [[oil]] rig worker/mechanic.
*Wheeljack tells Sparkplug that the bomb timer is 60 seconds. All the views of the countdown timer show it decreasing at approximately two units per second, meaning that the bomb would go off in about 30 seconds.

===Trivia===
*Deleted scenes from the original script to this episode include Spike and Jazz tapping Teletraan I into "the Emergency Alert System" (thirteen years before the real world system of that name would exist), leading to it detecting the trouble at Sherman Dam; Trailbreaker covering Ironhide as the older 'bot uses his adhesives to seal the cracks in the dam; the two nameless Decepticon jets appearing in robot mode, standing guard at the Decepticon base, where they spot Trailbreaker and the Witwickys driving by and decide to pursue them; and Bumblebee and Sparkplug facing two Decepticon guards at the mine entrance, who Bumblebee paralyzes with a stun ray from his headlights. Other differences include Bumblebee teaming up with ''Wheeljack'', rather than Ironhide, to carve the trenches that break up the raging river; in accordance, Wheeljack's alternate mode is described as a "van", which, coupled with several other awkward or incorrect alternate mode descriptions in the "More than Meets the Eye" scripts, suggests that complete finalized details on the Transformers' alternate modes hadn't been provided to the writer yet.
*The dam sequence was adapted for the UK comic story "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" in issues #29-30, and also released as a set of [[View-Master]] reels. The weapons used by Prime and Megatron would be immortalized in toy form several times, and even get a bit of an [[homage]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action movies]], where Prime thrice wields orange-glowing bladed [[Dual Energon Swords|energy]] [[Energon Hooks|weapons]] in all three films, including an [[Energon-axe|axe]], while Megatron uses a [[Mace|flail]] in the first film.
*Much of the character animation in this episode is pleasingly fluid, with some rather dynamic transformations. Decepticons in particular do lots of flips as they transform.
*Bumblebee's mission is hilarious. He transforms to car mode, drives about twenty feet, returns to robot mode, stands outside the mine and says "Come on, let's go inside." Well, what ''else'' were you planning there, 'Bee?

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Plein la vue - Partie 2'''" ("Show off - Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*In the European French dub, Jazz's line "Catch!" is replaced by "D'accord !" ("Okay!"), which does not really make sense in the scene.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Rückkehr'''" (''Generation 2'', "The Return")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 7]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La miniera di rubini'''" ("The Ruby Mine")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Molto più di quel che appare - Seconda parte'''" ("Much More than What Appears - Second Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ruby Crystal no Himitsu'''" (ルビークリスタルの秘密, "Secret of the Ruby Crystals")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 13]], [[1985]]
::*'''Cut:''' After Spike picks up Soundwave outside and runs off, a few seconds are shaved off of him disappearing off screen. The long shot of him running through the entrace of the Ark is cut, as are the first few seconds of him running down the hall of the Ark with Soundwave clutched in his right hand.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dì'èr Tiān'''" (第二天, "The Second Day")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem, Parte 2'''" ("More than Meets the Eye, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode did not air in the 1980s and was first released on DVD with a different dub from the rest of the show.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ne vsjo tak prosto (Chast' 2)'''" (Не всё так просто (Часть 2), "Not All Is So Simple (Part 2)")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 26]], [[1995]]

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види други део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 2"), "'''Sile zla drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла други део, "Forces of Evil Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:Tf collection 0 convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|Takara, setting trends since 2000.]]
*'''''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' 0 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Convoy]] ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]], 2003)'''
:A reissue of the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]] toy that includes a new accessory, an [[Energon-axe]] based on the one he wields in this episode that can be swapped out for one of his fists. A plethora of other Optimus Prime toys (including various ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' figures) also include the axe, either as an optional accessory or as a permanently affixed hand replacement, which includes a ''[[Heroes of Cybertron#SCF|Super Collection Figure]]'' (later released by Hasbro under the name "Heroes of Cybertron") that predates the ''Transformers Collection'' line.

*'''''The Transformers Collection'' 6 [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Megatron]] (Takara, 2003)
:A reissue of the original ''Generation 1'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Megatron]] toy that includes a new accessory, an [[Energon mace]] based on the one he wields in this episode that plugs over one of his hands. Like with Optimus Prime's Energon-axe, the mace has also become a standard accessory or permanent feature of numerous additional Megatron toys, again including an SCF figure that predates the ''Transformers Collection'' line.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-47 [[Hound (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Hound]] (2019)'''
:This figure includes, among its accessories, a Spike figure to represent their friendship through the 3-parter and the holographic driver he briefly shows to Spike in this episode. His head also features a flip-out face shield to recreate his underwater scenes.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-56 [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Trailbreaker]] (2022)'''
:This figure features accessories based on this episode, such as the multi-nozzle forcefield generator that attaches to his left hand and the satellite dish that attaches to the car roof.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1985 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' ([[VAP]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://zobovor.tripod.com/more_than_meets_the_eye_part_2_bloopers.html Zobovor's Bloopers list]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c8F3_ZrSADyU7EVIYH2xJjcSXRYXHZZM/view?usp=drive_link Full episode script with revision pages dated 13th March 1984]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-4024-more-than_5.html Full storyboards for Act I and samples for Act III of this episode]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

File:Megatron BigBack.jpg

2025-08-14T21:34:12Z

Artifex Prime: Megatron's back barrel looking particularly... thick.

Megatron's back barrel looking particularly... thick.

IP infringement

2025-03-16T17:24:11Z

Artifex Prime: /* Third party designs in official products and marketing */

{{disambig2|unlicensed toys based on ''Transformers''|third parties that produce actual ''Transformers'' products under license|Third party}}
[[File:01-Studio Headless Unicron.jpg|thumb|200px|"You underestimate me, Hasbro."]]
The many and varied facets of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] are the intellectual property (IP) of [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]], and their ownership of these ideas and designs is [[Copyright|protected by law]]. Alas, some rascally elements have, over the years, decided they'd like a slice of that pie, which has led to the creation of what have been described as '''IP infringing items''' by employees of former Hasbro licensee [[Fun Publications]].

{{bigquote|Theft of IP like this is staggering, develop your own characters and designs!|[[Aaron Archer]], former [[Hasbro]] employee<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170510214929/https://aaron-archer-art.tumblr.com/post/88471654165/aeonmagnus-fans-toys-ft-03-scoria-gallery Aaron Archer on Tumblr]</ref><ref>Archer would later do design work for a not-[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] figure for an abortive Kickstarter project. TFWiki.net leaves you to make of this what you will.</ref>}}

==Kinds of IP infringement==
Technically, any use of Hasbro and Takara's ''Transformers'' names, characters, and concepts without obtaining a license could be considered IP infringement. Things such as fan art and fan fiction, however, are rarely considered problematic, being as they are not intended to generate profit or are otherwise one-off works. In fact, in the past Hasbro has laid out guidelines to fan-artists and similar creators wishing to make and sell art and crafts based on ''Transformers'', which basically boiled down to being careful how one "branded" it (or, in practice, ''didn't'' brand it by just avoiding the use of brand names and some minor semantics).

When things get dicey —and the license-holders get tetchy— is when IP infringement occurs on a grander, and more organized scale.

===Knockoffs===
[[File:DOTM.MIRAGEKO.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Automatons in Concealment]]
{{main|Knockoff}}
In the context of ''Transformers'', [[knockoff]] is often used to describe both low-budget/quality toys, the kind of off-color, oversized/undersized thing that one might come across in a "dollar store" cranked out by the bajillions from China, and higher-quality toys that actually attempt to pass themselves off as genuine Hasbro or Takara products. Knockoffs that are direct replicas of existing Hasbro toys are very obviously the result of theft – in that case, it is the precise design and engineering for the toy that has been stolen. However, it is not unheard of for manufacturers to create their own cheap toys in the image of ''Transformers'' characters, and these still constitute IP infringement– Optimus Prime the Character is as much Hasbro's property as Optimus Prime the Specific Toy.

Conversely, a toy that copies the engineering (i.e. [[transformation]]) of an existing Hasbro/Takara product but is changed enough as to not resemble an existing character protected by copyright might not necessarily constitute IP infringement: Functionality is protected by patents, and patent protection legally expires after 20 years. This is why you occasionally see off-brand toys that work just like the [[Jumpstarter]]s but look nothing like [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] or [[Twin Twist]].
{{--}}

==="Third party" toys===
[[File:MechaformNotJetfire.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|I Can't Believe It's Not Jetfire!]]
In the late 2000s, spurred on by the ''Transformers'' nostalgia boom invoked by the [[live-action film series]], a new phenomenon arose—unlicensed products based on ''Transformers'' aimed at the adult collector market. The very earliest examples of this kind of product were accessories and then "upgrades" for existing Hasbro toys, such as a trailer/armor set for [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Classics|''Classics'' Ultra Magnus]], but the market quickly grew to include standalone action figures based on ''Transformers'' characters. The number of groups producing these figures has ballooned rapidly, to the point that two or even three separate companies will be simultaneously releasing toys of the same characters. Popular market trends have included [[combiner]]s and, more recently, figures emulating the qualities of the ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' line.

The [[fandom]]'s generally recognized name for these kinds of figures is "third party Transformers", although this is ultimately a misnomer for the plain reason that they are not actual ''Transformers'' products. This terminology makes more sense in light of their history, as the initial accessories, add-ons and "upgrade" kits can still somewhat be considered "third party" products, and the term, once established among the fandom, was simply never adjusted when standalone figures became the main focus of such offerings. It also differentiates them from "bootleg" toys, as bootlegs are usually considered explicit copies of official Transformers toys designed to "trick" unaware buyers into purchasing thing, while "third party" products are usually explicitly purchased by collectors for their qualities. Obviously, these should not be confused with the actual [[Third party|third parties]] who produce ''Transformers'' merchandise under license from Hasbro or Takara.

In (very half-hearted) attempts to dissuade the notion that they are pinching ''Transformers'' characters, "third party" toy manufacturers typically avoid using [[Insignia|faction symbols]] (although sometimes include molded spaces for the buyer to apply their own), and give their figures alternative names that attempt to capture the sound and/or spirit of the [[trademark]]ed originals, with varying degrees of bizarreness. A toy intended to look like [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]] might, for example, wind up named "Stellaryell". Initially, fans would often avoid confusion by referring to these figures as "not" versions of the characters they were based on (for example, "Not-Starscream"), though as the market has grown that terminology has been mostly abandoned since there's liable to be multiple different Not-Starscreams. After many years of these products, name overlaps are bound to happen; for example, different companies have figures alternatively based on [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] that are both named "Rager". Even more hilariously (though not really surprising), there are even ''knockoffs'' of "third party" toys! Let's see ''them'' duke out their IP conflicts in court.

Desire for those toys arises for various reasons, including:

* Wanting a toy of a character who has not received a modern, or any toy, at a certain scale or quality, or in a specific style, such as the ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' line.
* Desiring different aesthetics (such as a more [[Live-action film series|movie]] accurate design compared to official toys), or a new design of a character.
* A belief that they are of superior quality. Design limitations such as [[For safety reasons|safety regulations]] and [[Design change|budget]] are much less of an issue compared to official toys; like many other figures designed for an adult audience, a "not a toy" disclaimer can be found on some of these products to justify these features, such as sharper edges on characters or small parts.

For reasons that should be obvious, TFWiki considers "third party" toys unrelated to its goal of documenting the ''Transformers'' brand, beyond examples where they have influenced official product.

====Types of "third party" toys====
Note: The following terms are descriptors rather than actual official terms since, well, they're clearly not official products.

=====Accessories=====
These are generally items that are designed to interact with official product, but involve no modification to said official product. These are most often weapons (e.g. the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] and [[Dark Star Saber]] from ''Transformers: Prime''), but may also include [[:Category:MacGuffins|MacGuffins]] like the [[AllSpark Matrix]] or even characters like notable humans such as [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] and [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]].

=====Add-ons=====
These are items that are designed to interact with official product and modify their appearance. However, said modification takes advantage of preexisting tabs, slots, posts and so on, thus requiring no actual modification of the official product. An example would be panels designed to fill in the gaps in the thighs of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' Powermaster Optimus Prime]], which slot in snugly into the gaps.

=====Upgrade kits=====
These are items designed to interact with official product and modify their appearance, but require some sort of actual modification to the official product. This can be as simple as popping off and swapping a limb on ball joints or putting a small piece in a gap to fill it in, to more comprehensive modifications like partial disassembly and replacing of parts. A kit that allows someone to switch the head of ''Classics'' Bumblebee to create a ''Classics''-styled Goldbug or giving ''G1'' Ironhide and Ratchet actual heads would be an example of this.

=====Full figures=====
As mentioned above, these are generally what is meant when references are made to "third party Transformers". These are standalone fully transformable figures clearly based on and meant to evoke actual ''Transformers'' characters. One of the earliest and most (in)famous examples was a triple-changing Not-Springer which became wildly popular because official Springer toys of that time transformed into either a land vehicle or an air vehicle, but not both. These types of products are arguably the most problematic, as they may actually cause lost sales for an official figure. Add-ons and upgrade kits, in contrast, may actually encourage collectors to purchase the official products they are meant to complement.

Again, these are descriptors, partially because there is a lot of overlap. For example, would a replacement head for a reissue G1 Bruticus that comes with light up LED eyes be considered an upgrade kit (since it replaces the original head) or an add-on (since it makes use of the post hole already intended for the original head)? Would hands and feet for a ''Combiner Wars'' Combiner that also transform into weapons for the component bots fall under accessories (as they're weapons) or upgrade kits (since they replace the original hands and feet) or add-ons (since they slot into preexisting ports)? And what about stickers that can change, for example, [[Prowl (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' Prowl]] into an approximation of an [[Autotrooper (disambiguation)|Autotrooper]]? In fact, a lot of what created the demand for figures in the first place was that grey area. The first widely-successful "third-party" figures were technically an upgrade kit for [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|Bruticus Maximus]], which were "fixing" the problem of the set having only two limb molds by adding two additional Basic-sized figures to the mix.
{{--}}

===Doujinshi===
Generally understood to mean fan-comics, ''doujinshi'' (同人誌) are a uniquely Japanese occurrence. Japan has a very healthy culture of fan groups who make their own manga, many of them starring original characters but a huge portion starring characters owned by companies (for a ''Transformers'' example, imagine a gag manga where [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] is portrayed as a little child and being raised by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the other Decepticons to be the mighty [[Emperor of Destruction]] he is in [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory|''Transformers: Victory'']]. Hijinks ensue). This would of course never fly in a litigious society like the US, but in Japan doujinshi exist in a strange gray area.<ref>[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/doujinshi-definition/ A page explaining doujinshi and why they're tolerated in Japan]</ref>

Basically, the difference between what would be understood as a fan-comic in the West and a doujinshi in Japan is that in the West (especially the US), while a company might turn a blind eye to someone making fan-comics for fun (e.g. on a site like DeviantArt), they would come down on them if they tried to put those same fan comics up for sale. [[Hasbro]] might allow (or at least ignore) people selling fanart and fan-comics at a proper ''Transformers'' convention like [[BotCon]], but might be much less forgiving if those same people tried to sell those items at, say, a general science fiction convention. Meanwhile, in Japan, there are various conventions where doujinshi are actually the key focus, such as the famous {{w|Comiket}}. A ''Transformers'' doujinshi might be sold at a ''Transformers''-related convention, but might also appear at, say, a mecha-related convention or a general science fiction-related convention (since the Transformers would fall under a mecha or science fiction category).

Long story short, [[TakaraTomy]] could complain and shut down groups making doujinshi any time they wanted, but like many Japanese companies, it appears that it simply isn't worth the hassle. People who make doujinshi are often the most hardcore of fans, and so alienating them isn't something most companies are eager to do. In addition, any victory would simply not be worth the resulting bad press, since fan groups are not exactly swimming in cash and while doujinshi are put up for sale, a lot of groups seem to just do it for love of the art or the series. Most doujinshi also receive extremely limited distribution, such as at dedicated conventions for only one or two days at a time. It should also be mentioned that many big names in manga got their starts or honed their skills in doujinshi circles, and it isn't impossible for a company to want to recruit some of these up-and-coming talents.

It, er, probably should be pointed out that some (though not all) doujinshi are very, ''very'' NSFW.

{{--}}

==Hasbro and IP infringement==
===Remarks and actions===
Official statements from Hasbro on "third party" toys are few and far between. In one response, provided as part of the company's now-defunct fansite Q&A program, they noted the illegal nature of the figures, and remarked that this kind of IP infringement was unfair to legitimate licensees who pay to produce ''Transformers'' merchandise.<ref>[http://www.tfviews.com/news/main/hasbro-q-and-a/499 TFviews Hasbro Q&A, August 2009]</ref> Hasbro did keep a binder cataloging every "third party" toy in case action needed to be taken against them.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/997302-aaron-archers-statements-toy-design-tfcon-2014-a.html "Aaron Archers statements on toy design at Tfcon 2014"] at TFW2005.</ref>

In 2015, Hasbro's UK branch distributed an online survey of the collecting habits of ''Transformers'' fans to coincide with the Auto Assembly unofficial convention, which included a surprising number of questions regarding "third party" products. In a bit of an embarrassing ''faux pas'', a Hasbro representative present at the convention itself also addressed a [[Vos (G1)|Vos]] cosplayer as "Cynicus", the name of an unofficial figure of that character.<ref>[http://waspshot23.tumblr.com/post/127569311096/ok-so waspshot23 on Tumblr]</ref>

To date, there has only been one known instance of Hasbro pursuing actual legal action against the manufacturers of "third party" toys. While such unofficial toys were banned from being sold at the dealer room at [[BotCon 2012]],<ref>This mandate initially encompassed fan art too, but this was quickly relaxed.</ref> [[BotCon 2015|2015]] and [[BotCon 2016|2016]], they generally seem to adopt a "laissez-faire" approach to such toys; while they don't officially condone such material, they're willing to allow it to exist as long as it isn't impacting Hasbro's bottom line. The one instance of Hasbro taking legal action was an unofficial toy of [[Unicron]], announced during the [[Hasbro Pulse#HasLab|HasLab]] campaign for [[Unicron/toys#War for Cybertron|''War for Cybertron'' Unicron]], seemingly intended to directly undercut Hasbro's big-ticket crowdfunded toy; evidently and understandably unhappy with this, Hasbro apparently intervened to have all posts about the pretender to the throne taken down from social media.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/3rd-party-not-unicron-apparently-removed-by-hasbro/43937/ 3rd Party (Not) Unicron Apparently Removed by Hasbro] at Seibertron</ref>

===Third party designs in official products and marketing===
[[File:MTMTE18 cvrB.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|IP un-infringement?]]
Beginning in the 2010s, there have been occasions where "third party" figure designs have slipped into official media. One cover for [[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|''More than Meets the Eye'' #18]] saw [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] drawn based on unofficial figures "Rager" and "Cogz." Hasbro and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] did not comment on this, although it seems likely that somebody somewhere might've gotten a slap on the wrist. (The artist in question has not done any comic covers since...)

Meanwhile, ''official'' third party licensee [[Imaginarium Art]]'s statues of [[Hot Rod (G1)/merchandise#Imaginarium Art|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Devastator (G1)/toys#Imaginarium Art|Devastator]] were almost entirely based on the unofficial figures "Carry" and "Green Giant"- Rodimus Prime and Devastator featured very specific proportions and sculpted body details otherwise unique to Carry and Green Giant, with Devastator's kneepads/forearms and Rodimus' unique forearm pipes being dead giveaways, not to mention Devastator's alternate head being the exact "Green Giant" sculpt. One has to assume Hasbro wasn't looking too closely, or were understandably unaware of those figures, when they signed off on these. ...Though someone noticed ''something'' since Rodimus Prime's earliest previews are [https://news.tfw2005.com/2015/12/28/imaginarium-art-rodimus-prime-statue-307242 ''direct'' copies of "Carry"] as opposed to the resculpted chest, head, and back spoiler of the final.

In what was presumably an innocent mistake that resulted from the use of a fan's personal collection, a slide shown at the Hasbro investor and press event presentation during [[Toy Fair 2016]] that represented Transformers "Spanning Generations" featured a photograph of a father and son surrounded by a variety of ''Masterpiece'' toys... and the "third party" [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] "Green Giant".<ref name="toyfair16">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/tfw2005-coverage-hasbro-toy-fair-2016-investor-press-event-309206 Slides from the Hasbro investor and press event presentation during Toy Fair 2016].</ref> Oops!

Although stylized, the ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars]]'' models for the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] are recognizably based upon the "Feralcons", one of the three notable sets of "third party" Predacons. It even leaked into their combined mode, thusly based upon "Feral Rex". Meanwhile, [[Motormaster (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Motormaster]] is modeled on the TransFormMission "Powertrain" interpretation of Motormaster's design from IDW's [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 comic series]].

[[File:LL19 vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|left|250px|IP dis-infringement.]]
The ''Earth Wars'' rendition of [[Warpath (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Warpath]] is based on one or both of BadCube "Wardog" and FansToys "Sheridan".

Similarly, ''Earth Wars'' and the ''[[Transformers: Power of the Primes (cartoon)|Power of the Primes]]'' cartoon feature models for the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] based on the Fanstoys' "Iron Dibots" figures, rather than those from the concurrent [[Power of the Primes (toyline)|toyline]].

In an odd occurrence for a game which almost exclusively employed screen models and recent toys, [[Jazz (G1)#Transformers: Forged to Fight|Jazz]] in ''[[Transformers: Forged to Fight]]'' is directly modeled on Toyworld's "Coolsville" figure.

[[E. J. Su]], fulfilling the role of guest artist for [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|''Lost Light'' #19]], was not given vehicle mode references for Rodimus, Drift, Ratchet, and Chromedome. Consequently, he had to make do with googling and used alt-modes [[:File:LL19 vehicle modes.jpg|based directly]] on the Mastermind Creations "Calidus" and "Stray" figures. Ratchet and Chromedome were based on official, though inaccurate, toys of the character.

The [[package art]] for ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' [[Sky Lynx (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Sky-Lynx]] appears to depict [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] using DX9's "legends scale" take on the character as a basis.

An [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] [[:File:BBArcee Head Revisions.jpg|design presentation]] about the 2018 ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' movie used an image of Fans Toys "Rouge" as a [[Arcee (G1)|"Generation 1" Arcee]] design reference for [[Arcee (Movie)|''Bumblebee'' Arcee]].<ref>[https://www.ilm.com/visual_development/bumblebee-developing-an-epic-set-piece/ Bumblebee: Developing an Epic Set Piece - ILM San Francisco]</ref> This is an unsurprising research method as Arcee did not receive an official ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Arcee (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|figure]] until 2020, with multiple unlicensed third-party companies vying for fans' attention throughout the 2010s.

Package art for ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy: Evolution]]'' [[Nemesis (G1)#Legacy|Nemesis]] featured [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] in his Cybertronian "Tetra Jet" mode, based off Impossible Toy's "Prankstor".

[[Singapore Comic Con#2023|Cybertron Fest 2023]] accidentally let some third party upgrade kits slip through the cracks in its display of fan collections. Namely, in a cabinet full of Optimus Primes, ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' [[Optimus Maximus (G1)#Unite Warriors|Optimus Maximus]] has the Perfect Effect upgrade kit equipped, giving him a different pair of hands, feet, torso, and waist than the normal retail release. Not too far away, ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Thrilling 30 (2013–2014)|Thrilling 30]]'' [[Metroplex (G1)#Generations|Metroplex]] and mold-mate ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Titans Return|Fortress Maximus]] have also been seemingly upgraded, using the Unique Toys Metropolis head and Perfect Effect PC-14EX blaster (meant for [[Grand Maximus#Legends|his brother]]) respectively.

[[Daniel Warren Johnson]] uses Magic Square's 2023 "Light of Peace" Optimus as a reference when drawing him in Skybound's [[Transformers (2023 comic)|''Transformers'' comic]], on account of its poseability.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=This is the Optimus Prime figure that Magic Square put out this past year in 2023. It's an update, so it has a new head sculpt, it looks just like the movie, the '86 movie which of course has been my bible. He looks so good that you can actually like, kind of pose him, and he looks pretty dynamic. And I knew that, man, if the toy looks this cool in real life, then I can make him look really cool... like look at this, it looks great, he looks kind of alive.|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUZgObXmU0&t=798s|name=Daniel Warren Johnson|site=YouTube|title=TRANSFORMERS Issue 1 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY|year=2023|month=10|day=06}}</ref>

The depiction of [[Primus#One film|Primus]] in the 2024 film ''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]'' is largely based on the 01 Studio "Seed" figure—itself based on his [[:File:UltimateGuidePrimus.jpg|''The Ultimate Guide'' design]]—particularly the details of his arms and legs.

[[File:Gravity Whoops.jpg|thumb|Move over, Green Giant! There's a new 3P Devastator in town for artists to accidentally google!]]
In [[Renegade Game Studios|Renegade Studios]]' [[Transformers Roleplaying Game|Transformers RPG]] sourcebook [[The Enigma of Combination]], a schematic intended to depict [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] instead depicts Generation Toy's unlicensed "Gravity Builder", or possibly the more widely-available upscaled Jinbao version.
{{-}}

===Hasbro's own copyright dodging===
[[File:CYB sonic bomber originalsculpt.jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|First party problems.]]
Despite Hasbro's own (completely understandable) aversion against people making a profit off their IP without permission, it's not like Hasbro is entirely innocent in this regard: In fact, the ''Transformers'' toys' [[alternate mode]]s being unlicensed reproductions of real-world vehicles and aircraft goes back all the way to the very first ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys.

While the whole market situation was still very different back in the 1980s, and car manufacturers apparently didn't start properly enforcing their intellectual properties in the field of toys and merchandise until the early 2000s, ''Transformers'' toys with [[licensed vehicle alternate modes]] are still the exception rather than the rule. The vast majority of [[popular Earth vehicle alternate modes]] are still unlicensed approximations of their real-life inspirations, basically "[[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|not-Lamborghinis]]" or "[[Powerglide (G1)|not-A-10s]]", with a few details altered to avoid a lawsuit — though this wasn't enough in [[Side Burn (RID)#Toys|one notable case]]. [[Downshift (Energon)#Cybertron|Some]] [[Windcharger (G1)#Transformers (2010)|examples]] are a little more creative, meshing together two or more real-life inspirations to create a genuine "hybrid" design, but most are just barely altered and instantly recognizable for what they are supposed to represent. While the target audience is obviously a different one (most people who buy a Hasbro Sunstreaker do so because he represents Sunstreaker the ''Transformers'' character, not because they want a Lamborghini for their toy car collection; however, most, if not all, people who buy a "third party" version of Sunstreaker do so because he represents Sunstreaker the ''Transformers'' character), it illustrates the gray area involved.

Less of a gray area appears to be the case of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[High Beam (G2)#Generation 2|High Beam]] (released in 1995), though: Its alternate mode looks plain ''identical'' to a vehicle from [[Mattel]]'s ''[[Hot Wheels]]'' line that was first released in 1991 under the names "[[fandom:hotwheels:Back Burner (Cap Blastin')|Back Burner]]" and "Sonic Special", then in 1993 as the "Dragon Wagon", but would eventually become more well known in 1995 under the name "[[fandom:hotwheels:Speed Blaster|Speed Blaster]]". Unless both toys were based on the same obscure real-life concept car that has since been ''completely'' forgotten by history, that would be a ''very'' blatant case of Hasbro ''literally'' copying one of its competitor's toys and just making it transform.

Hasbro's ''[[Built to Rule!]]'' and ''[[Kre-O]]'' toylines "knocking off" [[LEGO]]'s iconic bricks cannot be considered IP infringement, however, as the technical patents for their brick-building system expired in [[1978]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fan terminology]]
[[Category:Toys]]

IP infringement

2025-03-16T17:21:54Z

Artifex Prime: /* Third party designs in official products and marketing */

{{disambig2|unlicensed toys based on ''Transformers''|third parties that produce actual ''Transformers'' products under license|Third party}}
[[File:01-Studio Headless Unicron.jpg|thumb|200px|"You underestimate me, Hasbro."]]
The many and varied facets of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] are the intellectual property (IP) of [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]], and their ownership of these ideas and designs is [[Copyright|protected by law]]. Alas, some rascally elements have, over the years, decided they'd like a slice of that pie, which has led to the creation of what have been described as '''IP infringing items''' by employees of former Hasbro licensee [[Fun Publications]].

{{bigquote|Theft of IP like this is staggering, develop your own characters and designs!|[[Aaron Archer]], former [[Hasbro]] employee<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170510214929/https://aaron-archer-art.tumblr.com/post/88471654165/aeonmagnus-fans-toys-ft-03-scoria-gallery Aaron Archer on Tumblr]</ref><ref>Archer would later do design work for a not-[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] figure for an abortive Kickstarter project. TFWiki.net leaves you to make of this what you will.</ref>}}

==Kinds of IP infringement==
Technically, any use of Hasbro and Takara's ''Transformers'' names, characters, and concepts without obtaining a license could be considered IP infringement. Things such as fan art and fan fiction, however, are rarely considered problematic, being as they are not intended to generate profit or are otherwise one-off works. In fact, in the past Hasbro has laid out guidelines to fan-artists and similar creators wishing to make and sell art and crafts based on ''Transformers'', which basically boiled down to being careful how one "branded" it (or, in practice, ''didn't'' brand it by just avoiding the use of brand names and some minor semantics).

When things get dicey —and the license-holders get tetchy— is when IP infringement occurs on a grander, and more organized scale.

===Knockoffs===
[[File:DOTM.MIRAGEKO.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Automatons in Concealment]]
{{main|Knockoff}}
In the context of ''Transformers'', [[knockoff]] is often used to describe both low-budget/quality toys, the kind of off-color, oversized/undersized thing that one might come across in a "dollar store" cranked out by the bajillions from China, and higher-quality toys that actually attempt to pass themselves off as genuine Hasbro or Takara products. Knockoffs that are direct replicas of existing Hasbro toys are very obviously the result of theft – in that case, it is the precise design and engineering for the toy that has been stolen. However, it is not unheard of for manufacturers to create their own cheap toys in the image of ''Transformers'' characters, and these still constitute IP infringement– Optimus Prime the Character is as much Hasbro's property as Optimus Prime the Specific Toy.

Conversely, a toy that copies the engineering (i.e. [[transformation]]) of an existing Hasbro/Takara product but is changed enough as to not resemble an existing character protected by copyright might not necessarily constitute IP infringement: Functionality is protected by patents, and patent protection legally expires after 20 years. This is why you occasionally see off-brand toys that work just like the [[Jumpstarter]]s but look nothing like [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] or [[Twin Twist]].
{{--}}

==="Third party" toys===
[[File:MechaformNotJetfire.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|I Can't Believe It's Not Jetfire!]]
In the late 2000s, spurred on by the ''Transformers'' nostalgia boom invoked by the [[live-action film series]], a new phenomenon arose—unlicensed products based on ''Transformers'' aimed at the adult collector market. The very earliest examples of this kind of product were accessories and then "upgrades" for existing Hasbro toys, such as a trailer/armor set for [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Classics|''Classics'' Ultra Magnus]], but the market quickly grew to include standalone action figures based on ''Transformers'' characters. The number of groups producing these figures has ballooned rapidly, to the point that two or even three separate companies will be simultaneously releasing toys of the same characters. Popular market trends have included [[combiner]]s and, more recently, figures emulating the qualities of the ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' line.

The [[fandom]]'s generally recognized name for these kinds of figures is "third party Transformers", although this is ultimately a misnomer for the plain reason that they are not actual ''Transformers'' products. This terminology makes more sense in light of their history, as the initial accessories, add-ons and "upgrade" kits can still somewhat be considered "third party" products, and the term, once established among the fandom, was simply never adjusted when standalone figures became the main focus of such offerings. It also differentiates them from "bootleg" toys, as bootlegs are usually considered explicit copies of official Transformers toys designed to "trick" unaware buyers into purchasing thing, while "third party" products are usually explicitly purchased by collectors for their qualities. Obviously, these should not be confused with the actual [[Third party|third parties]] who produce ''Transformers'' merchandise under license from Hasbro or Takara.

In (very half-hearted) attempts to dissuade the notion that they are pinching ''Transformers'' characters, "third party" toy manufacturers typically avoid using [[Insignia|faction symbols]] (although sometimes include molded spaces for the buyer to apply their own), and give their figures alternative names that attempt to capture the sound and/or spirit of the [[trademark]]ed originals, with varying degrees of bizarreness. A toy intended to look like [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]] might, for example, wind up named "Stellaryell". Initially, fans would often avoid confusion by referring to these figures as "not" versions of the characters they were based on (for example, "Not-Starscream"), though as the market has grown that terminology has been mostly abandoned since there's liable to be multiple different Not-Starscreams. After many years of these products, name overlaps are bound to happen; for example, different companies have figures alternatively based on [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] that are both named "Rager". Even more hilariously (though not really surprising), there are even ''knockoffs'' of "third party" toys! Let's see ''them'' duke out their IP conflicts in court.

Desire for those toys arises for various reasons, including:

* Wanting a toy of a character who has not received a modern, or any toy, at a certain scale or quality, or in a specific style, such as the ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' line.
* Desiring different aesthetics (such as a more [[Live-action film series|movie]] accurate design compared to official toys), or a new design of a character.
* A belief that they are of superior quality. Design limitations such as [[For safety reasons|safety regulations]] and [[Design change|budget]] are much less of an issue compared to official toys; like many other figures designed for an adult audience, a "not a toy" disclaimer can be found on some of these products to justify these features, such as sharper edges on characters or small parts.

For reasons that should be obvious, TFWiki considers "third party" toys unrelated to its goal of documenting the ''Transformers'' brand, beyond examples where they have influenced official product.

====Types of "third party" toys====
Note: The following terms are descriptors rather than actual official terms since, well, they're clearly not official products.

=====Accessories=====
These are generally items that are designed to interact with official product, but involve no modification to said official product. These are most often weapons (e.g. the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] and [[Dark Star Saber]] from ''Transformers: Prime''), but may also include [[:Category:MacGuffins|MacGuffins]] like the [[AllSpark Matrix]] or even characters like notable humans such as [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] and [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]].

=====Add-ons=====
These are items that are designed to interact with official product and modify their appearance. However, said modification takes advantage of preexisting tabs, slots, posts and so on, thus requiring no actual modification of the official product. An example would be panels designed to fill in the gaps in the thighs of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' Powermaster Optimus Prime]], which slot in snugly into the gaps.

=====Upgrade kits=====
These are items designed to interact with official product and modify their appearance, but require some sort of actual modification to the official product. This can be as simple as popping off and swapping a limb on ball joints or putting a small piece in a gap to fill it in, to more comprehensive modifications like partial disassembly and replacing of parts. A kit that allows someone to switch the head of ''Classics'' Bumblebee to create a ''Classics''-styled Goldbug or giving ''G1'' Ironhide and Ratchet actual heads would be an example of this.

=====Full figures=====
As mentioned above, these are generally what is meant when references are made to "third party Transformers". These are standalone fully transformable figures clearly based on and meant to evoke actual ''Transformers'' characters. One of the earliest and most (in)famous examples was a triple-changing Not-Springer which became wildly popular because official Springer toys of that time transformed into either a land vehicle or an air vehicle, but not both. These types of products are arguably the most problematic, as they may actually cause lost sales for an official figure. Add-ons and upgrade kits, in contrast, may actually encourage collectors to purchase the official products they are meant to complement.

Again, these are descriptors, partially because there is a lot of overlap. For example, would a replacement head for a reissue G1 Bruticus that comes with light up LED eyes be considered an upgrade kit (since it replaces the original head) or an add-on (since it makes use of the post hole already intended for the original head)? Would hands and feet for a ''Combiner Wars'' Combiner that also transform into weapons for the component bots fall under accessories (as they're weapons) or upgrade kits (since they replace the original hands and feet) or add-ons (since they slot into preexisting ports)? And what about stickers that can change, for example, [[Prowl (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' Prowl]] into an approximation of an [[Autotrooper (disambiguation)|Autotrooper]]? In fact, a lot of what created the demand for figures in the first place was that grey area. The first widely-successful "third-party" figures were technically an upgrade kit for [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|Bruticus Maximus]], which were "fixing" the problem of the set having only two limb molds by adding two additional Basic-sized figures to the mix.
{{--}}

===Doujinshi===
Generally understood to mean fan-comics, ''doujinshi'' (同人誌) are a uniquely Japanese occurrence. Japan has a very healthy culture of fan groups who make their own manga, many of them starring original characters but a huge portion starring characters owned by companies (for a ''Transformers'' example, imagine a gag manga where [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] is portrayed as a little child and being raised by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the other Decepticons to be the mighty [[Emperor of Destruction]] he is in [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory|''Transformers: Victory'']]. Hijinks ensue). This would of course never fly in a litigious society like the US, but in Japan doujinshi exist in a strange gray area.<ref>[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/doujinshi-definition/ A page explaining doujinshi and why they're tolerated in Japan]</ref>

Basically, the difference between what would be understood as a fan-comic in the West and a doujinshi in Japan is that in the West (especially the US), while a company might turn a blind eye to someone making fan-comics for fun (e.g. on a site like DeviantArt), they would come down on them if they tried to put those same fan comics up for sale. [[Hasbro]] might allow (or at least ignore) people selling fanart and fan-comics at a proper ''Transformers'' convention like [[BotCon]], but might be much less forgiving if those same people tried to sell those items at, say, a general science fiction convention. Meanwhile, in Japan, there are various conventions where doujinshi are actually the key focus, such as the famous {{w|Comiket}}. A ''Transformers'' doujinshi might be sold at a ''Transformers''-related convention, but might also appear at, say, a mecha-related convention or a general science fiction-related convention (since the Transformers would fall under a mecha or science fiction category).

Long story short, [[TakaraTomy]] could complain and shut down groups making doujinshi any time they wanted, but like many Japanese companies, it appears that it simply isn't worth the hassle. People who make doujinshi are often the most hardcore of fans, and so alienating them isn't something most companies are eager to do. In addition, any victory would simply not be worth the resulting bad press, since fan groups are not exactly swimming in cash and while doujinshi are put up for sale, a lot of groups seem to just do it for love of the art or the series. Most doujinshi also receive extremely limited distribution, such as at dedicated conventions for only one or two days at a time. It should also be mentioned that many big names in manga got their starts or honed their skills in doujinshi circles, and it isn't impossible for a company to want to recruit some of these up-and-coming talents.

It, er, probably should be pointed out that some (though not all) doujinshi are very, ''very'' NSFW.

{{--}}

==Hasbro and IP infringement==
===Remarks and actions===
Official statements from Hasbro on "third party" toys are few and far between. In one response, provided as part of the company's now-defunct fansite Q&A program, they noted the illegal nature of the figures, and remarked that this kind of IP infringement was unfair to legitimate licensees who pay to produce ''Transformers'' merchandise.<ref>[http://www.tfviews.com/news/main/hasbro-q-and-a/499 TFviews Hasbro Q&A, August 2009]</ref> Hasbro did keep a binder cataloging every "third party" toy in case action needed to be taken against them.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/997302-aaron-archers-statements-toy-design-tfcon-2014-a.html "Aaron Archers statements on toy design at Tfcon 2014"] at TFW2005.</ref>

In 2015, Hasbro's UK branch distributed an online survey of the collecting habits of ''Transformers'' fans to coincide with the Auto Assembly unofficial convention, which included a surprising number of questions regarding "third party" products. In a bit of an embarrassing ''faux pas'', a Hasbro representative present at the convention itself also addressed a [[Vos (G1)|Vos]] cosplayer as "Cynicus", the name of an unofficial figure of that character.<ref>[http://waspshot23.tumblr.com/post/127569311096/ok-so waspshot23 on Tumblr]</ref>

To date, there has only been one known instance of Hasbro pursuing actual legal action against the manufacturers of "third party" toys. While such unofficial toys were banned from being sold at the dealer room at [[BotCon 2012]],<ref>This mandate initially encompassed fan art too, but this was quickly relaxed.</ref> [[BotCon 2015|2015]] and [[BotCon 2016|2016]], they generally seem to adopt a "laissez-faire" approach to such toys; while they don't officially condone such material, they're willing to allow it to exist as long as it isn't impacting Hasbro's bottom line. The one instance of Hasbro taking legal action was an unofficial toy of [[Unicron]], announced during the [[Hasbro Pulse#HasLab|HasLab]] campaign for [[Unicron/toys#War for Cybertron|''War for Cybertron'' Unicron]], seemingly intended to directly undercut Hasbro's big-ticket crowdfunded toy; evidently and understandably unhappy with this, Hasbro apparently intervened to have all posts about the pretender to the throne taken down from social media.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/3rd-party-not-unicron-apparently-removed-by-hasbro/43937/ 3rd Party (Not) Unicron Apparently Removed by Hasbro] at Seibertron</ref>

===Third party designs in official products and marketing===
[[File:MTMTE18 cvrB.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|IP un-infringement?]]
Beginning in the 2010s, there have been occasions where "third party" figure designs have slipped into official media. One cover for [[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|''More than Meets the Eye'' #18]] saw [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] drawn based on unofficial figures "Rager" and "Cogz." Hasbro and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] did not comment on this, although it seems likely that somebody somewhere might've gotten a slap on the wrist. (The artist in question has not done any comic covers since...)

Meanwhile, ''official'' third party licensee [[Imaginarium Art]]'s statues of [[Hot Rod (G1)/merchandise#Imaginarium Art|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Devastator (G1)/toys#Imaginarium Art|Devastator]] were almost entirely based on the unofficial figures "Carry" and "Green Giant"- Rodimus Prime and Devastator featured very specific proportions and sculpted body details otherwise unique to Carry and Green Giant, with Devastator's kneepads/forearms and Rodimus' unique forearm pipes being dead giveaways, not to mention Devastator's alternate head being the exact "Green Giant" sculpt. One has to assume Hasbro wasn't looking too closely, or were understandably unaware of those figures, when they signed off on these. ...Though someone noticed ''something'' since Rodimus Prime's earliest previews are [https://news.tfw2005.com/2015/12/28/imaginarium-art-rodimus-prime-statue-307242 ''direct'' copies of "Carry"] as opposed to the resculpted chest, head, and back spoiler of the final.

In what was presumably an innocent mistake that resulted from the use of a fan's personal collection, a slide shown at the Hasbro investor and press event presentation during [[Toy Fair 2016]] that represented Transformers "Spanning Generations" featured a photograph of a father and son surrounded by a variety of ''Masterpiece'' toys... and the "third party" [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] "Green Giant".<ref name="toyfair16">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/tfw2005-coverage-hasbro-toy-fair-2016-investor-press-event-309206 Slides from the Hasbro investor and press event presentation during Toy Fair 2016].</ref> Oops!

Although stylized, the ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars]]'' models for the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] are recognizably based upon the "Feralcons", one of the three notable sets of "third party" Predacons. It even leaked into their combined mode, thusly based upon "Feral Rex". Meanwhile, [[Motormaster (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Motormaster]] is modeled on the TransFormMission "Powertrain" interpretation of Motormaster's design from IDW's [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 comic series]].

[[File:LL19 vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|left|250px|IP dis-infringement.]]
The ''Earth Wars'' rendition of [[Warpath (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Warpath]] is based on one or both of BadCube "Wardog" and FansToys "Sheridan".

Similarly, ''Earth Wars'' and the ''[[Transformers: Power of the Primes (cartoon)|Power of the Primes]]'' cartoon feature models for the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] based on the Fanstoys' "Iron Dibots" figures, rather than those from the concurrent [[Power of the Primes (toyline)|toyline]].

In an odd occurrence for a game which almost exclusively employed screen models and recent toys, [[Jazz (G1)#Transformers: Forged to Fight|Jazz]] in ''[[Transformers: Forged to Fight]]'' is directly modeled on Toyworld's "Coolsville" figure.

[[E. J. Su]], fulfilling the role of guest artist for [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|''Lost Light'' #19]], was not given vehicle mode references for Rodimus, Drift, Ratchet, and Chromedome. Consequently, he had to make do with googling and used alt-modes [[:File:LL19 vehicle modes.jpg|based directly]] on the Mastermind Creations "Calidus" and "Stray" figures. Ratchet and Chromedome were based on official, though inaccurate, toys of the character.

The [[package art]] for ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' [[Sky Lynx (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Sky-Lynx]] appears to depict [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] using DX9's "legends scale" take on the character as a basis.

An [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] [[:File:BBArcee Head Revisions.jpg|design presentation]] about the 2018 ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' movie used an image of Fans Toys "Rouge" as a [[Arcee (G1)|"Generation 1" Arcee]] design reference for [[Arcee (Movie)|''Bumblebee'' Arcee]].<ref>[https://www.ilm.com/visual_development/bumblebee-developing-an-epic-set-piece/ Bumblebee: Developing an Epic Set Piece - ILM San Francisco]</ref> This is an unsurprising research method as Arcee did not receive an official ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Arcee (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|figure]] until 2020, with multiple unlicensed third-party companies vying for fans' attention throughout the 2010s.

Package art for ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy: Evolution]]'' [[Nemesis (G1)#Legacy|Nemesis]] featured [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] in his Cybertronian "Tetra Jet" mode, based off Impossible Toy's "Prankstor".

[[Singapore Comic Con#2023|Cybertron Fest 2023]] accidentally let some third party upgrade kits slip through the cracks in its display of fan collections. Namely, in a cabinet full of Optimus Primes, ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' [[Optimus Maximus (G1)#Unite Warriors|Optimus Maximus]] has the Perfect Effect upgrade kit equipped, giving him a different pair of hands, feet, torso, and waist than the normal retail release. Not too far away, ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Thrilling 30 (2013–2014)|Thrilling 30]]'' [[Metroplex (G1)#Generations|Metroplex]] and mold-mate ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Titans Return|Fortress Maximus]] have also been seemingly upgraded, using the Unique Toys Metropolis head and Perfect Effect PC-14EX blaster (meant for [[Grand Maximus#Legends|his brother]]) respectively.

[[Daniel Warren Johnson]] uses Magic Square's 2023 "Light of Peace" Optimus as a reference when drawing him in Skybound's [[Transformers (2023 comic)|''Transformers'' comic]], on account of its poseability.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=This is the Optimus Prime figure that Magic Square put out this past year in 2023. It's an update, so it has a new head sculpt, it looks just like the movie, the '86 movie which of course has been my bible. He looks so good that you can actually like, kind of pose him, and he looks pretty dynamic. And I knew that, man, if the toy looks this cool in real life, then I can make him look really cool... like look at this, it looks great, he looks kind of alive.|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUZgObXmU0&t=798s|name=Daniel Warren Johnson|site=YouTube|title=TRANSFORMERS Issue 1 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY|year=2023|month=10|day=06}}</ref>

The depiction of [[Primus#One film|Primus]] in the 2024 film ''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]'' is largely based on the 01 Studio "Seed" figure—itself based on his [[:File:UltimateGuidePrimus.jpg|''The Ultimate Guide'' design]]—particularly the details of his arms and legs.

[[File:Gravity Whoops.jpg|thumb|Move over, Green Giant! There's a new 3P Devastator in town for artists to accidentally google!]]
In [[Renegade Game Studios|Renegade Studios]]' [[Transformers Roleplaying Game|Transformers RPG]] sourcebook [[The Enigma of Combination]], a schematic intended to depict [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] instead depicts Generation Toy's unlicensed Gravity Builder, or possibly the more widely-available upscaled Jinbao version.
{{-}}

===Hasbro's own copyright dodging===
[[File:CYB sonic bomber originalsculpt.jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|First party problems.]]
Despite Hasbro's own (completely understandable) aversion against people making a profit off their IP without permission, it's not like Hasbro is entirely innocent in this regard: In fact, the ''Transformers'' toys' [[alternate mode]]s being unlicensed reproductions of real-world vehicles and aircraft goes back all the way to the very first ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys.

While the whole market situation was still very different back in the 1980s, and car manufacturers apparently didn't start properly enforcing their intellectual properties in the field of toys and merchandise until the early 2000s, ''Transformers'' toys with [[licensed vehicle alternate modes]] are still the exception rather than the rule. The vast majority of [[popular Earth vehicle alternate modes]] are still unlicensed approximations of their real-life inspirations, basically "[[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|not-Lamborghinis]]" or "[[Powerglide (G1)|not-A-10s]]", with a few details altered to avoid a lawsuit — though this wasn't enough in [[Side Burn (RID)#Toys|one notable case]]. [[Downshift (Energon)#Cybertron|Some]] [[Windcharger (G1)#Transformers (2010)|examples]] are a little more creative, meshing together two or more real-life inspirations to create a genuine "hybrid" design, but most are just barely altered and instantly recognizable for what they are supposed to represent. While the target audience is obviously a different one (most people who buy a Hasbro Sunstreaker do so because he represents Sunstreaker the ''Transformers'' character, not because they want a Lamborghini for their toy car collection; however, most, if not all, people who buy a "third party" version of Sunstreaker do so because he represents Sunstreaker the ''Transformers'' character), it illustrates the gray area involved.

Less of a gray area appears to be the case of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[High Beam (G2)#Generation 2|High Beam]] (released in 1995), though: Its alternate mode looks plain ''identical'' to a vehicle from [[Mattel]]'s ''[[Hot Wheels]]'' line that was first released in 1991 under the names "[[fandom:hotwheels:Back Burner (Cap Blastin')|Back Burner]]" and "Sonic Special", then in 1993 as the "Dragon Wagon", but would eventually become more well known in 1995 under the name "[[fandom:hotwheels:Speed Blaster|Speed Blaster]]". Unless both toys were based on the same obscure real-life concept car that has since been ''completely'' forgotten by history, that would be a ''very'' blatant case of Hasbro ''literally'' copying one of its competitor's toys and just making it transform.

Hasbro's ''[[Built to Rule!]]'' and ''[[Kre-O]]'' toylines "knocking off" [[LEGO]]'s iconic bricks cannot be considered IP infringement, however, as the technical patents for their brick-building system expired in [[1978]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fan terminology]]
[[Category:Toys]]

The Enigma of Combination

2025-03-16T16:52:30Z

Artifex Prime: /* Errors */

{{disambig2|the sourcebook for the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game]]|the mystical artifact for which it's named|Enigma of Combination}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''The Enigma of Combination''
|prev=Decepticon Directive
|next=Technorganic Secrets
|image= EnigmaOfCombinationSourcebookCover.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Renegade Game Studios]]
|written by= [[Mercedes Acosta]], [[Joseph Blomquist]], [[Michael Bramnik]], [[John Curtin]], [[Chesley Oxendine]], [[David Schwartz]], [[Jim Sorenson]], [[Bryan C.P. Steele]] & [[Diego Valdez]]
|date=[[March 26]], [[2024]]
|pagecount=127
|price=$45.00 USD
|ISBN=ISBN 978-1-957311-45-6
}}

'''''The Enigma of Combination''''' is an expansion sourcebook for the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game]]. The book contains rules for players to create Combiner characters and a multitude of new character influences, origins, and role focuses, as well as new potential allies and threats to pit against players.

==Contents==
===Chapter 1: The Sum Of Their Parts===
{{collist|2|
* What are Combiners?
* A Brief History of Combiners
* Combiners in the Modern Era
* Decepticon Combiner Data Files
* Autobot Combiner Data Files
}}

===Chapter 2: Combiner Characters===
{{collist|2|
* Influences
* Origins
* Role Focuses
* General Perks
* Combiner Rules
}}

===Chapter 3: Combiner Armory===
{{collist|2|
* Upscaling Weapons
* New Equipment Options
* New Other Equipment
* Cybertronian Artifacts
}}

===Chapter 4: Threats And Allies===

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Combaticons'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Commandos'''<ref>Stats for [[Mega-Octane]] and [[Armorhide (RID)|Armorhide]] were included in the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook]].</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Movor|Movor]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Rollbar (RID)|Rollbar]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Ro-Tor (RID)|Ro-Tor]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Constructicons'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
'''Predacons'''<ref>Stats for [[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] were included in the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook]].</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]}}
|}
{{--}}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Stunticons'''<ref>Stats for [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] were included in the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook]].</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Aerialbots'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Superion (G1)|Superion]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Protectobots'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Blades (G1)|Blades]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Groove (G1)|Groove]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Headmasters and Targetmasters'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] and [[Aimless]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] and [[Grax]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] and [[Monzo]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Arcana]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Stylor]]}}
|}
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Transformers references===
* The book opens with a transcribed lecture from [[Termagax]], the iconoclastic founder of the [[Decepticon]] movement from [[Transformers (2019 comic)|IDW's rebooted ''Transformers'' comic]]. The text notes that she's giving this lecture at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]; like in the IDW comics, she's evidently on civil terms with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots. She mentions mentoring the original six Constructicons many millennia ago, in reference to the "Constructicons Rising" arc of ''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]''.
* Attendees include [[Neo-Wheel]]—who flags up the existence of smaller combiners like [[Bumble]], certain [[Mini-Cassette|Recordicon]]s, [[Cog (G1)|Cog]], and his own [[Sixturbo|Turbo Team]]—[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], who alludes to the existence of "[[double Targetmaster]]s" like himself, a Generation 1 incarnation of the [[Rescue Bot]] [[Boulder (RB)|Boulder]], and a [[human]] named [[General Blaze]], who originated in a [[The Transformers: The Movie (first draft)|very early draft]] of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* In her lecture, Termagax flags up [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as an example of a combiner team with multiple members—these substitute Constructicons include [[Gravedigger]], who originated in the ''[[Find Your Fate Junior]]'' books, [[Hightower (Classics)|Hightower]], from ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'', and [[Buckethead]] and [[Sledge (Classics)|Sledge]] from ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''. She also mentions situations where Autobots have become part of the team; in addition to namedropping the ''Uprising'' roster of [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]], [[Hauler]], and [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], she also mentions [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], who filled in for the deceased [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] in the [[2005 IDW continuity]].
* While discussing unusual combiners, Termagax mentions the inhabitants of the planet [[Devisiun (planet)|Devisiun]], who debuted in ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'', and the [[Multiforce]] of [[Victory (planet)|Planet V]], using the name of the planet as it appeared in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]] and ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]''.
* While discussing [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s, Termagax notes that they are sometimes referred to as "Titanmasters", and that the [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] symbiosis can unlock all kinds of unusual superpowers, as was the case in the 2016 ''[[Titans Return (franchise)|Titans Return]]'' franchise.
* Termagax explains that [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s are more powerful than ordinary guns because they directly harness the [[spark]] energy of their larger partner, an idea that originated in the ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' story "[[Trigger Warnings]]".
* Other forms of combination alluded to, but not directly named, include [[Breast Animal|mechanimals who become armored chestplates]] or [[Action Master partner|helmets]], [[Brainmaster|full-sized robots capable of downloading themselves into a smaller unit]], [[Transtector|non-sentient robot bodies controlled by a single Headmaster]], and "[[mitotic spark]]s".
* Termagax alludes to an old rival who pushed the idea of "efficiency through self-sufficiency". This was the bio quote given to [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]]'s [[Sideways (RID)#Robots in Disguise (2001)|''Robots in Disguise'' toy]]; Termagax mentions that he's since become a Headmaster, alluding to the more famous [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]] from ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''.
* Excerpts lifted from [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s personal files feature mention of [[Needler (G1)|Needler]], Bombshell's [[Action Master partner]]. In these files, Bombshell ponders on the origins of combination technology; he notes that while some attribute its development to the [[Guardian Knight|Knights of Iacon]] or the [[Thirteen]], he believes that the first gestalt must have predated the universe itself, a "truly monstrous devil". His musings are evocative of [[Devil Z]], big bad of the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' anime, who sought to create the perfect fusion between humans and Transformers.
* An article written by [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] is noted to have been published in "Alt2day", a reference to the in-universe "[[ALTernity Today]]" newspaper from the ''AllSpark Almanac'' duology, which had an unofficial online edition hosted at [https://web.archive.org/web/20100716203345/http://alt2day.dyndns.org:80/index.html Alt2Day.com]. In it, Brainstorm investigates the existence of "ancient partnerships" analogous to the modern Headmaster process, and highlights the [[Battle of Aegiax]] as one such example: in IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' comic, this was where [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] battled ancient Headmasters like [[Myskrion]]. The article also flags up "anomalies" in "G Nebula 88", in a seeming reference to the combining heroes and villains of ''Masterforce''... (but see "Errors" for more on that).
* A profile written from [[Vorath]]'s point of view namedrops [[Murk]] and [[Chasm]]; while these were originally robotic [[Titan Master]]s from the ''Titans Return'' line, they've been reimagined as organic [[Nebulan]]s who work for the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]].
* Vorath's narration connects the Enigma of Combination to [[Nexus Prime]], as is common for most interpretations of the relic. He notes, however, that some texts refer to him as "Nexus Maximus", his working name before it was changed for legal reasons.
* In his journal, Vorath contemplates the existence of various potential combiners; he is excited at the prospect of Mindwipe merging into a combiner called "[[Galvatronus (CW)|Galvatronus]]", as was the case in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]; on the other hand, he worries that a Dinobot combiner could be an [[Beast (G1)|uncontrollable beast]], or what might happen if the Autobots pooled their best and brightest into an unstoppable "[[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]" configuration.
* Narration from [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]'s point of view notes that he was locked away in a [[photonic crystal|photonic containment vessel]] during Devastator's first-ever deployment, evoking the epsode "[[Starscream's Brigade]]". He gloats that the Autobots were forced to rely on their [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s to hold the line—in addition to the well-known [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], he also namedrops [[Rails]], another character who originated in the aborted first draft of ''The Movie''. Other combiner teams alluded to include [[Landfill (RID)|Build King]] and the [[Dinoforce]].
* A letter from [[Hi-Q]] to [[Kari]] mentions the planets of [[Master (planet)|Dominus]], [[Gorlam Prime]], and [[Planet X (Animated)|Planet X]]; as well as fellow Nebulans [[Flintlock]], [[Galen]], [[Leinad]], [[Recoil (G1)|Recoil]], and [[Llyra]].

===Trivia===
* This is the first ''Transformers Roleplaying Game'' sourcebook to have writing by [[Jim Sorenson]], which goes some way to explaining the sheer density of deep-cut lore drops in the first chapter—particularly those referencing the [[The Transformers: The Movie (first draft)|first draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie'']], which Sorenson had a hand in uncovering.

===Errors===
* Vorath's journal alludes to anomalies in "G-Nebula 88". Assuming that this is meant to be a ''Masterforce'' reference, that should be "[[G Nebula 89|G-Nebula '''89''']]".
*In the Roles section of the book, a picture of [[Breacher (TF 2010)|Breacher]] is misidentified as [[Pyra Magna]], while on the previous page, a picture of Pyra Magna is misidentified as “Breecher”.
*Like the others in the series, this book is chock full of grammatical and spelling errors, but perhaps the most egregious is [[Aimless]]’s name being spelled as “Aimldeess” in the table of stat blocks sorted by Threat Level.
* On p10-11, there is a 2-page schematic of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]... that depicts Generation Toy's prolific [[IP infringement|Gravity Builder]] instead of a licensed Hasbro design. Whoops!

[[File:Gravity Whoops.jpg|thumb|This coulda been [[Devastator_(G1)/toys#Combiner_Wars|Combiner Wars Devvy]]'s big break!]]

{{bookstub}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Enigma of Combination}}
[[Category:Generation 1 books]]
[[Category:Reference texts]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game]]

File:Gravity Whoops.jpg

2025-03-16T16:46:57Z

Artifex Prime: A schematic of Generation Toy's Gravity Builder, an unlicensed take on Devastator, mistakenly depicted in the The Enigma of Combination RPG sourcebook.

A schematic of Generation Toy's Gravity Builder, an [[IP infringement|unlicensed]] take on [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], mistakenly depicted in the [[The Enigma of Combination]] RPG sourcebook.

The Enigma of Combination

2025-03-16T16:37:58Z

Artifex Prime: A classic art whoopsie

{{disambig2|the sourcebook for the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game]]|the mystical artifact for which it's named|Enigma of Combination}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''The Enigma of Combination''
|prev=Decepticon Directive
|next=Technorganic Secrets
|image= EnigmaOfCombinationSourcebookCover.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Renegade Game Studios]]
|written by= [[Mercedes Acosta]], [[Joseph Blomquist]], [[Michael Bramnik]], [[John Curtin]], [[Chesley Oxendine]], [[David Schwartz]], [[Jim Sorenson]], [[Bryan C.P. Steele]] & [[Diego Valdez]]
|date=[[March 26]], [[2024]]
|pagecount=127
|price=$45.00 USD
|ISBN=ISBN 978-1-957311-45-6
}}

'''''The Enigma of Combination''''' is an expansion sourcebook for the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game]]. The book contains rules for players to create Combiner characters and a multitude of new character influences, origins, and role focuses, as well as new potential allies and threats to pit against players.

==Contents==
===Chapter 1: The Sum Of Their Parts===
{{collist|2|
* What are Combiners?
* A Brief History of Combiners
* Combiners in the Modern Era
* Decepticon Combiner Data Files
* Autobot Combiner Data Files
}}

===Chapter 2: Combiner Characters===
{{collist|2|
* Influences
* Origins
* Role Focuses
* General Perks
* Combiner Rules
}}

===Chapter 3: Combiner Armory===
{{collist|2|
* Upscaling Weapons
* New Equipment Options
* New Other Equipment
* Cybertronian Artifacts
}}

===Chapter 4: Threats And Allies===

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Combaticons'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Commandos'''<ref>Stats for [[Mega-Octane]] and [[Armorhide (RID)|Armorhide]] were included in the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook]].</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Movor|Movor]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Rollbar (RID)|Rollbar]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Ro-Tor (RID)|Ro-Tor]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Constructicons'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
'''Predacons'''<ref>Stats for [[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] were included in the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook]].</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]}}
|}
{{--}}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Stunticons'''<ref>Stats for [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] were included in the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook]].</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Aerialbots'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Superion (G1)|Superion]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Protectobots'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Blades (G1)|Blades]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Groove (G1)|Groove]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Headmasters and Targetmasters'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] and [[Aimless]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] and [[Grax]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] and [[Monzo]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Arcana]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Stylor]]}}
|}
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Transformers references===
* The book opens with a transcribed lecture from [[Termagax]], the iconoclastic founder of the [[Decepticon]] movement from [[Transformers (2019 comic)|IDW's rebooted ''Transformers'' comic]]. The text notes that she's giving this lecture at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]; like in the IDW comics, she's evidently on civil terms with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots. She mentions mentoring the original six Constructicons many millennia ago, in reference to the "Constructicons Rising" arc of ''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]''.
* Attendees include [[Neo-Wheel]]—who flags up the existence of smaller combiners like [[Bumble]], certain [[Mini-Cassette|Recordicon]]s, [[Cog (G1)|Cog]], and his own [[Sixturbo|Turbo Team]]—[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], who alludes to the existence of "[[double Targetmaster]]s" like himself, a Generation 1 incarnation of the [[Rescue Bot]] [[Boulder (RB)|Boulder]], and a [[human]] named [[General Blaze]], who originated in a [[The Transformers: The Movie (first draft)|very early draft]] of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* In her lecture, Termagax flags up [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as an example of a combiner team with multiple members—these substitute Constructicons include [[Gravedigger]], who originated in the ''[[Find Your Fate Junior]]'' books, [[Hightower (Classics)|Hightower]], from ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'', and [[Buckethead]] and [[Sledge (Classics)|Sledge]] from ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''. She also mentions situations where Autobots have become part of the team; in addition to namedropping the ''Uprising'' roster of [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]], [[Hauler]], and [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], she also mentions [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], who filled in for the deceased [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] in the [[2005 IDW continuity]].
* While discussing unusual combiners, Termagax mentions the inhabitants of the planet [[Devisiun (planet)|Devisiun]], who debuted in ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'', and the [[Multiforce]] of [[Victory (planet)|Planet V]], using the name of the planet as it appeared in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]] and ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]''.
* While discussing [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s, Termagax notes that they are sometimes referred to as "Titanmasters", and that the [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] symbiosis can unlock all kinds of unusual superpowers, as was the case in the 2016 ''[[Titans Return (franchise)|Titans Return]]'' franchise.
* Termagax explains that [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s are more powerful than ordinary guns because they directly harness the [[spark]] energy of their larger partner, an idea that originated in the ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' story "[[Trigger Warnings]]".
* Other forms of combination alluded to, but not directly named, include [[Breast Animal|mechanimals who become armored chestplates]] or [[Action Master partner|helmets]], [[Brainmaster|full-sized robots capable of downloading themselves into a smaller unit]], [[Transtector|non-sentient robot bodies controlled by a single Headmaster]], and "[[mitotic spark]]s".
* Termagax alludes to an old rival who pushed the idea of "efficiency through self-sufficiency". This was the bio quote given to [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]]'s [[Sideways (RID)#Robots in Disguise (2001)|''Robots in Disguise'' toy]]; Termagax mentions that he's since become a Headmaster, alluding to the more famous [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]] from ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''.
* Excerpts lifted from [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s personal files feature mention of [[Needler (G1)|Needler]], Bombshell's [[Action Master partner]]. In these files, Bombshell ponders on the origins of combination technology; he notes that while some attribute its development to the [[Guardian Knight|Knights of Iacon]] or the [[Thirteen]], he believes that the first gestalt must have predated the universe itself, a "truly monstrous devil". His musings are evocative of [[Devil Z]], big bad of the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' anime, who sought to create the perfect fusion between humans and Transformers.
* An article written by [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] is noted to have been published in "Alt2day", a reference to the in-universe "[[ALTernity Today]]" newspaper from the ''AllSpark Almanac'' duology, which had an unofficial online edition hosted at [https://web.archive.org/web/20100716203345/http://alt2day.dyndns.org:80/index.html Alt2Day.com]. In it, Brainstorm investigates the existence of "ancient partnerships" analogous to the modern Headmaster process, and highlights the [[Battle of Aegiax]] as one such example: in IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' comic, this was where [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] battled ancient Headmasters like [[Myskrion]]. The article also flags up "anomalies" in "G Nebula 88", in a seeming reference to the combining heroes and villains of ''Masterforce''... (but see "Errors" for more on that).
* A profile written from [[Vorath]]'s point of view namedrops [[Murk]] and [[Chasm]]; while these were originally robotic [[Titan Master]]s from the ''Titans Return'' line, they've been reimagined as organic [[Nebulan]]s who work for the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]].
* Vorath's narration connects the Enigma of Combination to [[Nexus Prime]], as is common for most interpretations of the relic. He notes, however, that some texts refer to him as "Nexus Maximus", his working name before it was changed for legal reasons.
* In his journal, Vorath contemplates the existence of various potential combiners; he is excited at the prospect of Mindwipe merging into a combiner called "[[Galvatronus (CW)|Galvatronus]]", as was the case in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]; on the other hand, he worries that a Dinobot combiner could be an [[Beast (G1)|uncontrollable beast]], or what might happen if the Autobots pooled their best and brightest into an unstoppable "[[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]" configuration.
* Narration from [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]'s point of view notes that he was locked away in a [[photonic crystal|photonic containment vessel]] during Devastator's first-ever deployment, evoking the epsode "[[Starscream's Brigade]]". He gloats that the Autobots were forced to rely on their [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s to hold the line—in addition to the well-known [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], he also namedrops [[Rails]], another character who originated in the aborted first draft of ''The Movie''. Other combiner teams alluded to include [[Landfill (RID)|Build King]] and the [[Dinoforce]].
* A letter from [[Hi-Q]] to [[Kari]] mentions the planets of [[Master (planet)|Dominus]], [[Gorlam Prime]], and [[Planet X (Animated)|Planet X]]; as well as fellow Nebulans [[Flintlock]], [[Galen]], [[Leinad]], [[Recoil (G1)|Recoil]], and [[Llyra]].

===Trivia===
* This is the first ''Transformers Roleplaying Game'' sourcebook to have writing by [[Jim Sorenson]], which goes some way to explaining the sheer density of deep-cut lore drops in the first chapter—particularly those referencing the [[The Transformers: The Movie (first draft)|first draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie'']], which Sorenson had a hand in uncovering.

===Errors===
* Vorath's journal alludes to anomalies in "G-Nebula 88". Assuming that this is meant to be a ''Masterforce'' reference, that should be "[[G Nebula 89|G-Nebula '''89''']]".
*In the Roles section of the book, a picture of [[Breacher (TF 2010)|Breacher]] is misidentified as [[Pyra Magna]], while on the previous page, a picture of Pyra Magna is misidentified as “Breecher”.
*Like the others in the series, this book is chock full of grammatical and spelling errors, but perhaps the most egregious is [[Aimless]]’s name being spelled as “Aimldeess” in the table of stat blocks sorted by Threat Level.
* On p10-11, there is a 2-page schematic of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]... that depicts Generation Toy's famous [[IP infringement|Gravity Builder]] instead of a licensed Hasbro design. Whoops!
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Enigma of Combination}}
[[Category:Generation 1 books]]
[[Category:Reference texts]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game]]